Guyana chronicle e paper 12 03 2017

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Camaraderie Models showcasing the Indian wear during the show’s intermission [Samuel Maughn photo]

QC celebrates Phagwah ► Page

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Sixth form students acting as the grown Radha and Krishna (dressed in white) while another pair, acting as the God Krishna and Goddess Radha, look at their love story being acted out from their seat in the ‘heavens’ [Samuel Maughn photo]

No. 104850

SUNDAY MARCH 12, 2017

Price: $140

(VAT Inclusive)

Happy HOLI

‘You deserve it’

...SILK to be awarded to deserving persons Devotees of the Radha Krishna Mandir set ablaze a Holika at Parade Ground, Middle Street, Georgetown Saturday night, heralding in the Festival of Colours (Phagwah) today.

The holiday will be celebrated on Monday (Adrian Narine photo)

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The Festival of Colours

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Guyanese youth elected Chairman of UWI IAC Dynamic Airways thanks Guyanese Page 12

…improvements, expanded service Page from New York & Canada 7

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

Cocaine ‘busting out of man’s pants’ NEW YORK — A man with a nervous demeanor and suspiciously tight clothing was detained at JFK last week after officials found $164,000 worth of cocaine “busting out of his pants,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Friday.

Juan Carlos Galan Luperon arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Saturday, and willingly presented himself for inspection, officials said.

Luperon, a U.S. citizen, “exhibited numerous signs of nervousness” during the examination, “and his pants appeared to be rather snug,” a news release from the agency states.

He was then taken to a private search room, where officers conducted a phys-

Cocaine was allegedly found under a man’s “rather snug” pants during an inspection at JFK on March 4, 2017 an.

(U.S. Customs d Border Protection) Turn to page 3 ►

‘You deserve it’ ...SILK to be awarded to deserving persons

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

(MOTP) - President David Granger yesterday hosted a special luncheon in honour of the nine legal practitioners, who were elevated to the status of Senior Counsel, or awarded SILK in January.

The event, which was held in the Baridi Benab at State House, saw the attendance of Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo; Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland; several Government Ministers, members of the Guyana Bar Association and other members of the legal profession.

Delivering brief remarks, the President emphasised the State’s appreciation for the service of members of the legal frater-

President David Grange, addressing members of the legal profession at the luncheon for SILK awardees at State House

nity and reiterated that it is his intention to ensure that SILK is awarded to deserving persons regularly. “I am

very proud and pleased that we were able to restart this tradition… I think our bar is big enough; people have

served long enough.

“The award of Senior Counsel should not be controversial and should not be episodic. I want to say that as far as I am concerned and my Government is concerned, there will be the award of Senior Counsel every year, based on recommendations and of course, based on the merit of persons, who have been nominated,” he said.

In December 2016, the President announced that the award of SILK would

be conferred on nine distinguished legal professionals, whose average individual service was some 37½ years.

This announcement came after a 20-year hiatus. Notably among the awardees were three women; the first time in the country’s history that this honour has been bestowed on female members of the legal profession.

They are: Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, Ms. Rosalie Robertson and Justice Claudette Singh.

“It seemed to me to be

Cocaine ‘busting out...

President David Granger shares a light moment with Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland and former Speaker, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran

ical search and allegedly discovered packages taped around both of his legs.

The white powder inside later tested positive for cocaine.

In all, Luperon had 10 pounds of cocaine with a

street value of more than $164,000, according to the agency.

“Fortunately this is not the first time U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in New York have seen this concealment method,”

incredible, that after 50 years of Independence we could not have found a single female Senior Counsel,” President Granger said.

Justice Claudette Singh said that in a world where the issue of gender equality continues to be a concern and the fight for the recognition of women in their respective professional fields is an on-going challenge, Guyana has demonstrated that it values its women and their contributions.

“While we still have a long way to go, we can regard ourselves as one of the more progressive countries in the Caribbean for the opportunity of women’s advancement at the administrative, professional and technical levels of our society in being orchestrated more and more on a level playing field,” she said.

This year, in addition to the three women, Attorney General, Mr. Basil Williams; Mr. Neil Aubrey Boston, Mr. Charles Fung-A-Fat, Mr. Clifton Llewelyn John, Mr. Rafiq Khan and Mr. Vidyanand Persaud were the other awardees.

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the agency stated, noting why officials knew to inspect him further.

Luperon was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security. He faces federal narcotics smuggling charges.

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Smuggling is illegal

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

–– Prime Minister reiterates in meeting with shrimp vendors and distributors of Surinamese Seafoods

PRIME Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, has stressed that smuggling is illegal as he met with Berbice shrimp vendors and distributors of Surinamese Seafoods on Friday to settle their

differences.

The Surinamese Seafoods are smuggled from neighbouring Suriname.

Nagamootoo’s visit came after The Upper Corentyne Aquaculture Association

(UCAA) picketed the Office of Region Six Prime Minister Regional Representative, Gobin Harbajan, calling on Government to investigate the illegal importation of Seafoods from neighbouring Suriname.

The UCAA said the illegal importation of shrimp and Tilapia from Suriname was creating unfair competition for local producers since they are sold at a much lower price that they can’t compete with.

They further lamented that it was unfair since the local producers are required to pay taxes and other fees that benefit the Government while smugglers do not.

There was also a counter protest from the distributers of the Surinamese Seafoods who say that they would be left without an income should the trade be stopped.

Some protestors told

Guyana Chronicle that they would be willing to pay a fee to continue to receive a constant supply.

Both parties had sought an audience with the prime minister.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo, addressing those gathered at the Port Mourant Office, said as Caricom member states, free trade is encouraged between the two countries; however, they must be govern by rules that are fair to everyone.

“Suriname is a member of CARICOM and they have rules of competition.

The Caricom countries welcome competition, so it’s free to trade with another country once they observe the rules and there’s also fair competition. Where there is fairness in trade, everyone has a right to enter the market once the rules are observe, so we don’t have a problem with shrimp coming from any country, we don’t have a problem with crabs or tilapia or chicken coming from any country, but we must observe the rules.”

ILLEGAL The prime minister explained in detail to those gathered that while he understands the arguments from both sides, smuggling is illegal and the laws of the country must be upheld.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo addressing the shrimp vendors and distributors of Surinamese Seafoods on Friday. At his right is his Region Six Representative, Gobin Harbajan “We are committed to protecting the fishing industry by protecting our fishermen, security is important because we want to find out whether the shrimp is landing legally along the cost and anytime they are landing illegally, they will be intercepted. Minster Ramjattan has given assurances that the coast will be monitored for illegal landing and when you are caught with shrimp or crab or so backtrack, it

will carry a high fine and confiscation of boats, engine and imprisonment, so we are working on that so the rules does not include illegal acts.”

He also spoke on the issue of health safety concerns with illegal importation of food items.

“Every person bringing in these items must produce a license to deal with fish and shrimp, they must be See page 5

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Smuggling...

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certified and must go through the steps. The product must be tested every time it lands in Guyana; there must be a coordination between the fishery section of Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration, to monitor the importation of shrimp which can only come in from authorised ports.”

