Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 10 09 2016

Controlling SOCU No. 104670

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016

Price: $80

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…Ramjattan willing to trim powers of SOCU

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Over 4000 school 2 dropouts annually P.

President David Granger and GBTI’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. John Tracey, assist a student with the ceremonial ribbon-cutting to commission the bus, while Minister of Social Cohesion, Ms. Amna Ally, looks on

Guyanese teacher 5 murdered in Bahamas P.

Man gets 12 years for wounding ex-lover 2 P.

Dr. Ally was never convicted …but AFC says he never 9

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disclosed legal woes to gov’t

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

Over 4000 school dropouts annually ‒ President commissions 12th school bus PRESIDENT David Granger said that nothing is worse than having a child grow up without an education. He was at the time speaking to residents of Mabaruma, Barima-Waini (Region One), where he commissioned another 30-seater school bus. The vehicle was donated by the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) to the President’s Boats, Buses, Bicycles + Breakfast and Books ‘Five Bs’ programme.

President Granger said that his Government is deeply committed to developing human capital, as this is the only way to secure the country’s future.

“We found that one of the greatest needs is for children to get to school; we found that over 4000 children drop out of school every year in Guyana, we found that the lowest education grades in the country were in the hinterland. In some regions 90 per cent of the children fail English and Mathematics at the National Grade Six level.

We are not happy with this,” President Granger was quoted as saying in a release from the Ministry of the Presidency.

He informed that his Government has adopted the motto of “every child in school” and called on the regional and municipal administrations and residents

The 30-seater school bus that was donated to the ‘Five Bs’ programme by the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI)

to adopt that motto. The President assured that on the part of central Government, all of the necessary measures will be taken to improve access to education, which he described as one of the greatest impediments to the development of far-flung communities.

“Education is the best thing that can happen to a child. We have too many dropouts, too many low grades and we are confident that once children get to school they will become better educated and have a better chance at a bright future… We must have an educated nation.

That is the starting point,” the President said. He also called on parents and community members to take a firm stance against truancy, noting that failure to do so would be a disservice to Guyana.

Unemployment Speaking on the issue of unemployment, President Granger reminded the audience that Barima-Waini is one of the richest regions in the country in terms of agricultural potential. He told the residents that, “if we use our potential, use our resources, we will find employment right here.”

Responding to criticisms that the Government is abandoning youths, the Head of State said that nothing could be further from the truth, but rather Government is focused on empowering young people so they can be their own job creators. He said his Administration has introduced the Hinterland Youth Employment Services (HEYS) programme and the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Development (SLED) programme, which to date, have benefited hundreds of young people.

He said that youths can

These children were delighted to have President David Granger autograph their notebooks. First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, is also pictured in the background, at centre

earn a comfortable living in their respective regions, if they become entrepreneurs and explore the opportunities that exist in agro-processing. He noted, however, that youths will only be able to succeed in this respect if they have a sound education, which must involve information technology. “There is profit in business, there is success in business, there is independence in business and there is development in business, so I want to encourage you to be entrepreneurs and you can do so by becoming more literate,” the President emphasised.

With respect to the infrastructural challenges that the region has been facing, he reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to fixing the roads in the region

and the ferry, which would open up the region and boost economic activities.

Meanwhile, Minister Ally, whose ministry has been wholly responsible for the coordination of the ‘Five Bs’ programme, said that this is just one of many interventions by the Government to bridge the gap that exists between the hinterland and the coast.

“Access to education must not be seen as a privilege for some, but as a basic human right for all…

Education empowers people with the skills and knowledge they need to contribute to building the nation…

Without targeted investment in our children, the prosperity and future of the nation will be at stake,” she said.

Regional Chairman Mr

Brentnol Ashley, in his address, told residents that it is high time they work together to remove the religious and political barriers that prevent them from moving forward together as a region. He lauded the President’s vision for education, which is clearly demonstrated in the ‘Five Bs’ programme but urged parents to play their part as well.

Ms. Kelly Pierre, a resident of Region One who attended the commissioning ceremony, said that children from as far as Kamwatta have to travel to Mabaruma to attend school and it costs parents more than $1000 per day in transportation alone.

This bus, she said, will greatly ease the financial burden on parents.

Man gets 12 years for wounding ex-lover

JUSTICE Jo Ann Barlow on Friday imposed a 12- year sentence on Robert Rawlins after a mixed Berbice Assizes jury found him guilty of the alternative count of wounding with intent.

Moments before, the judge had told the prisoner in the dock that the 12- member jury did not agree that he had attempted to murder his former lover Sharmilla Singh, as was stated in the first count.

However, they did agree with the alternative count, in that he had intended to wound her, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, with intent to maim, disfigure or disable her.

Further, the judge said, she took into consideration that the virtual complainant has been unable to use three of the fingers on her right hand, and that she was also right-handed.

During the trial, CuTurn to page 3 ►

Controlling SOCU

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

…Ramjattan willing to trim powers of SOCU

By Ariana Gordon PUBLIC Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has again maintained that the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) should remain under the control of the Guyana Police Force even as he has committed to trim its responsibilities to deal with financial crimes only.

Ramjattan made the comments on Friday at a news conference held by his party, the Alliance For Change. He told reporters that while he can concede the reduction of responsibilities for SOCU, he does not want the unit to be separated from the Guyana Police Force (GPF). He said the concerns of the public, including the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on the issue will be taken into consideration.

Ramjattan said when the APNU+AFC coalition government took office it was tasked with putting standing orders in place. He described the PPP’s setting up of SOCU as “a bad situation.” “They did not have a standing order at all. When we came into office, the criticism came, that yes, we had to do that and of course, the emergence of that crit-

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

icism in a very national way came as a result of the Pyle incident…I indicated to the commissioner, the police leadership, let’s have a standing Order for SOCU consonant with the work they are supposed to do.”

Guyana Defence Force Intelligence Officer Sergeant Nigel Pyle and his wife, Stacy, were killed on December 30, 2015 on Carifesta Avenue while on a high-speed chase of a number of persons who had entered a car next to the residence of then Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington. Pyle at the time was working for

SOCU. The Public Security Minister agrees that the powers granted to SOCU are expansive, but has made the argument that the unit must be in a position to do essentially what the Anti-money laundering Act provides for. “…but if let’s say there are no Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) investigations ordered, are we going to have 10 policemen sitting a whole year doing nothing?

They are good, qualified people to deal with frauds, especially white collar crimes, what do we do?

Are we not going to put inside of this thing that they should deal with white collar crimes and fraud and so on?” he asked. Ramjattan said if SOCU is investigating an anti-terrorist act as a result of money transfers or otherwise that leads to murder, the unit should not have to depend on the Homicide department to deal with that aspect of the investigation.

“Are we going to tell the homicide squad to take part in the murder investigation, leave these boys out and let them do the anti-terrorist part alone? It was confusing and convoluted and I decided to carry it to the national security committeethat very expanded version,

Man gets 12 years for... ba-trained Dr Chandrawattie Lalbachan, who is assigned to the Skeldon Public Hospital, said she examined Sharmilla Singh on July 23, 2014 and observed that there were 11 lacerations and haematomas about her body, inclusive of her head, back, shoulder and arm and fingers.

The doctor recalled that at the time of the examination, the patient was conscious but disoriented, as she was unable to give personal details.

Further, she noted that because of the numerous lacerations, the patient had lost a large volume of blood.

It was noted that without prompt medical intervention, there may have been a loss of life; however, there is permanent disability to three of her right-hand fingers.

Meanwhile, Singh, being led in her evidence by

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gone to her brother-in-law’s house, where relatives were preparing for her ex-husband’s wake. Her former spouse had lived in New York, USA. While at the wake seated in a hammock with one named Sharon, Rawlins ap-

Robert Rawlins

State Counsel Stacy Goodings, told the mixed jury that during 2014, the accused had lived at his mother’s house at Kingston Squatting area, and together they lived for three years, before she decided to leave him.

During the three-year period, he never worked.

On July 3, 2014, she had

TOO WIDE Ramjattan reminded the media that the main criticism of the unit is that its powers in relation to crimes it must investigate are too wide. “Well fine, it could be narrowed back; I could do that, but understand my thinking behind it. And of course that can be resolved, remedied. That is what the great democracy is about: you come back and make the resolutions after hearing the criticisms, but we must not just be stuck with the criticisms, ‘oh Ramjattan has gotten it all wrong’.” He stressed that the coalition government is going to act in the best interest of the public and noted too that if more and more persons desire

SOCU’s responsibilities to be narrowed for good reasons, then “expect Ramjattan to do that.”

Meanwhile, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams along with Opposition Leader and former President Bharrat Jagdeo do not agree with the SOCU remaining under the GPF. Both have publicly stated that the unit ought to be separate from the police force.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said last week that SOCU ought to remain within the Guyana Police Force, but that it should fight only financial crimes. In his opinion, should SOCU be separated from the GPF, Opposition figures would be targeted. “You don’t know how they will act, and they will be influenced to take political action against opponents; and so we believe that the unit was set up under the police to support the FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit). The FIU doesn’t need a policing arm,” he said at a press conference.

Jagdeo argued that the separation of the two would allow for mismanagement by those who fall within the body. Williams wants SOCU to focus on fighting money laundering, he believes that being a unit within the police force may prove burdensome for SOCU. He said the unit can ill afford to lose focus

of its primary functions in policing the new Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime.

The Attorney General said, too, that his administration does not want to be accused of stymieing the operations of SOCU so as to hamstring progress under the AML/CFT legislation.

But Ramjattan in response acknowledged the views of both Williams and Jagdeo and noted that there are going to be disagreements and differences on the issue, but that will be done “collegially in cabinet.”

“I would like it to be in the police force, there must be an institution – I don’t want a mini police force all over the place – so it is important to understand my argument. Indeed, if at the cabinet level the argument of Mr Williams holds true, fine, but at this stage I would like SOCU to come under the police force so it could be scrutinised under the protocols of the police force and not be a one- unit kind of scenario acting and doing all kinds of things.” The Public Security Minister argued that when it comes to the reporting responsibilities, the commissioner of police must be able to produce a “proper report” annually for each unit.

proached her, armed with two cutlasses, asking her, ‘where she will run now’, before broadsiding and chopping her simultaneously.

Singh said, she did not run, as she was afraid, but Sharon, who was seated with her, fled, leaving her behind.

The victim said too that she was unable to scream, as she was in shock while the

assault was carried out on her person for about four to five minutes.

Further, she told the jury that due to her sitting position, there was much movement resulting in the injuries to her body which was left sore for days.

After the incident, she was transferred to New Amsterdam Hospital, then to the

Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where she remained a patient for several days.

In his unsworn statement from the dock, the unrepresented Robert Rawlins said he was innocent, as he was never armed with a cutlass, nor did he wound Sharmilla Singh.

and it was supported,” he told reporters. The minister stressed that while he has good reason behind his argument, the administration will continue to listen to the voices of those who oppose the current SOCU structure. “…if they feel that ok this thing is wrong, or another person in cabinet feels it is not the appropriate thing then fine, we are going to narrow it down. At least we did well, we have a standing order for SOCU and how it must do its business.”

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Granger predicts better 2017

By Ravin Singh

PRESIDENT David Granger remains hopeful that things will, in 2017, get better for Guyana, despite consistent reports of a sluggish economy, which is nevertheless growing.

The President expressed this view on Thursday during his weekly television show ‘The Public Interest’, aired on the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN).

The World Bank had, in June, projected that Guyana’s economy would grow four per cent this year, but had forecasted a smaller percentage of growth in the coming years.

Guyana’s economy grew three per cent in 2015, down from 3.8 per cent in 2014 and 5.2 per cent in 2013.

