Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 10 05 2016

Gafoors razed No. 104547

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

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‒ millions lost as fire sweeps through Houston complex 3 P.

The Gafoor’s Houston Complex, East Bank Demerara went up in flames on Monday (Samuel Maughn photo)

I was not Rose Hall lobbied Town man --President says at renaming 2 of Ogle Airport beheads wife P.

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Give security forces full support ‒ during Independence celebrations, Rohee urges citizens P.12

I was not lobbied 2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

‒ President says at renaming of Ogle Airport

By Svetlana Marshall OGLE International Airport (OIA) has been renamed the Eugene F Correia International Airport in honour of Guyana’s first Minister of Communications, Shipping and Aviation.

President David Granger made the declaration on Monday, but the National Air Transport Association (NATA) continues to register its trenchant objection on ground that such a move will create an even more anti-competitive environment at the airport.

At a recent press conference, NATA sought to discredit the contributions made by the late minister, contending that he had served during a sad period of the country’s history -- when the Constitution was suspended in 1953.

But President Granger, during the re-commissioning ceremony, cleared the air on the life of Eugene F Correia. Describing him as a visionary, the President said that Correia, a born Buxtonian, was a nationalist who not only contributed to the development of the country’s aviation sector, but was involved in the struggle for Independence.

Flipping back the pages of history to November 2, 1956, President Granger pointed out that Correia, at the level of the Legislative Council, had underscored the importance of hydropower to the development of Guyana, as he had endorsed the then Hydropower Electric Bill.

“Cheap power…is the road to success and development,” the President posited, as he quoted Correia.

In the Aviation Sector, Correia, a qualified private pilot who had played a critical role in the area of mining, had also pushed for Guyanese to take ownership of British Guiana Airways.

It was explained that, in 1955, the Colonial Government had purchased the privately-owned British Guiana Airways, and it was agreed that the company would have continued to operate the aviation services to allow for a smooth transition, but the company did not honour this agreement.

Two years later, in 1957, the Government had presented the Legislative Council with an agreement it had entered into with the British West Indian Airways to manage and advise the domestic aviation sector; but Correia had objected.

“We have already developed a good domestic service in BG (British Guiana)…and in my opinion we should keep it and run it ourselves.” Correia was quoted as saying.

He had served at the level of the Legislative Council, Legislative Assembly and the National Assembly. In

NOT COERCED “I was not coerced, I was not lobbied; it was simply to recognise the character of the man,” the President said.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, who was among Ministers of Government present, said Eugene Correia was a true son of the soil, whose record all should be proud of.

“In 2016, the name Eugene Correia may not be well-known, but in his time, Mr Correia was a pilot; he was a former Minister of Government, serving in the post of Minister of Commu-

President David Granger unveils the plaque to officially rename the Ogle Airport the Eugene F Correia International Airport

The renamed airport at Ogle

1946, he served in Parliament as a member of the Legislative Council’s Advisory Committee on the Hinterland; and in May 1953, he was elected to represent the Mazaruni-Potaro District.

Subsequent to the suspension of the Constitution in 1953, Correia was elected a Member of Parliament in 1964, and then in 1973. It was in December 1964 that he was appointed Minister of Communications, a position he held until 1968, when he was appointed Minister of Works and Hydraulics.

Notably, in 1965, the people of Buxton had presented Correia with a congratulatory document in recognition of his contributions to the welfare of ordinary Guyanese, particularly the miners.

After laying out the facts about Correia, President Granger made it clear that his proposal to rename the airport was done in confidence.

nications, with responsibility for aviation; he was a contributor to Guyana’s development,” Patterson posited.

Unfortunately, he said, the renaming of the airport did not gain the full support of those in the aviation sector.

“Since its creation, this airport has grown by leaps and bounds. No one could have predicted the ways in which it has flourished from a local hub that served hinterland communities to a regional one that further opened up Guyana to the rest of the Caribbean. Each year, the Ogle Airport shuttles thousands of persons to their destinations. For many, the services provided from this airport are crucial and incomparable,” he posited.

ONLY A NAME CHANGE He said that while the name of the airport has changed, its functions will remain the same, emphasising that it will still provide a means for those in hinterland communities to bolster economic activity.

“This airport will still provide a link for access to key services; this airport will still impact lives in big

ways,” he declared.

Currently, the operation of the airport is under review, with emphasis on the lease arrangement between the Government and the Ogle Airport Inc (OAI). An independent legal firm is reviewing the lease.

“I give my firm assurance that this separate exercise will be done transparently, and the renaming of the airport will not affect the outcome or direction of Government in this matter,” Minister Patterson said.

He added: “The reason for this review is obvious: this Government has long recognised the importance of supporting domestic operations, which account for about 85 per cent of aviation traffic in Guyana. Operators who oppose today’s renaming have complained that this act will give an unfair advantage to a specific operator. Their concerns cannot be dismissed as something without any merit; therefore, this will also be addressed during our review process.”

The Public Infrastructure Minister reassured that the concerns raised have not fallen on deaf ears. “We assure that today’s renaming will not ‘drive the final nail in the coffin’ of those who

feel that they have become disadvantaged.”

While acknowledging that the airport at Ogle is a private company, he said it is managing a Government asset. As such, its management should be dealt with in an equitable manner.

“Whether it is through the redesign of the company’s website or the construction of a shorter taxiway for the majority of the operators, we will work with all stakeholders to ensure that a satisfactory consensus is reached,” he promised.

Guyana has signed on to the effective implementation of the standards and recommended practices established to ensure the safe and orderly development of civil aviation.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ogle airport, Michael Correia Jr, strongly defended the Correia name. Since the proposal to rename the airport was made in 2015, the Correia Group of Companies has been heavily criticised

by NATA. Correia Jr lashed out at NATA, particularly at the Chief Executive of Roraima Airways Inc, Captain Gerry Gouveia. While acknowledging that the airport has

evolved tremendously, Correia Jr said it was achieved with minimum support from Gouveia.

“Gouveia is certainly right that this airport, under its current management and direction, is most certainly attracting investment. Roraima Airways and all of the other operators, who have contributed little or nothing to its development, are decidedly cashing in on this investment,” he posited.

It was pointed out that while Roraima Airways has expanded its building and fleet of aircraft recently, using some US$2.5 million; its investment in the airport is US$83,000 or 2.2 per cent of total equity in the airport.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry; Minister of Telecommunications, with responsibility for Tourism, Cathy Hughes; OAI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anthony Mekdeci, Eddy Grant and the immediate family of Eugene F Correia were among those who attended the ceremony.

Gafoors razed 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

‒ millions lost as fire sweeps through Houston complex

By Alva Solomon A MASSIVE fire, said to be electrical in origin, gutted the Gafoor’s business Complex at Houston, Greater Georgetown yesterday afternoon just as staffers were preparing to sign off work for the day, leaving in its wake billions of dollars in losses and hundreds of persons jobless.

Recorded as one of the largest and most costly fires in recent years, the conflagration reduced to rubble several bonds and electrical and other departments, including an administrative block of the hardware giant.

Thick black smoke swirled in the air as the fire ripped through the bonds, seven of which it devoured as it did the offices and hardware departments at the front of the complex. A section of the complex which was under construction was at one point threatened by the flames before the fire was contained some three hours later.

When the Guyana Chronicle arrived on scene, shortly after 16:00hrs yesterday, staff members were seen scurrying from the building as police and members of a private security firm manned the scene.

Firemen busied themselves connecting hoses to nearby canals as hundreds converged at the entrance of the complex, where barricades were erected by the police.

A helicopter belonging to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) hovered overhead as traffic along the busy East Bank Demerara thoroughfare slowed to a crawl.

THICK SMOKE Fire Chief Marlon Gentle told the media last evening that the Guyana Fire Service received a call at about 15:50hrs yesterday, detailing that thick smokewas emanating from the roof of the complex. Fire units were dispatched from the Central Fire Station at Stabroek and the West Ruimveldt outpost, but when the units arrived at Houston, the firemen reported that the fire was beginning to spread rapidly.

“We went up to second and third alarm and ramped all of the available resources in Georgetown that are here

right now,” Gentle said.

He told the media that the firemen were in control of the fire, at around 19:00hrs last evening, but the heat was intense. “It’s a bond with various types of combustibles,” he said by way of explaining the tremendous heat the fire was generating.

Gentle noted that there were some safety concerns at the scene of the fire, one of which was the layout of the building while the other was the items stored therein, both of which were preventing the firemen from reacting to the situation as readily as they would have liked.

He said the firemen were working to prevent the fire from reaching the wharf aback the complex and close to the Demerara River.

A LONG HAUL Summing up the situation, Gentle said, “This is going to be a long haul.” He was quick to note that there was enough fire equipment on the ground to handle the fire.

Sattaur Gafoor, Executive Chairman of Gafsons Industries, the parent company of the business, told the media at the scene that he was in his office at the complex when he was informed about the fire.

He said he had thought it was a small fire, but when he saw smoke in his office, he was forced to take evasive action. Noting that the bonds were fully stocked, Gafoor, whom staff fondly refer to as ‘Skipper’, said firemen would have a hard time containing the blaze, since most of the items were combustible.

BILLIONS IN LOSSES A composed Gafoor, who looked on as his business was reduced to ashes, counted his losses as being in the billions. He said that while the building is insured, he was more concerned about the loss of business and the welfare of the 500-plus staff who worked at the complex.

“To get things going back again,” he said, “will take more than a year to rebuild.”

Replenishing the stock, he said, will also be difficult, added to which is the fact that all the company’s records were destroyed by the blaze. “We have to reassess our losses,” he said.

As the fire raged, firemen tried desperately to contain the blaze from escaping the bonds. But this would, however, prove difficult, as the fire eventually spread to the office building and another section of the complex which housed the electrical, paint, and office supplies.

At about 17:00hrs, that section of the complex was engulfed in smoke, and the firemen were soon faced with another daunting task: The hoses connecting many of the fire tenders to a nearby canal were leaking badly, while there were instances when some hoses bust under the weight of passing vehicles. In addition, the security service and the police were called to the remaining bonds aback the complex, closer to the Demerara River, as reports of looting surfaced.

The police hurried to the scene, and as night stepped in, several barricades were erected aback the complex to prevent bystanders from entering the site.

