Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 31 05 2016

Under attack TUESDAY MAY 31, 2016

No. 104568

Price: $80

(Vat Inclusive)

- Venezuelan soldiers shoot at GGMC vessel

Page 3

Rain beats down on dry Rupununi Page 10

Lush, green grass in the savannahs near the Kanuku Mountain Range. These and other parts of the landscape were dry several months ago (Alva Solomon photo)

Ghost pensioners Page

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- audit finds discrepancies in book distribution

Miner killed as pit 13 caves in Page

Meet us at the table

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Ramal Williams

- PPP ready to negotiate in tied local govt bodies

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Rice woes boil over from PPP -Nagamootoo

THE current challenges facing the rice industry are not the doing of the current government, but were inherited from the past government, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo told the National Assembly last week.

Speaking on a motion on the rice industry tabled by the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic, The Prime Minister explained: “…the truth of the matter is that the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr (Leslie) Ramsammy, went to Caracas and was informed that Venezuela was no longer going to supply us fuel and will no longer receive our rice; and instead of returning to Guyana, he left for the United States, and the Head of the Presidential Secretariat announced that

Dr. Ramsammy could no longer continue in office; that he was sick.”

The Prime Minister informed the House that the situation in which the rice industry finds itself is a direct effect of actions of the previous administration.

“The opposition, then government, owed the millers approximately US$15M, approximately Gy$3 billion, for the supply of rice, while the millers in turn owed rice farmers across the country some $6 billion for the supply of paddy,” the Prime Minister reminded.

The millers, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said, have developed a reputation of failing to pay rice farmers on time; and the previous government did not pay the millers, so they could not pay

the farmers, resulting in an accumulation of $6 billion, which they are now unable to settle because of the outstanding amount owed.

“It is a result of the ripple effect of conning, as well as denying the farmers what was due to them,” the Prime Minister declared.

Dealing with the discontinuation of the PetroCaribe oil-for-rice agreement between Guyana and Venezuela, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said the issue is not so much the loss of the Venezuelan market, but what had happened while the agreement was in force.

He pointed to the mismanagement of the PetroCaribe funds, saying: “It was not that we were shipping rice to Venezuela alone; the money was coming here and it was

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo placed in the PetroCaribe fund, and still the money never reached the farmers; so the farmers accumulated loans to

the bank, because they were not being paid and they could not service the loans.”

The Prime Minister also pointed to mishandling of the European Union (EU) funds which were intended to benefit rice farmers. He quoted rice magnate Beni Sankar as saying, “This problem of millers owing the farmers would have been non-existent if the monies that were made available to Guyana -- about $3 billion -- by the EU for the rice industry was put in a revolving fund, as in Suriname, rather than in the Consolidated Fund.”

Responding to the opposition’s allegation of the government adopting a hands-off approach in dealing with the challenges faced by the rice industry, and their attempt to associate the current situation

with the spate of suicides, the Prime Minister said, “I refer to an article published in the magazine ‘Lady’ issued in December 2015, and it says here, and I quote, ‘Guyana has been dubbed as the number one suicide country in the world as a result of the high per capita cases of suicides reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2012.’ Who was in government in 2012?”

The almost immediate release of $800 Million for payments to rice farmers for rice shipped to the Venezuelan market, and the order to fix four not-working irrigation pumps on the Essequibo Coast are among the initiatives identified

by Prime Minister Nagamootoo as efforts to assist rice farmers. (GINA)

PM fires Reg 5 Special Representative

Derwayne Wills

EVEN as Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo yesterday received a draft Code of Conduct for public office

holders from a special committee, chaired by Minister Raphael Trotman, his office subsequently reported that an adviser to the Prime Minister had been dismissed.

During the hand-over ceremony for the draft code of conduct at his Shiv Chanderpal Drive office, Mr Nagamootoo disclosed to the press corps that “one person

in the Office of the Prime Minister was sent a letter of dismissal for similar matters that would engage an integrity inquiry for behaviour in public life.”

Although the Prime Minister did not explicitly state who was the person from his office that was dismissed, a subsequent statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (OPM) named Abel Seetaram, an Alliance For Change (AFC) member, who is currently before the courts on matters of dangerous driving.

No other information

was forthcoming from the OPM statement, but this newspaper understands that Seetaram was dismissed for gross misconduct and bringing the OPM into disrepute. Seetaram, according to media reports, has not presented himself to the Court to answer to his charges. His matter has been moved to May 31, at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court.

Mr Nagamootoo, speaking to an unnamed dismissal during his address yesterday to the press corps, took the opportunity to condemn what

Abel Seetaram he called the “laissez faire” attitude of the previous Donald Ramotar Administration on the misconduct of public office holders.

“We have inherited a very tragic situation where there was a laissez faire attitude towards infringement and violation of the code that existed under the Integrity legislation,” Mr Nagamootoo said, adding “people were allowed to transgress with

impunity.

Nagamootoo went on to set the bar for the treatment of public office holders under this Administration.

“While we hold a code of conduct to be of great importance, we must also point out that this is a new beginning; this is a fresh start and we want to be able to know that you don’t have a code – that it becomes a dead letter in the law; you want a code that can become enforceable,” Mr Nagamootoo said, on the need for the Code to be infused in the Integrity Commission Act. The OPM statement extended well wishes to Seetaram for his services, and noted that there will be an announcement on the way forward for the appointment of another Special Representative of the Prime Minister in Region 5.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Under attack

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- Venezuelan soldiers shoot at GGMC vessel

By Alva Solomon THREE officials of the Mines Services Division of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), together with a boat captain, on Monday reportedly managed to escape being hurt when the boat in which they were travelling became the object of a fusillade of gunshots by persons suspected to be Venezuelan soldiers.

Acting GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison last evening confirmed that the incident occurred at sometime after lunch on Monday.

He said the verbal report he received indicated that the officers were in the vicinity

of Eteringbang, in the Cuyuni area near the Guyana border with Venezuela, when shots were fired from the Venezuelan side of the border.

Dennison said he was told the gunshots were fired across the bow of the vessel.

“They were in the area on what we call a routine compliance and monitoring exercise,” Dennison said. He said that following the incident, the officers reported the matter to the police outpost in the area.

According to Dennison, the officers were on an official tour of duty, and were expected to provide a detailed report when they arrive at the GGMC Headquarters in the city.

Reports out of the area are that the mines officers and the boat’s captain were allowed to continue their journey after the latter had indicated to the Venezuelans the employment identities of the officers.

Monday’s incident occurred at a time when the border controversy between Guyana and its western neighbour has reached heightened levels. Last September, the Venezuela military had reportedly amassed troops with missiles and guns at its eastern border with Guyana.

The David Granger administration has been urging citizens to remain calm, insisting that there is no need

Acting GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison for aggression on Guyana’s part.

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff Brigadier Mark Phillips had told a

Ghost pensioners

- audit finds discrepancies in book distribution A FORENSIC audit and review of the Old Age Pension Scheme has indicated that the Ministry of Human Services (MHS) may have distributed pension books to non-existent persons under the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

A detailed report compiled by Nisam Ali and Company has informed the Finance Ministry that evidence suggests the pension books were distributed to non-existent and unqualified persons during the period under review: January 1, 2015 to May 31, 2015.

The auditors said there were 27 instances when ineligible persons collected pen-

sion books. “We attempted to confirm the existence of these persons by contacting them; however, our attempts were unsuccessful,” the consultants stated.

Additionally, there is no system in place to ensure that pensioners in the hinterland are alive. As such, there is a possibility that Old Age Pension Books are being distributed to ‘ghost’ pensioners.

It was explained that the MHS has entrusted toshaos and village councillors with the distribution of Old Age Pension Books in the hinterland areas. As a result, the pensioners are not required to sign the distribution sheets to uplift the pension books, which are distributed during

the months of November and December.

Additionally, the pension vouchers may be encashed by the toshaos or village councillors.

In defence, the MHS has said that such a system was created to cater to the remoteness of the hinterland regions, which makes access to beneficiaries not only difficult, but costly. To facilitate the process of timely distribution, village councillors and toshaos are solicited.

According to the MHS, “These persons, by virtue of their office and status, are legally and culturally responsible for the welfare and well-being of the people they serve.”

The MHS, formerly the

Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, has said the established system has proven to be very cost effective and efficient; but the auditors are maintaining that the system may result in distribution of pension booklets to non-existent persons.

In January 2011, the late Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Sheila Holder contended that 17,640 persons who were listed on the 2010 Old Age Pensioners’ Register were phantoms. She argued that payments to the ‘phantom pensioners’ had totalled some $116M monthly, or $1.3B annually.

Holder had told the National Assembly that according to the Guyana Population

media conference at the time that no additional GDF troops were rushed to the border. He said troops at Eteringbang, Kaikan and other observation posts along the Cuyuni River were monitoring the activities by the Venezuelan armed forces on Guyana’s frontiers.

Guyana has made it clear that the Good Offices process of mediating the border controversy between the two countries has run its course, and the next best option is a juridical settlement by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) with the assistance of the United Nations (UN).

In February this year, President Granger met with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,

and emphasised that: “After 50 years, the Guyanese people are united and they are determined to maintain territorial integrity”.

Guyana has accused Venezuela of a series of acts of aggression, starting with the presidential decree of June 1968. The border controversy flared early last year when American firm ExxonMobil announced that it had made a “significant” oil discovery in the area.

President Granger has expressed confidence in the UN Secretary-General, who is preparing to demit office this year, to select the best course of action to finally resolve the controversy via a juridical process.

and Housing Census, in 2002, the number of individuals over 65 was 32,030; and this number had risen proportionately from 3.9 per cent of the population in 1980 to 4.3 per cent then. According to statistics from the MHS, she said, the number of pensioners had increased significantly -- to 44,000 in 2010 from its 2002 figure of 33,425.

Those indicators, coupled with other computations done by Holder, had resulted in the conclusion being arrived at that there had been an increase in ‘phantom pensioners’.

During the initial stage of the recent investigation, Nisam Ali and Company was presented with two incorrect lists of eligible pensioners.

“After providing us with two incorrect lists showing total eligible pensioners of 64,001 and 51,915 respectively, a revised list was provided to us six weeks after commence-

ment of the audit (September 30, 2015). That list contained 46,976 pensioners,” the auditors pointed out.

The auditors are of the opinion that the department responsible for maintaining the database is not capable of compiling an accurate list of eligible pensioners on a real-time basis.

The MHS was also unable to provide the auditors with 280 applications for pension.

The Old Age Pension in Guyana came into effect through the passing of the Old Age Pensions Act, # 17 of 1944, which sets out the statutory criteria for the payment of Old Age Pension, administered by the Ministry of Social Protection.

The Act stipulates that beneficiaries must be Guyanese, and must have attained the age of 65 in order to qualify for the pension.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Final assault on IS in Falluja begins

Attempted North Korea missile launch fails North Korea attempted to fire a missile from its east coast early on Tuesday morning but the launch appears to have failed, South Korean military officials told Reuters.

The launch attempt took place at around 5:20 am Seoul time (2020 GMT), said the officials, who asked not to be identified, without elaborating.

Japan put its military alert on Monday for a possible North Korean ballistic missile launch, state broadcaster NHK reported.

Tension in Northeast Asia has been high since North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and followed that with a satellite launch and test launches of various missiles.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said it appeared North Korea had attempted to launch an intermediate-range Musudan missile. North Korea attempted three test launches of the Musudan in April, all of which failed, US and South Korean officials have said.

North Korea has never had a successful launch of the Musudan, which theoretically has the range to reach any part of Japan and the US territory of Guam.

The attempted launch took place near the east coast city of Wonson, one of the South Korean officials said, the same area where previous Musudan tests had taken place.

A North Korean flag flies on a mast at the Permanent Mission of North Korea in Geneva October 2, 2014 (REUTERS/DENIS BALIBOUSE/FILE PHOTO) The flurry of weapons technology tests this year had come in the run-up to the first congress in 36 years of North Korea's ruling Worker's Party early this month.

Tuesday's attempted launch appears to have been its first missile test since then. (Reuters)

Second minister quits Brazil Government A second minister in Brazil's new Government has resigned.

Fabiano Silveira was in charge of the Ministry tasked with fighting corruption but left after a recording was made public, which seems to show him trying to derail a corruption investigation at the state oil company.

Last week the planning minister stepped aside after a similar recording was released.

Both men were appointed when President Dilma Rousseff was suspended.

She is accused of massaging budget figures ahead of

her re-election in 2014, and is due to be tried in the senate in the coming months.

She has argued that impeachment proceedings against her are designed to stop the investigation into Petrobras.

Staff at his ministry had symbolically cleaned the building with broomsticks and demanded his dismissal.

Dozens of civil servants in the ministry's local offices had offered their resignation in protest.

In the recorded conversation broadcast on TV, he is heard seeming to advise the speaker of the Senate, Renan Calheiros and an ex-senator, Sergio Machado, on how to avoid investigations by prosecutors.

He is also heard appearing to criticise investigators in the Petrobras investigation,

Fabiano Silviera resigned hours after staff at his Ministry scrubbed his office door calling for his resignation which has implicated dozens investigators he has recorded of senior politicians and has a series of conversations with led to the jailing of several high-profile politicians. top business executives.

The first one was made Machado, who is also the public last week and led former president of Trans- to the stepping aside of a petro, a logistics company former Planning Minister owned by Petrobras, is being and close advisor to Presiinvestigated for corruption. dent Michel Temer, Romero As part of a plea bargain with Juca. (BBC)

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The Iraqi army is facing fierce resistance and counter-attacks as it attempts to storm Falluja, a bastion of so-called Islamic State (IS).

The army’s dawn offensive came a week after it began efforts to retake the city, just 30 miles (50km) west of Baghdad and held by IS since 2014.

An estimated 50,000 civilians are trapped inside, with only a few hundred families escaping so far.

Meanwhile, IS militants launched a wave of bombings in and around Baghdad.

