Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 19 08 2016

No. 104648

FRIDAY AUGUST 19, 2016

Price: $80

Olato Sam booted

(Vat Inclusive)

…Gov’t not renewing contract of Chief Page 3 Education Officer

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ineteen women were on Thursday presented with certificates of completion in First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training as part of a ‘Caregivers for the Elderly’ initiative, which was organised by First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger at the Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS), in Kingston, Georgetown.

Mrs. Granger said that the programme, which lasted for three days, provided basic First Aid training to its participants. In this Ministry of the Presidency photo, two participants demonstrate First Aid response for a broken arm by “Sling and a binder”

Calls for PNCR to 8 Relocation of ‘Satan’ 2 caught hiding Walter Roth be retooled Murder of Ann’s Grove teen

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…Williams says party alive, well and active

Museum hits snag

in barrel

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Relocation of Walter Roth Museum hits snag … National Museum can’t expand, engineers in search of other venue

The Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology at its current Main Street location

By Alva Solomon THE relocation of the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology from its existing location on Main Street in the capital may have hit a snag as government contractors have advised that extension of the Guyana National Museum on North Road is “impossible,” due to the presence of several trees there.

Reports are that another location in the city is being sought and government officials along with staff of the Walter Roth Museum visited the top floor of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) on Tuesday to assess that venue. This was however, refused by the anthropology museum’s administration who were a part of the visiting team and further relocation plans are now being discussed.

Efforts to reach Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, yesterday were futile. Jennifer Wishart, a co-founder and former director of the Walter Roth Museum told this publication on Thursday that she was informed by staff of the museum on Main Street that the contractors from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure along with other ministry officials visited the National Museum to decipher the scope of works which will have to be undertaken to extend and build a state-of-the art facility there. She said that the contractor informed the officials that the presence of the trees at the space outside the museum, mainly their roots, would pose a long-term problem if the building is expanded. “The contractor said trees make it impossible for extension so they left “, Wishart said.

She said the officials then visited the nearby GPOC‘s top floor to assess that location but staff of the Walter Roth Museum were not in agreement with that venue as proposed. As such further discussions, she said will be made on the relocation of the anthropology institution. “The post office is too dirty for a museum “, she said.

Wishart, who has appealed to the government to reconsider the relocation of the museum, said to be the oldest of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean, noted that a number of archaeologists are travelling to Guyana and will have a first-hand look at the relocation of the museum. These include artist and archaeologist George Simon, whom she said contributed over the years invaluably to the development of the archaeology and arts field here. Government announced the relocation of the Walter Roth Museum on August 11 with space to house government offices as well as access to the current location of the museum being considered.

President David Granger noted earlier this week that the proposed relocation of the Walter Roth Museum was not a spurof-the-moment decision. “This is not a whimsical move; it is because there are organisational changes,” he told reporters on Monday when braced on the subject following a function at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal.

Besides noting that every precaution will be taken to avoid any damage to those collections currently housed at the Museum, the president said it’s all in keeping with plans by the government to relocate the institution to the west wing of the Guyana National Museum. “It’s not tumbling out; it’s an improvement,” he said, adding that if the move could have been avoided, such would have been the case.

The Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology was established in 1974, but was not opened to the public until 1982. The museum was founded with the collections of Guyanese archaeologist Dr Denis Williams. In 1980, the ethnographic collections of Dr Walter Roth, J.J. Quelch and Sir Everardim Thurn were transferred to the Walter Roth Museum from the Guyana National Museum.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Olato Sam booted

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…Gov’t not renewing contract of Chief Education Officer

By Ariana Gordon THE Ministry of Education (MoE) has not renewed the contract of Chief Education Officer (CEO) Olato Sam and will be advertising the position from this weekend, sources close to that ministry have revealed.

Sam according to the source on Wednesday received a letter from the ministry informing him that his contract will not be renewed. Reports are that the MoE might be interested in advertising the post, as there was no automatic replacement from the current pool of assistant chief education officers.

When contacted on Thursday by this publication, Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine was unavailable for a comment. His secretary said he was “engaged at a meeting.”

Subsequent calls to the minister’s mobile proved futile.

Meanwhile, the CEO was notably absent from the ministry’s press conference held on Wednesday to announce the results of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). Instead, Acting Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) Nursery Ingrid Trotman presented the 2016 CSEC results, a task that had previously fallen on Sam. It is however unclear why Sam was absent from the press conference held at the National Centre for Education Research Development (NCERD).

Sam, who is a former student of Queen’s College, started working at the MoE as Technical Adviser to the Minister of Education in 2007. That very year, he served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) where he introduced a number of education initiatives geared at designing and structuring the Guyana Teacher Education Improvement Project funded by the World

Bank. He was appointed CEO, MoE in January 2011. He became a controversial education figure following his appointment to the post of CEO five years after serving as Technical Advisor to the minister. The post became controversial after former ACEO Genevieve Whyte-Nedd had acted in that post until her retirement but was never appointed to serve as CEO. She acted in the post of Chief Education Officer, CEO from 2005 until her reOlato Sam tirement. Whyte-Nedd had applied for the post of CEO following advertisements published in March 2006 and October 2006 but unfortunately was unsuccessful. Prior to acting in the post of CEO in 2005, she did same from October 2001 to October 2002. But that was not the only controversy that surrounded Sam; he was partially blamed for the failure of the MoE’s Automatic Promotion Initiative which resulted in teachers voicing concern over the programme. Teachers had argued that the initiative resulted in students being lazy after discovering that they would be promoted even if they don’t perform up to standard.

The Automatic Promotion initiative was subsequently called ‘No child left behind programme’ by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Sam in recognising the defects of the initiative admitted that some areas had not been taken into account by the MoE. As such, public consultations were

held and those consultations resulted in the programme being reviewed in 2013.

Meanwhile, in June, the MoE had instructed that the Brickdam Secondary School be closed following protests by teachers of the school. The teachers refused to work in what was described as “poor conditions,” including the lack of adequate toilet facilities, and space.

Sam described the protest as “ridiculous and illegal” and instructed the teachers to “Go back to your classes and teach the people children like you’re being paid to do,” the Guyana Chronicle had reported. That aside, Sam is the holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in a special major ‘Sociology, Anthropology and Education’ from the Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. He also holds a Pennsylvania Teachers’ Certificate in the area of Social Studies.

The CEO is also the holder of a Masters’ Degree in International Education with specific focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. He taught Social Studies and English Literature at the Walton High School. Sam was also Coordinator of the Alternative Education Program for the education district at MS 144.

After studying, he returned to Guyana to serve as the Director of the New Millennium Institute and introduced the phonetic-based literacy instructional programme through the Reading for All Learners Programme (RALP).

The CEO also lectured at the University of Guyana (UG), School of Education and Humanities, the Departments of Foundations and Education Management and Curriculum and Instruction. In June 2006 he became the Head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and served in that capacity for one year.

Inaugural ‘National Play Day’ for D’Urban Park next Sunday FUN Park Rentals is excited to introduce the first annual National Play Day event in Guyana.

The one-day event is set to take place at D’Urban Park next Sunday from 11:00hrs to 17:00hrs and admission is FREE to the public.

According to the company in a press release, ‘Play Day’ originated in the United Kingdom and is geared at highlighting the importance

of play in children’s lives as a means of ensuring recreation, while teaching self-confidence, team-building skills, and developing both minor and major muscle groups, all in an environment of fun and merriment.

Noting that the theme of the event is ‘Play more…’, the company says, “We are first encouraging children to play more at home, in the street, at school and in the

community.

“And secondly, we are supporting parents to allow their children to "more… outdoor." Finally, we hope to foster communities to come together to rehabilitate community playgrounds so children can play more.”

However, in celebration of children’s right to play, Athalyah Yisrael, Manager at Fun Park Rentals has invited all children's enter-

tainment providers to participate in the first National Play Day event ever to be held on our shores.

She said, “As they all come together to provide a day packed with fun and entertainment for the children, they are inviting parents to bring their children down to D’Urban Park for one last day of fun before school starts.

“There will be tradi-

tional outdoor play such as hop scotch, jump rope, hula hoop, obstacle courses and bouncy castles, trampolines

as well as other activities.

They are also catering for children who are differently-abled.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Thousands flee Blue Cut blaze California wildfires...

FIREFIGHTERS are continuing to tackle a huge blaze in southern California, with several of them describing it as the most ferocious they have ever seen.

An evacuation order has been issued for an area home to more than 82,000 people, just east of Los Angeles.

The Blue Cut fire, as it has been named, has destroyed homes, and disrupted transport links between California and Nevada.

Some people have been running for their lives just

ahead of the flames.

Yesterday morning, California fire authorities assessed that the Blue Cut fire had grown overnight by almost 5,000 acres (2,025 hectares), and is only 4% contained.

The fire is continuing to grow again, as temperatures increase throughout the day.

The blaze first ignited on Tuesday in a drought-ravaged mountain pass, and spread at an “explosive” pace, authorities said.

The flames have ad-

vanced, out of control, despite the efforts of over 1,500 firefighters.

Authorities are urging people to evacuate from more than 34,000 homes, but fear that up to half of them have not heeded their advice, a US Forest Service spokeswoman said.

Commander Mike Wakoski said he had never seen such extreme conditions in 40 years of service.

“There will be a lot of families that come home to nothing,” said San Bernardino County Fire Chief, Mark Hartwig.

“It hit hard; it hit fast.

It hit with an intensity that we hadn’t seen before,” he added.

There are no known fatalities, but dogs are searching the ruins for bodies.

Authorities have been unable to say how many homes have been destroyed, but some fear it will be in the hundreds.

Wrightwood, a tourist resort surrounded by pine trees in the San Gabriel Mountains, feels like it is besieged by fire. Huge flames, whipped by a strong breeze, are advancing down a mountain ridge and along a forested valley towards the town.

Although it falls within the mandatory evacuation zone, some residents have remained, keeping one eye on their homes and another on the fire.

There is no sense of panic here. The Grizzly Cafe is open, and serving food to police officers and journalists.

Half of the sky is a beautiful blue, but in the other direction, it is ominously thick with smoke as the Blue Cut Fire rages over vast tracts of forest and desert plains.

Even for California’s firefighters, experienced in tackling wildfires, this blaze - or rather series of blazes - is proving very difficult to tackle. With temperatures high and humidity low, nothing here is safe from this massive fire.

“No joke, we were literally being chased by the fire,” said a tearful April Christy, sitting in a van with

her mother, Vi Delgado, at an evacuation car park in Fontana.

Moments after first smelling the smoke, she said the flames were suddenly surrounding them.

“You’ve got flames on the side of you; you’ve got flames behind you,” she said.

They grabbed their four dogs, but were stopped by police from trying to rescue nine more shelter dogs and three cats, because there was no time.

Her escape involved a harrowing race down a mountain road, led by one police patrol car in front and one behind her, with firefighters battling flames alongside her. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Sunken dredge giving authorities headache to remove EFFORTS to remove a sunken river dredge known as a “dragga” from the main channel of a section of the Mazaruni River are ongoing, as key elements of the vessel were being removed on Thursday.

This publication had reported in July that the partially submerged vessel was left hanging by its owners several weeks ago near the Piereemap Falls, creating worry for boat operators , mainly “jet boats “ which traverse the waterway ferrying passengers and cargo on a daily basis.

Reports on Thursday indicate that the works undertaken included the use of blow-torches to cut parts of the sunken dredge, including lavradors (a mechanical machine used in mining) which are stuck under water. The vessel is owned by Crown Mining Supplies of North Road in the city. In photographs seen by this newspaper on Thursday, operators were working from a pontoon which the Natural Resources Ministry noted recently, was built specifically to float-up the partially sunken dredge.

Reports from persons on the ground indicate that the works were being hampered by the strong river current in the vicinity of the sunken vessel.

A press release from the

Works ongoing to remove the vessel Ministry of Natural Resources several days ago stated that the agency is currently engaged with a mining company to remove the vessel.

The release further explained that the pontoon has three hydraulic winches and measures 28 feet wide and 68 feet long and 4 feet deep. It has 18 compartments. The plan is to fill the pontoon with water and then secure it to the sunken barge.

The water will then be pumped out of the pontoon and this will cause it to rise up, taking the “Dragga”

with it. The pontoon when empty will have a lifting capacity of 180 tonnes.

However, while the crew is onsite attempting to execute this plan, the speed of the water at the top of the Piereemap Falls, coupled with a prolonged rainy season, is making things difficult as the works entail the cutting of lavradors under water.

The ministry will continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the release added.

Paediatric Hospital to replace Specialty Hospital project THE controversial Specialty Hospital Project is once again likely to take the sidelines while Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton announced that talks are afoot about a Paediatric Hospital to be located at the Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara site instead.

