Guyana chronicle e paper 01 22 2017

SEE INSIDE

Oneeka Williams M.D.

Author and Surgeon ► Page II

See inside:

Down Albouystown ► Page III Way

Samuel Medas just can’t wait for the Awards next monthVIII

‘Better together’ ► Page

The biggest search for a XXIII fugitive in Guiana ► Page

No. 104801

SUNDAY JANUARY 22, 2017

Price: $140 (VAT Inclusive)

Page 9

– Pres. Granger says PNCR committed to coalition politics

Pay to park from tomorrow Page 3

From tomorrow, persons who park in certain areas in Georgetown will have to pay. [Delano Williams photo]

Mason stabbed to death at Page 2 Stabroek Market

US Ambassador remains in Guyana Page 8

Convicted cocaine trafficker busted again

Page 2

…drugs found in Baking Powder bags, Banko wine

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Convicted Mason stabbed to death cocaine trafficker at Stabroek Market busted again …mini-bus conductor arrested

By Rabindra Rooplall A FATHER of three was robbed of his Iphone and stabbed to death on Friday night in the vicinity of Stabroek Market. At the time of the incident,

the man was waiting for a mini-bus to go to his Leopold Street, Werk-enRust, Georgetown home.

Dead is Rawle Rodrigues, 40, who was a mason and carpenter. This newspaper understands

…drugs found in Baking Powder bags, Banko wine

that Rodrigues was stabbed with a knife to the region of the heart around 21:30hrs and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The police have apprehended a 28-year-old bus conductor of Albouystown, in connection with the robbery/ murder.

Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, said that investigations revealed that Rodrigues and two males had an altercation, when he was stabbed once to his chest by one of the

Dead: Rawle Rodrigues

men on Croal Street, in the vicinity of Demico House.

During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, the victim’s sister, Anastacia Rodrigues, said that her brother was not a trouble-maker; she believes that the stabbing was unwarranted if the perpetrators wanted just his smartphone.

“He was taking a few drinks before and was walking home when he get robbed and stabbed to the heart; he normally has two phones, an Iphone and a Blu, he was walking with the Iphone in his hand when they attacked him, he only had a $100 in his pocket to go home,” the sister said.

She explained that the man who is in police custody is known to the family.

“I don’t think he know was my brother when they rob him…I was told that they traced my brother from the [West Bank] bus park where he was drinking and they attacked him when he pulled out his Iphone, and they thought he had money.”

In tears, Anastacia recalled that five years ago, her sister Latisha ‘Samantha’ Rodrigues was also killed at Stabroek Market while waiting on a minibus to return home.

“We didn’t get any justice for my sister’s death and now this happens.”

Thirty-one-year-old Latisha ‘Samantha’ Rodrigues was a Stabroek Market vendor and of Lot 80 Breda Street, Georgetown. She was reportedly stabbed once in the region of her chest on September 26, 2010.

The intercepted Baking / Custard powder bags and Banko wine that contained cocaine (Demerarawaves photo)

A SOUTH Ruimveldt resident, who served a jail term for cocaine trafficking, was once again arrested, attempting to ship cocaine to Canada recently.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that 63-year-old Dennis Jones, was arrested after he attempted to ship cocaine to Canada in baking powder bags and Banko wine bottles.

Anti-narcotics agents intercepted a box containing a total of 9 kilos in Baking / Custard powder bags and 1.62 kilos of liquid cocaine in two Banko wine bottles found in a mail destined for Canada. The package was due to leave Guyana Friday evening.

Authorities said that

Jones is expected to be charged this week. CANU agents are continuing their probe to figure out if any other person may have assisted the man in one way or the other.

In December 2012, Jones, an exporter at the time, was nabbed after he tried to ship over 300 kilos of cocaine in a container of packaged soap powder to Niger Republic, in Africa. He was sentenced to four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to narcotics trafficking.

Jones of Caneview Avenue, South Ruimveldt Park, was deported to Guyana from the United States, after being convicted of conspiracy to traffic cocaine.

Albouystown man caught with illegal gun, ammo, cannabis AN Albouystown, Georgetown, resident was early Saturday morning arrested by police ranks for the unlawful possession of a firearm, ammunition and narcotics.

According to a police release, ranks acted on information and swooped down on the home of the 24-year-old at about 03:45hrs and carried out a search. They found a .45 pistol with five matching rounds and 125 grams of cannabis.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Pay to park from tomorrow

By Telesha Vidya Ramnarine GUYANESE, for the first time ever, will tomorrow morning commence the use of parking meters in Georgetown with the owners of Smart City Solutions, the company that has implemented the system, saying that the populace has had enough time to get acquainted with the new developments.

Owners of the firm, Amir Oren, Director of Business Development and Simon Moshelle, Operations Manager, along with General Manager Carlos Gochez and Public Relations Consultant Kit Nascimento, sat down for an interview with the Chronicle on Saturday and provided clarity.

During the interview at the Marriott Hotel, Oren reminded this newspaper that there had been talks about the parking meters since May 2016 and that the project was initially set to be launched in September last.

Hence, the public has had an extra four months to acquaint itself with the new system.

In fact, the managers believe that the public awareness given to the parking meters, including press briefings and demonstrations of how to use the system, was greater than any other major project recently. To begin with, the meters were installed in streets within the boundaries of Water to Camp Streets; Brickdam to Quamina Street. The second phase of the project will see an extension of the boundaries within three months time. Meters will be installed between Camp Street and Vlissengen Road and Brickdam to Lamaha Street.

Although City Hall will receive 20 per cent of the company’s gross revenue, an amendment was done that will see the municipality eventually receiving as much as 30 per cent.

“The City Council does not spend one dollar, but they are getting 20 per cent because we are using their asset. A lot of people have used this headline ‘80 per cent for the company and 20 per cent for the city.’ But I’d be very happy to swap that.

I’d be very happy with that,” Oren expressed.

PREPAID PARKING CARDS Prepaid parking cards will be available at over 100 places, including pharmacies, gas stations, Money-

Gram offices, post offices, City Hall, and such like places. The intention is for them to become as available as phone cards are.

The cards will be available for $500, $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. The $5000 card will carry a onehour free parking bonus and the $10,000 card will carry a two-and-a-half hours free parking.

parking permits,” ex“Right now, we are introducing disposable of plained Oren. cards; in a month or two, we will introduce re- The officials have also to negotiate with chargeable cards, so that people will be able to promised media houses. carry one card as they go and which someone “If the Chronicle came can top up with any amount. And then we will to us and says we have 20 what discount introduce an application which is a mobile pay- journalists, will you give us? We can ment and which allows you to have a balance talk.”

In fact, the company is on your card and even pay for a friend” - Amir willing to negotiate with Oren, Owner of Smart City Solutions other groups and companies to provide “customised” solutions to their parking problems. The customer care telephone number is 231 7275.

From left are: Director of Business Development, Amir Oren; Operations Manager, Simon Moshelle; General Manager, Carlos Gochez and Public Relations Consultant Kit Nascimento. [Delano Williams photo]

“Right now, we are introducing disposable cards; in a month or two, we will introduce rechargeable cards, so that people will be able to carry one card as they go and which someone can top up with any amount. And then we will introduce an application which is a mobile payment and which allows you to have a balance on your card and even pay for a friend,” Oren explained.

The application has already been developed, but the officials said they prefer to introduce one method at a time so as not to overwhelm users. The application will be used in a similar way persons use their phones to borrow credit, check their balances, and so forth, and it will not replace payments via the actual meters; it will just be another option for payment.

Meanwhile, company officials have said that they have already filed an application for VAT to be excluded from parking costs, which if approved, will see no VAT being added to the $50 per rotation (15 minutes).

PARKING PERMITS AND THE WORKPLACE Oren and Moshelle made it clear that there will be no exemptions for government officials when it comes to parking in front of their residences.

“If their household falls

within the area, they can apply for residential permits like everyone else. There is no exception at all,” said Oren.

Furthermore, he said persons have already started to apply for residential parking permits, which will be subject to a number of considerations.

“You have to be resident there, you have to prove that you are a resident there, their car has to be registered to that residence, and it has to be the type of situation where you don’t otherwise have parking. And if that’s the case, the application will be processed and there might be a steep discount for the first car and a lower discount for the second car.”

As for the workplace, there are a number of considerations that businesses can apply for that would redound to the benefit of their employees. Each company will have to work out with their employees, how they will settle the issue of payment for parking.

“If they have the need for loading and unloading activities, they can apply for a regulation to be implemented; and so if their application has been approved and someone parks during the loading and offloading times, they can call us and we can enforce for them.

“Where businesses have large fleets, they can apply for permits for those vehicles that are in those fleets

and based on the number of vehicles, there are different types of discounts that can be applied. If an establishment has many parking meter spaces right outside of their business, they can apply for a certain number

DO NOT RISK PARKING WITHOUT PAYING According to Oren, the company will have several enforcement teams patrolling the parking meter areas, including their own officers and those from the City Constabulary of the Mayor and City Council.

“The meter is not going to find you, but our enforcement team will,” Oren said about those who may feel they can park without paying.

“You will be immobilised and there’s going to be a fine. Teams will be patrolling their routes and they will be checking to see what spaces are paid

for, versus what spaces are parked in. The meters are quite high-tech and we have people with portable devices patrolling.

“These meters are ISO-certified and are produced by very high standards. This very model of meter is in 3,500 cities across the world. The equipment we use is really the best of the best.

“These meters are not sitting out there and we don’t know what’s happening to them. They are being monitored. We know exactly what’s happening, if anyone’s tampering with this meter, if anyone is trying to open it or hit it. We also know if there’s any malfunction and what’s the average user ability of this meter.

So, if we see that for some reason, a meter does not have certain activity, this will trigger an alarm in our system.

“Furthermore, if for some unusual reason a meter is malfunctioning, it would be wrong for those wishing to park to assume that they can park for free.

“It’s your responsibility to go to another meter and pay. The meter is just a point of payment, so you can go to any meter to pay for that space,” said Oren.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Women stage massive anti-Trump protests across U.S. [Reuters] - WOMEN took to the streets in unexpectedly large numbers in major U.S. cities on Saturday in mass protests against U.S. President Donald Trump, in an early indication of the strong opposition the Republican may face in office.

Hundreds of thousands of women - many wearing pink knit hats to evoke comments

by Trump that were triggered outrage among many

women - filled long stretches of downtown Washington around the White House and National Mall. Hundreds of thousands more women thronged New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston to rebuke Trump on his first full day in office.

Tr u m p h a s a n g e r e d many liberal Americans with comments seen as demeaning to women, Mexicans and Muslims, and worried

some abroad with his inaugural vow on Friday to put “America First” in his decision-making. The Women’s March on Washington appeared to be larger than the crowds that turned a day earlier to witness Trump’s

Washington reminded her of the protests of the 1960s against the Vietnam War. “I’m 58 years old and I can’t believe we are having to do this again,” Foyster said. She said that after the Vietnam War the push for

on Saturday, wrote, “I am honored to serve you, the great American People, as your 45th President of the United States!” He made no mention of the protests.

Trump attended an interfaith service at Washington

People gather for the Women’s March in Washington U.S., January 21, 2017.

REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

sunday January 22th, - 13:30 hrs (Day) Monday January 23th, - 14:30 – 2:00(Night) Tuesday January 24th,- 14:30 – 3:00(Night)

inauguration on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. No official estimates of the crowd size were available, but the demonstrators appeared to easily exceed the 200,000 organizers had expected.

In Los Angeles the Sister March estimated it drew 750,000 demonstrators, and a planned march in Chicago grew so large that organizers did not attempt to parade through the streets but instead staged a rally. Police said more than 125,000 people attended. The protests illustrated the depth of the division in the country, which is still reeling from the bitterly fought 2016 election campaign. Trump stunned the world by defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton, the first woman nominated for president by a major U.S. party.

Pam Foyster, a resident of Ridgway, Colorado, said Saturday’s atmosphere in

women’s rights and civil rights made her “believe anything was possible. But here we are again.”

Although Republicans now control the White House and both houses of Congress, Trump faces entrenched opposition from segments of the public as he starts his term, in contrast to the honeymoon period that a new president typically experiences at the outset. A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found Trump had the lowest favorability rating of any incoming U.S. president since the 1970s.

Tens of thousands of protesters filled streets of midtown Manhattan, while around the world thousands of women took to the streets of Sydney, London, Tokyo and other cities in Europe and Asia in “sister marches” against Trump.

Trump, in a Twitter post

National Cathedral and then visited the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters.

SUBWAY OVERWHELMED The Washington march stressed the city’s Metro subway system, with riders reporting enormous crowds and some end-of-line stations temporarily turning people away when parking lots filled and platforms became overcrowded.

The Metro reported 275,000 rides as of 11 a.m.

Saturday, 82,000 more than the 193,000 reported at the same time on Friday, the day of Trump’s inauguration, and eight times normal Saturday volume. No official crowd estimates were available from the National Park Service or Washington police.

Trump on Saturday angrily attacked media reports, in-

cluding photos, that showed crowds at Friday’s inaugural had been smaller than those seen in 2009 and 2013 when Barack Obama was inaugurated for his first and second terms as president. Overhead photos of the area showed significantly smaller crowds on Friday compared with Obama’s first inauguration eight years ago.

“I made a speech, I looked out, the field was, it looked like a million, million and a half people,” Trump said at his visit to the CIA. “They showed a field where there were practically nobody standing there.”

Saturday’s march was peaceful, a sharp contrast to the day before when blackclad anti-establishment activists, among the hundreds of demonstrators protesting against Trump, smashed windows, set vehicles on fire and fought with riot police, who responded with stun grenades. Washington prosecutors on Saturday said about $100,000 in damage had been done on Friday and 230 adults and five minors had been arrested.

Many protesters on Saturday wore knitted pink cat-eared “pussy hats,” in reference to Trump’s claim in the 2005 video that was made public weeks before the election that he grabbed women by the genitals. The Washington march featured speakers, celebrity appearances and a protest walk along the National Mall.

Crowds filled more than 10 city blocks of Independence Avenue, and people spilled onto side streets and the adjoining National Mall. Among the well-known figures who attended were Madonna, who swore while discussing Trump before singing her 1989 hit “Express Yourself,” singer Cher and former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who waved to supporters as his walked his yellow Labrador, Ben.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE JANUAry 22, 2017

Top Brazil judge dies in plane crash [BBC] - A prominent Brazilian Supreme Court judge has died in a plane crash. Two other bodies were found at the crash site in the sea near Paraty, some 250km (160 miles) south of Rio de Janeiro.

