Guyana chronicle e paper 30 11 2016

Man takes wife to 22 airport then dies in crash Page

Dead: Herman David

No. 104751

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

Linden-Mabura Road

Financing deal closing Page

13

Page

10

‘New Hope’ project delivers –– gives new hope to 43 families

Residents and officials tour the New Hope Housing scheme at Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice

Man killed PSC hails budget CAL clips Fly by drinking measures Jamaica’s tail …but baulks at VAT on water, buddy electricity, environmental tax Page

19

Page

3

Page

16

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

PSC hails budget measures 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

… but baulks at VAT on water, electricity, environmental tax

By Svetlana Marshall THE Private Sector Commission has hailed some of the measures contained in the 2017 Budget presented on Monday, but expressed concerns about the imposition of Value Added Tax on water and electricity, as well as the $10 levy per unit on the importers and local manufacturers of products using non-returnable metal, plastic or glass container of any alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage.

Executive Member of the PSC, Ramesh Dookhoo, has said the administration’s decision to increase the tax threshold and reduce Income Tax was an excellent move.

In an interview with Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday, Dookhoo said Government’s reduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 16 per cent to 14 per cent is “very cosmetic.” He is of the opinion that the decision to further place taxes on the consumption of electricity and water is a move in the wrong direction.

“We cannot see the reduction of VAT in isolation, we have to look at what else has happened -- they have added VAT to water and electricity,” Dookhoo lamented. He noted that it would be one of the most “unpopular” decisions made by this administration.

The 14 per cent VAT, however, will only be ap-

plied to monthly water and electricity bills surpassing $1,500 and $10,000 respectively, and according to the Government, approximately 80 per cent of the registered consumers utilise less than $10,000 in electricity on a monthly basis.

Dookhoo is, however, unmoved on his position. “The people who pay VAT are the middle class, because almost every other essential item is zero-rated, and the same middle class the minister is taxing,” Dookhoo argued.

However, he said Finance Minister Winston Jordan has done an “excellent job” in increasing the tax threshold to $60,000 from $55,000 per month, while reducing the Income Tax rate of payment to 28 per cent from a high of 30 per cent for persons earning $180, 000 or less per month. For those persons earning more than $180,000 per month, the income tax payable would be reduced to 1/3 of their salaries.

“These people pay their taxes diligently and they deserve to have a break, and so I believe that the minister has done a great job in reducing taxes for the employed people,” the PSC executive member said.

He noted that these measures would not only benefit a select few, but working Guyanese all across Guyana. “He didn’t take it right to where we

asked, but he did consider the recommendation, and I want to give the Minister 10 out of 10 for that movement. What he has done is reward the working people of the country.”

LACK OF ENFORCEMENT Though Dookhoo is also pleased with the increase in the VAT threshold from $10M to 15M, he believes that enforcement measures should be put in place to ensure that small-, mediumand large-scale businesses are registered.

“We in the Private Sector have said that the fact we have voluntary registration and no active means of adding new registrants to the list tends to distort the marketplace, the economic marketplace,” he said.

Dookhoo explained that while fast food outlets and restaurants are required to pay taxes, many of them, though selling more than $10M per year, still do not pay VAT. “I think that we have to become active in terms of having VAT registration done. Tax collectors do not consider distortion in the market place and competition in the market place…I would like to see more done in terms of enforcement,” the PSC executive stated.

Government had found that a significant number

of persons were unable to maintain proper records to meet the minimum threshold requirement for VAT registration. As such, the measure will allow the Guyana Revenue Authority to concentrate on the cohort

Ramesh Dookhoo that makes the bulk of VAT payments, since there will be a smaller tax base and consequently less VAT registrants to administer.

GREEN AGENDA The Private Sector representative also endorsed the measures put forward to support the Government’s green agenda and for protection of the environment. Minister Jordan, in making his announcements, said 2017 will see tax

exemptions on the importation of items for wind and solar energy investments.

In addition, there will be a one-off tax holiday of two years for corporation tax for companies involved exclusively in such importation. There will also be tax exemptions for investment in, and construction of, water treatment and water recycling facilities, in addition to a oneoff tax holiday of two years for corporation tax for companies involved exclusively in such importation.

Similar concessions will be offered to persons and businesses in the field of waste disposal. Additionally, there will be exemptions of customs duties and taxes on greenhouses and component parts for use in the agricultural sector.

“I think that is excellent. That is the first real incentive that the private sector has to invest in the green economy, and that is commendable,” Dookhoo said, while alluding to the concessions that will be granted to persons and businesses in the business of generating green energy.

ENVIRONMENTAL TAX However, he expressed some concerns regarding the environmental tax. The Finance Minister had announced the imposition of an environmental levy of

$10 per unit on the importers and local manufacturers of products using non-returnable metal, plastic or glass container to package any alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage. The new environmental levy with penalties will be implemented by amending the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01 to include a section to impose this levy, and will apply across the board, Minister Jordan has explained.

He had noted that this would put Guyana in compliance with the provisions of Article 90 of the Revised Treat of Chaguaramas.

But Dookhoo said that this imposition is not fair to the manufacturers. “Manufacturers have to pay for an Environmental Licence, the cost for that licence is US$50,000 per year. We then have to be certified by the EPA, we then have to confirm to a number of measures that are enforceable by the Environmental Protection Agency before they grant that licence, we have to buy equipment, we have to service equipment, all contributing to the economy; and that number at the end of the year is a huge number,” Dookhoo argued.

He said that, compared to importers, the local manufacturers are at a disadvantage, and this should not be.

No issue at Skeldon co-gen. plant BERBICIANS can expect a bright Christmas without any major power outages.

This is the assurance given by the Skeldon Electricity Inc. (SEI) which has oversight for the GuySuCo Co-Generation plant.

The disclosure was made during a tour by media operatives of the co-generation plant at the Skeldon Estate in East Berbice, Corentyne earlier in the week.

In addressing the media, Member of the Board of Directors Gobin Harbajan disclosed that the plant has the capacity to produce 40 megawatts of electricity - 10 from the Wartsila engines, while 30 (15 each) from the two steam-driven turbines.

Harbajan stated that even during maintenance periods

whenever the factory is not grinding there is enough power to ensure a constant supply of electricity for Berbicians.

“The two turbines will be off from December 17 for maintenance, but even with that out, the Wartsila engines will be able to supply 10 megawatts of power to the national grid which is enough to ensure we have a bright Christmas”.

Harbajan , who is also the Prime Minister’s Regional Representative said he noted some sections of the media and some opposition politicians had been claiming there was an issue with the co-generation plant and had been driving fear into Berbicians that they would have a dark Christmas when the factory

closed during the out of crop season.

“We want to make it clear that there is no problem here at the co-gen plant, it is 100% operational and all major maintenance has been completed on the Wartsila engines and we will be supplying 10 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.”

Harbajan noted that unforeseen circumstances such as poles falling or transformers being damaged were not within the plants’ control to fix and the time they took to get back up depended on the pace and conditions under which Guyana Power and light had to work.

“If anything you may have distribution problems not generation problems.

We will be supplying the

power to the national grid and GPL distributes it. So if a pole falls the length of time the area will get blackout is entirely up to how quickly GPL can get the poles and transformers back up.”

He further explained that the reason there were some prolonged spells of blackout was due to failures in the distribution network.

“There were three poles that fell at #48 that had to be replaced and that took a while for GPL to fix because they had to source new poles and put them up. Another situation was where a farmer knocked down a pole and transformer that got damaged and it took a while as the transformer and pole both had to be replaced.”

Additionally, manager of

the plant, Outar Ramhit, explained that whenever such incidents occur they do not affect the plant’s ability to generate the electricity but merely prevent them from getting it to the national grid until the power is resolved.

“Even if we are knocked out as a result of a pole falling or a transformer going down we power back up in

less than 5 minutes but have to wait on GPL to let us know when we can send the power to the national grid as their staff might be working on the wires etc. On average it can take between 15-45 minutes to get back on to the grid.”

Also present at the meeting was Wartsila Site Manager, Eldon Watson.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Cuba bids beloved fallen leader farewell REVOLUTION Square in Havana has witnessed some of Fidel Castro’s most historic moments. From his famously long speeches to the visit of Pope John Paul II, it is an iconic, almost sacred place for the Cuban Revolution.

But on Monday, it was home to tens of thousands of mourners. From babies in their parents’ arms to the elderly and frail, people from across Cuban society turned out from early morning to bid him goodbye.

Doctors in white jackets, nurses in uniform, soldiers, students and teachers, all of them speaking in the same hushed tones, careful to behave with dignity under the watchful eye of the state security officers.

Some may have been government-organised; schoolchildren and other groups were bussed in, but many were there of their own free will.

“I came here because Fidel Castro was a very important

The queue on Monday to pay tribute to the late President Fidel Castro at Revolution Square in downtown Havana. character in Cuba. Whether you loved him or hated him, whether in Havana or in Miami, everyone is affected today,” said a young civil engineer, Javier Morales.

Standing quite far back in the queue, Mr Morales accepts that opinion on Castro’s legacy is split, but felt that Cubans from all generations should acknowledge the man after his death: “Old people and young

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

-

05:00 hrs

Thursday, December 01, 2016

-

05:00 hrs

DATE: 26/11/2016 N

11 12 14 18 19 26 2

people, we all have something to thank him for. We have free education, we have free medical care, we have free social assistance thanks to him.”

SIMPLE TRIBUTE Inside the plaza’s Jose Marti monument, there was no urn on display carrying Fidel Castro’s ashes, as many expected. Instead, there was simple tribute: A photo of a young Fidel Castro, a guard

29/11/2016

7 12 19 16 13

of honour, floral wreaths and posters carrying revolutionary slogans.

But while Castro’s remains might not have physically been there, many were visibly moved as they filed past.

“He gave me everything I have,” said Angela Suarez Narajo, a nurse, through her tears. “He was like a father to us.”

Of course, in south Florida, they see Fidel Castro through

29/11/2016

5

0

1

very different eyes. Rather than a loving father, they feel like the Cubans still on the island are suffering some collective form of Stockholm Syndrome: In love with their own abuser.

The long weekend of parties in Miami celebrating Castro’s departure was testament to that.

They will have been bolstered by two things in November: The final removal of Fidel Castro from Cuba, and the election of Donald Trump to the White House.

“If Cuba is unwilling to make a better deal for the Cuban people, the Cuban/ American people and the US as a whole, I will terminate the deal,’’ the president-elect wrote in a tweet on Monday, referring to the two years of diplomatic detente with Cuba that President Obama has led in his second term.

Coming on the same day that direct Miami-Havana flights with US airlines were re-established, the future president’s language on Cuba is only going to heighten the sense of uncertainty among ordinary Cubans following Castro’s death. The future with Washington might again turn hostile under Trump and, if it does, for the first time since January 1959 he won’t be on

29/11/2016

0

5

0

hand to help chart the course.

QUESTION MARK “He has died at a moment when there is a question mark over the normalisation process with the United States, because we don’t know what’s going to happen with Trump,” says Carlos Azuguray, a former Cuban diplomat.

“But then, he has also died a year before the elections here that will determine the succession from Raul Castro to the next president of Cuba.”

With the death coming at such a historic time, some ask if it might bring about some kind of political or economic change in direction. Mr Azuguray thinks that things will largely keep moving along the same path, or even “might accelerate all these processes” of internal economic liberalisation.

Those still standing in the queues under the warm winter sun of Havana, waiting to pass by the government’s altar to their eternal leader had little interest in taking stock of such political questions right now.

“He’s not dead, he still lives,” one mourner exclaimed out loud, her voice piercing the funereal murmur, as she wiped the tears away with her sleeve. (BBC)

18

1

9

29/11/2016 12 8

14

20

Govt mulls deposit insurance

5

WEDNesday NOVEMBER, 30 2016

…Central Bank to supervise credit unions

The Bank of Guyana in keeping with its mandate of developing and strengthening the financial sector, is considering the establishment of Deposit Insurance in Guyana, Finance Minister Winston Jordan told the National Assembly on Monday.

He was at the time presenting government’s $250B budget for 2017. Jordan said deposit insurance promotes financial and monetary stability by providing a safe savings vehicle for small unsophisticated savers and by mitigating ‘runs’ on financial institutions caused by depositors withdrawing their funds en masse because of a loss of confidence in the financial viability of that institution. According to him while the establishment of Deposit Insurance is dependent on the passage of new Deposit Insurance legislation, the Bank of Guyana has begun the examination of critical aspects of its creation, namely the deposit insurance coverage, contribution and premium rates and operational procedures in line with FSAP recommendations and recommended best practices.

Jordan noted that the systemic failures of CLICO reinforced the need for enhanced regulation in the insurance sector. The new Insurance Act, which was passed in Parliament earlier this year, is awaiting a commencement date, the Minister assured. In 2016, a policy decision was taken to bring the supervision and regulation of credit unions under the purview of the BOG. A number of credit unions here over the years have run into trouble. Jordan said in

2017, the Bank will work towards increasing credit unions’ familiarity with International Financial Reporting Standards, and improving internal control systems in a way that is appropriate for their complex governance procedures.

He said too the Finance Ministry will move to institute ‘Agency Banking’, a form of banking in which financial institutions’ representatives, carry out some financial services.

To continue the enhancement of the efficiency of the financial system, the BOG, with assistance of the World Bank will undertake a comprehensive and strategic modernisation of Guyana’s National Payment System, to advance the use of electronic payments. This move, the Finance Minister stressed, “could save the Government up to $266 million (0.04 percent of GDP), annually, by switching from paper-based payment mechanisms to electronic payments, as well as create substantial savings for consumers and businesses.”

Correspondent banking Meanwhile, the minister explained to the House that like other Caribbean economies, Guyana faces a potentially damaging correspondent banking crisis. It was further explained that local banks and financial institutions of small Caribbean economies rely heavily on correspondent banking relationships with global banks to connect with the international financial network. These relationships, Minister Jordan said, allow local residents to receive remittances from abroad, tourists to access cash from their

home accounts, “and facilitate the transfer of funds needed to support trade and investment in our region.”

Recently, Minister Jordan noted concerns about meeting new, stricter rules related to Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) which has led correspondent banks to terminate their relationships with their local partners, a practice termed “de-risking”.

De-risking refers to financial institutions’ closing the accounts of clients perceived as high risk for money laundering or terrorist financing abuse, namely money service businesses, nonprofit organisations, correspondent banks, and foreign embassies. The minister explained that foreign-owned banks operating in Guyana have not been subject to de-risking. Locally owned banks have been severely affected by this, “losing in the aggregate, approximately 37 percent of correspondent relationships by end-June 2016. Thus far, only one bank has been able to establish new correspondent relationships to cover about 75 percent of those that were lost.”

If this trend continues, Jordan said financial transaction services may become costlier and more limited, and legitimate transactions may go underground, encouraging the use of cash and increasing other forms of informality at a time when attempts are being made to deepen financial inclusion.

The Finance Minister stated that Guyana, in partnership with other Caribbean economies and

The Bank Of Guyana international institutions such as the Financial Stability Board (FSB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank, are working to address the threat posed by de-risking, through both advocacy and addressing the perceived risks that lead international banks to sever correspondent banking relationships.

These actions, have resulted in Guyana’s enhanced compliance with the implementation of recommendations by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the FSB, the Minister said.

Government has moved to enhance its supervisory framework; hence Minister Jordan stated that the Bank of Guyana (BOG) conducted a review of its Risk-Based Supervision framework, and drafted updates and a procedural manual.

This enhanced document, the Finance Minister said, will be reviewed by competent authorities prior to publication and implementation.

“Additionally, a comprehensive review of all existing

supervision guidelines is slated for 2017 and, in this regard, technical assistance is being sought from our multilateral partners.”

The Minister spoke of preliminary results from the IMF and the World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Programme (FSAP) of Guyana, conducted from May 10 – 24, 2016.

These, he said, indicated the need for legislative amendments to the Financial Institutions’ Act 1995 in the following areas; The Bank’s resolution powers for failing institutions; Sharing of information; Licenced Financial Institutions’ credit exposure limits; Prompt Corrective Action requirements; Protection of Bank’s officers and agents; Identification of ultimate beneficial shareholders and significant ownership interest; Definition of related party; Consolidated supervision and consolidated reporting; Implementing administrative penalties and sanctioning policies; and Establishing the responsibility of Directors for

safety and soundness of financial institutions.

The Minister gave Government’s commitments to ensure that the necessary amendments to the Financial Institutions’ Act 1995 “are effected in an efficient and timely manner.” He added that during the third quarter of 2016, a diagnostic mission was conducted to identify gaps and make appropriate recommendations to develop a suitable framework for financial consumer protection. In 2016, the BOG made improvements to its stress testing toolkit, based on recommendations from the World Bank Financial Sector Reform and Strengthening Initiative and the FSAP team.

In 2017, the Finance Minister emphasised that the BOG will prepare a guideline on stress testing for use by the banking system, develop a macroeconomic stress test model for the economy of Guyana, “and develop a model for the assessment of interest rate risks.”

