Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 21 04 2016

36 Missing US$5M No. 104528

THURS DAY, APRIL 21, 2016

Price: $80

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…Gov’t can’t find money paid for GTT shares

Cops ready for 'Jubilee'

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Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry rehearses her ‘eyes right’ during a walk along the Jubilee parade route on Wednesday. Accompanying the minister are: Permanent Secretary, Alfred King, Commander of ‘A’ Division, Clifton Hicken and several other officials of the police and the ministry

Interpol helping Guyana fight TIP 9

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Canadian gold 15 years for killing 8 firm to invest 11 mother-in-law $370M in Guyana P.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Cops ready for 'Jubilee'

By Svetlana Marshall

ASSISTANT Commissioner and Commander of ‘A’ Division, Clifton Hicken,has said that maximum security will be in place to usher in Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

It is expected that more than 60,000 overseas-based Guyanese will return to participate in Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary. However, security remains a major concern.

On Wednesday, Commander Hicken, in offering his assurance that maximum security will be in place way ahead of Independence Day, alluded to the fact that there had been a steep reduction in crime in Division ‘A’ by 24%.

In fact, a recent report issued by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has indicated that there is a 14% reduction in serious crimes.

The statistics for murder have decreased by 5% in the first quarter of the year, while incidents of robbery under arms have also dipped by 10%.

The much anticipated float parade, which will take centre stage on May 26, will proceed along a new route moving from Church and Camp Streets

in a western direction then South onto Avenue of the Republic. It will then proceed in an eastern direction into Brickdam for the grand finale at the Durban Park.

Though the route has changed, manning parades and massive events in Guyana is nothing new for

there will be no congestion along the line,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

Once all the floats have passed, the cross streets which would have been initially cut-off, will be opened up for traffic, thereby reducing congestion around the town.

will be in strategic areas” where judges will be located and floats delayed for the purpose of judging.

“We will have adequate amount of police and barriers within Durban Park itself, keeping away the viewing public from the tarmac itself,” the ‘A’

the Jubilee Celebrations, Commander Hicken said the streets of Guyana, particularly in the capital city, would be flooded with police officers who would either be in uniform or in plainclothes.

At the time of the interview with this newspaper,

Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken (in centre) outlining the security systems that will be put in place for the grand independence float parade during the walkthrough

Service, Compton Sparman, and officials from the National Commemorative Commission were among those who walked with Minister Henry from Church and Camp Streets to Durban Park.

In a brief interview with this newspaper, Minister Henry said the walkthrough was primarily to assess the route to determine the best vantage points for aerial shoots, vending and restroom facilities.

Minister Henry said she is more than satisfied that there is enough space for vendors and spectators along the route. “I don’t suppose there is a better route given the wide shoulders we all saw and endorsed by competent persons, particularly the security forces.”

While at Durban Park, Minister Henry was joined

by Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection with

the Guyana Police Force, Commander Hicken said, positing that preparations have advanced.

“We will be cutting off the cross streets long in advance…and I can tell you we will be lining the route with police to ensure that

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson in discussion with Minister Henry and Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan (Photos by Adrian Narine) Additionally, the Commander pointed out that “pockets of crowd control

Division Commander further added.

However, throughout

the Assistant Commissioner of Police had just concluded a tour of the official Float Parade route with the Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry.

Officer in Charge of Operations at the Guyana Fire

responsibility for Labour Keith Scott, and Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson.

The ministerial team conducted an inspection of the site, particularly the bleachers. However, the media was prevented from participating in that exercise.

Missing US$5M

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

…Gov’t can’t find money paid for GTT shares FROM all indications, the Government of Guyana (GoG) is finding it difficult to pinpoint who had collected the outstanding US$5M owed the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) by Chinese Company Datang Telecom Technology and Industry Group for the sale of the state’s 20% shares in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company.

The Chinese company had purchased government’s 20 per cent shares in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GTT) in 2012.

The shares were sold at US$30M, but the company paid only US$25M. A few weeks ago, Minister of State Joseph Harmon and NICIL’s in-house attorney,

Natalia Seepersaud, visited

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon China where they engaged

in discussions pertaining to the outstanding US$5M owed for the purchase of the 20 per cent shares in GTT. It was discovered by virtue of documentation that the outstanding US$5M was paid over to the NICIL, despite the fact that NICIL’s former head Winston Brassington had said that the money had not been paid. Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman, disclosed on Wednesday at a post-Cabinet press briefing held at the Ministry of the Presidency, that the Government of Guyana (GoG) is currently trying to locate the US$5M that was outstanding to the government.

However, Trotman told the media that it was

discovered by Minister of State Harmon that the money was paid to NICIL before May 16 last year. It is unclear whom specifically the money was paid to under the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration.

“What I can say is that Mr. Harmon has been able to retrieve some documents which tell a different story and that story is that the $5 million was paid and we are trying to track down to whom, when and where and that was before May 16, 2015,” said Minister Trotman.

He said too that the Minister of State has provided a “full report” on the issue to Cabinet, while noting that NICIL’s board is currently examining the findings. That report is to

Ram storms out of CoI … due to lack of time to cross–examine witnesses “YOU give me a break!”

Those were the last words of Guyana Bar Association (GBA) President Christopher Ram as he walked out after announcing that the GBA had withdrawn its participation in the ongoing Commission of Inquiry into the deadly Camp Street Prison riot.

Before walking out, Ram had clarified the Bar Association’s withdrawal from the CoI. In addressing Chairman of the CoI, Justice James Patterson (rtd), Ram stated: “Just for the record Mr. Chairman, I should say that this decision is partly taken because we have not been provided with a proper opportunity to examine witnesses, we are continually interrupted improperly and unprofessionally and unethically, and we believe that the purpose and objective of this commission is being seriously compromised.”

He said both he and the GBA recognise the difficulties faced by the commission and the importance of “getting along with business,” but also recognised that Gladwyn Samuels, Deputy Director of Prisons(DDoP)

was “a key witness, and for us to be bound by a 30-minute rule and then to have these interruptions is unacceptable.”

The GBA President began his cross-examination

answered in the negative, Ram asked, “Are you represented by counsel?” He answered in the affirmative, and Ram asked “Was that a private arrangement?”

While Justice Patterson

In courtroom yesterday.

Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the Georgetown prison riots, Justice James Patterson (rtd), at the CoI yesterday (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson) by asking Samuels if he was shown the terms of reference of the CoI. After Samuels

objected, Ram, begging the Chairman to explain, stated: “Here it is we have an entity

which is the subject to this environment set up by the government (CoI), and then the same government is providing legal counsel for them (the prison). I just want this known.” Attorney-at-law Selwyn Pieters, representing the Georgetown Prison, interjected, “Mr. Chairman!”

It was then that the Bar Association President addressed the Commission’s Chairman: “Mr. Chairman, I am not going to take this interruption from the other side, unless it’s a proper point of objection. We’ve had enough from that side!”

Samuels, in continuing, said he was unaware of any prisoner or survivors of the Camp Street Prison fire being provided with legal counsel by the state.

Ram then proceeded by asking: “Mr. Samuels, did you tell this commission that you’re on leave?” and Samuels answered in the affirmative. However, when the lawyer continued by asking the reason Samuels was sent on leave, and the DDoP began responding, Attorney Pieters interjected, “Mr. Chairman!”

Ram, expressing disgust,

be made public soon, Trotman told the media. Money

NICIL’s former head Winston Brassington from the sale of Governsaid: “Oh God, here we go again,” but Pieters in explaining his point of objection, told the Commission, “Any personal issue between Senior Superintendent Samuels and the Ministry of Public Security or the Director at the Prison, are matters that

Barrister-at-Law Selwyn Pieters are private.”

While Justice Patterson indicated his agreement, Ram exclaimed, “Mr. Chairman look… as I said I have had enough! The Bar Association will not sit down here and be interrupted unnecessarily… already we have a serious problem here not being allowed a full opportunity to cross-examine.

This is a matter that is in the press, a statement made by the Minister of Public Security.”

While the GBA president read an excerpt, apparently

ment’s shares in GTT was used by NICIL, headed at that time by Brassington, to offset expenses at the controversial Marriott Hotel, Kingston. Brassington had made this disclosure at his last media briefing before being sent on leave by the APNU+AFC administration.

Minister Harmon was quoted in one section of the media as saying that Government had explored the option of taking Datang to court for the outstanding US$5M. “We have only two options, one of which is to take Datang to court,” Harmon was quoted as saying.

In the very article, the Minister of State said the other course of action would be to seek the intervention of the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin. from a local publication which quoted Minister Ramjattan as saying Samuels’s leave was a necessity, he said he was not asking the commission to take “judicial notice” as the chairman suggested, but he was merely putting a question to the witness.

Pieters objected again and Ram announced that he had “no further questions.”

Justice Patterson ruled: “If Mr. Ram doesn’t want to ask any further questions, we proceed then,” and after Ram announced and explained his withdrawal, the former judge warned, “I can’t control your exit, but it’s your re-entry I might have a problem with!”

That is when the GBA President confirmed, “I do not wish to re-enter Sir! I’m saying we’re withdrawing!”

The GBA President picked up his documents and as he made his way out of the room, Pieters made yet another remark: “Mr. Ram you didn’t take that decision with the Board of Directors of the Bar Association…” It was then that Ram told the prison attorney, “You give me a break!”

Just a few weeks ago, Pieters had also threatened to resign from the commission because of similar circumstances of being restricted to 20 minutes in cross-examining each witness. He had asked the Chairman of the Commission that his warning was for the record.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Canada pushing to legalise ‘ganja’

THE Canadian government will introduce legislation next year that would make the sale of marijuana legal, its health minister has said.

If enacted, the move would make Canada one of the largest Western countries to allow widespread use of the drug.

Health Minister Jane Philpott pledged yesterday to keep marijuana “out of the hands of children and profits out of the hands of criminals.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pushed for legalisation during his campaign.

The announcement coincided with April 20, an unofficial holiday among cannabis advocates. Hundreds of marijuana users demonstrated outside Parliament in Ottawa yesterday.

Medical use of marijuana is already legal in Canada.

Some have argued that legal

marijuana would reduce stress on Canada’s criminal justice system.

“We will work with law enforcement partners to encourage appropriate and proportionate criminal justice measures,” Ms Philpott said.

“We know it is impossible to arrest our way out of this problem.”

However, Gerard Deltell, a legislator from Canada’s opposition Conservatives, opposes the change, saying it would harm Canadians’ health.

“That’s one of the worst things you can do to Canadian youth; to open the door to marijuana,” he told Reuters news agency.

Mr Trudeau has named Bill Blair, a former Toronto police chief, as the government’s point person on legalisation.

“We control who it’s sold to, when it’s sold, and how it’s

Marijuana users demonstrating outside Parliament in Ottawa yesterday used,” Mr Blair said, likening marijuana to how alcohol is regulated. “And organised crime doesn’t have the opportunity to profit from it.”

He stressed that marijuana would remain illegal in Canada while legislation is being discussed.

Ms Philpott said the exact

details of the legislation are still being worked out.

In the US, voters in four states plus the District of Columbia have already legalised

the recreational use of the drug in ballot initiatives.

In other parts of the US, however, the drug remains illegal. (BBC)

US$20 bill to now feature Harriet Tubman ANTI-slavery activist Harriet Tubman will be the first woman to appear on a US banknote

for more than a century.

Tubman, who was born a slave around 1820 and helped hundreds of others escape, will feature on the new $20 bill, the US Treasury has announced.

She will replace former President Andrew Jackson, a slave owner.

The Treasury has

dropped plans to remove the image of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founders of the US financial system, from the $10 bill. It had faced a backlash over the plan.

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While Ms Tubman will feature on the front of the $20 bill, President Jackson’s image will move to the back.

US Treasury Secretary, Jacob Lew said that Harriet Tubman was “not just a

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historical figure, but a role model for leadership and participation in our democracy.”

“Her incredible story of courage and commitment to equality embodies the ideals of democracy that our nation celebrates,” he added.

Leaders from the women’s rights movement -- Lucretia Mott, Sojourner Truth, Susan B Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul -- will be pictured on the back of the $10 bill.

The back of the $5 bill,

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which depicts Abraham Lincoln on the front, will show prominent leaders from US history, including singer Marian Anderson, former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and civil rights leader, Martin Luther King.

The women last depicted on US bills were former first lady, Martha Washington, on the $1 silver certificate from 1891 to 1896, and Native American Pocahontas, in a group photo on the $20 bill from 1865 to 1869. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Ecuador death toll surpasses 500

--hundreds still missing

THE death toll from Saturday’s devastating earthquake in Ecuador has risen to 570, and could increase by many more, authorities in the country say.

Figures given by officials for the number of people missing ranged from 231 to 1,700.

Thousands of people have been left homeless, making them vulnerable to dirty drinking water and disease.

Meanwhile, a new 6.2 magnitude quake struck off the Ecuadorean coast, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The quake was centred 70km (44 miles) west of Esmeraldas at a shallow depth of 10km.

More than 4,000 people have been injured in the disaster, officials say.

The World Food Programme and Oxfam are sending supplies, while the UN said it was preparing a “major airlift”.

Deputy Interior Minister,

Diego Fuentes said 2,000 people had been reported missing since the quake struck. He said that 300 had been located since.

Ecuador’s Defence Minister, Ricardo Patino later said that 231 people were still missing.

HOPES WANE The cost of rebuilding could be up to $3bn (£2.1bn), President Rafael Correa said during a visit to the worst-affected region.

Sniffer dogs and mechanical diggers were being used to search for survivors in areas, and the smell of rotting bodies was filling the air, witnesses said.

Some people have been pulled out of the rubble alive, but, despite the efforts of emergency teams, hope is fading that others will be found.

As of Tuesday, rescue efforts would become more of a hunt for corpses, Ecuador’s Interior Minister Jose Serrano

told Reuters.

Foreign nationals from the UK, Ireland, Canada, Colombia, Cuba and the Dominican Republic have been confirmed among the dead.

Focus is now turning to the survivors. The quake damaged communications, transport links and sanitation, hampering relief efforts.

UNICEF has warned that 150,000 children have been affected by the disaster, and said landslides were complicating rescue efforts in some areas, and some towns were without electricity.

The Spanish Red Cross estimated that up to 100,000 people would need assistance.

Major international and aid organisations are sending help: * The WFP is sending enough food to feed 8,000 of the most severely affected people. * The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said it would send shelter and mosquito nets in an airlift due within 48 hours. * Oxfam said its first shipment of material provid-

Some of those ing safe drinking water would be sent in by yesterday. * Save the Children said it was working “around the clock”, and trying to ensure children can continue their education despite the damage.

Reconstruction costs are likely to be huge at a time when the oil-producing country is already reeling from the

Machel sues TSTT SOCA superstar and reigning Road March champ, Machel Montano is suing TSTT for $2 million for breach of contract after the local telecom provider suspended its sponsorship deal with the singer.

