Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 11 11 2016

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No. 104732

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

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Solving Maths

…Gov’t clears $48.6M to boost maths performance

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United States President, Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump shake hands during their press conference (European Press Agency)

Trump meets Obama No cancellation of mining 8 concessions Page

–– MNR tells GGDMA to stop scaremongering

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Miner turns Change in gun your ways Page

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–– President calls for remodelling of trade unions in face of new challenges

to police

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

Not for the public By Tajeram Mohabir

PRESIDENT David Granger has described the acrimony between Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud

and his likely successor David Ramnarine which recently spilled over in public as uninspiring. Speaking during his weekly television programme

–– President decries public spat between police top men

‘The Public Interest’, the Commander-in-Chief said Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has been asked to investigate the quarrel between the two men. On Monday, the tiff between the two reached new levels, with the Top Cop ordering that a decision by Assistant Police Commissioner Ramnarine

to promote six ranks recently be rescinded. Persaud was on leave and Ramnarine was acting in his position when he made the decision to elevate the ranks. Ramnarine has since challenged the police chief’s interpretation of the Constitution, contending that it is erroneous and embarrassing. Persaud in a letter to Staff Officer Administration 1, Maxine Graham, had called for the rescission of the promotions Ramnarine had effected, and drew the officer’s attention to Article 212 (3) of the Constitution of Guyana. That provision empowers the Commissioner of Police to make appointments to any office in the Police Force below the rank of inspector. Persaud also quoted Article 211 (i) of the said constitution, which he said indicates that the appointment of the Commissioner of Police is done by His Excellency the President. “His Excellency the

President makes such appointments by issuing an instrument which is signed by him/her,” he argued. But Ramnarine contended that he was duly authorised by the appropriate authority, in keeping with the relevant Article of the Constitution, to act as Commissioner of Police. And according to him, he did so “to the strict letter, meaning and spirit of the Constitution and the Law.” Ramnarine was of the view that by virtue of being the acting top cop, he was authorised to hire, fire, discipline, promote, transfer, post and reward any member of the Force in accordance with the relevant powers vested in him. NO SEAT WARMER P re s i d e n t G r a n g e r addressing the matter on Thursday said Ramnarine acting as Top Cop was not expected to warm the seat of the Top Cop. “The

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud Police Force is a hierarchy and the Commissioner of Police is the head of the Force and the Assistant Commissioner who was acting for him during a period of vacation, obviously has to take authoritative action on some matters. He just can’t sit on his hands,” President Granger said. He added: “If problems need to be solved, he is there to solve the problems, so I wouldn’t want to go further at this point in time. It has been brought to the attention of the National Security Committee and although there is a hierarchy, although there is a structure, there is also convention that persons who are acting, have to do their work in an authoritative manner and not in passive manner.” The President was also of the view that the problem between Persaud and Ramnarine was not one that cannot be solved and lamented it can hardly inspire confidence in the Police Force and the public. “It might…embolden people who feel that this is an opportunity to do mischief. Everything that I have heard about the matter See page 8

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Solving Maths

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

…Gov’t clears $48.6M to boost maths performance

SOME $48M has been approved by Cabinet for emergency intervention to strengthen the teaching capacity of Mathematics at the Grade 6 level in public schools. Students across the country have been struggling for years with Mathematics and government in recent months has deemed this a crisis which needs fixing immediately. President David Granger had mandated Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine to meet with technical officers and staff of his ministry to find solutions to address the issue. Over the years, Guyana has failed to achieve acceptable pass rates in Mathematics, a critical core subject. This year the Ministry of Education has contracted the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) to conduct the examination for the Grade Six students here and it was discovered that the different

assessment illustrated the deficiencies in the system. Dr Roopnaraine presented his report on possible solutions to Cabinet on Tuesday, Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary Joseph Harmon told reporters on Thursday during his weekly post Cabinet press briefing held at the Ministry of the Presidency. According to Harmon, several recommendations were made and approved and those include the training of teachers in content and methodology; facilitating fortnightly cluster meetings in all regions; the recruitment of Mathematics coordinators and monitors; the training of officers and school administrators to supervise the teaching of Mathematics; the preparing and administering of a diagnostic assessment of pupils in the hinterland regions before training; the enhancement of public relations, parental involvement in the education of the children

Minister of State Mr Joseph Harmon and the acquisition of support material for the students. “Having had a very thorough discussion on the matter, Cabinet approved the proposed plan and agreed to the allocation of a sum of $48,682,690 for the expenditure and strategy that will deal with the issues before and up to the end of December 2016 and the allocation of

a further sum to be spent on the strategy in 2017 and going forward,” said Harmon. He explained that preparatory work has already started and full implementation was pending Cabinet’s approval and release of funds. As part of the reform process teachers will be recruited from overseas to fill the existing gaps. “…as you know, over the years many of our good teachers have actually migrated to the Caribbean and as far as Botswana in some cases and certainly once we provide the correct environment…and most of them have started coming back…we believe we can attract some of those teachers who had left in the first case.” The Minister of State said too that it is a “very clear and viable option” that would be exercised by the Ministry of Education. Additionally, retired teachers will also be returned to the education system while the pool of persons capable of teaching mathematics will

also be expanded. “NCERD (National Center for Education Resource Development), that basically is the entity within the Ministry of Education that deals with these matters. They have actually looked at the entire situation across the country and several measures have been proposed. One of course is to rehire teachers that have been within the system and left because of their age or several other issues.” That aside, there would be country-wide conferences planned for all mathematics teachers. Those teachers will either be brought to Georgetown or in cases where Regions with the requisite expertise can accommodate the teachers the conferences will be held outside of the city. “This has already started,” said Harmon who noted that the combination of the retired teachers, the specific training that is going to be given to the mathematics teachers in the system will serve in boosting the level of mathematics

taught and received at the primary school level. Harmon disclosed that a contract has been awarded to a consulting firm to examine the existing curriculum and made recommendations for improvements. He said “the consultant should be here anytime this month to start the work.” He believes that the Primary level must be targeted as it is the foundation of learning; that is not to say that the Secondary and Tertiary levels will not be targeted in the long run. “It is not as if we are excluding at the secondary level but we consider what is happening at the Primary level to be of extreme importance now and the longer term plan of the ministry will look at the performance of the secondary level,” said the Cabinet Secretary. He believes if the problems at the Primary level are not corrected with urgency those problems will continue at both the Secondary and Tertiary levels.

Bartica Massacre trial

Relatives testify to witnessing post-mortems

AS the Bartica Massacre trial continued in open court on Thursday before Justice Roxane George and a 12-member jury, three witnesses testified following a voir dire (a trial within a trial). The first witness, Ingrid Ferreira-Trotman, told the court that on February 20, 2008, she visited the GPHC Mortuary where she identified the body of her uncle, Irving Ignatius Ferreira, called “Packo.” She related that she witnessed the post-mortem which was conducted by government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh. Ferreira-Trotman when led by State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings, recalled that on February 23, 2008, a funeral service was held for her uncle, after which his body was interred at the Bartica Cemetery. She said her relative was a licensed boat captain but at that time the Bartica Massacre occurred he was working as a security guard attached to Chunilall Baboolall’s residence at First Avenue, Bartica. He was one of seven men placed to lie face down on the Bartica Stelling on February 17, 2008 and killed by gunmen, who had descended on the riverine community. The second witness, Zaheer

Zakir, testified in the High Court that on February 19, 2008, he went to the GPHC Mortuary where he identified the body of his son, Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, who was attached to the Bartica Police Station. Zakir said a post-mortem

after which a post-mortem was conducted. He related that the body was then handed over for burial which took place at the Triumph Cemetery, East Coast Demerara, on February 22, 2008. Ali told the court when questioned,that at that

Hussain and Peter Hugh on Thursday. The matter will continue on Monday when several witnesses are expected to testify in the main trial. On February 17, 2008, when

Mark Royden called “Durant”

Dennis Williams called “Anaconda”

Roger Simon called “Goat Man”

was done and the body was handed over for burial which took place on the following day at Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo. The third witness, Faizal Ali, said on February 19, 2008, he went to the GPHC Mortuary where he identified the body of his nephew, Abdool Yasseen,

time his nephew was a boat captain working his father’s boat when he was murdered. He was one of seven men executed by heavily armed men, who went on a rampage in Bartica on February 17, 2008. There were no questions by defence counsel Roger Yearwood, Saphier

residents were engrossed in the 20/20 cricket match being televised, the men went on a rampage having descended on Bartica at nightfall. The group carted off guns belonging to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) after they had killed three police-

men. The gunmen took the police vehicle and continued their onslaught in Bartica where they killed innocent civilians numbering nine including five men, who were executed at the Bartica Stelling. Some men who participated in the incident were arrested following an investigation conducted by the police and three of them were seated in the courtroom. On trial are Mark Royden called “Durant”, Dennis Williams called “Anaconda” and Roger Simon called “Goat Man,” indicted for 12 counts each for the murder of nine civilians and three policemen at Bartica on February 17, 2008. The five are facing 12 counts of murder, one count of terrorism, one count of unlawful wounding and three counts of break and enter and larceny. However, two of the five accused, Michael Caesar and Clebert Reece have since pleaded guilty to manslaughter separately and will return to the High Court on December 16, 2016 for probation reports, followed by sentencing by Justice Roxane George. Royden is being represented by Roger Yearwood, Williams’ lawyer is Saphier Hussain and

Simon’s attorney is Peter Hugh. During the February 17, 2008 rampage nine civilians and three cops were gunned down by a group of heavily armed men, who had descended on Bartica at nightfall. Those who lost their lives were Bartica residents Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian and Irving Ferreira; policemen stationed at the Bartica Police Station, Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne; Deonarine Singh of Wakenaam; Ronald Gomes of Kuru Kururu; Ashraf Khan of Middlesex, Essequibo Coast; Abdool Yasseen; Errol Thomas of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and Baldeo Singh of Montrose, East Coast Demerara. Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins, according to the police, led the gang on the rampage in Bartica as well as the one that converged on Lusignan on January 26, 2008. Rawlins was killed during a Joint Services operation on August 28, 2008. With his death and the arrest and prosecution of the five suspects, it appeared as though the police had closed their investigation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 11, 2016

Trump, Obama meet at White House

UNITED States President-elect Donald Trump has said it was a “great honour” to meet President Barack Obama for transition talks at the White House. Mr Obama said he was “encouraged” by their “excellent” and “wide-ranging” conversation, which lasted for more than an hour. Mr Trump has questioned Mr Obama’s US citizenship and vowed to dismantle his legacy in the past. During the campaign, Mr Obama called Mr Trump “uniquely unqualified”. However, Mr Obama said he was “rooting” for him after his shock defeat of Hillary Clinton in Tuesday’s election. After Thursday’s behind-closeddoors meeting in the White House, Mr Obama said: “My number one priority in the coming two months is to try to facilitate a transition that ensures our president-elect is successful.”

He said they had discussed domestic and foreign policy and he had been “very encouraged” by Mr Trump’s interest in working with President Obama’s team on issues facing the US. Mr Trump said he would “very much look forward” to dealing with President Obama in future. “I have great respect, the meeting lasted for almost an hour and a half, and it could’ve, as far as I’m concerned, it could’ve gone on for a lot longer,” the president-elect said. “We discussed a lot of different situations - some wonderful and some difficulties.” Mr Trump flew from New York on his private jet and landed at Reagan National Airport, just outside the nation’s capital. The president-elect was accompanied by his wife, Melania, who had a meeting with First Lady Michelle Obama. President Obama congratulated his successor

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in a phone call in the early hours of Wednesday. The defeated Mrs Clinton also

Trump have a history of mutual hostility. Mr Trump led the charge in chal-

himself onto the national political stage by questioning Barack Obama’s US

United States President, Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump having a light moment during their meeting (European Press Agency)

told supporters Mr Trump had to be given a “chance to lead”. Despite the pleas for unity, thousands took to the streets of major US cities on Wednesday. Many chanted: “Not my president.” Sixty-five people were arrested in New York, while shop windows were smashed and missiles hurled at riot police during demonstrations in Oakland, California. In Chicago, crowds blocked the entrance to Trump Tower, chanting: “No Trump, No KKK, No Fascists USA”, and a mass anti-Trump rally shut down the key 101 freeway in Los Angeles. Mr Obama and Mr

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lenging the legitimacy of Mr Obama’s presidency through the “birther” movement, which falsely claimed the Hawaii-born commander-in-chief was actually born outside the US. The businessman also called Mr Obama “the worst president in the history of the United States”. For his part, the president famously skewered Mr Trump in person at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, which some have suggested may have spurred the New York billionaire to seek revenge. ANALYSIS Donald Trump launched

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citizenship and eligibility to be president. Mr Obama spent the last few months of the 2016 presidential election assailing Mr Trump’s fitness to occupy the nation’s highest office. Now they’ve met for the first time ever - as president and president-elect. Talk about awkward. Although both candidates played nice in their Oval Office get-together, there’s no denying that the two men present a clear contrast in manner and style. In the past, the American public has displayed a tendency to seek qualities in their next president that the current occupant of the Oval Office is perceived to lack. Contrast George W Bush’s board-room manner with Bill Clinton’s improvisational chaos or Jimmy Carter’s squeaky clean

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reputation after Richard Nixon’s Machiavellian manoeuvres. In this case, they have opted for Mr Trump’s blunt talk and bombast after Mr Obama’s detached professorial coolness. Although it wasn’t on display this morning in the White House, Inauguration Day could provide a severe case of presidential personality whiplash. With the Republicans now holding a majority in both chambers of the US Congress, Mr Trump can more easily target key Obama initiatives like such as his healthcare reforms. Mr Trump is already setting up bilaterals ahead of his January inauguration as the nation’s 45th US president. The office of British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday that the president-elect had invited her in a phone call to visit him “as soon as possible”. Ms May’s office said in a statement that Mr Trump had praised the trans-Atlantic “special relationship” while discussing his “close and personal connections” with the UK. Mr Trump has family and business ties to Scotland. The president-elect’s transition team for the 10-week period until inauguration will be led by Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey. Mr Trump, who has never held elected office, has said his immediate priorities will be restoring the country’s infrastructure and doubling its economic growth. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

