Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 15 12 2016

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‘Career crooks’ No. 104766

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

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‒ President urges police to help fix 'broken' society, reform career criminals

Page 3

Bandits busted

‒ after robbing hotel accountant of $3M

New tolls for Harbour Bridge ‒ takes effect from January 1

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Page 11

The two bandits who were apprehended by police

GPSU wants Gov’t to return to negotiating tablePage

‒ says $25,000 bonus is ‘meagre’

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US$10M to boost agriculture Page 4

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

Finnish, Bangladeshi Ambassadors accredited PRESIDENT David Granger on Wednesday accepted letters of credence from Mr Mohammad Ziauddin of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Jukka Pietikäinen as non-resident Ambassador of Finland to Guyana.

During the ceremony at State House, the President called called for cordial relations between Guyana and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to be significantly enhanced, particularly in the area of climate change. He said that Guyana and Bangladesh have shared cordial relations since the two countries established

diplomatic ties on March 24, 1972.

“We share many common positions on international affairs. We share a common commitment to the principles and objectives of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Commonwealth,” the President was quoted as saying by the Ministry of the Presidency.

The Head of State said given that the two countries are highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, this is an area in which they should pursue cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

As such, the President

From left: Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Carl Greenidge, Ambassador Jukka Pietikäinen and President David Granger conversing after the accreditation ceremony at State House

said that Guyana looks forward to learning more about the steps that Bangladesh is taking to combat the threats posed by climate change.

“Guyana and Bangladesh, together, can continue to agitate for increased and more

President David Granger toasts to strengthened relations between Guyana and Bangladesh with High Commissioner Mohammad Ziauddin of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

rapid climate financing for small-island developing and low-lying coastal states,” he said.

According to the release, the High Commissioner, during his remarks said that he had highly anticipated meeting with the President and that his excitement stemmed from having absorbed information about Guyana’s history and observing the beauty of the country and its warm and friendly people.

Meanwhile, during the ceremony for the Finland Ambassador, the President expressed the hope that his appointment will be a catalyst to enhancing relations between the two countries.

The Head of State told the Ambassador that Guyana is confident that his appointment will also add impetus to exploring avenues for collaboration, particularly in the area of climate adaptation and mitigation and sustainable energy development.

“We are committed to a low-carbon, low-emission trajectory of development.

We look forward to working with you to strengthen cooperation in the areas of environmental protection and climate change mitigation and adaptation, during your tenure… Guyana, a

small state, continues to make a big contribution to the global efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. We applaud Finland’s commitment to reduce its emissions substantially and to implement measures to arrest global temperature rises and its support for developing countries in their quest to build greater climate resilience,” President Granger said.

He also spoke of Guyana’s ongoing efforts to establish a ‘green’ state, which emphasises protection of the environment, preservation of the country’s biodiversity, provision of eco-tourism and eco-educational services and the promotion of practical measures to ensure climate adaptation.

President Granger assured the Ambassador of his Government’s commitment to working closely with him in the discharge of his duties, noting that Guyana and Finland share common values such as mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, cooperation for mutual benefit, respect for treaties and international law and maintenance of peace of security.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Pietikäinen said that even though he will be based in Helsinki, he is determined to visit Guyana regularly to work on building a stronger, mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries. He noted too, that while Guyana and Finland are geographically distant from each other, the two countries have cooperated through CARICOM and through the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).

“On the bilateral level, Finland has been one of the key players in building up power generation capacity in your country and we hope we will see other industrial companies from Finland entering the Guyanese market,” the Ambassador said.

With regard to the country’s prospects in the oil and gas sector, the Ambassador also expressed Finland’s readiness to assist Guyana in translating its future economic wealth into sustainable growth and prosperity.

‘Career crooks’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

‒ President urges police to help fix 'broken' society, reform career criminals PRESIDENT David Granger on Wednesday hailed the Guyana Police Force’s social programmes aimed at arresting the crime situation here, saying that fighting the scourge is not just about “career crooks and professional law enforcement officers.”

He also iterated his confidence in the ability of the GPF to tackle crime and discharge its mandate of service and protection to the people of Guyana. The President however noted that limited resources and the unpredictable nature of some crimes which plague the society, are challenges that the ranks face in the execution of their duties. The Head of State was

President David Granger addresses senior officers of the Guyana Police Force. He is flanked by Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan and Commissioner of Police, Mr. Seelall Persaud, at the force’s Headquarters, Eve Leary

“We are interested in a safe country and we will continue to work with you. We are very grateful to you for the sacrifices you make…

You face criticisms every day and you get some criticisms which you do not deserve, but I would like to assure you on the part of the Government, we will continue to support the police so that we can make Guyana a safe place. I am confident that in years to come, things will get better,” President Granger at the time speaking to the force’s top brass at its annual Christmas breakfast at Eve Leary on Wednesday.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, the Head of State said that through the National Security Committee (NSC), which meets on a weekly basis, the Administration ensures that it remains engaged at all times with the force and that Government remains

committed to the development of a better equipped and more effective GPF over time.

“We do not criticise; we sit and discuss how best we can resolve these issues,” he said.

The release further noted that the President also commended the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, who, in addition to implementing enforcement measures and advancing the recommendations by the NSC, has em-

barked on a range of social programmes in order to reach out to communities to improve relationships with the force and positively impact the country’s youth.

President Granger explained that crime is not just about career crooks and professional law enforcement

officers; it is also about society and the conditions under which people live. In this regard, he said that “the force has shown that it is responsive to the changes of the society.”

He urged the management of the GPF to continue to engage citizens, particularly youths, and work with them to

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud giving a brief overview of some of the force’s activities over the past year

ensure that they are deterred from any form of criminal behaviour. He noted that in some cases where youths drop out of school at the age of 13 and 14, they fall prey to negative influences to the point where they do not recognise any form of authority; and that it is the men and women in uniform, who have to deal with the consequences.

Emphasising the importance of community support for the work of the GPF and their role in supporting crime prevention, the President also called on citizens to work with the police, noting the unpredictable nature of certain crimes and the fact that it is impossible for police officers to be everywhere at the same time.

“The police force faces the greatest burden of all on the streets in terms of traffic and most of all, interpersonal violence, which is impossible to predict,” he said.

SAFETY OF GUYANA Turning to the officers, the President thanked them for their service over the past 11 months and said that Gov-

ernment continues to use available resources to ensure that the GPF can adequately perform their duties and that public security will improve over time.

“We are interested in a safe country and we will continue to work with you. We are very grateful to you for the sacrifices you make…

You face criticisms every day and you get some criticisms, which you do not deserve, but I would like to assure you on the part of the Government,[that] we will continue to support the police so that we can make Guyana a safe place. I am confident that in years to come things will get better,” President Granger said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Persaud said that every year brings its own challenges and that the force is aware that much more needs to be done and this is why it is focusing heavily on enhancing its relations with the public with a view to improving crime intelligence and other vital reforms.

“We are dealing with the

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

US$10M to boost agriculture

By Ariana Gordon

GOVERNMENThas signed a concessionary loan agreement with the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) on Wednesday to the tune of US$10, 432, 263 for a number of agriculture-related interventions.

The identified amount, which is part loan and grant, is aimed at providing the communities of Buxton, Ithaca, Beterverwagting and Mocha-Arcadia with much needed assistance to restore and upgrade drainage and irrigation canals, provide farming equipment, as well as to install pumps in the identified communities.

Technical assistance will also be provided to farmers.

The programme targets 1200 male and female farmers in economically challenged communities that have a history of agricultural production and will impact the lives of approximately 35,000 persons.

Approximately 155 kilometres of drains will be constructed (both new and rehabilitated structures) along with 14 kilometres of fair-weather dams to ensure farmers reclaim some 2500 acres of abandoned lands and bring them back into cultivation.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan (left) and CDF Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rodinald Soomer (right) exchange signed agreements on Wednesday in the presence of Agriculture Minister Noel Holder (centre)

The project provides Guyana with an opportunity to restore its agricultural export capacity within CARICOM and farther afield, while servicing the domestic market.

Chief Executive Officer of the CDF, Rodinald Soomer, told reporters that the investment in Guyana’s agricultural development is by virtue of the country making its US$3, 807, 263 contribution to the fund, thereby allowing for access to US$10.4M.

He said additional resources have been received from other CARICOM countries.

The total cost of the programme is US$12.43M and Guyana has contributed US$2M to it. The loan received stands at US$6.63M, while the grant stands at US$3.81M, representing a grant element of 36.5 per cent.

Guyana has made a promise to enable CARICOM to become more food-secure by way of producing and exporting health foods at affordable prices.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder noted that the identified beneficiaries are in urgent need of intervention, as there are inadequate drainage systems.

Those communities, he said,

are severely affected by flooding.

Holder disclosed that as part of the programme, a fruit, vegetable and dairy farm will be established at President’s College to promote and develop climate-resilient agriculture in school. He noted that with improved drainage systems, and access to new farmlands, a new horizon awaits the production of crops and fruits.

He said too that the project will result in increased incomes and reduced unemployment in the identified communities.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan expressed much satisfaction at the signing of the agreement and said the project will see significant improvement to the agriculture structure for small-scale farming in Regions Four and Five.

Government’s investment in the project is to ensure that it develops significantly, noting that Guyana’s performance on a previous loan was “extremely impressive,” as projects were completed on time and within budget.

“Guyana was the first country to pay up its contributions, leading us to where we are today… I hope this project can take lessons from the one at Parika, Ruby backdam area

and be able to be completed on time and bring benefits,” he stated.

The Finance Minister told reporters that the project builds on the overall plan for the agriculture sector, which is to broaden and deepen small-scale agricultural enterprises, enhance value-added, agro-processing and agro-industries, promote self-sustaining enterprises and enhance the livelihoods of neglected communities, while providing rural food security.

According to Jordan, the project serves as a “building block” for Guyana to regain its market share of providing fresh and processed foods for the Caribbean and beyond.

Additionally, the Finance Minister said the project will build on the Sustainable Agriculture Development Programme, which has been approved by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to the tune of US$15M and the US$10,890,000 Hinterland Environmental Sustainable Agriculture Development Programme.

Taken together, he said the projects will enhance the country’s agriculture sector by encouraging technology adaptation, diversification of agriculture, and supporting the country’s green agenda.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

Upper Mazaruni youth to benefit from skills training centre A GRANT for the construction of a youth skills development centre in the Waramadong Village seeks to empower and motivate indigenous youths in the upper Mazaruni, Region Seven with life skills.

On Wednesday, Toshao of Waramadong Village, Clyde Henry was the recipient of a grant to assist with the Grassroots Human Security Projects (GPP) from the government of Japan.

A simple signing ceremony between the Toshao and Japan’s Ambassador Mitsuhiko Okada was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs boardroom, North Road, Georgetown.