And according to the bank’s latest forecast, which is subject to change due to global circumstances, Guyana’s economy is expected to grow an additional 3.9 per cent in 2017, and 3.8 per cent in 2018.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan more recently announced that, for the first

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

-says things moving slowly forward, but getting better

President David Granger

half of 2016, the country’s economy grew 2 per cent.

And with a small but steady growth rate, the President has expressed the view that the country is doing “quite well”.

He contends that the growth is quite sustainable, and things will get better in the coming year.

“In 2017, things will be better. We will be presenting our budget in a few months’ time. Things are moving slowly forward, but we are getting better all the time,” the President opined.

Despite current circumstances, causing some in

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the business community to express concerns, President Granger maintains that his views are quite hopeful for the economy. He pointed out, though, that in light of the current circumstances, he has always pointed out the danger of Guyana’s economy and overreliance on the six sisters -- gold, diamond, bauxite, sugar, rice and timber.

Some of these issues, he said, have arisen because the country was not able to transform its economy in 50 years.

However, he boldly pointed out that the manifestation of some of these economic issues could be credited to the problems the APNU+AFC Government inherited upon assumption to office last year.

“There were lots of problems. For instance, we had to continue bailing out the sugar industry at the rate of nearly $10B a year. We have an underperforming Skeldon factory; we have a completely dysfunctional fibre-optic cable project; we have a lot

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of unpaid debts in the courts; we have some amount of environmental damage in the mining and logging areas; we have diseases that we have to combat,” the head of state said.

He explained that these are just some of the issues

which require “extraordinary expenditure” on the part of the administration. As such, he noted, Government is trying to deal with those issues while addressing the failures it inherited from the previous administration and the underperformance

of the major sectors of the economy.

President Granger maintains, though, that Guyana is poised to do better in the coming years, and he remains hopeful for a bright future for the country.

Gov’t evaluating land availability to address squatting THE Central Housing and Planning Authority (CP&HA) is conducting a survey within communities where squatting is prevalent to determine the amount of land available.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Adams-Patterson, told the Government Information Agency (GINA) on Friday that the Department of Community Development has been surveying available lands in communities where squatting is prevalent; and generally, the strategy being used is that some of these areas can be regularised.

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In other cases, “it’s not environmentally friendly, so we have to relocate (squatters),” Minister Adams-Patterson told GINA. The minister said the survey is expected to be completed by the end of next month. “We are looking in all the communities where there is no occupancy on some of these lands. Some of them, we recognise they were not allocated; and some were, but persons didn’t pay,” Adams-Patterson explained.

The Ministry of Communities is examining the possibility of relocating squatters in the Sophia and Upper East

Coast areas on lands available in Cummings Lodge; while in East La Penitence, another squatting community, “We have a plot of land there that we’re developing, ” Minister Adams-Patterson said.

Government’s aim is to not only provide house lots to squatters, but to find housing solutions such as apartment complexes. “We’re looking at apartment buildings, condominiums, some duplexes; we’re also looking at partnering,” Adams-Patterson disclosed, as she explained that she is exploring partnering with Food for the Poor to provide low cost, two-bedroom wooden houses. “We are going to give the squatters first preference,” she said.

However, the Minister said that it is important for squatters to apply for relocation, so that they can benefit from these initiatives. “If (you) don’t have an application in the system, we can’t provide you with a house lot; and we’re not only looking at giving you a house lot, but providing housing, which is better for us and also the applicants,” Adams-Patterson explained.

The Ministry of Communities’ 2017 work plan seeks to reposition about 400 squatters who have applied for relocation. (GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

Protecting witnesses …lack of witness protection hurting govt’s anti-corruption efforts

THE absence of a witness protection plan has crippled the government’s efforts to go after public officials who have allegedly stolen the state’s finances and properties, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has said.

Minister Ramjattan told reporters on Friday that it is difficult for the government to take such matters before the courts as witnesses have refused to give written statements, because they are fearful for their lives. He said the lack of a witness protection plan for witnesses and their families is a major hurdle that the government is currently fighting, while noting that the Witness Protection Bill will be tabled in the National Assembly soon; but until then, there is nothing the administration can do.

Last year, the APNU+AFC coalition government announced that it will be moving to establish a witness pro-

tection programme through the enactment of the Witness Protection Bill 2015, so as to bring the country on par with other CARICOM states.

Minister of Governance at the time, Raphael Trotman, said the Bill would have been placed before the National Assembly after being reviewed by a sub-committee at Cabinet.

“You can give a lot of the evidence to an auditor, but when it comes to criminal prosecutions, you have to do the written statements and some of these persons who have to give and testify when they know what the investigations are all about have been telling some of the police… that they are scared to death,” he said.

In many cases the minister said, the witnesses are friends of the suspects, making it even more difficult for them to come forward with the information.

He said there are many stumbling blocks and noted that the witnesses had no issue

providing information to the forensic auditors, but will not go beyond that.

“You can give a lot of the evidence to an auditor, but when it comes to criminal prosecutions, you have to do the written statements and some of these persons who have to give and testify when they know what the investigations are all about have been telling some of the policemen --- this is Guyana, they are scared to death and we do not have a witness protection plan.”

The Public Security Minister said his ministry is trying its best to “persuade these very vital witnesses who have the cogent, convincing evidence to please talk out in a statement.”

He noted that in order for evidence to be taken to the courts, it must be in writing and the witnesses must be prepared to give evidence in a court of law.

“But they tell you all kinds of things…we are having a

multiplicity of reasons why some of them are not coming forward. You can’t beat a person in the head to testify or give a police statement. They gave a lot of the statements to the forensic auditors and we have found the corruption in the PPP government.”

Ramjattan believes that once the stumbling block is overcome with the implementation of a witness protection plan, then certainly investigations will continue.

“Some of them are overseas and complicate the issue…we don’t know if there are extradition treaties with those countries they are living in, all of that complicates the issue.”

He said many investigations have been placed on the back burner as witnesses are uncomfortable going public.

With the enactment of the Witness Protection Bill, a Witness Protection Programme will be established for the

protection of witnesses who give evidence in the courts of Guyana. “The legislation would ensure protection of witnesses and their families against intimidation and/or physical harm during and after their involvement in court proceedings,” Minister Trotman said.

Over the years, the protection of witnesses in criminal matters has been a troublesome issue and resulted in a number of high-profile cases being thrown out of court due to lack of witnesses.

The legislation is expected to establish safe houses, the granting of assistance to participants and the provision of new identities where necessary.

Meanwhile, in the case of former Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, Minister Ramjattan said the situation has become complicated. He explained that he had written the Director of Public Prosecutions while in opposition on his al-

leged illegal spending of $4.5B from the Consolidated Fund and was told that the minister cannot be charged under the existing law. “…all of these are hurdles we have to cross. They are saying that in the Act only officers within the ministry could be charged, not a minister. We do have hurdles… these are some of the things we have to go over because this is a ruleof-law country- it is governed by rules,” declared Ramjattan.

While in opposition, he had complained to the Guyana Police Force against the former Finance Minister over what he deemed to be the illegal spending of money from the Consolidated Fund.

The matter was taken before the High Court by President David Granger while he was Opposition Leader and former Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang had ruled that spending of the $4.5B was unconstitutional.

Guyanese teacher murdered in The Bahamas THE lifeless body of a 35-year-old Guyanese primary school teacher was found on Friday morning in The Bahamas with stab wounds .

Relatives in Georgetown reported on Friday evening that they are tracking reports from the Carib-

bean island that the mother of two, Marisha Bowen, was found in her apartment with her throat slit. Reports are that Bowen, a former teacher of the Brickdam Secondary School, was engaged in an argument in her apartment. Neighbours heard screams at the

Dead: Marisha Bowen

woman’s home but did not act on it.

Bowen’s sister is expected to travel to The Bahamas in a few days to find out exactly what had transpired. The woman had moved to the island some five years ago. She attended the Cyril Potter College of Educa -

tion (CPCE) here several years ago before migrating to The Bahamas.

Bowen was employed at the C W Saunders Primary School at the time of her demise.

Relatives and friends of the woman reacted in shock as news of her passing spread on so-

cial media. The woman was described as a caring and ambitious individual, who made her children a priority. Reports are that Bowen had separated from her husband a few years after their marriage in 2009. Police on the island are investigating the incident.

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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

Fighting HIV/AIDS

SINCE the first case of HIV/AIDS was recorded decades ago, millions of persons around the globe have died annually from the various symptoms associated with that disease.

HIV/AIDS was, in its early stages, erroneously linked to homosexual behaviour because of its prominence within the gay community, particularly amongst men who had sex with men. So widespread was this belief that at one point the disease was called the “gay cancer”, and also the “gay plague.”

It has since been recognised that while homosexual couples and women are more at risk of contracting the disease, with more than half of the infected population being women, the disease is not particularly in who becomes infected.

Despite public service messages, advertisements, and seminars hosted to educate persons on the dangers attached to having unprotected sex, there are still a substantial number of persons dying every year from AIDS-related complications. Millions of dollars are annually being spent to help sensitise the public on the disease -- which was first diagnosed here in Guyana in the year 1987 -- not only because of its ability to rob otherwise healthy persons of their lives and knock decades off of a country’s national development, but also for its ability to “widen the gulf between rich and poor nations, and push already stigmatised groups closer to the margins of society.”

A combination of factors, such as increased access to antiretroviral treatments; programmes focusing on youth development and reproductive health, and counselling has since seen a constant decrease in the number of new cases each year.

While Guyana and countries across the Caribbean still stand in second place under the Sub-Saharan Africa Region -- where new HIV/AIDS cases average 5000 every year, accompanied by at least 200 deaths -- with new and more affordable treatment options now available, there has been a 70% reduction in AIDS-related deaths, compared to 15 years ago.

Guyana also seems to be doing well in the fight against mother-to-child transmission of the disease, as a result of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme, and may soon be able to boast of the public health achievement of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV as Cuba did in June 2015.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

Conflict on disputed mining claims at Mahdia Dear Editor,

I RECENTLY receive a report that some dredges were conducting mining activities on my gold claim in Mining District #2. I investigated and found it to be true.

I was told by some dredge owners that they were granted permission by a woman who claimed that the gold claim belongs to her. They even told me that a mines officer at the Mahdia Mining Station had confirmed that the claim indeed belongs to the woman, and they must pay the percentage to her.

It must be noted that this woman’s claims in that area were deemed null and void by the GGMC since 2013, and even though the mines officer is aware of this, he still instructed the dredge owners to pay the percentage to her.

I later learnt that the percentage was being divided between “himself and the woman”. I reported the matter to the mining station at Mahdia. The officer in charge told me he would look into the matter. A couple days later, he told me he had gone into the area and issued

cease-work orders to dredges there, and he has to do some follow-up investigation in the area, since the claim falls with a mining permit.

I later learnt that no cease-work order had been issued. As a matter of fact, I learnt that the mines officer had advised the dredge owners to seek permission from the mining permit owner to work on that disputed claim.

According to the laws of the GGMC, in a disputed claim, cease-work orders are issued, and no work is allowed until the matter has been resolved.

However, that was not the

case here.

I later learnt that the mines officer has a “good thing going on with the dredge owners.” He was even overheard saying that he would ensure that the entire claim is worked out by the time the matter is resolved.

Since I have reported the matter to the authorities in Georgetown, I would be very interested to discover what disciplinary action would be taken against this rogue officer.

Yours faithfully, MARK CRAWFORD

The woes at NAREI are endless Dear Editor, AFTER serving the previous NARI for over a decade, I am currently employed with the new NAREI, which came into being on 1st May, 2011.

As if the problems were not enough back then, they seem unbearable currently.

Employees have been put on one-year contracts under the new NAREI. Decisions regarding placements and salary scales were not properly thought through, even though employees had to submit updated CVs at the time of transitioning in 2011.