Change your ways –– President calls for remodelling of trade unions in face of new challenges By Ravin Singh

WITH less than 20 per cent of workers in Guyana being unionised, President David Granger on Thursday evening called for a remodelling of the trade union movement here. “In Guyana, fewer than 20 per cent of the workforce is unionised” he said, adding that a decline in union membership has affected credibility of unions in Guyana. The President was at the time speaking at the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) fourth Triennial Delegates Conference which was held at the Critchlow Labour College. The conference is being held under the theme: “Labour policies, a prerequisite in creating a green economy.” Tasked with delivering the feature address to the gathering of just over 100, President Granger opened his speech by providing historical information on the formation of then British Guyana Trades Union Council (BGTUC) which was established in 1941. The BGTUC, he said, would dissolve and be reconstituted a few times, before being renamed the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC). And despite these “ups and down,” he said that the union should be proud of its historical roots; one which has seen them at the forefront in the fight for the rights of workers. As time progressed, the President explained that the trade union movement became an instrument for mobilising the working class for social change. And this is exactly what has happened – change has taken place. “Technology is making jobs redundant. Leading to job losses. Globalisation

has led to jobless growth. When China sneezes, the bauxite and timber industries in Guyana catch a cold,” he pointed out. In addition, he noted that the working class in Guyana continues to face great challenges and so are the unions. And in response to these challenges, the Head-of-State offered that, “We need a new model aimed at restoring workers’ confidence, and a new model that takes into account, changes in the job market. “We need a new model of trade unionism to build on the successes of the last 75 years and to prepare workers for the future” the President said, adding that change is needed to improve the quality of life for workers. He also suggested that attention needs to be placed on addressing the concerns of the working class, including those who are underemployed and unemployed,

and that workers need to be educated and skilled if they are to function effectively. President of the GTUC, Leslie Gonsalves, in delivering his address also acknowledged the existence of challenges, which he said unions stand a better chance to address, if they accept that they (the challenges) are there. “This occasion coin-

cides with challenges we are presently facing. We stand a better chance of confronting challenges if we accept that they exist,” the GTUC President said. However, he noted that in Guyana, the trade union movement continues to endure the pain of division, and this must be addressed to create a more conducive

ernment. Gonsalves also weighed in on the view of labour unions being politically aligned, stating that “We must rid ourselves of the scourge of political intervention.” Delivering remarks too, was GTUC General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis, who read statements prepared by the Guyana Agricultural

President Granger also received a token from the GTUC, which was presented by the union’s (ag) treasurer, Kim Halley. The ceremony, which was punctuated by musical renditions from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) band, was also attended by Ministers of Government, foreign dignitaries, union execu-

L-R: GTUC President, Leslie Gonsalves, President David Granger and GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis are seated at the head table during Thursday evening’s opening of the conference (Adrian Narine photos) environment. He also pointed to the fact that foreign companies continue to exploit Guyanese workers, whom he believes, should enjoy the protection of the Gov-

President David Granger receives a token from the GTUC which was presented to him by the union’s (ag) Treasurer, Kim Halley

A section of the gathering at the Guyana Trades Union Congresss (GTUC) fourth Triennial Delegates Conference on Thursday

and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE),both of which fall under GTUC.

tives and other members. Following the formal ceremony, a cocktail reception was held in the compound of the Critchlow Labour College.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 11, 2016

M&CC considering City Hall’s budget Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial THOSE who relied on poll numbers, including Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, felt she would have been the 2016 president-elect. The voters via the Electoral College (votes allotted by states) elected Republican candidate Donald Trump, a result that caught Trump, the United States (U.S.) and world by surprise. In reaction to Trump’s victory, multiple anti-Trump protests are being held across the U.S. Whereas Clinton lost the presidency she won the popular vote. In our Proportional Representation electoral system, such returns would have given her the presidency. And where she lost the presidency in our parliamentary system, she could have had a role in government by going into the Legislature and be Leader of the Opposition. The election was bitterly fought between two historic candidates. Though Clinton has not entirely broken through the proverbial glass ceiling, her achievements will be recorded in the annals of history and serve as inspiration for young girls and women around the world. In his acceptance speech in the wee hours of Wednesday, Trump was not the person people have come to know during the campaign. He was gracious to Clinton, whom he said had called and congratulated him. To the people, in tempered tone, he offered assurance he will be a president for all, make America great again (his campaign slogan) and the country proud of him. Later in the day Clinton in making her concession speech traced her improbable political journey and recalled the causes that drive her public service, calling on the society, more so the young and women who care about what they believe in, to “fight on.” Hers too was an inclusionary and “big-hearted approach” message in moving forward, resonating themes used in her campaign, and called on the people to respect the democratic process, the U.S. constitution, and its rule of law. President Barack Obama, who held a press conference after Clinton’s speech, struck similar appeals and advised that he had called and congratulated Trump and invited him to the White House yesterday. The transmission of power has now moved to another phase. There is no denying the strained relations among the three during the campaign. Trump burst onto the political scene almost eight years ago questioning Obama’s legitimacy to be president, requesting that he produce his birth certificate. On the campaign Obama and Clinton questioned Trump’s temperament to be President, Commander-in-Chief, and have the nuclear codes; while Trump attacked both calling Obama the “worse president ever” and Clinton “crooked Hillary.” On Wednesday it seems the trio was making efforts to put the campaign behind them and come together, and bring their supporters along in putting America, its development and security first. The world will be watching Trump’s articulation of what his administration’s foreign policy agenda would be. While there was concern to what a Trump presidency could be, many held hope that a Clinton presidency was a greater probability. Today’s world is very complex,

Dear Editor,

THE Mayor and City Council has commenced consideration of estimates of revenue and expenditure for 2017, for the Georgetown municipality. The Council’s Finance committee and Administration are discussing and deliberating different areas of the budget for 2017. It has been determined by Council that its 2017 budget will be predicated on a philosophical approach that will facilitate in a clear and distinct way the development of the nation’s capital in the context of a Green Economy. This takes into account a way to make the city resilient against the consequences of

climate change, global warming and other unprecedented environmental events and occurrences that can affect particularly the vulnerable parts of the city, including its fragile drainage system. So far, the committee has examined figures relating to the provision of certain vital core municipal services, including enforcing compliance with building works and ensuring efficient and effective Solid Waste Management. In the areas of Solid Waste Management, the Council is budgeting a greater percentage of its resources to improve its ability to assist in the collection and disposal of waste, to expand this service to other areas including Sophia, and

to design a more integrated system to manage the city’s waste. This will allow for greater attention to composting, recycling and a greater push in the area of environment awareness in all local neighbourhoods. As it relates to the City Engineer’s Department, the Committee and Administration are contemplating new approaches to enhance the department’s capacity to deal with the appropriate technologies to allow for more information to deal with the increasing number of high-rise buildings in the city of Georgetown. In addition, the department is studying estimates to re-lay and repair certain roads and to develop sidewalks and design cycling lanes. Consideration

of Council estimates would continue for the next few days, after which the draft budget will be sent to full council for its consideration and approval before it is read to the public before the end of 2016. It is important to note that the priorities of this year’s budget were determined by various themes through a series of consultations with local communities and critical stakeholders. Inputs will be determined by the felt needs of residents in local areas, and the resources that are available to the municipality.

typical forms of law- breaking. Crime includes thousands of different types of offences and the majority rarely come to our attention. White collar crimes for example, are associated with the illegal activities of businesspeople that take place alongside the legitimate day-to-day activities of their business or profession. It involves billions of dollars annually in price-fixing, embezzlement, restraint of trade, stock manipulation, misrepresentation, bribery, false advertising and consumer fraud. The economic toll from white collar crime exceeds the dollar losses from all known robberies, burglaries and other thefts, yet it is rarely considered. Also important is the fact that many activities are considered crimes in some jurisdictions but not in others, and in some nations but not in others. There are activities that once were viewed

as crimes, but are no longer considered as such and some behaviours that many people consider normal and common are nevertheless defined as criminal under the law.

bodied in the Bible, the Quran, and the Talmud, for others crime has different meanings; to the reporter it is new, to the detective it means work , to the thief it is business and to the victim it suggests fear and loss. But to most individuals crime is no more than the violation of a generally accepted set of rules that are backed by the power and authority of the state. While these and many other conceptions of crime may be important for particular purposes, they are of little help at arriving at an explicit definition of crime. Nevertheless, the notion of crime as sin suggests a standing point for the evolution of criminal definitions is linked to historical images of right and wrong and the precepts of natural law. Regards Allan.R. Gates

Regards Royston King Town Clerk City of Georgetown

Distorted views on crime Dear Editor,

MANY Guyanese have developed a rather distorted and one-sided conception of crime. They see crime as something that is intrinsically evil, as something that threatens individual rights, civil liberties and perhaps the very foundations of society. They seek to protect themselves by locking their doors and windows, insuring their possessions and avoiding dangerous places and situations. They think of crime as something alien, something that exists outside of organised society. In actuality, crime goes well beyond the street crime, violence, and theft portrayed in the popular media. Moreover, the volume and rates differ considerably from what conventional wisdom suggests, although violence and theft may appear to be most

operating at various levels of multi-polarity, with trouble spots in the volatile Middle East, prolonged wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Iran Nuclear Deal, U.S. relations with Russia, Russia with the world, and terrorism which are significant issues deserving of deliberative thought and actions. In the Caribbean, the Obama administration (2009-2017) began dismantling U.S./Cuba half a century of sour relations, restored diplomatic ties and this year for the first time in 26 years since the United Nations (UN) General Assembly passed a resolution to lift the Cuba embargo, abstained along with Israel. The Republican-led House has refused to lift the embargo and where the House and Senate remain under this party’s control and with Trump in the White House, come January 2017 no telling as yet what the future holds for this relationship. At the UN, the Obama administration delivered leadership on the Refugee/Migrant crisis, Climate Change, improving government/citizens relations and by having its UN Ambassador elevated to a Cabinet position, showed the importance of the international community to the U.S. Bilaterally, Guyana has benefitted from technical support for institutional strengthening and capacity-building in the

What then is crime? Crime has been subject to a variety of definitions and interpretations. For the scholar, crime can be drama, a conflict between good and evil like those portrayed in the Greek tragedies, Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment. To the moralist and reformer,crime is a manifestation of spiritual depravity. It is a pestering disease of the soul that must be eradicated by the powers of restraint and virtue. Crime has also been equated with sin. With violations of a natural law, the Ten Commandments or the proscriptions em-

nacro fight with a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) office established here. The U.S. along with other western diplomats have contributed to the restoration of Local Government Elections and supported citizens’ efforts to realise good governance. It is not lost on the world Trump’s demonstration of little or no knowledge and interest in global affairs save for condemnation of the U.S. trade deals, promises to deal with China and bring back manufacturing jobs, and on the Middle East crisis, professing to have more knowledge that the military hierarchy to handle it. He also made known his support for Britain leaving the European Union. Time will tell. And whereas rhetoric may have been politically expedient, the campaign is over and the world is looking to see the leadership that will be delivered by the new leader of the free world and most powerful politician come next year. Being considered a shrewd businessman, the corporate world and government are guided by different rules and expectations. Smart leaders recognise that while they don’t know everything, having persons around who know and are prepared to be honest with them, and they accepting such honesty bring dividends to their leadership.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 11, 2016

Local MPs participate in anti-corruption forum By Svetlana Marshall A FORUM to tackle corruption featuring participation of local Members of Parliament (MPs) has opened at the Guyana Marriott, Kingston, Georgetown.

The seminar was also organised to examine and build understanding of the role of parliamentarians in scrutiny, oversight and legislation with relation to corruption; and to promote knowledge exchange and discussion between the UK and Guy-

of corruption and take bold steps to combat it. In Guyana, he said significant progress has been made to combat corruption. In addition to ratifying the United Nations Convention against Corruption in April 2008, the National Assembly

Sir Kevin Barron, Member of Parliament in the UK Parliament

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland addressing the anti-corruption forum at Marriott on Thursday The forum provides a platform for the provision of technical assistance and expertise to the sub-committee on the draft Code of Conduct, in addition to the exploration of the principles behind the United Nations Convention against corruption and its relevance to parliamentarians here.

ana on issues of corruption, standards in public office and parliamentary codes of conduct. On Thursday, Speaker of the Guyanese National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland said the forum, which is a timely intervention, will enable parliamentarians to better recognise the signs

in 2003 passed a resolution for the recreation of four sectoral committees which were established in keeping with Article 119 of the Constitution. They are: the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Economic Services, the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services, the

Guyana too taxed to handle U.S. deportees – President Granger GUYANA does not have the capability to handle deportees from the United States of America (USA), President David Granger has noted. He told journalists during ‘The Public Interest’ on Thursday that his government needs to work with the U.S. to ensure that measures are put in place to make Guyana better prepared to handle those who are deported, especially if they are convicted of crimes in the U.S. “We just want to be better prepared, it’s something that the Ministry of Public Security is aware of and we

will have to make sure that we put measures in place to ensure that those deportees do not perpetrate crimes when they get back here,” the Head of State said. According to the President, the U.S. needs to notify Guyana whenever it decides to deport Guyanese who commit crimes in that country. “We need to work with the United States government so that persons who might have been involved in violent crimes, crimes of murder, narco-trafficking or people-trafficking, are notified to us so we can build in Guyana the resources

to manage them when they come back here. We don’t have the capability and as you know there is still some degree of narcotics-trafficking in Guyana. We have executions, murders and we don’t want to have people coming back here, who contribute to that form of criminality. So it is something that we can work out with the United States.” He said it was within the jurisdiction of a sovereign state to expel illegal aliens. President Granger reiterated that no country tolerates illegality and if there are abuses, it is quite within the rights of a sovereign state to minimise the impact of those abuses to the host country.

Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources and the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations. Dr Scotland explained that the committees have the

responsibility to scrutinise all areas of Government Policy and Administration. Additionally, he pointed out that the Public Accounts Committee has the power to exercise general supervision

over the functioning of the office of Auditor General. Though progress has been made, the Speaker said there is still room for improvement. Sir Kevin Barron, Member of Parliament in the UK Parliament expressed the hope that the forum will serve to strengthen the Parliament of Guyana. The forum opened on Wednesday with meetings with the British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Work Group with the sub-committee on the draft Code of Conduct. The meetings will conclude today.

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Hit and run was staged

THE case regarding the discovery of Faiyaz Narinedatt, a young father of two on the Number 70 Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice on November 1 has taken a new twist with relatives claiming that eyewitnesses have come forward with information suggesting that Narinedatt was murdered and his ‘hit and run’ was staged. They are calling on President David Granger, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud to send a team of investigators from the city to investigate the suspicious death. Since the initial discovery of the body, relatives have been adamant that Narinedatt was murdered. A post-mortem conducted has revealed that he died of multiple injuries, including a fractured skull and a broken spine. Police have said he died from a hit-and-run accident. Relatives are alleging that the police in ‘B’ Division, specifically at Springlands Police Station have received handsome “payoff” by a businessman to cover up the matter. The relatives, who have been conducting their own investigations, have been circulating flyers with what they claim are details leading to Narinedatt’s death. According to the flyers, a prominent overseas-based Guyanese businessman (name withheld) hosted a party that was well attended by law-enforcement officials and residents, including Narinedatt. It alleged that at the party, Narinedatt had an altercation with the businessman around 02:00 hrs and he was instructed to leave the party venue but refused and the businessman instructed one of his bodyguards, a Rastafarian of Number 52 Village to take him away.

–– say relatives of Faiyaz Narinedatt

Bibi Shakira Aziz BEATEN Relatives say that eyewitnesses said a scuffle ensued and Narinedatt was punched by the bodyguard and when he (Narinedatt) tried to retaliate, several others hit him with pickets, batons and bottles. Narinedatt allegedly fell into a nearby trench and was fished out by the attackers who continued to beat him. After realising that he was not retaliating, his lifeless body was then placed in the trunk of a motorcar (number and owner’s name withheld) and taken to the Number 70 Public Road, eyewitnesses reportedly told the deceased’s relatives. According to one relative, an eyewitness claimed to have seen the body being placed on the roadway and the car reversed in an attempt to run him over, but the car was too low and they called on a friend (name withheld) to bring his car which ran over the body. The car which took the body to the road was then taken to wash to have it cleaned

of the blood and mud in the trunk, the relative said. Relatives are alleging that the businessman whom they claim is ‘’well-connected”, called the police and told them what had transpired and “payoff them” handsomely to ensure the matter is treated as an accident. As the flyer got into circulation, one of the persons whose name and photo appeared confronted the family and questioned “why his name was being sandalled.” The confrontation happened during the interview with the Guyana Chronicle and at one point it got physical. FEARFUL The family of Narinedatt is alleging that the eyewitnesses are willing to come forward, but are fearful of speaking with ranks of ‘B’ Division, especially those from the Springlands and Number 51 Police Stations. This newspaper was shown several Facebook posts of the businessman and ranks attached to the two police stations having a good time with hashtags ‘#Skeldon Police Station #Friends #my guards when I am in Guyana’. “Plenty people see what happen but frighten to come forward because the man got nuff contacts. One boy who see and tell we everything now get hideaway by (businessman) people them and that mek more people frighten to come out and talk... we want the President, Minister and Commissioner send police from GT to come and investigate this matter. Only then the people gun feel comfortable to come forward.”

Faiyaz Narinedatt According to the victim’s mother Bibi Shakira Aziz, since the incident, no police rank has returned to follow up on the investigation and the case has been dismissed as an accident. “Me believe them target me son and them now guilty suh them nah come forward... since he dead, them a sah a accident. Them kill me son, he nah reach accident, but because them get money them feel them can get away wid anything; but me want the President to look into this matter and let we get justice fuh we only child,” the mother cried. Meanwhile, in an invited comment, the businessman said he is aware of the accusations against him and is currently seeking legal advice on what course of action he can take against the family. He dismissed the allegations as “lies.” Narinedatt, who leaves to mourn his wife and two children, ages two and six months, was laid to rest last Sunday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

Correction

REFERENCE is made to an article appearing in our November 8, 2016 edition under the caption: “I wrongfully sued the AG’— Zana Frank. Guyana Chronicle wishes to retract this statement attributed to Ms Frank as she never made such a comment. In fact in her affidavit she said among other things it was never her intention to maliciously involve Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams in the ongoing matter surrounding her appointment and payment. “I will contend that I never sought to maliciously involve the Minister, but it is rather the response received from the Human Resource Manager and Secretary of the Deeds and Commercial Registry Authority Board, Shyam Doodnauth, that did implicate the Minister.” According to Frank, she had enquired about her salary, and in response, the Human Resource Manager advised that she should have consulted with the Legal Affairs Minister on the matter. “Thus it is correct to say that the Minister does not pay salaries. I never purported to state such, but it is rather Mr. Doodnauth who directed that I should have consulted the Minister, as mentioned in his Letter dated 3rd August, 2016,” she stated.

Not for the ...

From page 2

or read about the matter suggests that it is actually a storm in a tea cup,” Mr Granger said. Minister of State Joseph Harmon who also addressed the matter at his post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday said, in any large organisation, there will be issues, but the quarrel between the senior policemen should have been dealt with internally. “Once you have two persons in a room or three you’d always have a difference. Sometimes you and your wife alone in the house and y’all still have differences. So you’d have these things, but the important thing is because of the importance of the Guyana Police Force to the national security structure… it is important that these matters that occurred in the public space, in the me-

dia, that they be dealt with in another way. We believe there were issues that could have been dealt with internally, without this question of writing letters here and there,” said Harmon, who related that the matter was raised at Cabinet.

Assistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine

No cancellation of mining concessions –– MNR tells GGDMA to stop scaremongering

By Svetlana Marshall THE Natural Resources Ministry has rubbished contentions by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA) that the Government has taken a decision to rescind all concessions granted to miners. I n a s t r o n g l y w o r ded statement on Thursday, GGDMA said it has received “highly credible information” that the Finance Minister Winston Jordan, during his delivery of Budget 2017, will announce the rescindment of “all” concessions. Those include, the VAT waivers, the concessions for fuel and lubricants, motor

vehicles, spares and parts, and tools and equipment. Reference was also made to the non-renewal of the fuel import licenses. “This is the ultimate betrayal of the miners by the APNU+AFC Government and will only serve to make the already difficult industry harder, if not impossible,” GGDMA stated while calling on the Government to restore the status quo and return all the concession granted to miners under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration. It further contended that APNU+AFC Government has given no additional help to the industry.

“They have provided no new concrete concessions, and to date, they have not put in one single road or other infrastructural work that directly benefits the industry,” the association said. Any attempts to remove concessions granted to gold miners will negatively impact the industry in the coming year, GGDMA said. “This proposed backward step, to remove all waivers and concessions, will see a significant decline in the production targets next year and many more miners on the breadline. The industry is already suffering and this betrayal is going to kill mining in Guyana,” the association

said, while noting that miners are prepared to take all necessary steps to ensure that the industry survives. But the Natural Resources Ministry in a statement ruled out these fears. In setting the record straight on Thursday, the Ministry said that in the latter part of 2015, agreements were signed among GGDMA, the Guyana Energy Agency and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for a number of exemptions from customs duties on fuel and equipment. The contention that the current Government has given no additional help to the industry, simply have no basis

in fact, the Natural Resources Ministry stated. Currently, the Ministries of Natural Resources and Public Infrastructure are engaging members of GGDMA to address the maintenance and opening up of hinterland roads. “We can state also that the Ministry of Finance is currently engaged in discussions regarding these concessions and other forms of support to the mining sector, including reviewing requests for renewal of these concessions.” The Natural Resources Ministry is now urging the Executive of the GGDMA to await confirmed information from the Ministry of Finance

or the Ministry of Natural Resources before making “inaccurate” pronouncements. “The David Granger-led Government places immense value on the contribution of mining to the socio-economic well-being of Guyana, and especially hails the contributions of small and medium scale miners. The administration has no intention of turning its back on the miners at this critical time of national development,” the Ministry emphasised. The gold industry is set to surpass the 600,000 ounces mark this year. Twothirds of this figure is the direct effort of the small and medium scale miners.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

Many options on the table for Barama concession

A RAFT of options for the alternative use of the 1.6M hectares of timber forest has been put to the Cabinet and several foreign and local firms have also expressed interest in investing in the sector, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon has said. The options were tabled by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. The 1.6M hectares of timber forests was utilised by Barama Company Limited over the years under its timber sales agreement with the Government of Guyana over the years. However, that

company has indicated to the government that it will not be renewing its timber sales agreement which expired on October 15, 2016. As such, government is looking to have small and medium-scale work done in the area. Harmon told reporters on Thursday during a post-cabinet press briefing that in the case of small-scale work, “we are exploring the possibility of even those employees who were in the sector forming themselves into co-ops to be able to work in those areas. There are several options we are exploring.”

Meanwhile, Harmon said too that government has received several expressions of interest from foreign and local companies with respect to the timber forests, but “we first have to look at our own employees, Guyanese people in that regard.” He said emphasis is also being placed on the welfare of the workers of Barama who have been affected by the company’s decision not to renew their timber sales agreement. As such, a cabinet sub-committee comprising the Ministers of Natural Resources, Communities, Business, Indig-

enous Peoples’ Affairs and Social protection to consider the options presented by the Minister of Natural resources and make recommendations to Cabinet as to the feasibility and possible implementation of these options. The report containing recommendations of the sub-committee is due on November 30. Barama announced back in October that it will not be seeking to renew or extend its forest concession agreement with the Government of Guyana. In a statement to the media, the company said it will be

continuing all of its other projects here inclusive of veneering, plywood manufacturing and sawmilling. “Barama very much regrets having to make the decision to close our Forest Concession operations after having, over the past 25 years, invested approximately $45B in the development of Guyana’s forestry industry,” the statement added. Representatives of the company approached government for the first time on September 2, 2015, with a proposal for both the renewal of the Investment and Forest Concession Agreements.

Since then, the company has been continuing discussions with government on the agreements. The company said too that earlier this year, by virtue of correspondence with government, it had advised that economic conditions influencing the company’s continued investment in the country’s forest industry were not encouraging. “Barama has as a consequence, now regrettably concluded that it is no longer viable for the company to continue its forestry operations,” the statement had said.

RUSAL summoned to meeting with bauxite union MINISTER of Social Protection with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott has summoned the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) to a meeting next Wednesday to discuss outstanding issues. The meeting is scheduled for 09:30hrs in the Labour Department’s boardroom located at lot 82, Brickdam. In a comprehensive letter to the management of the

company, Scott pointed out that the differences subsisting between the company and the union had been festering far too long and that it was time they were put to rest. One of the many issues, which the ministry intends to discuss with the principals of the RUSAL and the Executives of the union is the Company’s persistent reluctance to meet and treat

Organisation hosts essay competition to mark disability week IN celebration of Disability Week later this month (November 27-December 3), the Guyana Council of Organisations for persons with disabilities, yesterday hosted another essay competition aimed at raising awareness. In Queen’s College auditorium, Chairman of the Council, Mr. Leon Walcott, told this publication that the best essays are selected, after which the writers are asked to present them orally. “We call it a disability symposium for school children. This is about the fifth or sixth year that we’re doing it,” he offered, adding, “And we have been fortunate to have the Ministry of Education support us all the time.” Some 30 schools were invited, but only a handful responded positively, such as Graham’s Primary, Queen’s College and St. Joseph High, along with two special needs centers namely, Open Doors Vocational Center and David Rose Special Needs School. The essays are based on disability issues. “It’s really about raising awareness and you get fresh ideas on what can be done to make life easier for people with disabilities. Some creative ideas are often put forth,” Mr. Walcott explained. For instance, some persons with disabilities are often bullied, and this is an issue that was brought to light thanks to someone’s essay. Commenting on one of the benefits of having the essays, Mr. Walcott observed: “While it’s good to have the best academic qualifications as teachers, you must also have people who are caring. So as far as I am concerned, academics should come second and attitude should come first.” This initiative was brought forward in view of the fact that Disability Week clashes with end of term exams and so forth.

with the recognised union, which is the Guyana Bauxite, and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU). The Ministry noted that it had been in discussions with the relevant parties, which are the GB and GWU, and RUSAL separately during the past seven months, but the time has come to engage them jointly, so that amicable solutions to the differences can be determined. “As the custodian of the industrial relations systems

in the country and as the Ministry responsible for the maintenance of a stable industrial relations climate, it can no longer allow the differences between the parties to drag on, without a definite end in sight. The Company and the Union have been summoned to the meeting by way of separate letters,” a statement by the ministry said. Only recently BCG had prepared a document indicating that its workers no

longer wish to be represented by the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU). The company had instructed the workers to sign the document, which the company would have then forwarded to the Government of Guyana with the hope that the union would have been derecognised. Guyana Chronicle was informed that the bauxite company had told its workers that it has found a union for them, and accordingly, “they

must sign the document, and it will be forwarded to the Government to put the (GB&GWU) in its place.” The BCGI also issued contracts to those permanent employees who are perceived to be resisting the company’s position regarding the new union. “This contract gives the company the right to terminate an employee with just a month’s notice,” a source told Guyana Chronicle.

