Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 24 05 2016

No. 104561

TUESDAY MAY 24, 2016

Price: $80

(Vat Inclusive)

Forensic audits

Page 8

Witnesses fearful to testify - Ramjattan says protection plan needed

Joining the Independence fever! These Chinese dancers perform at a cultural show billed “From the Great Walls to the Kaieteur Falls” at the National Culture Centre on Monday evening. The show is among a series of events to usher in Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary on Thursday (Delano Williams photo)

IMF to help 11 cut VAT Page

- Govt seeks IMF help to adjust VAT

Promote Blanhum to Assistant 9 Commissioner Page

- PPP urges, commends GPF on crime-solving

Man, 52, freed of rape charge - jury believes woman consented Page

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$1, $5 coins to be phased out

BANK OF GUYANA (BoG) Governor, Dr Gobin Ganga on Monday disclosed that the one dollar and five dollar coins might soon be out of circulation.

Though he could not disclose when the coins would

be out of circulation, he said an assessment has to be done before the decision is made.

“We are currently looking at the feasibility of elim-

inating the one dollar coin of which obviously it has lived its life already; there is no more need for that and we are looking at the five-dollar,” he told reporters on Monday during a press conference hosted by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan.

Dr Ganga noted that though the non-circulation of the coins is imminent, it has to be carefully studied.

“We have to be very care-

ful because we do have the decimal system that people have to be educated about,” he said.

Currently, Guyana has one dollar coins, five dollar coins and 10 dollar coins in circulation, in addition to $20, $100, $500, $1000 and

$5000 notes.

Earlier this month, the BoG unveiled a commemorative $50 note in observance of the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Jubilee Parade to kick off from Stabroek Square THE National Commemoration Commission has advised that there has been a slight adjustment to the Jubilee Parade Route.

The costume bands participating in the Jubilee Float Parade will now assemble at the Stabroek Square instead of Church Street. The Float Parade will then move from the Stabroek Square to East along Brickdam, then into D’urban Park.

Golden Arrowhead to fly high over New Jersey - in celebration of Guyana’s 50th anniversary

GUYANA’S national flag, the Golden Arrowhead, will be taking to the New Jersey skyline on June 10, as Guyanese living there celebrate their home-country’s 50th Independence Anniversary.

It will be hoisted by none other than former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officer, Mr. Desmond Roberts, who has the distinction of being the one who raised the Golden Arrowhead for the first time on Independence night back in 1966.

The ceremony is slated for 17:00hrs at the East Orange City Hall Plaza, where Mayor Lester Taylor III, whose wife is of Guyanese extract, is expected to join thousands of Guyanese and their friends in celebrating the auspicious event.

With the City of East Orange being home to a multitude of Guyanese, the Guyana-American Heritage Foundation has, since its formation, been tasked with assisting new immigrants, especially with acclimatisation and other social matters, which they do in collaboration with the City of East Orange.

And in cognisance of the importance of Guyanese to their community, the City of East Orange has designated May 26, this year as Guyana Day. One of the highlights of the June 10, event is the honouring of the First Lady of East Orange, Mrs. Bibi Taylor, for her exemplary service to the Guyanese community.

Besides showcasing the uniqueness of our six races, it will also feature performances from Guyanese-born Ivor Lynch and Terry Gajraj among other activities slated for the evening.

Economy solid

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

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… Jordan says local economy not sluggish

DESPITE utterances by the Private Sector, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and analysts, Finance Minister Winston Jordan maintains that the local economy is not sluggish.

“We have been saying that the economy is in good shape,” said the Finance Minister, who noted that his report on the state of Guyana’s economy has been doubted by many.

Minister Jordan at press conference on Monday said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its latest report on Guyana said the country’s economy remains “resilient and continues to grow despite significant global headwinds”.

According to the IMF report, the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2015 grew by three per cent despite lower commodity export prices, delays in budget implementation, and political uncertainty leading up to the May General elections.

Notwithstanding those hurdles, the IMF also stated that growth is projected at four per cent this year based on increased gold production and public investment.

“This clearly cannot be an economy that is on the decline, that is sluggish,” said the Finance Minister who referenced the IMF report following a team’s visit here during February 24–March 7 to hold discussions for the 2016 Article IV consultation.

Jordan noted that the APNU-AFC Government has been able to turn things around in Guyana over the year it has been in office.

“Within the space of a year of us coming here we would have been able to reverse what seemed to be a decline of three per cent last year… decline in the sense that the growth rate for last year was three per cent compared to 2014 where it was in excess of four per cent.”

The minister said despite all of the issues the Government inherited, “we were able to change a range of things.”

He pointed to salary increases in 2015, what he described as the largest increase since the 1999 Armstrong Award, where public servants received a 31 per cent increase; increase in pensions, removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on several items, incentives for small and medium scale miners, electricity and gas reductions reduction.

Minister Jordan said too that all the Government has achieved thus far happened despite “external and internal troubles”.

"It is not a doomed scenario, we are doing reasonably well and we will continue to do well with good management of the economy," he said, while noting that measures have been put in place to ensure the economy continues to ascend.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan

Governor, Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga

The Finance Minister reminded the media during his media briefing that when the APNU-AFC Coalition Government took office last May, it was forced to divert significant amounts of money and other resources to the failing sugar industry, as well as the struggling rice industry, given the Guyana Venezuela border controversy.

“I'm not knocking any newspapers, but if all we can find in a one- year review are three or four of the usually suspects giving their view then we would always believe that nothing is happening, those suspects see nothing happening anyhow," he remarked.

QUITE HEALTHY Meanwhile, supporting the Minister of Finance was Dr Gobind Ganga, Governor Bank of Guyana (BoG). Dr Ganga said while there has been a mixed performance of the leading sectors in Guyana during the first quarter, the country’s financial system is “quite healthy”.

He pointed to the El Nino situation affecting the agriculture sector significantly with good outputs from the mining and manufacturing sectors. “Inflation will be constrained, it is now deflation, our estimate is about 0.5 per cent of the first quarter and on the external side we are seeing a net purchase of foreign exchange in between just over US$25M that has resulted in a relatively unchanged exchange rate which is 206.”

The BoG Governor said that the country’s current account has had significant movement in terms of deficit from

US$73.4M to US$51.5M in terms of surplus. The capital account has moved from a deficit of US$51.5M to US$14.8M. Dr Ganga told the media that there has been a marginal decline in external debt, while there has been an increase in domestic debt. He described the movement of the financial sector as a “flat movement”, while noting that there has been a five per cent increase in credit to the Private Sector in the areas of agriculture, mining, construction and the household.

The economy, he added has very sound macro-economic indicators and is progressing confidently.

Asked to speak specifically about the clamping down on the narcotics trade affecting the growth of the economy, Dr Ganga said while there are no official figures to provide a percentage, “there are estimates”.

He was supported by Minister Jordan who noted that many studies on the subject have been done in Guyana, two of which were completed by Professor Clive Thomas.

Those reports, he said showed that on the monetary side, relative to the economy, as much as 50 or 52 per cent of the economy is being controlled by the underworld (back tracking, drug trafficking and other illegal activities).

The minister said he is astonished by the calls made by some in the Private Sector for there to be the “easing up” on regulations so that the economy can flourish. Meanwhile, Minister Jordan said that the administration has been working to engage and secure loans from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and other international financial institutions for the 2016-2017 periods. Those loans, he said will be used in the areas of agricultural diversification, through the agriculture development loan, a business development loan, the Justice Sector Improvement Project (modernisation of the judiciary) and in the case of health, reducing child and infant mortality, suicide and suicide prevention.

The Finance Minister also made note of plans in the infrastructure sector where there would be upgrades to ports and water fronts, bridges and aerodromes, as well as water and sanitation, clean energy and rural and hinterland development projects.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 24, 2016

EgyptAir did not swerve An EgyptAir flight that crashed in the Mediterranean did not swerve and change direction before disappearing, an Egyptian official says.

The Airbus A320 was en route from Paris to Cairo with 66 people aboard when it vanished from radar early on Thursday.

Greece’s defence minister said the plane turned 90 degrees left and then did a 360-degree turn towards the right before plummeting.

But a senior Egyptian aviation official said there was no unusual movement.

Ehab Azmy, the head of Egypt’s state-run provider of air navigation services, told the Associated Press that the plane had been flying at its normal height of 37,000ft (11,280m) before dropping off the radar. Some debris has since been found.

“That fact degrades what

the Greeks are saying about the aircraft suddenly losing altitude before it vanished from radar,” he said.

The reason for the discrepancy between the Greek and Egyptian accounts of the plane crash is not clear.

Greece’s Defence Minister Panos Kammenos had said the radar showed the Airbus A320 making two sharp turns and dropping more than 25,000ft (7,620m) before plunging into the sea.

Azmy added that there were no problems with the plane as it entered Egyptian airspace, where it was tracked for “nearly a minute or two before it disappeared”.

Greek aviation officials had said air traffic controllers spoke to the pilot when he entered Greek airspace and everything appeared normal.

They tried to contact him again at 02:27 Cairo time,

as the plane was set to enter Egyptian airspace, but “despite repeated calls, the aircraft did not respond”.

Last week, the Aviation Herald reported that smoke detectors went off in the plane’s toilet and the aircraft’s electrics three minutes before it disappeared.

In a statement to Egypt’s al-Ahram newspaper, Azmy also denied a report there had been contact between the pilot of the plane and Egyptian

air traffic control.

Azmy did not elaborate on his denial to al-Ahram in further interviews with AP and Reuters.

On Sunday, Egypt deployed a robot submarine to search for the flight data recorders of the missing EgyptAir plane.

President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said there was “no particular theory we can affirm right now” for what caused flight MS804 to crash.

Egypt’s civil aviation minister has said the possibility of a terror attack was stronger than technical failure, but Sisi said establishing the cause could take a long time, adding “all scenarios are possible”.

The Egyptian military released images on Saturday of life vests, personal items and debris showing the EgyptAir logo which were found during the search in the Mediterranean Sea. The search has also re-

portedly found body parts and luggage. The main body of the plane and the two “black boxes” which record flight data and cockpit transmissions have not yet been located.

Air accident investigator Hani Galal told Reuters that, when found, the flight recorders would be analysed in Egypt, unless they were badly damaged.

They are believed to be in waters between 2,500m and 3,000m deep. (BBC)

Syria blames foreign states for blast THE Syrian Government has accused Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia of being behind a wave of bombings in the coastal cities of Tartous and Jableh.

The state-run news agency Sana said the attacks constituted a “serious escalation”, and were aimed at derailing peace efforts.

State media said at least 78 people were killed, while a

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monitoring group put the death toll at more than 145.