BEST SOLUTION Prime Minister Nagamootoo said he met with Public Security Ministe,r Khemraj Ramjattan and Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder, and asked that a follow up discussion be held to arrive at the best solution for all parties.

“Suriname will also have to produce documents to say the shrimp is fit for human consumption. The Minister of Agriculture was notified and a follow up meeting will follow. We need standards, we need safety, and so this matter will not be resolved right now. I heard all of you on both sides, I am in sympathy with both sides, the vendors have to live and the farmers have to live, once all

parties make a decision, we will have to make a decision to enforce the legal entry for the benefit of all.”

Minister Nagamootoo also reiterated the Government’s commitment to the safety of the fisherfolk, pointing out that headways have been made to tackle piracy on the high seas.

“Since we came into Government, I pay particular attention to the National Security Committee Level to protect fishermen… you can see that we would use the army plane to monitor the coast, but it’s very costly.

We are also looking to install some instruments on boats so when you go out there and an attack happens with the press of a button the police are alerted. Last year, there was only one, this year, not one report thus far. That means we are effective in protecting our fishermen.”

The fisherfolk thanked the Prime Minster for giving them an ear and were pleased that he has arranged a follow-up meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and other stakeholders to work out an amicable solution in the matter.

A section of the gathering at the meeting on Friday

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Pensioner found dead in home

THE lifeless body of Wilfred Mangra of Hosannah Street, Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, was found slumped behind his front door, just before noon on Saturday.

The discovery was made by his neighbours after responding to a query made by an overseas relative, who made several telephone calls to the man’s home that went unanswered.

The neighbours were asked to check on the 80-year-old man.

After knocking at the door and receiving no response, they decided to forcefully open the door and on doing do, they found the pensioner’s lifeless body behind the door.

Prior to his demise, the elderly man had been hospitalised for a heart condition.

Neighbours are of the opinion that the man who lived alone was feeling unwell and may have been attempting to get to the door when he fell and died.

The police were notified and the body was removed and taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was certified dead. A post-mortem examination is scheduled for next week.

Undertakers removing the lifeless body of Wilfred Mangra from his Rosignol home on Saturday

Bath Settlement man busted with narco BALROOP Ramkellawan of Lot 22 Cow Dam, Bath Settlement, West Bank Berbice, has been detained after138 zip lock bags, containing leaves, seeds and stems, suspected to be portions of the cannabis sativa plant were found in his home.

The discovery was made Saturday morning after police acted on a tip off received.

Ramkellawan was taken to the Blairmont Police Station where the suspected narcotic was weighed and amounted to 266 grams.

Charges are expected to be instituted against him shortly.

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Editorial

Holi T ODAY, Guyanese from all walks of life, more particularly Hindus,will take to the streets and others to the temples to celebrate the ancient Spring Festival Phagwah,also called Holi or the Festival of Colours.

The story of the Holi but merry festival has been passed down from generation to generation and is a celebration of good over evil.

It has its genesis in the story of a tyrannical king, Hiranyakashyapu, who tried all he can to kill his son Prahalad, because the boy refused to worship him as god.

According to legend, the king overwhelmed by wealth, lust, deceitfulness and arrogance became blind to his real purpose in life, and eventually thought of himself to be God, and the only one worthy of worship.

His son Prahalad, given in divine birth, while recognising the importance of obedience to parents, also recognised that no mortal should be treated as a Divine Being.

King Hiranyakashyapu’s action flour-

ished as it happened at a time when his Kingdom was in moral decay, but even with this, his son remained a devotee of Lord Vishnu (the Sustainer of the Universe).

And the purpose of his birth was to help correct the unrighteousness that prevailed, allowing for the restoration of decency, piety and uprightness, which were lost to arrogance, greed and lust.

In circumstances of the latter, God advents Himself as summarised in the holi scripture, the Bhagavat Gita (Songs of the Devine) Chapter: 4. Verses: 6 and 7.

“Whenever there is decay of righteousness and there is exaltation of unrighteousness, then I myself come forth for the protection of good, for the destruction of evildoers, for the sake of firmly establishing righteousness; I am born from age to age.”

Prince Prahalad’s birth was not a case of happenstance but one geared at restoring God’s authority, which eventually saw the advent of the Lord.

The despotic king was granted a boon by

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

Brahma (the Creator) that he would not be killed by any living or non-living creature created by him (Brahma); will not die within or outside his residence during the day or night, on the ground or in the sky, or by any weapon; and have no worthy rival in the battlefield.

These powers made the king changed from being a devotee of God to believing that he was no longer a mortal and has become God. Never failing in His promise, and always a preserver of righteousness, the Lord visited King Hiranyakashyapu as a half-man, half lion at twilight (which is neither day nor night); on the verge of his courtyard (which is neither indoors nor out); and put the king on his thighs (which is neither earth nor space). And using his nails (neither animate nor inanimate) as weapons he slayed the evil king.

In doing so, the Lord established that unrighteousness, arrogance, haughtiness and all other evils have no permanent place in society or anywhere else on earth.

Regardless of power and stature, all bad things must come to an end; and it is within this context that Phagwah is celebrated as the triumph of good over evil.

It also implores upon all to be clean in thoughts and action since these are imperative for a transparent, progressive and respectful society.

The celebration of good over evil is a celebration of unity, a celebration of togetherness and a celebration of courage to shun evil acts.

These help up to understand that similarities are more important that differences in this transitory life and all should be humble in the presence the Lord.

Today, Guyanese from all walks of life will be smearing each other in a variety of colours in much fun and frolic.

These colours are symbol in a sense that there is unity in diversity, but a more salient message would be for all to be like Prahalad—remain humble and always eschew evil. Happy Holi to all!

Ramjattan on SOCU: ‘No intervention whatsoever’ MINISTER of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, says the authorities have made no intervention in the operations of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), noting that accusations from those fingered by the body will continue unabated.

Last week, a number of former government officials including Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, were called in for questioning by SOCU in relation to the acquisition of land at the contentious Pradoville Two housing area on the East Coast of Demerara.

While addressing the annual Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. (TIGI) annual dinner on Saturday evening at the Pegasus Hotel, Ramjattan said that “the fact that I had some wine with Sam (Dr Sam Sittlington ) Wednesday evening at Oasis was because I wanted to thank him for the great

–– commends ‘investigative work’ of TIGI work he did at SOCU at his farewell function.” Sittlington departed Guyana the following day.

Ramjattan said that the government was concerned about the perception of bias and accusation of political motivation concerning audits sent for police investigation. According to him, this was the reason why the government sought the assistance of the British High Commission to have expert Sittlington work along with the SOCU. He added that he will plead the return of the British fraud expert with High Commissioner, Greg Quinn.

He said that when the government assumed office in May 2015, it decided to undertake a number of forensic audits of state agen-

cies because of its knowledge of what corruption encompasses and allegations of corrupt behaviour and maladministration at state agencies and other Government entities.

