Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 22 12 2016

P.2

Parking meters hit the streets

…free parking until January

No. 104773

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

$250B Budget approved

Page 3

Narine is the best ...CID rank captures police top award

From left: Assistant Commissioner David Ramnarine, Commissioner Seelall Persaud, overall Best Cop Detective Corporal Pream Narine and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum after the award ceremony (Photo by Rabindra Rooplall)

Mining concessions Mixed bag ‒ Opposition Leader submits candidates for new GECOM chair cleared Page 8

‒ gov't, GGDMA sign pact for duty-free Page 3 concessions

Page 7

GCAA to review operations of Dynamic Airways Page 10

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

President Granger ready to prove case in int’l court …if stalemate continues with border controversy PRESIDENT David Granger has noted that Guyana welcomes the decision by United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, to identify a definitive deadline to the Good Offices process for the resolution of the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy.

Declaring that Guyana has worked hard to bring an end to the claim on its sovereign territory, the President said that the country is ready to prove its case in the International Court of Justice at the end of 2017, should the Good Offices process maintain the current stalemate.

The President, who was at the time addressing officers and ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at Base Camp Ayanganna’s Annual Christmas Lunch, said that Guyana has already waited too long for a resolution to this matter, a release from the Ministry of the

Presidency noted.

“Last Friday, for the first time in 51 years, the secretary-general has decided that that 51-year-old claim

by Venezuela will go to the world court at the end of 2017 if the two countries, Guyana and Venezuela, do not agree to make some other arrangements. Well we have already decided that we have already waited 51 years too long. It is our territory and we will go to court to prove that it is our territory and you are there to back me up, aren’t you?” the President said to loud cheers and shouts of “yes” from members of the force.

THE United Nations (UN) secretary-general has decided that Guyana and Venezuela are to return to the Good Officecs Process for another year with the hope of the two countries coming closer to a resolution on the ongoing border controversy. Outgoing Sec-

President David Granger addressing the ranks of the Guyana Defence Force at Base Camp Ayanganna’s Annual Christmas Lunch

retary-General Ban Ki-moon has indicated that based on the various assessments done over the years, a return to the Good Offices Process is

the best option at this point.

Guyana has since indicated its acceptance of the decision of the UN Secretary-General.

Meanwhile, according to the release, the President noted that the country has put in significant effort and work to place the border controversy at the top of the international agenda, lobbying the UN secretary-general and gaining support from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Commonwealth nations and other nation-states. He added that it is satisfying that the work of the administration has not been in vain.

“We worked hard for it. We engaged the secretary-general since last year and it was always our intention that it is the secretary-general’s responsibility to make a decision about the way the controversy would be dealt with and he has made that decision and so in that regard, I am satisfied that the secretary-general has discharged his responsibility to the Geneva Agreement of 1966.

“So we are very grateful he has made that decision.

We have waited 50 years and we understand that the secretary-general has been very deliberate and very cautious in approaching this matter.

International issues cannot be resolved in a sudden or spontaneous fashion and we understand that under the circumstances, the secretary-general did what was his duty under the Geneva Agreement,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces said.

The President expressed gratitude to the servicemen for their commitment and dedication during the past year, noting that Guyana would not have been where it is had it not been for the force.

He said that it is not just the Defence Board and the Government that are grateful for the GDF’s service but the nation as a whole.

Parking meters hit the streets …free parking until January

By Navendra Seoraj THE first operational parking meter was officially installed Wednesday opposite City Hall on Regent Street, Georgetown and motorists will be allowed to park for free until January 9, 2017.

Officials of Smart City Solutions, the company which has been contacted to do the parking meter project, said they aim to sensitise drivers and other commuters on the use of the meters and how it could be operated.

Drivers will be required to purchase “parking cards”

from the Smart City Office or other vendors, in order to park at a designated area and will be required to pay $50 for every 15 minutes or $200 for every hour. The prices were approved by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

The parking cards will be available for either long or short-term use and drivers will be required to refill the card for a specific value. After inserting the card, a receipt will follow which drivers must place on the front windscreen, so inspectors will see that the spot was paid for.

It was also noted that drivSmart City Solution’s Accounts Manager, Alicia Bess, demonstrates how the “parking cards” will be used

ers will pay for parking from Monday to Saturday only, between 7:00am – 7:00pm.

Vandalism

Meanwhile, Smart City Solutions says it is prepared for vandals, as the meters will trigger alarms remotely, on

impact. The company sought to dispel concerns about vandalism, given the fact that none of the meters would contain cash.

“It has alarms built in, so as soon as there [is] any sort of impact to the meter, it would set off alarms and those patrols would be directed directly to that,” the managing-director told reporters.

Additionally, Town Clerk, Royston King, said the city police, the Guyana Police Force and wardens will be on

patrol to ensure that motorists pay up and the meters are secured.

During the first phase of the exercise, 157 parking meters will create 3,237 parking spaces within the city, as the solution to congestion.

The first set of parking meters will be installed along Camp, Water, Quamina and Hadfield streets, Georgetown.

The introduction of parking meters has been met with much resistance by drivers, the business community and the Private Sector Commission (PSC). As a matter of fact, Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan, was against the controversial project from the inception.

Duncan, in a missive posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday, noted that the entire parking meter initiative is said to be a US$10M investment, a sum that has been deemed to be bloated by experts and which could have been easily raised by local investors.

“The fact remains that as a Third World country, modern technologies available in other countries will arrive on our shores years from now clichéd; yet, thanks to globalization, we seem to be catching [up] in some areas and yet hopelessly falling behind in others.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

Mining concessions cleared – gov’t, GGDMA sign pact for duty-free concessions

By Ariana Gordon MINERS will soon benefit from concessions for fuel, spare parts and accessories as the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Trading Inc. on Wednesday signed concession agreements with the government at the Ministry of Finance.

Subject Minister Raphael Trotman told the Guyana Chronicle while at the National Assembly that two agreements were inked Wednesday morning -- one for fuel and the other for parts, spares and accessories, but he could not give many details about the pact. Miners who operate on a large-scale basis benefit from tax exemptions on materials, machinery, equipment, supplies and motor vehicles through the Investment Development Agreement (IDA). However, small-scale miners started benefitting from the IDA only in October 2015, when two agreements were signed between the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association Trading Inc. (GGDMA).

One agreement was for diesel fuel used in mining operations and on which

excise tax is payable, to be reduced to 10%. However, during the six-month validity period of this agreement, it was never utilised by the GGDMA and the other which expired in October 2016. That agreement was for the exemption from customs duty and excise tax on ATVs (30% Excise tax payable), other rock-drilling and earth- boring tools, tubes, pipes and hoses of vulcanised rubber and fittings (flex hoses); other carpets and other textile floor coverings (matting), articulated link chain and parts thereof (expanded metal), pumps, impeller, pump housing, shaft, marine propulsion engines, motor vehicle engines, other engines, double-cab pickups and motor cars up to 2500cc.

Meanwhile, when asked why the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has set up a special company to receive the concessions, Minister Trotman said nothing “illegal” has taken place.

He explained that the GGDMA is an organisation and “I don’t believe lawfully, an organisation can receive a concession from Government and therefore

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

the concession was given to a company as the trading arm to the association .It is quite lawful.”

Trotman said that the granting of the concessions by the government to the trading company established by the GGDMA is not new.

“This is the way it was done in the past,” he said.

Asked whether he believes that the move will prove beneficial only to

large-scale miners who have the spending power, thereby squeezing small and medium-scale miners, the minister said as far as he is aware, the GGDMA is the representative of miners and “to date there is no other mining organisation representing the interest of miners; it is not for us to tell miners to organize, but I believe if there is another organisation then the Ministry of Finance

would consider.”

Will only benefit the rich A small-scale miner told the Guyana Chronicle in anonymity that the concessions will not be to the benefit of the small and medium-scale miners. The miner said small and medium-scale miners never benefited from such concessions in the past and referenced the IDA. “I am telling you, smallscale miners will not benefit…those who are in the company are also large-scale miners and the small miners will have to go to them … this government promised consultations with all miners and not just the large-scale miners…small miners will have to travel long distances and bend to the desires of the large-scale miners,” the miner declared.

Additionally, the miner, who has worked in the industry for well over 25 years, said the GGDMA does not represent the interests of all miners and called on the APNU+AFC administration to live up to its promise. Attempts to contact the President of the GGDMA, Terrene Adams, for a comment on the matter on Wednesday proved futile.

Only last month, miners had declared that they felt

betrayed by the APNU+AFC government and demanded answers, as it believed that the government intended to revoke all concessions granted them. In a statement to the media, the GGDMA had said it received “highly credible information” that government intended to rescind all concessions granted to miners, which included the removal of VAT waivers, all concessions for fuel and lubricants, motor-vehicles, spares and parts, tools and equipment.

“This is the ultimate betrayal of the miners by the APNU+AFC government and will only serve to make the already difficult industry harder, if not impossible.

The association is calling on the government to restore the status quo and return ALL the concession granted to miners under the PPP/C administration.”

The body had argued that the industry is expected to produce over 600,000 ounces of gold as a direct result of small and medium-scale miners; all done without concessions.

As such, the body had said if given the same concessions as foreign companies, much more gold could be produced.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday , December 22, 2016

Brazil construction giant admits bribery Marcelo Odebrecht, being sent to jail for 19 years for paying $30m (£21m) in bribes to Petrobras officials.

Brazil’s biggest construction firm, Odebrecht, has admitted in the US to bribing officials to secure contracts.

The company and Brazilian petrochemical firm, Braskem, have agreed to pay at least $3.5bn (£2.8bn) to the authorities in the US, Brazil and Switzerland.

The US Justice Department said it was the largest foreign bribery case yet.

Odebrecht will pay

fines of at least $2.6bn and Braskem will pay $957m for bribery across the globe.

One of the biggest examples of corruption involved Odebrecht paying bribes to officials of Brazil’s staterun oil company, Petrobras, which is itself at the centre of a huge corruption scandal.

Odebrecht executives have signed a deal to cooperate with that investigation into Petrobras - known as Operation Car Wash - nam-

ing more than two hundred politicians allegedly involved in the kickback scheme.

William Burck, a lawyer for Odebrecht, said the company was “glad to be turning the page and focusing on its future”.

Earlier in December, the company apologised for being part of corruption scandals that have already led to its former chief executive,

DEPARTMENT OF BRIBERY’ US Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Sung-Hee Suh, said: “Odebrecht [the firm] and Braskem used a hidden but fully functioning Odebrecht business unit - a ‘Department of Bribery,’ so to speak - that systematically paid hundreds of millions of dollars to corrupt Government officials in countries on three continents.”

The US authorities said that starting in 2001, and lasting for more than a decade, Odebrecht paid $788m (£627m) in bribes to Government officials, their agents and to political parties in several countries, to win business orders.

The US Department of Justice said: “The criminal conduct was directed by the highest levels of the company, with the bribes paid through a complex network of shell companies, off-book transactions and off-shore bank accounts.”

Braskem took part in the scheme and between 2006

Thurday, December 22, 2016 - 13:00 hrs

and 2014, and paid about $250m (£201m) into Odebrecht’s bribery system, US authorities said.

The money was used to bribe politicians and their parties in Brazil as well as to officials of Petrobras.

The result, said the US Justice Department, was that Braskem obtained cheap deals when buying Petrobras materials, obtained contracts with Petrobras, and also gained sweetheart tax deals in Brazil.

“These resolutions are the result of an extraordinary multinational effort to identify, investigate and prosecute a highly complex and long-lasting corruption

scheme that resulted in the payment by the defendant companies of close to a billion dollars in bribes to officials at all levels of Government in many countries,” said US attorney Robert Capers.

“In an attempt to conceal their crimes, the defendants used the global financial system - including the banking system in the United States - to disguise the source and disbursement of the bribe payments by passing funds through a series of shell companies,” he added.

Braskem is jointly owned by Odebrecht and Petrobras. (BBC News)

Pilot and airline caused Colombia crash

A Bolivian investigation into a plane crash that killed 71 people last month, including dozens of Brazilian football players, has concluded that the pilot and the airline were directly responsible, an official says.

The plane, operated by Bolivian airline LaMia, plunged into a mountainside near the Colombian city Medellin. Only six people survived.

