Guyana chronicle e paper 12 9 2015

OUTRAGE No. 104396

WEDNE SDAY DECEMBER 9, 2015

Price: $80

Guyanese react to Jagdeo/Ramotar move for uncapped benefits

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The four, including the Guyana Defence Force rank Aaron Eastman (extreme right), who were busted with an illegal firearm and ammunition in ‘Operation Dragnet’, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts yesterday

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Norway keeps

US$80M

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for Amaila

Central Bank Page 17 gets new deputy

Dr Terrence Smith

Battered men seeking 10 help Page

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

Norway keeps US$80M for Amaila … but funds could be diverted if project not viable

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, in discussion with Andreas Tveteraas, Deputy Director of Norway’s Climate and Forest Initiative, left, and Dr David Singh of Conservation International, a member of the Guyana delegation to the UN Climate Conference in Paris.

Minister Winston Jordan, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador George Talbot, Minister Raphael Trotman, in discussion with Teresa Gaime, a technical assistant attached to the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, following Tuesday’s meeting between Guyana and Norway.

By Neil Marks in Paris NORWAY is keeping US$80 million of funding from its forest-saving deal with Guyana for the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, but the funds could be diverted to other clean energy initiatives if the project is deemed impractical, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said Tuesday.

The two parties also face a tough deadline to determine the use of the funds; if a decision is not made by June next year, the funds would go back to Norway, Jordan admitted. Jordan and some members of the Guyanese delegation first met with the Norwegian Minister of the Environment, Tine Sundtof, and later Raphael Trotman, Minister with responsibility for Natural Resources and the Environment, Minister Jordan and members of the Guyana delegation met with

Andreas Tveteraas, Deputy D i r e c t o r o f N o r w a y ’s Climate and Forest Initiative.

The governments of Guyana and Norway have agreed that a “once and for all” study should be done to determine the feasibility of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project. Norway will decide if it will ask the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) to conduct the study, or choose another independent contractor.

The IDB’s representative in Guyana, Sophie Makonnen, w a s a l s o a t Tu e s d a y ’s meeting, held at Le Bourget conference centre on the outskirts of Paris, where the UN Climate Conference is ongoing.

“Our position remains the same; in its current conceptualisation, we can’t go with it,” Minister Jordan said of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project after the meeting.

He said the project as conceptualised is too costly “We think it (was) not properly studied; we think it has engineering and environmental issues.” Jordan said that both sides agreed on the study. “We welcome it in so far as it will bring some finality to the issues that have been swirling over the project, once and for all.”

If the project is deemed viable, Jordan said, the government will have to seek a sponsor; and if it is not deemed feasible, then the two sides will have to decide on what will happen with the US$80 million Norway had committed to the Amaila Falls project. Given the June deadline when the funds would have had to be directed, Minister Jordan said the two sides agreed that whatever work needs to be done to determine the feasibility of the project has to be done by then.

In August 2013, the developer of the project, Sithe Global, pulled out, saying its development funds hinged on support from all political forces.

T h e c u r re n t c o a l i t i o n government, then made up of APNU and AFC as separate opposition parties, refused to support the

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

OUTRAGE

By Ariana Gordon

TRADE Unionist Lincoln Lewis believes that former presidents Donald Ramotar and Bharrat Jagdeo have colluded to “rape the national coffers” by moving to the High Court over the non-payment of money and other benefits they would have been entitled to prior to the capping of the benefits of former presidents.

In a letter to the Editor on Wednesday, Lewis said the duo is attempting to live “luxurious lives on the backs of tax payers”. He said too that the actions of the two former presidents have confirmed the view that “politicians don’t care a damn about the people”.

Lewis added that the capped benefits under the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Act (No. 3 of 2015) still ensure that former presidents receive $75,000 monthly for telephone and electricity bills which is “in excess of the pension earned by persons who have served this country for more than 35 years in the public service, and many who are Trade unionist currently employed and are Lincoln Lewis required to deliver eight-hour service a day.”

“It is clear that politics has become a gravy train. The public mantra about service to the people no longer matters,” Lewis contends, noting that both Jagdeo and Ramotar are in pursuit of “the open-ended arrangement” whereby they can “access unlimited amounts of State cars, armed police guards at their premises, or staff to carry on political work.”

“It is not the vulgar and unconscionable $1.4 million pension these men each receive per month that the National Assembly capped,” Lewis stressed. The trade unionist said, “The act of Jagdeo taking the people to court is characteristic of the contempt he has for Guyanese, and therefore comes as no surprise; but Ramotar’s collusion is surprising, given that ‘this man was in the trade union movement and would have condemned the PNC leadership for ‘riding on the backs of workers’ had they engaged in similar or lesser conduct.”

“It means that Ramotar would have mobilised protest actions against acts he and Jagdeo are now involved in!

The act of taking the people of Guyana to court is deemed a personal attack against workers and the taxpaying public, given that our economy can ill-afford extravagance, and both men are aware of this,’ Lewis added.

DOUBLE-STANDARDS This, he said is a clear case of “double-standards” and it

demonstrates that “politics is not about the people and their development” but about using “political office to cream off the resources and wealth of the nation for personal enrichment”.

Lewis views the move by the duo as a clear case of collusion to “rape the national coffers”. “During and after his presidency, Ramotar has said to this society that he is his own man, not operating in the shadow of Jagdeo, or on instructions from Jagdeo. The collusion of these men to rape the national coffers means that Ramotar is either not his own man or both men are self-serving.”

Esan Anderson

Unella Gibbon

He believes that the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) followers should be concerned by this moving as Ramotar and Jagdeo are clearly showing that “they would go to the end of the earth to enrich themselves on the backs of the people, and it matters not to them whether the people can afford to sustain their greed”.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Education and Health under the PPP, Dr Henry Jeffrey, said he believes it is in the right of the former presidents to seek recourse if they are not comfortable. “Whether it is a great political move, I am not certain,” he said.

“Certainly, no one should be given open benefits,” he told Guyana Chronicle on Monday. Accordingly, he said the Constitution of Guyana speaks to the benefits that are due to presidents and former presidents. “It is simple law and justice,” he said noting that “I don’t think they should be given open benefits.”

MAN IN THE STREET The common man in the street believes that the move by the former presidents is an indication of the lack of respect they have for citizens. Esan Anderson, a currency exchanger, said “While in power, the past government made choices to suit their sitting, now Mr Granger has put appropriate measures in place to stop the misappropriation.”

Guyanese react to Jagdeo/ Ramotar move for uncapped benefits

He strongly believes that the move to the High Court for the benefits is “senseless and is just a waste of tax payers’ money”.

Unella Gibbon, a housewife, said it is greed that has caused the two former presidents to petition the court.

“They too greedy, I ain’t think they deserve any money.

Furthermore, its taxpayers' money, I want they lobby to raise pension money. I don’t know why they went to the High Court. It get poor people suffering and don’t even get a tip of what they getting.”

Similarly, Harold Sampson and David Wilson believe that petitioning the High Court is a bid to deprive the State, and by extension citizens, of finances that could be better used.

“I stand with the government; they cut them money, why they running High Court for? It’s Guyana money!” said Sampson.

Wilson stated that the money Ramotar and Jagdeo are claiming does not belong to them. “It is the Guyanese people money; we taxpayers’ money. The High Court move makes no sense.”

Dr Henry Jeffrey Both Ramotar and Jagdeo are contending that their earnings accrued before the passage of the 2015 legislation and so they are entitled to continue to be able to receive the earnings. They claim that the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other facilities) Act 2015 will be used to deny them benefits that have been conferred upon them under the 2009 Act and an attempt to do so is unlawful, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday December 9, 2015

Outcry over Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’ REPUBLICAN presidential hopeful Donald Trump has provoked condemnation from across the political spectrum, by saying Muslims should be banned from entering the U.S. Republicans, Democrats, Muslim leaders, the UN and foreign leaders criticised the call as dangerous and divisive. Mr Trump said many Muslims nursed a “hatred” towards America. He said they should be banned “until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on”.

His campaign manager said that would apply to “everybody” - would-be immigrants and tourists.

But Mr Trump told Fox News it would “not apply to people living in the country”, adding that Muslims serving in the U.S. military would “come home”. Mr Trump’s statement was delivered as the U.S. comes to terms with its deadliest terror attack since 9/11.

Last week, a Muslim couple believed to have been radicalised opened fire and killed 14 people at a health centre in San Bernardino.

Mr Trump’s proposed ban prompted a horrified re-

action from Republicans and others. Rival candidate Jeb Bush called Mr Trump “unhinged”, while former U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney said it “goes against everything we stand for and believe in”. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest later challenged the Republican party to denounce the leading candidate, and said that the proposal “disqualifies him from serving as President”.

Mr Earnest said that the Trump campaign had a “dustbin of history” quality to it, calling the candidate a “carnival barker” with “fake hair”. The UK’s Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron said they were “divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong”, while his French counterpart Manuel Valls said Mr Trump “stoked hatred.” UN refugee agency UNHCR said it was concerned that the rhetoric was putting an “incredibly important” resettlement programme for vulnerable Syrian refugees at risk. “Donald Trump sounds more like a leader of a lynch mob than a great nation like ours,’’

said Nihad Awad, National Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. “These are not just words... Trump and Carson’s mainstreaming of Islamophobia in the election is inciting discrimination, hate crimes, violent attacks against Muslims and mosques.” Mr Trump took part in heated interviews on several U.S. television networks on Tuesday, defending the proposal and saying it was a temporary measure to prevent “many more World Trade Centres”.

On ABC’s Good Morning America, he said “What I’m doing is no different than FDR,” referring to policies implemented by President Franklin Roosevelt during World War Two against Japanese, German and Italian people in the U.S. Some of those measures saw over 100,000 people detained in government camps. At one point during a lengthy interview on MSNBC, presenter Joe Scarborough forced the network into a commercial break after the candidate repeatedly talked over journalists, refusing to answer questions. (BBC News)

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Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump

Penis transplant plan for US veteran Surgeons are set to carry out the first penis transplant in the United States, in a bid to help wounded war veterans.

The 12-hour operation will involve stitching key nerves and blood vessels to restore urinary - and ultimately sexual function. It follows the world’s first successful penis transplant in South Africa last year. The team at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) plans to operate on 60 veterans as part of a trial.

The first procedure will involve a penis donated by a young deceased donor, with his family ‘s permission. And according to the team at JHU the hope for the veteran is that sensation will return within six to 12 months. Depending on the extent of the injury and success of the operation, there is a chance patients will be able to father their

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own children. But scientists say as only one successful transplant has taken place before, they will take care to ensure there are realistic expectations. Like other major transplant surgery, the operation carries risks, such as infections or bleeding during the procedure.

And the side-effects of taking life-long anti-rejection drugs will need to be weighed up too. Patients will also be screened extensively to make sure they can cope with the psychological impacts of surgery.

There have been concerns with other complex operations - hand and face transplants, for example that patients may find it difficult to accept the donated organs as their own. Carisa Cooney, clinical research manager at JHU, said the team had spent many years

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preparing for the operations and discussing the ethical issues. She added: “For the right patients, this can really improve their quality of life and help them re-enter society.” Veterans will be monitored for five years and scientists will gather evidence to consider whether transplants should be offered more widely.

Recent research involving young military personnel suggests seven per cent suffer genital injuries in combat. Many are due to blast injuries from improvised explosive devices which are being increasingly deployed.

And though protective gear exists, researchers say some soldiers choose not to wear it as it can get in the way of them moving around quickly.

(BBC News)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday December 9, 2015

UNC election fraught with crookedness DEFEATED party leadership candidate Dr Roodal Moonilal has challenged the integrity of Saturday’s opposition United National Congress (UNC) internal election in Trinidad and Tobago, saying it was riddled with fraud and irregularities.

UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar beat her two competitors by a large margin, amassing some 15,477 votes. Dr Moonilal received around 1,466 votes and third candidate, former Trade, Investments and Communications Minister Vasant Bharath, received some 1,102 votes.

“The overall assessment is that it was not fair and it was not free,” Dr Moonilal told the Trinidad Guardian on Sunday. “I am not arguing that

From left to right: Dr Roodal Moonilal, Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Vasant Bharath

if all of the defects were taken that we would have been successful. Maybe the results would have been the same, but what this does is undermine the integrity and credibility of the system, and regrettably the persons who have won by this flawed process,” he said.

Although he was undecided on whether court action would follow, he said his attorneys were taking statements from witnesses. Dr Moonilal acknowledged Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s re-election as party leader, but questioned whether the result would have been the same if not for the irregularities.

Bharath echoed many of Dr Moonilal’s concerns but stopped short of discussing legal action. However, he called for changes in the

electoral system. Ironically, the UNC is currently challenging the results in six constituencies in the September 7 general elections on the grounds of an ultra vires decision by the Elections and Boundaries Commission to extend voting by one hour.

Bharath said, given the fact that the UNC has brought an electoral challenge before the High Court, where the transparency surrounding the general election was brought into question, the party must also display a similar level of integrity.

Rampersad Parasram, Chairman of the UNC Elections Management Committee, said Persad-Bissessar’s victory was a fair and square one. (Caribbean News Now)

Spain asserts rights to sunken ship

The San Jose was sunk by the British Navy

THE Spanish Government says it has rights to a sunken Spanish galleon discovered in Colombian waters. The Foreign Minister says he is asking for more information about the galleon, the San Jose, found after decades of searching.

The galleon, which was sunk in 1708, belonged to Philip V of Spain. Its discovery was announced on Saturday. The ship was attacked by the British Navy as it set sail for Spain laden, it is believed, with treasure.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Garcia-Margallo said Spain wanted an amicable agreement with Colombia over the ship and its contents. But he said Spain would be prepared to defend its interests at the UN if necessary.

The minister said that there was a UNESCO convention that stipulated that this type of wreck “belonged to the state, was the

result of war, and was not a private boat. This can be resolved in a friendly way,” Mr Garcia-Margallo said. “They will understand our demands and that we are defending our interests just as we understand their demands and that they are defending their interests.”