At about 19:00hrs, the fire was eventually contained to where it started initially.

Along the public road, dozens of employees either stood or sat along the pavement as they offered words of comfort to each other. Many stared blankly as the fire was brought under control.

HISTORY The Gafsons Industries has been in the hardware business for some 66 years.

The company also operates business complexes at Land of Canaan, further up the East Bank Demerara; at Parika on the East Bank Essequibo; and at Rose Hall on the Corentyne.

From a small business going back to 1957, Sattaur Gafoor built the company to become one of Guyana’s leading distributors and manufacturing entities.

In January 2002, all operations of the company were centralised at the Houston Complex; and as a result of yesterday’s fire, restarting the business would be a monumental task.

Meanwhile, at the company’s request, all employees of the Houston Complex have been asked to assemble at the corrugated bond at Houston this morning.

Policemen at the scene of the fire early on Monday afternoon

A fireman walks past the burning complex

Employees tried desperately to remove items from the store, including these gas bottles

A fireman extinguishes the blaze at bond 6 of the complex

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Rose Hall Town man beheads wife

GUYSUCO cane harvester Desmond Gordon, called “Wrong Man”, beat then hacked to death his reputed wife Bhagmattie Etwaroo, called “Kamini”, at their Lot 196 Mangroo Street, Rose Hall Town home in Region Six, East Berbice/Corentyne at about 18:00hrs on Monday.

The couple of eight years was reportedly imbibing all day, and Gordon wanted the 50-year-old mother of seven to stop drinking but she refused, thus an argument ensued.

Family friend Lennox Fernandes intervened and sat Gordon down on the stairs while Etwaroo remained on the verandah; but as Fernandez was talking to Gordon, Etwaroo jumped from the verandah and hurt herself.

Enraged, Gordon picked up a piece of wood and started to beat her about her body. He then dragged her to a room in the lower flat of the house and hacked her to death, severing her head in the process.

“I see they were drinking and then fighting and quarrelling.

He de beating she bad-bad man, so I go and talk to he to try calm he down. He seh ‘ah gon kill she, you know’,” Fernandes detailed.

Fernandes said he informed a neighbour to call the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost and make a report of the abuse, but when the station was contacted, an officer reportedly said, “It’s husband and wife problems”.

Fernandez told the Guyana Chronicle that, minutes later, he saw Gordon on the street front covered in blood, threatening to take his own life.

“He tell me ‘I kill she, you know. She done; I going and hang meself’,” Fernandes detailed.

Fernandez said he tried to talk to Gordon to cut time so that he would not go anywhere; and as Gordon made his way to another street, he was cornered by several residents.

Fernandez said he went personally to the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost and brought an officer to the scene.

The family friend believes that if the police had acted earlier, the woman’s life could have been saved.

Neighbours, meanwhile, told this publication that Etwaroo had, for years, been abused by her reputed husband.

“Just two weeks ago, he hold she and pelt she down on the road. She run come and hide. He de want come in the yard to continue to beat her, so me put he out… Every-

Bhagmattie Etwaroo and Desmond Gordon in happier times body does warn she bout he… that man always threaten to kill her, and does beat her mercilessly…. It is a very sad thing what happened to her; she didn’t deserve it,” one person said.

Gordon was arrested and is currently in police custody assisting with investigations.

Etwaroo leaves to mourn her seven children from another relationship.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

President hails Guyana-EU relations

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By Ariana Gordon

EUROPE Day 2016 is a beacon to all nations, President David Granger has said.

At an event held at the National Cultural Centre to mark the occasion on Monday night, the President said Europe Day highlights the path of peace and sustained security, and places increasing emphasis on international cooperation.

In congratulating the European Union (EU) on its achievements over the years, the President noted that the EU is one of Guyana’s main trading partners.

Guyana, in 2013 alone, exported to the EU goods valued in excess of Euros 192 million, or about 15 per cent of the country’s exports.

“Guyana’s imports from the EU were valued at Euros 122 million. Guyana has been a beneficiary of cooperation with the EU. Guyana has benefited in agriculture, education, food security, governance, health, hinterland development, aviation, maritime infrastructure, sea defence and coastal zone management,” President Granger emphasised.

The EU, he said, also remains a valued developing partner in the Caribbean; and, as such, Guyana welcomes the EU’s assurances on dialogue and consultation with the Ca-

President David Granger shares a toast with EU Ambassador Jernej Videtic on Monday night in observance of Europe Day 2016 EU: President David Granger shares a light moment with UN Representative to Guyana, Khadija Meusa, (Opposite President Granger) upon arrival at the National Cultural Centre on Monday night for observances of Europe Day 2016. Also in photo are First Lady Sandra Granger (right) and Mrs Scheherazade Khan (Samuel Maughn photo) ribbean region on the issue of the EU implementation of the external strategy with respect to taxation as part of its anti-tax avoidance package.

The EU and Guyana forged a special bond four decades ago, beginning with the historic Georgetown Agreement of 1975.

Meanwhile Ambassador Jernej Videtic, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and for the Dutch overseas territories, said Europe Day represents a time of reflection and celebration of how the EU has overcome

age-old differences to shape a common future.

“The EU is made of institutions where people from all European member states work. The cultural richness and shared values are Europe’s strengths,” he said.

Ambassador Videtic noted that the EU brought about stability and reunited Europe after years of “artificial division during the Cold War”.

The EU today is the world’s biggest economy, and has one of the highest standards of living in the world. In light of the EU’s achievements over the years, the ambassador

noted, its external actions are based on principles that have inspired its creation. These are: democracy, rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, principles of equality and solidarity, the UN Charter and International Law. The EU has been calling

on the Government to abolish the death penalty, decriminalise same-sex intimacy, and strengthen efforts to combat domestic abuse and trafficking in persons.

“The European Union has a strong commitment to gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls, and the eradication of gender-based violence,” the EU Ambassador stated.

The EU has, in recent years, supported a number

of initiatives in this area in Guyana, including providing financial support to organisations dealing with domestic abuse, such as Help & Shelter, Merundoi, ChildLink, and the Child Care and Protection Agency, to name a few.

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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

The National Insurance Scheme

THE revealed forensic audit done on the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) continues to identify a troubling period of governance in this country. The way this scheme was managed is akin to the way many other government institutions were managed, i.e. as though they were personal properties and not the people’s. Where NIS remains this country only major safety net for workers (employed and self-employed) all efforts must be made to treat with this audit as a matter of priority.

President Granger is correct in this assessment that audits “are guides for corrective action to ensure that there is no reoccurrence and to ensure that in cases where there is culpability, unlawful behaviour that persons could be brought before the court and if they are found guilty of having committed offences they could be punished.” This statement was made in his last week “Public Interest” programme.

What this nation awaits, as it has with all other forensic audits commissioned by the state and paid for with the taxpayers’ money, is moving beyond making public these reports and acting on the recommendations. These recommendations not only seek to propose remedial action (s) and tightening of systems, but as the president rightly said, acts of culpability should be taken to the court and those found responsible held accountable.

The revelations in the NIS audit, apart from the billions of dollars owning to the scheme by contributors, points to a problem that has characterised past administrations. That is, politicians used the scheme as a cash cow, rewarded friends, and in furtherance of the disreputable public-private partnership policy. The Berbice Bridge is considered public-private partnership.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan earlier this year said, “A preliminary analysis [of forensic audits] indicates that in a number of cases, there were acts of dishonesty and duplicity, mismanagement of resources, opaqueness of transactions and a disregard for basic internal controls, among others.” Revelations in the NIS audit reinforce what the minister spoke of.

In the instance of the millions the Bharrat Jagdeo Cabinet approved to be taken from the NIS to invest in the Berbice Bridge this was met with outcries from the moment the public got wind of the information. Today

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

EPA is in contravention of the law Dear Editor, THE Environmental Protection Act No. 11 of 1996 (EP Act) clearly states under Part II - Establishment and Functions of the Agency – the following: “In the exercise of its functions the agency shall (a) compile and amend from time to time, with the assistance of internationally-recognised environmental groups, a list of persons who have the qualifications and experience to carry out environmental impact assessment”.

I served on the very first Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) established in Guyana, and am aware that neither the EPA nor the EAB is authorised to circumvent the EP Act. However, in spite of the legally established requirement detailed above, the EPA, under the jurisdiction of Executive Director Ramdass and Environmental Management Division Director Seebarran, has continually ignored this mandate of the EP Act by compiling and distributing a list of consultants and firms that in their opinion are qualified to conduct environmental impact assessments. This clearly contravenes the intent of the EP Act. A further disturbing trend is the absence of African-Guyanese-owned firms from this illegal list. This, coupled with the clear intent of the EP Act -- to identify persons (not firms) who have the qualifications and experience to carry out environmental impact assessment

-- raises serious questions about the motives of Directors Ramdass and Seebarran.

Ground Structures Engineering Consultants Inc. (GSEC) has the largest portfolio of environmental compliance projects in Guyana, and has completed several ESIAs in Guyana, including the Maple Creek Diamond Mine, Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, Skeldon Estate expansion, Peters Mine, Aurora Gold Mine, Marudi Mountain Hard Rock Mine, Alluvial Mining at Marudi Mountain, Sandspring Resources Gold and Copper Mine, Petroleum Refinery at Crab Island, and for the Haags Bosch Landfill. Environmental compliance projects undertaken by GSEC include audits for Omai Gold Mines for Cambior Resources/Iamgold, the privatization of Linmine and Bermine for the Adam Smith Institute, the closure of the Omai Linden yard, and for Reunion Manganese.

GSEC is currently involved in providing environmental compliance services to several projects in Guyana, including Guyana Goldfields, Sun and Sand Resources, Romanex, and to Ion Geoventures as sub-consultants.

GSEC has also provided environmental compliance services to Chevron for gas stations located in Guyana, Suriname and Grenada; and has served as sub-consultants to Environmental Resources Management (ERM) on several projects in Guyana and Suriname, including the red mud stacking proposed for the Suralco.

the NIS needs this money to be placed in an Investment Fund that can bring the needed returns.

Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo, under whose presidency this money was invested, last September had this say, “I think it is a good investment.” It cannot be a good investment when at this juncture NIS is being asked to forego the dividend of the money it invested. The nature of NIS and given what it was established to do, any investment that is not judicious, as with the case of the bridge, will ultimately hurt the Scheme and contributors who can be denied their benefits when the time is due.

It is not secret NIS was ensnared in partisan petty politics.

In its earlier years it was promoted as an attempt to rob people of their money and persons were dissuaded from honouring their legal obligations by registering and paying contributions.

The currency of NIS to the society is manifested in many forms. It benefits branches- long-term, short-term and industrial - have provided economic relief and assistance to contributors and their dependents. The average retiree today relies on

GSEC has also provided training to EPA staff in exposure assessment, and to the GGMC staff in earth and rock slope stability.

In spite of the experience and qualifications demonstrated by successful completion of the projects listed above, Ramdass and Seebarran have not seen it fit to include GSEC on the list of firms which they have identified as being qualified to conduct ESIAs in Guyana.

While the compilation and circulation of this list continues to contravene the intent of the EP Act, both Ramdass and Seebarran compound their illegal action by instructing firms to which the list is provided that no firm not identified on that illegal list would be acceptable to the EPA. It can be stated without fear of contradiction that neither Ramdass nor Seebarran are adequately competent in the diverse range of disciplines required to prepare a proper ESIA to make that determination. The actions of both Ramdass and Seebarran are indicative of a continuation of the policy articulated by Dr. Luncheon during the Jagdeo/Kissoon libel trial, which clearly established that African-Guyanese are not qualified to work in certain areas in Guyana.

The EPA under Ramdass epitomises the implementation of the PPP policy as articulated by Luncheon, and is reflected by the absence of any African-Guyanese serving as a department head at that agency.

Ramdass and Seebarran

are obviously not content with the effectiveness of their policy at the EPA, and are now apparently focused on extending that policy to the entire country by identifying firms/individuals as being qualified to conduct ESIAs, with the clear intent of excluding the most qualified firm in Guyana simply because it is owned by African-Guyanese.

GSEC is hereby requesting both Ramdass and Seebarran to publicly state their basis for contravening the AP Act, and to further identify the criteria they have used to determine the qualifications and experience of persons (or firms) to carry out environmental impact assessments.

It is expected that these individuals will justify their position by detailing a list of projects on which these firms have provided environmental compliance services.

It would also be helpful if Ramdass and Seebarran can justify their ability to identify suitably qualified individuals/firms by specifying exactly the area of environmental compliance in which these individuals have experience compatible with that of GSEC. We trust no cries of “witch-hunting” will be heard now that Ramdass and Seebarran are being asked to address their failure to adhere to the professional standards associated with the responsibilities they have been tasked to discharge.

Regards, CHARLES P. CERES

NIS pension to supplement Social Assistance and workplace pension where provided. Sickness Benefit Medical Care to this population post-employment provided the condition existed prior to Old Age and assistance to purchase spectacles contribute in protecting dignity.

For some time now it was known that NIS is in financial trouble and stakeholders have been calling for a national conversation in arresting the problems and making recommendations to this effect. NIS is subject to actuarial review and this ought to be taken seriously, in conjunction with efforts to address debt collection, a judicious Investment Policy, and empowering the management to get the job done.

Where political self-interest in the recent past dictated how the Scheme was treated, or frankly used as a cash cow to carry out government pet projects without regard for the contributors’ money, and where money was squandered as in the instance of a NIS office built as a cost exceeding its value, these unsavoury conducts have to remain in the past, even as the culpable are held to account in a court of law, now.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Report on missing US$5M shortly

By Ariana Gordon

THE Board of Directors of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has completed the report into the missing US$5M reportedly paid by Chinese company Datang Telecom Technology and Industry Group for the sale of the state’s 20 per cent shares in the Guyana

Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GTT).

Speaking to reporters on Monday night at the National Cultural Centre, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said the full report is ready, and will be released soon.

“I went there as a representative (of) the Board of NICIL and they have a full report. The Chairman of NICIL will release that report very soon,” he said.

The Chinese company had purchased Government’s 20 per cent shares in GTT for US$30M in 2012, but the company paid only US$25M. Minister of State Joseph Harmon and NICIL’s in-house attorney Natalia Seepersaud visited China a few weeks ago and engaged in discussions pertaining to the outstanding US$5M owed for the shares.

Asked whether the re-

1 dead in Mother’s Day brawl NARINE Sewnauth called “Naipaul” of Lot 308 Bloomfield Village, Corentyne, Berbice died on Sunday after he was allegedly chopped in the head by his stepson during an agreement over music.

The 46-year-old man was with friends and other relatives at his home imbibing at

the time of the incident.

According to reports, around 14:20 hrs, an argument between Sewnauth and his stepson Bisram Ramnauth escalated, and in a fit of rage, the latter reportedly when in the kitchen, collected a cutlass and chopped the former to the head.

An eyewitness told the Guyana Chronicle that

the argument started after both wanted to listen to different music at different volumes.

Sewnauth was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The suspect has been arrested and charges are expected to be laid shortly.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

port revealed who received the money reportedly paid to the Government of Guyana by the Chinese company, Minister Harmon said, “I can’t say who has the money.”

He said he was sure the money was not paid to

NICIL. “What I do know for sure is that the money hasn’t been paid. That is for sure.

That is as much as I can tell you,” Minister Harmon disclosed.

At a post-Cabinet press briefing held at the Ministry of the Presidency on April 20, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman, said the administration is currently trying to locate the US$5M outstanding to the Government.

Trotman told the media Minister Harmon discovered that the money was paid to NICIL before May 16 last year. It is unclear to whom specifically the money was paid.

“What I can say is that Mr Harmon has been able to retrieve some documents

which tell a different story, and that story is that the $5 million was paid; and we are trying to track down to whom, when and where; and that was before May 16, 2015,” Minister Trotman said.

Former President Donald Ramotar has denied that the US$5M owed by the Chinese company had been paid over to his administration prior to the May 11, 2015 general elections.

“The claim by the APNU+AFC Gov’t that the money was received is a lie, and I challenge the Government to present the ‘documents’ it has received, so that the veracity of the evidence can be tested and authenticated,” the former President has said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Judge’s ability to adjudicate rationally called into question

‒ as prison CoI winds down

By Shauna Jemmott THE lawyer representing the Guyana Prison Service at the inquiry into the recent riots at the Camp Street jail has raised with the Commission the matter of Justice Navendra Singh’s penchant for exacting inordinately stiff penalties.

Besides administering sentences, which are “quite disproportionate” to the crime, Selwyn Pieters is charging that the said judge is singlehandedly responsible for putting away some 90 per cent of the criminals, who’ve been sentenced to over 50 years’ imprisonment.

The issue was among several raised by Pieters in the wrap-up of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the March 3 riot and conditions,

which led to the death of 17 remand prisoners on Capital Block ‘A’.

The Canadian-based lawyer is asking the commissioners to include in their recommendations to the government, sentencing guidelines within which judges like Singh would be directed.

“You also may want to look at the issue of sentencing guidelines, because you have one judge, Justice Navendra Singh, who is responsible for 90 per cent of the sentences over 50 years,” Pieters told the Commission yesterday.

Using the overcrowding at the prison as a case in point, Pieters said: “When I speak of that, you may want to turn your mind as well to an aging prison population.

“If inmates have been sentenced to 50 years and more without any prospect of release, you have the situation of an aging population in there.”

In his official submission, a copy of which the Guyana Chronicle has seen, Pieters said there are currently 27 inmates serving life sentences at the said penitentiary.

“A review of the sentences of convicted prisoners for murder and manslaughter,” he said, “indicates significant disparity in sentencing... ranging from 43 to 106 years in jail.”

Among those who would feel the wrath of Justice Navendra Singh were Roy Jacobs, Orwin Hinds, Cleon Hinds and Kevin October, who were each sentenced to 81 years for the murder of Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris, with their earliest possible

date of release being October 06, 2069.

Bibi Shareema Gopaul was sentenced to 106 years for the role she played in the murder of her daughter, Neesa Gopaul, while her lover, Jarvis Barry Small was sentenced to 96 years.

But the list does not end there. In 2014, he sentenced Dellon Gordon, 25, to 83 years for the murder of his 23-year-old girlfriend, Natasha Johnson. His earliest possible date of release is February 17, 2071, by which time he would be 80; but his sentence does not expire until October 06, 2097.

Michael Anthony Persaud, 26, was sentenced to 83 years for the murder of his lover, Maduri Padumdeo, called ‘Sharda’, while Ajodha Persaud, called ‘Amica’, 68, was sentenced to 60 years for stabbing to death his nephew, Chaitram

Gooroodiyal, following an argument.

And in 2013, Lloyd Rampersaud was sentenced to 70 years in prison for the murder of Munilall Mangru, called ‘Boy’; and in 2015, Clive Knights was sentenced to 57 years for murder of his friend, Bert Whyte.

Second-time convicted murderer, Jermaine Maynard was sentenced to 88 years in the slammer for the murder of his girlfriend, Carlisa Matthews, while Mark Assing, called “Jesse”, was sentenced to 66 years for killing Abiola Eadie during an argument.

Then there was the case of Tyrone Rowe, who was sentenced to 78 years for armed robbery and murder committed on Troy Collymore.

But Justice Narendra Singh is not the only one who’s guilty of handing

down overly stiff penalties, as Justice Franklyn Holder sentenced Vinod Balgobin to 43 years in jail for the murder of his wife, Maryann Sunita Nauth in a hotel room.

As Pieters pointed out in the document, “It may seem trite, but it is obvious that it is slim to nil that any of these people will be released from the custody of the Guyana Prison Service alive, and that the cost (food, health care, beds, trained) will be significant to house them.”

This being the case, he is humbly suggesting that the government build a special wing for the aging population, which will be produced by these longterm sentences, and consider long-term planning as soon as possible to control the aging population of such inmates, who were already sentenced.

Permanent location for displaced City vendors ‒ City Hall to decide where tomorrow

By Telesha Ramnarine CITY Hall officials and all city councillors will meet tomorrow to determine a permanent place to relocate displaced Stabroek Market vendors.

In the meantime, some 133 of the approximately 150 displaced vendors have been offered temporary relocation south of Public Buildings in the City.