So-called Islamic State (IS) has said it was behind the attacks.

The cities, on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, are part of the heartland of President Bashar al-Assad and have, until now, escaped the worst of the civil war.

Sana said letters condemning the bombings had been sent

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from the foreign ministry to the UN. “The ministry asserted that these terrorist bombings constitute a serious escalation by the extremist and malicious regimes of Riyadh, Ankara, and Doha,” the report said.

“They also seek to derail the Geneva [peace] talks and the cessation of hostilities and truce arrangements, as well as turning attention away from the Syrian Arab Army’s achievements in the war against terrorism.”

Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia support various rebel forces in Syria but are part

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of an international coalition battling IS. Seven co-ordinated bombings happened within minutes of each other in the port of Tartous and in Jableh, further north.

In Tartous, a car bomb was detonated at the city’s bus station, Sana said. As rescuers ran to the scene, two suicide bombers also detonated explosives.

Minutes later in Jableh, a car bomb and three suicide attackers struck at a bus station, a power station and a hospital.

One report said a suicide bomber had detonated explosives inside the emergency department of a hospital after helping to carry victims of the first attack there.

Sana said 45 people were killed in Jableh and 33 in Tartous, with many more wounded. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 24, 2016

Sugar shortage hits Coke in Venezuela

A sugar shortage has forced Coca-Cola to stop producing soft drinks in Venezuela amid an escalating food and energy shortage.

Coke said that suppliers in Venezuela will “temporarily cease operations due to a lack of raw materials”.

The announcement comes after the country’s biggest brewer, Empresas Polar, closed plants due to a barley shortage.

Venezuela’s economy has contracted sharply as oil prices plunge.

A Coca-Cola spokesperson said the company would continue producing sugarless drinks such as Coca-Cola Light (Diet Coke).

“We are engaging with suppliers, Government au-

thorities and our associates to take the necessary actions for a prompt solution,” she said.

Sugarcane production has been falling due to price controls and rising production costs, as well as problems in obtaining fertiliser.

As a result, many smaller farmers have turned to other crops that are not price controlled and thus generate higher income.

Venezuela is expected to produce 430,000 tonnes of sugarcane in 2016/17, down from 450,000 tonnes for the previous 12 months, and import 850,000 tonnes of raw and refined sugar, according to USDA figures.

The economic problems

sions.

President Nicolas Maduro has instituted a state of emergency in an effort to combat the economic crisis. Critics argue it is an attempt to increase the military and strengthen his grip on power.

Meanwhile, tyre maker Bridgestone said on Monday it was selling its Venezuelan business after six decades in the country.

The company’s Venezuelan assets will be sold to Grupo Corimon.

have forced many consumers to queue for hours to buy basic foodstuffs.

Venezuela’s economy

is expected to shrink by eight per cent in 2016 after it contracted by 5.8% last year.

Its reliance on oil to generate foreign currency and investment has made it a victim of regular reces-

Other multinational firms such as Ford, Procter & Gamble and Halliburton have either slowed or abandoned their investments in Venezuela. (BBC)

Rousseff.

He is also the Vice President of Temer’s PMDB par-

ty. Three other PMDB ministers in the new Government, which took over earlier this

month, are also under investigation in the Petrobras case. (BBC)

Leaked tape forces Brazil minister out

Romero Juca (left) is one of acting President Michel Temer’s closest advisers A close ally of Brazilian acting President Michel Temer is stepping aside in a new political scandal.

Planning Minister Romero Juca was caught on tape allegedly conspiring to obstruct the country’s biggest-ever corruption investigation.

In the tapes, leaked by a newspaper, he appears to talk of stopping the probe at oil giant Petrobras by impeaching suspended President Dilma Rousseff.

Juca says his comments have been taken out of context.

Dilma Rousseff said the tapes prove that the impeachment process is a “political coup” designed to protect senior figures implicated in the Petrobras scandal.

She is accused of massaging budget figures ahead of her re-election in 2014, and is due to be tried in the senate in the coming months.

In the transcript of the audio, leaked by the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper on Monday,

Juca appears to be saying the impeachment was necessary to “staunch the bleeding” and create a “political pact” needed to “stop everything and limit things.”

For many analysts, the context of the conversation appears to be Brazil’s political crisis, and he seems to be talking about preventing investigations into Petrobras from continuing.

In comments immediately taken up by Ms Rousseff’s supporters as evidence for her claim of a coup, Juca also said: “I am talking to the generals, the military commanders. They are fine with this, they say they will guarantee it.”

Juca was talking to the director of the state transportation company Transpetro, Sergio Machado. Both men are under investigation in the Petrobras scandal.

In a news conference, Juca did not deny the authenticity of the recording but said his quotes had been misinterpreted

and taken out of context.

He said it was public knowledge he was in favour of the impeachment and that he had been referring the Brazilian economy, not the Petrobras investigation which he backed.

Dozens of top-ranking politicians and business executives have been charged or already convicted for participation in the Petrobras bribery and embezzlement scheme.

Juca himself said :”There is nothing wrong in being investigated - there is something wrong in being charged.”

“I have never done anything to complicate the investigation.”

The BBC’s Julia Carneiro in Brasilia says the recording reinforces scepticism in the country about President Temer’s assurances that he would not interfere with the investigations.

Juca is one of the main architects of the impeachment proceedings against Ms

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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

Symbols establishing Guyana

IN British Guiana’s preparing to transition from a colony to an independent nation, establishment of symbols that would come to distinguish her people’s unique identity was key to this characteristically developmental thrust.

The country was renamed Guyana, which is an Amerindian word meaning ‘land of many waters’, and other features were put in place, such as the National Motto, National Anthem, Coat of Arms, and national songs.

Looking at these, it may be tempting to dismiss, embrace, or question the wisdom of choice. It must be remembered that British Guiana was never a society built out of homogeneity or respect for equality. Some races, notably Amerindians and Africans, were not seen as human beings by European enslavers. This historical socialisation and treatment carried through the centuries, and informed the establishment of structures, the placement of some in the structures, and the treatment they received.

It will be recalled that Africans were referred to as monkeys. Stories were told of them living naked in the wild, swinging from trees; and Africa was referred to as an uncivilised place, or as the ‘dark continent.’

Then there was the argument that slavery and its practices were good for Africans, since such treatment aided in civilising the group. Amerindians were also enslaved, were derisively referred to, and had their lifestyles condemned as untamed.

It was in this hierarchal structure that indentured servants arrived, met a society in which inequality in treatment was the established ‘law’, were slid into the prescribed rank of being lower than the European masters; and were also treated as lesser than those masters. Where one group was able to maintain systems of enslavement and bond labour on justification of suitability based on physical strength, adaptability to climate, and cheap labour, what was never lost sight of was the notion of superiority based on race and cultural preferences.

Out of these systems, British Guianese identity and lived experiences were shaped and nurtured. It was a belief system of inferiority and superiority, acceptance and ascension on the ladder, though never that by birth right for non-whites, and was based on adopting and mimicking the ‘superior’ race and practices.

Looking back, Guyanese can find amusement in dressing like Europeans, even though our climate is dissimilar to theirs. It was not unusual to see the up-and-coming wearing sweaters to formal events; and the practice of wearing the suit, tie and waist coat exemplifies that adaptation.

To speak the “Queen’s language” was a sign of ascendancy on the social ladder. Conversely, the creole language was frowned upon and seen as inferior. The colour of skin

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 24, 2016

Region 3 Chamber wants action on goods smuggling Dear Editor, WE ARE daunted by the many ills presently pervading our region, and in particular the people as a whole. It is incumbent upon every citizen to work with, and be supportive of, the Government. The nation expects Government to establish policies to augment health, safety, security and economic protection, and to keep the engine of growth at a persistent level that is parallel to other countries.

We have received political change with the passing of time, but to date, we expect to achieve best practice.

However, the present pattern indicates that the future will be dull.

Today, the security of this nation is threatened by the inability of the police to get above the criminals plaguing our society. The prevalence of crime, if not arrested quickly, will be inimical to economic development, and will stimulate migration.

Many businesses will close because of fear as to who will be the next victim.

We demand maximum effort to end the episode of this nation and society as a whole merely inching towards national development.

One of our main foreign currency earners suffered blows with the loss of a lucrative market and price, and this will create added financial burden on the rice industry, reduce growth of the nation,

and impact people’s lives.

Mammoth effort is needed by the relevant ministry to replace what is lost.

Announcement of the eminent closure of Wales Estate is yet another blow to this nation’s economic well-being. Closure of that estate will impact sternly upon the lives of people living in Region Three. We are sure that prudent management can return this estate to profitability, making it once again add to the nation’s coffers. We intend to engage Government and coordinate efforts to stop this unrealistic announcement.

We need Government to establish agro-processing plants to facilitate the preservation of excessive

un-marketed and perishable farm produce.

In short, Region Three requests the following: stamp out illegal trade; end encumbrance of roads and reserves; create bypass roads in congested areas; develop new roads; provide youths with farmland as an alternative to unemployment and training; establish industrial sites to create employment; and utilize the market tarmacs for vending.

The Chamber is eager to enter into dialogue with all stakeholders in regard to national development.

R. SUGRIM Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Region Three

Is this the Last Mayor’s Cup? Dear Editor,

THE nation is in the celebratory mood of observing 50 years of Independence.

Come May 26, 2016, the Golden Arrowhead, our symbol of self-rule, will be hoisted. In 2016, another quiet celebration is taking place -- 50 years of Lennox Arthur’s involvement in football.

Firstly, as a player with Albouystown, thereafter with Santos, then national representation, founder of Pele

FC, Coach, national Coach, and finally Executive Coordinator of the Annual Mayor’s Cup. Arthur has held this position for 22 years, but sadly, instead of becoming better, things have become worse.

The tournament has become a virtual “one man show” that is devoid of a proper coordinating/organising body.

He operates in the realm of “Lone wolf Mc Quade”.

This in the Jubilee year, and the May 1st commencement of the Annual Knock-

and texture of hair were also features used in determining levels of inferiority and superiority.

To be considered less inferior was to be lighter in complexion, of mixed heritage, and having what was considered ‘nice hair.’ The formally educated were considered superior to those without education; women were treated as less than equals, and the standards and determination for society were set by the man, creating a patriarchal structure.

History shows there were instances of racial clashes and cooperation, primarily among the two major races -- Africans and East Indians. Within these two groups, there was the sense of superiority to Amerindians, who resided primarily in the hinterland.

Africans and Indians who lived in the rural areas were seen by their races as not being equal to urban dwellers. Portuguese and Chinese were seen as higher in rank than Amerindians, Africans and Indians, but lower than Europeans. Persons were also ranked based on religious beliefs and which denomination they belonged to.