GEA hosts Energy Week activity in Region 5 THE Conference Centre at the Latchmansingh Primary School in Region 5 was the scene of high energy and excitement on Friday last, when 60 students participated in the Guyana Energy Agency’s ‘Express Your Energy’ activity.

Representing ten primary schools that were selected by the Regional Educational Office, the students hailed from: Latchmansingh Primary, Cotton Tree Primary, Number 5 Primary, Number 8 Primary, Number 29 Primary, Lichfield Primary, Seafield Primary, Bath Primary, Woodley Park and Hopetown Primary, and were between the ages of nine and 11 and from grades four to six. The students conveyed their interpretation and knowledge of energy sources, sustainability, energy conservation and energy efficiency through artwork/pictorial illustrations, word search and conservation tips at different stations, while being enthusiastically encouraged by their fellow team members. In a release, the GEA said that ‘Express

Your Energy’, from its inception in 2012, targeted primary school students and has always been held in Georgetown during Energy Week. This year, however, GEA decided to decentralise the activity so that students of another region can benefit from the energy-related knowledge that is imparted during the activity.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Gloria Davidson, Representative of the Regional Educational Office, expressed thanks to GEA for hosting the activity in Re-

gion 5. She said, “Education is extremely important and is not always obtained in a classroom; ‘Express Your Energy’ is an example.”

She went on to say: “…the Regional Education Officer and the Regional Office by extension were extremely happy that the activity was decentralised and Berbice was not forgotten”. Ms. Davidson closed with a charge to both students and teachers who were present to take what they have learnt to their classrooms and fellow students as “…energy-relat-

Students were engrossed in the activities

GEA ‘Express Your Energy 2016’ participants ed knowledge imparted into young minds such as theirs will help in ensuring that Guyana has a secure energy future.”

The activity was non-competitive, therefore students were not judged or ranked based on their illustrations. Rather, each school was awarded a Certificate of Participation while each student (and teacher) was awarded a token of appreciation as an honorary ‘Energy Champion’.

One of the activities planned by GEA to commemorate Energy Month 2016, the goal of ‘Express your Energy’ was to tap into the creativity of children by

allowing them to express their view and perspectives on energy-related matters in a non-competitive environment. The Guyana Energy Agency wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the Region 5 Education Office and Ms. Mimi Francis for their collaboration and assistance in making this activity a success. A special thank you is also being extended to Mrs. Bissoon, the head teacher of the host school, Lachmansingh Primary, for assistance rendered.

In keeping with the promotion of sustainable energy development, Energy Month 2016 (November 1-30) was celebrated under

the theme “Sustainable Energy for Sustainable Development”. The Guyana Energy Agency, in the exercise of its mandate, continues to promote energy efficiency, energy conservation and the development and utilisation of alternative sources of energy.

Energy Month, consistent with Guyana’s energy trust and goal of a ‘Green Guyana’, serves as an annual feature in fulfilling part of the mandate of the GEA by disseminating information essential to improving public awareness on sustainable energy, conservation, and overall efficiency.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Everyone is subject to the Rule of Law Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

Dear Editor, A letter in the Guyana Chronicle of 28th November 2016, signed by Basil Williams, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, was in response to expressed public concerns about President Granger’s non-appointment of persons recommended by the Judicial Service Commission to be appointed as judges.

Without getting into the exchanges -- though such activities augur well for this nation as we seek to strengthen the pillars of democracy -- what was most striking was the title of the letter.

This letter is titled “Never the intention of the framers of the

Constitution for the President to be commanded.”

I would like to believe this headline was not submitted by the Attorney General, who is the legal adviser to the Government, but by the newspaper editor. The fact that such a perception can be arrived at is of grave concern, given that it points to a gross misunderstanding of the concept of the Rule of Law. By its very nature, the rule of law subjects every person to it. The framers could not have intended otherwise, or there would have been no need for the president, in taking the oath to office, swearing to respect the Guyana Constitution and Laws of Guyana.

There are several areas in the constitution where specific command is given to the President. Some of these are (i): consultation with the Leader of the Opposition on the appointment of the Chancellor of the Judiciary and Commissioner of Police; (ii): specific timeline within which to assent to bills sent from the National Assembly, and where there is failure to comply within the timeframe, an explanation be given; and (iii): the number of non-elected persons that can be appointed to the Cabinet.

Going through the constitution, numerous instances can be found where it specifically states how the President must conduct the business of the state. These

are not recommendations, but commands.

It must be made clear that the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, as every citizen and those who operate within Guyana’s jurisdiction, is not above the Guyana Constitution and Laws. The Rule of Law subjects all, and this we all must confirm to.

meaning, “God with us” tells me clearly that this man has taken on a divine name, claiming some sort of divinity.

I am also captivated by the expensive way he dresses, and the companions he has. Very few men of God can afford such luxury attires.

I took some time off to listen to his preaching and teachings on television, and discovered his doctrine is diametrically opposed to Christian Theology and the teachings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I heard him say that people can drink, smoke, fornicate, or they can commit any kind of sin and still go to heaven, as long as they say they believe on Jesus Christ.

That’s completely false when compared to Jesus’s teachings. It’s no wonder he has many educated supporters, because people today like churches that do not preach against sin and lawless living, so they think they can live how they like and still go to heaven.

Jesus said the following in Matthew 15: 19-20: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts — murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”

Here we see Jesus Himself address immoral living, so how can this so-called pope preach his own diabolical gospel to deceive his flock

and our nation?

Here is another verse contained in the Bible: ‘Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love for the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — comes not from the Father, but from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16) The Christian faith is about Holy and decent living. Our moral and spiritual standards are set very high, but Satan used one cult leader to stain the names of good men and women of God in Guyana, and to bring shame, disgrace and reproach to the body of Christ.

The doctrine of grace this pope preaches is diametrically opposed to biblical teachings. In simple terms, he tells us to live how we like, then throw all our sins on Christ’s shoulder, while we ourselves do nothing about our integrity, morality and character.

The end of Christian teaching is about good conduct and character. It’s no wonder God exposed him.

Not very long ago, a Muslim priest and scholar visited my home to ask me if the doctrine this pope preaches -- a vile lifestyle -- is what Christ taught us.

My answer to him was NO. “Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that if I am delayed, you will know

how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”

(1Timothy 3:14-15) We, as church leaders, ought to know how to conduct ourselves in the house of God. For example, as Ministers of the Gospel, we must counsel and advise members with our wives, husbands, and other elders around, so we won’t be vulnerable to accusations; because people who are prominent in the religious and secular world are always under scrutiny by the media, so we ought to be watchful.

A religious leader must not drive alone with a female member of his church, nor counsel a female alone in a closed office. I believe offices should have glass doors where counselling and prayers are done. Jesus warned us in His Word that false prophets and people like this so-called pope will come. Here are the words of Jesus: “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24: 11, 24)

Regards, LINCOLN LEWIS Editor’s note: The headline referred to by Mr. Lewis accompanied the Attorney General’s statement which was submitted to this newspaper.

The ‘pope’ should be probed Dear Editor, Undoubtedly, President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition, Bharat Jagdeo, have responsibilities --intersect and separate -- to the Guyanese society, having been elected by the people to be in service to the people. Both leaders’ political party and partnership presented to the electorate respective manifestoes, which are seen as commitments given to the people should they be elected.

Both leaders were elected to office in different branches of government. Together, their parties were elected to serve in the Legislature.

Whereas the President, who heads the Executive, does not sit in the Legislature, its work is brought there, and at times he addresses the House. On the other hand, the Leader of the Opposition sits in the Legislature, and has the opportunity to responsibly propose, oppose and support the Executive’s agenda.

The President’s call, made in his recent Public Interest programme, for the Opposition Leader to work with his administration, reiterates a statement of his made since his ascension to office. Every member of the National Assembly and Executive is being paid by the people via the Consolidated Fund. It is reasonable, therefore, for the people to expect that elected leaders would address, first and foremost, ideas and programmes that can enhance the people’s well-being.

Guyana, like every society, has issues -- domestic and foreign -- impacting the lives and livelihoods of its people.

Our editorials have previously alluded to the human fact that none has the monopoly on knowledge. It requires of us, as a diverse society, to combine our talents, intellects, and skills to come up with the best possible means of ensuring our collective growth and development. There is much to be done, and enough space for all to participate in moving Guyana forward. Each citizen should have opportunities to pursue upliftment in whichever economic sector he or she finds fitting. Every branch and tier of government has a role to make this possible.

Constitutionally, the President and Opposition Leader are required to work together in arriving at the point of making decisions. For instance, there ought to be consultation in the appointments of Chancellor of the Judiciary and Commissioner of Police.

As Guyanese, it is not unreasonable to think that outside of constitutional requirements, our two main political leaders would have several engagements on matters pertaining to the nation’s interest, domestic and foreign.

It is believed that some of the aforementioned, if not all, would be informing the President’s thinking and interest to have the Opposition Leader meet with him.

Guyanese are not enemies of each other. Admittedly, there are periods of conflict and estranged relations, particularly during elections, but we can find more that unite us than divide us. It is to our better angels we must turn in the interest of self and country. Bewilderment and

The recent sex scandal of self-styled Pope Emanuel sets a very bad example to the Christian community, and men of the cloth and even those from other religions.

Just two weeks ago, when I was at church on a Sunday morning service, a few of my members approached me and told me about the sex tape of this pope circulating on Facebook and in the media. I didn’t respond to it, because I didn’t see it in the media.

When I came back home and opened my Facebook page I saw the tape, and after many glimpses of it, I could not bear to look at it. I was flabbergasted, and am still wondering if those tapes are authentic. Then I started to read in the newspapers about this pope who has fallen from grace, and I saw his story on television.

I don’t know a great deal about this self-proclaimed pope, but I saw him a few times on television with a next guy he calls Bishop Griffith.

My first observation about this pope -- which bothers my mind -- was the number of titles he has behind his name.

He was formerly referred to as the Right Reverend Archbishop Dr. Philbert London “the Messenger of God in Guyana”; now His Highness, Pope Emmanuel.

Immanuel (Hebrew:

hopelessness that our politics is the major stumbling block in the nation’s development, and racial disunity ought not to be. Should there be deviation from the path of animosity and a willingness to work with the other, there exists a silver lining.

By and large, citizens are accepting of the President’s repeated interest to advance inclusionary democracy and improve efforts at national unity and social cohesion. Ideally, it would not matter who leads the way in achieving this. However, where our society mistakenly thinks non-cooperation is strength, it may require the Executive giving leadership in dispelling this view.

As a gesture to citizens across the political divide, both

Regards, REV. GIDEON CECIL

sides may find the answer for working together in their 2015 General and Regional Elections manifestoes. Perusal of these reflects commonality in focus, even though differently represented.

The common issues can comprise an agenda for the National Assembly, at which point the people can be apprised as to the origins of the issues identified. Taking this approach would encourage citizens that efforts are being made to achieve bipartisan support on common issues impacting their lives.

It is the belief that there is nothing wrong with Guyana that cannot be made right by Guyanese. Yes, we can aspire; but together we can achieve.

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 30, 2016

There are feasible opportunities for GuySuCo to rebound Dear Editor, I HAVE noticed what I believe were misleading comments and insinuations made by Mr. Gobin Harbhajan in his letter which appeared in the November 18, 2016 issue of Stabroek News.

Mr. Harbhajan submitted that it was the PPP which ruined the sugar industry and betrayed the workers.

It is interesting to note that Mr. Harbhajan’s statements coincide somewhat with those in previous letters from Mr. Abel Seetaram, both of whom are suspected to have links with a very senior person of the Government.

While holding no brief

for Messrs. Jagdeo and Ramotar, gentlemen who are most capable of providing their own responses, the author, if indeed he is Mr. Harbhajan, whose name signed the letter, ought to be fully aware of the history and travails of the sugar industry over its long existence. It is apt to note, as President Granger recalled in the November 08, 2016 issue of Kaieteur News, that the sugar industry is the “single oldest continuous industry in Guyana”. During its long life, it has experienced a fair share of difficulties, but also managed successfully to overcome them. Indeed, the private owners and past governments in the post-na-

tionalisation period have ensured, in view of sugar’s recognised importance, that the industry was able to continue its productive operations.

In the somewhat “short” period since nationalization, we have seen challenges arising in the industry as well as its resilience to recover. In the late 1980s, production fell dramatically, and averaged about 157,000 tonnes in the 1988-1990 period. In 1990, production fell miserably to 129,920 tonnes. In that era, we saw much experimentation and financial wastage in terms of non-sugar diversification; an exodus of workers from the industry; a lack of key and

Clear your name, Doc! Dear Editor,

AFTER careful study of the statements from the President and other members of the Government, along with those of members of the Opposition regarding what has now become the controversial Homestretch Development Incorporated, I have three interrelated comments.

First, why was this government or quasi-government company not made public at the time it was created?

I am not charging any wrongdoing on the part of the company, because what

is in the public domain does not suggest any such thing.

What I am suggesting is that Government openness is a central aspect of accountable and democratic governance, and the Government did not observe this practice. It took the PPP, which has the worst record of accountable governance, to draw this information out of the Government.

I don’t think the President’s statement or explanation has addressed this central question.

The Government should have revealed this information on its own, and let the country judge whether it was prudent for the administration to create a company to

oversee the project. There was not universal support for the project in the first place, so it was incumbent upon the Government to ensure that there was instant disclosure.

If there is nothing to hide — and I believe there was nothing sinister — then why not make the information public?

Like many of the problems this Government has created for itself, this one speaks to a culture that privileges secrecy when openness is the wiser and politically sensible way to go. In the final analysis, government must have respect for the citizens, and be guided by political morality. Mis-

necessary inputs, among other things. It was felt then by some that the industry could not be saved, but their alarm was unnecessary. As we later saw with a new and capable management and a motivated workforce, the industry emerging from its trough, and between 2002 and 2004, production reached a high average of about 320,000 tonnes.

Now we are again faced with similar circumstances.

Production in the 2013-2015 period is somewhat better, averaging about 211,000 tonnes. Last year we saw production reaching a high of about 231,000 tonnes, undoubtedly due to careful planning and attention to

detail in the 2014/15 period.

But what is disconcerting is that, rather than going forward, as was widely expected, we seem to be going in the other direction. GuySuCo is now aiming to produce 194,000 tonnes, down from the 242,000 tonnes which was incorporated in the 2016 National Budget.

While it is hoped that the target is realised and even surpassed, it brings into question the quality and efficacy of the industry’s management. An important question needs to be asked as to whether the intent is deliberate in order to engender a certain outcome.

The industry has great opportunities to rebound.

Diversification is now a must, but not aquaculture, orchard fruits, cattle rearing and rice cultivation, as being touted. Rather, the industrialisation of sugar in the form of expanding electricity production, and other such ventures mentioned before by others.

There are feasible opportunities for the industry to harness its potential and to overcome its present challenges and ensure a viable future. It needs the will and a caring government committed to our country’s sustainable development.

takes would be made, but a responsible Government should not put itself in a position wherein its motives are constantly questioned and projected as sinister.

Second, the revelation that WPA co-leader Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine was a director of the company cannot pass without comment. I have not had an opportunity to speak to him personally on this matter, but as a public commentator who is Dr. Roopnaraine’s comrade, I have to assert that I hold him to the same standards of political morality as I do other public officials.

The President has indicated that Dr. Roopnaraine was the Government’s nominee on the Board of Directors of the company, and insisted that he did no wrong.

But I feel very strongly that,

given his own political tradition and culture, Dr. Roopnaraine should speak for himself by explaining to the public his role in the company, and why he was party to keeping that information secret.

My thinking is that this matter will not go away tomorrow, and I implore my leader, colleague and friend not to hide behind the President’s explanations, but to speak for himself.

While I do not speak for the rest of the WPA or the WPA Overseas Associates, I think our embrace of accountable governance and political morality compels us to ask our leader to -- in the words of calypsonian Chackdust -- “Clear your name Doc/Doctor clear your name.” I do not believe that Dr. Roopnaraine has en-

gaged in any impropriety, but when his integrity is called into question, he owes his party and the country an explanation. Dr. Roopnaraine has a history, political legacy and tradition to uphold.

Finally, it worries me that the Government continues to get itself into these tangles, which suggest -- wrongfully I hope -- that it has something to hide. These accumulated mistakes help to provide space for the PPP to project itself as the defender of political virtue. But equally important, it saps the energy of its supporters, which in the long run could dampen their enthusiasm for the Government.

KENNETH JOSEPH General Secretary, NAACIE

Regards, DR. DAVID HINDS

PPP/C spent $179M on the D’Urban Park lands Dear Editor, I HAVE viewed the debate in the National Assembly concerning the D’Urban Park, and was shocked when I heard the Honourable Minister of Public Infrastructure reveal to the nation that the then PPP/C Government had spent $179M on the D’Urban land.

