Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 31 10 2016

Beating back diabetes Page

14

Costly crashes No. 104721

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

Page

3

–– deaths by accident, injuries estimated at $4.7B as at mid-October

Dancers perform at the grand Diwali presentation and concert at the La Bonne Intention Ground, East Coast Demerara on Saturday (Adrian Narine photo)

Sunrise Centre Cops commissioned stabbed in Essequibo Page

11

...while parting fight at Lethem

Page

15

Arson suspected 5 in fire at Oliver Hinckson’s building Page

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

Costly crashes

3

–– deaths by accident, injuries estimated at $4.7B as at mid-October

By Tajeram Mohabir WITH losses of earnings and the incurring of medical and funeral expenses, coupled with the costs borne by the State for health care, accidents are a strain on families and a heavy public health burden on the State.

From media reports, the majority of victims are from low-income families, who have no option than to seek treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital or a public hospital nearest to them.

Treatment at private hospitals is expensive. The Guyana Chronicle was unable to confirm the average sum spent annually by the State to treat injuries from accidents, but was informed that about $100M is spent alone at the Georgetown Public Hospital in this area.

Accidents are largely avoidable, thus a sizable portion of the significant amount of public funds allocated for treatment can be allocated to other critical areas of the health sector, if drivers exercise caution on the roadways.

As at October 16, the Guyana Police Force has already recorded 105 deaths by accidents, a 14 per cent increase from the 92 registered during the corresponding period last year.

But encouragingly, for the same period, serious accidents dipped 14 per cent to 277 from 322 in 2015, while minor accidents also declined to 394 from 403 last year.

Though there is a noted outcry at the loss of lives and injuries as a result of accidents, the losses in monetary terms are hardly ever mentioned.

In 2004, Dr Gowkaran Budhu in a Road Safety Study for the Ministry of Public Works and Communication, put the estimated cost of death per accident at U.S.$60,000 and injuries at U.S.$7500.

He arrived at these estimates taking into consideration medical costs for injuries, emergency service costs, vocational rehabilitation costs, market productivity costs, household productivity costs, insurance administrative costs, workplace costs, legal court costs, premature funeral costs, travel delay costs and property-damage costs.

Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Maintenance, Traffic and Safety Department Senior Project Engineer Kester Hinds told the Guyana

Chronicle that over the past 12 years, the estimates for injuries and damage have not changed much, but the estimated costs for death have climbed significantly.

He pointed out that using the cost-determinant factors identified in Dr Budhu’s study, the current estimates being used for Guyana and other countries in the region have been put at U.S.$200,000.

From this sum, using a conversion rate of U.S.$1= G$205, times U.S.$200,000, times 105, the estimated cost of death by accidents as of October 16 this year amounts to $4.3B.

Dead: Ambeka Trotman Providence

This is more than the combined sum of $3.6B allocated by Government in the 2016 health budget to be spent on health facilities and to tackle communicable and non-communicable diseases; 72 per cent of the amount allocated ($6.5B) for the purchase of drugs and related consumable medical supplies; and 24 per cent of the total sum ($19B) allocated in the 2016 health budget.

Given the number of accidents and the amount of persons maimed, amputated and disabled and the deep emotional stress that goes with it, road accidents have been deemed a major

Dead: Dillon Linton

“Road deaths reduce the skills available for national development, cause distress and also result in financial destitution. Fatalities and injuries result in a high cost on society; reduce human productivity; and increase health care costs,” he said in a message published in the 2016 Guyana National Road Safety Council Magazine, Volume One. These sentiments reverberate with many, and among them are Bibi Sukram, 45, of Bush Lot, Berbice and Uttamkumar Isurdeen, 31, a former teacher, rice mill supervisor and construction worker from the Essequibo

Disabled: Uttamkumar Isurdeen

Widowed Bibi Sukram with three of her five children The estimated cost of severe injuries is put at $425.8M using this method of calculation, and when added to the estimated cost for deaths by accidents, the estimated losses, not taking into consideration minor accidents, top $4.7B.

public health concern.

SERIOUS HEALTH PANDEMIC According to President David Granger, the problem is a serious human, social, economic and health pandemic in Guyana.

Coast.

Sukram, a mother of five, has been a widow for the past six years. On October 29, 2010, her husband Chetram Raphael perished in a horrific accident at Number 19 Village, Corentyne, Berbice that claimed the lives

Senior Project Engineer Kester Hinds of 13.

Raphael at the time was on his way to visit his son who was a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The incident, the widow told the Guyana Chronicle, threw her life into poverty and ever since it has been a struggle to provide for her children.

Her eldest child today is 17 and the youngest 12, but all were minors at the time they lost their father.

Sukram, previously a housewife, now ekes out a living as a domestic worker and fish vendor and cannot afford to send all her children to school.

WORRIED ABOUT FUTURE With tears in her eyes, she laments about their future.

“It is really hard on me.

Me want the best for them.

Me want them to do good in life, but me can’t do more than me ah do. Me nah know what will happen, but me ah try with them. Me struggle real hard to get by. Me a ask anyone who can help to help me. When yuh poor, yuh have no justice in this country,” she cried, pointing out that the driver involved in the accident is a free man and is driving again.

Isurdeen, a father of one, who is being cared for by his wife Kumawattie Ramkoomar, has been confined to a wheelchair for the past six years.

He suffered spinal injuries when the bus he was travelling in got involved in an accident on the Success Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

The young disabled father told the Guyana Chronicle he is very disheartened that he is unable to financially contribute to his family.

“I want to live a normal life. I want to work and earn

Public Health Minister Dr George Norton an income to support my family. I want to go to the barber shop and cut my hair, and to play Lotto,” he said.

More recently, Ambeka Trotman Providence, four, was killed on Sherriff Street while siblings Tina Halley, seven, and 10-month-old Marvin Halley lost their lives at Blankenburg, West Coast of Demerara. Ramesh Rampat, 23, and Richard Ramnarine, 45, lost their lives in a fatal accident at Corentyne, Berbice, and so did Dillon Linton, who perished in a smash-up on Regent Street, Geogetown.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Status Report on Road Safety 2015, Guyana is among the CARICOM nations with high road fatalities.

Wi t h a n e s t i m a t e d road-traffic death rate of 17.4 per 100,000, Guyana is behind Belize with a rate of 24.4, Suriname with a rate of 19.1 and St Lucia with a rate of 18.1.

Guyana’s road network spans some 1,912 miles (3,116 kilometres) in total length and according to Guyana National Road Safety Council Chairman Dennis Pompey, on average, 95 per cent of Guyanese are on the road at one time or the other since the roads are the main source of commute.

Road- traffic accidents are reportedly the seventh leading causes of death in Guyana; the number one cause of death of persons aged 5-14; and the number two cause of death of persons ages 15-24.

LAWLESSNESS According to Pompey, a lawless public transportation system, road users under the influence of alcohol See page 8

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

FBI obtains warrant to examine Clinton emails

FEDERAL investigators have secured a warrant to examine newly discovered emails related to Hillary Clinton’s private server, a source familiar with the matter said on Sunday, as a prominent Democrat accused FBI Director James Comey of breaking the law by trying to influence the election.

The warrant will allow the Federal Bureau of Investigation to examine the emails to see if they are relevant to its probe of the private email server used for Government work by Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, while she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.

Comey came under heavy pressure from Democrats on Sunday to quickly provide details of the emails, as Clinton allies worried the prolonged controversy could extend beyond the Nov. 8 election and cast a shadow over a Clinton transition if she wins the White House.

Comey’s disclosure of the email discovery in a letter to Congress on Friday plunged the

U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speaks at a campaign rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. October 29, 2016. REUTERS/Brian Snyder final days of the White House race between Clinton and Republican Donald Trump into turmoil. Clinton had opened a recent lead over Trump in national polls, but it had been narrowing even before the email controversy resurfaced.

The unexpected turn in the email controversy shook financial markets’ conviction of a Clinton victory in the election

and the U.S. dollar slipped against major currencies in early Asian trading on Monday.

U.S. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid sent a letter to Comey on Sunday suggesting he violated the Hatch Act, which bars the use of a Federal Government position to influence an election.

“Through your partisan actions, you may have broken

the law,” Reid, a senator from Nevada, said in the letter to Comey.

Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta and campaign manager Robby Mook questioned Comey’s decision to send a letter notifying Congress of the email review before he even knew whether they were significant or relevant.

Comey’s letter was “long on innuendo, short on facts,” Podesta said on CNN’s “State of the Union” programme, and accused the FBI chief of breaking precedent by disclosing aspects of an investigation so close to the election.

“We are calling on Mr. Comey to come forward and explain what’s at issue here,” Podesta said, adding the significance of the emails was unclear.

“He might have taken the first step of actually having looked at them before he did this in the middle of a presidential campaign, so close to the

voting,” Podesta said.

Comey’s letter was sent over the objections of Justice Department officials. But those officials did not try to stop the FBI from getting the warrant, a source familiar with the decision said, because they are interested in the FBI moving quickly on the probe.

Sources close to the investigation have said the latest emails were discovered as part of a separate probe of former Democratic U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of Clinton aide Huma Abedin.

Weiner is the target of an FBI investigation into illicit text messages he is alleged to have sent to a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina. The FBI already had a warrant to search Weiner’s laptop in that probe, but needed a warrant to look at the material that might be related to Clinton.

Sources familiar with the

matter said FBI agents working on the Weiner investigation saw material on a laptop belonging to Weiner that led them to believe it might be relevant to the investigation of Clinton’s email practices.

Trump has highlighted the issue as proof for his argument that Clinton is corrupt and untrustworthy.

“We have one ultimate check on Hillary’s corruption and that is the power of the vote,” Trump told a rally in Las Vegas on Sunday. “The only way to beat the corruption is to show up and vote by the tens of millions.”

Comey, who announced in July that the FBI’s long investigation of Clinton’s emails was ending without any charges, said in his letter the agency would review the newly surfaced emails to determine their relevance to the investigation of her handling of classified information. (Reuters)

Moses Bhagwan, not Frank Narain

IN THE story that appeared on page 7 of our Sunday, October 30 edition under the headline “Speaker hosts Independence ‘Reflection and Celebration’ event,” the honoree Mr. Moses Bhagwan was incorrectly identified as Mr. Frank Narain. The Guyana Chronicle apologises for this error and for any inconvenience it might have caused.

Those appearing in the photograph are Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland (third from left); flanked by honorees, from left: Mr. Oscar Clarke; Mr. Hamilton Green, former Prime Minister and Mayor of Georgetown; Mr. Llewelyn John; Mr. Moses Bhagwan, who travelled all the way from the United States of America to attend the function; and Mr. Jeffrey Thomas

DATE: 28/10/2016 J

05 07 09 17 20 23 21

28/10/2016

10 13

21 24 26

28/10/2016

8

4

1

28/10/2016

4

4

9

01 05

28/10/2016 06 11 14 20

21

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

Cummings St. fire being treated as arson

By Ravin Singh

FIRE Chief Marlon Gentle has said that investigators are treating a Saturday evening fire at Cummings and Regent streets, Georgetown as a possible arson after receiving reports and suggestive evidence that someone had intentionally started the fire.

According to Gentle, the Guyana Fire Service received the report of the fire at about 23:10 hours on Saturday, as the curtains were being drawn on the Diwali celebrations.

Upon arrival at the lot 101 Cummings and Regent streets location, the Fire Chief said, his men were greeted with a smoke-filled building which houses several small businesses. He said firefighters were initially challenged to access the building because of the security mechanisms.

However, they were able to make their way in, and put out the fire which had already gutted sections of the building. This occurred after midnight.

“Once we were able to put the fire out, we did some investigation and saw signs of forced entry. There is still an ongoing investigation, but we are not ruling out the possibility of arson,” the Fire Chief said.

Gentle said the scent of a highly flammable substance was also an indication that the fire could have been arson.

Upon visiting the site, it was realised that a hole had been created through the concrete wall at the side of Ram’s Drug Store – one of the three stores entirely gutted by the fire.