Pre-independence found a stratified society built on perceptions of inferiority and superiority, racial mistrust and clashes, the latter of which occurred two years prior to the date.

These were the social, economic, political and cultural realities the society found itself in on the eve of Independence.

It meant that Independence would either see the continuation of similar stratifications, beliefs systems, and acts toward the

out Tournament has been preceded by: Reduction, increase and further reduction of teams; reduction in the sums of prize money; numerous postponements and adjustments to fixtures.

With all of these administrative glitches, reflections of poor coordinating compounded by an absence expressing concern(s) being advocated by any sports journalist, surely it leaves much to be desired!

The nation’s governing body of the sport, the Guyana

Football Federation (GFF), is regrettably silent on this counter-productive issue.

By the way, are the sums of prize money or a letter of commitment from a/some reputable sponsor(s) in the possession of the GFF as a guarantee that payment of prizes would be done?

Since Hamilton Green is no longer the Mayor, following the convening of the prolonged overdue Local Government ElecSee page 7

other, or efforts made to nullify them and start afresh. Given the aspiration Independence offers, including opportunity to establish a new society whose belief system is based on equality irrespective of historical experiences of superiority and inferiority, ethnicity or location, this path was evidently pursued. Through these lenses, there can be appreciation for decisions that informed the National Motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”, given that a motto represents the belief or ideals of a people.

The Cacique Crown sitting atop our Coat of Arms not only pays homage to the presence of our Amerindian community, whose members came before, but also exemplifies the forging of an indigenous identity. No longer was the Crown, associated with unpleasant memories, considered the head of the people. The lyrics of the National Anthem represent the ideals of the people working together for the common good.

It enjoins that “diverse though our strains,” Guyana is “One land of six peoples, united and free.”

The same can be said for the Golden Arrowhead, where the red represents the people’s fiery spirit or energy, and the black their courage and strength. That theme of “oneness” is ever present in the national symbols. Thus, in understanding the thrust of the right to self-determination that Independence brought, as the nation celebrates the 50th, it needs not be forgotten that those who did the foundational work had a vision of oneness among as; a oneness that is achievable once concerted efforts are made to work towards it.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 24, 2016

New company to get parking meter contract --as City Hall ignores existing contract it has with another

THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has officially announced that it is giving the ‘parking contract’ to a company called National Parking Systems, although it had given overseas-based Guyanese Saratu Phillips an exclusive contract back in 2007.

At the Council’s fortnightly statutory meeting at City Hall on Monday, Mayor Patricia Chase-Green made the announcement, prompting Councillor Bishram Kuppen to question if that contract was not already being held by someone.

The Mayor responded that, through the Administration, Town Clerk Royston King is dealing with this issue.

In an invited comment to this newspaper, ChaseGreen did not deny knowledge of the existence of the M&CC contract with Phillips, but said she had no recent engagements with him. She said she did not wish to comment on the issue, and that King would

tion technology professionals who are looking at transferring other technologies from the United States to Guyana.

“We initiated a few projects that didn’t work out. The last project we jumped on is how we could set up a structured parking system,” he explained.

25-YEAR CONTRACT

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green be dealing with it.

Saratu Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Astrolobe Technology Incorporated, visited this newspaper a few days ago after seeing an article in the Chronicle that City Hall is finalising arrangements to implement a parking meter system. A baffled Phillips told this publication: “The issue that first jumped out at me is that I have an exclusive contract already to do parking with the M&CC, and they are dealing with a new company as if I no longer exist.”

Phillips, who came to Guyana in 2006, has put together a team of informa-

Is this the Last Mayor’s...

From page 6

tions, in whose honour is the Annual Mayor’s Cup being played?

Did Her Worship, Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, grant approval? Between the 16th and 18th May, 2016, a total of 3 different starting dates has been registered in various articles of the print media, with the latest being May 20. Is this acceptable, when no less than eight postponements/ commencements have already elapsed?

With the Government on board as a sponsor, in addition to the NSC and private/corporate entities, along with the claim that “the tournament is part of the Golden Jubilee Anniversary Celebration”, upon perusal of the relevant website/

Phillips said his team worked with the City Council from December 2006 until October 2007, when he obtained an exclusive 25-year contract from the municipality to design the parking system.

He, however, decided that he would not start works until the City Council amended some of its by-laws.

“Back and forth we were debating the by-laws, and I eventually decided that I would pay to get them done in 2008. After I submitted the by-laws, the issue arose that the Government was not giving them the go-ahead to raise funds on their own. We were then stuck at this point,”

Phillips explained.

Phillips explained that the understanding he had with the City Council was that his contract remained valid, and would continue as soon as permission was granted.

After the general elections in 2015, Phillips said, he began engaging Town Clerk Royston King, who said that as soon as he got into office, work would commence on the project.

“In November 2015, someone from the media called me and told me that the contract was being handed to someone else, who has political connections. I am shocked. The name of the person they are giving the contract to is (named). I told (that person) I have this contract and that we would have years of litigation, and that nothing is going to happen.

“Why go after something that I already have? He bluntly told me I am a small fish and that he has lots of political and judicial connections in this country, and that he is

going to get this. His business partner or his consultant here is (named). I emailed (the named person) every piece of paper work that I have on parking, and I told him that I have this contract.”

Phillips is hoping that good sense will prevail and that the M&CC would acknowledge that what it is doing is wrong.

“I have invested a lot of time and money in relation to parking. I have some lawyers, and whatever they advise I will do. This (is akin to) corruption and nepotism,” he said.

NEEDED PARKING SYSTEM The parking system to be developed in Georgetown includes a meter system that is expected to deter motorists, especially taxi drivers, from parking in spaces that store owners reserve for customers.

The M&CC is not inclined to raise the sums for

rates and taxes, because the entity is already facing difficulty in having citizens come forward to pay. The municipality is therefore looking at other ways to rake in more revenue, and the parking meter system is being considered.

At a recent meeting with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the issue of parking was the number one issue raised with the City Council.

Representatives of Durga Business Enterprise, Scotia Bank, Global Seafood Distribution, Eureka Laboratory, and Silvie’s Variety Store were also present at that City Hall meeting.

The meeting heard how customers have to park corners away from business establishments they wish to visit in order to do business.

In the case of Scotia Bank, there is always a hassle to remove certain unauthorised vehicles; and, on occasion, the police have had to be summoned.

Five graduate from food and nutrition course --courtesy of ‘D’ Division Police F I V E We s t D e m e r a r a women are now certified cooks, after completing a six-week course in food and nutrition, run by police in ‘D’ Division.

The women recently

picked up their certificates at a graduation ceremony held at the Madina Restaurant at De Willem, West Coast Demerara.

During the ceremony, the women were encouraged

by Divisional Commander, Stephen Mansell to aspire to further their studies in their chosen field.

guidance, have embarked on several youth development and social crime prevention programmes to engage youths in activities ranging from sports to education.

Facebook, no such information of the Annual The ‘D’ Division police, Mayor’s Cup is available. under the Commander’s Can it be ascertained exactly what Arthur is hoping to achieve with the rumour? Maybe Stabroek News’ Cartoonist P. Harris can offer a pictorial description of the “comedy of errors” as it continues unabatedly.

Why is the Victoria Ground the only venue for the tournament’s commencement, instead of utilizing an alternative that is similar to what the GFF did with the Elite League?

For sure, Arthur’s overindulgence in administrative ineptitude would have never occurred with the Kashif & Shangai Organisation.

Yours truly, Commander Stephen Mansell with senior officers posing with the graduates of the food LESTER SEALEY and nutrition course at Madina Restaurant

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Forensic audits

Witnesses fearful to testify …Ramjattan says protection plan needed

THE move to bring those responsible for financial transgressions discovered by audits is being slowed by fearful witnesses, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan said on Monday.

Ramjattan was at the time responding to a question about the lack of prosecutions and sloth in prosecuting errant public officials.

Government has come under severe criticisms for not acting on the audit findings. Addressing stakeholders at the Golden Jubilee, National Symposia Series underway at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre (ACICC), Minister Ramjattan made it clear that government is keen on bringing those responsible for impropriety to justice wherever they may be.

“Minister (Jennifer) Westford has been charged and that’s pending. The trial is going on as I understand.

There is somebody with her who has been charged. The fellow from GPL, Aeshwar Deonarine has been charged and Mr. Carvil Duncan has been charged, prosecution is going on there. We have asked the Canadian Royal Mounted Police to find Mr. Aeshwar Deonarine (former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of Administration), they are going to find him soon and he is going to be sent back here. ” Minister Ramjattan stated that there are “lots of other forensic audits that indicate they should go further on, into police investigations” but the lack of a witness protection programme is stymieing the prosecution’s efforts.

“A lot of the witnesses that gave their evidence to the auditors are scared like hell to give their evidence to the police now, knowing that those fellows that they might bring to court, know that they can suffer at their hands.”

The minister lamented that a witness protection plan

was not available locally, “So they are scared.” The Minister pointed out that he was not going to push persons to testify and “when they go the Magistrate’s Court, they say, ‘I can’t remember’ so you compel them to take the stand and there is nothing you can do”. He indicated, however that Government is trying to see how best this hurdle can be overcome. He reiterated that whilst the cases are continuing to be pursued, these actions take time.

He made clear, Government’s position on the audits.

“This Administration will never allow stolen monies to remain with those who have stolen those monies. We are going to get them back, and that is why we have set up this SARU (Stolen Assets Recovery Unit)”. Government has embarked on a series of audits of Ministries and Agencies to ascertain their financial status and unearth any suspected improprieties.

Addressing the opening of the event today in Guyana, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry expressed her enthusiasm for the activity, as it will provide for the country to make good on those independence promises of 50 years ago, she said.

Fifty years ago, Guyana, a relatively small country, boasting outstanding potential, celebrated its political emancipation from over 200 years of British colonial oppression.

Meanwhile, also addressing the event Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry told the gathering that the post-colonial journey has been one of bountiful missed opportunities. “In many regard, we have not made good on the independence promises. We have not provided our people with enough space or the opportunities for constructive and productive self-determination and, as a consequence, Guyanese, a people blessed

with an exaggerated sense of tolerance are rapidly running short of patience,” she said.

She called on the gathering, to address the questions of the discussion with an open mind. “Let us think ‘out of the box’ whenever necessary, let us undertake to shape our future, let us create Unity in Diversity,” the Minister urged, as she applauded those involved for embracing this challenging, but very necessary exercise, at this most opportune moment in time.

