Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 21 06 2016

NO PARKING No. 104589

TUESDAY JUNE 21, 2016

Price: $80

(Vat Inclusive)

- parking meter project going full speed ahead, says Mayor Chase-Green

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Fuel pump explodes at Roraima hangar - quick action by firemen averts major disaster

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A fire truck which responded to the emergency at the Roraima hangar on Monday afternoon (Delano Williams photo)

Toddler allegedly 18 raped Page

- mother, male friend questioned

US had no interest

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- in outcome of 2015 elections, says Hunt

Wife admits trafficking ‘coke’, husband denies involvement 8 Page

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Fedders Lloyd local ‘rep’ quits - after company flagged for violating World Bank guidelines against fraud

By Derwayne Wills AJAY Jha, the local representative of India-based contracting firm, Fedders Lloyd, has cut ties with that company after it was flagged by the World Bank for violating the financial institute’s procurement guidelines against fraud and corruption.

According to Jha in a statement, “I was kept in dark by the management of Fedders Lloyd about this World Bank issue related to African country.”

Jha’s decision to cut ties with the company comes even as he said the company will be appealing the World Bank decision.

“Fedders Lloyd explained to me that this issue in Nige-

ria was dragging since 2010, and they too were shocked when it (Fedders Lloyd) was notified on 6th April, 2016.”

The World Bank decision led the Government of India to withdraw its support from Fedders Lloyd after that company was awarded the contract by the David Granger administration to complete the Specialty Hospital at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.

It was only recently that Jha was notified by the Government of India that the company he represented in Guyana had been implicated by the World Bank for violating the bank’s guidelines.

Jha expressed concern that the company did not notify him of the World Bank’s

Ajay Jha decision.

“I immediately informed all concerned and left for India thereafter to terminate my contract with Fedders Lloyd on this group,” Jha wrote in his statement.

“I love Guyana more than my own country and this feel sorry for this unfortunate

development.”

Cabinet Secretary Joseph Harmon told reporters at a recent press briefing that while the David Granger Administration would proceed with the contract for construction of the controversial hospital, Government does not have the option to award that contract to companies outside of India.

“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 es-

tablished by the Indians,” Harmon said.

Harmon confirmed that the Government of India had opted out of the engagement with Fedders Lloyd because of the World Bank ‘fraud and corruption’ sanction against the company.

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

A lawsuit by the Donald Ramotar Administration had been won in 2015, but there was an outstanding sum of money to be collected when that administration lost office in the May 2015 Regional and General Elections.

Figures floating in media reports suggest some $900M were still to be collected by the Guyana Government.

Asked about the money awarded in the lawsuit, Harmon said Cabinet has asked Attorney General Basil Williams to “proceed with the legal process to ensure that those sums of money are retrieved”.

Body of Sophia woman recovered - after boat capsized in Puruni River

THE body of Barbara Hunte, who went missing after the boat in which she was travelling capsized in the Puruni River on Saturday, has been found by the police on Monday afternoon.

‘F’ Division Commander Rabindradat Budhram said the body will be transported to the City for a post-mortem examination.

The boat was at the time transporting mining workers to Cuyuni, Region Seven, when it capsized.

It was reported that Hunte had some difficulty and went under shortly after she fell overboard in the rough waters.

Hunte, 48, of ‘D’ Field, Sophia, was going to take up her new job as a cook, commonly called a ‘bahir’, in the interior location when tragedy struck.

It is uncertain whether Hunte had been a swimmer, but some persons were rescued. Efforts to locate her relatives Dead: Barbara Hunte on Monday were unsuccessful.

Kadesiya Adams wanted by police KADESIYA ADAMS is wanted by police for questioning in relation to ‘embezzlement committed at Singer Guyana Inc’.

Police in a press release said the embezzlement occurred on April 21, 2015, at Singer Guyana Inc, Corriverton, Corentyne, Berbice.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Adams is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 333-2151-3, 3332191, 333-3876, 911 or the nearest police station.

All information will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Adams, 21, is of African descent and is from Lot 155 Eliza and Mary Avenue, Number 78 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Wanted: Kadesiya Adams

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

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- parking meter project going full speed ahead, says Mayor Chase-Green

By Telesha Ramnarine THE Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC) is going full speed ahead to have parking meters installed and in operation in the City by September 1.

M&CC officials are of the view that they do not need to seek permission from anyone to carry through with this project, but only out of courtesy, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan was consulted.

At a highly anticipated press conference held on Monday following the return of a team from Mexico, Chairman of the M&CC Finance Committee, Oscar Clarke, said: “He’s (Minister Bulkan) asked us to say to you that he appreciates that the Council doesn’t have to ask anybody under the Council Law. And we don’t have to ask anyone, but out of courtesy, we think we have to speak to the minister.

“The minister doesn’t make a decision for the Council; the Cabinet does. But the minister has said he is happy we were able to visit with him; that he has a copy of the contract, and he is sure that on the basis of what we explained to him, he is going to deliver to Cabinet a different message from the one which he has seen in the press.”

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green has said that a “deliberate” decision was made not to share with City Councillors and the public the contract that was signed with National Parking Systems (NPS)/Smart City Solutions until after the project has been implemented.

A number of councillors recently complained that they had been denied access to the contract, although they were promised in the past that they would be able to peruse it and provide feedback. Mayor Chase-Green is, however, maintaining that councillors had had opportunity to discuss the contract at a recent statutory meeting, and that a majority of councilors had voted in favour of implementing the parking meters.

She is contending that the ‘handful’ of councillors who are against the project cannot be allowed to stymie progress in Georgetown.

Asked how the councillors could have agreed to the contract when it was not shared with them, Town Clerk Royston King responded: “All contracts are signed by the Town Clerk, who is the Chief Administrative Officer of the City Council.

All contracts are signed by the Town Clerk. The contract was seen by the councillors, who took the decision prior to the incumbent Council.

“We had an informative session (in which) councillors were informed about the contract, but the contract itself was agreed on by the previous Council. A decision was taken by the previous Council, and therefore we go forward.”

A PRIVATE DOCUMENT Commenting on the possibility of the contract being made available to members of the new Council, Chase-Green offered: “A contract for the M&CC is a private document for the administration. It will be unfair for this Council to give every single councillor a copy of that contract. We could not afford to have all contracts being given out to councillors.

Nobody knows where they will take those contracts. Those are private documents of the Council. They are free to request to

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green (at centre) with Town Clerk Royston King (left) and Councillor Oscar Clarke see, but they have to come to the administration’s office, read it and then leave; but not to take it away with them. Which organisation within this whole world gives contracts to every single member who asks for it?”

The Town Clerk added: “We would have no problem sharing the contract during the implementation of the project; but in order to secure this direct foreign investment, we will not share the contract at this time,” Asked how she felt about Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan’s refusal to support the project, Chase-Green offered that the manner in which he is trashing out his views (on social media) is wrong.

The Mayor also said that she does not have to report her every move to Duncan. “It is most unfortunate that individuals have taken it upon themselves to access social media with their reservations. But they do not speak on behalf of the Council,” she declared.

ALREADY ON THE WAY According to the Mayor, City Hall will be receiving 20 per cent of whatever is earned through the parking meters.

The meters, she said, are built in such a way that they cannot be vandalised.

“So far, the consortium with which we have a contract has already sent their engineers and technical team to do various assessments. As we speak, parking meters are being processed for shipping to Georgetown, to allow the project to begin on schedule,” she disclosed.

Asked about cost to citizens, Chase-Green said the $500 per hour to park is being reviewed, and the amount would be less. As for employees parking outside their workplaces, she said they will be granted a special concession.

Parking meters will be installed on every street between South Road and Church Street, Water Street and Camp Street.

The arrangement will be such that one meter would be placed for approximately 15 parking spaces.

Questioned if the City has enough space for the installation of parking meters, Chase-Green informed that there are in excess of 4000 spaces. She refused to say, however, just how many meters would be installed.

Citizens would have to purchase prepaid cards for parking, and once the necessary information would have been punched

in, the control room will receive an indication if a driver has overstayed his time. The driver will subsequently be given a ticket, or the vehicle will be towed away, at the expense of the driver.

The Mayor has noted that by means of this project, many jobs will be created. “I have also asked the Town Clerk to advertise for 100 persons who would be trained to work with the parking meters. They will be well paid and constantly trained to assist in the management of this particular project.

This and other related activities will be paid for by the consortium in full; not the Council. It is part of the expenses of the consortium.”

According to Chase-Green, the project will be rolled out at no cost to the Council.

“Smart City Solutions, which was awarded the on-street parking contract last November, is part of an international consortium, anchored by the largest on-street municipal parking operator in all of Latin America, the Caribbean, Central and South America. This consortium offers a solution in which it is 100 per cent invested. There is zero cost to our City,” the Mayor disclosed.

TEAM SATISFIED The Mayor began her speech by reminding that, at the statutory meeting of May 9, she had announced to the full Council that she had received an invitation from the parking meter company to visit Mexico and Panama. She said the visit was paid for by Smart City Solutions.

“I, as Mayor of this City, accepted the invitation and selected a team based on the nature and scope of the visit, knowledge of the issues involved… relevant competencies and aptitudes, and official and statutory portfolios.

“I, along with Councillors Oscar Clarke and Junior Garrett, and Town Clerk Royston King, (am) satisfied with the bona fides of Smart City Solutions,” she said.

Chase-Green said the team has verified the consortium’s five years’ operating experience in Mexico City, its recent achievement of being the first to install parking meters in Peru, its installation of parking meters in Panama; and its position as a distributor of parking meter equipment for Parkeon, the largest parking meter manufacturer in the world, with a footprint in some 3,500 cities globally.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Arrested man wanted to shoot Trump

A MAN who tried to grab a gun at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas at the weekend said he wanted to shoot the Republican candidate, court papers say.

Michael Steven Sandford, 19, who is believed to be British, is expected to appear in a Nevada court shortly.

According to the court papers, he went to a Trump rally on Saturday at the Treasure Island Casino.

He reportedly approached a Las Vegas police officer to say he wanted an autograph from the candidate.

He has a UK driving license and told police he had been in the US for one and a half years, the court papers say.

The detainee reportedly told police he had been planning to try and shoot Mr Trump for about a year

People attending the rally in Las Vegas on Saturday had to pass through metal detectors manned by police and casino security officials but had decided to act now because he finally felt confident enough to do so.

Earlier on Monday, Trump fired his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, who oversaw his tri-

umph in the primary contests.

When asked about the arrest of Michael Sandford, a Foreign Office spokesman

said: “We are providing assistance following an arrest of a British national in Las Vegas.”

‘EXPECTED TO BE KILLED’ According the court papers, Sandford said he had never fired a gun before but went to a range in Las Vegas on June 17 to learn how to shoot.

At the rally, he allegedly tried to grab the officer’s weapon because it was in an unlocked position and therefore, he said, the easiest way to get a gun to shoot Trump.

Court Documents say Sandford acknowledged he knew he would only be able to fire one or two rounds, and expected to be killed during an attempt on Trump’s life.

He told police if he had not tried to kill Trump at this rally he would have tried again at a rally in Phoenix,

for which he had already booked tickets, the papers say.

Recent opinion polls suggest Trump is trailing his Democrat opponent Hillary Clinton, with most voters viewing him as “strongly unfavourable”.

There were reports over the weekend that Clinton’s campaign was ahead in spending in key swing states.

