Guyana chronicle e paper 07 01 2016

T h ey a c h t " Al l e g r o "i nwh i c ht h ema n a n dh i s d o gwe r ef o u n dd e a d .

GDFp h o t o .

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 7, 2016

Pregnant 14-yr-old, lover found hanging A pregnant Berbice teen and a man who was suspected to have had unlawful sexual relations with her were Wednesday morning found hanging in a house.

Relatives discovered that Sherryanne Alli and 21-yearold Deoraj Persaud had apparently hanged themselves in a house at Lonsdale, East Bank Berbice.

Alli, called “Budgee”, had celebrated her 14th birthday on December 31 last, and had lived in neighbouring Brothers Village with foster relatives.

Persaud, a labourer, had lived at the home of his recently departed grandfather, and it was at this house the two were found hanging.

While the incident is believed to be a double-suicide, Alli’s relatives are claiming that it was a murder/suicide, as the teen had never showed any self-destructive tendencies.

Sabena Latiff, with whom the teen lived, recalled accompanying her to the New Amsterdam Hospital to undergo a pregnancy test after a visit to the Probation and Welfare Service.

Relatives said that an officer at the agency had met with the teen and the man and had told them that they could not have a relationship as that would be “inappropriate”, and it had to be discontinued.

Latiff said she was advised to keep the teenager in her care until Wednesday (yesterday), as the Probation Service would decide whether to send her to her biological mother at Skeldon, Corentyne, or find her alternative living arrangements.

On returning home from the visit to the Probation and Welfare Service, Latiff reportedly upbraided the teen

On Tuesday, Latiff recalled, the teenager, along with Latiff’s three children and father-in-law, shared a meal of chowmein and looked at a television show before retiring to bed.

DISAPPEARED On waking up at about 05:00 hrs the next morning, Latiff observed that the teen’s bedroom door Alli escaped from the home of Sabena Latiff through this window

Sherryanne Alli

Deoraj Persaud

about her behaviour, reminding her of her youthfulness.

The teenager was advised not to get too excited, and to wait until she got much older before starting a serious relationship.

The young woman was also reminded of a court matter involving Persaud.

Latiff said that the former Vryman’s Erven Secondary School student promised to heed her warnings.

was closed, but she was nowhere to be found.

“I asked my son to call ‘Budgee.’ He returned, saying she was not in the house.

I remembered that my fatherin-law had put ‘Budgee’ to sleep in the bedroom while he had pulled his bed in the hallway, blocking her bedroom door in the process.

“I woke up and asked for the girl, but he was unable to say what had transpired.

I then pushed the bedroom door. I observed that three louvre panes were removed and placed on the adjoining zinc shed. I believe she escaped through that window.”

Latiff said she and her husband immediately went to the Sisters Police Station and made a report.

Shafeek Ally, the uncle of Deraj Persaud, said he was at home, some distance away from the suicide scene, when the police visited about 30 minutes after Latiff had made her report and questioned

him about the whereabouts of his nephew.

As a result, he visited the home of his father who had recently passed away. At that house, his nephew lived. He knocked and called out for Persaud, but got no response.

“I heard music coming from the house, so I knew he was there. I called again, asking him to open the door.

But, again, there was no response. I then walked on the zinc shed adjoining the house. I pushed open one of the wooden windows and

walked into the bedroom, where I saw them hanging together. They were dead.”

It was then that Alli realised that the music was coming from his nephew’s cellular phone. He also observed that there was money under the phone. He wanted to remove the valuables, but opted not to do so, as it was a crime scene.

The Trinidad-based man recalled going to the Sisters Police Station and informing ranks of his discovery.

However, on his return to the house where the young people had hanged themselves, he discovered, to his amazement, that the phone and the money were missing.

“Imagine them come to see what happening and dem thief from the dead! People real wicked, eh?” he lamented in a Trinidadian accent.

Imtiaz Alli, father of the dead teenage girl, told this newspaper that he had cause to visit the Probation and Welfare Service on several occasions regarding the man’s overtures to his daughter.

Police are investigating the incident.

City businessman first Swine Flu victim

By Navendra Seoraj FIFTY-YEAR-OLD Vishnunarine Sugrim, also known as ‘Shook’, a city businessman who was initially being monitored in Georgetown for Swine Flu, caused by the H1N1 virus, died on Old Year’s Day at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where he had been hospitalised for about two weeks, his family confirmed yesterday.

He was the owner of the Agri Implements store that sold parts for agricultural machinery in Georgetown.

His other brothers own the popular related agri machinery businesses known as Agri Parts and GuyTrac.

Sugrim’s wife, Geeta, told this newspaper that her husband had, on December 11, returned to Guyana ill from a trip to China. He was taken to the Balwant Singh private city hospital, where a number of tests were done to determine whether he had malaria, typhoid, and even cancer, his wife said.

When her husband was

suspected to have contracted Swine Flu, and Health authorities here had sent samples of his blood to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad for testing, Shook’s wife had said: “They have no test here to say; they assumed that!”

Mrs Sugrim said that when her husband was transferred to the Miami hospital, it was discovered that he was suffering from severe pneumonia, and a strain of H1N1 virus was found in his blood.

“When we got (to Miami), there was a mass on his lungs which was caused by pneumonia plus another influenza which they assumed was H1N1,” Mrs Sugrim said last evening. She said her husband had suffered other health complications such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Public Health Minister Dr George Norton confirmed that the man whom health authorities had suspected of having contracted the H1N1 virus had died. Dr Norton said that although the patient’s immune system had

been compromised, local health officials could not say definitively that he died as a result of the H1N1 virus.

It was after the tests from CARPHA were returned that health officials confirmed that Sugrim was positively carrying the H1N1 virus.

“The H1N1 virus, also known as Swine Flu, has been detected in Guyana, with one person already confirmed as having the virus,” Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud had said on Old Year’s Day, the very day the patient died.

Public Health Minister Dr George Norton has said that relatives and staff of the Balwant Singh Hospital who had monitored the patient were under surveillance for the virus.

Mrs Sugrim told the Guyana Chronicle that she and other relatives were free of the virus.

“There is nothing to be alarmed about,” Mrs Sugrim said, and she wanted to assure that there was no need for a panic about Swine flu locally.

Apart from his wife, the late Vishnunarine Sugrim is survived by his children Sharvin, Vinesh, Navin, Gavin and Anjalie; and siblings Chinee, Haro, Leila, Sheila, Kamo and Pamela.

Medical authorities say Swine Flu is a respiratory disease caused by influenza virus in pigs, and can be transmitted to humans.

Symptoms of the flu in humans are similar to most influenza infections, such as fever, coughing, fatigue and headache.

SMUGGLED GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 7, 2016

3

FBI reports about 15,000 ounces of gold being smuggled out of Guyana weekly

By Leroy Smith NOT only is gold being smuggled out of Guyana, but the precious metal is also being smuggled into this country as well, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department for Homeland Security have informed Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.

Minister Trotman made the disclosure at a press conference shared with newly-reassigned Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, at Cara Lodge on Quamina Street, Georgetown.

Between 50 and 60 per cent of the gold produced in Guyana is smuggled out of the country, it was disclosed.

Of the more than 15,000 ounces of gold exported from Guyana on a weekly basis, all of it did not originate in Guyana.

Trotman said that, based on what came out of the meeting with the US law enforcement agencies at the Ministry of Public Security, gold is being smuggled into Guyana from Colombia and Venezuela. The systems at the border with Venezuela are weak.

The gold being smuggled into Guyana from Colombia and Venezuela, and the gold being smuggled out of Guyana, Trotman said, reaches as far as the Middle East.

And gold from Guyana is being smuggled to places such as Brazil and Suriname, where it moves on to Europe, even as there are indications that gold smuggled from

Guyana is landing at the Miami International Airport and the John F. Kennedy Airport in the United States.

The Natural Resources Minister made it clear that he would not be naming anyone on the radar for gold smuggling, but confirmed that the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security would be paying this country a visit, and that means there are persons locally who are in the trade and are on the radar.

Asked why the practice is still in place to issue export licenses to persons who are suspected of smuggling gold, the minister sought to explain that, rather than revoking those licences, there may be better good in working with those persons to come into conformity with the guidelines, which speak to the declaration and exportation of gold from this country.

He was however quick to say that any questions as to why in the past those persons were still issued with licences would have to be directed to his predecessor.

Asked whether he believes that lowering the royalties and taxes on gold may reduce the instances of smuggling, Minister Trotman said empirical evidence to support that notion could see an automatic rise in gold declaration.

“You have to examine the reasons why people are smuggling gold. Some of it have not only to do with a better price which can be obtained in Suriname; it has to do with hiding income from the Government to avoid taxes altogether; and other people may be using it as a

means of laundering illicit or illegally obtained money,” Trotman explained.

He stressed that, based on where he sits and the findings of research which are available to him, lowering the royalties would not automatically lead to substantially high declaration, but it may lead marginally to high declaration, but that is not to say it will lead to a manifold

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman increase, and that fact is important to note.

Minister Trotman told the media he is concerned about the people smuggling gold within the Natural Resources Sector, but he maintained that he would not be giving names of individuals and companies, as the leading agencies to deal with smuggling are the Guyana Police Force and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

Trotman also reminded that a task force chaired by him has been set up to address the issue of smuggling.

He indicated that once names and agencies pop up, atten-

tion would be paid to them.

DECLARATION The press conference was also told that approximately 451,000 ounces of gold were declared in 2015, while approximately 15,000 ounces are exported weekly. This country, he said, is still losing approximately 50/60 per cent of its total production to smuggling, according to what the US agencies representatives have said.

Trotman also told the press that his Ministry is not ruling out adding to its functions an arm that is tasked with investigating gold smuggling in and out of this country. He said he is confident that the police, which have the responsibility to investigate gold smuggling, are doing its work and that was indicative by presence of representatives of the agencies out of the United States, who had visited last year.

Trotman said the declaration of gold for 2015 was higher than the previous year, which proves that the present administration has been able to put a dent in the illegal trade.

While two major gold companies were able to record a combined declaration of approximately 41,000 ounces of gold in 2015, the local miners declared a combined target of approximately 400,000 ounces.

On the issue of reducing the instances of smuggling of gold, especially out of Guyana, the Minister had this to say.

“The (Guyana)Gold Board compound does not have the facilities to process gold; that is, to seal and

we do have protocols. Gold Board officials will go to the mines, either at Aurora or Troy Resources, with GRA officials, Gold Board officials, police, and sealing is done there, then the gold is escorted to the airport or the place where it (is to be refined),” Trotman explained.

Reminded that the present arrangement has been reported as providing an opportunity for smuggling, the minister said that despite systems having been put in place to safeguard certain operations, there are always those who will try to beat the system, and when those things happen, additional measures have to be adopted to curb those practices.

He did say, however, that sealing facilities for gold -- being a point of discussion -- is not something that would be ruled out, but consideration has to be given to the companies which are involved, especially in the large scale operations.

Minister Trotman explained that new guidelines for persons wishing to export gold have been crafted, and the board would be meeting in the coming week to examine those guidelines.

On the issue of Guyana receiving value for money as against the concessions which are given to miners, the minister was clear in setting the records straight that the Government of Guyana does not believe that it is receiving value for the concessions which it grants to those in the mining sector.

The Minister of Finance is seeking to review concessions

granted, since Guyana seems not to be benefiting the way it should from the millions in concessions that it grants to those within the mining sector.

“Concessions are granted by the Minister of Finance, and once he agreed to give concession, our function will just be to allocate the actual acreage or size of the concession and physical size of the concession. In terms of taxes and whether or not we are getting value for money, that is a matter for the Ministry of Finance, and I think that I can safely say that Guyana has not received value for what it has given up, and that is commensurate value that we may have received. So the Ministry is conducting reviews, and it will be continued this year, and much of it will be announced in the budged to be presented at the end of this month,” Trotman said.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Natural Resources would be heading to Mahdia to meet with the miners.

The team is expected to comprise Ministers Raphael Trotman, Simona Broomes and other senior officials of the ministry and the GGMC.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 7, 2016

GDF sergeant’s death…

Nothing new about security sector collaboration

- President says

By Rabindra Rooplall

WITH sectors of society expressing concerns about the surveillance activities that led to the death of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant Robert Pyle, President David Granger expressed his sadness about the loss of lives but brushed aside concerns about the role of the joint operations.

The President says that joint collaboration between the various security forces is nothing new and it is something that has been ongoing for over six decades.

Pyle and his wife, Stacy, were killed in a collision with a truck on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 while chasing a car with a number of persons who had escaped Pyle’s roadblock with his vehicle. The other victim was Linden Eastman of Prashad Nagar, a truck driver who operates in front of Courts on Main Street.

Speaking to members of the media at the Ministry of the Presidency yesterday, President Granger said “there has always been a pattern of Joint Service collaboration between the Defence Force and the Police Force and whenever the need arises,

the Police Force would call on the Defence Force for assistance. This has been taking place over the past 60 years when the British troops were here. There have always been joint service operations; in fact, there is a Joint Operations Centre so joint operations are part of the DNA of the two forces.”

President David Granger explaining to the media the role of joint collaboration between the various security forces

INTERNAL PROBE He said the death of any member of the GDF results in an internal probe which, if not carried out, would be advisable. However, there is no need for a probe to be executed or stretched beyond an internal one since the sergeant was part of a legitimate operation.

