Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 08 11 2016

Clinton has 90 per cent chance of winning ‒ final poll

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Who’s boss?

No. 104729

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

…Seelall Persaud seeks to rescind promotion of six cops made by Ramnarine Page 3

Build on foreparents' legacy

President David Granger with members of Cabinet, Guyana Post Office Chairman Reverend Raphael Massiah, Bartica’s Mayor Gifford Marshall and Victorians at the entrance to the Lady Sendall Park, Victoria on Monday morning (Samuel Maughn photo)

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‒ President urges Victorians on National Day of Villages observance

Sleepin denied Rice Board GM charged with fraud casino licence Page 11

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Just a cop will do 2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

‒ DPP justifies using police to prosecute Carvil Duncan AMIDST swirling criticisms over its handling of two high-profile criminal cases, the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has sought to justify using policemen to prosecute the fraud case against Carvil Duncan.

This agency, headed by Mrs. Shalimar Ali-Hack, has come under intense scrutiny for its handling of the Duncan case, as well as its decision to assign prosecutors to the Jennifer Westford and Margaret Cummings’ fraud matters

more than one year after the case had started.

In a statement issued on Monday, in response to an article carried in this newspaper under the caption “DPP Chambers under scrutiny”, the agency said: “…regarding the Carvil Duncan matter, the DPP wishes to re-emphasise that this matter was always handled by the Chambers.

Police Prosecutors who are assigned to these Chambers prosecute all matters in the Magistrates’ Courts. This is the present system, and they

handle all matters in Magistrates’ Courts.”

However, the agency has contradicted its own position, since it has state prosecutors dealing with a number of cases in the magistrates’ courts.

The DPP statement argued that Police Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt was assigned to appear for the prosecution in these matters, but “when there seemed to be some difficulties, Senior State Counsel was appointed by the DPP to take over from the DPP’s Police Prosecutor.”

The chamber added that there are 24 charges against each defendant in the Jennifer Westford case. This makes a total of 48 charges being heard together. It said police investigations were completed on January 22, 2016; charges were instituted on February 01, 2016, the DPP’s Police Prosecutor commenced prosecution, and this was taken over by the State Counsel.

Political activist and Executive member of the Working People’s Alliance, Tacuma Ogunseye, in a letter

appearing in the Stabroek News last week, stated that the Duncan case raises a lot of questions. Ogunseye said the dismissal of the case on ground of insufficient evidence calls into question the seriousness of the State in bringing to justice alleged wrongdoers of the former regime.

He asked why a senior counsel was not assigned to prosecute the case, and contended that the police prosecutor would not have been competently capable of prosecuting the case against the country’s leading lawyers.

He said, “Reading the magistrate’s legal justification for throwing out the case, the poorly prepared case of the prosecution was highlighted. Some of the shortcomings are elementary matters; for example, the presentation of photocopied documents without any attempt being made to prove that an original existed and that the copy was a true representation of the original.”

He said the prosecution also led no circumstantial ev-

Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Shalimar Ali-Hack

idence in relation to the bank statement showing that a sum had been debited from GPL’s account, so the court could only admit that it existed, not the truth of it.

Duncan, a former Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Board member, was freed of a larceny charge last week.

He was before the courts on an alleged theft of $1M from the power company. A lack of proper prosecution was cited as a key element in Duncan’s acquittal, and the presiding magistrate criticised the work of the police prosecutor, deeming it sloppy.

Magistrate Leron Daly, after upholding a no-case submission by Duncan’s former attorney, Charles Ramson Jr, and present Attorney Glenn Hanoman, ruled that there was not sufficient evidence to convict Duncan of the offence.

Duncan, however, still

faces a conspiracy to steal charge, and was instructed to return to court on January 4, 2017 in relation to a charge in which he is accused of conspiring with another to steal $27,757,547 from the GPL between May 7 and 8, 2015.

It was reported that Duncan and a former senior GPL official, Aeshwar Deonarine, were part of a multi-million-dollar fraud at GPL. The men are alleged to have illegally transferred close to $28M from GPL to their personal bank accounts.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, on Thursday told this newspaper that Government was forced into hiring special prosecutors for the Pradoville 2 and the Guyana Cricket World Cup Inc. scams owing to the fact that state prosecutors had expressed discomfort in standing in those cases.

“We were forced into that position because the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had indicated that the members of her department had some discomfort in having to prosecute the case of a former minister (Jennifer Westford), and as a result of that…

If the State’s prosecution department is saying that they don’t wish to prosecute these types of matters that are political, what was the State supposed to do; fiddle with its hands?” Williams asked.

Who’s boss?

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

…Seelall Persaud seeks to rescind promotion of six cops made by Ramnarine THE bitter rift between Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud and the man who is likely to replace him when he demits office early next year -David Ramnarine -- has reached new levels, with the top cop ordering that the decision by Ramnarine to promote six ranks recently be rescinded. But Ramnarine has challenged the police chief’s interpretation of the Constitution deeming it erroneous and embarrassing.

The ranks were all promoted for their outstanding performance at a drilling competition and a training course; and several senior officers who have taken umbrage with Persaud on the issue have pointed to a decision he had made in 2015 to promote two police ranks who had tortured a teenage boy in the course of a murder investigation at the Leonora Police Station in 2009.

According to the GPF list of promotions issued back in February 2015, Narine Lall was promoted from sergeant to inspector, while Mohanram Dolai was promoted from constable to corporal. In November 2009, the duo had appeared in court to answer a charge of setting alight the genitals of a 15-year-old lad with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause him grievous bodily harm.

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud

The criminal case against them was eventually dismissed in the magistrate’s court because the lad and other witnesses had failed to attend the trial of this case.

However, in 2011, following the filing of a civil action, Justice Roxane George found the ranks liable, and after describing the case as constituting torture, awarded the teenager $6.5 million, which the State eventually paid.

An investigation by the GPF Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) had found that the two policemen had injured and tortured the lad by pouring methylated spirits on his genital area and setting it alight.

ONLY THE TOP COP The policemen and women at the centre of the Persaud/Ramnarine controversy were promoted while Ram-

Assistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine

narine acted as Commissioner of Police when Persaud was on vacation leave.

In correspondence seen by this newspaper, between August 15th and October 1st, Ramnarine, performing duties as Commissioner of Police, promoted Corporal Wilburg to sergeant; and the following persons to corporal: Woman Lance Corporal 18997 Fraser; Lance Corporal 8749 Kuma, and Constable 18803 Craig.

Additionally, between August 3rd and September 26, 2016, Ramnarine promoted the following constables to Lance Corporal: 18495 Gray, 20521 Semple, 21759 Kesney, and 21825 Thomas.

Persaud proceeded on leave in June, and on his resumption of duty last Thursday, he immediately sought to reverse Ramnarine’s decisions. In his letter to Staff

Officer Administration 1 Maxine Graham, he called for the rescission of the promotions Ramnarine had made, and drew the officer’s attention to Article 212 (3) of the Constitution of Guyana, noting that the Commissioner of Police is authorised to make appointments to any office in the Police Force below the rank of inspector.

He also quoted Article 211 (i) of the said constitution, which he said indicates that the appointment of the Commissioner of Police is done by His Excellency the President. “His Excellency the President makes such appointments by issuing an instrument which is signed by him/her”, he said.

“The Police chief, Assistant Commissioner Ramnarine, has misinformed himself that he has the authority to make any such appointment in the absence of an instrument issued by His Excellency the President. The appointments are therefore null and void, and the ranks should be so informed,” Persaud ordered.

Ramnarine responded to the letter, which was copied to him, the divisional commanders and the finance officer, saying that he was duly authorised by the appropriate authority, in keeping with the relevant Article of the Constitution, to act as Commissioner of Police, and he did so “to the strict letter,

meaning and spirit of the Constitution and the Law.” HIRE AND FIRE Ramnarine’s argument is that in essence he was authorized, as acting Commissioner of Police, to hire, fire, discipline, promote, transfer, post and reward any member of the Force of which he was in command at the time in accordance with the relevant powers vested by the virtue of acting appointment as would have been exercised by the substantive holder of the office, who was on leave.”

Additionally, Ramnarine told Persaud that the reference to Article 211 (1) of the Constitution (para b), and the subsequent explanation (para c) which refers to some instrument, applies only to cases in which the office in question is vacant, the holder retired, resigned or passed away.

“I am thoroughly confident and quite convinced that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Seelall Persaud, has ill-advised himself, or has been the recipient of poor advice.” Ramnarine added. “I am not an attorney-at-law, but benefited from proper legal advice since the first day of the month of June 2016, when I learnt that I would be required to discharge the duties of the Commissioner, including that which is stat-

ed at Section 26 (2) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act, Chapter 2:01.

“Where any written law confers a power or imposes a duty on the holder of the office, the power may be exercised and the duty shall be performed by the holder, for the time being, of the office, or by any person appointed to act for him, or by a person lawfully performing the functions of such office.”

Ramnarine told Persaud: “It is to be noted that the process by which such promotions were made was a fair and transparent one, with recommendations made by divisional and branch commanders. He said, too, that the promotions were scrutinized and, in some cases, discussed and approved at the performance group meeting, with all being above board and duly merited.

“Therefore, the above being recorded and said, the appointments are not null and void, as erroneously and embarrassingly stated as a consequence of a lack of appropriate knowledge and understanding of Article 211 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana. I am, and remain, confident that I was properly authorized, and that my actions and decisions will withstand scrutiny,” Ramnarine concluded.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Clinton has 90 per cent chance of winning - final poll

With hours to go before Americans vote, Democrat Hillary Clinton has about a 90 per cent chance of defeating Republican Donald Trump in the race for the White House, according to the final Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation project.

Her chances are roughly similar to last week’s odds, and any upset by Trump on Tuesday depends on an unlikely combination of turnouts of white, black and Hispanic voters in six or seven states, according to the survey released on Monday.

The former Secretary of State was leading Trump by about 45 per cent to 42 percent in the popular vote, and was on track to win 303 votes in the Electoral College

to Trump’s 235, clearing the 270 needed for victory, the survey found.

Trump’s chances rest with his performance in Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio, which were too close to call on Sunday, when polling ended, and Pennsylvania, where Clinton enjoyed a slim lead of three percentage points. For Trump to win, he will have to take most of those states.

Any combination of two losses in the three states of Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania would almost assuredly result in a Clinton victory. At the same time, Trump must hold onto the traditionally Republican state of Arizona, where the race has drawn close, and hope that independent candidate

U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 7, 2016, the final day of campaigning before the election. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Evan McMullin does not claim another Republican bastion, Utah.

To win, Trump needs higher turnout among Republican white voters than that which materialised in 2012, a drop-off in ballots

by African-American voters and a smaller-than-predicted increase in Hispanic voters, the project showed.

CLUES TO THE OUTCOME North Carolina, one of the first states to report results on Tuesday night, might provide clues to the outcome.

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If Clinton wins the state, it probably means African Americans are turning out to vote at a similar rate to 2012, when President Barack Obama beat Republican Mitt Romney by four points nationally. Romney won North Carolina by two points.

The States of the Nation poll found that early votes have been cast evenly between Trump and Clinton in North Carolina. Trump enjoyed a slim one-point advantage among all likely voters, 47 per cent to Clinton’s 46. He had a 30 percentage point lead among

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white voters, while Clinton led by about 85 points among black voters.

Florida, with its 29 electoral college votes, is crucial to Trump. If Clinton wins Florida, she just needs to win one of the three big swing states of Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania while Trump would have to win all three.

If he wins Florida, Trump still must win both Ohio and Michigan or hope for an upset in Pennsylvania.

According to the project, Clinton enjoys the tiniest of leads in Florida, 48 per cent to 47. Clinton leads Trump by 75 points among black voters and has about a 20 point lead among Hispanics.

But Trump enjoys a 30 point lead among likely white voters. Clinton’s success in Florida depends on heavy turnout among black voters.

Without it, the race becomes razor-thin, even with a large increase in Hispanic ballots.

Michigan and Ohio were too close to call on Sunday, according to the project.

Clinton’s support is more solid in Pennsylvania. Still, a surge of white Republican voters combined with a drop in turnout among black Democrats could be enough to tilt

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Ohio and Michigan to Trump and put Pennsylvania in play.

If Trump remains in contention on Tuesday night after the eastern swing states have been decided, eyes will turn to Arizona. Trump led Clinton by five points on Sunday, but Arizona had moved steadily toward Clinton in recent weeks, according to the project. It is also a state where higher Hispanic turnout could tip the result in Clinton’s favour.

If Trump is in a position to win after Arizona, he could still be tripped up

by Utah, where McMullin has remained a contender to the end.

Opinion polls have Trump up by five points or more in Utah. A McMullin upset could set up a low-probability scenario where neither Clinton nor Trump reaches the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win. The election would then be decided by the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives, where lawmakers would have a three-way choice among Trump, Clinton and McMullin, a Utah native and former CIA operative. (Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Commemorative stamps unveiled at Victoria Indaba

By Ariana Gordon

THE Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) on Monday unveiled two new commemorative postage stamps at the Victoria Indaba, National Day of Villages observance.

The new ‘Victoria Village’ stamps will be available for circulation in $80 and $150 denominations at post offices countrywide.

The stamps were unveiled by Evelyn Bacchus, Victoria’s oldest resident, and will depict the exodus of emancipated Africans from the plantations, and their subsequent purchase of Plantation Northbrook (Victoria) on November 7, 1839.

“Commemorative stamps are the perfect memorabilia to celebrate an anniversary or significant event. Such stamps are circulated both locally and internationally to a wide cross-section of people,” a statement from the Post Office said on Monday.

GPO Chairman, Reverend Raphael Massiah, told villagers that the country’s first postal service was offered by the French in 1792, while the first Post Office was established in 1793 and the Guyana Post Office Corporation was birthed in 1952.

