Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 27 05 2016

‘Richly symbolic’ No. 104564

FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2016

Price: $80

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‒ President confers OR on Barbados’ PM in gesture that augurs well for the Caribbean P.3

Overseas visitors ‘getting on bad’ yesterday just outside the Brickdam Police Station along the parade route (Photo by Adrian Narine) See stories and additional photos on Pages 2, 6 and Centre

‘JUBILEE’ FERVOUR

One dead, ‘Family Ties’ West Berbicians several injured foresee a bright future gives back Region Five flag-raising ceremony...

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‒ in mini-bus collision near Harbour Bridge

‒ if only there can be national unity

‒ opens supermarket, variety store in West Berbice

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 27, 2016

Float parade evokes pride, patriotism

By Svetlana Marshall

GUYANA’S 50th Independence Anniversary celebration was nothing short of glitz and glamour as thousands thronged Brickdam and D’Urban Park, filling every nook and cranny to get a glimpse of

the breathtaking Costume and Float Parade.

Gyrating to the sounds of Guyanese music, the thousands of revellers did not disappoint as they depicted Guyana’s rich history in their kaleidoscopic costumes and floats in keeping with the Golden Jubilee’s

theme, “Reflect, Celebrate, Inspire.”

For many, it was a day of much celebration and patriotism as the colours of the Golden Arrowhead reigned supreme – featuring not only on the floats and costumes but among the spectators.

The leaders who fought

for Guyana to become an independent nation, the symbols of nationhood, the six races, the country’s rich natural resources, the six sisters: rice, sugar, gold, diamond, bauxite and timber; and a Guyana measuring 83,000 sq miles were among the prominent features displayed through the intricate costumes and floats on Thursday.

Though it was a six-man float, National Medal of Service Awardee (2011) Don Gomes had a very simple but interesting float. The float entailed human-sized composite photographs of Guyana’s first Executive President Linden Forbes Burnham, the late Dr Cheddi Jagan, who along with Burnham led the struggle for independence, and Queen Elizabeth II, along with a map of Guyana.

“These are the three pioneers,” Gomes said, while explaining that “Queen Elizabeth 11 granted Independence to British Guiana in care of Burnham over Jagan. And so we cannot forget what the Queen did for us, we cannot forget what Burnham did for us, and we cannot forget what Jagan did for us.”

He said as Guyana marks its 50th Independence Anniversary, Guyanese must unite to secure the country’s territorial integrity.

The Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Regional Democratic Council’s message was loud and clear: “Not A Blade A Grass.”

The 250-strong contingent sang lustily as it swayed from left to right to the sounds of Dave Martin’s “Not one Blue Saki, not one rice grain, not one cuirass, not a blade of grass.” The medium-sized band also highlighted Guyana’s rich natural resources.

Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence and Minister with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, led the ministry’s contingent as they took Guyanese back to July 4, 1973 when the Treaty of Chaguaramas was signed.

The medium category band of 100 revellers participated under the theme “CARICOM Unity.”

Bordering the ministers was a male reveller adorned in the official 50th Jubilee logo and Miss Guyana World Lisa Punch, who wore a magnificent costume depicting the foundation of CARICOM Unity, which was laid when Treaty of Chaguaramas was inked.

“The costume is set in temporal period of the decade following Guyana’s independence. It highlights one of our beautiful land’s major post-Independence achievements: the establishment of the Caribbean Community, signed into being by the then Prime Ministers of Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago on July 4, 1973,” Minister Lawrence explained.

She said it is time that Guyanese follow in the footsteps of CARICOM and unite for a better tomorrow.

“It is time the six races of Guyana unite. Only with unity we can have the strength to be able to achieve all the goals that we have set ourselves,” the Social Protection Minister said.

In keeping the queen’s costume proudly showcased, the images of the regional leaders: Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham – Guyana’s first Executive President; Michael Manley – the Prime Minister of Jamaica; Errol Barrow – the Prime Minister of Barbados; and Eric Williams – Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Public Health Min-

istry’s Band also took spectators back in time to 1966, when Queen Elizabeth visited Guyana. The float designed by renowned designer Derek Moore recreated the grand procession that blew Guyanese away in 1966.

The float that left many in a state of awe was led by the “outriders,” followed by the Queen in the person of Reza Roberts, and others representing Forbes Burnham and Cheddi Jagan and the many dignitaries who had attended the prestigious event.

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, blended in perfectly with the other revellers as they pranced to the sound of soca music.

“Today we are showcasing our diverse and rich natural resources, our gold, bauxite, diamond and ever-green forest,” Minister Broomes said as she explained the ministry’s band which not only depicted the natural riches of the country, but its vast wildlife.

Looking ahead, she said she sees a bright future for Guyana. “Guyana is in safe hands because the Government of the day sees the industries as our patrimony; and once we see it that way, we will have it preserved for generations and generations to come,” she posited.

The Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Communities, Guyana National Service, Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Digicel Guyana, the Region Four Democratic Council, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the E R Burrowes School of Art were among the other organisations that participated in the historic event.

See photos on centre ►

‘Richly symbolic’ 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 27, 2016

‒ President confers OR on Barbados’ PM in gesture that augurs well for the Caribbean

By Ariana Gordon BARBADOS’s Prime Minister Freundel Jerome Stuart was yesterday conferred with Guyana’s second highest award, the Order of Roraima (OR), by President David Granger at a simple investiture ceremony at State House.

The President, who was advised by the Chairman and Members of the Advisory Council of the Orders of Guyana, said the conferral “exemplifies the essential values which exist between the two states, Guyana and Barbados.”

President Granger noted that those values underpin the existence of the entire Caribbean Community (CARICOM). “Today’s ceremony is richly symbolic for Guyana, Barbados and the Caribbean,” said the President.

The award was conferred during Guyana’s observance of its 50th Independence Anniversary, and has been described as an auspicious occasion to induct Prime Minister Stuart into a distinguished corps of officers of the said award.

“National Awards are ordained by the Constitution of Guyana; the word of national honours is statute-based,” President Granger said.

“This investiture ceremony, however, is not a legalistic or ritualistic formality,” he noted, while stating that the countries both gained their independence from Britain in 1966 and as such have much to celebrate in this their jubilee year.

President David Granger confers Prime Minister of Barbados Freundel Stuart with the National Award, the Order of Roraima

President David Granger speaks with CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin La Rocque yesterday at State House

President David Granger shares a light comment with Baroness Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General, just before the start of the Investiture Ceremony for Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart at State House

Minister of Public Telecommunication and Tourism Cathy Hughes shares a light moment with Guyana-born actress Carol Christine Hilaria “CCH” Pounder at State House on Thursday morning

“The two States pioneered the founding of the Caribbean Free Trade Area (CARIFTA) in 1965, even before they became independent. The two States uniquely established the joint high commission in London, soon after their independence. The two States’ Prime Ministers, Forbes Burnham and Errol Barrow, were among the four founding fathers who signed the treaty establishing the Caribbean Community in Chaguaramas Trinidad,” the President reminded his audience.

Guyana and Barbados, he noted, have long-standing ties and Prime Minister Stuart has combined Barbados’s legendary leadership in regionalism with the internaTurn to page 8 ►

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo congratulates Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart on receiving Guyana’s second highest national award

President David Granger shares a toast with Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart (centre) and Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Carl Singh

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 27, 2016

Trump wins enough backers for nomination

THE US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has reached the number of delegates needed to secure the party’s presidential nomination.

In North Dakota on Thursday, he thanked 15 unbound delegates from the state who he said “got us right over the top”.

He defeated 16 other Republican contenders and according to the Associated Press has 1,238 delegates, one more than needed.

Republicans will finalise their nomination at a convention in July.

While Trump has the re-

Donald Trump quired amount of delegates, his nomination by a divided Republican Party is not yet secured.

Unbound delegates in the party are free to support the candidate of their choice.

If his nomination is confirmed, Trump will face former US Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton or Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who are vying for the Democrat nomination.

On Wednesday, the New York billionaire suggested going against Sanders in a TV debate in California before the state’s primary on 7 June.

Sanders agreed to the debate in a tweet, saying “Game on”.

On Thursday, Trump said: “The problem with debating Bernie? He’s going to lose.”

He also threw a barb in Mrs Clinton’s direction, saying: “Here I am watching Hillary fight and she can’t close the deal. That should be such an easy deal to close.”

Earlier, the current US

president Barack Obama said that world leaders “had good reason to be rattled” by Trump, whose proposals he said were “either ignorance of world affairs or a cavalier attitude”.

In response to that, Trump told reporters in North Dakota that rattling leaders of other countries was a “good thing”. “[President Obama] knows nothing about business,” he said.

“Many of the countries in our beautiful world have been absolutely abusing us and taking advantage of us.

“We’re going to have great relationships with these countries but if they’re rattled in a friendly way that’s a good thing, not a bad thing.” (BBC)

Wave of industrial unrest across France

STRIKE action over labour law reforms gripped France on Thursday, with oil refineries, nuclear power stations and transport hubs disrupted.

Riot police battled protesters in Paris and other cities, making 77 arrests, while 15 officers were injured and cars and shops were vandalised.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls insists the reforms will not be withdrawn but has suggested they could be “modified”.

France is due to host the Euro 2016 football championships next month.

A state of emergency imposed after November’s deadly attack by militants from the so-called Islamic State group in Paris remains in place.

The CGT union is leading the action, supported by six other unions including

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Force Ouvriere and Unef, whereas the more moderate CFDT union backs the labour reforms.

Tear gas filled the air as police in Paris struggled to contain a march which set off from Place de la Bastille.

Of the arrests, 36 were made in the capital while other cities like Lyon and Bordeaux saw similar confrontations.

Officials say 153,000 people took part across France though union leaders put the number at nearly twice that.

Flights to and from Paris, Nantes and Toulouse were affected, and a rolling strike by train drivers brought further disruption to regional and commuter rail services.

RTE, the body overseeing France’s national power network, said stoppages at nuclear power stations were not having an immediate

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effect on electricity supply but warned, “If it worsens, it will have an impact on the management of the network.”

A third of petrol stations were dry or dangerously low on fuel after days of blockades at refineries by union activists.

Five of the country’s eight refineries remained at standstill or were operating at reduced capacity on Thursday.

Valls indicated there might “still be changes, improvements” made to the labour reform laws.

But he rejected Finance Minister Michel Sapin’s suggestion that Article 2 of the bill could be rewritten.

Article 2 gives individual companies the power to opt out of national obligations on labour protection if they feel they need to something the CGT union fiercely opposes.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 27, 2016

Holness promises bold action to deal with crime PRIME Minister Andrew Holness says the Government will be taking “bold and decisive” measures to significantly reduce crime and violence in the country, particularly against the most vulnerable.

Among the measures to be implemented is a special process within the court system for the prosecution and trial of murders, which will serve to expedite the cases.

Making his presentation in the 2016/17 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, Holness said the Government will also be amending the Bail Act, so that persons charged with murder will be ineligible for bail in some circumstances.

