Guyana Chronicle E Paper 12 01 2016

BILLIONS LOST No. 104429

TUESDAY JANUARY 12, 2016

Price: $80

(Vat Inclusive)

- GTT reeling from vandalism, int’l bypass

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Baby’s back!

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Roberta Brown and her baby Anthony Browne, flanked by aunts Suzette Browne (at right) and Doreen Chilcott after they received the infant on the instruction of Child Care and Protection Agency Director Ann Green yesterday.

(Delano Williams photo)

Banks DIH ‘Grey Boy’ profits jailed for top $2.5B 3 years P. 9

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Regan Rodrigues, aka ‘Grey Boy’

Paved roads for Mahdia Page 12

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday January 12, 2016

Presidency rejects Nandlall’s ‘interference’ claim

THE MINISTRY of the Presidency (MoTP) has deemed as misleading statements made by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, in which he accuses President David Granger of interfering in the operation of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

A release from the MoTP has said that comments from Mr Nandlall, published in yesterday’s Stabroek News under the headline “Nandlall slams President’s ‘unlawful interference’ in Carifesta Avenue Collision”, are a deliberate and iniquitous attempt to misconstrue President Granger’s comments.

“At no point has the

Head of State interfered in either the conduct of the operation -- which was led by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) -- or the investigations following the regretful loss of three lives. President Granger, in response to questions from reporters who were at MoTP for the swearing-in of Minister Valerie Adams-Patterson, indicated that while he is aware that there is an internal probe that will be conducted by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), because of the death of Sergeant Robert Pyle, a determination of the need for a wider investigation would be advised on by the Chief of Staff of the

GDF,” the release said.

Responding to a question posed by News Source Journalist Gordon Moseley, who asked: “Mr President, there is some concern regarding the recent death of the GDF officer on a special mission. Sir, you are part of the Defence Board, of course. Could you say whether or not there will be a move to have a full probe of the circumstances that may have led to his death?”

President Granger said he does not “see that there is need for a probe at the present time; but if, after discussions with the Chief of Staff, he feels such a probe is justified,” then such a probe

Speedboat captains up in arms

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall would be conducted.

While the President has

said that at this point he has seen no need for a wider probe, he did not rule it out, nor did he advise or instruct either the Guyana Police Force (GPF) or the GDF on how they should proceed with their investigations.

During that same media engagement, the President went on to say he is not involved in the operational use of the GPF or the GDF, and that those functions are respectively vested in the Commissioner of Police by the Police Act and the Chief of Staff by the Defence Act, the release stated.

“No politician gets involved in giving directives -- operational directives -- to the Chief of Staff or to the Commissioner [of Police],”

he said.

The President did not, at any time, say there would be no investigation. Further, both the GPF and the GDF have investigating and reporting responsibilities in this unfortunate case as they would have with any other similar case.

“The Ministry also finds the publishing of Nandlall’s comments by Stabroek News as unfortunate, as the President’s quoted comments never amounted to the content of his accusations, particularly since no effort was made to seek a response from the Head of State by the newspaper, thereby abrogating his right of reply,” the release concluded.

- say illegal operators putting them out of business

THE captains of the Bartica Speed Boat Association (BSBA) are calling on the authorities to intervene and stop illegal operators who are putting them out of business.

The boat captains complain that they voiced their concerns to the relevant authorities on countless occasions, but the situation remains the same and they continue to be denied their daily bread by other boat captains who operate illegally.

BSBA Secretary Vadym Joseph said the only person left to engage on the issue is President Ganger himself, as

their call for intervention is being completely ignored.

Some three years ago, about 10 boats began plying the Parika to Bartica route illegally. These operators load their boats out of the sequence system that was put in place by the Maritime Administration.

According to Joseph, these captains are not equipped with licenses and are not paying revenue, but are enjoying the rewards of those who are adhering to the law.

He told this publication that countless complaints on the issue were made to the Maritime Administration, the Parika and Bartica Police

Stations, and the relevant Ministry during the previous administration and under the coalition Government, but, for some strange reason, no one seems to listen.

“This is really disturbing that no one is giving attention to this matter,” he said.

Joseph also lamented that BSBA officers are not reporting the misconduct during their daily inspections. He is of the opinion that corruption is the reason for the cries of his fellow legal speedboat operators being ignored.

“I am of the opinion that these men (are) paying a very big bribe to some people, because they are not doing anything about it,” an irate Joseph said.

The BSBA captains are reiterating their call to the relevant authorities to have this issue addressed urgently, before violence becomes their next alternative.

The BSBA Executive members are planning to secure an appointment with President Granger, but are disappointed that a matter of this nature has to go this far before it gets attention, especially when it can be settled by the Maritime Administration and the police, they said.

MEET Kareem Holland, 26, who is single.

Holland, a resident of South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown, Guyana, works as a chef on a popular international cruise liner.

He enjoys Asian cuisine and loves travelling, clubbing and interacting with people of all walks of life. The young ‘Georgetowner’ is a jovial person and has a good sense of humour.

Holland told us that life is full of ups and downs, and is urging all to stay positive.

He had had his fair share of challenges in life, one of which was when his mother was hospitalised for a month.

“I couldn’t imagine life without her. Right there and then I knew it was time to grow up and be a man. I turned my life to God and appreciated what I have. And I thank God for all he has done and still doing in and out my life.”

According to Holland, “The older you become the less you need and the more you gain.”

TheGuy anaT el ephoneT el egr aphCompanyhasl os t bi l l i onst ov andal i s m andi l l egal i nt er nat i onal by pas s

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Barbados reports suspected Zika, H1N1 cases

Canadian Prime Minister vacations in Nevis CANADIAN Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is back home after taking a break from the cold with a New Year holiday in St Kitts and Nevis.

Trudeau, his wife Sophie and their children, Xavier, Ella-Grace and Hadrien, spent 10 days on Nevis at the Paradise Beach Resort.

The privately-owned resort at which the Trudeau family stayed, opened in late June and is an exclusive spot for luxury, outdoor wellness, and absolute privacy. It is the only resort on the island to

boast beachfront villas.

Previous famous guests of the 36-mile volcanic island include Alexander Hamilton, Princess Diana, Oprah Winfrey, and Michael Douglas.

Although Trudeau’s trip was a holiday, he got an official farewell at the Bradshaw International Airport in St Kitts last Friday from Prime Minister, Dr Timothy Harris and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Brantley.

The Prime Minister said his administration was trying to persuade the Canadian Government to restore vi-

sa-free travel to the North American country for citizens of St Kitts and Nevis as a number of reforms have been undertaken to restore the integrity of the Citizenship-by-Investment Programme.

Harris said he had discussed the matter with Trudeau.

Prime Minister Trudeau is the son of one of Canada’s most famous and influential Prime Ministers, Pierre Trudeau. He was sworn in as Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister on November 4, 2015. (Caribbean360)

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HEALTH authorities in Barbados have reported eight suspected cases of the H1N1 and Zika viruses.

Minister of Health John Boyce said samples have been sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency for confirmatory testing. He has, meanwhile, admonished the population not to panic.

The minister said although he is aware that members of the public would be concerned whenever a new disease emerges, Barbadians should use simple measures to prevent mosquito breeding around their homes, business places and communities.

“The fact that the Aedes aegypti mosquito which transmits the Zika virus is the same mosquito that spreads dengue fever and chikungunya, we are all very familiar with the prevention

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and control measures which we need to undertake….

Inspect your surroundings to search out and remove mosquito breeding places on your properties. The Ministry of Health recommends that this should be done once per week,” Boyce said.

The Zika virus was reported in the Caribbean region for the first time in June 2015. It is a mild febrile viral illness that is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Illness resulting from infection is usually mild, and it is not considered to be as severe as Dengue Fever or Chikungunya.

The H1N1 virus, commonly referred to as the Swine Flu virus, is transmitted easily from person to person via droplets and small particles produced when infected people cough or

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sneeze. Symptoms are similar to those of the seasonal flu and include: cough, fever, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue.

Meantime, Boyce said that to combat Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses, the Environmental Health Department would continue to carry out prevention and control activities, such as house to house inspections, surveillance at ports of entry and fogging in high-risk areas.

In addition, the ministry will continue its epidemiological surveillance to collect and analyse data from various sources, including private and public sector facilities, on a weekly basis to gather information for planning a response.

(Caribbean360)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 12, 2016

North Korea saves on nukes

NORTH Korea has, despite poverty and international sanctions, developed a nuclear weapons programme using home-grown technology and virtually free labour to cut costs, experts say.

South Korean Government analysis has put North Korea’s nuclear spending at between US$1.1 billion and US$3.2 billion overall, although experts say it is impossible to make an accurate calculation, given the secrecy surrounding the programme and because estimates vary widely.

However, the weapons that North Korea has thus far tested are comparatively small and are based mostly on less sophisticated fission, or atomic bomb, technology.

The isolated North’s claim that its test conducted last week -– its fourth and most recent -- was of a more advanced and powerful hydrogen bomb has been widely doubted, although experts said it is possible Pyongyang took the intermediate step of boosting an atomic bomb with hydrogen isotopes.

A former South Korean official involved in nuclear diplomacy with North Korea told Reuters previously that it was likely the North’s nuclear programme was cutting corners on safety, further driving down costs.

North Korea was at the bottom of a 2011 list on nuclear arms spending by Global Zero, a group campaigning to rid the world of nuclear weapons. The full cost of Pyongyang’s programme that year was estimated by the group at US$700 million, making it the lowest spender among nuclear states, beneath Pakistan’s estimated US$2.2 billion, although the analysis was made before the North’s two most recent nuclear tests.

By comparison, the United States spent US$61.3 billion on nuclear weapons in 2011, according to the report.

Construction of the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre, North Korea’s main nuclear facility, cost between US$600M and US$700M, based on a 2012 estimate, a South Korean Defense Ministry official has told Reuters.

The small reactor at Yongbyon, which began construction in 1979, is based on Soviet-era technology and generates just 5 megawatts of power.

“Actually, what they spend isn’t that much,” Kim Mingyu, a former North Korean diplomat who worked at the North Korean Embassy in Moscow until defecting in 2009, told Reuters.

“Their workforce works for free, and except for a few key imported parts, they make everything else”. (Reuters)

Aid convoy enters starving Syrian town

AN AID convoy yesterday entered a besieged Syrian town where thousands have been trapped without supplies for months and people are reported to have died of starvation.

Trucks carrying food and medical supplies reached Madaya, near the Lebanese border, and began to distribute aid as part of an agreement between warring sides, the United Nations and the Red Cross said.

Dozens in the town are said to have died from starvation or lack of medical care, and activists say some inhabitants have been reduced to eating leaves. Images said to be of emaciated residents have appeared widely on social media.

At the same time, another convoy began entering two Shi’ite villages, al Foua and Kefraya, in the northwestern province of Idlib, 300 km (200 miles) away.

