Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 12 04 2016

Harmon not a ‘super’ minister No. 104519

TUESDAY APRIL 12, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

‒ Granger says Minister of State not overburdened

DDL unveils Golden Jubilee rum ‒ A 50-year Grand Special Reserve bottle features gold medal and costs $500, 000

President David Granger and businessman Hemraj Kissoon delight in a bottle of DDL 50-year special reserve, launched to celebrate Guyana’s Golden Jubilee Year of Independence. At right, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and former DDL chairman Yesu Persaud share a toast (See story and more Adrian Narine photos on Page 13)

Nigel Hughes resigns from AFC 2

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LIFE IN PRISON

‒ for Mahaica cutlass killer P.3

Scared and threatened…

Prison riot fires 7 were put out from outside the prison P.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Paintings of abused children launched BETWEEN 2011 and this year , the Guyana Police Force recorded 1145 reports of cases of sexual violence committed against children and according to First Lady Sandra Granger , the figures seem lower than those reported to the Social Protection Ministry.

The First Lady was at the time addressing a gathering at the Brickdam Police Station where she declared open a Travelling Exhibition , organised by the European Union (EU), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Blossom, a local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). The exhibition features nine (9) pieces of art created by the child victims of sexual violence and will be moved to various police stations nationwide.

During the feature address the First Lady told the gathering, which included Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence , EU Ambassador Jernej Videti?, UNICEF Resident Representative Marianne Flach and other members of the Diplomatic Corps that police divisions “A”, “C” and “F” posted the highest number of cases of sexual violence between 2011 and 2016. “But I believe that these figures do not represent a true and accurate tally,” she said. She noted that the total evidence indicate a high incidence of rape and incest and Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in all rural and Hinterland areas.

The First Lady noted that the onus now is on the relevant stakeholders to obtain empirical data on the number and types of incidence of sex violence against children , the geographical areas in which it occurs and the systems which are put in place

Visitors view the art pieces which were on display the Brickdam Police Station

to prosecute the offenders .

The data should also include the forms of counseling and support the victims and their families receive.

“This will require concerted efforts by our Social Protection, Public Health and the Education Ministries in the first instance to compute and analyze these data”, the First Lady said. She said that the stakeholders also include non- governmental organizations, including faith based NGOs, and social partners, including the private sector.

According to Mrs Granger, while it is fitting that the exhibits are being displayed in police stations in selected administrative regions, consideration should be given to the remaining regions.

“In this way it may be assumed that our legal enforcers are becoming attuned to their responsibilities to protect and serve all, and in particular the most vulnerable

among us “, she added.

Ambassador Videti? told those gathered that the affected children have been robbed of their carefree, innocent childhoods and are now faced with nightmares, pain, shame, anger and scars both physical and emotional. ”And in one very, very sad case, with pregnancy and motherhood”, he added.

He said that the Travelling Exhibition is an ideal example of how all strata of Guyana can partner to fight child sexual abuse. “I note that the Childcare and Protection Agency is taking strides to enhance its inter-agency and professional collaboration with various stakeholders, especially non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and faith-based organisations (FBOs) to expand the social network support for the families at the community level”, Ambassador Videtic noted.

Shaundell Shipley of Blossom Inc., noted that the current records of convictions for persons held culpable of committing sexually violent acts against children is a cause for concern. She said that it gives rise for need for more protection for children.

“It reinforces our need to become more proactive in protecting our communities”, she noted.

The police role in addressing the issue was pointed out as being of great importance and this was stressed by Assistant Commissioner, David Ramnarine, who pledged the force’s continuous support towards addressing sexual violence among other related issues.

He said that some years ago the Police started a process to ensure that children in Guyana are given the necessary treatment, responses and attention, in terms of what

is available in the justice system. This began through a process of ensuring that investigators receive special training to handle such issues, Ramnarine noted.

This travelling exhibition brings into focus the experiences of children, who have received counseling and are able to express their pain through the nine art pieces. The pieces were created through art therapy conducted by Sigrid Sandker, who worked with the children vol-

untarily. It will be a feature at several police stations across the country in Regions 2, 4, 6 and 10.

Speaking on the exhibition, UNICEF Representative, Marriane Flach noted that art is a powerful means of self-expression, particularly for children, who may sometimes not have the right words to express what they are thinking and feeling. She said it is especially true for children who have been sexually abused; some may even be too young to articulate what they have experienced.

She said that encouraging the children to express themselves through art can help them to start the process of healing and overcome the trauma of their experience.

According to UNICEF, in 2015 more than 670 child sexual abuse cases were reported to the Childcare and Protection Agency (CC&PA). According to the First Lady in 2014 UNICEF estimated that globally 1 in 10 girls under 20 years, which evolves to approximately 20 million girls, were subject to sexual acts at some point in their lives.

The true depth of sexual violence against children remains hidden because of its sensitive or hidden nature, and cases are not reported because of fear, stigma or lack of trust in the authorities.

Nigel Hughes resigns from AFC NIGEL Hughes, Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), said last evening he had resigned his position. He did not offer an explanation, but said he would issue a statement.

The news came a day after the party said it would ask the David Granger-led coalition to trim the powers of Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who is involved in a controversy over his appointment of business magnate Brian Tiwarie as

Nigel Hughes

an advisor without their knowledge, and after news surfaced that Tiwarie and Harmon had travelled to China.

The resignation may have to do with the AFC statement issued on Sunday, with the party choos-

ing to end its statement on Hughes’s decision, declaring that its position on Harmon was unanimously approved.

“The Alliance For Change confirms that at a statutory Management Committee meeting of the party (Monday), Chairman Nigel Hughes made an announcement with regard to his Chairmanship of the party,” the AFC stated.

“The party confirms unequivocally that the statement issued on April 10th following its leadership retreat was one which was unanimously approved by the attendees of the leadership retreat.

“The party will make no further statement on this matter at this time”, the AFC statement said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 12, 2016

BK accuses President of ‘impulsive’ removal

‒ says China trip with Harmon was mere coincidence THE mega-contractor and businessman Brian Tiwarie is contending that President David Granger’s decision to hack his appointment as advisor on business to Minister of State Joseph Harmon was rash.

Tiwarie holds this opinion: “It may well be that, in quieter time, the President may have an opportunity to reflect upon the propriety of impulsive decision-making.”

Tiwarie disclosed in a statement on Monday that his recent trip to China with Minister Harmon was just a matter of coincidence.

Popularly called ‘BK’, Tiwarie issued a lengthy statement on the controversy which has caused the Alliance For Change (AFC) to call for Minister Harmon to be stripped of some of his power. The AFC had joined with the other opposition parties that comprise

the APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) to oust the PPP from office in the May 2015 general elections. The AFC leaders in the Cabinet are expected to raise this issue for discussion, though it is unclear whether those issues will be raised at today’s session.

Acknowledging that they had travelled to China together, Tiwarie is nevertheless contending that they each had their own business to transact.

“We find absolutely nothing wrong with that,” he declared, and disclosed that his relationship with Harmon dates back to way before Harmon had become a Minister.

Tiwarie said his services were not paid services, since he was doing it “pro bono.”

Attacking sections of the media for reporting “inaccurately” on his appointment, Tiwarie accused Glenn Lall,

publisher of Kaieteur News, of having a personal vendetta against him. Kaieteur News had broken the story about Tiwarie’s appointment; and once it had come to light, the President’s Office issued a one-line statement saying it was rescinded.

“The campaign that has been waged uninterruptedly in the press, led by Kaieteur News and The Guyana Chronicle mainly, has sought to portray this so-called appointment as an improper act committed by the Minister, and has falsely and repeatedly stated that Mr. Tiwarie was appointed Advisor to the Government. This is simply not true. It is a complete fabrication”, a statement from BK International noted.

Once closely associated with the former PPP government, Tiwarie made it clear that he was never appointed

LIFE IN PRISON ‒ for Mahaica cutlass killer

By George Barclay DHUPAUL Singh, accused of using a cutlass to kill the man who had called him a lunatic back in 2014, was on Monday found guilty as charged, and sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow after the jury had returned the guilty verdict.

The 56-year-old Mahaica, East Coast Demerara resident would not be eligible for parole until after he has served 25 years of his sentence, Justice Barlow ruled.

Asked whether he

had anything to say before sentence was passed, Singh, who had led a case of self-defence, declared: “I am sorry that a life was lost.”

The Judge noted that the prisoner did not say he was responsible for the life that had been lost.

State Prosecutor Siand Dhurjon, who along with State Counsel Shonette Austin had prosecuted the case, had called a number of witnesses in support of the prosecution’s case; which is that on September 2, 2014 Singh, called “Tailorman”, inflicted on the left side of

the neck of Balkissoon a wound which severed an artery to his spine and resulted in his death.

Defence counsel Madan Kissoon acknowledged that Singh had inflicted a single blow on Balkissoon, called “Balkie”, after alleging that Balkissoon had earlier called Singh names such as “lunatic”. Kissoon urged the judge, in passing sentence, to take into account that the accused was the lone breadwinner of his home. But the judge pointed out that the jury had quite rightly rejected the defence of self-defence and provocation advanced by the accused.

Government Pathologist

as the Adviser to the Government, nor was he appointed Adviser to the Minister of Business.

“The fact of the matter is that Minister Harmon ‘appointed’ Mr. Tiwarie as his personal advisor on business.

This he is entitled to do, and by virtue of Mr. Tiwarie’s business acumen, such an “appointment” can be seen as nothing else but legitimate decision. Needless to say, Mr. Tiwarie’s efforts in this capacity are pro bono”, the BK statement continued.

