Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 29 12 2016

Adel’s Resort leads the way

P.15

Not valid

…in sustainable farming

No. 104778

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

– Red House lease null and void – Jagdeo had refused to approve application – President can revoke lands Page 3

Woman brutally stabbed to death …husband turns self in to police

Page 2

Dead: Lonnet Nicholson-Prince

Brothers physically abused by mother

…abandoned in Port Kaituma house

Page 8

Murder suspect: Sheldon Prince

Elderly woman Potable water strip-searched soon for Karrau residents at CJIA Page 10

Page 2

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

Woman brutally stabbed to death …husband turns self in to police

By Jeune Bailey Van Keric A TWENTY-four-year old mother of one was brutally stabbed to death at her workplace on Wednesday, allegedly by her estranged husband, who is a trainee prison warden attached to the New Amsterdam Prison.

Lonnet Nicholson-Prince was a hairdresser attached to the National Psychiatric Hospital in New Amsterdam, Berbice, and had just arrived at work when the suspect, Sheldon Prince, asked to speak with her just after 08:00hrs.

However, she refused and proceeded to walk away, when Prince allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed her 11 times about the body in the presence of co-workers.

After committing the brutal act, Prince reportedly fled through the eastern fence of the hospital and escaped. His pants, with spattered blood stains, was found some dis-

hairdresser, and I saw blood spattered all over. I removed the sheet from my daughter’s body and I saw several stab wounds about her body. She was already dead.”

tance away under the Canje Bridge. The 30-year-old later turned himself in at the Central Police station in the company of Attorney-at-Law, Mursaline Bacchus.

RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST PRINCE Lonnet and the suspect were married for five years and have a four-year-old daughter together; however, they were separated for the last two months, during which period she filed a restraining order against him, citing constant abuse. Since then, it had become a pattern for her father, Michael Nicholson, or a brother to accompany the young lady to work.

According to the father, on Wednesday, while driving his daughter to work, he saw the suspect standing by the bus shed, which is a short distance from the Psychiatric Hospital, but he did not pay much heed.

“But Lonett say, ‘look

Grieving father, Michael Nicholson

Sheldon,’ and after I dropped her off, as she was exiting the car, she said, ‘I wonder what he doing here’.”

The father further noted, “I subsequently went home, and was in the midst of telling my wife that I saw Sheldon at the bus shed, that word came that Lonett was killed. We quickly joined the car and returned to the mental hospital. I went to the room where she worked as a

FIVE YEARS OF ABUSE Recounting his daughter’s five-year marriage, the father of five said it was one of abuse, as he noted that Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus had placed Prince on a one-year bond.

Additionally, Magistrate Alex Moore had also placed Prince on a bond and issued a 50-foot restraining order and the duo were to proceed with their divorce.

“I did not agree to this marriage. As soon as she pass 16, he took her away, and when they came back he said he wanted to marry and me and my wife were forced to agree. But we never wanted it. He never liked to work. I build them a house.

He never came a day and assist. I took him in the bush to work with me. He spent some time, came out bought

a car, and the people later repossess the car as he always by the drug house,” the distraught father said.

According to Nicholson, the suspect has been employed with the prison service for some six months now. He said that Prince had threatened to kill his daughter many times and due to the nature of their relationship, she would hide certain things from him.

“My daughter never tell me things, because she knew we did not agree. But when things were overbearing she came to me and said she has had enough. I supported her decision. I told her to come home and that is what she did, and I would take her, or her brother to work after he threatened to kill her. Her phone has all the threatening messages. Just this morning [Wednesday] he called. He spoke to their daughter…he later spoke to her.”

Lonnet’s mother, Donna, was overwhelmed with grief, and could be overheard saying, “he kill my baby, he kill

my baby.”

Mental health staff in shock When this newspaper visited the mental health facility, employees and friends could be heard screaming and there was no dry eye, as the gruesome killing just after the Christmas holidays tore the hearts of many. Director of Health Services, Jevaugn Stephens, in an invited comment said he was saddened by the incident and has expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.

He noted that while the security personnel needs to be more vigilant, the perpetrator was a known visitor to the health institution. Stephens pleaded with women to speak out against domestic violence and seek help when necessary.

He said too that the health services will render the necessary assistance as is customary. Meanwhile, the body of Lonnet was taken to the Arokium Funeral home where it awaits a post-mortem.

Man beaten to Potable water soon for Karrau residents death at Cuyuni THE Guyana Police Force is seeking assistance in identifying a man known as ‘Dougla’ who was allegedly beaten to death on December 23, at Iguana Creek, Cuyuni, Region Seven.

According to reports, the man whose formal name is not yet known, succumbed to the injuries inflicted and was pronounced dead at the Bartica Public Hospital.

The body of the man, said to be from Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two), is at

Memorial Gardens Funeral Home and Crematorium.

Reports indicate that the man was in the company of others drinking when a fight broke out following an argument. One person is in police custody assisting with investigation.

Anyone with information that may lead to his identification is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 455-2238, 455-2241, 225-6411, 2271152, 227-2272, 227-1270,

911 or the nearest Police Station.

Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying this man

WHILE contamination of the main waterway passing near Karrau, Region Seven has been stymied, potable water from 25 stand-pipes is expected to flow through the village’s first water network in January.

The Region Seven community, which lies some five minutes away from Bartica by boat, has experienced several months of contamination of the creek which passes through the village, caused by a mining operation. An initiative in the form of a well which is being undertaken collaboratively between the village council and the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) is nearing completion and the facility is expected to undergo several tests after the holiday season before water is distributed

via the stand-pipes.

The new water facility consists of the well which was drilled during the first quarter of this year as well as several water tanks that will store water for distribution through the network. The network will then distribute the water via gravity-flow or mechanically to the standpipes which were erected in close proximity to the homes of Karrau’s residents.

This publication reported on the villages’ woes in December 2015 after residents reported that the creek was contaminated for several weeks. They said that a nearby mining operation was responsible for the murky colour of the water in the creek. The creek is a main source of water for residents who collect water from the waterway for washing and hygienic purposes, while some households utilised the water for drinking purposes.

Tests of the water later revealed its contaminated state and the village council later engaged GWI officials, including CEO Dr Richard Van-West Charles at Bartica

on the matter. Subsequently, officials from the water entity travelled to the village earlier this year and met with village council and residents.

A partnership was established in which the community utilised its financial resources to cover the initial cost of the water distribution network.

Meanwhile, the creek‘s condition has improved vastly in recent months. According to residents, several miners who were operating in the vicinity of the creek have relocated from the area.

On Wednesday, a resident told this publication that another miner, whose operation was near to the creek, has adopted a new system of managing the tailings from his operation.

Residents told this publication that the miner has excavated several small pits into one and the method has resulted in the tailings being confined to the tailings pond. As a result the “slushy” volumes of water which once breached the dams have been stymied.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

By Svetlana Marshall

MORE than a year after launching an investigation into the Red House lease agreement initiated under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government, the Attorney General’s Chamber is now reporting that the agreement is invalid.

In a detailed statement issued on Wednesday, the Attorney General’s Chamber, headed by the Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, said that on March 30, 2012, the Red House lease agreement was initiated without the approval of the President, in contradiction of Section 10 of the Lands Department Act Chapter 59:01. “There was no formal approval by the President of the Day, nor the National Trust, rendering the lease invalid, and a nullity in law. The President can properly revoke it,” the Attorney General’s Chamber stated, while further contending that the lease was “birthed in darkness to hide its unlawfulness from the scrutiny of justice.

In making its case, the Attorney General’s Chamber pointed to several facts.

It was explained that on March 21, 2000, the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Inc. (CJRCI) was incorporated by Janet Jagan, Nadira Jagan-Brancier and Donald Ramotar as “a not-for-profit company” with the aim of establishing a library and research facility to contain the books, records and documents owned by Cheddi Jagan. It was in that year that a lease between the Government of Guyana, the National Trust, and the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Inc was drawn up but was not executed.

– Red House lease null and void – Jagdeo had refused to approve application – President can revoke lands

The Attorney General’s Chamber further pointed out that on May 3, 2006, the former President Donald Ramotar, who was then General-Secretary of the PPP/C, had applied to the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys for a lease of the Red House lands on behalf of the Resource Centre. Although a file was opened, approval had not been granted and as such the application was re-submitted in 2010. “On January 11,

2011, this re-submission was also not approved as there is no evidence of any signature of the President on the purported schedule, only those of Doerga Persaud, then CL&S and the Manager of Land Administration Mr. Menzie,” the Attorney General’s Chamber stated.

However, on March 30, 2012, a lease entered by the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys on behalf of the Government, and Ralph Ramkarran

SC. on behalf of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Inc. was issued under Section 10 of the Lands Department Act, Chapter 59:01. The lease agreement, for the plots of land in Kingston, Georgetown, has a duration of 99 years at a cost of only $1,000 monthly. This adds up to $12,000 per year and $1,188,000 over the 99-year period.

However, the Attorney General’s Chamber is con-

tending that the Red House lease is void. It was pointed out that Section 10 (1) of the Lands Department Act Chapter 59:01 states that “Government Lands shall only be rented or sold with the sanction of the President and on the terms and conditions determined by him.”

“This means that the President of Guyana must approve the Lease,” the Chamber further stated.

It was noted too that given

the fact that the Red House was established under the National Trust of Guyana Monuments Register as a Public Building/ National Monument/Heritage Site, approval for transfer, mortgage or lease must come from a Minister of Government in accordance with Section 3 (1) of the National Trust Act Chapter 20:03.

“It is submitted that there is no evidence of a formal approval by the Minister/President to lease the “Red House” a Public Building/National Monument/ Heritage site to the CJRCI. The unsigned draft lease agreement of 2000 suggests a disinclination on the part of the Minister/ President to approve such a transaction,” the Attorney General’s Chamber stated.

In 2015, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had indicated government’s intention for the ‘Red House’ to be soon returned to the people of Guyana. He had shockingly revealed to the nation via the National Assembly that the former PPP/C administration had privatised ‘Red House’, otherwise known as the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre. Subsequent to that revelation, the matter was referred to Williams with a clear direction that he is to examine all the ways in which the lease can be terminated, resulting in the ‘Red House’ being returned to the people of Guyana. Harmon had said that the building must be taken out of the hands of a company to which government feels it was unreasonably transferred. Now that the transaction has been deemed null and void, it is highly likely that the President will use the powers vested in him to revoke the lands.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday , December 29, 2016

Colombia approves “America’s Most Wanted” peace deal amnesty found homeless in Trinidad

At its height, the Farc was estimated to have some 20,000 active fighters (Image: 1999)

[BBC] - The Colombian Congress has approved a law offering amnesty to some of those accused of minor crimes in the country’s decades-long civil conflict. President Juan Manuel Santos hailed it as a “the first step towards the consolidation of peace” with the left-wing Farc guerrilla group.

The amnesty is part of a revised deal agreed after the original pact with the Farc was rejected in a popular vote. The conflict has killed more than 260,000 people and displaced

millions. The law will offer freedom from prosecution for some junior members of the Farc, the country’s largest rebel group - and for some army soldiers. But in both cases they must only be accused of minor crimes.

Thousands of guerrilla fighters who are accused of minor crimes stand to be pardoned under the law. The original peace deal, rejected at a referendum on 2 October, was seen by many as too lenient towards the rebels.

The government and the

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

The main amendments included: The Farc will have to declare all their assets and hand them over. The money will be used for reparation payments for the victims of the conflict; concerns by religious groups that the agreement undermined family values have been addressed; a time limit of 10 years has been set for the transitional justice system; farc rebels will be expected to provide exhaustive information about any drug trafficking they may have been involved in; the peace agreement will not form part of Colombia’s constitution; the lower house and the Senate overwhelmingly approve the amnesty law on Wednesday.

The revised peace deal was ratified by Congress on 1 December. It is not due to be submitted to a popular vote.

Mr Santos has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his part in the negotiations.

dicate the assault charges involve the wounding of a second man. A New York Times article at the time of the shooting said police believed the gunman had asked a girl to dance and argued with her date.

Later, the gunman was waiting outside, and as the wedding guests left the party, he opened fire.

Captured: Balkumar Singh. Credit Associated Press

[Trinidad Express] - A man who was captured in Trinidad, 16 years after he shot and killed a guest at a wedding in New York, was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison in the US. Balkumar Singh pleaded guilty to murder in the 1999 fatal shooting of 19-year-old Abzal Khan was sentenced

Thursday, December 29, 2016 - 05:00 hrs

in a Nassau County Court on December 19. Singh, 37, was arrested in Trinidad in March after authorities were tipped off to his whereabouts.

Police said Singh was homeless and living on the streets. He used numerous aliases while on the run and may have also spent time in Canada and Guyana, police said. He was extradited to Nassau County to face murder charges on August 14.

He was featured in a 2009 episode of “America’s Most Wanted.” Prosecutors said Singh got into an argument while attending a June 1999 wedding in Hicksville and fired gunshots numerous times outside the wedding hall, killing Khan.

Court documents in-

Gunman killed, two injured in police station attack [Jamaica Observer] The man who opened gunfire inside the Hunts Bay Police Station this afternoon was killed by police, it has been reported.

The police said the gunman, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, went to the police station with the intention of killing a man who was reporting to the station regarding a criminal matter. His target and a woman were reportedly shot and have been taken to hospital for treatment.

The police have not yet released the identity of the attacker. Investigations are ongoing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday , December 29, 2016

U.S. set to announce response to Russian election hacking

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G8 Summit at Lough Erne in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland June 17, 2013.

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

[Reuters] - The Obama administration plans to announce on Thursday a series of retaliatory measures against Russia for hacking into U.S. political institutions and individuals and leaking information in an effort to help President-elect Donald Trump and other Republican candidates, two U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

Both officials declined to specify what actions President Barack Obama has approved, but said targeted economic sanctions, indictments, leaking information to embarrass Russian officials or oligarchs, and restrictions on Russian diplomats in the United States are among steps that have been discussed.

One decision that has been made, they said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, is to avoid any moves that exceed the Russian election hacking and risk an escalating cyber conflict that could spiral out of control. One example of an excessive step might be interfering with Russian internet messaging.

The FBI, CIA and Office of Director of National Intelligence agree that Russia was behind hacks into Democratic Party organizations and operatives ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election.

There is also agreement, according to U.S. officials, that Russia sought to intervene in the election to help Trump, a

Republican, defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton. Russia has repeatedly denied hacking accusations. Trump has dismissed the assessments of the U.S. intelligence community.

Obama, in an interview earlier this month with NPR, said, “We need to take action and we will” against Russia for interfering in the U.S. election. Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, promised retaliation on Wednesday against Washington in the event of new economic sanctions.

Jim Lewis, a cyber security expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said further sanctions may be an effective U.S. tool in part because they would be difficult for Trump to roll back and because Russia “hates” dealing with them.

