Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 27 03 2017

Lawrence elected to top PAHO post Page 8

No. 104865

MONDAY MARCH 27, 2017

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–– Gov’t urges GTT to prove it can meet data needs of Guyanese

Guyana on cusp of transformation

Page 2

–– U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission tells oil and gas conference

Page 9

Former chancellor sees flaws in third term ruling Page 3

Victoria man perishes in Soesdyke-Linden Highway collision

Page 3

Dead: Simon Paul

Linden entrepreneurs ‘spread their wings’ Page 12

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman (left), United States Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Terry Steers -Gonzalez (right) and an executive member of the Guyana Oil and Gas Association in conversation following the opening ceremony of the Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition at the Marriott Hotel on Sunday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 27, 2017

Guyana on cusp of transformation –– U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission tells oil and gas conference

NOW would be the best time for the Government to consider how revenues which are expected to be gained from the oil sector will be spent on various areas of development.

This is according to United States Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Terry Steers –Gonzalez, during his address at the opening ceremony of the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA) conference and exhibition at the Georgetown Marriott Hotel, Kingston, on Sunday.

Steers –Gonzalez said that the private sector along with Government and civil

society will play an integral role in shaping society’s development into the future.

“Guyana is at the cusp of transformation,” he said, while noting that recent estimates of offshore oil deposits have been as much as 1.6 billion barrels of recoverable oil with additional resources yet to be quantified.

“It will be critical to think now about how best to invest those revenues,” he said, as he mentioned various sectors of the economy including health, education, the security sector, industries and renewable energy sources.

Steers-Gonzalez told

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge (in dark glasses) stands in the audience during the opening ceremony of the conference the gathering which included several ministers of Government, including Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and Minister of Telecommunications Catherine Hughes, that legislation and regulations to protect Guyana’s interest and promote transparent resource management at all levels are key components for success of the industry.

Noting that Guyana’s

economy “has been doing well,” he said the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund is the cornerstone “or crown jewel” in any new gas regime, since it will provide Guyana with an opportunity to invest in its future.

Minister Trotman in his address pointed to the importance of a partnership approach in development of the petroleum industry.

To this end, he singled out the participation of individual groups, associations

and other countries which are prepared to work in best interest of the country.

“We seek like-minded partners,” he said.

He said over the past 20 months, since the Liza 1 discovery in the Stabroek Block discovery, the Government has forged partnerships with a number of organisations as it works towards the enactment of legislation to manage the sector.

He termed 2016 the year

of preparation and 2017 implementation of its plans.

The conference which runs until March 28 is set to promote long-lasting business relationships and unlock possibilities that will deliver the ultimate business setting to succeed in today’s competitive hydrocarbons marketplace.

The exhibition will be open to members of the public on the final day, March 28, from 10:00hrs to 16:00hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 27, 2017

Former chancellor sees flaws in third term ruling

By Ariana Gordon

FORMER Chancellor of the Judiciary Keith Massiah has concurred with Justice Duke Pollard that the ruling in the third term case is flawed and that there is no need for a refferendum to effect the changes that were made to the Constitution to implement presidential term limit here.

Massiah SC in a Letter to the Editor contended that Act No. 17 of 2000 does not offend or infect either Article 1 or 9 of the Constitution, but speaks to the sovereignty of the people.

On February 23, the Court of Appeal by a 2-1 majority upheld the ruling of the High Court which stated that the Constitutional amendment, Act No. 17 of 2000, which limits the number of times a person can be elected as President is unconstitutional.

The ruling by the Court of Appeal has paved the way for a former President, even after having served two terms in office, to stand for elections on a list of representatives as the presidential candidate for an unlimited number of terms.

The Court of Appeal judges, Justice Carl Singh and Justice B.S. Roy voted to uphold

the ruling of the High Court, while acting Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards was the only dissenting voice.

Justice Singh in his ruling said the decision to limit presidential terms should have gone to the electorate by way of a referendum, and not be decided upon by the National Assembly.

However, Justice Cummings-Edwards did not agree with Justice Chang’s ruling, and argued that such a referendum would mean that the electorate would be granted the power to make amendments to the Constitution.

“I write in respectful concurrence with Justice Duke Pollard’s crystalline analysis of the issues bearing on the question of the presidential term limit. The matter is constitutionally important and seemingly will reach the Caribbean Court of Justice for final determination,” Massiah SC said.

He said of importance is Justice Pollard’s reference to, and use of Dr. Bennion’s classic ‘Statutory Interpretation’ as a clarifying agent.

Justice Pollard had quoted Francis Bennion, a leading exponent of constitutional interpretation in the international legal fraternity, who

said that: “A statutory term is recognised by its associated words. The Latin maxim noscitur a sociis states this contextual principle, whereby a word or phrase is not to be construed as if it stood alone, but in the light of its surroundings.

While of general application and validity, the maxim has given rise to particular precepts such as the ejusdem generis principle and the rank principle.” (Francis Bennion, Statutory Interpretation, 4th Edition, at p. 1049) And according to Massiah SC, it is the jurisprudence deriving from Bennion, particularly the bearing of associated words on statutory terms, that led Justice Pollard to the conclusion that articles 1 and 9 of the Constitution refer to “a unified political entity” and not to “constitutional entitlements of the people” as wrongly conceived by Chief Justice Chang and the “divergent majority” in the Court of Appeal.

In addition, the former attorney general and chancellor of the judiciary affirmed his support of Justice Pollard’s reasoning, noting that “What eventuates beyond all question is that Articles 1 and 9 (the alteration of which

Former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Keith Massiah

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

requires referenda in keeping with article 164) have not been touched by the impugned amending provision (Act 17 of 2000), which prescribed the two term presidential limit.

If Justice Pollard and I are correct then questio cadit – the matter of a referendum is irrelevant.”

Meanwhile, Justice Pollard in an article published in the Guyana Chronicle on March 18, titled “Misinterpreted -Justice Pollard differs on third-term ruling”, said the validity or constitutionality does not depend on the

favourable outcome of a referendum.

Just before the May 2015 General and Regional Elections, a resident of Georgetown, Cedric Richardson, who many believe was used

by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who from all appearances is seeking a third term as president, challenged the amendments made to Article 90 of the Constitution that were enacted in 2000 following a bipartisan Constitutional Reform Process.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs,

Professor Duke Pollard Basil Williams, has indicated that he will be appealing the decision at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ); however, attempts to serve the Notice of Application and Affidavit in Support of Application for leave to appeal to the CCJ to Richardson has proven futile.

In a statement last week by the AG chambers, Office Assistant Shaun Mearns visited Richardson’s known place of abode located at Lot 4, West Ruimveldt on March 17 but was told by a female that Richardson does not reside there.

Victoria man perishes in Soesdyke-Linden Highway collision A FORMER trainee nurse attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) died early Sunday morning after being involved in a vehicular accident on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Dead is 29-year-old Simon Paul of Victoria, East Coast Demerara, who, according to reports, was at the wheel of the Toyota Premio, PVV 9105, when he ran into motor lorry, GSS 5346.

Paul was reportedly headed to Georgetown and the lorry to Linden when the accident occurred, near Yarrowkabra, at around 00:30hrs Sunday.

According to a police source, “The car was proceeding north along the western side of the road at a fast rate and as the car was about to pass the lorry on the eastern side of the road, the front right side of the car collided with the right side of the lorry causing the accident.”

The driver of the lorry and a porter, both of whom were found unconscious at the scene

of the accident, were taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, East Bank Demerara, where they were examined by a doctor and discharged.

Paul, who was also unconscious when help arrived, was taken to the GPHC where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body has since been taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour.

His mother, Ms Rundall Paul, she said the last she saw her son was when he left home on Saturday morning. As was his habit, she said, he left around 07:30hrs to go about his business.

She said she only learnt of his demise on Sunday when two police ranks broke the news to the family.

She’d always remember him fondly, she said. “He was a very loving and pleasant child; he was always willing to help whoever came into contact with him.”

So, too, will his GPHC batch-mates with whom he studied. “He was one of the kindest, coolest, down-to-earth

Dead: Simon Paul male nurses I’ve ever known,” one posted on Facebook. “He would give his last dollar when asked... You will b sure missed, my friend. One thing for sure, God always takes the best. RIP, my friend. I still can’t believe you’re gone.”

Simon, who, since leaving the GPHC, has been into block-making, leaves to mourn his mother, three sisters and a brother.

The Toyota Premio that crashed into the lorry (Nakasia Ketana Logan)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 27, 2017

Gov’t committed to Unions disagree with ‘good life’ promise UG administration -- Attorney General reassures Berbicians ATTORNEY General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams has reminded Berbicians that the Government is steadfastly committed to fulfilling the promise of a good life it made to them.

Williams was at the time speaking at Limlair Village, Corentyne, while on an outreach to listen to and address concerns of residents in the Ancient County.

Also on the outreach were Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Bromes, who addressed residents at Fyrish Village; Minister of Citizenship Winton Felix, who addressed Kildonan residents; Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, who addressed residents at Eversham Village; and Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who addressed

residents at Number 53 Village.

Attorney General Williams said with the discovery of the largest oil reserves in the Western hemisphere in Guyana, the “projection of the good life is real,” but Guyana will not be dependent on oil alone.

He said other sectors will be enhanced, especially the agriculture sector.

Minister Williams also related that ExxonMobil is discovering more wells and production of oil is expected to begin before 2020.

The Government, he said, has been receiving a lot of help from regional and international partners to ensure the oil wealth is properly managed.

“To avoid the pitfalls of other countries who were surprised with the oil wealth and didn’t know what to do with it, we are being prepared to receive this wealth.

All our international partners are assisting, the ABC countries, our neighbours and all around the world we are getting assistance and we don’t want when we receive this wealth we don’t want the Dutch Disease that has inflicted Trinidad and most other oil countries, that all our resources move into the oil industry and abandon agriculture and abandon other sectors and when the prices fall we are caught without our own food.”

Addressing development in the region, Williams said huge sums have been poured into agriculture, education, infrastructure and other sectors to enhance the livelihoods of residents.

And on that note, he urged the residents to monitor Government projects so as to ensure full accountability and to avoid complacency.

He also noted that the Government has been able to put a big dent in crime and piracy of the high seas, in the region.