According to Tiwarie, other Ministers, including Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, have made several such appointments, and those did not receive “sustained campaign and public outcry.”

Tiwarie suggested that President Granger should revoke those appointments as

Dr Nehaul Singh, who performed the post-mortem, testified that the wound inflicted by Singh on Balkissoon was of such a nature that Balkissoon would have died almost immediately.

In his statement to the police, and in an unsworn statement from the dock, Singh claimed that Balkissoon, a farmer, had earlier visited his home, cursed him and called him a lunatic. He said that later that day, he, “Tailorman”, was on the backdam on his way to the police station when Balkissoon rode up on a bicycle. According to Singh, he accosted Balkissoon for insulting him at his home and for calling him a mad man. Singh said: “Balkissoon then attacked me with his cutlass, and I was too far

well. “Maybe in the interest of fairness, the President should revoke all of those (appointments) too, and for the very reason given when he acted impulsively in revoking the appointment at a time when Minister Harmon was out of the country.

“The truth of the matter is that a political struggle is underway between various elements in high places, and the Tiwarie so-called appointment is being used by many to achieve their objectives.

“He (Harmon) is rightfully perceived as quiet, powerful, and influential even more than the now famous Luncheon; and this has provoked the struggle for power, for influence, for turf”, the BK statement contends.

It was further revealed that BK International and Tiwarie are supporters of the present Government, and “have every right to do so in the interest of the development of our be-

away. He was in the process of attacking me with the weapon when, in defence of my life, I fired a blow at him and ran away. While I was running, someone pelted a cutlass at me.

“Later, two police vehicles came and the police arrested me.”

Prosecution witnesses testified that on the day in question, “Tailorman” had a cutlass in his left hand while walking on the dam when he met Balkissoon.

After accosting Balkissoon, he pulled Balkissoon’s cutlass from the back of his bicycle and used the weapon to chop Balkissoon on the neck.

Balkissoon fell and was later picked up dead on the dam in a pool of blood.

Managing Director of BK International, Brian Tiwarie

loved nation. This is the right and duty of every Guyanese”, the BK statement adumbrated.

“BK International will continue to support the Government, as it has recently done in the matter of Durban Park development. All Guyanese, all businessmen, and all companies have a right to contribute to public projects if they so wish. This is not a crime. This is not corruption.

It is called patriotism”, the BK statement advised.

The statement noted that while the subject of corruption continues to be on the front burner of discussions nationally, BK International continues to be a firm supporter of any effort to counter or stamp out corrupt practices, which have, in the past, affected its operations.

“We strongly believe that when politicians are at war, they must avoid dragging in innocent parties unrelated to their apparent power struggles,” the BK statement concluded.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 12, 2016

Harmon not a ‘super’ minister - Granger says Minister of State not overburdened

By Svetlana Marshall THERE is need for clarity, President David Granger said on Monday, in response to calls made by

APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) to oust the PPP from office in the May 2015 general elections. The AFC leaders in the Cabinet are expected

“…the Head of the Presidential Secretariat had performed all of the functions - Secretary to the Cabinet, Advisor to the Government, everything else as super Minister – and…one has to look at whether the HPS would assume the restricted function of Head of the Presidential Secretariat; now you have the Ministry of the Presidency, and then you have a Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency, that is the Minister of State.” – Prime Minister Nagamootoo the Alliance for Change (AFC) to have the Minister of State Joseph Harmon stripped of his responsibilities, but made it clear that he is standing by Harmon.

The AFC had joined with the other opposition parties that comprise the

to raise this issue for discussion.

On Sunday, AFC said that the concentration of the powers of the office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency, and the effective Head of the Presidential

Minister of State Joseph Harmon Secretariat in a single person, is the root of the problems facing the Government with respect to Minister Harmon.

“The responsibilities of each of the above portfolios are substantial and of critical importance to the smooth operations of the Government, and would benefit from separate appointments,” the alliance

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said, stating clearly that it has mandated its leadership in Cabinet to have these issues raised and addressed as a matter of national importance.

But President Granger in underscoring the importance for clarity, alluded to the fact that a statement was issued on the roles and responsibilities of all of the 14

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Ministers and the Ministry of the Presidency – a statement

in weighing in on the matter said, “I don’t think it is so burdensome,” making it clear that he was standing by the duties which were assigned to Minister Harmon last May. But Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, though defending Minister Harmon’s integrity, endorsed the notion put by the AFC that there should be separation of duties.

The Prime Minister explained that traditionally, the position of Secretary to Cabinet has always been a position held by a retired public servant.

“Secondly, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat had performed all of the functions - Secretary to the Cabinet, Advisor to the Government, everything else as super Minister – and…one has to look at whether the HPS would assume the restricted function of Head of the Presidential Secretariat; now

“Nobody made any objection to the duties which were assigned to the Minister of State then (during the retreat) and it would be surprising that after two months that people feel that the duties have been misused or they need to be trimmed…but as far as I am concerned there is no over burdening of the Ministry.” – President Granger which he said had received no objection.

“Nobody made any objection to the duties which were assigned to the Minister of State then (during the retreat) and it would be surprising that after two months that people feel that the duties have been misused or they need to be trimmed…but as far as I am concerned there is no over burdening of the Ministry.”

AFC is of the opinion that the positions of Minister of State, Head of Presidential and Cabinet Secretary should be given to three different persons, but the President

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you have the Ministry of the Presidency, and then you have a Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency, that is the Minister of State.”

The Prime Minister said that the AFC’s position was no indictment of anyone.

“I subscribe that he (Minister Harmon) is an honest person, but we are not talking about (a) person, we are talking about responsibilities; how to defuse and share responsibilities, so it may not be too cumbersome on one person to handle and juggle many portfolios.”

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Security killed by bandits

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 12, 2016

- wife seriously injured

The house where Gowchand Budhu lived

Gowchand Budhu

By Nafeeza Yahya TWO armed and masked men, covered in mud and clad only in their underwear, invaded the Topoo, Village, Corentyne home of 58-year-old Gowchand Budhu, a security guard attached to the Albion Primary School and a livestock and poultry farmer, in what is believed to be an attempted robbery on Monday evening at about 20:30 hrs.

The men pounced upon Budhu’s wife, who had just exited the shower in the low-

er flat of their East Berbice home, and began to brutally beat her. Apart from being gun-butted to the head, she was kicked in the back, beaten on both knees and punched in the face.

And Budhu, hearing her screams and sensing something was amiss, began loading his licensed firearm; but the bandits had hastened upstairs and, realizing Budhu was in position to defend his family, one of them hurriedly pumped four bullets into Budhu -– one on either side of his stomach, another to the

lower abdomen and the last in the region of his ear.

Speaking with Guyana Chronicle, the still traumatized Parbattie Budhu tearfully said she could not remember how she got upstairs. She was in a delirious state and did not realize her husband was killed, but she learnt of his death the following morning. “I got very frightened,” she said of the incident.

She recalled hearing the gunshots that killed her husband. At that point, she screamed for help; “and them beat me”. Parbatie said she continued to cry for help, as the men quickly made their escape, empty-handed.

Her daughter, Kamla Budhu, 35, said her mother related to her that she in severe pain, and a CT scan was done to determine the extent of injuries to her head.

The daughter lives opposite her parents’ home, but

was not at home at the time of the incident.

She recalled being in great shock and feeling very hurt when she arrived and saw her mother. “My mother was covered in blood and mud; it was a hurtful thing to see.

“This is so sad; my father was a hardworking man. I was so hurt to see my mother with her face beaten up and covered in blood, and she could barely talk”.

According to reports, the

bandits gained entry to the premises after scaling a fence in the backyard. It is believed they had fallen into a pond, since they were covered in mud.

A neighbour, Chandradai Mangar, called “Nando”, also a Rural Constable attached to the Albion Police Station, said she heard the gunshots and became alarmed.

She related that the police responded about 15 minutes after and found the injured woman slumped in a chair

whilst her husband lay on the floor in an unconscious state.

He was subsequently pronounced dead on arrival at the Port Mourant Hospital, while Parbattie was taken to the Anamayah Memorial Hospital, where she was admitted.

No one has as yet been arrested but police are continuing their investigation into the incident.

Regional Chairman David Armogan visited the family and offer his sympathies.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

Tackling diabetes

RECENT studies conducted by the University of the West Indies (UWI), which have indicated that one in four persons in some Caricom countries has diabetes, are, by any stretch of the imagination, worrying news; and point strongly to the need for the region to urgently ramp up efforts to roll back the non-communicable disease.

Diabetes remains a huge burden on healthcare budgets in the North America and Caribbean Region (NAC); according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), some 37 million people in the region have the disease.

Moreover, it has been estimated that, over the next 20 years, the number of affected persons is expected to increase by close to 40 per cent.

It is within this light that the findings of the UWI studies on this silent killer are not too surprising, although worryingly, it has shown that the disease is pacing at a staggering and alarming rate. Given the findings, it is time that the region, both individually and collectively, join forces to implement programmes to robustly tackle this problem, beginning at the early levels in the school system.

This would be more than useful, as early education on healthy eating and lifestyle habits would go a far way in informing the current generation of young people on how they can keep diabetes at bay.

And efforts in this direction are needed sooner, rather than later, if the region is to make any notable strides in addressing this health burden.

Further, and quite disturbingly, the UWI studies also found that children are at risk. It notes that there has been a steady increase in the number of overweight and obese children under five years, as well as high rates in adolescence.

