Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 25 11 2016

GTA Shea Rock adventure 17 raises concerns Page

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016

No. 104746

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

Nothing criminal about D’urban Park project Page

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–– private company was created to fast track completion, says President

160 Paramakatoi students infected by chickenpox Page

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Promotions

by Ramnarine remain 10 Son stabs father to death 10 Dutch company to do feasibility 14 study Page

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Digicel Launches Christmas Campaign

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Cellular phone giant Digicel on Thursday launched its #GetGifted Christmas promotion at the Giftland Mall, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown. In this Adrian Narine photo, Digicel’s Marketing Manager Jacqueline James interacts with a baby in the company of Santa Claus.

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–– for New Demerara Harbour Bridge

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 25, 2016

Increase income tax threshold to $100,000 –– private sector urges Gov’t

By Ariana Gordon THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Thursday called on the APNU+AFC administration to adopt several fiscal measures to ensure that citizens live comfortably.

Among the measures suggested for adoption is the increase in the income tax threshold to $100,000 per month; a permanent reduction of the Corporate

Income Tax rate, over 10 years to 20 per cent; a reduction of personal Income Tax over 10 years to 20 per cent; concessions on income taxation for the creation of new employment in all value-added sectors and tax breaks for new tourism assets.

The PSC in a statement to the media said that the country’s economy is under- performing and the slowdown began some two years ago. Notwith-

standing the fact that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to reach four per cent in 2016, due to an increase in gold production, the PSC believes that the decline in other economic sectors has far-reaching consequences for the business sector.

“One manifestation of this is the significant growth of non-performing loans in the commercial banking sector. The International Monetary Fund

has reported that non-performing loans increased to 11.5 per cent at the end of December 2015 as compared to six per cent at the end of 2013. The challenge for Government, with the collaboration of the private sector, is to stimulate economic activity across all sectors.”

As such, the PSC believes that there is a multiplicity of measures available to stimulate the economy which can also lead to balanced growth, as well as a positive impact on Government revenue in the medium and long term.

The private sector body believes that there is need for tax breaks for companies which set up operations in depressed

communities; concessions on export tax for businesses which export; relief on outstanding loans for the rice industry, security equipment to be tax-free, an increase in the income tax threshold to $100,000 per month and for all overtime earnings to be taxfree.

Additionally, it is believed that there needs to be the enforcement of tax laws and the PSC identified compulsory VAT registration and the enforcement of VAT collection on all businesses that do not collect VAT. INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS Moreover, the PSC wants to see the im-

plementation of all PSC-supported infrastructural projects, the urgent approval of a harbour finance model, the speedy implementation of all Government projects to release Government spending, the beginning of the design and building of the Lethem road for completion over a five-year period and the increase in capital on the international market with tolls being used over 25 years to repay loans.

That aside, the PSC believes that Government needs to implement plans for an alternative East Bank road, dredge the Demerara Harbour See page 3

160 Paramakatoi students infected by chickenpox THE MINISTRY of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Education is monitoring what has been deemed an outbreak of the chickenpox virus at the Paramakatoi Secondary School Dormitory in Region 8.

Since being informed of the situation one week ago, the entities are working together to prevent the spread of the virus that has already affected 160 students residing at the dormitory.

All affected children have been quarantined and the varicella vaccine used to prevent contraction of the disease will be given to those at risk of the exposure which include the children, teachers, health workers and community members. “We have made available the necessary pharmaceuticals that would be required in that

area, as well as efforts are being made to get the vaccine that has been introduced only recently in the country up into that area to prevent persons who have not been affected by this disease from contracting it,” Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton told media operatives on Thursday.

The Ministry of Education has decided to suspend classes from the two affected schools until the situation returns to normal.

Minister Norton posited that while the virus was not lethal, the situation could still be deemed worrying as the nation’s children were affected.

“It is worrying, despite the fact that we have it under control,” he said. The Ministry is still trying to ascertain the total population of the dormitory and the boy to girl ratio of those affected and whether

teachers are also affected.

Director of Adolescent health, Dr. Oneka Scott said that the preventative vaccine Varicella, was not previously distributed in Paramakatoi, as it was not part of the regular immunization schedule. “It was not a vaccine that was used (before) in a regular immunization schedule…so we had given it out to orphanages, some communities or companies that has a previous outbreak of Varicella, sanitation workers and health care workers,” Scott revealed.

Chickenpox also known as Varicella is an airborne disease that causes patients to develop a blister –like rash or boil, which first appears on the face or trunk, and then spreads throughout the body.

The virus spreads through tiny droplets from infected people that get the air they breathe, talk, cough or sneeze. It has an incubation period of between 10 to 21 days. The classic symptom of chickenpox is a rash that turns into itchy, fluid filled blisters that turn into scabs.

Other symptoms are fever, tiredness, loss of appetite and headaches.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 25, 2016

Nothing criminal about the D’urban Park project –– private company was created to fast track completion,President says

PRESIDENT David Granger has addressed several concerns raised by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) about the construction of the D’urban Park Development project, which was established to host activities for Guyana’s 50th jubilee celebrations.

It was recently revealed in the National Assembly that a private company Homestretch Development Incorporated (HDI) - was established to collect donations for construction of the project and included several directors. It was later revealed also that Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, was one of the directors.

This has since attracted the ire of the Opposition, which has accused the government of lack of transparency regarding the project, but President Granger during the weekly televised programme ‘The Public Interest’ made it clear that this company was created solely to facilitate completion of the project in time for the 50th Independence Anniversary celebration in the absence of budgetary allocations, following the May 2015 elections.

The Head of State admitted that while this might have been an unusual course of action, it was expedient at the time and Guyanese now have a valuable asset, which is a source of national pride

and added that the company is not a secret one and has been notified to the National Assembly, a release from the Ministry of the Presidency noted.

According to the President, there was nothing secret nor criminal about the D’urban Park development.

“When we went into office, budgetary provisions were not made for the construction of that stadium in time for Independence celebrations in May 2016 and it was felt prudent to establish a special-purpose company… when we realised that we had to engage in contracts and agreements with construction firms to build the stands and everything else that was involved in the stadium and as soon as we could, we terminated the work of that company and [transferred the project to] the Ministry of Public Infrastructure with the sole responsibility to complete the Project,” President Granger said.

According to the release, the President further added that when his administration acceded to office in May 2015, some ad hoc measures had been put in place for rehabilitation of the Independence Monument, which had been neglected for several decades. However, since no budgetary allocations had been made for the construction of a stadium, it soon became clear that it was necessary to establish a short-

term company to complete the project on schedule.

“It was decided that a special purpose company called Homestretch Development Incorporated (HDI) would be used to continue the preparations, which had been started, until the Government had passed the budget and put other infrastructural institutions in place; and when that came to an end, the responsibility for HDI, that is particularly with regard to D’urban Park, transferred to the Ministry of Public infrastructure so there is nothing secret, or there is nothing criminal about HDI,” the Head of State said.

The President said that the company has only existed for six months and he regards it as a transitional company that enabled the administration to complete the project. He said that he is grateful for the company and the contributions made by citizens, who helped the Government to reach its deadline and Guyanese are now the proud owners of a valuable asset.

“We could not have done it before because of uncertainty about the budget and the speed with which we had to bring the project to a conclusion by this year. It was just one year, but we have now in Guyana, the single biggest stadium… and it is a public asset, which will be there for all time. So we have a very important institution that is open to all Guyanese. You

can have your Diwali, you can have Christian crusades, you can have Hindu and Muslim services there, but we have a valuable asset that we did not have before,” he said.

Minister Roopnaraine’s involvement As it relates to Dr. Roopnaraine’s role as a member of the board, the President noted that it was only to represent the Government’s interest, “because the celebrations, which we had aimed at, at the time of the establishment of the company, concerned largely the 50th anniversary celebrations.”

Minister of State Joseph Harmon had earlier revealed at a post-cabinet press briefing on Thursday that the company was established long after works started by public-spirited citizens for the public good and it became necessary to establish it to source funding, after their efforts had been exhausted.

“The time when the company was established did not coincide with the time the work started, because it started as private citizens coming forward and giving of their time and of their resources…

It really was about private citizens coming forward to clean up a public place for a public good. I want to make this distinction between what happened there at D’urban Park and what happened in the previous administration.

The previous administration,

they were using public assets for the benefit of a private few. I need to make that very clear… that this was private citizens contributing to a public good as opposed to taking public asset and converting it to private… benefit,” he said.

On April 19, 2016, President Granger mandated the Minister of Public Infrastructure to assume full responsibility for the D’urban Park Development Project as its completion date drew near.

Opposition wants Patterson hauled before Disciplinary Committee Meanwhile, leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, believes that Minister Patterson misled the nation by refusing to reveal that Minister Roopnaraine was a Director of the private company. As such, Jagdeo said that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is examining the issue to decide whether Minister Patterson should appear before the National Assembly’s Privileges Committee.

“We are trying to establish whether this is actually a private company or a state company. If it is a private company, then there may be no ground to take him before the committee.

But if it had some involvement with the State, then there are grounds to do that,” Jagdeo told reporters at a news conference held at Freedom House on Thursday.

Government however has maintained that the company, Homestretch Devel-

opment Inc. is a private one and includes several directors. Documents later surfaced, which revealed that Minister Roopnaraine is a director of said company, which was registered in January 2016.

“Are we saying in this era, it’s ok for ministers to be on private companies that are collecting money from people for national projects and they don’t have to account for it? Rupert Roopnaraine sat in the Parliament and didn’t say a word…and Patterson did not mention his name. He knew about the other directors, but why didn’t he mention? Doesn’t that tell you something about Patterson too? Doesn’t he tell you that he was trying to mislead the country?”

Jagdeo questioned.

The Opposition Leader said there are still many unanswered questions surrounding the project, including who the contractors were and what process was used to pay them.

“The State has a responsibility to say to the ministers on the body, ‘you have to tell us how much money’. What were the arrangements between the State and this private company? We don’t know what the arrangements are. They refuse to tell us in Parliament, that’s all we’re asking for. And we would like the names of the individuals who donated,” the former President said.

Increase income tax threshold ...

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and build an alternative Demerara Harbour Bridge.

In the energy sector, the body wants to see the process of ensuring reliable energy is provided at US 12 cents per KWH, while in the legislative arena it calls for the appointment of an Economic Council for Guyana, legislate for a separate non-political Council, internal audit departments in all Government agencies, enact mergers and acquisitions legislation,

introduce bankruptcy-protection legislation, finalise and table an E-Transactions Bill, and revise the Small Business Act, and the definition of small business to be changed to those with a turnover of $100M or more.

Several miscellaneous measures were also proposed and include the targeting of a GDP growth rate of 8 per cent, inflation rate of 2 per cent and unemployment rate of 8 per cent.

The PSC wants Government to retain the system of zero-rating for selected goods for relief of lower-income persons, sponsor workshops on corporate governance of stateowned enterprises, contractors should be graded in tiers related to their past performance, there should be a revision of trading rules to introduce an odd lot system, outline a statement on economic strategy or plan for Guyana, devise and implement a plan

for the industrialisation of Guyana and reduce the purchase of Treasury Bills by 20 per cent from prior year to increase liquidity and reduce commercial bank interest rates.

Additionally, the PSC also called on Government to liberalise the telecommunications sector, implement regulations and enforce the new Act while allocating spectrum. The National Solid Waste Management ought to be regularized, while

Government should also complete membership of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, utilise Guyana Geology and Mines Commission funds to set up the Sovereign Wealth Fund and finalise the single- window system.

In addition, the PSC wants the APNU+AFC administration to host an investors’ conference, increase spending on marketing of Guyana, especially for tourism,

improve Emergency Response and 911 systems, fund and operationalize the Procurement Commission,the Integrity Commission, uphold its manifesto promise of increased salaries for public servants, implement an enabling environment to improve ranking on the Doing Business Index and outline plans for diversification of the economy away from its traditional pillars of rice, sugar and gold.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

Digicel Launches Christmas campaign

By Michelle Outridge

TELECOMMUNICATIONS provider, Digicel Guyana, launched its Christmas campaign #GetGifted – at Giftland Mall on Thursday afternoon, where pupils of the Gifted Hands Centre were feted and met Santa Claus, who arrived bearing gifts.

More than 30 physically challenged children were hosted by Digicel during their Christmas promotion launching which boasted significant reductions of prices on handsets for the season.

The Gifted Hands Centre was established four years ago by founder Marcia Smith, whose son has a learning disability and with limited options she thought it best to open a school for disabled children.

Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James, said #GetGifted was built on the premise that the Christmas holidays is said to be the happiest time of the year - all about great gifts, quality family time, joy and happiness.

