Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 15 03 2017

US$2.5M to restore St George’s Cathedral

Page 16

No. 104853

WEDNESDAY MARCH 15, 2017

Price: $80

No to vigilantism (VAT Inclusive)

… Gov’t condemns beating of city men at Canal Polder

Page 17

Cabinet wants parking meter project suspended Page 3

Cabinet on Tuesday recommended the suspension of the controversial parking meter project for three months for a thorough review of the contract and broader consultations with stakeholders

Man gets Cop wanted Several Guyanese 11 years for to sell AK-47 affected Page 9

–court hears

Page 17

Page 13

… as NY snowstorm grounds flight to NY

killing youth

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

Rural agri infrastructural project to launch soon

THE Ministry of Agriculture is preparing to launch the ‘Rural Agricultural Infrastructure Development (RAID)’ project which will benefit four ‘small-scale farming communities in Regions Four and Five, through a Government of Guyana/CARICOM De-

Finance, Winston Jordan, the Ministry of Agriculture now awaits approval of the tender board for design consultant for projects to be executed in the communities of Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Triumph, also on the ECD, Mocha East Bank Demerara (all in Region Four) and

tures and access dams) for the communities of Itacha, Buxton and Triumph.

Buxton farmers had complained that poor drainage and irrigation greatly hinder agricultural development in the backlands, owned and operated by the Grantees through a grant from their

recently.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that six firms answered the calls of government and submitted proposals for the project. Bids for the design and supervision services were submitted by Beston Consulting Limited in Association with C.B & Associates Inc., E & A Consultants Inc., Innovative Engineering Services, Massy Wood Group, ‘SRKN’ Engineering, and Caribbean Engineering and Management Consultants Inc. The Ministry of Agriculture will oversee the project after the approval of ‘consultancy services for design and supervision’ by the tender board, with ensuring priority works for rehabilitation of

assigned to management and operations of the three-year project, the Guyana Chronicle understands.

The ‘Rural Agricultural Infrastructure Development (RAID) in Small Scale Farming Communities in Regions Four and Five (Ithaca, Buxton, Triumph and Mocha)’ document revealed that the project is expected to increase incomes and reduce unemployment in the targeted farming communities.

Access to farming lands and necessary support services to ensure success in agriculture in the communities will be provided, through the rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation systems and access dams, construction of 155 km of canals and drains with new and rehabilitated

gation systems through “the excavation and cleaning of all canals and drains around the 600 Acres of identified lands, construction of drainage and irrigation systems, (and) clearing of approximately 600 acres of land.”

In Buxton, seven canals and drains up to crown dam will be cleaned and excavated, while new drainage and irrigation structures will be constructed to regulators along the CNC to regulate water supply, and approximately 800 acres of land will be cleared for cultivation or livestock development.

Each of the canals and drains around the 600 acres of land identified in Triumph will be cleared through excavation and while any

800 acres of farm lands beyond these gates in Buxton/Friendship will be cleared for cultivation and livestock as a revival of the agricultural sector is on the way through the Government of Guyana CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) initiative (photos by Samuel Maughn) velopment Fund (CDF) initiative.

Project Coordinator within the Agriculture Sector Development Unit (ASDU), Khemlall Alvin told the Guyana Chronicle in an interview that since the deal has been sealed by CDF and government through Minister of

Ithaca West Berbice (Region Five).

In October 2016 government and CDF had requested proposals from qualified consultants for consultancy services for engineering design of works, rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation systems (earthworks, struc-

ancestors. The Guyana Marketing Corporation had also said farmers in the community are hindered from producing marketable amounts due to failures in the drainage system.

“Hopefully (we) will be ready to start soon,” Alvin told the Guyana Chronicle

PM tours new Texila University site PRIME Minister, Mr Moses Nagamootoo, was recently taken on a guided tour of the proposed site of Texila American University’s new

campus at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

He was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Sita Nagamootoo, on the tour.

The state-of-the-art facility is currently under construction, and will be the second tertiary institution TAU has established here.

Field Manager of the Buxton/Friendship Grantees Cooperative Society, Ronald Roberts, points to a section of the area which will be developed through the Government of Guyana CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) cooperation drainage and irrigation systems and access dams, and institutional strengthening in the two regions, through the CDF loan.

The CDF grant will also be used to purchase heavy duty equipment to facilitate the rehabilitation works, and for the procurement of equipment and monitoring and evaluation of the project.

The estimated cost of the project is US$12,432,236, which is equivalent to G$2,548,608,380. The CDF will finance 83.9% of the project cost. The government of Guyana will also contribute 16.1 percent of the total project cost, which will be

structures and 40 km of fair weather dam.

A pump station will also be constructed at Mocha, and approximately 2500 acres of land will be cleared for cultivation, with the expectation of some 1500 acres of land being cultivated with crops and more than 175 farmers having access to planting materials and improved breed of livestock by December, 2018.

A complete survey of the areas of Buxton, Mocha, Triumph and Ithaca will also be done to establish the areas’ agricultural ‘scope baseline’.

The document states that Itacha will see the rehabilitation of drainage and irri-

other structures within the area’s drainage system will be fixed, some 500 acres of land will also be cleared for cultivation or livestock development.

Apart from a pump station being constructed next to the existing sluice at Mocha, East Bank Demerara, 50 acres of land will be set aside and prepared for the establishment of a pasture, approximately 800 acres of land will be cleared and canals and drains will be cleaned and excavated from Mocha, all the way up to the Lamaha Canal, the Ministry of Agriculture said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

Cabinet wants parking meter project suspended

CABINET on Tuesday decided to recommend a suspension of the parking meter project amid fierce agitation by citizens over the exorbitant fees and lack of transparency in the drawing up of the contract between Smart City Solutions and the beleaguered Mayor and City Council.

Guyana Chronicle was told that the decision was inevitable as some weeks ago several members of Cabinet had been ready to vote to suspend the project. It is unclear what prompted Tuesday’s decision. Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan is to inform the M&CC of the government’s decision. Sources told this newspaper that the administration has not ruled out the project resuming but wants broader consultations and a thorough review of the contract.

Back in February the Alliance For Change (AFC) had

called for the implementation of the project to be suspended until pertinent issues were addressed. The party had articulated its position in a statement to the media. “…with regard to the publicly expressed concerns, the party strongly implores the M&CC [Mayor and City Council] to suspend the implementation of this project…” the statement read.

AFC said that it recognises the autonomy of the M&CC as the duly elected representatives of Georgetown and the M&CC’s legal right to regularise parking in Georgetown and raise revenue to better manage the affairs of the city.

However, the party is calling for the local government body to reconsider pertinent aspects of the Ministry of Finance’s review of the project and seek a second independent review of its contract with National Parking Systems (NPS)/Smart City Solutions (SCS) – the companies

contracted to manage and operate the parking meters.

Two Mondays ago Justice Brassington Reynolds had rejected an application

by Attorney-at-Law Kamal Ramkarran which sought to have the project put on hold until a substantive case, which is before Chief Justice (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards is completed. Last month, Justice Cummings-Edwards granted an ‘Order Nisi’ to quash the decision of the City Council and Town Clerk to enter into a contract with Smart City Solutions, unless they can give just cause why it should be so. The application was filed by Mahendra Arjune through his Attorney,Ramkarran.

Ramkarran had argued that the order granted by Justice Cummings-Edwards should have acted as a stay against the Mayor and City Council moving ahead with the parking meter project.

However, when the matter came up last Monday, Justice Reynolds told the Court that Order of Rule Nisi is not a stay of the proceeding, and as such the application to have interim relief from the parking meter project was rejected.

However, the substantive matter will continue on March 20. In the substantive case, Arjune, through his lawyer Ramkarran,is challenging the legality of the contract signed between the Municipality and Smart City Solutions. Last Thursday, Justice Reynolds ruled that the case will proceed after the Town Clerk, Royston King, through his attorney Roger Yearwood, on February 27. 2017, had filed a jurisdiction application questioning whether the case filed by Ramkarran on behalf of Arjune for the project to be quashed, could be heard in the High Court under the new

Civil Procedures rules. The contract gave the company exclusive rights to conduct paid public parking within Georgetown and includes the installation of parking meters.

But the project has attracted a lot of controversy and public debate with members of civil society calling for the terms and conditions of the venture to be rescinded.

Only last week protesters decked in black and white costumes amused the sizeable crowd which was gathered in front of City Hall by “mourning” the death of parking meters. Though the act created a high level of amusement, the protestors were vocal in their call for the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Smart City Solutions (SCS) parking meter project be cancelled. The display was done with the use of cardboard replicas of caskets which held mock-ups of parking meters, the project’s by-laws and City Hall.

Persons walked in circles with the caskets chanting, “You were never good” and “If only you could tell us where is the money.” The protestors are calling on the M&CC to allow the relevant authorities to conduct a forensic audit into the Council’s operations. “We will continue to protest until we get justice… the parking meter project must be revoked because Guyana’s economy is not ready for such a step,” said one of the protestors. Protests have been ongoing for over a month and protestors have again proven that they will not rest until their cries are heeded by the M&CC. At one point, the M&CC had resorted to consultations on the metered parking system with the hope of meeting the demands of the protestors.

But the negotiations ended with no “significant” changes made.

West Canje residents take action –– call meeting with law enforcement to address security concerns

THE February 27 invasion of the home of West Canje businesswoman, Ms Esther Reid was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back for residents of the fledgling Budhan Housing Scheme.

They decided it was time to have a heart-to-heart with Deputy Commander Errol Watts and his boys down at ‘B’ Division.

They invited Commander Watts and his men to what is called a face-the-community meeting, where they aired their concerns, in the hope of having them resolved. The Divisional team comprised Divisional Detective Superintendent Gary McAllister; Officer in Charge of Central Police Station, Assistant Superintendent Parks; Detective in Charge of Central Police Station, Sergeant Lawrence Thomas; and Station Sergeant O’Donoghue.

During the meeting, Ms Reid, who is also a part-time lecturer at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute

(NATI), seized the opportunity to apprise the team of what transpired on the night she was surprised in her home by four armed bandits.

She told the team that having observed the men outside her home, she placed several calls to the Central Police Station but received no response.

Her last call, she said, was made after the bandits had succeeded in breaking down her door and entering her home.

She said that it was only after the bandits had taken what they wanted; assaulted her and her employee; and made good their escape that the police arrived, leaving her to believe that there was some sort of collusion between the cops and the thieves.

BETTER RESPONSE TIME Her neighbour, Ms Hannah Seepaul, who was reportedly instrumental in inviting the lawmen to the

community, recalled being robbed too, and asked those present to see what they can do about improving the response time.

“Whenever calls are made to the station, the police’s response is very slow; persons can die by the time the cops get here,” Ms Seepaul, under whose house the meeting was held, said.

Using the time she takes, driving at 40mph, to her place of business on Lad Lane, in New Amsterdam, to drive home her point, Ms. Seepaul said: “It takes me about four to five minutes, so the police should take under ten minutes, as my workplace is a few streets away. Yet, we have to wait for over an hour for a response.

“In addition, those manning the operation room seem not to know where the places are located, or they just don’t record the messages, as we have to call several times, relating the same messages. And then they want our tone to be normal…

“Imagine! Your home is

being invaded, and the operations room rank wants you to be calm and polite!”

Another resident, one Mr Oliver Ross, a schoolteacher, recalled that when his home was targetted, the response was also slow.

He, however, made a salient point, in that the bandits seemingly have a well worked-out schedule, as they usually strike at a particular period.

BOLD-FACED He noted too, that while his matter is engaging the attention of the courts, he’s still seeing the very person who is the defendant in his case frequenting the area; and just recently, he said, the man accosted a remigrant couple who is constructing their home in the neighbourhood.

Ross said when the assailant’s ploy to sponge off the couple didn’t work, he resorted to stoning them with their own concrete blocks after they told him they had no money.

Other residents in the sparsely-occupied, 75 houselot community shared similar stories, including the current spate of break-ins of both houses and vehicles; they also supported the call for not only improved response time from the cops, but confidentiality and trust amongst the lawmen, in a bid for them to better serve and protect the populace.

TOTALLY AGREES In response, Commander Watts said that while he will not dispute the fact that response may slow at times, one also needs to take into account that the police needs to approach a crime scene with caution.

He, however, expressed surprise at the many incidents of crime in such a small community, especially one in which the inhabitants are all professionals.

He also lamented the fact that many of the matters seem to have gone unreported, as according to the police re-

cords, the neighbourhood “is relatively quiet”.

Said Commander Watts: “Before I came here, I was briefed, and was told about three reported crimes occurred here within the last year-anda-half.

“But, coming here, I am hearing something different; but I believe what you are saying. What I am concerned about is that most of these matters are not being reported properly to the police.”