Obesity is one of the major risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes, which accounts for 90 per cent of the 415 million people affected worldwide.

Against the backdrop of the UWI studies, Guyana needs to take stock, and scale up its awareness programme against this disease.

Statistics in the public domain are pointing for more action in this regard, since there appears to be an indication that the disease has been on the increase in Guyana.

While no reliable data is available for 2015, the IFD had reported that Guyana recorded 60,100 cases of diabetes in adults in 2013, and a further 61,800 cases the following year.

It is not clear whether there has been an increase or decrease in the number of cases last year, but the data has indicated a need for persons to pay greater attention to their health, and for Government to consider implementing policy measures to tackle this health problem.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 12, 2016

Shift in thinking needed Dear Editor,

THE Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) wishes to state that the report in some sections of the media that the Corporation has been ignoring the Laws of Guyana and not engaging unions; or, more specifically, that the organization has been disregarding the ‘Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act’ (TESPA) by not engaging the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), is inaccurate.

The Corporation would like to state that at no point did the organization act outside of the Laws of Guyana or contrary to the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act. The Corporation met with both Unions and their delegations on January 20, 2016, and they were informed of the transition to be taking place at Wales Estate during the year.

The workers from the Crop Husbandry and Mechanical Tillage sections were individually spoken to during the period February 1-3, 2016, when they were further informed of the transition and the Corporation’s intention to retain their services to fill vacancies at Uitvlugt Estate in order to secure continuity of their employment.

-tough times ahead for Sugar Industry

Unfortunately, at the request of their Union, a few representatives of employees stayed away from these consultations. The workers who attended the meetings requested severance, refusing to take up work at the Uitvlugt Estate.

During the period February 8-12, 2016, these workers were counselled by a Human Resources Management team for them to exercise the option for continuity of employment at Uitvlugt Estate. However, those sessions yielded little results.

As a result, the Corporation, on March 22, 2016, wrote GAWU, providing one month’s notice, and enclosed in the correspondence was a list of employees who opted for severance, along with other relevant information as stipulated by TESPA. This list was also copied to the Chief Labour Officer at the Ministry of Social Protection.

Similarly, notification was given to those employees who have opted for severance.

The Corporation wishes to state that from the tone of the press release sent by GAWU, one gets the impression that the workers being spoken about are employees of GAWU or the Unions. The interpretation is that GAWU was referring to the employees of GuySuCo as though they were their employees. GuySuCo is of the view that the

Unions, particularly GAWU, are confused as to what are their roles and responsibilities as a workers’ representative body, as against GuySuCo, who is the employer.

This confusion is evident in the following statement that was published in the GAWU press release, which stated that, “…the workers and others remain committed to their cause of saving Wales Estate”.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. wishes to make it emphatically clear that these workers of whom the Union speaks are the employees of the Corporation, and GuySuCo hereby requests the Union to show due respect for established organizational boundaries and principles between management and union representation.

The Corporation’s goal is to develop an organization that is a profitable and sustainable business; where all employees, irrespective of whether they are unionized or not, and all of our stakeholders, will feel a greater sense of security.

However, as the Corporation grapples with the demands and realities of an industry in transition, it would be refreshing and enabling to be engaged

by Unions which understand the current realities but also have a willingness to contribute towards the progression and forward thinking of the

sugar corporation.

It would also be of tremendous benefit to the members of the Unions if the Unions display a balanced posture, reflective of an embodiment of considerations of both the challenges and the opportunities from the transitioning of the Wales Estate.

The Corporation finds the agenda of the Union to be questionable. The fact that it seems to be perpetrating a constant message of ‘gloom and doom’, as was mentioned in the following s t a t e m e n t i n t h e G AW U press release: “…those affected, including residents, will be forced to contend with economic deterioration, and many even with ruin, should the Wales Sugar factory and the 1,500 hectare cultivation be abandoned…”

Leadership at any level must be able to instill hope among its members, and encourage its members to take responsibility and to participate in the process of finding solutions, despite how daunting a situation might be.

GuySuCo implores the Unions to confront the realities facing the sugar industry, and embrace innovation to bring viability to the business and provide security of employment.

GUYANA SUGAR CORPORATION INC.

GTT must do better Dear Editor, GTT’s protracted delay in rectifying faults that plague its landline service in Region Two is really disgusting and sickening, when better needs to be done, not as a favour, but as an obligation to customers.

Some five months ago, my first complaint was made at the Ann Regina compound in relation to my home phone at Adventure not functioning.

Endless reminders have proven useless in bringing about improvements on to now.

Another phone in Suddie also stopped working about a month ago, with the GTT complaints desk being notified as well; but, sadly, the difficulty to effect repairs remains baffling.

What is beyond my understanding is that a vehicle with technicians would pass regularly by the two roadside premises, but not even for the sake of courtesy was an ex-

The latter would make both health and economic sense if the administration were to move in this direction. It is no secret that most of the foods imported here are high in sugar and other elements which contribute to obesity, thereby making consumers very vulnerable to diabetes.

What the Government can do to address this situation is to impose a heavy tariff on imported foods that are high in sugar, iodine and fat; or simply put a restriction on their importation.

The ironic thing is that most of these foods can be man-

cuse ever made for their not being able to take corrective measures.

Equally disturbing is that it was never ever possible for me to make contact with anyone on several visits at the Anna Regina location to ascertain the cause of the inordinate delay, which is most unacceptable, with travelling money and time being wasted.

The present system being used to effect repairs is not good enough at all; a specific

timeframe within which the fault must be corrected needs to be implemented.

The company submits monthly bills with much promptness, even for rental alone; but to pay for a service when it was not provided is most unreasonable and unfair. Such a situation is tantamount to obtaining money by false pretence, which is a criminal offence punishable by law.

BALIRAM PERSAUD

ufactured right here, and can be done in keeping with the required standards to keep diabetes at bay.

This will be an important step in significantly reducing the prevalence of diabetes in Guyana, and in doing so will significantly cut Government’s spending to tackle this problem, which eats up millions of dollars every year.

In the US and Europe, foods balanced in sugar, iodine, fat and carbohydrates can be found on the shelves of stores and supermarkets. Why can’t the same happen in Guyana when we produce and can process many of these same foods?

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Scared and threatened…

Prison riot fires were put out from outside the prison ‒ Chief Fire Officer

By Ariana Gordon

The officer who led efforts to put out fires during the March prison riots Monday said he was scared, and his life and that of other officers were threatened as they tried to fight the deadly inferno from outside the prison walls.

Compton Sparman, the Officer-in-Charge of Operations, Guyana Fire Service, Monday testified before the three-man Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Camp Street riots that left 17 prisoners dead, describing a situation of panic and chaos that left him and the other officers traumatized.

The prisoners were killed at the height of the riots on March 3. Prisoners lit approximately 15 fires in the Capital ‘A’ Division of the Penitentiary.

As the firemen tried to put out the fires, missiles were hurled at them.

Officer Sparman, a resident of Albouystown, said prisoners told him that he will be dealt with when they get out of prison.

However, he said the threats and stones that were being hurled at the firemen did not deter them from putting out the fires.

“We (stood) our ground and do what we had to do,” Sparman declared. He said the prisoners resisted the efforts of the firemen to put out the fires and they even went as far as to state why the fires were lit.

For every fire that was put out Sparman said another was lit.

“The inmates were saying ‘we have no problem with y’all” noting that they wanted their voices heard.

“In other words they were asking us not to out the fire,” said the officer.

“As we put them (the fires) out they were relighting them.” He said that the inmates continuously threw rocks at the firemen, resulting in one person being injured.

“They were the confined ones…they were abusive, cussing, threatening and so on. They wanted their side to be heard.”

Sparman made it clear that the prisoners “were behaving bad” and he “felt threatened simply because if these inmates were to get out of their cells, if it was breached, we would have been the targets obviously because we were extinguishing the fires that they set for their own reasons.”

Sparman said the fires were lit with “small combustibles” which appeared to be bed sheets, and clothing.

The fires on that night were “small and it wasn’t a threat to the extent that they can get out of control. They were small fires.”

According to Sparman, he observed that the fires were lit to the front and back of Capital ‘A’ even as the inmates lit paper and threw them outside onto the rail ad balcony of the Division.

“They were using mattresses to block the water from getting into the areas (where the fires were concentrated),” he added. Asked whether the March 2 fires posed threats to the other buildings within the penitentiary, Sparman said, “once it got out of control lives could have been lost… and it could have spread to other areas that consisted of wood.”

The string of fires was extinguished just before midnight on March 2 and firefighters had put a standby system in place in the event the prisoners lighted other fires.

Luckily, the standby equipment was in place on March 3 when the prison riots continued and escalated.

Sparman, who has three and a half decades of experience, told the Commission that when he arrived at the Georgetown Prison on March 3, after putting out the many fires close to midnight the night before he was “scared.”

He said the situation was nothing like the previous night. The entire Capital ‘A’ Division was engulfed and he heard prisoners screaming.

“When I got there, the Standard Operating Proce-

dures (SOP) was already kicked in. I immediately entered the prison environment, the entire Capital ‘A’ block was on fire. I was scared because I knew right away that it was serious; I saw the entire block was on fire and I knew it was serious,” he recounted.

The experience was described as traumatic by Sparman, who also noted that due to security reasons firefighters were forced to battle the fire from outside of the penitentiary. He told the Commission that he spoke with Deputy Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels about the situation and asked him why the prisoners were not coming out of the engulfed Division. Sparman said that he was not in a position to see that the prisoners were refusing to come out.