The President said that based on the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) investigations, a request may be made for the assistance of the Police Force or the Defence Force if necessary.

“We are aware that an operation was taking place, but we don’t get involved in the detailed operational use of the two forces. This is vested in the Police Commissioner and Chief-of- Staff, no politician gets involved in directing operations,” the Commander-in-Chief explained.

The GDF on Tuesday noted that Pyle, a member of its Intelligence Unit, had been deployed on a legitimate operation in support of the SOCU. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has said in correspondence that it is saddened by the deaths of the Pyles and Eastman, but is also alarmed by media reports regarding the circumstances leading up to the accident since the soldier had been engaged in a surveillance operation targeted at civilians; and further that he had been engaged in a high-speed deadly car chase through the streets of Georgetown, chasing a vehicle which he believed contained a relative of Winston Brassington, embattled Chairman of government holding company, National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited

DATE: 6/1/2016 O 25 11 22 17 10 19 6

6/1/2016

2

25

24

(NICIL).

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan on Monday debunked claims by General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Clement Rohee that the security forces were being used for political work. He is insisting that investigations into alleged wrongdoing by Brassington will continue.

He said that units such as the SOCU, of which Pyle was a part, will go after those whom they suspect of wrongdoing. The PPP claimed that the government might be using members of the security services for political proposes, but Minister Ramjattan asserted that senior officers who might have given Pyle that assignment are not to be blamed, neither can (the operation) be classed as political.

10

8

6/1/2016

6

Better will come - New Housing Minister

THE newly-sworn in Minister within the Ministry of Communities Valerie Adams-Patterson is aiming for persons who have completed paying for their house lots to have their legal instrument three months after, without unnecessary delay.

Ms Patterson has replaced Minister Keith Scott who has been moved to the Ministry of Social Protection.

She shared this vision after taking the oath of office yesterday in front of President David Granger at the Ministry of Presidency.

Attending the ceremony were Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Minister Keith Scott, along with relatives.

The Minister who is responsible for Housing said she intended to shake up the Housing Department and make it better prepared to respond to the needs of Guyanese.

“I am promising the people of Guyana that better will come and some of the objectives that we have and want to see become a reality will happen. My personal ambition is to see that when a

1

5

6/1/2016

member of the public applies for a house lot and once he has completed paying for the house lot within three months he should have his legal instrument in his hand.

I know it can happen and we will make it happen,” the new Minister explained.

The former CEO of Linden Economic Arm (LEN) said based on the confidence President Granger has placed in her she would work even harder while pushing for the house lot matters to be dealt with expeditiously.

Minister Patterson, who is also the Member of Parliament for Region 10 also said she intends to tackle the long backlog of house lot applications.

Meanwhile, President Granger noted that Ms. Patterson had considerable knowledge and experience in the area of administration and management which was the driving force behind his decision to make her a Minister within the government and a member of the cabinet.

The Head of State said the new Minister’s special skills in dealing with various issues would greatly assist her new portfolio.

9 7

6 18

15

3

1

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 7, 2016

End of Region 6 power woes in sight

By Clifford Stanley

The # 1 Diesel Generator of the Skeldon Power co-generation Power Plant has been re-furbished and has recommenced supplying a much needed five megawatts of electricity into the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) interconnected grid in East Berbice.

Member of the Board of Directors of Skeldon Electricity Inc (SEI) and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in Region 6, Gobin Harbhajan told Chronicle that handing over and taking over of the re-commissioned #1 generator took place at a brief ceremony at Skeldon on Tuesday.

Diesel generators #2 and #3 of the Skeldon Power Plant are undergoing a similar refurbishment at an overall cost of US$5.5M. These two remaining generators are expected to be fully operational by the end of this month, thereby bringing 10 Megawatts of electricity generating capacity on stream for the benefit of domestic and commercial

consumers in East Berbice.

Those present at the simple formality for the #1 generating set included Harb h a j a n , E l d o n Wa t s o n , Plant Manager; Brian Goodridge, Contract Manager Wartsila Bansod Wartsila Project Manager from India; Candacie Warren of the Regional Education Department of Region 6; and Mohindra Persaud, Chief Executive Officer of Nand Persaud Company Limited, Tain, Region 6.

Harbhajan said he could

not help being very critical of the previous administration which had allowed the engines installed by Wartsila only in 2008 to fall into a state of disrepair and deterioration in which the new Board found them.

In an invited comment, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SEI Lloyd Rose said the refurbished diesel generators will provide the GPL with a sizable component of 7.5 MW of stable and reliable electricity needed by the people of Region 6.

Persaud said he considered the resuscitation of the # 1 generating set at the Skeldon Plant a development which will be welcomed by all long suffering consumers of electricity in East Berbice.

The CEO of the rice processing giant in Region 6 said that the coming on stream of the remaining two before month-end will also provide the much desired back up power also known as redundancy if ever needed.

At the re-commissioning of the # 1 engine at the Skeldon Power plant. Gobin Harbhajan second from right, from left to right Candacie Walters, Eldon Mr Bansod and extreme left Brian Goodridge

Republic Bank rubbishes KN’s money - laundering claims REPUBLIC Bank (Guyana) Limited has rejected the assertion that it is engaged in money-laundering activities, according to an article in the Kaieteur News on Wednesday.

The Bank in a statement said it has a rich history of integrity spanning over 175 years and views any

Editor-in-Chief of Kaieteur News, Adam Harris suggestion of this nature to be malicious, libellous and unfounded. “In particular, the Bank denies that any deposit of cash or cash equivalents was made to the referenced account by the named party on June 16, 2011 or any other date. In light of the article which seeks to tarnish the Bank’s reputation and ques-

tion its adherence to sound banking principles, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited will take all necessary steps, including reviewing legal options to address these false allegations, to protect its reputation and the interests of all stakeholders,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Guyana also responded to the article under the caption "SARU probes local Bank accused of money laundering." The Central Bank said the article suggested wrongdoing by Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited) and inaction on its

part. “One of the functions of the Bank of Guyana is to supervise and regulate financial institutions in Guyana and it is against this background that this press release is being issued. “The Bank wishes to advise that, subsequent to the receipt of a letter of complaint and request for prosecution of the financial institution, the Bank conducted an examination of the relevant records of the financial institution.

Based on the documents and records examined by the Bank of Guyana, no evidence of wrongdoing

on the part of Republic Bank (Guyana Limited) was found.”

According to the Bank of Guyana, the examination revealed that the financial institution had taken steps to ensure compliance with the relevant Prudential Supervision Guidelines issued by the Bank of Guyana under the Financial Institutions Act No 1 of 1995.

In light of the recent article which has the potential to destabilise the financial sector, the Bank of Guyana has found it necessary to issue this press release for the guidance of all parties.

5

Member of the Board of Directors of Skeldon Electricity Inc (SEI) and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in Region 6, Gobin Harbhajan signs the certificate of completion for generating set # 1 and the general contract document for the refurbishment of the generators

Thursday January 7th, 2016 - 14:30 hrs Friday January 8th, 2016 - 14:30 hrs

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 7, 2016

Is football administration compromised?

Dear Editor,

EDITORIAL Training for the media

THIS past weekend, President Granger may have shocked media practitioners when he announced that government would help the Guyana Media Association with the training of its members.

The president also announced that the government would facilitate journalists travelling to far-flung areas of the country to cover developments in those communities.

Of course this is part of a larger initiative by the President to provide assistance to various organisations which provide service to critical areas of national life.

This assistance to the media fraternity is especially significant for at least three inter-related reasons. First, it is significant that the President made it very clear that the assistance comes with no strings attached. In fact, he urged the journalists to critically examine his government’s performance, so that it could better deliver on its responsibility to the nation. This is a very refreshing stance by the president.

A close look at our post-colonial experience would reveal that previous governments have had very hostile relationships with the independent media. They responded to media criticism with punishment in the form of withdrawal of government advertisements, libel suits, and open harassment of journalists, among other things. Concomitantly, the state-owned media were transformed into mouthpieces of the governing party, and journalists attached to those entities had to practise self-censorship.

Second, that the president has not confined the offer of training to the state media, but has very importantly included the privately-owned media, shows a very broad-minded vision. The president is thinking about the advancement of the profession at large and about the country’s development.

For us, this is what good governance is about. Government must, at all times, be concerned about the larger picture, rather than become victim of narrow partisan interests.

Third, the president is moving to address a very important aspect of journalism in Guyana — training. While the University of Guyana does offer a degree programme in Mass Communication, Guyana does not have an accredited journalism school or degree programme. This means than many of our journalists join the profession without any formal training in the craft. It is to their credit that they have maintained the integrity of the profession in such circumstances.

But in a knowledge-based world, journalists are being constantly challenged to expand their scope. That the government is prepared to assist in this area must be seen as an investment in a profession that is critical to an effective democracy.

Training would help to lift the standard of journalism, and encourage our young people to join the profession not simply for financial gain, but as a legitimate career choice.

We hope the President’s initiative would eventually lead to establishment of a journalism school or roll-out of an independent journalism programme at UG. We urge that the training should include not only the craft of reporting and writing, but, most importantly, it should include lessons in Guyana and Caribbean history and culture, particularly the political history and culture. This is an area where knowl-

I AM extending you a happy, healthy, prosperous and progressive new year, filled with the blessing of the Eternal and Everlasting Father, God Almighty”!

The recently elected executive of the Guyana Football Federation have, to date, not publicly extended their best wishes for the New Year to the sport’s various stakeholders.

This being the electronic age of emailing, those greetings were probably done!

This would be so unlike my time within Georgetown, when Christmas Cards were delivered to affiliates, Referees Association and the GFF. It is to be hoped that the 2015 mistakes would not be repeated in 2016, especially in relation to associations hosting end-of-year tournaments. Suffice it to say that for those tournaments to

be included in the Annual Calendar of Activities, word must be submitted to the GFF within a specific time-frame.

“Developing and promoting the sport of Association Football” remains compatible with “coordinating various competitions/tournaments within the respective divisions”. Would it be prudent to have absolutely nothing, or at best a token few tournaments, then at year-end it’s all about money, while the paying public is shortchanged with quality play?

That aside, the clarion call is once again being made for Elite League players to be included as loan players in the various clubs domestically in the respective associations. Sponsored clubs in pursuit of winning can afford to recruit overseas-based players without breaching any rules, while locally, Elite League players are relegated to being glorified onlookers.

Unity of the races

Dear Editor,

IN THIS 50th year of political independence, unity of the races -- seen in some quarters as possible when the two major races (African and East Indian) share political space -- may be possible, but not unity of the nation.

This is said from the backdrop that this nation is birthed out of six races/peoples. Unity, which speaks of togetherness around common issues, cannot be achieved when some are seen as “more equal than others”.

Frankly, in this desire to hog the nation’s pie as against putting laws in place to govern in the interest of all, the other races are seen as inconsequential, or they become casualties.

It is a misconception to think that when Africans and East Indians control the political pie conflicts and hatred will be eliminated between the two. Within the two races there are conflicts and hatreds based on other diverse issues, such as

edge is patently lacking, not only among our media workers, but also among our young people at large.

There should also be training in the art of research, which is critical to the dissemination of information and knowledge.

Fourth, the offer to facilitate journalists travelling beyond the coastland to cover the far-flung communities is most timely. Because of the high cost of transportation to the hinterland, our media outlets have developed mostly as coastland media. This has meant that the rest of the country has not been kept fully abreast of developments in the hinterland. But, more importantly, residents of the hinterland do not get to read about, or hear and see, themselves in the media. This, in a real sense, has led to the perception that we live in two separate countries.

Media outfits should grasp the President’s offer with both hands.

Finally, we hope that the leadership of the Media Association moves expeditiously on this initiative. Administering this proposed training programme should breathe new life into the association, and encourage it to come up with similar initiatives aimed at upgrading the profession. Guyana has a great journalistic tradition; it has given the Caribbean and the world some of the most accomplished media practitioners and thinkers. Further, our country boasts one of the most vibrant media in the region.

Appropriate and more intense training of our media workers would go a long way towards maintaining those standards.

In closing my letter, I wish to comment on the issue of clubs fielding an ineligible player, as occurred with Mahaica Determinators in the recently concluded EBFA/ Stag Beer Super 16 KO; whereas the player, who is on the roster of Monedderlust, an Elite League club, played in the semifinals. A “written protest” was submitted, and the Mahaica club lost by default.

Did it occur elsewhere, and was a fine instituted to protect the integrity of the sport’s administration?

As a consequence the Determinators should have been debarred from further participation, and Victoria Kings should automatically have been awarded the third place. With the fourth place prize money in the coffers of the organiser, maybe, as an incentive, the Kings could

have played the losing quarterfinalist, whom Mahaica had defeated, for a 60-40% split of the fourth place prize money.

Interestingly, had the Kings lost, and subsequently filed a protest or played under protest, what would have been the organisers’ response?

Editor, this is why it’s extremely important for debriefing to be done prior to commencement of matches.

By the way, were “levy fees” imposed, or was there a waiver? Nevertheless, I wish to congratulate the winners and say to the losers: “Better luck next time around!”

And to the defaulters and compromisers of the sport’s integrity, I say: “For good of the game and love of the world, let’s have fairplay, please. Always!”

Respectfully yours, LESTER SEALEY

class, religion, where one lives, colour, vocation/jobs, educational background, and so forth.

