Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 26 04 2016

Living Hell No. 104533

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TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2016

Price: $80

(Vat Inclusive)

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Anna Catherina woman gives chilling account living with a murderer

A Hymac clears an outfall channel at Winsor Forest, West Coast Demerara to improve drainage in that and surrounding communities. This part of Region Three is vulnerable to flooding during heavy rainfall (Adrian Narine photo)

Ex-cop Bandit killed Dharm survives by own Shala execution weapon turns 95 attempt Page

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Soldier dies Taxi driver also charged in accident for Hackett’s murder

By Alva Solomon

A 20-year-old Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank died on Monday morning after the Toyota pick-up he was travelling in turned turtle near Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo.

Shawn Spellen, 20, of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara (WCD), sustained mainly head injuries; and those injured in the accident include Keron Moore, 21; Denzil Moore, said to be in his 20s; and another occupant of the vehicle whose name could not be verified.

The injured were transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital at daybreak for further treatment.

A police release said Spellen was an occupant of a motor vehicle which suffered a puncture, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Spellen was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he later succumbed.

Reports are that the young men had ventured to

Dead: Shawn Spellen

the Parika area on Sunday evening, and after partying that night, they left the location for home. At about 02:30 hrs, they were in the vicinity of Bushy Park when the accident occurred.

Relatives of Spellen reported that he was sitting in the tray of the vehicle, a Toyota Tundra, when it overturned on the public road.

Public-spirited citizens responded to the accident and ferried the injured men to the hospital.

Police are investigating the accident.

TAXI driver Ranachal Singh of Good Faith, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara appeared on Monday before Sparendaam Magistrate Zameena Ally-Seepaul to answer a charge of murder committed on Simone Hackett.

Singh was not required to plead to the capital offence, which alleged that between April 16 and 19, at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, he killed Simone Hackett of ‘C’ Field Sophia.

Police Inspector Hattie Anthony indicated that the police file is still incomplete, thus the matter has been adjourned to May 18.

According to Anthony, during the evening of April 16, Singh, along with the woman’s child-father Clevaughn Hamilton, picked up Hackett from UG Access Road. The court heard that Hackett was taken further down the said road, and was killed.

The prosecutor added that Singh knew the man had killed Hackett, but still transported him to Mahdia, after the woman’s body was dumped. The taxi driver was detained after his bloodstained vehicle was found

Taxi Driver Ranachal Singh

Cleavaughn Hamilton

Simone Hackett

last Friday in Mahdia. The accused had reportedly instructed his girlfriend to wash his car.

Attorney-at-law Jerome Khan, representing the accused, said his client is innocent of the charge, and he is confident that the charge will be “worn out” at the end of the preliminary inquiry.

Last Friday, the dead woman’s child father, Clevaughn Hamilton, called “Quarters”, was also charged for her murder, and was remanded until May 18.

The mother of one was reported missing by relatives on April 17, after she had not returned the previous night from going to collect a package allegedly sent from

Mahdia by Hamilton.

Investigators had questioned a bus driver and conductor who had transported Hamilton to the City a day before Hackett went missing.

The report of the post-mortem performed

on Hackett indicated that she died as a result of incised wounds to the neck.

Her body was discovered by two schoolboys on their way to school, and was positively identified by relatives.

Joan Simone-Blossom Age: 71 years old Address: Lot 3930 La Parfaite Harmonie, West Minister, West Coast Demerara Profession/occupation: Retired headmistress, Aurora Primary School, Essequibo Coast. Joan was born to Oscar Eric Simone, a post master and Julianna Beatrice Simone, a well-known seamstress. She started her teaching career at age, 15, in 1960 as a pupil teacher.

Simone, a mother of two children, has taught at six different schools throughout Guyana Hobbies: Music, dancing, worshiping Motto: Modesty, simplicity and honesty acknowledging God as the creator of all things

Living Hell

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 26, 2016

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Anna Catherina woman gives chilling account living with a murderer

By Neil Marks THE woman who stared down the face of death and finally mustered the courage to tell police that her reputed husband was behind the murder of a businesswoman and her two young sons four years ago has spoken out about the life of misery she had faced.

The man, Abishai Caesar, 31, is expected to face three counts of murder today, and also charges for threatening behaviour and assault causing actually bodily harm to his wife.

The woman, who will not be named, went to the police on Friday after Caesar had forced her to strip naked and parade in their yard at the crack of dawn – a threat on which he delivered to shame the woman, and her family who lived a short distance away.

Hours earlier, at just about midnight, he had brutalised her and said he would deliver on his promise to kill her.

ESCAPE Once Caesar had left for work at the barber shop he operated in the Tuschen New Housing scheme, East Bank Essequibo, the woman seized the opportunity to escape.

She went to her father’s house, a short distance away, and when it got dark, she went to the police. She would have had to pass Caesar’s barbershop to get to the police outpost.

She told the police that she had been forced to strip,

and of the beatings she had received hours earlier. She also told them of previous cases of abuse.

Reports are that Officer McBeth of the Tuschen Outpost went to the home of the couple – a zinc shack built on government reserve at the back of the Tuschen Scheme.

The barber was not at home.

On Saturday, at just about lunch time, McBeth visited the barber shop in White Tank Street in the Tuschen Scheme, where he arrested Caesar and took him to the

It was a truth that the woman had lived with for years; living a life of fear because Caesar had threatened to kill her and her family if she squealed on him.

The woman told the Guyana Chronicle that on the night of the murders, Caesar had told her he needed money and was heading out.

She said she had seen him go up the neighbour’s house – that of Mrs Persaud.

She said she retired to bed, but then she heard screams coming from the house.

She said Caesar told her he had seen the young boys lying in the house and had figured they would get up because of the noise, and so he decided in a split second to slit their little throats also.

Caesar was never a suspect in the case, and the couple continued living next door to the murder scene for a while, until they moved into a house situated in the seawall section of Anna Catherina.

Later, they moved in with Caesar’s sister at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara,

they moved there with their daughter.

The woman is originally from Port Kaituma in the North West District, but did not grow up with her parents.

She was sent to the Coast to

Abishai Caesar

The house Caesar built on squatter land at Tuschen, where the couple lived

Leonora Police Station.

Once the woman was told of Caesar’s arrest, she returned to the station and told police they should also question Caesar for the 2012 murders of Anna Catherina liquor store owner Jennifer Persaud and her sons Afridi Bacchus, six, and Jadon Persaud, 18 months.

CONFESSION Later, Caesar returned home and confessed to her that he had gone to the house to steal. She said Caesar told her he had managed to find only $3,000, but that Mrs Persaud had awoken and so he had to kill her because she had recognised him.

but they were put out of the house, the woman said.

They then moved into a house with an elderly lady a little down the street from Caesar’s sister, and in January of this year, Caesar said he had acquired some money and was going to squat on a piece of land on the government reserve, and

live with her grandmother at the age of four, and when she was in her teens, she moved in with her father, her stepmother and their family.

It was there, at the age of 15, that she first set eyes on Caesar, then 26. He was working as a mason on a house not too far from her father’s house. Caesar would come to the house to buy egg-ball and other snacks the family was selling.

The two of them struck up a relationship, and at the age of 16, fearing that she wouldn’t do well at the CXC exams and would waste the money her family would spend on the examinations, she dropped out of school and started living with Caesar.

ABUSE She said the abuse started early, but she thought that things would change as time went by. The two ended up having a daughter, and, the woman said, she had hoped that that would have caused Caesar to end his abusive ways, but that did not happen.

And then came last Friday’s torrent of blows, and she decided she had to flee for her life and that of her daughter.

“I had to do it, or I would have died. I can’t go back on the years; now I have to look ahead.”

When questioned by police, Caesar confessed to killing the Anna Catherina woman and her two children.

The woman’s father told the Guyana Chronicle that he had always suspected that his daughter was being abused, but every time he asked, she would deny there was a problem.

The last time -- when she was punched to the face and he had seen the marks around her eyes -- he asked her what had happened, but she did not fess up. He decided to confront Caesar, who claimed the woman was stung by bees.

“He is sick; he will (rot) in jail,” the man declared.

The woman is now left to contemplate her future. She would like to enter the Guyana Police Force, but is not sure how that will happen, and how she will take care of her daughter.

Caesar has four other children – two boys and two girls. He is expected to be arraigned in court today.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Bandit killed by own weapon

By Navendra Seoraj

A YARROWKABRA, Soesdyke-Linden Highway businessman was able to save his entire family from the negative effects of a bandit attack on his home on Sunday evening.

Explaining the horrific incident to the Guyana Chronicle, the businessman said the ordeal began at about 20:00 hrs that evening, when he exited his bathroom and saw his family, whom he had left outside on the veranda, running back into the house.

According to him, it appeared as if they were being chased by someone who had subsequently fallen after tripping over a chair.

“The man ran behind my family and fell over a chair.

their escape.

The businessman has expressed fear for the safety of his family, since this was the first time an incident of this nature had occurred.

His fear is exacerbated by the fact that he has resided in the area for almost 15 years.

He has had to send away his children because of fear that the bandits might make another attempt to rob his family.

Members of the small community are seemingly in a state of shock because, according to some of them, incidents like these rarely happen in the area.

A police report has said the dead bandit has been identified as 32-year-old Raphael Armstrong, known as “Scar”, of Friendship, East Bank Demerara.

The police explained that a scuffle ensued between the shopkeeper and Raphael Armstrong, during which Armstrong’s firearm fell to the ground. The shopkeeper retrieved the weapon and shot Armstrong to his body, while his accomplice fled.

Armstrong was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, and the unlicensed firearm has been handed over to the police, even as investigations are being conducted.

The scene inside the shopkeeper’s home after the bandit was shot and killed

After that, we got into a scuffle, and what appeared to be a gun fell out of his hand,” the businessman said.

In shock, he said, he reached for the gun, and in an act of self-defence, released just about three rounds at the bandit, hitting

him and reportedly killing him on the spot.

Seven children, his wife, brother and another relative were in the house, and they were all left traumatized, given that this was the first time they had experienced something like this.

Asked how many people he believes had carried out the attack, the businessman said that to his knowledge, and based on what he had seen, the man he had shot had at least one accomplice lurking outside of the home. However, a relative who had seen the robbers said there were at least six of them.

After their colleague was shot, the robbers made good

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Local Gov’t Elections cases adjourned

HEARING of the applications by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) member Zulfikar Mustapha in the ‘Local Government Elections cases’ has been adjourned to May 6, 2016, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, has said.

Speaking at a press conference held at his Carmichael Street office last week, Minister Williams noted that he attended the Court of Chief Justice (ag) Madam Yonette Cummings-Edwards on April 20, for the hearing of the application by Mustapha, after it was adjourned by Justice Diane Insanally on April 6.

However, upon arrival at the Chief Justice’s Chambers, he was informed by her clerk that the matters were reassigned to Justice Insanally.

“The matters were called in the Chambers of Justice Insanally, who stated that she (had) re-sent the file to the Chief Justice. Justice Insanally stated that the file was returned to the Chief Justice on the basis that the Chancellor of the Judiciary instructed her to deal only with the orders nisi on the matters and return same to the Chief Justice,” the Legal Affairs Minister said.

He also noted that Justice Insanally stated “unequivocally” that she found it very unusual and suspicious that counsel for the applicant, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, approached the Chancellor for his advice on how to proceed with the matter.

The known procedure, ac-

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Attorney General Basil Williams

cording to Minister Williams, is that prerogative writs are heard by the Bail Court Judge in the absence of the Chief Justice.