Americans go to the polls on November 8 to elect a President to succeed Democrat Barack Obama, who is stepping down after two terms in office, which have seen the Republicans gain control of both houses of Congress. (BBC)

Orlando gunman: I’m an Islamic soldier THE gunman who killed 49 people at an Orlando gay nightclub described himself as an Islamic soldier in calls made to police during the attack.

A transcript of the calls between police negotiators and Omar Mateen during the three-hour siege have been released by the FBI. The 29-year-old mentioned the war in Syria and the France terror attacks during calls to the 911 dispatcher.

Mateen died in a shootout with police after authorities stormed the building.

The FBI said Mateen spoke to a dispatcher twice

Thousands convened in downtown Orlando on Sunday to remember the victims during three phone calls made about 30 minutes after he began the attack.

Mateen allegedly made the calls while he held more than a dozen people hostage at the venue.

The first call (see below) lasted about 50 seconds.

Police: Orlando Police Dispatcher Mateen: Omar Mateen Police: Emergency 911,

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this is being recorded.

Mateen; In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficial [in Arabic] Police: What?

Mateen: Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [in Arabic]. I let you know, I’m in Orlando and I did the shootings.

P olice: Wh at’s your name?

Mateen: My name is I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State.

Police: Ok, What’s your name?

Mateen: I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may God protect him

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[Arabic], on behalf of the Islamic State.

Police: Alright, where are you at?

Mateen: In Orlando.

Police: Where in Orlando?

[End of call].

Mateen then spoke to Orlando police’s Crisis Negotiation Team three times after the first call.

During these communications, Mateen identified himself as an “Islamic soldier”.

An FBI spokesman told reporters Mateen spoke in a “chilling, calm and deliberate manner.”

He said there was no evidence that a foreign terrorist group was behind the shooting and that Mateen was likely radicalised domestically.

Authorities had previously omitted IS and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the so-called Islamic State, from the transcript, but re-issued a full version after facing a backlash.

Republican US House Speaker Paul Ryan said that to redact the transcript was “preposterous”. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Venezuela checks recall signatures

VENEZUELAN authorities have begun the process of validating the signatures of those who endorsed a petition for a referendum on whether President Nicolas Maduro should stay in office.

The petition had almost two million signatures but election officials said 600,000 of those were fraudulent.

Just under 200,000 valid signatures are needed to trigger the next phase of the referendum.

Maduro was elected in April 2013 and his term runs until 2019.

Opposition politicians have asked those who signed the petition to submit their fingerprints at electoral centres to confirm their identities. They have five days to do so.

The opposition wants to remove President Maduro from office.

They say that under his socialist Government and that of his predecessor in

Venezuelans queued to have their signatures on a petition for a recall referendum validated office, Hugo Chavez, the oil-rich country has been mismanaged to the point of collapse.

The Government says the country’s problems, which include the world’s highest inflation and shortages of

Six killed in Mexico teachers’ unrest SIX people have been killed in southern Mexico in clashes between protesting teachers and police.

More than 100 other people, including many police officers, were injured.

The incident took place in the state of Oaxaca, where two high-profile union leaders were arrested last week, accused of corruption.

Members of the CNTE union, which has a history of radical activism, have been blocking roads in southern Mexico ever since the union leaders were arrested.

The authorities said the police were trying to clear the roads when unknown gunmen began firing at both sides in order to create chaos and conflict.

Mexico’s National Security Commission originally said in a statement that the police officers involved in the operation near the town of Nochixtlan were not carrying guns.

But federal police chief Enrique Galindo later said that an armed unit was deployed after shots were fired at the police and the protesters by “unidentified people” not linked to the demonstration.

Unrest has intensified since the arrest of two high-profile union leaders The state-owned oil com- accused him of money launpany, Pemex, warned on Fri- dering. day that it might be forced to “He raised more close a refinery in the area if than 24m pesos ($1.3M; the highway linking Oaxaca £900,000) illegally between to the capital, Mexico City, 2013 and 2015,” said proseremained blocked. cutor Gilberto Higuera.

The dissident CNTE For two years the union opposes education u n i o n d e m a n d e d a 3 . 5 reforms introduced by Pres- per cent cut of purchases ident Enrique Pena Nieto in made by unionised mem2013. bers from some businessThe changes include new es in Oaxaca, according to measures to assess teachers’ Higuera. performance.

The money was taken Union members say the from the education workers’ corruption allegations against payslips, which prosecutors their leaders are politically say was controlled by the motivated. union.

Ruben Nunez was acNunez’s deputy, Francused of siphoning off mon- cisco Villalobos, was arey raised illegally from union rested for allegedly stealing members. Prosecutors also textbooks. (BBC)

basic goods, are due to an economic war being waged by “imperialist forces”.

Opposition leaders hand-

ed in the petition on May 2 calling for a recall referendum.

They want the vote to be

held this year, as its timing is key for what happens next.

Should the referendum be held before January 10 and go against Maduro, fresh elections would be triggered.

But if the vote were to be held after January 10 -- in the last two years of Maduro’s mandate -- he would be replaced by his vice-president and supporter, Aristobulo Isturiz.

The opposition still has to overcome a number of hurdles before a recall referendum can be held.

If enough signatures on this initial petition are validated, opposition leaders will have to hand in a second petition signed by almost four million people.

Only when the electoral authorities have established that the requirements have been met on that second petition will the recall referendum be held. (BBC)

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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

Voting to remain or exit the European Union

ON THURSDAY, 23rd June, the electorate of the United Kingdom (UK) would go to the polls to cast its ballot whether to remain in, or leave, the European Union (EU).

This referendum is informed by competing and conflicting views on whether an association in the EU is serving the interest of British citizens.

The initial EU was forged out of a desire for peace and working together after World War 11. With the continent being divided and ravished by war, France and Germany came together and devised a plan to avoid future occurrences of this nature. This resulted in a six-nation alliance, in 1950, to pool their coal and steel resources; then, in 1957, a treaty was signed in Paris establishing the European Economic Community (EEC), which laid the foundation for the current EU. In 1973, the UK, along with Denmark and Ireland, became members. Today, the EU comprises 28 member states with a 500-million population. The EEC is a trade and economic bloc focusing on free movement of goods and services within the Common Market, reducing regional inequalities, preserving the environment, promoting human rights, and investing in education and research.

According to the online BBC, “The EU is Britain’s biggest trading partner. British citizens are free to work in any EU country, and EU funding is spent on supporting farmers, boosting jobs in the UK, redeveloping rundown areas, and (procuring) grants for university research.”

In 2016, the people of UK are divided in opinion about said association. Those against leaving the Union are arguing that the UK is stronger being in the EU, and it can use its clout to influence issues such as immigration, the strength of the Pound, and social services, which have been the major issues used by those arguing for an exit. In the area of social services, where healthcare in the UK is free, citizens and legal residents are complaining that the National Health Scheme (NHS) is being overwhelmed by illegal immigrants, and this is compromising the delivery of service for legal residents. On 25th May, a David Maddox article carried in the UK Express said that a major leak from Brussels has revealed that the NHS will be killed off if Britain remains in the EU. There is also concern that exiting the EU would allow Britain the freedom to manage its own finance and affairs. There is the view in some quarters that the presence of Boris Johnson, historian, journalist, politician and then mayor of London, who joined the exit campaign in February, impacted and validated public opinion in this direction, and affected the currency.

The Express reported that Johnson’s voice in the debate resulted in the currency falling to a seven-year low. The Sunday Express reports that, as of 15th June, the value of the pound stood at $1.42 against the dollar and €1.26 against the euro. It is instructive to note that Johnson’s father, Stanley Johnson -- politician, author and expert on environmental and population issues -- supports Britain remaining in the EU, campaigns to this effect, and argues that there are more benefits to be derived from influencing the global affairs being in rather than out. UK Prime Minister David Cameron

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Challenges facing Mocha-Arcadia residents Dear Editor,

I CALL upon the Government to expeditiously address the challenges faced by residents living within Mocha – Arcadia. We have been living under somewhat deplorable conditions as if we are a neglected community.

For several years, villagers have been commuting on either damaged, or damaged and narrow roads. At the state it’s in now, we can no longer fill the holes with solid waste. It would require major repairs or complete reconstruction; and in the case of those that are too narrow, expansion.

The fact that it impossible for any rescue services to respond efficiently to my community makes me very concerned. Sadly, there are senior citizens who have had to walk great distances because buses refuse to traverse the damaged roads. The situation is the same for school children and the working class, both in the evening and

throughout the day.

This brings me to the second issue at present -- street lights. There are not enough street lights installed throughout the village. There are many petty crimes being committed and not reported to the relevant authorities, and most of these crimes happen in the dark of night.

I believe, and some studies have shown, that street lighting reduces crime and traffic accidents by a considerable amount, and it is therefore necessary to have it for these reasons.

I also believe there is need for construction of a youth- friendly space, particularly in the New Housing Scheme of Arcadia. This should include a library and research centre, a play park, a community stage, and sporting facilities that can host football, basketball, tennis, netball and cricket torments. But, more importantly, it should house a skills training facility, and be built with sufficient space to house community-based organisations

and cultural groups.

To whom this may concern: to those who are proud Cabinet Members of the Government; to all politicians, and to those who are privileged members of the elite communities, this is my humble plea to you fellow countrymen: Do not turn a blind eye to things you know are wrong; stand for what is right. The solution to division is treating all equally, despite their socio-economic status, ethnicity or religion.

In closing, I’d like to invite His Excellency, President David Arthur Granger, to visit the community of Mocha– Arcadia during the day, to see the neglected condition of our roads, the drainage system surrounding the community, and lack of recreational facilities. And during the night to see how necessary it is for us to have street lights both on the Mocha Entrance Road and throughout the village.

Regards, JA'ASRIEL BISHOP

VIOLENCE: Our insanity and disgrace Dear Editor, IN LIGHT of the horrible massacre in Orlando, Florida, I have penned a poem which expresses the pain and suffering wrought by senseless violence.

A mere letter cannot convey these thoughts; only a poem can do. I am certain it will provoke thought and reflection in your readers.

The flower of youth plucked too soon A mother’s world broken, dreams doomed, A beloved son slain at high noon A most despicable act of violence, Drained all joy from the cup of life Cruel and bitter the pain to endure, Most tragic this turn of fate for sure.

Heavier than the vast and mighty Himalayas The pain and suffering wrought by violence, Seen in silent grief and flow of tears In the faces of orphans and refugees, The tormented and abused

The crippled and maimed, In the tortured minds of soldiers Recalling many a battlefield horror, In childhood innocence blighted Witness to bloodshed unabated, None can chronicle the true toll of violence Flooring so many to eternal silence, Yet this macabre dance daily stirred to frenzy Goaded by men with no human conscience, Applauding with sadistic delight the evil in violence.

All violence most loathsome and evil The epitome of our disgrace and insanity, Whether in wars, conflicts, riots, or communal strife In targeted killings, racial profiling or petty fights, In acts of terror and cruel hatred From the fanatic spirit so deeply rooted, In daily slaughter by warring gangs With the innocents in the cross-fire,

is supportive of remaining in the Union, and in making his pitch why this is to the UK’s best interest to do so, Sunday Express (19th June) reports him saying, “Of course the EU isn’t perfect. I’m frustrated by it, like you. But I believe we will have more opportunities, more security, and we’ll live up to the finest traditions of our country if we remain in Europe rather than quitting. First, I believe we’ll have more opportunities and jobs.”

Polls have been showing mixed opinions on this matter.