Let me remind the public that the National Assembly is not where one is expected to lie, and given the fact that

no one from the Opposition disputed the minister’s claim, it can only mean that it is totally factual.

Given that the minister’s statement is truthful, and given the fact that all Guyana would have seen the large jungle, infested with reptiles and creatures of all description, which this Government had to bring down to put up the current beauty called the D’Urban Park Stadium, I ask what really was done with $179M? Editor, $179M is an easy

number to pronounce, but it is a difficult amount to accumulate, and it bothers me a great lot to know so much money was spent on an area that was left by the previous administration as a haven for criminals; a home to dangerous species of animals; a health hazard, especially during the rainy season; a complete distraction to the actual beauty of Homestretch Avenue; an eye sore to tourists; and last but not least, a forest next to the Ministry of the Presidency.

Editor, the minister did quote from the Hansard of the National Assembly and informed the House and nation at large that, years ago, the area was swampy, and a lot of resources were expended, but the state in which it was when this government took office has left me with the conclusion that the PPP/C spent $179M to better the home of notorious individuals, because instead of them having to hide and dwell in a swampy area, they had solid ground and heavy bushes to

meander through and disappear from authorities.

In contrast to the above, let me congratulate this government for what was done to this area. We now have before us an area that is available to the public for both secular and religious celebrations, and it can accommodate more than 30,000 people at any one time. We have a stadium where the largest flag in Guyana was hoisted for the first time on May 26, 2015.

We have a stadium that beautifies the area and encourages

the residents around to keep their premises just as, or even more, beautiful.

The D’Urban Park Stadium is a monumental symbol in our country, and it will never become a white elephant because Guyanese of all walks of life will assemble again in their numbers on February 22, 2017 onwards. Thank you APNU+AFC, for this most welcomed facility.

Yours faithfully, GANESH MAHIPAUL

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

2017 Budget elicits mixed reviews

By Vanessa Braithwaite

FINANCE Minister Winston Jordan’s presentation of the 2017 Budget has come in for both applause and criticism from persons of all walks of life.

Such is the stimulus it has engendered that social media is still abuzz as bloggers express their views as to its portent, while every office, bus stop, watering hole and chill spot has become a veritable facility for animated debate, where the talking point is inevitably the future of the economy.

While many were forced to rely on the media to keep them abreast of what was happening in the National Assembly as the budget was being read, those in close proximity to the Public Buildings where the drama unfolded were also privy to the three-hour-long budget speech as it was being broadcast live.

As such, they were able to make their opinions known on-the-spot, as some persons were paying keen attention to what the minister was saying so they could learn how they will benefit personally from the announcements.

And right there, in the midst of it all, was the Guyana Chronicle, camera and recorder at the ready, to take advantage of the situation.

T h a t ’s h o w w e m e t GAIDRIE DARAMLALL, whio is a pensioner and lives with one of her grandchildren. She said she was very disappointed with the $800 that has been added to her $18, 200 Old Age Pension, as she’d expected nothing less than $20, 000 as was promised earlier in the year.

‘RIDICULOUS!’ “I really thought we were getting $20, 000; I would have been satisfied with that,” she said. “But now they give the $19, 000, yuh have to stretch it to pay more on water and light. It ridiculous!”

SHARON LOWE, a young professional, was more optimistic, as she had nothing but praise for the government for raising the income tax

threshhold and lowering the PAYE to 28%.

“Right now,” she said, “my salary is $70, 000 and I am happy I will be paying less tax; at least that is how I will benefit.

“Yes, I understand people talking about the VAT on water and light, but all they have to do is conserve, and they won’t have to pay. We as Guyanese, we don’t know to conserve; is waste, waste, waste. And now we want to create a big deal…

“I am just happy that I will be taking home a little more when the month come.”

We also caught up with the wife of a GuySuCo employee who was running some errands in the city, and took some time to listen to the presentation.

As was only to be expected, all she was interested in was what plans the government had for her husband’s place of employ, and by extension the sugar industry.

DASHED HOPES And after hearing Minister Jordan announce that some $9B will be given to GuySuCo, she allowed herself a glimmer of hope; but that hope was soon dashed when the minister announced soon after that the status quo of the sugar industry can neither be sustained nor maintained.

“This is an untenable position,” the minister said, adding that it would seriously jeopardise the fiscal stance of the government, and compromise the allocation of resources to other critical and important areas. The woman revealed that her husband is the bread winner of her family, and such news is more than devastating.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne) Member of Parliament, ADRIAN ANAMAYAH, who described the presentation as the worst he’s ever heard.

“This is one of the worst budgets you had in the history of our country,” Anamayah said, adding: “The Minister of Finance is now vying for the dubious honour of being the worst

minister in the history of our country.”

Calling the budget “a taxation budget”, Anamayah said there is nothing in it for his constituency, and no clear answer as to what will happen to those GuySuCo workers who are eagerly awaiting a solution to their dilemma.

“There is nothing for Berbice; we need answers as to what is going to happen to GuySuCo; that is our main concern,” Anamayah said.

“In my constituency where I come from, people want to know about the future of the Skeldon Estate.

And we heard nothing; just a promise,” he ranted.

DELIVERING ON PROMISES APNU+AFC Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson, on the other hand, described Minister Jordan’s budget as a good one, saying she is proud that some of the promises made during the 2015 election campaign are finally coming to pass.

She also praised the finance minister for reducing the VAT and increasing the income tax threshold. “You would have recognised there is a reduction in VAT, and we also have an increase in oldage pension. And I am also happy that at my end, that is Public Infrastructure, we have more monies allocated to us, whereby we will be seeing a lot of massive infrastructural

projects coming on stream,” Minister Ferguson posited, alluding to the pedestrian boardwalks, the vehicular over-passes and the construction and renovation of several bridges and roadways.

The government has allocated some $37.2B towards shoring up the country’s infrastructure spending.

Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueria also spoke positively of the 2017 Budget, even as he came to grips with reality that one

cannot please everyone.

“I believe it provides a menu of benefits for the Guyanese populace to aid towards the developmental task of the government to bring a good life to all Guyanese,” Figueira said, adding: “All Budgets cannot satisfy every individual citizen, but, collectively, it is a good Budget.”

He said, too, that he is extremely pleased that tax exemptions were granted for mining equipment, which will redound to the benefit of

scores of miners in Region 10.

Another Lindener, Joy James, though happy about the benefits that will be derived by the miners, is also concerned about the heavy taxes and the effects this will have on low-income earners.

“I don’t think Lindeners will be affected much from the VAT on water and light, but what I was expecting is a Christmas bonus like the last time; that is what everyone was listening out for,” she said.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

We need to include men ––in our conversations on gender-based violence

By Akola Thompson OFTEN, when we have conversations about gender-based violence, the conversation tends to focus solely on women. It is understandable: women are two to three times more likely than men to be abused -- be it sexually, physically and/or emotionally. With these statistics, one begins to understand why we tend to place our focus on females while maintaining the popular dialogue of men as perpetrators.

While it is statistically factual that men are largely the perpetrators of violence, we often overlook males being abused by females; and we also tend to overlook abuse in same-sex relationships.

RAISON D’ÊTRE The reasons for this are many, and range from societal conceptions straight down. One of the primary reasons, I believe, is that the initial framework we had for gender-based violence was solely for women (particularly ‘cis women’), given that its addressing generally grew out of feminist movements.

It is due to those reasons that we have dozens of programmes and safe places for women, but none really for men. There is a shortage in support hotlines that are trained to address the needs of male victims; and a shortage of care providers able to identify signs of abuse, given that men are not considered high-risk for abuse, and as such do not need protection.

The fact that not as many men as women are abused should not be a comforting one; it should not be shrouded in secrecy or laughed at.

Family members, partners and friends can, and often do, physically, verbally and sexually abuse men. This particularly happens when they transgress set concepts of masculinity, in cases such as men who have sex with men or transgender women.

Then of course we have female violence against men. The problem is that we often do not see women as the abusers. This has a lot to do with society’s conception about us being weaker and thus not capable of committing violence.

RAPE CULTURE Recently, at a women’s meeting at SASOD, where we discussed the concept of

rape culture, when the issue of male rape occurred, the person chairing the discussion glibly stated, “Some of them liked it.” From that point on I could no longer take her seriously, because it was absolutely disturbing that we are perpetuating the same victim-blaming and insensitivity we are trying to fight against where women are concerned, and not even making the modicum of an effort to fight for men.

While this is just one example, it goes to show how those of us who are active in trying to fight gender-based violence are prone to forget the men in all this, and trivialise their experiences.

We need to begin challenging the ideas related to manhood in hope of achieving not only a gender-equitable society, but also one wherein no one’s abuse is belittled.

There is the belief that a man must be tough and fierce at all times. And aside from this, fuelling violence against women as any transgression can be seen as an insult to manhood. It can also cause men to stay silent where abuse is concerned, hence one of the reasons we hardly ever hear about it.

Even when reporting domestic violence, men simply do not garner the same amount of sympathy as women. While we may consider it unpleasant that a woman hit a man, it is not emotionally compelling as the flip side.

They are often ridiculed and told to “man up”, undermining not only their masculinity but also their position as a victim.

When we unwittingly depict women as the face of

abuse, what we are doing is effectively deleting men from the conversation, and this further perpetuates the belief that men cannot be victims because they are men, or that the violence meted out against them is not serious enough to be properly addressed.

Continuous sidelining and refusal to see men as victims do not actually help the conversation on violence, but rather stymie it.

10

‘New Hope’ project delivers

By Michel Outridge

FOR his 43rd Wedding Anniversary, American businessman and philanthropist Joseph Roetheli on Tuesday cut the ceremonial ribbon signalling the official opening of the New Hope Community Development Project at Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice.

The project, which is intended to benefit 43 families, is a partnership between Food for the Poor Guyana Inc. (FFP), the Lil’ Red Foundation and Major Giving, a donor agency based in Florida.

Its commissioning was celebrated with prayers, poems, popular sayings and their meanings, dances, songs, skit and drumming by students of Hopetown Primary School and residents of Hopetown.

The New Hope project, which comprises 43 houses replete with sanitation facilities, water components and a community centre, was financed by Roetheli, an American.

Roetheli, called “Uncle Joe”, told the large gathering at the function that seeing that his wife, Judy, is ill and unable to travel, he decided

to dedicate the commissioning of the project to her as a gift on their anniversary.

Noting that projects such as these are necessary to build relationships with people who could use some help, the grandfather of six said this is his fifth to date, and his way of giving back since he began partnering with FFP back in 2009.

A HELPING HAND Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice) councillor, Carol Joseph, who spoke on behalf of Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan recalled that since FFP came to these shores 25 years ago, it’s focus has always been on giving a helping hand rather than giving hand-outs.

She said that in this manner, FFP has succeeded in breaking the cycle of poverty here, and afforded many people the opportunity of achieving economic independence, sustainability and self-sufficiency, for which the minister is eternally grateful.

She also commended Roetheli for the significant role he’s played in the project, whereby through his generosity, 43 West Berbice

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

–– gives new hope to 43 families

‘Uncle Joe’ helping with the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon on Tuesday to declare the community open families will now have a roof over their heads and be homeowners for the very first time.

Joseph said that in

this regard, the name of the project was most fitting, since it offers new hope to those who will benefit and transform their lives for the better.

DREAM COME TRUE Secretary of the Hopetown Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society, Miriam Foster said when they received the application from FFP for 43 house lots for the construction of as many houses for the underprivileged, it was a dream come true.

Fraser said the 43 families now have one year to pay off the $100,000 each for their house lots, since FFP has paid in full the sum of $4.3M to the organisation.

She commended FFP and Roetheli for their sterling contribution to the development of the housing project, and said she hopes that the ministry keeps its promise to the community to provide it with electricity and water by early 2017.

On behalf of the 43 families, Marla James, a mother of seven, said she is very

happy to finally have her own home since she is renting a place which is in a deplorable condition.

James, who works two jobs to make ends mee, thanked FFP and FFP and Roetheli for making her dream of being a homeowner come true so that she and her children can have a better quality of life.

Also making remarks were FFP Chairman, Paul Chan-A-Sue; PRO Wayne Hamilton; and Vice-President of Major Giving, Natalie Carlisle.

Some of the newly constructed houses

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

Women now finding their voices ––speaking out about the untold violence at hands of their partners

By Shauna Jemmott

AS Guyana joins the rest of the world in celebration of 16 days of activism against gender violence, women here are taking Government’s advice and beginning to speak out.

Some are speaking out by organising forums and voicing their opinions, while others are telling of their experiences, offering to those still abiding in violent relationships a ray of hope that the prison doors can be opened.

Sandra, a quiet woman from a rural neighbourhood, is one of the latter such women. She sees her freedom as a miracle, and has decided to let her voice be heard. She said she is sure her escape from her last relationship was a new lease on life, as it once seemed impossible for her to get out from under the thumb of the ruthless fiend even the police could not save her from.

THE CONFRONTATION It all began with a confrontation regarding infidelity between herself and her then partner, Kevin, in full view of the police. “Kevin slapped me in a central part of the community late one night. I told him I was telling the truth, and that I was going to the police station. I was shocked and couldn’t believe he actually hit me in such a public place.”

The woman said that as she made her way to the station, Kevin rode right alongside her, still accusing her of having an affair.

She said she asked him several times to leave her alone, but this only seemed to incense him, as he jumped off the bicycle and started punching her until she fell to the ground.

Luckily, a man in a minibus saw what was happening and shouted at Kevin to leave her alone. And, seeing a chance to escape, she got to her feet and continued to head for the police station, which was less than a mile away.

But Kevin would again catch up with her, and this time he would threaten to do her harm. “When I reached the line,” she said, “he jumped off the bicycle and approached, threatening me with an empty Guinness bottle he had in his hand.

“It was the scariest moment of my life; the place was dark and lonely. I ran the fastest I could until I reached the police station. As I banked

into the station compound, he rode across at top speed.”

She said he was riding so fast, he couldn’t even stop.

What may have saved her, Sandra said, was that she’d never before told him that she was once an athlete, so he had no idea she could run so fast.

AT THE STATION On reaching the station, she told the police on duty that her boyfriend had assaulted her and she was there to make a report.

She was eventually invited to sit on a bench beyond a small gate in the area where the report is usually taken. And as she began relating to the police what had happened, up came Kevin.

“I heard the gate push,” she said, “and when I looked up, Kevin was right there, standing in front of me! I saw passion and violence in his eyes!”

His words to her were: “Oh, suh you come hey fuh mek report fuh me?” And with that, he slapped her twice!

Appalled that he was allowed to hit her and get away with it, and in a police station at that, she tried to run, but he was right there. So she did the next best thing, which was to try covering her head with both arms as he rained blows on her while expressing himself in the most colourful of languages.

Again, the policemen on duty did nothing; rather, they begged him to stop, but he boldly told them: “Stay out of this! Not a boy can’t tell meh nutten!”

THE LAST STRAW This was the last straw for Sandra! And as he was about to hit her again, she got up, ran behind him and bit him hard on his left ear. That seemed to do the trick, and the police were finally able to get him to sit on a bench, albeit briefly.

“I stood there feeling like a fool! I started shouting, saying, ‘I am leaving this station, because nobody can save me!

Not even the police can protect me!’”

And with that, she turned on her heels and ran as fast as she could back to the village, all the while looking behind her to see if the coast was clear.

She recalled that as she was leaving the station, she saw out of the corner of her eye that Kevin was taking the stairs right behind her, with two baton carrying policemen in hot pursuit. The last she saw of him that night, Sandra said, the police were having a hard

time subduing him, but thankfully, she was able to get away.

The following day, she said, she was invited to the police station to complete filing her report.

Today, the two are separated; she’d decided to drop the case against him, seeing that he had children. Not only was he a single parent, she said, but his children were aged 12 and 14.

11

12

Cuban Embassy opens Condolence Book for Castro

FOR THE next few days, the Cuban Embassy will have its Lot 46 High Street, Kingston, Georgetown offices open to the public from 9:00hrs to 18:00hrs, to facilitate the affixing of signatures in a Condolence Book that would be sent to Cuba.

This facilitation would last until Sunday, December 4th, and Ambassador Mr. Julio Cesar Gonsalez Marchante is encouraging members of the public to visit the embassy and sign the Condolence Book, since Cuba has provided solidarity to Guyana in many ways over the decades.

Guyana’s enjoyable close relations with Cuba started in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Late Cuban President Fidel Castro The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1972, and Cuba agreed to provide medical supplies, doctors, and medical training to Guyana.

President Burnham flew with late President Fidel Castro Ruz in Castro’s airplane to

the NAM conference in Algiers in 1973. Castro made a State Visit to Guyana in August 1973, and Burnham reciprocated in April 1975, when he was decorated with the José Martí National Order, Cuba’s highest honour.

The late Fidel Castro, who served as Cuba’s president for 42 years, died last Friday in Cuba of natural causes at age 90. Castro led the Cuban Revolution against the government of Fulgencio Batista, which triggered a bitter stand-off between the United States and Russia, and resulted in the US imposing a trade embargo on Cuba.

