Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 28 12 2016

ECLAC projects 3.8 % growth for Guyana 3 Page

No. 104777

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

Price: $80

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‌ Yupukari cocaine plane

Army, police

officers fingered TWO senior members of the joint services have been fingered in the landing and operations of a cocaine-carrying Colombian-registered aircraft that was discovered at Yupukari, Region Nine in September this year.

The officers- a deputy superintendent of police and a 2nd lieutenant of the GDF have been removed from their postings in the area as the GDF-led Board of Inquiry commenced. Guyana Chronicle was told that the final report into the investi-

gation concerning the plane cited the GDF officer for abandoning his post when he was asked to stake out the area where the plane was found and also he has been accused of tampering with the scene of the investigation.

Regarding the police officer, this newspaper was told that the final report cited him for physically assaulting civilians at the scene who wanted to report the discovery of the plane to authorities. see full story on page 2

The Colombian aircraft that was found at Yupukari in September

E.R Braithwaite cremated Page 8

Creighton 5 quits Drama Festival Page

Girl dies in freak accident 3 at orphanage Page

Neena Blair

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

… Yupukari cocaine plane

Army, police officers fingered

TWO senior members of the joint services have been fingered in the landing and operations of a cocaine-carrying Colombian-registered aircraft that was discovered at Yupukari, Region Nine in September this year.

The officers- a deputy superintendent of police and a 2nd lieutenant of the GDF have been removed from their postings in the area as the GDF-led Board of Inquiry commenced. Guyana Chronicle was told that the final report into the investigation concerning the plane cited the GDF officer for abandoning his post when he was asked to stake out the area where the plane was found and also he has been accused of tampering with the scene of the investigation.

Regarding the police officer, this newspaper was told that the final report cited him for physically assaulting civilians at the scene who wanted to report the discovery of the plane to authorities.

Residents had found the plane almost one month before an official report was made to authorities, according to the preliminary find-

ings of Brigadier (Ret’d) Edward Collins. According to information reaching this newspaper Collins in his report recommended that the two officers be disciplined and also recommended further that an investigation he conducted into whether they knew of the aircraft operations.

Collins also recommended that a more senior GDF be posted to command the troops in the Rupununi and that the military should augment its strength in the border region.

“The aircraft was discovered by the Joint Services on September [13] but it was in that location long before that.

There is enough evidence to suggest that the aircraft came from Colombia and was on its way to Guyana. It developed engine problems and the pilots had a requirement to conduct a certain manoeuver in order not to lose consciousness and when they got to Guyana, because the aircraft could not start, it remained there for a while.

We have evidence to suggest that the residents found that site by August 18, 2016,” the Ministry of Presidency had

quoted Collins as saying in a statement.

Collins, who was commissioned to investigate, examine, advise and report on the circumstances under which the foreign aircraft entered into the country, had initially noted that the residents were not forthcoming with providing information to security forces. “All of the Toshaos were interviewed and I do not know why they were unwilling to provide the information they had to the security forces. I can only assume… based on the evidence that I have received so far, that the relationship between the villages and the security forces is not as [we would have] expected,” he said.

At the handing over of the final report he said that his decision to host public meetings in several villages such as Katoka, Kaicumbay, Yupukari and other villages, along with the Regional Chairman and Regional Executive Officer of Region Nine, proved to be a worthwhile exercise, since it allowed him greater insight into the facts discovered during the probe. Briga-

–– GDF opens wide-ranging probe

The Colombian aircraft that was found at Yupukari in September dier Collins noted as well that through that process a number of eyewitnesses had stepped forward.

“There has been additional evidence, which have caused us to firm up our findings into the circumstances under which this aircraft came into Guyana illegally. I wish to thank the Toshaos, the senior councils, and the village leaders in nearby villages for their corporation. Since they got involved, there have been more revelations [and] more residents came forward voluntarily. They did their own investigations,” Brigadier

Collins said.

Upon further investigations, members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were led to an abandoned camp at Yupukari, which is believed to be connected to persons, who may have knowledge of the aircraft.

Brigadier Collins also said, “One thing that came out of the inquiry that we did not recongnise earlier was the involvement of a woman, and this [revelation] was because of the voluntary evidence presented by the residents.”

He also said that coming out from the meetings was a recommendation for the setting up of a Village Intelligence Committee, where Toshaos and other village

leaders can pass on information on any suspicious activity to a relevant authority. However, the Brigadier added that the maintenance of public trust would be critical to ensuring that villagers are forthcoming with such information.

On September 13, 2016 a plane, bearing registration number N767Z, was first brought to the attention of officials by residents of the area. A Joint Army and Police team, inclusive of Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), was dispatched to the location to conduct investigations launched into the sightings of the aircraft. The COI was appointed on September 28, 2016.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

ECLAC projects 3.8 % growth for Guyana ––predicts 1.3% subdued growth for region in 2017

AFTER two consecutive years of economic contraction, Latin America and the Caribbean will experience a modest growth of 1.3% in 2017, with Guyana projected to grow by 3.8 %, according to new projections released by the European Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Guyana’s growth rate for this year was pegged at 2.6 per cent.

This United Nations’ regional organization has recently made public its annual preliminary overview of the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean for 2016, in which it calls for revived public-private investment in order to resume short- and long-term growth, and confront the risks and growing

uncertainties posed by the international scenario.

“We are at a turning point. Latin America and the Caribbean will resume growth, but moderately and without clear engines driving it. Its recovery will be fragile as long as the uncertainties of the economic context continue, particularly the recently observed protectionist trends.

For this reason, resuming the path of regional growth requires much caution and a reversal of the investment process dynamic, which will demand a significant mobilization of financial resources,” stated Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) during a press conference in Santiago, Chile, where the document

AN eight-year-old died on Christmas Day following an accident on Christmas Eve at the orphanage at which she was staying.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that at around 14:00hrs on Saturday, the child, Neena Blair, was playing in the yard at the Alpha Children’s Home in Gay Park, Greater New Amsterdam, Berbice when the accident occurred.

It happened when a teenaged orphan, who also lives at the Home, snuck into a car belonging to the institution, started it up, and pressed the accelerator, causing the vehicle to slam into a stump wall which fell on Blair.

The founder, Ms Esther Bruyning, with the help of

other children from the orphanage, pulled Blair from the rubble and rushed her to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

But because of the severity of her injuries, which were mostly confined to her head, the child was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she died on Christmas morning.

When the Guyana Chronicle contacted the orphanage on Tuesday, Ms. Bruyning was very heartbroken and could hardly speak. “I can’t,” she said. “I am too traumatised to speak.”

This newspaper was subsequently told that because the car’s keys were stuck in the key switch, the vehicle was scheduled to be taken to the mechanic immediately

was presented.

According to the report, the region will close out 2016 with an average contraction of 1.1%. South America will be the sub-region most affected, with a decline of 2.4%, while the Caribbean will contract by 1.7% and Central America will have positive growth of 3.6%.

The preliminary overview adds that urban unemployment rate shows an upward trend, and could end 2016 at 9% – much higher than the 7.4% recorded in 2015 – due to a decline in the employment rate and an increase in the labour force participation rate.

Inflation, meanwhile, shows different levels among the sub-regions. In South America, it went from 9.2% in September 2015 to 10.9%

for the same month in 2016; while accumulated inflation (over 12 months) for the economies of Central America and Mexico (as a group) rose from 2.5% in September 2015 to 3.4% in September 2016.

With regard to growth projections for 2017, improved commodities’ prices would benefit the terms of trade for South America, which is forecast to resume growth with an increase in GDP of 0.9%, while the Caribbean is expected to grow by 1.3%, mainly due to tourism.

Central America, meanwhile, is forecast to expand by 3.7%. Greater external demand will benefit the region in general in 2017, in addition to a recovery of intra-regional trade due to

improved performance by the southern economies. Nevertheless, the uncertainties of the international context will have differentiated effects on the individual countries and sub-regions of Latin America and the Caribbean, which will accentuate sub-regional differences based on the productive and trade orientation of their economies, according to the report.

Furthermore, while continued expansive monetary policy by the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan is expected through the end of 2017, the normalization of interest rates in the United States could entail a re-adjustment in financial asset prices, financial volatility, and increased financing costs for the region.

Given this scenario,

ECLAC recommends that the countries of the region continue fostering investment through countercyclical economic policies, with productivity gains in addition to active fiscal measures and smart adjustments.

The organization also calls for reducing tax evasion and avoidance (which totals 6.7% of regional GDP), safeguarding public spending, revising subsidy structures (especially for fuel) and incentives, and reorienting measures to promote investment and essential social spending.

“The challenge of the big environmental push proposed by ECLAC lays the strategic framework for investment opportunities and innovation,” underlines the report.

police custody assisting with the investigations.

Blair and her two sisters were placed in the care of the Alpha Children’s Home earlier this year after they were removed from the care of their mother.

The mother, Ms Venus Laloo, called “Anita”, was earlier this month charged with three counts of child neglect.

She was fined $100,000 for each count, but because she could not raise the money, she opted to serve the alternate sentence which was jail time.

However, a good Samaritan familiar with the facts of the case decided to pay the fine, and provide “Anita” with a quantity of groceries

to take care of her and her children until she could get back on her feet.

She was released from prison, and was supposed to visit the orphanage on Christmas Eve Day, which was also the birthday of one of her daughters, to take her children home with her so they could be re-united and spend Christmas together as a family.

It was also the wish of little Neena to spend this Christmas with her mother.

This publication understands that the children were already dressed and eagerly awaiting their mother’s arrival when tragedy struck. Surprisingly, “Anita” never showed up at the orphanage, nor did she check up on the children upon

her release from prison.

The Alpha Children’s Home is currently home to 13 children, and is rated among the best orphanages in Berbice for the level of care it provides to the children left in its care.

It has been providing care to less fortunate children since it was established over 25 years ago.

As news of little Neena’s death spread, many have rushed to the Home to offer Ms Bruyning, for whom they have great respect, a shoulder on which to lean.

This newspaper was told that “Anita” was informed of what had befallen her daughter but it is unclear whether she visited the Home.

Girl dies in freak accident at orphanage

Neena Blair after the holidays to have it removed.

And while the informant refused to divulge any other information, she did indicate that the 17-year-old who drove the car is currently in

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday , December 28, 2016

Three hospitalised after Boxing Night smash-up

Residents assisting one of the accident victims at the scene

One of the vehicles involved in the accident

THREE men are being treated for their injuries following a three-vehicle accident on Monday night at the junction of Welfare Street in Canefield, Canje, Berbice.

According to reports,

the accident occurred when a vehicle attempting to turn into the street collided with two others trying to exit the said street.

While the details are sketchy, this newspaper understands that PDD

1950, a burgundy AE100, was the vehicle attempting to turn into the street, while a white 170 Carina, bearing license plate PGG 6927, was at the head of the street waiting to come out of the street. Waiting its turn to exit the street also was a Blue Marino, PJJ 972.

An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was standing on the road when he noticed a car approaching with its signal indicat-

ing it was turning into the street, while two others were already there waiting to exit.

“I see the red car put on it trafficator to turn in the street, and when it reach, them get two other car that did waiting to come out.

“Meh ain’t know what happen, but the car like it ‘mis-average’ or something, but it hit the white car, and it spin round couple time and knock the blue car,” he said.

“It knock hard, ‘cause them cars smash up and pitch-way; one ah dem end up in de trench. I then run and try fuh help them people that get hurt,” he added.

The drivers of the three vehicles and their occupants were all taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The driver of PDD 1950 reportedly took the brunt of the impact, resulting in his leg being broken, and his having to be transferred on Tuesday morning to the Georgetown Public Hospital to see an orthopedic surgeon.

One of the two other drivers reportedly suffered some minor bruises about the body, while the other, because of major trauma to the shoulder, is hospitalised. Both are reportedly shaken up.

As for the occupants of the cars, one is said to have suffered a cut to the head, and the others minor injuries for which they were treated and sent away.

The drivers all hail from the Canje communities of Canefield Settlement and Betsy Ground.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

–– Creighton quits as Chief Judge of Drama Festival

CHIEF Judge of the National Drama Festival, Al Creighton, has quit the post because of a slew of criticisms that followed the recent conclusion of the event.

In a letter appearing in today’s Guyana Chronicle, Creighton said: “I will therefore not be continuing in that capacity. In addition, I will not endure assaults on my professional ability and integrity. I will not continue as a member of the judging panel.”

The results of the National Drama Festival, announced at the National Cultural Centre two Mondays ago, were viewed as flawed and biased by some who had participated in the festival; and one actor had even called for the removal of Creighton.

Creighton had previously told this newspaper that he was ready to defend the judging of the competition, and that the results were fair.