An audio recording of the pilot suggested the aircraft ran out of fuel.

A Colombian investiga-

tion continues.

LaMia’s chief executive, Gustavo Vargas Gamboa, and his son, Gustavo Vargas Villegas, a former official with Bolivia’s aviation authority, are being held pending trial. They deny wrongdoing.

The pilot, Miguel Quiroga, who was also a co-owner of the airline, died in the crash. In a leaked tape, he can be heard warning of a “total electric failure” and “lack of fuel”. However, he did not make a formal distress call. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday , December 22, 2016

U.S.-supplied drones fall short at Ukraine’s front lines Millions of dollars’ worth of U.S.-supplied drones that Kiev had hoped would help in its war against Russian-backed separatists have proven ineffective against jamming and hacking, Ukrainian officials say.

The 72 Raven RQ-11B Analog mini-drones were so disappointing following their arrival this summer that Natan Chazin, an advisor to Ukraine’s military with deep knowledge of the country’s drone program, said if it were up to him, he would return them.

“From the beginning, it was the wrong decision to use these drones in our (conflict),” Chazin, an advisor to the chief of the general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces, told Reuters.

The hand-launched Ravens were one of the recent highlights of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, aiming to give Kiev’s military portable, light-weight, unarmed surveillance drones that were small enough to be used widely in the field. They are made by AeroVironment.

But they appear to have fallen short in a battle against the separatists, who benefit from far more sophisticated military technology than insurgencies the West has contended with in Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria.

Whether President-elect Donald Trump’s administration might seek to provide Kiev anything more robust, however, is unclear, given his stated desire to improve ties with Russia and prioritize the fight against Islamic militants.

U.S. restrictions on technology exports could also limit new aid.

The Air Force command

of Ukraine’s armed forces acknowledged to Reuters that the Ravens supplied by the United States had a fundamental drawback: Russia and the separatist forces it supports can intercept and jam their video feeds and data.

“The complex is analog, therefore command channels and data are not protected from interception and suppression by modern means of electronic warfare,” it said.

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that Russia’s electronic warfare capabilities were far more sophisticated than thought when the conflict began and that both the U.S. and Ukrainian militaries were adapting.

Asked about Ukraine’s reaction to the Ravens, one official said it took a considerable amount of time for the drones to reach Ukraine and that by then “they were much less effective than they would have liked, than we would have liked.”

AeroVironment referred questions from Reuters about the Raven contract to the U.S. Army.

The U.S. Army told Reuters it still uses Ravens but has upgraded to digital versions.

“STONE AGE” Some 38 Ukrainian students were trained at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama on how to operate the drones between March and July this year, a U.S. Army spokesman said.

Ukraine said it distributed the Ravens across the services and gave one batch to the Zhytomry Military Institute for training purposes.

There were mixed accounts on how much the Ravens were being used in

The first plane from the United States with non-lethal aid, including ten Humvee vehicles, is seen at Borispol airport near Kiev, March 25, 2015. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

Ukraine, which saw Crimea annexed by Russia in 2014 and which has been fighting Russian-backed separatist forces in the east. Nearly 10,000 people have died in the conflict.

The Air Force command of Ukraine’s armed forces said they were being used in the “Anti-Terrorist Operation” zone, including in combat situations.

One Ukrainian official, however, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said that although drones were being used in the zone, they were not employed on the front lines.

Chazin said they were largely in storage and called them a vulnerability, allowing the enemy to see Ukrainian military positions and, when it wanted, easily take them down. They had short battery life and were unable to reliably fulfill the key mission of

gaining intelligence on artillery positions, he said. “(Analog) basically puts you back in the stone age of the UAVs,” said James Lewis, director of the strategic technologies program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, using an acronym for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or drones.

“I’m not being critical of the Raven. I love the Raven ... But it’s a cheap, disposable UAV. And for more intense conflict, that may not cut the ice anymore.”

TRUMP’S UKRAINE POLICY? The drones, along with other U.S.-supplied items like radar, first-aid kits, night vision and communications gear, fit into President Barack Obama’s strategy of providing non-lethal military assistance while focusing on sanctions and diplomacy to end the war.

Within that context, the miniature drones, even though small, were a noteworthy element of the more than $600 million in training and equipment that the United States has provided Ukraine so far.

Ukraine pegged the Raven program’s value at over $12 million.

How Trump might alter U.S. support remains unclear, particularly given cabinet picks that include retired Marine General James Mattis, who has been vocal about his concerns about Russia and was nominated to become U.S. defense secretary.

Some of the most prominent Republican lawmakers in Congress have called for Ukraine to receive lethal arms.

“If anything, it creates a new opportunity,” said Luke Coffey at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington think-tank.

Ukrainian officials have sought to put a brave face on Trump’s election, downplaying comments on the campaign trail that included appearing to recognize Crimea as part of Russia and contemplating an end to U.S. sanctions on Russia.

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko is expected to visit Washington next year, and U.S. assistance is sure to be high on his agenda.

Topping Ukraine’s wish

list are Javelin anti-tank missiles made by made by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.

The top U.S. military officer in Europe, General Curtis Scaparrotti, told a Senate hearing this year “there’s a requirement for an anti-tank weapon, like Javelin.”

One of the U.S. officials cautioned about limitations on America’s ability to export drones that can evade Russia’s electronic warfare capabilities.

That could leave Ukraine’s military to continue building drones from commercially available technology. It now assembles them from components supplied by firms in countries such as Australia, China and the Czech Republic for only $20,000 to $25,000 apiece, Chazin said, and they are more advanced than the more pricey Ravens, which are often funded from private donations.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

ADVERSE PUBLICITY

IN an interview with the Department of Public Information that was aired on state television and radio, the National Communications Network (NCN), Vice-President Khemraj Ramjattan admitted that his government has made mistakes, some of which could have been avoided.

He attributed some of the mistakes to what a former Trinidadian Trade Minister years ago had ascribed to the then young Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo, as “newness.”

While in opposition, one of the major concerns of the coalition of parties which now make up the government was the lack of transparency and accountability of the then government. Indeed, this complaint became one of the central planks of the coalition’s election platform in 2011 and 2015. Ironically, since coming to power, the tables have turned—it is the former governing party which has been pummelling the government on this matter. The ease with which the accused becomes the accuser is remarkable. This suggests that there may be something in the political culture that goes beyond the political parties which leaves all governments open to this charge.

Transparency and accountability are key components of democratic government, while oversight of government is an equally central plank of that process. There is often between those two democratic principles as governments by their very nature tend to be disinclined to be voluntarily transparent and accountable. They often hide behind the need to protect national security, but while the protection of national security is important enough, it should not be carried out at the expense of transparency and accountability. In other words, the most effective government is one which is able to balance those two imperatives.

In Guyana, there has historically been a clash between those who insist on government accountability and those who hold the reins of government—we have never been able to find a middle ground, if there is one to be found.

On the one hand, scrutiny of government is an important aspect of the democratic process as it theoretically serves to make government much more aware of the need to be transparent and accountable. On the other hand, it could bring out the worst in government, as those in charge may view scrutiny as anti-government and as a form of destabilization, which could lead to less transparency and accountability.

After 18 months in office, it could be said without any contradiction that the “honeymoon” period for the coalition Government is over, or it ought to be something of the past. It would not be unreasonable to say that any new snafu or foul-up, however small or unintentional,

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday , December 22, 2016

Christmas is about God’s love Dear Editor FOR God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.

For many persons, Christmas has much significance, meanings and representations. But the only and true meaning of Christmas can be derived from that passage from the Holy Scripture. God ‘pitching’ His tent in our world, as it were, in the person of His Son Jesus Christ, to save mankind from their sins and shortcomings. In the end, he paid the ultimate sacrifice of death on a cross, to save the human race. This is the true message of hope for Christmas.

This hope, my friends, should be an inspiration to your lives—families and friends, as you remember the hidden meaning of Christmas, amid the hustle and bustle of shopping, eating, lavishness and drinking throughout this holiday.

If God were to send His Son into our world today, it would be a world that pains and hurts from suffering, injustice, disease, poverty, crime, sexual immoralities, social problems and selfishness in its many forms.

Our own country, here, Guyana, bleeds from a myriad of issues and problems among our people, politicians even religious leaders.

Many seem to be in competition for the fame of giving to the poor and needy, relishing the spectacle to make themselves and their group or organisation look good in the eyes of the camera and the general public. While others, especially businesses, exploit consumers for personal and other gains ,propelling the get-rich- quick mentality among us, creating a divided

an unequal society where the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer.

If God had waited to send His Son into the world today, He would have been welcomed by wars in the Middle East, where almost every day there is bloodshed with innocent lives being ended by bombs; where children, even babies caught up in the war against the Western nations, as the radicalisation of one major world religion gets more profound. What would the Christ Child say if he were to have been born in a world of today, in a Guyana of today? Would we have valued His message of hope, peace, justice and love? For many, it is only lip service paid to those truths and values. We sectionalise our religious habits and beliefs and confine them to a building. The rest of our lives we live out as we please, there is little or no impact of religion, which for many is just a cloak, a mask.

My dear friends, Christmas for me as a child was the most memorable gift of a lifetime. How can I forget discovering to my amazement, gifts in my pillow cases in our house (placed there by mom and dad of course) on Christmas morning; the cooking and baking, the cleaning and illuminated verandah with lights and decorated with our tree. Christmas years ago was the best and most joyous—very traditional and down to earth-- and less commercialised than it has become today.

In the midst of the noise of commercialisation and the distractions of this most holy day of the year, let us find ourselves in the quietude of our hearts and homes, surrounded by those we love and who love us, to share that which the Babe

would not be treated by the average Guyanese citizen as a mistake but as a tragedy.

It would be a tragedy in the sense that the bigger picture of Guyana developing as a structured, orderly and law-governed society, which is the hallmark of this administration, is lost in periodic episodes of mini-scandals such as those ignited by the Sussex Street drugs bond and the D’Urban Park project. These attracted adverse publicity, and have been milked in opposition quarters and viewed with cynicism even by some who could have been friends of the new government.

The bigger picture is that the economy has been kept

of Bethlehem brought to this world—LOVE and PEACE. Let us too not be confined to our walls this holiday, for let us take joy to others who find it hard to realise that LOVE, and PEACE, others who are too poor or sick to truly experience the real joy of Christmas. Let us visit our less fortunate brothers and sisters and take the love of Christmas to them. But let us be careful, for many have chosen to become poor and vulnerable in this day and age, for purposes of sheer exploitation of the kindness of others.

Let others see in you, that outward expression of the understanding of this Christmas season. Share love, a smile, or even a meal with loved ones and friends. Our world will hurt and pain less, if each and every one of us starts to do this. The religious elements of Christmas are important, such as going to church and concerts and parties even.

Cleaning, preparing and decorating our homes even are also important. But what about the inward preparation of our lives and hearts?

Have we prepared our inner souls to receive Jesus in the world this Christmas? How does that message inspire us to be better human beings to our families, friends and neighbours? Would some of us continue to be the Grinch and bitter persons around the people we interact with on a daily basis?

Surely, we cannot continue along this path. I’ve visited Georgetown this past week and like many other town centres, it was transformed into a hubbub of economic activities— persons seeking after the best deals and prices and promotions, trying to get out from the business community as much as possible for this holiday. We all

want our personal gains. It makes us feel good. What about trying to get the best deals in spreading peace and love across our land?

When Christmas has come and gone, the void many of us tried to fill with shopping and eating and drinking will still be there.

Dear friends, as you celebrate Christmas this 2016, vouch to be the change-maker within your family and community, ultimately your country. Use the simple but profound message of Christmas to stir the zeal and inspiration into your hearts to see life from a different perspective—to see what’s more important and do what is more important. Guyana needs the message of Christmas. Guyanese need to live and breathe the message the Christ Child brings to this fractured world today. Let your lives be transformed inwardly and outwardly, not only for this season, but for all through the year.

Due to circumstances this year, I am spending Christmas in Guyana, and my mom is here to spend it with me. My sister will be spending Christmas by herself in New York. Our little family, though torn apart by the reality of life, I am sure is nevertheless knitted as closest as it has ever and will ever be, this Christmas and for many more Christmases.