-- say no meeting thus far bore substantial fruit

By Svetlana Marshall

THE University of Guyana Senior Staff Association and the University of Guyana Worker’s Union have refuted statements by the university’s administration that they had been meeting in good faith for several months.

In a statement on Sunday, the unions contended that there were three bilateral meetings with the administration over the period November 2016 to February 2017 – none of which bore substantial fruit.

It was pointed out that after agreeing to meet on February 27 to initiate negotiations, Vice-Chancellor, Dr Ivelaw Griffith, said the meeting was not intended for that purpose.

“The unions sent a full delegation to this meeting, only to be told by the vice- chancellor that it was not a negotiation meeting. Professor Griffith said that he did not wish to negotiate at this stage, because he would not be able to make a substantial offer to staff,” the unions recalled.

They said at no time did the vice-chancellor say that he was unable to negotiate because of rules forbidding him from doing so.

“The unions met with the

staff and it was the staff who declared that they would be interested in any offer that the administration wished to make – and said that they wished to have negotiations begin immediately,” the unions stated.

During that meeting, the staff had also expressed concern about the state of the sewerage system on campus – a matter that was subsequently addressed.

However, the issue of salaries had remained unattended.

They noted too that the March 20 Town Hall meeting was organised after the unions had indicated that since their demands were not met, industrial action would go ahead – an action which the vice-chancellor argued against.

“The vice-chancellor’s recent assertion that he needs to have the budget approved before he can negotiate demonstrates that he perhaps does not understand what is involved in the process. If Council approves a budget with a certain percentage for staff, there is no truly meaningful negotiation thereafter. The negotiation can only occur while the budget is still under revision, and priorities are being considered,” the unions maintained.

It was explained that the industrial action was taken to force the administration to include the interest of the staff in the doc-

ument that will be taken to the Council meeting on March 30.

“The unions’ position is that the Government of Guyana increased its subvention to the University of Guyana by at least 46 per cent. However, the vice-chancellor has indicated that increases in salaries for staff depend on increases in tuition fees. We reject this linkage and are adamant that based on the increased subvention, the university has sufficient funds to offer a decent percentage increase to staff.”

They added: “The vice-chancellor publicly touts the notion of a unified university with minimal antagonisms. In reality, the vice-chancellor expects no challenge or questions, which demonstrates disrespect for staff and their bargaining units.”

The University of Guyana Senior Staff Association and the University of Guyana Workers Union are maintaining that the recent conduct of the administration; its failure to engage the unions when the budget was being prepared; its great reluctance to share agendas for meetings; the attempt to pit staff against students; and most dangerous of all, the absolute refusal to allow persons space to speak does not bode well for unity or good industrial relations at the University of Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 27, 2017

Arthur Chung Conference Centre rehabilitation on schedule

By Svetlana Marshall

THE rehabilitation of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre is on schedule, engineers working on the multi-million project told Public Telecommunication Minister, Cathy Hughes.

Minister Hughes visited the construction site at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown last Friday where the 10-year-old building is undergoing extensive repairs, using a grant from the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, through the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

Engineers from both the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation gave the minister and her team a tour of the building. It was during

the tour that the engineers pointed out that additional damage had been unearthed.

The minister saw firsthand the progress made with respect to the new foundations and sub-structures laid to safeguard the building.

The Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) was closed on December 1, 2016 to facilitate major rehabilitation that is expected to last for 18 to 24 months.

The complex was built between 2004 and 2006, and was funded entirely by the Government of the People’s Republic of China. The rehabilitation, which was written into the 2004 agreement is being funded entirely by the same means – grant aid.

The conference centre is a gift to Guyana. Our only financial contribution is the provision of

Public Telecommunication Minister, Cathy Hughes and engineers looking at some of the samples to be used on the building security services on site, while the repairs are ongoing.

Centenary Indian indentureship art exhibition opens tomorrow AN exhibition of selected works of visual art titled, “Ganga Ship 1917: The Long Journey” hosted by the Arts Forum to mark the centenary of the formal end of Indian indentureship, will open tomorrow at the Guyana National Library.

According to a release, the exhibition will commence at 17:00 hrs and will continue at 14:00 hrs on April 1.

Thereafter, it will be mounted at the National Gallery of Art, Castellani House, from April 11to May 9, 2017.

A mix of established and emerging artists living in Guyana and including Betsy Karim, Philbert Gajadhar, Michael Khan, Bernadette Indira Persaud, Brian Tankoon, Darshani Kistama and Ramroop Mahase, are expected to showcase a limited sampling of their works. The curator and coordinator of “Ganga Ship 1917: The Long Journey” is Bernadette Indira Persaud.

The Arts Forum Inc was founded by Ameena Gafoor in 2003 to bring to light works of visual art of Indian-Guyanese artists which,

up until then, hardly existed in the national consciousness.

The work of The Arts Forum was broadened in 2004 with the publication of The Arts Journal, a scholarly Journal published annually, and featuring critical perspectives on contemporary social history, the literary, visual

and cultural traditions and artefacts of Guyana and the Caribbean.

The Arts Journal also publishes creative writing, interviews and book reviews.

The editor of The Arts Journal is Ameena Gafoor and the Art Editor is Bernadette Persaud.

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 27, 2017

Justice for Courtney THE recent announcement by the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions that it was re-opening the murder case of former Guyana Defence Force officer and activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing, was indeed great news to a society that was beginning to give up hope on this matter.

That the DPP chambers also announced that respected attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes, would continue to be the special prosecutor of the case on behalf of the state was even greater news. No one would question the skills of Mr Hughes as a defence lawyer-- regarded as one of the better legal minds in our country. His professionalism, experience and competence will in no small measure add depth to the prosecution of this case and hopefully all Guyanese would finally see justice served in the murder of Mr Crum-Ewing.

Enough has been said and speculated as to who committed the act and the intellectual authors. That the former administration under whose watch Mr Crum-Ewing was gunned down while urging residents of Diamond to vote at the May 2015 General and Regional elections did not ensure that this case was prosecuted, is not lost in this debate. The relatives of Mr Crum-Ewing have also speculated on who were behind the killing and have for months protested in front of the Attorney General’s Chambers, while Anil Nandlall was the office- holder.

Mr Crum-Ewing was fearless. His courage to stand up against the PPP government that had become increasingly desperate months before the May 15, 2015 elections was legendary. It is for this reason and more that every effort must be made to find his killers and mete out justice to them. Major-General rtd of the Guyana Defence Force, Joseph Singh, had correctly stated that the persons who shot and killed Crum-Ewing did not have the courage to

face him. According to Singh, Crum-Ewing had his political preference and that was his democratic right. The former army head went on to say that the shooting of Mr Crum-Ewing was a calculated act of cold-blooded murder of a son, sibling, and father and called on the police to bring the killers to justice. It took the coalition government on entering office before any charge was laid and even when charges were laid against one suspect it was dismissed.

The magistrate had argued that while the gun used in the murder was found at the suspect’s home, the prosecution had failed to pin him to the murder.

One of the reasons there are laws in society is to ensure justice and equity by holding everyone to the same standards and have them play by the same rules. When this is upheld, where there is violation to a person, it is expected that justice be sought in a court of law. The benefit of this is that decision and penalty are guided by law and not one’s feelings, which leads to vigilante justice.

Whenever a crime is reported, the police have a responsibility to investigate it. That investigation needs to be conducted within the confines of the law and acceptable standard practices. It means that all evidence -- collected and stored -- must be consistently pursued and presented in a universally acceptable manner, including ensuring the rights of suspect and accused are respected at all times.

Bringing an accused before the courts, the evidence presented at trial must satisfy the requirements guided by the standard practices and laws to ensure conviction. In addition to the Crum-Ewing case, a number of other cases have fallen through the cracks for want of strong and credible evidence. The force may find it prudent to look within and engage in critical review of its performance in helping the court to dispense justice.

If evidence is not properly collected, stored, retrieved and presented to support the charge made, then the presiding magistrate or judge is given no option other than to dismiss the case. While in the court of public opinion the person may be known to have committed the act, to achieve conviction in a court of law requires thorough preparation, including marshalling of thoughts on the facts and issue, and vigorous representation of the case from the prosecutor’s perspective.

The police should be concerned at the number of cases being lost in the court. For outside of playing their important role in maintaining law and order and ensuring the delivery of justice, the institution also helps in building the people’s confidence in the justice system. When people hold the view that the court and police are not doing their jobs, it creates the avenue for vigilante justice, and threatens the legitimacy of the State. The society must never reach the place where its citizens feel justice will not be served, because the force is incapable of discharging its duties, or because its personnel have been compromised.

Things are not right at Tagore Memorial Secondary School Dear Editor, A STUDENT is a learner, a learner who is assiduous.

Teachers are persons who help others acquire knowledge, competence and good proficiency. Teachers play an important part in a child’s life, but when teachers display disdain to students’ concerns, students are triggered to seek professional help from the public and higher authorities in the system.

This has been an ongoing issue at Tagore Memorial Secondary School, which is located at No 63 Village in Region Six of Guyana. Students are being victimised over an incident which occurred in the previous year.

You may ask, “Do teachers

victimise students?” And unfortunately the answer is yes.

In this modern era, students are being victimised and not one action is taken against this issue in Tagore.

In the Science Department of the above-named school, students have had their SBA books being marked with prejudice and bias. Students have had what teacher had requested, but yet to ensure that students gain undeserved marks, the marking schemes have been fabricated and modified with equal and unbiased indifference. Why? It was done in order to ensure that students produce bad grades and rumours to spread that a certain teacher is the best and the only person on Earth capable of teaching tough

subjects.

You may ask ,“Why have you not lodged a complaint to the head teacher?” Head teacher? Which head teacher deals with a dispute ethically? Students have a stance, but are not allowed to voice their opinions, but rather are forced to be submissive.

Teachers also have stances.

Head teachers should therefore have reconciliation with compromise. They should not be haughty, impetuous, incompetent, perfidious and rancorous.

Students have consequently tried to articulate on this issue to this great head teacher of the above-named school, but no action has yet been taken. When students go to their offices to query the matter, they are chased

out of the office and given deceitful hopes.

How will students gain a feeling of identity in this organisation? If that is the treatment students get from head teachers, then the HM of the above-named school is not worthy of such position and should be immediately discredited. Several teachers have been concerned about this unethical practice against students and they are even being discriminated against when they use their freedom of speech.