She added that the flipside is the hustle and bustle to find the right gifts for loved ones and friends, which at times turn out to be

bad gift choices – and that is something that many of us can relate to.

However, with the launch of Digicel’s #GetGifted handset promotion, you can gift yourself or your loved

over 900MBs, inclusive of 30 minutes Talk and 30 Text Messages to any local number absolutely FREE.” She stated that customers will also be able to rollover their unused data and talk

released by the company’s Chief Speed Officer, Usain Bolt, on his social media pages. The heavily auto-tuned song immediately became a viral hit, racking up over 6.5 million views just

Digicel models display the various brands of handsets that are on sale at reduced prices for the Digicel Christmas Promotion at Giftland Mall on Thursday ones that perfect cellphone for the holidays.

James told the gathering that with every smartphone purchased, “you will receive a Value Bundle of a oneweek 4G Data Plan with

and text once they renew their Value Bundle Plan.

James said the campaign comes on the heels of a tongue-in-cheek Christmas song, “Gifted,” which was

days after its release.

“This holiday, it’s all about playing with the notion of being gifted – from being gifted by Usain Bolt’s Christmas song to gifting

our customers with better products and services; or gifting kids with the most memorable Christmas – we know what our customers want and that’s what we are giving them,” said Jacqueline James, Head of Marketing for Digicel Guyana.

Meanwhile, Retail Sales manager Richard Dass said that with more than 20 handsets to choose from, customers can get up to 50% reduction on selected handsets which come with a one-year guarantee.

He related that some of the handsets include, the popular Samsung S7, Samsung S7 Edge, Samsung J10, the Digicel range DL1 Plus and D1 LITE, as well as the Alcatel, Huawei and Azumi brands.

Dass noted that the get #GetGifted Christmas promotion has handsets and prices to suit every lifestyle and pocket.

He said, “You can find a phone that matches your lifestyle and personality at a price that suits your budget. #GetGifted will keep you on the go and connected to Digicel’s superior network this Christmas.

GIFTED PARTNERSHIPS Through a partnership with Samsung, the campaign will see Digicel leveraging across digital and mobile platforms ensuring that customers are gifted with ev-

erything they need,including better deals on the amazing Samsung Galaxy S7 and better connectivity from the most reliable network in the region.

GIFTED KIDS Central to the #GetGifted campaign is giving back to children across the region with its Gifted Kids initiative. During the launch on Thursday, students of the ‘Gifted Hands Special Needs School, were treated to gifts from Santa Claus, ice cream and goodies. This initiative will be spread across the Caribbean and Central America in all of Digicel’s 32 markets. Through the Gifted Kids – Christmas Cheers, Digicel’s employees will bring the love and joy of the festive season to kids by feting and treating them to toys and a host of entertaining activities. Digicel will be taking their #Gifted Kids - Christmas Cheers across Guyana by visiting Linden, Berbice, Essequibo and Georgetown.

Digicel Ambassador Curtis “Casual” Armstrong was present at the event on Thursday and he highlighted the importance of giving back to the community and to spread cheer during the season.

The Parkside Steel Orchestra was in house belting out some popular renditions which entertained the large gathering.

Friday, November 25, 2016 - 14:30 to 2:00 Saturday, November 26, 2016 - 14:30 to 3:00 Sunday, November 27, 2016 - 14:30 to 3:30 Monday, November 28, 2016 - 14:30 to 4:00

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

Colombia signs new peace deal with Farc The Colombian Government and the country’s largest rebel group, the Farc, have signed a revised peace deal.

The previous deal was rejected by the Colombian people in a popular vote on October 2.

The revised agreement has been submitted to Congress for approval, rather than put to a popular vote.

The deal is aimed at ending five decades of armed conflict, which has killed more than 260,000 people and left millions internally displaced.

The revised deal was signed in a low-key ceremony in the capital, Bogota, and then handed to the president of the Congress.

The ceremony was deliberately kept much smaller than the signing of the previous agreement on September 26, which was attended by

regional heads of state and the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

About 800 people were invited to Thursday’s ceremony in Colon Theatre rather than the 2,500 who attended the previous ceremony in the port city of Cartagena.

As Farc leader Rodrigo Londono, better known as Timochenko, and President Juan Manuel Santos shook hands after taking turns to sign the document, the guests rose to their feet and chanted “Si se pudo” (“Yes, we could”).

Timochenko said the agreement “put a definite end to the war so we can confront our difference in a civilised manner”.

President Santos said the revised agreement was “better” than the previous one because it addressed many of the concerns of those who had voted “No” in the Octo-

ber referendum.

He warned that its implementation could not be delayed by a single minute and asked the guests to imagine

early as next week.

After four years of formal talks between rebel and Government negotiators, the two sides reached an agreement

Guests shouted “Yes we could” as President Santos and Farc leader Timochenko shook hands for a moment what it would be like to return to war with the Farc.

He said he expected Congress to vote on the deal as

earlier this year.

The deal was signed in an emotional ceremony on September 26.

But Colombian President

Juan Manuel Santos had said from the start of the negotiations that he wanted the Colombian people to have a say in the peace process.

He asked them to endorse or reject the peace agreement in a popular vote held on October 2.

Polls had suggested the deal would pass by a comfortable margin but in a shock result it was narrowly rejected.

A bilateral ceasefire was extended until the end of the year to give the two sides time to plan their next steps.

President Santos met former President Alvaro Uribe, a vociferous opponent of the peace deal, to listen to his objections.

The Government and the Farc then went back to the negotiating table to try to strike a new deal acceptable to those who had voted “no”.

Changes were made to

almost all of the 57 points in the original agreement.

The deal will be voted on in Congress, where the Government has a solid majority, probably early next week, ministers say.

The Democratic Centre party, founded by ex-President Uribe, has already said it will vote “no”.

Its leaders say that the changes are only “cosmetic” and object to the fact that the Government has said the new deal is “final”.

It wants more of its demands met, including harsher sentences for Farc rebels who have committed crimes.

It also demanded that the revised deal be put to another popular vote, which President Santos and the Farc have both ruled out.

Other parties in Congress have given the deal their backing, so it is expected to pass. (BBC News)

Hurricane Otto makes Nicaragua landfall Hurricane Otto has made landfall over a sparsely populated area of southern Nicaragua after strengthening to a category two storm, meteorologists from the US National Hurricane Centre say.

It says the storm is now near the town of San Juan de Nicaragua.

Costa Rica declared an emergency and ordered the

The storm has so far only hit a lightly populated area of Nicaragua

evacuation of 4,000 people from Atlantic coastal areas.

Meanwhile, a powerful earthquake shook Nicaragua and El Salvador on Thursday triggering a brief tsunami alert.

The 7.0 magnitude quake in the Pacific Ocean was about 120km (75 miles) off the coast of El Salvador.

There were no reports of damage or casualties but res-

idents were initially advised to evacuate coastal areas.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later said the threat had passed.

Nevertheless, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega declared a state of emergency due to the hurricane and the quake.

Hurricane Otto has wind speeds of up to 110mph (175km/h) and is expected to

weaken to a tropical storm by Thursday night.

Forecasters have warned of heavy rains which they fear could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

Four people died in Panama earlier this week as a result of severe weather caused by the approach of Hurricane Otto. (BBC News)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

What future does a Trump presidency Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

THE CULTURE of a country-i.e. the indigenous way of life of its people- gives it its identity and differentiates it from others. This way of life includes its accent; language; cultural values; institutions of governance such as its laws, branches and tiers of government; holidays; ethnicity; and so forth. No two countries are alike in culture, though there may be some semblance of similarities.

For instance, Guyana models the Westminster British system of electing its government, our Executive is headed by a president which is similar to the United States (U.S), but the developmental thrust grounding our social, economic, cultural and political well-being, is premised on a cooperative republic philosophy.

A republic, in principle, sovereignty is vested in the people who in turn vest their power in their representatives, elected or appointed, to protect and advance their interests.

The cooperative principle not only informs our shared relations in pursuit of economic advancement, but also our common history and day-to-day responsibility for success.

Our uniqueness is seen in our national holidays-New Year’s, Republic, Phagwah, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Arrival, Independence, CARICOM, Emancipation, Ed-ul- Adha, Deepavali, Youman-nabi, Christmas, and Boxing Day. These epitomise our religious diversity, historical experiences, major national and regional achievements, though recent times are seeing indication of foisting new ones. Guyanese at home now speak of and observe Halloween and Thanksgiving, as though part of our culture.

Those not au fait with geography, listening to some or noticing advertisements, will find it hard to believe Guyana is located in the tropical zone, where the seasons are wet and dry. With growing intensity resident Guyanese and local business talk about and promote events for spring break, summer, fall and winter, which are weather patterns in the climatic zone.

In our entertainment sector Disc jockeys (DJ), in broadcasting and at events, have adopted the accents and vernacular of other countries, notably Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. In formal language usage, including in state and government institutions, which this newspaper is not absolved, U.S English is more pronounced in written words than the indigenous British Caribbean English.

Yesterday the U.S observed Thanksgiving Day. This day has its origin in the Pilgrims who fled religious persecutions in Britain and in 1621 celebrated their first harvest with the Native Americans in Plymouth Massachusetts.

This experience forms the uniqueness of the U.S culture.

Some Guyanese at home, including local businesses have observed and promoted the day. Our broadcasters were doing likewise, encouraging resident Guyanese to use available facilities to do “Black Friday” shopping.

It is said the best form of flattery is imitation, but when a people seek to imitate the culture of another society it

hold for the Caribbean diaspora?

Dear Editor, MUCH has been written about the results of the recent U.S. presidential election. My candidate of choice, Hillary Clinton, won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College and the presidency to Donald Trump.

What a shocker this was to many of us, but the electorate has spoken and Donald Trump is the legitimately elected president-elect of the USA. Despite Trump’s triumph, life goes on and as President Obama said, the sun will continue to rise each morning. But what future does a Trump presidency hold for the Caribbean diaspora and the Caribbean region itself? Much has been written on this subject as well, including an insightful column

by Guyana-born Antigua Ambassador to the U.S., Sir Ron Saunders.

Earlier this week at the Caribbean Central American Action’s (CCAA) 40th annual conference on the Caribbean and Central America, there was much discussion on the Trump presidency and what it

means for the Caribbean and Central America.

One session devoted exclusively to this issue was chaired

by Guyana’s Ambassador to the U.S., Riyad Insanally and included a panel comprising persons close to the Democrats and the Republicans.

During that discussion, Al Cardenas, Senior Partner, Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP had this to say: “The Trump presidency offers us a blank canvas on which to paint our priorities.” Insinuating that the Trump campaign never expected to win and therefore never paid any attention to the Caribbean, much less craft a policy on its relations with the region if and when it formed the government, Cardenas pointed to the opportunity presented the Caribbean and Central America to help contribute in shaping U.S./Caribbean Basin relations under the new administration.

During the panel discussion, the possible negative impact of Trump’s previously expressed policies on issues such as trade, immigration, remittances and climate change were highlighted, but it was

noted that at no point during the campaign had Trump alluded to the DR/CAFTA or Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) agreements. It was also noted that the U.S. is a country of strong institutions which would provide checks and balances to a runaway president, should Trump choose to be such.

Against this backdrop, the burning question that emerged is: “Are we ready?” We in this case mean the Caribbean and Central America. There was in-depth discussion on the state of readiness or lack thereof and the identification of strategies on the way forward. There was consensus that the Caribbean and Central American nations need to act quickly together on reaching out to key players in the new administration so as to contribute to shaping “the painting on the now blank canvas.” There was also consensus that the governments of the Caribbean Basin should utilise its diaspora and key organisations such as CCAA and other business organisations in their efforts in this regard.

I fully endorse the con-

sensus emanating from this discussion. I have always been an advocate for intensified engagement with the U.S. on the part of CARICOM member states and for a coordinated approach that involves their diasporas.

In fact, I have submitted a proposal to the CARICOM Secretariat on a lobbying strategy that provides for a key role for the Caribbean diaspora. While I fully endorse the approach that would see CARICOM and Central American countries work together here, I would caution that at times our respective priorities will differ and CARICOM must be prepared to fight its own battles, and do so effectively.

Working with our Central American brothers and all others with whom our interests coincide is the way to go, being ever conscious that our unity does not preclude a plurality of outlook, it pre-supposes it. It wasn’t so long ago that we had the divisive issue of bananas.

Regards Wesley Kirton

Ban toy guns, squibs Dear Editor, I HAVE travelled this entire nation and I note with interest from Essequibo to Berbice,that we have more sellers than buyers. What’s interesting is that these people can go to the extreme to sell anything to get money, they don’t care what they sell; and it seems as if the police turn a blind eye to what these people are selling.

With the current increase in crime, I believe lots of things selling on the paves and markets and in our stores should be banned.