“At the time there was a lot of noise and inmates were banging on the door.”

He said the “extensive flames” and limited oxygen in the Division resulted in the death of the seventeen inmates. “…they were burning; that’s why they were behaving in that manner,” Sparman said. He explained that unlike the night of March 2 when the place was cooler, March 3 was much hotter and the limited air space within the prison Division did not help.

He said firefighters were in “defense mode” given the mature of the situation. “The SOPs kicked in… the same SOPs we used Wednesday night we used on Thursday.

Only difference was that the fire was larger.”

Tuesday, April 12, 2016 - 08:30 hrs Wednesday, April 13, 2016 - 09:30 hrs Thursday, April 14, 2016 - 10:30 hrs

Compton Sparman testifies before the Commission of Inquiry into the prison riots

“We were forced to go into the defence mode from the inception because it was a penal institution,” the Commission was informed.

Sparman said approximately three inmates were saved because they followed the guidance of the firefighters.

After the fire was controlled, the Officer-in-Charge of Operations said he was able to enter the prison compound where he saw “lots of bodies near the door”.

He noted that his officers were as emotional as he was. “It affects me as a fire officer; I saved people from burning buildings. Why these inmates would want to stay in an inferno…more so behaving in that manner?”

The officer was asked to state the adequacy of resources available to fight the fire on March 3. He told the Commission that he and his team had sufficient resourc-

es to fight the fire and at no point were they out of water.

“Water was available at all times,” he stated. Sparman who is in charge of all fire stations within ‘A’ Division and those at Mahaica, Diamond, Timehri and Linden added that resources were pooled from several locations.

Additionally, he explained that it would have been best to fight the fire internally. But unfortunately, because of security protocols, the firefighters were unable to gain access to the prison facility.

The officer explained that it is standard that in certain situations permission must be granted for members of

the Guyana Fire Service to enter premises. He made note of Prison facilities and embassies. He did not state that there are written rules but noted that it is “convention” for permission to be granted. “We cannot run into the prison,” said Sparman who noted that it was the advice of the Deputy Director of Prisons that was followed as “he was the officer on the ground”.

The scene in Capital ‘A’ after the fire was described as “traumatic” by the officer who noted that in all his years as a fireman he had never seen anything like that which transpired on March 3.

“I’ve never seen that… it was one of confusion, one of chaos…” he said noting that he and the team of firefighters on duty received counseling.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Guyana ups ante against illegal fishing ‒ Port State Measure Agreement to be implemented

Participants of the workshop sharing a moment with the officials of FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA will, in a matter of days, employ the Port State Measure Agreement (PSMA) in an effort to ensure the safety of fishermen and to guard against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations adopted the agreement on PSMA in November 2009 to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing; and has since been working assiduously to implement strategies outlined in the agreement across the Caribbean.

The PSMA is a legally binding inter-nation agreement which establishes a duty for port states to take a number of measures against foreign-flagged fishing vessels and other vessels supporting or servicing fishing vessels.

At a workshop held at the Cara Lodge on Quamina Street in Georgetown on Monday, the FAO explained how the PSMA will benefit Guyana. This workshop attracted participation of officials from the security sector and other agencies.

Legitimate fisher folk have, for decades, faced many difficulties in dealing with IUU. According

to FAO Representative to Guyana, Reuben Robertson, IUU fishing continues to be a threat to effective management of fishing resources in the Caribbean, despite many efforts by Governments and other stakeholders to combat it.

“This leads to the loss of both short- and long-term social and economic opportunities, and contributes to negative effects on food security and environmental protection…. If IUU fishing is not dealt with, it can lead to the collapse of fishery, or seriously impair efforts to rebuild stocks that have already been depleted,” Robertson declared.

Illegal fisher folk tend to break rules which protect the aquatic environment and stocks from harmful fishing activities, and violate basic safety-at-sea requirements, thus putting themselves and others at risk. In order to abolish these malpractices, several regional fishery management organisations, such as the International Commission for the Conservation of the Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), have, over the last decade, adopted the PSMA, with outstanding results.

Therefore, in order to reel Guyana into the PSMA, Robertson said: “In coming days, we will discuss the responsibilities, requirements and activities in relation to the implementation of the PSMA; assess the institutional and human capacity available, and estimate the expected costs and benefits of the PSMA…. Procedures, inspection systems

and forms will be discussed and tested to prepare for implementation.”

The focus of the training workshop will be on practical ways in which port state measures can be used as powerful and cost-effective tools to combat IUU fishing activities, he said.

VICTIM FOR TOO LONG Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, George Jarvis, welcomed the discussions on PSMA, and stressed that Guyana has for years been a victim of IUU fishing.

“Over the years, there have been many talks and deliberations as to how we could go about making our seas better and creating a safe haven for fisher (folks).

However, talks led to nothing; but in this case, there is hope that something substantial will arise following

this workshop,” Jervis said as he hailed the idea of the PSMA. The PSMA aims to put an end to ports of non-compliance. These are ports that attract IUU fishing vessels because of their lax controls, and to assist port state authorities that are unwittingly allowing foreign IUU fishing vessels into their ports.

The implementation of this will see to the enforcement of management measures taken by regional fisheries management organisations in areas of the high seas. Thus an adequate, well-trained fisheries inspectorate is a key feature in the successful operation of port state measures.

The Government of Guyana acceded to the PSMA on March 3, 2016. By so doing, Guyana joined many trade partners for fish, shrimp and fisheries products. Among these partners are the European Union and the United States of America, as well as 18 other countries.

The accession by Guyana to the PSMA honours previous agreements in which Guyana is involved at regional level to ratify and implement the PSMA, such as those under the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (2014).

It also increases opportunities for Guyana’s flagged fishing vessels to continue operating on the high seas, legitimately fishing, trans-shipping and accessing foreign ports and export markets, thereby increasing income for the treasury.

Moreover, it enables Guyana to provide the necessary traceability for products demanded by export markets, providing proof that fish have been legally caught, landed, transported and exported.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Unions in united demand for return of Ministry of Labour ‒ Combined May Day Rally to return

By Shauna Jemmott LABOUR unions joined forces on Monday to make a united call for the return of a “Ministry of Labour”.

They are suggesting that a Department of Labour under the Ministry of Social Protection is not enough to protect the rights of workers.

General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Unions Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis, made the call during a press conference held jointly by the GTUC, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) at the Critchlow Labour College on Woolford Avenue in Georgetown.

Lewis said that, for the first time since Guyana gained independence, government has excluded a dedicated Ministry of Labour from its ministerial structure, placing the Department of Labour under the Ministry of Social Protection instead.

“Social protection is part of labour; labour is not part of social protection. What

we are asking for is that a Ministry of Labour be established. You can’t tell us that we must accept a name -‘Social Protection’ -- which is an element of labour. You turn it upside down,” Lewis said.

The unions have announced that they are in the process of establishing a united movement, and are considering to either have a “superstructure” of officers to manage its affairs, or give the combined outfit a new name.

The unions have also announced that, on May 1, there will be a return of a united march by all unions.

But Norris Witter, Principal Assistant Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, said the unification of the unions goes beyond the Labour Day March.

“What you have seen here today is a reflection of us uniting for a common cause. We can only be united on embracing principles -- universal principles. We must be bounded and guided by principles. After Labour Day march and speeches, what next?” he asked.

Witter said the collaboration understands, and will

Lincoln Lewis

Norris Witter

ensure no one from outside of labour “shall drive labour’s agenda; we are going to drive our agenda!”

Earlier, the unions had, through Lewis, declared: “GTUC and FITUG are mindful of, and will zealously guard, the workers’ activities and its duty and responsibility in organizing same. It should be said that the organizing of Labour Week’s activities has been the purview of the Labour Movement from its inception, and it shall remain so.

“We are not going to allow whoever Minister it is, or whoever emperor it is,

to distract us! If we’re going to respect laws and principles, leave the trade union (untouched). What we have to do is respect each other’s right; there must be respect for rights,” he added.

Lewis told the media that the GTUC and FITUG met on April 8 and “have taken the decision to embark on collaborating on a number of issues relating to the socio-economic wellbeing of

workers; respect for, and improvement in, the Labour laws; and Labour Week activities.”

The decision was also taken for there to be one rally to be held on May 1.

“We shall continue to respect the fundamental right to Freedom of Association (Article 147 - Guyana Constitution), and the principle that there can be unity in diversity, as adumbrated in international declarations, conventions, charters and laws,” Lewis said.

The unions are today expected to meet with the Organizing Committee of the Labour Day Rally to report, and a decision on the way forward is expected after.

To mark Guyana’s 50th anniversary as a politically independent nation, the movement highlighted the contributions it has made to the struggle.

“In this 50th year, the workers will take time out to reflect (on) and remind all Guyanese of their contribu-

tions to nation formation and building. We shall evaluate the achievements, successes and erosions of workers’ rights, freedoms and wellbeing under self-government, and re-strategize on a way forward. We are united in conviction that the workers’ blood, sweat and labour must be treated with respect and (be) justly rewarded,” Lewis stated. “…It was us, who, in 1926, at a conference held in Georgetown by labour leaders, inclusive of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, put in place the strategy and commenced the struggle for the right to self-determination,” Lewis boasted.