However, the matter I want to raise concerns the management style at NAREI. The current CEO, Dr. Oudho Homenauth, has served as Director of NARI since 1998 and CEO of NAREI effective May 2011 to current; and all this time, employees of this entity have been suffering from all sorts of partiality. When the CEO took office, the person who was in the position of CEO’s secretary was immediately removed, and replaced by someone who had briefly occupied an office in the building and was employed by the INSAAP project (which

shortly came to an end).

The woes at NAREI are endless. The researchers are not given resources to complete their projects, whilst one can clearly see the offices of the managers are furnished with all the amenities as if it were their homes.

Just a few months ago, a decision was taken, and transmitted through the Board, to terminate service agreements for a number of employees holding top positions:- the Deputy CEO, HR Manager, Senior Finance Manager, Coastal Crop Extension Coordinator, and Regional Crop Extension Officer for Regions 3 & 6. The reason sighted was malpractice and lack of performance.

Many of these positions have since not been filled.

There is no Deputy CEO, no HR Manager, and none of the regional posts has been filled. Some of the positions have been advertised, whilst some, for example the Human Resources Manager’s position, have not been advertised.

An institution of this magnitude, which had staff strength of between 400-500 employees, does not have a HR Manger.

For all the improvements over the years, however, doctors are now of the opinion that a new formulated strategy needs to be put in place with the spread of the virus, as many persons across the country are taking comfort in its success rate of reduction and this has encouraged complacency, as many have stopped seeing the urgent need for protection, which has resulted in “a growing trend of new HIV cases.”

There is an urgent need to sustain and intensify efforts in the fight against infection, so that its levels can be kept at a minimum, particularly amongst young people.

Currently, statistics show that over 60% of the new cases are isolated to young persons, showing the need for more education regarding the virus and its potential dangers amongst the young.

Education on prevention aside, more also needs

Additionally, some current employees who may be qualified to fill certain positions have had their applications denied, while some positions are being filled by hand-picked persons in the organisation.

The organisation is required to adhere to certain protocols before selecting and appointing persons to positions, but this does not seem to be happening under the CEO’s watch.

The employee referred to as the CEO’s secretary, who is stationed in his office, has been promoted many times in terms of financial and position advancements. There seems to be no end to the bias, while employees who have the relevant experience and academic qualifications are being stifled.

The CEO has said that all vacant positions in the organisation must be advertised either internally or externally, so a suitable candidate can be selected; but we have seen persons being handpicked by the CEO and put in positions to act for a short period before being confirmed, without those positions being advertised.

Sometimes we see persons being placed in positions that are created and not approved

by the list of categories.

The board is a sore issue.

Mr. Joe Singh has been appointed to serve another two years as chairman, and the other members have not been changed.

With all the inefficiency going on, when employees -- verbally or in writing -ask Mr. Joe Singh to intervene to resolve some of these issues, the result is usually disappointing. Based on the foregoing, one can conclude that whatever decision the CEO takes is endorsed by the board, so there is no justice in the system.

Several employees have been sent home for breaches in their contracts; this happened under the CEO’s watch, and he is still here, serving with all his prejudices at NAREI. NAREI needs a thorough investigation into the procedures and practices used in selecting and promoting employees, and the management style of the current CEO must be investigated before it is too late.

Regards, CONCERNED EMPLOYEE

to be done in helping to eliminate or diminish the amount of stigma and discriminative attitudes held towards those with the disease. Stigma, in Guyana and around the world, is often so strong that those who are infected, or suspect they are, are often hindered from seeking treatment or learning their status and being educated on preventative measures. This creates a barrier, which could potentially become life threatening and significantly decrease the mental health of the person. While there has been some progress, over the years, with the monitoring and reduction of stigma within the workplace, as guidelines have been put in place to help in that respect, the stigma within the wider society is still largely in place; and, for the most part, will largely remain that way over the next few years.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

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

NAREI was formed in 2011, and is governed by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute Act (2011). All em-

ployees are contracted, and based on performance, their contracts are renewed. Even as management monitors the performance of staff regularly, to ensure efficiency and effectiveness, employees are appraised on an annual basis.

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

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

Management is pleased to inform that there is no gap in the organization currently.

In fact, measures have been put in place to make NAREI more functional with the recent restructuring of its organization. There is a new Finance Manager; and where there was a Deputy CEO and an Assistant CEO, there is now only an Assistant CEO. The previous structure allowed for redundancy.

An Administrative Manager has also been hired, a post that was held by the previous Human Resources /Administrative Manager.

A Senior Human Resources Officer is managing the Human Resources Department, which is staffed with knowledgeable personnel.

Furthermore, capable officers are carrying out the duties of Coastal Crop Extension Coordinator and Regional Crop Extension Officers (Regions 3&6).

Researches are executed at the Institute based on work programmes and bud-

get prepared by respective departments, and approved by the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors. NAREI is provided with adequate funding to execute all its research and extension work.

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

The Board is responsible for ensuring adherence to the Institute’s policies.

This concerned employee has never brought the is-

sues listed to the attention of management. NAREI does not believe in having employees feel disgruntled or disheartened. Such feelings are counterproductive to the Institute accomplishing its mandate.

Management is always open to suggestions that would positively impact the Institute, in keeping with its policies.

Regards, SENIOR HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER NAREI

Calypsonians meeting at NCC on Sept 15 Dear Editor, SENIOR and junior calypsonians, musicians, and prospective sponsors and representatives of the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport are invited to attend a very important meeting of the Guyana Calypso Association on Thursday, September 15, 2016 commencing 5:00 pm at the National Cultural Centre.

This meeting is expected to discuss arrangements for

the staging of the Mashramani Calypso Competition for 2017, and those arrangements include corporate sponsorship, recording and media airtime, calypso caravan, calypso jamboree, and a fouryear development plan.

According to the President of the association -- Ras Aaron Blackman, ‘aka De Liberator’ -- it is time for calypsonians to be allowed to run the business of calypso to ensure sustainability, and not the one-off staging carried out

by the Department of Culture for Mash celebrations.

The business of calypso must be year-round, with calypsonians being able to earn a living from their works.

Calypso must be a medium through which social cohesion and education are promoted for the national good. This can happen only when the media and calypsonians work collaboratively to contribute significantly to the development of sports and cultural tourism.

The time has come for ca-

lypsonians to take their work to the stages live in sister Caricom countries, promoting regional integration; so we must be mindful of what we are promoting internationally through our lyrical content. Our songs must not appeal only to the Guyanese public, but to all those calypso fans of the Caribbean, North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. This is what we must aim for if we are going to rise above our present state as calypsonians.

We must be widely read, and be prepared to do research to come up with sound educational and entertaining lyrics.

We must let our creativity rise above political commentary; there must be more thought given to our social commentary if we are going to be marketable all year round at home and abroad.

Our seniors must take a cue from our junior calypsonians, whose lyrics are often written by teachers for the junior calypso segment of

Mash competitions. These do not focus only on political commentary, but those that also promote Guyana socially, economically, culturally and spiritually.

Calypsonians must rise to the occasion, as Guyana and the Caribbean are on the move towards a unified Caribbean community.

RAS AARON, President Guyana Calypso Association

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

NCN Sports Editor remains on suspension THE Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) has written the

Board of Directors of the National Communications Network (NCN), requesting

that the one-month suspension of Sports Editor Mrs. Jocelle Archibald-Hawke be reduced to a warning letter.

CCWU head, Sherwood Clarke, told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday that the union wants the NCN Board to ensure Mrs. Archibald-Hawke returns to work as soon as possible.

The letter was sent on Friday and the CCWU leader said he is optimistic that Mrs. Archibald-Hawke would soon return to work.

“I am optimistic that the board will give a favourable response,” he said, noting that he believes in the positive side of situations.

Clarke said the union and the NCN management are in bilateral talks on the issue, and the union has requested the television network to have a change of heart in the matter, but NCN CEO Lennox Cornette has informed that the matter is in the hands of the network’s board.

Having served the NCN

Mrs. Jocelle Archibald-Hawke

for almost nine years, passing several performance–based assessments in which she has consistently scored 100%; and having been promoted to the position of Sports Editor almost two years ago, Mrs. Archibald–Hawke has been off air for now almost two weeks because she had expressed the view on her personal Facebook profile that she was “surrounded by idiots,” after her col-

league, Norman Gobin, had questioned President David Granger on his television show, ‘The Public Interest’, about an augmented reality game, “Pokemon Go.” The NCN Human Resource Department had subsequently asked her to apologise, and she did; but she has nevertheless been suspended, allegedly because the apology was not to the liking of her colleague; moreover, reports of past incidents of misconduct, which had already been dealt with, were revisited.

The young mother is contemplating her next move regarding financing for this month. She is reportedly contemplating approaching a commercial bank to which she makes monthly payments for her leased car.

During the Thursday recording of his television show ‘The Public Interest’, President Granger said it was inhumane of the NCN management to take such actions against the Sports Editor. “I think there was as absence of compassion on the part of the administration [of NCN], and we expect that [compassion] in the future. I think it is inhumane to deprive an employee of her salary without due process,” he said.

With no social media policy to guide the conduct

of the NCN staff, the President also contended that no law was broken, nor was any crime committed by the Sports Editor.

The Guyana Press Association (GPA) has insisted that Mrs. Archibald-Hawke’s suspension should be rescinded because NCN does not have a social media policy from which it can institute disciplinary action.

NCN CEO Lennox Cornette has been criticized over another issue at the state broadcaster, this time relative to News Anchor Natasha Smith. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who has oversight of the information sector, said in a statement issued on Wednesday evening that he had advised the CEO to tender an unqualified apology to Ms. Smith “for using her pregnancy as reason to remove her temporarily as News Anchor.”

The Prime Minister said that from information received and explanations given by the CEO, he was “in no doubt that the removal of Ms. Smith was due to her state of pregnancy, and that the act is an attack on her as a woman and as a professional journalist.”

Smith is shortly expected to proceed on maternity leave.

CAL bans Samsung Galaxy Note 7 REGIONAL carrier Caribbean Airlines has enforced a ban with immediate effect on the in-flight use and charging of the defective Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone on its aircraft.

Samsung has received reports that the smartphone’s battery poses a threat of fire once it becomes overheated.

Caribbean Airlines noted in a release on Friday afternoon that its decision was based on a directive from the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA).

The airline advised that the device CAN be taken onboard in a person’s carry-on luggage or on their person, but they are NOT to be used once on board. The airline also advised that the pas-

senger will NOT be allowed to store the device in their checked luggage.

Caribbean Airlines pointed to safety as its number one priority regarding its passengers and crew. According to a Reuters report, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has urged owners of the smartphone to discontinue usage of the device and turn off same. The body said that it is working with Samsung to determine whether a recall of the device and exchange are enough of a solution to the matter.

While the phones are still on sale in some parts of the world, Samsung said that it is no longer shipping or selling the device, based on reports of the defect.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

Dr. Ally was never convicted …but AFC says he never disclosed legal woes to gov’t GUYANA’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr. Shamir Ally, was never criminally charged or convicted, but non-disclosure of his past w legal troubles in the United States came as a “surprise” to the Alliance For Change (AFC), party leader Khemraj Ramjattan has said.

Ramjattan, however, maintains that while Dr. Ally would have had legal issues, it does not take away from his qualification and experience for the post he holds as Guyana’s Ambassador to Kuwait.

He argued that Dr. Ally should have divulged information related to the civil matter. “It is true that all aspects ought to have been disclosed… And the fact that it was not done by him did leave us somewhat surprised by this; but that does not necessarily mean it is something he should necessarily be guillotined for.”