(See letter on page 6) Ron Robinson’s play, “Miriamy”, won the first place, and was tied with “The Legend of the Silk Cotton Tree”, directed by Sonia Yarde. The second place prize was given to “The Legend of the Silk Cotton Tree”.

Speaking with the Chronicle, actress Sheron Cadogan-Taylor, who entered the competition with “Till ah find a place 1”, which won her third place, said this year’s festival was the worst of all.

“We have had differences of opinion and incidents of

bias in the past, but this year it was so blatant and disrespectful it’s beyond anyone’s imagination for a festival, one that should be nationally acclaimed based on standards and credibility,” she said.

Taylor said it has become laughable that the NDF cannot even attract viewers to the National Cultural Centre anymore, despite entry being free of charge. This, she opined, is a result of the populace losing confidence in the festival. “If they get one thing right this year, they get ten things wrong the next; and deliberately so,” she said.

“I have handled every unfair decision meted out against me in the past with dignity and decorum, not even speaking anything negative against the festival or the judges; but I am afraid that it was my mistake, because they seem to have taken me for granted, as clearly depicted in this year’s results.

I will, however, continue to write, direct and produce, but I would not be a part of the festival until I can be sure that drastic changes have been made to ensure fairness, credibility, and all other requisite components befitting a national festival are in place,” Taylor said.

Another actress, Leslyn Bobb-Semple, told this newspaper that it was time for the entire NDF committee to have a new set of members.

She, too, accused Creighton of micromanaging each play, contending that there are other judges who would be

sitting at the same table but not saying a word. “Sometimes you hear people whispering, ‘Did he just watch the same play I did?’…He comes across as biased, and has favourite plays that were worse than some others that made it to the finals. And this is like a slap in the face,” Bobb-Semple said.

Saying she is very hurt that she had put a lot of work into her plays but this has not been acknowledged, Bobb-Semple said it is her belief that the person at the helm of all of this is the Chief Judge. “And I would like to put in a request for his removal, since it seems to me that his professional views on theatre have been compromised,” she said.

DEBUNKED Creighton has, however, debunked Sheron Cadogan-Taylor’s assertion, deeming it a hasty conclusion. “From the very beginning of the NDF, it has never attracted large multitudes. Houses have always been small, and numbers have certainly not declined.

This year, 2016, showed low turnout for the preliminary rounds at the NCC but an increase in numbers over 2014 and 2015 for the finals,” he said.

“What is more important (is that) preliminaries were held at other venues outside of the NCC and out of Georgetown. Some of those showed large numbers turning out, which were unprecedented in places like the Sophia Community Centre, Kuru Kuru and other places,” Creighton said in his letter.

He added that large, very supportive crowds came from the communities to support their plays in the Finals at NCC; e.g. from Sophia, Parika and St. Cuthbert’s Mission. The NDF monitored these, and has evidence, he disclosed.

He also asked whether anyone had done a survey to show that low audience numbers had resulted from confidence being lost in the festival; and wanted to know what evidence had indicated this.

Several other allegations and comments raised by the disgruntled actresses were addressed by Creighton in his letter.

IN SHORT SUPPLY Creighton says it needs to be observed, by the way, that despite the generality of the accusations, they arise from the final placings in only one out of the five categories in the NDF – the

judging is attacked in the Open Full-Length.

“But the judging panel used a system of evaluation.

What system was used by those who question them?

What makes their system better? Were they able to see their own plays and objectively compare them with all others in the category? Can they, as the judges are able to do, point out exactly what was comparatively better or worse among all the plays?” he asked.

He contends that persons qualified and available to be judges are in fairly short supply, and noted that not many are ready to put in the sacrifice and time demanded by the thankless task of judging.

“Ron Robinson, for example, was asked to judge when he was not a contestant.

He didn’t do it. However, the Critique Judge has been singled out as the culprit, and (has been) singularly attacked. He seems to be able to influence a panel of nine competent, strong, independent judges who come with different interests and can think for themselves; and (the Critique Judge was able to) impose his flawed decisions upon them. My accusers insult a worthy panel of nine persons,” Creighton responded.

Al Creighton Creighton said he was seen by the NDF Committee as something missing from the NDF, because of its vision and concept; and they insisted that he should judge.

“It is not simply opinions expressed by members of the judging panel; it is a specialist role filled by a dramaturg – an expert. And in a festival like this, the comments are given as much for the benefit of the audience as for the contestants and performers,” he said.

“But it seems (that) a bit-too-sophisticated a concept is not well understood, and is used to attack me. I will therefore not be continuing in that capacity. In addition, I will not endure assaults on my professional ability and integrity. I will not continue as a member of the judging panel,” Creighton concluded.

Wednesday December 28th, 14:30 - 4:30 hrs Thursday December 29th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Friday December 30th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs

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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

The Suriname

collaboration

THE recent announcement that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Suriname Police Corps (SPC) will be collaborating to tackle organised crime, particularly trafficking in drugs, humans and weapons, is welcome news on the anti-crime front.

From our reports, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud has said that, as part of the collaboration, specific types of organised crime will be targeted, and modalities on communication and intelligence-sharing will be established. He insisted that sharing information and intelligence has to be timely, and as such, Customs and Trade and CANU will share information directly with the Suriname authorities, along with matters under investigation.

Evidence of this sort of collaboration taking place even before this announcement was made had been borne out when the lawmen in that Dutch-speaking country arrested and deported self-confessed drug lord Barry Dataram a few months ago. The spectacular arrest of fleeing drug lord Roger Khan by the Suriname authorities back in 2006 is also another good example of how invaluable any collaboration between Guyana and Suriname can be in combating organised crime.

What are clear from these two incidents is that Suriname is no safe haven for criminals who may want to flee this jurisdiction, and that country has been a willing partner in fighting crime.

What is also worthy of note is that it has been through the collaboration between Guyana and Suriname that sea piracy has been at an all-time low, with only one case being recorded this year, compared to what had obtained in previous years.

But it is not that Suriname does not have its own struggles. In its 2016 Narcotics Strategy Report, the United States, in addition to saying that that country is a transit zone for South American cocaine en route to Europe and Africa, observed that there appears to be little political will for vigorous enforcement. “Corruption pervades many government offices in Suriname and may also play a role,” the report said, adding that cargo containers carry most of the narcotics smuggled through Suriname, but smaller fishing vessels also carry drugs out to sea for transfer to larger freighters.

During the first nine months of 2015, Surinamese authorities arrested 139 alleged drug traffickers and seized 626.6 kilograms (kg) of cocaine, 33.8 litres of liquid cocaine, 841.7 kg of marijuana, four grams of heroin, 4.3 grams of hashish, and 2,878 MDMA tablets.

Ever since the period of the “Troubles”, as described

by President David Granger, Guyana has grappled with organised crime and its attendant street robberies and other deviant behaviours. It is against this background that any effort to strengthen existing strategies ought to be supported and encouraged. Where crime continues to pose threats to the nation’s security and the citizens’ peace of mind, no Guyanese should seek political mileage from another’s misery.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday , December 28, 2016

Region 5 RDC must be commended Dear Editor, FIRST of all, let me take this opportunity to extend holiday greetings to the management and staff of your newspaper. I wish that, in 2017, the good work will continue as you provide this nation with accurate news and views of the people, like what had happened in 2016.

I would like to bring to the attention of the readers the many positives that took place in Region Five over the past 11 months or so.

As we all know, the RDC was on a standstill for several months due to the unprofessional manner of the regional chairman towards HE David Granger.

While during that time, some say, there was a standstill regarding works within the region, work was actually ongoing at a nice pace; maybe not how we had expected it, but it was happening.

Under the watch of Mr. Ovid Morrison, who was assigned to us as the REO, in the past few months, Region Five did exceptionally well in ensuring there was progress in all sectors. I must congratulate Mr. Morrison for his professionalism and the work ethic he has shown to the workers of the region, the RDC councillors, and also the public.

This man is truly a professional public servant, whom I truly believe was a chosen one among all to be sent into the region. He has ensured that all the workers are being treated and heard fairly. His interaction with the staff of the RDC and the public has been admired by all, and that is why Region 5 is on the road to major development in 2017.

The RDC must be commended for work in all sectors done in 2016, be it in education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, etc. The region has seen vast im-

provements in roads within villages, and other facilities that benefited the people of the various villages.

In the health sector, there has been tremendous improvement. Hospitals and health centres have seen major improvements, be it in staff, drugs, facilities, etc.

There has been improvement in patient care at all the health facilities; and moreover, there have been better health services.

Several awareness programmes were held to help the public become health conscious. We saw, during the past months, several public marches on various national health awareness days. In 2016, the Health Department, I feel, was well awarded to boost its progress more in 2017 when it acquired lands to build two brand new health centres in the areas of Cotton Tree and High Dam, Mahaicony.

I must commend the RHO, Dr. Chefoon, for his vision in the health sector; and also his staff, for putting lots of effort into ensuring Region 5 has better health services. I wait to see more of the positives from this sector in 2017.In the education sector, there has been much enhancement.

We saw upgrade of school facilities; better teaching services in the various schools, be they nursery, primary or secondary; and the region’s children benefiting from several outdoor educational programmes, debates and work studies.

The Schools Welfare Department has done a fantastic job in 2016 by ensuring that children go to school, and after school they quickly get home, because the welfare officers are on the road.

There have been less children liming on the roadways since.

There were several programmes that benefited the teachers, children and public during Education Month

Regardless of our politics, all want to feel, and be, safe; and together, we must work to achieve it.

Commitments given by the President that “Government intends to make Guyana safe for this and future generations [and] we will do so not only by combating crime and criminals, but in uprooting the causes of crime and its links with transnational crime” are deserving of support and participating to ensure realisation.

The recent launch of the drug strategy master plan; the establishment of a National Security Committee and proposed new National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) to address narco-trafficking; and a new National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) to beef up surveillance of our borders and coasts will help in crime reduction. Augmentations of the Police Mounted and Marine branches have also been done incrementally, where the former will aid in policing our vast

2016. There are lots more happening, but I will not go further.

The Education Department did not end its work there in 2016. What could not have been achieved in the past decades have been achieved by the department.

A brand new nursery school will soon be a reality for the children of Perth Village and the surrounding areas, as the department has secured a piece of land to construct this school in 2017.

Allow me to say to the REDO, Mr. Pollard, and all his staff within the Department of Education, Region 5: Thanks for a job well done towards improving the education sector. I know that 2017 will be better for our children and teachers under the department’s work programme.

In Region 5, the Works Department has been doing a very good job for the past several months. We saw works being done to great satisfaction throughout the region. It is being well monitored, and I can clearly say we are having value for money.

Several village roads and bridges were constructed, and some rehabilitated, to the satisfaction of the villagers. Works on drains and canals have been high on the agenda, so as to avoid major flooding in the region. I must commend the regional engineer, Mr. Sukha, and team for a job well done in 2016, and do look forward for greater success in 2017.

The agriculture sector has seen vast improvement as well. We all know that Region 5 is a major agricultural area. Works have been done to improve the lives of the people in all the sectors.

Drains have been cleared so as to get water to the cash crop farmers. Outreaches were done with organisations such as NAREI and the Ministry of Agriculture so as to benefit the people.

One of the much-anticipated projects that we all look forward to is the Agriculture Farm, which is now being put in place by the regional administration at Fort Wellington. I know that the project will be of tremendous help to the cash crop farmers of the region, and moreover the youths of the region. The project is intended to get youths involved in agriculture. I must commend the REO for his vision in implementing this project, and do look forward to see it blooming in 2017.

The regional administration has done something that could not have been achieved over the past decades: State lands or road reserves were illegally occupied by residents of Mahaicony and LIDCO for years, but the administration was able to remove those who were illegally occupying state lands\road reserves in the Mahaicony area. The said lands were used to build a brand new boat house for the fishermen in Mahaicony.

Overall, as a regional representative of the people, I must say that Region 5 has completed its work programme weeks ago, and has done exceptionally well in ensuring that we, the people of the region, benefit from the more-than 110% work done in 2016.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish the REO, members of staff and their families, and all Region 5 RDC councillors a Merry Christmas and a blessed and productive 2017. Let the good works continue. Congratulations once again to the Region 5 RDC Administration for working towards creating “A Better Life For All”.

Regards, ABEL SEETARAM APNU+AFC Regional Councillor Region 5

borders and the latter battle piracy.

Reaching out to the United Kingdom (UK) with “a view to restoring the aborted Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP)” is a necessary component of crime fighting. The PPP/C Administration had rejected the SSRAP implementation -- though it was a plan it helped conceive -- on the argument that the role the UK wanted to play violated Guyana’s sovereignty. At the same time, its needs to be said that those who would have relied on crime for an income, abominable as it is, must be afforded opportunities to engage in legitimate forms of income earning.

