Guyana chronicle e paper 08 16 2017

GRA says tax collection up by 13% Page 8

Venezuelan soldiers rob Guyanese No. 105006

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 16, 2017

Price: $80 (VAT Inclusive)

…say had no food supplies in 45 days ■ Page 3

Questions abound …over escape of occupants from mystery plane

Gov’t commits $1M to help child with liver tumour Page 16

Page 2

Gaming body to visit Sleepin today Page 13

…owner says unaware of money-laundering probe An aerial view of the swamped area where the Brazilian-registered aircraft was found on Sunday

Guyana records 92% pass rate at CAPE ■ Page 8

12-yr-old raped by taxi driver in Linden Page 10

Questions abound 2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

– over escape of occupants from mystery plane – gov’t concerned, promises full probe

By Alva Solomon NUMEROUS questions are being raised over the police’s account that the occupants of an aircraft that landed on an illegal airstrip in the Rupununi on Sunday escaped, even as government promises a full investigation and expresses concerns over the incident.

Top security sources told the Guyana Chronicle that an aerial survey of the area shows that it would have been very difficult for anyone to escape as the area is surrounded by swamp and a cluster of trees. “From all appearances someone might have ushered these guys out of the area,” the source said, adding that contrary to initial reports five men were onboard the aircraft, the pilot, co-pilot and three other occupants.

Commander of ‘F’ Division, Ravindradat Budhram, in an invited comment to the Ministry of the Presidency on Monday, said that having received information from an unnamed source that the airstrip was being used, investigating ranks visited the site and were leaving the area when they observed an aircraft circling some distance away. The aircraft landed while the ranks were making their way back to the airstrip, Budhram reported. He said the ranks reported that they saw some persons running into the bush. Commander Budhram said that following the discovery of the plane an extensive search was mounted by a Joint Services team for the men, who had been observed fleeing. That search continues.

The Divisional Commander noted that a search

of the area unearthed three abandoned camps, in which canned food and other items were found. Additionally, 16 ten-gallon containers, which are suspected to have contained aviation fuel, were also discovered. During the search of the aircraft, several pieces of communication equipment, including cellular phones, flashlights, a quantity of dried ration, medical supplies and an identification card were discovered. The discovery of the airstrip and aircraft follows the discovery of another illegal airstrip in Yurupukari, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) in September 2015.

Investigations later revealed that the CESSNA plane had originated in Colombia. Guyana’s vast land and airspace makes the country vulnerable to transnational security threats.

A Beechcraft, bearing registration PR-IMG, which matched those of the aircraft found near Santa Fé on Sunday night, taking off from a Brazilian aerodrome in June 2016 (Photo by Evandro Filho)

The Beechcraft King Air 350 on the ground in the Rupununi (MoPT photo)

Budhram also stated that the 5,400-foot long, 45-foot wide airstrip appeared to have undergone recent repairs. The strip in question was destroyed by the GDF only a few years ago. Furthermore, it is located approximately five miles from another illegal airstrip, which

was discovered two weekends ago by a GDF patrol that was on a reconnaissance mission at the time.

The aircraft, a Beechcraft Super King Air 350, bears registration PR-IMG, which is reportedly tied to an investment bank in Brazil.

Information suggests that the

firm leased the aircraft to a Rio-based company. However, security officials said it is quite possible that the operators of the aircraft could be using false registration details. The official said this is the normal modus operandi of drug traffickers. Several checks made Online on flight data websites revealed that the last registered flight of the 27-year-old Beechcraft was on August 9. Additionally, images available Online match those of the aircraft, including its livery. Online data also provided a brief insight into the aircraft’s history. In the past, its certificate was suspended by the Brazilian authorities for reasons unknown. The aircraft is expected to be flown to the coastland after engineers declare it fit to operate.

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), for its part, said it is probing the authenticity of the Brazilian registration number attached to the aircraft. GCAA DirecTurn to page 8 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Venezuelan soldiers rob Guyanese …say had no food supplies in 45 days

…issue apology to Joint Services

By Alva Solomon RESIDENTS of White Water Village, an Indigenous community close to the Venezuela border, are calling on the authorities to establish a police outpost in the area following a robbery committed by a group of Spanish-speaking soldiers last week.

The incident occurred during the day last Wednesday within the North West District village lands, located within two miles of the Amacuro River which separates Guyana from neighbouring Venezuela. Toshao of White Water, Cleveland De Souza, told the Guyana Chronicle that the incident occurred at the Kurasima Creek, a busy spot within the village where persons usually trade items.

Kurasima Creek is a tributary of the Amacuro River.

Following the incident, a team of Joint Services ranks who are stationed at Mabaruma, Region One’s only town and administrative capital, travelled to the border and confronted the Venezuelans.

The Spanish soldiers told their Guyana counterparts that they were hungry and that no food was supplied to them for 45 days. They then issued an apology to the Joint Services.

De Souza said that prior to Wednesday’s incident, he had received reports that the Venezuelan soldiers were at two locations along the border harassing Guyanese

Indigenous Warraus. He explained that each Sunday, the Heart of Palm packaging company , AmCar, which is based in Region One (Barima-Waini) , would send an agent to White Water at an area called “Gajah Landing“ to purchase the palm product known as “cabbage” from the Warraus. He said that the Indigenous group would travel to the area and sell their products to the AmCar agent.

He noted that the village council had received reports that one Sunday in July, the Venezuelan soldiers had ventured up a creek inland to White Water and took away food stuff which the indigenous traders had bought with the proceeds of their Heart of Palm trade. “”They stopped the people and took away their things, while armed,” he said.

The armed soldiers repeated the act last Wednesday and De Souza said the police at the Mabaruma Police Station were notified.

The Officer-in-Charge, along with several police ranks and a team of soldiers from Camp Everad near Mabaruma , travelled into White Water on Friday, two days after the incident.

Accompanied by the villagers, the team ventured into the creek where the incident had occurred. Reports are that the team then headed farther to the Amacuro River and spoke with the Venezuelan military ranks stationed there.

“They made the excuse that they were hungry and had no food,” De Souza said, noting that the incident has left the village in fear.

After the incident, the Joint Services ranks camped out at White Water over the weekend and returned to Mabaruma on Monday.

A resident of the village noted that persons are fearful, especially at nights.

She said that the border is within walking distance of the village and businessmen are concerned that elements from Venezuela would attack the village at any given moment. “They call them sindicatos (bandits) and we know how the situation is over in Venezuela,” De Souza said.

Reports are that two armed men were spotted in the village at a shop one night last week and residents quickly closed their doors. The men in the village scoured the area for the men but came up empty –handed.

In recent months, scores of persons who migrated to Venezuela in the past, have been returning to the North West District, some of whom have set up small businesses in the region. Venezuela’s economy has been in turmoil over the past three years.

Tensions are high in Caracas as pro-government and opposition supporters of President Nicolas Maduro clash over the state of the Bolivarian Republic’s economy.

According to an Al Jazeera report published in

‘Gajah Landing’, an area within White Water Village in the North West District where traders congregate on Sundays (Photos by Alva Solomon)

Guyanese soldiers confront their Venezuelan counterparts at the Amacuro River border last Friday

May this year, Venezuela is experiencing the worst economic crisis in its history, with an inflation rate of over 400 percent and a volatile exchange rate.

According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) figures, in 2016, the country had a negative growth rate

of minus eight percent, an inflation rate of 481 per cent, and an unemployment rate of 17 percent that is expected to climb to 20 percent this year.

Over the past decade, it has been the region’s poorest performer in terms of growth of GDP

per capita, even though the country sits on the world’s largest oil reserves. Oil prices have been falling since 2014, which has left the economic system unable to maintain the system of subsidies and price controls that functioned during the oil boom years.

Teen killer remanded

RYAN Singh, 30, the man who is accused of murdering his teenage girlfriend was on Tuesday, August 15 charged with her murder.

Singh appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the S i s t e r s M a gistrate’s Court, East Bank Berbice, where he was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated on July 29, 2017 he allegedly murdered Parbattie Lakhpaul called “Rosanna”, 17 at their Number 2 Village , East Canje place of abode.

Ryan Singh being escorted by police following his court appearance

After reportedly committing the act, Singh fled the jurisdiction but was apprehended by Suriname authorities in the neighbouring country on August 9, 2017. The matter was transferred to the

New Amsterdam Court.

He will return to court on September 26. Meanwhile as the accused exited the court, Singh who showed no remorse, shouted that the victim’s mother should “go find the killer”.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Creditor trying to force Dynamic Airways into liquidation New rice variety still being pursued – GRDB Head THE Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is still in pursuit of a new variety of rice, which is expected to bring better yields to rice farmers across the country.

Although tight-lipped on the entire developmental process, GRDB General Manager, Allison Peters, said that the new variety is under close watch by scientists at the research station.

“There is a variety that the plant breeder is working on; we don’t want to show our hand before it is ready because, you know, seed paddy and developing a new variety takes several seasons.

It’s at a stage where we are cultivating it in farmers’ fields and we are looking at how its behaving in those fields, but we can’t tell you next season, we can’t tell you the season after, but its soon.” Peters said.

Most recently, a GRDB team held an outreach in

Region Six where they discovered that farmers were using a Brazilian variety commonly known as ‘100 day’ to produce paddy. The farmers praised the Brazilian variety, highlighting that it requires less field maintenance, attention and has a shorter yielding period. The farmers also pointed out that the overall results are usually better when compared with local varieties. However, the general manager (GRDB) told the farmers that the Brazilian rice variety is an illegally imported brand with serious implications for the local rice crop.

The new variety is likely to eliminate the use of smuggled brands of rice paddy from other countries, as it promises greater yields, less risk of the paddy bug and other crop diseases. Earlier in the year, the GRDB had projected that this new variety could be expected by 2018. (DPI)

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A TOP, unsecured creditor of bankrupt Dynamic International Airways LLC is attempting to force the High Point charter airline into liquidating its assets.

Dynamic, which specialises in low-cost international service to the public, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection July 19. It is not clear how many employees Dynamic has.

The bare-bones filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of N.C. came about seven weeks after Dynamic had lost a legal fight in a U.S. District Court for the Middle District. Since declaring bankruptcy, the airline has continued normal operations through funding from a credit facility. PMC Aviation LLC of Greensboro is owed US$1.19 million, representing an arbitration judgment reached in April that Dynamic disputes.

Dynamic says its filing was prompted by recent arbitration judgments against the company that it is challenging under the International Commercial Arbitration Act. PMC claims in its motion for liquidation that Dynamic “is suffering from millions of dollars of continuing losses...

The debtor has been grossly mismanaged.”

Dynamic lists between 200 and 999 creditors, assets between US$10 million and US$50 million, and liabilities between US$50 million and US$100 million. The company projects funds will be available for distribution to unsecured creditors. “The losses are stripping the estate of any meaningful assets to be distributed to the non-insider

Chapter 11 filing is aimed at benefiting its financier, Kenneth Woolley, at the expense of unsecured creditors. PMC’s motion is being opposed by unsecured creditor Worldwide Flight Services Inc. of Jamaica, N.Y., which is owed US$123,773. Worldwide, a supplier of airport ground-handling services, said in its motion, filed Thursday, that it has

other protections from the bankruptcy court. Paul Kraus, the company’s chief executive, said in a statement that bankruptcy protection “will enable us to continue to serve our customers, keep our team employed and work with our vendors while we navigate through the challenges presented.” Tony Plath, a finance professor at UNC Charlotte, said Dynamic likely opted for bankruptcy protection “to delay the creditor’s ability to collect on the judgment and the manner in which collection is achieved.”

How successful the strategy may be, Plath said, “depends on how receptive the bankruptcy judge is to their argument, and how willing the creditor is to agree to Dynamic’s proposal to change the remittance of payment against the judgment.” Dynamic’s largest unsecured creditor is Air India Inc. at US$10.5 million from another arbitration award that Dynamic disputes. B.K.P. Enterprises & Expim International of Greensboro, was awarded a combined US$3.49 million arbitration judgment in December that Dynamic also disputes. (Winston-Salem Journal)

Dynamic Airways has filed for bankruptcy protection

unsecured creditors,” PMC claims. “There is no reasonable likelihood of rehabilitation.”

