Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 20 06 2016

End the hate No. 104588

monday, june 20, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

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––Nagamootoo rails against hate crimes, urges tough action by police

Teen shot in head during robbery

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Vendors identify alleged corrupt officers 4 Page

Prospect, East Bank Demerara resident Delon Amos raises his beaming daughter Delacey during an outing in the Botanical Gardens on Sunday, which also happened to be Father’s Day (Delano Williams photo)

Fire destroys Friendship 3 home Page

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Fire destroys Friendship home guyana CHRONICLE monday June 20, 2016

Firefighters at the scene A BLAZE at Lot 13 Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD) that suddenly erupted at 11:30hrs on Sunday consumed a two-storey wooden and concrete house and left a family of five bereft of all its valuables.

Residents said the Guyana Fire Service did not manage to contain the blaze until at approximately 13:00hrs.

According to Rocky Bahadur, an occupant of the gutted building, after he had finished his barbering duties and had closed his barbershop, he made his way home, only to see a cloud of smoke billowing in the air. He later learned that the house he lived in was on fire.

He explained that no one was at home at the time the fire started, and he immediately sprang into action, trying to use buckets to douse a section of the wooden step that led into the upper flat.

“Everything we own is now up in smoke. I’m talking

Inside the upper flat, after the flames had consumed the building passports with visas; foreign currency for travel that my wife and mother-in-law was supposed to use in two weeks; money that was not carried to the bank yet from the business, amongst other things that I can’t even begin to say,” Bahadur lamented.

He said family members were at a business operated at Grove, East Bank Demerara -- Padma’s Creole Cuisine -- when neighbours alerted them via phone that the house was on fire.

End the hate guyana CHRONICLE monday June 20, 2016

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––Nagamootoo rails against hate crimes, urges tough action by police

By Ravin Singh

IN a multi-faceted society such as Guyana, where divergent cultures coexist, there is a need for Guyanese to be vigilant and to guard against all attempts of domestic terrorism, including hate speech.

This view was expressed

by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Friday evening during the farewell reception for outgoing US Deputy Chief of Mission Bryan Hunt.

The Government has been taking steps to promote social cohesion as is evident with the creation of the Social Cohesion Ministry, but in spite of these efforts, there is much work to be done.

And according to the Prime Minister, in Guyana “the ugly head of domestic terrorism” including hate speech has been appearing both in the streets and on the Internet, and the police must take stern action against the perpetrators.

Hate speech is a motivator of hate crimes. On June 12, some 50 persons were killed in an Orlando, USA gay nightclub by a lone gunman who holds strong ideological views against gay people.

The gunman was killed by police after a three-hour standoff. An additional 53 people were injured. The incident was described as the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in the US, and the deadliest incident of violence against people who identify with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) in that country.

The attack was widely denounced both as an act of terrorism and a hate crime.

While Guyana has never recorded such mass killings in the context of hate crimes, the country has seen multiple deaths resulting from hate crimes perpetrated against minority groups, more specifically the LGBT community.

Two years ago, a jilted man brutally murdered two members of the Guyanese LGBT community, Tyra Banks and Jada, in the middle of the street.

Last year, another member of the community, Noel Luther, 20, was gunned

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo shares a toast with outgoing US Deputy Chief of Mission Bryan Hunt on Friday (Adrian Narine photo) down. Tiffany Holder and Nandkumar Purnwassie are other examples of people within the LGBT community who have been murdered in Guyana.

Aside from hate crimes, hate speech in Guyana has not been limited to the LGBT community, but extends into the realm of politics.

CHARGED Earlier this month, two persons were placed before the court and charged with attempting to incite racial violence and making death threats against President David Granger and former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar.

Bibi Safoora Salim, 52, was recently charged and placed on $200,000 bail after she pleaded not guilty to using Facebook to threaten and make derogatory statements against President Granger.

Subsequently, Tameshwar Beekham of Corentyne, Berbice, threatened through

a Facebook post to murder Jagdeo, Ramotar and PPP General-Secretary Clement Rohee.

With the existence of these hostilities which appear to be much more subtle than the Orlando shooting, Prime Minister Nagamootoo called on Guyanese to “nip all attempts at domestic terrorism” before it escalates to a situation similar in the US. He also contended that the outgoing US diplomat played a major role in helping to curb the many divisions in Guyana, pointing out that he was directly involved in helping to reshape the divisive culture here fostered over a number of decades.

“Hunt had spoken on every issue in Guyana’s society; even recently he commented on the forensic audits and conflicts of interest. He has seen us through some difficult political times and even through the no-confidence motion in Parliament which has never been done before,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo said.

He went on to point out that Hunt came and experienced a change of Government which happened for the first time in 23 years, as well as the holding of Local Government Elections.

Hunt will be heading to Mozambique when he leaves Guyana on July 8.

During his tenure, Hunt assumed responsibilities as Deputy Chief of Mission

at the American Embassy in Georgetown on August 8, 2013.

Prior to this assignment, Hunt served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, from July 2011 to July 2013, handling bilateral relations with the countries of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu

He was one of the first diplomats to declare that the 2015 Regional and General Elections in Guyana to be free, fair and credible.

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guyana CHRONICLE monday June 20, 2016

Vendors identify alleged corrupt officers

By Telesha Ramnarine WHEN a team from City Hall, including Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan, visited Stabroek Market on Saturday, top officials of the City Constabulary Department were embarrassed by vendors who pointed them out as demanding bribes from them.

“Look he deh right deh.

Meh give he $5000,” one vendor told the team while pointing to the officer. Numerous complaints were reportedly received on the issue of bribery.

A source, who spoke to the Chronicle on condition of anonymity, said the officers who were pointed out simply turned their faces and didn’t respond.

Vendors complained of having to pay $1000 and sometimes $2000 to the constabulary officers on a weekly basis, the source informed this newspaper.

Following the visit, the Deputy Mayor said on a Facebook post: “Vendors

––during Deputy Mayor’s visit to Stabroek Market

expressed a list of concerns.

We hope that our effort can produce a relevant vending policy that fits the needs of the progressive city we aspire to.”

The team, including members of the City Council’s Markets and Public Health Committee, visited several areas including Stabroek Market, the Parliament View Market, and Water Street, in an effort to engage vendors on their concerns. The intention is to have a policy on vending established.

Just recently, vendors at the various markets in Georgetown complained about the harassment they regularly experience at the hands of City Constables.

Many of them prefer not to make reports of these instances as they claim those in higher authority also accept bribes.

“So how you gon try the devil case in hell?” one

The Deputy Mayor and team of councillors during the visit vendor had told the Guyana Chronicle.

officers, but whenever the officers have to act, the vendors come up with all sorts of allegations. Now that there is a large-scale movement of people, they are now raising allegations. People who give and receive a bribe can be charged. But no one is coming forward to make official reports.

They go to the politicians instead to lodge their complaints, but that’s not right. So it remains just an allegation if no one comes in. Why do the vendors do business at the level of a constabulary officer?” Foo questioned.

REPORT THEM But Chief Constable Andrew Foo is adamant that those vendors who are affected by bribery on the part of the constabulary officers ought to lodge official reports, and he guaranteed that such will be investigated.

Provision is made in the law that even those who give a bribe can be charged, Foo had told this newspaper.

Foo said vendors need to understand if any officer demands a bribe, they have a responsibility to report it.

“But they don’t come in. There is an agreement between the vendors and

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LIFE HARD The vendors, though, said life on the market is

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quite hard at the moment and they prefer to stay quiet to avoid victimisation.

One vendor complained: “He [a senior officer who takes bribe] don’t do nothing for nobody. Sometimes I see them [vendors] does give he [the senior officer] $5000.

They [the constabulary officers] ain’t want money alone; they does have to get goods too. Every Friday they does come or send other constables to collect for them. Sometimes they carry you in and make you pay a fine of $5000, but don’t give you any receipt,” the woman further related.

A few months ago, scores of vendors who turned up at a City Hall meeting accused officers of the City

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Constabulary Department of making their lives miserable when they refuse to pay them bribes. City Hall’s compound was filled to capacity as the vendors turned out to voice their concerns.

Topping the list of their worries was the harassment they experience at the hands of constabulary officers, who reportedly are always looking for bribes.

The names of several officers, who create problems for vendors who do not want to pay them, were called. In fact, one vendor complained that the stall-owners are not able to open their businesses on some occasions, if they have no money to pay on that day.

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen had chided those vendors who pay bribes, but complain only when they experience a problem.

“The constables don’t push their hands in your pocket,” Chase-Green said.

She had also noted that it is equally important for the constabulary officers to be respectful to the vendors and not just break up their stalls and carry away their items without proper explanations.