Meanwhile, the ‘A’ Division Commander, Assistant Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, told this publication that eyewitnesses told investigators they had seen a man in a black ‘hood’ and white cap running from the building seconds after an

The hole which is believed to have been the point of entry for the person(s) who is/are believed to have set the Cummings Street building on fire) explosion was heard, and minutes before they realised the building was on fire.

While it is not clear in which direction the man had run, a source revealed that police had pursued the man,

“

businesses housed at this location. It was not until the Commander arrived that the area was cordoned off and some amount of order was restored.

This is reportedly the

There is a saying that thief man carry lil bit, but fire takes all. And this fire took everything…

We’re at zero, because everything is burnt out,” -- Ram’s Drug Store proprietor, Lakeram Oudit

even firing shots at him, but he had managed to escape.

The commander, among the last to leave the scene -- at 03:00 hrs on Sunday -- confirmed that persons had heard an explosion, and that the scent of gasoline was pervasive in the building.

The efforts of the Guyana Fire Service, which had a contingent of five trucks battling the fire, were commended by persons who gathered at the scene late Saturday evening.

And the Fire Chief said that the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) had played an integral role in supporting the fire department by increasing water pressure in the area.

Whilst the fire raged, the scene at Cummings and Regent streets, and in contiguous streets, was one of pure chaos, with hordes of onlookers swarming the area trying to get a glimpse of the proceedings as fire engulfed the interior of three of the

third fire to have assailed this building, owned by former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officer Oliver Hinckson, within recent

An external view of the gutted Ram’s Pharmacy and neighbouring stores years. Speaking to the Guy- after doing some cleaning thief man carry lil bit, but fire ana Chronicle on Sunday, for the upcoming Christmas takes all. And this fire took proprietor of Ram’s Drug holidays. Later that night, he everything… We’re at zero Store, Lakeram Oudit, said went out with a friend and because everything is burnt the fire caught him “off- his son to view the Diwali out,” Oudit said, adding: guard”. motorcade, and it was while “We’re in deep trouble”.

“I was with a friend when returning from the East Coast According to a 2011 he received a call from some- that his friend received the Stabroek News report, one who said the place was call about the fire. there was an arson atbeing robbed. And while we The proprietor, who had tempt on the same buildwere rushing down there, we been operating his business at ing. The report stated heard it was a fire. When we the location since 1995, said that a five-gallon bottle of got there, we saw fire trucks, the pharmacy was robbed gasoline was found in the and I was just hopeful that about a year ago; and while building. Two carpets were they could have saved the robberies carry losses, they reportedly soaked with the building,” a distraught Oudit are preferred over fires, gasoline. This was also consaid. which take a business owner firmed by Oudit on Sunday He added that he had left back to “zero”. when he spoke with this the store at about 16:00hrs, “There is a saying that publication.

What remains of Ram’s Pharmacy after the fire which gutted that section of the building on Saturday evening

6

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

Ignorance is not an option

EARLIER this week, Speaker of the National Assembly and Parliament Office engaged the media on various parliamentary issues and aspects of reporting. This engagement provided a wealth of knowledge, which if applied can improve the media’s role in covering issues and facilitating nation-building. Ours must be the discernment and appreciation that ignorance hinders growth and development and therefore is not an option.

Parliament is the nation’s highest decision-making forum. It is the most representative, given that it receives the input of elected representatives from various political parties and across the 10 administrative regions, in shaping the country’s future. The Legislature oversees the Executive and passes bills which then become laws, giving meaning to the Judicature’s existence. Arguably, this is a very influential and powerful branch of government.

It is important that Members of Parliament (MPs) know their roles, functions and responsibilities in the institution where they deliberate and make decisions. It has been advised that the Standing Orders, which are the rules governing the conduct of the House and made by the MPs, though some are au fait with them, others do not know them, neither are they seeking to learn about them.

This is a serious issue, deserving of attention as a matter of importance, given the role of this august house in the nation’s welfare.

The Standing Orders are probably the most important tool in conducting parliamentary business. They help the delivery of representation with the understanding of their spirit and intent and how they are to be applied. While such ignorance is not unique to Guyana’s legislature, our MPs must aspire to be among those where intellectual curiosity and respect for responsibility require placing high premium on being knowledgeable about the rules guiding their conduct. Parliamentarians, newcomers or veterans, unaware of the rules are more likely to compromise the quality of work in the House, including its explanation to the public, and the representation the people expect from them. This observation ought not to be seen as condemnation deserving of retaliation, but that of concern and constructive criticism from the people, deserving of attention and corrective action.

The financial constraints being experienced by Parliament Office that caused training on the Standing Orders to be placed on the back-burner should attract the attention of the Minister of Finance, himself a parliamentarian. In the meantime, the political parties can step in and fill the gap.

Ignorance must not be an option. Both sides of the House have persons, current and retired MPs, with institutional memory who at the party level can conduct training sessions. This training hopefully will facilitate critical feedback

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

Reporter harassed by police commander Dear Editor,

I WISH to bring a matter of serious concern to the attention of Commissioner of Police (Ag) Mr David Ramnarine. I was terribly embarrassed,humiliated,intimidated and harassed by the commander of ‘G’ Division Mr Persaram on Essequibo Night 2016 and the Diwali motorcade.

On both nights I was given gate passes to enter the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground to cover the events for the Guyana Chronicle.

As I approached the gate on Essequibo Night about 7 pm, I showed him my pass which was given to me by the regional administration; he looked at it and told me that the pass was valid only up to 6 pm. I told him that the gate pass was an open one and it had no time limit to enter the ground.

Although I introduced myself and told him about my mission, he refused me entry. Sham Narine, who is the liaison officer in the region for public security, was also at the gate and he

told commander Persaram who I am in the region and to let me in with my car, but he bluntly refused Mr Sham Narine and the AREO Miss Yvette Hastings’ orders. I was left outside with my family in the car, not until the REO intervened then I was allowed to enter the ground.

Diwali night Thursday, October 27,2016 I arrived at the gate with my car and family and again, this time I was prevented from entering by a policeman although I had a pass. The coordinator of the Dharmic Sabha, saw how the policeman was harassing me and my family, so he came to the gate and told the policeman to allow me into the ground with my car.

I eventually, entered the ground and parked my car in a corner out of the path of the motorcade. While I was taking pictures of the event, Commander Persaram again appeared and told me to take my car out of the ground. I was amazed, since I had been given permission to enter the ground to cover the event. He spoke to me in a very rude

manner; this time I did not succumb to his orders and I held my ground. He then walked away after he saw that I was determined not to remove my car.

Editor, the commander has been behaving like a legislator, making laws as he sees fit. Both of the authorities gave me passes, for both nights. I can’t see how he could deny me entry to the ground. When these officers and policemen are in uniforms they behave like little Gods.

Throughout history, men have stood up against police tyranny. In their struggles for justice, freedom and rights, some were put to the stake; others were imprisoned and still others like me went through unspeakable suffering. Are these officers power drunk before rendering decisions? Since 1997 policemen and commanders of this country’s police force have increasingly usurped powers they previously hadn’t had.

Precedent has meant little, and so has the commander.

Persaram, not content with

his usurped police powers, has decided to reward himself on a very personal basis by insulting the people and members of the public who have to help the Guyana Police Force to fight crimes. Police arrogance hasn’t stopped there, however.

This type of egregious over-reaching by grasping policemen and officers has already poisoned the police force. I will always stand up for my rights and I therefore call upon the Commissioner of Police ( Ag) Mr David Ramnarine to caution these officers whenever they are executing their duties towards civilians. They should be more courteous and polite and don’t believe that they are above the laws. When these policemen comes into our region, some of them display the highest degree of ignorance toward Essequibians. The rule of law is broken by those who should enforce it and justice itself is held in pawn.

Regards MOHAMED KHAN

IAC calls for assistance for fire victims Dear Editor THE Indian Action Committee (IAC) has learned that a fire of unknown origin gutted a dwelling inhabited by a family of five at Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder, Region Six, Berbice, around 11:00am on Sunday, October 23, 2016.

Mrs. Devi Hemraj, 23, who

is currently unemployed, related to the IAC that the house has been completely destroyed, and her husband Roopchand Hemraj, 30, along with their three minor children are now homeless and the family is seeking public assistance to transport a building, presently located at another site, which has been donated to them.

The IAC, in response to

and mock debates. This will help MPs honing and sharpening their knowledge and skills to attend to their functions with the seriousness they deserve.

Debates and representations of yore, though they exemplified oratorical brilliance and nimbleness of the issues and Orders, and where such qualities are not pervasive today, it helps if efforts can be made to aspire to reinvigorate the parliament, including acquiring the ability of speaking to a presentation instead of reading.

Another limitation among our MPs is knowledge of the Guyana Constitution. Addressing this may require in addition to in-house party training, personal investment of time to read and acquaint oneself with this supreme instrument. Knowledge of the constitution is a prerequisite in aiding understanding of the construction of bills that ought to flow therefrom; the roles,

this plea from Mrs. Hemraj, has made representation to the Minister of Social Protection and the Regional Executive Officer of Region Six (6) to intervene in this humanitarian issue.

The IAC, since its establishment in 2003, has had a history of similar humanitarian interventions and intends to provide some form

of assistance to this family.

Persons who are desirous of assisting this family with material donations can contact Mr. or Mrs. Hemraj on 687-0498 or 653-6523.

Regards SAIRA ALLI Secretary/Coordinator Indian Action Committee

functions and responsibilities of the Executive and Judicature in the governance and management of the country, and how the citizens must be treated.

It is not lost on us that the knowledge deficiency in the parliament is a microcosm of the national problem. This slippage in society has to halt as a matter of urgency. It would help if the nation’s highest decision-making forum can provide the needed fillip in setting the standard of what is required and will be accepted in organisation, public and private. Ignorance is not an option. Knowledge is power. The pursuit and acquisition of knowledge makes it better to serve the people and further the growth and development of the nation, and this goes for us in the media too. In the instance of our parliamentarians, it would elevate public discourse on governance and improve decision-making.

7

Inquiry to begin this week

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

--into allegations of corruption at Public Health Ministry

By Ariana Gordon

GOVERNMENT will, this week, establish a body to investigate the procurement system of the Ministry of Public Health (MPH), as allegations of its corruption continue to surface.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said the matter was raised and discussed at Cabinet last week, and efforts have begun to have a body established to fully investigate those allegations.

“What we have are statements that have been made by certain persons, (which) came to the attention of the Honourable Minister; and so Cabinet has decided that an investigation, an inquiry, will be launched into these reports and these allegations,” Harmon told reporters.

He, however, cautioned that persons who make allegations must be prepared to substantiate those allegations at a properly constituted inquiry.

“Sometimes that is the problems you have -- that

sometimes someone is prepared to quietly whisper something in your ear, but they are not prepared to come to an inquiry to say that this is what we have found; this is what I know, and this is what I am prepared to say,” he said.

He noted that that attitude may pose a challenge for the inquiry, but has said that notwithstanding that likely challenge, Government views the allegations as serious and would go ahead with investigating them.

Following allegations of corruption being levelled against the procurement system, Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton called for a Commission of Inquiry to be established to investigate the system, and has submitted to Cabinet a proposal on the matter with the recommendation that the allegations be investigated. He told the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday that the Ministry of Public Health had been given assurance that medication would have been made available for the rest

of the year, “and with two months more to go, we have an almost stuck-out”, he lamented.

“I am peeved, because (I, as) the minister, (am) yet again being provided with wrong information,” Dr. Norton stated. He said, too, that the MPH is being held to ransom by an anonymous letter writer “who provided us with information that suggests information was being leaked to bidders which would give them an advantage over others in the procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical

supplies”.

The Public Health Minister noted that because the issue is a sensitive one, it is best that a thorough investigation be done to ascertain who the guilty players are.

He said, “Mischief is afoot, and I am worried because it will paint the Government in a bad light.”

Dr. Norton said he is unaware of the composition of the team of investigators who are to be appointed, but he called for “a commission of full integrity” to be established to do the investigation.