Toshao Henry noted that the US$69,739 grant will allow for the live – in secondary and primary school children in the community and nearby villages to benefit from skills-training such as boat building, outboard engine repairs, forestry, carpentry, woodwork products, and small business management.

“It will allow us in that entire catchment area to redirect our young women away from the troublesome issues involving trafficking-in-persons by empowering them with a ‘life’ and personal development skills and attitudes,” Toshao Henry added.

The construction of the

Toshao of Waramadong Village, Clyde Henry (right) receives grant document from Japanese Ambassador Mitsuhiko Okada (left). Also in photo: Honorary Consul-General of Japan, Kashir Khan (far left), Advisor to the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Mervyn Williams and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

$30M for ‘Scale houses’ across Guyana AS part of the 2017 National Budget, a sum of $30M has been green-lighted for the construction of scale houses at three locations across the country.

Scale houses, also known as Weigh Stations are buildings equipped with truck scales, some of which weigh in motion and permit the trucks to continue moving while being weighed, while older scales require the trucks to stop. There are a variety of scales employed from single axle scales to multi-axle sets.

In the National Assembly

on Wednesday, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson noted during the consideration of estimates in the Committee of Supply that the sum allocated is part of a $190M sum for government buildings.

Patterson said that the exact location for the three structures has not been determined. However, he hinted that they will “most likely” be placed along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway or the Linden/Lethem Road. He said the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is investigating

best possible impact locations. “We are narrowing them down,” he noted.

According to Patterson, the aim of the ministry is to monitor the weight of vehicles on the country’s roads.

According to him, vehicles such as trucks traversing the roads accelerate damage to the roads across the country and persons who are found afoul of the law will be liable to pay applicable penalties. He said that legislation to this effect will be enacted regarding the latter.

modernised building and provision of equipment is expected to be implemented over the next 12 months.

More than 650 young people across the Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven district, including the Waramadong village are expected to benefit from skills training.

Ambassador Okada noted that the grant is part of continuing friendly relations between Guyana and Japan.

The GPP seeks to promote cultural determination of the indigenous people.

“This ceremony demonstrates the building of strong bilateral relations between Japan and…Guyana not only through inter-government interaction, but also through corporative efforts from community-based grassroots level,” Ambassador Okada noted.

Meanwhile, Advisor to the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mervyn Williams thanked Ambassador Okada on behalf the Minister. “It is the kind of cooperation that

we believe is invaluable to the forward movement of our indigenous people, the lifting of their capacities in the various areas, but beyond that, this project leaves a physical structure that can continue to serve, (the communities)” Williams said. (GINA)

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

GuySuCo’s future

THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) as a national entity is interwoven into the structural development of Regions Three, Four, Five and Six. Examining the industry’s present status and decision as to its future cannot ignore this framework. Sugar also has its historical development dating back to slavery and indentureship, two systems that have shaped our political behaviour.

Discussions on the future of the sugar industry -- even as it cannot be ignored the systems of slavery and indentureship -- is likely to reap more dividends utilising less emotion which can create breathing ground and political opportunity for divisions and cleavages.

The divide-and-rule policy that characterised the culture of the plantation society and relations among diverse groups, must only serve as lessons to avoid, not repeat.

Recent debates in the National Assembly on GuySuCo’s future have seen the emergence of sharp divisions between the Government and Opposition benches. It would have been better for this nation’s diversity and simmering divisive political culture had it not happened.

GuySuCo’s financial and economic performance, its structural development, and activities cannot be dealt with separately, given the interlinked relations. In the regions mentioned above, this company has developed and maintained community centres, play grounds, and healthcare infrastructures. These serve not only the workers, but also the general public within the communities and adjoining areas. Several canals along the coastland that are managed by the company are interlinked with major canals and rivers managed by central, regional and local governments.

Over the years, central Government has been giving GuySuCo significant financial assistance (tens of billions) to meet its operational costs. To arrive at national consensus on its future may require all the tiers of government taking over the support services delivered. This means the health clinics/dispensaries, community centres and playgrounds, and the canals that run through residential communities. Doing this in the first instance will free the company of these financial responsibilities, and secondly, allow it to attend only to its core operations and attendant costs.

The idea of dis-aggregating sugar into four or five companies -- initially proposed by the Guyana Trades Union Congress to Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder and subsequently echoed by GuySuCo Chairman Professor Clive Thomas -- may be worthy of in-depth discussions as to its feasibility. GuySuCo continues to be a national focus and solutions of national character need to be found in determining a way forward. None can honestly deny that the company, and also the Government, have made some bad decisions (e.g. the Skeldon Factory). The consequences of these continue to see scarce dollars being diverted its way at the expense of pushing other national projects. That having been said, it is in Guyana’s and every Guyanese interest having arrived at where we are today

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

Reasons why cities and towns in Guyana need the ‘Sherod Duncans’ Dear Editor WITH the councillors of the City of Georgetown soon to choose a mayor to lead them for a second year, and I use the word choose deliberately as there is no direct election of the mayor by the citizens of our capital, it is important that they carefully choose someone who is smart, energetic, visionary, honest and most importantly, someone who is young.

Guyana is at a critical point in its history and it is therefore important that the capital city has the right leadership. Our city faces a moral crisis.

At City Hall there is a war against principles of decency, honesty and ethics, leaving many citizens with no moral compass to evaluate their direction. With nepotism and cronyism so rampant at City Hall along with alleged bribery, cor-

ruption and graft so prevalent. With mismanagement ineptitude and negligence so widespread, morals and values are missing.

It is therefore simply not good enough to continue to have clueless persons at the helm; rather, we need young bright leaders such as Sherod Duncan.

Today, the majority of Guyana’s population is 21 years old or younger.

These young people want to contribute meaningfully to their country’s development, they want to see their leaders being confident, social, and savvy with technology. It is time for the older generation represented by the current mayor, who has been in the current Council for more than 22 long years to give way and invest in younger ones such as her deputy.

City Hall has a leadership vacuum . . . Leaders provide solutions. That’s what our cities and towns

need most—a new batch of problem-solving leaders.

The current leaders instead provide more problems than solutions, examples which can be found in the handling of our vendors, the parking meter fiasco, the late payment of salaries to workers and so much more.

Quite frankly, with the many failures at City Hall, we are quite lucky that the only crisis to hit our capital so far is a financial one, but as they say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure . . . Can we afford to wait for a crisis?

No we can’t. We need new leadership at City Hall now!

We must focus on the future. If we can equip young people with new habits and attitudes, we will prevent problems for years to come. It is better to build a fence at the top of the cliff than a hospital at the bottom. We want to

address other potential crises before they begin, by preparing young people to be leaders in the city.

Georgetown needs movement. A cursory study of history of the world reveals that many of the movements that changed the world began with young people.

From Jesus and His disciples, to Joan of Arc, to William Wilberforce, to John Wesley, to Martin Luther King, Jr.—nations have been impacted by young adults. We believe it is time for another movement that will transform our society.

We also believe that if we have any chance of seeing it happen today, we must reach out and elect Sherod Duncan who represents the next generation .

Regards Sincerely yours, Nadine Jerrick

Minister of Business mourns passing of Eon Caesar Dear Editor Statement by Ministry of Business on Passing of Mr. Eon Caesar, President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GM&SA) THE Ministry of Business joins with the

local business community in mourning the passing of Mr. Eon Caesar, President of the GM&SA. Mr. Caesar will be remembered, not only by the clientele he has served through his company, Safeway Security, but also for his commitment to the

to recognise that finger-pointing and emotive arguments will not deliver solutions, which are badly needed.

To arrive at common ground requires bringing forth the better angels within us. This would mean reaching across the aisle and acknowledging the importance of every stakeholder in bringing together diverse talents, vision, and abilities to make definitive decisions. When this is done, outside of being another defining moment in our history when we can come together on common interest, it will bring about the much needed consensus to address the problems plaguing the industry, once and for all. As it was when the Forbes

goals and objectives of the GM&SA. During his tenure as President of that organization, Mr. Caesar consistently demonstrated a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach to the various issues affecting its members.

This approach has

added value to the partnership between the GM&SA and the Ministry of Business.

The ministry extends its sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Eon Caesar.

Regards Ministry of Business

Burnham Government, the Cheddi Jagan Opposition, and other stakeholders worked together in the nationalisation of the industry, so too must it be today in determining what next ought to happen to the industry.

A national united force on sugar’s future is missing.

Any decision made outside of consensus will present fodder for one group to advance its own divisive purpose. We must strive, as a people with common historical bonds to sugar, to see beyond the issues that divide us by acting in a manner that can unite us. There exist no doubt Guyanese who are capable of achieving this.

New tolls for Harbour Bridge

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

-takes effect from January 1

$70M approved for training in justice sector

By Alva Solomon A TOTAL sum of $70M has been green-lighted to improve efficiency of the justice system in 2017 and will see a range of training being provided to improve the criminal justice system.

These include crime scene investigation and the use of fo-

terventions, strengthening of probation services, design and implementation of restorative justice programmes and the implementation of restorative justice programmes.

In addition, the project entails the training of judges and magistrates in the use of alternative to pretrial detention, as well as law reform.

been given in the years prior, but the programme was “muddled up” by the last administration.

He said this caused the present Government to be in a prejudiced position as regards future funding on law review.

Meanwhile, following several back-and-forth exchanges in the committee, Williams informed the House that a $19M

By Alva Solomon

The new tolls are as follows:

Attorney General Basil Williams

THE Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) from January 1 will be implementing its new toll structure for use of the conduit linking the East Bank with the West Bank of Demerara.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, announced the new tolls on Wednesday when the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly continued scrutinising the estimates of the 2017 National Budget.

In January this year, Minister Ferguson had announced that a proposal for increased tolls at the bridge was before Cabinet and that the issue was under consideration; however, a definitive de-

cision was not made on the increases as the year progressed.

Later, in June, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo justified the toll increases at the DHB, contending that such a move will pave the way for it to become financially viable.

In an interview conducted by the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Prime Minister said commuters must invest in national development, even as he floated the idea of the construction of a modernised harbour bridge across the Demerara River, which will allow for an easier flow of traffic with the assistance of a bypass.

“If you want to enjoy better facilities, then initially the commuters

must be able to make a deposit on the intention of the Government to have a new bridge,” he said.

Late last month, Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters that Cabinet had approved a request by Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson for a feasibility study to be done for a new bridge across the Demerara River. That study is to begin in January 2017 and has been awarded to Dutch company, Leivense CSO. The Demerara Harbour Bridge is a floating bridge which was opened on July 2, 1978 and has a length of 1851 metres, equivalent to 1.15 miles. The bridge has been under constant maintenance over the years.

rensic video evidence for judges, magistrates and prosecutors. Of the total sum, some $60M will come from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the remainder from the Government of Canada.