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guyana CHRONICLE monday June 20, 2016

Bar Association failed prison system – Prison CoI report

By Shauna Jemmott THE Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report into the Georgetown Prison riot and resultant deaths has criticised the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) for failing the prison system in Guyana, to which it has a serious obligation.

The CoI report, which was formally submitted to President David Granger on June 1, was prepared by Chairman of the Commission, Justice James Patterson and Commissioners Dale Erskine and Merle Mendonca.

Legal practitioners fail to adhere to some of the rules listed in the Legal Practitioners Act – Code of Conduct, and “attorneys-at-law are rarely seen in the prison assisting remand prisoners to get to trial,” the commissioners said.

The rules intended that the Guyana Bar Association members, individually and collectively, “acknowledge and embrace an obligation to care for the protection of those detained in the penal system.

To effectively activate this responsibility, the purview of the GBA must encompass both the actual conditions that clients experience, as well as the causes that create those conditions…,” the report stated.

The commissioners said that in the context of the prison CoI, the role of the Guyana Bar Association is of central interest in light of the Code of Conduct under the Fourth Schedule to the Legal Practitioners Act (2012) to which attorneys-at-law are required to adhere.

Rule eighteen of the Code states: “A defence attorney-at-law representing a person who alleges that he has been subject to torture or a cruel, inhuman

or degrading treatment or punishment while detained by any authority and for any cause should be prepared to raise such allegations before the competent authorities, unless instructed to the contrary by his client.”

FULLY AND FEARLESSLY “If the client wishes to have such allegations raised, the attorney-at-law must do so fully and fearlessly.

He should take a detailed statement from his client and present to the Court of competent authority all the evidence or information to substantiate the allegations and the pursuit of all procedures available to obtain protection and an appropriate remedy for his or her client.”

On April 20, then Guyana Bar Association President, Christopher Ram walked out of the Prison CoI even as the GBA had volunteered its services in representation of the prisoners. Ram was on that day taking the key witness, Deputy Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels through cross-examination.

Many of the prisoners during testimony at the CoI had claimed that prisoners on the Capital A Block of the jail were ordered locked in to burn by the Deputy Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, even as the fire blazed, resulting in the death of 17 prisoners and injury of some 30. The report cleared Samuels of the allegations after evidence presented revealed the contrary.

Before storming out of the room, slamming the door, Ram had explained to the Chairman and Commissioners that the GBA had withdrawn its participation because of limited opportunity to

cross-examine witnesses due to improper, unprofessional and unethical interruptions by Guyana Prison Service (GPS) Attorney, Selwyn Pieters.

“Just for the record Mr Chairman, I should say that this decision is partly taken because we have not been provided with a proper opportunity to examine witnesses, we are continually interrupted improperly and unprofessionally and unethically, and we believe that the purpose and objective of this Commission is being seriously compromised.”

OBLIGATION The CoI report further stated that the rule also states that attorneys-at-law and their professional associations “have an obligation to inform the proper national and international bodies of those activities, which are in direct contravention of the provisions of this rule, and in gross violation of human rights, as described in the United Nations Declaration on the Protection of All Persons From Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. If necessary as a last resort, they should make such information publicly known.”

It says an attorney should go beyond the formal legal procedures to employ “all procedures available to obtain protection and appropriate remedy for his client,” such as to “inform the proper national and international bodies of those

activities, which are in direct contravention of the provisions of this rule and in gross violation of human rights”.

Moreover, attorneys-at-law in Government service are under the additional obligation to “do all they can in their official capacity to promote the incorporation of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners into the law of the jurisdiction and to see to that the rules and all standards relating to the treatment of detained persons are observed and enforced and that the violations thereof are subject to disciplinary action or criminal prosecution”.

CHALLENGE EVERY REMAND Attorneys can exercise the preventative dimension of the rule by challenging every remand or detention “on the grounds that the overcrowded condition of the prisons per se (without reference to specific treatment metered out to individual prisoners or the particulars of the case) violate both Guyana Constitutional guarantees, as well as the International Conventions against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and Civil and Political Rights, ratified by the Government of Guyana”.

The report explained that cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment can arise from specific action directed against specific individuals, or by conditions which apply to a class of persons indiscriminately.

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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

Caribbean politics

IT CAME as a shock to many political observers – and, no doubt, to supporters of the incumbent St Lucia Labour Party -- that the party was recently voted out of office after serving a single term in office. This is understandable, since there has been in the Anglophone Caribbean a tradition of governments serving at least two terms.

In fact, we have had instances wherein governments have been in office in excess of two decades. Some have argued that longevity in office breeds political excesses such as corruption, arrogance and complacency; while others have contended that, in our unique political and economic circumstances, it takes more time for policies and programmes to yield results. Since political parties are primarily concerned about remaining in power once they assume the reins of government, they are obviously less concerned about the impact of longevity, or lack thereof, on the wider political economy.

It is for this reason that they may have missed, in the region, a developing trend wherein parties have been kicked out of office after one term. Within the last year, this has occurred in four countries — Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and St Lucia. In the cases of St Lucia and Jamaica, the last three elections have all produced changes of government.

When one adds to the above scenario the fact that three other governments rule with razor thin majorities — in Guyana, Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines — it can be concluded that the region is witnessing a new political dynamic that may change its politics in the long run.

What are the underlying causes of this new phenomenon in Caribbean politics? While it may be too early to draw definitive conclusions in the absence of hard data, one may point to at least two possible factors. First, it seems that the electorates are less patient with governments which they perceive as not igniting any fundamental changes, especially in the economic realm.

In an era of relatively high unemployment, especially among the youth, and where low wages across the board abounds, citizens are more likely to evaluate governments from the standpoint of their material circumstances. This situation is compounded by the fact that many governments, because of subjective and objective factors, are not able to deliver on lofty campaign promises.

The second factor that may be triggering this rapid turnover of governments is that, in the contemporary Caribbean political mix, the contending parties differ

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 20, 2016

Who feels it knows it Dear Editor,

THE Suddie Hospital is presently without dental injections, and when supplies would be made available remains unknown, much to the inconvenience, suffering and hardship being endured by persons who keep visiting the institution to do “extraction” on a daily basis.

But this information was not being provided to those affected, as they kept converging and crying out for excruciating pain in what was described as an overbearing and unacceptable situation which entailed just waiting in vain all the time.

In the public domain, people raised concerns of being treated like fools and

being pushed around, because of the advice given them to “come back tomorrow”; only to add insult to injury in the unbearable condition, and to again be misled by the authorities, who knew fully well that receipt of the impending supplies remained uncertain and better needed to be done.

People also bemoaned the unnecessary punishment meted out to them, with nothing being done for them, like their being provided with some form of treatment, like painkillers, to bring relief to their predicament. This waiting continued for as long as four consecutive days, with people’s frustration and stress mounting all the time.

From their opinion, the interest of the public was involved here, and there was no need to keep it secret when it was necessary that the true position be made known to them in order for them to understand what really was causing the problem.

Some of them with financial means decided to travel to the city to have their extractions done, but what happened to the impecunious ones?

Enquiries made by me revealed that the hospital is faced with a shortage of dental injections; and instead of hiding it, this should have been made known to people, so they could have avoided the wastage of time and money travelling to the

institution from all parts of Region Two. No timeframe was given as to when supplies would be replenished.

While the reason given was well accepted and disseminated, the main concern being expressed now is for the Ministry of Public Health to expedite delivery of the needed supplies of dental injections for the service to be restored to normalcy, the sooner the better.

“Who feels it knows it”, and the painful conditions emerging from toothache should never be underestimated, with the only remedy, in my opinion, being extraction.

BALIRAM PERSAUD

Use the multilateral school blueprint for building secondary schools Dear Editor, THIS is an open letter to the Minister of Education and his senior education officers. I returned to Guyana for the Jubilee celebrations, and had reason to visit two schools – one I attended as a primary school, i.e. L’Aventure Primary (Secondary), and one I worked at briefly, i.e. Central High School.

Their condition in this modern era is mind-boggling, and leaves much to be desired. Even more surprisingly, the part of the school housing the person I wished to see was maybe four miles away down a desolate Canal No.1 road.

Transportation to get to and from Two Brothers School, which is where L’Aventure (Annex) is, was a

horror story. Why the school is split is also a mystery to me. I mean, come on, this is the 21st Century!

Fast forward to the Brickdam Secondary fiasco, and among other things, one can clearly recognise a lack of proper proactive planning; and this is the same for Central High, which has as its only redeeming feature that it is easily accessible.