For it is not the physical presence of those around us that makes Christmas more special, but the love that can travel thousands of miles, the care that can cross many oceans and joy that can be felt across many continents—that is what Christmas is about.

Have a blessed and joyous Christmas.

Regards Leon J. Suseran

afloat in spite of heavy blows to the major sugar and rice sectors; major public infrastructural works have been sustained and the foundations for renewable energy are being laid. On the social side, financial allocations for education, health and housing have been boosted, and minimum wages and monthly salaries for state employees have been increased.

In the new year it is hoped that the coalition Government would recover some lost ground by rolling out initiatives that would help to stimulate confidence amongst the people, invite greater participation by civil society in community life and rekindle the pride that was evident when the coalition took office. It is not too much to ask.

Narine is the best

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday , December 22, 2016

..CID rank captures police top award

Assistant Commissioner David Ramnarine, Commissioner Seelall Persaud and Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph (seated) with the Best Cop awardees

CRIMINAL Investigations Department (CID) Detective Corporal Pream Narine copped the Overall Best Cop prize when the Guyana Police Force held its annual Christmas Awards Ceremony on Wednesday.

The presentation was held on the Tactical Services Unit Drill Square,

Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown. Narine, who has 14 years of service in the force, was given a plaque and a sum of $250,000 for his outstanding work.

His colleague, Detective Sergeant Herbert Henry, also from the CID, was adjudged first runner-up in the lively two- hour ceremony.

Best Cop, Detective Corporal Pream Narine, displays his awards

For his sterling efforts this year, he was rewarded a plaque of recognition and $200,000 for Christmas.

The exceptional cops also received a family trip to New York, compliments of owner of Roraima Airways and Private Sector Commission (PSC) executive, Captain Gerry Gouveia. During the awards ceremony, more than $10M was given out in cash and prizes to the law-enforcement officers for their bravery and leadership in line of duty.

The ranks had demonstrated diligence and unswerving commitment in a number of areas, including solving murder cases, implementing criminal charges and ensuring safety on the roadways.

Prizes, awards and cash incentives were also distributed to members of Community Policing Groups (CGPs), the Cops and Faith Network, Rural Constables and senior officers, among others in the Police Force.

Among the awardees was veteran crime and security journalist, Michael Jordan, who received a plaque for his work in helping to solve multiple cold cases.

Speaking at the awards presentation, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud commended the awardees, pointing out that statistics from the force indicate that serious crimes in all categories have been reduced by 16 per cent. This achieve-

ment has happened against the background of the Guyana Police Force functioning with inadequate staff.

Next year, Seelall said the force is expected to have a full complement of 5000 ranks to bolster its operations in all key areas of crime-fighting. Also next year, crime intelligence and

security intelligence will be merged.

“We think that there is great benefit to the community that we serve, the force and to our partners regionally and internationally, if we improve on intelligence- gathering,” the Top Cop said.

He also noted that public relations is vital in improving the image of the force as he underscored the value of building public trust and effectively serving communities.

“The Police Force don’t have a crystal ball that they look into, they cannot operate in isolation, we need the cooperation of the public to investigate, prosecute and report cases,” the police commissioner said.

The concept of team-policing will be more effective in the new year as manpower at police stations will be enhanced. Meanwhile, Captain Gerry Gouveia, who also spoke at the presentation, said the work of policemen and women is invaluable.

“Whatever we may do we can never really reward you, we hope that whatever we contribute in whatever

7

small way we could we are telling you thanks,” he said, adding: “The time you [the police] work in 20 years pertaining to hours, it’s like a 100 times more than anybody else in this country works and we say thank you very much.”

All the awards were in recognition of acts of bravery in the line of duty. And while Gouveia commended the ranks for their work in promoting a safe society, he also urged them to take care of their well-being.

“We must help our men and women in uniform to take care of their health… we must give the police the tools to work, we cannot give them a basket to fetch water and the private sector will continue its advocacy,” he explained.

The businessman also urged that police take pride in their uniform “and always remember that there is a life after the uniform.”

Overall Best Cop Narine thanked and congratulated Commissioner Seelall Persaud and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum for their astute leadership, contending that the force has changed greatly with them

Mixed bag 8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

– Opposition Leader submits candidates for new GECOM chair

Professor James Rose

Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram

Consultant Lawrence Latchmansingh

Indian Rights activist, Rhyaan Shah

Major-General (rtd), Norman McLean

OPPOSITION Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, has submitted to President David Granger six candidates to be considered for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission and among them are controversial Indian rights activist, Rhyaan Shah and a twotime elections candidate for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Professor James Rose.

Other nominees include, Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Consultant, Lawrence Latchmansingh; business executive, Ramesh Dookhoo; former chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Norman Mc Lean; and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram. Under the Constitution, President Granger does not have to accept the nominees and can send the list back for the Opposition leader to furnish him with other candidates.

Jagdeo said the candidates were arrived at during his round of consultations with civil society recently. He said too that all of the candidates have consented to serve if offered the post.

Speaking at a news conference at Parliament Buildings on Wednesday, Jagdeo said all of the candidates are qualified for the chairmanship of GECOM, noting that he hopes President Granger soon chooses one of them.

“I think they all are strong people and courageous people and people who have demonstrated that they are prepared to serve the

country’s interest, not partisan interest, so that is my sense. I did not go into any great detail about their management styles or anything of that sort, but their names came forward from civil society, [I] reviewed these names, thought that they had some character traits that are necessary…,” the opposition leader said.

“A significant number came from the list proposed by civil society,” he said.

The PPP/C, he said, consulted with more than 30 civil society and religious organisations, private sector, labour movement, youths and women.

“We believe that all these people have the requisite quality to be a good chairperson of GECOM,” Jagdeo said. “The process was not required by law or the constitution, yet we in the PPP thought that we needed to solicit opinions from a broad range of organisations reflecting the society. Given the importance of elections and the management of elections, we need to have free and fair elections and elections conducted above board,” Jagdeo said, while commenting on the consultations he had held.

Asked whether he has another list of candidates should the President reject his list, Jagdeo responded: “I don’t want to deal with that at this point in time, because it is our expectation that given that these names enjoy such broad support in civil society and there are people

who have a demonstrated track record of acting independently and fearlessly, that the President will find it fit to choose one of them,” he said.

years with the local Elections Observer Bureau. A critic of both the former and present governments, Ram was recently hired as a forensic auditor by the current government. Ramesh Dookhoo is a business executive and former chairman of the Private Sector Commission. Observers have described him as a sympathizer to Jagdeo,with whom he has developed a close working relationship over the years.

McLean, for his part, had enjoyed a good working relationship with the former administration, serving as a member of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry that had cleared former Minister of Home Affairs Gajraj of involvement in extra-judicial killings by the Phantom Squad. McLean also served as both Commissioner of Police and Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defenfe Force during the Forbes Burnham years. Since the early 1990s, McLean has been Human Resources Manager of Omai Gold Mines, a subsidiary of Canada’s Cambior Inc. A fixture in the business community, McLean has occupied a number of positions, including President of the Guyana Manufactures Association, member of the Security Sub-Committee of the Local Organising Committee for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Deputy Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission and recently chairman of the Private Sector Commission.

Additionally, back

in 2009, he and his wife, Evelyn Sita Ramlal, were charged with four counts of conspiracy to defraud when they appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and were granted bail totalling $850,000. It was alleged that on December 10, 2004 and March 18, 2009 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, Ramlal and McLean conspired with each other and person or persons unknown to forge an adoption order with respect to a girlchild, purporting to show that the said adoption order was issued on December 14, 2000 knowing same to be false.

However, in 2011 the case was dismissed by Magistrate Fazil Azeez. Azeez had found that a prima facie case had not been made out against the defendants and so the charge levelled against them was discharged. Azeez said too then that the court had upheld the no-case submission made by the defence, as the prosecution failed in its bid to advance sufficient evidence to make out a prima facie case against the defendants.

GIHA LINKS Meanwhile, a careful look at the candidates has revealed a mixed bag of personalities. Shah was the co-founder of the now defunct and divisive Guyana Indian Heritage Association (GIHA), which the then PPP government had neutralised by creating the Indian Arrival Committee, now renamed the Indian Action Committee.

For his part, Lachmansingh is the former Programme Manager, Social Cohesion Programme, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Guyana. Since May 2003, Lachmansingh has managed activities to build local capacities for the peaceful resolution of disputes and promote the rule of law and democratic governance.

Between 2000 and 2002, Lachmansingh was also the Deputy Director of Asia Programmes at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Washington DC. Earlier (1991-1998), he volunteered with and eventually headed the local election observer group-the Electoral Assistance Bureau-in his native Guyana. Lawrence has an MBA from Dalhousie University in Halifax (Canada) and a BA in Theology from the University of the West Indies (Jamaica).

Chartered Accountant Ram has worked for many

REVAMP Meanwhile, observers have said that now might be the appropriate time for the administration, together with the opposition and other stakeholders, to start thinking about radically reforming GECOM. The management of GECOM has always been fraught with deep political

Ramesh Dookhoo

concerns and anxieties, given the history of elections here and their aftermath. The main sticking point, though there are several others that have plagued GECOM, is the manner in which commissioners are chosen. This methodology must as a matter of necessity change, if GECOM is to be managed efficiently.

For decades now elections observer groups from the Commonwealth, the Carter Center, the Organisation of American States, the Electoral Assistance Bureau, the Caricom Secretariat, and the Union of South American Nations have been insisting that while GECOM’s purpose for existence is to administer free and fair electoral processes, and while it is recognised that the commission has to be sensitive to and relate to political realities, its independence and impartiality must be protected.

The Carter Center following the 2001 elections had stated: “In advance of future elections, Guyana should consider reforms that would reduce the politicised composition of GECOM and move toward an Electoral Management Body (EMB) with a structure, composition and operations that are more consistent with international good practices and obligations, thus ensuring the independence and impartiality of the EMB.” The Carter Center had made similar observations in the 2006 and 2015 elections.

9

$250B Budget approved GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

AROUND 14:30 hrs on Thursday , Finance Minister Winston Jordan rose in the National Assembly and reported that the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly, has considered and approved the national budget estimates for 2017.

His pronouncement effectively green-lighted the $250B budget presented on November 28.

Minutes later, the reading and passage of the Appropriation Bill 2016 Bill No. 24/2016 concretised the passage of the budget, concluding several weeks of debate on the 2017 National Budget and consideration of estimates in the Committee of Supply.

The budget was presented under the theme: “Building a diversified green economy: delivering the good life to all Guyanese.”

Earlier in Thursday af-

ternoon’s session, Jordan was grilled on budgetary allocations for 2017which fall under the Ministry of Finance, including an allocation of $145M for the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) , the autonomous body responsible for requesting, receiving, analysing and disseminating suspicious transaction reports and other information relating to money-laundering, terrorist financing or the proceeds of crime.

The unit was established and operates within the ambit of the Anti- Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act (AML/CFTA) and its regulations.

Jordan said only recently a director and other staff were appointed to run the FIU. He said the sums allocated for 2017 will go towards staffing and increased activities of the body.

In addition, in response to queries from the Opposition, Jordan informed the National Assembly that a sum of $750M which has been allocated for Low Carbon Development programmes will cater for several initiatives, including the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) as well as Amerindian land-titling.

Late November, Jordan presented the budget, the third under his watch since the APNU+AFC administration assumed office last May. A number of measures were announced in the 2017 budget to stimulate the country’s economy, create employment opportunities, and in keeping with an election promise, the Government reduced VAT from 16 per cent to 14 per cent.

However, Guyanese will now have to pay VAT on their electricity and water bills.

According to Minister Jordan, once the electricity

THE Ministry of Education’s budget was on Wednesday approved by the Committee of Supply after Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry defended both the current and capital expenditure of her Ministry.

The allocation covers: Policy Development and Administration-$1.921B; Training and Development-$2.154B; Nursery Education-$1.890B; Primary Education-$3.336B; Secondary Education-$4.484B; Post Education/Tertiary Education-$5.326B; Cultural Preservation and Conservation-$659.385M; Youth$465.170M; and Sport$978.180M. Minister Henry was called to answer several questions relative to policy decisions of her Ministry.

Former Education Minister, Priya Manickchand questioned whether Government’s new Chief Education Officer appointed will be a contract employee.