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said on Thursday that all persons identified to be Guyana’s ambassadors overseas were interviewed, but “if people suppress information, you will never know it until after the fact.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently investigating the veracity of the situation, but even as that investigation is ongoing, Ramjattan has urged the media to be responsible and refrain from tarnishing Dr. Ally’s character. “…we are seeing a lot of things in relation to (Dr.) Shamir Ally’s character… that he has lost voting rights in the context of what has happened here… This event never caused…his voting rights in America to be taken away and to prohibit him from serving in a number of town boards and committees in North Carolina, where he is from.”

Ramjattan, the Minister of Public Security, said Dr. Ally was appointed a Notary Public circa 2015. “I am certain (Dr.) Shamir Ally will defend himself and explain to the minister -- and through the minister the cabinet -what happened.”

The AFC, Ramjattan not-

tory body that could have fined you without you even admitting to the guilt.”

He noted that such issues are “complex”, and he is not familiar with American law, but “it could be a consideration that could very well vary; a consideration as against another.”

Dr. Ally is yet to be accredited by the Government of Kuwait. Dr. Ally is the Chief Executive OfGuyana’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr. Shamir Ally

ed, has informed Dr. Ally, a party member, “to ensure that this investigation proceeds as expeditiously as possible, so that we can make a decision as regards that (his appointment).”

Refusing to state how he foresees the outcome of the investigation, the AFC leader stressed that all facts must be gathered and presented. “We have to be very cautious about a person who is extremely well qualified, with professorship and all of that…being a member of town boards and committees.

Of course it did take us all by surprise, because we did not know. And although the credentials’ checks were made, nothing was seen there; and so that’s the little difficulty there that somebody -- again, some scrutineer -- did manage to find it… Democracy alive and kicking in Guyana,” he stated.

Ramjattan believes that Dr. Ally may have an explanation for why he did not disclose the information of the 1999 case to the Government of Guyana; and he urged that he be given due process as the investigation proceeds.

Asked whether there would be a change in the dynamics of the situation, given that the country’s ambassador to Kuwait was not criminally charged, Ramjattan said, “I am absolutely certain it will be a consideration in the pot of considerations as it were…Indeed, it was a civil matter…it was not a regular court of law that could have jailed you, it was a regula-

ficer (CEO) and President of International Consulting Services. He has 20 years of experience in the field of business in Guyana (19601979). In the US, he has acquired 27 years of experience in the field of business, operating as Corporate Controller, Chief Accounting Officer, Vice-President of Finance, and Chief Financial Officer at AMEX, NYSE, and NASDAQ -- Listed Pub-

lic Corporations in New York and Pennsylvania, USA. Additionally, he has global experience in 15 industries and services: electronics, apparel, printing & packaging, insurance, financing, lotteries, pharmaceuticals, sugar, rice, spices, gold, diamonds, accounting, auditing & consulting services, and universities. On May 11, 1994, he received the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle Medal of Freedom from then US President George Bush for ”Dedica-

tion, Unwavering Support, and as a Prominent Leader in the Republican Party.” This is the highest honour the Republican members of the US Senate can bestow.

On October 31, 2010, the Alliance For Change (AFC) gave Dr. Ally the “GOLD KEY”; and by August 17, 2015, the “Dr. Shamir Ally Reading Corner” at the University of Guyana Library was established. He is also the recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award.

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Home for Christmas THE Department of Housing is working assiduously to get the remaining 141 residents who had purchased homes under the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government’s ‘Turn–Key’ programme into their houses before Christmas.

Minister responsible for Central Housing and Planning, Valerie Patterson, made this disclosure as she announced on Friday that a new project manager, Kennard Dazzel, has been hired to ensure faulty homes are repaired and new ones are completed.

Completing the 200 Perseverance homes is the first project on the Housing Ministry’s “refocusing” agenda”. Almost two years after moving into their houses, Perseverance residents are still without proper facilities; while others who finalised home purchases are still renting while paying mortgages because of incomplete structures.

Patterson said the manager has commenced assessment of the 141 homes, to ascertain what materials must be procured, and con-

tractors will soon be engaged. “We are hoping for a total completion of this project by Christmas. We have commenced the work and we hope to complete it very soon,” the minister declared.

The Board of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), in a public statement, said it has recognised that the Perseverance Project requires “a qualified and experienced project manager” for this magnitude of work. This statement comes days after the board had come under criticism for its sloth in handling the Perseverance Project and national affairs of the housing sector.

Senior staffers within the CH&PA have questioned the numerous board meetings being held with little outcome. However, in a statement, the board confirmed its insistence in refocusing the housing direction to acknowledge mainly planning policies and laws that guide the “orderly” development of the sector.

The board noted that “under the Town and Country Planning Act, CHPA is required to prepare devel-

opment schemes (spatial development plans) to guide all future development, including housing development and regulated land use through the planning permission process”.

The board noted, however, that this mandatory forward “planning” function was mostly overshadowed by the agency’s “housing” function, which caters to the provision of homes for the working class. This, they said, confined the planning function “primarily to the design and implementation stage with respect to the preparation of site, layout designs, and land use control activities”.

“This has contributed to the development of settlements not being guided by an overall spatial (physical) development plan for the area(s) in which they are located,” the board said.

“With the aim of re-instituting Government’s priority/value for planning,” the board said, a planning forum will be hosted “to raise the level of awareness on a number of issues affecting the collaborative and coordinating context of the CH&PA’s

planning function”.

While it was noted that the forum speaks to a multi-agency approach to ensuring the orderly and progressive development of cities, towns, urban and rural areas, the board expressed interest in correcting the unauthorised use of reserves and other lands for settlement.

In this regard, the housing board said, it would be focusing more on low-income earners who are eligible to benefit from the Government housing initiatives. “We recognise that emphasis was not geared towards persons and families of low or no affordability.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

‒ Housing Department sets target for purchasers of turn-key homes A preliminary evaluation of the projects implemented in the last seven years revealed that most of the housing developments did not cater for the public needs of low income groups, which can be substantiated by the many pending active applications of low-income earners who have indicated their interest in acquiring shelter solutions.”

The board said the Ministry will undertake to provide a range of residential housing solutions that will be affordable, accessible and safe; and ultimately improve the living conditions and the quality of life of the beneficiaries, since

they will be involved in the planning process.

“The housing communities will be carefully planned (and) organized, and we will roll-out implementation strategies that will involve the participation of the potential residents upfront, and all stakeholders in the planning and execution processes, to ensure that wholesome and cohesive communities are a reality.”

The Housing Authority is said to be contemplating the construction of condominiums and housing complexes as part of its home provision initiatives.

AFC salutes first peoples In this Indigenous Heritage Month, the Alliance For Change has saluted and celebrated the country’s first peoples.

“OUR country is forever indebted to our indigenous peoples for being the original pioneers in the establishment of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” the AFC said in a message to mark the occasion. “It was our indigenous peoples who first came to these shores and cultivated the land and made life here. They established the first settlements and communities. They explored the rivers and the forests, they discovered medicinal plants and flora and fauna. It is the indigenous peoples who gave our country its very name and whose languages have named our counties and so many landmarks,

villages, tourist destinations and places of note. They are the original guardians of our revered land.”

According to the AFC, the theme for this year’s Indigenous Heritage Month is most apt – “Our culture, earth’s future, saving the environment, live the indigenous way.” “We continue to learn from our indigenous brothers and sisters the absolute need for treating our environment with care and respect and preserving our rainforests for generations to come. The AFC salutes Whyaka, this year’s heritage village and wishes all indigenous peoples a month of reflection, enjoyment and re-energised commitment to ‘living the indigenous way’ for a cleaner and greener Guyana.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

City removing derelict No-case submission made in ‘Grey Boy’ trial vehicles from reserves

By Michel Outridge

THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) said it will soon begin to remove all derelict vehicles and unwanted debris on roadsides, sidewalks, parapets and reserves belonging to the city.

Town Clerk Royston King in a press statement said the removal of the vehicles will begin next week and will continue for the next three weeks.

King said citizens will have to remove all old vehicles or materials on the city’s properties, if they do not wish to have them discarded by the authorities.

“Citizens will need to remove their vehicles because the council will be reclaiming its properties,” the town clerk said.

He stated that those persons will have to place their old vehicles or whatever ob-

Town Clerk Royston King

jects they have on council’s properties in their personal spaces.

Additionally, King related that the council will be looking at citizens who block parapets and other entrances to their properties with boulders and other objects.

According to King, these objects prevent easy manoeuvring, particularly in

vulnerable spaces; they are an eve sore; and are unsafe and illegal.

“No citizen has the right to block or hinder access to public spaces,” King said, pointing out that public spaces are collectively owned by all citizens.

He reported that persons who place no-parking and other illegal signs in city spaces to prevent access by other citizens are acting illegally and such acts will not be permitted by the M&CC. Monitoring of these matters will intensify, King warned, as he introduced council’s initiative to have their security agents perform more traffic duties as stipulated in the council’s laws and regulations.

The council is requesting the co-operation of all citizens as they work towards restoration of the city and the revitalisation of communities.

DEFENCE Attorney Adrian Thompson on Friday made a no-case submission before city magistrate Judy Latchman for his client, Regan Anthony Rodrigues, called ‘Grey Boy,’ who is charged with the murder of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing.

In his submission, Thompson stated that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case

against Rodrigues, by being unable to establish that Rodrigues committed the offence. The lawyer also noted that the prosecution also failed to present to the court a witness who saw what had transpired when Crum-Ewing was murdered.

According to Thompson, the other evidence presented to the court were insufficient to prove that a prima facie case had been

established against Rodrigues. The matter was adjourned until September 14, when the prosecution would be allowed to respond to the submission, after which the magistrate will make a decision.

The charge against Rodrigues, 37, stated that on March 10, 2015, at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, he murdered Crum-Ewing. It is alleged that Rodrigues was the triggerman in the slaying of Crum-Ewing.

PNCR hails achievements of Indigenous peoples THE People’s National Congress Reform has hailed the achievements of the indigenous peoples of Guyana in the development of this country on the commencement of Amerindian Heritage Month, 2016, under the theme, “Our Culture, Earth’s Future - Save the Environment, Live the Indigenous Way.” “Our Amerindian brothers and sisters have, like other ethnic groups in Guyana, made great sacrifices for the development of our great and green land of Guyana,” the PNCR said in a statement. According to the PNCR, their culture has enriched

the cultural fabric of Guyana’s society, making it unique in the Caribbean and the wider world. “As we celebrate this Heritage Month, we also need to focus on those irritants and constraints in the past which hindered the full contribution of the Amerindian peoples to Guyana’s development.

The PNCR encourages the younger members of the indigenous community to learn from the experience of their elders and maintain their rich culture in the changing and challenging world environment.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

Literacy extravaganza!

THE Ministry of Education on Thursday held a Literacy Extravaganza on its tarmac, 21 Brickdam, Georgetown, under the theme: “Each Child Matters: Stakeholders unite for the Enhancement of Education.”

The event, which is part of the broader observances of Education Month in Guyana, also coincides with the 50th anniversary of International

Literacy Day, 2016, being held under the theme: “Reading the Past, Writing the Future.”

Among the scores assembled for the Extravaganza were Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine; Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry and Chief Education Officer (Ag), Marcel Hutson and Advisor to the Minister, Mr. Vincent Alexander. In addition, there were

‒ children urged to read more

At the Ministry of Education’s Literacy Extravaganza – seated from left are: Minister within the Ministry of Education, Hon. Nicolette Henry; Advisor to the Minister of Education, Mr. Vincent Alexander; Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and Chief Education Officer (Ag), Mr. Marcel Hutson

several other high-ranking officials of the ministry, other stakeholders and Grade VI students drawn from schools around Georgetown.

The programme was characterised by the reading of literary pieces – the works of renowned writers and poets and celebrities in the likes of former President Hugh Desmond Hoyte; the late Martin Carter, Mr. Petamber Persaud, Mosafa Telford and Hazel Moses Walrond.