For example, I see lots of DVD sellers exposing pornographic DVDs openly for sale and schoolchildren even buying it from them.

They sell masks or false faces that criminals wear to rob people. Most of the toy guns look just like real guns and I know of many instances of people who were robbed by toy guns and the bandits will light a squib to scare people then

rob them.

If a toy gun seller is smart and has contacts, he/she can even sell real guns among his/ her selected customers and no one would know, because the toy and real guns looks the same.

The squibs and bombs these people sell that are used on Diwali Nights and Old Year’s Night are very dangerous. I read of a woman whose hands were severely damaged by these bombs. People pelt them on top people’s houses that caused houses to be burnt down. They pelt them on cars to blow them up and on people to blind and disable them; yet these bombs and squibs are sold openly and the police do nothing about it.

Thieves used these bombs to scare people then rob them at nights, people feel it is gun bullets, but it’s the bombs.

How can we know when it’s guns or bombs?

How can we know if the bandits have a real gun or toy gun when all look just

is not flattery but mimicry, which do those who so mimic a disservice. Mimicry contributes to the erosion of identity.

In its wake it breathes disrespect for self and by others; for in the absence of pride and self-worth others will treat you likewise.

This problem, growing in severity, is present on a national scale and requires national reaction to solving it. The Government of Guyana may find utility in treating this as a culture crisis, including the disregard for the country’s correct name. The Ministry of Education, for instance, can partner with stakeholders, government and non-government, in devising solutions.

There can be legislation and/or collaboration with

the same? At markets and many arcades, they play very lewd,loud music and at markets and stores that is another distraction that helps criminal elements to rob people, so no one can hear when they are robbed.

Now I come to these dangerous knives. Just a few days ago, I saw a man walking and selling knives strapped on to his body in a transparent bag with pockets at the bus park.

These are the Rambo knives, the switch-blade knives, and a barrage of dangerous knives and ninja kinds of implements.

This man was a moving store selling to anyone.

I also saw those same weapons bandits use to rob people selling on the pave.

I think many years ago, one could have been locked up for carrying a dangerous weapon and I still believe that law exists, but it seems as if all our laws are flouted daily.

Mr. Editor, I am calling on the Minister of Public Security and the Commissioner of Po-

lice to ban the use of squibs, toy guns, masks, dangerous knives, and pornographic DVDs and all sorts of dangerous artillery that are sold openly.

It’s very sad when I look into our country I see people trying to get rich quickly by selling all kinds of evil things and many unlicensed people selling all kinds of poison at the markets.

With the rise of crime and suicide, our administration should implement laws to ban all these things.

I have seen even sex toys, handcuffs, and sado -masochistic sex apparatus selling openly at markets and the pave. What have we really become as a nation? I am also hoping that the police will remove all loud road side music on Christmas Eve and Old Year’s Night. Loud music has become an incessant nuisance and menace to our society. May God help us.

Yours truly, Rev. Gideon Cecil

importers of computers to ensure language default to Caribbean English. It is being done in other English-speaking Caribbean countries. The ministry also has to examine the correlative impact in teaching English to a child and developing his/her reasoning and articulation skills, and improving the national past rate. In broadcasting, the managers responsible for programming can support the maintenance and promoting of our culture by impressing on subordinates the importance of a country’s identity.

Mimicry does not say much about us as a people.

Collectively we must strive to hold in esteem our culture, from which we earn our respect. With commitment and will it is doable.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

Stop violence against women

Dear Editor,

WHILE women continue to attain positions of leadership, they do so at a pace far below the tipping point at which such achievements become transformational for women in general.

Women’s rights to bodily and sexual integrity are being steadily eroded around the world - physically, legally, politically and militarily.

According to the latest UNAIDS Report, in 2015 in sub-Saharan Africa, 7,500 girls and young women aged 15 to 24 were infected with HIV every week. More than 90 per cent of the adolescents

infected are girls. Islamic extremist factions have sexually enslaved thousands of female Yazidi in Iraq and Syria, and kidnapped hundreds of schoolgirls in Nigeria.

Medical abortion is treated as homicide in El Salvador. Moreover, an upsurge of extreme right-wing governments in Europe, and particularly in the United States, is undermining sexual and reproductive rights previously considered secure.

Here in Guyana, brutality and violent deaths of females at the hands of males challenge any complacency about male domination. Underlying domination is the enduring

conviction that subjugation of women to men is the natural order of things.

This is known as patriarchy. By extension, too many males continue to feel entitled to comment on and harass any female they casually encounter in mini-buses or in the street or on rural trails.

More sinister forms of violence involve controlling w o m e n ’s w h e r e a b o u t s , phone-calls and friends which often end in fatalities.

The levels of violence against women and girls should be a wake-up call to recognise how quickly protection of women’s rights and freedoms can be reversed.

It has to be recognised that the resilience of macho attitudes is rooted in religious traditions. Indeed, religious beliefs are the cross-cutting claim by wrongdoers to justify many of the physical and legal forms of violence against women referred to above.

Violence against women is pervasive in Guyana, driven by economic pressures; by a broadcast media complacently careless of its own role, titillating and sexualising the society; and by a Government which - along with most governments - has embraced the misguided notion of ‘gender mainstreaming’

instead of women’s rights.

‘Main-streaming gender’ pre-supposes the primary battles regarding women’s physical and reproductive integrity are things of the past.

While this was thought to be the case in developed societies, it was never achieved in most parts of the world.

However, current developments are threatening those gains around the world.

Rather than mobilising substantial resources at a global level in the transformational campaign required to secure women’s rights – something akin, for example, to the original response to the HIV epidemic – responses to

violence against women have been reduced to anonymous bureaucratic ‘mainstreaming’ with time-lines that reflect no sense of urgency, as illustrated by the Sustainable Development Goals.

At the domestic level, a sustained campaign of this nature must be mounted to counter the values and the practices that sow and sustain patriarchal attitudes.

Such a campaign should have a special focus on the media and all major faith organisations.

Regards, Guyana Human Rights Association

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 25, 2016

When shepherds lose their way IT was in the early 80s that I began to develop my artistic talents. Back then, one could buy a voucher for US$27 from B a rc l a y s B a n k , n o w GBTI, on Water and Robb Streets. This would enable the purchase of necessary training books and tools of the trade.

This was the age of ‘suitcase trading’, and I had a reasonable amount of relatives and friends involved in it. It was also the advent of Rastafari in Guyana, and so, who weren’t trading in clothing, jewellery or merchandise were trading in marijuana. The smugglers of scarce items such as flour were a separate category.

My interest in graphic arts development was viewed in wonderment; some relatives even predicted that I was going to end up mad. This was not such an unreasonable assessment of the situation, judging from the new money that could have been made from the afore-mentioned ventures. Even I, at times, wondered if something was indeed wrong with my passion in comparison with the economic fruit that was being reaped all around me.

It was a period that saw the moving away from the traditional cottage industries into the new life-skills, avant-garde ‘runnings’ that for many seemed a practical way out of the drudgery of semi-literate, untrained existence with a dismal horizon before them.

Most of South Georgetown and other areas had once again become overcrowded, after the South Ruimveldt housing push had declined. With the Desmond Hoyte era, much of the ‘runnings’ remained, but with his push into building a viable private sector, a new

shape of economics was emerging; slowly, jobs were being created, and a mushrooming of small businesses was evident.

NEW FRONTEIRS Even in that period, the necessary management of the Police Force was weak; rather than solve crimes, they opted

for extra-judicial killings.

And the much-needed opening of new economic frontiers was not touted.

A new undercurrent of ‘runnings’ was rising to the surface; that of the cocaine and ‘back-track’ trade that would envelope businessmen and senior members of the Police Force.

Take a trip back down memory lane to ‘The Baldeo Tapes’ and ‘The Gold Scam’. The first exposed the commissioning of a secret airstrip that involved senior law enforcement officers. Under the Hoyte administration, these new threats were met with the kind of hostility they justly deserved, though not seriously thought out; for instance, the three-year sentence for marijuana possession was not balanced by education.

By the late 80s, we had our first addicts sleeping on the streets; but nothing could prepare us for the

turn-a-blind-eye consensus that would emerge after the PPP came to power and fell short of sustaining the programmes of the Hoyte years.

With the economy fast declining, police killings growing out of proportion, and Guyana now an official narco-conduit nation, a new criminal

That was in reference to the operations of the ‘Gajraj Death Squad’ and the ‘Phantom’ death squad militias loyal to Roger Khan, who eventually told the public that he was fighting crime for the State. Such delusional logic imposed itself on the consciousness of the nation. The State had lost its way, or it did not

or to create ‘runnings’; the criminal state was cultivated.

The current administration will be affected by its own pathological converts to the machinitions of the criminal State, but I am sure that they will act, and not be found wanting. A young street hustler once remarked:

business class emerged, with a government ready to negotiate with them.

Thus, the worse era in the modern history of this country was upon us. The jail-break crime spree and insurrection that began in 2002 expanded the stage for all to see; and we saw in vivid colour.

understand its mandate, for joining a political party does not build character or initiate enlightenment.

Every politically connected official or businessman in that period under the PPP felt that they had to employ two or three street thugs from the Roger Khan pool, or those who are his current ‘post-heirs’ as their guards.

Their money-laundering schemes took them into the “gold bush” (where, presently, three shady characters are bullying miners from their small lands), and unprecedented violence had become the custom of the day. When not sponsoring raids, they broke the rules, one of the results of which are the frequent cave-ins in the gold-mining industry that has caused so many deaths.

The social and political lawlessness pervaded every aspect of this nation; public servants went to work in many ministries to ‘hustle’

“I like Jagdeo dem, ‘cause we could’a sell drugs and hustle; and people would call de police fuh we, ‘cause we could do works fuh dem.”

ALL-TIME LOW N o w, m a n y o f t h e criminals of 2016 were between four to 12 years old back in 2000. It cannot be disputed that the Bharat Jagdeo/Roger Khan era was the most irresponsible and callously lawless that Guyana had ever sunk to.

The nation gazed dumbstruck at Channel 28 as ‘Bumbalay’ Bacchus, when the fatal tide was turned against him, told the nation: “The president seh; I ent know which president he is; he seh that we shouldn’t throw the bodies all over the place.”

THE DHARAMLALL SAGA That a PPP parliamentarian of the least favourable public ilk as Nigel Dharamlall could express in public, with vulgar temerity, that the president should “Give orders to the police to kill those mofos /thieves... stop pardoning them...” tells me that this particular character considers himself the future of the PPP; his lack of culture, callous disrespect and past performance of buffoonery speaks volumes of what we must protect the future of this country from.

Perhaps the State culture that commanded the execution of wanted-man, ‘Fine-Man’ Rawlings’ sis-

ter, though she had nothing to do with her brother’s savagery, suits Dharamlall to a ‘T’, for names were called in that incident; political names. Other wanted criminals’ relatives were also murdered. From this man’s diatribes, that group within the opposition cannot be viewed or expected to contribute to Guyana in civilised terms; nor must the evidence of past criminal deeds be sabotaged by their criminal collaborators still in the system, or by the newly recruited.

The generation of criminals terrorising our lives today are products of the environment that raised them; many of them were possible guards of the 400 to 700 persons of interest to the international law enforcement body linked to money laundering, created in the regime Dharamlall served, and is accustomed to.

These young men and their associates were not as stupid as their employers thought; they listened to conversations and observed visitors. They possess a pool of information. We must remember that many criminals were sworn in as rural constables, and issued with firearms to serve the government-linked drug cartel militias. That drug abuse [marijuana, cocaine and alcohol] is also linked to crime, unemployment and the machismo rush to be in the image forefront also drives the criminal culture, but the pervading impetus is the extreme accommodation of lawlessness they grew up socially.

The prisons will have to be transformed to an institution of commercial production. It has worked elsewhere; it can work in Guyana. The State death squad was taken to the hilt in Guyana by the PPP, and it has not worked.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 25, 2016

Designer of Golden Arrowhead passes

WHITNEY Smith, the designer of the Golden Arrowhead, has died in Massachusetts, United States on November 17, 2016.

In a statement to the media on Thursday, the Government of Guyana extended condolences to his family, relatives and friends.

Smith, a U.S. citizen was born on February 26, 1940 and died on November 17.

He designed Guyana’s flag in 1960, six years before the

Whitney Smith

country’s independence and was a professional vexillologist and scholar of flags.

“He originated the term vexillology, which refers to the scholarly analysis of all aspects of flags and was a founder of several vexillology organisations,” the Government of Guyana said in a statement.

While a political science undergraduate at Harvard University, Smith designed the Golden Arrowhead for

the then newly independent Guyana.

A 20-year-old at the time, Smith had written to then former Chief Minister, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, to ask what the new country’s flag was going to be.