In horrific acts by drug-twisted minds Their reason and thinking so steep in decline, In conquests and cruel subjugation Brutal torture that staggers the imagination, In quest for domination and power On the streets or on the world’s arena, In insatiable greed for wealth and prestige Exploiting and oppressing the poor and meek, In asserting our special purity In caste and racial superiority, Violence indeed the cardinal sin Even mere thought of harming another, However righteous and sacred our agenda Is enough to darken our karma.

Vain indeed our prayers and rituals Sacrifices and sacred observances, When even an iota of violent thought Resides in the recesses of the heart.

Regards , CECIL RAMKIRATH

Once, the public was leaning to exit. At the time of preparing this editorial, the poll was leaning to remain. In the intervening period, Labour Member of Parliament Jo Cox, who was a supporter of remaining in the EU, was shot and stabbed to death, last Thursday after leaving a constituency meeting.

Presently, there is a petition being circulated calling for the referendum to be cancelled. If the petition does not succeed, the UK electorate will go to the polls and have its say, come Thursday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

ILO pledges to help stamp out child labour worldwide THE International Labour Organisation (ILO) has pledged to help stamp out child labour the world over by placing it high on its agenda.

According to a release from the Ministry of Social Protection, the high incidence of child labour here was among a number of issues that were raised when subject minister, Volda Lawrence and Minister of Labour Keith Scott met Thursday with a visiting three-member delegation from the Geneva-based organisation.

Heading the delegation is Claudia Coenjaerts, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Caribbean Office. The two other members are Rainer Pritzer, Senior Specialist for Social Dialogue and Labour Administration, and Ingerlyn Caines-Frances, Programme Officer.

In response to a request from Minister Lawrence to assist the Guyana government in undertaking another child-labour survey, Coenjaerts is quoted as saying: “We will put it back as a priority.”

Besides the need to rein in child labour, Minister Lawrence is said to have raised with the ILO team the utilizing of the country’s co-operative sector as a poverty-fighting tool; the current revival of the previously dormant Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) sector; and labour inspection.

Conversely, issues raised

by Coenjaerts included Decent Work Country Programmes; the importance of tripartite social dialogue; bolstering the small business sector; and protection for the

Our leaders do not listen to advice Dear Editor

Mr Lincoln Lewis’ letter in your June 20 issue has prompted me to several regretful thoughts about the plight of my country.

First that we have to listen to condescending advice from US diplomatic officers, but also that the problems on which outsiders advise us are not treated seriously by the mass of people who suffer from them, let alone by the politicians who benefit.

The few voices raising such issues, like Mr Lewis’, are ignored by the powers that emphatically be.

“The cabinet is inclined too to disregard any idea or proposal that comes from the opposition, even when it is sound...” Not only from the opposition, Mr Lewis, and soundness doesn’t come into it, in the face of the management principle, Not Invented Here (NIH). Any idea that didn’t originate from the inner circle is simply given no attention. Our elected leaders trust no one but the anointed, maybe for good reason; for with revelations of incompetence and worse on high, who is to be trusted?

I am surely not the only one to find ideas, new to today’s Guyana but researched from records of my and others’ experience, directly relating to stated policies and intentions of our Government. Our problem is to find intermediaries to get such

information to relevant ministers, since direct communications have led nowhere.

If in the face of my record my motives are suspect, if I have to prove, to folks who knew me personally before they became politicians, that I seek no gain but to be of service to my country, then we are all truly cursed by the party system. Until they abolish the Paramountcy of the Party, even our best politicians can leave no healing legacy.

“If you’re not with us, you’re against us.” I suffered materially, but with-

out complaint, from this dictum under the governments of Burnham, Hoyte, Jagan, Jagdeo and Ramotar. And again I am denied, not earnings, but the opportunity of helping, under a government that promised change. Helping not with original ideas but just by pointing out useful information that my leaders are too busy to notice.

But like a true Guyanese I’ll back off yet again, relax and get over it, for another four years.

Regards GORDON FORTE

country’s domestic workers.

The Guyana government and the ILO, the release says, have collaborated on a number of key initiatives, including the hosting of a Decent Work conference, and pursuing training programmes for the Ministry’s labour inspectors later this year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

US had no interest in outcome of 2015 elections, says Hunt

By Svetlana Marshall THE United States (US) had no interest in the outcome of Guyana’s May 11, 2015 General Elections, and is urging the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to focus more on promoting its ideas instead of accusing the ABC countries -- US, UK and Canada -- of meddling in local affairs.

Outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Georgetown, Bryan Hunt, made the above disclosure and spared no words in offering advice to the PPP on how it can improve its relationship with the Guyanese people.

Ahead of the 2015 Elections, the PPP had accused the US of meddling in Guyana’s internal affairs. It had alleged that the Leadership and Democracy Programme (LEAD) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was being used to influence voters’ choices one way or the other.

“I am afraid that the reality would not support the allegation that the PPP has been making. The judgments that were made were no different from the judgments made from all of the other international bodies,” the Deputy Chief of Mission said.

In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Hunt maintained that the voting and tabulation processes in the last elections were free, fair, and credible. He pointed out that the US had close to 80 observers on the ground.

“What you actually have is a very clean electoral process in Guyana,” he said.

He said the judgments and recommendations made by the US, UK and Canada were similar to those offered by other domestic and international observers, including the Organiza-

US Deputy Head of Mission, Bryan Hunt tion of American States (OAS), the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the Commonwealth, the Carter Centre and the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

In addressing the contention that the US had colluded with GECOM and the APNU+AFC coalition to defeat the PPP, the Deputy Chief of Mission said not only did the US adhere to the International Code of Conduct, but it had no interest in the

outcome of the elections.

“The United States had no interest, going into the 2015 election, as to who won the process. It made no difference to my government whether it was the PPP/C that was re-elected or whether it was APNU+AFC that was elected,” Hunt said without any sign of uncertainty.

He explained that the US was concerned only about the process and the need for the results to be respected by all parties involved.

“Our staff was clearly told that we didn’t care who won the elections; all we were concerned about was a free and fair process and, most importantly to the people of Guyana, a peaceful process,” he added.

At a time when the PPP continues to be a stern critic of the US, Hunt has advised that the Opposition should use its time and resources to build a better relationship with the Guyanese people ahead of the 2020 Election.

“I know there are those in the PPP/C who are disappointed by the outcome of the election, but I would argue that they need to focus on trying to do a better job of selling their platform, their proposals and ideas, to the Guyanese people,” Hunt said.

He made it clear that had the results been the reverse, the US’ response would have been no different.

“Had the results been reversed, we would have taken exactly the same position -- that the PPP/C should be allowed to continue in office, and that the APNU+AFC should have respected this.”

Hunt will exit the post of Deputy Head of Mission of the United States Embassy in Georgetown next month, after serving in that position for three years.

Corentyne man Wife admits trafficking ‘coke’, husband denies involvement sentenced to four years’ jail

- for causing Hughes matriarch’s death TWENTY-eight-year-old Juliano Seunarine of Tain, Corentyne, Berbice was on Monday sentenced to four years in prison after he was found guilty of causing the death of Mrs Christobel

Juliano Seunarine Hughes due to his dangerous driving.

Seunarine was convicted

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after she found him guilty at the end of a seven-month-long trial.

On his first appearance, on August 18 last year, Seunarine had pleaded not

guilty to the charge, which alleged that on August 15, 2015 at Pike and Lamaha Streets, Kitty, in Georgetown, he drove motor vehicle PPP 4641 in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of Mrs. Hughes, the mother of prominent attorney Nigel Hughes.

He was also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, but had pleaded guilty to that charge and was fined $7,500.

The case against Seunarine was prosecuted

by Inspector Neville Jeffers, while attorney Glenn Hanoman represented him. Several police and civilian witnesses testified.

In making her ruling, the magistrate told the court that she was of the belief that, at time of the accident, the defendant was under the influence of alcohol; and she said that a life was lost due to his careless driving while failing to exercise the 5Cs (consideration, care, caution, common sense and courtesy).

She then found him

Please page 9

A 2 1 - y e a r- o l d m o t h e r of two who was recently caught with more than seven pounds of cocaine strapped to her body yesterday pleaded guilty to trafficking before Sparendaam Magistrate Zameena Ali-Seapaul.

Angelica Forde confessed to trafficking 3.040 kilograms of cocaine on June 15 at the Eugene F. Correia (formerly Ogle) International Airport.

The housewife told the court, “It’s my stuff; my husband and children were not involved.”

Her husband, James, however, was charged with inciting her to traffic the substance between June 1 and 15

at their home at Lot 100 B Mora Street, Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara. It’s a charge that the 23-year-old taxi driver has denied.

The couple was represented by Attorney-at-law Mark Conway, who begged the magistrate to impose a light sentence on the mother, since she admitted to the crime and did not waste the court’s time.

Mrs. Forde has to return to court on June 21 for sentencing, while her husband was remanded to prison until July 25.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford-Thompson contended that the woman showed no remorse, as she attempted to traffic the drug while travel-

Angelica Forde

James Forde

ling with her two kids.

The prosecutor gave as the reason for opposing bail for the husband his being charged as a principal offender after allegedly soliciting his wife to traffic the cocaine.

According to Sandiford-Thompson, on June 15, at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Angelica Forde and her two children were on a flight to

the US via Barbados when CANU officers stationed there noticed that her clothing was fitted in an unusual manner and became suspicious. Sandiford-Thompson said a female rank took the woman into a room, conducted a body search, and found the cocaine strapped to her body in packets hidden underneath her clothing.

The Fordes being escorted by a female CANU officer into court

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Fuel pump explodes at Roraima hangar - quick action by firemen averts major disaster

QUICK action by Roraima Airways staffers at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle on Monday afternoon averted a major disaster after a fuel pump exploded while an aircraft was being refuelled.

The incident occurred shortly after 14:00 hrs and resulted in an engineer sustaining burns about his body.

He was immediately rushed to a city hospital.

Roraima Airways, in a release, informed that its Britten Norman Trislander aircraft, 8R-GRD, was in the hangar undergoing a routine maintenance inspection at time of the incident, and suffered damage to its right wing. The engineer sustained burns to his hand and fractured his ankle. He is currently resting in hospital in a stable condition.

An investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident is currently underway by both the company’s Maintenance Quality Department and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Roraima praised the efforts of its staff who re-

sponded to the incident.

According to persons at the airport, the engineer and other staff members were refuelling the aircraft at the company’s hangar when the fuel pump exploded. It is unclear what may have caused the explosion, which occurred near to other aircraft which were parked at the hangar at the time, but members of the Guyana Fire Service based at the airport immediately responded to the situation.

When this publication arrived at the airport, firemen and aviation officials were on scene, debris from the explosion lay on the floor of the hangar, and a fire truck was parked nearby.

Airport taxi operators have praised the actions of the firemen. Fire Chief Marlon Gentle told this newspaper late on Monday afternoon that all investigations relevant to the airport are being handled by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Officials of the umbrella body and airport staff are investigating the incident.

A fire truck which responded to the fire at the Roraima hangar on Monday afternoon

On April 25 this year, Roraima Airways officially unveiled its Britten-Norman Trislander; and on that day, its maintenance department was also officially commissioned. The company had employed the services of the Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Services (CAMS) for some 20 years, but as it developed, its in-house services also expanded.

This Trislander aircraft (white) was being refuelled when the explosion occurred

Corentyne man sentenced ....

From page 8

guilty as charged, and handed down the sentence, noting that she took into consideration his age and his being the sole provider for his family.

