Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 30 01 2017

Guyana records 54 new leprosy cases Page 9

No. 104809

MONDAY JANUARY 30, 2017

Price: $80

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AG wants to discipline Deputy Solicitor-General –– writes Public Service Commission for guidance

Tens of thousands protest Trump immigration order

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Demonstrators gather in Copley Square, Boston, Massachusetts on Sunday to protest U.S. President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban and Anti-Immigration Executive Order (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)

Killed ‘CG bandit’ was serial robber Page 14

A plea for help

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–– Issano, Kurupung battle drug shortages, other challenges

Khan tops at AFC’s executive poll Page 13

Director of Public Information, Imran Khan

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 30, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 30, 2017

AG wants to discipline Deputy Solicitor-General –– writes Public Service Commission for guidance

By Svetlana Marshall ATTORNEY General Basil Williams has asked his permanent secretary to inform the Public Service Commission (PSC) of his Chamber’s intention to take disciplinary action against Deputy Solicitor-General (DSG) Pritima Kissoon.

Williams in a statement said his Chamber has also requested from the Commission the procedure for such action.

Minister Williams made the statement shortly after news broke that the DSG had filed a complaint to the PSC, contending that he has taken a non-cooperative approach towards her in his attempt to force her out of office.

According to the Attorney General, Kissoon has not been professional in her conduct and the Government has had enough.

But Kissoon in her complaint to the Commission, described the actions of the Attorney General are “reprehensible, unbearable and malicious.”

She noted that although she has been preparing legal documents for the Attorney

General to approve in relation to pending matters, he has continuously withheld his signature.

“In court matters, draft opinions/pleadings are presented to the AG, Mr Basil Williams, for approval, signature, correction or alteration and even though reminded regularly, this is not done or is done so belatedly and at the ninth hour, that I have been embarrassed before the courts or had to resort to my legal acumen to ensure that the State is properly represented,” the Deputy Solicitor- General said in the letter of complaint submitted to the PSC. REFUSAL Additionally, she said the Attorney General has instructed his Confidential Secretary Demi Hipplewith and other assistants not to accept any of her documents or correspondence. As such, she has resorted to emailing him and carbon copying to the relevant recipients.

“Kindly be informed, that on numerous occasions the Attorney General requests adjournments for matters and

despite the Honourable Courts adjourning matters to accommodate the AG, he has continued not to give instructions or examine documents prepared by me before they are filed or presented to the Court,” Kis-

Deputy Solicitor-General, Pritima Kissoon soon further contended.

She said the situation hit

rock bottom, when on January 19, 2017, the Attorney General “wrongfully and unlawfully” said she and the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh, conspired to aid Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in the case of the Attorney General vs Bharrat Jagdeo.

“I can assure you that such utterances in the press are without factual basis and indeed created an action of libel against his victims who were named in the Chronicle,” she said.

In another letter which was also sent to the PSC and the Minister of State Joseph Harmon, the Deputy Solicitor-General told the Attorney General that: “You have sought to besmirch and vilify my character and impeach my integrity, hoping that your harassment of me in the office and now in the public domain by the aforesaid publication will cause me to abandon my office and vacate same.”

Kissoon is now seeking to have approval from the PSC to have her deferred leave from 2016 until a solution is found. Additionally, she is seeking approval to leave Guyana.

GLARING ERRORS However, the Attorney General, in refuting the claims made by the Deputy Solicitor-General, said in every case involving the Opposition Leader, the PPP and the former Attorney General, glaring errors were made by Ms Kissoon when she was expected to represent the interest of the State.

“In cases where the President, Prime Minister and Attorney General were sued, Ms Kissoon deliberately disobeyed instructions by the Attorney General and Solicitor-General as to attacking the applications on lack of jurisdiction and have caused the matters to be protracted, helping Nandlall to save

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams face,” Minister Williams said.

“All Ms Kissoon is attempting is to cloud the facts of a situation where there are numerous memoranda issued to her for numerous infractions,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 30, 2017

Tens of thousands protest Trump immigration order Tens of thousands of people rallied in U.S. cities and at airports on Sunday to voice outrage over President Donald Trump’s Executive Order restricting entry into the country for travellers from seven Muslim-majority nations.

In New York, Washington and Boston, a second wave of demonstrations followed spontaneous rallies that broke out at U.S. airports on Saturday as U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents began enforcing Trump’s directive.

The protests spread westward as the day progressed.

The order, which bars admission of Syrian refugees and suspends travel to the United States from Iraq, Iran, Sudan and four other countries on national security grounds, has led to the detention or deportation of hundreds of people arriving at U.S. airports.

One of the largest of Sun-

day’s protests took place at Battery Park in lower Manhattan, within sight of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, long a symbol of welcome to U.S. shores.

Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York told the crowd that Trump’s order was un-American and ran counter to the country’s core values.

“What we are talking about here is life and death for so many people,” Schumer said. “I will not rest until these horrible orders are repealed.”

The march, estimated to have grown to about 10,000 people, later began heading to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office in lower Manhattan.

In Washington, thousands rallied at Lafayette Square across from the White House, chanting: “No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here.”

weekend that Washington was the scene of protests. Last Saturday, hundreds of thousands of women participated in an anti-Trump rally and march, one of dozens staged across the country.

On Sunday, many of the protesters left the White House area and marched along Pennsylvania Avenue, stopping at the Trump International Hotel where they shouted: “Shame, shame, shame.”

A crowd that police estimated at 8,000 eventually arrived at the steps of the U.S. Capitol, where a line of uniformed officers stood guard.

As the crowd passed the Canadian Embassy en route to the Capitol, protesters chanted: “Hey hey, ho ho, I wish our leader was Trudeau.” It was a reference to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Saturday Twitter message affirm-

People chant and hold signs as they protest against the travel ban imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Executive Order, at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport International Arrivals gate in Dallas, Texas, U.S. January 29, 2017. REUTERS/Laura Buckman

ing his country’s welcoming policy toward refugees.

Trump defended the Executive Order in a statement on Sunday, saying the United States would

It was the second straight

resume issuing visas to all countries once secure policies were put in place over the next 90 days.

“To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting,” Trump said.

“This is not about religion - this is about terror and keeping our country safe.”

‘NEVER AGAIN MEANS NEVER’ Aria Grabowski, 30, of Washington, was carrying a sign that read: “Never again means never again for everyone.”

Above the slogan was a photograph of Jewish refugees who fled Germany in 1939 on a ship that was turned away from Havana, Cuba, and forced to return to Europe. More than 250 people aboard the ship were eventually killed by the Nazis.

Monday January 30th, 05:00 hrs (Day) Saturday January 31st, 05:00 hrs (Day)

Rhonda Reese, 56, of northern Virginia, said: “As a Muslim, I do appreciate the support that I see. Our community feels under siege right now.”

About 200 protesters chanted on Sunday afternoon at Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia near Washington.

About the same number gathered at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, where anxious families awaited relatives detained for hours after flights from countries affected by the presidential order.

At Los Angeles International Airport, hundreds of people

had gathered at Tom Bradley Terminal to protest Trump’s order, as chants of “refugees are welcome here” echoed through the arrivals hall.

Travellers at times struggled to make their way around the boisterous yet peaceful crowd, which blocked an entrance to the hall.

Organisers estimated that more than 10,000 people gathered at Boston’s Copley Square to hear speakers including Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a vocal critic of Trump and a leader of the Democratic Party’s liberal wing.

During the protests, dozens of Muslims, some of them kneeling on protest signs, bowed in prayer on rugs laid out on a grassy patch of ground in the square.

In Houston, which was already filling up with visitors for next Sunday’s Super Bowl, about 500 people marched through the downtown.

Jennifer Fagen, 47, a sociology professor at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, said she hoped she did not lose her job for protesting.

“I’m Jewish, and it’s supposed to be never again,” Fagen said, referring to the Holocaust. “Jews should be the first ones to defend Muslims, considering what has happened to us, and it seems it’s being repeated under Trump.” (Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 30, 2017

Collaborative law school project launched

The Government of Guyana is moving ahead with plan to establish a Law School here to meet the needs of local and international law students.

After nearly two decades of discussions and lobbying for an alternative law school to the Norman Manley Law School at the University of the West Indies, the JOF Haynes Law School of the Americas (JHLSA), will come to pass through a private-public partnership between the Government of Guyana, Law School of the Americas (LCA) and the University College of the Caribbean (UCC).

The collaborative project was officially launched last Thursday at the Spanish Court Hotel in Jamaica.

JHLSA will be added to the options available to students who hold a Bachelor of Laws and have intentions to pursue their Legal Education Certificate, qualifying them to practise law throughout Commonwealth Caribbean territories.

The JOF Haynes Law School of the Americas, named after prominent Guyanese jurist, Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence Haynes, is expected to build on the legacy of the Norman Manley Law School and its counterparts – The Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago and the Eugene Dupuch Law School in the Bahamas.

Jamaica’s Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Ruel Reid, in his role as keynote speaker, endorsed this Memorandum

of Understanding (MoU).

“I know the frustration that many qualified Jamaicans and indeed Caribbean nationals face with trying to get a toe through the entrance to the Norman Manley Law School at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies ... Let’s not be afraid of competition but rather establish and maintain our institutions at such high standards offering quality education and training that they will attract the best of the best locally and internationally as students and faculty,” Minister Reid said.

President of the Law School of the Americas, Dr. Velma Brown-Hamilton, who is a driving force behind the partnership, said JHLSA will complement the Legal Education Certificate programme at the Norman Manley Law School, which has not been able to meet the demand for lawyers.

POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT In alluding to the low entrance rate of graduates from his institution to the Norman Manley Law School, President and Executive Chairman of UCC Winston Adams said he welcomes the development.

According to him, a public-private partnership of this kind sends very positive signals to the citizens of Jamaica, Guyana and the wider region.

In support, Jamaica Attorney General, Marlene Malahoo-Forte, stated that this establishment will significantly improve access to

Jamaica’s Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Ruel Reid

legal education in the Caribbean and, in turn, contribute to growth and development in the region.