Teori Zavascki, 68, was overseeing a massive corruption investigation at the state oil company, Petrobras. Dozens of politicians have been arrested as part of the inquiry, known as Operation Car Wash, over the past two years.

Prosecutors say politicians were paid vast amounts in exchange for granting lucrative contracts to private companies that had overcharged Petrobras. Mr Zavascki’s plane crashed into the sea in heavy rain.

“The curve the pilot was making seemed too severe,” one eyewitness, Lauro Koehler told local media.

“But the plane kept curving, to the point that my wife screamed, ‘It’s going to crash!’ Then the

plane dropped into the sea.”

President Michel Temer has declared three days of national mourning following Mr Zavascki’s death, calling him “a good man, and a (symbol of) pride for all Brazilians”.

Mr Zavascki had been investigating executives from Odebrecht, Latin America’s largest construction firm. Odebrecht has admitted to paying $1bn in bribes to obtain in contracts in 12 different countries.

Judge Teori Zavascki was a well-known figure in Brazil

U.S. prosecutors seek $14bn from El Chapo [BBC] - Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has pleaded not guilty in the U.S. to charges that he ran the world’s largest drug-trafficking operation.

The head of the Sinaloa cartel was extradited from Mexico on Thursday. U.S. prosecutors want an order to seize $14bn (£11.3bn) of his assets.

In 2015, Mr Guzman famously escaped from a high-security prison through a tunnel - while being recorded on CCTV. He had fought against extradition since his recapture in early 2016.

Federal authorities have sought Mr Guzman for more than 20 years. He faces 17 charges including drug trafficking, illegal firearms use, money laundering, and smuggling cash across the border.

Ahead of his first appearance in a New York court, prosecutors revealed that they would seek the civil forfeiture of Mr Guzman’s assets to the amount of $14bn - an indication of the extent of his empire.

“He’s a man known for no other life than a life of crime, violence, death and destruction. And now he’ll have to answer to that. That’s who Chapo Guzman is,” said US attorney Robert Capers.

If convicted, Mr Guzman faces a mandatory life sentence.

Mr Capers also revealed that prosecutors were not aware the extradition was happening in advance.

“Guzman’s story is not one of a do-gooder or a Robin Hood or even one of a famous escape artist who miraculously escaped from Mexican prisons on multiple

occasions,” he said.

“Guzman’s destructive and murderous rise as an international narcotics trafficker is akin to that of a small cancerous tumour that metastasized and grew into a full blown scourge.”

His ability to evade capture made Mr Guzman stand out from other drug gang leaders. His first high profile escape was in 2001 when it

was reported - despite some doubts - that he had escaped from a maximum security prison by hiding in a laundry basket.

He was recaptured thirteen years later. But in 2015, he walked out of his cell through a cleanly-dug tunnel, while under video surveillance. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto had initially resisted extraditing the cartel

leader to the US, insisting that he should face justice at home.

But after Mr Guzman was recaptured in January 2016, Pena Nieto changed his mind on extradition and ordered officials to speed up the process. He was extradited suddenly on Thursday, arriving in New York on a flight from Ciudad Juarez.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

Rising insularity AS the world changes outside of having to grapple with socio-economic challenges such as poverty and hunger and climate change, the political dynamics driving insularity and creating room for the rise of insularity and oligarchy is something to be watched.

Friday’s swearing in of President Donald Trump, in what is considered the most powerful nation and by extension most powerful politician, in no small part came about through his fiery rhetoric during the campaign. This included the promise to build walls on the U.S. border to keep out Mexicans; maintain a registry for an ethnic group considered a threat to that country; curtailing immigration; rejection of his predecessor Barack Obama’s refugee policy, and ensuring businesses stay at home. His inauguration speech honed the same lines, repeatedly making clear his “America first” policy. According to an Associated Press story (January 21, 2017), this speech has left world leaders jittery.

In examining concern about immigration, it should be said that violating a country’s laws ought not to be countenanced. Similarly, seeking to resolve what has become a problem cannot be done without regard for strategy respecting human rights and factoring in the cost to be borne by the taxpayers. This is a delicate balancing act that requires a carefully thought-out strategy, though as complaints are made about it, the willingness to act is subsumed by insular arguments and threats.

Illegal immigration has become a feature whereby societies that are considered better off see people moving to them, persons fleeing persecution or wars in their own countries.

Socio-economic problems such as poverty, hunger, and less than desirable standards of living which are frequent in lesser developed countries see people moving by whatever means. Un-ending wars have created a deluge that see people fleeing -- particularly to the European countries -- creating refugee crises where the numbers have now surpassed that of World War II. Other factors include political instability and changing weather patterns that have uprooted resources, bringing in its wake further deprivation, resulting in people fleeing.

It is understood from a human standpoint that citizens in countries where standards of living are considered better, would take objection to an influx of immigrants, more so those with dissimilar cultural and physical characteristics. Additionally, unplanned

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Small miners will not be bullied by GGDMA Dear Editor, IN a strongly worded and offensive press release issued recently, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) revealed its contempt for us small miners, calling us puppets and acolytes, while accusing us of being sell-outs and itinerants.

This assault is even more perplexing when one considers that both the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Finance had issued positive press releases highlighting the progress made at the meeting with the GGDMA, the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO) and a few small mining groups.

It appears that the GGDMA was offended by the presence of these small mining groups at the meeting hosted by government, to allay miners’ concerns on tax measures announced in the 2017 budget.

This is because the GGDMA is accustomed to having its own private meetings with government officials, where they dictate what happens in

the mining industry in Guyana. But on Monday, January 16, 2017, at 16:00hrs, the coalition Government of President David Granger represented by the Minister of Natural Resources, the Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Minister of Finance included small mining groups in the dialogue between the Government of Guyana and miners. These kinds of dialogue would have traditionally excluded small miners, so we are grateful to the ministers, especially Minister Broomes, who invited us to this meeting.

However, we small miners are no longer itinerants which can be bullied or evicted by members of the GGDMA, but instead we are now mining syndicates with a voice and a seat at the decision-making table. We have also started to receive lands to work from this coalition government and we are no longer at the mercy of the GGDMA. The GGDMA knows that the day we small miners can have direct dialogue with the government on mining issues in this country, then their control and manipulation of the mining industry

will be over. The GGDMA now feels threatened; they feel they are losing their traditionally privileged position.

The GGDMA members are the super-rich in the gold-mining industry and they have nothing in common with the average miner or mine-worker. They do not relate to us, they do not speak for us, nor do they face the same challenges we face. We small miners cannot trust the GGDMA. It had announced in the press on November 11, 2016, that it “has received highly credible information that the current government will be rescinding all the concessions granted to miners.”

This turned out to be a blatant lie; similar to the current lie they are peddling about small miners disrupting the meeting with government. The GGDMA should apologise to the Government ministers and us small miners for their misleading statements.

Regards, GARFIELD WINTZ, Chairman Konawaruk Mining Syndicate

PM should know about the work of the Commissioner of Information Dear Editor, THIS is not the first time the Prime Minister has me and I believe the nation bewildered with his comments.

This one has forced me to pen this letter. How can the Prime Minister truly say that he has no knowledge of the work of the Commissioner of Information, when that office falls directly under his jurisdiction?

Further, this matter was in the media sometime before. We are not talking here about $120,000 per month; it is $1.2M. Would this not be taxpayers’ money? Come on Mr. Prime Minister, I stand by you and your Government and I pray for you daily, but please, up the level of your responsibility to the people of this nation.

This atrocity must stop now. Can’t

immigration can also place shock on those societies’ social services and compromise service-delivery. These socio-economic spill-offs cannot be denied.

Resources are not limitless. Competing for them or prioritising how they should be distributed in the former instance rests with the population and the latter -- the government through policies, programmes and laws. It cannot be denied that heterogeneous physical and cultural characteristics of the human race have historically been primary sources of conflict, based on perceptions of the other, and notions of inferiority and superiority that influence misplaced justification to suppress and deny.

Even as these are accepted as factors to consider in decision-making, what ought not to be lost sight of are the sources behind the problems and the opportunities created to escalate them, which in large part will continue unless addressed. Where politicians are today campaigning and acceding to office playing on fears masked as patriotism, such carry consequences for improving the global environment and creating a level playing field for all. Protectionism also creates fertile group for oligarchs to use the levers of governance to entrench and empower themselves as the masses and their welfare suffer.

Seeking and holding political office is primarily seen

statutory appointees be disciplined for non-functioning and their services withdrawn? Please, Mr Prime Minister, I don’t think that Guyanese are that unintelligent to accept this farce.

Regards, Apostil Rev. O BRIAN WELCH

as pursuing a desire to help in improving the lives of people, by building on what currently exists even as systems, such as laws and programmes, are put in place to create equality and the enabling environment for all to succeed.

Where persons, organisations, and leaders in government have amassed wealth by exploiting situations, these have in no small part created the problems being faced today.

Recently, there has been a spike in persons coming to office campaigning on putting country first, leaving international blocs, and extricating countries from agreements. Persons who are seeking public office are being accused of involvement in vulture capitalism. Rather than helping those who may find themselves in difficult financial circumstances, the opportunity is taken to prey on their misfortunes for economic gains.

Such approach in treating with people, their resources and the institutions of state, has given rise to a new oligarchic class, who now not only have access to the political corridors of power, but are themselves holding the reins of power. Where insularity and oligarchy are intertwined in politics, it is not only merely a case of oil and water where they don’t mix, but more a case of creating a toxic situation that is harmful to the environment.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE JANUAry 22, 2017

Buy out GuySuCo and diversify industry Dear Editor, ABOUT a month ago, I was party to an interesting discussion with some gentlemen regarding the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO). The discussion of this sweet entity in its current state had a bitter taste on every tongue.

GUYSUCO, based on financial and media reports, has been experiencing significant production and management problems over recent years.

These issues are highlighted almost weekly via

Miners concerned about corruption Dear Editor, I PEN this letter with great concern over this scenario of alternative lands. Small miners are told by this new Closed Area Committee that they are allowed only 400 acres of land to work, to which we cannot have access , while some persons without equipment are enjoying larger sums of lands through false pretence, to sell for profits to bigger companies.

It is time an investigation is carried out at the Ministry of Natural Resources and at the GGMC to put an end to this corruption and money- making business.

Regards, CONCERNED SMALL MINER

the media. Compounding those problems are international subsidies and market completion, local politics and the representative workers’ union’s consistent opposition to necessary operational adjustments for viability of the industry.

This industry has been a perennial burden on the state’s treasury, with billions of dollars being wasted on underperforming projects such as the Skeldon facility and pricing subsidies. In the last 18 months alone, over $21 billion had to be pumped into the entity as a bailout by the state. This is estimated to be about 1.3% of the GDP. That amount is more than the $15 billion allocated for infrastructural development and maintenance of roads and bridges nationally, and the $20.6 billion to improve drainage, irrigation and increase cultivation in the agriculture sector.

GUYSUCO’s decline in 2016 was pegged at about 18.7%. In its present condition, the state can no longer sensibly continue nor afford to fund GUYSUCO’s existing life-line. The PPP and some senior labour unionists have been relentlessly critical of the APNU+AFC government’s proposition for the

inevitable and complete privatisation of the entity.

The opposition has even appealed to the sentiments of its proletariat by mainly insinuating racial victimisation as a basis for rejection of the government’s proposal.

As a tax-paying citizen, and a lover of local sugar, I would neither like to see GUYSUCO die, nor continue to be a burden to the state. Such crossroads

in the reality of life often require biting the bullet or the application of tough love to firm resolves.

Our discussion culminated with a consensual hypothesis. We feel that it is opportune for those advocating GUYSUCO’s retention to put their monies where their mouths are and buy out the industry.

This, possibly through stockholding, could allow the sector to rebound and

retain economic relevance.

Several mechanisms could be employed to catalyze profitability under such a venture, supported by increased controls, performance-based remuneration at all levels, accountability and prudent management of operations from field to factory.

Additionally, the initiative could be strengthened through strategic divestments into new and

upgraded value- added products, such as ethanol, among other possibilities.

S u re l y, t h e s u c cess of such a venture would essentially keep this traditional sector alive and the sweet taste of local sugar on the taste buds of all Guyanese for years to come.

Regards, ORETTE CUTTING

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

President Granger not opposed to holding press conference …says media have full access to him

By Ravin Singh PRESIDENT David Granger has acknowledged that since he assumed office in May 2015, he has held only one press conference; however, the President made it clear that if the press corps is in need of one, it will be granted.

This announcement was made on Thursday by the Head-of-State during the recording of his weekly television programme, The Public Interest. This programme allows for two reporters -- every week -- to engage the President on matters of national importance.

However, with his last press conference being in 2015, the President was questioned about the likelihood of a next one and according to him, the purpose of the press conference is to meet with the Head-of-State to find out his thoughts on a variety of issues, and that is exactly what he has been doing despite no formal press conference.

busy schedule and it is difficult to spend a lot of time in the media, but I try to make it possible every week. But “I have been doing that I am not going to fight it. If if that is the desire of the very faithfully,” President you want a ‘mass games’ I Guyana Press Association Granger said, adding that can have it, but the important (GPA), then that could be arhe is not sure that many thing now is that you have ranged with my press team,” Presidents, either of Guyana access to the Head-of-State he said. or in any other part of the and he will answer your Meanwhile, the Press Deworld, engages the press as questions. So there is nothpartment of the Ministry of frequently as he does. ing wrong with my meeting the Presidency (MoTP),has He said too, that he tries with you in this format,” he committed to make it as to ensuring regularly as “I don’t have an objection to having a large that the Prespossible, since press conference. I have a very busy schedident continthe function ues to make ule and it is difficult to spend a lot of time of his engagemedia-enm e n t s i s t o in the media, but I try to make it possible gagement provide infor- every week. But if that is the desire of the opportunities mation to the available. public, some- Guyana Press Association (GPA), then that The MoTP thing the me- could be arranged with my press team,” said that the dia has access present chanPresident Granger to, through nels through him. Howevwhich Presier, acknowledging that these said. dent Granger and other minengagements do attract fewer Asked whether he was isters could be engaged by persons as opposed to a press opposed to meeting members the media, include, but are conference, the Head-of- of the media, via a press not limited to, interview State suggested that it is conference, the President requests, whereby members not an indication that these responded in the negative, of the media could submit a engagements are “inferior.” stating that when the need request for an interview with “It does not mean that arises, he does not mind enthe President or any minister my engagement of one or gaging the entire press. or authorised officer within two persons is inferior to my “I don’t have an objecthe MoTP, through the Press engagement of four or five tion to having a large press and Publicity Unit. persons or 10 or 20 persons. conference. I have a very

President David Granger speaking with members of the media recently

However, the ministry pointed out that due to scheduling limitations, not all interviews would be granted; ministerial press conferences, where ministers within the MoTP are “empowered to engage the media” though press conferences on issues that fall within their portfolios; presidential press conferences, when the President holds press conferences to engage members of the

media on major national issues, following major international engagements and as the need arises; recorded television interviews, whereby the President participates in a statutory television programme, The Public Interest, as regularly and consistently as possible; and other means, including engagements by the President and ministers, with the press, at public forums.