Minister Norton made this disclosure during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday at the presentation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) report.

This publication was made to understand that the matter is currently at the level of Cabinet awaiting consultations.

Asked whether the remaining US$13M from the Export-Import Bank of India will be used for this prospective project, Dr Norton indicated that though it is undecided, “we might close the fund, or use it to develop other medical institutions nationwide.”

Minister of Public It was last reported in the Guyana Chronicle on June 17, 2016, that Cabinet Secretary Joseph Harmon had said that Health, while the Government would proceed with the contract for Dr George Norton construction of the controversial hospital, Government did not have the option to award that contract to companies outside of India.

The report further added that, “the contract which is there for the Specialty Hospital requires an Indian company to build that Specialty Hospital. And therefore the bidding and everything has to be done by a certain standard established by the Indians,” Harmon had said.

Harmon, however, confirmed that the Government of India had opted out of the engagement with the contractors,Fedders Lloyd, who had been employed to take on the project, because of the World Bank’s ‘fraud and corruption’ sanction against the company.

Further, according to the June 17 report, Fedders Lloyd had been awarded the contract for construction of the hospital by the David Granger Administration after the previous Donald Ramotar Government had parted ways with Surrendra Engineering Company, the first Indian firm to be awarded the contract to build the hospital.

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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

The Obamas’ mentorship programmes BARACK and Michelle Obama have not only broken several barriers and secured history-making moments in United States’ (U.S.) politics and their lives, but they have used their portfolios to make changes in the lives of others, in the U.S. and around the world. Both Obamas having come from humble beginnings and rising to where they are today seem determined in ensuring that they reach out to others, so they too can have better opportunities in their lives.

Where the young Barack started effecting changes in the lives of others as a community organiser that he continues today as President, is evidence that he sees helping others as a privilege and by extension continues to distinguish himself from among his peers. One such is his mentorship programmes, one of which is local and the other international.

The “100,000 Strong in the Americas” programme sets the goal to increase students’ participation to 100,000 from Latin America and the Caribbean studying in the U.S. and 100,000 from the U.S. doing vice versa by 2020. Students from the University of Guyana during 24th July -3rd August engaged their counterparts of Texas Technical University. What is most instructive about this programme is the visionary approach in looking at the world through 21st century lens, which acknowledges diversity and the Americas’ changing demographics with a willingness to plan and embrace same as against ignoring and stifling.

According to the U.S. Department of State, it is “Against this future landscape, 100,000 Strong will deepen relationships across the Hemisphere, enabling young people to understand and navigate the rich tapestry of shared values and culture and lead the process of greater commercial and social integration, key to our region’s long-term security and prosperity.”

“My Brother’s Keeper, which is the local mentorship programme, sees collaboration with the Obamas and leaders across the various spectra in the society. Targeting the young, including those from disadvantaged communities and socio-economic backgrounds, this programme offers role models who interact with the young, helping them with needed lifeskillsand support to believe in themselves, seek expression and empowerment through legitimate channels and where inaccessible, seek to make it possible through implementation and creating connections.

Mrs Obama has taken on similar work. Her local “Let’s Move” aims at addressing the cultivating of healthy lifestyles among the young. This mentorship programme is making full use of different channels, appeals and personalities to effect change. It is not unusual to see Michelle in the White House garden with schoolchildren digging dirt, planting, reaping, discussing healthy eating and celebrating the harvest. She has also capitalised on her physical agility and the entertainment industry, including celebrities to push this programme. From jumping ropes, to playing hula hoop, rapping and appearing

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Guyanese must support State Asset Recovery Bill Dear Editor,

THE recent press release by the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) needs to be read and understood in a national perspective. Too often in Guyana, we rush to judgment without first defining the problem.

Hence, there is a tendency to create solutions to the wrong problem.

A sad example of this is the formation of the Guyana Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC). This apparently was designed to solve ethnic problems in Guyana. The true reality however is that Guyana needed a Human Rights Commission instead of an Ethnic Relations Commission. Thus the 400 African Guyanese murdered allegedly in a partnership between Roger Khan, drugs lords and the previous Government was not addressed by a politically directed and controlled , Ethnic Relations Commission. A Human Rights Commission run by professionals would have been a better solution.

By defining the problem as one of ethnicity instead of a globally defined human rights problem with UN approved bodies, commissions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 400 murders have not been appropriately addressed nor has justice been served because the State at the time, was seemingly involved, and would not prosecute itself.

Mr. Mike McCormack criticised two main aspects of the State Asset Recovery Bill during national consultations last week. These two aspects were elaborated in the GHRA’s press release.

First, he criticised the “narrowness of focus of the new Bill” and I quote: “If the Bill is passed without a serious effort to obtain genuine broad-based political support it risks prolonging ethnically-polarised politics. Such support requires two things to happen: firstly broaden the scope of the Bill from asset recovery alone to a more substantive incorporation of the aims of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and, secondly, create a mechanism that

brings a range of civic and private sector forces into the process of promoting the Bill. Anything less will inevitably prompt the question of whether ‘anti-corruption’ for the ruling party ever meant more than pursuing those now in opposition for corrupt acts committed while in power. Mr. Mc Cormack fully well knows there are five substantive chapters of UNCAC, namely: Chapter 11- Preventative Measures which states, “State Parties are obliged to adopt coordinated policies that prevent corruption and designate a ‘body or bodies’ to coordinate and oversee their implementation” 2. Chapter 3- Criminalisation and law enforcement, which states that “State Parties must criminalise bribery (both the giving of an undue advantage to a national, international or foreign public official and the acceptance of an undue advantage by a national public official), as well as embezzlement of public funds.”

3. Chapter IV International cooperation which states that “State Parties are obliged to assist each other in cross-border criminal matters. This includes, for example, gathering and transferring evidence of corruption for use in court.”

4. Chapter V- Asset Recovery. This is a ‘fundamental principle’ of the Convention, and one of its main innovations is the right to recovery of stolen public assets. According to many observers, Chapter V is the main “selling point” of the Convention, and the reason why so many developing countries have ratified. The UNCAC provisions lay a framework for countries to adapt both their civil and criminal law in order to facilitate tracing, freezing, forfeiting, and returning (see www.U4.no UNCAC in a nutshell )– A quick guide to the United Nations Convention against corruption for embassy and donor agency staff ; the presumption of innocence vs. burden of proof.

Article 20 on Illicit Enrichment is controversial, because it imputes criminal behavior to individuals whose assets cannot be explained in relation

on late-night shows, she continues to find creative and receptive ways to motivate and inspire her target group.

At the international platform there is the “Let Girls Learn” programme which aims to ensure that adolescent girls get the education they deserve. This sees her visiting countries where women are still experiencing hurdles in having access to education and what we in Guyana take for granted. There are a lot of benefits to this programme. Some of these are that educated girls will grow into educated women and play more determined roles in their lives and society, including getting into politics and influencing decision-making that impact their lives and the environment within which they live.

With almost half (49.6%) of the world population being women -- according to UNESCO millions of girls are denied the fundamental right to an education -- it means that the world is moving ahead without a significant part

to their lawful income. This has raised criticism of human rights advocates, saying that such requirements reverse the presumption of innocence protected by many legal systems. Defenders of the provision argue that prosecutors still shoulder the burden of proof, as they must demonstrate, beyond reasonable doubt, the lack of legal avenues for the accumulation of excess wealth or funds and as being obtained through corrupt activities.

5. Chapter VI _ Technical Assistance and Information Exchange. In the Convention, technical assistance refers generally to support aimed at helping countries comply with the UNCAC’s provisions. Chapter VI includes provisions on training, material and human resources, research, and information sharing.

The State Asset Recovery Bill presented for national consultation last week is focused on exactly what UNCAC prescribes. While Mike Mc Cormack and the GHRA believe the objectives of the SARA Bill should be broader, they conveniently forget there are many laws on Guyana’s books (e.g. theft, embezzlement, tax evasion) which criminalise corruption) and that the AML/CFT Act also covers several serious or predicate offences related to corruption. In addition, the GHRA should be aware that there are eight teams currently working through the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Legal Affairs to create Guyana’s first National Risk Assessment (NRA) to comply with Guyana’s obligations as a signatory to UNCAC. Furthermore, in the Prime Minister’s Office there is a Guyana Country Report that is being developed in compliance with the Review Mechanism for UNCAC which is an intergovernmental process whose overall goal is to assist State Parties in implementing the Convention. The Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and the Integrity Commission are also in place.

Finally, in addressing the GHRA’s Turn to page 7 ►

of its population having an input, much less being able to reach the level of head of state and/or government. The reality of the paucity of women in such roles was not lost on the First Lady when speaking at the Democratic Convention in July, a country that is 238 years old and for the first time a woman became the nominee of a major party (breaking the proverbial glass ceiling as she noted) and stands the chance of becoming the country’s president in a population where women comprise 50.1 percent. The humility the Obamas bring to public service is exemplified in their ability to connect with the ordinary man and woman, empathise with their challenges and determination to play a role in making a positive difference in such persons’ lives. And it is not an untrue statement to say that in addition to being a breath of fresh air, the Obamas are an inspiration to leaders and peoples everywhere.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

What Happens to Olympian Troy Doris after Rio?

Dear Editor,

Qualifying for a final of any kind at the Olympic level to my mind is a great accomplishment....many will not agree with me because they will say a medal is of more importance, but at the end of the day I stand with the IOC’S motto which partially say’s that one’s par-

ticipation is as important as being a medal winner...

Troy Doris, USA based Guyanese should be commended for his representation on behalf of Guyana for placing and being the world’s 7th best currently...

What happens to Troy Doris after Rio? Is there now a collaboration with the TD”s USA

camp and the Ministry of Education, which overlooks sports in Guyana along with the Sports Commission and the Guyana Olympic Association as he prepares for Tokyo 2020 and possibly London 2017 for the World Championships?....Not so certain if the triple jump is kept at the world championships.

Guyanese must support State...

From page 6

concern about the Bill being too narrow, SARU’s current Mission, “ is to aggressively and legally pursue corruption; the theft of State Assets and to ensure future transparency in the use of Government and Public assets.”

SARU’s goals as such, are to (1) recover stolen assets within and outside of Guyana; (2) the prevention of corruption and the misuse of public assets; and (3) to work for strengthened regulatory frameworks at all levels to further increase the transparency and accountability of Financial Institutions, the Corporate Sector, and Public Administrations”.

Hence, the SARA Bill is part of a broader government architecture to prevent corruption and to recover stolen assets, which no Guyanese has a constitutional right to own. The question of “narrowness” has to be viewed in the above context and one in which Civil Society including the GRHA has a role to play, as stated in Article 13 of UNCAC as referenced by GHRA in its press release.

This position is recognised in clauses 6(1) (g) and 11(2) of the Bill, which respectively provides for the director to “raise public awareness on the dangers of corruption and enlist public support in combating corruption” … and to engage in “appropriate consultations with any local or national civil society organisations.”

The GHRA also knows this SARA Bill has had wide international scrutiny, analysis and approval in its development. This is why the civil recovery route has been taken as an alternative, but complementary to criminal recovery.

The second major point raised by the GHRA was defined by their statement, “the sweeping powers available to the director of the agency and the manner of his/her appointment. With respect to the powers, the following private and state institutions are only a selection of those which must comply with any request from the Director of SARA for information they hold: the Commissioner of Police, the DPP, Head of CANU, the Bank of Guyana, private banks, and the Chairperson of the Gold Board.

Rather than the established procedure whereby other agencies provide the Guyana Revenue Authority with information on which it can act, the new Bill requires the opposite: the GRA must provide information on which the SARA will act”.

GHRA is worried about these powers even though GHRA would acknowledge, given their own knowledge of corruption (gold smuggling, stolen government vehicles and properties; land giveaways (Pradoville 2); state contracts; the G$18b recently found in accounts of a Permanent Secretary)

that lawfully obtained information is needed to recover stolen state assets.

Of course, the GHRA has not written a press release on the powers of the DPP. Nor has it suggested the DPP should be governed by a Board as is their wish for SARA. Over the years, the Guyana press has carried articles suggesting Guyana loses G$330B per year in stolen state assets. SARU’s current analysis indicates the amount may be more than that.

In closing, Guyanese need to support this Bill because it creates an agency with the objective of getting back from any person, state property which he or she unlawfully obtained and to which he or she has no legal right. To suggest that it is a Bill for political partisan or ethnic fights is not only wrong but reckless.

I hope the GHRA will create a press release calling on the DPP to recuse herself from the Pradoville 2 affair and to urge criminal charges be preferred against those who allegedly stole state assets for their benefit, as was the case in Belize where criminal charges were approved by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Sincerely Eric M. Phillips

On the other hand, I appreciate the representation of the entire Guyana’s contingent at the Rio 2016

Olympic Games.