It will not help if the narco trade goes underground, given that it presently operates in broad daylight; because it would be harder to root out, and would make life more dangerous for those who can provide intelligence or want to remove themselves from criminal activities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday , December 28, 2016

Al Creighton answers critics Dear Editor, I refer to an item “Drama after drama festival”

by Telesha Ramnarine in the Guyana Chronicle of December 23, 2016.

The article details several claims and accusations with extensive quotations from two ladies who protest biases against them and the plays with which they worked in the National Drama Festival.

The prominence given to my responses is disproportionate to that given to the accusations. I was only asked by the reporter to respond to three questions, and I therefore seek to address the charges more appropriately.

They include: (1) that the NDF “cannot even attract viewers to the NCC anymore despite entry is free” as a result of “the populace losing confidence in the festival”.

That is inaccurate, and a hasty conclusion. From the very beginning of the NDF, it has never attracted large multitudes. Houses have always been small and numbers have certainly not declined.

This year, 2016, showed low turnout for the Preliminary Rounds at the NCC, but an increase in numbers over 2014 and 2015 for the Finals.

What is more important, Preliminaries were held at other venues outside of the NCC and out of Georgetown.

Some of those showed large numbers turning out which were unprecedented in places like the Sophia Community Centre, Kuru Kuru and other places.

Consequently large, very supportive crowds came from the communities to support their plays in the Finals at NCC; e.g. Sophia, Parika and St. Cuthbert’s Mission. The NDF monitored these and has evidence. Did someone do a survey to show that low audience numbers result from this lost confidence? What is the evidence to indicate this?

(2) That “the Chief Judge can look me in the face and say that I should not be upset because . . . I had won the festival on three occasions in the past”. This surely suggests that “no matter how good my

productions are henceforth, I will never be awarded accordingly because I had won before”. That is indeed an unsatisfactory statement, one which I, myself, would not accept. The problem is, that is not what I told her.

Mrs Cadogan Taylor advanced an accusation of bias. I said look, you won this thing for three years – dominating it; if there was bias against you or in favour of others that would never have happened. That was my argument. There is no limit to how many times anyone can win. I said she has grown to be one of the most established directors in the nation, and I have publicly acknowledged this before now. Her point is known as the “straw man” fallacy. You put up a weak argument in place of that said by your opponents, and then knock it down.

(3) that “after nominations came out Mr [Ron] Robinson penned a letter to the committee voicing his concerns about those that were selected. . . In an effort to pacify Robinson, his play was tied with the other” (sic).

That is a false notion. All the judges’ decisions were completed long before Mr Robinson’s letter reached the committee. Proof of that is documented. The judges’ final meeting was on December 6. I traveled to China on Dec. 7 and didn’t return until Dec. 18. The list of trophies was sent to the Trophy World where the titles had to be inscribed, and to the Department of Culture by the Convenor of Judges on December 12. Mr Robinson’s letter did not reach until December 15.

The committee had no time after that to meet to change the decision, get an extra trophy and inscribe it.

All of those can be verified. On the other hand, what proof is there that there was a change because of the letter? How did Mrs Taylor know what the judges’ decisions were? What evidence is there to support the claim except that somebody thinks so? It is easy to tell such things to the public without the responsibility of providing proof. Something else that is wrong with this piece of subjective speculation is that it is assuming that anyone not liking a decision can

approach the panel to have it changed. Some members of the panel felt strongly that the letter should not even have been entertained, but a detailed response was nevertheless provided to the cast of Miriamy.

(4) That Mrs Taylor has “handled every unfair decision meted out against me in the past with dignity and decorum”. I can say it is true, she has behaved with dignity and decorum. But do all those unfair decisions include the years when she dominated?

Were those decisions unfair too? Or is the judging only fair when she wins?

(5) That Leslyn BobbSemple puts in “a lot of work into her plays but is not acknowledged” because “I am not liked or someone doesn’t want me to win”. From my recollection she has received much acknowledgement for excellence of acting in several plays and in many reviews written by this critic. She has been nominated, and has won awards. In my public comments after the plays in 2016 she was praised highly for her work in Dot Com, in Till Ah Find A Place and in Miriamy, although her costuming in the last was criticised.

(6) and that Mrs BobbSemple was a late recruitment for the lead role in Miriamy, worked hard and “pulled it off”, without getting “even a mention”. I did give her good mention, but knew nothing about her being a late replacement – how was I to know? That credit needed to have come from her director.

It needs to be observed, by the way, that despite the generality of the accusations, they arise from the final placings in only one out of the five categories in the NDF – the judging is attacked in the Open Full-Length. But the judging panel used a system of evaluation; what system was used by those who question them? What makes their system better?

Were they able to see their own plays and objectively compare them with all others in the category? Can they, as the judges are able to do, point out exactly what was comparatively better or worse among all the plays?

Those qualified and available to be judges are in fairly

short supply. Not many are ready to put in the sacrifice and the time demanded by that thankless task. Ron Robinson, for example, was asked to judge when he was not a contestant. He didn’t do it. However, the Critique Judge has been singled out as the culprit and singularly attacked. He seems to be able to influence a panel of nine competent, strong, independent judges who come with different interests and can think for themselves, and impose his flawed decisions upon them. My accusers insult a worthy panel of nine persons.

The Critique Judge was seen by the NDF Committee as something missing from the NDF because of its vision and concept, and insisted that I should do it. It is not simply opinions expressed by members of the judging panel – it is a specialist role filled by a Dramaturg – an expert, and in a festival like this the comments are given as much for the benefit of the audience as for the contestants and performers.

But it seems a bit too sophisticated a concept, is not well understood, and is used to attack me.

I will therefore not be continuing in that capacity. In addition, I will not endure assaults on my professional ability and integrity. I will not continue as a member of the judging panel.

Yours respectfully AL CREIGHTON

Guyana mourns passing of WPA member Dear Editor, I JOIN with Buxton and Guyana in mourning the passing of Kwame Apata, fellow Buxtonian and WPA member.

As an educator and cultural activist, Kwame was among the most accomplished of his generation. Because of his political affiliation, he was not properly recognized in the country of his birth -- a country to which he had given so much, and for which he had sacrificed so much. He was one of many Buxtonians and Guyanese who had been influenced by the teachings and example of Eusi Kwayana: “Kwayana People dem”, as we are called in Buxton.

Kwame would, until his death, remain loyal to that Kwayana tradition of education, mixed with culture, independent politics, humanism and humility. Kwame Apata was one of those rare individuals: humble to the bone, despite his personal achievements and fame. He was an early mentor to me and my generation of young Buxtonians. When he returned to Buxton in the 1970s, he was my neighbour for several years. His house and books were open and available to me and others.

Personally, he helped to refine my appreciation of African culture in both theoretical and concrete ways.

If the village folks schooled my generation on the value and cultural authenticity of Queh and Nancy Story, Kwame Apata helped us to understand those traditions in intellectual terms.

Kwame was a drummer, dramatist, dancer, Queh-Queh singer and cultural activist.

He took leadership of County High School’s Tutashinda Culture group -- Kwayana School — where we did drama and dance and sing and dance Queh-Queh. I remember the Friday nights when

we would pile into Kwame’s Mini-Minor (a car) and go up and down the coast dancing Queh-Queh.

Kwame was the consummate educator. As a lecturer at the Cyril Potter College of Education, he taught teachers how to teach, and from all accounts, he was among the very best. As an English teacher, he followed in the tradition of his mentor, Eusi Kwayana, by teaching the mechanics of the language as part of the people’s experience. And his linking of English to our resistance language, Creolese, gave the latter authenticity at a time when it was frowned upon.

Kwame migrated to Suriname after being prosecuted and persecuted because of his politics. We, neighbours in Buxton, were neighbours in the Camp Street Prison in 1980. As a teenage political prisoner, the presence of a big brother helped the then little boy to weather the storm. We forged an even stronger bond in that strange land.

I had the opportunity, a few years back, to hang out for a week with Kwame and fellow Buxtonian Rennie Parris -- in Antigua, where Kwame had moved from Suriname. We talked about education, cricket and politics, and lashed up lime swank and conky in reckless abundance.

I last saw him in New York two years ago, at his daughter’s 50th birthday.

I couldn’t know then that it was the last time I was seeing him. As usual, we talked and talked in the limited time. We were the last to leave the venue, along with his family; we hugged as villagers and comrades.

Farewell Kwame; another Congo Creole has swum back to Africaland to be with the ‘ancestors’.

Regards, DAVID HINDS

Outlook 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

–– transformational development to kick into high gear

THE NEW YEAR promises to be one in which the transformational development of Guyana will kick into high gear.

Firstly, constitutional reform is high on the agenda as an issue which was the promise of the Coalition Administration’s election campaign. Led by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, the process of nationwide consultation will commence and be done in every region, with over 100 sessions at which residents and citizens will have an opportunity to make their contributions and suggestions.

Exciting infrastructural projects are also on the cards.

The long overdue paving of the Linden-to-Lethem trail will commence with phase one -- the Linden-to-Mabura stretch, which is that portion of the trail that is notoriously in the worst condition, particularly during the rainy season, when portions of it become difficult to navigate and some areas of the trail break away, forming deep sinkholes.

Another decades-overdue road project is the building of the Parika-to-Goshen road, which will open up the vast East Bank Essequibo stretch and make travel to the coastland and Georgetown hassle-free for Barticians.

To get to Georgetown

from Bartica now takes upwards of four hours altogether (travel from Bartica to Parika by boat and drive from Parika to Georgetown, plus waiting time). This will be cut down to under an hour, with a quick dash across the Essequibo River from Bartica to Goshen being followed by a straight drive from Goshen to the city.

Farmers in the area will also take far less time to get their produce to market, which will result in fresher produce in the stalls and supermarkets, and healthier eating for consumers.

Bridging of the Essequibo River at Kurupukari will also significantly reduce

the travel time to Lethem.

Currently, there is a pontoon service across the Essequibo River at Kurupukari, which is operated by a private company. The service is mostly reliable, but is time-consuming, and only a limited number of vehicles can be accommodated on each trip.

A free-flowing bridge will revolutionise this aspect of the trip to Lethem, and cut down travel time considerably; as now travellers have to spend hours waiting at night for the daytime-only pontoon service to begin operating.

Work will also commence on the feasibility of a new bridge across the De-

merara River. The Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) was commissioned in 1978 and is presently costly to maintain and operate for the thousands of persons from Regions 3, 2 and 7 especially, who use it on a daily basis. With large housing schemes at La Parfaite Harmonie, Tuschen and Zeelugt in Region 3, a reliable, high-capacity, high span bridge is a necessity to replace the floating, retractable DHB, which has to be closed daily to vehicular traffic to accommodate large ships going upriver in the Demerara for bauxite etc.

The continued rolling out of the Coalition Administration’s green agenda

and the broadening of the ICT network are also integral components to setting the foundation of Guyana’s future as an oil-producing nation. There have been, and there will be, hurdles and mis-steps in the process; but Guyana’s future is exciting, and some difficult, unpopular and longterm actions are needed to set the stage. Citizens’ patience and understanding will be necessary, to avoid national anxiety and frustration that development is not being fast-tracked as quickly as many would like, after years of ad hocism as the national development strategy.

E.R Braithwaite cremated –family to hold memorial next year

THE remains of renowned author E.R. Braithwaite were on wednesday last cremated in the United States, where he had been living, family members have confirmed.

There was no funeral for the late “To Sir With Love” author; instead, there was a very private viewing, at which Braithwaite’s two sons, Ron and Francis, were present. They had arrived from England where they reside.

Guyana’s Representative to the USA and the OAS, Ambassador Riyad Insanally, was specially invited to represent Guyana.

The body of the late author of “To Sir, With Love”, “Paid Servant”, “Honorary White”, “A Kind of Home coming” and other books was cremated. His wife, Genevieve, says that a memorial will be held at a date to be announced, but that would certainly be after the holidays are over; possibly in late January or early February.

E.R. Braithwaite died at the age 104.

He died suddenly in Maryland, USA. Braithwaite had gone with his wife, Genevieve, to a mechanic shop to have their car checked up. There the educator, author and

diplomat suffered a heart attack while waiting for the one-hour work on the vehicle to be completed. He was rushed to hospital, where he received immediate medical attention, but passed away peacefully shortly after.

Dr. Eustace Ricardo Braithwaite, CCH, was last in Guyana in August 2012, as a special guest of the Government of Guyana. That was on the occasion of his 100th birthday.

He was appointed patron of the Inter-Guiana Culture Festival that year. Braithwaite also attended a performance of the play “To Sir, With Love: A Guyana Version” by Mosa Telford, which was produced by the National Library. During that final visit to his homeland, he was also conferred with the National Award of the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH).