Students aspire to be doctors, humanitarians and what not. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. And that single step is to gain good grades in order to be what they aspire to be. Imagine these stu-

dents ending world hunger and even saving millions of lives in various ways. Consequently, these desires have been suppressed by the HOD of Science and the teachers among others. Even some who are thirsty for being called ‘the greatest’, ‘the most intelligent’ and God knows what!

Moderators were the only hope for these unfortunate students who have been robbed of their aspirations.

Moderators are assigned to be equitable. They are given that status to ensure that every student gets what he or she fully deserves, but not of recent. Students are told they are not allowed to speak to moderators to express their concerns and open up on the causes of the situation.

Why were students from the previous batches allowed to?

It has only been unfortunate for this batch.

Moderators are fallaciously convinced to mark using marking schemes students have never seen and which were altered. Who should students plead to? It is a matter of not one, but several students’ future. I, remaining anonymous,would like to request (on behalf of the victims), the Ministry of Education and capable persons of the general public to step into this crucial issue as soon as possible.

One last note -- it was a well-planned mission which is almost completed.

Regards, Concerned student

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 27, 2017

ICS delegation to meet Trump Dear Editor,

AN alliance of Caribbean Diaspora community, religious and business leaders assembled by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) will meet with Trump administration officials this week to provide inputs into the construct of future U.S./ Caribbean relations and the role of the Diaspora in contributing to the process.

These consultations follow up on meetings held last month to identify a mechanism to provide for ongo-

ing consultations between the Administration and the Caribbean Diaspora in the United States.

At the centre of the discussions is the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016, which was signed last December by President Obama and which provides for the identification and implementation of specific initiatives and programmes to enhance America’s relations with the Caribbean at both the multilateral and bilateral levels.

The Act identifies nine

broad areas which the U.S. State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are mandated to address and to provide recommendations and a proposed plan of action to the U.S. Congress by June this year.

The Caribbean Diaspora Alliance has prepared a “White Paper” which it submitted to the State Department Friday and which is expected to form the basis for Wednesday’s consultations. The paper addresses the nine issues and received inputs from diaspora

The matter of a referendum is irrelevant

Dear Editor,

I WRITE in respectful concurrence with Justice Duke Pollard’s crystalline analysis of the issues bearing on the question of the presidential term limit.

The matter is constitutionally important and seemingly will reach the Caribbean Court of Justice for final determination.

Of outstanding importance, to my mind, is Justice Pollard’s reference to, and use of, Dr Bennion’s classic ‘Statutory Interpretation’ as a clarifying agent. [See also ‘Craies on Statute

Law’ (5th edn.)]

Principally, it is the jurisprudence deriving from Bennion, particularly the bearing of associated words on statutory terms, that led Justice Pollard to the conclusion that articles 1 and 9 of the Constitution refer to “a unified political entity” and not to “constitutional entitlements of the people” as wrongly conceived by Chief Justice Chang and the divergent majority in the Court of Appeal.

I support Justice Pollard’s closely reasoned contention. What eventuates beyond all question is that articles 1 and 9 (the alter-

ation of which requires referenda in keeping with article 164) have not been touched by the impugned amending provision (Act 17 of 2000) which prescribed the two-term presidential limit.

If Justice Pollard and I are correct, then questio cadit – the matter of a referendum is irrelevant.

Regards, Keith Massiah S.C. Former Attorney-General and Chancellor of the Judiciary

leaders across the United States representing organisations whose memberships are made up of Caribbean- Americans from every Caribbean nation. Inputs for the “White Paper” were also garnered from consultations with organisations in the Caribbean region, including private sector organisations and the CARICOM Secretariat.

Wednesday’s consultations will address issues under three broad themes: diplomacy and security; economic development; and education and health.

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State will lead the U.S. discussion with an overview of current U.S. Engagement with the Caribbean, while Guyana’s

Ambassador to the United States, Dr Riyad Insanally, who is also the current chair of the Caribbean Caucus of Ambassadors, will deliver opening remarks. The diaspora discussion on diplomacy and security will be led by Wesley Kirton and Herbert Nelson; economic development by Alland Leandre and Oscar Spencer and education and health by Eric Walcott and Roxanne Valies.

Regards, Wesley Kirton

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 27, 2017

Attorney General appeals Court Order –– on appointment of Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority board

By Ariana Gordon ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams has filed a Notice of Application to be heard by the High Court to contest the March 8 decision of that court to grant an Order Nisi of Mandamus on him to appoint members of the governing board of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority.

Williams and the named respondents, the Governing Board of the Deeds and Commercial Registry, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Deeds and Commercial Registry, the Registrar of Deeds and the Registrar of the Commercial Registry are calling on the court to discharge the orders and refuse to hear the merits of the application filed by former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall.

In his Notice of Application, the respondents contend that the Court should not exercise its jurisdiction to determine the Fixed Date Application and that the grounds for the application are that

Nandlall, a Member of Parliament’s contention that the respondents are in breach of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act 2013, ACT No.4 of 2013 is flawed.

According to the respondents, Nandlall approached the court ex-parte and as a result was duty bound to disclose all material facts pertinent to his application but failed to so do. As such, the respondents argue that Nandlall “concealed material facts from the court when he failed to disclose that the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authorities (Amendment) Bill 2017 – Bill No. 3/2017 published on 2017-01-24, was placed before the National Assembly on an Order Paper for the 61st Sitting of the National Assembly of the First Session (2015-2017) of the Eleventh Parliament of Guyana to be held at 2.00pm on Thursday, 9th February, 2017, and again at the 62nd Sitting on Thursday 9th March, 2017, for second reading , the first reading of which was done on 30th January, 2017”.

The identified legisla-

tion proposed to amend the provision of the Act to, inter alia, increase the number of members of the board and as such, the respondents contend that it would be impractical in the circumstances for the Minister of Legal Affairs to appoint a board.

NON-DISCLOSURE “The respondents will contend that the applicant, being a Member of Parliament, was at all material times aware that the said bill was engaging the attention of the National Assembly and failed to disclose this information to the court,” and noted that the non-disclosure entitles the court to discharge the orders nisi and refuse to hear the merits of the application.

Additionally, when the matter comes up again before Justice Brassington Reynolds, the respondents intend to argue that the order of the court is “tantamount to interfering with the functions of the Executive, which is a breach of the doctrine of Separation of Powers”.

Meanwhile, Nandlall in his application was filed on March 6, said that the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act 2013, Act No. 4 of 2013 establishes the Deeds and Commercial Registry as a corporate body, to establish and promote the efficient and orderly operation of the Deeds Registry and the Commercial Registry, to establish the conditions governing the employment of officers and employees of the authority.

In his application, Nandlall alleged that the respondents

Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

are in breach of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act 2013, Act No, 4 of 2013 and sought the Writs of Mandamus compelling the Minister of Legal Affairs to appoint the Governing Board of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority; compelling the Governing Board of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority to discharge the functions devolving upon it in accordance with the provisions of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act 2013, Act No, 4 of 2013; compelling the Chairman of Governing Board of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority to discharge the functions devolving upon it in accordance with the provisions of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act 2013, Act No, 4 of 2013; compelling the Registrar of Deeds to discharge the functions devolving upon the said board in accordance with the provisions of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act 2013, Act No, 4 of 2013; and compelling the Registrar of the Commercial Registry to discharge the

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams functions devolving upon the said board in accordance with the provisions of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act 2013, Act No, 4 of 2013.

Nandlall was represented by Attorneys-at-law Mursaline Bacchus, Bibi Shadick, Priya Manickchand, Adrian Anamayah, Euclin Gomes, Sase Gunraj, Manoj Narayan, C.V Satram, Mark Conway, Sasha Mahadeo-Narayan and Rajendra Jaigobin.

Lawrence elected to top PAHO post

By Svetlana Marshall GUYANA’S Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, has been elected vice-chair of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Sub-Committee of Budget and Planning.

Lawrence is the first Guyanese health minister to be appointed to that post. She accepted the appointment while attending the 11th Session of the PAHO Sub-committee on Programme, Budget, and Administration in Washington DC on Friday. The sub-committee is an auxiliary body of the executive committee with responsibility for aspects of programme administration.

PAHO’s draft programme and budget for

2018 and 2019 was among issues discussed during the three-day forum held at PAHO headquarters from March 22-24. The primary function of the sub-committee is to review and as appropriate, make recommendations to the executive committee.

Before returning to Guyana, the public health minister used the opportunity to meet with Guyanese professionals living and working in the Washington DC and Maryland areas.

During that meeting at the Guyana Embassy in Washington DC, Minister Lawrence said she is cognisant of the fact that there are still loopholes in the public health system, but said under her watch, they will be addressed though it may take some time.

According to her, there will be law and order at the Public Health Ministry. Government, she said, is not only committed to having better infrastructure in place, but greater levels of accountability and transparency, especially during the procurement of drugs and medical supplies.

“People are suffering, they are not getting drugs,” she lamented. Just recently, the public health minister had cause to fast track the procurement of critical drugs in order to safeguard the health of the nation.

Her ministry had sought the approval of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for ANSA McAl to supply drugs and pharmaceuticals to the tune of some $605M.

The Trinidad conglomerate was among four companies, including New GPC, Health 2000 and ChirosynDiscovery, from which these emergency supplies were procured.

“My priority is to ensure the nation’s health is given top priority. The health system will not be held hostage by unprincipled persons and therefore I made the decision to shortlist the critical but unavailable items and the suppliers with the ability to provide them on time to avert deepening the drug-demand difficulties,” Minister Lawrence had said in a statement.

The poor performance of nurses in training was another issue brought to the fore, with the public health minister under-

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, addressing U.S.-based Guyanese at the Guyana Embassy in Washington DC, last Friday scoring the importance of raising the bar for lecturers. Close to 100 per cent of the student nurses that

recently re-sat the 2016 Professional Nurses State see page 9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 27, 2017

Show your ability

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–– Gov’t urges GTT to prove it can meet data needs of Guyanese

By Svetlana Marshall

GUYANA Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) must provide the evidence that it has the network capacity to meet the needs of the market before a decision is taken to discontinue Digicel’s link to Suriname, the Public Telecommunication Ministry said.

The Ministry’s statement on Sunday comes amid calls

by GTT for an investigation to be conducted into Digicel’s alleged “illegal, unlicensed trans-border link between Guyana and Suriname”.