Consequently, the Commander, who later toured the area, said considerations will be made to reorganise the community’s policing group, and hold discussion with the hierarchy of the Force with a view to having a police outpost set up in the area to serve theirs and other West Canje Communities.

He also promised to work on improving response time, and to prove his sincerity, provided residents with the number to his mobile phone and that of the divisional detective.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

MARAD goes after sunken vessel – coordinates to be established, investigations launched

By Ravin Singh

THE Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) is expected to conduct hydrographic surveys today to establish the coordinates of a vessel which reportedly sunk offshore Guyana with a large quantity of rice.

The vessel, identified as MV Dona Martha, reportedly sank four miles off the Essequibo Coast on Wednesday, after it left Guyana for Venezuela with a shipment of rice.

According to reports, the ship began taking in water and the crew, not being able to remedy the problem, abandoned it. Thereafter, the vessel sunk.

The crew is believed to be a

The MV Dona Martha which is partially sunken off the coast of Guyana (Stabroek News photo) Venezuelan one.

Reports indicate that the vessel was transporting rice through a private deal to neighbouring Venezuela which is currently facing severe economic crises. Per-

sons have also reported that half of the quantity of rice went down with the partially-sunken ship while the remaining packages were looted after the crew abandoned the vessel.

On the other hand, it is not clear whether the ship had entered Guyana legally.

Director General of MARAD, Claudette Rogers, through her Public Relations Officer (PRO), Akosua

McPherson, related that the department was informed about the incident on March 9. “It’s only last Thursday we learnt about this vessel when it was reported to us” the PRO said, adding that MARAD will send the hydrographic surveys today, Wednesday, to establish the coordinates of the sunken vessel.

She said that once this is established, the department

Wednesday, March 15, 2017 - 05:00 hrs Thursday, March 16, 2017 - 05:00 hrs Friday , March 17, 2017 - 05:00 hrs

will dispatch messages to mariners for their safety.

Asked whether MARAD was aware of the MV Dona Martha’s presence in Guyana, McPherson responded in the affirmative.

“Yes, we were aware that this vessel was in Guyana because we received noticed about a month ago that they are here.”

However, she could not say if the vessel had been granted permission for entry, or it had accessed Guyana’s maritime space illegally. Additionally, MARAD is still to investigate whether the vessel belongs to Venezuela.

However, authorities say there is no ship belonging to Guyana with the name MV Dona Martha which images

reveal is painted on the sunken vessel.

The private rice deal which the ship is believed to have been facilitating was entered into after the Government to Government ricefor-oil (called PetroCaribe) deal between Guyana and Venezuela collapsed in 2015.

The PetroCaribe deal was an oil sale arrangement where Guyana and a number of CARICOM and Latin America countries take oil from Venezuela at concessionary rate, pay a percentage in advance and the balance over a 20year period. However, in 2015 Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro issued a decree claiming thre-quarters of Guyana’s landmass and most of this country’s Atlantic waters just after oil reserves were discovered by ExxonMobil.

The Petrocaribe deal was one which was renewed on an annual basis. However, that year Venezuela opted not to renew the agreement with Guyana and subsequently struck a deal with Suriname to take rice from the Dutch-speaking nation.

This birthed the private rice deal between Guyanese millers and buyers in Venezuela.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 15, 2017

CAL workers underpaid, unhappy A SURVEY conducted

by Caribbean Airlines (CAL) last February has revealed that 67 per cent of its workers do not believe the State-owned airline can return to profitability.

The data in this survey was disclosed by CAL Human Resources Vice-President Hyacinth Guy in response to questions from members of the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on State Enterprises on Monday at Tower D of the Port-ofSpain International Waterfront Centre.

JSC chairman, Independent Senator David Small, wondered whether salaries and compensation attributed to such a high level of dissatisfaction expressed by the majority of the airline’s workers.

Without quoting figures, Small observed, “The average salary for the pilots is well within the range of even some of the larger airlines.” According to Small, “The disparity is the frontline staff.”

Focusing particularly on flight attendants, Small said the information suggested that CAL flight attendants are “paid a fraction” of what their counterparts in other airlines are paid.

Guy admitted that, “Salary levels in CAL are not at the market level.” As she explained, the airline is “challenged as an organisation. The ranges have been in place since 2010.”

She said the airline’s pilots re-negotiated their contracts in 2014, and have a collective agreement which

runs up 2018.

Guy reiterated that while CAL is challenged with respect to other categories of its workers, it has implemented “a robust performance and evaluation system.” She said this has allowed “employees, since 2015, to get a merit increase based on performance.”

Guy explained that while the official retirement age at CAL is 60 years, pilots can work up to 65.

Opposition Senator Wade Mark suggested part of the reason why so many CAL workers are unhappy is because most of them are not unionised.

Mark added CAL’s pilots have a labour representative. (TrinidadNewsday)

ATM scammers hit St Vincent

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent CMC): The Bank of St Vincent & the Grenadines Ltd (BOSVG) says it is aware of recent reports regarding fraudulent activities at automated teller machines (ATMs), and that they may have affected some of its customers.

The statement comes as investigators at the Financial Investigations Unit were questioning three St Lucians suspected of having been involved in an ATM scam that might have affected BOSVG customers.

The men were reported to have in their possession more than EC$70,000

(EC$1 = US$0.37), and sources say that police were searching for a fourth person suspected of being involved in the scheme.

BOSVG did not refer to the police investigation in its statement, but said that the schemes “are not limited to any particular bank, and are likely to have affected various institutions.”

The bank said it takes matters of customer safety and security very seriously, “and remains unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding the financial affairs of our valued customers.

“The Bank continues

to implement technological solutions to mitigate instances of fraudulent activity.

“In light of these reports, customers are therefore urged to continue to be vigilant when using ATMs,” the bank said, reminding customers that they, too, should follow some simple rules such as keeping their personal identification number (PIN) a secret.

The bank said it would continue to work closely with relevant authorities and financial sector stakeholders “to ensure that our customers are adequately protected.”

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Editorial

100 years abolition of indentured labour

TODAY the foundation will be unveiled at Palmyra Village, Berbice for the erection of the Indian Arrival Monument, which is a gift to Guyanese from the Indian Government.

This month marks a hundred years since the British Crown abolished indentured labour. This experience has shaped the nation’s tapestry, not merely for the various peoples who came under the oppressive system, but also their diverse cultures and other contributions to the nation’s development.

These diverse strains in no small measure add to the beauty that defines Guyana and resilience that has shaped its peoples’ history. Though often the inclination to attend to what is considered the negative aspects of history, it should not be ignored that these very experiences have not only shaped us, but also offer opportunities to learn from and build on.

Irrespective of outlook, none can deny indentured servitude was a debasement of human dignity and respect.

And whereas expressions were allowed in some instances, as in the practice of indigenous religion, the indentured labourer was not without deprivations. When one is beholden to another, who not only determines his condition of work but also standard of living by fostering a polity of two or more societies in one society, the interest of the relegated is never fully served or attained. This is the environment the indentured labourers lived under.

Conditions of plantation life, labour and living, were far from acceptable. Being treated as beast of burdens, enticed to come to the so-called New World as contract/bound wage labourers, on the pretext that life would be better than the conditions to be left behind, assistance with return passage, and reward of land, fell short of standards comparable to human dignity and respect.

The British Crown, having abolished slavery, saw the need to source a new supply of labour, and approached it from the mind-set that condemnation of the barbarity that characterised slavery though it will not be practised would not prevent mistreatment in other forms. As the indentured labourers resisted the indignity and disrespect, coupled with the support of locals in then British Guiana, Britain, and original homeland, the unison against a bad system ultimately helped to topple it.

This blot in history should not only serve as moments to castigate and condemn an entire group, lest it be forgotten among those who have suffered and resisted, were those from the oppressed group, however small in numbers made a big difference. And in our culture where it is often tempting to ignore the contributions and feel that success would have been achieved in spite of others, it requires a reshaping of thinking in recognising the importance of others to the freedom, growth and development of all.

The system that sustained indentured labour must not

PPP’s Babu Jaan rhetoric Dear Editor,

THE nation should pay key attention to the political rhetoric that came from the opposition PPP platform in Port Mourant, Berbice, at the Memorial ceremony for its late founder leader and former President, Cheddi Jagan.

In political terms, given the present situation in the country, the utterances of Bharrat Jagdeo and the other top leaders at the PPP’s most significant memorial event cannot be treated as the normal bantering of the opposition.

President David Granger, in addressing the GDF’s Annual Officers Conference, used the occasion to demonstrate political vigilance when he expressed his and the coalition government’s concerns over the opposition leader’s address in Berbice. The Head of State

and Commander in Chief in his address to the assembled security officers said, “Reckless remarks about an uprising and provocative calls for the mobilisation of foot soldiers have the potential to rip apart the fragile fabric of social cohesion that we enjoy”. In making those remarks President Granger took the opportunity to put the opposition on notice.

To understand the evolving dynamics in Guyana we must examine what is the present political situation in the country and see how it is influencing the political actions of the opposition?

The APNU+AFC coalition government came to office in 2015 with a mandate to restore Guyana to political, economic and social normalcy after 23 years of PPP misrule. A major aspect of that mandate is the dismantling of the criminal state and the economic and social

infrastructure which is inherent with its evolution. This is no easy task given the political/racial implications and the unavoidable economic and social disruption that will arise in the process of destroying the PPP built criminal state.

Since coming to power the incumbent administration has implemented numerous policy measures, audits and institutional renovations that are intended to achieve its mandate. As a result of these measures it was able to garner unquestionable evidence of the high levels of corruption that took place under the former regime, which amount to billions of dollars annually.

Unravelling of the criminal network that operates in the state and the private sector, be it the smuggling of gold, fuel, diamonds, currency, procurements, over run on government contracts,

land frauds, non-payment of royalties and tax evasion, is proving to be difficult and challenging. In spite of the difficulties the work has continued unabated, since stopping the financial and economic haemorrhaging of the country‘s resources is a national priority. While many of the measures taken by the government to address the situation is not well known among the masses, the same is not true of the efforts of the opposition party and criminal syndicates that operate in the country.

These forces are employing every trick in the book to undermine efforts to end their dishonest and corrupt practices. The government therefore has to be more robust and creative in its PR campaign if it intends to keep citizens apprised and supportive of the work it is doing.

The opposition party has

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

only be remembered for its cruelty and deprivations and honouring those who fought it, but also using it as measurement what we must not accept from others nor do unto others. For whereas the formal system is no longer a matter of law, where acts of the system remain a disservice is not only being done to those who fought to end it, but it would represent an indictment on the beneficiaries of the struggle.

Guyana’s history shows indentured labour was sourced from the continents of Africa, Europe and Asia. The majority of indenture came from India, which also represented the last group that worked under this debauched system. The contributions of all under indentureship to building Guyana are recognised and honoured, for they helped to strengthen the foundation laid by those who came before.

Trinidad calypsonian, Brother Marvin’s 1995 ‘Jahaji Bhai’ reminds of the “brotherhood of the boat.” For whereas some came through paddling, sailing, on the deck or in the hulls, in chains or not, being whipped or the whipper, denied, deceived, deprived or entitled, we are all here today, having survived the horrid systems of slavery, indentured servitude, and colonialism. That we are heirs of the pains and beneficiaries of the struggles, it’s up to us as Guyanese in reminiscence of the horrors and pains and celebration of the achievements, to never lose sight that sustaining the latter require avoiding and removing all hindrances that could lead to continuity of any aspect of the former.

been the major beneficiary of the corruption and misappropriation of state assets.

Their political survival is linked to the preservation of the criminal infrastructure in the society. They are now the principal political actors, organising and coordinating the fight of the political/business criminal elite to neutralise the regime’s actions.

These efforts are manifested in the party’s positions on the following issues: (1) the unpatriotic and racists position taken on government’s efforts to restructure Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo); (2) their hostility to SOCU and SARU; (3) their opposition to the widening of the tax base; (4) efforts to arrest tax evasion; and (5) measures to deal with currency smuggling. Government’s actions in the above areas are consistent with that of normal governance, but, in so far as the PPP and its criminal allies are concerned these policies, point to a life and death struggle.

An examination of the

PPP’s rhetoric at its Berbice rally tells it all: (a) Sugar workers must rise up against the closure of estates; (b) APNU+AFC government are intimidating businesspersons; (c) allegations against SARU; (d) the coalition government is driving fear in various sections of the population; (e) people must be prepared to come on the streets; (f) the government wants to unilaterally appoint GECOM Chairman; (g) PPP is the only party that stands between this government and dictatorship; and (h) an appeal to foot soldiers.

While most of the above propaganda is not new, the choice of place, timing and the tone of the rhetoric is not accidental. For Jagdeo and the PPP it amounts to reading the “riot act“ and signal the road they intend to take Guyana down. The threats implicit in these remarks were not missed

by President Granger.