President David Granger has, in a statement, said that Guyana deeply mourns the passing of the late educator, author and diplomat. President Granger said Mr. Braithwaite was an eminent Guyanese and distinguished diplomat.

“Mr. Braithwaite lived a full and remarkable life, having authored ‘Choice of Straws’

(1965), ‘A Kind of Homecoming’ (1961), ‘Paid Servant’ (1962); and most famously, the 1959 ‘To Sir, With Love,’ which was made into the 1967 British hit film of the same title, starring Sidney Poitier and singer Lulu.”

Born in Georgetown on June 27, 1912, Braithwaite attended the St. Ambrose Primary School in Alberttown before moving on to Queen’s College, Guyana, and then the City College of New York (1940). He joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot during World War II, before leaving to attend the University of Cambridge (1949), where he earned a Master’s Degree in Physics.

Braithwaite later became a School Master in London during the period 1950-1957, a Welfare Officer at the London County Council from 1958-1960, and a Human Rights Officer of World Veterans Federation from 1960 to 1963.

He was the first Guyanese to hold the post of Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), in 1967. This led, subsequently, to his election as President of the UN Council for South West Africa in 1968. He later served as Guyana’s Ambassador to Venezuela.

E.R Braithwaite with Guyana Jubilee Year Plaque “Made in Guyana” (Francis Quamina Farrier photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

$210M to buy vehicles for police

GOVERNMENT has budgeted some $210M to purchase vehicles for the Guyana Police Force. This was revealed when the $17.301B budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Public Security was approved by the Committee of Supply recently.

The allocated sum will go towards the following: * Policy Development and Administration – $1.125B * Guyana Police Force (GPF) – $11.913B * Guyana Prison Service (GPS) - $2.5B *Police Complaints Authority: $62.273M * Guyana Fire Service (GFS) – $1.369B * Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) -$330.866M Some of the major undertakings of this Ministry include: * $230M for the Citizens Security Strengthening Programme, which entails: community crime and violence prevention; strengthening the capacity of the GPF in crime prevention and investigation; and strengthening the capacity of the Force in rehabilitation and social re-integration * $100M for institutional strengthening and modernisation of administrative structures of the security sector, and for skills training. *$18M for the purchase of two vehicles for the National

Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) * $430M for the payment of retention, completion of band room, armoury, quarters, police stations, fences, barracks, stable, administrative and quartermaster’s building; rehabilitation of Commissioner of Police building at Eve Leary, communication building and ‘E’ division headquarters, rehabilitation of police stations and construction of boat house at San Souci. * $210M for the purchase of vehicles, motorcycles, ballahoos, outboard engines, bicycles and boats. * $250M for the provision of 911 service and for purchase of ammunition, fingerprint, ballistics, photographic, handwriting, communication, narcotics, intelligence, traffic, crime scene and musical equipment. * $537M for the payment of retention, completion of prisons, living quarters, kitchen and headquarters; and provision for the extension of the Mazaruni prison. * $80M for the completion of the fire station at Melanie Damishana and construction of fire stations at Mahdia and Mabaruma, as well as living quarters.

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, was questioned by members of the Opposition on the reason for the increased sums for medical supplies. He attributed the rise to the increase in the number of police dogs and horses. The

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animals, the minister said, require treatment, hence the rise in the sum allocated.

Further, the minister was questioned by Opposition Member of Parliament Clement Rohee on the return of vehicles to Community Policing Groups. Minister Ramjattan responded that the vehicles would be returned on a needs basis. The reason for this decision, the minister noted, was because members of the GPF needed them more.

Additionally, Rohee questioned the amount of money allocated for scholarships for members of the GPF. Rohee said he was concerned with the number of persons to be trained, and queried whether they would be trained overseas or locally. Minister Ramjattan pointed out that the officers would be trained both locally and overseas, 75 and 35 respectively.

A question was also raised by Opposition Member Juan Edghill regarding the lack of performance of the Citizens Security Strengthening Programme. According to Edghill, the programme underperformed in 2016. The question was also raised as to whether this had an effect on the rise in the crime rate. Noting that the programme underperformed because of its late start, the minister said that late start did not affect the crime rate in any way, and pointed out that the current crime rate is lower than what had obtained in 2015.

Flood situation under control –– but more rain expected

THE flood waters that threatened to overwhelm the city and its environs on Christmas Eve and sent many a festive spirit plummeting has receded significantly, but, unfortunately, some areas are

still under water.

That’s the word from Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr David Patterson who told the Guyana Chronicle by telephone on Tuesday that his ministry is doing its best to ensure that

the situation is brought under control soon.

He has indicated that most of the pumps have been deployed, so that the process of ridding the communities of water could be timely.

A source from the

Festival City residents making the best of the situation yesterday

The position yesterday on Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park (Photos by Samuel Maughn) Mayor and City Council (M&CC) also confirmed that the City is also doing its part to ensure that the situation is back to normalcy by clearing drains and doing other drainage work to allow for a smooth flow of the water off of the streets.

During a drive around the city during the course of the day Tuesday, it was discovered that areas such as Festival City and Bel Air Park are still under water.

Residents of each of those areas said the water was much higher, but that it began reced-

ing rapidly on Monday.

Some said the situation was so bad that they were forced to dwell in water both Christmas Day and Boxing Day, as it was not receding as fast as they had expected it to.

Asked whether the situation had in any way dampened their spirit, some said that not even the rain could not stop them; that the fun must go on, as a lot of effort was put into ensuring that all plans were actualised for the season.

Meanwhile, reports are that the Civil Defence

Commission (CDC) did an assessment of the areas affected by flooding following Friday’s downpour, and according to Colonel (Ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup, because the flood waters would have completely receded within 24 hours, except in Albouystown and South Ruimveldt, there was no need to offer relief.

But, there very well might be, as the Guyana Meteorological Office has forecast that more rainfall is expected over the next three days, measuring 10.0 – 30.0 mm.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

Business Ministry better positioned for take-off

-Gaskin says 2016 was a ‘busy year’ THE year 2016 has been a “busy one” for the Ministry of Business, according to subject minister Dominic Gaskin, who also has responsibility for Tourism.

In 2016, a total of $1.22 billion was approved for the Ministry of Business and its agencies. Spread over several areas, the allocation catered for a number of projects and programmes.

He revealed that the Current Expenditure for 2016 was six hundred and sixty-eight million, five hundred and sixty-four thousand dollars ($668,564,000), and the Capital Budget was five hundred and forty-seven million, two hundred and fifty-three thousand dollars ($547,253,000). The capital budget catered for the infrastructural agenda that provided motivation to attract investment and bring about economic growth.

The minister noted that the Ministry of Business has managed to successfully consolidate all the responsibilities and mandates of the various agencies and departments into a single set

of strategic objectives with the launching of the Ministry’s Strategic Action Plan 2016-2020.

“There are many highlights, but I think -- for me, I think what’s most important is that we now have a very clear strategic plan; (one) that will inform our work over the next few years,” Minister Gaskin said.

In explaining why the plan is very important, he noted: “This plan will help towards improving ‘ease of doing business’ in Guyana, while ensuring that the correct criteria are made.”

He emphasised that the plan is the Ministry’s, and is not a national one; and that it would address investment promotion, workforce enhancement, sustainable development, and export promotion.

The five strategic goals set out by the Ministry of Business in the Strategic Action Plan are to: improve the ease of doing business in Guyana; attract increased foreign investments in the economy; support the development and export of val-

ue-added industries; increase the economic opportunities and capabilities of vulnerable groups; and expand capacity to develop and promote sustainable, business-friendly policies.

Minister Gaskin explained that almost everything in the Ministry’s plan is geared towards improving Guyana’s economic performance, the business environment, and competitiveness. It is also targeted at creating an investment promotion strategy, a value-added export strategy, and small business development, all of which are expected to contribute to enhanced economic performance.

Businesses are the major source of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), income, investments, and jobs in Guyana, and will therefore be central to securing the economic growth needed to drive the country’s future, he stated.

Minister Gaskin told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that there were a number of other achievements recorded by the

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin Ministry of Business, such as the successful hosting of GuyExpo 2016; and that the agencies in the Ministry have been performing well.

“We made a number of key appointments in terms of boards and councils and other appointments at the leadership levels at all of our agencies. All of which have brought about significant improvements in the way that the Ministry has been functioning, and also in terms of accountability,” Minister Gaskin said.

Gov’t moving ahead with electronic payment system GOVERNMENT says it could save as much as $266M annually or 0.4 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) if it switches from paper-based payment mechanisms to electronic payments.

This was announced by Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr Gobin Ganga who recently told reporters that the Central Bank will be embarking on a comprehensive and strategic modernisation of the country’s National Payment System to advance the use of electronic payments.

With assistance from the World Bank, he said the Bank of Guyana will play the lead role in the project albeit with “active cooperation” of major stakeholders.

The Government, Dr Ganga noted, is a major stakeholder as it is the single largest end-user of payment services. The Ministry of Finance, The National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Ministry of Social Protection all manage the largest of the outgoing payment programmes in the country, while the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and NIS, both quasi-government agencies, manage the largest inflows.

Other stakeholders include Commercial Banks, Money Transfer Agencies and the Business Community.

“Excluding revenue collection, the programmes managed by the Finance Ministry, NIS and Ministry of Social Protection

account for an estimated 260,000 payments a month, a daily average of over 11,000 and over 3M annually.”

Over the next four years, the Governor said the Bank will undertake payments system regulatory reform and infrastructure development to achieve several objectives, including but not limited to the establishing of legal clarity and certainty to cover several areas such as electronic funds transfer, e-money and cheque truncation; enhancing efficiency of payment processing and reduce settlement times for both retail and large value transactions; strengthening risk management and mitigation across the National Payment System; expand

accessibility of electronic payment across networks; attract higher rates electronic payment acceptance by vendors, merchants and other providers of goods and services; drive remittance costs down and enhance accessibility of remittance services; strengthen oversight framework and capacity; build stakeholder engagement and cooperation and support e-commerce.

A 2015 payments cost study conducted by the World Bank’s Payment Systems Development Group (PSDG), shows that based on all indicators, once successfully implemented the programme can lead to significant benefits in several areas.

GO-INVEST Minister Gaskin said the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) has been receiving a lot of compliments from various investors. He noted that management and the employees have been working diligently to facilitate investors, and pointed out that the agency has been going the extra mile to assist investors with relevant information and with getting concession agreements facilitated as efficiently as possible.

The Small Business Bureau, another agency which falls under the Ministry of Business, has been doing tremendous work in developing and promoting standards and the use of standards for business, Minister Gaskin said.

“There is a lot more that goes into the work that they do: monitoring compliance and providing testing facilities for numerous industries; and they have been doing a lot of work (that is) very commendable,” he declared.

The Small Business Bureau has been spreading itself all across Guyana, and has outreaches in all of the regions, Minister Gaskin said.

The Bureau is working assiduously to ensure Guyanese small businesses benefit from the Micro and Small Enterprise Development Project, a project wherein businesses can access loans, grants, interest subsidies and training.

The Business Minister also said the Department of Industry has been doing a lot of work as well as outreaches, and has been working on several projects, especially in the Industry department. This Department has been working on completing several projects which were started a few years ago under the Rural Development Fund.

“We did a review of those projects last year, and we have decided to modify them and bring them to completion; and the Department of Industry has been working on getting those projects completed, as well as working on the (creation of) industrial estates,” Minister Gaskin said.

He added that a lot of work has gone into the creation of an Industrial Estate in Lethem, and pointed out that Guyana is ready for business even as he encouraged investors to come and experience all that Guyana has to offer.

(GINA)

Linden woman allegedly raped, stabbed at party

A LINDEN woman has allegedly been raped and stabbed by unknown individuals at a party at a place called Rasville, situated on Blue Berry Hill in Wismar.

Information reaching this newspaper indicates that the young woman was imbibing with a male friend when an argument erupted and she was allegedly stabbed and raped. One person who had attended the party told this newspaper that the woman was having fun with a male until he allegedly requested sexual favours, which she refused.

In the ensuing argument, the woman was stabbed, and was reportedly discovered lying naked and bleeding in a clump of bushes in close proximity to the party venue, from whence she was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex and was treated for stab wounds.

While information on the incident is sketchy, a detective attached to the Mackenzie Police Station confirmed that the incident had occurred, but said the woman has refused to give a statement on the matter when requested by the police.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

Outside of the Santa bubble

By Akola Thompson

I NO longer celebrate Christmas. I have not, since I was 15. While I am not religious, that is not the reason behind me not celebrating the holiday.