“According to Justice Insanally, she felt ‘forum-shopped’ and that the matter was purposely placed before her,” Williams said.

However, he noted that Justice Insanally granted the respondents seven days to file the affidavits in answer, and seven days thereafter to file affidavits in response. The cases were adjourned to May 6 at 09:00 hrs.

Bartica man charged with rape of minor Fifty-year-old Lakeram Persaud of Bartica, Region Seven was remanded to prison on Monday after being charged for raping a 12-year-old girl.

The man appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

It is alleged that he engaged in sexual penetration of the child sometime earlier this year in Bartica.

The matter was heard ‘in camera’ and Persaud did not have legal representation. The matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for May 11.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Dharm Shala turns 95

First Lady Sandra Granger addresses the gathering at the 95th Anniversary celebration of the Dharm Shala

By Shirley Thomas THE Dharm Shala, ‘Home of Benevolence for all Races’, has celebrated 95 years of caring for the destitute and other needy persons in Guyana.

On Monday, a thanksgiving ceremony was held at the Dharm Shala Complex at 156 King Edward Street, Albouystown, Georgetown to mark this occasion.

First Lady Sandra Granger also performed the distinguished task of declaring open the institution’s exhibition, featuring 50 pieces of antique artifacts taken from the site of the Old Dutch Fort-- Fort Canje -- in Berbice.

The Dharm Shala in Berbice was built on that site.

Among the distinguished attendees were The Right Reverend Bishop Charles Davidson of the Anglican Diocese; His Lordship, Bishop Francis Alleyne of the Roman Catholic Diocese; and Reverend Terrison Riehl and Pandit Kampta Persaud, who all offered prayers of thanksgiving; Caricom Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan; Dr Yesu Persaud; Ron Robinson and Nicholas Boyer, Director

of National Hardware, who did the reflections.

Hosting the programme were Pamela and Kella Ramsaroop, granddaughters and daughters respectively of founder of the Dharm Shala, Ramsaroop Maraj, and his son Harry Ramsaroop, who continued to champion the great humanitarian cause for another 29 years after his father’s death, until the time of his demise in October 2013.

The FirstLady commended the noble feat by Pandit Ramsaroop Maraj, a jeweller who, moved by the plight of the poor and needy, gave up his trade in 1921 and devoted his life to this higher purpose - the establishment of the Dharm Shala.

Observing that the Home of Benevolence was birthed in Albouystown in 1921, and in 1941 extended to Berbice, the First Lady considers it amazing that, 95 years later, the institution continues to provide succor to the needy under the stewardship of Pandit Maraj’s son’s (Pandit Harry Ramsaroop’s) daughters, Kella and Pamela.

The First Lady recalled that Pandit Ramsaroop ventured into this noble humanitarian

activity with assistance from businessmen and residents, and gradually the Hindu community.

Not only did the Dharm Shala provide a home for the poor, but also religious, medical and educational facilities for them, she said.

Mrs Granger has memories of her days as a child attending St Joseph’s High School in the late 1950s when it was located in Howes Street, Charlestown.

“I was always awe-struck by the number of people who came out to the Dharm Shala, on Fridays in particular, to seek alms. But I was equally struck by the way shopkeepers would line up their coins (which were valuable in those days) to give alms to the residents as they came each Friday.”

She remarked that it was a kind of society wherein there were always people who recognised the need in others and were prepared to give back.

As the institution approaches its centenary, Mrs Granger said, it is fitting to dedicate and commemorate those decades of commemoration to this tradition of service that has continued through three generations of the Ramsaroop family.

Remarking that it was one of the longest-serving humanitarian organisations in Guyana, Mrs Granger commended Pamela and Kella Ramsaroop for keeping up with their grandfather’s dreams and for devoting themselves to the Dharm Shala.

A History of the Dharm Shala was given by Pamela Ramsaroop, while Nicholas Boyer shared reflections of his family’s humanitarian association with the Dharm Shala, dating back to the times of his grandfather who was a very close friend of Pandit Harry Ramsaroop.

He recalled that his grandfather was so touched by the mis-

Kella Ramsaroop takes Mrs Granger (at right) through the exhibition of antiques sion, compassion and commitment of Harry Ramsaroop that he eventually became involved with the Dharm Shala.

Members of the private sector were encouraged to continue

to donate from their largesse to the wonderful benevolent home. The Dharm Shala is an award-winning humanitarian organization, and has had visits from royalty. It has won several

accolades, including those from King George.

The institution has so far constructed nine buildings between Georgetown and Berbice.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

Thinking big

GUYANA has the potential to become the richest and most prosperous country in the Caribbean community.

This is because of the following factors: (i) Its land mass (ii) Its abundance of natural resources (iii) Its diversity of cultures, which comes with a multiracial society that allows us to learn from situations through different vantage points; and (iv) Its commitment to co-exist for the betterment of country. With these factors, there is no limit to our potential.

With approximately 65 percent of the population being 40 years old and younger, people need something to look forward to. This is where mentorship and leadership are important. Leadership here does not mean that from a positional standpoint, but that from wisdom and understanding.

For where knowledge is a library of information, wisdom is an ongoing responsibility of leaders.

It requires just a few leaders with wisdom to inspire and motivate the current generation, not just on what they know, but what they are willing to do. The leadership by example approach is important, given that people, by nature, will follow anyone with a sense of purpose, good or bad.

This focus for development starts with rethinking education. This should factor in how education is being used to bring out the best in people, their ambition and desire, which would entail a level of responsibility for others and the nation. Education is also hinged on accountability and responsibility to make sure that the next generation can surpass the accomplishments of the present generation.

For instance, this can be achieved with the focus being on specialised knowledge, not just general knowledge, which can lead to confusion and stall ambition.

Specialised knowledge creates excitement in a specific field of interest, and should be led by those who mastered that area of expertise. This does not necessarily have to come from a work or study environment, but one that will also factor in using the expertise from those who, through employment and economic opportunities, created avenues for others.

Where Guyana has the potential to be self-sufficient and producing what is needed for the rest of the Caribbean, with an awareness and responsibility for the environment and ecological system, income and economic opportunities can abound. Government can create the enabling environment through research and development, tax incentives, supports service such as education, technical assistance and improved infrastructure.

A land that has multiple sources to organically produce fruits, vegetables and livestock aids limiting illnesses and

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

A response to Harry Gill’s letter Dear Editor, KINDLY permit me opportunity to respond to Mr. Harry Gill’s letter, published in your newspaper on Sunday, 24th April, 2016.

Editor, I would like to deal categorically with the issues that Mr. Gill raised.

1: I was travelling in a hire car some time prior to the 2015 General and Regional Elections and Mr. Harry Gill was speaking to two young ladies about the People’s National Congress (PNC) and Mr. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

Sir, the lies he was pedalling were more than I could take, so, as a proud member of the PNC, I set the record straight, much to his displeasure; for he was trying to mislead these two young ladies, who had not even been born at the time of Mr. Burnham’s tenure, and even at the time of his death.

2: Editor, during the November 2015 Remembrance Ceremony at the Regional Democratic Council Compound, I was given poppies by the Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Govind Singh, to give to the Regional Councillors present. The Regional Vice Chairman, Mr. Rion Peters, who is a Councillor, was standing in the company of Mr. Gill when I gave him his poppy. I then went on to give the other Councillors poppies. A few minutes after, Mr. Gill approached me and introduced himself as a Region 5 Member of Parliament, and I told him he was not our Member of Parliament, for we have two Members of Parliament -- Ms. Jennifer Wade and Ms. Priya Manickchand. He then said he was representing Ms. Manickchand, who could not make it, so I directed him to the Regional Chairman, and never uttered another word to him for the balance of the day.

3: I am at a loss to understand the encounter Mr. Gill spoke about at the Woodlands/Bel Air NDC Office, for I had won the second prize at the Survival Supermarket Christmas 2015 Bonanza, which was a trip for four to Jamaica, and I departed Guyana on OJ 262 Fly Jamaica with my three family members on the evening of Friday, April 01, 2016 and returned on the evening of Thursday, April 07, 2016 on OJ 263 Fly Jamaica (See attached documentation to substantiate my response).

The Election of which Mr. Gill wrote about took place on Tuesday April, 05, 2016.

4: Editor, the Thursday, April 21st, 2016 encounter to which Mr. Gill referred in his letter is nothing but a figment of his imagination. On Sunday, April 17th, 2016, on the Programme ‘Perspective’, Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha, Regional Chairman and Regional Vice Chairman publicly called on the people of Region 5 to come out in their numbers and support them at the Regional Statutory Meeting. Editor, the people came out, but not in support of the PPP/C but in support of the Coalition Councillors, who are demanding an apology from the Regional Chairman Mr. Vickchand Ramphal for diseases associated with food that are grown with artificial aid and ingredients. Locally produced commodities also bring national pride.

There is also need in thinking big to ensure protection of landmass. The majority of the population lives on the coastland, which is below sea level. With climate change, maintenance and forward planning are important to protect the land as we know it, and the people and their properties. Our waterways/irrigation system and sea defences were designed by the Dutch, who have for centuries distinguished themselves as the best in the field of water management. The efforts by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure in tackling this issue, in conjunction with Dutch expertise, are noted and welcomed.

Reliable, efficient and reasonably priced electricity, where this nation can source alternative through water, wind and sun, is needed to make sure location is not a hindrance to development, connectivity to other parts of the country/world,

disrespecting His Excellency on two occasions: January 15, 2016 when he did not show up for handing over of two school buses to the Region, and March 5, 2016 at Foulis, West Coast Berbice at a public meeting where he referred to His Excellency, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, as a “Jackass”.

Editor, the picketing exercise was very peaceful. At about 10:30 hrs, I was standing in the middle of the entrance of the Boardroom Compound singing, along with the residents, when Mr. Harry Gill, armed with a camera -- minus the tripod that he claimed he had -- passed very close to my right and he, on passing, raised his elbow and hit me at the right side of my right breast. I immediately reported it to the Police Officers present, who advised me to make a report at the Fort Wellington Police Station next door. I complied and was given a medical form to go see the doctor. I then returned to the Boardroom and spoke to the Regional Health Officer, who was present and who advised me that I would have to have the area x-rayed.

I left the Boardroom en route to the Fort Wellington Hospital when, somewhere in the vicinity of the entrance to the boardroom compound and the public road, I felt a sharp pain which caused me to fall, and all I can remember is waking up to persons fanning me and hearing the calls of persons for the ambulance.

Editor, I was assisted by several persons, all of whom can attest to the assault by Mr. Gill.

On or around this time, the Commander of “B” Division arrived and advised the persons present that it is illegal to block the entrance of the Boardroom. I then echoed his call and left for the Fort Wellington Hospital with a private car.

Editor, Mr. Harry Gill made mention in his letter that I am suspended from the Council. Well, I would be happy to know from him when this happened, since he did mention that since January 2016 the Council did not hold a statutory meeting.

Editor, Mr. Harry Gill’s comments of hindering the progress of Region No. 5 should be associated with the PPP/C Councillors who, in 2015 and 2016, refused to vote on the Budget presented.

The Honourable Minister of Communities gave all the Regional Chairmen of the administrative regions a document -- Regional Development -- to discuss at Council level since June 2015. To date, that document has not reached the council.

When the Coalition Councillors asked about the document, the Regional Chairman said the PPP/C rejects the document.

Editor, it is disgraceful when, at a statutory meeting of the council, a PPP/C councillor called His Excellency “a criminal” and the Regional Chairman did not discipline her.