The telephone giant is also demanding that Digicel makes public its records detailing tax payments on the revenue generated by this perceived illegal bypass operation in the interest of transparency.

According to the Ministry, it has been actively engaging both GTT and Digicel in discussions on GTT’s claims of unlicensed transmission of voice and data traffic by Digicel across the Guyana-Suriname border.

It said that the matter has proven to be a complex one, exacerbated by demands of the market for adequate voice and data services. “Among the issues to be considered are whether GTT has sufficient data capacity to meet the needs of the market and the degree of congestion of

its network,” the Ministry headed by Minister Cathy Hughes noted.

It said GTT has been invited to submit relevant information and data to clearly demonstrate that it has the network capacity to ensure that the people of Guyana will not be adversely affected by discontinuance of the Digicel link to Suriname.

NOT CONDONING ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES The Ministry, however, said its current position should not be misconstrued to mean that it is willing to condone illegal activities.

“The Ministry wishes to emphasise that this does not mean that the Government is in any way eager to condone this activity, but in this age of such high dependence on telecommunications and the Internet for the conduct of business, learning and many activities of life, we must be satisfied that there is adequate communications available for the people,” the Ministry stated.

It said while Government is committed to ensuring that applicable licence terms and conditions are honoured, it must also ensure that the required obligations in the licences that provide for adequate service are met, as well as the needs of the people.

The Public Telecommunications Ministry said it is well aware that increased investment and greater network capacity are needed to meet the demands of consumers.

“The Ministry believes that a fully liberalised and competitive sector will prevent the resurgence of claims such as these,” it said.

GTT strongly believes that Digicel should have paid US$30M or GY$7B to Guyana’s treasury over the last five years based on revenues garnered from the alleged illegal by-pass.

A DEFLECTION In a statement on Sunday, Digicel said GTT’s allegation is another irresponsible attempt to deflect from the material issues that have now been brought to bear upon the company by the onset of liberalisation in Guyana.

Digicel said that any question of the illegality can only be determined upon the judicial construction of the respective licences of both Digicel and GTT and upon consideration of all the relevant facts.

“At present there are matters before the court in which the court is called upon to make determinations in relation to the same issues. One such matter is the Constitutional Motion

Lawrence elected ...

From page 8

Minister of Public Health, Headquarters Final Examination had failed.

In addition, Minister Lawrence plans to address the heavy work load of the regional health officers by appointing deputy regional health officers. It is expected to enhance the level of efficiency within the public health care system.

Volda Lawrence, (seated wearing blue) at the PAHO Minister Lawrence praised Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, for her work and “the bright young people at the ministry.” She also thanked the Guyanese diaspora for all the assistance they have been giving to the Ministry of Public Health, and

encouraged them to drop by and have a conversation with the local operatives, whenever they visit Guyana.

Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence, was accompanied on this trip by Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle.

filed by Digicel against GTT in which Digicel challenges the fundamental legality of GTT’s authorisations to operate in Guyana and the extent to which these run counter to the tenets of the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana,” Digicel explained.

The company emphasised that only when the court rules on these fundamental legal principles, can any determination be made in relation to legality.

“Before Digicel entered the

market in 2007, GTT was the sole provider of all telecommunications services in Guyana and telecommunications services were generally out of the reach of [the] Guyanese people. The prices for services were prohibitive, the quality of services was poor and the access to services in the remote areas of Guyana was only a hope for many Guyanese,” Digicel pointed out.

Despite many challenges, Digicel said it managed to bring competition, vibrancy and real connectivity to the

people of Guyana –providing services to persons in many remote areas of the country, such as Eteringbang, Aishalton and Baramita.

The company said when the Telecommunications Act is promulgated, “all questions as to monopolies will become moot and consumers throughout Guyana can look forward to significantly increased levels of access to electronic communications services”.

In the meantime, Digicel is standing by its legal positions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 27, 2017

A teenager’s advice to single mothers

STAYING by my granny with my little brother one weekend, I was called by granny to the bathroom and told to get ready to bathe.

As she went to get a tow-

el, I began to take my clothes off. When she came back she picked up the bowl from the pail of water and began pouring water over me while I soaped up my skin.

I turned as she took the rag from me to rub my back, my bottom and legs, then as I turned back to face her she pointed to my privates and said, ‘Never let anyone touch

you there, you hear me, you alone must wash ‘there’’ and if anyone ever try to trouble you there, you tell them ‘No!’, you scream, you fight, you run, you hear me?’ I’m serious… You understand? I looked at granny and nodded ‘yes,’ but I was confused.

Why was granny telling me this now? Uncle Ronnie touched me there many times and he told me not tell anybody. Uncle Ronnie said I was a nice girl: he gave me candy floss and sweet drink.

He told me he would bring popcorn and chocolate for me next time, as long as I never told anyone what he had done.

The sexual abuse happened when I was six years old and now I am 17. Looking at me on the outside, you’d never guess what’s going on, on the inside because I go to school, I get reasonable grades, I do my homework and chores and get by like every other girl my age. But I am different from every other girl of my age: psychologically, I will never be the same because I cannot forget the trauma of being sexually abused as a child.

Those memories make me feel used and unworthy and like all memories, they play in

my head when I least expect them, causing me pain and sorrow.

A grown man sexually abused me. He took advantage of a small innocent child.

He used me in his sick way for his own gratification. It’s unfair for any grown adult to use a child in that way. Granny, who I live with now, gave me good advice back then, but it came too late, the damage had already been done. After I told her what Uncle Ronnie had done to me, she called the Child Protection Service and my brother and I were taken into care. Uncle Ronnie, who was my mother’s boyfriend, was arrested and the matter went to court.

During the preceding years, I had to tell the ‘court people’ what Uncle Ronnie did, over and over again, I felt dirty and bad. I was growing and that whole ugly part of my life was growing with me. I heard stories about the support my mother was giving to Uncle Ronnie during the time he was held by the police. Like visiting him and taking him food and money. But the one time I’d seen her, early on in the affair, she’d whispered to me ‘Keep yuh mouth shut, don’t

tell dem anything.’

Apart from the burden of having an irresponsible mother, whom I barely see, and the recurring memories of the sexual abuse and the psychological side effects, there are two things that really eat at my soul. One: will I ever get married? Will any man want me because of my past?

And two: where is Uncle Ronnie now and who else is he sexually abusing? He did not get convicted for his crime against me and my mother has moved on with a new man in her life. So Uncle Ronnie is out there, somewhere, walking around free to interfere with another innocent child.

I feel I should alert single mothers to be cautious about the people they bring into their homes. Sometimes it’s better to be safe and live alone with your children, than sleep with and leave your children around someone who might be ‘Uncle Ronnie.’

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, you can ring the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or email chilcaregy@gmail.co A Message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection

Visiting medical team concludes successful outreach in Berbice A VISITING team of doctors from the U.S.-based, non-profit Sathya Sai International Organisation, recently wrapped up a five-day medical outreach in Berbice.

While there, and with the help of medical staff at the New Amsterdam Hospital, they performed a number of gynaecological surgeries, among them 18 hysterectomies.

Since coming here in 2013, Sathya Sai doctors have done over 100 fibroid surgeries, the ost notable of which was the one done on a woman who, though underweight, had 15.

While here on this occasion, the team also gave junior medical practitioners some invaluable on-the-job training on new techniques in their respective fields.

According to Regional Liaison Officer within the Public Health Ministry, Alex Foster, where before the team came occasionally, they will now be coming twice a year to continue their humanitarian effort, especially towards

the poor.

However, Director of Regional Health Services, Jevaughn Stephens, challenged the team to focus more in the future on men’s issues, as males tend to have a different approach to health.

Local coordinator, Bob Singh, who now resides in Trinidad and Tobago, expressed his gratitude, and said he is optimistic that the relationship between the team and the Guyanese health authorities will grow from strength to strength.

Amongst the team members, many of whom are of Guyanese and Trinidadian extract, were Drs Yatish Merchant, Indurani Tejwani, Salem Jayagopal, Gautam Tiwari.

Also a part of the team were Fize Mohamed, Sunk Teotia, Vidya Singh Ali, Bhagwan Narwani, and Robert Kalicharran.

Each was given a token of appreciation on behalf of Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence.

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Life of distinguished Guyanese author celebrated

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 27, 2017

DOZENS of relatives and close friends gathered at the Washington National Cathedral Saturday morning to give thanks and celebrate the life of the late Eustace Edward Ricardo Braithwaite, author of bestselling book, “To Sir, With Love”.

Representing Guyana at the ceremony was Ambassador, Dr. Riyad Insanally, who in his tribute said, “Ted Braithwaite’s accomplishments went far beyond anything I could ever hope to achieve. Quite simply, Ted Braithwaite was not just a son of Guyana; he was one of Guyana’s greatest gifts to the world as scholar, educator, writer, diplomat and humanist. And he was, of course, an exemplar of the enlightened citizens of the world.”

ER Braithwaite was also a British fighter pilot during the Second World War. Over the years he had served Guyana as a diplomat, serving at the United Nations and in Venezuela.

On the occasion of his 100 birthday, he was invited to the land of his birth by the Guyana Government, and was bestowed with the National Award of the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH).

Braithwaite lived on for another four years, and enjoyed relatively perfect health, not having to use a walking cane or any other aid to get around. He died suddenly of heart failure on December 12, 2016.

In concluding his tribute, Ambassador Insanally stated, “At 104 years old, he was a life well lived and we celebrate it today.”

Ambassador Dr. Riyad Insanally, (at left) Braithwaite’s two sons, Francis and Ron, his wife Ginette, and a friend stand around a portrait of the author and the book of condolence. (Francis Quamina Farrier photo)

Meeting farmers half-way –– MARDS opens agro-chemical sales outlet in Burma ‘back-dam’

NOW that a sales outlet has been opened in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), rice farmers need not go farther to find agro-chemicals.

The outlet, which is located in the Burma “backdam”, was opened last Wednesday by the Mahaicony Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS) to

facilitate farmers cultivating rice there and in other neighbouring Region Five communities.

“It is intended to be a convenience store for rice farmers, since the outlet is located several miles from the public road and in the heart of the cultivation area,” MARDS Chairperson, Ms Allison Bourne

said at the opening.