“For the rest of the world, it’s like having ‘scumball’ stamped on your forehead,” Lewis said. How to respond to the growing problem of cyber attacks carried out or sponsored by foreign powers has bedeviled Obama, whose eight years in office witnessed a torrent of major hacks against the U.S. government and private organizations that were attributed to China, North Korea, Iran and Russia.

In past cases, administration officials have decided to publicly blame North Korea and indict members of Chi-

na’s military for hacking because they decided the net benefit of public shaming – and increased awareness brought to cyber security – outweighed potential risks.

But determining an appropriate response to Russia’s actions has proven more complicated in part because Russia’s cyber capabilities are more advanced and due to fears about disrupting other geopolitical issues, such as the civil war in Syria.

Obama may choose to invoke an April 2015 executive order that empowered him to levy sanctions in response to cyber attacks perpetrated by foreign groups targeting infrastructure, such as transportation, or done for economic purposes. One option, said a U.S. government official who has participated in discussions on possible retaliation, would be leaking material on Russian officials or actions that the United States already has obtained in a way that would “parallel what the Russians did, but be impossible to prove.”

The official compared that option to Russian military and civilian intelligence agencies providing hacked material to the anti-secrecy group Wikileaks and trying – unsuccessfully, the official said – to cover their tracks.

Another option would be further economic sanctions against Russia. Washington has already sanctioned Russia over the past two years to

punish Moscow for its role in annexing Crimea. But former U.S. officials say the existing measures leave Washington plenty of room to slap new, tougher sanction on Russia in response to cyber intrusions.

The Ukraine sanctions were “narrowly tailored” to hurt specific sectors of Russian industry, such as the energy sector, without causing the nation’s economy to tank, said Juan Zarate, a former assistant secretary of the Treasury for terrorist financing and financial crimes.

The United States took a more measured approach, in part, to reserve tougher measures in case the situation worsened, said Zarate, chairman of the Financial Integrity Network, a private consulting firm that advises on financial threats.

The United States is still unlikely to impose blanket embargoes against Russia because of the danger it could harm the economies of Western Europe, said Peter Harrell, a former senior State Department official who worked on sanctions policy.

Instead, the United States may target specific Russian intelligence officials or military divisions believed to be involved in the cyber intrusions. “The Russian defense sector would be fair game,” Harrell said. Looming over any action the Obama administration takes against Russia is whether Trump will seek to reverse course once he takes office on Jan. 20.

In addition to casting doubt on the conclusions of the U.S. intelligence community about the hacks, Trump has repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and nominated people seen as friendly toward Moscow to senior administration posts.

Israel’s AG orders criminal probe against PM Netanyahu

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/ File Photo

[Reuters] - Israel’s attorney-general has ordered police to open a criminal investigation in two unspecified matters involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Channel 10 television said on Wednesday.

A Justice Ministry spokeswoman said in a statement that checks in the matter “are still ongoing and this is neither confirmation

or denial of what has been alleged”.

“The attorney-general, the police and prosecutors are working in close cooperation and a public announcement will be made in due course about the investigation,” she said.

There was no immediate response from Netanyahu’s office to a Reuters query on the report. Netanyahu has in the past denied wrongdoing in the purchase of submarines from Germany, where media have reported a potential conflict of interest involving his lawyer.

The Channel 10 report said Attorney-General Avihai Mandelblit had authorized police to question Netanyahu under caution, and that a date for the interrogation would be set in the coming days. It said the more serious of the two cases that Mandelblit had been examining had not yet leaked out to the public.

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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 Kwanzaa and the crisis of unity (Umoja)

WE are in the middle of the African-centred Kwanzaa observances, which began in 1966 as an African- American celebration. It started as part of the Black Nationalist opposition to Christmas, which was seen as a Euro-centred observance, but it has overtime emerged as a separate and distinct cultural force among African peoples all over the world.

Professor Maluana Karenga, the founder of Kwanzaa, saw it as a means of reconnecting Black people in the diaspora to their African roots—a central tenet of the Black Power movement of the 1960s-1970s. It is estimated that in 2016, 20-30 million people worldwide celebrate Kwanzaa.

Here in Guyana, the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA), the best known African Guyanese cultural organisation, has for the last two decades led the way in observing Kwanzaa. Hundreds of Guyanese have joined in the observances which have emerged as the second most important event on the African-Guyanese cultural calendar. Although it has not been designated a national holiday, the week-long observances have benefited from the holidays surrounding the Christmas season. It should be noted that Guyana has long played a major role in the global African movement with ACDA’s predecessor, the African Society for Cultural Relations with Independent Africa (ASCRIA), being the pioneer Black Power-era organisation in the Anglophone Caribbean and a leading force in the Black cultural revolution of that time.

The Kwanzaa observance is premised upon seven principles of African heritage or Nguzo Saba, which is part of the Swahili culture of South-Eastern Africa. The Swahili language, although not a language of West Africa, the epicentre of the Atlantic Slave trade, had emerged as the language of the Pan-African movement of the latter half of the 20th century. The seven principles which capture the cultural praxis of Africa and the African diaspora are as follows: Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race; Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves; Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together; Ujamaa : To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together; Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness; Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it; Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers,

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday , December 29, 2016

Jagdeo, PPP have bad record on maintaining D&I structures Dear Editor I SAW in all the print media, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo lecturing the two-year-old coalition government to bring immediate measures and relief to those who were affected by the flood lately in Georgetown and around the country and minimise damage and losses to property, livestock and agricultural crops. He is behaving as though there were no floods during his tenure and the PPP’s 23 years in government. He should realise that this new government made miraculous achievements within its short time in the face of the reality of inheriting a wrecked economy.

As soon as the coalition assumed office, it started to remove and clear tonnes of garbage which had piled up under the previous administration. It also cleared canals and trenches which were clogged up for decades. Its commitment to principles and devotion to the working people and businesses helped it to survive two floods since 2015 soon after assuming office, which could have been more disastrous to property, livestock and agricultural

crops as had happened in the 2005 flooding under Jagdeo’s tenure. All the villages and rice-cultivation areas that he had mentioned in Region Two and other parts of the country had been flooded for the past 23 years.

Farmers lost cash crops, rice crops, livestock, properties were damaged and businesses lost millions of dollars in stocks without any compensation from his government. The Jagdeo administration never improved the systems after the 2005 flood, after which floodwaters annually deposited sediments, slowly building up drift mud along the sea coast which were never removed. The mouth of the Pomeroon River and other parts of the country were silted up, preventing the water from receding in a timely manner.

Thus, the water kept piling up on the land causing floods. Following the ‘great flood’ of 2005,the government never built any levee system and jetties to send the sediment into the deep waters of the Atlantic to help prevent floods. Of course, every practical government knows that good drainage is paramount to the survival of humans, crops and livestock and also businesses. Along the coast there were magnificent drainage canals 50 feet wide; during the Dutch

our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

For us in Guyana, the first principle, Umoja, is particularly important. Unity or the lack thereof has been a central concern within the African-Guyanese community and among the diverse cultural communities in the country. While the enslaved Africans arrived in the Americas as a very diverse group, the experience of enslavement engendered a new Pan-African identity that was premised on a shared experience of subjugation on heritage. That unity of heritage and experience was pivotal in the construction of the unity of purpose that was most manifested in the Village Movement, whereby the freed Africans instantly bought lands and created the villages which we today call communities.

Unfortunately, over the last few decades, despite charges of external manipulation of the group, African-Guyanese organisations have found it difficult to unite around a common agenda. When last was there a summit of African-Guyanese organisations aimed at addressing the challenges of the community? From what we have observed, each group seems to be doing its own thing while the plight of the collective remains unattended. We noted a recent complaint by ACDA that the Opposition Leader did not consult with African-Guyanese organisations in relation to the list of nominees for the chairmanship of GECOM. While ACDA’s complaint is in

occupation, these ran straight from the main conservancy canal straight out to the very sea margin. At the end of them were caisson sluices which, in case of wash, may be removed without trouble.

All these were destroyed and in front of these sluices were thrown down crescents of blocks of stone rip-rap to comb the flooding; these too have disappeared.

Hampton Court estate, which is owned by Sattie Ramnauth, went through unspeakable times with flooding for decades because of failure to correct some minor drainage and irrigation problems by the past administration.

The mayor turned a blind eye to her complaints that all the residents had blocked up in front of their entrance drainage trench without placing any kokers which caused her estate, playground and airstrip to be under water every time it rained heavily . According to her, the mayor always made excuses that the backhoe and drain digger were out of order and there was no long-boom hymac available in the region to handle the canals and trenches. She then sought the help of Mr Rupert Hopkinson, REO, and was able to get help to clear the drainage canals which had been clogged up for years.

During the Tapakuma Irrigation Scheme Phase

Two project under the Burnham and Hoyte governments, several large caterpillar pumps were placed at Anna Regina, Lima, Hampton Court and Somerset and Berks by the British contracting firm Reed and Mallik to alleviate flooding. When the PPP took office in 1992,all these big pumps were removed from the region and replaced with smaller ones which do not have the capacity to reduce flooding. Many sea defence kokers which were built by the Dutch and British were condemned; these sluices have more capacity flow to discharge water into the sea during outfall tide. Our country will continue to spend heavily on drainage, sea defence and irrigation because of the mistakes in shutting down the sea defence sluices. The scheme was so designed within the township of Anna Regina to Walton Hall that almost every village had a sluice to take care of the excessive overtopping water release from the main conservancy canal.

Regards MOHAMED KHAN

order, perhaps that organisation should reflect on the state of consultations among African-Guyanese organisations.

Speaking at the Cuffy250 annual Forum in August, President Granger bemoaned this lack of united purpose and challenged the African organisations to come up with an action plan. To the best of our knowledge, despite some early movement in that direction, such a plan has not been submitted to the President. We have seen media reports of an ACDA plan, but not the larger plan the President asked for.

Based on our reports, this crisis of Umoja (unity) is replicated in the communities across the country where community organisations and leaders find it difficult to work together for the common good. It is ironic that the villages, the symbols of united action, have become symbols of disunity.

So, as we observe Kwanzaa, we urge African- Guyanese leaders and organisations to think beyond narrow celebration and use the opportunity to reflect on the state of the community in relation to the principles of the observances. It is time African-Guyanese organisations engage in some self-criticism and soul- searching on the extent to which they have not lived up to the Kwanzaa principles.

In the end, leadership matters. That said, Happy Kwanzaa to African-Guyanese and Guyana. May the spirit of the ancestors shine positive light in the new year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday , December 29, 2016

I am a Guyanese ‘cook’ learning how to govern

Dear Editor,

MR. Sasenarine Singh’s letter published in the Kaieteur News on Friday, December23, 2016, captioned: “Was Ogunseye one of those who betrayed Walter Rodney?” was his latest twisted response in our ongoing polemic over his dishonest commentary on two measures in the2017 national budget. Central to this controversy is Singh‘s integrity as an objective commentator on national issues and more importantly, his self-serving criticism of alleged corruption in the APNU+AFC government.

By pretending to be an anti-corruption advocate, and saying that I am collecting gold coins, which is a betrayal of Walter Rodney, Singh is trying to divert attention from his history, some of which I have listed below.

Singh, after being exposed and stripped naked, is seeking to cover his “nakedness” by pretending to be a disciple of Dr. Walter Rodney. This claim by Singh to be a disciple of Rodney cannot be supported by Singh in any form or fashion. The truth of the matter is that he was never and given his tainted past will never be counted as who he claims to be.

In my last response to Sase Singh, I cited for the benefit of other readers a

web address that carried a video clip (readers can also Google Sasenarine Singh to hear the video) by a Guyanese businessman who made allegations against Sigh.

By any standards, the above is a set of damming accusations against the self-proclaimed “Liberal Democrat” and self-appointed anti-corruption fighter.

They are compelling enough to demand from him at the least, a spirited denial, but instead Singh chose to ignore this matter. Why? The truth is these are not false and malicious accusations – the businessman’s name is listed and therefore known, and he challenged Singh to refute any or all of the statements he made against him.

I spent hours searching the web and the newspaper in a futile attempt to find a denial from the so called “Liberal Democrat.” Needless to say, nothing was found. This to my mind was not surprising.

Old people say, “Monkey knows which limb to jump on.”

This is the view of Singh ‘s character by his accuser , “Based upon my interactions with Singh, I do not believe that he has any moral authority to speak on the issue of corruption at all, I do not believe that he has the integrity to hold public office.“ This is in stark contradiction with Singh’s view of himself. He informs his readers that he is prepared to play a

role in making Guyana the Singapore of the Western Hemisphere and sets out to give the impression that he is young enough to lead a pending youth revolution.

While his aspirations may be admirable, his credentials certainly are not, and they disqualify him.

In claiming identification with Walter Rodney, Singh said, “I want to be remembered like Rodney, as a man who stood with the poor and working class, and not like Tacuma who sold the poor and the working class out for a few gold coins”. I have already addressed his gold coins remarks in my previous letter. I will however repeat something that is known widely and that is I have been self-employed for the greater part of my working life and to date, no one, yes Sase Singh no one, not a single person, has ever accused me either publicly or privately, of extortion and corruption. This is the credential I bring to my work at the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU).

Let me say to Singh that if you wish to be remembered and spoken about in the same breath with Rodney, you have to begin by denouncing and disproving the accusations made against you by the businessman, admit to wrongdoings, engage in public self-criticism and commit to a non-Singapore destiny for the Guyanese

working people. Even if he finds it possible to do these things, Sase Singh will still be a hundred light years away from being remembered and compared with the image of Walter Rodney.

It will be remiss of me not to ask Mr. Sasenarine Singh to tell the public who or which political force or forces started the disinformation after Walter was assassinated that it was his comrades in the WPA who betrayed him. Given his conviction in this matter, I will say Singh is in good company. I also want to remind him that in the French Revolution, the workers and the poor did not need certification to administer justice. Since he is an academic or something like that I will cite a quotation from a worldrenowned social/political thinker and revolutionary leader on profound social change in society, “Every cook must learn to govern” - I need not say who the person is, since Singh’s UG training will help him to decipher who made the statement. I end by saying that I am a Guyanese “cook” in the employment of SARU, who is learning how to govern.

Regards TACEMA OGUNSEYE

City Hall trying to mislead on Friday’s flood Dear Editor,

THERE is a press release attributed to the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown appearing in the local media recently, with regard to the recent flooding in Georgetown that was either a clear attempt to mislead citizens or was authored by someone completely lacking knowledge of Meteorology, Geography and more specifically, coastal flooding.

Contained in this press release was that the city was monitoring overtopping in different sections of the city and that the overtopping is due to the coincidence of heavy rains and high tides.

The word overtopping which is defined as ‘the rising of water over the top of a barrier’ is being misused by the author of this release or is a feeble attempt to downplay the seriousness and the effects of Friday’s weather phenomenon.