“We are standing virtually on sacred ground. I say sacred because, as I reflect

The eldest Victorian, Evelyn Bacchus, unveiled the new ‘Victoria Village’ stamps on Monday with assistance from Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes (right). Also photographed are Postmaster General Karen Brown and GPOC Chairman, Reverend Raphael Massiah (left)

on the exodus and the purchase in 1839, they were not just enslaved by shackles and bonds, and the fact that they did not have their freedom; but they were debarred from entering into formal activities.

“Even though they had money, they could not have paper money; they could only have in their possession coins,” said Reverend Massiah.

He said the debarment of the former slaves from

the banking system and the official financial system did not deter them. They saved their coins, and “when the time was right for lands to be purchased, they were ready to purchase”.

The GPOC chairman said this generation of people owes its ancestors a “debt of duty” to ensure that the villages purchased and developed after emancipation never fall into disrepair.

He encouraged all villagers to visit the Post Office

and purchase “the very first village day stamp” which is being sold at $1000. He said it is something that is purely Guyanese, and is something which can be reflected upon.

“… as we launch this stamp today, we are not alone in thinking of the ‘exodus and the purchase’, but we want to encourage all the children to have

an understanding of the meaning of the ‘exodus and purchase’, so that we will never surrender what is ours,” said Reverend Massiah.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Stakes high in U.S elections today Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial CITIZENS in the United States (USA) are casting ballots today for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump. When the votes are counted, who gets the minimum required 270 Electoral College votes (viz. votes allotted to each state) will be President, come January 2017. This president would also be the Commander-in-Chief of the world’s most powerful military.

In this media age, when developments are being watched around the world in real time, this election is arguably the most contentious. The insults being hurled by the candidates at each other and at the supporters of their rivals are astounding.

In September, Clinton said half of Trump’s supporters can be placed in a “basket of deplorables” –- a statement which she later withdrew in the face of public consternation.

Trump has used name-calling as a technique to floor his Republican challengers, and has assigned his Democratic rival the name “crooked Hillary.” In the last presidential debate he referred to her as a “nasty woman”, and has chalked up a reputation in the campaign for demeaning whole groups of people: calling Mexicans rapists and violent criminals; insulting the Muslim community, and demeaning women.

A campaign wherein both candidates -- given their biography -- have made history has denigrated into polarising politics, with important issues being blurred, not attended to, or hardly given coverage. The media, which to some extent were more focused on ratings and sales, have allowed for the dumbing down, candidates not being held to account, and serious issues being sidelined.

Around the world, governments and the people have tuned in with trepidation and anticipation of what it would be like should their preferred candidate not win. The U.S is considered the most powerful nation on earth, and its president the leader of the free world and the most powerful politician.

This country not only sets the standard for what is considered a perfect society, but has pushed for other societies to emulate its system of governance as the gold standard. Consequently, people have come to accept not only America giving leadership to the world, but also leading by example.

In the instance where exemplary conduct is not seen, it emboldens ruthless, discriminatory and uncouth leadership.

The degeneracy into name-calling and insulting people which have come to mar elections in recent times in this country has been condemned by citizens. Given the American experience, it would be surprising if those who engaged in such practice are not now feeling more emboldened.

The Iran state-owned television, which aired two of the three presidential debates, made political leverage of them.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Iranians the U.S democracy would not serve them well, pointing out that comments by Clinton and Trump during the debates “are sufficient for the annihilation of the reputation of the United States.”

The integrity of the election is also being brought into

Dear Editor,

A MAJORITY of Americans will go to the polls today to vote for a presidential candidate of their choice, who will lead them for the next four years. Under normal circumstances, this would have been a normal routine every four years; but this time around, the stakes are as high as the sky, perpetuated by devious and divisive campaign tactics from both sides of the political aisle.

In all the years I have lived in the USA, I have never seen such high levels of anxiety, such high levels of ambiguity, and such high levels of disappointment and despair among Americans so associ-

ated with the general election season. For some Americans, the election polling stations have become metaphorically a damp and dangerous zone, to be avoided; rather than a datum for expressing political prerogatives.

How this can happen in one of the safest but not necessarily soundest democracies in the world is a question that can be easily answered by an average American. The answer is dirty politics and the predilection for power, predicated upon the agenda of inclusion and exclusion.

I will not belabour the obvious regarding what have been said about the USA election, particularly with regard to prejudicial and prelapsarian views in the age

of information technology. I am sure Guyanese are very familiar with the dynamics of the US election. What I would like to share is that the definition of an immigrant in the US during this election, and perhaps beyond, has changed to mean something new and nauseatingly worrying. The word immigrant initially meant anyone who had entered the US from somewhere else, and someone who was not born in the USA. Now the word immigrant means a non-white person, and all the negative trappings that come with this label.

Certainly, one presidential hopeful has not addressed the eastern European immigrant problems in the US. I believe that this US

election season has provided an opportunity for the formation of a political party driven by immigrant/resident/ citizenship sentiments. For too long, immigrants turned citizens in the US have been comfortable with their own insular development and their partial participation in politics. The time has come to step beyond this comfort zone.

While this might right n o w b e a f a r- f e t c h e d thought to be entertained further, I do hope the losing candidate concedes. My bet is on Hilary Clinton to win, but this is a limited choice really.

Regards, LOMARSH ROOPNARINE

Don’t have to be a lawyer to speak law Dear Editor,

ATTENTION is being given to the statement made by the government legal adviser, the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, that Ramon Gaskin is not a lawyer, and therefore cannot pronounce on a constitutional matter.

As a citizen who is not only protected by the constitution, but is bound in my civic duty to uphold this supreme instrument, such a statement is disturbing. Laws are made for the citizens;

they are written in a manner that the least educated among us can understand them, not only to safeguard their well-being, but also in ensuring their civic duty in maintaining order in society.

What distinguishes a lawyer from a non-lawyer is that a lawyer is a person who would have spent the time to acquire a legal education and certification to practise at the bar.

At the same time, it ought to be said that lawyers are not the only ones allowed to lead evidence in court.

We see, every day in the courts, non-lawyers leading evidence, and those persons range from police ranks to citizens who do not have the means to retain a lawyer, or they refuse to retain one, something which the law allows for.

The perception that only lawyers can speak to matters of law is false. For the very premise undermines the spirit and intent of making laws for the people and the people’s responsibility to obey the law. This aids in understanding the truism that there is

no excuse for breaking the law, given it is expected that everyone would be au fait with the law.

The Government of Guyana stands to gain when every citizen knows the law, because it aids in the delivery of governance.

Ignorance of the law on the part of the people makes governance harder, and allows rogue elements in and out of government to run roughshod over the people.

Regards, LINCOLN LEWIS

The youths want action from their leaders Dear Editor,

K I N D LY p e r m i t m e space in your newspaper to express my dissatisfaction with the Government’s approach relative to several issues in this beloved country of ours.

The Minister of Public Security needs to get his head out of the clouds and admit that crime is on the rise and more and more youths are getting involved. It is my opinion that youths are turning to a life of crime mainly because of the lack of proper job opportunities. During the election season, the youths of this country were placed on the forefront and were promised better paying jobs and more job opportunities; but all of that just vanished when the election results were declared.

We have a Cabinet full of senior citizens who are expected to make policies and provide opportunities for the future generation, but the reality is that all we are getting from them is talk, talk and more talk.

We, the youths, are craving action from those we have placed in leadership positions.

Just imagine, jobs are being advertised requiring someone with 3-5 years of experience in the field and degrees from universities. How are the youths supposed to take advantage of those opportunities when most of us have little or no experience and no university degree?

While our leaders are giving themselves a 50% salary increase, the cost of living is constantly rising, pushing families deeper into poverty.

However, this does not bother

question with accusations by Trump and some Republicans that the system is “rigged.” The U.S. Government has, accordingly, invited international organisations to observe the process. It is the first time that the Organization of American States (OAS) is fielding an Observer Mission in the USA, although since 2002 the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) has been observing U.S elections.

Even the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), an organisation presented to the world as the paragon of intelligence-gathering, has not escaped ensnarement, which will impact its image and integrity in the eyes of the world. Alle-

our politicians, because they are already in power and will feign concern whenever it is time for them to get us to vote them into power again.

Mr. President, I am appealing to you to start commanding your Cabinet to place the interest of youths on the forefront as promised, or else your government might not see a next term. It is the youths who placed you there based on your promises to us, and we are the ones who can deny you another term.

Mr. President, please be advised that some youths are already starting a movement to spoil their ballots or just abstain from voting in the next General Elections, due to them not being impressed with the way they are being treated. We do not expect miracles, but we do expect to

feel important and be treated as the future of this country.

We expect opportunities and a country where more investment is made in the fight against poverty. How can our leaders take a pay raise and go comfortably to sleep when they know that there are children who are going to bed hungry; children who are being denied education because of the lack of financial resources; and children who are forced to take up jobs depriving them of their youth just to survive?

It makes me angry and sad to know that those in whom we put our trust are the ones who are betraying us. Fix it Granger! Fix it before it gets worse.

Regards, LAKHRAM BHAGIRAT

gations that Russia is engaging in espionage to influence the election has implications for perception of Vladimir Putin’s global power and influence, given that such act is usually felt to happen to lesser developed countries.

Both candidates have the highest negatives since polling on favourability of candidates has begun. Neither is liked by party supporters and society. The stakes in this election couldn’t be higher. Whoever wins has got to go to work to unite that society and repair the country’s image in the eyes of the world. It can only be hoped that, after today, the U.S can continue to offer the world what Ronald Reagan was wont to refer to as “that shining city on the hill.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Facebook suspends journalist’s account amidst ‘Pope’ sex scandal FACEBOOK has decided to disable the account of journalist Travis Chase of the HGP Nightly News (Channel 16/Cable 67), who caused a maelstrom of controversy on November 6th when he leaked photographs depicting a man said to be “Pope Emmanuel” Philbert London of Beacon Ministries in pornographic mode with several females.

The blurred images on Chase’s Facebook Page depicted pornographic scenes involving the self-proclaimed pope, who starred in, and produced, sex tapes with several female members of his congregation. As such, some church members who were upset at the situation reported Chase’s Facebook Page.

However Chase, through his attorney Selwyn Pieters, has written a letter to

Vice President and General Counsel of Facebook Inc, Colin Stretch, asking for the account to be restored with immediate effect.

“Pope Emmanuel” Philbert London In that letter, seen by this newspaper, the attorney argued that Mr. London is “a public figure, and there is

no expectation of privacy to which he is entitled where, as here, his conduct as a leader of a church and a person over whom trust is reposed has breached that by making sex tapes with his congregants. In other professionals -- law, medicine, teaching, professionals are subjected to discipline, including licence revocation.”

According to the lawyer, “It is clear that the issue Mr. Chase raised has gathered significant public interest.

The post has taken social media by storm, with well over 3000 comments and shares. Importantly, however, there was no other nudity on his page; as mentioned previously, some images were blurred.”

The lawyer further argued that given the fact that Chase is an investigative journalist

who exposes issues of crime, corruption, and professional misconduct, including that of office holders, some of his posts would offend some, prompting them to report the page.

“However, being offended is not enough to restrict reporting of public interest matters, and it is not enough to warrant the disabling of Mr. Chase’s Facebook account,” the lawyer said.

The sexually explicit images, which were partially blurred, appeared on social media platform minutes after midnight on Saturday, and

by Sunday morning, hundreds of Guyanese were in tuned with the images, which were initially taken down

by Facebook after the first posting. However, persons had already shared and saved the pictures, which re-ap-

peared via dozens of “shares” throughout the day.

In one of the partially blurred images, a man took a picture of his genitalia while posing in pastoral dress with a symbolic priestly emblem visible on his right bust.

Another depicted the man lying in bed with two females in the nude, one of whom was lying face down

Travis Chase of HGP Nightly News

on his right shoulder while the other on his left shoulder was looking at the camera.

Yet another image depicted a woman lying face down on a man’s torso, while an image of a woman on the right arm of a man are depicted in another. A man bearing the image of London is depicted in another image, lying on his back on a bed with a partial smile of satisfaction on his face while his arms are outstretched above his head.

The pictures were allegedly taken by London and his female companions, while reports suggest that videos of the sexual escapades were taped, allegedly by the self-proclaimed pontiff. Reports have suggested that the images were recorded at his home with the consent of all parties.

Concerns over Cabinet meetings at GDF Dear Editor,

I AM a member of the Indian Action Committee (IAC), and I believe that the letter written by Mr. Abel Seetaram (KN November 3, 2016), who claims to be an APNU+AFC Regional Councillor, is questioning unfairly the action of the IAC in writing about the use of the headquarters of the Guyana Defence Force at Camp Ayanganna for the holding of Cabinet meetings.

I am quite aware that the IAC has built up a very large following since its establishment in April 2003, mainly due to the organisation’s successful activities and programmes held in the counties of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice.

I wish to express my extreme disappointment with the contents of Mr. Seetaram’s letter, which displayed a complete lack of understanding of the Con-

stitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

During my long association with the IAC, having been fortunate to have associated with the many intellectuals of the organisation, I was introduced to the Guyana Constitution; and therefore I am taking this opportunity to educate Mr. Seetaram by pointing him to Article 146 (one), which states that: “Except with his or her own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom of expression; that is to say, freedom

to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference, and freedom from interference with his or her correspondence.”

It is my belief that the organisation’s right to speak is guaranteed by Article 146 of the Constitution. If Mr. Seetaram, who is of Indo-Guyanese origin, wishes to obtain information from the IAC, he is welcome to visit the organisation’s office in Cummings

Lodge at any time.

Unlike Mr. Seetaram, I am highly concerned with the Government having Cabinet meetings at Camp Ayanganna, given the long history of the involvement of the GDF in the disenfranchisement of hundreds of thousands of Guyanese during the dictatorship period. I have noticed that the Minister of State claimed

that the building housing the Ministry of the Presidency and the headquarters of the Guyana Defence Force at Camp Ayanganna are the only secure places where Cabinet meetings can be held.