Yours Faithfully

T. Pemberton trevor pemberton <guyanesegladiator@yahoo. com>

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Calls for PNCR to be retooled

By Ariana Gordon

AMID concerns that the 59-year-old People’s National Congress (PNC) has lost its sting, its Chairman Basil Williams maintains that the Sophia-headquartered political party is “alive and well” and “active all over the country.”

But activists and social commentators believe that the political organisation needs to be retooled and return to the principles on which it was founded. Speaking at the party’s first press conference since the installation of the APNU+AFC coalition government, of which the PNC is the largest party, Williams told reporters who questioned the party’s relative inactivity that the party is a “mass-based party.” He said “the work of the party has been ongoing; the general secretary, assistant general secretary and I as chairman have been going out.”

Williams said work is ongoing within the party’s groups, districts and all regions and does not believe the vibrancy of the party that is now 59 years old is dying. “ All of our members are doing what they have to do…I don’t believe in a coalition with six

… Williams says party alive, well and active

parties that one would expect one party would try to project itself at the expense of the other members of the coalition.”

He asserted that without any contradiction, the public can see affirmatively that a major political party such as the PNC, founded by the late Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham will “just disappear.” “It is a great party; this great party of ours will be around for another 50 years,” said Williams who is also Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.

Notwithstanding persistent questions on what appears to be a significantly less vocal PNC, Williams maintained that as a political party within the +AFC coalition government, the PNC has to be cautious in its approach to issues. “… being in a coalition it would be incongruence to assert ourselves in contradiction with the other parties—we are servicing our members…we don’t have any members as far as I know who will believe that the party doesn’t exist.”

Additionally, the PNC chairman said President David Granger who is also Leader of the party travels the country and speaks with citizens. That

BASIL WILLIAMS he said is also a representation of the PNC. “When we go out, we sometimes go out in both capacities – as government officials and Members of Parliament (MPs), MPs [to] do party work,” noted Williams.

He said there is a thin line between being a Minister of the Government and a Member of Parliament or party representative. The chairman explained that MPs are expected to act in the interest of the party which they represent. Speaking on the issue, General Secretary of the PNC, Oscar Clarke, said oftentimes President Granger is interpreted to be speaking as President only, but he is in fact speaking on behalf of the party.

POLITICAL CLIMATE Asked to analyse the current political climate here and governance, Williams said, “The coalition is alive, well and healthy.” He noted that while the coalition is working in the best interest of the nation, it ought not to be felt that the individual parties are not entitled to a difference of opinion.

“We don’t have any robots here,” Williams added, while noting that democracy is at work. “My view of the coalition government is that it is healthy and on track with its manifesto proposals…we inherited a lot of negative things [including debt] and we are in the process of restoring the rule of law…things are happening,” he added. The PNC chairman noted that the coalition government is “committed to democracy and inclusivity” and will continue to work in the interest of all Guyanese.

Meanwhile, when contacted for a comment on the perception of the PNC since the change of administration, social activist Ramon Gaskin told the Guyana Chronicle that while the party may be perceived to be quiet, the Pres-

ident represents the party on every occasion he speaks.

He, like Clarke and Williams, said the “President speaks as the leader of the PNC and APNU and leader of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.” Gaskin does not believe that the party which has survived 59 years will be easily faded. “They will not die, they enjoy the support of a large constituency,” he said of the PNC. On the other hand, trade unionist Lincoln Lewis believes that the PNC today does not reflect what he understands to be the philosophy of the party as intended by its founder.

“There are times I ask whether the party as an organisation understands what ought to be its role in society,” he told the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday. He however disagrees with the party’s chairman and general secretary who stated that utterances and actions of President Granger are reflective of the party. “The party and the government are two different organisations.

The role of the leader of the government and the role of leader of the party have distinct differences. In a coalition gov-

ernment, the party will assist in shaping the policies of the government.”

Lewis asserted that when President Granger speaks as President he speaks as the head of an executive of which many political parties are part. He said the move by the PNC to have a press briefing just before its 19th Delegates’ Congress to be held on August 26 to 28 is encouraging, but believes that the party “has to come out and identify itself with the views and desires of its members.” “The PNC is the major party in the coalition and nowhere have I seen the face of the PNC in what is taking place-- activities of this current government. I see persons, but the face of the PNC as it relates to the philosophy of the PNC is absent.”

Lewis opined that the hopes of the party’s supporters have been “shattered,” noting that “people were expecting more from this government… significant amount of votes that the coalition rode into victory with came from the PNC…everyday people are complaining about what is taking place, they have to start listening to the people.”

He said the PNC needs to be retooled to be effective.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

The great ‘con’ game

OUR human world is a dangerous place if you rely on "corner wisdom" as the guide to decision-making, whether on relationships, economic options, or as a source to define national affairs.

"The corner" is a symbolic term intended to define anywhere, whether salon, barber shop, beer garden or anywhere humans gather and exchange views. I can present a classic example of important propaganda, directed from a source somewhat current, because I hadn’t heard it or read it before. This happened about seven years ago on America Street; the subject was the effects of the narcotic trade on humanity and the image of Guyana.

I was relating something I had witnessed on landing at the J.F. Kennedy Airport one night some years before that, and there were sniffer dogs and armed military personnel in desert camouflage.

STANDARD PROCEDURE

I later learnt that this was the procedure when a plane was landing from Guyana.

Though not exclusive to Guyana, we had become so justifiably classified. The banter began when "Brian," a money changer and not a drug dealer, informed me, to my surprise, that America was built on drugs.

I couldn’t believe that anyone could accept that!

Tell me that the exploitation of Afro-American labour, through slavery and segregation, played an immense part!

And that cannot be disputed!

So I asked him about the auto industry and the film industry among several other industries. I threw in Henry Ford, Washington Carver and

Bill Gates, and we debated for a while, recognising that most of what I was saying was new and not receptive.

I had several other encounters with other acquaintances about this propaganda on drugs. I concluded that it was a propaganda masterpiece that appeared to soothe our national embarrassment at the state to which we had descended: From the Magnificent Providence and Garden City to the ‘Drug Courier/ Drug Addict State.’

GLOBAL WARMING

The next ridiculous piece of foolishness was when, some years ago, we were always flooded, due to the absolute incompetence and dishonesty of that administration.

The propaganda being peddled back then was: “It happening because of Global Warming.”

I wrote several letters to the press on that subject, for though global warming is a fact, the easy flooding of Georgetown was not a ‘GW’ issue. The current administration has effectively put paid to that bit of "gossip."

Question is: How do we get people to explore before they believe? For various reasons, that is not an easy task.

A case in point is the trial of Christ, as reported in the New Testament, whereby it was the hecklers [paid by the Pharisees, as argued in some quarters] who shouted the loudest for the release of the murderer Barabbas, and for the crucifixion of Jesus.

Propagandists and gossipers do always sound convincing; at times they shout and make the most noise.

Rumour has it in certain quarters here, that according

to Ebony magazine, the late President Forbes Burnham was the fifth richest black man in the world.

Ovid Holder, a friend of mine, was a distributor of that particular magazine. “It was a ridiculous thing to believe,” he told me years later, “but they came month after month and bought edition after edition; intelligent people and all.”

I was there at the then Le Meridien Pegasus in early 1993 when Eddy Grant laid to rest another political slander/propaganda against Burnham. That bit of propaganda had to do with Burnham demanding a 55% share in the recording studio Grant had proposed building here, which is why the latter turned to Barbados instead.

The fact of the matter is that it was Burnham who advised Eddy to go to Barbados, because he could not guarantee him a steady supply of electricity at the time.

ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

I read Tyrone Ferguson’s incredible book, ‘To survive sensibly or seek heroic death’, and it propelled me to want to address another bit of malicious rumour surrounding the 1970s collapse of our economy, which my father, who was not into politics, had years before helped put to rest.

That particular bit of rumour had it that it was because Burnham had stolen money from Guyana’s coffers and banked it in Switzerland that hardship had befallen us.

"Big Braff," as my father was called, explained to me that part of the problem had to do with Guyana’s heavy investment in the production of cheap electricity at a time

when the political climate was not exactly in its favour.

As he painstakingly explained, it was Cold War politics, that included the Venezuelan claim, and our adverse geopolitical position that caused the collapse of that hyper-economic project; that and the loss of tremendous capital, as the late Ferguson’s book narrated, followed by the rise of oil prices in the late 1970s beyond expectations. I was convinced, but had never heard about all this before.

A DREAM DEFERRED After my father ’s de-

mise, I began, around 2004, to gather information to do a graphic novel on that period; spoke to my friend, Ronald Austin; went to see Kit Nascimento; had a discussion with the late Hasyln Parris; was directed to other contacts that I didn’t make; bought literature on Cold War conflicts and politics; then shelved it all to work on ‘Pot Boilers’. When you’re raising a family, dreams have to be deferred.

Another elaborate propaganda I had dismissed was that the 1961-64 disturbances were started by the CIA. Propaganda and gossip can take on a life of their own,

becoming myths, defaming characters and people.

The surprising thing, from sources that I’ve checked, is that reading is not a subject anymore in the formative school years; today, the obsession with passing 10 and 15 subjects leave little time for alternative reading and class discussion.

Gadget obsession and social media, if not managed in the post-school years by alternative energetic passions, can have "substance void" effects.

The antidote to gossip and propaganda will always be the attentive, enquiring mind.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Ten-point plan crafted to improve breastfeeding - five more hospitals receive baby-friendly status

By Navendra Seoraj A TEN-POINT action plan geared towards transforming hospitals and maternity facilities into “baby-friendly spaces” has been crafted by various stakeholders, through the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI).

This was announced yesterday at the Cara Lodge by Lead Consultant for the BFHI assessment, Paula Trotter during the presentation of the findings of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Assessment, which was conducted during the period July 28 to August 13 2016.

After an evaluation of hospitals around the country, as part of the assessment, Trotter noted that they

were able to craft ten steps and identify other means by which they can go about improving hospitals and maternity facilities in order to make them baby-friendly and improve breastfeeding.

BABY-FRIENDLY POLICY These steps as outlined include the crafting of a baby-friendly policy; training of all staff; improving antenatal care; helping mothers to breastfeed within half hour of birth; encouraging the use of breast-milk unless medically advised; ensuring babies get breast-milk on demand; reducing the use of artificial pacifiers; allowing mother and child together for

an entire day subsequent to birth; and supporting mothers through the stages of breastfeeding.

She added that the goals of the BFHI are mainly to transform hospitals and maternity facilities through implementation of the steps and to end the practice of distribution of free and low-cost supplies of breast-milk substitutes to maternity wards and hospitals.

PRIORITY “As a priority action, hospital administrations should give consideration to making fulfillment of the BFHI criteria a part of the overall system of quality certification of hospitals to

enforce the monitoring of the BFHI implementation on a routine basis,” stressed the Lead Consultant as she presented the report.

Five of the hospitals which met the BFHI criteria, following the assessment were added to the list of baby-friendly hospitals yesterday. These were the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Skeldon Hospital, Oscar Joseph Hospital, Suddie Public Hospital and the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital.

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton disclosed that the BFHI is a global effort launched by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to implement practices that protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

He underscored that in 1992 when the breastfeeding project was launched it was obvious that the culture of exclusive and prolonged breastfeeding was on the decline.

“It was no co-incidence that Guyana also had relatively high infant mortality and morbidity rates due to diarrhoeal diseases, acute respiratory tract infection and malnutrition…thus the overall objective of the breastfeeding project from its inception was therefore to improve the health of

Paula Trotter addresses the gathering at the presentation of the findings of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Assessment at the Cara Lodge yesterday infants through the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding,” Minister Norton noted.

The programme has now been revised and updated to reinforce the international code of marketing of breast milk substitutes; support mothers who are not breastfeeding; provide modules on HIV and infant feeding and mother-friendly care and to give more guidance for monitoring and assessment.

He said “the expansion of the BFHI programme is vital and without hesitation and I am proud that as a result of the expansion we now have seven hospitals in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 10, which are now part of the Baby-Friend-

ly Initiative Programme.”

Minister Norton also committed towards having other medical institutions involved in the delivery and care of infants, and to further become certified under the baby-friendly hospital initiative.

“It is now the responsibility of the National and Regional Breastfeeding Committee and the Maternal Child Health Unit to ensure that midwives and nurses maintain supportive health care practices crucial to breastfeeding promotion and adhere to international standards mandated by the programme,” the Public Health Minister added.

Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton receives the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) report from Lead Consultant Paula Trotter

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

‘The corruption is so much I can’t take it any more’- Ramayya

By Nafeeza Yahya REGION Six Regional Executive Officer (REO), Dr Veerasammy Ramayya said he has tendered his resignation due to “built-up pressure from all sides” and alleged pervasive corruption at the level of the regional administration.

Ramayya,who resigned on August 10, 2016, told the Guyana Chronicle that his resignation was not forced.

He said he resigned on ethical grounds for it was impossible for him to turn a blind eye to the corruption occurring at the regional office.

“I was not forced by anyone to resign; no one can remove me from there unless the President wants me to go. But I am at the centre of the APNU+AFC and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) people at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) level and the corruption is so much that I can’t take it any more…there are a lot of things happening and lots of lies being peddled that I do not appreciate; it is very difficult to be there and digest what is happening, so it is built-up pressure from all sides that made me take that decision,” he told the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday.

Ramayya believes that if he had not resigned, it would have been increasingly difficult for him to function.

“Even if I decided to stay on I would not be able to cope with what is happening, because one major issue was that I had to sign vouchers for work [jobs] I did not approve and that was a big concern for me and the ministry,” he explained, noting that he refused to sign some vouchers because the money requested was not awarded by virtue of procurement legislation.

He disclosed that he was asked to sign a payment for over $900,000 by the Ministry of Communities but he refused. That payment was for electrical work done at two hospitals and a health centre.

“I went there myself and found that nothing was wrong… I want to know why I have to succumb to the demands of the people to pay when there was no need for the monies to be expended.

I was brought up different

and cannot stay silent when things are wrong,” remarked Ramayya.

He said as chairman of the Regional Tender board, he was severely criticised for his,but believes that the problem he encountered is as a result of the composition of the Tender Board. He is of the opinion that the board should

Dr Veerasammy Ramayya be disbanded and replaced by different persons.

To avoid complacency and corruption, Ramayya suggests that there should be a proper system put in place to avoid prejudice. “At the Tender Board there are three people who are working together (names given) and the two PPP councillors are working together, so it’s three against two and whatever they say that is what will be awarded. I see some contractors getting eight and nine jobs, while others are not getting any… so when the people go to the ministers and complain and tell them Ramayya nah give them any work I am called and lambasted; but it is not me who can make the decisions alone and this causes a problem with me and the ministers.”

The frustrated REO said too that before persons are awarded contracts at least three quotations must be provided from at least three different suppliers or contractors. This policy was not always upheld. When the deviation from the established policy was questioned, he was met with massive resistance. Additionally, he told the Guyana Chronicle that despite the obvious collusion between the contractors and suppliers and the regional engineers, he was blamed and labelled a troublemaker.

“When I take measures to correct the skulduggery, the people would run and complain to the ministers … the people at the regional office are lacking in work ethics and are in a sense lazy and don’t want to work, whenever I’m out in the fields I would see staff on the road and whenever I question them it brings a problem, so it prompted me to put in a time clock but that was also sabotaged because they cannot get their way.”

In the past, workers were subjected to instructions from three players with the then PPP administration and were forced to comply. Now that there is a change in administration, the very workers who were crying foul are saying “now is our time.”

Ramayya believes that plots were made to make his life miserable while noting that he is owed over $600,000 of his own money to carry out functions on behalf of the regional office. The process for him to retrieve the money used is tedious and he said that from all indication, he would not be refunded. The excuses that are provided for non-payment of the refund are frivolous.

The Region Six REO said he was unaware that he could have claimed for money to perform his duties from the regional office’s petty cash facility.

“I have bills from since January of this year that are not yet cleared, out of my own personal expense, for example there are vehicle receipts from the [Berbice] bridge that were submitted now they are blank because the ink faded and I cannot now get that money, I don’t mind, but it hurts because I have made tremendous sacrifices and I am not getting the support from anyone.

The regional phone that was awarded to me is on one way because the bills were not paid for three months now,” he added.

FUTURE PLANS As for the future, Ramayya said he is taking a break from the political arena as he is being sidelined by those who are above him.

“Right now I don’t have any consideration for no politi-

cal party, the ministers are calling me and blaming me for not giving people jobs, but they never come to find out exactly what is going on… so I need a few months break and I will go back to my television programme, ‘The issues of the people,’

then decide what I will do, because whenever I speak out I’m told I’m lambasting the government but when I used to do it before with the previous administration it was ok.”

He said he will continue to speak out about the

injustices facing the people of Berbice without any fear. Ramayya, an executive member of the AFC, was appointed REO of Region Six after the APNU+AFC coalition government won the national elections last year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Suspect in murder of Ann’s Grove teen caught - found hiding in barrel in cemetery

A KNOWN felon who is considered the prime suspect in the murder of the Ann’s Grove girl whose

body was discovered in the Hope Canal, East Coast Demerara (E.C.D.) on August 9, 2016 was caught by

police in the wee hours of Thursday morning.

Police said 29-year-old Alvin Reid, called ‘Satan’,

of Ann’s Grove was found hiding in a barrel in the Ann’s Grove cemetery after he was wanted for questioning in connection with the death of 14-year-old Malika Hamilton of Ann’s Grove, E.C.D. It was noted that ‘Satan’ who is well known to police has charges pending in relation to break and enter, larceny and robbery.

Government Pathologist Dr. Nehal Singh conducted an autopsy on the body of Hamilton and found she was brutally bludgeoned to her head, strangled, and dumped alive in the Hope Canal.

Dead: Malika Hamilton The second year Hope Secondary School student died of ‘asphyxiation’, a condition of severe deficiency in the supply of oxygen to the body as a result of abnormal

Captured: Alvin Reid called ‘Satan’((HGP TV Photo)

breathing. An example of asphyxia is choking.

The ‘Miss African Calabash 2014’ beauty queen had left her home at Lot 11, Two Friends Village, Ann’s Grove, E.C.D. but never returned.

Her body was fished out of the Hope Canal the following day, where it was spotted by the canal’s ranger.

Malika Hamilton, whose Facebook name is Iheart Malika, a few months ago, had posted on her page, “If love only exist in my dreams, don’t wake me up!!!!!!” Relatives of the dead teenager are calling for swift justice as police investigations continue.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

ARIES - You’re desperately aiming to finish up your work before the weekend, but it’s no easy matter to maintain your focus today. Your emotions are being dragged all over the place as people seem to come out of the woodwork just to create trouble. You might be unable to fit all the pieces of the puzzle back into place at first. However, you’ll surely learn an important lesson about single-mindedness if you simply set your priorities early in the day. You can’t win unless you’re willing to be in the game.

TAURUS - Although you might try to be rational, there’s no straight path to success today.

Normally, your steady-as-she-goes demeanour is enough to keep you on track and everything in your world moving forward. But this strategic method only seems to land you further behind now. Nevertheless, there is hope -- assuming you’re ready to surrender control. Paradoxically, you will soar through the day with flying colours if you can stay open to the idea of change.

GEMINI - A pile of responsibilities at work leaves little time for any other activities today.

You’re probably not very happy about needing to postpone personal pleasure while the spacey Pisces Moon reminds you how much fun it is to just hang out with friends. But don’t get overly attached to everyone else’s expectations; in the final analysis, there’s only one person to whom you are beholden. When you feel a sense of proud accomplishment, your satisfaction will rub off on others.

CANCER - So many thoughts are running around inside your head that you don’t know where to start. Each time you begin a conversation today, it feels as if you should have said something else. It’s like you’re trying to sing karaoke yet the music keeps changing every time you sing a few notes. Nevertheless, don’t quit when you are so close to expressing your creativity; your unwavering perseverance will pay off in the long run. Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s a stepping stone to success.

LEO - You are on a mission and will not be lured off track by anyone’s insistence or attempts at persuasion. However, a morning of fuzzy thinking gets you off to such a slow start that you’re unsure if you will make any progress today. Luckily, this is a great opportunity to put your thoughts in order once and for all. But keep in mind there won’t be any overnight miracles now; the work isn’t glamorous and you must reach your goals the good old-fashioned way. Sweat plus sacrifice equals success.

VIRGO - Household responsibilities are multiplying faster than you can keep up with them.

Thankfully, you don’t need to finish every last chore today, just make sure you get a good start on them. Meanwhile, a close friend or partner may serve up an outrageous idea that’s out of the question in its original form. Relentlessly bring every new option back down to the ground by assessing the pros and cons. Pursue only the ones that make practical sense after running it past your critical eye. Your standards are high for a reason.

LIBRA - You want to work on your own today because you believe you will stay focused if you don’t encounter a lot of distractions. However, you still may require some support along the way to recharge your spirits when you’re feeling depleted. Instead of just declining all invitations now, do what you Libras do best. Put yourself in the middle of the extremes by carefully balancing your social obligations with your personal desires. If you play your cards right, you can have your cake and eat it too.

SCORPIO - You’re connecting the dots with your peers today -- at work or in the neighbourhood. Either way, you’re a part of a larger cause that reinforces your personal identity.

However, you still must leave fringe facets of your personality out of your interactions because others might not approve. But there’s no reason to compromise your fundamental core values, for that’s where you derive your strength. You can’t understand the power of a community until you become a proud member of one.

SAGITTARIUS - It seems as if you are nearing the finish line on a marathon at work, but you can’t slow down yet. There are a few more hurdles to overcome before you can take a rest and catch your breath. You’re in tune with your emotional roots now, whether they stem from family or business. But either way, you may be slightly out of your element. Face it, you can’t fit a round peg in a square hole, and the sooner you realise this, the happier you will be. Embracing what makes you unique gives everyone else the chance to do the same.

CAPRICORN - Making plans can be a real challenge if you’re unsure of your destination; nevertheless, you might go ahead and try to create a road map anyhow. Unfortunately, putting the cart before the horse is not the most effective method of transportation. Take a few steps back and consider all the possibilities for your next adventure. There’s no reason to obsess over the details until the larger pieces of the puzzle all fit together.

AQUARIUS - It’s safer to delve into the emotional realms if you narrow your vision and concentrate on one aspect of your feelings at a time. But even if you’re certain that your new conversational topic isn’t controversial, the discussion still takes a weird turn and you find yourself in a dangerous metaphysical neighbourhood. Keep aiming your thoughts upward toward the sky; dismiss any negativity or doubt from your mind. Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.

PISCES - You can’t trust others today because their plans seem out of touch with reality.

But once you thoroughly vet someone’s idea, you might actually discover they are on to something brilliant. Naturally, you don’t want to waste energy on a wild goose chase that leads you nowhere in particular, but neither do you want to miss out on an unexpected opportunity. Exercising caution at the beginning of a conversation can save you endless hours of not getting anywhere at all. Performing your due diligence pays off.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Guyana attending global workshop in the U.S. - on oil spill response

A FIVE-member team is attending the first Global Workshop on Oil Spill Response Planning in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A., which began yesterday and concludes today.

The team comprises persons from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), a press release from the Natural Resources Ministry said.

The workshop which builds on conversations from the October 2015 International Regulators Forum in Washington, D.C., is being hosted by the Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI).

The EGCI is a U.S. Department of State-led interagency effort that provides a range of technical and capacity-building assistance to the governments of select countries to help them establish the capacity to manage their oil and gas sector resources responsibly.

As a recipient of the initiative, Guyana is participating in the global workshop which allows it the opportunity to tap into the U.S. Government’s considerable expertise and capabilities in oil spill response planning in order to provide assistance that is tailored to the specific needs of Guyana, the release explained.

While in New Orleans, the team will have the opportunity to discuss commonalities and differences in disaster preparedness, oil spill response planning and environmental monitoring, assessment and reporting, especially as it affects offshore production operations and spillage among the United States and the participating EGCI countries.

Participants will also be able to network and explore opportunities for long-term working relationships with sector experts.

The workshop is both valuable and timely and will help Guyana to gain expertise as it advances its efforts to develop a robust framework for its emerging oil and gas sector, the Natural Resources Ministry added.

Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton inspecting a pharmacy during a recent visit to the Wakenaam Cottage Hospital (GINA photo)

Probe into medical drug stocks underway THE Ministry of Public Health will be conducting investigations to determine the level of stocks of drugs at state health facilities to avoid shortages.

Minister of Public Health Dr George Norton believes that the alleged drug shortage at some regional health institutions is due to the inefficient manner in which drug-supply requirements are submitted to the ministry.

“We had a meeting with the Materials Management Unit (MMU) and they are prepared to document where they have been to regions that claim that they have no medication, to find that there were actually medications in the bond. They do have. That is what officials in the ministry are prepared to document. It is going to be monitored and we are prepared to go on the ground and see what is taking place,” the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.

Norton told GINA that these institutions are required to submit a combined received and issued vouchers (CRIV) to the MMU for provision of drugs, but are not fully compliant in completing this task.