The Cuban Embassy has expressed its profound sadness and regret at Castro’s death.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

Linden-Mabura Road

Gov’t close to sealing financing pact … project for public/private partnership

By Svetlana Marshall THE paving of the stretch of road from Linden to Mabura Hill, Region 10 will be done through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Agreement, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has said.

He said the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government is currently discussing the financing of the project with a donor. “We are speaking right now to a donor and I do believe that we are close to finalising something,” he told reporters shortly after presenting the $250B Budget to the National Assembly on Monday.

He said in 2017, the government should be in position to commence the multimillion dollar project paving the way for the other stretch from Mabura Hill to Lethem to be upgraded. “Once we get that road finish we could get connectivity throughout Central America (and) South America. You can probably leave Guyana and drive straight to the United States once you could have that connectivity,” he posited. When asked about the amount of money needed to execute the project, the Finance Minister said full disclosure will be made when an agreement has been reached.

“We have an idea how much it will cost but we don’t want to excite anybody or preempt the donor…some of these negotiations are delicate,” he said. However, it was noted that part of the money will be acquired through a grant and the other part through a loan. During his budget presentation, the Finance Minister said the country has waited for over five decades to bridge the coastal and hinterland divide, and for the creation of national and hemispheric inter-connectivity via the Linden to Lethem corridor.

“A recent Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) market demand study has

reinforced that this corridor is essential for creating a link between our road and sea transportation networks,” Minister Jordan told the House while disclosing Government’s intention to exploit the competitive advantage of the country’s strategic geo-physical and geo-political location on the South American mainland along the Atlantic Coast.

Despite criticisms by Leader of the Opposition Bharrat

The PSC executive said that he was surprised by the utterances of the former President, given that while in power, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration was in search of a private partner to assist in the paving of the road that runs through Regions Nine and 10. “Under his watch, they were looking for funds from the private sector but that fell through,” he noted.

Dookhoo maintained that

The Mabura trail

Finance Minister Winston Jordan on his way to present the $250B Budget to the National Assembly on Monday Jagdeo that the road should not be paved at this point in time, Executive Member of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Ramesh Dookhoo said the paving of the road from Linden to Lethem was among requests on the PSC’s wish list.

“The Linden to Lethem road is a huge priority for the Private Sector. We see that road as one which will generate economic activities through the length and breadth of Guyana,” Dookhoo told Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday.

the government is moving in the right direction, in this regard, noting that it is a positive step. “We see the road as a priority...as an economist he (Jagdeo) should know better, and if he is saying that the road is not a priority, as a member of the Private Sector I am disappointed.”

Less than two weeks ago, the final results of the Guyana- Brazil land transport link and deepwater See page 14

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

Councillors query Town Clerk’s actions

SEVERAL city councillors on Monday complained that the administrative arm of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), headed by Town Clerk Royston King fails to carry out the decisions of council and of the various committees. Calls have also been made for the errant officers to go.

The complaints came

forth when the issue of meat being sold on the street corners was raised.

Although vendors at the Albouystown Market were warned against this practice, it continues to be a norm on ‘market day’ every Sunday.

Councillor Oscar Clarke stood up to say that it was virtually unclear who has the responsibility of dealing

with the vendors.

But Councillor Andrea Marks said that if the Town Clerk allowed the various heads of departments to do their job, “things would go good.”

Councillor Bishram Kuppen offered that the decisions made at Council were usually handed over to the administration, and hence, it was up to the

Town Clerk to identify which department would ensure that they were carried out.

Councillor Lionel Jaikarran, who is also head of the Markets and Public health Committee, offered that the committee met regularly and made decisions but that none of those were being implemented. “I hold the Town

Clerk responsible,” he too lamented.

Meanwhile, Councillor Phillip Smith also referred to the problem of getting the administration to carry out the decisions of the council.

He offered that for the past eight months, the council has asked the Engineer’s Department for a list of projects that it is un-

dertaking. The administration has however “bluntly refused” to provide such a list.

Smith said a facility needed to be put in place to ensure the sanctioning of officers when they did not implement those decisions.

“It’s time we start sending some people home,” Smith said to huge applause.

Gov’t close to sealing ...

From page 13 port projects were presented to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson.

Upon receiving the report, Minister Patterson said the project can lead to economic growth, and an increase in Gross Domestic Product. “Guyana can increase the competitiveness of its exports, and lower maritime cost.

Guyana can also benefit from stimulating activity along the road leading to regional economic benefit in terms of employment and GDP. When we also take into account the need for tolling, this may also take another dimension of economic returns for Guyana.”

The Amazon River on the Atlantic Coast is the main route for import and export to Roraima. However, this route is not only time consuming, but relatively expensive, therefore, an alternative transportation route is necessary.

“The traffic potential for cargo is considered to be significant, which is the reason for this market survey, and if the existing port of Georgetown cannot support this potential, the development of a suitable water port in Guyana is therefore the way to go, while the corridor linking the Guyanese border will prove to be a major competitive alternative for routing cargo to and from Brazil,” Minister Patterson had explained.

Earlier this year, President David Granger had said that construction of a highway from Linden in Region 10 to Lethem in Region Eight remains high on the agenda of both Guyana and Brazil.

He had expressed the hope that within the next four years, significant progress will be made in this regard.

President Granger had said that it was up to Guyana to accept some responsibility. “It is something that we need to do. It is not a political matter, it is a financial matter,” he had declared.

In a quest to move the process forward, the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) had crafted a “Plan of Action” for the development of the district, which included upgrading the Linden-to-Lethem Road and the stretch of road from Linden to Kwakwani.

Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian had explained that, under the stewardship of former Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo, a development strategy had been established and submitted to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, but that was “swept under the mat.”

“The development of the road is vital to the development of Linden, Region 10, and all of the communities along that corridor,” Morian said, as he reflected on a project which had been endorsed by former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds but reportedly collapsed upon the involvement of the PPP/C.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

Housing Authority has billions to offset housing project

–– Finance Minister

By Svetlana Marshall THE CENTRAL Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) is sufficiently funded to execute Government’s ambitious housing project which includes the construction of duplexes, condominiums and apartments, according to the Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

He explained that the Housing Authority had approximately $8B to $9B sitting in its Housing Fund.

“We don’t need to fund them until they exhaust those resources,” Minister Jordan told reporters.

Last week, Minister with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams-Patterson had said that the first set of duplexes would likely be constructed within the first quarter of 2017 but the source of finance for this project was yet to be determined.

She had disclosed that the Ministry had made a pitch to the Islamic Development Bank with the hope of acquiring finance to execute the housing project but on Monday, the Finance Minister maintained that the Central Housing and Planning Authority had more than

sufficient funds to execute the project.

In his budget presentation, Minister Jordan pointed out that the authority had reviewed the process of allocating house lots, given that approximately 25,000 applications were on file, of which almost 18,000 were for low-income individuals.

Evidence had shown that there was a lack of a holistic approach in providing quality, affordable housing in safe, well-serviced communities, the Minister of Finance said.

“Many recipients of house lots remain unable to start construction, while others have been allocated lots in areas that are woefully under-developed and without basic infrastructure. Still, many more are saddled with poorly constructed turnkey homes,” he pointed out.

He said the Housing profile study was in progress and would be the basis for the preparation of the National Housing Policy which was expected to inform the revitalisation of the sector so that it could fulfill its catalytic role within the economy.

For this year, a total of 1,921 new house lots have been allocated to potential

home owners, while 4,208 land titles were distributed, and 173 squatters were regularised.

“Mr. Speaker, a new model for providing for the housing needs of the thousands of low-income individuals is being considered, in recognition of the critical links between housing construction, home ownership, consumer spending, revenue generation and economic growth,” he told the House.

In going forward, he noted that the mode of providing affordable housing would include a mix of multi-storied apartment buildings, duplexes and single-family homes within sustainable community structures.

In keeping with the Government’s green agenda, structural designs will integrate elements for improved natural lighting and ventilation.

“While this is ongoing, works will be accelerated to complete the infrastructural development of prioritised housing areas where allottees have indicated their readiness to begin construction.”

These initiatives, he further pointed out, will involve a comprehensive feasibility assessment of existing housing areas,

squatting areas and land for future development; in addition to the consolidation of planned housing areas and the upgrading of regularised squatting areas.

“Given the huge demand for house lots and the limited availability of serviced lots for distribution, the Government intends to pilot a project to construct apartments, condominiums and wooden houses in existing planned areas, such as Stewartville,

Cummings Lodge, Perseverance, and Amelia’s Ward,” he noted.

While the Government has not set aside funds to execute the Housing Project given that there are sufficient funds in the Housing Fund, it has allocated $100M, under the Hinterland Sustainable Housing 52 Programme for the construction of 115 subsidised housing units and 45 roof and water catchment system subsidies in Regions

One and Nine.

On the lighter side, the Government, through the CHPA, will strengthen its planning function in this sector by holding national planning forums, formulating development plans, organising community development projects, sensitising the general public on building codes and standards and building the capacity of small local contractors

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

Man killed by drinking buddy

By Nafeeza Yahya

THE battered body of a 25-year-old man was discovered in a pool of blood in his Number 60 Village, Corentyne yard early Tuesday morning.

Dead is Ravi Kumar Sharma called “Peter,” a fisherman of Number 60 Village Squatting Area, Corentyne. His body bore several chop wounds a broken jaw and hand. He was last seen alive on Monday evening with a suspect who has reportedly confessed to killing him due to an altercation while they were consuming alcohol.

This newspaper understands that while imbibing, the men got into an argument and the suspect left and returned with a machete.

He then chopped Sharma about ten times to his body.

It is unclear what prompted the argument.

Sharma’s mother, Devica Deo related that whenever her son imbibed heavily he would usually ask her to leave the home. “I wasn’t

home so when he go home yesterday (Monday) I see he de drinking and he tell meh mommy me nah want you stay here...guh way, me ask he where me gonna go he tell me leh me just go go anywhere.”

Dead is Ravi Kumar Sharma Deo recalled that around 17:30hrs she left to spend the night at a relative. “I left and go sleep at a relative and when I come home this morning to go prepare his stuff to go work I see he

lay down in the yard so me seh this bai always drink rum and does sleep all over me just tell he wake up and go get ready to work,” the woman related.

She said she did not know he was dead until she returned from the washroom and inspected his body closer at which point she realized he was bleeding and not responding. “Meh start holler and them neighbour come call the police.”

Meanwhile, Ravina Sharma, the sister, told this newspaper that her brother and the suspect were “best friends” and would do almost everything together, including “drinking”. She said both of them are fishermen.

Sharma who lives a few Villages away explained that when she received the news of her brother’s death she immediately left for the scene. On arrival after the crime scene was cleared by police, Sharma said she was greeted with a ransacked house with almost everything inside broken and blood stains in the living

The scene of the murder room and along the steps towards where the body was discovered. “This looks like they had a big fight cause everything thing bruk up and it look like them start from upstairs and he

collapsed and dead in front the yard.”

According to a police source the suspect visited the Number 51 Police Station Tuesday morning and reported he had “broad-

sided” Sharma after they had a fight. He was held for questioning and subsequently taken to the scene.

According to police he later admitted to killing Sharma.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

7-year-old succumbs Dr. Mahadeo saves taxi driver’s life from murder attempt following accident

DEWAYNE Prince, the seven-year-old Wellington Park Primary School student who was struck down on Friday last by a motorcar has succumbed to his injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to information the lad was crossing the road in front of his school using the pedestrian crossing when motorcar HC 3069 struck him. Prince of Kiltern Village, was picked up and rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital and was later transferred to New Amsterdam Hospital.

This publication understands the lad Dead: Dewayne Prince suffered severe head injuries and was later taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where doctors battled to save his life. Unfortunately he lost his life late Monday night.

The driver of the car has been arrested and remains in police custody. In light of the recent developments he is expected to be charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

GEORGETOWN: Medical Officer Dr. Mahadeo yesterday testified that medical attention given to injured taxi driver Joel Mc Curdy was what had saved the chauffeur’s life.

Mc Curdy was taking the accused, Eon Collins, from Parika, East Bank Essequibo to Georgetown, on a hire trip on June 27, 2014, when Collins allegedly stabbed him in the chest in a murder attempt.

Mc Curdy told the judge and jury that he fell out of his car while trying to fight off his attacker, who was trying to steal his taxi, when a gang of construction workers came to his assistance.

He was taken to the hospital, while Eon Collins was taken to the police station, and was later charged with attempted murder following police investigations.

Mc Curdy, who celebrated his 39th birth anniversary yesterday, had earlier testified that it was

the expertise of the doctor that saved his life, after he developed a complaint from the stab wound in the left chest, which caused intestinal problems.

The prosecution has closed its case, and the accused, Collins, who is on bail, is expected to lead a defence.

Mc Curdy was testifying against Collins when he

explained that Collins had hired him from outside the Demico business place in Georgetown, and was heading for Parika, Essequibo; but at Tuschen, he pointed to a village street, where he pulled a knife and attacked him.

After members of the jury had been selected, but without any evidence being taken, the prosecution, led

by Miss Tamieka Clarke and Miss Tuanna Hardy, requested a voir dire (a trial within a trial) to determine the admissibility of a caution statement which the accused had given to the police.

The statement in the voir dire was found to be freely and voluntarily given to the police.

The accused is conducting his own defence.

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

PAHO urges stepping up nine measures to end AIDS by 2030

“TAKE the challenge. End AIDS” is the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) campaign slogan for World AIDS Day (1 December), which urges governments and societies to intensify nine measures to end the epidemic of AIDS by 2030.

Providing and promoting the use of condoms and lubricants, providing HIV testing in areas frequented by the most at-risk populations, and expanding access to pre-exposure (PrEP) and post-exposure (PEP) prophylaxis

are some of the measures that, if reinforced, could help end AIDS as a public health problem within 15 years.

Other actions include testing and treating all HIV-positive pregnant women and their newborns to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, providing early treatment for all who need it, ending stigma and discrimination, providing testing and treatment for other sexually transmitted infections that are associated with HIV, and increasing funding. “HIV remains a threat to global

health and requires a strategic global and regional response,” said Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, Director of PAHO. “We must intensify efforts in combined prevention, early detection and access to treatment, which are the keys to halting transmission of the virus in the coming years,” she added.

Nearly two million people are living with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Each year, 100,000 people acquire the virus and 50,000 die from AIDS-related causes. Between 2000 and 2015, new HIV infections were

reduced by 25% and deaths by 23%. However, in the last five years, there has been a slight increase in cases (0.7%), particularly among men. By accelerating the response to HIV/AIDS in the Americas, the ambitious goal of reducing new HIV cases by 74% by 2020 and reducing AIDS deaths in the region by 62% could pave the way for the end of the epidemic in 2030.

PAHO and its member countries agreed this year on a new plan to move in that direction.

“Today, we have more tools to prevent new infec-

tions, to diagnose all those who live with the virus and don’t know it, and to treat everyone as soon as possible to preserve their health,” said Dr. Marcos Espinal, director of the Department of Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis. “Accelerating action of these and other measures can reduce the epidemic to the lowest level possible.” The PAHO campaign aligns with WHO’s Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV, the declaration of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting

to end AIDS, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs ) and the UNAIDS 2016 campaign, which focuses on HIV prevention, one of the measures to end AIDS in 2030.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) works with the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their peoples. Founded in 1902, it serves as the WHO Regional Office for the Americas and is the specialized health agency of the inter-American system.

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

CAL clips Fly Jamaica’s tail

A COLLISION between a Caribbean Airlines (CAL) passenger aircraft and a stationary Fly Jamaica Boeing 767, which occurred early on Tuesday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, has resulted in both planes being grounded, both flights being delayed, and a number of passengers expressing frustration at the setback.

Initial reports are that the incident occurred at about 07:42hrs, when the right wing of the CAL aircraft, which was bringing passengers from New York, accidentally clipped the rear of the Fly Jamaica Boeing during touchdown.

However, a statement from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) puts the time of the accident closer to 07:50hrs, and the location as the international apron of the runway.

Aviation sources subsequently told the Guyana Chronicle that the Fly Jamaica aircraft, scheduled to depart for Toronto, Canada that morning, was being prepared for boarding when the incident occurred. They say that the CAL aircraft, a Boeing 738, had just landed at CJIA when it was instructed

by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to park on the international apron just off the airport’s terminal building; and while

taxiing off the main runway, the aircraft made a sharp turn to exit the taxiway for parking, and thus its right winglet, a small extension of the wing, clipped the exhaust cone at the rear of the stationary Fly Jamaica aircraft.

As a result of the collision, both aircraft have been ordered parked as the GCAA and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) begin investigating the incident.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE The cone became detached from the aircraft, the second of two operated by the Jamaica-based airline; and as airport staff responded to the accident, emergency response teams were reportedly on standby.