The law will also be amended to introduce mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes, and efforts to tackle lotto scamming, gangs and the narcotics trade will also be intensified.

“We will be moving to

rity officers is also to be increased from 12,000 to 14,000 over a three-year period.

“The Government will secure our borders. We will be increasing the use of technology in the fight against crime, inclusive of the use of technology in prisons,” Prime Minister Holness said.

Electronic monitoring devices and Community Service Orders will also be used to reduce the inmate population.

have the various courses and certificates at the National Police College of Jamaica accredited (and) we will be starting the Security Enhancement Fund to have a dedicated stream of revenue for the maintenance of police vehicles and the repair of police stations,” Holness added.

The Prime Minister said the Government intends to increase the fleet available to the police by 400 cars and 200 bikes. Additionally, 30 new mobile police stations will be built to increase the presence of the police islandwide.

The number of secu-

Chilean student protest turns violent A STUDENT demonstration in Chile has turned violent as police used tear gas and water cannons to divert the march.

Protesters refused to take an alternative route suggested by police in central Santiago and hurled stones at them, the Government said.

Students said they were brutally attacked by riot police.

They are demanding that the Government of Michelle Bachelet speed up reforms that will guarantee free university education for all Chileans.

“We are tired of waiting,” read banners carried by students in the demonstration.

President Bachelet took office in 2014, promising to implement a number of social measures to reduce inequality. She had served a first term between 2006 and 2010.

One of the most contentious issues during the Government of her centre-right predecessor, Sebastian Pin-

Students said they were demonstrating peacefully when they were attacked by police era, was Chile’s educational protests erupted in Valparasystem, which critics say iso. favours the private sector.

Demonstrators set up She said policies guar- barricades and hurled fireanteeing everyone a free bombs in Valparaiso, where education would show that Chile’s Congress meets. Pothe country was heading in lice fired tear gas and water the right direction. cannon.

Last year, however, Ms A security guard died Bachelet’s Government from fume inhalation when scaled down the reforms as masked protestors burned a Chile faced an economic pharmacy and supermarket. downturn.

“We are going to stay Many left-wingers felt on the streets. From today betrayed by the change of onwards, we expect that the pace. protests will only intensify,” On Saturday, during Ms said Marta Matamala, head Bachelet’s annual state-of- of the University of Santithe-nation address violent ago student union. (BBC)

Additionally, the amended Road Traffic and Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) Acts will be submitted to Parliament for debate and passage in short order.

Amendments to the Proceeds of Crime Act, to include praedial larceny, as well as to the Offensive Weapons Act, to include a wider range of weapons, will also be treated as priority. (Caribbean360)

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

Forging nationhood

THERE is no denying that given our diverse historical experiences -- pleasant and unpleasant -- and the environment within which groups have had to share the same space (i.e. Guyana), that such have been marked with conflicts, violent and non-violent. At the same time, Guyanese can only be held captive to negative experiences of history at our choosing. Conversely, the opportunity always presents itself to use historical experiences -- lived or told -- to learn from mistakes of the past, and build on the accomplishments. Somewhere between these two options this nation seems caught in a vortex.

Where there continues to be a decided preference to not learn from mistakes and move on, but rather engage in the continual game of “proving” who was bad or good, how such serves this nation’s interest is anyone’s guess.

Pursuing conversations, calls and actions to dismantle structures and conduct universally accepted places the nation on a tightrope and utilises the energies of the peoples in a non-futuristic direction, which is detrimental to the people and society.

A nation cannot be forged with continued efforts to deny the contributions of persons and organisations to society, because they are considered bad. Neither is it acceptable that those perceived to be good should be attributed the prominence of sole contributor -- end all -- and be all for everything. The marking of time, divisive and distasteful features of our politics, regardless of who practises them, have to end.

Forging a nation whose frame our national anthem acknowledges is that of a “land of six peoples,” to get to the stage where we are truly “united and free” requires integrity, civility and respect for self, others and the nation’s established mores and institutions. For too long public discourse and treatment of others have been poisoned or praised, primarily because of the person’s politics or ethnicity. The only place sanity reigns for those refusing to be caught up in the morass is reliance on history, through the perspectives of timeline, context and events.

In looking at forging nationhood, there are some home truths that need to be faced and accepted. Guyana is a diverse society. Diversity is not a curse, it is a blessing in that it offers different cultural experiences, perspectives on life, skills, interests, solutions and problem-solving techniques that can work for all. What is required and keep escaping attention is that where there is respect for this and everyone is treated equally and with dignity, such can reduce and eliminate the irascible approach to politics and things political.

There is no need to feel that a person has to be liked to treat him/her with respect and civility. This would be out of recognition and appreciation of sharing the same space, which that person is entitled to share, equally as having access to the nation’s resources, opportunities, and the protection of its laws. There is no need to prove any point

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 27, 2016

Digicel band lights up Durban Park

By Tamica Garnett

THE saying goes that “you always save the best for last” and that was just the case at Thursday’s Jubilee Independence Anniversary Float Parade, where the last two floats of the day – Digicel, and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure – were the finest of the day.

They sent the massive crowd at Durban Park into a festive frenzy upon their arrival.

From all the enthusiasm that prevailed at the park throughout the day, nothing compared to the crowd’s reaction when the Digicel band, headed by local artiste Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo touched down at the venue.

The packed to capacReigning Miss World Guyana Lisa Punch leads the main float for the ity park burst into a flurMinistry of Social Cohesion Band fused to be left out and ry of screaming, jumping quickly swarmed onto the and waving as the band field to join in the fun.

It took quite some entered the compound on while before the ground the south-western side, and when the Digicel revellers could even be cleared ran into the Park jumping See Page 7 and dancing, spectators re-

Hats off to this patron in her patriotic hat to anyone outside of being civil and treating that person the way you would want to be treated. It requires character to be civil and understand that such is not displayed when engaging in tit for tat.

Where one knows better, it is expected that better be done.

And where others, when the shoe was on the other foot, had engaged in unbecoming conduct, civility dictates rising above the boorishness. A person cannot be embarrassed treating them in the crude manner they treated others. Neither can a society grow and unite/cohere caught in this display of misconduct to the other.

The challenges this nation faces at the social and political levels will not be fixed overnight. No one is delusional. However, what is expected is that Guyanese stop and take stock

Lovely! These two were in no mood to hide their patriotism of the manner in which we treat each other and start now to address the decline in social grace, etiquette, protocol and civility. A heterogeneous society by its very nature brings with it conflicts, given competing interests, scarce resources, diverse cultural outlook and preferences.

Conflict, while it creates the space for animosity and intolerance, also allows for opportunities for bringing together diverse forces to find, arrive at, and work through consensus.

This continues to present a challenge to Guyana and it is not that Guyanese lack the ability to do so. What is evident is the absence of will to make consensus the guiding principle for engagement which is important for forging nationhood. Guyanese have to learn to respect and treat self and each other with dignity or we’ll perish together as fools.

Digicel band lights up ...

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 27, 2016

From page 6 enough for the Ministry of Public Infrastructure entourage, gyrating to the sounds of Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts, to make their way in.

“It was magnificent. I loved it.” One reveller remarked of the Digicel band.

The band included costumes created by renowned local designer Olympia Small-Sonaram, to the costume band theme “Phantom of the arts, from whence we came.” The costumes featured the company’s signatory red colour well blended with a lot of gold.

Though the last two bands were the most energetic, that’s not to say that the day was without its fair share of other spectacular displays earlier.

Lovely breeze complemented the clear sunshine during the day, while later in the day a short downpour only added to the festivities as revellers continued to party in the heavy showers.

The Amazon Warriors was one of the first bands to get the crowd up and jumping when it entered the Park.

The Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs was also one of the more notable and refreshing bands that were on display. Their lineup was designed by Trevor Alfred, and featured a King and Queen ensemble, the latter of which depicted the beauty of indigenous women.

“The white feathers depict the purity of her mind, the yellow depicts the rich minerals that surround her

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A section of the crowd at the Durban Park on Thursday village, the black represent the strength of the women, how hardworking they are,” Alfred noted.

Even the weather seemed to be in the Jubilee mood.

The light breeze comple-

President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger acknowledge the gathering at Durban Park

The truck which was a part of the Digicel parade

mented the day’s blazing sunshine.

Overall, spectators were somewhat divided on their appreciation for the overall quality of the floats.

“It was marvellous; it was so nice seeing so many people. You were feeling the vibe of the atmosphere, you feeling the 50th anniversary vibe,” a young spectator told the Guyana Chronicle.

“It was more decent this

year, it didn’t have a lot of them lawless things this year,” another said.

One overseas-based Guyanese who came home for the festivities loved what he saw but believed that more could have been done.

“First of all it has been a constructive event, very nostalgic, but I am disappointed with some of the floats. I would have expected to see more of our culture and his-

tory displayed here today,” the visitor said.

Some had also expected to see more floats from other major corporations, and more local artists involved with the floats.

Meanwhile, there was no shortage of commendations for the spankingly new Durban Park. All in the spectator stands had an opportunity to view the floats when they came in.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 27, 2016

Linden holds ‘best attended’ flag-raising ceremony THE 50th Independence Anniversary Flag Raising Ceremony at Linden is being described as, “the most well attended” for the town.

Delivering the feature address at the ceremony, Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valarie Sharpe-Patterson urged residents of Region Ten to celebrate the Golden Jubilee as a national occasion. “It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, to recognise the nation’s heritage, laws, history, society, and people,” she said.

The minister, who is a native of the mining town, noted that there are some valuable lessons that the nation should reflect on as we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Independence.

“The first lesson was that Independence was a collective effort. It was a ‘we thing’ and it required effort. It wasn’t given on a platter. We had to fight for it,” she said. “As President David Granger points out, political independence was neither the work of one person nor one party nor was

it a sudden event. It was a process that took place over a long period of several decades. It was the climax of a popular movement. Legislators, workers, ex-servicemen and ordinary people agitated to achieve political independence. We are heirs of their efforts, successors to their struggles and, now, possessors of their patrimony,” Sharpe-Patterson added.

The second lesson, the Minister proffered was that independence was a promise for the future. “It

Turn to page 12 ►

Minister of Housing Valerie Patterson and Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira sharing a 50th Independence Anniversary Cake at the Linden, Region 10 Flag Raising Ceremony

‘Richly... tional activism necessitated by the changing circumstances of the 21st Century.

“PM Stuart has distinguished himself as an ardent advocate for environmental security in Small Island and Lowland Developing States, many of them located in the Caribbean,” President Granger added, while noting that he has also distinguished himself as a resolute warrior in the battle for reparative justice for Caribbean citizens who are the descendants of ‘the victims of the greatest crime against humanity… human enslavement’.”

The Prime Minister was also described as “a doughty defender of the territorial integrity of Guyana and Belize and the maritime space of all Caribbean states.”

HUMBLING BUT DELIGHTFUL Meanwhile, Prime Minister Stuart said the bestowing of such an award on him is humbling. He expressed gratitude to President Granger for conferring the country’s second highest national award on him and said, “First of all I have received it with pleasure and humility. It is an important moment for me. I have been a follower of Guyana for many, many years.