What occurred was plain and simple ‘flooding’ which occurs most commonly in Guyana and particularly in Georgetown from heavy rainfall when the natural watercourses (our network of drains) do not have the capacity to convey the excess water out into the river or elsewhere. Everyone is aware that the city is below the high tide and depends on a system of sluices and pumps for drainage and that is why it was disappointing to learn that at least two of the five hydro flow pumps along the Demerara River were in-

operable. Someone should be severely sanctioned for this, if for nothing more that the damage done to stock, furnishing etcetera in the lower flats of homes and groundfloor business operations.

It is the responsibility of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown as it is the duty of municipalities all over the world to ensure by whatever means necessary that our drains, canals and waterways are free from garbage and other things that could restrict their capacity to hold storm water and reduce the flow through our outfall channels.

It is egregious that the Council doled out approximately seven hundred million or three quarters of a billion dollars, most of which went to one contractor on drainage works over the last 18 months and yet the drainage system is still far from what should be or what it used to be years ago, when it was maintained years ago by municipal workers at a fraction of that cost.

Mismanagement, corruption, nepotism and a lack of accountability are causing one disaster after another in the city. It is time for the City Council to be honest and straightforward with us, and not attempt through the use of fancy terms which they don’t understand, or through lame excuses, try to pull the wool over the eyes of citizens.

Regards MARK ROOPAN

8

Brothers physically abused by mother

…abandoned in Port Kaituma house

By Alva Solomon LAW enforcement authorities in Georgetown have arrested the mother of three boys who were found physically abused and abandoned at a house at Oronoque in Port Kaituma last week.

The mother of the children, who resided at Agricola on the East Bank of Demerara prior to moving to the Region One community several months ago, reportedly left the children alone at the family’s home last Wednesday and travelled to the city.

The boys, whose ages were given as seven, five and 18 months old, were found alone on Thursday afternoon (December 22) by a

male relative who returned to Port Kaituma after spending several weeks in the mining fields there. The man was horrified to find the boys alone at home, hungry and abused.

One of the boys nursed a cut to one of his feet and had swollen hands, which he reportedly sustained after being beaten by his mother; while the 18-month-old bore signs of physical abuse. The children were subsequently placed in the custody of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) and they are expected to be moved to Georgetown this week. Hospital sources at Port Kaituma reported that the children’s condition have improved vastly in recent days.

After they were rescued last Thursday, one of the boys told the authorities that their mother allegedly left them alone after severely beating one of his brothers.

The family had reportedly moved into the area a month ago.

Reports are that the children’s grandmother travelled to the Region One mining community after being informed of the children’s abandonment and she has indicated her willingness to take care of them. The grandmother has reservations about the children being placed in the care of the State, however residents expressed concern that the woman is incapable of taking care of the boys.

Miner accused of snatching gold chain from SOCU rank A 23-YEAR-OLD miner was remanded to prison on Wednesday by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for the offense of simple larceny.

Seon Maynard of Alberttown, Georgetown pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on December 24, 2016, at Stabroek Market he stole a $150,000

gold chain from Robert Tindal, a police officer attached to Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

Maynard did not have legal representation but explained to the court that he was in Georgetown shopping with his girlfriend when she left him outside the market to buy beef to make pepperpot.

The accused further pro-

tested the he was burdened with shopping bags as he stood outside the market when the police arrested him.

“The people start shout leff duh boy is na he thief the chain,” Maynard told the court as he pointed out that he was beaten by the police officer.

However the Police Prosecutor informed the court that Maynard’s explanations are not true and that the gold chain was recovered in his hands.

The prosecutor objected to the man being released on bail since he gave the police conflicting home addresses. Bail was refused and he was remanded to prison until January 12, 2017.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

Third suspect charged for Laing Avenue murder AFTER almost four months on the run, the third suspect fingered in the execution of former murder accused, Orin David, called ‘Malik’ was remanded to prison on Wednesday after recently being nabbed by the police.

Howard Rambarose also known as ‘Spleen’, 24, of Meadow Bank, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, charged with the capital offence of murder.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on August 1, 2016 at Laing Avenue, Georgetown he murdered David. He was not represented and was remanded until January 4, 2017; the matter was transferred to the Night Court.

Negus Lamaizon of 51 D’Urban Street and Samuel McIntyre are also jointly charged for the same offence.

The Preliminary Inquiry for the duo is being held before Magistrate Dylon Bess.

Rambarose was nabbed on Christmas Eve by police in Agricola, East Bank Demerara after returning from Suriname. In May, Rambarose was freed on a drug trafficking charge by City Magistrate Judy Latchman and in 2015 he was cleared from two multi-million dollar armed robbery charges

by City Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

David was gunned down in front of his Lot 89 Laing Avenue, Georgetown home around 15:00 hrs, in the presence of his reputed wife and other relatives. The 33-yearold was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital, shortly after one of five men came out of a car

Remanded: Howard Rambarose also known as ‘Spleen’

Dead: Orin David called ‘Malik’

and pumped several bullets into him. Police recovered a number of 9mm bullet casings at the scene.

According to reports, David had several confron-

tations with an Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident whom he had bailed out of jail some time last year. David and the individual were involved in a heated argument again, since the Agricola resident had refused to return the $150,000 David had paid to have him released.

After the argument, the Agricola resident went away, but later returned with four other men in two vehicles and executed the former murder accused.

Thieves torch way into …cart off safe, general store supplies BANDITS torched their way into Hardware Emporium and General Store, located on Church Street, Georgetown carting off a safe, supplies and an undisclosed amount of valuables.

This newspaper under-

Hardware Emporium General Store

stands that the perpetrators gained access from the rear of the building by torching a hole into a metal gate in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

They reportedly scaled a fence that separates the former Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) building and the store. Police said the robbers, who appeared to have some knowledge of

the building and its security features, disabled the alarm and power to the building.

This resulted in the loss of CCTV camera feed and the backup generator was also bypassed. One employee noted that the break in seemed very suspicious since a new security system was recently installed.

Police said the matter is being investigated.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

Greenidge’s Police, other relatives witnesses testify suspicious Bartica Massacre

– following discovery of skeletal remains on Soesdyke-Linden Highway

Feared Dead: Troy Greenidge

By Rabindra Rooplall THE relatives of a man who went missing some two years ago are suspicious that the recent discovery of a male human skeleton on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway could be him.

The skeletal remains were discovered Thursday last after an anonymous caller made a report to the police.

The bones were discovered on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, about 400 yards from Splashmins Resort.

A bottle suspected to contain a poisonous substance was found some 40 feet away from the remains.

Next to the bottle were cigarettes, a lighter, sneakers, socks and a t-shirt.

Police suspect that the remains are that of a male of Amerindian heritage.

However, based on the photograph published in this newspaper, the relatives of Troy Greenidge, 26, of John Fernandes Housing Scheme, said that the three-quarter black short pants on the skeleton is similar to the one worn by Greenidge.

Seeta Persaud, the mother of Greenidge, told the Guyana Chronicle that her son was last seen wearing the black three-quarter pants, a navy blue jersey and a pair

The skeletal remains discovered on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway last Thursday

of black and white Nike slippers.

Greenidge, a father of two, went missing on Wednesday, October 15, 2014.

He reportedly left home to collect his salary from his employer at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, but never returned.

A formal missing person’s report was made at the Providence Police Station three days after his disappearance.

In 2014, police scoured an area at Providence, East Bank Demerara, for Greenidge, after receiving reports that he may have been executed and buried there.

However, they came up empty-handed.

That year, Greenidge’s mother had related that she received an anonymous call from a woman who informed her that her son had been beaten to death.

The caller also claimed that the killers had used an excavator to bury her son’s corpse at a Providence location.

Persaud alleged that she

immediately made a report at the Providence Police Station, and was told to speak to a senior police officer at the Brickdam Police Station.

Reports revealed that Greenidge’s reputed wife had received a phone call from him. According to reports, Greenidge said that he did not know where he was, but he was “in the trunk of a car.”

That was the last time relatives heard from him.

In 2011, Greenidge and several others were charged with robbing Guyana Stockfeeds Limited employees at gunpoint.

He was also detained by the police in 2012 in the wake of the shooting death by police of Agricola resident Shaquille Grant, since he was a witness in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into Grant’s murder.

However, relatives are not sure if his disappearance is connected to his testimony. The alleged shooter has been committed to stand trial in the High Court for the Agricola teen’s murder.

THE Bartica Massacre trial continued in the High Court on Wednesday before Justice Roxanne George and a 12-member jury in which three police witnesses were recalled to testify, as well as two other witnesses.

On trial are Mark Royden Williams called “Smallie”, Dennis Williams called “Anaconda” and Roger Simon called “Goat Man” who are each indicted for 12 counts for the murder of nine civilians and three policemen at Bartica on February 17, 2008.

However, two of the five accused, Michael Caesar and Clebert Reece have since plead guilty to manslaughter separately and have been sentenced.

Mark Royden Williams is being represented by Roger Yearwood, Dennis Williams’ lawyer is Saphier Hussain and Roger Simon’s attorney is Peter Hugh.

During the February 17, 2008 rampage, nine civilians and three cops were gunned down by a group of heavily armed men, who descended on Bartica at nightfall.

Those who lost their lives were Bartica residents Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian and Irving Ferreira; policemen stationed at the Bartica Police Station, Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne; Deonarine Singh of Wakenaam; Ronald Gomes of Kuru Kururu; Ashraf Khan of Middlesex, Essequibo; Abdool Yasseen and Errol Thomas of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; and Baldeo Singh of Montrose, East Coast Demerara.

Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins, according to the police, led the gang on the rampage in Bartica, as well as the one that converged on Lusignan on January

26, 2008.

Rawlins was killed during a Joint Services Operation on August 28, 2008. With his death and the arrest and prosecution of the five suspects, it appeared as though the police had closed their investigation.

Police witnesses Linden Lord, Rodwell Sarrabo and Trevor Reid were recalled to be cross-examined by Defence Counsel Peter Hugh, who had been out for a while.

In cross-examination, Peter Hugh asked Rodwell Sarrabo how long his interaction with Roger Simon called “Goat Man” lasted and he replied about 10 minutes and during that time the allegation was put to him that he along with others murdered 12 persons in Bartica on February 17, 2008.

Sarrabo added that after the allegation was put to Simon, he said “I was in de bush working and meh ain’t know wah going on.”

When questioned, Sarrabo said that he could not recall what Simon was wearing that day and when asked if he was wearing shoes, he stated that obviously he was since it was not strange for the GPF to provide shoes for persons detained for questioning.

Hugh asked Sarrabo whether he was able to establish the claim made by Simon of his whereabouts as it regards to the incident.

Trevor Reid told the court that he first saw Mark Royden Williams called “Smallie” at the CID headquarters but could not recall the date when he was asked by Defence Counsel Roger Yearwood.

Reid told the court that he would have to refresh from his statements and it was put to him that Duane Williams is not facing any charges in the Bartica incident and he replied in the

negative.

He told the court that Duane Williams was charged for Lusignan murders and were not sure if the charges were withdrawn and he does refer to him (Reid) as “Big Man” and Reid does call Duane Williams “Small Friend”.

Defence Counsel Peter Hugh under cross-examination to Reid asked whether he was in-charge of the investigation as it relates to Bartica Massacre and he said he was but for the Georgetown area alone.

Yearwood on the other hand grilled Reid if he knew Simon was in the interior working at the time of the incident and he answered in the affirmative.

He was further questioned as to why he did not verify the bit of information and he told the court that the information was channeled since it is a norm for the police to share information in the divisions.

Meanwhile, an application was made by State Prosecutor Diana Kaulesar for the depositions of two witnesses, who testified in the Magistrate’s Court to be read into evidence in the trial since both are deceased.

They are Inspectors Leroy Alexander and Gerald Ulicar.

The state called Shanae Castello, a relative of Alexander, who testified that he died on March 12, 2011 and the death certificate which she produced was tendered and admitted as evidence in the trial.

Leandro Alexander was also called to testify on Wednesday and he told the court that his father died on October 26, 2014 after which an application was made by Kaulesar for the witness to produce the death certificate which was tendered and admitted as evidence in the trial.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

Elderly woman strip-searched at CJIA – says it was unreasonable and embarrassing A SIXTY-EIGHT-YEAROLD woman has complained of being embarrassed after security at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Timehri told her that they were following security procedure when they took her in a room and asked her to strip.

The U.S.-based Guyanese said in mid-September, she visited Guyana for just five days after hearing that her house had been invaded by floodwaters at Mocha-Arcadia, East Bank Demerara.

On September 16, she was travelling back to the U.S. and as she checked in and approached security at

the airport, she was asked to take the scan.

The woman said she explained to the officers that she cannot do a body scan and was impolitely sent into a room when two officers asked her to strip.

She explained to the Guyana Chronicle that she had previously undergone a cancer-related surgical procedure and was ordered by her doctor to avoid much radiation. That is why she could not do the scan at the airport.

The woman who declined to be named said she has travelled many countries, but disappointment clouds her joy of home as the bad

experience was experienced in her own country.

“Normally, when this is the case, airport personnel, internationally, administer a pat down. This was not the case with me. I was rudely ordered into a room with an audience and ordered to strip… I had to take off my top and my pants. It’s how the woman said it, she said you have to strip. It’s embarrassing for beginners. They didn’t say we suspect something. I don’t even know if it is [because of] the short stay that I had here,” the senior citizen said.

She said none of the officers told her the reason for the search and while she was

there, no other passenger was subjected to the same treatment.

“This has been a very distressing and traumatic experience… I have travelled… and never have I suffered such humiliation and disgraceful treatment. These were like young women who could have been my children.

Why does my country have to bring this embarrassment to me?” the woman asked.

She said she has never been in trouble with the law and has no plans of doing such at age 68.

“I am not a terrorist, nor am I a drug dealer. If this is the way people are treated, then no one will want to visit Guyana to do a striptease act at the airport,” the woman told the Guyana Chronicle.

She suggested that airport staff receive proper training to carry out their responsibilities, as it is the first place of contact for those travelling into Guyana.

And on that note, the elderly woman is calling on President David Granger, Attorney General Basil Williams and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan to ensure airport personnel are properly trained.

“They need training.

They need to be trained how to deal with such situations.

They need to send them to observe how passengers are processed international [sic] at airports; and not be denigrated as I was made to endure,” the woman said.

She said even at the John F. Kennedy International

Airport, a female officer would accompany her and administer a ‘pat down.’

The woman said she had left Guyana since 1974 and lived in Africa and several other countries before migrating to the U.S. She visits her homeland at least twice every year and considers herself a “dual citizen.”

The woman said on that day, the only reason she did not turn back was the fact that she had a doctor’s appointment in the U.S. and she knew too that her ticket money would not have been refunded by the airline agency.

Efforts to contact Airport Manager Ramesh Geer yesterday proved futile.

Scrap-metal dealers cry for help ...plead with gov’t to re-open trade

By Ariana Gordon THE Guyana Metal Recyclers Association has issued a renewed call for the Government of Guyana to reopen the suspended scrap metal trade. The trade was suspended since June 2015 and according to Secretary of the Association, Michael Benjamin, persons within the trade are being forced out of honest work.