Trade Unionism predated the mass-based political movement which took place in 1950 when the late executive presidents Forbes Burnham and Cheddi Jagan, along with Jayne Phillips-Gay and others, founded the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Carvil Duncan denies GPL fraud ‘Nice Guy’ charged Former Director of Guyana Power & Light (GPL), Carvil Duncan was Monday allowed to plea to the charge which alleged that he stole $984,900 from the company.

Duncan denied the charge when it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, which alleged that he stole the money on March 31, 2015 at Georgetown.

Duncan, who is also the president of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and General Secretary of the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), was

allowed to plea to the charge when Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers made an application for the Administration of Justice to be applied.

The Former Director was charged jointly with the company’s former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) Aerswar Deonarine for the unapproved transfer of approximately $27M to their personal bank accounts from the PetroCaribe fund. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Deonarine since he had allegedly fled the jurisdiction.

However, the prosecutor requested a short adjourn-

ment date as it relates to the joint charges since further advice needs to be sought.

The matter has since been adjourned for report on April 28.

On January 26, Duncan was placed on $1M bail by the Chief Magistrate in connection with three criminal offences he is accused of committing against the entity as a board member of GPL. The police alleged that Duncan stole the money from GPL on March 31, 2015 after conspiring with Deonarine to commit the act of simple larceny.

with murder

Carvil Duncan

Duncan is also alleged to have conspired with Deonarine to commit a felony – that is to say between May 7 and 8 at Georgetown he conspired to steal GYD$27,757,500, property of GPL. As a Director, Duncan signed off on Deonarine’s payments and Deonarine reportedly signed off for Duncan’s back pay, which represented the 48 months he would have been a Director.

Michael Ridley, 36, of Lot 182 Garnett Street, Albouystown, was remanded to prison on Monday for the murder of Troy Brutus.

Ridley, a Fisherman, known as “Nice Guy” appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plea to the indictable charge, which stated on November 22, 2015 at Albouystown he unlawfully killed Brutus.

Representing the father of three was Attorney-at-law, Euclin Gomes, who told the court that his client is not a flight risk since he was placed on $50,000 station bail during police investigations into the matter.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones successfully opposed bail citing the penalty attached to the charge and he will make his next court appearance on April 28.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that 37-year-old Brutus of Castello Housing Scheme, West La Penitence went to the residence of Ridley and waited on him to

Michael Ridley

return home from work.

Reports indicated that as Ridley entered his house around 19:00hrs, he was greeted by Brutus who dealt him several chops to his nose and hand.

Ridley managed to take the weapon from Brutus and chopped him about his body, fatally chopping him to the neck. Brutus was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Reports indicate that the brawl allegedly stemmed from Ridley being in a relationship with Brutus’ ex-girlfriend.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Clogged outfalls cause flooding in Corentyne villages

WHILE some farmers are complaining about the drought and shortage of irrigation water, residents of four villages on the Corentyne are complaining that over three thousand acres of rice, cash crop and cattle farming lands are under flood water due to the completely clogged up state of the outfall channels serving the villages.

The villages hard hit by flooding, incredibly in the middle of the current drought conditions, are Liverpool, Lancaster, Manchester and Ulverston, all within the Lancaster/Hogstye Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC).

“The rain fell for one day and one night last week and the drainage is so poor that most of the agricultural land, even land in the

Harbhajan (extreme right) with residents during a site visit at one of the blocked channels yesterday

residential areas are (up to yesterday) still under water,” one bemused and worried

resident said.

A delegation from the four villages visited Gobin

Harbhajan, representative of the Prime Minister in Region 6 and requested his support

for urgent action to be taken to desilt the two channels.

The dysfunctional drainage outlets are the Alness Outfall and the Liverpool/ Manchester Outfall channels.

“These two channels have been neglected. They had not been cleaned for the longest while,” the spokesman said.

“These two channels need to be cleaned urgently because if this situation is the case with the one day and one night of rain, then I fear to think what would happen in these villages if more serious rainfall occurs, “ he said.

“We have paddy ready to be harvested but the fields are under water,” another farmer said.

He added:” I know one farmer who was forced harvest his crop under these conditions and he ended up

getting a low grade for his padi. Due to this he lost a lot of money.”

He said that his paddy is nearing the harvesting stage and he hoped that prompt action is taken before he suffers a similar fate.

Following the visit to his office, Harbhajan visited the two outfalls, accompanied by representatives of the villagers and the Liaison Officer for the Ministry of Communities, Roy Corlette.

Harbhajan noted that the drainage channels were indeed in poor shape.

He said Monday that he had made an urgent request to the Drainage and Irrigation Department in Region 6 and he was hoping for prompt action, at least by mid-week, on the clearing of the two outfall channels. (Clifford Stanley)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 12, 2016

GT Mayor officially takes up duties

Georgetown Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green, inspects the Guard of Honour along Regent Street, Georgetown on Monday, just after she was decorated with the Mayoral Chain and officially began her duties (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 12, 2016

DDL unveils Golden Jubilee rum -a 50-year Grand Special Reserve bottle with gold medal costs $500,000

Liquid Gold – the El Dorado Grand Special Reserve President David Granger seals casks of the 50-year special reserve rum which will be left to mature for another 25 years DEMERARA Distillers Limited (DDL) on Monday unveiled its El Dorado Grand Special Reserve, a 50-year-old rum with an 18 karate premium Guyanese gold medallion valued at $500,000, plus VAT. This special edition is in honour of Guyana’s 50th

Independence Anniversary.

This edition, fondly called “Liquid Gold”, is not only

sale.

DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo and the Master

“I believe this is the best bottle of rum money can buy, anywhere on planet earth.”

– Komal Samaroo, Chairman of DDL special, but is limited; there are only 600 bottles up for

Distiller Shaun Caleb unveiled the Special Edition

Rum, with President David Granger receiving the first bottle of the prized possession.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin; Minister of Public Telecommunications, with responsibility for Tourism, Cathy Hughes; members of the diplomatic corps and rep-

Master Distiller Shaun Caleb shows President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo around the Rum Heritage Museum at DDL’s Distillery at Diamond, East Bank Demerara

resentatives of the business community were among those present.

Before handing over the first bottle of the limited edition rum, Samaroo explained that “each bottle of the 50th Anniversary Rum has an 18 karate gold pendant with an El Dorado Logo specially crafted by a Guyanese jeweller.”

He further explained that each of the 600 specially crafted bottles of rum was certified by the Master Blender, Sharon SueHang. “The selling price is $500,000 per bottle plus VAT,” he posited.

He noted that $100,000 from each bottle sold will be donated to the DDL Foundation to assist young, bright but unfortunate Guyanese in acquiring a high standard of education.

“I believe this is the best bottle of rum money can buy anywhere on planet earth,” Samaroo further posited.

President Granger, in applauding DDL on maintaining a rich historical legacy within the rum industry, not only locally but internationally, said: “Guyana’s Rum Industry thrives because it is committed to high standards and quality assurance; it has devoted the time, the energy, and resources necessary to developing a strong brand.”

He added that DDL has aggressively sought new

markets, and has nurtured consumer loyalty.

“Guyana’s rum industry is an important sector of the national economy. Rum production has allowed rum corporations to diversify their operations. The industry enables the two corporate giants to diversify into banking, into beverages, into bottled water, into fast food, into restaurants, and into shipping. The industry has also become a corporate social contributor…”

Rum production is a profitable enterprise, the President said, but warned that, as a small state, there are big threats.

“Caribbean rum producers…face a major threat to their competitiveness owing to distorted measures implemented by major countries, in particular by the United States Federal Government.

“The allowance of tax rebates, estimated to be valued in the millions per annum, to producers in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, distorts the market…” the President said. Hence he said it is important to protect the rum industry here.

President Granger has sealed off three casks of the 50-year-old rum to mature for the next 25 years, and this will be bottled for the country’s 75th Independence Anniversary. (Svetlana Marshall)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Negligent Region 10 contractors put on notice ‒ substandard work no longer acceptable

By Vanessa Braithwaite THE Region 10 Administration has vowed to take stern action against contractors who fail to complete their projects within stipulated deadlines and according to required standards.

This position was adopted at the region’s recent statutory meeting, and was

fully supported by the Clerk of Council, Gavin Clarke.

It was observed that contractors, on a number of occasions, finish their jobs way over stipulated deadlines, and those completed projects have all sorts of discrepancies. Being cognisant of these continuous lapses, the Regional Administration -- inclusive of the Regional Executive Officer (REO),

Regional Chairman Renis Morian, and the Works Committee –- will, at the earliest opportunity, be putting systems in place to have negligent contractors penalised.

In a previous statutory meeting, the Clerk of Council had noted that his job was not only to ensure that the State’s money is spent, but that value is received from its expenditure.

Councillor Charles Sampson has recommended that a way to remedy the situation is to have officers do continuous inspection on the job, rather than wait for the project to be completed and then be disappointed from what is observed during the final inspection.

It was also recommended that a checklist be kept on the contractors’ performanc-

es in previous contracts, and the ratings will determine whether those contractors would be awarded future contracts. It will no longer be about who had bid the lowest, but would be based on previous assessments.

A system would also be implemented to monitor contractors completing projects in riverine areas, as many haphazard works have been noted in those areas, including at Muritaro, Malali, Rivers View, Falmouth and Great Falls.

On a recent visit to Muritaro, the Regional Chairman discovered that a toilet facility built less than two years ago could not be used because of the decrepit state of the building in which it was housed. Thus the children are using a pit latrine.

Morian deems that state of affairs unacceptable, and called on the Education Department to allocate funds to have the sanitary facility redone earliest.