I’ve been influenced quite a lot by what is happening in Guyana over the years. I was a great admirer of the late President of Guyana, Forbes Burnham and therefore to have been the recipient of this award this morning is a real humbling but delightful experience.”

JOINT COMMISSION When asked by the Guy-

From page 3

ana Chronicle to describe the current trade relations between the two countries, the Barbados Prime Minister said concerted efforts are being made by Guyana and Barbados to improve and strengthen the Guyana- Barbados Joint Commission.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge recently visited Barbados to talk through some of the issues to make that joint commission a lot more vibrant and active than it has been. “I am aware, we are aware as I have been told by Minister Greenidge on that occasion that Guyana is interested in the tourism industry.”

The two countries, the Barbados Prime Minister said, can learn from the experiences of the other. He explained that Barbados is a giant in the region when it comes to the tourism industry and made it clear that his country is prepared to assist Guyana to develop its own tourism industry.

“We think that it is important that opportunities for deeper collaboration be fully exploited between the two countries. So trade wise and otherwise, we are deepening the relationship… this relationship is going to get stronger and stronger,” he said.

“We have got a lot to teach Guyana and Guyana has a lot to learn from us in that regard. We stand ready to deal with that… in fact that whole process has started.”

Guyana, Prime Minister Stuart said, has the advantage of size and as such, Barbados businessmen have been focusing their attention

on opportunities here. “We have one businessman who has a large investment here,” he noted.

The Barbados Prime Minister paid a courtesy call on President Granger on Wednesday and he said following that meeting, President Granger can “expect a Barbadian invasion in the not-too-distant future.”

“Trade-wise and otherwise, we are strengthening the relationship,” he assured.

Prime Minister Stuart is the holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, a Bachelor of Law degree with honours, a Master of Laws degree in Public International Law and is the holder of a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School.

He became a Member of Parliament in 2008 and served as Attorney General, Minister of Home Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister until his appointment as Prime Minister in 2010.

Also present at the investiture ceremony were Prime Minister Moses Nagmootoo; Cabinet members; Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland; Advisor on the Council of Ministers of Suriname, Ambassador Harvey Narendorff; and the diplomatic corps.

Prime Minister Stuart received the OR for his “unflinching support for the rights of Small Island and Low Coastal Developing States, his advocacy for the Caribbean Community’s demand for reparations for the citizens of the Caribbean and his contribution to the reduction of the impact of Climate Change in the region.”

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‘Family Ties’ gives back GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 27, 2016

‒ opens supermarket, variety store in West Berbice

By Ariana Gordon GIVING back to the community of El Dorado Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) is the main objective of the opening of Family Ties Supermarket & Variety Store.

General Manager of the store, Geneva Gordon told the Guyana Chronicle last Saturday that the idea of opening a supermarket in the village was to assist the community, by bringing quality service and convenience, while providing employment to residents.

She explained that for many years, the Robertson family wanted to open a grocery store in the village, in order to help the village become more self-sufficient, but that they never mustered the momentum to execute.

However, having now been persuaded that there was a growing demand for such a service, the family decided to make their dream a reality.

“It is all about giving back to society, you know.

Sometimes, we cannot do as much as we would like, but

Little Tyrehanna Crawford of El Dorado Village, West Coast Berbice cuts the ribbon with Ian Robertson to officially open the store

it is the little things that matter,” Gordon said, adding: “In addition to offering a

range of groceries, personal and gift items to the community, I am pleased to have

been able to offer employment to three ladies…

“I was hoping to have gender balance, but I am satisfied with what we have thus far.”

With the opening of the supermarket and variety store, hundreds of persons have access to affordable products. The new supermarket was opened officially on Saturday, May 21, a significant date in the family’s history, and offers a wide array of items.

“At Family Ties, you can find everything for your home; kitchen, toilet, bathroom, everything -- you name it,” said an enthusiastic Gordon, who described business as promising.

The General Manager said that as Guyana celebrates its 50th Independence Anniversary, the family thought it best to officially open the store. According to her, having experienced 50 years of freedom from colonial rule, the next 50 years ought to be bright and prosperous for the youth and country.

“It is all about the future; it is about giving our young

people something to look forward to, apart from crime and drugs. Family Ties welcomes the opportunity to give back to the community and will actively pursue more ways to do so as it serves the community of El Dorado Village and its environs.”

Supporting the General Manager was Ian Robertson, a relative of Gordon’s.

Robertson spoke of the family’s ties to the community and desire to strengthen the family’s connections to the village by investing in its future.

“The name ‘Family Ties’ may suggest only blood ties, but for us it means all of you gathered here today. We see you as family and we appreciate your support,” said Robertson.

Similarly, Pastor Winston Mc Gowan who gave a charge and asked for God’s blessing on the business urged those associated with the supermarket to serve with justice, mercy and humility.

Pastor Mc Gowan also noted that the store will be a boost for the West Coast Berbice area as it has been deprived in many ways over the years.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Profit/Rising Sun Neighbourhood Democratic Coun-

cil (NDC), Emile Wilson welcomed the investment and pledged the support to the community. He charged other persons to make similar investments in the community.

Amarissa Mingo, a resident of the community and her three-year-old son could not be happier that they are now able to do their grocery shopping just a stone’s throw from their home. “There are limited grocery shops here and I am happy that there is one close to my home. It was hard to go grocery shopping at times because there aren’t many stores here…we would often have to go to Bush Lot Village or New Amsterdam to buy our goods. This store is welcomed.”

Mingo, a teacher, said she believes that the initiative is a good one that will go a long way and lauded the Robertson family.

Many persons from the village attended the opening of the 402 square foot store. “I’m really glad Family Ties is here because you can find everything here… I no longer have to go to Bush Lot or New Amsterdam to buy things,” said one shopper named Anita.

Region Five flag-raising ceremony...

West Berbicians foresee a bright future ‒ if only there can be national unity

By Clifford Stanley THE Regional Democratic Council of Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) held its 50th Independence flag-raising ceremony Wednesday, with speak-

er after speaker stressing the importance of national unity in ensuring a bright future for Guyana.

The ceremony, held at the RDC compound, Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice, began at 09:00 hrs, and

the gathering included Members of Parliament Harry Gill and Jennifer Wade, Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal, Regional Vice-Chairman, Rion Peters, and senior officials of the Regional Administration, Councillors of

The march past being taken by Minister Norton

Hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead by Sergeant Alexis Gordon of the Second Infantry Reserve of the Guyana Defence Force

the RDC, schoolchildren, and members of the public. Guest Speaker was Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton.

The programme included cultural renditions, prayers by leaders of the three main religions, a march-past by officers and ranks of the Disciplined Services, supported by the Bishop Drummers of No. 30 Village, West Coast Berbice, and the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead

by Sergeant Alexis Gordon of the Second Infantry Re-

serve of the Guyana Defence Force.

Both Ministers Norton and Ramphal, who were the main speakers, stressed that the divisions which exists within the society must be bridged by all Guyanese, who consider themselves true patriots.

“We must believe in the deepest part of our hearts that we are indeed one people, one nation with one destiny and this belief must inform all our actions in everyday

life,” Dr Norton said.

And according to Ramphal, “National unity is a key prerequisite for the desires of all the people of Region 5, and Guyana as a whole.

Without unity, we shall neither progress nor stand.”

Minister Norton later visited the Fort Wellington Hospital, where he donated a hamper to a ‘Jubilee’ baby girl born to Yasheena Persaud of Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 27, 2016

One dead, several injured ‒ in minibus collision near ‘Harbour Bridge’

By Rabindra Rooplall A TRIP to the ‘Golden Jubilee’ Flag-Raising Ceremony in Georgetown ended tragically for a Farm, East Bank Essequibo couple early yesterday, when the minibus in which they were travelling collided with another near the Demerara Harbour Bridge at Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara.

Dead is Roxanne Mitchell, 47, who was returning home with her husband in a Route 32 minibus, BPP 8158, when the accident occurred, at around 01:00hrs. The collision also left several other passengers injured.

According to reports, the Route 32 minibus was turning towards the ‘Harbour Bridge’ when it collided with a Route 42 minibus, BPP 167, which was heading to Georgetown.

According to information reaching the Guyana Chronicle, passengers were left stranded inside the Route 32 minibus, while Mitchell was observed lying motionless on the roadway. She was subsequently pronounced dead on arrival at the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital.

Persons trapped were assisted to the hospital by passersby, the Guyana Fire Service, and an ambulance. One woman’s eyeball appeared to be popping out of her head with blood running profusely

Roxanne Mitchell and her husband in happier times

from her eyes.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, the husband of the deceased, Peter Mitchell, who was in tears, said his wife of 27 years wanted to visit the flag raising ceremony to experience the occasion although he was reluctant to go.

He said they travelled to the event with a bus from the village and an arrangement was made with the same minibus to return.

“On our way coming back, a Route 42 bus, which was speeding, extremely speeding - I saw it, I saw this bus speeding and right away I said this is an accident, so

I decided to hold on instinctively,” he said.

He recalled that his wife was sitting on his right, and after the Route 42 minibus slammed into the bus he was travelling in half of her body was pitched through the window.

“The bus turned on her and slide. I call for her, I call for her, ‘Roxanne, Roxanne’ and I try to lift the bus after coming out from the side. I jumped through the window and tried lifting it off of my wife, I kept calling her but she did not respond to me, she did not respond,” the sorrowful husband lamented.

He noted that the ambu-

Rise above political, ethnic differences ‒ Harmon tells Region Three at flag-raising ceremony

MINISTER of State Joseph Harmon has called on residents of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three) to rise above political, ethnic and religious differences and work together as one in order to protect the gains of past generations of Guyanese, who sacrificed their lives for Guyana’s independence.

The minister was at the time delivering remarks at a flag-raising ceremony organised by the Regional Administration of Region Three held at the Synthetic Athletic Track at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

“Where we are today is a result of the hard work done by all of the Governments that we have had since independence. I make no distinction here, because we believe that every Government, every politician and

every individual had a role to play in making us who we are and allowing us to be where we are today,” he said.

The minister said that 50 years ago, when Guyana achieved independence from Britain, it was in a state of crisis with poor and in some cases, non-existent roads, schools and other vital infrastructure.

He said that today some of those challenges still persist, but assured the residents that the coalition government stands committed to providing the kind of leadership that is required to make the country a better place for future generations.

“We can fix these problems if we work together as one people. National unity is [an] imperative… If we work together, our destiny will be a strong one,” Minister Harmon said.

He also spoke of the ad-

Public-spirited citizens assisting to get the injured persons out of the Route 32 mini-bus

ministration’s policy of ensuring that Guyana becomes an educated nation. He said that education moves a nation from poverty to prosperity and said that, “We are going to create the conditions in this country that would make you want to remain here to work and live and those who would have migrated would want to return home.”

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Julius Faerber also spoke of the struggle for independence and said that it is an extremely great achievement of which all Guyanese must be proud.