PMC claims Dynamic officials have “materially misrepresented its financial position” to the U.S. Transportation Department, which it said has put Dynamic’s certificates for charter services “in jeopardy.”

PMC also claims Dynamic’s

reached a services agreement with Dynamic that has been maintained through Wednesday.

Worldwide said its opposition centres on concerns that if Dynamic is forced into liquidation, it will not be able or willing to meet its operational agreement with Worldwide.

It is requesting payment and

Second phase of Kitty seawall sinkhole on stream

THE second phase of the Kitty seawall sinkhole project is 20 percent complete.

This is according to senior engineer of the project, Sherod Parkinson.

In a telephone interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Sherod Parkinson explained that the one-month-old project has entered its second phase.

This stage includes work on the Sandel Place End road (Vlissengen Road) where a box culvert is being built for effective drainage. “With good weather, the second phase should be completed in the next two weeks,” Par-

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kinson said. The sinkhole developed last December due to the failure of three pipes feeding the Kitty pump

phases: the first included works on the seawall road; the second dealt with the section going towards Vlis-

a roundabout at the Carifesta Avenue, Rupert Craig Highway and Vlissengen Road junction. A roundabout is a circular intersection where drivers travel counterclockwise around a centre island. Geoffrey Vaughn, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, said this will enable drivers to reach their destinations effortlessly and reduce the amount of traffic travelling on the East Coast, Carifesta Avenue or in the Kitty vicinity. The project is expected to be completed by year-end. (DPI)

Works being carried out on Phase Two of the Kitty Seawall Sinkhole project on Vlissengen Road.

station; repairs subsequently began in January 2017.

The project has three

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Spanking new playroom GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

--for National Library Linden branch

By Vanessa Braithwaite THE National Library’s Linden branch was on Monday the recipient of a spanking new toy library, valued US$5000, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Georgetown (RCG), the four Rotary Clubs of Carolina, in the USA, and Courts Guyana.

Thanks to the benevolence of the organisations at reference, children between the ages of two to 14 can now enjoy using the facility, the objective of which is to promote literacy and have fun doing it.

The old toy library, which was transformed into a child-friendly atmosphere, now sports scores of educational toys, electronic gadgets, visual aids, furniture, stuffed toys, books and other reading materials.

The opening ceremony saw members of Rotary Georgetown, and Courts and Linden’s National Library staff and children who were at the library at the time being the first to benefit from the facility.

The National Library of Georgetown was the first

to be outfitted with a toy library, and according to Arron Fraser, former RCG Service Projects Director and executive member, the

and education.

“Every year,” Fraser said, “we would set targets and earmark projects that would satisfy the areas of

kids would utilise the toys and books to aid in the eradication of illiteracy,” he said.

RCG Past President, Liz

library first arose during a conversation with the Chief Librarian of the National Library of Georgetown, who at the time revealed

donations were made, based on one of the four pillars of Rotary, which is literacy

focus of Rotary, and this project focuses on literacy.”

While the National Library’s Linden branch will be in control of their facility, Fraser said he hopes it would be of benefit to all the children in Linden.

“It is our hope that the

Cox, who is an advocate of literacy, said that the idea of refurbishing the Linden toy

that the facility was in need of a facelift.

He recalled that back

in 2015 when the Georgetown branch got its first toy library, the decision was made to also furnish Linden with a similar facility.

Said Cox, “We know that those out-of-town areas are often forgotten, and we thought of Linden, too, because we know that Linden doesn’t get a lot of items like a toy library. “And we also know that a lot of kids in Linden probably don’t have a lot of these toys, and so we want them to experience what others are accustomed to.”

In addition to learning, the toy library will also foster sharing and networking.

Branch Librarian, Annis Craig said that the plan is to have a toddler’s time, kids craft time, children’s story-telling, and tours for pre-schoolers and even a family day.

“We want to have the entire family involved in the activity, and so we will be marketing the facility,” she said.

Rotary has also donated two water wells to the Linden communities of Coomacka and Old England.

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Rates and taxes collection

RATES and taxes for properties and other services are raised by the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, towns, and the city of Georgetown as authorised under the local government laws. These local democratic organs have the authority to establish their own police force and raise their own taxes, unlike the Regional Democratic Councils.

The city of Georgetown continues to attract widespread attention for various reasons. The council provides services such as garbage and refuge collection, day-care, public health, maintain the streets and Le

Repentir cemetery, manages the abattoir, markets, and keeps the surroundings clean. It is also responsible for drainage with a view to avoiding floods within the environs. This is quite a responsibility and factually, services the people cannot do without.

It is well known that the council attracts criticisms and commendations on its management and delivery of services. The citizens, city mothers and fathers, and administrator are often at loggerheads for these very reasons. The demands on the council to provide acceptable services in every department are reasonable.

Making demands for im-

proved services comes with a responsibility by the citizens to pay their rates and taxes in a timely manner.

Failure to pay these puts the council in a position where it is unable to provide the quality of services expected of it. Non-payment affects the ability to pay staff and the services contracted for.

Quite recently, central Government was asked for a $600M bailout. That request came at a time when the council was owed billions. Now is the time for the residents and businesses of Georgetown to take responsibility for the state of Georgetown. It is unfair to be demanding that the city council does its job, when

persons are refusing to pay what they owe. Nothing in life in free. To want a service is to be prepared to pay for it. In paying for a service, should it fall short of expectations, there is justification to be upset and demand that it be corrected. Truth be told, some are disinclined to honour their obligations for the services they expect. It is also an argument without merit that payments will not be made unless the council provides quality service. To provide services, resources have to be available and the failure to pay rates and taxes is contributing to poor and non-existent services.

Georgetown has grown

exponentially in size since the last tax assessment was done. Taxes have not kept pace with growth and economic realities. Currently, what is being charged is not reflective of the existing market rates the council pays to provide services.

For this body to function, it requires resources; but those resources must be garnered consistent with its mandate.

The desperation that led to an agreement to install parking meters earlier this year as a revenue-earner was met with criticism, some not with-

out justification. It should not escape attention that the waiving of interest on revenue past due questions as to how responsible we are as citizens.

It is known that the law stipulates that if taxes are not paid on time, interest is accrued. Every citizen and business of Georgetown has a responsibility to obey the city by-laws.

As there are justifiable expectations that the council will provide services and respect the by-laws, there exists a corresponding responsibility of citizens to do likewise.

Would the auditor general Digicel rejects GTT’s investigate the deputy chief text-messaging claims election officer?

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

DURING September 2016, without interviews from Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, Glenn Lall and the Kaieteur News published allegations of fraud implicating the CEO and several senior staff of GECOM. Deodat Sharma and his staff from the Audit Office of Guyana immediately launched a forensic audit into those allegations.

The following month, the Guyana Chronicle published several articles on Vishnu Persaud, GECOM’s deputy chief election officer’s alleged involvement in fraudulent activities with advertising firm TroyTec,

but unlike the Kaieteur News and Glenn Lall’s assault on Keith Lowenfield, where the auditor general and his staff started hunting GECOM’s CEO. Mr. Sharma has been very silent on the Guyana Chronicle’s stories on Vishnu Persaud.

Its approaching one year since the Guyana Chronicle highlighted the allegations against Mr. Persaud with TroyTec. Why was Vishnu Persaud signing contracts and documents as deputy chief election officer and public relations officer?

Did he have the blessings of the Commission? Or was he usurping the functions of the substantive PRO at the time, Mr. Richard Francois?

Mr. Sharma, it would seem that the audit on Mr. Lowenfield left you and your team out of breath.

Or are you being advised to target only certain people. This is the second GECOM senior official to which the Audit Office seems to be turning a blind eye -- Gocool Boodhoo was the first. I will leave you with Edgar Allan Poe, poet from that Donald Pleasance and Charles Bronson hit movie, ‘Telefon’; “The woods are dark, lonely and deep and you have miles to go before you sleep.”

Regards Former GECOM employee

DIGICEL notes with disappointment the statement most recently made by GTT to the press in which the company claimed that as a result of ‘programming issues’ on Digicel’s network, G T T ’s c u s t o m e r s were unable to receive text messages from Digicel. Digicel categorically denies this claim. In truth, the respective technical teams of both Digicel and GTT have been in continuous discussions in relation to this issue and both teams continue to work to find a solu-

tion.

Gregory Dean, CEO of Digicel Guyana, commented; “Digicel’s only interest is in having a fully functioning service. We firmly believe that, in the interests of customers, our joint efforts should be focused on finding an effective solution within the shortest time possible.”

The timing of this latest outburst by GTT strategically coincides with the July deadline for the ending of the telecommunications monopoly in Guyana -- a deadline which has already passed. Most stakeholders in Guyana,

including Digicel, are eagerly awaiting the overdue liberalisation of the sector; so we would question who or what could possibly be causing the delay? Digicel remains committed to ensuring that consumers benefit from all that liberalisation has to offer and looks forward to the opportunity to be able to serve them with a full suite of innovative and value-packed communications services.

Regards VIDYA SANICHARA Communications Manager Digicel Guyana

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

The ‘Horrible Green Monster readying itself Dear Editor,

FROM all appearances, the ‘Horrible Green Monster’ seems to be getting ready to rear its ugly head again. And by this I mean that the infamous parking meter albatross appears to be getting set for an unwelcome return to the streets of our beloved capital.

Let me say from the very outset, and from the perspective of the vast majority of citizenry,

that our position has not changed an iota. Indeed, if anything, we are now even stronger and more resolute in our opposition to the deployment of this dastardly imposition.

The suspension and review by a ‘Kangaroo Committee’ consisting of handpicked members of the very Council that imposed this millstone around the necks of our motorists, is nothing more than a sham and mockery of the concerns expressed and indeed, is

just simply double jeopardy. Were the citizens not entitled to the review process being undertaken by a competent, independent and impartial committee?

It should be noted that the review process and submission of the findings are equally shrouded in secrecy and mystery as the original and scandalous arrangements were. Apparently, the Georgetown municipality just cannot be transparent, forthright

and accountable to the citizenry. But even more egregious is the media report that the findings have been handed over to the mayor and town clerk for them to study. How in the world could the mayor, who is a retired nurse, and the town clerk whose forte is communications and public relations, be expected to examine, evaluate and pronounce on these findings when they both lack the legal, technical and administrative capacity, compe-

tence and experience to pronounce on parking meters. Indeed, even the committee that undertook the review sorely lacks the wherewithal to properly understand the ramifications of and to articulate positions on the parking meters.

It is time for this parking meter nonsense to be stopped once and for all by the government, by interested stakeholders and the public at large.

The Councillors’ time

would be better spent ordering the town clerk on his long overdue vacation leave on which he is refusing to proceed for reasons best known to him, and in examining ways of reducing the Council’s enormous, excessive and unnecessary expenditure in order to dig themselves out of their perennial state of bankruptcy.

Regards MATEO PHELEPE

City Hall living in a bubble Dear Editor, IT’s no surprise that many p a re n t s h a v e s t o p p e d reading fairy tales to their young children, because it’s rather pernicious to inculcate into a child a view of the world, which includes supernaturalism with wizards or princesses turning into frogs or whatever it was.

However, reading some of the press releases ema-

nating out of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown, one gets the distinct impression that City Hall is making a concerted effort to take us back to the days of the fantastical tales. Imagine, City Hall is expressing disappointment that its constabulary is not being kept in the loop with classified intelligence and security briefings from the joint services and of their non-inclusion in pursuing

and rounding up of the recent prison escapees. Can you imagine that? The constabulary? Oh please, let us get serious.

Are we talking about the same security outfit that allows three-card trick men to operate on the pavements with impunity? That allows street-vending of pesticides which is illegal, given that these poisons are very dangerous to the environment and human health, especial-

ly children and the elderly, the same outfit that scurried for cover when the Cambio opposite their headquarters was being robbed by previous prison escapees? That cannot stop the daily petty robberies around the municipal markets. That sent home three women constables with immediate effect because they became pregnant? Now, c’mon get real. But most importantly, does the town clerk not know the City Con-

stabulary is not a member of the Joint Services?