The attacks in the Iraqi capital killed at least 21 people.

The commander of the army operation in Falluja, Lieutenant General Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, said: “The counter-terrorism troops along with other armed forces and Anbar [province] police have started pushing into the city. Violent clashes took place on the outskirts.”

The Iraqi air force and international coalition jets carried out strikes in support of ground troops.

IS is thought to have about 1,200 fighters, the majority from the city itself.

The BBC’s Jim Muir in Baghdad says Government forces have taken over two townships on the southern fringes of Falluja, but on other fronts they are some way from the edge of the city itself.

The impression is that the army is trying to close a ring of steel around the city, he says.

Militia leaders taking part have said there is likely to be a pause before the assault on the city centre begins so, to allow more civilians to escape.

There is alarm over conditions faced by civilians, with reports of people starving to death and of being killed for refusing to fight for IS. The Iraqi military has urged those remaining to either leave the city or stay indoors, though IS is preventing civilians from fleeing.

Falluja fell to IS in January 2014, a key moment in the jihadist group’s rise that saw it declare a caliphate across swathes of Iraq and Syria.

Along with Mosul, it is one of two major cities held

by IS in Iraq. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 31, 2016

Byderabo Hill Top now receiving potable water

RESIDENTS of ‘Byderabo Hill Top’, a community in the township of Bartica in Region Seven, are for the first time, receiving potable water through

their taps, thanks to the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

Last March, GWI announced its multi-million-dollar plan to upgrade

The GWI main at Byderabo

the water distribution system in the area.

The project, estimated to cost $100M, is expected to benefit residents in Avenues One to Seven; One to Four Miles, Potaro; Mongrippa Hill and Byderabo.

This week, GWI made good on its promise to the people of Byderabo when it completed the installation of pipelines in that area.

In an interview with Guyana Chronicle, Deputy Mayor of the Bartica Mayor and Town Council, Kamal Persaud, said the project was initiated following a meeting between the GWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) D r R i c h a r d Va n We s t Charles and residents of Byderabo. At the time, the residents of Byderabo Hill Top were depending heavily on the river water for consumption and everyday use.

Persaud said the Council and the people of Byderabo are grateful to GWI for a job well done.

Hazel Allicock, the Municipal Councillor responsible for Byderabo, told the Guyana Chronicle that residents are “pleased with the situation”.

“After 10 to 12 years of not receiving potable water, residents now have access,” Allicock told this newspaper.

Now that the pipelines are installed, residents of Byderabo Hill Top are moving to acquire their water meters.

PPP MP allegedly threatens IDB official

PEOPLE’S Progressive Party backbencher, Nigel Dharamlall has been accused of allegedly issuing threats to an official of the Inter-American Development Bank.

Police have confirmed that they are investigating a matter involving Dharamlall, a former permanent secretary for the then Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. The lawmen would not divulge what the accusations against the legislator are. Media reports indicate that the alleged threat was made at an East Coast

PPP MP Nigel Dharamlall Demerara village. In a very terse statement, attorney for Dharamlall, Glenn Hanoman said that:” given the sensational speculations

and inaccurate information already in the public domain, I am constrained, on behalf of my client, to clarify the following: We, first and foremost, wish for the matter to be thoroughly and professionally investigated. Secondly, and towards this end, I have advised my client not to comment on the issue or engage the media so as not to interfere with, or prejudice this process. My client unequivocally denies any involvement in any criminal act,” Hanoman’s statement ended.

The pipelines have been installed in this section of Byderabo

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 31, 2016

Don’t blame Minister Henry alone Dear Editor I HAVE been following the discussion in the media on the apparent breakdown of arrangements at the recent flag-raising ceremony.

Although this is not a direct political matter, in our charged political environment, it has quickly become a political firestorm.

Unfortunately, the Government has been put on the back-foot. Compared to previous governments, the Coalition is doing fine, and this

may explain the relative lack of intensity on most matters.

But I have constantly argued that this Government has to quickly realise that, given the circumstances under which it came to office, it would be held to a higher standard than previous administrations.

The real reason for my letter, however, is to speak out against what appears to be somewhat harsh commentaries directed at Minister Nicolette Henry, and her seeming abandonment

by her colleagues: she is left to face the fire all on her own.

I do not normally defend politicians. Criticisms are in order, but the image that is being painted of the incompetent woman whose organizing skills are being questioned is a bit harsh on the minister.

There is something that does not feel right about a scenario where the failings of a mainly male government are blamed on a woman, and she gets lit-

tle support from her male colleagues. Yes, Minister Henry was in charge of the event, but clearly the breakdown of arrangements could not be solely her responsibility.

I am not asking for the Government to deny what evidently went wrong. But if collective responsibility is acknowledged, the blow to the Minister would be softened.

ter assistance is provided by an internationally recognised environmental group(s).

There is no stipulation in the EP Act, as claimed by Ramdass, to the effect that the EPA may approach internationally recognised environmental group(s). Ramdass must identify the internationally recognized environmental group(s) which provided assistance to compile the list, if his intent is to demonstrate the legality of the EPA action.

He cannot respond appropriately to this issue, since this was never done.

Ramdass’s ignorance in relation to the EP Act 1996 is further compounded by his attempt to link the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) to his illegal act. The Third Schedule of the EP Act, 1996 clearly stipulates the role of the EAB. It does not grant the EAB the authority claimed

by Ramdass.

If he chooses to dispute this, Ramdass must clearly identify the clause in the Third Schedule of the EP Act 1996 which grants authority to the EAB to circumvent the law.

Ramdass further attempts

to justify his contravention of the act by claiming that I served on the EAB when his illegal procedure was developed.

This is false. The Third Schedule of the EP Act, 1996 grants no such authority to the EAB, and I was never a party to what Ramdass refers to as “operational of these stipulations”.

He can counter my assertion by simply placing in the public domain the minutes of all meetings of the EAB to which I was a party.

Ramdass’s lack of understanding of the intent of the EPA Act 1996 is clearly evident in his statement “It is important to note that the EPA does not deny anyone opportunity to register. Consultants register of their own free will and (their?) determination that they are qualified in their area of expertise and are competent to undertake the necessary environmental studies”.

His attempt to substitute “their own free will and (their) determination that they are qualified…studies” fails to adhere to the legally mandated requirement that internationally recognized

environmental groups evaluate and approve of persons placed on that list. His statement is further evidence to the fact that no evaluation is conducted to determine the capacity of persons (firms) on the list maintained by the EPA. He has simply substituted payment of US$15. and “their own free will and (their) determination that they are qualified… studies” as the basis for compilation of his list. This is evidently fraught with possibilities of corruption, since inclusion on the list is not dictated by qualifications and experience, as was intended by the EPA Act 1996. The fact that the EPA procedure has long been established is no more legal than was the long established withholding of funds from the Contingency Fund. The Government has seen it fit to correct the latter; the EPA must correct the former, to ensure adherence to the law.

Alternatively, Ramdass must provide legal justification for EPA breach of the intent of the EP Act 1996.

Importance of accountability Ceres challenges head of EPA Dear Editor,

THE BusinessDictionary.com defines accountability as “The obligation of an individual or organisation to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. It also includes the responsibility for money or other entrusted property.”

In local parlance, accountability is everything: It is the foundation of truth, and leads to honesty, improved relations and good governance, which are being sought after by the people. Where one is accountable, he/she would be a person to keep his/her word; be transparent in his/her dealings, and would respect the need to treat others and their property with due regard.

At the societal level, given that Man has the inherent characteristics to be selfish and destructive, the establishment of rules is grounded in the belief that there is need to avoid such tendencies rising to the fore, the aggression of the few must be minimised to protect the majority, and conduct must be regulated.

In society, there are tiers of power, authority, and shared responsibilities between different branches of government.

The objectives are to minimise or limit corruption. Where, for years, this society has had instances where rules, laws and ethical conduct have been sacrificed at the altar of expediency and some who are connected or in the corridors of power sense that they are accountable to no one, a brutish/ uncivilised outlook to life is not only presented, but also hurts efforts at development. Further, these attitudes are informed by scant regard or total disregard for the fact that rules and laws are put in place to lay down among men the common standard of what constitutes fair and just treatment beyond and in addition to religion.

At the level of public office, elected and appointed, where laws such as the Integrity Commission exist, outside of these seeking to regulate the conduct of officials within the framework of established guidelines, when officials are so prepared to subject themselves, they communicate to the society that they are not above the people.

Conversely, when society holds the view, real or perceived, that public officials have no regard for the laws established to hold them to account, it creates a situation of wanting to follow suit.

The people of this society have, for years, clamoured for accountability to be restored in the management of the affairs of State and by those who hold public office. This is not to say that the people have ignored the importance of accountability in other sectors, but they recognise that they have come to accept that the public sector must set the tone and standard for others to emulate.

It should be said that the absence of public accountability is not for the want of the absence of laws, but more that of the disregard for the laws and the apparent unwillingness on the part of those tasked with enforcing the laws to do so.

These do disservice to the society and help to reinforce the distrust between citizens and leaders or politicians. They also hinder Guyana from ever achieving its true economic, moral and social potentials, and Guyanese their right to

THE response of Indarjit Ramdass of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fails to address the EPA contravention of the Environmental Protection Act 1996. His attempt to place the responsibility for the prevailing situation at the door steps of the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) betrays his lack of knowledge of the EP Act 1996.

These, when coupled with several falsehoods in his response, in addition to calling his motives further into question, attest to the reality that he is ill-suited to serve as the Executive Director of the EPA. The EP Act 1996 states: “In the exercise of its functions, the Agency shall (a) compile and amend from time to time, with the assistance of internationally recognised environmental groups, a list of approved persons who have the qualifications and experience to carry out environmental impact assessment”. The act clearly establishes that the list must be compiled only af-

prosperity.

By and large, the people are not interested in witch-hunting or recrimination, as some would want it to be believed. In the presence of overwhelming public evidence, the people are smart enough to recognize that claims of witch-hunting and recrimination are political ploys and attempts at deflecting from the issues at hand.

Citizens are interested in improving their quality of life and the standard of government, both of which share the common core of accountability, and they want these pursued unhindered. The ‘do as I say but not as I do’ attitude, or absence of leadership by example, will not work because it hurts efforts at restoring and ensuring accountability. Daily reports of misconduct and the open engagement of practices of disregard for laws by those

Regards, DAVID HINDS

Regards, CHARLES P. CERES

who see themselves as untouchable send to society the wrong signal of the importance paid to accountability.

To ask of, and expect, the ordinary man and woman to act in accordance with established rules and laws when such requests and expectations don’t hold true for all will only cause the society to continue to face avoidable challenges and inevitably slide backwards.

Further, there can be no holistic development when the playing field is not level, or where some are felt to be more equal than others. Accountability across the board matters, given that it creates personal, communal and nationwide responsibility. It also exemplifies looking beyond one’s own needs, which can be self-serving, to looking at the betterment of all. This, ideally, is the only path to Guyana’s true development, and it ought to be pursued with befitting urgency.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 31, 2016

Global Fund malaria grant under probe Sherah Alleyne

SANCTIONS will be taken against the person or persons who are responsible for misappropriation of the Global Fund malaria grant, according to Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton.

Minister Norton stated that there was no doubt about an investigation be-

cause Global Fund was asking Guyana to repay the large sum of US dollars.

The irregularities were reported to have taken place while the Global Fund malaria programme by the Vector Control Services (VCS) of the Public Health Ministry was under the management of Dr. Reyaud Rahman, who resigned and left VCS on December 9,

2015.

The OIG therefore initiated an investigation, which focused on the malaria surveillance activities of VCS during the period in which Rahman was responsible for the Global Fund malaria program. This encompassed five six-month periods between January 2013 and June 2015.

The Minister stated

that sanction will be taken against the officers who were responsible for the unit during that period, as well as where there was a misrepresentation of information and misappropriation of funds when the investigations are completed.

In a recent inspection, an Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investiga-

tion in Guyana found evidence that employees from the Ministry of Health, a Principal Recipient of a Global Fund malaria grant, had inflated the number of bed nets reported as distributed and false documents to support the inflated figures.

According to the report issued by the organization, employees had also fabri-

cated documentation for another surveillance activity relating to the operation of malaria committees.

The OIG identified US$56,966 worth of non-compliant expenditures.

The Global Fund is putting in place corrective actions,including strengthened record-keeping at the recipient level.

Two technicians jailed for cocaine in 5-year-old Eldorado rum

By Clestine Juan TWO technicians at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) were on Monday sentenced and fined by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan for having three bottles of Eldorado 5-year rum laced with cocaine.

After almost a year on trial Lorick Williams of Prospect, East Bank Demerara and Chris Douglas were convicted of the offence, which stated that on May 29, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), they had in their possession 6.304 ki-

Lorick Williams and Chris Douglas

logrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The alleged mastermind, Kean Brewster, 21, of Sophia was earlier sentenced for the offence and had implicated the two accused, according to Police.

Williams was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment along with a $17M fine, while Douglas was fined $17.2M, along with 59 months’ imprisonment.

According to reports, Williams along with the other accused Douglas works at the airport as technicians. He informed the court that the two men gave Brewster three bottles of

rum laced with cocaine to take to the United States.

The transaction allegedly took place in the washroom area of the airport.

Brewster was searched when the three bottles of the rum looked unusually thick. The prohibited drug was tested and proved to be the suspected cocaine.

He allegedly admitted that he was indeed trafficking it to the U.S. and pointed out the other two accused as the persons who handed him the bottles.

Footage from the airport surveillance camera showed all the accused entering the washroom.

It was also stated that the defendants admitted that they were paid various sums of cash to play their part.

Engineer responds to audit report on GMC building Dear Editor,

I HAVE read Saykar Boodhoo’s audit report as it relates to the construction of the GMC building, and am greatly amused at the spurious allegations and baseless recommendations contained therein, most of which are based on poor analyses and ‘hearsay’ information.

