Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 21 11 2016

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The Essequibo No. 104742

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016

Price: $80

Associates mum (VAT Inclusive)

– as police explore arrest of suspected mastermind in Corentyne carpenter’s murder

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Fire ravages cellphone store

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Dead: Fiyaz Narinedatt

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Miner 3 killed in triangular love affair

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Inside the iConnect Store located in the Multiplex building on Regent Street, Georgetown after a fire, believed to be electrical in origin, struck on Sunday afternoon (Daniel Haynes photo)

Obama lauds Guyanese entrepreneur Page

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Abbigale Loncke

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

Miner killed in triangular love affair

By Shauna Jemmott

A TRIANGULAR love affair turned deadly on Saturday night when 23-year-old excavator operator Intiaz Ally of Lot 121 “BB” Eccles, East Bank Demerara was dealt a single stab wound to his neck as he pursued a 16-year-old whom he had seen in the company of his reputed wife, Nicole Indal.

The deed, allegedly an act of self-defence, was done near his home and in presence of the woman at the centre of the intrigue.

A police press statement said Ally’s reputed wife was going home from work, and the lad was riding a bicycle alongside her, as he routinely does, when the incident occurred. The lad had Indal’s bag in his possession, and inside the bag was a 10-inch Rambo knife. The two persons were proceeding in a northerly direction when Ally, who was driving motor car PSS 2435, struck down the suspect, who got up and began to run.

Ally eventually apprehended the lad and started to beat him; then the suspect took out the knife from Indal’s bag and inflicted a wound to the left side of Ally’s neck. The blow ended the fight and Ally’s life.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the dead man’s home on Sunday, Indal was attempting to eat a bowl of chowmein, but broke down in tears. She told Guyana Chronicle that she was at work at around 21:30 hrs. on

According to Indal, she started carrying the knife to protect herself from robbers in the area, since she walks home late at nights from work whenever Ally is working in the interior.

Saturday when she received a threatening cellphone call from her reputed husband.

Indal said that one week ago she and her reputed husband had decided to spend some time apart, since Ally was having an affair and she was fearful that she would cheat on him.

ACCESS WIFI CONNECTION She said her reputed husband had for months been accusing her of cheating with the lad, whom he called “Tall boy”, but she said the lad was just a customer at the Internet café, who stuck around to access the WiFi connection there.

She said that Ally had told her he was at Parika, and was on his way with some boys whom he was bringing to “damage” her and her lover.

She said Ally was drinking at the time, and she had tried to convince him not to come home that night, because she was fearful of him driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Knowing that Ally was abusive, Indal said, she closed the Internet café which she manages and was walking along the road with “Tall boy”, her sister and a nephew when Ally drove up. The woman said Ally drove past, turned the car around and accelerated toward them.

While she, her sister and nephew scampered away, “Tall boy” was hit and fell off his bicycle.

Ally exited the car in a rage, and approached the

Intiaz Ally and Nicole Indal in happier times teen, who attempted to run away. He chased after the teen, and even as his friend who had accompanied him in the car attempted to hold him back, he wriggled out of the grip and ran after the youth.

Ally eventually caught the teen and dealt him several punches to the face.

And whilst he was raining blows on the lad, Indal said, she saw when the teen thrust his hand towards Ally’s neck, but she did not realise he was holding the knife. The woman said Ally fired a slap before

falling to his knees, bleeding profusely before collapsing to the ground.

A policeman living in the area came to the scene with his gun, and prevented them from moving while Ally was rushed by his friend and Indal’s sister to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Asked how the teen got the knife, the woman said the teenager “always” fetched her bag, and knew exactly where in the bag to find her knife.

NIGHT OUT WITH GIRLFRIEND Meanwhile, the family of the 16-year-old suspect said he told them he was spending the night out with his girlfriend who worked at the Internet café.

The lad’s mother said she and her son have a good relationship, and he told her he was in love with Indal, whom she claimed is the teenager’s “first love”.

The mother said it hurts to know that Indal, at 26, would seduce her son into a relationship which has caused him to get into trouble.

She described her last child as “peaceful”, and the situation as heartbreaking; pointing out that Indal was having a relationship with her son since he was just 15 years old.

“He lef home last night, and he been round by he girlfriend at Eccles deh at the Internet. He used to sleep out at her… Everything! He does sleep many nights out. The same Saturday night he tell me he sleeping out, he come home with hikki on he neck.

He phone has evidence; he has pictures on his phone and voice notes,” the woman said.

The woman said her son would put her to listen to private voice notes that Indal sends him, and he had showed

her photos on his mobile phone with the two together, even with them kissing.

Indal even visited him several times at his home in Old Road, Eccles. She came with her car, which they now know belongs to her now dead reputed husband.

“I only see her one time.

Well, she come several times with the car here; but a morning I was going to work early and I knocked at the (car) window and a seh ‘son I going to work’, and that is how I geh fuh see she face… he tell me this is his girlfriend.”

The tearful mother added: “He tell me how he love she bad bad and she love he bad.

He’s tell me everything. He carry she (to see a) movie at Giftland all… They geh one (photograph) pon the phone whey they kissing. He come, he she, ‘mommy look at this picture with me and my baby, how I kissing my baby’,” the woman related.

The mother is contending that if her son did not have Indal’s bag, he would not have had possession of her knife, but he might have been killed.

“I have a 17-year-old daughter. You think I gon put myself with a lil 16-year-old?

You’re a big girl, think nuh -- how he young, he young and in love, eh? All ah we does be young and in love.

She had to be his first girlfriend, because we never had this problem with him,” the mother explained.

“Tall boy” has since been taken into custody, and police have retrieved the alleged murder weapon.

Fire ravages cellphone store

By Vishani Ragobeer A fire believed to be electrical in origin on Sunday ravaged the iConnect Store located in the bottom flat of the multi-complex building at 144 Regent Street, between Camp and Alexander Streets, Georgetown.

The fire reportedly erupted around 15:00hrs.

Owner of the store Avinash Ramnarine said he was informed of the fire and when he arrived at the scene, significant damage was already done to the building.

Ramnarine, who has been vending at the store for the past several years, believes that the blaze was caused by a faulty electrical wiring in the store.

“We were always getting a spark,” he said, relating that several complaints were made to the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) and to the landlord of the complex prior to the inci-

dent.

The fire destroyed cellphones and cellphone accessories, including stocks brought in for the Christmas season. These amount to millions of dollars, the

The suspected source of the fire

businessman said, as he noted that the business was not insured.

No other establishment within the complex was harmed by the fire, but the water used to extinguish the fire caused damage to products including clothes and few electrical items from the LindoStar Wholesale and Retail Store.

Divisional Officer in Charge Compton Sparman told Guyana Chronicle that details surrounding the origin of the fire are sketchy, but he believes that it was electrical in nature.

The fire service responded promptly to the call and was able to prevent the fire from spreading to the other establishments in the complex.

Owner of iConnect, Avinash Ramnarine, expressing his grievances after he found out that his store caught afire

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Associates mum –– as police explore arrest of suspected mastermind in Corentyne carpenter’s murder

By Nafeeza Yahya SEVERAL associates of Marcus Brian Bisram, the suspected mastermind in the murder of Corentyne, Berbice carpenter Fiyaz Narinedatt, 26, have lapsed into silence, while others have distanced themselves from his charity foundation headquartered in New York.

One member who requested anonymity told the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday that if Bisram is guilty, he should be held accountable for his action.

“I knew him before all this broke, he has a good heart; unfortunately he made some wrong choices. He did help a lot of people, it’s sad that these allegations are against him… innocent until proven guilty and if he is, then he should face the penalty,” a member of his foundation said.

Another who knows Bisram, said the philanthropist

has become power drunk and believes he could get away with anything.

“I knew Bisram when he was a Home Health Aid. He was a good guy, but since he got rich he changed, he is not the same person anymore.

He believes he can do anything, especially in Guyana and get away with it.

However, if he has nothing to hide, he should return to Guyana and clear his name.”

A relative of Narinedatt, Nuwina Sultana, who resides in the U.S. has informed the authorities there and is optimistic that justice will prevail.

Sultana said she has received death threats for speaking out on the matter while others choose to remain silent out of fear.

“Since I have spoken out about the incident on social media, I have been receiving threats from people. I am fearful because they are very callous, but I won’t stop

because if it means I have to speak out to get justice, I will,” she said, adding that “No family should have to go through this, there should be greater value to human life; as such, it should not attract a monetary value.”

Since the discovery of Narinedatt’s body on the Corentyne Public Road three weeks ago, his relatives were sure that he was murdered.

The police in Berbice had said that the carpenter died as a result of a hit-and-run accident and when his family tried to show them evidence that showed otherwise, they were shut out .

‘WELL CONNECTED’ They have accused the police in Berbice, especially ranks at Springlands, of receiving a hefty “pay-off” from Bisram, who is said to be “well connected,” to “cover up” the matter.

Bisram is the chief exec-

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Dead: Fiyaz Narinedatt utive officer of the Marcus Brian Bisram Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that provides funding to various religious organisations as well as individuals and companies that need financial assistance for education, health and funeral expenses, among others.

In April this year, a month after the launch

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016 of the organisation, the U.S.-based Guyanese had pledged $200M to Berbice to assist in various projects. On subsequent visits, Bisram through his organisation rehabilitated the Springlands Traffic Office and donated $2.5M to the Community Policing Group the day before the alleged murder.

REJECTED On the night of the murder, Bisram was hosting an after party for the Community Policing Group and it is alleged that he made sexual advances to Narinedatt, who was present at the party, but was rejected.

Embittered by the rejection, Bisram allegedly instructed his bodyguards to “get rid” of Narinedatt and a scuffle reportedly ensued with Narinedatt and the men.

The carpenter was reportedly viciously attacked by the bodyguards and several others joined in beating him to death, allegedly in the presence of all at the party.

The relatives of Narinedatt said though many were present at the party, they did not intervene and were afraid to come forward due to Bisram’s known relationship with the police.

Notwithstanding the brick wall put up by the police in Berbice, they persevered and managed to get the relevant authorities to get ranks from the Major Crimes Unit in Georgetown to

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take over the investigation.

Soon after, seven persons were arrested with two allegedly confessing that Narinedatt was beaten to death.

The seven suspects in custody are a group of young friends, including two brothers and Bisram’s alleged body guards. Many believe they idolise Bisram because of his enormous wealth.

Following confessions from two of the suspects in custody, many have spoken out against Bisram directly, while others are of the view that he is being targeted because of his wealth.

ARREST Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Sunday told the Guyana Chronicle that efforts are being made to get Bisram to Guyana to be interrogated in connection with the murder of the young carpenter, whose body was reportedly dumped on the Number 70 Public Road on November 1.

He said investigations into the matter are still ongoing are charges are expected to be laid shortly as the police await legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

On Saturday, Bisram’s mother, along with the sister of one of the suspects was arrested after they allegedly attempted to give ranks of the Major Crime Unit a $4M bribe to scuttle the investigation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

‘Pope Emmanuel’ swears vengeance upon detractors

By Ariana Gordon

all sins are equal in the sight of God. Seizing upon a piece of scripture to justify this particular argument, ‘Pope Emmanuel’ said: “He that is without sin cast the first stone!” And as if on cue, the congregation jumped to its feet, shouting, “Amen! Amen!”

As for those who have since called for him to step down as leader of his flock, London had this to say: “I forgive them on the basis of their ignorance. What else can I do? I think the other thing that people missed is that God puts treasures in earthly vessels.”

He firmly believes that the current perception of Christianity is somewhat flawed; that it’s hypocritical to believe that a Man of God ought always to be upstanding.

“That’s what the Church did! That’s what religion did!

the worse when, out of the blue, the ‘Pope’ rounded DRESSED in a pimp-like on all those who wished him metallic blue suit with bad, promising that their matching hat, controversial ill-will would not go unpaid. pontiff ‘Pope Emmanuel’ “Some persons think that Philbert London stepped they would escape if they do into his Beacon Ministries that; but, Beloved, I would Church on Joseph Pollynot speak anything of anydore Street in Georgetown body, but they will not esamidst exalted praise from cape,” the avenging ‘pontiff’ his gushing congregation. predicted.