Where is the financial report on the PPP-driven city clean-up Dear Editor JUST before the 2015 elections, the PPP embarked on a major clean-up and had put forward $1billion.

They said that $500m was for Georgetown and the remainder for other regions.

The new government gave

City Hall $300M and look at the vast difference.

Where is the report on the PPP spending of the $500m in the city? I would not even go as far as to ask about how the other $500m was spent in the other regions and what evidence is there to verify it, but I noticed that the Auditor

General completed a recent audit of City Hall over the $300m spent, but there was no word on the larger sum which was previously spent on the capital by the PPP .

That really got me thinking. If Georgetown can look the way it does now with $300m, what exactly was

done with the $500m the PPP spent? There was little to no physical evidence that $500m was spent in Georgetown.

The PPP had even denied the council access to the money, claiming they were too corrupt. The then local government minister, Norman Whittaker did not

Kitty Market will be completed before Christmas

THE Mayor and City Council is optimistic that the Kitty Market will be completed before the much anticipated holiday season.

The market is currently under construction and more than 65 percent has been concluded. It is recognised that it is not only the community’s main and only market being repaired, but it is also being upgraded to facilitate improved services, and to also re-introduce facilities that have been unavailable to citizens for a very long time.

Clerical services, event facilities and health care

are just a few of the services that will be returned to the market, since locations for same are being provided.

The Kitty Market has been left dilapidated and allowed to reach advanced stages of deterioration for more than two decades.

There was even discussion under the last administration to privatise the market; denying a basic municipal facility to Kitty and surrounding residents who utilise its services.

It was however under this new administration that Town Clerk Royston King suggested the repair of the market and keeping it in the

possession of the city that the Council made the bold decision to rehabilitate the facility, despite the limited availability of cash and the many rehabilitation projects required for the total repair of Georgetown.

The Kitty Market is however being constructed as a model for other markets within the city and possibly those outside of Georgetown. For the availability of services in a modern facility, the market will have items such as air-conditioning units, exact fans and other such accommodations. The meat and fish products section

for example, will have a built-in refrigerator to assist with the integrity of the food, while keeping up with health regulations.

Vendors can look forward to the construction of bigger and better stalls, and a more secure and comfortable environment.

The Council thanks all stakeholders for their patience and support in making the repair of this market a smooth one.

ROYSTON KING Town Clerk Georgetown Mayor and City Council

even have the courtesy to hand over financial records to the council so that they who are really responsible for Georgetown would be aware of what was done and where, so they could continue where the government left off. Even if they did not want to give the money to the Council, they could have collaborated with the municipality.

Instead, the ministry was directly responsible for hiring and paying workers and

it was even rumoured that the ministry made out cash payments, allowing for very little evidence of who actually received this money.

I would like the auditor general to release this report, so citizens can see what was done with the $500m that went to Georgetown and if he could, the other $500m spent elsewhere.

Regards AKEEM BENNONS

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

Republic Bank welcomes 29 new apprentices

TWENTY-NINE apprentices are about to embark upon an opportunity of a lifetime, which will see them successfully transitioned from a school into a work environment.

The event at reference was the launch on Friday of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited’s ninth annual ‘Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme’ at a simple ceremony at the Herdmanston Lodge in Queenstown.

The programme is geared to guide the apprentice through a process and professional growth, and includes facets that, when combined, will teach the youths valuable skills for professional and social development so as to allow them to be more marketable in their career pursuit.

The bank’s Managing Director, Richard Sammy said that since its launch in October 2008, the programme has benefitted

some 213 students, drawn from secondary schools all across Guyana.

According to Republic Bank in a press release, the programme is registered with the Council for

petency-based education (CBE) certification, as well as a unique experience that contributes towards building successful societies.

The strategy used to train apprentices, the Bank

training, and trainees will be assessed in classroom sessions and on-the-job performance by Republic Bank trainers and assessors who have been trained and certified by CTVET.

coaching through practical and theoretical aspects of banking.

Sammy encouraged the current batch of apprentices to be actively involved and committed to the pro-

This year’s batch of apprentices poses with Republic Bank’s Managing Director Richard Sammy and Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott

Technical and Vocational Education (CTVET), and offers and delivers com-

says, is the modern, internationally recognised competency-based modularised

They will, for the next seven months, be afforded the necessary tools and

gramme in order to be successful.

The programme in-

cludes community care as they participate in the “Youth Link Care-A-Van” designed to foster social awareness, empathy, respect, and care for the less fortunate.

They will also participate in field trips, in which they can enjoy a fun-filled and relaxing retreat at a special location, providing opportunity for research building and teamwork, and opportunity to learn about country.

Delivering the feature address, Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott encouraged participants to make use of the opportunity that is being offered to them through the programme.

He told them that the experience they are about to gain will allow them to play an integral role in the development of the nation.

Costly ...

From page 3

and other substances, engineering road design deficiencies, inadequate financing for road safety activities and the need for more legislative reforms are among the challenges facing the country which continue to give rise to road accidents and road fatalities.

Over the years, Guyana has approved legislation to tackle speeding and drinking and driving and has made mandatory the wearing of helmets and seatbelts in a bid to beat back road accidents.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had also indicated that his ministry has embarked on a number of measures including the installation of traffic signals, traffic signs, road markings, highway lights, pedestrian sidewalks, safety barriers and guardrails to minimise accidents.

“In the near future, pedestrian overpasses and bridges, traffic signals and crash cushions will be installed on sections of one of the most travelled roadways,” he said, pointing out that “We at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure have long recognised that a change in driving attitude is a necessity and therefore we are aiding as much as possible to improve driver education.”

From 2000 to 2015, some 2332 persons have died as a result of accidents, with the majority being pedestrians (842), followed by pedal cyclists (362) and motorcyclists (298). The chief cause of death was speeding.

Of the 96 fatal accidents as of October 16 this year, 14 were caused by drunk drivers and 50 by speeding.

“If we don’t harness this situation that is developing, the prognosis is we are likely to have 120 accidents at the end of 2016 with 132 deaths, which is something we really can’t accept,” acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine said at the launch of Operation Safeway in September.

Since the launch, more than 2000 persons have been charged for speeding and over 500 for driving under the influence.

Globally, 1.2 million die from road-traffic crashes every year and between 20-50 million suffer injuries, the WHO says. Global Road Safety Partnership put the global annual cost at between U.S.$64B and U.S.$100B, and some reports suggest that it has outstripped developmental assistance in low and middle-income countries.

Public Health Minister Dr George Norton has noted that since road accidents are a leading cause of death for persons ages 21-40, Guyana’s socio-economic health is adversely affected.

The Ministry of Public Health has been working with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the National Road Safety Council to intensify road safety awareness.

For Sukram and Isurdeen, the burden of grief, incapacitation, loss of incomes, poverty and the financial burden on the State’s health-care system can be avoided if all road users would see the wisdom in complying with road-traffic laws and regulations of Guyana.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

Two homeless after fire at Golden Grove TWO families are now homeless after a fire of unknown origin destroyed a double-flat building at Lot 214 Section ‘A’, Block ‘Y’ Golden Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara on Saturday night.

Persons living in close proximity to the gutted house, owned by Roy and Sheila Valenzuela, were critical of the response from the Diamond Fire Station, whose fire-fighters turned up at the scene with no water and with an unserviceable pump.

The fire station is located along the public road on entry to the Diamond Housing Scheme, and is less than five minutes’ drive to the scene of the fire.

The fire, first seen in a bedroom in the upper flat of the building, reportedly started at about 20:15hrs while the tenants were out, and destroyed all the belongings of tenant Troy Lodge and his family, who resided in that flat. The tenant in the bottom flat, Marlin Alec, managed to save several items.

The owners of the

The upper flat of this Grove Housing Scheme building was completely destroyed building, noting that it was fully furnished, have estimated their losses in terms of millions of dollars.

The gutted remains of the building at Golden Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara

Gunmen rob Rubis Gas Station at Mahaica TWO masked gunmen stormed the Rubis Gas Station at Mahaica, ECD -- located a mere five minutes’ drive from the police station at Helena, Mahaica -- on Sunday at about 10:30 hrs, and carted-off an undisclosed sum of money and valuables after terrorizing staffers.

Staffers at the service station, an agency of Rubis which trades under the name Ramotar Service Station, have said that a heavily-tinted white car pulled up at the outlet, and two masked men emerged and

barged into the gas station’s office while another remained in the car. Both armed, the men demanded the valuables that staffers had, while emptying the drawers of the service station.

“They asked for more than what they found, and we handed over change and my phone,” a representative of the gas station told this publication.

The day’s earnings were taken in the process, after which the men calmly walked out of the facility and grabbed valuables from

a female pump attendant before fleeing the scene.

No one was harmed during this robbery, but staffers told this publication that the incident caught them off-guard.

Persons in the area have said that the car, which one person partially recalled as having a “PMM” number plate, was seen at least twice circling the area prior to the attack.

Police later visited the scene, and were taking statements from staffers when this publication arrived.

This gas station was robbed on Sunday morning

MORUCA DISASTER And quick thinking and action by two nurses attached to the Kumaka District Hospital at Santa Rosa

in Moruca, Region One, have averted what could have been a disaster that originated when a faulty electrical fan cable caught fire near the nurses’ station at about 21:00hrs on Saturday evening.

The nurses reportedly spotted the cable sparking

prior to its catching afire, and one of them managed to haul a gas bottle out of the facility while another extinguished the blaze. The lone fire extinguisher at the hospital has been unserviceable for some time, persons at Moruca reported on Sunday.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

Children and domestic violence

DID you know that children who live in environments where domestic violence is prevalent are being systematically abused? These settings are not suitable for the healthy development of children.

If you know of a child living in these circumstances or of a woman or man living with domestic violence, contact the childcare and protection agency on 227 0797 or encourage the victim to seek help, through ‘Help and

Shelter’ or the Gender Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Social Protection.

No man has a right to put his hand on a woman, and vice versa: when this happens it is a clear indication that there are serious problems in

the relationship. However some mothers may find they are financially dependent on the perpetrator and feel obligated to live with domestic violence just to have a regular income in their household and some men stay to “save face,” since it is not easy for a man to tell anyone that he is being abused.

But living in these conditions can have a significant impact on children.

Children who live with domestic violence are fearful and anxious; they are always on guard because they never know when the next incident will occur or what might trigger it, therefore they never feel safe.

At school these children may seem withdrawn or on the contrary they might ‘act up’ seeking attention. They usually have short attention spans, which usually results in poor academic performances.

Children who grow with domestic violence can experience a mixture of emotions such as guilt, shame, fear, anxiety, depression, sadness and even anger at the victim, for not being able to prevent the abuse. Bedwetting has also been associated with

children living in these circumstances.

Although children who witness domestic violence may appear fine on the outside, on the inside they are experiencing pain. They carry their burden unbeknown to their Parents or onlookers.

Domestic violence is usually treated like a family secret that is never discussed but the victim, the perpetrator and the children, who witness it, all know that it is wrong and should never happen.

Child abuse is not just about what is done to a child physically: psychological damage caused by this type of abuse can be equally as detrimental to a child’s sense of well-being and their outcome in life.

Here are some examples of how domestic violence can affect the developing child.

Domestic violence can affect the development of a child’s personality - Children tend to grow with very little self-worth or self-esteem, they may view themselves as powerless rather than powerful individuals.

Domestic violence can cause emotional and psychological trauma to children - Creating problems in their

relationships when they are adults.

Domestic violence can deny children of a healthy home life - in turn children may conclude that the best way to resolve conflict is through intimidation and physical violence.

Domestic violence can lead to juvenile delinquency and drug or alcohol problems.

Now that you are aware of the long-term effects that domestic violence can have on children, spread the word, tell your neighbour, tell your friends and colleagues, share this information with whoever will listen. We must be aware that the children who get damaged today will be tomorrows’ adults, carrying around some serious issues, unless there is intervention.

That’s why child protection is so important and that’s why, regardless of how small, we all have a part to play in helping our nation’s children.