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen is urging those vendors who own stalls in various markets and other locations to return to those stalls and give others a chance to be relocated. According to her, many of these vendors have stalls at various locations, including at the Vendor’s Arcade, La Penitence Market, Albouystown Market, Stelling View Market, and Bourda Market.

“Within that 150 that we would have moved, there are vendors who have stalls along the streets. So one owner has different stations, which is unfair, and they still have their stall in the market,” Chase-Green observed.

Speaking with the Chronicle on the sidelines of the council’s fortnightly statutory meeting at City Hall, Chase-Green said those individuals are expected to go back to their original stalls.

“They will not be given spaces under the new location; it’s for those who never owned a stall.”

The mayor said City Council is working closely with the Ministry of Infrastructure to find a long-term solution to the current vending issue.

“We just couldn’t be

shifting people all the time.

So when they are moved after the three months, they will be moved to the permanent location,” she explained.

Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis told this newspaper, following the statutory meeting, that among the places City Hall is thinking of relocating the minibus parks are at Industrial Site, North Cummingsburg and Kingston.

Although no definite decision has been made, using these locations will definitely ease congestion in the city, Lewis observed.

The Stabroek Market vendors are so far unsure for how long they will be permitted to vend at the new location on Hadfield Street. They have been told

by City Hall officials only that an agreement was made

City Mayor Patricia Chase-Green

with the owner of the spot for them to remain there for three months. The vendors have no clue what their fate will be after this time.

Some are wondering if they will be made to endure the current disaster of transition all over again, or if they will settle in and become comfortable at the new spot, only to have to leave it shortly afterwards.

As it is, no specific details have been offered to the sellers, and many of them are simply guessing their way through; or, as one woman said on Sunday afternoon, “We just have to follow the multitude.”

Having vended outside Stabroek Market for 16 years now, one vendor said if the City Council wanted to move them, they could have made proper arrangements to have them relocated, and provide to them specific details on how long they were going to be temporarily removed.

“They just gave us a couple days’ notice to move. You are leaving us out of business. It shows me that this was not properly planned; because if you wanted us to move, you would have prepared the place so we could have had a smooth transition,” the woman complained.

Vendors have, through protests and other means, recently voiced their concern that the new site will kill their businesses. Many of them told this newspaper on Sunday that they have opted to conduct business mainly between the hours of 06:00 hrs and 18:00 hrs because of security reasons.

City Hall said recently that it is not seeking to put stakeholders out of business, but is seeking to ensure that vending is done in a conducive and legitimate atmosphere that is mutually beneficial to stakeholders and City Council.

Georgetown Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan mentioned to this newspaper that the move by City Hall to re-organise the Stabroek Market Bazaar is perhaps the single largest undertaking in that vicinity since the market was constructed in 1881.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Build a new brick prison

…says Prison Service lawyer

By Shauna Jemmott AS THE Commission of Inquiry into the Camp Street Prison riots comes to an end, lawyer for the Georgetown Prison Service, Selwyn Pieters, has called for a new prison to be built.

Making final submissions before the CoI at the Ministry of the Presidency’s Public Service Department on Waterloo Street, Georgetown, Pieters said evidence shows that the Georgetown Prison is characterized by overcrowding and local gangs, and the wooden structure poses a threat to the safety and security of prisoners even as it is a haven for concealing contraband items.

Pieters said Government needs to invest financially in constructing a brick prison, and should also consider that the main prison is housed in the country’s capital city, which is also the country’s business capital.

“A new prison must be built, and proper equipment must be there for officers,” Pieters said. He added that though “Government may not want to hear that they need to pump money into the prisons, it is appropriate that the Government (should) pump money into the system and build a big prison.”

Pieters said Officer-in-Charge of the Georgetown Prisons, Kevin Pilgrim, had pointed out in his testimony that wooden buildings can be dangerous.

“Wood buildings at the

Georgetown prisons…have their place, and their place now is ‘historic relics’; those are not places to house prisoners,” Pieters told the commission.

He pointed out that Superintendent Pilgrim, in his testimony, had said the old wooden structures make it easy for inmates to hide contraband, and poses challenges for officers assigned to the living units.

The evidence of the Director of Prisons, Carl Graham, had stated that the brick prison within the Camp Street compound was nowhere near completion, even though construction had started before the elaborate controversial Marriott Hotel, the construction of which has been completed.

Pieters said he had visited the Mazaruni Prisons and was appalled at the conditions under which inmates live. He said, too, that prison officers are often faced with multiple challenges, including inadequate staff to manage the 1,014 inmates housed at the Georgetown Prisons; the high number of high-profile inmates; many prisoners being denied bail; the location of the prison in the capital city; and inadequate staff-to-inmate ratio.

The Joint Services attorney was the only one to make submissions at the conclusion of the hearings.

The Commission is expected to hand over the report to the Government on or before May 31, 2016.

Move to dismiss charge against lawyer ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Keisha Chase and her counsel indicated to City Magistrate Allan Wilson on Monday that they would be requesting the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to withdraw the causing death by dangerous driving matter before the court.

The second option -- taking the matter to the High Court to be withdrawn -would be taken if the DPP failed to grant their request.

Chase was, in March 2016, placed on $250,000 bail after denying that on November 10, 2015, at Duncan Street, Campbellville, she drove motor vehicle PRR 8181 in a dangerous manner, thereby causing the death of 47-year-old Julian Leitch of

“C” Enachu Street, Section K, Campbellville.

The matter has been adjourned until July 27.

On the day in question, Leitch was reportedly attempting to cross the roadway when he was struck down, allegedly by Chase. A police release had stated that the driver had reported proceeding east along Duncan Street when she heard a loud sound.

Upon investigating, she saw the man lying on the road. He was then picked up by public-spirited persons and the vehicle driver and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

He had reportedly suffered multiple abrasions to his body, and died while receiving treatment at the medical facility.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Norton Street man’s involvement in ‘bad business’ surprises neighbours NEWS of the demise of a Norton Street, Lodge man during a run-in with the police following an armed robbery has come as quite a shock to not only his wife and immediate relatives, but his entire neighbourhood.

The man, 36-year-old ex-cop Ryan Vaux, was reportedly shot and killed early yesterday morning at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.

Neighbours have said the Vaux they had known was a quiet man who had never had a problem with the law, as far as they knew. He would usually go about his business, and when he was done for the day, would park his car outside his house.

And though the car was not there yesterday morning, they were not alarmed, until they received word that he had been killed.

One neighbour observed, “Imagine dis boy lived here and he look so easy fuh got gun and suh. He didn’t look so to me, so it is shocking to hear what happened.”

His wife, Sonia, learnt of his passing while at work.

A visit to the house the couple shared with their sevenyear-old daughter yesterday morning found Mrs Vaux inconsolable and unable to speak to the media.

A police press statement said that at about 01:10hrs on Monday, ranks of a mobile patrol travelling along Broad Street, Montrose, ECD saw a man running behind motor vehicle PSS 6835 and shouting that he had been robbed of a sum of money by persons in the vehicle.

The police subsequently intercepted the vehicle and found just the driver, who happened to be Vaux, and another man in it.

A search of both Vaux

Dead: Ryan Vaux

and the other occupant of the vehicle unearthed $21,000 in cash on the latter’s person.

This resulted in that man and the robbery victim -Deryck Persaud, 46, of Cummings Lodge, ECD -- being placed in the police vehicle and Vaux being asked to accompany the police in his car to the Sparendaam Police Station.

On the way to the station, Persaud revealed that both men had robbed him, and that they had a handgun and a knife.

According to the police, as ranks approached Vaux on arrival outside the Sparendaam Station, he whipped out a firearm and drove off.

At this point Vaux was shot, the police said, the lone round hitting him somewhere in his body. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the GPHC. He was able to get as far as Vryheid’s Lust Access Road, about half a mile from Sparendaam, before he crashed his vehicle.

A search of the vehicle, the police say, unearthed a pellet handgun. The other suspect is in police custody, assisting with their investigations. (Michel Outridge)

Motorist dies in accident

DEORAM Persaud of Belmont, Mahaica East Coast Demerara was killed in an accident that occurred at Kairuni, Linden-Soesdyke Highway on Sunday at about 14:55 hrs, after he lost control of the motor cycle he was driving and fell off the machine.

A police release said the

39-year-old was riding at a fast rate and was not wearing a safety helmet at the time he lost control of the vehicle and died tragically.

He was rushed to the Linden Hospital for the injuries he had sustained, but was pronounced dead on arrival there.

Investigations into the accident are in progress.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Case made out against alleged armed robbers – One still to lead defence A PRIMA FACIE case was on Monday made out against East Ruimveldt, Georgetown residents Tambico McKenzie, 29, and William Evans, 24, for armed robbery following months of trial in Court Three of the Georgetown Magistrates Courts.

They were each asked by Magistrate Judy Latchman to lead a defence after she ruled that the prosecution had made out a solid case against them.

The two men were charged with robbing Merissa Winter of an iPhone, a gold chain, a gold-and-diamond ring, and three gold bands, all totalling $370,000, on February 9, 2015 at Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt Park, whilst being armed with a knife.

They vehemently denied the accusation, but the police have maintained that three gold bands were found on McKenzie while the other items were recovered from Evans.

After Winter was robbed, she pursued the men in her car and ran them down. That action led to their arrest.

At yesterday’s trial, McKenzie, leading his defence, stepped into the witness box and gave sworn evidence. The former surveyor at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) kept protesting his innocence. “I have no knowledge of this robbery because I was never around,” he told the court.

According to McKenzie, on the day mentioned on

the charge, he was standing in front of Cevon’s Waste Management business on Aubrey Barker Road awaiting a minibus when an unknown car had pulled up beside him and armed policemen exited, yelling: “Yuh is a suspect fuh an armed robbery!”

“I asked them what robbery they talking about,” McKenzie said, as he explained that the officers conducted a search on his person and confiscated his cell phone, $40 Euros, Gy$1,340 and 10 grammes of marijuana.

McKenzie admitted to the court that he behaved “lil arrogant”, resulting in the ranks kicking him in his face and throwing him into the car trunk.

“They carry me through the street to a police van, where I saw Williams; then I was placed into the van and carried to the East La Penitence Police Station,” he detailed.