“All our public works were badly done, especially those in Indigenous communities. We have one in Muritaro that was built before we took office and the children can’t use it, so residents had to build a wood latrine,” the

Chairman revealed.

He added: “We’ve got a big job. In the Indigenous communities, facilities are in a sad state. So, bit by bit, we have got to correct these things, especially in communities such as Muritaro, Riverview and Falmouth.

So we have a big challenge ahead of us.”

The Chairman also revealed that during his visits to several schools in Linden, he found the sanitary conditions in deplorable state, and he opined that a minimum standard needs to be established for schools.

“We have to establish a minimum standard for the education system, where everybody has to be at this standard; they mustn’t fall below it. We came into office meeting public infrastructure run down…in a terrible state. So our challenge now is to correct the situation. In some instances it would be better to break down the whole structure and rebuild.”

Morian admitted that the situation cannot be rectified immediately, but he said that efforts would be expended to better the situation and deal with the contractors.

Businessman jailed, fined $109M

‒ for cocaine in Chinese Sauce DARSHANAN Balram of Lot 211 Albert Street, Bourda, Georgetown was on Monday found guilty of trafficking cocaine in Chinese Sauce, and was accordingly sentenced to four years’ imprisonment and fined more than $109M. Magistrate Judy Latchman told the 27-year-old convict that she believed he had physical control of the substance, and had every opportunity to discover the cocaine hidden in the Chinese Sauce among some vegetables which were slated to be shipped to the United States. The court also found that Balram had intention of trafficking the illicit drug out of Guyana.

Before handing down the sentence, Magistrate Latchman took into consideration the mitigating factors besides the quantum of drug, the method used to conceal the substance, and the need to discourage others from contemplating the commission of

similar offences.

The court heard that on March 19, 2015, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Timehri, Balram had 40.4kg of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Balram, a licensed exporter, would ship seasoning to the United States via an Amerijet cargo plane. On the day in question, at about 13:00hrs, he went to the CJIA with a quantity of items to ship. The items included seasoning, mixed fruits and Chinese Sauce. He presented to the authorities all the necessary shipping documents bearing his name.

Police narcotics ranks, acting on information received, went to Balram’s cargo van and conducted a search among the items in his presence, whereupon they stumbled upon a whitish substance concealed in the container containing the Chinese Sauce.

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Ex-FIFA vice-president pleads China aims to guilty to U.S. bribery charges become

By Nate Raymond

NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - A former high-ranking football official in the Americas pleaded guilty yesterday to charges that he participated in bribery schemes uncovered in a U.S. investigation of corruption in the sport’s world governing body, FIFA. Alfredo Hawit, a former FIFA vice-president from Honduras who also led the North and Central America and Caribbean confederation, CONCACAF, pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, to four conspiracy charges.

Hawit is one of 42 individuals and entities charged as part of a U.S. investigation of more than $200M in bribes and kickbacks sought and received by football officials for marketing and broadcast rights to tournaments and matches.

The investigation has sent Switzerland-based FIFA and other football governing bodies into an unprecedented crisis. Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s newly elected president,

Alfredo Hawit (C), a former FIFA vicepresident from Honduras, exits a federal courthouse in the Brooklyn borough in New York, yesterday. (Reuters/Stephanie Keith) has vowed to restore FIFA’s image.

Hawit, 64, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

He also agreed to forfeit $950 000 as part of his plea agreement.

Speaking in Spanish, Hawit admitted in court to having received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from two sports marketing companies that were seeking media rights for football matches and tournaments.

“I knew it was wrong for me to accept such undisclosed payments,” Hawit said through a translator.

To date, 15 people and two sports marketing companies have pleaded guilty in the U.S. case. Prosecutors in a court filing on March 28 said they were in plea negotiations with multiple defendants.

Hawit, who also led the Honduras football federation, FENAFUTH, had been arrested at a Zurich hotel on December 3 along with South American football

chief Juan Angel Napout as the U.S. Department of Justice unveiled charges against 16 persons.

Prosecutors estimate that under federal sentencing guidelines, Hawit faces 78 to 97 months in prison.

An indictment alleged that executives at an Argentine sports marketing company Full Play Group S.A. agreed to pay Hawit $250 000 in bribes in a failed bid from 2011 to 2012 to secure CONCACAF marketing rights.

In court, Hawit said while serving as FENAFUTH’s general secretary, he also, beginning in 2008, received “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in bribes from Miami-based Media World for the rights to 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cup qualifier matches.

Hawit said that after the original indictment in the case was unsealed in May 2015, Hawit advised a co-conspirator to create sham contracts “to mask the true nature of the bribe money” and to deceive law enforcement about the payments.

football superpower by 2050

CHINA has unveiled a strategy to become a “world football superpower” by 2050, with plans to get 50 million children and adults playing the game by 2020.

Other targets include having at least 20 000 football training centres and 70 000 pitches in place by 2020.

While China excels at the Olympics and Paralympics, it has only ever qualified for one football World Cup, in 2002.

President Xi Jinping is a football enthusiast and previously said he wants China to win the World Cup in 15 years.

The plan was published by the Chinese Football Association (in Chinese) yesterday.

It sets out short--, medium- and long-term targets, including ensuring there is one football pitch for every 10 000 people by 2030.

The men’s football team should become one of the best in Asia, while the female football team should be ranked as a world-class team by 2030, the plan said.

By 2050, the report added, China should be “a first-class football superpower” that “contributes to the international football world”.

China’s men’s team currently sits 81st in the FIFA world rankings, out of 204 nations, below far smaller nations such as Haiti, Panama and Benin.

The football league has been hit by corruption in recent years, with 33 players and officials banned in 2013 for match-fixing, although efforts have been made to clean up the sport. (BBC Sport)

Curry urges Warriors not Amazon to miss chance at history Warriors name ...

STEPHEN Curry has urged Golden State Warriors not to squander their chance at making NBA history against Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow.

The irrepressible Curry was at his majestic best as the reigning MVP contributed 37 points in the Warriors’ 92-86 win at San Antonio Spurs on Sunday as they tied Chicago Bulls’ record of 72 regular-season victories set in 1996-97.

Warriors had not won a regular-season match in San Antonio since February 1997, a run of 33 fixtures, and victory over the Grizzlies in their final match on home court before the Playoffs will see them etch their name into the record books.

Curry insists that win-

Stephen Curry ning a second consecutive NBA championship remains the ultimate goal, but the point guard is desperate to make history.

“Obviously we’re in the moment and enjoying the ride and obviously the goal is to win the championship,” he said. “That’s what we’re playing for.

“But we’ve put ourselves in a great position to end the season with a win and do something no

team’s done in history, so that’s an amazing accomplishment.

“It’s hard to actually step outside the locker room and understand the spotlight that comes with it. We come out every night trying to win ….

“Only two teams have done what we’ve done so far. Hopefully tomorrow we can finish that off.”

Head coach Steve Kerr was a member of the all-conquering Bulls side of two decades ago and he struggled to comprehend being involved with both incredible seasons.

“I don’t even know what to say, really. It’s crazy. It just feels like a right-place right-time type of thing to be part of two teams that have performed like this and won at this level for the entire season,” he added.

“I’m pretty lucky, really, just to play next to Michael (Jordan) and Scottie (Pippen) and Dennis (Rodman) and played for Phil (Jackson). And then I come here and inherit this whole group.

“You know, Steph and Klay (Thompson) and Draymond (Green) and Andre (Iguodala) and everybody else in my first coaching job.

It’s a pretty good draw, I got a good draw.”

However, Kerr warned the record will count for little if the Warriors fail to win the championship.

“Like I said it’s very gratifying and it’s fun. Our guys are excited,” he said.

“But it means nothing if we (don’t) see this team down the road. “(Sportsmax. com)

From back page be consistent and go one step further and clinch the title which has eluded the Warriors on two occasions. I would like to thank the owners and coach Roger Harper for inviting me back and we are all focused on giving our wonderful supporters many happy memories later this summer.”

Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, franchise owner of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, said: “I am delighted to welcome a world class player of the calibre of Martin Guptill back to the team, having been a member of the Guyana Amazon Warriors family for the 2013 and 2014 editions of CPL”.

Ramroop added “Martin’s dynamic personality,

coupled with his high level of discipline and work ethic, will certainly be instrumental as a role model to the other team members, especially the younger players on the team. We wish him well and believe that he will be an inspirational figure for the team, on and off the field.”

Warriors coach Roger Harper added: “I would like to offer my congratulations to Martin on being named captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors for CPL 2016. I have no doubt that Martin will lead from the front and his professionalism and passion for the game will spread throughout the team and drive us to success. I am excited about working with him as captain”.

Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 12, 2016

Real prepare for ‘war’ in showdown with Wolfsburg

By Richard Martin

BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Real Madrid are determined to create an intimidating atmosphere for visitors VfL Wolfsburg as they try to overturn a two-goal deficit in today’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

“Tuesday (today) will be like a war, with 80 000 spectators; we are going to try and walk all over Wolfsburg,” said defender Dani Carvajal.

“We’re going to play to the death and with 80 000 souls behind us we will do it,” added winger Lucas Vazquez.

Forward Cristiano Ronaldo told the club website (www.realmadrid. com): “We need to have cold hearts and play with patience and know how to suffer. Getting through is our big objective, it’s the only thing that will let the players and fans leave the stadium happy.”

Madrid are third in La Liga and enjoyed a 4-0 win over Eibar on Saturday to close the gap with leaders Barcelona to four points, lifting their confidence after the shock 2-0 defeat at Wolfsburg last Wednesday.