The allocation was approved on Wednesday when the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly considered the budgetary estimates of the 2017 National Budget.

Attorney General Basil Williams, who was grilled by the Opposition about the sums allocated, said that the funds cover expenses associated with equipment and training. Regarding training, he said that Canadian experts will be brought into the country to monitor the results of the training effected to date, and a final report will be drafted in May 2017 He said the project is ongoing, noting that the bulk of it was executed in 2016. Williams explained that the bulk of the equipment associated with the programme was deployed in 2016 and the $10M from the Canadians will address expenses mainly associated with training.

According to Williams, the project entails provisions for alternative sentencing in-

In response to questions regarding the appointment of the Law Reform Commission, Williams said that as soon as the Government receives funding, it will embark on operationalising the commission.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall grilled Mr Williams further on the issue of law reform.

But Williams said that “the law reform envisages the Constitution of a Law Reform Commission.”

He differentiated the matter from law revision, for which he noted IDB funding had already

sum set aside in the 2017 budget will be expended on a vehicle for his official use.

He said the vehicle brand has not been determined.

The Attorney General said that in 2015, there was a transaction which the former Permanent Secretary at the Legal Affairs Ministry had made, resulting in the purchase of what was expected to be a new vehicle, but instead, the ministry received a second-hand vehicle.

He said the transaction was “all part of a system that was to be deployed under the last system.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

Broomes slams beating of Ekereku woman ‒ urges other women to speak out

extractive industry will no longer be seen as the ‘bush’ or the ‘backdam’ where one, and especially persons who are supposed to protect, is a law unto themself and a master for the ‘bush’. It will not be condoned!”

She said even if a woman is a prostitute, an officer’s duty is to protect and not abuse them.

“Women go in the interior, some of them not even as prostitutes; they go there to do their business. Officers who are supposed to be protecting them would come to them for sexual favours, and they have to give in, otherwise they sometimes threaten them to move them off the landing. They take away their money,” Minister Broomes said.

She recalled that once when she was President of Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO), a prostitute in the Mahdia backdam had cause to complain to her about police harassment.

“She came out publicly and said the officer is coming to her room, and they had to sell marijuana and drugs for him; and if they refuse, he’s threatening to put them off the landing.”

Minister Broomes said yesterday that she’s already contacted Minister of Public Security, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, and Police Commander of ‘F’ Division, Mr Ravindradat Budhram about the matter, and that statements were taken from

Duncan-Seenauth.

She said though the policemen in question have since been transferred, investigations have not ended.

“And it’s not a matter of being transferred... I hope that at the end of the investigations, the officers, if they are culpable, go before the court like anybody else,” Minister Broomes said.

Minister Broomes has been a strong advocate against violence against women and girls, and had particular interest in the extractive sector.

“It’s not only a disgrace, it just goes to show the level of disrespect! I don’t care if the woman in question, if she works in a shop, if she’s a prostitute, I don’t care if she’s a foreign national,” Minister Broomes said.

Minister Broomes said several complaints have reached her ministry about the abuse of Venezuelan women and other foreign nationals, and that she has sounded a call to victims of such abuse to seek the government’s intervention.

“Several complaints have been coming to us about the kinds of abuse they are facing up with, and I wanna encourage those women also to speak out against those things; come in to us and bring the matter to our attention, so that we can together deal with this matter with the abuse with women in the extractive industry,” Minister Broomes said.

Banks DIH employee shot dead

Not just...

By Shauna Jemmott MINISTER within the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes has labelled as disgraceful and disrespectful the recent vicious beating of a woman by a policeman stationed at Ekereku, a location in Region 7 (CuyuniMazaruni).

She is also calling on other women who have been similarly maltreated to come see her at her ministry.

The latest victim, 30-year-old Maxine Duncan-Seenauth, a mother of four, of Albertown, here in the city, turned up yesterday at the Public Buildings seeking redress from the government.

She particularly sought out Minister Broomes, and in the presence of reporters related her story, saying she not only wants justice to be served, but to be compensated as well for her injuries, and the gold and diamonds her assailant allegedly confiscated from her.

She said she’d ideally like the lawman and his colleague, much as the latter tried to help her somewhat, to be taught a lesson, since her injuries are causing her much pain and discomfort.

“Compensation would really help me, ‘cause this person took away all of my gold and my diamond before I came home; I came home with hardly anything,” Seen-

auth said, adding: “He say I is a ‘pacoo’ and a ‘mook’, so I am here to show him what a ‘pacoo’ could do.”

Besides her injured pride, Seenauth said she’s also in severe pain.

“This thing is messing with my brain; up to now my head can’t go down, my whole one side… I can’t hear on one side. I can’t take off this shades,” she said.

According to earlier reports, Seenauth was badly beaten to the head and about the body with a bottle last week while socialising with friends at the Ekereku Landing.

While making it clear that she was no prostitute, the woman said she is still at a loss as to why the policemen were disrespectful to her.

Both men, she said, were in the habit of harassing her, not for sex, but money and drinks; “a bless-up”, as they would call it.

HAD EVERY RESPECT According to the woman, she has always had nothing but respect for policemen, particularly those in the ‘backdam’, even though they would harass her and others from time to time.

Policemen, she said, get away with many wrongdoings in the ‘backdam’.

“At times they have no limit; no manners; they don’t know how to speak to

Maxine Duncan-Seenauth points to her injured eye

you,” Seenauth said, adding: “There’s so many things that goes on there, nobody don’t really know; they assaulting people; they pinning things on people; they coming in yuh room and taking things out.”

She said that ever since her assailant was stationed at Ekereku, he began bullying and pressuring her for money.

“He’s been taking my money away from me; he’s been asking me for things; he’s been pressuring me.

The pressure is too much in the interior,” she said.

She said after the beating, he and his friends tried apologising to her, but did everything in their power to prevent her from coming to Georgetown while her injuries were still fresh.

“They apologise to me like a hundred times before I

…while trying to save sister during robbery

By Michel Outridge LESS than a month after he married his long-time sweetheart and was preparing to welcome their first child, his life was cut short when bandits shot and killed him on Tuesday night.

Dead is Jermain Scott, 26, of Lot 291 Toucan Street, North-East La Penitence, Georgetown. He was shot to the chest while trying to save his sister, who was being robbed, a stone’s throw from his house. Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday morning, Jermain’s mother, Maureen Scott, said she was in the shower when she heard gunshots. She went outside and found her son lying on the ground in a pool of blood, struggling to breathe.

Mrs. Scott added that

Jermain Scott and his wife, Cassandra Scott, in happier times

she was later told that her daughter, Simone Scott, was returning home with a friend, Maureen Bristol, on Tuesday

night and as they were nearing home, two men exited a dark-coloured Toyota 212 motorcar. The mother dis-

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ms Simona Broomes

came home; they didn’t even want to put me on a plane,” she said.

They then tried a different tack, that of appealing to her motherly side.

“One officer told me I have children; that I have sons and wouldn’t like something like this to happen to them,” Seenauth said, adding that her reply was that had her sons done something like this, they would have had to face the full brunt of the law.

AGE-OLD PROBLEM Meanwhile, Minister Broomes told reporters that the abuse of women working in the extractive industry is an age-old problem which the APNU+AFC government will seriously address.

“I wanna make it quite clear,” she said, “that the

closed that one of the robbers cuffed her daughter to the neck and snatched a gold chain she was wearing, which was a gift from Jermain.

The robber also took away their cellphones as Bristol screamed for help. According to the mother, Bristol managed to pull out a knife in an effort to ward off the men and continued to scream since the area was without electricity and it was dark.

It was then that Jermain ran out to help the duo.

However, he was shot and the men escaped in the waiting, heavily tinted motorcar which was said to be parked nearby.

Mrs. Scott recalled that on Tuesday night her husband had just closed their grocery shop at about 22:00hrs, when she heard the gunshots and was later told that a car was observed parked near the house before the incident. One of the sus-

pects was described as a tall, red-skinned man sporting long hair which was a ‘twist’ hairdo with a tattoo on his neck, while his accomplice was described as stout and dark-skinned.

Mrs Scott described her son as a very peaceful, easy-going person, who was employed at Banks DIH as a maintenance mechanic in the rum factory.

Mrs. Scott said her son was expecting a lot, most of all his baby and was in the prime of his life. She said her son returned home from work on Tuesday at about 17:00hrs and was engrossed in painting the upper flat of the house.

She said he was in high spirits for the Christmas season. Meanwhile, his wife, Cassandra Scott, who is expecting her first child, is inconsolable and was taken to the hospital on Wednesday.

From page 3

millennial generation… We have to find a way of communicating with them and to share our experiences with them; to develop ways in which that will help them to take care of their own security and make good judgements,” the commissioner said.

Speaking on the most recent crime statistics, which showed a 16 per cent reduction in serious crimes at the end of November compared to the corresponding period last year, the police commissioner said that while progress has been made, there is much more work to be done.

This Christmas breakfast is a traditional yearend activity, which brings together all of the divisional commanders, assistant commissioners, department heads and retired police officers to interact with the commander-in-chief and reflect on the year. It also serves to boost morale and build camaraderie in the force.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

House burns hours City Hall intends to after prominent hike container fees Mahaicony farmer dies FIVE hours after an 88-year-old man died at a private city hospital his Mahaicony Creek, East Coast Demerara (ECD) house went up in flames Tuesday evening. The dead man has been identified as veteran rice farmer Angad Panday. He lived at Esau and Jacob, Mahaicony Creek, ECD. Reports reveal that Panday, who died from an illness, had been living with his son, two grandchildren and daughter-in-law. This newspaper understands that Panday’s son, Paul, was awakened by smoke sometime after 23:00hrs and it appeared as if the fire had started in the vicinity of the kitchen. They all managed to escape.

According to residents, the closest fire station is

The house on fire Tuesday night

two hours away and no one could have assisted with extinguishing the fire.

It was also noted that all the vehicles in the yard were destroyed by the fire.

These included: two tractors, two cars, two motorcycles and a pick-up.

An investigation has since been launched. (Rabindra Rooplall)

Guyana gets US$12.3M to enhance TVET education IN Guyana, there is growing demand for a workforce with specialised skills, as well as a need to increase sustainable employment opportunities for Guyanese.

To address this, the Government of Guyana has received funding of US$12.3M from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), to enhance access to, and improve the quality and effectiveness of, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system in Guyana.

“This project will assist the Government of Guyana in increasing economic competitiveness, and creating a labour force that can meet the demand for specialised skills in emerging sectors like tourism and hospitality.