According to reports, on August 15, 2015, at about 23:15 hours, the defendant drove motor vehicle PPP 4641 on Pike Street and, as he approached Lamaha Street, failed to stop, thereby colliding with motor vehicle PMM 6763.

As a result, the passenger of PMM 6763, this being Mrs. Hughes, received injuries to her body.

According to information received, a test conducted on Seunarine by police officers revealed that his blood-alcohol level was 161 micrograms when the legal limit is 35.

According to eyewitnesses, such was the impact of the collision that it resulted in the Hugheses’ car slamming into the nearby Natoo’s Bar, causing extensive damage to both vehicle and building.

From all indications, Mrs. Hughes bore the brunt of the impact, since the pick-up hit the car on the passenger side, directly where she was sitting.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Fights on David Granger 11 worry parents ‒ call for supervision on vessel

By Vanessa Braithwaite Some parents of the children who benefit from the free services of the David Granger II Vessel in Linden are concerned over the lack of supervision on the boat which has resulted in verbal and physical fights between the children who travel.

The boat transports children from riverine communities up the Demerara River as far as Gold Hill.

One parent who opted for anonymity told this publication that the free transportation services provided by the boat is very much appreciated, especially for parents who do not own their own boat or cannot afford the cost of the public boat.

Her concern however lies in the regular occurrences of fighting in the boat. On one occasion a knife was pulled.

“This boat thing hay it got a lot of problems because

children does be picking fight in the boat; children pulling knife all and I feel somebody need to be in the boat to supervise them children,” mentioned one parent.

This, she said could be remedied if a responsible adult from the Ministry of Education is present on the boat to control the children, and enact discipline whenever needed.

Another parent revealed that when the services started, parents opted to travel in the boat to supervise the children, but other parents

were not in favour of this, arguing that the boat’s purpose is to transport children to school and not parents who at the time would be taking up needed space in the boat.

With numerous complaints of violence being displayed by the older kids, parents are calling upon the relevant authorities to put a system in place to have the children properly supervised during their journey to school.

According to one parent, the boat captain though an adult cannot effectively su-

The David Granger II, which operates in Linden

pervise the children since he has to focus on safely navigating the boat.

“You can’t be driving an engine boat and focus on what going on in the boat, you have to focus on where the boat going,” she said.

In January, President David Granger journeyed to Linden to commission two school boats, one for the Berbice River and the other for the Demerara River.

The boat that plies the Demerara River currently transports 33 children to and from primary and secondary schools in Linden.

The Regional Education Office has the responsibility

of providing 50 gallons of fuel weekly and wages are also paid to the captain and “boat hand”.

The other boat that plies the Berbice River is used to transport the children living in communities such as Arraculi and Upper Rosenburg to attend primary and nursery school at Kimbia.

Currently, 23 children benefit from this transportation and the Education Office supplies 15 gallons of fuel per week. The boat is responsible for making four trips per day as it returns during the midday hours to transport the nursery children home.

WPA hosts symposium today ‒ on Guyana’s Independence journey over the last 50 years THE Working People’s Alliance (WPA) will hold a symposium on Guyana’s Independence journey over the last 50 years at the National Public Library, Georgetown today in observance of the 36th anniversary of Walter Rodney’s assassination.

The symposium will begin on 16:30 hrs. The party in a statement said it views this event as an opportunity to expand the national discourse and to ground with the people about their collective condition.

Titled “Guyana at 50: Looking Back to Look Forward”, the symposium is intended to be a reflection on the party’s experiences these five decades as a newly independent nation and what kind of future Guyana can imagine in the next 50 years.

“What have been our major challenges and how have we navigated them? What lessons can be learned as we prepare to embark on our next 50 years? What is the significance of Walter Rodney and his ideas to the shaping of our Independence praxis? In the end, what have we achieved as a nation that reflects a decisive shift away from our

Dr Walter Rodney

colonial past?

“We hope that these and other related questions would generate a healthy discussion that could benefit Guyana’s forward movement. We believe that such a discussion is a fitting way to remember Walter Rodney, who expended a lot of his intellectual and activist energies asking questions about Independence and working for an Independence praxis that centres the peoples of our country, in particular the toilers and the downtrodden.”

The speakers will be Dr Alissa Trotz, Dr Janet Bulkan, Ms Tabitha Sarabo and Dr David Hinds.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Rohee backflips on sole sourcing

THE PEOPLE’S Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Monday backpedalled on their thoughts of sole sourcing and issued a warning to the Government to not go down that road.

During the PPP tenure in office, it allowed New GPC Inc, a company owned by Bobby Ramroop, a close friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, to enjoy a monopoly on procurement of medical drugs.

This decision was heavily criticised by the

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), which was then in opposition.

On assumption to office, the Public Health Ministry announced that it will do away with the monopolistic procurement arrangement involving New GPC, but according to reports, sole sourcing still continues.

On Monday, Rohee criticised the PPP for doing what the PPP did when it was in power and called the Govern-

ment’s action “double standard”.

According to him, Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning A u t h o r i t y ( C H & PA ) Hamilton Green used a single contractor for the Core House Initiative.

“We were criticised by the APNU+AFC for sole sourcing and we

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee

will continue to criticise the Government for their actions because we intend to be equally critical of them,” said the Party’s General Secretary.

Cabinet had, in January, approved the sum of $700M for the purchase of essential drugs and other pharmaceutical supplies for health facili-

ties in all 10 administrative regions.

In approving the $700M for fresh supplies, the Government had opted to implement a fair and open bidding process for all suppliers in the pharmaceutical industry to get an opportunity to secure contracts.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Beloved comedian needs help

By Alva Solomon

SOMETIME last year, popular actor/comedian Henry Rodney started to feel weak, and his ability to perform basic tasks around the house slowed considerably. As time progressed, he realised that he could not stand on his feet for long periods, even during

Henry Rodney

his performances on stage.

Rodney, who gained fame through his onscreen moniker “Franklyn”, from the popular 1990s local sitcom “Agree to Disagree”, sought medical treatment, and one doctor informed him that he is “suspected” to have Parkinson’s disease.

“We ain’t know as yet,” he said, when asked what was the doctor’s diagnosis.

Rodney told this publication on Monday that he is determined to find out what is the nature of his ailment. Nothing that all his mental faculties are in working order, he said a CT scan was performed on him on Father’s Day, and the results are expected sometime this week.

When those results are in, he said, his next aim is to seek treatment overseas.

Rodney said he has visited several doctors, and initially he was being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) for the ailment. “And they couldn’t say what it was,” he explained.

He said he described his condition to a doctor and she informed that he may be suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

This disease, according to online definitions, is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, mainly affecting the motor system. Early in the course of the disease, the most obvious symptoms are movement-related; these include shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement, and difficulty with walking and gait.

Rodney said he has sought the opinion of another doctor, and according to him, the Cuban medical surgeon examined his medical chart and treated

him for two months.

He said he then visited two additional doctors, including Dr Doobay, who informed that he may not be suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

“As time goes by, I am getting weaker, and I started to slow down in movement consistently,” he said in his popular exclamatory tones.

He said he remains worryingly unsure what is causing his degenerative condition, but while it is affecting his physicality, he still finds strength in what he is best known for -- the arts.

Despite his ailment, he performed at the Theatre Guild Playhouse during the Golden Jubilee celebrations last month.

“And last Thursday night I sat and performed at a queh-queh,” he noted.

Managing a chuckle, he said that only his voice was required for his performance on Thursday evening at the queh-queh.

Rodney‘s friends have been by his side over the years. They have come to his aid and have already begun raising funds to assist in the treatment he may require overseas.

His onstage friend Linden “Jumbie” Jones has been appealing for assistance for Rodney on his television programmes, while Desiree Edghill of Artistes in Direct Support is handling all information and requests on Rodney’s behalf.

Rodney came to prominence as “Franklyn” on the popular “Agree to Disagree” 7pm sitcom of the 1990s. He has graced the National Cultural Centre stage on countless occasions, performing in many roles at shows such as Mori J’son Comedy Jam, to the delight of the audiences on hand.

Rodney has also performed on the international stage alongside seasoned Caribbean performers. One of his most noted performances came on the big screen when he appeared alongside more than 300 actors in the Bollywood movie “Guiana 1838”, a love story based on the history of Guyana, starring Indian film actor Kumar Gaurav.

Persons who may wish to assist Rodney can contact Ms Desiree Edghill on telephone number 225-5112, or mobile number 624-8030 for more information.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

31 graduate from Republic Bank’s apprenticeship programme

THIRTY-ONE students on Monday graduated from the Republic Bank’s Eighth Annual Youth Link Apprenticeship programme, which commenced on October 19, 2015 and ended on May 27, 2016.

The graduates managed to successfully complete seven months of training, and each apprentice received a National Vocational Qualification: Banking Operation – Level 1, issued by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), which certifies that the apprentice has benefited from Republic Bank’s competency-based education (CBE) training.

This batch will also be recipients of the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) from the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA). CANTA has upgraded this programme to a Regional Occupational Standard (ROS), and this certifies that the apprentices are eligible for jobs within the Caricom Region.

Mr. Richard Sammy, Managing Director of Republic Bank Guyana Limited, gave the Sponsor’s Address at this graduation. He shared that the apprentices were able to experience the work environment and engage in practical activities, such as preparing a business proposal and benefiting from a presentation session in which they were given opportunity to present on selected topics to a panel of judges.

Geared at bridging the gap between the end of the participants’ school lives and the start of their careers, the Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme was first introduced in Guyana in 2008. The youths, fresh out of high school, were also able to participate in a community outreach styled “Youth Link Care–A–Van” in which they visited the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre and had opportunity to interact with the children. They were also exposed to an interactive session on First Aid, which was facilitated by the Guyana Red Cross Society.

A HEALTHY EXPERIENCE This programme was indeed not one of ‘all work and no play’, as the group had been able to participate in the Annual Staff Party, a fitness explosion, Independence display competition, the Republic Bank Staff Volunteerism Programme; and a guided tour along the Essequibo River, which included visits to Fort Island, Fort Kyk-Over-Al and the Baganara Island Resort.

Mr. Sammy, in his address, ensured that he highlighted this aspect of the programme. In closing his address, he expressed pleasure and pride at the apprentices’ success, and also expressed that this experience is Republic Bank’s investment in them and in their future.

He left with them the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola: “Go forth and set the world on fire”.

In addition to receiving certificates, there were a few individuals in the group who were also recipients of special prizes, such as Best All-rounder (which was copped by valedictorian of the programme, Shamira Ramsuchit), Most Improved Apprentice, Most Effective Presentation, etc. These special awards were presented by a few senior members of Republic Bank.

The valedictorian’s speech recollected her memories of the events she had experienced and the people she had been able to meet. She expressed her appreciation for this programme, as it provided her with a pathway to take, as she was uncertain about what to do after high school.

PRAISED A motivational address was also given by Mr. Marcel Hutson, Deputy Chief Education Officer (Development), who praised Republic Bank’s leadership and “sterling contribution” over the year, and the impact it has had, especially on the development of education in Guyana.

He also spoke to the apprentices about the importance of education, and left the graduates with many motivational quotes, such as the words of Louis L’Amour: “The best of

all things is to learn. Money can be lost or stolen, health and strength may fail, but what you have committed to your mind is yours forever”.

However, he noted that mere academic superiority is not enough, an appreciation of cultural diversity is also necessary.

