Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 11 04 2017

No more long lines

Page 9

--Min Felix notes improvements in citizenship, immigration services

No. 104880

TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

Review of VAT on tuition fees today

̶ Cabinet likely to discuss report on public consultation

Page 3

President David Granger (left) and First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger (right) engage former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Sir Shridath Ramphal (centre) following the launch of a book titled, ‘Aspects of European-Guyanese History’ at the Pegasus Hotel Monday evening. The book is a collaborative effort of the National Trust of Guyana, the Guyana Heritage Society, and the European Union (EU) (A Ministry of the Presidency photo)

Elderly Berbice man perishes in fire Page 8

Petroleum Bill for House

Page 11

Three die in separate accidents

Pages 10&13

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

President signs book of condolences for Ms. Carmen Jarvis

PRESIDENT David Granger on Monday visited the National Library to sign a book of condolence, which was opened at the National Library in re membrance of former Secretary-General of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Ms. Carmen Jarvis, who passed away on March 29 at the age of 91.

The Head of State thanked the staff of the National Library, especially Chief Librarian, Ms. Emily King for hon-

ouring Ms. Jarvis for her service to the nation. He said she will always be remembered as someone who transmitted strong values.

Quite apart from her illustrious career as Guyana’s UNESCO Representative, Ms. Jarvis also served as the first woman chairperson of the Committee of the National Library and during her tenure she spearheaded many innovative projects to improve the services offered at the Library. In 2002, the National Library com-

missioned the “Carmen Jarvis Special Collection”, which contains several volumes from her personal library as well as other memorabilia, which she donated to the institution. In October 2016, Ms. Jarvis launched her autobiography titled “From Seedtime to Harvest”.

The book’s title was adopted from the lyrics of The Bishops’ High Schools’ song.Ms Jarvis was a student of Bishops’ High and later became the school’s headteacher. (Ministry of the Presidency)

President David Granger signing the book of condolence for the late Ms. Carmen Jarvis at the National Library, while Chief Librarian, Ms. Emily King looks on

Rose Hall man feared dead PM praises community leaders for

--after setting house on fire A FISH vendor of Swamp Section, Rose Hall Town is feared dead after he allegedly set his house on fire following an argument with his wife.

Up to press time, firemen and detectives from the Guyana Police force were combing the rubble looking for the man’s remains.

The man, identified as 36-year-old Seanarine Cyril, called “Suresh”, was involved in a heated argument with his wife

around 18:45hrs because she’d lent out his bicycle.

According to his wife, Sarita Sewindra, called “Dimple”, at around 15:45hrs, a neighbour of theirs borrowed the cycle, but when he failed to return it by dusk, she went over to enquire about it, and was told that he’d gotten drunk and misplaced it.

Upon returning home, she and her husband, who was reportedly drinking earlier in the day, got into an argument over the cy-

cle, as he felt she was having an affair with the man.

As things began to get ugly, “Dimple” decided to go by her aunt,taking with her the couple’s three children, aged seven, six and five.

“After meh come home around 6:30,” Dimple said, “he start fuh quarrel and cuss me up nasty; he seh me ah tek man... that’s why me gi’ am de bicycle.

“He tell meh he guh kill me and meh pickney dem, so me leff and gone by meh aunty ‘cross de

enhancement work at Whim

Turn to page 16

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Mrs Nagamootoo are taken on a tour of the temple by Head Priest, Harvey Hardeen (OPM photo)

THE Prime Minister returned to his home village–Whim-on Sunday and praised Head Priest, Harvey Hardeen and other temple leaders for enhancing the appearance of the temple, which was founded in 1903.

Accompanied by his wife Sita, the Prime Minister toured the temple and interacted with devotees, some of whom returned from North America to perform “puja” in tribute to ancestral deities at this year’s Mariama or Kali Mai festivities. ?

Both the Prime Minister and Priest Hardeen compli-

mented Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Council leaders for cleaning the village drains and repairing the main street. Prime Minister Nagamootoo and Mr. Hardeen praised volunteers for removing garbage ahead of the festivities.

In recognition of those who have kept the cultural and community traditions alive, Prime Minister Nagamootoo recommended that a Scroll of Honor be mounted at the Whim Madras Temple.

Mr. Hardeen welcomed the suggestion, while also hailing the Ministry of Public

Infrastructure for the recent installation of street lights at Whim and several other villages which, for too long, had been suffering from neglect.?

During the event, several villagers requested the Prime Minister visit the dilapidated Whim Market, which has been abandoned following years of disrepair and neglect. They also called for revetment works to be done at the burial ground, portions of which have been submerged under swamp water.The Prime Minister assured the villagers that these matters would be referred to the Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan, for consideration and to the NDC and Regional Democratic Council for inclusion in their future village and regional improvement plans. (GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Review of VAT on tuition fees today

CABINET is likely to discuss today a report flowing from the public consultation on the tax on private education tuition fees based on assurances given by top officials of the administration last week Friday.

Several private schools and some students have been clamouring for government to reverse the 14% Value Added Tax (VAT) on private tuition fees and Dr Brian O’Toole, head of Nations University had told a consultation last Friday that the solution to the issue is “not to punish who pay tax,” but to go after those who are not compliant. He said that 12% of students pursuing the American Business Executive (ABE) programme at Nations have already dropped out of the programme in light of the increased fees, which were made following implementation of the VAT measure. Stacy French of Mae’s School called on the government to explain what factors were considered in a $2B figure, which the authorities noted private schools have attained from tuition.

At the consultation government had committed to review the tax on private tuition fees and a decision

on the measure is likely to be made when Cabinet meets on today. This was announced on Friday when Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, and other government officials, including Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, met with officials of private schools at the National Culture Centre.

Several private school students and their parents also attended the forum. Prime Minister Nagamootoo told the gathering that “it will be reviewed, as well as other taxes,” adding that “but whether it will be reviewed for 2017, I cannot say that definitively, but for 2018 it is a possibility.” His comments did not go down well with some in the audience, who were obviously hoping for a more definitive position on the withdrawal of the tax.

Meanwhile, writing in his column, ‘My Turn’ in the Sunday Chronicle this week, Nagamootoo reminded that in Guyana, both private and public tuition constitute the formal education system and complement, rather than rival, each other. The PM said

it is clear that VAT on private tuition fees is unpopular. “It has caused, not only unease in the society, as Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine stated, but it has also burdened parents, who choose to send their children to privately owned schools and now have to pay more, as a result of the tax which took effect from January 1, 2017.

There have been protests over the VAT and Friday’s consultation between a ministerial team and operators, parents and students, probably allowed interested parties to articulate, as best as they could, their position on the tax,” the Prime Minister said.

He said before last Friday’s consultation, Cabinet, on at least three separate occasions, discussed a possible review of the measure.

“Though there have been mixed views, no one has ever justified any measure that could constitute an oppression on parents,” the PM said.

He made clear that VAT was introduced in 2007 by the Bharrat Jagdeo Government, with wide application at the rate of 16%. He said whilst the minimum wage was frozen and increases were contained to an average

5% annually, there was justifiable agitation for reduction of VAT to bring down the cost of goods and services.

But the Government held on to the 16%, and refused to compromise. It had argued that for every one percentage point that VAT was reduced, the Government would have lost $2.5 Billion in revenues.

The Prime Minister said that as part of the sweeping tax changes advised by a Tax Reform Committee, the income tax threshold was raised to $60,000, which removed several thousands of wage-earners from the tax net; and the rate of income-tax deduction was reduced to 28% for persons earning up to $100,000 and one-third for persons earning more than that. Besides, the minimum wage and old age pensions were increased, and public service wages went up by 38%.

“The State gave up some $10 Billion in revenues from the general package of tax relief and concessions, even though the current budget was in deficit to the tune of some $38 Billion. The way out was to increase borrowing, cut expenditures or widen the tax base, or all three.” He said to avoid cut-

education operations have reached the public domain.”

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo

ting social sector spending, the Government introduced some new tax measures, among which was a 14% VAT on tuition fees charged by privately-owned schools.

This tax was expected to bring in some $360 million, which is hardly enough to impact on spending, but was worth pursuing on the ground that most of the private schools were not paying taxes on their profits. That argument for VAT on private tuition fees has spawned big contention, but in the exchange of views, some revelations about private

Delinquents The PM quoted Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, who had estimated that there are some 86 private schools operating in Guyana, many of them making huge revenues. Fees range from between $144,000 and $300,000 annually, which do not include extra lessons, uniforms, books, coaching fees, etc. The top eight among these private schools rake in fees estimated at over $2 Billion annually. ”It might be revealing, if the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) could indicate how many of these private schools pay taxes. In spite of the spirited agitation for withdrawal of the 14% tax, only about one-quarter of the private schools are registered for and are VAT-compliant, and prior to 2017, some of these entities were refunded some $150 million in VAT. It was expected that the refunds would have been ploughed back into the school system, and resulted in reduced tuition fees,” the Prime Minister reasoned.

Four Miles, Kambaru among villages to receive titles SEVERAL Indigenous communities are expected to be titled and demarcated under the extended Amerindian Land Titling and Demarcation project this year.

Four Miles in Port Kaituma, Region One,and Kambaru in Region Seven will be the first set of communities to receive their land title documents.

Mashabo, Capoey and Mainstay in Region Two are some of

the other communities that are slated for extension this year.

Paramatakoi in Region Eight has already been extended.

During an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Fourth Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, explained that the project was given an extension. “Remember we had this two- year extension,

which we had a two-year review and the document developed…that has to be given the green light which we had three attempts. Last Thursday we had the relevant players and after we had a lengthy discussion.The project has now (been) given the go ahead,” Minister Allicock said.

The ministry will now have to recruit additional staff to work in the various commu-

nities to assist with the demarcation, and ensure that the residents fully understand the process. Persons will also be trained to use drones to help with the mapping of areas. “We are going to have the picture of the land that is under discussion so we are going to be moving now, and we have at least seven communities that have been identified…. We wanted to do eleven, but the target is seven,”

Minister Allicock pointed out.

Under the Guyana REDD + Investment Fund (GRIF), Government in 2013 signed a US$10.7M document for the implementation of the Land Titling and Demarcation project. The project came to an end in 2016; however,the Ministry requested an extension in the 2017 budget. This resulted in $165 M earmarked for the

advancing of the remaining identified areas for land titling. In 2016, almost 1,000 square kilometres of land were demarcated in Regions One, Seven, and Eight. This project, which is being spearheaded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), seeks to protect Indigenous rights and create livelihood opportunities for residents. (GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Two dead in California Decomposing bat found in Walmart salad primary school shooting TWO people have been killed in a shooting in a classroom of a primary school in San Bernardino, California, police say.

The victims were both adults, police chief Jarrod Burguan said. He described the incident as a suspected “murder-suicide” attempt.

Two people who were wounded and taken to hospital may have been students.

He said the assailant was “down”, and there was “no further threat”. The school has been evacuated.

The shooting happened at 10:30 local time (17:30 GMT) in a classroom of North Park Elementary School.

Students were transferred to nearby Cajon High School, where they were later met by their parents.

“Police operations are

continuing to secure the area,” Mr Burguan said on Twitter, adding: “However, we do believe the threat is down.”

In December 2015, 14 people were killed and 21 others wounded when a couple entered a disabled service centre in San Bernardino and began firing at a group of county health workers. (BBC)

Russian arrested in Spain - ‘over US election hacking’

SPANISH police have arrested a Russian programmer for alleged involvement in “hacking” the US election, Spanish press reports have said.

Pyotr Levashov, arrested on April 7 in Barcelona, has now been remanded in

custody.

A “legal source” also told the AFP news agency that Mr Levashov was the subject of an extradition request by the US. The request is due to be examined by Spain’s national criminal court, the

Tuesday, April 11, 2017 Wednesday, April 12, 2017 Thursday, April 13, 2017 Friday, April 14, 2017 Saturday, April 15, 2017 -

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discovered the bat, which was found in a “deteriorated condition”, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The bat was sent to a CDC lab and tested for rabies.

“Both people report being in good health and neither has any signs of rabies,” the CDC said in a statement.

The agency also advised anyone who may have already eaten one of the affected salads and found “animal material” to contact their local health department immediately.

But people “who have eaten the recalled salad and did not find animal material are not at risk, and do not

need to contact their health department,” the CDC added.

The salads, which bear the production code G089B19, are exclusively sold at Walmart stores throughout the south-eastern US. The company said it worked quickly with officials to remove the entire batch of salads from store shelves, and only one line of its products had been affected.

“Fresh Express takes matters of food safety very seriously, and rigorously complies with all food safety regulations including the proscribed Good Agricultural Practices,” a company statement said. (BBC)

Mr Levashov’s wife, Maria, also told Russian broadcaster, RT, that the arrest was made in connection with such allegations.