Before I go into detail, the background of the project needs to be explained: GMC embarked on the process of constructing a new office building in 2009. I was employed by the ASDU Department of the Agriculture Ministry at the time, and was asked to prepare the design

and relevant documentation for the construction of the building.

The budget for the project was $24M, which was unrealistic based on the required size of the building. Due to the unrealistic budget, the project had to be tendered on three separate occasions between 2009 and 2010, before a contractor was identified to undertake the construction within the budget.

The contractor identified on the third round of tendering was Constantine Engineering and Construction Services, which was the lowest bidder as well as the only bidder within the budget. It was recognized that the contractor did not have the nec-

essary experience; however, the Tender Board decided to accept the contractor’s bid as the GMC management did not want to go to tender for a fourth time.

When the construction got underway, I was asked to overlook the project. However, given my workload at ASDU, clear instructions were given by the Director of ASDU that time should only be spent on projects for external agencies (such as GMC, NAREI, etc.) after 4:30 and on weekends. Given this limitation on supervision and an inexperienced contractor, it is obvious that the work would not have been of the best quality.

Nevertheless, every at-

tempt was made to have the project completed satisfactorily, although this did not happen. Defective work was identified, and payments were withheld from the contractor, which subsequently led to him leaving the job, as he was unable to remedy the defects.

The defects that I identified at the time were the leaking roof and the wrong type of wood used for the internal walls. This led to a sum of $1,633,772 being withheld from the contactor, which was greater than the cost of the internal walls and the defective part of the roof.

On no occasion was any old zinc used on the roof. A few of the sheets were placed

badly, and had to be removed and repositioned, which led to holes developing in those sheets.

With regard to the problem of peeling of the paint in certain areas, no such problem existed at the time, up to the end of the defects liability period. As such, I cannot be held responsible for that.

With regard to the flaking of concrete, the only area where this occurred that I know about is in the vicinity of the generator, and this was as a result of the generator exhaust being bolted to the masonry wall, which was not designed for the vibration from the generator.

With regard to the change in ceiling material, that was

a decision taken from a technical standpoint in collaboration with GMC’s management.

Clearly, if Saykar Boodhoo was worth his salt, he would have reviewed the background and factual information on the project before making spurious allegations and baseless recommendations. He is auditing a project and does not know what was paid for and what wasn’t paid for, but he is going around tarnishing people’s reputation to gain cheap points with the Government.

Regards, HANNIEL MADRAMOOTOO

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

GGDMA under fire for attacks on Broomes … urged to use time to fight smuggling, pollution

NOTED engineer Charles Ceres has slammed the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) for its call for Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes to be removed from office over allegations of conflict of interest.

Ceres said the mining body should instead dedicate its time to help fight rampant gold smuggling and destruction of the forest caused by reckless mining practices.

Broomes has been accused of being in a conflict of interest position, having transferred her mining properties to her children, but President David Granger has made it clear that Broomes will demit office only if a conflict of interest situation arises following the recent approval of an application to operate a dredge in her name.

The President said he was made aware of the situation

by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, and that he will be guided by the minister’s advice.

“The Minister of Natural Resources [Trotman] is an experienced Attorney, and I’ve asked him for his views, and I will be guided by his advice. But at present I do not see any need to remove (Minister Broomes),” the President has said.

Referring to the draft Code of Conduct for Ministers, which he said guides how ministers function, the President said if any situation of conflict of interest were

to arise, he is confident that Minister Broomes will be put to function in another capacity or would demit office. He was keen to note that such a situation has not arisen.

The allegations of conflict of interest resurfaced after it was revealed that approval of an application for Simona Broomes to operate a dredge was granted. However, the minister, a miner by profession, has explained that the application was her daughter’s, and that the two of them bear the same name.

In a document seen by this publication, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) had granted permission for the dredge to be operated at a property in Puruni.

In a letter to the editor of this newspaper, Ceres said that the Board of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, (GGMC), as currently constituted, includes two representatives of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA). He said the GGMC Board deliberates on, and decides on, the allocation of mining properties to all miners, including members of the GGDMA. “There is no record in the public domain of any member of the GGDMA recusing themselves from deliberations related to granting of mining rights to their members. I am consequently perplexed by the GGDMA’s claim that Minister Simona Broomes’s position reflects a conflict of interest,” Ceres said.

He said the GGDMA’s failure to recuse itself from deliberations related to the granting of mineral rights to its members is of significantly greater national concern than Minister Broomes’s right to pass her property, acquired before she became a minister of the Government of Guyana, on to her children.

“There are issues relat-

implemented to reduce incidence related to loss of life in the gold mining industry. Life is apparently cheap to the GGDMA,” Ceres charged.

He noted that the Mining Amendment Regulations 2005 define a large scale mine as “a mine which is the subject of a mining licence and from which a minimum volume in excess of 1000m3

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes

Engineer Charles Ceres

ed to the mining sector in Guyana which are of much greater concern to the GGDMA. The record will demonstrate that there have been in excess of twenty deaths in the gold mining industry in the last year. The GGDMA, which claims to represent the interest of gold and diamond miners, has never conducted a technical assessment to determine measures which should be developed and

of material, inclusive of any overburden, is excavated or processed as an aggregate in any continuous twenty-fourhour period”. This definition, except for its reference to a mining licence, qualifies all members of the GGDMA as large-scale miners.

Part XXIV of those amendments imposes obligations on large- and medium-scale miners. These include adherence to several engineering and environmental compliance requirements.

The national interest of Guy-

Independent Aircraft Accident Investigations Unit to be established

By Alva Solomon AN independent Aircraft Accident Investigations Unit is set to be established here before the end of this year.

Aircraft accident investigations have, over the years, fallen under the responsibility of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and stakeholders in the sector have called for this arrangement to be re-assigned to a body that is independent of that aviation umbrella body.

During a recent interview with this newspaper, the GCAA General Counsel, Amanza Walton-Desir, informed that aircraft accident investigations fall within the remit of the state.

“The GCAA is the oversight body, but the best practice is to have an independent body set up for investigation,” she said.

As an example, she noted that if an accident occurs which requires an investigation, and the GCAA is seen as an attributable contributor to that accident, the body cannot investigate itself.

“So what ICAO [International Civil Aviation Organisation] has called for is that, in accordance with Annex 13, we have to set up an independent body,” she said.

The GCAA has crafted a draft Air Accident and Investigation Act, and the legal document has been sent to the Chambers of the Attorney General for vetting. Its passage through the National Assembly is anticipated in the coming months.

Following the anticipated passage of the legislation, the

independent body will be established, and will report directly to the subject minister -- Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr David Patterson.

Mechanisms will be put in place to facilitate the body requesting assistance from other jurisdictions while investigating aircraft accidents. The purpose of such investigations is geared at promoting safety in the sector, rather than culpability.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr David Patterson, has informed that the input and recommendations of all stakeholders will be incorporated in the Air Accident and Investigation Act, and the document will then be forwarded to the Cabinet Sub-Committee for Parliamentary Affairs.

CONSULTATION A draft of the Act was also sent to the Opposition shadow Minister of Public Infrastructure, Juan Edghill, for his input, feedback, and recommendations, so as to ensure its approval and smooth passage in Parliament.

Minister Patterson said Guyana is a signatory to the effective implementation of the standards and recommended practices established by the ICAO for the safe and orderly development of the civil aviation sector, and the Act is Government’s effort to improve Guyana’s rate of compliance with ICAO. Minister Patterson noted that by year-end, “We will have

ana, he said, would be best served if the GGDMA were to focus on ensuring adherence by its members to these mandatory requirements.

According to Ceres, the costs of technically and environmentally non-compliant gold mining operations, coupled with the loss of life in the sector, have greater longterm consequences and is of significantly greater national importance than Minister Broomes passing her property on to her children.

“The Government of Guyana has identified gold smuggling as an issue of major national concern. The GGDMA has, commendably, issued a public statement in support of the Government. Several members of the GGDMA are holders of prospecting licences. Smuggling can be easily addressed by these members adhering to the mandates of prospecting licences as enunciated by the Mining Act 1989.

“Chapter 2 Section 32 of that Mining Act ‘confers on the licencee…the exclusive right to explore for any mineral…’ Exploration by GGDMA members who are holders of prospecting licences is performed only after these licences are farmed out, after payment of huge amounts, to international mining companies”, Ceres said.

He also said that quantification of mineral resource leaves no room for smuggling, as demonstrated by the former Omai Gold Mines,

and now so effectively proven by international companies such as Guyana Goldfields, Troy Resources and Sandspring Resources.

“The GGDMA should use its presence on the GGMC Board to agitate for exploration of all prospecting licences to curtail gold smuggling from Guyana. Failure to do any less would call into question the stance of the GGDMA on gold smuggling.

In the interim, the GGDMA would better serve the national good by convincing its members to undertake exploration activities prior to their commencement of mining operations. This will result in significantly lower environmental consequences that the “wildcatting” now performed by members of the GGDMA”, Ceres has said.

Ceres said President David Granger should be commended for his stance on the GGDMA concerns related to Minister Broomes.

“I have no intent to be presumptuous; however, I am firmly of the belief that the national interest would be better served if the GGDMA, given the green thrust of economy, is advised to request that its members adhere to sound mineral exploration and mining practices, to ensure an undue burden is not placed upon the economy to correct environmental and health impacts of GGDMA members’ operations,” Ceres asserted.

a structured unit for persons to learn from each other, and we can investigate and record air accidents independently, which will allow the ICAO to give us a higher grade in compliance.”

Government is committed to the improvement of the civil aviation sector, and “promises that with greater involvement, it can hopefully aid in the standardisation of operational procedures to ensure equal opportunities are available to all involved, while negating anti-competitiveness in the Minister of Public industry,” Minister Patterson Infrastructure, told GINA. David Patterson The GCAA has published on its website the findings of several aircraft accidents which occurred in recent years. The list includes details on the Caribbean Airlines BW523 accident which occurred on July 30, 2011. Deemed a runway excursion, the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, bearing registration 9Y-PBM, broke in half after landing that morning at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri. It ran off the end of the runway, but miraculously, there were no fatalities.

The GCAA also published the findings of the January 18, 2014 Trans-Guyana Airways (TGA) Cessna Caravan accident in which the pilot, Blake Slater, and aircraft loader Dwayne Jacobs, the lone occupants of the aircraft, died.

The aircraft, bearing registration 8R-GHS, was shuttling between Olive Creek and Imbaimadai in the Region Seven area that morning when the incident occurred.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Guyanese doctors rated highly by US publication R E S P E C T E D I n t e rnet-based information provider News Americas has rated two Guyanese female doctors, Tanya Hinds and Deborah Persaud in its top 10 list of leading Caribbean-born female doctors across the United States of America.

Born in Georgetown, Guyana, Dr Tanya Hinds is an Assistant professor of pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, and is certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a child abuse pediatrician. She is also a practising pediatrician in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, DC. Dr Hinds migrated with her family to the US in the late 1980s. She attended Queen’s College in Guyana, before continuing her education at Howard University in Washington DC, where she received a bachelor’s in 1994 and a master’s degree in 1997, both in nutritional sciences. In 2001 she earned a medical degree (MD) from Howard University College of Medicine. This was followed by pediatric residency training which she completed in 2004 at SUNY Downstate Medical Centre in Brooklyn, New York.

Dr Persaud for her part is a Guyanese-born HIV expert. In 2013, Dr Persaud made the Time Magazine list of ‘Top 100’ Influential People in the world and was featured around the globe for her work in the first functional cure of HIV in an infant. Persaud, a top researcher at Johns Hopkins Pediatric, was propelled into the spotlight in early March when she and colleagues Hanna Gay, MD, of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and Katherine Luzuriaga, MD, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, announced the first functional cure. Persaud is a virologist and an infectious disease specialist whose other work has focused on strategies to prevent mother-to-child

transmission in underdeveloped countries, where children have been hit the hardest by HIV. The New York-based organisation traced the overall medical achievements of the 10 in their specific fields before making the final determination.

Also listed in the 10 are five Jamaicans and one each from Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and Haiti.

Meanwhile, born in Barbados, Dr Velma Scantlebury is the first black female transplant surgeon in America. She is currently the associate director of the Kidney Transplant Program at Christiana Care in Delaware. With more than 200 live donor kidney transplants under her career, she holds extensive research credit in African American kidney donation. Dr Scantelbury, who was once told her hands were too small to be a surgeon, is now curing many. She often sees minority patients in dialysis because they can’t afford the medications to keep their kidneys strong. She works with social workers to get government funding for her patients.

One of her current and future endeavours is to increase the longevity of the transplant patient.

The average survival time for a kidney transplant is 10 to 15 years for a living donor, and eight years for a cadaver transplant.

Dr Michelle Johnson of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre was born in Jamaica. She is associate chief of cardiology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York. Dr Johnson is one of only a few doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who specialises in cardiovascular disease. She received her medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University and has been in practice for 23 years. Dr Johnson is also graduate of Kingston, Jamaica’s Immaculate Con-

Dr Tanya Hinds

Dr Deborah Persaud

ception High School.

Trinidadian-born Dr Farzanna S Haffizulla is a nationally recognised physician in internal medicine who works in Broward County, Florida. She has an extensive background in molecular microbiology and expertise in new trends in disease prevention. Dr Haffizulla has specialised knowledge of women’s health issues, diabetes, weight loss, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. She recently founded the Preventive Medicine Task Force through the American Medical Women’s Association, in conjunction with the US surgeon general’s office, to research disease prevention globally. Dr Haffizulla’s list of honors and accomplishments includes her induction as a direct fellow into the American College of Physicians.

Dr Kathie-Ann P Joseph was also born in Jamaica but grew up in Brooklyn, New York. She is the director of breast services at Bellevue Hospital. Dr Joseph graduated from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1995, specialising in general surgery. She is the first black woman to be appointed to the faculty of the Department of Surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center (NYPH/Columbia). Dr Joseph has made significant contributions to breast cancer research

and treatment, and has studied how race affects health.