Before seeking collaboration with the national police, the Council needs to first face the challenging task of turning around this disreputable department and instilling a productive, law-enforcement environment that inspires confidence in both the law-enforcement community and the citizenry it protects and serves. The Council

has to establish a no-nonsense approach to cleaning up corruption within the constabulary. Rooting out corruption can only be accomplished by putting in place a clear line of communication with the citizenry, so as to enable the reporting of corrupt constabulary behaviour without fear of retribution.

Regards SAMBU JACOBUS

Whither the ‘Green Volunteer Corps’?

Dear Editor, COULD someone advise of what has happened to the ‘Green Volunteer Corps’ the (GGVC) that was registered under the M&CC and overseen by the Council, under the stewardship of the town clerk and (which was) formed a while back by the then Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) (headed by) then Mayor

Hamilton Green; then Deputy Mayor, Patricia Chase-Greene, and Town Clerk, Royston King?

We were told at its launch that the Green Volunteer Corps which was going to be 1000 strong and purportedly financed by the business community, was going to bring about change to the Garden City; and would have received identification materials, including tee-shirts and hats and

cards.

Wa s t h i s a n o t h er failed project by the Georgetown municipality like the three-day Green Conference and Expo held on the Independence Ground in 2015 that turned out to be a dreadful flop? Was it an initiative that the Council enthusiastically started up, but like so many other things was unable to sustain, or was it just a con job to seem to be in sync with the President’s

Green Agenda?

And what about the 1000 trees planting initiative, the other plans for making impressive strides in Georgetown toward eco-friendliness, and for helping our over 200,000 residents live better, greener lives?

Cities around the world are identifying ways of making their environment healthier and more livable through the improvement of air, water and land, but in

Georgetown all that is happening is talk, talk and more talk by Patsy and Roy. Instead, Georgetown is becoming better known for sprawling slums and polluted drains, deteriorating and unsafe buildings, chaotic traffic that cannot be corrected by the implementation of a draconian and illegal parking meter system, and considerable air pollution. Why don’t Patsy and Roy get out

of their fancy luxurious gas-guzzling sports utility vehicles and use bicycles to commute to work and to move around the city? That would cause them to see first-hand, the distress and misery being experienced by the citizens; it would help to reduce greenhouse gases and would be a first step towards greening the city.

Regards ANU BIHARI

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GRA says tax collection up by 13% THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has collected billions during the first half of 2017, according to Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia during a news conference hosted on Monday by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan.

Statia told reporters that based on the statistics in the Mid-Year Report, there “is clear evidence that we are going behind taxes… We are trying to find those persons who should have been paying rightful tax.”

As he observed, “We are way ahead of collections for this year, versus last year,” and there has even been an increase of about 13 per cent.

At the moment, the Authority is heavily focused on retrieving arrears, and improving collections as well as Withholding Taxes.

Statia said he will be providing greater clarity on the successes of the Authority sometime next week, when he will host an independent press conference.

Shortly after taking office, Statia had said if he failed to achieve certain benchmarks, he will step down as the Authority’s head.

Meanwhile, it has been noted in the Mid-Year Report that the GRA has seen revenue collection increase to $97.2B at

end of June, 2017, which is 13.1 per cent above the corresponding period in 2016.

Tax revenue alone is 88.3 per cent of total revenue collection. The Report also states that internal revenue collection has increased by $5B, reaching $41.6B during the first half of the year, compared to $36.5B for the same period in 2016.

“This increase was primarily attributed to a growth in corporation tax payments of $2.3B by several companies in the manufacturing and services sectors, as well as the natural resource sector,” the report states.

Withholding Tax grew by $865.5M, or 27.2 per cent, mainly due to payments by two companies providing support services to the oil and gas sector, and interest earned on savings accounts at commercial banks. Of the amount collected, almost $191.9M was arrears.

Collection of personal income tax during the first half of 2017 stood at $265.3M above the $10.6B collected in the same period of 2016. Employers’ Compliance, on the other hand, has increased by six per cent, with 1,777 employers making payments during the period January to June 2017, and the collection of nearly $1B in arrears.

The collection of Customs and Trade Taxes grew by $5.6B

Questions...

tor-General, Egbert Field, told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday that checks will be made with the Brazilian aviation authorities to see if the plane is indeed registered in that country, and to ascertain its ownership.

Field said,“The aircraft is bearing a Brazilian registration number, but we have to investigate its authenticity.”

He pointed out that despite the registration number indicating a Brazilian origin, only checks can determine whether the information is genuine.

GOV’T CONCERNED Meanwhile, according to a release issued by the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), Minister of State, Joseph Harmon noted that the government is working with local and international partners to build capacity and strengthen security. “The Government is extremely concerned; we are concerned that these aircraft are utilising our large gaps in the security

in the first half of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. Value-added and Excise Taxes increased by $2.04B and $1.96B respectively, reaching $19.29B and $16.84B, respectively, during January to June, 2017.

Value-added Tax (VAT) from imports of goods grew by $1.2B, partly because of policy changes in Budget 2017. The VAT on domestic goods also increased by $838.5M, primarily because of higher payments from the telecommunication, and wholesale and retail trade sectors.

Meanwhile, revenue collection from petroleum products has increased by $3.2B to $10.9B, thereby offsetting the reduction in Excise Tax on motor vehicles during the reviewed period. Excise Tax collection on motor vehicles declined by $1.5B to $2.9B compared to $4.4B during January to June 2016.

However, revenue collection from excise taxes on domestic alcoholic beverages increased by $238.0M to $2.1B due to the Budget 2017 measure that amended excise taxes for alcohol consumption and higher sales of beverages on the local market, the Mid-Year Report noted.

Travel taxes were 23.0 per cent higher than the January to June period last year, and that growth has been attributed to a combination of $1,000 increase in airport departure tax, as well as a 6.3 per cent increase in the number of departing passengers.

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coverage in the hinterland areas, but we are looking carefully to see how we can have a proper coverage of those areas,” he was quoted as saying in the release.

He said, too, that the government has recognised that over a period of years, there are those who have taken advantage of the lack of adequate resources to properly monitor those areas.

He said the administration is taking this matter very seriously, and is making every effort to better equip the security forces, and strengthen their capacity to secure Guyana’s territory.

According to the release, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force (GPF)’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and other related agencies on Monday conducted an initial assessment of the twin-engine Beechcraft aircraft.

The initial assessment is in an effort to gather evidence that will assist in the investigation into the circumstances which led to the aircraft being abandoned on an illegal airstrip.

Minister Harmon is calling on all Guyanese to play their part, and ensure that illegal activities, regardless of the location in which they take place, are reported to the relevant authorities.

“Guyanese are a part of the country’s national security apparatus. We would like to ask them to report any activity they may consider illegal,” Minister Harmon said.

“It is illegal for any aircraft to land or be in Guyana, unless they have the permission of the government and the GCAA. “While we have large expanses of land in the Rupununi that can be used for airstrips, it is illegal to have these airstrips. We should see ourselves playing an important part in our country,” he added.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Guyana records 92% pass results to be rate at CAPE …CSEC released next Tuesday THE Ministry of Education on Tuesday night announced that Guyana has secured a 92.57 per cent pass rate at the recently-concluded Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

Some 851 students from nine secondary schools and four private institutions sat the examinations in May and June this year, and according to the Ministry, Guyana’s pass rate comprised of 92.57 per cent passes with Grades One to Five, as against 86.74 per cent last year, representing an increase of seven per cent.

The ministry noted that 16.47 per cent of the entries attained Grade One, 22.90 per cent attained Grade Two, 22.93 per cent Grade Three, 18.08 Grade Four, and 13 per cent of the students attained Grade 5.

Additionally, Guyana

also secured 100 per cent pass rates (Grades One to Five) in 30 units, namely: Agricultural Science Units 1 and 2; Art & Design Units 1 and 2; Computer Science Unit 1; Food and Nutrition Units 1 and 2; Geography Units 1 and 2; Information Technology Units 1 and 2; Animation & Gaming Units 1 and 2; Spanish Units 1 and 2; Physical Education & Sports Units 1 and 2; Digital Media Units 1 and 2; Entrepreneurship Units 1 and 2; Green Engineering Unit 1; Logistics & Supply Chain Operations Unit 1; Building & Mechanical Engineering Drawing (Building) Units 1 and 2; Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technology Unit 1; Applied Mathematics Unit 2; Environmental Science Unit 2; Tourism Unit 2 and Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technology Unit 2.

The Ministry further disclosed that Guyana recorded 100 per cent passes in several new subjects offered for the first time this year. Those subjects include Green Engineering, Animation & Gaming Design which was written for the first time electronically, along with Digital Media.

Students would be able to access their official individual results on Friday online at http://results.cxc.org, however, the Caribbean Examination Council has said that CSEC results will be released to Member States before close of business on Thursday, August 17, 2017.

Those results can also be accessed on Friday as advised by the CXC website http:// results.cxc.org.

Guyana will officially announce its results on Tuesday, August 22, the Ministry added.

Gunmen blitz customers, staff of Coffee Bean TWO unmasked gunmen reportedly descended on customers and staffers shortly before lunch at the Coffee Bean Café and Eatery located at Church Street, Georgetown and carted off an undisclosed amount of cash and other valuables.

According to reports,

the robbers entered the café just after two customers, who had gone to a city bank after doing some business,demanded money and also robbed other customers and employees.

The robbery was recorded on close circuit television cameras (CCTV) and the police were summoned to review the footage, after

which the business temporarily closed its doors to facilitate the probe.

It is unclear whether the bandits escaped on foot or if they had a vehicle waiting on them, since no one was willing to speak on Tuesday when the Guyana Chronicle visited the scene.

CH&PA to build single-unit, two-bedroom houses in several communities THE Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) tender board has opened bids for the construction of 40 duplexes at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) Lelon Saul said on Monday.

During a media briefing, the CEO told reporters that it is his entity’s vision to construct single-unit, two-bedroom elevated houses at Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara (WBD), Hope Experiment, West Berbice and Amelia’s Ward, Linden, within the next six weeks.

Perseverance will also benefit from this programme, Saul disclosed, while noting that CH&PA is also in the process of engaging private

CH&PA Chief Executive Officer, Lelon Saul (GINA)

developers, but more information on that process will be made available later this year.

Meanwhile, when asked whether the CH&PA will

intervene in the case of a partially collapsing house located on the EBD, Saul said the issue is of a private nature, while stressing that proper regulations governing building contractors need to be put in place.

In May, the CH&PA hosted a housing exposition at Perseverance to highlight various housing solutions being offered by the sub-agency along with local private contractors.

Among its exhibits were modern-styled duplexes which were available in wood, concrete and in ground and elevated designs. The CH&PA had committed to continue building after the expo in Perseverance and in other regions later in the year.

(DPI/GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Task force revisits Baramita …to ensure successful programmes implementation

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Alfred King during his address to the residents

AN Inter-Ministerial task force conducted a follow-up visit to the village of Baramita over the weekend, to ensure the successful implementation of strategies developed to address the social issues plaguing the community.

The team, which was led by, Permanent Secretary, Alfred King from Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, also comprised representatives from the Ministries of Education, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Social Protection, Health, Social Cohesion, as well as UNICEF and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

Baramita is the largest Amerindian settlement in Guyana, and the biggest Carib Village in the Caribbean, with a population of about 3,000.

Alcoholism, suicide, sexual and domestic abuse are just some of the social issues affecting the development of the community, as such, the government established an

inter-Ministerial task force to address those issues.

The team engaged the Village Council, teachers, health workers, law enforcement officers and the residents on the way forward, as it relates to the socio-economic development of the community.

Permanent Secretary King, explained that after several visits and careful assessment of Baramita, a number of work plans are being developed to focus on identifying the needs of the community. “This visit would have seen the advancement of some of those formulated,” he noted.

Among the plans is the delivery of an improved quality of education to the residents, through provision of more scholarships at both the secondary and tertiary levels, and revising the school’s curriculum, the Permanent Secretary explained. The Scholarship Department of the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry is consulting with parents on having their

children attend secondary schools in Georgetown or in the region, through scholarships. Students will also have the opportunity to attend the Government Technical Institute (GTI) and the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), among other technical institutions.