In an interview with

the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday, Benjamin said despite promises made by the APNU+AFC administration to lift the suspension on the trade, nothing has been done and dealers are losing millions of dollars on a daily basis. He explained that properties belonging to some of the dealers have been forfeited by the bank and persons are under strain to provide for their families.

“Eighteen months into

the suspension and we have no firm commitment from the Ministry of Business regarding the resumption of the trade. We at this moment are very disappointed and are under a lot of financial constraints…we have lots of obligations,” said a frustrated Benjamin.

According to Benjamin, it was expected that the trade would be reopened on or

by November 30, 2016 in accordance with a roadmap prepared by the Ministry of Business. The roadmap indicated that the trade would have been reopened after the completion of the draft legislation, a scrap metal proposal, the creation of operational process for carrying on trade, draft regulations and SOP’s for the regulating of the trade, the design and composition of a monitoring unit, the establishment of licensing fees, the submission of the legislation to the National Assembly for passage, and the establishment of a scrap metal unit.

In a correspondence to the Association dated August 16, 2016, subject Minister, Dominic Gaskin said, “In so far as the resumption of the scrap metal trade is concerned, there is currently no regulatory body in place to oversee the operation of the trade. The Ministry of Business has set out a road map of actions that need to be completed before the trade can resume and is working towards achieving the set milestones.”

Secretary of the Guyana Metal Recyclers Association, Michael Benjamin displays a document sent to the Association by the Ministry of Business on Wednesday

But Benjamin said the roadmap submitted by the Minister is not realistic and is placing excess hardship on those who depend on the trade to maintain their families.

“There is no certainty right now… we are not certain where we are at this point. Up to when we picketed in August, the President spoke with us and we asked for the trade to be reopened and government can work on the new legislation simultaneously. I don’t see anything wrong with the current legislation…the administration never tried it.”

He said the Association understands the concerns of the government and that of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) and the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) as it relates to vandalism. However, he made it clear that there

is a list of 25 exporters all of whom are licensed scrap metal dealers and members of the Association. On December 16, 2016, Business Liaison Officer, Neilson McKenzie (Jr.) in a letter to the Association informed that the Ministry of Business will begin the process of registering scrap metal exporters in advance of the resumption of the trade under a new legislative and regulatory framework.

“Under this framework, the Ministry intends to license dealers and collectors and regulate the trade in a manner that emphasises traceability and accountability. Dealers will be required to submit reports of every transaction and will be prohibited from acquiring scrap metal that cannot be traced to its original owner,” the letter from the Ministry of Business stated.

Additionally, the Minis-

try said that it expects to resume the issuing of licences for the export of scrap metal to registered exporters who can provide “proper documentation” to show how the metal was acquired.

“Until such time as new legislation takes effect the existing legislation will remain in force,” the letter stated. The Ministry of Business said it recognises the plight of those who depend on the industry to earn and is “committed to its earliest possible resumption.”

“The Ministry is equally committed to ensuring that the industry is allowed to operate in a way that is free from the harmful impacts of the various malpractices that have plagued it in the past.”

But the Secretary of the Metal Recyclers Association finds the letter “strange” as a list comprising 25 exporters

Turn to page 11 ►

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

Parking meters Army, police reject roll out in January Chronicle headline TOWN Clerk Royston King said the parking meter project is expected to take effect on January 9, 2016, but for informational purposes, so that persons can be familiarised on how the meters are used.

During the final statutory meeting of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) at City Hall, the town clerk said that the informational phase will be conducted for a few days, after which, the project will take full effect.

King in a statement had disclosed that the M&CC will soon apply to Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan for confirmation of the Georgetown parking meters by-laws.

“These by-laws seek to enforce general and specific measures to ensure the integrity of the parking meter project will be fully introduced in the City of Georgetown on January 9, 2017,” the town clerk said.

Drivers will be required to purchase “parking cards” from the Smart City Office or other vendors, in order to park at a designated area and will be required to pay $50 for every 15 minutes or $200 for every hour. The prices were approved by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

The parking cards will be available for either long or short-term use and drivers will be required to refill the cards for a specific value.

After inserting the card, a receipt will follow, which drivers must place on the front windscreen, so inspectors will see that the spot was paid for.

It was also noted that

City Mayor Patricia Chase-Green

drivers will pay for parking from Monday to Saturday only, between 07:00 hrs – 19:00 hrs.

This, initiative he said, is just one of the major projects in the pipeline for 2017, given that aside from parking meters which will boost city revenues, the M&CC will be looking to employ a new strategy that will see the Council renting municipal bonds.

INTROSPECTION As the city continues to take steps to improve income-collection and boost services, King said the M&CC has commenced introspection to outline shortfalls and look at areas where they can enhance services.

“Two pump attendants were already suspended for refusing to execute their tasks… by doing so they compromised our already fragile drainage system… so in order to find more things like these, we need to look inwards instead of just looking outwards,” stressed the town clerk.

The M&CC will be moving to implement more training programmes to bolster its human resources and to also recruit more competent individuals.

“We are stagnated by the old pattern of the old system and actions will be taken against it,” Mayor Patricia Chase-Green said.

The mayor also used the opportunity to inform the town clerk of the work of the officers/staff that operate under him. As such, she indicated to King that, “if you can’t properly manage your officers, we will manage you.”

Some shortcomings in

Town Clerk Royston King

2016 led to the M&CC failing to complete rehabilitation of the Kitty Market; however, it was able to achieve some of its goals, such as the transformation of the Merriman Mall and reconstruction of some bridges, among other things.

Next year greater emphasis will be placed on minimising flooding in areas such as South Ruimveldt and Albouystown, the mayor said.

Scrap metal... was submitted to the Ministry of Business.

“I don’t understand this… this was a dark Christmas… there are 42 containers sitting on the wharf…millions being lost…we have storage fees.

Scrap metal is a lucrative business and we are being denied the right to earn, pay our bills and support our families,” Benjamin said.

According to him, there has always been traceability in the system citing an exporter’s logbook which requires the names, identification numbers, telephone numbers and addresses of the registered exporters.

“We are saying the leg-

islation is there enforce it… deal with those who vandalise…not because there are a few bad eggs you shut down the trade,” he declared.

Some containers that were sitting on city wharves were allowed to be exported last December but according to Benjamin only six exporters were allowed to ship. He contended that the Ministry’s bid to regulate the trade would be pointless without the assistance of the police.

“The police must play a major role in the trade. We do not get the support of the police. We want a smooth running trade that will always portray positive work

From page 10

ethics.”

Benjamin told Guyana Chronicle that over 1300 persons are faced with difficult circumstances as a result of the suspension of the trade and he pleaded with President David Granger to intervene.

“Mr. President, please let good sense prevail; intervene immediately and let the trade begin. We are at a standstill; we are not getting enough feedback to know what is causing the delay. It is too long and we are suffering tremendously,” he pleaded.

“Mr. President please have a heart of compassion,” cried Benjamin.

THE Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force have both rejected a headline in the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday saying “ Army, police officers fingered” in the ongoing probe into an illegal aircraft that was abandoned at Yupukari, Region Nine back in September.

The law enforcement agencies did not deny the contents of the article, but pointed out that the headline was misleading and erroneous. Reporting from the findings of a commission of inquiry into the discovery of the illegal plane Guyana Chronicle reported that two members of the joint services are under investigation to determine whether they had any links to the

issue. The officers - a deputy superintendent of police and a 2nd lieutenant of the GDF have been removed from their postings in the area and the GDF was asked to set up a Board of Inquiry to probe any possible wrong doing by the officers.

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 findings 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 be conducted into whether they knew of the aircraft operations.

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

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

Jealous lover severs woman’s arm ….chops mother, others

By Nafeeza Yahya THE Udho family of No.70 village, Berbice, left their home on Christmas Eve to go to the busy Corriverton area for a lime and to cash in on any last-minute Christmas deals; however, they never made it past three houses from where they live as they were bru-

tally attacked by a jealous cutlass-wielding former lover of a family member.

In the aftermath of the attack, the man’s former girlfriend 23-year-old Bhartie Udho,had received several wounds about her body, including the head and lost her right arm and two fingers. Her 43-year-old mother, Amika Udho, suffered sev-

Suspect: Shamar Mohamed Ally, also known as ‘Crabman,’ is in hiding

eral chops about the body, including the neck and lost her right middle finger.

The younger daughter of the family, 18-year-old Alisa Ali also suffered several chops about the body after attempting to rescue her mother and sister. The alleged attacker, who has been identified as 27-yearold Shamar Mohamed Ally also known as ‘Crabman’ has gone into hiding.

According to Alisa, the incident occurred about 20:30hrs as the family left home for Skeldon.

“Between 8 and 8:30, we left to go catch car on the road to go Skeldon and when we turn to go on the street, I stepped back because my shoe strap was loose… then I don’t know where

TWENTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD Bhartie Udho lost her arm during the attack

The mother, Amika Udho, is in a serious condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital

Alisa Ali was broadsided several times when she attempted to save her family

this man come from but he throw a rope around my sister neck and dragged her to the ground. When she fell, he got on his knees and pulled out a cutlass from his right side and started to broadside her,” the traumatised teenager told this newspaper.

Alisa related that her mother then tried to push ‘Crabman’ away with the help of her two brothers, but he remained planted on the

ground. At this point the traumatised teen recalled that the attacker became enraged and started to chop her mother and sister, while he kept her two younger brothers, ages 14 and 17, at bay.

“After them try to push him off, he start chop me sister and mother, he chop me sister on she forehead, neck back and cut off her fingers when she try to bar the cutlass…the same thing happened to my mother when

she try fuh hold back the cutlass, she lose she middle finger on she right hand.”

The young woman said after she realised the attacker was not letting up, she decided to intervene by trying to push him away from her sister, but he turned the cutlass on her, dealing her several hits about her arms and shoulders before returning to her sister.

At this point, Alisa recalled that he fired a chop towards her sister, who attempted to block it causing her right arm to be severed from the elbow. Alisa intervened again, only to be hit several times more, but allowed the attacker to turn his attention away from her sister, whom he seemed hell bent on killing.

By this time her youngest sister, 16-year-old Afeeda, had heard the screams and ran out to the street only to be chased away by the cutlass-wielding man, who ran away after her father came out.

“When my dad came out ‘Crabman’ ran away, dad was confused seeing me holding my mother covered in blood and my sister with her hand chopped off, that he started to shout and the neighbours came and lend us their car to take them to the hospital.”

Alisa related that upon arrival at the Skeldon Hospital, they were immediately rushed by ambulance to the New Amsterdam hospital and later transferred to the Georgetown Public hospital, where her family underwent surgery and are being kept in the intensive care unit. Their condition is listed as stable but serious.

AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP Upon inquiring what may Turn to page 16 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

Linden Mayor puts smiles on hundreds of children’s faces for Christmas ABOUT 250 children from various communities in Linden were presented with Christmas gifts from Mayor Carwyn Holland and his family.

Mayor Holland and his family visited several streets including Gardinia, Dhalia and Hodge Lane where scores of children flocked

them for gifts especially the less fortunate ones. The Mayor also visited the Mackenzie Hospital children’s ward.

Holland disclosed that sharing toys on Christmas day is a 12-year-old tradition for him. He said it has taken on greater significance now that he is Mayor. “I’ve always given gifts or treats at Christ-

mas, this is the first time I’ve been able to do it on a large scale, which motivates me to do it even bigger next year.

The joy on the children’s faces is my reward, I felt blessed giving to them,” Holland said.

“Many children due to the financial situation of their parents were unable to be

Mayor Holland with a child at the Mackenzie Hospital

Tesouro Resources spreads Christmas cheer CHILDREN living in four orphanages in the city benefited from Christmas goodies compliments of Tesouro Resources last week.

The mining company, managed by Dean Hassan, feted approximately 400 children who live in the St. Ann’s, Shaheed’s Boys and Girls, and the St. John Bosco’s orphanages along with Joshua House, West Ruimveldt Children Home and the Sophia Care Center.

According to a statement from the company, a team of officials from Tesouro Resources visited the orphanages to share meals and distribute gifts as part of the company’s commitment to ensure that the less fortunate, especially children are able to enjoy the splendor of Christmas.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tesouro Resources, Dean Hassan said his company recognises the struggles that many children face, be it separation from their parents or lack of the necessary financial resources and as such believes that “it is our social responsibility to support them, not only during the Christmas Season but throughout the year.”

Tesouro’s team was led

by Office Manager, Jaswick Williams who at each visit sang Christmas carols and danced with the children.

Williams also told the children about the significance of Christmas.

“We recognise the need to support these children, not only at Christmas but throughout the year. Tesouro

Resources will in the coming year continue to give to the society despite possible future struggles of the mining industry,” he stated.

Meanwhile, 16 year-old Savitree Mohase of the St. Ann’s Orphanage thanked the company for spreading joy.

“We’re very thankful for what Mr. Hassan is doing. It makes us feel like someone out there cares about us.”

Mohase’s sentiments were corroborated by the orphanage’s Director, Sister Leonie Da Costa who said, “The girls have been brought joy and the Spirit of Christmas…It is my hope that the children will remember later in life the blessings they have received here and will in turn give back to society.”

Tesouro Resources Office Manager, Jaswick Williams stands with children from the St. John’s Bosco and St. Ann’s Orphanages

given Christmas gifts and so this brought great joy to some of these boys and girls who showed their appreciation in hearty smiles, hugs and kisses and loud thank you,” Holland commented. “I like this gift, I will cherish it... thank you Mr. Mayor,” said one lad who showed off his new brand truck. “I am happy

for this gift and I would like to say thank you to the Mayor for wishing me a happy Christmas with this gift,” little Tricia said.

“Our children are our most important human resource because they are our future, too often we get distracted and forget to make them a priority, this is my

simple gesture in that vein,” Holland explained as he shared the gifts out. He expressed gratitude to Capital Install Guyana, President Granger, Rent-a-Tent, Gafoors, IPA Group and Bosai for their contribution made towards the drive. In 2017, he is hoping to secure a gift for every child in Linden.

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland surrounded by children in Christianburg

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday , December 29, 2016

Report reveals deficiencies in Amaila Falls project

SEVERAL risks and flaws have been identified in the design of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), which will threaten the project’s long-term effectiveness and prove costly and burdensome to the people of Guyana and the country.

This is the contention of the Government of Guyana, after the release of a report which critically and “objectively” assessed the viability

of the project. The report was compiled by Norconsult, an engineering and design consultancy firm from Norway, which was contracted by the Government of that country to complete an “objective and fact-based” assessment of the project following an agreement by the two countries.