C r a i n ’s N e w Yo r k Business weekly once named her one of its “40 Under 40 rising stars.

Born in the late 1960s in Haiti, Dr Patricia Nicholas is the vice-president of the New York State Podiatric Medical Association and founder of the Kindest Heart Foundation, which was founded after a volunteer stint in her homeland after the devastating earthquake. Dr Nicholas has a private practice in Long Island, New York, and is past president of the Caribbean American Medical and Scientific Association.

She migrated to the United States in 1982 and graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, New York in 1984. She went on to receive a Bachelor ‘of Science from St Francis College in 1989 with minors in French and philosophy.

Dr Nicholas further pursued a doctoral degree and graduated from the New York College of Podiatry Medicine in 1993, and completed her residency from Wyckoff Heights Medical Center.

Dr Millicent A Comrie specialises in obstetrics/ gynaecology, and has over 40 years of experience in the field of medicine. Jamaican-born Dr Comrie’s medical practice at 148 Pierrepont Street in Brooklyn, New York sees hundreds of women per week, all seeking her warm care and special knowledge. Dr

Comrie grew up in Kingston, Jamaica and migrated to the United States to continue her tertiary studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland and Howard University in Washington, DC, graduating with honors from the latter. She attended State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Health Science Center of Brooklyn where she obtained her medical degree in 1976, and later went to Columbia University School of Public Health where she earned a masters in public health, with particular focus on maternal and child health. Dr Comrie has been given the Master Teacher Award in obstetrics and gynaecology by the SUNY Downstate Alumni Association. She is a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn (now under New York University).

Dr Comrie has dedicated her practice to the education, the diagnosis and the treatment of one of the most devastating health conditions facing the black woman today—uterine fibroids. She is a pioneer in the compassionate care and surgical treatment of fibroids, developing techniques that allow women, particularly young women, to retain their uterus and not have to undergo a hysterectomy, thus preserving fertility. Dr Comrie is the sister of former Minister of Health, Labour and Social Security in Jamaica, Dr Fenton Ferguson.

Jamaican Dr Carol Biggs is responsible for the strategic development of the comprehensive Cardiovascular Program at South Miami Hospital and is also an adjunct professor at Florida International University and the Stempel School of Public Health. She has been at South Miami Hospital for 15 years and has risen through the ranks to now head one of the most important services for the hospital and Baptist Health.

Dr Biggs has worked in

several well-known medical facilities such as Jackson Memorial Hospital and Cedars Medical Center.

Dr Biggs migrated to the United States at the age of 10 with her family. She attained her nursing degree at Rutgers University in New Jersey and her MBAHA from the University Of Miami. She received her Doctor of Health Sciences degree from Nova Southeastern University.

An experienced, Cornell University-trained, board-certified Dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon with her office located in Jupiter, Florida, Dr De Anne H Collier was born in Jamaica.

She performs a blend of general medical/surgical dermatology and cosmetic/aesthetic services. Her areas of interest include adult and pediatric dermatology, skin cancer detection and treatment, as well as cosmetic procedures including Botox, soft-tissue augmentation, chemical peels and laser surgery. Prior to relocating to Florida, Dr Collier practised with Orbuch, Brand and Associates in Manhattan and Long Island. During that time, she was also a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York Presbyterian Hospital/ Cornell University Medical College. A diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, Dr Collier has performed research in her field and has been published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology. Dr Collier completed her undergraduate premedical studies at Georgetown University earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She received her medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, and performed an externship in Dermatology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

(Jamaica Observer)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Rain beats down on dry Rupununi

By Alva Solomon

OVER THE next week, thunderstorms, isolated in some cases, showers of rain and thunder are forecasted for Lethem and other communities in the vicinity of the border town in the Rupununi.

The forecast is stark contrast to the dry El Nino weather conditions, which have impacted the Region Nine administrative capital and other parts of the region in recent months.

Weather reports and forecasts have also provided an illustration of wet weather conditions in the South Rupununi, a welcome change for residents in the area, including farmers.

During a recent visit to the region , this publication observed large swathes of dry land across the region, but closer observation from aerial photographs indicate green patches of land.

Reports also from the ground suggest that the rains are pouring almost daily in the South Rupununi.

The change in conditions in the region have been noticed by Mike Williams of the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) who told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that the water problems which prevailed for months, since last August, are a thing of the past.

“Well, we have no cry from the farmers anymore because we have the rains, sometimes heavy rains over the past two to three weeks,” he said.

Williams said as the weather conditions change, the fear among residents is the roadways ability to withstand the vehicular traffic, mainly the heavy trucks.

In addition, he said that there have been at least two confirmed cases of dengue fever, while persons have suffered illness relative to the change in weather, including diahorrea and vomiting.

“We have those cases, but not to the extent where they are uncontrollable,” he said.

As regards fishing, an economic activity which the communities depend on, Williams said fishermen have complained that the water levels have not impacted the presence of fish.

“There are no fishes there because of the level of the water so we are hoping the conditions change,” he

said.

William said the rains were pouring on Monday, a trend he noted that continued from the day before.

Former Toshao of Aishalton, Toney James informed this newspaper on Monday that the rains have been pouring over the past month in South Rupununi.

He noted, however, that some wells in the community are still not accessible, while the waterways are still dry in some parts.

“We have rains and we have water, but usually the savannahs would be flooded,” he said, as he noted the “strange” nature of the weather pattern.

He said too that reports from villages further south of Aishalton have suggested that the rains are impacting those areas, noting that persons have reported that the villages there are “more wet than the North Rupununi”.

During a visit to Kumu Village in the Central Rupununi two weekends ago, residents told this publication that the water levels in their wells have increased.

This publication visited Kumu in February and Claudette Ignacio was at wits end as regards finding sources of water since the well in her yard was almost dry. She complained of the salty content of the water at the time.

Two weeks ago, during a second visit to Kumu, Ignacio smilingly related that the well in her yard was almost full. “Well, we were hoping and praying and now we have water,” she said as she walked to her well.

On the road to the famous Kumu Falls, vehicles have been carefully navigating the roadway since flooded plains greets the eye. At the falls, the water was beating down on the rocks of the land feature, a sharp contrast to this newspaper’s visit in February when the water was almost trickling from the falls, one the Rupununi’s prime tourist sites.

This newspaper also observed the level of the Takutu River has increased significantly, and reports from locals suggested that the famous Ariwa Beach, the dried-up sandy bed of the river aback St Ignatius Village, which is usually transformed into a weekend getaway for locals and visitors, has since been covered by water.

A combination of dry and green can be seen in this picture of the North Rupununi as the Takutu River meanders in the background

The flow from the Kumu Falls has increased significantly in recent weeks

The water level in Claudette Ignacio’s well has increased to more than half its depth over the past month

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Independence: a time for spiritual renewal

By Shirley Thomas

RENOWNED Guyanese vocalist, Dallas Maxwell George, accompanied by her sister, Nadene Maxwell is among thousands of Guyanese who returned home over the last few days, to join in the festivities of Guyana's Golden Jubilee celebration.

Prior to leaving for the United States in 1968, Dallas resided in Kitty Village, and she was both a student and teacher at St Ambrose School, Georgetown.

Not only is Dallas excited about coming home for Guyana's Jubilee celebration, but there is something else that is significant about her being here at this time.

That is, she is having a double Jubilee celebration, having accepted Christ as her Saviour, in March of 1966. Hence, she was also celebrating her Golden Jubilee year as a Christian.

This is a very important chapter in her life, Dallas said. She returned home with a vision God gave her almost 20 years ago, to design and introduce a "KINGDOM FLAG" to the Body of Christ.

This new symbol is one which Dallas believes will unite believers and followers of Jesus, to proclaim God's kingdom in the earth, and to spread love in an intentional manner.

And interestingly, she has chosen Guyana, the

land of her birth to launch this initiative and boldly proclaim that Jesus is Lord and to tell the story about

DALLAS GEORGE the KINGDOM FLAG. Dallas believes that the negative sounds of fear and anger have overtaken society.

However, she is of the firm conviction that if God's children make their focus obedience to His word and love their neighbours deliberately and intentionally, so that they can see God's love demonstrated, they can change the world.

“I am impressed with the patriotic jubilation around Guyana, and have seen how the national flag has been used to spread that cultural pride. I am also elated about the flag being prominently displayed on the properties of people of diverse religions.”

That having been said, Dallas concludes with the overarching statement that: “I believe that now is the time for the children of

God's Kingdom, to boldly and proudly proclaim that our citizenship is not of this world, but of His Kingdom.”

The Kingdom Flag, she said will be introduced to the rest of the world when she returns to the United States.

Flags will be available in various sizes, including car flags, and will be made available through the House of Prayer Church, Tucville.

She hopes that Guyanese pastors would embrace and promote this vision, and that God's children will be happy to boldly represent His Kingdom.

Look out for her upcoming launch on Facebook (Dallas George), and up-

11

coming website www.kingdomflagsand apparel.com.

The entire Maxwell family was well known around Guyana for their vocal talent.

Dallas, her brother, the late Reverend Charles Maxwell, and sisters Leslyn and Nadene, were winners of several certificates, medals and trophies at the Guyana Music Festivals, and were frequently featured at concerts, on local radio, and at their church, Central Assembly of God Diplomat Centre.

Dallas took the opportunity to improve her vocal ability, by studying voice at New York's prestiegious Juilliard School.

Linden/Lethem roadway deteriorating - minibus drivers call for permanent solution

By Alva Solomon SECTIONS of the Linden/Lethem roadway have been deteriorating in recent weeks, and minibus drivers are calling on the authorities to develop a permanent solution to improve the condition of the roadway.

At the same time, Government will be re-opening discussions with the Brazilians in regard to upgrading the roadway.

Hinterland areas have been experiencing heavy rainfall in recent weeks, and sections of this roadway have begun deteriorating, with potholes developing.

“We take as much as 13 hours now (to travel from Lethem to Linden) because it usually is about nine hours one way,” a minibus driver noted on Monday. He said that at the moment the problematic areas along the thoroughfare are located between Linden and Mabura, where smaller potholes are being created in existing craters.

He added that there are sections of the road shoulders which have been washed away because of the rainy conditions.

A bus operator at Lethem opined that the roadway should have been upgraded during the dry weather conditions. He also said that the scope of maintenance works on parts of the road in recent months has seen earth being thrown along the road, with little compacting.

“The mud now would wash away,” he said, as he called on the authorities to develop a permanent solution to the problem.

Mike Williams of the North Rupununi District Development Council (NRDDC) told this newspaper that the scope of maintenance works on the roadway need to be examined by the authorities, since almost annually heavy rainfall has been washing sections of the road into the swampy areas nearby.

“This is something that happening for years, so I hope it is looked at,” he said.

On Sunday afternoon, President David Granger told reporters at the Pegasus Hotel that the Government will re-open talks with the Brazilians on upgrading the roadway.

He said he had spoken with the then President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, on the issue when he had visited the neighbouring country last year.

“When the dust settles, we will re-engage the Brazilians,” he said, noting that the project was started since in

1982.

There have been discussions on the state of the road in recent years. The road’s condition is impacted mainly by rainfall, which causes water from the highlands in the Rupununi to seep into the savannahs and eventually inundate the roadway.

In June 2010, sections of the road south of the Kurupukari Crossing on the Essequibo River had become impassable, and minibuses and trucks had been left stranded on the roadway for days as the condition worsened.

Closer to Linden, heavy rainfall had also caused traversing of the roadway to become treacherous in some parts, affecting traffic to Lethem and Mahdia.

In January 2012, this publication had reported that a feasibility study aimed at improving the roadway was completed, and then Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

Treacherous sections of the Linden/Lethem roadway

had disclosed that information relative to the study would have been shared with Brazil, as discussions regarding the project had reached an advanced stage.

During a meeting with former President Jagdeo in July 2011, Governor of the State of Roraima, Jose de Achieta Junior, had discussed the possibility of Brazil financing the Linden/Lethem road project.

The stretch of roadway can be divided into the following sections: Wismar to Mabura Hill, Mabura Hill to 15 Miles, and 15 Miles to Lethem.

The Linden-to-Lethem road is one of the most important road networks used by heavy volumes of traffic travelling to the hinterland areas. It is considered an important economic link, which can create business among other opportunities for many, including locals.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

PM receives draft Code of Conduct for ministers, parliamentarians

By Derwayne Wills A DRAFT report from the sub-committee reviewing and strengthening the Code of Conduct for Government Ministers, Members of Parliament and other public officials was yesterday submitted to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo by that committee’s chairperson, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman.

Trotman, once charged as Governance Minister under this Administration, told the media at a ceremony yesterday in the PM’s Shiv Chanderpaul Drive office that the document draws from other such instruments employed within the British Commonwealth and Europe.

After coming into office in 2015, the David Granger Administration championed the need for public officials to be held accountable for their conduct while holding state positions. A November 2015 draft of the document posted on the Ministry of the Presidency’s website expressly states that the Code “does not seek to regulate the conduct of public office holders in their private and personal lives.”

However, that very draft did allude to the Code’s application to office holders whose private interests, meaning both personal and financial, could conflict with their public duties and responsibilities, especially as it relates to the receipt of gifts and divulging of state information to their affiliates.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo receiving the report from Code of Conduct Sub-Committee Chair, Minister Raphael Trotman. He is flanked by OPM staff at left, and sub-committee members at right “This is merely a guide,” Attorney-at-Law and sub-committee member Dela Britton told the press corps.

“It is not written in stone.

And maybe, over time, what may be perceived as impropriety or a conflict of interest might expand or contract; and so the document might have to be revisited from time to time.”

Britton lauded the efforts of the sub-committee, which sought to “cover the gambit of what public life and ministerial duties entail.”

Now that the document has been placed in care of the Prime Minister, he is expected to review the document and move towards its actualisation.