Apart from the flag-raising ceremony and military parade done by ranks of the Joint Services stationed in the region, there was also a packed cultural programme with performances by students from a number of schools in the region.

The driver of the Route 42 minibus, Michael Thorne, who Mr Mitchell accused of speeding [Adrian Narine photos]

lance took a while to arrive at the accident scene as he kept screaming for someone to take his wife to the hospital “because I see her bleeding and the blood was going down her throat, and when I look at she I see her dentures break.”

He said the Guyana Fire Service eventually assisted and took his wife to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre and at the hospital he begged the nurses for information on his wife’s vital signs.

“They tried to give her oxygen and saline, but I know something was wrong with my wife, they didn’t tell me nothing until they pulled that blue sheet over her, then I suspected something was very wrong, and then I know it was over,” the husband said sadly.

Describing his wife as a faithful and loving woman, he said she was so kind and loving that he ensured that she received all the things in life to make her happy. Peter Mitchell received injuries to

the body and visited the West Demerara Regional Hospital while heading home and he was discharged.

Meanwhile, the father of the driver of the Route 42 minibus, Joseph Thorne, who was also a passenger at the time of the accident, explained that the bus he was travelling in was heading to the city and while in the vicinity of the Harbour Bridge a car that was turning onto the bridge stopped to allow his son to drive on the right of way when a Route 32 minibus suddenly swung into the path of the Route 42 minibus his son was driving, resulting in a collision.

Both minibuses toppled at the point of impact, Mr. Thorne said, and the Route 32 minibus appeared to be overloaded with passengers.

He also related that a woman who was pitched out from the Route 32 minibus was pinned by the vehicle onto a nearby utility pole, while many of the injured persons at the scene became

irate and wanted to attack persons who were in the Route 42 minibus.

Mr. Thorne said that when the police visited the scene it appeared as if they already had an opinion on the cause of the accident and decided to ill-treat his son Michael Thorne who was the driver.

“The police expressed no concern for the wellbeing of my son during the entire ordeal after my son was discharged from the GPHC. I took him to Woodlands Hospital since my son was vomiting. From Woodlands I took him to Providence Police Station since he could not walk. The police had us there for four hours while my son was in and out of consciousness, after begging they allowed a police escort to take him to the hospital,” he said.

Michael Thorne along with others involved in the accident were admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 27, 2016

Demonstration of maturity required at 50 ‒ Region Eight Chairman

salute our first Executive President Forbes Burnham, who has been [sic] the foundation for our independence that we are celebrating. I also salute all of our Presidents as they too have played an important role in what we are celebrating today. Let us recognise the contributions of Burnham, Dr Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, Desmond Hoyte, Bharat Jagdeo and our current president David Granger. These individuals have all played a very important part in what we are celebrating tonight,” the chairman told the large gathering.

PUT ASIDE DIFFERENCES Fredericks also urged politicians to put aside their differences and work together in peace and harmony.

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan addresses the Region Eight flag-raising ceremony

By Rawle Nelson FIFTY years speaks of maturity and Region Eight Chairman Bonaventure Fredericks is urging all Guyanese to work together for a better Guyana in the years ahead.

He expressed these sentiments before a large gathering at the region’s flag-raising ceremony held at the Mahdia playfield on Wednesday.

Among those in attendance were Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan; APNU Member of Parliament for Region Eight, Ms Rajcoomarie Bancroft; Regional

Regional Chairman Bonaventure Fredericks addresses the gathering

Executive Officer, Shameer Arjune; Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Gavin Gounga; and Regional Democratic councillors.

Fredericks said Guyana’s 50th anniversary should be used by Guyanese to reflect on how far Guyana has come as a people since gaining independence.

“We are still a young nation compared to some other nations, with great potential for great things, but we will not run from the fact that there

Minister Bulkan with awardees Roger Hinds and Lisa Augustus

is still [a] lot more work to be done,” he said.

The regional chairman told residents that growing has its struggles financially, physically, mentally, spiritually and psychologically.

But, he advises: “But let us not focus on the past, but rather focus on the future, the future of our youths, those that are young, critical-thinking and see things differently. We are blessed with an abundance of natural resources, it is our Guyana, for we are her tomorrow and she is our future.”

Fredericks also implored residents to inspire the youths and renew their confidence by providing them the tools and support to dream big and to achieve their dreams.

Regardless of race, culture, political affiliation or religion, he urged all Guyanese to embrace each other and live as one.

The chairman also praised the contributions of Guyana’s founding fathers in the independence struggle, and her other presidents who have contributed to her development.

“As we celebrate this important event, I take time out to

“It serves no one any benefit for us to live in disunity.

As such, I am appealing to our politicians to recognise that we must stop seeking to criticise and begin to support, as this will certainly help us build a better and stronger Guyana for all,” he stressed.

Fredericks also called for a national change of character and attitude so that Guyana can be a better nation.

“If we change our character and attitude, we will change our nation and be a better people in the generations to come,” he contended.

Meanwhile, Regional Executive Officer Arjune said the region is still faced with a number of challenges, but remains committed and determined to achieve success.

“I have expressed my plans for this region and backed by our hardworking and very supportive Minister of Communities, regional councillors and staff, we are determined to achieve our set goals and targets,” he said.

Arjune added: “As your region’s REO, be assured that as I continue to serve you, I will ensure that my daily

contribution to this region is one that will continue to bring about holistic development.

While we are focusing on celebrating the achievements that this country has made over the past 50 years, let us also seek to push ahead with our own developments, thus ensuring that the next generation can celebrate our contributions of today. Sacrifices will have to be made, a spirit of discipline, dedication, commitment and the willpower to see growth will have to form part of our daily lives if we are going to

leave achievements that our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren can celebrate.”

During the ceremony, two prominent residents of the region were honoured.

Well-known businessman and sports enthusiasts Roger Hinds, who has been dubbed the “God Father” of the region for his overwhelming support and assistance to a number of communities, youth and sports-oriented project was honoured for his sterling contributions to sport and business

in the region.

Hinds first got into business at age 14. Medex Ms Lisa Augustus who currently heads the region’s Maternal Child Health Department was honoured for her long- standing, diligent, sterling and committed service to health care development.

Augustus got into health care in 1998 when she began as a community health care worker. She has since served in several capacities over the years while upgrading her qualifications.

12

Engineer charged for causing death by dangerous driving

THE ENGINEER attached to the Region 5 Administration, Dhanpaul Sukha of Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice was earlier this week charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Sukha is accused of causing the death of motorcyclist, Inshain Jameer, 21, of Tempie Village, also in West Berbice on May 14, last.

Reports at that time stat-

ed that Jameer was sitting on a motorcycle on the side of the roadway at Naarstigheid, West Coast Berbice in conversation with a relative when the car driven

by Sukha came into contact with the rear of his motorcycle.

Reports alleged that Sukha had been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

However, during his

court appearance before Magistrate Rhondell Weever, no evidence was reported that suggested that he had been tested for alcohol after the accident or whether these tests, if done, had proven positive or negative.

Magistrate Weever allowed Sukha bail in the sum of $700,000 and ordered him to report to court for further hearing of the charge on June 15.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 27, 2016

Linden holds ‘best... was just the beginning. It was the birth of a living organism with the potential to grow and develop”.

The third lesson, Sharpe-Patterson identified was that independence opened the door of opportunity. “Independence gave us the opportunity to create the life (country) we want. We didn’t have to wait on another to build it for us. Independence gave us the opportunity to build our nation,” she said.

Minister Patterson recalled that upon gaining independence the nation toiled to repair a country that had been damaged by disunity and division. “We strove to create a community of comity and unity. We sought to satisfy the needs of our people by expanding public education, health, communications and transportation services. We erected an airport, bridges, highways, housing schemes, schools and a university.

We established new national institutions such as our Ombudsman and our own Court of Appeal. We created a credible Foreign Service and cemented international friendships and alliances

to secure our territory from external aggression. We contributed to the establishment of CARIFTA, CARICOM and the ACP. We took our place in the international community,” she reminded the gathering.

Identifying the fourth lesson as responsibility for territory and the environment, the minister called on all Guyanese to guard the country’s territorial space, to be custodians of national patrimony and to protect and care our portion of the earth and its attending environs.

The final lesson Minister Sharpe-Patterson sought to impart was that of the ‘Element of Accountability’.

“With responsibility comes accountability… We are accountable to our collective selves. We are also accountable to the next generation. We will be judged by the next generation as either being responsible or being reckless with that which was bequeathed to us, what we did with it and what we, in turn, bequeath to them,” she said.

Brief remarks were given by the Deputy Director of the

From page 8

Community Development Council, Sandra Adam and Mayor Carwyn Holland. The Chief Citizen noted that the occasion of the Golden Jubilee was more than just about a time for celebration. He said that despite the numerous difficulties faced since independence it was, “our will and resolve that kept us going, and will keep us going forward into a bright and prosperous future”.

The Linden Flag Raising Ceremony also featured cultural performances by the Regional Choir, a song by Melanie King and a rendition on saxophone by Pastor Roland McDonald.

Congratulatory messages were given by representatives of Linmine, Guyana Water Inc, Ministry of Agriculture,, National Insurance Scheme, National Communications Network and Linden Utilities Utility Services Co-op Society.

The event concluded with the raising of the Golden Arrowhead in front of the Regional Democratic Council Building followed by a fireworks display.

(GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 27, 2016

Four arrested Guyanese doctors engaged in Berbice in Zika virus management marijuana bust meeting in Barbados

By Clifford Stanley

RANKS of the Number 51 and Springlands police stations have arrested four men and impounded two vehicles following the discovery of nine kilogrammes of marijuana in their proximity during a joint mobile patrol Wednesday night.

The find was made at an apparent drop-off site alongside the Number 65 Village Public Road, Region Six. Reports indicate that the cops were on duty around 21: 00hrs when they received a report that some men in two vehicles had been seen acting in a suspicious manner near a derelict vehicle alongside the Number 65 Village Public Road.

The report stated that a man in a silver-grey Toyo-

ta 212 was seen taking out a bulky garbage bag from the trunk of the vehicle and placing it in the derelict vehicle.

A white Toyota Raum motorcar was also present at the scene and after depositing the garbage bag, the man re-entered the Toyota 212 and both vehicles drove off and parked some distance away.

Acting on the information , the policemen promptly approached the men in the two vehicles.

They found the bonnet of the Toyota 212 opened,suggesting that the car had broken down. They also saw a man who seemed to be trying to repair the vehicle.

When questioned, the four men denied any wrongdoing.

The policemen then test-

ed the apparently under-repair-vehicle to see whether it had indeed broken down and found that it started without any difficulty.

This aroused their suspicion that something was amiss.

They searched the four men and the vehicles, but not having found anything incriminating, took the suspects to the derelict vehicle some distance away.

On searching the derelict vehicle, they found a garbage bag containing parcels of what they later determined to be compressed cannabis sativa (marijuana), weighing nine kilogrammes.

The four, including a father and a son were taken into custody while the Toyota 212 and the Raum were impounded.