“Though the project is just one of several renewable energy options being looked at by Guyana, Government believes that the report iden-

tifies several risks and flaws in the design of the project, which will threaten its longterm effectiveness and prove too costly and burdensome to the people of Guyana and the country as a small developing state,” the Government of Guyana said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the report, one of the major flaws is the absence of a separate flywheel between the turbine and the generator. This was described

by the company as a highly “uncommon design” and impractical for vertical shaft units of a size as in the case of AFHP. The report stated too that this requirement is also notably absent from the Engineering/Procurement/ Construction (EPC) Contract drawings, the technical description of the project, the Bill of Quantities and in the Independent Engineer’s Due Diligence Report of 2013.

An artist’s impression of the Amaila Falls Hydropower facility

Norconsult’s report also identifies the absence of several details from the Owner’s requirement, including the “minimum requirement to overall plant efficiency, which includes the hydraulic losses in the waterway.”

The company also pointed out another major concern of efficient utilisation which was listed in its report.

“The power plant is required to yield a certain output (MW) at a certain headwater level with no maximum figure set for the corresponding turbine water flow. Therefore, the EPC Contractor could choose to diminish the cross area (diameter) of the tunnels in order to save cost and compensate by increasing the water flow.

This would mean less energy production of the same amount of water and thereby a less efficient utilisation of the Amaila Falls as a hydropower resource.”

Norconsult took note too of the absence of any sediment-handling methodology in the design of the plant, which it said is quite a serious issue, since sedimentation can threaten the plant’s continued operation.

Additionally, Norconsult stated that the “19m head loss in about 3 km long headrace tunnel is higher than would be expected for a hydropower plant designed by traditional procedures for hydraulic optimization.”

The report goes on to state that “the dimensions described for the pressure shaft and pressure tunnel are also not sufficient for satisfying requirements for regulation stability.”

The company also questioned the steel lining proposed for the tunnel lining and noted that risks associated with this configuration can be reduced by an “expensive vertical core drilling from the surface and down the hole hydraulic splitting tests at different levels in the holes.”

Having examined the report, the Government of Guy-

ana says it considers the review of “utmost importance,” as it provides “indisputable evidence” to support its position taken while in opposition that the project in its current configuration does not meet minimum requirements to ensure its viability and longevity.

“It is the view of the Government that the Norconsult Report has given credence to its position on the need for an energy mix to increase the country’s share of renewable energy by close to 100 percent by the year 2025.”

The report also provides supporting evidence that the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project would not be optimal in its current model and presents an unbalanced risk to the Government and People of Guyana,” the statement noted.

As such, they noted that rectifying the many issues identified will increase the total cost of the project substantially, thereby impacting the tariff rates from the outset.

And having studied the report and conscious of the specific needs of the country, the Government of Guyana said it proposes to utilise a mix of energy options, starting with less risky options such as solar and wind, as outlined in Budget 2017.

Accordingly, the executive said that the country’s long-term energy plan for the transition to the increased use of renewable energy is expected to be presented to Cabinet by mid-January.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, on Wednesday confirmed that “final touches are being made to the draft document” and once Cabinet has had their input, it will be released to the wider public. He noted too that the Government is committed to exploring all avenues for the development of renewable energy in keeping with its “green” development agenda.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday , December 29, 2016

Adel's Resort leads the way …in sustainable farming

Manager of Adel's Resort, Jessica Hadfield

SUSTAINABLE farming using the shade house technique is gaining popularity, and youth participating in the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) Programme are being encouraged to invest in this type of farming.

This was evident during a recent visit to indigenous villages located in the lower

Pomeroon River, Region Two. Jessica Hadfield,Manager of Adel’s Resort, a tourist getaway located at the mouth of the Akawini Creek, plays an integral role in educating youths about this type of farming solution, since historically hundreds of acres of farm lands in the riverine communities are affected during the spring tide season.

Thousands of dollars worth of produce are destroyed during this time and with this in mind, coupled with the effectiveness of this type of farming, Jessica has set the pace and has erected a three-section 20’x20’ shade house equipped with large boxes filled with soil.

According to her, the soil was collected from Akawini, Wakapao and Kabakaburi and plants are thriving in the various soil types under those conditions among the tomatoes, peppers, white radish, egg pant, eschalot, basil, squash and bora. She explained that because of the unavoidable climatic conditions, shade house farming will prove to be very effective in that region.

“It’s a great place to work and not like standing in a field, because here I got all my planting trays, they can either do it themselves or buy planting cups [the normal sanitary cups] like I did for the shade house, so there is no excuse for not planting, because this is the enabler; you are not gonna flood, because what you have here is perfect optimum conditions all year round.”

Jessica said she sees great prospects in Wakapao and is keen on setting up a shade house in that village, since the prospects are great. Ac-

cording to her, based on the village’s population of approximately 3,000, more than 70 per cent of the population has to travel to Charity to purchase fresh vegetables.

“Nobody grows, so the fact is you can have every one of those students cluster together four in each group and build a rain shade house scattered around the place, they can supply that lot… and so on and everything I use they can find them in their communities; I use no fancy things, there is no reason they cannot get together and make a profitable business by either selling the seedlings, fruits or vegetables.”

She noted that work could be done under any circumstances and has offered her expertise to the ministry through the HEYS programme free of charge and is hopeful that the youth and village councils can buy into this proven method of farming.

The contribution made

by Jessica towards this has caused Charles, who is a local carpenter from Wakapao, to construct one of his own and has pledged to give of his time and energy to build shade houses for any village associated with the HEYS programme.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peo-

ple’s Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, in commending the interest shown by Hadfield, added that “this is what HEYS is all about, it cannot stand by itself; that is why when HEYS was being conceptualized, we sought to get the community buy-in, the buy-in of the councillors…so Adel’s [Jessica] here is in the right place at the right time and she has an enthusiasm for the programme I have to say.”

According to Minister Garrido-Lowe, Jessica’s interests lie beyond agricultural development, given the fact that she has shown keen interest in the development of youths in the area of

eco-tourism.

“I also spoke to her about Eco-Tourism and Hospitality, where they can go and train in the whole hospitality programme; it’s not just having a hotel or having an eco-lodge but the service, that food that you serve all those things so Jessica is a perfect example of what mentorship is all about and how the businesses can start mentoring these youths to become successful entrepreneurs,” the minister acknowledged.

The minister is encouraging other interested person/s or businesses that are located in villages to support the youth so that they can realise their dreams.

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

NDIA to undertake work in Region Nine THE National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is set to embark on improving drainage and irrigation systems. To this end, the agency will, for the first time, build rainwater harvesting facilities in Region Nine as more focus is being placed on agricultural development

in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region.

Better drainage and irrigation is a pre-requisite to improved agricultural production. As measures are aimed at developing a more diversified and climate-resilient agricultural sector, a number of villages have been earmarked for the building

of these rainwater harvesting facilities.

These facilities will see increased water supply for livestock and crops while the possibility of flood risk is expected to be reduced. Residents in this region are usually affected by limited water supply during dry periods while at other times, severe

flooding during intense rainy seasons stymie growth and development of agriculture.

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder recently explained that, “For the first time, NDIA will be undertaking works in Region Nine.

The North and South Rupununi villages have traditionally suffered from inad-

equate water supply for their crops and livestock during dry months of the year.

This has severely affected their livelihood. To this end, we will be improving or building rainwater harvesting facilities in these communities, commencing in the North. Works are planned for the villages of Wowetta, Rupertee, Annai, Aranaputa, Massara, Toka, Parishara and Nappi.”

These works, as pointed out by Minister Holder, are expected to commence in 2017. He also explained that in order for new and improved systems implemented by the NDIA to be effective, proper management at technical and managerial levels is required.

The NDIA is also expected to commence mapping of agricultural facilities and drainage and irrigation channels in each administrative region. “These maps will show their location and other pertinent data. It would indicate which works are executed by Water Users Associations, Community Development Councils, Farmers’ groups, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, etc. and would be a major asset in depicting the D&I systems throughout Guyana,” Minister Holder explained.

Meanwhile, the ministry is working towards reducing flooding on the coastland.

With these plans factored into the Agriculture Ministry’s 2017 agenda, the NDIA is expected to be more proactive with the introduction of a dredger for clearing outfall channels.

Recommendations in the draft of the final report for the modelling of an effective and efficient drainage system for the city of Georgetown was submitted by a team of Dutch Engineering students.

This report will be used as a guide to ensure the flooding situation in Georgetown is corrected.

Minister Holder pointed out that, “taking due cognisance of the effects of global warming on rainfall patterns and sea level rise, we recognise that our systems must be improved.

The objective of executing capital works in the medium-term would, therefore, be to improve drainage and irrigation throughout Guyana, which would contribute to the long-term goal of achieving a high capacity D&I (drainage and irrigation) system that actively contributes to improved agricultural productivity and reduced incidence of flooding.” (GINA)

Jealous lover...

From page 12

have triggered the attack, Alisa related that the incident stemmed from her sister, Bhartie ending the relationship she had shared with the suspect since 2011.

According the Alisa, her sister decided to end the short relationship in 2011 after noticing that even though the relationship was not serious, Ally was very jealous, demanding and abusive. This did not sit well with Ally, as he would verbally abuse Bhartie whenever he saw her and on several occasions held her against her will, taking her to remote locations. However, on each occasion she managed to call someone to get her.

The sister further noted that several reports were made to the police station and the matter would end up in court, however, the case was always postponed to a later date.

As the constant abuse continued, Bhartie, a graduate of the University of Guyana, was forced to quit her job as a teacher at the #56 Primary School after the suspect would show up before and after school.

Despite moving on with his life by marrying and fathering two children, the suspect still continued to harass and abuse Bhartie whenever she ventured outside her home, Alisa said. This she said, forced Bhartie to remain indoors and the suspect then attempted to gain entry into the home in early 2016. The matter was reported and a restraining order was placed on Ally.

Meanwhile, the father of the home, Abdul Ali, told the Guyana Chronicle that he has always been fearful for his daughter’s life after noticing the suspect’s behaviour. He explained that the threats have been going on for quite some time and had the police acted more sternly, the incident could have been prevented.

He is however hoping that the police can capture the suspect so that justice can be served.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

CJIA revenue collection up by 13%

THE Cheddi Jagan International Airport’s (CJIA) revenue collection has improved by 13 percent, and this has been attributed to the processing of more passengers at the country’s main port-of-entry.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson during the recent 2017 budget presentation reported that the CJIA is projected to earn $1.3B by

December 31, 2016.

At the end of November 2016, revenues amounted to $1.168B, in comparison to the corresponding period of the previous year, when it was $1.033B. “The CJIA, I’m pleased to announce, the corporation recorded 513,444 processed passengers as of November 2016, compared to 459,346 that is up compared from last year and the CJIA was twice

GWMO raps Social Protection Ministry – over alleged violation of minor’s rights THE Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) is worried about the inordinate length of time that a nine-year-old child has been in the custody of the Counter-Trafficking Department within the Ministry of Social Protection.

The group says what is of particular concern is that the child at reference has already had a bad experience, having allegedly been trafficked by her mother, and now that she is being virtually held hostage by the Counter-Trafficking Department, will only exacerbate the situation.

According to the group, the child was promised by department head, Tanisha Williams-Corbin when she was brought to Georgetown back in September, that she would be reunited with her siblings and foster mother.

But to date, this has not happened.

It alleges that apart from missing school, the child was further embarrassed recently by a police report which stated that the doctors found that

she was never sexually active as claimed.

Since this development, she apparently wants nothing to do with the department, as, according to the GWMO: “The alleged victim was adamant that she did not want to be at the Protective Care Facility, and refused to move from the door... as her rights as a victim were not respected.”

The group said when its president, Urica Primus, contacted Corbin on October 7, she was told that the Ministry of Social Protection along with the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs were in search of someone who could speak Carib, so they could communicate with the child.

But according to the GWMO, this was unnecessary, as the child could speak English very well.

IN VIOLATION Short of outrightly accusing the Ministry of Social Protection of violating the child’s rights, the group says Turn to page 18 ►

successfully audited by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of USA in 2016,” Minister Patterson explained.

Minister Patterson also reported to the National Assembly that works on the CJIA expansion project were moving apace and that several aspects have been completed. To date excavation and foundation works are 100 percent completed,

while about half of the runway has been finished. The latter should be completed

by May next year.

Works have also commenced on the new terminal building and are expected to be completed in May, 2017. In 2016, $4.450B was provided for the continuation of the CJIA expansion project which is slated for completion at the end of 2017. No funds

were allocated for the project in the 2017 budget.

The project would see the runway extended from 7,500 to 10,800 feet, double aircraft position from four to eight, with eight passenger boarding bridges that will improve safety by eliminating the mixing of passengers and ground support vehicles as currently obtains on the apron, CCTV (closed circuit tele-

vision) system with approximately 300 cameras, two elevators and escalators, and a departure control system for the convenience of airlines to manage their passengers at the terminal.

In 2011, the then government inked a US$150M contract with China Harbour Engineering (CHEC), for the CJIA expansion project.

(GINA)

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

GNBS upgrading to improve business standards

INFRASTRUCTURE at the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) will be upgraded to allow for increased testing and certification for international exports. This will ensure that products leaving Guyana meet local and international standards.

The project will entail a new laboratory being constructed, as well as upgrades to several existing ones. In addition, the project will see the development of a National Export Promotion Strategy

and a complementary National Investment Promotion Strategy. The project will be funded through a US$9M loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Minister of Business with responsibility for Tourism, Dominic Gaskin noted.

Minister Gaskin said “this project will place Guyana’s economy on a sustainable development pathway by supporting the value-added exporting industries in a serious way.”

The Ministry of Business

will work with the Bureau in developing the kinds of industries that Guyana needs, if it is to become a more diversified exporter. “Industry standards exist for almost everything under the sun, and are demanded on the international market. It therefore follows that we in Guyana need to adopt these standards if we wish to do business with the rest of the world,” Minister Gaskin told the National Assembly during his budget 2017 presentation.

The Business Minister

pointed out that without credible certification processes based on analysis and reports from accredited testing facilities, Guyanese businesses will not be able to provide the assurance required to access international supply chains for their products and services.

Meanwhile, the GNBS will continue to advance the use of standards by businesses across Guyana during the coming year.

This will see the Bureau marketing its services in all 10 Administrative Regions, focusing

on increasing awareness of the benefits of standardisation, and also on boosting its clientele.

Minister Gaskin said that the GNBS will be focusing on the agriculture, agro-processing, energy, mining and services sector of the economy in 2017.

He further explained that this will require a number of visits and consultation sessions to promote the services of the Bureau.

Additionally, in 2017, the Bureau will begin the process of replacing its aging fleet of passenger vehicles since all but one of its vehicles are more than 10 years old. The Business Minister noted that the Bureau has doubled its budget for training and education in 2017 compared to 2016, in recognition of the need to maintain staff competence.

Critical training will be identified and facilitated to upgrade skills of officers who will

be able to extend the Bureau’s services to the emerging sectors of the economy such as oil and gas, and renewable energy.