“Your objectivity of purpose, the honesty of function, the currency of intent, the relevance of goal, the determination to find solutions and the commitment to do so are the hallmarks of constructive endeavour,” she said, and explained that she waits with interest the outcome of the symposia.

The symposia are being facilitated by the Academic Working Group of the National Commemoration Commission of Guyana and US. The activities facilitated by this group, for the 50th Independence celebrations, are those that focus on providing

Vice-Chancellor, University of Guyana, Professor Ivelaw Griffith delivers brief remarks on the Symposium’s Sub-Committee programme safe academic spaces to face the country’s realities, so that they can be fixed.

Vice-Chancellor, University of Guyana and Chairman of the Symposia Sub-Committee, 50th Anniversary Independence Celebrations Committee, New York, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, explaining the concept behind these activities said, “We thought it important to have

an intellectual discourse about our yesterdays, our todays and our tomorrows.”

Professor Griffith who also read Martin Carter’s poem, “I came from the Nigger Yard”, explained that the interrogation and opportunity to reflect and think about the todays and tomorrows are also captured in the songs and music, and culture that form

part of each programme.

He pointed out that these cultural performances capture the “things endured in the past, some of the trials and tribulations we are managing now, and the kind of things that we would want to think of, if we want to celebrate and leave a legacy of potency for the people who come after us.” (GINA)

Members of the National School of Dance performing at the Golden Jubilee National Symposia

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Promote Blanhum to Assistant Commissioner, PPP urges - commends GPF on crime-solving THE Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has commended the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force on its efforts in solving several crimes, including cold cases.

The PPP has also recommended that Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum be immediately promoted from the rank of Senior Superintendent to that of Assistant Commissioner of Police.

“The Crime Chief must, at all times, be of the rank of an Assistant Commissioner,” the party said in a statement on Monday, adding that the Crime Chief must be able to act independent of instructions or directives of a non-professional nature.

The party also noted that the Force’s human resource capacity should be explored. “There was a time when everything civilian was ignored and disregarded, to the detriment of successful investigation and prosecution,” the PPP said.

That party has advised that “effective use of human intelligence and civilian common sense is the way to go”, noting that the dispersion of CID sleuths to areas where useful information can be obtained is proving to be productive and effective.

Recently, a number of high profile cases which had been unsolved for several years were pursued by the police, and Crime Chief the alleged perpetrators have been placed before the courts.

Wendell Blanhum The list includes the 2007 murder of Joseph Willy, called “Jeff-man”, who was allegedly shot by Alvin Calder at White Water Landing in the Potaro area. Calder was recently nabbed by the cops, and was placed before the courts on May 4 in relation to the crime.

In September 2012, the country was rocked by the triple-murder of Anna Catherina liquor store owner Jennifer Persaud and her two young sons. Following a report of abuse by his wife, barber Abishai Caesar, 31, appeared before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool late last month, and was charged with the gruesome crime.

In January this year, Aaron Wilfred Hing, 20, called “Neutral”, and his friend Staymon “Sherwin” George, 24, both of Kildonan Village, Corentyne, were arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where they were not required to plead to the capital charge, which alleged that they murdered British teenager Dominic Bernard on October 14, 2015.

The teenager Bernard had reportedly arrived in Guyana on the evening of October 14, 2015, and had not been seen since. His father, during a visit to Guyana for news about his son, met with Blanhum, who promised that the police would do everything in their power to solve the mystery.

Hing, the teen’s god-brother, became a person of interest after he disappeared when police attempted to contact him. As law enforcement officers continued to dig for information, George was added to the list of suspects.

Wanted bulletins were issued for the two men as suspicion grew about their involvement in the teen’s disappearance.

And last month, Simone Hackett of “C” Field Sophia, a mother of one, was reported missing by relatives on April 17, after she had not returned the previous night from going to collect a package allegedly sent from Mahdia by her child father, Clevaughn Hamilton, called “Quarters”.

Her body, which bore multiple stab wounds, was discovered along the roadway at Cummings Lodge several days later.

Diligent work by the cops led to Hamilton being charged with the crime, and days later taxi driver Ranachal Singh of Good Faith, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara appeared before Sparendaam Magistrate Zameena Ally-Seepaul to answer a charge of murder committed on Hackett. The man’s blood stained car was also impounded by the police.

On May 13, Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander, who escaped from the Mackenzie Police Station on December last, and who was wanted for the murder of a Linden woman, was apprehended during a checkpoint search at the Kurupukari Crossing on the Essequibo River.

The police said Alexander, of Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was in a vehicle at the checkpoint when he was apprehended.

On May 17, five teens appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer a charge of murder committed on 75-year-old retired professor Pairadeau Mars, who on May 12 was bound, beaten and strangled in his home.

The teenagers were charged jointly for the alleged murder of the former University of Guyana Professor, reportedly committed at his Lot 395 Bissessar Street, Prashad Nagar home during the course of a robbery.

On Sunday, police dug up a shallow grave at Lot 51 Seaforth Street, Campbellville and unearthed the remains of a person suspected to be 28-year-old Babita Sarjou, who disappeared without a trace on the eve of Diwali in November 2010.

Her husband Anand Narine, who was long suspected of playing a role in the woman’s disappearance, and an accomplice are expected to face charges soon in relation to the woman’s death. Blanhum told reporters that the woman’s disappearance is now being treated as a homicide.

Sarjou’s mother, Champa Seonarine, praised the Police Force, especially Blanhum, whom she noted was the real force behind the investigations. Seonarine stressed that if the woman’s husband is found guilty of the crime, he should be hanged.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

GRA in tax deals all the time - says Finance Minister Jordan - dismisses charges by PPP

FINANCE Minister Winston Jordan has said the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is constantly working out tax settlements with businesses.

Dispelling criticism that the Government’s recent agreement with the Demerara Distillers Limited was a giveaway, Jordan said at a news conference on Monday that the recent $1.5B Consumption and Excise Tax settlement between the GRA and DDL is not novice.

“No, settlements at GRA go on all the time…. Listen, they (GRA) didn’t wake up overnight and decide to settle,” he said.

He made it clear that Government did not give up G$5B in exchange for G$1.5B. Reiterating the point that the Revenue Authority is authorised to settle matters outside of the court, the Finance Minister said the matter has been before the High Court and the Court of Appeal for 14 years, and the GRA has been on the losing end.

“14 years this matter has been going on for…. Every time GRA went to courts, they lost.” Minister Jordan thus stressed that GRA’s decision was a “sound” one.

DDL announced in April that it had reached an amicable settlement with the GRA to resolve a longstanding dispute over Consumption Tax owed to the state.

The agreement is intended to settle all claims by the GRA and liability by the entity for both Consumption and Excise taxes up to March 9, 2016 to the tune of $1.5B. “This sum is payable over 12 months. DDL, in good faith, very recently effected payment of one hundred million dollars in compliance with the settlement terms,” a statement to the media said.

The issue began in 2002, and the company said settlement follows an extended legal battle between DDL and the GRA, arising out of the $5.3B Consumption Tax assessment levied against DDL in January 2009 by then Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur.

The Finance Minister is expected to respond to several questions on the issue to be posed by the Opposition in the National Assembly.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has contended that the tax deal recently struck between the two entities has set a precedent for similar requests to be made by other companies.

Jagdeo described the tax settlement as scandalous, noting that it sends the wrong message to the business community: “…that a company can unilaterally decide to stop paying taxes while other companies comply with the law; take the matter to court, and drag it out until a sympathetic Government comes to power, and (then) settle its debts to the State,” said Jagdeo.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan has said the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Headquarters, Camp Street constantly works out tax settlements with businesses “If one were to calculate interest on this sum at a rate of 10 per cent per annum using only the past 10 years, the liability would amount to $10.6B. The GRA assessment of $5.392B was based on a formula handed down by the court, but yet DDL refused to pay,” Jagdeo stated.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has welcomed the move by GRA and DDL to settle the matter out of court, and has called on the Revenue Authority to negotiate with other companies that are in the same position as DDL was in.

“From the point of view of the Private Sector Commission, we wish to urge that the Guyana Revenue Authority now engage other aggrieved companies to apply similar formula to correct the distortions in the market place resulting from this action,” the PSC said in a statement.

But Minister Jordan has made it clear that should other

companies feel the need to make claims based on the principles of the DDL settlement, those claims would be “vigorously opposed”.

In 2002, DDL had raised a legal challenge against the GRA on the methodology adopted by the latter for the assessment of Consumption tax.

In February 2005, the High Court found in favour of DDL. The GRA subsequently appealed that decision, and on July 31, 2008, the Guyana Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed GRA’s Appeal.

Following the dismissal of the appeal, the GRA commenced a new assessment in August 2008; and notwithstanding attempts by the parties at resolving the matter, on January 16, 2009, GRA issued a new claim in the crippling amount of G$5,392B.

Bird smuggler fined AN OVERSEAS-BASED Guyanese on Monday pleaded guilty to bird smuggling and was fined $140,000 when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It was alleged that on May 21, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Emily Persaud of Morris Avenue, Bronx, New York, attempted to smuggle several species of birds out of Guyana.

The unrepresented defendant accepted the charge and did not say anything in her defence.

Chief Magistrate McLennan fined Persaud $140,000, as

well as prohibited her from obtaining an import or export licence for the next two years.

According to reports, about 16:30 hrs on the day in question, Persaud was an outgoing passenger on a Dynamic Airlines flight destined for JFK International Airport, USA. It was observed by an airhostess that the woman was behaving in a suspicious manner while boarding the aircraft.

A search was done on her while on the plane steps and 15 species of Towa-Towa birds were found concealed in large hair curlers strapped to her waist.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

IMF to help cut VAT

A TEAM of experts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will shortly be visiting Guyana to explore ways of reducing the Value Added Tax (VAT), which currently stands at 16 per cent.

The assessment to be done by the IMF team is geared at finding options to the current per cent of VAT paid by citizens, so that those very options could be rationalised before the 2017 budget.

Minister Winston Jordan said the IMF’s Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC) in Barbados will conduct the assessment of the current tax structure and make recommendations for the way forward on VAT. “They are going to send a one- or two-person mission to do a complete assessment of our VAT: where it is today, including options for changes into the system…

So it is on the cards,” the minister told reporters on Monday.

The CARTAC website describes the entity as one of eight IMF regional technical assistance centres (RTACs) located around the world: in the Pacific, the Caribbean, in Africa, the Middle East, and in Central America.

These centres assist countries to strengthen human and institutional capacities to design and implement sound macroeconomic policies that promote growth and reduce poverty.

But even as the team of experts will be here in Guyana to do the assessment, the minister said, reductions in VAT, as promised by the APNU-AFC coalition leading up to the May 2015 elections, will not be a reality this year.