In 2013, TSTT, without giving a reason, suspended its sponsorship deal with Montano, after he was found guilty of assaulting four persons outside the Zen nightclub in Port-of-Spain on April 26, 2007, and on the charge of using obscene language.

Montano was ordered to pay fines and compensation totalling $27,000. According to Montano’s lawsuit, he signed a two-year contract with TSTT in November 2012. Certain sponsorship rights went to TSTT, which agreed to be the exclusive telecommunications sponsor for Montano. The lawsuit said that between July 2012 and January 2013, Montano duly performed and complied with his sponsorship rights, in accordance with the sponsorship agreement.

Montano received notice from TSTT one day before he was scheduled to perform at the bSquare concert, hosted by bmobile, that his contract was suspended and he will not be permitted to perform at the free concert at Woodford Square in Port-of-Spain. He was subsequently notified that all existing arrangements between himself and TSTT were suspended.

The lawsuit added that media publications of the suspension of his contract prejudiced and compromised his reputation, image and goodwill. It contends that at a meeting with TSTT officials in February 2013, he was informed that the company would reconsider the suspension of the deal and would fulfill some of its obligations under the sponsorship agreement.

By the end of that year, Montano was told that TSTT will no longer be using him commercially, and intended to use him in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme but would not pay

him for his services.

This proposal was rejected

by Montano’s manager and in January 2014, Montano was told by TSTT that they were willing to try the CSR approach and if there was no public outcry, they would consider moving forward with a commercial programme with the singer.

This did not materialise.

Montano’s lawsuit alleges that despite oral and written demands requesting payment of monies due and owing in accordance with the sponsorship agreement, TSTT has refused to remunerate him. In February, Montano formally terminated

the sponsorship agreement with TSTT. He said despite this, TSTT has continued to unlawfully advertise its products and services by using his image and likeness on public buses, newspaper advertisements, public benches, bus stops, online music downloads and at its stores. He is asking for a total of $2,019,167 for the two year period, plus damages for the use of his image and likeness.

The matter came up for hearing on Tuesday before Justice Nadia Kangaloo in the Port-of-Spain High Court, and a case management hearing has been set for June.

rendered homeless after the ‘quake’ slump in global crude prices. 19.2km (11.9 miles), about Funerals for some of 27km from Muisne in a those killed have been held sparsely populated area. in Portoviejo and PedernaScientists say there is les, two towns that were the no connection between the worst hit. quake in Ecuador and a The US Geological Sur- severe tremor in southern vey said the earthquake struck Japan, which also occurred at a fairly shallow depth of on Saturday. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Coalition for ‘high level’ first-year talks

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

Fighting crime

THIS week’s flare-up of criminal activities and a rash of fatal accidents have undoubtedly unnerved many citizens who had been slowly getting some respite from the daily marauding across the country. After all, there was reason to feel a bit more comfortable with the police declaring early this month that there had been a 14% decrease in serious crimes and that public trust in the organisation has increased tremendously. The force pointed out that not only are they getting more tips, but they are getting more accurate information and overwhelming support from witnesses to process cases in a shorter space of time. The statistics for murder revealed a 5% decrease in the first quarter of the year, while incidents of robbery under arms have also dipped by 10%.

As we have said in this column before, evidence has shown that crime has its genesis in the society and its growth and pattern need to be addressed not only through applying crime-solving methods, but also putting in place preventive measures, which takes on board a scientific approach in gathering and analysing data. It is within this context our approach to crime and crime-fighting can engender positive results and societal development.

Receiving of tips and witnesses showing up for trials are all well and good, but what are we doing to prevent the kind of crime that occurred on the busy Regent Street on Tuesday- where a young businessman was accosted by bandits and shot dead or the setting alight of two elderly rice farmers in their home on the East Bank of Essequibo.

Crime speaks to a violation of the laws. Equally, crime cannot be fought by committing crime and this is why it becomes important to recognise that the upholding of laws is hinged on crime-fighting and development. When a nation accepts crime as destructive regardless of the socio-economic and political standing of the perpetrators and is prepared to treat all equally before the law, it creates the desire to put systems in place to address crime in a holistic manner.

One of the most effective tools of crime-fighting is using information/intelligence gathered from those accused in a scientific manner, not only in crime-solving but also to plan and project crime avoidance. And to this end it may be opportune for this nation to look at education programmes in criminology and appointment of criminologists, whose role it is focus on the study of crimes and their causes, effects, and social impact. In the 21st century, crime-fighting has become more sophisticated and holistic. It is not seen as separate from the society. It also requires an effective national development strategy which will tackle social ills such as poverty, hunger, education deficiency, unemployment and underemployment, respect for human life and the environment, graft and corruption, upholding of the rule of law, international conventions, charters and declarations.

And where efforts in tackling blue collar crime are seen as necessary only through military hardware, such ought to be reviewed. Evidence has shown that an ap-

MEMBERS of the APNU+AFC coalition government are to participate in a “high-level summit” to assess its first year in office.

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Raphael Trotman told reporters on Wednesday at a post-Cabinet press briefing that some of the concerns of the AFC component of the administration were raised and discussed at the level of Cabinet, but Cabinet is not necessarily best suited to address those issues.

Speaking specifically to the calls made by the AFC, for the responsibilities of the Minister of State Joseph Harmon to be trimmed, Trotman said President David Granger has encouraged the Prime Minister and the leader of the AFC Khemraj Ramjattan to speak to the issue. “They

gave their opinions, their views and they were not hindered in any way,” he stated.

In a statement to the media on April 10, the AFC said it has reviewed its role as part of the coalition government and among the matters discussed at its retreat was the issue of the appointment of Brian Tiwarie as Ministerial Advisor on Business Development by Harmon.

“The Alliance For Change is of the opinion that the current difficulties which the government has encountered in the continuing revelations arising out of the appointment of the Advisor on Business Development and the issues surrounding this, have their roots in the concentration of the powers of the office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Minister of State in the Ministry of the

Presidency and the effective Head of the Presidential Secretariat in a single person,” the statement said.

It was noted that the responsibilities of each of the posts mentioned are of major importance to the smooth operation of the government and “would benefit from separate appointments.”

“The Alliance For Change has mandated its leadership in Cabinet to have these issues raised and addressed as a matter of national importance,” the statement said, but notwithstanding,[sic] the minister was however quick to point out that the views of either faction of the party cannot be settled at Cabinet. “Cabinet is a governmental institution, the APNU+AFC [administration] have to meet at some high-level summit and work

through those matters.”

“I dare say that at some time as we approach the first year in government, there will be such a gathering where we can look at the triumphs and the hills and valleys and the lows and highs of the coalition government and the relationship between the parties,” Trotman added.

He said while Cabinet can note the concerns of either side, it is not a place where those matters can be settled. No date has been set for the retreat-like meeting, but Trotman said, “We know for sure the elections were the 11th May and the government was sworn in on the 16th May… we know therefore that it has to be within the next few weeks we’ll have this discussion.”

Transition from hope to disenchantment faster than expected Dear Editor THE Harmon affair, other instances of ministerial impropriety and the marginalising of new political formations by the traditional parties in local government elections are all symptomatic of a deeper crisis facing Guyana today, a crisis of credibility and unfulfilled expectations.

Perception of failure of the coalition Government to honour its central campaign promise, namely, addressing the excesses of the previous administration, is fuelling the disappointment of a largely urban population.

Indeed, the Government’s actions to date suggest not merely a reneging on this promise, but also reflect a process of governing not remote from that which it deplored and vowed to replace. That reviled process, characterised by lack of transparency, lack of ac-

countability and personal aggrandisement, to name a few alleged ills, relegated people’s everyday interests and concerns to an insultingly low level of priority.

In the current corrosive atmosphere every reported misdeed, rumoured or factual, is today greeted with disappointment and a sense of betrayal. On the other side of the political divide, there is mounting evidence of unbridled glee at this process of self-inflicted political damage. And all this is taking place within less than a year in the life of the current administration. The GHRA views with alarm this emerging reality and is concerned about its potential impact on the process of good governance that all Guyanese demand and expect to receive as of right. Explanations after the event, whether contrite or self-serving, are no longer plausible.

proach of this nature in the absence of intervening factors such as human rights, employment/unemployment rate, school dropouts, recreational facilities and the incentive/ attractiveness for the get-rich-quick syndrome which is built on criminality, never aid in addressing the cause. Also needed to be factored in is that blue collar crime will seem to be acceptable to perpetrators, where it is seen or felt the privileged and connected are allowed to engage in acts of criminal conduct with impunity.

Making crime-solving and avoidance/prevention part of a nation’s developmental strategy is possible when all are held to the same standards and play by the same rules. In this envi-

President Granger, the novice politician, may not be aware that this crisis exists and may therefore not see the need to deal with it. President Granger the historian, however, should readily appreciate the warning signs. History is replete with examples of how and how not to deal with such situations as Guyana is facing today. In recognising that a crisis exists, the President now needs to demonstrate to the nation his appreciation of the fact that the Harmon affair is a symptom of all that is threatening to the realisation of his best intentions. In so doing, he must now lead from in front.

The most fundamental issue to be addressed is how to involve people as citizens, not simply as voters and critics, however well meaning. The specific hallmarks of effective citizenship include political accountability through constitutional reform; recogni-

tion that national unity is not attained by invitation, but by actions based on the principle of inclusivity; and enforcement of guidelines regarding political impropriety. A programme of this nature would also provide substance to the upcoming 50th Anniversary celebrations of transition from subjects to citizens, a process far from complete and more readily reversible than generally appreciated.

The 2015 elections were a slender victory for the APNU+AFC coalition. The opportunity exists to begin a process of transforming the political landscape from “to the victor belong the spoils,” to one which seeks to ensure that the spoils of victory redound to the benefit of all of Guyana’s citizens.

Regards Executive Committee Guyana Human Rights Association

ronment, it helps too to recognise modern-day crime-fighting techniques do not see killing as acceptable or first choice. And where death has occurred, the Coroner’s Act, Chapter 144, sets out procedures how this ought to be dealt with. For years, this law has been observed in the breach and only for a chosen few in spite it being universal. It is the equal responsibility of the alleged criminal, law-enforcer, privileged and connected, and the ordinary man and woman to abide by the law and be held accountable under the law. Effective and efficient crime-fighting are hinged on these stated factors and the nation has to work to ensure that these form part of the daily occurrence in the management of the state.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Samuels tells CoI about hostage situation ––during prison riot

By Shauna Jemmott

DEPUTY Director of Prisons (DDoP) Gladwin Samuels revealed yesterday that there was a hostage situation in the Capital B block of the Georgetown Prisons which resulted in prisoners refusing to comply with his order to vacate the dormitory during the prison riot on March 3.

During cross-examination by the Commission’s Counsel, Excellence Dazzell, Samuels said he was on his way to the Mazaruni jail on the morning of March 3, when he received a phone call from Director of Prisons Carl Graham and was asked to cancel the trip and return to conduct a search operation for prohibited items at the Camp Street jail. He said while he was in Bartica, Graham told him that part of the operation involved the evacuation of Capital A prisoners in order to sanitize the block of improvised weapons.

He was approaching the main office when Collison was being taken out by prison officers and a number of officers formed a cordon and were conducting searches on prisoners.

In less than a minute he went to the tarmac and there was much noise, “which I viewed as a threat. There was a loud banging which indicated to me that a wall was being hit.”

He said too that he recognised the sound of steel pounding upon steel and prisoners were hurling verbal threats at officers.

While standing on the catwalk on Capital B, when half of Capital B prisoners had been evacuated, he observed a code green (small) fire, and informed a number of ranks around him by shouting “Fire!

Fire!” Officer-in-Charge (OC) at the prison, Superintendent Pilgrim, after hearing

him shout, informed staff in the operations room and within the minute he heard the sound of the prison siren alerting officers around that there was an emergency.

HOSTAGE SITUATION He and Pilgrim made a failed attempt to evacuate the Capital B inmates and the prisoners told him that they were being threatened by other inmates who were at the door. He had observed earlier that Germaine Otto at the door of Capital A and Otto was behaving disorderly while other prisoners hurled threats at the officers.

“They were talking about taking officers lives… they were talking about performing sexual acts on officers,” Samuels said.

He said while the recording of such operations is required whenever this is being executed, in the two years he has been stationed at the Camp Street penitentiary he did not record any search prior to March 3.

“All the searches would have been ordered by me and as far as I’m aware, there is no camcorder to do such,” the DDoP said.

After he and the OC later managed to evacuate the prisoners, they extinguished a fire in Capital B and while he did not order prisoners from Capital A to come over to Capital B, he went back to the tarmac, instructing officer Hutson to “open the door (Capital A) and let those persons who want to come down, come down.” Samuels said he then heard an officer say “How they gon come out? The door close.”

When he saw the second fire, which was in the Capital A division, it was a code orange (larger) fire and he alerted the officers and repeatedly followed up with Officer-in-Charge

Kevin Pilgrim, who told him repeated calls were made to the operations department and the prison sirens sounded again.

At that time, under normal circumstances, the fire service should have been there already, since they were called almost immediately at the sight of the first fire.

After he had realised that the Capital A door was not opening, he gave a command to his officers to open the Capital B door and it was opened. He then heard his ranks telling prisoners in Capital A to vacate Capital A, through the hole in the wall, over into Capital B. After assessing the situation, he did not send any rank into the neighbouring Capital B division because he did not think it was safe.

He said the large pump was malfunctioning, and a two-inch pump which is normally used to send water into the new Capital division was used instead, but it was observed that the hose was not in working order.

Earlier in his testimony, Samuels told the Commission that prisoners told him the reason they were not coming out as ordered was because they were receiving threats, and the prisoners shouted that complaint even while they were supposedly being held hostage by other prisoners. After he had heard that, based on what he observed, those prisoners refused to come out. He said however the hostage situation was in Capital B and not Capital A. Responding to questions by Commissioner Dale Erskine, who is a former Director of Prisons, Samuels said at the time of the fire in Capital A, prison officers were unable to apply firefighting and cooling procedures, “because of the hose mechanism problem that we encountered.”

He said too that the new Capital division was a problematic division which housed a high concentration of high-profile prisoners, and whenever they misbehaved their crimes in the prison were committed jointly by a

number of the prisoners.

While Samuels was accused by various prisoners of throwing tear gas canisters into the Capital A dormitory while the fire burned, he said he has never in his years there seen any listing in any of the prisons in Guyana of tear gas being part of their available weapons.

Under cross-examination by Attorney-at-law Melvin Duke, Samuels said from the time he entered the prison yard on March 3, he recognised there was chaos and the situation later became more disorderly.

He went to Capital B and in the company of Pilgrim, instructed the prisoners in that department to evacuate the building, but while the Capital B prisoners did not comply, bricks were hurled in his direction.

MAKING THREATS Samuels said earlier prisoner Germaine Otto, a Capital A prisoner who died in the fire, was in front the door of Capital B. Samuels said while Otto “was very confrontational,” other prisoners were chanting and making threats. He later learnt that the reason the prisoners were not coming out of Capital B was because threats were made to them by other prisoners who were at the door.