US Ambassador remains in Guyana

By Alva Solomon UNITED States Ambassa-

dor to Guyana, Perry Holloway was appointed by the US Senate and will remain

in Guyana until the end of his term.

Reports in the international media on Friday noted that shortly after President elect Donald Trump was sworn into office as the 45th President of the United States, the new adminis-

tration fired as many as 80 ambassadors from countries, agencies with no concrete replacement envoys lined up.

President Trump had demanded that every Ambassador in countries all over the world, who were appointed by former President Barack

US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway

Obama, leave their offices by midday on January 20, 2017 and with no grace period, the Belfast Telegraph reported.

On Saturday, officials of the US Embassy in Georgetown told the Guyana Chronicle that it is the politically appointed diplomats who have been recalled. These include the Ambassadors serving in London, Paris and Beijing.

“Ambassador Holloway is here [in Georgetown], the Turn to page 9 ►

‘Better together’ 9

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

– Granger says PNCR committed to coalition politics DELIVERING the feature address at the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) maiden General Council Meeting for 2017, leader of the party, President David Granger,has reaffirmed his party’s commitment to coalition politics.

“The PNCR is committed to coalition politics; we are better together,” he told members of the party at the meeting, which was held on Saturday. The General Council meeting was held under the theme: “PNCR -

said, while highlighting the PNCR’s contributions to the development of Guyana over the last 60 years.

Shifting his attention to the importance of the family, which he said society was founded upon, the PNCR leader urged party members to protect and preserve the family. He said that the PNCR must examine what is happening to families in its communities and make efforts to confront issues such as teenage pregnancy, juvenile delinquency and crime.

Staying on the topic of

to start producing things at the village level,” Granger charged.

Putting on his presidential cap, the party leader requested of village leaders to take rebuilding of the village economy seriously, as he pledged government’s support for such initiatives. Refusing to exclude those who have travelled from abroad for the meeting, Granger told members of the diaspora that they are vital to the PNCR. “I trust the Diaspora and I believe in the Diaspora,” he said, saluting the efforts

ment would quicken the pace of development in many sectors during the course of this year.

“We must take up the many opportunities for employment that our pursuit of a ‘Green Economy’ together with the imminent ‘on-boarding’ of our oil and gas industries will bring,” he said.

Williams, S.C., also seized the opportunity to point out that for the first time in 23 years, orders have been made by judges in Guyana’s courts against the Pres-

PNCR Leader, David Granger , addressing the General Council at its maiden meeting for 2017

Members of the head table (L-R): Ronald Bulkan, Treasurer; Dr George Norton and Volda Lawrence, Vice-Chairpersons; Amna Ally, Executive Member; David Granger, Party Leader; and Oscar Clarke, General-Secretary

Vanguard of a Green Economy.”

The PNCR coalesced with five other parties in 2011, to form the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which in 2015 secured executive office, after having formed a coalition with the Alliance For Change (AFC).

And according to the PNCR leader, it was the coalition government that brought back local democracy to municipalities and local government areas all across Guyana. Local Government elections were hosted last year after not being held for more than 20 years under the then People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government. “ It was the PNC that established a policy of hinterland development and built the first secondary school in the hinterland,” Granger

the family and efforts to advance the quality of life for Guyanese, Granger reported to the General Council that the Government-introduced 5Bs (Boats, Buses, Bicycles, Breakfast and Books) initiative is working.

“The 5Bs is working, but we need to do more; we must do more. Every child [must be] in school; our party regions must work to ensure that every child remains in school,” he said, adding that regions must focus on education.

Employment for young people He also noted that it is imperative that employment be found for the young people of Guyana.

“Despite the challenges, we have to find employment for the young people of Guyana. We have to develop the village economies; we have

US Ambassador... new President will place the President Barack Obama.

From page 8

new Ambassadors in those countries who were appointed by the former President,” an official at the US Embassy told this newspaper.

It was noted that Ambassador Holloway was appointed to his post by the US Senate and not by Former

Holloway was sworn in as Ambassador to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on September 18, 2015.

He arrived in Guyana on September 24, 2015 after having been confirmed by the US Senate the month before.

of PNCR members in the Diaspora, which he said has always been an essential element in the party.

Chairing the formal proceedings was party Chairman, Basil Williams S.C., who currently serves as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.

Like Granger, he too spoke of development in Guyana, noting that he is confident that the govern-

ident (who has Constitutional Immunity from lawsuits), the Prime Minister and the Attorney General, without either of them being given a hearing.

He was keen to note though, that the good news was that the PNCR “would continue to support the coalition Government in its efforts to restore the rule of law in Guyana.”

The chairman also urged

party members to enhance their contact with the Guyanese people in all communities and to continue to work to bridge the coastland and hinterland divide.

Featured at the meeting too, was a Power Point pre-

sentation on plans for the party’s 60th Anniversary this year, done by executive member of the party, Annette Ferguson. A moment of silence was observed for party members who had passed away in the period between General Council meetings.

Additionally, a motion giving full support to the Government in its action to repossess Red House, a National Heritage building, was presented to General Council by the Vice-Chairperson of the National Congress of Women, (NCW), Carol Smith-Joseph.

General Council is the second highest decision-making forum of the PNCR.

10

‘Bring ideas’

By Ravin Singh

DESPITE a possible investment in Guyana’s ailing sugar industry by an India-based company, the Government is still open to recommendations from relevant stakeholders regarding the future of the industry.

This is according to President David Granger, who, on Thursday during the recording of his weekly television programme, The Public Interest, said that the executive recognises the need for consensus on the way forward for the industry.

The Government last year embarked on talks with the

political opposition, unions and civil society, whereby it expected recommendations to be made for the future of sugar in Guyana.

And while no clear path has been recommended and agreed upon, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) continues to receive the injection of large sums of money to keep the industry afloat.

Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder, had projected in December that the corporation would require $18B in 2017 and an additional $21B in 2018, if its operations were to be continued.

GuySuCo has been operating at a loss over the years,

due to tumbling global sugar prices and the corporation’s inability to reduce its cost of production; hence, the need for government bailouts.

It was recently announced that Srinath Ispat Limited, a firm based in India with extensive knowledge of the sugar industry, will be in Guyana from Monday to have dialogue with the Government on possible investment in GuySuco.

Notwithstanding this, the President said on his television show that the Government has been doing its best by spending billions of dollars on the industry every year, but that this “burden” on the country should be

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

– President urges opposition, unions, civil society to bring ideas on future of sugar brought to an end. Last year, $11B was given to the corporation by the government.

“In all good faith, we have sought dialogue with the opposition and the unions and we would like them to bring up ideas; we’d like civil society to bring up ideas, so we arrive at a consensus that all Guyanese can be satisfied with,” President Granger said.

He said that in relation to talks, the Government will not approach those with any prejudice, except for the fact that the sugar industry must not be a burden to Guyanese taxpayers.

“We want to save the jobs of the persons working there;

we want Guyana to continue to have a viable sugar industry and that is why we are meeting and speaking with people. So we haven’t agreed on any outcome, except that the outcome be acceptable to the Guyanese,” the Head-ofState said.

Reflecting on the contributions of the once thriving industry, the President also pointed out that sugar is one of the oldest industries in Guyana and many of our foreparents were brought here to cut sugar cane.

He said that it is a large employer, occupying a large part of Guyana’s land space, and as such Government will not “rush ahead” with any

decision.

Optimistic in his reasoning, the President said that as government continues to meet stakeholders, he hopes that those engagements will conclude as quickly as possible, so a solution could be forthcoming at the soonest possible time.

Meanwhile, GuySuco officials have advised that the industry is one not worth investing in, unless plans for the reorganisation, restructuring and diversification of the industry are present. Attempts at diversification are currently being made at Wales Sugar Estate, which halted sugar production last year.

11

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

GPL starts integration of renewable resources into distribution network IN embracing the Government of Guyana’s vision for a ‘Green state’, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has commenced the establishment of a specialized technical and commercial framework which will accept energy from renewable resources into its own distribution network.

This commercial framework features the introduction of a tariff which calculates the credit to the customer for the excess energy being

supplied to the grid from the customer’s solar energy system. Therefore, customers can be assured that when they allow their systems to be interconnected to this systemthey will benefit also.

Nonetheless, the GPL has underscored certain prerequisites for customers desirous of establishing an interconnection agreement with the power company.

In an advertisement in the daily newspapers, GPL explained that customers

must formally submit a request for the interconnection of electricity from their solar installations to GPL’s network. This request must be submitted at the company’s Main Street, Georgetown, office.

The prerequisites also require that the customers’ Photovoltaic (PV) or solar installations must comply with National Electric Code (NEC) Article 690 which applies to photovoltaic (PV) electrical energy systems, ar-

ray circuit(s), inverter(s), and charge controller(s) for PV systems and must be certified by the Government Electrical Inspectorate (G.E.I).

Minimally also, all intended grid-tie installations must conform with the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 1547 (which is the standard for interconnecting distributed resources with electric power systems) or the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1741 Standards- which is the standard

for inverters, converters, controllers and interconnection system equipment for use with distributed energy resources). Similarly, these grid-tie installations must be certified by the G.E.I. Additionally, GPL has highlighted that it will conduct an interconnection evaluation to ensure that the prospective customers are safely integrated with the company’s distribution network.

The power company stated that this is a precautionary

method to safeguard from non-compliant connections to the distribution network that may cause technical, safety and/or security issues to arise.

GPL warned however, that it is illegal and unsafe to establish unauthorized interconnections to its distributed network as it can be hazardous to all. These unauthorized connections may also result in the destabilization of the electrical supply in the area.

Victims of Cummings Lodge fire receive timely donations Dharmic Sabha will benefit.”

These donations were well received by the students who are all pursuing their tertiary education in institutions such as the University of Guyana, the Texila American University and the Greenheart Medical Institute. For the University of Guyana students affected, this donation was especially Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, (front row, fifth from right), Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, (front row, fourth from right) and Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry, (front row, third from right) pose with the victims of the fire (Newsroom Photo)

THE students and other victims whose possessions were destroyed due to the fire at their apartment building in Cummings Lodge, recently received donations of clothing, stationery supplies, laptops and mattresses to aid them as they transition back into their educational institutions.

The Ministry of Social Protection, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public

Telecommunications and the Chinese Embassy, delighted 32 students affected by the fire by donating laptops, stationery supplies and mattresses to them.

This donation was made at the National Gymnasium located on Mandela Avenue, on Friday last. Speaking at the presentation, Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, highlighted that while she had initially offered assistance in

the form of meals, accommodation, transportation and other incidentals, the students requested these items instead.

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha was also quick to assist these victims with donations of clothing and mattresses. Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha said, “This [the donation] is an ongoing process, and whoever contacts the

timely since the new semester begins shortly.

One affected university student, Navin Manohar related, “The donations are more than appreciated.” He had previously mentioned to the Guyana Chronicle that he hails from Essequibo. A budding Medical Lab Technician, Sachin Persaud, who

also hails from Essequibo expressed, “I feel really good, especially because I’m happy to get a computer back.”

The students and other victims lost many of their possessions after a fire ravaged an apartment building located at Lot 46 Third Street, Cummings Lodge, on Friday, January 13.

12

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Guyana’s first ‘Bride School’ workshop brides to be bring their The wedding-planner – ‘for the bride who is determined to plan her own wedding’ the fiancés or another friend, mentioned that she expects

By Vishani Ragobeer A WEDDING has always been described as one of the happiest days of a woman’s life, and for Guyanese wedding-planner for Serenity Events Consultants, Tammy Edwards, the wedding must be executed seamlessly. According to Tammy, she likes helping brides who want to plan their own special day, but unfortunately doesn’t know where to start.

Tammy noted that from her experience of planning weddings in Guyana, one would usually find a lot of “confusion” associated with the planning and execution of the special event.

“There’s always some aunty doing this and another doing that,” she joked.

When describing what causes a wedding to not go according to plan, she related that despite the bride having a clear vision of how exactly she wants her wedding to be; and many times the event is not properly organised.

According to Edwards, “A lot of people want to get mar-

Wedding-planner, Tammy Edwards

ried, but don’t know where to start.”

So, thinking outside of the box in an attempt to assist those potential brides, the wedding-planner has decided to embark upon a “Bride School,” which consists of day-long workshops aimed

at teaching brides the “dos and don’ts” of planning and executing a dreamy wedding. She also stated that she likes thinking outside the box and as a result, she is able to convey her knowledge and experience.

The wedding-planner re-

vealed that this school will provide brides to be with an understanding of the wedding timeline -- from the planning of the intricate events leading up to the wedding, down to the execution of those events and the wedding itself. Participants will also receive guidelines on how to budget, how to choose the perfect location and décor, how to take photographs and of course, a guide on choosing the food.

At the Bridal School workshop, Tammy noted that there will be photographers explaining the perfect wedding poses and the entire photography aspect of the wedding, which involves capturing all the special moments.

“People need to know how to choose their vendors for their food and decorations and their photographers,” she said and added, “They need to know what to do and who they are holding accountable.”

Edwards highlighted that the price for the workshop is $15,000 and includes breakfast, lunch and snacks in between. Also, as a special, if

only an additional $5,000 is charged.

The workshop will cater for all wedding types and will be held on March 18 at the Jonas Bridal House located on High Street, Georgetown, from 08:00hrs to 16:30 hrs.

a turnout of about 15-20 people at the inaugural ‘Bride School’ workshop.

“I am considering making this an annual event, or perhaps even doing it twice a year,” stated a hopeful Tammy.

Scrap metal trade to resume

FLASHBACK: members of the Guyana Scrap Metal Recyclers’ Association protesting outside the office of Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin

By Navendra Seoraj SCRAP metal dealers are highly optimistic that the government will re-open

the trade following months of pleading with the administration. The trade was suspended with effect from Turn to page 16 ►

13

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Family-oriented pharmacy eyes community outreach programmes

By Vishani Ragobeer LOCATED at Lot 62 Second Street, Little Diamond,East Bank Demerara, Prashad’s Medical Centre and Pharmacy is aiming to offer members of the community medical services from a family-oriented background.