For his part, Minister Nagamootoo said Cabinet had sought advice from in-

terested entities, such as the Guyana Press Association and the Guyana Human Rights Association; but Trotman went on to lament that although there had been advertisements in the daily newspapers seeking submissions from Guyanese at home and abroad, the response was some “twelve persons who responded either electronically or who submitted information to us.”

The Prime Minister, who now holds responsibility for governance, expressed hope for the Code of Conduct to be included within the Integrity Commission Act, thus extending the ambit of that provision, and granting the Integrity Commission powers to ensure the Code is adhered to.

Nagamootoo suggests

the document “be sent to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel for legal advice as to whether or not these recommendations for the draft code should now be incorporated as an amendment to the Integrity legislation.”

That fusing of the Code of Conduct with the integrity legislation, Nagamootoo continued, ensures “we are not dealing with separate pieces of legal instruments regulating and/or monitoring the conduct of persons holding public office, but that we have one consolidated law which should be the guide.”

When asked about enforcement of the Code of Conduct in the absence of its incorporation into the Integrity Commission Act, Minister Trotman said: “The President and Prime Minister would be

Porter found dead in yard

SHAWN Adams, a porter at the New Amsterdam Hospital, was discovered motionless in his weed-infested, waterlogged yard at Mayor and Town Council Scheme in New Amsterdam, Berbice shortly after 05:00hrs on Monday.

His wife Trishelle Adams, on opening one of her windows, saw the bicycle of her 40-year-old husband lying across the entrance to their modest dwelling.

“I woke the children (she has three) and I told the eldest one to bring my phone, and we hurried outside…. I then saw him lying just off the wooden walkway…apparently he slipped off.

“The doctor stopped him

from drinking (alcohol), but he still drinking,” she lamented.

Describing her late husband as dutiful, the widowed Trishelle recounted with a smile how he would clean her working shoes, iron her security uniform, and take her bath water to the bathroom.

“My husband loved alcohol, but he would never sleep out, nor did he allow me to go to work without escorting me…. He always follow me to work, then would ride off to his workplace,” Trishelle said.

She last saw her husband alive on Sunday, when she left home to view the Independence Float Parade in

New Amsterdam.

“He was left at home, as he was not feeling too well. However, later in the afternoon, I saw him on the street and I asked him where he was going and he said he was going up the road…. I also asked him if he had put up the generator and he replied ‘yes’,” she recounted.

After returning home, Trishelle and her children retired to bed, but she got up at midnight and noticed that her husband of over 15 years had not returned home. At that point, she asked her 14-year-old daughter to check her cellphone to see whether there were any missed calls.

the persons (sic) who would have to make those decisions about sanctions.”

He did not, however, speak to the enforceability of the Code of Conduct on Members of Parliament from the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP). In July last, Minister Trotman, Speaker of the National Assembly in the previous Parliament, had sought the services of former Chief Whip of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Lance Carberry, to review and report on the state of the Integrity Commission.

When asked about that report, Trotman said it had been submitted since October last, and that the report was in the possession of the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Although responding in the affirmative that he has

seen that report, Mr Trotman did not divulge its contents, except to say that there were “very excellent recommendations.”

Trotman noted that governance no longer falls under his purview, and he said that as such, he “won’t go into the details of the Integrity Commission’s review.”

The Prime Minister is calling for patience with the process following the Code of Conduct, in order to ensure it is done with utmost accountability. “It is not so much dealing with timeline and deadline, it is to be able to have something that people, in the end, can say is both enforceable and it has certain provisions by which our leaders in public life can be held accountable,” he said.

persons would telephone to inform her of his whereabouts.

However, after not seeing any missed call, she exclaimed: “No news is good news,” before returning to bed. She awoke at 05:00hrs, and was about to commence her morning

chores when she opened her bedroom window and made the heart-wrenching discovery.

Shawn’s body was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where he was certified dead. A post-mortem examination on his remains is schedule for today.

Dead: Shawn Adams She explained that her husband had a health condition and would sometimes be taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital. On those occasions,

The humble home of the Adamses. Shawn’s body was found in this yard

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Miner killed as pit caves in … Broomes leads probe team to site

A YOUNG gold miner died when a pit collapsed at the notorious Konawaruk Backdam, Potaro, Region 8 on Sunday.

Mining accidents have been frequent in that area with the most shocking being the May 17, 2015 incident, which claimed the lives of 11 miners. Just two months ago another teenager died under similar circumstances at Konawaruk Backdam.

Sunday’s accident claimed the life of 18-year-old Ramal Williams, of 58 Miles, Mabu-

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Honorable Simona Broomes has been tasked by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, to immediately visit the area to ascertain the circumstances leading to the death of the miner. The team will also include representatives from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). A Committee of Inquiry (COI) will also be launched to fully investigate the matter within seventy-two (72) hours. The Minis-

Ramal Williams ra Road, Region 10. Williams suffered and died after the pit in which he was working collapsed around 18:00 hours Sunday, trapping him. He was pulled from the pit and transported to the Mahdia Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. In a statement the Ministry of Natural Resources said that it is with deep regret that it learnt of the unfortunate mining pit accident.

According to a police report about 18:00hrs on Sunday May 29, 2016 Williams of 58 Miles, Mabura Road was working in a mining pit at Konawaruk Backdam, Potaro when it allegedly collapsed, trapping him beneath.

Every effort was made to rescue and resuscitate Williams, but despite these efforts, he was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mahdia Hospital.

try expresses its condolences to the family, colleagues, and friends of Mr. Williams.

Meanwhile, speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, Williams’ older sister Sayone Parris said that her brother worked with a number of friends in the interior. She explained that on Sunday sometime around 5:30 pm, she received a telephone call from his employer, who informed her about his demise.

According to Parris, “he was working in the interior for some two years now, but only recently began working with his present employer.

Relating what she was told, Parris said that Williams and his friends were working in the pit when the gravel came down. She said that the workers began to run out when the second set came down, knocking her brother

down. This, she noted caused him to be trapped behind, while the others were able to make their way out.

Parris related that her family is devastated by the death of her brother. “We had an excellent relationship, as he lived here with us, “she said.

Parris noted that her brother’s employer spoke to the family and he promised to assist the family with funeral expenses.

President David Granger had promised that every mining accident would be investigated and warned defaulting mining operators that they will face legal action if they breach new safety standards in the industry. “The lives of the men and women in this industry are more precious than the minerals they mine,” President Granger had said. “But gold mining is becoming increasingly dangerous. Miners are being killed. Mining pit accidents have led to death and injuries. Sixty-two persons have lost their lives in the mining sector in the last 60 months, at least one per month, one too many.

“We will institute legal action against companies and individuals who breach those (new mining) standards.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Awardees posing with Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnarine and other officials on Monday at NCC

Teachers’ award

50 teachers, officials rewarded

Michel Outridge MINISTRY of Education, in collaboration with School of the Nations, on Monday hosted an award ceremony for 50 teachers/officials for their outstanding performance in celebration of Guyana’s 50th Jubilee of Independence at the National Cultural Centre (NCC), Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.

Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine in the main discourse said he had called for a review of the curriculum in schools since he was aiming for classroom development “greening classrooms”, which is geared towards the elevation of climate change and environmental education.

He told the large gathering that climate change and environmental education would take a central place in teaching to develop our population to be in harmony with what we need to do.

Dr. Roopnarine said that this was needed in schools to enhance programmes to increase climate change literacy as UNESCO sees it can be integrated in teaching in schools.

The minister added that they sought to enhance non-formal teaching as well in schools where reading would be a priority, noting that teaching called for high a level of commitment and classroom work was is very crucial.

He however charged the gathering to recognise what the ministry was doing to guarantee the future of Guyana by classroom work and getting children to appreciate the difficulties since Guyana would not achieve much without an educated population.

The gathering of teachers roared loudly in applause when Dr. Roopnarine acknowledged that teachers were not paid enough.

He stated that he had discussions with GTU President Mark Lyte and they would work hand-in-hand to reward teachers for their work.

The minister reiterated President David Granger’s call for Guyana to become an educational nation as he outlined how the sector could be improved.

A section of the large gathering at NCC for the Teachers Awards ceremony Dr. Roopnarine said he was pleased that music and sports was re-introduced in schools and thanked teachers for their contribution in molding the children, since what is poured in is what given out.

He said, “It is one journey and we will sink or swim together.”

Other speakers on Monday included Director of School of the Nations, Dr. Brian O’Toole, who underscored the importance of education and the role of teachers.

Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam delivered the open-

ing remarks and GTU President Mark Lyte also made brief remarks.

The programme included a cultural dance, poem, song and musical rendition by the Guyana Police Force Band.

Forty-five teachers from the 10 administrative regions, as well as five education officials were presented with trophies and plaque for their outstanding contribution in the teaching profession.

The theme for the awards ceremony was: “Improving performance through teacher recognition and rewards.”

Motorcyclist died from broken spine A POST-MORTEM conducted on the body of 70-year-old Nathaniel Sears, whom residents last Thursday morning found dead on the West Coast Berbice highway at Armadale, with his motorcycle a few feet away, has revealed that he succumbed to a broken spine.

The examination lay to rest speculations that he may have died from natural causes.

Sears, an employee of the Mahaica/ Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), was reportedly en route to the MMA Office at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice for an assignment in Georgetown when he met his demise.

Police had reported earlier that his body did not have any visible marks of violence, but it was observed that the motor-

cycle chain had slipped. Investigators believe he may have encountered an accident when the chain of his bike slipped, causing him to fall and receive the fatal injury.

The official cause of death as determined by the post-mortem was on Monday being further investigated by police.

The deceased will be laid to rest on Saturday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

APA seeks three-year extension to land titling programme THE Amerindian People’s Association (APA) is calling on the Government to extend the land titling programme to another three years, following its review and suspension.

The intent is to ensure that an operational protocol is agreed upon that includes a free prior and informed consent (FPIC) procedure being agreed to with communities and representative organisations.

The Amerindian land Titling Project, started under the PPP/C administration, comes to an end this year, and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, recently told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that two demarcation processes are ongoing and three certificates of titles are being prepared.

Allicock also said that land is life for Amerindians, and in order to ensure land issues are settled within communities, President David Granger had revealed, during his announcement of a ten-point plan for Amerindian development, that there will be established an Indigenous Land Rights Commission.

Minister Allicock said that with the support from the National Toshao Council, the commission was renamed the “Indigenous Land Rights and Life Commission”, because without lands there will not be any life, not only for the Indigenous peoples, but all the other living things that form part of the eco-system.

However, at its recent general assembly, the APA said: “As Indigenous peoples of Guyana, land rights are our number one priority and concern. Most, if not all, communities are unsatisfied with the lands that have been titled or demarcated, and with the extensions granted so far. They do not respond to our longstanding demands for our customary traditional lands,

Four years for having 14lbs marijuana RAWLE Victor and his common-law wife Janice Daniels appeared on Monday before Albion, Corentyne Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer jointly charged with having 14lbs of marijuana in their possession.

Victor pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. He was also fined $1,680,000, an amount three times the street value of the illegal drug. Failure to pay this fine will result in him having to serve an additional three years in jail, the magistrate cautioned.

His visibly pregnant wife pleaded not guilty to the charge, and was placed on $75,000 bail. Her case has been transferred before the Reliance, East Canje magistrate for hearing on June 13.

Police Inspector Orin Joseph said the charge was laid after a mobile police patrol had made a surprise visit at the couple’s Lot 187 Number Two Village, East Canje Berbice home on Independence Day and asked Daniels, who was sitting under the home, to call her common-law husband. When he appeared, the cops requested that he be present as they search his home.

In the first bedroom, several parcels wrapped in plastic were seen in two bulky black plastic bags. When opened, the parcels contained leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be portions of the cannabis plant. A search of the second bedroom unearthed marijuana in a green tarpaulin under a mattress.

The two persons were arrested and taken to the Reliance Police Station, where the suspected narcotic was weighed in their presence and found to be 14 lbs.

Already facing charges of trafficking in narcotics and robbery-under-arms -- committed on New Amsterdam businessman Mohamed Ali, who was robbed of $2.5M as he was about to make a deposit at the Scotia Bank in New Amsterdam on August 4, 2014 –Rawle Victor pleaded guilty to possession of narcotics, and was accordingly sentenced.

The new executive members of the Amerindian People’s Association and are not sufficient to guarantee a sustainable future for our peoples. We therefore call on the Government of Guyana, as well as cooperating agencies, to recognise and secure the full extent of our traditional lands, according to our internationally recognised rights.”

Additionally, the APA is demanding the establishment of an Indigenous Lands Commission to address unresolved land issues with the utmost urgency; recognising that land rights must be part of any programmes, policies, or development initiatives that affect Indigenous people’s lands and resources.

The APA also wants waterways to be included in land titles; and further, calls for the removal of clauses within the laws of Guyana that protect the rights of third parties in regard to Indigenous people’s lands, because those clauses allow concessionaires to remain on Indigenous people’s lands, creating ongoing problems and restricting their rights.

The APA is, moreover, recommending that government agencies coordinate among themselves and the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs to ensure that land tenure information is provided to these agencies regularly, so Indigenous people’s lands and rights are respected when concessions are considered or granted.

“Any investigation reports resulting from government

titling, demarcation, or extension exercises must be sent back to our communities, and approved by the respective residents.

Communities should be involved in land demarcation exercises, and Indigenous people’s maps should be recognised and utilized; moreover, community members should be allowed to participate actively in boundary marking and demarcation, the APA has said.

At this APA assembly, a new 20-person Executive Committee headed by Mario Hastings from Kako in the Upper Mazaruni, Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) was elected for a three-year period. The other members of the executive are: David Wilson, Vice President; Benson Thomas, Secretary; Earl Thomas, Treasurer; Eugenia Rahaman, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer; Sherry Ann Balkaran, Women's Representative; and Ted Lucas, Youth Representative.