The German side are

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Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale (centre L) and Mateo Kovacic fight for the ball during training on the eve of their UEFA Champions League match against VfL Wolfsburg. (Reuters/Susana Vera) Madrid beat Inter Mi- losing the semi-final first eighth in the Bundesliga and were held 1-1 by Mainz lan 3-0 to reach the final of leg 2-0, when midfielder on Saturday. Coach Dieter the 1985 UEFA Cup after Juanito famously warned Hecking made four changes from the team that beat Madrid and were without Julian Draxler, the outstanding player last week, through suspension.

Real, 10-time European champions, have a history littered with great comebacks at the Bernabeu, beginning with a 5-1 win over THIS year’s Edward ‘Screw’ champions and national DigiDerby County in the 1975 Richmond Under-18 football cel champions, Christianburg/ European Cup after they championship continues to- Wismar, began in ominous had lost 4-1 in England. day with two more Group fashion routing Harmony Sec-

Inter: “Ninety minutes in the Bernabeu is a very long time.”.Madrid also staged successful second-leg comebacks against Celtic, Anderlecht, Red Star Belgrade and Borussia Moenchengladbach but their reputation as miracle workers is waning and they last overturned a deficit in 2002 when they beat Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Bernabeu in a quarter-final second leg on their way to winning the trophy.

Since then, Madrid have lost eight first-leg games in the Champions League knockout stages and failed to progress every time, exiting last season’s tournament to Juventus 3-2 on aggregate and managing only a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 semi-finals after losing the first leg 4-1. Yet Madrid’s self-belief remains strong.

“We’re going to turn it around because everyone who comes to the stadium and follows us deserves it, our badge deserves it and we work all year for those big nights,” said defender Nacho.

“Real Madrid’s history was written on nights like these and I hope we can do it again on Tuesday,” added director and former striker Emilio Butragueno, who played in the famous comebacks against Inter, Anderlecht and Gladbach.

Wolfsburg, though, are equally determined. “On Tuesday we’ll be at 100 million percent, we’re going to run as if our lives depended on it,” forward Andre Schurrle told German news agency DPA. “Since we beat Real Madrid the entire city has been talking about that game and the second leg. It won’t be easy.”

`Screw’ Richmond Under-18 football

Defending champions Christianburg/Wismar start with 10-0 drubbing of Harmony

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‘A’ matches at the Wisburg Secondary School ground.

The first game brings together Mackenzie High and Harmony Secondary at 14:45hrs and in the second, reigning champions Christianburg/Wismar Secondary and New Silvercity Secondary will clash.

However, the tournament got underway last Wednesday when defending three-time

ondary 10-0.

Amar Jones registered a hat-trick of goals which came in the 38th, 87th and 89th minutes, after Shaquille Campbell had opened the scoring in the 13th minute for the champions. Other goals came off the boot of Antwaine Gill in the 60th and 69th minutes, Ezekiel Clarke in the 50th minute, Keyshawan Dey in the 76th minute, Brian Johnson in the

79th and Javier Smith in the 90th minute.

In the other game on that day, Linden Technical Institute needled their way past Linden Foundation Secondary 1-0, as Coby Bourne netted in the 50th minute for the winners.

Last Thursday two more matches were played and in the first also at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, Mackenzie High School scored a come-from-behind win over New Silvercity Secondary in a 3-2 victory.

Terry Lewis got the double for Mackenzie High in the 44th and 58th minutes and Taffon Alexander the other in the 50th minute. For New Silvercity, Emmanuel Atkins got both goals in the 23rd and 27th minutes.

In the second game Wisburg Secondary School secured a polished 3-0 win over Marcia Craig’s Educational Institute as Akienne Chapman scored for the Wisburg side in the 24th and 56th minutes and Joel Isaacs in the 65th for that win. (Joe Chapman)

Bravo, Finch give Gujarat Lions winning start DWAYNE Bravo recorded his best IPL figures with a four-wicket haul before Aaron Finch smashed 74 runs off 47 balls as Gujarat Lions thumped hosts Kings XI Punjab by five wickets to make a winning entry into the Indian Premier League, in Mohali yesterday.

Invited to bat, Punjab openers Murali Vijay (42) and Manan Vohra (38) put on 78 runs in 8.2 overs to lay a strong foundation for a big score but other

batsmen failed to capitalise and the hosts settled for 161 for six.

Ravindra Jadeja (2-30) removed both the openers but it was West Indies seamer Bravo (4-22) who turned it around for the Lions by dismissing big-hitting David Miller and Glenn Maxwell in the space of three balls in the 12th over.

Punjab struggled to get quick runs after that and had it not been for Marcus Stoinis’ 33-run knock and his 55-run partnership with Wriddhi-

man Saha (20) they would have struggled to go past even the 150-run mark.

Bravo accounted for two more batsmen in the last over and became the only player in IPL to have a combo of 1 000 runs and 100 wickets.

Lions lost Brendon McCullum (0) in the very first over of their chase when the Kiwi batsman was stumped by Saha off Sandeep Sharma but the visitors went about their business calmly and overhauled the

target with 14 balls to spare.

Captain Suresh Raina (20) also fell after a positive start but Finch was solid at the other end, rattling up a 65-stand for the third wicket Dinesh Karthik (41 off 26 balls).

Finch stroked the ball with authority and did not spare a single Punjab bowler.

The pitch at IS Bindra stadium was conducive for strokeplay and wayward bowling

by Punjab players helped the Lions.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 12, 2016

Persaud wins Heineken Cup golf tournament PATANJALEE ‘Pur’ Persaud streaked away from the field to win the second Heineken golf tournament on Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Course, East Coast Demerara.

Persaud posted a gross 83 and a net score of 68 to finish on top, ahead of Asrodeen Shaw, who had a gross 87 and a net score of 68.

Brian Hackett had to settle for third, with a gross 89 and a net 69.

Best Gross was won by Avinash Persaud (75), while Nearest to the Pin went to Brian Glasford, and Lon-

gest Drive (315 yards) went to Richard Haniff.

After the win Persaud said he was pleased with his performance.

“The grounds – the fairways and the greens were in fine condition. I played carefully, and apart from two holes (in the back nine) where I lost five points, the rest of my game was excellent,” Persaud pointed out.

Golf Club president Oncar Ramroop expressed gratitude to Ansa McAl for its continued support towards the development of the sport locally.

The respective winners pose with Heineken and club officials.

Bermuda football boss throws hat in CONCACAF presidency ring Mussenden believes he has what it takes to remove the organisation from the The election for pres- spectre of corruption it has ident of CONCACAF is been shrouded in.

The need for a new scheduled for May 12 and HEAD of the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) Larry Mussenden, is eyeing the presidency of CONCACAF.

Track & Field Workshop scheduled for Region 7

THE Ministry of Education, Department of Sport and National Sports Commission Sports Organiser. Wilton Spencer, is scheduled to conduct a Track and Field workshop from tomorrow to Saturday at the Bartica Community Centre in Region #7.

The workshop will commence at 09:30hrs daily. It will involve the staff from the visually impaired community of the Bartica Regional Hospital and the Community-Based Rehabilitation Programme.

The three main objectives of this workshop are: the training persons to conduct track and field training for blind athletes and their guides (persons with vision); development of proper technique and coordination between guides and athletes and exposure to basic guiding skills.

The Training programme is sponsored by the National Sports Commission (NSC).

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday April 12, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Chennai Super Kings (2) Chennai Super Kings Today’s Quiz: (1) Who was declared ‘Man of the Match’ of the initial IPL final?

(2) Who was declared ‘Man of the Match’ of the last IPL final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

ey-laundering and racketeering.

According to Mussenden, he has been the BFA president for a number of years, giving him the requisite experience of running a football organisation.

Bermuda Football To add to that, MusAssociation senden says, his expepresident Larry rience as an Attorney Mussenden General has meant he president of CONCAhas a particular viewCAF has come up after point that could be benits last three presidents, eficial to CONCACAF. Austin ‘Jack’ Warner, According to MusJeffrey Webb, and Alsenden, CONCACAF fredo Hawit, have been is an organisation at its indicted by the United lowest point, but that States Department of situation gives it an opJustice for fraud, monportunity to grow.

Part of that growth is expected to come from approximately US$10M that has been seized as part of the US Department of Justice’s investigation into corruption within FIFA. Mussenden already has a plan for those funds to play a part in his leadership of a new CONCACAF. “Thirty per cent should be used to develop various programmes, 20 per cent should be divided on a needs basis between the three unions, and the other 50 per cent should be divided equally among the 41 countries of CONCACAF because it should

have been delivered to those countries in any event, and I will pledge to put this forward if elected,” said Mussenden in an interview with The Gleaner.

“I have had great encouragement from countries across the board and I feel very confident about the support ..I have a good plan, I think I can get the respect of our member associations, I can get the respect of the people that we have to do business with and the region on a whole,” he said. (Sportsmax. com).

GCB/Hand-in-Hand U-19 cricket fixtures released THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has confirmed the fixtures for the Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company Under-19 Inter-County Cricket Competitions.

The three-day version of the tournament is set to commence tomorrow, with a Select Under-17 team confirmed to be a part of the tournament.

According to the fixtures, the Select Under-17 team will play Demerara at Wales, while Berbice will face Essequibo at Enterprise in round

one.

Round two is set to commence on April 17; Demerara will challenge Berbice at Everest, while the Select Under-17 team will oppose Essequibo at DCC. The third and final round is billed for April 21 when Essequibo will face Demerara at GCC, and Berbice do battle with the Select Under-17 team at Wales.