Several cybersecurity experts, including Brian Krebs, have also linked Mr Levashov to a Russian spam kingpin, who uses the alias Peter Severa.

INTELLIGENCE REPORT A US intelligence report released in January alleged that Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to help Mr Trump to victory.

Mr Trump later commented that the outcome of the election had not been affected.

The report said that Russia’s objectives were to “undermine public faith” in the US democratic process and “denigrate” Mr Trump’s Democrat rival, Hillary Clinton.

Russia’s efforts to this end allegedly included hacking into email accounts used by the Democratic National Committee; using intermediaries such as WikiLeaks to release hacked information; and funding social media users, or “trolls”, to make nasty comments.

However, there were no details of Mr Putin’s alleged involvement with such interference in the report.

Mr Putin has strongly denied allegations that Russia tried to influence the US election. (BBC)

05:00 hrs 05:00 hrs 05:00 hrs 05:00 hrs 05:30 hrs

DATE: 10-Apr-2017 G

agency added.

El Confidencial, a Spanish news website, has said that Mr Levashov’s arrest warrant was issued

by US authorities over suspected “hacking” that helped Donald Trump’s campaign.

WALMART has issued a recall on a packaged salad after Florida customers found a decomposing bat inside the box.

The two customers ate some of the Organic Marketside Spring Mix salad before the bat was found, officials said. They have been tested for rabies.

The company said customers who may have already purchased the pre-packaged greens, which are sold mainly in southern states, should discard them.

Walmart also said customers can request a full refund for the product.

The two people began eating the salad before they

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

French Guiana facing total shutdown DISCONTENT over living standards in French Guiana has led to a large-scale blockade on Monday.

The territory has regained control of its space station, but anger there is not going away.

Despite being in South America, French Guiana remains part of France, and has been paralysed by protests against a lack of investment from the mainland.

Demonstrators, led by a masked group known as the 500 Brothers, have been fighting for $2.5B (£2B) in aid.

France has made an offer of £1M, which has been rejected.

French Guiana has been experiencing widespread protests for the past two weeks, following a general strike on March 27, and an occupation of the Guiana Space Station, which delayed a rocket launch.

The 500 Brothers called for a total shutdown on Monday, including road blocks, after a police officer was injured in protests last week.

Protesters out on the streets last week in the French Guianese capital, Cayenne French Guiana sits in the north-east corner of South America, north of Brazil, and alongside Guyana and Suriname.

While Guyana and Suriname gained independence from their colonisers (the UK and the Netherlands respectively), French Guiana never has. It is classed as an

overseas territory; its currency is the euro, and its official language is French, although many also speak Creole.

It is bigger than Belgium, but has a population of about 250,000 people (compared with Belgium’s 11 million).

Its tough environment, including scorching heat and sharks, was made famous

‘An act of terrorism’ PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – The Office of the President of Haiti has described as “a terrorist act” last weekend’s attack on a presidential motorcade returning from the Artibonite department as preparations continue for the launch of the caravan of change scheduled for May 1.

Angry demonstrators are reported to have set up barricades protesting the decision taken by former president Michel Martelly to divide the commune of Arcahaie in two.

President Jovenel Moïse, who was sworn into office in February replacing Martelly, was not hurt during the attack on Friday night with The Office of the Presidency congratulating “the specialized units of the National Police of Haiti

Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse

in the 1969 book, Papillon, which later became a film, starring Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen.

Protesters have a catalogue of issues they want France to urgently address, from education and health needs, to rising violent crime.

“The State does not re-

spect its commitments; the State does not respect French Guiana,” Olivier Goudet, a spokesman for the 500 Brothers told France’s RFI network on Sunday. “We need to mobilise in order to raise awareness, and remind the State of its responsibilities.”

The issue has even been

raised during the French presidential election campaign, although leading candidate Emmanuel Macron wrongly referred to the territory as an island when discussing the crisis.

French Guiana is largely covered in Amazon rainforest, with its development centred on a handful of towns hugging the coastline.

One of these towns, Kourou, is home to the Guiana Space Station, which is used by the European Space Agency and the French government to launch satellites into space.

Protesters say money is poured into the station, while the people’s welfare is neglected.

They are calling for action under the slogan, Pou Lagwiyann Dekole, which is Creole for “Let Guiana take off”.

Last month, the hooded 500 Brothers group took over the space station and delayed a satellite launch.

They relinquished their occupation last week, but continue to protest. (BBC)

- says Haitian President of attack on motorcade in charge of the security of the Head of State for their promptness and professionalism”.

The statement also reminded “everyone that the establishment of a democratic society can only be achieved through the principles enacted by the law”

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

AS the APNU+AFC Government begun facilitating engagements on constitutional reform in keeping with its campaign promise, in August 2015 a local committee was established, and February this year the United Nations (UN)was invited to lend support to the effort. Shortly after the government came to office a team, headed by Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, was identified to meet with the PPP/C Opposition to discuss governance and national unity.

The PPP/C’s response to the government’s overture was making it known that once the prime minister is part of the delegation there would be no engagement.

Taking this approach was not only intended to determine the government’s representatives, but also creates speculation about commitment to governance

and unity. It’s more than passing strange a party that would reject being told who should be appointed to speak on its behalf does not find it similarly off-putting to dictate for others.

As the UN and Carter Centre were recently engaged in talks with Guyanese on the Constitution, where the former met stakeholders and the latter held a public symposium, the PPP/C has criticised the involvements, deeming them interference by foreigners.

For some reason politicians think they can fool all the people all the time or the people’s memories are short.

Outside of the PPP/C there is no other political party in the history of independent Guyana who mostly courted and sought the involvement of international institutions or foreigners into our political affairs.

Carter Centre’s presence

in Guyana has been at the behest of the PPP/C, who invited it here to play major roles since the 1980s. Where there exists doubt or denial, the present configuration of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which became part of our electoral system since 1992, owes its origin to the Centre. The appointment of Chairman and configuration of the Board is colloquially referred to as the “Carter formula.”

The party’s success at the 1992 General and Regional Elections did not result in severance of ties but rather that of seeking the Centre’s involvement in our economy. The National Development Strategy (NDS), which was facilitated by the Centre, at the helm of the project was Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo. His work earned him a visit to Africa, which was facilitated by the Centre, to promote the process of cre-

ating NDS on the continent.

Evidently the PPP/C and more so Mr. Jagdeo found the Centre’s involvement in Guyana useful and worthy.

It is befuddling, having been recipient of such support that there is now a critique for its present involvement in our internal affairs and the fact too that its residency has been made possible with the tremendous influence and input of the PPP/C, as a party and government.

Guyana is a member of the UN. The presence of this international institution should not be of concern, including its involvement on a domestic issue, which carries international implications. Guyana is required to pay yearly dues and the UN’s support in constitutional reform would be consistent with its global role and mandate, and a benefit to the citizens that comes with the country’s associ-

ation.

The PPP/C General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition, Jagdeo, within the past weeks has been expressing a particular viewpoint of such relationships vis-a-vis the constitutional reform process. According to him, though the party is not opposed to reform, its interest lies in the daily breaches of the constitution. Where the perception exists-real or perceived- it is not to the best interest of the people or the nation. Societies are not being served when governments breach their constitution.

The present 1980 Constitution was amended under the PPP/C government. This party served 23 years (October 1992-May 2015) in office, with Mr. Jagdeo’s presidency being the longest (1999-2011). During the period he not only assented to the amendments but Guy-

ana earned an international reputation of being the most corrupt English- speaking country in the Caribbean.

Internally law and order was under siege.

Instances such as the right to life was not constitutionally respected but determined by drug lords, phantom squads and extrajudicial killings, with the complicity or assent (expressed or implied) of his government. The Public Procurement Commission, which is a mean to curtail corruption and constitutionally required, was first established in 2016. The country’s need for this commission was signed into law in 2004 by then President Jagdeo. The PPP/C cannot honestly make the claim of concern about breaches of the constitution since such occurrence daily characterised its governance.

Dear Editor,

ise that they stand a good chance of winning because the coalition is substantially weakened as the AFC (Indian voters) are pledging to return to the PPP fold, while the other AFC supporters are begging for a third party.

If the argument of Mr. Jagdeo is that the constitution is broken and that the coalition is compounding the brokenness, would it not stand to reason that these are all the more causes to speed up the reform process? Who does Mr. Jagdeo think he is fooling? He is stalling.

I was a part of the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD) that was formed in the 80’s. Several of Guyana’s opposition parties were a part of this PCD, including

the PPP and the WPA. Dr. Cheddi Jagan was a frequent figure when we met for consultations on ways to bring about free and fair elections in Guyana. One of the most discussed items on our agenda was the reformation of the “Burnham Constitution” because we saw how it divided the country and how it was oppressive.

We got President Jimmy Carter to support us and he eventually came to Guyana and convened a process that eventually brought about the change we all longed for.

Imagine then my complete frustration that after 23 years of PPP unilateral rule, we still have the most repressive components of the 1980 constitution being

used to retard Guyana’s development and harmony. Recently, the Prime Minister, Mr. Nagamootoo brought in some UN experts to discuss the process to constitutional reform. When the three-man team visited the PPP’s office, they were told that the PPP will only support the reforms if the government institutes the outstanding commissions. A few weeks ago the Carter Center sponsored a forum at the UG Turkeyen Campus to discuss the way forward on constitutional reform again;none of the PPP representatives were there.

How can you say that you support constitutional reform and yet be placid about any drive that would facilitate it? Dr. Jagan must

be turning in his proverbial grave.

Jagdeo is appearing to be concerned about the involvement of the British and the UN, as if those entities will do anything to the constitution that Jagdeo and the PPP cannot have altered. It takes 2/3 of the Parliament to amend the constitution.

Again, this is just the stalling game of Jagdeo.

Jagdeo knows fully well that the PNC has zero appetite for the amendments to anything Burnham. The PNC tried to reform the party by adding “Reform” to its name (PNC-R). Where is that Reform today? Where is even the “R”? Mr. Nagamootoo, an outsider inside the PNC, is playing along

with the PPP because he too knows that Jagdeo only wants to get back into power; he cares nothing about any substantial reforming of the constitution. The Burnham Constitution is just fine for a young dictator like him.

So it is the Guyanese people who are being made fools of and pawns in this power struggle between these two parties. Until there is an objective, mitigating force in the parliament to formally institute articles for the amendment of the Guyana Constitution, it is not likely to happen.

I spoke recently about the fact that Mr. Jagdeo and the PPP do not support constitutional reform because of the 23 years they were able to use the 1980 so called Burnham Constitution to keep Guyana stifled. They are now saying that breaches to the constitution are their reason for a lack of their support of any reform.

That is like someone saying, “I will not leave this broken relationship until my husband or wife stops abusing me.”

What the PPP are doing is running down the clock until the next general elections where they real-

Regards VISHNU BANDHU

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

The life and influence of Jesus Christ Dear Editor,

THE life and influence of Jesus of Nazareth, The Christ, has, throughout history, always produced great changes in the lives of men and women and of all nations.

Wherever His teachings and influence have gone, there has been a multitude of other changes that have been made for the good of mankind. Individual lives are also dramatically changed through the teachings of Jesus Christ.

His works throughout His own time as teacher, healer, and His overall purpose for existence have influenced many.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16-17) We must ask ourselves some serious questions about life itself. Questions such as: Who am I? What is my purpose in this world? What can

I do to contribute to society?

What is my destiny after I am gone from this life? Jesus came to offer the world answers to life’s deep spiritual and moral questions. He came to save all mankind from sin, and to offer us life after death.

Jesus said to her (Martha): “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26. We see the effect of His teachings in the Bible, and how His morality has shaped the minds of many good people.

Jesus began His ministry by announcing: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” His calling was based on the vision of the Kingdom of God. He shared this vision with ordinary people, fishermen and tax collectors; and seeing their potential, shaped twelve of them into a team. Jesus demonstrated His character as a servant leader, and when faced with opposition and conflict, responded with humility and integrity.

Was that His mission? His

mission was to guide us and to let us know Him. It also was to show us a better path, full of truth, so that no one who believes in Him is lost.

It also was to show and to remind us of the love of His Father and what He wants for us.

Jesus Christ came to redeem humanity from sin.

Jesus came to deliver truth in a world of false beliefs. Our greatest need is a spiritual need, which we cannot fulfill with the gain in this life, such as profits or pleasure, but by lasting peace in Christ.

His mission was to change our way of thinking, so that we would know the love of God. He came, driven by an immense love, to suffer for us and to purge our sins, showing us how to live. He came to live in this world to complete His mission, which was to suffer and die for our sins on the cross.