The proprietor and distinguished entrepreneur, Paras Prashad, highlighted that the family- oriented business aims to provide the most affordable services to valued customers. The pharmacy opened only this month, but already offers prescription and over-thecounter medication and features trained doctors ready to provide services to patients at the pharmacy six days a week, during the evenings and all day on Saturday.

“Our doctors provide services for $2,500 the most… the cheapest compared to any other pharmacy,” Prashad stated.

Additionally, the pharmacy boasts laboratory services and attributing to its mandate of providing the best prices and services to customers, customers can get blood sugar and cholesterol tests done at a cost of $300 and $950 respectively.

Being deeply attached to the community, Prashad disclosed that the pharmacy and the family aim to provide informative medical outreaches to members of

Owner of Prashad’s Medical Centre and Pharmacy, Paras Prashad

the Little Diamond community.

“We want to have a workshop at least every three months, when we can throw out a tent and have the community come out; we’ll be discussing different topics… like cholesterol control and how to manage your cholesterol or sugar control,” he added.

He also mentioned that

while these outreach programmes are an independent gesture, he intends to involve pharmaceutical companies and the Ministry of Public Health, so that they would be able to provide more than just information-distribution services.

“What we are trying to do, in addition to carrying out informative sessions with members of the community and having our doctors give them advice, is provide some sort of medical check-ups,” he also noted.

“We are looking to have the Ministry of [Public] Health come in, because this is like we’re helping them to carry out their mandate,” Prashad mentioned.

He also signalled that the family pharmacy is eyeing conducting a blood drive here, in collaboration with the ministry.

However, there have been no fixed dates for the commencement of these community outreach programmes. Nonetheless,

A section of the Prashad’s Medical Centre and Pharmacy

Prashad said that the per-

sons can expect to see these

programmes shortly.

14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Region Nine REO lauds Food for the Poor for ‘massive’ assistance

Regional Executive Officer of Region Nine, Carl Parker

REGIONAL Executive Officer (REO) of Region Nine, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Carl Parker, has expressed gratitude to Food for the Poor for their “massive” support to the region.

Parker said that the organisation continues to be a diligent and faithful supporter of projects and programmes taking place within the region, thus readily providing assistance to make them a reality. He noted that his office and the non-governmental charitable organisation have established an excellent relationship which continues to bear fruit.

“Food for the Poor [has been] augmenting the budget of the region with their support and assistance and we continue to be very grateful for this as they are helping us to achieve our set goals and objectives,” he said.

According to Parker, the region has received two dental chairs, which he said will enhance their ability to provide improved services in the area of dental health.

“One of these chairs will be used in Lethem, while we had intended to use another at St. Ignatius; however, we had originally budgeted to construct a health centre there, but we didn’t get through, so unfortunately we would no longer be sending the other chair to St Ignatius,” he said.

He added, “We would have to send the other one to a larger health centre at another location and maybe train someone in the community as a dental technician, thus better being more effective to the residents there.”

The REO noted that the region was also a recipient of several mattresses donated

by Food for the Poor. The mattresses were distributed to both Annai and St Ignatius

Secondary Schools. Additionally, they also received a number of bookshelves and chest-of-drawers, which have boosted the comfort of many of the students who resides in the dorms.

“I am happy to say that the dorms are now more equipped with several of the chest-of-drawers and bookshelves, which will enhance the comfort for many of the students,” Parker said.

The REO pointed out that some 40 beds which were discarded, are now back in the dorms and are being used by students.

“This will help in providing better accommodation for the students, as it will help in making them (students) more comfortable,” he said.

Meanwhile, the region has also received four computers which are solar-powered and were distributed to Mururana in the South Rupununi, Parasharri situated in Central Rupununi, Aranaputa in the North and the South Pakaraimas.

“These solar-powered computers would help in enhancing the residents with [sic] computer-related skills.

They are benefiting from an opportunity to advance their computer skills and knowledge.”

The region has also received mechanical tillers which were given to farmers in Quarrie in the Central Rupununi and Moco Moco. The REO noted that four sewing machines were given to the women’s group from Aishalton, while an assortment of food and seeds were given to several villages in the Rupununi.

A number of toys were also distributed to children in the villages of Culvert City, St Ignatius, Tabatinga and Lethem.

15

16

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

New ‘Guyana Airways’ carrier plans to hire staff in February

body. However, he mid-February.

– airline plans to operate by second quarter of 2017 umbrella could not disclose any further The company is a privateBy Alva Solomon STARTING next month, a new airline under the “Guyana Airways” banner plans to commence hiring staff, a move which is still under discussion, but which has received kudos from the travelling public.

The name Guyana Air-

ways is synonymous with the travelling public here and overseas, since it bears similarities to the Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) which was the country’s national flag carrier years ago.

GAC later went bankrupt and eventually faded, even after successor, Guyana Air 2000 tried to keep the airline

afloat.

In mid-2016, a new company under the Facebook name “Guyana Airways Returns 2016,” appeared on social media and several persons welcomed the idea of a new airline which plans to service direct flights along the lucrative Guyana-North American routes, including

New York and Miami, using two luxurious Airbus 340 aircraft.

On Saturday, Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret’d) Egbert Fields, told the Guyana Chronicle that the company has applied for a meeting with the aviation

information on the subject.

During a press briefing at the Transport Sports Club on Thomas Lands earlier this month, Fields had noted that there were no new airlines engaging the umbrella body.

He noted however, that an entity had approached the aviation body and that certain areas needed to be addressed before discussions between the two parties could have proceeded further.

In a recent posting on social media, Guyana Airways reported that the company has been inundated with calls and texts with regard to the start-up date of its flight operation. “We would like to thank you for your interest in our project that was created

by Guyanese for Guyanese,” the entity said.

Guyana Airways said that it is in the pre-approval stages with the GCAA, with a start-up scheduled for late spring. It noted that it will be opening its sales office very shortly in downtown, Georgetown and the hiring and interviews for the positions of flight attendants and air marshals are carded for

ly held entity incorporated in Guyana and the United States. The board is chaired

by Dr Colin Abrams, a former Guyanese Olympian and renowned pilot, who worked with Delta Airlines in the U.S. He is also a qualified medical doctor and operates in the medical field in the U.S. For years, Guyanese here and overseas have been calling on the authorities to invest in an airline to serve key international routes under flag-carrier status. This is against the backdrop of delays and customer-service issues regarding other carriers which operate into the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

For decades, GAC had provided an important link for the travelling public and the airline was subsidised by the government at the time. The airline leased all its aircraft and as such, many aircraft types were used during the airline’s operations. These included Boeing 707, Boeing 737, Boeing 757 and Airbus 300 types.

Scrap metal...

June 15, 2015, to facilitate a forensic audit.

General Secretary of the Guyana Scrap Metal Association (GMRA), Michael Benjamin, had noted that since the completion of the audit in December 2015, the association has been in discussion with the Ministry of Business, given the fact that almost 1,500 persons are out of work.

During a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle recently, Benjamin disclosed that the Ministry has finally given the scrap metal dealers a reason to be optimistic.

On its online website, the Ministry has made registration forms available for dealers to register under the categories of, “scrap metal exporters” and “scrap metal declaration.”

From page 12

This, the Association’s General Secretary said, spells hope for the dealers given that the Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, confirmed that he will soon visit the scrap metal yards to do an inspection.

Minister Gaskin, had said the audit report advised that reforms be introduced into the system, including legislative amendments, new regulations, and smarter monitoring of the trade.

Benjamin said that the dealers have signaled their intention to abide by the law and to do all that is necessary to ensure that they are able to ply their trade as soon as possible. He indicated that at the current pace of the Ministry’s process, they expect that scrap metal trade will commence within two weeks.

17

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

City vendors block access to animal clinic

…situation is a serious health risk – GSPCA

A vendor’s stall which blocks the entrance of the animal clinic

A portable toilet which stands at the periphery of the gates of the GSPCA

By Alva Solomon OFFICIALS of the Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) clinic are engaging the Georgetown municipality on several issues including city vendors, whose stalls have almost blocked access to the body’s Robb Street office.

Recently, the GSPCA publicly expressed disgust at the situation involving vendors, whose stalls along Robb Street near the Bourda Market as well as those aback the clinic’s back entrances have blocked access to the area.

On Saturday, officials of the GSPCA told this newspaper that the society met with officials of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council and the issue is being addressed.

It was noted that the issue has been a bother for years.

“Over the years, we have had several run-ins with vendors taking over the exterior gates, parapets and even the fence of the clinic and while slow to move, the M&CC constables have at least assisted to keep the tide of filth at bay,” the GSPCA said on

its Facebook page recently .

However, the GSPCA said that in 2016, assistance from the council in managing the vendors who operate nearby has “been non- existent.”

The body said that it has been over-run to the extent than it can no longer even access the back gates of its clinic and the

garage to park the clinic’s vehicle. To compound matters, a portable toilet was placed outside the clinic’s gates.

According to the GSPCA, there also exists an environmental problem. The clinic has limited access to the drains and since it cannot be cleaned, the flooding of the

clinic environs has increased, placing staff and animals at risk of contracting health-related illnesses.

“We now are asking persons to share this album in the hopes that the relevant persons take notice and maybe render some assistance,” the clinic said, regarding several pictures which were taken of the vending area outside its gates.

The GSPCA, which has been in existence for decades, provides low-cost health care to pet owners, educates the public on responsible care and treatment of pets and it also provides shelter for unwanted animals.

It also provides humane euthanasia to injured and sick animals, both within and outside the clinic and it advocates spaying and neutering to control the pet population and reduce instances of unwanted animals being strayed.

18

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Over 30 women complete Self Reliance workshop in Region 3

Ms. Bernadette Campbell receiving her certificate from guest speaker Ms. Bridget George

THIRTY SEVEN women from 19 villages on the West Coast and West Bank of Demerara, East Bank of Essequibo and Riverine areas of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three), completed training under the First Lady’s Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop, which was held in Region Three’s Regional office boardroom, in Vreed-en-Hoop, during the past week.

This brings the total to 400 women country-wide, who have graduated from this programme and First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, said she is elated to have reached this milestone. “You will recongnise the value of this

workshop and I hope that it will encourage you to reach as high as you want to go as businesswomen and to also understand that sisterhood has its process, that you can rely on good friends to advise you and support you,” Mrs. Granger said.

The First Lady praised the former Minister of Social Protection, and now Minister of Public Health, Mrs. Volda Lawrence for supporting the programme through the Ministry of Social Protection.

Mrs. Granger also said that she is pleased with the commitment made by the Regional Executive Officer to set up linkages for the women with the Small Business Association and the Guyana Market-

ing Corporation (GMC).

Facilitator of Interweave Solutions Incorporated, Mr. Yohann Sanjay Pooran, said that the women of Region Three have proven that they are ready to be successful entrepreneurs, since they had mastered the six Ps of business.

“I firmly believe that these women will take the skills and talent that they possess, talents which [they] were endowed with, a concept, which our First Lady emphasises quite frequently, and move forward with great perseverance and fortitude and make change,” Mr. Pooran said.

Mr. Pooran further expressed hope that the women will grow businesses across

Ms. Alshazie Ramlakhan receiving her certificate from Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Denis Jaikaran

the region and contribute to the development of the community.

“One of the benefits of this programme that is often times over looked is the fact that women who have been trained and participants in general make a contribution to the national economy… They are gainfully employed, they are paying their taxes, they are making their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions, and as their business enterprises grow, they employ others who in turn pay their taxes and make contributions to society,” Mr. Pooran said.

Also emanating out of the workshop were three women’s groups aimed at community development and

tackling social issues that are rampant in communities of Region Three. These groups, according to Mr. Pooran,are expected to lay the foundation for change within their communities.

Guest Speaker and trained teacher of the Carnegie School of Home Economics, Ms. Bridget George, told the participants to apply what they have learned to their daily routine.

“Take what has been taught to you wholeheartedly…you must have confidence in yourself [and] you must be self-reliant... there are so many things that you can do that can make you successful business women,” Ms. George told the women

The women proudly displayed their certificates and spoke highly of the First Lady’s initiative, which they deemed, an initiative worth taking into communities.

According to retired head teacher, Ms. Bernadette Campbell, “I would like to see more women getting into groups and helping their communities…through this initiative presented by the First Lady… I want to join with my friend and open [a home for the elderly].”

“I am elated that the First Lady has brought this initiative to us, and I do hope that we get more programmes like this to better empower women,” Ms. Kinisani Adams said.

Participants proudly display their certificates after the closing ceremony of the Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop (Seated l-r) Facilitator of Interweave Solutions, Ms. Marcia Meredith, Ms. Kathlene Armstrong, Member of Parliament and Regional Chairman, Mr. John Adams, First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, Regional Executive Officer Mr. Denis Jaikaran, Lt. Col. (ret’d) Ms. Yvonne Smith and Mr. Yohann Sanjay Pooran, Facilitator of Interweave Solutions

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

AFC Leaders can be re-elected after two terms THE Alliance For Change has taken note of the discussions and commentary in and on various media relating to its upcoming National Conference on January 28, 2017.

In a statement on Saturday, the AFC clarified one point which it says seems to predominate in the ongoing discussion, and which presents the mistaken impression that the party’s constitution excludes a leader or member from being re-elected after two terms under Article 19 (1).

Article 19 (1) of the

AFC Constitution reads as follows: “The various senior positions of the AFC, including those in the National Executive, Regions and Groups ought to be rotated as far as is possible so that no member is allowed to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office, so as to ensure a broader activism in leadership positions by the membership.”

According to the AFC, the Constitution does not make it mandatory for such rotation and leaves room for the membership to nominate or elect leaders

AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan

to continue in a post for a longer period.

“The larger membership may want this recognition of the experience and expertise of certain leaders, and in the interest of the unity of the party’s leadership,” the statement noted.

It was further noted that the matter of the interpretation of the AFC Constitution is for AFC members who will freely elect and re-elect leaders.

There will be 16 contested positions at the AFC National Conference: 1. Leader

2. Chairman 3. Vice Chairman 4. General Secretary 5. National Executives (12 positions) These positions will be filled after elections by secret ballots. The current elected members are: Leader – Khemraj Ramjattan Chairman – Vacant (Nigel Hughes resigned) Vice Chairman – Moses Nagamootoo (acting Chairman) General Secretary – David Patterson National Executives: 1. Michael Carrington

2. Valerie Garrido-Lowe 3. Vladimir Glasgow 4. Cathy Hughes 5. Neilson McKenzie 6. Charrandas Persaud 7. Latchmin Punalall 8. Dr. Veerasammy Ramayya 9. Mark Ross 10. Abel Seetaram 11. Raphael Trotman 12. Trevor Williams The deadline for nominations is 12 noon on Monday, January, 23, and the final list of nominees will be announced on Wednesday, January 25. The National Conference will be held at the Vreed-en-Hoop Primary School.