Ramjattan noted that forty nine forensic audits, with the exception of five, have been completed and the results have so far confirmed these allegations of corruption and maladministration. Cabinet reviewed and decided that the reports of the audits should be published on the Ministry of Finance’s website; a move which he noted was supported by TIGI. He said too that the government decided that the actions based on recommendations of the audits must be taken by the boards of

entities which were audited and those which included criminality must be taken to the Commissioner of Police.

He said that many of the recommendations made by the auditors involved reviewing and tightening of systems and procedures. As regards their implementation post-audit,” If I may proffer an opinion, it seems that the performance thus far on that score is satisfactory.”

According to him, TIGI can help in creating an unbiased assessment by comparing what were recommended as against what has been implemented thus far.

While commending the work of TIGI, Ramjattan said that the “investigative work”, “frank and sharp” comments of the entity must remain citing the enrichment

of the country’s future by the work of the watchdog body.

He said that the APNU+AFC government remains committed the democratic order of transparency and accountability scrutiny by the entity’s work.

“We as a country will be enriched by your work,” he said, noting that Guyana’s democracy will be “half-baked” if public interest watchdogs such as TIGI are not effective, and halts its digging into the decision –making process as well as public affairs.

Noting that TIGI delves into corruption in Government, Ramjattan said that although the government “will part ways in certain instances with TIGI,” the two remain united in the stance of what corruption causes.

He mentioned the Hamilton

Green Pension Bill as an example the two parties may not see eye-to-eye.

According to him, corruption “destabilises and makes insecure the whole society,” adding that it undermines institutions and values of democracy such as ethical values. Noting that corruption also jeopardizes the rule of law, Ramjattan said that the matter also involves the illicit acquisition of wealth by a few to the detriment of thousands and even millions.

Ramjattan opined that because of the actions of the Government, Transparency International elevated Guyana’s points to 34 in 2016 from 27 and 29 in 2014 and 2015 respectively. He added that it was the second highest jump in points by any country second only to Suriname which went up by 7 points as compared to Guyana’s 5 points.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

Dynamic Airways thanks Guyanese … improvements, expanded service from New York & Canada

NEW YORK: Dynamic International Airways is drastically improving and expanding service to Guyana. Interim Chief Operating Officer (COO), Ms. Karen Kraus, disclosed the restructuring and expansion plans Thursday night at an appreciation cocktail reception in Queens, New York. Ms. Kraus said Dynamic has heard the feedback of Guyanese customers and is significantly improving service to realize the enhanced flying experience Guyanese customers deserve.

Ms. Kraus said improvements include low cost flight service, meals with a full complement of beverages, greater comfort and exquisite in-flight entertainment for an enjoyable flying experience.

Expanded service includes five daily flights a week from New York to Guyana.

Flights will now also originate from Toronto, Canada to Guyana. New flights from New York to St. Vincent and the Grenadines will also commence in August 2017.

Kraus told the gathering of Guyanese business and community leaders, travel agents and customers that Dynamic International Airways cannot be viable without customers and expressed profound thanks to Guyanese for their continued confidence and support. She urged continuous feedback and promised that Dynamic’s ultimate goal is to serve

Guyanese with excellence and be accommodating of their needs.

The company’s guests at the reception included Guyana’s Consul General to New York, Mrs. Barbara Atherly; Ambassador in Guyana’s United Nations Mission, Mr. Troy Torrington; St. Vincent & the Grenadines Ambassador to the United Nation,s Ms. Rhonda King; Consul General of St. Vincent & the Grenadines to New York, Mr. Howie Prince; Chairman of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee, Mr. Rickford Burke; CEO Of Roraima Airways and Dynamic Guyana Representative, Captain Gerry Gouvia and others.

Ms. Kraus announced that the airline recently instaled a modern operations center with a state of the art customer interactive information system that provides customers with up to the minute flight information. She expressed regret for the inconvenience some customers experienced during the 2016 Christmas season when a vehicle struck Dynamic’s 767 aircraft at JFK Airport in New York. A stand-by aircraft developed a flap malfunction, leaving both planes out of service.

A third aircraft subsequently serviced the New York – Guyana route. Ms. Kraus said her company worked extremely hard during this period to get passengers to their destinations, and in the

end left no one or luggage behind. She outlined new plans to strategically preposition alternative aircraft for added flights during unforeseen interruptions to minimize inconvenience to passengers.

Dynamic’s Guyana representative, Roraima Airways CEO, Captain Gouvia, revealed that of 224 Dynamic International Airlines scheduled flights to Guyana in 2016, 190 operated on time plus 30 minutes. He added that only 31 of the 224 were delayed in excess of 30 minutes and 3 were canceled because of either weather accident, or mechanical failures. Touting the said operations statistics, Ms. Kraus said the airline operated with an 86 % on time departure, 13.5 delays, 1.3% cancellations and an 85% load factor.

“Although these statistics are fairly normal by industry standards, we believe that our customers hold us to a higher standard, as we hold ourselves. This is why we are working to improve our service to the Guyanese people,” she observed, while noting that Dynamic transported over 40,000 passengers to Guyana and over 39,000 out of Guyana in 2016.

Highlighting its good corporate citizenship, Dynamic recapped its major sponsorship of Guyana’s New York Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2016, contribution to a team of young athletes from Berbice, Guyana, who traveled to the US

Suspect in youth’s murder confesses A MAN in custody has confessed to being in the company of the other three suspects when Saitanya Kishundyal, 21, was shot in front of his Rose Hall Town home on February 3,last year during an attempted robbery, a police source said. The youth subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

The 21-year-old young man was returning home from a religious function around 22:00hrs and was about to close his gate when he was confronted by an armed man.

Surveillance footage had shown that there were three other men positioned at various points in the yard and were trying to get Kishundyal to open the front door to lead them into the house.

A scuffle ensued between the lad and the gunman and he was shot at point blank range in the abdomen.

After the shot was fired,

the gunman and his accomplices fled the scene while Kishundyal was rushed to the

Saitanya Kishundyal Port Mourant Hospital.

He was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries four days later.

During the initial investigations, police detained

several persons and even charged a female for obstructing the course of justice in the matter; however, they were not able to have any credible evidence to make a solid case, until now.

The police source revealed that the confessor was previously arrested and released but was recently re-arrested.

He has also provided the names of the other persons who were with him but refused to reveal who was the gunman.

Investigators have since launched a manhunt to roundup the other accomplices as they continue to probe the confessor for more information.

The Guyana Police Force has been lauded for cracking several high-profile criminal cases of recent.

It has also re-opened several cold cases and is on course to closing a few.

Captain Gerry Gouvia and other Dynamic personnel to participate in the Penn Relays, its donated of free tickets and transportation of thousands of tons of cargo to Guyana free of coast in 2016.

Kraus pledged to continue charitable donations in areas

of need where mutual interests satisfy the company’s corporate objectives.

Dynamic International Airways, formerly Dynamic Airways, is an international airline based in Greensboro,

North Carolina.