Rebel fighters, in military fatigues and with scarves covering their faces, inspected the aid vehicles in the rain before they entered.

Madaya is besieged by pro-Syrian Government forces, while the two villages in Idlib province are encircled by rebels fighting the Syrian Government.

Women cried out with relief as the first four trucks, carrying the banner of the Syria Red Crescent, crossed into Madaya after sunset, while civilians waited on the outskirts of the town as the temperature dropped and it began to get dark.

Offloading aid supplies was expected to last through the night, and the full aid operation is expected to last for several days, the International Committee of the Red Cross has said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Drug abuse fuelling murder spree Dear Editor

EDITORIAL

Vendors’ debacle

THE Georgetown City Council continues to find itself at the receiving end of the ire from its communities. The continued conflict between and among interest groups has its genesis in the view that business can be conducted in a manner that is informed by satisfying various groups in the absence of clear policies and universal application/enforcement of the by-laws.

Over the years, there have been accusations that some proprietors encroach on city parapets, while there have also been some indifference to the arbitrary establishment of no-parking areas on the city streets and parapets; and some others have chosen to construct buildings that are clearly in conflict with the zoning and city by-laws. The city has also experienced collusion between store owners and vendors to occupy the paves in Georgetown.

While many of these activities were driven by the underlying intent of getting money to change, or even enhance, the livelihood of the players, one ought not to countenance these behaviours, since Guyana is a land of laws, which must be respected at all times.

The current conflict between the council and vendors who are occupying the Merriman Mall between Cummings Street and Orange Walk cannot be allowed to go unnoticed.

It was the present council that took the decision to place the vendors in the now disputed area. One would have expected that, based on the experience the council would have acquired over the years, it would have learnt the simple lesson to include the respecting of its citizens’ rights as it goes about its day-to-day business.

The Guyana Constitution, which is this nation’s supreme instrument, has clearly stated that any decision that affects the well-being of citizens -- be it economic, political, social or cultural -- requires their involvement in the management and decision-making processes. In the instance of these vendors, they have consistently claimed that they were not consulted. In this circumstance, consultation means that there be meaningful discussions, and the groups arrive at a decision rather than entertaining the idea that the council will call vendors and tell them what will be done.

It needs to be noted that the vendors’ removal would have impacted on their economic well-being. In the first instance, the vendors were advised by the council to take up residency for business. And for the council to arbitrarily move to have the vendors removed without working out an arrangement for an alternative place of business speaks to a level of arrogance that ought not to be countenanced at any point. The idea of calling on the vendors to respect the by-laws speaks to a concomitant responsibility of the

THOSE pushing for the legalisation of marijuana should take note of the growing murders and slaughtering of Guyana’s innocent citizens; and now a young, promising non-resident. I have yet to hear of one murderer who was not a drug addict.

All these murders-for-hire, all these premeditated killings, all the savage robbery-murders, are being perpetrated by a set of young drug addicts whose minds are being altered by the imbibing of the abundance of narcotic substances available here in Guyana.

And I would guarantee you that a great percent of the loot carried away by these savage-minded brutes is plowed right back into the drug trade. It is a known fact that alcohol, ganja and cocaine are the drugs of choice that inoculate the consciences of these youths before and after their heinous crimes. And just imagine: marijuana use is not yet legal.

Just think for a moment what Guyana would be like when every youth could access ‘weed’ with impunity. Those calling for the legalising of marijuana, sighting other countries as their reasons for so calling, need to understand that Guyana does not have capacity to deal with onslaught of the societal ills that will be unleashed on our communities if the use of ‘pot’ is legalised.

Ganja makes you hungry; it also makes you emotionally numb. It is a mind-altering stimulus, hence the need to keep using it. It is also very addictive, and it is also not cheap. It is the need to fill those depraved cravings that drive the addict to commit crimes. The need for the drug, accompanied by the need for the user to fill his/her stomach, plus the need for the necessary finances, drive the user into a free-fall of desperation in which anything goes. Many of the killings that are taking place would not have happened if the killers were not high on something. I know that Guyana is short on psychologists and psychiatrists; however, I would guarantee you that a precursory series of interviews with these drug-maddened youths will give the authorities cause for pause as they contemplate slackening the drug laws in this country.

Mr. Nigel Hughes and Bro. Freddie Kissoon are understandably agitating for the rethinking of the sentencing poli-

administrators to respect the laws also.

It is the administrators, as the city’s fathers and mothers, who have a greater responsibility to lead by example.

In the execution of their duties, application of the laws and implementation of decisions have to take on board a cultural element of not seeking to displace one group with another.

To say to the vendors that that must remove to give way to another group is downright insensitive, and will make a bad situation worse.

Resolution of this type of un-ending and unnecessary conflict requires of the council -- as it pays heed to calls that the economic circumstances of the vendors need be considered as the by-laws are being upheld -- that attention also be paid to sagacious advice that it is not what you do but how you do it.

We cannot keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results. The council and vendors are part of the city’s landscape. Both provide needed service to the city, its residents and visitors. Both have an equal responsibility to the society to ensure that the laws are not only upheld for them, but equally for the other.

Both groups must meet and resolve this matter in an amicable manner within the confines of the law, but they must keep focus on the delivery of a “Clean and Green City.”

cies for marijuana. There has been some pushback from Vice President and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan.

The nation is watching the play and counter-play between the civic, legal and administrative minds pertaining to the marijuana issue.

There has to be some balance struck. Let’s look at the pros and cons, for we should be careful to not throw out the proverbial baby with the bath water. It’s a fact that too many youths are being disproportionately incarcerated and having their future permanently scarred for ganja-related charges. It is also a fact that too many youths are getting high and killing innocent people.

PASTOR WENDELL P. JEFFREY PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY MINISTRIES

Alarmed at surveillance of Brassington

Dear Editor,

I VIEW with alarm the surveillance operation at the home of Winston Brassington reportedly carried out by SOCU. That operation turned deadly and led to the death of GDF and SOCU agent Robert Pyle; his wife Stacy Pyle, a civilian nurse; and truck driver Linden Eastman.

The last thing Guyana needs now -- if we want to expand and enhance human rights and justice; the rule of law; inclusive democracy; social cohesion, and confidence in state agencies, including state security services -- is reverting to any type of security apparatus which is secretive, covert, and would target the children and relatives of civilians under investigation for white collar crimes.

Guyana’s history of state-sponsored surveillance, harassment, violence and assassination, which was the subject of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry, stands as testimony to crimes carried out by the state and quasi state security agencies against its civilian population in fairly recent times during the 1970s and 1980s. To date, there has never been any apology, acknowledgement, or acceptance of responsibility for those years of political repression, dictatorship, assassination, and economic deprivation. Just as there has been no apology, acknowledgement or acceptance of responsibility for widespread numbers of extra-judicial killings, phantom forces and death squads, assassinations, pervasive corruption, money laundering, and other illegal and criminal business practices during the last 20 years of the previous government.

While I accept that white collar crimes carried out by agents of the previous government should and must be investigated, and those responsible be charged and brought to justice, the means employed to do this must be in keeping with clear, written, enforceable protocols which respect the rule of law; human rights of the individual; be based on international conventions, ethics, and modern, acceptable, transparent best practices; and have stringent independent oversight so as to ensure strict accountability and penalties for breaches of procedures. We, the Guyanese people, constitutionally have the responsibility to ensure that the government is answerable to us and acts as the servant of us, the people, equitably and without discrimination.

At the same time, I do not accept that money stolen, acquired or received through ill-gotten means or embezzlement trumps murder, femicides, rape, sexual exploitation, robbery under arms, and other serious crimes.

So I want to know where is the SOCU for these crimes?

Why isn’t and wasn’t the police surveilling the homes of women murdered or at risk of being murdered by their intimate partners? Where were the police when numerous reports see page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Alarmed at surveillance... from page 6

of child sexual abuse were being delayed, and prosecution was not taking place because of inadequate and poor police investigation, leading to rapists and paedophiles walking free to rape once again, or receiving million-dollar bail while the children of such injustices descend into lives of despair and criminality?

Where is the SOCU to investigate Guyanese women and men brutalized and beaten, robbed, set afire, sexually abused and humiliated by predators and criminals, many of whom are young victims of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, abuse, neglect and a criminal underworld?

The issues of non-discrimination and equality under Guyana’s Constitution, reinforced by legislation and human rights conventions, continue to be breached daily, as a matter of course, for certain categories of Guyanese such as women, children, LGBT community members, differently-abled, youth, the elderly, and other vulnerable and at-risk persons, regardless of political party in government.

Why has there been no independent audit of the social service sector’s ministries and agencies, including the Guyana Police Force with its practices & procedures? Why are there no national special enforcement and investigative bodies like SARU financially well-resourced and staffed with necessary expertise? Where are the independent commissions of inquiry investigating the numerous breaches of law, corrupt practices, lack of services, substandard services, femicides, high maternal and child deaths, domestic violence crimes, sexual exploitation and sexual harassment for large sections of the Guyanese population? Why are there so many families who continue to experience cyclical and intergenerational poverty without any hope in sight? Why is it that consultations on national issues always seem designed to

Repair the Stabroek clock

Dear Editor,

WHY cannot the Georgetown City Council simply repair and maintain the famous Stabroek Market clock?

There are prominent clock towers all over the world, such as the ‘Big Ben’ in London; The Philadelphia City Hall tower clocks; The Saviour Tower clocks located in the famous Red Square, close to Saint Basil’s Cathedral, and which are part of the Kremlin walls in Moscow, Russia; The Peace Tower clocks in Ottawa, Canada; and the list goes on and on.

In the heart of downtown Georgetown, in our capital

city, our Stabroek Market clock ground to a halt ages ago, and was left like that possibly to remind us that time stands still at City Hall, with hardly anything moving forward.

Are we cultural barbarians? Do we have to learn history to appreciate heritage?

Repairing this clock and keeping it going would not require rocket science. It is a mechanical clock, and some of its component parts may be worn or broken. With today’s technology, spare parts can easily be fabricated to replace the obsolete ones.

We are inviting thousands of persons to visit our country in this year of

Guyana’s Golden Jubilee of Independence, and many of them will certainly tour the Stabroek Market area to glance upwards at the clock, and then smugly comment that time seems to be standing still in the city of Georgetown. Digging a few drains and weeding a few parapets is fine, but if, one morning, I could pass by the market and observe this iconic clock ticking away, for me it would be the first real step in the restoration of our capital to its former glory; and I daresay the situation is the same for many others as well.

SINCERELY, DEBRA GIBSON

Activate the death penalty

Dear Editor,

I am so appalled at the latest macabre news items that have hit our airwaves that I do not know where to begin, so I’ll start at the end: ACTIVATE THE DEATH PENALTY NOW! All but the willingly ignorant will know what I am talking about! An innocent young man with a promising future leaves his home in the UK to visit in Guyana a “god brother” whom he thought was his friend, not knowing that his grave had already been dug!