In 2013, Colombia approved a law to define sunken ships found in its water as national heritage. Colombia estimates there are up to 1,200 such wrecks in its waters.

President Juan Manuel Santos said the cargo of the San Jose could be worth at least US$1 billion (£662m). It has been described as the holy grail of shipwrecks, as the vessel was said to be carrying one of the largest amounts of valuables ever to have been lost at sea - gold, silver, gems and jewellery collected in the South American colonies to finance the Spanish king’s war effort. (BBC News)

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams

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

Editorial

Former Presidents Benefits and Facilities

THE benefits and facilities which are given to former presidents have been a source of angst and a topic of many discussions. It is not the general view that former presidents should not retire with dignity after serving the nation; neither has the contention been that a president should not be entitled to a pension, when the constitution protects the right to a pension. Where the trouble and discussions have been, however, are at the size of the pension, the unlimited benefits, and the manner in which those were awarded.

Guyana is a small country, and relative to many Caribbean counterparts, ours is also a small economy.

From this comparative reference, when the public was initially made aware of the post-president package, there were expressions of concern about the State being able to afford it. The package was decried as Guyana, akin to a donkey cart economy, granting its past presidents live Cadillac lifestyles, given the presence of widespread poverty, hunger, poor wages/salaries, crumbling social services and infrastructure. It was also hoped that a compassionate past president would have taken note of public concerns and reacted in an appropriate manner.

The people, including party supporters, in their outcries, were hoping that the then government would have heard their pleas and would have reviewed the package. Unfortunately, this did not happen; instead, attempts were made to justify what the public deemed unjustifiable. The public also juxtaposed the lifestyle of the PPP founder-leader, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, with his successors, Messrs Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar, and deemed them as having fallen short.

In 2011, the political configuration in the National Assembly changed. Members of the opposition majority brought and passed amendments to the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Act 2009, but then President, Donald Ramotar, refused to assent to those amendments. In both the 2011 and 2015 elections campaigns, this matter was a central issue, drawing condemnation and commitment to change the package in recognition of public outcry. It is unfortunate that this has been lost on some.

The seriousness of this commitment was evident as

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday December 9, 2015

The trouble with the GPSU

SO the fix is in, and all that matters is “THE NOW”.

“THE NOW” always trumps LATER. Every time! The future is a sucker’s bet -– no certainty, a contingency, a maybe; but the future can never win the present moment. The only thing that is real is the present moment, and more politicians have to engender that culture of honouring it.

The Jagdeo/Ramotar governments have not honoured it; we are still waiting for the evidence to show they had honoured it. I speak of the living conditions for our nurses. Even today, the medical system continues to be robbed of its geniuses in the nursing system -- those who work beyond the call of duty to keep our healthcare system together. Our continued incongruence in how we deal with this issue directly contributes to the march towards dystopia in the medical sector - something we all fear.

The GPSU, the workers’ union which claims to represent the nurses of Guyana, has consistently failed to provide effective representation to its constituents in the medical profession. If one evaluates wages deliberations between the GPSU and the Jagdeo/Ramotar administrations, one can find a history of underperformance, weak militancy, and poor advocacy. Can we expect any better from this Union today? Can we expect them to carry out the revolutionary fight for a living wage for the workers, so that more professionals

can concentrate on the job at hand -- to fix the healthcare system, rather than how to put the next bread on their table at home?

Poverty is an evil that has to be combatted on all fronts.

One has only to observe, over the last five years, the maternal mortality rate, the infant mortality rate, and the conditions in which nurses work -- especially at the West Demerara Regional Hospital – for one to walk away clearly believing that the State Healthcare System is nothing but a death zone.

So what really is the GPSU doing for the nurses in 2015? So far, the evidence says ‘not much!’ And if one were to go by the pronouncements in the DemeraraWAVES online news outfit, one is no better off in understanding if the nurses, and by extension the public servants, would be paid even half of the 35 percent the union is demanding.

Is Mr. Patrick Yarde even remotely aware that we are now less than 30 days away from the end of 2015? What is likely is that more of these national assets called nurses will depart the “land of the many waters” for jobs overseas.

And why not? They also, like any other Guyanese, have an equal right to build their own homes! When will the GPSU really understand that it has a duty to pull out all the stops to ensure that the nurses of Guyana are paid a living wage? Another promise is not what is required at

the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Amendment Act was among the first to be brought to this 11th Parliament, passed again by Members of the National Assembly, and this time assented by President David Granger, making it the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Act (No. 3 of 2015).

While it has kept intact the pension (G$1.4M) per month, this new Act has reduced the benefits ,though the view is held in some quarters that the entire package ought to be much lower, reflecting the country’s economic reality. That notwithstanding, there was the removal of unlimited cost to the taxpaying public with the capping of utilities, medical expenses, travel allowance, staffing and security.

Were one to look at other societies -- in this instance the USA, considered in the world’s top five economies -– one gets the sense that efforts have been made to ensure dignity in retirement, based on realistic and acceptable measures. A former president receives a taxable lifetime pension equal to the annual rate of basic pay for the head of the executive branch; 7 months of transition expenses; and staff and office allowances, all of which are deter-

this point in time; it is time for action, and it is time for the good life!

I am one of those who had firmly believed that the Cabinet, by right, also deserved a living wage, but we cannot have one set of rules for Uncle Tom and another for Aunty Sally. There must be consistency in commitment across all classes of workers. The nurses deserve a living wage too!

Now, I am not advocating for a 50 percent increase in wages for the nurses. Clearly, the economy cannot afford that, but another 5 percent in 2015 will be just obnoxious; grossly obnoxious! While we agree that there must be collective bargaining, we also believe that today there must be an across-the-board injection of new cash into the pockets of the nurses before year end, irrespective of whether the collective bargaining process is completed.

But my grave disappointment remains with the leadership of the GPSU, who have, over the last decade, failed miserably to leverage for the nurses a living wage out of successive governments.

They failed under Jagdeo post-2005; they failed under Ramotar; and today they seem to be so much weaker as a bargaining unit.

What has happened to George Daniels’s union?

Is the only option left for a nurse today a one-way ticket on Caribbean Airlines? This is a national tragedy. It is time for the GPSU to become more militant, and use all

the tools at its disposal to ensure that nurses secure a reasonable increase in remuneration before Christmas 2015. The GPSU has a duty to provide fair representation to the nurses of Guyana in an environment of good faith, honesty and enhanced militancy. What we have observed from the GPSU, over the last decade, is that the union has consistently acted in an arbitrary fashion, to the point that people have the perception that its leadership is bribable. This perception may very well be false, but perception is the reality in public life.

Because of the GPSU’s inconsistent action at advocacy, the workers it represents -- including the nurses -continue to get the short end of the stick. Don’t you, the members of the GPSU, think it is time for new leadership in your union?

If the GPSU continues to fail to properly represent the nurses, then the nurses should form an alternative organising committee and take their grievances to the Health Minister. It is not like the Minister is unaware of the plight of the nurses.

The APNU+AFC Manifesto promised to “make nursing once more an attractive and well paid profession”.

When do the nurses need this living wage? NOW, not in the future! As I said at the start of this piece, THE NOW always trumps LATER. (Please send your comments to sasesin1@ yahoo.com.)

mined by Congress. For travel expenses, the former president and not more than two staff members are paid expenses determined by statute, and such travel must be related to the former president’s status as an official representative of the USA. These personnel and their spouses receive lifetime Secret Service protection, and their children are likewise protected until they reach the age of 16. They are also entitled to treatment in military hospitals, and they enjoy the option of enrolling in private health insurance plans at their own expense. At their deaths, they are granted state funerals with military honours. Guyana has three living past presidents -- Messrs. Samuel Hinds, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Romotar, who are beneficiaries under the Former Presidents (Benefits and Facilities) Act of 2009 and 2015.

Messrs. Jagdeo and Ramotar have filed petitions in the court in November, challenging that they should receive the benefits under Act 2009 and not Act 2015. And while this matter is subjudice, there comes a time when the question on every one’s mind -- Do some public officials care what the people think? – has to be answered.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday December 9, 2015

GECOM should welcome legal scrutiny GUYANA Elections Commissioner Vincent Alexander, in a letter to the press published on December 7, 2015, has labelled the positions adopted by commissioners Benn, Shadick and Gunraj as “… concocted, conflictual, and hypocritical” on the application made for GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield to strike out the petition of Ganga Persaud, which is intended to have the courts hear, examine, and determine the conduct and results of the 2015 National and Regional Elections.

Mr Alexander, in his fulminations against the positions of his fellow commissioners, closes with the great advice: “Concoction, Conflict and Hypocrisy cannot be condoned in the search for Justice and the Building of Democracy”.

The simple facts of this matter would seem to indicate that there is much to be concerned with at GECOM, not least of which is Alexander’s rush to spring to the defence of Messrs Surujbally and Lowenfield, and (again) to act as GECOM’s mouthpiece. When, at GECOM’s statutory meeting, the question was raised as to whether CEO Lowenfield was authorized to have an application made to quash the elections petition, the answer given was an emphatic “No!” Lowenfield was advised, we were told, to “defend” against the petition, he being named as respondent of record.

No request was made on the undertaking of an application to strike out the petition,

nor was advice of the Guyana Elections Commission sought in this respect. There is now the recent desperate attempt at GECOM, now backed-up

by Commissioner Alexander’s letter, to attach the widest possible “legal” interpretation to the word “defend”.

The intervention on Mr Lowenfield’s behalf at the courts remains unauthorized, and he could arguably be held responsible for the costs incurred thereto. Of greater importance, however, is the question of “Justice”, which Mr Alexander seemingly holds in such high regard. Would it not be fairer to say that the application to strike-out the elections petition is an attempt to deny the electorate (of all political persuasions), and the nation as a whole, the opportunity to have a full hearing, examination, and determination by the courts of the process, conduct of, and results declaration of the May 2015 elections?

Further, does not the application suggest that GECOM is attempting an avoidance of full court and public scrutiny with respect to its performance against its constitutional mandate?

GECOM’s reputation has been put into grave question by one of its major stakeholders, and there is general disquiet over the penetration of GECOM by fake statements of poll, and by the nature and import of the allegations contained in the Ganga Persaud petition. GECOM would be vindicated if it were to allow itself to be scrutinized fully by the courts and is successful in its defence. If not, GECOM, the electorate, and

Guyana would benefit from a process which could only identify the appropriate tasks and interventions to have delivered free, fair, transparent, and tranquil elections to Guyana.

This, in my view, is what should underpin any talk of genuine democracy in Guyana. Any other course would tend to identify the “conspiratorial” attributes Mr Alexander writes of.

On the issue of “conflict” raised by Mr Alexander, it is self-evident that the appointments of Benn and Shaddick as GECOM commissioners post-dated their presence on a list of candidates. More importantly, an individual named Ganga Persaud has petitioned the courts, and not the head of the list to which he infers!

Surely, this “conflict” could not be deemed as rising to a level which prevents the commissioners from proposing remedies to a situation wherein unauthorised, costly and delaying tactics are the resorts to a matter which is of critical national importance!

It appears that Mr Alexander’s view is one where the abandonment by Benn and Shaddick of their constitutional and fiduciary duties to satisfy the farfetched “conflict” he construes is a better position than having the Commission work to achieve a better run organization!

Mr Alexander refers last to an issue arising out of the declaration of the results of the 2006 elections. He attempts to juxtapose “accusations” of GECOM “immorality of not exposing itself to the scrutiny of the courts. The issue, how-

The gravy train Dear Editor, IT IS clear that politics has become a gravy train. The public mantra about service to the people no longer matters. The act by Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar to take the People of Guyana to the court to have unfettered access to the resources of this nation, in order that they can live luxurious lives on our backs, has confirmed a view held in many quarters -- that politicians don’t care a damn about the people!

The capped benefits by the National Assembly of $75,000 each month for telephone and electricity bills is in excess of the pension earned by persons who have served this country for more than 35 years in the public service, and many who are currently employed and are required to deliver eighthour service a day. It is not the vulgar and unconscionable $1.4 million pension these men each receive per month that the

National Assembly capped. It is the open-ended arrangement whereby these men want access to unlimited amounts of State cars, armed police guards at their premises, or staff to carry on party political work.

The act of Jagdeo taking the people to court is characteristic of the contempt he has for Guyanese, and therefore comes as no surprise; but Ramotar’s collusion is surprising, given that this man was in the trade union movement, and would have condemned the PNC leadership for ‘riding on the backs of workers’ had they engaged in similar or lesser conduct. It means that Ramotar would have mobilised protest actions against acts he and Jagdeo are now involved in!

The double-standards of these men is clearly saying to the society that politics is not about the people and their development; it is about a few using political office to cream off the resources and wealth of this nation for personal enrichment. During and

after his presidency, Ramotar has said to this society that he is his own man, not operating in the shadow of Jagdeo, or on instructions from Jagdeo. The collusion of these men to rape the national coffers means that Ramotar is either not his own man, or both men are self-serving.

This is troubling, and should be of concern to rank and file supporters of the PPP. For these men are clearly communicating to their supporters and all Guyanese that they would go to the end of the earth to enrich themselves on the backs of the people, and it matters not to them whether the people can afford to sustain their greed. The act of taking the People of Guyana to court is deemed a personal attack against workers and the taxpaying public, given that our economy can ill-afford extravagance, and both men are aware of this.

LINCOLN LEWIS

ever, could not hinge on whether deception was a ruse then, or even now, as an excuse to dismiss, out of hand, the matters raised. What should be the overriding interest is to have the law take its course in a manner that allows for a fully ventilated examination and determination of the issues raised in the petition.

A delay in dispensing justice is often familiarly described as justice denied. In

this matter, Dr. Surujbally’s action of casting his deciding vote against the motion to have CEO Lowenfield withdraw the application in his name, to quash the elections petition, is most regrettable.