Editor, if standing up to the PPP/C for disrespecting the President, His Excellency Mr. David Arthur Granger, is disgraceful, then I will continue to be disgraceful until His Excellency is apologised to by Regional Chairman Mr. Vickchand Ramphal.

Respectfully, CAROL JOSEPH and access to information.

It may be necessary to think about Guyana once again having its own airline. Apart from pride, it shows the country is developing. Transportation is needed to bridge all communities for trade and tourism. People move when there is trade.

Trade creates travel, new communities and local institutions, generating additional economic potential.

Guyana has a tri-sector economy-government, business and cooperative, and all should be allowed the scope to succeed. Government should make full use of the role as the conscience of the people by making sure things are done correctly, freely and consistent with the laws. The cooperative sector should be given needed technical support and be left alone to flourish in the areas of choice. And the private sector should take its rightful place in entrepreneurship consistent with the associated risk, responsibility and benefits.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

GNNL Board has never directed interference in content for political reasons Dear Editor,

THIS is what I hope to be my sole intervention on the recent controversy surrounding the management of the state media. In a fledgling democracy such as ours, (and I count from 2011, not 1966 or 1992) the rationale for a state media, managed in trust for the benefit of the citizens of Guyana, is a necessity.

While private media run by private interests are critical to free expression, private interests can be capricious and compromised in the way that a responsible state media managed by competent people cannot.

Guyanese have a fundamental, constitutionally stipulated right to transmit and receive information, and it is my belief that until such time that our media policy and infrastructure environment evolves to the point where there is truly

equitable access to media, the facilitation of this fundamental right is the primary duty and obligation of the state media.

The question that many seem to have a problem with is precisely who or what constitutes the state.

If there is anyone in the corridors of power who believes (and I have no doubt that there are several) that the primary purpose of the state media is to be a PR agency for the executive, that person possesses at best a poor understanding of what constitutes democracy in general and the role of the state media (where it is necessary for it to exist in the first place) in that democratic ecosystem.

The core purpose of the state is to deliver a good life to its citizens. It follows from this that the first duty of the institutions of any democratic state is equitably delivered service

Is the new format in the SSEE above board?

Dear Editor,

“BASE all educational efforts on building up the character of the students, and then you can confidently think of raising on it the super-structure of the curricula”, says Sai Baba.

With public disclosures forthcoming from the Chief Education Officer, two former Education Ministers and the current Minister, in addition to radio/TV advertisements compliments of the Ministry of Education, it would be remiss of me not to inquire whether the new format being introduced by the Education Ministry is foolproof and above board.

Throughout the length and breadth of Guyana, within the Government’s primary schools, the relevant PTA’s had convened the respective meetings to duly inform parents of changes within the exams. Given the extended period of Parliament’s recess, a glorious opportunity has been lost for a debate on what is best suited for the nation’s children who are sitting the examination.

This, however, would have been dependent upon the Opposition’s request for a

“Special Sitting”. Inclusionary Democracy at work!

Finally, with the relevant adjustments/modernization, would the examinations become easier or more complicated? Would the Grades 2 and 4 Assessments still be taken into consideration? Would biasness or favouritism be entrenched in the marking of exam papers, based on leakages, since the names of students would be written on the respective papers as a replacement of the previous identification of a candidate number? Was a mock exam done prior towards ensuring the new policy would produce the desired results and understanding by the children?

Nevertheless, I extend wishes for the best of success to all the students who are sitting the examinations. May God’s grace and the fellowship of His Holy Spirit, through His only Begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, be with you all now and forevermore. May God guide these young minds -- the nation’s future -- to be successful with their examinations!

Respectfully yours, LESTER SEALEY

to its citizens. Just as the public health infrastructure cannot tailor its distribution of medicine based on political interests, the state media should not tailor its distribution of information to the citizens of Guyana based upon narrow political interests. This is a position that President David Granger has made pellucid time and time again.

That, however, is the abstraction. We are where we are, mired in this imbroglio, because there are several concrete realities which impact upon executing a programme in keeping with that abstraction.

The primary reality is that, from the inception, the government has had a general communication crisis on its hands, partly due to the general paucity of communication skills in Guyana, partly because of the poor infrastructure left in place by its predecessor, and partly due to the challenges of cohesion that necessarily plague such a new coalition.

While education and training are sufficient to tackle the former, it is time that, at senior level, the hard-nosed decision is taken to clean house and put in place a strong government communications framework that treats the state media fundamentally no differently from the private media, as opposed to a PR outlet for government agencies.

When it comes to the Chronicle itself, there have been inexcusable blunders even as there has been tremendous improvement from the nadir to which the former administration had brought it. As a member of what I believe to be in sum a competent, reputable board, the

prevailing challenge at GNNL is that the very principle of non-interference prevents the board from descending into the editorial decision-making process and making direct interventions into what particular column or article or letter gets published.

I can say with confidence that the Board of GNNL has never directed interference in content for political reasons, particularly to paint the current executive government in an unduly favourable light. Indeed, when one such clumsy attempt was done, a process of inquiry was followed, subsequent to which the person responsible was sanctioned.

On the other hand, it cannot be ignored that the PM’s Office has not directly responded to claims of interference. This is unfortunate. If there are direct meetings as a matter of policy with state media editorial department heads, these should cease. The board of a state media entity exists primarily to provide a buffer between the executive and the management of that entity, a function rendered practically useless if there is any mechanism which, whatever the premise, circumvents the board and engages editorial directly.

Another challenge, of course, is that for the state media to achieve balance, particularly in the field of political reporting, there has to be a political opposition with some modicum of integrity, and there is none. When the board was first constituted, we were adamant that the PPP had to be represented in the paper as a matter of policy, and it was left

to the editorial department to reach out to the party in this regard. The offer was never taken up, but I will say publicly that it still stands.

As expected, in the wake of what I would say is justifiable attention being placed on the state media, we have an opportunistic release by the PPP, hiding as it does behind anonymity, waxing righteous about press freedom. This is the party under whose administration there have been attacks on CN Sharma and closure of his television station, targeting of Freddie Kissoon from his employment to physical attacks on his person, the banning of Gordon Moseley from the Office of the President, and the unlawful execution of Ronald Waddell. This is the party under which the state apparatus was thrown at Glen Lall, and whose Attorney-General was recorded hinting at deadly consequences for Kaieteur News’ exposés on corruption.

It is the party of Robeson Benn, who walked into NCN and ordered the winning national calypso to be taken off air; and when there was a public outcry, the only response was to ban all calypsos. This is the party of the cartoonishly indecent Gail Teixeira, who threatened to take independent journalists before the UN for telling the

truth about her administration; and the party of Bharrat Jagdeo, who not only oversaw the withholding of state ads from Stabroek News, but referred to journalists as vultures and carrion crows. This is the party that saw racist letters being routinely published in the Guyana Chronicle, followed by two racist editorials under the Presidency of Donald Ramotar, who ignored every exhortation to censure the persons responsible, including one call by the Guyana Bar Association.

When I accepted the invitation to be a member of the Board of Guyana National Newspapers Limited, it was due to my belief as a journalist and a former employee that it was possible for the state media, the newspaper in particular, to rise to its obligations to the citizens of Guyana. There may, and should, come a day when there is absolutely no need for a state media, the charge of which is the dissemination of accurate, responsible, useful content for the benefit of the citizens of Guyana.

That day has, however, not come as yet, and the great challenge is to ensure that we build the infrastructure of government accountability and participatory citizenship to take us there.

RUEL JOHNSON Board member Guyana National Newspapers Limited

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 26, 2016

Ex-cop survives execution attempt

By Svetlana Marshall FORMER Guyana Police Force rank Donald McKenzie, of Stanley Place, Kitty, Georgetown, is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital, nursing a gunshot wound to his right hand which he sustained after he was shot in the vicinity of William Street, Kitty on Monday following a failed execution attempt.

Reports are that the 22-year-old, known also as “Denmar”, reportedly used his hand to bar the bullets from hitting his face.

A police statement said McKenzie was walking along William Street at about 08:30 hrs when two men on a motorcycle drove up, and the pillion rider discharged several rounds at him, hitting his right hand. The police said McKenzie and the two men were reportedly previously involved in an argument at a beer garden.

Mckenzie’s aunt, Denise Wilson, told the Guyana Chron-

icle the shooting stemmed from an incident that occurred the night before. She explained that on Sunday night the alleged shooter and five other men had exited a car and visited one of their friends who lives in the yard that McKenzie lives.

“They come hey fuss and buy lemonade, and then went behind de shop fuh talk to one of them friends,” the woman recalled.

Wilson said it was not long after that a man on a CG bike rode up and “lash” the boy (the alleged shooter) to his head.

“All you de hearing is bottle breaking. The same lemonade bottle dem use fuh lash one another, but like de bike man and dis one had a problem,” she said.

According to her, McKenzie, also known as “Denmar”, was returning home, and attempted to “part the fight”, but subsequently ended up in a “brawl” with the alleged shooter.

“Denmar was telling them this is his mother place and dem cannot deh fighting here, and dem turn pun he and another fight start,” the woman recalled.

On Monday, Wilson said, her nephew went about his business as usual, not knowing there was a plot to execute him. According to her, two men on a CG motorcycle rode up in front of her shop at Stanley Place at about 09:00hrs, and the alleged shooter shouted, “The war now start!”

“Dem pass back like 20 minutes after, and dem just shoot den man and ride away,” the woman recalled. “Lil after they pass, a car pass and de driver shout and seh, ‘We carrying he to de hospital!’” she added.

McKenzie was taken to the Woodlands Hospital, but was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

“At Woodlands they needed to do an emergency surgery on him, but that would have cost $500,000; so we transferred him to GPHC,” the woman explained.

McKenzie reportedly told his family that the alleged shooter aimed at his face but he barred with his hands – a lifesaving move.

Investigations into this shooting are continuing.

Samuels goes on the defensive - says he succeeded in busting contraband ring

By Shauna Jemmott HE’S certainly not likely to win a popularity contest anytime soon, but Deputy Director of Prisons (DDOP), Gladwin Samuels, is convinced the reason he’s so maligned among inmates at the Camp Street jail is because he would have, over time, put the proverbial spoke in their wheel.

“Over my 15 years in the prison service, I would have affected what is deemed to be the trade of contraband in prison,” he said.

“Many prisoners thrive off of selling illegal items in prison -- cigarettes, narcotics and such items…. So many of them manage to maintain families; many of them managed to pay a lot of fees that are attached to their imprisonment while in

there,” Samuels told reporters during a break recently in the ongoing inquiry into the March riots at the Georgetown penitentiary.

Noting that he would have made the most impact during his tenure as Deputy Director of Prisons, Samuels said: “Contraband in prison is basically a multi-million-dollar business. For the two years I spent there as the officer in charge, the record is there to show that I would have removed pounds of marijuana during raids, and thousands of packets of cigarettes were found.

“If you do the mathematics based on the resale value in prison, those prisoners would have lost significant amounts of cash. And all those are reasons that they would not like someone like

Deputy Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson) me around.”

A number of prisoners have openly spoken against the DDOP, saying he is not

only cruel, but that he also uses intimidatory tactics to bring them in line. One of his favourite ploys, they say, is to boast that he’s killed before; another is to say that he is “a Mafia”, thereby giving the impression that he is a high-ranking member of the dreaded underworld; perhaps a ‘capo di tutt’i capi’ no less.