AIMING to gain an updated overview of the situation in the region with the Zika virus, the Pan-American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) has organised a “Management System Technical Meeting”.

According to a release from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the objectives of the meeting are to present an updated overview of the situation in the Region, to discuss protocols for clinical care and to analyse the challenges in preparations of the health services in the response to the outbreak of the Zika virus.

The meeting which started yesterday in Bridgetown,

Barbados, will culminate today.

GPHC staffers, Dr Ahmad Rafi Rozan, Obstetrics Specialist and Gynecologist and Dr Ulanda Haynes, Resident in Pediatrics are currently representing Guyana as members of the discussion panel.

Dr Rozan is a specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics, spanning the areas of antenatal and perinatal care, with the interest of decreasing maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity in order to improve quality of life.

Dr Haynes worked as a General Medical Officer in the Department of Pediatrics at the GPHC since 2013, and is currently a Senior Resident – Pediatrics attached to the

department.

The geographical distribution of Zika virus has been steadily increasing since it was first detected in the Americas and in Brazil in May 2015.

Since then a total of 35 countries and territories have reported autochthonous (locally transmitted, mosquito-borne) transmission of the Zika virus in the Americas.

Several countries have reported cases of newborns with microcephaly and other conditions associated to Zika virus infection.

Meanwhile, PAHO has coordinated a process for developing harmonised recommendations on clinical care for pregnant women and newborns.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 27, 2016

4 years for dangerous driver A WEST COAST Berbice minibus driver was on Tuesday sentenced to four years in prison after he was found guilty of causing the deaths of two passengers in his vehicle through dangerous driving.

Hurton Porter, 44, of Lovely Lass Village, West Coast Berbice had pleaded not guilty to the charges, but was found guilty by Magistrate Rhondell Weever after

a trial, which lasted over seven months.

The charges had been laid indictably, but were taken summarily with the consent of the defendant.

The accident causing the deaths occurred on May 26, 2015 when Porter was driving the bus en route from Berbice to Georgetown and the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara with 19 passengers, who had decid-

ed to travel to witness the inauguration ceremony for the newly-elected President of Guyana, David Granger.

The case against Porter, prosecuted by Corporal Racquel Mars and Sergeant Althea Solomon, was that he had been driving the vehicle recklessly when the fatal accident occurred.

Testimonies revealed that minutes before the accident, passengers had asked him to desist from driving at

a high rate of speed, but he had ignored their pleas.

Evidence also revealed that the passengers had warned him at that time, that the left side rear wheel of the vehicle was wobbling and he had stopped and put air into that wheel.

After doing this, it was revealed, he resumed driving at a fast rate and it was then that front, left side wheel of the vehicle blew out, causing him to lose control.

The vehicle veered off the road, toppled several times over and crashed into a fence before coming to a halt.

Several of the passengers received severe injuries as a result of the accident.

Ms Luckin Elizabeth Rodney, 54, of Golden Grove Village, West Coast Berbice, who was seated behind the conductor’s seat, received severe injuries to her neck and was pronounced

dead on arrival at the Fort Wellington Hospital.

Murtland Anthony Richmond, 26, of Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice was transferred from the Fort Wellington Cottage Hospital to the Georgetown Hospital in an unconscious condition.

He succumbed to his injuries three weeks after the accident. Porter had been allowed bail in the sum of $500,000 pending trial.

Friday, May 27, 2016 - 08:30 hrs Saturday, May 28, 2016 - 09:30 hrs Sunday, May 29, 2016 - 10:30 hrs

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 27, 2016

Obama’s representative calls on Nagamootoo REPRESENTATIVE of US President Barack Obama and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Western Hemisphere Affairs for the Caribbean and Central America, Juan Gonzalez on Thursday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo at the Office of the Prime Minister.

Gonzalez was accompanied by Captain Robert Landolfi of the US Coast Guard, who is also Special Advisor of the Western Hemisphere Affairs Office, along with US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo and Gonzalez engaged in informal discussions. Guyana and the US enjoy a strong and friendly relation.

The Prime Minister, on

behalf of the people of Guyana, thanked Gonzalez for attending Guyana’s 50th anniversary celebrations on behalf of President Obama, and asked that the nation’s gratitude be conveyed to President Obama.

Nagamootoo noted that Gonzalez’s presence, as special representative of President Obama, elevated the international stature of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The Prime Minister presented the party with memorabilia from Guyana’s 50th anniversary and sent a special gift of an exclusive Golden Jubilee lapel pin to be delivered to President Obama.

Gonzalez noted that the US Government is cognisant that the recent discovery of oil in Guyana’s

waters has the potential to transform Guyana into a modern state and as a 21st century bridge between the Caribbean and South America.

He noted that this will require prudent management and oversight by the State and pledged the US Government’s support to the Government of Guyana in assisting in the process of setting up the requisite legal and other frameworks to ensure that the people of Guyana and future generations benefit from this monumental discovery.

P r i m e M i n i s t e r e xpressed a deep interest in the Governments of Guyana and the United States pursuing cooperation and partnership on this front and offered advice on how this can be developed.

At left, US Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway, representative of the US President Juan Gonzalez and Captain Robert Landolfi of the US Coast Guard, with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (second right)

16

On the streets yesterday

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 27, 2016

Photos by Adiran Nar and Samuel Maugh

One of the many floats that depicted the symbols of nationhood

Not backing down! Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, challenges another reveller in a dance-off as they marked Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary

The indigeno storming Bri of the way o and floats w

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 27, 2016

rine hn

Big girls having a little tête à tête as they wait on the floats to go by

From Region 10, with love

ous People’s Affairs Ministry contingent ickdam under the theme, “Transformation of life in the Rainforest.” Their costumes were all designed by Trevor Alfred

The build-up outside the Brickdam Police Station yesterday

A proud indigenous Guyanese highlighting her rich culture

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GUYANA CHRONICLE FRIDAY MAY 27, 2016

FRIDAY MAY 27, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 27, 2016

Youth and the ‘Golden Jubilee’...

‘Something to tell our own children’

THE 50-year milestone is a big deal, especially for young people who feel like they are miles away from it.

For some, ‘getting old’ is an idea that induces much dread, while for others, just

“After being absent from Guyana for five years and coming home to cele-

getting there is a blessing.

For all Guyanese, though, their country’s 50th Indepence Anniversary is quite an achievement, whether or not they were alive in 1966 to witness the first.

Among the youth, it is

brate Guyana’s 50th, I’m very impressed to see all the festivities, and how beauti-

“It’s not that we don’t appreciate all the years prior to this Independence; it’s just that reaching this milestone makes us stop and reflect on where

“In 50 years, I hope I’ll be able to witness the 100th Independence Anniversary of Guyana. I can only hope that

safe to say that appreciation is a feeling unanimously experienced at this time.

We’ve all heard stories of ‘back then’; of what Guyana used to be: The struggles; the segregation; the hard times; the

ful and clean Guyana looks.

“There’s so much to do, and activities to choose from, that there is never a dull moment. Guyanese, young and old, are very patriotic, and everywhere I turn, I can see the beautiful Golden Arrowhead, or it’s colours, reminding me that I’m home. It’s a great joy, as a young man, to celebrate Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary with my fellow Guyanese.

“We are very a proud people, and the youth are very excited about our beautiful country.”

-- Gaddiel Henry

we’ve come from to where we are today.

“You cannot move bravely towards your future unless you acknowledge your past. And

Guyana’s history, over the past 50 years, is one which is marred with many struggles.

“But, like all diamonds, it has endured its immense pressures, and has emerged a beautiful finished piece of work.

“Of course, we are not where we want to be, but as we sit and reflect on this 50th Anniversary and see where we are now, and where we were back then, it gives us hope that we are that much closer to being where we want to be.

“Guyana is a country of great potential; what we have to offer is priceless, and I can’t wait for the world to recognise it, the way we as Guyanese recognise it.”

--Shevon Henry

as much effort is put into those celebrations as they were this time around.

“It was great witnessing these

activities, and I am proud, as a young person, to be part of this.

“Guyana has experienced many struggles; and our people have had many difficulties they’ve had to face over the years. It is time we have something to smile about. Moreover, it’s time we move forward at a pace that will bring us on par with the rest of the world.

“I’ve attended many of the activities, and every one of them, you could see just how happy people were. I do think that better publicising of the activities could have been done, because they were not as well attended I’d expected them to be. But I enjoyed them, nonetheless.”

--Sarafina Edghill

good times. We’ve heard our parents and grandparents reminisce on the fledgling years of Guyana’s independence (and even before), which gives us a clear story with a bumpy plot as to how we got to this

“Hearing the stories of where we came from to where we are now, and where we want to be, is a phenomenal and historic movement that all races

“As an aspiring fashion designer in Guyana, I feel truly blessed and overwhelmed to be Guyanese, especially at this time; being

“Being able to celebrate our country’s 50th Anniversary as an independent nation is certainly a time to

relatively positive place.

Young people experiencing this event, and the renewed sense of nationalism that comes with it; seeing the changes brought about by the new administration at

this crucial time, now have something to tell their own children in years to come.

Here’s what some young people had to say about the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

should be proud of: For the strength, courage and hard work that our founding fathers have fought for, and the achievement that they made for us.

“It is an honour to be living in Guyana, which has so much potential. So, the 50th Independence was not just a movement of joy, but a movement of hard work, bravely done by our foreparents who serve as our backbone, and who made sacrifices for our Independence.

“It is an overwhelming pleasure and feeling of contentment for me to witness with the rest of Guyanese the 50th Anniversary celebrations.

“We fought, and we stood as One People, One Nation, and One Destiny, and here we stand and rise to this day. And we all should proud of being an Independent country.”

--Shawn Marshall

able to learn about our unique history, and the hardships that our foreparents went through, so that the future generations can live in peace, love and

harmony.

“Walking the streets of Georgetown and seeing so many happy people brings a warm feeling to the heart.

“This year’s Independence matters to all of us; it is an achievement; we are definitely growing as a nation.

“The celebrations are epic right now; people are excited to go out and have a great time and meet new people. Our 50th Independence Anniversary is one to never forget.”

--Quinton Pearson

be remembered.

“Among the number of activities scheduled, however, I felt that more

emphasis should have been placed on more symposiums and other events of an educational nature, instead of just big limes and concerts.

“Our young people need to learn more about the struggle for independence, and what some of the expectations of a young nation in 1966 were.

“This would also help them to really examine how far we have come in achieving those goals, and what more needs to be done in terms of nation building and Guyana’s forward thrust.”

--Damion Fiedtkou

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 27, 2016

A round of applause for ‘Bravo Arts’ HERE in Guyana, if you’re looking for innovative, creative and awe-inspiring body art, there’s really only one place to look: Bravo Arts.

Over the years, the name ‘Steve Bravo’ has had quite some traction among Guyanese, and that’s because there’re few people who do what he does. as well as he does it.

From Extraterrestrials, to Disney characters, to Greek Mythlogy, Bravo Arts has done it all, and always has that wow factor to his work.