Malahoo-Forte further noted that she was confident the law school “will strengthen capacity in the region to deal with areas of law that are becoming increasingly important to the region”, highlighting the need for lawyers trained in legal and regulatory issues related to the oil and energy sectors after the recent discovery of commercial quantities of oil off the coast of Guyana.

She also pointed out a similar demand for lawyers who are trained to meet demands that will emerge as Jamaica positions itself to become the logistics centre of the Caribbean.

“The courses offered will be innovative, practical and driven toward entre-

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, having a light moment with President of the Law School of the Americas, Dr. Velma Brown-Hamilton and President and Executive Chairman of UCC, Winston Adams

preneurship as well as the needs of the respective territories. The JOF Haynes Law School will be a catalyst for the new economy for the region and developing countries. Importantly, it solidifies our vision to give access to legal education to a wider cross-section of people who are duly qualified,” Brown-Hamilton explained.

Cybercrime and money laundering are two key nontraditional areas of specialisation being explored.

Guyana’s Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, in delivering remarks, disclosed that the Government of Guyana has allocated

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funding so far for the first two years. Graduates of the LLB programmes offered by the LCA and UCC law faculties, as well as those from other law faculties across the Caribbean, will benefit from priority admission to the planned two-year programme at JHLSA, starting September 2017/January 2018.

Additional development in legal education is expected to foster greater understanding and awareness of legal rights, including constitutional rights, which may further translate into peaceful and productive societies.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

The PPP/C’s new GeneralSecretary

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has elected Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, as its General-Secretary. By a mere 13 votes, he beat contender Dr Frank Anthony, behind whom past General-Secretary Clement Rohee, having withdrawn his name, threw his support .

While Jagdeo is no stranger to politics, his brand of politics disconcertingly reverberates. He continues to attract attention, given the conditions under which he ascended the political ladder. President Cheddi Jagan had appointed him junior minister to then Minister of Finance Asgar Ally, whom he later fired and thereafter promoted Jagdeo, whom Ally had accused of undermining him.

When in 1997 the PPP/C contested elections, an “A team” was put forward. The leaders of this team was prime ministerial candidate Samuel Hinds, presidential candidate Janet Jagan and Jagdeo. Though uncertain what role he would have taken, none doubted that he was being positioned to play a significant part in the government.

With the PPP/C’s victory, he began carving out a space, demonstrating the willingness to be a team player, providing he leads the team.

This characteristic was seen throughout. From Minister of Finance to president, Jagdeo maintained control of the nation’s purse strings and expected unflinching compliance, be it administratively, politically or societal.

Reportedly, financial and economic decision-making, inclusive of public companies and corporations, were initiated and concluded by him.

An instance that reverberated and which almost brought the economy to a halt was the 1999 Public Service strike. The strike escalated, because in addition to then Minister of the Public Service George Fung-on saying not a cent more to public servants and refusing to meet with their unions, then Finance Minister Jagdeo advised the government to stick with Fung-on’s position. After more than 50-days of strike action, workers shot by the Guyana Police Force, and billions of dollars lost in revenue, the government had to agree to arbitration to end the strike.

It is a held view that having caused the government and country this major setback, Jagdeo during his presidency became more determined in his anti-union stance.

The right to collective bargaining for public servants was denied and the arbitration award was never fully implemented. Trade unions can identify their unique experiences where once his government had a say, how poorly they were treated.

When in 1999 Mrs Jagan resigned the presidency, Jagdeo’s ascendancy was described as musical chairs. In keeping with ascension, Hinds was expected to succeed Mrs Jagan. Instead, he ascended to the presidency, making way for Jagdeo to ascend to prime minister. Thereafter, Hinds stepped down to allow Jagdeo to be appointed president and he be re-appointed prime minister.

That dubious ascension notwithstanding, given Jag-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 30, 2017

Political dialogue in the national interest Dear Editor,

I SHOULD be grateful for the publication of this letter in your newspaper, to encourage an open debate and advocacy again for national consensus and national unity by the main political parties, whose actions and postures impact the lives of all in this country. It is time to look forward, put aside continuing campaigns for political points, and transcend the blame game.

Let us be frank and admit that in reality, we live in a fractured, divided, wounded and bleeding country related to the politics of race and ethnicity in the contest for political power and dominance by the PPP and PNC for over 60 years. How long must this nation wait for the political conflicts and contests between these two dominant political forces come to an end for the national good? Do we need a Truth and Reconcialation Commission (like South Africa) to bring healing to this nation? Do we need the Secretary-General of the United Nations to provide a facilitator to stimulate the dialogue process and mediate differences as may be necessary?

Political dialogue between the leaders of the PPP and the PNC on governance and on social and economic matters should be promoted and adopted as a matter of high priority for the national good. The objective is to foster confidence, high trust, mutual understanding, cordial and civil communication and

good relations at the national level. The objective is also to find agreed solutions to political governance and socio-economic problems and issues, and to forge national consensus for political governance and national development. The promotion of political and social justice in Guyana could be achieved if the PPP and the PNC are involved in the search for appropriate solutions, through genuine dialogue. They have the major responsibility in the success of the dialogue process.

Genuine political dialogue between the PPP and the PNC offers potential opportunities from which all can gain. The parties are challenged to commit themselves to engage in determined dialogue, based on the principles of mutual trust and good faith. Success in the mutual outcome of political dialogue also requires national commitment and national political will.

The building of confidence and trust, their maintenance and sustainability requires a high degree of commitment and national leadership.

In Guyana, the real challenge is to develop national consensus in the form of national accord on political governance and an agreed programme for social, economic, and human development in the interest of national communities. National consensus agreements provide the framework for strategies to achieve good political governance, international competitiveness, higher standards of living, improved social protection and a stable currency, investment-friendly poli-

deo’s relative youth, influential voices asked that he be given the chance to govern. There was the general expectation that having not experienced the racial upheavals of the 1960s, governance under him would have seen fewer conflicts and less animosity. Yet, it was during this period that several instances of repressive governmental acts and actions were noted.

There were heightened allegations -- some not without justification -- of racial tensions and conflicts, groups targeted for exclusion based on geography, political association, and identity. Imbalances in budgetary allocations and resources directed to, or taken away from regions where the government under his leadership did not control, were noted.

The narco-economy was allowed to flourish, which Professor Clive Thomas noted represented a significant percentage of the economy. The criminalised state was also coined, because in addition to the narco-economy, corruption was pervasive. Transparency International ranked Guyana the most corrupt Caribbean English-speaking country, a shame and stigma that require much work to remove. During this period, when hundreds of dead bodies were turning up all over the place, Dr Roger Luncheon famously described the carnage as being done by “phantom” squads. Later, it was learnt that the

cies and a more development-conducive political and social climate in environments which uphold and respect fundamental rights and freedoms at all levels in the national community.

The outcome of political dialogue can promote effective management of the economy in a climate of good political governance with the participation of civil society. It is crucial for agreeing on measures for balanced economic, social and political developments. The Governing Authority of the National Assembly and the Government bear a heavy responsibility for ensuring that good governance, “The manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for development,” reflects fairness and effective political, economic and social justice. A country that is committed to such good political governance will ensure that there is genuine participation by the political and social partners, who must demonstrate credibility, transparency, and accountability in the administration and management of national affairs.

The challenges in terms of national strategies are to promote a mature political culture, economic growth, social, political, and human development, call for actions at the national level.

It is for the Government, the political parties, private sector, the labour movement and civil society in Guyana (a) to respect, promote and realise in good faith the fundamental principles of human rights enshrined

in our national Constitution and laws, UN Conventions, and Regional and other International Treaty obligations; and (b) to adopt through genuine and sustained political dialogue, changes in political governance and the management of national socio-economic and political affairs. These must be promoted in a paradigm shift -- from the prolonged confrontational and divisive posture , to one which cultivates consensus and cooperation in the national interest.

Let genuine dialogue between the PNC and the PPP begin afresh without delay to achieve national consensus to move this country forward as a united nation. My list for genuine dialogue includes: building confidence and high trust; agreeing on a shared vision for Guyana; constitutional reform aimed at creating a broad-based, inclusive Government which can elect the President by two-thirds vote by the National Assembly and which caters for one vice-president; constitutional allocation of ministerial portfolios based on the proportional strengths of the parties forming the Government; electoral reforms;a fixed election day and an agreed programme for political, social, economic and human development for the national good for all citizens.

Samuel J Goolsarran Citizen of Guyana

government’s hands were bloody.

Dissent and alternative views were not treated as a right or opportunity to engage or review. There exist several anecdotes. Notably among them is Mrs Jagan who was publicly demeaned for disagreeing with Jagdeo’s policy of withdrawing government advertisements from Stabroek News for its reportage. The Guyana Chronicle became a political mouth- piece attacking political rivals, those the government disagreed with, and justifying whatever actions his government took.

President Jagdeo assented to the bill that allows a person not more than two consecutive terms to be president. On demitting office, he began putting a process in place to create a framework to see his return as president, though throughout Donald Ramotar’s presidency he reiterated his non-intention of holding constitutional office again. The 2015 elections proved otherwise. Jagdeo not only appeared on the List of Representatives, but successfully manipulated the system and became Leader of the Opposition.

With the ascension to the most powerful office in the country’s oldest political party, there is need to begin frank and honest national discussions about Jagdeo’s politics which continues to reverberate and will shape the future of the PPP/C and Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 30, 2017

Not too busy to have a good time Dear Editor,

FAR from the days when we enjoyed most of town and could see the final fete in the National Park.

Now it is down Brickdam and stop. We had more energy, less money and more good times back when GuySuCo and all the big companies participated. Life was that sweet. People on the sidelines could join in and enjoy the fete along with the participants, because you would always see somebody you know enjoying themselves in the masquerade band.

The good days when the XM 5-year was the drink of choice, lime rickey was available and everyone

would cook up a storm and sit on their verandahs and enjoy the sweetness of Mashramani.

The Sports Hall would be packed for soca competitions and the talk of the town would be on the lyrics of the winner. Usually criticising something that went or was going wrong.