Regards Tacuma Ogunseye

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 15, 2017

OP-ED

Earth Hour 2017

By Yasmin Bowman

EARTH Hour is a global grassroots initiative which takes place annually at the end of March about spreading awareness on environmental issues in our global and local communities. The event encourages individuals, communities, corporates, and households to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour to show support for the fight against climate change and commitment towards a better planet. Earth Hour 2017 continues the theme of “Shine a Light on Climate Action” to highlight the importance and urgency for individuals to take climate action now.

Each participating country will “Shine a Light” on the most relevant climate issues they face. For Guyana, the 3 areas identified are, Agriculture, Energy, and Conservation & Pro-

tection. Over the next 4 weeks the Office of Climate Change (OCC) will be publishing a series of articles on the thematic areas of Earth Hour 2017 and a 4th article which will focus on Climate Change from the perspective of Youth. This week’s article was written by Mr. Michael Welch, Livestock Development Specialist, Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA).

Livestock production and Climate Change

Livestock agriculture has over the years made significant contributions to Guyana’s food and nutrition security, and has played an integral role in sustaining the livelihood of our livestock farmers, especially those in the rural communities.

The country is self-sufficient in pork, mutton, chevon (goat meat), beef, fresh cow’s milk, duck meat, broiler

meat, and table eggs. The demand for these commodities has been steadily increasing over the years. This is due in part to increases in disposable income and change in lifestyle by the consuming public.

As is the case with other agricultural activities, livestock production is subjected to the vagaries and challenges associated with climate change. Guyana’s position in the equatorial tropics, its location along the Atlantic seaboard and being under mean sea level during high tides present profound challenges to the way we domesticate our livestock and carry out our daily activities. High temperature, high levels of precipitation, high relative humidity, salt water intrusion, floods and droughts, singly or collectively affect livestock production. This is mainly manifested in loss in productivity and devastation of livestock production sys-

tems. In this regard, quality and quantity of produce, reliability of production, i.e. quantity and quality of forage produced, water available for use by livestock, etc, and natural resource base, which sustain livestock production, can all be compromised.

Further, climate change exerts negative influences on the following production parameters: growth (weight gain, market weight), reduction in quality and quantity of milk produced, reduced reproductive capacity (fewer and weaker animals), poor adaptation of livestock to environmental conditions and increase in the incidences and severity of disease and pests. These result in overall decline in produc-

tion and productivity and significant economic losses to farmers, farm family, communities and ultimately the country.

Therefore, the Government of Guyana (GOG) has put in place Climate Smart Agriculture Policies and introduced tested and proven interventions that will mitigate against the negative consequences associated with climate change and that such policies will allow for the building of a resilient and robust livestock sector. These interventions include, but are not limited to the following: selection of breeds of livestock that will survive and thrive under our environmental conditions; develop and implement breeding calendar or seasonal breeding

guidelines to avoid harsh environmental conditions; forage selection, based on eco-zone peculiarities; forage conservation (silage, hay); utilisation of agricultural by-products or unwanted materials, especially treated or untreated rice straw, waste from the poultry industry; composted poultry litter to feed ruminants; water harvesting; appropriate pen construction to minimise harmful effects associated with heat stress, and locating pens away from flood prone areas. The primary objective of these interventions is to reduce the negative impacts climate change can have on livestock production, while at the same time preserving our food and nutrition security and food independence.

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Is it ok to be black in Guyana?

PRIOR to returning to Guyana in 2015, I lived in Antigua. After a short period of being in Antigua my Afro-Guyanese wife began signalling to me that she liked the island and would not mind settling there long term. I was curious by this, as Antigua, hospitable, warm and welcoming as it was, was not our home.

I yearned for Guyana. I enquired of her as to the reason for her conclusion.

Her, simple, distressing response haunts me still.

“Because it is ok to be black here,” she said.

The rest, she did not need to say. It was not ok to be black in Guyana.

Here, a Guyanese, born and raised in Guyana, felt like an outsider in her own land and felt comfortable elsewhere. It was this more than anything else which drove me to be deeply involved in politics. I could not ignore the cry of my wife and do nothing to try and help fashion a Guyana in which she could at least feel comfortable in her own skin.

Prior to leaving Guyana, as an inter-racial couple, we had developed certain systems to help us navigate our

way in this society. We knew how it worked, and when we needed certain common things done I would front up, when we needed certain other common things done, she would front up. We would ‘get through’ either faster, or with less hindrance that way.

We knew what the likelihood of success was if one or the other of us sought a loan for example.

To this day, particularly when we approach cashiers together, we are asked whether we are cashing separately or together. The sight of an Indo-looking man and an Afro-looking woman as a couple still unsettles some Guyanese. That they could be married revolts more than a few. This is our unavoidable reality and until we have an open and frank discussion on it we will not get over this perpetual hurdle.

Recent events illustrate that we have much distance to cover.

The deeply troubling case of two Afro-Guyanese Georgetown men being brutally beaten in the Canal No. 1 Polder area on Phagwah Day, presumably under the suspicion of pilfering car mirrors does not exist in a

vacuum. The views and convictions of the perpetrators are formed over a period of time by information they are fed, quite possibly from leaders to whom they look up and revere.

The perpetrators are not reported to have been alien barbarians from another planet or another era but seemingly ordinary village people who took an abhorrent course of action. Why would seemingly mild-mannered, country folk exhibit such dastardly conduct against their own brothers from just across the Demerara river?

What would have caused them to form such opinions about their fellow Guyanese and resort to brutality? This issue demands more than emotional or cursory examination. What is the origin of this volatile hatred?

When national leaders, political, religious and others stoke ethnic fear, hatred and insecurity there are consequences. When this is done during political campaigns, and in bottom-houses, the effects are not transient and simply evaporate when the campaigns conclude. The effects are lasting and play a not insignificant role in shap-

ing the opinions and frames of references of the people to whom these divisionist messages of vengeance are distributed.

Political campaigns and politics as a whole do not allow those who are actively engaged in them to be exempt from the consequences of their actions and thus are free to say whatever they wish for whatever political gains they are after. The Guyanese public must demand that their political leaders especially, act in a manner consistent with molding and maintaining an enabling environment for public order and lawfulness.

Political leaders who nonchalantly stoke ethnic fear in pursuit of political power must be subject to harsh and unrelenting reprimand from the court of public opinion.

They must not be allowed a free pass simply because it is the national consensus that such debasing and lowly conduct is to be expected from a certain quarter.

To cast a blind eye is to be accepting that such signals, sent from the political platform to the constituents, help to germinate and shape sentiments of raw hatred for our fellow Guyanese on the

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

basis of ethnicity. How can this be helpful in building a progressive nation?

Those who are engineering and perpetuating animosity and intolerance must not be allowed to operate with impunity. The quest for political power cannot be executed at any cost. Guyana and Guyanese must come first, always. There can be no compromise on this.

We are a rainbow nation of several ethnicities, religions, political persuasions and sexual orientations. We are 750,000. We do not have the luxury of picking off each other on whatever spurious grounds politicians urge us to. Our political leaders cannot be allowed to contrive an environment in which members of the public who ascribe to their political convictions begin to cultivate hate and bitterness and resentment to persons of another ethnicity.

We cannot aspire to, nor can we partake, even if by our silence, in any effort in which a single Guyanese feels ethnically vulnerable to travel to any part of Guyana, near or far. We must all unequivocally condemn those who contribute to such an environment and must zealously embrace the campaign to bury hate and intolerance of every kind in Guyana – ethnic, gender, political, age, sexual orientation, geographic and all others. But it must start with a frank national conversation on the reality which we find too comfortable ignoring until it boils over as it did in Canal No. 1 this past weekend. What happened in Canal No. 1 is not superficial, ephemeral or spontaneous.

It is deep-rooted, cultivated and nurtured by elements in our society.

We ignore this fact at our own peril.

PPP rails against ‘strengthened’ Integrity Commission Act THE Opposition, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is against the proposed amendments for the Integrity Commission Act 1997 alleging that it will put enforcement powers in the hands of the President, David Granger or even the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, had said last year that the administration was looking at creating a mechanism through which the constitutional body could have oversight at the level of the National Assembly.

Nagamootoo noted that the role of the body in ensuring the declaration of assets by public officials cannot be

underestimated. However, the proposed amendments to the Act were rejected by the Leader of the Opposition, Bharat Jagdeo.

Jagdeo disclosed at a news conference that the government has disbanded the Commission and sent the staff home. “After doing this, they took and have all the documents that should be with the constitutional body,” said the Opposition Leader.

However, for years, the Integrity Commission has been without commissioners. In its manifesto, the APNU+AFC coalition had pledged that it “will appoint an independent Integrity Commission as a matter of urgency, staffed by persons of

Leader of the Opposition PPP, Bharat Jagdeo displays to members of the media a copy of the proposed amendments

the highest integrity.”

But Jagdeo contended that the Government, with the proposed amendments, is creating a “sham” of enhancing transparency. “Instead of promoting transparency they will put the fate of parliamentarians in the hands of the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon…it is stated in the integrity law that a person will be removed if they contravene any of the provisions, so the executive should have no control over the commission and should submit statements to the body instead,” lamented Jagdeo.

He stressed, the Act allows the commission to take prosecutorial actions against the president and the amend-

ments will put the ability to remove people from public life into the hands of Harmon.

This decision sets the pace for further “witch-hunting” Jagdeo claims.

Meanwhile, Nagamootoo had said, since the establishment of the Integrity Commission Act in 1997, the commission has been in many ways “a toothless poodle.” He added “it has a lot of bark and no teeth,” noting that it is critical that such an important commission has a policing aspect that allows for the investigation and prosecution of public officials who either do not declare their assets, or are found to be in violation of the law.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

Celebrating Phagwah

By Akola Thompson I’M not one for holiday festivals and celebrations, particularly religious ones.

All of them tend to merge into one continuous stream of things I would rather not suffer through. One holiday however, that I have always and will most likely always enjoy celebrating is Phagwah.

Brought to Guyana in 1838 by Indian Indentured Immigrants, Holi, more popularly known as Phagwah commemorates the New Year for Hindus. Well known as the celebration of good over evil, Phagwah also represents a period where people are

encouraged to get their lives and affairs in order. It is an incredibly popular holiday that always attracts crowds of thousands here in our little Guyana.

The reasons I love the holiday are many. There is always good food and drinks and the place always looks like some scene out of a Dr. Seuss cartoon where everything is wonky and colorful.

The main reason I love Phagwah however, is that it is one of the few days that I see the Guyana I want reflected so beautifully.

A friend made a joke stating that “black” people celebrate Phagwah more than “coolie” people and while that

is up for debate, one cannot really argue how cohesive we all are on this one day.

Largely, there is no room for ethnic tensions. The years of deep-seated hatred, dislike and distrust that has ingrained itself in our politics and society are for the most part forgotten in the celebration of water and powder.

Strangers greet each other with dabs of colors, something that on any other day might elicit some kind of emotional response. It doesn’t of course because we all know the intention is pure and fun, at least for me it is.

Every Phagwah, I am reminded of why we need to practise the same thing

throughout the year because we are a deeply fractured country that is in dire need of healing when it comes to the divisions between Indo and Afro Guyanese.

The savage beating of two afro-Guyanese, Dameion Gordon and Vernon Beckles in Canal No. 1 Polder, West Bank Demerara, on Phagwah day shows us why we need to embrace the messages the day has for us. The beating by the residents in my view was prompted by stereotypes where their only crime was not fitting in the predominantly Indian community.

It is times like this when I further button down on the belief that we need to continue

Man gets 11 years for killing youth CHRISTOPHER Da Silva was on Tuesday sentenced to 11 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for the killing of a teen-

Victim: Rayaad Khan age boy back in June 2012, at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

The sentence was handed down by Justice Navindra Singh. On Tuesday while the trial was into a few days, Da Silva, who is indicted for the murder of Rayaad Khan on June 28, 2012, at 17th Avenue Diamond, East Bank Demerara, during an argument over a girl, changed his plea

through his attorney, Maxwell McKay. The court accepted the guilty plea and Justice Singh asked the 12-member jury to return a formal not guilty verdict for murder. In his submission, defence counsel Maxwell McKay told the court that his client is a model prisoner and is a member of the boxing unit at Camp Street Prison with an exceptional record of 17 wins under his belt and two losses.

McKay also asked the court for leniency as he spoke of the good behaviour of Da Silva, who came from a single parent household and was on remand for the past five years.

Meanwhile, with tears in his eyes, Da Silva apologised to the father of the deceased, who was present in court accompanied by other relatives on Tuesday for the unlawful killing.

Da Silva also asked for the court’s mercy and told Khan’s father “I am sorry for the loss of your son.”

In response, State Prosecutor, Siand Dhurjon, told the court that the deceased Rayaad Khan was killed in the prime of his life at age 17. He was attending school and had his own business.