Dr. Jagan invited Smith to submit his ideas which he promptly did and which were subsequently adopted with some modifications.

Smith was 76 years old at the time of his passing.

Whitney Smith with the flag of Guyana, which he designed

‘Passenger’ tried to kill taxi driver –– jury in Collins attempted murder case hears

By George Barclay TAXI driver Joel Mc Curdy yesterday told Justice James Bovell-Drakes and a mixed jury that attempted murder accused Eon Collins, 29, who hired him from Georgetown to Parika in 2014 had attempted to kill him.

Mc Curdy was testifying against Collins when he explained that Collins hired him from outside Demico House, Georgetown and was heading for Parika,East bank Essequibo. But at Tuschen, he point-

ed to a village street where he pulled a knife from his bag with which he stabbed McCurdy in the chest in a frantic attempt to take over the car.

Mc Curdy put up a battle against his lone “passenger,” telling the jury that he fell out of the car in the process.

He told the jury that from where he was on the road, he was able to see Collins trying to remove the vehicle.

Witness said that he shouted to a group of building constructors a short distance away and they came to his assistance.

The witness said that he was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital and later to the West Demerara Regional Hospital and subsequently to the Georgetown Hospital.

Joel Mc Curdy testified that he had to be taken back to hospital for further surgery.

Collins, who is charged with a two-count indictment, including wounding with intent and felonious wounding, allegedly committed on Taxi driver Joel Mc Curdy on January 27th 2014, at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, has pleaded not guilty.

After the jurors were selected and without any evidence being taken, the prosecution, led by Tamieka Clarke and Tuanna Hardy, requested a voir dire (a trial within a trial) to determine the admissibility of a cau-

tion statement which the accused had given to the police.

The judge had overruled the defence submission in the voir dire and ruled that the statement by the accused was freely and voluntarily made.

The substantive trial continues on Tuesday, when the prosecution will close its case.

The accused, who is conducting his own defence, has refused to cross-examine witnesses.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 25, 2016

Promotions by Ramnarine remain

ALL police promotions made by Assistant Commissioner David Ramnarine in October will remain in force, Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters on Thursday during his post-Cabinet press briefing.

Minister Harmon noted that Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud has been informed of the position taken by the administration. “… he produced a legal opinion that said those officers who were promoted by

Mr Ramnarine are to remain promoted …the promotions should not be recalled. That was the minister’s report to Cabinet,” said Harmon.

Between August 15 and October 1, Ramnarine, performing duties as Commissioner of Police, promoted Corporal Wilburg to sergeant; and the following persons to corporals: Woman Lance Corporal 18997 Fraser; Lance Corporal 8749 Kuma, and Constable 18803 Craig.

Additionally, between

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud

August 3 and September 26, 2016, Ramnarine promoted the following constables to Lance Corporals: 18495 Gray, 20521 Semple, 21759 Kesney, and 21825 Thomas.

The Police Commissioner had proceeded on leave in June and on his resumption early November, he immediately sought to reverse Ramnarine’s decisions. In a letter to Staff Officer Administration 1, Maxine Graham, Persaud called for the rescission of the promotions Assistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine Ramnarine had made, and drew the officer’s attention to Article 212 (3) of the Constitution of Guyana, noting that the Commissioner of Police is authorised to make appointments to any office in the Police Force below the rank of inspector.

He also quoted Article 211 (i) of the said Constitution, which he said indicates that the appointment of the Commissioner of Police is done by His Excellency, the President.

“The police chief, Assistant Commissioner Ramnarine, has misinformed him-

self that he has the authority to make any such appointment in the absence of an instrument issued by His Excellency the President. The appointments are therefore null and void, and the ranks should be so informed,” Persaud ordered.

Persaud’s position was not accepted by Ramnarine nor President David Granger. President Granger during a television interview has said that Ramnarine was not expected to serve in the position idly.

“The Assistant Commissioner of Police had to take some authoritative actions and just could not sit on his hands if problems need to be solved. He needs to solve the problem.

“Although there is a hierarchy and although there is a structure, there is also a convention that persons who are acting have to do their work in an authoritative manner and not in a passive manner.

“I do not believe that the problems are unsolvable and I would like to assure you that we are concerned about it, because it could have an impact on the morale of the Police Force,” Granger had said.

Son stabs father to death A 31-YEAR-OLD resident of Aranaputa, North Rupununi, has been arrested for the murder of his father.

According to reports, Danielston Stephen, 50 years old, was stabbed to death on Wednesday.

Stephen was imbibing with friends at his neighbour’s house just prior to him being stabbed to death.

He left his neighbour’s house at approximately 19:30h and an argument ensued between him and his son who allegedly stabbed him multiple times to his body with a knife.

The injured man was rushed to the Annai Health Post where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Stephen’s body is currently at the Lethem Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Teen kills man during argument A 17-YEAR-OLD lad is in police custody following the murder of a Barima, North West District (NWD) farmer.

Junior Moses, 44, was stabbed to death at Ela Landing, Barima, by a 17-year-old male. The duo was consuming alcohol when an argument erupted between them.

At approximately 18:40h, the teenager armed himself with a knife and stabbed Moses once to his abdomen and escaped.

The farmer was taken to the Mabaruma Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The body is presently at the hospital’s mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 25, 2016

Greenidge meets Ban on border controversy

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and Vice-President Carl Greenidge met with outgoing Secretary-General of the United Nations General Assembly Ban Kimoon on Wednesday at UN Headquarters, New York.

Greenidge and the outgoing Secretary- General briefly reviewed the state of progress and developments on resolving the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.

“Minister Greenidge took the opportunity to express his appreciation to Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon for his efforts in finding a solution to this controversy,” the statement said.

Additionally, the Foreign Affairs Minister expressed best wishes to Mr Ban on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana as he prepares to demit office.

Meanwhile, last week, President David Granger expressed much optimism that the outgoing United Nations Secretary- General will hold to his commitment to give “an assessment” of the next step to be taken in the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy, and refer same to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a final and definitive ruling, thereby ending this controversy that has deeply affected Guyana’s development over the past 50 years.

During a radio interview with Gordon Moseley on 94.1FM Radio last Friday, the President said: “We have to hold Mr. Ban Ki-moon to his own words. The word he

used was ‘an assessment’, of course, [and] November is quickly passing, so we expect Mr. Ban Ki-moon to fulfil his obligation to let us have ‘an assessment’.”

Guyana had approached the outgoing Secretary-General of the UN to act in accordance with his obligations under the Geneva Agreement — to choose another means of settling the border controversy between the two countries, in accordance with Article 33 of the UN Charter; and Mr. Ban had indicated that he would recommend the way forward before he demits office in December.

On the sidelines of the 71st United Nations General Assembly held in New York last September, outgoing Secretary -General Ban Kimoon had told President Granger that he would make “an assessment” of the situation by the end of November.

“Of course, he is demitting office and Mr. (Antonio) Guterres is going to be the person to make decisions; and of course you know Guyana has (taken) a stand that (after) 50 years of talking, we need to go to the Court (International Court of Justice) and have this matter settled. This is what we expect, I won’t use the word hope; it is not a planning strategy. We have done our homework, relayed our case before the international community, and Mr. Ban Ki-moon is quite aware of the power he has — and Mr Guterres, [as do] all Secretaries-General of the UN — under the Geneva Agreement,” the President said.

New Civil Procedure Rules for Supreme Court tabled in National Assembly NEW civil procedure rules for the Supreme Court were laid in the National Assembly by Attorney General, Basil Williams during Monday’s sitting.

The Attorney General laid the new rules on behalf of the Rules Committee headed by Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Carl Singh and Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards.

This is the first time since Guyana became independent that the High Court rules have been subjected to a major overhaul. The changes have brought the new rules in line with similar rules in the Caribbean.

It is understood that consultants on the new rules will come from Canada shortly to conduct orientation sessions with lawyers and judicial officers. A team from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is also expected to do Case Management sessions under the new rules.

The new rules are intended to simplify the processes to enable the courts to deal with cases justly and speedily.

The voluminous rules and legal forms span 187 pages and contain procedures for settling civil matters and making payments both in and out of court.

This will help to ease the clogging of courts by matters that can easily be settled.

The President also noted that Guyana is constrained from taking any action outside of the Geneva Agreement, and he stressed that a new path will have to be carved by the Secretary-General.

“We have exhausted all other courses, the one that is left is to go to the courts, and this is what we expect the Secretary- General to do,” President Granger added.

11

Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon (right) meets with Carl Greenidge, Vice-President and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guyana

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 25, 2016

Granger, GDF paratroopers for Barbados jubilee GUYANA Defence Force paratroopers are heading to Barbados to be part of that country’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, Chief-of-staff of the military Brigadier George Lewis has confirmed Lewis could not readily disclose how many paratroopers will be on the flight to Bridgetown and under whose command they will be. “Let me confirm that yes, we are sending troops,” Lewis told the Guyana Chronicle last evening.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, State Minister Joseph Harmon also confirmed that President David Granger will be attending Barbados’s 50th anniversary of independence on November 30, 2016. This was disclosed at the post-cabinet media briefing hosted by Harmon.

The Guyanese leader accepted the invitation from Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart, to attend the celebrations, Harmon stated.

“The honourable Prime Minister of Barbados was a guest of the Government of Guyana for our own celebrations in May of this

year,” he said.

Prime Minister Stuart was awarded Guyana’s second highest national award, the Order of Roraima. The Barbados Prime Minister was presented with the honour in recognition of his support for the rights of Small Island and Low Coastal Developing States, his advocacy for CARICOM’s demand for reparations for the citizens of the Caribbean Region, and his contribution to the reduction of the impact of climate change in the Region.

President Granger had said, the Prime Minister distinguished himself as “a doughty defender of the territorial integrity of Guyana and Belize and the maritime space of all Caribbean states.”

Barbados gained its independence on November 30, 1966. The highlights of their 50th anniversary celebrations include the decorative lighting of Parliament Buildings, Independence Square, the Independence Arch and businesses throughout the capital Bridgetown, using the national colours.

Taxi driver still critical

TAXI driver Leroy Anthony Blair, who was shot during what appeared to be a carjacking/ robbery at D’urban Backlands on Wednesday morning when he dropped off a passenger, remains in a critical condition at GPHC in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) up to press time.

He underwent a surgical operation on Wednesday after which he was unresponsive, as such police are waiting to conduct an interview to ascertain what happened.

Police said they have launched a probe in the alleged shooting of Blair, a hire car driver of Lot 528 Block X, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara at about 06:30hrs in D’urban Backlands, by a gunman.

Blair was shot to the left side of his chest and was taken to the hospital by public spirited citizens.

His condition was being monitored up to press time.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 25, 2016

More jobs, better pay

By Fareeza Haniff

OPPOSITION leader Bharrat Jagdeo plans to hold President David Granger to his promise of providing a better life for all Guyanese and is hoping that Budget 2017 will include measures to tackle job creation and better incomes for citizens.

For starters, the Opposition Leader is urging Government, specifically Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, to extend a one-month, taxfree bonus to public servants, since they did not receive the promised 10 per cent increase in wages and salaries.

Jagdeo, a former President, told a news conference at Freedom House on Thursday that the Disciplined Services benefited from the tax-free bonus and as such, the same should be extended to public servants.

He believes that this will be a timely boost to the economy.

“I call on him [Jordan] to do that even before the budget or to announce it at budget time. This would be a major boost to those people, but also to the economy itself because it would increase disposable incomes, spending and it will bolster economic activities,” the former President said.

Jagdeo has high hopes for Budget 2017, which is slated to be presented by Minister

Jordan in the National Assembly on Monday. He is hoping that the budget will contain measures to enhance

–– Jagdeo lays out expectations of Budget 2017

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo during Thursday’s press conference social welfare, increase public safety and improve the livelihoods of Guyanese.

“The President in his speech to the National Assembly defined the framework [for the budget] and I hope that what he said is further elaborated on in the budget and that we will see concrete, specific measures, policies, programmes and projects to give effect to those objectives that he outlined,” the Opposition Leader said.

Additionally, the former President said that he is in favour of establishing an international institute of bio-

diversity at Iwokrama and wants to know how the APNU+AFC Government plans to achieve its green agenda.

“The President had said Protected Areas will be established in every administrative region of Guyana, so we would like to see the Minister of Finance, consistent with the promise of the President, he will have to tell us in the budget, what areas in the country, in all the 10 administrative regions are identified as protected areas and how much money he would put in the budget to give effect to that.”

HELD ACCOUNTABLE Jagdeo also believes that Minister Jordan should be held accountable for the promises made by President Granger.

“If your President comes to the Parliament and says here are the things that I will put in my budget next year and the minister doesn’t do it, it means someone is duping us.”