Whilst in the witness box, the defendant stressed that this was the first time he had seen the co-accused, and he said he became familiar with Williams whilst they were in custody together.

McKenzie also pointed out that the police had brutalized him during the course of his arrest, and he said he is currently serving a sentence for the weed found on his person.

Co-accused Evans did not get to lead his evidence, as the matter was adjourned to May 12, when he would be called to the witness stand.

Man shot, robbed of $1.8M SEAN Harper of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara was about to exit his motor vehicle at Alexander Street, Kitty at about 10:00h on Monday when he was attacked by a man armed with a handgun, a police release has said.

The man smashed a window of the vehicle and

grabbed a bag containing $1.8M, then discharged rounds at the 46-year-old Harper before escaping in a car driven by an accomplice.

Harper suffered injuries to his right foot and abdomen, and has been admitted to hospital. Police investigations are in progress.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Several wanted by police POLICE have issued bulletins for Leon De Younge, Rickford La Fleur, Lennox Patterson, Ravindra Samaroo and Stafrei Hopkinson-Alexander, who are wanted in connection with murder and escape from lawful custody.

According to a police release, De Younge is wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of Titus Sutton, which occurred on November 08, 2013 at Baracara, Canje Creek, Berbice.

La Fleur, 41, known as “Rickford Orlando”, is wanted by the police for questioning in relation to the murder of Sebastian Clayto and Cleveland Hetymer.

His last known address is Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara and Smithfield, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Ravindra Samaroo

Lennox Patterson

Rickford La Fleur

Leon De Younge

Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander

Patterson, 27, and Samaroo, 25, are wanted by the police for escaping from lawful custody at the New Amsterdam Prison on August 12, 2015.

Patterson’s last known address is Lot 369 Sister’s Vil-

lage, East Bank Berbice, while Samaroo’s last known address is Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Alexander, 30, is wanted by the police pending investigations into the discharge of

a loaded firearm, and also for the alleged murder of Shivon Gordon.

Persons with information on De Younge can contact the police on telephone numbers 333-2485, 333-2191, 333-2151, 225-6411, 225-

2227, 911, or the nearest police station; on La Fleur: 229-2557, 229-2701, 3332191, 333-2151, 225-2227, 225-6411, 911 or the nearest police station; on Patterson and Samaroo: 333-2191, 333-2151, 225-6411, 911 or

the nearest police station; and Alexander on 226-7065, 227-1169, 444-3512, 225227, 225-6411, 911 or the nearest police station. All information will be treated with due confidentiality, the police said.

Give security forces full support PEOPLE’S Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee is calling on citizens to

give their full support to security forces in the lead up the Guyana Independence anniversary.

The big occasion will be celebrated on May 26.

Issuing the plea at his weekly press briefing at Free-

dom House on Monday, Rohee said, “The PPP will be keeping a close watch on the performance of the tail-end of

‒ during Independence celebrations, Rohee urges citizens

the Operation Dragnet during the Independence celebrations.”

The Government has been criticised for the number of serious and brazen crimes in the past few months, even though more suspects are being apprehended now than any time before.

The PPP/C called on citizens to be vigilant on all fronts and to lend as much support as possible to law enforcement officers, as well as the community and neighbourhood policing groups.

So far, all Members of Parliament, Rohee said, have received personal invitations to participate in several State functions to celebrate the momentous occasion.

And, according to Rohee, a former security minister, the PPP/C Members of Parliament will participate in these events on an optional basis.

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

“We are mindful of the dire socio-economic circumstances obtaining in the country at this time as the nation prepares to celebrate this historic event and to welcome Guyanese, who will be returning home for the event,” an indifferent looking Rohee said.

One held for robbing money-changers TWO gunmen have allegedly robbed two money-changers of the sum of $800,000 during a brazen attack at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne Berbice.

Reports are that at about 08:30hrs on Monday, the men walked up to the money-changers and held them at gunpoint as they demanded that they hand over the cash in their possession; and the fearful money-changers immediately complied with the request.

Swift action by ranks on the Corentyne led to the capture of one of the two suspects, who is also wanted by law enforcement officials in connection with a series of armed robberies committed in the region within recent times.

The police also managed to retrieve a firearm from the man they have arrested.

The cops are, however, on the hunt for his accomplice, who is believed to have all of the stolen cash in his possession.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

GTT will go up to 30 times faster THE GUYANA Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) mobile and landline service provider launched its 4G network at its flagship store at Fogarty’s Building on Water Street, Georgetown on Monday.

4G promises a faster service, with more data to fit into the new generation.

GTT’s Chief Executive Officer, Justin Nedd, said the company has expended more than US$5M to get the service up and running in time for the much-anticipated 50th Anniversary Jubilee celebrations. He said GTT had also spent between Gy$30M and Gy$40M to lay fibre optic cable to provide a quality service unlike any other.

“Our 4G mobile network will enable you to connect to the Internet much faster than ever before; whether to browse, watch videos or movies, download music, or shop online. All Smart phones sold by GTT are ready to experience the faster speeds,” Nedd added.

The GTT CEO said the company was, for several years, preparing to introduce the service to the Guyanese market, and was happy when Government opened up more spectrum.

Nedd said the company would be even happier with more spectrum being made available.

He also called on Government to ensure a level playing field, even as all competitors in the industry are welcomed. “Our intent is to do the best we can and

GTT CEO Justin Nedd, Chief Commercial Officer Gert Post, and PRO Allison Parker posed with employees of GTT yesterday during the launching

give customers great value for money,” he declared.

GTT Chief Commercial Officer, Gert Post, said the company was currently able to provide 89% of its customers with coverage, and intends to expand its reach in the coming weeks.

He said that during a Powerpoint presentation, 85% of customers would get blazing fast 4G. “GTT will make it easy for you to get 4G in Greater Georgetown, and we will add new areas in the coming weeks. Once you’re in a coverage area, you will get 4G – no texts, no calls, no gimmicks. Simply use your smartphone,” he advised.

Post added that because GTT understands that customers would do more with more speed, the company was offering much better data plans, which were flexible enough to suit every-

one’s needs. The company has increased the amount of data included in plans up to 3 times better, while maintaining the same low price, he said.

He noted that GTT provides the best value on its data plans, and customers would benefit from rollover data and minutes.

In order to provide customers with the best 4G experience, Post said, GTT has connected its sites with high-capacity fiber optics all the way to the major Internet exchanges in the USA; thus the company is providing plenty of capacity to allow for greater reliability, more bandwidth, and faster speeds for all customers.

GTT acknowledged the Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes, for her vision and foresight in opening the door to allow

Staffers of GTT before they took to the streets as part of their advertisement campaign

the “Do More” for customers and Guyana.

“GTT (is) already (providing) the best value

in Guyana; and with our new 4G data plans, we are even doing MORE for our customers. This is an

excellent time to switch to GTT and do MORE with your money”, Post encouraged.

GuyExpo to be biggest yet

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin (second from right), conversed with GTT+ officials during his tour of the exhibition site on Monday (Samuel Maughn photo) ALL is set for the opening of GuyExpo on Thursday, May 12, at the Sophia Exhibition Complex. The event is expected to be the biggest yet.

Being held under the theme “50 Years: Guyana means Business – Promoting Enterprise, Driving Productivity”, GuyExpo is part of a series of events being held to mark Guyana’s 50th anniversary of Independence.

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, having inspected the Sophia Complex facilities, said all will be ready for the big day on Thursday. The grand event concludes on Sunday.

“Workers appear to be moving along enthusiastically to

get things up and ready so that we can kick things off come Thursday,” Minister Gaskin said.

He disclosed that the response this year has been exceptional, with some 250 local and international companies participating and more than 300 booths being featured.

At the launch of the expo in March, Gaskin had said the event is well aligned with the objectives of the Business Ministry and the economic development priorities of the Government. GuyExpo is designed to nurture and promote business growth and development in Guyana.

“One of the areas of focus for the Ministry of Business is on

the development of micro and small enterprises. This level of enterprise accounts for almost 30 per cent of our country’s GDP, and employs tens of thousands of people,” the minister has said.

President David Granger, who also spoke at the occasion, had underscored the importance of the event: “GuyExpo is placing more emphasis on the local manufacturing sector to help revitalise the economy, which has too long now been dependent on the exportation of raw materials.”

Being one of the biggest commercial events, GuyExpo opens an avenue for economic development and commercial exposure.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Kitty fire leaves 11 homeless

Demali Benjamin, a tenant, being comforted by a friend Firefighters trying to contain the blaze

Boyo, owner of the building, speaking to Fire Service officers

By Sherah Alleyne A FIRE of unknown origin completely destroyed a two-storey, four-apartment, wooden and concrete building at 44 Shell Road, Kitty Georgetown early on Monday morning, leaving four families, a total of 11 persons, homeless.

The fire reportedly began in the front section on the upper-flat of the building, and quickly swept through the entire house.

Tamika Halley said she was cleaning when she smelled the smoke, and ran upstairs to grab her passport and run out of the building. She had shared an apartment in the building with her roommate Demallea Benjamin, an employee of the Guyana Water Inc. Benjamin was at work when her roommate called to inform her that the house had burnt down. The GWI staffer had purchased some appliances for Christmas, but lost all to the raging flames.

Boyo (only name given), who identified himself as the owner of the building, told the Guyana Chronicle that he was at work when a neighbour informed him of the fire.

A mentally unstable woman who lived in the top flat of the building was reportedly seen leaving the property just before the fire started. Neighbours recalled hearing an explosion before the fire started.

The Guyana Fire Service responded promptly to the call and managed to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby houses, but tenants in the building were unable to save anything, since most of them were at work at the time of the blaze.

An investigation has been launched to ascertain the cause of the fire.

The Kitty house on fire

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Father of 5 seriously injured in accident

By Shirley Thomas

WEEDER Mark Anthony, a 39-year-old father of five of Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, was last Wednesday seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident allegedly caused by a motorist on the West Coast Demerara Public Road.

He is now warded at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) with multiple injuries: a fractured left leg, injuries to his head, broken jaws, cuts to his chin and

above his eyes, and other abrasions about his body.

All his front teeth have been knocked out as well.