But Samuels has neither admitted nor denied those allegations. Rather, he says that all he’s ever tried to do was to make life in prison bearable by ensuring that not only were prisoners treated well, but that staff conducted themselves in a professional

manner.

“And as such, if I am constantly putting systems in place to prevent them from carrying out those businesses, more than likely they are gonna be affected,” he said, in obvious reference to his zero tolerance stance on contraband ‘runnings’ at the Camp Street jail.

He claims that the reason prisoners are making all these false charges against him is because they want him to be replaced by “less stringent people, so that they can have their way…”

Samuels said that as far as he’s concerned, before the

Commission of Inquiry, he has spoken the truth “in full” about what had transpired on March 3. He’s denied being the one to pass the order to shut the door to the Capital A block, locking prisoners in during a riot on March 3 which claimed the lives of 17 prisoners who were on remand.

He’s also denied giving the order to lock the door.

“I did not! I was not there at the beginning of the exercise on March 3,” he said, adding: “Anything that is left to be cleared up will be cleared up by the end of my testimony.”

Miner remanded for narcotics trafficking GOLD miner Sherwin Hinds of 126 Third Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven, appeared yesterday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer the charge that, on April 24, while he was at the Bartica Police Station, he had in his possession cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The 39-year-old father of three denied being busted with more than 1394 grams of cannabis during a search on his person conducted by the police.

His attorney, Peter Hugh, arguing for him to be placed on bail, said the alleged drug was found in a haversack on a boat arriving in Bartica from Parika. The attorney also said that Hinds never claimed ownership of the bag or its contents, but was charged by the police.

However, Police Prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers, explained that ranks acting on a tip-off saw the defendant with the haversack acting in a suspicious manner and took him to the station. While there, a search was conducted Sherwin Hinds on His haversack and the marijuana was found concealed inside.

Hinds was refused bail, and the matter was transferred before the Bartica Magistrate for May 20.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 26, 2016

Witter calls for ‘paradigm shift’ in labour relations

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- as Guyana celebrates Father of Trade Unionism

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Norris Witter, has called for cohesion among labour, employers and the state in ensuring that workers’ rights and interests are seen as vital to the development of the country.

Speaking on Sunday at a ceremony to honour the Father of Trade Unionism, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, Witter said Guyana will nev-

er realise its full potential until unity is strengthened among the working people, and until there is a push for a people-centred national development strategy.

“Guyana will not progress and realise her full potentials unless the working people are united and demand of their leaders, in all affairs, an agenda that is focused on people’s development -- a national development strategy Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, lays a wreath at the foot of the Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow Monument on behalf of the Government of Guyana yesterday

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, lays a wreath

Singing solidarity! Minister of Labour, Keith Scott; Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence; Region 4 Chairman Gennevieve Allen; and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, are among the audience singing solidarity at the wreath-laying ceremony at Parliament yesterday of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

Noting his disappointment that the present administration has not yet addressed the contentious wages and salaries’ issue that has for years bedevilled the local public sector, Witter said: “I am concerned that any administration will pay themselves first and then consider what the poor workers of this country should receive.

“I am also concerned that since the presentation of the budget in January of this year, no serious effort has been taken to engage the unions within the public service and public sector to arrive at a determination, particularly as it relates to salary and wages.”

Using an old adage to drive home his point, Witter said: “Let us not arrive at the point where while the grasses grow, the horse is dead!”

He feels that ideally, labour, employer and state should be social partners in deciding, as a matter of urgency, a recalibration of their relationship, as a “paradigm shift” in such relationships is vital for the survival of Guyana.

“We cannot continue to go down the road of conflict and confrontation,” Witter said. “Adversarial relationship is counter-productive; it is time we make that shift along the continuum to a relationship of cooperation; to a relationship of collaboration.

We must take that bold step in taking each other into our confidence.

“I think there is too much of distrust, deceit and suspicion. We have to eschew those things.”

Unions, he said, have already taken that bold step, and are putting together a massive action programme driven by workers and labour agenda, but “the never-ending struggle for the

protection, preservation and promotion of the rights of the working class is as perennial as the grass.”

He said that, sadly, Guyana has witnessed and experienced successive administrations making promises to working people of a better life than what had obtained under their predecessor, but they deceive and disappoint the people instead. As such, he said, the united workers movement can never trust any administration, since their motivations and mandates differ.

“The leaders of this great movement cannot rely on the benevolence of any administration, whether you support that administration or not.

Their motivation is different to ours; their mandate is

different to ours. We have witnessed within recent times the rolling back or erosion of gains won by workers through blood, sweat and tears.”

He said that, considering all of the foregoing, if the Trade Union Movement does not take stock of itself, and if its leaders are not prepared to fight tirelessly and make sacrifices, it can possibly become irrelevant and extinct.

He said trade union leaders have become less aggressive, and must use the struggles of Critchlow, among others, as a motivator to take up a position.

“The survival and advancement of this great movement will only be assured when the movement

is led by comrades who are prepared to struggle, to suffer and to sacrifice. It seems to me that somewhere on our journey, we dropped that baton. We must retrieve it, grasp it firmly in our hands, lift it high, and continue, with heads held high, that journey that “Skibby, the ostrich” (and I’m talking about Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow) so proudly and courageously started.”

He said that while unity among the working class is vital, he is pleased that unity is reflected in the leadership of trade unions and participation of workers in related forums, as FITUG and the GTUC have decided to take a united front in the battle for workers’ rights, a front he is hoping that the GPSU will endorse and join.

Witter described Chritchlow as “leader extraordinaire, legend, indefatigable champion of the working class”, who led the way in ensuring the advancing of workers’ rights and influencing of socio-political trajectory of this country.

Critchlow, he said, was ‘the Father of the Trade Union Movement in Guyana and the Anglophone Caribbean.

A t t h e c e r e m o n y, wreaths were laid at the foot of Critchlow’s statue, a monument within the Public Buildings Compound, by various organisations and government ministers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 26, 2016

Corporate Guyana pitching in like crazy

- as ‘Jubilee Festival’ draws closer IN preparation for the Guyana Jubilee Festival, three more private sector companies yesterday came on board and donated a total of $7.5M towards the event.

Events are slated for May 19 – 22 at the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, and at Colgrain House on Camp Street, here in the city.

Minister of Public Telecommunication, with responsibility for Tourism, Cathy Hughes, expressing her gratitude to the companies for coming on board, said she is very grateful that corporate Guyana is coming forward and assisting in the sponsorship of the Jubilee celebrations and the fashion extrava-

ganza.

Singer Guyana Inc. has donated $3M towards the cause, and Banks DIH Limited and Digicel Guyana have respectively donated $2.5M and $2M towards the cause.

The Jubilee Festival is an explosion of music, art, dance and fashion, with the potential for income-generating opportunities.

Singer’s Robyn Lord handing over the cheque to Minister Cathy Hughes

Digicel PRO Vudya Sanichara, and Senior Sponsor and Events Executive Manager of Digicel, Louanna Abrams, presenting the cheque to Minister Cathy Hughes

Mortimer Stewart, Outdoor Events Manager of Banks DIH, and Sales and Marketing Executive Carlton Joao of Banks DIH present the cheque to Minister Cathy Hughes

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 26, 2016

Jubilee tree-planting exercise in Region 10

By Vanessa Braithwaite

COMMUNITY Development Councils (CDCs) across Region 10 will, in the first week of May, be launching a grand tree-planting exercise in recognition of Guyana’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

This tree-planting exercise will focus on the cultivation of fruit trees, but will not exclude flower plants, as the aim is to beautify the communities.

This tree-planting initiative is in keeping with the President’s vision of a clean environment, sustainable communities, and a green economy.

The programme, to be extended to Kwakwani and Ituni, will see various fruit trees being cultivated and the produce being sold to fund community projects.

Regional Chairman Renis Morian is promoting the cultivation of flower plants, in keeping with the mandate of the CDCs to make their surroundings environmentally-friendly. In a press

conference held on Monday, he disclosed that the region is in possession of hundreds of packets of flower seeds, to be used for this initiative.

In addition to tree planting,

the CDCs will be embarking on environmental projects that would allow for their qualification to participate in a national competition for the 50th Anniversary cele-

brations.

According to CDC Director Sandra Adams, the competition will allow the community with the best theme and layout to embark

on a developmental project of its choice.

The community of Kara Kara, through which the Kara Kara Creek runs, has expressed interest in trans-

forming the waterway into a magnificent tourist attraction.

South Amelia’s Ward has indicated an interest in establishing a supermarket that would generate funds for not only infrastructural development, but to assist the elderly, the infirm, single parents, and the unemployed within the community. “We do not want no ordinary supermarket; it must be a market that will supply packaged local produce to the quality of what is produced overseas,” posited the CDC representative of South Amelia’s Ward.

DAYCARE CENTRES Other communities are embarking on establishing daycare centres and poultry farms, in addition to training persons, especially single mothers and unemployed

women, in skills such as sewing, knitting and catering.

In addition to the tree planting exercise, the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC), in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), will be embarking on a grand Jubilee Clean-up Campaign on April 29 and 30.

This campaign aims at preparing the town for Town Week celebrations that will commence on May 15, coinciding with the 50th Anniversary activities.

The town is expecting a vast amount of visitors, especially from the diaspora, and efforts to welcome these visitors to a clean and green Linden will commence with this campaign.

Chairman of the Environment Committee, Wainright Betune, is encouraging all Lindeners to support this campaign and extend it be-

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yond the allotted two days.

“We are celebrating our 50th Anniversary as a nation, 46 years as a town and 100 years of bauxite within this community…. I would encourage residents of Linden if this process could be ongoing so that this town could be transformed to what we truly desire to see it; how we want to see it,” he posited.

Deputy Mayor Waneka Arindil explained that residents should first focus on cleaning up their personal space before venturing out to clean the town. “Come out and clean your surroundings…. Clean your area, your yard, the inside and the parapets. Let’s make our place clean for our 50th Anniversary,” she encouraged.

Stakeholders are encouraged to assist this venture by donating refreshments and equipment to those taking part.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 26, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Champions of Steel rock Jubilee Concert

THE Champions of Steel in Concert, held on Saturday at the National Cultural Centre (NCC), has been labelled “a rare treat” by Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.

Being part of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee events, the concert was facilitated by the Ministry of Education’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, and was coordinated by Director of the National Steel Orchestra, Andrew Tyndall.

It showcased Guyana’s most recognised steel pan orchestras and soloists, specifically the winning contenders of the Republic Bank’s Panorama Steel Pan Competition and steel pan legend Roy Geddes.

The show commenced with a steel pan rendition of the Nation Anthem, and concluded with an exuberating performance of some of Guyana’s national songs, including ‘Beautiful Guyana’ and ‘To serve my country’, performed by the North Ruimveldt Secondary School Orchestra.

These “remarkable performances”, so described by the Education Minister, ranged

The North Ruimveldt Secondary School Orchestra in action from the classical genre to Rap, to Jazz and Pop, to Caribbean Vibes; and concluded with Guyana’s National Songs.

The event also consisted of a dance, “Ribbon in the Sky”, performed by the National School of Dance, accompanied by the National Steel Orchestra and a musical band.

Each item presented at the event smoothly transitioned to a collection of steel pan performances, wherein various performers created their innovative interpretation of a variety of musical pieces, such as “the waltz of Kaieteur”, “Jubilee” and “Happiness”

performed by the National Steel Orchestra; “Oh My Dear”, “The Lady is a Tramp” and “Take a Train” performed by the Guyana Police Force Steel Band; “Carnival Music from Mars”, “Pan for Beethoven” and “Pan in a Mirror” performed by the Parkside Steel Orchestra; “Featuring the Legends” creative solo by steel pan icon Roy Geddes, alongside musical band were also among the other performances.