I was reliably informed by a teacher, a Ministry of Education Region 3 staffer, and an RDC engineer that there is a plan to build a Parfaite Harmonie Secondary School to replace L’Aventure.

L’Aventure was never built to be a secondary school, so basic amenities are non-existent: library, staff room, craft rooms, Home Economics Lab, adequate toi-

very little ideologically. This means that a section of the electorate is less wedded to one party or the other, and, as such, serves as a floating voting bloc. It appears that newer and younger voters are the ones pushing this trend, as they tend to be less knowledgeable about the past glories and excesses of the political parties, and therefore make political decisions based on what they currently experience.

Whether this new trend is a healthy development for the region is left to the political and social scientists to ponder, but political leaders also must take notice. Here, in Guyana, the once invincible PPP was beaten twice at the polls, and the new coalition government has come under early pressure, particularly from its own supporters, to deliver on

lets, lockers, storage rooms, auditorium, lunch room, recreation room, canteen, even a playground, the school doesn’t have those. It is only after one travels that one realizes how many things we take for granted are relics – outmoded.

My very respectful suggestion is that whoever is spearheading this new school should do due diligence and create a school that fits with the non-academic standards for secondary schools.

We considered opening a private school in Guyana so we checked the requirements. Ideally, the multilateral school layout is still the best for our local situation.

Honourable Minister, kindly consider this suggestion: The multilateral model

blueprint would produce an edifice worthy of the kind of educational standards we wish to promote. Build it big - with projections for population growth, so ugly and impractical additions after a few years are rendered unnecessary.

The current school can then be converted into a PIC for youths on the West Bank.

NB: Several of us are forming ourselves into an organization to assist the school, so we will get some stuff to the school on a regular basis, mainly stationery-type items that can be directly given to the students. In the new school, we will commit to equipping a computer laboratory.

Yours faithfully, ANONYMOUS

campaign promises and to elevate itself above the standards of its predecessor. It seems therefore that governments now have very little breathing space; the days of the honeymoon period are gone.

Whereas, in the past, governments could move at a leisurely pace, they now have to hit the ground running.

In the circumstances, those who may be arguing that the new government has been in power for merely a year, and therefore should be given more time to prove itself, may want to re-evaluate that thesis. One year under this emerging paradigm may be equivalent to five years under the one we have been accustomed to.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 20, 2016

No constitution, however perfect, will bring about desired results Dear Editor, LET me first wish outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy, Bryan Hunt, all the best in his future endeavours.

Attention is now turned to some areas in his farewell speech, which bordered on law, human relations and governance in this country.

It has become customary to see the fault lines in the management of the nation’s business and divisions in society as the responsibility of a bad constitution. Recognising -- in many instances standing alone on this matter -- that few, if any, have been able to say to this nation how reform would bring respect for the people, laws and good governance, the contention here is that even where the Constitution enshrines articles to secure racial equality and accountability, these are being observed in the breach.

To bring home the gravity of the situation facing this nation, observations are made to Hunt’s comments, and the evidence provided is based on the Constitution and the disregard for this instrument on the part of those responsible for enforcing same: 1. Divisions in the society:- the Guyana Constitution, in its preamble, acknowledges diversity in the society, inclusive of race, and requires of the people to celebrate same. Institutions are enshrined in said instrument to achieve this, as with the Human Rights Commission, Rights of the Child Commission, Women and Gender Equality Commission, Ethnic Relations Commission, Indigenous Rights Commission.

The non-functioning of some of these commissions lies not in the Constitution, but the non-establishment of them by those tasked with the responsibility for their activation; 2. Inclusion in the political processes:- Article 13, in outlining the Principal Political Objective of the State, mandates inclusionary democracy built on the involvement of groups in the management and decision-making processes of the State that directly affect their well-being. This critical and vital article awaits legislation to cement its benefits in all facets of governance.

3. Public accountability:The Integrity Commission, Public Procurement Commission, and Public Servant Appellate Tribunal are enshrined in the Constitution, yet they are still to be established 4. Winner-takes-all politics:- This approach to politics

ought not to be, given that the Constitution identifies the Leader of the Opposition under the Executive branch, where roles and functions are outlined. This in itself speaks to a responsibility and duty in the shared management of the day-to-day business of Government. Respecting the spirit and intent of this partnership and oversight responsibility would see and allow for the opposition to support, propose, oppose, demand and receive information on governance where necessary, and be guided by just cause. Yet this does not happen.

The Opposition seems more comfortable in the role of “opposing for opposing sake”, and dedicates tremendous energies to ensuring the incumbent does not succeed, in order to increase its chances at the next poll.

The Cabinet, too, is inclined to disregard any idea or proposal that comes from the Opposition, even when it is sound, on the notion that ‘it is we time now.’

This is not the function of the constitution, but is merely popular thinking.

In regional and local governments since 1992, the diversity is becoming more pronounced, yet it is being ignored by the Cabinet (Executive) and Legislative branches. Articles 75 and 76 allow for autonomy in the local democratic organs, which includes the power to raise and dispose of revenue for the areas’ benefit and welfare. What the named articles await is legislation to make things happen for the people.

Careful look at our regional and central government systems will see similarities to the USA federal and state governments.

36 years after the constitution, the executive and legislature are content to operate solely with the caretaker Article 77, where the regions submit their plans and central government funds it. This works for the politicians, either out of the absence of will and commitment to realise the devolution of power to the other tiers of government, or the sense of power they desire from controlling who gets what and how much within each region, which is used as a sledge hammer or dispensed as a treat if the region is lost or won by them, or the desire for political control is fulfilled.

Local government authorities are allowed to have their own by-laws and can make laws in pursuit of the developmental plan for their communities. There has been

significant reform to the local government system. The problems being witnessed today in this area of government -- including that of the neighbourhood democratic councils that have tied votes and are not allowed to function because of political upmanship, do not lie in the constitution but in a zero-sum approach rooted in the notion of “my way or no way”, or “is awe time.”

The Legislature, according to the constitution (Article 50) is the supreme organ of democratic power in the country, and allows, in Article 171 (1), for any member to bring a bill, motion, or so forth before the House to be deliberated on and decision taken. There are parliamentary committees comprising members from both sides of the House. The opposition is chair of committees such as the Public Accounts Committee, which has oversight responsibility for the Cabinet/Executive management of the Government and state’s business.

The disinterest to take these roles seriously is not the function of the constitution.

There is the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reform, which is charged with the responsibility for necessary review and adjustment (Article 119A).

In that no one hears anything about this committee -- whether it is established, who are the members, and what work they are doing -would not be addressed with constitutional reform.

5. The media and people:- Where the constitution (Article 146) expressly protects the right to freedom of speech, sharing of information, knowledge and ideas, the media and people have scope here. The society has to arrive at a stage where ethics are the driving force to informing and supporting public conduct, including the party or group voted for.

The conundrum this society faces here is that of a refusal to accept that the party/ group whose leadership one supports can err, given that none is God; and where an error or misstep has been made, to make it known demands and ensures remedial action. This requires a stronger and more vocal civil society, including the media, trade union, academia, religious and legal communities, et al, who will be the conscience of the nation, fearlessly and consistently pursuing this path.

There is convergence with Hunt’s view that on corruption “all political parties must adopt a zero tolerance policy

for their officials and elected representatives. We need to see parties holding their own accountable rather than defending or overlooking bad behaviour.” And on realising a better society “that civil society and the media must be empowered though greater transparency in government’s financial decision-making.”

This empowerment has to be taken, not given, because it never will be, especially when

it threatens the comfort of the politicians and the powerful.

No constitution, however perfect or imperfect, will bring about desired results when even the good within is ignored by the political leadership, and society fails to hold them to account and demand they operate consistent with the instrument, in spite of its shortcoming, which notably in ours also allows for reform after review; but the constitu-

tional body remains inactive.

The preeminent absence of political will and commitment to understand and respect the constitution, coupled with the resignation and acceptance to hide behind an instrument, even though it empowers the society to move the needle forward, has us in this morass today.

Yours sincerely, LINCOLN LEWIS

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guyana CHRONICLE monday June 20, 2016

Inquiry criticises parole system ––says often an unfair consideration of pardon

By Shauna Jemmott WHILE many prisoners on parole have been released, the Commissioners of the Guyana Prison Service Commission of Inquiry (CoI) believe that decisions to release such prisoners are many times an unfair consideration of pardon.

The report also criticized the efforts of the Ministry of Public Health in recommending the freedom of prisoners based on ill-health.

“The Ministry of (Public) Health, which has the power to demand the release of prisoners on health grounds, offers minimal services to the prison, despite a sizeable component of mentally ill, HIV positive and drug substance-addicted prisoners,” the report stated.