I think one of the problems I have with the season is that it does not even seem to be one rooted in faith anymore (not that it ever was; Christmas is a pagan holiday that Christians adopted for themselves). It has rather become a celebration of consumerism, wherein colourful cutouts of the ‘jolly red man’ can be seen in almost every home.

As a child, Christmas for me meant seeing family members I might not have seen for

the entire year, and being able to spend time talking and playing with them. It saw people in our community mingling in each other’s houses, eating and just enjoying whatever ‘spirit’ seemed to take over the majority of us at that time.

So while I would like to celebrate Christmas for what I remember it to be, at this point in my life, given the current economic and social realities of the country and world at large, I cannot, in all good conscience, actively celebrate the industrial exploitation that is Christmas.

Maybe it is an annoying character trait, but in times of mass celebration, I always find myself thinking about the rampant inequality that

permeates our shores, and how exploitative companies and people continue to sell us ideals that we should not want and -- in all honesty -– that are not good for us.

Every time the season comes around, I look at my relatives overextend themselves; not only physically, but financially. Nothing is good enough, and one always needs more, because Christmas is unfortunately not largely a time of family and friends anymore, but rather one of material gains.

I stopped celebrating Christmas when I saw one of my cousins work herself into a state of depression because she was not able to afford a new chair. I’ve long thought about

that, and how she was remarkably sour for the rest of the season because she couldn’t get it; because, in her mind, there could be no Christmas without new possessions.

If I were to give anyone anything for Christmas, it would be what my best friend and the other people in my life have given me this year -- hope in humanity and the chances of a better tomorrow, as clichéd as that may sound. I spent my Christmas Day eating bad airport food and being surrounded by strangers, but

still being genuinely happy; because, while sitting there among those people waiting to go home to their families, I was reminded that it is not an entirely bad thing, and that even though it has largely become overshadowed, the root of it is still there, and that should count for something.

The world, I have long realized, is full of negativity and despair. As such, it is very easy to become disenchanted with everything and everyone; and often, if we don’t have help finding the hope within

our realities, we may enter a loop of perpetual hostility and cynicism.

While my pessimism still gets the better of me sometimes, I’ve realized, over the past few days, that we need to continue actively seeking the good in the world, even if its amount is miniscule at best. We should never become so tired that we are willing to completely denounce it, because, by doing that, we are just solidifying the very things we do not want to see.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

Outstanding female rank promoted to Assistant Commissioner THE Police Service Commission has promoted Senior Superintendent Maxine Graham to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, which now means that the Force has the full complement of 12 Assistant Police Commissioners.

Graham left Guyana on October 7, 2016 to join 20 other female officers in Barcelona, Spain to attend the 54th Annual Conference of the International Association of Women Police (IAWP); and was, on October 6, 2016, bestowed the Disciplined Services Medal,

Assistant Commissioner Maxine Graham a National Award for long service of a high order, dedication and hard work within the Guyana Police Force.

She was, on October 9, awarded a plaque for winning the 2016 Award of the International Association of Women Police for Recognition and Scholarship: for her vast area of work, which includes key responsibilities and appointments aimed at developing and improving the lives of members of the

Force; single parents, youths, elders and the less fortunate.

She was selected from a list of 45 nominees drawn from over 70 countries.

On April 28, 2016, she received from President David Granger the Good Conduct and Long Service Medal for dedication and commitment to the Guyana Police Force.

A University of Guyana graduate in the fields of Public Safety and Security Management, and Social Work, the senior officer, who still has a number of years before retiring from the Force, is currently pursuing a degree in Law, and has the possibility of being selected to become Legal Advisor of the Guyana Police Force, having already spent 10 years as a Court Prosecutor/Court Superintendent in central Georgetown.

Officer Graham has served in the capacity of senior superintendent for over four years.

Meanwhile, thirty-three police ranks are set to be promoted in 2017. The list of promotions is as follows:

TO ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER (1) W/Senior Superintendent Maxine Graham TO SUPERINTENDENT Deputy Superintendent Frank Harvey Deputy Superintendent Mahendra Shiwnarine TO DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT Assistant Superintendent Patrick Todd Assistant Superintendent Himnauth Sawh Assistant Superintendent John Barker TO ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT W/Inspector Yvonne Stephens W/Inspector Audrey Jordan Inspector Oswald Pitt Inspector Eton Davidson Inspector Jermaine Harper Inspector Chabinauth Singh Inspector Andrew Cumberbatch Inspector Bharat Persaud Inspector Malcolm Melville TO INSPECTOR Sergeant 14169 Richard Frank Sergeant 12960 Anthony Aaron Sergeant 18396 Julius Samuels Sergeant 16036 Herbert Henry Sergeant 13819 Anant Ram Sergeant 19707 Michael Cort Sergeant 19873 Munesh Dial Sergeant 13826 Gordon Mansfield Sergeant 19309 Devon Lowe Sergeant 16421 Otis Jackson Sergeant 18293 Wendell Harry W/Sergeant 14913 Lorna Adonis W/Sergeant 15419 Lavern Garraway W/Sergeant 19433 Vernette Pindar W/Sergeant 12933 Norma Joseph Corporal 18438 Prem Satyanand Narine Corporal 14539 Eishwar Bharat Mangru Corporal 18538 Maniram Jagnanan

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

Food for the Poor paid fines for 11 prisoners

FOOD for the Poor (Guyana) Incorporated (FFP) has paid the fines and secured the release of 11 non-violent offenders -- in time for them to spend the Christmas holidays with their families and friends -the charitable organization has said in a release.

The prisoners were incarcerated due to their inability to pay the required fines, even though the amounts were minimal.

On Thursday, 8th December, some of the prisoners were interviewed at the Georgetown Prisons by FFP Public Relations Manager Wayne Hamilton, who in-

formed them of their release and admonished them to change their lives in a meaningful way.

On their release, the prisoners were treated at FFP’s office to a simple ceremony, which included a special lunch and words of encouragement, via telephone, from the President and CEO of Food for the Poor Incorporated in Florida, Robin Mahfood. They were also addressed by Chairman of FFP in Guyana, Paul Chan-ASue; CEO Kent Vincent; Director Sister Julie Matthews; Superintendent of Prisons Alstan Scott; Public Relations Manager Wayne Ham-

ilton; Senior Projects Manager Andrea Benjamin; and Father Godfrey Veerasammy SJ, who said a special prayer for the inmates.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, food hampers that included loaves of bread, clothing, personal care items and Bibles were given to the inmates. Cash for assistance with transportation was also provided.

Twice a year -- in the week of Christmas and d u r i n g E a s t e r ’s H o l y Week -- the Food for the Poor Prison Ministry Programme releases inmates who have committed minor offences.

The inmates at a briefing session with FFP and Prison officials

Man caught on camera stealing bike from Lethem hotel THE casual manner in which a man stole a motorcycle from the Savannah Inn Hotel in Lethem on Christmas Eve has left the operators of the Rupununi business startled.

The incident, which was captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, has left a delivery man at the hotel without his most valuable asset which he utilised to

undertake his job at the hotel.

Nolan Cho-Yee of the Savannah Inn told this publication that around 18:15hrs on Christmas Eve the business’ delivery man, Amerdeen , who delivers water and other items using the bike , parked the motorcycle in the parking lot near a shop which the hotel also operates.

He said that the man handed over some docu-

ments which he collected while transacting business on behalf of the hotel shortly after parking the motorcycle.

Sometime after, he said that the duo recognised that the motorcycle was missing.

On Tuesday morning, he said that the company decided to “run the camera” and to their astonishment, a man was seen removing the bike from the hotel’s premises. He

said that the man walked into the shop at the hotel several items before removing the bike.

In a recording of the incident, which was posted on social media, the man, dressed in white top, dark jeans and carrying a haversack , can be seen pac-

ing around two motorcycles which were parked in the hotel’s compound as traffic flowed on the road nearby.

The man attempted to touch one of the bikes but a car’s light truncated his attempt. However, after hesitating some more, the man pulled one of the two mo-

Moruca man stabbed during brawl

A STABBING incident at a football event on Boxing Day has left a Moruca, North West District man in a traumatised state.

Remmington Dindyal, 23, was at a social event at the Kumaka Recreational Ground in Santa Rosa during the wee hours of Boxing Day when he was attacked by two men.

Reports are that the man was in the crowd of spectators who had gathered at an event which was being played under floodlights. During the event, someone pushed him aside and

according to a relative, an argument ensued between Dindyal and another man, while an accomplice of the latter stood by.

Dindyal’s assailant then grabbed an empty beer bottle, broke off the bottom and proceeded to attack him.

Dindyal sustained a stab wound in his back, along with lacerations about his body. The attacker and his accomplice disappeared from the scene, while the wounded man was left lying on the ground.

Relatives of the injured man expressed disgust that even as he

was bleeding profusely on the ground motorists were hesitant to take him to the hospital, located less than 10 minutes away.

He was forced to walk to the hospital while being propped –up by his friends after which medical personnel attended to his injuries. His condition was listed as stable and he was later discharged from the hospital. Residents noted that the man was lucky to be alive as persons expressed dissatisfaction at the actions of the motorists in the closely-knit Hinterland community.

A blurred still-image of the motorcycle thief taking-off with the machine from the Savannah Inn on Christmas Eve

torcycles and pushed the machine away with a helmet in his hand. The helmet was left on the bike’s handle by its owner.

According to reports from the area, the man may have travelled from the South Rupununi as persons tried desperately on Tuesday to determine the man’s identify.

Motorcycles are a major means of transportation in the Rupununi . Many persons would purchase motorcycles across the border at Boa Vista and ride around the Region Nine area after receiving clearance from the authorities.

However, over the years there have been several instances of motorcycle theft in Brazil. Persons would steal motorcycles in the neighbouring country and ferry them over the border.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

First Family spreads Christm

PRESIDENT David Granger greeted Christmas 2016 worshipping with parishioners at the Christmas Eve Service of the Anglican Diocese of Christ Church Parish, which ended just after midnight.

Later in the morning, the Head of State, accompanied

by First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger, toured the materni-

ty ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC); and that same afternoon he attended the Dharm Shala’s annual Christmas Luncheon in Albouystown.

The Dharm Shala is a home of benevolence for persons of all races and religions, and the Head of State joined the institution’s administration to serve food

and distribute gifts to senior citizens resident there.

Delivering brief remarks, President Granger thanked Misses Pamela and Kella Ramsaroop, granddaughters of the founder of the institution, the late Pandit Ramsaroop Maraj, for their dedication and service over the years; and said Christmas is an important festival that

underscores the message of peace, love, goodwill and kindness to humanity.

“Right here in the Dharm Shala we see a manifestation of that message of goodwill to one another. Jesus came at a time when there was much cruelty in the world; and it was Jesus who introduced, in His Gospel and His mission, that feeling of humanity and

President David Granger and First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger pose with staff of the maternity ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, is standing next to the First Lady, while Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, is on the President’s right (MoTP)

the need to deal with one another just the way God deals with us,” the President said.

Ms. Pamela Ramsaroop, an executive member of the Board of the Dharm Shala, delivering the institution’s annual report, informed that the institution is playing its role in the ‘green economy’, as it is currently part of a project named ‘Grow Your

Own’, in which a greenhouse was recently constructed at the Albouystown facility.

She also spoke of the extensive repair works done to Dharm Shala buildings in both Georgetown and Berbice.

At the maternity ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the President and First Lady

First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger and GPHC’s Public Rel this little one in postnatal care

President David Granger serving Christmas lunch

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

mas cheer distributed hampers to mothers and their newborn babies, and gifts to the nursing staff.

Up to the time of the President and First Lady’s visit, the hospital had welcomed five Christmas Day births.

The First Couple stopped to admire each infant in the ward, and spoke to each mother in the ward, who was proud to share this special

moment of their lives.

The Head of State also distributed coins to the patients, some bearing the Coat of Arms and the Presidential Coat of Arms, and others bearing the 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Logo as the jubilee year draws closer to an end. (Ministry of the Presidency)

lations Officer Ms. Mitzy Campbell seem quite taken by

h to residents of the Dharm Shala in Albouystown

President David Granger kneels in reverence just before midnight, during the Christmas Eve Night service at the Christ Church Parish of the Anglican Diocese

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

Harmon fetes Phoenix Park children for Boxing Day

MINISTER of State Joseph Harmon, and his eldest daughter, Daniele Harmon-Klien, on Monday spread holiday cheer to about 150 children of Phoenix Park, Vreeden-Hoop, Best Village and other neighbouring communities on the West Bank of Demerara at an annual Christmas party

held at his home.