Words fail me as I try to come to grips with how this murder was premeditated and executed in cold blood.

The young man’s head, like a coconut, was bashed in with a hammer, and his personal

possessions seized.

I may sympathize with someone who, in a fit of rage or in self-defence, wields an instrument and causes the death of someone. But it is not so with these brute beasts, who seem to have lost their consciences. They should not be fed in prison for the next hundred years.

Give them a chance to repent, then hang them high!

And a woman is beaten, tortured, taunted, taped and burnt to death in her own home as her son manages to cheat death only by rolling down the stairs to escape the inferno!

And we have not forgotten, nor will ever forget, “Robb St Granny” Clementine Parris, whose murder

was arranged by a so far nameless person or persons.

If the fear of God is to be restored to this land in this our Jubilee Year, innocent blood must no longer be spilled with impunity and, in some instances, seeming immunity! Justice must be firm in substance and effective in operation!

Congratulations to the members of the Guyana Police Force who have risked, and continue to risk, their own lives as they tackle this scourge! Let’s not take them for granted. Sincere condolences to the bereaved families, friends and associates of these victims.

The time has come for us to ACTIVATE THE DEATH PENALTY! C. HEYWOOD

discriminate against those categories of persons with little normative or institutional power, while never failing to ensure that others who are recognized as having de facto power and societal influence continue to be well consulted, well financed and listened to?

There has so far been neglect, lack of action, invisibility, and marginalization of social issues critically important to women, children, and other poor discriminated and vulnerable groups within society, such as domestic violence, child abuse, and other forms of violence, including gender-based violence? And while the government seems to have found local experts, most of them male, to head up audits and CoIs, it seems to be at a loss to find equal female expertise for economic, social and security issues affecting women, children and other vulnerable groups.

We the historical and current recipients of inequality and discrimination know best the structures and ideologies which contain and seek to trap us, and so we have the best solution for breaking the chains which continue to restrict and oppress us.

YOURS TRULY DANUTA RADZIK

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday January 12, 2016

5 more attempt suicide in E’bo FIVE females were yesterday hospitalised at Suddie Hospital on the Essequibo Coast after attempting to commit suicide, bringing the overall cases in Region Two to 11 for the year.

This follows two acts of suicide committed over the weekend, claiming the lives of 23-year-old Akel Shurland of Adventure and 27-year-old Kaimwattie Persaud of Anna Regina.

Residents say that government needs to take a serious stand on the social issue, and place the matter on the front burner. Suggestions were made to have more professional counselling on the ground.

The five persons who attempted to kill themselves were identified as 15-yearold Ferana Mohamed of Anna Regina Squatting Area;

20-year-old Savita Sursattie of Golden Fleece Estate; 22-year-old Nelina Ramesh of La Belle Alliance; 24-year old Yosoda Munniram of Fairfield; and 28-year-old Sushelia Khemraj of Sans Souci, Wakenaam.

Reports indicate that three of these persons ingested Gramoxone, a non-selective herbicide that is used by millions of growers and is, after nearly 50 years, still one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. It is used in approximately 100 countries on more than 100 crops.

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt has said he and a social worker visited all of the victims yesterday, and there seemed to be a great deal of social ills that needed to be addressed in the region.

Asked what might have been a contributory factor

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt to those persons attempting suicide, the Chairman explained that 80 per cent of the region’s income came from the rice industry, and many

farmers had been suffering financially, which has also affected their families, especially the younger population with a low tolerance level.

He said that, under his tenure, a working committee had been established to address suicide, and recommendations have been made to the Regional Executive Officer (REO) to put forward a proposal in the 2016 budget for allocations to be made to facilitate awareness and counselling sessions to address suicide, especially among parents of the young and vulnerable.

Ramdatt recommended that government should look at the root causes of suicide and the issues that spawn those causes, since suicide could only then be addressed with the aim of a solution.

President David Granger recently convened an emergency meeting with Public Health Minister Dr George Norton on the issue of addressing suicide. In attendance at that meeting were Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence; Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally; Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr Karen Cummings; Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe; and Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings.

The confab was held at the Ministry of the Presidency with a view to charting a course that addresses this scourge. Out of the meeting came a plan of action which will see non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious organisations and other

civil society organisations working collaboratively with government on a centralised approach to suicide prevention.

President Granger has indicated that he intends to have a proactive approach to addressing this issue, and will be looking to implement a national programme that has measurable outcomes.

During the meeting, the President was also updated on implementation of Guyana’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy, launched by the Ministry of Public Health last September with a view to ramping up Government’s response to the ongoing problem. In addition, the President was provided with updates on work being done within the other subject Ministries.

Legal opinion sought in Broomes’s conflict of interest claims

THE Ministry of Natural Resources has sought legal opinion to fully address claims that Minister in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, is in a conflict of interest situation, given her past ties to the mining sector.

The ministry’s statement comes in light of remarks by General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Clement Rohee, echoing earlier assertions directed at Broomes.

Noting that the PPP’s statement is designed to impugn Broomes’s character, The Ministry of Natural Resources says it “wishes to make it clear that it has abundant confidence in the capacity and integrity of Minister Broomes, and stands firmly behind her in the course of her execution of the responsibilities that fall under her new portfolio.”

According to the Ministry, in the first instance, “We reject entirely the assertions that allude to ‘conflict of interest’ alluded to by Rohee in his statement. That notwithstanding, the Ministry has solicited a legal opinion on the matter of conflict of interest, and will pronounce with greater specificity on this issue very shortly.”

The ministry stated that Rohee’s recent utterance is no more than a red herring, designed it seems to cause the nation to forget the PPP’s mountain of reprehensible transgressions.

“Unfortunately for Mr. Rohee, the people of this country have longer memories than he gives them credit for”.

The Ministry of Natural Resources also declared that the shenanigans of the PPP will do nothing to diminish its confidence, and for that matter, the confidence of the Government of Guyana, in the Honourable Minister.

The PPP, on Monday, also criticised President David Granger’s recent adjustment to his Cabinet/Ministers, saying that while some of the changes were welcomed, the others would produce the same results. Rohee, who had been shifted at least three times during his party’s term in office, disclosed: “The changes can be classified as a game of musical chairs; however, one Minister within the change was indeed necessary, Ministry of Natural given that the Ministry was on Resources, its way down.”

Simona Broomes Supporting the decision to move Minister Keith Scott

Porter with a taste for toiletries

ROY SINGH, a 46-year-old homeless man who works at the Stabroek Market as a porter, was yesterday sentenced to one month imprisonment after he admitted to the charge of simple larceny.

As he made his appearance before City Magistrate Annette Singh he told the court that he was guilty as stated by the Police Prosecutor.

The facts stated that on the January 2, 2016 at America and London Streets, the defendant went to Christine Dookie’s stall to collect a bag. As the virtual complainant turned to her husband to inquire about the bag, the defendant stole a pack of soap powder, two hair cutting machines and 24 tooth brushes valued a total of $7,500.

He was sent to jail after he begged the court to give him a lenient sentence, stating that he was willing to compensate Dookie.

Petitioner gets bail reduction STRAVO Evans, who was on $1.2M bail for robbery, was yesterday granted a reduction of the sum when his petition was heard at the High Court before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow.

Bail was reduced to $800, 000. Evans who was also on abduction charges, and a wrongful confinement offence, was granted bail in the sum of $350,000.

from the Department of Housing, Rohee noted: “He has been an abysmal failure.” Rohee also accused Scott of killing a once dynamic housing sector within seven months. He said the housing sector is currently on its “dying bed”, and he hopes Minister Valerie Patterson will resuscitate it.

Rohee said the PPP had anticipated the removal of Broomes from the Ministry of Social Protection, but it was unexpected that she would have been moved to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. He said the objective behind the move may have been to keep a watchful eye on senior Minister Raphael Trotman, but the situation was like “putting cat to watch milk.”

He said the work done by Broomes came under heavy criticism while she held the position of Junior Social Protection Minister, and he supports the President’s decision to move her.

Broomes has received solid backing from the umbrella trade union movement GTUC and from several other citizens for the work she has done as Minister in the Ministry of Social Protection, but Rohee accused Minister Broomes of going off on excursions into the interior and, in the process, offending some supporters of the coalition.

“Broomes had become unpopular after harassing and antagonising foreign and local investors. But while the PPP supports the removal of Broomes from the Social Protection Ministry, it is concerned with her placement at the Ministry of Natural Resources and the alleged conflict of interest that arises with her ownership of mining concessions, although she does not have any operation on the concessions, PPP General Secretary Rohee said.

Director of Public Information, Imran Khan, is on record as saying that the principle and practice of Cabinet adjustments, and indeed shuffles, are healthy for a progressive democracy. He said in a recent OP-ED article in this newspaper that changes in Cabinet, whether in the form of adjustments as His Excellency has effected, or major reorganistion, speak to an orientation of being adaptive with regard to managing the nation's affairs.

“Today’s global construct is dynamic, fast-moving, and ever-changing. Government and its leaders must constantly take decisive action, after careful review and assessment, to keep apace of the needs of the people and the national priorities. As a conscious practice, governments must seek to avoid being inflexible and resistant to change and adjustments, as these are red flags on a path to unproductivity,” Khan, Press Secretary to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, has said.

Khan said it can be expected that Cabinet review and adjustment will be a constant feature of the Granger Administration.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday January 12, 2016

Banks DIH profits top $2.5B

BEVERAGE giant Banks DIH Limited last year raked in after-tax profit of $2.569 billion, compared to $2.265 billion raked in in 2014.

Chairman of the Banks DIH Group, Clifford Reis, in presenting the Chairman’s Report on the company’s performance for the period ended September 30, 2015, said the $2.569 billion profit represents an increase of $304.0 million, or 13%.

“This improvement was as a result of the increase in physical sales by 3%, an increase in revenue by 4%, and a reduction in operational expenses by 4% due to internal efficiency measures and favourable material prices,” Reis explained in his report, to be formally presented at the company’s annual general meeting.

The group’s turnover net of taxes was $24.875 billion, compared to $23.695 billion in 2014 -– an increase of $1.180 billion, or 5%. Its operational profit before tax was recorded at $5.285 billion, compared to $4.971 billion in 2014 – an increase of $314.0 million, or 6.3%.

“The group’s profit after-tax attributable to shareholders was $2.945 billion, compared to $2.660 billion, an increase of $285.0 million, or 10.7%. The group’s net asset value per share has increased from $25.9 by 10% to $28.6, and the group has increased its dividend proposal to shareholders to $0.69 per share unit, resulting in an overall cost of $690.0 million,” the Chairman further pointed out.

Reis said: “This remarkable achievement was made at a time when the local commercial zone had experienced a drop in sales during and after the 2015 Elections.”

technological and emerging market demands; and product packaging development to satisfy the requirements of a younger and more discerning customer base.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Banks DIH Chairman, Clifford Reis “Closer to home, consumer confidence was eroded in the run-up to the last elections cycle and the post-elections events which resulted in a contraction of consumer spending. In spite of these challenges, we continue to adapt to the realities of operating in a rapidly changing business and social environment.