You can write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a stern warning to persons who continue to sell firecrackers and other kinds of explosives to desist from same.

“Persons who are caught selling or found in possession thereof will be prosecuted and face the consequences of the law to whatever level of their involvement as it relates to acquiring and the use of these explosives without a permit from the appropriate authority,” the Police Force said on Sunday.

In a statement to the media, the Force said that it rec-

ognises that in the celebration of Diwali, and the upcoming Christmas Season, there is usually an increase in the sale of firecrackers and other explosives.

“The Force is hereby issuing a stern warning to those who sell these explosives, which contribute a lot to serious bodily harm and injury to both users and innocent bystanders,” the statement said while noting that in the past both children and adults experienced grievous bodily harm during the use of these explosive.

“We urge all concerned to exercise the necessary care and caution when deciding to allow themselves to engage in the purchase of firecrackers,” the statement added.

Accordingly, Divisional Commanders have been reminded to maintain and sustain law enforcement efforts which are aimed at preventing the importation of these firecrackers, seizing in instances where evidence purports sales and conducting raids and searches, based on information, the statement added.

Police warn firecracker vendors

Tea Party and Fashion Show THE lawns and ambience of Castellani House will be the back-drop for color and cool fashion when the women’s section of the People’s National Congress brings off its Jubilee Fund-raiser on Saturday, November 5, 2016.

It is labeled Tea Party and Fashion Clash and starts at 3 p.m. under the patronage of First Lady Sandra Granger.

Castellani House is at the junction of Vlissengen Road and Homestretch Avenue (opposite Ministry of the Presidency.)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

Work continues to end blackouts Cops

THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) is working assiduously to bring relief to residents of the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, as well as Bartica, Region Seven, following the recent spate of blackouts there.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, informed the media on Friday that MPI Minister David Patterson is currently in the process of procuring new generation units for both areas. He said the blackouts, which affected Demerara, Essequibo Coast and Bartica, resulted from problems experienced by the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) in relation to its maintenance schedule and transmission and distribution networks.

“The Minister of

Public Infrastructure gave Cabinet timelines for the rectification of the problems; specifically, it was stated that new generation units have already been procured for Bartica and the Essequibo Coast,” Harmon informed.

He noted that Minister Patterson has been mandated by Cabinet to give residents of the affected areas regular updates on the situation and the time frame within which the problem would be addressed.

He said, too, that the MPI is vigorously working in pursuit of a plan to achieve power generation from renewable sources in the near future.

“The problem with the Essequibo Coast is that they have not been converted from the 50 hertz to 60 hertz, and the

majority of the equipment that is available is 60 hertz equipment.

What that means is there has to be a conversion, and that conversion is an expensive exercise; and therefore the previous administration ran away from it, but we are going to confront it.”

The Minister of State disclosed that Government is currently looking to secure 50 hertz equipment, and is not only looking locally to source the equipment, but regionally. “We will find a solution to the blackout situation for the people of the Essequibo Coast as we will for the people of all Guyana,” the Minister of State assured.

At Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Harmon said, the use of renewable sources of energy was discussed, and the

11

stabbed ... while parting fight at Lethem

Minister of State Joseph Harmon Minister of Public Infrastructure is expected to release a report on the matter in a few days’ time.

A POLICEMAN has been seriously wounded and another received minor injuries after they intervened in an altercation between a female colleague and an intoxicated patron outside a night club in Lethem early Sunday morning.

According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force, the officers were outside of the night club when an intoxicated male patron from the village repeatedly held onto the hands of the female rank who rejected him.

“Her male colleagues intervened and an argument ensued; during the process the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed the two constables about their bodies and fled,” the statement said.

The injured Constables Chichester and Samuels were rushed to the Lethem Hospital where Samuels was treated and sent away and Chichester who received injuries to his abdomen and left wrist was referred to the Boa Vista General Hospital where he underwent surgery and was admitted in a serious but stable condition.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

AGM Inc. hosts novel trade show –– to help improve local supply of goods, services

AURORA Gold Mine (AGM Inc.) has held a three-day exposition geared at affording local businesses the opportunity to become its suppliers of competitive and high-quality goods and services.

Called the ‘INWARD Expo’, the event, held from October 22 to 24 at the Tower Suites on downtown Main Street in Georgetown, was report-

edly a new concept introduced here, and attracted close to 100 vendors of goods and services who were seeking to supply AGM Inc. with such provisions as mine services; industrial supplies and engineering; food products; cleaning and janitorial services and supplies; equipment and spares; and health safety and medical supplies.

According to AGM

Inc., the three-day caucus was a huge success.

“Many new partnerships were forged, and networking opportunities abounded over the course of the event,” AGM said, adding: “Well known businesses, such as Sol Guyana Inc. and MACORP, displayed their products and services before making private presentations.”

AGM Inc’s Supply Chain Manager Kirk Mc-

(From right) Camp Services Manager Michael Herpel and Logistics personnel Nichola Scott inspect a vendor’s display with Camp Services’ Troy Semple, at far left Lellan, who had initiated this type of activity in other countries, said the forum catered to facilitating one-on-one interaction between vendors and end-users within the company, and the needs and constraints on both sides were laid on the table, clarified, and mutually understood.

AGM Inc. said in a subsequent press release that the foregoing was especially true, not only for companies with which it had never previously done business, but also for current suppliers as well.

“It is great that AGM Inc. used this initiative to show international companies operating here in

Guyana that local content could be used,” declared CEO of Global Seafoods Distributors, Allison Butters-Grant, as she commended AGM Inc. for conceiving of such a novel idea, and successfully bringing local businesses together to share it with them.

Gafsons representative Mr. Narine (only name given) said the initiative was indeed a welcome opportunity for him to share what Gafsons was doing to improve on the services available to all customers, including AGM Inc. “At least at this Expo we were able to explain See page 17

(From left) Logistics personnel Nichola Scott and Troy Semple inspect a vendor’s display with Camp Services Manager Michael Herpel and Security Coordinator Wreford Johnson

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

Linden youths learn about career choices, cyber-bullying –– at AFC-led youth empowerment seminar

THE Alliance for Change (AFC) party on Friday hosted a youth empowerment seminar titled ‘From Average to Greatness’ for the young people of the mining town of Linden.

The seminar, which was held at the Egbert Benjamin Exhibition and Conference Centre, saw scores of youths representing various educational and social institutions in Linden benefiting from motivational lectures and presentations from many local influential figures.

The objective of the forum was to empower, motivate and educate youths on issues such as career choices, cyber-bullying, social media influences, and the influential role they play in the development of Linden and Guyana as a whole.

During the opening session, participants heard remarks from the YFC-Linden President, Cavern Hinds, who highlighted issues that are currently affecting young people, and assured all that the YFC will be making representation at all levels.

Linden businessman, Norvell Fredericks, who is also Chairman of the AFC Regional Management Committee, stressed the need for youth empowerment, inclusiveness and investment, taking model from him as an entrepreneur, investor and project planner.

Each speaker presented on a separate topic. Attorney at Law, Nigel Hughes spoke on the subject of youth and politics and the power that young people have relating their democratic rights and influence on the Government but need to be organised.

Pastor Selwyn Sills stressed the importance of morals and values, from spiritual prospective and encouraged participants to appreciate themselves, respect others, love and be focused in everything they do.

Region 10 Councillor and Linden Technical Institute Lecturer, Devin Sears addressed social media influences and cyber security. Sears presented facts on the evolution of computers and how social media has both a negative and positive effect on our interpersonal skills; therefore a balance must be set.

City Councillor and radio personality, Malcolm Ferreira, during his presentation encouraged the young women and men in the audience to save their virtue for the right person, while taking advantage of every educational opportunity.

He was followed by Member of Parliament, Audwin Rutherford who spoke on the role in Guyana’s development, emphasising that while the government’s vision is to create a nurturing and molding environment for youths countrywide, they must show a willingness to be a part of the process.

The foregoing presentations were followed by interactive sessions, whereby participants were placed into groups and tasked with identifying two issues and possible solutions to them.

In an alarming turn of events, most groups identified unemployment as being the biggest problem.

Participants at the AFC-led youth seminar Friday in Linden

Beating back diabetes

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

–– proposed tax on sugary drinks gaining support

By Alva Solomon CONSIDER a bottle of carbonated beverage. Probably, your favourite brand of 20- ounce or 12-ounce soda.

Its ingredients include 31 grams of sugar, also known as “added sugar,” given that the sugar was “added” in the preparation process of the beverage.

You utilise your favourite branded soda once daily for five working days. This translates to 155 grams of sugar for the week, 620 grams per month, 8060 grams per year, the equivalent to 18 lbs of sugar annually.

On October 11, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations health agency, suggested that countries use their tax policies to increase the price of sugary drinks such as fizzy drinks, sport drinks as a way to fight diabetes, a non-communicable condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in one’s blood is too high, because the body cannot use it properly.

The WHO is urging one measure which can impact sugary-intake levels and which can lead to global reduction: taxation. The umbrella body suggested a 20 per cent retail price increase for sugary products on the market.

The percentage suggests that the consumer will pay G$240 for a 20-ounce bottle of soda which usually costs G$200.

The move, as suggested by the Geneva-based WHO, has already seen objections by the large beverage companies such as Coca-Cola.

In June this year, the Guyana Chronicle quoted Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, as saying that, “Beverages sold in shops and supermarkets are high in sugar

Dr Ahiliyia Permaul content, which in a large way over time contributes to the non-communicable disease.”

Dr Norton was making reference to Diabetes.

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce any insulin to help glucose enter the body’s cells; this is commonly known as Type 1 Diabetes. In Type 2 Diabetes, there is either not enough insulin in the body or the insulin present does not work properly.

Cases of diabetes continue to feature on the country’s medical statistics and diabetics today are not the elderly or middle-aged person as obtained in the past, but rather anyone whose condition is directly related to their diet, according to medical person-

nel attached to the public and private medical institutions in Guyana.

In 2015, a total of 867 deaths were attributed to diabetes here, a fraction of the 49,800 cases of the chronic disease which were recorded that year.

In June this year, Minister Norton credited the significant drop in cases from 61,800 in 2014 to 49,800 in 2015 to vigorous, countrywide education campaigns undertaken to combat the non-communicable disease.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that notwithstanding the robust education campaigns, diabetes is a worrying challenge facing Guyana According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) based in Belgium, there are 44.4 million cases of persons suffering from the medical condition in Guyana and other countries within the North America/ Caribbean region and by the year 2040, the number is expected to climb to 60 million.

But given the WHO’s tax proposal, are there affordable beverage alternatives available to the consumer?

LIMITED OPTIONS Diabetic patient, Hebert Gilbert, who has been seeking treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for the ailment for almost three decades, believes that there are limited options for diabetics.

“They don’t have no alternative drinks or food for diabetics,” he said, adding that while treatment and ad-

vice from medical staff are commendable, the everyday foods required are not available.

On the shelves of the supermarkets and grocery stores on the coastland, shops in the countryside and even small roadside carts, the consumer who is conscious of high-sugar beverages is left with few options.

At the gas station marts, the price for a diet coke ranges between $220 -$260, milk shakes and bottled coconut water, other beverage alternatives all carry prices higher than the sugary beverages.

As a result, the consumer is left with few options at his/ her disposal. “Truly speaking you have to use less sweet or

sugar and the doctors would tell you that,” Gilbert said, noting that he follows his treatment routine in a disciplined manner.

Dr Ahiliyia Permaul, a medical practitioner who is attached to the Eureka Medical Laboratory on Thomas Street, Geogetown, told this publication recently that Type 2 Diabetes is treated with oral hypoglycemic drugs, a variety available at the medical institution and these can be used either alone or in combination with insulin injections.

“Type 1 Diabetes is treated with insulin therapy, where there are daily insulin injections administered to the patient in combination with careful diet and exercise pro-

grammes,” she added.

In addition, there is the monitoring of blood sugar done by the patient at home ... and monitoring of blood-sugar control by laboratory investigations such as the HbA1C. In addition, she said doctors will also monitor the blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as diabetes (high blood sugar), Hypertension (high blood pressure) and Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol levels) like to travel as a deadly group.