It is not by accident that the United Nations, formed out of the spirit and intent to maintain world peace after World War 11, premises that nations and peoples would work together based on universal principles of equality, respect and dignity for all.

It is not by accident that the United Nations did so on the philosophy that nations and peoples are capable of working together based on universal principles of equality, respect and dignity for all.

This nation, as conversations continue on what is being termed unity and national unity, needs to be mindful of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, Article I, which expressly states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience, and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

In the Preamble of the Guyana Constitution, Guyanese are called on to “Celebrate our cultural and racial diversity, and strengthen our unity by eliminating any and every form of discrimination.”

As a trade unionist, what I see existing is discrimination, primarily on the grounds of class and race. Under the PPP government, sugar unions were assured, through actions, that their members’ fundamental freedom and right to a trade union of choice and to collective bargaining were respected. The then opposition respected that position. In the case of bauxite workers and public servants, predominately Africans, their fundamental right and freedom in this specific instance were totally disregarded. The then opposition condemned these violation and transgression by the government.

Today, with a new government in place, customs and practices that existed in the sugar industry have been thrown through the window. For instance, the Annual Production Incentive (API), which is normally negotiated before the end of the year, is still to be finalised for 2015.

For public servants and bauxite workers, the law which would ensure their unions’ right to collective bargaining is still to be upheld. Clearly, the discussions on unity, national unity and racial unity remain centred around the events of the 1950s.

The struggle in the 1950s was working-class-driven, mass based in nature, with the have-nots challenging the domination by the privileged and colonial authority.

Forbes Burnham and Cheddi Jagan, while not sharing the same political platform, expounded the same message on behalf of the working class. Further, both men attracted and retained persons of diverse racial groups in the leadership and membership of their respective parties even though the majority of their base came from either one of the major racial groups. see page 7

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 7, 2016

Investigation necessary

Dear Editor,

AN INVESTIGATION into the rampant corrupt practices of the past administration is indeed a hallmark of the new coalition APNU government, which must be commended. This new government is, in reality, sending out a clear message that no more corruption or mismanagement would be tolerated.

But, Mr. Editor, this investigative work must be extended to all and sundry. I mean it should be extended to hinterland communities as well, particularly where the leaders of certain communities seem to feel they are above the law, that they are untouchable.

If that does not happen, then a proliferation of leaders will rise and rule with impunity, with the presumption that they cannot be jailed.

Maybe some people have failed to grasp President Granger’s statement -- that if they “do the crime they must do the time.”

For example, when would auditors visit certain communities where once powerful persons governed?

Should they not answer some serious questions, too? Sir, this pronouncement should not be taken lightly by our

new leaders in the various communities in the hinterland. There must be law and order all over this land of ours, or the lawless will overtake us.

Now, it is a known fact that one of the leaders of the small Amerindian community of St. Deny’s, Tapakuma, Region 2, has forfeited all the trust and confidence of his fellow leaders. Acting or making decisions without duly consulting his colleagues seems to be his penchant. One recent action of his was when he failed to seek justice for a mother during the Christmas season.

This said woman was allegedly attacked and almost raped by the son of a known politician in the community. Had it not been for her schoolage son, who knows what harm would have resulted, she would have been harmed. The suspect is well known in the community for his type of behaviour, preying particularly on young girls. But many a time he would have been ‘let off the hook’ because of the then lofty position of his politician mother.

Instead of seeking justice for this poor, destitute and partly retarded single mother of two, this leader colluded

Unity of the races from page 6

Since the 1950s, the world has seen the United Nations and several international and regional organisations and agreements whose grounding principles are based on respecting rights and freedoms. Guyana is a member of most of these organisations. This country has since had its own constitution, which has seen reform, inclusive of Article 13 (inclusionary democracy) and Title I ‘Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.’

This nation’s failure, to date, at ensuring lasting unity is caused by the absence of respect for existing instruments, the absence of will and commitment to put laws in place to safeguard existing rights and freedoms, non-adherence to universal principles and practices, absence of crafting and enforcing laws that would hold public officials accountable, and disinterest in respecting Article 13 when in the driving seat.

To the talk on constitutional reform, it should be said that the issue of good governance is not premised merely on reform, but, more importantly, on respecting what currently exists.

The affairs of the State are being managed on gut-feeling for too long. It is time there be respect for instruments that guide conduct in public office and public sphere. In the meantime, all that is being done is idle chat in deceiving the masses.

If officials are not respecting the present laws, there is no assurance that changing these would cause us to see the people as anything different.

Regards, LINCOLN LEWIS

with others, known and unknown, to intimidate the victim, allegedly even ‘banning’ her from speaking with other members of the local village council. At the time of writing this letter, her access was undermined and restricted to her home, as if she were under house arrest. She is not allowed to even visit her friends and relatives during this Christmas season.

This is in gross violation of a person’s freedom of movement and freedom of association, and in violation of her human rights as a citizen of her country. It is felt that this is tantamount to tampering with the witness in order to evade the course of justice. How treacherous and inhumane can a person be!

It is alleged, too, that this man held a meeting with this aggrieved mother at the residence of a former power-house, where she (the victim) was grilled and intimidated. The man allegedly told her that he “has the final say” in any matter. She was told that the house donated to her by ‘Food For The Poor’ could be taken away if she did not “settle the matter” with her attacker and accept a sum of money as compensation.

How treacherous and inhumane can a leader be!

This preconceived notion, sir, that a leader, and not the community, has the final say in any matter, is still being touted by a few flawed and dictatorially-oriented individuals, who are still hoping that new faces will be schooled to their liking in order that our communities in the hinterland can be governed once more in ways that are corrupt, deceitful and flawed.

Mr. Editor, this is not going to happen. As long as there are young, bright and educated individuals in our communities, it is not going to happen! As long as the APNU government is in power, it is not going to happen! Let the people concerned understand that they no longer rule our communities and that their days are over, hence this letter, seeking justice.

Generally speaking, ‘square pegs’ also must now take their hands off the communities they once governed; their days are over.

They must leave our new leaders to themselves. Don’t

corrupt them.

Please instead help support our hinterland communities begin the rebuilding process from their run-down, derelict condition. Yes, our communities are tired of corruption! We have voted for change because we are tired of unaccountability.

We are tired of deception! Of course, we needed a change.

So please! Leave our leaders to function with teamwork, new knowledge, new vision; and, above all, with justice and fair play.

It might be pertinent to note here, sir, that it was the precognition of many that some young leaders in Amerindian villages are too psychologically immature to, in the first place, hold an important and critical position as leader. However, we still gave one of them a chance to lead. He has indeed tried, but has failed us.

Editor, we call on the relevant authorities, especially from Georgetown, to thoroughly investigate this leader’s attitude and misdemeanors, so that the appropriate action can be taken.

It’s sad, but people might have also lost confidence in regional officials, hence the call for persons from the city to be sent to investigate. We want an honest, unadulterated report, so the appropriate recommendations could be made and decisive action taken at the earliest.

Our President, His Excellency President Brigadier David Arthur Granger, is a man of his word, and he had pledged in his manifesto to be on the side of the abused, particularly women and children. So we are confident this letter will bear fruit.

For now, all we do is take comfort in the Creole proverb: “Moon ah run ‘til day catch am!”

Regards, Concerned resident

Man, dog found dead on yacht

By Leroy Smith A JOINT operation involving the Guyana Defence Force Coastguard, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the Guyana Police Force is currently underway to retrieve a boat that was spotted yesterday drifting off the shore of Guyana with a dead man and a dog inside.

The operation was confirmed by Chief-of-Staff(CoS) of the Guyana Defence Force Brigadier General Mark Philips last evening detailed the preliminary information which the coastguard had received from a foreign vessel. According to the CoS, a tanker vessel which was moving from Jamaica to Brazil observed the French-registered Yacht drifting with the tides out at sea. In the Yacht a dead man and a dog were spotted inside.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that the captain of the tanker sent a transmission which was picked up by the local coastguard who informed the relevant agencies. The captain of the tanker informed the coastguard that they could not stop as they had to continue along their journey, but did provide the reading of where the sighting was made. Using the information the GDF Skyvan conducted a flyover survey to confirm the information, which they did.

The aircraft returned to the coast and a team from MARAD, the GDF and the GPF has since journeyed to the location via boat. The operation will entail the securing of the body of the man and his dog as well as ensuring that the vessel is brought to shore, so that investigations can be conducted and the post-mortem performed on the remains of the man to determine the cause of death. The GDF head did confirm too that the yacht is a French-registered one.

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 7, 2016

Education on LGE inadequate - but all in place for March 18 elections

By Ariana Gordon CLOSE to 70 groups, parties and individuals on Tuesday submitted their symbols to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), indicating their desire to contest long-delayed local government elections (LGE) which will be held on March 18.

But as these elections approach, GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander believes that Guyanese need to be more informed on the functioning of local government.

Alexander said the majority of citizens would be going to the polls either uneducated or not sufficiently educated on local governance. He explained that education on local government issues should

have taken place a number of years ago, so the masses would understand the importance of local government elections (LGE).

These elections were last held in Guyana in 1994 for only the second time in the history of post-Independence Guyana, according to Alexander. The first time they were ever held in Guyana was in 1970.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday, Alexander, a seasoned GECOM Commissioner, said it is critical that the populace be educated on aspects of local government.

Alexander said he thinks the issue is not just about local government elections, but about local governance, because people are really not very conscious of the presence of local authorities and

how they function. What is most important now, he said, is knowledge about local government itself.

He believes that, with sufficient knowledge of local government, persons would be in a better position to appreciate the importance of the elections.

“When local bodies are in place, people can have the kind of relationship to ensure there is accountability and things like that,” Alexander explained. He said he believes that local government education is “long overdue”.

“I would be the first to admit -- to say that we should have done more work in terms of education. That we haven’t done more work is regrettable, but in some instances it was almost calculated,” he said with dismay.

He explained that during the Desmond Hoyte era, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), responsible for administering most of Canada's cooperation programmes with developing countries, had offered to fund the local government education, but the PPP, through its representative, at the time Clinton Collymore, had said it was not necessary. As such, Alexander says, it is strange that the opposition PPP are now making claims that the citizenry are ill- informed of local government.

“Well, I remember, years ago, when the Canadians came forward, when I was in the local Government Task Force and said let us fund some local government consciousness … The PPP said it is not your business. This is the kind of politrics in this country,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

Alexander stressed that such acts should never be part of Guyanese politics.

“We can’t allow that to be the determining factor of the politics. We could have started this work long ago…but the government wasn’t facilitating that; but now the same people are turning around to say the people don’t know enough about it.”

Asked whether the lack of education on local government would affect how persons go to the polls, Alexander replied in the affirmative.

“It will have some effect,” he said, noting that there is no real comparison to make. He explained that LGEs globally never attract the same turn out as national elections.

“We don’t have a baseline data we could use to do a comparison. We could look at 1994 … about 25 per cent to 30 per cent turnout was that bad or good…? I think we can only build, and we have to build, over time,” the GECOM Commissioner opined.

The need for local government elections is urgent, and Alexander believes that, over time, persons will be sufficiently educated on pertinent issues.

PREPAREDNESS Despite the constant cries of the PPP, that the Elections Commission is not prepared to host LGE, Alexander maintains that GECOM minus sequential activities is ready.

The opposition PPP had said that GECOM is not ready to host the elections.

The party notes that amendment of the legislation, the size of the constituencies, and insufficient staff were some concerns of its main concerns.

The Municipal and District Councils and Local Authorities (Amendment) Bill was passed last month in the National Assembly. It amends the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, to provide clarity on its application with respect to the new local government system.

The legislation also amends the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03, to ensure consistency in its application, as obtains in the Municipal and District Councils Act. “My disposition, generally, is (that) even the instances where something might not be in place now, but because of the nature of the preparations for LGE, GECOM has the time to put it in place.

There are things in GECOM which have to be done sequentially… Some things can’t be done unless some other things are done.”

Alexander has said that highlighting sequential activities cannot speak to the GECOM level of preparedness. “Even in the instance where things are not waiting for the sequential resolution, there is still time, and GECOM is aware of what needs to be done and has the institutional experience and capacity to be in a complete state of readiness,” he said.

He noted that the recruitment of staff is a challenge for GECOM, but is being remedied. He said that while there is a deficit, LGE cannot be postponed. “… You can’t just say you are postponing elections because you don’t have enough staff, hoping that sometime you will get it. You have to work towards getting it… and that is what GECOM is doing. We are looking at ways or approaches, for example, GECOM has a habit of employing only people over 18 years, but one of the things we have said (are) we have some of the officials you require to do jobs like receptionists etc., we are saying why can’t you take a 17-year-old? So there is thinking going on to address these problems.”

Addressing the PPP’s claim of the size of the electorate in some constituencies, Alexander said, “That is not a matter for GECOM to determine…so GECOM doesn’t see it as an issue it has to resolve…it is not GECOM’s problem.”

The PPP had said there are nine constituencies with less than one hundred voters each. PPP Commissioner Bibi Shadick said one constituency in Leguan has 55 voters, but any candidate who wishes to contest is expected

to have 30 supporters.

“How do you have a contest if you need 30 backers for one candidate, and one person can’t back more than one candidate, yet there are only 55 voters?” Shadick asked.

Notwithstanding the concerns of the PPP, Alexander stressed that GECOM is ready, given its current stage, and will be ready for the elections on March 18.