It suggests complete disregard for the most elementary tenets of justice in a matter of grave national importance, and that no satisfaction is to be expected from the Surujbal-

ly-Lowenfield combination at GECOM, backed up by Alexander.

This situation reflects the real hypocrisy at GECOM, which is mandated to guarantee and protect the votes of the electorate.

Yours sincerely, ROBESON BENN GECOM Commissioner

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Blue Christmas for bandits

I

t looks like Christmas is gonna be a bit blue for the bandits with the net clamped tightly down on the country. Everywhere you look there’s another bandit getting caught.

You would think by now they’d get a bit smarter and step their game up and give the good guys a challenge. Either they have gotten rusty or they’re just no match for Operation Dragnet.

Meanwhile, now is the time when the streets of Georgetown start filling up with eager citizens shopping – whether they got money or not, they shopping.

That’s how the story goes. They’ll pinch from here and there so they can have a merry old time, then deal with the light bill and other collectors next year.

Can’t blame them though, the streets are clean of both garbage and crime, so there’s much more to celebrate this Christmas.

Joining Dragnet…

Fireball Ruel Johnson is volunteering to answer Rohee’s call to “Show me the corruption” once equipped with an auditor and some time to weed out those guilty of corrupt activities among various Ministries from the past administration. Johnson specifically called out Nigel Dharamlall and his involvement in the 2008 Carifesta where millions went unaccounted for and went on to name Camp Street as the rightful place for Dharamlall. Looks like Johnson would better serve on Operation Dragnet with all his pent up passion for catching the bad guys. Story too hot…

Insecticide Speaking of Dharamlall, Mr “break the cycle of violence”, didn’t hold fast very long. The peacemaker posted a sarcastic tribute to the government captioned: “National Unity; Social Cohesion; Good Governance; Racial Harmony; Green (and Yellow) Economy. ONE LOVE”.

The problem, you ask? Well this lovely salute was attached to a seawall advertisement of Spri-Gone insecticide. Scalding, Nigel. They’re pests that should be killed now? One love to you too.

Glass Houses You know how the story goes… he who has a glass house shouldn’t throw stones. Perhaps Past Prezzos Jagdeo and Ramotar forgot this little adage when they were condemning salary increases for Ministers of the new Government. Somehow, they believe that those increases were unjust, yet they are daily fighting tooth and nail to get back the exorbitant benefits the old administration had put in place for their retirement. There’s a word for that, dear fellows- apart from greed- it’s called hypocrisy.

Crossing borders Was anyone following Venezuela’s recent elections?

You should have been, especially with their eyes on our Essequibo. You’d be happy to know that the covetous Maduro lost to the opposition. I’m not sure if we should be rejoicing, but it could mean one of two things: either the opposition wants Essequibo more than Maduro does so the people voted for them, or, Venezuela may finally leave us alone.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

Murder suspects bolt from lock-ups

TWO murder suspects currently on remand have escaped from the Mackenzie Police Station’s lock ups early Tuesday morning and were still at large up to press time.

Currently on the run are Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander, 32, of 130 Layne Avenue and Robin Thomas of West Front Road, East La Penitence, Georgetown.

The prisoners were temporarily placed at the lock ups as they were to appear at the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court later in the day.

Commander of E’ Division Calvin Brutus told the Guyana Chronicle that the prisoners escaped through a hole in the wall that they craftily broke out.

The hole is in the vicinity of the bathroom area where the pipe leads out to the exterior of the lock ups.

After exiting the lock ups through the hole, it was alleged

investigation as his attention was struck by a consecutive knocking in the lock ups. Upon investigating, he was surprised to see two prisoners missing. This prompted a thorough examination and it was then that the hole in the wall was observed. A wanted bulletin has already been sent to all stations countrywide and revolving road blocks have been set up at strategic points in the Linden in an effort to recapture the escapees.

“I have ruled out the idea that ranks on duty have assisted these prisoners in anyway because these ranks would not do anything to implicate themselves or bring embarrassment to the entire Police Force,” posited Sergeant Cameron.

The prisoners were charged with the murder of Shevon Gordon, 44, formerly of Block 22, Linden. She was shot in the evening hours on April 4 during an attempted robbery. The two accused, attempted to snatch her bag but she put up a struggle.

Her son who ran to her rescue also received a gunshot wound to the leg. Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander was arrested and charged eight months ago while Robin Thomas was captured and charged only six weeks ago.

Both were remanded to the Camp Street Prison.

The hole in the lock ups through which the prisoners escaped

Robin Thomas

Stafrei Hopkinson

by the Station Sergeant Cameron who was on duty that the prisoners crawled under the fence to exit the compound as it would have been impossible for them to jump over.

Present in the lock ups during the daring escape were 11 other prisoners. Some of them related to Sergeant Cameron what had transpired. Some tried to escape through the hole but they could not fit.

“The two prisoners were successful in their attempt as they are very thin,” reasoned the Sergeant. A head count is normally done every half hour and one was done by Sergeant Fraser who was also on duty about 15 minutes before this escape transpired. Sergeant Fraser was prompted to do an

Norway keeps ... project in the form it was presented, saying it would put the country under a severe debt burden and that there was no guarantee that power from Amaila would have been cheaper for Guyanese. In addition to equity financing, Amaila’s cost, which kept increasing, would have come from loans from the Inter-American Development Bank and the China Development Bank.

The Amaila Falls Hydro Project was designed as a 165-megawatt facility, which would have delivered its power to consumers via power lines running through the jungle and onto various distribution points along the coast and other areas.

In preparing for the project, the former government spent over $US30 million to build a road to Amaila Falls.

Originally it was contracted at US$15 million to Florida puja shop owner Fip Motilall, but despite vehement protests, the then Bharrat Jagdeo administration pressed ahead with Motilall. The contractor was fired in January 2012, soon after Donald Ramotar became president. The road contract was then handed out in parcels to various contractors. Minister Jordan said that with the money already spent on the project, uses has to be found for it, if the Amaila Falls project has to be abandoned. “It cannot be abandoned; there will have to be options.”

Only recently government announced that five out of 67 possible sites are currently being assessed by the IDB for development of hydropower. The assessment is expected to be completed by May 2016. Minister of Public Infrastructure

From page 2

David Patterson said the five sites are Kamira, Kumu, Tumatumari, Tiger Hill and Amaila. The government will be using $80M from the Norway funds that were set aside for renewable energy development.

“At the end of this process, we will obviously assess them, however we will look to use the $80M in the most acceptable means of renewable energy … but it could be any form of large scale renewable energy – which is the understanding that we have so it’s a process which we are going through, and I think it’s a wise way to go forward,” Minister Patterson stated.

The Guyana Government is also working with the Government of Brazil and other interested stakeholders in seeking additional funding for the hydro power/renewable energy project. “We are moving ahead, and we working through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continuing discussions with them. There are other individuals who have MOUs. I think Kumu falls, there is a company that has an MOU with us and it remains to develop that falls, Tumatumari, Moco Moco – we are going out for an expression of interest to resuscitate the Moco Moco hydro falls so we haven’t excluded any project. It’s always a question of time and cost,” the minister explained.

Renewable energy has been identified as a growth industry and Guyana has an abundance of wind, sun and water. Harnessing their potential would be a game changer for Guyana as it is believed that the country has enough capacity to not only satisfy its own energy demands, but to sell excess to its neighbours.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

Battered men seeking help

By Tajeram Mohabir NOT often, or not at all, are there reports of men who were beaten up by their wives, but the case of a well-known city pastor is a rare exception. He is among 72 who were abused by their female partners last year, according to statistics released by Help and Shelter, which also said that for this year a number of others have visited the centre seeking help.

Deeply steeped in his biblical beliefs, the pastor perhaps held out for too long to the noble advice “if some slapped you on one side of the face, give him the other side,” before he realised that it is not applicable in all circumstances.

The blows that he was receiving were many and vicious, so much so that he came to accept that though he would not react violently, he will not continue to “give deep affection” to his hostile wife. For some unexplained reason, the wife of the pastor would pick quarrels and then ‘beat him for a song’.

Apart from the beating, he was frequently neglected, faced a torrent of verbal abuse, and was regularly sexually abused by his wife.

The pastor tried prayers as a means of escaping his unfortunate circumstance, but the woman showed no sign of letting up, but God did answer his prayer when His wisdom summoned him to visit Help and Shelter. He appeared before the counselor in his torn up office shirt, clinging to hope. His tattered garment was not caused by the unforgiving elements in the wilderness while trying to invoke the Creator, but it was one of those occasions when his wife had beaten him to a pulp.

And looking at his situation at first glance, Margaret Kertzious, Coordinator and Director for Help and Shelter, said she had to approach his case as an emergency situation.

She diagnosed his situation as grievous assault, and quickly engaged the services of a lawyer, who hurriedly filed for a Protection Order, barring the pastor’s wife from getting anywhere close to him. And with just a few days away from the abusive woman, the pastor began to feel as though he was in Heaven. In a bid to preserve his protection, without much hesitation or second thought, he filed for legal separation from her.

Today, the pastor can boast of having trust in the Lord, as his divine conviction helped him to navigate the stormy sea, and position him on the horizon of hope. He is now a happy man, married again, and is beginning to enjoy a life free Help and of abuse.

Shelter Director Margaret Kertzious SUFFER IN SILENCE Kertzious told the Guyana Chronicle that there are many men like the pastor, who are suffering in silence, some of whom explode, unleashing deadly violence. And it happened because they don’t speak out about their problems, and when they do, they are not listened to. According to the Help and Shelter Director, the problem with them not speaking up has to do with how they were socialised in childhood, in adolescence and early adulthood.

“The boys, you give them guns and those things. You teach them to be tough, ragamuffin… and when they fall and cry, you holler at them, tell them shut yuh mouth, and berate them as weak,” she pointed out, noting that the early socialisation, negatively affects them in adulthood when it comes to seeking help.

But aside from this, Kertzious noted that society is also unkind to men because when they go to the police station to make a report of abuse, the lawmen would laugh at them. And it is not only the police who make mockery of their plights.

“Some doctors also laugh at them when they go to seek treatment for physical abuse meted out to them; abuse is no laughing matter,” she said.

Last year, 72 battered men sought help from Help and Shelter, and this year, quite a number visited the centre.

The Help and Shelter Director also pointed out that while it is a known fact that women comprise the majority of victims of domestic violence, quite a few men are also victims. She praised victims like the pastor for speaking out. “Speaking out enables victims, both men and women, to get help.” This defuses the situation before it gets to a point where it spirals out of control, “Kertzious said. She also disclosed that men suffer from all the abuses men usually inflict on women, include sexual abuse. And on that note, she warned women that the Sexual Offences Act also offers protection for men. “You know that you got some women who like rush up to men and start pulling and grabbing at their private parts and things like that… these presumptuous women… just what the men do the women do…” the Help and Shelter Director revealed.

Those women, she said, can be criminally charged if the matter is reported by the victim.

Accident victim loses leg

By Shirley Thomas WITH doctors working arduously to save the right leg of a man pinned by a speeding motor car in a sludge-filled drain exactly one month ago, the victim, still battling to endure the pain and mental agony, has a story to tell.

Forty-six-year-old Niel Richardson of West Ruimveldt, on November 8 last, was returning home after purchasing bread at a shop when disaster struck.

As he was crossing Middle Road La Penitence, he was hit by a speeding Toyota Spacio motor car, which violently hurled him across the road, landing him in a mucky drain and pinning him there for some time.

In the process, his right ear was severed. Unable to set himself free, Richardson was forced to remain there with his leg crushed and pinned under the car until public-spirited persons intervened and bounced the car off him.

He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) with his tissues torn, exposed and covered with silt. Doctors, realising the imminent danger to which his leg was exposed, wasted no time in admitting him to theatre, but much damage was already done.

The leg was infested, and had become infected with bacteria and other foreign material while in the water. Within two days, there were signs of it becoming gangrenous, and they were forced to amputate (cut it off) below the knee.

“I was in deep pain, but I remember the haste with which about four of them (doctors) rushed with me to the theatre, and I really appreciate this,” he recalled.

For the first few weeks the pain had become almost unbearable, and doctors were forced to administer strong medicine. At times the leg pained so much he could not even eat.

Richardson, who said he has learnt from his experience, Grief-stricken and in now has words of advice for a pensive mood, Niel others.

Richardson lies in “If ever you are involved in hospital bed an accident and find yourself in a position where your tissues become crushed or torn, and remain submerged in dirty or mucky water, get out as quickly as possible and flush it out with peroxide or Dettol, until you can reach the nearest health facility for professional care,” he said.

A carpenter/mason by profession, he daily agonises over not being able to get out of bed, let alone complete the tasks he had set himself to do for the Christmas holidays.

The victim’s amputated leg following the injuries He anticipates he will be laid up for at least another year, based on what doctors have said to him.

Meanwhile, the victim said, to date, no police rank has visited him in hospital to take a statement on the accident.

Relatives said the investigating rank sent a message, telling the victim that the Police have the driver’s licence, and when he is out of hospital, he could come to the station to follow up the matter.

About three weeks ago, the acting Traffic Chief and traffic ranks, along with senior Road Safety officials, visited the Male Accident and Surgical Wards as part of Road Safety Month activities. However, on that day, the patient was in theatre.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

Coconut industry gets EU boost

THE European Union is financing the ‘Coconut Industry Development for the Caribbean’ project through the Geneva-based International Trade Centre (ITC).

This project is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of small-scale coconut farmers by identifying market opportunities, creating synergies between national and regional programmes, and improving access to advisory services for improved coconut production.

Stakeholders have welcomed this initiative for its potential to improve income and employment opportunities, food secu-

rity, and the overall development of the Caribbean coconut sector.

The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) has been contracted by the ITC to implement the project activities in nine CARIFORUM member countries. These countries are Belize, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

CARDI said in a release that its scientists are presently in Guyana, and have been interacting with key stakeholders in the coconut industry in the

AFC hails coalition’s victory in Venezuela THE Alliance For Change has congratulated the people of Venezuela on their peacefully held elections on Sunday, December 6th, which gave the Democratic Union Coalition (MUD) a resounding victory.