The children were delighted to receive Christmas goodies and presents to celebrate the festive season. Minister Harmon said his eldest daughter, Daniele, first hosted the Christmas party for children there 10 years ago, and it has now become a family tradition. He also

Ms. Alisha Moideen presenting Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, with a yellow rose to thank him for inviting her to his 10th annual Christmas party

said it was a pleasure to see the children as they grow older each year.

“We feel very proud to be able to give back to our community every year. It was an initiative that was started by my daughter many years ago, and we decided that we’d keep it up; make it a tradition.

This is the tenth year, and it is the fiftieth year of our Republic, and it is also the fiftieth year of the founding of Phoenix Park; so (there are) three events that we’re celebrating all in one…,” Minister Harmon said.

Ms. Harmon-Klien, who is based in the United States, said she was happy that the children had braved the rainy weather to attend the party. “It is one of the main things that I look forward to; that we look forward to as a family: just giving back, and just seeing the smiles on their faces and how happy it makes them… It’s something that we promise that we will continue to do for as long as we’re able,” she said.

Ms. Susan Clement, Minister Harmon’s mother,

who is also based in the United States, was likewise pleased to be able to attend the party again this year, and to see the work that her son and granddaughter have been doing in the community.

“It’s part of our history, you know… You have to know where your roots are. I always say that if you don’t know where you came from, you don’t know where you’re going; and they don’t forget that. To-

day’s party was beautiful.

I’m very happy about everything; the whole outcome was very nice,” she said.

Ten-year-old Alisha Moideen of Best Village said she was happy to have been invited to the party, and presented the minister with a yellow rose to thank him for inviting her.

Two other children, Ms. Zaynab Providence, who is visiting Guyana from Jamaica; and Ms. Badieh

Williams of Phoenix Park, each recited a poem to the minister to thank him for his generosity.

Ms. Simona Broomes, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources; Mr. Ronald Backer, Political Advisor to the Minister of State; and Mr. Mark Archer, Director of the Press and Publicity Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency, also joined in the festivities. (Ministry of the Presidency)

Children enjoying their meal at the Christmas party

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

One year on…

A family still seeks justice over killing of Tuschen mason AT just the age of 17, Ravin Mohanram was forced into the world of work to provide for his mother, after his father was brutally beaten to death and his body dumped inside the compound of a popular night club on the West Coast of Demerara over a year ago.

The body of 39-year-old Bharat Mohanram of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo was discovered on the morning of November 23, 2015 at the Caribbean Temptation Night Club located at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara. A post-mortem examination revealed that he died from blunt force trauma to the head.

According to his only child, Ravin, several persons were arrested in connection with the murder, but they were released and charges were never placed against them. Ravin, now 18, also noted that the night club was ordered to close its doors to the public so as to facilitate the investigations. According to the young man, his father’s cell phone and silver ring Dead: Bharat Mohanram were also stolen.

M o h a n r a m ’s mother, Edris Rahman, told the Guyana Chronicle in an interview that the owner of the popular night spot visited her home at 7:00hrs on the dreadful day and took her to the scene, where she found her son unconscious.

She said his body was thrown into a police jeep and rushed to the Leonora Diagnostic Centre, from where he was subsequently transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH). By 16:00h that day Mohanram, who was a mason, had died.

According to Rahman, the owner of the night club and his son have given varying versions of what transpired with her son at the nightclub.

“When we asked the owner’s son what happened, he said my son fell down and he lifted him and put him at the side. But tell me something: If somebody fell down, and he bleed through his nose, his mouth, his ears, what do you do? Will you throw water on him? You take him to the hospital,” Rahman reasoned.

The grieving mother believes that someone had killed her son, and is calling on Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum to re-open the investigation.

“People don’t want to talk what happen but I think somebody lash him in his head and he fell down. Because we are poor, we are being taken advantage of,” the woman said. The owner of the club, his son, a female bartender and the security guard were initially in police custody, but were released on $20,000 bail; and according to Rahman, the police had told her that the file is at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). However to date, there has been no further update on the investigation.

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Over 200 police recruits inducted

UNDER the theme “Training to Build and Strengthen the Competencies of Ranks through Partnerships and Monitoring of Performances”, 225 new law enforcement officers, having graduated, recently participated in the Guyana Police Force Passing-Out Parade for recruit training courses, held at the Tactical Services Unit Square at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

Director questions legality of Linden Hospital Complex Board

THE Board of Directors of the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), reconstituted less than a year ago, continues to be dubbed illegal, and directors are calling for this to be corrected by Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton.

Board Director Maurice Butters recently told this publication that pertinent issues involving the

Complex and including the Mackenzie Hospital, Wismar Hospital and Kwakwani Hospital are being compromised because of the board’s illegality.

Alluding to a decision made by Board Chairman Mortimer Mingo -- to recommend to Permanent Secretary Trevor Thomas of the Public Health Ministry that a junior doctor be appointed CEO of the

hospital -- Butters said the Board was not privy to this recommendation. However, without the Board’s involvement, such a process cannot even be deemed wrong, because of the Board’s illegal standing.

“The legality of that hospital is what is dangling over people’s heads; and unless we can have that sorted out, we are going to continue to have issues

that will be negative to the provision of services to the people of Region 10,” Butters said.

Butters was at the time alluding to what he claims to be autocratic management by the Chairman, whom he has accused of wanting to unilaterally manage the hospital.

Butters reiterated that the board’s illegal standing has resulted in its inability to enact policies and terminate contracts. What is more troubling, according to Butters, is that a minister within the cabinet, Minister Valarie Patterson, is the Vice Chairman of the Board; and in his opinion, she does not make adequate representation at Cabinet level to get approval for the Board to be legalized.

The matter was raised

at a public consultation held with Junior Minister of Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, who heard that the reconstituted board has not been correctly installed and is, as such, illegal. Butters revealed that during a visit to the hospital, Minister Norton also dubbed the Board illegal.

“There is no instrument to create that Board, and they promised to have it done; and since then to now, nothing has happened… it was not published in the (Official) Gazette either. What has happened is that the Service Agreement which was signed by the Linden Hospital Complex and the Ministry of (Public) Health talks about a ‘Board’, and that is how the word ‘Board’ came

in to operation; but it is a management committee, not a board, since 1996 to two years ago,” Butters contended.

If draft legislation had, in the past, been prepared by the LHC Management Committee to corporatize the medical institution, then a Board would have been established based on that; however, this was not done.

Minister Cummings, in hearing these declarations, has promised to prioritize action to change the status of the management committee.

However, six months after, the situation remains the same, and Butters claims that this is affecting progress at the hospital.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

Guyanese among large number of Caribbean immigrants nabbed in US

THE United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says Caribbean nationals were among a large number of immigrants nabbed in 2016 as the agency “protects America from the cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety.”

“Our mission is accomplished by the people of ICE working together and by adhering to our values of integrity, courage and excellence,” said the agency in its Year-inReview Report.

In the report, ICE offered a “snapshot” of its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and Management and Administration’s (M&A) “daily work.”

“As we move confidently into 2017, ICE will continue to strive for excellence in all our efforts,” the report notes. During a five-week operation in March dubbed “Project Shadow Fire,” ICE said, 1,133 immigrants, including Caribbean nationals, were arrested. ICE said the sweep included more than 900 transnational criminal

gang members and others associated with transnational criminal activity, such as drug trafficking, human smuggling, and sex trafficking, and murder and racketeering.

ICE said nationals from 13 countries in Central America, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean were arrested in “Project Shadow Fire.” It said 1,001 were charged with criminal offences, and 132 were arrested administratively for immigration violations.

Project Shadow Fire was a “surge operation” conducted under Operation Community Shield.

In June, an unidentified Belizean was among 331 individuals arrested during a month-long operation targeting criminal immigrants and other immigration violators in six Midwestern states, ICE said. It said the operation was aimed at arresting and removing convicted criminal immigrants from the US. The arrests were made in the following six states: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Kansas and Missouri.

Two Belizean nationals were also among 100 immigrants arrested in the Los Angeles area in July. While

the largest number of those taken into custody during the enforcement action were originally from Mexico, in August, officers from ICE and ERO arrested 58 individuals during an operation spanning the New York metropolitan area and targeting criminal immigrants and “other enforcement priorities.”

During the five-day enforcement action, ERO officers apprehended immigrants with criminal convictions in addition to others who fall under the agency’s enforcement pri-

orities. Those arrested had criminal histories, with past convictions for rape, kidnapping, robbery, burglary and other serious criminal offences, ICE said. The foreign nationals arrested during the operation included citizens of 17 countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Belize, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana, Philippines, Jamaica, Indonesia, Guatemala, Ecuador, Mexico, El Salvador, Lebanon, Colombia, Israel, Romania, and the United Kingdom. (CMC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 28, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 28, 2016

150th Anniversary/WIFBSC 2017 Championships … MCYS chips in with sponsorship

THE Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) is set to celebrate a huge milestone in 201 - the celebration of 150 years in existence.

And to commemorate this colossal achievement, the entity will be hosting the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Championships.

This huge event will attract the best marksmen and women not only from the West Indies but from the leading countries in the world, the likes of those from Australia, England, Canada, USA and Scotland who will all converge on the Timehri Rifle Ranges to compete.

Cognisant of the huge costs that would be necessary to put Guyana

on show to the world and to be the good host that Guyana is known for, the executive of the GuyanaNRA decided to reach out early to the patron of the association, His Excellency President David Granger and the Honourable Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for Sport, Ms Nicolette Henry, for assistance.

The mentioned dignitaries were notified that for Guyana to be successful in hosting on and off the range, it would incur costs amounting to almost $20M, to ensure the Timehri Range is in pristine condition and also procures necessary ammunition.

BOB BRADLEY SWANSEA City have sacked Bob Bradley after only 85 days in charge of the Premier League club.

The 4-1 home defeat

by West Ham on Boxing Day left Swansea four points adrift of safety in the Premier League.

It was their seventh

President Granger and Minister Henry acquiesced to the association’s request and generously boosted the budget with a shot that hit the V on first attempt, valued at $1M. Minister Henry, in presenting the cheque to GuyanaNRA secretary Ryan Sampson who also holds a similar position on the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC), in the presence of other executive members noted that the Ministry was very pleased to be associated with the association as it celebrates such a rare milestone.

Henry also stated that this contribution towards a continued partnership with the association was not one off and she was

looking forward to assisting the association in other ways, not necessarily in the area of finance only.

In expressing gratitude, Sampson said that over 100 shooters from the region and the world were expected to come to Guyana which would serve as a direct boost in the area of sports tourism since, apart from the team members, it has already been confirmed that their family members would also be making the trip.

“We intend to showcase Guyana in a very positive way during the hosting of this championship,” Sampson said.

He also extended gratitude to President Granger and Minister Henry for giving the associa-

tion the perfect start in its quest to raise the requisite funds towards a successful championship in October 2017.

The GuyanaNRA have been able over the years to make all of Guyana proud with their performances at the Caribbean and world levels. Guyanese shooters made up half of the West Indies Team at the last World Long Range Championships which took place at Camp Perry, Ohio, USA. The Guyanese marksmen, led by captain Mahendra Persaud, are also the Short and Long Range Champions of the Caribbean and are looking forward to maintaining that status come 2017 on home soil.

loss in 11 games since Bradley became the first American boss in the top flight after replacing Francesco Guidolin on October 3.

He managed USA, Egypt and Stabaek in Norway before leaving Le Havre to succeed January appointment Gui-

dolin.

The club tweeted: “Swansea City can confirm that the club has parted company with manager Bob Bradley.”

Swansea 1-4 West Ham: Bob Bradley says Swans are in a ‘rut’ At the time of Bradley’s arrival, Swansea

were above the relegation zone only on goal difference.

Current staff members Alan Curtis and Paul Williams will take temporary charge, starting with Swansea’s New Year’s Eve home game against Bournemouth.

Swansea City sack American manager - Bob Bradley

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Rain spoils contest after Azhar ton ... hits Pakistan/Australia Test

A CENTURY from Azhar Ali and staunch support by Asad Shafiq frustrated Australia bowlers but rain was a sickener for both sides on day two of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Showers truncated the morning session and then re-emerged shortly after 17:00hrs to prevent any further play, meaning at least 78 scheduled overs were lost over the first two days. The inclement weather cut into the time available to Pakistan to force the result they need to stand a chance of winning the series.

In-between the rain breaks, Azhar and Shafiq showed good composure to work through the early spells of the Australian pacemen then rotating the strike when Nathan Lyon’s spin was introduced.

Azhar Ali scores a crucial century for Pakistan.

After Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed perished to the second new ball, Mohammad Amir played some handsome strokes while Azhar

forged on with impressive determination to push the score to 6 for 310 at stumps.

Azhar’s hundred was his 12th in Tests, a brilliant exer-

cise in restraint and patience to keep Australia in the field.