Right now, He is in us, so we can follow His path — full of love, like He showed us — to have a better life, to obtain the glory in the eternal life, and to follow the commandments that He left us. Jesus’s life and teachings influenced some of the greatest men

who ever lived. His Sermon on the Mount influenced the great Mahatma Gandhi. In the words of Gandhi, he said about Jesus: “A Man who was completely innocent offered Himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including His enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.” — Mahatma Gandhi, Indian political leader (1869-1948).

Mother Theresa said the following about Jesus: “I believe in person-to-person.

Every person is Christ for me, and since there is only one Jesus, that person is the one person in the world at that moment.” — Mother Theresa. “Jesus Christ was an extremist for love, truth and goodness.” — Martin Luther King Jr., These are just a few people. The illustrious Billy Graham preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to over one billion people around the world face-to-face. He is one of the greatest preachers and international scholars, and is still alive today at age 98.

One of the greatest scientists of our time, who is widely studied universally, said the following about Je-

sus: “I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene. Jesus is too colossal for the pen of phrase-mongers, however artful”. He further added: “No man can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word.

No myth is filled with such life. Theseus and other heroes of his type lack the authentic vitality of Jesus.” — Albert Einstein – Scientist and Mathematician.

Today the Gospel of Jesus Christ has produced over one billion followers and believers in Jesus Christ. Jesus came to teach us the philosophy of love and forgiveness for all. Charles Dickens, one of the greatest English novelists, said these profound words about Jesus: “I commit my soul to the mercy of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I now most solemnly impress upon you the truth and beauty of the Christian religion as it came from Christ Himself, and the impossibility of going far wrong if you humbly but heartily respect it.”

— Charles Dickens, British writer, 1812-1870.

The illustrious William Shakespeare wrote his Epitaph with the following words using Jesus’s Name: “Good friend for Jesus sake forbear, To dig the dust enclosed here.

Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones.”

Shakespeare also mentioned this magnificent statement in his Will.

“First, I command my Soul into the hands of God, my Creator, hoping and assured believing through the only merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the Earth whereof it was made.”

The central message of Good Friday and Easter is that God still loves us, and because of Christ we can be forgiven. He came for one reason: “Christ died for sins once for all … to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

May you welcome Him into your life during this holy season.” God bless you all.

Regards REV. GIDEON CECIL

Freddie goes out daily Nandlall’s arguments are false on that deadly limb Dear Editor, Sometimes Freddie Kissoon surprises me.

At one time he speaks as though he understands the construct of the Freudian psyche of the Guyanese people and then he immediately switches and becomes immersed in his own whimsical amnesia. Let me say that I admire Freddie. All Guyanese should appreciate what Freddie does.

He speaks truth to power and does this to his own peril. There are not many like him. I ‘try-a-thing’ sometimes but it is Freddie who daily goes out on that deadly limb, and regurgitates dates and times and events, in his magnanimous attempt to keep these politicians

-- most of whom are uncouth and power drunk-in check.

We all know that Freddie does what he does at the constant and flagrant risk to his limb and life.

Yet for no other reason that a God-given, deep-seated, patriotic love of Country, my brother Freddie prods on with his historically, fact-based, narrations of the ills of Guyana.

Editor, I am pained to see Bro. Kissoon in public. He looks scared out of his wits. He seems not to know who to talk to, or what to say, or for how long. And the later it is in the day, the more unnerved he seems. Maybe it is just his persona, however, he looks to me like a scared, threatened, soul. And for what? Simply because

he has assigned himself the task of addressing the grossest, most unconscionable deeds of those who we elect to lead in this Country. No one should be made to have their life so altered simply by reciting and then dissecting the unpatriotic, corrupt behaviours of the worse amongst us.

But such is the fate of my mentor and friend; comrade Freddie Kissoon.

And for this reason, I am surprised that Freddie continues to subject himself to the wishful thinking that our politicians are mostly people of conscience. Earlier this week, in speaking about a matter concerning Imran Khan, Director of Public Information, Freddie said, “Here is what Khan did

and if he thinks I am going to let his moral lapse be forgotten, then he is mistaken. I am going to keep it in the public consciousness until he is forced to resign from his million-dollar-amonth job paid for by the taxpayers.”

It is as if my Bro. Freddie believes that the political powers in Guyana care about logic, or fairness, or fulfilling their promises of transparency and accountability. Does Freddie Kissoon really believes that he will ever receive justice, reprieve or accolades from the halls of political powers in Guyana? If he does, then he is a victim of his own Freudian depiction.

Regards WENDELL JEFFREY

Dear Editor,

Reference is made to the article published in Sunday Stabroek April 2, 2017 namely: “Appointment of Mabaruma Mayor disregards court orders, Nandlall says”. The Ministry of Communities refutes the allegations and wishes to state that the Minister has not flouted the Judge’s Orders.

The Order of Justice Diana Insanally dated 6th April, 2016 regarding the appointment of Rupert Smith as Mayor of the Municipality of Mabaruma was only relative to the office of Mayor for the term of office for the year 2016.

In accordance with the Municipal and District Councils Act Chapter 28:01, the elections for the offices of Mayor and Deputy Mayor are to be conducted annually and therefore the Order prohibiting Mr. Smith from functioning in the office of Mayor for the year 2016 has therefore been abated. The order of the court was made following an Application

for a Writ of Prohibition that was not made absolute nor was it meant to be ad infinitum.

Further, whilst the Court’s ruling in the matter is highly anticipated, the people of the community should not be left to suffer; the work of the Council must be done. The drafters of the legislations did not envisage that a Council should be held ransom for an extended period from doing its work.

By due process and compliance of Chapter 28:01, elections for the ensuing year of 2017 were held in December, 2016 and as a Councillor of the Municipality of Mabaruma who was nominated, voted for and subsequently selected as Mayor, the official actions of Henry Smith should not be seen as illegal but recognised as fulfilling his mandated duties that he has professed under oath before His Excellency President David Granger.

Regards Ministry of Communities

8

Elderly Berbice man perishes in fire --son in police custody

By Nafeeza Yahya DESPITE the heroic efforts of his neighbours to save him, an elderly man died after a fire of unknown origin ripped through his house at Kildonan Village, early Monday morning.

Dead is 82-year-old Rudolph Ross called “Uncle Bruce”; his charred remains were found lying by a window on the eastern side of the two storey wooden and concrete structure. The fire reportedly started at 03:00hrs in the kitchen, located in the upper flat of the house.

Ross resided with his son Colin Ross, who was not at home at the time of the fire. However, the younger Ross arrived five hours after and reportedly gave conflicting stories of where he was at the time of the fire.

He has since been taken into police custody to assist with investigations.

A police source told this newspaper that based on information received, the father and son had an argument on Sunday afternoon and he [Ross] left the house with his belongings.

According to Commander of ‘B’ Division, Ian Amsterdam, investigators have to verify the son’s alibi as an investigation has been launched to determine whether the fire was an act of arson.

I TRIED MY BEST TO SAVE HIM A neighbour, Brian Jackson, 41, told Guyana Chronicle that he was awoken by loud cries for help from the elderly man.

Jackson said he immediately summoned help and a bucket brigade was formed in an effort to save the elderly man. Ross was trapped due to grill work, the thick smoke and intense heat.

Brian explained that while the bucket brigade was trying to douse the inferno, he and another neighbour tried to get the senior citizen out but had to retreat after the heat became too much.

“About 3’0 clock this morning I hear someone shouting for help. I hear ‘Brian Help! Brian help!’ and I got up and see the fire coming from the back of Cousin Rudolph house.

I hurry get out and start to holler for help in the street then the other neighbours came out. We tried our best

Dead: Rudolph Ross

used a ladder to try and get Ross through the window but the heat intensified and they had to retreat. It is believed that at this point, Ross took his last breath.

you can make it in this life.

He was a very social individual, friendly, one who would have touched many lives. Even after he closed his career as an Overseer, he did not cease to continue to share his knowledge and to lend his expertise to those who are in need.

Meanwhile, Ivor Emerson Isaacs Ross, 84, who is the elder brother of the now dead man and lives close by; he said he too was awoken by loud noises and noticed a ball of flame, but did not know it was his brother’s house on fire.

The elder Ross said his brother visited him on Sunday to celebrate his [Ivor] 84th Birthday and they talked and shared a meal

Ross perished in the fire, which ripped through his home early yesterday morning [Nafeeza Yahya photos]

to get him out of the building, we tried; we break the window where he was calling from but the grill wasn’t opening, and I was going up to ladder, the fire came closer to him and I heard he stopped calling out. Then the fire spread bigger and we had to hold back,” Jackson told this newspaper.

He recalled that earlier they tried breaking down the grilled doors but the intense heat forced them to a window on the eastern side of the house where they

The remains of the house following the fire

The roof collapsed immediately after and the fire intensified even more.

As the fire spread, Jackson’s house was scorched.

According to the distraught man, he only saw Ross on Sunday when he [Ross] called him to assist in planting a tree; Jackson said Ross was in “good spirits.”

“A while now he was asking me to help him plant a cherry tree, so he call me yesterday [Sunday] and say you must come to plant it… so I went over and we plant it and the last thing he said to me was as long as he live he will take care of the tree.

I know I try my best to save him but my best wasn’t enough …my best wasn’t enough at all. I couldn’t save Cousin Rudolph”, an emotional Jackson recalled.

Another of Ross’ son, David Cort, 29, described his father as a disciplinarian, who always encouraged others to thrive especially in academia and personally.

“He believed in independence he used to say once you are independent

together before he left.

Meanwhile, neighbours lamented the late arrival of the fire service. They said efforts were made to contact the fire service but calls to the Berbice Fire Station went unanswered.

“We tried all the numbers up here, then we end up calling Georgetown, then they got on to them and when they come is like an hour and half after … they have to do better than that man.”

Ross, a father of seven, was described as an avid church member and a respectable individual in the community. He once served as the Overseer of the Bush Lot/Adventure Neighbourhood Democratic Council and was a member of the Concerned Citizens Development Group.

Many said that “Uncle Bruce” would be dearly missed since he was very knowledgeable in the allocation of lands and their boundaries within the #28 Bushlot/Adventure NDC and would usually offer assistance to residents.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

MOTP raps Guyana Times for fake news

--urges immediate retraction THE Ministry of the Presidency has refuted what it describes as a misleading, false and malicious article, which was carried in the Monday edition of the Guyana Times, headlined “Ministers can dictate to state media – President”.

The ministry said His Excellency President David Granger’s utterances were misrepresented. In a statement the ministry, Ms. Stacy Carmichael, Assistant Editor of NewsRoom on the Ministry of the Presidency’s weekly television programme ‘The Public Interest’, asked the President, “As an advocate for press freedom, do you have any concerns with any attempts by members of your Cabinet to interfere with the content of the State media?” The Guyana Times’ article claims that the President, in response, said that there is nothing wrong with a Government minister ‘dictating’ where articles should be placed in the State newspaper.

On the contrary, the President, in his response said, “If you are referring to a letter by the Minister of Communities, I do not regard it as interference.

Apart from being a Minister, he is a private citizen. He expressed concerns. I do not think he attempted to coerce or to use his ministerial influence to change what I regard as the editorial right to publish an article or to publish news stories.

I don’t think there was any interference at all. He wrote a letter just as anybody else could write a letter…I have seen worse letters by other people and the fact that it came from a minister does not constitute interference. If he had gone into the newsroom and order changes be made that is a different matter…but as far as the matter you are raising is concerned, the Minister did not decide what should or should not be published, he expressed an opinion on what had already been published.”

The question and response were related to a press release by the Guyana Press Association on April 4, 2017, which criticised a letter written

by Mr. Ronald Bulkan, the Minister of Communities, and published in the Guyana Chronicle on April 3, 2017.

According to the MOTP, at no point during the recording of the programme did the President say that Ministers of Government can dictate to the State media entities. Further, the MOTP said the Guyana Times’ headline is at odds with the actual content of the article published in that newspaper since in the same report, the media house states in the fourth paragraph, “Asked to comment on this minister’s ac-

tions, President Granger said he does not view it as interference in the work of the media, but as the Minister giving his opinion on the matter, just as every citizen has a right to do”. “This clearly shows that the headline was a deliberate attempt to mislead the Guyanese people. The Ministry emphatically condemns the article and notes that media houses have an important responsibility to provide facts to the people of Guyana. This erroneous headline and lead were published despite the fact that the President’s comments were publicised via television, the internet and other communication platforms.

The assertions carried therein have no basis in fact and the ministry is, therefore, calling for an immediate retraction.”

The MOTP said that while the Government of Guyana promotes and stands solidly behind press freedom, the Ministry of the Presidency calls on the Guyana Times and all media houses to pay attention to the ethics and responsibilities that ought to be observed in the profession of Journalism. “The Media must take its responsibility to provide accurate information to the members of the public seriously.” The Ministry of the Presidency also reiterated the President’s commitment to the non-interference of the media by his administration.