“GECOM is in a better position to move forward, because we couldn’t do certain things like finalise the printing of the ballot paper until you know who the contestants are. Now you have the symbols in, you have a better gauge as to who your contestants are, so you can move closer to finalising the contract for the printing of the ballot paper,”he said.

SUBMISSION OF SYMBOLS Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud, in an invited comment, told this publication that GECOM is in receipt of all submissions by persons interested in contesting the March 18 polls. However, work is still being done on the submissions.

Persaud explained that an exact figure on submissions was submitted, but the information would be inaccurate.

“There are a number of duplicated submissions, so, to give you the answer to your question now would be difficult, and I would be providing incorrect information.”

GECOM is currently processing all applications received, but Persaud estimates that between 60 and 70 applications for symbols were submitted by political parties, voluntary groups and individual candidates.

Now that the symbols have been submitted to the Returning Officer for approval by the Commission, those desirous of contesting the elections would be submitting their list of candidates on Nomination Day, January 26, after which representatives will be informed of defects in their submissions on the following day.

Representatives will be given the opportunity to return the corrected lists of candidates to GECOM on January 29, and that list will be approved by January 31, after which representatives will be informed. Appeals against refusals to approve the lists of candidates will be entertained on February 1, after which the Commission will publish the symbols and approved lists of candidates on February 2.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 7, 2016

Umbrella Party

From left: Ms. Kimberly Brasington, Senior Director, Public and Government Affairs, ExxonMobil; Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman; Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Greenidge; President David Granger; Mr. Stephen Greenlee, President of ExxonMobil; Mr. Michael Cousins, Exploration Executive Vice President; Mr. Erik Oswald, Exploration Vice President; Ambassador (Ret'd) Craig Kelly, Senior Director for the Americas- International Government Relations; and Mr. Jeff Simons, Country Manager, Esso Guyana, at the close of this morning’s meeting

Bright prospects for oil - Granger says after meeting with Exxon officials

PRESIDENT David Granger has said that, despite developments still being in the exploratory stages, the prospects for U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil finding oil in Guyana in commercial quantities are very favourable.

Commenting after a high-level meeting with top executives of ExxonMobil, the President reiterated his government’s full support for the top oil company, according to a Ministry of the Presidency release. ExxonMobil had, early last February, reported that it would continue exploratory work in Guyana.

President Granger said the ExxonMobil President has provided him with an overview of the company’s operations in Guyana. “Exxon continues to be optimistic and positive. It is too soon to make predictions. They are still in exploratory stages, but what I can say is (that), so far, the results have been very favourable,” President Granger said.

Stephen Greenlee, President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, has said that with expansion of the company’s operations in Guyana, it was necessary to provide to President Granger an update on the activities of the company. He added that the company is likely to have a growing presence in Guyana in the coming months, and indicated that he is confident in the company’s ability to bring value to Guyana.

“I wanted to talk to the President about our progress on the [Stabroek] Block, as we have gone out and acquired seismic data and are preparing for a second drilling campaign. We wanted to share with the President our commitment to the project. We also wanted to update him on our future activities, both on the discovery that we made and future exploration.

Finally, I wanted to talk to him about some of the work that is getting under way on our community programmes and socio-economic development opportunities,” Mr. Greenlee said.

According to Greenlee, the company has been especially happy with the discovery made in Guyana, and remains committed to advancing exploratory work here.

“Last year, we made a discovery offshore Guyana and it is very promising…so we want to follow up with data collection to understand the size and the commerciality of the discovery. We want to acquire new data so that we can

fully assess the potential of the Block offshore Guyana for the value that it will bring to Guyana and ExxonMobil in the future,” he said.

ExxonMobil began oil and gas exploration in Guyana on March 5, 2015, drilling offshore in the Liza-1 well in the Stabroek Block. On May 20, the company announced that its exploration drill ship, the Deepwater Champion, has made a significant oil find in the Block, about 120 nautical miles offshore Guyana.

Last month, the company contracted the Fugro Americas, a multi-purpose vessel designed to conduct high-resolution geophysical surveys and sea-floor mapping. This ship is expected to continue working in the area until March 2016. Minister Trotman has been given a tour of the 193-foot-long vessel, and briefed on the technology being utilised to conduct the surveys which will inform the company’s plans for the area.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said the the Oil and Gas sector will be getting much attention from his ministry this year. Trotman said his ministry, as mentioned before, will be formalising the foundations necessary for establishment of a Petroleum Agency, and will be paying keen attention to lessons learnt in the Region and further afield.

“I have been asked by President Granger to be his representative at the upcoming Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference, scheduled for January 18 to 20 in Trinidad and Tobago. A small team, including technical officers from GGMC and the ministry, will be attending this event,” he disclosed.

In addition to Greenlee, other top executives attending the meeting included: Erik Oswald, Exploration Vice President; Michael Cousins, Exploration Executive Vice President; Craig Kelly, Senior Director for the AmericasInternational Government Relations; Jeff Simons, Country Manager for Esso Guyana; Ms. Kimberly Brasington, Senior Director, Public and Government Affairs; and Mr. Carlton James, Director, Government Affairs. Trotman; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, also attended the meeting.

EVEN with reports that several groups have submitted their symbols to contest the upcoming Local Government Elections, our beloved Mark Benschop- states that though his own symbol of the Umbrella is yet to be approved by GECOM, this will not stop #teambenschop from moving forward with its agenda. From meeting with potential investors for a waste management company, to documenting his daily struggle and “long hours” toward his aspiring victory, if nothing else, Benschop receives the most spirited candidate award. What is apparent, however, is that the public seems to be rooting for the Umbrella Party- after all, everyone loves an underdog. It will be interesting to see what will happen when the other parties kick into gear and get the competition really rolling.

Lack of alternative

Speaking of underdogs, the vendors of the Merriman’s Mall found themselves recently displaced in light of the clean-up campaign. The self-employed lot arrived to work only to be told by the M&CC that vending has been suspended in light of the clean-up campaign. I’m all for cleaning up Guyana, but how about prior notice? Or, perhaps they could have given these people an alternative? After all, how will they earn their daily bread if they have no place to go, and how long will this suspension last?

I think what is needed most in many of these new projects and changes, is a lesson in diplomacy. Way to forget the interests of the common man.

Discrimination nation Activist Mark Jacobs has for a while now been revealing on his blog alleged injustices being meted out to the people-including himself. Now, one of his most recent posts - in which he alleges that the city constabulary is racially profiling and arresting citizens-has caught the public’s attention. Jacobs documents his experience while himself being held at the police station during which time he allegedly observed several conductors and minibus drivers being unjustly held for varying traffic violations.

Now, many are seeing the details of Jacobs’s story as troubling indeed. In the words of Ruel Johnson, who was among those who were aghast at the recount of events, this matter should indeed be investigated, and if found to be true, should be stomped out.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 7, 2016

Albion fisherfolk breathe sigh of relief

THE deplorable road leading to the fishing dock at Number 4 Dam at Albion, East Berbice/Corentyne, Region 6, will be fixed, and the channel where fishing boats are docked will be widened.

These promises were made by Special Assistant to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Gobin Harbhajan, and Liason Officer to the Office of the President, Barbara Pilgrim, during a recent meeting with residents and

members of the Fishing Coop Society of Albion.

The meeting sought to hear complaints of residents and fisherfolk, and provide solutions to those complaints.

Harbhajan said that, for a number of years, residents

have been asking for the road to be fixed. Fishermen who traverse the road daily have complained bitterly about its state and the need for it to be fixed urgently.

The Prime Minister's representative said that after consulting with the relevant authority, a commitment was made to fix the road, to the benefit of some 400 residents

and fishermen.

Work is expected to commence shortly.

The fishermen have also pleaded for the widening of the mouth of the channel where their boats are docked.

They said that, over the years, the channel became narrow from the build-up of silt and vegetation.

After listening to their

complaints, Harbhajan told the fishermen that work on widening the channel will commence soon.

The two government representatives also said they would be visiting other communities to hear about the issues affecting residents and to see how best they can have those issues addressed.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Gobin Harbhajan, and Liason Officer to the Office of the President, Barbara Pilgrim, with some residents and fisher folk of Albion, East Berbice

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 7, 2016

Alternative sentencing for young offenders coming

By Derwayne Wills WITH the impending arrival at the Social Protection Ministry of a new department catering to issues of youth, such as juvenile delinquency, alternative sentencing for youth criminal offenders could become mainstreamed, once offenders are not found to be grave violators of Guyana’s Criminal Law (Offences) Act. At an end-of-year press conference held by Social Protection Ministry (MSP) officials, including subject Minister Volda Lawrence, Chief Probation and Social Services Officer Gavin Munroe made this disclosure and noted that the move comes as the MSP revisits the issue of custodial sentencing for youths involved in criminal activities.

“We want to look at three aspects of justice within society: security, rehabilitation, and reintegration of persons who might be placed before the court,” he disclosed.

Munroe said the move would allow “first offenders and persons charged with not-so-grave offences against the Criminal Offences Act” to be placed on probation.

Since coming into office, subject minister Volda Law-

rence has been engaged in reshuffling and restructuring the Ministry of Social Protection (MSP) to improve its operation relative to what had

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence obtained under the previous administration. Munroe’s office is part of that structural change.

Ministry officials have said that, in 2005, there had been a linking of the probation and family welfare agency with the social security department.

“There has been an increase in the volume of social problems, and we want to ensure that we have a comparable response from the department in dealing with these issues within society,” officials have said.

Further restructuring will see the youth development section of the department dealing with issues pertaining to families, “because we recognise that you just cannot divorce issues pertaining to children [and youth] from the families,” Munroe noted.

Even with the New Opportunity Corps (NOC), which operates under the Public Security Ministry, grappling with its own institutional shortcomings -which have been subject to public scrutiny after the David Granger Administration took office last May -- Public Security Ministry officials have said their function is not confined to looking at reducing the number of students -- offenders under 18 years -- entering the NOC. ASSESSMENT Asked about concerns at the institution being addressed, the MPS’s Chief Probation Officer said that while there are systems being put in place, an assessment has been done by an official within his department, and recommendations have been submitted.

Munroe has said that, between January 2014 and June 2015, his department had engaged some 400 youths, with 250 of them being placed

into probation, in keeping with Guyana’s Probation of Offenders Act. With the pending introduction of Guyana’s National Youth Policy, which is still in draft form, some are hopeful that the policy will touch on at-risk youth and youth in trouble with the law.

Asked to respond to whether his agency has had any input in the draft of the policy piloted by the Education Ministry, Munroe said the assistant chief of his department had been actively involved in those consultations.

Munroe could not specify, during the end-of-year press

conference, what areas of input his second-in-command would have made, but he has said that whatever comes out of the policy, his department is ready to support it.

The Assistant Chief Probation Officer could not be contacted, because she is on leave until later this month, according to a MSP official.

Munroe did say, however, that his agency has been doing work on the ground, and in terms of actualising the policy when it is approved.

“Whatever may come of the draft, whatever may be established, whatever may be legislated, our department has

already put systems in place so that, whatever is legislated [or] formalised, we can hit the road running,” he said.

As a Cabinet member, Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence was asked whether the policy had reached that level. “Not that I recall,” she responded, adding: “There is a sub-committee at Cabinet, so the draft can be at Cabinet but in a sub-committee.”

M i n i s t e r L a w re n c e has said that when that sub-committee is finished with its work, “then it comes to Cabinet with the observations that the sub-committee would’ve made.”

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 7, 2016

Renewable energy for Bartica GOVERNMENT is seeking a suitable firm to develop a generation system utilising an appropriate renewable energy technology, or a combination of technologies under a Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) structure to supply electricity to the Bartica grid under a negotiated and agreed power purchase agreement.

Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat.

According to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, consistent with Government

plans for a green Bartica, the Ministry is soliciting competitive proposals from suitable firm to promote this venture.

The Guyana Power & Light Inc (GPL) is the electricity service provider in Bartica.

The electricity supply in Bartica is currently produced exclusively by diesel-powered thermal generators. The peak demand in Bartica is 1.8 MW as of December 2015, with an energy consumption of approximately 11,760 MWh annually.

Proposals for the generation system shall utilise one or more of the following eligible renewable resources: solar energy, wind energy, hydropower energy, bio-mass

energy, waste-to-energy or tidal energy. The facility shall produce at least 2,140 MWh of energy per annum, with up to 1.5 MW in capacity.

Following a call by President David Granger earlier last year to make Bartica a model green town, Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Rear Admiral (Ret’d ) Gary Best and his team last month introduced an ambitious “Bartica Green Plan” to the Regional Democratic Council and the Interim Management Committee.

The plan covers a holistic approach to sustainable economic growth in the soon-tobe township which will be

implemented collaboratively through the Office of Climate Change, the Ministry of Communities, regional officials of Bartica, residents and other stakeholders.

During his presentation of the “Green Bartica Plan”, Best said both short and long-

ing overall carbon footprint in agriculture, fisheries, water, forestry, waste, manufacturing, transport, construction, tourism and other sectors.

Priority will be given to creating green jobs through green growth, for example,

term plans are aiming to turn Bartica into a model green town by April 2016.

While noting that the strategy crafted by his office, he said significant features were drawn from the Bartica Development Plan, and ‘Project: Restore Guyana ‘produced by Major General (Ret’d) Joe Singh.