He said Otto then went back into Capital A through the hole at the separation wall, and during a second attempt at evacuating the Capital B inmates, after he and Pilgrim stood on the catwalk and drew their weapons, the Capital B prisoners began to exit.

When the CoI continues today, Samuels will be further cross-examined and it is expected that Officer-in-Charge of the Georgetown Prisons, Senior Superintendent Kevin Pilgrim will testify for the first time.

The Commission comprises the chairman, Justice James Patterson, human rights activist Merle Mendonca and retired Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine.

Cummings Lodge cadaver...

Ex-boyfriend in police custody

By Rabindra Rooplall THE police have arrested Clevaughn Hamilton, called ‘Quarters,’ of Mahdia in connection with the gruesome discovery of the mutilated body of Simone Hackett, the mother of his three-year-old son, in a canal at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara.

The decomposed body of the ‘C’ Field, Sophia resident was discovered Tuesday morning. The 25-year-old mother of one was reported missing by relatives on Sunday after she had not returned on Saturday night from going to collect a package sent from Mahdia by her son’s father, and calls to her phone had

Clevaughn Hamilton, called ‘Quarter’ gone unanswered.

According to reliable police sources, Hamilton who is a suspect in the murder was apprehended by police in Mahdia and is being shuttled to the city

as investigations continue. Investigators have also questioned a bus driver and conductor who transported Hamilton to the city Friday last, a day before Hackett went missing. Hamilton is said to be a gold-miner.

According to the post-mortem report, Simone Hackett died as a result of incised wounds to the neck.

Hackett was discovered by two schoolboys on their way to school and her body was positively identified by relatives, who broke down in tears at the scene even as scores of persons flocked to glimpse the mutilated and decomposed remains.

Police ‘C’ Division Commander Marlon Chapman, who was at the scene,

––as murder investigation continues

Dead: Simone Hackett confirmed that the woman’s throat had been slashed and three stab wounds were evident to the back of the neck.

The body which appeared to have been dumped at the scene was clad in dark-coloured clothing when pulled from the bushy canal, and the police retrieved a ‘chopper’ and an old sheet adjacent to the bloated body.

She was clad in the same outfit she had left home with and her jewellery was intact, leading relatives to speculate that robbery was not the motive, but it was a case of cold-blooded murder.

Hackett was slated to be the maid of honour at her sister’s wedding the same day she went missing, and was also to celebrate her

son’s birthday. She had told relatives that the child’s father had sent her a package with a man named ‘Dexter.’

Hackett’s relatives believe that her ex-boyfriend is somehow involved in her murder, and they are urging the police to question him.

According to relatives, the ex-boyfriend wanted the child to live with him in Mahdia, and it was only after her daughter had put up a fight that a decision was made for the child to stay with his mom in Sophia and visit the father whenever school was closed.

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Trotman: Harmon did no wrong … but private jet ride was 'uncomfortable to look at'

GOVERNMENT is of the view that the use of a private jet to transport Minister of State Joseph Harmon during his visit to China recently did not result in a conflict of interest.

Harmon met with four Chinese companies that have expressed an interest in investing in Guyana. A private jet was used to transport the minister and other Guyanese present on the trip to the four different provinces where the meetings were being held. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, in responding to questions posed by media personnel on use of the private aircraft to be transported to meetings in China, said, “It could lead to a conflict, but in and of itself it is not a conflict of interest. The travel was used to influence negotiations, but we have no evidence to show that it influenced a decision.”

Asked to state the extent of his comfort in Minister Harmon travelling on a jet that was provided or facilitated by the investors, Trotman said, “Let us be real, of course, they say pictures tell a thousand words…but it is not uncommon in Guyana (etc.)…for private jets to be used … there are levels of

comfort and levels of discomfort and I think the picture by itself is a very uncomfortable one to look at.”

He made the point that it

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon is not uncommon in modern travel for officials to use private jets. “Much depends on the circumstances and I accept Minister Harmon’s explanation that given the time available and given the distance he was required to travel, that the private jet in those circumstances was the

best way.”

Trotman noted that government has to be cautious about being perceived as anti-Chinese and noted the utterings of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on the issue. “The government has been beaten over their heads repeatedly by Ms Gail Teixeira and others about what we are doing to Chinese, so I thought Mr. Harmon believed he was trying to keep an image of good relations so to speak,” he said.

Trotman said he believes that in hindsight the Minister of State would rue the day he made the decision to travel on the jet. “…it seemed a convenient mode of transportation,” he added, noting that he is sure Harmon regrets his actions that would have resulted in a public outcry on his trip to China.

The Natural Resources and the Environment Minister said he is convinced and satisfied that “no wrong was intended” by the Minister of State. He however noted that based on the series of events that transpired as a result of Harmon’s travel via the jet, he is certain that Harmon and other government ministers would prefer “not to

avail themselves” if same is offered in the future.

Harmon in his own defence said that he was invited by the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin to meet with investors for four companies that had an interest in investing in Guyana.

The companies were located in four different provinces, namely, Shanghai, Hebei, Beijing and Heilong Jiang Provinces. Harmon also met with representatives of Long Jiang Forest Industries Group, a state-owned company that has acquired 55 per cent shares in Bai Shan Lin. That company intends to completely take over Bai Shan Lin sometime this year.

Meanwhile, asked why government continues to engage Bai Shan Lin, given the number of breaches found against the logging company, Trotman said, the specific engagement had to do with acquiring a new buyer to take over Bai Shan Lin. “Engagement to take over and engagement to continue with are two different things … your connotation is that the government continues to have them do what they want…that is not what is happening,” The Minister of Natural Resources and the

Environment assured. He explained that it is inevitable in any transition that there would be interactions with the company. “We are at the point where we can have a

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman new entity that can breathe a new life that can say we are committed to building the factory we committed to.”

Trotman made it clear that his ministry will exercise due diligence on any

company that expresses an interest in investing in his sector. “Any investor coming into the forestry or natural resources sector will be scrutinised diligently,” he said, while noting that his ministry is in the process of identifying preferably foreign firms to carry out the due diligence test for the ministry. Asked why he as the subject minister, the Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin, a representative of the Guyana Office for Investment or the Minister of Finance were not present on the trip to China, Trotman made it clear that Cabinet had approved Harmon’s trip to China to address the outstanding US$5M owed to the NICIL by a Chinese company that bought government’s 20 per cent shares in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT).

“It does appear and that is not uncommon that other matters came up on the trip…It is not uncommon, not because it is China to have other interests raised on an official visit…It is not uncommon, neither is it illegal for a minister to entertain other requests while on an official trip for other matters,” said Trotman.

Scotia the new Gold 15 years for killing Board ‘go-between’ mother-in-law THE government announced yesterday that the Bank of Nova Scotia will be the new brokers for the Guyana Gold Board (GGB).

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman, at a post-Cabinet briefing said the Japanese company, Mitsui, which had acted as broker for the GGB for decades, has gone out of the gold-trading business as of last December.

He said that due to the Japanese company exiting the market, it became necessary to source a new broker. “The Guyana Gold Board utilised the services of a consultant to pursue the services of a new broker, and after due process, the Bank of Nova Scotia was deemed suitable to provide the service of broker to the Guyana Gold Board.”

Cabinet, he said, gave its “no-objection” to the appointment of the Bank of Nova Scotia to act as broker, and has granted permission for the bank to carry

out brokerage functions for an initial period of six months.

Asked to state the proposed annual cost for the service, Trotman said the charge is “very small” and that the total expense would be about US$1.50 per ounce.

“So, it would not be based on an annual charge, but based on the volume of gold sold,” he said.

Asked, meanwhile, for an update on the functioning of the task force created to address the issue of gold-smuggling, the minister said the members of the task force which was created last year have not met for 2016, but has not been disbanded.

He said that since it came into being, the task force has worked along with the Ministry of Public Security and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to frontally address the issue of gold-smuggling.

“The task force is in review mode, and as is needed, it will convene, but we do exchange documents, reports, correspondence,” stated Trotman.

KENNETH Griffith was yesterday sentenced by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow in the High Court to 14 years and nine months in jail for the June 21, 2005 murder of his mother-in-law Hilda Lawrence.

A tearful Griffith showed remorse after the sentence was handed down.

He told the court he was sorry and his lawyer Christopher Ram said that he was contrite.

Griffith will serve almost 15 years after deductions were made for time served, good conduct and for pleading guilty.

He had said yes to the lesser count of manslaughter but pleaded not guilty to murder.

Griffith murdered Hilda Lawrence on June 21, 2005 at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, during a domestic dispute with his wife Lorna Simpson.

He was also charged for feloniously

wounding David Chester and Lorna Simpson, a charge which was withdrawn as a result of his guilty plea.

He was living with Lorna Simpson in a house with her extended family and he became enraged after he overheard she was planning to leave him.

He attacked and stabbed her and while she was trying to flee, her brother David Chester intervened and he too was stabbed causing his intestines to protrude.

Then Lorna and David’s mother Hilda Lawrence went to the rescue and she was stabbed by Griffith in the shoulder, causing the knife to go straight to her lung.

Even after this Griffith in a fit of rage continued his rampage through the house, searching for his wife Lorna Simpson to kill her.

The state prosecutor was Siand Dhurjon in association with Shawnette Austin.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Interpol joins Guyana in TIP fight …conducting needs assessment

THE International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has recently conducted a needs assessment survey here to help Guyana combat human trafficking, the Ministry of Public Security said yesterday.

Two INTERPOL officials and an officer from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) conducted the assessment, which is the first of a three-phase project designed to combat Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling in the Caribbean.

That phase of the project, which commenced on April 9, ended on April 13.

According to a statement from the Public Security Ministry, the mission began with visits to Itaballi, Puruni and Bartica, all in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), in the com-

pany of a team from the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons in Guyana.

The visit to the mining district enabled the team from INTERPOL to experience the difficulties associated with travelling to interior regions in Guyana and policing these areas. The officials also witnessed the working conditions in the mines, and the general conditions in which persons in the area live.

“This experience facilitated the team from INTERPOL in making a general assessment of the risks and other difficulties associated with curbing occurrences of trafficking in persons in interior regions in Guyana,” the Ministry posited.

Before returning to Georgetown, the INTERPOL Team joined repre-

sentatives of the Ministerial Task Force in conducting sensitization on the issue in the Bartica Market, Arcade and along the beach.

This activity followed a similar Task Force ‘Roving Sensitization’ activity conducted along the seawalls from the Seawall Bandstand to Vlissengen Road over the Easter Weekend.

“The awareness activity in Bartica saw vendors and customers alike engaged in discussion on the topic of trafficking in persons and encouraged to report suspected cases; posters affixed to the walls of various market stalls, shops and other establishments; and brochures, flyers and other material bearing messages of awareness and the trafficking in persons hotline number distributed to indi-

viduals along the way,” the Public Security Ministry said.

According to the Ministry, the activities yield instant results as a report was received soon after through the TIP hotline of suspected victims in Bartica. “A raid conducted by Bartica Police saw eight females from the Dominican Republic recovered from a house in Bartica with one suspect arrested,” the Public Security Ministry stated.

The case is currently under investigation by the Guyana Police Force Criminal Investigations Department.

The INTERPOL Team met with the Ministerial Arm of the Trafficking in Persons Task Force, other Government Officials, Frontline Officers and other stakeholders in the fight against trafficking in

persons in Guyana. Discussions at these meetings afforded the INTERPOL Team the opportunity to articulate the goals of their Project and to gather more information on the operational and technical needs of the Agencies involved in the fight against trafficking in persons.

The Needs Assessment phase of INTERPOL’s Project would be followed by a Training Phase and an Operational Phase. It was explained that during the Training Phase of the Project, Officers from different agencies in Guyana would be invited to benefit from a number of Regional Training Courses which will span a total of seven weeks. The training will focus primarily on Law Enforcement, but there would also be sessions which would benefit trafficking in persons stakeholders from other Agencies.

A ‘Training of Trainers’ would be one of the courses included. As such,

those trained would be encouraged to return to Guyana to train others – both law enforcement and otherwise – in the topics learned. INTERPOL would also share a curriculum, to be contributed to by authorities in Guyana, which is intended to be added to the training programme at the Guyana Police Force Officers’ Training Centre.

The Operational Phase would see INTERPOL lending support to the countries being considered in the Project in their local anti-trafficking in persons operations.

The Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons eagerly anticipates the development of this Project and looks forward to continued collaboration with INTERPOL, as well as other international partners, as it seeks to effectively combat this scourge of trafficking in persons in Guyana.

New Peruvian Ambassador accredited PRESIDENT David Granger on Wednesday accredited His Excellency Mario Lopez Chavarri as the new Ambassador of the Republic of Peru to Guyana. Ambassador Chavarri used the opportunity to reaffirm his country’s commitment to continued friendly bilateral relations and cooperation with Guyana.

In his remarks, President Granger said that Peru and Guyana share common interests, which provides a solid foundation for improved relations at the bilateral, regional and international levels. “We share an interest in the values of democracy, peace, respect for human rights, sustainable development, eradication of poverty and the peaceful settlement of disputes,” President Granger said.

He told the Ambassador that like Peru, Guyana places great confidence in the rule of international law and particularly the role of the international juridical bodies, such as the International Court of Justice, to settle territorial controversies. Peru has had territorial disputes with Chile and Ecuador. Its

conflict with the latter was the source of the longest-running international armed conflict in the Western Hemisphere.

Additionally, the President said that Guyana is fully in support of the development of productive partnerships, particularly in areas such as fishing, mining and agriculture.

“Our two republics are committed to regional cooperation as a means of achieving higher standards of living for our peoples, through sustainable exploitation of our natural resources,” the Head of State said.

Subsequent to his accreditation, the new Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, who is currently performing the duties of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. During that engagement, he spoke of Peru’s willingness to cooperate with Guyana in the area of security and defence. Minister Harmon updated the Ambassador on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy and on the issue of piracy. (Ministry of the Presidency)

Attempted murder case thrown out CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday discharged the case against Ewart James who was charged with attempting to commit

murder.

The charge stated that on Friday, November 27, 2015 at Sarah Johanna, Ewart James wound-

Ambassador Mario Lopez Chavarri presents his Letters of Credence to President David Granger in the presence of Minister of State Mr. Joseph Harmon and Director-General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Audrey Waddell ed Sherwin Hamilton with attempt to commit murder.

It was alleged that James dragged Hamilton several feet and threw acid on the ex-police constable. He managed to escape and his girlfriend took him to the hospital.

However, the magistrate stated in her submis-

sion, that the virtual complainant’s evidence in relation to the accident was inconsistent and vague and the prosecution had failed to provide the court with evidence that it was attempted murder.

The Magistrate said that abrasions could not cause murder, only wounding.(Sherah Alleyne)

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Gov’t to roll out plans for Wales next month

PLANS for the Wales Sugar Estate are to be unveiled next month, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Raphael Trotman told a news conference on Wednesday.