Pathologist testifies in Robb Street triple murder/arson GOVERNMENT Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh on Wednesday testified before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the 2014 murder of two sisters and their father. Dr. Nehaul Singh conducted the autopsy on the bodies of Feresa and Theresa Rozario and their father, Hilrod Thomas in November 2014 as the two sisters, who were reportedly asleep, were trapped in the early morning inferno. Thomas, 63, managed to jump through a window to escape the flames. He however, sustained second and third degree burns and later succumbed, while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). It took police two years

Avishkar Kissoon of investigations to crack the case. A drug addict reportedly confessed to police that he was offered money to set fire to the disputed building. Police believe that the structure was torched to drive out the individuals who were also claiming

ownership of the property by prescriptive rights. Ganga Krishna, 72, a businessman of Lot 11 North Road, Bourda, Georgetown and his employee, Avishkar Kissoon, 24, of Lot 1 Sheriff Street, Campbellville, Georgetown are currently on remand for the capital offence. At a September 13 court hearing, 31 statements – including those from 11 police officers were tendered and marked as exhibits by the Chief Magistrate, upon request from Police Prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers. It was an emotional testimony from Clarissa Rosario, the children’s mother, which prompted the Magistrate McLennan to have the PI completed by paper committal. During her testimony, the older Rozario

Ganga Krishna fainted while in the witness box. The PI will continue on November 22, when the pathologist will return to tender the post mortem report in court. A total of five more witnesses are expected to be called by the prosecution to testify.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

Fraud accused GM proceeds on leave

GENERAL Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Nizam Hassan, has proceeded on leave pending the outcome of a fraud case for which he appeared before the courts earlier this week. Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, confirmed on Thursday that Hassan applied for leave and was granted permission by the board of directors of the GRDB to proceed. Additionally, reports indicate that Hassan will not return to work after his oneweek granted leave. He will remain off the job pending the outcome of the court matter. “I had asked them and they told me Hassan applied for leave and it has been granted,” Holder told reporters at the Georgetown Marriott Hotel on Thursday. He said that as it is, someone should be considered innocent until being proven guilty, in response to questions regarding the court matter. Hassan was placed before the Georgetown Magistrates Court on Monday to answer fraud charges, along with several others. The act was allegedly committed at the NGMC, the entity which he

once headed and follows the findings of a forensic audit. The investigation into that matter is being undertaken by the Special Organsied Crimes Unit (SOCU). Appearing before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan

GRDB General Manager Nizam Hassan on Monday, Hassan and Felicia DeSouza-Madramootoo, a St George’s Secondary School teacher, stood accused of conspiring with others to approve payments for Constantine Engineering and Construction Limited of Trinidad and Tobago for substandard work done on the NGMC building, knowing

that the work done was poor. DeSouza-Madramootoo’s husband, Hanniel Madramootoo, project engineer within the Ministry of Agriculture, his brother Philip Madramootoo and his friend Nizam Ramkisson, both directors of Constantine Engineering and Construction Limited, have been jointly charged in connection with the same fraud allegation. However, the latter three defendants were not present in court, since they have since fled to Trinidad. This has caused the chief magistrate to issue warrants for their arrest. Hassan is also being investigated for his role in a $600M fertilizer project in which financial improprieties were uncovered by the forensic audit conducted by Boodhoo. The transactions for the programme occurred under the Bharrat Jagdeo administration back in 2008. The issue was flagged following the forensic audit. “It [fertilizer programme] is all part of the same investigation”, Holder said, noting that the issue also involved the previous permanent secretary and decisions made at the time by the previous administration.

The matter involved the procurement of urea for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and farmers under an arrangement in which the NGMC, headed by Hassan at the time, played an administrative role. GuySuco and farmers do not fall under

the mandate of the NGMC. The audit report which was conducted by Saykar Boodhoo , indicated that Hassan was uncooperative while the audit of the fertiliser programme was being crosschecked. Hassan and Felicia DeSouza-Madramootoo were

released on $250,000 each and ordered that they each report to the SOCU headquarters every Friday until the case has been determined. The matter stands adjourned until December 7, since the prosecution’s file is still incomplete.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

Constitutional reform

Full roll-out of programme early next year By Svetlana Marshall GOVERNMENT will early next year roll out its programme for constitutional reform, with the establishment of a Constitutional Consultative Commission and then the setting up of a secretariat to drive the process. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo who has ministerial responsibility for gov-

ernance, told the Guyana Chronicle earlier this week that his office has submitted a budget for the programme next year and has already mapped out areas where consultations will be held across the country. “The constitutional reform process is very active contrary to what we have seen in the press,” Mr Nagamootoo said. A Steering Committee on Constitutional Reform

(SCCR) was established last August to draft a work programme and make recommendations for constitutional reform, a process for which repeated calls have been made. It comprised Hughes; former Director of Transparency International, Attorney-at-law Gino Persaud; Professor Harold Lutchman; former magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond; and former chief economist at the Central Bank, the late

… commission, secretariat to be set up Haslyn Parris. On April 30 this year the committee handed over its report to Prime Minister Nagamootoo. Nagamootoo said that report was tabled at Cabinet. However, he said key to the entire process of constitutional reform was the establishment of the consultative commission, which has to be approved by Parliament. “These are all part of our programme which will be rolled out early next year as soon as the budget is approved…” Nagamootoo said. NO APPETITE The Stabroek News reported earlier this week that the coalition government and the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) “do not appear to have any appetite for constitutional reform.” Professor Harold Lutchman was quoted as saying: “What they support when they are in government is entirely different to what they support when they are out of government. The same thing they criticise when they are out of power, the same thing when they are in power they don’t see anything wrong with,” contended Lutchman. Former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran, also commenting on the matter, said that the APNU+AFC-led coalition government is very slothful in getting the process started, although it would have been high on its manifesto priorities. “The report has been made and the last thing we heard about it was that the government is awaiting the return of Mr [Prime Minister Moses] Nagamootoo to discuss it in Cabinet. He has returned from an overseas trip to India, where he was at the time, and there has been no public indication, to date, that the report has been discussed,” Ramkarran asserted. “It is clear that the government is dragging its feet on the constitutional reform process…the government is happy with the Constitution as it is. They have changed their minds now that they are in power and seem to now be comfortable,” he added. Meanwhile, the steering committee in its report had made recommendations for a structure of the commission and secretariat. Contending that the previous Constitution Commission was “too large,” the Steering Committee is recommending that the membership of the Constitutional Reform Commission not exceed more than 11 persons. However, before reaching

this stage, legislation will be required to establish the body. In its report, the SCCR said the Constitutional Commission should consist of four or five constitutional law experts, two or three judges, foreign constitutional law experts (Commonwealth), experience lawyers, civil society and academics. Accompanying this proposal was a list of experts who enjoy the confidence of the committee. These experts include: Sir Fenton Ramsahoye, SC; Miles Fitzpatrick, SC; Rex McKay, SC; Ralph Ramkarran, SC; Douglas Mendez, SC; Stephen Fraser; Dr. Lloyd Barnett; Dr. Nigel Harris; Sir Shridath Ramphal, and Rashleigh Jackson, among others. It further opined that a three-tiered system for the Commission be considered, noting that a set of legal experts (6-11) should prepare a draft base document incorporating some of the recommendations of the Committee. That document, according to the SCCR, should then be shared with wider stakeholders, including representatives of political parties and civil society. “The Commission will be expanded after the draft has been completed and presented to the stakeholders for their consideration,” the Committee further opined. The expanded commission, the SCCR said, should include one representative from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Alliance for Change (AFC), the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the Trade Unions, a youth representative, the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC), the Indigenous Peoples, the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA), the Hindu Community, the Christian Community and the Islamic Community. The Committee also recommended that representatives from each of the non-party political groups be appointed by the respective organisations after a verifiable electoral process is determined by the National Assembly or a select committee. In addressing the functions of the Commission, the SCCR recommended that the body be headed by a chairman and a deputy chairman and have at its disposal an administrative team. “The Constitutional Reform select committee of the National Assembly should remain constituted and should, on behalf of the National Assembly, have the power to facilitate the due and efficient functioning of the commission, and to receive

the report of the Commission for transmission to the National Assembly,” the SCCR further recommended. A Documentation and Research Department, Public Education and Information Department, and a Document Replication and Distribution Department were among the divisions recommended by the SCCR, in addition to a secretary to the commission, a confidential secretary to the secretary and a deputy secretary. A Financial Administration and Project Monitoring Unit has also been recommended. “The CRC should strongly consider the hiring of a public relations team tasked with the responsibility of disseminating to the general public its work, including submissions received and its programme and the reception of submissions by the public,” the SCCR further proposed. Turning its attention to the issue of funding, the Committee suggested the consideration of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). It noted that a delegation from the IDB consisting of Ms. Stacy Ann Wilson and Mr. Lawrence Latchmansingh had met with members of the steering committee. During that meeting, the team indicated that the IDB was at the exploratory stage of identifying projects globally which they may elect to assist in funding and Guyana was among countries being evaluated. “There were discussions about those aspects of constitutional change which the IDB could possibly fund including education on the constitution and the reform process, especially as different regions of the country are impacted in different ways. Particular reference was made to the difficulty of access to the remote communities of the country,” the SCCR said. Other funding agencies can also be considered, the committee posited, while further suggesting other international financial institutions, foreign governments and their development aid arms, the Caribbean Development Bank and all donor agencies. Additionally, it has recommended that a number of model constitutions be considered, including the Constitution Acts of Canada (1867-1982) Consolidated as of January 1, 2013; the Constitution of India updated to June 6, 2004; Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 updated on August 23, 2013; the Constitution of Fiji and the Constitution of Singapore.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

GWI boss talks up improvements in sector … says new wells to be dug across country By Svetlana Marshall

CHIEF Executive Officer(CEO) of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Dr. Richard Van-West Charles said significant progress has been made under his watch since he took office in October 2015. At a press conference held at GWI’s, Vlissengen Road headquarters on Wednesday, the CEO said at the time of his assumption of office, there were a number of issues plaguing the entity in five programmatic areas: organisation and management; water supply and water quality; water distribution and wa-

Dr Richard Van-West Charles

ter quality; sanitation; and finance, customer service and debt recovery. In the area of water supply and water quality, Dr. Van-West Charles said there were, and still remain a number of communities without access to potable water, primarily in the hinterland regions. He said in Greater Georgetown, thousands of residents of ‘D’ Field and ‘E’ Field Sophia will soon receive water through their taps after a very long time. While attributing this accomplishment to the engineers, Dr.Van-West Charles explained that those residents will now be able to access potable water as a result

Lodge man in court for larceny, escaping police custody A THIRTY-YEAR-OLD porter of Lodge Housing Scheme was slapped with charges of break and enter and larceny and escaping from police custody and appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday. Aneri Dookhoo, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that between October 3 and October 7 at Merriman Mall, Bourda, he broke and entered the stall of Shondel Sealy and stole a quantity of hair and cosmetics valued $360,000. In addition to that, he denied that on October 7 at Alberttown Police Station

while being confined under police guard on an indictable charge of break and enter and larceny, he escaped from the said confinement. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers, did not relate the facts in court but successfully objected to bail, citing the fact that the accused had given a different address to the police from the one he gave in court. The chief magistrate ruled in the prosecution’s favour and remanded the unrepresented man until November 22, for statements.

of the rehabilitation of two wells – one situated at Turkeyen and the other at North Ruimveldt. A d d i t i o n a l l y, n e w transmission lines were installed from North Ruimveldt to Sophia and from Turkeyen to Sophia. Though the transmission lines have been connected, the CEO noted that residents were urged not to use the water until they have been disinfected by GWI. “It is always important for us to disinfect the lines before water is distributed to varying households. So we are in the final stages of the disinfection process,” he said. In the meantime, residents are being supplied with water via water trucks. “Because Sophia is a very large population, and those people have suffered significantly, in the interim we have attempted to distribute water to them because we understand the dilemma with respect to family, with respect to children in the area,” Dr. VanWest Charles posited. In Amerindian Villages such as Karrau in Region Seven, which has had many outbreaks of diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases among residents, systems

are being put in place to ensure residents access potable water. “The well is completed, the pump is installed, we are now establishing the trestles for the tanks [and] photovoltaic system,” he pointed out. To ensure there is equity in access, GWI, the CEO said, the company is working with the Regional Administrations in order to identify the communities that are without potable water. “Many of the health facilities, many of the schools are taking water from rivers, and that water is contaminated. So what we have done in the interim until we can find sustainable solutions, we have begun to purchase some filters that we know work , that removes a 100 per cent of the bacteria, fungi and viruses,” Dr. Van-West Charles stated. Some of the filters have already been distributed to some schools and hospitals in hinterland locations. “We have distributed the Jerrycans so that they can use, so that the water that they use is safe. We are looking to provide some larger filters,” he added. Additionally, the state-

run entity is exploring the possibility of drilling more wells across the country. Dr. Van-West Charles said additional wells are needed in La Parfaite Harmonie, Diamond, Sophia, Sparendaam, and Rose Hall among other areas. On this note, he said GWI has been in discussion with the Dutch with the aim of finding a cost-effective method of drilling wells, noting that the current method being used is very costly. In addition to the drilling of new wells, Dr. Van-West-Charles said 18 wells across the coast are in need of repairs. It was explained that the carbon steel casing within these wells are rapidly eroding and such some $200M will be needed to have them replaced. “Some of these wells are just five years old, but because of poor materials which were bought, which were sourced…that these wells are in serious problems.” As the company remedies the situation, the CEO gave the assurance that interim measures would be put in place to ensure that residents in the affected areas have access to water.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