Minister Jordan said there is great need for consultation on the issue, and he noted that ad hoc changes to the current tax structure could become problematic.

“I don’t see it happening before the next budget…. It will be extremely difficult to just bring in a VAT reduction in the middle or the half of the year, when our budget anyhow is not based on that,” he said. Consideration would have to be given to several issues, including the importance of electricity and water services to the tax regime. VAT is not charged on those two services.

That aside, the Minister of Finance posited that the tax base would have to be expanded, so that Government can then recover revenue lost from the reduction in VAT. “The rate of VAT will be eventually reduced…we are looking at it in a careful manner, so we don’t have to go back,” he promised.

The minister also said he wants the issue of reduction of VAT attract the “widest consultation” possible. He lauded the Tax Reform Committee for doing “good work”, but reminded reporters that even if Government were to reduce VAT before the next national budget, that move would be the subject of parliamentary debates.

“Even if we agree to a measure now, we still have to get it to Parliament,” Minister Jordan explained.

Asked about other recommendations made by the Tax Reform Committee in its report submitted in January, the Finance Minister said some of those recommendations were inserted into the 2016 budget, while the other recommendations “are engaging the attention of Cabinet”.

He said after Cabinet concludes its deliberations on the content of the report of the Committee, “we will throw it out to the public”.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Man, 52,… juryfreed of rape charge believes woman consented

By George Barclay A DEMERARA Assizes jury on Monday found 52-year-old Intocol Santool not guilty of rape, based on his defence that he was having fun with a friendly neighbour.

The West Bank Demerara businessman was involved in a sexual act with a regular partner, whose husband returned home earlier than usual and caught his wife in the act. The wife yelled, “I was raped!” and the police did the rest with a story built by the virtual complainant.

But while the VC told the police and her husband that she had never seen the alleged rapist before November 25, 2009, a well-known neighbour told the jury about seeing the party together on several occasions.

The VC said her husband was at work and she was alone at home, washing dishes on November 25, 2009, when Intocol

Santool raped her.

She said she had tried to fight off the man, who was attired in a vest, but he was able to overpower her; and succeeded in penetrating her vagina before her husband, whom she had called when she had seen the man riding in the area on a motor bike, turned up in time to see the intruder in the house.

The VC said the accused attacked her husband with a hatchet, but her husband said he was not hurt. The intruder was able to escape.

When apprehended by the police, Santool gave the impression that he and the woman were friendly and had had sex about seven times in the past.

Detective Corporal Noris Harry told Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and the jury that, in 2009, he was attached to the La Grange Police Station, West Bank Demerara. He contacted the accused, who was in custody at the La Grange Police Station,

cautioned him and told him of his rights.

Witness said that, immediately after, the accused said to him: “Me and she had an affair. About six to seven times we had sex.

That day the husband came and catch she; I did not rape she.”

The VC said she had heard the foot-steps of her husband entering the house. She said the accused collected her hatchet and went towards her husband, but, according to her, the husband was not hurt.

Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, defending the accused, did not call any witness but elected to address the jury, whose members he urged to find that the alleged victim was a liar and that his client, who was found having an affair with the woman with her consent, should be found not guilty.

State Counsel Ms Shonette Austin and Mr Siand Dhurjon prosecuted, while Justice Jo-Ann Barlow presided over the case.

Model of Eccles Water Treatment Plant on display

By Michel Outridge THE Guyana Water Inc (GWI) has erected a sample structure of the Eccles Water Treatment Plant outside its head office at Vlissengen Road and Church Street, Georgetown.

The model, which seeks to inform consumers about the project and to highlight some of the work done by GWI across the country, was also part of the company’s 50th Jubilee of Independence celebrations.

Infrastructure/Planning/Implementation Director Jailall Ramchand told the Guyana Chronicle that the model depicts the current Water Treatment Plant located at Eccles, East Bank Demerara which serves about 10,000 residents. He explained that the model was placed there to depict some of the works GWI is doing to provide a supply of potable water to customers.

Ramchand said GWI will shortly undertake construction of three new water treatment plants at Diamond, East Bank Demerara; Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice; and Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara in an effort to increase the supply of treated water across the country.

The model water treatment plant placed outside GWI head office at Vlissengen Road and Church Street, Georgetown (Delano Williams)

Former City Councillor Bristol-Edwards dies

FORMER City Councillor Elaine Bristol-Edwards, who served the City Council in 2006, died last Thursday at the age of 81. A former employee of the Ministry of Labour, who retired in 1990, the mother of two served the Council up to the point of Local Government Elections in March 2016.

She will be buried today.

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green made the announcement at Monday’s statutory meeting of the Council.

Everyone stood for a moment of silence in honour of the Good and Green Guyana (GGG) Councillor, as was

requested by Chase-Green.

Her daughter, Diane Bristol, told the Chronicle that her mother’s body can be viewed at Merriman’s Funeral Home from 12:30 hrs to 13:30 hrs, before it is taken to the Brickdam Cathedral for funeral service before burial.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

CG bandits remanded TWO plumbers were on Monday remanded to prison by Sparendaam Magistrate, Zamilla Ally-Seepaul after they were caught red handed robbing a women whom they had trailed from a City bank.

Kempton Glenn, 25, of Lot 13, North-East LaPenitence and Robin Holder, 24, of 124 East LaPenitence, Georgetown were charged jointly for two counts of armed robbery and possession of gun and ammunition.

The first charge alleged that on May 19, at Atlantic Village, East Coast Demerara, the duo while being armed with a hand gun, robbed Marlene Brumigin of some $180,000 in cash after trailing her from a City bank.

They also robbed Stacy Ashby of items valued $180,000 on the said day.

The men were also charged for having a .32 pistol with nine matching rounds in their possession without being the holder of a firearm licence.

The duo denied all the charges, while their lawyer Moti Singh requested that the men be released on reasonable bail, since they were badly beaten and needed medical attention.

According to Singh, his clients were returning home from work in Plaisance on their motor cycles when confronted by a van load of police officers.

The lawyer further pointed out that the defendants were badly beaten by persons and were even knocked down by a motor vehicle.

However, according to Lance Corporal David Goodridge, the two men were caught red-handed in the act of the crime and had trailed Brumigin from the bank to her home.

Goodridge noted that Holder had been previously charged for armed robbery and strongly opposed the men being granted bail.

The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds of witness tampering, the possibility that if the men are granted bail they might commit more robberies.

The court heard that the two accused are wanted in Georgetown for similar offences and ballistics tests are currently being done on the weapon they had in possession.

Bail was refused and the men were remanded until June 27.

On May 19, about 14:00 hours, Brumigin was about to enter her home after transacting business at a bank in Georgetown, when she was attacked and held at gunpoint by the two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The other was on a CG motorcycle.

The woman raised an alarm, but the men took away a bag with a sum of cash. As the men were about to escape,

residents who responded to the alarm, including two off-duty policemen, confronted the perpetrators and snatched away the stolen bag with the money.

The two bandits still tried to ride away but were stopped in their tracks when a motorist drove into them, sending them crashing to the ground.

A .32 Taurus pistol with nine rounds was recovered by the police, who have also seized the motor cycle.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Young scholar here for Jubilee celebrations

By Michel Outridge K E L LY H Y L E S , t h e 17-year-old Guyanese girl who has been accepted into 21 colleges across the United States of America, including eight Ivy League universities has returned to her homeland, which is celebrating 50 years as an

Independent nation.

During her visit, she will be visiting her childhood school Vryheid’s Lust Primary, East Coast Demerara, the village she was raised.

At a press conference hosted by social activist Mark Benschop in the conference room of Metro Office and Computer Supplies on

Quamina Street, a smiling Hyles told reporters that she lived in Guyana for 11 years before migrating to the US with her mother.

The young lady credited her educational achievements to the foundation she

Please turn to page 16

President David Granger and Ms. Kelly Hyles during their discussion at the Ministry of the Presidency (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

Kelly Hyles and her mother, Anetta Sealey, on Monday

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Young scholar here for Jubilee celebrations From page 14 received during schooling here.

She related that the Mathematics was not very different compared to the US, but it was not the same for subjects such as History and English Language.

Hyles, however adapted to the change and has since come a long way with the support of her mother Anetta Sealey.

Though an outstanding student, Hyles is a very simple young lady. She looks forward to celebrating her 18th birthday in Guyana on May 26.

On Monday she visited President David Granger and was invited to attend the Jubilee celebrations.

Vryheid’s Lust, the village she grew up in is looking to honour her by establishing a Kelly Hyles Scholarship Fund.

She noted that money is essential for higher studies and her journey to academic success was not an easy one.

“It was not a smooth road but still keep going,” she said.

Her mother Anetta Sealey said she is very proud of her daughter and is still reeling from shock at her daughter’s

Kelly Hyles and local activist Mark Benschop at the press conference outstanding achievements.

Benschop told the press conference on Monday that he has since made a recommendation that Hyles be awarded the key to the City or something in recognition of her academic achievements.

The teenager’s visit to Guyana is being facilitated by the Mark Benschop Foundation (MBK) in collaboration with Fly Jamaica Airlines.

The airline provided the tickets for Hyles and her mother to visit Guyana after learning of her academic success.

She is also expected to visit schools in Georgetown, Linden and Berbice to share her inspirational story with students there.

Hyles, who has a keen interest in neuroscience, having scored a remarkable 99.63 Grade Point Average in high

school.

She is a volunteer at Mt Sinai Hospital and tutors students at her former Brooklyn middle school.

Although she was accepted to Harvard, Princeton, Pennsylvania and Yale Universities, and a number of other Ivy League Schools, the teen has chosen to be a member of Harvard’s Class of 2020.

MARAD offers free visits to the Georgetown Lighthouse THE Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) is offering free visits to the Georgetown Lighthouse during the period May 23 to 31, as part of activities to celebrate 50 years of Guyana being an

Independent nation.

MARAD, in a release, said it has noted with concern the challenges to obtain tickets to gain access to the Lighthouse during this period, and has taken the decision to facilitate

visitors to this historic landmark free of cost.

“All Guyanese, including overseas-based and visitors, are urged to make use of this opportunity; and persons desirous of (making) this visit can make themselves available at the Lighthouse, where staff-

ers are there to assist and guide respectively,” MARAD said.

The management of MARAD is wishing all Guyanese a happy Independence, as Guyana celebrates 50 years (golden jubilee) as an Independent nation.

The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) is offering free visits to the Georgetown Lighthouse from May 23 to 31

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Coordination needed to address backlog of cases THE coordination of the legal system is a must if the backlog of cases in the judiciary is to be addressed adequately.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams last Thursday during a press conference disclosed that a coordinating committee has been set up to address the problems affecting the judiciary.