The master plan was launched under the theme “Let’s make Bartica clean, green and pristine”, which was proposed by residents.

with the establishment of wind farms there will be a need for skilled persons to install and maintain them, thereby creating jobs, and providing a renewable source of energy; all while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Other benefits such as increased equality, fairness and social cohesion are also expected to accrue.

Meanwhile, Marlon Bristol, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist told residents that they could look forward to benefits such as an enhanced waste management system and cleaning of the immediate surroundings in the community.

According to Bristol, engineers will soon embark on closing the landfill site

GREEN PATHWAY Its main objectives are to create a climate resilient economy and to establish green pathway for the foundation of a new Guyana, which will result in reduc-

which has been a health hazard and eyesore for many years. While this is being done, government will start work on a new landfill site at Four Miles. In the coming weeks, waste receptacles will be placed at strategic locations throughout the community and a massive education exercise on proper waste disposal will be held.

Plans are also in train to develop ten acres of land as a “green park” with paved walkways lined with trees and equipped other recreational facilities, including Wi-Fi technology. Further, components of the plan will be promoted through various forums in order to inform and solicit a feedback from residents. In addition, early next year there will be an official launch of this plan with a “Bartica App” which will give persons in the Diaspora a chance to contribute.

Following the presentation, Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford commended the team for their efforts saying that regional officials are committed to making it work. While acknowledging that the task ahead is formidable, Bradford believes that turning Bartica into a green town must first begin with the changing of mind-sets.

Five petitioners granted bail JUSTICE Navindra Singh recently granted five petitioners bail amounting to $2,450,000, pending determination of their cases.

For possession of narcotics, Cecil Alonzo and Kevin Martin were placed on $1M and $500,000 bail respectively.

Dhanesh Dharamedio and Mohan Chandrajit were each placed on $250,000 bail for possession of firearm without a licence, and $100,000 bail each for possession of ammunition without licence.

And for causing death by dangerous driving, Chee Sam was placed on $250,000 bail.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 7, 2016

New venue for Merriman Mall vendors

By Navendra Seoraj WHILE former vendors of Merriman Mall have expressed disgust with the actions of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) in making the area vending free, the Council is out exploring new grounds to increase the profitability of the vendors.

Disgruntled vendors yesterday mounted a protest outside the Ministry of the Presidency, calling for justice after a rumour started making the rounds that vending would no longer be done at the said Mall. Speaking to this publication, persons emphasized that they had been vending at the mall in some cases for as long as 30 years,

and the M&CC had removed them and left there persons who had been vending there for only a few years, and in some cases even months.

They also lamented complying with the Council’s criterion to keep the environment clean and the stalls in good condition.

Town Clerk Royston King has, however, denied that the vendors had plied their trade on the Merriman Mall for the length of time they claimed, and that they had ccomplied with the M&CC criterion to keep the place clean.

King noted, “Activities of those vendors who were permitted to ply their trade on the stretch from Cummings Street to Oronoque Street

Town Clerk, Royston King were not compatible with the mandate and mission of the Council to make Georgetown clean and green.”

The condition of the Merriman Mall prior to the cleaning-up exercise on Wednesday was deplor-

The piles of garbage, that was removed from the area can be seen in this photograph

Disgruntled vendors yesterday gathered outside of the Ministry of the Presidency able, King said. Even if the vendors’ rent is to be considered, King noted, it cannot compare to the level of environmental damage they had inflicted to that portion of the city.

That apart, the vendors who were occupying that area were classed as wholesalers who go there only on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. However, over time they became retailers, and began competing with the Bourda Market vendors, to whom they usually wholesale goods.

King said the vendors were accordingly competing unfairly with persons who paid a higher rent and had to sell their stock at a higher

price in order to gain a profit, while the Mall vendors were gaining double profits.

The M&CC is, however, in process of finalising a meeting with the vendors so as to update them on what the council has in the pipeline, the Town Clerk disclosed.

“We will be moving to relocate them to a more appropriate area, one which will allow them to make more money and allow the council to better manage them and the overspills,” he said, while explaining that he did not think the council would allow them to regain footing on that particular spot.

At the last meeting with the vendors in December, King mentioned that they had

‘Mother Grannie’ 102 not out

By Shirley Thomas

MRS Esme Springer, nee Arthur, fondly referred to as ‘Mother Grannie’, celebrated her 102nd birthday on December 20 last, engendering a spirit of pride and joy in her home village of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.

Amid tremendous outpouring of love, appreciation and goodwill from family members, neighbours and dear friends, this calm and collected village elder was very mindful to thank God for bestowing on her His abundant blessings and loving favour.

Grannie is a devout Christian, and is a member of the Plaisance Church of God. She expressed thanks to God for blessing her with health and long life, and for giving her caring family members in a home where love abounds.

Sharing this signally proud milestone with her were her daughter and caregiver, Hazel David, and the devoted family with whom she resides at 99 Prince Wil-

liam Street, Plaisance. Later that day, there was added joy when Mother Grannie was included in a group of 120 senior citizens who received Christmas hampers from the Plaisance Community Development Group, compliments of its US arm.

At 102, Grannie is blessed with fairly good health.

She moves about the house unaided, and has no eating peculiarities. She has a hearty appetite, and makes good of just about anything palatable.

Aside from a recent visual impairment, Grannie’s other faculties are intact; and today, even as diabetes and hypertension (nutrition-related non-communicable diseases) are gaining ground nationwide, Grannie remains unaffected by either scourge.

In fact, Grannie has a particular liking for black cake, and anytime is the ideal time for her to crave her indulgence in this regard. Having done a lot of baking during her lifetime, Grannie can never envision a Christmas without the tantalising presence of a good

ole black cake. She regards herself as a proud expert on black cake preparation, and can still readily detect when an ingredient is lacking or is excessively present in a black cake recipe -- her observation drawing reproof for the hapless chef.

Grannie has an innate love for children, having mothered seven biologically and doing a pretty good job of nurturing and bringing them up in the countryside community of Plaisance.

Apart from a sound primary education, she taught them life skills and values, foundations on which they were later able to build as they became adults.

DISAPPOINTED Grannie is disappointed at the way society has evolved. She regards the society as having degenerated from a collective of caring and sharing families to communities where young people lack discipline and

show disrespect for elders.

She reflects on a time when “it took a village to raise a child”, and when people consciously “looked out for each other”. Children then dared not misbehave in public, or they could get a spanking from some concerned elderly neighbour who had witnessed their indiscipline, and were almost certain to get a second thrashing whenever that neighbour reported their misbehaviour to their parents.

Grannie recalls that women had to know to ‘use their hands’ to produce homemade things such as knitting, embroidery, dressmaking, and preparing fine dishes.

“But today they buying everything!” she lamented.

Grannie’s 102nd birthday observance was not with a party this time around, but the December 20 activity sponsored by the Plaisance Community Development Group -- headed by US-based Claude Ince, with robust support from the Plaisance/ Sparendaam/Goedverwag-

a covenant which involved the stalls having one height and one colour, garbage receptacles being available and so forth, to ensure that there was uniformity and cleanliness.

Unfortunately, the agreement was breached, thus the new meeting, which he hopes will bear fruit.

Additionally, with immediate effect, the area which was originally a skate park has been resurrected and the M&CC has called on all the skating committees to occupy the area and conduct their sporting activities there.

The Town Clerk confirmed that the area is also available for other social activities and for use of the public.

Mrs Esme Springer, now 102, receives her hampers from Mr Claude Ince of the US arm of the Plaisance Community Development Group. Her devoted daughter Hazel David is seated at her left ting Development Association -- saw 120 hampers containing food items, toiletries and clothing being distributed to seniors drawn from Plaisance, Sparendaam Goedverwagting and Better Hope. Shut-ins unable to make it out of their homes were visited by the organisers, who delivered them hampers.

Commenting on the goodwill gesture, association secretary Rodwell Lewis told the Guyana Chronicle, “We recognised that people are paying little interest in

the senior citizens when it comes to handing out gifts, and so most of the senior citizens are left out when gifts are distributed during the Christmas season. It was in this light that the association embarked on this annual goodwill gesture, which is now into its 10th year but is now being highlighted for the first time.”

The recipients of these hampers have all expressed profound gratitude to the donors for helping to make their Christmas bright.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 7, 2016

New substations to improve electricity distribution

By Rabindra Rooplall THE GUYANA Power & Light (GPL) plans, in 2016, to upgrade, extend and build substations to improve the overall distribution of electricity countrywide.

According to GPL’s acting Chief Executive Officer Colin Welch, during his end-of-year report, a total of $543M has been allocated for development of substations.

These will be located at the Soesdyke/Linden Highway Junction, Canal No. 2, at Parika, and at Williamsburg.

However, the Kingston Substation, No. 53 Substation, Sophia, Vreed-en-Hoop and Edinburgh Substations will be extended this year.

GPL’s strategic long-term generation plan is premised on the continued use of renewable sources of power to meet base-load generation needs.

While Guyana has both wind and photovoltaic (PV) potential, and an ongoing interest is being shown by various parties from time to time, it is not expected that any such development will significantly impact the generation mix in the future.

Guyana also has potential for co-generation from biomass, and various parties continue to look at wood waste, paddy husk, and waste from ethanol production to produce up to 26MW of electricity.

International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA), an investor in the Hope Wind Farm Project, says it intends to commence work on the farms once it gets the green light from government. An IPA spokesman has said the 25-megawatt facility can reduce the country’s fuel bill

by US$5 million (G$1B) annually.

Lloyd Singh, proprietor of IPA, has said that by the end of the third phase, the project could provide up to 65 megawatts of electricity. He also noted that if phases two and three of the project are implemented, 65 megawatts can be added to the power grid. Renewable energy, particularly wind, is available 24 hours every day throughout the seven days of the week in every year.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has

said it is determined that the project would not have a negative impact on its surroundings. The IPA said energy is integral to development.

Every developed economy in the world has been built extensively on disproportionate consumption of what had then seemed to be abundant, cheap energy – fossil fuels. It is known, however, that emissions from industrial magnitude consumption of fossil fuels have, all the while, been spawning a global climate change time bomb.

Wind, the company said, is clean and renewable, and the cost of wind technology has been declining. According to work done by Mckinsey & Co for the Guyana Government, wind power is the third cheapest energy source behind nuclear and geothermal energy in the lineup of power technologies

that reduce CO2 emissions.

Reports reveal that one megawatt-hour (MWh) of wind energy reduces CO2 emissions by roughly 1,200 pounds, so a single average size 1.67-MW turbine that produces over 5,000 MWh of electricity would reduce CO2 emissions by over 3,000 tonnes. If 50 per cent of Guyana’s electrical needs were to be replaced by wind power, it would result in a 250,000-tonne carbon reduction, which would be valued in a carbon-trading system at US$6.2 million, assuming a $25/tonne price.

In addition, with wind generation, operating costs are predictable once the initial capital outlays are provided, unlike with fossil-fuel generation.

This is one of the GPL substations at Sophia that will be extended

Probe underway at City IT Department

THE Information Technology (IT) Department of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is now under investigation, and its head has been reassigned to another department within the municipality.

A reliable source at M&CC told this newspaper yesterday that the IT Department was recently left unattended after its head decided to proceed on leave without permission. He reportedly took this decision despite knowing that his second-in-charge was also on leave.

The source also said that although the M&CC has been pumping millions of dollars into the IT Department, the quality of work coming out of that department leaves much to be desired.

“The department has not been functioning to the maximum. In 2016 though, it will be equipped with the right people,” the source proffered. Mr Waynewright Orderson has, for many years now, been heading that department.

Citizens should have long been able to access their rates and taxes’ records online, but even this is yet to be done, the source pointed out. “The situation is so bad that if a cashier is using the computer, no one else can go online at the same time.”

The IT Department has, in the past, been recipient of countless monetary and other grants, but questions about where all of the money goes are often left unanswered. Just recently, the Zara Group of Companies donated 10 desktop computers, valued at $700,000, to the IT Division. Town Clerk Royston King and staff were on hand to accept the donation from that company. The company had indicated its willingness to assist in rectifying the information technology issues at the M&CC, and had offered to assist the municipality to build a database that would be able to track property owners’ information.

Property owners, on the other hand, would be able to access information about their rates and taxes online.

In expressing gratitude, King had said that the computers would help to satisfy some of the information technology needs of the City Council.

US/Guyana relations “fantastic” UNITED States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, has hailed relations between Guyana and the USA as “fantastic!”

Following a courtesy call on President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency on Monday, Ambassador Holloway said: “I think relations between our two countries are fantastic right now,” a Ministry of the Presidency release quoted him as saying.

The ambassador’s visit is his first since the beginning of the New Year, and he took the opportunity to wish President Granger and the people of Guyana a productive 2016. He also expressed hope for continued fruitful relations between the two nations.

Speaking on continued friendship and cooperation between Guyana and the United States, Ambassador Holloway said: “We have a lot of areas of mutual interest. We talked about security, we talked about energy, and we talked about international issues.”

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, also attended the meeting.

President David Granger in discussion with United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway (right), during the latter’s courtesy call on the President at the Ministry of the Presidency

Rotary supports shoes project The Rotary Club of Stabroek yesterday made a sizeable donation of footwear and personal care packages to the Office of First Lady, to aid in Sandra Granger’s efforts to support vulnerable groups.

Past President of the Club, Luana Falconer, and Assistant Secretary, Grace McCalman made the presentation, during a meeting at State house.