We believe that strengthening the education sector, and particularly the TVET sector, provides an excellent opportunity to broaden social inclusion of men and women, people with disabilities, and indigenous peoples,” said Daniel Best, Director, Projects Department, CDB. The project has several components, including enhancing the TVET teaching and learning environment; improving the quality, rel-

evance and effectiveness of TVET instruction; strengthening capacity within the sub-sector; and enhancing second-chance opportunities for at-risk and unskilled learners, the Caribbean lender said.

This component will focus on improvement of the physical infrastructure, the provision of furniture, equipment, and teaching and learning resources to meet facility standards required for Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Levels I and II. Refurbishment and expansion works will be done at seven secondary-level facilities, including the provision of furniture, equipment and learning materials, and renewable energy and energy efficiency retrofitting of existing infrastructure.

TVET systems are complex, and teachers need to be trained in methods of teaching that include educating diverse learners, and those with an interest in entrepreneurship. Through this component, approximately 180 TVET teachers will benefit from continuing professional development, and diploma and degree-level training to enhance instructional quality in specific areas of need.

An integrated TVET system must be supported by

government and key stakeholders. Under this component, up to 500 teachers, principals, Ministry of Education officers and industry experts will benefit from training and professional development in specific areas needed to enhance governance and management of the TVET sub-sector. There will also be a review of the TVET sub-sector and the Special Educational Needs Policy framework.

This component will support a comprehensive review and enhancement of the country’s continuing education programmes. It will include activity training for up to 200 persons to develop their entrepreneurship capacity and expose them to innovative work-readiness strategies, and the distribution of start-up kits to trainees with an interest in business development and entrepreneurship. The project will be implemented over a five-year period. It is consistent with CDB’s strategic objective of supporting inclusive and sustainable growth and development, and CDB’s corporate priority of improving the quality of, and access to, education and training and citizen security.

THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) said it wants $8,000 as container fees for 20-foot containers and $10,000 for those that are 40 or 45-feet.

These new figures are part of a proposal being mulled by a tripartite committee to look into the matter.

The M&CC, Government, and Private Sector Commission (PSC) had agreed to get together to resolve the contentious container fees issue.

At the Council’s most recent statutory meeting this week, the M&CC said it is giving the tripartite committee some 30 days in order to come up with a fixed fee, failure of which would result in the M&CC moving forward on the issue on its own.

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and other councillors agreed that the by-laws for the container fees should be deferred until January when sufficient time would have been given for the tripartite talks.

Councillor Alfred Mentore stood up to offer that the new amounts being requested by the M&CC are fair and reasonable.

Other Councillor Malcolm Ferreira voiced his disapproval of the current amount in place for those in breach of the obligation to move their containers within a stipulated time.

He urged the Council to increase the amount from $2,500, and noted that when a car is held with the new parking meter system, this is the same amount that would have to be paid. Therefore, he argued that it would be unfair for the owner of a car

City Councillor Alfred Mentore

City Councillor Malcolm Ferreira

to be paying the same amount as the owner of a huge container.

“I believe that’s low.

It should be $8,000 and $10,000. People have to understand that a penalty is a penalty. It’s nothing you can just pick up US$12 or US$50 and pay off. They (businesses) could put it (their containers) on the road for 10 days and pull out $25,000 out their pocket easy because they have $50M worth in the container,” he said to councillors who were evidently in agreement.

Some months ago, City Hall had decided to implement a $25,000 container fee, but this attracted much from members of the business community and the PSC. Some businessmen had also resorted to the courts, accusing the M&CC of illegally implementing such a fee. The court had ruled in favour of the businessmen.

City Hall has stressed, though, that money is needed to repair roads which the containers have been damaging

over the years.

After the subsequent formation of the tripartite committee, the mayor had criticised the PSC’s slothfulness in addressing the cost for the contentious container fees issue, declaring that she was not sure if the delay was a means of stalling the work of City Hall.

“Even though we are collecting the $5000 retroactive from August 1, in the interim, I don’t want to have an interim of five years. I need to have that interim period completed as early as possible so that we can move forward,” Chase-Green had said.

The M&CC had decided to reduce the container fee from $25,000 to $5,000 following a meeting on August 5 with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the PSC. It was agreed that the reduction would be an interim measure and that the fees would be collected at the various ports and wharves as of last August 1.

Appeal Court quashes rape conviction ‒ orders retrial APPEAL Court Tribunal judges, Chief Justice (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Rishi Singh and B.S Roy allowed a rape appeal, and set aside a conviction and a 19-year sentence, while ordering a retrial in favour of a 44- year-old man who had been indicted for having sexual activity with an eight-year-old family member.

The appellant had served over a year, having been convicted in September 2015

by Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Berbice Assizes.

Consequent to the appeal, the seaman/carpenter

moved to the Berbice High Court, where he was granted $250,000 bail, pending his new trial.

In his court documents, the appellant listed among his grounds for appeal as, the verdict was unsafe, the learned trial Judge omitted to put the defence of the appellant adequately to the jury, the law relating to contradiction and inconsistencies was not adequately discussed by the judge, thus, depriving the appellant of a chance of acquittal.

The State’s case presented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecution, Judith

Mursalin alleges that between February 1 and April 27, 2013, the appellant was watching television, and the child had gone to his home where she changed her outfit.

While there, the male relative lifted her on a table in the kitchen, pulled off her underwear and pushed his penis into her vagina.

The matter was reported to Central Police Station where ranks instituted charges.

The Appellant was represented by Attorney-at-law Charrandas Persaud.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

GINA no longer propaganda machine ‒ PM says in justifying $215M allocation THE Government Information Agency (GINA) is no longer disseminating partisan propaganda, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said as he defended the $215M budgeted for that agency.

People’s Progressive Party Member of Parliament Bishop Juan Edghill had called on the Prime Minister to justify the sharp increase for the agency: from $170M budgeted in 2016 to the $215M set aside for the agency in 2017, given that his initial position when in Opposition had resulted in the agency’s subvention being reduced to zero.

“Mr. Chair, GINA is no longer performing partisan propaganda function. GINA as everyone can testify, is now providing a national information public function; and to that extent, the state has a responsibility to maintain GINA in a position that it can function,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo told the Committee.

A large percent of the $215M will cater for the wages of the GINA staff, he explained. He noted that the subvention would also be used to purchase material and equipment, fuel and lubricants, a fleet of vehicles, and goods and services.

Additionally, a percentage of the funds will be used to maintain the environment, to ensure that it is safe and comfortable for the workers.

The agency currently has a staff strength of 35 persons, representing an increase of five when compared with 2015.

Reacting to this detailed response provided by the Prime Minister, Edghill questioned whether the senior Government official would be kind enough to provide the committee with a log of how much time was allocated to the Government, and the amount allocated to the Opposition on the programmes

aired by GINA. For such information, the Opposition Member would need a motion, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said in his response.

Turning his attention to the National Communications Network (NCN), the Opposition Member then sought to acquire information on the entity’s total expenditure and revenue for 2016.

Approximately $134.1M have been budgeted for the state-owned entity. According to the information provided by the Prime Minister, as of today, NCN has received revenue of $400.9M. The company anticipates that, by the end of the year, it should be able to receive $443.4M. However, it was noted that the expected deficit for 2016

is projected at $69.9M. “The current number is $59.9M, and a lot of it has to do with having inherited a bad business practice of customers, prior to 2014 and up to 2015, having rendered services to clients who didn’t pay up,” he explained. On that point, it was noted that the total expenditure for this year is $649.7M. Edghill then called for a disclosure of the names, positions and emoluments of the top 10 ten persons working at NCN. Based on this request, it was disclosed that the Chief Executive Officer Lennox Cornette takes home a salary of 600,000 while Programme Manager Ron Robinson is paid $350,000 per month.

Finance Manager Teshika DaCosta is paid $300,000; an internal auditor receives a monthly salary of $274,000 and the Editor-in-Chief is paid $127,000.

NEW RADIO STATIONS Under Capital Expenditures, Prime Minister Nagamootoo explained that there are major plans in store for NCN, in which a number of radio stations will be established. It was noted that in the 2017 Budget, $250M have been budgeted for the establishment of four community radio stations, equipment for Radio Paiwomak, and provision of equipment for one of

the stations. Of that sum, the Prime Minister pointed out, an amount of $150M will be used to establish community radio stations in Aishalton, Orealla, Bartica and Mahdia, for the very first time. He noted that buildings have already been identified to house these stations.

“NCN plans to have a network roll-out from Georgetown that would take expanded signals to Bartica, Mahdia, Lethem and Kwakwani; and $12M would be spent on equipment and setting up the facilities to expand the relay to outlying stations via satellite,” the Prime Minister explained.

A sum of $10M will be spent on Radio Paiwomak, he added. This radio station, established under the Iwokrama Project, has been run down due to the shortfall in subvention. “We discovered that the facilities were run down. The studios… didn’t have windows on, and air conditioning (units were) not working. (There were) not even proper chairs on which the Indigenous people and announcers were expected to be seated,” he further explained.

As such, he said, his office has taken on the project to facilitate the upgrade of the radio station, which broadcasts content in the Indigenous language.

NA mayor, deputy return unchallenged ‒ big fines in store for litter bugs, ban of glass bottles at public events RE-ELECTED New Amsterdam Mayor, Kirt Wynter said the municipality will be imposing a $10,000 fine on persons caught littering in the township.

The century-old town has in recent times been plagued by illegal dumping of garbage along roadways, empty house lots and alleyways.

Only a few days ago a mountain of garbage near the town hall was cleared, but soon after, it returned to its former state.

“This is gross disrespect,” Mayor Wynter said, noting, “We pleaded with the residents to dispose of their garbage in an acceptable manner. If we cannot pick up your garbage in a timely manner, we approve you burn the garbage in your backyards. We will not tolerate indiscriminate dumping.”

In addition to fines for lit-

tering which will be implemented on January 1, 2017, persons will be banned from using glass bottles at public events. This is to ensure that the environment is green and clean in keeping with President David Granger vision for a green State.

These measures, he said, are not intended to add burden on residents, but to maintain law and order.

Even though the Council had agreed to increase wages and salaries for underpaid municipal staff, it is yet to honour that commitment. However, Mr Wynter contended that with continuous hard work by councillors and staff, the promise can be realised in the New Year.

He and his deputy Winifred Haywood returned unchallenged in the recent mayoral elections.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

Bandits busted after Work finally starts on Barr Street bridge robbing hotel accountant of $3M

Work has commenced to restore the Barr Street, Albouystown, bridge

Tower Hotel Suites where the accountant worked and where the robbery occurred

By Rabindra Rooplall TWO bandits on a CG motorcycle were caught in East La Penitence, Georgetown, minutes after robbing an accountant at Tower Suites, Main Street, Wednesday afternoon.