Speaking on the era of technology, Hutson said, “You cannot Google your life”. He was explaining that one must work -- and work hard -- for the things in life that one wishes to achieve. He left the apprentices with a few charges, whereby he told them that the past is gone; the world is changing very rapidly; the graduates must not compromise their integrity for money; they must not assume they know everything; and they must not let sand slip through their fingers. Leave your mark, he urged.

Present at this ceremony was Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry, and senior personnel within the hierarchy of the Republic Bank Guyana Limited.

Entertainment was provided by Mr. Roy Stewart with his saxophone rendition of “It’s a wonderful world” by Louis Armstrong, and there was an empowering song from Candace Field.

Graduates of the 8th Annual Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme pose with Minister within the Education Ministry, Nicolette Henry (front row); Deputy Chief Education Officer (Development) Marcel Hutson (ninth left, back row); Republic Bank’s Managing Director Richard Sammy (eighth right, back row) and other bank officials (Adrian Narine photo)

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Music education in Guyana receives boost

IN AN EFFORT to upgrade the inventory of musical instruments at the National School of music and to afford students access to a high quality of instruments, the Government of Guyana, in 2015, took a decision to purchase two Steinway Pianos.

These two pianos have arrived in Guyana and were presented to the Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry on Monday.

The Steinway Model D Concert Grand piano will be used for public and national events at the National Cultural Centre, while the Steinway K52 Upright Piano will be used at the National School of Music for classical piano classes.

In her remarks, the Minister Henry recognised that while the presentation ceremony is simple it is symbolic. “This is in keeping with President Granger’s vision of ensuring that Guyana becomes a land of many opportunities,” she said.

While reminiscing on her first days on the job as a Minister of Government, Minister Henry noted that the Ministry did not have a functioning concert piano.

“This was a serious shortcoming on the part of the Ministry,” she highlighted. The Minister pointed out that once she understood the absence of any tool or equipment that is needed to get work done she worked towards ensuring that those items were provided.

The existence of these pianos in Guyana will allow music students to access classical piano music in their homeland instead of travelling overseas for such.

These efforts are a part of the Government’s vision to ensure all Guyanese live a good life.

-- with acquisition of two Steinway pianos

Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry showing her skills on one of the pianos on Monday The Steinway grand is considered as ‘the gold standard’ of musical instruments, representing over 160 years of dedication to craftsmanship and uncompromised expression.

Each Steinway piano, consisting of more than 12,000 individual parts, has its own musical character and is as unique as the individual who plays it. The Steinway is positioned as the piano by

which all others are judged.

Administrator of the National School of Music, Andrew Tyndall noted that in 2009 Dr Ray Lonke, the world renowned Guyanese pianist and educator hosted a piano pedagogy for advanced classical piano students and music teachers.

He had also agreed to give a free piano recital to the general public at the end of each workshop; however, the poor quality of the piano at the National Cultural Centre and the unavailability of an upright piano owned by the Government forced Dr Lonke to discontinue the series of workshops.

He then relocated to St Lucia. This now meant that Guyanese students were required to pay an additional cost to attend these valuable sessions in St Lucia.

Tyndall emphasised that the existence of the new piano will allow for the resuscitation of the piano master class sessions.

He added that the pianos arrived at the right time because the music school in now in the position to become the examination centre for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music practical examinations. It will also allow for the reintroduction of the Ray Lonke Piano Pedagogy Master Class Workshops.

The existence of these two instruments will definitely improve the quality of music education delivered in Guyana as the government seeks to reintroduce music as a mainstream subject within the education sector.

$100M Sophia facility to train at-risk youths AT-RISK youths will benefit from a new $100M training facility currently under construction in Sophia, according to Assistant Director of Youth, Department of Culture Youth and Sport of the Ministry of Education, Leslyn Boyce.

“We started phase one in our last budget; we are at phase two and that work would commence shortly, so we would be spending another $25M from this budget.”

Phase one of the construction started in the last

Assistant Director of Youth, Leslyn Boyce quarter of 2015 and cost $15M.

Boyce said Sophia was chosen for this intervention because it “… is one of the National Service centres so they decided to turn it into a training centre for those persons who are more at risk and less fortunate, because most times you find persons who want to go to the Government Technical Institute (GTI) or whatever institutions. I think the genesis of the Youth Entrepreneurship Training (YEST) programme is to more or less capture those young people who are not so academically

inclined.”

The facility will be built to establish Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) standards and will be equipped with updated tools and equipment, Boyce said. When completed, the new facility will house youths being trained as part of the YEST programme, she added.

The Assistant Director pointed out that the twostoreyed facility will house classrooms for four skill areas, namely, catering, plumbing and sheet metal,

masonry and welding and fabrication.

Meanwhile, more than 100 youths are currently undergoing training at the Sophia Training Centre in the areas of electrical installation, refrigeration, air conditioning, masonry, and catering and information technology.

Boyce said the YEST programme serves as a safety net for high risk young people in Sophia and the nearby communities, and is of six months duration. “ We f o u n d t h a t t h e

young people do not have the finance more or less to continue training or even to start even if they want to, so we at the Sophia institution, we provide $4000 per month stipend to help with their passage and we offer them a hot m e a l e v e r y d a y, t o e n courage them to stay on the programme for the six months,” Boyce stated.

YEST aims to train at risk youths in several skills area to make them work ready for the job market.

(GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

GuySuCo is not getting out of sugar

By Audreyanna Thomas THE GUYANA Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) is a widely discussed topic; and this is well understood. The Corporation is the largest employer in Guyana and perhaps the Caribbean; with its 17,000 employees, a reach of approximately 80,000 persons, this is around one ninth of the population; and its economic contribution to the Gross Domestic Product for the country is 4%, and 18% for the Agricultural sector.

It means that GuySuCo’s contribution to the economies of communities and the society as a whole is very significant. Much of the history of Guyana is rooted in sugar. The dynamics include: culture, ethnicity, social development, community relations, education and medical services, among others.

Therefore one can understand the magnitude of the impact of decisions, which have to

be made by the Corporation and the need to bring the best minds together to find solutions to the challenges such a major player must address.

CURRENT SITUATION Notwithstanding the above, GuySuCo at this point of its history is adapting to change. The issues the Corporation faces range from unfavourable market prices, low production, high production cost, an unfriendly industrial relations climate, aged factories and equipment, reduced human capacity and capabilities, and a G$ 82 billion debt, among others. Currently the Corporation produces sugar at US42 cents per tonne and sells at US17 cents per tonne.

This clearly does not make good economic sense. Significant capital investment is obviously needed to upgrade the estates to a level that would considerably increase production at an economic cost.

Since sugar production

is predominantly science– based, significant investment is also needed to upgrade the laboratories and other science –related facilities in order to improve the yields and the quality of crops generally.

The government has given, and committed G$21 billion to GuySuCo for the past twelve months. The Corporation is well aware that the latter cannot continue to provide such bailouts annually; particularly without getting returns on its investment; and while business continues as usual. There is no question that profound change is needed.

BUSINESS DECISIONS Nevertheless, like most business entities the size of GuySuCo, while the challenges might be enormous, very often they create the environment for tremendous opportunities to re-think, re-organise and re-engineer.

However, this would require some bold decisions to be

made. The consequences of not taking these decisions at the right time can be even more detrimental.

In examining the realities therefore, a fundamental question to consider is, whether sugar can continue to be the core business of GuySuCo? The answer from the Corporation’s perspective is no. Therefore serious consideration has to be given to diversifying its operations and products.

DIVERSIFICATION As a matter of fact, important decisions have already been taken to diversify the Corporation from a mono crop and product entity to become involved in other ventures. Currently, feasibility studies are being conducted in aquaculture, fruit crops, livestock and dairy farming, among others. Amongst the tough business decisions to be made is the identification of locations to be utilised in

the implementation of the diversification programme. It was against this background that the Wales Estate was selected as the location to be used for the pilot project of the programme.

TRANSITIONING As GuySuCo transitions, it is logical that other components of the sugar industry will transition also; hence moving forward relevant stakeholders will be involved in the decision-making process. Major shifts in thinking and behaviours are required.

In the more immediate future, as the Corporation prepares for the second crop, it will have to strategise to improve the industrial relations climate which has been inhibiting the achievement of targets. Employees would be expected to improve performance, so that the business can be more productive.

Basically if employees of the Corporation would like to receive more, then there has

to be an understanding that they must give more, this is a basic business principle. It is just not rational for them to withdraw their labour with the frequency they have done in the past and still expect that the Corporation will be in a position to give more.

They will simply continue to shoot themselves in the foot and hasten the demise of the Corporation. Employees will have to decide whether they will give their best to their employer or continue to be misled to their own detriment and that of the entire industry.

One important point to note in these discussions is that GuySuCo is not getting out of sugar. Another fundamental point from the national perspective is that, in order for GuySuCo to successfully weather the storms ahead, much foresight and business acumen will be required. (Ms Audreyanna Thomas is a Senior Communications Officer at GuySuCo)

Mexican oil and gas experts here A TEAM of experts from the Mexican Petroleum Institute (IMP) is in Guyana to initiate discussions in relation to providing technical support in developing Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector.

The team, which comprises Deputy Director General Rafael Ramos Palmeros; Senior Advisor to the Director General, Gustavo Ramirez; Head of Innovation, Zurisadday Enrique Plata Calderon; and Manager Israel Alejandro Vigueras Gamas, is being hosted from June 20-22, 2016 in collaboration with the Mexican Embassy.

The visitors will be working with a technical team from the Ministry of Natural Resources. The partnership will see Guyana receiving technical support in the development of a Petroleum Regulatory Agency and Institute, and tertiary and technical education and training in

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman (fourth left), and Mexican Ambassador to Guyana, Ivan Robero Sierra Medel, pose with the visiting experts and ministry officials the mining, oil and gas and environment sectors.

The team met on Monday with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman and officers of the Ministry of Natural Resourc-

es.

During the meeting with Minister Trotman, the team expanded on the work of the IMP and detailed a proposal for providing support while emphasising a proposal for country ownership and de-

veloping an authentically Guyanese model.

Minister Trotman expressed his gratitude for the presence of the team, noting Guyana’s willingness to work with a country that has a long history in the oil and gas

sector.

While here, the team of experts will also meet with Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine; heads of agencies under the purview of the Ministry of Natural Resources; University of

Guyana Vice Chancellor Dr Ivelaw Griffith, and representatives from the university’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

On its return, the team will develop three white papers for consideration by the Guyana Government in the areas of production and consumption; framework for a regulatory agency; and the development of elements for the establishment of a Petroleum Institute.

The Mexican Petroleum Institute (IMP) has over 50 years of experience in Mexico’s petroleum industry, and is the country’s leading research centre, dedicated to technological research and development, provision of engineering and technical services, training, and awarding degrees, and participating in strategic and technological joint ventures.

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Electricity goes to Bamia

RESIDENTS of the small community of Bamia, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, are excited by the announcement that they will soon be getting electricity, after years of living without same.

With the clearing of the

area to commence installation of electrical cables, residents are more optimistic that this promise will come true. Several times in the past they were promised electricity, but those promises never materialised.

“We are very happy that

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

we will finally be given electricity now. (We are) very excited, even as we have been waiting for this a long time; and thanks to this Government and to God, we finally getting it,” posited James Hunter, a resident of Bamia.

He revealed that life Contractors have begun clearing the vegetation to begin installing electrical cables at Bamia, Soesdyke-Linden Highway was manageable but hard for residents, as they could not have purchased bulk perishables such as meat and vegetables. “We had to preserve our meat and make steady trips to the market, but now it will be different, with light coming to Bamia,” he said.

