Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 09 09 2016

Bond deal review No. 104669

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

‌Gov't mulls shortening lease, new location

Lightning strikes ...knocks HJ TV, radio off air

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'Chucky' charged with 11 murder of aunt P.

$74.4M 10 maternity facility P.

‌Leonora Hospital to be upgraded to maternity centre

$1.6B project to improve management of GPL 14 P.

Shamir Ally 9 likely to be recalled-gov't official P.

A fireman and other staff of Hits and Jams Radio and Television inspecting some of the damaged electrical cables on the building

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Love education

By Michel Outridge

IN OBSERVANCE of International Literacy Day, wife of the Prime Minister Sita Nagamootoo on Thursday distributed educational materials and teaching aid to the Selman Fraser Nursery School

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

‒ Mrs Nagamootoo urges pupils of Selman Fraser, Bel Air nursery schools

in Albouystown and the Bel Air Nursery School.

The items handed out were colouring books, crayons and rags. Supplies were also given to teachers.

Mrs Nagamootoo also used the opportunity to interact with pupils and teachers of the two schools.

She urged the children to love education and stay in

school.

She described her visits as enlightening and said she looks forward to visit several other schools, including Waterloo Nursery, West Coast Berbice and Auchlyne Primary, Corentyne, Berbice on Friday.

Pupils in a colouring exercise hosted by the Prime Minister’s wife Sita Nagamootoo

Mrs Sita Nagamootoo engaging pupils of Selman Fraser Nursery School on Thursday

Wheelchair-bound man burnt to death

By Jeune Van Keric

A WHEELCHAIR -bound sexagenarian was burnt beyond recognition after the house in which he lived was destroyed by fire just before midnight on Tuesday.

Parasram Samaroo, 64, occupied the lower room of his mother’s Lot 19 Adelphi Village, East Canje home. He had been confined to a wheelchair for the past 10 years.

His mother, nonagenarian Cherian Mangru, a pensioner, was awakened by the heat from the blaze and made a desperate effort to get to the front door of the house.

The 95-year-old recalled after finding the door, her grandson Raymond Mangru took her to safety.

As her son’s offspring was rescuing her, she remembered her pension book, her pension and other monies which were given as gifts a few days ago, after she had

celebrated another milestone.

She regretted her second child could not be saved, but noted that the flames quickly engulfed the wooden building.

Another son, Ganga Persaud, who lived a stone’s throw away, said he was awakened by his mother shouts for help.

However, by the time he rushed over, the house was already destroyed and his mother had been rescued.

His brother’s body was removed from the scene a few hours later. According to him, the deceased’s head and arms were burnt off the body.

The building was destroyed completely and nothing was saved.

Residents said while firefighters responded promptly, they took a while to access water sources.

Samaroo leaves to mourn his mother and three siblings.

Bond deal review

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

…Gov't mulls shortening lease, new location Government has described as undesirable the arrangements regarding the contracting of Linden Holdings Inc’s Sussex Street bond to store its pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies and has also hinted at shortening the lease and search for a new location.

“Cabinet was engaged in full and thorough discussions on the issue of the storage of government pharmaceuticals at the privately owned Sus-

sex Street facility. Cabinet has concluded that the arrangement was undoubtedly undesirable,” the Department of Public Information (DPI) said in a statement on Thursday. According to DPI Cabinet also considered the options and recommendations in the report of the Cabinet Sub-Committee tasked with reviewing the decision of the Ministry of Public Health to lease facilities at Sussex Street. “Specifically, Cabinet explored a range of

options including shortening the lease period for the rental of the Sussex Street facility while expediting the search for another facility,” the statement read.

It added that government agreed to secure its own pharmaceuticals storage facility and is inspecting suitable sites. “The options of purchasing, constructing or leasing will also be explored.

However, the conditions for the storage facility to be located within close proximity

of the Georgetown port and be easily accessible remain applicable.”

BEST ARRANGEMENT According to the DPI, though it has, out of necessity, taken some time to arrive at these decisions, Cabinet is satisfied that significant advances have been made on this matter and when the full menu of actions is completed, the best arrangement, in the interest of the people of Guyana, will be concluded.

“Cabinet notes that the Minister of Public Health, Dr.

George Norton has taken responsibility for the imbroglio and has publicly expressed regrets over the controversy that the rental of the Sussex Street bond has engendered.

Further, the Government recommits itself to managing the affairs of the state in a transparent and accountable manner and to respect public opinion at all times.”

“Cabinet recommitted itself to be vigilant with regard to all contracts and arrangements and assure the people of Guyana that efforts will continue to strengthen

the delivery of health care services which, for too long, have been held hostage by close friends and cronies of the previous administration.”

Finally, the DPI statement said that Cabinet acknowledged the frank expression of views by a wide cross section of the Guyanese society which it respects as vital to true participatory and inclusionary democracy. Further updates on the progress of this matter will be provided as necessary, the statement ended.

18% drop in serious crimes The Guyana Police Force said it has recorded an 18% decrease in serious crimes at the end of August this year, relative to the same period last year.

There was a 10% reduction in reports of murder; a 7% decrease in gun-related robberies; a 17% decrease in armed robberies where other instruments were used; a 9% decrease in robberies where no instruments were used; a 19% decrease in robberies with violence; a combined 40%decrease in break and enter and larceny, and burglary; a 20% decrease in rape; and a 38% decrease in larceny from the person.

In a statement the police said the relationship with the public and the police, is seemingly improving day by day because of the numerous community-related activities being conducted by its ranks, together with the regular Face-the- Community Meetings by Divisional Commanders and other Senior Officers.

“Exposure to training both locally and internationally, continues to be a top priority at all levels of the Force. To date eighty seven Officers and other ranks have benefitted from Overseas Training from India, China, USA, Russia, Argentina, Jamaica, etc. in (a) Financial Investigation, (b) Fingerprinting Identification, (c) Maritime Interdiction and

Prosecution, (d) Countering Organised Crime, (e) Public Order Maintenance, (f) Cyber Training, (g) Footwear Impression and Identification, (h) Counteraction against Terrorism and Extremism, and (i) Surveillance and Counter Surveillance.

Currently there are over two hundred and sixty ranks undergoing the Basic Recruit Training at the three Police Colleges.”

According to the police the COPs and Faith Community Network continues to assist significantly in invigilating and marking of the Learner Driver Theoretical Examinations. In terms of Juvenile Offenders, the police said to date they have dealt with three hundred and twenty one such cases country wide, including one hundred and eighty nine males and one hundred and thirty two females, who have been spared the ignominy of the Criminal Justice System, due to their intervention between the Complainants/Reporter, Victims and Police.

On the issue of traffic management, police said “unfortunately the Guyana Police Force has yet again seen an increase in road fatalities.

Eighty-seven fatalities have been recorded at the end of August this year, which are seven more than the same period last year. There was a reduction in serious and minor accidents but again an

increase in damage accidents.

Speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and inattentiveness continue to be the main causes of fatal accidents.“ Traffic Enforcement is continuous country-wide, with special emphasis on

driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, music/ breach of condition of road service licence, overloaded minibuses and use of cellular phones, the Force said. Also the lecture to schools programme, and visible patrols at school areas are ongoing.

The Guyana Police Force said too that it has charged 48,585 persons with traffic offences so far this year. This includes 18,053 for speeding of which 7, 133 have been fined; 1,168 for driving under the influence of alcohol

of which 268 have been fined; 1, 108 for unlicensed drivers of which 631 have been fined; 2, 016 for overloaded minibus of which 872 have been fined and 476 for using cell phones whist driving, of which 268 have been fined.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Attorneys walk out of Springlands Magistrates’ Court

By Nafeeza Yahya

ATTORNEYS on Thursday walked out of the deplorable Springlands Magistrates’ Court after deeming it “unfit for working.”

The court of law in question has for some time been the ‘court’ for bats which habitually defecate on the desks and floors of the courtroom.

According to reports, the mess has made a few persons ill, and the attorneys are determined to remedy the situation.

On August 15, the ceiling just above where Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh sits had collapsed, causing him to adjourn court for the day.

Attorneys and the magistrate have since been working in the poor conditions, but on Thursday they decided that enough was enough.

Attorney Mirza Sahadat said it is difficult to function in the current condition of the court as the scent from bat poop is very uncomfortable.

“Persons were complaining of headaches, nausea, while some were coughing, sneezing and had burning noses; we cannot work under these conditions,” he said.

Attorneys Adrian Anamayah, Chandra Sohan and Ryan Crawford were also at the court yesterday.

Crawford contended that the court in its current state is a health hazard, and as such is unfit for human occupation.

It is unfit to work, it is a health hazard and more people will get sick, the authori-

-- in protest against deplorable conditions ties need to look into this as soon as possible.”

He added that the court needs a “major overhaul,” pointing out that” about a week ago while I was there, the desks were littered with bat faeces and the scent was intense.”

Apart from this, the court does not have a fan and is always hot and congested.

Another attorney described the situation as awful and said an alternative venue has to be found for work to resume.

“We have an obligation to our clients and the State; however, our health comes first and we must act to safeguard that, I cannot work under these atrocious conditions.”

A part of the ceiling in the Springlands Magistrates’ Court that collapsed The attorneys are calling for a new facility with modern amenities. The Springlands Magistrates’ Court is among the oldest in Guyana.

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A member of the public who has been visiting the court for the past three days told the Guyana Chronicle that he has gotten a headache

from the conditions there.

“I cannot understand how the magistrate and the others handle it, it’s not healthy, I understand they try to get work done but to do it under such conditions it’s not right. Something needs to be put in place soon so these people can work in comfort.”

This publication understands that the registrar has been informed about the situation at the court and the walkout on Thursday and efforts are being made to have an alternative location for the time being.

Court will continue today, but it is unclear whether any attorney or members of the public will be in attendance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

‘Be open to new experiences’ IAPA calls for --First Lady tells Commonwealth scholarship awardees

By Ariana Gordon G U YA N E S E s t u d e n t s who have been awarded scholarships to study in the United Kingdom by the Commonwealth and the London School of Economics and Political Science met with First Lady Sandra Granger on Thursday.

Mrs Granger met with Mariscia Charles, who secured a scholarship from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Charles will be pursuing her Master’s Degree in Social Policy and Development with a focus on education policy or social policy.

She requested a meeting with the First Lady before she leaves for the UK as her

area of study is focused on areas similar to the work of the First Lady, the Ministry of the Presidency said in a statement.

In an invited comment, the First Lady said she advised Charles to take full advantage of the opportunity.

“Be open to new experiences. This is a prestigious international university. [You should] learn, enjoy and just be open to all the experiences that [you] should have as a student,” she said.

Meanwhile, the First Lady also met with five other young Guyanese, who were awarded scholarships by the Commonwealth, three of whom will be pursuing their Master’s Degrees at the University of Leeds.

They are Joel Flatts, who will read for a Master’s De-

gree in Transport Planning and Engineering; Bibi Abrahim, whose course of study is a Master’s Degree in Energy and the Environment; and Corrissa Goodings, who will read for a Master’s Degree in International Construction Management and Engineering.

The other two, Olita Williams will read for a Master’s Degree in Conservation and Rural Development at the University of Kent, while Trishawn McGreggor will be pursuing a Master’s Degree in International Social Development, will attend the University of East Anglia.

The group will leave for the UK next week.

Each year, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom awards over 900

scholarships and fellowships for post-graduate studies to citizens of Commonwealth countries.

Candidates are selected on the basis of merit and their potential to contribute to the needs of their home countries.

Photos saved as Scholarship (Ministry of the Presidency photos) Scholarship: First Lady Sandra Granger and Mariscia Charles, who was awarded a scholarship at the London University of Economics and Political Science Scholarship 1: First Lady Sandra Granger with the Commonwealth scholarship awardees. From left: Joel Flatts, Bibi Abrahim, Olita Williams, Granger, Corrissa Goodings and Trishawn McGreggor

Draft SARA bill deeply flawed-PSC THE Private Sector Commission said the draft State Asset Recovery Bill 2016 (SARA Bill) is deeply flawed and inconsistent with many of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana.

The PSC said it has obtained legal representation and will be making known its objections to the SARA Bill 2016 to the Attorney General and to members of the legislature.

In a statement on Wednesday the PSC said that it is of the view that all assets or resources belonging to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana that were unlawfully or criminally transferred to any beneficiary must be recovered and returned to the State once such unlawful transactions become known and criminal convictions obtained.

“The SARA Bill 2016 is not a good signal to investors who will require access to state resources such as land, licences, access rights etc. as the Bill provides opportunities for legitimate investors to be harassed and politically victimized,” the PSC said.

According to the PSC, the Bill has been drafted from the perspective that the Government of Guyana does not know what it owns or what the State has lost over the years and as such it provides all-encompassing investigative and surveillance powers to the director and staff of the Agency to snoop around into private accounts and financial records of citizens to determine what assets of the State were lost and need to be recovered.