The CoI report was presented to President David Granger earlier this month by Chairman of the Commission Justice James Patterson.

The other Commissioners were former Director of Prisons Dale Erskine and Human Rights Activist Merle Mendonca. The CoI was done following the deaths of 17 inmates

during the unrest and fire at the Camp Street prison on March 3. The prisoners were mostly responsible for the deaths, the CoI found, but it also highlighted a number of institutional deficiencies.

GENDER IMBALANCE The Commissioners said statistics reveal that the policy decisions on parole give priority to narcotics offenders rather than considering solely the merits of each individual case, and also reflect a gender imbalance.

“In this respect, parole is employed as a counterbalance to the injustice flowing from mandatory custodial sentences attracted by narcotics offences… Figures for 2013 also suggest that a high percentage of the women recommended for parole were serving sentences for narcotics-related offences (9 of the 11 granted parole). Only one male of the sixty-nine applications received in 2013 was paroled,” the report stated.

The prison has long been in a critical state with overcrowding being

one of the dominant issues. The Commission has recommended that Government should create a High Level Committee

Justice James Patterson charged with reducing the cancer of over-crowding, while aiming to ‘strengthen the professional capacity of the Guyana Prison Service to respond to its diverse challenges as its main purposes.

While daily life in Lot 12, Camp Street is “indescribably harsh”, the report states that prisoners “spend most of their day in spaces which are occupied by three, four and five times more people than they intended to accommodate. Internal mobility in the prison decreases as the prison population increases.”

While a total of twelve

persons were granted parole that year, figures reflected a contrast with the high number of manslaughter offenders, totaling 29, attracting only one positive recommendation for parole, while eight of those were denied and twenty of the applications unresolved.

Sixty-nine applications were made for parole by prisoners with those serving sentences for manslaughter, murder, and narcotics dominating the applications.

The report also pointed out that the a number of applications were made over one year before being processed, with only twenty-seven of the sixty-nine applications received in 2013 being processed to date.

Commissioners question the institutional mechanism and how capable it is in accomplishing the purpose of placing prisoners on parole, which it says is “a stimulus towards good behaviour on the part of offenders and an encouragement for rehabilitation.”

PAROLE PROCEDURES “The numbers of cases which take longer

than a year to process point to deficiencies in either the parole procedures or in the support system available to the Parole Board… The concern of the CoI is not with the dedication or efforts of the members of the Parole Board but with the institutional mechanism and its fitness…”

It seriously questions the parole programme since reports indicate that the difference between maintaining a prisoner in the jail, and maintaining one on parole is just $15,000, according to the reports of the Parole Board and the Guyana Prison Service Strategic Plan.

The CoI Report indicates that the Parole Board Report for 2009 gave the operational cost for the Parole Board, (excluding any costs of monitoring of parolees) as G$3,789,600,000, with the number of parole cases recommended for parole in that year being eleven.

“It is reasonable, therefore, to say that the per capita cost of releasing a prisoner on parole for that year was the budget sum $3,290,000, divided by

11, namely G$344, 509,” the report states.

“In comparison, the Guyana Prison Service Strategic Plan 2010-2013 notes that the average per capita figure for maintenance of a prisoner in 2009 was G$359,301.

The difference between maintaining a person in prison and the process of recommending parole is less than G$15,000 per year, prompting serious questions with respect to the parole programme.”

The report also states that prison records over a ten-year period indicate that only a quarter of the average number of parole applications received annually received favour, but while changes have been positively evident within the past three years, overall numbers released are still too low to make the parole system an ‘effective incentive towards good behaviour’. “… the overall average for the decade is seven granted parole of an average of twenty-four applications, whereas in the last three years for which Reports are available, the figures are ten granted parole of thirty-one applications,” the report notes.

Youth population needs guidance – Acting Police Commissioner

By Rabindra Rooplall GUYANA’S youth population needs guidance in the right direction and they must understand that only work brings rewards, according to acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine.

“The youth population wants something and want it now, they are not being guided, they are not being supervised, they are not being taught in very

strong ways that if you need something you need to work for it. You need to make the sacrifice to earn it, it is evident that young people want something and want it now and that is where the challenge lies,” he asserted.

Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine

PEER PRESSURE Many youths find themselves suffering from negative peer pressure and a host of other circumstances that befall

them, the acting police commissioner said, noting that “crime is basically a product of youth and masculinity, and that is to say the tendency to commit a crime reduces as one grows older.

The current programme that we have is geared at capturing that very part, if you look at our prison population, the majority of persons are of a very tender age in incarceration for lengthy periods too.”

He observed that the traditional approach to solving crime, which was

to arrest and prosecute, is no longer sufficient since it’s a social problem that needs to be addressed in that manner.

Emphasising that the Guyana Police Force is a microcosm of the wider society, Ramnarine said other support elements in society must have a special collaboration with the police.

He also noted that within the last two years since Commissioner Seelall Persaud took the mantle of leadership in the GPF; a social crime prevention

programme was launched.

Alongside the community relations programme and the Cops and Faith community network , the commanders are forging ahead with building a relationship within the communities in all aspects of life.

“We are seeing appreciable returns in capturing young persons, making them stay away from a life of crime (and) we know down the road this will multiply. And this is one of the prevention aspects of policing,” Ramnarine asserted.

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4 MINUTES 4 CHANGE CHILDREN come into this world as innocent babies, longing for someone to care for them. As they grow, it is essential that they bond with someone, their caregiver(s). And so they bond, they grow and learn to trust and love. They depend on their caregiver(s) to feed them, to soothe them when distressed, to bathe and dress them, to provide security and affection. The caregivers interact daily with the child, building the child’s intelligence and social and emotional abilities.

An understanding flourishes as the child grows older. The child recognises and accepts these are his/her caregivers. “I love, and have trusted them from inception; they are always there for me; they comfort me when I am ill; they provide for me when I am in need. I have a sincere relationship with them, and all is well”.

Then one day one of the caregivers touches that child in a place and in a way that is wrong. “I know it is wrong, it is not normal, it feels like they are intruding my body and my mind, they tell me not to tell anybody, and not to worry because it’s alright. Immediately, my world has changed from one of surety and security to a world of confusion,

worry and fear. This is wrong, but how can it be?

“This is the person that I bonded with at birth, the same person who soothed me, fed me, hugged me and played with me. I love and trust this caregiver”. Out of displaced loyalty, the child accepts and complies, and so the molestation begins.

Children do not partake in sexual acts the same way a consenting adult would. They are children, their minds are still developing, and adults are meant to help them develop in the right way. Sexual abuse is a violation of their bodies, their rights, and their minds.

Perpetrators use their position of trust, or the dependency on funds or food, as collateral to carry out their evil crimes on children.

Is it any wonder that many cases of child sexual abuse are not reported, and continue for years, only surfacing when the child becomes old enough to understand that they were coerced into sexual acts while they were meant to be having a carefree childhood?

Some children don’t tell because they are too young to explain what was done to them. Others who are old enough feel guilty, worthless or ashamed, believing the abuse is their fault.

The emotional and psychological dysfunction accompanying abuse means that some children protect the perpetrator because they are confused by the attention, feelings, and then the possible embarrassment that may ensue if the abuse were disclosed. Families could be ripped apart; the perpetrator and child would be in trouble; accusations of lies, displaced trust and heartache may follow.

Children who are sexually abused usually end up with a distorted view of sex. They have low self-esteem, thoughts of suicide, and some indulge in selfharm (cutting themselves).

However, with help, some victims can go on to lead productive lives.

We need to empower our children to speak up at the slightest inappropriate behaviour towards them. We must work towards eliminating child sexual abuse from our society by continually monitoring our children and by having an active, genuine interest in their lives.

A message from the Childcare and Protection Agency of the Ministry of Social Protection Childcare and Protection Hotline 2270979, or email childcaregy@ gmail.com

Teen shot in head during robbery

FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD Jamal Lewis was on Sunday afternoon shot in the head in the Georgetown street in which he grew up when two bandits in a white Toyota Runx vehicle descended on a mechanic shop at Lots 1 and 2 Wren Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown with intention to commit armed robbery.

According to one eyewitness, the white car had circled the mechanic shop multiple

times before the two men exited the vehicle and rushed into the business.

They then ordered everyone to lie on the ground, and meticulously searched everybody for valuables. They succeeded in garnering some cellular phones and a small amount of cash.

Unaware that a robbery was in progress, the teen, a mechanic trainee and student of a North Ruimveldt school, rode his bicycle into the business

place and was ordered to lie on the floor by one of the robbers.

He hesitated to comply with the instructions barked at him, and was shot by one of the bandits.