The outlet targets farmers engaged in the large-scale cultivation of rice, particularly those using crop-dusters for the aerial spraying of growing plants to protect them from weeds and insects.

Bourne said the outlet will offer farmers the same pesticides and weedicides

At the opening of the outlet last Wednesday are, from left: Ms Devieann Jack; General Manager, Mr Dane Henry; Chairperson, Ms Allison Bourne; Board Member, Mr Victor Wilson and Ms Colleen James

they can get from facilities along the coast, but at a competitive price during normal business hours.

But for those wanting to buy supplies after hours,

MARDS staffers who live inland at Burma will be only too willing to help out.

Among those present at the opening of the

outlet were MARDS Director, Mr Victor Wilson;General Manager, Dane Henry and staffers Devieann Jack and Colleen James.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 27, 2017

Entrepreneurs ‘spread their wings’ –– despite some hiccups in the organisation of Linden trade expo

By Vanessa Braithwaite THE Linden Trade and Investment Fair and Exposition concluded on Sunday with local producers and entrepreneurs deeming the event a success.

The exposition provided them an opportunity to showcase their locally made products and services and was held at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre.

While several firms and businesses, based out of Linden, also had booths at the exposition, the attention was given to local producers and budding entrepreneurs.

The aim of the event was to give exposure to current and potential businesses in Linden, while also inviting foreign investors to set up shop in the mining town.

In the past, the exposition was a signature event of the Linden Chamber of Commerce (LCC). But this year, the chamber collaborated with the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) to host the event themed “Linden, the gateway for investment and opportunities, a window to future development.”

Several of the producers and entrepreneurs say the exposition opened up business opportunities for them as they were able to showcase their products, meet their competitors, network and edified on ways to improve their production or services.

One of them was seamstress Coreena Richman of Canvas City Linden, who showcased her craft work, as well as sewed clothing for the first time.

Richman told this publication that she was not getting much exposure at her home and used the exposition to showcase her skill to capture potential customers and to search out avenues to meet the standard of her competitors.

“I was encouraged by my teacher to come out because business is slow at home, much people don’t know about what I do, I do knitting, fabric

designing, sewing and other things,” she said.

MUCH NEEDED EXPOSURE Deron Adams, founder of Corporate Supplies, used the exposition to showcase his business Print Smart Initiative (PSI). The young entrepreneur said it has given him and others the opportunity to spread their wings. His business specialises in office services and is the first of its kind in Linden.

“This is a pre-paid print service, which allows students, teachers, nurses, churches to buy print in

The Guyana Marketing Corporation showcasing a variety of locally made products The Guyana Islamic Foundation also had a booth at the expo, not to promote a product or service, but to promote peace and harmony.

Booth holder, Maqsood Mansoor, told the Guyana Chronicle that with the recent upsurge in terrorist activities around the world, the foundation is using the exposition to edify Lindeners that Islam is a religion of peace and is not in any way affiliated with terrorism.

“The Holy Quran in fact said that if anyone kills an innocent person it is like if they killed the whole of humanity,” Mansoor posited. This is the third year the Islamic Foundation has used the Linden exposition to share the message of peace.

While many of the President David Granger with a young entrepreneur and his product booth holders spoke advance of using them,” lised the exposition to positively of the initiahe explained. The initiative seek out Linden custom- tive, several persons allows the customer to pur- ers since it has intentions said that the event was chase a smart card, which in the near future to es- not well organised and is reloadable and customers tablish a branch in Lin- hope that next year there will be more supcan use the various print den.

Entrepreneur Paul War- port from the Linden packages to have convener told the Guyana Chron- community. nient and cheap printing.

The producers believe Representatives of icle that he is currently that the forum was poorly other local producers, sourcing raw materials on advertised and the venue including Favourable De- the Soesdyke-Linden Highlights, Chanzar’s Enter- way and is looking to es- was a bad choice, since prise, Denise Institute of tablish a branch of his juice it is not in the centre of Mackenzie where persons Catering, Monica Fabric business there.

Jet’s Enterprise is lo- could have had easy acDesigns and Mic James Production also lauded cated on the West Coast cess to it. They also called the efforts of the coordi- of Demerara and produces for lowering of the envarious citrus juices and trance fee since that may nators of the expo. concentrates ranging from have resulted in a more guava, mauby, sorrel, gin- satisfactory turnout. In NEW BUSINESS J e t ’ s E n t e r p r i s e , ger beer and medical drinks addition to the exposition, t h o u g h n o t a L i n - such as capadulla, sasparil- there were also a cultural One of the booths at the Linden Trade and Investment Fair and Exposition which den-based business, uti- la and honey. show, an investment semconcluded on Sunday inar and a kiddies corner.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 27, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 27, 2017

Guyana observes Earth Hour 2017

THE World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Guyana office, in collaboration with the Office of Climate Change of the Ministry of the Presidency, the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) and several other organisations Saturday evening, observed Earth Hour 2017 with

a special ‘Lights Out’ Concert at the National Park.

Earth Hour, which is in its 10th year, is referred to as the largest environmental event in the world and is used to signal the commitment made by countries, individuals and organisations to create a brighter

Attendees observing the lighting of the Earth Hour ‘60+’ emblem on the tarmac of the National Park

The National Dance School performing a piece titled, “Love Song to the Earth” at Earth Hour observance at the National Park

and more conscious future for the earth and to promote efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The event saw the symbolic switching off of non-essential lights from 20:30hrs to 21:30hrs and lighting of the ‘60+’ emblem to signify Earth Hour.

The event featured dances, songs, poems and other artistic pieces from artistes, including musician Jeremy Sobers, the National School of Dance, the University

of Guyana and the Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra.

It was attended by head of the Office of Climate Change, Janelle Christian; British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn; Mexican Ambassador to Guyana, Ivan Robero Sierra Medel; Mikiko Tanaka, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations; and Paolo Marchi, Deputy Head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 27, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 27, 2017

Teenager Shadab stars as Pakistan beat Windies in first T20 BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) — A muted West Indies displayed little of the bluster that made them World champions, as they slumped to a disappointing six-wicket loss to Pakistan in the opening Twenty20 International of the four-match series here Sunday.

In what appeared to be an extension of the malaise which condemned them to a 3-0 whitewash to the same side in the United Arab Emirates last September, West Indies struggled to get going and could only muster a paltry 111 for eight off their 20 overs at Kensington Oval.

Only Captain Carlos Brathwaite with an unbeaten 34 looked the part and he was the lone batsman to pass 2o, in another anemic batting effort.

The hosts were stunned by the guile of debutant teenaged leg-spinner Shadab Khan who claimed three for seven in four superb overs, to claim Man-of-the-Match honours.

In reply, Pakistan never really looked in danger and overcame a few early hiccups to reach their target in

the 18th over, with the ever dependable Shoaib Malik taking the visitors over the line with an unbeaten 38 off 29 balls.

Babar Azam, who shot to prominence with a string of one-day hundreds against West Indies last year, made 29 while shotgun Kamran Akmal struck 22.

Seamer Jason Holder was the best bowler with two for 27.

Hoping to erase the memories of their whitewash after being sent in, West Indies looked full of intent when left-hander Evin Lewis deposited off-spinner Mohammed Hafeez over the mid-wicket ropes in just the second over.

But his fireworks were short-lived as he was run out by Ahmed Shezad’s direct hit from the deep, as he galloped back for a fateful second run in the next over, with the score on 13.

Chadwick Walton (18) then added 22 for the second wicket with Marlon Samuels who made seven before being harshly adjudged lbw to left-arm spinner Imad Wasim, off one which would have missed leg.

His dismissal opened the floodgates as West Indies inexplicably lost five wickets for 14 runs in a devastating 26-ball slide.

The 18-year-old Shadab proved incisive, removing Walton — plumb lbw and Lendl Simmons (1) bowled dragging on an attempted sweep — in

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his first-ever over in international cricket and the eighth of the innings.

Languishing on 49 for six, West Indies were rescued by two partnerships as Brathwaite put on 25 for the seven wicket with Kieron Pollard (14) and a further 37 for the eighth wicket with Holder (14).

Brathwaite, who equalled his highest T20 score, faced 27 balls and struck two fours and two sixes.

In reply, Pakistan lost Shezad for 13, gloving a lifter from Holder behind to wicketkeeper Walton at 25 for one in the fifth. Akmal threatened briefly, lashing three fours and a six in a breezy 17-ball knock before picking out Lewis at deep mid-wicket with leg-spinner Samuel Badree in the sixth over.

And when Hafeez (5) frustratedly skied a catch back to seamer Brathwaite, Pakistan were stumbling on 49 for three

in the ninth over and West Indies were eyeing a way back.

However, Shoaib arrived to be the steadying influence, anchoring a match-winning 46-run, fourth wicket partnership with Azam to put Pakistan on the brink of victory.

Playing on familiar turf — the home base of Barbados Tridents who he represents in the Caribbean Premier League — the right-hander calmly killed off any lingering West Indies hopes in a knock that included three fours and one six while Azam counted three fours off 30 deliveries.

By the time Azam carved Holder to Rovman Powell at short third man in the 15th over at 95 for four, the Windies fight had already been extinguished.

The series will head to Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad for the remaining games on March 30, April 1 and 2.

SCORECARD

WEST INDIES E Lewis run out 10 +C Walton lbw b Shadab Khan 18 M Samuels lbw b Imad Wasim 7 L Simmons b Shadab Khan 1 K Pollard c Imad Wasim b Wahab Riaz 14 S Narine c Imad Wasim b Shadab Khan 1 R Powell lbw b Hasan Ali 5 *C Brathwaite not out 34 J Holder c Mohammad Hafeez b Sohail Tanvir 14 Extras: (lb3, w3, nb1) 7 TOTAL: (8 wkts, 20 overs) 111 Did not bat: S Badree, K Williams.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-35, 3-37 4-38 (S 5-42, 6-49, 7-74, 8-111.

Bowling: Imad Wasim 3-0-121, Mohammed Hafeez 1-0-8-0, Sohail Tanvir 4-0-21-1 (w1, nb1), Hasan Ali 4-0-25-1, Shadab Khan 4-0-7-3, Wahab Riaz 4-0-35-1

13:10 hrs Vbadge Treat Wolverhampton 09:50 hrs Wurood 10:20 hrs Cahar Fad 10:50 hrs Filament Of Gold 11:20 hrs Enfolding 11:50 hrs Grumeti 12:20 hrs Vivre La Reve 12:50 hrs Frank Cool 13:20 hrs Mr Potter Plumpton 10:00 hrs Little Chunk 10:30 hrs He’s A Bully 11:00 hrs Beggar’s Wishes 11:30 hrs Goonjim

(w2).