Eureka provides monitoring for the aforementioned and are accepted worldwide, given the entity’s international accreditation.

COMMON SYMPTOMS She said the patients tend to visit the hospital with complaints of not feeling well or with an infection. The most common symptoms include frequent urination, the individual may feel thirsty most of the time, hungry even after eating a meal, tiresome feelings, weight loss, frequent infections, wounds that are slow to heal and blurry vision. On the contrary, detection would not carry the symptoms.

“So treatment of both type one and two diabetes mellitus starts with counselling and lifestyle modification,” she said, noting that it entails diet changes to reduce refined sugars and processed foods and to increase intake of whole

Info graphic warning signs (International Federation of Diabetes)

See page 17

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

Sunrise Centre commissioned in Essequibo ––“The symbolic dawn of a new day,” says First Lady

THE Guyana Foundation’s Sunrise Centre at Zorg-EnVlygt, Essequibo Coast, was commissioned on Saturday.

The first of its kind to be established by the Foundation, this centre offers counselling, skills training, and support to individuals and families across the Essequibo Coast.

NEW DAWN First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger has described the commissioning of this centre as “the symbolic dawn of a new day” for the county of

hope.

“The name itself reflects the thought and planning which went into this centre,” she said. “The Guyana Foundation recognised a need and was determined to develop a holistic approach to address the issues which had been identified. These include depression and hopelessness, joblessness, and the need for empowerment of women and young people.

“What we have seen here is a sunrise: the symbolic dawn of a new day here on the Essequibo Coast. This is

that affect their daily lives, and perhaps find the solution to some of [them],” Mrs. Granger said.

SKILLS TRAINING “This centre -- your centre -- has already begun to make its mark in the communities it serves. The public hospital at Suddie is referring clients for counselling, and this centre assists persons whose ages range from under-18 to over 66 years old. It has facilitated two Gaining Opportunities and Living Skills (GOALS) President David Granger (partly hidden behind the First Lady), First Lady Sandra Granger and Mrs. Supriya Singh-Bodden help Mrs. Seraji Sankar to cut the ribbon to officially open the Guyana Foundation Sunrise Centre at Zorg-EnVlygt, Essequibo Coast

The Guyana Foundation Sunrise Centre, located at Zorg-En-Vlygt, Essequibo Coast

vision and its mission, which were clearly stated when it was formally established in January 2013,” the First Lady explained.

Although officially commissioned only on Saturday, 34 persons have already graduated from the centre in skills training programmes such as catering, floral arrangement, electrical installation, tie-dye and batik designing, and doll making.

Essequibo. She said it is a proud moment for the Foundation and for the people of Essequibo. She also said the opening of the centre was timely, as Guyana celebrates Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which spiritually signifies the triumph of good over evil and the renewal of

IMPROVING LIVES Mrs. Supriya Singh-Bodden, founder of The Guyana Foundation, said the Sunrise Centre is part of the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to provide urgently-needed services that would afford persons a better quality of life.

The centre has even se-

a day on which people can wake up to the promise of a difference in their lives.

They know that regardless of gender, race, age, or religion, they can come to this centre to meet their peers or seek counselling. They can share their thoughts and feelings about the things

workshops at the centre itself.

“The Foundation, throughout its relatively short life, has been providing material and other support to communities needing such assistance in several areas of our country.

This Sunrise Centre underlines its commitment to its

cured a market in the Grand Cayman Islands for the products which are produced in the fabric designing class, she said.

“A three-month pilot phase was successfully completed recently, and orders have already been secured from a leading fashion house in the Cayman Islands to purchase all pieces prepared by the design course,” she said.

Mrs. Singh-Bodden disclosed that 80 per cent of the focus of The Guyana Foundation’s work programme would now be directed to the centre, and towards establishing similar hubs across the country.

Most of the facilitators and mental health counsellors attached to the centre hail from the community itself, in keeping with the Foundation’s vision for the centre to be grassroots-based and

staffed by individuals who understand the challenges in the nearby communities.

Graduates from several of the skills training programmes have said that the centre has given them a new lease on life, and that they are optimistic about their job prospects.

Kevin Gangoo, who graduated from the electrical installation class, said, “It was a gift that, after enrolling here, we got the ideas, knowledge and experience that we need. I want to thank the Foundation for thinking about Essequibo and giving us this programme here.”

The opening ceremony of this centre was graced by the presence of the matriarch of the Kayman Sankar Family in Essequibo, Mrs. Seraji Sankar.

(Ministry of the Presidency)

President David Granger, First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger (centre) and Mrs. Supriya Singh-Bodden pose with the participants who had successfully completed the various courses over the last few months

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

300 new cases in last six years ––figures prove breast cancer still a major health issue for Guyana

BREAST cancer is seemingly still a major health concern for Guyana, judging from the latest figures released by the Guyana Cancer Institute (GCI), which puts new cases detected in the last six years at “more than 300”.

Giving a breakdown of how he came by these figures, GCI Outreach Director, Dr. Seyed Ghazi told a Breast Cancer Sensitisation seminar here Thursday that while in 2010, there were only 15 new cases, the number climbed to 22 and 23 in 2011 and 2013 respectively, then “jumped alarmingly” to 76 and 77 in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

And while the number had dipped to 41 in 2015, this year has already seen an average of six new cases each month, according to figures provided

by Dr Ghazi.

He attributes the spike in figures to an increase in GCI’s outreach activities, which include more frequent screenings for persons in Guyana’s remote areas, as well as the greater emphasis being placed on awareness

and education, which has seen the detection of 314 new cases of breasts cancer here in the six-year period at reference.

WAR ON CANCER “We have declared a war on cancer in Guyana,” Dr Ghazi said, adding: “In addition to the burden of the disease, victims and their families face enormous psychological effects, and that is where organisations like the Cancer Society is helpful in giving support to them.”

The session, which was hosted at the National Library by the Ministry of Social Protection, in collaboration with the Organisation for Social and Health Advancement in Guyana (OSHAG), the Cancer Society, and the Cancer Institute, saw in attendance First Lady Sandra Granger, staff of the Ministry of Social Protection, the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force and other government ministries and agencies.

During Thursday’s sensitisation seminar, visiting specialist, Dr. Theophilus Lewis, who is Director of Surgery at New

York’s Kings County Hospital, noted that in the United States, breast cancer is the Number One form of cancer ailing women, and the Number Two cause of cancer-related deaths among them as well.

of them is likely to have it in their lifetime.

He explained that while men are also at risk for breast cancer, the possibility of having the disease is higher for women, as one in every eight

nership with OSHAG, noted that while the survival rate for persons with breast cancer have improved significantly, early detection remains key to

EARLY DETECTION Dr Lewis, who has been visiting Guyana annually since 2002 as part of a part-

saving lives and breasts.

“We are still having too many patients coming to us at the late stages of breast cancer, especially Stages Three and Four,” Dr Lewis said. “We can do so much more for people if we detect breast cancer early.”

He went on to explain that at Stage One, 90 per cent of the persons so detected can go on to live longer than five years, while for Stages Two, Three and Four, the figure can drop to 70, 50 and 15 per cent respectively.

“Age and gender are the biggest risks factors,” he said, adding that family history and genetics can also contribute significantly.

The specialist noted that while there are cases of persons in their 20s and 30s getting cancer, the chances of having breast cancer doubles after age 40, so he would advise that women get screened early.

“You can have self- breast examinations at home; you can also have clinical exams, mammograms and sonograms, because a large part of the problem is that the most common presentation of breast cancer

is painless lumps; and if these lumps are ignored, by the time the patient comes to us, they have advanced to a late stage,” Dr Lewis said.

He further advised that women conduct self-examinations monthly, preferably a week after their menstruation, while those women who have stopped mensturating do so on their birthdays, and on that date every month thereafter.

“The goal is breast conservation, but we need to detect the cancer early,” Dr Lewis said.

OSHAG conducts annual outreaches to Guyana around October, and supports Guyanese women with breast cancer to access treatment and care.

The organisation was formed by a group of overseas-based Guyanese to help cancer patients here.

Its President, Ms. Carol Bagot said Thursday that the organisation focuses on breast cancer while working here, but has collaborated with the Cancer Society through Ms Mitzy Campbell, a cancer survivor, and the Georgetown Hospital to start an oncology unit.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

AGM Inc. hosts novel ...

From page 12

on a broader scale what we have in store: what our plans are, and how we can facilitate AGM Inc. in their quest to expand their mine (company),” he declared.

Guyana Goldfields/ AGM Inc. has committed to continue extending its reach into the Guyanese business sector as it looks to satisfy its needs for operating supplies and equipment locally as much as is possible, in

Education Ministry dismisses rumours of ‘no school today’ THE Ministry of Education (MoE) is advising the general public that schools nationwide will be in session today -- Monday, October 31, 2016 -- as per normal; and parents and students should not heed the irresponsible rumour being circulated that school would not be in session today, and so stay away from school.

The MoE is also appealing to persons who are perpetuating this rumour in an effort to sow confusion in the society to desist from so doing.

Beating back ...

From page 14 grains, fruit and vegetables.

In addition, exercising for at least 30 minutes three to five times a week is recommended in an effort to manage the patient’s weight.

Dr Permaul noted too that reducing alcohol intake and giving up smoking are also important steps an individual can adopt in their treatment regimen.

She said that the aim of treatment is to keep the blood sugar levels as close as possible to normal ,so as to minimise complications of diabetes.

The WHO’s tax proposal has met opposition by the large beverage companies. In March this year, the British online newspaper, the Guardian, reported that Coca-Cola has led the industry fight back against the proposed sugar tax by the former David Cameron administration. The tax is set to launch in April 2018 and will put up the price of drinks.

Coca-Cola’s UK boss, Leendert den Hollander, said: “We don’t believe the sugar tax is the right thing to be done. We are not debating the issue, we are debating the solution. The facts don’t suggest that a sugar tax works to change behaviour,” he said.

However, to make its case, the WHO mentioned diabetes when it noted that obesity is on the rise and this is related to sugar intake.

“Consumption of free sugars, including products like sugary drinks, is a major

factor in the global increase of people suffering from obesity and diabetes,” says Dr Douglas Bettcher, Director of WHO’s Department for the Prevention of NCDs. “If Governments’ tax products like sugary drinks, they can reduce suffering and save lives. They can also cut healthcare costs and increase revenues to invest in health services,” Dr Bettcher said.

Dr Permaul expressed optimism about the sugar tax.

“I think that if the increased tax can translate to a reduction in the overall consumption ?of refined sugars, and by extension, the incidence of obesity which is a major risk factor for diabetes, then yes I think it can help,” she said.

She noted that importantly, the measure will require public awareness campaigns with emphasis being placed on the link between the consumption of soft drinks and high sugary content foods and the prevalence of diabetes.

Dr Permaul also said that the authorities need to ensure that there are comparatively priced and widely available alternative, healthy options are available on the market for the consumer.

Gilbert, spoke highly of the efforts of the authorities to combat the condition. “I believe what they plan to do is the right thing,” he said of the tax proposal, adding that behavioural change is of high importance.

“I don’t drink sugar at all, but not many can do the same,” he contended.

keeping with its CSR mandate of being a ‘partner for sustainable development’ with Guyanese businesses.

The INWARD Expo is a new concept being introduced in Guyana to ensure that Guyanese businesses are afforded the opportunity to supply competitive and high-quality goods and services to the company

A display booth at the INWARD Expo

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

GDF Headquarters was best option for Cabinet meetings, says Minister Harmon

By Ariana Gordon MINISTER of State, Cabinet Secretary Joseph Harmon, has said that for the next four months, all Cabinet meetings will continue to be held at the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Headquarters at Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown, because the Ministry of the Presidency is undergoing renovation.

Minister Harmon made it clear that Cabinet meetings have to be hosted in a secure location, and discussions relative to the business of the people of Guyana must be done in a secure environment.