Guyana Tourism Board needed in Canada …says overseas-based businessman

By Shirley Thomas CANADIAN-based Guyanese, Bhaskar Sharma, who is the Publisher of ‘Equality News’ in Ontario, has commended Guyana’s ‘many beautiful world class Tourism publications’ but is worried that it is not widely circulated in Canada and further afield.

The publications are the work of the Guyana Tourism Authority and contending that much more could be done to sell Guyana’s tourism product overseas, Sharma is advocating for the establishment of a Tourism Board by Guyana in Toronto. With this done, he believes travellers would be afforded easy access to information about Guyana’s vast and amazing tourism product.

In Canada there are 35,000 Guyanese living in Ontario alone and for mainstream Canadians wanting to know more about Guyana, he says there is little information on Guyana’s tourism product, with the diaspora being literally starved of this vital information.

“I have seen over the years, many beautiful world class tourism publications here, we have in Ontario Canada, over 5,000 travel

agencies, and none of this publication, or very little, is available at these travel agencies, which is sad, very sad,” Sharma told the Guyana Chronicle during an exclusive interview while on a visit here recently.

This he said leaves one to

wonder whether these publications are designed to reach only the advertisers here (in Guyana).

“While I am not knocking down the publication, and I applaud the great effort in terms of its quality and classiness, it must be drawn

to the attention of officials that when the tourism product in Guyana is advertised, it is not reaching the diaspora. Is it therefore only for the eyes and ears of players locally?”

Extending a hand of friendship and co-operation, the renowned newspaper publisher of 36 years, reiterated that the establishment of a Tourism Board in Ontario by

Mr. Bkaskar Sharma, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Equality News, displays a copy of his newspaper, Equality

Guyana, or a message in the Equality News, which has 1.4 million HITS every week, is much more effective in the diaspora than at home.

By the same token, the publisher of the Equality Newspaper is calling on President David Granger and the Guyana Tourism Authority to consider this economically viable proposal.

“When Equality Newspaper can reach all the travel agencies and over 3,500 outlets and distribution areas that we have in Metro-Toronto, and beyond, in Ontario, it’s time that His Excellency perhaps, takes a second look at the abovementioned.”

He said that even with such diversity in Metro-Toronto, 108 different speaking peoples and so many publications; Equality remains the only voice to keep the diaspora informed. But while they have been attempting to fill that niche, Sharma admitted that there is not much that the Equality staff can tell people, about Guyana’s vast tourism potential.

In the meantime, Equality has already done six tourism videos for Guyana and brought its production “Guyana Now: The Renaissance”, filmed by the Discover Your World Team, to Guyana for the fifth time. While it is effective, it is also very ex-

pensive, Sharma outlined, making a point for the establishment of a Tourism Board.

“It’s being done by other Caribbean countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad, St. Lucia and others which are reaping tremendous benefits,” he outlined.

Meanwhile, the Guyana/ Canada businessman is making a generous offer, in order to jump start the initiative by providing an office for the first year. Asked whether he has put forward such a proposal to the Guyana Tourism Authority, the businessman said he has plans to do so.

Asked how soon he is prepared to back this initiative, Sharma declared, “As early as the President feels it is necessary. I think it is just a little embarrassing when main stream Canadians looking for information of Guyana’s tourism product, discover it cannot be easily had.”

He said, while it is important to reflect the news of crime, it is more important to show development.

Sharma has been publisher of the Equality Newspaper in Ontario Canada for about the last 36 years, having commenced publishing in 1980. The publication which can be reached on www.EqualityNews.ca has grown from eight to 40 pages.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

‘Heck of an achievement’ – says Chris Gopaul, after winning ‘King of Uncensored 8’

By Telesha Ramnarine IT was the portrayal of Pope Philbert London which led to comedian Chris Gopaul winning the title of “Uncensored King” and in so doing, accomplishing a goal he had set for himself a long time ago.

When the show rolled around on December 30 last year at the Giftland Mall, Gopaul took on the role of the controversial pastor who had captured the public’s attention once again, this time by way of a sex scandal.

Chris deems ‘Uncensored’, which was produced and directed by Maria Benschop and Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones, as the biggest comedy stage in the country and a stage which allows artistes to express themselves without reservation.

Chris Gopaul

Unlike regular comedy shows, which restrict comedians to some extent with the type of content, language and actions, ‘Uncensored’ allows comedians to play with their creative minds.

“As with certain other

shows, you cannot really say what’s on your mind, but with Uncensored, it’s easier to do so instead of having to sugarcoat what you’re saying,” he stated, while speaking with the Guyana Chronicle recently.

Chris has starred in the show since its beginning, missing only parts 5 and 6; however, it was part 8, which was obviously the best one for him.

“I am very proud to have won this title; it’s a heck of an achievement for me, I don’t know how others look at it, but for me, it’s huge; it spelled satisfaction for me. It was a really big personal achievement,” he expressed.

‘Uncensored 8’ featured 13 comedians, including Chris, who were all vying for the title. Liza Singh won second place; Mark Luke-Edwards, third; and Mark Kazim, fourth. The competition had seven judges.

“The turnout was great.

In fact, there has never been a time when the show was not sold out. People would cram the facility just to get a glimpse of what is going on,” he stated.

Chris in ‘Uncensored 8’ playing Pastor Philbert London

Chris believes in working hard towards his goals and said, “Whatever you put your mind to, you can achieve, everything takes time and nothing comes without working hard.”

He is also grateful for

the help that others, too numerous to mention, gave to him. “You cannot achieve greatness on your own. I asked for help this time around and everyone chipped in and made it all possible for me.”

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Towards a Good Life in a Green Economy

The Amaila Falls Hydropower Report – Part 3 …the US$80M equity. Whose money?

IN Part 2, we looked at solar farms as an additional option to the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) in the context of the eighty million United States dollars (USD80m) allocated to it as equity. We concluded that establishing solar farms was a credible option to the AFHP. In this part, we will try to determine who owns the USD80m in equity, since both the Government of Guyana (GoG) and the Kingdom of Norway (KoN) seem to claim rights to it. However, in order to understand this dilemma, we need to examine, among others, the nature of the financial agreement and the procedure for determining project funds.

Let us first try to understand the nature of the US$80m equity.

WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE FINANCIAL AGREEMENT? In the first instance, the Administration Agreement (the Agreement) governing the financial arrangements between the GoG and the KoN was signed between the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Development Association (The World Bank) on 9th October, 2010. Part of the Agreement reads thusly “on behalf of the International Development Association (the “Association”), as trustee (the ‘’Trustee’’), … the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the “Contributor”), shall make available as a grant, subject to Parliamentary appropriations, the sum of up to one and a half billion Norwegian

kroner (NOK 1,500,000.000) (the “Contribution”) for the Guyana REDD-Plus Investment Fund (the “GRIF’)”.

We note that the currency is not in US dollars; however the maximum earnings equivalent in USD available to GoG, under the Agreement, is USD 250m. The Agreement also establishes the GRIF. Secondly, the financial mechanism of the Guyana-Norway Agreement is the GRIF. Thirdly, the Agreement establishes the World Bank as Trustee and, finally, the word ‘Contributor’ refers to the KoN. Interestingly and, perhaps to its own detriment, Guyana was not allowed to be a signatory to GRIF Agree-

payments will be performance-based”. The management of the GRIF is performed through a GRIF Steering Committee, which is the “oversight and decision-making body” on how funds earned under the Guyana-Norway Agreement shall be invested.

The GoG chairs the Steering Committee, and its members are the GoG and the KoN. Decisions of the Steering Committee are made by consensus. Consequently, the GRIF Steering Committee will review all GRIF investments and investment proposals prepared jointly by the GoG and Partner Entities before making any decision for funding

Mr. Gary A. R. Best is a retired Rear Admiral and former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force. He is an Attorney at Law and is the Presidential Advisor on the Environment. He is a PhD. candidate at the University of the West Indies. He holds a BSc in Nautical Science (Brazil) and Masters Degrees from the University of the West Indies and the University of London. He is also an alumnus of the National Defence University and the Harvard Kennedy School.

His research areas include climate change governance, climate change finance, international relations and environmental law.

ment.

The Agreement also requires Norway to deposit payments earned by Guyana, in installments, into the Trustees account. We shall later review Guyana’s earned payments based on data from Norway International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), the agency responsible for the payments on behalf of the KoN. In addition, the Trustee, on behalf of the KoN, shall administer the payments in accordance with the terms of the Agreement.

Of particular importance is the “…recognition that deposits to the GRIF are provided for forest climate services provided by Guyana [and] Guyana shall be the beneficial owner of the amounts in the GRIF”.

Whether, as beneficial owner of the funds in the GRIF, Guyana can indicate how they are used, is a question that will be answered in the next sections.

However, let us briefly examine the functions of the GRIF. THE GRIF IN SUMMARY The Agreement provides for the KoN to “…make payments to the GRIF for Guyana’s forest climate services (payments) [and] these

from the monies held by the Trustee. In short, the GRIF, through it Steering Committee approves funds for all projects and allocations of funds for investments.

It is important to note “… the Trustee may make provisional commitments, transfer and/or use the GRIF resources for any purpose approved and in the amount allocated by the GRIF Steering Committee”.

However, the Trustee cannot utilize GRIF funds without the approval of GRIF Steering Committee. So the question that arises is whether the GRIF Steering Committee approved the USD80m. However, before we attempt to answer this question, we need to determine characteristics of the monies earned under the Guyana- Norway Agreement.

IS THE US$80M EQUITY A PAYMENT, OR IS IT A GRANT? I submit that the description of the earned payments under the Guyana- Norway Agreement is critical to its destination, allocation and categorization. The absence of a clear description is a clear and present danger to the USD80m equity. Let us have a look at the

various types of description of earned payments, as contained in the many documents. In the low carbon development strategy (LCDS) 2013, earned payments are referred to as “payments accumulated”; “results based payments” and “payments for forest climate services”.

Under the Agreement it is referred to as a “grant”; “payments for forest climate services “and “performance based payments”. The Joint Concept

Note (JCN) 2013 characterizes earned payments as “financial support for REDD-plus results”; “results based” and “performance based”. The ToR of the Norconsult Review of the AFHP characterizes the earned payments as “Guyana uses the funds from Norway…” and with respect to the US$80m, terms su Turn to page 23 ►

ch as “contribution to Guy-

ana’s equity share in AFHP”and “Norway has committed funds to the AFHP” are used.

Finally, according to the Norconsult Report on the Review of the AFHP, we see statements as bold as “NICFI, may suggest some of the US$80 million presently deposited at IDB being used for project preparation” and “As a reward for Guyana’s successful efforts to preserve its rainforest since 2009, Norway has since 2010 paid about US$150

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Resistance must be Constant AS I WRITE this column, the Women’s March

on Washington is in full swing. Tens of thousands

of women from all corners of America join hands and

hearts to draw attention to the dangers of the Trump

presidency. I was drawn to a statement by one of the speakers, African American activist Tamika Mallory, who declared that the event was not a concert but “an act of resistance.”

That is a most significant statement largely because it contradicts the other impulse emanating from the American establishment, including the media, which calls for a normalization of the phenomenon that Donald Trump brings to the presidency.

What bothers me with the discourse in America at this juncture is the attempt to place resistance outside of American tradition. Resistance to Trump and all that he represents is articulated as a challenge to America’s stability and the legitimacy of the State. Resistance is, therefore, being de-normalized and criminalized.

When Congressman John Lewis said what most Americans know to be true—that Trump is not a legitimate president—he was registering an act of resistance.

Many, including some of his allies, sought to place his statement outside of the mainstream. They focused on Trump’s nasty tweet but ignored the morality of Lewis’ statement. An electoral victory does not necessarily amount to legitimacy.

It is certainly gratifying to see that the American people are not allowing themselves to be bullied into giving up the weapon of resistance. In the end, that’s all that defenseless people have. Tyranny thrives in the absence of resistance.

And any society that subdues resistance is in the end a dead society. Resistance asks questions and rebukes power. It is the conscience and the soul of a society; it must never be surrendered.

Of course, resistance flourishes most in the face of tyranny or the threat of tyranny. But we make a mistake to wait until tyranny is at the door or is with us before we resist. Resistance must be constant; it must serve as a constant deterrent to tyranny. Perhaps, had more Americans been

in resistance mode, Donald Trump may not have been president today. It’s a bitter lesson to learn.

Resistance should not be confined to the opposition.

In other words, we must strive not to fall into the trap of resisting when our party is in opposition and becoming silent when it assumes power. In doing so we give up a treasured value to others. We must learn how to support and resist simultaneously. In countries such as ours, that practice is most necessary largely because our governments tend to take support for granted.

The AFC Leadership Issue Personally, I am not a big fan of Term Limits; I don’t think it achieves much beyond maybe preventing a tyrant from holding on to power indefinitely. So, I do not think it is such a big deal that the AFC leaders want to serve beyond two terms.

There are the letter and the spirit of constitutions and sometimes the two are at odds. In the case of the AFC constitution, the spirit seems to be against more than two terms, but the letter is vague.

My view is that if the AFC membership wants them to run again, then that is what really matters. If that is the case they may probably have to amend the constitution before the election.

I don’t know the process by which that is done.

The one big problem for the AFC leaders, however, is that they would be open to criticism that they oppose a third term for Jagdeo, while they go against their own constitution in wanting third terms for themselves. There is some inconsistency there, but I don’t think politicians pay attention to such things.

More of Dr. Hinds ‘writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www. guyanacaribbeanpolitics. com. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

The Amaila Falls Hydropower... million to Guyana.”

We will observe, over the next paragraphs that at no time were there ever any sum greater than the cumulative sum of USD 70.0m received as payments by the Trustee.

It is difficult to fathom how possible it may be for GoG to have received about US$150m, when the Trustee had never received any amount greater than the cumulative sum of US$70M, except that the Norconsult Report has included the US$80M equity.

Clearly, these multiple descriptions create confusion.

And certainly, it does appear that the KoN is of the view that it has rights to dictate over the US$80M. But is that really accurate? Let us look at the earned payments by Guyana since the first payment in 2010.

According to NICFI’s records, we glean the following: a) in 2010 earned payment was USD 40m b) in 2011 earned payment was USD 45m c) in 2012 earned payment was USD 35m d) in 2013 earned payment was USD 40m According to these records, up to year the 2013, a total of USD160m was earned as payment by Guyana. However, as we shall see, there is no record that this sum was paid into the Trustee’s account for use by the GRIF. We also submit that based on NICFI’s own records, monies earned under the Guyana Norway Agreement represent payments, of various types, for forest climate services, since under the Agreement, Norway “will make payments to the GRIF for Guyana’s forest climate services.”