“The CRIV which the regions are supposed to send to MMU, are all done in a haphazard, inefficient manner and data that is supposed to be declared, there is no compliance,” Dr Norton added. Besides that, Dr Norton explained that “we know for a fact that these persons were trained and they should know how to do it… I can’t see why is it that if they were asked to send certain data to help with the fitting up of these CRIVs, why it is not being done. I get the impression that things have been left unmonitored for a very long time, and it’s going to take an uphill task for us to get in place,” the minister said.

Minister Norton however noted that the change in the system of providing drugs to the regions allows for the procurement of specific drugs, adding that it may be a contributing factor to reported drugs shortage. Minister Norton said, “There is no doubt about the fact that we have changed from a system we had before, where we had central procurement in terms of deciding what the country needs and then sending out to the various regions. We changed from that where the regions can now decide what they want and send down the list to the Ministry of Public Health and we procure for them and then send it out to them. That has caused a lot of delay.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

US police catch ‘The Ghost’ - after 26 years on the run

POLICE in Florida on Tuesday announced the arrest of a Cuban fugitive who had been on the run for 26 years, earning himself the nickname, The Ghost.

Anibal Mustelier, 66, was detained in Hialeah, near Miami, on charges of armed robbery and grand theft.

He is also suspected of having worked as a contract killer, officials say.

Police say they were led to Mr Mustelier by an informant who had knowledge about a jewellery theft on August 7, which allegedly involved him.

BIG FISH US Marshalls first issued an arrest warrant for Mr Mustelier in 1990.

Hialeah Police Sergeant, Carl Zogby said arresting officers had not at first realised who they had in their custody, because Mr Mustelier had given them a false name.

"We went fishing for a grouper, and we caught ourselves a whale," Sgt Zogby said, adding that Mr Mustelier had become known as The Ghost for his ability to hide in plain sight.

"He was an international fugitive from ATF [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives], FBI and the US Marshals."

Sgt. Zogby said Mr Mustelier was wanted for his alleged participation in two murder attempts in 1989 and 1990, during

But Blanco Lima later said he wanted Francisco Condom-Gil dead because he had once kidnapped Blanco Lima's son.

Blanco Lima was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the attempted murder, and Mr Mustelier, who could not be found, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to murder in his absence.

SECOND CAREER

the heyday of the Miami drug wars, when rival drug dealers fought over control of the city.

HIT MAN? Officials believe Mr Mustelier was hired by fellow Cuban, Orestes Blanco Lima to kill another Cuban in Miami, Francisco Condom-Gil. But an attempt to shoot Francisco Condom-Gil dead, and a subsequent attempt to blow him up in his car both failed.

Francisco Condom-Gil was a veteran of the 1961 Bay of Pigs failed military invasion of Cuba, and claimed that he was being targeted for his anti-Castro views.

This gave rise to the theory that Mr Mustelier had links to Cuban revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro.

Police believe during his time on the run, Mr Mustelier went on to become a prolific bank robber.

He is suspected of being behind one of the largest robberies in Florida, when about $5M (£3.9M) worth of jewels were stolen from safety deposits in a bank in Brickell.

Police originally thought that after the 1996 robbery, he had fled to either his native Cuba or to Venezuela.

But they now suspect he may have been hiding all along in the Miami area, using a number of aliases.

For the past 18 months, Mr Mustelier had been sharing a small, single-storey, detached home in Hialeah with his girlfriend, Sgt Zogby said.

Hialeah police suspect him of being behind a recent string of jewellery store robberies.

He was arrested on Sunday after police managed to infiltrate his alleged gang, officials said. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

IT stakeholders take part in Lenovo seminar STAKEHOLDERS within the Information Technology (IT) sector on Wednesday participated in a seminar with Lenovo officials based on the company’s expanding portfolio and customer-centric vision.

The event was hosted at STARR Computer’s training room, Brickdam, Georgetown, with presentations by Lenovo executives Garret Dugger, Lenovo Ambassador/Brand Manager, and William Garcia, Lenovo Territory Executive.

Attendees were introduced to the wide range of Lenovo’s portfolio under the theme ‘The Power of One’.

Some of the representatives were invited from the Education Ministry, Ministry of Communities, Ministry of Business, E-Gov-

ernance Unit, Public Security Ministry, Ministry of Citizenship, Civil Defence Commission, Civil Aviation Authority, Guyana Revenue Authority, GBTI, Qualfon, Balwant Singh Hospital and Teleperformance, amongst others.

Lenovo, according to the International Data Corporation, is rated as the largest personal computer company worldwide. The company has maintained this status for over three years and STARR Computer is an authorized dealer.

According to Mr. Dugger the success of Lenovo is attributed to its expanding portfolio and customer-centric vision.

Based on surveys, he said Lenovo ThinkPad Laptops are the most reli-

able laptops manufactured.

The company’s portfolio covers mobile, personal computers and servers.

On display at the event were Lenovo Tiny computers, a powerful, yet small computer that businesses are now deploying to replace the older desktop systems which were not as energy efficient and had a larger footprint.

Attendees were amazed at the Lenovo X1 Carbon line of mobile computers. These specially engineered systems were sleek and ultra-light in weight. Thin but powerful the X1 Carbon tablet allows for a detachable keyboard and removable hard-drive for security reasons.

He noted that Lenovo manufactures servers for small business to very large

data centers used in oil and gas, health, finance and education sectors. They are noted for high quality and reliability.

Mike Mohan, President of STARR Computer, said that STARR has been providing IT solutions in Guyana for over two decades and chose its partnership with Lenovo based on the company’s vision, quality of products and most importantly the unmatched training and technical support.

STARR Computer offers a wide portfolio of Lenovo products ranging from consumer equipment to corporate solutions.

In addition, Lenovo is the largest manufacturer in the world with 22% percent of shares in the market, followed by HP, then Dell with 15%.

Mohan said that Lenovo is responding to demands in Guyana and has partnered with STARR to make expensive computers more affordable.

Forecasting a boom and eventual growth with the economy in the near future, Mohan said STARR Computer works closely with Lenovo because of massive technology developments which can benefit all scale of clients from a small business right up to corporate clients and the government.

As Lenovo expands globally, he said Lenovo established even deeper roots in each major market, investing not only in sales and distribution, but also in local domestic manufacturing, research and development and other high-value functions.

This global reach with excellence enables the company to implement a foundation for long-term success.

The equipment presented at the event was available for demonstration and resale at STARR Computer.

STARR Computer is an authorized Lenovo Business Partner and Service Centre.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

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President of STARR Computer, Mike Mohan (center) flanked by Lenovo officials, General Manager, Rehman Majeed (extreme left seated) and officials who attended the seminar

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From L-R- Mr Aditya Persaud, Mr Godfrey Naughton, Mr Kirk Jardine, Ms Shazeeda Wong, President David Granger, Mr Herandai Khemraj, Mr Evan Radhay Persaud and Mr Roy Mookram at the Ministry of the Presidency

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

IAC in social cohesion stage play MEMBERS of the Indian Action Committee (IAC), on Thursday met with President David Granger to discuss a project that they are currently working on to augment the Government’s efforts towards fostering social cohesion in the Guyanese society. The meeting was held at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The delegation from the IAC included Mr Evan Radhay Persaud, Mr Aditya Persaud, Ms. Shazeeda Wong, Ms Herandai Khemraj, businessman Mr Roy Mookram and local actors Mr Godfrey Naughton and Mr Kirk Jardine, the Ministry of the Presidency said in a release. The committee is currently working on a stage production called “I AM US”, which is slated for the National Cultural Centre (NCC) in the first week of October. Mr Naughton explained that the play, which will also be taken to other regions across Guyana, seeks to address age-old issues that prevent Guyanese from different ethnic groups from fully understanding and trusting each other.

Persaud, an executive member of the committee, explained that they are hoping to open the play to the Guyanese public free of cost. In response, President Granger assured that his Government is supportive of any group or programme that can contribute to the fostering of social cohesion and national unity.

The IAC, formerly known as the Indian Arrival Committee, is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, which was established in 2003 and has as its primary objective, the promotion and preservation of the culture and traditions brought by Indian Indentured Labourers in 1838.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Mixed feelings over Alkaline’s performance

By Tamica Garnett THOUGH some said it was top notch, many supporters of the Jamzone Alkaline concert, staged at the National Park last Sunday morning, were displeased with how things played out for varying reasons.

From the behaviour of fellow spectators, to lax security, to even having a problem with the singer’s performance, the concert just did not sit well with several persons.

“It was nice, but it finish too fast; that was the problem,” one patron said, adding: “I also hate the fact that all the young ladies were on the stage, and the guy didn’t get to perform the way he wanted to. But other than that, thumbs up to the show.”

Another said: “He performed better than last time; last time it wasn’t so entertaining for me.” The last time Alkaline performed here was back in 2014 at another Jamzone event.

BODYGUARDS IN TOW It was around 01:15hrs when the “Champion Boy” singer burst on to the stage with an entourage of about three bodyguards in tow, for what would be an approximate 45minute performance.

Decked out in a uniform of skinny jeans that ended under his butt, a T-shirt and open-button shirt, the artiste started off with his “All About the Money” track, and one particularly adventurous young lady quickly climbed onto the stage for a “whine” on the Jamaican.

The security entourage allowed the young woman her 15 seconds of fame, before she was unceremoniously hauled off the stage.

She would be the first of many who would share the same fate, as several other young women tried to grab onto the artiste

ladies fawning over the tattooed artiste, this spectator did not believe Alkaline did the event justice last Saturday night.

“To me, he didn’t have Alkaline perf tunes for the or Park Sunda ming at the National y morning girls them party,” he said.

“Was mostly bad-man tune.

You need tune fuh the girls party and whine whole night; that’s what I want.

“I don’t know about other people; I like partying, and I didn’t enjoy me’self tonight. It was flat for me; I don’t know about other people. ladies wanted to strip the 22-year-old “But anyway, I singer. won’t be going to Alkaline show “If he did only go down in the crowd, one anymore; he can’t sing for me.” woulda tek he shoe, one woulda tek he laces, and one he pants... He coulda can’t come out SECURITY BREACH ah Guyana; dem girls woulda hold on pon The young ladies on the stage were not the he,” the gentleman said. only unpleasant event of the early-morning gig.

He was another patron for whom the A few minutes after Alkaline had made his concert just didn’t do it. In spite of all the entrance on stage, patrons in the VIP section noticed that the area was becoming very crowded, very fast.

The barrier separating the VIP and Regular areas had been breached, and everyone was rushing to be as close to the stage as possible.

Some blamed the organisers for the breach in security. “The entire VIP area didn’t seem like it needed to be a VIP area; it just seemed like a regular spot,” one patron said. “There were no special additives for VIPs; it was disorganized; the promoters need to work on their organization skills.”

Said another, “For one, when I arrived here, my ticket said VIP, and the people at the gate didn’t even know what it was. But I told them it was VIP, and they just let me walk in. Security was lax, clearly.”

‒ Patrons break down VIP barrier

whenever he dared come too close to the edge of the stage, causing him to have to continually beat a hasty retreat.

TOO HOT TO HANDLE As the night progressed, the police added their presence to the stage, as it was beginning to look as though some of the ladies were becoming more than Alkaline’s entourage could handle.

One patron was convinced the young

A section of the sold-out crowd at last weekend’s Jamzone Alkaline concert

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Is

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

‘Bare Rickaticks’ come September

‒ as ‘Season 2’ kicks off FOLLOWING a successful run of the first season of the comedy show, ‘Bare Rickaticks’, starring local comedians, ‘The Reactors’, the show is scheduled to return in September for yet another season of side-busting laughs.

First launched at the beginning of this year, the TV version of ‘Bare Rickaticks’ came to life as a spinoff of a stage show of the same name staged in 2014.

The show aired weekly on E-Networks for three months, consisting 12 episodes of comedic sketches featuring social commentary, current events and satire.

In an interview with The Buzz, member of The Reactors, Randolph Critchlow said that the group has, since its formation, been able to create a name for itself, having toured Guyana for numerous performances.

This popularity, he said, bode well for the TV show.

“It has been a great success.

Now, everywhere we go, people recognise us; some people even shout out some of the popular lines from

the skits,” he said. Needless to say, Randolph noted that many anxiously await the second season’s launch, come September.

The show currently serves as the only running local comedy television show in the country, and its success speaks to the need for more such productions coming out of the local arts industry.

THE BEGINNING The Reactors was formed in 2013 when Randolph was called upon by local comedian, Chow Pow to write and perform skits for the ‘Chow Pow Comedy Jam’.

“So I wrote a few skits, and then pulled together five other actors to help me stage the productions. And we performed and toured with the Chow Pow Comedy Jam that year,” Randolph said.