Busy schedule for Prince Harry’s visit

PRINCE Harry will run a packed schedule when he arrives here early next month, a statement from his communications secretary has said. The Prince will arrive at Eugene F. Correia Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara on December 2. According to the statement His Royal Highness will make his way to the centre of the capital, stopping to call on President David Granger before travelling to lay a wreath at the Independence Monument. He will then visit Camp Ayanganna, the Headquarters of the Guyana Defence Force. There the Prince will meet with groups of officer cadets, serving officers and

veterans, who will take The Prince on a tour of the Base. Before returning to his hotel, Prince Harry will lay a wreath at Georgetown’s Commonwealth War Graves, in honour of those who lost their lives during the two World Wars and the pre-independence period. That evening the Prince will attend a reception hosted by the British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn. The penultimate day of Prince Harry’s tour he will travel to the Hinterland. Over 80% of Guyana’s land mass is covered by the Amazon rainforest, and tucked away beneath these incredible canopies are indigenous communities surviving and

thriving in the jungle. The Prince will visit one such community; where he will be met by village elders, who will lead Prince Harry to the centre of this indigenous community, which is just five-square miles in size. Prince Harry will receive an official welcome from the Surama villagers, around the gathering point of the village Totem Pole. His Royal Highness will hear more about traditional village life, and take a short trip to the village’s Eco Lodge to see how the community is embracing eco-tourism. From this friendly welcome, His Royal Highness will fly to the Iwokrama International Centre, which

has a close link to Prince Harry; his father The Prince of Wales, has been the organisation’s Patron since 2000. Prince Harry will meet with rangers to learn about the forest, and the steps being taken to protect this important reserve, and the broader conservation efforts of the Amazon. Before arriving at the reserve, Prince Harry will briefly call into Fairview Village and pay his respects to the village Elders, as well as visiting the local school. The final stop of the day will be Kaieteur Falls. This magnificent waterfall is the single largest freefall waterfall in the world. It has a drop of 741 feet, making it nearly five times

as high as Niagara Falls in Canada. To reach this staggering natural wonder, Prince Harry will take one more flight, and then a short trek through the jungle with local guides, who will explain the local flora and fauna of the area, before he reaches the falls. The last day of Prince Harry’s Caribbean tour will finish with a visit to Joshua House Children’s Centre, in the centre of Georgetown. The charity, established in 1977, is currently home to more than 70 children, both girls and boys, typically aged between 5 and 12. The mission of the home is to rescue children who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances and whilst

living here, have access to computers and libraries, daily meals and can learn skills like how to prepare those same meals, or even grow the ingredients used to create them. The charity manages to make a big impact on the lives of children who depend on vital services like those provided. Prince Harry will hear of this first-hand from the children living there, and the staff and volunteers who together make it all possible. That afternoon, Prince Harry will return to Eugene F. Correia airport, where he will inspect the final guard of the tour before departing for London.

Friday November 11th, 2016 - 14:30 hrs Saturday November 12th, 2016 - 14:30 hrs Sunday November 13th, 2016 - 14:30 hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

Miner turns in gun to police

POLICE have recovered a firearm which was turned in by a public-spirited citizen on Wednesday after the weapon was found with four live rounds in Konawaruk Backdam, Mahdia. Enquiries disclosed that the citizen, who is a miner, was prospecting a plot of land

when he came across a bag, which when checked found to contain a .22 semi-automatic pistol, a magazine and four live matching rounds. A Ballistic test will be conducted to ascertain if it was used in the commission of any crime, police said.

No bail for Lindener busted with ganja at Itaballi A 23-YEAR-OLD Linden resident was on Thursday remanded to prison, after being charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. Kyretha Sultan, a bartend-

er, of Lot 70 Amelia’s Ward, Linden, was on Wednesday morning nabbed at the Itaballi Check Point, by ranks of the Guyana Police Force, with four hundred and seventy-nine grams of cannabis sativa (mar-

ijuana). The defendant appeared before Magistrate Dylon Best at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court; pleaded not guilty and was remanded until November 24, 2016 for trial.

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Processing company to invest US$2M in developing organic farm

THE National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) will be lending its support to Amazon Caribbean Guyana Ltd, (AMCAR) in its new venture to expand the non-traditional crop sector, principally in Berbice. In a release NAREI said the company plans to invest

US$2M in developing a 500acre organic farm there for açaí and processed mixed fruits (pineapples, mangoes, watermelons and papaws) in glass jars for export, and in expanding its Berbice Factory in Rosignol to accommodate the increased production. Chief Executive Offi-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

cer of NAREI, Dr. Oudho Homenauth and a team recently met with Mr. J. Denys Bourque, AMCAR Projects Manager at NAREI, Mon Repos. AMCAR is seeking the Institute’s expertise, advice and technical assistance on a variety of items including the selection of cultivars; the availability and supply of CEO of NAREI Dr. Oudho Homenauth and team in discussion with Denys Bourque, AMCAR Projects Manager planting materials of different varieties of the selected fruits; soil improvement and water management; and organic farming practices. Core to AMCAR’s operations is organic farming, which the company has been actively promoting. This is also an area of interest for NAREI. Dr. Homenauth has confirmed NAREI’s readiness to closely support the company in this newest venture. As part of this collaboration, the Institute would provide advice and collect data on land preparation, pest management using neem (Azadirachta indica), a tree reputed for its insecticidal properties, organic fertilisation using compost, recedia and nitrogen-fixing trees, among which Glericidia sepium, and yields. NAREI’s support will be an additional benefit to the company in the organic certification process.

For the first phase of the venture, which is underway, the company is developing 100 acres of land 30 km upriver from Rosignol, Region Five. Up to 30 sustainable livelihood opportunities will result, both on the farm, in its factory in Rosignol and in services. At the factory two new productionlines will be installed, one for açaí and the other for mixed fruits, mostly for the European markets. Amazon Caribbean Guyana Ltd was founded in 1987. It operates a second factory in Barima-Waini, where it is processing organic heart of palm, also for export. In total, the company provides sustainable livelihood opportunities to some 1500 persons from various communities in the areas in which it operates.

PPP congratulates Trump THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has congratulated Donald Trump who won the American Presidential Elections on Tuesday and who will be the 45th President of the United States of America. “The Party wishes to stress the importance it attaches to the relations between Guyana and the United States. These relations are based on shared values of democracy, freedom and mutual respect,” the PPP said in a statement. According to the PPP, Trump is assuming this huge responsibility at a time when “our world is facing great dangers. In his victory speech, we were pleased to learn that Mr. Trump emphasised the need to improve relations with other countries of the world.” “We strongly support that view. We can assure Mr. Trump of our support as he pursues that goal. The PPP wishes to congratulate the American people in choosing their President in a democratic and open manner. We take this opportunity to wish Mr. Trump well as he works to promote the interests of his country,” the statement added.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

Local

‘Rocker’ achieves int’l acclaim

T

HE title ‘Creole Rock’ may be familiar to most, after local ‘rocker’, Gavin Mendonca pushed the envelope to create a whole new genre of music by infusing heavy metal to revamp Guyanese folk songs on his debut album. Now, Gavin’s work has received international attention after being chosen as ‘Artist of the Month’ for Oc-

tober 2016 by Online music company, Global Rockstar. Global Rockstar is an international multimedia platform that allows thousands of people from around the world to vote for their favourite artists. Founded in 2013 in Austria by songwriter and producer, Christof Straub, and marketing professional, Ronny Steibl, the company is known for its global competitions which allow artists to

gain international recognition. The competition for Artist of the Month caught Gavin’s eye after constantly showing up on his Facebook feed. Still rife with the accolades he has been receiving since the launch of ‘Creole Rock: The Beginning’, which dropped in April, Gavin decided to enter the competition to see how his work would fare on a bigger stage. By entering, Gavin was

‘Creole Rock: The Beginning’

required to submit several pieces of material, including his music video of ‘The Great Rebellion’, which is a song that tells the story of Cuffy and the 1763 Berbice Slave Rebellion. TAKE NOTICE First, Global Rockstar took notice of Gavin’s music, and selected him to be their ‘Artist of the Day’ on October 5, 2016, which later led to his being eligible for the ‘Artist of the Week’, which he also won. Winning this competition then placed him in the ‘Artist of the Month’ Competition for the month of October. Gavin went up against four other international musicians from different countries. And just as they did before, Gavin admits that it is support from local friends, family and followers that helped to gain him the win. The prize for the competition was an AKG WMS420 Wireless Microphone/Instrument system. “I’m overwhelmed by the positive and kind words expressed by members of the public about my own brand of music; Creole Rock is truly a Guyanese work of art,” Gavin said. “I’m grateful to have been a part of the competition; the

Gavin Mendonca experience has introduced me to some new, wonderful music from around the world, and has shed some light on the ins and outs of the international music industry, and what it takes to be successful as a musician from Guyana, using today’s technology,” he told The Buzz. HEAVY METAL Gavin is also the bassist of local heavy metal band, Feed The Flames, which performed in Trinidad for the first time back in July. The band is currently recording their debut album, which will be launched early next year. The artiste says, however, that there are still some challenges when it comes to selling music, as locals are not always willing to pay the full

cost for original CDs in comparison to purchasing bootleg material or downloading from Online sources. To combat this, Gavin seeks to promote local music via the airwaves, and highlights the urgent need for the amendment, and enforcement, of modern copyright laws. In the meantime, he continues to promote the sale of his album via video ‘ads’ on Social Media, and through select businesses. ‘Creole Rock: The Beginning’ costs $1,500, and can be purchased at Howard’s Restaurant in Eccles; Chetson’s on Wellington Street; and Zoon Online Shopping locations. The album is also available on CDBaby.com, iTunes and Amazon Music, as well as other Online merchants.

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Coming soon...

‘GEM Top Professionals’ 2016 edition GEM, the local entertainment ‘glossy’, will soon be releasing its 4th annual list of top professionals under the age of 40. GEM says in a release that the persons on the list includes persons who are considered top career-oriented individuals, entrepreneurs and other influential persons in the professional field. According to GTVibes, the list comprises several well-known faces, among t h e m a d e p u t y m a y o r, a member of parliament, webmasters, dentists, event planners, media and marketing executives, comedians,

an international model, an inspirational speaker and representatives of many other industries. The 39 chosen individuals, who also grace the cover, were selected from a list put together by the magazine’s team, voluntary submissions and recommendations from clients and readers. As has become the norm, nearly 100 hundred names were available to choose from, and this created some difficulty in deciding on the standouts, since the aim was to be as inclusive and as diverse as possible.

The 74th edition of the magazine also has features on the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, designer Roger Gary’s famous Aqua Couture collection, the Rupununi Wildlife Research Unit and much more. In addition, readers can expect to see all the usual articles that they have grown accustomed to reading over the years. GEM, which was launched nearly 13 years ago as the nation’s first bi-monthly international glossy magazine, has managed to maintain its concept of transcending race, pol-

itics, religion and class to positively highlight people, places and events at home and in the Diaspora. This is done through easy-to-read human interest stories, trendy articles and high- quality pictures. The magazine, which has grown tremendously in popularity, has a large list of newsstand buyers and subscribers in the Caribbean, North America and Europe. The publication can also be read Online at www.gemmagonline.com or www.issuu.com/cmgguyana; it is also quite active on social media.

The drama continues @ NCC THE preliminaries for the National Drama Festival continue this weekend, so if you’re a theatre enthusiast and are interested in seeing a fresh batch of original work from local playwrights, take some time out of your weekend to visit the National Cultural Centre. And the best part about it, all plays are free! JACK AND JILL (The Modern Epilogue) by Lloyd Thomas/Lloyd n de Arts: (Showtime: Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 15:30hrs.) This is a ‘oneact’ play which contains six scenes presenting the life of the Rampersaud family that just moved to Georgetown from the Bahamas. As the story unfolds, the struggles of ‘married life’ between Suraj and Susan are unveiled, as it is severed by Pepita, the other woman. Simultaneously, Amy, the couple’s daughter, suffers humiliation and ill-treatment at school as she struggles to fit in. The plot is further complicated when Pepita and her daughter move in following Susan’s death. The play explores several themes, such as love,

family and relationships, religion, nostalgia and spiritism, and promises to take the audience on an emotional ride. MASQUE, by Subraj Singh: (Showtime: Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 17:30hrs.) Masque is the second part of the Rebellion Trilogy, which is a single story divided into three post-colonial, experimental, one-act plays that each focuses on the post-colonial experience of Guyana’s three main ethnic groups. Masque is both a prequel and a sequel to last year’s Laugh of the Marble Queen, which focused primarily on the African post-colonial experience. Masque highlights the effects of colonisation on a tribe of indigenous peoples, and presents other important themes like feminism, identity, the environment, religion and the supernatural, power and authority, reality and the unreal, love, blindness, family, and the past versus the present. Set over 500 years ago in the interior regions of Guyana, at a time when the country was still being overtaken

by European colonisation, the play opens with a white woman being abducted by a tribe of indigenous peoples. Kita, the Chief ’s daughter, is bitter, and wants the white woman dead as retribution for all the travesties committed on their village by the White Man. Kai, her brother, has recently escaped from European bondage, and yet, is intent on sparing the white woman’s life. Thus begins a mighty power struggle between two opposing people with two opposing ideologies. Things get more complicated with the arrival of the ghost of their dead, vengeful mother and the interventions of their blind, aging father. As the Europeans begin to march on the village once more, Kai, Kita, their entire village, and the white woman who stands in the centre of it all must make decisions to save themselves from an oncoming destruction that exists both outside the village and within. THE TALE OF 10CS by Angelisa Alexander: (Showtime: Saturday,

November 12, 2016 at 14:00hrs) The fate of a quarrelsome Sunday-School class is put to question as conflict, unforgiveness and rage gets the better of four children in an evangelical community. While in transit in a mystically creepy place, the smart, clever and not-so-clever students all apply their biblical knowledge to a threatening situation in an attempt to successfully solve riddles to regain access to the earth realm. ‘The Tale of 10Cs’ was written with an interesting combination of realism, tragedy and religious genres of theatre for a diversified children’s audience. It cuts across class, socio-economic status, intellect, physical ability or disability, while emphasising the importance of working together as a team, especially in the face of opposition. Its storyline promises much fun and excitement, as well as hope of positive transformation in the lives of its viewers through characters that can be easily identified with.