The team with the most points after the three rounds will be declared the winners.

Meanwhile, the one-day version will commence on

April 25, with the same number of teams participating.

In the first round Demerara will clash with Essequibo at Wales, while the Select Under-17 team will face Berbice at Enterprise.

The second round will be played on April 27. Berbice will confront Demerara at Wales and Essequibo face the Select Under-17 at Everest.

The third round will be contested on April 29.

Demerara will take on the Select Under-17 team at Bourda, while Berbice

will play Essequibo at DCC. After the three preliminary rounds, the two leading teams will clash in the final on May 1 at GCC. Players eligible to participate in both tournaments must have been born on or after September 1, 1997.

The competition is being used as a yardstick by the junior selectors to pick the Guyana team for the West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional Under-19 competition scheduled for later this year.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 12, 2016

Agricola Red Triangle take inaugural EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 Trophy … Grove Hi Tech defeat Friendship for third place THE inaugural Ralph Green-sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-11 final culminated last Saturday at the Grove Playfield.

Agricola Red Triangle, led by the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and joint-Highest Goalscorer, Floyd Boyce, achieved championship honours.

Boyce netted the lone goal of the match in the 21st minute to sink the hopes of Craig Primary in a match that saw Craig taking the early attack

to Agricola and enjoying majority possession.

The third-place playoff between Grove Hi Tech and Friendship All Stars saw their captain Tyrese Jones (with just one minute to full time) hit in the winning goal. He ended as the joint-Highest Goalscorer with Boyce. He performed the honours of scoring the winner from the penalty spot when the match seemed destined for extra time.

Agricola, despite giving up size advantage to the Craig

team, played with the heart of a lion to sink the obviously disappointed Craig Primary lads.

Almost the entire first segment was played in the Agricola half when numerous chances went a-begging for Craig, goalkeeper Adam Wilson standing tall between the uprights.

However, as the game progressed in the second half, Boyce and his boys became more and more confident.

They made many raids in the third. Agricola’s persistence finally brought the desired results when Boyce eased into the box to head home the championship goal in the 21st minute.

Craig had hammered Friendship 5-0 in their semi-final match one week earlier but

could not replicate that form;.

Agricola romped to a memorable victory which they will savour for some time to come.

They are also the reigning Under-13 champions.

The 3rd place match was also a close affair with both Friendship and Grove playing freely. It was Shavi Atkinson, the tournament’s Most Promising Player who took on Grove for Friendship but could not get past Grove’s captain and the competition’s joint Highest Goalscorer, Tyrese Jones.

It was Jones who eventually separated the two teams from the penalty spot in the 29th and penultimate minute of regulation time after the ball was handled in the area by Friendship.

The winning trophy was presented to the youngest player of the Agricola team, 5-year-old Keziah Anthony December by EBFA president Franklin Wilson on behalf of sponsor Ralph Green, who is based in the USA. Wilson in remarks at the presentation thanked the teams for participating stating that they are all winners.

He expressed gratitude to Ralph Green on behalf of the association for committing to sponsor the tournament on an annual basis. Special recognition was made of the lone female to participate in the competition, 10-year-old Kera Yaw of Friendship All Stars.

The top four teams were presented with medals while

each player from the six participating teams was presented with Certificates of Participation.

Five individual trophies were distributed as follows: Highest Goalscorer: (joint with 3 goals each) Tyrese Jones – Grove Hi Tech and Floyd Boyce – Agricola Red Triangle.

Most Valuable Player: Floyd Boyce – Agricola Red triangle Best Goalkeeper: Adam Wilson – Agricola Red Triangle Most Promising Player: Shavi Atkinson – Friendship All Stars Most Improved Player: Joshua Moore – Craig Primary School

Craig Primary are Ralph Green U-11 second-placers.

Shavi Atkinson, most promising player, collects his trophy from EBFA’s Clive Matthews

NOTABLE DATES

TONY `Tiger’ Marshall chalked up his 20th professional victory following a technical knockout (TKO) victory over American Glenn Odem on April 12. 1996 in New York. Odem was stopped in the fourth round of a super welterweight (junior middleweight) contest.

Marshall followed that up with a unanimous-decision victory against Reggie Strickland and a fifth round TKO of Ronald Rangel to finish that year undefeated. Marshall was born in Guyana but operated out of the USA. He turned pro in April 1991 and returned home in 1995 to provide glove work for Anthony `The Pearl’ Andrews, who at the time was preparing for a world title fight with Argentine Jorge Castro.

The October-born orthodox boxer would make two unsuccessful challenges for world titles. The first occurred in November 1994 when `The Tiger’ tackled Argentine Julio Cesar Vasquez for the World Boxing Association (WBA) version of the crown.

After 12 rounds Vasquez was adjudged the winner via unanimous decision. Marshall’s second attempt ended in similar manner. The Guyanese travelled to Madrid, Spain in July 2000 to do battle with World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Javier Castillejo.

Marshall’s career lasted 14 years and produced 37 victories, 13 defeats and 6 draws.

St Lucia to send four to Caribbean Schoolboys tourney

THE St Lucian Boxing Association has confirmed a team of four to participate in the inaugural Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors boxing tournament scheduled for Guyana later this month.

The St Lucian team will comprise three boxers and a coach.

It would be led by light welterweight Nathan Ferrari.

The others are lightweight Kareem Boyce and welterweight Taj Brown. Ferrari was named St Lucia’s Best Junior Boxer of 2015 and would be making his second trip to Guyana.

He and Brown last week participated in an international competition in Guadeloupe. David `Shakes’ Christopher, president of the St Lucia Boxing Asso-

David Christopher ciation, announced that his team is well prepared for Guyana.

Christopher disclosed that the tournament in Guadeloupe provided ample groundwork for his troops.

The naming of Team St Lucia has brought to two the number of Caribbean nations that have listed sides to the

tournament.

Last week the Jamaica Boxing Association had named a three-man team to represent that country in Guyana. President of the JBA Stephen Jones stated that two boxers and a coach have been confirmed to represent the Caribbean island.

Joshua Forrest Davidson (69 kg) and Daniel Hylton (60 kg) would be battling for Jamaica during the two-day tournament. Robert Napier is the coach. Hylton was in Guyana last November for the Caribbean Development Tournament.

He defeated local Christopher Moore in his first fight but was later stopped

by Trinidadian Justin Parris.

The Schoolboys and Juniors tournament is set for April 29 and 30 at the

Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and is organised by the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association.

GABA president Steve Ninvalle said that Jamaica was due to send a larger contingent. However, one of its top junior fighters died by drowning late last month.

The tournament is the first of its kind in the Caribbean and comes on the heels of the 13-nation Caribbean Development Tournament held here last year.

It is being held at a time when the region is clamouring for more emphasis to be placed on the sport’s nursery.

The English-speaking Caribbean sent a total of 36 fighters to last month’s Olympic Box-off in Argentina but only two qualified.

Agricola Red Triangle take inaugural EBFA/ Ralph Green U-11 Trophy See Story on page 23

Amazon Bravo becomes first player Warriors name to scalp 300 T20 wickets DWAYNE Bravo becomes first player to scalp 300 wickets in T20s. Bravo has been one of the heartening aspects of the T20 spectacle since its inception.

He achieved this feat yesterday in a contest against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in Match No.3 of Indian Premier League (IPL) at IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali.

Playing for Gujarat Lions Bravo bowled his most lethal delivery slower one - that deceived and castled in KXIP captain David Miller. It was Bravo’s second wicket of the match. Earlier, he knocked over superlative striker from Australia, Glenn Maxwell, for 2.

The T&T and West Indies all-rounder finished with final figures of 4-0-22-4.

Guptill as captain for CPL 2016

… Ramroop hails New Zealander’s ‘dynamic personality’

Dwayne Bravo shows his delight after dismissing David Miller for 15 in Mohali, yesterday. (BCCI photo)

China aims to become football superpower by 2050

China’s men’s national team and player Huang Bowen (c) sit below Panama in world rankings. See Story on page 20 Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216.

GUYANA Amazon Warriors have stepped up their preparations for the forthcoming HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season by confirming New Zealand star batsman Martin Guptill as their captain.

Guptill, 29, is the franchise’s marquee player and is currently ranked third in the ICC World T20 batting rankings.

The New Zealander enjoys a career average of 34.73 and strike rate of 131.44 from 61 games to date for the Black Caps.

A mainstay in the Kiwis top order across all three formats, he recently featured in his fifth ICC World T20 event in India and was a key figure as his nation reached the semi-finals, scoring 140 runs in four games at an impressive strike rate of 157.30.

This will be Guptill’s fourth season in the CPL overall and third with the Warriors, having also pre-

Roger Harper

Martin Guptill viously featured for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (in 2015).

In 28 CPL games to date he averages 35.7, including seven half-centuries, with a highest score of 90.

Commenting on his selection, Martin Guptill said: “It is a huge thrill and a great honour for me to be selected as Guyana Amazon Warriors captain for the forthcoming CPL season.

“Guyana is a cricket-rich nation and has produced many outstanding West Indies cricketers, not least Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Colin Croft, Lance Gibbs, Carl Hooper and the great Clive Lloyd, among many others. I am conscious of Guyana’s heritage and standing in the Caribbean, and proud to lead the team into battle this year,” Guptill pointed out.

He added “I am really excited about working with a talented crop of emerging local and international talent and we will be working hard to try and See page 20...

TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016