Staff of both agencies converged later in the morning at the Control Tower, listening to recordings of conversations between the ATC staff and the pilots of the two planes in the hope of finding out what transpired on the ground prior to the incident.

Sources at Timehri later reported that it may be too early to determine who would shoulder responsibility for the incident.

Ground operations at the CJIA have been accident-free for decades. The last major aircraft accident at the airport

occurred in July 2011 when a CAL Boeing 738 ran off the runway and broke in two after touchdown.

After years of investigation into the cause of the incident, which is seen in aviation circles as one of the most spectacular non-disaster aircraft crashes in recent history, the verdict came back as pilot error. No one was seriously injured in that incident.

The damaged rear end of the Fly Jamaica Boeing 767

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

Private sector investment key driver of economy

By Alva Solomon

GUYANA can, with the right investments, be transformed into a regional investment hub; thus Government has recognised the need for development of value-added sectors, to increase opportunities for young Guyanese.

This is according to Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, who added that

need for a financial sector that is responsive to the needs of the economy.

“Guyana is going places, and investors are coming to Guyana to explore opportunities”, he said. He noted that the Ministry of Business has made it one of its top priorities to make Guyana an easy place to do business. This includes moves via an action plan which comprehensively allows agencies to collab-

Minister Gaskin tells Republic Bank forum

A section of the gathering at the meeting on Monday

Republic Bank’s Executive Director, Roopnarine Oumade Singh, speaking at the forum on Monday.

Government is working to create a more competitive economy, with expanding opportunities.

He told a gathering of bankers and members of the local and regional business communities at Republic Bank’s first trade mission -on Monday morning at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown -- that Government supports an economic model that sees private sector investment as the key driver of sustainable growth. He added that there must be a long-term partnership between the public and private sectors, to create an economy which is relevant to the country and further afield.

Delegates from the bank’s regional territory branches, including those in Guyana, Suriname, Barbados and Grenada, will gather over the next three days to discuss financial and business opportunities; and speaking to a packed room, Gaskin said there is

orate.

Regarding the country’s business mood, Gaskin said investment infrastructure needs to be aligned with economic opportunities.

He singled out the Guyana/ Brazil road, which he said is feasible because it would lower transportation costs for Brazilians to transact business, and in effect would cause a number of opportunities on this side to become attractive.

He said Government has chosen to prioritise “re-balancing “of the economy, to reflect on the needs of the people and the priorities of the country as a whole. “We must start making the necessary investment today, to wean us off of our dependence on primary commodities,” Gaskin said.

He said the value-added sectors will be examined as priority to encourage investment in that regard. He identified the agricultural, tourism and forestry sectors

and outputs of the mining sector as the “obvious areas where Guyana has products to add value.”

Speaking on the forum, Republic Bank’s Executive Director, Roopnarine Oumade Singh, said the bank is confident that a lot of business would be generated from the three-day forum.

He said the vision for the trade mission and subsequent missions is to bring together corporate and commercial customers

across all jurisdictions, to establish mutually beneficial relationships, foster multilateral trade, open new markets, and create additional revenue- generation avenues beyond the exiting boundaries.

He said the bank’s mission is to build successful communities, and while the financial institution has a strong balance sheet and a healthy loan portfolio, among others points of standing, its partnerships is

what makes it proud of its 149-year-old history.

Last year, the bank was rebranded Republic Financial Holdings Limited. It has an asset base of over US$10B and staff compliment of over 5000 persons. In each jurisdiction, the bank operates on different IT platforms, and this would be upgraded to a single platform over time.

“Republic Bank stands ready to provide credit and trade financing, investment banking, and structuring for

bond issues and conditions papers”, Singh said. He said that, as a trade development bank, Republic would be able to develop trade parties using local currencies.

Republic Bank has begun facilitating payment for the importation of goods from Guyana in Trinidad and Tobago dollars and in Guyanese dollars, as opposed to US dollars. The move, Singh noted, would be beneficial to all parties.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan (at right) interacts with Republic Bank officials during a cocktail reception on Monday evening

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

Man takes wife to airport then dies in crash

By Shauna Jemmott

A 43-YEAR-OLD miner died when his car crashed into a parked sand truck at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara around 4:00 hours Tuesday.

Herman David of 1538 Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara and formerly of 67 John Street, Campbellville, was flung out of the car he was driving and died soon after the collision near the Soesdyke/Linden Highway junction.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the scene yesterday, parts from the vehicles were scattered on the roadway but both vehicles had already been removed.

Police told this newspaper that David was driving motor car PTT 9168 north on the eastern carriageway along the Soesdyke public

Dead: Herman David road and apparently swerved away from a ‘median’ which was installed at the center of the four-lane highway. He seemed to have lost control

of his vehicle and swerved into the side of the parked truck. The impact resulted in the car breaking in two.

The driver and owner of the truck, Hoblall Harriram of Non Pariel, East Coast, Demerara said he had loaded his truck with 10 tons of white sand but while travelling back to Georgetown the vehicle experienced mechanical difficulties. He parked the truck and was awaiting another vehicle to tow it to the city.

Harriram said around 4:00 hours while he sat in the driver’s seat and was resting his head on the steering wheel he heard a loud sound and felt an impact.

He said he saw the driver of the car on the parapet and he seemed dead. Persons in the area came out and con-

Youth remanded for North West murder

A 17-YEAR-OLD youth was on Tuesday remanded to prison by City Magistrate Dylon Bess for the murder of a North West farmer who was fatally stabbed during a heated argument.

The matter was heard in camera where the juvenile was not required to plead to the capital offence, which alleges that on November 23 at Barima, Kariabo Village, North West District he killed 44 year-old Junior Moses.

The unrepresented teen was remanded until December 6, and the matter was transferred to the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

According to police reports the victim and the 17-year-old male were consuming alcohol when an argument erupted between the two. During the process the suspect is alleged to have armed himself with a knife and stabbed the victim once to his abdomen.

The victim was taken to the Mabaruma Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

tacted police and a relative of David transported his body to a city hospital in another vehicle.

A brother of the dead man told this newspaper that David’s wife was inside the house “in a terrible pain” and still in shock. “She can’t believe it… I can’t even speak. I’m his brother, I going through the same pain right now because he died.”

It is understood that David had transported his wife Candacy to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri to catch a flight and was on his way back home when the accident occurred.

According to reports, the man’s wife cancelled her flight after hearing of her husband’s demise. She returned to their Diamond home.

‘Collision corner’ gets speed bumps IN AN EFFORT to curtail the occurrence of frequent accidents at the well-known “collision corner” at Church and New Garden Streets, Georgetown, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has installed speed bumps at all its approaches.

The corner received this infamous moniker because of the number of accidents which occurred there over the past years. Though some of the accidents have been mere proverbial bumper-tobumper collisions, others have seen persons either losing their lives or being severely injured, due to reckless driving.

However, road users are contending that one speed bump might have been wrongly placed on Church Street. They base their contention on the fact that Church Street is a “major road.” Added to that, persons are enquiring whether an indication sign would be placed a few yards away from the bump, in order to notify persons to proceed slowly.

Nevertheless, many have lauded the initiative taken by the Guyana Police Force to install these speed bumps.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

D’urban Backlands squatter on robbery charges

CITY Magistrate Dylon Bess on Tuesday released a 22-year-old D’ urban Backlands Squatting Area resident on $200,000 after he pleaded not guilty to two robbery related charges.

Derrick Pickering denied that on September 15, at Puruni Landing, Puruni River he robbed Kevin Headley of $65,000 cash, a Samsung S5 cellular phone valued $40,000 along with a quantity of female clothing worth $296,000.

In addition, he made use of personal violence during, before and after the offence was committed, police alleged. He also denied that on October 10, at Puruni Landing, Puruni River he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Seon Smith.

The prosecutor objected to bail on the nature, gravity and penalty of the charges. However these grounds were overruled by the Magistrate.

Pickering was granted $150,000 bail on the robbery with violence charge and $50,000 on the other charge. The matter was transferred to the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for December 5.

Bandit nabbed after leaving cellphone at crime scene … charged, granted $75,000 bail

A HERSTELLING, East Bank Demerara man was on Tuesday charged and remanded to prison over a gun-point robbery he allegedly committed on a woman almost a month ago.

Brian Goodluck, an excavator operator appeared before City Magistrate Dylon Bess and pleaded not guilty to the armed robbery charge.

Particulars of the charge alleged that Goodluck on October 29, at Craig Street, Campbellville while being in the company of another man armed with a gun robbed Mandessa Cameron of a cellphone, her purse along with cash valued $74,000.

Police Prosecutor, Christopher Morris strongly opposed the father of one being granted bail on the grounds of the penalty and nature attached to the charge.

According to the prosecution facts on the day in question about 20:00 hrs Cameron was walking along Craig Street when the defendant, along with another man rode up beside her on a motor cycle and demanded that she hand over her purse.

The men then made good their escape and the woman reported the matter to the police.

Goodluck’s cellphone was later retrieved at the crime scene, while Goodluck was positively picked out by the victim during an identification parade.

The Magistrate overruled the prosecution’s objection and released Goodluck on $75,000 bail.

The matter is adjourned until December 19.

23

Guyanese killed in BVI car accident

A GUYANESE is one of two men killed in a car crash in the British Virgin Island (BVI), News Online has reported.

The online news outfit reported that while confirming that two men were killed in a motor vehicle accident on the island of Virgin Gorda on Monday night, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) indicated that the bodies were found in the vehicle that seemingly plunged some 150 feet downhill.

The accident unfolded in the Savannah Bay Beach area and involved two expatriates.

Persons familiar with both crash victims have identified one of them as 31-year-old Dexter Cottoy, a native of Guyana, who is also known as Decky. The other victim – according to residents – is Calvert Brown, also known as Buju, from St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The RVIPF, in a media release this afternoon (November 29), said initial inquiries indicate that the two men were travelling from the Valley to North Sound when the accident took place. “The vehicle was found approximately 150 feet downhill of

the cliff, which overlooks the Savannah Bay Beach. The bodies of the two were found inside the vehicle,” said the RVIPF. “Virgin Gorda police officers – along with Fire and Rescue Services, medical personnel from the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic, Rasta Trucking, L&S Garage, employees of Yates and Associates and officers of the BVI Port Authority – were all in attendance and assisted at the scene following the accident.”

Investigations are ongoing, the RVIPF further said.

Dead: Dexter Cottoy, a native of Guyana

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

Sooba seeking benefits Young Bee Hive from City Hall farmer shot

FORMER Town Clerk Carol Sooba is claiming that she has not been granted her benefits when she left the City Council, but Deputy Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Munroe announced on Monday that there are no outstanding amounts due to Sooba.

“I received no pension or gratuity; not even the officer’s deposit,” Sooba told the Chronicle yesterday; but Harry-Munroe,

who is now performing the duties of Town Clerk, informed the Council at the fortnightly statutory meeting that Sooba took all of her benefits along when she left the City Council.

Sooba says her lawyers have since written to the Town Clerk on the issue, and Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen has told her that the Personnel Officer and Town Clerk are claiming that nothing is owing to

her.

“I have to get what I earned,” Sooba said. She added that she is awaiting receipt of an official letter from the Council on the issue.

Shortly after she was made to demit office at City Hall, Sooba said, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had told her he would not “force” her on the council, but would ensure that she receives all of her benefits.

––while ‘relieving himself’

Former Town Clerk, Carol Sooba Sooba was Legal Officer at the Council for 15 years, until she was made Acting Town Clerk by the previous administration. She was also confirmed as the Town Clerk.

THE police are searching for a man who reportedly shot a 22-year-old farmer of Bee Hive, East Coast Demerara while relieving himself near a parked vehicle on Sunday night.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 23:45hrs at Clonbrook, also on the East Coast.

Police say the injured farmer, Khemraj Gangaram was attending a function at Clonbrook when he ventured across the road to urinate in the vicinity of a parked motor vehicle; in the course of doing so, he heard two loud explosions and observed a male pointing a handgun at him.

In attempting to flee, Gangaram reportedly felt a burning sensation on his left hand and right thigh and realised he was shot.

He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and admitted in a stable condition. No arrest has yet been made.

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

Refurbished Conference Center will bring greater long-term benefits –– Min. Hughes

THE Government of China has made a commitment to the Government of Guyana to completely renovate the Arthur Chung Convention Centre which it also constructed and gifted to the people of Guyana in 2006.

The Conference Center was constructed by China Railway Construction Company and since then it has hosted several conferences for international and regional summits.

Giving the increase in demand and a growing clientele, Manager of the ACCC, Mr. Nancomar Ramdial expressed gratitude to the Chinese Government for refurbishing the Center giving the major events hosted

there. Some of the major events hosted over the year included Caricom Heads of Government meetings, the 2007 Rio Summit, the 4th Summit of the Union of South American Nations, the 44th Annual CDB Board of Governors meeting, state visits by other heads of state and other high level conferences. “As we move forward at the completion of this maintenance project of this Center, Arthur Chung Convention Center will boost not only an improved or enhanced structure but one of the leading state of the art venue in Guyana fully equipped to meet the needs of its growing clientele,” he said.

Though the Center will

be out of service for the next 18 months, Minister of Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes said that the long term benefits will be much greater as it will be free from structural and other damages that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Minister Hughes expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Chinese Government and the outgoing Chinese Ambassador Honourable Mr. Zhang Limin for all of the goodwill bestowed upon the Government and people of Guyana throughout the years. “This Conference Center is just one of the gifts that China has given us, over the 10 years of its existence, many Guyanese, public sector agencies and private companies have enjoyed the spacious accommodation…….thank you

for rehabilitating it at your own cost and for saving us in Guyana the trouble of having to look for funds to repair it,” she said.

Outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Guyana , Zhang Limin posited that the Government of China

will continue to provide aid to the Guyana Government and the rehabilitation of the Center is just one of the many. Though he will be in China at the conclusion of the rehabilitation programme, he expressed confidence that

it will look more attractive and serve a greater purpose. At the end of the ceremony the Minister of Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes and Ambassador Limin exchanged gifts and wished each other well.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

20% of public contracts for the ‘small man’

GOVERNMENT of Guyana will enforce a requirement to ensure that at least 20 per cent of public contracts are awarded to small businesses. This will ensure a level playing field in bidding for Government contracts.

This was stated by Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, as he delivered the Government’s 2017 National Budget, valued at $250B on Monday in the National Assembly.

Minister Jordan said the

Government’s interventions towards the promotion of a healthier and more diverse business environment not only focus on companies and firms, but also on the empowerment of individuals and the facilitation of small and micro-enterprises, while expanding existing programmes aimed at fostering youth entrepreneurship.

The management of industrial estates will be centralised under the Ministry of Business, and this

is expected to result in more effective monitoring and appropriate zoning in 2017. The Finance Minister said that focus will also be placed on analysing the outputs of the occupants of the industrial estates, to ensure greater value-added production and achievement of job-creation targets.

An initial sum of $95M has been set aside for the establishment of two business incubators to be placed at the Belvedere and Lethem Industrial Estates.

The Finance Minister said that to reinforce and continue to promote economic structure, the Ministry of Business has launched its 2015-2020 Strategic Action Plan, which focuses on improving the ease of doing business; attracting increased foreign investment; supporting the development and export of value-added industries; increasing economic opportunities for, and capabilities of, vulnerable groups; and increasing capacity to develop and

promote sustainable business-friendly policies.

Minister Jordan said the establishment and growth of small and micro-enterprises would continue to be supported through a suite of programmes, including the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED), which provides business grants and training for vulnerable groups. Additionally, the Micro and Small Enterprise Development (MSED) project will continue with

its financing and training and development activities, targeting a prospective 660 clients. The Small Business Bureau (SBB) will be extending its reach into educational institutions, to expose students to entrepreneurial initiatives and skills.

This new venture would include a competition which will see at least 10 students receiving grants to start their own business, Jordan explained to the National Assembly.

Father of two remanded for drug trafficking A 25-YEAR-OLD Ketley Street, Charlestown resident made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with drug trafficking.

Levi Rawlins is accused of having 59 grammes of cannabis in his possession on November 22 at Itaballi Police Check Point for the purpose of trafficking.

The father of two pleaded not guilty to the charge

after it was read to him by City Magistrate Dylon Bess.

The unrepresented man had his pre-trial liberty strongly opposed by Prosecutor Christopher Morris on the grounds of the nature and penalty attached to the charge. Morris objections were upheld and Rawlins was remanded to prison.

He will make his next court appearance on December 6, before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

North West teen jailed for wounding man A 19-YEAR-OLD North West District (NWD) teen was on Tuesday sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by City Magistrate Dylon Bess after confessing to a wounding charge.

Rekeri Rodrigues pleaded guilty to the charge which read that on November 25, at Rincon Village, NWD he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Camelio Torres with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The unrepresented teen explained to the court that he is unemployed and lived with “mommy and daddy.”

The Magistrate further questioned the teen if he had any pending matters before the court, which apparently created some confusion in the lad’s mind, but the prosecutor, Christopher Morris answered in the affirmative.