“This is a complete affront to

the fundamental rights of citizens and if such powers are granted they can be used to marginalise, suppress and take advantage of vulnerable members of the population through political intimidation,” the PSC said.

The PSC added that it is “extremely concerned that the powers provided to the Director of SARA will blur the lines of separation of functions of the executive and the judiciary.”

The body also questioned the need for ministers to designate to the director and staff of SARA, as they see fit, the power of a revenue or customs officer, of a police officer and immigration officer rather than requesting collaboration and coordination of efforts amongst these agencies.

“The PSC believes that the

SARA Bill is premature and redundant since many of the intelligence gathering mechanism have already been enacted in the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Legislation and included in the mandate of the Integrity Commission, both of which have not been fully functional to date.

The PSC is calling on the executive and members of the legislature of our country to completely re-examine the dangers to civil liberties modelled by this Bill in the context of the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.”

release of Venezuelan journalist

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THE Inter American Press Association (IAPA) has called for the release from detention of Venezuelan journalist Braulio Jatar, director of the portal Reporte Confidencial (Confidential Report), on Margarita Island and it joined a request to the authorities that his safety and access to due process be guaranteed.

Jatar, 58, was arrested on Saturday (September 3) by the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin) and accused of money laundering, an offence that carries with it punishment of 10 to 15 years in prison. The charge maintains that a briefcase containing $25,000 and 19,000 bolivars was found in his vehicle.

However, his family called the arrest retaliation against Jatar and an act of intimidation for his having disseminated information and videos on his portal about a local protest last Friday (featuring banging on pots and pans) against President Nicolás Maduro.

IAPA President Pierre Manigault called on the Venezuelan authorities for “guarantees for his physical safety” and demanded that “there be compliance with the constitutional principle of respect for freedom of the press, the mobility and activity of journalists.”

Manigault, President of the Charleston, South Carolina, newspaper The Post and Courier, recalled that last week, within the framework of the September 1 anti-government protest, the IAPA condemned the government for impeding the practice of journalism and he blamed it for the deterioration in freedom of the press and of expression.

Jatar, who is also a lawyer, denied through his defence attorney having had the money at the time of his arrest. His lawyer called the arrest an ambush and disclosed that the official report claimed that Jatar would use this money to hand it over to “opposition groups to destabilise the upcoming Summit of Non-Aligned Countries” scheduled for September 13-18.

In another development, the IAPA also called for the release of Alejandro Puglia, a journalist and director of the Office of Monitoring and Evaluation of the Presidency of the National Assembly, arrested by the Sebin on September 1 for using a drone to take photos of the protest that day in Caracas, and charged with the offence of “warlike assistance.”

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

Pursuing due diligence THERE exist concerns and accusations that institutions, governmental or non-governmental, are making decisions absent of due diligence. Due diligence requires engaging in the needed preparatory work to ensure that before any decision is taken, it conforms to established standards, including outlined rules, laws, studied respect for the people the decision is directed to and being mindful of the societal impact the decision will cause.

In societies where public opinion is treated highly, institutions will test the impact of any decision (potential or active) through opinion polls or marketing surveys.

In politics, government and opposition usually gauge society’s feedback based on polls, outcries or support, including voices/institutions considered influential. In such an environment, is it not unusual to see a decision withdrawn when the public reacts unfavourably, officials come out and provide explanations or resign, civil society takes certain positions and demands certain actions, consequences felt at the ballot, or the court asked to adjudicate.

Being mindful of the consequences, including the cost to the institution and/or its leadership, in dollars, support and image, public relations are co-opted in some organisations to play a major role in influencing the shaping of policies and programmes, aiming not only to promote the institution and its leadership in a positive light, but also to pre-empt and avoid untoward experiences.

It is fair to say that Guyana still has ways to go in accepting the importance of scientific data and/or public receptiveness in influencing decision-making as obtained in more developed societies. That having been said, it does not spare institutions and leaders in Guyana being held by the people to uphold basic due diligence built into the system of management, be it governmental or non-governmental. Guyanese expect the upholding of standards as outlined in laws, rules, honourable customs and practices. And this is not an unreasonable expectation.

Where a political opposition, through the Leader of the Opposition, has already made clear that his party “will take back Guyana” as though Guyana belongs to one group and not all, and where the government is perceived-real or contrived-- to be unmindful of the due diligence built into the system of governance, it creates unnecessary friction and a breeding ground for provocateurs. Where the opposition, even though fingers can point to it that the due diligence it is calling for it failed to uphold when in government, such outlook or thinking will not help in achieving what are established requirements of the system.

Further, where the said opposition has been moving to the courts-- by itself or through various individuals-- though not absent the stench of politics, it helps to recognise that

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Jordan fact-checks Ramotar’s “falsehoods” on Guyana’s debt Dear Editor,

I REFER to a letter captioned, “Concerns are being raised about Guyana’s growing debt”, which was written by Donald Ramotar, and appeared in the Stabroek News, Saturday, September 3, 2016. I assume that Donald Ramotar is the same individual who is the immediate past Executive President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

Since his demitting office, following two consecutive rejections at the polls by the majority of Guyanese, Mr. Ramotar has been occupying himself with writing letters to the press, all of which contain spurious allegations that are designed more to inflame than inform the populace. His latest missive follows the pattern he has established for himself.

Mr. Ramotar claims that concerns were being raised in many quarters, but failed to identify a single instance of such. He then goes on to speak of “The latest report states that our debt is climbing.” Which report? Again, none has been identified.

And, frankly, none exists, because he tried to pass a falsehood on to the Guya-

nese people, hoping it would resonate.

What are the facts?

Fact 1: Since coming to office, in May 2015, the Coalition Government has contracted a total of three loans for a value of US$55.3 million, as follows: Farm to Access Road Project, (US$1.6mn); UG Science and Technology Project Extension, (US$3.7mn); and Ogle Bypass Road, (US$50mn).

Of that amount, only US$1.4 million has been disbursed and counted as part of the public debt. All of these loans were at the discussion stage with the PPP/C Government, prior to May 2015.

Fact 2: Between June 2015 and June 2016, the total public debt, comprising external and domestic debts, increased by less than 1 percent, or from US$1.54 billion to US$1.55 billion. This marginal increase reflects an increase in the issuance of 91-day and 182-day Treasury bills. However, the total public debt declined from US$1.6 billion at end-December 2014 to US$1.54 billion at end-December 2015.

Fact 3: Between June 2015 and June 2016, the external debt declined in nominal terms by 2.7 percent,

or from US$1.18 billion to US$1.14 billion.

Fact 4: Between June 2015 and June 2016, total principal and interest repaid reduced from US$39.05 million to US$31.21 million, a decline of 20 percent. This was due mainly to reduced repayments to Venezuela, after that country halted supplies of petroleum under the PetroCaribe arrangement and the Guyana-Venezuela Rice Trade Agreement.

Fact 5: The total public debt to GDP ratio at end-December 2015 was 48.6 percent, down from 51.9 percent at end-December 2014.

Fact 6: The total debt service to revenue ratio at June 2016 was 7.5 percent compared to 9.3 percent at June 2015.

As the above facts indicate, Guyana’s debt profile remains stable and sustainable; we are in a better position today than 15 months ago, when this Government entered office. What the Guyanese populace should know, though, is that, at the time the PPP/C Government left office, there were 31 disbursing loans with an approved value of US$616.2 million. Of that amount, less than half or US$245.7 million, had been disbursed and, thus, formed

part of the national debt. The balance of US$370.5 million will be disbursed in future.

So, even if this Government did not contract a single new loan in the coming years, the national debt will still increase by US$370.5 million, less any sums that would have been repaid or written off over that period.

The rest of Mr. Ramotar’s letter is replete with misrepresentations and the usual politicking and propaganda. They have been dealt with repeatedly by officials of this Government and, therefore, do not need to be addressed here. Suffice it to say that this Government believes in maintaining a strong macroeconomic position that is conducive to the growth of the economy and increasing its international competitiveness. In our single-minded pursuit of this objective, we will neither be side-tracked nor otherwise distracted by the diatribe of a failed president, whose Goebbelian posture will not be allowed to gain traction in our society.

Yours faithfully WINSTON JORDAN Minister of Finance

Pandit Tillack turns in Ambassador of Peace certificate Dear Editor,

PLEASE permit me space to respond to a letter captioned “outburst by Pandit Tillack was ridiculous.

“Kaieteur News, Wednesday 7, 2016.

Firstly, the content of the letter penned is riddled with inaccuracies and is meant to assassinate my character. Mr. Editor, I received a letter “re: Instruction to attend tribunal” on Friday, September 2,2016, from the desk of the national chairman for the universal peace federation

Guyana chapter-Hajji Roshan Khan.

The letter stated “Dear Pandit Tillack, you are hereby instructed to present yourself on Monday, September 5,2016,at 16:00 hrs at the Universal Peace Federation(UPF)headquarters/ unification church at 256 Thomas Street South Cummingsburg,Georgetown.

This tribunal is for a hearing on the controversial pronouncements you made at the annual prayer ceremony to mark the beginning of Indigenous Heritage Month.

due diligence allows for the judiciary’s involvement and pronouncement.

What is happening in the political and governmental landscapes has not escaped non-governmental organisations, be it the private sector, trade unions, religious bodies, cooperatives, or club. It is pervasive, gnawing at the soul of the nation, and testing the resilience of the people. It bodes well to pay heed that one of the reasons organisations/institutions have rules/laws for those participating in the association -- directly or indirectly -- is to ensure the universal regulation of behaviour. The same philosophy applies to society and government, which are seen in laws regulating the management of the institutions

The aim of the tribunal is to assess whether you will continue to be a member of the UPF. Failing to attend will result in the immediate termination of your appointment as an “ambassador for peace” under the federation.”

However, to save myself the drama, since, the local chairman has “NO” authority to do so,I humbly returned the “ambassador for peace” certificate along with the title with the intent to write the UPF headquarters seeking clarification whether the local

chairman has the authority to terminate my appointment when the appointment came under the hand of the founder Rev Dr. Moon.

Ambassadors for peace are volunteering their time and service to the UPF for the achievement of the organisation’s objectives. Finally, Mr, Editor, I’m convinced that Mr. Roshan Khan’s letter is also an aggressive response to my action.

Yours truly PANDIT DEODATT TILLACK

of state, the behaviour of those working in these institutions and the citizens, to ensure conformity or sanction those who deviate. Serious attention needs to be paid to the apparent disregard for due diligence, given its importance to our existence. Non-compliance carries consequences not only for social cohesion and national unity, but also for the economy, a trending politics that thrives on vindictiveness and clannishness, and what the people perceive as no regard for them. Though in the past doing business on behalf of the people and being reliant on the people to sustain one’s business was done with little or no regard for due diligence, the absence of wisdom in such conduct ought not to be lost sight of.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Guyana should intensify its public outreach in border controversy with Venezuela Dear Editor “THE Secretary-General praised the willingness of Presidents Granger and Maduro to uphold their countries’ tradition of dialogue, while a path toward resolution of the controversy is crafted that will be beneficial to both countries and their peoples.”

The foregoing is an excerpt from the statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki moon following his meeting with Presidents Granger and Maduro during last year’s UN General Assembly. At that time, and even now, it remains to me unclear what the secretary-general means by “while a path toward resolution of the controversy is crafted that will be beneficial to both countries and its peoples”. How would the resolution of the controversy be beneficial to the two countries and their peoples other than through some new arrangement(s) through which

Venezuela gets something?

The evidence which would be presented in the judicial process will certainly be in Guyana’s favour, since Guyana’s position is firmly rooted in international law and therefore would have the current demarcations remain intact.

However, there continues to be a school of thought in some circles that shared or joint exploitation of the resources of the Essequibo region, including its maritime space would represent “a path toward resolution of the controversy that will be beneficial to both countries and their peoples.” This path is unacceptable and such thinking must be countered in no uncertain terms.

At a press conference at the UN last year, President Granger said that it could not be lost on the the Secretary-General that the resources of the Essequibo region and the waters off its coast belong to Guyana and

will be developed for the benefit of Guyanese. It will soon be one year since the UN Secretary-General would have this issue before him to rule on a mechanism for resolving this controversy.

Yesterday ( Wednesday), I was invited to be a part of a round table discussion on the Venezuelan controversy with Guyana and again the suggestion of joint or shared exploitation of the resources, especially Guyana’s oil and gas resources, emerged as a popular school of thought, if not argument in support of ending the controversy.

I posed the question whether one can expect Ban Ki moon to rule on a mechanism before he leaves office at year’s end and the answer was a resounding no. None of the participants expects him to do so and a majority was confident he wouldn’t and perhaps is of the view he shouldn’t.