Everyone would enjoy a good laugh. All the schoolchildren would get ready for Mass Games and enjoy being proud Guyanese, but still complain about the hot sun. Yet they loved being outside in the fresh air, avoiding class and enjoyed the positive energy of people smiling all the time, because we were getting ready for Mash.

Don’t forget how

much money would be spent and memories would be made on the mall. Especially when relatives from overseas come visit and start reminiscing of the good old days and would say how things not that bad, because they were having a good time during Mash. I guess things are too busy for a good time this year.

Miss a year and come back with a miniature display of what others are calling carnival. Please try to do better and bring back a proper Mashup during Mashramani.

We’re not that busy to not have a good time.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

City Hall has to be more alert Dear Editor,

Every Guyanese from the youngest child has been taught in school that Guyana has two rainy seasons, one during the Christmas period and early in the year and the other in the May/ June period.

In fact who had forgotten that lesson, learnt the hard way in December 2005 when the rainy season really made its presence felt.

How could the members of the Georgetown City Council forget this episode, which we now call the ‘Great Flood’ or are they just blissfully waiting for another one.

From all appearances that is exactly what they are doing.

Fast forward to last December the day before Christmas Eve, the heavens opened and rain poured ‘cats and dogs’, whilst at the same time the Council claimed that there was a high tide.

Despite all that has gone on before, and in spite of the advanced technology available to us in weather forecasting, the Council, like in 2005, again seemed to have been taken by surprise.

Persons in their well decorated homes for the Christmas were forced to pick up and dry out their carpets, rugs, linoleum and furniture from the lower flats, whilst many businesses lost millions of dollars in stocks that were stored on the ground in their stores or stalls and in the municipal markets, but

Council bore no liability.

In some places like Bel Air Park and South Ruimveldt, water took days to drain off, so some persons spent Christmas Day and beyond wading through their lower flats.

What was most disappointing however was that the Georgetown City Council claimed they spent nearly eight hundred million dollars of our tax dollars cleaning up. However, for just a few millions more, several of the pumps and sluices were left in a state of disrepair.

Such ineptitude in a city Government should never be tolerated by the citizenry or Central Government.

Georgetown has a system of interconnected canals and sluices that, if maintained and utilised properly, there would hardly be flooding, and thus the absolute necessity for the Council’s engineering and drainage staff to ensure that these structures are maintained, modernized and rebuilt when necessary.

However instead, they have left pumps to lie inactive for want of spare parts and repairs, allowed squatters to take over the reserves next to the drains preventing effective maintenance of those drains, and have actually filled some of those drains and canals whilst in other cases they have just allowed some sluices to become totally abandoned.

It should be noted that

everyone suffers from the incompetence of a few at City Hall, particularly those who live in bottom-flats and who in many instances fall ill from the stagnant dirty water.

And as usual City Hall sings the same tune that the cow died on, and that is that sluices cannot be opened when there is high tide, but they are not talking about or taking action against the errant officers whose neglect caused two pumps to be inoperable.

While we are willing to concede that our low lying Georgetown will flood given its geographic situation, the fact is that the flooding should not and will not be so dire, if the systems that they inherited from the Dutch are allowed to work the way they were designed to.

But of course systems cannot work themselves.

Rather, they have to be operated by people; that is, the engineering and drainage staff of the Georgetown City Council. Why are we paying them if they don’t constantly clear and desilt the drains and canals when there is dry weather and check and maintain the pumps?

When these municipal officers are found to be in dereliction of duty in these crucial areas they should be dealt with condignly, but rather it seems they are given a pat on the back.

Best regards, Deodarie Putulall

A plea for help

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 30, 2017

–– Issano, Kurupung battle drug shortage, other challenges

By Svetlana Marshall FOR months, the Issano Health Post has been operating without basic medical supplies. Over at the Kurupung Health Post, the situation is even worse. Health workers operating out of the dilapidated health facility have for years been battling with a shortage of drugs and medical supplies, lack of electricity and potable water, and the transportation system, leaves much to be desired.

It has been more than five years since Kurupung was visited by a Health Minister or Regional Health Officer, residents say.

complained.

The health worker, who is also a village councillor, said it was only last Wednesday that he wrote the Regional Medex Sharon Hope on the issue, with the hope that she would make an intervention.

At the health post, Joseph is assisted by his son Leonard Joseph; a trained lab technician. But there is not much Leonard can do now since his supplies too are low.

Additionally, it has been over two years since the health post’s radio system is down, and as such, the health worker is unable to communicate with his superiors in Bartica in cases of emergency.

water,” Joseph complained.

This problem, he said, was raised with the miners operating land dredges but to no avail.

At Kurupung, which is situated near the Pakaraima Mountains and more than three hours away from Issano by river, the health post is managed by two health workers.

According to one of the health workers Janelle Johnson, the health post lacks basic amenities.

“We don’t have basic things…we don’t have medicine, we don’t have tablets, we don’t have injections, we don’t even have a bed, only a bed frame, and we are desThe Issano Health Post

perately in need of a doctor.

For the past five years, it has just been the two of us but we need a doctor here,” Johnson told Guyana Chronicle.

She said last December the health post received some medication but only for the chronic disease patients who all have high blood pressure.

It was noted that whenever medicine and medical supplies are sent from Bartica through the Regional Democratic Council or the Public Health Ministry, the health workers would have to pay for the supplies to Minister Simona Broomes interacting with health worker at Issano, David Joseph be transported from Olive Creek to Kurupung, and On Thursday, the residents of the mining communities, situated along the Middle Mazaruni River in Region Seven, pleaded with Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes, to make representation on their behalf to the relevant Ministers of Government and regional officials – a task she has since committed to do.

David Joseph, the lone health worker stationed at the Issano Health Post, said it has been more than two months since he made a requisition for medicine and medical supplies to replenish his already depleted dispensary.

To date, he is still waiting.

“I have requested (medical supplies) but there is nothing I can do, if we don’t get the supply…we don’t even have simple things like panadol or medicine to treat the malaria patients,” Joseph

“The other thing is, we have a medical boat and I would use my engine to transport patients and do field work but the condition of the boat ain’t nice at all. Whenever we have to use it, it is like a suicide mission we are on,” he told the minister.

SORE ISSUE Alluding to a problem affecting the wider community of Issano, Joseph said water pollution is a major issue. According to the village councillor, mining activities in Issano by non-residents have been a sore issue for years.

“We really having a heavy water pollution problem…The Tassarine Creek is our main source of water but now if you go there, the water milky, milky… sometimes you have to travel about four miles, just to get some clean

Shondel Abrams and Jannelle Johnson, the two health workers managing the Kurupung Health Post

according to them, it is usually very difficult to get a refund.

NO EQUIPMENT In a mining community where malaria is very prevalent, there is no equipment to do the required tests.

“About two years now the microscope is out of service, and it not like we haven’t been reporting these matters, we have,” she said.

Additionally, with the solar power system being down for more than five years, Johnson and her colleague Shondel Abrams, in cases of emergency would have to attend to patients with torch lights at nights.

However, there are times when the Guyana Geology and Mines (GGMC) Office would provide the health post with electricity.

Abrams said it is clear that the village of Kurupung has been neglected. “The other thing, very important to us, this is going to be six years we are working here and no health minister or regional health ever visited us. Last year they promised to come and never came.”

In addition to the plethora of health issues facing the village, is the fact that it has no school.

“There is a building, there was school functioning when I came to Kurupung nine years back, but it closed now,” Natasha Singh told this newspaper. During the visit, several school-aged children were seen around the village.

Singh, who has a child attending school outside of the village, said it is very costly.

“I would like for you to See page 9

An almost empty cupboard at the Issano Health Post

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 30, 2017

Guyana records 54 new leprosy cases

ALTHOUGH the prevalence of leprosy has seen a significant decline worldwide, it’s still somewhat of an uphill battle for Guyana, with the latest recorded count of persons infected with the disease being 54.

This is according to Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, who made the observation on Sunday during a presentation at the Palms to mark World Leprosy Day. “In Guyana, we have 54 cases, which is still less than the 74 persons cut-off point for elimination,” Dr Cummings said.

“But there are cases that are not found; many out there that are being misdiagnosed and not seeking help, because it attracts the stigma,” she added.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), leprosy is a chronic disease caused by a slow multiplying bacillus or rod-shaped bacterium called Mycobacterium leprae.

If left untreated, it causes nerve damage in three main areas of the body, namely: the face, hands and feet.

As such, the sensory and motor functions within these areas are compromised, and may

result in the inability to feel and or move the parts of the body that are affected.

In the 1990s, the WHO launched a campaign to eliminate leprosy; that goal was achieved by 2002. During a review of the situation in 2014, it was found that 122 countries are without high prevalence rates.

es, and for the first time, the Ministry was able to visit Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), to follow-up on the competence of the doctors and medical assistants working with the National Leprosy Control Programme.

–– as gov’t continues to grapple with control, stigma disease programme, the minister said, her ministry will work to ensure the reduction of the disease by enhancing the public health services offered to patients, and ensure that active surveillance and compe-

At the commemoration yesterday of World Leprosy Day at the Palms on Brickdam (Photo by Samuel Maughn) STILL BATTLING Here in Guyana, however, Minister Cummings said the Ministry of Public Health is still battling to completely eliminate the disease and the stigma attached to it.

In 2016, she said, several trainees were coached on how to handle leprosy cas-

During the period at reference, she said, 52 persons were diagnosed as having leprosy, among them six children showing signs of Grade One leprosy.

Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) proved to be the region where the occurrence was most prevalent.

But, through the infectious

A plea for ...

From page 8 take a look at your health situation in this community, please, do that for us, please, please do, schools.... If you could do something about our schools too, we will be glad, we will be glad, even if we have five children going to school in this community, we will be glad, I could even tell you right now from this community we will be having a doctor, (who) will be returning to Guyana pretty soon, come from this community, so I am asking please to look at these two things, our health and the hospital, so please, do that also, it might not be in your Ministry but please have a word,” another resident pleaded

with junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes, who recently visited the community.