The prosecutor told the Magistrate that the teen has pending matters before a NWD court, however when Bess questioned him about the nature of the offences the teen refused to answer. The Magistrate upon seeing the perplexed look on the teen’s face asked him: “Do you have a fighting problem or a sex problem before the court?”

The teen then replied “I got a sex problem with a girl in the court up deh.” The court was further told that the lad was also charged for escaping from police custody in the same matter.

Rodrigues was then sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and sternly warned by the Magistrate that he should spend the time while incarcerated to reflect on his action and turn over a new leaf upon his release.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

27

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

29

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

GuySuCo unable … GAWU to take up to pay API matter with Labour Dept SUGAR workers from across the industry will not receive an Annual Production Incentive (API) this year, because the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guy-

GuySuCo CEO, Errol Hanoman SuCo) is facing a financial crisis.

GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer, Errol Hanoman, during a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Friday last, outlined that in a recent meeting with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), the Corporation made clear that it was not in a position to make API payments this year.

President David Granger had reportedly announced that GuySuCo is being bailed out to the tune of $10 billion annually. Further, it was reported that GuySuCo has already recorded a whopping six-billion-dollar deficit in its accounts for the first half of 2016, but this has been masked by the $9 billion subsidy that was handed to the beleaguered entity by Government.

Thus Hanoman stressed

that this deterring factor has also made the Corporation incapable of giving workers an increase in their wages and salaries.

GAWU President Komal Chand, during a press conference on Friday, said that last year the situation was the same, but workers were able to get a little over two days’ pay as their API. “Every worker should be rewarded for the hard work they do. That is why an endof-year bonus is so essential to boost the efficiency of any workforce,” Chand said.

He pointed out that the corporation has had lower production rates in the past and had still been able to pay API. As such, in an effort to support the workers, GAWU would be approaching the Ministry of Social Protection for further justification on the matter.

The issue of the API payment for 2015 sparked a number of strikes across the industry last year, and this has led to the Corporation making those payments earlier this year. And with the noted extension of Estate operations to the third week in December, a strike would hinder GuySuCo from reaching its production target for this year. The union has not indicated it would initiate strike action if API is not paid.

During his budget presentation on Monday, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said that money injected into sugar in its current state is money wasted. He contended that it would make no impact on the operating losses and cash deficit status of the industry.

“The status quo of the sugar industry can neither be sustained nor maintained.

As currently structured, the

industry would require Government’s support to the tune of $18.6 billion and $21.4 billion for the years 2017 and 2018 respectively,” he told the House in his budget presentation on Monday.

GAWU Chairman, Komal Chand This is an untenable position, the minister said, pointing out that it would seriously jeopardise the fiscal stance of the Government, while compromising resource allocation to other critical and important areas.

“Radical re-organising of the sugar industry is required as a matter of urgency, for the continued postponement of the hard decisions on GuySuCo’s future would result in the corporation incurring even more debts (estimated currently at $80 billion) and an escalation of the demands on the Treasury,” he declared.

Meanwhile, the Government has for 2017 made an allocation of $9 billion to support the financing of GuySuCo’s operations.

This brings to $32 billion the amount of resources that would have been provided to the Corporation since August 2015.

FLASHBACK: Workers take to strike action

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

31

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

33

34

ENGLISH RACING TIPS Lingfield 08:10 hrs New Signal 08:40 hrs Bargain Buy 09:10 hrs Titi Makfi 09:40 hrs Master The World 10:10 hrs Pastoral Music 10:40 hrs Petite Jack 11:10 hrs Plus Night 11:40 hrs Dltripleseven CATTERICK 08:30 hrs Leading Score 09:00 hrs Italian Riviera 09:30 hrs Fidux 10:00 hrs Ueueteoti 10:30 hrs Tara View 11:00 hrs Laissez Dire 11:30 hrs Helmsley FFOS LAS 09:20 hrs Lisheen Prince 09:50 hrs Babeny Bridge 10:20 hrs Call The Cops 10:50 hrs Southport 11:20 hrs Copper Birch 11:55 hrs Mulcahys Hill SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Kenilworth 08:30 hrs Come On Sonny 09:05 hrs Overshadow 09:50 hrs Streak Of Silver 10:25 hrs Mogostar 11:00 hrs It’s My Turn 11:30 hrs Desert Wisdom AMERICAN RACING TIPS Aqueduct Race 1 Control Group Race 2 Ducasa Race 3 Only You Race 4 Joywave Race 5 Eidmilaad Race 6 Frazil Race 7 Bagema Race 8 Matt King Coal Race 9 Flux Capacitor

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 30, 2016

Plane taking Brazilian soccer team to cup final crashes ...

From back page

Erwin Tumiri.

In addition to players, coaches and staff, 21 journalists had been on board the plane to cover the match, Brazilian news organisations said.

Neto and Valmorbida were in “very delicate but stable” condition in intensive care, Dr Guillermo Molina, head of a clinic treating them, told Reuters. Neto suffered trauma to his head, thorax and lungs, as well as open wounds to his knees.

Ruschel also was in intensive care but in stable condition, Dr Ana Maria Gonzalez, director of another clinic also attending them, told Reuters. The two members of the flight staff were out of danger and under observation, she said.

Follman’s condition was not immediately available.

LANDMARK GAME It was the first time Chapecoense, a small club from the southern Brazilian town of Chapeco, had reached the final of a major South American club competition.

Matches were cancelled around South America and Brazil declared three days of mourning. Atletico Nacional asked for Chapecoense to be awarded the trophy in honour of those who died.

“They were the hope of our city,” said Jean Panegalli, 17, a student in Chapeco, where fans were disconsolate. “They played for love of the shirt and not for money.

They played with the commitment that only those who have lived here know.”

The BAe 146 was produced by a company that is now part of the UK’s BAE Systems The team took a regular flight to Santa Cruz in Bolivia and then went from there to Medellin on the plane run by a Bolivian-based company called LAMIA with roots in Venezuela.

By early afternoon, rescuers had recovered 72 bodies, which were to be flown out by helicopter for identification and then repatriation.

“The weather is hamper-

ing efforts but we hope conditions will improve during the day,” said local fire official Misael Cadavid. “It’s a very rough topographical area and penetration is not easy.”

The crash evoked memories of a series of soccer air disasters in the 20th century, including the Munich crash in 1958 that killed 23 people, among them eight Manchester United players, journalists and travelling officials.

World governing body FIFA said on Twitter its “thoughts were with the victims, their families, fans of Chapecoense and media organisations in Brazil on this tragic day.”

Chapecoense qualified for the biggest game in its history after overcoming the Argentine club San Lorenzo in the semi-final on away goals following a 1-1 draw in Buenos Aires and 0-0 draw at home.

They were underdogs for the match against a club going for a rare double after winning the Copa Libertadores in July.

Chapecoense was the 21st biggest club in Brazil in terms of revenue in 2015, bringing in 46 million reais ($13.5 million), according to a list by Brazilian bank Itau BBA. “TOWN COME TO A STOP” The club has built its success on a frugal spending policy that eschewed big-money signings and concentrated on blending young talent and experienced journeymen.

Several hundred dejected fans gathered around the team’s Conda stadium in Chapeco, many of them wearing Chapecoense’s green strip. At least one young fan burst into tears.

“It is still hard to believe what has happened to the Chapecoense team just when it was on the rise,” said Agenor Danieli, 64, a pensioner in the agricultural town of about 200 000 people in Santa Catarina state.

“We are in crisis. The town has come to a stop.

Companies are giving people the day off so they can come here to the stadium. We need to pray. It still doesn’t feel real.”

Chapecoense’s bestknown player was Cleber Santana, a midfielder whose best years were spent in Spain with Atletico Madrid and Mallorca.

Coach Caio Junior also was experienced, having managed at some of Brazil’s biggest clubs, Botafogo, Flamengo and Palmeiras among them.

The crash prompted an outpouring of solidarity and grief on social media from the soccer community, with Brazilian top flight teams Flamengo and Santos tweeting messages of support.

Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas tweeted: “My condolences for the plane accident that carried @ChapecoenseReal. Tough moment for football. Good luck and stay strong!”

The South American football federation suspended all games and other activities following the crash.

It was Colombia’s worst air accident since more than 160 people died on an American Airlines plane in 1995 in a mountainous area near Cali.

Bolivian civil aviation authority DGAC said the plane departed Santa Cruz under perfect conditions.

“The crew had their licences in order, everything was in order for the flight,” DGAC head Cesar Varela told journalists.

He said a team would head to Colombia to help investigate the crash.

LAMIA Bolivia is a private charter company certified by the DGAC for domestic and international flights and in operation for around a year, authorities said.

The nine crew members, including the pilots, were Bolivian.

“The pilots had significant experience because they were pilots from military air transport and they were used to flying this kind of plane,” said DGAC security director Julio Fortun.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Wagner runs through Pakistan tail as NZ clinch 2-0 series win (REUTERS) - Neil Wagner ripped through Pakistan’s tail with three wickets in six deliveries to help New Zealand dismiss the visitors for 230 and secure a 138-run victory on the final day of the second Test at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday.

Aslam was caught nine runs short of a maiden Test century at mid-off by Williamson off Tim Southee, and when power-hitting wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed (19) was runout to reduce the visitors to 199 for four, momentum had swung back towards the hosts.

Man-of-the-Match Tim Southee is hugged by Neil Wagner as he leads New Zealand off the field in Hamilton The victory also wrapped up the series 2-0 for Kane Williamson’s side, their first series victory over Pakistan since 1985, after they won the first match by eight wickets in Christchurch.

“We were under pressure; they’re a very strong side and are not number two in the world for no reason,” Williamson said in a televised interview. “They showed that today, but we were able to stick at it and get the result.”

The fifth day had meandered along for the first two sessions as Pakistan openers Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam looked to give themselves a base from which to challenge the 369-run target.

The pair put on 131 for the first wicket before standin captain Azhar (58) got a thick inside edge to a looped delivery from left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner and played on, just before tea.

The visitors, however, with 211 runs needed from 34 overs in the final session and with nine wickets in hand, changed their approach after the break and decided to attack.

Once Babar Azam (16) was dismissed in the same fashion as his captain shortly after tea the shackles were broken.

Southee and Matt Henry made the most of the second new ball to extract some swing and seam with Asad Shafiq caught at point from a leading edge from Henry, before Younus Khan was given out lbw to Southee on review for 11 after he failed to play a shot.

Wagner then ran through the tail with Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz both caught

SCOREBOARD NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 271 (J. Raval 55; S. Khan 4-99) PAKISTAN 1st innings 216 (B. Azam 90no; T. Southee 6-80) NEW ZEALAND 2nd innings 313 for 5 decl. (R. Taylor 102 n.o., T. Latham 80) PAKISTAN 2nd innings (Overnight: 1-0; Target: 369 runs) S. Aslam c Williamson b Southee 91 Az. Ali b Santner 58 B. Azam b Santner 16 S. Ahmed run-out 19 Y. Khan lbw b Southee 11 A. Shafiq c Nicholls b Henry 0 M. Rizwan not out 13 So. Khan c Nicholls b de Grandhomme

8 M. Amir c Watling b Wagner 0 W. Riaz c Watling b Wagner 0 I. Khan c Latham b Wagner 0 Extras: (b-4, lb-3, nb-1, w-6) 14 Total: (all out, 92.1 overs) 230 Fall of wickets: 1-131, 2-159, 3-181, 4-199, 5-204, 6-218, 7-229, 8-230, 9-230.

Bowling: T. Southee 24-660-2, M. Henry 19-5-38-1, N. Wagner 20.1-4-57-3 (nb-1 w-2), M. Santner 16-2-49-2, C. de Grandhomme 12-5-17-1, K. Williamson 1-0-2-0.

by wicketkeeper BJ Watling for ducks, before Tom Latham produced a brilliant catch at forward short leg to dismiss Imran Khan and end the match and series.

“We came in and knew the

target was a big one but we wanted to have a good partnership up front and then see what we could do after that,” Azhar said.

“We had that partnership but couldn’t really get the

run rate going and I think we probably left a little too much to do in the last session.”

Pakistan had not lost a series since they were beaten 2-0 in Sri Lanka in

August 2014, winning five and drawing two, which included one drawn series in England earlier this year that gave them the top Test ranking before India moved past them.

36

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 30, 2016

India crush England by 8 wickets to take 2-0 series lead

By Amlan Chakraborty |

MOHALI, India (Reuters) - Joe Root’s determination and Haseem Hameed’s grit were not enough for England, as India won the third Test by eight wickets inside four days to go 2-0 up in the five-match series yesterday.

Playing his first Test in eight years, Parthiv Patel smashed an unbeaten 67 off 54 balls and the hosts chased down their 103-run victory target for the loss of Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara.

After conceding a 134-run first-innings lead, England had their backs firmly against the wall and Monday’s top-order collapse left them with an impossible task to save the game.

“The first two days went exactly as we wanted as a Test team,” India captain Virat Kohli told reporters.

“When you lose the toss on a good wicket, the bowlers stand up. On day two, you are 160-5 and your low-

er order steps up. Those two days, along with the third, were very pleasing for me as the captain,” he added.

Resuming on 78-4, England suffered early setbacks.

Nightwatchman Gareth Batty failed to trouble the

Virat Kohli roars after Parthiv Patel hits the winning runs in MohaIi on the 4th day Root’s composed 78 helped erase the deficit and an unbeaten 59 by Hameed, batting down the order after breaking his finger, ensured India had a three-figure target to chase after bowling out England for 236 in the afternoon session.

scorers, trapped lbw by Ravindra Jadeja in the second over of the day.

Jos Buttler, arriving at the crease with his team reeling on 78-5, clobbered Jadeja over his head for six and smacked a boundary to bring up England’s 100.

But he fell for a run-aball 18 trying to hit Jayant Yadav over mid-on, Jadeja taking a stooping catch at mid-wicket.

Root survived two leg-before appeals in one Jadeja over but otherwise looked rock solid as he brought up his 25th Test fifty with an elegant boundary, raising his bat in muted celebration.

His brave 179-ball battle ended in a rather soft dismissal when he pushed at a Jadeja delivery and Ajinkya Rahane took a sharp one-handed catch at slip.

Hameed refused to give up, however, defying the Indian bowlers with solid defence alongside Chris Woakes who made a fluent 30.

Paceman Mohammed Shami then struck twice in an over with the new ball to all but end England’s resistance, bouncing out Woakes and inducing Adil Rashid into an awkward pull that was caught on the boundary.

Hameed was left strand-

ed when James Anderson was run-out for five. The 19-year-old, who misses the remaining two Tests with the injury, remained unbeaten after nearly three hours at the crease to enhance his burgeoning reputation.

England captain Alastair Cook said he, along with others, misread the pitch but blamed the batsmen for the defeat.

“No magic balls were being bowled really .... It was not that the pitch was behaving,” said Cook, who moved past former Australia captain Steve Waugh to become the 10th highest run-scorer in Test cricket.

“It was good, accurate bowling, as you expect from India in these conditions, but it was not unplayable. We didn’t score enough runs.”

Jadeja, who scored a career-best 90 and picked up four wickets, was adjudged man-of-the-match.

T h e f o u r t h Te s t i n Mumbai starts on December 8.

Questions remain despite Australia’s victory in Adelaide

By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Australia’s new-look side delivered the minimum required with a victory over South Africa in the dead rubber third Test on Sunday but there was understandable caution about proclaiming it the dawning of a new era Down Under.

The Australians axed half their team and brought in three new caps for the day-nighter in Adelaide after losing the series in an innings and 80-run defeat in Hobart - a fifth straight Test loss that left captain Steve Smith ‘humiliated’.

But although Smith lauded the “fight, resilience and character” shown by the team on Sunday, it was a masterful innings from a 29-year-old batsman who made his debut five years ago that laid the groundwork for the seven-wicket victory.

Usman Khawaja’s 145 was his country’s only century of the series and finally

gave the undoubtedly world class pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood something to bowl at.

New cap Peter Handscomb hit a maiden half-century in the first innings and the winning run in the second, while 20-year-old opener Matt

son Bird took 3-111 in a solid, if not spectacular, outing as the third seamer.

Matt Wade, also recalled, raised the decibel levels behind the stumps but made four runs with the bat as his predecessor as wicketkeeper, Peter Nevill, made a point of his own with 179 not out

Debutants Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb celebrate Australia victory.

Renshaw, who had gritted out an unbeaten 34 from 167 balls, was at the other end when the victory was clinched.

Middle-order batsman Nic Maddinson failed to score a run in his maiden innings and the recalled Jack-

for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield.

With a three-Test home series against Pakistan coming up next month, a trip to India early next year and a home Ashes series in 12 months’ time, it looks highly likely the selectors will stick

with their hand in the shortterm.

After Hobart, coach Darren Lehmann said only Smith, opener Dave Warner and the two pace spearheads were assured of their places in the side.

To that quartet must now be added Khawaja, who has been recalled and discarded with regularity over the last five years.