The GNBS was established in March 1984 under the Act No. 11 of Parliament of the same year. The Bureau has the legal status of a statutory corporation or a semi -autonomous agency. It is governed by a National Standards Council, whose members are appointed by the subject Minister.

Its vision is to improve the quality of goods and services in Guyana, by partnering with Government, consumers and industry through the process of standardisation, while its mission is to promote the National Quality Infrastructure for economic, social development and consumer protection in partnership with key sectors through Standards, Metrology and Conformity Assessment. (GINA)

GWMO raps... in its statement: “The United Nations Human Rights and Human Trafficking Fact Sheet No. 36 clearly outlines the rightsbased approach to providing services and support for victims of Human Trafficking.

“The GWMO hereby reminds the Ministry of Social Protection that the United Nations Human Rights and Human Trafficking Documents highlight ‘no detention of trafficked persons’.”

It goes on to say that the UN specifically states that the routine detention of victims is always illegal, and that in a situation where the alleged trafficker is dead, and there are no threats to the life of the school-aged victim, she should not be kept away from her family for extended periods.

Says the group, “From September 28, 2016, the victim’s life has been reduced to misery and deception. Not only was she separated from her foster mother, but on September 29, 2016, no one from the Ministry of Social Protection returned to take her to complete an interview, as such she was not reunited with her foster mother.”

The Guyana Chronicle has since learnt that on October 2, the child’s foster mother returned to the Barima/ Waini Region One district without her.

The GWMO says that while it is not against victims being placed in protective care, they must have the right of choice; that holding them against their will is dangerous and further traumatises them.

“The GWMO is well aware that this victim is not

From page 17

the only one who has been forced into care, with no contact with their family.

Some have even attempted suicide in frustration of being denied continuous requests to return to their communities, both from local victims and international victims,” the group said.

CAME TO LIGHT The plight of the child came to light on September 23, when it was disclosed that she was allegedly sold by her mother to a gold miner for food and a generator.

It also transpired that days after she was first raped by the adult male, the child’s mom forced her to live with him; and for more than two years, she was forced to fulfil all of his sexual and physical desires, while not being allowed to associate with her siblings or anyone else.

“She suffered in silence for two years, as her mother collected food supplies, and on one occasion, a generator, in exchange for her daughter’s childhood,” the GWMO said.

The man at the centre of the controversy has since been killed, and the child’s 15-year-old brother was charged and remanded to prison for his murder in September. The boy is accused of murdering the businessman after learning that he had been continually raping his nine-year-old sister for over two years. The man was beaten to death and hung by the neck with a rope.

It was also reported that the man had once threatened to kill the teenager, after he was found to be too protective of his sister.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

Aries Something is different this morning, like someone sneaked an extra shot or two of caffeine into your morning coffee. The goal-oriented Capricorn New Moon falls in your 10th House of Career, motivating you to create success no matter what the cost. The downside is that you may believe you must be ruthless with yourself and sacrifice personal comforts to get ahead; the truth is, the more authentically you live in all ways, the higher you will climb.

Taurus Somehow you know that the time has come to focus on the many things you want to accomplish. The conservative Capricorn New Moon brings your 9th House of Big Ideas down to earth, encouraging you to find concrete ways to move toward your distant goals. It could feel like the journey to achievement requires that you pay a steep price, but don't be deceived by your own negativity. Joan Baez said, "Action is the antidote to despair."

Gemini It feels like you are turning the page to start a more serious chapter in life today.

The accountable Capricorn New Moon highlights your 8th House of Regeneration, signalling the beginning of a new period of growth. Although hope usually accompanies the start of something new, you may think you must relinquish your imaginative and playful self to grow up. Luckily, this isn't the case since unconventional Uranus begins its march forward once again, giving you access to a treasure trove of inspiration. Mencius wrote, "The great person never loses a childlike spirit."

Cancer The heaviness of responsibility weighs on your mind today as you anticipate the daunting road ahead. The Capricorn New Moon emphasizes your 7th House of Relationships, requiring you to reassess your commitments. Of course, you long for safety and security but sometimes the search for those qualities might seem more like a business transaction than a loving connection. Thankfully, you can benefit from the best of both worlds if you call on your inner rebel when you need to remember who you are and what you want.

Leo It's time to turn over a new leaf and be accountable for your decisions. The dutiful Capricorn New Moon calls attention to your 6th House of Well-Being, urging you to implement healthier and more responsible habits. It can feel like a buzzkill thinking about all the fun you must give up to change your ways, but your new regimen doesn't have to be a prison. Reframe your idea of what it means to live a good life and you might just discover pursuing self-care brings you a deeper sense of joy.

Virgo Sometimes nothing is more gratifying than putting in hard work and seeing the fruits of your labour. Not everyone understands how you can enjoy combing through the details and setting everything just right, but you truly have a gift for making chores seem like a game. The pragmatic Capricorn New Moon stabilizes your 5th House of Play, prescribing a fun new project that you can be involved with for the long haul.

However, don't romanticize suffering or toiling; what seems like a good idea now may prove to be a burden later, so temper your admirable ambition with a dash of common sense.

Libra An idea is being planted today and it's up to you to create an environment that will encourage it to grow to its fullest potential. The stabilizing Capricorn New Moon settles in your 4th House of Foundations -- the ground in which the seed is planted.

The earthy nature of this lunation may feel heavy as it roots you where you stand, but there's no need to be discouraged. Stop watering the weeds in your life and start watering the flowers.

Scorpio Language is more powerful than any tool, whether you're building a structure or tearing one down. The stern Capricorn New Moon stabilizes your 3rd House of Communication, drawing attention to your words and how you use them. You must decide whether you want to fearfully build walls around your mind or to openly explore new ways of learning. You may believe the only solution is strict censorship, but this is not the case. The deeper you look, the more you realize your own potential to frame your message wisely.

Sagittarius The outlook for the future appears overcast for some reason, even if the skies are clear of clouds. The frugal Capricorn New Moon falls in your 2nd House of Self-Esteem, highlighting your resources and how they influence your belief system. You feel the push to put your budget in order and it might seem as if you must limit your spending more than you expected. Tightening your belt is always prudent, but don't panic needlessly. Remember, money can't buy happiness; true worth comes from within.

Capricorn A new emotional cycle begins today and a surprising feeling of significance hangs in the air. The New Moon is in your solemn sign, renewing your sense of purpose and direction. Keep in mind that self-denial and delayed gratification are not the same things. While discipline is required to accomplish anything worthwhile, a balance must be struck between ambition and self-care. You have the power to get where you want to go, but don't run yourself into the ground to get there.

Aquarius It may be a normal day on the outside, but there is quite a contrasting experience going on in the deepest reaches of your mind. The Capricorn New Moon lands in your 12th House of Spiritual Insights, calling you to put greater emphasis on your inner world. The austere energy of this lunation brings forth an image of a holy person living alone in isolation, but metaphysical knowledge doesn't always require asceticism. Simply introduce consistency to your meditative practice and you will notice a subtle but powerful change. Poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox wrote, "The spark Divine dwells in thee; let it grow."

Pisces You feel that the time has come to commit yourself to a cause that is near and dear to your heart. The dutiful Capricorn New Moon occurs in your 11th House of Social Networking, inspiring you to give back to your community. On one hand, you're ready to dedicate as much as possible to an organization or movement but on the other hand, you're wondering if you possess the stamina to maintain the efforts for any sustained period. Try not to dedicate yourself to a cause in the spirit of sacrifice; approach your altruistic acts with a healthy balance, so passionate service does not turn into a martyr complex

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

Lynn’s 85 seals dramatic win for Heat A STUNNING innings from Chris Lynn single-handedly dragged Brisbane Heat over the line against Sydney Thunder.

The Heat needed 75 runs from 36 balls with just four wickets in hand. But Lynn and Jack Wildermuth (29 from 20) struck six sixes and four boundaries between them to run down the total with two balls to spare. The Thunder dropped four catches, including Lynn three times.

Earlier the Thunder looked in trouble with the bat until some late hitting from Chris Green salvaged the innings. Eoin Morgan held the innings together with a composed 52 but Green launched three sixes in the final over to drag the total up to 157.

Pat Cummins ripped through the top order of the Heat with genuine pace but he could not remove Lynn.

LYNN-SANITY Lynn was the star of last season’s BBL as the leading

stage but he bided his time against the spinners before backing his raw power against the quicks late. He had some luck but he created some of it with his power hitting. He has now scored a century and four 50s from his last 10 BBL innings.

THUNDER KEEP FUMBLING The Thunder dropped Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques twice in game one, including first ball, and he made them pay with an

dermuth holed out from the last ball of Green’s over, the equation was back to 45 from 24.

Ryan Gibson misjudged a flat off drive from Lynnn at long-off that also went for six. Jake Doran dropped a gloved pull off Cummins and then the skipper Shane Watson dropped a sitter at cover in the last over to seal the Thunder’s fate.

QUICK AND EASY FOR CUMMINS Cummins bowled a spell

Chris Lynn run-scorer in the tournament but his 2016-17 domestic season for Queensland has been completely curtailed by injury.

He produced another gem in Heat colours tonight. The Heat were 3 for 27 in the sixth over with Pat Cummins breathing fire. Lynn crushed five consecutive boundaries to get the chase back on track.

He lost three more teammates and the run-rate tipped beyond 12 an over at one

unbeaten 76 in a clinical runchase. They dropped Lynn three times to lose their third consecutive match.

They also dropped a fourth catch, which was probably the most important.

The Heat needed 57 off 27 when Wildermuth miscued a delivery from the off-spin of Green straight down Andre Russell’s throat at long-on. It burst through Russell’s hands and over the rope for six.

The next ball disappeared over his head. Although Wil-

that will leave Australian cricket fans salivating at the thought of his returning to Test cricket. He cranked up the pace to knock over Brendon McCullum and Alex Ross in the Powerplay and leave the Heat reeling.

He delivered a 150kph outswinger that knocked back McCullum’s middle stump, while a 151kph yorker made a mess of Ross’ pegs.

With some luck he might h a v e n a b b e d Ly n n a n d been the match-winner for

the Thunder. He regularly clocked 150kph and swung the new ball.

But four overs since Boxing Day is vastly different to the 31 overs fellow firebrand Mitchell Starc bowled at the MCG in the second Test against Pakistan. It must be remembered that Cummins hasn’t played first-class cricket since August 2015 and he hasn’t played Sheffield Shield or Test cricket since 2011.

RUSSELL UNSETTLED

BY SHORT STUFF Andre Russell is a T20 gun for hire and his talent with bat, ball and in the field makes him a very attractive recruit for the Thunder and other franchises around the world. Last season he averaged 23 with the bat striking at 186 and his power-hitting is very dangerous. But his big hitting may well be nullified in this tournament if teams continue to bowl short at him.

This season he has scored just 19 runs from 24 deliveries across three innings. He was bounced out by Sixers quick Doug Bollinger in game one and Heat skipper Brendon McCullum was clear with his tactics in this game.

Ben Cutting bowled short at him with a leg gully and then McCullum changed the field to give Russell the impression Cutting would go full, but again he bounced him and a skied pull shot landed just short of deep square leg. He holed out not long after.

Russell will need to work out a plan against the short stuff.

Karibee Stables reap handsome rewards AS IF winning the feature event and placing second in another was not enough, the Karibee Stable rode away with three awards at the Annual Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club’s Boxing Day race meet which was staged at the its facility, Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice on Sunday.

Apart from winning the feature event and placing second in another, the Karibee Stable was awarded the Top Stable prize and its owner/trainer Mohendra Persaud was adjudged the Top Trainer.

Contesting the feature `B’ and Lower nine-furlong race Karibee Stables’ Gold-

en Blue Ecko, imported from Canada and trained

by Persaud, was unstoppable and took home the $1.2M prize money donated

by Metro Computer and Office Supplies as well as the first place trophy.

According to reports, Golden Blue Ecko, ridden

by Colin Ross, went to the head of affairs from the start and never relinquished the lead to the finish line.

Lady Budapest finished second, while Keep On Swinging of the Jumbo Jet Stable and Bravo Sky of the Karibee Stable placed third and fourth respectively.

However, Golden Blue Ecko was not that fortunate

in a six-furlong event for animals classified `E’ and Lower and had to settle for second behind Release the Beast of the Jumbo Jet Stable and was ridden by Randolph Richmond. Settling Star of the Shariff Stable with Rupert Ramnauth, who was adjudged Top Jockey of the meet on board, won the seven-furlong race for horses classified `G’. Its’ My Turn, Fine Line and Work Force placed second, third and fourth respectively.

Genuine Risk, ridden

by R. Appadhu won the six-furlong race for Guyana-bred two-year-old horses. Second was Miss Angelie. Princess Saria

and Mischief Maker placed third and fourth respectively.

Amazon Warrior of the Abrahim Stable won the five-furlong race for West Indies and Guyana- bred `H’ and Lower horses ahead of Another Time, Blondie and Confusion respectively.

Party Time of the DeMattos Stable with Yap Drepaul on board won the `J’ and Lower and Two-Year-Old event from She’s So Special, Red Jet and Massapequs Dr. respectively.

The Top Jockey, Top Stable and Top Trainers awards were sponsored

by Trophy Stall of Bourda Market.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

Russian agency denies admitting to existence of doping programme A REPORT in the New York Times has claimed Russian officials have admitted to the existence of a doping operation in the country for the first time.

The acting director general of Russia’s anti-doping agency was quoted as saying, “it was an institutional conspiracy”.

However, the agency later said Anna Antseliovich’s words were “distorted”.

An independent report earlier this month alleged that more than 1 000 Russians benefited from a doping cover-up between 2011 and 2015.

The anti-doping agency, Rusada, claims Antseliovich

had been citing the wording of the McLaren report which spoke of an “institutional conspiracy (that) existed across summer and winter sports athletes”.

Antseliovich also said her words had been “taken out of context”.

During her interview, Antseliovich, who has not been directly implicated in the investigations, emphasised that the government’s top officials were not involved in the doping operation.

A Kremlin spokesman said the Russian authorities “need to check the authenticity” of Antseliovich’s words but added that Russia has

always denied allegations that the state was involved in doping.

Vi t a l y S m i r n o v, t h e 81-year-old who has been a leading sports official since the Soviet era and who has been appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to reform the anti-doping system, also spoke to the American newspaper.

“I don’t want to speak for the people responsible,” he said. “From my point of view, as a former minister of sport, president of Olympic committee, we made a lot of mistakes.”

However, Smirnov also suggested the leaks made by the Fancy Bears - a group of

South African prosecuting authority reviewing Roebuck inquest findings SOUTH Africa’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Western Province, has begun reviewing the findings of the original closed inquest into the death of Peter Roebuck, raising the prospects of the incident being re-examined. The original inquest had taken place without any representatives of the former Somerset captain, writer and broadcaster or his family.

The DPP is part of South Africa’s National Prosecution Authority, a body with the power to institute criminal proceedings on behalf of the State.