We offer services from New York, Guyana, Venezuela, Hong Kong and Palau. The company owns a fleet of Boeing 767 wide body aircrafts.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

March demands end to violence

By Svetlana Marshall IN LIGHT OF THE MANY challenges facing women across Guyana and by extension the region and the world at large, the Student Society Against Human Rights Violation led a small but significant march on Saturday demanding an end to street harassment and violence against women, and children.

The need for the introduction of comprehensive sex education in public schools; free, safe and easily accessible reproductive health care for all and equal rights for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) society were also brought to the fore.

The march, which was held under the theme “A March for Girls – Equality, Protection, Justice,” was inspired by the Life in Leggings (LIL) Movement, which started in Barbados by Ronelle King and Luci Hammans.

As such, it coincided with the “Reclaim Our Streets”

march, which was organized by the LIL Movement, and held in seven Caribbean countries: Barbados, Dominica Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, The Bahamas, Grenada and Antigua & Barbuda on the same day and at the same time.

Here in Guyana, the march started shortly after 15:00h at Stabroek Market Square and proceeded along Brickdam before culminating at the Square of the Revolution.

President and Co-founder of the Student Society against Human Rights Violation, Akola Thompson, and Natasha Houston, who not only lost her right arm but her two children in a ruthless attack by her now dead ex-spouse, shared their horrific experiences as victims of Domestic Violence.

But most importantly, the young activists championed the need for all to speak out against gender based violence against women and children.

Speaking directly to women in abusive relationships, Thompson and Houston said it was time to break the silence.

“If you experience any form of abuse, like slapping, kicking, whatever, just speak out…find somebody you are comfortable with and speak

Attorney-at-Law and Social Activist, Nadia Sagar, underscoring the importance of activism

with them...If I had listened to my mom, my daughter would have been 10 years, and son would have been six years, but they both got murdered by the hands of their own father, so

Alleged mastermind in execution plot arrested POLICE have arrested a man who is allegedly the mastermind behind the plot to rob and kill a Corentyne businessman.

According to a police source, the man was apprehended while he was returning from neighbouring

Suriname early Saturday morning.

The man is said to be of Jamaican descent and is currently being grilled by ranks to ascertain the motive behind the alleged hit.

On Thursday last, police arrested another man after an

alert detective noticed he was acting suspiciously. The man Cordell Fraser, 24, was arrested by the lawman after he was found with a .38 revolver with four matching rounds.

During interrogation, the man revealed to ranks that he was allegedly hired by the Jamaican apprehended on Saturday, to execute the businessman over unpaid debts.

The businessman who owns and operates a clothing and footwear store in Berbice, has since maintained that while he knows the Jamaican and they are friends, they have never done any business together, as such, he does not owe him or anyone money.

Investigations in the matter are ongoing.

women don’t take the abuse, speak out,” Houston said as she encouraged women to stand up against domestic violence, noting that lives can be saved.

Attorney-at-Law and Social Activist, Nadia Sagar, who was among guest speakers at the forum, said activists are ever so often given labels that seek to diminish rather than accommodate or encourage.

Sagar recalled that her first real experience with activism in Guyana was when she opted to participate in a WPA protest following the Omani Gold Mines Limited cyanide spill which occurred in 1995 when 400 million gallons of cyanide laced materials spilled into the Essequibo River.

It was while at that protest that Sagar, a young law student then, met the late Karen De Souza – women and child’s rights activist, who had inspired her.

In her early days as a junior attorney, Sagar said “I enjoyed the male gaze from colleagues and clients, sexual innuendoes, and lasciviousness were common place in the spaces that I worked. I sat in boardrooms as vagina and

Natasha Houston calling for society, particularly women, to speak out against Domestic Violence

two breasts, an object. That was 20 or so years ago, things have changed and so have I.” Sagar said after coming to the reality that she would not be able to change the world, she comforted herself with the fact that she can make small changes in the lives of people, and as such reclaimed her activism.

“Activism takes on a multitude of forms in a variety of socio, political and economic environments. It does not require a uniform, we are all

activists on any given day,” she posited. To the activists, young and old, Sagar urged against setting rigid platforms, noting that there are no rules.

“Today you are standing for women and girls, girls like my daughter, and I ask you to clear a path for her, and all of the girls who would grow up silencing themselves, smiling as they were taught to do, even as they wither inside,” Sagar said as she broke down in tears.

“Embrace your power, even if you are afraid, embrace your power in whatever form it takes, write a letter, talk, stand on the picket line, ask a bus driver or a DJ to change the music…,” she added while making a call for Guyanese to stand up against the down doings in society.

The march, which culminated with a sensitization forum, was supported by Help and Shelter, Child Link Foundation, Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), the Women and Gender Equality Commission, and other non-governmental organisations.

President and Co-founder of the Student Society against Human Rights Violation, Akola Thompson, leading the march on Saturday

Adventists celebrate 130 years in Guyana

By Alva Solomon AS PART of the 130th anniversary of Adventism here, the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventist is set to provide free health services at the Sophia Exhibition Complex next weekend.

The event is part of activities organised by the church from March 19 to 25 to celebrate the milestone.

This year’s celebration is being held under the theme “Motivated by our history, pursuing our destiny” and will commence next Sunday with a grand parade and mo-

torcade and the launching of an “Adventist Village” at the Sophia Exhibition Complex.

The motorcade will rolloff from Durban Park.

According to the church, the Adventist Village will be opened to the public from 15:00hrs until 22:00hrs

during the week of activities and medical screening, drug distribution and dental checks will be available to visitors.

In addition, there will be family enrichment seminars and counselling, a healthfood fair and literature giveaway, nightly concerts, dramatic presentations and gospel singing.

There will be a grand consecration and prayer service on Friday from 18:30hrs, and on Saturday, the activities will climax with a grand national convention and award ceremony from 09:00hrs.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

GAWU optimistic We celebrate freely, not despite challenges Phagwah messages:

restricted by colour – Gov’t says in Phagwah message THE GOVERNMENT of Guyana extends Phagwah Greetings to all Guyanese at home and abroad, especially our Hindu brothers and sisters.

This is indeed a happy, auspicious time in the Hindu calendar when we blend colours with chowtal and celebrate togetherness. Holi is a time when we mix joyfully and celebrate with each other with affection and goodwill.

This year’s celebration coincides with the observance of the 100th Anniversary of the Abolition of Indian Indentureship. The ending of that system of

exploitation of cheap labour, is indeed a triumph of good over evil. We are forever indebted to our Indian ancestors for preserving, against great odds, their religion, their rituals and their festivities, such as Phagwah, and Diwali, Mother Kali Puja and Yesu Kathas, Eid-ul-Adha, Youman Nabi as well as other Christian ceremonies.

These are all respected and observed in Guyana, and serve to promote the culture of diversity, tolerance and cohesion.

Today, when dark clouds hang over many countries, when many are deemed

aliens and refugees, we celebrate freely, not constricted by colour, caste or creed.

Though we face our challenges, we must all work together to overcome them, and to realize our common hope for the good life for all.