Jagdeo also wants to see an increased number of measures aimed at giving an impetus to mining, particularly small gold miners and small

and medium-scale operations.

He made it clear that his party is opposed to any adjustments in the price that Government pays for gold.

“We’re opposed to any attempt to remove concessions. We believe that the sector needs more help now, particularly, small and medium-scale miners. We want specific help for the loggers, particularly small loggers; they are facing a rough, rough time because of this inept Government policy,” the former President said.

As it relates to the ailing sugar industry, the Opposition Leader urged the Government to present a defined plan on the way forward.

During his address to the National Assembly on October 13, President Granger had noted that loggers and miners will be under a legal obligation to ensure sound environmental practices and that Government will reboot the fledgling eco-tourism sector in 2017.

Part of plans for 2017 includes initiatives for climate adaptation and a programme to bolster and better manage and maintain sea defences will be developed in collaboration with international partners.

According to the Presi-

dent, it will form part of the matrix of measures in the 2017 National Budget.

“We will guard, also, against the effects of flooding by strengthening our drainage systems, particularly along the coastland. We will also counter the effects of prolonged dry weather on our wildlife by establishing protective sanctuaries for them.

“Your Government will intensify its improvement of aerodromes, bridges, roads and stellings in order to enhance communication between the hinterland and coastland. We will begin negotiations with national and international parties to build a bridge across the Essequibo River in 2017. We aim at improving the pace of economic development by removing bottlenecks to the implementation of infrastructural projects.

Planning units will be established within ministries. National procurement procedures will be strengthened to address the institutional deficiencies which led to poor implementation and monitoring of public infrastructural projects,” the President had noted in his last address to Parliament.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 25, 2016

Dutch company to do feasibility study

A DUTCH company, Leivense CSO, will be conducting a feasibility study for the construction of a new bridge across the Demerara River.

According to Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Cabinet approved a request by Minister of Public Infrastructure David

Patterson for the feasibility study to be done.

That study is to begin in January 2017.

“It may be recalled that a pre-feasibility study was done by the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure in 2013. That study concluded that a

new, high-level, fixed bridge was the best option to be pursued,” said Harmon.

He told reporters that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure advertised for suitable consultants to conduct a feasibility study that would lead to the construction of the bridge through a Public/Private Partnership

–– for new Demerara Harbour Bridge (PPP).

“The Ministry has since received an offer from a recognised Dutch consultancy firm, Leivense CSO, to conduct the feasibility study and design the new bridge including a detailed investigation for prospective

financiers as well as the preparation of a Private / Public Partnership tender document,” said the Cabinet Secretary, who made it clear that the services of the Dutch company were acquired through the requisite procurement process.

“It did go through the process,” he stated while noting that he could not state when the feasibility study is likely to be completed.

“I do not have the date when it would be See page 15

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 25, 2016

Dutch company to do feasibility ...

From page 14

completed but based on the extent of the work that has to be done we are advised that they’d basically try to ‘push it’ so at least we’d have a bridge in a reasonable time.”

Minister Harmon was not in a position to state where the bridge was likely to be located but he explained that during the

feasibility study, which followed the pre-feasibility done under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration, a limited area would be considered.

“As I did say they have to consider the PPP model, tender documents, look at various sites that would have been in the pre-feasibility and to determine

whether in fact this is something we can go forward with. This is the final stage of feasibilities before we get to construction,” he explained.

According to Leivense CSO’s website, the company is an engineering consultancy which specialises in the fields of infrastructure, environment, construction and pipelines.

“We specialise in engineering, underground piping, environmental and environment, spatial planning and the built environment. Human activities in densely populated and or sensitive areas bring specific infrastructural and environmental issues along with it,” the company said.

Moreover, the company has more than 200

professionals operating from seven offices in the Netherlands, offices in Saudi Arabia and in St Maarten.

“In addition to our Dutch home market we do a lot of projects from abroad, independently or in collaboration with other parties in the Netherlands and abroad. The international focus is in

particular ports, water and flood protection, dredging and land reclamation and pipelines.”

The Demerara Harbour Bridge (a floating bridge) was opened on July 2, 1978 and has a length of the 1851 meters (1.15 miles). The bridge has been under constant maintenance over the years.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 25, 2016

Corruption allegations against Vieira, Insanally unfounded –– Board of Inquiry finds

THE Board of Inquiry headed by retired Major-General Joe Singh has found that allegations of corruption made by broadcast operator Kenwin Charles against Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) Directors Anthony Vieira and Vic Insanally are unfound-

ed and without merit.

The inquiry found that Vieira was not abusive within the legal definition of abusive; there is no veracity in Charles’s allegation that Vieira was abusive to him at a meeting on August 25, 2016; and there was no veracity in the allegation that Vieira demanded that

Charles relocate from the Essequibo Coast.

The report said the absence of direct evidence from Charles tending to prove improper or unlawful conduct by the GNBA directors in question has led to inferences being drawn from evidence.

“It is apposite to observe

Vic Insanally

that Mr. Charles’s testimony was riddled with several inconsistencies,” the report said.

According to the report, Charles also made a deliberate decision to invest in broadcasting equipment, misled the current board, and then Prime Minister Samuel Hinds on the location of his operations on the Essequibo Coast.

He also then secretly recorded a meeting with himself and Director Insanally.

“The question then became how much credibility is to be accorded to such evidence,” the report noted, pointing out that in analysing the evidence before it, a comprehensive picture in totality allowed it to formulate its findings with certitude.

The board was saddled with legacy issues from its inception which influenced its composition. The legacy issues include the Broadcasting Act which was hastily enacted with perceived arbitrary and inconsistent provisions.

According to the report, the modus operandi of the previous administration led to subjective decisions being made which included allegations on the award of frequencies and licences.

This decision was frowned upon by the then Opposition, the now current Government, which pledged to correct these inconsistencies.

“The members worked assiduously to correct these perceived wrongs of the previous administration.

Director Insanally with his institutional memory and other directors with their passionate commitment pioneered these objectives and initiatives,” the report said.

It also noted that at the committee level of the board, there were discussions on limiting the powers of the minister in the act and members were resolute in their opinion that broadcast frequencies should not be issued for cable operators.

Anthony Vieira They also contended that the distribution and management of broadcast frequencies should be the responsibility of the GNBA and not the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU).

To promulgate the work of the board, the report said Director Insanally designed a 10-point plan with their objects and actions to be taken, which was agreed to by the board and submitted to the Prime Minister.

But it noted that the chair of the board appeared to have been ineffectual.

“The chairman was seen as inhibiting the initiatives designed to correct the perceived subjective decisions of the previous administration. In the end, the political constrains [SIC] and prejudices resulted in the chairman failing to aggressively pursue the mandate on behalf of the board, which consistently led to frustration among directors, relating to the incompleteness of their work and the administration’s unfulfilled promises to the Guyanese people. There is the need for organisational reform at the GNBA which includes a re-orientation towards a more collaborative approach to the implementation of the mandate.

The combination of these factors is indicative of the directors having no confidence in the chairman, resulting in some adopting a posture of not being willing to serve under his leadership,” the report said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday November 25, 2016

GTA Shea Rock adventure raises concerns

By Alva Solomon

CONCERNS have been raised at plans by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) to have tourism enthusiasts make attempts to drive up the rock at Shea in the South Rupununi, a sa-

communities in the South Rupununi.

However, several indigenous leaders have expressed disappointment in the plans by the GTA, mainly regarding the village of Shea. Famed Guyanese artist and archaeologist, George Simon noted that he

he said.

This publication understands that Major-General retired, Joe Singh has also expressed concern regarding the plans by the GTA to drive up the Shea Rock.

According to reports, Singh has informed the Min-

The Shea Rock (Picture courtesy of Caribbean Beat) cred landmark of the village.

On Tuesday the GTA in partnership with Rainforest Tours and Mekdeci Mining Company (MMC) launched its 4th annual South Rupununi Safari in observance of Tourism Awareness Month.

The party was expected to depart on Wednesday from the capital city with plans to trek through several indigenous

was taken aback by news reports of the GTA’s plans while at Shea.

Simon, who is based in Uruguay, said that the Shea Rock has historically been a sacred place for the Wapishiana nation.

“I have known elders saying a prayer to it as they pass by much like the Catholics do when passing by a church,”

istry of Indigenous People’s Affairs and the GTA of the sacred nature of the rock as he appealed for a cancellation of that aspect of the safari plans.

The desecration and fragile biodiversity of the rock were pointed out by the retired army chief.

Other indigenous leaders also expressed surprise at the plans by the GTA.

Residents of Aishalton, located in the South Rupununi cautioned the tourism body to respect the traditions and culture of the villages through which the safari is expected to pass.

GTA Director, Indranauth Haralsingh said Tuesday that one of the objectives of this particular safari is to give persons an opportunity to experience the outdoors, have fun and adventure, discover the picturesque beauty of miles upon miles of savannah-land, and explore little-known places south of Guyana’s interior.

The Shea Rock is a tourism landmark which remains one of the most sought-after scenes at the village. It is used for a number of sacred purposes including on Good Friday, when services are held in close proximity to the natural land formation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

Chez Makeda

‒ A fusion of African pride, individuality IN Ethiopian folklore, legends speak of the beautiful Queen Makeda, known popularly as the biblical ‘Queen of Sheba’ who bore a son for King Solomon of Judea.

Revered as the mother of the nation, Makeda’s legacy has imomortalised her as a woman of immense beauty, leadership and majesty.

And so it was that when aspiring entrepreneur, Aisha Haynes sought inspiration for a name for her boutique, which would feature her and other designers’ Afrocentric clothing, no other name seemed fitting.

Located on the corner of Albert and Regent Streets, Makeda houses authentic African fabric and readymade clothing; and since its launch in July, via an extravagant fashion show, has served local fashion enthusiasts with an interesting variety of style.

But according to Aisha, who, by profession, is an Economic Geologist, her passion as a fashion designer has lived with her from a very young age; and the opening of Makeda goes beyond just penetrating the market. “I was always very intrigued by African fashion and fabrics and meshing them with modern style, and I would create my own pieces when I was younger,” Aisha said.

“I felt that there was a need for it in Guyana, because there was nowhere here that you could go to get authentic fabric, accessories or clothing,” she told The Buzz.

TAKE THE LEAP With the encouragement of family and friends, Aisha said she decided to take the leap and launch her own store that would provide what she felt was missing. “I wanted it to be cool and trendy; I also wanted it to be cultural and educational, so even people who don’t know much about African fashion, or the brand that comes with it, can still be allowed to express themselves in something authentically African,” she said.

Among the selections are clothing designed by Aisha herself, clothing from other local designers that fit the African theme, as well as clothing from African designers from around the continent.

Aisha’s affinity with African culture stems from years of doing community work and participating in other projects affiliated with the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA). “I

s, Aisha Hayne eda owner of Mak

Happy customers at Makeda’s

became involved with ACDA from a very young age, because my mother was involved with them. I did a lot of children’s programmes, and we worked in a lot of depressed and marginalised communities, conducting peer counselling and workshops and I became committed to the cause,” she said.

And as the years went by, she

Pieces from the fashion show that launched Makeda in July

came to appreciate the organisation for its non-religious, non-political, non-hierarchical structure. “How it is established, there are committees, so you can be a part of it, based on your interests,” Aisha said. “And that makes it easy to fit in and do what I wanted to do without being defined or labeled in any particular way,” she added.

AWARENESS The young businesswoman believes that being more aware of one’s cultural identity not only helps people to develop as individuals, but also allows them to understand and respect other cultures. It is the goal of helping people to be more aware of their African heritage so as to foster appreciation that she hopes Makeda achieves. And it seems that in the months since its launch in July, that she has thus far been successful.

“It was definitely worth it to see how excited Guyanese are about the clothing. I was actually surprised, because when I first launched, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I am so excited to see the positive response from people, and there is such a diversity of people who come into the store, so I am excited to see that steady interest,” she said.

Soon, she plans to bring in a tailor from Ghana, and will also seek to have annual fashion shows, much like the one held for the launch in July, which attracted a large gathering of persons.

And as the store grows, she also will also endeavour to continue bringing fresh ideas of how to incorporate African prints and styles into everyday wear, so as to ensure that the appreciation of the African culture continues to be promoted.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

The drama enters las’ lap @ NCC THEATRE enthusiasts! This is your last week to experience the beautiful bundle of creativity that is the National Drama Festival 2016!