Trotman told reporters gathered at a post-cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency, that while transforming the location into an aquaculture farm is one option, a detailed report will be made public next month. “Insofar as Wales is concerned, aquaculture is but one…I went through the documents and I can tell you that interest has been expressed, for example using the factory and the

equipment there to generate electricity. There are many options there on the table… aquaculture being but one,” he stated.

Trotman noted that a new road is to be built there along with new housing schemes and industrial sites are to be established there so that “factories and the facilities will become very attractive.”

The Government in January announced the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate, noting that it is projected to lose between $1.6B and $1.9B in 2016, and requires extensive repairs to remain operable following years of neglect. “Diverting funds

from the other estates to keep Wales afloat would seriously jeopardise the future of these estates. This cannot be allowed to happen,” the statement on the closure had said, noting that “It is impossible to make sugar production at Wales viable.”

The estate will be closed at the end of the 2016 second crop and with effect from 2017, farmers’ canes will be milled at the Uitvlugt factory. During this year, the routing of farmers’ canes to Uitvlugt would be determined to ensure the least additional cost. It was also noted that the Wales workers would be utilised

by Uitvlugt up to the extent

of suitable vacancies at that location. The announcement by the Government of the closure of the Wales estate had sparked several protests by workers.

The workers had called on government to immediately reverse its decision.

Despite their public chants “Don’t close Wales”, no government official has met with the aggrieved workers.

When asked on Wednesday whether the subject Minister Noel Holder intends to meet with the workers of the Wales Estate, Trotman said, “At some point in time, yes.”

He told the media that Cabinet is of the view that the Ministry of Agriculture and the minister has a political function but it (Cabinet) does not want to interfere with the functions of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO). “GUYSUCO has been a very sensitive place, not just now but for

hundreds of years and we believe that the board is made up of good, strong technocrats, but at the end of the day there is still a political function and the minister will at some time in the near future be addressing the workers’ concerns.”

Meanwhile, Trotman said the move to integrate the La Bonne Intention (LBI) and Enmore Sugar Estates was done to reduce the cost of production. He said Cabinet was briefed by Agriculture Minister Holder on the integration of the two estates into one production entity. Holder, he said, had outlined the reason behind the merging of the estates, noting that it was necessary to prevent sugar production on the East Demerara from coming to a halt in the future.

“It was also pointed out that the closure of the LBI factory in 2011 resulted in the retention of many workers who were ren-

dered redundant. For example, GuySuco has been paying 58 workers to operate a mill dock facility at LBI for the past five years, while the facility is no longer being required,” Trotman noted. The LBI estate has 846 employees and of the total approximately 125 of them are carrying out duplicate functions that are being undertaken by employees at the Enmore estate. These include mill-dock operators, field workshops, field laboratory, field office and stores.

“The integration of the two estates will therefore rationalise the duplicated activities, thus rendering the cost of production lower,” the Natural Resources and Environment Minister stated. The LBI factory was closed in 2011 and the merging of those operations were expected to commence immediately, however, the integration process did not materialise.

NAREI: De-husked coconuts account for 70% of exports GUYANA has been promoting the coconut sector as an industry to capture the array of products, including coconut water, virgin coconut oil, activated carbon and craft that could be competitively produced.

This was related by Dr. Oudho Homenauth, Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI).

According to Dr. Homenauth, coconut has been the main non-traditional export for Guyana for the past few years, generating an annual income of US$4.5M. The exports have been dominated by products containing minimal value addition.

“In terms of export value, de-husked coconuts account for 70 per cent, followed by copra (15 per cent), crude coconut oil (nine per cent) and coconut water (two per cent),” he said.

NAREI is actively involved in facilitating the expansion of the coconut industry, which has great potential. He noted that Extension Officers are constantly in contact with farmers to ensure good agronomic practices, effective management of pests and diseases,

and access to planting materials.

He added that an important task of NAREI is to ensure productivity to satisfy the demands of agro-processors.

Currently, there are ap-

they may focus on one or two specific by-products of coconuts, each part of the coconut could be utilised.

There are other untapped value-added commodities which need to be explored.

According to Dr. Hom-

proximately 1,470 coconut farmers in Guyana. Some farmers, especially those operating in the Pomeroon, Region Two, have been making significant investments, hence increasing productivity.

There are seven main local manufacturers/ agro-processors who utilise by-products of the coconut. While

enauth, “The negatives associated with coconut have now been debunked.

In fact, from a recent report I have seen, coconut has 127 uses….These include uses for personal hygiene and the body, general health and wellness, internal health problems, topical health problem, pets/ animals, etc.”

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

PPP says ‘no’ to early passage of AML/CFT Bill THE opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said it will not support any swift passage of amendments to the country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act 2015 and has signalled to government that it will object to this at the scheduled May 4 sitting of the House.

Opposition Chief Whip and PPP Parliamentarian, Gail Teixeira told a news conference Wednesday that government Chief Whip Amna Ally had contacted her, requesting that the PPP support the amendments through the three stages at the scheduled May 4 sitting.

However, Teixeira made it clear that the PPP will do no such thing, claiming that the opposition have not had a chance to see the amendments.

“Our answer was a resounding ‘No’; we would not support Bills going through all three stages in one sitting. No one is aware of what these amendments are; we don’t know what these amendments are to the Money-Laundering Bill and therefore we would not be accepting this [sic] fresh amendments coming through on one day,” Teixeira said.

She believes that such amendments should go to a Parliamentary Select Committee. “Furthermore, when I asked the Chief Whip what was the rush, I was advised that they were rushing to prepare for the [Financial Action Task Force – FATF].

I asked when was the FATF meeting and when was the deadline; the Chief Whip of

the government side could not enlighten me.”

The PPP Parliamentarian is of the view that Guyana is slipping on its commitments to FATF, as there is currently no Director or Deputy Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) or an

Government Chief Whip, Amna Ally Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Authority in place.

“The FIU is headless and therefore many aspects of the AML/CFT Act cannot be put into operation and if it is, it would be in violation of the law,” the PPP Chief Whip said. It was however noted that the Parliamentary Committee of Appointment is addressing the applications for the FIU, including Deputy Director, Accountant and Lawyer as provided for in the amended Anti-Money Laundering Act 2015.

Last month, Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) Director (ag) Alicia Williams said that with significant progress already made with respect to

addressing the deficiencies in the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime here, Guyana could see itself being removed from the “Light Grey List”

by February, 2017. Williams had made this disclosure during a consultative meeting held by the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams on the draft Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2016. The Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Cecil Dhurjon; Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel Charles Fung-AFat; State Counsel Joann Bond; President of the Guyana Bar Association, Christopher Ram; Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Norman McLean; Executive member of the Private Sector Commission, Captain Gerry Gouveia, and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum were among those present during the consultative forum on Wednesday at the Legal Affairs Ministry.

The FIU Director (ag) said addressing the outstanding recommendation is critical for Guyana to be removed from the “Light Grey List” it is currently featured on. In less than a year, the country has moved from being on a “Dark Grey List” to a “Light Grey List,” but she made it clear that unless Guyana addresses all of the issues outlined in an Action Plan, to which it has committed, the country will be stuck on the list. It was explained that if the AML/CFT 2016 Bill is passed in the National Assembly, presented to the Plenary in June, and gains

Canadian gold firm to invest $370M in Guyana THE Ministry of Natural Resources has announced that the world’s largest gold-mining company – Barrick Gold Corporation – is partnering with StrataGold Guyana Inc. to fund the exploration of the Arakaka Gold Project in Guyana.

A statement from the ministry noted that Barrick Gold is a Canadian entity with operations in several continents. It was noted that since early 2013, StrataGold Guyana has consistently progressed exploration activity of the Arakaka Gold Project with the aim of defining economically viable gold resources suitable for large-scale mining operations.

“The investment by Barrick allows for StrataGold Guyana to enhance this activity, and for further staged advancement of the

Arakaka Gold Project over a period of up to four years,” the statement revealed.

It was further noted that the earn-in agreement will ensure that drilling begins as soon as practicable, with Barrick required to spend a minimum of approximately GYD$370 million (USD$1.8 million) in 2016.

“While StrataGold Guyana will continue to be the operator of the project, the ministry considers it a positive comment on the investment potential in Guyana by having a global company like Barrick Gold Corporation partner in the country’s exploration, and looks forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship between the investors and the people of Guyana,” the statement concluded.

the approval of the international financial watchdogs, the Attorney General could request for Guyana to start the process of “exiting.”

According to her, if all goes well, Guyana could be off the list by February, 2017, but a FATF team would first have to visit the country to conduct an assessment before approval is fully granted. The draft Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2016, is in keeping with the outstanding recommendation made by the FATF, which among other things, seeks to ensure that the assets and funds of terrorists or terrorist organisations are immediately frozen by the court.

Under Recommendation Six: Targeted Financial Sanctions Related to Terrorism and Terrorist Financing, FATF instructed Guyana to “provide for a legal framework and mechanism to freeze terrorist assets without delay in accordance with United Nations Security Council (UNSCR) 1267 and its successor resolutions. It was also recommended under this section that clear procedures be established with regard to freezing of assets and ongoing prohibitions under UNSCR 1267 and 1373,

including delisting requests, guidance to financial institutions, and gaining access to frozen funds for necessary expenses.

As such, the draft AML/ CFT Bill seeks to amend key sections of the Principal Act such as Section 68A, which addresses UNSCR 1267 and 1373. After painstakingly trying to correctly word, Sec-

PPP Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira tion 68A 2 and 3, the parties involved arrived at the conclusion that changes to the drafted bill must be done in a holistic manner and not in a piecemeal manner. As such, the Attorney General said it is important for consultations to be continuously held until

the objective is met.

The Attorney General had said that given the increase in terrorism-related activities, there will be a greater demand for countries such as Guyana to be in compliance with standards set out by the FATF and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). Williams also told the forum that before he became the Minister of Legal Affairs, Guyana was on a “dark-grey” list and with the new government’s commitment to comply with all the requirements of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Guyana has moved onto a “light-grey” list. Currently, Guyana has an Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act in place, along with other connected legislation governing supervisory bodies, financial institutions, law enforcement and foreign affairs. The National Assembly in 2015 had also passed the Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill, the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill No. 1 and 2, and the AML/CFT Regulations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

City Hall invites proposals on Codes of Ethics, Conduct

THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is inviting citizens to submit proposals to aid in the formulation and implementation of a Code of Ethics and a Code of Conduct that will guide the agency’s functionaries.

Town Clerk Royston King said that the Code of Ethics deals with principles and expectations that are necessary in the decision-making process and describes the minimum requirements for conduct,

some of which are already enshrined in the Council’s Standing Orders.

The Code of Conduct directly outlines the rules, norms and responsibilities of proper practice. Mayor Patricia Chase-Green recommended in this regard that assistance be sought through existing documents such as the Code used by Parliament. The Council will therefore rely on its internal information, but will also seek assistance from other documents and

Town Clerk, Royston King

research material.

The information set out in the two codes will determine issues such as councillors’ manner of dress and behavioural procedures, among other considerations.

It is believed that citizens should be allowed to express their views on what they believe are areas that are in need of upgrading.

The codes in the initial stage are for councillors, but the Town Clerk has also asked that the same

mechanism be formulated to govern the agency’s officer corps.

King said, “We believe it is pivotal to have the views of citizens expressed. After all they are the ones we are providing this service to and it might as well be extremely beneficial to hear what they have to say or what they want to see done better.”

WRITTEN SUGGESTIONS Citizens are therefore

invited to drop off their written suggestions relating to the two codes at the Town Clerk’s office where a suggestion box has been provided.

In the meantime, the Municipality’s Legal Affairs Committee will be drafting the Code of Ethics, which will be the first to be completed. Following the committee’s work the contents will be presented to the Council for perusal and debate before its passage.

Suddie Hospital gets donation of medical supplies FOOD for the Poor (FFP) Guyana Inc. recently donated a quantity of medical items to the Suddie Hospital in Essequibo, Region 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The items donated were medical equipment and supplies, including an examination table, a dental chair, gloves, pillows, linen, adult pampers and other assorted medical and surgical items.

Nurse Emette Tull, of the medical institution, said that the variety of items donated to the hospital would be of great assistance, as the institution had been in dire need of essential items for a considerable period of time.

She gave the assurance that the items would be utilised to the benefit of the residents of the community and further stated that the Oscar Joseph Cottage Hospital located at Charity would also be a beneficiary.

Senior Manager, Gifts-in-Kind department, Jimeel Davis, in his remarks said that he was pleased about the resuscitation of the long standing relationship between FFP and the hospital.

He posited that the donation of medical supplies and other essentials would enhance the service of the hospital to the residents of the area. (Navendra Seoraj)

Jimeel Davis hands over the equipment to the nurse

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

GRA knocks Jagdeo for attacking DDL tax settlement

THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has criticised Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, for labelling a recent tax settlement between the revenue body and Demerara Distillers Limited as “scandalous.”

Chairman of GRA, Rawle Lucas In a statement, the GRA said that it does not encourage discussions about taxpayers’ issues or information in the public domain and notes its disappointment with Jagdeo, “who ought to have known better, would seek to expose the business of a taxpayer as well as attempt to have information on other taxpayers disclosed, even though he knows that these are violations of the oath of secrecy that the GRA is mandated to protect.” According to the GRA, it finds it astonishing that, given the history of violations of taxpayers’ privacy that occurred under Jagdeo’s government’s stewardship, which Guyanese found re-

pugnant, that he would want to encourage the GRA to continue to operate along those unacceptable lines.

The GRA stated that the matter had engaged the attention of the Courts since 2002 at great cost to the national coffers and taxpayers.

The agency accused Jagdeo of attempting to reconstruct the 14 years of failure by his government to bring this matter to an end. “After almost 14 years with no satisfactory outcome in sight, the GRA exercised its right to settlement in order to avoid more years of litigation and the consequent loss to the national coffers as DDL was likely to take the matter to the CCJ; that settlement was calculated based on what the law permits.”

The GRA said it is important to note that Jagdeo’s formula upon which he based his speculations about the consequences of the negotiated outcome shows that the government actually gained a profit of G$231 million under the scenario he proffered. “Mr. Jagdeo is fully aware that once a debt owed exceeds one year, its value must be discounted for every year it remains uncollected. During that 15year period of litigation and based on the interest rate of 10 percent that he chose, his G$5.3 billion would have been worth G$1.3 billion to the government after 15 years. “ The GRA again said it found Jagdeo’s objection to its efforts to have an amicable relationship with taxpayers, including those in the business community troubling, noting that the

tone of his views as reported in the newspapers present taxpayers as if they are to be enemies of the State. “It is therefore important for the GRA to reiterate that it views taxpayers as partners in the development of

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo Guyana and therefore, explores all avenues available to have taxpayers honour their tax obligations without prejudice and at the same time create an enabling environment for legitimate businesses.”

Last week Tuesday, DDL announced that it had reached an amicable settlement to resolve a long-standing dispute over Consumption Tax that began in 2002.