“What happens at one end affects what happens at the other, so we cannot resolve the prison (overcrowding) issue unless we deal with the Police Superintendent… he deploys prosecutors… if they’re not properly supervised, they can be responsible for a lot of backlog,” Minister Williams explained.

The backlog of criminal cases has been a major cause for concern over the past two decades, and as such, legislation was enacted to introduce committal proceedings to fast-track preliminary inquiries.

“When the paper com-

mittals were introduced, magistrates started applying them, but it was recognised that you were basically transferring the problem from the Magistrate’s Court to the High Court,” said the Minister of Legal Affairs.

With the implementation of paper committal proceedings, prosecutors

ATTORNEY-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams are required to provide evidence against the accused to the accused attorney.

After examination of the evidence, if it was determined that a prima facie

case exists, then the parties once agreed would commit to having the accused stand trial in the High Court. This was done in the interest of not wasting the court’s time.

“It meant that trials kept climbing and the figures kept increasing rapidly… a judge would take about three to four trials per session, which takes three months… so we still have that problem right now and it has to be addressed,” stated the Minister.

In light of the foregoing, the Minister of Legal Affairs said Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Carl Singh is mandated to address the issue of backlog of cases.

That aside, the Ministry of Legal Affairs has budgeted some US$49,020 to employ six part-time judges for six months.

“That exercise will be funded by the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank)… that is still in the pipeline… IDB visited me on Monday, and I

will meet with them again today (May 19). Once they approve the sums, we will start incurring expenses,” Minister Williams told reporters.

An additional US$327,000 has been budgeted to install voice verbatim recordings in the High Court and in those Magistrate’s Courts that deal with serious criminal matters.

“That will certainly

speed up trials because we have an old system where judges and magistrates take evidence by writing in their own hand… these things once implemented will certainly improve the quality of the delivery of speedy justice in Guyana.”

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is assisting Guyana with the implementation of the New Justice Sector Programme, which is de-

signed to consolidate justice sector improvements.

The programme will see the establishment of a Law Revision Office and a revision of Guyana’s laws.

Additionally, Guyana’s laws are to be continuously examined by a Permanent Law Reform Commission secretariat. That secretariat is to make recommendations on areas of reform.

(GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Attorney on bail for dangerous driving ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Gomattie Singh was on Monday released on self-bail by Sparendaam Magistrate, Zamilla Ally-Seepaul for dangerous driving.

Attorney Singh was charged for driving her motorcar PSS 9330 in a dangerous matter to the public on May 1, along Success Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

Singh pleaded not guilty to the charged and was released on her own recognisance.

The matter was adjourned until June 28.

According to the prosecution facts, on the day in question, about 08:30 hours, Singh was proceeding in her vehicle east along the northern carriage way of Success Public Road.

Singh then suddenly turned south onto the access road and collided with motorcar PFF 3529 and motor van GVV 2338.

All motor vehicles received damages.

Tuesday May 24th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Wednesday May 25th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Thursday May 26th, 2016 - 05:30 hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 24, 2016

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South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:35 hrs Eloquence 09:10 hrs Fidelio 09:50 hrs Truly 10:25 hrs Golden Man 11:00 hrs Grey’s A Rockin English Racing Tips Hexham 09:00 hrs Another Bill 09:30 hrs Suzy’s Music 10:00 hrs Fairy Theatre 10:30 hrs Whatsthestoryman 11:00 hrs Maz Majecc 11:30 hrs Bourne 12:00 hrs Stay In My Heart 12:30 hrs Hey Bob Wolverhampton 09:15 hrs Bushwise 09:45 hrs Dream Revival 10:15 hrs Evenlode 10:45 hrs Cumber Street 11:15 hrs Scarpeta 11:45 hrs Percys Princess 12:15 hrs Dommersen 12:45 hrs Barnaby Brook Wetherby 12:40 hrs Vaux 13:10 hrs Tricky Dicky 13:45 hrs Udontdodou 14:15 hrs Just Be Lucky 14:50 hrs Winterval 15:20 hrs High Draw 15:50 hrs Eurato American Racing Tips Parx Racing Race 1 Six Degree Race 2 Big Thief Race 3 Cry From the Heart Race 4 Thor’s Champion Race 5 Christinas Charm Race 6 Pleiadian Race 7 Jet Majesty Race 8 Successful Brothers

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 24, 2016

Thunder demolish Warriors Gayle autobiography slams critics hard to grab 2-1 series lead

(THE Sports Xchange) Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined to score 63 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Golden State Warriors 133-105 on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.

The 133 points was a Thunder playoff record and the most points scored by any team this postseason.

Durant scored 33 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 12-of-12 from the free-throw line to go along with eight rebounds and three blocked shots.

Westbrook tallied 30 points and 12 assists, and he was two rebounds away from his first triple-double of the postseason.

Serge Ibaka scored 14. Andre Roberson and Dion Waiters posted 13 points apiece. Enes Kanter amassed 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Steph Curry paced the Warriors with 24 points on 7-of-17 shooting, including 3-of-11 success from 3-point range. Klay Thompson scored 18 points.

Game 4 is on today in Oklahoma City.

With their home crowd urging them on, the Thunder came out roaring to start the game. Led by the energy of Ibaka, they quickly took a 13-point lead.

The Warriors were able to

Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket as Golden State Warriors guard Shaun Livingston (34) defends during the second quarter in game three of the Western Conference finals of the NBA Playoffs. come back and tie the game at 38 in the second quarter but from that point on, Oklahoma City pulled away, outscoring the Warriors 34-9 the rest of the half.

The Thunder held a 72-47 halftime lead despite connecting on only three 3-pointers.

They were able to do most of their work in the paint (34 points) and on fastbreaks (22).

Draymond Green, who was held to six points, four rebounds and three assists, kicked Thunder centre Steven Adams in the groin and was called for a controversial flagrant foul 1.

The pummelling continued in the third quarter. Golden State had no answers for any part of Oklahoma City’s offensive attack and defensive

ferocity. Curry and Thompson did not help matters by missing shots they normally knocked down.

Even as the lead grew to more than 30 points, Oklahoma City’s defence stayed focused on not allowing Golden State to find any momentum that could carry over into Game 4.

Jumbo Jet stable takes top honours THE Jumbo Jet racing stable was in dominant mode on Sunday, carting off four top-place finishes in as many races when the Independence horse race meet was held at the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC).

The star of the day was undoubtedly Kings Knight of the Jumbo Jet stable – winning the feature event by about eight lengths.

Ridden by Colin Ross, who was eventually crowned Champion jockey, the USA-imported animal whipped Princess She’s Not, Jack in my Style and Golden Blue Echo in that order to claim the $1.2M and the 50th Independence Anniversary trophy which was presented

by Director of Sport Christopher Jones.

The Jumbo Jet stable was again in winners’ row when Release the Beast won the D, E and F class race.

It’s My Choice and Red Rocket, both from the Jumbo Jet stable won the G and

… Kings Knight wins feature event

Director of Sport Christopher Jones hands over the winning trophy to connections of the Jumbo Jet stable for Kings Knight’s win.

Lower and West Indies-bred Three-year-old event and H2 and Lower race respectively.

Meanwhile, She is in Control of the Pluck stable won the

Three-year-old Guyana-bred event; Massiquita Dr of the Crawford stable claimed the I3 and Lower event while Red Region of the Baker stable and Replace the Heat won the J3

and K and L and Lower races.

Dubbed the biggest horse race meet for the calendar year, it was held as part of Guyana’s Jubilee celebrations.

EXCERPTS from much-maligned West Indian batsman Chris Gayle’s soon-to-be released autobiography have been caustic against his detractors.

Gayle, who last year found himself amid much controversy for on-air comments to journalist Mel McLaughlin, during the Australian Big Bash League, let his feelings out in his autobiography.

The T20 star had asked McLaughlin out for drinks during the live Ten interview, deflecting cricket questions, before making the now infamous comment ‘Don’t blush baby’.

Former England pace bowler Freddy Flintoff had said Gayle made himself look like a ‘bit of a chop’ after the incident Gayle called ‘a little fun’.

“I didn’t mean to be disrespectful and I didn’t mean it to be taken serious,” Gayle wrote before taking on those who maligned him for the action.

“The only chop Freddie (Flintoff) knows is when he used to bowl short to me and I would chop him past backward point for four,” wrote Gayle.

The big left-hander also spoke about what he called,an overreaction to the incident.

“Channel 10’s commentary team could be heard laughing in the background … but someone above them clearly decided to step in, and a throwaway comment in a fun format escalates and blows up and within hours it has turned into a major international

incident,” read a line from the excerpt in The Times.

Gayle had also come in for serious criticism from former Australian batsman Ian Chappell, who had called for the dangerous opening batsman to be banned from all T20 leagues around the world.

“Ian Chappell, calling for me to be banned worldwide, a man who was once convicted of unlawful assault in the West Indies for punching a cricket official. Ian Chappell, how can you ban the Universe Boss? You’d have to ban cricket itself,” Gayle wrote.

More interest has been sparked in Gayle’s autobiography after a story broke a few days ago about an interview in which Gayle was said to be at it again.

According to reports from Times Magazine journalist Charlotte Edwards, Gayle made boast of having a ‘very, very big bat’, asking her if she could hold it because it would take two hands.

Gayle is also said to have asked Edwards if she had ever had sex with a black man, and if she had ever had a threesome.

The fresh reports have been labelled disappointing by Chris Gayle’s Somerset side in the NatWest T20 Blast where the left-hander heads next.

Somerset have backed Chris, to some extent though, saying the new incident was not a reason not to pick him for the NatWest competition.

(Sportsmax.com)

Bikers produce the ...

From back page

At the end of the day, Stephen was adjudged the Champion rider.

GROUP 4 TROUBLES For the first time in two years, Kristian Jeffrey failed to score a single point in a CMRC Group 4 race after his engine connecting rod came through the block and ended his day.

Jeffrey was in pursuit of Jamaica’s new-found hero Kyle Gregg and his Radical but ended his day prematurely, as Gregg took the chequered flag ahead of countryman Doug Gore’s Audi and Guyana’s Kevin Jeffrey’s Mitsubishi Evolution.

On the two-wheel drive end of things, Jamaica’s Peter Rae finished ahead of Trinidad’s Franklyn Boodram and Guyana’s Mohan Rangasammy.

Race two saw the return of Kristian in his father’s car but that fizzled out before a lap was completed due to mechanical troubles again, leaving Doug

Gore to finish first and Cayman’s Paul Bodden second; Jamaica’s Peter Rae winning the two-wheel drive class.