There were three segments of reading and Ministers Roopnaraine and Henry along with others set the tone for the delivery of inspirational pieces

which all spoke to the importance of reading and literary works in general.

Placing a high premium on reading and noting that reading is an essential skill, the presenters exhorted the students to constantly engage in and develop a love for reading.

Motivational quotes reverberated across the canopy, such as: “If you don’t read you will end up not making it in life; knowledge is power, ignorance is the most disgraceful thing on earth.”

But while parents were admonished to ensure that their children read at all costs, one young stakeholder representing

the Parent-Teacher Association made the point that parents should find out first of all, what is the child’s area of interest (subject matter) rather than foisting any type of reading matter on him. In other words, reading should be pleasurable.

Once the child grows to like reading, he will automatically make it a part of him.

Meanwhile, the programme was spiced with a skit (drama) by Purple Hearts Production, admonishing young people to say ‘No’ to Smoking; reading by nursery school pupils and rich musical renditions by the Buxton Steel Orchestra.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

Men freed of narcotics charge …after cop bore false witness A POLICEMAN, the main witness in a case of trafficking in narcotics, lied under oath and deliberately gave contradictory evidence, thereby facilitating the dismissal of charges against two men implicated in the trafficking of over seven kilograms of cannabis sativa.

This was revealed in a West Berbice Court this week.

At Weldaad Magistrates’ Court, Victor Edwards, 20 of Canefield Canje and Venson Charles, 24, of Lot 7677 Sheet Anchor Village walked free and Magistrate Rhondell Weever laid the blame for her release of them directly on “the deliberate and blatant lies and inconsistent evidence” given by Police Constable 2309 Bharat Shattapaul.

The magistrate said: “The prosecution failed miserably in establishing its case all because Constable Shattapaul deliberately and blatantly gave false evidence under oath.” Shattapaul , she said, had even admitted under cross-examination that he had been guided by one Corporal Foo to write his statement in such a way as to frame or entrap the two defendants for trafficking in narcotics.

Edwards and Charles had been accused of committing the offence at Washington Public Road on May 31st last.

Venson Charles was the owner of the motor car in which the narcotics had allegedly been found. In initial evidence, the magistrate heard that the main witness, Constable Shattapaul, was en route to New Amsterdam when he saw a white motor car parked on the Washington Public Road a few hundred yards east of the Weldaad Police Station with a man whom he later identified as Victor Edwards standing three feet away from the vehicle.

Shattapaul said in his evidence-in-chief that he had seen a road block in progress at the Weldaad Police Station and suspected that the occupants of the car were seeking to avoid driving up to the road block. He said he became suspicious and approached Edwards, searched him but found nothing, then searched the vehicle where he found the seven kilograms and 225 grammes of cannabis sativa hidden in plastic bags behind the driver’s seat of the car.

This was in his evidence-in-chief.

In freeing the men, Magistrate Weever noted that under cross-examination, Shattapaul gave a complete-

ly different story. Under cross-examination, he stated that it was not true that Edwards was standing three feet away from the car; It was put to him that Edwards was not standing but walking and he answered yes , an answer inconsistent with the evidence he gave in chief when he said that he had seen the defendant standing alongside the motor car. When asked whether Edwards told him that he was in a car that broke down at Seafield Village farther east, he said yes. When asked why he had not divulged that information to the court, his answer was that he had been guided to write the statement by one Corporal Foo and had been told to leave that information out.

Shattapaul, the magistrate said, was then specifically asked that if he had taken Edwards to the car which had allegedly broken down, if he would not have had a better case before the court and he said yes. Shattapaul in his evidence-in-chief said that he pulled open the driver’s side door of the car to get into it, but under cross-examination he changed his story and said that the car was locked and when asked how he got it open, he said that a Corporal Grant was working on the road and he used Corporal Grant’s motorcycle keys to open the car. He was asked again why did he not tell the court that and again he said that he was guided to write his statement leaving out

some pertinent details.

Magistrate Weever complained: “If the above inconsistencies were not enough to raise judicial eyebrows and throw doubt on the prosecution’s case, the icing on the cake came when the final cross- examination question was asked, which was that if he Shattapaul had felt that the defendants had been framed for trafficking in narcotics. He said yes: that the defendants had been framed.

“The way this question was asked and from the demeanour of Shattapaul and the answer given, it was clear that this witness premeditated to answer this question the way he did; it was clear that this witness deliberately answered the question in the affirmative; to state that he had been guided to frame the defendants.”

She said: “It is clear that this witness deliberately omitted to give certain evidence in examination in chief, deliberately failed to carry out a proper investigation, gave false testimony under oath and deliberately gave evidence which tainted the prosecution’s case.”

She said that her court found that the entire conduct and the demeanour of Shattapaul and his participation in the investigation of the matter of the trafficking in narcotics of 7 kilos 225 grammes of cannabis sativa, fell short of being credible and reliable.

She said: “The prosecution failed miserably in establishing its case all because Shattapaul deliberately and

blatantly gave false evidence under oath. Accordingly, this court finds that a

prima facie case is not made out and the court dismisses the matter.” The two defen-

dants looking very relieved, thanked the magistrate for her decision.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

Cop granted bail for deadly Regent St crash POLICE Constable Timothy Horatio was on Friday released on $300,000 bail by city magistrate Leron Daly after spending almost two weeks on remand on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Horatio made his second court appearance before Magistrate Daly after he crashed a Route 40 (Kitty/ Campbellville) minibus into a utility pole on Regent Street, which claimed the life

of a minibus passenger and left three others injured.

Horatio, 26, of Stone Avenue, Campbellville, during his first court appearance pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on August 28, he drove minibus BPP 7944 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Dillon Linton, 21, also of Stone Avenue, Campbellville.

Horatio’s attorney Darren Wayne in his bail application

Police Constable Timothy Horatio

noted that Horatio is a police officer, a father of three small children and is the neighbour of the deceased, pointing out that they had a very close friendship.

According to the lawyer, Horatio also covered the funeral expenses of Linton and that he regrets the loss of life.

The magistrate granted the police officer bail which was met with no objection by the police prosecutor. The matter was adjourned until September 30 for statements. It was reported that the speeding minibus being driven by Horatio slammed into a post before overturning on Regent Street, resulting in the death of Linton.

Linton reportedly sustained multiple injuries and

Dead: Dillon Linton

died hours later while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital. He was reportedly sitting in the back seat of the minibus when it crashed.

According to reports the constable, a part- time minibus driver, was racing with another minibus around 20:00hrs on the day in question, when he tried to avoid hitting a motorcyclist who was heading in the opposite direction. He was however unable to avoid the collision and ended up losing control of the vehicle.

The minibus reportedly toppled several times before smashing into a utility pole and finally coming to a stop at the wall of a Regent Street store, ‘Curtains and Draperies.’

Saturday, September 10, 2016 - 11:00 Sunday, September 11, 2016 - 13:00 Monday, September 12, 2016 - 14:00

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

7 honoured at GNNL bursary awards

By Shirley Thomas

SEVEN secondary school students who are children of staff and vendors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) were presented with awards when the company held its Annual Bursary Awards ceremony on Thursday.

The ceremony was held in the company’s boardroom within the complex at Lama Avenue, Bel-Air Park. The awards were handed out by Administrative Manager (Ag) Colin Alfred and Human Resource Manager Lynette Griffith.

Those receiving awards were: Rhea Ramotar, daughter of General Manager, Moshamie Ramotar; Sachin Vikash Persaud, son of Akash

Persaud, Marketing Co-ordinator; Anarese J Walls, daughter of Andre Walls, Circulation Assistant; Rudolph Hosea Holligan, son of Linda Williams, Confidential Secretary; Ahkeel Yohance Butts, son of Jermaine Butts, Pressman ‘A’; Nekeisha Gibbons, daughter of Kinsell Gibbons, Pressman ‘B’; Yohance Ojani Plass, son of Marilyn Douglas, Cleaner; Okeisha R. Murle, daughter of Sharon Gill, Cleaner.

Alfred, in his brief remarks, congratulated and had words of encouragement for the awardees most of whom are continuing students. The lone new comer this time around was Marilyn Douglas, who was awarded Campbellville Secondary School. The stu-

DSC The awardees in front row, pose with management officials. From left: Rhea Ramotar; Sachin Vikash Persaud; Okeisha R Murle; and Randolph Hosea Holligan. Missing are: Ahkeel Yohance Butts and Nekeisha Gibbons. From left in back row are: Colin Alfred, Admin Manager (Ag); Lynette Griffith, Human Resource Manager; Moshamie Ramotar, General Manager (ag); and Akash Persaud, Marketing Co-ordinator (at extreme right)

dents received cash awards which will assist them in offsetting their school expenses.

1,847 apply to attend CPCE THE Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) said it is currently interviewing prospective students for the 2016-2017 intake and continues to attract large numbers of applicants.

This year the CPCE has received more than 1,847 applications for its programmes: Associate Degree in Education (Two Years); Associate Degree in Education (One Year); and, Trained Teachers Certificate (Three Years).

The Ministry of Education in a release said subject to a process of verification, 721 candidates have the requisite academic entry qualifications for the Associate Degree in Education (Two Years), while 574 of them have applied for this programme pending results.

The Associate Degree in Education (One Year) programme has attracted 77 applications, 50 of whom have the requisite academic entry qualifications, while 30 of the 125 persons who applied for the Trained Teachers Certificate (Three Years) programme have the requisite academic entry qualifications. Given the overwhelming number of qualified applicants and in keeping with the needs of the education system, priority is being given to eligible applicants who are currently serving in the system. Applicants from the riverain and hinterland areas and applicants for the secondary level in critical subject areas such as Mathematics, Home Economics, Industrial Technology, Information

Technology, Physical Education, Modern Languages, Music and Science, will also be given priority.

Other applicants will be selected according to the needs of the administrative region in which they intend to serve following completion of their programmes.

A points system is being used to make the selection objective. Eligible applicants who are not selected this year and are still desirous of pursuing teacher education and training at the CPCE are will not be required to re-apply next year and will automatically gain a point, which would be considered in the selection process for the 2017 intake. CPCE regrets any inconvenience caused.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

Guyana’s Forests: the future of Guyana’s ‘green economy’

GUYANA’s forests form part of the Guiana Shield, a 1.7 billion-year-old formation which stands as one of the largest blocks of pristine tropical forests on the planet, and houses a vast amount of rare and unique species of flora and fauna.

Our forests hold the key to the country’s future and development of a “green economy”. We must therefore employ strategies and policies to ensure the adequate conservation and sustainable use of our country’s natural resources.

At the opening ceremony of the Fourth International Congress on Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield, President David Granger said that establishment of a scientific research institute, setting up of strong mechanisms for data and information sharing, and adequate investment and funding are initiatives that should be adopted for the effective protection and preservation of the Guiana Shield.

“Green economies need investment to sustain protected areas and for sustainable energy. The absence of in-

vestment will place pressure on the governments of the Shield, particularly the three smallest states, if they are to move towards resource extraction; and it may tempt them perhaps to go into directions which lead to deforestation and destructive mining, which could have adverse effects on biodiversity…

“We have only one world, and the world has only one Guiana Shield. We have a responsibility, as the trustees of the Guiana Shield, and that responsibility imposes on us the duty to protect and pre-

A team from the Guyana Forestry Commission conducting pre-harvest inventory

Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission, Mr. James Singh, has said that Guyana’s deforestation rate is among the lowest in the world

serve our unique patrimony,” the President said.

The push towards sustainable development while the country also seeks to conserve its forests has been among the President’s key policies since his taking office. Guyana was among 196 parties to sign on to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in April this year.

The Paris Agreement is one which falls within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It deals with the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as adaptations and financing needed to tackle climate change, beginning in the year 2020.