As he sat on his gilded “They touch it and they wooden throne, on display destroy themselves! I can tell before his mainly female you stories after stories of congregation, ‘Pope Emmanmany persons who did that uel’ repeatedly glanced at the and died. Many persons who media as he threw some wellthink it is their duty to keep timed jabs their way. on doing what they are doing, Frequently stating that I wish them luck. People will he had never professed to discover shortly and swiftly be without sin, the self-pronot to do it,” he said darkly, claimed ‘pontiff ’, clearly amidst hoots of wild laughter idolized by his congregation, from his delusional congresaid: “You know what I find gation. interesting? I don’t think anyAs if to drive home the body was tracked down and fear deeper, London said: “I interviewed when they said, am not threatening you, I am ‘I want a child, and I went to telling you what happens… I don’t want evil visiting you and your family; I am saying this with love. The smart thing is to stay away and leave that man alone.”

London’s congregation believes that he was sent by God as a miracle worker to heal the sick, make the lame walk and the dumb talk. They frequently described him, before his grand entry at church on Sunday, as “Our Gracious Pope”.

“God works special miracles by the presence of His Holiness, Pope Emmanuel, so that on his touch or contact, in person or via his ministers; his television broadcasts; his ‘Pope Emmanuel’ Philbert London ministering to his flock on Sunday at Beacon publications; his anointed Ministries on Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge products, such as cloths, rags, soap, paper, water, the Man of God and I got a That’s why people are called been cast out of churches sweets, corn, wine and child.’” hypocrites!” the horny pontiff for various reasons that their alcohol, are brought to Questioning the relevance said, adding: “I advocate that souls can be saved; for God the sick health and recovof all the publicity he has got- even the gay is saved, even if looks not at their actions, but ery; and diseases depart ten since his sexploits went he doesn’t stop being a gay…. at their hearts, he said. from them, and evil spirits public some two weeks ago, Because he believes Christ “All this embarrassment go out of them, and perthe satyric ‘man of the cloth’, died for him, he is saved!” is worth it if two persons sons receive, among other who subsequently apologised He and his congregation can say ‘I now know that things, wealth, prosperity, to his congregation, said it’s were in agreement on this. God loves me’. It is worth lands, monies, employnot his good deeds that would “Yeah!” they shouted in one it if two souls can be saved; ment, business success, save him, but what’s in his accord. it is worth it,” he said to visas, cars, houses, babies, heart.

The self-anointed head a standing ovation, and peace in homes, missing “My Bible tells me I am of the local papacy ques- shouts of “Amen!” relatives found or returned saved by Grace through tioned: “Didn’t I teach safely…” intoned Bishop faith…. God said ‘I won’t that?” And again the reGuy Griffith, as the conSINISTER TURN be angry with you or re- sponse was deafening.

The tirade would, how- gregation obediently held buke you…I promise you ever, take a sinister turn for on to his every word. my kindness will never PURE HOGWASH remove,’” the ‘Pope’ deBy now emboldened by clared, adding: “I believe the success of his theatrics, God! Regardless of what- ‘Pope Emmanuel’ proceedever happens, my Father, ed to argue that the notion my God, promised me that that one can be saved only He’d never leave me nor by “living a good life” is forsake me!” pure hogwash. “I never advocated that I am saved by ALL SINS ARE EQUAL anything else but the Grace London made it clear of God,” he said, dismissing that God judges the heart of as “ignorance” the ChrisMan, and not his actions. Be tian view that ‘The things it adultery or lies, he said, I used to do I’d do them no more’.

“We are saved by nothing else but the love of Jesus Christ! We are saved by His grace; grace means favour I don’t deserve,” ‘Pope Emmanuel’ said. “If it is dependent on our good works, then everybody is going to hell; every man jack will go to hell if it is dependent on our good works!” he added.

With his congregation proudly by his side, a seemingly unapologetic ‘Pope Emmanuel’ said the God he serves loves him just the way he is. “Watch me!” he said.

“God could have covered this; God could have killed the person who decided to do that,” he said in obvious reference to whoever had posted the damning videos on Facebook.

He believes that the airing of his sexual escapades with multiple women was aimed at showing those who have

Self-Proclaimed ‘Pope Emmanuel’, Philbert London

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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

What oil must not mean for us UNDERSTANDABLY, Guyanese continue to greet the news of a massive oil find with much anticipation of the potential this resource holds for improving our standard of living. An oil find is always associated with aiding the wealth of a nation and its people, given its price on the world market. Yet this ‘black gold’ if not properly managed can bring hurt to the very society and people in which it has been discovered and who it ought to benefit.

Admittedly, Guyana has a paucity of resources -human and otherwise -- if any at all of harnessing and extracting this resource independent of foreign support.

This find by Exxon, outside of the country providing the required indigenous framework-- approval and laws -- the exploitation will be at the behest of the brainpower of foreign nationals.

When laws lapse in ensuring that the resources of a nation be exploited to the benefit and development of its people, Guyanese stand to see our wealth being channelled to others, leaving us to rely on the ‘generosity’ of another.

If revenues garnered from oil wealth do not see widespread distribution in employment and economic opportunities for Guyanese, development in social services and infrastructure, the risk of entrenching two societies is real. A situation can occur -- as evident in some oil-producing countries -- where some areas are relatively more developed and others see the people living in squalor, denied opportunities, left to contend with crumbling infrastructure and the absence of quality social services.

Oil breeds greed and greed breeds corruption. In the absence of strong structures as in laws and an independent judiciary, and government that is uncompromising on the rule of law, corruption can run riot. Such corruption may occur not only within the industry, but also in the wider society, in the corridors of officialdom, and by the self-serving who mask their intent by presenting concerns about caring about the management of the wealth.

International advice being given by experts in avoiding pitfalls and ensuring prudent management of oil wealth for the people’s benefit cannot be taken with a grain of salt, or seen a mere following through with formality.

The presence and production of oil in the absence of strong regulatory frameworks, including sanctions and an eye to protecting the environment, can have dire consequences for the ecosystem. In small developing societies such as ours, it is hard not to find the influencing outlook that attracting foreign investment requires sacrificing preservation of the the environment and the rights and freedoms of citizens.

Exxon is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. The United States and Guyana are signatories

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

A workshop better than cocktail

Dear editor,

ON November 15, 2016, I received an elaborate invitation from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) for “An Evening of Rice”, a “Cocktail & Exhibition, celebrating the versatility of rice”. One wonders whose idea it was for such an event. Did the Board of Directors approve this event and if yes, was there any consultation with the industry stakeholders? What is the cost of this elaborate event?

The location of this event at Umana Yana in downtown Georgetown can be considered a very poor choice of venue to facilitate meaningful participation of the industry’s stakeholders. I assume that farmers and millers were invited and if they were, how many of them would be able to attend this event in the evening at 18:30hrs, travelling long distances and leaving their

homes unprotected in these troubling times of high crime?

The industry is currently experiencing severe difficulties; a significant drop in production, reduction in cultivation of acreage; farmers are getting almost 40% less than they used to get; many of them have abandoned their lands and a few have committed suicide out of the frustration of increasing debt burdens.

In these difficult times when livelihoods are seriously threatened, the GRDB is organising a “Cocktail”, and to talk about what?

It seems as though there is no end to the reckless spending and misuse of rice farmers’ money by the current administrators of the industry. Only recently, nearly $150 million dollars of farmers’ hard-earned money was taken by the APNU+AFC Government and given to GUYSUCO to experiment with rice cultivation.

This Cocktail and Exhibition provide another opportunity for bureaucrats to rub shoulders and enjoy drinks at farmers’ expense.

Surely, the GRDB could have come up with a better idea of “celebrating the versatility of rice.” What about a workshop in a farming community?; what about a scientific conference engaging scientists at the Burma Rice Research Station or elsewhere involving farmers and millers? I am certain that any such event as proposed would have given the farmers and millers better value for their money.

Then again, what can you expect, this is the same Government that promised $9000 a bag for paddy and has delivered 40% less than what farmers were originally getting.

Sincerely yours, D. SEERAJ

Ramotar very selective on Skeldon factory Dear Editor, I REFER to a news story in Kaieteur News (Nov 14, 2016) in which former President Donald Ramotar blames the present Granger government for the atrocious condition of the Skeldon sugar factory.

Mr.Ramotar is very selective in his reflection on the state of the Skeldon factory. He has forgotten that former President Jagdeo had promised to fix the factory which was producing sugar at 36 (U.S.) cents per pound, while the world price was 16 (U.S.) cents per pound. Mr. Jagdeo had said that without Skeldon being fixed, the sugar industry would be dead. The PPP

didn’t fix it.

Now Mr.Ramotar wants Guyanese to believe that the ROT took place in the past 17 months. Sir, iron and steel don’t rot in months!

After spending some $50 billion on the Skeldon factory, the Government took over the structure without proper trial runs. The factory was defective from day one. Then the PPP regime brought in “doctors” from South Africa and India to save the patient which was by that time near to the grave.

It was under Mr.Ramotar, as a member of the Guysuco board, that the sugar industry collapsed and went bankrupt. Mr Ramotar left Guysuco with some $90 billion debt, and to keep

to the United Nations’ Climate Change Agreement (2015).

Both countries therefore, with the Government of Guyana leading the way, have to ensure that extraction, production and distribution are done with the aim of ensuring that the committed goal within the agreement of reducing greenhouse gas emission is attained. Another area where partnership can be solidified is that of ensuring the protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms and the environment in accordance with UN declarations.

Where the Government is pursuing a green economy, ensuring the industry adheres to best practices in sustainable development, protection of the environment, and respecting the local workforce will also boost its developmental thrust.

Given the deficit of local expertise in the oil industry, Guyana will see some importation of foreign skills and persons seeking opportunities that inevitably flow therefrom. A positive impact of this movement is the benefit that flows from diverse abilities as much as the expectation of government safeguarding the laws established to protect the

life in the industry, government over the past five years gave some $40 billion in bailouts to pay wages to sugar workers. Under the new government, in less than two years, some $21 billion was given as bailout.

The PPP should be ashamed to make the silly claims they make nowafter they ruined the sugar industry and betrayed the workers.

Yours Sincerely Gobin Harbhajan Member - Skeldon Electricity Inc (SEI) Board of Directors Councillor – Regional Democratic Council – Region # Six Regional Representative – OPM

citizens and their resources. What this means is that Guyanese must not return to the days of the bauxite and sugar industries when we were treated as second-class citizens in the land of our birth.

With oil, acts of aggression, covert and overt, internal and external, to the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will flare up every so often. As Guyanese must unite in the face of Venezuela’s aggression, unity must extend to those who disregard our laws, threaten the role of our police and those who safeguard our borders and defend our territorial integrity.

Oil is coming, along with its potential benefits and fallout. Avoiding pitfalls, though Exxon carries corporate responsibility to respect the host country’s resources -- human, natural and revenue -- such obligation is not a foregone conclusion in the absence of requisite laws, regulations and enforcement. The obligation to ensure this is not that of Exxon, but the Government of Guyana.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

TIGI: Green’s Pension Bill ‘vulgar’

T R A N S PA R E N C Y International Guyana Incorporated (TIGI) has labelled the draft Hamilton Green Pension Bill as “vulgar” and “politically partisan”; and has accused the PNC faction of the APNU+AFC Coalition Administration of trying to take financial care of “one of its own f o r m e r s t ro n g m e n through the public purse”.

TIGI’s views came one day after the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) had lashed out at the bill and called on Government to withdraw it be-

cause that body thinks it speaks to cronyism.

“This bill is repugnant in that it is made in the name of a single individual rather than for all Prime Ministers; gives Mr. Green access to benefits of which he is not entitled, based on the offices he has held; provides Mr. Green with a pension based on a salary that he never earned; gives special consideration to a man who is especially undeserving of such recognition, given his historically divisive role in society; perpetuates the enrichment of politicians and friends of the Govern-

ment at the expense of the citizens, made possible only through the power entrusted to those in Government; and is rushed (through) the process without regards to transparency and good governance in general,” a statement from TIGI said on Sunday.

In strongly objecting to the bill, TIGI called for it to be withheld, and for the AFC to clarify its position on the subject.

Like the GHRA, TIGI sees Green as undeserving of the pension; and questions why the likes of Rashleigh Jackson, Eusi Kwayana

and Moses Bhagwan, who sacrificed much to protect Guyana from Green’s authoritarian policies, have been overlooked.

According to TIGI, there would be arguments about the “pittance” Green currently receives as a pension, but when the law was passed, the country’s economy and exchange rates were reasonable.

“It was the reckless and undemocratic policies pursued by the Government of which Mr. Green was Prime Minister that led to the destruction of the economy and the plunging

of the exchange rate.