The community, comprising mostly Amerindians, also houses a school, a multi-purpose centre, a church and a masjid. A creek on which work was recently done runs through the community, and attracts many persons to Bamia.

Mr. Avery Trim, Senior Maintenance Supervisor of the Linden Electricity Company Incorporated (LUSCSI), revealed that the project costs $12M and the residents will receive electricity in their homes in four or five weeks’ time.

The project, he said, is fully funded by LUSCSI, and was

included in the company’s 2016 budget. Electricity will be given to the school, the multi-purpose building and approximately 100 residents, according to Trim.

Regional Chairman Renis Morian, commenting on the issue, said: “The Government plans for a good life for all Guyanese, which is bringing electrification to the residents of Bamia.

For a number of years, they have been asking for electrification, and the Government has held true to the promise,” he said.

The Regional Chairman is also optimistic that, in the near future, communities located further up the highway, such as Moblissa, would also be recipients of electricity.

Mr. Trim revealed that it is LUSCSI’s desire to provide electricity to one isolated community in Region 10 every year.

Coverden collision…

Driver denies causing victim’s death, gets bail FIVE months after 33-year-old Ann Mohamed was killed in a two-vehicle collision outside her Coverden, East Bank Demerara workplace, the driver of one of the vehicles was yesterday charged with causing her death.

Rupert Douglas appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer the charge, and was released on $300,000 bail after denying the allegation.

The court heard that on January 30, at Coverden, Douglas drove motor car PTT 1892 in a dangerous manner, causing Mohammed’s death. He is to make his second court appearance on July 11.

According to reports, Mohamed, of Soesdyke, EBD, had just left work at the Prairie International Hotel, and was awaiting a minibus when she was struck down.

One of the vehicles, motor pick-up GJJ 6458, was coming out of a driveway when it came into contact with the speeding car being driven by Douglas, causing it to go into a spin and slam into Mohamed, who was at the time attempting to run to safety.

She was pulled from under the pick-up by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where she subsequently died.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Willems Timber files Statement of Claim

By George Barclay

WILLEMS Timber and Trading Co, Limited on Friday filed a statement of claim against Aurelius Inc and four defendants.

Rafeek Khan, the 2nd named defendant and Melissa Lawrie, the 4th named defendant are directors of the first named Defendant.

The third named Defendant Rabindranauth Boundnauth is the Secretary of the first named defendant.

According to the statement of claim, all the shares in Willems Timber and Trading Company Limited (WTTCL) are owned by Guyana Lumber.

All the shares in Guyana Lumber and Timber Company (GLTC) are owned by Harry Rambarran who is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Willems Timber and Trading Company Limited (WTTCL) and Guyana Lumber and Timber Company Limited (GLTC).

Also at all material times, Guyana Lumber & Timber Company has been the sole owner of Willems Timber and Trading Company Limited.

It was pointed out that the core business of Willems Timber and Trading Company Limited is logging which it does on a very large scale that requires the input of millions of dollars every month to sustain its viability.

The Statement of Claim went on to point out that on the 13th day of January 2005, GLTC, WTTCL and KCL (herein collectively referred to as “the vendors”) and Harry Rambarran (hereinafter called the owner) entered into an agreement with Aurelius Inc (Aurelius).

By clause 2 of the said agreement, the first named defendant agreed subject

to the terms and conditions set forth in this agreement to pay to Harry Rambarran as the purchase price for the said shares the sum of US$ 2,800,000.00.

By clause 3 of the said agreement, the first named defendant agreed to pay to Harry Rambarran a deposit of US$280, 000.00 as money paid in earnest for completion of the agreement by the first named defendant.

The balance of the purchase price of US$2, 520, 000.00 “shall be paid by the first named defendant not later than 12 months after the date of signing of the agreement”.

By August, 2005, seven months after the agreement was executed, the first named defendant was in arrears of payment of principal and interest on promissory note in the sum of US$508,301.98.

Failure to pay the principal and interest on the due date of the said note, the whole amount remaining unpaid shall become due and payable.

The court was also asked by the plaintiff to issue injunctions restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, directors, officers, whosoever, howsoever, or otherwise from contacting any debtors, suppliers, creditors of the plaintiff or directing employees or conducting any business transaction in the name of or on behalf of the plaintiff.

An injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, directors and officers from entering the plaintiff’s offices and/or building situated at Coldingen, East Coast, Demerara.

Lawyers representing the plaintiff are Rex McKay, SC, Neil Boston, and Britina Glasford.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Shot teen mechanic…

Suspect in custody, car impounded A MAN is in custody helping the police with their investigations into the shooting of a 15-yearold apprentice mechanic during an armed robbery in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

According to ‘A’ Division’s Commander Clifton Hicken, not only has a suspect been arrested, but the police has also impounded a car looking very much like the one seen in video footage from the crime scene, right down to the licence plate.

This arrest comes one day after the teen, Jahmaul

Jahmaul Lewis Lewis of Wren Avenue, South Ruimveldt, was shot in the face at his place of employ, just a corner away from

where he lives. A student of the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, Lewis, who is reportedly “responding to treatment”, worked at the mechanic shop every day after school for about an hour.

Reports are that, on the day in question, he’d just returned from buying plantain chips, and was sitting on his bicycle when three armed men stormed the mechanic shop, which also serves as a base for Green Ice Taxi Service. The incident reportedly occurred at about 14:00hrs.

Lewis, who was apparently the first person the bandits encountered, was

reportedly told to lie on the ground, but having failed to comply, he was shot.

He and his fellow employees were robbed of their ‘cell-phones’ and a small amount of cash, after which the suspects escaped in a silver coloured Toyota Spacio, the registration number of which is unknown.

Employees say they initially thought it was a prank when the bandits descended on the place, and that it was not until Lewis was shot and they were relieved of their valuables that they realised it was an armed robbery.

Toddler allegedly raped

--mother, male friend questioned A THREE-YEAR-OLD girl of Springlands, Corriverton, Region Six is currently hospitalised at a medical institution in Berbice after allegedly being sexually assaulted.

The toddler was taken to the Springlands Police Station after her mother noticed she was bleeding profusely from her vagina. The mother was advised to go to the hospital, where a medical examination verified that the child had been raped.

A source close to the investigations has said that the child is currently in a stable condition in hospital.

The incident reportedly occurred at the home where the child lives, at about 10:30 hrs on June 19, when the child’s mother and her two sons, aged 8 and 14, along with a male friend of the mother’s, were at home. The sons were also held for questioning by law enforcement officials. The father of the children, a fisherman, was at sea when the incident occurred.

Police have arrested the male friend of the child’s mother, who was seen at the home earlier in the day. The mother was also held for questioning, and remains in custody.

‘B’ Division Commander Ian Amsterdam, confirming the arrest, has stressed that the investigation is “active”.

Caught with ‘ganja’ in garbage bag ORIN Hartman of Kwakwani Park, Berbice River was yesterday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after he was busted with almost five pounds of cannabis in a garbage bag.

The 38-year-old loggercum-shop owner denied that on June 17, while at his Kwakwani Park home, he had in his possession 2220 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Hartman was represented by attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson, who explained that the suspected cannabis was not found on his client, but rather on his premises.

“The police don’t have any evidence indicating that my client had the drug in his possession,” Thompson told the court, as he raised special reason for Hartman to get bail.

Prosecutor Deniro Jones

told the court that Hartman had been under the police radar for a while, since they had suspected him of being a drug dealer.

According to Jones, police ranks, during a stake-out at Hartman’s residence, saw him acting in a suspicious manner while standing in front of his home with a black garbage bag in his hands.

Approaching him, the ranks searched the bag and found the leaves, seeds and stems of what looked suspiciously like parts of the marijuana plant. Hartman was arrested and charged for the offence.

The prosecution strongly opposed bail on ground that reasons raised by the lawyer were not substantial enough, as required by the Narcotics Act. Hartman was refused bail, and the matter was transferred before the Kwakwani magistrate for July 15.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Wedneday, June 22, 2016 - 05:00 hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Guinness Football East Coast leg completed THE Guinness Greatness of the Streets football tournament East Coast leg continued Sunday night with four games being played. There were two semi-final games, a third-place playoff game and the final game.

In the first semi-final game of the night, the North Haslington team edged Melanie A side to secure their ticket to the final through a Randy Waldron score in the 17th minute of the game. This goal proved to be the decider in the match.

The second semi-final game saw the BV-B team edging the Plaiscance B side 3-2 on sudden-death kicks in a game where both teams failed to score in regulation time. The performance saw the team through to face North Haslington in the final.

In the third place playoff Melanie-A redeemed themselves with a 1-0 victory over the Plaisance B side with Rondel Assanah scoring for the winners.

In the final game of the night BV-B outlasted North Haslington with a score of 1-0 with Stephen Miller finding the net in the 39th minute.

Hikers, Pizza Hut...

Xavier also put in a sterling performance in defence.

The full results of all division finals are as follows: Under-10 Mixed: Hikers edged the GCC Thunderbolts by 1-0 in a penalty shootout Under-14 Girls: GCC Warriors blasted Saints by 7–1 Under-14 Boys: Saints B overcame Phoenix by 5-4 in a penalty shootout Under-17 Girls: GCC Spartans beat Old Fort Shooting Stars by 4-2 Under-17 Boys: GCC Rebels blanked Saints by 10-0

From page 27

Under-21 Girls: Hikers got the better of Old Fort by 6-4 Under-21 Boys: GCC Venom bettered Saints by 8-6 Open Ladies: Pizza Hut GCC crushed Hikers by 8-3 Open Men: Hikers edged Bounty GCC by 10-9

South Africa Racing Tips Kenilworth 08:30 hrs Flying Ryan 09:05 hrs Prudence Prevails 09:40 hrs Speedball 10:20 hrs Evoke Emotion 10:55 hrs Shall Be Free English Racing Tips Beverley 09:00 hrs Steel Helmet 09:30 hrs Relight My Fire 10:00 hrs Charava 10:30 hrs Aneedh 11:00 hrs Mysterial 11:30 hrs New Abbey Angel 12:00 hrs Brorocco 12:30 hrs Little Belter Brighton 09:15 hrs Fair Power 09;45 hrs Spirit Of Rosanna 10;15 hrs Giunzan 10:45 hrs Solveig’s Song 11:15 hrs Dltripleseven 11:45 hrs Eisha Baby 12:15 hrs Pyla 12:45 hrs Roy Rocket Leicester 13:10 hrs Trident Tested 13:40 hrs Bronze Beau 14:10 hrs Good Time Ahead 14:40 hrs Hermarna 15:10 hrs Critical Speed 15:45 hrs Hydrant 16:15 hrs Fort Jefferson Irish Racing Tips Ballinrobe 12:50 hrs English Pale 13:20 hrs Knockmaole Boy 13:50 hrs Aa Bee See 14:20 hrs Motherland 14:50 hrs Queen Alphabet 15:25 hrs Whats The Plot 15:55 hrs Petuna American Racing Tips Philadelphia Park Race 1 I Dream Of Louis Race 2 Monty Haul Race 3 Grey Glory Race 4 Bake Shop Race 5 Starbound Race 6 Big Momma Race 7 Skidmore Race 8 Helm Race 9 He’s Got Talent Race10Here Comes Gary

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Historic season ends in epic Finals collapse for Warriors

By Rory Carroll

OAKLAND, California (Reuters) The Golden State Warriors closed out a record-smashing season with an even more epic playoff collapse on Sunday, falling 89-93 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Seven of the NBA Finals.