At the signing ceremony in New York, President Granger said Guyana will play its part by bringing two million hectares of forest under conservation. The President also pledged to improve the country’s timber-monitoring and increase value-added activities in the forestry sector, so as to augment carbon storage in longuse wood products.

But Guyana must exploit its forest wealth. The challenge is to ensure that this is done sustainably and in a way that preserves the forests for future generations. Responsibility for the sustainable development of Guyana’s forestry sector falls within the purview of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), which governs sustainable management of economic, environmental and social forestry practices.

Commissioner of the GFC, Mr. James Singh, has said the GFC has been busy with several projects aimed at achieving the President’s vision. One of the main priorities of the GFC, he said, is bringing to fruition the promise of increased value-added production.

In fact, Government sees value-added production as a higher priority that log exports, with regard to development of the forestry sector.

Among its many efforts, the GFC will seek to establish a training school which will look at enhancing practical,

marketing and entrepreneurial skills for loggers.

The GFC has also drafted a Log Export Policy which has been reviewed by several stakeholders, including the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association and the Forest Products Association.

Mr. Singh has said this policy will aid in ensuring restrictions are placed on species that are in high demand by local manufacturers, to help ensure that sufficient raw materials are available for manufacturers, so that they can enter into the value-added industry.

He said the GFC will now look to meet with these stakeholders to discuss their concerns, some of which have been the contention that restriction of exports can affect the loggers’ livelihoods.

“We don’t want to seem to be dictating, but, at (the) same time, Government has a policy; so what we come up with has to be something that is acceptable to both parties,” Mr. Singh has said.

To help promote value-added production, the

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

Guyana’s forests hold the key to the country’s future and the development of a “green economy” GFC is also looking to encourage the expansion of timber species used on the market. Though Guyana has almost 1,000 species of trees, less than 50 are being used commercially. Moreover, the country can afford to produce 1.6 million cubic metres of wood annually, while still committing to its sustainable development goals; yet, only 500,000 cubic metres are being produced, Mr. Singh said.

Seeing value-added production as a key success factor for the future of the forestry sector, the GFC’s focus on pushing this aspect of the industry, therefore, encompasses several projects. Head of the Planning and Development Division

(PDD), Ms. Pradeepa Bholanath, has said the division -- having responsibility for the economic planning and forecasting of the forestry sector -- is currently facilitating conversation between Government and the private sector regarding the move towards value-added.

She said the PDD has been working with the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) to possibly access funds from the Guyana-Norway Agreement to help fund key initiatives that can help to expand the value-added sector.

The Division is also working, through the Forest Products Development and Marketing Council (Guyana) Incorporated, to help to iden-

The Iwokrama Sawmill

tify the right markets for the right value-added products.

“There is a lot more that needs to be done; and of all the areas we have worked on over the years, this is the one that needs the most attention in moving forward,” Ms. Bholanath has said.

The role of Guyana’s forests in the fight against climate change is also a major focus of the GFC. Therefore, advancing the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries (REDD+) Programme is another main focus of the GFC. The PDD has been working with the REDD Secretariat (Guyana) and the Office of Climate Change (OCC) on

projects that seek to include new aspects of Government’s holistic Green Economy Development Plan, which will seek to further support the Climate Change Programme of Guyana.

Most importantly, increased timber production must, as a key priority, be synchronous with effective management of deforestation.

Sustainable management in this regard is a goal that is more than achievable for Guyana. Mr. Singh has said that Guyana’s deforestation rate stands at 0.065 per cent, which is one of the lowest rates of deforestation in the world.

“So we have been able to do our forestry, mining, agriculture, and all the ex-

pansion that comes with it, and yet maintain a very low rate of deforestation; so that tells you about the potential of our forestry sector,” Mr. Singh has said.

With this much room to manoeuvre and expand, the future of Guyana’s Timber Industry looks bright, Mr. Singh has said; and with the right developments, the industry has the potential to contribute an additional 6 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

Outside of these major projects, the GFC’s mandate also seeks to not only work with loggers in an aim to resolve their challenges, but to also work with community associations, by granting

concessions to persons within communities in the forested areas so as to support their economic livelihoods.

The Commission also grants and monitors small, medium, and large forestry concessions; conducts studies, and collects data all with the aim of ensuring the country’s forest resources are efficiently and conservatively managed. Focus on marketing, shipping, and establishment of a consolidated log yard to better satisfy lumber demand are also high on the Commission’s agenda.

And these all form part of Government’s plan to increase production in, and expand, the forestry sector.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

No more long walks to school

‒ Minister Valerie Patterson donates cycles to Nappi pupils

By Ravin Singh IMAGINE having to walk for one hour to get to school in the scorching sun every morning at the age of 10, then another hour in the afternoon after school has ended.

This was the plight of 15 pupils of the Nappi Primary School in Region Nine before receiving kind donations

through efforts spearheaded

by Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Patterson.

About a month ago, Petro Nilla, the Headteacher of Nappi Primary School made a request to the minister during a visit to Nappi, for the bicycles, which she said was desperately needed for the pupils.

“We made a request about

a month ago when Minister Patterson visited for bicycles for children who were travelling to school, walking five or more Kilometres,” she said.

And during a second visit to the community, which the minister has unofficially adopted, 15 bicycles were donated to the pupils and their elated spirits could not be controlled.

The bicycles, which vary

in sizes and colour, were donated by United Commodities Inc, Aruwai white H2O, Food For the Poor and a private individual, James Herbert.

Shadia Henrico, 11, who will be sitting the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), next year, said she felt proud owning a bicycle.

“I feel so proud of having this bicycle. We used Minister Valarie Patterson enjoys some Indigenous delicacies during her visit to Nappi, Region Nine

Ministry of Communities, Department of Housing, acting Finance Director Reyaz Abrahim (right), hands over the brush cutter to a resident of Nappi

to spend about one hour walking to school every day, two times a day and it was very hard on us,” the Nappi Primary School pupil said.

Her Headteacher was also happy and surprised at the fact that the donation was made in such a short time.

She also acknowledged the efforts of every individual who chipped in to help support the pupils.

“We are extremely thankful to everyone who helped to provide these bicycles. It will be of great help to the students, especially at this time when students have national exams.”

She went on to explain the impact the bicycles will have on the lives of these children.

“When children have to walk great distances, it affects how they perform at school, because by the time they get to school, they are tired or hungry and they cannot focus during school hours,” she said.

Cognisant of this, Minister Patterson encouraged the children to utilise their new bicycles for the purposes intended and to treat them with care so they would be able to

benefit from them as long as possible.

She also encouraged them to remain focused on their education, which she said is the key to a successful life.

But the donations made by the minister were more than just bicycles. The village also benefitted from a brush cutter, while food items and cosmetics were distributed to residents.

That same day Nappi was observing its Village Day. The occasion is usually observed during Amerindian Heritage Month every year. It was a fun-filled day as residents were able to socialise with friends and family, participate in sporting activities, and of course, enjoy Indigenous delicacies.

Minister Patterson was accompanied by Minister Dawn Hastings-Williams and the two participated in the activities with the residents of Nappi.

Indigenous Heritage Month this year is being celebrated under the t h e m e : “ O u r C u l t u re , Earth’s Future – Save the Environment, Live the Indigenous Way.”

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By Tamica Garnett THE National Sports Commission (NSC) will be shelling out just over $2.8M annually for the next four years in assistance towards scholarships awarded to University of Guyana (UG) students, Emmanuel Archibald and Owen Adonis, to study and train at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus in Jamaica.

Through a grant, requested by the UG, athletes Emmanuel Archibald and Owen Adonis will be receiving funding from the NSC, totalling over $11M, to support them in their tuition expenses at UWI, where they were offered partial scholarships, based on performances they have shown while representing the University of Guyana at events overseas.

The initiative was coordinated by NSC Commissioner and UG Sports Administrator, Lavern Fraser-Thomas, who spoke of how well both Archibald and Adonis have performed when representing the University overseas.

It was as a result of their performance that the pair landed their scholarships, as Fraser-Thomas was approached by UWI coaches, in April of this year, when they were particularly impressed by the performances of Archibald and Adonis at the UWI Invitational track and field competition.

“Since I’ve been at the University of Guyana both Archibald and Adonis have been very integrally involved in the track and field programme there, and whenever we participate internationally they always do well.” Fraser-Thomas stated.

She was at the time

Scholarship athlete Emmanuel Archibald speaking at a press conference held yesterday at the NSC headquarters, Homestretch Avenue, where Director of Sport Christopher Jones and NSC Chairman Ivan Persaud were also present.

Apart from training, Adonis, who already has a UG Diploma in Business Management, will be studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, and Archibald will pursue a Bachelors in Sociology.

Fraser sees this venture

Scholarship athlete Owen Adonis as holding the possibility to provide further opportunities for continued scholarship offers. She said that “this was a good opportunity, not just for the two students who were attending UG, but for every other student of Guyana who are athletes, because it is our firm belief that once an offer is made and it can be accepted then it opens doors not just for those who walk through first, but for those who will come after.”

Jones noted that this is only the beginning as the NSC is also looking into offering further scholarships.

“The NSC is currently examining the opportunities for two teachers; one who would be pursuing a Bachelors in Physical Education and Sports and another a Masters in Sports and Health Science. We don’t want to reveal those names yet until we would have been able to conclude the financial arrangement to offset those expenses.

“One speaks about a cost of $2.037M and the other will cost $5.004M,” Jones said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

Blatter, Valcke facing fresh FIFA investigation over salaries

By Brian Homewood

ZURICH, (Reuters) - Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-secretary general Jerome Valcke, already banned

from football for ethics violations, are facing a fresh investigation over the salaries and bonuses they received in office.

In a separate decision,

former FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb was given a life ban from any soccer-related activity and fined one million Swiss francs ($1.02 million).

FIFA’s ethics commit-

FIFA president Sepp Blatter (L) talks to FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke during a news conference after a meeting of the FIFA executive committee in Zurich March 21, 2014. (REUTERS/ Arnd Wiegmann/File photo) The ban was imposed for tee said its investigators had opened formal proceedings against both Blatter and Valcke, along with former finance director Markus Kattner, for possible ethics violations which included bribery and corruption.

The suspected violations were “in the context of salaries and bonuses paid to Mr Blatter, Mr Valcke and Mr Kattner as well as other provisions included in the contracts of these three individuals,” it said.

They are also suspected of having breached rules on general conduct, loyalty, conflicts of interest and “offering and accepting gifts and other benefits.”

Valcke’s lawyer declined comment while Blatter and Kattner could not immediately be reached although they have previously denied wrongdoing.

Blatter has said his earnings were in line with top officials from professional sports leagues around the world.

Soccer’s global governing body is attempting to recover from the worst graft scandal in its history which has seen 42 people, including former FIFA executive committee members, indicted in the United States since May last year.

Criminal investigations are also under way in Switzerland, where FIFA has its headquarters.

Those 42 include Webb, ex-president of the confederation covering North and Central America and the Caribbean, who has pleaded guilty in the United States to offences linked to racketeering, fraud and money-laundering.

FIFA’s ethics committee has conducted its own investigation into the Cayman Islander and announced yesterday that he was guilty of breaking ethics violations, including

bribery and corruption.

FIFA said in June that an internal investigation revealed that the three officials had received 79 million Swiss francs ($81 million) in compensation over five years, calling them “massive payouts”.

FIFA’s lawyers Quinn Emanuel, who conducted the investigation, said the evidence revealed a coordinated effort by the three to “enrich themselves through annual salary increases, World Cup bonuses and other incentives.”

Blatter, 80, who led FIFA from 1998 until 2015, has already been banned for eight years, later reduced to six following an appeal.

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ethics violations related to a payment of 2 million Swiss francs that FIFA made to then European soccer boss Michel Platini with Blatter’s approval in 2011 for work done a decade earlier.