Regional Representatives include: Region 1, Moruca: Jeremy Boyal; Mabaruma: Reynold Hutson; Matarkai: Nicholas Jones. Region 2: Harold Marslow. Region 7: Upper Cuyuni: Claude Anselmo; Middle Mazaruni: Alvin Joseph; Upper Mazaruni: Alma Marshall. Region 8, Potaro: Paul Benjamin; North Pakaraimas: Roger Alfred.

Region 9, South Pakaraimas: Matthew Charlie; Central Rupununi: John Alfred; South Central Rupununi: Allan Fredericks; Deep South Rupununi: Ron James.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

‘Robbery’

staged

– security guards, accomplice remanded TWO security guards attached to RK’s Security Service along with a female accomplice were remanded to prison on Monday by Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul on robbery related and firearm charges.

The security guards are Dameion Pearce, 30, of Sophia Squatting Area and Cleaveland Pyle of Lot

property of Church’s, while the second charge alleged that they also stole $4.3M property of Courts.

The third charge stated that they also stole two .32 revolvers along with 10 live matching rounds valued $302,860, property of RK’s security service.

Lastly, the trio was accused of stealing over $3M, property of SSS su-

Dameion Pearce

Cleaveland Pyle

337 #9 Village, West Coast Berbice.

Pearce’s reputed wife, 29-year–old Eulesie Stephen was also charged jointly with the men and was not required to plead to the indictable charges.

The trio was charged for an alleged staged robbery on May 23, at the Demerara Bank, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara branch while making a night deposit.

The two guards had claimed that they were attacked by a gunman who took away a bag containing cash and two handguns, outside Demerara Bank before escaping in a motor car driven by an accomplice.

The first charge read that the trio stole $148,840

permarket. Pearce, however was charged separately for having a .32 revolver with five matching rounds of ammunition in his possession on May 25, at Sophia, East Coast Demerara, without being the holder of a firearm licence. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Attorney-at-law, Adrian Thompson represented Pearce and Stephen. He told the court that his clients were in common-law relationships and were the parents of four kids.

Thompson further pointed out that Pearce was shot in his leg by bandits and was admitted to the hospital, where he was later discharged. Pearce was handed over to the Vigilance Police Station.

The lawyer criticized the police for charging Stephen and implicating her since the only vital information that police had was a ‘tip-off’ that she had received some of the stolen money.

“The police have charged the woman as a principal offender, even though she had never seen or escorted the money,” Thompson told the court.

According to Police P r o s e c u t o r, S e r g e a n t Ayesha Gibbons, on May 23, the two security officers staged the robbery.

Stephen allegedly met the security guards along the East Coast Demerara and collected $3M, along with a revolver, which was stashed in her backyard at Sophia.

The guards had told police that they were robbed by bandits, which resulting in Pearce being shot to his leg before the “alleged bandit” made good his escape.

However, the prosecutor pointed out that the trio had knowledge and planned the robbery, since Pearce confessed, which led them to the two other accused.

Bail was strongly opposed by Gibbons based on the prevalence and nature of the offence. She also explained that Pearce was before the court on a drug possession charge.

The Magistrate remanded the trio until July 5.

Investigators became suspicions of the men from the inception and immediately began questioning the security guards to ascertain the real circumstances surrounding the incident.

Meet us at the table

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

…PPP ready to negotiate in tied local govt bodies

TWO MONTHS after the stalemate following government’s decision to appoint leaders for the local government bodies that saw a tie in votes at the elections in March, the People’s Progressive Party-Civic said it is willing to negotiate with the administration a way forward.

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan had appointed Mabaruma’s Mayor and chairs of five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) following ties in these bodies at the Local Government Elections.

Government had said that an offer was made to the Opposition PPP/C in which the latter would have had the right to elect the senior posts in local authority areas based on the plurality of votes, but this was rejected by them.

The PPP subsequently filed for the orders in the High Court on the basis that the minister acted contrary to and in violation of Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap. 28:01. Justice Diana Insanally granted an interim order quashing the controver-

sial appointments. The orders were filed by PPP/C Member of Parliament (MP) Attorney-at-law, Anil Nandlall on behalf of fellow MP Zulfikar Mustapha.

Attorney General, Basil Williams had noted, that the court action filed by the PPP/C quashing the decision

by Bulkan to appoint Mabaruma’s Mayor and the five NDC chairs at Woodlands/ Farm, Woodlands/Bel Air, Malgre Tout/ Meer-Zorgen, Gibraltar-Fyrish and Industry-Plaisance was a case of misinterpretation of the law.

He has since challenged the orders.

Meanwhile, at its weekly press briefing on Monday PPP, General Secretary, Clement Rohee said the party is willing and ready to revisit negotiations of the tied Local Authority Areas 2016 after Local Government Elections. He noted that in April 2016, negotiations failed to resolve the impasse on the elections of Chair/Vice-Chair and Mayor/Deputy Mayor of the Councils of tied Local Authority Areas. The

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee negotiation failed according to Rohee because the President David Granger government declared an ultimatum of ministerial appointment if the PPP/C did not accept the administration’s position of non-rotation of the Chairman/ Vice-Chairman and the Mayor/Deputy Mayor in the tied LAAs that would be shared.

Also, these proposed office-bearers would serve for the entire term of the Council, Rohee said, noting that those positions were not acceptable to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan and its non-acceptance lead to the Granger government moving to appoint the office-bearers in all of the tied LAAs. He said however, that subsequent developments have led the PPP/C to propose and support revisiting negotiations between PPP/C and the Granger government over sharing the positions of principal office-bearers in the tied LAAs. “Primary among these developments is recognition of the plight of the residents of the tied Local Authority Areas in not having a functional Council since the Local Government elections. Another

City money

City Hall about to seize properties

THE CITY is preparing to take drastic action against defaulting tax payers, seeking legal permission to commence parate executions.

This was announced Monday by Town Clerk Royston King when he informed that the Council was currently engaging the courts to acquire the requisite permission that would allow the Municipality to sell the properties of defaulting tax payers.

The Council recently announced that delays in the payment of salaries and other obligations were due to “a combination of factors which included the non-payment of rates by certain corporations.”

The Georgetown City Council is said to be owed some $2Billion in property taxes, but has only been able to prosecute some defaulters, so far winning some $300 Million to be paid over the Municipality.

To date, these payments have not been forthcoming, the Town Clerk said. This is despite warnings of parate execution against persons, and businesses names being publicized.

It was noted that some businesses which owed the Council were paying meagre sums for their properties due to the City’s failure to adequately conduct property evaluations, since several private or domestic properties within the city had now become commercial properties. However, years of disregard for this civic obligation would have resulted in a build-up of funds owed to the municipality.

Since the court passed judgment for the municipality’s payment, the Council will commence the sale of properties belonging to delinquent customers. This legal process will allow the municipality to auction off the property and recover the money owed.

The city is still open to all customers against whom judgment has been passed, King said. “The Council is asking that those persons make contact with the body in relation to payments since an amicable resolution was t preferred by the Municipality.”

He said the work of the city must not be stopped because persons refuse to honour their obligations.

factor is GECOM’s failure to timely manage its Constitutional responsibilities of managing elections that statutorily are due whenever ties in the Councils of LAAs occurred.”

According to Rohee, equally important was the decision of the Granger government to “impose and execute their solution instead of negotiating and despite the wrong-doings that would ensue with Ministerial appointment in contravention of the applicable laws. The plight of the people at the grass-roots will decide and justify the PPP/C’s subsequent position. The PPP, in the interest of these residents in the tied Councils/Local Authority Areas, is signaling its willingness to re-engage in negotiations with the Granger government over the resolution of the impasse of Councils of the tied LAAs.” Bulkan had told a news conference that Government would have preferred an accommodation and a political solution, explaining that the

administration had proposed that on the basis of plurality or in cases of ties, the party obtaining popular votes would be given the right to elect the chairpersons or the deputy chairman. That offer was however was not accepted by the PPP. Under the offer, the PPP would have been entitled to appoint the chairman and deputy of the NDCs at Malgre Tout/ Meer-Zorgen, Woodlands/ Bel Air and Fyrish/Gibraltar.

On the other hand, the Government would have had the final say at Mabaruma, Industry/Plaisance and at Woodlands/Farm.

Bulkan said that it was following the non-acceptance of the offer of compromise in accordance with democratic principles and in the interest of not allowing the PPP to dictate and determine the pace of reform and rehabilitation within “this damaged and system of local government, that we decided that the business of councils must proceed expeditiously.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Miner drowns on birthday WHAT STARTED out as a birthday celebration for a gold miner at a mining camp along the Essequibo River, last Saturday ended tragically with the death of the man whose birthday was being celebrated.

Dead is Compton Adolphus, 69, formerly of ‘Grant Fear Not’, Pomeroon River, Region Two and Georgetown. Adolphus who turned 69 on Saturday was a miner

for 45 years.

Information reaching the Guyana Chronicle remains sketchy, but his relatives who live at Linden and in Georgetown say that Adolphus had earlier in the day hosted a ‘get-together’ at which he treated about six work colleagues from the mining camp.

Of affable disposition and a peace-loving man, Adolphus, who was also known for spreading cheer, was in his usual high spirits as he socialised with the comrades throughout the day.

Later in the afternoon, as they were preparing to leave the entertainment venue, Adolphus told the men that he was taking his ‘last drink’, after which they boarded the boat and set out for the mining camp.

But it was not long before tragedy struck. The boat was said to have hit a rock and capsized. The other men managed to escape harm, but Adolphus who had apparently dozed off temporarily, and was sitting in the hull of the boat, was flung against the rock and suffered severe head injuries.

He went down and per-

Dead: Compton Adolphus ished.

Relatives who are also gold miners, on hearing the tragic news, hastened to the location on Saturday night, but found no trace of him.

They were joined by another search party on Sunday and on Monday, found the body which was already bloated.

He was transported to Georgetown and was received by at the Lyken Funeral Home.

The deceased, who was the son of the late Cyril and Ruby Adolphus of Pomeroon, is survived by five children, four siblings, several grandchildren and other relatives.

Tuesday May 31st, 2016 - 13:00 hrs Wednesday June 1st, 2016 - 14:00 hrs Thursday June 2nd, 2016 - 14:30 hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 31, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 31, 2016

Rain wipes out play at French Windies arrive in Guyana for tough Nation Series assignment Open for first time since 2000 ‘AsTri a team we will look at the best way possible to

By Pritha Sarkar

PARIS, France (Reuters) Persistent rain accompanied by a flood warning washed out the entire day’s play at the French Open tennis yesterday for the first time since 2000, creating a scheduling headache and fuelling a debate about the need for a showcourt roof.

Calling play off shortly before 14:00hrs local time, organisers told soggy and disappointed fans to apply for a refund from the tournament’s website as 10 fourth-round singles matches, including those featuring world number ones Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams, were pushed back to yesterday.

“Unfortunately the weather conditions do not allow us to start matches No matches will be played and we apologise for this situation,” an announcer told fans over the PA system.

The French national weather centre issued an orange flood warning -- the second highest alert level -- for parts of northern France including Paris and surrounding areas, and said heavy rains could continue until yesterday afternoon.

Instead of staging just four quarter-finals today, organisers will now have to clear the backlog of last-16 matches first.

Now, only two men’s quarter-finals will take place today - defending champion Stan Wawrinka’s showdown with Albert Ramos Vinolas and second-seed Andy Murray’s highly-anticipated duel with French favourite Richard Gasquet.

The delays will also affect competitors as those hoping to win the title will have to play matches on successive days if the tournament is to finish on Sunday as scheduled.

The washout in 2000 was

win the tournament,’ says coach Phil Simmons

By Rajiv Bisnauth

A tarpaulin covers the central court as rain falls in Paris. Reuters/Pascal Rossignol on May 30, the second day of play, when over 50 first-round matches were held over. That tournament finished on time.

Rain forced the postponement of the 2012 men’s final between Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, which was held over two days and finished on the Monday.

PONCHOS AND UMBRELLAS While a handful of sodden spectators sat hunched under umbrellas on Court Philippe Chatrier watching a replay of Gasquet’s emotional win over Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori a day earlier, thousands of others took shelter by cramming into the corridors under the main showcourts.

Americans Dot Hillegass and daughter Kim McGeorge had tickets for Chatrier -- on what was to have been a highlight of their six-day trip to Europe -- and their first experience of live professional tennis.

Told the washout was the tournament’s first since 2000, Kim McGeorge remained philosophical. “What are the odds on that? It was obviously not meant to be,” she said.

“It’s a disappointment.

They need a retractable roof,” said her mother, unwittingly tapping into a hot debate.

Calls for a retractable roof over Chatrier have intensified during the championships that had already endured four rain-hit days before yesterday’s washout.

While all three other grand slams have at least one showcourt with a roof, French Open fans will have to wait till 2020 or later before any covering appears at Roland Garros.

The miserable weather meant brisk trading at the shops and boutiques in the grounds.

And there were no prizes for guessing which products were flying off the shelves.

“Above all, it’s the umbrellas and ponchos that are doing well,” said Vincent Martinez, human resources coordinator for shops selling Roland Garros-branded merchandise.

“But people are going home earlier so in general we prefer sunny days. “Souvenirs in hand, an estimated 25 000 ticket-holders started trudging out of the grounds at 13:48hrs -- with their only memory being that they went to Roland Garros on the day rain washed out play for the first time in 16 years.

Shopping should be part of a special experience for tennis fans, Martinez said, adding: “Today was also unforgettable, though perhaps not in the best way.”

Reggae Boyz in four-day Florida camp ahead of Copa start

JAMAICA’S Reggae Boyz are following a successful warm-up game against defending Copa America champions, Chile, with a four-day camp in Florida.

The Jamaicans stunned Chile, 2-1 at the Estadio Sausalito on Friday, were expecting Simon Dawkins, Chevone Marsh and Rodolph Austin to join the team

by today to complete the full squad.