After the shooting, the bandits fled the scene, but the incident was caught on the shop’s surveillance camera.

The teen was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital by a Green Ice Taxi driver, and was admitted. Police are investigating the incident.

The Mechanic shop where the robbery occurred

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Surinam Airways re-introduces Guyana/Orlando service

SURINAM Airways has announced the re-introduction of its twice weekly summer flights to Georgetown, Guyana from Sanford Orlando, Florida beginning July 1.

Henk Fitz-jim, the airline’s North America manager said that the re-introduction of the summer flights is in keeping with the airline’s promise to service this route once again during the summer/August “holiday” season.

The airline first introduced service on this route in July 2015. The service runs from July through September and is designed to accommodate Guyanese travelling during this period when parents and children are on vacation.

“This is the time of year when the large Guyanese community in Orlando and Guyanese at home need the convenience of a non-stop flight which will facilitate them going home to Guyana or coming up to Orlando

Surinam Airways

via non-stop, courteous and affordable service. So the re-introduction of this Sanford Orlando route is in response to the growing demand by the Guyanese American community, as well as the satisfaction which the Guyanese community has enjoyed by flying Surinam Airways last year,” Fitz-jim said.

Surinam Airways will fly to Sanford Orlando on Fridays and return on Saturdays each week from July 1 to October 1, 2016.

“This is a very convenient schedule for passengers in both directions since they can make connections coming into Orlando either from Guyana or from cities around the US on their way to Guyana. It does not require any overnighting. So the convenience of the flights coupled with our excellent customer service and competitive fares have made Surinam Airways the first choice of Guyanese travelling to and from Florida,” Fitz-Jim said.

Surinam Airways will use its Boeing 737 300 series aircraft for this service offering 118 economy and 8 business class seats. The airline permits passengers one free piece of checked baggage not exceeding 50 pounds and charges $25 for a second piece of luggage.

Surinam Airways is a sponsor of several events and activities in Florida to mark Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary.

monday june 20th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs tuesday june 21th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs wednesday june 22th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs

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Guyana observes International Day of Yoga SCORES turned out to exercise their minds and bodies at Guyana’s second International Day of Yoga hosted at the Everest Cricket Club on Sunday.

The event was hosted by the High Commission of India in collaboration with the Brahma Kumaris, the Guy-

with activities such as Yoga asanas, meditation, meetings, discussions and cultural performances.

Evidence of Yoga in the form of stone sculptures, uncovered in architecture dating back to over 3000 BC, indicates that Yoga may be as old as civilisation.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam joins others on stage in executing the various techniques involved in the exercise ana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, the Guyana Islamic Forum, the Hindu Swayamsevak Sang, the Inter-Religious Organisation and the Viraat Sabhaa.

Among those present at the event were Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Venkatachalam Mahalingam, Yoga Teacher Shri Raj Kumar Sharma and Businessman Roshan Khan.

With the aim of raising awareness of the many benefits of practising yoga, International Yoga Day is now observed worldwide

This activity, which originated in India, is known as an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice. The word “yoga” derives from Sanskrit and means “to join” or “to unite”, symbolising the union of body and consciousness.

It has been reported that Yoga can be done by anyone, regardless of age and gender, since it holds numerous health benefits such as allround fitness, stress relief, weight loss, increased energy and much more.

Based on scientific reports, yoga is said to stabilise

A section of the participants

the mind and relief chronic illnesses while contributing to proper blood circulation and inner peace.

It involved the integration of several practices including breath control, simple meditation and the adoption of specific bodily posture. There are also different types of Yoga which involve physical, mental and spiritual concentration.

Today, Yoga is practised in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.

Invitees participating in one of the many Yoga moves at the event

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Help underway for Mocha residents

By Telesha Ramnarine

HELP is on the way for residents of Mocha/Mocha Arcadia/Barnwell on the East Bank Demerara, who have been subjected for many years to harsh living conditions, especially with respect to deplorable roads and a lack of electricity.

During a visit to the communities recently, topping the list of concerns for the residents was the sizeable potholes that make life difficult for them, especially when it rains. Mini-bus owners and taxi drivers face the worst of this, but have no choice than to continue working on these roads so as to make ends meet.

“I feel it for people vehicle. Yuh stomach does hut (hurt) yuh inside,” one

the bridge,” one woman said, referring to the loose boards on the bridge. Other bridges have huge holes in them.

An elderly woman, who lives in the village for about 57 years, complained of poor drainage and noted that flooding occurs as soon as there is a little rain.

“The drains need doing.

Water stagnant. Long booths nah mek it.”

On the issue of electricity, one resident of Barnwell said they have received no word as to when they would get light in the village.

Some roads were done last year and villagers have access to water in their homes, but the place is in utter darkness except for those who may have generators.

Lack of electricity is a worrying concern as some

completion of a developmental plan for the Mocha Arcadia Community.

A statement on the website of the Ministry of the Presidency informed that Dr Richard Van West Charles, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI); Frederick Flatts, CEO of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) – Ministry of Agriculture; Leon Castello, Personal Assistant to Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Ms. Annette Ferguson; and Victor Wilson, Mocha resident and Adviser to the community, attended the meeting at the Ministry.

The meeting is a follow-up on issues relayed to the Minister, earlier this month, when he met with

Lantern posts have already been put down and residents are promised electricity soon

The roads just outside the health centre (Delano Willliams photos) Minibus drivers are gravely affected by the deplorable roads man, who is not the owner of a vehicle, expressed to this newspaper.

The main bridges in the communities are also in a deplorable state and residents often try to fix them on their own. However, the bridges have reached a point where the efforts of the residents just cannot suffice.

“When we’re sleeping at night, we can hear when each vehicle is passing over

children take extra lessons after school and are made to face the dark.

“There are lots of young people in the midst. Night time is black,” one young mother said.

Meanwhile, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, met with representatives from several ministries and Government agencies on Saturday to discuss a multi-stakeholder approach towards the

some Mocha residents, including the Chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

According to the statement, Minister Harmon noted that despite the hardships, Mocha has persevered and the meeting “aims to co-ordinate work in a small community where we can help to make an impact on issues affecting residents”.

“He specifically asked the

The many loose boards on this bridge disturb residents late at night

meeting to identify projects that can be extracted from plans that have already been catered for in their budget to draft a community development plan for Mocha. The minister noted that the community was challenged by land distribution and land use issues, electricity and water woes and dilapidated roads.

However, he pointed out that the Guyana Lands and Sur-

veys Commission is already addressing the matters related to land the land issues.”

Castello revealed that the Public Infrastructure Ministry recently installed 52 streetlights, which will be activated shortly, while Flatts said the Agriculture Ministry has embarked on a comprehensive drainage and irrigation plan in Mocha since July 2015.

A bulldozer truck and long-boom excavator have been stationed there and, to date, has bulldozed 18 miles of dam and cleared 20 miles of drainage channels.

Flatts also noted that plans are in train to access funds from the CARICOM Development Fund and from the 2016 National budget to augment those works next year.

Residents have tried over and over again to fix the bridges on their own

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Children adapting to role as change agents –– through work of Guyana Police Force ‘A’ Division POLICE stations across ‘A’ Division have been tasked by Divisional Commander Clifton Hicken to launch youth groups.

Speaking at the launching of a police youth group in the East Ruimveldt community on Saturday, ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken said he has instructed every sub-division within his divisional command to establish community youth groups.

“We’re expanding the youth initiative because we see it’s working in terms of building capacity with the police, developing the youths in a positive way, and we have more people from the corporate sector and other entrepre-

The East Ruimveldt “multi-talented” youth group will focus on developing the young people in sports and arts. “We

Police ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken

dren aged from three to 17.

“We recognise the need for the police to be part of the community, because the community is where we’re from,” Hicken said.

The youth groups meet every Saturday, and receive structured training in crafts, sewing, woodworks and other life skills. Hicken said the aim is to develop the young people economically, so that they, in turn, can positively contribute to their communities.

SENSE OF CLEANLINESS The commander reflected on how police work in the communities of Albouystown and

Police ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken (standing) looks on as young people of East Ruimveldt perform a skit at launch of police youth group neurs coming on board with us,” Hicken told the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Hicken pointed out that the police are now in a partnership with the Ministry of Education so that children from the groups would be comfortably housed when the groups meet.

“Now that we have the schools (at) our disposal, we will try to not only integrate the truancy and the school drop-outs, but we want to integrate children from the school too,” Hicken explained.

looked at the discipline, we looked at the enthusiasm, and we recognised that if they have the right nurture and leadership within that framework, they can do wonders in our society,” Hicken told the parents and children at the East Ruimveldt Primary School.