He described Khan as a

tall and handsome individual, who was full of potential and was very ambitious. Justice Singh told the court that Da Silva has found himself in an unfortunate position but hope he pursues a meaningful life thereafter.

The Judge related that one cannot forget that a life was lost, alluding to the evidence presented in court. He said Khan was an ambitious young man and the court cannot allow the murder to go unpunished. Justice Singh also recognised Da Silva’s genuine remorse for his actions which led to the death of Khan and handed down his sentence of 11 years.

However, five years was subtracted for the time served while, on remand, as such, Khan will only serve six years. After the verdict was handed down, a tearful Da Silva looked at his relatives, who were present in court as he was led away to jail.

The indictment stated that Christopher Da Silva, 23, murdered Rayaad Khan, 17, of 737 Section ‘C’ Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara on June 28, 2012. Reports indicated that Khan was going to pick up one of his cousins

when he was confronted

by Da Silva and a fight ensued, during which he was stabbed and left on the street with a gaping wound.

The fight reportedly started because of a female. Khan

Accused: Christopher Da Silva would have celebrated his 18th birthday the day after he was murdered.

A post mortem report revealed that Khan died of a single stab wound to the upper right chest which severed his artery and jugular. The cause of death was given as shock and haemorrhage due to a stab wound.

talking about race rather than trying to adopt a ‘color blind’ philosophy that is too deeply entrenched in ideology to be of any real purpose. It is times like these when I further button down on my opposition to vigilante justice, which tends to lead into a breakdown of the system. Is the system perfect? No, but it exists for a reason.

We always keep talking about our multi-ethnic society and how fortunate we are to have an amalgamation of cultures. While this is certainly great, what I want to see is more responsibility from us as a people. I want to see more responsible politicians who do not use the clarion call of race

at every opportunity and who do not continue placing blame on others to offset their own mistakes.

I keep trying to find hope in a country that keeps telling and showing me that my idealism will be crushed and I am wrong to have it because this is a place that stifles such.

I keep on because I am not sure I want to continue living in a place where on one of the most cohesive days the country has, we have incidents such as the one at No. 1 occurring. I keep on because the surest way to ensure we never move forward is to lose all hope and that is a very dangerous thing.

Sophia man charged with attempted murder, armed robberies SAMUEL Adams of Sophia, Georgetown, was remanded to prison on Tuesday after he was charged with two counts of attempted murder, one count of robbery under arms and attempted robbery.

The court heard that the 29-year-old and Kurt Kendall, while armed with a gun on February 13, 2017, at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, discharged a loaded firearm at Christopher Marks with intent to murder him.

An arrest warrant has since been issued for Kendall. The other attempted murder charge stated that on December 6, 2016, Adams discharged a loaded firearm with intent to murder John Bryan in Georgetown. It is also alleged that on the same day, he robbed Bryan.

It is further alleged that on February 3, 2017, Adams attempted to rob Ramproop Ramnauth of cash at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown. Attorney- at- Law Dexter Todd, who represented Adams, stated that both he and his client are not aware of three of the four charges.

The lawyer claimed that his client was physically assaulted by the police while he was held for questioning. Police prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to bail, citing the penalty attached to the offences and the gravity of the charges.

Bail was refused and the matter was adjourned until March 22, 2017.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

GAWU salutes Rose Hall martyrs

– hails major role by gov’t in observance

THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is paying homage to the fifteen sugar workers who met their death one hundred and four (104) years ago on March 13, 1913, at Rose Hall Estate and who today are being referred to as the Rose Hall Martyrs.

The horrific incident is one of the ugliest reminders of British colonialism and another manifestation of the brutal conditions our forefathers had to contend with in colonial times, GAWU said in a statement. The union said removed from this landmark event by over 100 years, “we nevertheless get a grasp of what was at the root of the riot and killing from the work of researcher and author Basdeo Mangru. At Rose Hall in 1913, we learn that what triggered off the workers’ protests was the reneging by Manager James Smith, of a promise of four days of additional holidays to workers due to their positive and encouraging work performance.

This retreat, it seems, came at a time when discontent was rife. It ignited an obviously combustible situation, which quickly deteriorated.”

According to GAWU one action led to a counter-action and eventually the workers clearly just and justified struggles led to the shooting by the State’s police. In that shooting, fifteen persons lost their lives, including a woman, Gobindei and a Police Corporal.

Significantly too, researcher Mangru wrote that this riot was raised in the Legislature of India by some Indian nationalists who used this horrifying act to strengthen the call to end the indentureship system. “The GAWU, though established much later after this barbaric event, recognised the struggles and

sacrifices of generations of sugar workers whose contribution have brought about many changes in workers’ living and working conditions.

At this time, we of GAWU specifically give recognition and pay tribute to those who fell at Plantation Rose Hall.

They left a legacy which runs through the veins of the contemporary workforce of the sugar industry. This anniversary furthermore affords us the platform to remember those who also courageously fought and heroically fell in the struggles in other plantations in other parts of the country.”

According to GAWU, ”These fallen workers remind us that sugar’s history is enriched by the struggles, sacrifices and the sweat and blood of the working class.

That spirit has been kept alive in subsequent generations of workers and over decades and survives to this day in the industry. Colonialism and the plantocracy system must bear full responsibility for these brutal deaths. In this event, we see that the owners’ class will stop at no crime to protect their property and profit.

And, it is such past brutal experiences at the hands of private owners that presently strengthen our opposition to the call for privatisation in our day.”

The union said in the time that has elapsed since this historic event at Rose Hall Estate, the workers in the industry and the industry itself have advanced in several ways. “It is, therefore, regrettable that attempts are constantly being made to reverse the hard won gains of workers in the industry. Increasingly, sugar workers find themselves engaged in actions to defend their rights and interests against our home grown bureaucrats and their hirelings.” “Rose Hall Estate occupies a special

place in the nation’s sugar industry. It is at this location that the then Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham, exclaimed that the industry would be owned and operated by the people of Guyana. The estate is also the only estate which has been bestowed with a national award in recognition of its contribution in terms of production, efficiency and most of all to the enterprising people of the area. It is, therefore, disheartening for us to register that this year’s observance is overshadowed, to a large extent, by a proposal by the Government to close soon Rose Hall Estate. The lives of thousands of ordinary, hard-working Guyanese stand to be affected should this proposal be allowed to succeed,” GAWU declared.

The union said in their fight of today, “we also remember past battles and those like the Rose Hall Martyrs who had been the victims of colonial plunder and exploitation and fatal violence.

In this respect, GAWU, at a meeting with the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport was informed that the Government of Guyana is to take a significant role in this year’s commemoration which in previous years have been spearheaded by a local committee which has done much to call attention to this sacrifice over 100 years. We welcome the involvement of the state in this event and trust that it will become a truly national event. GAWU feels that history’s lessons should not be forgotten lest workers lower their vigilance and succumb to disunity to their detriment.

Workers struggles have not come to a close.

Indeed, their struggles continue but in a different context and in different circumstances than what faced the Rose Hall Martyrs. “

Talks to resume on renaming of Chinese Embassy street DISCUSSIONS on the renaming of the street on which sits the Chinese Embassy will continue in another two weeks’ time when Georgetown Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green, returns to Guyana from her official overseas visit.

Town Clerk, Royston King, told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday that discussions are still ongoing regarding the project although initial cleaning works have already been started.

Former Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Zhang Limin, had requested to adopt the street and to have it renamed “Fuzhou Road” in honour of the great relationship between the cities of Georgetown and China’s Fuzhou.

The greenlight has reportedly already been given by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) for the renaming of the street, which had subsequently drawn criticism from some sections of society.

“The Chinese Ambassa-

dor has asked to adopt the street where the Chinese embassy is now and they have sent to us a draft of what that street should look like. Some works have already started – the revetment of one side of that street – and it will continue on the other side with street lamps that are either solar panel or energy savers… and an arch.

One of the model streets of Fuzhou will be an example of what will be there,” the Mayor had informed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

95% germination rate in Irish Potato cultivation

AMID overall efforts to reduce its food import bill Guyana will be looking at cutting the $1B it spends on importing Irish Potato, if a trial project of the staple being conducted in Region Eight and other locations is successful.

In a release the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) noted that the Bureau of Statistics data show that in 2016, Guyana imported 10,247,357kg of Irish Potatoes fresh or chilled at a value of $1,030,260,531 from the United States, Canada, Netherlands, Panama, United Kingdom, China, Jamaica, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Malaysia, India, Curacao and Suriname.

According to NAREI it is estimated that using the average maximum yield of 17,000kg/ha, Guyana would need to cultivate approximately 603ha to satisfy its local potato demands. This figure could be reduced if the production of Irish Potatoes is successfully reintroduced in Guyana.

NAREI is currently collaborating with the WUSC Caribbean (Guyana) Inc. and Government of Canada funded PROPEL (Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages) PROJECT to conduct potato trials in different communities across Guyana.

The objectives of the trials are: to identify agro-ecological areas on the coast of Guyana that are suitable for the production of potatoes; evaluate the adaptation & performance of the five varieties of potatoes; deter-

mine the growers’ perception of the various varieties grown; and examine consumers’ perception taste and preference.

The first phase of the project was conducted last year in several communities including Kawa Valley in Kato village and Laluni.

NAREI also conducted research at its Mon Repos and Kairuni locations. The second phase of the project commenced this year benefitting several coastland locations such as Little Biaboo and hinterland communities. PROPEL

… Guyana looks to cut $1B import bill

conducted training exercises informing farmers and NAREI’s staff about potato production.

In Region Nine, five different varieties of Irish potatoes will be cultivated on trial at Santa Fe Mega Farm, and other private farms in Amerindian communities such as St. Ignatius and Aishalton. Last week, a team from NAREI comprising a Research Scientist and

Six-week old potato plants at Little Biaboo

Land preparation for potato cultivation in the Hinterland

Extension Officers assisted farmers to prepare plots and plant potato seeds.

Though the main staple of the residents in these areas is cassava, potatoes are also consumed on a large scale. Residents of these communities are paying almost four times the price per pound of potatoes on the coastland. As such, farmers have been requesting potato seeds to produce their own potatoes. But why produce potatoes? Agriculture must significantly improve its volume of production per unit of water used. Potato produces more food per unit of water than any other major crop. It is important to note that from the same water amount, the potato produces more energy than rice, wheat and corn. Furthermore, it could be consumed either as fries,

chips, baked, boiled and in many other dishes and form.

Potato is a 90-day crop.

To date, 95 percent

germination rate has been recorded. NAREI said at the end of this trial, the particular variety of pota-

to that could withstand the conditions in the hinterland would be chosen for multiplication purposes.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

Local stone suppliers to back CHEC on CJIA project

OFFICIALS from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure on Monday met with local stone and other

materials suppliers to facilitate a link between them and China Harbour Engineering Company for the

Cheddi Jagan International Airport Modernisation Project.

Among the officials were

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Minister within the Ministry, Annette Ferguson; Permanent Secretary, Geoffrey Vaughn; Project Manager, Carmichael Thorne and officials from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Company, including Chairman, Stephen Fraser, and Chief Executive Officer, Ramesh Ghir. Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, was also present.

According to a MPI release, the officials met with

the aim of clearing up any issues and redundancies. The suppliers were given detailed information on the required documents and were allowed to raise their concerns and queries on the bidding process.

According to Minister Patterson, the meeting was facilitated to ensure that local businesses play a role in the realisation of the national project. He indicated that local suppliers should have adequate time and oppor-

not guaranteed the supply; rather, it was ultimately the contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company, who makes the decision. However, Minister Patterson said, all must be done to ensure that the local suppliers are in good standing for consideration.

Meanwhile, Minister Gaskin said that the meeting was all about giving “our local suppliers every chance to be a part of this project”.

However, he too emphasised

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Minister within the Ministry, Annette Ferguson and other officials meeting with local suppliers suppliers from BK International Inc., Toolsie Persaud Ltd. and Metallica Commodities Corp to provide assistance with getting them involved with the CJIA Modernisation Project.

While these suppliers would have previously bid for the project, they were disqualified due to shortfalls in their submissions. During Monday’s meeting, Thorne made a presentation and went through the necessary documents with the suppliers with

tunity to supply the goods.

However, he emphasised the importance of meeting deadlines and said that delays will lead to severe repercussions.

He added that the deadline is November 30 and stressed that this completion date must not be jeopardised.

The local suppliers were also informed that they have to meet all specifications, including size and chemical analyses, in order to be considered. It was emphasised that they were

that while it was important to have local suppliers involved, this goal should not compromise the project. “Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see our local suppliers compete,” Minister Gaskin added.