“We are able to utilize the collective knowledge and experience base which has been assembled over the years of our existence,” Reis explained.

DEVELOPMENT AGENDA Despite those challenges, the Chairman said Banks DIH has kept its ‘eyes’ fixed on its developmental agenda, which included training in all areas to proactively respond to the rapidly evolving

In order to achieve its ambitious growth rates, Banks DIH, over the years, has been investing in modernising its production and distribution capabilities, especially in the Brewery, Soft Drinks, Rum, Wine and Ice-cream production facilities. Reis said these were complemented with the support services upgrade of the Power Generator, CO2 Production, Steam Generation and Water Supply Systems.

During the year, he said, capital works continued with acquisition and installation of a new biscuit oven, in addition to other equipment which were installed across the company.

“Ongoing installation continues on an on-line blow mould machine for the Water Production Facilities and new filler for the Beer Plant,” Reis said, noting that the mega-company continues to benefit from these investments in the area of consistently higher yields and the quality of the products produced.

“There was also less downtime, and longer and longer uninterrupted production runs, and an overall reduction in operating expenses as a result of the capital expenditure and expansion programme,” he added.

Turning his attention

to Citizen’s Bank Guyana Inc., the Chairman said the new Citizens Bank at New Amsterdam is ready to satisfy the banking needs of those residing in the Berbice region.

“This full-service branch stands as testimony to our ongoing objective to provide state-of-the-art facilities and higher levels of service to our customers and friends,” Reis said.

Citizens Bank Guyana –- a 51% owned subsidiary of the company -- increased its revenue from $3.217 billion to $3.708 billion by $491.0 million, or 15%. Profit after tax was recorded at $907.0 million, compared to $989.1 million in 2014.

It was reported that total assets of the company increased from $42.1 billion to 43.1 billion – representing a $1.0 billion increase.

Loan Assets increased by 6%, from 28.9 billion to $30.7 billion. Customers’ Deposits increased from $33.2 billion by $1.7 billion or 5% to 34.9 billion.

Additionally, earnings per share are $15.24 and net interest income increased from $2.37 billion to $2.65 billion in 2014.

Looking ahead, Reis said: “We anticipate that the global macroeconomic environment will continue to impact the landscape of all businesses…Investments in the expansion and modernisation of our production facilities, strengthening our geographic reach to all areas across the country, and enhancing export trade will significantly enhance our vision of success.”

Cops seize gun, drugs in interior POLICE on Monday seized an unlicenced 9mm pistol and a quantity of marijuana during separate raids in the interior.

In a release, police said that at about 10:00h yesterday, ranks in ‘F Division conducted a search on a mining camp at Arangoy, Mazaruni River, during which an unlicensed 9mm. sub-machine pistol was found. One man has been ar-

rested and is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

At about the same time, another team of policemen conducted a search on a man at the Itaballi Checkpoint, during which 2 kilograms, 748 grams of marijuana were found. He also has been arrested and is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

Still on Gayle I AM back on the Chris Gayle topic, as it seems that the Caribbean population is finding it hard to let go former Australian Captain Ian Chappell, who proposed a world cricket ban on Gayle, seemingly forgetting his own misdemeanours of the past.

Articles from back in the day are suddenly being dug up and shared across the Internet, featuring Chappell in his heyday committing some less than honourable public offences himself. One such incident involves assault charges meted out to him following an attack on a Guyana Cricket Board Official during an argument right at the Bourda Cricket Ground in 1979. Back in 1975, Chappell reportedly dropped his pants while on the field, for the world to see, in response to which he said, “It’s a joke.”

Now, in all fairness, while Gayle is in his own boiling water for different reasons, I’d say that Chappell should not talk about it, as he is clearly no stranger to “making jokes” in bad taste or “acting out in public”. If anyone should keep his/her mouth shut on the matter, it should be Chappell.

Kumbayah

So, something came over Gordon Moseley and he decided to create a mash-up video of the national song “Let Us Cooperate for Guyana.” The enthused public figure called on persons to sing separate lines of the song and submit their videos. The end result was a mash-up that is currently enjoying massive shares throughout Facebook. Now, the submissions didn’t come from the best singers out there, but the enthusiasm alone is enough to make one smile. It seems like this was just the picker-upper people needed to get their minds off the other woes of the country.

Now, if we could only really cooperate to make this country a better place… Here’s to bringing the words of that song to fruition.

Now Essequibo?

At first our attentions focused on Berbice and the woes that blanketed its people in the form of murders and robberies, but now Essequibo has garnered our attention following the report that there are currently 5 persons hospitalised in the Suddie Hospital due to suicide attempts.

Not only is the number alarmingly high, but the fact that each of these incidents is totally separate from the others raises eyebrows. First of all, shame on iNews for revealing the name of the victims, especially that of a 12-year-old girl. Whatever happened to protecting the identity of children?

But, more importantly, people are still casting blame at the “state of things” in the country, and blaming the government for such incidents, though each of the victims has admitted to either being simply “confused” or “frustrated” with life when they attempted to kill themselves. Maybe it’s better to find any reason at all to cast blame. I suppose that an illogical reason is less troubling than no reason at all.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday January 12, 2016

‘Missing’ baby back with mother

By Shauna Jemmott THE BABY who was in the midst of a controversy for weeks have finally been reconciled with his biological mother Roberta Browne after Child Care and Protection Agency (CHA) Head, Ann Green asked the woman who was in possession of the child, to hand him over yesterday.

The 22-year-old mother was extremely happy and smiling with her baby in her own hands when Guyana Chronicle caught up with her at the West Bank Demerara Bus Park in Georgetown yesterday. The baby was handed over around 15:00 hrs.

She and her aunts Suzette Browne and Doreen Chilcott were the ones who travelled to Georgetown to meet with Green at her office, where the baby was handed over to his cried-out mother, whose eyes were puffy and red from crying.

With laughter and smiles, the woman said, “I feel great. I feel happy”. She said though her last son had been away from her about 14 days, she plans to breastfeed him since she believes it is the better choice.

Yesterday she registered the child with the name Anthony Browne, and plans to visit her local health clinic today for a clinic date to ensure he is vaccinated with his BCG. Caroline Marcus, the

woman who had custody of the baby, was ordered to hand over the infant to his own mother, but Browne’s aunt Suzette Browne is now tasked with overseeing that the young mother cares all three of her children.

NO ALTERNATIVE Suzette Browne told Chronicle that Green told Marcus, “By right the child

Director of Child Care and Protection Agency Ann Green deserves his own biological mother. She had no alternative but to give back the baby to his mother. They give her custody but they put me to make sure that she take care of the child and make sure that we support her,” she added.

Meanwhile, Green told the Chronicle that the agency had completed its investigations into the matter and was

pleased to find out that the child had not been sold or trafficked, and based on its findings it had been able to conclude that the mother was the rightful custodian.

“We have done our investigation. I just want people to understand that we had to investigate because we had to find out if the baby was sold or what. Persons don’t just give away a baby! You can give away your phone or your shoes or whatever, but you can’t give away a baby!”

Green said.

She said after receiving complaints that a baby was involved in such controversy, her agency was responsible for investigating to see if the child had been sold or if there was a case of trafficking.

“We had to look to see if there was any exploitation!

So we had to intervene and find out really what was going on with the baby,” she explained.

She said her officers did ground work while she herself had two counselling sessions with the family.

SUPPORT Green said her agency understood that the young mother had some issues and had pledged to work with her, ensuring that she got the help she needed.

“The relatives are coming and they’re prepared now to give her the support. Yes, we gave the mother the child,

but an aunt is taking the responsibility. She has given us an undertaking here that she will support the mother to help to ensure that the baby is safe .…We will also be working with the mother and the family … but in the end we think that was the better way.”

She said no party was left without understanding the child’s right as the woman who had possession of the baby also understood “that people can’t just give away a baby. There is a procedure.

If a woman feels that she cannot care for her child she could contact us and it can be done in a right way.

We will see what could be done. We will keep the baby in foster care for six months (and) give you a chance. That wasn’t the right way! So she understands.”

She said the mother of the child could have been experiencing post-partum depression when she handed the child over and as such she also needs mental support.

“In this case this child needs the opportunity to be with his biological family and we are here to provide the support. We will be keeping a lookout for this child because it was brought to our attention, so we will be following to ensure that this child is well looked-after and there’s no way that he’s gonna be any part of any scheme or anything or being exploited.”

Haags Bosch becoming health crisis A HEATED exchange arose yesterday at City Hall as to why members of its Public Health Department were not included in a meeting with Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan on the current deplorable state of the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill Site.

For some time now, the site, aback Eccles, East Bank Demerara, has been in a state of disorder, prompting Town Clerk Royston King to advise that it is spiralling into a “public health crisis”.

King was reporting on the meeting with the minister during the Council’s fortnightly statutory meeting, and his remark prompted Councillor Ian Andrews to question if any public health officers of the council were included in the discussion.

King responded that although a team from the Town Clerk Ministry of Public Health was present, the Council’s Royston King public health officers were not there.

This sparked outrage from Councillor Devi Ross, who stood up to voice her disapproval that those officers were not invited.

“They are isolating the Public Health Department,” she shouted. She opined that this represents the number one department of the Council, especially in view of the many health issues affecting citizens.

Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green responded that she was confused as to why councillors were questioning the issue when they were the same ones who had initially said it was not necessary that a large delegation attend the meeting.

Chase-Green argued that the Council worked assiduously under the former administration to prevent an outbreak of any kind, although no money was granted the municipality.

Meanwhile, King informed that a major challenge had to do with litter-pickers, who have been blocking the road daily, preventing garbage disposal trucks from accessing Haags Bosch Landfill.

The police have since been called in, and this situation is somewhat under control.

Following the meeting, the Deputy Mayor told the Chronicle that the Government recently gave the City Council $100M to completely close off the old dump site in Le Renentir Cemetery and to assist with works at Haags Bosch.

A new cell has since been opened.

Chronicle pressman robbed

By Michelle Outridge SENIOR Pressman of the Guyana Chronicle, Clint Bastian, was robbed by three men of his motorcycle early Sunday morning at Mon Repos Public Road, East Coast Demerara. He was on his way home from work.

Bastian said he had made a purchase of some groceries earlier that morning, and while going home, in the vicinity of the D & D Bar at Mon Repos, he was alerted by a man that his grocery bag had come loose and sugar was falling out. He said he stopped the motorcycle to retrieve the sugar when he was held from behind by a man who demanded money before throwing him to the ground.

The 57-year-old press operator said the man was joined by two other accomplices, one of whom was armed with a cutlass. He was relieved of his Samsung cell phone and a silver ring after a search of his pockets came up empty.