Following the event, Dr Roopnaraine, in an interview, expressed the desire to have steel pan orchestras in all schools.

A section of the gathering at the steel pan concert at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday

President holds talks with Italian Prime Minister

PRESIDENT David Granger held talks with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Friday at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The meeting between the two leaders took place on the margins of the signing ceremony of the Paris Agreement.

The President shared with the Italian Prime Minister his Government’s plans to promote a green economy, and took the opportunity to raise the possibility of Italian support for the Iwokrama Centre for International Rainforest Conservation and Development, the Ministry of the Presidency said in a release.

The centre was established as a partnership between Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat, and its aim was to manage the Iwokrama rainforest, a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares, “in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general”.

Notwithstanding the costs associated with this feat becoming a reality, the minister promised that by 2020 there would be a steel pan orchestra in at least 20 schools across the regions.

Officials who attended the concert included Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott; Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan; and Permanent Secretary of the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, Alfred King, among other dignitaries.

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President meets with Commonwealth Secretary General PRESIDENT David Granger has met with Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland at the United Nations Headquarters, where last Friday they both attended the signing ceremony of the historic Paris Agreement.

President Granger took the opportunity to again congratulate the Baroness on her appointment as the new Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, and wished her a successful tenure.

During the meeting with the Baroness, the President spoke of the significance of her appointment, coming as she did from a small island developing state, since the Commonwealth itself is made up of mainly small states.

A release said the President also noted the coincidence of their meeting on the margins of the signing of the Paris Agreement, which is a global response to climate change -- a phenomenon that is of great concern to all countries of the world, but particularly to small-island developing states (SIDS).

SIDS are particularly prone to the threat of rising sea levels caused by climate change.

Deodat Maharaj, Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth; and Ram Venuprasad, Deputy Head of the Office of the Secretary General, had accompanied the Baroness to the meeting with President Granger.

President David Granger during the meeting with Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Patricia Scotland, in New York on Friday last

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Mother breaks down Rohee bemoans during testimony ‘press censorship’ ‒ in murder trial of daughter, nine

By George Barclay A WEEPING mother of four tearfully told a Demerara Assize Jury on Monday about finding the swollen body of her missing nineyear-old daughter Sade Stoby.

Sade’s body was found with feet sprawled, marks of violence, and underwear and pants a short distance away.

Facing trial for the murder of the girl, who had left her Mocha home on the morning of November 2 to attend the Mocha Primary School and never returned, are Javon Wharton and Charles C Cush, also of

Mocha.

Testifying from the witness box, the mother broke down when she attempted to relate what the best of her four children had looked like.

She had to be comforted by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow.

The mother went on to say that the girl did not leave home alone that day, but was accompanied by friends as she left for her school one mile away.

The body was found some two days later at an area which houses an aqueduct. It was found on a dam.

In the search for the girl, the mother explained, she and a party had walked through

bushes on the dam, which had short and tall trees.

Her daughter had been attired in a cream and burgundy uniform.

The girl would normally return home every afternoon at about 15:30 hrs, but did not return on that day, causing her (the mother) to raise an alarm.

Ms Shonette Austin and Mr Siand Dhurjon are conducting the case for the prosecution. Attorney Max Mc Kay is representing the accused Wharton, while Attorney Madan Kissoon is appearing for Cush.

The hearing is continuing.

Remanded for trafficking cannabis in rice bag TRAVIS Pilgrim of Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown was on Monday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after he was busted with over 1.8 kilos of cannabis in a rice bag.

The 28-year-old miner denied that on April 28, while at the Port Kaituma Waterfront, North West District (NWD), he had in his possession 1.814 kilograms of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones did not disclose the facts to the court, but pointed out that the analysis on the

Travis Pilgrim

drug is still outstanding.

The unrepresented Pilgrim told the court that he was disembarking a ferry at the Waterfront when a woman with several children begged him to help her carry the bag of rice to the market. He explained that he complied without asking what was in the said bag. The 28-year-old further pointed out that he was beaten by the police to sign statements admitting to the act.

He was refused bail, and the matter was transferred before the Matthews Ridge Magistrate for August 3.

Bob-Semple was forced to sign confession statement ‒ grandmother tells court THE GRANDMOTHER of the alleged killer of nineyear-old Shaquan Gittens claimed that her grandson was forced by the police to admit to the murder.

In the courtroom of City Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Monday, the grandmother of Ryan Bob-Semple revealed that when her grandson was held for the murder of Gittens in April 2015, the police tortured him into signing several documents in order to pin the charge on him.

“My grandson don’t trouble nobody. Even when his uncle been to the station, they chased us from deh,” the woman pointed out when given a chance to address the magis-

trate.

Bob-Semple is currently on trial before Magistrate Azore for the murder, which allegedly occurred between April 01 and 04, 2015 at Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

During the trial, a psychiatric evaluation was done on the accused and he was found to be in a fit mental state.

The Prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Telford, told the court that the prosecution would be closing its case against the accused; however, Bob-Semple would have to testify on the statements he had given to police, in which he admitted to the murder and

allegedly led detectives to the crime scene.

The matter has been adjourned until Wednesday, April 27.

According to reports, Semple saw the little boy walking during the night at Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt, between April 01 and 04, and grabbed and took him to an uninhabited area, where he tied his hands and sodomised him.

He also reportedly choked the child until the child passed out.

The accused then slept with the child under a tree until he awoke next morning to the child’s motionless body. The man is also accused of severing the child’s penis before raping him again and dumping his body.

THE OPPOSITION People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which had withheld advertisements from private newspapers while in office, is now complaining about press censorship.

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee told a news conference at Freedom House on Monday that persons of various political hues and shades are voicing their concerns and reservations over the role and content of “the state-controlled Chronicle newspaper”.

He alleged that press censorship is being driven from the Office of the Prime Minister in particular, and the Ministry of Presidency in general.

“The People’s Progressive Party is the only political party that hosts a weekly press conference at which one or two press statements are read and (are) subjected to questioning by journalists present. The statements are promptly sent electronically to all media houses…. These

PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee

statements and/or releases are usually either edited or never published by the Guyana Chronicle, the Kaieteur News, or the Stabroek News,” Rohee said.

As recent as October 2015, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had called for supporters of the opposition People’s Progressive Party to stop buying newspapers which do not support the

views of that party.

“Please ensure that our people don’t buy newspapers where the sole purpose of the newspaper is to destroy your party,” Jagdeo said at an event on October 5, 2015.

But the PPP statement on Monday noted: “What censorship basically does is to deny Guyanese readers another view apart from the official view which appears to take pre-eminence over the non-official view, including those of the PPP. When the PPP was in office, press censorship was virtually non-existent, save for a few occurrences which cannot be described as press censorship.”

In 2008, Jagdeo, while in office, banned journalist Gordon Moseley from the then Office of the President after accusing him of being biased against the PPP Government. The ban was eventually lifted by Jagdeo’s successor, former President Donald Ramotar, in 2011.

DPI refutes censorship claims

By Svetlana Marshall

“PRESS FREEDOM is alive and well in Guyana!” the Department of Public Information (DPI) said on Monday, as it refuted claims of censorship.

DPI in a statement has come in defence of the Government mere days after the Guyana Press Association (GPA) filed an official complaint to President David Granger about interference, not only by DPI, but Government ministers into the operation of the state media, primarily the National Communications Network (NCN), Guyana Chronicle and the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Hosting of a weekly “propaganda” caucus by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo with the state media and GINA, “numerous instances” of DPI seeking to “dictate content,” Ministers “complaining” of inadequate coverage in state media, and state media boards being “deeply involved in

making editorial decisions,” were among the complaints filed.

In response, the DPI said, “The Government of Guyana strongly refutes that the state media personnel are intimidated during the Prime Minister’s weekly meetings,” noting that the Office of the Prime Minister has received no complaints from the Board of Directors or management of any state media entity of intimidation or interference.

“No member of the Guyana Press Association attending these meetings has made any objections.”

According to the DPI, the periodic meetings with the state media heads focus on the coordination of schedule of Government events and coverage of same, a practice in place since 1992.

State media attendees have all commented on the usefulness of the engagements, the DPI posited.

“Reactions by officials noting positive, negative, limited or one-sided coverage of Government business in the media – both state and

private – is routine. It is not interference to want better and more dissemination of news,” the DPI said.

The department added: “The Government is baffled by the stance of the Guyana Press Association to write to the Head of State to politically intervene in matters that ought to have been raised with the competent Board of Directors of the respective state media entities.

It is competent for the GPA to advise its members to act professionally and to defend standards of journalism, but it is another matter for the GPA to call on the Executive to ‘manners’ his ministers on unsubstantiated allegations.

“The Guyana Government reaffirms its commitment to an open, free and plural media. It is indeed refreshing to witness the re-introduction, in state media, of positive coverage of opposition views and activities and access to the state media by persons who are routinely critical of Government. Press freedom is alive and well in Guyana!” the statement concluded.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Students turn backs on substance abuse

The students, posing with their certificates of completion for the DARE project, are flanked by Commander Stephen Mansell, Head Teacher Shivaughn Cadogan, and officers of the GPF Students performing an acoustic song titled ‘DARE’ on Friday

By Michel Outridge

T

HE GUYANA Police Force (GPF) ‘D’ Division, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of Region 3, on Friday hosted a graduation ceremony for 100 students who successfully completely a 17week Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) project at Uitvlugt Secondary School, West Coast Demerara.

Head Teacher of Uitvlugt Secondary School, Shivaughn Cadogan, said the promoters of the programme were most pleased with the results garnered. The programme is to be introduced in the school, targeting Grade 7 pupils.

She added that parents send their children to school to prepare them for self-development, and more than 120 students between the ages of 10 and 13 years old have enrolled in the

programme.

Cadogan said the DARE project lasted for 17 weeks, during which students were educated to resist the pressures of drug use and abuse, and were taught how to influence fellow students to so desist. She said that with the knowledge gained, the students will be able to say no to substance abuse.

Cadogan explained that the school attracted students who did not do well at Common

Entrance exams. They were placed in that school, but the course was able to enlighten them on the scourge of drug use and abuse.

With their newfound knowledge, pupils can make informed choices and not fall into temptation to use drugs, she said.

Woman Lance Corporal Jan Lovell, giving the course overview, said the 17-week DARE project launched at the Uitvlugt Secondary School taught certain subjects for one hour per week. The objectives of the programme were to make students aware of what is drugs, how to say no to its negative

influences, how to build their self-esteem, and how to live a drug and violence-free life.

Lovell added that the DARE project was also launched at the Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary School, from where 58 students graduated, and it was done in eight secondary schools in total so far, targeting Grade 7 pupils.

Commander Stephen Mansell said he was very pleased that the collaborated effort was able to graduate more than 100 students after they had completed the 17-week DARE project aimed at educating them about drug abuse and

the harmful effects of nicotine (cigarettes), alcohol, cannabis sativa (marijuana) and cocaine.

The Senior Police Superintendent pointed out that the DARE project was geared towards equipping students to say no to friendly teasing, indirect peer pressure, and the use of drugs generally; and to say no to drugs and yes to life.

After the short ceremony, the students were presented with their certificates of completion, and they expressed gratitude to the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Education for facilitating the DARE project.

ICT is everyday learning experience

By Michel Outridge

ARIFA PERSAUD is the woman who ensures that all the equipment at the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) are in working order.