Responding in the negative, the Minister made it clear that the new CEO will be employed on fixed terms; she said too that the appointee will only be in receipt of gratuity and other benefits at the end of the appointee’s tenure.

Meanwhile, Manickchand questioned the increase from $14.017M to $64M for printed and non-printed materials, under the Nursery Education’s current programme.

In response, the Minister told the Committee of Supply that the increase in allocation covers the procurement of workbooks, including 5000 Roraima Series which will be distributed across the country, to the tune of $59.4M. Additionally, the minister made it clear that the $76.360M was provided for nursery buildings under the capital project and will see $5.3M being used as retention payment for the Smyth Street Nursery, while the remaining sums, will cover the provision of new nursery buildings at Carmelita

$1,500, then the 14 per cent VAT will have to be paid.

Highlights of the Budget ► The 2017 budget has revealed that local and foreign beverage companies will pay GY$10 per unit (bottle or can) from January 1, 2017. According to Minister Jordan, the law will be amended to create a level playing field for local and foreign companies in keeping with Caricom’s Treaty of Chaguaramas. ► Old Age Pensions have increased to GY$19,000 and GY$7,500 for monthly Public Assistance. Personal Income Tax has been reduced from 30 to 28 percent for persons earning less than GY$180,000 per month and the Income Tax threshold has been increased to GY$60,000 or one-third of the gross salary, whichever is greater. ► It was disclosed that in 2017, almost $1B will be allocated for the implementation of a series of renewable energy projects. This is a contributory phase in furthering the ‘Green Development’ Plan. ► Building on previous initiatives with a low-carbon focus, the government will review and expand the scope on alternative energy sources. Some immediate measures are as follows: ► Reduced taxes on hybrid vehicles ► Zero rating excise tax on biofuel ► Restriction of used tyres and reduction of taxes on new tyres ►A total of $16M has been allocated for the established Toshaos Council Secretariat to enable the council to effectively carry out its mandate of catering for the needs of Indigenous Peoples. ► To expand coverage of all people as well as to optimise revenue collection at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), 13 different services will be guaranteed and expanded, including issuance of driver’s licences, value-added tax and tax-reform processing ► In addition, ports-of-entry will be established at Parika , Charity and Morawhanna

Education Budget gets green light ($24.3M) and Mocha Nursery schools($22.8M). Another $23.9M will be used to extend the Turkeyen Nursery.

Turning her attention to Programme 404 as stated in the estimates of current and capital expenditure, the Opposition Shadow Education Minister asked for a breakdown of the $99.663M that has been allocated for primary schools buildings.

Minister Henry told the Committee of Supply that the amount covers the construction of an annex to St Stephen’s Primary School and the provision for Information Technology laboratories at 10 schools, including Mabaruma, Windsor Forest and Queenstown primary schools.

She noted too that $465.870M has been budgeted under the Ministry of Education’s capital expenditure for Secondary Education.

Of that sum, $61.7M will be used to rehabilitate the Kato Secondary School.

Additionally, the North Ruimveldt Secondary Ground would be rehabilitated; a cafeteria and multi-purpose complex would be constructed at Queens College; while the Bishops’ and St.

bill exceeds $10,000 and the water bill is more than

Roses High will be extended.

A science laboratory will be constructed at Vryman’s Erven and Canje Secondary Schools respectively, the minister also disclosed.

Meanwhile, Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganga Persaud sought clarifications from Minister Henry on the increase in allocation for education subventions and grants from $187.548M to $206.816M under the Ministry’s Policy Development and Administration Capital Work Programme.

The Junior Minister of Education explained that the increase is to cater for the National Accreditation Council (NAC) which now falls under the purview of this programme. She said too that the NAC would be strengthened with the addition of six staff.

Also falling within the programme are educational bodies and organisations affiliated with the Ministry, including the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU).

The latter is to receive a subvention of $5M, the Government Information Agency reported.

Guyanese student tops Jamaican course in aviation EIGHT Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) air traffic trainee controllers returned on Wednesday from a three-month training programme hosted at the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority Institute (JCAAI) in Kingston, Jamaica.

The eight students: Yogeshwar Bodyadhar, Conny Wills, Joann Lall, David Sundar, Devindra Kissoon, Tyrone Persaud, Karen Budhoo, and Safina Latchman were selected from a group of 14. Director General of the GCAA, Egbert Field, addressing media operatives at a press conference today, at the GCAA’s Kingston Office, said that the officers performed exceptionally well.

“You have really done us proud. I am very happy. People like you, family members like you are who I am striving to get, who I am striving to help us move this authority onward and upward.”

The Director General was loud in his praise for Guyanese student Devindra Kissoon who topped his class.

“I wish to personally congratulate you for the good work you have done, and look forward to your full participation in this family (GCAA) as we move this authority to better and higher skies,” Field said.

The Director pointed out that, “I did receive a report from the principal of the school in Jamaica, and she was full of praise for not only your behaviour, but also on your attention to work, and also on your competency as you conducted yourself through the course.”

The report stated, “The students were not just outstanding in their class work, but also in their deportment and attendance. They were always on time, travelling together, respectful and attentive during classes. We would like to commend the Guyanese officials in their selection of these trainee controllers, and wish them all the best in their endeavours.”

Valedictorian Devindra Kissoon said, “it was a rigorous training well composed; our exposure with the Civil Aviation over the years would have given us the tools and expertise to excel over there… we expected it to be hard, it was, but as a group we pulled through.” The training is not fully completed because the local aspect has to be done and licences obtained, Kissoon explained. The training programme hosted by JCAAI lasted from September to November.

(GINA)

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

LIAT passenger wants East Bank woman charged with embezzlement compensation LIAT passenger Antoinette McAllister said the airline should compensate her for her baggage and its contents, which were left in Barbados and were destroyed by the authorities there, who said it contained perishables (fish).

The Guyanese passenger told this publication that she was returning to Guyana from Antigua when the plane stopped over in Barbados where her suitcase was left.

She related that on December when she arrived in Guyana following a lengthy delay, she learnt that her suitcase was not on the flight but was told that it would be here and that she would be notified.

The disgruntled passenger explained that her flight landed at the CJIA at 14:15 hrs on December 5 and she was given several telephone numbers to contact the airline in Guyana to get her

luggage.

McAllister related that she kept calling and when she finally got through, she was told her suitcase was still not in Guyana.

In the suitcase, the woman said she had a dress with shoes among other things, which she had brought for her graduation, as well as things she bought for people.

The bag also contained three pieces of snapper, which were placed at the top of the suitcase which was not secured by a lock.

The disgruntled passenger said after a few days had elapsed, she was told by an official of the airline that her bag was destroyed in Barbados, because it contained perishables and it was contaminated.

McAllister said she would like to be fully compensated for the loss she has suffered, pointing out that

The document that was given to Antoinette McAllister by the airline in Guyana

she had to repay the people she had brought things for.

“I was told that because I am a Guyanese, I will not be compensated because the airline is headquartered in Antigua and her bag was destroyed in Barbados and she needs to contact that country to make a claim.”

When the Guyana Chronicle contacted the LIAT office here, an official said the bag never arrived in Guyana, but noted that the fish in the suitcase had decayed.

Forestry Commission remains under ‒ Minister Natural Resources Ministry Harmon clarifies MINISTER of State, Joseph Harmon has clarified that the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) remains under the purview of the Ministry of Natural Resources and not his Ministry.

A statement from the Ministry of the Presidency noted that on Tuesday evening, the Minister spoke to the media in relation to the agencies that are gazetted under his portfolio and said, “There are some duties missing, there should have been

included the responsibility for environmental issues and agencies such as the Guyana Forestry Commission.”

However, according to the release, the Minister wishes to correct that statement and has informed that it is the National Parks Commission that was inadvertently omitted from the list of agencies that falls under the Department of Environment in the December 14, 2016 Extraordinary Gazette.

The Department of Environment, for which

Minister Harmon holds responsibility, is tasked with overseeing the activities of environmental compliance and management, protected areas development and management, national parks management and wildlife conservation and protection. It is directly responsible for ensuring coordination of the work of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Protected Areas Commission, the National Parks Commission and the Wildlife Division.

A TWENTY-sevenyear-old former clerk of Gafsons Industries Limited, alleged to have stolen nearly $3M from the company, has been charged with two counts of embezzlement and was arrainged on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Nickella Wong, a mother of one, of Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) pleaded not guilty to the charges when they was read to her by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that on August 25, 2016 at Land of Canaan (EBD), while

Nickella Wong

being a clerk at Gafsons Industries Limited, Wong em-

bezzled $2,732,48 taken in possession by her on account of the company.

She was also charged with embezzling $1m from the company on August 26, 2016.

Attorney Folio Richards told the court that her client is the mother of a 4-year-old daughter and has an unblemished record. She further stated that since investigations began, Wong was placed on $100,000 station bail and continues to report regularly, proving that she is not a flight risk.

Wong was placed on $100,000 bail on each charge and the matter stands adjourned until January 10, 2017.

GCAA to review operations of Dynamic Airways THE Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is reviewing the operations of chartered airline Dynamic Airways with the aim preventing lengthy flight delays in the future.

Dynamic Airways came in for sharp criticisms after delays in its flight out of the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York last weekend resulted in dozens of passengers being stranded at the U.S. airport for hours.

Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), Egbert Fields, told the media on Thursday at the body’s headquarters in High Street, Kingston, that the disruption is being examined by the aviation umbrella body to determine the exact cause. ”We have asked Dynamic to submit a report to the authority,” he said, noting that this will entail reviewing the operations. He said that

based on reports received, one of the company’s Boeing 767 aircraft had sustained a mechanical problem while another collided with a ground-handling truck. He said a third aircraft was used to begin servicing the New York –Guyana route here.

“We are going to review to ensure that this does not happen again,” Field noted, adding that persons travelling home would have been distressed by the situation.

Meanwhile, investigations into last month end’s collision on the ground between a Caribbean Airlines (CAL) aircraft and a Fly Jamaica aircraft at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) are ongoing. Field said that the investigation is being handled by an Accident Investigation Unit, which is headed by former GCAA Director, Paula McAdam.

The unit answers directly to the subject minister, David Patterson.

The unit will function

Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), Egbert Fields

independent of the GCAA as mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the separation between the two entities is being finalised.

The wing of one of the aircraft clipped the tail of the other on the apron of the CJIA runway on the morning of November 29.

No one sustained injuries in the incident. (Alva Solomon)

Region 9 teachers to be paid today MINISTER of Communities, Ronald Bulkan has disclosed that the issue relating to delayed payment of teachers’ salaries in Region Nine has been rectified. Payment of December salaries for teachers in Region Nine is expected to be done today, Thursday December 22.

A statement from the Department of Public Information noted that the

government regrets and apologises for the delay in the December payments, which the government recognises has caused some frustrations.

According to the statement, Minister Bulkan explained that the payment will be made to those teachers who are affected by a shortfall in allocation in the sum of $1.2million.

Late payment to the

affected Region Nine teachers was raised by opposition Member of Parliament, Priya Manickchand during consideration of estimates for the Ministry of Education.

However, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry answered that payment of salaries in the regions falls under the portfolio of the Minister of Communities.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

60 garbage bins installed across Georgetown

THE 60 waste receptacles that were gifted to the Georgetown City Council by the Chinese Embassy in Guyana, have been installed at strategic locations in Georgetown.

Head of the Solid Waste Management, Walter Narine, along with newly appointed Deputy Mayor Lionel Hanoman-Jaikaran and a team, installed the bins a few days ago along the Camp, East, and Thomas Streets avenues, as well as on the Seawall Bandstand. Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin had visited City Hall recently to make the donation, and during a simple handing-over ceremony, he observed that Guyana and China have a long- existing relationship, since the first set of Chinese settled here more than 165 years ago.

The two countries have, however, been collaborating for the past 45 years and China has since been making steady donations to the country.

“I really appreciate the efforts to beautify and clean the city. The Chinese Embassy is also in the City of Georgetown and thanks to you, we enjoy the clean air and [a] beautiful environment,” he had said.

Meanwhile, according to Solid Waste Management Director, Walter Narine, the

Head of Solid Waste Management Walter Narine (left) and newly appointed Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikaran, during the exercise

garbage receptacles represent a timely donation, as during the Christmas season more waste than usual is generated.