It is said that former

NAREI responds to complaints Dear Editor,

THE National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) wishes to address several inaccurate statements raised by a “concerned employee” in a letter captioned “Complaints against the Administration of NAREI” that was published in the Kaieteur News on September 8, 2016.

NAREI was formed in 2011 and is governed by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute Act (2011). All employees are contracted and based on performance, their contracts are renewed. Even as management monitors the performance of staff regularly to ensure efficiency and effectiveness, employees are appraised on an annual basis.

The payment of gratuity is based on an employee’s performance and work completed for three months ‘resident service’. Therefore, if the employee is not on the job, he or she cannot be assessed. However, mothers are entitled to their maternity benefits from the National Insurance Scheme. Further-

more, Cuban graduates working at NAREI are directly employed by the Ministry of Agriculture and assigned to the institute.

Management is pleased to inform that there is no gap in the organization currently. In fact, measures have been put in place to make NAREI more functional with the recent restructuring of its organogram. There is a new Finance Manager and in the case where there was a Deputy CEO and an Assistant CEO there is now only an Assistant CEO. The previous structure allowed for redundancy. Also, an Administrative Manager was hired, a post that was held by the previous Human Resources /Administrative Manager. A Senior Human Resources Officer is managing the Human Resources Department that is staffed with knowledgeable personnel. Furthermore, capable officers are carrying out the duties of Coastal Crop Extension Coordinator and Regional Crop Extension Officers (Regions 3&6).

Researches are executed at the institute,based on work

programmes and budgets prepared by the respective departments and approved by the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors.

NAREI is provided with adequate funding to execute all its research and extension work.

It is important to note that the Board of Directors is appointed by Cabinet and not NAREI. NAREI’s management cannot give directives to or influence the board.

The board is responsible for ensuring adherence to the institute’s policies.

This concerned employee has never brought to the attention of management the issues listed. NAREI does not believe in having employees feel disgruntled or disheartened. Such feelings are counterproductive to the Institute accomplishing its mandate. Management is always open to suggestions that will positively impact on the Institute in keeping with its policies.

Yours truly, Senior Human Resources Officer NAREI

U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney’s internal code name for the Iraq war was “Operation Iraqi Liberation”...OIL. Notwithstanding the movement toward green energy, oil and gas will remain critical commodities in the conduct of international relations and geo-politics. So what does this mean for Guyana? In my view, Guyana must continue to push ahead with the development of our oil industry but we must be cognizant of the geo-politics associated with this industry particularly against the backdrop of what future governments of Venezuela and the United States may turn out to be.

At yesterday’s forum there were maps of Guyana and Venezuela mounted.

The Venezuelan map did

not have the “Zona Reclamacion” wording. From my reading, it seemed that the word Venezuela was spread right across the map to include the area that previously would have been identified as the “zone to be reclaimed”. If my reading is accurate, this map suggests that Venezuela has “taken back” what is not theirs.

It is clear that Venezuela is relentless in maintaining its claim. It is also clear that the Opposition in Venezuela and the Venezuelan Diaspora is convinced that the claim is valid and must be pursued. This was clear during yesterday’s forum.

I must therefore once again point to the need for Guyana to intensify its public outreach efforts to help

shape public opinion in its favour. It is time that President Granger meets with the editorial board of the New York Times, Washington Post and other influential dailies and that our embassies, consulates and diaspora organizations reach out to various organizations such as the Council for the Americas, not merely to inform and educate various audiences as to invalidity of the Venezuelan claim, but to demonstrate the seriousness of this issue and the negative impact it potentially has for the future development of our country and the quality of life of Guyanese.

Regards WESLEY KIRTON

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

The echelons of procrastination PROCRASTINATION, as defined in our grassroot language, is a man that is a ‘blow-blow’ or reliable like ‘Cow Dung’, which, when deposited, creates a hard scab but is soft inside, or someone who has grand ideas, but fails to lift the first practical finger towards realising it. In other words, a ‘B.S artist’.

This word is many-faceted in its human manifestation; most likely it does not define a recorded disease but it’s definitely a mental condition. We all know such persons that fit the

description as friends, relatives, and acquaintances, or unfortunately, in some cases as siblings and offspring.

The most profound example I can identify revolves around a longstanding buddy whose name came up recently during a conversation with a mutual friend.

He’s abroad now, but when he was in Guyana, he complained incessantly about the inadequateness of his salary, which had exceeded mine.

All that was wrong in his life, from his perspec-

tive, was somebody else’s fault. This would have been justified had his efforts been

Missing

innovative and substantial, and the lack of vision and indifference from officialdom were frustrating those efforts. But my buddy could not settle to execute any of his ideas, even to begin.

THE THING WITH DREAMS Then there is another close friend who, when I told him that I wanted to get into the graphic publication business, taunted me for a long time, attributing a name to define the idea.

He addressed me in good humour as ‘A pauper with a dream’.

The thing with dreams is that you never know where they will lead, once you begin the first step.

This close friend had great ideas too, but felt that Guyana wasn’t big enough to conceptualise his vision.

When I implored him to try one particular idea out, he confessed to another plan. He’d met a young lady whose reputation was, in his own words, a bit hazy, but her mom lived abroad and had “lots of money.”

With this inspiration, there was a wedding. Then, months later, came the shock: the lady’s foster father died overseas. Apparently, the bigger part of the boom belonged to him, and he had a family before who turned up for, let’s say, the reading of the will.

The marriage became hectic, and didn’t last much longer, so he thereafter resolved to marry someone else to get him to the U.S. Procrastination is not exclusive to any geographic region. Arnol d Schwarzenegger, the Olympian body builder once re-

marked in an interview, that in Austria, if you propose an idea, they will give you 11 reasons why it wouldn’t work, while in America they’ll say, “Go for it.”

INHERENT ORIENTATION In Guyana, we seem to have a special kind of orientation that I think colonies inherited, which helps cultivate this condition, a condition that may very well be latent, anyhow, in some people.

The very administrators of colonies themselves lack the belief that ideas can emerge from their own collective; and even when directed to accommodate, cannot transcend the limitations of fixed-procedure directives to expand. So they brush aside portfolios from unassuming presenters with unaccustomed imagery. This leads to the inducement of the defeatist mode into the more fragile presenter that pauses at procrastination, with the beyond-Guyana-salvation mindset, while retreating entirely into the projected imaginations of what can be.

I mentioned that there are echelons of procrastination. I encountered one stage recently. It was two weeks after ACDA’s Emancipation Festival when I was stopped in Republic Bank by a female colleague in the media, who began to chastise me, saying that the festival didn’t have African food.

I explained that booths are rented, and people stock what they feel the public would buy. She rebutted that it was ACDA’s re-

sponsibility to have African food, which caused several pairs of eyes belonging to other young Afro-Guyanese ladies to swivel towards me.

WHAT! NO ‘FU-FU’!

I attacked with what was profound. With the wave of a hand, I asked, “How many of you ladies cooked ‘fu-fu’ during August?” Questioning eyes blinked and shifted. I knew then that I had them. It seems that none of the seated ladies in the loan chairs knew how to make, or had even eaten ‘fu-fu’.

Twice afterwards I encountered the young lady, and the subject came up.

And I finally advised her to get someone who can teach her generation to make this obviously vanishing delicacy make a comeback.

Where the element of procrastination comes in, is in the projection of something one can call on someone else to do, cancelling an opportunity, the execution of which will require a Research and Development work factor, that presents the trial and error, fall and rise probability.

This is the mountain that has to be climbed that nudges one into the comfortable shade of procrastination. For most young men, our first act of procrastination is to carry into reality the many conversations we have in our minds with the first young lady we link all the love songs to; she’s in our class a few feet away, but we dare not sign her initials on the Valentine heart we designed, because the buddy we share the desk and bench with is PROCRASTINATION.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Shamir Ally likely to be recalled-gov't official

President David Granger (Center) and Vice-President & Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge(left) stand with Guyana’s Heads of Missions at the conclusion of the orientation programme on June 25. Dr Shamir Ally stands left of President Granger (Ministry of Foreign Affairs photo)

The Guyana Government is likely to recall its ambassador to Kuwait, Dr Shamir Ally, following revelations via the media that he was charged and convicted of fraud, sources close to the administration have said.

Dr Ally was reportedly convicted on March 4, 2003 by a United States District Court Judge, for the dissemination of false financial information by Acrodyne Communications, Inc. (“Acrodyne”) in press releases and Commission filings in 1998, 1999 and 2000. He was convicted for violations of antifraud and was charged jointly with two other persons and fined US $10,000, Kaieteur News reported.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said it was probing reports that Dr Ally is a convicted felon.

“I have seen one of the publications and we are investigating and trying to establish

the veracity in determining the seriousness of the conviction,” Carl Greenidge, Minister of Foreign Affairs told reporters. He said that that when the investigation is completed, a report would be made to Cabinet.

However, on Thursday, just after the conclusion of the weekly post cabinet press briefing, Cabinet secretary and Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters that ambassadors are subject to interviews and it is at those interviews that the envoys are required to ‘come clean’.

“Basically, there is a question of interviews and so on. If people suppress information you would never know it until after the fact. So that is the reality,” said Harmon who told reporters that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is examining the situation and will “take the appropriate steps as they consider the

importance of that matter.”

Asked if the government is convinced that Dr Ally suppressed vital information from it, Minister Harmon declined to comment but noted that Greenidge is currently checking the source of the information. “We will ask the person to provide us with information… so we do not try you in your absence. The person will be given an opportunity to provide an answer, explanations to the ministry as to what that situation is,” he added.

On Wednesday the Foreign Affairs Minister said “due diligence was exercised” during the lead up to Dr Ally’s appointment and said too that because of the size of the United States, where the ambassador resided, it can be difficult to obtain information. “… Something may happen in one part [of the US] and you can’t approach

No commercial oil found in ExxonMobil’s ‘Skip Jack’ well EXXONMOBIL’S ‘Skip Jack’ well has proven not to have commercial quantities of hydrocarbons, a statement from the Ministry of Natural Resources said on Thursday.

“The Ministry of Natural Resources was informed by ExxonMobil and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on August 29, 2016, that the ‘Skip Jack’ well has proved not to have commercial quantities of hydrocarbons. We are continuing to have verification work done and awaiting a full report and more information will be provided then, the statement said.

The ministry said the oil giant’s announcement has reminded it of the “undulating fortunes of mining in general and of oil exploration in particular.”

According to the statement, ExxonMobil will continue with its plans to develop the Liza Well with its declared capacity of approximately one Billion barrels of oil and look for possible

targets for drilling.

“Likewise, the Government continues its preparations for the eventual production of oil and gas in the near future by building capacity at the legislative, technical and regulatory levels,” the statement added.

ExxonMobil spudded the ‘Skip Jack’ exploration well offshore Guyana, some 40km north-west of the deep-water Liza well.

ExxonMobil had announced at the end of June that its Liza well offshore Guyana contains hydrocarbon reserves in the range of 800M to 1.4 B equivalent barrels of crude oil and described it as a “world-class discovery” “We are excited by the results of a production test of the Liza-2 well, which confirms the presence of high-quality oil from the same high-porosity sandstone reservoirs that we saw in the Liza-1 well completed in 2015,” said Steve Greenlee, President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company.

The Liza wells are located in the Stabroek Bloc approximately 120miles (193 kilometres) offshore Guyana. Data from the successful Liza-2 well test is being assessed. According to the release, the Liza-2 well was drilled by ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, approximately two miles (3.3 km) from the Liza-1 well.

The Liza-2 well encountered more than 190 feet (58 metres) of oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs in Upper Cretaceous formations. The well was drilled to 17,963 feet (5,475 metres) in 5,551 feet (1,692 metres) of water.

The Stabroek block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek block. Hess Guyana Exploration Limited holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 per cent interest.

the US and get answers. You have to go to the right courts and the right states,” he said.

Dr. Ally has also served on a number of boards and bodies in Guyana over the years.

Earlier this year, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of

the Board of Directors of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest). Notwithstanding Dr Ally’s conviction, the minister said the APNU-AFC government chose the “best set” of diplomats to represent the country.

“I think we have, with experience and qualifications – the best set of ambassadors that you could put together for the work they are required to undertake. Compared with the teams we’ve had over the years, they are very well placed to undertake the goals that we set out.”

Guyana Chronicle understands that in the case of Dr Ally, the security and background checks took longer than anticipated. A source close to the government said it is the responsibility of the government to request vital information

from those identified to serve as ambassadors. “The government will ask them to disclose everything… it is up to the person to be honest,” said the source who noted that ambassadors are not only screened from the local end but also from the host country. Guyana Chronicle understands that the selectee’s financial information, his friends, associates and the amount of money he or she has worked for is under scrutiny. The source said it would be in the best interest of the government to have Dr Ally removed from his post as it would be difficult for him to function in his substantive post. Dr Ally was part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ one week orientation session for ambassadors in June.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Yokohama Trading launches Guyana office YOKOHAMA Trading, an international automotive dealership on Thursday officially launched its local headquarters at Plantation Sophia, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown, with a promise of aftersales service to customers.