If you missed any of the plays before, then make sure you visit the National Cultural Centre to catch a glimpse of those that made it to the Finals. Admission: FREE! TONITE ► “Who Wears The Mask” (Uso Telford Fry Yiy) 18:00hrs ► “The Ex” (H&T Theatre Arts Company) 19:00hrs ► “Legend of the Silk Cotton Tree” (Queen of D’Arts) 20:00hrs TOMORROW ► “Masque” (Muse Theatre) 18:00hrs ► “Sue’s Side” (Sophia Theatre Company) 19:30hrs ► “Tales of a Tortured Woman” (Lash Out Theatre) 20:30hrs SUNDAY ► “Choti Backoo” (Dramatic Arts Academy) 18:00hrs ► “Baraka’s Revenge”, Melinda Primo-Solomon (Premiere Integrated Experience) 19:00hrs ► “Counterfeit Love” (The Conquerors) 20:30hrs

Scenes from the National Drama Festival 2016 Finals (Photos courtesy of the National Drama Festival)

Obama awards Ellen DeGeneres ‒ for showing remarkable courage AMERICAN comedienne and TV host Ellen DeGeneres had an emotional moment when she was honoured with the Presidential Freedom Award by President Barack Obama on Monday.

In what was Obama’s last Presidential Freedom Award ceremony, 21 individuals, including DeGeneres, were presented the country’s highest civilian award for their contribution to the country.

The TV star could be seen teary eyed as an announcer introduced her be-

fore she received the medal.

Obama spoke about her courage for coming out as gay nearly 20 years ago.

“It’s easy to forget now, when we’ve come so far, where now marriage is equal under the law. Just how much courage was required for Ellen to come out on the most public of stages almost 20 years ago,” he said.

“What an incredible burden that was to bear! To risk your career like that; people don’t do that very often. And then to have the hopes of millions on your

shoulders,” he added.

The POTUS also cracked a joke during his speech to break the mood, because he was “getting kind of choked up,” he said.

“Ellen counters what too often divides us with the countless things that bind us together; inspires us to be better, one joke, one dance at a time,” he said as the audience broke into applause.

Some of the other recipients of the award include Robert De Niro, Bill and Melinda Gates, Tom Hanks, Diana Ross, and Bruce Springsteen.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

Miss Markle’s Kimye’s marriage in a right stew in trouble FOR many people, the name Meghan Markle might not ring a bell.

Markle stars on the USA show, Suits, but it’s her recent romance with Prince Harry that has elevated her from working actress to international celebrity.

She recently wrote an essay for Elle UK about her discomfort with being famous, and how she uses it to affect social change. She said: “With fame comes opportunity, but it also includes responsibility; to advocate and share, to focus less on glass slippers and more on pushing through glass ceilings.”

Markle and new boyfriend, Prince Harry share similar values of service. Over the years, Harry has spent time in Lesotho in Africa with his charity, Sentebale. Similarly, Markle is a global ambassador for World Vision, and has volunteered in Rwanda.

In her essay for Elle, Markle remembers feel-

ing conflicted about being invited to an awards show while working in Rwanda. She later writes: “… guiding my heart through the swinging pendulum from Hollywood fantasy to Third World reality is challenging in its own way.”

The burden of fame might be a prime example of a First World problem, but for Markle, the end product is all that matters.

This dedication to public service shines through in her mission statement: “To use whatever status I have as an actress to make a tangible impact.”

IT’S safe to say that the last few weeks haven’t been easy on Kim Kardashian and her husband Kanye West.

Almost two months after Kardashian, 36, was robbed at gunpoint in Paris, and had millions of dollars worth of jewellery stolen, West, 39, has been hospitalised for exhaustion.

Now, sources tell PEOPLE that indeed, the couple’s relationship has been under some strain.

It’s been a rough month for Kanye West, but thankfully, he has some pretty good people by his side.

“The last few months have been difficult for their marriage,” says one insider. “They bicker a lot, and things are not great.”

According to the insider, in the week leading up to his Monday hospitalisation, West, who also canceled the remaining 21 dates of his Saint Pablo tour, had been “very difficult.”

“He is exhausted and overwhelmed,” says the insider, who adds that Kardashian has not been “thrilled”, and appears “less patient” with West than in the past.

“With the tour cancelled, Kim hopes that Kanye will feel better soon,” says the insider.

“He needs to shape up for them to work out.”

That being said, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star is sticking by his side: On Monday, the star skipped out on the 2016 Angel Ball in New York City, which honoured her late father, Robert Kardashian, who died

of esophageal cancer in 2003, in order to rush back to Los Angeles following West’s hospitalisation.

The emotional event, which was attended by Kim’s mother, Kris Jenner, as well as her sisters Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian, would have marked Kardashian’s first public appearance since the robbery.

And another insider tells PEOPLE the star had been truly looking forward to it.

“Last night was a huge deal for her returning to the spotlight,” says the source. “She had been so excited about attending the ball with her mom and sisters, but as soon as she landed, she turned right back around to be by Kanye’s side. She had to go be with him as soon as possible.”

Of the couple’s dynamics, a third source tells PEOPLE that West “has always treated Kim like he’s her queen,” and that for her part, Kardashian is “really good about sort of bowing down to him and telling him what he wants to hear” — but that doesn’t mean she agrees with his often outlandish behaviour.

“She definitely rolls her eyes when he goes into his mode or rants,” says the source. “She’s also very protective of him, but he can be exhausting.”

A SOUTH Indian film star has caused a sensation after being photographed standing in a bank queue with a live piglet tucked under his arm.

Ravi Babu said the piglet would star in his next film called Adhigo, which translates from the Telugu to “there”.

Long bank queues have become common after 500 and 1,000 rupee notes were banned in a crackdown on corruption.

“I was taking it to a computer graphics lab when I realised I didn’t have money for fuel,” Mr Babu told the BBC. “I stopped at the ATM, but had to carry it myself, because it squealed when my production assistant tried carrying it.

“You have to hold it with your hand under its chest, and hold it close to you to make it feel comfortable.”

The picture is being widely circulated on Indian social media.

There have been chaotic scenes in India ever since the currency ban was announced

as part of a crackdown on “black money” two weeks ago. People have been queuing up for hours outside banks and cash machines, which often are fast running out of money.

This has brought India’s largely cash economy to a virtual standstill.

The piglet, whose name is Bunty, is one of 25 pigs being reared to star in Babu’s film. “`They just grow too fast. So I am rearing quite a few to ensure the piglet’s character looks the same size,” he told the BBC. Standing in line at the ATM in the southern city of Hyderabad, Babu took only about 15 minutes to withdraw 2,000 rupees, with Bunty firmly in hand.

The four people ahead of the star in the queue did not seem too bothered about the piglet, and were apparently more concerned about withdrawing money.

It was only when the impatient piglet started protesting that onlookers reacted with amusement.

Piggy goes to the bank

Ravi Babu and Bunty at the ATM yesterday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

Doors open at 19:00hrs. Admission $1,000. Music By Mix Master Tony and Special Guest DJs. Performances by Trigga Gotti, Haze Lucas, Gabriel Noble, Killa P, Louie Banks and more.

Lots of prizes to be won!

TONITE Rock ‘n’ Roll fans! Your prayers have been answered! Get ready to bang your head at ‘Rock of Ages’ at Palm Court.

The event will feature the Black Rose Band straight out of Trinidad, bringing a live, heart pumping performance of Classic Rock, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock & Alternative that promises to blow you away.

Show starts at 22:00hrs. Admission $2,000.

In the mood for a Rave? Then come on down to Blue Martini on Lamaha and DeAbreu for its EDM Party at 20:00hrs.

Come and get lost in the mix of Guyana’s best EDM DJs as they bring you an exciting mix of House, Drums&Base, Trap, EDM and Electro. Lots of free giveaways and accessories available!

TOMORROW

EDM fans can enjoy another night filled with their favourite tracks at a Rave which will be held at Aura Bar and Lounge, Pegasus from 21:00hrs. Admission $2,000.

Usher in the Christmas Season with the best EDM hits!

Are you a member of the Mile High Club? Find out how you can become one at the Mile High Club party at El Club Latino.

The Rotaract Club of Stabroek and St. Joseph High School Interact Club present “Culture Fest” under the theme, “Journeying through a diversity of history, culture and food”.

Come and travel ‘round the world with us in a short period as we make stops in South East Nassau Centennial, Turks & Caicos and US Virgin Island.

For more information, contact the International Service Director on 592-683-4770 and/ or the President on 592-691-4223.

SUNDAY

Join the Rotary Club of Georgetown at 208 Camp Street, Georgetown for Kings’ 16th Annual Duck Curry Competition.

This year’s theme is “Thai Duck Curry”. All proceeds will be in aid of the Rotary Club of Georgetown’s basic education and literacy projects.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

Skeete, McKoy set records as Linden climb to 100-point lead … Sprint doubles for Caesar, Williams, distance doubles for Lynch, Urquhart

By Tamica Garnett IN a record-breaking performance, Linden's De-

shanna Skeete put paid to (District 11) Kenisha Phillips’ hopes of taking the sprint double of the Girls’ Under-16 category, while not even a record-breaking performance by Claudrice McKoy in the Girls’ Under-18 1500m could have helped North Georgetown (District 11) salvage their position in the athletics competition, where Upper Demerara/Kwakwani just continued to strengthen their lead.

As action in the National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships continued yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium, Linden’s Compton Caesar, and Daniel Williams were not to be curtailed in their run-up to sprint doubles, as they helped lodge major points for District 10, as the team amassed a 100-point lead ahead of their nearest contender.

At the day’s end with the

South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:15 hrs Aspen Fire 08:55 hrs Nabisco 09:30 hrs Silver Rain 10:05 hrs Razed In Black 10:40 hrs Pay As You Go 11:15 hrs Newcrest English Racing Tips Doncaster 08:20 hrs Ballycrystal 08:55 hrs King Of The Wolds 09:25 hrs Barkis 10:00 hrs Carlo Rocks 10:35 hrs Drumlee Sunset 11:10 hrs Lough Derg Leader 11:40 hrs Ravenhill Road Newbury 08:30 hrs Jenkins 09:05 hrs Double W’s 09:35 hrs Protek Des Flos 10:10 hrs Ballyoptic 10:45 hrs Aerlite Supreme 11:20 hrs Behind Time 11:50 hrs Any Drama

completion of 103 finals, District 10 totalled 461.5 points, an exact 100 points ahead of West Demerara (District 3), who continued to hold on to second place as the penultimate day of competition in the Championships concluded.

Howeve,r District 3 are not entirely safe in their second place, given that West Coast Berbice (District 5) are not too far behind with 345 points.

Less than 20 points from third spot lie Corentyne (District 6) with 329.5 points, and another few points down are East Coast Demerara (District 4), who moved up a spot after being sixth at the end of Wednesday’s results.

Now holding on to sixth are North West (District 1) with 309 points, just under the 300-point mark are North Georgetown (District 11) with 299.5 points.

Also in the top ten are Newcastle 08:40 hrs Miss Danby 09:15 hrs Incandescent 09:45 hrs Native Soldier 10:20 hrs Just For You 10:55 hrs Magnolia Ridge 11:30 hrs Westward Ho 12:00 hrs Andys Girl Irish Racing Tips Dundalk 13:30 hrs He’s Our Music 14:00 hrs Power Grid 14:30 hrs Adieux 15:00 hrs Bouquet Garni 15:30 hrs Fascinating Lady 16:00 hrs Ishebayorgrey 16:30 hrs Twistsandturns 17:00 hrs Red All Star American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Dan the Man Race 2 Dominique Alexis Race 3 Tahoe Tigress Race 4 Empire Dreams Race 5 Mo Maverick Race 6 Bustin It Race 7 Play Me a Memory Race 8 My Impression Race 9 Tainted Angel

Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon (District 2) with 255.5 points, barely edging out New Amsterdam (District 15), who have 254 points, while East Georgetown (District 12), with 253.5 points, round out the top-ten teams.

Phillips’ inability to surpass Skeete, even after being the one to watch, was reminiscent of District 11’s strain to get past District 10 since the beginning of the athletics competition.

Phillips, who later said that she started to pull up on the final straight, bowed out in the 200m clocking 25.4 seconds, equalling the time of the record that she set last year.

However, that performance was not enough for her to overcome Skeete, who crossed the finish line in 25.3 seconds, to set the new record and avenge her loss to Phillips in the 100m on Wednesday.

District 13 picked up third place as Tiffauna Garnett crawled in at 26.3 seconds after the race started.

McKoy closed off the distance double in the Girls’ Under-18 where she nicely paired the 800m win on Wednesday with the 1500m win yesterday - all the more celebrated because it was done in a record-breaking 5:06.8s time. McKoy shaved three seconds off the 5:09.3s record that Doretta Wlison set back in 2010.

District 11’s Samuel Lynch and Maria Urquhart also cleared distance doubles, winning the 1500m of Boys’ Under-18 and Girls’ Under-20 categories respectively. Lynch clocked 4:30.00s for his win, while Urquhart took victory with a time of 5:23.40s.