In April 2016, at a workshop hosted by the Guyana Press Association, the President said that citizens’ access to information is a democratic right and information is necessary for citizens’ informed participation in society.

“The Government of Guyana is committed to the promotion of a high degree of media professionalism. My administration will not undermine the professionalism of state media workers by subjecting them to political direction or interference with their work. My administration is committed also to non-interference in the independent media. Independent media act as watchdogs of the Government.

They promote transparency by ensuring that information is provided to the public on the work of the Government,” the President said.

He noted, at that forum, that restrictions on the flow of information deny citizens the opportunity to participate fully in decision-making and, thereby, impair democracy. The President said that his government accepts that the state media have a duty to report accurately and without bias on all three arms of the State and that they are obliged to report the views of all parties and should serve the interests of all of the people of Guyana.

No more long lines

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

--Min Felix notes improvements in citizenship, immigration services Zena Henry THERE have been notable improvements in the provision of immigration and citizenship services since the Ministry of Citizenship commenced its bid to revamp the system.

Not only has the ministry been able to decentralise a number of its services to far-flung regions, but Minister Winston Felix has also highlighted continued progress with the digitalisation of relevant national records and the ease with which citizens can now access passports and birth certificates. When the minister appeared on a HJ 94.1 radio programme last week, he said what existed previously was an “indecency” at the Central Immigration and Passport Office, where citizens were forced to join lines extending outside of the building, long waits for the

document and a difficulty in accessing a birth certificate.

He said President David Granger expressed displeasure with the system based on discussions he had with locals and members of the Diaspora and decided to set up the Citizenship Ministry. When Felix became minister, he said one of his first assignments was to make the job of accessing a passport easier. “People should not have to come from Parika, and Springlands, and Bartica to get a passport.” The minister said two initiatives were applied: Decentralisation has commenced with Linden receiving a passport office last August and New Amsterdam, last November. Offices at Anna Regina and Bartica are due later this year.

The second plan is the establishment of mobile unit.

“With finance being a major concern, I am interested in a mobile facility to move

around parts of regions Seven, Eight and Nine.” Felix said in this bid, “we must take the government service to the people in scarcely populated areas and have standard facilities in places like Anna Regina and Bartica and other places being designated townships.”

Additionally, a passport online system is being looked at to especially aid members of the Diaspora. Felix said he has had discussions with his technical team and is currently awaiting a report on the technical inputs required to make it a possibility; “that you can stay from your home and apply for a passport and with one short visit to the passport office, having your documents signed up; you will get your passport.” This is being done within all the security and other required measures.

On the issue of birth certificates, Minister Felix said

Man appeals court judgement over lack of recording A 36-YEAR OLD electrical technician is appealing a decision made by High Court Judge, Franklin Holder on the grounds that he was not granted a fair trial regarding a property in the city.

The matter involves a property located at Lot 60/61 Cross Street, Werken-Rust in the city between Shirland Johnson and his adopted mother, Daphne Rogers.

Johnson is contending through his lawyer,Attorney-at-law Saphier Husain that he is entitled to prescriptive title of the property.

The case was filed on April 6, 2017 and Attorney General, Basil Williams and Justice Holder are named as defendants in the matter.

Johnson is contending that the judgment which was passed down by Judge

Holder in December 2016 was “unfair “and “inaccurate” and that there was no court recorder nor electronic equipment recording the proceeding at the hearing.

Johnson also contends that he is informed via public information and what appeared in the press of another matter which involves the Attorney General in which the latter requested that his submission be recorded by the judge in question. According to the documents, Johnson’s lawyer stated that his client’s fundamental right to a fair trial, as guaranteed under the Constitution of Guyana, was contravened in the judge’s decision, which was made on December 28, 2016.

John is claiming damages in excess of $100,000 for violation of the constitution.

According to the facts of the matter, Johnson resided

at Lots 60-61 Cross Street, Werk-en-Rust, since 1982.

The property is in the name of Rogers and according to court papers , the relation was always one of “mother “ and “adopted “ son.

It was noted by Johnson, the applicant that he invested over $10 M in maintaining, renovating and restructuring the building in question. He said he had no objection from anyone, including Rogers. Johnson said he and his family lived at the property for over 10 years. However, Rogers later filed for possession of the property, while the matter was being debated in the Land court. Johnson, through his attorney, contended that Justice Holder refused to have his (Johnson’s) wife joined as an interested party in the matter.

that he is conscious of the stress that citizens face, while recognising the checks and balances that have to be done, using the paper system. He noted that any incorrect information provided by the citizen will also see the process taking longer. “In my view, you (citizen) should not have to wait a month to get a birth certificate. So we are working towards digitising records in the first place. And one of the benefits is having a database from which we can print the birth certificate.”

The minister said that initially the digitalisation of the records was scheduled for three years, but is now being scaled back to two years. He recognised that the information is significant since it includes births, deaths and marriages; and how far back the records are dated.

On the matter of visas for foreigners, Felix said he is

tasked with putting together an intergovernmental group that will develop a visa policy for Guyana. He said so far, he has received a report on the visa application process, “to give a data understanding of the system.”

According to the minister, once that is completed the ministry would improve its online presence as to what is needed for a visa in Guyana, the qualities of the various visas, such as lengths of stay involved, entitlements and extensions associated with either a visitor’s visa, business or any other. This, he said, has the potential to improve foreign investment when access to the country’s requirements is easy for the investor. Felix said too that he is aware of allegations under the past regime of visa sales, and bribes demanded for the access of the important doc-

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix

uments. He noted however that under his watch, “… once persons in the employ of the state are found operating in a manner which suggests that they have gone outside of the rules, and acted unprofessionally, then the system will take prompt and effective action to ensure that those involved are dealt with condignly”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure “I FEEL ok, kinda hyper actually,” I responded to my family and friends as I settled into bed to relax. It was only ten in the morning but I had already completed my second round of chemotherapy that day; pretty much all that was on my’to do list’for the week.

I was thankful that my IV was inserted successfully the first time and I was kept in good spirits by the usual friendly and funny conversations shared amongst the oncology patients in my chemo sessions. It is ironic that in this place some of the most upbeat, life enthusiasts could be found, albeit with a line stuck in their arm but that’s really saying something, isn’t it?

I did my second chemo with the same ladies I met on my first round, this helped to make the process less rigid and less uncomfortable for

me --we shared information with each other on healthy eating and remedies that helped to ease some of the chemo side effects like nausea (ginger tea). It’s like belonging to a class and developing a similar friendship and camaraderie amongst ourselves and the nurses.

It’s like we’re all trying to study for the same subject but we’re unprepared,so we swap information hoping to score points with our bodies.

The only difference is the class is cancer and whether you fail or pass it ultimately has nothing to do with how much you know or how prepared you are but it’s a special bond between strangers, something that only comes from sharing in the exact experience.

Hey! who would have thought Chemo was a group activity? Sarcasm aside, I now understand why it’s

done in a group settingthere’s power in numbers and the positive energy from our group certainly helps each of us to get through the 2-3 hours, feeling good about ourselves, and knowing that we’re all fighting together; this reinforces our faith in whatever faith we believe in-- because this is the type of strength and passion that churches are built upon.

As I got comfortable in bed, I removed the head scarf I had worn that morning to therapy. Because I had a crew-cut my hair was no longer shedding profusely all over my clothes and pillows;it had actually upped it exit strategy from my head.

I could now rub my fingers along my scalp and just ‘erase’ away the hair. Of course the day I discovered that, being the comic I am, I tried to ‘write’ (by erasing the hair) a few choice words

on my scalp but that was an epic failure, instead I was left with some different-sized random lines that looked like binary codes.

My headache seemed to be starting as I strained to read something on my laptop. This was too soon though, wasn’t it? I didn’t get the headache or the upset/nauseated feeling until the next day after chemo on my first round and it was the same dosage. As the headache intensified I closed the laptop and took a sip of coconut water. ‘Ugh... what is this’, I thought as my mouth started to taste weird.I popped a ginger mint to ease the queasiness I was starting to experience.

And then it hit me. I’m such a dum dum sometimes, it was only obvious that the side effects would come on stronger and faster this timemy body had gone into the

second round of treatment already beaten up by the first. My immune system had been fully armored the first time,so to speak,but now the chemo was interacting with an immune system weakened from the first fight and judging from how my body was starting to react,my immunity was definitely under threat from outside sources.

I’m not sure what was more upsetting:the fact that my side effects were coming at me faster and stronger than before or that I couldn’t do much about it except drink some gravol and sleep the day away. Sleeping the day away is like a prison sentence to me, I don’t like napping in the day. I depend on physical activity and mental stimulation to enjoy my day and now here I was being forced to spend at least 70% of it with my eyes closed.

Dinner, which I ate

around 7pm,comprised of breakfast really as I was too nauseated to stomach anything more than toasted bread and tea. A certain heaviness fell on me and I couldn’t shake it. ‘If I feel so horrible and this is the first round my body is experiencing with a lowered immune system, what’s going to happen when I get to the 4th? And that’s just half way through.Could I even complete eighth rounds of this toxin?

I tossed and turned all night, the dream version of myself slowly walking through a thick expanse of large, beautiful trees but the walking soon turned to frantic running and the trees lost their unusually bright hue. My dream collapsed as I realised I wasn’t just running, I was being chased. Next week: Managing chemotherapy as a normal part of life.

Sugar workers in march at Enmore Silver Hill biker killed in

--cite rumours of estate closure WORKERS attached to the Enmore Sugar Estate on Monday morning staged a four-mile march, citing “indications” that closure of the estate has begun.

For weeks, the workers and their union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) have contended that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuco) and government are making moves to close the estate. At the same time, government has not made a formal decision as regards the future of the estate.

In a release issued on Monday, GAWU said that a large contingent of East Demerara Estate workers, a combination of both La Bonne Intention (LBI) and Enmore estates, accompanied by residents, marched through Enmore and along the Railway Embankment to the community of Enterprise, a four-mile stretch.

GAWU said that the march was intended to call attention to the plight of the workers and to express

“strong opposition” to the closure of East Demerara Estate.

The union said that there are indications that the closure process has begun.”

For some weeks now, cane planting at the Estate has been stopped, which portends that no plans are being made for crops beyond this year,” the union said.

According to the union 2,222 employees work at the Enmore estate, which is currently a major source of employment and plays a significant role in maintaining the rural economy of many communities throughout the East Coast of Demerara.

The union said that the perceived closure of the estate is “being done without any assessment of the social and economic consequences that would attend to the sad decision.” In addition, the union noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) advised the government that such an assessment is an essential element in addressing the industry’s future.

GAWU contends that

while government and the management of GuySuco has identified the implementation of non-sugar ventures, such as orchard crops, legumes, rice, livestock, dairy cattle and aquaculture to replace sugar, such ventures have not started at the now-closed Wales sugar estate.

“There is no need to divert lands away from sugar cultivation”, the union said, noting that the East Demerara Estate, which is comprised of the Enmore and La Bonne Intention (LBI), occupies important places in the sugar industry.

According to GAWU, the industry is more than capable of overcoming its present difficulties.

Over the years, government has made several interventions to ensure the survival of the cash-strapped GuySuco.

As recent as last week, a $1B bailout was approved by the government to ensure payments were made to sugar workers, who were planning to protest over the non-payment of wages.

Linden Highway crash

TWENTY-ONE-YEAROLD Raymond Isaacs of Silver Hill Linden-Soesdyke Highway died Monday afternoon when his motor cycle collided with a car on Adventure Public Road, also on the highway.

According to Commander of E’ Division, Fizul Karimbaksh, the cyclist, who is a resident of Silver Hill, was proceeding north along the eastern carriageway around 16:40 hrs, when he made a turn into the western carriageway and landed into the path of motor car HC 7383. According to reports, the driver of the motorcar, Stephen Pearson, of 31 West Watooka, Linden, was driving at a fast pace when he collided with Isaacs. He was tossed some distance away to the western parapet, where he suffered severe injuries.

According to one hire

car driver plying the Linden to Georgetown route, the accident occurred quickly and to him Isaacs died on the spot. “All I see is this man fly up in the air and bam on the ground,” the driver said.

He was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Pearson has been taken into custody at the Mackenzie Police Station, where he is assisting with investigations.

This is the third fatal accident to occur on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway for 2017, and the 7th reported accident. Only Saturday evening an accident occurred, where several persons were injured and rushed to the Mackenzie Hospital. Less than two weeks prior, 29-year-old Simon Paul of Victoria, East Coast Demerara also died after colliding into

motor lorry, GSS 5346 in the vicinity of Yarrowkabra. That was the third accident that occurred on the highway within one week.