Apart from Randolph, the group consists of other wellknown names: Mark Luke Edwards, Mark Kazim, Sean Thompson, Leon Cummings and Tashandra Inniss.

After their first stint touring with Chow Pow, the group decided to stay together, and

has since been making comedic magic for a starved

Guyanese crowd.

“We came up with the

name after listening to one of our acting coaches who said

that actors didn’t act, they react. So Mark Kazim suggested that we use The Reactors as a name, having been inspired by that,” Randolph said.

On being the only female in the group, Tashandra refers to herself as “a little girl with a big voice”, and admits that she sometimes tries to bully the boys into getting her own way, but doesn’t get through.

“But when it comes to the show and working together, the guys support me a lot,” she said. She added that the camaraderie among the group also helps in creating successful performances, and it translates to a genuinely entertaining performance on screen.

So, when, at the beginning of the year, the group was approached by E-Networks with the proposal to make their stage show into a production, it was easy for The Reactors to agree.

Today, their entire First Season can be seen on E-Networks’ Youtube channel, with episodes amounting to over 100,000 views each. The shows also feature guest performances by other beloved actors, like Michael Ignatius and Nirmala Narine.

Digicel DJ Competition hits Linden today AFTER performances in Bartica whittled things down to the final 10 deejays, the Digicel “Bring the Beat” Amateur DJ Competition hits Linden tonight at the Bus Park Tarmac, where this week’s performance will decide the five that will be in next Friday’s finals.

Getting past the Bartica round are: DJ Spotlight, Mix Master Tony, Eon Blackz, DJ Vybz, DJ Fluffy, Selector Keston, Smidjit, Selector Shaqq, Selector LJ, and DJ Bentley.

Not making it through were DJs Alex, G-Swagg, King Keev and the competition’s lone female, DJ Winnie.

Now, the remaining contestants will have to face the challenge of impressing the Linden crowd, and the challenge of figuring out how to do that in just five minutes, using only Retro 90s.

So far in the competition, many of the DJs have proven their salt, and gathered quite a few supporters, while others have you wondering if they have any clue as to what they’re doing.

ROUND TWO Back in the second

Mix Master Tony at the console

notice.

Some persons even came in back to the event after being chased away by some of those other DJs who should not give up their day jobs.

HOW THEY RATED We don’t know just how versatile DJ Keston is, but we can honestly say he knows how to work with Bollywood pretty well; he got some big support from the crowd.

DJ Smidjit is the kind of DJ that you would want at your wedding; he might

round, when the competition was held in Berbice, and there were 20 DJs still in the running, it was revealed that some of the DJs don’t even know what music falls into which genre.

At that round, the DJs were given the challenge of mixing dancehall, afro beat and Bollywood, and many didn’t take the time to learn the difference between Bollywood and chutney.

We understand we live in a culture where chutney is our thing, but it does not count as Bollywood.

Others, like Selector LJ,

who could figure it out obviously found it a challenge to work with, and sneakily threw in the Bollywood song in at the end of their five-minute performance.

On a night when less than a handful of DJs really impressed, honourable mention must be given to Mix Master Tony, who was one of them, perhaps even the best of the night.

Of the other remaining contestants, DJ Vybz is another that performed creditably, and his music was enough to encourage patrons to sit up and take

DJ Smidjit

not necessarily win this competition, but if he does, it wouldn’t come as a surprise. Meanwhile, DJ Spotlight’s use of the Lion King opening in his mix gave one the feeling that he would do well at kids parties.

DJ Bentley does not have a problem working with Bollywood, and played a lot of it to prove it.

DJ Fluffy has a future as a DJ, but could use some work, as would Selector Shaqq and Eon Blackz.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

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to go without many features this year

‒ Over $1M in prizes up for grabs

By Tamica Garnett IF you were expecting the whole enchilada at this year’s HJ JamZone Summer Break you would have noticed by now that it’s not happening.

Things are set to culminate this Sunday with the Beach Jam at the HJ Water World, on the East Bank Demerara, and thus far, only includes the “Dancehall Night”, featuring controversial Jamaican artiste, Alkaline, while last month there was the “Kid Zone”.

Though it was promised last year that this year’s event would be “bigger and better”, and in early July in a Facebook post that “This year we're doing it differently; we're turning Jamzone into a month-long celebration in August”, the series has since been scaled down, even as the affair celebrates its 16th Anniversary.

Talks with Hits and Jams Co-Director Rawle Ferguson and HJ radio host Feliz Robertson revealed that due to budgetary constraints and investments in a lot of other projects, the series of activities had to be curtailed, excluding several events including the Miss Jamzone Pageant.

Ferguson said the money just isn’t there.

“To be quite honest, we’ve had a bit of a dip in disposable income, so we decided to do about three events this year,” he said. “ “But come next year, hopefully when things pick up with disposable income and so forth, we can add back the events. But, basically, this year we just did the important ones like the Kids Zone, the Beach Day and a Danchall Night, which resonates with young people.”

TOO CUMBERRSOME In the case of the Miss Jamzone Pageant, Robertson said it would be too cumbersome, given the scope of other projects that the company is currently undertaking.

She, too, hopes that things might pick

promises tickets will not be more than $2000.

Those who do decide to go support the Beach Jam can look to perhaps cash in on some of the approximate-

said, “so we’re hoping that people will come out and have the same level of fun, the same level of energy.

“You won’t have to worry about your vehicle; you don’t have to worry about security. We will have police officers there to protect and serve.”

Ferguson also chimed in, saying that things are expected to be off the hook.

“The excitement should be really big this year; the games, the giveaways, the money, it’s no difference. Except more games this year, and more fun,” he said.

JamZone Summer Break first began back in 2000, and is considered by many as one of the most anticipated events of the year.

‘To be quite honest, we’ve had a bit of a dip in disposable income, so we decided to do about three events this year’ -- HJs Rawle Ferguson ly $1M in prizes that will be up for grabs.

Feliz also assured us that security will not be a problem. “There are about $1M in prizes to be won there at the Beach Jam on August 21 at HJ Water World,” she

up and be better next year.

“The Miss Jamzone Pageant this year was not feasible for us to host it,” she said.

“We would have loved to, but it’s just didn’t work out in the timing that we would have hoped for, because we have so many other projects that we are working on.

“Water World is one of them, and that is taking up a lot of our time and our energy, among other things. We have the radio station that we’re still working on and doing a lot of things with; we’re reviving and revamping HJTV with new programming and all types of things, so it just wasn’t feasible this year. But we are looking to bring it back next year.”

But it was only last year that HJ also had to scale back on several activities, and back then, Ferguson’s partner, Kerwin Bollers was reported in a section of the media as promising that this year would have been “bigger and better”.

PAGEANT APART Apart from the Pageant, the HJ JamZone Summer Break package at one point also included a “Bikers Fest”, a JamZone International Night, and even a “Black Tie Affair” and “Bollywood Night”. These features were also missing last year. Nonetheless, HJ is hoping that patrons will be appeased with those activities that are being held, and hope to see supporters come out in their number this Sunday’s Beach Jam, for which Feliz

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Beenie Man over Zika Virus ‒ dismisses HIV rumours BEENIE Man is fully recovered after contracting Zika Virus last month, forcing him to pull out of OVO Fest.

The dancehall legend also had to address rumours that he has HIV/AIDS. Shortly after Beenie Man posted a photo of himself in the hospital getting treatment for the Zika V, ru-

mours started circulating that he has another deadly virus.

Sources close to the “Rum and Redbull” deejay told Urban Islandz that the rumours are completely false.

“Those are just rumours; that’s just ridiculous! The Doc (Beenie Man) is in good health as we speak,” a ‘rep’ for the deejay told us.

“It’s just people spreading false rumours, and I can confirm that Beenie did a full check

up at his personal doctor after contracting Zika, and he is one hundred percentage healthy and HIV- free.”

Beenie Man, who is gearing up to drop his new album, Unstoppable, was in Japan last weekend for a sold-out show. The album will be available on August 26.

Among the guest features for the long-awaited album are Bounty Killer, Sizzla Kalonji, Agent Sasco, Christopher Martin, and Tarrus Riley. You can look for productions from Tony Kelly, Seannizle, Don Corleone, Jeremy Harding, Major Lazer and more. (UrbanIslandz.com)

Buzzing this weekend Celebrate Aviation Day with Pulse Entertainment at the Palm Court as they host their “Flight 592” Party, featuring “International aerial artiste” Violetta Transsija. Cost to board: $2,000. Flight departs at 21:00hrs. ► University of Guyana students, the time has come for ‘Academic Freedom: Evolved’ at the 704 Lounge.

Come and enjoy the traditional UG event with a twist. Event starts at 20:00hrs.

Admission is free with a UG identification or before midnight. ► Pegasus Aura will have its Bollywood

Night tonight. Join DJ More Money as he spins the best Bollywood, chutney, soca and pop mixes. Club opens at 20:00hrs.

TOMORROW ► We knew that it would happen sometime or the other: 704 Lounge will host a Pokémon GO Party in keeping with the newest craze that has hit Guyana.

We’re not sure how many Pokémon you’ll catch, since it’s not an actual Pokéstop; but at the very least, you can win free Apple Gift Cards and make some new connections with similar interests!

Admission: $2,000. Ladies free before 22:00hrs. Free shots for everyone!

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:40 hrs Jet Explorer 09:15 hrs Kanara 09:55 hrs Cardinal 10:20 hrs Sun Power 11:10 hrs Star Trek American Racing Tips Saratoga Race 1 One More Round Race 2 Tashreeh Race 3 Iron Hands Race 4 Farhaan Race 5 Tale Of Life Race 6 Approvethismessage Race 7 Riot Worthy Race 8 Aussie Prayer English Racing Tips York 08:55 hrs Barsanti 09:30 hrs Quest For More 10:05 hrs Nemoralia 10:40 hrs Goldream 11:20 hrs Rivet 11:55 hrs Arcanada Sandown 09:20 hrs Just Maybe 09:55 hrs Ejbaar 10:30 hrs Good Omen 11:05 hrs Daily Bulletin 11:40 hrs Carpe Diem Lady 12:15 hrs Palisade Salisbury 12:30 hrs Cosmic Storm 13:05 hrs Gracious Tom 13:35 hrs Star Maker 14:05 hrs Mr Scaramanda 14:35 hrs Guns Of Leros 15:05 hrs Ivanhoe Irish Racing Tips Kilbeggan 12:10 hrs Black Ace 12:40 hrsd Killer Crow 13:10 hrs Weightfordave 13:40 hrs Sharlanda 14:10 hrs Westerner Lady 14:40 hrs Carole Rose 15:10 hrs Robin Des Foret

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Sharjeel thumps Ireland PAKISTAN hammered Ireland by 255 runs in the first ODI, a record victory set up

by Sharjeel Khan's stunning 152 from 86 balls.

Sharjeel Khan's brutal maiden century set Pakistan on their way to a crushing 255-run success over Ireland in the first one-day international yesterday.

The left-handed opener had just one fifty to his name in 11 previous ODI outings, but announced himself to the Ireland bowlers in devastating fashion as Pakistan recorded their heaviest margin of victory in this format.

Sharjeel blasted 152 from 86 balls, including 16 fours and nine maximums, helping Pakistan rack up a massive 337-6 from their 47 overs after a delayed start due to a wet outfield at Malahide.

Late fifties from Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Nawaz - on his ODI debut - further boosted the tourists' total, before Ireland were blown away for a paltry 82 all out, Imad Wasim returning 5-14.

But the day undoubtedly

Sharjeel Khan pulls during his century, Ireland v Pakistan, 1st ODI, Malahide, yesterday.

belonged to Sharjeel, whose hundred from 61 balls was the fourth fastest in ODIs by a Pakistan batsman, while his 152 represented the team's third highest individual score, behind Saeed Anwar and Imran Nazir.

Having been put in, Pakistan lost Azhar Ali for one but Mohammad Hafeez (37) and Babar Azam (29) aided Sharjeel, who eventually skied to the wicketkeeper to be fourth out with the score on 226.

Malik then blasted 57 from 37 balls while Nawaz added a more circumspect 53 from 50 as Pakistan set a daunting target.

And as Ireland crumbled to 55-6, the game was all but over as a contest as Wasim, Umar Gul (3-23) and Mohammad Amir (1-7) did the damage.

Ireland's top score was the 21 made by Gary Wilson, but his departure saw the hosts lose their final four wickets for one run – Wasim bowling all of the last three batsmen with the first four balls of the 24th over.

Police open Criminal case over Atkinson’s death (SPORTSMAX) - A criminal investigation has been opened against two police officers in the wake of the death of former Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson.