So, as we celebrate Phagwah, let us recognize our rich cultural traditions and weave them into symbols of our pride as a multi-ethnic, Guyanese Nation. We share our generosities and our kindness, and momentarily, we embrace in oneness. Let us rekindle these sentiments once again.

Enjoy the celebrations.

Happy Holi!

Happy Holi from Mayor Chase-Greene IT is an honour to extend Phagwah greetings to my Hindu brothers and sisters.

This is a very special occasion, in the Hindu calendar of activities, where purity of heart and the attitude of giving are emphasised.

It is my sincere wish that as we celebrate, purity would be reflected in our local communities and in general

aesthetics of the City. The manner in which we keep our environment should confirm to environmental health standards. We should always endeavour to show care and caution for the environment in which we live, work and play.

As we celebrate this special occasion, let it bring us closer together in unity regardless of our race, colour

, political affiliation or religious persuasion; let us remember that in unity there is strength.

As we celebrate, let us pray for peace and become instruments of peace, let us not concede to grounds of division, we must do everything to ensure unity, harmony and peace. Once again Happy Phagwah.

Be inspired by the significance of Phagwah THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to extend best wishes for the festival of Phagwah to all Guyanese especially the Hindu community. As our people celebrate this truly colourful festival, the PPP urges that its deep significance through its pertinent messages be reflected upon and be seen as a source of inspiration.

It is most unfortunate that this celebratory inclusive festival comes at a time when our country is being divided by discriminatory polices imposed by the Administration. It comes at a time when uncertainty prevails and fear is instilled; when humanity is being trampled upon; when freedoms are threatened;

when people are being demoralized and despondency engulfs.

Our Party is cognizant that the values of the occasion of Phagwah are emphasized to promote the well-being of all mankind and the celebration is also associated with welcoming of the spring season which brings joy and delight to all living beings.

Phagwah also reminds us of the triumph of good over evil through the story of Prahalad, who defied his father, a despotic King.

This defiance continues to be a source of inspiration in the face of adversity reminding that there is always a road to fulfillment. On this occasion, our Party calls on all Guyanese to be inspired by the significance of Phagwah and not to lose hope.

Our Party believes that such inspiration would fortify our resolve and belief; that good

will once again triumph over evil and that the road to fulfillment will be reached.

This year, Phagwah comes at the same time the 100th anniversary of the Abolition of Indian Indentureship in Guyana is being observed. The nation’s East Indian ancestors brought these rich religious and cultural traditions and preserved them through untold sacrifices while being oppressed. They remained resolute and never lost hope despite the adversities foisted upon them.

As we reflect and commemorate, let’s also draw inspiration from their relentlessness. Our Party once again uses this opportunity to extend best wishes for Phagwah to all and calls on Guyanese not to be deterred by the prevailing climate of uncertainty.

People’s Progressive Party

THE festival of Holi – known as Phagwah – is once again upon us. In Guyana, this festival has been a fixture in the country’s calendar of holidays. While this festival is of Hindu origin and celebrated by the Hindus primarily, today the Holi festivities attract, increasingly, non-Hindus in Guyana and elsewhere in the world.

We are drawn to Holi’s colourful expressions and the exuberance and joy that electrify the celebrations everywhere. But, Holi’s significance lies in the embrace of life’s many positive values which provides sustenance to the human existence. Over the years, Holi has come to be seen as an enduring reminder

of the triumph of good over evil.

Its inspiring message where ‘good’ is promoted and embraced is as relevant as ever today. Around us, these days, are many evil-doers of various stripes and many injustices which seem to be growing rather than diminishing. As life’s burdens grow heavier for the masses, and new threats hang over their heads, the message of Holi gives us hope, strengthens our faith that wrongs can be overcome, and imbue us with the courage to go on in the face of adversities and triumph.

This year’s Phagwah activities find the GAWU facing various challenges in the sugar industry. However, we are optimistic as

the message of Phagwah reminds us, that success in the future will come from our principled struggles.

At this time, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) takes pleasure in wishing all Hindus, indeed all Guyanese a Happy Holi 2017.

The fact that this Holi festival appeals to a cross sector of our diverse religious and cultural makeup is significant. Any event that can promote togetherness and tolerance should be encouraged. In the circumstances of today, our unity to overcome injustices is essential as we continue along the challenging path to a joyful, bright and prosperous future.

Use Phagwah to refresh your spirit – PNCR The People’s National Congress Reform extends sincere Holi greetings to the Hindu Community of Guyana, in particular, and Guyanese in general, on the occasion of the celebration of the Festival of Phagwah in Guyana.

The significance of Phagwah is two-fold. Its secular significance lies in the advent

of the season of spring, and its real and allegorical implications of fertility rebirth, renewal and regeneration.

The religious significance of Holi lies in the conquest of good over evil, manifested by the destruction by Prahalada of his demonic father, King Hiranyakashipu.

As the celebrated Indian national, Kulapati Vani wrote

many years ago, “… festivals are gatherings for refreshing the spirit and enjoying life.”

We urge all Guyanese to use this occasion to refresh their spirit and enjoy life and to participate fully in this colourful festival and enjoy the rich elements of our religious and cultural diversity.

Happy Holi to all Guyanese!

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INDIAN CULTURE AND COURAGE

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

By Moses V. Nagamootoo TODAY, Guyana observes two significant events in the Indian calendar: Phagwah and the 100th year since indentureship ended. Guyanese of Indian origin, mainly Hindus, would celebrate both as a triumph of good over evil.

The observance of Phagwah or Holi, which is a national event, brings alive the ancestral presence from India, that started in 1838. The unique stamp of Indian, ethnic, culture has helped to shape our general outlook and mould our evolving Guyanese personality, a full century after the last Indian had set foot on Guyanese soil.

INDIAN FEET Those Indian feet, and others from our indigenous, Amerindians, our African ancestors, our Chinese and Portuguese people, once planted in Guyana (then British Guiana) have formed the rock-like base of our nationhood.

Over the years, our Indian ethnicity and our Guyanese nationality seemed to have blended harmoniously and have defined descendants of Indian immigrants distinctly as Indo-Guyanese. We exhibit traits and peculiarities that were fashioned by our governance structure, history, geography and culture.

This was explained quite lucidly several years ago in a Stabroek News editorial titled, “The problem with Ethnic Identity” (May 15, 1999): “We were a British colony for over 160 years. During that time, we absorbed an enormous amount of British culture, the language, the educational system and the literature… the legal system, the business and commercial practices, the structure of government.

“In the course of this long transition a lot of old culture rubbed off and we are now quite different creatures to our original countrymen who never left home as is readily proved by a quick visit to the land of our forefathers where we may find ourselves unable to speak the language, most certainly be treated as a foreigner and feel quite out of place in many ways.”

The apparent assimilation or creolization over time has resulted in the co-existence of “Indianness” and “Guyaneseness” and, sometimes, West Indian-ness. This remains a polemical issue and I don’t intend to stoke any emotional fire at this time, not today. It might be safe to say that culturally, we are inside the salad bowl, a mixture of several influences. As descendants of Indian immigrants, today’s Guyanese Indians, have imbibed much from Indian culture, and to a lesser extent, everything that was inherited and acquired from other ethnic groupings.