PAKISTAN Kamran Akmal c Lewis b Badree 22 Ahmed Shehzad c wkp Walton b Holder 13 Babar Azam c Powell b Holder 29 Mohammad Hafeez c&b Brathwaite 5 Shoaib Malik not out 38 *+Sarfraz Ahmed not out 4 Extras: (w3, nb1) 4 TOTAL: (4 wkts, 17.1 overs) 115 Did not bat: Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-40, 3-49, 4-95.

Bowling: Badree 4-0-24-1 (w1), Holder 3.1-0-27-2, Narine 4-022-0, Brathwaite 3-0-18-1, Williams 2-0-14-0 (w1, nb1), Pollard 1-0-10-0.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 27, 2017

Lyon bites back for Australia in final session

By Amlan Chakraborty DHARAMSALA, India(Reuters)-Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon claimed four wickets in the final session to halt India’s progress and help restrict the hosts to 248 for six on the second day of the fourth and final Test on Sunday.

At 157 for two, and with the dependable Cheteshwar Pujara and stand-in skipper Ajinkya

Rahane looking set in the middle, India appeared to have the upper hand before Lyon (4-67) intervened after tea.

In the first over of the final session, Lyon sent back Pujara for 57 and went on to dismiss Karun Nair, Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin to deflate the hosts.

Ravindra Jadeja clobbered a couple of sixes and was batting on 16 at the close, while Wriddhiman

Saha was on 10, having survived two reviews and a dropped catch.

India are still 52 runs behind Australia’s first innings total of 300 in the decider of the four-Ttest series which is level at 1-1.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling, to be pretty evenly poised after day two,” Lyon told reporters.

“I know we probably left a few runs out there but to have India six down for 240-odd after

a pretty a good day on the field -(I am) quite happy to be honest.”

Pat Cummins and new ball colleague Josh Hazlewood were aggressive in the morning session on a pitch which offered wholesome bounce to the pacemen.

Hazlewood was rewarded for constantly attacking the line outside the off-stump when Murali Vijay edged him to Matthew Wade to depart for 11.

Fellow opener Lokesh Rahul was hit on the index finger of his right hand by a Hazlewood delivery but the right-hander recovered to score 60 and give India a strong start.

The 24-year-old left well, drove elegantly and slog-swept Steve O’Keefe for a six en route to his fifth half-century of the series.

The second-wicket partnership was worth 87 runs and was looking ominous until Rahul went for a wild hook, with the bouncer hitting the toe end of his bat before finding David Warner at mid off.

Rahane found himself in the line of fire and the otherwise dependable batsman made things difficult for himself by trying to pull and hook his way out of trouble.

Pujara, who batted for more than 11 hours in the drawn third test in Ranchi for his 202, played with characteristic calmness at the other end and brought up his fifty with a boundary off Lyon.

The off-spinner claimed a

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon had Cheteshwar Pujara caught at short leg for 57 on the second day. major breakthrough when he ended Pujara’s nearly three-and-half hour vigil by getting him caught at short leg.

Leading the side in absence of injured regular skipper Virat Kohli, Rahane fell to Lyon for 46 with Australia skipper Steve Smith taking a sharp catch at slip.

Ashwin made 30 before he was trapped leg-before by Lyon.

“All of us got starts but we could not convert,” Rahul said of his top and middle order colleagues.

“We’re happy. (At the) end of the day, (nearly) 250 runs for six wickets was not really the worst day for us.”

SCORECARD

AUSTRALIA 1st innings 300 (S. Smith 111, M. Wade 57, D. Warner 56; K. Yadav 4-68) India 1st innings (Overnight: 0-0) L. Rahul c Warner b Cummins 60 M. Vijay c Wade b Hazlewood 11 C. Pujara c Handscomb b Lyon 57 A. Rahane c Smith b Lyon 46 K. Nair c Wade b Lyon 5 R. Ashwin lbw b Lyon 30 W. Saha not out 10 R. Jadeja not out 16 Extras: (b-4 lb-9) 13

Total: (for 6 wickets, 91 overs) 248 Fall of wickets: 1-21 M. Vijay,2-108 L. Rahul,3-157 C. Pujara,4-167 K. Nair,5-216 A. Rahane,6-221 R. Ashwin To bat: B. Kumar, K. Yadav, U. Yadav Bowling: J. Hazlewood 18 - 6 40 – 1, P. Cummins 21 - 5 - 59 – 1,N. Lyon 28 - 5 - 67 – 4, S. O’Keefe 24- 4 - 69 – 0.

Sheffield Shield final..

Harris and Dean put Victoria on top OPENERS Marcus Harris and Travis Dean gave Victoria the perfect start in their push to complete a hat-trick of Sheffield Shield titles, setting up a strong first day with the bat for the Bushrangers.

Harris scored his second century of the Shield season and Dean fell just short of doing the same, but their 224-run opening stand put Victoria on the path to a hefty total against South Australia.

At stumps on the first day in Alice Springs, Victoria had moved along to 3 for 322, with Rob Quiney on 44 and Cameron White on 7.

It brought an end to a tough day in the field for the Redbacks, who are searching for their first Shield title in more than two decades.

However, they had brought some of the misery on themselves through a lacklustre fielding display, with both Harris and Dean given lives.

Harris was first dropped on 54 when he edged Joe Mennie to first slip, where Daniel Worrall put down a sitter;

For the second time in his career, Marcus Harris scored a century in a Sheffield Shield final.

Harris had another let-off on 59 when a drive off Chadd Sayers skewed to backward point, where Jake Lehmann dropped a harder opportunity.

In between those two misses, Callum Ferguson at gully also

grassed a chance to give Dean a reprieve.

South Australia also missed a couple of run-out opportunities, and the Victorians made the Redbacks pay for their sloppy work, raising the second-highest opening stand of this Sheffield Shield summer. Harris brought up his hundred and in his first season for Victoria continued to build his reputation as a big-game player: in the 2014-15 final he had made 81 and 158* for Western Australia to be Man of the Match.

The partnership ended only when Dean was bowled by a well-flighted delivery from Adam Zampa for 94, and Harris fell in the next over for 120 when he drove at Sayers and was caught

by Mennie at gully, but Rob Quiney and Aaron Finch continued to frustrate the Redbacks with a 72-run stand that came to an end when Finch was lbw to Sayers for 38. But at stumps, Victoria remained firmly in control of the contest.

(ESPN Cricinfo).

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 27, 2017

Ferrari prancing as Vettel wins in Australia

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE,(Reuters)-Four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel won the Australian Grand Prix for Ferrari on Sunday to dash Mercedes’ hopes of extending their dominance into a fourth successive season of Formula One. The German cruised to his 43rd race victory with a 9.9 second gap to Mercedes’ runner-up Lewis Hamilton, with the Briton’s new team mate, Valtteri Bottas, finishing third on a glorious afternoon at Albert

Park.

The victory was Vettel’s fourth for Ferrari but his first since the Singapore Grand Prix in September 2015.

That triumph was also the last time Ferrari had topped the podium but Vettel’s victory underlined the huge leap in performance made by the glamour team, whose cars showed impressive pace and reliability in winter testing.

“For all of us, it is a positive surprise,” a beaming Vettel said at the postrace media conference.

Germany crush Azerbaijan 4-1 to go seven points clear (REUTERS)-Andre Schuerrle scored twice and set up another goal as world champions Germany cruised to a comfortable 4-1 victory over Azerbaijan on Sunday to stay on track for a spot in next year’s World Cup in Russia with a seven-point lead in Group C. First-half goals from Schuerrle, Thomas Mueller and Mario Gomez put the visitors in control of the game in Baku with the hosts briefly equalising.

Schuerrle, who made his first start since October 2015, scored his second of the evening in the 81st to give the Germans their fifth win in five qualifying matches and stretch their unbeaten run on the road in World Cup qualifiers to 44.

They are top of the group on 15 points.

Group winners automatically qualify for the World Cup. “We were at times a bit too comfortable but at the decisive moments we were there,” Schuerrle told reporters. “We scored twice after the equaliser and we got the three points.”

T h e 2 6 - y e a r- o l d winger, who has failed to hold down a starting spot at Borussia Dortmund this season, enjoyed his rare start for

Germany.

“It’s all about trust. I feel very good here with the team and the coach gives me the trust I need,” said Schuerrle.

The Czech Republic are second in Group C on eight points following their demolition of San Marino while Northern Ireland are a point behind and face Norway later on Sunday. Azerbaijan are also on seven.

Schuerrle made the most of his chance, tapping in after 19 minutes following good work down the wing from Jonas Hector.

Coach Joachim Loew made seven changes to the team that beat England 1-0 in their friendly earlier this week, with Julian Draxler, Gomez and Mueller in the starting lineup.

The Germans conceded their first goal of the campaign when Dmitrij Nazarov sneaked into the box and fired in the equaliser in the 30th against the run of play.

A z e r b a i j a n ’s j o y was short-lived, with Schuerrle pouncing on a defensive error to send Mueller through, and the attacking midfielder had no trouble rounding the keeper to put the visitors back into the driving seat in the 36th.

“The big difference was being able to deliver a really good car... I think the new car in general obviously is fantastic and is a great reward, a big relief for everyone.”

For the first time in the V6 turbo hybrid era, which started in 2014, there is a non-Mercedes driver at the top of the championship standings.

Vettel’s 2007 championship-winning team mate Kimi Raikkonen finished fourth, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen one behind.

On the front row next to pole-sitter Hamilton, Vettel got off to a sluggish start and his British rival broke clear to avoid Albert Park’s usual messy log-jam at turn one.

But Hamilton was soon complaining on the team radio about his car’s grip and was first to pit on lap 18 to change tyres.

It proved a turning point as he rejoined behind Verstappen and was unable to pass the feisty

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (C) celebrates alongside Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain (L) and teammate Valtteri Bottas of Finland. REUTERS/Brandon Malone Dutch teenager.

As Hamilton vented on the team radio, Vettel forged ahead.