After storming through the regular season with a record 73 wins from 82 games, the Warriors penned another unwanted mark in the NBA record books on Sunday when they became the first team to squander a 3-1 Finals lead.

Until the Cavaliers no team in 32 tries had ever come all the way back from 1-3 down to win the NBA Finals.

To make it sting just a little bit more, the Cavs capped the greatest comeback ever in the NBA postseason at Oracle Arena, a virtual fortress where the Warriors had lost just four times all season.

Sharp-shooting Stephen Curry, the NBA's first unanimous most valuable player, (MVP) struggled all series

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks to pass the ball against the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena Sunday in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

and in Game Seven again failed to deliver the type of scoring that had become his trademark, when a "Curry flurry" would put so many games out of reach.

"At home in the fourth quarter, I felt like we could

go for that dagger punch and didn't really put any pressure on the defence," Curry said after the game. "That's something that is tough to kind of swallow with the opportunity we had in front of us."

Possibly still hobbled by lingering injuries he picked up during the lengthy playoffs, Curry never looked comfortable against the Cavalier defence, which sent multiple defenders at him and chased him off the three-

point line.

Cleveland also frequently set screens to switch him onto the Cavaliers LeBron James, ensuring Curry would get no rest on the defensive end of the court.

“We're stunned,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the game. “We thought we were going to win. I was extremely confident coming into tonight.”

So too did a confident Warriors fan base who had not seen their team drop three consecutive games all season long.

Without starting centre Andrew Bogut, who suffered a knee injury in Game Five, Kerr elected to start Festus Ezeli, a surprising move announced just before tipoff.

The stage appeared too big for the untested big man, who failed to score and was ultimately limited to just over 10 minutes of playing time.

Kerr turned to backup centre Anderson Varejao, but like Ezeli he was unable to score against the Cavaliers big men. Varejao and Ezeli combined for just one point and one rebound.

The Warriors were nearly saved by the aggressive play of All-Star forward Draymond Green, who made six three-pointers, electrifying the crowd and helping push the Warriors to a seven-point lead at the half. Green finished with 32 points.

But no one else was able to match that kind of offensive production, including Curry, who scored 17 points, as Golden State were unable to claim the back-toback championships that had seemed all but certain after seizing early control of the best-of-seven series.

"So win or lose, you appreciate the stage we were on and just that back and forth that we live for," said Curry. "So, yeah, it stung.

It sucked to watch them celebrate, and we wish that would have been we.

"But at the end of the day, you congratulate them for accomplishing what they set out to do, and it will be a good image for us over the summer and all next season to remember so that we can come back stronger.

"That's all you can do."

Five teams register wins Wales thump Russia 3-0 to move into Euro last sixteen

By Steve Tongue now play one of the third- first player since the Czech Taylor taking advantage of in GFF/NAMILCO placed sides in Paris on Sat- Milan Baros in 2004 to score an involuntary jab by Russian T O U L O U S E , ( R e u - urday with every hope of in three successive games at captain Roman Shirokov to Thunderbolt U-17 League ters)-Wales outplayed Rus- reaching the last eight, as they the European finals. score at the second attempt. sia 3-0, scoring twice in the did in 1976. It was a glorious Bale was outstanding in It was the first interna-

FIVE teams registered victories last Saturday when the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF)/ NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Under-17 League continued in three associations.

Playing in the West Demerara Football Association league at the Den Amstel ground, the home side beat Slingerz 3-1 through a goal each from Malcolm Miggins, Anthony Benn and Keswin Fraser in the 19th, 28th and 29th minutes respectively, while Akeem Hussein replied with one goal for Slingerz.

Fruta Conqueors, Georgetown Football Club and Alpha United were in winners’ row in the

Georgetown Football Association’s League.

Playing at the Tucville ground, Fruta Conquerors dismissed Santos 3-0 compliments of goals from Joel Yhap, Nicholas McArthur and Malachi Adonis in the 21st, 24th and 69th minutes respectively.

Alpha United then brushed aside Order and Discipline 3-0 with goals coming off the boots of Julian Bamfield in the 24th minute, Daniel Agustin in the 38th minute and Cleon Robertson in the 69th minute.

The Georgetown Football Club also enjoyed a 2-0 win against Camptown. Kellon Blue and Williamson De Santos were the two goalscorers.

opening 20 minutes, as they moved into the round of 16 at Euro 2016 by winning Group B yesterday.

Aaron Ramsey dinked the ball over Igor Akinfeev to finish off a counter-attack in the 11th minute and Neil Taylor added a second, also from a counter-attack nine minutes later as Wales took early control.

Russia had no answer to the fast, incisive Welsh breaks and survived several more chances before Gareth Bale scored his third goal of the tournament to become Euro 2016's top marksman, flicking the third past Akinfeev in the 67th minute.

Wales topped the group with six points, one ahead of England, who finished second after a 0-0 draw with Slovakia.

Chris Coleman's team will

night for Welsh football in what had been described as the country's biggest game since the 1958 World Cup quarter-final.

Their players and supporters celebrated wildly while Russian fans, who had caused trouble at the end of their first match against England, slunk away.

Russia now go home with much to think about before hosting the World Cup in two years time.

Wales, mostly on the back foot in the previous game against England, rediscovered the attacking brio that had enabled them to beat Slovakia before that.

Bale, the scorer of a direct free kick in each of the two previous games to equal a European Championship record, was close with several fine efforts before becoming the

running at a Russian defence that allowed far too space to him and Ramsey, and also in breaking in support of Sam Vokes, the surprise selection in attack in place of Hal Robson-Kanu.

The Russian rearguard was not helped by their revamped midfield, which showed three changes from the last game but were outplayed by Joe Ledley and the tigerish Joe Allen.

Wales went at the opposition from the first minute.

Bale set the tone by coming inside and hitting a fierce shot that Akinfeev could not hold.

Russia survived that but were behind when Allen played a perfect through ball for Ramsey, just onside, to place his shot over Akinfeev.

Before a quarter of the game had been played they were two goals to the good,

tional goal from a player who last scored at club level six years ago.

Bale made chances for Vokes and Ramsey before the end of a first half in which Russia's only threatening moment stemmed from a long clearance by Akinfeev.

Ashley Williams could not control it and Wayne Hennessey had to save from Artem Dzyuba at close range.

As in the 2-1 defeat by Slovakia, Russian coach Leonid Slutski made two early changes in the second half but this time there was no great improvement.

Ramsey, named man of the match, put Bale in for a chip that Akinfeev managed to touch wide of the far post and when the pair repeated their combination, the goalkeeper's slight touch could not prevent a third goal.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Amazon Warriors begin one-week training camp

By Rajiv Bisnauth

DESPITE unfavourable weather conditions yesterday, the Guyana Amazon Warriors commenced a one-week training camp under the guidance of head coach Roger Harper, and his technical support team at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The camp, a customary practice for teams preparing for competitions, is a vital one for the local franchise, who will look to stuff a heavy workload in the next week with the aim of getting to peak condition for the Hero Caribbean Premier League.

Five players were missing from yesterday’s training.

However, Harper confirmed that Pakistani Sohail Tanvir was expected to arrive last

evening while Barbadian Dwayne Smith will arrive sometime today.

Australian Chris Lynn, is expected to arrive within the coming days. Skipper Martin Guptill and leg-spinner Adam Zampa, will not be available for the camp.

Guptill is currently playing NatWest one-day cricket in England, while leg-spinner Zampa is part of the Australia line-up for the ongoing Ballr Tri-Nation Series. The duo will join the squad at the start of the competition.

Under Harper, who was the coach for the first two years of the tournament, the Guyana Amazon Warriors will be looking to win the tournament for the first time, after finishing as runners-up, losing to Jamaica Tallawahs in 2013 and Barbados Tri-

dents in 2014.

Harper stated that the camp is basically an acquaintance exercise for the players, since most of them will be with each other for the first time.

Harper believes the Amazon Warriors have the right combination of players to go the distance this year.

During the encampment period, the Amazon Warriors players are also expected to be involved in game simulation exercises.

The Warriors have gone for 11 regional-based players including Smith, Trinidad and Tobago’s Jason Mohammed, Rayad Emrit and Steven Katwaroo; Antigua’s Orlando Peters, Guyana’s Assad Fudadin, Christopher Barnwell, Steven Jacobs, Veerasammy Permaul, Paul

Wintz and Anthony Bramble.

The squad has Muhammad Ahsan Ali Khan (ICC Americas) and winning West Indies Youth World Cup captain Shimron Hetmyer, who was selected as the Under-19 player.

The local franchise has taken a decision to include Under-19 players, Akshaya Persaud, Keemo Paul and Tevin Imlach, as part of the camp in order to expose them at a different level.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors will play 10 games in the preliminary phase of the League, with four matches in Guyana, two in Florida, and one each in Trinidad & Tobago, St Kitts & Nevis, Jamaica and St Lucia. Hero CPL 2016 will be held from June 29 to August 7.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors commenced a one-week training camp yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. (Adrian Narine photo)

India level Tweny20 series with 10-wicket win (REUTERS) - Mandeep Singh blasted a quick-fire unbeaten half-century as India crushed Zimbabwe by 10 wickets to level the Twenty20 series yesterday.

The result sets up a series-decider in the third and final game that will also be played at the Harare Sports Club tomorrow.

Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat, but could only muster 99 for nine in their 20 overs as the Indian bowlers strangled the run-rate.

The tourists made short work of their reply, racing to their victory target off 13.1 overs as Mandeep Singh (52 from 40 balls) and fellow opener Lokesh Rahul (47

from 40 balls) put on a century stand.

All the Zimbabwe batsmen struggled to score quick runs in their innings with none managing more than a run-a-ball. Peter Moor (31 from 32 balls) was the only one to muster any sort of resistance.

Debutant seamer Barind-

er Sran took for wickets to lead the Indian charge, while fellow paceman Jasprit Bumrah picked up three wickets in his four overs.

India also handed a debut to seamer Dhawal Kulkarni, though he was by far the most expensive of the bowlers as his one wicket cost 32 runs.

Digicel National Senior Squash Championships launched

From left, Digicel Communications Manager Vidya Bijlall-Sanichara, GSA president David Fernandes and GSA executive Garfield Wiltshire and Robin Lowe.

(Adrian Narine photo)

By Stephan Sookram THE Guyana Squash Association (GSA) has teamed up with mobile service providers Digicel for the Digicel Senior Squash Championships, set from June 29 to July 3.

During yesterday’s launch at the company’s Barrack and Fort Street head office, president of the Guyana Squash Association David Fernandes contended that the support from corporate entities like Digicel has a huge impact on the sport’s development.

He contended that the 2016 edition which sees Digicel as the title sponsor, represents a major boost of confidence for the sport, with several other positives being touted ahead of the start date.

“We have this year some overseas-based players in Kristian Jeffrey and Alex Arjoon who are back home, so they will be in the men’s championships where we have quite a few very talented players including former national champions Regan Pollard, Jason Ray Khalil and defending champion Nyron Joseph,” Fernandes

continued.

While Fernandes contended that the 2016 edition does not have the full host of international female players, several big names, including former champion Ashley Khalil among others, have already signed up.

The tournament will feature six categories of action namely the Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Novices, Veterans Men’s 35-49 years old, Veterans Men’s Over-50 years and Women Over-35 years. The Novices category will feature only males.

Digicel Communications Manager Vidya Bijlall-Sanichara in giving brief remarks contended that, “Sports and youth go hand-in-hand for us; youth development as well as sport development.”