He further urged the suppliers to be as competitive as possible in their pricing while keeping deadlines in mind at all times. The local suppliers are expected to resubmit their documents in the coming week.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

Several Guyanese affected … as NY snowstorm grounds flight to NY

A LARGE number of Guyanese passengers set to travel to and from New York will once again face cancellations as airlines continue to heed warnings of a massive snow storm.

Caribbean Airlines (CAL) on Monday issued an advisory highlighting the cancellation of all flights between New York and other identified destinations between the periods Monday 14 to Thursday 16.

The Trinidad –based airline which controls a major share on the NY-GUY route had announced the cancellation of at least five flights heading in and out of destinations such as Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

ON Tuesday, Caribbean Airlines announced more cancellations totaling some 10 flights; five on Monday and another five today. Tuesday’s flights included those from Trinidad to New York, Guyana to New York, Kingston to New York among others. CAL’s cancellations today include flights out of New York to Kingston, Guyana and Trinidad, among others.

CAL noted that passengers booked and ticketed to travel on mentioned dates will be allowed to change their reservations without being subjected to a penalty, but “subject to special conditions.” CAL said that their cancellations, “are due to adverse weather in the New York area.

The airline warned that they would not be responsible for arrangements to and from alternate airports, hotel or overnight expenses incurred. CAL said that passengers with unused tickets who wish not to travel during the cancellation period may have their tickets placed on hold for future travel on Caribbean Airlines up to one year from the original date of issue. “Any difference, including change penalty between the original ticket and the new ticket must be collected.”

America-based carrier, Dynamic Airways was also forced to make cancellations since no flights were available to New York Yesterday. According to airline representatives, Dynamic, “cancelled all flights today (Tuesday) as a result of the snow storm.” This newspaper was told that service is,however, expected to resume today (Wednesday) but will depend on whether the airline gives the go ahead.

Another major player on the Guyana/ New York route,Fly Jamaica, was however ecstatic to announce that the company experienced no cancellations. While the “serious” snow storm was expected to last for three days, the airline said that none of their flights fell within the timeframe that would pose a threat to their operation.

“We just managed to get around the storm,” the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Roxanne Reece explained.

Media reports out of the US stated that the late-winter storm brought less snow than originally forecasted in some parts of the state, but officials were still urging caution. The original forecast had expected the storm to dump a foot or more of snow on the city area, while wind gust was expected to reach about 55 mph. The new forecast now predicts four to eight inches of snow.

The city is said to be returning to some amount of normalcy with public schools expected to re-open today.

A State of Emergency is however still in effect in New York, but now includes New Jersey and Connecticut.

It was stated that nearly 700 salt spreaders and 1,600 snow plows were deployed across the city’s five boroughs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

US$2.5M to restore St George’s Cathedral … Iwokrama, Farfan Mendes supporting efforts

THE IWOKRAMA International Centre (IIC) and its joint venture partner Farfan and Mendes Ltd. are supporting the restoration of the iconic St George’s Cathedral, which is located in the heart of the capital city Georgetown.

This year marks 122 years since the dedication of the Cathedral, renowned as one of the tallest wooden churches in the world, at a height of 43.5 metres (143 ft). It is not only one of the great landmarks of Georgetown, but also one of the great Cathedrals of the Angli-

can Diocese in the West Indies.

According to a release from Iwokrama, major repair works on the Cathedral were done some 15 years ago but the Anglican Church saw the need to have an assessment done to determine the state of the structure. The Grenadian firm which carried out the assessment found that while the building was structurally sound, the Cathedral needed an overall restoration – not just repair works. To accomplish the restoration works, a very conservative cost of US$2.5M was put forth. But the Trustees

of the Anglican Church, in whom the cathedral is vested, could not afford it. Hence a decision was taken to carry out the restoration in phases.

In the first phase, the eastern face of the Cathedral was restored three years ago with contributions by the Trustees and a $1M contribution from the National Trust of Guyana, under which the Cathedral is protected as a national heritage building. This month, works have commenced on the restoration of the northern face of the Cathedral. This phase of the project has been

Some of the materials assembled for the restoration project

St George’s Cathedral

estimated at $61 million with a contribution of $13 million expected from the National Trust of Guyana. This conservative estimate takes into account the concessionary pricing for the wood that is being used in the restoration. The wood is being harvested from the Iwokrama Forest, the only internationally certified forestry concession in Guyana.

Dane Gobin, Chief Executive Officer of Iwokrama noted: “I am pleased that Iwokrama, a Guyanese iconic institution itself, was able to provide first quality certified timber to another Guyanese iconic institution”.

Mr Gobin went on to say the fact that the Cathedral wanted to use

certified products was testament to “their contribution towards encouraging the sustainable management of Guyana’s forests”. Gobin also noted that “in October last year Iwokrama and its partners were able to encourage the UK authorities to lift its ban on Guyana’s Greenheart through the provision of FSC certified wood.

Iwokrama’s forestry operation is being done in partnership with Farfan and Mendes Ltd, which was happy to support the restoration of the Cathedral. “Iwokrama and McVantage (a contractor of Farfan and Mendes Ltd) very kindly stepped in and gave us some concessionary prices for kiln

dried, cured Greenheart, which is required for the building,” said the Very Reverend, Father Andrew Carto, Dean and Rector of the Cathedral.

He added: “I was quite happy when Iwokrama came on board as part of the restoration. It’s very easy to go out there and buy wood but to restore this structure we need cured, kiln-dried wood, and once we’ve finished the job then it’s good for 20 years.

“So Iwokrama’s certification and McVantage (contractors of Farfan and Mendes Ltd) coming on board with them to do harvesting, kilning, and preparing the wood was a tremendous relief for us.”

New police recruits warned against tattoos, narcotics

WOMAN Assistant Commissioner of Police, Maxine Graham on Friday charged 85 new police constables to remember the oath they took to “serve and protect” as they embark on their law enforcement career She was at the time delivering the feature address at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Felix Austin Police College Passing-Out Parade for Recruit Courses 351, 352 and 353 at Force Headquarters, Eve Leary. Graham encouraged the ranks to adopt an attitude of professionalism

and integrity and to inculcate courtesy, honesty and disciple and at the same time to be focus and alert.

Graham told the ranks to stay focused as they assume a tour of the GPF after being transformed from civilians to law enforcement ranks and to serve with diligence. ”Don’t forget what you were taught, your oath since you will be in the public’s eye, under scrutiny. This isn’t a job but a career and don’t take actions based on your emotions which can have life-long consequences.”

The senior officer related that the life of a member of the GPF is challenging and a perishable skill, a skill which should be enhanced by reviewing notes of lessons and to strive for excellence through higher education.

Graham told the new ranks to be guided by the principles of their teaching which they underwent for five months since they are still on probation and never give up but press on for the greater good of service.

Meanwhile, Police Training Officer, Paul Williams in his remarks said three

Assistant Commissioner, Maxine Graham, flanked by Force Training Officer, Paul Williams, takes salute in the Parade March past (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

The top performers posing with senior officers of the GPF on Friday after the graduation (Michel Outridge photo) courses with a total of 85 ranks graduated after they successfully completed both physical and classroom training for a period of five months. He added that the ranks were exposed to rigorous forms of training to mould them into members of the GPF and they will be on two years’ probation as such, they should desist from using narcotics and the inking of any tattoos on their bodies.

Williams encouraged the ranks to maintain discipline

and good practices since they have proven to be a group of talented young men and women, who came from different backgrounds and were able to work as a unit.

He however, asked the ranks to follow the narrow and straight path and not deviate from their goals and maintain high standards. In his courses’ reflection, one of the best graduating students Constable Lacon told the gathering on Friday that even though the training was difficult to

adjust to they endured and it paid off because they are better equipped to face the public. He said they benefitted from cutlery etiquette and much physical training which will be useful in their tour of duty.

Lacon sums up the months of hard training as “It wasn’t easy but it was worth it.”

The top performers were presented with trophies for their excellence on Friday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

Cop wanted to sell AK-47 – court hears

POLICE Corporal, Shavon Marks, who was fingered in the recent discovery of an AK-47 rifle, was remanded to prison on Tuesday by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, following his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

He was charged with the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, to which he pleaded not guilty. The court heard that on February 28, 2017, at Kingston, Georgetown, Marks had one AK-47 rifle without being a licensed firearm holder, and 40 live rounds of 7.62 ammunition.

His lawyer, Bernard DeSantos said that he [Marks]

was not in possession of anything and noted that there appears to be a collusion with members of the Guyana Police Force and the local newspapers as it relates to the investigation into the matter. According to the attorney, both the police and some sections of the media had reported that his client had escaped when in fact, Marks received a medical certificate for 14 days sick leave from a doctor.

The lawyer applied for bail on the grounds that his client did not abscond and that he presented himself to the police; neither the weapon nor ammunition was found in his posses-

Police Corporal, Shavon Marks sion.

Meanwhile, Police Prosecutor, Deniro Jones, told the court that the police had received information that Marks was prepared to sell an AK-47 assault rifle and as a result a sting operation was setup.

The court heard that the ranks who conducted the investigation, saw when

Marks gave the high powered weapon to an individual, who then placed it inside a vehicle at the Tactical Services Unit Headquarters at Eve Leary. The said vehicle subsequently left the compound but was later intercepted by the ranks who were conducting the operation.

According to the Prosecutor, the driver of the vehicle was questioned by the police and revealed that “he got it [the AK] from a man to sell.”

Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, said she was not convinced of the special circumstances surrounding the defendant’s case and denied bail. Corporal Marks will return to court on March 22, 2017.

Somalian charged with possessing fake passport A Somalian appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, charged with uttering a forged United Kingdom passport.

Abrahim Sheik Mohamed, 25 a shop owner, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on March 9, 2017, at Lethem, Region Nine, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Constable Stephen Williams, an immigration officer, a forged United Kingdom passport in the name of Steven Rhimestone, bearing a photograph of the said Rhimestone.

The Chief Magistrate fined Mohamed $100,000 with an alternative of serving a four-month prison term in default of paying the fine. The Chief Magistrate also ordered that he be escorted to the nearest port of exit upon paying the fine or serving the jail sentence.

Police Prosecutor, Deniro Jones, told the court that Mohamed came to Guyana via Brazil and presented the fake passport to the immigration officer.

Following checks, it was discovered that the travel document was stolen. Police detained the foreign national for further investigation and checks made with INTERPOL revealed that the passport was indeed stolen.

No to vigilantism …Gov’t condemns beating of city men at Canal Polder

GOVERNMENT on Tuesday evening condemned the beating of two men by residents of the West Bank community of Canal #1 Polder Sunday night and called for calm even as police have launched an investigation.

Vernon Beckles and Dameion Gordon both of Georgetown suffered severe head injuries, having been stoned with rocks and beaten with pieces of wood by residents. Police told the Guyana Chronicle that the duo has since given statements and investigations have proceeded into the vigilante actions of the residents.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Cohesion in a statement said it has taken note of the horrendous act of violence committed against Dameion Gordon and Vernon Beckles on Sunday, March 12, 2017 in Canal Number One on the West Bank of Demerara, as reported in the local media.

“The Ministry takes note of the seriousness of those reports and urges that a thorough investigation be conducted into the incident.

Additionally, the Ministry reiterates the position stated

by President David Granger that while citizens have a right to protect themselves and property, this must take

the form of Community Policing Groups. Vigilantism, especially when it results in the injury or death, will not be tolerated”. All citizens are called on to respect the rule of law.

cohesion. “The Ministry of Social Cohesion calls for calm even as the Guyana Police Force investigates the circumstances surrounding the incident with a view to ensuring that justice is

to the venue they stopped at a shop to have a few drinks. “There were six of us, two Indian girls, myself and Vernon, and a dougla (mixed race) guy. We were all in the same car and we

From Left- Vernon Beckles and Dameion Gordon Even as the Ministry awaits the report following the conclusion of police investigations, government said it is important that all Guyanese remain committed to co-existing in an environment of unity and peace as we strive to deepen social

served,” the statement read.

In an interview with News Source, Gordon recalled that he and five other friends went into the community to inspect a venue for an upcoming event that a friend was hosting. Gordon noted that on their way

all came out at the shop,” Gordon told News Source.

According to Gordon shortly after entering the shop a group of men came up on them, accusing them of stealing two car mirrors.

The man said that his friend and his wife, who live in

the community told the men that they all had just arrived, but this did not prevent the men from attacking them.

Gordon said he and Beckles were targeted by the group, who kicked them to the face and also hit them to the head with bottles and hurled racial slurs at them. The duo also jumped into a nearby trench to escape the assault of their attackers at which point rocks were thrown at them. Amidst the ordeal a Community Policing Group patrol arrived on the scene, but the residents continued to attack them. Gordon said the CPG ranks placed them in handcuffs, by which time a police patrol arrived on the scene. The duo was taken for medical treatment and then escorted back to the La Grange Police Station. They were released on station bail early Monday.