How can the Government, in good conscience, squeeze the citizens to now bail Mr. Green out above and beyond (his) due, when they have also suffered the consequences of this policies?” the body asked.

TIGI has described the draft legislation as “outrageous, unfair, vulgar, in poor taste, and an affront to good governance, accountability and transparency”. It also sees the bill as an insult to all hardworking nurses, teachers, policemen and public servants, who

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deserve substantial increases in their salaries.

Mr. Hamilton Green served as Prime Minister of Guyana in the People’s National Congress (PNC) Administration from 1985 to 1992.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo told reporters on Friday, during an AFC press conference, that Green’s pension would not take effect from 1985, but from the date of passage of this bill.

H e , h o w e v e r, opined that Government should re-examine the name of the bill.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

Chief-of-staff lauds veterans

By Shirley Thomas

CHIEF-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier George Lewis has pledged to continue to work with the Guyana Veterans Legion to support the development of veterans, within limitations.

This commitment was made by the Chief-of-Staff on Friday, as he donated the sum of $1 Million to the Guyana Legion, honouring a pledge made last Sunday during the Legion’s Remembrance Ceremony at Goghlan House, Carifesta Avenue.

The cheque was handed over to Chairman of the Guyana Veterans Legion, Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d),

George Gomes by Chiefof-Staff, Brigadier George Lewis, during the solemn, but prestigious Veterans Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony held at the Veterans Monument Front Lawns , Base Camp Ayangana, Guyana Defence Force.

Handing over the cheque in the presence of all assembled, the Chief-of-Staff said: “We believe that we owe you an extraordinary debt of gratitude for the service you provide. Today we acknowledge the contributions of families as well.”

The presentation came shortly after the laying of wreaths by Brigadier George Lewis MSS and Lieutenant Colonel George Gomes, Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) at the base of the

monument, to the memory of the men and women who served in the Military Forces of British Guiana and Guyana.

Delivering the feature address, the Chief-of-Staff declared: “Today is Veterans Day – a day when we, serving officers and ranks of the Guyana Defence Force honour our fallen heroes, as we pause to acknowledge, reflect and remember, your achievement, commitment, your courage and your dedication. We remember your sacrifices as you made contributions towards this noble institution and Guyana’s territorial integrity. We remain eternally grateful to you for your efforts.

I say thank you for your service and for making Guy-

Guyana Defence Force Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier George Lewis serves the veterans on their special day.(Samuel Maughn photos)

––pledges army’s continued support

The proud Veterans of Guyana being honoured on their special day ana safe.”

And acknowledging the selfless work and sacrifice of those soldiers who have passed on, the Chief-ofStaff continued: “Today we remember those we lost during their service and we lost after they left service.

Also to their families, we assure you that we still remember them and still feel your pain.”

He said it is because of the veterans that the army is better off today, serving diligently and having a deeper understanding of the vital contributions veterans made and continue to make for the development of Guyana.

Meanwhile, similar sentiments were expressed by

Chairman of the Guyana Veterans Legion, Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) George Gomes, with representatives of the three main religious denominations: Christians; Muslims and Hindus thanking all of the veterans for their service in the military services of British Guiana and Guyana.

Unveiling plans for the future development and collaboration with veterans, Brigadier Lewis declared: “I know that the Government of Guyana values your service and believes that you should receive adequate recognition for your service, which is why His Excellency President Granger established the Guyana Veterans

ups, small businesses, non-governmental organisations, and similar entities in cities throughout the United States, and in partnership with community groups and American universities.

The fellows were also able to develop their business or social venture plans through entrepreneurship curriculum and workshops, and by working alongside their American counterparts.

The 2016 YLAI Professional Fellows selection team received nearly 4,000 applications for this Presidential programme.

The other Guyanese participants were Dason Anthony, one of the owners of 592Dresses; Judason Bess, co-owner and manager of The Farmacy; and Shaunda Yarde, who founded Coconut Grove with her grandmother’s recipe in 2013.

Guyana’s Abbigale Loncke, participating in President Obama’s President’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative in the US

Obama lauds Guyanese entrepreneur

“WE NEED leaders like A b b i g a l e ! ” d e c l a re d President Barack Obama as he gave recognition to Guyanese Abbigale Loncke, who is participating in the US President’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI).

During his final international speech and town hall meeting in Lima, Peru on Saturday, President Obama told the Young Leaders of the Americas: “After struggling to find her own grandfather a home care, she realised that this is a problem for other families, so she started Community Healthcare, a home care agency. She started out as a service to help families take care of their loved ones.”

President Obama noted that Loncke, who is 31 years old, created a social movement that provides training and job opportu-

nities for young women in the healthcare industry.

“Thank you, Abigail, for the great work you are doing!” the U.S. President said, as Abigail stood in awe.

Loncke was one of four Guyanese chosen by the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown to participate in the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative in the United States, which began in October. Approximately 250 young leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean participated in the five-week programme, but Loncke was one of the YLAI finalists from 21 city hub competitions around the U.S. who competed in the final pitch competition in Washington DC. Following that final pitch competition, Loncke travelled to Peru for the US President’s town hall meeting.

President Obama has

committed to working with young people of the Americas to ensure their success. He said young people across the world are taking the lead. “The main message…I want you to know you have a partner in me and the U.S. Government, and we are going to work together.

We expect the fellowship to continue, but I will also continue to be involved.

We will continue to invest in your success; if you succeed then the world succeeds!” the U.S. President declared.

President Obama launched YLAI to build linkages between young leaders across the hemisphere, and to expand opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs and civil society leaders.

Over the five-week programme, the fellows learned and shared their experiences in start-

Commission, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Desmond Roberts to examine the conditions of veterans.”

To this end, the Chief-ofStaff called on both sides to give the Commission their support and await its recommendations on the way forward for veterans and veterans’ affairs in Guyana.

He also called on the veterans to support the Guyana Veterans Legion, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Gomes – not only through monthly contributions, and attendance at meetings, but by giving some of their time to support its activities, engaging in collaborative activities to further empower them.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

Roraima offering visits to Jonestown

LOCAL tour operator Roraima Tours has announced it is now offering regularised visits to the site of the 1978 Jonestown tragedy which claimed the lives of 914 Americans 38 years ago.

The mass murder and suicide took place in the western section of this South American Republic, near neighbouring Venezuela where an American religious leader, Reverend Jim Jones, had set up his People’s Temple Church bringing with him hundreds of American followers who put their faith and trust in him.

The chief executive officer of the Roraima Group of Companies, Captain Gerry Gouveia, whose company launched the programme of visits to the site of the tragedy, was among the first Guyanese to fly into the area hours after reports reached the capital that visiting United States Congressman Leo Ryan and his team which included members of the American media, had been attacked by gunmen at the Port Kaituma Airstrip as the

aircraft on which they were aboard was about to be airborne.

Gouveia, then a pilot with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) said that the decision to offer visits to what remains of the area is based on the need for people with varying interests, including the families of victims, to have an opportunity to see first-hand the location of this historic tragedy and to, where necessary, help them achieve closure.

The Government of Guyana has erected a monument at the entrance to the Jonestown compound to pay tribute to the victims of the tragedy, the majority of whom were forced at gunpoint by Jones fanatics to drink a cyanide-laced concoction.

According to Gouveia, his Roraima Tours company will soon hold a simple ceremony to routinise his company’s periodic flights to Jonestown, more specifically, to the monument erected to honour the victims of the tragedy.

“Jonestown was a sober-

Roraima Airways CEO Gerry Gouveia with U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier during a recent visit to the U.S. ing moment in our country’s history. Roraima Airways is

deliberately not selling this as any sort of tourism initia-

tive. Unpleasant as it was, Jonestown is history and people are a part of history. We will take those people with varied interests to the site of that monument. I believe I owe it to people like Jackie Speier and to the victims of Jonestown to oversee this one myself,” he said.

It is a commitment that has an underpinning of conviction.

Earlier this year, in June, Gouveia was in Washington, DC for Caribbean Legislative Week, part of the celebration of Caribbean Heritage Month during which he took the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who back in 1978 served as an assistant to Congressman Ryan and was critically wounded during the melee at the Port Kaituma Airstrip. Gouveia and his team of Guyanese soldiers rescued Speier and flew her to the international airport at Timehri where a U.S. military aircraft awaited the arrival of the injured survivors.

During their June interaction in Speier’s office on Capitol Hill, the two emotionally exchanged memories of the morning of Sunday,

November 19, 1978 with the Congresswoman presenting Gouveia with an autographed copy of her book “This is not the Life I Ordered”. It is widely believed that it is this encounter that inspired Gouveia to introduce these regular visits to Jonestown which he will himself conduct for visitors.

Ironically, Gouveia’s announcement that Roraima Airways will now be regularising its flights to Port Kaituma from whence visitors will make their way to the site of Jonestown coincides with increasingly assertive pronouncements from the private sector regarding the need to aggressively market the country abroad.

Gouveia said that Jonestown is not about marketing Guyana, it is about “reminding ourselves and the rest of the world of the Jonestown tragedy and the lessons that it teaches.

Perhaps there is an example there from which Guyana can learn, going forward.

The rest of the world will, of course, have its own separate interest.”

More to rice than meets the eye

By Tamica Garnett

IN a bid to broaden the scope of interest in rice and promote the resourcefulness of the grain, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) on Thursday evening held a cocktail reception and exhibition called “An Evening of Rice” at the Umana Yana.

And invitees to the event were not disappointed, as

they learnt a whole lot more about the Guyanese staple than they bargained for.

Post-harvest Researcher, Mr Dhirendranath Singh, said: “The Evening of Rice” was conceptualised to showcase the versatility of rice.

“We want to show people that rice is more than the staple; more than what you eat your curry with. Rice can do so much more.”

Agriculture Minister Mr

Noel Holder hailed the event as a good initiative and hopes that it will see an increase in rice dishes being prepared during the upcoming Christmas season.

Rice may be one of Guyana’s main exports, but the industry has seen its fair share of struggles over the years.

Singh explained that while Guyana is used to exporting rice as a raw material,

One of the Carnegie chefs handing out rice treats

there is a broader possibility for its use, particularly in the area of value-added products.

“It’s about providing an opportunity, because, in terms of value-added, the technology is out there,” he said, adding: “It’s about getting the investment now to push the value-added sector forward, and this event is kind of a promotion and networking event that we hope, coming out of, persons will be stimulated and interest will be generated for us to move forward.”

Products on display at the evening’s gala ranged from cereal and biscuits to wine and mousse, and included both imported and local goods.

In terms of local products, there were health bars, the well-loved Banks Beer and Banks’ “Tastee Snack”, while the locally made Pandama Rice Wine was a particular hit with patrons, as many could be seen sashaying around socialising, wine in hand.

The GRDB also collaborated with the Carnegie School of Home Economics to have a wide menu of foods made from rice.

Some of the products that rice can be used to make, that were on display at “An Evening of Rice” “What we did is engage the Carnegie School of Home Economics to do different types of rice dishes.

You will see that we have rice as appetizers, rice as main course, rice as side dishes, rice as a dessert.

And those are just a few of the different ways in which people can use rice in their daily life,” Singh said.

The event saw several special invitees, including Prime Minister Moses Nag-

amootoo, acting in the capacity of President; Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder; Chairman of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vishnu Doerga; members of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and diplomatic corps.

Many patrons were very appreciative of the initiative and shared that their interest was indeed peaked by the wide range of products.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

What do you know about foster care?

THERE are many young people and even grown-ups who can tell you about the neighbour/family friend who took them in and looked after them at a time when they needed support. Therefore a child being raised by someone who is not their relative is nothing strange in Guyana.

Fostering a child however is somewhat different. The objective of Foster Care will always be to eventually re-integrate the foster child with his/her biological family: therefore, fostering consists of bonding with and caring for a child on a temporary basis.

Here are the answers to some questions that people usually ask about fostering.

IF I WANTED TO FOSTER A CHILD WHAT SHOULD I DO? You could ring the foster care team (227-4082; 227-0138) at the Childcare and Protection Agency for information, or you can visit their office at Broad and Charles Streets, Charlestown and speak to one of the officers from the foster

care unit.

CAN SINGLE PEOPLE BECOME FOSTER PARENTS? Yes, you don’t have to be married or have a partner and children to be a foster parent. However, checks will be carried out to make sure you are suitable and prepared for the job. Two of the things you will definitely need are a police clearance and a clean bill of health.