Representatives from Republic and Scotia banks were at the event to assist customers with financing.

The business’s General Manager Deepak Balradj said customers who worry about buying certain brands of vehicles can now be assured that the company will supply the necessary spare parts for their respective purchase.

“Our company wants to provide good customer service and good products, all

vehicles are coming directly from Japan, we have sold 556 vehicles so far in Guyana and we have not gotten any negative feedback from customers, since most like our service and the deals we give them,” he said.

Persons can purchase vehicles at the local Yokohama Trading office through cash, hire purchase or through the bank. And the company does not charge any legal fees in their hire purchase options.

“All vehicles come with three months warranty on the engine, transmission and air-conditioning. Anytime customers have problems with their vehicle and they need parts, they can come to us and we will provide the product for them…. We

want to introduce new types of vehicles that include brands such as Nissan, Honda, Suzuki, Toyota, Isuzu, Toyota, Mazda, GMC and others,” Balradj explained.

The company is based in Suriname and plans to extend operations to Jamaica and Barbados, in addition to opening another outlet in Berbice.

The Yokohama Group of companies dates back to 1992, when a couple of friends set up their own company in Paramaribo, Suriname, Latin America, called Yokohama Trading N.V. They started importing used automobiles from Europe. Over the years, the company expanded and

Yokohama Trading General Manager Deepak Balradj, flanked by staff, cuts the ribbon to officially open the new base in Guyana

shifted to the imports of mainly Japanese vehicles.

From that point onwards, the company grew rapidly and became a significant automobile importer and distributer in Suriname.

Acquiring import contracts for brands such as

Chery Tiggo SUV’s, Great Wall Wingle compact pickups, Changan mini pickups, JMC light trucks, King Long busses, Dong Feng dump trucks and also Sany excavators, the company is preparing actively for the future.

During the last 15 years,

the group diversified and expanded its activities significantly, establishing many companies.

From 2000 on, the Yokohama Group of companies expanded its activities to Europe, Africa, Asia and further in Latin America.

$74.4M upgrade for Leonora hospital CABINET has granted its approval for the award of a $74.4 million contract to Builders Hardware and Quality Timber Project Company for the expansion and capacity building at the Leonora Diagnostic Centre (LDC) so that the centre can be upgraded to a maternity care facility.

This upgrade will now see women being able to access the full range of maternity services, both pre-birth and post-delivery health care, at the facility and is intended to ease the burden on the maternity ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

This announcement was made by Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon at this week’s post-Cabinet press briefing, which was held at the Ministry of the Presidency, and comes after President David Granger’s visit to the GPHC’s maternity ward last December, where he was appalled at the conditions he witnessed.

A release from the Ministry of the Presidency noted that early this year, the President visited the Diamond and Leonora Diagnostic Centres, where he explored oppor-

tunities for providing more maternity centres so that pregnant women would have more options for pre and post-delivery care.

According to the release, Minister Harmon said that Government, under the stewardship of President Granger, is committed to ensuring that the quality of healthcare, which is available to women at the public health care institutions, is greatly improved.

“This project at the expansion of the Leonora Diagnostic Centre arose out of a concern, which was expressed by His Excellency when he visited the maternity ward of the GPHC. His major concern at that time was the condition under which pregnant women were treated and in the manner in which they were making deliveries…

He called upon the Minister of Public Health and me to go around and find a proper place where some extension in the hospital can cater to maternity cases to deal with the conditions under which women were required to give birth.

The LDC was one of the areas, which has been identified that has the space and can, with some adjustment, be able to provide that facility so that the women who are coming from Bartica and Regions 2, 3, 7, 8 and other places don’t

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

have to come to Georgetown,” Minister Harmon said.

Those visits by the President were designed to give him a first-hand look at some of the challenges faced by both health providers and patients.

In an invited comment at that time, the President had noted that the fact-finding mission provided the Government with an idea of the capacity for the expansion of maternity facilities to other locations.

“We wanted to see the challenges that face the ordinary patients who came in off the road; mothers particularly, and we want to see what measures needed to be put in place in order to provide a better quality health care,” President Granger had said on his visit to the Centres.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Granger knocks ‘reckless’ City Hall …says Council must put alternatives in place before removing vendors

By Ravin Singh ACCUSED of interrupting legitimate economic activities by removing vendors from an area where they ply their trade, the Georgetown City Council is being urged to ensure alternatives are in place before making these sudden moves.

This was articulated by President David Granger on Thursday during the recording of his weekly television show ‘The Public Interest’.

Without any warning, Town Clerk Royston King and his security officers descended on fruit and greens vendors plying their trade along Robb Street, between Alexander and Bourda Streets on Tuesday and announced that they would have to cease vending there until further notice.

The vendors were reportedly removed because of the unsanitary condition outside of Mike’s Pharmacy, which is in the area where they vend.

President David Granger

This prompted a protest on Wednesday outside the Ministry of Communities, where vendors expressed their dissatisfaction with the way King was handling the affairs of the city. They also called for his removal as Town Clerk with immediate effect.

The protest was led by Head of the Guyana Market Vendors Union, Eon Andrews, who said the Town Clerk was “ignorant” since he failed to inform the vendors of City Hall’s decision.

When asked what his views were in relation to the issue, the President said he would urge the council to deal with these issues in a humane manner and provide alternatives for the vendors.

“I would urge the city council to deal with these issues in a humane manner; at the same time ensuring that before any move is made, there is an alternative. If there are open spaces, we need to build markets before we can move the vendors. We can’t move the vendors into nowhere,” President Granger said.

He went on to explain that throughout the country people are seen vending in the open. According to him though, this does not change the fact that tarmacs and other designated areas must be provided for vendors to ply their trade.

“It’s a legitimate business and it is a legitimate concern of the government that those vendors be able to do their work safely,” the Head-of-State said.

‘Chucky’ remanded with murder of aunt A man accused of killing his aunt in Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara on September 04 was charged with murder on Thursday when he appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

The 22-year-old mason, Kevin Mohan called ‘Chucky’ of Lot 315 Fifth Street, Cummings Lodge was remanded to prison until October 28, 2016 where the case was transferred to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. He also has a pending charge of assault at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.

The battered body of 48-year-old Anita Mohan was found on the floor of her kitchen at the aforementioned address where she lived with Mohan and her son, Intiaz Khan. Khan found his mother lying in blood with her head bashed in and

Kevin Mohan called “Chucky”

a stab wound to her chest.

A bloody ‘rolling pin’, suspected to be one of the murder weapons, was found in close proximity, as well as a broken beer bottle. Police had noted that the young man confessed to the murder, while admitting that another person acted as his accomplice.

A post mortem exam-

Dead: Anita Mohan

ination performed on the remains of the woman revealed that she died from multiple injuries. Relatives reportedly said there was a wound to the woman’s temple which seemed like it was inflicted with a knife.

There is also a chop wound to her head and another on one of her cheeks while it appeared as if a piece of her lip was sliced.

The President also pointed out that he has made it clear on more than one occasion that it is the view of the Government that vending is a legitimate economic activity. As such,

he reiterated that sites need to be found and developed and a clean and safe way to accommodate vendors and their customers.

This plan, he said, extends as far as develop-

ing double decker markets, which the President opined would work to the benefit of both the state and the vendors. He was keen to note though that government will not micromanage these affairs, but provide support to address these issues.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Suspension of NCN Editor ‘inhumane’ – President Granger

By Ravin Singh

FOLLOWING the recent suspension of the National Communications Network (NCN) Sports Editor, Jocelle Archibald-Hawke, due to comments made on her personal Facebook profile, President David Granger has described that decision by the management as “inhumane.”

Two weeks ago, Archibald-Hawke, who was accused of making a defam-

atory comment about one of her colleagues on social media was suspended by the management of NCN for one month without pay, even after she did a written apology.

The Sports Editor expressed the view on her personal Facebook profile that she was “surrounded by idiots,” after her colleague, Norman Gobin questioned the President on his television show ‘The Public Interest,’ about an augmented reality game “Pokemon Go.”

She was subsequently asked to apologise and did so. However, the editor was subsequently suspended because the apology was not to the liking of her colleague and reports of misconduct which had already been dealt with in the past resurfaced.

Since then the Guyana Press Association (GPA) has insisted that the suspension should be rescinded because NCN does not have a social media policy from which it can institute disciplinary action.

But the decision by management to suspend Ar-

chibald-Hawke was not one President David Granger agreed with.

In fact, during the recording of his television show ‘The Public Interest’ on Thursday, the Head-of-State said that it was inhumane of management to take such actions against the Sports Editor.

“I think there was as absence of compassion on the part of the administration [of NCN] and we expect that [compassion] in the future.

I think it is inhumane to deprive an employee of her salary without due process,”

NCN Sports Editor, Jocelle Archibald-Hawke

he said.

With no social media policy to guide the conduct of its staff, the President also contended that no law was broken nor was any crime committed by the Sports Editor.

“She has not committed a crime, it is not as though she’s a murderer. I think it was inhumane to take away her salary or to suspend her from her job. I don’t know

ing where the decision was made, conflicted with his claims.

THE GPA was able to secure a copy of the minutes of the August 8, 2016 management meeting which pointed to a discussion on the production of a news montage.

The minutes read thus: ‘With regards to this, the CEO stated that the anchor and wardrobe should coincide with the montage.

However, given the present condition of Ms. Natasha Smith, the CEO asked that a tight shot be done to remedy the view….”

According to the GPA, following that discussion, the CEO recommended that Smith be replaced.

Asked whether he believes disciplinary actions should be brought against Cornette for discriminating against Smith, the Head-ofState said that he could not say what the outcome will be, since that responsibility lies with Prime Minister Moses

“She has not committed a crime; it is not as though she’s a murderer. I think it was inhumane to take away her salary or to suspend her from her job. I don’t know she has committed any crime at all” – President Granger she has committed any crime at all.”

The Head-of-State went on to explain that there needs to be some instruction passed to the administration of state entities that there should be no “power play,” but that the operations of the entity should be to the benefit of all Guyanese.

In relation to another issue involving the removal of an employee from anchoring the news, because she is pregnant, President Granger contended that there should be no obstruction to women being allowed to perform their duties because of pregnancy.

“There should be no obstacle [and] no threat and certainly people should not be punished by being removed from their jobs.”

The anchor of the evening news programme of state broadcaster, Natasha Smith was removed from her chair by the company CEO, Lennox Cornette after it was reported that she “did not look good” due to her pregnancy. She was reinstated on Wednesday after pressure mounted on the state-owned company.

Cornette had denied that Smith was removed on those grounds. However, a copy of the minutes of the meet-

Nagamootoo.

The President said though, that he hopes that the persons responsible for those incidents would operate in a more “prudent and compassionate” manner.

The PM has since denounced these actions and demanded the CEO tender an unqualified apology to Smith “for using her pregnancy as reason to remove her temporarily as News Anchor.”

This issue has also raised the question about a comprehensive pregnancy policy and according to President Granger, government will make a recommendation for there to be a generalised Government policy in the future, as they did not anticipate an event of this nature.

Both the Guyana Defense Force and the Guyana Police Force have a pregnancy policy and the Government has proposed that the City Council apply a similar policy.

“Now that the matter has gone to NCN, we would make a recommendation for there to be a generalized Government policy because we didn’t think it would have come to this, because as far as I’m concerned, NCN was quite out of place [and] out of order to have the person removed from the job that she was doing,” the Head-of-State said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Aries Clues may appear today that give you an inkling of what you can expect as Jupiter enters your 7th House of Partnerships. Instead of pursuing success as a solo act, consider the potential rewards that could develop from your relationships with others. The possibilities might even include committing to love and marriage. But also be on the lookout for encounters in business that lead to learning about new subjects or travelling to places you’ve never been. Greet everyone you meet with the same respect you wish to receive in return.

Taurus You don’t want to make any mistakes when taking the next step along your path to success. You could feel somewhat limited in your ability to respond to opportunities today, but rest assured you can turn a small seed into a mighty tree. However, your growth won’t come from scattering your energies and taking on lots of new projects while Jupiter moves through your 6th House of Work for the next year. The daily habits that you establish now will set the stage for rewards down the road.

Gemini You’re eager for more spontaneity and romance in your life once jovial Jupiter shifts into your 5th House of Fun and Games. Nevertheless, you’re still carrying residual emotional weight and it might take a few weeks to lighten your load. Someone could be trying to control you in ways that you don’t appreciate. The discord isn’t quite out in the open which makes it even more difficult to address. Pick an appropriate time to bring up your feelings of anger or resentment, but do so with kindness. Luckily, it takes very little effort to be patient now because you intuitively know that your life is about to change for the better.