Vigilante justice has flared up here over the years and last year during one of those periods President David Granger had warned against the practice, saying that not only is it unacceptable, but can lead to serious problems in society.

“We can’t tolerate that. We accept that citizens have a right to protect their properties and so on, but we expect people to be organised in Community Policing Groups. But we can’t tolerate vigilantism, especially when it results in the injury or death of anybody; it can

get out of hand,” President Granger had told this newspaper back in August last year.

His comments had come against the backdrop of two cases of vigilantism in which residents of communities took matters into their own hands and severely thrashed suspects. In one case 37-yearold barber Roger Lovell, known for wearing a thick gold chain, attracted the wrong attention when two bandits on a motorcycle visited his North Ruimveldt home and attempted to rob him.

One of the bandits reportedly acted as a lookout, while the other made his way into Lovell’s home and woke him up by beating him with a gun.

The startled barber was questioned about the specific gold chain, but as the beating continued at gunpoint, Lovell used his bed sheet to wrap the bandit’s arm and tug it towards a window.

This caused both bandits to be caught by residents and beaten severely.

Then police had said that 21-year-old Seon Clarke, aka Cash Money, a resident of Old Road, Land of Canaan, E.B.D., was killed in the Pearl Village, E.B.D. community when residents suspected him to be a bandit. Another friend of Clarke’s was severely injured after he also was beaten by the group of public-spirited citizens.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

AFC donates cash to Kitty fire victims THE Alliance For Change has made undisclosed monetary donations to four fire victims who suffered significant losses in a recent blaze in Kitty, Georgetown.

The party made the donations as part of its AFC Cares programme, a release from the AFC said. The four recipients are: Faudia Sarwan, Richard Singh, Kurt Lachish and Althea

Soloman.

The donations were presented by Leader Raphael Trotman at the party’s Centre For Change headquarters, also located in Kitty. Trotman expressed sadness on behalf of the party for the losses suffered and the difficulties being experienced but was thankful that no life was lost in the early morning fire at the corner of

Sandy Babb and Owen streets which left ten persons homeless. The party hopes that the contributions will assist the victims in the process of returning to a state of normalcy after the devastating losses of their homes and personal belongings.

The recipients expressed gratitude and thanked the party for the kind gesture.

AFC Leader and Minister of Natural Resoures, Raphael Trotman and some of the fire victims

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

Teacher reportedly ends life

A 21-YEAR-OLD Nursery School teacher reportedly took her own life sometime between Friday last and Tuesday. Police discovered the body of Bridgette Naraine hanging from the roof of her apartment in Mahdia, Region 8.

Commander of ‘F’ Division, Rabindranauth Budhram told Guyana Chronicle that Naraine is originally from Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara but taught at the Nursery School in Mahdia.

According to the Commander, after persons associated with the young teacher failed to make contact with her since Friday, March 10, they decided to inform the police. Police visited the young lady’s apartment and were greeted with a foul smell before observing her body

Bridgette Naraine hanging from the roof.

This newspaper was told that Naraine is a trained teacher and before moving to Mahdia in January, she taught at the Micobie Nursery School in Region Eight for some three months.

Man gets three years, fined $744,000 for ganja A MAN was on Tuesday sentenced to three years in prison and fined $744,000 for possession of cannabis.

Magistrate Rhondell Weever, presiding at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court, inflicted the penalties on Lennox Williams,23,of Lot 44 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam after finding him guilty of committing the offence at Bath Settlement Public Road,West Coast Berbice,on November 16, 2016 last.

Evidence led by Police Prosecutor,Corporal Racquel Mars,revealed that Williams was a passenger in a hire car heading to Georgetown around 12:00hrs on the day of the alleged offence when the vehicle was stopped and searched by Police acting on a tip off. The vehicle had five occupants: two men and two women passengers along with the driver. The narcotics amounting to 496 grams was found in a blue, black and white haversack on the floor of the car behind the front passenger’s seat,between Williams’s legs. Williams had denied being the owner of the haversack.

But the other occupants of the vehicle who gave evidence stated that he had been holding the bag on his lap all along the way from New Amsterdam where he had joined the vehicle, but had dropped it on the floor of the car on seeing the Police flagging the vehicle to stop.

After he was found guilty, his Lawyer,Mr Charandass Persaud,informed the Court that Williams had indeed been a member of the Guyana Defence Force at the time of the offense. The Lawyer said that the man had had no prior brushes with the law and begged the Court to be merciful.

The Magistrate,however,noted that as a member of the disciplined forces, Williams should have known better than to become involved in possession of the illegal substance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

Toxic environment prevails at M&CC’s Vector Control Department

By Telesha Ramnarine EMPLOYEES, parents, children and babies are among those being affected by the “toxic” environment present at the Public Health and Vector Control Department of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), at Orange Walk and South Road.

The problem has been caused by chemicals stored in a room at the back of the office and for quite some time now, there have been many calls for the issue to be looked at since it poses a serious health risk to persons sharing the same environment.

Councillor Khame Sharma was tasked with carrying out an investigation, which resulted in a site visit and a preliminary report that was submitted to the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB).

During the investigation, a small, cluttered room was discovered with the chemicals, including two 45-gallon drums, one containing Jeyes fluid and the other, formalin.

One 5-gallon container was also found with malathion, which was expected to be used for the fogging exercises.

Furthermore, containers with dieseline were observed scattered in a corner of the room, together with dozens of spray cans on the floor. There were also several containers with cleaning agents like liquid soap, Lysol, pinesol, bayclin, and toilet clean.

“The room where the chemicals were stored was poorly ventilated; the smell of chemicals was evident all around. The concrete floor seemed to have absorbed leakages from spillages over the years,” Councillor Sharma explained following his visit.

He added: “Although officers working in the same department were relocated from the general office to adjacent rooms as a temporary measure, they were still part of the toxic environment.

The scent was said to have penetrated the ceiling to the top flat where the clinic is operated and where the Albouystown medical clinic is temporarily housed. Employees, parents, children and babies are thus affected as well.”

Councillor Sharma is advising that all leaking cans be replaced and the chemicals be

removed from the office area and for the issue to be dealt with expeditiously this time, in view of the allegation that the matter was highlighted to the council on several occasions with no tangible results.

“This matter must be treated with the urgency it deserves since workers’ health and lives are endangered in the toxic environment that currently exists.

Khame Sharma “It is suggested that a follow-up investigation of the store located at the Princes Street location be done since the procurement for the Vector Control Unit is obtained from this location. The results may prove to be just as revealing,” urged Sharma.

Other Councillor, Oscar Clarke, lauded the work of Councillor Sharma and urged other councillors to assist the administration in ensuring that effective implementation of decisions is achieved.

“I have to thank Councillor Sharma for his diligence in carrying out his investigation.

I hope that his report will ensure that we can proceed with speed to correct the problems that have been associated with chemical storage,” said Clarke at the statutory meeting on Tuesday.

He suggested that a more secure environment for the storage of the chemicals be found and for the matter to be dealt with judiciously. “If we all take the interest and do what Councilor Sharma did, it is going to be helpful to the council as a whole.”

Last September, Sharma was sworn in as a new People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor. His academic background includes biology and pharmacy.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 15, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 15, 2017

GFF has a very clear vision ...

From back page

and Jack Warner, were both embroiled in corruption scandals.

Montagliani has since taken on the uphill task of rebuilding the body’s image.

Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has also seen its share of controversy, and has also been working on rebuilding its image since it came under the new management of president Wayne Forde, just over a year ago.

Arriving in Guyana last Monday, Montagliani came here to hold discus-

sions with the GFF, as well as government officials.

Yesterday he paid courtesy calls on the Director of Sport Christopher Jones, National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Ivan Persaud and Minister of State Joseph Harmon.

Montagliani was scheduled to leave Guyana early this morning.

Montagliani acknowledged that his visit was not necessarily to give directions of mandates to the Guyana side, but to simply

survey and pay attention.

“It wasn’t anything specific,” he said of the visit.

“It was more coming here to listen, it’s important that as leaders we listen more than we talk.

Through listening there are questions you ask.

There are questions on marketing, questions on administration, and obviously there were football questions as well. I think listening has led to some excellent positive dialogue.”

GFF launches Frank Watson ... stated.

Forde described the event as “historic”, emphasing that the hosting of the tournament will mark a lot of firsts for football in Guyana, particularly the fact that the GFF now has two major corporate sponsors backing the leagues.

“Today is an exciting and historic day for football in Guyana. We now have two commercial partners to ensure that football is played at the U-15 and U-17 levels year round for the next five years. I think this is the first of its kind. I don’t recall a period in Guyana’s football history where we would have had two commercial relationships that ensure that structured age specific football is played year round in every association,” Forde pointed out.

And the development doesn’t end here, Forde said that more grassroots

leagues are expected to sprout soon, all working to support the the (GFF)/Scotiabank Academy Training Centre (ATC) which was launched last month.

“In a matter of weeks, we’re going to be announcing a similar nationwide, youth Under-13 league and thereafter a youth U-20 league. These leagues will feed players into those academies - the U-15 league, the U-17 leagues the U-13 leagues, the U-20 leagues.”

Forde said.

When Montagliani took to the podium, he focused most of his address directly to the players present, reminding them of their pivotal importance as the whole reason for the game.

“You now have a privilege to be involved in one of the greatest games in the world. And you have to seize that opportunity,” Montagliani said.

Montagliani was accom-

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From back page

panied by other Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) member federations’ presidents including president of the St Martin Football Association, Fabrice Baly, and president of the Aruba Football Federation, Richard DijKhoff.

Montagliani is on a twoday visit to Guyana, where he is taking in an overview of the sport in Guyana and meeting with several other local officials, including Director of Sport Christopher Jones.

Jones was also present at yesterday’s ceremony and took the opportunity to reiterate government’s stance on being supportive of any imitative working to improve sports in Guyana.

Yesterday’s ceremony also saw the handing-over of several pieces of equipment to GFF member associations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Test of maturity for Kohli and Smith in Ranchi

By Amlan Chakraborty

NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) - Keeping a lid on emotion will be nearly as important as executing game plans for both India and Australia when the world’s top two teams continue their captivating series with the third Test in Ranchi tomorrow.

Virat Kohli Sparks will always fly when two teams who play similarly aggressive cricket clash on the field, but Steve Smith’s “brain fade” during Australia’s defeat in Bengaluru has injected an extra layer of acrimony into the fourmatch series.

The Australia captain’s glance to the dressing room when he was deciding whether to review an umpiring decision drew an explosive response from his counterpart Virat Kohli, whom many consider more Australian in temperament than Indian.

The cricket boards sprang to the defence of their respective captains and former

players did their bit in fanning the fire until the International Cricket Council (ICC) stepped in to douse it.

The boards, comradesin-arms in many a battle at the ICC, have since agreed a truce and brokered a meeting between Kohli and Smith before the match at the brand new Test venue of Ranchi, the hometown of Kohli’s predecessor MS Dhoni.

“When you’ve got a caged lion they’re going to come out pretty hard. That’s what happened in the Bangalore Test and we expect it for the rest of the tour,” said Australia wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, who owes his place in the side to his aggressive chatter behind the stumps.

“The change from the first Test to the second Test was probably the initial shock (but) Indian teams are always quite aggressive.

Dhoni was a different captain to Kohli, but that’s just personality.”

With Australia just one win away from retaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy after their victory in the Pune opener, Smith’s focus will be on maintaining the pressure on India’s illustrious batting order.

The tourists received a body blow when pace spearhead Mitchell Starc returned home with a fractured foot and Pat Cummins will have big shoes to fill if he gets the nod to play his second Test after more than five years in the wilderness.

For the hosts, Murali

Vijay appears to have recovered from a shoulder injury and is primed to join Lokesh Rahul at the top of the order after stopgap opener Abhinav Mukund looked at sea in Bengaluru.

Steve Smith In the backdrop of the prevailing mood in the series, the David Warner-Ravichandran Ashwin duel will be another interesting sub-plot to the Ranchi Test.

Off-spinner Ashwin has dismissed Warner nine times in 23 Test innings and the Australia opener is mulling playing the reverse-sweep more frequently to upset the joint-highest wicket-taker of the series.

Once a hotheaded young firebrand, Warner has taken on a more statesmanlike bearing since being handed the Australia vice-captaincy and has vowed not to respond to verbal volleys on the field.

Kohli and Smith will be expected to display the same maturity when play gets underway tomorrow.

Pakistan pacer Irfan suspended in corruption probe (REUTERS) - Pace bowler Mohammad Irfan was provisionally suspended yesterday as part of an anti-corruption investigation into the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 tournament.

The 34-year-old, who has

represented Pakistan in all forms of international cricket, has been charged with two violations of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s anti-corruption code and has 14 days to respond to the charge.