She is probably one of the humblest individuals despite her responsibilities in the world of information and communication technology (ICT).

The 33-year-old has been with GNBA since its establishment in 2014, and her designation is Information Technology (IT) Coordinator. She is the only female in that field.

Persaud is responsible for the entire networking, database, and maintenance among other things; and finds her job most interesting, since she views it as an “everyday learning experience.”

So enthusiastic is this mother of three about her job that she returned to Guyana from India after completing a web designing course. She had resided in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) for a few years, during which she was employed as a graphic artist.

Persaud told this newspaper that she was homesick after living abroad for many years, thus she returned to her

ICT professional Arifa Persaud homeland, Guyana, where she currently lives with her husband and three children.

This upbeat woman said she holds a Degree in Computer Science from the University of Guyana (UG), and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Business Administration at the Nations University locally.

Persaud credits her achievement to her husband and family, whom she says were instrumental in encouraging her to pursue higher learning in ICT. Today she is pleased she had taken their advice to equip herself for that career.

She told the Guyana Chronicle that she started from ‘the ground level’, and with hard work and dedication, she is

where she is today. She said she had the confidence in herself, and her family also believed that she could succeed.

Persaud said she would “keep going” to ensure that the GNBA is on par with international agencies; and working under Acting Chief Executive Officer Violet Boyle and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Leonard Craig, she is confident the GNBA would achieve that goal in due time.

She pointed out that her employers are very encouraging, and they are there to make sure you “keep going to enhance your skills to match the ever developing world of ICT”.

Persaud was once a Mathematics teacher, and had once worked at the now defunct One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Project and with the Ministry of Public Service. She said her job has countless options, and it is not unusual for her to be the only woman in her field of work, although some men may find it emasculating to ask for her help, since the ICT field is dominated by men.

Persaud is one of the individuals the Guyana Chronicle is featuring in celebration of ‘Girls in ICT Day 2016’, which will be held on April 28.

Persaud has advised that

young girls take the time to focus on the career they wish to pursue, and make an early start. She pointed out that young girls must seek to educate themselves, because by so doing they would earn the respect of others.

As it is, she is making the job easier for her husband, who operates a construction company. With her computer skills she designs kitchens to assist in his business.

In observance of Girls in ICT Day 2016, a series of activities has been planned by the NFMU. These include television, radio and newspaper highlights which will be featuring women and girls in ICT in Guyana.

The NMFU will host the Open Day at Starr Computers on April 21; there will be a networking luncheon on April 25; and a symposium has been planned for holding at the Bygeval Secondary School. In that symposium, 300 girls will be present.

From June to November, the NFMU will have Tech Day camps so that girls can get a hands-on feel of some of the technology, so as to take on careers in the ICT field.

For the very first time ever, the differently-able will this

year be included in the celebrations, and the Guyana Society for the Blind will participate for self-development. The Bygeval Secondary School was chosen for the symposium because it has won the Science and Tech Fair this year.

NFMU is seeking to use ICT to push innovation such as applications development even stay-at-home mothers can do, and will also focus on cyber security so that girls can be able to safeguard the information and identification online.

Global Technology is on board, and will embark on ICT training in foundation in computer usage for girls drawn in all the regions across Guyana.

This year, the NFMU is targeting third and fourth formers for the networking luncheon and Tech Day camps, and will distribute 500 flash drives with information in this regard. The activity has also been geared at empowering the students to consider careers in the field of ICT. Given that the ICT sector worldwide is dominated by males, the NFMU has been planning and executing a number of activities in an effort to ensure that Guyanese women are knowledgeable in the field

of ICT. ‘International Girls in ICT Day 2015’ is an initiative launched by members of the International Telecommunications Union at its 2010 Plenipotentiary Conference. The idea is to create a global environment that will empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the field of information and communications technology (ICT).

Guyana has, for the past three years, celebrated/observed International Girls in ICT Day. As such, this year the NFMU plans to once again play its part in the celebration by hosting such activities for girls/women.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a global effort being spearheaded by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to raise awareness of the need for more women to become involved in the ICT sector worldwide.

Girls in ICT Day was observed on April 24th, 2016 under the theme “Expanding horizons, changing minds”, and it presents opportunity for girls and young women to get inspired about the ICT sector by listening to women role models in ICT.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Roraima unveils Britten Norman Trislander

By Alva Solomon

Domestic airliner Roraima Airways has unveiled its Britten Norman Trislander aircraft, and the company has said it plans to invest in several models of the aircraft to boost its aviation capacity aimed at increasing the capacity in domestic air travel.

This aircraft seats 18 persons, including its crew; has the Golden Jubilee 50th An-

niversary Logo emblazoned on its nose; and notably, was named in honour of the late Captain Alvin Clarke, a career pilot who had been attached to the airline for decades.

Renowned as a skilled airman in nightly medical evacuation flights, the name of the late Captain Clarke is conspicuously plastered on the aircraft’s tail.

Roraima’s principal, Captain Gerald “Gerry” Gouveia, told a gathering,

which in included Minister of Public Telecommunications, with responsibility for Tourism, Catherine Hughes; and Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson, at the company’s hanger at Ogle yesterday that the late Clarke flew for decades into the hinterland communities on humanitarian missions.

He said many children were born in aircraft piloted by himself and Clarke

The Britten-Norman Trislander aircraft at Roraima Airways hanger at the Ogle Airport at nights, and there are many “Gerry Gouveias” and “Alvin Clarkes” in the hinterland, as parents have named their children after the two.

“We now know that aircraft like the Trislander could in fact go into all those runways, and the cost is going to come down; and in fact that is all what we have been looking for all the time”, Gouveia said.

He said the Trislander runs at an operational cost of US$500,000, and the company will operate five (5) of these aircraft over a period of time.

He noted that his airline staff is experiencing a transition phase as regards handling the Trislander.

The company also officially unveiled its maintenance department. According to Gouveia, Roraima had employed the services of the Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Services (CAMS) for some 20 years, but as Roraima Airways grows, its in-house services are also expanding. He added that another factor in the investment is rooted in the frequent medevac flights and the need for round-the-clock maintenance.

He said he has been flying for 40 years, during which, “we have always found an aircraft that is suited for the objective realities of the Guyanese environment”.

He said the company invested in aircraft which matched the reality on the ground, that is, the runways.

He said that several aircraft types have been operated over the years, and he noted that he was asked why the company didn’t invest in the Trislander earlier.

He said the Trislander aircraft is one of several which brought down the price of air transportation in Guyana. He said with the insertion of Cessna Caravan

and the Trislander into the local tourism industry, the cost to travel to the famous Kaieteur Falls dropped from US$200 to US$145, the latter price being offered by Roraima presently.

He also noted that Minister Ferguson travelled recently across the hinterland, and according to him, the official would have had a first-hand look and better understanding of aviation life in those areas.

In her remarks, Minister Ferguson told the gathering about investments such as the Trislander: “Indeed, it will help to boost the aviation sector,” she testified.

She said that last week she had travelled to several airstrips in Region Seven (7) to see first-hand life experiences of those persons living there.

She assured those gathered that the administration will work to improve the standard of hinterland airstrips. “So we will be working to ensure that our airstrips are properly developed, because based on the observations I had, many of the airstrips, they are not asphalt…they are made out of sand”, she said.

Ferguson also expressed hope that young men and women can be inspired to join the sector, as she pointed to the young staff at Roraima.

Minister Hughes described yesterday’s occasion as special. She noted that she was excited about the new aircraft, and that one of the challenges of local travel centres around the cost.

“Of course it’s challenging to promote a tourism market and a product when so many of your own people whom you need to give their own personal experiences of visiting those locations have not had the opportunity to visit,” she added.

She said the prayers of See page 17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Roraima unveils Britten Norman ...

Ministers Catherine Hughes and Annette Ferguson (centre) pose with staff and invited guests in front of the Trislander aircraft

From page 16 many in the sector are being answered, and she noted the drop in the cost of travel to the local tourist destinations.

“That augers well, because it means that more Guyanese hopefully will be able to visit those locations and really appreciate what we have to offer”, Hughes noted.

Hughes lauded the medical evacuation services offered by Roraima Airways as she recalled making a

phone call to Gouveia on March 17, 2013, requesting his assistance in ferrying out her husband, Attorney Nigel Hughes, who had had a heart attack in the Rupununi that day. She said the closest airstrip to the location was an hour and a half away from her husband, but good prevailed over the situation.

At yesterday’s occasion, it was noted that

Tuesday, April 26, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Wedneday, April 27, 2016 - 08:30 hrs Thursday, April 28, 2016 - 08:30 hrs

Dynamic Airways, the international airline which is handled by Roraima Airways ground handling services at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), will emblazon the Golden Jubilee Logo on its aircraft as the country approaches its 50th Independence Anniversary on May 26.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Don’t change a winning formula COACH of the Guyana’s National Rugby team Lawrence Adonis says that he is not likely to make major changes to the 15s squad that will take on Jamaica here next month, as Rugby

Americas North’s tournament continues.

Known around the greens as ‘Larry’, the coach contended that considering the fact of the side’s performance during the last game, not

many changes will be made.

According to Adonis, “Not many changes (are) anticipated. We think people like Claudius Butts and some of the other guys may be coming in but mostly we

will be going with the same squad as you don’t change a winning formula.”

Nonetheless, the coach contended that when they face the Jamaicans next month, they will have to up their game.

“We still got some areas that we’ve got to work with, especially in the line-outs and the malls; we’re still a little weak there because

‒ coach Lawrence Adonis Barbados scored a lot of their points there,” the head coach disclosed.

Coming out of the Barbados match were several positives and they will look to correct those errors made during that match.

“Looking at Barbados and they always come technically sound and so on, I mean

we were able to do a lot of the things we practised but coming up against Jamaica, it’s going to be a different kettle of fish because its years now we didn’t face Jamaica, so that’s going to be a different ball game.”

“We still have to prepare ourselves and organise for them (Jamaica).”

GFF STAG Elite Beer League

Buxton beat GFC 2-0, Pele get past GDF 3-1 BUXTON United and Pele registered 2-0 and 3-1 wins against Georgetown Football Club (GFC) and Guyana Defence Force (GDF) respectively, the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) STAG Elite League continued on Sunday evening at the GDF ground, Camp Ayanganna, in round 11 matches.

Denvin Ennis netted a double for Buxton United in the 30th and 40th minutes to take his team to eight points from 11 matches in the league. Buxton United have so far won two matches and have lost six while drawing three. They have so far scored eight goals and conceded 15.

GFC, on the other hand, remain on one point from their 11 matches having only secured one draw, scored seven goals and conceded 31.

In the feature game on Sunday evening, Pele with 13 points to their name from ten matches, added three points to take them to 16 points from 11 matches and propelled them to fourth in the standings, four points behind third-place team Alpha United (20 points).

Gregory `Jackie Chan’ Richardson bagged a double for Pele in the 30th and 40th minutes, while his teammate Omallo Williams supported with a 58th minute goal. For the soldiers, Selwyn Isaacs pulled one back in the 70th minute.

To date, Pele have won five matches. They lost a similar number and drew one. They have so far scored 13 goals and conceded 13.

GDF, on the other hand, remain on 14 points from their 11 matches. They won four, lost five and drew two.

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Gregory Richardson

So far the army team have scored 17 goals and conceded 22.

The STAG Elite League will continue this evening with another double-header at the Camp Ayanganna ground.

In the opening game from 18:00hrs, Fruta Conquerors will face Monedderlust while points leaders Slingerz come up against Alpha United from 20:30hrs.