Other plays you can look forward to are: DON’T ASK ME WHY by Rae Wiltshire (Showtime: Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 18:30hrs); COLLISION by Lorraine Baptiste (Showtime: Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 14:00hrs);

THE ‘EX’ by Sheron Cadogan-Taylor (Showtime: Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 16:00hrs); and B A R A K A’ S R E VENGE by Melinda Solomon (Showtime: Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 17:30hrs).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

WHEN THE CLOCK TICKS ALL art and liberating ideas that propel peoples and nations forward are challenged by the politics of the day, which, with the force of ideas, must be triumphed over against the cold urges of power for power’s sake. Perhaps, in every era or micro turn of events, the political tides of the day, cultic and unenlightened, throw a gauntlet that jeers at the principles of loyalty and courage; and it’s whether you kneel or rise in defiance that will determine whether the assailed group fades away, or survives with dignity. Though many of us like to think of ourselves as being apolitical, the aggression of politics will intrude upon our illusive comfort spaces with its gauntlet to kneel, bow or rage in defiance. Extra-judicial killings were not new to Guyana in 1996, but it had escalated beyond all excuses and ridiculous logic. Two men I call brothers passed away this year: Cyrus Boyce, alias ‘Shortman’, and Kenneth Chance, alias ‘Six Head’. The latter was on hand in defiance when young Jermaine Wilkinson was murdered by a purportedly ‘high’ Corporal Beresford in La Penitence Street, Albouystown on May 22, 1996, a killing that pierced the womb of a community. What was different about Wilkinson’s murder was that this youth was known to everyone in his neighbourhood; and the usual criminal-attacks-police allegation, frequently used at the time, could not be pinned on him. In a small country like ours, there were 12 extra-judicial murders in 1995; in 1996, Jermaine Wilkinson’s was the fourth for the month of February alone. INDIFFERENCE The Guyanese society, including the PPP government, was indifferent, as 99% of those being killed at the time were Afro-Guyanese from

underprivileged areas. The Albouystown community, and other south Georgetown residents, including myself, gathered, and we decided on an all-the-way protest for this murder. ‘Six Head’ Chance pulled me aside and said, “Barry, yuh know that we can’t back off here.” We were clear about the way forward. President Jagan was visiting Charlestown School for some reason, so with our placards at the ready, and led by Jermaine’s aunts and mother, we proceeded to the Charlestown venue. But instead of engaging us, President Jagan went to his car and his bodyguards drew their weapons, pointing them at us. I suggested that we reach out to the then Leader of the Opposition, Desmond Hoyte; that was my call, as I had met Mr Hoyte while he was President. I had designed his Presidential Standard, and had later visited his office over the execution and robbery of ‘Porridge Man’ in Rasville by Leon Fraser and his cohorts. I rode to Congress Place to meet former President Hoyte. I met him in his office in the presence of some senior party members; I laid out our situation. To my surprise, Mr Parris and Mr Barrow insisted that Albouystown was Mayor Hamilton Green’s area, and that Mr Hoyte shouldn’t go there. This was ridiculous and idiotic! The fact was that up to that point, Mayor Green had not visited the Hunter Street residence where the protest headquarters was located. Mr Hoyte listened to his advisors of the moment, then turned to Ronald Austin, whom I knew well and who had said nothing so far, and asked him, “What do you think, Ronald? And Ronald replied, “I think you should go with Barry.” Mr. Hoyte got up and said to me, “You lead the way, young man.” HOYTE INTERVENES And so, in 1996, Mr

humanity.

Hoyte and the PNC came into Albouystown to meet their protesting constituents and ACDA, who were already there. I did enjoy the ‘wake’ discussions between Mr. Hoyte and ‘Buckelo’, ‘Banfa’, ‘Six Head’ and others on the subject of mandatory jail for marijuana, extra-judicial killings and the PPP. From the over 14 days of protest [the figure may be a few days off] the ‘Justice for Jermaine’ organisation, with protestor ‘Bostwick’ as Chairman, was born. My brother, ‘Boy Blue’, led the protest, and we were aware that we had attracted strong hatred from certain sections of the society. While

riding his motorcycle one day, a black-tinted 4x4 vehicle side-swiped ‘Boy Blue’. Protestors took him to the Georgetown Hospital, where friendly hands attended to him before advising that he be taken home. He would later regain consciousness, all in Plaster of Paris, but alive and at home. When we protested outside the Attorney General’s office, Bernard De Santos came out and spoke with us; when we protested outside the PPP’s Robb Street headquarters, Freedom House, they jeered at us from their windows. Only the former PNC-turned PPP member, Henry Jeffrey, showed any

NO JUSTICE Corporal Beresford was subsequently charged. We trailed his family to Freedom House, and from their body language, some of us immediately knew that he was not going to pay for his crime. We had entered an era of protest with an insensitive and double-standard administration. ‘Six Head’ would practically stare death in the face when a known ‘Death Squad’ policeman named ‘Big Batty’ went into his yard with a certain intent. Only the agitation of residents and friends saved his life. But things were fated to get worse. After Waddell’s assassination, the ‘Waddell Forum For Political & Social Justice’ was born. ‘Six Head’, Bostwick, Archie Poole, Cyrus Boyce, Yvette, myself and others were behind its genesis. I can remember Boyce’s

daughter taking us one Christmas with our goodies to the Waddell Forum’s Christmas party; we were carrying toys etc. up the East Coast to Buxton, when Junior Wharton called me for the umpteenth time, asking me to come up to Soesdyke to meet a certain former GDF lieutenant who had just acquired a social conscience. I had no views on that person, as I was otherwise engaged, and saved myself prison time at the hands of a political conspiracy. As it turned out, Major Munro, his wife, and Junior Wharton were entrapped on false charges of treason by this same GDF lieutenant whom they knew and had helped out. The proverb, ‘sorry fuh magga daag, magga daag tu’n round an bite yuh’ had fulfilled its tragic meaning; but this was only the first stage of a sinister plot to undo a legitimate economic pact by destroying the lives of people, and defaming a foreign ally of Guyana. The major cog in the wheel of the schemers was the former commissioner of police, the late Henry Green, but the full sequence of that event will be written one day, when permission is given. We have lived through a vicious period. Some choose the higher ground of principles at a vital cost; the many shape-shifters of the selfish gene, choose themselves. But according to the books of enlightenment, when all is done, the balance of immortality rests with the good works that outbalance the frailties of our humanity. And we have witnessed courage from ordinary men like Kenneth Chance, Cyrus Boyce and many others; and humane concerns and commitment from others who had everything to gain by looking the other way, and did not. Farewell, fallen brothers. A luta continua.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

‘Laramade’ returns --with Broadway-style musical

Producer and writer, Launce Northe speaking of the upcoming production, ‘Joie de Vivre’. Seated at the head table are other members of the company impressive that the team just A BROADWAY-styled musical called “Joie de Vivre” will be put on by the Laramade Musical Theater on December 4 at the National Cultural Centre (NCC). Some may recall that last year, Laramade held a show by the same name, “Joie de Vivre”, which is French for “Joy of Life”, aimed at raising the bar of theatre in Guyana, with a fusion of both local and foreign artistes on the same stage. This year’s production tells of a group of artistes at a nightclub who desperately want to be liberated, but are being controlled by a domi-

neering boss. However, one brave soul will seek to fight through the challenges. “It’s a universal story; it’s a very relatable musical, and will resonate with viewers,” said the musical’s producer and director, Launce Northe. Northe and his team held a press briefing at the Pegasus Hotel yesterday, sharing with media personnel the plans he has afoot for this theatrical production. A HUGE SUCCESS Northe says last year’s show was such a resounding success, and the support so

could not resist coming back again this year; but this time around, they wanted to do a full-blown, Broadway-styled production to give Guyanese a taste of what it’s like. “What we’ve seen is that there is a void for this type of art form in Guyana, so we’re hoping to stay here for a while,” Northe said. And to help fill this void, Northe’s crew is hoping not only to become a more permanent fixture in the Guyanese culture, but also to incorporate some of the Guyanese culture into their productions. Laramade’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Linda

Buzzing this weekend JACKIE Jaxx and Spotlight Sound roll out the red carpet TONITE for the first ever “Hustle Money” party and music live video premiere at Palm Court! Be the first to see the official music video for Jackie’s “Money” single, which was featured on Love & Hip Hop Atlanta. There will be over US$1000 in cash and prizes up for grabs! There will also be a live performance by Jackie Jaxx, with music by DJ Energy, Selector Diamond & Brooklyn’s Spotlight Sound! Admission: $2000 before 23:00hrs. TOMORROW The Rotaract Club of

Georgetown Central presents its Social Media Sensation party at the 704 Bar and Lounge. Come out in your numbers. The event will feature music from three of the most versatile DJs: DJ Shizzle, Gully Ras and Selector Diamond. There will also be Carlsberg specials all night. Come take as many pics as possible with your favourite emoticons, props, Facebook and Instagram frames, then dance the night away! All proceeds go towards the Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central’s Cancer Care Community Service project. Event starts at 21:00hrs. The Kaneville Full Gos-

pel Fellowship is celebrating 20 years of ministry and service. This year, as part of its celebrations, the Church will be collaborating with Heavenly Light World Outreach to “Say ‘No’ to suicide, and ‘Yes’ to life” through a production themed, “Way Up!” It will be an evening of Praise and Worship, featuring renowned artiste, Postive, from Trinidad, and DJ Nicholas from Jamaica, along with our very own Eddie Neblett, Kester Deane and Samuel Medas among other locals. The event is billed for the Cliff Anderson’s Sports Hall tarmac, and begins at 16:00hrs. Tickets cost $1,500 at the gate.

Northe says that this year’s production will see Guyana’s diversification being well represented. “In this production, we have representation of all of the races in Guyana, showing them all coming together to perform and demonstrate unity,” she said. She also drew attention to the fact that creating a thriving home for this art form in Guyana will bode well for Guyana’s tourism industry, as well as providing an opportunity for

local artistes to showcase just how talented they are.

CAST The show’s cast includes former Classique Dance troupe members such as Meleesa Payne, Travis Bowen and Paul Charles, as well as famed Guyanese vocalist Charmaine Blackman, violinist Adaeze Lumumba, and dance instructor, “Shaft”. It will also involve other local theatre stalwarts like Desiree Edghill, and Margaret Law-

rence. The show has the blessings and support of the Ministry of Education, which continues to advocate for more accent on the arts in schools. Apart from the show at the NCC on December 4, there will also be a matinee performance for schoolchildren on December 8. Another hosting of the show is billed for the poolside of the recently refurbished Tower Suites on January 1, 2017.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

How will the new US president impact on sport? By Richard Conway DONALD Trump has swept to power in the US presidential election. There’s a lot of uncertainty over his policy plans and what they’ll mean for America and for the world. His victory will also have an impact on a range of sporting issues, including the US 2024 Olympic bid, the investigation into FIFA, the 2026 World Cup and the continued global expansion of American football,

baseball and basketball. What impact will President Trump have on the Los Angeles bid to host the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics? Trump’s victory could be highly significant for LA’s hopes and could boost its main rival, Paris. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is due to hold a vote to decide the host of the Games next September with Budapest the only other candidate. Back in August, LA’s mayor Eric Garcetti, a

Democrat who supported Hillary Clinton, acknowledged IOC members had concerns over Trump. IOC president Thomas Bach also spoke in the summer about a “world of selfishness where certain people claim to be superior to others”. That was seen as a clear reference to Trump’s proposed plans that include potential restrictions on Muslim immigration and the deportation of millions of illegal immigrants. Trump’s plans may not

Donald Trump with the Olympic Torch sit well with IOC voters, drawn from a range of countries and cultures. USA are clear favourites for the 2026 World Cup but will a Trump administration affect how it will be staged if it wins the bid? There’s no question that the US is in pole position for football’s 2026 tournament. Football’s world governing body FIFA is deliberating over expanding the tournament to 40 or even 48 teams. In tandem with that there’s a definite shift in thinking within FIFA’S leadership towards encouraging joint bids between countries. The regional football chief, Victor Montagliani, has been careful to keep all options regarding some combination of a US/Mexico/Canada hosting arrangement on the table. B u t w h a t e ff e c t w i l l Trump’s plan to build a wall along the US border with Mexico - and to make them pay for it - have on relations between the two countries? World Cup bids only succeed with firm government backing and solid financial guarantees. It’s difficult to imagine there would be a friendly atmosphere of co-operation over a joint tournament with such big issues being argued over

at senior levels within both governments. “We will get along with all other countries, willing to get along with us,” said Trump in his acceptance speech. A USA/Canada 2026 bid may have just become a more realistic prospect. Meanwhile, when the US play Mexico in a World Cup qualifier today, it will provide an early test of whether sport can rise above politics. Trump has threatened to end several trade deals. What impact will that have on the growth of American sport outside its borders? Trump has a firm affinity for golf, owning many of the world’s most prestigious courses in the US, Scotland and Dubai. He’s also tweeted sporadically about NFL and is friends with New England Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady. And it’s NFL’s global ambitions - along with those of the NBA and MLB - that may be caught up under Trump’s plans to impose tariffs on imported goods. The leadership of America’s three big sports have ambitious plans for overseas expansion. Games have been played in recent years in cities such as London, Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, Shanghai and Berlin.