“It has to be in a place where the conversations or the discussions of Cabinet cannot be easily picked up on, or

understood by, or learned by, anybody else who is not entitled to receive that information…. In the view of Cabinet, the safest option was the Officers’ Club at Camp Ayanganna -- which provided the facilities for Cabinet to meet; for Cabinet to be able to do its recording; (for) discussions to be (held) in a secure place, which is not easily accessible; (and where discussions are not) easily heard by persons who are not authorised to receive the information of Cabinet discussions,” he explained.

The cost of acquiring the venue was also considered, he explained, as he disclosed that Government had explored using other locations.

Pointing to the Arthur Chung Conven-

tion Centre at Liliendaal, ECD, he noted that that venue is also soon to be undergoing repairs for four months, starting from December 4.

“There was a contract for the repairs and renovation to be done to the Cabinet Room here in this building (Ministry of the Presidency). I also announced a contract for the rehabilitation of the fence (and) gate as you come in from Shiv Chanderpaul Drive into the Ministry of the Presidency. There is a lot of work to be done on these buildings. You’d recognise that, since we came into office, we had to do a tremendous amount of work in this complex to bring it to the state (in which it now is),” the Minister explained.

Harmon noted that the Cabinet Room,

which is also used for swearing-in ceremonies and accreditations, has to undergo some form of rehabilitation; and he highlighted an issue with the air conditioning unit: “…it is old and it needs to be fixed, and we have to fix that. “(Cabinet Room) is not only for the members of Cabinet; it is for the Guyanese people at large (who) have to do business here in Guyana. When ambassadors or foreign dignitaries come to present their credentials and so on, they come here; and we have to ensure at all times that this country’s image is always at its best. And therefore the works to be done here at the Cabinet were identified very early in 2016,” he explained.

Monday October 31th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

19

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

23

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

Tharanga’s unbeaten century extends Lanka advantage (REUTERS)-Opener Tino Mawoyo scored an unbeaten 41 as Zimbabwe reached 88 for one at stumps at the end of the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka

South Africa Racing Tips Flamingo Park 08:20 hrs Justash 08:55 hrs Red Special 09:30 hrs Jayaash 10:00 hrs Kidmambo 10:30 hrs Kartouche English Racing Tips Hereford 09:00 hrs Adrrastos 10:00 hrs Jenny’s Day 11:00 hrs Kinda Lama 11:30 hrs Moulin Rouge 12:00 hrs On Demand Plumpton 09:40 hrs Graasten 10:10 hrs Queens Well 10:40 hrs Kapgarde King 11:10 hrs Red Orator 11:40 hrs Show’s Over 12:10 hrs Generous Jack Kempton 10:20 hrs Encore Moi 10:50 hrs Yalawn 11:20 hrs Issue 11:50 hrs Dream Of Summer 12:20 hrs Rousayan 12:50 hrs Sixties Groove

yesterday.

Replying to Sri Lanka’s first innings tally of 537 at the Harare Sports Club, Mawoyo and veteran Hamilton Masakadza, who scored 33 not out, were

skipper Rangana Herath.

Upal Tharanga finished 110 not out when Sri Lanka were finally dismissed in the final session yesterday, putting Zimbabwe into bat for 23 overs at the end of the day.

Tharanga played a patient innings to record a second Test ton after starting the day on 13 not out with Sri Lanka 317-4.

Zimbabwe took a single wicket in the opening session but restricted the run rate on a docile wicket before grabbing three more in the second session including that of Asela

13:20 hrs Goring Irish Racing Tips Wexford 09:15 hrs Sanibel Island 09:45 hrs Light That 10:15 hrs Burndown 10:45 hrs Tellthemnuttin 11:15 hrs Venitien De Mai 11:45 hrs Ball D’Arc 12:15 hrs Gleesons Tipp Galway 09:25 hrs Lettre De Cachet 09:55 hrs A Genie In Abottle 10:25 hrs Hash Brown 10:55 hrs Capture The Drama 11:25 hrs She’s A Star 11:55 hrs Scoir Mear 12:30 hrs Jelan American Racing Tips Philadelphia Park Race 1 Elevated Race 2 Zen’s Sunrise Race 3 Baduke Race 4 Trieste Race 5 Yo Soy El Lobo Race 6 Win With Pride Race 7 Get the W Race 8 Bessie’s Boy Race 9 Desert Valley

Gunaratne, who scored 54 on debut.

The hosts dropped several catches as Sri Lanka were finally all out after 155 overs with Kusal Perera having contributed a maiden test century on Saturday for the injury-ravaged visitors who are without injured captain Angelo Matthews and his deputy Dinesh Chandimal, plus several key bowlers.

The 26-year-old Perera, in his eighth Test appearance, hit 110 off 121 balls. Zimbabwe captain Graeme Creamer finished with four wickets for 142 runs.

SCOREBOARD

Upul Tharanga celebrates getting to a century on the second day in Harare. digging in as Zimbabwe Opener Brian Chari ended the day trailing by was dismissed lbw for five 449 runs. off the bowling of stand-in

SRI LANKA 1st innings (Overnight: 317-4) D. Karunaratne c Mawoyo b Cremer

56 K. Silva c Williams b Waller 94 K. Perera c Waller b Cremer 110 K. Mendis c Moor b Cremer 34 U. Tharanga not out 110 D. de Silva c Williams b Cremer

25 A. Gunaratne c Cremer b Williams

54 D. Perera run out (, Mpofu) 23 R. Herath c Waller b Mumba 7 S. Lakmal c Tiripano b Mpofu 7 L. Kumara c Moor b Mpofu 0 Extras (b-10 lb-7) 17 Total (all out, 155 overs) 537 Fall of wickets: 1-123 D. Karunaratne,2-198 K. Silva,3-282 K. Mendis,4-307 K. Perera,5-351 D. de Silva,6-450 A. Gunaratne,7-498 D. Perera,8-512 R. Herath,9-536 S.

Lakmal,10-537 L. Kumara Bowling: C. Mpofu 31 - 6 - 96 – 2,C. Mumba 24 - 2 - 101 – 1, D. Tiripano 26 - 7 - 71 – 0, G. Cremer 42 - 6 - 142 – 4, H. Masakadza 9 - 3 - 31 – 0, S. Williams 17 - 2 - 54 – 1, M. Waller 6 - 0 - 25 – 1.

ZIMBABWE 1st innings T. Mawoyo not out 41 B. Chari lbw b Herath 5 H. Masakadza not out 33 Extras (b-4 w-5) 9 Total (for 1 wickets, 23 overs) 88 Fall of wickets: 1-21 B. Chari To bat: C. Ervine, S. Williams, P. Moor, M. Waller, G. Cremer, D. Tiripano, C. Mumba, C. Mpofu Bowling: S. Lakmal 6 - 1 - 14 – 0, L. Kumara 4 - 0 - 34 - 0(w-5), R. Herath 9 - 1 - 29 – 1, D. Perera 4 - 0 - 7 – 0.

Gabriel, Bishoo star for Windies ...

From back page eran was fortunate to survive two let-offs in the 22nd over, when he was dropped at midwicket and survived a missed stumping off Roston Chase.

Yo u n i s d i d f a l l t o Chase in the afternoon, courtesy of a top-edge to midwicket, but West Indies were left furious when a review of a rejected lbw appeal against Misbah, on six, went in favour of Pakistan’s captain with the tourists convinced they had their man.

Aslam had appeared increasingly fluent as the day progressed, but failed to kick on to his maiden

Test hundred, instead falling to Bishoo courtesy of a misjudged reverse sweep in the first over after tea.

Pakistan rebuilt again as Misbah and Sarfraz shared 80, the latter typically aggressive.

Yet the Windies finished the day superbly, Bishoo striking twice in quick succession to have Misbah caught

behind, following another reverse sweep, and Mohammad Nawaz stumped for six.

The pacy Gabriel then got in on the act again by cleaning up Sarfraz and there was still time for Bishoo to claim a fourth scalp, Wahab Riaz falling lbw shortly before bad light forced a premature close.

(Omnisport)

SCOREBOARD

PAKISTAN 1st innings Sami Aslam c Holder b Bishoo 74 Azhar Ali c Brathwaite b Gabriel 0 Asad Shafiq lbw b Gabriel 0 Younis Khan c Johnson b Chase 51 *Misbah-ul-Haq c wkp Dowrich b Bishoo 53 +Sarfraz Ahmed b Gabriel 51 Mohammad Nawaz st wkp Dowrich b Bishoo 6 Wahab Riaz lbw b Bishoo 4 Yasir Shah not out 1 Mohammad Amir not out 6

Extras (lb4, w1, nb4) 9 TOTAL (8 wkts, 83 overs) 255 To bat: Zulfiqar Babar Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-107, 4-150, 5-230, 6-242, 7-248, 8-248.

Bowling: Gabriel 17-1-58-3 (nb2), Joseph 15-5-43-0 (w1, nb2), Holder 12-429-0, Chase 20-5-47-1, Bishoo 19-2-74-4.

WEST INDIES – *J Holder, K Brathwaite, L Johnson, D Bravo, M Samuels, J Blackwood, R Chase, +S Dowrich, D Bishoo, S Gabriel, A Joseph.

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

Bangladesh seal historic win after England’s dramatic collapse BANGLADESH claimed their first Test win over England as the tourists lost 10 wickets for 64 runs after tea on day three of the second Test in Dhaka.

Chasing 273, England collapsed from 100-0 to 164 all out, with Mehedi Hasan taking 6-77 and Shakib Al Hasan 4-49.

They earlier dismissed the hosts for 296 after dropping four catches.

Bangladesh had only beaten Zimbabwe and a weakened West Indies team in 95 previous Tests, but the 108-run win means the series finished 1-1.

England needed their highest successful run chase in Asia and looked well set after a century opening partnership between Alastair Cook and Ben Duckett.

But they lost all 10 wickets in 22.5 overs in the final session as Bangladesh secured the biggest win in their history.

Bangladesh had lost 72 of their previous Tests and last played in August 2015 because of security concerns in the country.

Duckett (56) scored his first Test half-century but was bowled by 19-year-old off-spinner Mehedi with the first ball after tea, prompting

…tourists lose 10 wickets for 64 runs after tea finish with six in the innings, 12 in the match and 19 in the series.

Openers Cook and Duckett, who batted together for the first time in the first Test in Chittagong, had only managed a best partnership of 26 in their previous three innings.

Duckett, 22, impressed with an aggressive 56, hitting seven fours and a six, and played a number of reverse sweeps and pull shots.

Bangladesh bowled all four spinners in the session leading up to tea but they took no wickets in helpful conditions.

Cook had scored four, 12 and 14 in the series but also batted fluently in a period Mehedi Hasan at the age of 19, stormed to his that seemed to swing the third five-wicket haul in four innings. game in England’s favour.

England will rue their the stunning collapse - the third spite successfully overturning worst in history by a team who one dismissal, the England failure to take early wickets captain was caught off Me- as Bangladesh added 116 had been 100 without loss.

Joe Root was lbw in the hedi by Mominul Haque at runs in the morning session and Cook’s side dropped four following over to Shakib, be- silly point.

Shakib then dismissed Ben catches. fore Gary Ballance and Moeen Imrul Kayes scored 78 Ali were dismissed in the same Stokes, Adil Rashid and Zafar but was dropped at leg slip Mehedi over shortly after- Ansari in quick succession.

Fittingly, Mehedi took the by Cook off Ansari, and wards.

Cook made 59 but, de- final wicket of Steven Finn to then by Root off Moeen in

the first 10 overs of the day.

Both were difficult catches but Duckett dropped a simple chance at deep mid-wicket later in the session with Shakib the batsman to benefit.

Finn also put down a difficult diving chance, while En-

gland chose not to review the umpire’s decision on two occasions when replays showed the batsman would have been given out had they done so.