A 63-year-old security guard was grazed on his abdomen by a bullet, which was fired from a gun by one of the bandits; he was treated and admitted to a city hospital.

The two men in their 20s are in police custody and will be placed on ID parade today.

Reports reveal that the duo traced the accountant from a city bank where he made a withdrawal of almost

$3M. According to an eyewitness, one of the bandits was on foot running towards the taxi which had stopped at Tower Suites car park. He then discharged his gun, ran up to the taxi and smashed the windscreen on the passenger’s side before grabbing the bag containing the cash from the accountant.

“Since the taxi stopped at Hotel Tower a man with a gun run up to the taxi and lash the windscreen and grab a bag and run,” the eyewitness said.

The bandit then ran towards his accomplice and jumped onto an unregistered CG motorcycle before fleeing to East La Penitence. A

prompt response by the police resulted in the men being cornered at Front Road, East La Penitence, forcing them to jump into a nearby trench where they decided to toss the gun and cash. However, the bag containing the cash was recovered, but the firearm was not found.

Police also retrieved the ID card of the accountant, which was inside the bag filled with cash. The men were found hiding in a nearby yard and a search of the house in the yard revealed that there were stolen items being stored there. As such, a woman was also taken into police custody.

WORK has finally started on the $18M Barr Street, Albouystown bridge, which has been closed to vehicular traffic for several months now, and Constituency Councillor Malcolm Ferreira believes that once the current pace of work is maintained, the bridge should become operable by February. The contract was awarded to Chung’s Global construction firm.

Ferreira, in an invited comment on Tuesday at the council’s statutory meeting, told this newspaper that the finances are coming from City Hall as Government, despite repeated requests, did not provide any assistance.

According to him, the work that remains to be done is not very complex and hence, the bridge should be

back in order sooner rather than later.

As he thanked the council for starting work on the bridge, Town Clerk Royston King offered that materials are currently being mobilised.

Meanwhile, Proportional Constituency Councillor Heston Bostwick had raised the issue of Albouys Street having to now face the pressure. Although the bridge at Hunter and Sussex Streets is also sinking, Bostwick asked that priority be given to the Barr Street bridge, while the others can be looked at later.

He had expressed concern that vehicles will soon be unable to use any of the Albouystown links, as the other bridges surrounding the one at Barr Street are now feeling the pressure.

The councillor has observed that the bridges at Hill Street and Albouys Streets are becoming affected, as they now have to deal with more traffic than usual.

The Barr Street bridge serves as a key alternative to the La Penitence Public Road for vehicles coming from the East Bank of Demerara and heading to central Georgetown.

The closure of this bridge contributes to a severe buildup of traffic in contiguous areas, and many of the streets in Albouystown are too narrow to accommodate twoway traffic.

Albouystown has long been regarded as a ‘highcrime’ area, causing motorists to be hesitant about using the streets surrounding Barr Street.

GPSU wants Gov’t to return to negotiating table …says $25,000 bonus is ‘meagre’

By Ariana Gordon THE Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has expressed concern over the state of negotiations between the union and the Government and called on the APNU+AFC administration to swiftly return to the negotiating table to continue negotiations on wages, salaries and allowances.

GPSU Vice-President, Mortimer Livan, told reporters at a press conference at the union’s headquarters, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive and Regent Street, Georgetown, on Wednesday, that his union’s Executive Council will meet next week to decide the way forward.

“We will be having our executive council meeting soon and we will make a determination then,” he said, noting that he believes the negotiations are being stalled by the Ministries of Finance and State. Livan said the union is in receipt of a correspondence from President David Granger dated December 5, 2016, which indicates that negotiations are to continue. Both ministers of Finance and State were copied on that correspondence.

“If we can’t agree let’s follow the process. We have conciliation; we have arbitration and let the arbitrators decide. If they say they can’t reach it, we’ll accept. The arbitrators’ decision is final, but don’t just arbitrarily say

we can’t do it and that’s it,” the GPSU Vice-President told reporters.

Given the president’s assurance to the union that negotiations were incomplete, the GPSU said it refrained from moving towards conciliation and arbitration.

In September, the GPSU at its meeting of the General Council rejected the government’s officer of 10 per cent wages and salaries increase for the lowest tier of public servants. By virtue of a resolution, the union said the government’s 10 per cent to 1 per cent differentiated salary increase was unacceptable.

President Granger in response to the union’s objection said his government

would go ahead and pay the increases, while committing to continuing talks with the union.

GPSU Vice-President Mortimer Livan

CHRISTMAS BONUS Meanwhile, addressing the $25,000 one-off, taxfree pay-out announced by the Minister of Finance last week, Livan said “the meagre Christmas Freck” will not sidetrack the union.

Describing the announcement as “diversionary tactics,” Livan said the announcement that public servants earning less than $500,000 monthly are to be paid the one-off bonus comes against the backdrop of ongoing uncertainty over the status of the incomplete and outstanding wages and salaries negotiations between the GPSU and the Government.

Turn to page 12 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

AG wants more success in anti-money laundering fight

STATE investigators and prosecutors are currently involved in a rigorous training programme designed to further equip them with the requisite skills and knowledge needed to have successful prosecution when dealing with anti-money laundering cases.

The two-day lecture on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act (AML/CFT), organised by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) commenced on Tuesday at the Guyana Police Force Officer’s Training Centre.

Among officials present at the opening session of the workshop were Attorney-General and Legal Affairs Minister, Mr Basil Williams, and the DPP, Ms Shalimar Ali-Hack.

One of the objectives of the workshop, said Caribbean Criminal Assets Recovery Programme (CCARP) Legal Adviser, Mr Alex Ferguson, who is facilitating the training, is to dispel the myth that investigators and prosecutors must first determine the offence un-

Attorney-General and Legal Affairs Minister, Mr Basil Williams addressing prosecutors and investigators at the opening of the workshop

der which the money was acquired before prosecuting a money launderer.

“Hopefully, we can address that myth,” he said, adding that the training will address five key areas: The history of money laundering and the current money laundering techniques and trends; the offence of money laundering, in terms of how it is investigated

and prosecuted; and the anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism act, in terms of how it criminalises money laundering and the elements of the offence.

A COMPLEX CRIME Additionally, there will be a review of a case law and practical case scenarios.

Ferguson said there is

IAC to fête children for Christmas CLOSE to 200 children will be treated to toys and goodies this Sunday when the Indian Action Committee (IAC) visits Mahaica, East Coast Demerara to host its first ever Christmas party and charity drive.

The party will be held at the Virginia Primary School at Cane Grove, Mahaica.

IAC Secretary and Project Coordinator Ms. Saira Alli has said the organisation was initially working on providing gifts for 300 children in an underprivileged area, but its toy donation drive

did not produce matching results.

“We were catering for 300, but we had to cut down to 200 because of lack of support,” Alli said.

She told the Guyana Chronicle Tuesday that the IAC now has to purchase several gifts to arrive at the new set total of 200, so that the children can truly enjoy the holidays. She said the children will also be treated to lunch and party bags, “to spread the holiday cheer.”

Santa Claus will also be on hand to excite with gifts,

photographs and fun to the children, who range in age from three to ten.

Alli said the IAC is still accepting gifts, in the hope of providing for the originally targeted number of children, and any individual or organisation willing to donate gifts can do so at donation boxes located at Gafoors, Ashmins, Sachi and DeSinco Trading, or at the IAC office at 1762 Railway Embankment, Cummings Lodge.

The organisation can also be reached on telephone number 222-5163.

need for much clarification, given the complexity of the crime. “If you were to speak with investigators and prosecutors and ask them what money laundering is, they would give you a legal definition, but they don’t understand the techniques that money launderers use,” Ferguson said, adding that during the workshop, common challenges such as understanding the complexity of the crime will be addressed.

Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Mr Sydney James said the Unit has long recognised the need for the

crime to be addressed holistically, meaning that besides investigators and prosecutors, magistrates and judges should also be involved in the training process.

He noted that the training will provide a platform for more successful prosecution in the courts.

Currently, a number of money-laundering cases are engaging the attention of the court with the unit winning a case recently in a matter involving a Trinidad and Tobago national.

MUCH TO BE DESIRED Minister Williams, in delivering brief remarks

during the opening ceremony, said while SOCU had started at a very fast rate, there is much to be desired, as there have not been many successful cases hence the workshop is designed to address the deficiencies within the system.

However, he, too, bemoaned the need to have the crime tackled holistically, in that from the inception, investigators, prosecutors, magistrates and judges should have been trained.

This being the case, Minister Williams said the next batch of people to be trained will be the magistrates, so that they too may be conversant with the offense and how successful convictions can be had.

This training couldn’t come at a better time, Minister Williams said, in obvious reference to the upcoming Fourth Round of Mutual Evaluation which will determine whether Guyana would have shown sufficient progress in the areas of convictions for offences of money laundering, terrorist financing and the purloining of state assets. This is the second time the DDP has acquired the services of the CCARP Legal Adviser to offer assistance in this area. In 2013, he had focused on the confiscation of what is considered to be dirty money.

GPSU wants Gov’t...

“Frankly, the union finds the meagre ‘Christmas freck’ gesture – not least the Finance Minister’s quixotic and decidedly indelicate remark that the paltry sum will help “ease the journey to the good life” -- to be both trite and insensitive.”

Livan finds it ironic that the Government found time to deliberate on the taxfree bonus, but not return to negotiations. He described the move by government as “arbitrary,” noting that it reflects a lack of regard for public servants.

“More than that, the arbitrariness of the decision raises, not for the first time, questions about the veracity of the political administration’s stated commitment to respect collective bargaining.

We have little doubt that the expectation behind this gesture is that – particularly at this time of the year – the poorly compensated public servants, will feel some misplaced sense of gratitude for the decidedly modest ‘small piece’ that has been tacked on to their salaries.”

But though the union is

From page 11

against the action taken by the government on the taxfree bonus, it is advising its workers to “take it.”

The union called on the Finance Minister to say in detail how the “Christmas freck” will ease the journey towards the ‘promised land.’ The GPSU has maintained that it is bargaining with the government for a “livable wage” for public servants and according to Livan, the union is of the opinion that $130,000 ought to be the minimum wage by 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

Nigerian association holds medical outreach in Linden

By Shirley Thomas

The Association of Nigerian Students (Guyana) ANSG, recently held a successful two-day medical outreach for the people of Linden and surrounding communities within Region 10.

The event, hosted at the Linden-Georgetown bus park on November 12 and 13 attracted a huge turnout of keenly enthusiastic residents who were able to benefit from the services rendered, and who expressed deep appreciation to the visiting medical team.

ANSG is an association of Nigerian medical students in training to become doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners, at

Free blood drive

universities in Guyana.