Visits were conducted in satellite communities located some eight miles from central Baramita, where it was observed that almost 18 school aged children, in a particular area, were not attending school due to a lack of transportation. “That is just one of 23 such cases because there are 23 satellite communities in Baramita. Access to the school is eight miles away in the morning and eight miles in the afternoon and some of the communities can only be accessed by ATVs” King said. He revealed that the task force is still conducting the mapping of the area so that an accurate assessment can be done and the correct solutions can be formulated to address the problem in a

timely manner.

King also shared that when the first phase of the HEYS programme was rolled-out in the community last year, only eight youths expressed an interest. As such the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs relaunched the programme this year, and thus far, 16 youths have expressed interest.

The Police Force also established a youth club which attracted some 120 young people, who are being sensitised on health and wellbeing and the negative effects of substance abuse and lack of education.

The Ministry of Agriculture and NAREI are developing a plan to provide technical and other support to small groups of residents who are interested in farming. “Persons who want to rear chickens, we will provide free chicks and the technical support start up feeds for them. We brought in a number of seeds and NAREI would be working with small groups, and once we clear the areas and identify what is it they want to get involved in, NAREI and the livestock group will take the lead and take them through the process of establishing farms,” King explained.

The residents were very receptive to the plans and interventions, and made strong recommendations, and so, “we will tweak our work plans as we go along to involve some of those recommendations,” King noted. He said that the aim is within the next five to ten years, to have Baramita be one of the leading communities in the region, in terms of development. (DPI)

Three arrested for demolishing Astor Cinema

THE building which once housed the Astor Cinema is currently unsafe to passersby and those who live in the vicinity because of the way demolition works started, Town Clerk Royston King reported on Monday.

Speaking to city councillors at the fortnightly statutory meeting, King said at least three persons were arrested for unlawfully breaking the property.

The new owner, King said, has since indicated that a new building will be constructed at the site. The owner was asked to urgently remove all debris or action will have to be taken against him, King said.

Just last week, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) served a notice to The Discount Store on Regent Street to cease demolition of the building because no permission was requested nor granted

by City Engineer Colvern Venture.

According to information received by the Guyana Chronicle, the new owners of the cinema land were to apply for permission to start such work 14 days in advance.

This requirement is necessary as it would allow the city engineer to

erect barricades, and put in place other arrangements, that would serve to protect those in the vicinity, and who may happen to be passing by.

Owner of the Discount store, Rizwan Khan, however, told the Guyana Chronicle recently that he had already submitted an application to City Hall’s building inspector and pondered whether Venture had knowledge of this.

He claimed that he has never instructed anyone to demolish the building and those doing so are out to destroy and loot the property.

Meanwhile, the Church Street landscape, which featured the Astor Cinema for many decades, is expected to change considerably with the removal of the cinema.

Manager of the Discount Store and daughter of Khan, Fariah Khan, had confirmed to the Guyana Chronicle that they are the new owners of the cinema land.

Located at Lot 189 Church and Waterloo Streets, Astor was the last cinema in the city to close its doors, which it did in early 2013, after more than 70 years of being in the movie business.

City councillors to debate parking meter report Thursday A SPECIAL meeting will be held on Thursday for city councillors to debate the report that was completed by the team that re-negotiated the parking meter deal in Georgetown.

After it was recently submitted to Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Town Clerk Royston King, the report is now in the hands of every councillor for them to study in preparation for the debate.

The Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM), which remains resolute in its call for the complete revocation of the project, has since indicated that its members will be present at the meeting tomorrow.

While Councillor Ferreira was appointed chairman, other members of the

committee were Councillors Noelle Chow-Chee, Carlyle Goring, Tricia Richards, Ivelaw Henry, Roopnarine Persaud and Heston Bostwick.

Smart City Solutions (SCS), the foreign company granted the concession by City Hall to install parking meters in the city, has refused to submit certain necessary documents to the committee that was tasked recently with re-negotiating the deal unless its members agreed to be bounded by secrecy.

According to the report, the committee requested from SCS certain documents that under normal circumstances would be present and available in any business deal, to clarify and verify.

“SCS wanted the committee to sign a confidenti-

ality agreement before being allowed to see the relevant documents (feasibility study, business proposal), but given the public nature of the parking meter fiasco, the committee found it necessary to reject the idea of signing any non-disclosure agreement or to be bound by secrecy,” the report said.

“The fact that the accountant’s report raised major red flags, it became necessary to ask SCS to provide verifying documents for the initial capital expenditure (proof of investment), as it is alarmingly unfair for council to negotiate any deal without having the true and proper supporting documents to arrive at a business proposal that would be beneficial to all involved,” the report continued.

The company refused to provide proof of investment and was therefore informed by the committee that no further discussions will take place unless and until the documents requested are made available.

Although Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams, representatives from the Ministry of Finance, and the independent accountant agreed that SCS should willingly release the documents as requested, as is the norm for due diligence, the documents were never presented to the committee and hence no further discussions took place.

The report said that during consultations, persons expressed the view that the whole process surrounding the deal with Smart

City Solutions (SCS) lacked transparency. “According to some stakeholders, many parts of the project seemed to be shrouded in secrecy and was not open to full clarification and scrutiny.”

The fees for towing, storage and clamping were said to be “exploitative” and persons relayed a message of feeling victimised, the report mentioned. “Booting seems to have had a nasty negative effect on the psyche of some persons who willingly expressed such at the consultations and with some calling the act oppressive and even slave-like.”

As for the cost, the report said the overwhelming majority of persons consulted expressed the view that the current prices are way too high. “Comparisons were

presented as it relates to our GDP, the economic situation in the country, the salaries of residents and especially paid-parking as another new burden on the society. Concerns were raised about the high cost for all-day parking as well as no preferential parking for business owners, customers and delivery vehicles.”

The view was expressed that SCS is a foreign company and as such, the majority of the revenue earned in Guyana will be exported to a foreign country and not used for local development. “Persons were of the view that Guyanese companies could provide the same or a better service at a cheaper price that’s beneficial to all involved.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Councillor charges...

M&CC ‘working against’ the government

By Telesha Ramnarine

COUNCILLOR Gregory Fraser on Monday charged that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is working against the government regarding the treatment that is being meted out to vendors in the city.

Fraser took umbrage at the manner in which vendors outside of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) were removed recently, although Town Clerk, Royston King, maintained that the vendors were blocking the entrance and exit of the said agency.

King also claimed that the vendors were warned beforehand that they needed to remove from the Camp Street location. But Fraser was not convinced.

“These people could not have been spoken to. What is this new thought of moving them? This Council is making me feel bad each day. We are working against my government in many areas; we can’t be victimising people,” Fraser said, adding that the M&CC has been “tormenting” these vendors for years.

It is not clear whether Councillor Fraser actually told the Town Clerk to “Shut

Councillor Gregory Fraser

up!” or whether he told Councillor Ivelaw Henry, who was chairing the meeting, that the Town Clerk ought to shut up until he was finished speaking.

But the Town Clerk told Fraser he had no authority to tell him, or any other officer, when they could speak, and that he should know his place.

Councillor Khame Sharma offered that King should not have been speaking at the same time as Fraser, and could have instead done so on

a point of order.

Councillor Bishram Kuppen referred to the fact that the vendors have been there for quite some time, and have been paying fees to the M&CC. He said these individuals likely depend on their little trade for their livelihoods, and that he, too, was not pleased with the way the stalls were removed.

Kuppen said a special meeting should have been convened with those vendors before they were removed.

He suggested that the City Council look at moving those gamblers in the Stabroek Market Square to free up space for the vendors to be relocated.

But King’s response was that the gamblers cannot be moved just yet, because the City Constabulary is understaffed. He suggested that the situation be corrected shortly with joint efforts by the Municipality and the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

King also pointed out that councillors should submit properly formulated policies to guide the administration.

Councillor James Samuels said that had the M&CC been organised, a place for relocation would have long been found for the vendors.

“It’s 15 months now and we are still looking. Where are we going?”

Councillor Noelle ChowChee proposed that the Markets and Public Health Committee should be given a timeline to work with coming up with a proposal, while Councillor Heston Bostwick noted that even if the vendors had been spoken to in advance, he had not been invited to those consultations.

12-yr-old raped by taxi driver in Linden THE Linden police are continuing their search for a taxi driver who allegedly raped a 12-yearold girl on Saturday night.

The child was a passenger of the taxi driver.

According to E’ Division Commander, Senior Superintendent, Fazil Karimbaksh, the incident allegedly took place at approximately 22:30 hrs at the Kara Kara ‘Back Road’, a few minutes after the victim and her three friends joined the car to be taken to Amelia’s Ward.

The teen was taken a police station and then to the Mackenzie Hospital where a medical examination was done which proved that she was raped. The alleged rapist, the commander said, has since been eluding the police who have been searching for him.

A relative of the girl told this newspaper that she had earlier attended a church function in Georgetown with her friends, and was at the time coming home when the driver with whom she is familiar refused to stop for her friends who told him where they were coming off. After they realised something was amiss, the three friends

forcefully exited the car but she was unlucky, since she was in the front seat and was strapped down with the seat beat. “After we hear what happen, we start searching all over the Ward for her, we even went back to the friends’ house because we thought she went hiding somewhere and while searching we see she walking coming up the hill in blood, could barely walk,” the relative said.

The girl then revealed to them that the driver had allegedly taken her back to Kara Kara, where he threw her in the back seat and raped her. “We took her to police station and a female police took her to the hospital and it show she was raped, all her underwear had blood, all she skin black and blue and bruise up,” the relative related. They also alleged that the driver is a known serial rapist who committed similar acts in the past. The teen continues to receive counselling.

Relatives have commended the police for the work they have done so far and are encouraging young girls to be extra careful when travelling at nights in short drop cars.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Region 10 REO defends procurement system …says local contractors not being sidelined

By Vanessa Braithwaite REGIONAL Executive Officer of Region 10, Gavin Clarke, has defended the procurement system of the region amid claims that contracts were not trickling down to contractors in the area.

Recent accusations relative to this nature were reported in an article published by this newspaper, which Clarke said that as the REO of the region, he was not given a chance to respond. The article headlined, ‘Nothing Trickling Down,’ reported on the comments of many local contractors and regional officials who affirmed the position that local contractors are not benefiting from contracts being awarded at the level of the RDC. Clarke who responded to these allegations on Monday said that his honest, hard work is being dragged through the mud and it is very disheartening that comments were taken from individuals whom he considers as his neighbours, colleagues and even my mentors.

PROCUREMENT PROCESS Clarke said that the procurement process in Region 10 is no different from any other region as it is governed by the Procurement Act under which the authority of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) is established and those who sit on the Regional Tender Board (RTB) were deemed suitably qualified; hence their appointment.

“The Regional Democratic Council does not have the

authority to make such appointment,” Clarke argued.

In further refuting claims of local contractors being treated unfairly, the REO said that the administration had invited tenders, via the open tender method, to pre-qualify contractors for the construction of roads, drainage and irrigation and bridges and electrical installation.

“The evaluators stuck stringently to the criteria for these particular activities because the Administration would have conveyed its desire to obtain value for money and to have these projects executed at the highest possible quality. The same bidding document was made available to all invited to tender, with the same evaluation criteria. Any contractor who felt he/she should have been pre-qualified for a particular activity and was not, had the liberty to seek an explanation from the Administration and that would have been given,” Clarke affirmed.

As it relates to the law that 20 per cent of all government contracts should be awarded to small contractors, the Administration, he said, is well aware of this and in no way is flouting the law and believes that the local contractors, as well as the local leaders commenting on the issue, are not informed and are speaking without basis.

“Now let’s refer to the Capital Works (construction) Programme of Region 10: there were 14 projects awarded by the RTB thus far to a value of $101,582,330. Of these 14 projects, 10 were awarded to local contractors with a total value of $68,404,483. Four projects were awarded to out

Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - 12:00 hrs Thursday, August 17, 2017 - 13:30 hrs Friday, August 18, 2017 - 01:00 hrs | 14:30 hrs

of town contractors to the value of $33,177,847. This means 67% of the total sum awarded by the RTB was to local contractors.