An assessment is made in each community, and the police work with community leaders to determine focus areas for the youth groups. The ‘A’ Division now has 15 police community youth groups, with more than 800 chil-

Agricola has instilled a sense of cleanliness among residents there. “ We u n d e r s t a n d through our analysis that, going back to the community, there’s some positive,” Hicken said.

Hicken noted that the police have begun to benefit from the youth groups established. “The children by themselves changing the way of life in the community; because if they see something is wrong, they say ‘no, don’t do that; that is wrong’,” Hicken said.

The commander added that there is increased trust

Children of Mocha police youth group making craft items between residents and the police. “It helps us with our response time, it helps us to solve crime, it helps us to prevent crime mostly,” Hicken pointed out.

This is reflected in communities like Mocha, located on the East Bank of Demerara. The police youth group, Rising Star, has received strong support from residents, Inspector Debbie Handy of the Providence Police Station pointed out. The inspector is responsible for the youth group, and works with community leaders and young children in the community.

“A lot of children are coming here and they enjoying it; I am happy about

that. There are a lot of children at home not doing anything, so when they come out here now, they learn something,” resident Maria Cave told GINA. Andrew Bennet, a 15-year-old member of the Mocha youth group, says he would like to see more young adults taking part in the group activities.

“I want to see more attention (from) the other adults, because most (of them does) be gambling and they don’t really take part when the youths have to do things,” Bennet told GINA. Bennet is, however, pleased that the group has been positively influenc-

ing the younger children and developing them academically.

Crime must be recognised as a social issue that must be tackled with partnership, acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine urged last week. “The traditional approach to solving crime -that is, arrest and prosecute -- is no longer sufficient,” he said.

The Guyana Police Force implemented its social crime prevention programmes as part of efforts to effectively address crime. Along with t h e c o m m u n i t y p ro grammes, the police also have a Cops and Faith Community Programme.

Young children of the Mocha police youth group making Father’s Day cards

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Embrace your responsibilities – fathers urged at Berbice rally in observance of Father’s Day

By Nafeeza Sakur

THE New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission (NJASHM), in collaboration with the ministries of Health, Education, Social Cohesion and Social Protection, and along with several non-governmental organisations, on Friday held a massive walk, rally and awards presentation ceremony to raise awareness of the need for fathers to honour their responsibilities.

The initiative, a brainchild of Pandit Suresh Sugrim of the NJASHM, sought to address the roles and responsibilities of fa-

thers to their children and to society as a whole, and to get men to be role models to their children.

The well-attended event saw several hundred people, including students from various organisations, braving the drizzle to march from Dr Tulsie Street in Williamsburg to Spready’s Square in Port Mourant, Corentyne.

During the march, participants held various banners and posters depicting positive messages about fathers and their roles.

Delivering the keynote address, Attorney-at-Law James Bond reminisced on his days as a young man and

on the lessons taught to him by his father.

He related that while he heard what his father had said, he did not realise the importance and impact the lessons had until he became a father himself.

“At an early age, my father taught me some very important things as a child; but when I grew up and became a father, I fully understood everything my father spoke about. One important thing he spoke about was (that) the world is governed by systems and principles, and so is fatherhood.

“Persons limit fatherhood to the man responsible for the home, (but)

Region Six Chairman David Armogan (second left); New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission President Suresh Sugrim (fourth left), senior police officers and others leading the march on Friday fatherhood is beyond that; in my own estimation, I believe a community builds a child. I believe a village raises a child; a temple, a mosque, a church raises a child. I believe fatherhood could be redefined into just more than one person. We need to get back to that position where we not only criticize, but challenge ourselves to become better, not only for ourselves.”

LOOK OUT FOR ALL Bond also challenged males to be fathers not only to their biological children, but to every boy or girl in their community and country.

“Even if you grow up in poverty or in the ghetto, that’s no excuse; everyone in Guyana comes from humble beginnings. We should be limitless in our thinking. I don’t think we should ever put ourselves in a box and limit what we can achieve because of fatherhood, and that is why we must embrace this movement and urge for greater support for our children as fathers,” he advocated.

He encouraged every young person to “remember the words ‘protection, provision, instruction and inspiration’. These, he said, are the key responsibilities of a man, not just a father.

Regional Chairman David Armogan told the gathering that many of society’s social ills are as a result of the diminishing roles of parents, especially fathers.

“The role of fathers in our home cannot be over-emphasised because, traditionally, fathers have

been seen as people who are the authority in the home; who are the breadwinners, the person a child can look up to for advice, and who is a persons a child can turn to for advice whenever there is a need. Sadly, this is lacking today, and you find children turn to other sources for advice and end up on the wrong track,” he declared.

He praised the NJASHM for raising awareness on the role of fathers, and encouraged other organisations to come on board, since fathers, too, need advice.

MEN NEED SUPPORT “We notice all these places set up for women, but where are the places set up to help men? Sometimes we have to be able to bring in our fathers and counsel them and let them know -- instead of when they come home from socialising with friends -they can be home and socialise in their home with their wife and kids, and do things together…

“What we find is that when these people come out of their places on weekends, instead of spending their time at home and money at home, you find they spend it in the rum shop.

We are here to make that clarion call: that our fathers (should) continue to perform their duties in their homes, and their (children) should be able to look at the traditional roles fathers have been playing; and in that way society will be a better place.”

The Ministry of Social Cohesion’s Programme Coordinator Sharon Patterson

applauded the NJASHM for hosting the event, and pledged the ministry’s support to work with the organisation.

NJASHM President Suresh Sugrim also called on men to be more involved in society, instead of just being “sperm donors” who feel that their only role is to make children and the rest will be taken care of.

“To the boys who will soon be the men in society, one of the issues is that we are not taking on our responsibilities. We have some that come from homes where we see daddy as abusive to the mother.

The question is what you will do when you become a father. I want to say to our men (that) we have good fathers and we have bad fathers, but my challenge is (that they should) stop being sperm donors, because there are too many single mothers who have been struggling with their children.”

He also called on parents to be involved in their children’s upbringing, even if they are separated.

“And I want to say (that) if you are divorced and have children, please don’t divorce your children. Your children belong to you, and, as fathers, we need to stand up and be role models to our children. If you can no longer be husband and wife, be a father to the children; be a part of their upbringing; be a part of their everyday existence.”

The event concluded with prizes being given to several individuals for their outstanding contribution to society.

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Hinds wins Guyoil annual Fathers Day road race TEAM Evolution’s Orville Hinds romped home winner of the Carlton Wheelers/ Guyoil 14th Annual Fathers Day 50-mile cycle road race which was held on the West Demerara yesterday.

Hinds, who has been in tremendous form since this year’s cycle season commenced, returned one hour 20 minutes 53.11 seconds in winning the open event and also won one of the eight prime prizes that were up for grabs.

Veteran rider Junior Niles of Team Cocos placed second and also won one of the prime prizes, while Hinds’s club mates Michael Anthony and Stephen Fernandes placed fourth and sixth respectively.

The overall third-place finisher was Team Alanis’s Paul DeNobrega and fifth was Team Cocos Raynauth Jeffrey.

The event which was coordinated by Hassan Mohamed of the National Sports Commission started from the Wales Police Station, West Bank Demerara.

The race went along at a fierce pace which saw four of Team Alanis’s top riders – Cho-Wee-Nam, Yearwood, Ambrose and DeNobrega -making a break from the main bunch turning into Schoonord on the West Bank of Demerara, but they were pursued by Fernandes, Niles and Hinds.

The trio eventually connected to the leading quartet at Leonora, after which the pace heated up as the leaders played the “Cat and Mouse game.”

As the leaders approached Vr e e d - e n – H o o p , H i n d s jumped the pack and no one responded, allowing the top local-based rider to romp home to a comfortable victory.

The other prime prizes were won by Anthony (two), Shaquile Agard (one), Jeffrey (one) and Alonzo Ambrose (one).

Jarnel Yearwood won the juniors’ category ahead of Andrew Hicks and Brighton John respectively, while Niles, by virtue of placing second overall was named winner of the veterans’ category. Second in this category was Fernandes, who placed sixth overall while third was Paul Cho-WeeNam. In the ladies’ category, United Kingdom-based Guyanese Claire Fraser-Green crossed the finish line ahead of Christine Mateheson and Toshwana Doris respectively.

In the men’s BMX race, Guyana Defence Force’s Richard Charles crossed the finish line ahead of Stephan Gobin and Kester Croal respectively.

Fraser-Green, who represented Guyana at the international level, on Saturday won the Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) national individual time trial as well as the 22-mile road race to cement her place to represent Guyana at any international championship. (Michael DaSilva).