Race 3 saw Gore finish ahead of Greg who, in that race, reset Kristian Jeffrey’s CMRC lap record with a blistering 1:05.614; in the two-wheel end of things Barbadian Mark Maloney (Mazda Rx3) registered his first win.

VALUABLE GP3 POINTS While N a z im G a f oor picked up two third-place finishes in the CMRC Group 3, Danny Persaud suffered some amount of mechanical troubles, Danny Persaud also made it to the podium despite having his fair share of mechanical troubles.

The day was dominated hands down by Trinidad’s Paul Vieira, with three straight wins.

Rameez Mohammed never made it to start any of the three races after mechanical troubles with his engine forced him out on qualifying day.

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 24, 2016

Louis van Gaal sacked by Manchester United

(REUTERS) - Manchester United sacked manager Louis van Gaal yesterday two days after the Dutchman led them to victory in the FA Cup final, with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho widely expected to be appointed as his successor.

News of van Gaal’s impending departure leaked out minutes after Saturday’s 2-1 Wembley victory over Crystal Palace and, following relentless media speculation and a day of negotiations, it was confirmed by both last evening.

“I’d like to thank Louis and his staff for their excellent work in the past two years culminating in winning a record-equalling 12th FA Cup for the club (and securing him a title in four different countries),” executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said in a statement on the club website (www. manutd.com).

“He has behaved with great professionalism and dignity throughout his time here. He leaves us with a legacy of having given several young players the confidence to show their ability on the

highest stage.” van Gaal, however, was not so happy to be moving on.

“I am very disappointed to be unable to complete our intended three-year plan,” he said. “I believe that the foundations are firmly in place to enable the club to move forward and achieve even greater success.”

Former Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager Mourinho is expected to be named as van Gaal’s replacement later this week, though the club has yet to confirm a successor to the Dutchman who at least brought them some silverware.

“I am immensely proud to have helped United win the FA Cup for the 12th time in the club’s history,” said Van Gaal.

“I have been privileged during my management career to have won 20 trophies but winning the FA Cup, which is steeped in so much history, will always be one of the most special achievements of my career.

“I hope that winning the FA Cup will give the club a platform to build upon next season to restore the success

… Mourinho widely expected to step in

that this passionate set of fans desire,” he added.

own team even after victories.

predecessor’s standards.

DISGRUNTLED FANS van Gaal lifted the club from seventh place in the league under Moyes to fourth in his first season but, despite more lavish spending in the transfer market, the team stagnated and the fans became increasingly disgruntled.

United’s inability to produce the free-flowing football that characterised Ferguson’s trophy-laden reign at Old Trafford has been van Gaal’s biggest failing.

The team’s goals per game ratio, especially at home, last season was lower than all their main rivals and Louis van Gaal was dismissed as they made more backward Manchester United manager just two days passes than any other team after winning the FA Cup in the league.

The 64-year-old DutchThat Cup success, howUnited briefly topped the ever, could not gloss over a man signed a three-year con- table at the end of September, season in which United fin- tract in May 2014, succeed- but by mid-December had ished fifth in the standings, ing David Moyes, who took dropped out of the top four missing out on Champions over from fellow Scot Alex after humiliating back-toLeague qualification, and Ferguson for the 2013-14 back defeats by promoted where dull performances season and was also sacked clubs Bournemouth and Norhad the fans booing their after failing to live up to his wich City.

Failing to qualify for the knockout stage of this season’s Champions League, after finishing third in their group behind VfL Wolfsburg and PSV Eindhoven, was another damaging blow for van Gaal.

Losing to arch-rivals Liverpool in the Europa League increased the pressure on the former Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Netherlands coach.

A late push for a top-four place, the FA Cup run and an impressive record of blooding youngsters earned van Gaal some wiggle room, but Saturday’s Wembley success, their first trophy for three years, was deemed too little, too late.

“It has been an honour to manage such a magnificent club as Manchester United FC, and in doing so, I have fulfilled a long-held ambition,” van Gaal added.

Thank you to the owners and board of Manchester United for giving me the opportunity to manage this great club.”

Semenya on the FIFA fires deputy rebound in Olympic year secretary-general Kattner (REUTERS)-Rabat – South African Caster Semenya continued her impressive build-up to the Olympics Games with a comfortable success in the women’s 800 metres to mark her out as a strong favourite for gold in Rio de Janeiro as Africa hosted its first-ever Diamond League meeting on Sunday. The 25-year-old, who had to undergo gender testing before being cleared to compete as a woman after winning the world championship in 2009, powered through a strong field, including two other former world champions, in a time of one minute 56.64 seconds, loping to victory after easing ahead of the rest down the final straight.

It was the best time of the year and a second successive Diamond League win this year for Semenya, who also has plans to run the 400m in Rio. Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia and Kenyan Conseslus Kipruto also produced impressive performances for the continent in front of an enthusiastic crowd of some 22 000 in the

Caster Semenya 8.02.77 was the best of the Moroccan capital.

World champion Ayana year – and the fastest ever had her eyes on the world recorded on African soil. record in the women’s 5 Having finished second at 000m but did not have last year’s world champienough pace-making to onships in Beijing he laid help her bid and finished in down an early marker for 14.16.31 – the third fastest Rio as he easily beat key rival Jairus Birech. of all time in the event.

Frenchman Pierre-Am Kipruto had time to wave to the crowd down the brose Bosse kicked effectivefinal straight as he jogged the ly around the bend to produce final metres to victory in the an upset triumph in the 800m men s 3 000m steeplechase as over a field that included Kenyan athletes filled the first former Olympic 1 500m champion Taoufik Makhloufi four places.

K i p r u t o ’ s t i m e o f and Olympic silver medallist

Nijel Amos of Botswana, who finished a disappointing sixth in his first outdoor meeting of the year.

Valerie Adams of New Zealand, who will be chasing an historic hat trick of gold medals in Rio in August, began her Diamond League season with an easy victory in the shot put. Her throw of 19.68 metres was a season’s best after she returned to competition in Auckland in February.

Colombia’s two-time world champion Caterine Ibarguen stretched her winning streak to 33 competitions as she beat rival Yuilmar Rojas (14.28) of Venezuela in the triple jump with 14.51 metres.

Jamaican Elaine Thompson set a new meet record to win the women’s 100 metres in 11.02 seconds and American David Oliver also won the men’s 110 metres hurdles with a record 13.12 seconds.

The Diamond League moves to Eugene in the United States for the next meeting on Saturday.

(REUTERS) - Scandal-plagued FIFA has fired its deputy secretary-general, Markus Kattner, with immediate effect, football’s governing body said in a statement yesterday.

The statement said that an internal investigation “uncovered breaches of his fiduciary responsibilities in connection with his employment contact.”

FIFA said it would not make any further comment, but it would “continue its cooperation with the relevant authorities.”

Kattner has not been charged with a crime. He could not immediately be reached for comment.

FIFA has been embroiled in a corruption scandal over the past year. Several dozen officials, including former FIFA executive committee members, have been indicted in the United States. So far, at least 15 people and two corporate entities have

Markus Kattner

pleaded guilty in the U.S. cases.

Kattner stepped in as FIFA’s acting secretary-general from September until earlier this month to replace Jerome Valcke, who was himself dismissed from the post and later banned by the ethics committee for 12 years.

The 45-year-old Kattner, who holds German and Swiss citizenship, joined FIFA as director of finance in 2003 and took on his present role four years later.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 24, 2016

Wawrinka relieved, Murray teeters on the brink

By Martyn Herman

PARIS, France (Reuters) Defending champion Stan Wawrinka breathed a huge sigh of relief and Andy Murray faced a sleepless night after both got bogged down by belligerent Czechs at a sodden French Open tennis yesterday.

A day that began two hours late after torrential rain ended with world number two Murray hanging on against 37-year-old Czech qualifier Radek Stepanek having lost the opening two sets in the Philippe Chatrier Court gloom.

When play was finally suspended, Murray had repaired some of the damage but still trailed 3-6, 3-6, 6-0, 4-2.

Third seed Wawrinka did book his place in the second round, although his path to victory against straight-hitting Lukas Rosol was equally

It was touch and go, however, as Rosol, who famously knocked out Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon second round in 2012, threatened another huge upset with his murderous groundstrokes.

“A really tough match, the conditions were slow and heavy,” Wawrinka, who only arrived on Saturday hours after winning the Geneva title, told reporters.

“He kept me under pressure permanently. I kept running after the score. You can’t really relax.”

Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka reacts at the end of the match.

(Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes) Wawrinka puffed out tortuous.

The Swiss, decked out in his cheeks after tucking an eye-straining fluorescent away a volley on his third yellow shirt, was left in the match point, happy to have shade by the world number avoided becoming the first 59 and twice trailed by a set defending men’s champion before his opponent tired and to lose his opening match he scratched out a 4-6, 6-1, since Australian Lew Hoad in 1957.

3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Stokes set for knee operation, Woakes called up BEN Stokes is expected to undergo a knee operation today, a minor procedure that is likely to rule him out of action until the tour of Pakistan in July.

Stokes felt his left knee lock up while bowling on the second afternoon of last week’s Headingley Test, and though he returned to the field to bowl four more overs, he played no part in the closing stages of England’s commanding innings-and-88-run victory.

His place in the squad for the second Test, at his

home ground of Chesterle-Street, has been taken by the Warwickshire all-rounder Chris Woakes, who is the only change to England’s 12-man squad.

Stokes underwent a scan on Sunday and is booked in for further evaluation by specialists this morning. However, an ECB spokesman confirmed to ESPNcricinfo the likelihood that he will require a minor operation to clean out his knee cartilage.

Though he can expect to return to training within a fortnight, he is likely to be

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Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Shane Watson-RR (2) Balachandra Akhil (RCB vs KKR, 2008) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who struck the first blow (with the ball) in this year’s IPL? (2) Who struck the first six in this year’s IPL (2016)?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

sidelined from international cricket for up to six weeks.

That timescale would rule Stokes out of both of the remaining two Tests against Sri Lanka, at Durham and then Lord’s, starting June 9, as well as the five ODIs and one-off T20 that follow.

Durham play Hampshire in a County Championship fixture on July 3, ahead of the first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s on July 14.

The second Test against Sri Lanka will be the first that Stokes has missed since being recalled against West Indies in April last year and is a blow to Durham, his county, who have struggled to sell tickets for the match and would have still been hoping for some late interest with the presence of a local star Woakes’ most recent of his six Tests came against South Africa, at Centurion, when he replaced the injured Steven Finn. He had a forgettable outing with match figures of 1 for 144, but England’s desire to replace Stokes with an all-rounder and their consistency in the selection means he has earned the nod.