Now owner of Bravo Arts, 28-year-old Steve Douglas is eyeing higher heights as he competes for a scholarship to attend the Cinema Makeup School in Hollywod, Los Angeles, California.

The school has produced several famous movie makeup artists, and is also known for being the institution from which many of the SYFY Channel’s famous Face Off television shows originate.

After having been

Steve Douglas (left) with model, Stacy Ramcharan in Bravo’s creation, ‘Medusa’

shortlisted on the School’s makeup competition for his submission of his depiction

of Medusa, the Greek mythological monster, Steve now hopes that he can make it through the next

Buzzing this weekend

INDEPENDENCE Day may have come and gone, but the ‘Jubilee’ celebrations are not yet over. Here’s what’s ‘buzzing’ this weekend.

TODAY Don’t miss the highly anticipated ‘50 Shades of Reggae’ concert hosted by Hits and Jams Entertainment at HJ Water World. Enjoy the smooth vibes of Reggae legend, Beres Hammond, Chris Martin, Timeka Marshall and more!

The time has come for a new queen to be crowned! Say ‘Goodbye!’ to Lisa Punch, and ‘Hello’ to the new Miss World Guyana at the Coronation Ceremony at Parc Rayne.

The pageant begins at 19:00hrs. Tickets cost $5,000 ($7,500 for VIP), and are available at Nigel’s Supermarket, Cara Lodge, Giftland Mall and Parc Rayne.

Go back in time with the ‘Back to the Future Independence Concert’ at the Guyana National Stadium. The concert will feature sounds from artistes like Wayne Wonder, Spragga Benz and Chaka Demus and Pliers, as well as performances by local artistes like Poonam Singh, Remar, and Dublin.

Tickets for this event were only available through promotions countrywide, so if you were one of the lucky ones, do enjoy!

TOMORROW Visit the Sticky Wicket on Carmichael Street from noon to cheer on your favourite team at the Champions League Final Party. Support your favourite team, whether it be Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid. There will be Heineken giveaways all day long.

SUNDAY Are you a fan of Moet Chandon? Then visit the Pegasus Poolside, and enjoy the all-white party, ‘Sunset and Moet’, with style and class while sipping on Moet chilled to perfection.

Event starts at 15:00hrs and ends at 23:00hrs.

If you’re in the mood for a fashion-filled afternoon, then the Marriott Hotel is the place to be for its Fashion Extravaganza, which starts at 15:00hrs.

Enjoy showcases from some of Guyana’s most prominent local designers, as well as designers from abroad. Tickets cost $8,000, and $10,000.

HJ Water World will again come alive for its Vintage Beach Concert with performances

by Red Rat, Ghost Rupee and more!

four weeks of voting, so as he might possibly win the scholarship.

Since the school started

offering the scholarship, every year, hundreds of people submit their creations, among which only 20 are shortlisted.

Steve says that after submitting last year and not making it, he knew he had to come better this year. “And even with my creation, I wasn’t sure if it was good enough,” he said.

But it was. And now, among the top 20 finalists, Steve must ensure that he is among those with the highest votes each week, so that he moves on to the next round.

After three weeks of eliminations, the top five finalists will be reviewed by the school to decide who will be awarded the scholarship. And Steve has his fingers tightly crossed.

Steve’s ‘Bravo Arts’ business has been around for seven years, and, outside of one year’s training from the Burrowes School of Art, most of his talent, he says, is self-taught.

But this scholarship could give him the skills required to grow his busi-

ness and become a trained professional in his field.

“When I first started, there were people who were doing face painting; but when I looked at other countries, I saw that people were doing more. And I wanted to do more,” he said.

With his own artistic skills, Steve went from an amateur, to creating beautiful works of body and face painting through trial and error.

“I get inspiration from different things. But lots of work I do is for people who come with their own ideas then try to make it into reality,” Steve said.

He noted that the process of creating is always challenging, no matter how skilled he is. Challenges also arise if the costumes require material that would sometimes be hard to source, leading him to have to use all his creative ‘smarts’ to substitute.

Steve would like to encourage any supporter of his work to visit his Bravo Arts to vote for him weekly, as every vote counts.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 27, 2016

The Durban Park experience...

‘A welcome change,’ people say

Roydon Ramroop and his family THE word ‘proud’ could barely do to describe the feeling that prevailed throughout the Durban Park Stadium and the route of the Independence Day Float Parade.

The colours of our national flag could be seen, richly decorating every band and every outfit.

This year, with the Mashramani float parade shifted specially to accommodate the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations, many were curious to see how it would all turn out.

And with a new route and a new destination, thousands of Guyanese flocked along the sides of Brickdam straight into Durban Park where an additional 30,000 persons waited anxiously to see the floats arrive.

Thanks to the accommodation of the Durban Park, it was by far the biggest crowd the float parade has ever attracted.

Added to the prolific theme of independence that was showcased on every float, as well as the rich overflow of local music blazing from all the bands, it was certainly a day of

celebrating ‘Guyaneseness’.

And while change is sometimes hard to accept, many persons felt that this change in venue and route was a good idea, and are hoping that the Mashramani parade for the coming years will take this pattern as well.

“I prefer it this way; it’s way better, because it accommodates more people. Everybody should get to see the float parade,” Lita Henry said.

Lita’s hair was neatly stitched with extensions bearing the colours of the flag; a bold but unambiguous statement. “I am a true Guyanese, and I wanted to wear the flag colours. And this is how I think I can show how proud I am; by having it in my hair,” she said.

“This event is great! I went to GuyExpo, and now I am coming here, and everything nice. Guyana nice! I love it!” said Elisabeth Rodney. She said she was glad to have been able to attend at least some of the events, and was happy to see so many overseas-based Guyanese here to celebrate the Independence of their home country.

Ingrid Perriera admitted that it was the majesty of the flag-raising ceremony that brought her out on Independence day. “I like this new location,” she said. “We should keep things here all the time. It is so exciting for me, that I lived to see this day; I was seven in 1966, and couldn’t really remember everything. But witnessing it now is great.”

Sitting next to Ingrid was her close friend, Keitch Mitchell, who said that this was the second time she came out to Durban Park for the day alone. “I’m really excited, and really proud. I just couldn’t stay away,” she said.

“My knees are bad, but I had to come out and see something today, after seeing last night. I enjoyed the President’s speech last night and I enjoying all I’m seeing here today,” Jean Primo said.

Though she felt it was time she should go home, she wanted to ensure she was able to see as much as she could of the float parade. She admitted to not usually coming out for Mashramani, but that there was something about this event that made her feel like she had to be here.

Loaknauth Eric, too, said that it was the flag-raising ceremony that brought him out for the Float Parade. “I see how many people come out, and I feel happy about it. So I made sure I come out today to see what is happening, because is only one time this happens. I prefer this location for the parade, because is more people,” he said.

Roydon Ramroop usually watches the parade on TV,

Lita Henry but came out to see for himself what this event was all about. “Here has a better capacity than the National Park... And the other route used to be very congested. The road was a small road, but Brickdam is wider. And now Durban Park can hold more people, so people could get to spread out, and traffic is able to be diverted without that major traffic jam you usually see every year,” he said.

Loaknauth Eric

Jean Primo

Elisabeth Rodney

Ingrid Perreira and Keitch Mitchell

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 27, 2016

UNITED AND FREE

The chic pencil pants has a sexy silhouette and a modern fit.

This slim style lets those heels pop, while the cropped top trim with Cuffy printed blazer offers coverage, protection and a professional sheen finish.

This bold, bright dress takes on a classically beautiful look with its dramatic sleeves and deep ‘V’ neckline in Cuffy print chiffon fabric.?

Dress to amaze at your next big occasion with a halter tie style defined by elegant lines and gorgeous movement. This high-low short dress will catch every eye in the room.

FOR this collection, we used prints that reflect Guyana’s rich history, says designers, Nadia and Natalya Thomas.

According to the girls, “Slavery was a way of life; many suffered through the system of indentureship, and we endured colonial rule.

“We have surpassed those years to now being a united, free and developing nation.?

“The clothing line highlights many aspects of our history: The 1763 Monument is a constant reminder of the shackles that were broken, so that the children of this soil can now live happy and free lives.

“The strength and resilience we inherited empowered us to fight to become a free nation in 1966.

“The St. George’s Cathedral, being a major landmark in Guyana, shows how, as a nation, we have grown to even making history through our infrastructure by having the tallest wooden building in the world. “Also, our rich flora and fauna are depicted, highlighting our natural beauty and resources.

“As designers, we are proud to portray various aspects of Guyana and its culture through fashion. It is within this dear land that we were molded into becoming who we are today.”

The collection consists of dresses, tops, pants skirts and jumpsuits. Enjoy!

It’s called the essential for a reason. A timeless black body-suit with deep V-styled with cute short layer skirt using our St. George’s print. It’s the one you need to finish a classic party or weekend look.

GUYANA CHRONICLE FRIDAY MAY 27, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 27, 2016

New lap record ‘spark’ in Elliot Vieira’s weekend

By Stephan Sookram

FOLLOWING a mixed weekend in Jamaica last weekend, current Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) defending super-stock champion is still upbeat of his chances of winning back to back.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport, he contended that the spark in last weekend’s Championship was resetting his lap record, a 1:11.6 with a new record, a 1:11.100, shaving half a second off his time.

“Yeah, it was a great feeling; I actually didn’t know that I had broken it. I was just so focused on catching Stephen (Vieira) in

that race,” he said.

Rating the weekend however, he continued, “It started well, we got a second in the first race and then I got into an accident in the second race so it kind of affected my CMRC points because I’m also defending champion. In the third race we came back hard and strong and we came first.”

Speaking directly about his incident Vieira said, “In the moments before it, I was smiling of course, I was happy because I was leading the race but then I fell and everything was just shattered; all that was going through my mind (after the fall) was to try

and make up those points that I lost in the next race.”

“No injuries. But the bike had some cosmetic damage; nothing that can’t be fixed,” he continued, adding “We came out very strong; the bike worked beautifully, no complaints at all. The bike did what we wanted it to do and it even exceeded our expectations.”

Elliot leaves Jamaica in third position with 43 points, being led only by his elder Cousin Stephen (68 points) and Jamaica’s Robert McDonald (45 points) The next stop in the CMRC train is Wallerfield Raceway in Trinidad and Tobago in July.

accusations of sexism with some lewd comments in an interview with The Times.

However, Sammy played down the latest row.

“Chris Gayle is the universe boss, a teammate of mine whom I admire and respect. I just think people target Chris for no reason.

“To me, Chris is one of

our cricketing heroes. He’s an entertainer, first, but a lot of people have jumped on his back.

“I always support Chris because of what he does on a cricket field. Yes, we have a responsibility to ourselves and the people who watch us, but sometimes I feel Chris is a target for newspaper headlines.”

(REUTERS) Retired quarterback Peyton Manning and four other players named in an Al Jazeera America report that linked them to performance-enhancing drugs will soon meet with the NFL, according to a report on the NFL’s website yesterday.

Manning, who was the most prominent of the names mentioned in the December report, and four active players will meet with league officials “sometime next month,” NFL

spokesman Joe Lockhart was quoted as saying in the report.