First Lady Granger, who expressed gratitude on receiving the items, said she is certain that they would impact the lives of the beneficiaries. In the coming weeks, the First Lady’s office will start distribution in the Barima-Waini area, the first community to benefit.

According to the First Lady, the donation will add to the project. She said the goal is to have as many as 30,000 pairs of shoes to distribute in hinterland communities.

However, that target is still to be met, even as donations continue to come in.

The personal care packages will be given to adolescent mothers, who are currently benefitting from services under the auspices of her office, she said.

Meanwhile, Falconer said the organisation was motivated to make the donation, following the work of the First Lady since the current administration took office.

“We are giving stuff to the First Lady for the good work that she is doing in the communities, particularly in

the Amerindian communities,” she said.

A Ministry of the Presidency release said already, 1500 pairs of shoes have been donated under the ‘Rethink Initiative-Kind Soles Project’ also known as ‘the shoes that grow project’, started by Ernie Ross.

The shoes donated under this project, as the name suggests, are specially designed to fit children as they age and their feet grow.

First Lady Sandra Granger smiles as she displays a pair of shoes donated by the Rotary Club of Stabroek to ‘the shoes that grow project’, operated under the auspices of her office. She is flanked by, from left, the Club’s Assistant Secretary Grace McCalman and Past President Luana Falconer, on her right

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 7, 2016

GDF contributes to Kaikan hospital, school

By Leroy Smith THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has, over the years, invested heavily in the community of Kaikan, a village in Region 7, where there is an army base.

On Monday, GDF Chiefof-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, during a visit to the area, told the Guyana Chronicle that the army has, in every way possible, been assisting the community to lift its standard of living.

Phillips said the GDF is not only about defending borders, but also has a role in providing vital resources to communities, according to its financial and logistical capacities.

The Kaikan Hospital is

currently being powered by solar energy, compliments of the GDF. Additionally, the GDF has provided the hospital with a radio system which can enable communication with other regions and arrange for medivacs whenever necessary.

The Kaikan Primary School is also a recipient of solar power through the GDF, and the system currently powers a computer, printer and other electrical equipment donated by the army.

Speaking with Kaikan residents on Monday, Brigadier Phillips recommitted the GDF to working with the community and looking after the interests of Kaikan residents. He pledged to have more developmental works in

The GDF-installed radio set and solar power system at the Kaikan Hospital which powers the facility

The storeroom with medical supplies which are used to fulfill the health needs of residents

A medic shows to Vice Presidents Allicock and Greenidge, as well as Chief of Staff Mark Phillips, the malfunctioning dental chair

The Kaikan Primary School with its solar power system, supplied by the GDF, mounted to the left of the roof

Qualfon officials visit President THE Senior Vice President and General Manager of Qualfon Guyana Incorporated, Mr Scott Warner, accompanied

by Senior Mission Manager Luanna Persaud and Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman, Major-General Norman McLean, yesterday paid a courtesy call on President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency.

In a brief comment, Warner said the meeting was arranged to give the President an overview of the company’s operations

in Guyana.

“The purpose of the meeting today was just to meet the President, and to help him understand the work of Qualfon and our plans for the country with regard to future development and future growth. We also touched on education and how important education is to the youth of the country,” Warner said.

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, also attended the meeting.

An appeal for beds and mattresses was made to the officials during their visit on Monday

President David Granger (centre) is flanked by PSC Chairman, retired Major-General Norman McLean (left); Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; Vice President and General Manager of Qualfon Guyana Incorporated, Scott Warner; and Senior Mission Manager Luanna Persaud, during the courtesy call at the Ministry of the Presidency

the community, once those are identified by the residents and the GDF is in a position to grant the requests.

Partnerships, especially between a community and an organisation that deals with security, are necessary, he said. They provide an atmosphere of trust and confidence in the security organization; and this in itself has positive spinoffs, the Chief-of-Staff noted.

On Monday, Brigadier Phillips made another commitment to assist the Kaikan community in building beds for the hospital, since patients have had to lie on the ground upon being admitted

for observation or on awaiting medivac.

The dental chair at the hospital is presently not functioning to full capacity because certain parts need to be replaced once sourced.

The GDF did some work on the chair so that the dentist could do extractions, but necessary components for the chair are yet to be sourced.

Both Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, had promised to raise the issue with the Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton, so that the issue can be addressed as soon as possible.

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 7, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 7, 2016

Access to safe water improved in Linden

SOME $65M had, in 2015, been injected into six projects by the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) to improve access to safe water supply in Linden, Region 10.

GWI has constructed an inter-link main connecting the eastern and western banks of the water supply system, to provide a reliable water supply service throughout Linden.

The second project encompassed installation of water meters under contractual obligations in the loan agreement of the Linden Water Supply Programme, funded by the Government of Guyana and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). This project achieved more than 90 per cent of metered coverage by the end of 2015.

The four remaining projects involved decommissioning the old cement and cast iron mains and installing new mains in Green Valley, Watooka and Christiansburg, Linden. This resulted in improved quality and service delivery for customers residing in these communities.

The year 2015 also witnessed completion of civil works for the Government of Guyana and completion of the IDB-funded $12.3 million Linden Water Supply Rehabilitation Programme. This resulted in improved water service for 30,000 customers of Wisroc and Amelia’s Ward in Linden.

The Linden Water Supply Rehabilitation Programme involved construction of the two new water treatment facilities at Wisroc and Amelia’s Ward. All the works related to the programme were supervised by GWI and implemented by contractors UEM Inc and consultants EGIS EAU, in association with SRKN. However, during the testing phase of the programme, it was discovered that both facilities were not producing adequate amounts of water, and GWI was required to continue providing service via the older production facilities at West

Watooka, Mackenzie and LPC. A comprehensive investigation revealed a flaw in the filtration system utilised by the water treatment plants, which prevented the facilities from operating at full capacity. However, following consultations with an IDB consultant and a team from GWI, a plan of action was developed to rectify this fault.

The plan requires GWI to replace the filter media and install a geotextile membrane which would allow both facilities to function at full capacity and increase the amount of water available for customers of Wisroc and Amelia’s Ward. The company would be working assiduously to complete this task by the end of February 2016.

To further improve the performance of the facilities at Wisroc and Amelia’s Ward, GWI will, in January 2016, install another hypochlorite tank to aid in the purification process.

LEAKAGE AND WASTAGE It was also discovered that leakage and wastage were among the factors contributing to low levels of service in Wisroc and Amelia’s Ward. Approximately 58 per cent of the water produced by the plants in Linden was unaccounted for because of loss through leakage or breakage in the distribution system. As a result, customers at the end of the distribution system were receiving low levels of service. So, in addition to implementing the recommendations to improve the performance of the plants, GWI will, in 2016, also be partnering with community leaders, heads of religious organisations, schools, parent/ teacher associations and the business community to create more awareness on the importance of reporting leaks and curbing wastage.

17

18

Sudoku

Yesterday’s Results

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday January 7, 2016

Crossword

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 7, 2016

19

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 7, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 7, 2016

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday January 7, 2016

England hold on for draw as weather has final say

By Mark Gleeson

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) Poor weather brought a limp end to a compelling second Test as England survived a final day onslaught from South Africa to draw the match and keep up their 1-0 lead in the series.

England were 159 for six in their second innings, with Jonny Bairstow (30) and Moeen Ali (10) unbeaten, before drizzle and bad light halted play soon after tea yesterday.

South Africa’s quick bowlers made inroads in the morning to offer the likelihood of a remarkable come-from-behind victory after England had dominated the opening two days, to amass 629 for six declared in their first innings. South Africa clawed back over the next two days, keeping England in the field on hot, energy-sapping days as they slowly regained a foothold and eventually declared just two runs short of the visitors’ total.

A four-wicket burst before lunch yesterday suddenly offered the tantalising possibility of a result and two more in the second session brought South Africa even closer to scuttling out England before chasing down a modest target.

But dogged resistance from Bairstow and Ali, in an unbroken 43-run partnership, and the gloomy weather dashed South Africa’s hopes of pulling off a remarkable victory.

England started the day on 16-0 in their second innings, with a lead of 18 runs, but cap-

Off-spinner Dane Piedt grabbed three for 38. tain Alastair Cook was strangled down the leg side and caught by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off Kagiso Rabada’s bowling with just the eighth ball of the morning. He went for eight with England having added a single to their overnight total.

REPRIEVE Alex Hales (5) was then snagged by a brilliant diving one-handed catch from Chris Morris at slip to give Morne Morkel a deserved wicket after some fiery bowling. Joe Root was caught in the slips by AB de Villiers off Morkel on 17 but television replays showed the bowler had stepped over the line.

But England’s top-ranked batsman failed to capitalise on the reprieve and scored 12 more runs before being bowled by Morris to leave England on 55-3. Nick Compton (15) fell 10 minutes before lunch after playing straight to Faf du Plessis at short mid-wicket as he became the first of three victims for Dane Piedt.

After the interval, the off-spinner dismissed Ben Stokes, caught at deep square leg for 26, and James Taylor, who got a nasty bounce up onto his gloves and was caught by Temba Bavuma at short leg for 27.

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings 629 for 6 decl. (B. Stokes 258, J. Bairstow 150 n.o, A. Hales 60, J. Root 50) SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 627 for 7 decl. .(H. Amla 201, T. Bavuma 102 n.o, A. de Villiers 88, F. du Plessis 86, C. Morris 69) ENGLAND 2nd innings (o/n: 16-0) A. Cook c de Kock b Rabada 8 A. Hales c Morris b M. Morkel 5 N. Compton c du Plessis b Piedt 15 J. Root b Morris

29 J. Taylor c Bavuma b Piedt 27 B. Stokes c M. Morkel b Piedt 26 J. Bairstow not out 30 M. Ali not out 10 Extras: (lb-4, nb-5) 9 Total: (for 6 wickets, 65 overs) 159 Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-19, 3-55, 4-85, 5-115, 6-116.

Bowling: M. Morkel 16-7-26-1 (nb3), K. Rabada 13-2-57-1 (nb-2), C. Morris 12-4-24-1, D. Piedt 18-8-38-3, D. Elgar 6-2-10-0.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday January 7, 2016

GFF debunks Chronicle article

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) categorically debunks the article entitled ‘GFF Likely to Terminate Elite League Management’s Contract’ written by Mr Rawle Toney in the January 6 edition of the Guyana Chronicle.

The GFF states unequivocally that it does not intend to renege on the contract entered into in good faith with the management team for the STAG Elite League and quash any contract.

The genesis of this issue is anchored on the disgruntlement of Mr Rawle Toney who was dismissed from

the GFF. On Monday, January 4 last, the GFF found it necessary to terminate the services of Mr Toney as the Sponsorship, Marketing and Communications Director due to his poor performance.

On being handed his termination letter, Mr Toney proceeded to behave in a most obstreperous manner that occasioned the involvement of the Guyana Police Force. This article was penned by him following his dismissal.

It is patently clear that Mr Toney has embarked on a vindictive and malicious

pathway to malign and besmirch the GFF, and his modus operandi seems to be the use of fabrication and distortion of sensitive information he would have been privy to. He has clearly used his position as an employee of the Guyana Chronicle to pursue this agenda. To this end the GFF has obtained legal counsel to treat this situation.

The GFF seizes this opportunity to bring to the attention of the media, businesses and sponsors with whom it has a relationship, and the general

Guyanese Mark Rodrigues ...

From Backpage

Union president Gordon Derrick also has privately expressed ambition for the position in the past and is expected to step forward.

The Caribbean, if they vote as a block can be king makers in the region with their 31 votes out of a total of 41 in the confederation.

It is rumoured that there may also be another Caribbean candidate in the running, the popular Luis Hernandez of Cuba who is a member of CONCACAF’s executive committee.

If three Caribbean candidates stand (and assuming the Caribbean does not follow through on talk of breaking away from CONCACAF and reforming itself as its own confederation within FIFA’s jurisdiction), then the regional vote could be split which, ironically, will likely lead to the long-term splitting of the Caribbean’s power base and regional voice which the associations are keen to protect.

Rodrigues brings an alternative dimension to CONCACAF’s presidential options. Having had a career in business where he handled over $110 million of real estate sales in Canada, as well as being president and CEO of several multi-franchised fast food stores. He returned to focus on football, building the largest youth soccer club in Florida in five years.

In 2009 he started the Guyana Women’s National Team programme, qualifying for the 2010 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Championships, returning in May last year to the women’s set-up and has again qualified the team for the CONCACAF Olympic Championships in Texas, February 2016.

He works this job pro bono.

Having worked across multiple CONCACAF member associations he has experienced first-hand the challenges member associations face. This is reflected in his manifesto which

proposes to get more of the confederation’s money directly to its member associations. “50% of CONCACAF’s revenues should be distributed directly to the Member Associations for Solidarity over 4 years - including the $100 000 that was initiated and stopped in 2014.”

He also says the confederation needs to establish a sufficient reserve to cover operational needs of CONCACAF and that there needs to be a greater transparency of running costs and development funding. All of this he says must come with much greater auditing and compliance procedures.

Rodrigues also puts integrity at the heart of his proposal saying that “an independent governance and audit and compliance committee will be in charge of supervising the CONCACAF president and the entire CONCACAF organisation to ensure good governance is implemented.”