Finally, I have an important question for Mr. Seetaram: Should you not be very concerned about the statement made by the

Minister of State; because if the Cabinet, which includes several former GDF officers, can feel safe only at these two locations in Guyana, where then can the rest of the Guyanese population feel safe?

Regards, DEVANAND PERSAUD IAC Member

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Massive Hanuman murti unveiled in Leguan SOCIAL Cohesion Minister Amna Ally has said that Government’s greatest task is to unify the nation for the good of all Guyanese, adding that the APNU+AFC Administration is committed to achieving this goal.

The minister made these remarks during her address at the unveiling ceremony of a 52-foot murti (statue) of

Lord Hanuman at the Rama Krishna Mandir at Blenheim, Leguan, in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

The minister said the goal of bringing people together has its challenges, but the administration is committed to ensuring the good life for all of the citizens of Guyana.

“I encourage you to love

and respect each other; care for each other, [and] work together in unity and dispel any attempt to divide you; and you will be at ease and comfort with your inner selves. Do not let politics destroy your progress in life; let us build ourselves, our community and our country, and surely we will be proud of ourselves,” she said.

A view of the 52-foot Murti of Lord Hanuman at the Rama Krishna Mandir at Blenheim, Leguan

Touching on developmental works occurring on the island, the minister also highlighted the recent road construction that was undertaken, as well as the rehabilitative works done on the sea defences, schools and drainage canals. She said those are all promises that have been fulfilled with the aim of ensuring that residents of the island are comfortable and enjoying the good life.

She commended the residents for the construction of the murti, stating that such structures help to establish, express, and enhance the community’s relationship with God. “The murti contains the living presence of the deity.

It is more than a physical representation or a meditational tool… When an image like this is prepared according to spiritual prescriptions and is ritually infused by a spiritual authority according to your beliefs, it becomes especially worthy of, and conducive to, worship,” she said.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, who also attended the event, said it was an honour not only to celebrate with the residents, but to also learn about the significance of the murti and be educated about the Hindu culture.

Pandit Sunil Sharma said he was extremely grateful for the contributions made by

Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally has said that bringing people together is a primary task of the Government

the community and members of the mandir towards the construction of the murti. He added that he was very grateful that Ministers Ally and Ferguson were able to join in the celebration of this special event for the community.

The 52-foot murti of Lord Hanuman now reportedly stands as the largest in Guyana. Pandit Sharma said the structure, which costs over five million dollars, took approximately two years to be completed.

Hanuman is a god and an ardent devotee of the god Rama. He is one of the

central figures in the Hindu epic Ramayana and its various versions. He is mentioned in several other texts, including the Mahabharata, the various Puranas and some Jain texts.

Vanara (monkey) Hanuman participated in Rama’s war against the demon king Ravana. Several texts also present him as an incarnation of Shiva. He is the son of Anjana and Kesari, and is also described as the son of the wind god Pawan, who, according to several stories, played a role in his birth.

A section of the crowd at the unveiling ceremony of the 52-foot murti of Lord Hanuman at the Rama Krishna Mandir at Blenheim, Leguan

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Blankenburg pensioner died of multiple injuries – autopsy reveals

A POST-MORTEM conducted on the body of Dhanraj Ramlal, 71, called “Boxer”, of “R” Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara, has indicated that he died of multiple injuries sustained as a result of being struck down by a motorcyclist last Friday on the Blankenburg Public Road.

Ramlal died hours after motorcyclist Shamshudeen Hannie Mei of 1702 Tuschen Housing Scheme, EBE slammed into him; and Mei has been placed on $200,000 bail. Police say the motorcyclist was proceeding west

Dead: Dhanraj Ramlal

along the southern side of the roadway at a fast rate when he hit the pedestrian who was walking across the road,

Banks DIH honours longstanding staff

BANKS DIH Limited rewarded twenty four employees who would have achieved 20 years of service with the Company during its Annual 20-Year Club Luncheon held Friday at the Sports Club at Thirst Park.

According to a release by the company, in delivering the feature address, Mr. Deonarain Seepaul, Finance Controller/Assistant Company Secretary praised the employees for their dedication and commitment over the years during the ceremony, which was attended by over 250 employees who are members of the Club.

Mr. Seepaul said it was a great milestone for the new inductees into the 20-Year Club and he urged them to continue to be of great service to the Company.

Mr. George McDonald, Co-Managing Director/ Marketing Director presented then with gold Pins with the Company’s logo in recognition of their achievement.

The awardees are: Colin Wood, Terrence McKenzie, Kevin Nunes, Shairaz Le Doux, Michael Swan, Andrew St. Hill, Jimmy McRae, Anil Singh, Nichola Benn, Premchand Persaud, Getendra Wilfred, Michael Livingstone, Asif Alli, Ian Lord, Donna Cheong, Caroll Croal, Brian Junor, Ravi Shivraj, Shawn Fredericks, Dhanesh Seeram, Peter Embleton, Flynn Patterson, Sunil Richards and Cheron Simon.Pic save as Banks DIHCaption: Mr. George Mc Donald, Co-Managing Director/Marketing Director (third right) strikes a pose with the awardees and senior executives of the Company.

causing them both to fall on the roadway. The motorcyclist was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was treated while the pedestrian was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital in an unconscious state.

The pedestrian was then transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries at 11:00h on Friday.

Ramlal, a father of three and former contractor, was described as an easygoing individual by relatives. “He usually goes over the road to talk with this lady he knows, or sometimes he goes to the shop,” a relative said.

Distribution of laptops to teachers moves inland DISTRIBUTION of Laptop computers to the nation’s teachers is ongoing and last week (ended 4 November) teams from the eGovernment Agency, which has oversight of the One Laptop programme, distributed 1,138 computers to teachers in Region Six- East Berbice – Corentyne.

On Monday approximately 300 laptop computers were distributed to teachers in Region Seven at the Bartica Secondary School, the Ministry of Public Telecommunications said. On Wednesday November 9, part of the team will travel to Region Nine where they will assist Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, to hand out 470 laptops to teachers at Annai, Aishalton and Lethem. The eGovernment Agency comes under the purview of this Ministry.

Minister Hughes is expected to combine several activities in her team’s trip

to Region Nine including a visit to the Radio Paiwomak station at Bina Hill to speak with broadcasters and technicians. On Friday November 11, the eGovernment team moves to Mahdia to hand out 200 laptops to teachers in Region Eight. The distribution schedule was designed by the Ministry of Education before the roll-out began on the day following the October 5th launch of the One Laptop per Teacher (OLPT) initiative.

President David Granger himself launched this

programme at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) campus, Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara. The initiative is driven by the government’s determination to provide modern research and learning tools to ensure that our children, youths and young professionals all over Guyana receive the most rounded education possible which in the medium to long term, will appreciably raise the national level of digital literacy.

Narco-trafficker Armed bandits rob Yokohama tries to bribe Trading policemen

TWO armed bandits Monday morning robbed Yokohama Trading at Lot 72 ‘B’ Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown after assaulting the security guard on the premises.

Reports reveal that the bandits made the guard kneel on the floor before proceeding to relieve the cashier of US$58,000 and GUY$4.5M. They made good their escaped in a white car. The cashier, who resides at Chateau Margo, East Coast Demerara, was in a state of shock when police arrived at the scene.

The narcotics and money that were seized from the miner

A 30-year-old miner who attempted to bribe police officers after he was arrested with cannabis in Bartica on Sunday afternoon will soon appear before the court to answer to several charges.

Police Press Officer, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, said the suspect, who hails from Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara and works in the interior, was in a house at Fourth Avenue,

Bartica when police, acting on information received, swooped down on the premises and conducted a search, during which they unearthed 133 grams of cannabis in small Ziploc packets.

The miner shortly thereafter offered the officers $200,000 as an inducement to forego the narcotics charge, but they refused the offer and arrested and instituted several charges against him.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Nandlall faces sanctions …if he doesn’t apologise to Speaker, House THE Speaker of the National Assembly can sanction PPP MP Anil Nandlall for showing contempt for his ruling during last Friday night’s debate on the President’s Speech, which ended in an acrimonious fashion when the opposition walked out.

Nandlall ran afoul of the parliamentary rules when he purported to have been quoting from a Kaieteur News’ article in his presentation during the debate, but could neither produce the newspaper nor state the date the article was published when called upon to do so. His presentation was laced with controversial statements, and those were challenged by Government MPs. In the specific instance, at minutes after 12 am last Saturday, he asked for an hour to go home and get the newspaper. His request was not allowed, and the Speaker asked him to withdraw his statement until he could produce evidence substantiating

the source he was quoting from. He refused to withdraw his statement, and was thus asked to take his seat.

The Speaker then said that Nandlall was out of order and that he would no longer participate in the day’s sitting, to which Nandlall said he did not intend to further participate in the proceedings. However, in the aftermath of his being asked to sit, Nandlall, egged on by his colleagues, continued to speak loudly in the chambers, turning the proceedings into a shouting match in which both sides of the House participated.

At this stage, he was observed gathering some files and other documents on his desk, and when asked by the Speaker what he would be doing, Nandlall responded that he would be leaving.

“Then you will leave,” the Speaker said. At this point, almost in unison, Nandlall’s PPP colleagues followed him in exiting the House.

A senior parliamentarian

familiar with the standing orders and parliamentary procedures said Nandlall was out of line to have ignored the Speaker’s ruling.

“The Speaker made a ruling.

Whether Nandlall felt he was in the right, the Speaker made a ruling; and from what I observed, he was in contempt,” the MP said.

However, at a news conference hosted by the PPP on Monday, Nandlall stated that page 234 of the 12th Edition of Erskine May’s Parliamentary Practice states as follows: “The chief characteristics attaching to the Office of Speaker in the House of Commons are authority and impartiality.” Contending that the Opposition has had cause to repeatedly complain against the Speaker’s conduct in the National Assembly, Nandlall said the sitting of the National Assembly of the 4th of November, 2016 provided another such occasion. He said it is now public knowledge that at that sitting he was prohibited

PPP MP Anil Nandlall

from speaking and participating in the business of the National Assembly, and was subsequently expelled from the National Assembly by the Speaker.

However, based on parliamentary records, the Speaker did not expel Nandlall, but the PPP MP opted to leave.

“I am an elected member of the National Assembly.

My right to speak and participate in the business of the National Assembly is grounded in the supreme law, the Constitution of Guyana.

This issue was elaborately addressed by Chief Justice Chang in a case filed by me, as Attorney- General, on the 27th of November, 2012, when the then joint-Opposition gagged then Minister of Home Affairs, the Honourable Clement Rohee, from speaking in the National Assembly. In the course of his 34-page judgement, Chief Justice Chang, at page 27, posited thus “…it is the view of this court that Mr. Rohee’s right to speak in the National Assembly derives from his office as member of the National Assembly, and not from his office as an Executive Minister. Thus his right as an elected member of the

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland

National Assembly must be concomitant with his constitutional duty to speak for, and to represent, his electors in the National Assembly, who in turn have a concomitant right to be so represented.

“It is here apposite to note that Article 9 of the Constitution expressly provides: “Sovereignty belongs to the people, who exercise it through their elected representatives.”

Nandlall argued that, on the other hand, the Speaker is not an elected representative of the people, but is elected by the Members of Parliament, and holds office at their pleasure.

“His status, role and function lack the constitutional underpinning and security of tenure which elected Members of Parliament enjoy.” Nandlall declared, contending that his matter is compounded “by the lack of impartiality”, and noting that it is public knowledge that ministers of the Government are given days, and sometimes weeks, to produce documents.

“Often times they never do, but there is no reprimand from the Speaker. In the very

sitting, Minister Bulkan was granted leave by the Speaker to produce certain documents until the next sitting of the National Assembly,” he declared.

“The public is also aware that Minister George Norton failed to produce the controversial rental agreement for the premises at Sussex Street, rented to store drugs and pharmaceuticals, when requested to do so in the National Assembly. The Speaker gave him permission to send it at a later date to the National Assembly. Two weeks hence, he did not do so”, Nandlall contended.

“However, I am ordered to instantly produce a newspaper to which I made reference during my speech. My request for an hour to do so is summarily dismissed by the Speaker, and I am ordered to withdraw the statement unless I can produce the newspaper instantly. As it turned out, I found the article to which I was referring; it vindicates what I said in my speech.

“In this entire saga, the fact that the Opposition came to the National Assembly that particular day prepared to discuss a completely different agenda, and therefore was unprepared to discuss the President’s Speech conveniently escaped the Speaker. Had I known that I was coming to speak on the President’s Speech, I would have equipped myself with the necessary newspaper clippings upon which I wish to rely. The agenda was changed immediately prior to the commencement to the sitting. In the end, the lack of impartiality and the abuse of power are axiomatic,” Nandlall charged.

Man remanded for beheading neighbour JAINARINE BALGOBIN, called “Payo”, of Lot 370 Belvedere Squatting Area, Corentyne, East Berbice, was on Monday remanded to prison when he appeared before New Amsterdam Magistrate Alex Moore to answer to a charge of murder.

The 39-year-old was not required to plead to the indictable charge, and was remanded to prison until December 12, Turn to page 16 ►

Jainarine Balgobin, called “Payo”

killed: Bhumattie Deolall

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Rice Board GM charged with fraud

By Clestine Juan THE former General Manager of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC), Nizam Hassan, 50, of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, has been jointly charged with Felicia DeSouza-Madramootoo, 34, of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, for fraud committed on the NGMC. Appearing before Chief

to issue an arrest warrant for their arrest.

The charge they face details that between October 28, 2010 and April 25, 2012, they continuously approved payments for construction works which were incompetently and incorrectly done on the GMC building at Robb and Alexander Streets, Bourda, Georgetown, fully knowing that such works should have not been approved for payment.

The duo was not required to plead to the indictable charge, since the three co-accused have not yet been arrested.