Manning, who helped the Denver Broncos win a Super Bowl in February and retired a month later, has denied accusations made in the documentary that he took human growth hormone while recovering from neck surgery in 2011.

Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, Mike Neal and James Harrison were the four active players named in the report.

Sammy defends teammate Gayle

DARREN Sammy has defended Chris Gayle as an “entertainer” and says his outspoken nature makes him an easy target in the media.

Last week, Gayle revived

NFL to talk with players named in Al Jazeera PED report

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 27, 2016

Ricciardo sets blistering Monaco practice pace South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:30 hrs Nebra 09:00 hrs Red Barrel 09:35 hrs Night Out 10:15 hrs National King 10:50 hrs Sorbonne English Racing Tips Bath 09:00 hrs Stynes 09:30 hrs Believe It 10:00 hrs Esteemable 10:30 hrs Barroche 11:00 hrs Mawaany 11:30 hrs Bigger And Better 12:00 hrs Rehearse Haydock 09:10 hrs Tafaakhor 09:40 hrs Dream Of Dreams 10:10 hrs Giddy 10:40 hrs Masterpaver 11:10 hrs Clear Evidence 11:40 hrs Trainnah 12:10 hrs Huntlaw 12:45 hrs Princess Peaches Brighgton

RED Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo sprang a surprise by comfortably heading the Mercedes drivers in second 09:20 hrs Monks Stand practice for the Monaco 09:50 hrs Nag’s Wag Grand Prix.

10:20 hrs Pour La Victoire The Australian finished 10:50 hrs Goldenfield 0.606 seconds quicker than 11:20 hrs Loving Your Work Lewis Hamilton, who earlier 11:50 hrs Wordismybond set the pace in first practice.

12:20 hrs Wild Flower Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate and championship Irish Racing Tips leader Nico Rosberg was Down Royal third, a further 0.293secs 12:35 hrs Wakea adrift.

13:05 hrs Call Me PJ Red Bull’s Max Verstap13:35 hrs Island Villa pen was fourth, ahead of the 14:05 hrs Vote Of Confidence Toro Rossos of Daniil Kvyat 14:35 hrs Annamatopoeia and Carlos Sainz.

15:05 hrs Kyleestyle Tomorrow’s qualifying 15:35 hrs Bosco Di Alco and Sunday’s race are live on the BBC sport website and American Racing Tips radio 5 live.

Belmont The fastest Ferrari Race 1 Red Lodge was only seventh, in Kimi Race 2 Just Sisters Raikkonen’s hands, ahead Race 3 Quest of the Force India of Sergio Race 4 Ross J Dawg Perez.

Race 5 Warriors Diva Sebastian Vettel was only Race 6 Hirschbein 14th when he spun at MiraRace 7 Outlash beau corner, hitting the barrier Race 8 Glass House and damaging the rear wing Race 9 Complicated

Daniel Ricciardo of his Ferrari. ninth only to slide into the He later jumped up to barrier at Ste Devote on his

very next lap, although he got away without any damage.

Manor’s Rio Haryanto was the only other man to crash in a session punctuated by drivers locking wheels and running wide at the first corner and chicane.

The Indonesian, whose long-term future at the team is in doubt over sponsorship concerns, lost control over the crest after the tunnel, spinning into the outside barrier, rebounding into the inside barrier and coming to rest in the escape road. He was unhurt.

JAA, JOA say no athletes among 31 samples

(Sportsmax) ACCORDING to Jamaican authorities no athletes from the country that dominates the sprinting world are among the 31 whose samples were found to contain banned substances from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) revealed last week that it would begin notifying national Olympic committees and national sports federations if one or more of their athletes had returned adverse findings from several hundred samples that were re-tested from 2008.

So far, Jamaica remains in the clear.

President of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) Mike Fennell said the JOA had received no notification.

Similarly, General Secre-

tary of the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA), Garth Gayle, said his organisation has also not been notified of any alleged wrongdoing on the part of any Jamaican athletes from the 2008 Games.

“The JAAA has not been notified of any adverse findings from any of our athletes,” Gayle said.

Interest has grown around the 31 athletes from 12 countries from six different sports since the IOC released a statement last week with the revelation.

Reports so far have indicated that of the 31, 14 are Russian athletes.

However, there has been no official confirmation of that figure.

Meanwhile, the USA, Trinidad and Great Britain have said that none of their athletes are on that list.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday May 27, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 56 Royal Challengers Bangalore & Gujarat Lions Today’s Quiz: Who was the most successful bowler in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2016?

Which two teams contested the Eliminator game of IPL 2016?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Jamaica is the latest country to make that declaration.

Jamaica won 11 medals at the Beijing Olympic Games – six gold, three silver and two bronze medals.

WICB mourns umpire’s death

THE President, Board of Directors, Management and Staff of the West Indies Cricket Board regret the passing of Gyananad Sukhdeo.

The late Guyanese umpire just turned 41 on May 20, passed away yesterday, May 24.

Sukhdeo was part of the junior panel of umpires for the WICB since 2011 and did duties for the age group tournaments, Under-15, U-17 and U-19 competitions. He was a standby umpire in the regional four-day competition.

The team offers condolences to his family and friends in Guyana and around the region.

As soon as more information is available we will advise.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 27, 2016

Starc ready for Caribbean return

MITCHELL Starc does not expect to hit top speed straight away when he makes his Australia comeback after six months out.

Australia paceman Mitchell Starc is ready to make up for lost time when he makes his international return in the Caribbean next month.

The left-arm quick has been side-lined since undergoing surgery after fracturing his foot late last year, but was included in a 16-man squad for the upcoming one-day

international tri-series against West Indies and South Africa.

Starc, who was also recalled for the Test series in Sri Lanka starting in July, is raring to go after such a lengthy absence.

“It’s been a long time coming. The foot has been great, there’s no pain in the ankle or the foot,” Starc said.

“I’ve been really happy with it, it’s come along really well.

“I’ve had a good three or four months in gym to get a bit of size back on, and I’m feeling really good; fit,

Mitchell Starc

strong and ready to play some cricket.

“It’s been coming out pretty well up in Brisbane the last couple of weeks so I’m excited to see what comes about. It feels like it’s in a good place.

“I’m not sure if I’ll be back up to top speed straightaway, it might take a couple of games as it normally does for fast bowlers coming back, but I’m excited to see how it comes out on the gun.”

Australia take on the Windies in Guyana on June 5 in the first game of the series.

Nadal, Djokovic roll on; symmetry for Williams sisters

(REUTERS) A dominant Rafael Nadal reached one career milestone yesterday but the nature of the Spaniard’s passage through the early rounds of the French Open suggests his eyes are fixed firmly on another more significant landmark.

The world number five, seeded four at the tournament

he once owned, destroyed Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 to reach the third round with the loss of only nine games, chalking up a 200th match victory in grand slams.

Wo r l d n u m b e r o n e Djokovic, who dispatched Belgian qualifier Steve Darcis 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, will be a formidable obstacle again.

Court for Messi on June 2

(SPORTSMAX) Lionel Messi will appear in court just four days before Argentina’s Copa America opener against Chile.

Lionel Messi will testify in Court on June 2 as he attempts to prove his innocence against tax fraud charges.

The Barcelona star and his father have been charged with three counts of tax fraud worth €4.1M dating back to a period between 2007 and 2009 and has had his trial date scheduled between May 31 and June 3.

Spanish agency EFE has now confirmed the Argentina international will take to the stand on June 2.

Messi had been set to avoid a trial on the grounds that father Jorge Messi was apparently responsible for his son’s tax obligations.

However, the state attorney later opted to overrule the advice of prosecutors and ordered both to appear in the Eighth Court of Barcelona.

Djokovic, who has a burning desire to claim the only grand slam title to elude him, was, however, critical of his performance against a player nicknamed The Shark.

Defending women’s champion Serena Williams was joined by sister Venus in the third round, the American siblings posting symmetrical victories on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Serena beat Brazil’s Teliana Pereira 6-2, 6-1 before ninth seed Venus produced the same result against fellow American Louisa Chirico to reach the third round for the first time since 2010.

With Maria Sharapova suspended, pending the outcome of a doping hearing,

and several leading seeds knocked out early, Serena looms as the overwhelming favourite to claim a fourth title in the French capital.

But others will have something to say about that.

Former champion Ana Ivanovic is a possible last-16 opponent and the Serbian 14th seed looked in good form as she belted 22 forehand winners in a 7-5, 6-1 defeat of Japan’s Kurumi Nara.

Prospective last-eight opponent Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, seeded 12th, beat China’s Wang Qiang 6-1, 6-3 while eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky survived a tricky second round against 2014 runner-up Eugenie Bouchard

6-4, 6-4.

Bouchard, who has slumped down the rankings after reaching number five in 2014, led 4-1, then lost 10 games in a row before mounting a late comeback attempt.

Only one women’s seed fell yesterday, number 28 Andrea Petkovic, who was beaten by Kazakh Yulia Putintseva.

Five Frenchmen set out to reach the third round on day five but only one succeeded in joining the three already there.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, seeded six, did so to the delight of a noisy crowd, although he did it the hard way, coming from two sets down to beat

mercurial Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-7(6), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 and notch a 100th grand slam win.

Seventh seed Tomas Berdych, like Tsonga a former semi-finalist here, beat Tunisian Malek Jaziri 6-1, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 while 12th seed David Goffin and 13th seed Dominic Thiem, both advanced in straight sets.

Borna Coric and Alexander Zverev, two 19-yearolds billed as the next big things, reached the third round with Coric surprising Australia’s 20th seed Bernard Tomic 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(4), 7-6(6) and Zverev, s e e i n g o f f F re n c h m a n Stephane Robert.

He’s Back!

Lionel Messi The Copa America in the United States starts three days later with Argentina’s opener against Chile set for June 6.

Argentina boss Gerardo Martino has said previously his leading player would be available.

Martino told Continental Radio: “I think we should have no problem with his presence at the Copa America Centenario.

“If he suspected that there might be a problem, we would’ve said.”

Argentina face Chile, Panama and Bolivia in Group D of the tournament.

… Mourinho signs United contract

By Andy Burton (SKY SPORTS) - Jose Mourinho has signed his contract to become the new manager of Manchester United.

The Portuguese left home at 14:50hrs yesterday and concluded talks at a central London hotel, agreeing to succeed Louis van Gaal as the new boss at Old Trafford.

Sky Sports News HQ broke the news at 17:20hrs after Mourinho returned home half an hour earlier with documents in his hand and a bottle of red wine, having met with United’s

executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to complete the deal.

Mourinho put pen to paper at a central London hotel.

Mourinho symbolically wore a black and red tie for the final stage of negotiations, and the deal is completed on the 12th anniversary of his winning the Champions League for the first time with Porto, who knocked out United on their run to the final.

Mourinho, who has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in December, replaces his former mentor van Gaal, who was dismissed by Unit-

ed two days after they won the FA Cup against Crystal Palace at Wembley.