Two police officers are facing a criminal investigation following the death of former Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson on Monday.

The 48-year-old was

pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital following an incident with police at an address in Telford.

Atkinson is believed to have been Tased by one of the officers and suffered cardiac arrest on the way to hospital, though the cause of death has been deemed "inconclusive" following a post-mortem, according to the Independent Police

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER COMPLIMENTS OF: THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE 176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) India won by 237 runs (2) Ravi Ashwin-118 (first innings)

Today’s Quiz: (1) Who top-scored for WI in the just-concluded third Test against India?

(2) Who were the on-field umpires in the third WI/ India Test of the current series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Complaints Commission (IPPC).

The retired striker's death was immediately referred to the IPPC for investigation, and commissioner Derrick Campbell has confirmed two officers are being interviewed under "criminal caution".

"Two West Mercia Police officers have been advised they are under criminal investigation and are also being served with gross misconduct notices," an IPCC statement read.

"A criminal investigation does not mean that criminal charges will necessarily follow. The IPCC investigation is at an early stage and the position will be kept under review as the investigation progresses."

Campbell added in the statement: "Having carefully considered the evidence gathered so far, we

are undertaking a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Atkinson's death and the level and type of force used. Two police officers will be interviewed under criminal caution by IPCC investigators.

"As this is a criminal investigation, the IPCC is limited in the amount of information which can be released into the public domain. I would ask people to be patient during the progress of our investigation and not to add to speculation about the circumstances of Mr Atkinson's death. Speculation across the media as a whole can risk prejudice to the investigation process.

"We will keep Mr Atkinson's family updated and our thoughts remain with all of those affected by his death."

Williamson eyeing extra spinner against Proteas (SPORTSMAX) - New Zealand face South Africa in the first Test in Durban today and Kane Williamson is yet to decide on the make-up of his attack.

Kane Williamson conceded he was yet to finalise his XI for today's opening Test between New Zealand and South Africa as he monitors the state of the Durban wicket.

The Black Caps, fresh from two heavy wins over Zimbabwe over the past three weeks, take on a Proteas side who have not played in the five-day format since a 2-1 defeat to England in January.

On the eve of the twomatch series, Williamson was still unsure as to the make-up of his bowling attack, with a decision to be made over whether two spinners would be required to back up the pace of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner.

"We're going to have a look at the wicket‚ just to see if it dries out a little bit more‚ before we finalise our XI‚" he said in a media conference.

"The choice is the extra spinner or an extra seamer.

"The wicket looks a bit tacky but the game goes for five days and there are a number of things to consider.

"No Test matches have been played here at this time of the year so both teams go in a little bit blind‚ but it looks like a pretty good surface.

"Here we know it will be different (to the wickets in Zimbabwe). Perhaps there might be more seam movement‚ which requires different tactics.

"If there is movement putting the ball in a good area for a long period of time is important to get the rewards. If there isn't (movement) we'll need to adjust."

Fraser-Price to leave MVP

(SPORTSMAX) - SportsMax.tv has been reliably informed that two-time Olympic 100m gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has officially said she is parting ways with the MVP Track Club at the end of this 2015/2016 season.

Fraser-Pryce, 29, who won a bronze medal in the 100 metres last week Saturday night, informed head coach MVP Stephen Francis, Wednesday night of her decision.

She anchored Jamaica through to the final of the 4x100 metres relay at the Olympic Games in Rio yesterday and intends to lead the team to a gold medal in the final today.

President of the MVP Track Club, Bruce James,

told SportsMax.tv that he could neither confirm or deny that the decorated sprinter, who joined the club in 2007, is leaving at the end of the season following what will be her last Olympic campaign.

Under the tutelage of Francis, Fraser-Pryce won back-to-back Olympic titles in 2008 and 2012.

She also won World titles in the 100 metres in 2009, 2013 and 2015.

She became the first Jamaican woman to win three gold medals at a global championships when she won the 100 metres, 200 metres, and anchored the Jamaican team to gold at the IAAF World Athletic Championships in Moscow in 2013.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Two kicked out of RIO over doping (SPORTSMAX) - Chen Xinyi and Kleber da Silva Ramos have been kicked out of Rio 2016 after testing positive for banned substances.

Brazilian cyclist Kleber da Silva Ramos and Chinese swimmer Chen Xinyi have been disqualified from Rio 2016 following positive doping tests.

Da Silva Ramos did not

finish the men's road race, but tested positive for EPO and accepted a provisional suspension without requesting a hearing.

Chen reached the women's 100 metre butterfly final and finished fourth, less than a tenth of a second outside of a place on the podium.

The 18-year-old Chinese returned a positive test for hydrochlorothiazide and also

accepted a provisional suspension.

Chen faced a hearing on the case on Wednesday, but was disqualified from the Games.

A statement from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) added that the respective international federations will rule on potential sanctions beyond the Olympic Games.

Serbian ‘spikes’ U.S. out of Olympic Volleyball (REUTERS) - Serbia's women's volleyball team eliminated the world's top-ranked team, the United States, on Thursday in a shock upset after the undefeated Americans lost their top player to a knee injury.

Serbia, playing in their first Olympic semi-final, were riding high after sending Russia home two days earlier and defeated the United States 20-25, 25-17, 25-21, 16-25, 15-13.

The U.S. team won the first set but Serbia, driv-

en on by their formidable spiker Brankica Mihajlovic, took control after America's top-scoring middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo went off with a left knee injury sustained in the opening set.

The U.S. had beaten Serbia 3-1 in preliminary games and were favourites to take their first gold medal in women's volleyball. They won the World Championship in 2014 and took silver in the last two Olympics where they lost both finals to the Brazilians, their traditional rivals who

were beaten by China on Tuesday.

The Americans had the crowd in Rio's rowdy Maracanazinho stadium rooting against them. Mainly Brazilian spectators booed the U.S. servers and cheered when the Serbian players scored, chanting "Ole ole ola, Serbia, Serbia."

China were down to face the Netherlands later yesterday and are favourites to reach Sunday's final. The Dutch are competing in their first Olympics in 20 years.

U.S. 4x100m Women’s team qualify after second chance (USA TODAY) - Minus the stakes at play, it could’ve been practice: Four American women running on an otherwise empty track, honing their relay skills in advance of the actual competition.

But there was far more up for grabs. Competing against themselves, their shadows and the clock, the U.S. women’s 4x100 relay team were in fact racing to defend their gold medal from the 2012 London Games, albeit under circumstances never before seen on the Olympics stage.

As the anchor for the race, Morolake Akinosun,

crossed the finish line with a team time of 41.77 seconds, tops among all qualifiers and significantly better than the time they needed to hit to advance, 42.70, and the U.S. team accomplished a first in the history of track and field: It took an entire day to complete a semi-final relay and yet still advanced to the final.

“Honestly, I feel like it was just a glorified practice,” English Gardner said. “We just had fun out there. We were laughing and joking going in, staying light, and that was the whole point.”

For Akinosun, Gardner, Tianna Bartoletta and Al-

lyson Felix, the day started eight hours before under a brilliant Rio sky. It was a day of angst, missteps, fear and apprehension.

In the morning, the team entered the second heat of the semi-finals as an overwhelming favourite to make today's final and a serious contender for gold,.

And the script stayed true to form until the second exchange - or, to be more precise, until the seconds before the second exchange, when a bump from a Brazilian runner in the adjacent lane propelled Felix into a tap-dance routine that sent the baton flying, for a moment taking

with it the team's hopes of defending their gold.

Knocked off balance, Felix caught her toe on the polyurethane turf and, in yet another surreal moment, attempted to throw the baton to Gardner, waiting with her right arm stretched behind her back. Needless to say, relay batons are meant for handoffs, not forward passes.

The baton fell; Gardner yelled. It was an utter disaster, the sort of worst-case-scenario nightmare that makes every relay event track’s equivalent of an egg toss - and then the USA were saved.

US Women's team celebrates qualifying for the 4x100m final (Jamaica Gleaner photo)

American swimmers make up Rio robbery story (YAHOOSPORTS) - Ryan Lochte’s U.S. swimming teammates told Brazilian authorities yesterday the 12time Olympic gold medallist fabricated their story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro, according to ESPN. Details of the alleged fabrication first came yesterday morning from ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman, who cited Brazilian authority sources claiming the existence of video footage showing a U.S. swimmer “breaking down” a bathroom door and “fighting” security at a gas station around the time the robbery allegedly occurred. Video footage of a verbal confrontation between the four U.S. Olympic swimmers and security at the gas station was released later yesterday by Brazil’s O Globo

newspaper.

American swimmers Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, James Feigen and Lochte first claimed to be victims of an alleged armed robbery of their taxi cab en route to the Olympic Village on their way back from a party at the French hospitality house early Sunday morning, according to the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Video obtained by the Daily Mail on Tuesday appeared to show the U.S. swimmers returning to the Olympic Village around 07:00hrs. on Sunday — after the alleged robbery carrying valuables and joking with each other. According to reports, Brazilian police grew sceptical when the swimmers failed to provide important details about the robbery, including when and where the incident occurred.

During multiple interviews with members of NBC’s Today show, Lochte stood by the robbery story.

“We got pulled over in our taxi and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge,” Lochte told the Today show’s Billy Bush in a taped interview Sunday. “No lights, no nothing, just a police badge. They pulled us over, they pulled out their guns. They told the other swimmers to get down on the ground. They got down on the ground. I refused. I was like, ‘We didn’t do anything wrong,’ so I’m not getting down on the ground. And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and said ‘get down.’ I put my hands up.

I was like ‘whatever.’ He took our money, he took my wallet.”

Speaking with Today’s Matt Lauer on Wednes-

Ryan Lochte during competition in Rio. (Michael Sohn/Associated Press)

day, Lochte reiterated, “We wouldn’t make this story up.

We’re victims in this and we’re happy that we’re safe.”

However, the six-time Olympic gold medallist altered details about his original story during Wednesday’s conversation with Lauer, saying they stopped at the gas station to use the men’s room and the gun was aimed in his “general direction”.

Gutman’s report yesterday morning appeared to contradict Lochte’s account of the alleged robbery.

Later yesterday, the gas station owner told Brazil’s O Globo news the U.S. quartet urinated on his Shell franchise’s walls in Rio’s Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood at the time in question. Meanwhile, the British Daily Mail reported a security guard drew a gun at the swimmers after they drunkenly “destroyed a gas station toilet and refused to pay for the damage.” The swimmers then reportedly paid.

The video footage released

by O Globo shows the four U.S. swimmers retreating into an alley on the property before returning to their taxi. At that point, someone approaches the vehicle, the swimmers get out, and they’re led to a landing

outside the gas station, where they sit with their arms raised.

O Globo’s footage did not include a broken bathroom door or a physical confrontation with security, although USA Today maintained the swimmers damaged a bathroom door when they could not enter.

On Wednesday, sufficiently sceptical of the U.S. Olympians’ accounts, a Brazilian judge issued a search and seizure warrant to further question the swimmers.

While Lochte had already returned to the U.S., Conger and Bentz were removed from their flight home by Brazilian authorities on Wednesday night. Feigen also remained in Brazil. All three were cooperating with Brazilian police, the USOC said.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

Clive Atwell completes successful surgery

By Daniel Haynes AFTER much fundraising and praying, Guyanese boxer Clive ‘The Punisher’ Atwell successfully completed his second brain surgery at the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in New York early yesterday morning.

The boxer had his first surgery last October after fainting in the ninth round of his title fight against T&Tbased Dexter Gonzales at the Giftland Mall. He was rushed to hospital and doctors found that he had subdural hematomas haemorrhaging. The findings meant he had bleeding in his head that had resulted from a serious head

Clive Atwell is seen here after second surgery.

injury.

His situation was a dire one, since, after travelling to Trinidad, he was told he needed a second surgery, which would cost him G$5M. This prompted the fundrais-

ing process for the 27-yearold.

A committee was formed to raise the funds for the boxer, who needed the second surgery within six months.

His fundraising had taken him out of Guyana to the United States and with help he was able to raise the funds he needed.

Lady Ira Lewis from Guyana American Heritage Foundation was the lead in getting the aid for Atwell while he was in New York.

According to Ira, “The doctors said that he should be out of the hospital by Saturday.”

When asked about completing his recovery process Ira stated, “It can’t be said

for sure when the recovery will be completed; he was supposed to have this surgery months ago and so there could be some complications.”

After his surgery the boxer was up and was giving thanks to God as well as those who had helped.

“God is faithful and God is good, and I thank you all for your prayers and for your support,” Atwell stated. “I encourage you to lend a helping hand to whoever whenever it is required knowing that God is the author and finisher of all things,” he concluded.

Atwell is expected to be out of the hospital by tomorrow if there are no complications.