The company said the settlement follows an extended legal battle between DDL and the GRA, arising out of the Consumption Tax assessment levied against DDL by then Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur in January

2009, in the sum of $5.3 billion.

Jagdeo had said that since the settlement was arrived at only on March 9, 2016, it means that DDL had use of the money for 15 years. “If one were to calculate interest on this sum at a rate of 10 per

cent per annum, using only the past 10 years, the liability would amount to $10.6B. The GRA assessment of $5.392B was based on a formula handed down by the court, but yet DDL refused to pay,” Jagdeo stated.

According to Jagdeo, the settlement also writes

off all possible liabilities with respect to Excise Tax up to March 9, 2016. “So if the same situation obtains with regard to the Excise tax between 2006 and 2016, then the liabilities would run into tens of billions more,” he contended.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Pact signed for US$1M ICT centre MINISTER of State Mr Joseph Harmon has signed a US$1 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Government via its High Commissioner in Guyana, Mr. Venkatachalam Mahalingam for the establishment of an Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Centre of Excellence in Guyana.

This Centre will provide training for public sector ICT professionals to ensure the availability of a highly skilled ICT workforce, equipped with the requisite expertise to meet the increasingly complex demands of the public and private sectors.

A release from the government noted that the MoU was signed at the Ministry of the

Presidency Wednesday in the presence of Mr. Floyd Levi, Head of the E-Government Unit, Ms. Vanessa Dickenson, Director, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Malcolm Williams, Director of Policy and Training, E-Government Unit.

According to the release, Minister Harmon noted that the MoU caters for the creation and operation of an ICT Centre of Excellence, which will be based at the National Data Management Building at the University of Guyana Complex. During the first two years of the project, training of trainers will be completed, following which the facility will be handed over to the Government of Guyana.

“The parties will coop-

erate in the identification of required areas of training, the establishment of a centre for training in ICT with two class rooms of 25 students each, in the

provision of academic materials to train up to 500 students per year for two years, among others,” Minister Harmon said.

The minister ex-

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr. Venkatachalam Mahalingam and Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon shake hands after signing the MoU.

pressed thanks on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, noting that the project will go a long way in the development of the human resources of the country.

“High Commissioner, I want to thank you for this privilege. This has been an event that has been long in coming. It is a very significant moment in our history… The Government of India has persevered in ensuring that we have this Centre established in Guyana. I am very excited about the prospects that this project will bring and I am extremely pleased to sign this agreement,” Minister Harmon said.

Minister Harmon said he expects that the centre will be opened within the next three to six months.

In the meantime, India’s

High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr. Mahalingam, in brief comments, said that the Centre provides an opportunity for the development of the country and the people of Guyana, which his Government was pleased to facilitate.

“We have been waiting for this for a long time and finally it happened. This is only the first step. There are a lot of things that we need to do. We need to correspond with each other. We need to make the facilities available on your end... I am sure that this is going to be a real good opportunity for Guyanese to have training on various aspects of IT Management and we look forward to working together,” Mr. Mahalingam said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Speaker’s driver loses arm after road accident –– errant driver still on the run

By Shirley Thomas

A 52-year-old father of seven, who was partially pinned under a vehicle in an accident at Chateau Margot on Easter Monday night, has had his left arm amputated, even as the errant motorist continues to dodge the police.

The victim, Anthony Seals, personal driver to the Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Barton Scotland, remains warded at the Surgical Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital. He recently related the harrowing experience to the Guyana Chronicle.

Seals, who lives at Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara, recalled that on Easter Sunday he left his home to transport two elderly women to a village on the West Bank of Demerara, using their family vehicle, a left-hand-drive Ford pick-up. They arrived at their destination around 16:30hrs, and he remained with them throughout the afternoon, setting out for home on the East Coast of Demerara around 19:00hrs.

Seals recalled that he was driving at a moderate speed of about 30mph and when they were in the vicinity of Chateau Margot, he spotted a silver-grey 212 Toyota

motorcar proceeding in the opposite direction, and darting in and out of traffic as it tried to overtake another motor vehicle.

“Then, all of a sudden, the driver approaching me overtook the other vehicle.

But his timing was bad, and he misjudged, and came into my path,” Seals said. The man’s car slammed into Seals’s pick-up, lashing his front right wheel out.

At that point, the vehicle toppled and ended on its left side, pinning Seals’s left hand to the ground.

With the help of civic-minded persons on the scene, he was rescued from under the pick-up and taken to hospital in a police vehicle that was driving by around the same time.

He recalls that the other driver appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.The rescuers also pulled him out of his car and braced him up in a corner.

But all attention was turned to Seals, who was badly injured and bleeding, and the other motorist seized the opportunity to slip away from the scene.

‘OUT OF THE BLUE’ But what shocked everyone, Seals said, was when a woman appeared “from

Anthony Seals, who once worked for the Speaker of the National Assembly, but is now incapacitated out of the blue” and told the police that she was driving the car when the accident happened. Seals surmised that her reason for doing so was that the driver

was probably unlicensed, or wanted to escape being subjected to a breathalyzer test.

One of the women in Seals’s car accompanied him to the GPHC in the police vehicle, while the other went to the Beterverwagting Police Station to give a statement. She later revealed to Seals that the woman who took responsibility for the accident was charged, and placed on bail.

Seals said that at the Accident and Emergency Unit, he observed that his hand was so badly crushed, that only three of his fingers could move. But despite the best efforts of the doctors, the arm had to be amputated at the elbow.

He has so far had about four medical procedures in theatre, including skin grafts, and is preparing for a fifth.

The injured man said that on one occasion, persons connected to the man who caused the accident visited him in hospital, but all they seemed concerned about was finding out if the insurance for the car he was driving was in order and other information about the vehicle.

“They showed absolutely no interest in me or my amputation,” he said.

Referring to his inability to work to provide for his seven children, the injured man became very emotional, but conceded that he was lucky that God had spared his life and he gave thanks.

Sparrow backing Iconic ‘dub’ Hillary Clinton poet, ––Refers to trump as ‘Donald Clown’

HILLARY Clinton just got a mighty endorsement. Calypso giant, the Mighty Sparrow, announced Tuesday that he is backing the former US Secretary of State’s bid to become the Democratic candidate for the US presidency, citing her gumption and intelligence.

“I’m backing Hillary,” Sparrow told Newsday in an interview from Queens, New York.

“I’m supporting her, because she got gumption. She certainly has the intelligence of anybody else in the race and I can see her as president. Also, I am supporting her because she is a woman and I want to see a woman president.

It should not only be Margaret Thatcher.”

Sparrow, who was honoured by the US Embassy in Port-of-Spain last year, continued: “In addition to that, her husband, Bill Clinton, was my boy. I telling you, I really like that guy.”

Sparrow once penned a calypso about the former US President, which featured the memorable line: “Don’t touch my president.”

Asked his views on Republican hopeful, Donald Trump, Sparrow said, “He? Donald Clown? You gonna get me in trouble!”

He confirmed he has been working on a calypso about Trump, but he was not yet ready to reveal the song to the world. “What I have started with is not to be put out just yet,” Sparrow said.

The calypsonian said Hillary’s Democratic rival, Bernie Saunders, was an intelligent man.

But he urged Saunders to endorse the former New York senator.

“I think he’s an intelligent guy, but he fighting Hillary; and I am a Hillary man,” Sparrow said. “If he was maybe in some other position backing Hillary, I would have felt so good. He should be on the same team; not fighting her. He should be supporting her pretty much like her husband. I find he’s a little too old for that position.

“Given the pressure that comes with being president, he’s too old for that. If he was a bit younger.”

Sparrow’s comments came as New Yorkers voted in the Democratic primaries amid a heated campaign to see who will be the candidates who will contest the US presidential election due on November 8. The hustings have been heated, with protests, violent clashes, allegations of underhand campaign tactics and much controversy, much of it focused around Trump and his views on race and religion. Former New York Mayor, Rudy Giuliani on Tuesday endorsed Trump.

The last US presidential candidate publicly endorsed by Sparrow was Barack Obama, whom Sparrow met in August 2007 when Obama was a senator. (Trinidad Newsday)

‘Ras Michael’ dies

RAS MICHAEL

WELL-known local poet and writer, Ras Michael Jeune, died yesterday.

He was in his 70s.

Described by long-time friend, Barrington Braithwaite, as “an exceptional Dub Poet”, Ras Michael was known for his contributions to the performing arts both here and in the US, where he’d lived for close to 10 years before remigrating to his beloved Guyana some two to three years ago.

Though he began writing in earnest at the age of 13 for the Guyana Teenage Chronicle, he was first published at age 12 by The Guyana Information Services.

According to Moray House Trust, with which he’s worked closely since coming back, Ras Michael had a career in theatre as an actor, playwright and director.

He’s represented Guyana in Colombia, French Guiana and North America in literary expositions and theatre.

Many of his works have been published by Longman and Heinemann of London, but he’s also self-published on occasion.

He was also a columnist for many years for both the Guyana Chronicle and the Stabroek News.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Corentyne family sponsors scholarships at No. 68 Primary

THREE students were the first recipients of scholarships being offered by Dr. Surendra Persaud and family in honour of their parents who were both educators at the No. 68 Primary School.

The programme ‘Annand and Sabitri’ Foundation, was launched on Monday at the Number 68 primary in the presence of a large gathering of parents, teachers, residents, students and Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine.

The recipients are eightyear-old Devina Chunnu, Delana Ali and Rachael Seegobin. They were top performers of the No.68 Primary at the National Grade Two Assessment. The scholarships are open to students at the school who earn 75 % and over at the Grade Two National Examinations and will conclude when the recipients sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).

In explaining the rationale, Dr. Persaud who grew up at No. 68 Village, said he wants to target the students at an early age so they could excel from that level upwards.

“This scholarship programme is simple - we discussed with the minister that it would have started with 85%, but the sad reality [is] we would only be looking at one student today. The National Grade 2 assessment will be 75%, but as they move upward the percentage will have to rise. We will provide all the textbooks that are appropriate for that level, stationery, school supplies, everything that deals with the children’s education. We will use the National Grade Four and Six and follow them to CXC. The programme will see students and parents once a month to assist and assess and we will work along with the Ministry of Education.”

Dr Persaud explained that his family, who are originally from the No. 68 village area, had long recognised the importance of a solid education and saw the need for their children to become more than farmers or sugar work-

ers. Both of his parents were educators and tutored at the No.68 Primary School and were a driving force behind the scholarships that seek to nurture high achievers from an early age.

Dr Persaud explained that he would not have become a doctor had it not been for his grandparents, who were farmers, but saw the need for education in order to get out of poverty and pushed their children to do better.

“I was born at this same village, my maternal grandparents who were farmers, what they said to us from the inception is that they never expected us to become farmers or to work in the sugar industry and they recognised the only solution was through education; and I don’t mean ordinary education, you need to excel …and all their children became educated and they also shared the same vision.

Today with the launch of this scholarship in honour of our parents, we are making a commitment to top performers and their parents as our grandparents and parents made to us.”

Dr. Roopnaraine in delivering the feature address thanked the Persaud family for their initiative and interest in education and noted that their line of thinking is exactly what the education ministry seeks to achieve.

“I believe everything we try to do at the ministry in terms of planning your education all the way up to university. I believe that the most important thing that we have to do is ensure that the children in the primary schools receive a solid foundation. What is happening in the primary school solely determines what happens to children all the way through their lives and I cannot stress enough that educating a child in the primary school level is paramount to success.”

The Education Minister also stressed the need for a balanced education to have well-rounded individuals and not to overtask students with only schoolwork.

In that light, he has tasked his ministry with putting extra-curricular activities such as music back into the school curriculum.

“I have been impressed at the many passes children made at their examinations, but I have to confess that when I see children passing 21 subjects I have to ask myself, what kind of childhood is this child having? I don’t want children to spend all of their waiting hours cramming facts into their heads and pass examinations - that’s not what I want them to do. I am very happy to see our little dancers… I want to see schools develop school choirs, I want to see small steelbands in schools, but what I also know is that one of [the] most important musical instruments is the voice and we have to train the voices in school.”

SCHOOL CHOIR COMPETITION In this regard, the Education Minister is planning to host a choir competition in schools in observance of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

“My plan at the 50th anniversary celebration is to have a school choir competition

Dr. Surendra Persaud and family as well as Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine with parents and recipients of the scholarships at the No. 68 Primary School and have the best school perform at the 50th celebration, so I urge you to do what you can to ensure that we have music teachers in the schools and ensure we spend our time inculcating the love for music.”

FATHERS Dr. Roopnaraine also touched on the importance

of parents’ roles in a child’s education and he encouraged fathers to play an important role in the lives of their children, as well as the need for more patriotic education about the country.

Regional Education Officer Valika Jaikishun said the initiative is timely and a step in the right direction towards

promoting education.

Meanwhile, speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, parents of the recipients expressed gratitude to the Persaud family and the Ministry of Education for providing the scholarships to the students and promised to continue helping and encouraging their children to excel.

A section of the gathering at the launch of the scholarship programme at the No. 68 Primary School

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Congo: Where toilets are a sign of hope

War, corruption and poverty have dogged the Democratic Republic of Congo, and it is widely believed that the incumbent president will cancel this year's presidential elections. But despite the instability this could bring, Mary-Ann Ochota met a community who remain surprisingly upbeat.

BAWILI Amisi is a slim woman, lean and strong.

As she stirs cassava flour to make the Congolese staple, fufu, a greyish sticky dough eaten at every meal, I can see the sinews in her arms standing taut.

When she calls the family to eat, everyone assembles without delay. Children don't mess about with their food here. They eat; and they are grateful.

I'm in South Kivu, at the eastern edge of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bawili's village, Mwandiga Trois, sits near the western shore of Lake Tanganyika. It's a beautiful region: Verdant hills and rich soils offer the chance of two full harvests a year. The shimmering lake teems with fine, fresh fish. No-one should go hungry here.

WORLD’S POOREST In fact, Congo should be one of the most prosperous countries in Africa. It doesn't just offer agricultural promise; it also has more than a thousand precious minerals.

There's copper, diamonds, gold, uranium and coltan, used in every mobile phone in the world. And yet Congo's people are some of the world's poorest.

Congo's leaders have been corrupt, cruel tyrants. The current president, Joseph Kabila, oversees a kleptocratic elite, with little interest in uniting, or even running, the country.

Mining profits drain overseas or into deep back pockets.

There is no rule of law. In every measure of human development -- safety, food security, access to water, healthcare, education -- the DRC scrapes along the bottom of world rankings. The people are on their own.

Bawili's story is quintessentially Congolese. In 1998, her husband was shot when rebels attacked their village.

She fled with her children to Tanzania, to spend a decade in an overcrowded refugee

camp. In 2008, she was among thousands forcibly repatriated to Congo. It wasn't yet safe back home, but Tanzania was closing the camps.

MWANDIGA TROIS The village Bawili and her family were sent to was new -a patch of forest allocated for "returnees", dislocated strangers from all over Congo. There was no clean water supply, no sanitation, no school and no support.