Services provided included: free blood sugar testing, free blood pressure testing, free eye test and

free testing for other medical conditions for which persons regularly sought help. There was also HIV Counselling and Testing

(VCT) with about 50 persons voluntarily getting tested.

They also had demonstrations on ‘self-breast-ex-

amination’ with the medical partners urging women to examine their breasts every month.

The team was also accompanied by Blood Bank partners who conducted blood transfusion (extracted) from persons willing to donate. That too was a success, and so were the street theatre and counselling sessions on suicide prevention.

Commenting on the outcome of the exercise, a deeply gratified ANSA President Ms. Belemo, who, along with her colleagues, showed a keen interest in helping persons with suicide ideation, affirmed, “It’s good that they were able to show interest in these sessions. We don’t want people killing themselves,

for any reason whatever.

“It was nice, both Saturday and Sunday, and we are grateful to God and to the people of Linden who came out for that exercise,” Ms Belemo, who also acknowledged receiving ‘huge support’ from PAHO/WHO Guyana and the Ministry of Public Health said.

The Nigerian Student Association (Guyana) has been reaching out to the people of this country in every way possible to lend support, particularly to under-privileged children through responding to material needs, as well as counselling towards building their self-esteem; health talks; and helping them to realise and tap their true potential.

Nigerian medical students conducting medical outreach in Linden

Mexican Ambassador visits Berbice …meets with over 100 stakeholders MEXICO’S Ambassador to Guyana, Ivan Sierra, made his first visit to the Ancient County of Berbice on December 8 and met with farmers and other stakeholders in the hope of accessing potential market opportunities for the Guyanese people.

The ambassador said the meeting was very productive and based on what he has heard, the Ancient County has to offer, there are a lot of prospective market opportunities.

“It was a nice dialogue with stakeholders that are interested in several areas,

not only agriculture, but also broader economic exchanges with a focus on agriculture.

This meeting has been very productive because it has provided me with the opportunity to share the information about what can be done with Mexico, how we can make better use of the potential that we have,” the ambassador said.

Ambassador Sierra said he knows for sure there is a market for rice in Mexico, since 90% of the one million tonnes of rice consumed by annually by Mexicans is imported.

“Currently, I see lots of

interest in rice and that is good, because it matches the supply what is available in Guyana with the demand what the Mexican market is taking right now… roughly 90% of rice has to be purchased and we are in pursuit of rice, but our importers have told us that they want to diversify, they have tried many countries and of course they are interested in the high-quality Guyanese rice.”

Besides rice, there is also demand for coconut and tilapia in Mexico.

“As you know, the entire world is currently interested is coconut and we are very

Ambassador of Mexico to Guyana, Ivan Sierra (centre); the Prime Minister’s Representative Gobin Harbajan (right) and CEO of the Nand Persaud Group of Companies, Rajendra Persaud (left)

excited that Guyana has decided to host the Coconut Festival, because we have a huge interest in coconut as well.”

Ambassador Sierra also touched on the fact that his government has award-

ed a full scholarship to a Guyanese female student in August,and who will be completing her masters with a special interest in coconut biology. The knowledge that the student will be returning with, according to the am-

bassador, will not only be useful for pest and disease control, but in the area of research in high-yield varieties suitable for Guyana’s climatic conditions, so farmers can get better returns from their crops.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

GPHC denies removing Diamond boy’s kidney ‒ says operation was to save organ

Jonathan Ashby at the Georgetown Public Hospital

THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has denied that a 13-year-old boy had one of his kidneys removed capriciously by doctors at the hospital, saying that while an operation was performed on the lad, it was to save his kidney and not to remove it.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported on Tuesday, December 13, that seven months after undergoing surgery to have his ‘badly damaged’ right kidney removed, Jonathan Ashby was told that his kidneys are intact. His parents and close relatives wept bitterly as he was rushed on Monday into the Operating Theatre at the Georgetown Public Hospital to conduct his third surgery – this time to remove his appendix — after reportedly suffering from appendicitis.

However, that was not the case, according to a senior doctor at the GPHC who preferred to remain anonymous. This newspaper understands that the first two surgeries were done at the GPHC by a urologist and paediatric surgeon to save

the lad’s kidney.

On May 6, 2016, Ashby was hit by a motorcycle on the East Bank Public Road in the vicinity of the Diamond Housing Scheme and suffered internal injuries.

According to the doctor, removing the lad’s kidney would have been a last resort and this was explained to his parents. It was noted that hard work by the two doctors resulted in the ruptured kidney being repaired.

Now on Monday last, a third surgery was performed on the lad, because there was the formation of intestinal obstruction secondary to adhesions, which is a common occurrence. The family had however claimed they were told that the surgery is being done to remove his appendix.

“I am not sure where these misconceptions are from. Nothing about a ruptured appendix was told to the family,” the doctor said. Ashby’s parents are due to meet with Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton, to clarify the issues surrounding his treatment.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

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Guyana Jaguars says thank you to ‘Reds’ MEMBERS of the Guyana Jaguars and Barbados Pride cricket teams last Monday afternoon each presented a signed team jersey to well-known cricket commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira, as a memento for his contributions to the game.

A veteran cricket commentator, whose career spans decades of sports coverage, Perreira retired from cricket commentary on Monday at the conclusion of the fourth round Day/Night Digicel Regional First-Class match between the two teams.

The jerseys were presented to the 77-year-old

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Perreira by Jaguars skippers Leon Johnson and Kraigg Brathwaite.

The message on the Jaguars jersey read: “Thank you ‘Reds’ for your great service to Guyana and West Indies cricket. 50 years of excellence.”

The jersey bears the autographs of the Guyana Jaguars players. The Jaguars players also presented Perreira with a cake.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) presented Perreira with one of the match stumps, while the umpires and match referee handed over one of the match balls.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

2016 Busta Champion of Champions

RHT Gizmos & Gadgets, Young Warriors through to semi-finals ROSE Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets (RHTGG) and Young Warriors have advanced to the semi-finals the 2016 Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club-organised Busta Champion of Champions 20/20 tournament which commenced last Sunday at the Area ‘H’

ground.

RHTGG defeated Upper Corentyne, with Delbert Hicks, Clinton Pestano and skipper Shawn Perreira enjoying a good match.

Batting first after losing the toss, the home team reached 34 without loss in the fifth over before

Royston Crandon was bowled by medium pacer Lakeram Latchman for 23.

Delbert Hicks and Jason Sinclair then added 105 for the third wicket in 11 overs before Sinclair was dismissed by Tameshwar Ramoutar for 40, which consisted of four boundaries

Clinton Pestano (left) and Delbert Hicks

and a six.

The attacking Hicks was finally dismissed for 85, which featured seven boundaries and four massive sixes. Clinton Pestano then blasted an even unbeaten fifty off just 14 deliveries with five huge sizes and four boundaries as RHTGG reached 195-3 off 20 overs.

With a run rate of 9.75 per over, the visitors were bowled out for 117 in 15.4 overs. Virendra Gooniah 31, Tameshwar Kumar 24 and Naeem Yacoob 16, were the only batsmen to reach double figures.

Leg-spinner Perreira spun webs around the batsmen to take 4-17, while left-arm spinner took Keith Simpson 2-12, and medium pacer Pestano 2-23.

In the other game played, West Berbice won the toss and inserted Young Warriors to bat.

Alex Algu and Wahied Edwards added 30 for the first wicket before Algu ran himself out for an attacking 26.

Edwards was then dismissed for nine, and when Seon Hetemyer was caught behind off Rendel Bobb for

SOUTH Africa have named uncapped batsman Theunis de Bruyn in their injury-hit squad for the three-match home Test series against Sri Lanka that starts on December 26.

“de Bruyn is the latest player to be rewarded for consistently good form at franchise and South Africa A level,” Cricket South Africa selection convener Linda Zondi said in a statement yesterday.

“He has an outstanding first-class career average of 48.73 and has made 423 runs at 60.42 in this season’s four-day competition.” de Bruyn also offers an option as a part-time seam bowler.

On Monday, it was announced that Faf du Plessis, who recently led the side to series victories at home to New Zealand and away in Australia, would take over the Test captaincy on a permanent basis as de Villiers battled to regain full fitness.

“Credit to AB de Villiers for the smooth way the leadership transition has taken place. Faf has done an outstanding job in the last two Test series and our leadership is in very good hands,” Zondi

4, Young Warriors were in trouble at 40-3.

However, useful contributions from Gajannand Singh 33, Linden Austin 24 and Vishal Mohabir 18 enabled Young Warriors to reach a respectable total of 143-7 off their allotted 20 overs.

Rennison Mitchell 3-21 and Cladius Fraser 2-26, were the best bowle r s f o r We s t B e r b i c e .

In reply, West Berbice were bowled out for 127 in 19.4 overs, as only Leon Andrews 34, Rennison Mitchell 20 and Raffel Estraido 18 offered any resistance.

Pacer Sudesh Dhani 3-17 and Balram Samaroo 2-7 were the best bowlers for the winners.

The tournament, sponsored by the Guyana Beverage Company which started in 2004, is currently in its 14th edition and involves eight teams – West Berbice, Blairmont, Tucber Park, Young Warriors, Police, Albion, Upper Corentyne and Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets.

South Africa name uncapped de Bruyn for Sri Lanka Tests

Uncapped South Africa batsman Theunis de Bruyn

The 24-year-old explosive right-hander has been included after Rilee Rossouw was ruled out with a foot injury, adding to the absences of former captain AB de Villiers (elbow), and fast bowlers Dale Steyn (shoulder) and Morne Morkel (back).

added.

Next Monday, du Plessis will appeal his conviction for ball-tampering during the series in Australia that resulted in him losing his entire match fee for the second Test in Hobart.

The appeal represents an element of risk as he is flirting with the higher sentence of a one-match ban, which would rule him out of the first Test in Port Elizabeth, should he fail.

Replacement wicketkeeper Dane Vilas and left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi have been dropped from the squad that toured Australia last month.

The second Test will be played in Cape Town from January 2.

Squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle Abbott, H a s h i m A m l a , Te m b a Bavuma, Stephen Cook, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

ICC says consensus reached on new USA governance structure

There were good signs for USA Cricket Association getting its new constitution.

(Peter Della Penna)

A DAY before the USA Cricket Association had to ratify an ICC-approved constitution, the ICC announced that a “consensus” had been reached among stakeholders regarding a revised governance structure.

However, the ICC release stated that amendments still needed to be made to the newly proposed constitution “in the hope that it will be universally accepted shortly”.

“We recognise that it has been, and continues to be, a difficult time for the U.S. cricket community, as the ICC continues to push for an improved governance structure, cricket system and increased professionalism in the administration of the sport in the USA,” ICC chief executive David Richardson said following a meeting with stakeholders in Dallas last weekend.