Minister Broomes, upon hearing the concerns of the residents of both villages, committed to discuss the issues with the relevant ministers. She said while there is no doubt that these villages were neglected in past, the Government of the day will be putting the necessary systems in place to provide a better life for residents.

The Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources said the Public Infrastructure Ministry is currently rehabilitating the Kurupung Airstrip, and would soon look into the issues of road, health and education facing residents.

Residents of Kurupung plead with Minister Simona Broomes to make representation on their behalf in the areas of health and education

tence-building programmes are in place.

She said the ministry also intends to continue hosting leprosy outreach programmes in all ten of the country’s administrative regions. And, given the huge stigma still attached to the disease, Min-

ister Cummings said the Ministry of Public Health intends to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Social Protection to conduct therapeutic programmes and train peer councillors who will follow-up on patients living with the disease.

MOST NEGLECTED And, speaking of stigma, Head of the National Leprosy Control Programme, Dr. Nikita McKenzie, couldn’t help but note during her presentation that in spite of this being the 64th year of commemorating World Leprosy Day, the disease is still one of the most neglected infectious diseases.

Noting that it is sad that in this day and age, persons still highly stigmatize persons with the disease due to deformities associated with it, Dr McKenzie said it is the intention of the National Leprosy Control Programme to raise awareness about leprosy through a series of events next month.

According to Dr. McKenzie, they have a number of events on agenda, ranging from live talks on radio and televi-

sion to school outreaches.

Dr. William Adu-Krow, who is the representative here of both the WHO and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), though he lauded the efforts of the National Leprosy Control Programme, said it is incumbent upon them to do as it says in this year’s theme: “Aim for a target of zero cases of leprosy- related disabilities in children, with enhanced efforts, renewed commitment and inclusive approaches.”

Noting that Guyana is one step ahead in this regard, in the sense that it offers free diagnosis and treatment, Dr Adu-Krow feels that nevertheless, it needs to start scaling up interventions to address the condition by addressing the socioeconomic needs of communities, and taking complete measures to end the stigma.

“A multi-sectoral approach is needed in order to reach out to communities in their programming; we must address laws or regulations that support discrimination and ensure that civil society is included in campaigns,” Dr. Adu-Krow said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 30, 2017

Stop verbally abusing our children A MIDDLE-AGED woman, who is known for taking care of children, decided to help a friend who was worried about her neglected grand-daughter and the child’s wild, disruptive behaviour.

“Bring her here and I will ‘try’ with her,” she

said. But after many weeks of trying different strategies with the eight-yearold girl, the woman was worn out. Finally, changing her approach, she sat the girl down and asked her, “Look, what would you like to be when you grow up?” The girl wasted no time with her reply, “A whore,” she said, “My mother said I just gonna be a little whore.” Obviously, the child did not understand the meaning of the word, but nevertheless, it was something her mother had consistently told her and she believed it.

Verbal abuse consists of name-calling or insulting a child: swearing at a child, belittling a child and criticising a child directly or indirectly. Other types of verbal abuse include threatening a child with physical abuse or abandonment and making a child a scapegoat when things do not work out or go according to plan. (e.g. “I could have achieved a lot more in life if I didn’t have you”).

It may surprise some parents to learn that they do not have the right to verbally abuse their children; and by consistently calling them derogatory names or telling them how useless they are, parents are hindering a very important part of their growth. Children develop on several levels, (e.g. physically, intellectually, morally). Therefore, if they are told negative things about themselves by people who are meant to care for them, it is bound to have an effect on their psychological, emotional and social development.

Children can actually take to heart and believe the negative things their parents and family members say to them, because children very rarely have the mental capacity to “shrug off” or ignore hurtful words. Usually

the whole objective of shouting offensive, disparaging words at children is for some type of reaction: (e.g. a change in behaviour or to cause them emotional pain, but the effect on the child can become deep-rooted and do far more damage than intended.

Children who live with verbal abuse tend to have low self-esteem and may not see themselves or anything they do as having importance. This could hold them back academically.

Socially, they may lack confidence and have issues with trust and difficulties in forming relationships.

Children need words of encouragement, praise and acceptance every day. This will help them to flourish in a positive way. It is always more rewarding to build upon the positive things that children do, rather than over-react or “blow out of proportion,” all of the negative things that occur. Children will do foolish things, unacceptable things, unexpected things even unusual things, but this does not give parents the right to berate them in a way that can have long-lasting effects on their personalities and ultimately their outlook and achievements in life. Parents with positive words can have a big impact on how children view themselves and the things they strive to accomplish.

Adults must seize every opportunity to bring out the best in children and continually use words that show them they care.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the Childcare and Protection Agency Hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@ gmail.com.

A Message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 30, 2017

Trotman hails successful AFC National Conference –– Ramjattan delighted democracy prevailed

NEWLY-elected Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Raphael Trotman said that the party’s 5th Biennial National Conference was a show of strength, relevance and unity.

“The strength and relevance of the party was most evident at this National Conference and re-awakened the desire in everyone present to work harder to achieve cohesion and better governance,”

Trotman said on Sunday, one day after the National Conference which was held at the Vreed-en-Hoop Primary School on the West Bank of Demerara, Region Three.

“It was quite gratifying to see all ethnic groups interfacing with each other and embracing and promoting the ideals and principles of the party in a show of unity,” added Trotman.

At the packed National

Conference with full representation from all 10 administrative regions, the Caribbean and North American Diaspora, and in a keenly contested election, Trotman was elected Party Leader by a razor thin two vote margin over fellow Co-Founder Khemraj Ramjattan (127 votes to 125).

“I am delighted with how democracy prevailed in the AFC today, and I have

Cynthia Rutherford is YFC President BUDDING Attorney and Office of the Prime Minister employee Cynthia Rutherford, has been declared President of Youth For Change (YFC), the youth arm of the Alliance For Change (AFC).

YFC held its leadership elections as part of the AFC National Conference on Saturday at the Vreed-en-Hoop Primary School, West Bank Demerara, Region Three.

The vote for the YFC Presidency ended in a tie between Rutherford and Colin

Haynes with 26 votes each.

However, following discussions with newly-elected AFC Leader Raphael Trotman, Haynes magnanimously agreed to withdraw, allowing Rutherford to assume the presidency.

Haynes has committed to focusing his energies on starting an YFC diaspora chapter.

Juaretha Fernandes (28 votes) won the Vice Presidency over Cavern Hinds (23 votes).

Devin Sears (32 votes),

won the elections for General Secretary over Breeanka West (19 votes), while Shannon Naipaul (28 votes), pipped Tiffany Marshall (24 votes), for the position of treasurer.

Ian Fraser secured the Secretary-Treasurer position (effectively the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer) by an overwhelming margin of 34 votes to Ivan Bentham’s 16 votes.

The returning officer for the YFC elections was Michael Leonard.

every confidence that my friend Raphael will lead this party extremely well as he has done in the past and I am very happy to pass the baton back to him for the next two years,” Ramjattan said following the National Conference.

Moses Nagamootoo, who was also nominated to contest for the position of Leader, Chairman and Vice Chairman, had previously withdrawn his candidacy and was elected to the party’s National Executive Committee by an overwhelming number of votes. He was also unanimously appointed to a newly created position of Elder Statesman/Political Advisor following a motion to that effect that was brought before the National Conference.

Having been elected Leader and with the third

candidate Cathy Hughes withdrawing her candidacy, Ramjattan was declared Chairman while Hughes prevailed in the elections for Vice Chairperson with 116 votes ahead of Valerie Garrido-Lowe (76 votes) and Audwin Rutherford (47 votes).

Nagamootoo was the incumbent Vice Chairman but did not seek re-election. Co-Founder Leader, the late Sheila Holder was the first Vice Chair and prior to Hughes the only female to hold the post.

Businessman and real estate agent Marlon Williams (125 votes) is the new General Secretary, winning over incumbent David Patterson (83 votes) and Michael Carrington (12 votes).

Delegates attended the National Conference from as far as Warapoka, Santa Cruz, Port Kaituma and Mabaruma in Region One; Kopinang, Paramakatoi,

New AFC Leader Raphael Trotman Bamboo Creek, Micobie and Campbelltown in Region Eight; and Lethem, St Ignatius, Karasabai, Annai and Karaudanau in Region Nine. Delegates from the United States of America and the Caribbean also attended and participated.

The returning officer for the elections was Clayton Hall.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 30, 2017

Canawaima to dock for new engines

SEVERAL new plans are on stream to enhance the Guyana/Suriname Ferry Service in 2017, Manager, Moleson Creek Terminal/ Canawaima Ferry Service, Deyne Harry, has said.

In an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Harry said that the M.V. Canawaima will be docked and the two engines and auxiliaries will be replaced with new ones.

Further, body and baggage scanners, and perimeter lights will be installed; office spaces and washrooms will be renovated; staff quarters will be repaired; a reservoir and walkway will be constructed and the floating ramp will be replaced.

In 2016 new barrier controls, a generator and the purchase and installation of wall

fans in the passengers’ arrival and departure areas were installed on the ferry. Harry noted that the ferry service is also expecting to increase passengers’ traffic by two per cent. “Even though we have had a challenging 2016, we anticipate that 2017 will be

better.”

During 2016, the M.V. Canawaima experienced numerous mechanical challenges which contributed to the poor performance of the Guyana /Suriname Ferry Service in 2016. This subsequently resulted in extensive

delays and eventually closure of operations for four working days during 2016, Harry explained.

Harry explained that due to the mechanical challenges, the vessel was out of operation for a number of days.

“The major mechanical de-

fects the vessel experienced in 2016 were broken propellers; burnt engine heads; damage to pistons and rings; broken drive shaft and gears; damaged gear box; electrical malfunction, resulting in the loss of steering and the starboard engine was completely overhauled,” Harry explained. This setback led to a decrease in the number of passengers and vehicular traffic in 2016. The total number of passengers who travelled using the M.V. Canawaima amounted to 116,079 in 2016, as opposed to 122,746 in 2015, resulting in a 5.4 percent decrease.