TRICKY STEPANEK Murray, second favourite to de-throne Wawrinka after world number one Novak Djokovic, had to wait until 19:00hrs local time to take on tricky Stepanek, the oldest man in the draw.

He might have hoped to polish off the world number 128 in time for dinner, but Stepanek had other ideas.

With Murray off-key, Stepanek used his full range of slices, pinpoint forehands and bamboozling drop shots to torment the twice grand slam champion.

A fraught Murray dropped serve with a double-fault and conceded the opening set with a misfired forehand.

The second set went the same way as Stepanek delighted a sparse crowd with his repertoire.

Murray, scolding himself into action, waltzed the third set and was a break up in the fourth. Yet Stepanek will return today believing he can become the oldest man to win a round at Roland Garros since Jimmy Connors (aged 38) in 1991.

Three fancied players did succumb on a cheerless day.

Former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic, seeded 10, went down to Argentine qualifier Marco Trungelliti

7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

It was a poor day for Italians in the women’s draw where seventh seed Roberta Vinci was crushed 6-1, 6-3 by Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko and 16th seed Sara Errani, runner-up in 2012, lost to Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3, 6-2.

Fourth-seed Garbine Muguruza, a Wimbledon finalist last year, showed plenty of grit as she avoided an early exit.

Wearing a long-sleeved top like most of the women players, the flat-hitting Spaniard took a while to warm up before eventually overpowering Anna Karoline Schmiedlova 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

“It was so cold. Even though I was running and playing, I felt like cold.

I thought it was going to rain. I was looking to the sky,” Muguruza told reporters.

Fast bowler Thakur named in India Test squad for Windies series

(REUTERS) - Fast bowler Shardul Thakur was the surprise selection in India’s 17-man squad for their Test series against West Indies, the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) announced on its website (www.bcci.tv) yesterday.

The 24-year-old earned his first call-up to the national side after playing a key role in Mumbai’s 41st Ranji Trophy victory in February, picking up 41 wickets in his 11 matches.

Virat Kohli has been named captain of the side for the July-August series with Ajinkya Rahane as his deputy.

The four-match series will mark the resumption of bilateral ties between the sides after the Caribbean team pulled out midway a 2014 tour of India over a protracted pay dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board.

The BCCI also announced a weakened 16-man squad for the one-day and Twenty20 internationals to tour Zimbabwe.

Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur The uncapped Faiz Fazal, chandran Ashwin, RavinYuzvendra Chahal, Jayant dra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Yadav, Karun Nair, Mandeep Mohammed Shami, BhuSingh were included while vneshwar Kumar, Umesh experienced players such as Yadav, Shardul Thakur, StuRohit Sharma, Ravichandran art Binny.

Ashwin and Suresh Raina India’s squad to tour were rested.

Zimbabwe: Mahendra India will play three one- Singh Dhoni (captain), day internationals and three KL Rahul, Faiz Fazal, Twenty20 games beginning Manish Pandey, Karun in June.

Nair, Ambati Rayudu, India’s squad to tour Rishi Dhawan, Axar PaWest Indies: Virat Kohli tel, Jayant Yadav, Dha(captain), Murali Vijay, Shi- w a l K u l k a r n i , J a s p r i t kar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Bumrah, Barinder Sran, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajink- Mandeep Singh, Kedar ya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Jadhav, Jaydev Unadkat, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravi- Yuzvendra Chahal.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 24, 2016

DC Jammers take out national champions Bounty Colts 93-78

By Daniel Haynes

THE stage was set, the lights were bright and the reigning National champions Bounty Colts were expected to make the contest against the visiting DC Jammers an interesting one.

However, few could have predicted the final score line, in which the DC Jammers showed their dominance finishing 93-78, pushing their winning streak to 2-0 on their Goodwill tour.

The first quarter was played at a pace that reminded of Usain Bolt on the track, with Colts outscoring the visitors by 2 points with a 23-21 margin in an up-tempo quarter.

Senior National guard Shelroy Thomas led from the back court with eight points while his brother Sheldon Thomas scored four points. Jammers forward Kevan Creppy had a huge dunk that was a foreshadowing of a more spectacular dunk that happened in the third quarter.

On the Jammers side, Stokes shot his way to eight points with two three-point shots that looked Steph Curry-like, while Farley chipped in with four points.

The tide changed, though, in the second quarter when the visitors seized control of the contest, taking the lead, as they outscored the Colts 22-13 to lead 43-36 heading into halftime.

Stokes had two more three-pointers and exposed the Colts’ weakness to de-

fend the three-point line.

At the half he had 12 points while forward Winston Robinson had six.

The Colts couldn’t stop the bleeding as the momentum remained with the Jammers as they extended their lead in the third period, at one point taking a 14-point lead with the score 58-44 and 3:47 on the clock.

It was during this stretch the dominance of Robinson showed and he put on highlights that looked like a ‘ballislife’ mixtape.

The first came on the defensive end of the floor with a chasedown block on English as he attempted a layup.

The second highlight was the showstopper. Robinson caught a lob from Mickens and in true dunker’s fashion rocked the rim on English with a humongous and-one dunk.

The Sports Hall crowd erupted and some fans even held their heads. In true Tracy McGrady fashion, Robinson “… sucked the gravity right out of the arena!”

This quarter Farley topscored with seven points and while Robinson and Semaj Inge contributed five points each. English showed his resolve scoring four quick points off two steals to close out the quarter finishing off with five ending the quarter 62-53 heading into the final quarter.

The Colts team however could not pull off the comebacks that they constantly pulled off in the Mecca Championships as the Jammers scored 31 points and

restricted the Colts to 25.

The game came down to a free throw contest with 2 minutes to go.

Meanwhile, in the exhibition fixture, Plaisance Secondary dismantled Tutorial High by a 88-35 scoreline.

Today, the Jammers face-off with Pacesetters and will hope to move to 3-0. They will end their campaign against Colts on May 27.

Robinson denies English

Gayle autobiography slams critics hard See story on page 24

CMRC Round 1 Jamwest

Bikers produce the ‘bright spot’ in Team Guyana’s weekend

(By Stephan Sookram in Jamaica, compliments of B.M. Soat Auto Sales, Buy Me Auto Sales, Rent-a-Tent and Fly Jamaica)

ANOTHER classic display by the Guyanese super-stock riders was one of the few bright sparks in this weekend’s season-opening Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) at the Jamwest Raceway in Jamaica.

Led by Stephen Vieira and his cousins, the Guyanese mopped the floor with their Jamaican counterparts in each of the three CMRC bike races.

In race one, Stephen took off like a bullet and never looked back, leading from flag to flag and leaving defending champion Elliot Vieira second and Jamaica’s Robert McDonald third.

In his pursuit of Stephen, Elliot reset his old lap record of 1.11.6 with a new time of 1.11.1, while the nearest competitor was more than a second off the time.

Race two had its own

Jamaica’s Kyle Gregg’s Radical RXC leads countryman Doug Gore’s Audi (second), Kristian Jeffrey’s Evolution (third) and Mark Maloney’s Mazda Rx3. At the back are Jamaican Chris Campbell (BMW M5) and Trinidad’s Franklyn Boodram’s Renault Megane.

(Stephan Sookram photo) thrills with Elliot exiting the first corner in the lead, which he held over Stephen and Matthew Vieira for three laps before colliding with a backmarker on the exit to the straightway.

This left Stephen the winner, Matthew second and McDonald third. Elliot was unhurt and in high spirits but he missed out on valuable championship points.

In the final race, Elliot, rid-

ing like a man possessed, shot off the line and immediately assumed the lead of the race.

But halfway through, the race had to be stopped due to an incident involving Matthew.

Heading into the first

section of the track, Matthew miscalculated the corner and ended up in the gravel, which led to the medical teams halting the race in order to check on him.

A smiling Matthew, how-

ever, got up on his own and after a brief medical assessment, the race resumed the way it was stopped, leaving Elliot to his first win of the day, Stephen second and McDonald third.

see page 24

Amazon Warriors announce 2016 CPL home fixtures … Dr Bobby Ramroop says Warriors will be aiming to ‘go a step further’ and lift CPL

THE Guyana Amazon Warriors have announced their fixtures for the forthcoming 2016 HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign and will open the home series of matches with an evening clash against Jamaica Tallawahs on Thursday, July 7.

On the weekend of July 9 and 10 they will then host St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Trinbago Knight Riders, before completing the block of matches with a final home game against St Lucia Zouks on Tuesday, July 12.

The Warriors will be led this year by New Zealand star batsman Martin Guptill and will include a host of local and international tal-

Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop ent in their ranks including West Indies players Dwayne Smith, Christopher Barnwell and Veerasammy Permaul.

The Guyana-based squad will also include Pakistan’s

Sohail Tanvir as well as the likes of Australian duo Chris Lynn and leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who have produced a string of impressive performances in the IPL of late.

The Guyana-based side will be coached by Roger Harper, who will be assisted

by Esaun Crandon, while Omar Khan will continue as team manager.

Welcoming the return of CPL to Guyana, Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, franchise owner of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, said, “We are delighted to announce our schedule of home matches for the coming season and believe that we have a strong squad, capable of making a big impact in this year’s competition.

“This year we will be led on the field by Martin Guptill and we are also delighted to welcome back local favourite Roger Harper for his second spell as coach.

Having come so close to lifting the title on two previous occasions, back in 2013 and 2014, we believe that we have the squad to go a step further this year.

“We are excited about welcoming four top quality teams to Guyana and there will be huge interest in these games.

So the message to our loyal and passionate supporters is clear. Tickets for our matches in Providence Stadium will be keenly sought after, so book your tickets early to avoid disappointment.”

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

The remaining fixtures will be confirmed over the next week and tickets for all confirmed fixtures in the Caribbean and Fort Lauderdale are on sale now from www. cplt20.com.

Guyana Amazon Warriors Home Fixtures (all times local): July 7 – Jamaica Tallawahs (19:00hrs) July 9 - St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (12:00hrs) July 10 - Trinbago Knight Riders (19:00hrs) July 12 - St Lucia Zouks (19:00hrs).

Guyana Amazon Warriors Squad: Sohail Tanvir, Martin Guptill, Dwayne Smith, Chris Lynn, Rayad Emrit, Adam Zampa, Jason Mo-

Martin Guptill

hammed, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Orlando Peters, Assad Fudadin, Anthony Bramble, Paul Wintz, Steven Jacobs, Steven Katwaroo, Ali Khan, Shimron Hetmyer.

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2016