With his strapped jaw making speaking difficult, Anthony told the Guyana Chronicle that he was going to do a weeding job at Vergenoegen, EBE, and was riding his pedal cycle with his weeding machine strapped to his bike when tragedy struck.

The injured man cannot now recall the name of the village where the accident occurred, but recalls

that the motorist, who had approached from behind, ploughed into him, knocking him off his cycle. He said that in what seemed like a somersault, he landed on the top of the car, and his machine also became entangled. Anthony said the motorist got out of the car, and instead of coming to his assistance, busied himself hustling to detach the cycle from his car.

However, a medical doctor who was driving by at the time witnessed what had happened and hurried

to the injured man’s assistance. As the doctor turned his attention to rendering first-aid to the injured man, the motorist jumped into his motor car and sped away.

However, the doctor is said to have noted the offending driver’s vehicle number, and he quickly phoned the police, who immediately mobilised ranks to go in search of the motorist. He was apprehended and charged.

He spent about five days in the lock-ups and was released on bail on Sunday.

This weeder, Mark Anthony, has been injured in a hit-and-run accident

Ruling soon in ‘cocaine in shoe soles’ case

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan will, on May 19, make her ruling against two men who were allegedly busted with cocaine in shoe soles at the country’s main airport.

Kurt Sunich and Ishreal George are jointly charged with having in their possession 580 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, on July 3, 2015 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri. The men deny the charge.

Sunich, a former Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officer, was represented by Attorney Euclin Gomes, while George was represented by Attorney

Glenn Hanoman.

The cocaine was reportedly neatly packed in the soles of two shoes and placed in the lavatory of the departure lounge at the CJIA for an outgoing passenger. However, the plan failed when CANU officers carried out a routine search and found the drug.

Unknown to George, who was an outgoing passenger to the United States, the ranks reportedly substituted the drug. He took possession of the shoes and was arrested.

Video surveillance footage assisted investigators in identifying the persons who had allegedly taken the shoe soles to the toilet.

Sophia man put on $50,000 bail A SOPHIA resident was Monday released on $50,000 bail

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a simple larceny charge.

Terrence Hoppie of ‘C’ Field Sophia denied that on January 27, 2016 in Georgetown, he stole a GPS tracking system, a compass, two gas bottles along with 800 pounds of fishing seine – totaling $1.152M, property of Corwayne Van Sertima.

Hoppie was last month charged for fraudulently converting the items to his own use and benefit. However this charge was withdrawn and the larceny charge instituted on Monday.

The matter was adjourned until May 27.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Good Samaritan hospitalised in accident

Mark Mahadeo

By Shirley Thomas MARK Mahadeo, a mechanic of Independence Boulevard, La Penitence, was performing the job of a ‘Good Samaritan’ a few weeks ago, when he was lashed off a motor cycle by a motorist driving a RAV 4.

According to his doctor, he suffered injuries from which he is not likely to recover until in the New Year.

The injured mechanic was rushed to hospital where X-rays performed determined that he had suffered four fractures to his left leg and a fracture to the head.

He was immediately whisked into theatre for emergency surgery and was fitted with an exterior fixator to the injured leg.

After spending just over a week in hospital, he was discharged, but was re-admitted on Monday for further medical intervention.

Mahadeo said he has to return to theatre to have

bones fitted back in place and to have steel implanted to support the injured bones.

Recounting events leading up to the tragedy, Mahadeo recalled that on March 27, he was in the vicinity of Camp Town Sports Ground, Campbellville when he came across a young man (known to him), who was experiencing problems with his motorcycle.

The bike was constantly ‘cutting out’ and he did not know how to deal with it. The lad (about 16 or 17) asked Mahadeo, with his experience as mechanic, to ride the bike home for him.

With the lad as pillion rider, Mahadeo jumped onto the cycle and set out on the journey. They first touched Robbstown and were heading up Robb Street when they became involved in the accident.

Mahadeo said as he was crossing over Camp Street, heading east along Robb Street, he spotted as RAV 4

Tuesday, May 10, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Wednesday, May 11, 2016 - 08:30 hrs Thursday, May 12, 2016 - 09:00 hrs

which appeared to be proceeding straight, south along Camp Street.

However, he said, the motor vehicle suddenly swerved left, hitting him through a fence and into a yard, next to the burnt out Kissoon’s building. He landed onto a propped up concrete slab and was badly injured. At the same time his pillion rider only suffered minor injuries.

The lad then phoned his father, who went to the scene to get him. However, instead of telling his father exactly what happened, the lad told

his father that Mahadeo had borrowed the motorcycle from him and got into an accident. He could not however, explain how he too, was in the accident.

The father and son picked up the cycle and proceeded home.

Meanwhile, Mahadeo badly injured, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) with the help of other public-spirited persons, who had witnessed the accident.

The matter was reported to the police who later visited the scene.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

ODI Tri-series leg comes ...

From backpage ODI Tri- series Match Schedule June Friday 3, West Indies vs South Africa – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana Sunday 5, West Indies vs Australia – Guyana National Stadium Tuesday 7, Australia vs South Africa – Guyana National Stadium Saturday 11, South Africa vs Australia – Warner Park, St Kitts Monday 13, West Indies vs Australia – Warner Park Wednesday 15, West Indies vs South Africa – Warner Park Sunday 19, Australia vs South Africa – Kensington Oval, Barbados Tuesday 21, West Indies vs Australia – Kensington Oval Friday 24, West Indies vs South Africa – Kensington Oval Sunday 26: The Final – Kensington Oval.

South Africa Racing Tips Kenilworth 08:10 hrs King Of The Corn 08:45 hrs Electro Diva 09:25 hrs Midnite Zone 10:05 hrs First Master 10:40 hrs Winter Trade 11:15 hrs Hanabi English Racing Tips Southwell 12:35 hrs Rocky Rebel 13:05 hrs Keltus 13:35 hrs Grandioso 14:05 hrs Blackwater King 14:35 hrs Lilywhite

Gesture 15:05 hrs Bonne Question 15:35 hrs Mariah’s Legend Sedgefield 08:50 hrs Boa Island 09:20 hrs San Benedeto 09:50 hrs Master Rajeem 10:50 hrs Little Buxted 11:20 hrs Sendiym 11:50 hrs Bilko’s Back Beverley 09:00 hrs La Asomada 09:30 hrs Book Of Poetry 10:00 hrs Windforpower 10:30 hrs Count Montecristo 11:00 hrs Fawaareq 11:30 hrs Kajaki 12:00 hrs Scarpeta Irish Racing Tips 11:45 hrs Aspar 12:15 hrs Sors 12:45 hrs Etched 13:15 hrs Shepherds Crook 13:45 hrs Alamgiyr 14:15 hrs Honor Oak 14:45 hrs Elusive Approach 15:15 hrs Intense Stylist American Racing Tips Parx Racing Race 1 Decesion Point Race 2 Aesthetique Race 3 Giroux Race 4 Agent Van Alden Race 5 Blue Hen Madness Race 6 Our Carly Race 7 Neshaminy Race 8 Benny’s Diamond Race 9 El Posole

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Platini to quit UEFA after bid to overturn ban fails (REUTERS) - Suspended European football boss Michel Platini will resign as head of governing body UEFA after losing a top level appeal against a ban for ethics violations, but he will continue to fight to clear his name.

One of the finest players of his generation who went

on to become a powerful sporting official, Frenchman Platini was suspended after his dealings with fallen world football chief Sepp Blatter dragged him into the scandal, which engulfed the sport's global governing body FIFA. Sport's highest tribunal, The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), upheld Plati-

ni's suspension yesterday, although it reduced the term from six years to four.

"The CAS Panel was of the opinion that a severe sanction could be justified in view of the superior functions carried out by Mr Platini (FIFA vice-president and UEFA president), the absence of any repentance and

Michel Platini

the impact that this matter has had on FIFA’s reputation," CAS said in a statement.

The ruling means that UEFA, which has not replaced Platini since he was initially banned in October, will have to elect a new president.

UEFA said its Executive Committee would meet on May 18 in Basel to discuss the next steps, adding that no stand-in president would be appointed in the meantime.

NO FIGUREHEAD That decision means European football will almost certainly have no figurehead during the European Championship, to be held in France over June and July.

Platini has pledged to continue his campaign to overturn the ban. His only remaining recourse is to appeal to the Swiss federal court, but this can only overturn the verdict if it finds procedural irregularities.

"I see this (decision) as a profound injustice ... As agreed with the national associations I am resigning from my functions as president of UEFA in order to pursue my fight with the Swiss courts to prove my integrity in this affair," Platini said in a statement.

A lawyer for Platini, Yves Wehrli, said the Frenchman would resign from UEFA "in the coming days".

The French Football Federation (FFF) said it would respect the CAS decision.

"The FFF nevertheless salutes the work of Michel Platini and the quality of a

man who has always worked in the interest of football, particularly while he was UEFA president," it said.

Platini was banished along with former FIFA president Blatter over a payment of two million Swiss francs ($2.08M) made to the Frenchman by FIFA with Blatter's approval in 2011 for work done a decade earlier.

FIFA's ethics committee said the payment, made at a time when Blatter was seeking re-election, lacked transparency and presented conflicts of interest. Both men denied wrongdoing.

Platini had been favourite to replace Blatter at the time.

Instead, his former general secretary at UEFA, Gianni Infantino, entered the FIFA presidential race and won the election in February.

Platini and Blatter were provisionally banned in October while FIFA's ethics committee investigated the case, then suspended for eight years each in December, reduced to six years by the FIFA appeal committee in February.

Infantino gives positive vision before first FIFA Congress

By Brian Homewood MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Reuters) - Gianni Infantino struck an upbeat tone ahead of his first Congress in charge of FIFA, at which football's governing body will try to move on from a major corruption scandal and address other problems dogging the sport around the world.

Infantino was elected as FIFA president in February, charged with steering football out of the crisis in which dozens of football officials from a number of countries were indicted in the United States.

The main focus of FIFA's annual Congress, which begins in Mexico on Friday, will be bringing its 209 member football associations up to speed with recent reforms designed to stamp out corruption.

"After going through some uneasy times, I truly believe

that the organisation is on the verge of an exciting new era and that we can unite to work towards our common goal of developing football across the globe and at all levels," Infantino said in a statement released by FIFA yesterday.