"It was very difficult," Bawili smiles, almost apologetically, "but I started growing some crops and built the house." She gestures to the neat mud-brick hut we're sitting next to, with corrugated tin shutters on the windows and a bright cloth covering the doorway. "I was too weak to dig a latrine, and I couldn't afford to pay someone to help me. I felt helpless because I couldn't protect my children.

It was just me."

Bawili's daughter, Ebinda, can't remember leaving Congo. But she remembers coming back, aged 14. Some months later, she was bitten by a snake on the way back from the bushes which the family used as a lavatory. There was no anti-venom available, and the toxins damaged her heart and nervous system. She still suffers now.

A year later, Ebinda was spotted by a group of men, again on her way out of the bushes. She became pregnant as a result of the gang rape.

Her child, now a sweet, malnourished six-year-old, leans shyly against his mother's legs, peeking up at me.

The first few years of international intervention here were all about "visibility". Schools and wells are still branded with rusting signs declaring which major donor built what. But now a new approach is taking hold: The emphasis is on invisible aid, helping a community grow its own capacity for development, seeding change that will outlive the funding,

Women of Mwandiga Trois and their children

and move with people who are still at risk of displacement.

VILLAGE PRESIDENT Bawili's the president of the village Community Health Club, an initiative that trains locals to learn and share skills in hygiene, nutrition and childcare. Simple things that can save lives. She and her fellow club members meet under a tree every Sunday morning,

taking turns to talk about their work and how to encourage their neighbours.

Over the past few months, pit latrines have been dug across the village, including at Bawili's house. The club has composed a jaunty song to teach everyone about hand-washing and hygiene.

They start and finish each meeting with a rousing chorus of "Maendeleo! Mbele!", "De-

velopment! Forward!"

The hope in the village is hard to square with what these people have endured. And as so often in Congo, dark clouds are massing. It's widely believed this year's presidential elections will be cancelled by Joseph Kabila so he can stay in power. If they are, I'm told, "there will be war again." It'll start in the capital, Kinshasa, then spread countrywide. And

if Congolese history is any teacher, civilians will again be targeted -- enslaved, tortured, raped, starved and displaced.

The residents of Mwandiga Trois have no means of protecting themselves from that. But somehow, Bawili has hope. She has new skills, a new latrine, and steely determination that she can face whatever the future holds.

(BBC)

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THE POLICE CORNER THE Cops and Faith Community Network (CFCN) has been giving significant support to the Guyana Police Force over the years, more particularly in relation to the implementation of its social crime prevention programme.

The concept of the Cops and Faith Community Network was first mooted during January 2012 by Reverend Dr Kwame Gilbert, who at that time was a member of the Advisory Board of the Community Action Component (CAC) of the Citizen Security Programme (CSP), which was being implemented under the then Ministry of Home

The Cops and Faith Community Network

related to crime and violence.

Following discussions with the Police Force’s senior management team which supported the concept, the way was cleared for the working out of the modalities and standard operating procedures.

Subsequently, following discussions with religious leaders of the three main religions in the country, the Cops and Faith Community Network was officially launched on Thursday September 12, 2013, as a pilot project in the ten communities that were involved in the Community Action Component of the Citizen Security Programme.

Members of the Management Committee of the Fallen Heroes Foundation pose with the Minister of Public Security. Khemraj Ramjattan, and the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud Affairs, now Ministry of Public Security.

Kwame Gilbert had seen the programme on stream in the USA and was of the view that it may be applicable to Guyana.

It was posited that the objectives of the programme included the creation of a mechanism for community problem-solving (which as an extension may lead to community building and improved police-community relations); the religious leaders will provide mediatory functions to young persons who have for the first time come into conflict with the law for minor offences; the religious leaders can avail themselves as mentors for young people who may be in conflict with the law as a preemptive intervention to the New Opportunity Corps; and create a data base of religious leaders who will provide chaplaincy and counselling to law-enforcement officers who may require such services.

It was also recognised, firstly, that in many communities religious organisations function as an anchoring force, since they become more a part of people’s lives in the absence of community help services; secondly, many religious leaders are trained to deal with special needs of disadvantaged populations and they often lend a level of compassion and understanding that traditional social service agencies may not; and thirdly, in many communities, the religious leaders are often viewed as the leader and the voice of moral and secular authority - they can rally their congregants and the wider community to work towards lasting solutions to problems

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

and religious leaders involved in the CFCN, the CFCN has since progressed from being just a crime-prevention effort to one of social intervention in the society.

On Saturday December 6, 2014, the Guyana Police Force in collaboration with the Cops and Faith Community Network formally launched two projects, Chaplaincy and Family Liaison for victims of serious crimes and domestic violence, at the Police Officers’ Training Centre, Eve Leary. The concept involved in the Force Chaplaincy is the involvement of the CFCN to provide Chaplaincy services to members of the Guyana Police Force, particularly those who have had traumatic experiences. It is recognised that there are police ranks who visit crime scenes such as shooting incidents or murder, where they have various experiences that may have long-term effects on them, with a resulting unnoticed pressure building up that may eventually affect them psychologically.

Consequently, in situations where a rank or a group of ranks has been exposed to a traumatic situation, it is intended to provide counselling through the CFCN in order to bring some psychological relief. Should the intervention at this level be considered not to be enough based on feedback, then higher and more in-depth treatment will be sought. As a precursor to the initiating of the Chaplaincy project, during July 2014 the Guyana Police Force appointed a Force Chaplain, Pastor Patrick Doolichand, who is coordinating the Chaplaincy project and other projects involving the CFCN in addition to ceremonial duties.

Also, a number of members of the Guy-

In relation to the Family Liaison for victims of serious crimes and domestic violence, it was recognised that in some instances the victims of serious crimes do not cooperate fully with the police investigators on issues such as giving statements, attending identification parades and attending court. It was therefore felt that the involvement of the religious leaders attached to the CFCN could have a positive impact by way of bringing some psychological relief to the victims in the first instance, along with giving encouragement for their cooperation with the police as well as the provision of feedback to them on the progress of the investigation into a particular matter.

Another benefit here is that in many instances, persons are more comfortable talking to a religious leader and additionally, the presence of the religious leader will serve to motivate ranks to be more professional in their delivery of service and consequently, assist in enhancing public trust. Another project for which the Police Force is receiving support from the CFCN is the Inter-Agency Suicide Prevention Help Line, which was launched by the Force on Thursday August 6, 2015, under the theme “You call, we listen and help.”

It is an avenue whereby depressed persons, or their relatives or friends, can call in with a view to the affected person receiving psychological assistance by way of counselling. A higher level of intervention will be sought through mental health specialists should it become necessary in any particular case. In addition to the CFCN, the Police Force is being supported in this initiative

The communities were: Agricola/McDoom Angoy’s Avenue Overwinning/Glasgow/Edinburgh Port Mourant Kilcoy/Chesney/Fyrish Rose Hall Sophia Buxton/Friendship Annandale/Lusignan Plaisance It was agreed that after six months, an assessment would be done with a view to determine whether the concept of the Cops and Faith Community Network should be extended throughout all the Police Divisions.

The review and assessment conducted at the end of the pilot stage was highly positive and consequently, the initiative has been expanded countrywide throughout the Police Divisions.

An analysis of the CFCN in terms of treating with juvenile first offenders has revealed that up to March 31, 2016, there was a total of 294 interventions supported by the religious community. The interventions involved 167 male and 127 female young persons. In all cases, the youths were counselled by the religious leaders and following the involvement of parents/guardians, and the victims where necessary, the majority of them were warned and sent away. Presently, resulting from discussions between the Guyana Police Force

Ms. Enola Pantlitz, spouse of Police Corporal 18053 Sherwayne Pantlitz who lost his life in the line of duty, receives a monetary donation from the Fallen Heroes Foundation. Presenting the cheque is Pastor Raphael Massiah ana Police Force and the religious community comprising Christians, Muslims and Hindus, participated in a Level One Community Service Chaplaincy Training programme between September 4 and 6, 2014, that was organised by the Police in collaboration with the CFCN. The training programme was facilitated by officials of Chaplaincy International and placed emphasis on giving guidance and counselling.

under the Force’s Social Crime Prevention Programme by the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Social Protection, the private sector and other social partners.

On November 5, 2015, another initiative, the Fallen Heroes Foundation Inc., was launched by the Guyana Police Force in collaboration with the Cops and Faith See page 20

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Traffic police 'prepped' for tinted vehicles crackdown ––as part of anti-crime strategy

THE Traffic Department has launched a rigid campaign to remove illegal tints from all vehicles, including those of members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

In an interview with this publication, acting Traffic Chief Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud said his department will be operating within the confines of the law and relevant stipulations.

OBSTRUCTION Quoting a section of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, the Traffic Chief noted that “No person shall have fitted to his motor vehicle and glass or safety glass or any material used in the

place of such glass or safety glass which is so tinted or otherwise treated or coloured in such a manner or to such extent, as would result in obstructing the identification of the driver of the motor vehicle or any other person travelling in the motor vehicle by any person from outside the motor vehicle.”

However, he explained that where applicable, senior government functionaries, military personnel and senior police officers are exempted. Persaud said during the campaign if a police officer cannot clearly identify the occupants inside a tinted vehicle from the outside, then the tint should be removed.

He said the campaign

will be used to determine the density of the tint on vehicle windows.

Additionally, as it stands now, only certain vehicles are permitted to have tints without the expressed

will be in operation countrywide and if persons’ vehicles are heavily tinted, it is best to remove the tint since there is no need to cross paths with law enforcement.

ANTI-CRIME STRATEGY Police sources also explained that the move is part of the anti-crime strategy, since there are persons of interest to the police who often use cars with tinted windows to conceal their identities and to move around undetected.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had noted that government will be moving to review the existing policy regarding

permission of the Minister of Public Security. These include diplomatic vehicles and those belonging to top senior government and high-ranking military officials.

Acting Traffic Chief, Boodnarine Persaud tints on motor vehicles as one of the components of the National Crime Fighting Strategy. Tint meters

Thursday, April 21, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Friday, April 22, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 05:30 hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Ganja possession reels in murder suspect

A MAN who was arrested over the weekend for marijuana possession is expected to be charged with murder after investigators realised he was also wanted over a year ago for the murder of 46-year-old Patrick Boo-

die, called ‘Budie’, or ‘Bossman’ of 189, Levi Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam.

The man in police custody has been identified as 33-year-old Gariban Ali, called ‘Bagie.’

Divisional Command-

er Marlon Chapman said investigations have revealed that the young man who was arrested for cannabis possession is also wanted for a murder in Berbice.

“The police in Berbice will deal with him for that

purpose. In the meanwhile [sic], we are doing our investigations as far as the narcotics are concerned,” Chapman noted.

Reports reveal that Gariban and his brother, Mohamed Ali, called ‘John’, 34, were wanted for the murder of 46-yearold Patrick Boodie.

They were also wanted for wounding Boodie’s brother, Calvin Charles, 44, a pork-knocker of 195 Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, and a cousin, Jason Nicholson, 28, a mason and taxi driver of High Dam. The incident occurred on April 15, 2015, at Levi Dam, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

A post-mortem conducted on the body of Boodie concluded that he died from shock and haemorrhage caused by gunshot injuries. Seven bullet holes and three chop wounds were found on the body.

The next day two houses belonging to the suspects were set on fire, minutes apart. Ali, who was identified as the shooter, was recently released from jail after serving three years on narcotics charges.

According to Calvin Charles, there was no dispute. He stated that he was asked by his nephews and nieces to assist them in building a house on a plot of land at High Dam at the back of Angoy’s Avenue, since they have to remove from where they are residing. He said that he and his brother

Patrick Boodie and five others went to the scene to clear the land and start construction of the house.

The man stated that as they were constructing the house, he decided to light some dry grass that was in the yard. The fire got

Dead: Patrick Boodie out of hand and spread over to an empty land next door. He said that his brother told him that the men complained to his brother that the fire had burnt some materials on their land.

Then with his brother urging him, he decided to go and investigate. Upon reaching the area, the man stated that one of the men chucked him and he retaliated. He was unaware that another one was coming behind him and dealt him a lash to his head.

The man who had chucked him then whipped out a knife and stabbed him to his left

hand. He said he felt dizzy after losing blood, but was still able to escape and inform his brother of what was going on.

His brother then left and went to the scene, but he had no time to inquire what was happening, as he was dealt a chop by one of the men and then he fell to the ground. It was then that the ex-convict came up with a pistol and started shooting. The man said his brother was struck several times. The gunman continued shooting until the pistol was empty.

Charles stated that upon seeing that, he lunged at the shooter and hit the gun out of his hand, and they began to scuffle.

He said he was getting the better of the exchanges when he saw the man’s friend approaching with a cutlass. He immediately had to run to safety.

He said that the shooter then picked up the gun and a relative retrieved the warheads and they left the scene. Charles said he then tried to assist his badly wounded brother, who had received several gunshot wounds to his lower body and a severe chop in the vicinity of his left ear.

His cousin Jason Nicholson was standing on his bridge nearby when he was struck by a bullet to his right upper arm. They were all rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where Patrick Boodie was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Cops and Faith ...

From page 18 Community Network in honour of those police ranks who were killed in the line of duty, in order to provide various forms of assistance to their families, including educational facilities for their children.

The Foundation, which is the first of its kind in the Caribbean, has received overwhelming support from the Government of Guyana, Government ministers in their personal capacity, and from a wide cross-section of the society, including the corporate community.

The Fallen Heroes Foundation is managed by a Committee comprising its President Pastor Raphael Massiah, Vice-President Dr. Winston McGowan, Secretary Pastor Winston Assanah, Trea-

surer Mohamed Qualander and Committee Members Pastors Patrick Doolichand, Victor Grimmond and Deryck Anderson.

The Foundation has commenced with the offering of assistance to the relatives of slain police ranks when between December last year and January this year significant monetary donations were made to the spouses of a number of police ranks who had lost their lives in the line of duty.

There are some 252 members of the religious community presently involved in the CFCN countrywide, which is also assisting with the invigilating and marking of the Learner/Driver Theoretical Examinations in the Police Divisions, with a view to bringing greater integrity to the process.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

GOG, CPL still...

From back page

went on to say.

TRANCHE PAYMENT OF OLD DEBTS Meanwhile the minister confirmed that the government is going to pay off the debts racked up to the organisers of the CPL by the previous administration, saying, “We (GoG) decided that it will be paid in tranches.”

According to reports, the previous government had racked up a US$500 000 bill to the organisers of the six-team tournament during the 2015 edition but had not paid off their incurred debts, leaving it on the administration of the day.

Trotman confirmed this and the figure, while noting that while no proper documentation had been filed for the money, the government is still moving forward to have the tournament run trouble-free.

“We believe that in the interest of Cricket; in the interest of good relations, in the interest of the future of the sport, that we should come to an amicable resolution,” said Trotman.