The incident happened at about 04:15 hrs on Sunday morning even as patrons were exiting the gay bar and witnessing the robbery. Instead of assisting him, some persons encouraged the bandits to chop him because he was supposed to have money.

Bastian said he was wearing a silver ring, which he took off and handed over while pleading with the robbers not to harm him. In the process, the bandits made off with his black 150 CC Scrambler motorcycle, CF 8539, and his helmet.

Bastian said the theft of his bike was a great loss because it formed part of his livelihood -- a part-time delivery job at a fast food outlet.

Bastian said he went to the Beterverwagting Police Station and filed a report, then began calling his cell phone number, 614-8325. A man answered and said he had purchased the phone from a friend.

Bastian said he tried to reason with the man to provide more information in an effort to locate his motorcycle, but the man discontinued the conversation.

The police have reportedly told Bastian that they can do nothing.

This publication understands that even though the 2 am curfew is in force, the popular gay bar at Mon Repos opens until daylight most times, and the three men who robbed Bastian usually are found out there relieving people of their valuables.

Robbed: Clint Bastian

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday January 12, 2016

Woman survives pitbull attack

WHILE walking home at Herstelling Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara at about midnight last Saturday, 27-year-old Karen Kellman was attacked and almost killed by a huge and vicious pitbull.

She told the Guyana Chronicle in a telephone interview last night that she had just left work at Seeram’s Bar in Alexander Village and had been transported to the public road at Herstelling. She was walking along Fourth Bridge when the terrifying beast attacked her.

“I was coming in from work. The dog just jumped

on me from behind. I didn’t see him or anything. When he jumped on me from behind,

he bite me on my shoulder, and when I try to run, he just keep jumping and biting me.”

She said she tried to escape by running up a hill of sand, but the dog bit her arm

Karen Kellman and pulled her to the ground.

While on her abdomen, she grabbed a stick, and the dog made several attempts to grab her neck but was unable to do so because she kept putting the stick in his mouth.

“When he hustling to get me neck I get a wood and just

push it in he mouth. There is where he was trying to get.

I started scream and three people come out… They tried hitting him with a stick (but he didn’t stop). They juck he with a spear and he run,” Kellman related. The entire ordeal lasted for about five minutes.

Kellman was then taken to the Diamond Hospital, where she received treatment for the wounds she had sustained and was sent home.

The matter was reported to police and the owner of the dog was contacted.

Kellman said the owner of the animal has offered to help cover her medical expenses.

‘Grey Boy’ jailed for 3 years ‘GREY BOY,’ the man accused of the shooting death of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing, was yesterday sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after being found guilty by City Magistrate Fabayo Azore on a charge of escaping from lawful custody.

Thirty-seven-year old Regan Rodrigues of Riverview Squatting Area, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown wept in court before kissing his elderly mother and making his way down the court’s steps in shackles.

was instead under a chair the police had to lift up.

In addition to that, the defence, during the trial, raised a concern that there was multiple occupancy of the home.

In relation to the guilty verdict of escaping from police custody, it was found that the prosecution had proven that the accused, after being arrested, pushed down one of the ranks and made good his escape. He later turned himself in to the police at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters.

In July of last year, Rodrigues was charged with the murder of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing, who was gunned down on March 10, 2015 while encouraging residents of Diamond New Housing Scheme to cast their votes in the May 11 General and Regional Elections. The former soldier had come to the public’s attention after he had held a one-man demonstration for 80 days in front of the office of the then Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, fol-

lowing revelations of a taped conversation between that official and a senior reporter of the Kaieteur News.

Crum-Ewing was shot five times -– thrice to the head, once to the back of the neck, and once under one of his arms. All the bullets were fired from behind his person and at close range, except the one that hit him under his arm and exited through his shoulder.

Rodrigues is currently on remand, awaiting commencement of this Preliminary Inquiry (PI)

Regan Rodrigues, aka ‘Grey Boy’ Rodrigues, however, had the charges of possession of illegal arms and ammunition dismissed against him. He was indicted for escaping from lawful custody on July 13 at Riverview, Ruimveldt while in the custody of Constable 2041 Thomas pending criminal charges for unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.

It was also alleged that on the same day, he had in his possession one Taurus pistol and 14 live rounds of ammunition without being a licensed firearm holder.

Magistrate Azore said there was no evidence to show that the defendant had knowledge of the weapons.

She noted that the illegal gun was not found in the defendant’s bedroom, but

Tuesday January 12th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Wedesday January 13th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Thursday January 14th, 2016 - 08:30 hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Paved roads for Mahdia

By Alva Solomon MAHDIA, administrative capital of Region Eight, is expected to be furnished with paved roads through allocations in this year’s national budget.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, who along with Junior Minister Simona Broomes visited the region for a two–day tour, said the administration has identified road improvements in the community as part of its agenda.

Addressing a gathering of residents from Mahdia and contiguous communities at the Mahdia Primary School on Sunday night, Minister Trotman said providing concrete roads has already been discussed and been included in this year’s national budget, which is expected to be presented by the Government in the weeks ahead.

“Many will be voting for that,” he said of Government’s support, adding that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure will be undertaking the task.

On their first trip to the region since having assumed the Natural Resources portfolio, Trotman and Broomes heard about a number of

domestic and infrastructure issues affecting the mining community, particularly small miners. The small miners ventilated their dissatisfaction with mining on lands in the Tiger Creek area. This was the centre of discussion for most of the meeting.

Tiger Creek is at the centre of a dispute between two families, and a third party is laying claim to the land. The dispute reached the courts in mid-2015, and recently, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s acting Commissioner, Neuel Dennison, along with other officials from that mining body, visited the disputed site and instructed all parties involved to halt operations pending the court matter.

Several pork-knockers were removed from the site while working under unsafe conditions. GGMC officials told this newspaper that, a “gold rush” is on at Tiger Creek.

At Sunday night’s meeting, small miners vented their frustration at solutions proffered to their problems, and many criticised the GGMC sloth in its procedures.

One small miner told the gathering that his concerns surround the availability of lands for the miners. “Why

Minister Broomes suggested that the police “lockup” those shopkeepers who are found culpable. She made herself clear on her stance as Divisional Commander, Rabindranauth Budhram, who was seated at the head table, observed the topic as it was discussed.

A Mahdia businessman splashes water on the roadway outside his shop yesterday. The roads here are dusty, and if all goes well, they will be paved before year-end, as provision is being made for paved roads at Mahdia in this year’s national budget we small miners can’t locate a piece of land to work?” he asked. He noted that some miners own four and six dredges, which they cannot use, given the unavailability of lands.

REPLACE THEM Domestic issues were also brought to the fore.

Member of Parliament Gloria Bancroft, who chaired the proceedings, suggested that the authorities replace all the police ranks stationed at the

Mahdia Police Station.

She said that, as a mother, she believed that the police officers in the community were not serving as they should.

A Campbelltown mother in support of Bancroft’s views emotionally expressed disgust at the lack of attention given to the youth who abuse alcohol. She alluded to the use of date-rape as an issue, which many at the meeting told this newspaper occurs in the community.

It was noted by one resident that there are persons who approach the victims, and in some instances the lawmen in the community, with sums of money to sweep issues relating to rape under the carpet.

Janitor Natash Fraser informed the Government officials that she had not been paid her monthly salary for almost four months, and complained of the $18,000 light bill which she pays monthly.

Her monthly salary is $20,000. She said that she cleans two schools at Mahdia, and being a mother of four, she expressed frustration over the issue.

Broomes interjected during the discussion and said that the matter would be addressed immediately after the meeting. She said that the woman is entitled to her payment at the end of the

month, and she also informed the woman that there exists a minimum wage bracket.

VILLAGE COUNCIL Toshao of Micobie Village, John Andrey, was concerned about the rights of his Village Council as regards the operating of mining activities on the village lands.

He said it appeared that the GGMC had “more rights” than the Village Council. His concerns were noted by the visiting ministerial team.

Earlier, Minister Trotman told the residents that he recognised the May 2015 elections results were very close for the region. He said the results represented the will of the people, noting that the region has chosen Bonaventure Fredericks, who was seated at the head table, to be Regional Chairman.

According to Trotman, “Mahdia is important to you as it is important for us.” This was received by loud cheers from the audience.

Sunday night’s meeting was attended by officials from the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), technical persons from the GGMC and the Ministry of Infrastructure.

DTL under microscope again

By Svetlana Marshall

D E M E R A R A Ti m b e r s Limited (DTL) is being placed under the microscope once again, this time by the Natural Resources Ministry. A meeting is scheduled to be held this week to discuss the entire operation of the company.

In December, during a random inspection by the Department of Labour, DTL was found to be in breach of Chapter 99 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. In response, the company sent home approximately 35 workers “until further notice”, to facilitate repairs to a primary machine within the sawmill, which was found to be a major safety hazard.

On Sunday, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, paid the company a visit at its Mabura Hill, Region 10 location. It was during a brief meeting with the officer in charge, Kwangsiong Chuo, that Minister Trotman indi-

cated that his Ministry would write the Management of DTL, summoning a meeting.

That meeting is set for this week.

“So you will come and give a full account of everything that is happening here.

We are going to discuss all of the operations, not just the part that is shut down,” Minister Trotman said while adding that the Government was concerned about the employment of its people.

Minister Broomes, who had led the OHS Team to Mabura in December, sought clarification on whether the workers would be paid while at home. Chuo responded in the positive, explaining that they would receive 50 per cent of their salaries as the company attempts to rectify the situation.

The workers have accused the company of victimising them due to the warnings it had received from the Social Protection Ministry, Department of Labour; but in an interview with Guyana Chronicle, DTL General Manager Martin Ting denied any attempt to victimise

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman the workers, saying that the closure of the saw mill was necessary to put corrective measures in place as outlined by the Department of Labour.

It was explained that the defective machine was the primary one on which the other machines depend; hence if it is out of operation, the entire saw mill grinds to a halt.

The company has reportedly spent Gy$3M to source parts from Germany to repair the defective machine, but to no avail.

UNCLEAR The company is now an-

alysing the possibility of putting an alternative system in place, but this, according to the DTL officials, will take months. As a result, it is unclear when the saw mill will resume operation.

But though the company has taken a decision to shut down the saw mill, the General Manager told this newspaper that the letter sent to DTL in December by the Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Department was vague; hence the company will soon seek further clarification.

“I have to write for clarification,” Ting emphasised.

Officer in Charge of DTL, Mabura Hill location, Kwangsiong Chuo In the letter, dated December 14, 2015 and signed

by Assistant Chief Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Officer Lydia Greene, the department pointed out that DTL, at its Mabura Hill concession, had no safety and health policy in place.

“No functional fire extinguishers or fire drills were in place in the event of a fire.

Inadequate safety boots were provided in some instances, whilst in other instances no safety boots were provided to workers. No prescribed

types of personal protective equipment were provided to workers exposed to high density of saw dust in the entire location,” the department pointed out.