Indian festivities such as Phagwah, highlight the cultural inheritance from India and from the immigrants and their families who had crossed the kala pani. It is displayed by music, dance, dress, rituals, foods and symbolic gestures of warm embraces.

APPALLING POVERTY While we celebrate, we must not lose sight of the fact that throughout the period of indentureship and afterwards, Indians lived under appalling poverty under the British plantocracy. However, historians have shown that through calculated withdrawal into their culture, Indians survived. Part of that culture was hard work, resistance and the tendency to save every penny for the “hard time.”

They also invested in children as economic future, which they have passed on to succeeding generations. This was also true for Indians in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius, Fiji, Burma, Trinidad, Suriname, Guyana and elsewhere in the so-called Indian diaspora.

The preservation of Indian culture, however, was a saga of courage. In his epic book, Tigers in the Stars, Dr. Clem Seecharan documented the difficult work of Canadian missionaries to convert Indians in the early part of this century.

Rev. E. H. Johnson noted this resistance among East Indians against “anything that appeared to draw their children away from their customs…” The good Reverend stressed that those Indians “seem to feel the need of vigorously preserving their national identity.”

RESISTANCE That reference to “national identity” showed the affinity between the early Indians in British Guiana and their “Motherland.” It was not spontaneous. It was a form of resistance by Indians everywhere to the subjugation of India by the British, who simultaneously exploited Indians in the colonies.

There has been controversy recently over statements made by certain self-professed “Indian rights activists” for Indians

to rise up. On other occasions, irresponsible and exaggerated claims have been made about “ethnic cleansing” against Indians in Guyana and additionally, blatant falsehoods have been peddled that Africans were attacking and plundering Indians and looting their women’s gold jewels. It does not promote the Indian personality to portray them falsely as victims, or to use the so-called victimhood as a reason for political agitation and promote racist mobilization.

Perhaps “rise up” sends the wrong message. But nothing is wrong with Indo-Guyanese standing up against perceived wrongs and injustices. Historically, resistance has become part of the Indian culture. It has demolished the caricature of any stereotype of Indian Guyanese being cowardly, or that they would acquiesce to oppression or corrupt rule, even when those were identified with their own ethnic leaders, as evidenced by the 2015 ouster of the Ramotar regime.

Short of staging “uprisings,” Indo-Guyanese have earned their place at all levels of the Guyanese society. Three Indo-Guyanese ascended to the highest office of Executive Presidents/Commanders-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and one was elevated to the post of Prime Minister. Indians and their offsprings not only survived through the difficult era of bonded labour; they also prospered in all endeavours through initiative and thrift, for which our society is truly indebted to them.

George Lamming was to write in The West Indian People (1966) a special tribute when he commented: “…those Indian hands –whether in British Guiana or Trinidad – have fed all of us. They are, perhaps, our only jewel of a true native thrift and industry. They have taught us by example the value of money; for they respect money as only people with a high sense of communal responsibility can.”

So, today, as we celebrate Phagwah and the 100th anniversary of the Abolition of Indian Indentureship, let us give praise to our ancestors, and let us continue to be imbued with their spirit of endurance, integrity and courage.

The writer, former journalist and lawyer, is Prime Minister of Guyana.

New GTT store at Camp and Robb Streets THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) opened another modern Retail Customer Experience Store on Saturday, this time at Camp and Robb Streets, Georgetown.

The opening of the store is in keeping with GTT’s promise to “Do More” for its customers.

During the opening ceremony in down town Georgetown, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Justin Nedd, said that “the company offers prices that are better than the competition and GTT customers can expect even more beneficial surprises in the coming months.”

He pointed out that the furniture and much of the other fixtures in the store were manufactured locally, and they complement GTT’s trust in supporting the local manufacturing

industry.

Once the ribbon was cut, droves of Guyanese flooded the store to cash in on the many deals. Customers who bought a Smartphone were given another Smartphone free, plus one month free data and a gift.

The modern Retail Customer Experience Store on Camp and Robb Streets is the fourth of its kind for the company. The first one was established in 2015, and creates the ideal opportunity for customers to access GTT’s service with ease.

Customers can buy any of GTT services at the location and pay their landline and DSL bills. The store opens Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs and from 08:00hrs to 15:00hrs on Saturdays.

GTT CEO, Justin Nedd, with the help of his staff cut the ribbon to symbolically declare the retail store open

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

The Festival of Colours

By Tajeram Mohabir

BORN out of a story rooted in unshakable belief in God, Holi or Phagwah is an ancient Hindu festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil.

The story of the colourful celebration was first introduced here some 179 years ago with the arrival of indentured servants from India to work on the sugar plantation.

It is immortalised in the legend of Prahalad and has been told and re-enacted from generation to generations in homes, places of learning and temples.

It is a story about a despotic King Hiranyakashipu who commanded his subjects to worship him, but was met with obstinate rejection by his son Prahalad.

King Hiranyakashipu angered by the action of his son, ordered that he (Prahalad) and his wicked aunt Holika, who was believed to be immune to fire, sit on a pyre which was set ablaze.

According to legend, Holika was burnt to ashes but young Prahalad, a devotee of Vishnu (The Preserver of the Universe), remained unscathed.

The boy thereafter decreed that his aunt will be remembered ever year, thus the burning of the Holika (pyre made of branches) on the night before Phagwah is celebrated.

From the stories told,

King Hiranyakashipu was no ordinary being. He was granted a boon by Brahma (the Creator), after great penance, that he would not be killed by any living or non-living creature created by him (Brahma); will not die within or outside his residence during the day or night, on the ground or in the sky, or by any weapon; and have no worthy rival in the battlefield.

These powers blinded King Hiranyakashipu to humanity and made him into a tyrant who later believed that there is no God but himself, forcing the Lord to advent himself to restore his authority.

Mindful of the boon granted to the king, Lord Vishnu came in the form of a half-man, half-lion and paid him a visit he would not live to tell.

KILLED Abiding by the boon granted by Brahma, Lord Vishnu visited the demonic king at twilight (which is neither day nor night); on the verge of his courtyard (which is neither indoors nor out); and put the king on his thighs (which is neither earth nor space). And using his nails (neither animate nor inanimate) as weapons, he gutted the demon king; bringing an end to his tyranny.

It is in this light that Phagwah is the celebration of triumph of good over evil.

Speaking on this great epic, Pandit Rabindranath Persaud of the Virat Sabha pointed out that freedom is a product of Truth and God which could only be achieved through a process which demands great selfless sacrifice.

“It is impossible to achieve liberation without subscribing to the ultimate truth. The truth is we celebrate the multitudes of differences that add to nature’s beauty. Everyone of God’s creation is distinctively different from each other but yet cohesively contributes to the rich beauty of the universe. This fact should never be ignored. To ignore this fact is to undermine the real significance of the festival.