DeSouza-Madramootoo is being represented by Attorney Glen Hanoman, while Hassan is being represented

by Attorney Marcel Bobb.

These lawyers both explained that throughout the investigation, their clients have

the defendants be lodged at the court.

The Chief Magistrate released the duo on $250,000 each, and ordered that they each report to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) headquarters every Friday until the case has been determined. The matter stands adjourned until December 7, since the prosecution file is still incomplete.

Less than three weeks ago, SOCU completed its report into the investigations on the construction of the building, which had been contracted out in 2011. A forensic audit report submitted by auditor Saykar Boodhoo back in April has flagged the faulty work on the building.

DEEPER INVESTIGATION The forensic audit report was submitted to Cabinet,

Engineer Hanniel Madramootoo

Magistrate Ann McLennan on Monday, Hassan, currently General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), and DeSouza-Madramootoo, a St George’s Secondary School teacher, stood accused of conspiring with others to approve payments for Constantine Engineering and Construction Limited of Trinidad and Tobago for substandard work done on the GMC building, knowing the work done was poor.

DeSouza-Madramootoo’s husband, Hanniel Madramootoo, project engineer within the Ministry of Agriculture, his brother Philip Madramootoo and his friend Nizam Ramkisson, both directors of Constantine Engineering and Construction Limited, have been jointly charged in connection with the same fraud allegation.

However, these three defendants were not present in court, since they have since fled to Trinidad. This has caused the Chief Magistrate

Felicia DeSouza-Madramootoo

cooperated fully with officers attached to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

According to Attorney Hanoman, the matter was not properly advised by the Director of Public Prosecutions, since it is a civil, and not a criminal, case.

Police prosecutor Inspector Neville Jeffers did not object to bail being granted the defendants, but requested that reporting conditions be attached and the passports of

where it was decided that the findings of the report were serious enough to warrant a deeper investigation, not only into the work done on the building, but also the handling of hundreds of millions of dollars of fertilisers.

The auditor contended that the principals of the company should be charged for using substandard building materials, and be barred from executing projects for the Guyana Government.

The GMC head office at Robb and Alexander Streets, Bourda, Georgetown

Former GMC General Manager, Nizam Hassan

Searches, according to the report, uncovered no trace of the existence of Constantine Engineering and Construction Services, located at #55 Calcutta Road, #2 Freeport, Carapichaima, Trinidad.

The company won the bid for a contract worth almost $24M for the construction of a new building for the GMC head office and the Guyana Shop. On February 10, 2012, the contract was amended to include an additional $7,620,984, for which there was no tender.

The auditor was unable to review the bidding documents, since the head of tender board said he could not find any evidence in his files that showed that the tender board had been involved in the tender process, even though the contract indicated otherwise.

Shortly after the contract was amended, the contractor announced to the GMC that he would be unable to complete the project, and to date, it is unclear how much money was paid to Constantine Engineering. Thus another contractor was called in to complete the electrical wiring and relevant works to the building.

LEAKING ROOF The report said that, within months of the handover, the entire roof of the GMC building was leaking; and as such, a contractor had to be brought in to effect repairs.

It was discovered that “old lumber and old zinc sheets with euroband was used to construct the roof of the building,” the report said. It noted that the bill of quantities of the contract for the construction of the

office building stipulates Greenheart lumber for the floors, walls and frame, and PVC for the two ceilings of the building. However, it was later observed that mixed hardwood, including “second quality lumber”, had been used for the walls, and plywood had been used for the ceiling. Plywood is significantly cheaper than PVC panels.

The audit report said it was the Agriculture Ministry’s engineer who had certified the payment vouchers for the plywood, even though there was no amendment for this material to be used in the construction.

The auditor had, in this regard, recommended that the police be called in “to investigate the fraud of using incorrect materials and fraudulent billing for the construction of the building”.

It was also recommended that since it was the engineer who had certified the payments, “he should be charged criminally, and brought before the courts for his participation in conducting fraud against the Government of Guyana.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2016

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2016

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Sleepin denied casino licence …due to lack of financial soundness, capability

cation.

Persons in the area noted that the casino would taint the image of the community.

One resident noted that while businesses bring benefits to neighbourhoods , a casino was not ideal for Church Street. “The street’s name is Church Street”, she added. Former Chief Magistrate Sleepin International Hotel’s financial soundness and capability have been questioned

THE Guyana Gaming Authority said it has found no evidence of Sleepin International Hotel’s financial soundness and capability to operate a casino and it was for these reason it did not grant the company such a license.

In a statement issued via the Ministry of the Presidency, the authority said that it had received and processed an application made in the name of Sleepin International Hotel and Casino Inc. of Lot 252 Church Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, Demerara, Guyana, South America, dated August 2, 2016 for the granting of a Casino Operator’s License and a Casino Premises License.

“The Authority wishes to state that having received and thoroughly considered the application it unanimously found no evidence upon which it could arrive at a determination that Sleepin International Hotel & Casino Inc. qualifies for the issuance of the licenses applied for, having regard to its failure to provide the Authority with documents evidencing its financial soundness and capability, one of the critical criteria for the granting of such licenses.”

The Authority said it has cited this deficiency as a grave defect in the applications, which necessitates a refusal of the applications for a Casino Operator’s License and a Casino Premises License, since the regulations Section 29 (a) (1) (c) speak clearly and specifically to “the financial soundness and financial capability of the applicant.”

The Sleepin International Hotel & Casino Inc. has been notified accordingly. The

hotel is reported in another section of the media saying it is currently in the process of accumulating the information required by the authority and will be submitting new applications along with this information in due course.

Earlier this year several religious leaders with their places of worship on Church Street had objected to the hotel being granted a casino license to operate there. The Imam of the Queenstown Masjid, Imam Shaheed Mohammed had told the Guyana Chronicle that they were unaware that the hotel would be operating a casino. The hotel is close to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, while another church lies in Albert Street, two doors away from the hotel. Two churches are located on North Road, opposite the hotel. Mohammed had said too that the area is a residential one, adding that the play-park on Merriman Mall should also be considered since it is visited by families almost daily.

SMV Nasseer of the Queenstown Masjid had also opposed the planned move by the businessman.

He said that the matter was one which lies in disregard for the religious organsiations. Nasseer noted that the masjid was one which is frequented by worshippers from all parts of the country, noting that its doors were open late into the nights to facilitate worshippers. He said the news of a casino being set up at the hotel comes as an “insult” to the Islamic community, noting that Islam opposes gambling .He said that the authorities should re-examine the arrangement put in place which granted the businessman license to operate a casino at the lo-

Juman Yassin had penned a letter stating that he could not,” comprehend how a license could be granted for a casino to be opened in this area and more so, how the commission for the licensing of casinos could have granted permission”.

The authority, mandated by laws established back in 2007, is the body which regulates how casinos are run in Guyana and it has

powers to determine the content of how applications are made for casinos, fees, and it also has the power to set conditions for the restriction of licenses. Under the Gambling Prevention Act, only three licenses can be issued in Guyana. Currently, the Ramada Georgetown (Princes Hotel) operates a casino and another casino was touted for opening at the Marriot Hotel.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Build on foreparents’ legacy - President urges Victorians

A schoolchild is overwhelmed as President Granger extends his hands on Monday at Lady Sendall Park, Victoria, East Coast Demerara

Students paid keen attention as President David Granger spoke of Victoria’s history

By Ariana Gordon AMIDST the beating of drums and the display of their deep rooted African culture, the residents of the Village of Victoria were encouraged by President David Granger to look to the future by utilising the legacy their forefathers left behind.

Speaking at the First Village Indaba and the Inaugural National Day of Villages Observation held at Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD), the Head of State made it clear that it was not a history class but a means of encouraging villagers to utilise their resources.

He reminded those gathered, including a large number of school children that when Plantation Northbrook (now Victoria) was first purchased 177 years ago, it was with the future in mind.

“Every household had a kitchen garden… cottage industries -- 120 years ago you had a thriving economy -- so today, I didn’t come to tell you about the history, I didn’t come to tell you about the past, I come to tell you about tomorrow and the future -- that is what National Day of Villages is about, not the past, it is about your future,” said President Granger.

He committed to his administration’s support of micro-enterprise development so that villages across the country can flourish but cautioned villagers against the purchasing of canned and bottled products.

“Use more stuff that is produced right here in Victoria,” he pleaded while stressing that it is not only healthy but will help to sustain the village economy.

“Let us start to produce, grow, sell right here the things that we produce -- we have to promote the development of our own economies if we are to overcome the problems of poverty in our communities.

“We need an economy which is based on increased production of goods in these villages. Today is not only a national day for villages but today is a national day for village economies,” the president declared.

He believes that micro and

macro enterprises development provides an avenue for the employment of youngsters who leave school after completing their secondary education.

“We are going to continue to support village democracy,” said President Granger as he stressed the importance of Local Government Elections.

“You are going to witness Local Government Elections (LGE) again in 2018… If the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) doesn’t perform; put out the NDC… they must know they are responsible to you the residents of these villages to improve the quality of life.”

The President expressed his desire to see the revival of the community’s culture but noted that it is more than singing, dancing and drumming, emphasising the need for mutual respect “… It must start in the schools,” he stated, noting that young boys must respect girls and girls and women respect themselves.

“Culture is about social cohesion,” he stated. He believes mutual respect and camaraderie are all pillars of success.

“I am not talking about the past; I am talking about the future. I am talking about what you need to do if you are to be a rich and prosperous community.”

PRECIOUS GIFT President Granger reminded Victorians that their ancestors have provided them with lots of land and labeled it “a precious gift any parent can give a child…”

Without land there is no life, he said, noting that villagers are the trustees and will pass on the legacy of their foreparents.

“Under that legacy you’d never be hungry,” he declared, noting that it is time that the standards and values of the ancestors are inculcated to take citizens out of the “jaw of poverty and into the land of a good life”.

Meanwhile, the President made it clear that each Guyanese has come out of a village whether that village is located on the coastland or in the hinterland.

He said National Day of

Villages celebrates Plantation Northbrook as it was the first village bought by the freed slaves 177 years ago and noted that it represents the “incubation of the nation”.

“It is as if the nation was born when Northbrook was purchased….That is why I call Victoria, the mother of all villages. It is the first village to be bought on the coastland; it is a landmark,” the President stated.

The purchase of Plantation Northbrook represents the beginning of the Village Movement which was copied in other parts of the English-speaking Caribbean.

“We were the first! This is not something that the academics invented, not something that the Government decided on. Illiterate people decided on their own that this was their pathway to freedom,” the President declared amid consistent cheers from school children and villagers, along with drum rolls.

In 2013, President Granger, then Opposition Leader tabled a motion in the National Assembly calling for November 7 to be designated National Day of Villages. The motion was approved by the House but never assented to by former President Donald Ramotar.

“So today you have the National Day of Villages, and it is not a National Day of African Villages, Amerindian villages, East Indian villages -- it is a national day of villages for all of Guyana, all Guyanese… to celebrate,” he stated.

The President said it is clear that the forefathers were not selfish in their action and described Victoria as the “crib in which our nation was able to take comfort”.

“This Village Movement that was ignited on November 7 here in Victoria was the crib in which our nation was able to take comfort,” he said.

Victoria was likened to a house built on four pillars, home, school, church and farm and the President made it clear that village life was not a walk in the park.

That aside, the President has committed to reprinting a history book printed by William Nicolas Arnold some 50 years ago on the Village,

President David Granger addresses Victorians on Monday during the National Day of Villages observance. Also in the photo are (left) Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes and Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan (centre) noting that a copy of the book should be in the hands of every household in Victoria so that they can appreciate the work of their ancestors.

Also present at the Na-

tional Day of Villages observance were Minister of Public Telecommunication Catherine Hughes; Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan; Minster within the

Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings; and Chairman of the Guyana Post Office Corporation Reverend Raphael Massiah.

Dr. Westford’s trial…

23 cheques were handed over to police

- says Deputy Accountant General A TOTAL of 23 cheques were handed over to the police to facilitate their investigation of an allegation that former Public Service Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford and Personnel Manager Margaret Cummings had defrauded Government of more than $600M. This is according to Jennifer Chapman, Deputy Accountant General of the Ministry of Finance, as she testified on Monday before Magistrate Judy Latchman as the trial of Dr. Westford and Ms. Cummings continued.

Chapman explained that the cheques she handed over to the police dated from August 26, 2011 to March 13, 2015; and contained the numbers, dates, names of payees and the amount each was paid.

She further explained that cheques dated 2011-2014 were returned to the Accountant General’s office by the Bank of Guyana, while a letter had to be sent to the bank for the 2015 cheques for police investigation purposes.

The Deputy Accountant General also pointed out that

inter-departmental warrants were issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Office of the President for the release of those funds by the Ministry of Finance.

These documents are prepared with five copies and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the subject ministry.

The witness in court had given detailed explanation about non sub-accounting agencies and sub-accounting agencies, but noted that the then Public Service Ministry could only have processed small volumes of transactions.

“Transactions are examined and approved by the Accountant General’s Department Examination Division, whereby all cheques are processed by same said department and are collected,” the witness said.

According to Chapman, one of her duties as Deputy Accountant General is to assist the Accountant General with the day-to-day operations of the department which is tasked with management of the integrated and financial system.

The Deputy Accountant General explained that her de-

partment is responsible for the examination and approval of payment vouchers for the non-sub-accounting ministries and agencies.

Asked by State Prosecutor Barker whether she knew Dr. Westford, the witness replied, “Yes”. She pointed out that Dr. Westford was Minister of Public Service from 2011-2015.

Magistrate Judy Latchman has adjourned the matter until November 28, when the Deputy Accountant General will continue to give her testimony.

Andre Albert Dazzell, a Chief Accountant at the Ministry of the Presidency attached to the Department of Public Service, who had earlier testified, is scheduled to return to be cross-examined.