The Coalition has secured two-thirds of parliamentary seats. These mid-term elections did not alter presidential powers, which are still in the hands of Mr. Nicolas Maduro. “The AFC renews its commitment, being part of the APNU+AFC Coalition government, to working with the people of Venezuela towards closer cooperation on matters of mutual interest and benefit to our peoples.

“In this regard, the AFC believes that it is still possible for the Maduro regime to reverse its trade embargo against Guyana, in the interest of continued good neighbourly relations between our peoples,” a release from the AFC said.

conduct of activities in mapping and characterization of local coconut plantations; strengthening producer and processing groups; developing appropriate technological packages for intercropping

four-year project will target policy directives, certified quality planting material, nursery development, good agricultural practices, integrated pest management, processing for value-addition, marketing, fi-

major setback for farmers, particularly those in the Pomeroon, and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, told the media at a post-Cabinet briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency that a sum of $49M has been approved

teams have been deployed to those areas to assist farmers in confronting the problem.

The red palm mite pest, also known as the raoiella indica, was known to affect only plants in Asia, Eu-

Guyana will benefit from the European Union’s Coconut Industry Development for the Caribbean project through the Geneva-based International Trade Centre vegetables and fruits, and rearing cattle and small ruminants under coconut trees.

The scientists are also collecting relevant information at all links of the coconut industry value chain, and this information is to be stored within a database being developed at CARDI Headquarters in Trinidad. This database will benefit all coconut stakeholders at the national, regional and international levels.

Future activities in the

nance and business development, quality assurance, and risk mitigation. In the process, farmers, technicians, extension agents, processors, marketers, and other stakeholders will be trained in various coconut production and processing technologies.

It was announced only last week that coconut farmers across the coastland will benefit from government’s assistance in combating the red palm mite infestation of the palm plant. The issue has been a

by the administration to tackle the problem.

He said that the sum will be expended on the purchase of chemicals, equipment, and safety gear for distribution to coconut farmers at a subsidised cost, to assist in combating the outbreak. He said that Agriculture Minister Noel Holder had informed Cabinet that farmers in the coconut industry, particularly in Regions 2 and 3, have been primarily affected by the red palm mite pest.

He said, too, that technical

rope, the Middle East and African countries. However, the pest was observed in the Caribbean islands in 2004.

Coconuts have been one of the major non-traditional agricultural products exported and sold locally for decades.

In May this year, the Guyana Chronicle reported that coconut producers and agricultural organisations, as well as Agriculture Ministry officials, met to discuss the future of the industry.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

Modern asphalt plant to hasten WCD road expansion

By Leroy Smith

ROAD expansion works between Vreed-en-Hoop and Parika on the West Coast

Demerara are expected to be accelerated with the investment in a state-ofthe-art asphalt plant by the two contracting companies

- BK International of Guyana and Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company Limited of Jamaica.

Speaking with the media

A section of the plant which is waiting to be assembled.

during a site visit yesterday along the West Coast Demerara was Project Manager for BK International and Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company Limited, Lionel Kandasammy.

He spoke extensively of the investment by the two companies in acquiring the US$850,000 asphalt plant, which is being assembled at Boerasirie where BK International already has a similar but smaller plant.

According to Kandasammy, the plant which is expected to be commissioned early in the New Year has the capacity to produce about 160 tonnes of asphalt per hour, which would allow the companies to pave two sections of the road simultaneously and at the expected quality.

According to the senior manager, the paving of the road at two separate locations

at the same time will enable the works to be completed on schedule.

Reporters yesterday were able to see the components of the plant which is to be assembled, including the drier drums, controls and coal feed bins.

The skeleton layout of the plant was at the location and an engineer from India where the plant is sourced was on site supervising preparation works for assembling the plant.

Kandasammy said that in order to ensure that the plant is assembled on schedule; the contractors have arranged to have double shifts.

All materials for the road expansion and more particularly for the operation of the asphalt plant are being sourced from the Teperu operations of BK International.

EMPLOYMENT FOR 200 At present the two contractors together are employing a few dozen persons but once the asphalt plant comes on stream, the total number of persons to be employed will be approximately 200 with 40 per cent of them being locals employed by BK International.

Additional employment will be created for persons in the area of paving the road, maintenance of the plant, and other areas even as the project reaches the more developed areas where more manpower will be required.

The asphalt plant was manufactured by the “Apollo” company which has sold similar plants in many parts of the world.

According to the contractors Guyana is said to be See page 13

Solid waste management gaining traction SEVERAL secondary schools copped awards for their outstanding work in a school-based pilot solid waste management programme that followed the three ‘R’s’, which entailed reduction, reuse and recycling.

An appreciation ceremony to mark the successful performances of participating schools was held yesterday at the Georgetown Club.

Beterverwagting Community High School rose to the occasion taking the top spot while other schools which received certificates and awards included Annandale Secondary, La Bonne Intention (LBI) Secondary,

Guyana Lottery Company General Manager Tracy Lewis (Centre rear) flanked by students and representatives of the various schools which were awarded certificates, cash vouchers and trophies

Covent Garden, Plaisance Secondary, Christ Church, East Ruimveldt and Friendship Secondary.

Guyana Lottery Company General Manager Tracy Lewis presented the certificates, cash vouchers and trophies. The lottery company will be sponsoring the next solid waste programme for schools in 2016.

The 15 participating schools were selected by the Education Ministry. The main objective of the project was to empower each school to effectively manage the solid waste they See page 13

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

Schoolchildren facing traffic peril HUNDREDS of schoolchildren who attend the several schools on Woolford Avenue in the city have to walk through the high traffic area where there is no pavement for pedestrians.

In the perilous circumstances, motor vehicles vie

for space among the throngs of lively, but vulnerable schoolchildren along the narrow roadway. During Road Safety Month in November, the Guyana Chronicle snapped the above photo of Woolford Avenue just after schools were dismissed one

afternoon.

This publication was invited to the scene by some concerned teachers and parents who are hoping that the authorities would become aware of this particular traffic peril.

Modern asphalt plant ...

From page 12

the only country in South America with such a plant.

The company has sold and installed asphalt plants in countries such as Egypt, Australia, Kenya, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Zimbabwe, Dubai, Iran and Iraq, according to the representative who is supervising the assembling of the machinery.

He stressed, however, that in assembling

the plant they have to take into consideration the weather conditions as there are many electrical and other works that have to use electricity.

The West Coast Demerara Road Project was signed in 2014 by the previous government to the tune of approximately US$44.3 million. The contract is also supported by funding through a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank.

L-R BK’s Management Consultant Bobby Vieira, Ka Rajpat of India who is supervising the assembling of the asphalt plant and BK’s Project Manager Lionel Kandasammy at the site yesterday (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

Solid waste management ...

From page 12 produced. Participating schools were also encouraged to extend their solid waste management activities into their respective communities.

ACTION PLAN Each school was charged with developing an action plan where they brainstormed ideas to identify waste problems. The goals were to provide opportunities to minimise waste discharged from schools along with practicing proper waste disposal. Once the approach would have proven successful, it would be promoted by the ministry to be adopted countrywide.

The project was sponsored by Guyenterprise in collaboration with the Education Ministry, Ministry of Communities and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Project Manager Oliver Insanally said

every school is a winner that participated but the schools which received awards were able to complete their solid waste projects in addition to points rewarded based on progression and sustainability.

“Each school picked several projects to work on and those projects that dealt mainly with the concept of separating waste and reusing waste and promoting proper solid waste management. Another key area was the appearance of the school compounds and the absence of littering,” Insanally noted.

Senior Education Officer in the Education Ministry, Gerald Jewram said that garbage always has a negative impact on society and Guyenterprise chose an opportune time to partner with the ministry to involve schools and students in learning to manage waste.

He said the message is about the three ‘R’s’ which entail reduction, reuse and recycling, representing actions that will enable better management of waste produced.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

Dredge owner gets ultimatum

By Ariana Gordon THE Port Kaituma dredge owner who refused to pay workers and allegedly held them at ransom has been brought to the city by the Police on the behest of Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Simona Broomes and has vowed to pay monies owed to the miners by tomorrow.

Elvis Cameron, along with worker Lendon

Critchlow (operator) of Friendship, East Bank Demerara, were flown to the city by Police who traveled to the mining district for the Force’s business.

On Monday, Cameron along with some of the workers he owes in excess of $5M, met with Minister Broomes at her Brickdam office where Cameron was instructed to pay all monies owed to the workers on Tuesday.

“When people work,

they have to get paid,” said the Minister. She stressed that Elvis was involved in labour trafficking, “a serious offence” that would not be tolerated by her ministry.

According to Broomes, Cameron’s actions were inhumane as from time to time his workers said he would leave them at his camp in the Port Kaituma backdam without food or water for days knowing fully well that they had no money or transportation to leave the

location.

“You have these men for months in the backdam and you work them, you owe them, you got to pay them.

To take these men and carry them in the back dam, put them in a camp, they are waiting for their money – left without food and you jump on the plane and gone, is horrible,” she said as Elvis sat with his head bent before her.

The minister warned Cameron that should he fail to pay the workers by Thursday, the Police would be involved in the matter.

“This is not a road you must ever want to go down,” she said sternly.

“We intend to educate persons about labour trafficking and those are some charges you don’t want to find yourself in; it is a serious offence.”

“This man (Lendon Critchlow) was stranded in the bush, he wants to come home since February ; I had to ask the Police to assist me to put him on a flight – this man was afraid for his life in the backdam; a pathologist had to go in there and they assisted me,” Broomes explained.

She told Elvis that he treated his workers in a manner that left much to be desired. He explained the spinoff of him not paying his workers.

“The man (Noel Sambach) come out the bush, he two sons couldn’t go to school… they are working in a sawmill to survive; to help their mother,” she said.

The Minister instructed Cameron to take all monies owed to the workers to her ministry on Tuesday at 13:00hrs. However, on Tuesday he pleaded with Broomes to extend his time to Thursday as he could not provide all of the money.

AGGRESSIVE Meanwhile, Cameron who was accompanied by his wife was warned not to have her return to the meetings he was invited to by the Ministry. The woman became aggressive as

Minister Broomes addressed her husband about his actions towards the workers.

She consistently interrupted Minister Broomes and as the situation escalated Broomes asked her to leave the meeting room.

Broomes warned C a m e r o n o f h i s w i f e ’s behaviour and noted that the matter would be closed

owed approximately $2.7M. Lalita Balraj, wife of Noel Sambach explained her hardship. She told this publication that she is angered everything she thinks of her two young sons who were forced to drop out of school to work at a saw mill in Crab Wood Creek, Corentyne so that the familycould eat.

The Port Kaituma dredge owner who owes workers millions of dollars is seen here with his angry wife only if he pays the workers their money. “I am willing to close the matter under one condition and that is if you pay the money to the workers. Do not come without the money.”

Meanwhile, Cameron attempted to distance himself from one of the workers present at the Monday morning meeting. Ovid Alberts, of Bartica said he is owed approximately $75,000 for cutting wood over a threemonth period.

“He had given me $40,000 but he owes me over $70,000 more. I cut wood at $200 a bm. I cut about 360bm wood. I want all my money,” the resident of Bartica said.

“You disowning me, and I wuk wid you? Eh, big man,” Alberts was heard telling Cameron.

Lendon Critchlow told Guyana Chronicle that he is not interested in receiving part of his money, he wants all. “I worked and I must get paid; I want all my money from Elvis, all of it.” He is

“I want my children to go back to school; Elvis needs to pay my husband. My children can’t go to school because we don’t have anything in our kitchen. It is hard. I really need my children to go back to school,” she said angrily.

“These are intelligent children, and I want them to write CXC. They have to go back to school so he has to pay my husband,” Balraj said.

Like the others, Wilgress Critchlow said he is owed approximately $335,000. He said he worked with Cameron in 2014. “He owes me since last year. I left and then went back.

I went back in June and came out in August.

He (Elvis) left $66,000 and six dredge owner;penny weight of gold for me. By the time I reach out of Port Kaituma, I had only about $10,000 in my pocket. I need my money from him. I have debts to pay,” said the Danielstown resident.

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Simona Broomes addresses Cameron and workers at the Ministry of Labour in the presence of other labour officials

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

No bail for disgraced soldier

By Clestine Juan TWENTY-seven-year-old Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal Aaron Eastman of Lot 148 Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara appeared yesterday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, along with coaccused Mark Anthony, 22, of Lot 1238 Canje Pheasant Place, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown and Upholster Andrew Davis Escort and 3 7 - y e a r- o l d c a r p e n t e r Ryan Escort, of Lot 155 Middle Road La Penitence, Georgetown, to answer two charges.

The first charge alleges that on Saturday, December 5, at Robb Street, Georgetown, they had seven rounds of ammunition in their possession when none of them was the holder of a firearm licence.

The second charge alleges that on the same day, at Robb Street, the four men had two firearms when they were not licensed firearm holders. The men all pleaded not guilty to the charges Eastman was represented

by Attorney-at-law Mark Waldron, who told the court that his client is married, has two children, and has been a serving member of the Guyana Defence Force for the past 10 years.

The lawyer said his client has no knowledge of the illegal weapons, and that Eastman was the driver of the vehicle but the guns and ammunition were allegedly found in the rear of the vehicle.

Andrew Davis Escort was represented by Attorney-atLaw Adrian Thompson, who maintained that his client does not have any knowledge of the alleged weapons, and was just a passenger in the vehicle.

Ryan Escort was represented by Attorneyat-Law Peter Hugh, who informed the court that

his client has no pending matter before the court, but previously served a sentence on a robbery-under-arms charge.

Anthony, however, was unrepresented by legal counsel. He told the court that he never admitted to being in the vehicle with the other persons. He said that Police had beaten the other defendants to say that he was with them.