His leadership must also deal with other problems, including the chronic financial difficulties and poor administration seen in many parts of the world, far from the glitter of competitions like the Champions League and top clubs such as Barcelona.

FIFPro, the world players' union, has estimated that only 75 of national associations manage to run a professional league.

Even where these exist, the union has frequently complained about the treatment of its members, particularly in eastern Europe, saying they are often left unpaid and humiliated when they complain or try to leave.

Jerome Champagne, a rival of Infantino's for the FIFA job, has warned that football risks losing its global appeal as talent drains towards a small number of European clubs.

In Nigeria, a judicial tugof-war has seen rival factions, one led by FIFA-recognised Amaju Pinnick and another

by Chris Giwa, each claiming to control the national football federation.

MAJOR FAILURE Amid the bickering, the three-time champions have failed to qualify for the African Nations Cup for the second time in a row, a major failure for the continent's most populous nation.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) meanwhile remains under the presidency of Marco Polo Del Nero, even though he is among those indicted by U.S. prosecutors. Del Nero has denied any wrongdoing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

AB de Villiers, Watson seal RCB one-run win AB de Villiers plundered 64 runs in a 35-ball display of masterful batting, after Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) slumped to 67 for 3 against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali.

He used powerful drives and improvised sweeps to lift Royal Challengers to 175 - their ninth successive 170-plus total - which they defended by one run in a thriller.

M Vijay made an accomplished 57-ball 89 to keep Kings XI in the hunt for much of the chase. Royal Challengers' bowling attack, though, found a way to respond to severe criticism with a good display of end-overs bowling, making use of Mohali's long square

Player-of-the-match Shane Watson dismissed M Vijay at a critical juncture.

boundaries . Kings XI required 24 off the last two overs but

Shane Watson varied his pace and lengths to concede just seven in the penultimate over.

Chris Jordan, playing his second IPL game, was driven through cover for four by Marcus Stoinis off the second ball of the final over, and missed his yorker again off the third ball, which Stoinis muscled over the long-off boundary to bring the contest into Kings XI's grasp.

But Stoinis could only muster a brace of twos off the second half of the over.

(Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 175 for 6 (De Villiers 64, Rahul 42, Cariappa 2-16) beat Kings XI Punjab 174 for 4 (Vijay 89, Stoinis 34*, Watson 2-22) by one run).

Prasad injury compounds Sri Lanka misery DHAMMIKA Prasad provided an injury concern for Sri Lanka as Graham Ford's tourists endured a miserable day against Essex at Chelmsford.

Having been dismissed for just 254 by a largely inexperienced attack on day one of their opening three-day fixture, Sri Lanka saw their county opponents rack up a total of 412-4 declared yesterday.

Jaik Mickleburgh and the in-form Tom Westley hit 109 and 108 respectively for Essex, while former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara added 87 not out.

If Essex's smooth prog-

ress with the bat was not painful enough for Sri Lanka, seamer Prasad limped off the field midway his 18th over.

Teenage first-class debutant Aaron Beard then added to his four-wicket first-innings haul with the dismissal of Kaushal Silva (7) and Kusal Mendis also departed for 16 as Sri Lanka reached stumps on 42-2, still 116 runs in arrears.

While Sri Lanka struggled, two members of England's middle order enjoyed a day to remember at Headingley.

Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow shared 372 in 67 overs for Yorkshire's

Dhammika Prasad

fourth wicket in a County Championship fixture against Surrey. Root was unbeaten on 190 from 221 deliveries at stumps, while Bairstow - who hit 246 against Hampshire last month - contributed 198 from 231 balls (Omnisport)

Several changes made to Independence horse race meet AIMED at facilitating every horse race owner countrywide, organisers of the 50th Independence Anniversary horserace meet have made several changes ahead of the one-day event.

Dubbed the biggest horse race meet for the calendar year, the event is billed for May 22 at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne.

Information reaching Chronicle Sport revealed that the organisers have added an event for Horses classified G and Lower and West Indies-bred. The race will be run over 1200 metres, and see

the winning stable take home $350 000.

It was also revealed that the H Class race is now for H2 horses over 1000 metres for an increased package of $300 000.

And the other change to the programme will see the Threeyear-old event is now for Three-year-old Guyana-bred horses and West Indies-bred non-winners. An increased package of $250 000 will be up for grabs over 1000 metres.

Meanwhile, the organisers indicated that the feature event remains for horses classified A’ and Lower with the first

prize set at $1.5M. The event will go over a grueling 1900 metres.

The other events listed are the D3 and Lower, E and F class and Lower, I3 and Lower, J3 and K and Lower and K and L and Lower.

The event will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority Interested persons can make contact with Bobby Vaughn 624-6788, 223-5097, 227-7061, 333-0290, 3330301, Fazal 657-7010, Ramnauth 337-5311 or Compton Sancho on 690-0569 for entry and other details.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Jamaica to host all Trophy Stall Badminton tournament starts tomorrow Windies women

THE Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) has once again teamed up with the benevolent sport agency Trophy Stall to stage Under-11, U-13 and U-17 age-group and Open Singles tournament.

The tournament is set to start tomorrow at the Cliff

Anderson Sports Hall, with the Under-17 & Open Singles from 17:00hrs.

The tournament concludes on Saturday.

A release from the GBA stated that the tournament has already attracted 40 entries, and it is expected

to be a very competitive and exciting tournament.

Trophies will be given to the top three finishers in each division. Players are asked to be on time and dressed in sportswear. All rules will be in effect, the release concluded.

Devi Sunich of Trophy Stall hands over one of the trophies to Junior Sportsman-of-the-Year Narayan Ramdhani in the presence of GBA representative Marlon Chung and some junior players.

NOTABLE DATES

CLIFF Anderson collected his third drawn fight on May 10, 1948. The Guyanese featherweight battled to a tame draw against Englishman Johnny Molloy at the Ice Rink in Nottinghamshire, England following ten rounds.

The 26-year-old Anderson battled to his second consecutive stalemate the following month.

Coming up against Ronnie Clayton on June 11 at the Kings Hall in Manchester, he fought to another draw. In all, the legendary Guyanese secured 11 drawn fights in

a 13-year career that started in 1940. Anderson was born Clifford Matthew Anderson on October 22, 1921 and started his professional career 19 years later.

He had his first seven fights at home before switching to the United Kingdom. Known as a ‘work horse’ in the ring Anderson had nine fights in 1950 but entered the ring 13 times in 1951. The local legend made two unsuccessful challenges for the Commonwealth featherweight title.

Both times he fought

Al Phillips. On March 18, 1947 he lost by points to the Englishman. In the rematch four months later, the Guyanese was disqualified in round eight by referee Andrew Smith for illegal blows.

The talented and ferocious featherweight hung up gloves in 1953 with a record of 87 fights, 48 of which were victories and 28 defeats.

Anderson passed away in 1998 and the National Sports Hall was renamed the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in honour of his achievements.

vs England matches in October

JAMAICA is to host all five matches between the West Indies and England Women’s teams when the latter arrives in the Caribbean later this year.

The tour and schedule have been confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The matches will be played during a twoweek window, starting on Saturday, October 8 and Monday, October 10 with the first two ODIs set for the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium in Jamaica.

The remaining three ODIs will form England’s sixth round of matches in the ICC Women’s Championship, and will be played at Sabina Park, Kingston on Friday, October 14, Sunday, October 16 and Friday, October 19.

The teams are separated by seven points in the rankings but the series is expected to be an exciting encounter as both teams will be looking to earn points in the ICC Women’s Championship.

The Windies women are in second place with 20 points, while England is in sixth place with 13 points. Both will look for

Josina Luke

points for the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup in England.

“The five-match ODI series against the West Indies in Jamaica will be a great test for us. We all saw during the ICC Women’s World T20 what a talented side they are, and they will be especially dangerous in home conditions.

It should be a really exciting tour and a challenge that we will relish,” said England Women’s head coach, Mark Robinson.

Meanwhile, West Indies Cricket Board’s Project Officer, Women’s Cricket, Josina Luke, said

the home team would not be taking their opponents lightly.

“Winning the World T20 continues to be great for women’s cricket in the Caribbean. We are taking nothing for granted and we look forward to an exciting series with England,” she said.

England women will play their final three rounds of the ICC Women’s Championship in 2016 with a home series against Pakistan followed by tours to the West Indies and Sri Lanka before Christmas. (Sportsmax. com)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

RSTC to stage Health Walk and Fitness Run on May 22

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Faf du Plessis (CSK) (2) Chennai Super Kings & Mumbai Indians

THE Rising Star Track Club (RSTC) in collaboration with the Office of the President will be staging a Health and Fitness Walk as well as a 5K and 10K run on May 22 around the D’Urban Park outer circuit.

According to a release from the organisers, the activity is being staged in recognition of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary and all aspects of the event will start at Square of the

(Tuesday May 10, 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)

Today’s Quiz: (1) How many centuries were scored in IPL 2012?

(2) How many bowlers took 20 or more wickets in IPL 2012?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Revolution.

There will be a 5k Health Walk for all age groups and gender and is open to sport associations, clubs and anyone who wants to be a part of it.

There will be a 5K run as well as a 10K run and all interested persons are invited to be a part of it especially athletics clubs throughout Guyana.

The route for the walk as well as the 5K and 10K runs is: Starts in front the 1763

Monument, moves south to Hadfield Street east up Hadfield Street, north on Mandela Avenue, west down Homestretch Avenue to finish at the place of origin.

To date the organisers have received pledges of support from a number of local businesses including the following Banks DIH Limited, GT&T, Real Value, BK International Inc., Star Party Rentals, S&L Electrical, Toucan Industries, Ant-

arctic Maintenance, Payless Store, Bran’s Security, Kevin Jeffrey, Ming’s Products and Services, Corona Beer and Cummings Electrical.

Already on board are E-Networks, Wartsila, Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and Office of the President.

Interested persons can register their names at the Michael Parris Gym in the National Park, E-Networks or Fitness Express on Sheriff Street.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 10, 2016

‘Up and down’ weekend at Festival of Speed

… Jeffrey buys Hamilton’s Radical; Ming heads for F1600

By Stephan Sookram in Barbados Compliments of Ming’s Products and Services THE Guyanese competitors at last weekend’s Barbados Festival of Speed described the feel as an ‘up and down’ one but have pledged better performances when returning to the Suzuki Challenge Series.