Dr. Westford and Ms. Cummings face 24 charges alleging that they stole more than $639M from the Government of Guyana. The charges state that between October 19, 2011 and April 28, 2015, Westford and Cummings, while being employed at the then Public Service Ministry, stole $639,420,000 belonging to the Government of Guyana, which they received by virtue of employment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

GWI hosts workshop for technical staff - to help boost their water purification skills TWENTY-five members of staff of the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) on Monday began a four-day workshop intended to boost their skills in water purification, and the design and construction of water treatment plants.

The seminar, which specifically targets company engineers, technicians and operators, is being held at the Georgetown Club on Camp Street. Training is being done by officials from neighbouring Suriname.

According to Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles, the workshop is part of an aggressive approach to improve the delivery of quality potable water here.

Noting that only half of the population currently receives treated water, Dr Van Wes-Charles said GWI fully intends to do better for its customers by providing them a better quality of water and service.

He made a point of not-

ing that since his appointment as CEO last October, the quality of water has been

Participants at the GWI workshop on Monday

significantly improved, and that engineers are working continuously to ensure that

it remains so.

He said too that he is currently working with

the University of Guyana (UG) to include courses in its curriculum that

specifically address water engineering and water treatment.

Minister denied assertions made by the Deputy Deeds Registrar that he had given directions for the JSC to appoint Penelope Whyte to the post of Deputy Registrar of Deeds (ag) However, Williams is maintaining that Frank is unsuitable for the post. In his affidavit in response, dated August 26, he has asked for her application for the Writs of Certiorari, Mandamus and Prohibition to be discharged. According to the affidavit, Registrar of Deeds Azeena Baksh, by virtue of a letter dated December 1 and addressed to Williams, indicated that only a Deputy Registrar can act on her behalf when she proceeds on vacation. Baksh, according to the affidavit, suggested a “virtual shutdown” of the authority if she were to proceed on leave and not have a Deputy Registrar in place.

Williams submitted that the suggestion by Baksh was “erroneous, since by virtue of Section 13 (2), the Assistant Registrar of Deeds could perform the functions of the Registrar of Deeds, subject

to her instructions.”

In November 2015, Penelope Whyte, who is said to have 15 years’ experience in the Deeds Registry and 29 years in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, applied to the board for the post of Assistant Registrar of Deeds.

By virtue of a letter dated November 16, 2015, Registry Supervisor of the Deeds Registry, Aretha Quinn, wrote the Secretary of the Board complaining about the trend of sidelining persons for unknown reasons and the need for employees to be treated fairly based on their experience, qualifications, and in accordance with workers’ rights.

As a result of the letters, the board, at its meeting on December 10, 2015, discussed the contents and supported the Minister of Legal Affairs’ proposal to appoint Whyte as the Assistant Registrar of Deeds on the grounds that the holder of the post must have an LLB Degree and two years’ experience in conveyancing; or 10 years’ experience in the authority.

‘I wrongfully sued the AG’

- Zana Frank ZANA Frank, the embattled Deputy Deeds Registrar, has said it was never her intention to maliciously involve Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams in the ongoing matter surrounding her appointment and payment.

In an “Affidavit in Reply” to the High Court, Frank said: “I will contend that I never sought to maliciously involve the Minister, but it is rather the response received from the Human Resource Manager and Secretary of the Deeds and Commercial

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams

Deputy Deeds Registrar, Zana Frank

Registry Authority Board, Shyam Doodnauth, that did implicate the Minister.”

According to Frank, she had enquired about her salary, and in response, the Human Resource Manager advised that she should have consulted with the Legal Affairs Minister on the matter.

“Thus it is correct to say that the Minister does not pay salaries. I never purported to state such, but it is rather Mr. Doodnauth who directed that I should have consulted the Minister, as mentioned in his Letter dated 3rd August,

2016,” she stated.

Frank had, in August, moved to the High Court to have removed the directive preventing her from functioning. The Deputy Deeds Registrar alleged that the Attorney General attempted to block the decision of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to appoint her, but instead influenced the appointment of Penelope Whyte as the acting Deputy Registrar, though she is not an attorney.

However, in an affidavit in answer filed in the High Court, the Legal Affairs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Hackathon 2016...

‘Verizon 75’ takes coveted top prize ‒ next contest set for March 2017

By Vishani Ragobeer AFTER a grueling 48hour non-stop ‘battle of the smarts’ to see who could come up with the goods, ‘Hackathon 2016’ ended Sunday with Team ‘Verizon 75 (V75)’ taking the coveted first prize.

Left to settle for second and third places respectively

were Team ‘Code Ops’ of Suriname and Team ‘Macros’.

Billed as the first ever such event to be held here, ‘Hackathon 2016’, which began at 12:00hrs on Friday, saw eight teams of computer-savvy youngsters vying for the chance to create an Information and Communications Technology

(ICT)-focused product that could aid in Guyana’s national development.

According to ICT Advisor to the Minister of Public Communication, Mr Lance Hinds, the purpose of the competition was to allow for the promotion of Guyanese talent to provide solutions for “real” Guyanese problems.

The winning team, ‘V75’, collect their prize from Minister of Public Telecommunications, Ms Cathy Hughes. At right is GT&T Public Relations Officer Ms Allison Parker

And, judging from the success of this first outing, he’s already set the third week in March, 2017 as the date for the next Hackathon, with mobile giant GT&T already pleading to sponsor this event again.

At the closing ceremony on Sunday, Minister of Public Telecommunications, Ms Cathy Hughes said that having held such an event, she will now be able to show the decision-makers the talent Guyana has, and posit the solutions presented by these young developers.

THE PRODUCTS First and third place winners, who earned $300,000 and $150,000 respectively, both created products which targeted effective incident-reporting platforms.

The winning product, “Tell”, created by V 75, allows for the subscription of various authoritative figures to be connected to certain types of reports. A typical example is the Guyana Pow-

er & Light Inc (GPL) subscribing to reports of power failures in areas.

The second-place product, created by the Surinamese ‘Code Ops’, was proposed to be an easy-touse electronic wallet and transaction service for oldage pensioners, those with disabilities, and the general public.

THE GOAL In addition to the three podium-finishing teams, the five other competitors were ‘Bitboat’, ‘Intellect Storm’, ‘Imperial Fist’, ‘Web & Motion’ and ‘GAJ’.

The teams each had to create an ICT product which targeted real problems in the Guyanese society.

Their goal was to create either a website-based or mobile app solution, or both, to create an effective payment system for oldage pensioners; an agricultural marketing platform; or an incident reporting platform.

Man remanded...

2016.

Balgobin is accused of beheading his 53-year-old neighbour Bhumattie Delall, called “Mommy Gold, last Wednesday moments after threatening to kill her. After committing the act, the accused reportedly took the murder weapon, a cutlass which was over 50 years old, back to the mandir from whence he had taken it, and placed it in front of the murti of ‘Master’.

He reportedly told ranks who arrested him that he was ordered to kill the woman by “Master”, a deity in Madras customs.

In court, the barefooted accused stood staring blankly, and while being led out, a curious bystander asked him

From page 10

if he had committed the act; to which he replied “Yes!” but quickly changed it to “Me nah know”.

Neighbours told Guyana Chronicle that Balgobin started to behave disorderly about a month ago, and was taken to a medical doctor who recommended that he receive psychological help; but his relatives paid no heed.

“When Payo been a trip out mo bad last month time, them ker am a wan doctor who tell dem fuh ker am a mental, but dem nah do nothing. Now he kill somebody.”

The victim’s family is contending that Balgobin knew fully what he had done, and should face the full force of the law.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Essequibians benefit from ‘Jubilee’ home improvement project

Minister Patterson and Vice- Chairman Coonjah at yesterday’s distribution exercise

By Navendra Seoraj TWELVE Essequibo residents have each received $50,000 from the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA’s) “Jubilee Home Improvement Project”.

During the exercise yesterday, Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Ms. Valarie Patterson, disclosed that the project targeted 300 persons living in housing schemes and regularised squatter settlements developed by the CH&PA in nine of the country’s ten administrative regions.

The only reason Region

Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) is not included in the project, the minister said, is because of the unavailability of house lots there. This notwithstanding, she said, 259 persons have been deemed eligible for subsidies.

She explained that after much deliberation and shortlisting, the 12 Essequibians who were chosen were found to have met the criteria that were asked of them.

The minister said priority was given to low-income earners, state employees and young people, and these categories of persons would be the same target groups the ministry would be working

Rape accused placed on bail THREE youths accused of gang rape have each been placed on $250,000 bail with specific conditions when they appeared before New Amsterdam Magistrate Alex Moore on Monday.

The young men are required to lodge their respective travel documents and report to the Albion Police Station every Tuesday and Saturday until the determination of the case.

Unrepresented and unable to post bail, they were remanded to prison.

Particulars of the charge stated on October 23 at Albion, Corentyne, they sexually penetrated a female without her consent.

At Monday’s hearing, the alleged victim indicted to the court that she did not wish to proceed with the matter, but the magistrate advised the

woman to write a statement, which would be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who would then advise on the way forward.

The case is fixed for hearing on December 12 at the Albion Magistrate’s Court, where the matter has been transferred.

Police Inspector Godfrey Playter said the incident occurred when the victim, in the company of the three defendants, left a night spot with the expectation that the young men would take her home.

Instead of doing so, they took her to a house and committed the travesty.

The female managed to escape, and in a semi-nude condition, flagged down a passing vehicle, whose driver took her to the Albion Police Station, where she made a report.

with in 2017.

The minister said the subsidy was granted so that persons could purchase hardware items to develop the physical look of their homes.

As such, some of the recipients have indicated that they would be using the money to extend rooms and parts of their houses, while others disclosed that they would use the money to paint their homes.

Vice-Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Two, Ms. Nandranie Coonjah, and other housing officials from the

Essequibo residents gathered yesterday at the RDC headquarters where the distribution exercise was held

area have said they welcome the initiative, and called on the ministry to continue the good work in providing housing for residents across Es-

sequibo.

Minister Patterson, after hearing the pleas of Essequibo residents for house lots, urged them to start applying for land in

the Onderneeming area, which is earmarked for the construction of duplex houses, as only then would they be eligible to acquire one of the apartments.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 8, 2016

Rattled England face trial by spin against India

By Sudipto Ganguly MUMBAI,(Reuters)--Alastair Cook’s England seem to have neither the form nor the resources to repeat their 2012 heroics against an Indian team determined to cement their top Test rankings in a fivematch series starting at Rajkot tomorrow.

England’s two-Test series in Bangladesh was meant to be a dress rehearsal for their batsmen who are likely to be subjected to relentless spin on similarly turning tracks in India.

Instead, Cook and his men landed with bruised egos, having lost the second Test in Dhaka inside three days to settle for a 1-1 share of the series against the world’s ninth ranked Test team.

They did not look very convincing in their victory in the Chittagong test either but bigger shocks awaited them in Dhaka where they lost 10 wickets in a session, exposing their frailties against spinners on turning wickets.

The last time England toured India in 2012, Cook’s side suffered a thumping loss in the opening test at Ahmedabad but then turned the tables on the hosts to win the four-match series 2-1.

Since then, India have not lost a Test at home, blanking Australia and West Indies, crushing South Africa and

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin(left) and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja took 58 wickets in India’s whitewashing New Zealast seven home Tests against land in September.

South Africa and New ZeaCook accepted his land, will be licking his lips team would go into the at the prospect of bowling series as the underdogs. against the English batsmen.

“It’s a big challenge,” the 31-year-old told reASHWIN-JADEJA porters in Mumbai. “Any COMBINATION time you play the numVirat Kohli’s India can ber one or the number also call on Ravindra Jadeja’s two ranked team in their left-arm spin to provide a foil backyard, who are very for Ashwin, currently the top comfortable in their conranked Test bowler. ditions, it’s a huge task Batting might not prove for us. to be the touring side’s only “It’s a huge challenge challenge in the series. to these guys who have not England’s 2012 success played a huge amount of was built on the heroics of cricket in the subcontinent off-spinner Graeme Swann as a group.” and left-armer Monty That showed in BanPanesar but their slow bowlgladesh where teenage ing resources have thinned. off-spinner Mehedi Hasan The likes of Moeen Ali, claimed 19 wickets in his Gareth Batty, Zafar Ansari or debut series, with 38 of Adil Rashid will have to conthe 40 English wickets jure up something special to claimed by the slow bowlsucceed against Indian’s wristy ers. and nimble-footed batsmen.

Off-spinner RaviThe tourists received a chandran Ashwin, who timely boost with James Anderson cleared to join the test squad in India even though Digicel/Grand Coastal National Golf England’s leading Test wickChampionships… et-taker, recovering from a

Persaud retains men’s title

shoulder injury, will miss the opener in Rajkot.

India’s only worry seems to be at the top of the batting order with openers Lokesh Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan missing the first two Tests while a third injured batsman Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the entire series with a thigh injury.

Batsman Karun Nair and all-rounder Hardik Pandya are vying to make a Test debut in Rajkot, which will be hosting its first Test at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

If England can boast one edge, it might be in its experience using the Decision Review System(DRS).

The DRS, with all its component, will be employed for the first time in a bilateral series in India after years of resistance from the local cricket board which has agreed to accept it on a trial basis.

Shafi who went on to win that division while day-two leader Hilbert Fields could only manage second.

In the 0-9 flight, day-one leader Imran Khan had the better of day-two leader Arjune, to take the flight.

In the seniors category, Phillbert London took the topspot after leading day-one.

Meanwhile,Deo successfully carted off the female trophy after standing up to competition from Webster-who finished second and Myung Ja Kim third.

After the first day,defending champion Webster was leading the charge but Deo’s late surge on day-two ensured that she carted off the title.

On day-one,Jeong Ahyoung got the closest to the pin in the ladies category.

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IT was the Kwakwani combined side who walked away as champions after defeating Team Buckets 14-7 in the first Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) U-18 male three-on-three tournament at the Burnham Court last Sunday.