The German pitted at lap 23 and exited the pitlane just in front of Verstappen, who was still gamely holding off Hamilton while riding his tyres thin.

Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff was enraged. Television pictures showed him pounding his fist into a desk in the team garage.

Vettel showed the reigning constructors’ champions a clean set of heels and quickly established

a six-second gap, which only got wider as the race progressed.

After crossing the finish line, Vettel howled in ecstasy and thousands of red-clad Ferrari fans flooded onto the lakeside circuit to share in the German’s triumph.

Kiwis battle to stumps after Proteas bowled out for 314

(REUTERS) - Tom Latham and Jeet Raval weathered an intense examination for over 25 overs to guide New Zealand to 67 without loss at the close of the rain-affected second day of the third Test against South Africa at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday.

Latham was 42 not out, while Raval was on 25 when bad light forced the players off with 3.3 overs of play remaining.

South Africa had been dismissed for 314 about 30 minutes after tea following an almost two-hour rain delay that washed out virtually all of the middle session.

Quinton de Kock had again proved his value to South Africa’s lineup with his ability to score quickly and marshall the lower order as they scored 124 runs for the final four wickets.

The wicketkeeper topscored with 90, falling short of a century for his second successive innings after he made 91 in the second test in Wellington.

He had hit 11 fours and two sixes in his 118-ball stay before left-armer Neil Wagner got a ball to swing in and then straighten off the pitch and trap him in front. De Kock failed to overturn the

leg before decision on review.

Kagiso Rabada was the last man out as he scored a career-best 34 with six boundaries a six.

Prior to the rearguard action, New Zealand had been well-placed to dismiss the visitors for not much more than 200 when they managed to remove the overnight pair of Temba Bavuma for 29 and Faf du Plessis for 53 that left South Africa at 190 for six.

Bavuma had attempted to hook a slow, short Matt Henry delivery and only succeeded in getting a nick to first slip Raval, while Du Plessis fell to a brilliant catch by Latham just after reaching his 12th Test half century.

The skipper set himself for a lap sweep against left arm-spinner Mitchell Santner but Latham, fielding at forward short leg, moved swiftly to his right and plucked the ball out of the air.

Henry finished with career-best figures of 4-93.

South Africa hold a 1-0 lead in the three-match series having won the second game in Wellington by eight wickets.

The first Test in Dunedin ended in a draw with the entire final day washed out.

Quinton de Kock

SCORECARD

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings (Overnight: 123-4) D. Elgar b de Grandhomme 5 T. de Bruyn c Latham b Henry 0 H. Amla b de Grandhomme 50 J. Duminy c Patel b Henry 20 F. du Plessis c Latham b Santner 53 T. Bavuma c Raval b Henry 29 Q. de Kock lbw b Wagner 90 V. Philander c Latham b Henry 11 K. Maharaj c Watling b Wagner 9 K. Rabada c Watling b Wagner 34 M. Morkel not out 9 Extras: (lb-1 w-3) 4 Total: (all out, 89.2 overs) 314 Fall of wickets: 1-5 T. de Bruyn, 2-5 D. Elgar, 3-64 J. Duminy, 4-97 H. Amla, 5-148 T. Bavuma, 6-190 F. du Plessis, 7-219 V. Philander, 8-249 K. Maharaj, 9-295 Q. de

Kock, 10-314 K. Rabada Bowling: M. Henry 24 - 2 - 93 4(w-2),C. de Grandhomme 24 - 4 - 62 – 2, N. Wagner 25.2 - 2 - 104 - 3(w-1), J. Patel 7 - 0 - 30 – 0,M. Santner 9 - 3 - 24 – 1.

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings T. Latham not out 42 J. Raval not out 25 Extras: 0 Total: (for no loss, 25.3 overs) 67 To bat: K. Williamson, N. Broom, H. Nicholls, B. Watling, M. Santner, C. de Grandhomme, J. Patel, M. Henry, N. Wagner Bowling: V. Philander 8 - 2 - 15 – 0,M. Morkel 7 - 2 - 13 - 0 K. Rabada 5 - 1 - 25 – 0, K. Maharaj 5.3 - 0 - 14 – 0.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 27, 2017

Miller’s 26th five-wicket haul helps Scorpions whip Red Force PORT OF SPAIN, Trini d a d , ( C M C ) — C a ptain Nikita Miller’s 26th five-wicket haul in first class cricket helped Jamaica Scorpions halt their losing skid, with a convincing 87-run victory over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force inside three days here Sunday.

Set a modest but tricky 229 for victory at Queen’s Park Oval, the hosts were bundled out for 141 — the second time in the contest they failed to crack 200 after being dismissed for 173 in their first innings.

Miller scythed through the innings to finish with five for 45 and claim match figures of nine for 85. In the process, the 34-year-old passed 450 wickets in first class cricket.

Leg-spinner Damion Jacobs provided the support, picking up three for 55 to add to his three from the first innings.

Marlon Richards, batting at number eight, top-

a 43-ball cameo but the damage was already done and Red Force never recovered.

Earlier, Scorpions were dismissed for 201 — the same score as their first innings — after resuming the day on 172 for seven.

Left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell picked up two

of the three wickets to fall to finish with three for 52 while seamer Rayad Emrit failed to add to his tally from Saturday, ending with three for 30.

Scorpions had lost both of their games since the restart of the competition earlier this month.

SCORECARD

Jamaica Scorpions players celebrate with their skipper Nikita Miller at the fall of another Red Force batsman. (WICB photo) scored with 47 while captain and opener Kyle Hope chipped in with 35 and Isaiah Rajah, 23.

Red Force lost Jeremy Solozano for two but cruised

to 60 for one courtesy of a 51-run, second wicket stand between Hope and the left-handed Rajah.

But Miller and Jacobs combined to trigger a col-

lapse where five wickets tumbled for eight runs in the space of 53 deliveries.

Richards brandished his bat to good effect, cracking three fours and four sixes in

SCORPIONS 201 Red Force 1st Innings 174 Scorpions 2nd Innings (overnight 172 for seven) T Griffith lbw b S Cottrell 21 J Campbell lbw b Richards 5 J Blackwood b Charles 16 P Palmer b Emrit 5 A McCarthy lbw b R Emrit 1 +D Thomas lbw Richards 38 F Allen c Hope b Emrit 60 D Jacobs lbw b Cottrell 20 D Green c wkp Katwaroo b Cottrell 18 *N Miller run out 5 M Mindley not out 4 Extras: (lb3, w5) 8 TOTAL: (all out, 55.3 overs) 201 Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-38, 3-51, 4-53, 5-67, 6-131, 7-164, 8-191, 9-192, 10-201.

Bowling: Cottrell 13-2-52-3, Richards 12-1-34-2, Charles 12.37-35-1, Emrit 8-2-30-3, Imran

Khan 10-1-47-0.

RED FORCE 2nd Innings (target: 229) *K Hope c wkp Thomas b Miller 35 J Solozano c wkp Thomas b Green 2 I Rajah b Miller 23 N Alexis lbw b Jacobs 2 Y Cariah c Griffith b Jacobs 11 I Khan run out 3 +S Katwaroo b Miller 0 M Richards c McCarthy b Jacobs 47 R Emrit c wkp Thomas b Miller 4 B Charles c Allen b Miller 11 S Cottrell not out 1 Extras: (b1, nb1) 2 TOTAL: (all out, 43.4 overs) 141 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-60, 3-63, 4-63, 5-66, 6-68, 7-92, 8-123, 9-129, 10-141.

Bowling: Green 4-0-18-1, Allen 5-0-10-0, Mindley 3-0-12-0, Miller 16.4-5-45-5, Jacobs 15-2-55-3.

Netherlands sack coach Blind after 2-0 defeat away to Bulgaria

(REUTERS) - Netherlands coach Danny Blind was sacked on Sunday, less than 24 hours after a 2-0 defeat away to Bulgaria left the team floundering in fourth place in World Cup qualifying Group A. The Dutch FA (KNVB) announced the decision in a statement after Blind, had been called in for crisis talks.

The 55-year-old had questioned his own future following Saturday’s loss in Sofia, which left the Dutch six points off the pace at the halfway stage of the

European qualifying campaign for the 2018 finals in Russia.

But Blind bemoaned the decision in a statement on Sunday.

“We were on the right track but the Bulgaria loss was a setback. I gave everything I had and I’m really sorry that it ends this way,” said the former Netherlands defender.

The national team has been in the doldrums since missing out on the 2016 European Championship in a dramatic fall from grace two years after finishing third at the

World Cup in Brazil.

The defeat by Bulgaria leaves the Dutch facing a tough struggle to finish in one of the top two qualifying places in Group A. They have seven points from five matches and trail leaders France (13 points), Sweden (10) and Bulgaria (9).

“We have respect for what Danny meant to us and the team during his tenure. But because the results were not forthcoming, and because qualification for Russia has gone poorly so far, we felt the need to take our leave of him,” said KNVB director Jean Paul

Decossaux.

Blind was appointed on July 1 to replace Guus Hiddink after a poor start in the Euro 2016 qualifiers but a home loss to Iceland in his first game in charge exacerbated the situation.

The Dutch have struggled to find any consistency during his 20-month tenure, winning seven and losing seven of 17 games.

Netherlands assistant coach Fred Grim will stand in as caretaker for Tuesday’s friendly against Italy in Amsterdam while the KNVB start to look for a new manager.

The 55-year-old Danny Blind had questioned his own future following Saturday’s loss in Sofia.

Montfort, lone Guyanese in Canada training squad

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada All-rounder Mark Montfort is the lone Guyana-born player in a squad of 21 shortlisted by Cricket Canada in preparation for the International Cricket Conference (ICC) World Cricket League Division Three tournament, scheduled for Uganda from May 21-31, 2017.

According to Cricket Canada, the players are currently going through intense training as Canada aim to once again reach the top as an associate member.

An elated Montfort told Chronicle Sport:“I’m extremely excited and grateful for this opportunity to represent Canada.

I’m satisfied with the work that I’ve put in leading up to this tour;working here in Canada with

All-rounder Mark Montfort the coaching staff and spending a month in India at the Institute of Sport (IOS) academy. I’m very confident I’ll make the touring squad to the tournament.”

Montfort, son of umpire Peter Montfort, migrated to Canada in 2010 and has

been an integral member of JB Brampton Masters ever since;churning out several outstanding all-round performances in the Toronto & District Association Premiere, Elite and Super Six tournaments.