DO FOSTER CHILDREN NEED SPECIAL TREATMENT? No, but every child is different. Some foster children may take a little time to blend in and bond with their foster parents, while others may bond immediately and settle down. Foster parents need to be aware of the background of the foster child so they can offer guidance and support if necessary. Kindness, patience and understanding are the key elements for successful fostering.

HOW LONG DO CHILDREN STAY IN FOSTER CARE?

Fostering is a temporary arrangement; the length of time and terms of the arrangement are usually discussed between the case worker (at the foster care unit) and foster parent beforehand.

However, there have been cases where a child has remained in foster care for a longer (or shorter) time, than the initial six-month set period.

gender, religion, and ethnicity) on their application form. Officers from the foster care unit usually do a good job at matching the right child to the right foster parents, however, the foster parents can decline a child and likewise a child (age permitting) has the right to say whether or not they wish to go with and stay with, the foster parents.

WHERE DO THE FOSTER CHILDREN COME FROM? Foster children come mainly from children’s homes. In emergency cases, some children go straight into foster care (if foster parents are available) from difficult circumstances. Children who end up in care can come from any region in Guyana and they can be any age, sex, religion or race.

IS THERE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR FOSTER PARENTS? Yes, a sustenance allowance is paid every month to foster parents.

Having a foster child in your household can be a very rewarding experience for you, the foster child and your family. Helping to safeguard a child is giving that child a chance for a brighter future. Your input can go a long, long way; consider fostering a child today!

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the Childcare and Protection Hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com

CAN I CHOOSE THE CHILD I WOULD LIKE TO FOSTER? Potential foster parents do have some say in the kind of child they would like to foster. They have the chance to state their preference (age,

Broadcast Authority disputants shake hands –– pledge to work for good of the authority, says Prime Minister

By Ariana Gordon DESPITE the ongoing bickering between members of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo believes that he has acted accordingly to appease the situation.

Speaking on Friday at the bi-weekly press conference of the Alliance For Change (AFC), the Prime Minister made it clear that he summoned the members of the GNBA to meet with him and following those meetings, he received commitments that members would work for the good of the authority and country.

Having intervened as the minister responsible for the sector, he believes he has done what was necessary given the circumstances, and notwithstanding that, he takes full “political responsibility.”

“It is a difficult question when you are dealing with a board that is made up of highly competent,

highly qualified, specialised group of people.

They are dealing with a number of issues and they occasionally indulge in inter-personal ramblings.

“I’ve called the board, summoned the board to meet with me; at one of the meetings where I was made aware of the nature of the disputation, I tried to address it and at the end of the meeting, the two disputants shook hands and pledged to work for the good of the authority and country. It cannot be said that I didn’t take any interventionist role,” Nagamootoo told reporters.

But while he has assumed responsibility for the shortcomings of the GNBA, the Prime Minister said he is unsure of whether he could have done more, given that the parties came to an agreement to work together.

“The law provides for the life of the board; I couldn’t have taken some measures and say I didn’t like what you did so I am knocking you off,” he

remarked, as the media questioned whether he allowed the situation at the

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo GNBA to fester.

Nagamootoo argued that the outstanding issues relative to the rescinding of licences and whether those who hold licences should be allowed to re-apply all over again, presented some trouble for the GNBA board.

“Elements of the

board were saying the minister has no right to recommend regulations; well, the law doesn’t provide for the board to draft laws and regulations, it is the minister who is in charge of pioneering amendments to the law and the regulations,” he said.

ENSURING EQUITY According to the Prime Minister, he initiated the process of the regulations and informed the GNBA board that the best way in his view to ensure equity is to allow persons to apply in accordance with the new standard.

“I want you members of the board to draft the regulations, send it to me and then we will take it from there-turned consultative process in a unique way upside down.

“The procedure didn’t start with me; it started with the board,” Nagamootoo assured. The Prime Minister described the board as “a high-class board”, noting

that the problems faced had to do with how they viewed the regulations.

“They were working on it; I sent back the second draft,” he said.

Meanwhile, asked to comment on the findings of the Board of Inquiry into allegations of corruption levelled against two directors of the GNBA, Anthony Vieira and Vic Insanally, the Prime Minister said while he has reviewed the report, he wants the said report to be circulated to members of the GNBA and in particular the two accused and the board’s chair Leonard Craig, who is reportedly in China.

“The Board of Inquiry has given us an opportunity to look at the work of the board and if we believe that the problems encountered by the board or in the board are impeding the functions of the board, then you can judge me whether or not I took certain actions.”

The Prime Minister said he contacted one member of the board and conveyed his intention to

have the report circulated.

“It is after I would have had a feedback, I intend to meet with the board as well... I intend to meet with the board to deal with the recommendations that were made and we will take it from there. I also hope that my Cabinet colleagues will have an opportunity to pronounce on the report.

“I think that the report has brought out some very significant shortcomings in this important authority that has very critical functions to perform that have been caught up in the quagmire of interpersonal disputes, allegations and confrontations.” The report will also be made available to the media, the Prime Minister assured.

Additionally, Nagamootoo believes that the absence of Craig from his post will have to be discussed at the meeting of the board. The Guyana Chronicle understands that Craig has travelled to China on a scholarship.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

The breathtaking lake community Tapakuma TAPAKUMA, an Indigenous community located some 14 miles from Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, and bordering Mainstay/ Whyaka, is home to some 400 residents.

The village can be accessed by road through the township of Anna Regina, and via the backlands of Supenaam and Charity, both villages located at opposite ends of the 30-milelong Essequibo Coast.

According to residents, no one knows for certain when the village was first settled, but records indicate that three Indigenous families were found inhabiting the location in 1887. From all indications, they had stumbled upon the lake community while travelling from Pomeroon in search of fertile lands and teeming fishing grounds. Their discovery led to the birth of the settlement, which occupies a

space of 21 square miles and includes the majestic Tapakuma Lake, rich in fauna and flora.

Tapakuma is the largest lake on the sprawling Essequibo Coast. The British colonisers, on recognising the inhabitants, and in keeping with their mission to spread Christianity, visited the residents and built the first house of worship in the community. Today, the Anglican Church, built in 1902, still stands, but has undergone significant renovation over the years. It is the only house of worship in the sparsely populated Indigenous community.

Over the years, as the population of Tapakuma grew, successive Governments invested in basic infrastructure to serve the needs of the people.

Tapakuma today has a primary and nursery school, a health outpost, a village office, a learning

resource centre, shops, and a cassava factory.

The factory is managed by the Rising Sun Women’s Group and makes cassava bread, cassava-flavoured biscuits, cassareep, quinches (salara made of cassava flour) and starch.

These products are packaged, labelled and sold on the Essequibo Coast; and according to Gwendolyn Prince, the chair of the group, the factory has been making a profit, even though a small one.

None of the houses in Tapakuma has a thatched roof. In 2011, Food for the Poor constructed 50 low-income houses for residents there, outfitting the houses with solar panels to the tune of $67M. The Dawa Pump Station, which provides irrigation water to a vast number of farmers on the Essequibo Coast, is also located in Tapakuma.

Built in 1961 in the

The building that houses the Tapakuma Nursery and Primary schools

The breathtaking Tapakuma Lake, Essequibo Coast, Region Two middle of the Tapakuma Lake, it remains to this day a remarkable engineering feat in Guyana.

Tapakuma residents have access to potable water, but do not access water directly in their homes, but from a well and standpipes placed at various points in the community. Besides,

they also use the water from a nearby creek for drinking, cooking, washing, and other domestic purposes.

Residents of this forested lakeside community depend mainly on logging, farming and mining for a living. On the richly fertile soil,

residents cultivate boulangers, bora, ochroes, peppers, sweet potatoes, yams, cassava, plantains, bananas and pineapples.

These crops are sold both in the village and at the markets at Charity and Anna Regina. Fishing See page 12

Residents of Tapakuma depend on wood-cutting to earn a living

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

The breathtaking lake community ...

From page 11

Farmer Doreen Jacobis picks a pineapple from her farm and hunting are also part of their routine in gathering food.

As the years roll on, the landscape of Tapakuma has been changing, and more and more persons have been visiting the community to take in its natural scenery; but a vital feature for the community is missing: it does not have a guest house.

Former Toshao, Doreen Jacobis, is calling on the Government to

give financial assistance to the Village Council to build one in the community.

She said it would aid the development of tourism and provide a new revenue stream for a community where mango, pear, cashew, mammy, and coconut are in gay abundance, and the cool breeze from the nearby creek makes a visitor feel lost in paradise.

Cassareep made at the Cassava Processing Factory at Tapakuma

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

Fredricks, 92, has no intention to quit farming AT 92, Philemon Fredricks is the oldest resident of Tapakuma, Essequibo Coast, Region Two, and perhaps he is the oldest farmer in Guyana. Despite his age, he walks around unaided, can robustly push a wheelbarrow, and tends to his one-acre farm daily.

On November 24, this coming Thursday, the father of eight will turn 93, and he is hoping that, God spare life, he would attain the magical score of 100 in good health.

A jovial Fredricks told the Guyana Chronicle that he has always “played it safe”. He credits his longevity to consumption of ground provisions, vegetables, cassava bread, fish and meat.

“I never embrace modern foods (foods in tins and cans); I never liked it, and I don’t believe they are healthy. In my younger days I tried to stay away from rum, but I still used to drink one (or) two times,” he said with a smile.

According to Fredricks, he first drank rum when he was 26, and he did not like the taste. And besides, it “burn” his “belly bottom”. But, he said, he developed an acceptance for rum after a priest who was his friend told him that nothing was wrong with drinking. So he developed an acceptance of rum by looking at the religious man drink.

“I was surprise the man telling me to drink, and he drink a glass of rum in one gulp; and I tried to beat that, but I failed. I don’t know what kind of priest he was, but I don’t think I would have ever been able to match his skills,” Fredricks related, as he erupted in laughter and had to steady himself to avoid Philemon Fredricks falling off his bench.

He also related that when a person is sober, he is hardly inclined to pick a fight, but as soon as he gets “sweet” (intoxicated), things begin to get “sour” (bad).

“I used to fight, but not a lot, you know. I used to win some of the fights, but I also lost some and got a good cut-tail. These fights had clear results: it’s either win or lose; none of them ended in a draw,” a jovial Fredricks said.

CANE JUICE BETTER “That is the evil of alcohol,” he warned, contending that “because of this, I always preferred cane juice, corn juice and piwari”.

Even at his advanced age, Fredricks can be seen every day tending to the banana, plantain, pineapple, sweet potato and yam plants on his farm.

He told this publication that he has been a farmer since his early days in school, and had since made a decision to follow his father’s footsteps and become a farmer.

“When you are a farmer, you cannot go wrong. You always have food to eat, you have things to sell and provisions to give away, and the job keeps you very active,” said Fredricks, who suffers from no known illnesses.

“In this life, you have to do simple thing that make you happy,” he said, pointing out that being an ‘earthly person’, he was married twice, and has eight children. All of his children are from his first marriage, and two have since died.

When his first wife died, he had just attained 70, and instead of just waiting to die, he remarried at the ripe age of 72, to a woman 20 years his junior.

“I thought it was a good decision, because when you old you cannot marry someone who is also old. None of you would be able to help each other; and when both of you get knee pain and back pain, all two of you will die together,” he said, as he laughed heartily.

Philemon Fredricks is well respected in Tapakuma, and has won several awards in honour of outstanding farmers in Region Two. He believes that education and agriculture are the two ways out of poverty.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

Good Hope back in time

By Mohamed Khan

SPRING Garden was amalgamated with Aurora in 1876, but it did not remain for long under cane cultivation. The owner of one of the abandoned plantations within the amalgamated sugar industry of Aurora, in the south on the Essequibo Coast, decided to sell it to a group of 21 former African slaves.

Those Africans, like many others, had saved money that they had earned from overtime work done over the years, and since much of the money they saved was in the form of coins, they had to transport the payment in wheelbarrows to the seller, who in turn sold Good Hope to them.

They divided Good Hope into sections, retaining 21 of

those sections for themselves and selling the rest to their African brothers for a profit.

These 21 former African slaves pooled their savings and created their village communities. Establishing small settlements provided the new Afro-Essequibian village an opportunity to grow and sell food, an extension of a practice under which they had been allowed to keep the money that came from their sale of any surplus produce.

By this time the planters on the Essequibo Coast realised that many freed Africans had accumulated much savings, so they raised their land prices. Some planters made quick money by selling portions of their estates to African labourers.