The 200m races really had the small crowd of spectators animated, as Caesar and Williams did not disappoint. They charged

to wins in their respective categories.

Equalling the 22.1 seconds record set by Kevin Abbensetts in 2013, Caesar took another relaxed win as he cruised to the finish line ahead of District 12’s Linton Mentis (22.7s) and District 15’s Stayon Wilson (23.0s) The distaff side of this event went to District 5’s Denita Jackson with a time of 26.7 seconds, surpassing the 27.3 seconds clocked

by District 4’s Kimberly Hassanah, who seized the second place from District 11’s Ruth Sanmoogan who clocked 27.4 seconds.

In the Boys’ Under-18 Williams also found little challenge and took an easy win in a time of 22.7 seconds, District 4’s Brian Roman struggled his way to a 23.5 seconds finish for second place, wrestling against District 13’s Umkosi Vancooten (23.7s).

Powerlifting competition set for Sunday THE St Stanislaus auditorium will be the place to be, come this Sunday (November 27), when the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) hosts its marquee competition of the year.

With a total of 36 athletes, 7 females and 29 males, spectators are in for a day of exciting action as Guyana’s top strongmen and strongwomen compete for powerlifting gold.

The competition will also involve seasoned powerlifters from Guyana’s golden powerlifting era.

For the females, Kimberley Mars-Loncke will bring her CAC and Caribbean Powerlifting experience

back to the stomping ground after a three-year absence from the sport. However, young powerhouse Tineisha Toney will be the one to challenge her for the Female Best Lifter Title.

On the male side, 2012 Caribbean bronze medallist Fabian Ketwaroo will be competing in the 66kg division.

Meanwhile, local bodybuilder Marvin Richards will take on this year’s 93kg champion Nigel Williams, in addition to Imran Mohammed and Caribbean silver medallist Erwyn ‘Superman’ Smith.

John Edwards and Colin Chesney will also make their return in a heavyweight

three-way battle royal with Farouk Abdool of Hardcore Gym Berbice in a contest for 120kg supremacy.

The tournament will be used as a prerequisite for selection to regional and international meets in 2017.

Weigh-in time is 07:00hrs to 08:30hrs and athletes who arrive late will not be allowed to compete.

Tickets are $1 000 and are available from members of the GAPF and entrance fee is the same at the gate.

The GAPF wishes to express gratitude to its sponsors Fitness Express, Trophy Stall, Buddy’s Gym and recent new sponsor Ticket Master for making the event possible.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

Liverpool legend Stephen Gerrard retires (REUTERS) - Former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard announced his retirement yesterday, a week after confirming he would not be returning to play for MLS side LA Galaxy.

"Following recent media speculation surrounding my future I can confirm my retirement from playing professional football," Gerrard, 36, said in a statement.

"I've had an incredible career and I'm thankful for each and every moment of my time with Liverpool, England and LA Galaxy."

Gerrard spent virtually his entire career at Liverpool having made his debut as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers in 1998. He is third on the club's all-time appearances list with 710, behind only Jamie Carragher and Ian Callaghan.

He scored 120 goals in 504 Premier League games.

One of the most highly-regarded midfield players in world football at his peak, he was capped 114 times for England, 40 as captain, and played in six major tournaments.

Gerrard left Liverpool in

put the visitors on the way to a 2-0 victory.

The club's title charge fell apart thereafter and Manchester City snatched it.

"There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about what if that didn't happen," Gerrard once said.

As well as the Champions League, Gerrard won two FA

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard applauds fans as he walks on the pitch after his final game at Anfield.

(Reuters/Phil Noble Livepic)

2015 and spent 18 months with Galaxy, scoring five goals in 34 appearances.

While he never managed to win an English league title medal with Liverpool, Gerrard will forever be associated with the Champions League final in 2005 when Liverpool fought back from 3-0 down at halftime to win on penalties in Istanbul.

Gerrard scored Liverpool's first goal and drove the team on to arguably one of the greatest nights in the club's history.

Liverpool had looked on course for a first title in 24 years in 2014 after an 11-match winning streak but Gerrard's costly stumble at home to Chelsea in April gifted Demba Ba a goal that

Cups with Liverpool, three League Cups and the UEFA Cup. Individually he was named in third place in FIFA's World Player-of-theYear in 2005 and PFA Player-of-the-Year in 2006.

"I feel lucky to have experienced so many wonderful highlights and I'm proud to

have played over 700 games for Liverpool, many as captain, and helping to bring major honours back to the club, none more so than the famous night in Istanbul," Gerrard said in his lengthy statement.

He has been linked with a return to Anfield in a coaching capacity.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

du Plessis hits defiant ton to silence Adelaide boos (REUTERS) - South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis silenced the boos of

the Adelaide crowd with a defiant century before declaring on 259-9 and

giving his bowlers a crack at Australia in the final hour of the opening day

of the day-night third Test yesterday.

Australia got through the final 12 overs without loss but the declaration prevented Dave Warner from opening the batting as he was off the field towards the end of the South African innings.

Matt Renshaw, one of three new caps in the Australia side, and Usman Khawaja faced the new pink ball instead but they were only able to put 14 runs on the board and will resume on eight and three respectively today. du Plessis's timely declaration capped what must have been an extremely satisfying first day for the South African, who came to the crease to catcalls with his side tottering at 44-3 but departed to an ovation after hitting 118 not out.

Two days after being fined for ball-tampering during the second Test victory that sealed the series with a match to spare, du Plessis showed just the sort of grit and determination that Australia have been looking for from their batsmen.

The hosts have far fewer concerns about their pace attack and Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and the recalled Jackson Bird earlier showed why with a fine

display of fast bowling that had the first seven batsmen caught behind the wickets.

Hazlewood took 4-68, while Starc and Bird pitched in with two wickets each as the Australian quicks bowled disciplined lines with the pink ball on the Adelaide track. du Plessis had won the toss and decided to bat first but the first session went decisively to the hosts.

Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla and JP Duminy were dispatched for five runs apiece after opener Stephen Cook had earned a reprieve when Starc trapped him lbw only for the TV replay to show the left-armer had overstepped the mark.

Cook was unable to add to his series-best tally of 40 after the tea break before edging Starc to Steve Smith in the cordon and when Temba Bavuma (8) got an outside edge to a Bird delivery, the tourists were 117-5.

As on his Test debut at the same ground in 2013, when he hit 110 not out to help South Africa bat out four and a half sessions for a draw, it was left to du Plessis to frustrate the Australians.

He put on 32 with Quinton de Kock for the sixth wicket before Hazlewood served up another peach

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis celebrates his century during the first day of the Third Test cricket match in Adelaide.

(REUTERS/Jason Reed)

of a delivery to send the wicketkeeper back for 24, with Vernon Philander (4) following soon afterwards.

It was just after the end of his 54-run partnership with Kyle Abbott (17) that he secured his sixth Test hundred with two runs to fine leg off the 147th ball he faced.

As South Africa entered unfamiliar territory in their first night session in Test cricket, du Plessis put on another 39 runs with debutant left-arm finger-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (18 not out) before bringing an end to the innings.

SCOREBOARD

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings

S. Cook c Smith b Starc 40 D. Elgar c Khawaja b Starc 5 H. Amla c Renshaw b Hazlewood 5 J. Duminy c Wade b Hazlewood 5 F. du Plessis not out 118 T. Bavuma c Wade b Bird 8 Q. de Kock c Wade b Hazlewood 24 V. Philander c Wade b Hazlewood 4 K. Abbott lbw b Bird 17 K. Rabada stp. Wade b Lyon 1 T. Shamsi not out 18 Extras: (b-3, lb-8, nb-1, w-2) 14 Total: (for 9 wickets declared, 76 overs)

259

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-36, 3-44, 4-95 S. 5-117, 6-149, 7-161, 8-215t, 9-220.

Bowling: M. Starc 23-5-78-2 (nb-1, w-1), J. Hazlewood 22-5-68-4 (w-1), J. Bird 163-57-2, N. Lyon 15-1-45-1.

AUSTRALIA 1st innings U. Khawaja not out 3 M. Renshaw not out 8 Extras: (lb-2, nb-1) 3 Total: (for no loss, 12 overs) 14 Fall of wickets: Nil Bowling: V. Philander 4-2-10-0 (nb-1), K. Abbott 3-3-0-0, K. Rabada 3-2-1-0, T. Shamsi 2-1-1-0.

33

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

‘Axe Man’ Walters aims for KO against Lomachenko JAMAICAN pugilist Nicholas ‘Axe Man’ Walters is determined to not leave the decision up to the judges when he faces Ukrainian WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko on Saturday night.

In an impressive career so far, five of Walters’ 27 wins have come by way of decisions on the cards. The only blemish on his perfect record, however, a draw against American Jason Sosa last December also came via that route.

On that occasion the majority of onlookers and pundits seemed to agree that Walters should have won the fight and the Jamaican is determined to avoid a similar scenario on Saturday night.

"If the fight goes the distance, you leave it up to the judges and sometimes the judges can see it differently to the rest of the world, but it's their opinion that counts – I’ll try (my) best to not

Jamaican Nicholas `Axe Man’ Walters (left) is determined not to leave the decision up to the judges.

leave it to judges,” Walters told SkySports.

"The judges are there to judge, my job is to fight, whatever decision they come up with, we live with it.

I have twelve rounds to

try and take it out of their hands,” he added.

The Jamaican will head into the fight as the underdog but believes the fight will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase his talent.

"This is a great opportunity to show the world my talent and I'm not planning on going the distance, I've trained to get him out of the ring before the final bell.”

Malone century secures easy win for Floodlights LED by an attacking century from opener Ramo Malone, Floodlights emerged to a seven-wicket win over 4R when the two teams battled in a 20-over softball game last Friday evening, under lights at the Demerara Cricket Club ground.

Malone innings was the backbone in Floodlights’ successful run chase of 268.

They eventually reached 2693 in 19.3 overs, with Malone contributing 105 to the winning total.

Malone smashed four fours and ten sixes, and shared 120 runs with Patrick Khan for the first wicket.

Khan made 72, inclusive of five fours and seven sixes.

Imtiaz Baksh made an unbeaten 22 not out at the back end of the innings, while Richard Persaud scored 13.

Earlier, after winning the toss, 4R skipper Ricky Deonarain stroked an even century, after they were re-

Man-of-the-match Ramo Malone (left) collets his trophy from Eric Plummer in the presence of his teammates.

duced to 25-3.

Deonarain and Yunnis Yusuf (57) put together 110 for the sixth-wicket. Deonarain struck seven fours and

nine maximums before he retired, while other useful contributions came from Richie Deonarain 21, William Plummer 17 and Khalid

Baksh 16. Petamber Persaud had 3-29 and Jailall Deodass 2-26.

Malone was named man-of-the-match.

Big hockey wins for Pepsi Hikers and Woodpecker Hikers IT WAS exciting action as day one of the Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival came to an end on Wednesday at the National Gymnasium.

Four games were played on the day in four categories.

In the Men’s category, Bounty GCC came up against Old Fort. GCC took the lead in the 14th minute courtesy of Peter DeGroot but Jason DeSantos equalised three minutes later to end the first half 1-1. In the second half DeSantos scored again but Devin Hooper equalised to end the game 2-2 in the 40th minute.

In the second game, Woodpecker Hikers faced Old Fort in a female matchup which finished 4-1 in favour of the Hikers. Latacia Chung scored a hat-trick while Nicole Eastman had

the other goal for the Hikers.

Minsodia Culpepper had the only goal for Old Fort.

The third game was also in the Men’s category with Pepsi Hikers leaving the Avengers looking to avenge a 7-goal loss difference. The game finished 8-1 with 6 different players scoring for the Hikers. Randy Hope and Robert Hope each bagged two while Andrew Stewart, Paramanand Dindial, Rayon and Aroydy Brandford scored one each. In the blowout loss Kevin Edwards scored the lone goal for the Avengers.

In the final game in the Veterans’ category Bounty GCC defeated Old Fort 4-2. Dwayne Scott and Devin Hooper each scored two goals for the GCC side. Christopher LowKoan scored both goals for Old Fort.

Hart refutes claims of using injured goalie against medical advice PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC)- Head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago national senior team Stephen Hart is refuting allegations that he used injured goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams during the recent World Cup Qualifier against Honduras, against the advice of team doctor Terrence Babwah.

Hart’s denial follows the resignation of Dr.Babwah and team physiotherapist Dave Isaac in the wake of T&T’s 3-1 loss to Honduras in San Pedro Sula last week.

Their resignations were confirmed in a release issued by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA). “[Babwah] never told me it was not safe to play Jan. He never ever said that!