It seems clear to me that the USD 80m ought to be classified as earned payments for climate services and should be paid into the Trustee’s account on behalf of Guyana, who is the beneficial owner. Lets us now examine GRIF’s Financial Reports in order to track these earned payments.

GRIF FINANCIAL REPORTS 2011-DECEMBER 2015 A perusal of the Trustee’s Report on the Financial Status of the GRIF, prepared by the World Bank as Trustee shows that as far back as July 2011, and up to December 2015, each report stated that the “cumulative receipts” amounted to approximately USD 69.8m.

At no time was this figure a lesser sum or a greater sum.

Our only conclusion, based on these records, is that at all material times, the Trustee only had available for GRIF investments, a maximum of US$68.9M. It therefore means that the US$80M equity was never paid into the Trustee’s ac-

count as provided for under the Agreement. Had it been paid into the account, the Trustee would have had cause to account for it and progammed it against an approved GRIF project.

There is no evidence of the AFHP ever being presented, discussed and approved by the GRIF Steering Committee as required under the Agreement, which represents a contrary bypass action by the GoG and the KoN. In fact, the ToR for the Norconsult Review of the AFHP states that, “Upon Guyana’s request, Norway aimed to support the transition to clean energy through a contribution to Guyana’s equity share in AFHP [and] In November 2014, Norway deposited 80 million USD to IDB to contribute to Guyana’s equity”.

However, Guyana’s LCDS 2013 states in clear term that “The Government is investing US$80 million as equity in the project – sourced from payments accumulated since 2009 under the Guyana-Norway partnership”. Both countries seem to be investing the same funds into the AFHP. However, it is clear who had control of the USD 80m; the KoN. And it is also clear that the US$80M equity was paid directly into the IDB, and we further understand that these funds are in an IDB holding account.

Juxtaposing Guyana’s earned payments according to NICFI’s records, the Trustee’s Report on the Financial Status of the GRIF and the date when the USD80m was deposited, we conclude that USD80m was in some account in Norway, at least since 2012, since by then Guyana’s total earned payments equaled approximately USD 153m. The act of not paying in the earned payments into the Trustees account appears to be a breach of the Agreement since all payments earned are to be paid over by Norway into the Trustee’s account.

This leads us to the queston as to why and who owns or has full or shared rights over the USD80m equity?

WHO REALLY OWNS THE US$80M EQUITY? Let’s pause a bit before answering and first consider under what circumstances could the IDB have received this payment? According to the Agreement, the IDB is a named Partner Entity. The Agreement states thusly, “Partner Entity” means the Inter·American Development Bank (“IADB”), the Association [The World Bank], and any fund, program or specialized agency”.

The Agreement further sets out the responsibilities of Partner Entities which includes “reporting to the Steering Committee annually on the progress of implementation of

its activities,”; ensuring that each Project proposal it submits to the Steering Committee is consistent with the LCDS”; and “maintaining books, records, documents and other evidence… to sufficiently substantiate the use of the GRIF funds transferred to it.”

Based on these excerpts, it is clear that the Agreement contemplated that earned funds will be transferred from the GRIF to a Partner Entity.

Therefore we conclude that the IDB could not have received the USD 80m equity in the capacity of a Partner Entity. So, in what capacity is the money held by the IDB? We offer no answer to this question since

what really matters is that the earned funds are paid into the Trustee’s account.

Recognizing that Guyana’s earned payments commenced as early as 2010; that the Agreement requires a ‘pay in’ to the GRIF; that there is no known GRIF decision to transfer the USD80m; that there was no GRIF approved project for the USD 80m equity; that there is no GRIF project cycle for the USD 80m equity, which involves website postings for comments by stakeholders and the public; in our opinion, the US$ 80M equity belongs to the GoG as earned payments.

We therefore recommend that Guyana, as chair of the GRIF

From page 21

Steering Committee, request that the US$80M equity be paid into the Trustee’s account in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement and be programmed to a project or projects consistent with Guyana’s goal to transition its economy into clean and renewable energy use.

As to why the US$80M was paid directly into an IDB account, is it therefore possible that the GoG and the KoN bypassed the Trustee and the GRIF and paid the US$80M equity, in order to avoid the ‘Guyana as beneficial owner’ clause in the Agreement? And, if that was the case, it then serves as an additional reason

for the US$80M equity to be paid in the Trustee’s account for use by Guyana in a GRIF approved clean energy investment project.

Is there any interest being earned on the US$80M equity while it sits in an IDB holding account? If yes, will it be transferred to GoG? Are there fees charged by the IDB for holding these funds? These and other similar questions are quite legitimate and deserving of answers.

In Part 4 I shall examine options available to Guyana for the US$80M earned payment for climate services.

Comments can be sent to towardsagoodlife@gmail.com

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Those who confront me now don’t know or conveniently forget LET me start by saying there is agreement with every Guyanese who in 2015 cast their ballot to participate in the elections that brought about a new government. It remains my conviction the society needed the breathing space to grow and develop and I am still wedded to this belief. The growth and development we seek, however we articulate these, are built on th e b elief that ou r rights and the rule of law would take pre-eminence in our daily activities and be the centrepiece of governance. Honest reflection of the years leading up to 2015 would admit the country was falling apart.

The people’s business was conducted by a clique that had no respect for law and order. The nation experienced death squads that were given the mandate and support of government officials and state institutions, resulting in hundreds killed extra-judicially. Our natural resources were plundered without conscience. Our money was used by government and party officials to enhance personal wealth through corrupt practices.

Drug lords had access to the corridors of power and were given immunity against being prosecuted.

The small man’s property was confiscated by the rich and politically connected.

Laws never mattered to government officials, the privileged, and well connected. There were not many who dared to speak, report, and condemn this

depraved style of governance. Fear stalked the land and the vocal suffered. The media community saw advertisements withdrawn. Mark Benschop, was made a political prisoner on a manufactured charge for treason.

He, Norris Witter and I, were thrown in a faeces invested cell at Brickdam for exercising the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. Freddie Kissoon and Benschop were also locked up for engaging in a similar exercise.

There were times when the political opposition was timid to challenge and confront the government’s atrocities, or delayed in so doing, as few refused to relent in the fight to bring about good governance.

The hammer came down hard on independents in the trade union community. The Guyana Public Service Union check-off system for union dues was taken away, thereby depriving it of money and the right to carry on its business. The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU), of which I am a member, received serious blows. The yearly subventions (grants) to the GTUC and the Critchlow Labour College (CLC), our education arm, were taken away in an attempt to silent us.

At one point the CLC’s doors were closed but thankfully under its present principal avenues were created to re-open them.

The GB&GWU, which is Turn to page 25 ►

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Those who confront me now...

From page 24

still waging battles to respect the rights of citizens/ workers and protect the sovereignty of this nation, every opportunity was taken by PPP/C governments to destroy it, starting from November 1992.

I was not silent about the misconduct of the PPP/C government and its officials in the midst of these sufferings and deprivations, so don’t expect silence now. With the change of government, and more particularly in light of the circumstances in the environment that brought about it, the citizens want genuine change not an exchange, and their pleas are just.

Let me make it clear, there are several instances where this government has moved to right the wrongs of previous governments and this remains a step in the right direction. At the same time where this government continues to make the mistakes of previous governments, more particularly where they condemned the atrocities when in the opposition, they too must be held to account for continued misconduct.

In seeking to hold this government accountable, persons are meeting me in the streets and accusing me of attacking their government, saying that under the PPP/C I did not speak out or could not have spoken. Those expressing such views don’t know me, or have conveniently forgotten, or are prepared to accept instances of poor governance because it is their party in office.

I’ll be damned having fought against injustices and violations over the years to today sit silent when there exists any inkling of same being repeated, fully aware that the consequences can be equally dire or moreso. I am wedded to universally acceptable principles not principalities, and if in the process it brings me enemies, I rather be a friend to the principles that would

bring about human development because at the end of the day this is what every man, woman and child desires.

We all want to live in a society where we are treated as equals with dignity and respect. We all want a society where the enabling environment is created to ensure our health, longevity, security, and opportunities to unleash our potentials. And for these reasons time-honoured principles, universal declarations, international conventions and charters have been established.

Those who come to us and offer themselves for leadership and we’re paying them, via our tax dollars, to be in service to us, we shoulder a civic duty to hold them accountable, to ensure they deliver on what we are paying them to do.

Don’t come and ask for our vote to elect you to serve us and turn around and use it for self -aggrandisement and trample the things that matter to us.

When we submit to such because it is our party, or we voted for them and to speak out would mean the PPP/C will be given a chance to return, we will never achieve our true potential as a people and a society. Because in this midst there are those who seek public office to enrich themselves, not serve the people. These misconducts I do not take lightly nor will countenance.

There must be development in the performance of government and the way officials treat with the people and their resources, and I am committed in doing my part to make it happen.

Being wedded to principles invariably would find me agreeing and disagreeing with persons across the political divide based on their upholding or violating the tenets of good governance. I am in pursuit of this and care not from which quarter it comes from.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

A day of high emotion as Brazilian team play first game since plane crash CHAPECOENSE played their first game since the majority of the team were killed in a plane crash on 29 November.

Seventy-one people, including 19 players and staff, were killed as the Brazilian team travelled to Colombia for the final of the Copa Sudamericana.

The team recruited 22 new players and hosted Brazilian league champions Palmeiras in Saturday’s friendly.

Three players who survived the crash, received the Copa Sudamericana before the game at the Arena Conda stadium.

Defenders Neto and Alan Ruschel and goalkeep-

er Jackson Follmann, who had his leg amputated, were among the six survivors.

They received the trophy and medals alongside families of the victims in front of 20,000 fans at Chapecoense’s sold-out stadium, while another survivor, radio reporter Rafael Henzel, commentated on the game.

The club gave 241 journalists from around the world accreditation for the game.

The game stopped on 71 minutes as players from both teams and supporters stood and clapped in honour of the victims, before continuing with the match.

C h a p e c o e n s e w e re

awarded the Copa Sudamericana trophy following the disaster, a move backed by Colombian club Atletico Nacional, who were scheduled to face them in the final.

To rebuild the side, sporting director Rui Costa has recruited 22 players, most of them on loan, and appointed Vagner Mancini as manager.

Douglas Grolli scored Chapecoense’s first goal and Amaral added a second as they drew 2-2 with Palmeiras.

Half of the match proceeds will go to the families of those killed, while the rest will be used to rebuild the club. (BBC Sport).

We will give 100 percent ...

From back page winning is a habit, and I think you have done that, you have achieved winning as a habit, but this particular tournament for some reason or the other always

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excluded us. I think now is the time to bring that back,” the GCB Secretary said.

Sanasie is of the opinion that the success now depends on the players, since Cricket Guyana Inc. and the GCB have done everything to have them prepared. He pointed out that the franchise has been working and has been good for Guyana’s cricket.

Also on hand to wish the team every success was GCB Treasurer Anand Kalladeen, who urged the players to play to their full potential, since an England tour to the West Indies is immediately after the tournament. England is set to play three One Day Internationals on March 3, 5 and 9.

The Guyana Jaguars will do battle in Group B of the Super50 which runs from January 24 to February 18 in Antigua and Barbados.

Group B comprises last year losing finalists Barbados Pride, Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners, Jamaica Scorpions,Guyana Jaguars and ICC Americas.

In the first leg, Jaguars will play Pride on January 24, Scorpions on January 26, Marooners on January 28, and ICC Americas on

January 30.

In the second leg, the Guyana-based franchise takes on the Marooners February 3, Pride on February 5, Scorpions on February 7, and ICC Americas on February 9.

The semi-finals would be on February 15 and 16 while the final would be on February 18 in Antigua.

Title-holders Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Windward Islands Volcanoes, the West Indies U-19s, and visiting English County Kent Spitfires have been installed in Group A. Prior to 2005, Guyana reigned supreme in 1980, 1983, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2003.The Guyana Jaguars squad reads: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Vice-Captain), Anthony Bramble (Wkp), Shimron Hetmyer, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Christopher Barnwell, Raymon Reifer, Rajendra Chandrika, Steven Jacobs, Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo, Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz and Jonathan Foo. Management Staff: Esaun Crandon (Headcoach), Rayon Griffith (Assistant-Coach) and Ernesto Gonzalez (Physiotherapist).

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Bangladesh fight back in second Test (REUTERS)-Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan grabbed three middle-order wickets in quick succession before rain brought an early close to the second day of the

behind Bangladesh’s first innings of 289.

Tim Southee, who took five wickets to help dismiss the visitors in the final five minutes of play on Friday, was on four, while Henry

Kamrul bowled Raval for 16 then had the prized wicket of captain Kane Williamson (two), caught by wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan with a delivery that swung away and seamed off the

Shakib Al Hasan struck thrice in the final stretch of play on day two in Christchurch. second Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch yesterday.

New Zealand were 260 for seven when rain forced the players off the field about 50 minutes before the end of scheduled play, still 29 runs

Nicholls was 56 not out.

The hosts had begun their inningsyesterday with Jeet Raval and Tom Latham putting on 45 runs for the first wicket, before Kamrul Islam took two wickets in the same over.

pitch two balls later.

Ross Taylor and Latham (68), however, then began to rebuild the innings with a 106-run partnership, and the left-handed opener brought up his 12th Test half century

Egypt snatch late winner to knock out Uganda

By Mark Gleeson PORT GENTIL, Gabon(Reuters)-Abdallah El Said scored a last-minute winner to give Egypt a 1-0 victory over Uganda in African Nations Cup Group D yesterday and eliminate the East Africans from the competition.

Egypt moved into second place in the standings on four points as they finally ended their goal drought at the tournament.

El Said was set up by Mohamed Salah just when it seemed the Egyptians were going to be held to a second successive draw, blasting through the legs of the Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango.

Uganda, without a point, cannot go through to the next round with one game still to play.

Egypt began the match with a much-improved tempo after a cautious approach in their opening game against Mali, laying early siege to Uganda’s goal.

Uganda, who last competed at the Nations Cup finals 39 years ago, stood firm, however, and found confidence in midfield after initially giving

Egypt’s Abdallah El Said strikes late to knock out Uganda in their first Africa Cup of Nations appearance since 1978. away a lot of possession.

But there was always the threat of the speedy Salah. He showed his ability with a superb pull down before transferring the ball from right to left foot midway through the first half but his resultant shot from close range was blocked.

Uganda had the ball in Egypt’s net in the 51st minute but Joseph Ochaya was offside when he finished off an in-swinging cross.

Marwaan Mohsen and Mohamed Trezeguet created half-chances for Egypt but still could not forge a breakthrough until their last-gasp goal.