As it relates to current programmes such as line Items, maintenance of buildings, maintenance of other infrastructure across all programmes, maintenance of roads, maintenance of drainage and irrigation and maintenance of bridges, there are 242 activities that have either been completed or [are] in progress to the value $99,688,259. These were awarded between 110 contractors; two of these are from ‘out of town’. “This ‘out of town’ award represents 17%, while 83% to the ‘local contractors’ and there are a number of projects yet to be awarded which are in the procurement process.”

SHORT OF STAFF Since January 2016, four staff from the Public Works Department of the RDC are on administrative leave, receiving full pay. The administration, the REO said,

is yet to receive closure on the issue and it would now be the second budget being executed for the fiscal year 2017, without the department functioning short of technical staff. “The Works Department was reduced to two officers, an Engineer and the Superintendent of Works, I had no other choice than to support my staff since I am in site visits and preparation of Bill of Quantities for the timely delivery of our 2016 budget and we had executed more projects in 2016 than any other year by comparison,” he articulated.

“For those who have not felt or seen the impact of our 2016 budgetary allocation just need to come out of the confines of their homes or offices and walk the streets of the region….flooding has decreased significantly along Republic Avenue when it rains, as a result of the drainage network construction that commenced in 2016 at several locations and continues in 2017 with Mani Street, Wismar Street, and in a matter of weeks Potaro Road and Crabwood Street will follow.”

Gavin Clarke

For 2016, the records show that between the current and capital budget 18 roads were executed and for 2017, 14 road projects will be executed and four of these have been completed.

The Administration has also repaired and rehabilitated six bridges and constructed four. “We are not perfect and there are other regions doing better than us, but we are committed to seeing continuous improvement in this Administration and so I find the article unreasonable, misleading and mischievous.”

Contractors however revealed to this publication however that there are many competent contractors in the region who are being side-

lined most of the contracts are being awarded to ‘out of town’ contractors. The contractors also described the pre-qualification system as being heavily flawed and that contractors are being pre-qualified for areas not in their expertise.

Commenting on the issue were Mayor Carwyn Holland; Regional Chairman, Renis Morian; Former Interim Management Committee Chairman, Orin Gordon; and Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira, who noted that he is aware of the concerns raised by the contractors but noted that all contractors are free to compete in the procurement process but noted the system should be fair. Holland for his part said that he agrees that there is little trickledown effect and that contracts allocated to the region should involve more local contractors as the current situation is that outside contractors get most of the jobs. Morian however vehemently denied the claims saying that local contractors are not being stifled.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Guyana still awaiting CSEC results – CAPE results received, full disclosure by Friday

By Ravin Singh

GUYANA is still awaiting

the results for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC)

which the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) had indicated, would have

been made available to all ministries by Monday last.

Chief Education Officer (CEO), Marcel Hutson, confirmed on Tuesday, via phone, that the Education Ministry was not in receipt of all the results. “All the results are not in as yet. The results for CAPE [Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination] are in, but all will be made available by Friday,” the CEO told this publication. He was unable to explain why the ministry had not received the CSEC results.

However, examination regulatory body indicated on its website a few days ago that the results would have been made available to Education Ministries across the region, but that they would not be available to candidates until Friday.

“For candidates who wrote CXC examinations in May/June this year, the anxious wait for their results is almost over. That’s because results for all examinations will be released on Monday 14 August to Ministries of Education.

The results will be available to candidates online at http://results.cxc.org

and on the CXC Connect Mobile App on Friday 18 August” the post read.

However, CXC Registrar, Glenroy Cumberbatch, has announced that even though there has been a decrease in the number of candidates this year, subject entries have increased.

“Therefore, it means that instead of a candidate doing three subjects on average, they are doing four. To get a job, get into Universities, Community Colleges, etcetera, the average subjects needed are about five,” Cumberbatch said at a press conference on Monday at the CXC headquarters in Barbados.

Further, Cumberbatch said that “We [CXC] recognise that there is a falling number of persons over 17 years who are writing our examinations.” He said that for that purpose, there has been a lot of emphasis on the out-of-school population.

“When we look at stats for last year, the numbers in the schools seem to be steady even with falling populations in the region.

However, there used to [be] a fairly large num-

ber of persons who were out of school, and who were seeking to better their qualifications – they would either do something on their own and attend an evening institute to try to improve their number of subjects. We are targeting that group of persons” the Registrar said.

He said that CXC has been looking to work with institutions to encourage an increase in enrolment capturing that population, since the potential for income is significantly diminished if an individual possesses less than five CSEC subjects.

Meanwhile, the Barbados Advocate reported on Tuesday that overall CAPE results in the region showed 92 per cent of the candidates receiving Grades one to five in 2017, compared to 90 per cent that received Grades One to Five in 2016. As for the CSEC results 64 per cent of persons received acceptable Grades One to Three; the same figure as last year. Those statistics were given by Cumberbatch at the press conference.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Gaming body to visit Sleepin today …owner says unaware of money-laundering probe MEMBERS of the Gaming Authority will today conduct a site visit at the Sleepin International Hotel and Casino Inc. amid reports that the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has launched an investigation into allegations that the business owner and his associates are involved in money laundering.

The visit by the Authority comes one day after the Guyana Chronicle reported on SOCU’s probe. However, proprietor Clifton Bacchus in a statement on his Facebook page, said he found the contents of the article ludicrous as neither he nor persons close to him were contacted

by SOCU in relation to an investigation into his Church Street Hotel and Casino. “I read with absolute shock, the blazing and bold headlines in the Guyana Chronicle, Tuesday 15th, August 2017,” he stated.

Bacchus said “some highly-placed person in Government is executing an agenda of malice and vendetta against me with the intention of tarnishing my reputation, stigmatising my business and jeopardising my invest-

Owner of Sleepin International Hotel and Casino Inc. Clifton Bacchus (Facebook)

ments.”

In February, the Authority had rejected an application for licence to operate a casino submitted by Bacchus on the basis that there was no evidence that the business was financially sound. Bacchus has since submitted another application to the Authority and is in the process of providing additional information.

However, in a letter sent by the Authority’s chairman, Roysdale Forde, on July 10 to the Head of SOCU Sydney James, requesting information on Bacchus, the Authori-

ty called for the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to share information and documents between the two entities.

Forde said, “I would be grateful if you can share any information in relation to the aforesaid applicant that you may have in your presence as soon as possible.” On July 11, James in response to Forde’s letter said, “Kindly be informed that Mr Clifton Bacchus, the Sleepin International Hotel and Casino Inc. and a number of associates of Mr Clifton Bacchus are subjects of a money laundering investigation being conducted

by SOCU, which is ongoing since July 2016.”

SOCU has since, through court orders, been able to source financial and other assets information pertinent to Bacchus and his business.

However, a usually reliable source told this publication that a thorough investigation will be done before the Authority decides on whether Bacchus’ application for a Casino licence is rejected.

The source made it clear that the outcome of the investigations will determine the action of the Gaming Authority.

The Authority is a statutory body established under the Gambling Prevention Act of Guyana and is vested with the power to regulate casino operations in the country.

Bacchus had earlier this year denied that local politicians have a stake in his US$20M hospitality and gaming facility. His application for Casino licence was initially rejected by the Authority, but the Church Street facility has since been equipped with gaming machines and tables and he has also hired and trained staff.

In a Demerara Waves report earlier this year, Bacchus had assured that his investment was funded by financial institutions, his personal funds and Pasha Global Group, a Suriname-headquartered company that will be operating the Carnival Casino. In his statement on Tuesday, Bacchus reiterated that “It is public knowledge

The Sleepin Hotel and Carnival Casino located on Church Street, Georgetown (Adrian Narine)

that Sleepin International Hotel and Casino Inc. has made an application to the Gaming Authority, under the law, for a casino licence. That application is currently being processed.” The Authority he disclosed has requested some additional financial information and efforts are underway to provide the requested information.

“The documents which I have submitted to the Gaming Authority clearly establish the source of my

financing: loans from local commercial banks secured by mortgages, along with monies from an overseas investor secured by loan agreements and mortgages. These documents are all filed as of record with the Deeds and Commercial Registry Authority. Copies have been submitted to the Gaming Authority,” he said, adding that the very documents can be provided to SOCU if they so require them.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Overseas voting should be explored but not rushed

By Akola Thompson

SEVEN years ago, former House Speaker, Senior

Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, commented upon the unconstitutional act embedded in the decision to

disallow overseas voting.

Ramkarran had urged the Guyana Elections Commission to “devise a system

that would allow for the registration of Guyanese living abroad, so that their names could be included in the voters’ list.” The Elections Commission which has the constitutional responsibility of ensuring

that elections are lawfully conducted, has a duty and responsibility to ensure that the constitutional provisions are observed by providing Guyanese, wherever they may be, of the opportunity to vote

at elections,” Ramkarran had said.

If one is a citizen of Guyana and they decide to permanently move somewhere else, currently, they are not allowed to vote. With many countries allowing overseas Turn to page 19 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Probe into Eteringbang aircraft accidents 60% complete – GCAA INVESTIGATIONS into the two recent aircraft accidents at Eteringbang in Region Seven (Cuyuni/ Mazaruni) are 60% complete, says head of the Accident and Investigation Group, Paula McAdam.

She was speaking at a meeting between officials of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and airline operators on August 11 at the body’s Kingston head office.

According to a release from the GCAA, Director-General of the aviation umbrella body, Lt. Col. (ret’d) Egbert Fields and other officials of the Authority held discussions with the airline operators to address the many issues affecting the aviation industry and which are of major concern to the GCAA. The aircraft accidents

at Eteringbang, involving a Roraima Airways Britton-Norman Islander, bearing registration 8R-GRA which crashed on July 25 and another in which a Wings Aviation CESSNA single-engine plane, bearing registration number 8R-GPR, which crashed on August 8, were discussed at the meeting.

Former Guyana Defence Force Major Collin Martin, Roraima’s chief pilot, perished in the July 25 accident as he approached for landing. Wings Aviation pilot Dominic Waddell escaped without major injuries in the recent accident which occurred as he took off from the border aerodrome.

Fields told the gathering that while the accidents are tragic, the country could be considered fortunate to

Officials of the GCAA and airline operators during the meeting on August 11, 2017. (GCAA photo)

have such a low aircraft accident record, given the volatile environment in which domestic aircraft operate. However, he said the aim remains to reduce the current number of aircraft accidents and hold that to a minimum.

LENGTHY DELAYS At the meeting, the issue of flight delays by the

international air carriers was brought to the table.

Recently, Dynamic Airways customers have experienced lengthy delays at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) as well as the JFK Airport in New York.

The director-general noted that the recent encumbrances faced by passengers and the airline operators while unfortu-

nate, were not by design.

In one instance the delay of the flight was necessary as safety concerns were given high priority over the efficiency and punctuality of the flight.

The operators were also encouraged to improve their safety management systems to ensure that safety standards remain high.

“We are moving into

an expanding industry, we are moving into more sophisticated aircraft, soon we’ll have the offshore helicopters operating... ensure that your qualities and standards are beyond question…I am therefore calling upon you to assist us in our venture of making this industry a safe and accident-free industry,” Fields said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Gov’t commits $1M to he

Nine-year-old Jamal Williams, who was diagnosed with tumor on his liver approximately 19 months ago

THE Public Health Ministry has pledged $1M to assist nine-year-old Jamal Williams to undergo a liver transplant in India but much more is needed, his mother Natasha Williams told Guyana Chronicle.

After experiencing severe abdominal pain in January 2016, Jamal, a resident of the West Indian Housing Scheme in Bartica, was diagnosed with a tumor on his liver. The tumor in his liver has caused his tummy to swell. It has been 19 long months of hardship and a struggle to secure the required medical attention, the single parent mother said on Tuesday.

In January 2017, Natasha Williams managed to secure a quotation from a children’s hospital in India to facilitate the liver transplant at a cost of GUY$6.5M. But when travel,

accommodation and other expenses are added, Natasha Williams said the cost is likely to jump to GUY$10M. In recent days, she said the Public Health Ministry, fully aware of Jamal’s case, signaled its willingness to give GUY$1M, but requested an updated quotation from the medical institution. That quotation is being sought.