Often criticised for his diffidence in a team culture where the pugnacious Warner is offered as the template, the elegant lefthander’s seven-hour epic was proof that there is more than one way to show character on a cricket pitch.

As far as South African skipper Faf du Plessis was concerned, Khawaja’s knock was the difference between the team that lost the first two matches and the one that won in Adelaide. “ H u n d re d s i s w h a t changes games for you,” he said.

“And that will be the

challenge for the Australian team going forward. If they can do that, they will be a good team.”

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings 283 (J. Bairstow 89) INDIA 1st innings 417 (R. Jadeja 90, R. Ashwin 72, V. Kohli 62, J. Yadav 55, C. Pujara 51; B. Stokes 5-73, A. Rashid 4-118) ENGLAND 2nd innings (Overnight: 78-4) A. Cook b R. Ashwin 12 J. Root c Rahane b Jadeja 78 M. Ali c Yadav b R. Ashwin 5 J. Bairstow c P. Patel b Yadav

15 B. Stokes lbw b R. Ashwin 5 G. Batty lbw b Jadeja 0 J. Buttler c Jadeja b Yadav 18 H. Hameed not out 59 C. Woakes c P. Patel b Shami 30 A. Rashid c U. Yadav b Shami 0 J. Anderson run-out 5 Extras: (b-8, lb-1) 9 Total: (all out, 90.2 overs) 236 Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-39, 3-70, 4-78, 5-78, 6-107, 7-152, 8-195, 9-195.

Bowling: M. Shami 14-3-37-2, U. Yadav 8-3-26-0, R. Ashwin 26.2-4-81-3, R. Jadeja 30-1262-2, J. Yadav 12-2-21-2.

India 2nd innings (Target: 103 runs) M. Vijay c Root b Woakes 0 P. Patel not out 67 C. Pujara c Root b Rashid 25 V. Kohli not out 6 Extras: (b-4, lb-1, nb-1) 6 Total: (for 2 wickets, 20.2 overs) 104 Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-88.

Bowling: J. Anderson 3-2-8-0, C. Woakes 2-0-16-1, A. Rashid 5-0-28-1, B. Stokes 4-0-160 (nb-1), M. Ali 3-0-13-0, G. Batty 3.2-0-18-0.

Pakistan name unchanged

squad for Australia Tests PAKISTAN have named an unchanged squad for the three-match Test series against Australia next month. Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Rizwan, who were Pakistan’s only inclusions for the Test series against New Zealand, retained their place.

With Misbah-ul-Haq unavailable, Rizwan was handed his debut in the ongoing second Test, but was dismissed for a first-ball duck in the first innings. Sharjeel did not play a game on the tour.

Kamran Akmal, the leading run-scorer in the Quaide-Azam Trophy, and Mohammad Hafeez were considered but the selection panel led

by Inzamam-ul-Haq opted to stick with a young squad.

Pakistan played both

Tests in New Zealand with three fast bowlers and one spinner in Yasir Shah. With pitches in Australia not conducive to spin bowling, Pakistan were satisfied with all-rounder Mohammad Rizwan as the back-up spin option.

The series against Australia begins with a day-night Test in Brisbane on December 15.

Pakistan squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt.), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Sharjeel Khan, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Khan. (ESPN Cricinfo)

37

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Barbados: 50 years of cricket excellence BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - As Barbados celebrates its 50th Independence anniversary, it is most fitting to highlight the tremendous success, which this 166 squaremile island has had over the period, co-incidentally marking the same number of years for sponsored regional first-class Championships.

Barbados proudly boast of the most titles by far (21), along with two in what was referred to as the “international” Championship, contested between 2001 and 2008.

Led by the world’s greatest ever all-rounder, The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers, Barbados captured the first two Shell Shield trophies in 1966 and 1967.

There was no Tournament in 1968 and after 21 years, the sponsorship was changed from Shell to Red Stripe with Busta and Carib among other sponsors.

Following are the champion Barbados first-class teams (with the matches for each player in the respective seasons in brackets), as well as the points earned and matches won between 1966 and 2016.

1966 (Shell Shield) – Garfield Sobers (captain), David Allan, Robin Bynoe, Richard Edwards, Charlie Griffith, David Holford, Conrad Hunte, Peter Lashley, Seymour Nurse (four), Rawle Brancker, Tony Howard (three), Arthur Bethell, Tony White (one).

Points: Barbados 42 (3 wins), British Guiana 24, Combined Islands 16, Trinidad & Tobago 12, Jamaica 10.

1967 (Shell Shield) – Garfield Sobers (capt a i n ) , R a w l e B r a n c k e r, Richard Edwards, Geoffrey Greenidge, Tony Howard, Peter Lashley, Seymour Nurse (four), Arthur Bethell, Robin Bynoe, Alfred Taylor (three), Wycliffe Phillips (two), Charlie Griffith, Vanburn Holder, David Holford, Conrad Hunte, Erskine King (one).

Points: Barbados 26 (3 wins), Guyana 14, Jamaica 8, Trinidad & Tobago 8, Leeward Islands 0, Windward Islands 0. NB: The Leeward Islands and Windward Islands each played only two matches.

1972 (Shell Shield) – David Holford (captain), Keith Boyce, Robin Bynoe, Nolan Clarke, Geoffrey Greenidge, Vanburn Holder, Tony Howard, Peter Lashley, Hallam Moseley, Sey-

mour Nurse (four), Darnley Boxill, David Murray (two).

Points: Barbados 38 (3 wins), Guyana 26, Jamaica 18, Trinidad & Tobago 16, Combined Islands 14.

1974 (Shell Shield) – David Holford (captain), Gordon Greenidge, Vanburn Holder, Collis King, Peter Lashley, David Murray, Albert Padmore (four), Gregory Armstrong, Nolan Clarke, Geoffrey Greenidge (three) Keith Boyce, Tony Howard, Garfield Sobers (2), Stephen Hinkson (one).

Points – Barbados 32 (2 wins), Trinidad & Tobago 26, Jamaica 24, Guyana 20, Combined Islands 14.

1976 (Shell Shield) (NB: Shared title with Trinidad & Tobago) – David Holford (captain), Nolan C l a r k e , Wa y n e D a n i e l , Stephen Farmer, Geoffrey Greenidge, Collis King, Ricky Skeete, Emmerson Trotman (three), Teddy Foster, Joel Garner, Lawrence Maxwell (two), Gregory Armstrong, Gordon Greenidge, Albert Padmore (one).

Points – Barbados 20 (1 win), Trinidad & Tobago 20, Jamaica 18, Combined Islands 8, Guyana 2.

1977 (Shell Shield) – David Holford (captain), Stephen Farmer, Joel Garner, Gordon Greenidge, Vanburn Holder, Collis King, David Murray, Albert Padmore (four), Nolan Clarke, Desmond Haynes, Emmerson Trotman (three), Wayne Daniel, Joseph Newton, Ricky Skeete (one).

Points – Barbados 36 (three wins), Combined Islands 24, Trinidad & Tobago 24, Jamaica 6, Guyana 0.

1978 (Shell Shield) – Vanburn Holder (captain), Sylvester Clarke, Teddy Foster, Alvin Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Lawrence Maxwell, David Murray, Ricky Skeete, Richard Straker (four), Gregory Armstrong, Emmerson Trotman (three), Malcolm Marshall, Leslie Reifer (one).

Points – Barbados 24 (one win), Combined Schools 18, Jamaica 18, Trinidad & Tobago 16, Guyana 12.

1979 (Shell Shield) – David Holford, Lawrence Maxwell (captains) (two matches each), Sylvester Clarke, Alvin Greenidge, Nigel Johnson, Malcolm Marshall, Thelston Payne (four), Clyde Beckles, Richard Straker (three), Teddy Foster, Joel Garner, Desmond Haynes, David Murray (two), Hartley Alleyne, Hubert “Ellis” Brathwaite,

Wa y n e D a n i e l , G o r d o n Greenidge, Collis King, Albert Padmore (one).

Points – Barbados 30 (two wins), Trinidad & Tobago 24, Combined Islands 20, Jamaica 10, Guyana 0.

1980 (Shell Shield) – Albert Padmore (captain), Sylvester Clarke, Desmond Haynes, Collis King, Malcolm Marshall, Thelston Payne (four), Wayne Daniel, Alvin Greenidge, Emmerson Trotman (three), Carlisle Best, Teddy Foster, Joel Garner, David Murray, Ricky Skeete (two), George Reifer (one).

Points – Barbados 102 (four wins), Combined Islands 68, Trinidad & Tobago 64, Guyana 41, Jamaica 28.

1982 (Shell Shield) – Albert Padmore (captain), Alvin Greenidge, Desmond

Garfield Sobers Haynes, Collis King, Ezra Moseley (five), Sylvester Clarke, Joel Garner, Gordon Greenidge, David Murray, Leslie Reifer, Franklyn Stephenson, Emmerson Trotman (three), Carlisle Best, Wayne Daniel, Ricky Skeete (two), George Linton, Thelston Payne, George Reifer (one).

Points – Barbados 57 (three wins), Windward Islands 52, Jamaica 36, Guyana 25, Leeward Islands 24, Trinidad & Tobago 20.

1984 (Shell Shield) – Carlisle Best (captain), Hubert “Ellis” Brathwaite, Roderick Estwick, George Linton, Thelston Payne, Neil Phillips (five), Milton Small, Michael Worrell (four), Dave Cumberbatch, Ricardo Ellcock, Arnold Gilkes, Leslie Reifer (three), Terry Hunte, George Reifer (two), Gordon Greenidge (one).

Points – Barbados 48 (two wins), Guyana 41, Jamaica 36, Leeward Islands 36, Windward Islands 32, Trinidad & Tobago 17.

1986 (Shell Shield) – Joel Garner (captain), Carlisle Best, Desmond

Haynes, Thelston Payne (five), Gordon Greenidge, Tyrone Greenidge, Terry Hunte, George Linton, Malcolm Marshall (four), Noel Broomes, Roderick Estwick, Sherlon Greaves, Roland Holder, Winston Reid (two), Victor “Vibert” Greene, Nigel Johnson, Elvis Reifer, Leslie Reifer, Michael Worrell (one).

Points – Barbados 64 (three wins), Trinidad & Tobago 48, Jamaica 32, Leeward Islands 32, Windward Islands 25, Guyana 24.

1991 (Red Stripe Cup) – Desmond Haynes (captain), Carlisle Best, Courtney Browne, Anderson Cummins, Roland Holder, Samuel Skeete (five), Gordon Greenidge, Malcolm Marshall, Ezra Moseley, Philo Wallace (four), Sherwin Campbell, Henderson Springer (three), Ottis Gibson (two), Ahmed Proverbs (one).

Points – Barbados 72 (four wins), Trinidad & Tobago 37, Guyana 36, Leeward Islands 36, Jamaica 20, Windward Islands 12.

1995 (Red Stripe Cup) – Courtney Browne (captain), Vasbert Drakes, Ottis Gibson, Livingstone Puckerin, Winston Reid, Floyd Reifer, Philo Wallace (five), Desmond Haynes, Patterson Thompson (four), Henderson Bryan, Ricky Hoyte, Dayne Maynard (three), Stanton Proverbs (two), Adrian Griffith (one).

Points – Barbados 56 (three wins), Leeward Islands 52, Trinidad & Tobago 48, Jamaica 29, Guyana 28, Windward Islands 12.

1997 (Red Stripe Cup) – P h i l o Wa l l a c e ( c a p tain), Henderson Bryan, O t t i s G i b s o n , Wi n s t o n Reid, Floyd Reifer (ten), Sherwin Campbell, Roland Holder (seven), Pedro Collins, Adrian Griffith, Terry Rollock (six), Courtney Browne, Ricky Hoyte (five), Dave Marshall, Stanton Proverbs, Patterson Thompson (four), Sean Armstrong, Ryan Hurley (three).

Points – Barbados 112 (six wins), Jamaica 93, Leeward Islands 80, Trinidad & Tobago 76, Guyana 44, Windward Islands 27.

1999 (Busta Cup) – Roland Holder (captain) (NB: Played six matches), Courtney Browne, Sherwin Campbell, Pedro Collins, Adrian Griffith, Ryan Hinds, Winston Reid (seven), Corey Collymore (five), Henderson Bryan, Dave Marshall, Patterson Thompson (four), Floyd R e i f e r, P h i l o Wa l l a c e , Horace Walrond (three),

Ricky Hoyte (two), Hattian Graham (one).

Points – Barbados 72 (four wins), Trinidad & Tobago 44, Guyana 37, Jamaica 36, Leeward Islands 20, Windward Islands 20 2001 (Busta Cup) – Ian Bradshaw (captain, NB: seven matches), Sherwin Campbell (captain: NB: one match), Henderson Bryan, Corey Collymore, Adrian Griffith, Philo Wallace (seven), Sean Armstrong, Courtney Browne, Roland H o l d e r, D a v e M a r s h a l l (six), Ryan Hinds, Floyd Reifer (five), Ryan Austin (four), Shirley Clarke, Corey Glasgow, Dayne Maynard (one).

Points – Barbados 57 (four wins), Guyana 57, England A 54, Jamaica 51, Leeward Islands 48, Trinidad & Tobago 38, West Indies B 20, Windward Islands 0.

2003 (Carib Beer Cup) – Courtney Bowne (captain), Tino Best, Sherwin Campbell, Ryan Hurley, Floyd Reifer, Philo Wallace (nine), Dwayne Smith (eight), Sulieman Benn, Ian Bradshaw, Ryan Hinds (seven), Kurt Wilkinson (six), Corey Collymore (three), P e d r o C o l l i n s , Va s b e r t Drakes, Antonio Thomas (two), Randy Thomas (one).

Points – Barbados 72 (five wins), Guyana 48, Trinidad & Tobago 43, Jamaica 43, India A 36, Leeward Islands 34, Windward Islands 30, West Indies B 12.

2004 (Carib Beer Cup) – Courtney Browne (captain), Sherwin Campbell, Pedro Collins, Ryan Hinds, Floyd Reifer (nine), Tino Best, Martin Nurse (seven), Antonio Mayers (six), Sulieman Benn, Ryan Nurse, Kurt Wilkinson (five), Ian Bradshaw, Shawn Graham, Dwayne Smith (four), Corey Collymore (three), Fidel Edwards, Ryan Hurley

(two).

Points – Barbados 84 (seven wins), Jamaica 52, Windward Islands 48, Guyana 40, Trinidad & Tobago 40, West Indies B 27, Kenya 16, Leeward Islands 16.

2007 (Carib Beer Cup) – Ryan Hinds (captain), Tino Best, Wayne Blackman, Pedro Collins, Floyd Reifer, Dale Richards (five), Ryan Austin, Corey Collymore, Kevin Stoute (four), Patrick Browne (three), Kirk Edwards, Alcindo Holder, Carlo Morris, Dwayne Smith (two), Shamarh Brooks, Fidel Edwards (one).

Points – Barbados 54 (four wins), Trinidad & Tobago 44, Jamaica 25, Guyana 24, Leeward Islands 15, Windward Islands 10.

2014 (WICB Cup) – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Shane Dowrich, Ashley Nurse (seven), Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins (five), Kirk Edwards, Omar Phillips, Kevin Stoute (four), Tino Best, Rashidi Boucher, Jason Holder (three), Fidel Edwards, Shai Hope (two).

Points – Barbados 82 (four wins), Trinidad & Tobago 80, Windward Islands 65, Jamaica 59, Combined Campuses & Colleges 49, Leeward Islands 42, Guyana 29.

NB: Courtney Browne was the Barbados captain in 2003 and 2004 when they were the Carib Beer “International” champions.

Trust that you have well and truly digested the greatness of Barbados as a cricketing nation. The many outstanding names in the winning teams speak volumes.

(NB: First appeared in Barbados Today on November 25 in Keith Holder’s weekly column).

(BCA article)

Former British soccer coach charged with sexual assaults on boy (REUTERS) - A British former soccer coach was charged yesterday with eight historical offences of sexual assault against a boy under the age of 14.

The charges against Barry Bennell, 62, who was a talent spotter at Crewe Alexandra and a coach at Manchester City, relate to “non-recent” child sexual abuse, the state prosecution service said without giving details.

The charges include in-

decent assault, inciting a boy to commit an act of gross indecency and assault with intent to commit buggery.

Bennell was charged after prosecutors received a file of evidence from Cheshire Police, the force in charge of the area of northwest England where Crewe Alexandra are based.

He is due to appear before South Cheshire Magistrates’ Court in Crewe on December 14.

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Bravo taking legal action England’s Hameed to against WICB after sacking miss last two Tests

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) - West Indies batsman Darren Bravo is taking legal action against the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) after he was dropped from the squad before the recently concluded tri-nations One-Day series in Zimbabwe.

Bravo is claiming unlawful dismissal after he was sent home by the on-tour management committee for blasting WICB president Dave Cameron in a row over contracts.