The original inquest “docket” had been requested for review by the DPP advocate Julius Mornay more than 18 months ago, and, in the intervening months, was said by the police force concerned to have been lost.

ESPNcricinfo has learned it was finally located earlier in December, and will now be reviewed in order to establish grounds for a re-opening of the inquest.

Roebuck fell to his death from his hotel room window in Cape Town in November 2011, while he was in the country to cover Australia’s Test series against South Africa. A police statement at the time said Roebuck’s death was a suicide. But his family and its legal representatives

have persisted in their search for more clarity surrounding his death.

On the night of his death, Roebuck had been confronted

by South African police from Claremont station with allegations of sexual assault, a decade after he had accepted charges of common assault (the prosecution abandoned the original charges of indecent assault) in a British court for caning three 18-year-old South African cricketers who had been boarding with him in England.

Peter Roebuck A closed inquest was reported to have been completed in February 2013, but no member of Roebuck’s family was alerted to the inquest and it therefore went ahead without any representation on their part. Court documents seen by the family showed that police had sought to inform “Peter Lalor; ID no L4166823: British Embassy”, but Lalor, the Australian journalist who formally iden-

tified Roebuck’s body after his death, apparently did not receive any notification of the inquest either.

Since then, the Roebuck family has persisted in trying to have the inquest revisited, stating numerous other concerns about the way it was conducted and the conclusions reached.

In June 2015, the DPP commenced a review process by appointing an advocate, Mornay, who after considering the available evidence elected to review the docket of the original inquest - effectively to decide whether the inquest should be re-opened.

For most of the 18 months since, Mornay was told that the docket could not be found, stalling the process. However, persistent inquiries led ultimately to its location earlier this month, adding greatly to the possibility of a re-opened inquest later in 2017.

Areas likely to be probed in any new inquest would include wider use of forensic evidence, including fingerprints taken by police at the hotel on the night but not produced before the magistrate who conducted the original inquest and concluded that Roebuck had died from “multiple injuries” without explicitly stating how those injuries came about.

hackers who have released the medical records of several athletes from around the world - showed Russia had not been competing on a level playing field.

“Russia never had the opportunities that were given to other countries,” Smirnov said. “The general feeling in Russia is that we didn’t have a chance.”

No regrets over Russia at Rio 2016 - IOC president.

Dan Roan reports from the discredited Moscow anti-doping laboratory: Corruption on an ‘unprecedented scale’.

In July, an investigation commissioned by the

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said Russia’s sports ministry “directed, controlled and oversaw” manipulation of urine samples provided by its athletes.

A second WADA report from Canadian law professor and sports lawyer Dr Richard McLaren said the London 2012 Olympics was “corrupted on an unprecedented scale”.

According to McLaren’s report, salt and coffee were used to manipulate Russian samples and the system was refined over the course of the London 2012 Olympics, 2013 Worlds in Moscow and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi to protect likely Rus-

sian medal winners.

Russia won 72 medals at the London Games, 21 of which were gold, and 33 medals at Sochi, 13 of which were gold.

Russian sports officials had previously denied the existence of any doping operation, even as the International Olympic Committee opened disciplinary proceedings against several Russian athletes, while the country also lost the hosting rights to a number of international events.

Russia’s athletics team is banned from competition by the International Association of Athletics Federation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

NBA has steroid issue, says George Karl HOW seriously are steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs treated in the NBA? On one hand, the league introduced blood testing.

On the other hand, the overwhelming narrative about the only recent suspension for steroids was that the player mistakenly took a banned substance while trying to reverse his balding.

The rhetoric and policies suggest due diligence. A lack of suspensions says either the league is relatively clean – or that a problem is being swept under the rug.

Former Kings/Nuggets/ Bucks/Sonics/Warriors/Cavaliers coach George Karl says it’s the latter.

Karl in “Furious George: My Forty Years Surviving NBA Divas, Clueless GMs, and Poor Shot Selection:” “We’ve got a more thorough drug-testing programme than the NFL or MLB, which we always brag about. But we’ve still got a drug issue, though a different one than thirty years ago. And this one bothers me more than the dumbasses who got in trouble with recreational drugs.

“I’m talking about per-

formance-enhancing drugs - like steroids, human growth hormone, and so on. It’s obvious some of our players are doping. How are some guys getting older - yet thinner and fitter? How are they recovering from injuries so fast? Why the hell are they going to Germany in the off-season? I doubt it’s for the sauerkraut.

“More likely it’s for the newest, hard-to-detect blood boosters and PEDs they have in Europe. Unfortunately, drug testing always seems to be a couple steps behind drug hiding. Lance Arm-

strong never failed a drug test. I think we want the best athletes to succeed, not the biggest, richest cheaters employing the best scientists.

But I don’t know what to do about it.

“I don’t know whether Karl has specific insights into a problem. His lengthy coaching career certainly positioned him to have inside information. But he could also be supposing based on the circumstantial evidence presented here.

“Either way, I suspect he’s right. We marvel at the athleticism and longevity of NBA players the same way

we celebrated the uptick of home runs in the 1990s – with too much awe and not enough scepticism. So much of the lack of suspicion into NBA steroids use is based on the long-standing idea that the drugs wouldn’t help fluid athletes like basketball players.

“But the prevailing opinion used to be that only hitters, not pitchers, benefited from steroids. Then, a ton of pitchers tested positive.

Steroids ran far deeper in baseball than many imagined, and I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if the same is true in basketball. To be clear, I

have no specific knowledge of wider steroid use in the NBA. Just a hunch.

Does Karl have more?

He at least appears to take a specific shot.

By mentioning Germany, is Karl implying Kobe Bryant, who was well known for his offseason trips to Germany? Karl never mentions Kobe, and before you think there’s specific reason to accuse Kobe, consider that Kobe played for Phil Jackson – Karl’s longtime coaching rival. It’s often too personal with Karl.

Sometimes, though, he’s right.

Manchester United will not make move for Victor Lindelof during transfer window Manchester United will not make a move for Benfica defender Victor Lindelof during the January transfer window.

United manager Jose Mourinho was reported to be interested in the 22-year-old Sweden centre-back.

However, BBC Sport understands the form of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo in central defence has persuaded manager Jose Mourinho he does not need to buy.

The Portuguese also has cover at centre-back in Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Daley Blind.

Reports from Portugal had claimed Lindelof would become the club’s most expensive all-time defender, costing between £38M and £42M, and that he had been assigned a squad number at Old Trafford, Since Jones and Rojo were paired together for

Victor Lindelof the first time in the 3-1 win against Swansea on November 6. United are unbeaten for 11 games, one short of equalling their best run since Sir Alex Ferguson

retired in 2013.

Jones and Rojo have been in central defence together for nine of those matches, when they conceded seven goals.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

FIFA’s Gianni Infantino says he has support for expanded tournament GLOBAL football federations are “overwhelmingly in favour” of plans for a 48-team World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino says.

The head of football’s

brings so much joy to those who don’t have the chance to participate then we will have to think about that,” Infantino said.

“When discussed with the associations in the sum-

eree alerted by an assistant watching a monitor.

But there was confusion in the other semi-final between Real Madrid and Club America when the technology was used again.

on the continent - is opposed. European team s provide 80% of the players to a World Cup so they are a significant stakeholder and will place pressure on UEFA.

Former French Open winner Ana Ivanovic retires from tennis aged 29 aged 29 FORMER world number one and 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic has retired from tennis at the age of 29.

The Serb has been out with injury since August and dropped to 63 in the world rankings, having won just 15 matches in 2016 - the most recent in June.

Garros and Wimbledon in 2007 and at the 2008 Australian Open.

“It has been a difficult decision but I have so much to celebrate,” Ivanovic added.

“I began dreaming about playing tennis when I was five and saw Monica Seles playing on TV. “I have seen heights I never dreamt of achieving.”

Ivanovic, who married Manchester United midfielder Bastian Sch-

Ana Ivanovic

“I can only play if it is up to my own high standards. I can no longer do that so it is time to move on,” she said.

Ivanovic spent 12 weeks as world number one in 2008 and won 15 career singles titles.

She reached the French Open semi-final in 2015 and was runner-up at Roland

The number of teams competing at a World Cup last increased in 1998, from 24 to 32 countries. governing body outlined his vision for an expanded tournament comprising 16 groups of three teams earlier this month.

The top two teams in each group would progress to the knockout rounds.

A decision will be made in January but any change to the 32-team format is unlikely to come before 2026.

F I FA’s c o u n c i l w i l l discuss the proposal at a meeting on January 9 but Infantino, 46, made expansion part of his election manifesto.

“We have to be more inclusive,” he said at a sports conference in Dubai, adding that a 48-team tournament was most financially appealing.

“If we can have a format that does not add any additional matches but

mits they were overwhelmingly in favour, but more discussions will have to take place.”

The number of competing teams at World Cups last changed in 1998, increasing from 24 to 32.

The European Club Association, which represents the region’s leading clubs, has rejected calls for the World Cup to be expanded.

Infantino also said experiments around video technology in refereeing at the recent Club World Cup had been “very positive” and that he hoped the system would be used at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The video technology system was first used at the Club World Cup to award a penalty in Kashima Antlers’ semi-final win over Atletico Nacional, with the ref-

After the referee asked for a consultation following a Cristiano Ronaldo goal, play briefly restarted from a free-kick for an infringement before the goal was eventually allowed to stand.

Infantino said tests in Japan had moved the system in “the right direction” but added “there is still a bit of fine-tuning to be made”.

ANALYSIS Richard Conway, BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent: Gianni Infantino may well have “overwhelming” support for FIFA’s 48-country World Cup plan - but it is not universal.

The European Clubs Association - which represents the biggest teams

UEFA is still to make its position clear but other confederations are likely to welcome an expanded tournament.

European nations take up a big proportion of the current 32 slots at the World Cup. Given there’s no chance of any redistribution taking place, FIFA sees an expanded World Cup as a way to appease many of its 211 members who miss out on the party. It also fulfils one of Infantino’s key presidential manifesto pledges.

U E FA m a y i n t h e end go along with the 48-country plan given the likely support from the rest of the world. But it will likely want more of its countries to qualify too. Let the horse-trading begin.

weinsteiger earlier this year, said she will explore opportunities in business, beauty and fashion in retirement and said it will allow her more time for her work with Unicef, with whom she holds the position of National Ambassador for Serbia.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

Tour de France winner & five-time Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins retires

FIVE-TIME Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins has announced his retirement from cycling, aged 36.

Britain’s first Tour de France winner, in 2012, said he had fulfilled a “childhood aspiration” of making a career out of the sport.

“I’ve met my idols and ridden alongside the best for 20 years,” he said.

“2016 is the end of the road for this chapter, onwards and upwards. Kids from Kilburn don’t win Olympic gold and the Tour de France! They do now.”

Wiggins became Britain’s most decorated Olympian in August when he won the team pursuit gold on the track in Rio, his fifth gold and eighth Olympic medal.

He secured eight world titles on the road and track and set the world record for the furthest distance ridden in one hour at 54.526km.

However, his use of therapeutic-use exemptions (TUEs), has come under scrutiny after his confidential medical information was leaked by hackers ‘Fancy Bears’ in September 2016.

“What will stick with me

Five-time Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins forever is the support and love from the public through thick and thin, all as a result of riding a pushbike for a living,” Wiggins added.

“2012 blew my mind.

Cycling has given me everything and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my wonderful wife Cath and our amazing kids.”

WIGGO’S BIG WINS Sir Bradley Wiggins won five Olympic gold medals during his career Britain’s most decorated Olympian with five gold medals in his haul of eight 2000 - Wins first Olympic medal, bronze in Sydney

2004 - First Briton to win three Olympic medals at same games since 1964 2008 - Wins two gold medals at Beijing Olympics 2012 - First British winner of Tour de France 2012 - Wins time trial gold at London 2012 2012 - BBC Sports Personality-of-the-Year winner 2012 - Velo d’Or winner (best cyclist of the year award) 2013 - Knighted for services to cycling 2014 - World road time trial winner 2015 - Sets world hour record on the track at 54.526km 2016 - Wins eighth Olym-

pic medal in Rio Won eight world titles on the track and road A golden year Wiggins’ 2012 haul The medals and the jerseys Wiggins had already won team pursuit silver at the 1998 Commonwealth Games as an 18-year-old before he began to seep into the public consciousness with a bronze in the same event at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Sixteen years later, he teamed up with Ed Clancy, Owain Doull and Steven Burke to neatly bookend his career with team pursuit gold in Rio. In-between, he became the first British athlete since Mary Rand in 1964 to win three medals at one Olympics - claiming three on the track at Athens in 2004.

Two more gold followed at the 2008 Beijing Games before he opted to focus more of his attentions to the road, finishing fourth in the 2009 Tour de France - later upped to third following Lance Armstrong’s disqualification for doping.

Following his sensational 2012, Wiggins was knighted

in 2013 and went on to win world time trial gold in 2014 before setting a new hour world record at the London Olympic velodrome in 2015.

There were also seven track world titles, including two with long-time friend Mark Cavendish in 2008 and 2016 in the madison.

CONTROVERSY Bradley Wiggins: ‘This was about putting myself back on a level playing field’ Wiggins and Team Sky, the professional team he won the Tour with, were put under scrutiny in September 2016 for his use of therapeutic-use exemptions (TUEs), after his confidential medical information was leaked by hackers ‘Fancy Bears’.

The cyclist, an asthma sufferer, said he sought TUEs to “put himself back on a level playing field”.

The TUEs were approved

by British authorities and cycling’s world governing body, the UCI. There is no suggestion that either he, British Cycling or Team Sky, his former team, had broken any rules.

Team Sky boss Sir Dave

Brailsford has also revealed the contents of a medical package delivered to the team on the final day of the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine.

The package, which was for Wiggins - who went on to win the seven-day race contained the decongestant Fluimucil, which is legal in sport and “administered on a regular basis” Brailsford told MPs. Wiggins’ final race was in the town of his birth at the Ghent Six-Day event in November, where he claimed victory alongside Cavendish.

WHAT THEY SAID British Cycling president Bob Howden: “Few sportspeople have had the impact on life in this country as Sir Bradley Wiggins.

“He retires as one of British sport’s great champions, not just for the medals and the sheer diversity of races he won but also for the way in which he used his achievements to inspire so many people to become active by getting on their bikes.

“British Cycling has much to thank him for and we wish him success with his future plans.”

Ashley Giles named Warwickshire Chance for Bangladesh to show improved mindset in must-win game Sport Director ASHLEY Giles has left Lancashire to rejoin Warwickshire as sport director.

Ex-England spinner Giles, 43, was previously director of cricket at Edgbaston and he will oversee both the men’s and women’s teams, as well as the club’s academy, in his new role.

Dougie Brown left Warwickshire by mutual consent in October after four seasons in charge.

Giles was Lancashire’s cricket director and head coach for two years but he was keen to move closer to his family.