In fact, 22 breaches were cited by the department, but Ting maintained that the letter failed to reflect the true operations of the company.

“I have to write for clarification. How could there be no functioning fire extinguishers? Are you telling me that our fire extinguishers are not working? A lot of things we have to write and ask for clarification, because a lot of the things are not true,” he told this newspaper.

Ting was backed by Sales Manager Robert Perry, who whipped out copies of the Occupational Safety and Health Policy Statement and the Safety Gear Audit Report. According to Perry, the company had an Occupational Safety and Health Policy, but it was not available at the time of the visit.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Woolford joins Commonwealth team observing Vanuatu elections

13

Force Account Unit renamed “Special Projects Unit”

THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Force Account Unit has officially been renamed and is now the Special Projects Unit.

The new name recently took effect after a decision was made last month.

According to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, the name change was a needed one. He explained that the unit was initially created to conduct minor and emergency works.

However, he said that, over the years, the unit evolved and took on greater responsibilities.

“The unit moved from simply being for emergency works and took on some special projects. Due to this expanding role, we decided to

find a more suitable name,” Minister Patterson explained.

He further said that the

rebranding will allow the unit to play an active role in the Ministry’s annual workload.

The Special Projects Unit will still fall under the Ministry’s Works Services

The Special Projects Unit conducting repair works on a section of a badly damaged road in Tucville, Georgetown

Australian diplomat: Guyana good for investment Capitol News Editor-in-Chief, Enrico Woolford A FORMER Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Hubert Ingraham, will lead a Commonwealth Observer Group to Vanuatu for its General Election on January 22.

The snap election is being held nine months ahead of schedule following a period of political instability in which 14 Members of Parliament were convicted of bribery. The convictions led to a political deadlock between the Government and the Opposition, which prompted President Baldwin Lonsdale to dissolve Parliament.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma mobilised the Observer Group at the invitation of the Vanuatu Government. He said its work would complement the Commonwealth’s ongoing effort to support democracy in the country.

“The Commonwealth has a long history of (giving) assistance to Vanuatu. We have been working with the Government and with all political leaders to strengthen democratic processes and institutions in the country,” he said.

Last year, the Commonwealth facilitated among political leaders a dialogue that could lead to a road map for reform.

The Observer Group will contribute to this process by offering practical recommendations to strengthen Vanuatu’s electoral process based on its observations. The five-member team will examine pre-election preparations, voting and counting procedures, and the announcement of results. They will assess any factor affecting the credibility of the elections and determine whether they were conducted according to international standards and the laws of Vanuatu.

The Observer Group will submit its report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will in turn send it to the Government of Vanuatu, the Electoral Commission, and the principal political parties. It will subsequently be released online.

The observers will be supported by a four-member staff team led by Albert Mariner of the Political Division of the Secretariat. The staff team will arrive in Vanuatu on January 13, and depart five days after the elections.

The observer team comprises former Prime Minister of The Bahamas and Chair, Hubert Ingraham; Federal Member for Ryan Australia, Member of Parliament (MP) Jane Prentice; Capitol News Editor-in-Chief Enrico Woolford; Former Ombudsman and Supervisor of Elections, Fiji, Walter Rigamoto; and Ugandan Gender, Peace and Security Expert Jessica Nkuuhe.

AUSTRALIAN High Commissioner to Guyana and Caricom, Ross Tysoe, has said that Guyana is a good place for investment.

He made this observation as he paid a courtesy call on President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency yesterday. During that visit, the diplomat held discussions with the President on potential areas of investment and on both countries’ consensus on the need to lessen the adverse effects of climate change.

In an invited comment,

the diplomat said it was his first meeting with President Granger, and that Australia believes Guyana has great investment potential and a shared interest in minimising the effects of climate change.

“Australia has been experiencing very devastating bush fires in levels that have never been experienced before, and so we discussed areas of collaboration and the building of institution-to-institution links on climate change, among other issues,” High Commissioner Tysoe said.

He also noted that, with the election of Baroness Patricia Scotland, who has Caribbean roots, as the new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, it is expected that the bilateral relations between Guyana and his country will be improved in the coming days.

“In terms of investment, we believe that there are good opportunities in Guyana for Australian investors, particularly in minerals and [possibly] in agriculture, in years to come. So we will keep the relationship bub-

bling along,” he said.

Last September, the High Commissioner paid courtesy calls on then Minister of Governance, now Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; and also participated in discussions on a number of issues, including border security, territorial sovereignty, and gun amnesty with Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan.

President David Granger greets Australian High Commissioner to Guyana and Caricom, resident in Trinidad and Tobago, Ross Tysoe, at the Ministry of the Presidency yesterday

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UK body calls for new clean era for tarnished sport LONDON, England (Reuters) - UK Athletics (UKA) has called for world records to be wiped clean and drug cheats to be banned for at least eight years in radical proposals aimed at heralding a new unblemished era for the sport.

UKA's document ‘A Manifesto for Clean Athletics’ was published yesterday, three days before the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is due to reveal the second half of its independent report into widespread doping in the sport.

UKA, the ruling body of British athletics, made

UKA chairman Ed Warner

nine key recommendations, including resetting the re-

cord books and banning drug cheats for two Olympic cycles.

It also proposed publishing a public global register of drug tests, the criminalisation of the supply or procurement of performance-enhancing drugs and calling for WADA to keep a register of all missed tests.

Athletics, the showpiece sport of the Olympic Games, experienced a traumatic year in 2015 with life bans for officials following allegations of doping, cover-ups, bribery and corruption.

Russia was suspended from international compe-

tition for what WADA described as "state-sponsored doping".

UKA chairman Ed Warner said it was time for "radical reform", adding "the integrity of athletics was challenged as never before in 2015.

"Trust in the sport is at its lowest point for decades, and clean athletes have been let down.

"Greater transpar ency, tougher sanctions, longer bans -- and even resetting the clock on world records for a new era -- we should be open to do whatever it takes to restore credibility in the sport," he said.

Bravo shines with bat and ball as Renegades fight on DWAYNE Bravo starred with bat and ball as the Melbourne Renegades beat the Sydney Thunder to stay alive in the Big Bash League.

A brilliant all-round performance from Dwayne Bravo kept the Melbourne Renegades' hopes of reaching the Big Bash League semi-finals alive with a five-wicket win over the Sydney Thunder at Spotless Stadium.

Bravo took 2-26 from his four allotted overs as the Thunder made 173-5 with Usman Khawaja and Shane Watson (both 62) the standout performers yesterday.

The West Indies all-rounder then smashed 47 off 24 balls in a 91-run partnership with captain Cameron White (61) to guide the Renegades to a victory achieved with four balls to spare.

The home side came into the contest on the back of three straight defeats and requiring a shot in the arm to

Dwayne Bravo

get their faltering campaign back on track.

They were given that by Khawaja and Watson. The duo made their runs off 42 and 43 balls respectively and added much-needed impetus following the early dismissal of Jacques Kallis for 13.

Watson almost saw out

the rest of the innings only for Bravo to remove both him and Mike Hussey with the final two balls.

Chris Gayle (28) and Tom Cooper gave the Renegades a solid start in their reply but neither man advanced past 20.

Big-hitting Gayle pulled a

short ball from Clint McKay straight to Fawad Ahmed while Cooper was bowled by Ahmed for 25.

They did, however, leave a platform on which Bravo and White were able to build.

Medium-pacer Gurinder Sandhu (0-38 off three overs) came in for some particularly rough treatment as the pair struck six fours and seven sixes between them to put their side in position to win.

By the time Andre Russell claimed the wickets of both men in the 18th over, the Victorians required just 10 off the final two overs.

And although Tom Beaton was run-out for six, Peter Nevill and Ben McDermott saw them home with ease.

The Renegades and the Thunder are now level on six points in fifth and sixth place respectively. They will need to win their final matches and hope other results go their way to progress to the semi-finals.

(Sportsmax.com)

Steyn ruled out of third Test against England JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - Fast bowler Dale Steyn has been ruled out of this week’s third Test against England in a major blow to South Africa’s bid to get back into the four-match series.

The shoulder injury which restricted his bowling in the first Test and forced him out the second has not healed in time for the third game starting at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Thursday, South Africa coach Russell Domingo

said yesterday.

A spasm meant Steyn was able to bowl only 22 balls in the second innings of the first Test in Durban that England won by 241 runs.

The second Test at Newlands was drawn last week.

Scans on Steyn’s injury initially showed no muscle damage but he has returned to doctors this week to try to diagnose the problem.

The sore shoulder followed a groin injury that kept him out of three of four Tests against

India in November and raises questions about his future.

Domingo, however, believes the 32-year-old paceman will recover.

“I don’t think it’s the end of Dale Steyn," he said. "All players will experience some sort of niggles. He is a great athlete. He is as fit as they come.”

South Africa had been hoping Steyn, the world's topranked Test bowler, would return to spearhead a four-man seam attack in the high altitude

conditions of Johannesburg as they seek to preserve their position at the top of the test rankings.

“We haven’t had him since the first Test in India and that has been disappointing,” Domingo told a news conference. South Africa are also without another key paceman in Vernon Philander, who tore ankle ligaments in India and did not recover as quickly as the team’s management had hoped.

Blairmont Community Centre pavilion named after Roy Fredericks

By Rajiv Bisnauth

THE executives of the Blairmont Community Centre ground have named the pavilion of the ground after the late Guyana and West Indies master batsman Roy Fredericks.

The players’ pavilion has been named ‘Roy Clifton Fredericks’ in recognition of the batsman's outstanding contribution to the game.

The plaque was unveiled on Sunday at the conclusion of the inaugural Roy Fredericks Cup, which was played between the Georgetown Cricket Club and Blairmont Cricket Club.

Fredericks, who died of throat cancer in New York on September 8, 2000, was truly one of the great West Indies batsmen, who was fearless of fast bowling and creative in his approach.

His Test career spanned 10 years, including 59 Tests in which he scored 4,334 runs at an average of 42.49 runs per innings.

After retiring from Test cricket, Fredericks served as Minister of Sport and later as coach attached to the

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. At the time of his death, Fredericks was cricket adviser to the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

During brief remarks on Sunday, Club president Shameer Baksht, said: "Fredericks was such a hero to the club and branding the pavilion after the batsman is a fitting way of paying tribute to his contribution to the game.”

Baksh said Fredericks' exciting style earned him countless fans and he was a fearless and a dashing left-handed opening batsman whose answer to all opposing fast bowlers was to counterattack.

Also making brief remarks at the simple ceremony was Fredericks’ cousin Frank Dow, who remembered Fredericks as a great individual, who has made the family proud, and at the same time he represented Guyana and the West Indies with distinction.

Former Guysuco Personnel Director Nourang Persaud and Personnel Manager at Blairmont Estate, Lalta Persaud, also made brief remarks.