Similarly, the vehicular traffic saw a 4.3 percent decrease with 12,487 vehicles travelling in 2016 and 13,044 in 2015.

The manager explained that the decrease was due to the fact that there were continuous, multiple sailings outside of peak periods which increased operational costs, thus inspiring the decision to operate as traffic warrants. He pointed out that the official implementation of the Yellow Fever requirement on December 5, 2016, adversely affected the volume of traffic during the busy periods, especially during the Christmas holidays. However, this resulted in the ferry service benefiting from huge savings. “In 2016, the Canawaima Ferry Service had an income of $163.8M with $111.41M in expenditures; this led to a surplus of $52.4M,” Harry noted. (GINA)

UG reaches out to affected students –– following devastating fire that hit Cummings Lodge apartment building

By Shauna Jemmott UNIVERSITY of Guyana

(UG) students who were displaced by a fire which gutted an apartment building at

Cummings Lodge on January 13, received cash and moral support from the university

on Wednesday.

More than 50 students of UG, the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the Rajiv Gandhi Medical School were affected by the blaze.

Only 11 of the UG students were located by the university administration, but only six were present at a simple presentation ceremony in the Vice-Chancellor’s office.

They each received

ty, develop a protocol to treat with approved housing for students on this campus. This incident has pointed now to an opportunity for a glorious resurrection of having partners to partner with the university in providing expanded accommodation,” Professor Gravesande said.

Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor, Dr Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, said a Student Welfare Fund

through help from the Guyana Fire Service and the landlord of the building.

She commended the efforts of the university administration for providing much-needed support for the affected students, and announced that counselling services are also available to them.

“We know that some of what you would have lost would have been more than material…

Senior Members of the University of Guyana administration and students affected by the Cummings Lodge apartment fire at the presentation ceremony on Wednesday $100,000.

UG Registrar, Professor Nigel Gravesande, said the impact of the fire has encouraged the university to consider establishing stronger support programmes for students and staff.

Next week, the registrar will meet with the Student Welfare Division to ensure the students affected by the fire “settle down and continue their studies.”

He also noted the need for UG and other stakeholders to consider building more dormitories on campus.

“We have to, as a universi-

will be established to provide stronger financial support for students and staff in crises.

“Any university which is primarily there to serve the students that had an episode, whether on campus or off campus as the episode a few weeks ago involving fire, has an obligation to find a way to help the students,” Dr Griffith said.

Students Welfare Assistant Registrar Daniella King, said it was a challenge finding out who were the UG students affected by the fire, but her department nonetheless was able to locate 11 of them.

And this was made possible

but in whatever material way we can assist, the administration has certainly done an excellent job in deciding to come to your assistance. You may find yourself in the medium to long term, having difficulties coping with this,” she said.

The university is grateful for the outpouring of support for the students from Government, the private sector and other individuals, King said.

The students who received financial assistance were Raphael Fraser, Navindra Manohar, Trovana Azeez, Jewel LeFleur, Usham Changa and Yoinca Rowland.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 30, 2017

Khan tops at AFC’s executive poll

DIRECTOR of Public Information and Press Secretary to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Imran Khan, beat a long field including his boss to emerge with the most votes at the Alliance For Change (AFC) elections for members to sit on the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Khan collected 132 votes with his nearest rival Nagamootoo receiving 104.

Meanwhile, in addition to Khan and Nagamootoo, the other NEC members are Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, Member of Parliament Audwin Rutherford, Government Information Agency (GINA)

Director Beverly Alert, Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan, Business Executive Nicola Trotman, Attorney Joel Edmund, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Member of Parliament Michael Carrington, former Member of Parliament Trevor Williams and Ministry of Public Infrastructure official Neilson McKenzie.

Khan topped the vote tally with 132 votes followed

by Nagamootoo (104), Carrington (100), Garrido-Lowe (96) and Patterson (94).

The NEC comprises the Leader, Chairman,

Vice-Chairperson, General Secretary, Treasurer, the 12 elected members, one representative from each of the party’s 10 Regional Management Committees, Women For Change (WFC), Youth For Change (YFC) and the four overseas chapters.

Five members can also be co-opted into the NEC. The NEC has responsibility for the general affairs of the party between national conferences and meets quarterly. National conferences are held every two years.

The NEC elections were held as part of the 5th Biennial National Conference held on Saturday at the Vreed-enHoop Primary School, West

Bank Demerara.

Dominic Gaskin declined nomination while Leader Raphael Trotman, Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan, Vice Chairperson Cathy Hughes and General Secretary Marlon Williams were not eligible to contest on account of having already been elected to leadership positions and being automatic members of the NEC. A list of the results from the AFC National Executive Committee Elections has indicated that Khan obtained 132 votes; Nagamootoo, 104 votes; Carrington, 100 votes; Garrido-Lowe, 96 votes; Patterson, 94 votes; Edmund, 86 votes; Audwin Rutherford,

79 votes; Neilson McKenzie, 75 votes; Sherod Duncan, 75 votes; Nicola Trotman, 73 votes; Trevor Williams, 69 votes; and Beverly Alert, 66 votes.

In addition, WFC also held elections for the position of National Chairwoman as part of the National Conference.

Alert and Trotman ended in a tie, however, Trotman magnanimously withdrew, allowing Alert to head WFC. WFC is the women’s arm of the AFC and its immediate priority will be to organise a National Women’s Conference at which elections for other positions will be held.

Director of Public Information, Imran Khan

Burnham Drive repairs completed REPAIRS to the collapsed section of Burnham Drive, one of the main thoroughfares on the Wismar Shore in Linden, have been completed and the road is back in use, but regional authorities and residents have expressed fear that other sections of the road may collapse, given several structural faults that have been detected along the way.

A few months back, one of those faults caused an entire section of the road to collapse, thus resulting in the road being impassable to vehicular traffic.

Given that it is the lone thoroughfare to many communities on the Wismar shore, a bypass was created while repairs were being done.

While several residents praised the completion of the extensive repairs, calls are being made for the entire road to be re-done given its current state.

They believe if this is not done earliest, lives and limbs will be at risk.

The road being contiguous to the Demerara River and with the rise in tide and heavy rainfall, the main roadway over the recent years has experienced erosion and the breaking away of culverts and kokers along the way.

At January’s Regional Democratic Council statutory meeting, Regional Chairman Renis Morian revealed that the road has serious problems and several depressions and holes have been identified.

A few months ago, Morian called for a complete study of the road by engineers attached to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure who have respon-

sibility for the road.

“Burnham Drive needs a study; we need to move beyond the patching. The road is contiguous to the river, so… we believe that the road is being undermined by the river,” Morian said.

Burnham Drive, which starts at the Mackenzie/ Wismar Bridge and ends at Christianburg, is used by many residents as an access to most of the communities on the Wismar shore, including Wismar Housing Scheme, Victory Valley, One Mile, Blue Berry Hill and Danjou Alley.

Also located on the

roadway are several schools, churches, the Linden Magistrate’s Court, the Wismar Police Station, all boat landings, the Wismar Market, several car parks, and several Government and private offices.

Given the magnitude of pedestrian and vehicular traffic traversing the road daily, there is fear that if extensive repairs are not done to the road earliest, fatalities may occur.

Senior Engineer Jermaine Braithwaite, while on a visit to Linden, told Guyana Chronicle that the upper part of the tubes holding the kokers togeth-

–– but other problems emerge er had corroded, causing the road base to wash in and its foundation to be lost.

And even though the upper layer of the road may seem sound, its foundation is void; and

that is why some parts are sinking while visible holes will continue to expand.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 30, 2017

Killed ‘CG bandit’ Primary school was serial robber student drowns in Pomeroon River POLICE have confirmed that the ‘CG bandit’ who was gunned down last Friday while trying to rob a businessman in the vicinity of McDoom, East Bank Demerara, was fingered in several robberies.

The dead bandit, who has been identified as Gary Koster, 38, of Norton Street, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was reportedly known to residents of his community as a “gun man”. His name had also been called in relation to a number of robberies and other gun-related crimes.

According to reports, last Friday’s incident occurred around 14:45hrs.

The ‘pickup’ in which the 48-year-old businessman of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, was

travelling, was heading due south and slowed on approaching McDoom.

Reports are that the driver of the vehicle, motor truck GTT 5907, had stopped to let another vehicle exit the McDoom access road when two males rode up on a blackand-grey CG motorcycle, bearing registration number 2167.

The pillion rider reportedly dismounted the bike, pulled a gun from his waist and dealt the businessman, who was travelling ‘shotgun’, a blow to the face before discharging a round.

The businessman, in response, pulled out the firearm he was licensed to carry, and discharged several rounds in the two suspects’ direction, hitting one of them.

The man that was hit

reportedly fell on the roadway while the other ran due south along the McDoom Public Road and escaped.

When the police processed the scene, they found three .32 and one 9mm spent shells. The fallen bandit was taken to the Diamond Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body bore a gunshot wound to the left temple and one at the nape of the neck.

The ‘pickup’, when examined, bore a bullet hole on the left side of the windscreen. Both the businessman and his driver gave statements to the police as investigations continue. The motorcycle has since been impounded at the West Ruimveldt Police Station.

The motorcycle that was used in the attempted robbery

A 12-YEAR-OLD epileptic student of Charity Primary School, lost his life while swimming with cousins in the Pomeroon River Friday last.

Dead is 12-year-old Geramey Benjamin, of Dredge Creek, Upper Pomeroon River.

The boy’s body was seen floating in the Dredge Creek area by a resident who raised an alarm. Relatives said the child suffers from epilepsy.

Medical sources indicate that if someone with epilepsy dies suddenly and unexpectedly, no obvious cause of death can be found.

The police were called to the scene and the body was removed and taken to the Charity Wharf.

It was later transported to the Suddie mortuary.

Statements from the two cousins: ages seven and 18 were taken as police continue their investigations.