The all-rounder’s performances obviously impressed the selectors and during the 2016 Spring trials he was identified from among players throughout Canada for the one-week High Performance camp where strenuous fitness drills and simulating games were the key to success.

He went through these exercises with flying colours and duly earned a place in the side to play against the touring Bermudans.

Montfort grabbed the opportunity with both hands, slamming a brilliant 69 in the first game and grabbing five

for 40 in the second, bowling medium pace instead of his customary off-spin.

The sudden change came about after bowling coach Henry Osinde observed him “trying out” in the net sessions and advised that he do the same in the actual game.

In an interview with Chronicle Sports shortly after playing against Bermuda, Montfort disclosed that his immediate goal was to help Canada get back into Division One of the ICC championships and ultimately into the World Cup tournament.

The former Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC) player, who hails from Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara,credited his development to current Guyana manager and assistant coach Rayon Griffith

and former Guyana and West Indies off-spinner Clyde Butts who played major roles as mentors while he was at GNIC. The training squad reads: Ammar Khalid, Bhavindu Adhihetty, Cecil Pervez, Dhanuka Pathirana, Dilraj Atwal, Durand Soraine, Hamza Tariq,

Jimmy Hansra, Junaid Siddiqui, Mark Montfort, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nikhil Dutta, Nitish Kumar, Rizwan Cheema, Ruvindu Gunasekara, Saad Bin Zafar, Salman Nazar, Satsimranjit Dhindsa, Shihan Kamileen, Srimantha Wijeyeratne and Varun Sehdev.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday March 27, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 8 T20 games (2) Devendra Bishoo-4/17 (St. Lucia, 2011) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who delivered the first ball in a WI/PAK T20 International? Who faced it?

(2) Where was the very first T20 International between WI and PAK played?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 27, 2017

James Bond is new Chess Federation president AT T O R N E Y- a t - L a w James Bond was on Sunday unanimously voted in as president of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) following their Annual General Meeting and Elections at Olympic House.

Bond will have Frank Farley and Yolander Persaud as his vice presidents as well as former president Irshad Mohamed.

Natasha Singh will serve as the Federation’s Secretary and Davion Mars as Treasurer.

Anthony Drayton, Maria Thomas and Ryan Singh

are the Committee Members.

National Champion and one of the best Chess players in the region,Wendell Meusa,has accepted the position of trainer with the Federation embarking on an extensive drive to spread the game of Chess across Guyana.

Meanwhile, Bond,in his address as the Federation’s newly-elected president, recommitted his pledge to women’s chess and also committed himself to working with the differently-abled.

Bond,in the presence of representatives from Berbice, indicated that the formation of a Berbice Chess Association is high on his executive’s agenda.

Farley echoed some of the sentiments expressed by Bond, and pointed out that he’s excited about the future of the sport in Guyana under the new Federation.

Also present was Guyana Deaf Association representative Sabine McIntosh,who shared her vision of seeing Chess being played by persons with disability throughout Guyana. (Rawle Toney)

Members of the newly-elected Guyana Chess Federation, following their AGM and elections at the Guyana Olympic Association.

Hurricanes battling to stay afloat after Shillingford grabs six for 78 BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) — Former West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford was leading a one-man assault against Leeward Islands Hurricanes, as he pushed his Windward Islands Volcanoes to the brink of victory in their eighth round contest here Sunday.

The 34-year-old claimed six for 78 to send Hurricanes tumbling for 240 in their first innings after the hosts resumed the penultimate day on 135 for four at Warner Park.

Shane Shillingford Forced to follow on by 300 runs, Hurricanes once

again came under pressure from Shillingford as he

picked up both wickets to leave them on 105 for two — still requiring a further 195 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

Opener Montcin Hodge was leading the fightback for Hurricanes on an unbeaten 51 from 145 balls with six fours.

He put on 46 for the first wicket with captain Kieran Powell who made 17 before shouldering arms to Shillingford and having his stumps shattered.

Jermaine Otto also perished cheaply for 10, loft-

ing Shillingford to Sherman Lewis running around at mid-wicket.

However, Keacy Carty, unbeaten on 16 at the close, joined Hodge to see Hurricanes safely to the close courtesy of an unbroken 39-run, third wicket partnership.

Earlier, Hurricanes benefitted from Nkrumah Bonner’s 14th first class half-century as they managed to push their innings past 200.

The Jamaican stroked 55 off 108 balls in a shade over 2-1/2 hours with nine fours,

and put on 57 for the fifth wicket with wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton who made 18.

All-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall chipped in with a fluent 42 off 68 balls with five fours and a six.

However, Hurricanes squandered a position of 173 for four, losing their last six wickets for 77 runs, with left-arm seamer Delorn Johnson snaring three for 48.

With his first innings haul, Shillingford went past 500 first class wickets.

Poland surge clear at the top Bent Street overpowers Albouystown 9-1 in Gt Beer/Petra Fustal after 2-1 win in Montenegro (REUTERS)-Poland won 2-1 in Montenegro with goals from Robert Lewandowski and Lukasz Piszczek to move six points clear at the top of World Cup qualifying Group E after a pulsating clash on Sunday.

The result left the Poles in charge midway through the campaign on 13 points from five games, six ahead of closest rivals Montenegro and Denmark, who were held 0-0 in Romania.

Lewandowski curled home a superb 40th-minute free kick and, although Stefan Mugosa equalised just past the hour, Piszczek got the winner with a fine lob in the 82nd after the Poles missed a barrage of chances against their injury-hit opponents.

The visitors had come close three times in the opening half before Lewandowski netted his eighth goal of the qualifying campaign, leaving goalkeeper Mladen Bozovic rooted to his line with a delightful strike from 25 metres.

Lewandowski and Piszczek missed a pair of easy chances inside a minute on the hour and Poland were swiftly punished as Mugosa scored his first international goal with a thumping header after Damir Kojasevic’s teasing cross from the right.

Poland pressed for a winner and right back Piszczek made amends for his earlier miss as he brilliantly side-footed the ball over Bozovic from inside the penalty area to silence a vociferous home crowd in the Adriatic nation’s capital.

Part of the action in the Petra GT Beer Futsal action on Saturday night BENT Street were in fine form on Saturday evening as they overcame Albouystown 9-1 when the latest round of Petra organised GT beer Fustal tournament continued at the National Gymnasium.

Bent Street had a pair of braces from Joshua Brown (20​ th and​ 21​st) and William Europe (30​th​ and 31​st) as well as a host of single strikes from Anthony Abrams (11​th),

Wendell St. Hill (14​th), Konata Manning (18​ t h​​ ) , Sheldon Holder (22​nd​) and Okeene Fraser (25th) while Albouystown had Nicholas Adams (27 ​ t h​ ) In the night’s opening game, Tiger bay edged past Agricola Champion Boys 3-2,thanks to Deon Alfred (18th and 28 th) and Mario Batson (12th),while Agricola had Delray Dodson on target in the 2nd​​ ​and ​29​th.​

Tucville,on the other hand routed West Back Road 4-2 thanks to a hat trick from Jermaine Junior (11​th​ 16​th and​ 29​th​) and a single strike from Jamal Greaves (22​n d),while West Back Road had Jamal Haynes-10​th​ and 19​th​ on target.

Broad Street Bullies were outshone by Sophia 3-2. Shemroy Arthur 21​st, Simon Emmanuel-26​th​​ and Orlando Jordan 27​th,scored for Sophia​ while

broad street had Lennox Cort9th and 29​th on target twice.

West Front Road overcame North East La Penitence 1-0 thanks to Randolph Wagner’s 20th minute strike. Selwyn Williams 20th and 23rd minute goals coupled with stephon Mclean ensured that Back Circle handed Sparta boss a 3-2 loss.

Sparta Scorers were Cleon Forester(17th) and Devon Millington(21st)

James Bond is new Chess Federation president

age 23

See P

Teenager Shadab stars as Pakistan beat Windies in first T20

Man-of-the Match Shadab Khan made a dramatic impact in his first international, taking three wickets in eight balls.

See story on page 23

Carlos Brathwaite hits a six during his unbeaten 34 for the West Indies.

Golden Jaguars ask fans to flood MSC ground for Martinique clash THE Golden Jaguars have urged football fans to come out in numbers to support the national team in the international match against Martinique on Tuesday.

A 30-man Guyana Senior Men’s National Squad is preparing for the clash with a series of intense tactical and technical training sessions, under the careful guidance of Interim Head Coach Wayne Dover, and new Assistant Coach and former national team captain Charles Pollard.

“The 12th man is always important and the fans – you are that 12th man, and we are looking for your support as much as possible,” said attacker Vurlon Mills. “Come out in your yellow, come out roaring for the Golden Jaguars, come and represent. We will make you

Golden Juguars playersVurlon Mills and Trayon Bobb proud comeTuesday.”

The match is the first senior international fixture of 2017, and the first in Linden since 2011. It is part of the Guyana Football Fed-

eration’s plans to ensure the Jaguars play in every FIFA international window in the calendar year to develop the team more effectively for regional competitions.

“For me and the rest of our teammates, we are looking to put in a good performance, so that we can give the fans something to cheer about,”

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said winger Trayon Bobb.

“I am begging the fans to come out and please support us.”

As a part of France, Martinique’s national team is supported and funded by the might of the French Football Federation, and features players from top leagues in Europe.

The match is part of Martinique’s warm-up for their fifth CONCACAF Gold Cup appearance later this year.

“They are going to be tough – Martinique has a good team,” said Mills.

“They have brought in a lot of players who play in Europe, so it’s going to be tough game for us.

They just came off of a win against Trinidad and Tobago. They are coming to us with confidence. We have to show the same level of confi-

dence and intensity and try to bring away a win.”

Several young players such as 16-year-old Milerock FC goalkeeper Jonathan Copeland and 18year-old GFC midfielder Curtez Kellman have been included in the provisional squad to further their development.

“We have a lot of young players – it’s good they are part of something like this to get the exposure,” said Bobb.

“It’s a good opportunity for them so they can showcase their skills and talent.”

The match kicks off at 20.00hrs on Tuesday night at the MacKenzie Sports Club Ground in Linden.

Admission is $1500 and fans are being asked to wear yellow to show their support for the team.

MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2017