The owner of Good Hope, for instance, divided the front lands into lots, and sold them for between $100 and $200

The monument in Good Hope Cemetery each. Thus by 1840, a thriving “proprietary” village of Africans had developed in that area.

In a very short time, other villages were established throughout Essequibo Coast. Some of the slaves who had no money squatted on Crown lands. Most significantly, many former slaves rapidly departed their plantations.

The end of slavery in Essequibo had several ramifications. Some ex-slaves moved to towns and other villages, feeling that their field of labour was degrading and inconsistent with freedom.

Good Hope village faced administrative problems after it was bought during the 1840s. The 21 freed Africans possessed no experience in cooperative management, and since they had used up their savings to purchase the land, they had nothing left for maintaining the roads, bridges, sluice gates and drainage canals. As a result, the condition of the village deteriorated.

With poor sea defence, the public road along the coast at Good Hope became the principal and often sole defence against the sea. Because of flooding and erosion, the roadway was extremely difficult and expensive to maintain.

After some years, the subsoil drainage became inadequate to cope with the volume of water, and was easily silted up.

The plantain disease was also proving to be a scourge to the farmers. Since they depended on it as their primary food, the disease was transmitted from healthy plants by way of their shovels in cutting the plantain suckers and replanting.

Its effect prevented the regeneration of their suckers after four years of fruit bearing, and it also made the land unusable for some five years subsequently.

Today, Good Hope, located on the apex of a pagasse and clay subsoil that was created when the Supenaam Creek changed its course to the Atlantic from east to west about 3000 years ago, is the beginning of the Essequibo road from the south of the coast, on the left bank of the Supenaam Creek.

Good Hope now has a population of 3000 people, some of whom belong to the forebears of the 21 former slaves who had pooled their money to buy the village. It exhibits a well laid out scheme, which is developing rapidly.

The village is the main in-transit point by ferry leading to Wakenaam, Hog Island, Parika and Georgetown.

Good Hope has all the basic amenities, inclusive of a modern ferry stelling, where two Chinese ferry dock and off–load passengers and cargo; a speedboat service; schools, play field, health centre, good roads and streets, shops, and a modern market.

Most of the people are self-employed. They are into speedboat operation, cash crop farming, logging, rice farming and gold mining.

Good Hope was declared a land registration area by late President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. Many ex-slaves and their offspring are buried in Good Hope cemetery.

A monument was constructed in 1865 in memory of the 36 children who took over the village and managed it.

Some names which are inscribed on it are Samuel Ashley, Alexander Dash, Solomon Dash and Hubert Dash, Israel Bascom, Josh J. Hill, W.W. Schroeder, Thomas Horne, and James T. Cordis.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

Keeping culture alive ––Tapakuma looks to stave off cultural erosion

WITH the domination of Hip-Hop, Rhyme and Blues, Soca and Dance Hall music on the airways, coupled with other factors, Tapakuma, an Indigenous settlement 14 miles aback the township of Anna Re-

gina, is facing a cultural corrosion.

“Hardly on the radios do you hear Amerindian songs, except during Heritage Month celebrations. Most of our young people tune in to radio for news, information

and entertainment, and most of what they get, especially for entertainment, are not related to Indigenous culture,” Tapakuma Lake Primary School headteacher Karen Basdeo laments.

Basdeo, hailing from

Wakapao, Pomeroon River, has been trying to revive Indigenous songs, dances and culture at her school. She said much work needs to be done, noting that the problem is not only at Tapakuma, but at other Indegenous commu-

nities as well.

According to the seasoned teacher, community elders are not trying to confine villagers to their culture, or to forcibly tell them which culture to choose, but are trying to preserve their customs and way of life.

Guyana is a multi-cultural society, and aside from the music on the airwaves, the diminishing of cultural norms in the village has also been attributed to villagers adopting the various cultures on the coastland.

“Our children attend schools on the coast, and there they encounter different cultures. Some of them adapt to their new culture, and in doing so, some lose appreciation for their customs and traditions,” Basdeo said.

With the Tapakuma Lake Primary School now having the services of a culture teacher, efforts are being made to establish cultural groups to preserve the songs, poems and dances of the Arawak people.

NO LONGER HAPPENS Basdeo related that, years ago, villagers used to gather around a tree and sing their traditional songs and dance to them, and in this way they kept their culture alive; but today, this no longer happens.

“The young people can be seen sporting their smartphones and singing and dancing to the Hip-Hop and Soca tunes. Nothing is really wrong with this. It is good that they can (show) appreciation (for) a different culture; but in doing so, what we want is that they do not lose appreciation of their own,” she said.

To address this situation, community elders intend to host concerts, fairs and exhibitions to celebrate their Indigenous traditions, and this will be done in addition to Indigenous Heritage Month.

For Basdeo, preservation of the Indigenous culture should not centre only around a month of activities held once every year, but should be an everyday task

for all persons of Indigenous descent.

“And all in our community have a role to play. The Government has been doing a lot to keep the cultures of the Indigenous peoples alive, and we Amerindians are very grateful for the efforts in that regard. We are happy that we have an entire month to celebrate our cultures and customs, but the Govern-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016 Guyana, and in recognition of their contribution to national development, Basdeo is of the view that a day in the Heritage Month celebration should be declared a national holiday in hon-

Head-teacher Karen Basdeo ment should look at granting Amerindians a national holiday,� the head-teacher said.

The Government has

designated May 5 as Arrival Day, an occasion to celebrate the arrival of all the ethnic groups which

came to these shores.

NATIONAL HOLIDAY As the first people of

our of Indigenous peoples.

Since Stephen Campbell, the first Indigenous person who became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1957, several other persons of Indigenous extraction

rose to occupy prominent public office. Among them are Carolyn Rodrigues, who served as Minister of Amerindian Affairs and See page 19

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

Keeping culture ...

From centre

Elders of Tapakuma are working to preserve the culture and traditions of the community Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Dr. Desrey Fox, who served as Minister of Education. Both served in the People’s Progressive Party Administration.

In the current Government, Fourth Vice President and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock; Minister in the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Mrs. Valerie Garrido-Lowe; Health Minister Dr. George Norton; and Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams, are all of Indigenous extraction.

There are also other parliamentarians of Indigenous origin sitting on both sides of the House in this, the 11th Parliament of Guyana.

“So there is no question (in regard) to the contribution of Amerindians to the development of Guyana, and the dedication of a national holiday in their honour is not a case of us asking for too much,” Basdeo contended.

This, she said, can go a far way in inspiring the Indigenous peoples to greater appreciation of their rich culture and traditions, and thereby help in stemming the erosion of their culture.

Monday November 21th, 2016 - 11:30 hrs Tuesday November 22th, 2016 - 12:30 hrs Wednesday November 23th, 2016 - 13:30 hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

Transportation challenge

THE Midwife attached to the St Denys Medical Outpost, Tapakuma, Venessa Gonsalves is calling for a minibus or boat to be permanently allocated to the health facility.

She said that on more than one occasion, the outpost has, in times of emergency, found itself in a transportation crisis.

The village is served by two minibuses, one a private operator and

the other a Government school bus; and according to Gonsalves, there have been cases when neither was available to transport emergency cases.

The outpost refers serious medical cases to the

The St Denys Medical Outpost at Tapakuma, Essequibo Coast, Region Two

Venessa Gonsalves testing the pressure level of a patient

Suddie Public Hospital, the main hospital on the Essequibo Coast, which is about 21 miles from Tapakuma. Having to wait on the arrival of transportation -- given the distance to travel -- can have a very negative impact on the health of patients who need urgent help, the midwife said. The availability

of a permanent minibus, she said, would allow the health outpost to transport emergency cases expeditiously to the Suddie Hospital; and in the case of a boat, it would facility transport of patients to Red Lock, and then to Anna Regina.

Red Lock is about seven miles from Tapakuma, and once the patient reaches Anna Regina, it would be a straight drive to Suddie, which is about seven miles away.

Aside from this challenge, the outpost has been experiencing a shortage of some basic drugs. This month it did not receive the full supply it requested from the Suddie Hospital.

Chlorophan, ‘B’ Complex tabs and 500 Amoxil are among the drugs in short supply. These medications are used to treat diabetes, hypertension, cold, pneumonia, cuts and flu, the Guyana Chronicle was told.

Gonsalves has said that due to the extremely hot weather and dust in the

atmosphere, residents of the settlement have been affected with minor respiratory problems, and it is important that medications are available for them.

There is no major illness in Tapakuma, and only a handful of diabetes and hypertension cases have been recorded.

Midwife Gonsalves, who is tasked with doing checkups on patients, also holds maternal, ante-natal, infant and pre-school, family planning and chronic disease clinics, as well as home visits.

About two weeks ago, a community health worker who was attached to the outpost left to pursue studies in Linden, and Gonsalves has since been carrying the workload of the centre.

She is calling on the region to send a replacement as early as possible, and for doctors at the Suddie Hospital to visit the outpost at least once per month to attend to patients in the settlement.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

Service to community KEANU Thomas, 17, is a resident of the lakeside community of Tapakuma, and is a Grade Four teacher at the Tapakuma Lake Primary School.

He entered the teaching profession less than a year ago, after completing his secondary education at the Anna Regina Multilateral School, where he did well, securing eight subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, including six grade ones, one of which was a distinction in English A. With a love for teaching, helping children and giving back to his community, Keanu applied for a teaching post at the Tapakuma Lake Primary School, and his application was successful. Soon after assuming duties as a

Keanu Thomas teacher, he set his sight on attending the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) satellite centre at Anna Regina, and not long after, he applied to be formally trained as a teacher, and his application was

accepted.

Thomas is happy to be given an opportunity to pursue his dreams of becoming a trained teacher. He told the Guyana Chronicle that upon completion of studies at CPCE, he intends to further his education at the University of Guyana.

Because most of his time is taken up at school and college, Thomas no longer gets the time to play cricket or football, or to go swimming as he used to before; but he views that sacrifice as necessary for his personal elevation, and is urging secondary school students to set their goals early, and work towards achieving them. “Education is the pathway to a better life,� he advises.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

YBG receives sneakers

L-R. Brian Backer of EPIC Guyana and Chris Bowman of YBG. THE Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) organisation was the recipient of basketball sneakers courtesy of EPIC Guyana at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday.

In a small presentation ceremony a total of 21 pairs of sneakers in sizes 11-13 were handed over to YBG Director Chris Bowman. The initiative was made possible

due to Audrey Johnson’s generous contribution. The shoes will be made available to youth players who demonstrate a real need for a pair of sneakers.

A special thank you is expressed to Johnson for his donation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

Late Cook loss hits England hopes of rescuing draw

RAVINDRA Jadeja dismissed Alastair Cook in the last over on day four to strike a major blow to England’s hopes of salvaging an unlikely draw in the second Test against India.

Cook (54 off 188 balls) had led a defiant rearguard action with great support from Haseeb Hameed (25 off 144 balls), but the England captain’s obstinate innings was ended with what proved to be the final ball of the day when Jadeja (1-25) trapped him leg before.

The stoic England skipper and Hameed saw out 50 overs before Ravichandran Ashwin (1-28) ended the teenager’s doughty, mature knock and England were 87-2 at stumps after being set a highly improbable 405 to win in Visakhapatnam.

Stuart Broad (4-33) excelled and Adil Rashid took 4-82 as India were bowled out for 204 earlier on Sunday, with captain Virat Kohli making a classy 81.

Hameed was rapped on the gloves after taking his

Stuart Broad eye off a hostile first delivery he faced from Mohammad Shami (0-16), but the teenager was clearly not rattled by that uncertain start.

He was solid in defence, getting in a big stride to nullify the threat of the spinners and thrived on the challenge of dig-

ging in under pressure as Cook knuckled down at the other end, as he has so many times over the years.

The unwavering openers saw out 28 overs to see the tourists through to 40 without loss at tea, then Cook, who found runs easier to come by, cashed in on a half-volley from Ashwin with a glorious cover drive.

Hameed launched the spinner down the ground later in the same over in a rare display of aggression and India’s frustration mounted when they used up both reviews in quick succession, with umpire’s call the verdict on both occasions after Cook was struck on the pad.

Kohli looked puzzled after failing to overturn both decisions, but the breakthrough finally came when the unfortunate Hameed was trapped leg before by an Ashwin delivery that kept alarmingly low.