Cancer The cosmos is offering you a chance to cultivate peace and harmony in your personal life. This lovely news is made possible by a resurgence of self-confidence and a re-connection to your roots. You can derive great satisfaction from your private world when joyous Jupiter takes up residence in your 4th House of Home and Family. Emotional security is an ongoing concern for you Crustaceans, and sometimes it’s a struggle to let down your guard. Bob Marley said, “Being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure.”

Leo Hang onto your hat, for the busyness of your everyday life is about to intensify before you know it. Although you may want to deepen a meaningful relationship, expansive Jupiter’s visit to your 3rd House of Immediate Environment suggests that larger social issues will pull you away from the focus on any one single person.

The energetic pace is picking up and people will enter your world with good news if are willing to listen. Don’t just stand there when opportunity knocks, open the door and invite it in.

Virgo Your personal development has been on the fast track while Jupiter, the magnifying lens of the cosmos, was in your sign last year. You have grown in many aspects; perhaps you even stretched beyond your normal comfort zone. However, Jupiter now moves on to objective Libra and your 2nd House of Self-Worth, offering you strategies to solidify your recent gains. Although things may settle down on a psychological level, the action will continue in more practical ways, positively impacting your ability to acquire material wealth and greater self-esteem.

Libra It’s time to stretch your wings so you can fly higher than you ever dared to dream.

A wave of optimism begins to mount, carrying your hopes to new heights as auspicious Jupiter returns to your sign for a yearlong visit. However, everything looks better than it actually is, so remember to return to the ground for an occasional reality check. This is the beginning of an exciting twelve-year growth cycle, so get ready to embark on a journey to reach for the stars.

Scorpio Although your immediate needs may be quite pragmatic, imagination is your salvation now. If you can visualise it, you can manifest it while propitious Jupiter blesses your 12th House of Destiny. Magically, your aspirations are freed from the constraints of your real-world obligations. It’s most beneficial to use this time to dissolve your boundaries through spiritual study than to lose your identity in unattainable fantasies. Quiet the mind and the soul will speak.

Sagittarius You are ready to forge a new relationship with your network of friends and associates. Your key planet Jupiter is beginning its yearlong visit to your 11th House of Groups, expanding your community involvement and encouraging your participation in social causes. This shift is a background note that not only feels good; it can bring important people into your life as your dreams for the future are magnified and reflected back to you. Your natural idealism motivates you to help others for the simple sake of doing what’s right. You don’t need a big wallet to have a big heart.

Capricorn You Mountain Goats are an ambitious lot as you are driven to climb to the highest summits. Now you stand to reap the harvest from the seeds you’ve sown and tended over the years as opportunistic Jupiter enters your 10th House of Career.

But this time of fruition is not without its stress. Even if you receive professional recognition, you must strike a healthy balance between your long-term goals and your immediate emotional needs. Don’t ignore the softer and more artistic side of life. As John Cleese said, “If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.”

Aquarius The future is calling to you in a voice that sounds much like your own. Oddly enough, Jupiter’s visit to your 9th House of Big Ideas is not about any one concrete objective. You’re willing to let the promotion pass you by if the additional responsibilities might inhibit your potential explorations of new ideas or new lands.

Fortunately, you’re on the edge of a great adventure. If you were consistent in your recent efforts, now is the time to collect your rewards and set your sights on the next horizon.

Pisces You can see far into the future as changes clear away old blockages. Jupiter’s shift into your 8th House of Deep Connections reveals a whole new landscape from which to explore all relationships. You are intrigued with the complexity of the entanglements that lurk beneath the surface and can learn much about the magic of shared vulnerability this year. Sometimes, dependency on another person slows your growth; however, financial and emotional interdependence now leads you down a very different road than you expected. Life is full of wonderful surprises if you keep your heart and mind wide open.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

$1.6B project to improve management of GPL THE Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is in line to benefit from a $1.6B Management Strengthening Programme, as Cabinet signaled its no-objection to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and European Union (EU) funded project.

While addressing the press at the Ministry of the Presidency on Thursday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon disclosed that Cabinet on Tuesday granted its ap-

proval for the multi-million dollar contract to be awarded to Manitoba Hydro International Limited (MHI).

MHI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Manitoba Hydro, one of the largest and longest-standing energy utilities in Canada.

The company assists power utilities, governments, and private sector clients around the world in the efficient, effective, and sustainable delivery of electricity and natural gas.

Utilizing the experience and human resources of its parent, Manitoba Hydro, MHI has provided utility and asset management; consulting; and training solutions to over 75 countries worldwide.

Meanwhile, in addressing aspects of the Management Strengthening Programme, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson said it has two components.

She explained that component one is designed to improve the capacity of the GPL’s Management while the second component will focus on loss reduction.

In March, GPL had indicated that its technical and commercial losses in 2015 amounted to approximately 29.2% of dispatched power.

Those losses were as a result of disruption in transmission and distribution due to aged infrastructure, as well as electricity theft, meter tampering and other non-technical losses.

At the time, GPL indicated that it was actively addressing the situation and had approved a capital programme of $9.5B. This programme is intended to replace old generating assets, construct and upgrade substations, expand and upgrade the

transmission and distribution network and expand smart metering, amongst others.

The power company had also alluded to the Management Programme which is being financed by the IDB with grant funding from the EU. This programme is intended to strengthen management, improve operational efficiencies and reduce losses.

“The company recognises that there is some level of public dissatisfaction with its services and is committed to actively addressing all issues relating to this, including faster response times to customer queries; more efficient delivery of services; ensuring the integrity of its officers, both internal and contracted; delivery of timely billing and information, amongst others.” GPL had said.

It added: “Our customers are the ultimate stakeholders and therefore is requesting the public’s patience and understanding.

Additionally, the company’s significant losses due to electricity theft, tampering of meters, meter by-passes and other forms of dishonesty result in higher operating costs and GPL is requesting the help of the public in reporting and addressing these matters.”

Friday, September 09, 2016 - 10:00 Saturday, September 10, 2016 - 11:00 Sunday, September 11, 2016 - 13:00

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Gap analysis for Climate Change Framework ‒ to set foundation for Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions

By Svetlana Marshall

GUYANA, under the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (J-CCCP), is set to conduct a gap analysis of its Climate Change Framework as it sets the foundation for the development of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs).

This is according to Rear Admiral (rtd) Gary Best – the Presidential Advisor on the Environment, who was at the time delivering remarks during a J-CCCP Capacity Building Training Seminar on the Development and Implementation of Climate Mitigation Actions at the Marriott Hotel on Thursday.

The workshop is in support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Low Emission Capacity Building (LECB) Programme and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centre (UNFCCC RCC).

Rear Admiral Best, in making his presentation, noted that under the J-CCCP initiative Guyana will be equipped with the requisite skills and knowledge needed for the establishment of a National Adaptation Plan which will include a gap analysis.

This will ensure that the country’s strategies are aligned with the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change Adaptation Plans. It will also set the foundation for the establishment of NAMAs. NAMAs refer to any action that reduces emissions in developing countries and is prepared under the umbrella of a national governmental initiative. These can include policies directed at transformational change within an economic sector, or actions across sectors for a broader national focus. Notably, NAMAs are supported and enabled by technology, financing, and capacity building aimed at achieving a reduction in emissions relative to ‘business as usual’

the two-day workshop, said the seminar is a critical step towards countries development of the Climate Mitigation Actions, including NAMAs. “It aims to provide di-

rect capacity building in the implementation of countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for national priority sectors in keeping with the Paris Agreement on Climate

Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Rear Admiral (Rtd) Gary Best

emissions in 2020.

Rear Admiral Best further noted that the seminar is the first step in the process of preparing the country for the creation of NAMAs. According to him, the development of NAMA presents opportunities for innovation.

“We anticipate that these mitigating actions will result in low emissions development, increased energy supply, food security, public health, social equity and cultural preservation for our citizens.”

In moving forward, the Presidential Advisor on Environment said it is important for all stakeholders to participate in the process, singling out the private sector, which according to the UN, will account for over 80 per cent of the finance needed to tackle climate change.

“In that context, the Government of Guyana sees opportunities for the private sector to contribute to climate change solution through mitigation in the areas renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy conservation, waste management, clean technology transfer and capacity enhancement and carbon markets,” Best said.

PILOT PROJECTS In addition to preparing Guyana NAMAs, Guyana under the J-CCCP initiative will receive support for the implementation of two pilot projects in Regions Seven and Nine.

Region Seven has been

identified for a pilot project in alternative energy sources and Region Nine for a water resources management pilot project.

However, despite the gaps in the system, Best noted that since Guyana’s ratification of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1994, the country has made significant achievements.

“Even though the Government of Guyana did not develop any NAMAS, it is important to highlight that Guyana showed international leadership, through the preparation and implementation of its Low Carbon Development Strategy, based on its forests assets, as an interim REDD+ mechanism for climate change mitigation,” he pointed out.

The country, however, is transitioning from LCDS to a green economy pathway which includes a multi-sectorial low emission contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The green economy will be modeled through the greening of the town Bartica.

“While acknowledging these accomplishments and recognising that mitigation is a pathway to climate change solution for a developing country, there still exist gaps in our current national efforts as the country seeks to address risks and vulnerability to climate change,” he emphasised.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Shabnam Mallick, who was also present during the opening of

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Shabnam Mallick

Change,” Mallick explained while offering her congratulations to Guyana for its ratification of the Paris Agreement.

J-CCCP, which was officially launched in January, aims to support eight Caribbean countries towards inclusive, low-emission, risk-resilient development by improving their energy security.

It also aims to integrate medium to long-term planning for adaptation to climate change with national development planning and budget processes, the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative added.

These countries include the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, Belize, Suriname and Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

HJ radio, TV off air after fire in transmission room A MAJOR disaster was averted on Thursday morning after employees used a fire extinguisher to douse flames that erupted in the transmission room of Hits and Jams Studio located at 206 Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown, Georgetown.

One of the Directors Kerwin Bollers, who showed up at the scene, told reporters

that he learnt that there was a heavy downpour accompanied by lightning. He explained that the lightning struck the tower atop the roof and caused a surge in the transmission room.

He added that the electrical wires inside the transmission room quickly ignited, but employees used the fire extinguisher to douse the flames before it got out of

control. Bollers said that when the lightning struck the tower everything shut down and it was then the fire started.

When the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) arrived on the scene the conflagration was under control but thick smoke emanated from inside the transmission room. There were no reports of any injuries since all the staffers had

the time to exit the edifice.

The radio station – 94.1 Boom FM and the HJTV are currently off air.

During the heavy rainfall which was punctuated by lighting also caused several transformers on Lamaha Street and Queenstown to explode plunging several wards in the city to be without electricity Thursday morning.

Hits and Jams Director Kerwin Bollers speaking to the media after the blaze

Kerwin Bollers being briefed by his employees on Thursday after the fire

GFS fire tender outside the Hits and Jams Studios on Thursday morning

US Major General Chinn visits Guyana Defence Force COMMANDING General of U.S. Army Forces Southern Command, Major General Clarence Chinn on Thursday made his first official visit to Guyana and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Major General Chinn assumed command of US Army South, Fort Sam Houston, Texas on June 4, 2015. The U.S. Army South conducts security cooperation and responds to contingencies as part of a whole-of-government approach in conjunction with partner nation armies in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in order to strengthen regional security and counter transnational threats.

Major General Chinn is a 1981 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and has served in a variety of command and staff positions in Airborne, Air Assault, Light Infantry, and Ranger units.

In addition to a demonstration by THREEONE, Guyana’s Special Forces Unit, Major General Chinn met with Brigadier Mark Phillips and discussed the strong bond between the Florida National Guard and the GDF; the role of women in the Armed Forces; the professionalisation of the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer and Warrant Officer Corps; and future activities between the two countries’ forces.

(GDF) Major General Chinn and GDF Chief-of- Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips pose with other officers at the GDF’s Officer Cadet School

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Scenes from Wednesday’s presentation ceremony in Region Three ‒ courtesy of the President’s 5Bs initiative TWO West Demerara Secondary Schools on Wednesday benefitted from President David Granger’s ‘Five Bs’ Initiative aimed at providing boats, buses, bicycles, breakfast and books to schoolchildren.

Students of Patentia Secondary School received

a school bus and a public address system, while those of L’Adventure Secondary received equipment for its Home Economics Department.

Additionally, children of Wales Sugar Estate workers received over 100 back-packs and bicycles.

The 5Bs initiative is just one aspect of President

Granger’s push to ensure every child attends school. It has resulted in members of the private sector and ordinary citizens partnering with Government to enhance education delivery.

Wednesday’s donations were courtesy of GAICO Construction and General Services Incorporated, Messrs Radish and Muneshwer, and Starr Computer.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Provotique

celebrates first birthday

Ruqayyah Boyer (left), Niketa Barker (centre), and Candasy Layne (right) celebrate the first anniverary of Provotique exclusively accommodates schools around Guyana.