“It (the partnership) is something that is very dear to us. We’ve been doing it since 2014 and the partnership that we have with them and having our brand displayed internationally and regionally is something that we will always support,” she continued The tournament will be played exclusively at the Georgetown Club Squash courts.

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) Steve Smith (AUST) & A B de Villers (SA) (2) Clive Lloyd-102 (Lord’s, 1975-World Cup)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Name the West Indians in the current Tri-Nations squad that are yet to play an ODI game?

(2) How many runs South Africa’s Quinton de Kock has scored in the Tri-Nations series to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Local athletes impress at AP Invitational

By Tamica Garnett

THOUGH no one was able to make any of the hopedfor Olympic qualifying standard, several of Guyana’s local athletes including Rupert Perry, Andrea Foster, Devaun Barrington and Cleveland Forde, gave stunning performances at Aliann Pompey Invitational which concluded last Saturday at the National Track and Field Championships in Leonora.

Not the least of the day's more impressive performances was Barrington’s thrilling win in the men’s 800m, a performance that had the packed venue on their feet roaring as he made his way to the finish line. Barrington championed the event in fine style, touching down in 1:52.48s. He won the race ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Sterlen Paul, who had a 1:53.30s finish.

Third place was copped by fellow Guyanese, Anfernee Headecker in 1:57.86s.

Police Quacy Morian was fourth with 2:01.20s.

Following the event, Barrington noted that winning the race meant a lot to him, because it was his opportu-

nity to show many of those who believe otherwise, that his athletic career is far from over.

“I just want to give God thanks for this victory, it means a lot for me. It will shut up the naysayers about my career, because a lot of rumours have been going around that my career is finished, my time is over, but God is in control and he will know when my time is over.”

For Barrington this run marks his return to competition after a three-month hiatus that was due to injury.

“This season was hectic for me, I was out for three months with an injury. I did sixteen days training for this meet, and it came out successful, just outside of my personal best. I’m just excited that I did not disappoint fans.”

In an all-Guyanese event, Foster clocked 2:22.74s for an easy win in the women’s 800m. finishing ahead of the 2:22.94s run by Kezra Murray. Foster was initially recorded as having finished second in this race. Third place went to Assata Eastman in 2:38.46s.

The three were the only participants in this event.

Guyana’s Devaun Barrington prevails in the men’s 800m at the AP Invitational.

Foster noted that while she always pushes herself to go after faster timings, she was somewhat disappointed that the race did not carry more competition to encourage her.

“I was looking for much more international athletes and overseas-based Guyanese athletes to run, I’m pretty sure it would have been more competitive.

Running with the time was just my aim because you have no kind of competition.

It wasn’t the time that I expected but it was much faster than last week, so that’s nice.” Foster said.

Rupert Perry can thank the AP Invitational for pushing him to a new person-

al best in the men’s 100m.

Competing in the packed race, which also included US-based Guyanese athletes Jeremy Bascom and Adam Harris, Perry was unable to make it to the medal podium after finishing fourth. However the Guyana Defence Force athlete celebrated a new 10.29 seconds PB in the race.

This timing puts Perry that much closer to his hopeful 10.16 seconds Olympic qualifying mark. If Perry can do so much better when pushed in a race it’s left to be seen how great heights he could reach, with the right training and good quality competitors.

LeBron passes Jordan as most valuable player in NBA history THE legacy of LeBron James is complete. The Cavaliers’ superstar ended the 2016 NBA Finals with 208 points, 79 rebounds and 62 assists.

James became the third player to have a triple-double in Game 7 of the NBA Finals and his 29.7 points per game now stands as the highest scoring average by a player on the winning team in the Finals since 2010, when Kobe Bryant scored 28.6 points per game against the Celtics.

All good enough to earn James his third Finals most valuable player (MVP) award and fulfilling his promise of bringing Cleveland their first major professional sports champion since 1964, ending a 52-year drought.

Best player on the planet,” Cavs teammate Kyrie Irving said.

Also arguably the most clutch player in NBA history. And yes, that list includes Michael Jordan.

James is now 4-2 all-time in Game 7s, including 2-0 in those must-win games during the NBA Finals. His game score from Sunday night - a metric created by John Hollinger to give a rough measure of a player’s productivity for a single game - was 23.1, the fifth-highest for a Game 7.

He also has the third-highest game score for a Game 7 (32.5 in 2013). His

Lebron James, centre, holds up the NBA Championship trophy alongside Cavaliers teammates yesterday in Cleveland. (John Minchillo/AP)

performances in Games 5 and 6 - both elimination games for Cleveland - earned his game scores of 39.2 and 42.5, respectively, two of the top three performances ever recorded in the NBA Finals.

There have now been 13 games in which a player has recorded at least 20 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds -

James has five.

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are the only two players to have more than one. Charles Barkley, Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd and James Worthy have the others.

Jordan has none.

James has also moved past Jordan in postseason value over replacement, a box score estimate of the points per 100 possessions that a player contributed above a replacement-level player.

In other words, James, despite not winning as many championships as Jordan, is the most valuable playoff player of all-time. It’s also worth noting that Jordan’s teammate, Scottie Pippen, appears on this all-time great list at No. 5. You have to scan to No. 12, Dwayne Wade, to find the best overall playoff performance by one of James’s teammates.

“I’ve never seen a man in my life tell an entire state: `Get on my back, I got you. Get on my back and I’m going to carry you. I don’t care if we fail, I’m going to wake up the next morning and I’m going to start working out and prepare for the next year,”‘ Richard Jefferson said he told reporters after the game. “… He was like, `I’m going to come back home because I promised them that I would do something.’ And he carried us the whole way.

Andrea Foster wins the women’s 800m at the AP Invitational.

Guyana's 2012 Olympic representatives, Bascom and Harris, who also have 2016 Olympic Games aspirations finished sixth and 15th, respectfully, in this event.

Bascom clocked 10.49 seconds for his efforts while Harris ended with a pedestrian 11.52 seconds.

GDF’s Cleveland Forde remains Guyana’s distance champion, proving it with his win in of the men’s 5000m in a time of 15:53.62s. Guy-

ana’s Winston Missigher and Cleveland Thomas were second (15:57.93s) and third (15:59.20s), respectively.

Claudrice McKoy took the women’s 1500m win in 4:53.68s, while Natrena Hooper ruled the women’s triple jump, another all-Guyanese affair, with a distance of 12.70m. Natricia was second place with 12.69m, and Linden’s Chantoba Bright peaked at 12.51m.

Hikers, Pizza Hut GCC are Igloo Hockey Festival champs HIKERS and Pizza Hut GCC are the male and female winners respectively of the Georgetown Cricket Club’s Hockey Section, Igloo Hockey Festival which culminated on Sunday at the GCC’s semi-artificial turf.

The tournament came to a close after two days of exhilarating hockey in all the age groups that were contested.

The host club reaped the benefits of its GCC Academy for juniors who secured victories in five of the nine divisions with the Hikers picking up three and Saints capturing one.

After a long day of skills on display at various levels, the greatest show of the festival came down to the final match being a men’s matchup of the Hikers versus Bounty GCC. The first of the match came in the opening minute through Kareem McKenzie and an equaliser from the Hikers Shane Samuels immediately after.

The teams traded goals

once again in the second and third minutes respectively before GCC surged ahead by 5-2 six minutes into the match.

It was at this stage of battle that Hikers captain Robert France seemed to come alive.

He and teammate Aroydy Branford drew their side level and then up by two just before halftime.

The second half called for a herculean effort by veteran GCC striker Kevin Spencer, who amassed six goals in the match, but the Hikers answered each of Spencer’s goals with one of their own. The final whistle came all too early for GCC and the excited spectators, leaving Hikers victorious with 10 goals to GCC’s nine.

The highly anticipated women’s final unfortunately did not live up to the hype as the Pizza Hut GCC returned to pre-tournament form and routed the Hikers by 8-3 after the two had drawn 5-5 the previous afternoon. Gabriella Xavier remained the main GCC attacking threat while younger sister Rebecca Turn to page 24 ►

By Ras Wadada

Penalty kicks decide STAG Elite finale

Elite League Champions Alpha United display winning trophy. (Delano Williams photos)

Alpha United win shoot-out 3-0

Wild celebrations by Alpha players and supporters after the penalty shoot-out win.

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

AFTER 120 minutes of intense attack and defence at both ends of the pitch, and not a single goal, it came down to the heroics of Alpha United goalkeeper Richie Richards, whose brilliance, when it mattered most, denied pre-game favourites Slingerz FC a victory in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Elite League Finale.

The victory by Alpha in the second phase Finale of the 2015-16 Elite League has set the stage for another meeting of the two to decide the overall Champions since Slingerz won the first phase Genesis last year.

Had Slingerz prevailed last Sunday night they would have been declared National Elite Champions for 20152016. The GFF is yet to make an announcement on the date for the decider.

Last Sunday’s finale, watched by a fair-sized crowd at the Leonora Stadium, lived up to the expectations of competitiveness while reflecting a National football problem – finishing.

Both sides were guilty of squandering opportunities created, though Richards had an outstanding night within the uprights throughout the contest to ensure his side go home G$4M richer.

In the penalty shoot-out, Richards stopped the efforts of Brazilian Murilo Barbosa, Devon Millington and captain Tichard Joseph, who also muffed a golden opportunity for Slingerz when he struck the crossbar from the penalty mark in the opening half of the game.

Captain Dwight Peters, Andrew Murray Jr. and Delon Lanferman had no such impediments as they all scored on Vincentian Winslow McDowell to send off wild celebrations by the Alpha side and their supporters, while the pride of the West Side dejectedly walked away with G$2M. There was also joy in the Fruta Conquerors camp after edging out Pele FC 3-2 for the G$1M 3rd place prize in the game which preceded the Final. Eon Alleyne opened the scoring in the 5th minute and Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson equalised for Pele in the 38th minute.

Four minutes after the break, the Fruta Boys regained the lead through Dennis Edwards and in the 69th minute Jermine Junor made it 3-1. Devon Charles pulled one back on the stroke of full time for Pele FC who had to be content with the 4th prize worth half a million dollars.

Head coach of Slingerz, Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson, in a postgame interview was gracious in defeat, “I am not really disappointed in the outcome because I knew somewhere along the way we would lose a game. I thought the players made a very good effort and worked really hard. It was unfortunate we allowed the game to go into penalty kicks.

What was more unfortunate was the poor attempts we made from the penalty spot although we worked on this aspect in our final session before the game. We had the opportunity to finish the match in regulation time but failed to capitalise from the spot and in football you have to put away your chances or it will come back to haunt you.”

Wilson further stated that finishing has long been a National problem in football and he recommends that a lot of emphasis should be placed in that area especially at the youth level. In his response to the next meeting of the sides to determine the National Champions, Wilson said, “Definitely looking forward to that showdown with Alpha to decide the Elite Champs.

“However I must say I am not totally pleased with the structure of the tournament as a League does not have a final to decide the Champ”.

Alpha head coach Wayne Dover expressed satisfaction with efforts by both teams and showered praises on his goalkeeper,”It was a real tough game that could have gone either way but Richie Richards made the difference. He was just awesome and in the penalty kicks he proved his worth.

“It was a well contested game, but again putting away the chances created still remains a big problem”.

The head coach also declared that his unit will be ready for the next game against Slingerz to determine who is the National Champion of Guyana.

Alpha's Richie Richards dives to his right to successfully deny Devon Millington, one of three denials in the penalty shoot-out.

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016