Cook stuck to the task and brought up his half-century with a single after 171 balls, but

the left hander’s luck ran out when he failed with a review right at the end of the day after Jadeja struck him on the pad to end a gutsy innings.

Broad, seemingly untroubled by a foot injury which has put his participation in the third Test in doubt, earlier produced a magnificent probing spell and Rashid impressed once again in the morning session after India resumed on 98-3.

Paceman Broad got rid of Ajinkya Rahane (26) and Ashwin (7), while leg-spinner Rashid was indebted to Ben Stokes when he took a magnificent diving catch to end Kohli’s latest masterclass.

Debutant Jayant Yadav (27 not out) and Mohammed Shami (19) put on an entertaining 42 for the last wicket to frustrate England before India got a couple of late rewards for their persistence in the field to set up a potentially enthralling final day.(Omnisport.com)

SCOREBOARD

INDIA 1st innings 455 (V. Kohli 167, C. Pujara 119, R. Ashwin 58) England 1st innings 255 (B. Stokes 70, J. Bairstow 53, J. Root 53; R. Ashwin 5-67) India 2nd innings (Overnight: 98-3) M. Vijay c Root b Broad 3 L. Rahul c Bairstow b Broad 10 C. Pujara b Anderson 1 V. Kohli c Stokes b Rashid 81 A. Rahane c Cook b Broad 26 R. Ashwin c Bairstow b Broad 7 W. Saha lbw b Rashid 2 R. Jadeja c Ali b Rashid 14 J. Yadav not out 27 U. Yadav c Bairstow b Rashid 0 M. Shami st Bairstow b Ali 19 Extras (b-5 lb-8 w-1) 14 Total (all out, 63.1 overs) 204 Fall of wickets: 1-16 M. Vijay,2-17 L. Rahul,3-40 C. Pujara,4-117 A. Rahane,5-127 R. Ashwin,6-130 W. Saha,7-151 V. Kohli,8-162 R. Jadeja,9-162 U. Yadav,10-204 M. Shami Bowling: J. Anderson 15 - 3 - 33 – 1, S. Broad 14 - 5 - 33 – 4, A. Rashid 24 - 3 - 82 – 4, B. Stokes 7 - 0 - 34 - 0(w-1), M. Ali 3.1 - 1 - 9 - 1 ENGLAND 2nd innings (Target: 405 runs) A. Cook lbw b Jadeja 54 H. Hameed lbw b R. Ashwin 25 J. Root not out 5 Extras (lb-3) 3 Total (for 2 wickets, 59.2 overs) 87 Fall of wickets: 1-75 H. Hameed,2-87 A. Cook To bat: B. Duckett, M. Ali, B. Stokes, J. Bairstow, Z. Ansari, A. Rashid, S. Broad, J. Anderson Bowling: M. Shami 9 - 2 - 16 – 0, U. Yadav 8 - 3 - 8 – 0, R. Ashwin 16 - 5 - 28 – 1, R. Jadeja 22.2 - 8 - 25 – 1,. J. Yadav 4 - 1 - 7 - 0

Murray beats Djokovic to secure year-end top ranking

By Martyn Herman LONDON,(Reuters)-After a season in which he had already reached dizzy heights, Andy Murray saved the best for last by outclassing Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-4 to claim his first ATP World Tour Finals title and secure the year-end top ranking yesterday.

Against a player who has so often been his nemesis, Murray produced a relentless display

to overpower the Serb he dislodged from the number one spot earlier this month.

Murray added the title to the Wimbledon crown and Rio Olympics gold he won during a stunning summer and, despite Djokovic’s Australian Open and French Open titles, there can be little argument the Scot is currently the world’s best player.

There was a slight wobble when Djokovic fought back

from 4-1 down in the second set as the exertions of Murray’s near four hour semi-final epic against Milos Raonic began to tell.

But Murray was relentless and claim,ed victory on his third match point when an error-prone Djokovic fired a forehand wide.

“It’s very special playing against Novak in a match like this, we’ve played grand slam finals and at the Olympics be-

fore, but I am very happy to win and to be world number one is very special. It is something I never expected,” Murray said.

Three-times grand slam champion Murray is the 17th man to end the year at number one since ATP rankings began in 1973 and only the fourth since 2004 -- after which Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic have shared the position between themselves.

Williamson revels in overdue win for Black Caps NEW Zealand captain Kane Williamson lauded the performance of his team after the Black Caps crushed Pakistan in the opening Test to end a fivematch winless run.

Williamson led from the front as New Zealand defeated Pakistan by eight-wickets in Christchurch on Sunday.

Set 105 for victory at Hagley Oval on day four, Williamson scored 61 and debutant Jeet Raval finished 36 not out to see the Kiwis to a comprehensive win against the visitors.

The result ended New Zealand’s Test drought, having drawn to South Africa in August before losing the second match against the Pro-

teas, while they were swept 3-0 by India in September.

“Naturally it’s tough coming off a few losses but it’s good to be home and the boys stepped it up and put some of those feelings of defeat behind us to play a very good test match,” Williamson said in an interview post-match.

“The first innings it did a bit for both teams and there were two low scores.

“But we knew that second innings would be really important against a strong side like Pakistan who tour very well.

“It was a very good performance.”

Pakistan resumed at 129-7 - a lead of 62 runs in

KANE WILLIAMSON their second innings - before they were bowled out for 171.

Ti m S o u t h e e ( 3 - 5 3 ) claimed two wickets on

Sunday, despite the best efforts of Sohail Khan (40) and Asad Shafiq (17), who combined for a 53-run partnership.

“As a professional, as the number two test team in the world we should be better than that,” said Azhar Ali as the series moves to Hamilton for the second and final Test, starting Friday.

“We should have put in a better batting show, especially the first innings.

It was quite helpful for the bowlers but I think we could have scored more runs which would have helped because on that kind of track you’re always in the game.”(Omnisport. com)

Great Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates winning the final against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic with the ATP World Tour Finals trophy and Year-End No. 1 Trophy Reuters / Toby Melville Livepic

SCOREBOARD PAKISTAN 1st innings 133 (C. de Grandhomme 6-41) New Zealand 1st innings 200 (J. Raval 55; R. Ali 4-62) Pakistan 2nd innings (Overnight: 129-7) S. Aslam c Watling b de Grandhomme 7 Az. Ali b Boult 31 B. Azam c Watling b Wagner 29 Y. Khan c Watling b Wagner 1 Misbah-ul-Haq c Boult b Southee 13 A. Shafiq c Raval b Wagner 17 S. Ahmed b Boult 2 M. Amir c Astle b Boult 6 So. Khan c de Grandhomme b Southee 40 Y. Shah not out 6 R. Ali c Latham b Southee 2 Extras (b-5 lb-7 w-5) 17 Total (all out, 78.4 overs) 171 Fall of wickets: 1-21 S. Aslam,2-58 B. Azam,3-64 Y. Khan,4-93 Misbahul-Haq,5-93 Az. Ali,6-95 S. Ahmed,7-105 M. Amir,8-158 So. Khan,9-166 A. Shafiq,10-171 R. Ali Bowling: T. Boult 17 - 5 - 37 - 3(w-1),T. Southee 23.4 - 10 - 53 – 3, C. de Grandhomme 14 - 4 - 23 – 1, N. Wagner 20 - 6 - 34 – 3, T. Astle 4 - 0 - 12 – 0.

NEW ZEALAND 2nd innings (Target: 105 runs) T. Latham c Shafiq b Amir 9 J. Raval not out 36 K. Williamson c Shafiq b Az. Ali 61 H. Nicholls not out 0 Extras (nb-2) 2 Total (for 2 wickets, 31.3 overs) 108 Fall of wickets: 1-19 T. Latham,2-104 K. Williamson Did not bat: R. Taylor, C. de Grandhomme, B. Watling, T. Southee, T. Astle, N. Wagner, T. Boult Bowling: M. Amir 7 - 2 - 12 - 1(nb-2), So. Khan 6 - 1 - 21 – 0, R. Ali 6 - 0 - 24 – 0, Y. Shah 9.3 - 1 - 45 – 0, Az. Ali 3 - 1 - 6 – 1.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

Alleyne blasts maiden century to put Pride on victory path

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Opener Anthony Alleyne blasted a boundary-studded maiden first class hundred here yesterday to install Barbados Pride as heavy favourites to win their Regional Four-Day second round contest against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

The 23-year-old left-handed carved out a brilliant 186 to fall just short of a double hundred as the visitors dominated the third day of the game at Queen’s Park Oval, piling up 317 for two declared in their second innings.

Shamarh Brooks chipped in with an unbeaten 76 while opener Omar Phillips got 40.

Set an improbable target of 392 for victory, Red Force stumbled to the close on 57 for three – still 335 runs adrift.

Barbadian opener Kyle Hope made 26 while Yannic Cariah got 25.

Resuming the day on 20 without loss, Pride once again bossed proceedings courtesy of Alleyne, who extended his rich vein of form while anchoring two century partnerships.

In only his 11th first class outing, he put on 101 for the first wicket with Phillips and then took the game away from Red Force by spearheading a 216-run, second wicket stand with Brooks.

All told, Alleyne faced 215 deliveries in just over 4-1/2 hours at the crease and struck 24 fours and two fours.

Unbeaten on 10 at the start of the day, Alleyne did the bulk of the scoring in the morning session to raise his

third half-century in as many innings off 70 deliveries with ten fours, half-hour before lunch.

Phillips fell six overs

The right-handed Brooks hit seven fours off 136 balls in 170 minutes.

Test seamer Kemar Roach immediately put the

Opener Anthony Alleyne celebrates reaching his maiden first class century against T&T Red Force at Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday. (Photo courtesy WICB Media) before the interval, lbw to leg-spinner Imran Khan, but Alleyne pushed on to be 67 not out at the break, with Pride on 136 for one.

Alleyne, who top-scored with 88 in the first innings, then completed a deserving century about 50 minutes following the resumption, off 140 balls with 16 fours.

Brooks, unbeaten on 21 at lunch, reached his 11 th first class half-century about 35 minutes before tea, facing 86 balls and counted six fours.

At the interval, Pride were cruising on 279 for one, with Alleyne on 163 and Brooks on 64, and the pair gathered another 38 runs off 40 balls afterwards, before the declaration came when Alleyne was finally out.

Red Force innings in strife

when he removed Imran Khan for a first ball ‘duck’ off the second ball of the innings, caught at the wicket with the score on two.

Hope and Cariah then resisted in a 48-run second wicket stand that seemed to be taking Red Force safely to the close.

The right-handed Hope faced 44 deliveries and counted five fours while Cariah, a left-hander, also struck five boundaries in a 47-ball innings.

However, Hope was bowled by captain and medium pacer Kevin Stoute on 50 for two and with six runs added, off-spinner Kenroy Williams also breached Cariah’s defence in the fourth over before the close, leaving Red Force with a mountain top climb on Monday’s final day.

SCOREBOARD PRIDE 1st Innings 242 RED FORCE 1st Innings 168 Pride 2nd Innings (overnight 20 without loss) O Phillips lbw b Imran Khan 40 A Alleyne c Hope b Richards 186 S Brooks not out 76 Extras (b5, lb5, w2, nb3) 15 TOTAL (2 wkts decl., 71.4 overs) 317 Fall of wickets: 1-101, 2-317.

Bowling: Cottrell 8-1-31-0, Richards 8.4-0-41-1, Imran Khan 23-1-96-1, Primus 6-2-34-0, Jagessar 16-3-59-0, Goolie 3-0-15-0, Ottley 7-1-31-0.

RED FORCE 2nd Innings (target: 392 runs) K Hope b Stoute 26 Imran Khan c wkp Rampersad b Roach 0 Y Cariah b Williams 25 M Richards not out 2 Y Ottley not out 0 Extras (b1, nb3) 4 TOTAL (3 wkts, 21 overs) 57 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-50, 3-56.

Bowling: Roach 5-1-23-1, Greaves 4-1-17-0, Chase 4-2-8-0, Stoute 3-1-7-1, Warrican 2-1-1-0, Williams 2-2-0-1, Charles 1-1-0-0.

Position: Red Force require a further 335 runs for victory with seven wickets intact.

Aussies make drastic changes for Adelaide Test …. five players dropped from second Test squad

(REUTERS)-Australia’s selectors have responded to the threat of a first ever Test series sweep on home soil by dropping five players from their squad for the third match against South Africa, which begins in Adelaide on Thursday.