Chronicle Sport had an extended ‘sit down’ with both Calvin Ming, who returned to Suzuki Challenge SR3 cup action as well as Kristian Jeffrey, who debuted in both the SR3 cup as well as the Suzuki Challenge Series Swift cup.

Coming off last weekend, Ming returned to action in the F1600 series while Jeffrey has confirmed the purchase of Lewis Hamilton’s demonstration radical.

OLD FAITHFUL Calvin had one of the most torrid weekends in Barbados after his newly acquired 2016

and it worked out to a higher position on the grid.”

He continued, “The weekend went pretty good, it was a little up and down but in the end I can say it all worked out, so I wouldn’t say anything bad but I’d like to thank everyone that came out to support me.”

Calvin Ming leads Kristian Jeffrey during one of the Radical Races at the Barbados Festival of Speed. (Ackeem Thomas photography) SR3 Radical developed a host of problems all through qualifying and even through race one.

“During the first race, we had established that the car had an engine problem and wasn’t handling, so then we swapped over to the old car and then we changed a part over from the new car to the old car the last time I was here and it worked out pretty

good,” said Ming.

The Guyanese who heads to Watkins Glen this weekend for the continuation of the F1600 series was a force to be reckoned with after the swap, undoing a three-second gap at the start line due to clutch failure to move into P3 in 15 laps.

The hair-raising drive through the pack of experienced radical drivers includ-

ing Stuart Maloney meant that Ming, who was passing competitors at will, had produced the comeback of the day.

“Coming into this weekend, I was always determined; you’re not going to race if you’re not aiming for victory; so it was just little mechanical problems and mistakes here but I was just trying to keep focused

Jeffrey snaps up a collector’s dream Meanwhile the ‘Radical’ experience for the two-time defending Caribbean Group Four champion Kristian left a bitter-sweet taste in his mouth, as he confirmed that there will be another outing.

The taste, he said, was more sweet than bitter as he is in talks to secure his own radical; no ordinary one at that.

The radical that he intends to buy, was only used once; by three-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton during a demonstration run on Sunday.

“It looks like we are going to purchase this car that Lewis Hamilton just demonstrat-

ed with and I look forward to joining both the radical and the swift series.”

Rating his debut weekend, he said, “It was an up and down weekend; we didn’t have a chance to qualify in both the Swifts and the Radical. We had an overheating issue with my radical that I rented. The head gasket actually blew in the engine; I had one lap and the car shut down while it was on track.”

“While I was coming in, the Suzuki Swifts were going out so I didn’t get to put in a hot lap with the swift so I started at the back today in both races,” Jeffrey, who returned to Guyana yesterday said.

He continued, “I didn’t get a good start (swift) I never really got into it this outing but when you’re jumping from car to car, it takes a little while to get used to it so but a lot of track time this weekend was a positive.”

“Everything is just positive from here; everything is going to be going forward and not backward.”

Players for CBC Three foreign teams expected for teams identified Golden Jubilee three-stage cycle race WITH Guyana set to host the U-16 Caribbean Basketball Championships (CBC) in July, much talk surrounds the players to be chosen to represent Guyana.

At the last press briefing, Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) president Nigel Hinds stated that the players, (both male and female) would be chosen one month before the championships. However, players for both teams have been identified.

According to Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Director Chris Bowman, players have been identified but not shortlisted. The players have been identified from the ongoing National Schools’ Basketball Tournament Regional Conference games.

Bowman also stated that the process of selecting players would be similar to the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) selection. For IGG, over 20 players were shortlist-

YBG director Chris Bowman ed, and during a three-day trials, a cut was made and in the weeks leading up to the games, the final 12 were chosen.

The final 12 consisted of 2 players at each position whether point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward or centre. The CBC team selection process will follow a similar pattern.

The YBG director also expressed a high vote of confidence in the players who were already identified.

When asked if the heights

of the players would pose any issue, he simply stated: “We shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves because we don’t really know what we are comparing our teams against.”

He also added “From the talent we have, I would say we have a well-balanced team for basketball… A good basketball team must have good handling and shooting guards, scoring and defensive forwards and a couple centre forwards who understand their position and role.”

He closed by saying “You will be surprised to know how much talent we have in the U-16 age group.

I am not worried in that respect.”

The GABF and YBG have been working together and Bowman noted that the relationship between the two is a good one, and both parties are committed to seeing the game of basketball develop in Guyana.

PLANS for this year’s Guyana Golden Jubilee ThreeStage Cycle Road Race are going well and the organisers are expecting a huge turnout of local riders, while three foreign teams have so far expressed an interest in being a part of the activity which will mark Guyana’s 50th year as an independent nation.

According to organiser Linden Dowridge, registration has already started and a number of locally based riders have already inked their names on the list of starters.

Dowridge, a former national cyclist, informed that two teams from Anguilla and another from Trinidad and Tobago have expressed their interest of being a part of the Jubilee 171.4-mile event which is scheduled to get underway this Saturday and conclude on Sunday.

Dowridge told Chronicle Sport that this year, the cyclists and officials will be housed in hotels in both New

Team Evolution Orville Hinds Amsterdam and Corriverton and not the Number 63 Village School building as has been the case since the inception of the event some 33 years ago.

Dowridge said at the moment sources in Berbice are negotiating with hotel owners in Region Six to get the best possible hotels to accommodate the cyclists and officials who will be participating.

The three-stage event which is the brainchild of

national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed starts at 07:30hrs on Saturday from outside the Corriverton Police Station. The competitors will journey to New Amsterdam for the completion of the first stage.

Stage two will wheel off from the Rosignol Ferry Stelling at 14:30hrs on Saturday also and conclude on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.

The following day, May 15, cyclists will be transported to the Linden Highway and will be sent off for the start of the third and final stage from Kara Kara at 08:00hrs. They will proceed to Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown for the finish.

Last year’s edition of the race was won by Team Evolution’s Orville Hinds in a time of six hours 52 minutes 26 seconds.

He placed fourth in the first stage, second in stage two and third in the final stage.

‘Up and down’ weekend at Festival of Speed

(See story on page 27)

ODI Tri-series leg comes at a great time, says Sanasie

GUYANA is set to host the first leg of the Tri-- series between Australia, South Africa and home team West Indies in less than four weeks, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence and according to Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, Anand Sanasie, the leg comes at a great time, since Guyana has not hosted any international matches in two years.

Sanasie also mentioned that the matches coincide with Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary.

Sanasie, who is also a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Director, said: “Tremendous work has been put in to host an entire month of celebrations in May. “The pitch at Providence is in great shape with excellent grass growth as many of our regional teams would have observed during the regional fourday which ended in March.

Accommodation is ready

Secretary of GCB Anand Sanasie In less than four weeks, the Guyana National Stadium at Providence will be the venue for the first round of the upcoming 2016 One Day International Tri- series with Australia, South Africa and West Indies.

Commission, Sanasie thinks cricket as a career. Despite and the other requirements entities to ensure that we are t h e d e v e l o p m e n t p r o - the many challenges we were are falling into place.” all on the same page.” gramme instituted three able to forge ahead and, given He added, “The GCB has The director also men- years ago is reaping ben- the current environment, I am the capacity to host and we tioned that the GCB has the efits. hoping that things will get take pride in our execution. full support of the Sport and Credit has been given to better.”

We have already established Tourism ministries, and be- the new franchise setup of Sanasie is sure Guyana the necessary committees cause of the Independence the WICB “which I think has will continue to dominate and the point persons have celebrations, “we expect great enhanced our work with the the region in all categories experience with hosting inter- crowd support”.

Academy and will provide a and formats as there is a national cricket events. There On winning the awards secure pathway for young- comprehensive plan of action is collaboration between all from the National Sports sters serious about taking up in place.

He also stated that in three years he is hoping for the franchise system to be at a level where all teams are fully sponsored and local franchise players can earn a decent living. He also wants more nationals in the WI elite squad. “In three years we should be in a much better position than we are now,” he ended.

See page 23

Golden Jaguars name squad for Canada clash

HEAD coach of the men’s National football team (Golden Jaguars), Jamaal Shabazz, has announced a provisional list of players to face the Canada Olympic Team on May 15, 2016 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The squad consists of 25 players including six overseas-based players namely Pernell Schultz (Trinidad & Tobago), Mustafa Haqq (Barbados), Anthony Whyte and Daniel Whyte (Cana- Golden Jaguars Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz da) and Charles Ishankie Sunday’s event will see ter-Secondary School footand Marvel Barrington (En- a preliminary showdown ball champions Christiansgland). between DIGICEL’S In- burg/Wismar Secondary and

the Milo Secondary School Under-20 champions Chase Academy.

This match will begin at 16:00hrs. The feature game, Golden Jaguars vs Canada Olympic team is set for 19:00hrs.

Encampment for the Golden Jaguars team will start today, when they will have their first training session and will end on the May 16 For game day, regular tickets are being sold at $1 000, VIP tickets at $5 000 and booths are being sold at $80 000. Booth cost includes the ability to have a max-

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

imum of twenty persons, six car passes and food and drinks being brought to the ground.

The squad will practise today from 09:00hrs to 11:30hrs at a venue to be confirmed. However, from 16:30hrs they will train at the stadium at Providence.

Tomorrow they will be at the Guyana Defence Force ground from 09:30hrs to 11:00hrs and at the stadium from 16:30hrs.

On Thursday, they will be at the stadium from 09:30hrs, and from 17:00hrs on Friday and Saturday they

will be back at the National Stadium.

The full squad reads: Andrew Murray, Solomon Austin, Tafari Browne, Collin Nelson, Kester Jacobs, Lennox Alleyne, Gregory Richardson, Leyland Millington, Jeran Wilson, Dwight Peters, Linford Adams, Denzil Bobb, Revnell Shultz, Dellon Lanferman, Ishankie Charles, Anthony Whyte, Daniel Whyte, Marcel Barrington, Clive Nobrega, Tichard Joseph, Hubert Pedro, Charles Critchlow, Jahall Greaves, Cortez Kellman and Haqq Mustapha.

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016