Kayes’ innings and 41 from Shakib helped Bangladesh to 268-7 at lunch, but Stokes (3-52) and Rashid (452) helped England knock over the tail in 26 balls after lunch. (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD

BANGLADESH 1st innings 220 (T. Iqbal 104, M. Haque 66; M. Ali 5-57) England 1st innings 244 (J. Root 56; M. Hasan 6-82) Bangladesh 2nd innings (Overnight: 152-3) T. Iqbal c Cook b Ansari 40 I. Kayes lbw b Ali 78 M. Haque c Cook b Stokes 1 Mahmudullah b Ansari 47 S. Al Hasan b Rashid 41 M. Rahim c Cook b Stokes 9 Sa. Rahman lbw b Rashid 15 S. Hom not out 25 T. Islam c Bairstow b Stokes 5 M. Hasan c Root b Rashid 2 K. Rabbi c&b Rashid 7 Extras (b-17 lb-7 nb-1 w-1) 26 Total(all out, 66.5 overs) 296 Fall of wickets: 1-65 T. Iqbal,2-66 M. Haque,3-152 Mahmudullah,4-200 I. Kayes,5-238 S. Al Hasan,6-238 M. Rahim,7-268 Sa. Rahman,8-273 T. Islam,9-276 M. Hasan,10-296 K. Rabbi Bowling: S. Finn 3 - 0 - 18 – 0, M. Ali 19 - 2 - 60 – 1, Z. Ansari 19 - 0 - 76 – 2, B. Stokes 12 - 2 - 52 - 3(nb-1 w-1), A. Rashid 11.5 - 1 - 52 – 4, C.

Woakes 2 - 0 - 14 – 0.

ENGLAND 2nd innings (Target: 273 runs) A. Cook c M. Haque b M. Hasan 59 B. Duckett b M. Hasan 56 J. Root lbw b Al Hasan 1 G. Ballance c Iqbal b M. Hasan

5 M. Ali lbw b M. Hasan 0 B. Stokes b Al Hasan 25 J. Bairstow c Hom b M. Hasan

3 C. Woakes not out 9 A. Rashid lbw b Al Hasan 0 Z. Ansari c Kayes b Al Hasan 0 S. Finn lbw b M. Hasan 0 Extras (b-4 lb-2) 6 Total (all out, 45.3 overs) 164 Fall of wickets: 1-100 B. Duckett,2-105 J. Root,3-124 G. Ballance,3-124 G. Ballance,4-124 M. Ali,5-127 A. Cook,6-139 J. Bairstow,7-161 B. Stokes,8-161 A. Rashid,9-161 Z. Ansari,10-164 S. Finn Bowling: M. Hasan 21.3 - 2 - 77 – 6, S. Al Hasan 13 - 1 - 49 – 4, S. Hom 6 - 0 - 25 – 0, T. Islam 5 - 2 - 7 – 0.

Stunning Cibulkova Hazard and Costa give warning takes WTA Finals crown of Chelsea’s title ambitions

DOMINIKA Cibulkova produced a stunning display to be crowned WTA Finals champion with a straight-sets win over Angelique Kerber.

The Slovakian – who dropped to 66th in the rankings following her first-round exit at this year’s Australian Open, which Kerber won – was unplayable at times during yesterday’s 6-3 6-4 triumph.

She wowed the crowd with a high-quality showing that left the world number one – who had won each of her previous matches in Singapore, including an opener against Cibulkova – desperately searching for answers she could not find.

Cibulkova was frequently the aggressor, winding up her forehand to devastating effect as she stormed into a 3-0 lead.

An 85 per cent first serve ratio underlined the challenge facing Kerber, who did manage to get back to 3-2, only to surrender another game on serve as Cibulkova continued to find winners from all over the court.

The shot that provided Cibulkova with set point – a glorious passing stroke

By Martyn Herman

Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia celebrates with her trophy after victory in her singles final against Angelique Kerber at the WTA Finals in Singapore. duced in a 6-2 6-1 semi-final through the narrowest of gaps – highlighted her confidence as the seventh seed wrapped up the first set in 32 minutes.

Kerber needed to mount a response and was more animated between points, but still found her second serve often punished by her on-song opponent.

A sixth double fault in game seven proved costly as Cibulkova broke to 15, with Kerber’s performance a long way short of the one she pro-

win over defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska.

C i b u l k o v a ’s l a s t - f o u r match against Svetlana Kuznetsova, in which she lost the first set 6-1, lasted almost twice as long, but she showed no signs of fatigue.

There was, however, evidence of nerves, with Cibulkova spurning three championship points and saving two break points, before finally sealing a memorable victory with a fortuitous ricochet off the net.(Omnisport)

LONDON,(Reuters)-Chelsea’s points tally after 10 games shows they are twice as good as they were at this stage of last season’s Premier League campaign, which considering the form of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa is hardly surprising.

They were both on target yesterday as Chelsea outclassed Southampton 2-0 to move into fourth spot with 22 points -- just one behind Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

The poor form and questionable appetite of both Costa and Hazard was blamed partly for Chelsea’s dire start to last season that ultimately cost manager Jose Mourinho his job.

However, the duo who helped fire Chelsea to the 2014-15 title are thriving once again in Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 system.

Hazard’s opener after six minutes meant he has scored

in three consecutive Premier League games and has five for the season. This time last year he had failed to register and did not score his first league goal until April.

Likewise, Costa, looking again like the marauding bruiser who ran defences ragged when he first arrived at Stamford Bridge rather than the disinterested figure he cut early last season, already has eight league goals to his credit.

It took him until January to reach that total last season and he had managed just two in the league when Mourinho was sacked.

His second-half effort, a curling shot from 25 metres, was sublime but it was his work rate across the pitch that rubbed off on the Spain international’s team mates.

“When you see Eden and Diego, and Pedro, working very hard during the game, you are happy,” Conte said of his front three.

“They are strikers and usually it’s a bit difficult for the strikers to work for the team, but their commitment and work-rate is fantastic.”

Chelsea’s defending too has been unrecognisable this season. They have conceded nine goals compared to the 19 they had already leaked after 10 games under Mourinho a year ago.

Even with skipper John Terry fit to return yesterday, Brazilian David Luiz was again preferred alongside Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta and did not put a foot out of place.

“I’m very happy after this performance. I saw great commitment, work rate -- with the ball and without it. For the fourth game we keep a clean sheet, it’s fantastic,” Conte said.

“It’s early for us to speak about title contenders. We have to work very hard to continue. We can improve a lot. We must improve.”

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

Windies A seal clean sweep after Mohammed, McCarty hit tons

BAD light denied Sri Lanka A in Colombo as they fell eight runs short of the Duckworth-Lewis revised target of 257, conceding the one-day series 0-3 to West Indies A. An interruption due to rain in the 12th over had reduced the match to 47 overs a side. West Indies A made 305 for 5 in that time with centuries from captain Jason Mohammed and Andre McCarthy.

But Sri Lanka A were taking a right tilt at the target.

They needed 58 runs in 54 balls with three wickets in hand, and they had hard-hitting allrounder Dasun Shanaka at the crease on 32 off 26

when the umpires called the players off the field due to bad light. With no further cricket possible, Sri Lanka A were left agonisingly short.

West Indies A, though, would have been thankful for the runs they had on the board. They had won the toss, opted to bat and found themselves at 59 for 3 in the 15th over before Mohammed and McCarthy joined forces.

Their 163-run partnership not only revived the innings but put their team in a position of dominance. Mohammed

finished unbeaten on 105 off 108 deliveries while McCarthy - from being 6 off 13 - racked up 102 off 75 balls, hitting left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana for four fours in the 31st over.With a total of 305 on the board, West Indies A strengthened their hold of the game by allowing only one Sri Lanka A batsman - opener Danushka Gunathilaka - to cross fifty. The hosts were 166 for 6 when their lower-middle order started fighting back.

Pathirana and Shanaka hammered 51 runs in 33 balls

for the seventh wicket and when West Indies A broke that stand, Nuwan Kulasekara and Shanaka bashed 31 in 13 balls to inspire hopes of a consolation victory. But it was not to be.

Having lost the game by such a narrow margin, they may have wondered how things might turned out if their bowlers had pressed having reduced West Indies A to 59 for 3, or about how Charith Asalanka had eaten up 41 balls to make only 23.(ESPN Cricinfo)

Hamilton wins in Mexico Guyana Jaguars four day but Rosberg is right behind Jason Mohammed (left) and Andre McCarthy

practice game today

DEFENDING champions, the Guyana Jaguars will commence their final preparatory work for the Professional Cricket League (PCL) 2016/2017 season with a four day warm-up match set for today at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

The teams will be led by current West Indies ‘A’ team player Vishal Singh and national player Christopher Barnwell.

This match comes after seven rounds of competitive Jaguars three-day League Cricket played across the country, comprising eight teams with players from across the three counties.

The back-to-back WICB/ PCL Regional 4-Day champions will seek the treble when the

Vishal Singh Tournament commences on 11 November when Guyana take on Jamaica Scorpions at the Providence Stadium..

In an effort to retain the title, Cricket Guyana Incorporated (CGI) has stated that the selectors are authorised to choose players from outside of selected franchise 15 on a “Pay For Play,” arrangement

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday October 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) Wazir, Haniff, Mustaq & Sadiq (2) Yasir Shah (PAK) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the only WI bowler to take nine wickets in a Test innings? Where and when?

(2) Put these in order beginning with the man who played most Test matches against Pakistan: Shiv Chanderpaul; Brian Lara; Clive Lloyd; Desmond Haynes Answers in tomorrow’s issue

should the need arise.

This, according to CGI, is to achieve the highest standards of competitiveness and professionalism throughout the seasons activities - in both matches and training.

The two teams for the practice match will be without Paul Wintz and Steven Jacobs, both of whom are out due to injury, as well as Leon Johnson and Devendra Bishoo who are on West Indies duties.

Additionally, Assad Fudadin, Veersammy Permaul and Ronsford Beaton are also excluded from the list as they are on duty with the West Indies ‘A’ team.

Team A will comprise, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rajendra Chandrika, Shemron Hetmyer, Vishal Singh, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Raymond Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Sherfane Rutherford, Clinton Pestano, Anthony Adams, Raun Johnson, Gajanan Suknanan, Jonathan Foo and Ashasya Persaud.

They will be coached by Esuan Crandon while the Assistant Coach/Manager will be Julian Moore.

Team B includes, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Robin Bacchus, Bhaskar Yadram, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Christopher Barnwell, Kemo Paul, Tevin Imlach, Seon Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Eon Hooper, Gudakesh Motie, Keon Joseph, Steven Sankar and Kevon Boodie, Team B will be coached

by Michael Franco and managed by Clive Grimmond.

By Alan Baldwin

M E X I C O C I T Y, ( R e u ters)-Lewis Hamilton won the Mexican Formula One Grand Prix yesterday to cut Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg’s lead to 19 points and prevent the German taking his first title with two races to spare.

The pole-to-flag victory was the triple world champion’s eighth of the season and put him level with France’s Alain Prost in the all-time lists with 51 career victories. Only Michael Schumacher (91) has won more.

Rosberg, who would have clinched the title had he won and Hamilton finished 10th or lower, finished 8.354 seconds behind to anchor champions Mercedes to their sixth one-two finish of the season.

The German can clinch the title if he wins the penultimate round at Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit in Brazil in two weeks’ time.

“Lewis has been too fast this weekend,” said Rosberg. “I just have to accept second place.”

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel took third place when Red

Bull’s Dutch teenager Max Verstappen, who provided much of the afternoon’s entertainment and controversy, was penalised after the chequered flag for gaining an advantage when going off.

That triggered the main drama of the day.

“He has to let me go, he has to let me go,” Vettel, who had been trying to pass the Red Bull driver on the 67th of the 71 laps, exclaimed furiously over the team radio as Verstappen refused to concede the place.

The German, who also directed a foul-mouthed outburst at race director Charlie Whiting, swerved across to the Red Bull driver after they crossed the line and wagged a raised finger theatrically.

“I was using a lot of sign language. You have to understand the adrenaline,” said the four-times champion.

Verstappen defended himself with vigour, saying Vettel should go back to school.

“I don’t know how many times he is using very bad language,” said the teenager. “I will speak to him because this is

how ridiculous he is handling it, he is just a very frustrated guy at the moment.”