‘Tearful’ Bunbury excited...

From back page

So over the next two weeks we’ll be meeting with them (Government) to see where and how we will make this work”.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones stated that the National Sports Commission’s doors are open to help in any regard and will be looking forward to meeting with Bunbury, since he (Jones) believes that an Academy can help to mould Guyana’s sports men and women and put them on the excellent path of life.

Meanwhile, apart from the setting up of the ‘Alex Bunbury Sports and Academics Academy’, football clinics will be held in Berbice, Linden, Lethem and Georgetown, with the assistance of Guyana Football Coaches Association.

Bunbury was accepted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006, following his illustrious career.

In total, he represented Canada in 21 youth internationals, including the FIFA

World Youth Championship in the Soviet Union in 1985 — the same year he kick-started his professional soccer career as a striker with the Hamilton Steelers.

Over the next four seasons, he scored 28 goals in 76 games before moving on to the Toronto Blizzard, Montreal Spura, West Ham United and Maritimo in Portugal, where he remains the club's all-time leading scorer.

He returned to North America in 1999 and retired after two seasons and an MLS championship with the Kansas City Wizards.

Bunbury made his debut with Canada's senior team while still a Steeler in 1986.

In the 11 years that followed, he earned 65 caps and 16 goals - including a record 11 in World Cup qualifiers.

He was twice named the country's Player-ofthe-Year and in 2012 was named to the all-time men's team as part of the Canadian Soccer Association's centennial celebrations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Messi wins Ballon d'Or for fifth time

By Brian Homewood

ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - Lionel Messi reclaimed the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for the World Player-of-the-Year yesterday, after watching his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo walk off with the prize for the previous two years.

The Barcelona and Argentina forward finished ahead of Ronaldo and Brazil forward Neymar as he scooped the award for the fifth time overall, having

previously won it four years in a row from 2009 to 2012.

Messi helped Barcelona win a Spanish league, cup and Champions League treble plus the Club World Cup and also led Argentina to the Copa America final, where they lost to Chile.

“It’s a very special moment to be back here, winning another Ballon d’Or," said Messi as he received the award.

“It’s incredible to win a fifth ... more than anything I ever dreamed of as a kid.

"I want to thank my team mates, without them none of this would have been possible.”

United States World Cup winner Carli Lloyd, who scored a hat-trick in the final against Japan, was named women's player-of-the-year.

Ronaldo ended last season trophy-less with Real Madrid although he helped Portugal qualify for Euro 2016.

Neymar won a treble alongside Messi at Barcelona but had less a happy

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi of Argentina (C) holds the World Player-of-the-Year award next to FIFA's acting president Issa Hayatou (L) and former player Kaka during the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2015 ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, yesterday. (Reuters/Arnd Wiegmann)

time with Brazil, receiving a four-match international ban after he was sent off during the Copa America.

The ceremony, at the Zurich Kongresshaus theatre, was held against the backdrop of FIFA going through the worst corruption crisis since it was founded in 1904.

The sport is facing criminal investigations in both Switzerland and the United

States, where some leading FIFA officials are among 41 individuals and sports entities who have been indicted on corruption charges.

Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter, normally a central figure at the ceremony, was not involved after being banned for eight years by the Ethics Committee in December.

There was no President's

Award, traditionally awarded for outstanding services to the game.

Blatter was replaced by acting president Issa Hayatou who played a low-key role, reading a brief speech before the start of the ceremony and appeared on the stage when the awards for best player and women's player were presented.

Cleveland Cavaliers roll on, Hornets lose again THE Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Philadelphia 76ers for a seventh straight win, while the Charlotte Hornets' losing run extended to seven.

LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers past the lowly Philadelphia 76ers 95-85 in the NBA on Sunday.

James stole the show with a season-high 37 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as the in-form Cavaliers extended their winning streak to seven games.

"They look at me as the leader of this team and I've got to be that way all year round," James said. "They needed me a lot tonight and I was able to come through."

Kevin Love (15 points, 15 rebounds) and Tristan Thompson (10 points, 10 rebounds) had double-doubles for the Cavs, while J.R. Smith contributed 14 points.

The 76ers were led by Jahlil Okafor (21 points) and Ish Smith (18 points, 10 assists).

LeBron James scores a season-high 37 points.

A 114-111 overtime win against the New Orleans Pelicans saw the Los Angeles Clippers to a ninth consecutive victory.

The high-flying Clippers made the most of the absence of Pelicans star Anthony Davis as Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford produced big numbers.

Paul registered 25 points and 11 assists, while Crawford chopped in with 21 points.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Charlotte Hornets crashed to a seventh straight defeat.

The Denver Nuggets triumphed 95-92 over the struggling Hornets, despite

failing to score during the final four minutes at home.

Elsewhere, the Portland Trail Blazers snapped a three-game losing streak courtesy of a 115-110 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Houston Rockets rallied to beat the Indiana Pacers 107-103 in overtime, the New York Knicks accounted for the Milwaukee Bucks 100-88, the Dallas Mavericks downed the Minnesota Timberwolves 93-87, the Boston Celtics lost 101-98 to the Memphis Grizzlies and the Utah Jazz saw off the Los Angeles Lakers 86-74.

(Sportsmax.com)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Chappell slams Aussie skipper for looking to change outcome of drawn Test TWO days and something of rain ensured that the final Test in the Frank Worrell Trophy series between Australia and West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) ended in a draw but captain of the hosts tried to ensure there was a result. Aussie legend, Ian Chappell, was not pleased that the skipper of his country’s Test side made the attempt.

Smith admitted that he approached West Indies captain Jason Holder with a proposal that would guarantee a result, but the all-rounder turned down the offer.

“I would have declared at 0-0 and then bowled lobups for seven or eight overs or whatever it is,” Smith had revealed.

“For us, that would have potentially been me bowling with three slips and two gullies and leaving every man up for them to try and hit as many as they can,” said

Steve Smith

Smith.

Chappell believes that Aussie cricket, whether or not the action was legal, should steer clear of contrived results.

“I don’t like it when captains get together and start to make deals,” said Chappell.

“I’m sure cricket in general, not just Cricket Australia, would be all that thrilled

to hear that the captain is going to another captain and trying to make a deal because in this age of fixing, I would have thought that leaves things open to a lot of problems. I’ve never agreed with it, even before fixing became a pretty important subject, but even more I think it’s important not to do those things now,” the former Aussie skipper added.

According to Chappell, even if people thought the game could have been more exciting, may not have been excited by the idea of a result that could not have been attained through the natural course of play.

“The people who paid their money, even though they didn’t on Thursday, they’re entitled to look out and say: ‘Well, I’ve paid my money to watch something serious, not hit and giggle’,” said Chappell.

(Sportsmax.com)

Bangladesh spin Windies U-19s out for 114 THE Bangladesh U-19 spinners gobbled up eight wickets to bowl West Indies out for 114 and secure an eight-wicket win in the first Youth ODI in Mirpur.

Left-arm spinner Saleh Ahmed Shawon took four wickets while off-spinners Sanjit Saha and Saeed Sarkar took two each as West

Indies were knocked over in 39.2 overs. Opener Gidron Pope made 31 off 41 balls with two fours and three sixes and Emmanuel Stewart added 30 off 66 balls, but seven of their team-mates fell for single-digits.

West Indies' hopes flickered to life when Bangladesh opener Pinak Ghosh fell in

the second over to Obaid McCoy but Saif Hassan and Nazmul Hossain Shanto added 70 runs together in an unbroken third-wicket stand and finished the game off in the 21st over.

Saif made an unbeaten 39 off 68 balls with five fours and a six while Shanto's 41 not out came off just 36 balls with six fours and a six. (ESPN Cricinfo).

Fleming to link up with Dhoni in Pune MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - Stephen Fleming will reunite with India's limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the new Pune team after the former New Zealand captain was named as coach for the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament.

Dhoni was captain of the Chennai Super Kings when Fleming was coach and he led them to the IPL title in 2010 and 2011. The ninth edition of the tournament will be played from April 9 to May 29.

The franchise owners of Chennai and Rajasthan were suspended for two years in

July following an illegal betting and spot-fixing scandal surrounding the IPL, which has an estimated brand value of $3.5 billion and boasts Bollywood stars and major conglomerates as investors.

The western Indian cities of Pune and Rajkot were named as home to two new franchises for the next two years and Dhoni was Pune's first pick in a player draft held last month.

Fleming, 42, was New Zealand's longest-serving and most successful Test captain and is his country's highest Test run-scorer. He retired from international cricket in 2008.

Stephen Fleming named chief coach of Pune IPL team

"He has been remarkably successful as a player in the international arena and I firmly believe that his technical knowhow, perseverance and organisational skills will work wonders for our team," Sanjiv Goenka, chairman of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group that owns the Pune franchise, said in a statement.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Permaul and Fudadin help Guyana Jaguars beat CCC Marooners Superb bowling by left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and brilliant batting

by Asad Fudadin sparked the Guyana Jaguars to an emphatic six-wicket victory over the Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners in their rain-affected Group B encounter in St Kitts yesterday.

The Jaguars won the toss and elected to field first. The move paid off handsomely as both medium- pacer Paul Wintz and former Test player Veerasammy Permaul proved too good for the Marooners, who were left tottering at 64 for 6 after 21 overs.

Former Barbadian Test player Ryan Hinds showed his experience to rally the lower order and help restore some respectability to Marooners eventual total. Hinds

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topscored with 47 as the CCC Marooners recovered to reach 149 all out in 48.3 overs.

Permaul was the chief destroyer and finished with outstanding figures of 100-22-4 while Wintz, who played in place of veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul grabbed three wickets for 21. Raymon Reifer (1-18), Steven Jacobs (1-37) and Royston Crandon (1-19) shared one wicket apiece.

In reply, Guyana Jaguars got off to a comfortable start with Fudadin being partnered by the aggressive wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble who made 20 in their opening partnership of 76 (17 overs).

Fudadin progressed to 71 that was studded with three sixes and six fours off

96 balls before he was dismissed. Leon Johnson and Christopher Barnwell fell cheaply but Vishaul Singh and Reifer defied the defied the opposition any further success even when rain interrupted with 19 run required for victory.

On resumption, left-handed Singh finished the match and sparked celebrations among the Guyanese contingent and their supporters with a massive six.

He remained undefeated on 36 while Reifer was 10 not out as the Jaguars wrapped up victory with 11.2 overs to spare. They reached 153 for 4.

Permaul was declared “Man of Match” for his sterling contribution with the ball. (Brij Parasnath).

Number 1 ranking a booster shot for Windies ahead of World T20 ST JOHN’S Antigua - The West Indies cricket team has just been ranked number one in the T20 format of the game and with less than 60 days to go before the ICC World T20, the CEO, Michael Muirhead, is remarking that the ranking “will serve as a confidence-booster going into the tournament.”