He also proposes the “creation of the CONCACAF Football Council whose role will be to advise the CONCACAF president and the CONCACAF Executive Committee on strategic football matters such as: • Improving the Confederations way of governance • Competition formats • Calendar • Strategies for football development • Council will be composed of highly respected members of football and the football business community to ensure credibility Not surprisingly given his history of football development and grassroots experience, he has a separate set of five proposals that he says are iron-clad: 1. Increase participation of all ages and genders in grassroots football – via structured schools projects in conjunction with governments and targeting a 10% increase in registered boys and girls.

2. Increase expertise in elite

and grassroots football development – through knowledge sharing programmes funded by CONCACAF. 3. Establish a system where the cost of the Technical Director is supported or covered by CONCACAF. 4. Expand infrastructures and distribution of football material 5. Developing Women’s Football – he says the women’s game must have its own budget.

Rodrigues says he has worked at various levels within CONCACAF but has not participated at the top levels of the confederation’s structures where it has been most exposed to the corruption that brought it to its knees earlier this year. He says this is a positive as he is “not beholden to anyone in any way.

Therefore I can serve as CONCACAF president exclusively in the interest of football, while representing all 41 Member Associations and their future.”

The challenge for Rodrigues will be to convince member association voters that he has the expertise and skills to lead the confederation into a new era. He will need to overcome some high profile opposition in CONCACAF football administrative circles to do that.

football fraternity at large that Mr Toney, having been dismiissed from` the GFF, is no longer authorised to conduct or transact any business on its behalf. ` Rawle Toney’s reply

The release issued by General Secretary Diedre Davis, seeks to label me as a ‘disgruntled’ former employee.

On January 4, the Executive Committee of the GFF terminated my contract, without notice. In the world of work, these things do happen and people part

Workshop/Seminar run by top Caribbean official James Beckles. The Workshop/Seminar was held prior to the Caribbean Development Boxing Tournament, staged here last November, where local officials were lauded for their work The tournament attracted 13 countries, 135 boxers and over 30 officials from across the Caribbean and South

This clearly isn’t the case with the GFF. I’m employed by the Guyana Chronicle as Senior Sports Journalist. I penned an article based on information I received like any other journalist.

I must say that despite me being attached to the GFF, certain information I was not privy too.

Unfortunately, the article was written by me and the Federation felt that I’m being vindictive and would

want to get back at them for terminating my contract.

Everything that I wrote in the article and published by the Guyana Chronicle is based on facts and information I received from my sources. At no time at all did I seek to lash out at the GFF or its executive.

As a member of the media, I intend cover all football related issues, just like I have for the past 11 years without bias or favour. no longer authorised to conduct or transact any business on its behalf.

Jubilant Afghanistan break into ICC’s top 10 A FGHANISTAN moved into the ICC ODI rankings top 10 thanks to an unbeaten 82 from Gulbadin Naib in their two-wicket victory over Zimbabwe.

Naib was the Afghans’ hero as they clinched the one-day series with Zimbabwe, prevailing by two wickets with two balls to spare, in a thrilling climax to the fifth ODI. The two sides came into yesterday’s encounter in Sharjah with the series locked at 2-2, and Zimbabwe looked in a strong position after they posted a competitive 248 all out, with Hamilton Masakadza’s 110 providing the backbone.

Afghanistan made a steady start to their reply but wickets fell at regular intervals to put Zimbabwe in the driving seat.

However a late flourish from Naib - who struck 82 not out - secured victory for the designated hosts.

Needing 10 to win off the final over, Naib won it in style with a huge six off his pads, the ball sailing over the backward square leg boundary to the jubilation of Afghanistan’s players.

Local boxers ...

From Backpage

ways and move on.

America.

Trinidad and Tobago has been forging closer alliance with Guyana since the staging of a Goodwill tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in February 2014. The Twin Island Republic had the largest contingent at the Caribbean tournament and has since asked for a team of fighters to train here next month.

Zimbabwe recovered from the early loss of Chamu Chibhabha (1) as Peter Moor (42) and Masakadza enjoyed a 101-run partnership for the second wicket.

With 15 overs to go Afghanistan began to make inroads into the Zimbabwe batting line-up with Amir Hamza (3-41), Rashid Khan (2-59) and Mohammad Nabi (2-23) all enjoying success as Masakadza slowly ran out of partners.

Masakadza’s fourth ODI century ensured they posted a competitive total, but Afghan-

Arab Emirates Racing Tips Meydan 11:00 hrs Af Mathmoon 11:35 hrs vRoyal Ridge 12:10 hrs Divine 12:45 hrs Layl 13:20 hrs San Shaawes 13:55 hrs Emirates Flyer 14:30 hrs Zahee American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Voided Contract Race 2 Combat Diver Race 3 Take Issue Race 4 Flataway Race 5 Natalie Victoria Race 6 Chase Lane Race 7 Legend Keeper Race 8 High Ridge Road Race 9 Foxy Posse South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:25 hrs Seventh Pillar 09:05 hrs Bulleting Home 09:45 hrs Flaming Ace

istan’s consistency throughout the order proved decisive.

Contributions from Mohammad Shahzad (25), Noor Ali Zadran (30) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (32) helped set the platform for Naib to be the match-winner, a role he revelled in.

He struck six sixes and three fours in his 68-ball innings, holding his nerve at the end to secure a second successive series win over Zimbabwe and see Afghanistan climb into the top 10 of the ICC ODI rankings.

(Sportsmax.com)

10:25 hrs Honolua Bay 11:07 hrs Second Bill English Racing Tips Towcester 09:05 hrs Chankillo 09:35 hrs Eminent Poet 10:05 hrs Rosa Fleet 10:35 hrs Pulling Power 11:05 hrs Bobble Boru 11:40 hrs Pride Of Lecale Lingfield 09:50 hrs Grand Facile 10:20 hrs The Plough 10:50 hrs Mythmaker 11:20 hrs Kristoff 11:50 hrs Captain Felix Chemsford City 13:10 hrs Elusivity 13:40 hrs Burmese Whisper 14:10 hrs Mick Duggan 14:40 hrs Little Indian 15:10 hrs Crystal Malt 15:40 hrs Memyselfie 16:10 hrs Dana’s Present

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday January 7, 2016

Simmons still wants best available players for West Indies

By Nick Mulvenn

SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Coach Phil Simmons has not given up on any West Indies players and still wants the best talent avail-

able to represent the region in all formats of the game.

It has not gone unnoticed that while an inexperienced Test side has succumbed to two heavy defeats on their current tour of Australia,

a string of seasoned West Indies players are starring in the local Twenty20 Big Bash League.

Some, like opener Chris Gayle, say they are not currently fit to play the lon-

gest format but others, like all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, remain exiled as the fallout from the costly withdrawal from the tour of India in 2014 continues to resonate.

There have been suggestions by some in the Caribbean that West Indies should write off the older generation and concentrate on developing the existing squad, but Simmons would still like to welcome them back to the fold.

“I still have the feeling that it will always be good to get the best players from West Indies playing all formats of the game,” he told reporters at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

“If we can get that, then we will have an organisation that is moving forward. That is my hope now.

“At the end of the day we might have a solution but we still might have players that might not think they can play Test cricket, or might not really want to play Test cricket anymore.

“So when we get to that solution between the parties that are involved then we can

Coach Phil Simmons see where that takes us.”

Simmons, who took over as coach at the end of last year’s World Cup, was suspended from his role last year for complaining publicly about not having the best players available for a tour of Sri Lanka.

Despite still not having his pick of the top talent, Simmons has been encouraged by the performances of some of the younger players, with the bat at least, in Aus-

tralia.

Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Rajendra Chandrika, all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite as well as Dwayne Bravo’s brother Darren have batted well enough to give their coach confidence there is light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

“There is a lot of light with the players and I think you can mention Kraigg and Carlos because they have got runs,” he added.

“The way Bravo has batted in all the Test matches, the way Chandrika has looked. He hasn’t gone on to score a big score but the way he looked early on.

“Even the captain (Jason Holder) when he batted in the second Test on the last day you can see there’s a lot there to work with.”

Days three and four of the third Test in Sydney were washed out by rain and West Indies will resume their first innings on 248 for seven if any play is possible on the final day today.

FIFA ethics committee extends Valcke suspension ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - FIFA’s ethics watchdog has extended Secretary General Jerome Valcke’s suspension from world soccer as it prepares a ruling over accusations of corruption involving the sale of World Cup tickets.

The French administrator has denied any wrongdoing in the case, which is among dozens of allegations rocking soccer’s governing body, caught up in the worst graft scandal of its history.

Investigators for the ethics committee recommended on Tuesday that Valcke be banned for nine years and fined 100 000 Swiss francs ($98,990.30).

The committee said in a statement yesterday that it’s chief judge Hans-Joachim Eckert who had suspended Valcke for another 45 days pending a final judgement, after a previous 90-day ban expired. Valcke was also placed on indefinite leave by FIFA in September.

Jerome Valcke The allegations against Valcke stem from former Israeli football player Benny Alon telling a news conference in September in Zurich that he agreed in 2013 to pay cash to Valcke to secure plum tickets for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

He said the plan was to then sell the tickets to fans at a markup and split the proceeds with Valcke, who was the right-

hand man to banned president Sepp Blatter. Alon said the deal fell through and he never paid the football official.

Blatter has been banned from any involvement in the game for eight years.

Forty-one persons and sports entities, including top FIFA officials, have been indicted by U.S. prosecutors for offences including corruption, fraud and money-laundering.

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday January 7, 2016

Amla quits as South Africa captain

By Mark Gleeson

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) Hashim Amla said yesterday he was stepping aside as South Africa’s Test captain with immediate effect - a day after a double-century rescued his country from possible defeat in the second Test against England.

The 32-year-old made the surprise announcement just minutes after the Test at Newlands ended in a draw and after Amla had led a fightback to haul his team from a precarious position.

AB de Villiers will take over as captain for the last two Tests against England.

“Naturally this decision is not an easy one but the more I think about it the

more I believe I can be of greater value to the Proteas as a fully focused batsman and senior player at this time of rebuilding our team,” Amla told reporters.

“I will continue to give my all to the team.”

Amla said he had been considering quitting over the last fortnight, even before the start of the series against England and the loss of the first Test by 241 runs in Durban last week. “It’s a bit of relief,” he said.

Amla captained South Africa for 14 Tests with four wins, six draws and four defeats. South Africa, despite being the topranked Test nation, have not won in their last eight Tests sketching back to

… AB deVilliers takes over for last two Tests

more than a year and Amla’s form has suffered.

He scored 251 Test runs in 2015 but seemed to have got right the balance of making runs and captaining the team with a double-century on Tuesday as his stoical performance rescued his side from the possibility of going 2-0 down in the series.

“We respect Hashim’s decision and the manner in which he thought about it and then communicated with me. He still has a huge role to play in shaping the success of our team without the need for a leadership title.

He is just that type of a person and we are very

Australia’s Starc writes off World Twenty20 chances

By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Fast bowler Mitchell Starc has all but written off his chances of making a faster-than-expected recovery from ankle surgery and playing a part in Australia’s bid for a first World Twenty20 title.

The 25-year-old left-arm quick had surgery on ankle spurs after sustaining a stress fracture in his foot during the inaugural day-night Test against New Zealand in November.

Starc, the player-of-the-tournament at last year’s 50-overs World Cup, was always an outside shot to make the March 11-April 3 World Twenty20 in India due to the estimated recuperation period and he was unable to offer a better prognosis yesterday.

“It’s very unlikely,” he told reporters at the Sydney Cricket Ground. “Everything would have to go perfectly to be any chance. I won’t know until I can start doing some stuff on it.

“I don’t want to rush it. I want to make sure it’s 100 percent because I’ve rushed back before and been dropped after a game.

“I’ve played probably nonstop for two years and the silver lining is I get to give the body a bit of a break and rebuild that strength. Make sure everything is 100 percent before I go again.”

Starc said the operation had gone well but it would be a while before he was bowling in excess of 150 kilometres per

Australia’s Mitchell Starc uses crutches as he walks to the presentation ceremony after the third day of the third cricket Test match against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval, in South Australia, November 29, 2015.

(Reuters/David Gray) hour as he did in the second Test against New Zealand in Perth in November, when one delivery was clocked at 160 kph.

“Everything had felt great on that day, so I think it just comes back to the rhythm and smoothness in my action on any given day,” said Starc, sporting a ‘moon boot’ to stabilise the injured joint.

“It’s going to take a while to get back to my bowling workload and get that rhythm back after spending some time out.

“It always takes some time to get that pace back. You obviously are not going to bowl at full pace soon as you come back; it takes a bit of time, so I’m not sure how it’s going

to go.”

Starc will miss Australia’s one-day series against India, February’s two-Test series in New Zealand and is not even certain he will be fit to play in the Indian Premier League in April and May. It was probably modesty, however, that led him to question whether Australia’s main strike bowler would not ease straight back into the national side once he was fit again.

“I don’t think you can ever say 100 percent that you’ve cemented a spot,” he said.

“I’m still going to have to work my butt off when I get back to bowling to get my spot back. But I’d like to think in the last 10-12 months I’ve come a long way in all forms of cricket.”

Hashim Amla

fortunate to have him in our stable,” Cricket South Africa chief executive officer Haroon Lorgat said.