Reports indicate that the youths were swimming on Friday when the lad drowned; the body was fished out the following day.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 30, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 30, 2017

Federer claims historic 18th

major with five-set win over Nadal

By Nick Mulvenney MELBOURNE,(Reuters)-Roger Federer came out on top after a rollercoaster ride in the 35th chapter of his rivalry with Rafa Nadal to win his fifth Australian Open 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 and clinch a first grand slam title in four and a half years yesterday.

The 35-year-old capped his triumphant return from knee surgery with a record-extending 18th major title after a vintage battle with his Spanish rival, who had won all three of their previous meetings at Melbourne Park.

Lefthander Nadal, also returning from injury this year, showed sustained periods of his brutal best from the baseline but was just unable to stay with his rival in the gut-wrenching drama of the deciding set.

Federer was forced to endure a nervous wait for his victory after Nadal unsuccessfully challenged the line call on the second championship point before becoming the first man to win five or

more titles at three different grand slams.

The Swiss, for many the greatest player of all time, celebrated with tears in his eyes but his first words were for his old friend and rival.

“Tennis is a tough sport, there are no draws in tennis but I would have been happy to accept one tonight and share it with Rafa,” he said.

“I would have been happy to lose to be honest, the comeback was as good as it was. I hope to see you next year but if not, then it was a wonderful year here and I couldn’t be happier tonight.”

Nadal, the 2009 champion, was also typically gracious after losing his third Melbourne final and coming up short in his bid for a 15th grand slam title.

“It was a great match and I think Roger probably deserved it a little more than me,” the 30-year-old said.

“I played a great quality of tennis. That’s great news for me. I believe that if I have my body in the right condition, I can have a

great year.”

FIRST BREAKTHROUGH Federer made the slower start to the contest but it was the Swiss who made the first breakthrough, converting the first break point of the match with a forehand winner to go 5-4 up.

That was enough to take the opening set but this was never going to be a straightforward win for either player and Nadal was all over his opponent’s serve at the start of the second and grabbed a 2-0 lead.

Federer had two break points in the next game but Nadal fought them off and then broke again as his rival struggled for accuracy under the Spaniard’s onslaught.

Four big forehands gave the Swiss a break back but Nadal held firm to serve out the set and Federer needed three aces to save three break points at the start of the third.

The momentum had swung, though, and Federer stepped up a gear and rat-

tled off the next two games with Nadal left scrambling to fend off a second break in a marathon fourth game.

He was unable to repeat the feat in the sixth game and Federer, his crosscourt backhand causing Nadal all sorts of problems, secured a two sets to one lead with a drop volley.

The pendulum had not finished swinging yet, however, and Nadal broke for 3-1 in the fourth and held under huge pressure in the next game with a brilliant crosscourt forehand winner at full stretch.

Nadal again closed out the set and Federer took a medical timeout before the start of the decider, returning to court only to give up his first service game.

Federer was not prepared to give up easily on a first grand slam title since Wimbledon in 2012, though, and upped his aggression to put the set back on serve at 3-3 when Nadal sent a rasping forehand wide.

He needed another

five break points on Nadal’s next service game before the Spaniard finally cracked as Federer sealed the title with a forehand winner that Hawk-Eye confirmed hit the line.

“In the fifth set, I didn’t win one serve easily. Even if I played great in the break points, I was suffering a lot,” said Nadal.

“He probably remained a little bit more f re e o n p o i n t s o n m y serve. That’s what I needed in that moment, and I didn’t have.”

With Federer’s contemporary Serena Williams having won the women’s title for the seventh time on Saturday, the 2017 Australian Open is destined be remembered as the retro slam.

F e d e re r g a v e a re minder that no one is immune to the ravages of time, however.

“Now it’s time to celebrate in a massive way,” he said. “(But) at 35 years old, I don’t like to say it, but I’m so old and so the body hurts, it aches.”

comfortable and was able to qualify on the front row both days. I believe this helped a lot for positioning as everyone was within milliseconds of each other.

Lots of great racing!”

Qualifying second on the grid, the Guyanese produced an effortless drive over the 15 lap event to come in one and a half second ahead of Suleman Esuf and a further quarter second away from Mark Maloney.

Starting the second race on Saturday in P3, the Guyanese maintained that position to pick up another vital podium position and secure the much needed points for the series.

In the third race of the day, he started P2 before moving his way into the top spot more than a second ahead of Esuf and Sean Maloney

respectively.

Returning on Sunday, Jeffrey came back into his stride by firstly qualifying on pole before decimating the competition, racing from flag to flag and finishing ahead of the Maloney brothers, Stuart and

Sean.

Race two saw him starting sixth. On the charge and pushing ahead, Jeffrey quickly moved up to fourth before a racing incident involving himself, Sean Maloney and Stuart Ma-

loney put him off track.

He returned to finish seventh.

In the final race of the weekend, the Guyanese again finished ahead of the curb to wrap up an exciting weekend in the land of the flying.

Race 7 Gavin Streetsense Race 8 Peacock Strut Race 9 Flatter Ne Zanja Race10 Lucky Empress

10:10 hrs Yourholidayisover 10:45 hrs Groundunderrepair 11:20 hrs Stay OPut Of Court 11:50 hrs Royal Salute 12:25 hrs Royal Etiquette

Jeffrey wraps up ‘Radical’ weekend in Barbados

By Stephan Sookram

FORMER Caribbean motoracing Champion Kristian Jeffrey returned to winning form last weekend as the Suzuki Challenge series SR3 recommenced in Barbados.

Jeffrey, who flew out last Thursday joined up with his father Kevin before returning to radical action at the Bushy Park raceway.

Speaking exclusively to Chronicle Sport, Jeffrey said, ‘‘It felt good to start the year with strong performances.” Jeffrey took four first place finishes and a third to finish the weekend as the winter cup champion.”

“The car was giving problems, but with the help of my Top Power Team and Orry Hunte; we got the car setup and I felt a lot more

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20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 30, 2017

Watford, Hull and Leeds suffer FACup upsets … holders Manchester United through

By Steve Tongue, LONDON(Reuters)-Premier League clubs Watford and Hull City, and Championship side Leeds United paid the penalty for fielding weakened teams when they were all knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round yesterday -- but holders Manchester United won comfortably.

Like Liverpool, beaten at home by Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, the three beaten sides miscalculated in resting so many players ahead of league games in midweek and could have no complaints at going out of the competition.

Ye t U n i t e d w e n t through, winning 4-0 despite making nine changes at home to Wigan Athletic, who are in the bottom three of the Championship.

Wa t f o r d l o s t 1 - 0 t o League One (third tier) side

Millwall and Hull, FA Cup finalists three years ago, were humbled 4-1 by Championship (second tier) side Fulham after missing two late penalties.

Leeds, fourth in the Championship and giving greater priority to returning to the Premier League after a 13-year absence, lost 1-0 to Sutton United, who joined fellow fifth-tier National League club Lincoln City in the last 16.

It is the first time two non-League clubs have progressed that far since the competition was reorganised more than 90 years ago.

At Old Trafford, Marouane Felliani broke Wigan’s dogged resistance in the 43rd minute by heading in a cross from former German international Bastian Schweinsteiger, making a rare appearance.

Anthony Martial, criticised by manager Jose

Mourinho last week, then set up goals for Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan before Schweinsteiger added United’s fourth.

“The first half was not very, very good but we managed to be 1-0 in front,” Mourinho said. “The second half was much better and the job was done.”

Millwall, who beat another understrength Premier League team, Bournemouth, in the previous round, fully deserved the win earned for them with a goal by Steve Morison in the 85th minute.

Wa t f o r d ’s m a n a g e r Walter Mazzarri had made seven changes, leaving experienced players like captain Troy Deeney and midfielders Etienne Capoue and Tom Cleverley among the substitutes.

They also lost goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon to injury just before half-

time.

Manager Neil Harris felt his mid-table League One team fully deserved their victory over a side 40 places above them.

“We could easily have been three or four up by halftime,” he said.

“This club and this team epitomise what the FA Cup is all about.”

At Craven Cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Hull, who had made six changes, fell behind to a goal by their former forward Sone Aluko after 16 minutes.

Evandro headed an equaliser four minutes into the second half, but Chris Martin, on loan from Derby County, soon restored the lead.

Promising youngster Ryan Sessegnon added a third goal and with 12 minutes left Stefan Johansen scored a fourth.

Hull’s Abel Hernandez then had two penalties saved by goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli in the space of a minute to round off a bad day.

Watford’s Younes Kaboul looks dejected Reuters / Hannah McKay Livepic “We have to do many, many things before the transfer window closes on Tuesday,” their manager Marco Silva said.

Former European Cup finalists Leeds, out of the top flight of English football since 2004, fielded a l m o s t a c o m p l e t e reserve team on the artificial pitch at Sutton and found the non-Leaguers, 84 places below them, too strong.

Captain Jamie Collins

scored the only goal from a penalty after 53 minutes and Leeds finished with only 10 men when their own captain, Liam Cooper, was sent off near the end.

Leeds manager Garry Monk admitted he had made too many changes to the regular team.

His opposite number, Paul Doswell, said the result and financial benefits from live television coverage were a “life-changer” for the 118-year-old club.

Egypt are the most successful side in the competition’s history with seven titles

Egypt sink Morocco 1-0 to set up semi-final clash with Burkina Faso

EGYPT knocked out Morocco to reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals as substitute Mahmoud Abdel-Moneim prodded home a dramatic 87th-minute winner.

Mohammed Salah had twice been denied by Munir Mohamedi, but prior to the goal Morocco missed a host of good chances.

Aziz Bouhaddouz failed to connect with a cross from two yards out, before seeing a header deflected just wide.

And Morocco defender Romain Saiss and midfielder Mbark Boussoufa were both denied by the crossbar.

Egypt go on to play Burkina Faso, who beat

Tunisia 2-0 in their quarter-final on Saturday.

In yesterday’s other quarter-final, Ghana beat DR Congo 2-1 to set up a meeting with Cameroon, who knocked out Senegal.

Egypt - the most successful side in Africa Cup of Nations history with seven titles - are yet to concede a goal in Gabon on their return to the competition after a seven-year absence.