Egypt finish their group campaign on Wednesday in Port Gentil against Ghana, who have already qualified. Uganda face Mali.

Earlier on yesterday, Ghana beat Mali 1-0 to secure a quarter-final berth.

with two runs after punching through the offside.

Taylor then brought up his 27th Test half century as the pair looked well set to build on their partnership.

The 32-year-old then became the third New Zealander to surpass 6,000 test runs when he punched off-spinner Mehedi Hasan square through point for three runs and moved past the 62 he needed to achieve the milestone.

Stephen Fleming (7,172) and Brendon McCullum (6453) are the only players ahead of Taylor, who looked set to join former mentor Martin Crowe on 17 Test centuries but was caught by substitute fielder Taijul Islam off Mehedi for 77.

Nicholls and Mitchell Santner (29) then combined for 75 runs before all-rounder Shakib struck, removing Santner lbw then bowling BJ Watling (one)

and Colin de Grandhomme (nought) as the hosts lost three wickets for four runs.

New Zealand won the first Test on Wellington by seven wickets.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH 1st innings 289 (S. Sarkar 86, S. Al Hasan 59; T. Southee 5-94, T. Boult 4-87) New Zealand 1st innings J. Raval b Rabbi 16 T. Latham c N. Hasan b Ahmed 68 K. Williamson c N. Hasan b Rabbi 2 R. Taylor c sub b M. Hasan 77 H. Nicholls not out 56 M. Santner lbw b Al Hasan 29 B. Watling b Al Hasan 1 C. de Grandhomme b Al Hasan 0 T. Southee not out 4 Extras (lb-1 nb-2 w-4) 7 Total (for 7 wickets, 71 overs) 260 Fall of wickets: 1-45 J. Raval,2-47 K. Williamson,3-153 T. Latham,4-177 R. Taylor,5-252 M. Santner,6-256 B. Watling,7-256 C. de Grandhomme To bat: N. Wagner, T. Boult Bowling: T. Ahmed 17 - 1 - 64 - 1(w-2),M. Hasan 16 - 2 - 51 – 1, R. Hossain 15 - 2 - 54 - 0(nb-2),K. Rabbi 13 - 3 - 48 - 2(w-2), S. Al Hasan 7 - 0 – 32-3, S. Sarkar 3 - 0 - 10 – 0.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Liverpool, Tottenham drop points, Rooney record

By Martyn Herman LONDON,(Reuters)-Liverpool’s defensive gremlins returned again as their Premier League title ambitions suffered a painful body blow in a shock 3-2 home defeat by relegation battlers Swansea City yesterday.

In what turned out to be a great day for leaders Chelsea without kicking a ball, second-placed Tottenham Hotspur battled back to draw 2-2 at fifth-placed Manchester City and Manchester United were held 1-1 at Stoke City.

Wayne Rooney salvaged a point for United with a sublime free kick that made him the club’s record scorer with 250 goals, one ahead of

Old Trafford great Bobby Charlton.

Rooney’s curler four minutes into stoppage time cancelled out an own goal from Juan Mata as United remained in sixth spot.

“It means a hell of a lot. It is a great honour and I am very proud,” the 31-year-old Rooney said.

“It is difficult at the minute to be over-pleased because of the result but in the grand scheme it is huge honour.”

Gylfi Sigurdsson’s 74th-minute winner ended Liverpool’s 17-match unbeaten league run at Anfield and left Juergen Klopp’s side seven points behind leaders Chelsea who can widen their lead against strugglers Hull City today.

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring their first goal to break the all time goalscoring record for Manchester United Reuters / Darren Staples Livepic

Spain striker Fernando Llorente scored twice shortly after halftime to put Swansea in charge but Liverpool retaliated and two goals by Roberto Firmino dragged them level.

Klopp’s side were the first top-flight team to score 50 goals this season but their defensive deficiencies again proved a thorn in their side as memories of a 4-3 defeat at Bournemouth in December came flooding back minutes later.

A Liverpool victory had looked the most likely outcome with half an hour left but Swansea had other ideas and from a rare foray forward the ball fell to Sigurdsson and the Icelander coolly put the Welsh side back ahead.

KLOPP CRESTFALLEN Liverpool could not respond, leaving Klopp crestfallen.

“The most disappointing moment was the third goal and I can’t explain it as we had so many chances to challenge,” the German said. “It’s really difficult to accept at this moment.

“It is fair Swansea won, no - but was it deserved, yes.”

Tottenham’s six-match winning run was ended

by City but it could have been far worse for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in a compelling late kickoff at

Swansea City’s Fernando Llorente celebrates scoring their second goal with Tom Carroll Action Images via Reuters / Ed Sykes Livepic the Etihad.

City, smarting from last week’s 4-0 drubbing at Everton, dominated a scoreless first half and were gifted a two-goal lead within nine minutes of the restart as howlers by Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris allowed Leroy Sane and Kevin de Bruyne to tap in.

Dele Alli and Son Heung-min replied for Tottenham but the visitors enjoyed a huge slice of good fortune seconds before Son’s equaliser when Kyle Walker got away with a blatant shove in the back of Raheem Sterling as he seemed set to score.

“It doesn’t matter, we

had the same argument against Chelsea but we lost because we missed a lot of chances. When you score a goal the ref doesn’t matter, the rules here are the rules,” City boss Pep Guardiola said, ruing a glut of missed chances.

“We were outstanding, it’s a pity. We created so many chances and were not able to score.”

Tottenham moved clear in second spot, six points behind Chelsea, although Arsenal could rise above them with victory over Burnley on Sunday.

Improving West Ham United won for the fifth time in seven league games

to move into the top half Andy Carroll again on target with two goals in a 3-1 victory at Middlesbrough.

Sunderland sunk to the bottom after goals by West Bromwich Albion’s Darren Fletcher and Chris Brunt condemned them to a fourth defeat in five league games.

Bournemouth drew 2-2 with Watford and Crystal Palace ended the day in the bottom three for the first time this season after a tame 1-0 home defeat by Everton, Seamus Coleman thumping home a late winner for the visitors.

Champions Leicester City are at Southampton today.

Resurgent Ramos sinks Malaga as Real increase lead at top

By Richard Martin BARCELONA,(Reuters)-Sergio Ramos made amends for his untimely own goal last week at Sevilla by scoring twice as Real Madrid bounced back from two successive defeats by beating Malaga 2-1 yesterday to go four points clear at the top of La Liga.

The Real Madrid captain headed his side in front in the 35th minute by powering Toni Kroos’s outswinging corner beyond Carlos Kameni and struck again in the 43rd by sliding in a free kick from his German team mate from close range to net his third goal in four games.

It was the perfect response from the Spain inter-

national six days after putting through his own net against Sevilla and inadvertently helping his former side win 2-1 to halt Zinedine Zidane’s side’s remarkable 40-game unbeaten run.

Ramos has now scored six league goals this term, bettering his previous record of five in a season with still half the campaign to go.

Malaga had proved difficult opponents and a slip

by Raphael Varane allowed Venezuela international Juanpi to pull a goal back in the 63rd minute. It took a good save from Keylor Navas to prevent Chory Castro from levelling moments later.

Real lead the standings on 43 points, four clear of

Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos celebrates his first goal. REUTERS/Javier Barbancho Sevilla and five ahead of champions Barcelona, having played 18 games. Barca visit Eibar today while Sevilla travel to Osasuna.

“Luka had discomfort,

Marcelo’s problem is more serious. I’m quite worried by the injuries, it’s put me in a bad mood, because we have a very important game on Wednesday,” added Zidane.

Ronaldo’s frustration grew after the break as he struck the post and was twice denied by Kameni, who almost committed an embarrassing error when he allowed a back pass to trickle through his legs but managed to scramble it away before it crossed the line.

Earlier yesterday, Espanyol beat struggling Granada 3-1 to climb to 10th place.

Real have a game in hand on their two closest rivals.

“The most important thing is that we won the game and made a good start. We had chances but these days we need four opportunities to score one goal. It was difficult because our opponents

pushed us hard. We’re tired, but happy,” Real coach Zidane told reporters.

Uruguayan Castro had hit the post for the visiting side and forced another impressive save from Navas in an action-packed first half in which Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema squandered clear chances for Real and their Brazil left back Marcelo limped off with a suspected hamstring injury.

Luka Modric was also taken off in the second half, potentially leaving Zidane with as many as six absentees for Wednesday’s King’s Cup quarter-final second leg at Celta Vigo, when his side need to overturn a 2-1 deficit to progress.`

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

Nadal overcomes Zverev Arroyo goal gifts Panama in gripping contest FORMER champion Rafael Nadal overcame rising star Alexander Zverev a gripping contest to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.

The Spaniard, who won the title in 2009, came through 4-6 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 in four hours and six minutes.

Zverev, 19, had recovered a break early in the final set before requiring treatment for cramp.

Nadal, 30, goes on to face France’s Gael Monfils, who beat German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-4.

Canadian third seed Milos Raonic made it through to the last 16 with a 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 6-3 win over Frenchman Gilles Simon.

Zverev has long been touted as a future world number one and it appeared as though he would make his Grand Slam breakthrough against Nadal.

The teenager’s big serve and brilliant backhand earned him a 2-1 lead after three sets, only for ninth seed Nadal to battle his way back in charac-

teristic fashion.

It is almost three years since Nadal won his 14th major title at the 2014 French Open, and that was

set but the damage was done as he could not recover fully, despite treatment from the trainer.

“I won by fighting and

Rafael Nadal consoles Alexander Zverev after their thrilling contest the last time he got past the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam.

Injuries have taken their toll, but it was Zverev whose fitness failed him in the closing stages on Rod Laver Arena.

The German won a gruelling 37-shot early in the final

running a lot,” said Nadal.

“I think everybody knows how good Alexander is. He’s the future of our sport and the present too.

“It’s been a very tough match for me. I didn’t start playing my best and I was not feeling very well because I was losing too much court.

When I felt I was feeling better I had more time to control from the baseline.

“It was a close one but he deserved to play a little more aggressive than me. I had to fight for every point.”

Denis Istomin, the qualifier from Uzbekistan who stunned Novak Djokovic in round two, produced another superb effort to beat Spanish 30th seed Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4 4-6 6-4 4-6 6-2.

He will next play 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov after the Bulgarian produced a stunning performance to beat French 18th seed Richard Gasquet 6-3 6-2 6-4.

Belgian 11th seed David Goffin impressed with a 6-3 6-2 6-4 win over Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic, setting up a clash with Austrian eighth seed Dominic Thiem, who beat Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-1 4-6 6-4 6-4.

Thirteenth seed Roberto Bautista won the all-Spanish battle with 21st seed David Ferrer 7-5 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 and next faces Raonic.

(BBC Sport)

Konta beats Wozniacki to reach Australian Open last 16 BRITAIN’s Johanna Konta saw off former world number one Caroline Wozniacki with a stunning display to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open tennis.

Konta, seeded ninth, won nine games in a row on her way to beating the Danish 17th seed 6-3 6-1 in 75 minutes.

It was an eighth successive victory for the Briton, who won the title in Sydney in the build-up to Melbourne.

Konta, 25, will face Ekaterina Makarova next after the Russian upset sixth seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 6-3.

“We played in the fourth round here last year and I think it was 8-6 in the third, so I am expecting a battle,” Konta said.

“It will be tough, just like against anyone in any match, you don’t have any easy matches any more.”

Six-time champion Serena Williams - a potential

quarter-final opponent for Konta - earlier beat fellow American Nicole Gibbs 6-1 6-3.

“I think if she keeps

level right now.”

After a tight start to the contest on Margaret Court Arena, Konta took control midway through the first

Johanna Konta only needed one hour 15 minutes to beat 17th seed Caroline Wozniacki playing like this, then she has good chances against Serena,” Wozniacki said of Konta.

“Serena has won so many Grand Slams and she’s been in tough positions. But I think Johanna is playing on a very high

set and powered away from Wozniacki.

The British number one’s consistent aggression on serve, return and off the ground left the Dane struggling to find an answer.

A thumping drive volley gave Konta the first break of

serve in game seven and she got the better of the Wozniacki serve once again to clinch the set.

A bewildered Wozniacki double-faulted twice to fall behind in the second set and in the end she did well to get on the scoreboard at all after going 5-0 down.

There was the odd sign of nerves from Konta as she closed in on victory but after double-faulting on her first match point, she converted the second to end the day with 31 winners to Wozniacki’s six.

“I definitely played at a high level today,” Konta said.

“Caroline really makes you work for it and doesn’t give you anything so I am happy with my level.

“I knew it would be incredibly tough and I wanted to assert myself from the get go and play the match I wanted to play. What an amazing crowd, you guys were incredible.”(BBC Sport)

Gold Cup spot ABDIEL Arroyo struck for a late goal as Panama (2W-1D-1L, 7 points) moved into second place in the 2017 Copa Centroamericana and clinched a spot in this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 1-0 win over 10-man El Salvador (1-1-2, 4) on Friday night at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez.

The result -- which guaranteed the Panamanians a top-four finish and also assured Costa Rica (1-3-0, 6) a Gold Cup berth -- sets up an exciting last day of play today, with table-topping Honduras (3-1-0, 10) needing only a draw against last-place Belize to clinch its fourth Copa crown.

Panama can lift the trophy via a tiebreaker, but first Honduras has to lose and then the host Canaleros will need to defeat Costa Rica.

Abdiel Arroyo (#22) scored the lone goal in Panama’s win over El Salvador in the Copa Centroamericana on Friday in Panama City, Panama.

Belize must beat the Hondurans -- and hope that the encounter between El Salvador (1-1-2, 4) and Nicaragua (1-1-2, 4) doesn’t end in a draw -- in order to maintain a chance of meeting Haiti in a two-legged qualifying playoff.

Nicaragua can book a Gold Cup ticket with a draw against the Salvadorans, who will then finish in fifth place regardless of the Belize-Honduras result, setting up a winner-take-all series with Haiti.

El Salvador’s window of opportunity to defeat the Panamanians closed considerably in the 28th minute, when Richard Menjivar was dismissed for a second yellow card. The midfielder was the third Salvadoran to be ejected in four Copa games.

It took Panama time to capitalise on its man advantage, but it finally did so in the 82nd minute. After being allowed to work the ball from the right to left wing, Eric Davis delivered a cross that sailed over numerous heads before bouncing for Arroyo, who chested the ball down and slammed it past goalkeeper Benji Villalobos with his right foot from seven-yards out.

Slightly more than a minute later, El Salvador almost caught the Panamanians napping, but Darwin Ceren’s effort ricocheted off the right post.