As part of that four-day camp, the Reggae Boyz will play against Boca Raton FC at Lockhart Stadium at 5p.m.

The game is a closed affair.

The Boyz will break the camp on Thursday when they fly to Chicago to get ready for the Group C opener against Venezuela at Sol-

dier field.

The Chicago game will be followed by a trip to California for a Rose Bowl meeting against Mexico on June 9, with the final game against Uruguay scheduled for Levi Stadium on June 13.

The top two teams from each of the four groups head to the quarterfinals.

WEST Indies made a quiet arrival in Guyana yesterday to begin preparation for the 2016 Tri-Nation One-Day International (ODI) series involving Australia and South Africa.

The squad, led by captain Jason Holder, arrived at 14:20hrs at the Eugene Correia International Airport to a warm welcome from Director of Sport Christopher Jones, president and vice-president of the Guyana Cricket Board Drubahadur and Fizul Bacchus as well as Digicel (Guyana) Incorporated Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James, before heading to the team’s hotel.

It was a typical warm Guyanese welcome as the country prepares to host international cricket for the first time since July 16, 2013.

Speaking shortly after the arrival, head coach Phil Simmons told media operatives that as a team they will look at the best way possible to win the tournament.

Asked if the omission

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of a number of key players will affect West Indies chances in the series, Simmons said, “We are here to play against two teams, and that is what we will do.”

Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo were all left out of the West Indies squad for the first four games.

Off-spinner Sunil Narine and all-rounder Kieron Pollard, who have not played international cricket since November 2015, were included in the 14-man squad.

Wo r l d C u p T 2 0 match-winner Carlos Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels, who played key roles in West Indies’ World T20 triumph earlier this year, have also been included, but the squad does not include all-rounder Andre Russell, Sammy, Bravo and Gayle.

The squad includes two players who are yet to play in ODIs for the West Indies -- off-spinner Ashley Nurse, who was part of the World T20-winning squad last month, and fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, who has

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played 16 Test matches.

PREPARED Meanwhile, Drubahadur disclosed that Guyana is fully prepared and ready to host an event of this magnitude.

The GCB head assured that security aspect is under control, since it’s the board number one priority.

Further Jones indicted that the games coincide with Guyana’s Jubilee celebrations, and are a additional treat for all.

Even though no Guyanese has been included in the West Indies squad, Jones is calling on cricket-loving fans in Guyana to come out and continue to throw their support behind the regional team.

James handed over a pack of SIM cards to Simmons, so that the players can stay connected during their sojourn here in Guyana.

The home team will have their first practice session at Providence between 14:00hrs and 17:00 hrs today.

On Friday June 3, West Indies face number threeranked South Africa, before facing five-time World Cup champions and number oneranked Australia on Sunday June 5. Australia battle South Africa on Tuesday June 7.

All the games are day/ night encounters and commence at 13:00hrs. Gates open at 11:00hrs.

After the first round of matches in Guyana, the tournament will head to Warner Park in St Kitts & Nevis for three more games and will conclude in Barbados with the final round of three matches and the grand final at the Kensington Oval on June 26.

This is the first time that a full series of matches will be played under lights in the Caribbean.

West Indies squad: Jason Holder (capt.), Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Shannon Gabriel, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor.

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 31, 2016

Cook makes history as England seal series win

ALASTAIR Cook became the first England batsman to score 10 000 Test runs as his side beat defiant Sri Lanka by nine wickets to seal a series victory after Dinesh Chandimal made a magnificent century on day four.

Cook must have been expecting to become the youngest player to reach the landmark in the third and final Test at Lord’s, with England looking set to wrap up another innings victory at Chester-leStreet yesterday.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Chandimal (126) and spinner Rangana Herath (61) had other ideas, putting on 116 for the seventh wicket to frustrate England before James Anderson (5-58) took his third five-wicket haul of the series.

Anderson also passed 450 wickets in Tests as Sri Lanka were all out for 475 after making only 101 in the first innings and captain Cook’s historic moment finally came after England were set only 79 to win.

The 31-year-old opening batsman needed only five runs to reach five figures and made an assured 47 not out as England took an unassailable 2-0 lead.

England looked to be heading for another innings victory when Milinda Siriwardana (35) was caught by Alex Hales in the gully off Anderson without adding to his overnight score.

The tourists still trailed by 83 with England needing only four wickets to seal the series and Chandimal ought to have been on his way when he edged Anderson behind on 69, but wicketkeeper Jonny

Alastair Cook reaches 10 000 Test runs early in England’s run-chase.

Dinesh Chandimal celebrates his century against England on the 4th day.

Bairstow put him down.

Chandimal rubbed salt into the wounds of England’s leading Test wicket-taker by drilling him through the covers for four from the final ball of the same over and continued to play expansive shots to frustrate Cook’s side.

The composed Chandimal continued to make the most of a flat pitch and bellowed out a roar of delight after edging Woakes to the boundary to bring up his sixth Test century.

Burly spinner Herath ensured England would bat again when he pulled Woakes to midwicket for a single and had a second Test half-century to his name after being given a life on 46 when James Vince dropped a skier off Anderson.

Anderson finally ended a magnificent stand when he trapped Herath leg-before to reach the 450-mark and flattened Shaminda Eranga’s off stump to complete yet another five-wicket haul.

Chandimal drove Moeen Ali down the ground for four and dispatched the spinner’s next ball over midwicket for six with a slog sweep before he was bowled by Broad, who took a catch off Woakes’ (2-103) bowling to end the innings.

Cook’s historic moment came when he guided Nuwan Pradeep to the midwicket boundary to get a sparse crowd on their feet and saw England to a comfortable victory along with Nick Compton (22 n.o.) after Hales had fallen for 11.

James Anderson completes his five-wicket haul by bowling Shaminda Eranga for 1.

Scoreboard ENGLAND 1st innings 498 for 9 decl. (M. Ali 155 n.o., A. Hales 83, J. Root 80; N. Pradeep 4-107) SRI LANKA 1st innings 101 (S. Broad 4-40) SRI LANKA 2nd innings (Overnight: 309-5) D. Karunaratne c Root b Woakes

26 K. Silva c Bairstow b Finn 60 K. Mendis c Bairstow b Anderson

26 L. Thirimanne b Ali 13 A. Mathews c Bairstow b Anderson 80 D. Chandimal b Broad 126 M. Siriwardana c Hales b Anderson 35 R. Herath lbw b Anderson 61 S. Eranga b Anderson 1 S. Lakmal c Broad b Woakes 11

N. Pradeep not out 13 Extras:(b-5, lb-11, nb-6, w-1) 23 Total: (all out, 128.2 overs) 475 Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-79, 3-100, 4-182 5-222, 6-314, 7-430, 8-442, 9-453 Bowling: J. Anderson 27-9-58-5, S. Broad 24-6-71-1 (nb-2), C. Woakes 27.2-8-103-2 (w-1), S. Finn 19-0-781 (nb-1), M. Ali 28-5-136-1 (nb-3) J. Vince 1-1-0-0, J. Root 2-0-13-0.

ENGLAND 2nd innings (Target: 79 runs) A. Cook not out 47 A. Hales b Siriwardana 11 N. Compton not out 22 Extras: 0 Total: (for 1 wickets, 23.2 overs) 80 Fall of wickets: 1-35.

Bowling: R. Herath 10-3-18-0, N. Pradeep 2-0-12-0, M. Siriwardana 7.2-0-37-1 S. Lakmal 3-0-9-0, S. Eranga 1-0-4-0.

Delaying Rio Games would give ‘false security’ on Zika - WHO panel head

By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA, (Reuterrs) Postponing the Rio Olympics due to fears that the event could speed the spread of the Zika virus would give a “false” sense of security because travellers are constantly going in and out of Brazil, a senior World Health Organisation (WHO) official said.

More than 100 medical experts and scientists called last Friday for the Rio Games to be postponed or moved due to fears over the spread of the virus, which is linked to serious birth defects.. The WHO rejected their call.

Extensive travel in a glo-

David Heymann, chair of the Health Protection Agency in Britain balised world is the issue, not the Games that start on August 5, said David Heymann, chair of the Health Protection Agency in Britain who also leads the WHO panel of independent experts

on Zika.

“The problem is not the Olympics, the problem is other travel besides the Olympics, if there is a problem,” Heymann told Reuters in a telephone interview from London yesterday.

“People go in and out of Brazil all the time for holiday, for business, for whatever. And the Olympics is much less travel, it would be one-time travel. It’s actually in the winter months when hopefully transmission (of the virus) is less.”

“So it’s just a false security to say that you’ll postpone the Olympics and postpone the globalisation of this disease.”

Heymann called for care-

ful surveillance by countries of their athletes who return from Brazil, though he added that diagnostic tests for Zika were “very difficult to obtain right now”.

SAFE SEX National health authorities should advise their athletes and citizens of child-bearing age to protect themselves against mosquito bites with repellents while in Brazil and to practise safe sex on return for at least three weeks, Heymann said.

This is a precaution to prevent women from contracting the mosquito-borne virus, which can cause microcephaly and other serious

abnormalities in babies. The connection first came to light last year in Brazil, which has confirmed more than 1 400 cases of microcephaly.

“This infection is a predicament for all people of child-bearing age who live in Brazil or who travel to Brazil. And that includes both men and women,” Heymann said.

“Women could get infected and come back and become pregnant within three weeks or four weeks, or they could be pregnant when they get there. And men could go there and come back with the infection and infect their sexual partner back home.”

Heymann is a U.S. epide-

miologist and former senior official at WHO who headed its response to the deadly SARS virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in 2003, when the agency imposed travel restrictions to try to curb that deadly outbreak.

Referring to Zika, he said: “Women of child-bearing age who are not pregnant should understand the risks before they go.”

“It’s not a recommendation not to go (to Brazil), it’s a recommendation to balance between the risks of getting pregnant and the risks of getting Zika,” he said. “But for those women who are already pregnant, there’s a clear risk.”

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 31, 2016

GLTA launches GBTI Independence Jubilee Open tourney THE Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA), in collaboration with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), recently launched the GBTI Independence Jubilee Open tournament sched-

uled to get underway on Friday at the GBTI tennis courts in Bel Air. According to a release from the GLTA, this will be the largest tournament in terms of participants, spectator-turnout, prize money

and players.

With this in mind, the members of the GLTA executive met with GBTI to discuss the tournament being taken to the next level, since the tournament has coincided with the cele-

bration of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary and has thus been branded GBTI Independence Jubilee Open. It is anticipated to be the biggest tournament with a difference.

GBTI expressed once

again pleasure to be sponsoring this annual tennis tournament. The Bank has noted, over the years, a constant rise in the quality of tennis and is proud to be associated with the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association in this regard. More

so, the tournament has taken a timely spin by being dubbed, “THE GBTI INDEPENDENCE JUBILEE OPEN 2016”.

Everyone is being urged to support the Guyana Tennis Association by making every effort to attend the matches.

Tikolo appointed Uganda coach

President Jamal Goodluck, Junior Chair Grace McCalman and Tournament Chair Robert Bostwick were present to receive the cheque on behalf of the association..

Rashford signs long-term contract with Man United

(REUTERS) - Striker Marcus Rashford has signed a new contract at Manchester United which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2020 with an option to extend for a further year, the club said on their website(www.manutd.com) yesterday The 18-year-old United academy graduate scored eight goals in 18 appearances this season, including two on his debut against Midtjylland in the Europa League.

He followed up with two goals against Arsenal and scored the winner in the Manchester derby against City in March.

“I am delighted to have signed a new contract. I have always been a Manchester United fan, so to be playing in the first team really is a dream come true,” Rashford said.

“I am grateful for having the chance to prove

Marcus Rashford myself. To be able to play football at the biggest club in the world means everything to me and my family.”

The emergence of Rashford under former manager Louis van Gaal was one of few positives for United in a disappointing campaign in which they finished fifth in the Premier League.

“Marcus is a naturally talented footballer with great

potential. He has taken his chances well and has integrated into the first team very quickly,” United’s Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward told the club’s website.

“I am delighted that Marcus has signed a new contract, he is at the right club to continue his development.”

Rashford’s performances caught the eye of England manager Roy Hodg-

son, who named the youngster as a surprise pick in his 26-man provisional squad for the European Championship.

Rashford became the youngest player to score on his England debut, when he netted 138 seconds into his first senior start in the 2-1 win over Australia on Friday.

Left back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson also signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until 2020, with an option of extending for a further year.

“I have grown up at United and have enjoyed every minute of being here. Last season was an incredible experience to make my first team debut and a dream come true for myself and my family,” the 19-year-old said.

“I will continue to work hard and take advice from the manager and his coaching team to improve with every training session.”

FORMER Kenya captain Steve Tikolo has been appointed coach of the Uganda national team, ahead of the side’s participation in the World Cricket League Division Three, scheduled for 2017.

This will be Tikolo’s second stint with Uganda; he served as Uganda’s assistant and batting coach in 2012-13. During that tenure, Uganda won the T20 African Premier League and qualified for the 2014 World Cup Qualifier after finishing in the top two with Nepal at WCL Division Three in May 2013. This experience is said to have counted in Tikolo’s favour, when compared to other candidates.

“I am not a stranger in Uganda,” Tikolo told journalists at a function organised by the Uganda Cricket Association (UCA). “I have been here several times. This is my second home and I will be comfortable.

I am excited and anxious in a positive way.”

Speaking of his goals as coach, Tikolo highlighted the team’s quest for a Division Two berth. Uganda finished last in the 10-team 2014 World Cup Qualifier, which put them back in Division Three. After being promoted once again at the end of 2014 in Malaysia, Uganda

Steve Tikolo finished last in the group stage at 2015 Division Two in Namibia, resulting in relegation back to Division Three once more, this time with Canada.

“Our immediate target is to qualify back to Division Two. I am determined to achieve the targets before me. I am a man of few words and my work will speak for itself.”