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Monday June 20, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 2259230) & A U D R E Y ’ S TA S T Y SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 164 runs 3 Tests; 17 ODIs Today’s Quiz: Who are the visiting captains in the current Tri-Nations series?

Who is the first WI to register an ODI century against Australia?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 20, 2016

Rosberg storms Azerbaijan (Reuters)- NICO Rosberg cruised to victory in the first Formula One race held in Azerbaijan on Sunday and increased his championship lead over Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton to 24 points.

While the German enjoyed an uneventful drive in the late afternoon sunshine, triple world champion Hamilton worked up a head of steam as he wrestled with his car’s settings without the team being able to help.

The Briton, who had sounded increasingly petulant, fixed the problem but finished fifth in a race billed as the European Grand Prix.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel took second place, 16.6 seconds behind, with Force India’s Mexican Sergio Perez in third place after overtaking Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari on the last lap.

Vettel, Perez complete podium

Formula One - Grand Prix of Europe - Baku, Azerbaijan - 19/6/16 Mercedes Formula One driver Nico Rosberg (R) of Germany celebrates winning the race next to second-placed Ferrari Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany. (REUTERS/MAXIM SHEMETOV)

Windies to host England in ODI -confirmed to face series next year Pakistan in UAE ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – THE West Indies will host England in a three-match, One-Day international series early next year, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced yesterday.

The tour will run from February 22 to March 9 and will see two ODIs played at the Vivian Richards Stadium here and the final game at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.

WICB chief executive, Michael Muirhead, said the series represented a chance for West Indies to continue their quest to improve their ODI rankings.

“We see this as an additional opportunity to strengthen our

performances in this format as we aim to move up in the rankings,” Muirhead said.

England play warm-up games against the WICB President’s XI in St Kitts on February 25 and again two days later, before facing West Indies in the first ODI on March 3 and again on March 5.

The two teams will clash in the final ODI on March 9.

Meanwhile The West Indies and Pakistan have reached an agreement regarding a day-night tour which will take place in the United Arab Emirates in September.

The proposed tour had foreseen a number of obstacles before finally being confirmed.

Initially the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had hoped to play the games in Pakistan, but that idea was rejected by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) due to security concerns. Pakistan has largely been shunned by international teams since March 3, 2009, when gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus during the Lahore Test.

The PCB had then disclosed reservations regarding the high cost of continuing to host games in the UAE and cited Sri Lanka as a potential replacement venue. Those plans were, however,

soon shelved and it seems the boards have finally managed to arrive on the same page.

The tour has also undergone a change from the originally proposed schedule. It is now expected to consist of three Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is, which is a change from two Tests, five ODIs and two T20Is. Day-night matches are becoming increasingly popular on the cricketing landscape, with the West Indies currently taking part in a day-night ODI tri-nation series with Australia and South Africa.

Ballr Tri-Nation Series

Rain quells Australia-South Africa clash

(ESPNCricinfo)- AB de Villiers’ 200th ODI went much the same way his 100th Test did, as Sunday’s tri-series fixture was the first to be washed out, with only an over possible.

Just as November’s Bangalore Test involved long periods of watching and waiting, the first fixture in Barbados dragged on for over five hours, courtesy intermittent rain, denying South Africa an opportunity to qualify for the final.

Instead, they shared points

with Australia, who now face a must-win in their final league fixture against West Indies on Tuesday at the same venue.

The damp squib ended the possibility of what should have been the first battle of the quicks in this tournament. Both sides bolstered their seam stocks in anticipation of a surface with more pace and bounce. South Africa handed Morne Morkel his first opportunity on tour, at the expense of left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Sham-

si, while Australia included Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc in their XI. Australia also dispensed with a specialist spinner in Adam Zampa to bring back Glenn Maxwell.

Steven Smith decided to let his attack loose on a fresh surface, perhaps mindful of the impact rain could have on the chase. Starc bowled the first and only over of the match: an affair that included two wides, a half-volley that Quinton de Kock drove for four and two well-directed in-swingers.

Heavy rain swept through the ground seconds after he finished the over.

The downpour lasted three hours and 20 minutes before abating. There was a possibility of play resuming when the covers were peeled off at 4.30pm local time. But an inspection an hour and 15 minutes later yielded no fruit as the match officials felt the outfield and pitch were too wet for the game to resume.

The final call was made at 6.25pm.

Radical TV rights shake-up being considered for cricket

(Cricinfo)- A RADICAL shake-up to the existing ecosystem of selling television rights is under discussion

by Full Members and will be examined further at the ICC’s annual conference in Edinburgh later this month.

The change, one part of a broader re-working of cricket’s international calendar, is aimed at giving member boards better value for their television rights in overseas markets.

If implemented, a new model could see boards take greater control than broadcasters of monetising the value of bilateral cricket, as well as its promotion and visibility in untapped markets.

The crux of the proposal, made at the ICC chief executives committee meeting in April, is this: once the current cycle of television rights ends for respective Full Members, each board will continue to sell rights for its home territory and avail of those profits entirely as is already the case.

But each board will place the rights to telecast its home series in overseas markets in a common pool into which other boards will also put those rights. The rights in the common pool will then be sold collectively as bundles by a committee of Full Members and the profits will be divided and distributed in certain percentages to the contributing boards.

For example, if New Zealand are hosting India, NZC retains the ability to sell television rights for broadcast within New Zealand, but places the rights for broadcast in India and the rest of the world in the common pool; that pool already contains the overseas broadcast rights of other bilateral series such as, for example, Australia’s tour of New Zealand or Sri Lanka’s tour of the West Indies. So if a broadcaster wants to telecast India’s tour of New Zealand in India, it may have to purchase a bundle from this pool - in a similar way as the ICC sells its own events as part of a bundle - that also contains rights to the Australia-New Zealand series or the Sri Lanka-West Indies one, and it may have to mandatorily telecast those series in India as well.

This will be a change from the current system whereby the home board sells rights - either home and away or both - to a particular broadcaster and then leaves it to that broadcaster to on-sell the rights for overseas markets to other broadcasters. In some cases, boards have sold rights for a particular overseas market to an overseas broadcaster who has no interest in telecasting a series not involving the broadcaster’s home country. Under this new model, a committee composed of member board officials would be in charge of the on-selling.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the ECB floated the proposal and is currently part of a committee working on it, along with CSA, CA, NZC and the PCB. The proposal is currently at a conceptual stage, with details of how and what bundles will be sold, thin.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 20, 2016

Copa America

Maestro Messi leads Argentina to semis -Chile uproot Mexico 7-0

(Reuters)- ARGENTINA and Chile advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa America on Saturday with Chile beating Mexico 7-0 and Lionel Messi getting a goal in Argentina’s 4-1 win over Venezuela to equal his country’s all-time scoring record.

Messi scored in the 60th minute to take his career tally for Argentina to 54 goals, matching the record held by Gabriel Batistuta.

Argentina will now face the United States in the first semi-final on Tuesday in Houston.

Reigning champions

Chile joined them in the last four after a 7-0 demolition of Mexico in Santa Clara.

Hoffenheim striker Eduardo Vargas scored four goals to help them set up a semi-final date with Colombia on Wednesday.

Messi won the Man-ofthe-Match award in an action-packed game against underdogs Venezuela in Foxborough.

Argentina got off to the perfect start after just seven minutes when Gonzalo Higuain dived to turn a delicate cross from Messi past goalkeeper Dani Hernandez. He doubled 2-0 before Messi,

Eduardo Vargas scored four of Chile’s seven goals against Mexico.( AFP photo) put Argentina 3-0 ahead.

Venezuela were not out of it, though, and Rondon

got the lightest of touches on a cross to head home and make it 3-1 after 70 minutes,

Euro 2016….

Albania needle Romania

(BBC)- Switzerland and France played out a Euro 2016 goalless draw which took the Swiss into the last 16 and saw the French win Group A. Paul Pogba - recalled

by France in one of five changes - was lively and hit the woodwork twice in the first half.

French substitute Dimitri Payet also struck the crossbar with a brilliant volley from Moussa Sissoko’s cross.

Switzerland could have

-Swiss hold France to stalemate

had a penalty when Bacary Sagna pulled Blerim Dzemaili’s shirt in injury time.

France will now play a third-placed team in Lyon on Sunday, while the Swiss will play the second-placed team in Group C, likely to be Poland, at Saint-Etienne the day before.

With Albania beating Romania 1-0, Switzerland would have progressed even if they had lost at the Stade

Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.

Albania recorded their first major tournament win with victory in Lyon over Romania that gives them hope of reaching the Euro 2016 last 16.