Richardson was among several ICC representatives who met with members of the USACA board as well as the ICC’s Sustainable Foundation advisory group, which included both USACA and American Cricket Federation board members, and was tasked with formulating

the new constitution.

“I am grateful to all those who participated today in discussions which were conducted in good faith, fairly, reasonably and without any personal or organisational agendas,” Richardson said.

“I am more optimistic than ever before that significant progress for the administration of cricket in the USA is just around the corner, and I encourage the entire cricket community to continue to show the patience that they have displayed over the past months, as we continue to work towards unification.”

The ICC had previously stated that USACA had until December 15 to ratify a new constitution or face potential expulsion.

The proposed draft was put before the ICC board in October where it was met with satisfaction and then passed back to U.S. stakeholders to be ratified.

The ICC release indicated that despite not receiving ratification ahead of today’s deadline, they were satisfied that progress was made with regard to several conditions that had been put forward in a TSE Consulting Review of

USACA’s governance in 2013.

Specifically, two key recommendations centred on having independent directors and athlete representation on the USACA board, stipulations that would also put USACA in compliance with U.S. Olympic Committee governance guidelines.

The constitutional review and ratification were part of a set of 39 terms and conditions that USACA had been issued to meet for reinstatement following its suspension in June 2015. According to the ICC release, “The ICC board will now receive an update on the progress made at this meeting, as well as in respect of USACA’s general level of compliance with the previously imposed reinstatement conditions and the plans to continue supporting the progress of cricket in the USA in 2017.

“Once consensus has been reached about the proposed governance structure with all stakeholders in the U.S. cricket community, a detailed project plan to support its implementation will be developed and approved by the ICC.” (ESPN Cricinfo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

Joshua says beating Klitschko would make him an overnight legend BRITAIN’S IBF world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua believes beating Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley stadium in April would raise his status to the level of a “legend”.

“This is a fight that can change (me) from champion to legend overnight,” he told a news conference yesterday, to promote the April 29 bout.

“It’s the fight that will get the masses out and draw massive attention and they’re the type of fights that can change the way that people view you in your industry,” added the 27-year-old.

The 2012 Olympic su-

per-heavyweight champion has won all of his 18 professional fights well inside the distance and stopped American Eric Molina in Manchester last Saturday in the third round.

Another knockout, he said, would be the “cherry on top”. The April fight between Joshua and the Ukrainian former champion, who will be 41 by then, has been officially sanctioned by the WBA for that vacant title while the Briton’s IBF belt will also be on the line.

Klitschko lost the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts to Britain’s Tyson Fury in November 2015. Before that

bout, he had not been beaten in 11 years and had a career record of 64 wins and three defeats.

Fury vacated the WBA, WBO and IBO belts last October after having his licence suspended pending investigation of anti-doping and medical issues.

He had already been stripped of the IBF belt for not fighting a mandatory challenger.

Klitschko, who was ringside for the Molina fight in Manchester, has said he is “obsessed” with getting the belts back and had been training hard in the past year for fights that never

Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko pose after the press conference.

(Action Images via Reuters/Henry Browne) My motivation is as for Anthony and myself. happened.

“If Anthony wins this He recognised his last high as the sky,” said the fight against Fury had not Ukrainian. “I have to wake fight, I will congratulate been good but said the break up. It was just a wake-up call him,” he said. “When I win of nearly a year and a half before the big event. This is this fight, I will help him to definitely a signature fight come back.” could work in his favour.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

Magnificent Kohli follows in Tendulkar’s footsteps

By Sudipto Ganguly MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara could have been forgiven for feeling more than a little aggrieved when his dismissal drew hearty cheers from his home crowd at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.

Apparently unconcerned that India had lost an important wicket from the second ball of the third day of the fourth Test against England, the crowd roared as Pujara trudged back to the dressing room.

Then, as a chant of “Kohliiii! Kohli!” reverberated around the stadium and out across the Arabian Sea, India’s darling walked to the middle to take his guard.

Not since Sachin Tendulkar retired in 2013 has an Indian cricketer commanded the adulation that Virat Kohli is currently enjoying, and few would argue that he is not deserving of it.

The atmosphere at the Wankhede was reminiscent of the era when Tendulkar, a Mumbai native, used to walk out to bat at the same number four position.

Kohli, as perhaps he must, dismisses comparison with the batting great but it is clear that they have a similar appetite for runs.

During his career-high

Kohli had made his ODI debut as a 19-year-old and played his first Test three years later, starting on a path that would lead to 15 Test hundreds and 26 centuries in the 50-over format.

Of his 13 Test centuries before the start of the ongoing series, however, only one had come against England, at Nagpur in 2012.

And in the five-Test series in England in 2014, Kohli hit a trough, managing only 134 runs at an average of 13.4 with a high score of 39.

“It made me realise what I need to improve in my game so I am pretty thankful to England for that,” Kohli recalled at the start of the current series against the English.

“I have been a really improved cricketer from then on.”

After his return from England, Kohli went knocking on Tendulkar’s door.

“The best advice was not to read and look up things that are written about me,” Kohli told reporters after India took an unassailable 3-0 lead over England on Monday.

“I am not joking or being sarcastic.

The rewards have come since in a torrent of runs, no more so than over the last four Tests where he has scored 640 of them at an average of 128.

Virat Kohli

235 in Mumbai, his third double-century of the year, the Delhi batsman became the first Indian since Rahul Dravid in 2011 to accumulate more than 1 000 Test runs in a year.

His rich vein of form has not been restricted to the longest form of the game, however, and he is first batsman to average over 50 in all three formats as well as being the highest international run-scorer of 2016.

Kohli’s single-minded drive for excellence also echoes Tendulkar, who assiduously refined his craft to accumulate over 34 000 runs and 100 centuries in a 24-year career.

Like Tendulkar, Kohli has a near-flawless technique which helps him tackle pace and spin with equal ease and India look to him every time they hit choppy waters, as they did for two decades with the ‘Little Master’.

And, like Tendulkar, Kohli is rapidly becoming a darling of corporations keen to associate their brands with a player whose expressive nature has touched a nerve with India’s youth.

ENGLAND SETBACK All was not quite as rosy couple of years back, however.

CAPTAINCY One point of difference with Tendulkar is Kohli’s success as a captain, a responsibility which hung heavily on the shoulders of the game’s most prolific run-scorer but has brought out the best in the younger batsman.

Before replacing Mahendra Singh Dhoni as Test captain at the end of 2014, Kohli averaged just a shade above 41 but since then the number has shot up to 65.5.

Five consecutive Test series victories for India and a firm grip on the number one Test ranking under his leadership have intensified his popularity.

For Kohli, however, burying the ghosts of 2014 in a first series win over England in four attempts was clearly something special.

“This series win is probably the sweetest of all we’ve won in the past 14-15 months,” Kohli said.

“It couldn’t get any better, in the Wankhede you win 3-0 against a top quality side that have beaten us convincingly. It feels really good.

“Fantastic, and that was the best advice I have got.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

Messi meets ‘plastic shirt’ Afghan boy who became viral sensation A SIX-YEAR-OLD Afghan boy, who became a viral sensation when photographed wearing a shirt made from a striped blue plastic bag with Lionel Messi’s name and number 10, has met the Argentina and Barcelona striker.

Murtaza Ahmadi had previously received autographed shirts from Messi after photos of the boy wearing the homemade shirt were widely shared.

Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organising committee said in a tweet on Tuesday

Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi meets six-year-old Afghan boy, Murtaza Ahmadi, who went viral for recreating Messi’s blue and white Argentina shirt with a plastic bag.

Lure of T20 could deny Windies return to greatness - Gayle LACK of concentration, consistency and the lure of fame and fortune of T20 could prevent the West Indies from ever recapturing their glory days.

This is the picture Chris Gayle paints of the West Indies, who won their second T20 world title in April, defeating England in a dramatic final in India.

Since that time the West Indies have lost consecutive Test series to India and Pakistan. Gayle suggests that this could be an indication of potential fortune of the region’s Test-playing.

It will be difficult for West Indies to go back where they were in Test cricket,” said Gayle, who boasts two Test triple-centuries among his 7 214 Test runs.

Gayle, one of the best T20 batsmen in the world, said the current players lack the concentration and the consistency to excel at Test cricket.

“The structure of modern day cricket is such that it will be difficult to regain

Chris Gayle

those days of glory because of the advent of the shorter format and the interest that it has generated among the youngsters. In longer formats, you need to concentrate more and have that game discipline in order to achieve consistency,” Gayle told Indiaustantimes.com “If you look at our T20 success it is because of the short duration that helps one play their attacking game. So if you ask me about a turnaround, it seems difficult as of now.”

Gayle also opined that the money that players can now make playing the

shortest form of the game, makes it hard for players to play Test cricket.

“You cannot rule out that possibility that Gen Next in the Caribbean will be more inclined to play T20 leagues. If you are a professional cricketer, you would want to have a good career,” said Gayle.

“With so many leagues a c ro s s t h e g l o b e , o n e needs to accept it as a reality today. If a guy is a good enough player and can remain fit, one can play in T20 leagues even above 40.” (Sportsmax. com)

the two met in Doha where Barcelona were in Qatar to play a friendly against Al Ahli on Tuesday.

“The image the world wanted to see,” tweeted the organising committee on Tuesday. The six-year-old boy who dreamed of meeting his hero, Messi, finally comes true.”

It is understood the boy will walk on to the pitch with Messi ahead of the match.

Murtaza and his family fled Afghanistan in May to neighbouring Pakistan and settled in the city of Quetta.

At the time the boy’s father Mohammad Arif Ahmadi said they had to leave as they feared Murtaza would be kidnapped after becoming an internet sensation.

“I sold all my belongings and brought my family out of Afghanistan to save my son’s life as well as the lives of the rest of the family,” Mr Ahmadi said.

Earlier this year, the Afghan soccer federation promised to arrange a meeting between Messi, a Unicef goodwill ambassador, and Murtaza.

Farm and Ruimveldt through to EBCA final FARM and Ruimveldt will clash in the final of the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association (EBCA) 50over tournament, after recording victories in their respective semifinal games played last weekend at Farm.

Farm whipped Sandpip-

Oslyn Batson ers by 99 runs on Sunday, while Ruimvedlt edged Eccles by seven runs in the other semi-final game.

Oslyn Batson hit a top score of 62, as Farm recovered to post 211-9 after the

game was shortened to 40 overs.

Having been reduced to 6-2, Shivram Persaud and Ricky Debydial revived the innings with a third-wicket stand of 53 before Persaud went for 38, while Debydial made 32.

Farm suffered a mini collapse before Batson held the lower order together with level-headed batting.