One the 19th March, four children and an adult were injured when the driver of vehicle PSS 7468 in which they were travelling from Linden to Georgetown lost control around Yarrowkabra, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, when the vehicle crashed into the trees on the parapet off the carriageway. There continue to be calls for the Linden-Soesdyke Highway to be equipped with street lights and major repairs to be done to the road. Calls are also being made for drivers plying the route to stop speeding as this too has been deemed a major cause for accidents on the main thoroughfare.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Repairs to Stabroek Market Wharf…

City Council yet to find relocation spots for vendors

The Stabroek Market wharf

By Telesha Ramnarine MAYOR Patricia ChaseGreen said Monday that although construction work will soon begin on the Stabroek Market Wharf, the City Council is yet to find an appropriate place to relocate vendors.

Speaking with reporters following the statutory meeting at City Hall, the mayor said:“If the wharf is going to start construction in the first quarter, we have to move all those people.

“We have to look; we have to find somewhere with sanitary facilities and running water, which puts a strain on council’s finances.

“Where do we get the money to find a new site to put people with the limited cash we have?”

Chase-Green said she is leaving it up to the Markets Public Health Committee to come up with a solution to the relocation problem.

“There are persons now who decided they would sell

around Parliament Building; no respect!” the Mayor said, adding: “It’s not the Council’s desire to prevent anyone from earning a living. You can earn a living, but you have to earn it under rules and regulations.”

Meanwhile, approximately $400M is to be spent on rehabilitating the dilapidated Stabroek Market Wharf, Town Clerk Royston King had told Chronicle in the past.

He had noted that the unsightly structure is soon to be torn down and replaced with a mall-like facility, complete with a boardwalk and entertainment area.

The Town Clerk had said that subsequent to the passage of the 2016 Budget, which will include the proposed sum for the project, the M&CC and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure will commence demolition and subsequent reconstruction of the wharf.

“Vendors ought not to worry, as they will be given first preference to return,

once the project has been completed. However, due to the modernisation, they will be asked to pay a little more rent,” King had explained at the time.

The portion of the stelling which faces the Demerara River has, for years, been an eyesore for the thousands who use the speedboat service every day.

The collapse of a portion of the roof three Septembers ago did not deter vendors from conducting business there.

Many stallholders have been determined to hold on to the spots they have occupied in this facility over the years, and some have even been occupying those spots for decades.

“The facility is not only an eyesore; it is ruinous and dangerous to the health and lives of persons who use it,” King said.

The M&CC has drafted a plan on which is depicted a newly modernised wharf designed by Kabila Hollingsworth, which will surely vanquish the eyesore and bring a better sight for the public.

Search continues for missing Mabaruma senior citizen POLICE and relatives of senior citizen, Eustace Marcellino, searched in vain for the missing man at Mabaruma on Monday and the man’s daughter remains a prime suspect in his disappearance.

The 85-year-old man went missing two Sundays ago and relatives later discovered his shoes and a cutlass some distance away from his North West District home. He resided opposite the Guyana Defence Force base, Camp Everard, near the Mabaruma Airstrip.

On Monday, the man’s daughter told this newspaper that she and her siblings travelled from Georgetown over the weekend to search for her father. She said a search commenced on Monday morning and according to her, traces of blood were discovered on the

man’s net at his home where he lived with one of his daughters.

She said the police visited the home and took the net, as well as pieces of the man’s clothing and a sheet, which were found aback the home in an area which was freshly de-bushed. Police Commander, Rabindanauth Budhram told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that the man’s disappearance is being investigated by ranks at Mabaruma.

The man’s 43-year old daughter was questioned by the police and a statement was taken from her as regards his disappearance. The man lived with his daughter and relatives became worried about his safety after information surfaced that she visited the Post Office in the area one day after he

went missing and collected his pension by allegedly forging his signature.

According to a relative, Marcellino had been in a feeble state for months. The suspect has been in the habit of “beating” the elderly man and since his disappearance on April 02, relatives believe he may have been harmed.

Another of the man’s daughter told this newspaper that Marcellino’s belongings were packed in a fowl pen aback the home, where he was last seen. She said that her sister has been uncooperative as regards finding their father.

The woman called on the police to question her sister again since the woman has told residents that she was planning to leave the area for Suriname.

Petroleum Bill for House …to be sent to select committee The Petroleum Commission of Guyana Bill 2017 - the legal architecture for the Petroleum Commission of Guyana – is set to be taken to a Special Select Committee following its tabling in the National Assembly, the Ministry of Natural Resources announced on Monday.

The Bill, which was the subject of consultation for a number of months, will be laid in the National Assembly on Thursday by Minister of Natural Resources. It is expected that the Bill – the first in a raft of newly developed legislation for the oil and gas sector will undergo further scrutiny and refining during a period in the Special Select Committee. It has already undergone a number of changes following consultations with various stakeholders.

According to the ministry the Bill has 51 Clauses and will create the Petroleum Commission that will have the responsibility of monitoring and ensuring compliance with the policies, laws and agreements for petroleum operations. It will also, inter alia, be responsible for ensuring compliance with health, safety and environmental standards and ensure local content and local participation in all of the activities.

The Petroleum Commission will also have an advisory role to the Minister on matters related to the conduct

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

of the industry and will be managed by a Board of Directors that will comprise experts in various fields as well as representatives of civil society and the parliamentary opposition. The Commission will also ensure that it accesses the necessary research into the industry so as not to be reliant purely on data that the petroleum operators provide. The Ministry of Natural Resources expects that the Select Committee process will be completed, and the Bill passed into law, before the annual recess commences in August 2017.

Government last month appointed Dr. Jan Mangal, an expert in offshore and civil engineering, as Petroleum Advisor in the Ministry of the Presidency. A Guyanese by birth, Dr. Mangal brings with him a wealth of technical expertise and experiences in the area of oil and gas de-

velopment. Dr. Mangal said that he will be looking at the issue of energy-generation in a holistic manner in keeping with the country’s ‘green agenda’. “It’s not only the power sector and the green agenda but, it’s also about infrastructure, the revenue from the petroleum and the needs of the sector as whole…

The power sector in Guyana also needs to be looked at in terms of how natural gas can be used, instead of diesel or whatever is being used right now,” he said.

He said that his first task will be to engage with officials of Exxon Mobil at its Guyana location, as well as at its Houston, Texas operations, where he is based, to get a full understanding of their development plans and try to match that with the country’s objectives. He will be helping with the Ministry of Natural Resources with its work with other companies that are engaged in offshore drilling in Guyana.

Dr. Mangal has a Doctorate in Offshore Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Edinburg. He has been working in marine and oil and gas industries for the past 18 years in various parts of the world, including the United States, West Africa, and the Philippines.

It’s been a struggle

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

--but well worth the while, says teen suicide prevention champion, former Miss Guyana World, Lisa Punch

By Shauna Jemmott IT’S been a struggle all right, but she’s not about to give up on her goal of stopping teenage suicide in its tracks here once and for

all, says former Miss Guyana World, Lisa Punch.

The President of the local non-governmental organisation, Prevention of Teenage Suicide (POTS) Guyana, which took its title from her

‘Beauty with a Purpose’ project for the Miss World 2015 Pageant, Punch has, since her return from her international engagement been quite busy.

For starters, she’s been meeting with government officials and other dignitar-

ies, with many of whom she has had the opportunity of discussing what she intends to achieve through her campaign.

And while she can safely boast of having a zealous team of counsellors and talking quite a few young people out of giving up on life and ending it all, she’s yet finding it tough to develop strategic links with like-minded organisations and acquire the financing necessary to sustain the work of the organisation; tough to the point where POTS now has no office space from which to operate.

But though the lack of financing has put some of the organisation’s signature projects, like its school sensitisation tours and 24-hour hotline service, on hold, POTS is now preparing to take suicide prevention to a whole new level, by taking their message to the communities.

NO LETTING UP And according to Lisa, challenges or no challenges, she has no intention of ever letting up.

With that resolve in mind, POTS Guyana is now calling on the government and the private sector to become more involved in supporting its work.

“Certain ministries are involved, but not enough.

They’re involved, yes; they’re there to advise and stuff like that... but they’re not actively involved,” Punch told the Guyana Chronicle in a recent interview.

The organisation is also planning to form suicide awareness clubs in schools across the country.

“We intend to start the clubs in all the schools, but we’re just awaiting the Ministry of Education to approve the policy document that we submitted to them earlier this year,” Punch said.

One of the main areas she has her sights set on is Baramita, the community in which teenage suicide is

reportedly the highest. But it is a dream of hers, however, to service the entire Region One (Barimas-Waini) and not just Baramita.

Asked what their school sensitisation tours are about, Punch said, “We talk about awareness and being your brother’s keeper, and signs you look for in a person who might be thinking of hurting themselves...

WELL RECEIVED “It’s been very well received, because even welfare officers would tell me that in the community that they’re working, these kids would tell them this is what they learnt…

“They’ve commended us on the job that we’re doing, so we know that it’s working, and people are talking about it.”

Meanwhile, POTS Guyana’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), McCalman, confirmed that the organisation has recognised the need for more active involvement from the government and other organisations and is also now inviting teachers to become actively involved in curbing suicide among school-aged children.

She expressed concern for the lack of Welfare Officers and Guidance Counselors within the school system, and the need for wider consultations with families and members of the communities.

“We’re calling on the teachers now to be involved; these clubs are very essential, because it’s like you have a peer group in our school, so you have that support system in your school.

“When we look around in some schools, there isn’t any welfare officer; there isn’t any guidance counsellor. Many of the guidance counselors are just there to part fights; there isn’t anyone to counsel students...

If the student has any problems at home, there isn’t anyone there. Even the teachers sometimes, they are responsible for the trauma that a lot of students go through,” McCalman said, adding: “What we’re working on currently is not just to counsel students and teach them about the warning signs, but to also go into the communities and reach out to the parents as well.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Parika fatal accident...

Mahdia Landing murder...

Family plans funeral Suspect to face charges today instead of wedding

A 21-YEAR-OLD man, who was in the process of planning a wedding, was killed on Monday morning following an accident at Mora, Parika, on the East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Dead is Marlon Gobin of Parika Public Road, EBE. Two other men, said to be friends of his, were injured in the accident and rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital for treatment. One was discharged, but the other was later transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Gobin’s body was taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home at Vreed-en-Hoop to await a post mortem examination.

Reports indicate that Gobin, a painter and Troweltex contractor, died as a result of injuries he sustained at the back of his head.

The driver and owner of the vehicle, PVV 438, in which Gobin and his two friends were travelling when the accident occurred, has been identified as Ricky

Dead: Marlon Gobin

Ramnauth, also of Parika.

Police say the vehicle appeared to be travelling at a fast rate when it hit a ridge at the edge of the roadway, resulting in the vehicle turning turtle and plummeting into a nearby trench.

Residents say because the trenches in the area were recently cleaned, the accumulation of mud and debris along the shoulders of the roadway have begun to harden and form a thick ridge.

The vehicle was reported-

ly proceeding south along the Mora Public Road when the accident occurred.

Residents also say that it appears that its occupants were intoxicated, since the car was seen earlier in the day at a rum shop in the area.

Reports are that when the vehicle turned turtle, it pinned its occupants in the trench, which in places is 10 feet deep and seven feet wide.

Mohan Gobin, called “Massive”, told this publi-

cation that the family was making arrangements for a wedding for his son later this year. Unfortunately, he said, those plans will now have to be changed to accommodate funeral arrangements.

“His mother last spoke to him at 08:15AM Monday morning, and at 08:30 someone called us and said that there was an accident,” he related. Gobin said he’d initially thought that his son was asleep in his bed.

The ill-fated vehicle at the Parika Police Station compound

A MAN is expected to appear in court today to answer the charge of murder in the fatal stabbing last week of 30-year-old Reginald Charles at Mahdia Landing.

The suspect was arrested in the wee hours of the morning last Thursday, shortly after the altercation that led to the murder.

Reports are that sometime around 02:00 to 04:00hrs Charles was embroiled in a heated argument with some

men, when one of them broke a beer bottle and stabbed him in the neck.

Commander of “F” Division, Ravindradat Budhram said detectives are working assiduously to ensure that all cases and matters are addressed condignly.

He explained that within the last few weeks, police within the division, with the help of the public, were able to solve a number of murders.

Police investigating East Coast fatal accident

A 21-YEAR-OLD woman found panting for breath on the Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara Public Road on Sunday night was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Dead is Nellie Grimmond of Happy Acres, East Coast Demerara, who, according to the police, may have been

struck down while trying to cross the road.

Other reports indicate that Grimmond, who was returning from an outing, had just disembarked a minibus and was attempting to cross the road when she was hit by a speeding vehicle.