2: The birthday cake

O

NE year has passed since the establishment of the multi-pronged business, Provotique.

Founder, Ruqayyah Boyer has much to be thankful for, most of all, the milestones that she has been able to achieve as a young entrepreneur.

Launched in August 2015, Provotique is a brand which promotes “Innovation that Inspires”, and is a brand which encompasses two main facets.

First, there is Provotique Image and Beauty Pageant Consultancy, a partnership between Ruqayyah and former Miss Universe 2014, Niketa Barker.

With its motto, “Developing confidence”, the initiative aims to provide its clients with the ability to become more self-assured and confident through advice on physical appearance, presentation, communication and behaviour.

As the motto suggests, the two former beauty queens also focus on pageant consultancy and coaching for aspiring models and local and international beauty am-

bassadors.

The business currently holds a collaborative agreement with the Gouldian

the business has been gradually attracting a significant number of tourists and locals, and was even nominated for

‘In pursuing anything in life, I believe that passion is a driving force.

You must love what you do in order to be truly successful at it’ – Businesswoman, Ruqayyah Boyer group from the pageant capital in the Philippines. Though their services have thus far assisted in the victories of one international crown, Miss Cosmopolitan World, and one local crown. Currently, they are also working with two of the 2016 hopefuls for the Miss Guyana Universe Pageant.

UNIQUE VENTURE The other half of Provotique encompasses a unique, highly praised venture, Provotique Walking Tours, which was launched in February this year.

Formed from a partnership between herself and former flight attendant, Candasy Layne, Ruqayyah says that

a hospitality award for its customer service by Luxury Travel Service under the category of ‘Unique Travel’.

Because it is still a fledgling venture, focus is being placed on spreading the word about its services, but the business has been able to attract significant sponsors to aid in their operations.

The tours have also been given honourable mention in local artiste Poonam Singh’s popular song, G.U.Y.A.N.A, which has received almost 200,000 views on YouTube.

Soon, Provotique Walking Tours will offer corporate packages for local businesses and organisations and their staff, and is also working on a special package that

BUSINESS TIPS Provotique’s success thus far is testimony that even young, first-time business owners like Ruqayyah and her colleagues can, with the right amount of determination and passion, achieve their dreams while making worthwhile contributions to society.

“In pursuing anything in life, I believe that passion is a driving force. You must love what you do in order to be truly successful at it,” Ruqayyah said. Her advice to other first-time owners is to do their due diligence and adequate marketing to make their business more visible, and that utmost dedication is also a key ingredient to a successful business.

“Becoming a successful entrepreneur is no easy feat,” she said. “A lot of sacrifices will have to be made; you have to learn how to survive your mistakes because they will happen.”

Of course, being a business owner comes with some difficulties, and Ruqayyah admits that this is more so the case when the business is new. “Marketing and getting the concept off the ground in business can sometimes take a while before you begin to see your returns. But

once you’re committed, are a good communicator, are disciplined and you have a good team, it becomes more manageable,” she said.

GOING FORWARD Since its establishment, Provotique has been approached by investors and individuals who wish to partner in other areas. Ruqayyah admits that while there is potential for the business to expand into other industries in the future, they’re currently focused on developing and growing its current operations locally, regionally and internationally.

But there is evidence that the business is doing something right, as Ruqayyah admits that feedback from the public on its services have been positive.

“Both tourists and locals have remarked on the walking tours as being a great and enjoyable way to see the city,” she said, adding: “They enjoy the history learned, particularly the way in which the information is given, also the little entertainment ‘pit-stops’ we’d engage in during the walks.”

More recently, she said, their ‘Summer Under 18’ walks have attracted a lot of children, who were able to visit the Ministry of the Presidency and do an art

excursion of the Castellani House.

Meanwhile, the image consultancy aspect of the company has received rave reviews surrounding the fact that the service has been able to inspire women and men of all ages, and have even provided therapeutic assistance for some persons.

“Overall, our clients encourage us to stay the course, and commend us for the quality service received,” Ruqayyah said.

Above all, it is the originality in service that Ruqayyah believes sets Provotique apart. “We play host to those out of the box ideas that are somewhat foreign but have market space in Guyana.

On both fronts, there is a team that is amicable, forward thinking and great to work with. We are a young group but do our utmost to maintain a high level of professionalism and are resolute in delivering quality service at all times,” she said.

Ruqayyah says that one of the best pieces of advice she could give ins tarting up a business is to do something that is near and dear to you, rather than a random market opportunity.

Coupled with great service and customer loyalty, a successful business will surely follow.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Aspiring accountant crowned Miss India Guyana 2016

By Tamica Garnett COME next month, Guyana will be represented by 20-year-old Britany Singh at the Miss India Worldwide Pageant in New Jersey after being adjudged winner of the local leg of the contest last Sunday.

The event was held at the Mariott Hotel, in a judgment that was not well received by those who witnessed it.

In a surprising turn of events, the aspiring accountant from the East Bank of Demerara was announced as having prevailed over 24-year-old Tihirih Boodhoo and the only other contestant, Abigail Mohabir, even as many in the crowd agreed Boodhoo performed better throughout the pageant.

However, Singh ended 32 points ahead of Boodhoo, according to the Miss India Guyana Organisation, which released the score sheet on it’s Facebook Page in a bid to appease some of those who felt the pageant was unfairly judged.

Singh ended with 931 points, while Boodhoo had 899, and Mohabir finished with 714 points, after being judged in six categories. The categories were “Online vot-

ing”, “Preliminary”, “Talent Round”, “Evening Gown”, “Interview” and “Indian Segment”.

SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE Many referenced Boodhoo’s superior performance in the talent segment, as well as the question-and-answer segment, where it was embarrassing that of the three contests, only she could come close to giving an eloquent answer to the question, which read: “My heritage, my home, how would you show case this message on the international stage”.

Both Singh and Mohabir faltered so much, they had to ask for the question to be repeated. Mohabir was unable to give a coherent response, and even had to be reminded by head judge, Derek Moore that she is in a competition competing to represent Guyana on the international stage.

In her extensive, statistical answer, Boodhoo said: “Guyana is a multicultural, multi-diverse, multi-ethnic society. The first thing I would do is say to them that they could head right over to Bourda Market, Stabroek Market, enjoy Guyana’s

delightful, diverse cuisine offering pepperpot, cook up rice, dhal puri, chicken curry.

“After that, I would explain to my guests, if they are a lover of arts, they would enjoy visiting the Castellani House, which houses Guyana’s national art collection, from African, East Indian and our Amerindian heritage.

“Also, if they are fond of the outdoors, I would inform them about Guyana’s 275 waterfalls, the tallest being the Kaieteur Falls, a beautiful and majestic waterfall to see.

“Also, we offer 885 species of birds, if you’re interested in bird watching you can head over to the Safari, enjoy horseback riding, as well as rodeo. My country is a beautiful country, we have more than six races, each of us not focusing only on just ourselves, but the cooperation, and unity of all of us. I believe that, I would recommend my country to any person, in any part of the world. Thank you.”

ROCKY START I n S i n g h ’s a l m o s t two-minute response, she started out rocky, but man-

The judging panel at the Miss India Guyana 2016 Pageant. From left are Chief Judge, Derek Moore, Rishma Persaud, Jason Shurland, Noshavyah King, and franchise holder, Uma Bux (Photos by Adrian Narine)

Miss India Guyana 2016, Britany Singh. With her are second runner-up, Abigail Mohabir, left, and first runner up, Tahirih Boodhoo

aged to pick herself up somewhat, after asking to have the question repeated, and rebounding by speaking about the Indian culture, but also confusingly stating that “It is something not many persons know of, however it is known worldwide.”

In the talent segment, Boodhoo’s performance had four different pieces of dances, and also included her singing and playing the guitar.

Many were impressed with how she incorporated aspects of Guyana into her talent piece.

For her part, Singh did a dance, while Mohabir’s talent performance involved playing the violin.

The announcement of Singh’s win divided the audience, who began to put forth their assessment of what went on. Media personality, Joel Ghansham, was not to be pacified, and let all who cared to listen just what he thought. And it

was not pretty; it was also quite a mouthful.

“I am in utter shock!” he said. “I am shocked, shocked, shocked! I come from the international stage; I know what goes on out there! You will see what will happen, we will again fail.

“I listened to all the contestants and I have no bias, but Tahirih Boodhoo, she delivered. She was articulate, she was on point, she has presence, from her outfit, her talent was superb and I don’t understand how the winner, who messed up in her talent, messed up in her speech, they had to repeat the question again, and yet she could not answer it. I don’t understand how they came up with the winner, I just don’t.”

FAIRLY JUDGED The organiser and judges, however, remained unfazed, and maintained that the pageant was fairly judged and awarded. Fran-

chise holder, Uma Bux, defended the decision, noting that the young ladies were not only being judged by what was seen on pageant day, but were also being reviewed in every activity they participated in since they entered the pageant.

“The judges’ decision is final, it was a fair judging, I can tell you that for sure, because all of our judges stand for integrity and principle. The girls were not only judged on what they performed today, they were judged from previous segments as well, and they were being judged from the first day they entered the competition, so all of that factored in to having the final queen.” Bux said She was backed by fellow judge, Jason Shurland, who noted that the pageant was focused on identifying the most all rounded candidate, not just the one who could perform well in a few segments of the competition.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Diddy, Jay Z make Forbes ‘cash-king’ list

DIDDY is once again the Hip Hop Cash King. Forbes magazine released their annual list of biggest earners in hip hop music. Surprisingly, there was no Kanye West on the list.

There are some familiar names making the list for 2016, but there are also some newcomers.

Diddy, who was also at the top of the list last year, banked a whopping $62M over the last year. A large part of the Bad Boy Records head’s income is as a result of his lucrative Ciroc deal. But he is set to make even more money with his current Bad Boy Reunion Tour.

Jay Z came in at second place with $53.5M. The rap legend has not released an album or tour, so most of that income is from his Roc Nation label and other business ventures like TIDAL Music, D’Ussé cognac and Armand de Brignac champagne.

Dr. Dre is at third place with $41M. The N.W.A. icon is still making money from that $3B Apple buyout of Beats

by Dre headphones. He is also pulling in a lot of cash from the huge success of the N.W.A biopic, Straight Outta Compton, which topped Box Office and is now on DVD. Drake and Wiz Khalifa rounded out the Top 5 with $38.5M and $24M respectively.

Drizzy was in the top three last year. Nicki Minaj, who is the only female on the list, came in at No. 6 with an income of $20.5M. Where is Kanye West? Seems all those talks by Yeezy about being $53M in debt could be weighing down on him. (urbanislandz.com)

Kanye confirms ‘collabo’ with Drake

KANYE West has confirmed that he and Drake are working on an album together.

Speaking to Vogue, West said: “We’re just working on music; working on a bunch of music together, just having fun going into the studio. We’re working on an album, so there’s some exciting things coming up soon.”

A joint-venture between the pair had previously been hinted at, when a billboard appeared in Los Angeles, displaying a pairing of West’s GOOD Music and Drake’s OVO logos.

West offered no more information, but the announcement might be a welcome piece of good news for Drake.

On Tuesday night, while he was playing in

Kanye West

Phoenix, Arizona, a thief broke into one of his tour buses and stole up to $3M (£2.24M) worth of jewellery belonging to his DJ, Future the Prince.

A bag containing the jewellery was later recovered by police, and a suspect, a 21-year-old n a m e d Tr a v i o n K i n g

who has sometimes worked as a stagehand at the Talking Stick Arena where Drake was playing, was arrested on Wednesday.

Phoenix police spokesman, Sergeant Vince Lewis said King had been identified through CCTV footage. (www.guardian. com)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

Diana Chapman-Clarke...

Reviving the spirit of Michael Jackson

IN JUNE of this year when 49 persons lost their lives following the Orlando, Florida nightclub shooting, 24-yearold songstress, Diana Chapman-Clarke couldn’t help but feel deeply affected by the horrific event.

It was there that the inspiration for her newest single, ‘Feel like Michael’ was born.

“When I saw what happened, I wondered why we can’t all just live in love and unity,” Diana told the Buzz. “And Michael Jackson immediately came to mind. He is one of the artistes I look up to, and he always wanted love and unity, so I wondered, ‘Why can’t we all feel like Michael, by spreading love and doing the things that he represented.’”

After penning the track, the Linden native then hit the studio to record her newest single. Not long after, the video for the catchy tune was produced. Shot right in Linden, the video features Diana, decked in MJ-inspired attire and mimicking his signature dance moves while belting out her positive lyrics. The artiste is accompanied by friends and other smiling faces all doing a happy dance to the upbeat tune which pays homage to the ‘King of Pop’.

The video is produced

by Elevate Studios, and comes out of Codered Re-

cords. It was launched on August 29, Michael Jackson’s birthday, and has since racked up over 5,000 views Online.