Additionally, with the help from the Bartica Lions Club, an account has been set up at Scotiabank for persons to contribute to the cause.

Persons desirous of donating towards Jamal’s surgery can deposit their contributions in Scotiabank account #175-441 or contact his mother Natasha Williams at +592-690-5092 for further information. If she does not garner sufficient money to conduct the transplant in India, Natasha

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

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elp child with liver tumor

To provide for her children, Natasha Williams would sell greens in the market, but many days she would stay at home to care for Jamal, who needs special attention

Williams said Brazil is their second option.

But even with funds being gathered, the mother of six said she has not secured a donor to assist in lifesaving surgical procedure. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “organ transplantation is often the only treatment for end state organ failure, such as liver and heart failure.”

It was noted that the procurement of organs for transplantation involves the removal of organs from the bodies of deceased persons.

This removal must follow legal requirements, including the definition of death and consent. Liver transplants are not conducted in Guyana.

Reflecting on Jamal’s illness, Natasha Williams said the St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic student returned home from school one day crying for abdominal pain.

Jamal had reportedly told his mother that he fell while in school. “I took him to the (Bartica) hospital the same afternoon, they ran an x-ray but found nothing,” she recalled noting they returned home that afternoon with the hope that the pain would have stopped but by 20:30hrs the same day, January 8, 2016, the pain intensified.

“In the night while sleeping, he rolling with pain,

crying out for this pain, then I know he get a kick in school,” she added.

By January 9, 2016 Jamal was admitted to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where doctors there suspected that he had complications in the liver. “The doctor saw something on his liver. He didn’t know what it was, so they transferred him to the Georgetown Public Hospital.”

It was at the Georgetown Public Hospital that doctors, after conducting a computerized tomography (CT) scan, diagnosed Jamal with a tumor on his liver. Since, then he has had many visits to the public hospital. “They say the only thing that could be done is a liver transplant to save his life,” she posited.

Since his first diagnosis, Jamal has developed hernia. “Girl when he tek in pun me he does get soft soft soft. I feed him every two hours like a baby.

Sometimes he would get black out, remember he is just nine-years-old. He can’t go to school or play because the doctors say it is very dangerous.” Natasha Williams believes that God will make a way. “I believe that God works miracles. I always believe that things will work out. It is not easy but I know God will pay the way,” she emphasized.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Overseas voting should be... voting to their citizens, this practice by Guyana has rightly been a cause for concern and contention. Columnist with the Guyana Chronicle, David Hinds, has also called for the installment of procedures to allow overseas voting.

To understand why overseas voting is considered a contentious issue, one must first understand or at the very least, know of our history.

With the rigging of elections during the periods of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham and Cheddi Jagan’s lifetimes, people became rightly skeptical of allowing those Guyanese overseas to vote.

With migration forever on the increase, it is important that we do not remain at a standstill when it comes to the era of democracy and free and fair elections.

As it relates to the debate

of overseas voting, I am a bit torn on the issue. Given the constitutional right afforded to all Guyanese to vote, I do believe that we should explore the option of allowing those in the diaspora to vote. However, given that our laws do not cater for dual citizenship, if the potential voter has acquired the citizenship of another country, I do not believe they should be included amongst those who should be able to vote in the Guyana elections. I am also a bit torn on the issue, because given that we have substantially more Guyanese living abroad than in Guyana itself; and given that these Guyanese only ever return for short stints, I do not see why we should have to live with their majority choices.

Then there is the substantial but hardly commented upon aspect of race and pol-

itics as they relate to Guyanese and those in the diaspora. There is the perception of the PPP/C being an “Indian” people party and the now APNU+AFC coalition which consists of the PNC and several other parties being seen as a “black” people party.

The PPP/C enjoyed over two decades of rule given that their stronghold was and still remains Indians, particularly rural Indians and given that they are in the majority, it never took much to know who would win. The narrow win by the coalition government was due to several reasons. One, was that there was a general feeling of discontent and tiredness amongst the Guyanese population. Two, the coalition exalted the hopes of the disenfranchised and used it to their advantage. Three, the stronghold the PPP/C

enjoyed was and continues to be significantly downsized, given the high level of migration amongst Indians to other countries and islands.

Added to all of this, we do not have the necessary procedures and systems in place to ensure free and fair voting that caters

From page 14

for those in the diaspora.

Nothing has been done since 1992 to make the process more transparent.

The countries that do allow overseas voting would have already assured that all systems are in place to allow it. Voting is an intrinsic right with regard

to freedom and citizenship.

However, when it comes to overseas voting for the Guyanese diaspora, we need to consider the factors that led to them not being able to vote and ensure we have proper systems in place to allow it before we begin a rash process.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Aries It seems as if push has come to shove and you’re ready to rumble today. However, you may be explosive as contentious Mars rubs suspicious Pluto the wrong way. But the truth is you won’t resolve conflict by introducing additional drama. It makes more sense to take the high road by honouring your spiritual path, instead of undermining someone’s position. Demonstrate your commitment to progress by seeking mutual empowerment. Socrates wrote, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”

Taurus You envision so many alternative routes into the future that you cannot tell which one is the most advantageous. Having all these choices is usually inspiring, but not if indecision prevents you from moving ahead. You might want to rely on your intuition now, instead of using logic to determine which way to go. Unfortunately, the lack of hard facts is rather daunting. Nevertheless, you must proceed today with or without clarity. Albert Einstein said, "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere."

Gemini Your success is in question today, challenging you to make concrete plans to fortify your future. But four planets are expecting illusory Neptune in your 10th House of Career, interfering with your sense of what’s real. Nevertheless, you want to demonstrate your competence by handling whatever life throws in your direction.

Fortunately, the clever Gemini Moon gives you the skills to impress others with your versatility. Author Jim Rohn wrote, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”

Cancer You’re more inclined to push past your fears today, and lay your feelings on the line.

Nevertheless, you’re aware that people won’t necessarily agree with your heartfelt opinions. Honestly, you don’t mind a little dissension now, even if it contributes to your uncertainty. Thankfully, your confidence grows while optimistic Jupiter is in the picture, and you’re hopeful that everything will work out in your favour. Meanwhile, the reflective Moon is camped out in your 12th House of Spiritual Mystery, calling you to inquire within. Author John Gray wrote, “When you feel it, you can heal it.”

Leo You may be surprised by the resistance you face as you strive to achieve your goals today. You believe you possess the stamina to fend off any disparaging criticism or overt obstruction. However, the real problem might stem from your unwillingness to compromise. You are fixated on keeping the upper hand now, even if it’s at someone else’s expense. It’s as if you are unknowingly asking the cosmos to help you put on the brakes. Social media consultant Simon Mainwaring wrote, “Creating a better world requires teamwork, partnerships and collaboration.”

Virgo The more someone nags at you to speak your truth, the more you want to run and hide. A combination of cosmic factors, including communicator Mercury retrograding in your sign, tempts you to remain quiet now, no matter the consequences. You prefer to not spend your precious energy defending your behaviour today; instead, let your conduct tell your story. Author Charles Bukowski wrote, “Knowledge without follow-through is worse than no knowledge.”

Libra Your plans for the future start off small but continue to grow larger by the minute.

Although your ideas are worth cultivating now, they might become so inflated that they have no lasting value. Instead of forcing your dreams to take shape in the real world today, enjoy pursuing them in the metaphysical realms for a little while longer.

Goethe wrote, “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”

Scorpio You are willing to put all your eggs into one basket today as you strive to reach the top of your profession. Unfortunately, you’re so determined to turn your ambitions into concrete achievements that you could misplace your social etiquette. You might also lose sight of the fact that each person is operating with their own personal agenda now, and you can’t just step all over their plans. Thankfully, you can avoid any negative repercussions simply by respecting everyone's ideas. Dr. Elizabeth Comber wrote, “There is nothing stronger in the world than gentleness.”

Sagittarius You’re thinking globally today, but need to rein in the scope of your plans if you are to succeed. Relationships can be complicated because others are supportive of your aspirations at first, only to remind you of your limitations later on. Your dreams seem so convincing now that it’s challenging to balance the possibilities with reality. Author Andr Gide wrote, “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

Capricorn Although your destiny may be tied to someone else’s success, you’re willing to head out on your own today if necessary. You are so motivated by your ambitions that you will do nearly anything to accomplish your goals. However, ruthless Pluto controls your 1st House of Self now, demanding a direct and profound examination of your priorities. You’re tempted to impulsively act on your personal needs, but it’s imperative to take the concerns of others into account. Venkat Desireddy wrote, “Your wealth or status doesn’t make you. Your kindness and character does.”

Aquarius Someone may be extremely melodramatic today in order to gain your attention.

Although their goal is to persuade you to join in their fun, you have other activities on your mind. The talkative Gemini Moon brightens your 5th House of Self-Expression, urging you to share your plans with friends. Unfortunately, there are emotional undercurrents that need to be brought to the surface if you are to successfully engage with others now. Take a risk and show your true colours. Nietzsche wrote, “And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.”

Pisces You possess an excess amount of energy today, and prefer to channel your intensity into your work. A normally tedious regimen flows by quickly now that fiery Mars is heating up your 6th House of Daily Routine. However, its uncomfortable alignment with powerful Pluto is enough to turn an otherwise straightforward plan into a complex operation. Your motto for the day: less is more. Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, “In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

St. Lucia Stars fall to sixth successive CPL loss FOR the first 37 overs of the game, St Lucia Stars were ahead and cruising.

Then came that one over everyone talks about in this format.

With the Tallawahs requiring 40 off three overs in their chase of 174, Mitchell McClenaghan conceded 20 runs, and the Stars’ hopes of their first win of the tournament faded into their sixth successive loss. It was also the fourth-highest successful chase in tournament history.

(Scores:Jamaica Tallawahs 179 for 5 (McCarthy 61*, Phillips 32) beat St Lucia Stars 173 for 7 (Fletcher 84*, Samuels 54,

Sami 3-27) by five wickets Andre McCarthy recovered quickly from a run-out that led to Rovman Powell leaving the field like he was ready for a locker showdown, and struck a match-winning unbeaten 61 off 37 balls to lead the Tallawahs to a five-wicket win with two balls to spare.

change its nature. That should have been an indication for the Tallawahs’ bowlers to take pace off the ball.

It took a few heaves and punches for the bowlers to switch to offcutters.

It worked right away, an offcutter from Mohammad Sami took the inside edge of Johnson Charles and uprooted leg stump. The

he faced. That meant he finished with 84 off 53 balls with a strike-rate of 158.49. A T20 masterclass beckoned if he could convert a few more of those dots into singles.

When McCarthy stabbed a ball towards extra cover, called for two and didn’t respond, the Tallawahs were reeling.

They needed 81 runs off

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Andre McCarthy

It wouldn’t be much solace for the Stars, but they put on a much-improved performance with the bat. Andre Fletcher and Marlon Samuels blitzed fifties to lead them to 173, their highest score of the tournament.

The Darren Sammy National Stadium was hit by passing showers just before the start. On a slow surface, that moisture may have just done enough to negate the penetration of seam-up deliveries - a burst of rain will only quicken a pitch up slightly, not

mode of operation didn’t change much thereafter.

Fletcher isn’t known for his ability to find gaps for singles. He is, however, an efficient boundary-hitter. The value of boundaries in T20s is high, but the utility of boundaries without consuming too many dot balls is significantly higher. In his 53-ball innings, he struck 24 singles and played 13 dots, effectively 24 runs off 37 balls.

He also hammered 11 boundaries, seven fours and a six, almost as many as the number of dot balls

46 balls with six wickets in hand, and Powell was fuming all the way off the field. For McCarthy, that could have been a scarring emotional blow.

Instead, he bided his time, found the boundary when he had to and d e l i v e re d u n d e r d u ress. Imad Wasim also brought his experience and ability to a 45-run sixth-wicket stand that carried Tallawahs home.