He has appealed to sport’s highest tribunal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS), and is awaiting a verdict.

Valcke was fired in January and has since been banned for 12 years, reduced to 10 on appeal, for ethics violations which included using FIFA expenses for sightseeing trips and destruction of evidence.

Kattner, who took over as acting secretary general after Valcke’s dismissal, was fired by FIFA in May.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

Sri Lanka beaten in Dilshan’s last game

T I L L A K A R AT N E Dilshan’s illustrious international career ended on a losing note as Australia beat Sri Lanka by four wickets in Colombo, despite a dramatic late collapse, to complete a 2-0 series victory.

In his 497th and final appearance for his country, the flamboyant Dilshan was only able to contribute a solitary run and the hosts were duly restricted to 128-9, with only Dhananjaya de Silva (62) and Kusal Perera (22) reaching double figures.

Adam Zampa (3-16), James Faulkner (3-19) and John Hastings (2-23) impressed for Australia, who looked set to romp to victory when Glenn Maxwell (66 off 29 balls) dominated an opening stand of 93 with David Warner.

However, Maxwell’s departure triggered an unexpected collapse on a pitch

Tillakaratne Dilshan is given a guard of honour by teammates ahead of his last international innings for Sri Lanka in Colombo. offering plentiful turn and Dilshan delighted the crowd by claiming 2-8 - including a wicket with what proved his final delivery - before a maximum from Travis Head

eventually got the tourists home with 13 balls unused.

Australia will therefore head home having won both limited-overs rubbers following their humbling

3-0 Test series defeat.

While his final appearance did not go to plan prior to his late success with the ball, Dilshan was understandably lauded by Sri Lanka’s

fans before, during and after yesterday’s match.

One of only 11 players to have scored hundreds in all three formats, he boasts 17 671 international runs and is also his nation’s record run-scorer in T20s.

ICC chief executive David Richardson hailed Dilshan’s contribution to Sri Lankan cricket.

In a statement, Richardson said of the 39-year-old: “He will be remembered for his innovative strokes and as a destructive opener.

He was also a useful spin bowler and an outstanding fielder. We congratulate Dilshan for a fine career and wish him every success in the future.”

Sri Lanka were unable to generate any momentum with the bat yesterday following Dilshan’s early dismissal, which saw the veteran edge to first slip, chasing

a wide ball from Hastings.

All-rounder Faulkner and leg-spinner Zampa took centre stage thereafter as wickets fell at regular intervals, although De Silva’s maiden T20 international half-century at least ensured the hosts made it into three figures.

A target of 129 never appeared likely to challenge an Australia side that posted a world record total of 263-3 in Tuesday’s first T20.

Maxwell thumped 145 from 65 deliveries in that match and carried on where he left off, striking the joint-fastest T20 fifty by an Australian, from just 18 balls.

Maxwell eventually played on to Seekkuge Prasanna (1-16), triggering a late flurry of wickets that threatened to turn the match on its head, but Australia were not to be denied.

(Omnisport)

NAMILCO 16th Annual DeSinco Trading 11-race cycle programme on today Under-17 football set

CYCLE coach Hassan Mohamed will conduct the 16th Annua1 DeSinco Trading 11-race cycle programme under the company’s Degree brand today around the inner circuit of the National Park commencing at 09:00hrs.

The feature event over 35laps is open to Schoolboys, Novices and Invitational cyclists and will see veteran rider Junior Niles go all out to make a successful defence of the title he won last year in a time of one hour 18 minutes 22.77 seconds.

Niles, unlike last year, will this time around have to stave off the challenges of Team Evolution members such as Raul Leal, Orville Hinds, Michael Anthony and Marlon `Fishy’ Williams, who are all

Orville Hinds in good nick and who have been dominating the 2016 cycle season.

Apart from the Team Evolution members, Niles will also have to be wary of Hamzah Eastman, Andrew Hicks and Warren McKay among others.

Today, also, Niles will be defending the veterans’ Under-50 years five-lap title which he also won last year in a time of 12 minutes 45.48 seconds, but will once again get stiff competition from the likes of Kennard Lovell and Paul Cho-Wee-Nam. Jamal John won last year’s 10-lap race for junior and juveniles in a time of 26 minutes 37.14 seconds and while he is in good form, he is sure to get keen opposition from Andrew Hicks, Raphael Leung, John, Akeem Wilkinson and Romello Crawford

among others.

Last year, Oziah McAulley won the five-lap race for mountain bikers and could repeat the feat once more this year. His time for the event last year was 13 minutes 35.07 seconds.

Toshana Doris, who won the three-lap race for boys and girls 12-14 years old last year, is expected to be tested by a host of newcomers who recently completed the National Sports Commission’s eightweek `Teach Them Young’ programme that was organised

by Mohamed.

A representative from DeSinco Trading is expected to witness the day’s activity as well as to assist with the presentation of prizes to the respective winners.

PMTC, Corriverton Jets, Rollers register wins PORT Mourant Training Centre (PMTC), Corriverton Jets and Rollers Volleyball club all registered victories when the Three Doors Strikers Volleyball Club of Berbice staged a one-day tournament last Sunday at its club court, situated at D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice.

The tournament attracted 13 teams from the Ancient County and was contested

in three categories (male, female and junior male) and PMTC came out victorious in the senior male category, winning the final by a 2-0 margin (25-13, 25-20) over the tournament’s hosts Three Doors Strikers.

For the victory PMTC were rewarded with $20 000 and a trophy while the hosts earned $10 000 and a trophy.

In the female category where there were three teams, Corriverton Jets came from

behind to defeat Port Mourant Volleyball Club 15-9, 18-16, 15-13 to claim the $7 000 prize money and a trophy, while Port Mourant Volleyball Club had to settle for a trophy.

In the Junior male teams category, five teams participated and Rollers defeated Three Doors Strikers in the round-robin competition.

Both teams were awarded trophies.

The day’s activity was at-

tended by Guyana Volleyball Federation president John Flores who congratulated the Three Doors Strikers on their initiative for staging the tournament.

He also extended his congratulations to the Berbice Volleyball Association for the wonderful work it has been doing since the beginning of the year to aid in the development of the sport in the Ancient County.

to resume today in Essequibo

IMPROVED weather conditions have resulted in the resumption of the NAMILCO-sponsored countrywide Under-17 football tournament on the Essequibo Coast.

One game is set for today with Dartmouth Dominators FC taking on Good Hope at the New Opportunity Corps ground in Onderneeming from 15:00hrs Tomorrow, Good Hope take on Henrietta from 15:00hrs at the New Opportunity Corps ground. More football action is scheduled to continue next weekend The competition began on May 14, 2016 involving seven clubs from across the Region and after three preliminary rounds; Henrietta United Football Club lead the standings with 12 points.

When contacted, president of the Essequibo Coast and Pomeroon Football Association (ECPFA), Compton Haynes, revealed that the clubs are all eager to resume following the unfavourable weather conditions which had kept the grounds unfit for play over several months.

Haynes, who is also the Coordinator of the tournament told Chronicle Sport that with schools now reopened, most of the players will be available to represent their clubs and an exciting finish is anticipated given the high skills level of the competing teams.

He also expressed his delight at the exposure enjoyed by the young footballers especially those emerging from the hinterland districts including Mainstay and Wakapau, which are Amerindian villages. Incidentally, Wakapau Football Club had to withdraw after their initial participation due to financial constraints.

At the conclusion of the competition, the club with the most points will be declared the winners and will receive trophies and medals. Additionally, the ECPFA will select a batch of players to be enlisted for a GFF-sponsored Football Academy in Georgetown.

The tournament is being jointly hosted by the National Milling Company and the Guyana Football Federation in conjunction with the respective local football associations across the country.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

Premier League derby ...

Man City more dangerous without Aguero, says Mourinho

By Martyn Herman | LONDON, England (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho believes Manchester City could be a more difficult proposition without suspended Sergio Aguero than with him in today’s eagerly-anticipated Premier League derby.

The Manchester United manager made the curious comment during a news conference ahead of today’s lunchtime kickoff when he also played down the significance of a match in which he will lock horns with City boss Pep Guardiola for the 17th time.

Both managers have enjoyed 100 percent starts in their new posts, winning all three games in the Premier League.

Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero misses a chance to score. (Reuters/Darren StaplesLivepic/Files) But while Mourinho has a full cast list at his disposal, Guardiola will be deprived of Aguero’s lethal firepower after he was banned for three games following an elbowing incident against West Ham

United.

Aguero, top scorer for City every year since joining in 2011, has scored six goals this season and has seven career goals against United, but Mourinho refused to accept

his unavailability tipped the balance his side’s way.

“Yes it changes because it is more difficult,” Mourinho said. “When Aguero is available we know that he plays, we know their formation and their dynamics - nobody has doubts.

“If he is ready, he will play. But now he doesn’t play, they have an amazing squad in terms of options and there are many things (Guardiola) could do.”

Leroy Sane, the 20-yearold winger signed for 37 million pounds ($49 million) from Schalke, is one option for Guardiola who has suffered only three defeats to Mourinho teams.

The Portuguese knows Guardiola will have something up his sleeve, but insists that players, not

managers, will decide the outcome of the game.

“He could decide to play with (Kelechi) Iheanacho or (Raheem) Sterling,” Mourinho said.

“He could decide to play with Silva as a fake number nine between the lines. It is clear that they have many options,” Mourinho added.

“That for us, in the preparation of the game, makes us have to go step-by-step with every situation because we are trying to reduce the unpredictability of the game.

“To try to do this now is more difficult.”

Mourinho said that so early in a long season no match, even one against City, was more important than any other.

But landing an early

jab on the chin of Guardiola would be an irresistible carrot for the Portuguese who has transformed the mood at Old Trafford since his arrival, following the departure of the unpopular Louis van Gaal.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic among the goals and Paul Pogba adding much-needed zest to United’s engine room, they look slight favourites to take the points.

“We are ready, we are waiting,” Mourinho said, refusing to get drawn on the inevitable spotlight at the renewal of hostilities between himself and former Barcelona boss Guardiola.

“I know what the derby means to the fans but I have to stay under emotional control,” he added.

Djokovic solves Monfils puzzle to reach U.S. Open final

By Steve Keating NEW YORK(Reuters)-World number one Novak Djokovic scrapped his way into the U.S. Open final for a seventh time yesterday with a confounding 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-2 win over enigmatic Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Often viewed as more

showman than competitor, the 10th-seeded Monfils tested the patience of both Djokovic and the fans with a display of tennis that swung wildly from dynamic to indifferent.

With Monfils showing little interest and even less effort in dropping the opening two sets on a hot and muggy day, the unhappy

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday September 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) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Ivan Barrow-105 (WI vs ENG, Old Trafford, Manchester, 1933) (2) Dinesh Ramdin-128 (WI vs ENG, North Sound, Antigua, 2014) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first WI wicketkeeper to take five catches in a Test innings?

(2) Who is the first wicketkeeper to take five catches in an ODI game?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Arthur Ashe Stadium fans voiced their displeasure as they showered the Frenchman with jeers and boos.

But when trailing 2-0 and a break down, the player who reached the semi-finals without dropping a set suddenly appeared as Monfils battled back to take the third set.

Djokovic will take on either Swiss third seed Stan Wawrinka or sixth-seeded Japanese Kei Nishikori in Sunday’s final in his bid to become the first backto-back winner at Flushing Meadows since Roger Federer won four straight from 2004.

Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his US Open semi-final clash against Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Entries for KMTC post-Emancipation horse race close tomorrow … large number of sponsors on board

ENTRIES for the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) post-Emancipation Day horse race meet closes tomorrow (September 11) with secretary Niketa Ross on 662-4668.