But economists warn that tariffs could lead to a trade war between the US and its trading partners. Would countries such as China, facing possible tariffs of 45%, be open to hosting games for the principal benefit of US franchises and permitting beneficial tax arrangements for visiting teams and leagues? London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, insists “London is open” and is encouraging of American sports teams coming over to visit. That won’t change - but US teams must now consider the likely impact of a radically different global economic environment. The US Department of Justice launched criminal action in May 2015 against FIFA officials. But will President Trump and whoever he appoints as Attorney General still consider it a priority? The former New York Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, is being touted to take over from the current Attorney General, Loretta Lynch. Giuliani made his name taking on powerful Mafia figures in New York in the 1980s. So he may relish the task of taking on the fight against corruption among football officials. America and the world await to see the answers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

Starc to play in Hobart despite injury risk

(ESPNCricinfo) AUSTRALIA have used Mitchell Starc’s imminent selection for the second Test against South Africa in Hobart in contradiction of medical data indicating he will be at high injury risk - as proof the tail isn’t wagging the dog in terms of selection decisions around the national team. Responding to various strains of criticism about the way the nation’s fast bowlers are managed, the team physio David Beakley, the strength and conditioning coach Aaron Kellett and the doctor Peter Brukner spoke alongside the coach Darren Lehmann about the theories behind fast bowling workload management and how much influence the high performance arm of Cricket Australia, led by Pat Howard, has

Mitchell Starc is expected to play in Hobart despite his limited preparation ahead of the series. (Cricket Australia/Getty Images)

Mexico F1 driver Sergio Perez dumps sponsor over tweet MEXICAN Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez has dumped one of his sponsors for sending a disrespectful tweet about his compatriots. Perez was incensed after sunglasses manufacturer Hawkers tweeted in the wake of Donald Trump’s victory in the US election that Mexicans should buy its shades to hide their tears when Mr Trump begins to build a border wall. The driver said he would not allow anyone to make fun of his country. Hawkers subsequently apologised. One of the company’s founders, David Moreno, published a video message on Twitter (in Spanish) saying that he and his team had committed

Sergio Perez “a grave error” and were sincerely sorry about the comment, which they have since erased from their Twitter feed. He said the tweet had

been “a joke, a joke in bad taste”. Perez had earlier tweeted: “What a bad comment, today I sever my links with @HawkersMX. I won’t let anyone make fun of my country! #MexicoUnited Mr Trump campaigned on a promise to build a wall between Mexico and the US to protect the latter from Mexican migrants trying to cross into the US. He further angered them by branding Mexican migrants “drug dealers, criminals, rapists”. Sergio Perez, 26, came third in the Formula 1 races in Monaco and Baku this season. Last week, he announced he would continue with the Force India team for another season in 2017.

on selection. Beakley described Starc’s recovery from a serious leg wound to play in Perth as “amazing”, and admitted that CA had stretched their own conventions around fast bowling to allow him to play. Medical staff work back up to six weeks from the start of a Test match to figure out a steady rise in a bowler’s workload to ensure he is ready for the Test, but Starc had only two weeks of bowling before taking part at the WACA Ground. “It’s well known we had two fast bowlers going into that Test who were underdone,” Beakley said. “Starcy played the Shield match about five and a half weeks post his knee injury, which is amazing he got back that quickly. Three weeks immobilised in a knee brace, a couple of weeks bowl-

ing preparation under his belt to play in the Shield match. “ I t ’s p r e t t y r a r e i n Test cricket to bowl 50 o v e r s i n a Te s t m a t c h and we’ve had two guys do it in this Test match. There’s some pretty good research around, showing you are at increased risk of injury after that. The fact he’s got through that amount of bowling is testament to him and his resilience.” Lehmann stated that despite heightened injury risk associated with Starc’s heavy lifting in Perth, he would be playing in Hobart. That decision follows on from the calculated gamble taken on the fitness of Peter Siddle, who has withdrawn from the second Test squad due to a flare-up of his recently healed back stress fracture.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

England tour of India, 1st Test

Stokes frustrates India on second day

(REUTERS) - All-rounder Ben Stokes lived a charmed life to register his fourth century as England punished a sloppy India to post a huge first-innings total on the second day of the opening Test yesterday. After winning the toss and asking the hosts to bowl on a docile pitch, an increasingly confident England capitalised on some slack fielding to amass 537 runs, effectively batting India out of the first match of the five-Test series. India openers Gautam Gambhir and Murali Vijay safely negotiated the 23 overs they faced to take their side to 63 without loss at stumps, trailing England by 474 runs. Gambhir was unbeaten on 28 while Vijay was on 25. Stokes survived two dropped catches, two runout chances and a tough stumping opportunity before he was finally out for an eventful 128 just before the scheduled tea break. The left-handed batsman, who also saw three mishits soar high into the air before falling between onrushing fielders, reached three figures with a boundary off spinner Ravindra Jadeja (3-86). After Joe Root scored a hundred on Wednesday,

117 after shouldering arms to an inswinging delivery from Shami, which ended a brisk 62-run stand with Stokes for the fifth wicket. There was, however, no respite for the Indian bowlers as Stokes and Jonny Bairstow added another 99 for the sixth wicket before the latter was caught behind off Shami. India had dropped three catches on the first morning of the match and their profligacy continued when wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha dropped Stokes twice off Yadav.

Stokes was on 60 when Saha spilled the ball after diving to his left. The wicketkeeper then grassed another almost identical opportunity when the all-rounder had added another run. Bairstow hit five fours and two sixes in his aggressive knock of 46 before Saha finally managed to hold on to a catch. Stokes also added 52 for the ninth wicket with Zafar Ansari before Saha completed a smart catch down the leg side off Yadav to dismiss him.

SCOREBOARD

Ben Stokes strikes his fourth Test century, India v England, 1st Test, Rajkot, 2nd day, November 10, 2016. (Associated Press) Moeen Ali and Stokes matched the feat a day later, to mark the first time in 55 years that an England side had three batsmen score centuries in the same innings at an Asian venue. Geoff Pullar, Ken Barrington and Ted Dexter all scored hundreds in the second innings of a Test against India at Kanpur in December

1961. Resuming on 311-4, England walked out in a positive frame of mind and dominated the Indian attack, who failed to help their cause by bowling too many loose deliveries. Moeen had been on 99 overnight, but picked up the run he needed to bring up his milestone off the third ball of

the day when he dabbed pace bowler Mohammed Shami for a quick single. The left-hander then blasted fast bowler Umesh Yadav for three boundaries in four balls, prompting India captain Virat Kohli to bring on off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin after just five overs with the second new ball. Moeen was dismissed for

England 1st innings (Overnight: 311-4) A. Cook lbw b Jadeja 21 H. Hameed lbw b R. Ashwin 31 J. Root c&b U. Yadav 124 B. Duckett c Rahane b R. Ashwin 13 M. Ali b Shami 117 B. Stokes c Saha b U. Yadav 128 J. Bairstow c Saha b Shami 46 C. Woakes c Saha b Jadeja 4 A. Rashid c U. Yadav b Jadeja 5 Z. Ansari lbw b Mishra 32 S. Broad not out 6 Extras (b-5 lb-4 nb-1) 10 Total (all out, 159.3 overs) 537 Fall of wickets: 1-47 A. Cook,2-76 H. Hameed,3-102 B. Duckett,4-281 J. Root,5-343 M. Ali,6-442 J. Bairstow,7-451 C. Woakes,8-465 A. Rashid,9-517 B. Stokes,10-537 Z. Ansari

Bowling M. Shami 28.1 - 5 - 65 - 2 U. Yadav 31.5 - 3 - 112 - 2 R. Ashwin 46 - 3 - 167 - 2 R. Jadeja 30 - 4 - 86 - 3(nb-1) A. Mishra 23.3 - 3 - 98 - 1 India 1st innings M. Vijay not out 25 G. Gambhir not out 28 Extras (b-8 lb-1 w-1) 10 Total (for no loss, 23 overs) 63 Fall of wickets: To bat: C. Pujara, V. Kohli, A. Rahane, R. Ashwin, W. Saha, R. Jadeja, M. Shami, U. Yadav, A. Mishra Bowling S. Broad 5 - 1 - 20 - 0 C. Woakes 7 - 2 - 17 - 0(w-1) M. Ali 6 - 2 - 6 - 0 Z. Ansari 3 - 0 - 3 - 0 A. Rashid 2 - 0 - 8 - 0

Sri Lanka overcome Zimbabwe

(ESPNCricinfo) - It took Sri Lanka a little over 50 minutes to wrap up proceedings on the final day in Harare. Resuming on 180 for 7, Zimbabwe folded for 233 to give Sri Lanka a 257-run win. Rangana Herath, in his first and perhaps last series as Sri Lanka captain - he was standing in for the injured Angelo Mathews celebrated a 2-0 series win with his seventh ten-wicket haul in Tests. His match figures of 13 for 152 took his series tally to 19 wickets. Craig Ervine, who made a battling half-century on the fourth day, stood between Sri Lanka and an early finish. In the first six overs, he seemed keen on playing according to the merit of the ball. But the frustration of being unable to get runs - Zimbabwe had just one scoring shot in the first 23 minutes - resulted

Rangana Herath finishes with 19 wickets in the series. (AFP) in his gloving an audacious reverse sweep from the rough off Herath to Dhananjaya de Silva at slip.

Dhananjaya, who was initially moving to his right in anticipation of the sweep going a lot squarer, changed

directions and dived low to complete an excellent two-handed catch. Ervine referred the decision, but

it was eventually upheld as there was sufficient evidence of the ball brushing the glove before hitting his

forearm. Off the first ball of his next over, Herath had Carl Mumba with an arm ball that drifted back in to trap him in front. Christopher Mpofu came out playing shots. A slog sweep over deep midwicket off Herath even had the dressing room in splits as he acknowledged the applause by raising his bat. He swung at everything thereafter, but the party did not last much longer as Herath’s slider came back in to beat his forward push and trap him lbw. This was Sri Lanka’s fifth successive Test win - they swept Australia 3-0 at home prior to this series - to equal their second-longest winning streak in Tests. Their longest is nine, which they achieved in 2000-2001.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

Several teams register wins in ‘Hit It For 50’ WINDBALL action in the Ministry of Education, National Sports Commission and AL Sport & Tour Promotions ‘Hit It For 50’ competition took place over the week. Played at the Number 71 playfield Upper Corentyne recently, Massiah Primary beat Number 68 Primary by 18 runs. Batting first Massiah made 39-3 while in response Number 68 Primary scored 21-5. In game two, Number 56 Primary’s 31-1 was enough to deny New Market Primary who made 20-4 a victory in this tour-

nament. Crabwood Creek Primary (19-2) were too much for Skeldon Primary (14-4). Other winners on the day included Number 59. On the distaff end, Skeldon Primary’s score of 21-6 was overhauled by Crabwood Creek Primary with 23-0, while Number 56 Primary were restricted to 15 and their opponents Massiah Primary made 16-1. The organisers paid special thanks to the Regional Education Officer of Region Six and all the schools especially those from Black Bush Polder.

Raj, Krishnamurthy steer India home after spinners strike (ESPNCricinfo) - West Indies women will have to wait until the second ODI on Sunday to give themselves a shot at securing the one win they need to earn a direct entry to the 2017 Women’s World Cup, after a forgettable first outing against India in Vijayawada. They slumped to 131 all out before India’s captain Mithali Raj and middle-order batter Veda Krishnamurthy steered the hosts to a six-wicket win. The pair put on an unbroken stand of 97 as India - who had slumped to 36 for 4 in the 17th over - chased down the target with 65 balls to spare. Raj faced 91 balls and hit six fours in her 46 not out, while Krishnamurthy brought up her fourth ODI fifty and was unbeaten on 52. The win was India’s seventh in 16 ICC Women’s World Championships

double figures thanks to a four-wicket haul by Rajeshwari Gayakwad, India’s other left-arm spinner. West Indies lost their last four wickets for 16, three of those to Gayakwad, who finished with career-best figures of 4 for 21. Bisht, who bowled three maidens in her eight overs, finished with 3 for 14, while all-rounder Shikha Pandey took the only other wicket that wasn’t a run-out, with her medium-pace. India, experimenting with the new opening com-

Mithali Raj and Stafanie Taylor at the toss, India v West Indies, 1st women’s ODI, Vijayawada, yesterday. matches and put them two points behind fifth-placed South Africa. Four of West Indies’ top seven, including Deandra Dottin - one of their most experienced cricketers were out for single-digit

scores after they had elected to bat. Hayley Matthews (24) and captain Stafanie Taylor (19) put on 37 for the second wicket - the highest partnership of the innings before left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht removed both of them

and Kycia Knight, to leave West Indies precariously placed at 63 for 4. Merissa Aguilleira, the wicketkeeper, top-scored with 42 not out as she carried the batting almost single-handedly, with no one after her getting into

RHTY&SC congratulates Hooper on call-up THE Patron, Management and Members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S., would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to our member Eon Hooper on his call-up to Guyana’s senior cricket team. He earned a late selection to replace West Indies player Devendra Bishoo for the first match of the West Indies Cricket Board four-day first class season. The entire club would like to salute Eon Hooper on his well-earned selection

and to wish him well in the upcoming tournament. The 25-year-old all-rounder joined the RHTY&SC M.S., in 2003 at the tender age of 12 years and over the years has represented the club at all levels. Eon started his cricketing career as an opening batsman and part-time off-spinner. Over time he successfully led the RHTY&SC Under-17, Under-19 and Under-23 to Championship honours. In 2015, he was named as one of the top 25 crick-

eters produced by the club when it celebrated its Silver Jubilee and he has also won numerous awards at our annual awards ceremony. Hooper is the fifth fully produced RHTY&SC, M.S. cricketer and the seventh overall to be selected to play for the National senior team. The others are Esaun Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Delbert Hicks, Rajiv Ivan and Andre Percival. We at the club are very proud of the unbelievable success we have made in our

short history and with upcoming cricketing stars like Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Sylus Tyndall and Brandon Corlette, we are confident that our cricketing legacy would continue in the future. The management of the club would like to remind Eon that our success over the years has been due to a simple but proven formula of sheer hard work, personal discipline, faith in the God we serve and dedication.

bination of Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma, were rattled early. The opening pair put on 15, and No. 3 Mona Meshram - playing her first ODI in over three years made 2 off 14, before falling to medium-pacer Shakera Selman (2-11). Harmanpreet Kaur’s dismissal for 1 shortly after reduced India to 36 for 4, giving West Indies a glimmer of hope. However, the experience of Raj prevailed in the end as she saw the side home in Krishnamurthy’s company.