A few moments later, Powell was leaping onto McCarthy in joy.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

GTT, Amazon Warriors ... seen on television, calling his day spent with the Warriors “a dream come true”, since one day, he would like to walk in their footsteps.

Meanwhile, 25 children from the St John’s Bosco Boys Orphanage will be special guests of GTT on Saturday when the Am-

Continued from back page

azon Warriors battle the Trinbago Knight Riders in their second of four games scheduled for the Guyana National Stadium.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

England unsure what to expect as pink-ball cricket arrives

By Neil Robinson

(REUTERS) - England’s cricketers admit they will be taking a leap in the dark when the country hosts its first day-night Test, with a pink ball, against the West Indies this week.

Few England players have any experience with the ball, which will be the centre of attention when the first Test gets under way at 1300 GMT at Edgbaston tomorrow.

England seamer Stuart Broad said it would be a “step into the unknown” and that bowlers will have to “figure out what’s going on”.

Earlier this week, he said he had only ever bowled a single delivery with the new ball, and England will have had just one session with the ball under lights before play starts.

Broad’s new-ball partner Jimmy Anderson may be slightly better prepared, having taken two wickets for

Championship matches in a trial of its use earlier this season.

The experiment received

went soft earlier than its red equivalent.

While red balls are dyed, waxed and lacquered, white

England seamer Stuart Broad

Lancashire with the pink ball in a one-off round of County

a mixed reception, with some players reporting that the ball

Warner passes concussion test after bouncer blow

and pink balls rely on paint to provide colour. The de-

mands on pink balls, which must last 80 overs, are much greater than those on white balls, which are used for shorter forms of the game.

Manufacturers say the new balls should be easier to pick up in all conditions and England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow said yesterday that fielding sides may benefit.

“With a red ball it is not perfect, to be quite honest,” he said.

“If you are standing at second slip, third slip, gully, point, fine leg, deep backward square, you are actually picking a maroon ball up out of a multi-coloured background, which is the crowd,” he told Sky Sports yesterday.

“You never know, coming out of a dark background, it might actually be easier to see a luminous pink ball than

Pandya India’s biggest positive - Kohli VIRAT Kohli labelled Hardik Pandya as India’s biggest positive from their dominant Test whitewash of Sri Lanka.

tourists’ second innings victory of the series, and won the Man-of-theMatch award.

In his first series in the longest format Pandya

Australia vice-captain David Warner was in “good shape” after passing a concussion test following a blow to the neck.

AUSTRALIA’S vice-captain David Warner has passed a concussion test after retiring hurt following a blow from a Josh Hazlewood bouncer yesterday.

The Australia opener was struck in the neck during an intra-squad practice match in Darwin when he failed with an attempted hook shot.

Warner appeared shaken but did leave the field unassisted, accompanied by team doctor Richard Saw. Paceman Pat Cummins

later told cricket.com.au that Warner appeared to be doing well, but his involvement in the third day of the match is dependent on his reaction today.

“It’s good that Davey’s fine,” Cummins said.

“He’s a little bit stiff and sore, but just speaking to him then, he’s all fine.

“It’s only a practice match so he might or might not be out there tomorrow but he seems to be in pretty good shape.”

Australia will play two Tests in Bangladesh, the first of which starts this month, before beginning the home Ashes series against England in November.

Australia in Bangladesh August 18 - Australia arrive August 22-23 - Tour match, TBC August 27-31 - First Test, Dhaka September 4-8 Second Test, Chittagong

it would a gloomy red one. I am sure it will be a learning curve for the batters and the bowlers.”

The Edgbaston game will be cricket’s fifth day-night Test, but the first played with a Dukes ball, the make traditionally used in England.

The other four Tests – three in Australia and one in Dubai – all used a Kookaburra, and the rival manufacturers fought their own battle this week over the merits of their respective balls.

“This (day-night Test) is an experiment and people will expect miracles, but I think you have to give it a bit of time,” Dukes owner Dilip Jadojia told the Independent news site. “I think the colour is perfect, but if there are lessons to be learnt then they’ll be learnt.”

Hardik Pandya was man-of-the-match in India’s third Test win over Sri Lanka and he received lofty praise from Virat Kohli.

India wrapped up a 3-0 series triumph on Monday as they battered the hosts by an innings and 171 runs in the third Test.

Pandya scored his maiden Test century in India’s only innings in another one-sided contest, which marked the

scored 178 runs at an average of 59.33 while taking four wickets at 23.75.

And Kohli said of the all-rounder: “The regulars have performed, but the biggest positive would be Hardik’s inclusion and the way he shaped up in these three Test matches.

“We are a young side, we look forward to playing Test cricket, we look forward to playing every single Test match with the same kind of excitement and that is the only way you can be ruthless.

“The usual suspects are always there and thereabouts. We like to be prepared beforehand and be proactive rather than being reactive.

“We have age on our side and we have an opportunity to play together for five, six years for the country.”

Opposing captain Dinesh Chandimal, meanwhile, bemoaned Sri Lanka’s lack of focus. “(t was) a tough series as a team. India played some good cricket,” he said.

“Our batting and bowling were below-par through the series. We had to be more patient and concentrate more.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Neymar becomes goodwill ambassador for world’s disabled

Neymar, fresh from his first win with Paris St Germain and his world-record signing for the club, became a goodwill ambassador for Handicap International.

By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA, (Reuters) - Neymar, fresh from his first win with Paris St Germain and his world-record signing for the club, became a goodwill ambassador for Handicap International yesterday, pledging to work for millions who are “less visible” but deserve equality.

The Brazilian forward,

whose 222 million-euro ($259.72M) signing from Barcelona this month doubled the world- record transit fee, mounted a huge statue of a chair outside the U.N. in Geneva that symbolises landmine victims.

He kicked a soccer ball to fans standing below and into the U.N. grounds.

Surrounded by his parents, Neymar Santos (Sr) and Nadine Santos, he

wore a black baseball cap and Handicap International black t-shirt with the inscription ‘Repair Lives’.

“I would like to begin by thanking you all for what you do for the least visible in the world, so they become more visible.

“I have to say that I am very pleased to be here and to be the new ambassador,” the 25-year-old

told a news briefing.

Neymar, asked what work or field visits he planned, replied: “I hope this will be a very successful partnership and that we will be able to help a large number of people,” he said. “Millions want their rights, they want to be treated better. That’s what we are here for and that is what our aim is.”

Woods had five drugs in system at time of DUI arrest - report

(REUTERS) - Former world number one golfer Tiger Woods had five different drugs in his system when he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in May, according to an ESPN report on Monday.

ESPN, which cited a copy of the toxicology report, said Woods had Hydrocodone, the generic form of a painkiller branded as Vicodin; Hydromorphone, a painkiller known as Dilaudid; Alprazolam, a mood and sleep drug known as Xanax; Zolpidem, a sleep drug known as Ambien; and Delta-9 carboxy THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in his system.

It is not known if Woods had prescriptions for all of the medications. Medical marijuana is legal in Florida.

der, including insomnia, but I realise now it was a mistake to do this without medical assistance.

“I am continuing to work with my doctors, and they feel I’ve made significant progress. I remain grateful for the amazing support that I continue to receive and for the family and friends that are assisting me.”

Police found Woods stopped on the side of a Palm Beach-area road in his Mercedes-Benz at about 03:00hrs. (0700 GMT) on May 29.

He had “extremely slow and slurred speech” after being awakened by a police officer but was cooperative and told officers he takes several prescriptions, including Xanax, according to a police report.

Sharapova given U.S. Open wildcard (REUTERS) - Former world number one Maria Sharapova will make her first grand slam appearance in over 18 months after she was awarded a main-draw wildcard for the upcoming U.S. Open, organisers said yesterday.

The 30-year-old Russian, who returned from a 15-month doping ban earlier this year, was denied a wildcard at the French Open then missed the grasscourt season, including Wimbledon, with a thigh injury.

Sharapova tweeted yesterday: “Thank you, @ usopen. This is so so special. #goosebumps”.

Sharapova tested positive for the drug meldonium in 2016, which had been added to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned substances list in January of that year.

The winner of five grand

slam titles, including the 2006 U.S. Open, said she was unaware of the change.

“Her suspension under the terms of the tennis anti-doping programme was completed and therefore

“Additionally, Sharapova has volunteered to speak to young tennis players at the USTA National Campus about the importance of the tennis anti-doping programme and the personal

Former world number one Maria Sharapova tested positive for heart disease drug meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.

was not one of the factors weighed in our wildcard selection process,” the United States Tennis Association (USTA) said in a statement.

responsibility each player has to comply with the programme’s requirements.”

Sharapova’s U.S. Open preparations have been dis-

rupted by an arm injury suffered during her first-round win over Jennifer Brady at the Stanford Classic earlier this month.

The world number 148 was forced to withdraw from the Rogers Cup and this week’s Cincinnati Open as a precautionary measure before the final grand slam of the year.

Other wildcard recipients on the women’s side were Americans Taylor Townsend, Kayla Day, Sofia Kenin, Ashley Kratzer, Brienne Minor and France’s Amandine Hesse.

The U.S. Open runs from August 28 to September 10 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York.

Both the men’s and women’s singles champions this year will earn $3.7M (£2.88M).

Tiger Woods was arrested in May on suspicion of driving under the influence.

A request made by Reuters to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for a copy of the toxicology report was not returned.

Woods, who is second on the all-time list with 14 major titles, checked into a clinic in June for treatment to help deal with prescription drugs.

He said last month he had completed treatment.

“As I previously said, I received professional help to manage my medications,” Woods said in a statement.

“Recently, I had been trying on my own to treat my back pain and a sleep disor-

Woods, who had been heading away from his home, could not remember where he was going and told police he was returning from Los Angeles.

A blood test showed he had the painkiller Vicodin and the antidepressant Xanax in his system but no alcohol.

He was charged with driving under the influence and improperly stopping his vehicle.

In a statement after his arrest, Woods apologised to fans and blamed the incident on prescription medication he was taking to manage pain from a recent back surgery.

30

By Stephan Sookram THE Annual Lake Mainstay Regatta thrilled hundreds of spectators and fans when Dave Scott and Dave Gonsalves revived their rivalry on the waterways.

The duo were tied at one win each in the unlimited class before Gonsalves turned turtle after leading the last race. Scott carried on in a restarted affair, to take the day and the champion driver award for the A Class.

In race one, it was all Gonsalves who had a bad launch but managed to overturn the efforts of Scott over the five laps.

Race two saw Scott, however, take the trophy with Gonsalves falling out.

In race three, it seemed that Gonsalves would make

it two in two, but his boat capsized ensuring that did not to happen.

Thankfully, he escaped unhurt and was able to wave to his anxious fans.

The novelty events such as the open water swimming was one by National swimmer Doris Williams, followed by Lloyd Ward and Sanjeev Ramdeen.

government’s support as the event moves forward.

The ceremony was also graced by the Toshao of the Mainstay village and the

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

members of the Regional Executive council.

After the races, fans were treated to a stage show with several local

and regional artistes. Organisers have hailed the event a success and are planning to have a bigger and better version in 2018.

Dave Scott’s Jaguar powerboat

In category B, Clint Gonsalves disposed easily of his nearest rivals winning the 40 HP and 90 HP events and the Orin Belle Memorial.

Opening the proceedings on Sunday, Minister of Social Cohesion Dr George Norton commended the entity for putting together a great show and promised

Dave Scott collects his trophy from Lake Mainstay Director Wilfred Jagnarine.

Forde, Singh and Seales shine for Windies U-15 on UK tour Under-19 one-day wins for Windwards, Guyana and T&T ALL-rounder Matthew Forde, skipper Sachin Singh and fast bowler Jayden Seales have been among the stand-out performers for the Windies Under-15 Invitational squad, who have so far won two of their three matches on their tour of England.

After opener Tariq Mohammed was run-out early in the chase, Agard came to the crease and shared 104 for the second wicket with Singh to take the Caribbean side over the finish line with four balls remaining.

Earlier, Mohammed, bowling off-spin, as well as Seales

West Indies Under-15 captain Sachin Singh

Forde has hit a couple of half-centuries and recorded tidy bowling performances while Singh has hit a half-century.