TIME PENALTY Verstappen joined the Mercedes drivers in the waiting room before the podium ceremony but was hauled out after stewards imposed a five second time penalty and Vettel had to run down the pit lane to the podium.

The arguments and accusations continued after the ceremonies, with Vettel and Verstappen’s Australian team mate Daniel Ricciardo under investigation for some late wheel-banging.

“He (Vettel) is smiling now.

He doesn’t deserve to be up there (on the podium),” declared the Australian. “I thought I had every right to be there but he kept closing the door under braking. I was frustrated with that.”

In a race that saw all but one of the 22 starters finish, the safety car was deployed on the second lap when Mexican Esteban Gutierrez tagged Pascal Wehrlein’s Manor and pushed him into Marcus Ericsson’s Sauber.

Paddy Lowe, engineer, technical director of Mercedes, race winning Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, second placed finisher Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany and third placed finishing Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (L to R) celebrate during the victory ceremony after the race. REUTERS/Henry Romero

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 31, 2016

Urling maintains a contract existed

By Ras Wadada

CLINTON Urling,former chairman of the Normalisation Committee (NC)which was installed by FIFA to administrate the game of football, is still maintaining that a contract was made between the inaugural eight Elite Clubs and the then football governing authority in Guyana.

In response to comments made last Friday by the head of the GFF,Wayne Forde,at a Press Conference to announce the start of the Elite League, the former Chairman spoke to Chronicle Sport via telephone from New York.

“I maintain my position that the NC,being the representative head of the GFF,a year ago put together the modalities of the League where we held several discussions over months with all the parties involved and at the end

…replies to GFF president

Former NC chairman Clinton Urling

of it all we had a mutual agreement between the GFF under the NC and the eight members of the GFF’s Elite League.

“We agreed upon, and it is not just the Rules and Regulations that we agreed upon, we also, at that time agreed on how we will administer the relegation and delegation part where teams would have been part of

the current construct for a period of two years.The reason for that two years came about because teams indicated that they would have invested enormous sums of monies to participate in the first League and it would have been disadvantageous for them to participate for just one year,since it would be difficult to recoup their investments.So we agreed mutually to run the League with the current construct for two years.

“Regulations are onthe-field regulations and I think that is what Mr.Forde is referring to, with his extensive football knowledge, but ours went beyond on-the-field, ours actually talked about the structure of how the League would be administered. Again agreements are contracts between parties and those

agreements should be honoured.

“For me, I have no further comment on this particular matter and issue. If the ExCo believes gravely that back pedaling on the agreement is the right thing for them to do they are free to do so. In my judgement the better approach would have been just the way we came up with the contract by mutual agreement through negotiations and compromises with all parties involved. I would have recommended to this current ExCo to go the similar route to resolve this impasse that had arrived and I hope this is the end of this scenario.

“I am surprised at the accusation that I have been listening to one side of the story and that is not so, I have been intimately involved in estab-

Ninvalle secures bronze in Peru stint

KAYSAN Ninvalle,Guyana’s first Cadet Player to be selected for the World Hopes Latin American Table Tennis Union (LATTU) Selection and Training Camp in Peru,is returning home with a bronze medal.

The Chase Academy student,who is the Caribbean and National 11 years and under table tennis champion,finished third among the 11 years and under player at the camp which was held from October 18-23.

Ninvalle could have lost because of a blunder by the referee.However, his coach Linden Johnson recognized that the scores were incorrect and intervened.The mistake was corrected and Ninvalle was awarded the victory and received his medal and an apology from LATTU’s president, Juman Vila.

Ninvalle was one of 17 players from 9 national associations in the Latin Table Tennis Union which includes Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica,

Kaysan Ninvalle during a doubles match.

Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago.

The selectees participated in seven days of high-level intensity training with two days of competition under International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) head coach Eva Jeler of Germany,who was assisted by Lincon Yasuda of Brazil.

“These young players have a lot of talent, a natural talent; they need to be much better technically.

The focus of the training has to be on basic techniques. If the foundations of a house are not strong, you will never have a big and safe house.”Jeler stated.

Meanwhile, Coach John-

son indicated that the training camp was intense and will be of much help to Ninvalle in the future.

Johnson added that Ninvalle held his own against the region’s best players and indicated that the ITTF experts recommended a particular regimen for the 11-year-old which he would implement and share with other young talents.

He said the training regimen used was not different from the ones used in Guyana but had specific emphasis on improving the players’ technical proficiency, movement, stroke production, fitness and knowledge transition to the campers.

On the experience gained, Ninvalle said that the experience was a great one for him and added that the training was quiet rigorous and a test of his fitness.

He added that despite a knee injury sustained during practice,he learned a lot and is committed to working even harder at improving technical and tactical elements of his game.

lishing this League and my comments are based on my knowledge,so I have been talking to the Media from where I am here in NY. “It would be premature of the ExCo to host a press conference to announce the start of the League when four of your clubs, including the two top teams are not in, due to them seeking an arbitration the day before…maybe that is a tactic of extensive football knowledge that I don’t have and Mr Forde has. It will be interesting to see what happens if those four clubs aren’t a part of the League.

“This is certainly not what you want just before your premier competition starts. When we launched the Elite League we said it was going to be the litmus test for the success of the Guy-

ana Football Federation and football in Guyana generally.

“In Guyana, we still seem to love to approach the national team on the International arena as the Premier football product, but for us the NC at the time, we felt that the Elite League, which has a longer term investment in our local players development and also was a logical avenue for upcoming younger players to say we want to ascribe to become Elite League players, should be the product and that was an ultimate goal of the programme.

“To start your premier competition under these dark cloud circumstances is not good for the game in Guyana and for me the way it is looking and, if it is not resolved, we have failed that litmus test”, Urling quipped.

GBA/Terrence Alli National Open Boxing Championships

Republicans, GDF locked in `battle’ for championship honours

THE Republican and Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Boxing Gyms were up to last evening locked in `battle’ as they both were seeking championship honours when the Guyana Boxing Association’s Terrence Alli National Open Championships was scheduled to conclude at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

The Republicans dominated the soldiers on the opening night (Friday), but the latter brought their full `armoury’ on Saturday evening and took control of the situation and in the process, set up an interesting night of finals last evening.

The soldiers’ stronghold on Saturday night’s bouts was helped somewhat by what most fans believe was poor officiating,which led to protests by the inmates of the Georgetown Prisons.This caused Deputy Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, to call an emergency meeting at which he asked the boxers if they want to continue their participation in the tournament.The prison inmates all said they wanted to continue with the tournament and hencethe night’s card progressed.

Shortly after, the soldiers were not too pleased with a decision which went against their own and they too protested;resulting in another meeting, this time among the soldiers themselves, but at the end of it the night’s card continued.

At the end of the night’s proceedings, the soldiers won five of their nine bouts while the Republicans secured four victories and lost six, but two of those losses were against their own.

Going into last night’s finals in 11 divisions, both the Republicans and Soldiers were equally balanced and it may take the efforts of the other gyms – Essequibo, Forgotten Youth Foundation and Rose Hall Jammers – to be a stumbling block and have the last say as to who is the champion gym in this year’s national open championship.

Urling maintains a contract existed Third and final Test in Sharjah

(See Story on page 27 )

Gabriel, Bishoo star for Windies on opening day …Pakistan reach 255-8

W

EST Indies enjoyed success with the ball at the beginning and end of the opening day of the third Test in Sharjah to boost their hopes of avoiding a series whitewash at the hands of Pakistan.

The Windies have suffered a miserable tour of the United Arab Emirates, failing to record a victory over Pakistan in any format.

However, after being invited to field in the final

Pacy Shannon Gabriel picked up two wickets.

Devendra Bishoo took four wickets after the tea session.

Test, Jason Holder’s men claimed two wickets in the opening over through Shannon Gabriel.

Sami Aslam (74), Younis Khan (51), Misbah-ul-Haq (53) and Sarfraz Ahmed (51) all registered half-centuries thereafter to lift Pakistan into a promising position.

However, a flurry of late wickets saw Misbah’s side slump from 230-4 to 255-8, leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo picking up 4-74 as Gabriel finished the day with figures of 3-58.

Gabriel’s initial efforts

resulted in Azhar Ali – whose scores in this series read 302*, 2, 0, 79, 0 – and Asad Shafiq being dismissed for ducks.

Azhar edged an outswinging delivery to second slip, before a successful review from the Windies saw Shafiq adjudged lbw to one that nipped back.

A century stand between opener Aslam and Younis got Pakistan back on track, although the vetSee page 24

Team Cocos’ Jamal John dominates Ming vaults Digicel Cancer Awareness cycle road race to F4 win ---Defending champion Raynauth Jeffrey settles for third in Mexico

By Michael DaSilva

IN what can be described as sheer dominance, Team Coco’s Jamal John completely dominated the Guyana Cycling Federation’s Digicel sponsored Cancer Awareness Week annual cycle road race staged around the outer circuit of the National Park yesterday.

John,who got support from his teammates,returned two hours 54 minutes 11.72 seconds in winning the event ahead of Team Evolution’s Raul Leal.In the process, John won four of the five prime prizes that were up for grabs, while Leal won the other.

From the start of the 30lap race, John and Leal went to the fore and by the completion of the 10 th lap, the duo opened an approximately two-minute lead on the peloton which they maintained to the end of the gruelling event.

The main chasing pack that made up the peloton was joined by the second chasing pack with 18 laps remaining, but instead of upping the pace and trying to connect with the two leaders, the pack of more than 25 riders went to `Sleep’ and allowed John and Leal to open up their lead which

By Stephan Sookram

Jamal John at right staves off the challenge of Raul Leal to win the Digicel sponsored Cancer Awareness cycle road race yesterday around the outer circuit of the National Park (Samuel Maughn photo). they enjoyed to the end.

Team Evolution’s Orville Hinds Jackson and Kennard Lovell in However, with one lap re- to take third. Christopher Grif- that order. maining, John and Leal broke fith,also of Team Evolution,Meanwhile, the 2016 cyinto a match sprint mode and placed fifth. cling season will close next as the two rounded the turn for Team United’s Raphael weekend with the staging of the the finish, Leal went pass John Leung was the first junior to National Sports Commission/ who immediately responded cross the finish line, while Jornel Ministry of Health/Guyana and narrowly edged the Team Yearwood finished second and Cycling Federation’s `Ride for Evolution rider to the finish.

Christopher Cornelius third.

Life’ Three-Stage cycle race Both John and Leal had Junior Niles of Team Coco’s which commences on Saturlapped the entire field after 18 won the veterans Under-45 race day morning with a 65-mile laps and so there was a race on ahead of Warren McKay and Jai- road race from Georgetown for the minor places and in the karan Sukhai respectively, while to Mahaicony and back and process, the defending cham- in the veterans’ over 45 years continues with a 10-mile indipion, Team Coco’s, Raynauth age group, Raymond Newton vidual time-trial on Saturday `Obeah man’ Jeffrey outsprinted won ahead of Eion `Dumb Boy’ afternoon.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

OVERSEAS based driver Calvin Ming continued his climb up the racing ladder as he completed a podium-filled weekend in Mexico.

Racing in the Formula 4 series in the supporting race for the Formula 1, 19th round, Ming bettered his third place finish Saturday with a race win over the rest of the field yesterday.

Driving under the banner of the Mexican Ram Racing team, the Guyanese who participated courtesy of an invitation extended by his team,is surely among the championship front-runners right now.

In Saturday’s first race, Ming started from sixth on the

grid and fell to the back before the first corner,courtesy of some contact which spun him just before the grid area.However, he recovered enough to push through the pack in the 30 minute race to finish third on the grid;in front of approximately 130,000 spectators at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit in Mexico City.

Race two had him starting from third before pushing his way up to first,utilising the skills gained through Karting and the recently concluded F1600 series.

After the race Ming thanked the team for the car set up and the invitation; indicating that he was overjoyed by his performance this weekend.

Calvin Ming (centre) is all smiles as he stands on the F4 podium after winning race-two yesterday.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016