“We have received many cries from residents for more receptacles to sustain the clean-up works we

would have already done,” Narine noted. He also disclosed that the municipality will be saving some $600,000 a day because of the donation, and that the receptacles will be cleared daily by his department.

Suspected gang member to face Judge and Jury …on murder charge TREVOR Amsterdam, 32, of Norton Street, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, has been committed to stand trial in the High Court for murder of wanted man, Jermaine Simon, who was gunned down on November 10, 2015.

He appeared before City Magistrate Renita Singh on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and was committed at the end of the Preliminary Inquiry after the Magistrate found that there is enough evidence for the case to be tried in the High Court.

On February 17, 2016, Amsterdam appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was charged for

Trevor Amsterdam

the indictable offence which alleged that on November 10, 2015, at Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, he murdered Jermaine ‘Lapsy’ Simon.

According to reports, Simon was shot to the forehead by a man believed to be Amsterdam. He subsequently

died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital. It was reported that the accused and Simon had a feud over a woman, and other gang-related issues. Two days after Amsterdam allegedly killed Simon, his home went up in flames.

Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Simon in connection with the murder of 19-year-old Ryan Sooklall.

Sooklall a/k ‘Plyboard’ was gunned down in a Providence, East Bank Demerara shop on March 1, 2015, by members of his own gang.

He was shot in the back and was pronounced dead at the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital.

Soliders honoured for dedication, commitment …at Christmas lunch PRESIDENT David Granger on Wednesday thanked members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) for their commitment and dedication, during the past year.

The President was at the time speaking at the GDF Headquarters, Base Camp Ayanganna, where officers and ranks were gathered for their Christmas lunch. The lunch marked the last in a series of lunches, referred to as ‘Soldiers Day,’ held by the GDF in recognition and celebration of its ranks during the Christmas season.

The Commander-in-Chief during his address relayed Christmas greetings to the soldiers as he reminded them of the impressive display at the ju-

bilee celebrations for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary. The President said that Guyana would not have been where it is had it not been for the GDF. He said that it is not just the Defence Board and the Government that are grateful for the GDF’s service, but the nation as a whole.

Meanwhile, Chief-ofStaff of the GDF, Brigadier George Lewis, said the event was to honour junior ranks stationed at Camp Ayanganna. He said ‘Soldiers Day’ is the final activity being held over the last three weeks, as events were also held in bases at Lethem, Kaikan, Eteringbang, Mabaruma, the GDF Floating Base, New Amsterdam, Camp Stephenson, Camp Seweyo and Camp

Jaguar.

“Those activities were well coordinated and appreciated by all ranks who participated,” he said, while thanking the Commander-in-Chief for his participation.

The Chief-of-Staff said that the army in 2016 had successfully executed its mandate of providing territorial security and participating in security-related programmes and training.

He said this year, over 100 officers and 1200 other ranks were trained on military courses. This, he said, is a 30 per cent increase.

He said efficiency and adherence to all governmental regulations and systems were done.

“I believe when we look at our successes against our challenges, the GDF had an excellent year,” the Brigadier said.

A section of the gathering at the ‘Soldiers Day,’ Christmas lunch

Container of condensed milk stays barred CHIEF Justice (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards on December 13 discharged the Order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari in the matter of businessman Looknauth Durbhiji, whose container of “Best Milk” sweetened condensed milk was refused entry by the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department.

The chief justice ruled that the Food and Drug Department through its Director Marlon Cole has shown sufficient cause that his decision on February 4, 2016 to refuse entry to the Durbhiji’s container, which is currently detained by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), was lawful.

Justice Cummings-Edwards said Cole’s action was in accordance with the Food and Drugs Act, Chap-

ter 34:04 and the Food and Drugs Regulations 1977 in conjunction with Section 43 Schedule 11 of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01.

According to the facts, Durbhiji ordered a 20-foot container of the sweetened milk in November 2015 and it arrived in Guyana in January, 2016.

The businessman delivered a sample of the product to the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department- Director of Food and Drugs. He also produced a Certificate of Analysis of the product in accordance with Section 22 (1) of the Food and Drugs Act. However, upon examination of the product, it was discovered that it failed to meet the requirements as set out in Part IV, Division 5 (Dairy Products) (13) of the Food and Drug Regulations.

As such, in keeping with the findings, Durbhiji’s customs entry form was stamped “entry refused,” as the product was not deemed a dairy product in accordance with the Prescribed Act, but a vegetable-based product.

Durbhiji, who hails from Number 65 Village Corentyne, Berbice, and owns Ashiana’s Supermarket, contested the decision of the Food and Drug Department and the Guyana Revenue Authority through his attorney Anil Nandlall.

He was granted temporary orders earlier this year as Justice Cummings-Edwards called on both entities to show just cause why the temporary orders granted should not be made absolute.

Attorney-at-Law, Judy Stuart, appeared on behalf of the respondent.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

Donors cut funding to Salvation Army IT was a bitter-sweet affair as the Salvation Army donated hundreds of hampers to the less fortunate at their complex at South Road and Alexander Street, Georgetown, Monday, and Divisional Commander Emmerson Cumberbatch announced that external funding for the organisation's projects have been withdrawn.

Scores of people, mostly the elderly and the differently-abled, attended the Salvation Army annual Christmas Hamper Distribution which began with a service featuring mostly reports on the organisation’s performances, traditional festive music and the distribution of 710 hampers.

Cumberbatch told the gathering that 2017 is expected to be a difficult year for the organisation, since funding for its work throughout the Caribbean has been withdrawn by several donors. “Funding for the Salvation Army throughout the Caribbean, especially Guyana, will have to be met by the officers and the people who are in Guyana.

In other words we’re not gonna get the funding that we used to,” he announced at the gathering. Declaring that such loss is “not a good thing,” he said raising funds is a major challenge in some Caribbean countries.

“It’s gonna be a little difficult in 2017. I want to say to persons outside here that their support will be much needed in 2017. We are hoping that the donations coming from businesses and ordinary Guyanese can do more for persons who are less fortunate,” Cumberbatch said.

Salvation Army provides meals, shelter and other services for the less fortunate all over the world. He urged individual donors and companies to continue supporting the work of the organization, so that the less fortunate can experience a change in their lives.

“We have a lot of hope and once there’s hope we can do a multitude of things,” Cumberbatch assured. He thanked government, corporate businesses and individuals who have contributed to the Salvation Army’s work.

Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, distributes a hamper to 86-year-old Lucille Collymore at the Salvation Army Christmas Hamper Distribution yesterday (Samuel Maughn photo)

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, in delivering remarks at the event, said despite the odds, recipients of gifts and services offered by the organisation, as well as management and staff of the Salvation Army, should hold strong to hope and

remain in an attitude of thanksgiving. She thanked those who turned up to receive their hampers, and the staff and volunteers of the organisation for attending to the needs of the many elderly and less fortunate who received a treat this year. She said Guyana should never

fail in acknowledging the elderly who have worked hard and built the foundation on which Guyana keeps growing. She also recognised Guyanese as a peaceful and purpose-filled people.

“We benefit today from your hard work, your struggles, your challenges…

thank you for bringing Guyana to where it is today and thank you for making us celebrate 50 glorious years… we give thanks to Guyana for peace and tranquility… as we celebrate that we are still a unified country, and we give thanks,” Minister Hughes said.

She said Guyana has come a far way and the elderly should continue to contribute towards the country’s development through guiding the younger generation and fulfilling their purpose in further developing Guyana. “This generation today stands on the shoulders of the generation that went before us and we have a series of challenges with our young people…

I challenge you, the older and wiser generation, not to give up the important contribution you still could make to help our country move on the right track…

We still need you to share your wisdom and your guidance with as many young people as you can share with today,” Minister Hughes said.

Guyanese fugitive sentenced to 19 years for teenager’s murder (Associated Press) A Guyanese man who was an inter-

national fugitive was sentenced Monday to 19 years

to life in prison for the 1999 murder of a 19-year-old

Balkumar Singh

man at a Hicksville wedding.

Balkumar Singh, believed to be 38 years old, pleaded guilty on Nov. 2 in front of Acting Supreme Court Justice Christopher Quinn to second-degree murder and first-degree assault.

“Balkumar Singh savagely murdered an innocent young man in front of scores of wedding guests and immediately fled the country,” said District Attorney Madeline Singas. “This defendant stayed one step ahead of the law for 16 years, but thanks to our law enforcement part-

ners from around the globe we were able to bring him to justice.”

On June 13, 1999, Singh attended a wedding reception at the Masonic Hall on West Nicolai Street in Hicksville.

Singh brought a 9 mm gun to the reception and became involved in an altercation on the dance floor. After the incident, Singh left the party and waited outside for 19-year old Abzal Khan.

As Khan exited the temple, Singh took his gun out and fired multiple times, striking Khan seven times.

Witnesses described Singh standing over Khan’s body while shooting him, and the incident was witnessed by a crowd of at least 20 people.

A 22-year old man, also attending the wedding, was shot in the foot and survived.

Singh, who had multiple aliases, ran from the scene and fled the country within days of the murder. He is believed to have traveled to Canada and Guyana before he was apprehended in Trinidad.

On July 19, 1999, the Nassau County District At-

Murdered: Abzal Khan

torney’s Office filed an indictment charging the defendant with the crimes to which he ultimately pleaded guilty.

Singh, also known as Tevin Persaud, was featured in a 2009 episode of the America’s Most Wanted television show.

Based on a tip, the defendant was provisionally arrested by Trinidadian authorities in March 2015.

The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office began the extradition process and Singh was returned to the United States on Aug. 14, 2015, by members of the Nassau County Police Department Homicide Division, who worked in conjunction with U.S. Marshals.

GUYANA CHRONICLE THURSDAY DECEMBER 22, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

$1.8B to boost education delivery in Region 10 ‒ as House clears region’s $3.1B budget

By Ravin Singh THE development of human capital via the formal education system is to be placed high on the agenda for Region 10 (Upper Demerara - Berbice) in 2017, after $1.8B was approved for education delivery in the region by the Committee of Supply on Tuesday.

After being thoroughly scrutinised by the political opposition, the $3.1B allocation for the region in 2017 was approved. Defending the allocation which increased by over $100M from 2016, was junior Minister of Communities, Valarie Sharpe-Patterson.

With $76.733M provided for under the region’s capital

education programme, the minister was quizzed by Opposition MP Juan Edghill on what this money will be spent on. She revealed that a $20M Grade C Nursery school and a $22M primary school will be built at Bamia.

Additionally, the minister noted that the provision covers the completion of the Wismar/Christiansburg and Linden Foundation Secondary schools to the tune of $18.5M and $15.42M respectively. The minister also pointed out that repairs to the former were funded under the region’s current education programme, but due to the extensive repair works that is needed, budgetary allocations are now listed under the region’s education

capital programme. She informed the House too, that much needs to be done in ensuing years, due to the fact that major repairs to these schools were not a regular feature in previous years.

Earlier this year, the Region also received a whopping $1.8B for education, which was intended to be used for equipping schools and other educational institutions. Procurement of appliances, furniture and classroom materials was also cited as a main component of the education allocation for 2016.

Additionally, several schools in the region benefitted from the newly-introduced computer labs furnished with computer

Junior Minister of Communities, Valarie Sharpe Patterson

systems. But infrastructure development in that region for 2017 is not limited to capital projects in the education sector. In fact, $368M was approved for public infrastructure development with an emphasis on roads.

Roads in that region,

which will be upgraded in 2017, include; Clemfield, One Mile Access, Greenheart Street/David Rose Avenue, and Daagarad Avenue. Upgrades will also be done to the drainage systems at Manni Street, Wismar, Clemfield, Ballfield and Henderson road.

Also expected to be completed in 2017, is a $50M Regional Administrative Office at Mackenzie, Linden. The 156 sq. ft. building will benefit more than 75 persons. The Minister justified this capital project, by informing the Committee that the new building, will, inter alia, house all departments under the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), since this does not currently obtain.

The health sector for that region also received a sub-

stantial amount of funding to assist with capital and current expenditure for 2017.

Of the $640M approved for that sector, $81M was budgeted for capital projects, which include completion of a health centre at Wiruni, the construction of living quarters for medical officials at Hururu, Ituni and Blueberry, and the construction of a reservoir at the Upper Demerara Regional Hospital.