Though this is not Diana’s first song, she revealed that it is the first which will be available on international platforms such as iTunes and Amazon for purchase.

NO STRANGER Diana is no stranger to the stage, having received the opportunity to first perform at the age of 17 in 2008 at Carifesta X, which was hosted in Guyana. After that performance, Diana’s interest was further sparked in the arts, and this led her to attending the Linden Culture Hall and School, also known as LICHAS Hall, for four years.

There she dabbled in various aspects of the arts and theatre, including stage lighting, management, drama, singing and dance under the tutelage of arts enthusiast and activist, Johnathan Adams.

Over time, Diana’s popularity began to grow right in Linden as she began to attend local shows within the community to show off her singing talents. Outside of that, she has also enjoyed many other victories, including being crowned Junior Calypso Monarch in 2011, and placing third in the GTT Jingle Competition in 2013.

Diana also represented Guyana in Haiti last year at Carifesta XII, and was the winner of the 2015 LIAT Jingle Competition.

She has travelled with the local band, Heatwave, and provided vocals during their tour of French Guiana.

EXCITING VENTURES Diana is currently a part of another local group, the Unity Ambassadors, and among her many other projects is currently working with the group on some exciting ventures planned for the near future.

With regard to her own work, she is busy in the studio, and plans to be releasing more tunes in an effort to expand her brand and go to heights beyond Guyana with her singing career. “The experience so far has been amazing; I am excited to go forward in my singing career, and I am especially thankful for the overwhelming support from the people of Linden,” Diana said.

Diana’s work in the community as a performer and with children as a dance instructor in addition to other projects has recently earned her an award as one of Linden’s Outstanding Youth in the field of Arts and Culture.

Buzzing this weekend TOMORROW WHO says you’re too old for ‘The Prom’? Relive those memories at ‘Back to Prom’ by AK Entertainment at 704.

Tickets $2,000; event begins at 20:00hrs.

In honour of World Literacy Day and Education Month, the Rotaract Club of Georgetown brings you #WORD Poetry and Cocktail Night.

Enjoy an evening of expressive and emotive spoken word and poetry, while sipping on an exotic cocktail in the cozy ambiance of the Dutch Bottle Café.

Showtime is 19:00hrs; Admission $2000, with a complimentary cocktail.

SUNDAY The Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts, in collaboration with Guyana Fashion Week, will host

‘Style Mission’ at the Pegasus Hotel.

The event is a charitable one aimed at raising funds to donate towards medical expenses for actor and come-

dian Henry Rodney, as well as former GFW hairstylist, Corin Gibson who requires a prosthetic leg. Tickets cost $2,500, and $4,000 VIP, and are available at Pegasus Hotel and Nigel’s Supermarket.

Diana Chapman-Clarke

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South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:30 hrs Green Door 09:05 hrs Captains Reserve 09:40 hrs Lexicon 10:15 hrs A Million Dreams 10:55 hrs Captain On The Run 11:30 hrs Caprice Des Dieux English Racing Tips Sandown 08:45 hrs Stan Hope 09:20 hrs Ask The Guru 09:55 hrs Mister Manduro 10:30 hrs Haggle 11:05 hrs Aristocratic 11:40 hrs Cloudberry 12:15 hrs Sennockian Star Doncaster 08:55 hrs Nemorlia 09:30 hrs Yalta 10:05 hrs Fabricate 10:40 hrs Quest For More 11:15 hrs Larchmont Lad 11:50 hrs Khairaat 12:25 hrs Get Knotted Chester 09:05 hrs Doctor Cross 09:40 hrs Thomas Cranmer 10:15 hrs Viscount Barfield 10:50 hrs Playful Sound 11:25 hrs Casablanca 12:00 hrs Life Less Ordinary 12:30 hrs Ralphy Boy Irish Racing Tips Down Royal 11:00 hrs Hunaina 11:35 hrs Waitaki 12:05 hrs Delegating 12:35 hrs Noble Intention 13:05 hrs Lightening Striks 13:35 hrs Our Rachael 14:05 hrs Hidden Universe American Racing Tips Belmont Race 1 Chomsky Race 2 Winter Springs Race 3 Ocean Knight Race 4 Mission Command Race 5 Dr. Dorr Race 6 Mighty Moses Race 7 Whiskey Seven Race 8 Ava’s Kitten

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

MotoGP to Jeffrey to compete at Silverstone retire Simoncelli’s

GUYANESE driver Kristian Jeffrey will take his trade to England this weekend for the MotorSport Vision Racing (MSVR) Championships at the Silverstone Raceway.

Piloting his Suzuki Radical SR3, Jeffrey joins Barbadian representatives Mark and Stuart Maloney as well as David Simpson, in the series.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport, Jeffrey said, “I am excited after racing in Barbados in a Radical. Last weekend was definitely preparation for work for this weekend at Silverstone which is definitely hands-down the best facility I will be racing on, so every experience will be great.”

The two-time Caribbean Motor Racing Association

(CMRA) Group four Champion believes too, that this outing will offer a new scene and different competition.

Meanwhile today will feature the first of the free practice sessions while tomorrow will see qualifying action as well as two races and another two on Sunday.

(Stephan Sookram)

number

(Sportsmax)- Five years on from his tragic death at the Malaysian Grand Prix, the number of Italian rider Marco Simoncelli has been retired by MotoGP. The number 58 has been retired by MotoGP ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix, in tribute to the late Marco Simoncelli.

Italian rider Simoncelli was tragically killed at the age of 24 when he fell from his bike at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix before being hit by two other riders.

His home circuit in Mi-

sano, which hosts round 13 of the 2016 season this weekend, was duly renamed Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

And Simoncelli’s racing number has now been retired in further recognition of the former 250cc world champion.

It was also announced on Thursday that Misano will remain on the MotoGP calendar until at least 2020.

This weekend, Marc Marquez is aiming to extend his healthy championship lead over Valentino Rossi, which stands at 50

points despite the Spaniard finishing fourth at Silverstone last time out.

“Of course Silverstone was not the best final result, but we lost only three points and I’ve still got 50 points of advantage,” said Marquez.

“Misano is a completely different track compared to Silverstone, everything is tighter and smaller. We have hard braking points and also three hard points of acceleration, but it looks like we can manage that better now, so we will see.”

(BBC) - Czech 10th seed Karolina Pliskova outplayed Serena Williams to reach the US Open final and end the American’s reign as world number one.

Pliskova, 24, won 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), to set up a first Grand Slam final against

Angelique Kerber or Carolina Wozniacki.

Williams’ defeat guarantees that Kerber will overtake the 34-year-old at the top of the rankings after the US Open.

It will end a 186-week run as number one for Wil-

liams, which ties Steffi Graf’s WTA record.

Williams had also been hoping to pass Graf ’s Open-era record of 23 major singles titles in New York, but for the second year running she fell at the semi-final stage.

Pliskova ‘aces’ Serena from US Open

Ten-month ban for Lochte

(BBC) - American swimmer Ryan Lochte has been banned from the sport for 10 months after falsely claiming he was robbed at gunpoint during the Rio Olympic Games.

The 32-year-old said he and three teammates were held up at a petrol station during a night out.

But police questioned the account after CCTV footage showed the group had vandalised the petrol station.

USA Swimming and the US Olympic Committee (USOC) have also banned the three other swimmers involved.

The behaviour of these athletes was not acceptable.

Gunnar Bentz, Jimmy Feigen and Jack Conger

have each been suspended for four months. The sanctions were handed down for breaches of each organisation’s code of conduct.

“The behaviour of these athletes was not acceptable,” said Scott Blackmun, CEO of USOC. “It unfairly maligned our hosts and diverted attention away from the historic achievements of Team USA.” Lochte’s punishment means he will not be able to qualify for the 2017 World Championships.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist admitted he had “over-exaggerated” his original account.

While he returned to the US in the days following the incident, Bentz

and Conger were pulled off a US-bound plane by police, though they were subsequently allowed to leave after questioning.

Feigen agreed to pay $11 000 (£8 250) to a Brazilian charity after he was allowed to return home.

Late last month, Brazilian police charged Lochte with making a false statement, though his lawyer later said the swimmer will not respond to the charge.

The crime carries a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison and Lochte can be tried in his absence.

Several sponsors, including clothing manufacturer Speedo, dropped the swimmer in the wake of the revelations.

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 9, 2016

COURTS hands over sponsorship for 10K road race FURNITURE giant COURTS Guyana Inc. yesterday handed over its sponsorship cheque of $2.4M towards the hosting of its annual 10K road race, which is set for September 25.

At a small presentation ceremony held at the company’s Main Street branch, Marketing Manager Pernell Cummings handed over the donation to AAG president Aubrey Hutson, who thanked the company for not only supporting this event, but also for being a continued source of financial support to the association.

“I must say that we are very happy with the support that we continue to receive from them. COURTS, in its willing way, has been supporting us, not just with this 10K but we’ve also gotten from them some very tangible sponsorship for our team to go off to CARIFTA 2016. We are happy to again partner with COURTS in assisting our athletes in their

development at this time of the year. The entire council and members of the AAG look forward to this event, come September.” Hutson remarked.

In response, Cummings thanked the Association for providing an avenue for COURTS to continue to promote its fitness and healthy lifestyles. He also took the opportunity to encourage the general public to come out and support the event, stating that the event will include a 3K race open to company employees.

“COURTS, as a company in Guyana for the past 23 years, is always happy to contribute to the development of sports in Guyana as one of the tenets of our corporate responsibility. Thank you to the Association for allowing COURTS to be a part of the development of athletics in Guyana. This is the sixth year that we are hosting this event and every year we have improved. We’re inviting all of the gyms, all of the running

clubs to come out, take part, let’s have a competitive race.

Let’s run for health, let’s run for fitness, let’s run for fun.”

Cummings implored.

The event which is now a fixture on the AAG calendar sees some clubs, athletes and gyms participate every year with last year having the largest registration in history for any 10K event in Guyana.

Hutson has already declared that this year is expected to see improvements, saying, “We would have learnt over the years where our shortfalls would have taken place and we are working assiduously to ensure that those things don’t show their head again this year.”

He also urged those athletes from all across Guyana to come out and challenge the Georgetown athletes with the association looking to provide accommodations for those athletes outside of the capital city.

“Athletes out-of-town, we’re working on getting you some housing facili-

The Madrids lose FIFA appeals (BBC) - Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have lost appeals against FIFA bans on signing players in the next two transfer windows.

The clubs contested a decision by world football’s governing body to punish them for breaching rules over the transfer of foreign players under 18.

FIFA initially ruled on the case in January, but the appeals meant both clubs could sign players this summer.

Real say they will now appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

In a statement, the 11time European champions described the decision as “deeply unjust and contrary to the fundamental principles of disciplinary law”.

FIFA’s investigation concerned players aged under 18 who played in competitions for Atletico between 2007 and 2014, and Real from 2005 to 2014.

“Both clubs are to serve a transfer ban that prevents them from registering any players at national and international level for the next

two complete and consecutive registration periods,” said a FIFA statement.

It added both clubs had been given 90 days in which to “regularise the situation of all minor players concerned”.

Atletico were fined 900 000 Swiss francs (£622 000), while Real were told to pay 360 000 (£249 000).

The next two transfer windows are in January 2017 and the summer of the same year. It means the clubs will not be able to register new players until 2018.

This summer, Real Madrid’s new arrivals included Brazil midfielder Lucas Silva from Marseille, and striker Alvaro Morata returning to the club from Juventus for 30

million euros (£25M).

Atletico signed France striker Kevin Gameiro, Croatia defender Sime Vrsaljko, Italy winger Alessio Cerci and Argentina midfielder Nicolas Gaitan.

In April 2014, Barcelona were banned from signing players in two successive windows after they also breached rules on the transfer of Under-18 players.

Their ban, which ended in January 2016, did not stop the La Liga side from signing players.

They bought Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal in 2015, though both players were prevented from playing until the January 2016 window opened.

ties so you can come down from the Saturday. We’re working with the National Sports Commission to have you housed at the (National) Gymnasium.” Hutson explained.

The COURTS 10K is among a series of 10K road race events, culminating with the South American 10K. Just a few weeks ago the Massy 10K road race was held where Cleveland Forde

continued to dominate as the men’s champion, while Ashanti Scott won the female title.

The affair will see participants compete in a number of categories including the Open, Masters and Junior.

In the Open category participants will be competing for a top prize of $100 000, with cash prizes doled out up to fifth place for both male and female sides.

The second-place finishers will pocket $75 000, third-placers will take away $50 000, while fourth- and fifth-place finishers will collect $30 000 and $20 000 respectively.

In the Junior category the winners from first to fifth will receive training vouchers in amounts of $60 000, $40 000, $30 000, $20 000 and $10 000 respectively.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday September 09, 2016

Durban, Port-of-Spain handed warnings by the ICC (ESPNCRICINFO) - The ICC has handed official warnings under its pitch and outfield monitoring process to Kingsmead in Durban and the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.