Joe Burns, Adam Voges and Callum Ferguson, as well as wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, paid the price for a string of batting collapses, while seamer Joe Mennie was also axed after the innings defeat in the second test in Hobart.

Four uncapped players -- openers Matt Renshaw and Nic Maddinson, wicketkeeper-batsman Peter Handscomb and seamer Chadd Sayers -came into the 12-man squad.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade and seamer Jackson Bird, both given pre-

vious chances at Test level before being discarded, were also recalled.

South Africa have ensured a third straight series triumph in Australia with thumping victories in Perth and Hobart, rendering the day-night third Test a dead rubber and plunging the host nation into crisis.

Chief selector Rod Marsh stood down from his post ahead of schedule last week and so on Sunday it was his temporary replacement Trevor Hohns who wielded the axe in Adelaide.

“Matt has established himself in a short period of time as one of the best young opening bats in the country,” Hohns said.

Peter’s form over the last couple of seasons has been very consistent. He has a good all-round game and we

think he is the type of player who could succeed at the next level.

“Nic is an exciting and talented young player and we feel now is the ideal time for him to be involved with the Australian team.”

Coach Darren Lehmann suggested after the Hobart defeat that only captain Steve Smith, his vice-captain David Warner and seamers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were secure and the selection panel was true to his word.

Top order batsman Usman Khawaja, who has been recalled and discarded regularly since making his debut during the 2010-11 Ashes series, also survived along with off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Sayers and Bird are likely to be in contention for one spot in the pace attack along with

Starc and Hazlewood, while Wade looks set to replace Nevill behind the stumps.

“Chadd bowls very well in Adelaide and Jackson is coming off a strong performance in his last tTst match earlier in the year and both deserve their chance,” Hohns added.

“Matthew has worked extremely hard on his keeping in the past few seasons and we consider it to have improved substantially. He is also a very valuable player with the bat and will add to the depth in our batting order.”

Squad: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Matt Renshaw, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade.

Double wins for West Berbice Port Mourant, Young Warriors and Tucber also record victories

WEST Berbice were victorious against Blairmont Cricket Club and Bush Lot, while Port Mourant, Tucber Park and Young Warriors also recorded wins when play in the TENELEC Inc. 50-over cricket continued recently in Berbice.

At Blairmont, West Berbice won by 32 runs against the hosts. Batting first, the visitors were bowled out for 152 in 28.4 overs. Arthley Bailey with 37, Rafael Estriado 31, Steffon Adams 25 and Renison Mitchell 21,were the principal scorers.

Shabeer Bask took 4-19, while Parmanand Ramdhan claimed 3-13.In reply, Blairmont fell for 121 in 32.1 overs. Javid Karim offered the only resistance with 24.

A t P o r t M o urant, the home team batted first and made 183 in 39.5 overs. Arif Chan topscored with 62.

He received support from Chanderpaul Hemraj, who made 44. Andy Mohan and Veramootoo Senwasane chipped in with 22 and 21 respectively.

Bowling for UCCA, Naem Yacoob took 3-18 and Lakeram Latchman had 2-41.

Linden Austin In reply, UCCA tumbled for a disappointing 125 off 30 overs. Only A. Agib with 32 and Jameel Azad 19 offered some fight. Bowling for the winners, Hemraj took 3-20, Chan 3-25 and Dimitri Cameron 2-25.

Over at Bush Lot, West Berbice completed their second win by nine wickets against Bush Lot. Batting first, the hosts scored a paltry 126 in 33 overs, with skipper Rajbance Hemraj making 34 and Asgar Mathabeer 24.

Bowling for West Berbice, Andrew Dutchin took 4-13. Rendell Bobb, Krishendat Ramoo and Mitchell supported with two wickets each.

In reply, the visitors raced to 127-2 in 16.4 overs. Rafael Estriado topscored with 48. Artley Bailey and Dutchin were left unbeaten on 28 and 24 respectively when victory was achieved.

At Cumberland ground, Young Warriors beat Edinburgh by five wickets. Batting first, Edinburgh made 140 in 32 overs, with Jamal Andrews 55, D Seepersaud 32 and M Singh 25.

Bowling for YWCC, pacer Suresh Dhanai took 4-15 and Linden Austin 4-42. In reply, YWCC made 141-5 off 29.4 overs. Essequibo born Royan Fredericks made 46, Austin 34 and Alex Algoo 24.

Andrews took 2-27 for Edinburgh.

At Port Mourant, Edinburgh suffered their second loss to Tucber Park by 10 wickets. Batting first, they were bowled out for 63, with pacer Niall Smith ripping through the batting, claiming 5-30 while Chetram Persaud had 3-10.

In reply, Tucber Park raced to 64 without loss.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

Farfan & Mendes Junior Squash tourney ...

Wins for Wiltshire, Fernandes and Harding on final day IT was high action as the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) in partnership with Digicel wrapped up its annual Farfan and Mendes Junior Squash tournament yesterday at the Georgetown Club. The day saw the continuation of play in all categories as the final matches were played off.

In category A, unbeaten Shomari Wiltshire faced Taylor Fernandes.Shomari continued his unbeaten streak as he dispatched Fernandes 11–6, 11–5,11–6. The second game in this category saw Alex Cheeks knocking off Anthony Islam 13-11, 113,11-4.

In category B, Rebecca Low came up against Makeda Harding. Low was undefeated coming into the matchup and lost to Harding who showed improvement after losing to Samuel Ince-Carvalhal earlier in the tournament.

Low won the first game 11-5 but lost form and fell in the remaining three games 11-4, 11-5, 11-7. In

the match between Gianni Carpenter and Maya Collins, Gianni prevailed in three close games, 11–10, 11–9, 11–8.

younger Ethan won in three straight games, 11 – 5, 13 – 11,11 – 9.

In category D, Madison Fernandes faced Kirsten

The fifth game was tightly contested with Fernandes winning 12-10. In the other match in this category Aliyah Persaud defeated Jason

L-R All participants in 2016 tournament In category C, unbeaten Michael Alphonso knocked off Demetrius De Abreu in four games. Alphonso won the first game 11 – 5, but lost the second game 9 – 11.

However,he won the remaining two games 11-8 and 11-7.

In a sibling matchup between Lucas and Ethan Jonas, the

G o m e s a n d s e c u re d a well-deserved victory. Both were previously undefeated and the match was close coming down to the deciding fifth game. Fernandes won games one and three 12-10 and 11-6,while Gomes won games two and four 11-7 and 11-6.

Gomes 11 – 9, 9 – 11, 11 – 4, 11 – 6.

Meanwhile, the overall winner of category A was Shomari Wilthshire with Alex Cheeks coming second and Taylor Fernandes third. In category B it was Makeda Harding taking first, Samuel Ince-Carval-

Hurricanes facing tall order on final day BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Two-time reigning champions Guyana Jaguars will fancy their chances of a victory on today’s final day after batting themselves into a strong position against Leeward Islands Hurricanes in their Regional Four-Day contest here yesterday.

Chris Barnwell topscored with 61 and fellow all-rounder Raymon Reifer got 46 as Jaguars, with a lead of 135 on first innings, eased to 233 for eight in their second innings at Warner Park on the penultimate day of the game.

Captain Leon Johnson made 28, opener Rajindra Chandrika scored 24 and wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble, 22.

Leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr was the leading bowler with four for 56 while off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall claimed two for 72.

Set 369 for victory, Hurricanes defied the odds and ended the day without

hal second and Rebecca Low third.

The overall winner of category C was Michael Alphonso with Ethan Jonas

… require a further 322 runs for victory losing a wicket, perched on 44 without loss with Montcin Hodge on 26 and captain Kieran Powell on 20.

They require a further 325 runs to pull off an improbable win.

The hosts added just one to their overnight first innings score of 157 before they were dismissed in the day’s first over but Jaguars then stuttered, slipping to 70 for four just after lunch.

Shimron Hetmyer was caught at the wicket off seamer Quinton Boatswain, trying to cut one too close to him at 25 for one, Chandrika fell to another catch the wicket after top-edging Cornwall at 45 for two and Vishaul Singh was lbw to Walsh Jr for two.

Shakily placed on 64 for three at lunch, Jaguars were further set back when Johnson perished via the run out route, in the third over following the resumption.

However, Barnwell mustered his eighth first class half-century, in an innings spanning 121 balls and 2-1/2 hours and which included six boundaries.

He put on 39 for the fifth wicket with veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul who made 20 and

added a further 79 for the sixth wicket with Reifer, who struck five fours and a six in a breezy 75-ball knock.

The two partnerships deflated Hurricanes and though they claimed three wickets for 47 runs late on, any initiative had already slipped by.

SCOREBOARD JAGUARS 1st Innings 293 Hurricanes 1st Innings (overnight 157 for nine) K Powell c and b Motie 79 M Hodge c Johnson b Reifer 8 A Saunders lbw b Barnwell 7 C Hughes c wkp Bramble b Reifer 1 N Bonner run out 13 J Hamilton lbw b Permaul 4 R Cornwall c Johnson b Permaul 8 J Louis not out 24 H Walsh c Barnwell b Motie 0 Q Boatswain c Hetmyer b Joseph 6 G Tonge lbw b Joseph 3 Extras (lb1, w3, nb1) 5 TOTAL (all out, 77 overs) 158 Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-37, 3-44, 4-69, 5-92, 6-109, 7-138, 8-142, 9-156, 10-158.

Bowling: Joseph 15-3-27-2 (nb1), Motie 17-5-43-3, Permaul 24-644-1, Reifer 10-5-22-2, Barnwell 11-3-21-1.

JAGUARS 2nd Innings R Chandrika c wkp Hamilton b Cornwall 24 S Hetmyer c wkp Hamilton

b Boatswain 12 L Johnson run out 28 Vishaul Singh lbw b Walsh 2 S Chanderpaul c Walsh b Cornwall 20 C Barnwell c (sub) Karty b Walsh 61 R Reifer st Hamilton b Walsh 46 A Bramble c Cornwall b Wash 22 V Permaul not out 22 Extras (b5, nb3) 8 TOTAL (8 wkts decl., 75.4 overs) 233 Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-45, 3-62, 4-70, 5-109, 6-186, 7-208, 8-233.

B o w l i n g : To n g e 1 4 - 4 - 3 8 - 0 , Boatswain 14-3-30-1, Louis 8-417-0, Cornwall 24-3-72-2, Walsh 10.4-3-56-4, Bonner 3-1-4-0, Powell 2-0-11-0.

HURRICANES 2nd Innings (target: 369 runs) K Powell not out 20 M Hodge not out 26 Extras (w1) 1 TOTAL (without loss, 18 overs) 47 Bowling: Joseph 4-1-10-0, Reifer 3-1-16-0, Barnwell 2-0-9-0, Motie 4-1-7-0, Permaul 4-2-4-0, Johnson 1-0-1-0.

second and Demetrius De Abreu coming third. In category 4 Madison Fernandes finished first with Kirsten Gomes second and Abosaide Cadogan third. It was James Mekdeci who finished first with Mohyryan Baksh second, Zachary Persaud third and Paige Fernandes fourth

in category E. In category F, Louis Da Silva finished first, Mikhail Persaud second, Nicholas Verwey third and Liam Carpenter fourth. For category G, Jahcinta Adams came first, Teija Edwards second and Beau Fernandes third.

Elan Rahaman finished first with Rayad Boyce second and Rayden Persaud third in category H, while in category I Noah Rahaman won while Dhiren Persaud finished second with Aishani Persaud and Malia Maikoo placing third and fourth respectively.

Kirsten Gomes and Alex Cheeks took home the awards for most improved girl and most improved boy respectively. Madison Fernandes got the award for most outstanding girl while Michael Alphonso got the most outstanding boy award.

Prizes were presented to the winners by Mrs Karen Gomes who is a representative of the sponsors Farfan & Mendes.

Ambris, Mayers give Volcanoes upper hand KINGSTON, Jamaica, ( CMC) – Half-centuries from Sunil Ambris and all-rounder Kyle Mayers gave Windward Islands Volcanoes the upper hand over Jamaica Scorpions, on the penultimate day of their second round game in the Regional Four-Day Championship here yesterday.

Resuming on one without loss in reply to Scorpions’ 151, Volcanoes were dismissed for 205 to take a lead of 54 runs at Sabina Park.

At the close, Scorpions were 92 for two – a small overall lead of 38 runs heading into today’s final day.

Volcanoes made a poor start to the day, losing three early wickets to slide to 30 for three, as seamer Derval Green (2-37) made vital strikes.