Region 10 has had issues over the last two years with slow spending, and in 2015, monies were sent back because of the incomplete nature of projects before December 31. The region is being guided by a five-year Plan-of-Action for Regional Development (PARD) which has on its agenda several major infrastructural works.

Peace body takes yuletide cheer to Linden IN keeping with the spirit of Christmas, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Guyana Chapter recently gave generously to hundreds of children in Linden in their zeal to spread cheer and joy in the town.

The group, comprising General Secretary, Rev. Ronald Mc Garrell; National Chairman, Hajji Roshan Khan; and Ms. Annie Nauth and Mr. Michael Boucher two Fridays ago travelled to the mining town with a vehicle laden with toys and other goodies, much to the delight and fascination of the children they met there.

Over 200 children of the Pine Street and Amelia’s Ward Nursery Schools, along with others from the surrounding areas were presented with toys and snacks,

political, religious and ethnic persuasions.

The Universal Peace Federation is a globally connected group of dynamic individuals from all ethnicities, religious and political groups who are working together to

Linden Mayor, Mr. Carwyn Holland (right) with members of the visiting UPF delegation

for which they were all very grateful.

At the schools, the visiting team entertained the children in song, and, being the gracious hosts they are, even at that age, the children couldn’t help but reciprocate, igniting a feeling of joy and cheerfulness all around.

Whilst in Linden, the visiting group dropped in at the

community’s radio station, where they met with Linden Mayor, Mr. Carwyn Holland to discuss fostering closer ties between the Federation and the township among other matters.

UPF Guyana will partner with Mayor Holland in appointing Peace Ambassadors in the Linden area from among persons of all

achieve world peace.

Over the course of the Christmas holiday, the organisation will be visiting several disadvantaged areas around Georgetown, and on the East Coast, West Coast and West Bank where children would

be able to benefit from toys and gifts.

The Universal Peace Federation Guyana Chapter would like to take this opportunity to extend Holiday Greetings to all Guyanese this Christmas.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday , December 22, 2016

$314M approved for E-government project

payments of Subsidies and Contributions to International Organisations because the country has been behind on its obligation. “We found that in most of these agencies we were behind in about 8 to 10 years in the payment of our dues and therefore what we have tried to do is come up with a settlement,” Minister Hughes told the Committee, while noting that in addition to paying the current dues, Guyana will now pay one year of arrears. As such, the allocation for this line item has been increased from $17M in 2016 to $28M in 2017.

Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes

GUYANA is one step closer to bridging the digital divide with a total of $2.3B approved for the Public Telecommunications Ministry.

At the level of the Committee of Supply, Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes said the sector will undergo significant transformation in 2017 pointing out that $314M has been earmarked for the E-Government Project.

This project, she explained, includes the procurement of internet access points for government buildings and public internet access points at a cost of $114.6M. Additionally, the Public Telecommunication Ministry will secure the E-Government Network Infrastructure and simultaneously procure remote security solutions including motion sensors and CCTV cameras at a cost of $73M. Approximately $64.2M has been allocated for the expansion of the E-Governance Network to Diamond, Timehri and Amelia’s Ward.

She said already 22 ministries and agencies have been linked to the E-Government Network. These include the Ministries Public Telecommunication, Finance, Public Health, Social Protection, Public Security, Agriculture, Legal Affairs, Indigenous People’s Affairs, Foreign Affairs and the Presidency, in addition to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), the Public Buildings and Police Headquarters.

All Ministries and Government agencies are expected to be connected to the network by 2017.

In response to a question posed by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member

of Parliament, Bishop Juan Edghill, Minister Hughes explained that Government will purchase 1 Gigabit per second from GTT at the cost of US$145 per MB. Additionally, it was noted that the Government will acquire bandwidth for redistribution to Government agencies, the public internet access points and Information Communication Technology (ITC) hubs across the country from GTT at a cost of $426.5M. Using $19.3M it will connect six hinterland and remote sites using a privately circuit network from Digicel. Those sites are located in Linden, Bartica, Mahdia, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and Kwakwani.

Additionally, seven hinterland and remote sites will be connected via a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) using a C Band satellite system. This project will cost the Government $79M. Minister Hughes further disclosed that $25M will be used to procure software for the Ministry’s email, data storage and backup system while $10.5M will be used for the design and maintenance of the Ministry of the Presidency’s network infrastructure.

Additionally, the minister disclosed that an IT Centre of Excellence will be established to the tune of $130M while $15M will be used for the payment of a consultant who will assist in formulating four pieces of legislation that will be placed before the House in 2017. The legislation will be based on electronic transaction, data protection, intellectual property rights and electronic filing.

The Public Telecommunications Minister told the House too that her ministry will be expediting

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

Juman-Yassin wins sixth consecutive GOA presidency

– Munroe gets VP nod

By Tamica Garnett ATTORNEY-at-law, K. A. Juman-Yassin,was returned unopposed for his sixth consecutive term as president of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), while Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) president Godfrey Munroe will now take up a vice -president role in the executive.

Yassin, who happily accepted, was elected to serve for another four years as the GOA’s head when the body held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and election of office bearers yesterday at the GOA Liliendaal headquarters, which is still undergoing construction.

Munroe and Tricia Fietkou, who was elected in the newly installed position of Assistant Treasurer, were the only new faces on the eight member executive.

Returning in their old positions were Karen Pilgrim and Charles Corbin as vice presidents; Hector Edwards as Secretary General, Garfield Wiltshire as Treasurer, and Dion Nurse as Assistant Secretary.

The most intensely contested position was that 0f vice president, which saw Munroe pulling off an upset over outgoing VP Noel Adonis. The position had a total of six nominations, the others being Guyana Boxing Association president, Steve Ninvalle, and baseball’s Robin Singh. GHB president Phillip Fernandes also received a nomination but respectfully declined.

Pilgrim received the most support, with 33 of the 43 voters wanting to see her return; Munroe followed with 27 votes and Corbin had 25 votes. Adonis managed to get the nod from 17 of the electors, while Singh had 14 and Ninvalle eight.

As for the VP position, each of the 43 electors was issued a ballot and al-

lowed to vote for their top three choices.

Other unchallenged candidates were Edwards and Wiltshire. Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) president Gokarn Ramdhani was nominated for both the assistant secretary and assistant treasurer positions, but both times he declined.

Against Fietkou,he received 13 votes, while Fietkou walked away with 29 votes.

Others who were nominated for positions but also declined included Guyana Football Federation president, Wayne Forde and Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) President, Nigel Hinds.

The new executives was resoundingly congratulated by members of the audience after taking their seats at the head table. Giving a speech on returning, Yassin thanked all the Associations for continuing to believe in him, notwithstanding all the bad press that he has been receiving lately.

Leading up to the elections,calls for Yassin to be voted out intensified in certain sections of the media;Yassin also addressed this in his remarks.

“I really want to thank each member from each Association for re-electing me as president. I want to thank those several persons who advised me not to respond to all the malicious articles by two journalists of the Kaieteur News.

“I am by nature a fighter; I would like to respond, but if I respond to these people,next week something else would come up and things will always come up and soon you would probably get fed up of me responding,” Yassin expressed.

“I don’t mind criticism but when you go down to being disrespectful I draw a line there.” He continued The returning officer for yesterday’s GOA elections was Mark Bender.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

Bleak future beckons for England’s weak tweakers

By Sudipto Ganguly | MUMBAI,(Reuters)-England’s humiliating series defeat in India painfully exposed an alarming paucity in the side’s slow bowling options and drove home the fact they will continue to struggle in South Asia until they unearth some world class spinners.

Retired off-spinner Graeme Swann had bemoaned England’s indifferent approach towards slow bowling before the fivematch series started and his fears were confirmed after the touring side were handed a 4-0 drubbing.

The alarm bells would have been ringing when England’s spinners were out-bowled in Bangladesh in October, where the side lost their first ever Test against the hosts in a series

gland’s main spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali combined for 33 wickets, and the other four slow bowlers used on the tour -- Zafar Ansari, Liam Dawson, Gareth Batty and part-timer Joe Root -- only claimed seven more between them.

“I think everyone can see we are suited to playing in seaming conditions,” Cook

Petra Kvitova

operation as a success and said Kvitova’s mood was optimistic.

But both he and the Women’s Tennis Association suggested her future in the sport was uncertain.

“There will be several weeks of waiting with a splint and then, gradually, slowly she will be able to put the hand to work,” Tejkal told Czech public television.

But any return to competitive tennis for the Czech

world number 11 was “weeks and months” away, he said.

The WTA, the umbrella organisation for the women’s professional game, said it regretted her absence from the circuit.

“It’s unclear if or when Kvitova will be back on the court, and the start of 2017 won’t be the same without her unique power and competitive spirit,” the association said on its website .

Aged 26, the hard-hitting left-hander rose to world

number two in 2011 when she won the first of her two Wimbledon singles titles, and has been a mainstay of the top ten virtually ever since.

She slipped in the rankings this year but showed improved form in recent months, winning the Wuhan Open title in October and the season-ending WTA Elite trophy in November.Czech police were still searching for her attacker, public television reported.

knowledged that Petersen had not tried to fix a match, or received any payment to do so.

“At the time that the meetings with Bodi and the fixers happened, I never had any intention of fixing matches or taking money,” Petersen said in a statement.

“I now deeply regret having participated in these meetings and not to have immediately reported them to the authorities as I am obliged to do.”

Petersen cannot be involved in any international or domestic match sanctioned by CSA or the International Cricket Council

until Nov. 12, 2018.

Petersen, who played 36 Tests between 2010 and 2015, said this year

that he had uncovered the conspiracy to fix games in the 2015-16 domestic Twenty20 season.

Zafar Ansari

regarded by many as an appetiser for the Indian leg of the trip.

That 1-1 drawn series did little to prepare England’s batsmen for the main course as India’s spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin, the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, and Ravindra Jadeja helped themselves to 54 wickets.

By comparison, En-

nings totals of 400 and 477 in Mumbai and Chennai, but England barely threatened with the ball and lost

said. “There’s no point hiding behind that fact.

“These conditions have tested us to our limits and I really don’t want to be disrespectful to Mo and Adil but they are not as good as Ashwin and Jadeja yet.

“They haven’t quite got the control and consistency, certainly in the first innings when there’s not much happening.”

ANDERSON DISAPPONTS On their last trip to India in 2012, Swann and his leftarm spin colleague Monty Panesar took more wickets than the hosts’ two leading spinners of Pragyan Ojha and Ashwin and that translated into a 2-1 series victory for England.

Cook would have hoped his spinners could turn the screw on India after the touring side made first in-

Liam Dawson both matches by more than an innings.

The captain accepted their current resources were lacking and pleaded for a full-time spin bowling coach for a side who only had former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq with them as a consultant until the third Test in Mohali.

James Anderson, England’s most prolific wicket-taker, had taken 12 wickets in the four Tests in 2012, prompting then India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to dub the seamer as the difference between the sides.

H o w e v e r, t h e i n j u ry-hampered 34-year-old went wicketless in Mohali and Mumbai and was a huge letdown for the England attack.

The tourists were also let down by some bizarre selection choices during the series.

England picked Batty as an extra slow bowler on a Mohali strip known to be one of the country’s least spin-friendly wickets, while the tourists opted for an extra seamer in Mumbai, where Indian spinners bagged 19 out of their 20 wickets.

Kvitova out for six months after four-hour operation (REUTERS)-Two-time Wimbledon tennis champion Petra Kvitova faces around six months out of the sport while her playing hand, wounded in a knife attack, recovers its strength, the surgeon who operated on her said yesterday.

Kvitova was injured on Tuesday when she fought off an intruder in her apartment in the Czech Republic.

“When we talk about (competitive) pressure on

the hand, we are talking about a period of around six months (before that is possible),” Radek Kebrle said in a televised news conference.

“She is a young athlete, healthy... but it still is a relatively massive injury,” he said, adding that all the fingers on Kvitova’s left hand were hurt as she grabbed the attacker’s knife.

Her spokesman, Karel Tejkal, earlier described Tuesday’s near four-hour

Former South Africa batsman Petersen banned for two years (REUTERS)- Former South Africa batsman Alviro Petersen has been banned from cricket for two years after admitting sitting in on meetings where plans were hatched to fix matches in the domestic Twenty20 competition.