The team featured two Kwakwani players in Stanton Rose and Jamal Gilkes and two Georgetown players in Timothy Thompson and Jonathan Mangra.

The side’s dominance started from the quarter finals where they left Chasers out of sight by blowing them out 19-7. They would then move on to knock off Royal Titans in the semi-finals 12-7 and then beat Team Buckets in the finals.

M e a n w h i l e , Te a m Buckets left the Road Warriors looking like sick puppies with a 17-8 drubbing in their quarter-final

matchup making for a good first showing. The team was awarded a walkover over Tutorial Combine for their first win.

In the other games, Royal Titans downed Plaisance Warriors 10-8 while Greeks ‘n’ Sneaks defeated Charlestown Tigers. Greeks ‘n’ Sneaks crushed Jaguars 13-4 while Royal Titans defeated Tutorial Surprise in a close win 9-8. Plaisance Warriors left Clutch holding a loss after beating them 21-9.

In earlier matches, Charlestown Tigers defeated Christ Church 15-5. Chasers edged PC Royals 11-9 while Road Warriors had the better of Young Warriors,beating them 5-2.

With the win, the Kwakwani side will be representing Guyana in St. Lucia in February 2017 at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) 3x3 tournament.

Speedboat X1 stun Regal to...

From back page expect over the years from the tournament.

Regal-All Stars batted first and were bowled out for 172 with one ball left in the final over of their innings. For the Regal Side, losing wickets at crucial moments proved disastrous.

They lost opener Richard Latif who was run out

-Deo dethrones Webster

AVINASH Persaud retained his men’s title while Joaan Deo dethroned Shanella Webster on the distaff side in the 2016 Digicel/Grand Coastal National Golf Championships.

After leading on the first day, Persaud had enough left in the tank to stave off the challenges of Munaf Arjune and Ridel Doekoe to take the top prize for another year running.

On day-one, Ravi Ramjit was closest to the pin while Sam Harry picked up the award on day-two.

In the 0-28 net overall, Mahesh Shivraj won top honours after winning on day- two, leaving day-one winner Haresh Tiwari in second place. Both men competed in the 19-29 flight.

In the 10-18 flight, dayone was led by Mohammerd

Kwakwani Combined crowned 3x3 champs!

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for 5 early on and despite recovering to 94-3 in 10 overs they only managed to score 78 runs in the last 10 overs for the loss of 7 wickets.

For Speedboat,Kishore Smith was simply phenomenal with the ball. He had three wickets in the twelfth over that caused Regal to tumble from 109-3 to 111-6.

Regal’s Sachin Singh produced a cameo 31 to help his side to a competitive total before he and the rest of his team were sent back into the dressing room.

It was then Speedboat’s turn to chase and they were brimming with confidence as they seemed up to the challenge.

However,Regal showed some fight by claiming 5 wickets for 100 runs off 11 overs. It was at this point that the left/right combination of Wazir Hussain and Travis Drakes showed their class for speedboat.

The pair put together a 73-run partnership in seven overs in a batting display that belonged to the international stage.

Hussain played a masterful innings finishing with an unbeaten 45 while beating the ball for five sixes. Drakes finished with 37 which in-

cluded two huge sixes which reduced the run chase from 21 off 18 to 9 off 16 in the eighteenth over. His innings also included two fours.

However,it was Hussain’s 45 that saw him taking home the Man- of- the- Match award.

At the presentation ceremony,Speedboat XI collected the $800,000 first prize and trophy while Floodlights received $600,000 and trophy,all compliments of the Trophy Stall.

Jagdesh Persaud was named MVP of the Masters competition for his two hundreds in the preliminary games while Amrit Rai received the award in the Open division. They each received a sparkling gold cricket bat pendant, accentuated with diamond studs, sponsored by Steve’s Jewellery.

The three-day competition was sponsored by Stag Beer, Rubis Guyana, Trophy Stall, Survival Group of Business, Steve’s Jewellery, Clear Waters, Busta Soft Drinks, Rohan Auto Spares, A&R Jewanram Printery, WJ Enterprise and Mike’s Pharmacy, and organised by the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 8, 2016

Rabada seals series lead for Proteas with 5-92

(REUTERS)-Paceman Kagiso Rabada took 5-92 as South Africa completed an emphatic 177-run victory over Australia in the first Test at the WACA yesterday after dismissing the hosts for 361 just before tea on the final day.

The tourists claimed a third successive victory at the WACA after 2008 and 2012 triumphs and a 1-0 lead in the series, which continues in Hobart on Saturday and concludes with a day-nighter at Adelaide Oval.

Australia’s batsmen were unable to cope with Rabada’s pace and swing as the 21-year-old took his fourth five-wicket haul in his ninth test, making light of the absence of South Africa’s injured pace spearhead Dale Steyn.

It was Australia’s first Test defeat at home since that 2012 loss at the WACA and there was more bad news at the end of the day when it was confirmed that opener Shaun Marsh had broken his finger

incredible the way we turned it around and we backed it up on day three. Since day one, it’s just been unbelievable.”

Australia had resumed on 169-4 on Monday and Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc were dismissed before lunch with Peter Siddle following after the break.

Peter Nevill, who finished on 60 not out, and Josh Hazlewood stalled the march to victory with a dogged partnership of 65 before Australia’s number 10 batsman was dismissed Skipper Faf du Plessis kisses Kagiso Rabada for 29 to give Temba Bavuafter the bowler took his fifth wicket ma his maiden Test wicket. against in Perth on the fifth day.

Nathan Lyon extended the tail further with a 21-ball and would not play in Hobart. were 158 without loss before eight before he was trapped South Africa declared on collapsing to 244 all out. in front by debutant spinner “We had some harsh 540-8 after lunch on Sunday, Keshav Maharaj to conclude leaving Australia with an im- words at the end of day one, the match. posing 539-run victory target we were very disappointed “Disappointing,” said or more realistically almost with how we played, and we Australia captain Steve five sessions to bat out for a wanted to come back and Smith. “We need to try and put in a real solid perfordraw. let this performance go and It was a remarkable mance,” said South Africa come out in Hobart and try turnaround after Austra- captain Faf du Plessis. and turn it around.

“The way we responded lia, having dismissed South “We’re going to have to Africa for 242 on day one, was quite ridiculous, it was play better cricket against a quality South African team if we’re going to do it.”

Khawaja had provided the most spirited resistance for much of the innings and

Zimbabwe rally after losing early wickets (REUTERS)-Zimbabwe lost two early wickets but recovered to finish 126 for two at the close on the second day of the second Test yesterday in reply to Sri Lanka’s first-innings total of 504.

Brian Chari and Craig

Asela Gunaratne completing a maiden test century.

Dhanajaya de Silva was before caught and bowled by Zimbabwe skipper Graeme Cremer for 127.

Gunaratne, playing his second Test, made 116 and was the last man out. He was on 91 when the ninth wicket went down and had to watch as No. 11 Lahiru Kumara

fended off the Zimbabwe bowlers before reclaiming the strike and moving to three figures.

Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain Rangana Herath took the wickets of Tino Mawoyo and Hamilton Masakadza in the same over as Zimbabwe’s openers again failed to get their team off to a solid start.

SCOREBOARD

Asela Gunaratne is all smiles after bringing up his maiden Test century against Zimbabwe in Harare on the second day.

Ervine were both 60 not out as Zimbabwe fought back after a poor start when they slumped to 17 for two but the hosts still trail by 378 runs.

Sri Lanka, who won a closely contested first test last week, went from 290 for five overnight to being dismissed just before tea with

SRI LANKA 1st innings (Overnight: 290-5) D. Karunaratne c Williams b H. Masakadza 26 K. Silva lbw b Mpofu 37 K. Perera c Mumba b H. Masakadza 4 K. Mendis c Moor b Tiripano 26 U. Tharanga c H. Masakadza b Cremer 79 D. de Silva c&b Cremer 127 A. Gunaratne st Moor b Williams

116 D. Perera lbw b Cremer 34 R. Herath c Moor b Tiripano 27 S. Lakmal b Tiripano 0 L. Kumara not out 7 Extras (b-9 lb-8 nb-2 w-2) 21 Total (all out, 144.4 overs) 504 Fall of wickets: 1-62 D. Karunaratne,2-66 K. Perera,3-84 K. Silva,4-112 K. Mendis,5-255 U. Tharanga,6-342 D. de Silva,7-396 D. Perera,8-471 R. Herath,9-471 S. Lakmal,10-504 A. Gunaratne

Bowling: C. Mumba 23 - 4 - 80 – 0, D. Tiripano 32 - 4 - 91 - 3(nb-2 w-2), C. Mpofu 23 - 4 - 92 – 1, H. Masakadza 13 - 4 - 34 – 2, G. Cremer 40 - 1 - 136 – 3, S. Williams 8.4 - 1 - 31 – 1, M. Waller 5 - 0 - 23 – 0.

ZIMBABWE 1st innings T. Mawoyo lbw b Herath 3 B. Chari not out 60 H. Masakadza c D. de Silva b Herath 0 C. Ervine not out 60 Extras (b-2 lb-1) 3 Total (for 2 wickets, 35 overs) 126 F a l l o f w i c k e t s : 1 - 1 7 T. Mawoyo,2-17 H. Masakadza To bat: S. Williams, M. Waller, P. Moor, G. Cremer, D. Tiripano, C. Mumba, C. Mpofu Bowling: S. Lakmal 9 - 1 - 23 – 0,R. Herath 11 - 1 - 44 – 2, L. Kumara 6 - 0 - 24 – 0, D. Perera 6 - 1 - 23 – 0, A. Gunaratne 2 - 0 - 5 – 0, D. de Silva 1 - 0 - 4 - 0

after he fell lbw to JP Duminy’s part-time spin three runs shy of his fifth Test century, Australia’s already tough task looked all bar impossible.

Man- of- the- Match Rabada accounted for Mitchell Marsh (26) and Starc (13), both lbw, to take his match tally to seven wickets.

Bavuma, whose brilliant run out accounted for opener David Warner on Sunday, almost claimed another key victim with his first delivery in Test cricket.

Khawaja, on 84, was plumb lbw after the ball hit a crack and thudded into his front pad but the 26-year-old

had overstepped the mark and umpire Nigel Llong called a no-ball.

Lefthander Khawaja had started the morning on 58 and continued to display the same grit and determination that got him through to the close on day four, hitting 11 fours and three sixes in his 182-ball knock.

Duminy’s first delivery skidded into Khawaja’s back pad, however, and the 29-year-old became the second Australian batsman to perish on 97 after Warner in the first innings, the wicket that triggered the collapse.

SCOREBOARD

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 242 (Q. de Kock 84, T. Bavuma 51; M. Starc 4-71) Australia 1st innings 244 (D. Warner 97, S. Marsh 63; V. Philander 4-56) South Africa 2nd innings 540 for 8 decl (J. Duminy 141, D. Elgar 127, V. Philander 73, Q. de Kock 64) Australia 2nd innings (Overnight: 169-4; Target: 539 runs) S. Marsh c du Plessis b Rabada 15 D. Warner run out (Bavuma) 35 U. Khawaja lbw b Duminy 97 S. Smith c de Kock b Rabada 34 A. Voges c de Kock b Rabada 1 M. Marsh lbw b Rabada 26 P. Nevill not out 60

M. Starc lbw b Rabada 13 P. Siddle lbw b Philander 13 J. Hazlewood c Elgar b Bavuma

29 N. Lyon lbw b Maharaj 8 Extras (b-13 lb-11 nb-2 w-4) 30 Total (all out, 119.1 overs) 361 Fall of wickets: 1-52 D. Warner,2-52 S. Marsh,3-144 S. Smith,4-146 A. Voges,5-196 M. Marsh,6-246 U. Khawaja,7-262 M. Starc,8-280 P. Siddle,9-345 J. Hazlewood,10-361 N. Lyon Bowling: K. Rabada 31 - 6 - 92 5(w-3), V. Philander 22 - 7 - 55 – 1, J. Duminy 17 - 1 - 51 – 1, K. Maharaj 40.1 - 10 - 94 - 1(w-1), S. Cook 2 - 0 - 16 – 0, T. Bavuma 7 - 1 - 29 - 1(nb-2).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 8, 2016

Estwick believes Windies cricketers can build on recent Test win

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, (CMC) – Bowling coach Roddy Estwick believes West Indies can build on last week’s Test win over Pakistan and use it to create a new culture in the embattled Caribbean side.

West Indies have endured a lean run of late in the longest format but broke out of their prolonged slump when they beat Pakistan by five wickets in the third and final Test in Sharjah.

Estwick said the victory was more than just a triumph as it had served as a template of how West Indies ought to approach their cricket going forward.

Jason Holder (M) of the West Indies takes the wicket of Younis Khan of Pakistan on day three of the third Test against Pakistan “What we’ve got to do is build on it. We’ve got to make sure that anybody coming into the side now would see a culture of hard

work and discipline and once you can achieve that, [improvements will come],” Estwick pointed out. “[When players] come

in, you don’t sit back, you’ve got to work hard and if you want to stay in the unit, you’ve got to be prepared to work hard and stay disciplined. West Indies cricket is very important to all of us and especially to the people of the Caribbean.

“I know it’s only one game we’ve won but we’ve won because of hard work and proper planning. We’re trying to take the cricket to another level and once we continue to do that, we’ve got a greater chance of success.”

The match was the only success for the Windies on tour after suffering 3-0 whitewashes in the Twenty20 and One-Day Interna-

Spanish court wants Neymar trial over Barcelona transfer (REUTERS)-Barcelona forward Neymar, his parents and two of the club’s executives should stand trial for alleged corruption, Spain’s High Court said yesterday as it wrapped up a fraud investigation into the Brazil international’s transfer to the Catalan team.

The case stems from a complaint by a Brazilian investment group, DIS, which owned part of Neymar’s transfer rights and which alleges it received less money than it was entitled to.