Such was the impact, sources say, she was pitched into the air before landing on the roadside.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Mayor says City Hall cannot - praises new deputy for have two heads his maturity, diligence

By Telesha Ramnarine RE-ELECTED Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase-Green yesterday said that her new deputy, Mr. Lionel Jaikarran, is coming to the City Council with “much more maturity” than his predecessor.

mer Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan should be the one to hand over his office to him, but Duncan was not at yesterday’s meeting for reasons unknown.

“The reason for his absence today, I really can’t say. I have not received any correspondence from him,” Chase-Green

meeting.

During her remarks, the mayor was making reference to Duncan when she said that no organisation can be run by two heads, as this would result in confusion.

“The Council is a policy-making body, and if by the majority decision

Chronicle.

“ I t ’s t h e s a m e friendship I would have extended to the former Deputy Mayor, but there were a lot of tantrums being thrown around, whereby if it doesn’t go my way, it doesn’t go anywhere at all.

“I think the new Dep-

Town Clerk Royston King at Monday’s statutory meeting

A toast to the election and re-election

It was the first time that the Council was sitting after Chase-Green and Jaikarran were sworn in by President David Granger at State House.

Jaikarran had earlier told the mayor in a light conversation that it was his desire that the for-

told the Guyana Chronicle.

Contacted for a comment afterwards, Duncan told this publication that although he has returned to Guyana from official business abroad, he wished to offer no comments on the reason he stayed away from the

we agree that this is where we would go forward, we can’t have someone else coming out saying, ‘I don’t agree’ when you would have fully participated.

You’re having confusion; no organisation can be run by two heads,” ChaseGreen told the Guyana

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor Khame Sharma offering congratulatory remarks (Delano Williams Photos)

uty Mayor is coming with much more maturity,” she added.

Chase-Green said that apart from being understanding, Jaikarran is one councillor who tries to bring solutions to the Council following deliberations at a committee level.

“I look forward to working more with him; we’ll be a good team. In the last year, people were more or less finding themselves... and recognised that it was not what they probably expected when they came in.

With that one year, the future looks much brighter.”

The mayor said she is looking forward to seeing action on the ground and not councillors taking to the media to speak of their plans.

She said it is hurtful to her when “evil, wicked tongues” speak untrue things that damage people’s character. She advised the councillors to ask questions before they go out and speak ill of the council.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Jaikarran thanked

Minister David Patterson and Councillors Duncan and Phillip Smith, whom he said assisted him tremendously. He said the future of Guyana is in safe hands, if it is dependent on young people of Duncan’s caliber.

Jaikarran, a Constituency One Councillor, said although there would be times when there would be disagreements, he is hoping that all issues would be resolved in a dignified manner.

A t t h e s w e a ring-in ceremony recently, President Granger had urged the mayors and deputy mayors to ensure that all citizens are aware of the decisions that they are taking since in the final analysis, they are the ones affected.

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and her deputy, Mr. Lionel Jaikarran at Monday’s statutory meeting

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Region 2 leaders urged to cooperate

DURING a lunch meeting at State House, Anna Regina, Essequibo, at the weekend with several regional community leaders and activists, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, urged greater cooperation among them in the interest of progress and development in Region Two – Pomeroon/Supenaam.

the regional State House, which was sponsored by Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo.

Kites and Easter gifts were distributed. The exercise formed part of Mrs. Nagamootoo’s ongoing charity work. Another children’s Easter event is carded for Berbice this weekend.

At the function were representatives of rice farmers and millers, and

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and his wife Sita Nagamootoo mingles with the children, who attended the Easter concert (OPM photo)

The Prime Minister commented that he was heartened that the region remained committed to rice, but had also diversified into other crops and aquaculture, among other areas. He reminded the leaders that the Coalition

the issue of price for paddy was raised. While one prominent miller disclosed that the price per bag of $2,300 was reasonable, a farmer urged an increase to at least $2,600. Rice farmers expressed satisfaction with

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Mrs Sita Nagamootoo pose for a photograph with Regional Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt and Vice Chair Nandranie Coonjah, following a brief meeting (OPM photo)

Government is committed to providing support to the region so that it can develop and thrive as one of the main food producing regions in Guyana.

The Prime Minister’s visit coincided with a Children’s Easter concert on the forecourt of

improved attention to drainage and irrigation, and new infrastructure works, which should result both in expanding the area under cultivation and getting better paddy yield from the new crop. They also praised the initiatives

taken to sell paddy to Mexico and even though the quota is not a large

one, farmers are grateful. After lunch, Regional Chairman, Devanand

Ramdatt, Vice-Chair Nandranie Coonjah and Regional Executive Offi-

cer, Rupert Hopkinson, met with the Prime Minister. (GINA)

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City Councillors to peruse parking meter contract tomorrow

By Telesha Ramnarine

THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will be consulting for the first time Wednesday on the controversial parking meter project that the government recently suspended for three months.

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen told reporters on the sidelines of Monday’s statutory meeting that the entire contract will be perused by councillors, and details such as cost, meters in front of schools and hospitals, etc. will be fine-tuned.

“This is the first consultation with councillors, and then we will move on to a wider cross-section of people,” the mayor told reporters.

Meanwhile, at a con-

sultation with business owners last week, Councillor and Member of the City Council’s Finance Committee,Junior Garrett said the parking meters are here to stay.

During the course of the meeting, Bourda businessman Suresh Narine said he could not see himself supporting the parking meter system, since 80 per cent of the profits will be going to Smart City Solutions (SCS), the company that was granted the concession by M&CC to install the meters.

In response to Narine’s observation, Garrett had made it clear that like it or not, the parking meters are here to stay.

He later told the Guyana Chronicle that in saying so,

all he’d done was to merely repeat what Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had said recently during a radio programme.

“It has to remain!

How are you going to have development in a country without order!”

Garrett said, adding: “People are driving wild on the road; all of the ABC (American, British and Canadian) countries that help us pay parking fees! Why shouldn’t we!”

Garrett said that parking meters date back to 1966 when the Council was in negotiations with a company called Sandbach Parker to have them installed.

He is of the view, however, that the cost to park will “definitely” have to be reduced.

Meanwhile, Town Clerk

Royston King had said during last Thursday’s meeting with members of the business community,in response to Narine’s comment,that the City Council had everything to gain from the parking meter deal, as it stands to make 20 per cent of the profits without having spent a penny.

“The spaces that we’re getting nothing from now we could’ve been getting 20 per cent; some people are even selling on them but we are getting nothing,” King said.

Former Deputy Mayor,Sherod Duncan had referred to King, Garrett, the mayor, and Councillor Oscar Clarke as the “fantastic four” following their overseas trip to look into the matter of parking meters.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Rose Hall man...

From page 2

street.

“By de time meh reach, me get wan call that de house deh pun fire.”

The woman related amidst tears that Seanarie had threatened to burn down the house on numerous occasions with her and the kids in it. He’d even attempted it on at least three occasions while she and the children were asleep, but she’d somehow managed to wake up in time and put the fire out.

Neighbours say they’d heard the two arguing, but didn’t pay them any mind as that was a common occurrence. They’d even seen him on the veranda at one point, but moments after “Dimple” left, he reportedly locked himself in, and the next thing they knew, they saw smoke coming

from inside the house.

Within minutes, they say, the house was engulfed in flames, and by the time the fire tender arrived, it was all over.

With the house gone, “Dimple” said she’s not sure what her next move is going to be; but what she does know, however, is that she’s thankful for life and her children.

And in spite of his faults, she’s still hoping that, somehow, Seanarine is alive and did not perish in the fire.

“Meh know he frighten death and de police, but meh hope he still alive and nah dead in de fire,” she said.

Police are investigating, and up to press time no one could give details about the whereabouts of Seanarine.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Fisherman charged with We do not have taxpayers’ records- Finance Ministry breaking into Cuban Embassy, city business … rubbishes Guyana Times story A FISHERMAN accused of breaking into two city businesses was remanded to prison on Monday by City Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Devon Hubbert, 31, called Devon Clark of Kitty, Georgetown, denied that between March 25 and March 26, 2017 at High Street, Kingston he broke and entered the Embassy of Cuba and stole a 32 inch television valued $66,833, along with a gas cylinder worth $15,000.

He further denied that between January 20 and January 22, 2017 at Middle Street, Georgetown, he broke and entered the Strata Gold Guyana Inc and stole $300,000 cash, a $19,500 cellphone, along with an I-pod valued

$60,000.

The unrepresented man told the court that he is the sole breadwinner of his family of 4.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Shawn Gonsalves strongly opposed to bail based on the seriousness and quantum of items involved. The prosecutor further pointed out that Hubbert admitted to the crimes under caution when he was arrested by the police. He was remanded to prison until May 8, 2017.

Meanwhile, two men who reportedly received the stolen television from Hubbert were also charge separately and released on $70,000 bail

by Magistrate Latchman.

Terrence Jordon, 27 of Al-

boystown denied that between March 25 and April 6, 2017 at Georgetown he received a 32” Westinghouse television, valued $66,833, property of the Embassy of Cuba from Devon Hubbert, knowing same to be stolen or unlawfully obtained.

Additionally, Walter Charles, 41 of North Sophia, denied that he received the same television from Jordon. Both men are vendors at Bourda Market and were unrepresented when they appeared before the court. They told the court that they had no knowledge that the television set was stolen. The matter was adjourned until May 8, 2017.

THE Ministry of Finance said it has noted with deep concern a Guyana Times article captioned “GRA’s release of tax info unethical – Ram” which reports the Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine as saying that, ‘Records in the Ministry of Finance show that many of the institutions have been slipping on their tax requirements.’

In the same article, Chartered Accountant and Attorney at Law Christopher Ram has reportedly expressed concern that ‘The Ministry of Finance has records of private schools

tax information and has since called for clarity.’

In a statement issued on Monday,the Ministry of Finance said it does not have the records of any tax payer as insinuated by the article. It explained that “as part of the efforts to broaden the tax base, in the context of reducing the VAT rate and providing relief in other areas, the Ministry of Finance, during the Budget 2017 exercise, required data on various sectors, activities and institutions, one of which was private schools. The data in respect of the private schools were limited to the number

of them registered in the system and their earnings. The clear intent was to examine the amount of additional revenue that could be garnered from the imposition of the VAT on this source. “ “The Ministry of Finance wishes to reassure citizens that the confidentiality and integrity of their tax information are zealously guarded by the Guyana Revenue Authority, unlike a period not so long ago when taxpayers’ information was being shared with individuals associated with the Opposition Party,” the statement concluded.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Westford, Cummings to face trial for fraud, attempted larceny ON May 15, 2017, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Parliamentarian and former Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford and her former personnel officer, Margaret Cummings, will go on trial in relation to charges of alleged attempted larceny and forgery of documents relating to the purchase of eight state vehicles.

The trial will be presided over by City Magistrate, Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Police Inspector,

Bharrat Mangru is slated to call more than nine witnesses, who will testify on behalf of the prosecution.

In August 2015, the former minister was placed on a total of $800,000 bail after she pleaded not guilty to the charges, which state that between July 17, 2014 and June 23, 2015, she attempted to transfer eight state-owned vehicles to four persons.

Westford’s former aid, Margaret Cummings was also slapped with four counts of forgery. Cum-

mings also pleaded not guilty to four charges which alleged that she forged documents for the purchase of the eight motor vehicles.

She was also released on a total of $1.2M bail.

In June 2015, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, had told the media that it was brought to his attention that some documents were sent to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), purportedly signed by Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Hydar Ally.

This was done under

Ally’s letterhead, but signed by someone else. It was Ally who directed Harmon to the discrepancy in the paperwork forwarded to

GRA for the transfer of eight vehicles. In light of the overwhelming evidence, the vehicles were returned to the government.

Meanwhile, in April 2016, Westford and Cummings were each released on $4.8M bail after denying a total of 24 charges which alleged that they stole over $639M, while being employed in the Public Service. This matter is currently before City Magistrate, Judy Latchman.

According to court facts, Westford was employed as Minister of Public Service from 20012015, while her co-accused was the principal personnel officer of the Ministry. Cummings was also in charge of the Ministry’s accounts department.

Berbice man charged with rape --teen reportedly pregnant RAYAN Ramsarran known as ‘CoCo’, a hire car driver appeared before Magistrate Marrissa Mittleholzer at the Reliance Court, in East Canje, charged with rape.

Ramsarran, 30, formerly Lot 58 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, and of Betsy Ground, East Canje, was not required to plead to the charge, which alleged that between December 1 and 31, 2016 and January 21, 2017, at Lot 58 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice, he engaged in sexual penetration of a child, who was 14 years

old.

Ramsarran was placed on $175,000 bail and the case was transferred to the New Amsterdam Court, where the matter was fixed for hearing on April 24, 2017. The Prosecution’s case, which will be presented by Inspector Orin Joseph, is expected to lead evidence which will reveal that the Grade Seven Student commenced having a sexual relationship with the defendant during December 2016.