Sky sources reported after the final whistle that Mourinho was set to replace the Dutchman as soon as possible, and van Gaal was informed of the club’s decision in a personal visit by Woodward to his home on Sunday night.

Joey Barton thinks the Premier League has the best standard of managers in the world

By Tuesday, talks between Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes were well under way via phone and email and negotiations were

expected to be a formality and completed within 48 hours.

But Mendes and Woodward were forced to meet at United’s offices in central London to rectify a number of image rights issues, including Chelsea’s ownership of Mourinho’s name.

Those issues were smoothly resolved over the course of Wednesday and Thursday and Mourinho emerged from his Chelsea home shortly before 15:00hrs to secure the job he has wanted since Sir Alex Ferguson stood down in 2013.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 27, 2016

Put egos aside, Sammy tells players, administrators (ESPNCricinfo) DARREN Sammy has called for West Indies players and administrators to put their ‘egos’ to one side and work for the betterment of the game in the region, as he prepares to return to competitive action for the first time since leading his side to victory in the World T20 at Eden Gardens last month.

Sammy, who has arrived at Hampshire for this season’s NatWest T20 Blast, will sit out tomorrow’s clash with Middlesex at Uxbridge due to registration issues, and instead will make his first outing of the campaign in next Thursday’s home match against Kent.

Either way, he will not be making a triumphant homecoming for West Indies during their Tri-Nations Series against South Africa and Aus-

Darren tralia, which gets underway in Guyana on June 3, having been cut from the WICB’s list of contracted players back in January.

Sammy is itching to return to the cricket field after a month spent basking in the afterglow of a remarkable triumph, in which he emulated the achievement of the great Clive Lloyd in leading West Indies to a second global title, following their previous victory

Sammy

in the 2012 World T20 in Sri Lanka.

“I wouldn’t say up there with Lloyd because what he did with his team was historical,” Sammy told ESPNcricinfo during a Kwik Cricket Festival in Hampshire. “But I can’t stand next to you and say I have not enjoyed it. I got a chance to go home with the trophy, and I took the trophy to the people because I said it was for the

Cook backs Woakes and Compton

A L A S TA I R C o o k has backed Chris Woakes and Nick Compton to deliver in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Durham, but admitted that both players need a performance to retain their places beyond the series.

Woakes comes into the team in place of the injured local hero Ben Stokes. But while Cook has confirmed that Woakes is likely, fitness permitting, to play in both the remaining Tests of the series, he also admitted that he had yet to settle in Test cricket.

Woakes’ current Test record - eight wickets in six Tests at an average of 63.75 and average of 21.50 with the bat - is modest. But, over the last two rounds of Championship matches, Woakes has taken career-best bowling figures of 9 for 36 against Durham and scored the

ninth first-class century of his career against Nottinghamshire. Cook hopes, therefore, that he enters this Test with confidence soaring and insisted that he was highly rated by his colleagues.

“He is another one of those guys we have not seen the best of in international cricket,” Cook said.

“There is no doubt in my mind that facing him in the nets, seeing him bowl for Warwickshire or knowing his character that he has a lot going for him. He is really respected.

“He just needs that performance to make him feel settled in the side and help him feel he belongs in international cricket. I have no doubt about that.

I am really excited about him playing and he has the next couple of games with Ben out. He can make future selection really hard.”

Cook admitted there had

been a temptation to select Jake Ball, the in-form Nottinghamshire seamer who has taken 21 Championship wickets at a cost of 22.28 this season. But England enjoy the depth that fielding an extra all-rounder gives them and feel that Woakes is a closer like-for-like replacement for Stokes.

“We enjoy playing with this balance of the side,” Cook said. “We know Ben balances the side really well, but he could get injured (again) and obviously we need the competition in that all-rounder place.

“Ben is going to be a big loss for us. But injuries are part and parcel of a side and we need to know we can play without him. Chris has that opportunity to fill the all-rounder role and Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow go up a spot in the batting, so it gives them more of an opportunity.”

people. I saw the reaction from the kids - I was once a kid and I knew how much I felt when I saw my heroes.”

“I belong on the cricket field and I’ve not been on the cricket field since the World T20, so coming here to Hampshire, I can’t wait to get started.”

Despite the satisfaction of West Indies’ triumph - across three formats, following the success of both the Women’s World T20 squad in India and the men’s Under-19 squad in Bangladesh, Sammy’s frustration with the WICB was evident once again earlier this week.

He and his fellow exiles, Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, exchanged incredulous messages on Twitter with Kieron Pollard, following his unexpected inclusion in the Tri-Series squad, adding “It’s sad that for so long

it’s been a back-and-forth between the board and players.”

“But these three wins show we can win cricket at all levels, and if we could work together, that’s all you need. Players and board working together, sharing a common goal, with no egos.

It would be better for West Indies cricket but at the moment it’s just not happening.

“They always say sports and politics don’t mix, which is true. But at the end you have to give credit to the most important thing, which is the cricket. And who plays the cricket? The cricketers.

That is your product. If you plant corn, you have to take care of it, nurture it, fertilise it and then you can reap the rewards, so it is similar to the West Indies cricket team.”

Despite the distractions,

Sammy confirmed that the politics had played a massive part in uniting his team throughout their World T20 triumph.

“I’m telling you, it was a massive motivation, a massive drive for the guys,” he said. “We made a conscious effort to go out and play and stay focused. As a team it brought us closer together, and in the face of adversity we always tend to rise. We fought like cornered tigers, and it was a very memorable experience, seeing guys committed to one cause.

“We should use that in all formats we play, whether one-day or Tests, because once we believe and stick together, we can achieve. I am just hoping that, in the coming months, we could have the right people in place to take West Indies cricket forward.”

DC Jammers show resilience to take game 3

… Pacesetters provide best opposition

HAVING walked through the Bounty Colts on Sunday night, the DC Jammers came up against the Pacesetters basketball club on Tuesday in a contest that was the most competitive in the Goodwill series.

In the first quarter, the foreigners jumped to a fast start with 10 straight points to which the Pacesetters had no reply. However, battling back and putting together a few stops on the defensive end, Pacesetters restricted their American opponents to 26 points ending the quarter at 26-22 in favour of the visitors.

The dominance continued as they then scored 17 points in the second quarter on the back of Semaj Inge who had a game-high 24 while the Pacesetters looked flat and only scored 16 points to see the game 43-38, going into the half

time interval.

It seemed to be another runaway performance by the Jammers until the men in purple and yellow turned it around in the third quarter. Hustle was the name of the game and Pacesetters out-hustled and out-scrapped the Jammers 1915, ending the quarter 58-57 - Jammers up by one.

The fourth quarter started, and with about 6:45 minutes left in the game, the locals took the lead for the first time and got the crowd involved. Stephon Gillis knocked down a huge threepoint shot and drew the foul for the four-point play. He converted it and the small crowd went wild. It looked like the Jammers were finally being matched.

Inge then erupted when Jammers got a stop and fed him the ball for the lane drive and thunderous dunk, to quell

the crowd’s celebrations. The celebrations were then halted as Pacesetters couldn’t finish around the rim and Kevan Creppy turned in 8 straight points to take the game away from the locals. Inge and Winston Robinson had huge blocks to all but seal the deal. The defensive stops and offensive potency ended the game 82-75.

The Jammers’ final game will be played tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall against a Georgetown All-Star team. The Jammers will be looking to sweep the games and prove the point of Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) president Nigel Hinds.

Hinds had stated that the purpose of the tour was to expose the deficiency in Guyanese players’ games and show the difference in the level of skills.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 27, 2016

Barbados XI brush aside West Indies

(CMC) - Test batsman Shai Hope and former West Indies opener Omar Phillips stroked half-centuries as a Barbados Select XI dealt West Indies a 50-run defeat in the first of two warm-up matches here Wednesday night.

In a day/night encounter at Kensington Oval, the Select XI piled up 290 for eight off their 50 overs, with the stylish Hope carving out a top score of 61 and Phillips getting 58.

O ff - s p i n n e r A s h l e y Nurse claimed three for 61 while fast bowler Shannon Gabriel picked up two for 75.

In reply, West Indies were restricted to 240 all out off 47.1 overs thanks to leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr who finished with three for 17 from four overs and seamers Kevin Stoute (228), Tarik Shorey (2-33) and Dario Seale (2-50), all of whom ended with two wickets apiece.

Jamaican Rovman Powell smashed a top score of 58 while Nurse completed a solid all-round game with a fantastic even 50 off a mere 31 balls.

Wicketkeeper Denesh

Ramdin chipped in with 32 while Darren Bravo got 24 and Marlon Samuels, 23.

The Select XI got a great start after the left-handed Phillips had put on 58 for the first wicket with Kyle Corbin who made 14, and a further 53 for the second wicket with Hope.

Phillips, who played two Tests during the senior players strike seven years ago, struck seven fours and two sixes off 66 deliveries while Hope gathered seven fours off 79 balls.

When Phillips fell, to give Nurse his second wicket, Hope and Roston Chase (18) added 40 for the third wicket before both fell in the space of 18 balls, to leave the Select XI on 165 for four in the 36th over.

H o w e v e r, S h a m a r h Brooks stroked 44 from 37 balls with two fours and two sixes and captain Stoute hit 29 from 41 balls, to revive the innings in a 60-run, fifth-wicket partnership.

Kyle Mayers arrived late on to belt 29 from 13 deliveries, to provide the flourish at the end.

Shorey and Stoute then scythed through the West

Indies top order to leave the innings in ruins at 81 for five in the 20th over.

Johnson Charles played across one from Shorey in the fourth over and was lbw for seven at 15 for one and in the left-armer’s next over, Andre Fletcher pulled a catch to mid-wicket to fall for seven at 20 for two.

Samuels struck four fours in a 20-ball knock before perishing lbw to Stoute in the 12th over and eight balls later, left-hander Jonathan Carter fended off a short ball from Seale to be caught at point without scoring at 59 for four.

When Bravo was caught at mid-wicket off Stoute in the 20th over, West Indies were tottering but Powell then engineered two half-century stands to rally the innings.

The 22-year-old, who has played a single first class game, struck two fours and four sixes off 71 balls and added 62 for the sixth wicket with Ramdin and 66 for the seventh wicket with Nurse.

Powell was seventh out at 209 in the 41st over and despite Nurse’s four fours and three sixes, the Windies still came up short.

Rovman Powell during the day/night match between West Indies and Barbados Select XI on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at Kensington Oval. (Photo by WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography)

He’s Back!

See story on page 29

Barbados XI brush aside West Indies See story on page 31

Starc ready for Caribbean return See story on page 29

JAA, JOA say no athletes among 31 samples See story on page 28

WICB mourns umpire’s death

Jose Mourinho

New lap record ‘spark’ in Elliot Vieira’s weekend

See story on page 27

Elliot Vieira evaluates a corner during one of the CMRC super-stock races of the First round of the CMRC 2016 in Jamaica. (Photo by Donavan Montague)

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See story on page 28 Sukhdeo officiates in a game in Guyana in 2014 FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2016