Giovanni De Biasi’s team finished their Group A campaign with three points and will now wait to see if they are one of the four best thirdplaced teams.

FC Zurich’s Armando

Sadiku scored the only goal of the game when he headed past keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu.

Romania’s Florin Andone went close with a shot that came off the bar.

If Albania do reach the last 16 then they will face the winners of Group B, which contains England and Wales, or the winners of Group C, which includes Northern Ireland.

but Erik Lamela, made it 4-1 for Argentina.

Chile were unstoppable

in the other quarter-final in Santa Clara as they hammered a surprisingly fragile Mexico.

Edson Puch got his first international goal after 15 minutes when he fired home after keeper Guillermo Ochoa could only parry a long-range shot. Vargas got a second just before half time when he was first to pounce on a cross ball before Alexis Sanchez was involved in most of Chile’s great work and he made it 3-0 just three minutes into the second half.

Vargas returned to score two more to end his night with a helmet trick.

Petra/ Ministry of Health Stop Gender-Based Violence football

25 goals scored on night six TWENTY-FIVE goals were scored on the last night of group action in the Ministry of Public Health-Sponsored, Petra-organised Stop Gender-Based Violence Soft Shoe futsal tournament.

In the first game, the Ministry of Public Health were the first team to be beaten 1-4 by Broad Street as Trevor Lewis’s 3rd minute goal was cancelled by one strike each from Leon Richardson (18th), Jimmy Gravesande (21 st), Devon Johnson (22nd) and Jamal Cozier (23rd) In game two, Albouystown registered a 5-0 thrashing of Young Ballers with a hat-trick from Kemo Scott (7th , 9th and 12th) while Roy Samuels (5th) and Lennox Cort (20th) wrapped up the scoring.

In the third game, West front Road and Queen Street Tiger Bay played to a 4-4 draw with West Front Road’s strikes coming from Jermin Junior (16th and 22nd) and Nathaniel Nagaloo (9th and 28th) while their opponents goals came from Alpha Fletchman (3 rd), Darren Harris (12 th), an own Own Goal (13th) and Omallo Williams (29th) In the fourth game, a goal-less stalemate occurred

between Kitty Weavers and Bent Street as with game five between Alexander Village and Leopold Street being a carbon copy.

Game six saw Sparta Boss beat Sophia 4-3 with strikes from Gregory Richardson (22nd and 23rd), Sheldon Shepherd (14th) and Eusi Phillip (30th) while on target in the loss, were Shemroy Arthur (4th), Desmond Cottam (17th) and Dwayne Lowe (27th).

Moving onto the next round are Channel 9 Warriors, and Campbellville from group A; Kitty and Globe Yard from group B; Sophia, Holmes Street Tigerbay and Sparta Boss from group C; Queen Street Tigerbay, West Front Road and Broad Street from group D; North Ruimveldt, Alexander Village and Leopold Street from group E and Albouystown, Tucville and North-East La Penitence from group F. North-East (F), Leopold Street (E), Broad Street (D) and Sparta Boss (C) all went through due to the their points being more than the third-placed finishers in the other two groups .

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 20, 2016

Goals galore in NAMILCO U-17 football

By Ras Wadada

THERE was an explosion of goals in the nationwide NAMILCO U-17 football tournament which continued over the weekend at a number of venues across the country.

At the Tucville ground where matches were played on Saturday, the most impressive of the eight teams in the Georgetown FA’s zone, East Ville, gave another commanding display in demolishing Pele FC 9-0 for their second win in as many outings.

Shemar Babb spearheaded the demolition with a treble (6’, 27’ and 44’), the first

for the competition. Also on target with a pair each were, Calvin Peters (8’ and 62’) and Teon Van Keric (63’ and 69’), while Isaiah Nero netted in the 35th minute and there was an own -goal in the 12th minute.

Home side Fruta Conquerors also produced another comfortable win in easing past Santos 3-0, thanks to strikes by Joel Yhap (21’), Nicholas McArthur (24’) and Malachai Adonis one minute from full time (70’). Alpha United are now 2-0 as well after blanking Order and Discipline by the same scoreline, compliments of Ju-

lian Bamfield (24’), Daniel Augustus (38’) and Cleon Robertson (69’).

The final game of the day resulted in the first taste of victory for GFC who had the better of Camptown FC 2-0.

Kellon Blue (20’) and Wilson De Santos (38’) ensured that Camptown lost for the second time. Along with Pele and Order and Discipline, they are all goal-less and pointless while East Ville, Conquerors and Alpha remain the unbeaten teams. Santos and GFC are 1-1.

In the Berbice FA’s leg where 10 teams are competing, there were convincing victories on Saturday for

Cougars FC over Canefield Diamond Strikers by 7-4 in New Amsterdam, while at Mahaicony, the home team were humbled 4-0 by Paradise Invaders.

In yesterday’s match at Mahaicony, a double by Isaiah James (22’ and 45’) piloted Rosignol United to a 2-1 win over Hopetown United, whose consolation goal was netted by Telston Miller in the 40th minute.

Results of the other two games played yesterday at Burnham Park in NA were not available up to press time.

On the East Coast of Demerara where the FA staged

matches at the BV ground, on Saturday, Mahaica brushed aside Plaisance 6-0 with a double apiece for Nigel Mansfield (12’ and 14’) and Gary Jardine (18’ and 29’), while there was one each for Julius Hamilton (15’) and Orland Adams (59’). In the other encounter, it was a Stephon Raymond brace (31’ and 47’) that propelled Golden Stars to victory over Adventure/ Paradise.

There were two close games yesterday at the said venue that ended in wins for Victoria Kings against Buxton Stars 2-1 and home team, BV United had to come from behind to snatch a 3-2

victory over Ann’s Grove.

A double by Kareem Josiah (2’ and 28’) inspired Kings, while Shemar Scott scored the lone goal for Buxton in the 33rd minute.

Temar Robinson gave BV the lead in the 10th minute and that lasted until Randy Hamilton equalized in the 54th minute and 11 minutes later, Shemar Brandon gave Ann’s Grove the lead. Dequan France would then level the score again when he netted on the stroke of full time and two minutes into injury time, Omari Glasgow delivered the winner for the BV boys.

Barbados, Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in being eliminated from the Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifiers.

Upon return through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Coach Larry Adonis spoke on the team’s win stating that the team won by imposing their strength with their box game. “Most of our scores came from the line. The guys stayed patient and worked our patterns

and we ended up scoring a try, cause we put them under some pressure coming down the stretch.”

He also stated that it was the stops that the defence had which contributed to the team coming back into the game.

Adonis was of the opinion that despite being put under an immense amount of pressure, the team came back to show their mettle.

Also commenting was the Australia-based Guya-

nese Kevin Mckenzie, who made his transition back into the team. “It’s a good feeling being back into the team, but it’s always a challenge to re-integrate to the team. I always bring aggression and energy on either side of play.”

Guyana Rugby Federation Union President Peter Green said that it was the bonding of the team that showed the way. “The youngsters are finally step-

ping up and this team is blending youth and experience together.

“We still have a long way to go, but we are a united team that fight to the last against every team.” He added.

Most Valuable Player of the tournament was Oseie Mckenzie.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones commented, saying the Government of Guyana had to reward the players for their efforts and success.

Having defeated Jamaica 34-14 and Barbados 39-5, Trinidad & Tobago entered the fixture in fine form.

Guyana must now wait to see who comes out on top in the North Zone of the Rugby Americas North Championship. Set to take place on July 23, Guyana will face the top qualifier from The Bahamas, Bermuda, The Cayman Islands and Mexico.

Victorious ‘Green Machine’ Return Home!

By Daniel Haynes

GUYANA’S “Green Machine,” the national rugby team, returned home last night to a rousing welcome following their 23-18 win against Trinidad at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Saturday.

The away victory sees Guyana winning the South Zone of the Rugby Americas North Cup and means that Trinidad & Tobago join

The victorious “Green Machine”team pose for a picture on return home (Delano Williams photo)

Maestro Messi leads Argentina to semis

See story on page 22

King James Reigns Supreme

LeBron James ends the Cleveland Cavaliers 52 year NBA Championship drought after beating the Golden State Warriors 93-89 in game seven last evening. See details in Tomorrow’s edition. (The Guardian Photo)

Rain quells Australia-South Africa clash See story on page 21

Hinds wins Guyoil annual Fathers Day road race See story on page 20

25 goals scored on night six See story on page 22

A washout in Bridgetown on Sunday meant Australia face a do-or-die clash against West Indies in their final league game (Getty Images) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Victorious ‘Green Machine’ Return Home!

See story on page 23

MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016