On January 21, 2017, the teen informed her mother that she was going to the defendant’s house and she was

instructed not to stay long there. On February 1, 2017, having returned home from school during the lunch break, the mother observed the teenager vomiting. The teen blamed the sickness on an egg ball, which she had eaten. However, the vomiting continued for several days and as a result, she did a pregnancy test, which came out positive.

The matter was reported to Central Police Station and an investigation was launched; following advice from Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the man was charged.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

US, Canada and Mexico confirm joint 2026 World Cup hosting bid THE first edition of the 48-team World Cup could take place across North America with the US, Canada and Mexico combining for a hosting bid

for the world’s biggest sporting event in 2026.

FIFA announced the decision to expand international football’s premier competition by 16 sides last January, and the North American trio became the first countries to make their interest in hosting the event official at a media conference in New York yesterday.

CONCACAF is in line to receive six qualification spots for the expanded World Cup, meaning only three automatic places would remain available if the US, Canada and Mexico are successful. The qualification proposals are set to be ratified in May. The US has co-hosted the Gold Cup with Mexico in 1993 and 2003, while the most recent edition saw Canada share responsibilities with their neighbours to the south.

The World Cup has taken place in Mexico twice

- in 1970 and 1986 - while the US was the venue for the 1994 edition.

US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said: “The last time I stood here (One World Trade Center) was to say goodbye, goodbye to the Copa America.

“Now today we are saying hello, hello to something else, and what we are saying hello to is the 2026 World Cup and our efforts to bring that back to the United States, Canada and Mexico. We look forward to welcoming the world

after what we hope is a very successful bid. Before this conference is over we will sign a memorandum of understanding between the three of our countries, signifying we will bid together.”

“The general parameters of that bid are 80 games, three quarters of which will be played in the United States - 60 games in the United States - and 10 each in Canada and Mexico.

The final decision on those things is up to FIFA, but that is our proposal and our agreement together. The

election of Donald Trump as US President has heightened political tensions with neighbours Mexico, but Gulati insisted Trump supported and actively encouraged their involvement in the bid.”

“We have the full support of the United States government in this project.

The president of the United States is fully supportive and encouraged us to have this joint bid,” added Gulati.

He is especially pleased that Mexico is part of this bid and that’s in the last few days we’ve got further encouragement on that. We’re not at all concerned about some of the other issues that some people may raise.

“We looked at bidding alone and decided in the end we wanted to bid with our partners in North America and we have strong encouragement from President Trump to that very end.”

Kings XI overcome de Villiers’ one-man show

... KINGS XI Punjab trounced Royal Challengers Bangalore by eight wickets yesterday despite AB de Villiers thumping 89 not out from 46 balls AN extraordinary innings from the fit-again AB de Villiers proved in vain yesterday as Kings XI Punjab made it two wins from two in the Indian Premier League with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore. de Villiers, who replaced Chris Gayle on his return from a back injury, moved into overdrive in the closing stages of RCB’s innings to finish unbeaten on 89 from 46 balls with nine sixes, his last 58 runs coming from just 18 deliveries.

However, Bangalore were able to post only 1484, having made painfully slow progress up until the 17th over, and that total was comfortably overhauled by the Kings XI. Hashim Amla underpinned a successful chase with 58 not out from 38 deliveries, while Glenn Maxwell’s 22-ball 43 ensured victory was secured with more than five overs unused.

Both Amla and Maxwell were dropped, on 20 and 13 respectively, as the Royal Challengers delivered a disappointing display in the field.

There was plenty to ad-

AB de Villiers during the IPL match yesterday mire in the work of the Kings XI’s unbeaten batsmen, who each cleared the ropes on at least three occasions, while Manan Vohra also impressed at the top of the order with 34 from 21 balls.

However, the standout performance of the match undoubtedly came in a losing cause as de Villiers demonstrated why he is viewed as one of the world’s

leading limited-overs batsmen.

The 33-year-old was initially forced to rein in his attacking instincts as Bangalore slumped to 22-3 amid fine bowling from Axar Patel (1-12), Sandeep Sharma (1-26) and Varun Aaron (2-21).

Mandeep Singh hung around to make 28 before falling to a superb diving catch from wicketkeep-

er Wriddhiman Saha, running back towards the boundary, off Aaron. de Villiers then launched a devastating assault in the company of Stuart Binny (18 not out), striking a series of enormous maximums over midwicket and long-off to ensure Bangalore took 68 from the last four overs, having made just 80 runs in the previous 16.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Jeffrey wins 6th Guyana to be represented by U-23 and Elite cycling teams at Pan-Am Road Races annual Baker Memorial

THE Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) has selected a three-member Under-23 team, as well as a four-member Elite team to contest the Pan-American Road Cycling Championships, scheduled for May 4-7 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

According to reports, the two teams were selected based on their performances during the 2017 cycling season that started in January.

Spearheading the Elite team is Team Coco’s Jamal John who has been in tremendous form from the start of the 2017 season with two recent outstanding victories from three starts and placing among the top six finishers in another four races.

Also included in the Elite team are: John’s team-

cycle road race

Jamal John

mate Hamza Eastman and veteran Junior Niles along with Team Evolution’s Paul DeNobrega.

The Elite team will be in action on May 7 in a 170km

event, while the Under-23 selectees which comprise Team United’s Raphael Leung and Andrew Hicks and Kaieteur ’s Dwayne Gibbs Jr. will compete in a

140km event on May 6.

The Pan-American championships will also see Individual Time Trial action but the Guyanese will not be a part of that.

Pakistan’s Younis Khan to retire after West Indies tour

PAKISTAN’S most prolific Test batsman, Younis Khan, will quit international cricket after the three-Test series in the West Indies starting later this month, the 39-yearold said on Saturday.

Younis’ announcement comes after captain Misbah-ul-Haq said on Thursday that the Caribbean tour will be his last.

“People are calling me and asking me not to make any announcement to leave but now is the time,” the former captain said in Karachi.

“No player always remains fit, the motivation never remains the same, so this is the time when Younis should leave the field after the upcoming series in West Indies.”

Younis has played 115 Tests and is Pakistan’s most successful run-scorer in Test cricket. He heads into the West Indies tour needing 23 runs to become his country’s first batsman to score 10 000 Test runs.

“I always tried to be a good ambassador and serve my country to take it one step forward,” Younis added.

“I hope I will be supported so I can complete 10 000 runs before I retire.” In 2009, Younis hit his best Test score of 313 against Sri Lanka, which is the third-highest from a Pakistan batsman in the longest format.

Later that year, he led his country to a World T20 win at Lord’s where they defeated Sri Lanka to lift the trophy.

Younis played 265 one day internationals and bagged 7 249 runs before he retired in 2015. He also played 25 Twenty20 matches for his country.

The batsman was named one of the five Wisden Cricketers-of-the-Year alongside Misbah earlier this week, after bagging a double-century during Pakistan’s 2-2 drawn Test series in England last year.

Raynauth `Obeahman’ Jeffrey AFTER a short stint on the United States cycling circuit, Raynauth `Obeahman’ Jeffrey stamped his authority on the local circuit, winning the feature event of the Linden Bauxite Flyers Cycle Club’s/Baker Memorial Cycle Classic that was staged in Linden on Sunday.

Competing in the feature 80-mile road race, Jeffrey covered the distance in a time of two hours 25 minutes 31 seconds. This was Jeffrey’s second victory in the six-year-old event.

Team Alanis’ Alonzo Ambrose finished second while Jeffrey’s fellow Team Coco’s member, the in-form Jamal John had to settle for third.

The other top three places were filled by Team United’s Andrew Hicks, Team Coco’s Hamza Eastman and Team Evolution’s Paul De-

Nobrega respectively.

Team United’s Briton John won the junior category ahead of Jason Cameron and Adealie Hodge in that order.

Hazina Barrett was the first female to cross the finish line. Abigale Jeffrey was second and last year’s winner Byonka Barker placed third.

Veteran cyclist Junior Niles (Team Coco’s) continued his dominance of the veterans’ Under-50 category by returning a time of two hours 37 minutes 46 seconds to finish ahead of Leer Nunes and Warren McKay respectively.

In the Over-50 veterans category, Andrew Spencer was first to cross the finish line. Second was Garfield Lorimer.

The presentation of prizes to the respective winners was done by members of the Baker family of Linden.

E a r l i e r t h i s y e a r, Younis became the first batsman ever to score centuries in all 11 coun-

tries that have hosted Tests after completing his set with a maiden ton in Australia.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Officials optimistic as CARIFTA team training winds down AS the Guyana team to this year’s Flow CARIFTA Games wrapped up their training over the weekend, officials are optimistic of their chances at the April 15-17 meet in Curacao.

Te a m c o a c h J o h n n y Gravesande said much focus was placed on the newcomers to the Games and getting them to understand the kind of competition to expect in the Dutch Island.

“So far everybody looks on top of their game. We have to look at the newcomers mostly. This being their first time competing on such an arena, with athletes from different countries, they’re a little nervous but all still excited. I think after the first event for each of them, they will be a little more confi-

One of CARIFTA Games team coaches Johnny Gravesande AAG president Aubrey Hutson dent. We know the team have the right energy, and they just have to believe in themselves,” Gravesande said.

Four out of the 12-member team will be making their debut at the regional games,

namely Onasha Rogers (U18 Girls, 100m), Tremaine Brown (U-18 long and triple jumps), Guyana Defence Force’s Anfernee Headecker (U-20 Boys 800m, 1500m) and Tarique Boyle (U-20

Boys high jump).

The team sees the return of last year’s silver medallist Chantoba Bright and Natricia Hooper, who comes back in the triple jump and 400m. In addition to the long and triple jumps, this year Bright is also in the high jump.

As always, ahead of the team’s performance, Athlet-

ics Association of Guyana (AAG) president Aubrey Hutson says he is positive about the team’s chances this year. But things are definitely going to be tough for this humble Guyana side.

Coming up against athletes from all across the Caribbean, especially those Jamaicans, Guyana athletes will have a tall order.

Guyana’s team pales in comparison to Jamaica’s 84-athlete crew, or Trinidad’s 51-athlete collection. The Bahamas are taking a strong 65-man team, and Barbados 28 athletes.

“From the last meet, based on what we have been seeing coming out of the rest of the Caribbean, in terms of their times, I think we are very optimistic about what quite a few of our athletes may be able to do at these championships. I am very optimistic about their performance. And I’m looking

forward for a lot of medals to come back,” Hutson remarked.

Last year Guyana invested in sending a team of 15 athletes, with a return of five medals from only three athletes.

For this year’s team of only qualified athletes, they will only participate in events for which they have qualified.

With their performances so far for the season things are again looking promising for Bright and Hooper.

Bright in her most recent performance touched 6.01m in the long jump, while Hooper season’s best in the triple jump is 13.20m.

There’s also Claudrice McKoy in the Girls’ Under-18 1500m, whose 4:38.56s SB, is right up there with what Jamaica have been churning out.

The team is set to depart Guyana on Thursday afternoon for Curacao.

the West Indies retaining more players especially female players, they have something that they can look forward and see, I should say, the light at the end of the tunnel as a cricketer.”

“Back in the days, the women’s game was unsupported financially, now it is; so the girls can see a clear pathway from kiddy cricket all the way through to schools cricket, club cricket and go all the way up to West Indies senior level,” he contended.

“Is it a clear-cut development pathway? It isn’t, but we are working to bridge those gaps like the

Under-13s, the Under-15s; have tournaments and programmes for those girls so they can move from Under-17 to Under-19 to senior cricket seamlessly.”

Singh also lauded the mixture of boys and girls who took part in Sunday’s display, adding that this is heartening to see both genders being involved in the sport.

The eight schools are Leonora Primary, Enterprise Primary, North Georgetown Primary, St Pius Primary, Redeemer Primary, Blairmont Primary, Greenwich Park Primary and New Diamond/Grove Primary.

Johnson ‘fine-tuning’ team Strong female cricket programme for Caribbean Junior and Cadet in Guyana, says WICB official Table Tennis Championships

By Stephan Sookram Players going through their paces at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall last evening (Tamica Garnett photo) WITH just two days to go until the Caribbean Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championships, here in Guyana, national table tennis coach Linden Johnson is busy fine-tuning the Guyana team preparations.

Including Guyana, 10 teams are scheduled to participate in the tournament which will run from April 13 to 19 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Under Johnson, the team

has been assiduously training at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, trying to put in as much work as possible as the time counts down.

“At present we’re doing the fine-tuning going into the tournament, more mental, and more tactical, and more games situations. We still have some problems with the schooling though, with the CXC coming up for some of the students,” Johnson said.

St Lucia has also been

confirmed to participate at the event, in addition to Barbados, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Jamaica, St Vincent, Suriname and French Guiana, which had earlier confirmed their participation.