But Morocco boss Herve Renard’s bid to become the first manager to win three Africa Cup of Nations title with three different countries is now over.

The Frenchman led Zambia to unlikely triumph in

2012, and won the 2015 title with Ivory Coast.

On a pitch that has been criticised for its poor quality, his side created the greater number of clear opportunities to score but were wasteful in front of goal and were made to pay as extra-time loomed.

From an Egypt corner that Morocco failed to clear, the ball dropped kindly to 22-year-old forward Abdel-Moneim, also known as Kahraba, who stabbed home the winner on the spin.

Africa Cup of Nations last four: Burkina Faso v Egypt (Wednesday, 20:00 GMT) C a m e ro o n v G h a n a (Thursday 20:00 GMT)

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 30, 2017

Serena to play fewer tournaments to aid grand slam quest

By Simon cambers MELBOURNE,(Reut e r s ) - S e re n a Wi l l i a m s plans to play fewer tournaments in the future to aid her quest to win more grand slam titles, according to her coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

The 35-year-old American won her 23rd grand slam title on Saturday at the Australian Open, breaking the open-era record she held jointly with Germany’s Steffi Graf.

Serena will now manage her schedule as she chases down the all-time leader Margaret Court,

the Australian whose record of 24 grand slam titles straddled the amateur and professional eras.

“Mentally she has to stay fresh and mentally excited when the grand slams start, because they are the goal,” Mouratoglou told a group of reporters after Serena’s 6-4, 6-4 victory over her sister Venus Williams gave her a seventh Australian Open title.

“So we have a lighter schedule – not lighter than last year, which would be difficult (when she played just eight events and did not play after September) - but lighter than the year

(REUTERS)-Jasprit Bumrah kept his nerve to send down a brilliant final over and secure India’s series-levelling five-run victory against England in the second Twenty20 international yesterday.

Chasing 145 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, England needed eight runs from the last over but the 23-year-old Bumrah bowled with ice in his veins, conceding only two runs while claiming two wickets.

Both Ben Stokes and Joe Root made 38 but their contributions were not enough to get England across the line.

Root, though, was unlucky to be given out leg-before on the first ball of the eventful final over with replays suggesting an inside edge.

There was no argument, however, when Bumrah bowled Jos Buttler with his fourth delivery of that over.

Needing six runs of the last ball, Moeen Ali failed to connect with the Bumrah delivery.

Earlier put into bat, India posted a modest 144-8 with opener Lokesh Rahul (71) supplying nearly half of the total in

an otherwise insipid batting display by the hosts.

Chris Jordan (3-22) drew first blood dismissing Virat Kohli for 21 in the fifth over but Rahul propped up the Indian innings with some crisp hitting, which included six boundaries and a couple of sixes.

The right-hander added 56 with Manish Pandey (30) to set the stage for a late assault which never came.

Clever bowling by Jordan, Stokes and Tymal Mills, backed up by England’s excellent fielding, stifled the Indian batsmen.

The pace trio, time and again, outfoxed the batsmen with well-disguised slower deliveries as boundaries dried up.

Jordan enhanced his death-bowling reputation with a tidy final over in which three Indian wickets tumbled with only five runs added to their score.

The target was modest but England wobbled early with Ashish Nehra (3-28) dismissing openers Sam Billings and Jason Roy off successive deliveries.

After Eoin Morgan’s exit, Root and Stokes looked poised to finish off

before (11 events).”

At one stage in 2016, Serena held the world number one ranking based only on seven events over a 52week period.

Germany’s Angelique Kerber overtook her when she won the U.S. Open last September but Serena will return to top spot when the rankings are updated today.

Serena has traditionally played fewer tournaments than most top players, but since she usually reaches the final, she is able to pick and choose.

From the start of 2012 to the end of 2016, Serena won

288 matches, second only to Poland’s Agnieska Radwanska, who won 289.

But while Radwanska lost 107 matches in that period, Serena lost just 29.

Mouratoglou said Indian Wells, in March, would be Serena’s next stop but didn’t expect to see her at too many events before the next grand slam, the French Open, which begins on May 29.

“We’ve already done the schedule for the whole year,” Mouratoglou said.

“It doesn’t mean that the schedule is not going to change, it’s meant to adapt to situations. But generally

speaking it’s already set for the whole season.”

Mouratoglou said numbers alone were not the main factor behind Serena’s continuing hunger, even in her 20th year on tour.

“She was not motivated by 22, she was motivated to win grand slams,” he said.

That’s her motivation.

This won’t change until she maybe one day wakes up and is not motivated to win grand slams, but for now she is. That’s enough.

The record is not the thing that makes her play.”

And Mouratoglou said Serena would not obsess over the record of 24 held

by Court.

“With all the respect for Margaret Court, it was another era, the draws were like 16 players and they were not professionals,” he said.

“Of course the record is here and we definitely want to beat it, but there was a professional era and the record was Steffi Graf.”

cricket.

The 42-year-old guided his team to a 3-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka earlier this month and a 2-1 away Test series success in Australia in November.

South Africa won the first of five one-day internationals against Sri Lanka

on Saturday with a convincing eight-wicket victory at Port Elizabeth.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 181 and South Africa reached 185-2 with 15.4 overs remaining with Hashim Amla scoring 57 and Faf du Plessis making an unbeaten 55. Z9 (BBC Sport)

Serena Williams of the U.S. poses with the Women’s singles trophy after winning her final match. REUTERS/Edgar Su

Brilliant Bumrah denies Proteas head coach Domingo England to level T20 series will have to reapply for his job

Pacer Jasprit Bumrah rejoices during his match-winning final over against England in Nagpur. the contest when Nehra injected fresh life into the match by dismissing Stokes.

Beaten in the preceding Test and one-day series, England were very much in the contest but Root’s unfortunate dismissal and the lower order ’s struggle against Bumrah meant England finished on 139-6.

The teams now move to Bangalore for the third and final Twenty20 International which marks the end of England’s tour.

SOUTH Africa head coach Russell Domingo will have to reapply for his job if he wants to stay in charge of the team after their summer tour of England.

Domingo has been in the role since May 2013 and his contract ends in August.

Cricket South Africa have said they are “resolved to begin a recruitment process” as they look to appoint a head coach “through to the 2019 World Cup”.

South Africa will play three one-day internationals, three Twenty20 games a n d f o u r Te s t m a t c h e s against England.

Domingo’s side are currently ranked third in Tests, second in one-day internationals and fourth in T20

Russell Domingo will be in charge for South Africa’s four-Test series against England, with the first Test at Lord’s starting on 6 July.

Entries for GSCL Inc Republic Cup closes on February 2 ENTRIES for the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. Republic Cup 4, closes on February 2, and according to the organisers no late entries will be accepted.

The tournament is set to start on February 3.

Entries can be made through Russel Jadbeer on telephone number 225 4802, Mahendra Hardyal on 623 2704 or Samuel Kingston on 619 5103 or 692 8815.

The tournament will be played in the Open and Masters’ (over 40) categories, with an entrance fee of $50,000 in each division.

According to Organising Secretary of the GSCL Inc, Kingston, the first eight teams in each division will

be accepted.

He added that the winning teams are expected to take home a trophy and $250,000 each, while the second place finishers can earn a trophy and $50,000 once the tournament secure the required number of teams in both categories.

Each team will be required to submit a list of 15 players at the time of registration, while pass ports will be used to verify the age of players competing in the Masters’ category.

Everest Cricket Club, Eve Leary, DCC, GNIC and GCC are the venues identified for the preliminary matches, while the finals will be contested on February 5 at the Everest ground.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 30, 2017

Reifer says Jaguars in another must win contest against ICC Americas today

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – All-rounder Raymon Reifer says Saturday’s victory over Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners in the Regional Super50 was a critical one for Guyana Jaguars, especially after losing their two opening games.

Jaguars easily beat Marooners by eight wickets in a day/night affair at Kensington Oval to notch their first win and points of the tournament in Group B. Reifer was at the forefront of the victory, striking a run-a-ball 67 as Jaguars overhauled a paltry target of 130, and afterward underscored the value of the game.

“We were a bit on the back foot but we always believed we could come back in this tournament. Tonight (Saturday) we started the process by getting a win and getting a bonus point as well.”

Jaguars went down by 145 runs to Barbados Pride in their opening game last Tuesday and then lost to Jamaica Scorpions by 41 runs in their second outing last Thursday.

With Saturday’s win, they moved to five points and can climb back into contention in the group when they face the winless ICC Americas at Windward Cricket Club today.

Reifer said the encounter was yet another must-win outing.

“It’s another crucial game for us. [We’ll] be finishing off the first four games and we’ll be looking to get a W to go into the second phase of the tournament with some confidence,” he stressed.

Barbadian Reifer, who was picked up by the Jaguars a couple of seasons ago, has been in decent nick this season with 244 runs in the four-day championship at an average of 34.

He said prior to Saturday’s innings, however, he had been concerned by his failure to convert good starts into scores of substance.

“I was batting well all along and just getting out at

some [bad] times in the innings and tonight I just tried to concentrate a lot harder and it worked out for me.”

Usually a lower order batsman, he was pushed up the order to number three against CCC in a surprise move which paid dividends, as he put on 117 for the second wicket with Test batsman Rajindra Chandrika (43 not out) after Assad Fudadin fell cheaply.

But he made it clear that batting positions were not an issue for him and was willing to bat just about anywhere in the order once he was making a contribution.

“I just came in and the coach told me I am going at number three so I just smiled and went out there and batted,” the 25-year-old said.

“I have the confidence to bat anywhere so I am not worried about that – where ever I get a chance [to bat I will bat]. I think I just need

the 13th minute through Garey Thompson.

Sedrick Hunte (32nd) and Rawle Gittens (69th) added goals for the Winners Connection side as they exhorted their dominance on the match.

However, Grove’s Kevin Padmore would pull one back for his side in the 78th.

In game two, Milerock

started its title defence in style by bumping off Northern Rangers 2-1 thanks to Troy Lewis (10th) and Akeem Green (45th) though Northern Rangers Devon Johnson pulled one back in the 90th.