Investigating magistrate Jose de la Mata of Spain’s High Court said in a written ruling that the prosecution had 10

days to decide to go ahead or withdraw their claim - a formality that normally precedes the launch of a trial process.

Barcelona and Neymar’s former club in Brazil, Santos, have come under fire for the way the transfer was completed in 2013.

Investigations have also centred on how Barca allegedly concealed an initial contract to poach the player two years earlier, in 2011.

DIS owned 40 percent of Neymar’s sporting rights when the player’s transfer to Barca went ahead and claims Barcelona hid the real fee and kept it out of the loop in its

dealings.

The club - which has already agreed to pay 5.5 million euros($6.1 million) to Spanish tax authorities in relation to the case - had initially said they paid 57.1 million euros for Neymar but later said the cost was nearer 100 million.

The Spanish court said it was proposing that Neymar, his father-cum-agent Neymar Da Silva Santos and his mother Nadine Goncalves, a 50 percent shareholder of the family company N&N, be tried on a corruption charge.

It also recommended that

Barca’s current chairman, Josep Maria Bartomeu, his predecessor Sandro Rosell, and the club should also stand tried for corruption and fraud.

Santos and its former chairman Odilio Rodrigues may have also committed fraud, it said.

Spanish champions Barca said in a statement its board would appeal the ruling.

The board is surprised and totally disagrees with this ruling and the reasoning behind it,” the club said.

It added that if the trial went ahead it would continue to defend the innocence of all of those being investigated.

IN front of a vociferous crowd, Imam Bacchus Sports Club emerged winners of the DOUBLE ‘D’ and MALL T20 finals played at the Walton Hall ground , last Saturday .

It was their experience and composure that made the difference during several tense periods in the game.

Winning the toss and batting first, Bacchus’s XI were given a solid start by their openers who scored 38 in 6 overs before the first wicket fell.

It was the breakthrough that Walton Hall needed as their bowlers began to make regular in-roads and finally restricted Imam Bacchus’ imposing batting line-up.

In reply,Walton Hall

quickly lost their three former national youth batsmen,Nathan Persaud who top- scored with 23,Latchman Rohit for 08 and Yogeshwar Lall for 17,all in quick succession and were eventually all out for 113 in 19 overs.

On a turning pitch,which proved difficult for strokeplay,off spinner Uvindra Balgobin 3-12 (4 overs) and left arm spinner Navin Bahadur 2-23 (4 overs) exploited the conditions to good effect.

When the host began their run chase the intention was to be aggressive.Regular boundaries within the first six overs saw Walton Hall racing to 48-2. However,when the restrictions ended and with

the introduction of spin, the match swung in Imam Bacchus’ favour.

The limitations of the remaining batsmen were exposed as they attempted to clear the boundary in desperation.In so doing they lost their most accomplished batsmen including Vishwanauth Lall(4), Nanin Bahadur(8) and Navindra Balgobin(2) within five overs as Walton Hall struggled to 67-5 in 11 overs at one stage.

However,despite an entertaining knock by Uvindra Balgobin 28 (2x6 and 2x4) during the latter stages of the innings which proved futile,the host lost their last five wickets for 30 runs and

in the process were all-out for 97 in the 20th over, losing by 16 runs.

The left arm spin of Yogeshwar Lall(3-8)and the medium pace Latchman Rohit(3-17) combined to achieve an exciting victory in a low scoring encounter. Lall’s all-round display earned him the Man-of-theMatch award while the tournaments’ best bowler and batsman were Safraz Ally and Yogeshwar Lall respectively.

The winning team received $60,000.00 and trophy while the runner-up received $40,000.00.

In the third place playoff Ravens defeated Charity by four wickets to earn $10,000.00.(Errol Stephney)

Imam Bacchus Sports Club are Double `D’ and Mall T20 champions

tional series, and also losing the first two Tests of that three-match rubber.

West Indies lost the opening Test in Dubai by 56 runs and the second in Abu Dhabi by 133 runs but despite this, Estwick said the side needed to take heart from the way they challenged Pakistan.

“It should give you confidence. You’ve come to the UAE against the number two side in the world. Not a lot of teams have success here and we managed to push them in all three Test matches,” he noted.

“Obviously it’s a young team but it should give them confidence and it should give them the belief that if they

work hard and are prepared to be disciplined that you can reap the rewards.”

He continued: “It shows that the hard work and fitness they are trying to implement into West Indies cricket is beginning to pay off and it’s a good sign that we came away with a win.

“I thought we played reasonably well in the UAE. We still have a way to go but if we can keep that discipline and work ethic up, I’m sure we’ll be ok.”

West Indies kicked off a one-week preparation camp here on Sunday as they tune up for the Tri-Nations Series against Sri Lanka and hosts Zimbabwe from November 14-27.

Murray handed tough draw in bid to end year number one

By Martyn Herman

LONDON,(Reuters)-Andy Murray’s route to securing the yearend world number ranking looks fraught with danger after the top seed was grouped with Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic for next week’s ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Murray, who reached the number one ranking for the first time yesterday to end Novak Djokovic’s 122-week reign, will begin his group round-robin matches on Monday against in-form Croatian Cilic.

Djokovic, whose form has dipped since he completed his career grand slam by winning the French Open for the first time in June, was placed in an easier-looking group with tournament debutants Gael Monfils and Dominic Thiem and Canada’s Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic.

He has a combined 23-0 career record against that trio, leading Monfils 13-0, Raonic 7-0 and Thiem 3-0.

The 12-times grand slam-winning Serb will open on Sunday against world number nine Thiem.

Murray usurped Djokovic after winning the Paris Masters against John Isner on Sunday, although he was already assured of becoming the 26th player to top the ATP rankings when Raonic pulled out of their semi-final on Saturday.

Djokovic lost to Cilic in Paris at the quarter-final stage.

Murray has strung together 18 consecutive wins and has won his last four tournaments since losing in the U.S. Open quarter-finals to Japan’s Nishikori.

Cilic beat Murray in the Cincinnati final, shortly before the U.S. Open, while Swiss Wawrinka, the U.S. Open champion, has beaten Murray seven times in 16 meetings, including at the Tour Finals last year when he won in straight sets.

Murray holds a 405-point lead over Djokovic but his record at London’s O2 Arena has been unimpressive.

In seven previous appearances he has never reached the final, losing three times at the semi-final stage.Defending champion Djokovic has won the title for the past four years, losing only one round-robin match in that time.

With 1,500 points available for an undefeated champion next week, the tournament could produce a thrilling climax with Murray and Djokovic, who have never met at the O2, facing off in the final for the year-end number one ranking.

“It’s nice to play in London ranked one, but once you are on the court you are not thinking about your ranking,” Murray told the ATP website.

“It’s the top eight players and every match will be tough.”

Full draw: (world ranking in brackets) John McEnroe Group Andy Murray (Britain) (1) Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) (3) Kei Nishikori (Japan) (5) Marin Cilic (Croatia) (7) Ivan Lendl Group Novak Djokovic (Serbia) (2) Milos Raonic (Canada) (4) Gael Monfils (France) (6) Dominic Thiem (Austria) (9) *Top two players from each group contest semi-finals

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 8, 2016

GCF Senior Qualifiers ...

Khan, Thomas and Drayton among top performers

CANDIDATE Master Taffin Khan, Women’s FIDE Master Maria Varona-Thomas, and Candidate Master Anthony Drayton were among those who ended in the top spots when round two of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) Senior National Qualifiers chess tournament concluded last Sunday at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue.

Khan, Thomas and Drayton all ended with the maximum two points, as did Davion Mars, Calvin Giddings, and Chino Chung.Shazeeda Rahim, Aravinda Singh, Robert Neto, David Khan, and Frankie Farley all ended with one point each.

Players like Joshua Gopaul, Joshua Ferdinand and Kristoff Persaud were unable to get off the mark.

Taffin earned his two

of Saint’s and veteran player, David Khan.

Gopaul ended with zero after taking another beating from Giddings, who also carved out a win against Ferdinand. Chung’s first victim was Akili Theophil while he also won against Rashad Hussain.

Singh’s lone point came when she won against Persaud, while David Khan repaired the damage of his loss to Drayton with a win over Nellisha Johnson,while Rahim won from Jessica Callender.

Still to play in the tourna-

Some of the players locked in battle last Sunday.At left is Women’s FIDE Master Maria Varona-Thomas second. Earlier,Farley won points after defeating Singh and national junior second place winner, Robert Neto.

This left Neto to gain his only win in his next game against

Persaud.

Thomas took her two points after receiving a bye in the first round and then winning her match against Farley in the

his first game against Andre Jagnandan.

Drayton gained his victories against former junior chess champion, Joshua Gopaul

Australia must face facts, consequences …There’s no other way to say this. Australia’s cricketers are presently in the grip of the kind of slide that has historically ended careers.

A fourth consecutive defeat, sealed with more than a session to spare by a South Africa side minus AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn, is Australia’s worst run of losses since six in a row in 2013. The coach Mickey Arthur was sacked by Cricket Australia between the fourth and the fifth.

To find another instance of four or more consecutive losses the clock must be wound back all the way to 1984, when the Australian Cricket Board (in its infinite wisdom) scheduled 10 consecutive Tests against West Indies at their mightiest.

Kim Hughes led Australia through five straight defeats before resigning in tears at the Gabba. Allan Border’s first Test as captain was a sixth loss in a row.

Venture further still into the past, to the divisive days of the World Series Cricket split, and another loss of five Tests in a row - four to Mike Brearley’s England and one to a Sarfraz Nawaz-inspired Pakistan in 1978-79.

Graham Yallop - having predicted a “six-nil” Ashes victory - was relieved of his command after a 5-1 series defeat. Hughes was duly in command for the Pakistan loss at the MCG, during which time Kerry Packer and the board chairman Bob Parish met to discuss a much-needed truce in the cricket war.

What does all this say?

That the system can only take so much strain before it breaks.

Another recent example of

they were working and how great their attitudes were. This extended not just to the players but also to support staff including David Saker, Graeme Hick and Lehmann’s old state teammate Greg Blewett - nominally the fielding coach.

“They do all the prep, they’re great young men, they’re trying to do as well as they can for Australia each and every time, it’s just a case of making little mental lapses at times,” Lehmann had said.

“Collectively we’re always Australia fell to another Test loss on the final pretty positive, but stats will day in Perth © - place fresh scrutiny on de- show we haven’t batted as well course is the summer of 2010cision-making in the halls of as we would have liked the last 11.

CA’s Jolimont headquarters. few Test matches. There’s no hiding the fact we’ve got to Three innings defeats in the one Ashes series, while Intriguingly, the CA board bat better.

“There’s always pressure not consecutive, humiliated recently hosted a presentation Australian cricket at home. by the New South Wales chair- when you’re coaching your those results ushered the end of man John Warn and chief ex- country or playing for the Ricky Ponting’s captaincy, Tim ecutive Andrew Jones on how country, that’s why the guys Nielsen’s coaching tenure and they turned around the fortunes have got to where they’ve the breaking up of the selection of the game’s most populous got to. They’ve been brilliant panel chaired by the part-timer state. Independent governance doing all the work behind the Andrew Hilditch. at director level should ensure scenes and playing at the level Those changes were CA’s CEO, James Sutherland, below, now they’ve got to do it at this level.” wrought by the Argus review, is kept on his toes.

True as this all is, the fact a major undertaking that enSo too should a mood shrined numerous alterations for change at senior executive is that the Australian team is to how the national team was level - Kate Banozic and Mike not a club side defined by how run.

McKenna have gone, while the well everyone gets along with Five years on, and that docformer board director Kevin each other. It is a representative ument still takes pride of place Roberts has come in, alongside team brought together to win in the personal collection of the a newly promoted head of fi- matches. As one former captain said recently: “If you ask me to team performance manager Pat nance in Todd Shand.

Howard, among others.

Pressure too, must fall on choose between a happy team But as already discussed, the coach Darren Lehmann, de- and a winning one, I’ll take the the mixed priorities illustratspite his recent signing of a re- winning one every time.”

Australia have passed the ed by the move of the first newed deal to see him through point where they can keep Test of the summer from the to 2019. Earlier in this match, Gabba to the WACA, and the he offered up familiar homilies whistling merrily towards scheduling of a solitary Shefto ABC Radio about the quality defeat. There should be confield Shield match - under of the individuals currently in sequences, and soon. (ESPN lights with a pink ball at that the dressing room, how hard Cricinfo)

ment is bigwig Wendell Meusa.

Meusa, who recently secured his transfer from Barbados Chess Federation to the local entity, will aspire to retain the crown for the third time. He has chalked up a FIDE rating of 1967 and is the highest local FIDE rated player.

The tournament is being run on a round-robin format and will resume sometime during the week. The organisers said that the current venue will be unavailable and they are scouting a replacement before ascertaining the next playing days.

Australian opener Marsh out of second test ...Burns, Ferguson called up

(REUTERS)- Australia will need a new opening partnership when they look to turn around their fortunes in the second Test against South Africa after Shaun Marsh was ruled out with a broken finger yesterday.

Cricket Australia announced after Australia had lost by 177 runs at the WACA that Marsh would require surgery on the digit and Joe Burns and Callum Ferguson would join the squad for the Hobart test, which starts on Saturday.

Burns will almost certainly replace Marsh in the opening partnership with David Warner, while Ferguson has been called up as potential cover for middle order batsman Adam Voges, who has suffered a hamstring injury.

Australia are perhaps fortunate that there is such a short gap between Tests given the navel-gazing that is likely to follow their first defeat in the opening Test of a home Summer for 28 years.

Captain Steve Smith had plenty of food for thought after Australia, having bowled out South Africa for 242 on day one, lost 10 wickets for 86 runs on day two to crash from 158 without loss to 244 all out.

“We weren’t able to capitalise from there and they were able to claw their way back,” Smith said.