Slingerz have 30 points from 10 victories and in the process they have scored 26 goals while conceding five.

Alpha United, however, won six of their 10 matches to date and lost two while also drawing two. They have so far scored 26 goals and conceded nine and have 20 points.

After this evening’s matches, three more rounds in the league will be played before the semifinals and final which is tentatively set for June 5.

The winners of the competition will be rewarded with $4M, while the other top three finishers will receive $2M, $1M and $500 000 respectively.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Four SA sport federations banned from bidding for major tournaments (REUTERS) - South Africa yesterday banned its national cricket and rugby federations from hosting or bidding for international tournaments for at least a year due to their failure to increase their representation of black players.

The government has been pushing for more black players to be included in the nation's most popular sports but more than two decades after the end of apartheid, whites still make up the bulk of players in athletics, cricket, netball and rugby.

"I have therefore resolved to revoke the privilege of Athletics South Africa (ASA),

Cricket South Africa (CSA), Netball South Africa (NSA) and South African Rugby (SAR) to host and bid for major and mega international tournaments," Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said in a statement.

Mbalula said the athletics and netball federations were also barred from bidding to stage global events after a report showed that four of the five biggest sports have failed to create enough opportunities for black players.

The minister's decision, to be reviewed in a year's time, was a blow to South African Rugby's intention to bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

British army officer dies just before finishing London Marathon

(REUTERS) - David Seath, a 31-year-old captain in the British army, died after collapsing just three miles short of the 26-mile London Marathon finish line, the event organisers said yesterday.

Seath, an Afghanistan war veteran from Cowdenbeath in Scotland, received immediate medical attention on the spot on Sunday and was rushed to hospital by paramedics, but pronounced dead a short time afterward. No cause of death was given.

In the London Marathon's 35-year history, 11 participants have died. Before Seath, the most recent death of a competitor in the 40 000-person race was Robert Berry, shortly after he crossed the finish line in 2014.

Sammy and team... brought the event into disrepute," read an ICC press release.

"This was not acceptable conduct at ICC events played out on a world stage in front of millions of people around the globe.

"The (ICC) board acknowledged an apology by the WICB but was disappointed to note that such behaviour had detracted from the success of what was otherwise a magnificent tournament and final."

Marlon Samuels, West Indies player-of-the-final, was also singled out for tacit criticism by Shashank Manohar, the ICC chairman, after his ungracious remarks in the aftermath of victory, not least his disparaging comments about England's Ben Stokes.

"The sport of cricket is proud of its unique spirit and this involves being gracious

From back page

in victory as well as defeat and respectful at all times to the game, one's opponents, the sponsors and the fans," said Manohar.

The ICC also praised the BCCI for their staging of the event, in spite of numerous logistical issues including the relocation of India's groupstage match with Pakistan and doubts as to whether Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla stadium would be cleared to host the first semi-final between England and New Zealand.

"The Board also complimented the BCB (hosts of the Under-19 World Cup) and the BCCI for the successful staging of these events and also thanked its broadcasters, commercial partners, fans and media for their support in making these events a success from a fan engagement perspective." (ESPN Cricinfo)

That process is due to start in June but will not conclude until next year, by which time SA Rugby hopes to have the opportunity to pursue hosting rights reinstated.

The ban will not affect existing tournaments involving the Springboks, such as the Rugby Championship and a three-match incoming tour by Ireland in June.

SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux confirmed the organisation had fallen short in its commitment to transformation, but said he was confident their ban would be lifted by next year.

“Our barometer for 2015 shows that we have achieved our target in 11 out of 13 dimensions as agreed with government," he was quoted in a media release from SA

Ttemba Bavuma became the first black African cricketer to make a Test century for South Africa in January 2016.

Rugby.

“We have made further

progress on and off the field in 2016 to date and over the coming months our commitment to transformation will become even more evident."

SA Rugby appointed Allister Coetzee, the country's second black coach, to lead the Springboks to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

The country's athletics and cricket federations both told Reuters they would study the report more closely before making comment. South Africa is scheduled to host the 2020 Cricket Under-19 World Cup. The country has seen greater participation among black players across most sports at junior level despite the challenge of providing adequate school facilities in poorer districts.

But there is a growing frustration in the African National Congress (ANC) government that some senior national teams have not reflected this trend.

The soccer federation was the only one of the five to meet its transformation targets, Mbalula said.

He added that he would review the decision when considering the results on the 2016-17 ‘Transformation Barometer’.

Temba Bavuma became the first black African cricketer to make a Test century for South Africa in January 2016 South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula addresses a media conference in Cape Town, in this file photo dated March 17, 2016.

(Reuters/Mike Hutchings)

Parthiv and Bumrah star as Mumbai Indians beat Kings XI PARTHIV Patel made his highest Indian Premier League score and Jasprit Bumrah starred with the ball as Mumbai Indians beat bottom side Kings XI Punjab by 25 runs eysterday.

The Indians have made a disappointing start to the defence of their title, but claimed a third win from their first seven games at the expense of a Kings XI side with just one victory to their name.

Parthiv (81 from 58 balls) took advantage of a reprieve when Mitchell Johnson overstepped and Ambati Rayudu was dropped before going on to make 65 off 37 deliveries as the Indians posted a challenging total of 189-6.

Australia duo Glenn Maxwell (56 from 39) and Shaun Marsh (45 off 34) gave Kings XI hope, but Bumrah (3-26), Tim Southee (2-28) and Mitchell McClenaghan (2-32) did the damage as the hosts suffered yet another defeat.

Captain Rohit Sharma came into the game on the

Parthiv Patel hits his highest IPL score of 85 from 41 balls.

back of two half-centuries, but the India opener edged the second ball of the innings from Sandeep Sharma behind to fall without scoring.

Parthiv and Rayudu set about proving that the Indians are not reliant on their skipper to lead from the front, putting on 137 in 14 overs with some good fortune along the way.

Johnson thought he had dismissed Parthiv when he was caught at deep squareleg, but the former Australia batsman over-stepped and Rayudu cashed in after he was dropped by Axar Patel on 33 Rayudu blasted four sixes, while Parthiv cleared the ropes twice and Jos Buttler made a brisk 24 off 13 balls before Mohit Shar-

ma (3-38) cleaned him up and also took two wickets in an impressive final over.

Maxwell and Marsh looked capable of securing a second win for Kings XI when they shared a third-wicket stand of 89, but captain David Miller (30 not out) was given no support after the Australia batsmen departed. (OMNI Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Cavs edge Pistons to complete sweep (THE Sports Xchange) - Kyrie Irving is off to a great start in his effort to make up for lost time in the playoffs.

A year after missing five games in the NBA Finals and two in the Eastern Conference finals with a knee injury and leaving people wondering what might have been, the Cavaliers guard capped off a brilliant beginning to this year's playoffs Sunday, scoring 31 points to help Cleveland earn a 100-98 win over the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 of a firstround Eastern Conference playoff series.

The Cavaliers completed a sweep of the best-of-seven series and advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they await the winner of the series between the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics that is tied at two games apiece.

Irving clearly is hungry and healthy at the moment, as he averaged 27.5 points in the series and outscored teammate LeBron James, who averaged over 22 points a game in the series.

"This postseason is what we have been preparing for," Irving said. "It's been a pretty good postseason so far."

Just as in Games 1 and

3 in the series, Detroit hung with Cleveland for the entire game, but the Cavaliers had too much firepower and experience in the fourth to be denied.

After Detroit cut a ninepoint Cleveland lead to 9796 with 1:08 remaining on a 3-pointer by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Irving buried a 3-pointer from the wing with 42.6 seconds left to put the Cavaliers up by four.

Pistons guard Reggie Jackson shaved the Cleveland lead to 100-98 on a dunk with 32.8 seconds remaining, and then Detroit had a chance to tie or win after rebounding an Irving miss with less than 10 seconds remaining.

Proceeding down the court without a timeout, Jackson couldn't convert a contested 3-point shot from the top of the key as time expired.

Jackson, who was guarded by Irving, pleaded with the officials for a foul, but to no avail.

"I just think the refs need to have some type of system with fines and suspensions, just like us," Jackson said.

Cleveland took an 81-78 lead into the fourth quarter after Irving hit a shot from half-court just before the

buzzer sounded to end the third. He then scored the first five points of the fourth to give the Cavaliers an 86-78 lead with 11:15 remaining.

Detroit answered with a 7-0 run to cut its deficit to 86-85 with 8:35 left, but Cleveland took a 95-86 lead with 4:54 remaining on a deep 3-pointer by J.R. Smith.

A 3-pointer from Tobias Harris and a Marcus Morris basket pulled Detroit back within 95-91 with 3:44 remaining. Following a basket

by James, Jackson scored with 2:31 left to bring Detroit within 97-93.

Ultimately though, the Cavaliers drew on the fact their roster had significantly more playoff experience than Detroit's had.

"We said this would be a great experience for our guys, and it really has been the past five or six weeks of the season fighting to get in," Pistons coach Stan van Gundy said. "We have played in a lot of pressure basketball games. We do have to get better, there's no question."

James had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Smith scored 15. Forward Kevin Love contributed 11 points and 13 rebounds, and reserve

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) points down the court during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Cavs win 100-98. (Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports)

guard Matthew Dellavedova also had 11 points for Cleveland, who will now prepare for a long layoff waiting for Atlanta or Boston.

"We are able to get hit

and keep moving forward," Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. "We have been harping on that all season. Not to drop our head and not to have bad body language

when the other team make runs. In this series, we got down a lot. We just kept pushing and moving forward."

Morris scored 24 points and Harris had 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead Detroit, who saw its first playoff appearance since 2009 end quickly at the hand of the top-seeded Cavaliers.

Detroit centre Andre Drummond compiled 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Jackson finished with 13 points and 12 assists.

One of the youngest teams in the NBA, the Pistons face an off-season question of what to do with Drummond, who is a restricted free agent.

He led the league in rebounding but shot 35.5 percent from the free-throw line and often had to be taken out of games in the fourth quarter because opponents would send him to the line on purpose.

Drummond got defensive at the postgame press conference when asked about how much he needs to work on his free-throw shooting over the off-season.

"What do you think?"

Drummond said to the reporter. "It's obvious, isn't it? Next question."

NOTABLE DATES Pizza Hut GCC demolish Hikers 10-0 NEDRICK Simmons aka Nedrae Simmons, was a southpaw super featherweight boxer who was born on February 14, 1960.

He had his first professional fight in June 1981 in Canada, which became his adoptive homeland. Simmons lost his first four professional fights one of them being a defeat at the hands of fellow Guyanese Terrence Alli.

On April 26, 1983 Simmons challenged Tony Salvatore for the vacant Canadian featherweight title. The fight was held at the Paul Sauve Arena in Montreal, Quebec.

After 12 rounds all three judges scored the bout in favour of Salvatore.

Simmons returned to Guyana in June 1986 and triumphed via a fifth-round technical knockout (TKO) over Dennis Dalrymple.

However, in his next trip to the land of his birth he did not gain success. Coming up against an 18-year-old Raul Frank, Simmons was defeated via points decision in a 10-rounder.

He fought another Guyanese in Glen Forde during January 1995 in Canada but lost by majority decision. In a career that spanned 15 years and included a bout against Kostya Tszyu, Simmons picked up 13 victories against 27 defeats and two draws.

PIZZA Hut GCC demolished Hikers ladies when the Guyana Hockey Board’s (GHB) inaugural Woodpecker Products Trophy and Sports Women’s hockey league resumed over the weekend at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC).