“Through interventions made from overseas, a group of ministers met with a CPL team late last year and we managed to arrive at what we believe is a settlement even though there is no documentation of US$500 000 being owed.”

Bolt ready...

From back page injuries, two weeks and I’m okay. Now it takes months to get back to where I need to be.

“So for me, I really think after the championships I will want to retire after London.

But my coach has a way of

persuading you and making you believe in yourself. So, we’ll see what happens.

“I want to be remembered as one of the greatest that have ever done the sport and that’s the legacy I want to leave, really.”

(Sportsmax.com)

South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:40 hrs Eversilver 09:15 hrs Sovereign Mint 09:55 hrs Hyak 10:30 hrs Baylisiana 11:05 hrs Bally Swiss

lie 10:00 hrs Florrie Boy 10:30 hrs Gallic Warrior 11:00 hrs Tennis Cap 11:30 hrs Railway Dillon 12:05 hrs Impulsive American

English Racing Tips Warwick 08:40 hrs A Bold Move 09:10 hrs El Bandit 09:40 hrs Zanstra 10:10 hrs The Eaglehaslanded 11:10 hrs Incentivise 11:40 hrs Hard As Rock 12:15 hrs On The Bridge

Irish Racing Tips Tipperary 11:35 hrs The Mcgregornator 12:10 hrs Doc Sportello 12:40 hrs A Few Dollars More 13:10 hrs Kellstorm 13:40 hrs Ancient Sands 14:10 hrs Duke Cass 14:40 hrs Call It Magic 15:10 hrs Ancient Highway American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Silver Mission Race 2 Congrats Kid Race 3 Lucky Boots Race 4 Ginned Up Race 5 Natalie Victoria Race 6 Just Catty Race 7 Jademarie Race 8 Candy Counter

Beverley 08:50 hrs Seafront 09:20 hrs Blacklister 09:50 hrs Arab Poet 10:20 hrs Alphabetical Order 11:20 hrs Age Of Elegance 11:50 hrs Carenot Perth 09:00 hrs Buyer Beware 09:30 hrs Bring Back Char-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Proteas turned off day-night Test by Australians (REUTERS) - South Africa’s reluctance to play day-night Test cricket is based on Australian feedback from their first match with the pink ball against New Zealand, Proteas captain AB de Villiers has said.

South Africa’s players have baulked at an invitation to play Australia in a daynight match in Adelaide in the home summer, saying their inexperience with the specially developed pink ball would place them at a disadvantage.

Cricket Australia (CA) are determined for the game to go ahead, however, and said they were still working to confirm it with South Africa’s board.

Australia defeated New Zealand in the inaugural day-night Test in November at Adelaide Oval, a match which drew huge crowds and big television audiences.

Although players from both sides hailed it a success, they also had reservations about the pink ball’s

visibility and movement from twilight into the evening. de Villiers said his team had sought feedback from Australia before the World Twenty20 and both sides walked away from their meeting reluctant to play the Adelaide game.

“At the moment, we are not too keen on playing in the proposed day-night Test match due to a few concerns that have come from a number of sources involved in the maiden Test played last year,” de Villiers told South Africa’s Independent Media.

“We had a meeting with (captain) Steve Smith and some of the Australian players when they toured here earlier this year, and the consensus from our talks was that there are just too many unknowns.

“Players from both teams were reluctant to go ahead with it.

“South Africa and Australia have a great cricketing rivalry, and this is a series

Australia’s Glenn Maxwell (C) is congratulated by his teammates after taking the wicket of New Zealand’s Corey Anderson.

Reuters/Adnan Abidi that we value. the itinerary.” day-night Test.

“We could well be playing CA released their summer “There is some concern for an opportunity to regain schedule yesterday with the from the South African the number one Test ranking, third Test at Adelaide from players, but ... the success of so playing a day-night match November 24 to 28 only Adelaide last year demonis a fundamental change to pencilled in as a potential strates the huge potential

the day-night format has in revitalising Test cricket all over the world, and it’s for that reason that it is our desire to stage another Test under lights at that venue,” CA chief executive James Sutherland, who has long championed Test cricket under lights, said in a statement.

Regardless of any players’ misgivings, CA confirmed Australia would host Pakistan in a day-night Test at the Gabba from December 15.

Brisbane has traditionally held the first Test of the summer but has struggled to draw crowds in recent years and Perth will instead host the opener against South Africa from November 3.

Australia will also host New Zealand for three oneday internationals between the South Africa and Pakistan Test series, along with five ODIs against Pakistan in January and three Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka in February.

Suarez on fire as Barca hammer Deportivo 8-0

By Richard Martin BARCELONA, (Reuters)-A red hot Luis Suarez scored four goals and contributed three assists as Barcelona’s stuttering La Liga title charge sparked back to life with a spectacular 8-0 thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna yesterday.

Atletico Madrid kept the pressure on Barca with a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao thanks to a first half header from Fernando Torres, although defender Diego Godin was forced off in the ninth minute with a suspected hamstring injury.

Barca lead Atletico due to their superior head-tohead record, with both teams on 79 points with four games remaining. Third-placed Real Madrid face Villarreal later on Wednesday.

Three successive defeats had put the breaks on Barcelona’s title hopes but Uruguayan Suarez made sure the losing run would not continue when he gave Barca a two-goal cushion at the

Barcelona’s Luis Suarez celebrates his goal against Deportivo Coruna.

Reuters/Miguel Vidal Gerard Pique in search of a break by scoring in the 11th first win in five league games. and 24th minutes.

Suarez put them on their He then provided the way by volleying home cross for Ivan Rakitic to Rakitic’s corner from inside grab the third in the 48th. the six yard box, then added Suarez completed his hat- the second with a first time trick five minutes later finish with the help of a styland netted his fourth in the ish tee up from Messi.

64th. Lionel Messi, Marc The former Liverpool Bartra and Neymar round- striker laid on the cross for ed off the scoring late on.

Rakitic to score on the half Barca headed to Riazor volley shortly after the break, without influential defender

and completed his treble thanks to another assist from Messi. Suarez’s fourth goal was scrappier, following his shot in on the rebound after being denied by Deportivo goalkeeper Manu.

He then set up Messi to tap in from inside the box in the 73rd minute.

Arguably the best goal was scored by defender Bartra, who was making just a fourth league start in the absence of Pique. The centre back powered his way through Deportivo’s defence and into the area before producing a confident finish into the far corner in the 79th minute.

There was still time for Neymar to end his drought of five games without a goal, the Brazilian turning another pass by Suarez in at the near post.

Torres scored for the fifth consecutive game in all competitions to give Atletico a fourth straight league win, heading in Antoine Griezmann’s chipped cross on 38 minutes.

However, Atletico de-

fender Godin could miss their next league game against Malaga and their Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern

Munich after hurting his hamstring, two weeks after recovering from a hamstring injury in the same leg.

Australia’s international programme for 2016/17 Cricket Australia announced their programme of international matches for the 2016-17 season yesterday: Nov. 3-7 v South Africa, 1st Test, Perth Nov. 12-16 v South Africa, 2nd Test, Hobart Nov. 24-28 v South Africa, 3rd test, Adelaide* Dec. 4 v New Zealand, 1st ODI, Sydney Dec. 6 v New Zealand, 2nd ODI, Canberra Dec. 9 v New Zealand, 3rd ODI, Melbourne Dec. 15-19 v Pakistan, 1st Test, Brisbane# Dec. 26-30 v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Melbourne Jan. 3-7 v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Sydney Jan. 13 v Pakistan, 1st ODI, Brisbane Jan. 15 v Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Melbourne Jan. 19 v Pakistan, 3rd ODI, Perth Jan. 22 v Pakistan, 4th ODI, Sydney Jan. 26 v Pakistan, 5th ODI, Adelaide Feb. 17 v Sri Lanka, 1st T20, TBC Feb. 19 v Sri Lanka, 2nd T20, TBC Feb. 22 v Sri Lanka, 3rd T20, TBC * possible day-night ttst # day night test

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

ICC to discuss multi-format points system

THE International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to discuss the possibility of a points-based structure for international cricket at its forthcoming board meeting in Dubai.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the idea of giving points for each victory in a bilateral tour across all formats - as pioneered in the Women’s Ashes since 2013 - then translating the overall winner into a “championship” table will be one of the options debated amid wider discussions on how to bring greater context to bilateral series.

It has recently emerged that the ECB is in discussions with the PCB and SLC over adding the additional dimension of awarding an overall winner across formats to the upcoming series during the English season.

Earlier this week, SLC confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that it would discuss the proposal at a board meeting later this month.

The ICC board will meet on Monday, April 25, to start their second round of meetings in 2016. individual series victories at

Although the discussions at ICC level remain at an early stage, the governing body is aware that the international game faces increasing pressures from the expansion of T20 leagues and the lack of relevance to some bilateral series - especially outside of marquee contests such as the Ashes - is a key issue.

A previous attempt to launch a World Test Championship fell by the wayside and was replaced by the

return of the Champions Trophy.

Current one-day rankings act as a qualifier for the Champions Trophy - World T20 champions West Indies missed the cut for next year’s event in England - and, as it stands, will also decide which teams need to go through the qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup. This brings about a desire to give more meaning to oneday series which often take place with little more than

Hong Kong player banned for anti-corruption code breach

(REUTERS) - Hong Kong all-rounder Irfan Ahmed has been banned for 2-1/2 years for failing to disclose approaches made to him to engage in corruption, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday.

The 26-year-old Pakistan-born cricketer was provisionally suspended in November with the ICC’s anti-corruption unit (ACU) investigating his role in relation to the activities of another suspected offender.

“Whilst Mr Ahmed was not charged with any offence involving corruption, the ACU established that he had failed to disclose to it full details of approaches or invitations to engage in corrupt conduct that had been made to him between January 2012 and January 2014,” the ICC said in a statement.

Ahmed, who had played in six one-day internationals and eight Twenty20 matches for Hong Kong, accepted the sanction and waived his right to appeal, the ICC added.

Cricket has been plagued by a number of corruption issues and a 2010 spot-fixing scandal resulted in bans and jail terms for Pakistan fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, and former Test captain Salman Butt.

ACU chairman Ronnie Flanagan said corrupt in-

stake, while the T20 segments of tours are often one or two matches tagged on at the tail end.

A points-based structure would also mean that currently dead Tests - with the series already decided - would potentially have greater meaning.

Cricket Australia’s team performance manager Pat

Howard said that events in the UK, if they go ahead for the series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, would be monitored with interest ahead of Australia’s next assignments, including a multi-format tour of Sri Lanka in July and August.

“We’ve noted the trial and we will see how it plays out,” Howard said, “before considering any changes to our current system, whether it be at home or in away series.”

If the concept were to be used during the English season, it would not replace any of the existing series trophies up for grabs.

Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, has previously spoken about how he sees the points system as a way of re-energising the international game.

“How do you encourage the public to re-engage with

the international game? I believe you have to look at giving every match context … if it is a case of ‘just another Test match’ or just another five-ODI series between two nations, it loses some of its context and some of its meaning and that is something the ICC needs to look at,” he told the Cricket Paper last year.

“I personally think there is scope in linking up Test, ODI and T20 cricket in some sort of bigger world championship that involves all three formats. It’s an idea I’ve been a fan of for a long time.”

A report in British newspaper the ‘i‘ said that the ICC will also discuss creating windows in the international calendar for domestic T20 tournaments to take place so that they do not compete directly with international series. (ESPN Criciinfo)

Neymar to play in home Olympics and not Copa, say Barcelona

(REUTERS)-NEYMAR will play in the Olympics in August and will miss the Centenary Copa America in the United States in June, his club Barcelona said yesterday to end months of speculation.

“FC Barcelona expresses its gratitude to the Brazilian Football Confederation and its president Marco Polo del Nero for accepting the club’s proposal for Neymar Jr to only play at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this summer...and not at the Copa America in the United States...,” the Catalan club said in a statement.

Neymar, 24, is by far the most heralded player in the Brazil side and coach Dunga had hoped to have him available for both tournaments.

He will be one of the three over-age players permitted in Brazil’s under-23 squad for the Games.

Rio de Janeiro will become the first South American city to host the Games and Brazil were last week drawn in a group to play South Africa, Iraq and Denmark in the men’s soccer tournament.

Irfan Ahmed’s period of ineligibility will end in May 2018 © dividuals had increased the targeting of players from ICC Associate Member nations, where cricket is firmly established and organised and the game’s stakeholders needed to stave them off.

“This penalty (imposed on Ahmed) should act as a reminder to all participants of the need to comply with their obligations under the (anti-corruption) code at all times and, in particular, the requirement to report corrupt approaches to the ACU without any delay,” Flanagan said.

“It is pleasing to note that

the investigation upon which these charges were founded originated from information that had been disclosed to the ACU. “This is a clear and welcome demonstration that participants now more and more fully realise their own responsibilities in combating this scourge on the game through prompt and diligent reporting as required by the Code.”

Ahmed’s ban is backdated to when he was provisionally suspended and will expire on May 4, 2018.

Barcelona’s Neymar reacts against Valencia.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

WICB responds to latest call for its dissolution

IN RESPONSE to increasing pressure for the West Indies Cricket Board to dissolve and adopt a more progressive structure, the board has issued a statement defending its position and outlining that in its current structure it is beginning to effect change that has already begun to yield the desired results.

Just this week, several former West Indies greats, including Garry Sobers, Viv Richards, Wes Hall and Andy Roberts have called upon the WICB to dissolve the board, in line with the CARICOM cricket review panel’s recommendation, and appoint an interim committee as part of the structural reforms that would enable the region’s cricket to “develop and flourish”.

Among those recommendations is that a 23-man oversight committee be appointed to oversee the operations of the board.

But the WICB has shot back saying it is against adding another layer to the existing body.

“The WICB has, over the last decade, commissioned several reports whose results have largely been implemented,” it said in its statement.

“The one recommendation that has not been favoured by the current or the previous board is the adding of another layer to the existing body. That has been the bane of contention in recent times with a few groups calling for the dissolution of the board.”

The WICB goes on to defend its existing model and its plan to get West Indies back to the pinnacle of world cricket.

That includes getting limited resources in order and spending where it is most needed.

“Restructuring in today’s sporting world simply means choosing the best model for the sport at the time. This may best be defined by the resultant effect of an economic impact

The WICB directors model which clearly states that revenue-sharing is vital for all stakeholders.

In an ongoing effort, the WICB, in its financials, for the year ending September 30, 2015, reported a surplus (US$3.5M) which resulted in the deficit being reduced to just under US$2M,” it said.

Key to the plan to return the West Indies to international relevance was the implementation of its franchise system that it expected to begin to make an impact by transforming amateur players into full professionals.

“In 2014, the WICB rolled out its franchise system, which sought to “professionalise the game and revolutionise how players are engaged,” the statement said.

“This system added 90 professional players which play first-class cricket in the 50-overs and 4-Day format in addition to a partner for the Twenty20 – the Caribbean Premier League. Those leagues have shown tremendous potential from all involved. The opportunities for the next generation of players are to be discovered from this ongoing series of programmes.”