The Police Prosecutor Corporal Deniro Jones told the court that citizens saw the four men in the vehicle and summoned the Police. Jones said all the men were acting suspiciously, and Eastman was, at the time, wearing a black hoody.

He said that Police conducted a search and found the unlicensed weapons under the front passenger seat of the vehicle. Moreover, the court heard that Andrew Escort was positively identified.

The quadrant was remanded to prison and the matter was transferred before

Magistrate Judy Latchman for January 6.

Lance Corporal Aaron Eastman and the three other men were moving around in a car that is reportedly owned by a businessman when they were arrested on Saturday.

During that arrest, the Police managed to recover a sawn-off shotgun and a revolver with matching ammunition. At time of the arrest, the soldier was illegally absent from work, having abandoned his post, and was driving around with suspicious characters.

The GDF rank was, also at the time, wearing an overcoat over his uniform, and was driving the car with a shotgun under the seat. The other weapon was found under the other front passenger seat.

The Chief-of Staff of the GDF has indicated to this publication that the incident was very embarrassing to the army, and to all other persons serving in law enforcement.

Wednesday December 9th, 2015 - 14:30 hrs Thursday December 10th, 2015 - 14:30 hrs

He has since assured that the rank will be treated like any other suspect, and there will be no preferential treatment meted out to the rank during the investigation.

Eastman was enlisted in the GPF on April 10, 2006.

The Police have been able to link at least one of the suspects in the car at the time to the AH&L Kissoon robbery, which took place on Friday.

The Police conducted an identification parade on Monday, and the man was positively identified.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

CUSO launches VOICE

By Svetlana Marshall CUSO International yesterday launched VOICE, a multimilliondollar project designed to improve the economic and social well-being of poor and marginalised communities within 22 countries across the world.

The Guyana leg of the project, dubbed ‘Volunteers for International Cooperation and Empowerment’ (VOICE), was launched at the Cara Lodge Hotel in Georgetown by Canadian High Commissioner Pierre Giroux. “ W o r l d w i d e , organisations like CUSO

Canadian High Commissioner Pierre Giroux poses with members of the CUSO International Volunteer Corps who will be working in Guyana on the VOICE Project

CUSO International Caribbean Representative, Tara Persaud

play an important role in the delivery of Canada’s development assistance, and in the achievement of its results,” Commissioner Giroux said in delivering remarks during the launch.

He said that, since 1965, the Government of Canada has been providing support for CUSO’s development

work. He said that, with assistance from the Canadian Government, CUSO International, through this new initiative, will improve the economic and social well-being of poor and marginalised communities by increasing the capacity of country partners to deliver sustainable development results in response to local needs.

“As volunteers, you bring a human face to, and play an important role at, the interface of the Government of Canada’s development assistance to Guyana. You bring valuable experience, expertise, skill and perspectives to local partner organisations --indigenous community groups like Kanuku Mountains Community Representative Group, Wowetta Village and Moco Moco Village -— and towards unlocking organisation potential and advancing their development agenda in improving the lives of Guyanese,” he posited.

ENABLING ENVIRONMENT He also said that CUSO I n t e r n a t i o n a l ’s V O I C E Programme complements Canada’s $600M development assistance to the Caribbean Region, which works with training institutions and the private sector to develop training programmes that respond to labour market needs, and also works with policy makers to create a more enabling environment for private sector development.

Over the past five years of CUSO International’s presence in Guyana, Guyana’s work has been guided by the Caribbean Social and Economic Empowerment Strategy,

which is aimed at enabling p o o r a n d m a rg i n a l i z e d families and communities to support their livelihoods and achieve their rights.

These objectives have been achieved through four main focal areas: secured livelihoods, education, national volunteering, and disability, he said.

CUSO International Caribbean Representative, Ta r a P e r s a u d , s a i d t h e project in Guyana will focus on Inclusive Sustainable Economic Growth (ISEG), with emphasis on employment and entrepreneurship; and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), with emphasis on Gender-Based Violence and Teenage Pregnancy. In justifying the thematic areas selected for the Caribbean Region, particularly Guyana and Jamaica, Persaud explained that 64 per cent of the region’s population is made up of persons under the age of 30, and many of them are unemployed. It is estimated that 32 per cent of the region’s young women are unemployed, while 27 per cent of the young men are jobless.

“Our education system generally does not prepare youths to enter the job market; and even when youths go through the education system, there is generally a lack of job opportunities for them to get employment,” she explained.

DISCONNECT She added that there is also disconnect between the training being offered and the needs of the job market.

Access to finance is another issue of concern. “Access to finance is a challenge for young people and women. They don’t have

collateral; they might not have credit…. Generally, there is a challenge for them to get access to finance and business development service…,” she explained.

In executing the various components of the VOICE programme, CUSO International will team up with Government and nongovernmental organisations across Guyana. Under the ISEG component, CUSO will be working on vocational training hand in hand with the Education Ministry’s Department of Youth. “We will be looking at curriculum design, curriculum retooling, but also strengthening vocational training in general.”

CUSO International will also be working with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Youth Challenge G u y a n a , t h e Vo l u n t e e r Youth Corps, the Linden Technical Institute (LTI), the Guyana Gold Field, and representatives from the Kanuku Mountain community.

T h e Wo m e n A g r o Processors Network (WAPN) and Women Across Differences (WAD) are among organisations that will work with CUSO in fulfilling its objectives under the GESI component.

VOICE, a multi-region, multi-country programme, will be implemented within the next five years (20152020).

Having commenced in April 2015, the Cdn$104M project has been taking shape in countries in East and West Africa, Asia, Central America, and in the Caribbean Region.

Globally, there are four Please see page 17

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

Spring crop in full swing

By Clifford Stanley NATIONALLY, dry land preparations for the 2016 paddy Spring crop, usually sown at this time and harvested early in the New Year, were 97 per cent completed as at last weekend.

Figures released by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) indicate that, within the six rice producing areas, resilient rice farmers had completed dry land preparations of 220,116 acres of land out of the targeted 227,167 acres, the national target for the upcoming crop.

The figures also showed sowing as having been completed at 21 per cent of the targeted total.

Officials of the GRDB attributed the 21 per cent sown -- somewhat late in comparison to other spring crops -- to shortage of irrigation water as a result of the prevailing dry weather conditions.

“Complete sowing has been delayed by about two weeks, mainly due to the prevailing El Nino conditions,” acting GRDB General Manager Nizam Hassan said yesterday.

He, however, opined that the 97 per cent dry land preparation completion amounted to a sizable investment by farmers, which indicated that they were committed to going through with the spring crop.

“The general pattern is

that, once they start the crop, they will complete it,” he said.

Another official disclosed t h a t t h e 2 2 0 , 11 6 a c r e s prepared was close to the acreage prepared and sown for the spring crop 2014.

“Barring the delays caused by the El Nino conditions, and given that farmers have already invested in this large acreage of dry land preparation, I think I can safely say that this spring c ro p f o r 2 0 1 6 i s w e l l underway,” he said.

As at December 4th, rice farmers in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) were leading the percentages , with dry land preparation of 98,041 acres out of the

Central Bank gets new deputy Former US Federal Reserve official Dr. Terence Smith has been appointed Deputy Governor of the Bank of Guyana, effective November 2, 2015.

His appointment fills the vacancy created by the secondment of Deputy Governor Mr. Leslie Glen, who was appointed to the post of Advisor to the Executive Director, World Bank. The current governor of the bank is Dr Gobind Ganga.

The Bank of Guyana said that Dr Smith spent more than twenty-three years as a successful United States Federal Reserve Bank staff, in positions such as Compliance Officer, Senior Commissioned Bank Examiner, Regulator/Examiner, Financial/Technology Auditor and Senior Specialist. He also contributed ten years to the Bankers Trust Company, New York as an Internal Audit Officer. His strong track record of academic accomplishments has prepared him for the position of Deputy Governor.

A native of Guyana, Dr. Smith was educated in the United States of America, where he received from the Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY; BSc, Accounting and Taxation (June, 1979)- New School University, Manhattan, NY; MPS, Management and Audit (May, 1989), PACE University, Manhattan, Dr Terrence Smith NY; MSc, Information Systems (Jan, 1999) and Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Ph.D, Information Systems (Aug, 2008).

Deputy Governor Smith received the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, President's Award for Excellence in Leadership of the Foreign Bank Organisations Year 2000 Readiness Team and Outstanding Performance during the year 2000 Supervision Program. His professional affiliations include: Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA); the Institute of International Auditors (IIA) and visiting Lecturer at the City University of New York.

CUSO launches VOICE From page 16

thematic areas in the VOICE Project: ISEG, GESI, access to health services, and public outreach.

“Inclusive Sustainable Economic Growth – under this area we will supporting things like employment, enterprise, entrepreneurship, small business development; we will also be supporting natural resource management and food security and climate change adaptation,” Persaud explained.

Under the GESI component, CUSO International will address key issues that affect men and women, boys and girls from participating in society and achieving their full human rights.

Human reproduction, child health, mental health, health governance and accountability, and community health-driven initiatives are among areas that will be addressed under component three of this programme.

regional target of 99,141 acres.

Farmers in Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne) had completed 53,769 acres out of the 60,307 acres targeted for preparation, and were ready for irrigation. Farmers in Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara)

had completed dry land preparation of 17,082 acres out of a targeted 21,347 acres. Farmers in Region 4 (Mahaica/ Berbice) had completed 8,777 acres, e x c e e d i n g t h e t a rg e t e d acreage of 8,502 acres by 275 acres. Farmers in Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam) had

completed 35,835 acres out of the 36,297 acres targeted; and farmers in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) had completed 605 acres out of the 1576 acres targeted.

The GRDB is projecting a harvest of 502,587 metric tonnes of paddy for the Spring crop of 2016.

National dry land preparations for the 2016 paddy spring crop, usually sown at this time and harvested early in the New Year, were 97 per cent completed as at last weekend

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday December 9, 2015

21 years on...

Buxtonians blame Satan for ‘Bab

By Shauna Jemmott

TWENTY-one years today, relatives and friends of the six people cut down in a 400-yard swathe of blood and gore by a raving cutlass-wielding lunatic are still in tears, still living in fear, not just because of losing a loved one, but because of the horrendous way in which they died.

On the afternoon of Friday December 9, 1994, 33-year-old Hubert Headley, fondly called ‘Baby Arthur’, of 152 Middle Walk, Friendship, East Coast Demerara ran amok and butchered his mother, Hyacinth Headley; 52-year-old Maude Hatton; Bunny Joseph, 44; Semple Peters, two; Melissa France, seven; and Shawn Sullivan,16, before beheading a white dog. Of all his victims, Semple was the only one whose head was not completely severed.

Headley was reportedly shot dead by police minutes later, after he rejected their call to “surrender”, and was proceeding towards them, dancing and singing and turning the odd cartwheel, machete in hand.

A known drug addict, Headley often verbally and physically abused his mother, whose many reports to police went unheeded.

WALK BACK IN TIME The Guyana Chronicle took a walk back in time in Buxton/Friendship yesterday, reliving the crimes of ‘Baby Arthur’, the former soldier who turned to cocaine; became preposterous; and with the aid of a water coconut vendor’s cutlass, chopped to death six persons, including his mother, and a white dog.

It was the last day of school that term and all school parties were dismissed earlier than usual, and children who attended were already safe in their homes.

Maude Hatton’s life was taken in full view of her daughter, Yonette. Now 42, Yonette recalls that it was the worst thing that could have ever happened to their village.

“It was a very sorrowful day for the village; many people holler for two or more relatives. I does remember that story so often,” she said. And though she valiantly tries to put on a brave face, deep down inside she’s still suffering emotionally.

To this day, she says, “I don’t play with mad man; I does keep far from them. Meh mother was an Semple Peter’s sister, Candacie, recounting to Guyana Chronicle the innocent person; she was going to buy kerosene oil.”

Her younger sister still blames herself for their mother’s death, saying that had she gone to buy the events of December 9, 1994 kerosene oil instead, her mother would have still been alive.

Maude Hatton had just left her daughter’s house to run an errand when ‘Baby Arthur’, cutlass in hand, jumped off the bicycle he was riding and dealt her a chop to the head.

“The first chop he chop she was in she head,” Yonette recalled. Believing he had killed Ms Hatton, he went away to deal with his own mother.

One Ms. Gloria, a neighbour who saw what had happened, went to Ms Hatton’s rescue and attempted to staunch the bleeding in her head with a towel.

But when her children and other neighbours who had come to her rescue saw ‘Baby Arthur’ returning, still wielding the cutlass, they all ran and left poor Ms Hatton.

Yonette said when her mother saw ‘Baby Arthur’ coming, she said to him, “Is wha ah do yuh?”

His reply was, “You ain’t f***ing dead yet?” And with that, he walked up to her “and buss she throat,” Yonette said.

FIRST TO DIE Ms. Shirley, who lost her brother, Bunny Joseph, that fateful afternoon, still cries. She wept while she spoke with the Guyana Chronicle.

Her family was eating snacks from a school party when her grandson called out to her saying that a man was chopping up a lady.

She came out just in time to hear a girl hollering, saying, “He kill Bunny too.” To this day, she said, every time this time of year comes around, her family remembers him, but they’ve never held a memorial service for him.

Her brother was a loving person, Ms Shirley said, and was always helpful to their mom, who mourned his passing before she, too, died some years after.

He was the first to feel the wrath of ‘Baby Arthur’. His head was hacked off as he sat on a culvert on the old Buxton ‘Train-Line Road’. He fell over, dead, in the nearby trench.

DIVINE INTERVENTION Two-year-old Semple Peters was under a mango tree in his mother’s yard when he was killed.

His sister, Candacie, recalled how her other baby brother, Mark, who was just a few months old and creeping, apparently saved himself from certain death.

She was nine at the time, and her brother, Jermaine, five. The four children were home alone when the incident occurred; their mother was a vendor at the Bourda Market.

She said she’d never really told her mom the truth about what exactly happened that day.