Phagwah is a time to reflect on the unscathed attribute of the truth. Bhakt Prahalad still remains a symbol of truth and dedicated devotion to God. The burning of Holika is a true demonstration that truth needs no support, it stands by itself.”

The story of Prahalad, though the most popular in Guyana, is not the only legend associated with the Spring Festival.

Another version tells of the enduring love between the dark skinned Lord Krishna playfully applying colour to the face of the fair and beautiful Radha.

The central ritual of Holi is the drenching of friends and family with water and applying coloured powder on

Phagwah celebration in full swing at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (file photo)

them, thus the name “Festival of Colours.”

It is also a celebration of the coming of Spring with all its beautiful colours and vibrant life.

ALL EMBRACING CELEBRATION On Phagwah Day, Guyana also erupts in a colourful spectacle as persons of all ethnic groups be it from Skeldon, Berbice; Albouystown, Georgetown; or Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, join in the colourful celebrations.

They do so in moving water trucks, water carts or by joining bucket brigades parading on roads and the streets, trying to drench all in their path.

The children who cannot fetch a bucket, are equipped

with water guns and those who are not playing, move around villages in bands singing Chowtaals (religious songs).

In some places, the celebrations are so crazy that celebrants assume temporary complexions of red, yellow, green and other colours, for the day. Stained roads and streets are evidence of the boisterous celebrations.

It is a kaleidoscope to behold and day of great sweetmeats from gulaab jamoon, gojha and gul-gula to pholourie.

Of Guyana’s 747,000 people, some 39 per cent are East Indians and 28 per cent of them are Hindus. Only Nepal (81 per cent), India (79 per cent), Mauritius (48 per cent) and Fiji (30 per cent) according to the US State

Department and CIA World Factbook have a higher per cent of Indian population.

This year’s Phagwah celebrations are happening at a time when Guyana is celebrating 100 year of abolition of Indian Indentureship, and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, has hailed the achievement as a triumph of good over evil.

“The ending of that system of exploitation of cheap labour, is indeed a triumph of good over evil. We are forever indebted to our Indian ancestors for preserving, against great odds, their religion, their rituals and their festivities, such as Phagwah, and Diwali, Mother Kali Puja and Yesu Kathas, Eid-ul-Adha, Youman Nabi, as well as other Christian ceremonies.”

Surinamese visit to New Amsterdam Hospital being monitored – in light of drug shortage

By Ariana Gordon Guyana is actively taking steps to monitor the number of Surinamese that travel to Guyana to seek free medical attention at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary, Joseph Harmon, told reporters on Friday.

The disclosure made by the minister follows concerns raised by residents of Berbice that they are unable to access certain medical supplies at the institution.

Only recently, a team of officials from the National Assembly visited the New Amsterdam hospital where it was discovered that there is a shortage of drugs.

“What I found also in

one of my outreach meetings that I went to Berbice was that there was a complaint made by some of the regional officials that we are having persons who are actually coming from Suriname and utilising our medical facilities in Berbice because the bulk of it is free. So you have people coming … a lot of traffic from Suriname, coming to New Amsterdam, Berbice to use the system,” said Harmon.

He told reporters at a post-Cabinet press briefing held at the Ministry of the Presidency that efforts have been undertaken to ensure there is a “very clear record of this” so that the requisite steps can be taken to correct the situation.

“As far as I am aware

there are specific shortages from time to time which the Ministry takes time to correct. The Minister of Public Health has actually taken steps to correct that situation,” the Cabinet Secretary added.

He stressed that the shortage of drugs at hospitals across the country is a matter which is being addressed by the Minister of Public Health and noted that in the case of the New Amsterdam Hospital, the situation is not new. “…This was something the Government was aware of before and was taking steps to ensure that it was corrected so that the drug shortage at New Amsterdam is very specific.

You may have a shortage of a particular type of drug but not a general shortage and

therefore the Minister of Public Health is addressing that,” Minister Harmon clarified.

Last week, the Social Services Parliamentary Sectoral Committee visited the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, Regional Six, to examine the functions and management of the healthcare facility.

Members of the committee found that drug shortages at the health institution remain a sore issue and according to Director of Health Services, Jevaughn Stephens, the issue is as a result of the suppliers routinely delivering important and much needed drugs late.

Chairperson of the Social Services Committee, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, explained that the continued shortage

forces the regional hospital to purchase drugs from the emergency funds but there still is not enough provision to meet the demand.

“There have been instances where drug shortages were raised by patients notably in chronic non- communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension, as well as other medication for thyroids and other areas. What we have noticed is that there seems to be some difficulty between the demand or supply and procurement and sometimes it is, that the hospital may have inadequate (amounts) to supply the outpatients; they just have for inpatients or they would not have received sufficient medication from MMU,” Dr Persaud said.

Dr. Persaud said too that

the system of transferring drugs from the Materials Management Unit (MMU) to the health facility leaves loopholes for discrepancies, hence the shortages.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, said the Ministry is aware of these issues and is in the process of addressing them.

“The Ministry of (Public) Health is working to bridge the gap that exists in all essential areas. The Ministry was engaged with some of their international partners like the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)… we do have a problem with suppliers because they are saying suppliers don’t have the quantity or the name of the drug so we are engaged with our international partners to ensure that we have these drugs.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

“Neva see big man sweat suh, Mr. Lewis” FRIDAY afternoon as I was walking down Albert Street, at the corner of Third Street, a gentleman stepped into my path and said, “Neva see big man sweat suh, Mr. Lewis.” As I acknowledged his presence, I later came to realise I may have had that perplexing look, for as he walked in stride with me he said, “I am talking about Jagdeo and the police.” I stopped to listen to him and by then two men coming in the opposition direction stopped to say hello and one asked, “Mr. Lewis what happening now with Pradoville and SOCU?” Given our culture an animated discussion followed.

I offered my view that the law must take its course and those who violated it must be held accountable.

I went on to say, the same way a clerk in the Ministry of Home Affairs who cannot account for an $11,000 he may have collected and is placed before the court, the

same way elected officials must account for their conduct before the court.

The conversation went back to Bharrat Jagdeo and it was very clear the trio’s animation was based on what they think should happen in this situation. It is their view that for years he walked around the country like a king, thinking that he was big and bad, and could have done as he pleased, yet when the State Organised Crime Unit (SOUC) invited him to answer some questions he’s running. One of them said, “Bad man don’t run, why you think he was running Mr. Lewis? You think he frighten dem boys at Camp Street? Another interjected and said, “Nah man, he don’t want to go in dem stink cells he locked up you, Witter and Benschop in.”

The one who started the conversation and visibility concerned what will happen said, “You read de newspapers and watch the video, can you imagine this pow-

erful Jagdeo who even ban Gordon Moseley from State House, come out from SOCU with he tight shirt wet, wet?”

Another interjected, “De same media who he used to cuss up and want to shut down help us see he downfall and even allowed he to get his side of the story out.”