Following the first round, Winners Connection lead Milerock in group A by a positive two goal difference as they both

are on three points, while Northern Rangers sit third and Grove fourth.

In Group B, Western Tigers and Eagles are tied for the lead after both teams scored wins in the first round and both having a positive one goal difference. Uitvlugt and New Amsterdam United are yet to score a point and have a negative one goal

difference.

Group C has Den Amstel as clear leaders having scored three points thus far, while both Santos and Anns Grove are tied for the second spot having secured a draw in their earlier game. Pouderoyen are yet to score a point and have a negative two goal difference.

In Group D, the Guy-

“It was very important because obviously we lost the first two games,” Reifer said.

Raymon Reifer

to get an opportunity and not just be thinking that because I did well in one position that I should bat there all the time.”

Winners Connection, Milerock register Limacol football wins THE Linden teams in this year’s 2017 Limacol round robin knock-out football tournament, registered wins on Saturday evening when the penultimate matches in the first round concluded.

In the first game at the GFC ground Bourda, Winners Connection offed Grove Hi-Tech 3-1 opening the scoring in as early as

ana Police Force, Mahaica Determinators, Riddim Squad and Camptown are all tied on one point.

Matches continue tonight at the GFC ground where Winners Connection play Northern Rangers from 18:30hrs while the Guyana Police Force oppose Camptown from 20:00hrs. (Stephan Sookram)

Kent Spitfires upset reigning champions Red Force by five wickets

NORTH SOUND, Antigua, (CMC) – Reigning champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force produced a limp performance as they slumped to a five-wicket defeat to Kent Spitfires in their second game of the Regional Super50 here yesterday.

Sent in at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium,

Red Force could only muster a 193 all out off 48.3 overs, with all-rounder Roshon Primus top-scoring with 60, opener Kyle Hope getting 43 and Nicholas Alexis, 28.

Seamer Ivan Thomas was the best bowler with four for 51 while leftarm spinner Imran Qayyum (2-33) and veteran pacer Darren Stevens

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

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Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)George Headley-176 (WI vs ENG, Barbados, 1930) (2) Desmond Haynes-148 (WI vs AUST, ARG, 1978) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first WI to score a Test debut ton overseas?

(2) What are the best bowling figures by a WI player on his ODI debut?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Rani Rampaul

(2-39) supported with two wickets apiece.

Kent were never threatened in reply as opener Sean Dickson struck a brisk 56 off 67 deliveries to inspire the English County side to victory in the 37th over.

The right-hander struck seven fours and posted 85 for the first wicket with Daniel Bell-Drummond whose

35 came from 60 with four fours.

Both openers fell within 19 runs of each other, the 23-year-old Bell-Drummond lbw to leg-spinner Imran Khan in the 19th over and Dickson caught at square leg by Lewis off Jason Mohammed.

Stevens then blasted a quick-fire 43 off 36 balls with four fours and two sixes, putting on 67 for the third wicket with captain Sam Northeast who stroked a busy 31 from 40 balls.

The partnership effectively condemned Red Force to defeat and even though Kent lost three quick wickets for seven runs as seamer Ravi Rampauls struck late, the damage was already done.

Rampaul led Red Force with three for 46.

Red Force had earlier struggled to find their footing, and were never comfortably placed at any stage during their innings.

SCOREBOARD RED FORCE

E Lewis c wkp Rouse b Thomas 12 K Hope c Stevens b Haggett 43 K Ottley c wkp Rouse b Stevens 0 J Mohammed lbw b Stevens 0 R Primus b Qayyum 60 N Alexis b Thomas 28 *+D Ramdin c Stevens b Thomas 0 Imran Khan c Gidman b Thomas 16 R Emrit lbw b Qayyum 1 R Rampaul b Gidman 13 S Gabriel not out 1 Extras (lb4, nb1, w14) 19 TOTAL (all out, 48.3 overs) 193 Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-43, 3-43, 4-88, 5-153, 6-156, 7-157, 8-158, 9-185, 10193.

Bowling: Haggett 9-0-26-1 Thomas 9.3-0-51-4, Gidman 10-1-40-1, Stevens

10-0-39-2, Qayyum 10-233-2.

KENT D Bell-Drummond lbw b Imran Khan 35 S Dickson c Lewis b Mohammed 56 *S Northeast b Rampaul 31 D Stevens c (sub) Pierre b Rampaul 43 W Gidman c wkp Ramdin b Rampaul 0 A Blake not out 22 A Ball not out 0 Extras (lb3, w3, nb1) 7 TOTAL (5 wkts, 36.1 overs) 194 Did not bat: +A Rouse, C Haggett, Imran Qayyum, I Thomas.

Fall of wickets: 1-85, 2-104, 3-171, 4-171, 5-178.

Bowling: Rampaul 8-0-463, Gabriel 5-1-15-0, Primus 3-0-24-0, Emrit 6-0-280, Imran Khan 9-0-51-1, Mohammed 5.1-0-27-1.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 30, 2017

No election of office bearers as GCB holds AGM

By Rajiv Bisnauth

FOR the second consecutive term, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) decided to play it safe by deciding not to host their elections during its Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The constitutional AGM of the board was held yesterday at the board’s hostel in LBI. While no elections were held, all members were returned unopposed due to the Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) of October 2016.

While the media was not invited to be a part of the AGM, GCB Secretary, Anand Sanasie, explained at a media briefing immediately after that there was no need

for elections.

“We had our AGM today (yesterday), and today’s meeting (yesterday) went very well, in fact…surprisingly, and what is good for cricket, is that there was an entourage that came down from Berbice that amounted to 13 representatives from Berbice, most of them representatives of first-division clubs in Berbice…some of them are executives, but came in the capacity as representatives of their clubs.

“We listened to their issues and so on, and they have pledged to resolve issues in the Berbice area, some of them that has nothing to do with the GCB, but two of which address the issue of their attendance, two

meetings and fulfilling the obligations to the GCB as a member,” Sanasie said.

He added “Both of the other areas, the county boards were present, with the full amount of delegates, everything was discussed and resolved at the meeting, a motion that came from the OGM as it relates to nominations for the position of the executive committee of the GCB was presented as was done on the 23rd of October last as required by the constitution of the GCB. “That motion was accepted, but because of a pending court matter in which a number of plaintiffs, including the GCB, have challenge the Cricket Administration Act, and certain aspects of

the constitutionality of it in which they expressed their concerns and made statements of claim against, it was ruled that they could be no elections of the bodies under the Act, and the GCB is one such body, so as a result the election process was not proceeded with.

“The motion before the AGM clearly outlined that

there was only one nomination for each of the positions and at that stage, it was entered into the minutes and that nominations stands until such time we can complete the process of elections,” Sanasie concluded.

Those nominated for posts at last October’s OGM were Drubahadur, President, Fizul Bacchus

(Vice-president), Anand Sanasie (Secretary), Virendra Chintamanie (Ass. Secretary), Anand Kalladeen (Treasurer), Rajendra Singh (Marketing Manager), Colin Europe (Competitions Chairman), Rayon Griffith, chairman of national selectors and Nazimul Drepaul, junior selector.

ly constructed circuit in the Yucatan Peninsula and did so in fine style by producing a technical race.

Speaking after the race, Ming said, “I want to thank my team for an incredible weekend. They had the car working. Unfortunate about the last race, but we are both okay.”

Starting on pole for the first race, the Guyanese fell

back to second but managed to stay on the tail of the then race leader before slingshotting to victory by more than six seconds.

His 1:29.776 seconds was the fastest recorded during race one with a qualifying time of 1:28.494, leaving his RAM Racing team-mate Manuel Sulaiman to finish second on the 3.4km track He was also clocked at a

top speed of 310km over the 17-lap race, continuing his run in the championship.

In Race two yesterday, starting in sixth spot, Ming continued to showcase his class and produce history, by winning a five-car fight for the lead and recording his second win of the day, becoming the first man to win two races back to back on the circuit.

Unfortunately, a rac-

ing incident between Ming and his team-mate saw both men out of the race as Ming’s car caught fire.

The quick response of the marshals, however, ensured that both drivers were unscathed.

GCB officials from left: Colin Europe, Anand Kalladeen, Anand Sanasie, Drubahadur, Fizul Bacchus and Raj Singh at yesterday’s press conference.

Ming creates history in Mexico

By Stephan Sookram OVERSEAS-based Guyanese motor racer Calvin Ming continues to create history after producing a flawless array of driving in the FIA NACAM F4 championships last weekend at the newly constructed Merida circuit in Mexico.

Ming is the first driver to record a win at the new-

Calvin Ming pilots his F4 car during race one of the FIA NACAM F4 championships last weekend at the newly constructed Merida circuit in Mexico

Hetmyer fined for breach of WICB Code of Conduct BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has advised that Shimron Hetmyer was fined for a breach of the Code of Conduct during the second round of matches in Group “B play of the Regional Super50 Tournament.

Hetmyer admitted to the offence and accepted the sanctions proposed by Match Referee Mervyn Jones, meaning there was no need for a formal hearing.

Hetmyer was reported by on-field umpires Jonathan Blades and Leslie Reifer Jr, along with reserve umpire Troy Tudor, for a Level 1 breach of the Code of Conduct during the match between the Jaguars and Jamaica

Scorpions last Thursday at Kensington Oval here.

The left-handed Jaguars opener slammed his bat into the pitch following his dismissal which contravenes the Code through abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, or ground equipment or fixtures and fittings.

Jones imposed a fine of 25 per cent of the player’s match fee for the breach of paragraph 1.1 of the Code.

Shimron Hetmyer

No election of office bearers as GCB holds AGM age 23

See P

Federer claims historic 18th major with five-set win over Nadal

Jeffrey wraps up ‘Radical’ weekend in Barbados

See Story on Page 19

Roger Federer celebrates with the championship trophy during the awards ceremony after his Australian Open victory in Melbourne.

See Story on Page 19

From L-R Brian Ten-Pow stands with Radical Winter Series winner Kristian Jeffrey, along with crew members and his Father Kevin.

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MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017