“As little children,” Candacie recalled, “you run to see wha happen. Me and ‘Jerry’ (that’s short for Jermaine), we run to see wha happen to Maude Hatton. And by de time we went home back, we found our brother (Semple) under the mango tree. Jermaine pick him up and take him inside.”

Surprisingly, the door was locked! And there was no sign of Mark!

“Maybe,” she surmised, “he pushed the door and it locked and he got saved. It was God; nobody else... I never told my mother where we were; we never tell she unto this day where we were when that happened.”

The family would later move out of the house. She recalls only ever passing there once since they moved.

“The feelings weren’t right; I felt uncomfortable, so I said I wouldn’t walk back there,” Candacie said.

She said it was not until ten years after that event that she heard her mother recount tearfully the tale of Semple’s death. And that was after Jermaine was shot dead on October 19, 2004 during a violent exchange between the police and ‘gunmen’ at Buxton. He was just 15.

NO LONGER THE SAME As residents said yesterday that December is no longer the same for Buxton/Friendship, since it brings back memories of the day they refere to as the most dreadful in their lives.

Buxton/Friendship has been a place labelled for bad, but though residents there knew that there was the presence of good, evil presented itself in the form of ‘Baby Arthur’.

It was one of those murderous encounters that some would refer to as a massacre, especially in light of the theatrical-like fashion in which it was executed, to the cy of, “Ten to one is murder! Ten to one is murder!”

Deon, an eyewitness, recalled yesterday that those were the only statements in Baby Arthur’s uninterrupted echoes as he paraded upon a next-door bridge, his eyes red as never before, and saliva

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday December 9, 2015

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by Arthur’s rage A villager, Deon, points to the spot where Maude Hatton was butchered 21 years ago

Flashback: The Peters children who lost a brother in the Baby Arthur murders

A witness, Tricia Nero, demonstrates how Baby Arthur’s mother, Hyacinth Headley was killed drooling from his mouth.

It was a sight no one had ever before seen, and as a result, he and another friend decided not to walk past where the man stood.

“We done know that he nah normal; he used to go and come, go and come. We just stand up for about a 15-minutes and we watching the performance wid he pon the bridge. Between the day, we deh sitting down between this same area and he come fuh borrow cutlass from them boy,” Deon said.

He first entered Deon’s yard, arguing with his mother to lend him a cutlass after he searched where she usually hid hers. But on that particular day, the blade went missing. He then went into the yard next door, and argued with young men who were cooking there for a cutlass, before getting angry and walking out of the yard.

A young boy was on the road, and ‘Baby Arthur’ held him up and tried to impale him on a pointed cast-iron fence. But the child skillfully wriggled out of his grip, hurting himself in the process.

The blood-thirsty man rode away on a bicycle towards the old ‘Train-Line Road’, snatched a cutlass from a man called ‘Yam’ who sold water coconut, and rode away shedding blood and taking lives.

Deon was the oldest of the children in a house the man approached last. He armed himself with a cutlass to protect his mom and the other children, while the killer tried to enter.

The neighbour’s dog rushed him and he swung the blade, severing its head from its body, when police arrived.

“As he going to the crowd,” Deon recalled, “the police start open fire pun he. And this man start ‘back-flick’; he used to do karate.

“He end up start flick, flick, flick and start lashing bullet. And everybody want know if he gon kill these police.”

He would eventually fall to the ground, mortally wounded, in front of the police.

Ms. Shirley still cries for her brother, Bunny Joseph

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

Guyana Goldfields is big local employer

By Alva Solomon CANADIAN mining company Guyana Gold Fields has placed sustainable development of local communities and jobs for Guyanese high on its agenda.

This is even as it obtains positive cash flow at its Aurora Gold Mine operations in the Cuyuni.

Last month end, the company produced 21,093 ounces of gold, of which 14,091 ounces were sold at an average price of US $1084 per ounce. This generated approximately US$15.3M in pre-tax revenue, thus enabling the company to achieve positive cash flow.

At its Annual General Meeting (AGM), held at Herdmandston Lodge in Queenstown, Georgetown yesterday, the company informed an audience that the communities within the vicinity of its working ground have benefited and will benefit in the long run from its support.

For Guyana Goldfields, goods and services, health services

to neighbouring miners and communities, and participation in municipal development have been the highlights of the company’s operations at its Aurora Gold Mine in the Cuyuni.

“It’s a good project, a lot of time was put into it,” Scott Caldwell, President and CEO of the company stated yesterday.

“I can’t help but think about the men and women working in the fields,” Caldwell said, as he added: “It’s a wonderful job the team has done with CSR”.

With reference to the company’s corporate social responsibility, the company has integrated the social and environmental concerns into its business operations and interactions with the community. The company has been meeting with residents in immediate communities on a quarterly basis, and it seeks ways to assist residents in those communities. Some projects are works-in-progress, while others are ongoing.

The company noted that it invests in projects which will work; and to this end, it will implement programmes which Scott Caldwell, CEO of Guyana Goldfields Inc, addressing the audience at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday will have longevity even after it leaves these shores.

GOOD WORK As part of its community support, Guyana Goldfields has equipped a school in the area with solar panels and computers, and computer programmes will be undertaken and Information Technology (IT) specialists from the company will be providing training in this regard. It has also undertaken medical outreaches, while assistance in the form of educational items and safety gear has been provided to communities in the Cuyuni, as well as to some villages along the Essequibo River.

As regards women in the mining sector, the company has introduced a ‘women in science and technology programme’, wherein it will encourage women to understand how they can relate to the mining field. This is so, the company noted, since women in the mining field are sometimes reported as being sex workers or service providers. To this end, technical schools such as the Government Technical Institute (GTI) have been approached and asked to provide information as regards graduates of its programmes.

The University of Guyana (UG) has also been in touch with the company, and some five final-year students will work on their projects at Guyana Goldfields.

LOCAL STAFF As regards employment, 96 per cent of the staff are locals.

Close to 700 employees are on staff at the company’s Cuyuni operations, and of this number, 649 are Guyanese.

Further, there are 66 female employees at the company, and the company informed that there are departments within the operations at Aurora, where nationals supervise the entire operation.

As with many large mining companies, the use of chemicals, mainly cyanide, has been a critical issue following the spill into the Essequibo River by Omai Gold Mines in 1995.

Caldwell told the gathering that the avoidance of cyanide containment is an important aspect of the company’s operations, and the chemical is mined in very weak concentrations.

“Everything is double-protected,” he said of the chemical.

He added that there is a detoxification system which protects the environment from the chemical in the event of a spill.

“So it’s very safe in the way we handle cyanide”, Caldwell informed, adding that the transportation measures put in place to handle the chemical are also of high standards.

The company operates an effective tailings management plan, while proper drainage is according to the standards required by mining regulations. In addition, Guyana Goldfields also pays keen attention to the environment around its operations, whereby species of fish and animals are protected while there are ongoing evaluations of biodiversity in the area.

Guyana Goldfields, described as the largest foreign investment in Guyana’s history, has been operating here since 1996. It poured it first gold bar in August this year, and with expenses running in the vicinity of US$356M to date, future investments are key to the company’s advancement. In total, the country is expected to gain US$960M in total revenues from the investment.

“We are committed to sustainability…we think this is a good country to work in, and it has good revenue base,” the CEO noted yesterday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited Director Bish Panday (left) and Mrs Panday (right) with the beneficiaries (Delano Williams photo)

P&P gives $1M to charities P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited has extended Christmas cheer to 10 care-giving charitable organisations, donating $100,000 to them each.

The donations were made recently at the National Library.

Company Director Mr Bish Panday said the

insurance firm was very happy to do the good gesture, which has become an annual exercise during the Christmas holidays.

“All of you in your own way have been making a positive impact on the lives of the less fortunate, and we are happy to contribute to the cause,” said Mr Panday.

Acknowledging that

the day-to-day running of charitable organisations can be financially stressful, Mr Panday said the money will come in handy.

Over the years, P&P has embarked on reaching out to communities and assisting the less fortunate. “ To d a y i s a n o t h e r manifestation of that commitment, which we

hope to continue with in the future,” the P&P Director said.

The charitable organisations that benefitted are Bless the Children Home, Canaan

Children Home, Ptolemy Reid Rehab Centre, Uncle Eddie’s Home, Friends of the Archer’s Home,the Dharam Shala, David Rose School for the Handicapped, Cheshire Homes Guyana, Hauraruni

Girls Home and Bright Horizon Family.

The recipients expressed gratitude to the P&P Group, and assured the company that the money will be put to good use.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

PPP in ‘Hit man’ exposes anti-corruption his recruiters call

By Rabindra Rooplall

TWO men are in Police custody after soliciting a ‘hit man’ to take out a rice farmer of Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice, who has since left the country.

The suspects are being held at Fort Wellington Police Station after they were arrested on Monday following a report at the police station. It is understood that a recording has surfaced revealing the planning for the execution of the rice farmer.

The men arrested were identified as Jamal Azeez and Ramzan Azeez while two other men who were implicated are on the run.

According to the Police, the file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) pending charges. According to reports, a dispute over property and rice lands caused bitterness between family members which led to the duo seeking a ‘hit man’ to address their problem.

However, the ‘hit man’ who reportedly wanted nothing to do with the plan informed the Police who acted accordingly. A confrontation was held yesterday between the two and the alleged ‘hit man’ hired to execute the rice farmer.

Reports reveal that the rice farmer had previously made several reports against the two men arrested pertaining to their disruptive actions on his rice farm and property.

In one instance the men had requested that the ‘hit man’ purchase grenades and guns to execute the rice farmer. Reports also reveal that after the death of a relative of the rice farmer, known as “Cow Head”, a property belonging to the family was set alight on June, 28, 2015 at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice. The three-bedroom house that was gutted was believed to be an act of arson by the same duo in Police custody.

The People's Progressive Party (PPP) says it has joined with the rest of the world in the observance of International Day against Corruption.

“The PPP takes the opportunity of the occasion to recommit itself to the fight against the scourge of corruption and graft and calls on all Guyanese to be vigilant against corruption and corrupt practices which seems to be rearing its ugly head in the country,” the party said in a release.

According to the PPP, which was recently described by Ralph Ramkarran as one of the “most corrupt governments” in post-independence Guyana, corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating unnecessary bureaucracy and red tape, which only reason for existence is to solicit bribes. “One consequence of such an aberration is the stunting of economic development and the overall good and prosperity of the citizenry as a whole,” the party which only recently was swept from office on an election campaign that heavily focused on fighting corruption.

“The PPP join hands with all those who wish to break the corruption chain with the aim of ending poverty and ensure prosperity for all. The party from its very inception consistently embraced lean and clean government and espoused zero tolerance for corruption and corrupt practices.” According to the PPP despite talks about transparency, accountability and due diligence by the APNU-AFC coalition the track record of the Granger administration so far is nothing short of a complete violation of these same transparency norms which they claimed to uphold and defend when in opposition. The party made reference to the recent award of a contract to Fedders Lloyd to construct the Specialty Hospital, saying that it flies in the face of everything the administration hold as sacrosanct and inviolate.

Under the PPP Guyana consistently was crated as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

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Crossword

Yesterday’s Solution

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday December 09, 2015) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) &AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) South Africa’s Mark Boucher-555 dismissals (532 catches; 23 stumpings) (2) Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakarra-482 dismissals (383 catches; 99 stumpings)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Which wicketkeeper has scored most runs in a single Test series to date?

(2) Which wicketkeeper has effected most dismissals in a single Test series to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Kenilworth 08:20 hrs Variance 08:55 hrs Brooklyn Brawler 09:30 hrs Targaryan 10:05 hrs Macduff 10:45 hrs Mulher De Branco 11:20 hrs Captain’s Companion ENGLISH RACING TIPS Lingfield 08:20 hrs Silver Quay 08:50 hrs Captain Lars 09:20 hrs Big Time 09:50 hrs Broughtons Harmony 10:25 hrs Outer Space 10:55 hrs Apache Glory 11:25 hrs Diletta Tommasa LEICESTER 09:05 hrs Chic Theatre 09:35 hrs Lovely Job 10:05 hrs Edward Elgar 10:35 hrs Muckle Roe 11:05 hrs Larkhall 12:35 hrs Space Walker KEMPTON 12:05 hrs Seven Clans 12:40 hrs Hermitage Bay 13”10 hrs Cape Banjo 13:40 hrs The Commendatore 14:40 hrs Duchess Of Marmite 15:10 hrs Top Diktat 15:40 hrs Fast Sprite AMERICAN RACING TIPS Aqueduct Race 1 Comfort Level Race 2 Flataway Race 3 Regal Minister Race 4 Wynhurst Race 5 Zen Papa Race 6 American Soldier Race 7 Frazil Race 8 North Eight Interest Race 9 Interior Secretary

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

Oscar Pistorius - bailed, RHTY&SC tagged and free to roam to launch

By TJ Strydom

PRETORIA ,(Reuters)-Oscar Pistorius, who murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013, was granted bail on Tuesday and has the freedom of South Africa’s capital Pretoria as he waits to appeal his conviction in April.

The Paralympic champion, nicknamed “Blade Runner” because of the prosthetic legs he uses to race, was granted bail of 10,000 rand (£456), after spending the last two months under house arrest at his uncle’s home in a wealthy Pretoria suburb.

Pistorius had been meant to serve the rest of a five-year sentence there but the Supreme Court upgraded the 29-year-old’s conviction to murder from culpable homicide last week. He will appear in court on April 18 to give an update on his appeal at the constitutional court.

He faces a minimum 15-year sentence for shooting Steenkamp in a case that has fascinated and divided South Africa, a country beset by high levels of violent crime.

Rights groups say the white track star has received preferential treatment.

Yesterdayy, South African High Court Judge Aubrey Ledwaba said Pistorius could leave the house between 7 a.m. (0500 GMT)and noon

and, with permission from the authorities, travel within a radius of 20km (12 miles).