As it pertains to the facility, Johnson said that all systems are in place for the hosting of the event.

The players are expected to begin arriving in Guyana tomorrow.

THE women’s cricket programme in Guyana has come in for high praise

by West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Senior Project Officer responsible for Schools Cricket K. J Singh.

Singh, who was speaking at the Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Interval display during the second One Day International between Pakistan and the West Indies in Guyana, contended that there is now a pathway for the ladies in the sport.

“For Guyana, your female programme is a good one. Especially now with

26

By Rawle Toney FÉDÉRATION Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Gianni Infantino will arrive today for what GFF president Wayne Forde is calling a ‘momentous’ visit.

Infantino will arrive with a delegation of six persons including Véron Mosengo-Omba, FIFA Director of Member Associations and Development for Africa and the Caribbean; Mattias Grafstrom, FIFA Adviser to the President and Jasmin Frei, FIFA’s Office Manager, Executive Office of the President.

The Italian will be the third FIFA president to touch down in Guyana, following João Havelange’s stop in 1976 and Sepp Blatter in 2001.

While in Guyana, In-

GFF president Wayne Forde fantino will participate in a ceremonial turning of the sod at the FIFA Forward Project, Providence, along with the Hon. Nicolette Henry, Minister within the Ministry of Education and GFF president Forde.

Speaking with Chronicle Sport yesterday, Forde said

that seeing the FIFA Forward Programme (formerly known as the FIFA Goal Project) get off the ground, especially with the FIFA president turning the sod is his most important agenda being achieved.

In 1999, Guyana, Belize, The Bahamas, Nicaragua

West Indies, Pakistan in ODI decider today

By Rajiv Bisnauth Toby Radford, West Indies’ batting coach, believes the regionally side have the quality to win today’s decisive game in the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

With the series locked at 1-1, Radford is of the opinion that the West Indies must fire from ball one, afterburners maximum, if they are to progress to be the series champions.

Pakistan ended a run of four consecutive ODI defeats with a thumping win in the second ODI. In doing so, they ensured that whatever the outcome of the deciding contest, they will remain in the eighth and final automatic qualification place for the 2019 World Cup at the end of the series.

On the other hand, the West Indies, the 1975 and 1979 world champions, are presently sitting in ninth position on 84 points, five points behind eighth-ranked 1992 winners Pakistan. Bangladesh, who recently drew their three-match series with Sri Lanka, are seventh on 92

points.

A series win for the hosts will further boost their chances for an automatic qualification at the September 30 cutoff date.

England and the seven other top teams will qualify directly for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 with the remaining four teams getting a second chance through a 10-team ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifying tournament in 2018.

“We have to come back very strong on Tuesday (today). It’s a huge game for us. We want to win the series against them - we believe we can do it. We have the quality here to do it but we have to really dig deep and come back firing on all cylinders,” Radford said after the defeat on Sunday.

Friday’s convincing victory in the first ODI proved only a false dawn as West Indies quickly returned to their unpleasant old habits; losing the second game on Sunday by 74 runs.

MOMENTUM SHIFTED Meanwhile, Radford admitted that a momentum shift in the last 10 overs of Pakistan’s innings left his side with “50 runs” more than what they had aimed

to chase.

Azam’s brilliance saw Pakistan post a par total.

It was the 99-run stand between him and Imad Wasim that gave Pakistan the extra runs and at the end, they proved to be too many for the Windies.

The best part about the win for the tourists was that everyone contributed to their success. Azam registered his career best ODI score while Hasan Ali notched up his personal best with the ball.

They dominated proceedings right from the word go. The new ball bowlers struck in time before the spinners then chipped in to reduce the home side to 75-6.

Jason Holder and Ashley Nurse shared a 58-run stand to delay the inevitable but Ali’s heroics ensured that Pakistan sealed the deal in time.

But what will be interesting today is Holder’s leadership as well as the finishing skills will be put through a stern test for the inconsistent hosts.

Holder’s captaincy may not be under immediate threat but a series loss will certainly raise questions about his ability to marshal his resources.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

and St Lucia were listed as countries to benefit from FIFA’s new initiative, the ‘Goal Project’.

The year 2001 saw former FIFA president Blatter visit Guyana reportedly for the historic turning of the sod for what was thought to be this country’s first football stadium on land under the control of the University of Guyana.

But Blatter had stated that the building of stadiums was the responsibility of governments and subsequently revealed that FIFA would contribute some US$400 000 once the GFF is able to acquire the necessary land.

The local football federation struggled for years to acquire a piece of land from the Government of Guyana until Moroccan Alami Binani made available to them a piece of land at Orangestein,

East Bank Essequibo.

After Klass was suspended during 2011 in the famous Cash for Votes scandal, the project was shelved with only a land clearing exercise ever conducted.

Under Klass’ successor, Franklin Wilson, the GFF acquired US$500 000 funding for the resuscitation of the project after initially being allocated US$400 000.

Christopher Matthias, elected to the GFF top post in 2013, discarded the Orangestein land due to the uncertainty surrounding its ownership and the distance from the capital city.

He then engaged the government in an attempt to acquire land behind the Leonora Track and Field Facility, but nothing came to fruition as the government allegedly offered less than four acres which was not approved by

the world governing body.

However, in 2015, under the Clinton Urling-led Normalisation Committee, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) officially signed a 30year lease agreement with the Eccles/Ramsberg Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) for the Providence Community Centre ground.

Infantino will meet with President David Granger at the Guyana Defence Force Base Camp Ayanganna.

The GFF disclosed that Infantino will also pay a courtesy call on CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque; visit an Academy Training Centre (ATC) as well as have lunch with the Executive Committee of the GFF. FIFA president will conclude his visit with a press conference at noon at the Pegasus Hotel.

Four Guyana players in WI President’s XI side FOUR members from the Guyana Jaguars line-up have been included in the West Indies President’s X1 squad to oppose Pakistan in the three-day, tour match from Saturday, April 15 to Monday, April 17, at the Trelawny Multiplex in Florence Hall,

The full squad reads: Shamarh Brooks (captain), Vishaul Singh (vice-captain), Rahkeem Cornwall, Jahmar Hamilton, Shimron Hetmyer, Kyle Hope, Damion Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Kieran Powell, Raymon Reifer and Kemar Roach.

Team Management

Shemron Hetmyer

Vishaul Singh

Raymon Reifer

Jamaica.

The Guyana players selected are Vishaul Singh, Keon Joseph, Shemron Hetmyer and Barbadian Raymon Reifer.

The selection panel of the West Indies Cricket Board announced Barbadian Shamarh Brooks as the captain, with Singh the vice-captain.

Unit: Graeme West (head coach), Dwain Gill (team operations manager), Corey Collymore (assistant coach), Andre Coley (assistant coach), Khevyn Williams (physiotherapist), Shayne Cooper (strength & conditioning coordinator) and Dexter Augustus (data video analyst).

Keon Joseph

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Pizza Hut GCC; Pepsi Hikers register contrasting wins

THE Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) had a busy weekend of competition with the commencement of the two premier hockey competitions of the year.

The Woodpecker Products Women’s First Division League enters its second year and saw traditional powerhouse Pizza Hut GCC overwhelm the Old Fort Shooting Stars 10-0 in the opening fixture played on Saturday at the St Stanislaus College ground on Carifesta Avenue. The Woodpecker Hikers smothered the youthful Spartans by 2-0 the following afternoon at Bourda.

The opening Farfan & Mendes Men’s first division clash, which followed immediately after was a more balanced contest, but the Pepsi Hikers outduelled Old Fort, giving the club their second loss over the weekend.

Bounty GCC, meanwhile, cruised to a comfortable 5-0 victory over Saints HC in the other men’s fixture.

Shebiki Baptiste was the workhorse for the Pizza Hut GCC team, all businesslike in their opening match of the competition, and who were rewarded with an 8th minute

Old Fort and Pepsi Hikers line up for the start of the Farfan & Mendes Men’s First Division League.

Pizza Hut GCC striker Shebiki Baptiste makes one of her many attacking raids against Old Fort. opening goal.

While Baptiste slammed home a second later in the match, fellow striker Sonia Jardine unleashed a plethora of unstoppable shots throughout the match to finish as the game’s highest scorer with five goals to her name.

Midfielder Aliyah Gordon managed two goals herself while midfielder Carina Moller added a well-timed deflection to round out the 10 unanswered goals for the victors.

The experience of the

Woodpecker Hikers showed in their control of the opening minutes of their clash against the Spartans.

Midfielders Maria Munroe and Marisha Rodrigues dominated the midfield for the Hikers while Dominique DeGroot and Makeda Harding both held firm in defence for the Spartans to keep the score level at 0-0 for most of the first quarter.

After 13 minutes without a goal, Munroe managed to unleash a powerful shot that was parried by Spartans goal-

keeper Jessica Mittleholzer but Kenisha Wills was first onto the rebound to put it into the open net. The Spartans improved their game throughout the match but the Hikers continued to hold the edge and were finally able to make their second breakthrough from a Munroe penalty corner strike to make the final score 2-0 for the Hikers.

As the Farfan & Mendes Men’s First Division competition got underway, Old Fort’s Warren Williams scored the first goal in the competition in the 19th minute to put his side in the lead.

The Hikers however pressed for the equaliser which came only four min-

Fittest team survived – Garrett

By Stephan Sookram

He added, “Coming down to the end, they stum-

bled and we had opportunities later in the game but

overall we came out victorious and I thank God.”

FRESH off their 3-2 penalty shootout win against Morgan’s Learning Centre on Sunday, three-time Milo schools football champions Chase Academic Foundation captain Jeremy Garett has attributed the win to superior fitness on their part.

Following a one-goal stalemate after extra time, the Chase side held their nerves to win from the penalty spot, sending fans into jubilation. However skipper Garrett feels that a team effort was also one of the components that led to their victory.

“It was a very good performance by each and every individual, I think that the main aspect pertaining to the guys was fitness tonight and it proved a lot because we were Three-time champs! Chase Academic Foundation hoist their third Milo fitter than Morgan’s,” the Schools Football trophy after winning a penalty shootout 3-2 against skipper said.

Morgan’s Learning Centre on Sunday evening.

utes later through overlapping national defender Andrew Stewart.

Hikers struck again in the final minute of the half when their traditional leading marksman and captain Robert Harry France outworked the Old Fort defence to slot home the team’s second goal.

Young Tevesarid Garnett managed the lone goal in the second half for the Hikers to secure their 3-1 win.

While Saints HC showed great courage in holding off powerhouse Bounty GCC throughout the first quarter and well into the second quarter of the match, the floodgates opened when Kevin Spencer scored his first in

the 22nd minute.

Spencer evaded three defenders before feigning the goalkeeper and sliding his shot into the right post for his opener and scored his second goal in similar fashion just two minutes later.

Junior national captain Mark Sargeant got himself onto the scoresheet next and added a second in the closing minutes of the game, while the former national Philip Fernandes added a diving reverse shot to complete GCC’s 5-0 victory.

Matches continue for the next six weeks on Mondays and Fridays at Bourda and on Saints ground at weekends.

Chris Macey’s 15-minute beauty into the side netting was cancelled out by a powerful header into the crossbar which deflected down and into the goal by Shemar Smith in the 26th as the side battled for supremacy.

Several more chances were skewed wide including Chase’s Job Caesar who missed the chance to convert a difficult ball in the area, in the absence of the goalkeeper, as well as a one-on-one chance for Morgan’s that was directed squarely at the keeper.

Nonetheless, at the end of the penalty shootout, it was the Chase side who celebrated their victory as threetime champions. Coach Gordon Henry contended that the unit played to his satisfaction.

“We did what we came out to do. We did what we had planned on the training pitch and we executed tonight. Even though we came from a goal down, i think the team stood their ground, stayed focused, played as a unit and did

exactly what we did on the training pitch,” the coach said.

He added, “We knew the team (Morgan’s) was going to come at us, we knew it was going to be a tough game but we’ve been preparing for months for this. We are just grateful to God for helping us to be threetime champions.”

In the third-place game, Masters Academy routed Sir Leon's Lessons 5-1.

Calvin Peters opened the scoring for the winners in the 4th with Omari James slotting home to bring the game level in the 20th minute.

The half continued with both teams trading unsuccessful strikes until the whistle.

On the return, Tyrone Khan broke the deadlock with a clinical effort into the back of the nets in the 73rd and in the process opened the floodgates.

Peters scored two more for the hat-trick (75th and 88th) while Khan completed his brace in the 81st.

US, Canada and Mexico confirm joint 2026 World Cup hosting bid

FIFA president to turn sod for Guyana’s first football facility

See story on page 23

See story on page 26

WI Believe!

See story on page 26

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TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017