“He has also been provisionally suspended with

Pace bowler Mohammad Irfan

immediate effect from participating in all forms of cricket,” the PCB said.

“The PCB’s investigation will continue with regard to any questionable activity by any player and player-support personnel as it carries on with its mission of eliminating the menace of corruption from cricket.”

The PCB said last month it was investigating whether an international betting syndicate was trying to influence matches in the PSL. Irfan is the fourth player to be suspended in relation to this case.

Batsmen Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif were provisionally suspended in February, while former Pakistan opener Nasir Jamshed was suspended and arrested in England as part of the same investigation, later being let out on bail.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Crawford takes advantage of home turf to win the Sports Store 50-miler … Niles wins back-to-back Vets category in two days

BERBICE cyclist Romello Crawford took advantage of home turf to win the fourth edition of the Wilbert Benjamin Sports Store’s 50-mile cycle road race in Berbice on Monday.

The event which started in front of the Benjamin’s Sports Store located at Courtland Village, Corentyne, Berbice saw a total of 58 participants in the various categories vie for top honours in their respective categories.

According to reports, after being sent on their way, there was a jostle for positions and soon after that, Geron Williams, Jamal John and Silvio Inniss broke away and

reached the turn-back point at Number 51 Village, Corentyne unchallenged.

However, shortly after, the chasing pack closed in on the trio who were eventually joined

by Crawford, Paul DeNobrega, Hamza Eastman, Shaquille Agard and Andrew Hicks.

The bunch stayed together until there was approximately 200 metres remaining to the finish line.

Crawford jumped the bunch but was followed by DeNobrega and Eastman and in the end, Crawford stopped the clock at one hour 54 minutes 29 seconds and was followed past the line

by DeNobrega and Eastman in that order. Williams, Agard,

Hicks, John, Inniss, Stephano Husbands and Mark Harris occupied the other positions..

John won five of the eight prime prizes that were up for grabs while Inniss, Eastman and Williams won one each. Junior Niles, who one day earlier had won the second leg (veterans) of the Dr Cheddi Jagan 50-mile road race in West Demerara, secured back-to-back 50-mile victories by winning Monday’s Benjamin Sports Store veterans’ category ahead of Ian Jackson, Jaikarran Sukhai, Paul ChooWee-Nam and Ralph Williams respectively.

Zaman Khan was first in the juveniles’ category. Second was Corwin Collins.

The 12-14 years age group race, David Dick was first. Second was Jamar Helliger and finishing third was Michael Holder.

Ozia McAulay won the mountain bike event ahead of Keon Thomas, Julio Melville and Michael Holder respectively.

On the distaff side, Deance Welch won the category ahead of Shenika Teixeira and Nyonza Poyer respectively.

The females, mountain bikers and the 12-14 riders all left the starting point but turned back at the University of Guyana, Tain, Berbice.

The event was organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club of Berbice.

Romello Crawford (right) accepts his prize for winning the Benjamin Sports Store 50-mile cycle road race on Monday, from Ashley Benjamin, daughter of Wilbert Benjamin.

Guyana All Stars cart off OPL softball tourney

GUYANA All Stars, comprising mostly of Guyanese living in New York, Canada and their homeland, made it two in a row when they emerged winners of Orlando Premiere League (OPL) softball tournament which climaxed last Sunday in Orlando.

Facing Untouchables in the final of the Open tournament, which comprised eight teams, Guyana All Stars romped to a comfortable nine-wicket victory in a high scoring affair.

Set a formidable 222 for victory after Untouchables reached 221 for nine in their allotted 25 overs, Guyana All Stars reached the required target in 22.1 overs with openers Navin Singh and Richard Latiff leading the way with 81 not out and 78 respectively. Singh struck 13 fours while Latiff counted 10. Martin Dutchin slammed an unbeaten 36 to end the match in fine style. The lone wicket went to Amar Singh.

Earlier, Untouchables

Skipper Damodar Daesrath poses with the winners’ trophy and cheque. were led to their challenging of-the-match award. total through fine knocks Guyana All Stars were led from Prashad Mahadeo and by former Guyana captain former National youth player and Canada-based Guyanese Andrew Gonsalves with 57 Damodar Daesrath. They and 45 respectively. carted off the winning trophy There were three wickets and US$5 000. for Bobby Prahalad and two The annual tournament is each for Latiff and S. Kayoon. organised by the OPL whose Navin Singh copped the man- president is Steve Sarju.

The victorious Guyana All Stars team after their victory over Untouchables.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Leicester into Champions League quarter-finals … beat Spanish Club Sevilla 2-0 BACK from the depths of despair Leicester City once again scaled improbable heights with a tumultuous 2-0 victory over Spanish club Sevilla to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League yesterday.

Skipper Wes Morgan’s 28th minute effort and Marc Albrighton’s precise shot after the break saw Craig Shakespeare’s team overturn the 2-1 defeat they suffered in former manager Claudio Ranieri’s final match in charge.

Sevilla missed a penalty and had Samir Nasri sent off as their hopes of a first-ever quarter-final in the Champions League evaporated inside a rocking King Power Stadium.

Leicester, who are battling relegation in the Premier

Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel celebrates with Wes Morgan after saving a penalty. (Reuters/Darren Staples Livepic) League, have now won all three games since Ranieri

was sacked and replaced by Shakespeare.

GMR&SC Reaction Drag race meet …

Team Mohamed’s Enterprise unfazed by Challengers

Flashback: Guyana’s Godzilla R (left) gets the jump on a Surinamese Ford Mustang. (Michael Gonzalves photo)

By Stephan Sookram DEFENDING Champions of the Drag strip, Team Mohamed’s Enterprise are unfazed by the Challengers, come this Sunday when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) hosts the Reaction Drag race meet.

A team official disclosed to Chronicle Sport that they are ready and raring to go, especially Goliath, the nicknamed midnight Blue Nissan GTR

which holds the official strip record of 8.2 seconds.

“The team and the cars are fully prepared for Sunday’s Reaction drag race meet. ‘Godzilla’ is ready for anything that is going to be thrown at it and we are confident of coming out on top.”

“Godzilla’ is still a road legal car,” the statement continued. “Fans should be prepared to witness another great performance from the machine when it gets into action.”

The official added,

“While the team is unfazed by the challenges posed, we are still cognisant of those challenges and will treat them as such; taking every drag as we move our way up to the finals.”

The team would not disclose their strategy and obvious set-ups ahead of Sunday, but they sent a stern warning to their competitors.

Sunday’s event is expected to attract a host of Surinamese competitors and begins at 09:00hrs with free runs.

Sevilla, who had not conceded an away goal in this season’s competition, tried hard in the closing minutes but Champions League debutants Leicester held firm on a tumultuous night.

It looked ominous for Leicester in the early exchanges as Sevilla sought an away goal that would have put them in complete control of the tie.

Leicester keeper Schmeichel was forced into a great save to keep out Nasri’s stinging shot after the former Manchester City player turned neatly in the box.

Sevilla struggled to find their passing rhythm though, as Leicester worked tirelessly to press their opponents.

A well-organised Leicester looked increasingly dangerous

from set pieces and it was from a Riyad Mahrez free kick that they took the lead with skipper Morgan bundling the ball into the Sevilla net with his thigh.

Ahead on away goals the situation played perfectly into Leicester’s hands as they sat deep and broke quickly with Jamie Vardy always a threat on the counter-attack.

Sevilla began the second half with more purpose and came within a coat of paint of equalising in the 54th minute when Sergio Escudero’s dipping effort from 30 metres beat Schmeichel but struck the underside of the crossbar.

It proved a pivotal moment as less than a minute later the ball dropped kindly for Marc Albrighton just in-

side the penalty area and he was allowed time and space to dispatch a left-foot shot past Sevilla keeper Sergio Rico.

Just when Sevilla were beginning to pin Leicester back in their own area Nasri needlessly got himself sent off after squaring up to Vardy with both players bumping foreheads.

Nasri received a second yellow card while Vardy, an irritation all night to Sevilla, was cautioned.

Sevilla were handed a lifeline almost immediately though when Schmeichel clattered into Vitolo and the referee awarded a penalty.

N’Zonzi was handed the task of putting Sevilla back into the tie but his weak kick was saved by Schmeichel.

Disappointed South Africa denies skimping on Games budget (REUTERS) - South Africa’s government has expressed disappointment at the decision to strip Durban of the right to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, saying the budget it had guaranteed for the event was sufficient.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said on Monday it was seeking a new host because the coastal city had failed to deliver on the promises it had made in its bid, including on governance, venues, funding and risk management.

But South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula, said the financial demands of the CGF were excessive, and that in a tough economic climate the country would not leave itself exposed to an “open-ended guarantee” on the event’s budget.

He said the government disagreed with the CGF’s statement, while respecting its decision as the rights holder.

“Our country is regrettably not in a position to make huge financial commitments given the current competing socio-economic needs and global economic downturn,” he told reporters yesterday.

“In the interests of fiscal discipline and financial prudency, our government has considered all options and remains confident that we have acted in the best interest of South Africa.”

Durban missed deadlines last November to sign the host city contract, establish an organising committee and make contracted payments to the CGF. Mbalula said the government had approved a budget of 4.32 billion rand (£270.08 million) which it believed was ample,

using the country’s hosting of the All Africa Games 18 years ago as a yardstick.

“The 1999 All Africa Games are comparable in size, the number of athletes, the number of technical officials and the duration, to the planned Commonwealth Games of 2022,” Mbalula said.

“South Africa successfully hosted the All Africa Games with a budget of 252 million rand.

Should it be compounded at 6 percent per annum over a period of 21 years, it will amount to 808 million rand in 2022.

“The actual cost of the (All Africa) Games is an illustration that a multi-code sport event can be successfully hosted within an

affordable budget.”

Birmingham and Liverpool have expressed an interest in stepping in to replace Durban in 2022. The 2018 event will be held on Australia’s Gold Coast.

South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula.

Unbeaten Bulls, Raiders battle for Group A top spot FOLLOWING a twoweek grace period for administrative regulations and unfavourable weather patterns, the Linden Amateur Basketball Association/Hamid Foundation Under-23 basketball championship will resume with the penultimate round of matches tonight at 18:30hrs.

Winless Group B sides Bankers Trust Falcons and Victory Valley Royals seek their first victory and at 20:30hrs unbeaten topranked Half Mile Bulls and fourth seed Retrieve Raiders will collide for top position in Group A. The Bulls have four points from two wins and no loss while Raiders also are on four points after winning their two games so far.

In the remaining preliminary round of matches unseeded Kwakwani with an unblemished record after two wins for four points will face second-ranked unbeaten Amelia’s Ward Jets who have a similar record. Christianburg Pistons and Block 22 Flames on two points will also meet in search of their lone win after two losses.

The Bulls have in their lineup the tournament’s leading scorer, Terron Welch, a present national shooting guard, as well as the strapping forward and former junior national Travin Dryden while the Raiders will have among their top players Cole Winter and Travis Sutton suiting up for them in this important encounter. (Joe Chapman)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Petra Fustal tournament

Big wins for Tucville, Broad Street and Sparta Boss THE opening night of the Petra-organised Futsal tournament at the National Gymnasium on Monday, featured big wins for Tucville, Broad Street Ballers and Sparta Boss.

In game three of the evening, the Tucville side managed to hold off the Kitty Weavers 7-5.

Three braces each from Dennis Edwards (2nd and 9th), Jermin Junior (5th and 15th) and Delon Williams (18th and 26th), coupled with Tefon Daly’s 8th minute strike ensured the lead lasted until the final whistle.

On target for Kitty was Nigel Denny (9th), Daniel Ross (23rd), Tevin Fowler (29th) and Gregory Jones (30th) while an own goal in the 12th accounted for the fifth goal.

Sparta Boss also registered a 6-1 win on the opening night

Part of the action on the opening night of the Petra Futsal tournament. (Cullen bess-Nelson photo).

over Globe Yard with a pair of hat-tricks from Gregory Richardson (3rd sec.), 10th and 16th and Devon Millington (8th, 20th and 23rd). Globe Yard had Rolex Smith (9th) on target.

The Broad Street Bullies also registered the same score line against the Channel 9 Warriors with a hat-trick from Keiron Solomon (7th 11th and 24th) while there were single strikes from Jimmy Gravesande (8th), Rocky Gravesande (10th) and Lennox Cort (23rd).

Anton Alexander (2nd) registered the lone Channel 9 goal North East La Penitence were also victorious over Leopold Street 2-1 with Romario Andrews (9th) and Kelvin Moore (25th) each netting to cancel out Orandel Williams’ 15th minute strike.

Festival City were unable to fight off West Backroad who won 2-0 thanks to Josiah Charles (6th and 22nd).

Agricola Champion Boys had a close battle against the North Ruimveldt side, winning 3-2. A double from Domini Garnett (12th and 20th) and Quacey Weeks 8th minute strike handed their side the win.