Pistorius has been ordered to

Oscar Pistorius reacts after he was granted bail as he leaves the North Gauteng Court in Pretoria, South Africa after his bail hearing, yesterday. (Reuters/Siphwie Sibeko) hand in his passport and wear an electronic tag.

When he was arrested in 2013, Pistorius had to set aside bail of 1 million rand, but on Tuesday he ar-

gued for a reduced amount, saying his means had diminished.

“I have lost all my assets and only possess my personal assets,” he said in his written bail application.

“I have no income, but will continue to seek employment ... It was difficult to obtain employment due to my conviction and correctional supervision conditions.”

Pistorius lost millions of dollars in endorsements and sponsorships, after reaching the pinnacle of his fame in London 2012 when he became the first double amputee to run in the Olympics, reaching the 400-metres semi-finals.

Pistoruis, who also said in his application that he had enrolled in a correspondence course for a degree at the London School of Economics, was dressed in a black suit and tie and appeared calm during the proceedings.

There was no immediate comment from Steenkamp’s family.

Barry Steenkamp, Reeva’s father, welcomed the murder conviction last week, saying “it was a fair decision”.

Pistorius’ lawyer Barry Roux said the appeal would cite grounds including the appeal court reconsidering a trial court finding that Pistorius felt his and Steenkamp’s life were in danger when he fired the shots.

(Writing by James Macharia; Editing by Louise Ireland)

Pune, Rajkot named new IPL franchises for next two years

By Amlan Chakraborty NEW DELHI, (Reuters)-Western Indian cities of Pune and Rajkot will be home to two new franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the next two years, the country’s cricket board (BCCI) announced yesterday.

The new teams, for which there were a total of five bidders, fill the void left by the two-year suspensions on the Chennai and Rajasthan franchises following an illegal betting scandal that broke out in 2013.

New Rising, a consortium led by Sanjiv Goenka, chairman of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, bagged the Pune team while mobile

manufacturers Intex made a successful bid for Rajkot in a reverse bidding process.

Under reverse bidding, investors were asked to bid lower than the base price of 400 million rupees (about $6 million), the maximum amount the BCCI offered to pay from the IPL central revenue pool to the new owner.

Having bid in the negative, New Rising will pay 160 million rupees while Intex will shell out 100 million rupees for their respective teams, BCCI president Shashank Manohar told reporters.

The new bids would make the BCCI, already world’s richest cricket board, richer by nearly 1.8

billion rupees, he added.

Both new teams will take part in a player draft next Tuesday and there will be a players’ auction on Feb. 6, Manohar added.

The Twenty20 league, with a $3.5 billion estimated brand value and boasting of Bollywood stars and major conglomerates as investors, has been dogged by corruption allegations for years.

In July a panel set up

by India’s top court recommended suspending the franchise owners of the two teams for two years following an illegal betting and spot-fixing scandal.

Manohar said the board was doing its best to tackle corruption in the league which will have its next edi-

tion from April 9 to May 29.

“People can have perceptions, it’s our duty to change that perception,” said Manohar, who also heads the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“I met the Maharashtra chief minister about 10 days back and requested him for a dedicated unit which would give its inputs to the board and the anti-corruption unit... and the chief minister readily agreed.

“We don’t have police powers. Police can intercept telephone conversation between people, police can interrogate anybody which we can’t. With the police power and government help, we will be able to deliver a clean game.”

Christmas Village THE cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club have launched their biggest ever Christmas programme for 2015 which would include the hosting of Berbice first ever Christmas Village.

The teams - Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Females and Gizmos & Gadgets Under-21 and First Division on Saturday launched the programme by entertaining hundreds of less fortunate children at the Club’s Area ‘H’ Office.

Each child received a collection of items including a box of warm meal, drinks, a sweet bag and a special toy.

The 2015 Christmas Programme would include visits to the Children’s homes in Region 6 and the Dharam Shala.

The teams during visits would distribute meals, drinks, bags of confectionery and toys.

The programme would also include the sharing of 2000 (two thousand) toys to less fortunate students; a general feeding of the poor programme for the public; distribution of 500 food hampers worth $8 000.00 (eight thousand dollars) each to less fortunate families; sharing of clothing, footwear and educational items to youths; sharing luncheon and hampers to senior citizens; and the hosting of the historic Christmas Village in the compound of the Rose Hall Town Primary School.

The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club has received support from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Bank of Nova Scotia, Nand Persaud Co. Ltd, Edward B. Beharry Co. Ltd, Bakewell, Gizmos & Gadgets and Ansa Mcal Trading among others for the hosting of the Village.

The Village would be launched on the 20th December, 2015, at 16:00 hours by First Lady Sandra Granger, who would turn on the switch to light up the 20 feet Christmas tree.

Other attractions for the Village would include a large depiction of the Nativity Scene, a computer game area, a photo studio, games, a Fun Park, and numerous booths selling Christmas products like toys, drinks, cakes and gifts.

The entire compound of the Rose Hall Town Primary School would also be transformed into a dreamland with toys, fairy lights and large Christmas characters.

The Burrowes School of Arts would also be providing artistic depictions of the Christmas season which would be placed across the ‘Village’.

The cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club since 1991 have been sponsoring the Christmas Outreach Programme as part of their personal development programme with the main aim of making sure that no one goes hungry, thirsty or loveless during the festive season.

33

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

Windies up against it in Australia (REUTERS)-West Indies have said they are embracing their underdog status for the three-test series against Australia, which starts in Hobart tomorrow, but the reality is they have very little choice in the matter.

Jason Holder’s inexperienced squad arrived in Brisbane fresh from being swept 2-0 in Sri Lanka and went on to lose their only tour match against a Cricket Australia XI, which featured six first class debutants, by a crushing 10 wickets.

The days when intimidating West Indies pace bowlers rampaged across Australia breaking bones and smashing wickets on the way to winning four of five series from 1979 to 1993 are long gone, and their last Test win Down Under came in February 1997.

Backs-against-the-wall defiance would seem the only remaining strategy for the islanders as they bid to hand Australia a first test defeat on home soil since Ricky Ponting’s farewell against South Africa more than three years ago.

Having lost a string of Test stalwarts to retirements, Australia are not yet good, nor settled, enough to allow complacency to creep in and the

Australia captain Steve Smith chance to scoreTTest runs and take Test wickets will be motivation aplenty.

Their stocks of pace bowlers have been sorely tested by the loss of leftarmers Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, to retirement and injury respectively, during the 2-0 series win over New Zealand.

Josh Hazlewood, the

only quick to play all three matches against the Black Caps, looks set to carry the load for a fourth straight Test, supported by the injury-prone Darren Pattinson and the ever-reliable Peter Siddle.

Holder has said the tourists would aim to quickly rip through top order standouts, such as David Warner and Steve Smith, in order to feast on a middle order they perceive as Australia’s weakness.

It is a tactic more easily planned than accomplished, however, as New Zealand’s vaunted pace attack discovered in the first two tests of their series against Australia last month.

Opener Warner, whose three centuries in the Brisbane and Perth Tests included a magnificent 253, and skipper Smith, who scored 138 in Perth, both boast averages over the 50 mark.

To combat that prolific form, all-rounder Holder looks likely to employ a four-pronged pace attack of himself, Jerome Taylor, Shannon Gabriel and the

experienced Kemar Roach.

It is in the batting stakes, however, that the Caribbean Islanders will have to show marked improvement

West Indies captain Jason Holder at Bellerive Oval, which is unlikely to be bursting at the seams.

The traditions of the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests should ensure better crowds in Melbourne and Sydney but even cricket-mad Australians have their limits when it comes to watching uncompetitive sport.

CG I Local Franchise League cricket continues today CRICKET Guyana Inc. (CGI) Local Franchise League continues today across the country as Essequibo takes on Upper Corentyne at Enmore, West Berbice battles East Bank/Upper Demerara at Port Mourant, East Coast Demerara tackles Lower Corentyne/New Amsterdam/Canje at Albion and West Demerara faces Georgetown at GCC. The tournament which recently bowled off saw an excellent display of fast bowling by National pacer Raun Johnson helped propelled Lower Corentyne/New Amsterdam-Canje to an easy nine wicket victory over East Bank/Upper Demerara while Jeetendra Sukdeo’s all-round effort helped Georgetown overcome Essequibo.

There were also wins for East Coast Demerara and Upper Corentyne as the Cricket Guyana Inc. Local Franchise League (LFL) bowled off across Guyana.

Playing at Farm ground

on the East Bank, the home team was asked to take first strike after Lower Corentyne/New Amsterdam/Canje won the toss. They found the going tough as they could only post 92 all out in 20 overs. Danny Narine top scored with 29 while Johnson bowled brilliantly to claim 5-29 off four overs while former national under 19 Captain Eugene La Fluer supported well with 2-14.

In reply, Lower Corentyne/New Amsterdam/ Canje raced to 93-1 in just 13 overs as La Fluer returned with the bat to score an unbeaten 45 Wyheid Edwards was the other not out batsman on 29.

At Enmore ground, East Coast Demerara defeated West Berbice by 16 runs in a low scoring affair. Batting first after losing the toss, the home team limped to 95 all out in 49.5 overs as Krishnadat Ramoo and Waqar Hassan bowled tight spells claiming 3-18 and 3-16 re-

spectively.

West Berbice in reply could only manage 79 all out in 32 overs. The pick of the bowlers for East Coast Demerara was Steven Sankar who claimed 4-22 off his ten overs while Vivian Albert and national pacer Paul Wintz had 2-20 and 2-23, respectively.

At Bourda, Georgetown crushed Essequibo by 72 runs. The home side posted 174 all out in 48.4 overs batting first as Jeetendra Sukdeo top scored with an impressive 70 which included four boundaries and a maximum.

He was well supported by Andre Stoll who hit 25 and Andrew Lyte Jr. who hit 24.

Heimchan Persaud claimed 3-34 while Anthony Adams, Ricardo Adams and Rayon Fredericks bagged two wickets each.

In reply, Essequibo was dismissed for 102 all out in 36.1 overs. Ricardo top scored with 20 while Sukdeo completed an excellent

all round game by claiming 4-10 off 7 overs while Devon Lord had 2-16.

Over at Wales ground, Upper Corentyne defeated West Demerara by 29 runs after they posted 227-9 in their allotted overs. Rajiv Ivan top scored with 50 as he struck 3 fours and 2 sixes as Lloyden Lewis (28), Jason Sinclair (27) and Jonathan Foo (26) had starts but could not convert.

West Demerara’s Malcom Hubbard picked up 4-36 from 10 sturdy overs while Ritchie Looknauth supported well with 2-35 off his 10 overs.

West Demerara fell 29 runs short of their target despite a top score of 73

by Renaldo Renee who struck six fours and a six while Chandrika Persaud pitched in with 35. Upper Corentyne’s Clinton Pestano claimed was the pick of the bowlers with 3/50 off 9.2 while Eon Hooper was more efficient with 2-28.

(Kizan Brumell)

Veteran Benn powers Pride to win ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, (CMC) – West Indies left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn wrecked Windward Islands Volcanoes with a six-wicket haul as he inspired Barbados Pride to an emphatic 181-run victory at the National Stadium here Monday.

Playing in only his second game of the Regional First Class Championship, the 34-year-old Benn picked up six for 55 to send the hosts tumbling to 197 all out in their second innings, 40 minutes after the scheduled tea break following an extended post-lunch session.

He was supported by part-time off-spinner Roston Chase who finished with two for 18.

Ty r o n e T h e o p h i l e struck 47, West Indies limited overs batsman Johnson Charles got 44 and Miles Bascombe, 40, but Volcanoes collapsed from a promising position of 92 without loss to lose ten wickets for 105 runs.

With the victory, Pride moved into sole possession of third place with 44 points while Volcanoes remained fifth with 23 points.

Resuming the final day of the fourth round match on 40 without loss in search of an improbable 379, Theophile and Bascombe extended their first wicket stand to boost Volcanoes’ hopes of saving the game.

The right-handed Theophile faced 102 balls in 132 minutes at the crease and counted two fours while Bascombe struck three fours and a six off 98 balls in nearly

two hours.

Bascombe, who started the day on 20, fell ten balls before a second rain interruption forced an early lunch 102 for one and it was following the break that the

SULIEMAN BENN rot set in.

Theophile perished in the third over after the break with seven runs added and Sunil Ambris suffered the indignity of a dreaded ‘pair’ when he was bowled by fast bowler Tino Best at 110 for three in the following published by admin1 on Tue, 12/08/2015 - 10:24 over.

Charles and Andre Fletcher, who scored 21, then posted 41 for the fourth wicket before the right-handed Charles nicked a drive at captain and seamer Kevin Stoute to Benn at slip, with the score on 151 for four.

Benn then sliced through the innings with an incisive spell with Fletcher eighth out at 173 after fighting 97 balls and 103 minutes.

Hornets end Pistons’ four-game win streak, Spurs crush Sixers THE Detroit Pistons’ undefeated run was snapped by the Charlotte Hornets, while the San Antonio Spurs embarrassed the Philadelphia 76ers.

Cody Zeller led the way as the Charlotte Hornets snapped the Detroit Pistons’ four-game winning streak after triumphing 104-84 in the NBA on Monday.

The Pistons had accounted for the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets prior to tip-off in Charlotte.

But the Pistons came unstuck on the road as Hornets centre Zeller posted a game-high 20 points.

Hornets team-mate Marvin Williams provided support with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Kemba Walker (14), Nicolas Batum and Jeremy Lin (both 13) also had double-digit points.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (16) and Ersan Ilyasova (15, 13 rebounds) combined for 31 points for the Pistons.

The San Antonio Spurs were without three of their starters but still humbled the sorry Philadelphia 76ers 119-68.

The Spurs rested Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard but LaMarcus Aldridge stepped up with 26 points as San Antonio extended their winning streak to four games.