The Panamanians rebounded from a 1-0 loss to Honduras in their previous outing and is now unbeaten in 17 of its last 18 Copa games, while El Salvador’s last five losses in the competition dating back to 2013 have been decided by one goal.

Both sides will play their last 2017 Copa matches todayy, with Panama taking on two-time defending champion Costa Rica and El Salvador squaring off against Nicaragua.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 22, 2017

STAG Nations Cup football quarter-finals ... teams looking for action tonight at Tucville ground semi-final spots THE reward of booking a place in the final four is at stake in tonight’s doubleheader when the quarterfinals of the STAG Nations Cup knock-out football championship commences at the Tucville ground in the City.

In a Georgetown versus West Demerara faceoff, Santos FC will open against Pouderoyen at 18:00hrs,to be followed by the feature clash between Western Tigers and Uitvlugt Warriors.

All four teams on show tonight will fancy their chances of advancing to the cash leg of the competition which has prizes of 2M, 1M, $500,000 and $300,000 at stake for the first to fourth placed teams.

Western Tigers , who dished out a thumping 8-0 win over fellow City side Flamingo at the same venue on December 18th in their round-of-16 clash,will find Uitvlugt Warriors, the top side in the West Demerara FA,much more formidable

opponents.

Uitvlugt earned their date with the Tigers owing to a 3-0 win from the penalty mark over another City team, Northern Rangers; that match was played at the Leonora Track and Field Football Field on December 21st.

The Warriors did not look their potent self against the Rangers and this would give the Tigers some level of confidence.However, the City side should not take that for granted as this is another day and a different scenario.

The top West Demerara side will hope, under the Guidance of former national defender Orville Bobb who is Head Coach to see their players firing against the pride of West Riumveldt. To this end, the experienced Lerone Jacobs will have to turn up today if he is to make his years of experience count in securing a win for his team.

Jacobs’ supporting cast

LABA holds annual general meeting today THE Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and biennial elections today at the Mackenzie Sports Club Lounge from 17.00hrs.

The clubs that are invited to send four representatives each are Retrieve Raiders, Half Mile Bulls, Victory Valley Royals, Amelia’s Ward Jets, Bankers Trust Falcons , Block 22 Flames, Wismar Pistons and Kwakwani.

However, each club has to satisfy their annual obligations of being affiliate member and registering their players. Each club has to pay $100 per player and an affiliation fee of $1,000.

This will be done an hour before the meeting begins at 16.00hrs,while the reports from the secretary, treasurer and president,respectively,will precede the elections.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday January 22, 2017) 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:

Jim Laker-19/90 (9/37 & 10/53-ENG vs AUST, Manchester, 1956) Sachin Tendulkar-463 ODI matches

Today’s Quiz:

Who is the leading run-getter in Tests to date?

Who is the leading run-getter in ODIs to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

will also have to bring their A game to the Tucville arena; the Duke brothers, Keyon and Kevin, Jamal

of defence, goalkeepers, Travis Fraser and Shawn Browel.

Western Tigers on the

Esan Nelson (right) and Kayode King.

Petty, Carisle Carryol, Alex Moore, Denzil Smith, Daniel Floyd, Jermaine Accra, Ryan Andrews, Kevin Fraser along with their last line

other hand will start with home advantage apart from playing on a turf that has brought great rewards for them over the years. Ran-

dolph Wagner, who led them with a brace in their rampant win over Flamingo will be aiming once again to lead from the front.

He would fine able support in the form of Rensford Colridge, Shamar Wilson, Darren Benjamin, Anthony Sancho, Andre Webber and Dwayne Mc Lennon who were all on the score sheet in that win.

While the Tigers would be tipped to win, time will tell who would book the second semi final spot as the winner of the opening salvo between Santos and Pouderoyen would have taken the first.

This match too is anticipated to be a stern tester for both teams with a place in the final four being a huge motivating factor.

Pouderoyen had clawed their way back from being a goal down to defeat Mahaica Determinators at Leonora and will have to replicate and even improve that performance if they are to get past San-

tos tonight.

Pouderoyen’s Kiode King and Esan Nelson were the men who orchestrated the win over Mahaica and would be hoping for another good day at the park for their team. Backing up would be the Harding brothers, Anthony and Ashley, Dwayne St. Kitts, Morgan Denny, Kayode King, Marvin Frank, Denzil Boyce, Quessey Alleyne, Esan Nelson and custodian Sherwin Bernard.

Santos too would be harbouring ambitious thoughts of a place in the final four. Like the Tigers, they would start with the advantage of playing at the Tucville ground on numerous occasions and can easily call this venue, home.

Keith Cains and teammate Orin Yard had each blasted the nets twice in their 4-0 victory over Herstelling Raiders on December 18th and will more than likely be hunting another such performance.

2017 Limacol round-robin knock-out football …

Star Party Rentals joins the fold THIS year’s Limacol-sponsored round-robin knockout football tournament continues to gain support from local enterprises, with Star Party Rentals signing-on to the tournament which begins tomorrow.

Now in its second year and the brainchild of the Petra organisation, the tournament will feature sixteen teams from different areas competing for top honours and over two million dollars in cash and other prizes.

Speaking during yesterday afternoon’s brief ceremony, Michelle Henry, representative of Star Party Rentals said “We are pleased once again to partner with Petra to host the event. We have over the years constantly supported Petra in football by providing our unique service which ensures that the organising is successful”.

“We would like to thank Petra for the opportunity to continue our social respon-

sibility. The owner of Star Party Rentals who has been a part of sports is pleased to be associated with the tourna-

said “We at Petra are happy for the support of the event and we recognize that this company has supported us

Michelle Henry of Star Party Rentals hands over the company’s support to Petra organisation’s Mark Alleyne ment,” she added.

Meanwhile,Mark Alleyne, Petra Representative

over the years. Without the support, we would not be successful.

“We want to take this opportunity to thank the company for coming onboard and we’re looking forward to a great tournament” he stated.

The tournament will be contested initially in a round-robin format, with the top two finishers progressing to the quarterfinal round.

In tomorrow’s opening round of games at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda, the Guyana Police Force will battle Mahaica Determinators at 18.00hrs,and then Riddim Squad will clash with Camptown.from 20.00hrs The first placed team will earn $500,000 and a trophy while the second, third and fourth placed teams will receive $250,000, $125,000 and $75,000 respectively Meanwhile, the winner of each group will receive $100,000 while the respective finishers will pocket $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000 each.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE JANUAry 22, 2017

Chairman of selectors wants Super 50 players to impress with form, consistency BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, , (CMC) – Chairman of selectors, Courtney Browne, has urged regional players to make their mark in the upcoming Regional Super50 in order to force their way into the West Indies squad.

He said West Indies were expected to have a heavy One-Day International schedule this year, and with preparations already in train for the 2019 World Cup, it was crucial players took advantage of every opportunity in the January 24 to February 18 tournament.

“We’re definitely looking forward to the Super50 to see that the incumbents go on and continue their good work,” the former

Test wicketkeeper told Massy United Insurance Line and Length.

“Then there are a lot of other young players who are challenging for places and we have a lot of ODI cricket coming up this year so it is important – obviously we’re building them up towards the World Cup – that all the players coming in and get their runs, get their wickets, play tough and hard cricket and really show us they have the attitude, not only to be part of the team, but the attitude that we are looking for that makes West Indian people really proud.”

Browne emphasised, however, that while it was important players performed, they needed to

Chairman of selectors Courtney Browne show consistency beyond the tournament.

“People just need to perform, that’s the most important [thing] and perform consistently,” said Browne,

who replaced legendary former West Indies captain, Clive Lloyd, in the position last year.

“What we are trying to do is look at players over at least three seasons. One of the things that we are trying not to do is to pick players after just one season.

“At times that will happen but if you can get a guy performing over three years consistently or over two years consistently, then we know he’s deserving of an opportunity at the senior level, or at least be considered for an opportunity at the senior level.”

Browne noted that the Windies one-day side was at a young stage of their development, and singled out

the unit which recently campaigned in the Tri-Nations Series in Zimbabwe.

He said the young players who had made their mark on that tour needed to reiterate that form in the Regional Super50.

“This is going to be very important for us because coming off the Zimbabwe Tri-Series, we saw some good signs there,” the Barbadian pointed out.

“Obviously we have a very young team where our captain Jason Holder he’s played about just over 50 ODIs (49) and the next person would have played about 20 or 22, and then all the others [on the Tri-Nations squad] were somewhere in the teens or actually there

quite a number of people below ten ODIs.” Trinidad and Tobago Red Force are defending Regional Super50 champions and will do battle in Zone A alongside Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Windward Islands Volcanoes, West Indies Under-19s and English county side, Kent Spitfires.

Zone B comrprises last year’s runners-up Barbados Pride, Jamaica Scorpions, Guyana Jaguars, Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners and ICC Americas team.

Players must make themselves available for the tournament in order to be eligible for selection to the ODI format.

Former defender Dennis Lawrence is T&T new head-coach PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Former national defender, Dennis Lawrence, has been appointed the new Trinidad and Tobago men’s senior coach, a day after media reports here said he had snubbed the offer.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association confirmed the move on Saturday and said the 42-year-old would arrive here next week to begin his new role with the embattled national side.

Lawrence replaces Belgian Tom Saintfiet who resigned after five weeks in the post, and takes over a struggling T&T side who are one from bottom of the

CONCACAF final round of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Russia.

“I feel very honoured and humbled by this opportunity and the confidence placed in me by the Association,” Lawrence said in a release.

“I have given my all for Trinidad and Tobago as a player and now relish this moment to contribute as head coach of the national team.”

He continued: “Of course I am coming into a difficult situation and we have to take each game seriously and out our best foot forward. The experience I gained working under different coaches during my 89 international

Marian Academy to host Schools Relay Championship as CSEC Project

THE Marian Academy will host its Schools Relay Championship on January 28 as part of its fifth form Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) physical education class project for 2017.

Set for the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary from 09:30hrs, the event will feature 1st to 5th form athletes only and interested schools can contact the PE teacher (Mr Keith Smith) at 675-5566, 650-2928 or the school office 226-9045.

Medals will be given for the first-, second- and thirdplace overall winners.

Admission is $100.

Former national defender, Dennis Lawrence. caps for T&T and my exposure in coaching has all helped to shape me.

“I intend to give my

very best towards this national effort.”

The news comes after it emerged Friday that Lawrence backed out of a verbal agreement to fill the post, after untenable changes were made to his contract at the last moment.

His agent, Mike Berry, said basic terms had been agreed at mid-week but subsequent changes to the contract made Lawrence walk away from the offer.

Among the changes were two clauses that stated that Lawrence could be sacked if he did not have a 40 per cent success rate on an annual basis or if T&T suffered a six-point drop in the FIFA

rankings.

“Those clauses were unacceptable,” Berry was quoted as saying.

But the local FA, who had earlier indicated that they would name the new head coach Monday, said Saturday’s announcement was an attempt to “quell further speculation and keep stakeholders informed.”

Lawrence was a member of the historic T&T side that qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany and is best remembered for scoring the goal in the 1-0 victory over Bahrain in the qualifier for that showpiece.

He spent his professional playing career in the

United Kingdom, making 198 appearances for Wrexham, another 84 for Swansea City before also turning out for Crewe Alexandra.

Lawrence, who holds a UEFA Pro License coaching badge, served as a member of Roberto Martinez’s coaching staff at Wigan Athletic and Everton. He took up a position as a scout with the Belgium national side after Martinez took over there last year.

According to the FA, Lawrence will meet with members of the local football fraternity and “determine the rest of his support staff” when he arrives next week.

Vice-president’s XV victorious in simulation match

RUGBY action continued at the National Park yesterday when a president’s XV team took on a vice-president’s XV in a simulation match.

The match filled the gap left by the postponement of the Guinness Sevens (7s) which was scheduled to start yesterday with the two teams following a similar combination of national players along with the youngsters.

When the dust settled, it was the vice-president’s VX that emerged victorious,with Osaie McKenzie scoring twice while Daniel Anderson and Carlton Barrow each scoring one;Kevin Wills scored a conversion.

On the president’s XV side, Jason Tyrell, Rondel McAurther and Rickford Cummings each scored one while Ryan Gonzalves scored a conversion. (Stephan Sookram) Players battle for the ball during a session at the National Park

Chairman of selectors wants Super 50 players to impress with See story on form, consistency page 35

We will give 100 percent, says skipper Johnson

…Squad well prepared for the challenge-coaches Crandon and Griffith

The Guyana Jaguars prior to their departure from the Windjammer hotel in Kitty. GCB’s Secretary Anand Sanasie (extreme right) and Treasurer Anand Kalladeen (extreme left) were on hand to wish the team every success. ( Delano Williams photo)

By Rajiv Bisnauth GUYANA has not won a regional one-day title in almost 12 years, but skipper of the Guyana Jaguars, Leon Johnson promised that his charges will give a 100 percent when the 2017 NAGICO Super50 tournament bowls off on Tuesday.

Johnson made the comment prior to the team’s departure yesterday morning

for Barbados to begin their campaign.

“What I can assure the Guyanese people is that we will give a 100 percent, with the aim of bringing back the title,” Johnson stressed.

Guyana last won a regional 50-over title back in 2005 when they won a thriller in fading light against Barbados at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda, but from

all accounts, it seems that the upcoming tournament can bring different fortunes for the side.

Both head coach, Easun Crandon and team manager, Rayon Griffith acknowledged that their expectancy of the squad is high, since they feel the squad is well prepared for the challenge.

“Definitely we are well prepared,” said Griffith.

“The weather in my opin-

Vice president’s XV victorious in simulation match

ion did not had any bad effect for us in terms of our preparation. We got enough work done because the main areas we had it cover, where the batters get to bat and the bowlers get to bowl, we also had some physical and some fielding as well, so overall I am very satisfied, and I think the board has done well in providing the necessary assistant”.

Crandon, who was confident as he described his team, said that they are fully focussed on the task ahead.

The former Guyana fast bowler has pointed to teamwork as a key component if the team is to reclaim the regional Super50 title.

Meanwhile, Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretary Anand Sanasie, in delivering the charge to the team at the Windjammer Hotel in

Kitty before they departed for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, urged them to return home with the title.

He stressed that even though the Guyana Jaguars have been a dominant force in the longer version of the game, the shorter version has excluded them for some time now.

“I once told you that Turn to page 30

A day of high emotion as Brazilian team play first game since plane crash See story on page 30

See story on page 35

A player is brought down hard during yesterday’s president XV vs the vice presidents VX game. (Delano Williams Photo)

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Defenders Neto, and Alan Ruschel and goalkkeper Jackson Follmann and Ruschel receive the trophy SUNDAY JANUARY 22, 2017