“It’s obviously disappointing, we’ve had a few collapses in recent matches when we’ve had a chance to really drive the game so it’s something we’ve got to look at and something we’ve got to try and improve on.

“We need to try and let this performance go and come out in Hobart and try and turn it around. We’re going to have to play better cricket against a quality South African team if we’re going to do it.”

Joe Burns

There had already been some raised eyebrows when, clearly heading for defeat, Australia announced on Sunday they would be taking the same 12-man squad to Hobart.

That left them with the single option of bringing in uncapped seamer Joe Mennie, presumably for Peter Siddle, if they wanted to change their line-up.

That changed with Marsh’s injury but it is the middle, not top order batting, that has most let Australia down and all-rounder Mitch Marsh, who took 2-100 and scored 26 runs in Perth, is perhaps fortunate not have been dropped.

Australia have now lost their last four Tests after a 3-0 sweep in Sri Lanka in July and August and another defeat at home in Hobart is sure to trigger a full-blown crisis.

Squad for Hobart: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Callum Ferguson, Peter Nevill (wk), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Peter Siddle, Joe Mennie, Nathan Lyon

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 8, 2016

World Chess Championship officials sue to stop pirating of match

By Laila Kearney

NEW YORK,(Reuters)-Organisers of the World Chess Championship sued yesterday to block a trio of website operators from distributing footage of the Nov. 11-30 match in New York, which is expected to draw millions of online viewers.

The lawsuit, filed by World Chess U.S. Inc and World Chess Events Ltd in Manhattan federal court, seeks to limit the operators from streaming the 12-game contest between world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia.

Instead, the tournament organisers want to protect their exclusive rights to air the event run under the auspices of the International Chess Federation, or FIDE. “These entities expend

World chess champion Magnus Carlsen no time, effort, or money ical Thinking Ltd were not of their own in organizing, immediately reachable for producing, or hosting the comment.

While spectators will chess events for the World Championship and instead watch the tournament from reap economic benefit from the venue in lower Manhatfree-riding on the work and tan, most professional chess effort of World Chess,” the tournaments are viewed over the internet. That makes lawsuit said.

The defendants, Chess- streaming of the events parg a m e s S e r v i c e s L L C , ticularly important, organE-Learning Ltd and Log- isers said.

The match between the grandmasters, both in their 20s and competing for a $1 million prize, will be streamed live in 360-degree Virtual Reality (VR), a first in any sport.

The feature, in which users are meant to feel more immersed in the game, costs $15 per user, but the company will also provide moves and analytics as a separate product free of charge.

Match organisers said in September that the virtual reality feature is part of a long-term goal to increase profits off of chess matches by making the games more interactive online.

The World Chess Championship has been held in an official capacity since the late 1800s. Its global popularity in the pre-internet era peaked in 1972 during the Cold War when American

Bobby Fischer defeated Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union in Reykjavik, Iceland, for the world crown.

The 1995 match between then world cham-

pion Garry Kasparov of Russia and Viswanathan Anand of India was the last title contest to be held in the United States - in New York’s World Trade Center.

Challenger Sergey Karjakin

Brathwaite looks to first-class cricket for Windies development WEST Indies vice-captain, Kraigg Brathwaite, is of the belief that the development of the Digicel Regional 4-Day season as key to any success the West Indies may have in the future.

Brathwaite, who steered the West Indies to a five-wicket win over Paki-

stan in Sharjah recently with a historic unbeaten performance including a century and half-century, said the players needed to return to the regional competition to continue honing their craft during what is a break for the West Indies.

“We have a good group

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday November 08, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & the City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Kraig Braithwaite-328 runs (2) Devendra Bishoo-18 wickets Today’s Quiz: (1) How many times Pakistan has now defeated the WI in Tests?

(2) How many times the WI has won against PAK in Tests?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Kraigg Brathwaite celebrates his century on day three of the third test between Pakistan and West Indies at Sharjah Cricket Stadium

of young guys so it’s important for us to keep working,” he told reporters after his 60 not-out brought West Indies their only win against Pakistan.

The victory for the West Indies, was the first in 19 months of cricket and the first overseas in four years.

But now, there is a layoff that could put the West Indies right back where they started, struggling for positive results.

“Obviously we have five months before the next Test series [but] we have first class cricket going on back home when we get back so it’s key for all the guys to go there and keep working hard,” said Brathwaite.

According to Brathwaite, whose 142 not-out in the first innings and 60 not-out in the second made him the first opener in history to go

unbeaten throughout a Test match, was well supported

by Jason Holder’s 5-30 in the second innings, and Devendra Bishoo’s 4-77 along with Shannon Gabriel’s 3-67 in the first, believes the performances of the team showed all that was needed was hard work.

“The same things you want to do in the Tests you do there so that when you come for the next Test series you will be ready and looking to win games.”

Roston Chase scored a half-century in the first innings of the Sharjah Test, while Shane Dowrich scored 47 before returning to go unbeaten on 60 along with Brathwaite.

Both those players are expected to play in the Regional 4 Day, which begins on Friday, November 11.(Sportsmax.com)

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 8, 2016

GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships…

Pepsi Hikers dominate male category, Pizza Hut GCC captures ladies title THE Pepsi Hikers entertained the crowd on the final night of the GTT National Indoor Championships with a master class of hockey ending with an 8-1 defeat of Bounty GCC. The Pizza Hut GCC did similar damage to the Woodpecker Hikers in the women’s final which ended 7-1 while the Old Fort Supersonics and Vintage carted off the veterans title.

The Pepsi Hikers seemed to know what their opponent was doing and scored several goals after stringing together a series of precise passes to mesmerise Bounty’s defence.

While GCC opted to use their individual skills to try to penetrate a rock solid Hikers defence, the Hikers speed in their counter-attack coupled with pin-point accuracy in their passes made them unstoppable on the evening.

National midfielders Jamarj Assanah and Aroydy Branford, both of whom would have benefited from a 6-month hockey stint in the UK earlier this year, showed their class with both players scoring hat-tricks. Seasoned

Pizza Hut GCC ladies after winning their title campaigner Randy Hope managed a double to round out the 8 goals for the Hikers.

Bounty GCC managed to scramble one goal back in the dying moments of the match through Kevin Spencer but was never truly in contention as the Hikers cruised to their 8-1 victory.

The Pizza Hut GCC ladies were also in a class by themselves as they seemed hardly challenged by the Woodpecker Hikers. Traditional defender Vanessa Pires was given the reigns by her coach to play on the

forward line and she delivered in fine fashion for the champs with a match-leading hat-trick.

After a Pires opening strike and one each from Gabriella Xavier and Sonia Jardine, the Hikers’ Latacia Chung saw her shot completely fooled goalkeeper Natalie Hing and rolled ever so gently into the GCC’s goal for a 3-1 score by the half. The Pizza Hut ladies stormed back with four unanswered goals in the second half, two from Pires, one from Xavier and one more from veteran striker Tricia

Wins for Soesdyke Falcons, Grove and Agricola SOESDYKE Falcons mauled CV Jaguars 101, while Grove beat Kuru Kururu Warriors 4-1 and Agricola secured a walkover victory from Diamond when play in the Guyana Football Federation/NAMILCO National Under-17 Intra-Association competition continued on Saturday last at the Grove Playfield, Grove, East Bank Demerara, Soesdyke Falcons’ huge margin of victory was spearheaded by Kelsey Benjamin who netted a hat-trick in the 16 th, 78 th and 79 th minutes with support from the Khan siblings, team captain Tyrone and Tyrell.

Tyrell scored in the 11th and 44th minutes, while Tyrone blasted the nets in the 23rd and 58th minutes.

Lerone Prince (54 th ), Nickolas Billison (75th) and an own-goal closed off Soesdyke’s scoring while Circuit Ville Jaguars got their consolation strike from Melon Joseph in the 70th minute.

The main supporting game saw the home team (Grove) maintaining their unbeaten record with a 4-1 triumph over Kuru Kururu Warriors while

Kelsey Benjamin (3rd left) starts to celebrate after scoring his first goal against CV Jaguars.

Buxton United made Agricola gained full points without breaking a sweat since their light work of the home team opponent, Diamond United, (Golden Grove), winning by a 5-0 margin through goals failed to show up for the match.

Grove brushed aside the from Tironi Semple who challenge of the Warriors scored in the 68th, 72nd and through goals from Kevin 75 th minutes, while Joshua Padmore in the 29th minute, Liverpool and Leslie Durant Rasheed Evans in the 60th, Ja- supported with a goal each masi Benjamin in the 77th and in the 25th and 55th minutes Threvon Pluck two minutes to respectively.

Mahaica Determinators full time.

KK Warriors were able beat Bachelors Adventure/Parato pull one back through dise 3-0 with the winning goals Jonathan Bailey who found coming off the boots of Orland the back of the opposition’s Adonis in the 20th and 25th minnet in the 30th minute which utes and one from a Rickford actually tied the match at 1-1 Profit 60th minute strike.

Ann’s Grove then made but never threatened after, as light work of Buxton Youth Grove ran riot.

Meanwhile, in the East Developers,winning by a 4-0 Demerara Football Associa- margin.For the victorious tion Leg of the tournament, Ann’s Grove side, Maurice Buxton United, Mahaica De- Adams netted a brace in the terminators, and Ann’s Grove 42nd and 44th minutes while all recorded victories when the Yohance France supported League continued at the Golden with a brace of his own in the 50th and 52nd minutes.

Grove ground.

Fiedtkou to pull off the 7-1 win.

T h e G C C Vi n t a g e found themselves against the ropes in their veterans clash against the Hikers but managed to pull off the win with two goals in the final ten minutes to separate the teams by one. The 5-4 victory for Vintage came through a deuce of goals each from MVP Dwayne Scott and Philip Fernandes while Patrick Edghill added a single. Devin Munroe and Timothy Jonas each scored a pair of goals to make up the Hikers’ four.

The most competitive match of the evening probably was the men’s second division final where the score line seesawed throughout the match with Old Fort’s Jael Gaskin deciding the match in the final minute with a powerful first-time shot into the GCC net for a 4-3 win.

On the individual end of things the most promising male player was Hilmar Chester (Saint Stanislaus College), while Spartan’s Makeda Harding took the female class.

In second division ac-

tion,GCC Pitbulls’ Kareem McKenzie was the leading goal-scorer with David Williams (Old Fort Supersonics) being adjudged the best goalkeeper and Omar Hopkinson the Most Valuable Player.

In the veterans division Devin Munroe of Hikers scored the most goals while the Vintage duo of Rawl Davson and Dwayne Scott picked up the best goalkeeper and MVP awards respectively.

On the ladies end, Most goals scored award went to Kerensa Fernandes (Pizza Hut GCC), Best Goalkeeper was Briawna Gordon (Spartans) and the MVP was Dominique DeGroot (Spartans).

Aroydy Branford (Pepsi Hikers) scored the most goals in the men’s first division with Anthony Cole (Old Fort Ravens) being adjudged the best goalkeeper and Pepsi Hikers’ Robert France taking the MVP.

Pepsi Hikers ruled the roost in the Male category of the GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships

LICB congratulates young fast bowler Alzarri Joseph THE Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB) has offered congratulations to young Antiguan fast bowler, Alzarri Joseph on his signing of a retainer contract with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

Joseph is one of 12 players who has been retained by the WICB for the period ending September 2017.

In a release, the LICB listed Joseph’s accomplishments while hailing the player’s recent elevation.

“The Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB) would like to congratulate Alzarri Joseph on being one of the 12 players who has received a central contract with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for a period of one year.

Central contracts for WICB male cricketers range from US$100,000 to US$150,000,” it read.

“Joseph has represented Antigua & Barbuda at the Under 13, under 15, under 19 and the senior

Alzarri Joseph team. Joseph was also a member of the West Indies under 19 squad which captured the ICC Youth World Cup in Bangladesh earlier this year. He played his first Test Match against India in August 2016.”

Joseph has played 10 first class matches for the Leeward Island Hurricanes. To date, he has taken 27 wickets with a best bowling performance of seven for 46. Joseph was part of the West Indies team which defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the third Test match in which Pakistan won 2-1,” the release said.

The LICB also highlight-

ed the emphasis placed on the development of regional players by the WICB through its Professional Cricket League (PCL).

“There are 90 additional players on contract for the six franchises and their salaries range from US$15,600 to $30,000.

“The Digicel Sports Max 4-Day Professional Cricket League begins this Friday, November 11 to 14th with the Leeward Island Hurricanes taking on the Barbados Pride at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium in St Kitts.

The Super 50 is scheduled for January to February 2017,” it said.

Kieran Powell will captain the Leeward Island Hurricanes and his vice-captain will be Rahkeem Cornwall.

Nineteen- year old Joseph landed a central contract along with 22-year-old batsman Shai Hope and 24-year-old left-arm spinner Jomel Warrincan who are all first time contracted players.(Antigua Obsever article).

World Chess Championship officials sue to stop pirating of match (See Story on page 26 )

Speedboat X1 stun Regal to win Guyana Softball Cup 6

By Daniel Haynes

IT was nothing but hard work and a touch of class for the men of the Speedboat XI,, who stunned the Regal All-Stars to win the Open Category of the

Guyana Softball Cup 6 on Sunday.

The match, which was played at the Demerara Cricket Club ground,embodied the excitement fans had come to See page 22

Man- of- the- Match Wazir Hussain collects his prizes The Speedboat team celebrate after dethroning Regal All Stars in the final

Digicel/Grand Coastal National Golf Championships‌

Persaud -Deo retains men’s title dethrones Webster

The Digicel/Grand Coastal Guyana Open Golf Classic winners stand with Digicel CEO,Kevin Kelly (See story on page 22) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Kwakwani Combined crowned 3x3 champs!

(See Story on page 22 )

L-R Jamal Gilkes, Jonathan Mangra, Stanton Rose and Timothy Thompson TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2016