Robert Covington, Nerlens Noel and Nik Stauskas had 13 points apiece for the Sixers, who dropped to 1-21. (Sportsmax.com)

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

Bourda Cricket Ground

-once the iconic home of cricket in Guyana

By Stephan Sookram

THE Bourda Oval at the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground (GCC); once the iconic home of cricket in Guyana for close to 75 years is synonymous to names like Guyanese Clive Lloyd, Rohan Kanhai, Barbadians Sir Garfield Sobers

Green (commonly called the Bourda Oval) is found between Regent Street and North Road.

With a seating capacity of close to 20,000 in its prime, the Bourda Oval has a rich heritage boasting some 30 test matches and 10 oneday internationals in addition to numerous other first class

Shivnarine Chanderpaul hammers one through the off-side during his Debut at Bourda during the England vs West Indies Wisden Trophy Match of 1994 and Wes Hall and other world players, and at one time, the heart of Caribbean entertainment.

The Bourda ground; where the West Indies devastated England by 289 runs in the venue’s first Test match from February 21-26, 1930 and levelled their 4 match series 1-1.

Regarded as the oldest ground in the Caribbean after coming to light sometime in 1884, the Bourda

games.

A current member of the facility and club servant Jailall Ramnauth, who has been there for close to three decades, described some of his fondest memories there.

“I could always remember the match between Pakistan and West Indies, when they had over 20 000 people in the ground and people were all around the boundaries, they had a little thing

(incident) at the end of the game because when the last ball was bowled the spectators ran for the ball before the fielder went for it.”

He says his major hope is that memories like the great Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar sharing a light moment, or Shivnarine Chanderpaul iconic half-century that saved the West Indies Wisden Trophy Match against England in 1994 will be preserved in those halls.

Meanwhile, Cricket statistician and Television personality Edwin Seeraj recounted a brief history of the illustrious venue.

“In the early 1960’s 1962-64 some test matches that would have been played here had to be shifted to other grounds in the West Indies because of the political instability at the time then you had 1976 torrential rains before the start of West Indies versus India test and that shifted to Trinidad that famous test in 1976 when Clive Lloyd declared and gave India more than 400 runs to win, so Bourda is rich.”

He continued, “Some famous players played here. If you go back to the very first Test match 1930 incidentally that was the First Test Match victory for the West Indies led by a Guyanese by the name of Maurius `Pacheco’ Fernandes who played for the Demerara Cricket Club, he had played one Test match before, that was the inaugural Test match West Indies versus England at Lord’s in 1928, so this was the second Test and he was the captain because in those days wherever you played the captain would come from that terri-

Guyana strike gold at CPC GUYANA attested that they were the dominant factor at the recently concluded Commonwealth Power-lifting Championships in British Columbia, Canada where the team walked away with best ever performances to date in their maiden

appearance with an almost perfect total of 8 out of nine overall gold medals in the different weight classes.

In the women’s category at the Sub Junior Level (52kg), Britney Mack took the gold medal after producing a lift of 257.5kg

A part of the Test match between the West Indies and New Zealand at Bourda tory and he led West Indies to bear fruit to a prosperous run the captain because they had a resounding victory.” and lead to his ascension to some senior players who He flashed back to play- the top of West Indies Crick- had some dispute with the ers like Alvin Kallicharran et and one of the greatest Board, and he created history scoring a hundred on debut captains of the game. here too by scoring a double here in 1972 against New That little Bourda Ground hundred in his first match as Zealand, you had Glen The year 2005 would captain and only one time in Turner making 259 which be the last year Test crick- the history of test cricket that is the highest score at Bour- et was played at Bourda was ever.” da and before that you had cricket ground and the Sitting eight acres of Rohan Kanhai in 1968 who country’s very own hero abandoned sugar cane was the first Guyanese to Chanderpaul would make fields owned by French-

The last match at Bourda was almost washed out. However, the GDF helicopter saved the day and dried the field score a century at Bourda.

He added that there were people like Sir Garfield Sobers as well as Lance Gibbs who loved the Bourda Oval.

Incidentally, the Regent Road ground is where Clive Lloyd in 1973 announced himself to the world with a masterful 173 that would

that match a significant one.

“The Test cricket, the crowd around the world, not just in the West Indies, were waning and then we ended up here in 2005 with South Africa and even that test match against South Africa Shivnarine Chanderpaul was

in Total while in the Junior Male Division (83kg class), Rudolph Blackmon managed a Total 685.0kg lift for his gold medal.

In the Open Male, at the 74kg class Osmond Mack posted a hefty Total of 650.0kg for his medal though the result of a drug test is still pending.

At the 93kg class Marino Jeffrey was also hauled in for testing after his gold medal winning performance of 685.0kg Total, while at the 93kg class Erwyn Smith with a 600.0kg Total carted off silver and

man Joseph, the Illustrious Bourda was constructed by colonial authorities for sports activities.

It was later opened on December 26, 1885 (Boxing Day) with a match between West Indies and the World, which the West Indies won by two wickets.

at the 105kg class, Karel Mars with a total of 650.0kg, took gold.

In the Masters 2 Division (50 – 60 age group), at the 74kg class Winston Stoby struck gold after lifting a Total of 637.5kg, while 83kg class athlete Edwin Spencer combined his lifts for a Total of 482.0kg and the gold medal.

At the Masters 4 (70 and over age group), in the 83kg class Nairanjan Singh with a Total - 410.0kg took first place.

The team returned home on Monday.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 9, 2015

Boxing Museum opens today

By Kizan Brumel

BOXING pundits of yesteryear oft times engaged in a good old gaff of the exploits of past boxing legends, the likes of Patrick Forde, Lennox Beckles, Lennox Blackmore, Kenny Bristol and the myriad of ‘punchers’ that have institutionalised the sport locally.

The debates have been furious but with no way to confirm the data, most debates ended as they had started - with both parties unsure of whether they are right.

These occurrences have highlighted the need for archival data to clarify such issues and former Continental of Americas Welterweight Champion, Michael Benjamin, has accepted the challenge to create a forum that

documents the historical data of past and present pugilists.

The former boxing

Former Continental of Americas Welterweight Champion, Michael Benjamin champion has teamed up with businessman and box-

RHTYSCC congratulate Assad Fudadin THE patron, president and members of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would like to express congratulations to our member Assad Fudadin on his achievement of scoring his fifth first class century versus Trinidad in the West Indies Cricket Board Professional Cricket League.

Assad, who was recently named the Best Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Cricketer in our twenty-five years history, is a role model to every one of our members and as is the norm at our Club, we are all very happy for our club mate.

ASSAD FUDADIN Assad is a perfect example of our Club’s formula of success – sheer hard work, discipline, dedication, faith in the God we serve, honesty and a strong desire to succeed against all odds.

Despite some failures at the start of the season, we are confident that it would only be a matter of time before Assad starts to perform at his high standards.

We wish him the best in the remaining matches and all of us are confident that he would shortly be regaining his place in the West Indies team.

The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club members are very proud of Assad Fudadin and wish to reassure him that he would continue to be in our daily prayers.

ing enthusiast, Maurice Pyle, to effect changes to the status quo and will join with President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, and other boxing enthusiasts to launch the first ever (boxing) pictorial museum at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Gym, Independence Boulevard today.

The museum will depict the photos of a wide cross-section of boxers, past, present and even deceased. Later on the collection will include coaches (past, present, alive and dead) as well as other affiliates that have contributed to the development of the sport.

At the moment, photos of several local pugilists are completed and ready

for display including ‘Sixhead’ Lewis, Gary St. Clair, Wayne Braithwaite and Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore.

The females have not been forgotten and there are also portraits of those that have distinguished themselves.

These include Gwendolyn O’Neil, who is a five-time world champion, and current world champion, Shondell Alfred.

President of the GBBC, Peter Abdool and the GBA President, Steve Ninvalle have imputed greatly and have also etched their names into boxing even amidst vast odds and they will also be depicted for their efforts.

Several corporate entities and individuals have contributed handsomely to the project including Ramchands’s Auto Sales, Claude Raphael’s Real Estate, German’s Restau-

rant, Dr. Max Hanoman, Abdool and Abdool’s Insurance Brokers, Eddy Grant, Oasis Waters, Joe Harmon, John Fernandes Ltd, Brydens and Fernandes, Modern Optical and Kaieteur News.

Last Friday afternoon, Benjamin visited the Betterverwagting office of Ansa McAl where senior executive, Troy Cadagon committed to a sum to complete the project. The former pugilist extended gratitude to his benefactor while pointing out the importance of the donation.

Meanwhile, Benjamin said that he has had discussions with Ninvalle and Abdool and they have both given their blessings to the project. He also intimated that apart from converting the ALBG to an archival location he envisages a place where boxers could

congregate for social and other activities.

The former local and Continental of Americas welterweight champion feels that the time has long past when contemporary pugilists can research the records and statuses of their predecessors in order to carry on the proud tradition.

“A boxing archives of a well-documented account of those (past) boxers’ activities may just be the variable to bolster the hopes and courage of our current boxers thus igniting renewed hope, vigor and vitality in their breasts,” Benjamin disclosed. He said while the boxers’ records will comprise a part of the institution, such data will be forthcoming since it requires meticulous research.

Henry leads Yamaha Caribs to 35 – 31 win over the Army THE Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) resistance and speed were not effective enough after they were overpowered 35 – 31 by the Caribs in a highly contested match on Saturday, when the Guyana Rugby Union (GRFU), GTT sponsored Tens tournament continued at the National Park Rugby Field.

During the tense battle between the two teams, Yamaha Caribs Theodore Hen-

ry was able to slip past the GDF’s defensive line up three times scoring 21 points for his team.

Adding to the score sheet for Caribs were Captain Akeem Fraser and Alain Crawford with one try each and a field goal.

The Army’s 31 points in defeat came from Avery Corbin who scored 17 points while Jevon Eastman and Joseph Rahaman supported the team with one try each and a

conversion.

In the second match of the day the Pepsi Hornets won by default after the Guyana Police Force (GPF) rugby team was a ‘no show’ for their clash.

Despite the loss, the GDF is still in title contention, leading with 11 points; two more than the Pepsi Hornets (nine), followed by the University of Guyana (UG) Wolves and Yamaha Caribs both with five points each.

The GPF Rugby team is in the cellar, only managing to pick up one point.

Continuation of the tournament is set for Thursday as the Police takes on the Caribs at 16:30 hours, at the National Park.

This year the teams are contesting for bragging rights in the GTT Sponsored Tournament, and would be presented with trophies and medals at the finals on Saturday.

Royals stop Jets 60 – 57, Raiders out the Flames 68 – 31

By Joe Chapman RETRIEVE Raiders and Victory Valley Royals were the latest teams to record victories when the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) Banks Malta Supreme Christmas basketball championship continued on Monday at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.

Derwin Robertson had a game high 16 points to lead the Retrieve Raiders to a 68-31 win over Block 22 Flames, while shoot-

ing guard Chris Williams stroked in 22 points as his side, Victory Valley Royals, edged past Amelia’s Ward Jets 60-57.

The Royals versus Jets game was by far the more exciting of the two, as the Jets with Orin Rose looking dangerous beyond the three-point arc were off to a 20-7 lead when the first quarter ended.

However, the Jets’ fortunes were upturned in the second quarter when the Victory Valley team went on a scoring surge to lead

30-25 at the end of the first half.

The Jets, however, rebounded to take a two point lead (45-43) to close out the penultimate period, thanks to a good all-round team performance.

And while the Jets’ efforts with their inside presence and the outstanding marksmanship to Rose were always in with a shooting chance, the smaller Royals fought back and were able to gain a 50-45 lead.

With less than one min-

ute remaining the Jets lost Rose who was fouled out and that seemed to have fouled up any hopes they had of a come-from-behind victory.

In the first game the Raiders earned themselves another solid win after taking a 13-7 first-quarter lead and then at half time still in their favour 29-10.

The Raiders continued their offensive push to coast to a 46-19 advantage at the end of the third quarter before accelerating to a 68-31 win.

Boxing Museum opens today See story on page 35

Guyana strike gold at CPC See story on page 34

Team Guyana at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in British Columbia Canada.

Windies can beat Australia - Ambrose

“We’re going to put on a good show.”

Since the teams met in June, the likes of Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson have retired for Australia.

Asked if he felt the hosts were vulnerable due to the numerous changes, Ambrose said they would still be hard to beat.

“I wouldn’t want to say they’re vulnerable. They’re still a good team,” he

said.

“They’re playing at home, they know the conditions better than us, we have a pretty young team as well.

“We are not playing as well as we should or we can play so it’s going to be interesting.

“I believe that we have enough bowlers in our line-up to create some problems and that to me is going to be very important.”(Sportsmax.com)

Henry leads Yamaha Caribs to 35 – 31 win over the Army See story on page 35

The legendary Sir Curtly Ambrose has passionately defended the West Indies team to face Australia, saying ‘we are here to win.

CURTLY Ambrose feels West Indies can do more than just compete with Australia in their Test series.

West Indies believe they can shock Australia in their Test series, according to great fast bowler Curtly Ambrose.

The tourists were thrashed by 10 wickets by a Cricket Australia XI in a tour match, leading to fears they may be embarrassed in the three-Test series starting Thursday.

Despite those concerns, Ambrose – now the Windies’ bowling coach – said his team had come to Australia eyeing more than just being competitive.

“It’s not a matter of what we’ve changed.

It’s the way going forward,” he told a news conference yesterday.

“We played against Australia not so long ago in the Caribbean and even though we lost 2-0, there were moments and periods when we had them on the back foot, their backs against the wall, but never really finished them off.

“So we believe that we can compete, and not only compete but we believe we can beat them and that’s the whole focus – to beat Australia. Not just to compete but to win.

“We’re underdogs but sometimes it’s good to be that way. We have nothing to lose.

“As far as I’m concerned, Australia is the only one under pressure because they have to beat us because Australians and cricket in general expect them to steamroll us so they’re the ones under pressure, not us.

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Yamaha Caribs’ destructive trio! (L-R) Alain Crawford, Akeem Fraser (Captain) and Theodore Henry WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015