Petersen was the latest player to be banned in the scandal after sentences handed down to alleged instigator Gulam Bodi (20-year ban), and players Thami Tsolekile (12), Pumelela Matshikwe (10), Ethy Mbhalati (10)

Alviro Petersen

and Jean Symes (7), Cricket South Africa (CSA) said on Wednesday.

Petersen, 36, has admitted failing to disclose details of an approach to

fix matches, not co-operate with investigators, and concealing and destroying information relevant to the probe.

C S A , h o w e v e r, a c -

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

Russell’s black and pink bat Downes/Andrews first time banned by CA Trophy Stall Doubles Champions ANTHONY Downes and Jason Andrews combined well to defeat Heimraj Resaul and Jordan Beaton to win,for the first time ,the Men’s Doubles final of the Guyana Tennis Association organized Trophy Stall sponsored event over the past weekend.

According to a release, the Men’s Open Doubles final was a one-sided affair in the first set as Downes and Andrews unleashed a plethora of serves and volleys that quickly pushed the junior team of Resaul and Beaton to the breaking point of 5/0.

That fast approaching bagel unnerved the juniors who tactfully set up a few points to create a slight opening.

Resaul/Beaton’s flat forehands penetrated the net play of the agile seniors, rewarding them with a service and a break to go up two games. But the seniors regrouped, cleaned up their act and took the first set 6/2.

“I think we settled in and we were able to play

better. We started to apply more pressure and started our offensive strategy and stopped playing defence,” Resaul stated.

This was evident in the second set as Resaul/Beaton found their rhythm and challenged the seniors. This proved fruitful with the set tied at 5/5.

Downes and Andrews did not enjoy this challenge and dropped a service game with well-placed serves to take a 6/5 lead.

Resaul then served hoping to take the match into a tie-breaker. But after looking very confident and saving two match points, the team again made a few unforced errors and was unable to deliver. Downes/ Andrews clenched their first Trophy Stall Doubles title,and their 4 th overall, with their 6/2, 7/5 win.They did’nt lose a set.

The tournament will close with the final Men’s Over 35 match between top Berbicians Godfrey Lowden/Tony Ameerally against Sandeep Chand/ Alex Almeida.

Vaughan expects Captain Cook to step down ALSTAIR Cook is “very close” to quitting as England captain, believes former skipper Michael Vaughan.

Cook, 31, said he will “go home and do some thinking” over his future after the 4-0 Test series defeat by India.

“His body language over

Alstair Cook the last three matches was one where he looks like he might be thinking of calling it a day,” Vaughan told BBC Sport.

However, Vaughan believes Cook is not certain to resign and said taking time to decide was the correct move.

“He’s earned that right to have a period of time at home. We’ll wait and see,” the 42-year-old added.

“He’s stubborn and mentally very tough. He’s been through this sort of spell two

or three times in his captaincy and carried on.

“But he has to be very honest with himself. Does he have the passion and energy to take the team forward through the seven Tests next summer? And then through the Ashes next winter?

“If the answer is just 1% no, then he has to stand aside.

“Towards the end of my captaincy, I just was not enjoying the game. I could see from his face he just is not enjoying cricket.

“I would think it’s very close to being the time to call it quits from his perspective.”

England assistant head coach Paul Farbrace said Cook had the support of players and management.

“If he chooses to step down, that would be a shame because we want him to carry on,” said Farbrace.

“When you lose a series 4-0, of course people will talk about the leadership.

We all know that.

“But there’s nobody looking around the dressing room thinking ‘ooh, I wonder who’s in charge?’

It’s very clear who’s in charge, and that hasn’t changed.”(BBC Sport)

CRICKET Australia (CA) has banned the black and pink bat used by Sydney Thunder’s Andre Russell in the Big Bash after it left marks on the ball.

thony Everard said: “The match officials provided feedback to Cricket Australia that the bat used by Andre left black marks on the match ball.

“As a result, we have decided to withdraw our approval for Andre to use the bat.

“Should Andre, or any

Andre Russell

Jason Andrews and Anthony Downes after winning the Men’s open final of the GTA’s Trophy Stall sponsored event.

The West Indies all-rounder made nine from seven balls in Thunder’s nine-wicket derby defeat by Sydney Sixers.

Players can use coloured bats in the Big Bash as long as it is the same as the club’s primary colour, or black.

CA had originally approved Russell’s bat before Monday’s match, which was the 2016-17 tournament opener.

Head of the Big Bash An-

other Big Bash or Women’s Big Bash player for that matter, wish to use a bat with a different colouring solution that doesn’t result in the discolouration of the match ball, they will be permitted to do so.

“This is subject to Cricket Australia being satisfied that the bat won’t compromise the integrity of the game, which we believe discolouring the match ball does.”(BBC Sport)

Australia head to Melbourne winners but not grinners

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE,(Reuters)-Australia head to Melbourne for the Boxing Day test against Pakistan with some festive cheer after winning the series opener in Brisbane but Steve Smith’s side will not find many Christmas presents under the tree from local media.

Pundits described Australia’s 39-run win in the first day-night Test held at the Gabba as one of the most gripping matches of the year.

However, they could conjure only faint praise for the home side after they set Pakistan a mammoth 490-run chase and very nearly let them get there on day five.

“Australia will take a one-nil series lead to Melbourne, but it was Pakistan who skipped off the Gabba like winners,” cricket writer Malcolm Knox penned for Fairfax media.

“For Australia to skim home with a 39-run margin, after leading by nearly 300

Steve Smith

on the first innings, suggests a litany of blunders.”

After losing five Tests in succession in Sri Lanka and at home to South Africa, Australia have hit back to win their last two with a new-look side energised by two of their three rookie batsmen.

Smith, however, is under no illusions about his team’s growing pains.

“It showed we’re still not the finished product,” he told reporters. “We’ve got to continue to work hard, and keep the foot on the throat when we’ve got (opponents) in that position, and be ruthless.”

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

CAUTION CRITICISED The comments seemed ironic when weighed against Smith’s waiving of the right to enforce the follow-on after Pakistan were skittled for 142 in their first innings, 287 runs short of Australia’s total.

His cautious field settings on day five, with Pakistan still needing 108 runs for victory with only two wickets in hand, were queried by former captains Michael Clarke and Mark Taylor and slammed as “ridiculous” by ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan.

Smith’s faith in his frontline seamers was ultimately rewarded when Mitchell Starc broke through to remove centurion Asad Shafiq with a perfectly pitched bouncer.

But it exacted a heavy physical toll that could have repercussions for the next match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Workhorse Josh Hazlewood bowled 42 overs in the second innings alone, with Starc, still yet to reach peak form after an injury lay-off in the leadup to the home summer, bowling 38.

Along with fellow paceman Jackson Bird and spinner Nathan Lyon, the pair were spared only three overs’ work during a hot and humid five days at the Gabba, with part-time slow bowler Nic Maddinson the only non-specialist thrown the ball.

Australia’s selectors said they would stick with the same 12 for the Melbourne Test but yesterday decided to draft in uncapped all-rounder Hilton Cartwright.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

Metro Office and Computer Supplies injects $1.2M in KMTC Annual Boxing day race meet FOR 10 consecutive years, Metro Office and Computer Supplies have made significant contributions to the staging of the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club’s (KMTC) Annual Boxing Day Horse Race Meet and this year it’s no different as the company will be sponsoring the first prize cash award for the winner of the feature event on the day’s eight-race card.

Yesterday, Metro’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Avia Lindie handed over a cheque valued $1.2M to the KMTC for the first place finisher of the feature `B’ and Lower Class race over nine furlongs.

The day’s activities will get underway at 13:00hrs at the KMTC’s facility, Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.

At a simple ceremony held at the company’s head

office in Quamina Street, the CEO said this is the 11 th year that her company will be supporting the KMTC and it all came about through the friendship of the Kharag-Ramnarrayan and the Kennard’s family.

She said Metro is pleased to be associated with the event and pledged Metro’s support in the future.

Chairman of the Police Service Commission,Justice Cecil Kennard,in accepting the contribution informed that the Kennard’s and the Kharag-Ramnarayan families are closely associated and went on to state that Deo Kharag-Ramnarayan served as president of the KMTC for over 20 years,starting in 1955 before he migrated to North America. However, since his migration, his son Ron started the Metro Office and Computer Supplies business and he (Ron) has

Justice Kennard (fifth left) and Metro’s CEO Avia Lindie (fifth right) strike a pose at the simple ceremony yesterday, while employees of the company look on. since been supportive of all of KMTC’s activities.

Justice Kennard pointed out that after Jumbo Jet Auto Sales got involved with horse racing, he no-

ticed that the prize money for events were raised and he told himself that he would not be left out and with this in mind, he called Ron Ramnarayan in New

York and informed him of what’s taking place in the sport.Ron immediately rose to the occasion and thus, the sponsorship has increased.

Meanwhile, the second, third and fourth place finishers of the feature event will earn $600,000, $300,000 and $150,000 respectively.

Toure keen to help Man City become ‘bigger’ than United (REUTERS)Midfielder Yaya Toure is determined to realise his dream of helping Manchester City eclipse arch rivals Manchester United.

The side have a long way to go to overhaul England’s most successful club but backed by the wealthy City Football Group, Toure felt huge strides had been made since he joined from Barcelona in 2010.

“I have already won two Premier League titles and I want more than that, another new story,” Toure told British media.

“What we are seeing is the Premier League is so tough, this year it’s going

Manchester City’s Yaya Toure warms up before the game Reuters / Phil Noble Livepic

to be tougher than any other years. When I signed for City, I came to this club to make history.

“I want this club to change, I want this club to be bigger than United.

I know it’s going to be a lot of work, but that’s my dream.”

City made a flying start under manager Pep Guardiola, winning their first 10 games, but have won just six of 17 matches since, a run which has left them third in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Chelsea after 17 games.

Toure, however, is certain Guardiola will not buckle under pressure to

tweak the tactics that have served the manager well during trophy-laden spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

“You always have to do what you know. I don’t think he’s (Guardiola) going to change many things,” Toure said.

“I think he’s seen how difficult this league is physically, but he’s a very intelligent guy, he understands football very well. He always has to win, to conquer a league, but he’s seen that in England it’s complicated.”

City travel to face lastplaced Hull City on Monday.

ing the elevation of previous team manager Lockhart Sebastien to the West Indies selection panel.

CMC understands t h a t c u r re n t m a n a g e r Alton Crafton, a former Windward Islands batsman and WICB Level III coach from St. Lucia, is a strong candidate to succeed Allen in the position.

The Volcanoes are currently fourth in the 4-Day

tournament and scheduled to play in Group A of the Regional Super50 Tournament in Antigua.

They are set to face defending champions Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, as well as Leeward Islands Hurricanes, English county side Kent and the West Indies Under-19 side preparing for the next ICC Youth World Cup in New Zealand.

Volcanoes to be under new coach for Regional Super50 ROSEAU, Dominica, (CMC) – Windward Islands Volcanoes will be under new direction, when the Regional Super50 Tournament begins next month in Antigua and Barbados.

Long-serving head coach Ian Allen will be replaced when his current contract comes to an end on December 31.

The 51-year-old Vincentian, a former Wind-

wards and West Indies f a s t b o w l e r, h a s b e e n directing the back-room affairs of the side since 2005.

Insiders said he gave what appeared to be a heartfelt farewell speech to the playing squad at the conclusion of the fifth round match in the Regional 4-Day Tournament against Barbados Pride, which ended in a draw on Monday at Windsor Park

here.

Under Allen, the Volcanoes rose to win the Regional Super50 Tournament three years ago, but failed in their bid to win the Regional 4-Day title, although becoming a much more competitive unit in the longer format.

Allen will be the second long-standing member o f t h e Vo l c a n o e s t e a m support staff that will bade farewell this year, follow-

Outgoing coach Ian Allen

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

Coach ‘Dan’ not too pleased with Buxton United’s performance

… satisfied in reaching last four DREADLOCKED head Coach of Buxton United, Herbert ‘Dan’ McPherson is of the view that his unit, while accomplishing their first round objective of the GFF-Stag Elite league, disappointed in their play.