He told me that Jan had an injury [while we were] in Trinidad. He said Jan hurt his shoulder and he was struggling with it,” Hart told Wired868.

“So I said let us see how it works out. We had a light training session in Trinidad but then we had two training sessions in Panama and Jan trained twice fully. He dived, he did everything”.

According to the statement issued by TTFA, Dr. Babwah, a member of the

FIFA Medical Committee for over 10 years, said “his professional integrity and that of the Team’s medical staff, had been compromised by decisions made leading up to the Honduras game”. “ Mr. Dave Isaac, another clinical person who has been with the team for the past four years also tendered his resignation, citing concerns about specialist advice being ignored”, the release also stated.

But Hart has insisted that he was not advised against playing the T&T custodian.

“Why would I risk a goalkeeper if he couldn’t raise his arm?” asked Hart.

“That doesn’t make sense. Something is not reading right here at all. I have a picture right now with Jan’s arm fully in the air, which is the same arm they said he couldn’t raise. So I don’t know what is going on at all”.

During the qualifier against Honduras, Jan-Michael was taken off after receiving a knee to his head in a collision with striker Alberth Elis in the 10th minute.

Media reports here say he was knocked unconscious for about seven minutes and had to undergo a CT scan that showed no internal bleeding.

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

‘Eastern derby’ promises much; Conquerors to go all out for 3 points ... Test of wills in tonight’s STAG Elite double-header

By Ras Wadada AN explosion of wills is anticipated ahead of today’s GFF-STAG Elite League fixture between Buxton United and Monedderlust FC, set for the Tucville Community Centre ground, as Guyana’s 6-team top flight football continues.

Both sides are making their first appearance for this season two and from the confidence exuded by the coaches in charge, fans are in for a special treat in the ‘Eastern derby’ where Buxton hold a psychological advantage. In the four meetings of the Elite competition the Buxtonians have won twice and lost once while the other game was drawn.

Coach Herbert ‘Dan’ McPherson, who was at the helm in all meetings, feels his players are prepared and ready for the contest. “We have had satisfactory preparations and we are ready for the game. We are really focused as we need to make an early impact and start on a positive note in this first encounter. We are prepared,”

the ‘dreadlocked’ McPherson stressed.

The coach added that he will be looking to improve on last year’s poor finishing which cost the team a lot of games and this season he will be calling on Delon Wright and Clevon Barnwell to get it right in the attack.

“One of the main problems that cost us in the last season was goal-scoring because we created many scoring opportunities but just didn’t finish them and that is what we have mainly focused on in our preparations. I must say we have looked sharper in training. We have no fear for the opposition since we respect every team in the competition and on game day anything can happen.

“We go into every game feeling we can win and we feel we can beat any team in this competition; but while we respect every opposition we play, our aim is to win. Of course we feel we can win the Championship, but our first goal is to finish in the top four and then take it from there,” the Buxton coach claimed in an interview with Chronicle

Herbert ‘Dan’ McPherson

Sport yesterday via the telephone.

His opposite, Floyd ‘Running Man’ Cadogan, who is in charge at the Number Five Village team, is equally optimistic of the outcome.

“I have always been a competitor and I have learnt that if you want to win you have to prepare and we have been on that road for some weeks now and should give a good account for ourselves.

Winning is our first objective, but most important is how we play as a team.

“This is a good opportunity to test the chemistry to

see how ready we are on the pitch. We have been doing a lot of European methods of training, including tactics, and the players have adapted well, I must admit.

“I am confident we will give a good account as the players are dedicating the game to the late president and manager, Kevin Layne. Our plan is to go out and secure the victory and three points,” the former national striker shared with Chronicle Sport.

Cadogan also informed that young Atlyn Browne has returned after a brief stint in T&T and will boost the attack alongside the exciting Kevin Cotoye.

Double-header kickoff time this afternoon is 18:00hrs.

Meanwhile early title contenders, Fruta Conquerors FC, are set to add three more points when they confront a battered Victoria Kings in the night cap to follow.

“We are very confident of a victory and securing three more maximum points. We are looking forward to play with the same intensity and even give a better show than

Sampson Gilbert

the last game. We expect that after a team would have lost so heavily like Victoria did, they would go back to the drawing board and try and put in a better performance.

“Although we are confident we are looking forward to play with a level of maturity that would inhibit complacency, and we certainly look forward to a challenge from the Kings.

“Until the game is over we wouldn’t be taking anything for granted,” coach Sampson ‘Benniah’ Gilbert expressed to Chronicle Sport.

The Conquerors line-up in the opening fixture consisted of mostly U-19 players and according to the coach

no changes are expected for today’s starting eleven.

Jermaine Junior (2) and Kwame La Fleur (1) who scored in the comfortable 3-0 win against Topp XX will again lead the attack in tandem with playmaker Eon Alleyne.

After a baptism of goals in their first Elite match the Kings have made some changes and have been hard at training since the embarrassing 7-1 defeat. Efforts to get coach Gavin ‘Jughead’ Huntley via the phone proved futile, but a reliable source indicated the loss impacted heavily on the village and the players, and coaching staff is now under pressure to improve.

It has also been whispered that 41-year-old player/coach Winston Pompey is expected to make a return, along with 21-year-old Akeem Holder who has an appetite for scoring goals. His uncle, Andrew ‘Dumb Boy’ Holder has also been added to the coaching staff.

Another defeat for the Kings could very well lead to the first coaching casualty of the season. Kickoff time is scheduled for 20:00hrs.

DIGICEL Regional 4-Day

Teams aim to prove their consistency in third round ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Round 3 of the Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament, starting today, is shaping up to be packed with intrigue, following a couple of earth-shattering results last weekend.

Jamaica Scorpions will

host current leaders Barbados Pride in the feature match of the round at Sabina Park; Trinidad & Tobago Red Force will face a buoyant Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Queen’s Park Oval and Windward Islands Volcanoes will meet two-time defending

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

COMPLIMENTS OF: THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE 176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 10-1-46-3 (2) 29 deliveries Today’s Quiz: (1) Which two teams have made it to the final of the current Tri-Nations ODI series?

(2) Where is the final game of the Tri-Nations ODI series scheduled to be played?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

champions Guyana Jaguars in a day/night affair, starting tomorrow, at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Ground.

In Kingston, Jamaica: Both the Scorpions and the Pride found their groove in the second round, leading them to confident victories. The introduction of pace-bowling points this season has made things very tight in the Championship table.

The Scorpions are fifth – following their 41-run, comefrom-behind win over the Volcanoes – and are a mere 3.4 behind the Pride with the Hurricanes, Jaguars and Red Force bunched in between.

This means both teams have an incentive for a big haul of points this weekend to see if they can create some daylight between themselves

and the rest of the teams that have put themselves in the frame for the title early. In the last five matches between the two sides at this venue, both teams have won twice and the Pride dominated the other which was a draw.

So it comes down to which side will show greater heart over the next four days, since bowling appears to be the strength of the two teams, but the batting will hold the key to the result.

In Port of Spain, Trin-

idad: The Hurricanes will be fresh from their record-breaking run chase that should give them far more confidence and the Red Force will be smarting from a thumping at the hands of their arch-rivals.

This match will confirm one way or the other which of the two sides is the genuine article. The Hurricanes will be looking to prove their best starts for several seasons has been down to proper preparation and careful planning, and the Red Force will be looking to debunk any questions about their legitimacy.

The two sides have shared the last four matches played between them in Trinidad which indicates that neither can afford to take the other lightly.

The Hurricanes, on pa-

per, appear to hold the edge with a number of regulars, but the Red Force can be a difficult side to overcome in their conditions when they put their collective minds to the task.

In Gros-Islet, St Lucia: Both the Volcanoes and the Jaguars will be looking to rebound from demoralising defeats in the previous round.

The Volcanoes failed to chase down a modest target of 105 against the Scorpions, and the Jaguars failed to make the inroads into the Hurricanes’ batting, conceding the highest fourth-innings total to win in the history of the modern (1966 onwards) R4-Day. History favours the Jaguars: They have won the last four contests between the two sides at home and on the road including last year’s match at this venue.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 25, 2016

Zimbabwe game is like a final - Roddy Estwick WEST Indies coach Roddy Estwick believes the team has to approach tomorrow’s match against Zimbabwe like a final if they want to get to Sunday’s final against Sri Lanka in the tri-nation series currently under way in Zimbabwe.

After opening with a win against Sri Lanka the West Indies have gone winless in their last two games, tying with Zimbabwe before losing to Sri Lanka by one run on Wednesday.

The result means the West Indies find themselves in a must-win situation as they have seven points, three more than the home team.

S r i L a n k a h a v e 11 points from their three matches.

Estwick said the West Indies have to remain focused on getting an important victory on Friday.

that and focus on getting the job done. “We can’t worry about the weather too much. All we can do is worry about the things we can control and we can control having a good solid performance tomorrow,” he said.

The coach is buoyed by the fact that despite the two most recent results, the team has been playing

Evin Lewis made a sparkling 148 off 112 balls against Sri Lanka.

“It’s like two finals. It is very important that we win this first final and get ready for the second final on Sunday,” he said.

The weather forecast for Bulawayo is for cool conditions with the possibility of rain but Estwick said the West Indies needs to ignore

Onika Fraser sets new record in Teachers

Over-40 discus throw

WEST Demerara’s Oneka Fraser of District 3 has set a new record in the Teachers’ Over-40 discus throw.

Her district will enter the final day of competition at the National Schools Championships safe in the knowledge that they have been putting up a sturdy defence of their title in the Teachers’ competition of the event. They ended the day in the lead with 214 points at the Guyana National Stadium.

As their teachers continued to excel in the field and on the track, District 3 continued to rake in the points and enter today’s competition as the only district to pass the 200-point mark.

Their nearest competitors, South Georgetown (District 13), have just 177 points, while following not too far behind are Bartica (District 7) with 153.5 points and North Georgetown (District 11) with 152 points.

North West (District 1) have 143 points, closely challenged by East Georgetown (District 12), with 129 points and Upper Demerara/Kwakwani (District 10) with 101 points.

With double digit points are Corentyne (District 6) 93 points, East Bank Demerara (District 14) 87 points, and

East Coast Demerara (District 4) 56 points.

In addition to Fraser who copped some of the big wins for District 3 were Kevin Paul in the sprints, and Alexander Clarke in the distances and Oneka Fraser out on the field.

Fraser flung the discus 22.97m to erase the sevenyear-old 22.44m record that Neibert Hale set in 2009. She outdid both Cindy Bourne (17.62m), and Nima Flue-Bess (17.11m).

In the male teachers 2130, Paul and Clarke took the sprint and distance doubles respectively. Paul yesterday clocked 23.5 seconds in the 200m to add to his win in the 100m on Wednesday.

In the 200m, District 11’s Floyd Phillips celebrated second-place after clocking a time of 24.1 seconds, while Roy Haney picked up six points for District 10 when he ran 24.5 seconds for third.

Clarke won the 1500m in a time of 5:14.8s surpassing the 5:15.0s that District 6’s Cleon Smartt clocked to gain second place. Another 30 seconds away Andrew Campbell finished in third.

There was also the Teachers’ Over-40 200m, w o n b y D i s t r i c t 3 ’s Kharlyn Henry in a time of 35.6 seconds.

well. In their last match the West Indies chasing 331 for victory came within one run of their target while in the previous match they tied Zimbabwe’s 258 to get a share of the points.

Evin Lewis, he said, has found good form and is one prospect for the future.

“It was a top innings,” he said of Lewis 148 off 122 balls with 15

fours and four sixes that brought the West Indies to within a run of their highest ever ODI run chase.

“He didn’t get many in the first two games but against Sri Lanka I thought he played well. He hit the ball down the ground nicely and once he got 50 he wanted to go on so that’s a good sign. When you see that in players who want to make

big scores all bodes well for the future.”

He also praised team captain Roland Holder whom he said has held the middle and lower order together with his batting and has carried over his bowling form from Sharjah to this competition. where he is the leading wickettaker. (Sportsmax. com)

Onika Fraser sets new record in Teachers Over-40 discus throw 35 P.

Skeete, McKoy set records as Linden climb to 100-point lead

… Sprint doubles for Caesar, Williams, distance doubles for Lynch, Urquhart See story on page 30

District 10’s Daniel Williams cruises to the Boys’ U-18 200m win, to take a sprint double.

District 10’s Compton Caesar took the sprint double after he copped the Boys’ U-20 200m win.

District 10’s Deshanna Skeete wins the Girls’ U-16 200m as District 11’s Kenisha Phillips struggles to catch up.

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District 11’s Claudrice McKoy finishes the Girls’ U-18 1500m in record-breaking time.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016