According to a GHB release, the tournament commenced last year but remained incomplete and was resumed over the weekend with a clash between arch-rivals the Hikers and Pizza Hut GCC. The GCC team who have been dominant over the past several years went into the match leading on points and being heavily favoured to win.

Hikers began the match short in numbers and it was clear from the outset that they were in for a tough afternoon.

From the start of the match, GCC pressured the Hikers defence in the opening minutes and kept goalkeeper Sanasha Corlette busy between the uprights.

Despite the brave effort of Corlette, GCC and national striker Kerensa Fernandes drilled in the opening goal for the Pizza Hut ladies in the 7th minute of play with a powerful penalty corner strike from the top of the scoring circle.

Fernandes, en route to a hat-trick, unleashed a reverse shot three minutes later to take the GCC lead to 2-0.

The Hikers defence spent most of their time taking the ball out of the net as GCC steamrolled them, to an easy 10-0 victory at full time.

In addition to the hat-trick by Fernandes, Sonia Jardine and Sandy Roopnarine scored doubles while Gabriella Xavier, Aliyah Gordon and Ulrica Sutherland scored one each.

Gabriella Xavier The victory has further secured the Pizza Hut GCC ladies in the lead of the tournament with 12 points, COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda while the Hikers Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & sit in second place AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, with six points.

Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Under-21s are Answers to yesterday’s quiz: currently third with (1) Delhi Daredevils & Chennai Super Kings three points while (2) Herschelle Gibbs-53 (DC) the Old Fort Shooting Stars are yet to secure a point.

Today’s Quiz: Matches were (1) Who was declared ‘Man of the Match’ in the 2009 scheduled to conIPL final? tinue yesterday (2) Who was the most successful bowler in the 2009 at the at St StanIPL final? islaus College ground.

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Joyful Select U-17s deepen Berbice turmoil … Demerara beat Essequibo by 125 runs

By Rajiv Bisnauth BERBICE sleepwalked to an embarrassing eight-wicket defeat at the hands of the Select Under-17 team in round one of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)-sponsored Hand-inHand Insurance Company Under-19 one-day cricket tournament yesterday, at the Enterprise Busta Sports Club ground.

Led superbly by their bowlers, especially off-spinner Kevin Sinclair, who finished with figures of 4-8, Select Under-17 team effectively tied down the Berbice batsmen who struggled to build any momentum. They

were bowled out for 126 in 32.3 overs.

Only Adrian Sukwah painstakingly dragged Berbice to a point of some respectability, with a 76-ball 56, inclusive of four fours and a six.

Sukwah featured in two vital partnerships, he first added 40 for the third wicket with Matthew Hardial (4) and then shared 59 runs for the fifth wicket with Joel Seetram (39).

Deciding to bat first on a track that appears to offer even bounce, relative turn and favourable stroke play, Berbice were in early trouble, losing the wickets of Sasenarine Sookhoo (1) and Alex

Algoo (2) to Alphius Bookie and Joshua Jones respectively at 6-2.

After the third-wicket stand between Sukwah and Hardial, Tameshwar Motiram removed the latter, before Sagar Hathiramani accounted for the dismissal of Zameer Inshan without scoring.

Sukwah and Seetram took the score to 106-5 before Berbice collapsed, losing their remaining wickets, including the duo in the space of 20 runs, with Sinclair and left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd (2-30) accounting for the final six wickets.

Bhaskar Yadram and Sachin Singh made a positive

start to the Under-17’s reply, adding 108 runs together in quick time before Singh was removed by Seetram for 43.

Deon Venture went without scoring at 108-2, but Joshua Persaud and Yadram saw them home, with Yadram finishing unbeaten on 50, having stroked six boundaries. Venture was unbeaten on 14 when victory was achieved after 22.5 overs.

Meanwhile, Demerara crushed Essequibo by 125 runs under the Duckworth/ Lewis method in the other first round game.at the Wales cricket ground. Demerara made 162-6 in 38 overs. Set a revised target of 181, Essequibo were bowled out for 56.

The second round is scheduled for tomorrow.

Kevin Sinclair collects the man-of-the-match trophy from president of the Enterprise Busta Sports Club, Seemangal Yadram.

All systems in place for Soesdyke Falcons and Grove inaugural Caribbean Hi Tech draw first blood Schoolboys boxing c/ships EBFA/EBFA U-17 Goodwill Series

ALL systems are in place for the staging of the inaugural Caribbean Schoolboys, Junior, Youth and Female boxing championships which will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue, starting at 18:00hrs both days.

According to president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle, the local boxers intensified their training over the past couple of weeks and will start winding down by tomorrow.

Ninvalle said that the boxers have been engaged in weekend camps for more than a month. These camps were conducted by the GBA and supervised by a team of coaches headed by veteran amateur coach Seibert Blake and four other coaches in GBA’s Technical Director Terrence Poole, Sherdon Thomas, Clifton Moore and Floyd Grant.

The GBA head, who is a committee member on the International Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) said 31 local boxers will come up against their counterparts from St Lucia, Jamaica and Barbados.

According to Ninvalle, the St Lucia contingent is

expected to arrive in Guyana tomorrow night, while the Jamaicans are expected the following day.

Ninvalle said, originally Jamaica had registered two boxers, a manager and a coach, but they have now included one more boxer in Jerome Ennis who will contest the junior category in the 69kg division.

The GBA head said this tournament is like the Open championship that Guyana hosted in 2014 and it is his hope that this Schoolboys Junior, Youth and Female championship will be an annual one.

“We in the Caribbean will do better starting from here and moving further ahead,” Ninvalle stated.

The Guyana Schoolboys team consists of the following boxers; Dwayne Baptiste, Shaquancy Wright, Deron Williams, Travis Inverary, Leon Moore, Kevin Mullen, Junior Hyman, Shumer Hutson, Matthew Mitchell, Brian Harris, Theom Bumbury, Joel Allicock, Isiah Moore and Delroy Elcock.

Shemar Bumbury, Shaquiel Wright, Kevin Allicock, Omar Pollard, Joshua Ross, Christopher Moore, Michael Edwards, Jushua Corbin, Desan Allicock and

Guyana Boxing Association president Steve Ninvalle

Akiel Mounter make up the junior team, while Herman White, Duel Augustin and Quincy Boyce form the Youth team.

The females are: Akea London, Rianna Rogers and Ronddesa Boget.

There are also an `AQ’ and `B’ team.

The `A’ team comprises Isiah Moore, Christopher Moore, Quincy Boyce and Akel Mounter while the `B’ team is made up of Delroy and Desan Elcock, Jushua Corbin and Michael Edwards.

EAST Bank Football Association (EBFA) runner-up Under-17 team Soesdyke Falcons downed East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) Jubilee champions Bachelor’s Adventure/Paradise Sports Club (BAPSC) 3-1 in the feature match on the first of two days of a Goodwill series of matches between the top two teams from each association.

Playing at the Golden Grove ground, East Coast Demerara last Saturday afternoon, EBFA SUNBURST Champions Grove Hi Tech romped to a 4-0 win over EDFA’s runners-up Buxton Stars.

The series of matches which will conclude this Saturday at the Grove Playfield when the two champions from each association faceoff after the two runner-up sides take centre stage is being held with the primary aim of affording the respective teams exposure against teams from other associations.

The Soesdyke/Paradise match was action-packed from the first whistle until the end of the 90-minute dual, both teams creating chances but Soesdyke took the lead in the 18th minute from the penalty spot when Tyrell Khan scored the first of his double.

But even as Soesdyke enjoyed the better exchang-

From left: Kevin Padmore, Marco Eastman and Gregory Stevens of Grove Hi Tech

es, it was 11-year-old Colin Hendricks, the smallest of all the players in terms of stature and age on the field, who caused quite a bit of unease against his much bigger Soesdyke opponents in the attacking third.

Not afraid to take on the much taller Soesdyke boys, Hendricks worked quite a bit of magic with his nimble and smart ball work throughout the match even scoring to salvage some pride for BAPSC. Khan doubled the lead for Soesdyke in the 55th minute before Hendricks reduced the advantage three minutes later. Soesdyke restored the two-goal cushion in the 76th minute when Kevin Sobers netted - the final score reading Soesdyke 3 BAPSC 1.

BAPSC goalkeeper Ryan Harris brought off some

blinding saves to keep the score line down.

The opening game saw Grove ease to a comfortable win even as they missed some 16 clear opportunities.

Kevin Padmore scored a double for the Grove boys after the first half failed to produce a goal.

Padmore was on target in the 52nd and 65th minutes.

Mario Eastman scored in the 63rd minute while teammate Gregory Stevens sealed the deal in the 76th minute.

Saturday’s final two matches are expected to produce more exciting action as the future stars of Guyana once again exhibit their talent ahead of next month’s GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Under-17 Intra Association Tournament.

All systems in place 27 for inaugural Caribbean Schoolboys boxing c/ships P.

WEST Indies' victorious cricketers have been reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for their actions and comments in the wake of their World T20 triumph in Kolkata earlier this month.

The team, who secured an emotional four-wicket victory in the final against England, had come close to withdrawing from the tournament before a ball had been bowled, due to a long-running contract dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

In a speech on the podium in Kolkata, prior to accepting the trophy, West Indies captain Darren Sammy turned on the board in a highly politicised speech in which he thanked his teammates, the team's supporters and the heads of CARICOM - in particular Keith Mitchell, the Prime Minister of Grenada, who helped to broker a last-minute deal - but added that noone from the board had been in touch in spite of their team's triumph.

"People were wondering whether we would play this tournament," Sammy said during the live TV broadcast. "We had a lot of issues; we felt disrespected by our board … I'm yet to hear from (them). That is very disappointing."

Sammy's stance was echoed by his team-mates, among them Dwayne Bravo, who went on to describe the WICB as the "most unprofessional" board in the world. The board presiden, Dave Cameron, Bravo added, was "immature", "small-minded" and "arrogant".

However, the ICC board, which met in Dubai on Sunday, reserved its congratulations for the WICB, whose teams completed an "unprecedented treble" in also securing the Women's World T20 and the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh that took place in February.

Instead, the ICC turned on the West Indies players, describing their comments as "inappropriate, disrespectful and (bringing) the event into disrepute". Serious consideration, it added, had been given to levelling Code of Conduct charges against the players, which could have resulted in fines and/ or bans.

"The board considered the behaviour of some of the West Indies players in the immediate aftermath of the final, and unanimously agreed that certain comments and actions were inappropriate, disrespectful and Turn to page 25 ►

Sammy and teammates reprimanded by ICC

Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Sammy and Andre Russell celebrate victory in Kolkata. (Getty Images)

Umpires' use of modern-day protective gear

NO, not the batsman's. Not the wicketkeeper's either.

Umpire Bruce Oxenford was the centre of attention as he strode out to the middle with a shield on his left arm in the IPL game between Gujarat Lions and Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday.

He had used it in a World T20 warm-up match between Australia and West Indies at Eden Gardens.

With Shane Watson, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers on one side, Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith and Suresh Raina on the other, Oxenford probably anticipated his shield was downright essential. It came into use when Umpire Bruce Oxenford wears a Ravindra Jadeja bashed the shield for protection in the game ball on it a few times to test between Gujarat Lions and Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday. its strength.

Don’t Don’t change change aa winning winning formula formula ‒ coach Lawrence Adonis

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

Story on page 24

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Part of the action from the Barbados vs Guyana game at the National Park last Saturday (Delano Williams photo) TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2016