In an international career spanning almost 18 years, Tikolo played 135 ODIs and 15 T20Is for Kenya. His attractive batting, useful parttime bowling and leadership position in the side made him the face of Kenyan cricket during its heyday in the early 2000s. (ESPN Cricinfo)

List of players who have scored 10,000 Test runs (REUTERS)-List of players who have scored 10,000 runs in test matches after England’s Alastair Cook achieved the feat yesterday: Sachin Tendulkar (India) 15,921 Ricky Ponting (Australia) 13,378 Jacques Kallis (South Africa) 13,289 Rahul Dravid (India) 13,288 Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) 12,400 Brian Lara (West Indies) 11,953 Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) 11,867 Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) 11,814 Allan Border (Australia) 11,174 Steve Waugh (Australia) 10,927 Sunil Gavaskar (India) 10,122 Alastair Cook (England) 10,000* * Denotes Cook still batting

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 31, 2016

GFF president says Ordinary Congress was a success

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde has reported that the association’s Ordinary Congress which was held on May 20 at the Herdmanston Lodge in Queenstown was a success.

Addressing members of the media yesterday at the GFF’s head office, Dadanawa Street, Campbellville, Forde related that all 22 members of the various associations affiliated to the GFF were present and they probed questions raised by concerned persons regarding the financial status of the GFF, the Federation’s status with the world Governing

GFF president Wayne Forde body of football FIFA, as well as other issues.

According to Forde, FIFA has increased its annual funding to all its affiliates from US$250 000 to

US$1.4M and the increase in this figure will see the GFF being in a better position to promote and develop the sport locally.

According to Forde, the congress, which was the first to be held in his six-monthold administration of the Federation, cleared up lots of issues and while there were heated debates, compromises were reached and all parties were in favour of the outcome of those debates.

Forde said from all indications, he is convinced that at the moment, Guyana has a unified football community. “We had enough infighting over the years and it is time that we move beyond

that. I’m very excited about this,” the GFF head stated.

He reported that amendments were made to the federation’s constitution, including greater oversight to compensation for individuals and this decision will be submitted to Congress.

In this regard, Forde said FIFA was written to and the GFF’s proposal was approved by the world body. Also approved by FIFA was the GFF’s 201617 budget.

Forde made it clear that the days when GFF’s affiliates wanted to stage tournaments in their respective sub-associations and they would go about seeking

sponsorship from corporate Guyana is over. This practice Forde said will now have to be channelled through the Federation and a contractual agreement will have to be signed.

Affiliates seeking financial assistance from the governing body (GFF) will now have to apply to the Federation’s financial committee who will in turn review the matter before giving its approval.

These, Forde said, were all discussed and passed by the congress.

With regard to the appointment of a Technical Director, Forde said the federation has received a number of

applications from interested persons and these applicants will be interviewed and the best applicant will be awarded the position.

Asked if the applicants are Guyanese or from the CARICOM Region, Ford related that applications have been received from persons as far as Europe and beyond.

He, however, did not say how many applications have been received and from how many countries.

The post of Technical Director has been vacant since Canada-based Guyanese Claude Bolton tendered his resignation on March 1 this year.

McKinnon, Lewis emerge as senior, junior champions

RYAN McKinnon and Joseph Lewis emerged as the senior and junior champions of the John Lewis Styles-sponsored Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) Small Bore Section/Independence Action Pistol Shoot which was held last Sunday at the Timehri Rifle Ranges.

McKinnon tallied 131 points to win ahead of Ray Beharry (119), Mohamed Qualander (117), Gordon Richards (109) and Vidushi Persaud who brought up the rear on 88 points.

In the junior category, Joseph Lewis accumulated 94 points to defeat the sponsor John Lewis who got 52 points.

Third was Totaram Bishundat with 47 points while 5th place went to Gordon Pearson who mustered 38 points.

The event consisted of three stages of timed shoots with limited ammunition where shooters engaged targets with speed and accuracy before the time limit expired. Two stages consisted of the use of the 9mm pistols only, while one stage included the combination of a 9mm carbine rifle and a 9mm pistol.

Meanwhile, on Saturday May 21, a .22 Precision Pistol Match was held at the Tactical Services Range, Eve Leary where Joshua Ramlakan was the top senior with Gordon Pearson winning among the juniors.

Ramlakan had 293 points and 12 Vs winning comfortably from Delmar Rogers (277/8) and Raval Seojattan one point back with one more V. Pearson’s winning total was 270/6, Shevon Duguid was second (251/3) with Simeon Kissoon (224/2) third.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday May 31, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 142 runs (8 matches) (2) Kings XI Punjab Today’s Quiz: (1) Who are the IPL 2016 champions?

(2) Who was declared ‘Player of the IPL 2016 final’?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

The top performers in John Lewis Styles/GuyanaNRA Small Bore Section/Independence Action Pistol Shoot and sponsor display their silverware.

GABF shortlists male CBC players

THE Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) last weekend shortlisted 18 out of 46 male players for the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Under-16 Championships male team.

The selection came after an intense player evaluation process last weekend at the Cliff Andersen Sports Hall.

On the female side however, more time is needed for the naming of the 15-member squad according to a release by the GABF yesterday.

A total of 74 youth basketball players (46 boys and 28 girls) participated in the selection process; 28 boys were invited to trials, with 18 more arriving as walk-ons.

Meanwhile, on the distaff side, 22 were invited while GABF affiliated coaches recommended eight others.

The Boys shortlisted: Yannick Tappin, Leon Benjamin (Mackenzie High School); Kevon Wiggins, Kelmar Carmichael (New Amsterdam Multilateral); Shamar France (Berbice High); Kwesi Rob-

... Female players to come next

The 18 shortlisted Boys’ U-16 team is flanked by (L-R), Lugard Mohan, Dominic Vincente, Glen Stokes and Kenny Avent, Andrew Hercules erts (St. Rose’s High); Andrew Johnson, Nigel Bowen (Plaisance Secondary); Roydon Glasgow (Bishops’’ High); Isaiah David (Kwakwani Secondary); Akeem Crandon, Kareem Boyle, Kenmon Roberts (President’s College); Jordan Alphonso, Jahleel Young (Marian Academy); Zion Gray (Tutorial High); Quacey Shortt (Bladen Hall) and Jamal Persaud (North Georgetown).

Head coach of the male side, Lugard Mohan, was helped by assistant coaches Kevin Bonnet, Willon Cameron, Wayne Hinds and Andrew Hercules while Dominic Vincente was the physical trainer.

Head coach of the female side, Abdullah Hamid, was assisted by Ann Gordon, Kirk Fraser, Julian Haynes and Hercules.

In addition, D.C Jammers

team, High School Coach and Player Development Specialist, Kenny Avent, played a valuable role in giving instructional and tactical support to the selection process.

The males are expected to intensify their training over the upcoming weeks.

Guyana will host the U-16 CBC Championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, July 2-16.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 31, 2016

Gilkes and former athletes to collaborate with AAG/GOA for athletics development

By Tamica Garnett AS they seek to continue to develop athletics in Guyana, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) and Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) yesterday announced that they will be working along with a number of former eminent athletes, including national record holder James Wren-Gilkes.

Wren-Gilkes, who is currently in Guyana discussing further plans with the two entities, was also yesterday presented with a commemorative plaque by president of the GOA, K. A. Juman-Yassin, for his “historic” and “significant” contributions to athletics in Guyana, during a press conference held at Olympic House.

“I want to say how happy, pleased and honoured we are to have him in Guyana. We hope to form a cooperation with himself, and

National record holder, James Wren-Gilkes (fourth from left), with GOA president, K. A. Juman-Yassin (third from left), AAG president, Aubrey Hutson (fifth from left) and others scheduled to run. Though others, working along with from his performance in the the world-ranked sprinter the GOA. I am certain that 200m at the 1978 Common- tried to apply to participate he will bring to the young wealth Games in Edmonton, at the Olympics unattached, his request was subsequently athletes coming up a little Canada. bit more.” Juman-Yassin Wren-Gilkes was highly denied.

Wren-Gilkes noted yessaid. touted to medal at the 1976 Still the current holder of Montreal Olympics, before terday, that looking at the Guyana’s 200m with a time the Guyana team at that Guyana athletics lineup for of 20.14s, Gilkes was one Olympics withdrew their this year’s Olympics comof Guyana’s most renowned participation after Guyana pared to our potential 40 athletes representing Guyana joined the African boycott years ago much work is well during the 1970s. over New Zealand’s rugby needed.

“Since after 1976 we He won gold and silver team’s tour of apartheid have declined. I was disat the Pan American Games South Africa. men’s 200m in 1975 and The Guyana team had appointed to see that the 1979 respectively. He also pulled out of the Olympics Olympic is right next door stands with a silver medal the day just before he was and we are not able to

have a full team there, but we hope come Tokyo (Olympics) the numbers will increase.” Wren-Gilkes remarked.

Guyana’s athletics team to this year’s Rio Olympics, thus far, comprises four athletes who have qualified in various events namely Winston George (men’s 400m), Brenessa Thompson (women’s 100m, 200m), Troy Doris (men’s triple jump) and Aaliyah Abrams (women’s 400m).

Wren-Gilkes, who was also an athletics coach for over 30 years, said he is looking forward to working along with the athletes and coaches in Guyana “This has been in the works for some time. What our purpose is, more or less, is to encourage the young athletes. I have seen some promising athletes. The talent is here, it just has to do with the coaching and the support. And we want to provide the encouragement and financial support to get

them to the next level.”

Wren-Gilkes said Also present at yesterday’s press conference were former Guyanese athletes Gordon Lewis and David Thomas, who both pledged their support to work along with the sports organisations in Guyana for the betterment of athletics in Guyana.

“Our mission and goal is to help, not only in Guyana but to help athletes overseas.

See if we can bring the overseas athletes over here even, so they can get a feel, a taste of the flavour, of what it feels like to run in Guyana.” they said.

President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson, for his part said that he wants to see athletics in Guyana get back to the level that is was back in the 1970s.

“The AAG would like to emulate the programme that was in place then.

I think we can get back to the days of the James Wren-Gilkes.” Hutson said.

Independence Swim Meet

Persaud, Noel clock records; Cole rules in 100m freestyle

By Tamica Garnett RECORD-breaking performances by Aleka Persaud and Raekwon Noel, and an exciting battle for the men’s 100m freestyle between Deon Primus of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Silver Sharks’ Trumaine Cole were some of the top highlights of last weekend’s National Sports Commission (NSC)/ Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) Independence Meet which was held at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal.

Competition in the meet, which began last Friday, really got heated on Saturday, where performances of the day included Persaud and Noel clocking their record in the Girls’ and Boys’ 9-10 50m butterfly respectively.

Persaud, who won a total of six gold medals on Saturday, clocked 34.89secs in the 50m butterfly to erase her earlier record of 36s. She also won gold in the 50m

Aleka Persaud (centre) dives off to another win.

(Photo by Samuel Maughn) breaststroke (45.50s), 100m backstroke (1:34.22s), 100m breaststroke (1:40.31s), 50m backstroke (40.13s) and 50m freestyle (32.78s).

Persaud returned on Sunday to follow up with another 3 medals coming from the 100m butterfly (1:30.38s), 200m IM (3:05.30s) and 100m free-

style (1:15.93s).

Dolphin’s Swim Club’s Patrice Mahaica, was Persaud’s biggest contender, but was still no match for the Goodwill gold medallist. Mahaica finished second behind Persaud in most of her events including the 50m breaststroke (49.19s), 100m backstroke (1:36.16s), 50m but-

terfly (41.04s), 100m breaststroke (1:40.31s), 200m IM (3:19.34s), 100mfreestyle (1:21.57s).

Noel, for his part championed the 50m butterfly in 33.28s to take the record. He was quite a distance ahead of Dolphin’s Paul Mahaica who scored second in a time of 39.7s. Third place went to

Lajuan Munroe in a time of 40.41 seconds.

Noel won a total of six gold medals across the twoday period.

Cole dominated in the Boys’ 18 and over category all weekend, peaking with his win over Primus on Sunday, at the close of the event. Going head-to-head throughout the race, it was Cole’s experience that gave him the edge over Primus to see him win the race in 33.87s. Primus ended in a time of 35.53s, while GPF’s Kenwall Campbell was third, touching the wall in 39.27s.

Cole’s 100m freestyle win was preceded by wins in the 50m breaststroke (38.97s), 50m backstroke (33.87s), 100m backstroke (1:19.11s), 200m IM (33.87s), and 50m butterfly (30.01s).

Primus ruled in the 200m breaststroke where he clocked (3:32.25s).

Soroya Simmons’ had only the clock to challenge

her in most of her races, as she swam unchallenged in most of her events. In the Girls’ 18 and under a similar situation ensued for Amy Grant in the Girls’ 13-14 category.

Soroya Simmons won t h e 5 0 m b re a s t s t ro k e (44.38s), 1000m backstroke (1:15.34s), 200m backstroke (2:54.12s), 200m IM (2:51.58s).

Also landing several wins was Silver Sharks’ Leon Seaton in the Boys’ 11-12 category.

The event which was scheduled to end last Sunday was rescheduled to end this Friday due to a power outage at the facility.

Organisers were unable to finish the 200m freestyle and 50m freestyle from 13-14 age group. The 200m freestyle was therefore set to be completed yesterday, while the 50m freestyle events from 13-14 to 18-and-over are set for this Friday afternoon at 17:30hrs.

Gilkes and former athletes to collaborate with AAG/GOA for athletics development See story on page 27

Windies arrive in Guyana for tough Tri Nation Series assignment

West Indies captain Jason Holder is welcomed to Guyana by Digicel (Guyana) Incorporated Head of Marketing Jacqueline James.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones greets West Indies head coach Phil Simmons. (Adrian Narine photos)

The West Indies team make their way to the team bus after arriving at the Eugene Correia International Airport. See story on page 23

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TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016