Seales has been consistent with the ball, as the Windies U-15 Invitational logged wins in a Twenty20 match against London Under-15s and a 50 overs-a-side contest against Hertfordshire Emerging Players Performance before losing a 50-overs match against Hampshire Development Squad.

In the opening match last Wednesday, an unbeaten half-century from Singh and his unbroken, century second-wicket stand with Seth Agard carried the Windies U-15 Invitational to a commanding victory over London U-15s.

Singh, the Windies U-15 Invitational captain, hit seven fours and one six in the top score of 55 not out and Agard supported with 47 not out, as the visitors successfully chased 116 for victory at Walkers.

and leg-spinner Sameer Ali each collected two wickets, as Sunbury were restricted to 115 for eight from their allocation of 20 overs.

In the second match on Sunday, Seales and Antonio Fernandes combined for six wickets to bowl the Windies Under-15 Invitational to an 11-run victory after openers George Langston and Joe Burselm gave Hertfordshire EPP a confident start.

Seales grabbed 3-21 from 9.4 overs, Fernandes took 3-40 from eight overs and Ali 2-34 from his allotted 10 overs, as the Windies U-15 Invitational dismissed Herts EPP for 203 in 49.4 overs at Wormsley.

The Caribbean side snared all 10 Herts wickets for 99, practically in the second half of the home team’s innings, after Langston struck half-dozen boundaries in the top score of 92 from 137 balls and Burslem made 46 in an opening stand of 104.

After Ali trapped Burslem

lbw with the last ball of the 25th over, the rest of the Herts batting failed to click, as the visitors scythed through the batting.

Earlier, Forde, batting at seven, struck seven fours in 58 from 66 balls to lead a lower-order revival before the Windies U-15 Invitational were dismissed for 214 in 49.1 overs.

Between Forde, Mohammed, batting at eight, and Seales, batting at nine, they added 90 between the 34th and 48th overs to add beef to the Caribbean side’s total, after they slipped to 114 for six.

In the third match yesterday, Forde followed up with an unbeaten 72, but the rest of the batting failed to ignite and the Windies U-15 Invitational stumbled to a 43-run loss against Hampshire Development squad.

Forde, batting at eight, hit nine fours and one six from 54 balls, Agard made 42, opener Lee Solomon added 32 and Antonio Morris scored 22, as the Windies side failed to successfully chase 262 for victory in the contest at Totton & Eling.

Apart from a second-wicket stand of 65 between Solomon and Agard, there was little stability from the rest of the visitors’ batting, as Tom Prest undermined them with 4-38 from his allotted 10 overs.

Taeim Tonge had led the Windies bowling with 4-46 from 8.4 overs, Forde supported with 3-56 from 10 overs and Agard snared 2-24 from three overs, as Cole Campbell anchored the Hants batting with four fours and two sixes in an even 100 from 121 balls before they were bowled out for 261 in 49.4 overs.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Batsman Emmanuel Stewart returned from West Indies Under-19 duty to immediately stamp his authority, as he steered Windward Islands to a convincing seven-wicket victory over Jamaica in the opening round of the Regional Under-19 one-day championship here yesterday.

The 17-year-old Grenadian, who toured South Africa and Zimbabwe recently with the Young Windies, struck an unbeaten 76 as the Windwards overhauled their target of 141 to win easily at Conaree.

Free-scoring Kimani Melius perished cheaply for nine at 19 for one in the seventh over but Stewart stepped up to anchor a trio of partnerships to see his side home.

He dominated a 32-run second-wicket stand with Johann Jeremiah (3), added a further 59 for the third wicket with Johnnel Eugene (26) before staging an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 31 with Alick Athanaze (6 not out).

All told, captain Stewart faced 95 deliveries and struck five fours.

Earlier, new-ball bowler Shermill Lewis snatched four for 20 as Jamaica, opting to bat first, were dismissed for 140 off 39.3 overs.

Young Windies all-rounder Jeavor Royal, also returning to the Jamaica side following international duty, topscored with 43 while captain Brad Barnes made 33.

Lewis grabbed the first four wickets to fall as Jamaican tumbled to 30 for four in the 10th over and never recovered.

At Verchilds, Guyana

were the dominant side as they overpowered ICC Americas by 148 runs to make a winning start.

Choosing to bat first, Guyana were powered by half-centuries from Kevin Sinclair (82) and Raymond Perez (58) as they posted an imposing 295 for seven off their 50 overs.

Bhaskar Yadram

Ronaldo Ali Mohammed struck 49 while Young Windies stroke-maker Bhaskar Yadram chipped in with 43.

Sinclair hammered six fours off 116 deliveries while Perez faced 85 balls and belted four fours and a pair of sixes, as they added 116 for the first wicket.

Sinclair also put on 56 for the second wicket with Joshua

Persaud who made 28 on his return to the squad from international duty.

Ali Mohammed and Yadram bludgeoned the ICC Americas bowling. Ali Mohammed blasted three fours and four sixes in a 22-ball cameo while Yadram faced just 27 balls and clobbered a four and four sixes.

In reply, captain and opener Adhihetty Bhavindu was the only batsman to pass 20 with 36, as off-spinner Yadram snared four for 24 to wreck the ICC Americas innings.

At Molineaux, Trinidad and Tobago made light work of a target of 122 to beat Leeward Islands by seven wickets.

Leonardo Julien top-scored with 41, putting on 68 for the first wicket with Keagan Simmons (22) to lay the foundation for the successful run chase.

Off-spinners Avinash Mahabirsingh (3-12) and Matthew Patrick (3-18) had earlier claimed three wickets apiece as the Leewards declined from 68 for one to lose their last nine wickets for 54 runs.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday August 16, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 407 runs (2) Stars, Warriors, Tallawahs Today’s Quiz: (1) Who was voted ‘Player of the Tournament’ in last season’s CPL? (2) Which Warriors’ bowler has taken most wickets in a single

CPL game to date?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Which team will have their name inscribed on the inaugural Guinness Cage?

THE pursuit of who will have their name inscribed on the championship trophy in the inaugural Guinness Cage/Three Peat Promotions Indoor Competition will commence in earnest in eight days’ time.

The competition which starts on August 24 and finishes on September 16, will have thirty-two of the strongest teams chosen from various communities in Demerara and will be played over eight playing days at the National Gymnasium.

According to the organisers, over $800 000 in cash prizes and trophies will be up for grabs with the winners set to receive $400 000 and the championship trophy, while second-, third- and fourthplace finishers will take home $200 000, $100 000 and $50 000 along with trophies respectively.

The Most Valuable Player will collect a gold chain, compliment of YK Investments and Pawn Shop of Regent Street.

The Guinness Cage Competition will see a chance from the usual futsal rule where the ball goes into

touch on the sidelines and a side is awarded a kick in, whereas in the Cage format, the ball is allowed to bounce off the wall and play contin-

encouraged to come out and witness eight nights of enthralling action with bragging rights as the inaugural winners a main

focus among the competing teams.

Among the teams invited to participate are Sparta Boss, the most successful

Recent futsal action at the National Gymnasium

Law praises Windies captain Jason Holder

LONDON, England (CMC) – Head coach Stuart Law has praised the character of Test captain Jason Holder and says he could be an effective leader over the next decade in West Indies cricket.

The 25-year-old all-rounder is preparing to lead West Indies in the opening Test of a three-Test series against England in which the visitors have been labelled as rank underdogs.

“It is a lot of responsibility, and he does it with fantastic integrity,” Law said here.

“He’s a young man, but very intelligent and high-quality. He’s doing everything to make sure he captains this side not just this series but for 10 or 15 years.”

Holder was named Test captain two years ago, just a year after he was given charge of the one-day team, and has come in for widespread praise for his maturity despite the side’s losing slide.

Under his watch, West Indies have won just two of their 15 Tests but have

ues, making it a very exciting spectacle for the fans.

It is the first time that the format will be played locally and fans are being

shown signs of development and professionalism. They stunned Pakistan last November in the United Arab Emirates to win the final Test despite losing the three-Test series and also took a Test off the Pakistanis on the recent home tour as they again went down 2-1.

The tour of England represents one of the toughest challenges of Holder’s captaincy, especially with the youthful side – inexperienced in English conditions – already being written off by pundits.

But Law said such was Holder’s character that such criticism only served to motivate him.

“He takes it with a pinch of salt, the things said about him and this team and uses them to drive him and them forward,” said Law, who took over the side last March.

“He’s got experience.

He’s done it at this level, and I’m looking forward to how he performs.”

The Windies take on England in the day/night opening Test starting Thursday at Edgbaston.

team in the shorter format, but who somehow seem to have lost their way recently and will no doubt be aiming to put their latest disappointing performances behind them.

Then there is the likelihood of a strong Brazilian line-up in the mix, which makes it even tougher for a betting person to predict who will be left standing when the dust settles.

The teams invited are: Georgetown - Sparta Boss, West Front Road, Future Stars, Back Circle, Leopold Street, Sophia, Tucville, North Ruimveldt, Queen Street of Tiger Bay, Albouystown A&B, Channel 9 Warriors, North East La Penitence, Alexander Village, Old School Ballers, Broad Street, West Back Road, Bent Street, Campbellville, Pike Street, Sophia, Newtown, Kitty, Kitty Hustlers, New Market Street. East Coast Vryheid’s Lust, Plaisance, Melanie. East Bank – Agricola. Linden - Dave & Celena All Stars, Silver Bullets. West Demerara Showstoppers, ESPN and the Brazilian selection.

Suriname beat Guyana 3-1 at CONCACAF U-15 Championships

Guyana prior to their kickoff against Suriname in the CONCACAF U-15 Championships

By Rawle Toney SURINAME defeated Guyana 3-1 yesterday in their second match at this year’s Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Under-15 Championships in Florida, USA. Guyana had opened the tournament with a 1-1 draw against St Kitts and Nevis

and coach Bryan Joseph had hoped for a better showing by his boys against rivals Suriname.

Joseph said prior to the match, the team was told how important the game was, given the rich rivalry between the two countries in the sport of football.

However, the U-15 coach noted that Guyana went into the game looking ‘disorganised’ and despite scoring the

opening goal of the game through Orville Daniels in the 18th minute, it was Suriname who had the upper hand from the beginning.

“We scored on the run of play; Orville Daniels scored a nice volley from in the box and just for a moment I thought that the goal would have changed how we played,” Joseph noted.

But Suriname’s Fernando

Heopel connected in the 20th minute to equal the scores, while in the 36th minute, Faisijo Burnett scored to give the Dutch-speaking country a 2-1 lead.

Suriname kept their feet on the gas and Burnett scored his second in the 60th minute to give his country a 3-1 advantage.

Guyana will play St Lucia tomorrow in their final Group F game.

St. Lucia Stars fall to sixth successive CPL loss See Page 27

GTT, Amazon Warriors spread CPL cheer to St John’s Bosco Boys Orphanage

By Rawle Toney

Next Amazon Warrior? This youngster shows off his hitting skills while members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors pay close attention. (Samuel Maughn photo)

Law praises Windies captain Jason Holder

GUYANA Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) yesterday warmed the hearts of the residents at the St John’s Bosco Boys Orphanage, when they arranged a special visit by the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

“GTT is more than happy to support the Amazon Warriors and we’re also happy to bring smiles to faces of these children,” said the company’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Allison Parker.

During their visit, the Amazon Warriors engaged the children in a friendly game of cricket as well as football, while spending some time interacting, taking photos, signing autographs and listening to their stories of how much they love the game.

Omar Khan, the team’s manager expressed his delight for the time they spent at the Orphanage and thanked GTT (the team’s Signature Sponsor) for thinking about their well-being.

One orphan expressed his delight at being able to rub shoulders with the players

Turn to page 27

Trinbago Knight Riders are here for Saturday’s clash

See Page 31

West Indies have won just two of their 15 Tests under Jason Holder’s captaincy.

The Trinbago Knight Riders, Trinidad and Tobago’s Franchise team for the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) tournament arrived in Guyana last evening ahead of their Saturday clash against the Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence Stadium.

The team arrived at the Marriott Hotel last evening and will take a rest day today before training tomorrow. (Adrian Narine photo)

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017