The tournament is scheduled for India, March 8 to April 3 and the Caribbean team will play in Group 1 with England, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the winner from the Group B stage matches. Group B includes Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Scotland and Zimbabwe.

The CEO also admitted that the rankings in the

more traditional formats “need to be improved, but we are counting on the regional and international schedules along with other development programmes to help prepare the players for those competitions.”

Muirhead notes “the preparation for the tournament will include a camp outside of the region along with warm-up games. The squad will be announced shortly.”

West Indies have accumulated 118.36 rating points, and are just ahead of both Sri Lanka and Australia who have exactly 118 rating points each.

The team won half the amount of T20 games they have played since the last World Cup in 2014.

Guyana Jaguars players celebrate Chadwick Walton's departure after he was dismissed by Man-of-the Match Veerasammy Permaul during the Group “B” match between Guyana Jaguars and Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners in the NAGICO Super50 Tournament yesterdayat the St. Paul’s Sports Complex.Photo by WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography

Jamaica Scorpions sting Barbados Pride … T&T Red Force, ICC Americas clash abandoned

By BRIJ PARASNATH in T&T Sheldon Cottrell is better known for his fast bowling exploits but he emerged as the Jamaican Scorpions batting hero with two massive sixes off Romel Currency which eased the tension and then skilfully guided his team to a narrow nail-biting two-wicket victory over Barbados Pride in their Group A round-robin match at the Queen’s Park Oval last evening.

Barbados Pride struggled to score freely against the Scorpions slow bowlers Damion Jacobs (10-1-383), Nikita Miller (8-0-20-1) and skipper John Campbell (10-0-32-2) as well as leftarm speedster Cottrell who finished three wickets for 18 from 7.5 overs.

The Barbadians got to 138 which were relatively too small a total to pressure the Jamaicans into attacking strokeplay in search of a crucial victory.

Despite two early strikes by off-spinner Ashley Nurse and an impressive 4-wicket haul by experienced leftarm spinner Suliemann Benn,

Jamaica sneaked home to celebrate a tension-filled win thatkept them in second position with an additional bonus point.

Jamaica Scorpions were well in control and cruising at 105 for two with Andre McCarthy and Devon Thomas at the wicket. But Benn changed the complexion of the game with his wily stuff as he outfoxed both McCarthy (49) and Thomas (33), Tamar Lambert (0) and Aldaine Thomas (0) to leave the Scorpions scrambling for some oxygen to stay alive.

Brandon King (8) and Damion Jacobs (0) were soon

back in the pavilion and their scoreline was now 118 for 8.

However, their anxieties dissipated with Cottrell’s clean hitting and power sixes plus solid support from Miller. Cottrell picked up the “Man of Match” award with his three wickets and 16 vital runs at the end.

The other Group A encounter between defending champions Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and the ICC Americas carded for Shaw Park, Tobago was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of adverse weather and ground conditions.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday November 03, 2015) COMPLIMENTS OF: THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE 176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 277-Brian Lara (Sydney, 1992-93) (2) Karl Nunes (WI vs ENG, Lord’s, 1928)

Today’s Quiz: (1) How many Test matches Clive Lloyd played?

How many were against Australia?

(2) Who are the only two players to hit double-centuries against the WI in the 1980s?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 12, 2016

International boxing card set for February 20 at Giftland Mall THE Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) is in the process of staging a boxing card on February 20 at the Giftland OfficeMax Mall, East Coast Demerara that will involve a number of foreign fighters matching gloves with their Guyanese counterparts.

At the moment, GBBC is in contact with the management teams of the foreign pugilists and is hopeful that they will accept the offer to fight against the locals on February 20.

According to information received, the main bout is expected to see recently crowned FECARBOX junior welterweight champion Dexter Gonsalves put his title at stake against Bar-

bados’ Miguel Antoine in a 12-round affair.

Antoine has dominated the local (Guyana) scene since he started his professional career at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall a few years ago.

Among his victims to date are: Revlon Lake, Mark Austin, Jermaine King, Cassius Matthews, Shawn Pyle and Paul Lewis.

Gonsalves, on the other hand, upset the world-rated Clive Atwell to secure the FECARBOX junior welterweight title which will be at stake, come February 20.

Three Brazilian boxers including a female are also expected to grace the card and negotiations are underway.

Three Guyanese players to try-out for new MLS franchise

Dexter Gonsalves

Elton `The Coolie Bully’ Dharry

The locals identified

by GBBC’s match-maker Eion Jardine are: Guyana’s former bantamweight champion Dexter Marques,

United States-based Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) bantamweight champion Elton `The Coolie Bully’ Dharry and fe-

male boxer Mandessa Moses.

According to the GBBC, Commonwealth title fights have also been lined up for Gonsalves and Dharry in the very near future.

On the February 20 card, Imran Khan who made an impressive debut to the professional rank late last year is also listed and will face Barbados’ Ezra Lord.

Also on the proposed card, Guyana’s Kwesi Jones and Puerto Rico’s Samuel Clarkson will battle for the World Boxing Council’s light heavyweight title.

Jones was knocked out

by Barbadian Shawn Cox at 55 minutes of the fourth round in an eight-round non-title contest on Febru-

ary 23 three years ago.

Since then, he has not entered a boxing ring, but the hiatus will come to an end next month.

Jones joined the professional ranks seven years ago and to date has chalked up a 10-3-0 record.

Jones’ most notable win was against former World-rater and European champion Howard `The Battersea Bomber’ Eastman for the local light heavyweight title.

He subsequently registered wins against Anthony Augustin, a Guyanese currently residing in Barbados; Cleveland Fraser and Kelso George, before losing on points to Lennox Allen and Cox.

ECCB’s Elizabeth Styles 40-over cricket …

Better Hope ‘B’ are the champions

By Rawle Toney

THREE Guyanese football players will be given an opportunity to play in the USA’s Major League Soccer, according to former MLS star Alex Bunbury.

Since last year, Bunbury has been showing keen interest in helping local players to realise their dreams of playing professional football at the highest level and at his Press Conference yesterday, the ‘Club Sport Marítimo’ alltime leading goalscorer said the three players will travel to the Midwestern U.S state of Minnesota to vie for a spot in the Minnesota United FC. The club currently competes in the USA’s second division North American Soccer League (NASL) but on March 25, 2015, the MLS announced it had selected Minnesota United as an expansion team, to begin play in 2017.

Bunbury made 24 appearances for the MLS outfit Sporting Kansas City (19992000) and would have used his influence to give Alpha United’s Daniel Wilson and Julian Wade of Slingerz FC, a shot at USA’s top professional football league last November (2015).

“I intend to continue using

my connections to open doors for Guyanese players so that they can have a chance to play at the highest level in their careers. It’s something that I will be doing continuously,” Bunbury said.

The names of the three players who will travel to the U.S. later this month have not been released since some logistics are still being worked out between the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the clubs involved.

Minnesota United will be the sixth MLS expansion team to join from the NASL, following Seattle Sounders FC (2009), Portland Timbers (2011), Vancouver Whitecaps (2011), Montreal Impact (2012), and Orlando City SC (2015).

The winning Better Hope ‘B’ team pose with EECB president Bissoondyal Singh (left) and Better Hope Club president Jainarine Singh (right)

BETTER Hope ‘B’ produced a splendid effort to topple their senior counterparts and lift the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB)-sponsored Elizabeth Styles 40-over first division title last Sunday.

Played at the Better Hope Community Centre ground, the B team whipped the A team by 40 runs to much delight of the large crowd.

Asked to bat first, the B team were dismissed for 160 in 31 overs .Clive Ramp-

ersaud, who stroked three fours and two sixes, topscored with 40.

He received support from Man-of-the-Match Jayadev Mana with a fighting 33. Sachin Singh contributed 23 to the total, while Roy Persaud and Rajendra Dhanraj made 22 each.

Left-arm pacer Azad Mohamed took 4-22 from eight impressive overs, while Ravi Singh (2-30) and Khan (2-30) were the successful bowlers for the A team.

In reply the A team were skittled out for 121 in 28.4 overs, despite a courageous 54 from Chris Deonarine.

Mana returned with the ball to bag 3-24. He got support from Daniel Kowlessar (3-23) and Sachin Singh (2-29) to send the ‘A’ team packing for 121 in 28-4 overs.

At the presentation ceremony, ECCB president Bissoondyal Singh thanked both teams for displaying such high quality of cricket.

Singh indicted that Eliz-

abeth Styles, a USA-based cosmetic company will renew their sponsorship for another year.

“Elizabeth Styles is doing a wonderful job in supporting cricket not only on the East Coast but also in Berbice and today’s winners get $350 000, while the runners-up collect $50 000,” Singh informed.

Better Hope Sports Club president Jainarine Singh and ECCB executive Ray Barton also spoke after the match.

‘Tearful’ Bunbury excited to be home

By Rawle Toney ALEX Bunbury, the 48-year-old Guyanese who is considered one of the greatest Canadian football players ever, gave an emotional testimony about his journey from Plaisance to Montreal where he excelled at the ‘Beautiful Game’.

It’s been 40 years since Bunbury has returned to the land of his birth. The youngest of 13 children, born to Doreen and Harry Bunbury, was highly emotional, as he outlined his plans for the building of the ‘Alex Bunbury Sports and Academics Academy’ in Guyana.

“My brother (Sam) would usually visit (Guyana) and people ask me why only now; why did I wait 40 years to return home? But I tell them, I can’t be part of something that was not good or healthy,” a tearful Bunbury told reporters at a press conference he hosted at the Pegasus Hotel.

A change in Government and also a new Guyana Football Federation (GFF) executive committee are some areas of change that Bunbury related to, that enhanced his life-long dream of returning to Guyana and making a meaningful impact.

The ‘Alex Bunbury Sports and Academics Academy’, according to the Canadian football icon, will be established to help athletes in a cross-section of disciplines which he hopes will instil in them the same values that

... Establishing ‘Alex Bunbury Sports and Academics Academy’ high on agenda

A tearful Alex Bunbury addressing the media at yesterday’s press conference.

helped him to become one of the best players to ever don the colours of the ‘Canucks’.

“When I left Guyana at age nine, I knew nothing about playing football. I actually started playing at 12

years old and I was taught that the game is 95% heart and brains and the other 5% is your God-given talent.

Sadly, our athletes in Guyana - some of the most naturally talented in the

world - lack that mental ability to make it to the next level and it is my hope that this academy could help them,” Bunbury said.

At present, there’s no named location for the Acad-

emy, since his visit was to have consultations with various stakeholders and to ‘check-out’ some proposed sites.

Government’s involvement, Bunbury said, will

play an integral part in how successful the Academy will be, noting “a lot of what we have planned will depend heavily on the involvement of the Guyana Government.

Turn to page 19 ►

Blairmont Community Centre pavilion named after Roy Fredericks SEE STORY ON PAGE 19

The players’ pavilion at the Blairmont Community Centre ground is named after the late Roy Fredericks.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016