“First of all I am satisfied that we achieved what we had set as our goal before the season started and that is to finish in the final four, but I am not too pleased with the performance and I guess this is because we never got real serious with our practice sessions until the League started. After our final game in the first round we had a team-meeting where we all agreed that we fell down with our late start in preparations,” McPherson told Chronicle sport in a ‘one-on-one’ interview.

Coach ‘Dan’ in reviewing and identifying United’s weaknesses,related what he thought was the problem and the way forward to improve on their first round

performance.

“Our concern really continues to be in our finishing and here is where we will have to strengthen and sharpen because goals win games.

Finishing has been our problem since last year and in any game that could come back to haunt you, so we are really going to focus on strengthening that area. “ I think we possess the players to get the job done, but they have to learn to be patient, so during the break we are going to concentrate on those two aspects. Of course we are still shaping our defensive organisation and that will also be worked on. Generally we will be rehearsing our tactical game.

“We will be working on a lot of finishing drills in training and getting the players to play with patience, especially in the final third of the pitch.

We plan to use this off-season period meaningfully both on and off the field where we would be doing gym work as

well as tactical and technical drills.”

McPherson,who has been in charge of Buxton United since the inauguration of the League,says he was not too impressed with play in the first round while he also challenged coaches to do more.

“There were some really competitive games played, but I feel overall it could have been a little more competitive.

I think it is very important for us as Coaches to work more with the teams so we can up the standard. Remember we are talking about the Elite League, the top League in the country where we will be harnessing future national representatives, so we definitely have to work more on our players.”

The Coach is also advocating for businesses to get involved with the League so that the best talents will be available while identifying a major hindrance to coaches.

“The big problem we face

Record 29.32 million pound prize purse for 2017 Australian Open (REUTERS)-The Australian Open tennis has increased its total prize purse by 14 percent to a record A$50 million (29.32 million pound), with A$3.7 million up for grabs for the winners of the singles tournaments, organisers said yesterday.

The prize money for the season’s opening grand slam has more than tripled

since 2001, and risen A$10 million since 2014.

Tournament director Craig Tiley said in a statement that organisers were focussed on increasing compensation for players in the early rounds and qualifying, with first round losers set for an A$50,000 windfall, up 30 percent from last year.

Similarly, sec-

ond round prize money has risen 29 percent to A$80,000, with third and fourth round losers to earn A$130,000 and $220,000 respectively. Total prize money for the quarter-finals, semi-finals, runners up and winner is up 9 percent.

The Australian Open starts on Jan. 16 in Melbourne.

as coaches is attitude of players,mainly because very little is being offered in compensation. So when a player has to go and earn a dollar elsewhere for himself and his family’s sustenance and he has to choose, football suffers. It’s a tough decision that leaves you the coach with sometimes 10 players for a session and the next day 12, but six from the previous day are absent and that affects the session and programme. We need to get more businesses involved in sponsoring teams of the Elite League because the aim is semi-professional and we need to have something to hold these talents.”

While there was no one stand-out player, the Coach made mention of several teenagers.

“I personally would like to thank teenagers like Dillon Wright, Shemar Beckles, Jeremiah Thorne and Nixon Roberston for their performances and would like to see the more senior players

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Mark Boucher-SA (555-532 catches; 23 stumpings) (2) Kumar Sangskarra-SL (482-383 catches; 99 stumpings) Today’s Quiz: (1) What is the highest Test score made by a wicketkeeper?

(2) What is the highest ODI score made by a wicketkeeper?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

halfway stage in the sixteam tournament on 35.6 points, heading into the long break in the season for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, plus the Regional Super50 Tournament.

“The coach got everything that he asked for in terms of preparation for this series and, at this moment, we at the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board are very, very disappointed,” said TTCB President Azim Bassarath.

“The executive will meet with the management team. . .We will seek to meet with them just after the holidays to see what can be done to improve the performance.”

Bassarath said a possible reason for the weak performances could be the relative inexperience of the players in the squad.

“We have to understand that the players are very young and with all the stars missing, they are new to the scene and would have needed that mental preparation going into a regional battle,” he said.

“Also we have Yannick Ottley leading the team for the first time and we are not sure if the burden of leadership has affected his batting.

“I am sure the coach and manager can have answers to these questions when we meet with them and they can then make the required recommendations.”

Red Force are the defending champions in the Super50 and will be hoping for better results in a boost of confidence for the remainder of the Professional Cricket League season.

TTCB to probe why Red Force is under-performing

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Local officials plan to meet with the coaching staff of the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force soon to discover why the side is under-performing in the WICB Regional 4-Day Tournament.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday December 22, 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)

Buxton United head coach Herbert `Dan ‘ McPherson like Clive Andries and Captain Denvor Dennis step up, especially in their attitude.”

Coach ‘Dan’ says that he is looking forward to a second half with much optimism.

“We are definitely looking forward to the transfer window as we have already been talking to a couple of players and it’s just for it to materialize. We feel as a team(that) if we work hard and get properly prepared,we can win this Championship;and this will

be our focus for the second round, to be victorious.”

When quizzed on the withdrawals of four Elite teams from the League and the upcoming break, the coach was more concerned that football was played and that the mid-season interval is timely.

“For me I am just happy that football was played because my main interest is in having football played. I am not too bothered who doesn’t want to play, so I am glad football is the winner.

“With regards to the present break from the league,I think the period is a great opportunity for all teams to work on their weak areas. I really don’t feel it is too long a break, I think it is a time for all teams to get better prepared for the second half which will be more competitive”.

In concluding his interview, coach McPherson spoke highly of the club’s officials:”My club’s administration is massive and I can’t complain;hopefully they will soon get some sponsorship for the team.”

TTCB President Azim Bassarath.

The Red Force sunk to their third defeat of the season last Monday, when the Guyana Jaguars crushed them by 10 wickets at the Guyana National Stadium.

They are now last at the

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 22, 2016

STAG Nations Cup KO Football …

Grove Hi Tech face NA United; Ann’s Grove battle Den Amstel

THE final day of roundof-16 action in the STAG Nations Cup knock-out football championship is set for the Grove Playfield today with what is anticipated to be a fierce double-header,kicking off at 18:00hrs.

Nicholai Matthews

Home team Grove Hi Tech, winners of the three-association format of what was the STAG Super 16 in 2014/15 and 2015/16,will be matching skills with New Amsterdam United for the final quarter final spot that would be up for grabs.

Already walking the plank for the East Bank FA are Kuru Kururu Warriors and Herstelling Raiders while for Berbice FA, Mahaicony Thunders, Cougars and Rosignol United were booted which makes this match a must win for either side and a must see for the fans.

What the sides also share in common is that they are both the #1 clubs in their respective associations. NA United won an intense and nerve racking playoff match 4-3 on sudden-death kicks from the penalty mark against Golden Stars to get into the round-of-16.

Their coach revealed that it was the first real competitive match for the year for the club and it is left to be seen how they will stand up to the challenge of taking on the pride of the East Bank.

NA United will again bank on the services of Captain Adrian Adams,

Leonardo Adams, Jason Drakes, Quinn Hazel, Rei Joseph, Delroy Dean, Jamal Butts, Jeremy Samuels, Dexter Allen, Julian Success, Garfield Millington, Shakeel Grant, Ron Lyken, Omari Bentham, Jovano Dos Santos, Keon Williams, Dwayne Alleyne, Graham Thomas, Joshua Wilson, Ray Reddock, Sion Bacchus and Steffon Boucher to bring another win their way as well as a quarter final berth.

Grove Hi Tech ,apart from home advantage,will be banking on the experience and collective on-field skills of Teshawn Blackman, Dexter Archer, Seon Thompson, Orson Francois, Sherman Doris, Trevor Jones, Clive Matthews, Kevin Padmore, Akel Forde, Delroy Dodson, Moses Fraser, Shane Singh, Antony Stanton, Nicholai Matthews, Denzil Crawford, Joel Dick, Mervin Squires, Devon Joseph, Akeem James,

Alwyn Haynes, Jermaine Benjamin and Ronaldo Romelho to take them one step closer to the top prize and a possible third title.

Tomorrow’s opening clash should be just as intriguing with East Demerara’s Ann’s Grove locking horns with the West Side’s Den Amstel.

Denzil Crawford

Like Grove Hi Tech, this will be Ann’s Grove’s first match of the championship and they will be hopeful of stepping over this first hurdle as they have done successfully in the past two

tournaments.

Winning this match will be important to the East Coast unit as they have succumbed in the past two finals to Grove Hi Tech and would want to set that right this time around,but would first have to get past a tough Den Amstel team which won their playoff match against Kuru Kururu Warriors, 4-2.

Gavin Graham and Kevaughn Ward ,who netted a double each for Den Amstel in their win over KK Warriors would be aiming to transfer that form into tomorrow’s match to produce another win for their team.

They will have support from Maurice Charles, Kerwin Ward, Clevon Pryce, Travis Hilliman, Akimbo Henry, Joseph Payne, Wycliff Simon, Derron Wilson, Alista Lynch, Keon Marcus, Ryan Hunte, Prince Payne, Kevin Murray, Colin Benn, Jamal Perreira, Kerry Harvey, Welton Jordon and An-

Trevor Jones

ton Jackman.

Ann’s Grove will be featuring Ryan Seales, Quincy Barry, Quincy Johnson, Antonia Jackson, Anil Hernandez, Steve Francis, Daniel Francis, Kevon Barry, Daniel Pellew, Andri Francis, Phillip Williams, Levon Adams, Jermaine Clarke, Mervin Hardy, Gerald Sobers, Odel Gulliver, Travis Allen, Maxton Adams, Navado Denny, Oswald Duke, Nickose Denny and Jamain Rogers as they go after their first win for this year.

STAG Nations Cup KO Football

Grove Hi Tech face NA United; Ann’s Grove 27 battle Den Amstel P.

Juman-Yassin wins sixth consecutive GOA presidency – Munroe gets VP nod

P.22

The smiling GOA executive, from left: President K. A. Juman-Yassin; Secretary General, Hector Edwards; Treasurer, Garfield Wiltshire, Vice Presidents Charles Corbin, Karen Pilgrim and Godfrey Munroe; Assistant Treasurer, Tricia Fietkou; and Assistant Secretary, Dion Nurse

Petra launches second Limacol round robin K.O. football tournament

By Stephan Sookram

SIXTEEN teams outside the ambit of the STAG Elite League will get their chance at competitive action in 2017 through the second Petra organised and Limacol Sponsored Round Robin Knockout Football Tournament.

Set for a January 15 kickoff date, the tournament will be staged when the STAG Elite League takes a break.

The teams expected to participate are: Winners Connection, Ann’s Grove FC,Milerock,who arethe defending champions, New Amsterdam United, Grove Hi Tech, Ma-

haica Determinators, Western Tigers, Camptown FC, Police FC, Northern Rangers, Santos FC, Riddim Squad, Eagles United FC, Den Amstel FC, Pouderoyen FC and Uitvlugt.

Those teams will be playing for a $500,000 first place prize and trophy while second, third and fourth will receive $250,000, $125,000 and $75,000 respectively.

Additionally, teams in the group stages will receive monetary rewards for their finishing orders with those topping the group getting $100,000, second place $50,000, third place $30,000 and fourth place $20,000.

Guyana Pharmaceutical Finance Manager Dwayne Lovell (left) hands over a cheque to Co-Director of the Petra Organisation,Troy Mendonca.At centre is GFF’s president Wayne Forde.

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According to co-director of the Petra Organisation,Troy Mendonca,the league will run parallel to the Elite League and be an avenue where teams can be promoted to the league.

Mendonca stated that, “Our business is to have football being played consistently. Our business as administrators is challenging and we have to rise above those challenges and have the game played,since the impact of the game exceeds that of on the field.”

Also present during Tuesday’s evening launch at the Spice Garden Restaurant was GFF President, Wayne

Forde,who noted that the Federation will continue to forge ahead with its work on the field.

New Guyana Pharmaceutical Finance Manager,Dwayne Lovell,who was also on hand, briefly remarked that, “The New GPC is proud to be a part of the tournament and hoped that the game can be played in a way where the teams respect the rules of the game and perform to their best.”

The drawing of the various groups along with venues will be done in the coming days as the tournament is set to host its grand final on February 26.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016