Veteran Devon Smith was caught behind without scoring off the day’s first ball from debutant 19-year-old pacer Oshane Thomas – his first ball in first class cricket – and Green then sent back opener Tyrone Theophile (3) and Jerlani Robinson (19) in quick succession.

Ambris and Mayers then both hit a joint top score of 61 to rally the innings while Kavem Hodge made 26 and Delorn Johnson, 23.

Ambris struck eight fours off 94 deliveries and put on 66 for the fourth wicket with Hodge, before adding a further 51 for the sixth wicket with Mayers, who belted five fours and a six off 98 balls.

Thomas (2-26), leg-spinner Damion Jacobs (2-43) and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller (2-45) all finished with two wickets apiece.

Opener John Campbell then spearheaded Scorpions’ second innings charge with an unbeaten 43, which has so far lasted 95 balls, 128 minutes and included three fours.

He put on 53 for the first wicket with Guyanese Trevon Griffith who made 22 before falling lbw to seamer Mayers (2-22) The left-handed Campbell also posted 22 for the second wicket with Devon Thomas before Mayers struck again, bowling the Antiguan for nine.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

Trinidadians dominate at South American 10km

By Tamica Garnett LAST year it was a Peruvian, but this year it was a Trinidadian who ruled the Guyana leg of the South American 10km Classic where Curtis Cox and his compatriot Tonya Nero won the men’s and women’s category of the race when it concluded yesterday in the National Park.

It was easy victories for the two Trinidadians as many of the major competitors in both of the divisions were not present for yesterday’s run, which started off on CARIFESTA Avenue at 16.00hrs.

Cox crossed the finishing line some 32 minutes

48 seconds after he started the race, while Nero successfully defended her title after clocking 36 minutes and 14 seconds.

Guyana’s Cleveland Thomas and Winston Missigher came in just behind Cox, while Trinidad’s Matthew Hagley was fourth and Guyana’s Ornesto Thomas rounded out the top five in the men’s category.

The race got off to a brisk start, much like what played out last year when the race eventually ended in 31:08 and was won by Peruvian Yerson Orellana.

In the early stages, Cox was happy to cruise as he let a group of Guyanese take the lead. Guyanese Nathaniel

Giddings initially stood in the lead, but he was quickly overtaken by others like Cleveland Thomas, Missigher, Ornesto, and Hagley.

This group set the pace for the first half of the race before Cox decided to make his move, eventually catching up with and then passing the group after another 2km. Cox opened up a 20 yard lead that he never relinquished,thereby reducing the race to a battle for second place.

In this battle Missigher seemed poised for second place as things winded down to the final kilometer, but that was not to be as he was soon overtaken by Cleveland, who passed him as the

race entered the Park.

Cleveland would become the second person to cross the finishing line,clocking 33 minutes and 24 seconds.

Missigher came in 24 seconds behind him.

Hagley had a time of 33 minutes and 58 seconds, while Ornesto finished in 34 minutes and 29 seconds.

Speaking after the race Cox shared how happy he was with his win. The 49 year old noted that he was pleased with his performance particularly since he participated despite suffering from an injury.

“I ran a race last Sunday which I won but I fell in the race and damaged my toe, so with the pain it was like

Trinidadian Curtis Cox crossing the finishing line for the win

The proud winners in yesterday’s South American 10km Classic displaying their hardware. (Samuel Maughn photos)

Windies Women clinch T20 series V I J AYAWA D A , I n d i a , (CMC) – West Indies Women remained true to form when they clinched their three-match Twenty20 International series against India with an uncomplicated 31-run victory in the second game here yesterday.

Defending 137 for five at the Mulapadu Cricket Stadium, the Caribbean side knocked over the hosts for 106 off 18.1 overs, to win their second game in three days and make up for the pain of their 3-0 whitewash in the preceding one-day series.

Sent in, West Indies Women were again propelled by captain Stafanie Taylor who top-scored with 47 while veteran Deandra Dottin stroked 35 and teenaged opener Hayley Matthews, 27.

Seamer Shikha Pandey was the best bowler with two for 29.

Matthews gave the innings impetus in a brisk 28-ball knock which included five fours but she and Britney Cooper (5) fell in

Off-spinner Anisa Mohammed picked up three for 23 the space of nine deliveries to leave the visitors on 41 for two in the eighth over.

Taylor then expertly an-

chored two key partnership to ensure West Indies built a competitive total. First, she put on 48 for the third wicket with Dottin, who dominated with a 21-ball cameo which included five boundaries.

Secondly, she added a further 48 for the fourth wicket with former captain Merissa Aguilleira whose 21 came from 17 balls and included two fours.

All told, Taylor faced 46 deliveries and counted four fours.

I n d i a Wo m e n t h e n found themselves in early trouble when they lost Smriti Mandhana cheaply for four off the fourth ball of the innings with the score on five and several attempts to revive the innings failed.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur top-scored with a brisk 43 off 37 balls with a four

and three sixes while Deepti Sharma chipped in with 24 from 21 balls, but the hosts struggled to put partnerships together.

Deepti Sharma added 24 for the second wicket with Meghna Singh (17) and another 22 for the fourth with Kaur for the best stands of the innings.

When Deepti Sharma was caught and bowled by off-spinner Anisa Mohammed in the 11th over, India Women were struggling on 59 for four, and Mohammed and Dottin combined to trigger a collapse which saw the last six wickets go down for 47 runs.

Mohammed finished with three for 23 and seamer Dottin picked up three for 24 – including Kaur who was last out.

The final game of the series is carded for tomorrow.

I was running on one foot. I just tried to bide my time… and about the last 3km I tried to make my move,” Cox said.

This was the second time Cox participated in a 10km road race in Guyana for this year, as he was here in July for the Caricom 10km. In that race he placed second to Guyana’s Cleveland Forde.

Forde did not participate in this Classic because he was suffering from an injury.

Among the female competitors, Nero placed first.

She took the lead early and received nary a challenge from the other females, Second place finisher, Ashanti Scott was almost 10 minutes behind,clocking 43 minutes and 15 seconds. Canada’s

Caroline Macisaac placed third with a time of 47 minutes and 17 seconds. Guyana’s Alicia Jack was fourth in 49 minutes 10 seconds and Cassie Kirton was fifth with a time of 50 minutes and 38 seconds.

The event also had a junior category with Odwin Tudor and Matthew McKenzie taking first and second place, respectively, for the boys, while Delicia Tinnis won for the girls.

There was also a 3000m and 1500m open to the younger athletes.

Alex Hartog won the boys’ 1500m and Tonya Smith won for the girls.

Kennard Hartog won the boys’ 3000m and Alliyahy Headley won the girls.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday November 21, 2016) 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) Sri Lanka (2) 62 runs

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who were WI debutants in their first game of the current Tri-Nations ODI series?

(2) Who was declared Man of the Match in WI first game of the Tri-Nations ODI series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 21, 2016

National Schools championships kick off today with 10km, swimming and cycling ATHLETES taking part in the National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships started arriving at the Games Village on Saturday, and more arrivals continued yesterday ahead of the championships starting today with the 10km road race, swimming and cycling events.

The athletes will be housed at various schools along Woolford Avenue, including Tutorial High and North Georgetown Secondary.

As is customary, the students of these schools will have no classes during the one-week duration of the Championships.

The 10km race will begin at 6am this morning, while the swimming at the National Aquatic Centre starts off at 9.00hrs. The cycling will be held at the circuit of the National Park starting from 10am.

North Georgetown District 11 and Corentyne District 6 have been known to dominate the swimming and cycling competitions, respectively and are looking to defend their titles today.

District 11 will no doubt get stiff competition from Linden in the pool, as well as from East Georgetown District 12 who have been boasting that they have an improved swimming team and will also be looking to be a force to reckoned with.

For the first year all of the cycling events, save for the 40km road race, will be held on one-day and at one location, separate from the track events. The 40km cycling road race will be held on Friday at 10am, commencing and concluding outside of Oceanview Hotel on the East Coast of Demerara.

Following today’s activities,the Championships will continue tomorrow with the opening ceremony at 10.00hrs at the National Stadium.

The much anticipated track and field events finally get underway at the same venue. The day will see the heats in the 400m and quite a few of the field events being contested.

Athletics will continue at the Stadium through to Friday from 9:30am daily.

A total of fifteen districts will be contesting the Championships in four competitions,namely the athletics, swimming, cycling and teachers competitions. The event will see the participation of student athletes and teachers from all across Guyana.

Upper Demerara/Kwakwani District 10 is the defending champion-of-champions.

Some of the athletes from District 15 arriving at the Games Village yesterday

National Schools onSeepagestory 31 championships kick off today with 10km, swimming and cycling Petra/ Courts Pee-Wee Football Competition

St Angela’s Primary still Pee Wee champions

By Stephan Sookram

IT was all smiles and jubilation for St Angela’s Primary as they successfully defended their title and in the process became back-

to-back champions of the Petra/ COURTS Pee-Wee football competition.

Playing in yesterday’s final at the Banks DIH Thirst Park ground,the defending champions St Angela’s Pri-

mary needled their St. Agnes opponents 1-0 to cart off the title, despite a valiant effort from the opposition who skewed wide of the goal on several occasions.

Seon Cato’s 12th minute

The winning St Angela’s team pose with their spoils. (Adrian Narine photos)

Seon Cato celebrates after scoring the winning goal strike was enough to give his with Nicholas Verwey (Marside the goal it needed to take ian Academy) cancelling out the win.

Shaquan Walters 7th minute Speaking after the game, strike.

Guyana Football Federation Meanwhile, St. StePresident Wayne Forde stated phens’s beat F.E. Pollard that the body has successfully 2-1 on penalty kicks as they hosted another tournament settled for 7th and 8th place which is in keeping with the respectively. federation’s best interest.

Winfer Gardens took Also present at the event ninth after they beat St Marwas title sponsors COURTS garets 4-0 with strikes from through Finance Director Orlando Dickie (4th, 10th and Neil Boucher who indicated 30th) as well as Calvin Bowlthat the body will be on board ing (23rd) while Stella Maris in 2017 for the event as they needled Tucville through Fecontinue to see the benefits del Norville,to be placed 11th of tournaments of this nature. and 12th respectively.

In the third-place play-off, Meanwhile, South West Ruimveldt needled St. Ruimveldt’s 2 goals through Pius 1-0 through Kenneth Gordanny George (12 th ) Gordon’s 24th minute strike. and Antonio Leitch (40 th) In the 5-8 play off, Marian accounted for the 13th spot Academy beat North George- against Redeemer who fintown 6-5 on sudden-death ished 14th while Mae’s beat kicks as they were both 1-1 St Gabriel’s 1-0 to finish at the end of regulation time 15th and 16th respectively

Army makes light work of Victoria Kings

… in easy 7-1 victory

THE Guyana Defense Force (GDF) made a most positive start to their title-chasing campaign of the GFF-Stag Elite League when season two kicked off yesterday, before several hundred fans, at the DCC ground in Queenstown.

The soldiers, in a ruthless display, made light work of newcomers Victoria Kings with a resounding 7-1 victory in the season’s opening match-up. It was a most unwelcome debut engagement for the East Coast side which looked far from match-ready

Stag Elite Teams line up for the traditional march past at the DCC ground, yesterday. (Adrian Narine photo) for Guyana’s top flight football.

The Army’s onslaught was spearheaded by second half substitute Sherwyn Caesar who netted the first

hat-trick of the season with strikes in the 78th, 87th and 90th minutes.

In the first segment of the match the Army led 3-0 at the break with Delroy

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216.

Fraser having the distinction of scoring the first goal, of season two, in the 20th minute.

Three minutes later Jeffrey Perreira doubled the

score and in the 31st. minute, Olvis Mitchell made it 3-0.

Five minutes after the interval,Eusi Phillips pushed the Army to a 4-0 lead before 29 year-old Caesar took cen-

tre-stage in a 12-minute explosion (78th to 90th) that was briefly interrupted in the 86th minute when Martis Johnson who opened the Kings’ account for the season with a consolation goal.

The speedy Caesar who was introduced ten minutes after the half-time told Chronicle Sport that it was his ‘cognitive skills and composure as well as following the Coach’s instructions that resulted in him producing the first treble of the season.

In the nigh cap, Fruta Conquerors led Linden’s Bakewell Top XX 2-0 up to press time. Germaine Junior scored both goals.

(Ras Wadada) MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016