29-strong team for Goodwill Games 2016

Director of Sport Christopher Jones (second from right) with the swimmers who will represent Guyana at this year’s Goodwill Swim Meet

A TEAM of twenty-nine swimmers departed yesterday with the aim of flying the Golden Arrowhead high at the Goodwill Swim Meet which begins today at the Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre in St Lucia.

The team which also includes five officials, met with Director of Sport Christopher Jones prior to departure.

Jones, wished the team well conveying to the athletes that there can be as limitless as they want to be and can even reach the heights of celebrated multiple Olympic Games gold medallist Michael Phelps.

The sport director said, “The sky is the limit, you could even reach the stats of Michael Phelps or even go above and beyond him. I am confident that each and every one of you have the ability.

Congratulations for making the team, being part of the delegation that represents Guyana, because I know there were

others who were attempting to make timings and so forth but didn’t make it.”

“I encourage you to emulate what you saw at the Olympics like Michael Phelps and so forth because in years to come they could very well be representing Guyana at the Olympics.” Jones said.

Jones also offered words of encouragement to the coaches and manager of the team. To the parents of the swimmers Jones said, “This is not only an opportunity for your child to go abroad and that’s the end of it, continue to encourage them in their sport disciplines, not forgetting to also encourage them in their academics.”’

The current team represents a change from the initial 28 selected by the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), with Boys’ 1112 swimmer Sekhel TSedeq no longer going, and Boys’ 8-and-under swimmers Jeremy and Jeron Sookram being

added to the team.

The team, however, marks a reduction from the thirtytwo-strong contingent that represented Guyana last year in Trinidad, but is equal in size to that of the 2014 unit in Suriname.

In Suriname, the team finished in the cellar position with 26 medals, which included four gold, six silver and eight bronze individual medals and eight relay bronze medals.

Guyana have continued to do poorly at the meet, almost always finishing in last place among the competing countries which include Trinidad, Suriname, Barbados and St Lucia but did manage some positives in 2015 where they finished in the penultimate position.

Despite Guyana’s continued dismal performance at the developmental meet, national coach Sean Baksh said that concrete results have been forthcoming from Guyana’s

sustained attendance at the meet.

He cited the example of last year’s leading gold medallist, and 8-and-under agegroup champion Aleka Persaud, who did not medal at the meet until some years later.

“We’re at the bottom of the pile and we’re trying to take ourselves out of that. Every step for us is developmental at the moment. Every time they go they may not come back with a medal but they’re improving on their times. We still have to tread along the course with the athletes and hope that down the road they will do what they have to do.

Nothing happens overnight.”

Baksh remarked.

The government of Guyana through the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Ministry of Education donated over $4M in funding to the team.

The Meet is scheduled to run until August 21.

Guyana Under-19s overpower Jamaica by 31 runs

By BRIJ PARASNATH DEFENDING champions Guyana kept alive their chances of successfully defending their WICB Regional Under-19 50-overs title when they overpowered Jamaica by 31 runs in their sixth round match at the Sion Hill playing field in St Vincent yesterday.

In the other matches, Windwards (58 for 2 off 6.2 overs; Anil Matthew 39 not out) also maintained their place atop the standings when they thrashed Leewards (54 all out in 20 overs; Jonathan Taylor 3 for 9, Rasheed Fredericks 3 for 7) by eight wickets in a low-scoring match at Park Hill playing field while Barbados (204 for 3 in 45.4 overs) also enhanced their chances of vying for the top position when they whipped the ICC Americas team (203 all out in 50 overs) by seven wickets at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.

Windwards will clash with Trinidad and Tobago in one of the final round key matches today. But even if they lose to the Trinidadians they will definitely clinch one of the two qualifying spots for the final.

However, both Guyana and Barbados are in strong positions to grab the other berth so their face-off today will determine the other finalists between the two leading teams at the end of the seven-team round-robin series.

The Guyanese outfit showed their fighting qualities and turned back the challenge of the Jamaicans in a hard-fought battle at Sion Hill.

Having batted first the Guyanese frontline batsmen struggled to come to terms with the Jamaican spinners especially left-armer Jeavor Royal (10-2-21-2) who dispatched Keemo Paul and Bhaskar Yadram for one and five respectively.

Earlier, Ronaldo Renee faced 39 balls for 13 runs

while Sherfane Rutherford negotiated 84 balls and hit one six before he departed for a patient 34. They posted 48 for the first wicket stand in 17.4 overs.

Subsequently, Guyana lost four more wickets and had reached 89 for 5 in 37.3 overs when Yadram departed.

But Joshua Persaud and Ronaldo AliMohammed restored hope of playing out the full fifty overs as they added a crucial 48 runs for the sixth wicket and pushed the total to 137 (43.6) when Persaud was dismissed for 27.

AliMohammed was partnered by Looknauth Chinkoo and they went on the offensive and added a further 31 runs for the eighth-wicket stand. AliMohammed topscored with 42 and slammed four sixes off 37 balls while Chinkoo made 24 that included two sixes off 16 balls.

Guyana innings of 190 all out closed on the final ball of the 50-over innings with Tyrone Daley (7-120-3) and Michael Frew (10-1-44-2) emerged as the other main wicket-takers for Jamaica whose batsmen also found the going very tough and were all out for 159 in 47.4 overs.

Daley topscored with 24 while Rutherford (6.4-017-5), Kheshram Seyhodan (10-1-30-2), Keemo Paul (9-1-35-2) and Akenie Adams (10-3-21-1) shared the wickets.

ICC Americas made 203 in 50 overs with Akashdeep Gill 85 (2x6, 8x4, 146 balls) and Sagar Patel 32 being the main run-getters.

The successful bowlers for Barbados were Chemar Holder (10-0-44-3) and Joshua Bishop (7-0-28-2).

Leniko Boucher (69 not out) and Yvan Grant (50 not out) shared an unbroken 113-run fourth-wicket stand that propelled Barbados to their seven-wicket win over ICC Americas as they amassed 204 for 3 in 45.4 overs.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 19, 2016

West Indies v India, 4th Test, Port of Spain …

Rain-affected day sees Windies lose two wickets (ESPNCricinfo) - India's hopes of retaining the No.1 Test ranking going into the home season suffered a setback as only 22 overs were possible on the first day in wet Port of Spain.

Forecast for the second day wasn't great either, and the facilities at the ground came under scrutiny too. The first day's play began half-anhour late despite no rain since the evening before the Test, and it was called off as early as 14:00hrs. There is no super sopper at Queen's Park Oval.

Any team will be a tad disappointed with losing two wickets in the first session after choosing to bat on a slow track, but such has been the state of the West Indies batting that they might take this, with the rain being the bonus.

Only once in the series have

they lost their third wicket after reaching three figures.

Kraigg Brathwaite, who has shown the willingness to buckle down, did that job, but he will be disappointed that they lost two wickets especially after he and Leon Johnson had seen off the first spells of the opening bowlers.

West Indies will be all the more disappointed because the pitch was really slow, after having spent a lot of time under covers because of rain, leading up to the Test. It had left the outfield wet enough to delay the start of the Test by half-an-hour.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had cracked open the last Test for India, wasted little time, though, in creating opportunities. In his first four overs, he hit the outside edge of Brathwaite's bat four

times: twice the ball fell short, once it travelled in the gap in the slip cordon, and once Virat Kohli dropped it at second slip, seeming to suggest he expected third slip KL Rahul to go for it.

That wasn't the first disfavour he had done his bowlers: he had decided to play just the four bowlers so that both Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma could be included.

Also he dropped Shikhar Dhawan for M. Vijay after an uncertain batting line-up had been reduced to 126 for 5 in the previous Test.

After seeing off Bhuvneshwar and Mohammed Shami for a partnership of 31 runs, Johnson fell to the first ball bowled by Ishant Sharma. This was his second straight dismissal to short leg, and again straight off the bat.

Darren Bravo is cleaned up by R Ashwin, West Indies v India, 4th Test, Port of Spain, 1st day, yesterday. (Associated Press)

Ishant got it just high enough into the ribs, but Johnson could have left it alone.

The second wicket didn't take so much co-operation from the batsman. After Darren Bravo had picked R Ashwin for a two and a four at his home ground, the next ball was just a bit

shorter, creating the distance between the pitch of the ball and the bat. Then it had enough time to turn from middle and leg and past the outside edge to hit the top of off stump. That in the first session of a Test is excellent for a spinner.

Brathwaite, though,

remained solid and in partnership with Marlon Samuels took West Indies to within 15 minutes of early lunch when rain brought them early relief for them.

As it turned out steady rain for the next hour or so was all it took for the day's play to be called off.

Jaguars 3-day Franchise League launched … Set to commence on August 26

By Rajiv Bisnauth AIMING at developing the standard of Guyana’s cricket and ultimately cricket in the region, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) yesterday launched a groundbreaking League, dubbed the ‘Jaguars three-day Franchise League’.

The new League will abandon the traditional senior inter-county structure

and comprise eight franchise teams countrywide namely: Upper Corentyne (Nigg to Skeldon), Lower Corentyne (Albion to New Amsterdam), West Berbice, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown, East Bank/ Upper Demerara, West Demerara and Essequibo.

In this new franchise system more than 100 quality players will vie for places in the national teams in the various formats.

During the official launching, Secretary of the GCB, Anand Sanasie, told the gathering that the initiative is the perfect opportunity for more local players to get more involved in the game so that they can showcase their talent at a higher competitive level.

“Everyone must have a chance not only those who have earned professional or academy contracts,” the

GCB secretary said.

Sanasie pointed out, that despite the huge cost to offset the entire tournament, the GCB is financially strong at least for this year, adding that each player and support staff will be paid $5 000 per day once cricket is played.

Also making brief remarks was GCB president Drubahadur, who expressed optimism that the League will further develop the game locally and also West Indies cricket.

GCB’s Marketing Man-

(Seated from right): GCB Territorial Development Officer Colin Stuart, Raj Singh, Drubahadur, Anand Sanasie and chairman of the National Selectors, Rayon Griffith. Also sharing the moment are a number of cricketers, Esaun Crandon and Clive Grimmond.

ager Raj Singh in giving an overview of the League, disclosed that the new system has been carefully designed to reinvigorate all aspects of cricket in Guyana.

“This franchise system is aimed at allowing interested parties to invest in the development of the team of their choice and have a greater stake in the actual composition, planning and development of their respective teams.

“This is a glorious opportunity for everyone to take ownership of their teams and its officials. We strongly feel that this new structure will bring more spectator interest to the game of cricket in Guyana,” Singh divulged.

Singh pointed out that in order to ensure that each franchise team is com petitive as possible, the GCB has allocated the 33 cricketers under contract with West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) within the eight teams in a fair and transparent manner, with the remainder of the

teams coming from other players drawn largely from the eight geographic areas.

It was also pointed out that each franchise team can have two international players at their disposal, as well as two players out of their geographical area.

Singh further indicated that several franchise-holders are at various stages of negotiations with the GCB regarding the ownership of a team.

To this end, Singh said that interesting franchise-holders can take ownership of a team of their choice, preferably in the geographical area of their business enterprise.

“There will be contracts to be signed between the franchise owners and GCB clearly outlining each party's duties and responsibilities, with the local boards lending support and technical personnel in the general administrative plans of the franchise,” Singh said.

Each franchise will have its own base ground facility for practice, training and games along with its own set of officials.

Rain-affected day sees Windies lose two wickets 31 P.

‘CHAMPION BWOY!’

Usain Bolt of Jamaica wins the Men’s 200m Final on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium last night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Jamaica's Usain Bolt celebrates winning the Men's 200m Final ahead of bronze medallist France's Christophe Lemaitre during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro last night.

(Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)

Usain ‘Lightning’ Bolt of Jamaica strikes his iconic pose after winning the Men's 200m Final on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium last night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

(NBCOlympics) - Putting the final touches on his Olympic legacy, Usain Bolt won the Olympic 200m gold medal last night in Rio. It was likely the last individual Olympic race for the eight-time gold medallist.

Bolt crossed the line in 19.78 seconds, his slowest time in his three Olympic 200m finals.

With three Olympic gold medals in both the 100m and 200m, Bolt became the third athlete in Olympic history to win two individual events at three Olympics, joining Michael Phelps and Ray Ewry.

Andre De Grasse, the Canadian sprinter who unsuccessfully challenged a smiling Bolt in his semi-final heat, finished second in 20.02 seconds.

France’s Christophe Lemaitre earned the bronze medal.

LaShawn Merritt, the lone American to reach the final, finished sixth.

Bolt remained perfect in Olympic finals. The world’s fastest man won his seventh Olympic gold medal on Sunday, in the 100m.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2016