The hosts looked a little less than their best in what was their fourth consecutive day

in the field, when also including Pakistan’s narrowly failed chase of 490 to win the first Test of the series in Brisbane.

In their search for a wicket, the Australians wasted a referral when Jackson Bird appealed for caught-behind against Shafiq, before replays showed that ball was nowhere near bat.

Later in the same over, Shafiq drove Bird down the ground and the bowler touched the ball before it hit the stumps at the non-striker ’s end. Azhar quickly turned to regain his ground in time, before there was brief pandemonium at the ground when the third umpire flashed an OUT decision on the MCG’s big screen.

This mistaken verdict was quickly rescinded, and following some light rain the batsmen resumed their occupation in the final few overs before lunch. Steven Smith tried himself and

Australia Big Bash League

Botha proves the difference as Sixers cruise home

THE Sydney Sixers produced a sublime spin bowling display and a composed run chase to dispatch the Perth Scorchers by six wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The Sixers restricted Scorchers, who elected to bat, to 8 for 130, on what appeared to be a good batting surface. Mitchell Marsh was left to salvage the innings with an uncharacteristic subdued unbeaten 29-ball 31 after they slumped to 8 for 107.

Sam Billings began Sixers’ chase with a 30-ball 40.

The inventive right-hander was promoted to the top of the order after his England teammate Jason Roy was withdrawn from the line-up after injuring his back at training. Johan Botha finished the job with a composed unbeaten 30 and was thoroughly deserving of the Man-of-the-Match award for an excellent all-round display.

The Scorchers produced a dominant batting display in their tournament opener on a fast WACA surface.

There, they took 56 in the powerplay overs against

Johan Botha

Adelaide Strikers to set up a big win.

At the SCG, Sixers employed their spinners for five of the six powerplay overs, and it worked brilliantly.

The Scorchers scored just 34 runs from those five overs for the loss of Michael Klinger. Shaun Marsh managed just three from eight deliveries on his return from injury before falling to Doug Bollinger. Sixers spin trio of Botha, Steve O’Keefe and Will Somerville applied the squeeze in the middle overs; their combined figures read 4 for 59 in 10 overs.

Botha has played 123 international matches for South Africa across formats,

the last of which was in October 2012.

Prior to this tournament, Botha was given Australian citizenship after he complied with the eligibility criterion. He produced a stunning all-round display against the Scorchers, taking 1 for 26, including bowling in the powerplay, and scoring 30* off 19 balls to see his side home.

He also took an outstanding catch on the boundary to remove Sam Whiteman. Considering Australia picked a 43-yearold Brad Hogg for the 2014 World T20, there’s perhaps a case of Botha being considered for the shortest format.

Scorchers coach Justin Langer has impressed upon his side the need to have a flexible batting line-up; the need to have left-right batting partnerships throughout the innings. But the timing of the dismissals meant that the dangerous Mitchell Marsh walked out at No. 6 in the 12th over and in-form Ashton Turner batted at No. 8 despite producing a match-winning 19-ball 44* against the Strikers prior to Christmas.

Marsh had to play a subdued role to steady the ship while Turner was forced to hit-out straight away.

Andrew Tye produced one of the best spells of the tournament so far. He deceived Brad Haddin with a clever knuckle ball and conceded just two runs in his first over. He went on to add the wickets of Moises Henriques and Jordan Silk to his kitty, finishing with 3 for 15.

He has represented Australia in three T20 internationals and his variety of slower balls, changes of pace and yorkers make him a difficult bowler to get away.

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also Nic Maddinson in this brief period, and with a deft leg-side deflection off the latter, Azhar made it to three figures before the rain returned.

There was no further play before 15:30hrs local time, and with Smith immediately taking the second new ball, conditions became more challenging for the visiting batsmen. Shafiq was undone for 50 by an excellent away swinger from Bird, and Sarfraz also edged the moving ball, inching Josh Hazlewood further towards his 100th Test wicket in the process.

However, Amir ended Australian hopes of rolling up the tail, playing his shots with aplomb and adding 42 in quick time with the enduring Azhar.

Pakistan have manoeuvred themselves into a strong position in this match, but the return of the rain will lessen the meaning of that advantage.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Top female U.S. Athlete-of-the-year SIMONE Biles has been voted the Associated Press Female Athlete-ofthe-Year. Voted by U.S. editors and news directors, Biles grabbed 31 out of a possible 59 votes to be honoured as the Sportswoman of 2016.

Biles had great competition. She bested fellow Olympian Katie Ledecky, who won four gold medals and a silver in the pool during the Rio Olympics to come in second place in voting.

Serena Williams, who won Wimbledon for the seventh time this year, tied with AP Women’s NCAA Basketball Player-of-the-Year, Breanna Stewart, for third place.

Biles’ Olympic teammate, Gabby Douglas, was awarded the same honour back in 2012 after her epic turn at the London Olympics.

Even without such an honour, Biles has had a p r e t t y i n c r e d i b l e y e a r.

She’s won gold, covered magazines, met her favourite celebrities, turned heads on red carpets and has become quite the role model for young girls everywhere.

With her four gold medals, Biles set a new American record for the most gold medals in women’s gymnastics at a single Olympic Games. She also nabbed a bronze medal for her individual work on the balance beam.

Simone Biles in action at the Olympics in Brazil 2016

No year-end basketball Uganda Cranes facing cash tournament crisis ahead of Nations Cup

THE Uganda Cranes are facing a financial crisis as they embark on their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Gabon - their first appearance at the finals in 39 years.

Decolas Kiiza, the Uganda Football Association’s head of Finance, told BBC Sport they are still waiting for a cash-advance which the Ugandan government had promised to give them.

Kiiza claims the money is vital to help the Cranes in their preparations and then at the tournament itself.

“We made a budget of US$2 122 909 and after consultations and meetings with officials from the Ministry of Education and Sport and the National Council of Sports, the budget was slashed to US$1 226 855. But that money has not come as yet,” said Kiiza.

Uganda will be at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations after a 39-year absence.

He says they have had to Slovakia and then the African fund the team from the FA’s champions Ivory Coast.

“We call upon the govown limited resources to help keep Uganda on track with ernment to come in quickly to help the situation because their training schedule.

They have a trip to Tuni- we want to send a very strong sia on Friday for an interna- and well-motivated team,” tional friendly before heading added Kiiza.

The Federation has also to the United Arab Emirates for an eight-day training had to make an advance paycamp, followed by two other ment to fund the team kits so warm-up matches against that each player can have six

jerseys.

Charles Bakkabulindi, the State Minister for Sports, told the BBC that the FA will have to wait for their advance until the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni - who is also the First Lady - has responded to the budget details which he has forwarded to her.

The Uganda Cranes will be in Group D alongside Egypt, Ghana and Mali for the 2017 Nations Cup and will be based in Port Gentil for the event which runs from 14 January14 to February 5.

Uganda are the only country that qualified for Gabon 2017 from the Council for East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) region and the Cranes are also still in contention for a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

AS THE CALENDAR year 2016 comes to an end, the basketball fraternity of Guyana will find action only in the scrubby games on basketball courts. This comes as a result of the inclement weather in addition to absence of a playing facility since both the National Gymnasium and Cliff Anderson Sports Hall are out of commission for basketball use until further notice.

According to President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) Junior Hercules, “No access to the indoor facility coupled with the outdoor cost and inclement weather prevented GABA from hosting during this period.”

Hercules was unable to give a comment concerning the replacement of the

basketball backboard but stated: “I can’t comment about works at the Sports Hall. What I can say is GABA has not received an official timeline for the replacement of the basketball backboard.”

However, there is hope since the ‘fraternity’ can expect a league in the month of January. “The fraternity can expect a league in the month of January and February month-end is a likely period for the Road to Mecca, holding all things constant,” finished Hercules.

During the December period there has been outrage over the lack of tournaments being hosted. It is hoped that this does not persist for the new year, especially after a productive year for basketball in Guyana. (Daniel Haynes)

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Manchester United beat Sunderland 3-0 HENRIKH Mkhitaryan scored a memorable goal as Manchester United beat struggling Sunderland to record their fourth successive Premier League win.

Manchester United were the dominant side - enjoying 63% of possession and having a total of 25 shots on goal - but only a first-half Daley Blind effort separated the teams until the final 10 minutes.

The Dutchman was put through by a delightful Zlatan Ibrahimovic pass and fired low into the bottom-right corner for his first goal of the season, before United doubled their advantage with Paul Pogba setting up Ibrahimovic with eight minutes remaining.

Substitute Mkhitaryan

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Manchester City climb to third place in the League MANCHESTER City climbed to third place in the Premier League with a workmanlike victory over bottom side Hull City at the KCOM stadium.

PEP Guardiola’s visitors were far from their free-flowing best en route to their 12th win of the season, but were nevertheless good value for a victory that keeps them seven points behind leaders Chelsea.

Yaya Toure’s penalty, awarded after Andrew Robertson’s clumsy challenge on Raheem Sterling, set the visitors on their way before

Yaya Toure

Kelechi Iheanacho added a second from close range and Curtis Davies conceded an own goal in the last few seconds.

Hull have now conceded nine penalties so far in the league this season - four more than any other side.

The hosts played well in patches and saw Michael Dawson’s second-half header cleared off the line by Bacary Sagna, but their return of one win in 16 matches is a damning statistic that points to only one outcome at the end of the season.

West Ham hammer Swansea 4-1 WEST Ham cruised to a third straight win to plunge Swansea City deeper into Premier League relegation trouble and increase the pressure on manager Bob Bradley.

Former Swans forward Andre Ayew pounced on Lukasz Fabianski’s fumble to put the visitors ahead, before Winston Reid headed in from a corner to double their lead.

Michail Antonio added a third and, although Fernando Llorente scored late on for Swansea, Andy Carroll’s firm strike sealed a convincing West Ham victory.

Slaven Bilic’s side climb to 11th in the Premier League table, while Swansea remain second from bottom but now four points adrift of safety.

Where Bradley is concerned, a seventh defeat

Andre Ayew scores West Ham’s first goal. from his 11 matches in charge leaves the American in grave danger of losing his job less than three months after his appointment.

Swansea’s supporters called for his sacking during the second half, as well as accusing the club’s directors of greed following the Swans’ American takeover in the summer.

Having won only two of his first 10 games at the

helm, Bradley admitted before the match that his future could depend on the outcome of this fixture and the home encounter with Bournemouth on New Year’s Eve. Swansea had unravelled with scant resistance to lose their previous two games, at Middlesbrough 3-0 and West Brom 3-1, and they were similarly vulnerable against West Ham.

added gloss to the scoreline with a brilliant backheeled 12-yard volley, which manager Jose Mourinho described as “phenomenal”, though replays suggested the Armenian was offside.

It is a victory which draws United level with fifth-placed Tottenham, although the north Londoners have a game in hand, against Southampton on Wednesday.

Fabio Borini scored a wonderful late consolation for Sunderland, but defeat - their third in four games - leaves the Black Cats two points adrift of safety.

Both halves belonged to the hosts and the passing statistics emphasised their dominance, with Mourinho’s men making 606 pass-

es compared to Sunderland’s 177.

But the hosts were unable to shake off the visitors until the introduction of Mkhitaryan after the break added much-needed zip and verve.

Pogba was the standout player on the pitch, bossing play from the middle of the field and driving his team forward, and while Ibrahimovic played a part in all three goals it was Mkhitaryan who gave his side an extra dimension in attack.

The 27-year-old’s strike was a special one, with the former Borussia Dortmund player, at the Stretford End, acrobatically directing Ibrahimovic’s cross into net with the back of his heel.

Everton beat champions Leicester City 2-0

By Timothy Abraham BBC Sport

KEVIN Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku fired Everton to their first away win since September as champions Leicester dropped closer to the relegation places.

Belgium winger Mirallas capitalised on a lapse in concentration in the Leicester defence when he latched on to a long ball from goalkeeper Joel Robles, and struck a low shot into the corner of the net.

Daniel Amartey, Leonardo Ulloa and Demarai Gray brought saves out of Robles but Everton added a second goal in injury time.

A long ball from Ross Barkley found Lukaku, who showed great strength before firing the ball past Kasper Schmeichel in the Leicester goal.

Everton’s victory was their first on the road since a 3-0 win at Sunderland on September 12.

Leicester’s remarkable Premier League title success last season was underpinned by their defensive fortitude, but sloppy errors are costing them this term.

Final Score pundit Trevor Sinclair said the Foxes backline were “daydreaming” for Mirallas’ goal.

Leiceister defenders Wes Morgan and Marcin Wasilewski allowed a long punt from keeper Robles to bounce and Mirallas was on to it as quick as a flash for his third goal in as many games

Romelu Lukaku

against the Foxes.