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday April 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) 2009 (2) Deccan Chargers Today’s Quiz: (1) How many matches were scheduled in last season’s IPL? (2) How many games are scheduled in this season’s IPL? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

According to the WICB under the current model 15 men and 11 women are on retainer contracts. There are also 90 players on first-class retainers. The board has also implemented a regional women’s tournament.

There are also three main competitions in the domestic markets, including the Super50 competition, the 4-Day Professional Cricket League and the Caribbean Premier League – where players earn from a minimum of US$5 000 to a maximum of US$160 000.

Meantime, the WICB said it realises the role it has to play in the constantly changing environment in the business of cricket and just recently, at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in March set a team, led by Independent Director Don Wehby to reassess all the

reports and to make recommendations to make the organisation more efficient.

The Board will also host its annual retreat in the early part of the summer with players, technical team, player representatives, management staff and directors to chart the way forward.

The primary focus for this year’s retreat, it said, will be to find workable solutions with regard to re-engagement of players, and how they fit into the existing high performance programme and to determine the most affordable remuneration packages.

The Board said it is committed to looking back at all the previous reports with a view to see which of the recommendations are suitable at this time, putting in place a firm and/or individual with the expertise to review the

NOTABLE DATES TONY `Tiger’ Marshall was in the twilight of his career when he took on Mexican Carlos Bojorquez on April 21, 2003.

The fight was held at the Yakama Legends Casino in Washington, USA. The 32-year-old Marshall suffered his 13th defeat after Borjorquez, two years his opponent’s junior, knocked Marshall down twice in the third round.

The visits to the canvas forced referee Mike Fisher to halt the contest and hand the Mexican victory via technical knockout. Marshall next tackled `Ferocious’ Fernando Vargas, a former world super welterweight champion in December of the same year.

He also lost that bout when, at the end of the seventh round, the ring doctor advised that the contest be halted. Marshall had two more fights (one victory) before retiring from competitive boxing.

Born in Guyana, Marshall turned pro in April 1991. He returned home in 1995 to spar with Anthony `The Pearl’ Andrews, who was preparing for a world title fight with Argentine Jorge Castro.

The October-born orthodox boxer made two unsuccessful challenges for world titles. The first occurred in November 1994 when `The Tiger’ tackled Argentine Julio Cesar Vasquez for the World Boxing Association (WBA) version of the crown.

After 12 rounds Vasquez was adjudged the winner via unanimous decision. Marshall’s second attempt ended in similar manner.

The Guyanese travelled to Madrid, Spain in July 2000 to do battle with World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Javier Castillejo. Marshall’s career lasted 14 years and produced 37 victories, 13 defeats and 6 draws.

recommendations and manage the implementation and meet with its stakeholders to effect the changes.

The winning of three world titles is something the WICB believes is an accomplishment that has come as part of the high performance programme implemented just over two years ago, and drives home the point for the furtherance of the organisation.

“That there are small groups clamouring for the board’s dissolution is reason to ask … what more could a region want?”

“The acceptance of an average of 90 per cent of all the commissioned reports received which have been implemented minus adding another layer of bureaucracy cannot justify calling for the board to be dissolved,” the WICB said.

“Instead, the small groups should consider, among other things, promises made by Governments to contribute to the growth of cricket by hosting matches, international

series, continuing to facilitate development which aids in the growth of sport, creating a more enabling environment for movement around the region, revitalising cricket in the schools across the region, as well as assisting in the setting up of territorial academies.”

The WICB said it has been living up to its end of the bargain and has called upon the naysayers and the stakeholders to have faith in what is being done.

“The global sports industry is going through constant change and so are all the sporting disciplines. One thing that is sure, though, is that organisations are moving towards being more efficient in their structure to be able to ease decision-making and to create the most effective model for business,” it said.

“The Board, so far, has lived up to its promises, and while that is being done, let’s trust the process.” (Sportsmax.com)

FIFA says was slow to act on Qatar labour rights (REUTERS) - FIFA was late to raise concerns about the treatment of migrant labourers on World Cup stadiums in Qatar and tournament organisers should do more to improve working conditions, an official from world football’s governing body said yesterday.

FIFA did not raise concerns about the abuse of labourers with the Qatar 2022 organising committee until last May - five years after the hosting rights had been secured, said Federico Addiechi, FIFA’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility.

He added that prior to 2015 FIFA did not consider the construction of stadiums its responsibility.

“When it comes to human rights policy ... we started, in connection with Qatar and its bidding process for 2022, late, yes,” Addiechi told reporters and trade union members at a human rights conference in Doha.

“As soon as we acknowledged that an organisation like FIFA should be involved in addressing possible violations of human rights in stadiums, we did (contact Qatar),” he said.

Qatari officials said they were working to resolve issues raised over working conditions and that they needed time to fix problems in the labour system.

Two weeks after Amnes-

ty International reported on ongoing abuses in Qatar’s preparations for the World Cup, Addiechi said FIFA would not use the threat of removing hosting rights in order to push for reform.

He said FIFA wanted to work with organisers to improve conditions for foreign workers hired by sub-contractors on tournament sites.

“We would like to see the efforts that are being made to implement welfare standards for migrant workers, that this trickle down to the lowest part of the supply chain,” he said.

SQUALID CONDITIONS Last week, John Ruggie, a former UN adviser on human rights, published a report urging FIFA to be more transparent and use its negotiating leverage to ensure countries bidding for the World Cup protect the rights of people who build stadiums.

The recommendations came after Amnesty International described abuses, including construction workers from Nepal and India being charged recruitment fees and housed in squalid conditions.

FIFA’s newly-elected president Gianni Infantino will visit Qatar today to meet with officials. He is currently in Russia as part of a trip to the next two hosts of the World Cup.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 21, 2016

Rohit, Buttler, Pollard star as Mumbai get back to winning ways MUMBAI Indians picked up their second win of the 2016 IPL thanks to some big hitting from Rohit Sharma, Jos Buttler and Kieron Pollard.

Rohit Sharma produced another vital innings at the top of the order to lead defending champions Mumbai Indians to only their second win of the Indian Premier League against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The opener struck his second half-century of the competition as Mumbai successfully chased down their 171-run target with two overs to spare.

Rohit’s 62 off just 44 balls included four boundaries and three huge sixes, maintaining momentum in their chase before Jos Buttler (28) and Kieron Pollard (40 not out) finished the job off with some big hitting of their own.

Kieron Pollard hits a brutal six over the off side in his unbeaten 40.

Unbeaten Drayton leads in ECI chess tourney AFTER three rounds of the Engineering and Construction Inc. (ECI) chess tournament, Candidate Master Anthony Drayton is unbeaten and as a result he is sitting pretty atop the point standings.

Drayton has managed a clean sweep of his opponents with three wins from three games and at the moment is the only player to have earned the maximum number of points on offer

at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue where the games are being held.

In the second spot behind Drayton are Wendell Meusa and Taffin Khan, both former senior national champions, who are locked on 2.5 points, accrued from two wins and a draw each.

Other players: Obeng Quamina, Calvin Giddings, Ghansham Alijohn, Jessica

Callender, John Wong and Jayden Taylor have one point each.

Unfortunately three players have yet to get off the mark, having suffered defeats in all of their games. These players are Frankie Farley, Nellisha Johnson and Shazeeda Rahim.

The final four rounds of this seven-round Swiss format tournament will culminate this weekend at the same venue.

Players are locked in deep concentration at the ECI chess tournament.

Buttler showed glimpses of the form that has made him one of the hottest prospects in Twenty20, but he left it to Pollard to see Mumbai home, the West Indian peppering the boundary to complete a six-wicket win.

Mumbai won the toss and put RCB in to bat, but struggled to find a breakthrough as five of the Royal Challengers’ top six all contributed.

Without Chris Gayle it was left to AB de Villiers (29) and Virat Kohli (33) to lead the way and, although they both scored freely, the pair failed to push on.

It took a 63-run partnership between Travis Head (37) and Sarfaraz Khan (28) to lift them towards a competitive total.

Parthiv Patel (5) was dismissed early in Mumbai’s re-

ply, but Rohit quickly took control with Ambati Rayudu (31), the pair combining for 76 runs and sending the ball to all corners of the Wankhede Stadium.

Captain Rohit reached his 50 off just 38 balls and he added another 12 runs before holing out to de Villiers in the deep at long on.

His departure could have affected Mumbai’s chase, but Buttler showed he was up for the fight with a 14-ball 28, including a 101-metre six off Iqbal Abdulla (3-40).

Focus then turned to Pollard and he revelled under the pressure with four fours and three maximums on his way to an unbeaten 40, his final boundary sealing a win that Mumbai will hope can spark their campaign into life. (Sportsmax.com)

Major upset recorded on first night of GSA/Lucozade squash

ONE major upset was recorded on the opening night of the Guyana Squash Association’s (GSA) Ansa McAl Lucozade Handicap Tournament which got underway Tuesday evening at the Georgetown Club’s Squash courts, Camp Street.

According to a release, the tournament which is being staged in collaboration with GSA’s corporate sponsor DIGICEL, there were several close and exciting matches with one major upset in category `A’ when Beau Fernandes with a plus 12 (+12) handicap defeated Demetrius De Abreu ( 0 )15-10, 12-15, 15-6.

In other results from the category `A’ matches, James Mekdeci (+8) defeated Midesh Ramdhani (+12) 15-7, 15-11; Aliyah Persaud (+7) defeated Elan Rahaman (+12) 15-6, 15-5; Kamir Khan (+10) beat Nechemiyah Levans (+8) 15-6, 15-11; Abosaide Cadogan (+5) beat Teija Edwards +12 15-8, 15-10; Paige Fernandes (+10) beat Louis Da Silva (+12) 15-9, 8-15, 15-10; Mashal Allicock (+12) defeated Chad De Abreu 15-12, 15-6 and Mohyryan Baksh +10 beat Mikhail Persaud (+12) 12-15, 15-8, 15-7.

In the open category, Medhi Rahaman (+7) defeated Jonathan Fernandes (+10) 15-9, 15-7; Jonathan Antzak (+9) beat Johan Da Silva (+10) 15-6, 15-7; Satesh Singh (+6) beat Theron Mohabeer (+7) 15-14, 15-14; John Maikoo (+7) defeated David Fernandes (+10) 15-15, 15-7, 15-14; Ashley De Groot (+3) beat Antonio Joseph (+10) 15-12, 15-9; Lloyd Fung-A-Fat (+8) beat Dominique Dias (+12) 15-9, 15-11 and Adam Alves (+8) defeated Javed Rahaman (-1)

GSA president David Fernandes (right) recovers from a rally in a losing cause against John Maikoo, during their Open category match of the Ansa McAl Lucozade handicap tournament, at the Georgetown Club courts on Tuesday evening. (Photo by Adrian Narine) 15-10, 15-7.

Almost 50 players have signed up to participate in the two categories of the tournament which concludes on Saturday evening.

Peter Michael DeGroot is the defending champion in the Open category and he has been given a minus 10 handicap.

In Category `A’, the topranked players are Ethan Jonas, Lucas Jonas, Demetrius De Abreu, Madison Fernandes, Aliyah Persaud, Michael Alphonso and Abosaide Cadogan, All matches are best-ofthree and the action starts each evening at 18:00hrs.

Chris Gayle is a father

WEST Indies T20 batting star Chris Gayle is a father. The champion batsman’s partner Natasha Berridge has reportedly given birth to a baby boy.

Gayle, 36, who is playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, departed India on Monday hoping to be with Berridge in time for the birth of his first child.

While there is still to be an official confirmation of the birth, Gayle has posted a picture of himself wearing a surgical mask in what is apparently a hospital room over a post #Current Situation -“Got milk?”

There were a number of posts in reply offering congratulations.

This is the second major accomplishment this month for Gayle.

On April 3, he won the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in India with the West Indies, the team’s second T20 World title, following a dramatic four-wicket win over England. Gayle was part of both teams. (Sportsmax.com)

Rohit, Buttler, Pollard star as Mumbai get back to winning ways See Story on page 31

GOG, CPL still negotiating over 2016 semi-finals & final

By Stephan Sookram

The Guyana Amazon Warriors, who are still trophy-less in the CPL, could see their first final on home soil in 2016.

Bolt ready to retire despite coach’s pleas USAIN Bolt will ignore pleas from coach Glen Mills to carry on running after the 2017 World Championships in London.

Six-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt is adamant he will hang up his spikes in 2017 despite pleas from coach Glen Mills to continue.

The Jamaican sprinter has previously said the 2017 World Championships in London will be his final competitive meet, bringing down the curtain on a sensational career.

Bolt burst onto the scene at Beijing 2008 when he claimed three Olympic gold medals - and three world records – before retaining his sprint crowns in London four years later.

He will look to make it nine out of nine in Rio before announcing his re-

Six-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt tirement plans, but the 29-year-old is resolute he will not go on much longer.

“I keep talking about it (retirement), but my coach keeps saying I shouldn’t say I want to retire just yet, I should focus on the year and see how I feel, see how I feel after and if I still feel like I

want to retire, I should,” he said.

“But he said to give it a chance. I think my coach is pushing for me to go a few more years, but we’ll see what happens.

“Personally, I don’t really want to continue for years and years because it’s getting

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

harder. It’s really getting harder. I have to sacrifice more and more of your time.

And I think it’s just so hard and it takes up so much of your time now.

“It’s not like when I was really young, if you get See page 27...

THE Government of Guyana (GoG) and the organisers of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) are still ‘mamboing’ over the hosting of the Semi-Finals and Final of the 2016 Hero edition of Caribbean cricket’s T20 showpiece.

Taking questions during the government’s post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman hinted that while plans to host the semi-finals and final are more than likely, they are not yet cast in stone.

“Suffice to say that we are doing everything possible to bring the games to Guyana” were the exact words of Minister Trotman, who confirmed that the GoG and CPL are in talks over the tournament’s finals.

He continued by saying, “The initial request was in excess of US$2M, and we are still to confirm but the last figure I know of was on or about US$1.5M. That’s the package. But the Minister of Finance Winston Jordan has to conclude the discussions and negotiations with the CPL

organisers.”

“What I think was attractive to the government is that the CPL organisation or the organisers extended to us the offer of hosting the final, semi-finals and four games here and in our Jubilee year, we believe that it would be a good filling to the celebrations,” the minister added.

NO ‘DOLLAR VALUE’ ON CRICKET DEVELOPMENT In answering questions relating to why the government is opting to host the tournament and its economic value to the country, the minister contended that “you can’t put a dollar value to the strengthening of cricket in Guyana.”

Added to the Golden Jubilee celebrations, the government believes that the occasion is fitting as a celebration for the West Indies teams’ (Women, Men and U-19) who swept the recently concluded World Cups.

“We believe that having cricket here and having international stars in Guyana is just the festive mood that would be a good injection to our economy,” Trotman See page 27...

WICB responds to latest call for its dissolution See story on page 30

THURDAY, APRIL 21, 2016