Elvis Salik and Mahendra Dhanpaul supported Batson with 36 and 19 respectively.

Sandpipers were bowled out for 112 in reply. Colin Benn made 25. Batson finished with 5-20 from 7.4 overs, while A. Peerbacchus had 3-28.

In the other game, Danny Narayan stroke a brisk 72 to guide Ruimveldt to 206 in 34.4 overs. Narayan struck seven fours and three sixes.

He received support from Ershad Ally (33) and Daniel Paul (23).

Kelvin Singh captured 3-17 and Kishan Singh 3-33.

Danny Narayan

In reply Daniel Barker and Lenny Pancham added 44 for the opening stand before Pancham went for 29.

Eccles then lost three quick wickets before rain intervened. Eccles were then set a revised target of 161 in 35 overs. At that point they required 63 runs from 13 overs but when Barker departed for 68, the efforts of the remaining batsmen were not enough to see their team home, as they were bowled out for 154 in 33.5 overs.

Narayan claimed 3-24 and Ally 2-30.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday December 15, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 2259230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Shabbir Rahman-122 (RK) (2) Afif Hossain 4-1-21-5 (RK) Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the result of the last Test series in which the Australians were involved?

(2) What was the result of the last Test series in which the Pakistanis were a part?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 15, 2016

Webster welcomes Adams appointment as new Director of cricket ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) - Sports psychologist Dr Rudi Webster has welcomed the appointment of former West Indies cricketer Jimmy Adams as the region’s new Director of Cricket.

Adams, who represented West Indies as player and captain during his career, replaces Englishman Richard Pybus who did not seek to renew his contract.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has yet to officially announce the appointment but media reports in the region also say former Australian cricketer Stuart Law has been appointed to fill the position left vacant by Phil Simmons who was fired

in September.

Speaking on the regional television programme Big Bang Sports, Webster, who has worked with the West Indies cricket team, blasted Pybus as a “total disaster” and applauded the appointment of Adams as one that would “make a difference”.

“Well, I am extremely pleased that Pybus is no longer with us. He was a total

disaster and he has done more harm to West Indies cricket and there is only one other person who has done more harm to the game and that is (Dave) Cameron, the current president,” Dr Webster told Big Bang Sports.

“I am really happy that Jimmy Adams will take over the post of Director of Cricket. I think he should make a difference.

“Stuart Law has been around for a while, I do not know too much about him but what I hear from the grape vine is that he is not a bad coach. So I think that is the first step in the right direction.”

The decision to fill the two positions were report-

ENGLAND’S head coach Trevor Bayliss has described speculation over Alastair Cook’s future as captain as “a pain in the backside” and insisted that the dressing room is united in its support for him.

Cook’s future has been called into question since he gave an interview to the Cricketer magazine on the eve of the Bangladesh and

India tours in which he said: “Deep down I don’t know how much longer I am going to carry on. It could be two months, it could be a year.”

Suspicions he was preparing to step down only escalated after Cook described Joe Root as “ready to captain” following defeat in the Mumbai Test.

That result meant England had lost three Tests

in succession, four of their last five and five of their last seven.

From a position where England were a result or two from reaching the top of the Test rankings in August, they are now facing the prospect of dropping to fifth, if they lose the final Test of the series against India in Chennai.

But Bayliss, the England coach, is clearly in no doubt

Stuart Law

edly taken at the weekend at the WICB’s final quarterly meeting which took place in St Maarten.

Dr Webster, meantime, has repeated calls for Cameron to step down as WICB president.

The embattled Jamaican sports administrator has come in for widespread criticism for his role in ongoing conflicts between the WICB and regional cricketers.

Dr Webster has blasted Cameron as the “worst president” and says the effect of Adams and Law on regional cricket will be limited if Cameron refuses to step down.

“But it is not enough.

I think that the president

Jimmy Adams

of the West Indies Cricket board must go and they must be structural reform of the board if we are to progress.

“Dave Cameron is by far the worst president that I have ever seen in those 50 years. It is not even a close call,” said Webster, whose 50-year involvement in sports also includes basketball, soccer, motor racing, golf and Australian football.

“The point I am making is that it does not matter if Adams comes in or Stuart Law comes in, if there is not a change in the attitude of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) at the very top and a change in the attitude of the directors who control and manage the game, I think that the input from these two gentlemen will be very, very limited.”

Cook captaincy talk ‘aggravating’ - Bayliss

National U-15 footballers leave for French Guiana today … Parent-Player meeting to be held

THE Guyana U-15 football squad depart the country, today, for French Guiana where they will participate in the Claude Elise Under-15 football tournament scheduled for December 17 to 22.

On the eve of departure, the technical staff hosted a parent-player meeting to brief parents about the activities of the recently held camp and the upcoming tournament.

Among the other activities conducted during the ten-day camp were two sessions facilitated by two GFF staffers. The topic, Laws of the Game, was done by

Stanley Lancaster, head of Refereeing Department and Media Training by Debra Francis, Public Relations and Communications Officer.

The full contingent who left via Moleson Creek this morning reads: Goalkeepers – Shawn Adonis and Oswin Fredericks (East Coast); Defenders Joshua Braithwaite and Jermaine Padmore (Georgetown), Wayne Da Silva (Rupununi), Cyrus Nicholson (Berbice) and Rickford Emmanuel (East Coast). Midfielders Shannon Samnauth and Tyrel Khan (East Bank), Orville Daniels (Rupununi), Derron Niles

(Georgetown) and Okifi Patoir (Berbice). Forwards Omari Glasgow and Troni Semple (East Coast), Ken Salvador (Rupununi) and Jermaine Garrett (Georgetown). Technical staff: technical director Ian Greenwood; head coach Brian Joseph; assistant coach Challus McKinnon; goalkeeper coach Eon De Vieira and team manager Keith O’Jeer.

The tournament will feature participation from French territories in the region and neighbouring countries including Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Suriname and Olympique de Marseille.

Trevor Bayliss

that he wants Cook to continue. Describing Cook’s record as “fantastic”, Bayliss acknowledged that talk of him standing down had become a distraction.

“I think everyone, to a man, in the dressing room would be disappointed if he wasn’t captain,” Bayliss said. “But when it’s constantly in the media all the time, it’s a bit of a pain in the backside. Especially when no one around the team believes that or thinks that. It’s a little bit aggravating.

“I suppose anyone who’s done the job for that long, there’s always going to be questions towards the twilight of his career. But the job he’s done with the group, I think, has been fantastic.”

Bayliss was especially frustrated as talk over Cook’s future had, he felt, detracted from “all the good things” England have achieved on the tour. And it is true that, while the scoreline is grim, England can take some comfort in the

emergence of a couple of promising top-order batsmen, in Keaton Jennings and Haseeb Hameed, and the improvement in Adil Rashid’s

speak to Cook and Andrew Strauss, the managing director of the England team, to resolve the uncertainty over the captaincy.

“We’ve had some discussions in the past,” he said.

“But those two guys - Cook and Strauss - have obviously had a big history. I’m sure we’ll have a chat between the two or three of us.”

Bayliss has previously stated that he expected Cook to be captain for the Ashes series in 12 months’ time.

“He’s talking about the next Ashes series and being out in Australia,” Bayliss told the BBC last week. “Sometimes there are little comments

Alastair Cook leg-spin bowling “It takes the focus away from all the good things we’ve done on this tour,” Bayliss said. “I think we’ve played some good cricket here. We’ve got to give credit where credit’s due: we’ve played good cricket and they’ve played even better cricket.”

Bayliss now plans to

made along the way and they get blown out of all proportion.

“He’s certainly up for the fight. I haven’t had any discussion with him any other way and that’s what we’ve been working towards. I was as surprised as anyone when I saw that in the papers.”

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Webster P.23 welcomes Adams appointment as new Director of cricket Colours/Guinness Greatest in the Streets football …

Tucville to face Sparta Boss in final of Georgetown leg

New head coach drops Jones from Soca Warriors squad

Kenwyne Jones Part of the semi-final action on Tuesday evening in the Guinness Greatest in the Streets football

TUCVILLE and Sparta Boss have booked their places in the final of the 2016/2017 edition of the Guinness Greatest in the Streets football tournament.

Following the semi-final rounds on Tuesday evening both the defending champions Sparta and their newfound challengers Tucville had almost similar paths to the next round.

In the first game, Tucville needled the

Broad Street Bullies through their continued saviour Leon Richardson.

That game was not short of chances and close shots, but the Tucville side were able to convert when it mattered.

Sparta Boss, on the other hand, were on show with a 2-1 win against last year’s runners-up Back Circle.

Two quick-fire strikes from Solomon Austin (19th) and Courtney Britton (21st) cancelled out the earlier own goal that gave

Back Circle the lead in the 7th minute.

The final will be played tomorrow at the National Park.

The winners of the leg will cart off $500 000, second-placers $200 000, third-placers $150 000 and fourth-placers $75 000.

There are also legs billed for the West Coast Demerara, West and East Coast Berbice, Linden and Bartica.

(Stephan Sookram)

Guyana Jaguars says thank you to ‘Reds’ P.17

Guyana Jaguars skipper Leon Johnson presented the signed jersey to Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira, in the presence of his players, coach Esaun Crandon and Chairman of Selectors Rayon Griffith.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) - Trinidad and Tobago captain and striker Kenwyne Jones has been dropped from the squad preparing to face Nicaragua in two international friendlies later this month.

Newly appointed head coach Tom Saintfiet says Jones has not been included in a 28-man squad to play the Nicaraguans on December 27 and 31.

The Belgian coach says Jones was left out so that he can tweak the style of play of the Soca Warriors in time for next month’s Gold Cup playoff matches against Suriname and Haiti on January 4 and 8.

“I want a lot of speed upfront and space to run into on the counter attack. But I do not want to say too much because (the technical staff of) Suriname and Haiti can read what I say,” Saintfiet told Wired868.

“I had a personal meeting with Kenwyne last week and I discussed privately with him the reason why we took that decision. The criteria for the selection of players are our tactical ideas and choices we want to use against Suriname and Haiti.”

Jones is a former Sunderland and Stoke City forward who leaves for pre-season with new United States Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise, Atlanta United FC, January 1.

He scored Central FC’s decisive second goal in a twoone win over W Connection on Monday and has scored 16 goals in 35 matches for T&T under former coach Stephen Hart.

However, Jones has converted just two goals from eight games in the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign so far.

“Kenwyne is not out of the squad for good. I will follow up with how he performs (with Central FC) and how he performs with (his new MLS employers) Atlanta,” said Saintfiet.

“I have not yet an answer for the (identity of the) new captain. I want to talk better to the players … We still have some doubts about availability of players (for the Gold Cup playoffs).”

The 28 players selected include 16 from the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016