The North Ruimveldt side, on the other hand, had Gerald Gittens open their scoring in the 1st minute while Andrew Gibson added the second in the 3rd minute for an early lead.

Matches continue tomorrow with Hustlers taking on Tiger Bay, West Front Road playing Camp Street All Stars and Albouystown tackling Campbellville in the first half of the evening.

Following a brief break, the action will resume with Alexander Village clashing with Sophia, Bent Street opposing Stevedore and Back Circle challenging Show Stoppers.

Crandon hails Jaguars victory a huge boost in their push for a third straight tile KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Guyana Jaguars head coach Esaun Crandon said his side’s sixthround victory over Jamaica Scorpions is a huge boost to their push for a third straight Regional 4-Day title.

The Jaguars, the defending Regional 4-Day champions, completed a seven-wicket victory on Monday to again take leadership in the six-franchise tournament from the Scorpions, the previous tournament front-runners.

The Jags moved into the lead on 84.8 points, leaving the Scorpions in second on 73, just five clear of tradi-

Guyana Jaguars head coach Esuan Crandon tionally-strong Barbados, another sixth-round winner.

“This is definitely a huge win for us,” said Crandon.

“It was a total team effort. I

thought we were a little bit rusty on the first day, but we knew what our bowlers were capable of doing.

“We were a little hampered at home in terms of preparation, so these guys had to come out and be professional and showcase their skill.”

Crandon said: “All in all, I am happy with the victory.

I guess there are some areas that we need to work on as we go on, so we just have to try and put in the work and take it one game at a time.

“We recognise the importance of winning this game and taking the lead away from home. Our aim is to win the next two games, and if we

don’t win, then we have to try and get as many points from those two games. So this is a huge boost for us going into the next two games.”

Jaguars will continue their road show, when they travel to Port of Spain to face Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, the other sixthround winner, at Queen’s Park Oval before travelling half-hour northward to Bridgetown, where they will renew the oldest rivalry in the regional game against the Pride at Kensington Oval.

At the same time, Scorpions captain Nikita Miller said it was a major disappointment for his side to lose

on home soil and for a second time in the tournament to the Jaguars, following a 181-run defeat in the first round last November.

“I feel like we had a good opportunity to win this game, but the difference I believe was that their fast bowlers did a lot better than ours and that made the difference,” said Miller.

“If our pace bowlers had been a little bit more consistent maybe we would have got some more wickets from them on (Sunday).

Miller said: “Every game from here on is like a final, so we have to double our efforts. I think that we have to close out games

Bolt likely out of World Relays IT appears as if the IAAF World Relays set to take place in the Bahamas this summer will go ahead without the world’s fastest man.

Usain Bolt indicated over the weekend that his participation at the third instalment of the relays is unlikely.

“My coach hasn’t said anything about it,

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday March 15, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPAMY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Chris Woakes (ENG) (2) Joe Root-195 runs (ENG) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first captain to lead the WI in a Test?

(2) Who is the first captain to lead the WI in an ODI game?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

so I doubt that I will be competing there this year,” Bolt told the Jamaica Observer.

There were indications a few weeks ago that Bolt would not be available when coach Mills told SportsMax. TV that a decision had not yet been made as to whether the eight-time Olympic gold medallist would be participating.

Meanwhile, Bolt said his preparations have been going well for this season when he is expected to hang up

World’s fastest man Usain Bolt

when we get that opportunity because it was a second-innings game.

“Our decision-making in both innings was not up to the standard that I or the coaching staff expected and going forward we have to look at that and make sure that we score runs. If we are going to win games, we have to score runs because that is what sets up games.”

The Scorpions host the flagging Leeward Islands Hurricanes on Friday at Sabina Park in Kingston in the seventh round, which also features the Pride welcoming the Windward Islands Volcanoes to Kensington Oval. his spikes following the IAAF World Championships in London.

“Everything is going smooth, so the key thing is to stay injury-free. I am just going to continue pushing myself and pushing my body and I hope it will work out,” he said.

Bolt set world records in both 100m and 200m at the World Championships in 2009, and has won the sprint double every championship since except for 2011 when he false-started in the 100m in Daegu, South Korea.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 15, 2017

GCB Inter-County U-15 tournament

Prashad, spinners star in Berbice big win … Demerara make light work of Essequibo

By Rajiv Bisnauth

THE GCB President’s X1 crumbled against spin bowling to crash to a 147run defeat against Berbice in the opening round of the Inter-County Under-15 tournament yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground.

Chasing 196, a batting meltdown saw them bundled out for just 49 in 29.5 overs, giving the Ancient County side a perfect start to the tournament.

The GCB President’s X1 began their chase steadily as openers Shamma Yearwood and Mahendra Goepilall put together 21 for the first wicket before a mix-up between the two batsmen, resulted in Goepilall’s dismissal for seven.

However, left-arm spinner Akash Herelall and off-spinner Abdur Ramsammy then produced two excellent spells of bowling, to rip through the President’s X1’s batting line-up, who had no answers for the guile and deception of the

Akash Herelall (left) and Abdur Ramsammy share seven wickets. spinning duo.

After losing the first wicket, the innings never really looked set to take off and stuttered and stumbled for the remainder of the innings.

Herelall finished with figures of 4-5, while Ramsammy ended with 3-8.

Earlier, Berbice rallied around a third-wicket part-

nership of 120, between Daniel Dharamdat and Marvan Prashad to pose a challenging total.

The Man-of-the-Match, Prashad, stroked a composed 67, while Dharamdat chipped in with a fluent 44.

Asked to bat first, Berbice made a disappointing start when they lost both their

Marvan Prashad accepts his man-of-the-match prize from match referee Grantley Culbard. openers inside the first seven partnership, which was the backbone in the total. overs.

The pair were allowed to Sarwan Chaitnarine (2), was bowled by Ronaldo score freely, and in the proDuraws, while Raynaldo cess played a wide selection Mohamed removed Ricar- of shots, with Prashad passing his half-century. do Ramdial (11) at 21-2.

But it was off-spinner However, it was a little better thereafter when Dha- Joel Gilkes, who providramdat and Prashad settled ed the vital breakthrough in and featured in a crucial when he removed Prashad.

Dharamdat followed soon after to Danny Atkinson.

Following those two dismissals, wickets started to tumble, with left-arm spinner Mohamed being the chief destroyer to finish with figures of 4-36.

Berbice kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out off the final delivery of the innings with no other batsmen offering any resistance.

Meanwhile, in the other first-round game played at the Police Sports Club ground, Demerara made light work of Essequibo, whipping the visitors by 112 runs.

Batting first Demerara made 176-9, with Shoaib Shaw hitting 56. Essequibo in reply were bowled out for 64 in 26.5 overs. Andre Seepersaud (3-15) was the most successful bowler for Demerara.

The tournament continues today, with Berbice facing Demerara at Enmore, while Essequibo will come up against the GCB President’s X1 at Everest.

Beharry reconfirms commitment for NSBF 2017 Bayroc Community Centre ground chosen for 400m synthetic track

From L to R, YBG co-Founder Rayad Boyce with Director Christopher Bowman, Beharry Brands Manager Kamini Naresh and Brands manager in training Monique Tewari. (Adrian Narine photo)

YOUTH Basketball Guyana (YBG) will benefit from its ninth year of corporate sponsorship from Edward B. Beharry and Company Limited in hosting its 12th National Schools Basketball Festival (NSBF) Championships.

Set to commence this month-end it is the most sought-after schools basketball title. Several schools from most of the regions of Guyana will participate in various age caategories.

Beharry has again signed on, according to Brands Manager Kamini Naresh, who added, “We are the longest running sponsor and we are proud of that.”

“This is yet another way that we are happy to give back, she added, saying, “We like to see a better tomorrow.

There is no better way than to invest in children; the children of today will be the future of tomorrow.”

“It’s one thing to sign a cheque and release that fund and another thing to be down on the floor doing the actual work and we are so proud of the work that you are doing,” she concluded.

YBG Director Chris Bowman lauded the continued support from the company.

“Beharry has been unwavering in their support for youth development, for this

championship and even if we waver at our level, because of them and their commitment, that gives us the impetus to carry on,” he added.

The tournament will officially be launched tomorrow at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) The 2016 edition of the tournament featured games at the Under-14, U-16, U-19 and Girls in six regional zone tournaments.

At the Under-14 & U-16 levels Mackenzie are the defending championships while the Under-19 and Girls divisions feature Kwakwani as champions. (Stephan Sookram)

WORD reaching Chronicle Sport last evening was that the Bayroc Community Centre ground has been chosen as the venue to house the 400m synthetic track. Government has allotted some $210M to a number of regions including Linden, Region Ten. Last night Member of Parliament for Region 10 (Upper Demerara) Jermaine Figueira said that following a second consultation done in a meetthe-people setting it was observed that some 95 percent were in favour of that venue as opposed to the other - the Mackenzie Sports Club.

Figueira further said during the recent Linden Mashramani activities more views were sought and they were overwhelmingly in favour of

Region Ten MP Jermaine Figueira

the Bayroc site.

The MP said another independent survey by residents was done and there again the majority of persons interviewed on the National Communications Network (NCN), Lin-

den, gave the nod to the Bayroc Community Centre. With this Figueira said the decision is that the synthetic track will be given to that venue on the west bank of Linden. (Joe Chapman).

Bayroc Community Centre ground chosen for 400m synthetic track 1

See Page 3

GFF has a very clear vision

- CONCACAF president Stories by Temica Garnett PRESIDENT of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), Victor Montagliani says that although football in Guyana still has some way to go, the sport in the country is on the right path with its strategic planning and objectives.

As it pertains to where Guyana stands among the other 41 CONCACAF member states, Montagliani is impressed with how Guyana is going about rectifying the years of destruction, and impediments that the sport has faced over the years. He’s particularly glad about how things are coming on the youth development front.

“From what I’ve seen (Guyana) is ahead in terms of the vision. Guyana has a very clear vision on what they need to do and I think they’re focusing on the right areas.

It’s the planning and vision that’s quite important and on that end, Guyana is far ahead of where it

has been, and in terms of where we are in CONCACAF.” Montagliani told Chronicle Sport yesterday.

It’s a matter of putting action to theory to see Guyana football take off to where it needs to be; now all that’s needed is time.

“Obviously the implementation and execution is going to take some time, but definitely in terms of the vision, I would say (Guyana) is in the top echelons in terms of what needs to get done. Now you have to do it, and you’re starting to do it, as we’ve seen.”

Montagliani recognises that on the whole, member states and CONCACAF at large have a lot of rebuilding that needs to be done, and the work has only just begun for everyone.

“We need to be much further ahead. We’ve had 50 years of politics rather than 50 years of football, we’re behind other confederations in the rest of the world, and because CONCACAF is behind other confederations vicariously, our member associations are behind others, and it’s all relative. Even our big federations are prob-

ably not where they should be,” he pointed out.

Montagliani says it’s only through working together can all the Federations get where they need to be, and he is strongly advocating the need to work as one. He pointed to other confederations such as the Union of European Football Associations and Confederation of African Football where, he says, such models have worked.

“The days of what CONCACAF can do for you are gone, now it’s what we can do together. We’ve established a mandate of one CONCACAF. Only together we can get there. Football is a very simple game, it’s not brain surgery, and when you do come together, you can have results. Unfortunately we haven’t lived that in CONCACAF until the last nine months,” he said.

Montagliani took over as CONCACAF president last year May, taking over a position that was tainted after the two preceding presidents, Jeffrey Webb

Turn to page 26

CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, at a press briefing at the Pegasus Hotel in Guyana yesterday (Adrian Narine photo)

GFF launches Frank Watson U-15 Intra-Association Tournament IN their continued aim to restructure football in Guyana, with emphasis on development at the youth level, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday launched the Frank Watson U-15 Intra-Association Tournament at the National Gymnasium, before an audience that included visiting CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani.

The tournament is being held in collaboration with the Pele FC Alumni Corporation, and backed by corporate support from the National Milling Company, and will supplement the Under-17 league which is already played. Although the dates have not yet

Some of the U-15 Guyanese football players with the officials: In the back row, from left, are: President of the Pele Alumni Corporation, John Yates, GFF president Wayne Forde, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, AFF president, Richard DijKhoff, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones and St Martin Football Association president Fabrice Baly.

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been finalised the programme is expected to begin soon.

GFF president Wayne Forde, during his address at the launch, noted that the hosting of the league is all part of the Federation’s restructuring strategy.

“The Under-15 league is part of the GFF strategic plan to have consistent football played at every level. Here we are once again launching a tournament that will add to the restructuring of football in Guyana. This will ensure that structured football is played at one of the most critical levels in the development of every player,” Forde

Turn to page 26 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017