He was Warwickshire’s leading choice to replace Brown and, having reached an agreement with the Bears, Lancashire have released him from his contract at Old Trafford, which was due to expire in 2018.

Recently-appointed firstteam coach Jim Troughton will report to Giles, who left Warwickshire in 2012 to become England’s one-day coach following the Bears’ seventh

County Championship triumph.

“The new role at Edgbaston is a great opportunity and I am delighted to return to Warwickshire,” said Giles, who spent 14 years as a Warwickshire player and featured in 54 Tests for England.

“While I have a lot of history with the Bears and have previously enjoyed success as a player and a coach, this is a brand new challenge and I look forward to meeting up with all the players and the new management team in January.”

Giles led Lancashire to promotion into County Championship Division One In 2012 and a maiden T20 Blast title in 2015, before they narrowly avoided relegation by finishing seventh in the Championship in 2016.

He added: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Lancashire and I would like to thank chairman Michael Cairns and the board for the opportunity to work as director of cricket at

Ashley Giles spent 14 years as a player with Warwickshire. such a great club.

“I am also very grateful for their understanding and for agreeing to release me from my contract so that I can take up this new role with Warwickshire and move back to the Midlands, where my family have remained.”

Lancashire have placed Glen Chapple in charge as acting head coach, with another former captain Mark Chilton as acting assistant coach.

NEW Zealand have a chance to seal the threematch ODI series in the second game at the Saxton Oval, but their opponents will not be willing to just keel over after having travelled so far.

While Bangladesh were convincingly outplayed in Christchurch by 77 runs, their mentality as a team has changed significantly over the last two years and now they will need to cling to that positive approach in a crunch game away from home.

Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan will once again have to show the eagerness to fight against the short ball.

Mosaddek Hossain, Imrul Kayes and Sabbir Rahman also looked relatively comfortable against that length in the series opener, but will have to be more patient in seeing themselves through the initial roughhousing.

Mushfiqur Rahim will be missed; he has been ruled out with a hamstring injury

for at least two weeks. He will be replaced by debutant Nurul Hasan.

Bangladesh’s bigger concern will be their bowling in high-scoring Nelson, especially after they conceded 341 runs in the first game.

Mashrafe Mortaza and his pace-bowling group have to bowl better lengths, while Shakib could be given a specialist spinner to partner given the slower nature of this pitch.

New Zealand will have to

tackle the spin threat; some of them looked sluggish in their footwork in game one, others were a bit too eager.

While Neil Broom and Jimmy Neesham played back to slightly fuller deliveries from Shakib, Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill threw their hands too early at slower or angled deliveries, resulting in their dismissals.

They will be glad that Tom Latham is willing to anchor the innings, and that Colin Munro has the ability to enforce himself on an opposition attack even from a tricky position.

Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha on Soumya Sarkar: ‘He is eating into his time. If he doesn’t score, we have to look for someone.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 29, 2016

Cook century drives South Africa’s dominance STEPHEN Cook’s third Test hundred moved South Africa into a dominant position on a third day of rain delays and rapid scoring in Port Elizabeth.

Sri Lanka caused a brief flutter with four wickets for 56 runs, but that only came after South Africa had moved to 221 for 1. At stumps, South Africa were 351 for 5, their lead 432 with two days remaining.

For most of the day, the only force that seemed capable of halting South Africa’s march was the weather: Bad light and rain halted play twice, either side of an early lunch break, for roughly an hour cumulatively.

Then, belatedly, Sri Lanka’s bowlers began to find some success. Nuwan Pradeep dismissed Amla with the last ball before tea, making him the 10 000th lbw victim in Test history. Dushmantha Chameera got Cook to nick behind in the sixth over after tea, before Dhananjaya de Silva, bowling his off-breaks from around the wicket to both right- and left-

hand batsmen, began turning the ball appreciably.

He got JP Duminy to edge to slip, and then had Temba Bavuma caught at short leg - Bavuma walked off without reviewing after being given out, despite replays suggesting there was no bat involved.

Rangana Herath could have had Quinton de Kock three overs later, but Dinesh Chandimal, possibly unsighted by the batsman as the ball spun out of the rough and between bat and pad, missed the stumping. de Kock and Faf du Plessis went on to add an unbroken 74 for the sixth wicket, at 4.82 per over, reinforcing South Africa’s hold on the Test match.

South Africa dominated right from the start of play, taking only 7.5 overs to wrap up Sri Lanka’s lower order, with Vernon Philander completing his 11th Testmatch five-for, and gaining an 81-run first-innings lead.

Then Cook, courtesy century stands for the first and second wicket with Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla, ensured Sri

Stephen Cook celebrates his century.

Lanka remained on the mat.

Amla fell two short of a half-century, Pradeep trapping him on the shuffle, spearing one full and straight the ball after that shuffle had brought the batsman a cheeky four, a leg glance off an offstump delivery.

By then, Amla had batted as fluently as he has done at any point this season and delighted his fans with some vintage strokeplay including scorching drives through the covers and down the ground, his balance and timing inch-perfect.

After two days dominated by seamers, Sri Lanka may have hoped for continuing assistance from the pitch, but after some early help for the new ball - Cook and Elgar sent three edges

streaking through gaps in the slip cordon in the first four overs - conditions seemed to ease out considerably. Given South Africa’s lead, Sri Lanka couldn’t attack for too long, and the innings eventually settled into a pattern of easily available runs against defensive fields.

Elgar was the dominant opening partner before lunch - which was taken half an hour early thanks to bad light and later rain - scoring 26 to Cook’s 12 and hitting three fours including a muscular swat over midwicket when Suranga Lakmal dropped marginally short and a crisply timed back-foot drive down the ground off Angelo Mathews.

Cook caught up when play resumed, with three

fours in two overs - not all of them entirely controlled - when the seamers began bowling short.

With singles now plentifully available against the deep-set fields, Cook’s strike rate climbed, and he reached fifty in style, punching Pradeep through the covers to bring up the landmark and slashing the next one backward of point for another four.

Elgar soon joined him in the 50s before falling to a miscued pull off Suranga Lakmal. By then, Cook and Elgar had brought up their second century partnership of the match. It was only the tenth time in Test history that an opening pair had achieved this feat.

South Africa began scoring even more freely with Amla at the crease: the second-wicket pair scored at 5.57 while the openers had gone at 3.60. Cook, who took 81 balls to score his first fifty, scored his second in 71 balls, as Sri Lanka’s bowlers went through the motions.

Cook went from 95 to 99 with the shot of his innings, a straight punch off the front foot against Chameera, before getting to his hundred

the next ball with a trademark nurdle into the leg side for two.

South Africa’s day began in the best way possible.

Philander struck with his very first ball, shaping it away from the fourth-stump channel to induce a poke and an edge from Dhananjaya de Silva, who, on 43 overnight, had held Sri Lanka’s hopes of narrowing South Africa’s lead to manageable proportions.

Five balls later, Lakmal realised he wasn’t quite to the pitch of a fullish ball to drive, checked his shot, and popped a low catch to mid-on, giving Philander his fifth wicket.

Philander and Kyle Abbott beat the edges of Chameera and Pradeep frequently, but Sri Lanka’s Nos. 9 and 11 managed to stretch their total by 20 runs along the way. There were a couple of audacious shots as well - Pradeep punched Abbott off the back foot to the point boundary, and Chameera hit Philander for a straight-bat scoop over mid-on.

Eventually, having just got past the 50-ball mark, Chameera jabbed at an away-swinger from Abbott and nicked to first slip.

Warner, Khawaja lead strong Australia reply BAT dominated ball on day three of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. The imbalance frustrated Australia at first as Azhar Ali and Sohail Khan made hay, but David Warner and Usman Khawaja replied with aplomb to alleviate any anxieties in the home viewing area and to leave a draw as the most likely outcome on an increasingly friendly pitch.

Four hundred and eleven runs were harvested by the two sides for a mere five wickets. Azhar contributed 205, becoming the first Pakistani batsman to pass 200 twice in a single calendar year. He was just three short of Viv Richards’ 32-year-old record for the highest Test score by a visiting Test batsman in Melbourne when his team declared on 9 for 443.

Sohail targeted Nathan Lyon in particular, sending four mighty sixes into the crowd at the northern end of the ground. Josh Hazlewood bowled manfully for 3-50 from 32.3 precise and persistent overs, but Lyon’s expense was a source of discomfort for the Australians, given the lack of an all-round-

David Warner Celebrates his Century against Pakistan at Melbourne.

er in the side.

Having spent six consecutive days in the field, across two Tests, Warner’s response was belligerent if fortunate. Edges were frequent, and he was also bowled by a reverse-swinging Wahab Riaz no-ball when on 81. An inside edge for four brought him his first century in almost a year, which he celebrated with his customary, spon-

sor-friendly leap that belied his poor form in the lead-up to this Test.

Khawaja’s innings of 95 was calmer, barely making a false move after he replaced Matt Renshaw at the crease.

Renshaw, an impressively patient figure at the crease in his three Tests so far, swung presumptuously at Yasir Shah’s well-flighted delivery and heard his off-stump tilt back.

But the leg-spinner was unable to follow up with bowling of sufficient discipline, and some of Misbah-ul-Haq’s fields also caused observers to wonder.

The flow of runs continued more or less unabated in an extended final session, Warner motoring along at around a run a ball to eat into Pakistan’s advantage. He scored plenty of his runs through the point and gully regions, and, after

recording his 17th Test ton, sent a towering six down the ground off Yasir.

Wahab’s spell of reverse swing should have resulted in Warner’s dismissal short of a century, but his repeated noballs for overstepping always seemed likely to end in tears at some stage. It was not the first time he had reprieved a batsman this year - doing likewise for Johnny Bairstow during Pakistan’s drawn series in England.

The wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed had earlier caused widespread mirth when wasting a referral on a ball that beat Warner’s bat by almost a foot, but he redeemed himself close to stumps by successfully reviewing Ian Gould’s not out verdict on a tickle down the leg side by the opener.

Warner partly gave himself away by walking halfway off before the decision was reached, ending an entertaining 144 and bringing his captain Steven Smith to the crease.

The start of play was delayed by more than half an hour on an overcast and sultry day due to the lightest of showers that hovered over the

MCG. When it did eventually resume, Azhar and Amir commenced with intent to build Pakistan’s tally before getting the Australians in to bat. Amir made it as far as 29 before feathering Mitchell Starc down the leg side to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade.

Light rain returned after an hour’s play, but when the covers were removed Sohail launched into the bowling with rare venom swinging for the fences repeatedly, regardless of the fielders placed in the deep. No fewer than 88 runs were taken off the 10 overs leading to the lunch, including 15 from Starc’s final over of the session.

On resumption, Sohail was narrowly run-out, before Azhar completed his double-hundred with a nudge behind square leg. Wahab’s dismissal, also Hazlewood’s 100th Test wicket, brought Misbah-ul-Haq’s closure of the innings.

Australia replied with verve, but another bleak forecast for day four would not fill either side with optimism.David Warner celebrates his century against Pakistan at Melbourne.

Argentina star Juan Sebastian Deandra Dottin suffers Veron comes cheekbone fractures out of retirement WEST Indies women all-rounder Deandra Dottin has suffered multiple cheekbone fractures after a collision on the field during the Women’s Big Bash League game between Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars. However, she insisted “all is going to be fine!” in a post on Facebook.

“Eye socket and eyesight fine, jaw and teeth fine,” Dottin wrote. “I am out of hospital now, recovering before a specialist appointment with a face surgeon Thursday (today). At this stage it is believed I will require titanium plates to fix the issues.”

The Cricket Australia website reported Dottin, who plays for Heat, would check in with Brisbane Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon Dr John Arvier to finalise a timeline for her recovery.

Dottin suffered the injury at

Allan Border Field on Tuesday in the 11th over, with Stars chasing 130, Meg Lanning hit seamer Haidee Birkett over midwicket. Dottin and Laura Harris were the fielders in the deep and, while trying to prevent the ball from crossing the boundary, they crashed into each other.

Dottin seemed to land awkwardly on a kit bag and was stretchered off the field by medical staff. Harris was thrown into the picket fence, but she felt well enough to remain at the ground though she didn’t take any further part in the match, which Heat won by five runs.

This incident came a day after Heat’s Holly Ferling suffered a concussion from her head striking the turf hard while trying to take a catch.

She was not able to play Tuesday’s game as a result.

… signs deal with Estudiantes

WEST Indies women all-rounder Deandra Dottin

Guyana baseball records productive 2016 The Guyana Baseball League (GBL) has recorded a productive 2016 with international competition being the highlight.

In his new year’s message, president Robin Singh contended that that, “we are proud to report of our first foray into international competition, our U21 female team took part in the Canadian U21 Women’s Invitational, it was a wonderful experience for our players and a learning one for management team.”

The president said, “Baseball Guyana featured on Canadian National Television and local (Halifax) newspapers and radio, garnering great publicity for our 50 year old Nation.”

The message continued, “on behalf of the whole Baseball Guyana organization, we wish you all the best as we begin another journey of challenges, victories, lessons and changes in the year ahead.”

“2017 will see us build on this experience with male teams competing in Federation of Baseball and Softball Pará (Brazil) International tournament in April; the females will also play in a

Juan Sebastian Veron

The GBL team pose with major sponsor Fly Jamaica during their tour to Canada.

tournament in the USA.” Meanwhile the junior teams will begin competing in regional age group tournaments in the Americas region with the road to Olympic qualification beginning in September 2017.

“2017 will also see the establishment of the much anticipated Georgetown program at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue; we have been kind-

ly accommodated by the graces of the Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, who continues to champion the cause of a holistic education encompassing academics, sport, music and arts.”

The body will also be embarking on an ambitious coaching education drive and targeting the training and equipping of school teachers from all regions of

Guyana.

It’s often repeated main goal is the establishment of a baseball facility and in 2016 the body moved inexorably closer to achieving this “We have no doubt that 2017 much will be done to achieve our goal of a world class baseball academy for the benefit of our entire nation’s youth,” the statement ended by saying.

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FORMER Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has come out of retirement at the age of 41 and signed an 18-month contract with Argentine top-flight team Estudiantes.

Veron, who hung up his boots two years ago, promised to play in the 2017 Copa Libertadores if fans bought 65% of the boxes at the club’s new stadium.

Veron, also chairman of Estudiantes, will donate his salary to the club.

INSPIRED TO TRY FOOTBALL The ex-Argentina star won the 2002-03 Premier League title with United.

An article on the club website states that Ve r o n ’s f i r s t m a t c h w i l l be on January 8 against Bayer Leverkusen in the Florida Cup. It also says he will compete in both the league and the Copa Libertadores.

Veron won the UEFA Cup with Parma and the Serie A title with Lazio before moving to United in 2001 for a then British record transfer fee of £28.1M. He joined Chelsea for £15M in 2003, but spent three of the following four years on loan at Inter Milan - whom he helped win the Italian league title - and then his boyhood club Estudiantes.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016