South Africa lost the first Test against England last week by 241 runs and will play the next two in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

The third Test at the Wanderers starts on January 14. “It’s a bit of a shock. I haven’t got anything to say,” England captain Alastair Cook said, reacting to the news.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday January 7, 2016

Crawford starts 2016 cycle season on winning note TROJAN Cycle Club’s Romello Crawford recorded one hour 40 minutes 14.5 seconds in winning the Flying Ace Cycle Club’s (FACC) organised first cycle race for the 2016 season last Sunday on the Corentyne Coast, Berbice.

The event, a 40-mile one, was held by the FACC in honour of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee which will be celebrated on May 26 this year.

Crawford finished ahead of Team Gillette Evolution’s Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams and Alonzo Ambrose respectively.

Juban Crawford, Junior Niles and Andrew Hicks occupied the other top three places respectively.

The event pedalled off from outside of Lewisons’ Auto Parts, Cycle

and General Store at Rose Hall Town and proceeded to Number 51 Police Station before returning to the point of origin for the finish.

The Crawford cousins; Juban and Romello, along with Alanzo Greaves, Clement Doris and Niles were out to the front as soon as Director of Regional Health Services Jevaughn Stephens downed the flag.

The five, however, only enjoyed a four-mile lead as the peloton which included several national riders were with them thereafter.

On the return to the finish line, Crawford tried on numerous occasions to get away but Williams and Greaves did not allow him.

In the end, when he made his final move Williams took him on but the junior

A relaxed Romello Crawford crosses the finish line well ahead of Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams to the enjoyment of the Berbicians. rider used his sprinting ability to ensure that the national rider kept looking at his back wheel.

Ambrose took three of the eight sprint-point prizes while Niles and Hicks had two each with the eventual race winner, claiming only one.

By virtue of winning the overall race, Romello was named junior champion also.

Second in this category was Andrew Hicks and Denraj Giabaran respectively.

The first FACC rider to cross the finish line was Curtis Dey, ahead of Clement Doris and Syborne Fernan-

dez.

In the U-16 category, Zamal Khan was the winner with Chureshwar Dhamic second and Devantie Anthony third.

The event was organised by coach of the FACC, Randolph Roberts, and was sponsored by Mark

and Neil Lewis of Lewisons’ Auto Parts, Cycle and General Store of Rose Hall Town, Peter Lewis of Peter Lewis Construction, overseas-based Guyanese Kenrick Taylor of Canada and Sherwin Photo Works among other corporate sponsors.

Benjamin gives back to club and country OVERSEAS-based Guyanese and former National cycle champion Wilbert Benjamin continued to lead the way in showing benevolence to his club and county by donating 30 sets of cycle gear to his former club.

Benjamin, who has over the years been giving back in various ways, recently donated a new set of uniforms to his former club, the Flying Aces Cycling Club (FACC) of Berbice.

The 30 sets of mauve and white uniforms were handed over to Patron of the club and former Mayor of New Amsterdam Errol Alphonso at a

simple ceremony recently at the Benjamin Cycle and Sports Store at Fyrish, Corentyne, Berbice.

This is the second change of colour for the club which has been in existence for 20 years.

The mauve and white three-piece suits replace the club’s yellow and white tops which the club has been using for the past three years.

Benjamin, a Berbician back home on holiday, was a former National cyclist who represented Guyana at both unior and senior levels, including the Pan American and Texaco Games.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Thursday January 07, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 79 Tests (2) Ian Chappell-109 (1973)

Today’s Quiz: (1) When and where did Roberts, Holding, Croft and Garner play together in a Test for the first time?

(2) Who was the WI captain when Roberts, Holding, Croft and Garner played together in a Test for the first time?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

He was also a former school and junior champion who won the National schools cycling championships (individual) on three consecutive occasions.

He still participates in the sport in his adopted homeland of Canada where he also operates sports stores.

Benjamin, in brief remarks at the simple ceremony said it is one of his ways of saying thank you to his club and country of In photo, former Mayor of New Amsterdam, Errol Alphonso (right), accepts a set of the new uniforms from Benjamin. birth.

Large turnout at BVA’s first General Council meeting THERE was a large turnout when the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) held its first General Council meeting following the election of the executive committee in December last year.

According to reports, the meeting which was held at the Guysuco Training Centre Hostel, Port Mourant, Corentyne Berbice was chaired by newly elected president Levi Nedd.

There was a large turnout of clubs coming from Orealla in the Corentyne River, Upper and Lower Corentyne, Black Bush Polder and West Berbice.

During the meeting a number of initiatives were taken and decisions made.

The meeting looked at the registration of teams and clubs, during which time 10 senior male teams were registered, four junior male and six female teams One of the main items on the agenda was the formulation of a mission statement for the BVA for the year 2016.

The planning of an outreach to Orealla which was spearheaded by Keshan Persaud was also high on the agenda. Other outreaches to Black Bush and remote areas are also

planned.

The meeting looked at the formation of a referee’s commission which will select a pool of referees and organised training and development for the referee.

Afraaz Hussain was elected to head the referees’ commission.

A coach’s commission which will be chaired by Levi Nedd was also put in place.

A five-man selection committee was also elected.

That committee which will be chaired by Nedd includes Afraz Hussain, Udhisther Seelochan, Rashaad Razak and Krishen Persaud of Orealla.

A comprehensive needs analysis for the BVA was also looked at, with the construction of a roof over the Port Mourant all-weather court being the main initiative.

During the meeting former president Gregory Rambarran handed over a number of equipment and periodicals he had in his possession to the BVA. Rambarran was also sworn in as an Ex-officio member. Samuel Whyte was sworn in as the PRO. The Association has also drawn up plans for the year in keeping with its motto: ‘Committed to promoting and developing Volleyball in Berbice’.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday January 7, 2016

NAGICO Super50 set to blast off today PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Regional players return to the field for the first time in this new year, when the NAGICO Super50 Tournament opens today in St Kitts and here.

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force will open their defence against long-standing rivals Jamaica Scorpions at Queen’s Park Oval in a match televised on ESPN Caribbean, after Barbados Pride and ICC Americas get the ball rolling at UWI SPEC, a few miles east of the T&T capital.

Up the island chain, Leeward Islands Hurricanes host the Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners at Warner Park in St Kitts,

where Guyana Jaguars, last season’s beaten finalists, tackle Windward Islands Volcanoes in the rural village of St Paul’s.

The Jaguars have been installed as the tournament favourites based on the avail-

able resources and the way they have been playing in senior regional competitions over the last two seasons.

The Red Force, however, will want to put their weak 4-Day form behind them, and hope that famil-

iar conditions and home support will again breed success for them in this version of the game.

All of the other four territorial franchises – Hurricanes, Pride, Scorpions and Volcanoes – have the talent to create ripples when it’s their day, but they will all be looking for consistency throughout to help them get the job done.

The Marooners have a penchant for springing surprises and will be looking to continue their giant-killing acts from previous tournaments.

The Americas, a pre-selected group of the best players in the Western Hemisphere outside of the WICB

territories, plus eight players that advanced from a player combine held last November in the American city of Indianapolis, are an unknown force and are likely to be the cliché ‘banana peel’ for one of the Caribbean sides.

The preliminary competition of the Tournament will be played under a non-elimination format with the eight teams equally divided into two groups.

Each side is carded to play six matches apiece during the preliminary rounds, with each playing the others in their group twice.

The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals at Queen’s Park

Oval, where the group winners play the runners-up from the opposite group in a oneoff match for a place in the Grand Final on Sunday, January 24, at the same venue.

This equals a total of 27 matches for the biggest, senior regional domestic 50 overs-a-side tournament ever staged by the WICB. Last season, a purposeful hundred from Jason Mohammed and Sunil Narine’s guile combined to catapult the Red Force to the title over the Jaguars with a comprehensive 135run victory in a lopsided Grand Final before a sea of masquerading red-clad fans at Queen’s Park Oval.

Roberts would deny ungrateful Windies players NOCs WEST Indies legend Andy Roberts believes players who chose club commitments over regional cricket could be considered un-

AS GUYANA prepares to celebrate 50 years of being an independent nation, I will dig deep into the archives of the Guyana Chronicle, to bring to you ‘Sports in 50’.

This will be a weekly feature in Chronicle Sport, highlighting major sports events and athletes who would have made significant contributions to Guyana.

July, 1966, Guyana Sports Union (GSU) was formed.

A group, including former international sportsmen and other persons interested in the welfare of the country’s athletes and sport in general, formed the Guyana Sports Union (GSU).

Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira, former Guyana and West Indies long distance athlete George De Peana, George Cumberbatch, former cycling champion Neil Chan, Ronald Blackman, Norris

grateful and would not be given No Objection Certificates (NOC) were he the man in charge.

Opinions have been

George Cumberbatch

Franker, Percy Boyce, Cecil Ramsingh, Earl John, Edgar Stewart, John Phillips and Monty Clarke, formed the steering committee for the GSU. Members of the GSU had pledged to protect the interest of Guyanese athletes at home and overseas, as well as to promote the status of sports socially and to assist the

thrown around from all quarters in recent weeks, as a young West Indies team was completely outclassed by Australia, with several more

national bodies in the development of sports.

The GSU had also hoped to ensure that Guyanese athletes, especially international representatives, are given fair and proper treatment, and to expose irregularities and malpractices in certain sports organisations.

Efforts were also made to make representation to Government, the National Sports Council, and the international organisations on issues as they arose and to the keep the public informed on their efforts.

Sadly today, the GSU is no longer in existence, and with all that has happened, surely, Guyana is in need of an organisation like the one that existed 50 years ago, since our athletes currently compete with no proper representation, especially from their respective association/federation.

Andy Roberts experienced players in the country but taking part in the Big Bash League.

While others have defended the right of the play-

ers to take part in T20 competitive leagues and choosing club over country, so to speak, Roberts is not of that persuasion.

“Priorities are changing and most of it started right here in India. West Indies are the only team that suffered because the players are not prepared to go back for international commitments. I don’t agree with their thinking,” Roberts told the Times of India.

“Some of them may tell you that they don’t owe anything to West Indies cricket, but they owe some grati-

tude towards the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and public, because they didn’t come up by themselves.

“They came up through a system provided by their territories and the cricket board. If I had anything to do with the board, none of them would be playing it (for the clubs) because I wouldn’t be signing any NOCs. You have to commit yourself to represent your territory if required.

“If your best players consistently take part in domestic cricket, your team cannot come up.”(Sportsmax.com)

Holder to miss PSL after WICB deny player permission

WEST Indies all-rounder and skipper of the regional team’s One Day International and Test sides, Jason Holder, will not be allowed to join up with the Quetta Gladiators for the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) after failing to gain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

Holder was expected to earn in the region of $70 000 after being picked in the club’s top Diamond category.

The PSL, in confirm-

Jason Holder ing the news, stressed that the WICB hoped to have their players participate in first-class competition as a

means of producing better Test cricketers. “ I t ’s t r u e H o l d e r wouldn’t be playing for PSL Gladiators as his NOC has been rejected,” a PSL official told The Express Tribune.

“We had been in contact with him for the last several months and he wanted to be part of PSL. We understand that WICB wants to strengthen their Test team and which is why his NOC has been rejected.” In the meantime, Gladiators have an option to sign his replacement.

(Sportsmax.com)

GFF debunks Chronicle article Guyanese Mark Rodrigues prepares challenge for CONCACAF presidency See Story on Page 23

By Paul Nicholson

His entry into a leadership contest dramatically changes GUYANESE Mark Rodrigues the presidential playing field in is the first candidate to de- a confederation that historically clare he will run for the pres- has preferred to have its elecidency of Confederation of tions stage-managed.

North, Central American The CONCACAF execuand Caribbean Association tive committee chose not to Football (CONCACAF) in promote one of its vice-preselections expected to take idents to the role of interim place May 12 in Mexico City. president following the arRodrigues, who has a strong rest of the serving interim history of administration, foot- vice-resident Alfredo Hawit ball development and coach- in Zurich in December while ing, has issued a manifesto in attending FIFA meetings. which he says he will usher Without anyone fulfilling in a new style of leadership at the presidential role, this left CONCACAF, “one that leads the executive committee and its with honesty and integrity consultants in charge of deciwhere playing football is at the sion-making, with the statement heart of everything we do and that they believe that it is in the stand for.” best interests of the confederation

to wait until new elections in May. This situation has been challenged

by Caribbean members who strongly feel that it is a breach of the confederation’s statutes.

The arrival of Rodrigues, backed by Guyana but who will need the support of three further member associations before he can officially stand, opens up the challenge for the presidency.

It is believed that the North and Central American-preferred candidate for the presidency is Canadian president Victor Montagliani, while from the Caribbean region, Caribbean Football

’See Page 23

Mark Rodrigues

Local boxers for Jubilant Afghanistan T&T competition break into ICC’s top 10

THE Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) is expected to start the New Year on an international note after accepting an invitation from the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association. The GBA is scheduled to send a team to the Twin Island Republic early next week.

TTBA is hosting a competition next Tuesday and has requested a sixman team of elite boxers inclusive of one female.

GBA has asked its Technical Director Terrence Poole to urgently make arrangements with the Coaches Commission for the selection of the team.

The weight divisions of the boxers have been supplied by TTBA. In addition, Trinidad has

See Story on Page 23

Terrence Poole also requested two referee/ judges. Chairperson of the local Referee/Judges Commission, Ramona Agard, has since been informed, an executive of the GBA said.

Local referee/judges recently benefited from a five-day ’See Page 23

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

The Afghanistan players soak in the celebrations after securing their ODI series win over Zimbabwe in the 5th ODI in Sharjah.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016