The meet is scheduled for September 18 (next Sunday) when a large number of the country’s horses are set to invade the facility at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.

Eight races are carded for race day and jockeys, stables and horse owners have until tomorrow to register for participation in the event.

The day’s programme will be highlighted by the feature

A3 and Lower race, which will carry a winning purse of $1M, over seven furlongs.

The runner-up in this race will receive half of that amount.

When action gets underway the horses in the L W/A (non-winners) category will take to the track in a race over five furlongs for a top prize of $120 000.

There will also be heated action in the D3 Maiden and E and Lower Open category over seven furlongs. The winner in that event will be $600 000 richer.

The H1 & Lower event over seven furlongs has a winning purse of $240 000

while the race for L (W/A) category will see the owner of the winning horse take home $120 000.

The two-year-olds Guyana-bred race has a winning tag of $200 000 while G1 and Lower and J1 and Lower race winners will receive $280 000 and $180 000 respectively.

Meanwhile, a number of sponsors have come on board for next Sunday’s meet. These are: Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies, New Building Society, Jaikarran Seegobin of New York USA, Demerara Distillers Ltd,

Ansa McAl Trading Ltd, COURTS Guyana Ltd, Silvie’s General Store, Guyana Tourism Authority.

Also on board are Metro, Kissoon’s Furniture Factory, Dalip Trading Ltd, Mike’s Pharmacy, Roy’s Pharmacy, Guyana Oil Company, L. Seepersaud Maraj & Sons and Mohamed Enterprise, Goodwood Racing Service, Horseshoe Racing Service, Berbice Bridge Co. Inc., Noble House Seafoods, P&P Investments, IPA Group of Companies, Nand Persaud & Company and Jumbo Jet Auto Sales.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 10, 2016

Thompson seals sprint supremacy on golden night in Brussels (REUTERS) - Jamaica’s double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson confirmed her sprint queen status with an emphatic 100 metres victory yesterday at a season-ending Diamond League meeting packed with gold medal winners in Brussels.

Thompson led from the blocks and was never challenged as she set a Brussels meeting record of 10.72 seconds, just one-hundredth of a second outside her winning time in Rio. It secured her the Diamond Race title in the 100m and with it a $40 000 prize.

Diamond Race winners are

determined by a points system from a series of 14 meetings held over the year.

Dutch 200m world champion Dafne Schippers, Thompson’s rival for most of the year, was second in 10.97, concluding a disappointing season after she came away from Rio with just a silver medal in the 200 metres.

Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya set a personal-best in winning the 400 metres in 50.40 seconds.

Ethiopian Almaz Ayana, who shattered the world record to win gold in the 10 000 metres in Rio, had her

Elaine Thompson of Jamaica (C) wins the 100m women ahead of Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands (L). (REUTERS/Eric Vidal) sights set on the eight-yearold mark in the shorter 5

000m in Brussels.

Yet she had to settle

for victory in a meeting record of 14 minutes 18.89 seconds, more than seven seconds outside the world record.

Arguably the best contest of the evening was in the 3 000 metres steeplechase, where another record was attempted without success, but Kenya’s Conseslus Kipruto held off American Evan Jager, just as he did in Rio. For the home crowd, Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam followed up heptathlon gold in Rio with victory in the high jump.

There was a further fillip for the Brussels audience

with the belated award of gold medals to the Belgian women’s 4x100 metres relay team from the 2008 Olympics. The Belgians were promoted from silver after the doping disqualification of the Russian team that crossed the line in Beijing first.

“Congratulations to Belgium,” said International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Sebastian Coe. “It shows what can be achieved and we will endeavour to ensure these processes are generally accelerated in the future.”

Upper Corentyne set 148 for victory

By Rajiv Bisnauth SET 148 for victory, Upper Corentyne closed the penultimate day of their third round game against Lower Corentyne on 25-2 in the Jaguars Franchise League Three-day competition yesterday when play ended yesterday at the Port Mourant Cricket Club ground..

Andy Mohan (8) and Arif Chan (0), will resume today with Upper Corentyne, still 123 runs behind.

Earlier, Upper Corentyne were bowled out 41 minutes before lunch for 220, a first innings lead of 58 runs.

Starting the day from their overnight 133-5, Chan and Shawn Pereira looked to get settled in and push their team towards Lower Corentyne first innings total of 162.

They, however, started the day very cautiously, as Lower Corentyne continued their ploy of bowling tight and not giving away easy runs to the batsmen.

The overnight pair eventually took the total to 140. But the inevitable finally happened as left-arm spinner Kassim Khan got the breakthrough by removing Chan for 21.

Clinton Pestano joined Pereira, and he too was in some trouble against Khan.

However, the pair wiped out the first innings deficit, but soon after Khan was again rewarded for bowling tight when he removed Pestano for 13.

Pereira in company with Eon Hooper put together 32 runs for the seventh wicket, as the lead crossed the 50mark.

During that partnership

there was momentum shift as Hooper brought out his attacking shots, hitting three sweetly timed boundaries during his valiant knock to remain unbeaten on 35.

Pereira was dismissed

by Sharaz Ramcharran for 27, while Keon Sinclair was removed by Devon Clements for three and Omesh Mathura was run out without scoring.

Khan finished with 3-73, while pacer Nail Smith (221), Clements (2-19), Raun Johnson (1-45) and Ramcharran (1-30), were the other successful bowlers.

The start of the third innings was superb for Upper Corentyne as Pestano (2-20) got opener Waheid Edwards in the first over, caught at first slip without scoring, at 5-1.

Fellow opener Kandasammy Surujnarine and Jonathan Foo negotiated the

remainder of play, and by lunch they have progressed to 22.

After seeing off the period before the interval, the pair applied themselves.

The duo kept picking ones and twos and the odd boundary when the opportunity was being presented.

Surujnarine, especially, was quick to pounce on any width outside the offstump, be it the pacers of spinners.

Lower Corentyne then lost Foo (40), and Gajanand Singh (10), in quick succession, off the bowling of Pestano and Eon Hooper.

On the other hand, Surujnarine stood firm at the other end. However, after the interval Hooper made significant inroads, claiming four other wickets to finished with figures of 5-48. Surujnarine made 86 from 148 balls, with

nine fours and a six, while spinner Mathura had 3-23.

Meanwhile, score in the other three games are as follows: At Cumberland: West Demerara resuming on their overnight score of 276/5 reached 369/9 before declaring with a healthy lead of 338. Travis Persaud made 39, Kemol Savory score 28 and Rishi Looknauth contributing 22 not out. Reifer had earlier struck 119 and Akshaya Persaud made 73. Bowling for West Berbice, Brandon Bess returning to cricket after a long lay-off took 2/33, Javed Karim claimed 2/46 while Kevin Jawahir had 2/104.

West Berbice in their second turn at the crease feared a little better than their first innings 30 with 114 all out.

Kevin Jawahir scored 45.

Bowling for West De-

merara, Askhaya Persaud had 4/30 while Rishi Looknauth took 3/45. West Berbice lost by an innings and 124 runs inside 2 days.

At Bourda: East Coast Demerara won the toss and chose to bat first. However, they could only muster 148 as off spinner Gajanan Suknanan bagged 7/37 bowling for Georgetown. Gavin Boodwah and Ramnarine Chatura top score with 40 apiece.

Georgetown ended the day on 63/3. Robin Bachhus 18, Andrew Lyght 25 and Ovid Richardson 4 were the batsmen dismissed. Vivian Albert has so far taken 2/10.

At Everest, no play was possible on day 2 because of a wet outfield.

Play will continue today at GCC, Port Mourant and Everest.

Guyana’s beach footballers for World Cup trials

By Ras Wadada THE Guyana Beach Football Association (GBFA) will tomorrow begin preparations for next year’s CONCACAF Beach World Cup Preliminary football competition to be staged from January 29 to February 5 in Florida.

The GBFA has shortlisted a squad of twenty-five players who will participate in two trial matches to be played at the Bay Rock Beach Soccer facility in Wismar tomorrow, beginning at 15:00hrs.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport, president of the

GBFA president Rollin Tappin GBFA, Rollin Toppin, explained the plan to get Guyana ready for the January 2017 engagement. “We have shortlisted a squad of twenty-five players and will play

two games on Sunday from which the Technical Staff will select the best 20 to go into weekly training preparations, beginning next Sunday and every other following Sunday. In all we will have 25 training days between now and next year to get prepared and we at the GBFA believe that is adequate time.

“The tour party will comprise 12 players and three officials. Of course we would have loved to have some international exposure as part of our preparations but due to the unavailability of finance that is ruled out. Abdullah Hamid has been appointed head coach while his assis-

tant and the manager will be named shortly.”

The first national beach football league competition was played between January and April of this year when Royal Youths of Blueberry Hill emerged as champions and Kuru Kuru Warriors the runners-up from the 12 teams.

During the competition the GBFA received valuable assistance from a Brazilian coach, who was sought to help develop beach football, but his financial requirement was beyond reach.

“Beach football is played by five players inclusive of a goalkeeper on each side and in four quarters of 12 minutes each, but for these

two trial games we will play two halves of 22 minutes,” Tappin revealed.

The GBFA boss also stated that “CONCACAF will be holding a two-day workshop for competing countries in Miami, October 17 and 18, when the draw for the respective groups will be made as well”.

This is Guyana’s debut appearance at an International Beach Football competition though representative teams had travelled to Tobago to play in sub-regional competition.

“Beach football is still in its infancy stage here in Guyana but we at the GBFA

would like to work hand-inhand with all stakeholders in the different communities to introduce the game and make it into the mainstream sports.

It has tremendous potential for Sports Tourism and must be tapped into. All you need is an area of sand measuring 80 feet by 100 feet.” Tappin informed Chronicle Sport.

Tappin was also loud in praise for the GFF, “The current Administration of the GFF has been very, very supportive of all our efforts to promote and develop Beach football which is not culturally known in Guyana, so attracting corporate sponsorship will take some time,” Tappin emphasised.

Thompson seals sprint supremacy on golden night in Brussels (See Story on page 31 )

Webb banned for life by FIFA

FORMER CONCACAF chief and FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb has been banned from all football-related activities for life by FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee.

Webb pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, three counts of wire fraud conspiracy and three counts of money-laundering conspiracy in the United States last November.

Charges were brought against Webb, and a number of other FIFA officials arrested in a police operation in May 2015, as part

FIFA has given former vice- president Jeffrey Webb a lifelong ban for taking bribes.

of an FBI-led investigation into widespread corruption in world football’s governing body.

Formal proceedings were opened against Webb by the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee in May following a final report submitted by the investigatory chamber, with the outcome being a lifetime ban and fine.

“The adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee chaired by Mr Hans-Joachim Eckert has banned Mr Jeffrey Webb, former president of CONCACAF, vice-president of

FIFA and president of the Cayman Islands Football Association, for life from all football-related activities on a national and international level. The ban comes into force immediately,” a FIFA statement read.

“The adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee found Mr Webb guilty of violations of article 13 (General rules of conduct), 15 (Loyalty), 18 (Duty of disclosure, cooperation and reporting), 19 (Conflicts of interest) and 21 (Bribery and corruption) of the FIFA Code of Ethics

(FCE).

“In consequence, Mr Webb has been banned for life from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) on a national and international level and fined CHF (Swiss francs) 1 000 000 (£770 000).”

Yesterday, the Ethics Committee opened a formal case against former president Sepp Blatter, as well as ex-general secretary Jerome Valcke and former finance director Markus Kattner over alleged FCE violations. (Sportsmax. com)

UG athletes to get $11M in four years as scholarship assistance from NSC

The head table at yesterday’s press conference. From left, NSC Commissioner Lavern Fraser-Thomas, Chairman Ivan Persaud and Director of Sport Christopher Jones. See story on page 27 Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016