The Guardian newspaper is reporting that Bravo’s lawyer has sent a pre-action protocol letter to the WICB

Darren Bravo last week which has been received by the board.

Bravo, the most consis-

tent batsman for the Caribbean side in the longest format, was overlooked for the top

tier and offered a Grade C contract.

The row between the stylish Trinidadian batsman and Cameron erupted after Cameron gave an explanation for their offer, stating that Bravo’s performances were not consistent enough to merit a higher grade of pay.

Bravo lashed out at Cameron on Twitter, accusing him and the board officials of never offering him a Grade A contract in the first place despite his consistency.

In the tweet, Bravo was alleged to have referred to the WICB president as “a big idiot”.

Guinness Greatest in the Streets Football Tournament

Sparta Boss squeeze through on penalties

TWO-TIME defending champions Sparta Boss squeezed through the opening round of the Guinness Greatest in the Streets Georgetown leg on Monday evening at the National Cultural Centre tarmac.

The side opened with a tense 3-1 penalty win against Hardina Street after Jermin Scott had his goal cancelled out one minute later by Sheldon Shepherd.

In the opening fixture of the evening, Queen Street Tiger Bay overcame Fruit Stand 2-0 thanks to a brace from Deon Alfred in the 4th and 6th minutes.

Camp Street All-Stars booted Railway Kitty from the competition, compliments of a 3-1 score line, goals coming from Wen-

dell Austin (15th), Dwayne Christopher (17th) and Steve Bacchus (27th) while Shane Cooper scored his team’s consolation goal.

Bent Street were also victors on Monday night as they dispatched Holmes Street Tiger Bay 2-1 with goals from Anthony Abrams (23rd) and Stellon David (28th) while Akeem Saul (4th) was on target early for the losers.

Game four saw Leopold Street also move on to the next round after goals from Sheldon Profitt (7th) and Orandel Williams (14th) downed South Ruimveldt 2-0.

Game five was laden with goals as Festival City Warriors beat Norton Street Ballers 5-2. Festival City had Eon Alleyne on

target from the whistle in the 6th second and 5th minute, while Cecil Williams (15th), Dwayne Lawrence (21st) and Daniel Favourite (24th) each registered wins. Norton Scorers were Joshua Parvatan (20th) and Nigel DeCamp (30th) Tucville needled Island All-Stars-A 1-0, thanks to Delon Williams (24th) while Channel 9 Warriors downed Shopping Plaza 2-1, thanks to Kevin Barrow (2nd) and Joshua Fiffee (26th) while the Plaza had Stephen Dolphin (6th) on target.

Matches continue tomorrow with Alexander Village against Up Like Seven while North Ruimveldt take on Jamoon Drive.

Albouystown-A play Up-

setters on that evening as well, with Back Circle taking on Hope Street Tiger Bay, Broad Street Ballers opposing Howes Street, North East La Penitence facing Island All Star-B, Albouystown-B playing West Back Road and West Front Road clashing with Stevedore Ballers.

The first round of the tournament will be straight knockout while the round of 16 will be round-robin. This leg will see the winners cart off $500 000, second-placers $200 000, third-placers $150 000 and fourth-placers $75 000.

There are also legs billed for the West Coast Demerara, West and East Coast Berbice, Linden and Bartica. (Stephan Sookram)

PAKISTAN’s 2-0 series defeat in New Zealand has been compounded by the news that the entire team has been fined for maintaining a slow over rate in the second Test in Hamilton.

The tourists lost their last seven wickets for just 31 runs on Tuesday as New Zealand claimed a 138-run win at Seddon Park and secured their first series win over Pakistan since 1985.

Things got worse for Pakistan later in the day with news that stand-in skipper Azhar Ali had been fined 100

per cent of his match fee and his teammates 50 per cent after they were ruled to be five overs short of their over rate target.

ICC Match Referee Richie Richardson imposed the sanction in accordance with the ICC’s Code of Conduct, and it was accepted by Ali. Incredibly, regular skipper Misbah-ul-Haq had been suspended for the Test after he was also found guilty of maintaining a slow over rate during the first Test in Christchurch.

The series loss to the

Black Caps has also seen Pakistan slip from second to fourth in the ICC’s Test rankings, dropping seven points to be tied with South Africa

cent series to the Proteas, Australia have moved up a spot and are on 105 points, level with England, whose defeat to India in Mohali on Tuesday saw them slump to a 2-0 series deficit with two Tests to play.

Pakistan, who were crowned world No.1 earlier this year for the very first time, have fallen even further behind India, who have a 10-point lead at the top of the standings.

Pakistan will now head to Australia for a three-Test series, starting in Brisbane on December 15. (CA)

Pakistan fined, fall in ICC rankings

ICC Match Referee Richie Richardson but ahead on decimal points.

Despite losing their re-

Haseeb Hameed comes in at No. 8 with a hand injury and shows immense courage.

(REUTERS) - England opening batsman Haseeb Hameed will miss the last two Tests against India after sustaining a hand injury during the third Test.

The 19-year-old, who was struck on the hand in the first innings and did not field in the match, made 59 not out after coming in down the order in the second innings before India secured an eight-wicket victory to move 2-0 up in the series.

“He is out of the whole tour, he is going home. A replacement will be called,” England captain Alastair Cook told reporters.

Hameed made 82 on his debut in the first Test and has scored 219 runs in the series at an average of 43.8 to stake a strong claim to be Cook’s long-term opening partner.

The fourth Test in Mumbai starts on December 8.

UK asks sporting bodies to do more to protect

children from abuse

(REUTERS) - The British government said yesterday it was asking all national sporting governing bodies to increase their efforts to protect children, following allegations of young boys being sexually abused at professional soccer clubs.

English soccer’s governing body said on Sunday it had appointed an independent lawyer to oversee an internal investigation after former soccer players told British media they were sexually abused as children at English clubs.

Police are also investigating mounting accusations of paedophile activity in youth teams, which victims say has gone unreported for de-

cades.

The government set out its response to the allegations, saying it could not comment directly on police investigations, but that those involved in youth sport had a duty of care to children and must speak out if they suspected abuse.

“The Minister for Sport will write to all national governing bodies to ask them to redouble their effort in protecting children that play their sports,” Karen Bradley, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, told parliament.

Bradley also said she had convened a meeting with the English Football Association and police to discuss the issue.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday November 30, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALLBourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, George town (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Niroshan Dickwella-163 runs (2) Nuwan Kulasekara-7 wickets Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the highest team score made by the WI in the preliminary round of the Tri-Nations series?

(2) What was the highest score made in the preliminary round of the Tri-Nations series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Sports stars come out for ‘I am Bolt’ premiere

By Webadmin LONDON, England (CMC) - A documentary on Usain Bolt’s quest for iconic status premiered in London Monday night, attracting several of the world’s leading athletes and entertainers.

Stars from track and field to football and dancehall music braved freezing conditions at the West End’s Odeon Leicester Square cinema for a pre-movie set that ran for nearly two hours.

Hundreds of fans turned up as the world’s media focused on a line-up of stars including movie-making heavyweight Leo Pearlman, footballing stars Raheem Sterling, Cesc Fabregas, Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud

and Robert Pires and pop star Geri Horner from the Spice Girls.

“I am extremely proud of him. He has given the country so much of a lift in terms of unity, positives and gives a lot for the kids to look up to,” said dancehall star Sean Paul.

“To me, he is a national hero. People are sad that he might be moving out of track and field soon, but whatever he puts his mind to, he will do well.”

Co-directed by brothers Gabe and Benjamin Turner, ‘I am Bolt’, takes viewers behind the scenes on Bolt’s journey to nine Olympic gold medals.

Clad in a navy blue Brioni suit, blue tie and matching Gucci shoes, Bolt

was the first on the red carpet where he was joined by carnival costume-clad dancing girls.

Also in the spotlight were popular dancehall artistes Alkaline, Popcaan and Vybz Kartel, along with reggae crooner Chronixx.

“He is an icon,” declared tennis great Boris Becker.

“People use that word so often sometimes, but in his (Bolt’s) case, he absolutely embodies the meaning of the word, and not just where track and field or the Olympics is concerned, he goes beyond all that.”

Track standouts included, Mo Farah, Jonathan Edwards, Linford Christie and Merlene Ottey, the former Jamaican sprinting great.

“I think he’s had enough.

He has won everything and I mean, what else is there to do? But whatever he does in the future, I know he will be successful. I think he will always put his best forward every time,” said Ottey, the legendary Jamaican sprinter who won three silver and six bronze medals at the Olympic Games.

“For me, just to watch him run is amazing. It’s a pity he has to retire soon, but I am very thankful and very grateful to Usain, he is a legend.” said Ottey, who also anchored Slovenia’s 4x100m relay team at the 2012 European Championships at the age of 52.

The triple world-record holder is aiming to end his career at next year’s World Championships in London.

Usain Bolt attends the World Premiere of ‘I Am Bolt’ at Odeon Leicester Square on Monday in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/ Getty Images)

Guyana lose to Jamaica 82-67 in final of JamRockerz Classic

By Daniel Haynes

IT was a disappointing finish for the Guyanese contingent who lost to the Jamaica Jamrockerz in the final of the inaugural Mega Mart/SDF JamRockerz Classics, 82-67.

It was the Guyanese s i d e ’s s e c o n d m a t c h u p against the same opponents who had won 93-87 in the first game of the tournament.

Coming into the game on a two-game winning streak after the loss, the team felt confident in their ability to win the game.

From the tip-off the game proved to be a very physical one with both teams playing through a lot of contact. For Guyana, a low first quarter total of 11 saw Jamaica take a four-point lead, 15-11, behind hot shooting from Kemar McLeish who had 8 points.

In the second quarter, the

The Guyana team shares a photo moment with the Jamaica team after the game. lead for the Jamaicans started to grow with Guyana struggling to find their offensive groove.

The team managed to put up 13 points behind production from Shane Webster who had 8 while Nikkoloi Smith and Akeem Kanhai had 8 and 4 respectively.

The quarter finished with Jamaica up by 11 points 35-24.

In the second half the game started to drift away from the Guyanese who had their worst defensive effort, allowing Jamaica to score 27 points to their 15. For Jamaica, Damian Staple, Lynford

Brown and Anthony White were the main contributors to the 27-point explosion.

While Jamaica were able to score at will Guyana struggled and the 8-man rotation did not help. Top producers in Terron Welch, Stanton Rose and Nikkoloi Smith found it difficult to find their

groove.

The final quarter was the best scoring period for the Guyanese, who garnered 28 points to Jamaica’s 20 but at that point the game was already over.

For the visiting side, Rose finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds while Welch, Smith and Kanhai ended with 15, 12 and 12 respectively. On the Jamaican side it was balanced scoring with Brown leading all scorers with 22, McLeish 16 and Staple and White 10 points each.

According to assistant coach Junior Hercules, “It’s a disappointing loss for us, of course we wanted to win the entire tournament. We should have beaten this team the first night we played them.”

Hercules was also of the opinion that the experience was good for the youngsters on the team who got a firsthand assessment of the

higher level of play required.

In the third place game, the Jamaican U-21 side defeated the U.S. Libertyville Vipers 63-60. For the winners, Ronaldo McKenzie finished with 14 points and 6 rebounds with Daniel Martillier adding 10 points and 17 rebounds. For the Vipers, Mike Skinner had 14 points, 11 rebounds, 5 steals and 6 assists with Morris Roberts scoring 12 points and 6 rebounds.

For the Guyana team who will return home today, the bright spots include Terron Welch and Stanton Rose who led the team in scoring with almost 50 points apiece throughout the games.

However, the limited use of the Under-23 MVP Travis Belgrave and shooter Nathan Saul in the new-look team will prompt many persons to ask questions.

Fruta’s U-19 football League continues today Play abandoned due to persistent rain MORE exciting action in the 12-team Invitational U-19 football League, organised and run by Fruta Conquerors, will continue this evening at the Tucville Community ground with another double-header.

The opening game, set for 17:00hrs, will showcase joint Group ‘A’ leaders Eastville FC against GFC in their first appearance of the competition.

Eastville and Santos FC top Group ‘A’ with a win and a draw on 4 points each and the

identical goal difference +1.

The young ‘Bourda Blues’ outfit will be aiming for a winning start after a belated beginning.

The second game at 19:00hrs will also be a Group ‘A’ affair where Buxton United go in search of their first win after a 2-2 tie with Linden’s Botofago in their opening encounter. Their opponents, Tavelles’s Academy, are seeking their first points after losing 2-1 to Eastville in the League’s opening match.

Home team Fruta Conquer-

ors have been all-conquering in Group ‘B’ with emphatic wins versus Pele FC and Order and Discipline by 8-0 and 6-0 margins respectively. The other side in the Group with a perfect record are Black Pearl FC who have 3 points from their 3-1 win against Western Tigers.

The other team in the group, Uitvlugt Warriors, like the Tigers, have a solitary point from their drawn game but the Warriors have a game in hand. (Ras Wadada)

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) - No play was possible yesterday, the final day of the third round match between Windward Islands Volcanoes and Guyana Jaguars in the DIGICEL Regional 4-Day Tournament.

For the second consecutive day, rain has forced the abandonment of play of the day/night contest at the Darren Sammy National Cricket

Ground in Gros-Islet.

Play was abandoned without a ball being bowled, due to wet conditions caused by persistent rain overnight and throughout the day.

Umpires Deighton Butler and Joel Wilson officially called “time” on the match at 15:00hrs local time.

On Monday, morning rain left the outfield saturated, making the 15:00hrs

start impossible and after three inspections it was decided that no play would be possible.

Points-to-date: Jaguars 9.2 (3 points for incomplete match + 3 bowling points + 2.2 pace bowling points + 1 batting point), Volcanoes 8 (3 points for incomplete match + 0 batting points + 3 bowling points + 2 pace bowling points)

Sports stars come out for ‘I am Bolt’ premiere See story on page 39

Plane taking Brazilian soccer team to cup final crashes in Colombia

By Fredy Builes and Paolo Whitaker LA UNION, Colombia/ CHAPECO, Brazil - (Reuters) - A charter plane carrying Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense to the biggest game in its history

crashed in the Colombian mountains after an electrical fault, killing 75 people on board, authorities said yesterday.

Colombia’s worst air disaster in two decades killed all but three players on the up-and-coming team from

Brazil’s top soccer league as it flew to face Atletico Nacional of Medellin in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final, South America’s equivalent of the Europa League.

Global soccer was stunned with tributes pouring in from major figures

Rescue crew work in the wreckage from a plane that crashed into Colombian jungle with Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense near Medellin, Colombia, yesterday. (REUTERS/Fredy Builes)

Players on the Brazilian Chapecoense soccer team pose earlier this month before their semifinal match of the South American Cup at the Conda Arena in Chapeco, Brazil. (Photo: European Pressphoto Agency)

including Pele, Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney.

The BAe 146 plane, en route from Bolivia where the team had a stopover, went down about 22:15hrs on Monday night with 72 passengers and a crew of nine on board.

The aircraft had reported electrical problems and declared an emergency minutes earlier as it neared its destination, Medellin airport officials said.

At the crash scene near the town of La Union in wooded highlands outside Medellin, dozens of bodies were laid out and covered with sheets around the

wreckage.

The plane was shattered against a mountainside with the tail end virtually disintegrated. Rain hampered dozens of rescuers as they combed the muddy and forested area.

Colombia’s civil aviation authority said there were 75 confirmed fatalities. It identified the six survivors as players Alan Ruschel, Jackson Follmann and Hélio Neto; journalist Rafael Valmorbida; Bolivian flight attendant Ximena Suarez; and Bolivian flight technician See page 34

Boxers return with ten gold medals from Suriname competition A TEN-member team of boxers returned from Suriname on Sunday with a one hundred percent victory record, following an international competition in Paramaribo Saturday evening.

The successful Guyanese team brought home ten gold medals after winning six fights within the distance and the other four on points.

Future Olympic prospect Keevin Allicock, Christopher Moore, Desmond Amsterdam, Markember Pierre, Renee Lewis and Floyd Cato stopped their opponents

while Joel Williamson, Rhondel Douglas, Anil Chaitraj and Colin `Superman’ Lewis won on points.

The boxers were coached and managed by Clifton Moore, who was assisted by Steel Crawford. Ramona Agard and Lawrence Assanah of the Guyana Defence Force who represented Guyana in the referee/judge department.

Saturday’s tournament kicked off a series of tournaments between the two countries following a meeting of Remie Burke, president of the Suriname Boxing Associ-

Colin Lewis

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216.

Desmond Amsterdam

Keevin Allicock

ation and his Guyanese counterpart Steve Ninvalle here in October.

Suriname has promised to send a team to the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors tournament to be staged in Guyana next April and plans to participate in the first Inter-Guianas boxing competition to be held here in October.

The GBA extends gratitude to Chief Executive Officer of Secure Innovative and Concepts Inc., Harold Hopkinson, for assisting in making the trip to Suriname possible.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016