Boxing selection trials start today

THE Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will begin its selection trials for the upcoming Caribbean Development Tournament today. Starting at 05:30hrs in the National Park, boxers will face their first training session. The training will continue at 16:00hrs at the Andrew Lewis Gym. The GBA has released its list of boxers up for possible selection. The list includes three categories - Elites, Youths and Females. In the Elites category are Richard Subratte, Anil Chiatraj, Kevin Allicock, Julius Kesney, Claimont Gibson, Tefon Green, Joel Williamson, Rhondel Douglas, Colin Lewis, Aquancy Harvey, Joshua Joseph, Marley Ross, Dennis Thomas, Desmond Amsterdam, Markember Pierre, Aluko Bess, Jason Bakker, Bryan Leitch, Renee Lewis and Floyd Cato. In the Youths category, Keevin Alicock, Akiel Mounter, Christopher Moore and Stephon Smith have been selected. Meanwhile in the Female category Shonette McFarlane is the lone boxer. The GBA has also named its coaches in Terrence Poole, Sebert Blake, Steele Crawford, Adrian Thomas, Clifton Moore, Wincel Thomas and Gregory Cort. The Development Tournament will be held in Barbados and the boxers selected will also represent Guyana in Suriname at an international competition.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

New date set for Elite league kick-off By Ras Wadada

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has announced yet another kick-off date for the start of Season Two of the STAG Elite League being November 20. The start has been continuously delayed due to the insistence of four clubs, who have all formally written to the Federation to confirm their withdrawals. Yesterday, GFF at a press briefing held at the Federation’s office informed the media of the new kick-off date and that the four disgruntled teams have until today to register, failing which the League will proceed with six teams. Director of Competitions, Rev. Ian Alves, in his outline of the upcoming season stated that there is an increase of $3M in cash prizes from season one’s $15M, as well as stipends for players where

… GFF boosts sponsorship

the fee has moved from $1 500 to $3 500 per game per player. Alves added that six venues have been confirmed for the two-round competition including for the first time, the MSC and DCC grounds. The other facilities that will entertain games are: Buxton Community Centre, Number Five Village, Tucville Community Centre and the GDF ground. The director also made it clear that the allowance of five overseas players per team will be in effect and that the proposal to decrease the amount to three players per team was revoked. The much-awaited season two will also offer a brand new Honda XR 150cc motorcycle to the League’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), compliments of new sponsor, Marics. Other new

Training of CAMEX Restaurant stressed the importance of education in the lives of the footballers and offered to

help in that specific area. Also making brief remarks, yesterday, were Romel Richmond, Market-

ing and Sales Manager of Marics Honda and Linden Henry of major sponsor, STAG Beer.

sponsors on board with the GFF for the new season are: CAMEX Restaurant Group, GNNL and EC Vieira Investments Ltd., while MOUs will be inked shortly with Impressions, NCN and PAHO. President of the GFF, Wayne Forde, in his brief remarks welcomed the additional sponsorship while expressing gratitude of the Federation for the contributions. The representatives of the various sponsors all voiced their delight in being part of the STAG Elite League and thanked the GFF for the invitation to be part of the season. NCN’s CEO, Lennox Cornette spoke of the popularity of the sport worldwide, and here in Guyana where he is still involved as a part-time player. Some elite players get a hold on the MVP’s Award, one Honda XR Dawn Braithwaite, Director of 150cc motorcycle donated by Marics (Cullen Nelson photo)

Jaguars look to experience as Regional 4-Day opens

By Stephan Sookram

THE Guyana Jaguars will look to their experienced players for guidance as the first round of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional four-day tournament bowls off today at the Guyana National Stadium,

Providence. The team, who won the last two tournaments in this format, will look to carry on that form for a three-peat with their first match against the Jamaica Scorpions. Assistant coach of the team, Rayon Griffith,

contended that the idea behind the team was to maintain as many of the core players as possible from the first two instalments and to nurture those young talents. For that, he is looking to the senior batsmen in the side. “I think with the

experience of Shivnarine Chanderpaul especially; he has his role to play, basically he’s going to be there as a mentor to the batsmen,” he said. He is also hoping that the recently concluded local league would have equipped those selected

FACC `Track Attack’ meet

Furniture World and Fix It Electronics Service on board

THE Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) of New Amsterdam, Berbice on Wednesday received a sizable financial donation from the principals of the popular Furniture World and Fix It Electronics Service Centre. The sponsorship is for the club’s fourth annual `Track Attack’ cycling meet set for Sunday at the Rose Hall Community Centre ground, East Canje, Berbice. The Furniture World presentation was made by proprietor Janet Hykel and her assistant Janet Blackman to cyclist Zaman Khan and coach Randolph Roberts at its head office at Main and King Streets,

New Amsterdam. The Fix IT contribution was presented by former club cyclist and now businessman Leon Cipirani. Speaking at the ceremony, both Hykel and Cipirani expressed their pleasure at being a part of the activity. They are also happy to be associated with the FACC because the club has a good track record and has been a pacesetter over the years in Berbice. Roberts thanked both Furniture World and Fix It for coming on board and wished them all the best in the future. He said that the event is usually staged just before the National Schools athlet-

ics, cycling and swimming championships, as it is used as a warm-up for the many athletes from the three districts in Berbice. There will be a number of cycling events of various distances for all categories, class and age of riders. Apart from cycling there will be football, softball cricket, volleyball, flat races and a number of novelty events on the day. There will be events for open riders, juniors, juveniles, BMX, veterans, schoolboys, starters, females and schoolgirls including the 5 000-, the 3 000- and 1500-metre races and the Devil take the Hindmost. There will also be flat

races of various categories, distances and age groups including the much anticipated 100m and 200m events. Cyclists and athletes from all over Berbice - New Amsterdam, Canje, West Berbice and Corentyne - are expected to trek to the venue to be a part of the day’s activities, which is expected to begin at 10:00hrs. Among other sponsors on board so far are: First Impression Hotel, Hampshire Corentyne Berbice, Ming’s Optical, Hand-inHand, A. Ally and Sons, Mara and Sons Business establishment, Payless Variety Store, Lewis and Sons and Waterchris Hotel.

with as much cricketing preparation as they need to face the Jamaican franchise squad. “We have five batters in that set-up with two all-rounders and three spinners. We have one fast bowler. Having said that, we had the local league which saw some good performances and we hope we can see some of those performances helping us.” Leon Johnson will lead the Guyana Jaguars’ charge with Vishaul Singh

as vice-captain. In the squad are former West Indies captain Chanderpaul, his son Tagenarine and former Under-19 player Shimron Hetmyer. Rajendra Chandrika, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Gudakesh Motie, Keon Joseph and Christopher Barnwell have all been named in squad. The head coach of the unit is Esaun Crandon.

Softball action on tonight

PAYLESS Combined will engage Tri-State Masters of the United States in a T/20 softball match, scheduled for an 18:30hrs start at the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda. The friendly encounter has been organised and part-sponsored by Payless Variety Store. The other sponsors on board are Star Party Rentals and Factory Price. The U.S. team, which is made up of Guyanese living in New York, will be spearheaded by Zameer `Buddy’ Hassan and includes Anand Persaud, Damanand Mangru, Lalta Gainda, Latchman Yadram, George Gravesande, Reaz Mohamed, Gitlall Harrilall, Anil Persaud, Vibert McLean, Satro Singh and Sudesh Persaud. Payless Combined will be captained by Boodram Baksh and will include former Guyana cricketer Lennox Cush, Anand Sooknand, Brian Ramsarran, Michael Alexander, Peter Persaud, Bill Rogers, Tulsie Sahadeo, Orlando Dass, Maloney Ramlall and Rajone Tiwarie.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 11, 2016

‘Age is just a number,’ says Tramine Forde-Catwell TENSION is running high ahead of this weekend’s International Race Meet of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club, with team Barbados looking to upset the locals. One such competitor is Tramine Forde-Catwell, who has sent a strong message to the remainder of the field, ahead of this weekend’s Caribbean Motor Racing Championships, saying, “Age is just a number; I’m young but I know my talent.” Forde-Catwell, who is no stranger to Guyana having been here thrice before, was speaking during a press briefing yesterday at the GMR&SC’s Thomas Lands fa-

L-R: Barbados Team representative Kurt Seabra poses with drivers Shawn Eversley and Tramine Forde-Catwell. year is different for me; this cility. the atmosphere here. That’s is my third year coming. I “There isn’t really much about it. However, it’s workdidn’t have much practice preparation. We drove it the ing and I won’t have to do before the car went into the week before, it was ok, and much preparation before the container, so we just want just some slight tweaking for race meet.” He added. “Every to get the car and get some

practice. Meanwhile Group Three competitors Shawn Eversley is not worried about his chances, though he has singled out a few competitors to watch on race-day, saying “Guys like Paul Vieira are very fast. Danny Persaud once the car is working is very fast too; so it’s just to work together and see if we can get some points.” “As soon as we get the containers, we are going to get out there and feel the track, look to get a good qualifying position and look to finish all the races,” he continued. Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the remainder

of the team, Kurt Seabra contended that Team Barbados are a well put together unit out to cause some amount of trouble come race day. He predicted tough battles in the various classes including the Group Four twowheel drive (2WD) where Mark Maloney will take on the best of the Guyanese as well as Trinidadian Franklyn Boodram and Jamaican Peter Rae. The other members of the team are the Thompson brothers Kurt and Mark, who will be in Groups 3 & 4 and 2 & 3 respectively, as well as Steve King (3 & 4) and Kenrick Husbands (2 & 3).

standard for the Caribbean and I believe that we are looking forward to being competitive”. The other members of the team are: Bridget Singh, Luke Bhola, Yazid

Ali, Che Carrington, Damien Nesbit, Haresh Nanan and Marc Gill at the Group Two level while Group Three has Paul Vieira and Ronald Wortman.

Team Trinidad ready to lift CMRC championship

… Boodram eyes Group 4 2WD category TEAM Trinidad have entered Guyana ready and raring to lift the overall Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) Country Title this weekend. They also have their sights set on several individual accolades. One such championship is the Group Four two-wheel drive category, in which Franklyn Boodram has a prime shot at carrying home. Speaking to the media yesterday, Boodram indicated that he is more than willing to carry on the fight,

saying, “The car is here in Guyana, we should have access to the car today. We look forward to competing the Caribbean Championships.” “We look forward to competing in Guyana here at South Dakota, one of my personal favourite tracks in the Caribbean. It’s a track that I know, it’s a track that I’ve won in Group Two in the past with (the late) Gavin Narine. While the car is new, here and there are team concerns about the gear

ratios among other things. Boodram is itching for some testing time, which should commence today. Meanwhile Zachary Boodram, who was also scheduled to be a part of this weekend’s activity had to pull out after suffering a wrist injury, though that will see the return of one of the sport’s older heads in Frankie Boodram stepping in to fill the gap. “I’ve won Champion Driver here many many times, I’ve been racing here since the 70s so that track is like my backyard and I

know it very well,” he said. Meanwhile, Timothy Joseph who represents the riders contended that “the bikers in Trinidad really admire the guys here in Guyana. I believe that they have the

Franklyn Boodram makes a point during yesterday afternoon’s press confrence. To his left is Frankie Boodram and Timothy Joseph (Samuel Maughn Photo)

Reggae Racers looking forward to Guyana leg J A M A I C A’ S t o u r i n g contingent for this year’s Caribbean Motor Racing Championship final leg is hyped over returning to Guyana this year. The team consists of group four two-wheel drive (2WD) contender Peter ‘Zoom Zoom’ Rae, fourwheel drive competitor Doug ‘Hollywood’ Gore and super-stock rider Norman Chung, who arrived in Guyana late last evening. In an earlier issued state-

Doug ‘Hollywood’ Gore

Peter ‘Zoom Zoom’ Rae

Norman Chung

ment, the team was quoted as saying, that, “The RR’s will be tearing up South Dakota over the weekend both in the Gp4 4Wd and go 4 2Wd classes.” “Without a doubt Jamaica will be taking home the 4Wd championship whereas I am fighting to move from 3rd place in the 2Wd class with some strong competition ahead! Norman will be exciting the fans on two wheels,” it continued.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Fly Jamaica for moving us across the Caribbean seas safely and in style, Seaboard Marine for their endless support of the CMRC and the safe passage of our race equipment.” “Finally a BIG thank you to the GMRSC for their invitation and efforts in having our race equipment delivered to South Dakota on time.”

How will the new US president impact on sport? (See Story on page 26 )

New date set for Elite league kick-off

Sponsors, players and club officials pose with top brass of the GFF. Seated (L to R): Ms Tandi McAllister (3rd VP), Retired Brigadier Bruce Lovell (1st VP), President Wayne Forde and Rawlston Adams (Cullen Nelson photo) (2nd VP). (See story on page 30)

The calm before the storm!

Raj, Krishnamurthy steer India home after spinners strike (See Story on page 29 )

Defending CMRC super-stock champion Elliot Vieira shares a light moment with GMR&SC Executives and other riders at a Cocktail reception sponsored by Windjammer last evening (Adrian Narine Photo) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Jaguars look to experience as Regional 4-Day opens (See Story on page 30 )

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016