Kingsmead hosted the first Test between South Africa and New Zealand from August 19 to 23, and the Queen’s Park Oval the fourth Test between West Indies and India from August 18 to 22.

Both matches were heavily curtailed because of outfield conditions.

Andy Pycroft and Ranjan

Madugalle, the match referees for the two Tests, both rated the outfields “poor” in their official reports.

Madugalle and Geoff Allardice, the ICC’s general manager, reviewed CSA’s response to the “poor” rating, while Allardice and match referee David Boon reviewed WICB’s response.

Since this was the first occasion either ground had received a “poor” rating, the grounds stood to receive either a warning or a fine not exceeding US$15 000, along with “a directive for

Eleven out of 15 sessions were lost to a wet and soft outfield at Kingsmead (Gallo Images/Getty Images)

appropriate corrective action”.

“The sanctions take into account Durban and Port of Spain venues’ history of producing good conditions for international cricket and commitment by both the boards to take appropriate steps to ensure similar events are not repeated in future,” an ICC release said.

In all, 11 sessions out of 15 were lost to a wet and soft outfield at Kingsmead. Only 22 overs of play were possible in the Port-of-Spain Test, with no play at all on days two, three, four and five despite largely sunny weather.

Former officials call for WICB forensic audit

By Collin Benjamin

(ESPNCricinfio) - Former presidents and officials of the West Indies Cricket Board have urged CARICOM to conduct a forensic audit of the board in order to save West Indies cricket from “absolute and total downfall”.

Six former officials - Ken Gordon, Pat Rousseau, Anthony Deyal, Charles Wilkin, Bruce Aanensen and Imran Khan - have claimed that the current WICB administration under Dave Cameron has seemingly become “untouchable”, and not doing anything would lead to the “inevitable demise” of cricket in the Caribbean.

“We must reinforce the message that West Indies cricket belongs to the people

of the West Indies, not to the WICB,” Gordon, WICB president from 2006 to 2008, said. “It may be timely to call for a forensic audit of the organisation. We need to lift the clouded veil which now surrounds that body. Answers are required and this can be a first step to return to the transparency required of a body which is a major beneficiary of regional resources and private sponsorship.

“Many lovers of the game have said to me, ‘What can we do that would make a difference?’ The WICB seems to be untouchable. I say to them and to all cricket-lovers who are concerned, let the call for a forensic audit be loud and clear. We need to save our cricket and this has to begin with getting the WICB right.

It would be entirely legitimate

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday September 09, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Karl Nunes (WI vs ENG, Lord’s, 1928) Deryck Murray (WI vs ENG, Leeds, 1973) Today’s Quiz: Who is the first WI wicketkeeper to hit a century in Tests?

Who is the first WI wicketkeeper to score a century in an ODI game?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

for CARICOM to fund such an exercise and I urge that they consider doing so.”

Asked for a reaction, the WICB told ESPNcricinfo that it has hired global consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and KPMG to conduct the audit operations.

“We maintain an internal and external audit system with PWC and KPMG respectively. You may refer to them for any additional inquiries you may have,” a WICB spokesperson said.

Gordon first made the call for an audit in July and has renewed his plea in light of the WICB’s refusal to accept the latest CARICOM reform proposal and the controversial removal of Darren Sammy as captain of the West Indies T20I team.

Rousseau, who served as president of the board from 1996 to 2001, said all sporting bodies need to be

carefully monitored. “There should be an assurance that there is certification by an independent group that proper governance procedures are followed at all times. I would commend to all the governments in CARICOM that they create special legislation that brings all the sporting associations under an obligation to observe good governance principles and to protect the finances of the association.”

Deyal, WICB’s corporate secretary between 2006 and 2008, supported Gordon’s call and also urged for an audit of country boards.

“I strongly support the call. Mr Gordon has made a strong case for following the money and has proposed as the mechanism a forensic audit of the individual boards which own the WICB and of the WICB itself. There is a deep threat of the absolute and

total downfall of West Indies cricket. It’s a process which is fully underway and at this stage seemingly inevitable.”

Wilkin, a former chairman of the board’s governance committee, suggested that unless the board heeds the calls for change, CARICOM governments should “refuse permission for use of the stadia and refuse them access to regional cricket grounds”.

“The real leverage which CARICOM has, if it seriously wants to force the WICB to change, is the control of most of the stadia used for international matches,” Wilkins said.

“The WICB will not be able to host touring teams if the CARICOM governments refuse permission for use of the stadia and the various other permits required under local law.”

Wilkins said he was sceptical about CARICOM’s unity considering the emer-

gence of factions within the regional body. In June, Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne had stated that he would categorically reject the CARICOM’s call for dissolving the WICB. Imran Khan, a former WICB communications officer, also felt the CARICOM’s refusal to give the WICB access to certain grounds could have an impact. “Two things need to happen: mass fan boycott, and CARICOM governments refusing the WICB access to grounds which they own or control or have influence over,” Khan said.

“CARICOM can no longer delay taking decisive action to rescue the regional game from the cauldron of incompetence from which it boils. To not act is to contribute to the further deterioration of the regional game and to be complicit in its inevitable demise.”

Niekerk hails ‘inspirational’ Bolt (Sportsmax) - South African Wayde Van Niekerk has hailed world’s fastest man Usain Bolt as a major source of inspiration ahead of his record-breaking 400m run.

Van Niekerk and his coach Ans Botha were guests of Bolt’s Racers Track Club in June of this year where they took part in a one-week training stint.

During that time the South African star was able to make quite an impression on the double world record-holder, who was surprised by the quarter-miler’s speed. Van Niekerk claims the sprinter encouraged him to challenge Michael Johnson’s 400m mark.

Usain Bolt was so impressed with Van Niekerk’s performance that he left the interviews midway and ran to congratulate the South African. (Source: AP)

“There was a moment when we were together in Jamaica when he said to me he believed I could break the world record in the 400m‚” Van Niekerk told Times Live. ‘‘It was after we’d had a few sessions together. That’s why after the race in Rio he came to me and said ’I told you, I told you’.”

“It was a very special moment‚” Van Niekerk added.

“That is a man I look up to in terms of inspiration and motivation. I want to be where he is today. I want to achieve the records that he has achieved as well. Just having him come to me.”

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday September 9, 2016

Hooper bowls Upper Corentyne to strong position after day one

By Rajiv Bisnauth

A DOMINATING display from the Upper Corentyne bowlers, especially off-spinner Eon Hooper, helped their team restrict Lower Corentyne to a nominal score in the first innings of their thirdround game of the Jaguars Franchise League Three-day competition, yesterday, at the Port Mourant Cricket Club ground.

The first innings of Lower Corentyne folded on 162 runs in 53.2 overs in just over an hour’s play in the middle session, with Hooper the main

Rajiv Ivan

destroyer, claiming 5-18 off just 16.2 overs.

Kandasammy Surujnarine The Upper Corentyne spinners shared eight wickets be-

Suraj Persaud looks to put Guyana on MMA world stage

By Daniel Haynes FIGHTING out of Kai’s Next Level MMA Gym in Queens, New York, one man is looking to put Guyana on the world stage by kicking and punching his way into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). That man is 35-year-old Suraj Persaud, who to this date has fought two registered amateur fights, won one and lost one.

Persaud was initially a Shotokan Karate student who dreamed of following in the footsteps of his uncle and cousin, to become a black belt.

However, the Guyanese bornand-bred Persaud migrated to the United States and upon not being able to find a Shotokan school, picked up Brazilian JuJitsu.

From there the transition to Muay thai (another style of fighting) was almost automatic and quite quickly, Persaud was in the gym, training to be a Mixed Martial Artist.

According to the fighter, the difference between Traditional Karate and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) was huge.

“With traditional karate, the focus is on scoring points through single hits, while with MMA, it is more of a controlled street fight and wherever the fight goes we have to go as well,” stated Persuad.

“I’m now 35, and I’ve only been practising Muay thai for 1 year, and some of the guys out here have been training for the ‘UFC all their lives.”

When asked about the level of commitment required in addition to balancing the life

… hopes to achieve UFC dream

Suraj Persaud registers a punch during the bout. and requirements of the sport, he was quick to answer.

“Once my personal life is taken care of before 6 pm I’m good. I usually spend the minimum of three hours in the gym six days a week,” he stated. “On Fridays I try to spend 6 hours training,” he added.

Despite the challenges he is facing especially with the daunting reality of his age, Persaud is still optimistic about getting to the UFC. “The process to get to the UFC isn’t an easy one. You have to be discovered through fighting at your local gym, and it is there your record comes into play. The better your record, the more UFC scouts notice you and you get your

opportunity.”

Having a 1-1 record on the amateur circuit is the beginning of the process for Persaud who cited overconfidence as the reason for his loss.

“The fight I lost was a paid fight, meaning persons paid to see it, and I knocked down my opponent three times, and I got cocky and when I rushed in for the kill he took advantage.”

He added that the referee put a stop to the fight due to the fact of not taking unnecessary risks at the amateur level. His next fight, however, will be in December, where he will be required to get to 145 pounds.

He is hoping that at this bout, he can show what he is capable of doing.

tween them, as they ensured their opponents were not let off the hook, after the 58run opening stand between Kandasammy Surujnarine and Waheid Edwards.

Arif Chan, Shawn Pereira and Omesh Mathura were the other successful spinners with a wicket apiece, while pacer Keon Sinclair and Clinton Pestano, bowled decent line and lengths to claim the other two wickets.

Upper Corentyne closed the day with 29 runs short of their opponents’ first-innings total, after Lower Corentyne hit back with five wickets.

Chan (16) and Pereira (0) were at the crease when bails were lifted. It turned out to be a highly eventful day which saw as many as 15 wickets fall on a pitch that benefited the bowlers throughout the day.

Deciding to bat first, the Lower Corentyne openers got the team off to a solid start. Surujnarine, in particular played a couple of pleasing shots while Edwards looked in control as they added 58 runs in 12.5 overs.

However, they suffered a setback after that, as Sinclair removed Edwards for 17. The in-form Jonathan Foo joined Surujnarine, but after making a brisk 22, he was dismissed by Mathura.

Gajanand Singh was the other batsman to be dismissed before lunch when he was caught and bowled off Chan for 20.

At the interval, Lower Corentyne progressed to 1303, with Surujnarine on 60 and David Latchaya on two.

However, after the interval, Hooper broke the backbone of the Lower Corentyne’s batting, with Hooper foxing the batsmen with his variations.

He picked up the prized scalp of Surujnarine for 66, and then added Latchaya (2), Kassim Khan (0), Nail Smith (0) and last-man Raun Johnson (3) to his wicket column to choke Lower Corentyne to the small total. Surujnarine’s innings spanned 124 balls, with eight hits to the fence.

Pestano accounted for Devon Clements (7) while Pereira had the wicket of Sharaz Ramcharran for nine.

Jason Sinclair (17) and Andy Mohan (14), who replaced Assad Fudadin at the top of the order, added 23 before both openers were dismissed

by Khan and Johnson respectively.

Upper Corentyne were then left gasping at a precarious 55-4 to allow their opponents to neutralise the advantage, Pacer Smith had both Joshua Ramsammy (14) and Anthony Bramble without scoring.

However, Rajiv Ivan then launched a gutsy fightback much to the frustration of the Lower Corentyne players and supporters.

He stroked his way to 62 off 95 balls, inclusive of seven fours before he was dismissed

by Clements just before the close of play.

Meanwhile, summarised scores from the other games are as follows: At Cumberland, West Demerara were routed for 30, as Rishi Looknauth bagged 4-10, Romario Shephard had 3-11 and Raymon Reifer took 2-5 for West Demerara.

At the close, West Demerara were batting 276-5, with Reifer leading the way, smashing 119 off just 121 balls.

Akshya Persaud scored 74 and Safraz Esau struck 53 off 41 balls. Leon Andrews has so far taken 2-55 bowling for West Berbice.

At Everest, play was called off at 12:32hrs due to rain.

Essequibo won the toss and elected to bat. They reached 8-1, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Avinash Persaud on one not out each. Kevin Boodie was the batsman to be dismissed, lbw to Ryan Shun for five.

At Bourda, play between Georgetown and East Coast Demerara was called off without a ball being bowled.

Hooper bowls Upper Corentyne to strong position after day one (See Story on page 31 )

Jeffrey to compete at Silverstone (See Story on page 28 )

Kristian Jeffrey

Former officials call for COURTS hands over WICB forensic audit sponsorship for 10K road race (See Story on page 30 )

Pliskova ‘aces’ Serena from US Open

COURTS Marketing Manager Pernell Cummings (left) hands over the cheque to AAG president Aubrey Hutson. (See Story on page 29) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Czech 10th seed Karolina Pliskova celebrates after beating Williams to reach the US Open final. (See story on page 28) FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2016