The hosts had committed men forward for Everton’s second goal late on, but the ease with which Lukaku shrugged off the attentions of the same duo emphasised how they can be exposed against direct balls and pace.

It was also another reminder for Leicester’s players and fans of how unforgiving the Premier League can be as the champions dropped to 16th in the table, three points above the relegation places.

Everton executed Ronald Koeman’s game plan to perfection at King Power Stadium as they beat Leicester on their own patch for the first time since 1997.

The Toffees soaked up the pressure and had the pace and power to hurt the home side on the counter-attack.

Under Koeman’s predecessor Roberto Martinez, Everton were certainly more aesthetically pleasing to watch, but it is

results that count.

Koeman has made the Toffees more versatile to adapt to their opponents’ strengths and expose their weaknesses.

A top-six finish does not look beyond them and this victory lifted them to seventh.

Despite conceding twice, it was not all doom and gloom for Leicester, given an impressive showing from one of their rising stars.

Liverpool were strongly linked with Ben Chilwell in the summer - despite the fact he had not even made a first-team appearance for the Foxes - but the Leicester left-back signed a new five-year contract instead.

It is easy to see why Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was so interested in the 20-yearold based on his Premier League debut as he barely put a foot wrong with a mature and accomplished performance.

We have to work and react. That’s our medicine.

We have to stay together in the bad moment.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Premier League leaders Chelsea beat Bournemouth 3-0

By Chris Bevan BBC Sport

CHELSEA moved seven points clear at the top of the table by beating Bournemouth to set a club record of 12 straight Premier League wins.

Cesc Fabregas set up Pedro to break the deadlock with a deflected shot that looped into the top corner.

Eden Hazard capped an impressive display by making it 2-0 from the spot after he was brought down by Simon Francis.

Chelsea added a third goal deep in injury time when Pedro’s shot hit Steve Cook and the ball spun over the line.

B o u r n e m o u t h ’s b e s t chance saw substitute Benik Afobe denied by Thibaut Courtois but the Cherries ended up well beaten.

Liverpool can reduce Chelsea’s lead to six points if they beat Stoke yesterday.

Chelsea were missing two key components of their recent run, with striker Diego Costa and midfielder N’Golo Kante both suspended, but it made little difference.

Without Costa to lead the line, and the Blues £33M Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi again left on the bench, Antonio Conte went with a front three of Hazard, Willian and Pedro.

It took time for them to hit their stride but the three players eventually proved an effective combination.

They were happy to swap positions throughout the game but all three caused the Cherries problems when they ran at them, especially on the break.

“This is the first time we played without a real forward,” Chelsea manager Conte explained.

“We tried this in training and I think for us at the moment this situation is the best, but I don’t forget

Michy because he is a young player with great talent. He is adapting to this league and its football. In the future, I trust in him.”

Kante’s absence, meanwhile, saw Fabregas recalled to partner Nemanja Matic at the heart of Antonio Conte’s midfield.

Again they took time to settle down, giving Jack Wilshere too much room on a couple of occasions before the break, but they were far more assured after halftime.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe switched to a 3-4-3 formation to match Chelsea’s shape and, initially, it worked.

Even when Pedro put the hosts ahead, the Cherries looked capable of causing problems for them and Wilshere got on the ball in some good positions, going close twice.

It did not last, and Bournemouth were kept at arm’s length for much of the second

half - enjoying more possession than Chelsea but unable to do much with the ball, and in constant danger from counter-attacks.

“You can’t be too upbeat about getting beaten 3-0 but there were fine margins and many elements of our gameplan worked,” Howe said afterwards.

“They scored their first goal out of the blue, without any real sustained period of pressure, and the second goal just after halftime was the decisive moment.”

Howe’s side remain seven points above the relegation zone so have breathing space, but their away form is becoming a cause for concern.

“Chelsea look so strong in every department, so confident in every department.

The win was without two of their biggest hitters - N’Golo Kante and Diego Costa. Once they got that first goal it was just a matter of how many.

Pedro celebrates after scoring his second goal of the match.

“Their one-touch and two-touch play was just brilliant at times. Eden Hazard is in such incredible form and Willian had a fantastic game.

Chelsea are red, red hot at the moment.”

Eden Hazard’s best moment - a rabona shot from the edge of the area that was saved by Artur Boruc - would not actually have counted because the whistle had gone but there were plenty of other moments to savour. He ran at Bournemouth whenever he got the ball, and saw a lot of it - he made 87 touches, more than any other player The Cherries have won only one of their nine games

on the road this season, but have a chance to put that right on New Year’s Eve when they travel to struggling Swansea.

Chelsea host Stoke on the same day, looking to move closer to Arsenal’s record of 14 successive Premier League wins, set across the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.

“To win 12 games in a row is not easy in this league,” added Conte. “It’s a fantastic run but it’s important to continue that now.

“In four days we have another tough game and we have to prepare very well. Because now every team wants to beat you.”

Late winner gives Arsenal victory over West Brom ARSENAL striker Olivier Giroud headed a late winner as the Gunners ended a run of two Premier League defeats with victory over a stubborn West Brom to climb back to third.

Giroud was making his first league start of the season and looped in an 86th minute header from a Mesut Ozil cross for his goal.

Until that moment the Gunners had enjoyed nearly 80% possession, but had struggled to find a way past inspired Baggies keeper Ben Foster.

He pulled off a number of key stops, including a double save when he parried an Alex Iwobi shot and blocked the rebound at the feet of Alexis Sanchez.

The 33-year-old former England keeper also tipped over a fizzing shot from Sanchez before West Brom nearly snatched a goal, with Claudio Yacob skying his shot over the bar after Arsenal keeper Petr Cech dropped a corner.

But Giroud finally broke the deadlock to keep Arsenal

Olivier Giroud

nine points behind leaders Chelsea, who beat Bournemouth.

Arsenal had buckled in defeats by Everton and Manchester City in their previous two games and the focus was on how they would respond against one of the more resolute teams to beat in the top flight.

It seemed like they were still feeling the impact of those losses as they had just one shot on target in the first half, but they managed 10 after the break as they increased their intensity and urgency.

Sanchez was their main threat as the Chile forward

tried to drag the Gunners single-handedly to three points but, like his team, he found himself being continually frustrated.

Sanchez seemed set to score when he evaded a number of defenders in a run across the six-yard box only to strike his shot against the post, before Arsenal’s persistence was eventually rewarded through Giroud.

“It has been a big relief,” said the France striker. “We pushed to the end, kept believing in our game.

“We were very strong altogether and showed a good strong mentality. It was very important to win. We have

shown big mental strength.”

West Brom keeper Foster said the defeat was “tough to take” for the Baggies as they were again undone by a late goal, having been beaten in their last away game at Chelsea by a 76th minute strike.

Arsenal’s goal came even later, when the visitors were in sight of securing a point to show for their disciplined and determined defending.

Foster, who signed a new deal with the club just before Christmas, can feel the most hard done by, as he made 10 saves but still ended up on the losing side.

“It is disappointing to lose any game, but to keep Arsenal at bay for so long and then lose with a few minutes left it is horrible,” said Foster.

“You know you’re going to come here and, as a keeper, you’re going to be busy. The lads in front of me were brilliant. But fair play to Olivier Giroud - it was a great header and a great goal.”

Daniel Sturridge comes off the bench to score Liverpool’s fourth goal.

Liverpool maintain unbeaten home record with victory over Stoke LIVERPOOL closed the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea to six points and moved back to second in the league after maintaining their unbeaten home record with a convincing victory over Stoke.

Jon Walters headed home at his near post, highlighting the home team’s vulnerability in defence, to give Stoke an early lead.

But Liverpool responded positively after a disjointed start, with Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino scoring before the break as the hosts took the lead.

Jurgen Klopp’s men made sure of the win, which moves them one point ahead of thirdplaced Manchester City - whom they play on New Year’s Eve when Giannelli Imbula directed

Divock Origi’s cross into his own net.

Adding gloss to the scoreline was Daniel Sturridge, who scored his first league goal of the season - and Liverpool’s 100th under manager Klopp.

There was a period in the first half when Liverpool looked exposed. Simon Mignolet, again preferred in goal to Loris Karius as Klopp stuck to the team which started the derby win against Everton, should have saved Walters’ close-range header.

It was a mistake which will once again open up the debate over who should be the manager’s first-choice goalkeeper. But, in attack, the Reds were as quick, incisive and destructive as they have been throughout the season.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Male, female football in the Pomeroon

By Alva Thompson FOR the first time in its three-year history, female teams will be competing in the Third Edition of the Wakapoa Premier League, a football tournament which has provided much entertainment and excitement for the Pomeroon River community.

The tournament, which boasts four male teams competing for the coveted crown of football champions in the Region Two area, commenced over the past weekend. Three female teams will also challenge one another and the top units in both the male and female categories will walk away with bragging rights as well as the cash prize of $200 000.

The Massarie Rangers prior to game time on Christmas Eve

The female players as they prepare for the tournament this year.

The children in the area are exposed to an activity-filled football clinic which is undertaken annually.

The tournament, which commenced in 2013, is sponsored by the Wakapoa United Football Club. “This year we will be hosting our 3rd Annual Premier League,” chairman of the club, Djeon Cornelius told Chronicle Sport recently. This year’s tournament commenced on Christmas Eve Day and continued on Christmas Day. The finals will be played on January 7.”

Several teams from outside the community, including squads from Moruca were expected to feature in the tournament. The male teams this year are Yarashirima Pride, Myrie Blazers, Massarie Rangers and Curemeru Jaguars while the female players will compete against villages within the area. The women

are expected to play their matches on January 6.

Over the two days of action, the Curemeru Jaguars registered wins and have proved to be the top team in the competition.

“Participation by our female players is just one of many accomplishments that our club is extremely proud of. Beyond soccer leagues, the club also sponsors soccer camps to improve the skills of our players. We also are in the process of developing an aggressive children’s programme,” the overseas-based Cornelius said.

He stated that in addition to the cash prizes, other prizes will be up for grabs by the teams competing in this year’s format.

Football in the Pomeroon e 27

See Pag

GuyanaNRA 150th Anniversary/ WIFBSC 2017 Championships … MCYS chips in with sponsorship

See Page 22 From L-R, (GNRA and West Indies Full-bore secretary Ryan Sampson stands with Junior Minister of Education Nicolette Henry and GNRA executive members Lennox Braithwaite and Terrance Stuart.

Andre Russell’s black bat approved, again Dottin out of hospital ANDRE RUSSELL’S black bat has been reapproved by Cricket Australia for use in the Big Bash League after a clear laminated cover was added to help protect the ball.

Russell used the black bat during Sydney Thunder’s first match of the tournament, but after that game Cricket Australia withdrew its approval of the bat after feedback from the match officials that the bat had left black marks on the ball.

“Following feedback from the match officials that the bat used by Andre in the opening night of the season left black marks on the match ball, Andre has worked with his bat manufacturer to modify the bat,” Anthony Everard, the head of the BBL, said.

Andre Russell

“A clear laminated cover has been applied to the bat, which complies with regulations to ensure the ball discolouration does not occur again. We’re now satisfied that the bat will not compromise the integrity of the game by discolouring the match ball and we have granted approval for Andre to use the bat in any future BBL matches.”

BBL and Women’s BBL regulations allow players to use a coloured bat subject to CA approval. However, a coloured bat needs to be either black or match the team’s primary colours. Chris Gayle had used a gold-coloured bat during last year’s BBL, produced by Spartan, the same manufacturer responsible for Russell’s black bat.

DEANDRA Dottin has now left hospital, but the severity of her head-first collision with a teammate in a Women’s Big Bash League match will be known after the results of her X-rays are reviewed today.

The West Indies Women star, playing for the Brisbane Heat, collided heavily with teammate Laura Harris, when they tried to field a ball on the boundary against Melbourne Stars yesterday at Allan Border Field. Dottin was stretchered from the field after the incident and was taken to hospital with a suspected concussion, but Harris was able to walk away from the incident and remained at the ground.

T h e Wi n d i e s Wo m e n all-rounder did not suffer any external injuries and team officials are hopeful initial fears of internal, structural injuries are allayed, when

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Deandra Dottin is stretchered away by team and WBBL medical personnel. doctors examine the results of the scans conducted on the all-rounder.

The incident occurred with the Stars at 72 without loss in the 11th over of their run chase, when Stars captain Meg Lanning lofted Heat medium-pacer Haidee Birkett over mid-wicket.

The ball landed between

Dottin and Harris just inside the rope and, in their haste to stop the boundary, the pair collided at pace and clashed heads.

Both suffered heavy falls, Dottin appeared to land on a team kit bag just in front of the perimeter picket fence into which Harris crashed. (CMC) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016