Another injected, “Mr. Lewis, he said he gat immunity and did not have to answer any question, you think presidential immunity gon protect he? My response was:-Presidential immunity does not protect any president who deliberately decided that he or she would take state property for personal use. Presidential immunity is protection of judgement in the daily exercise of duty, but that exercise of duty has to be within the parameters of the law. I further said, the law is very clear how state land has to be disposed of and we must look to ensure that the investigating officers follow the law to the letter.

Then the conversation

continued about the acquisition and sale of this land, those who benefitted, and what will be the outcome of the situation. One held the view that Robert Persaud’s offer to pay the difference for the property must be thought through carefully. I asked him why. He responded, “If you let people take things and when they get catch they say they will pay for it, then in future whoever thief and get catch will say, ‘ok I want pay too.’” Another injected and said, “Yuh right man, when yuh do the crime yuh gat to pay the price.”

By then another person who had later joined the group, interjected and said, while he voted for this government many of these ministers no different than Jagdeo and he ministers dem. He went on to say, you can go see them liming and knocking glasses at the Marriott and Pegasus, as though one thief man teaching the other one the tricks of the trade. He said, Mr. Lewis,

I jumped out of the minibus when I see you stand up here to tell you that not one thing gonna come out of this. In enquiring why, he said, all of them is the same thing, is only one more criminal than the other, and in time you will see it.

The presence of the fourth took the conversation down another path and I too came in for harsh words.

One said to me, “This is me government and I don’t like how you does attack them.”

The time was taken to explain that in my business there is no sacred cow when it comes to violating laws, conventions, declarations, charters and time-honoured principles; I retain permanent interest and not permanent friends in bringing about a fair and just society.

I went on to say, had I and others stayed silent to the excesses of the PPP/C this conversation about Pradoville and SOCU’s role could not have been possible, because in the midst

of silence excesses become rampant, and can consume and destroy a society. Just as you are disgusted by the bad things the PPP did, the same way you must be disgusted about the bad things your government is doing.

It was further explained, you do not elect a government to repeat the bad you condemned you elect it to do better, and when we stand for this principle, the conversation we are having about the PPP today we should have no problem having it for the APNU+AFC government if any in its leadership violates the laws.

Friday’s conversation taught me many lessons.

People are in tuned with what is happening around them. This has taught me, once again, that we should not take for granted the lessons that can be learnt from the ordinary man and woman, who in going about their daily business.

Leaders often ignore this.

Guyanese youth elected Chairman of UWI IAC

By Vishani Ragobeer A YOUNG Guyanese, Eden Corbin, has been elected as the Chairperson of the International.

Affairs Committee (IAC) for the Guild Council at the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus.

The lad received 1,469 votes from the student population at the 2017/2018 Guild elections held on March 9, edging past his only opponent and yet another Guyanese studying at the University - Kena Melville, who obtained 981 votes.

Corbin is a first year law student at the Trinidad University and will be sworn in officially as Chairperson of the IAC on April 1, while his tenure in this position will last from September of this year to May 2018.

The Chairperson of the IAC has the herculean task

of dealing with the representation of all international matters relating to the students’ guild and is responsible for the Island Associations and representing all regional and international students attending the university.

As a matter of national pride for those in Guyana, Corbin’s victory marks the first time any Guyanese would have ascended to that position.

Eden recounted that while campaigning rigorously before the elections, he dedicated much of his time and always placed his best foot forward at the fora he spoke at.

However, he shared some of his ideals with the Guyana Chronicle. He highlighted that he intends on creating an environment where the notion of regional Integration could be a realized goal and he intends

on engaging the students on regional matters - such as the functions of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), free trade and on foreign and immigration policies.

He also expressed, “I intend to promote regionalism over nationalism because we can do so much more if we were to truly unite all of the CARICOM countries and operate as one.”

Also, despite thwarting Melville, Corbin intends on involving her and perhaps some of her ideals in the committee.

Corbin conceded, “I know I wouldn’t be able to achieve this in my tenure as the International Affairs Committee Chairperson but I know I can get the ball rolling.”

The young man, who was a student of Queen’s College and later Bishop’s

One of the campaign posters used by Eden Corbin during his campaign for the position of Chairperson for the International Affairs Committee (IAC) and the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus

High School, is a passionate youth activist. At UWI, he is also the President of ‘Uwe Speak’, a student activist group which creates a safe space for students to express themselves about social matters.

All students who are enrolled into the institution automatically become a part of what is known as the ‘Guild of Students’.

The Guild Council, an elected Committee of 24 members, represents the interests and welfare of the student population, helps student to transition into campus life, encourages integration among students and bridges the gap between students and the administration of the university. Not only does this council represent the student body, but also is actively involved in the decision making of the University.

13

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

Tell Indian Guyanese the truth about Sugar and State Asset Recovery THIS is the month of March—the month of International Women’s Day and the anniversary of the Grenadian revolution. It was March 13, 1979 that the New Jewel Movement of Grenada seized power from the authoritarian Eric Gairy-led Grenada United Labour Party government and ushered in the Anglophone Caribbean’s first revolution. The Caribbean had witnessed the Haitian Revolution of 1804 and the Cuban Revolution of 1959 and the people of those two countries and the wider Caribbean paid an enormous price for daring to wrest their freedom from bondage by force.

The Grenadian people would suffer the same fate.

Four years after the triumph of 1979, the revolution was smashed by a combination of internal strife and external subversion. With its demise went the last chance for the Caribbean to dictate the content and character of its independence on its own terms.

By the end of the 1980s our region had returned to where it was at independence as the IMF-World Bank became the new colonial overlords.

Now, almost four decades after the Grenadian revolution, the Caribbean is in serious crisis at all levels

and in all aspects of life. The condition of the least and poorest among us continues to deteriorate in the face of uncaring approaches to economic development—were he around Walter Rodney would pen “How Structural Adjustment Further Underdeveloped the Caribbean.”

There is a crisis of imagination at the level of our leadership in all our pivotal institutions from government to university to cricket boards.

Caribbean nationalism has fallen by the wayside and, in its place, we have developed a cruel individualism that has turned our region into a hustling space.

This past week in Guyana, we saw some high officials of the previous government and their friends being taken in for questioning regarding their alleged pilfering of state assets for personal enrichment. Where this process will end up is anybody’s guess, for one thing we have learned about Guyanese and Caribbean politics is that government is driven not by principle but by political expediency. In other words, one is not sure that the present government is committed to seeing the process of public justice reach its logical conclusion.

Yes, the matter is in the hands of SOCOU and the police, but it is the govern-

ment that started the process with the audits and which, whether it says so or not, has a political interest in the outcome.

I understand President Jagdeo has listed me as one of the persons who has helped to pressure the government into what he and his colleagues have labeled an act of witch-hunting. I don’t know whether Mr. Jagdeo is correct in his assessment, but I wish to remind him that my interest is in the cessation of corruption as a way of life in Guyana. Insofar as I have stressed the role of his government, it is because in my view, corruption was institutionalized during his tenure. Whether he personally played a role in the process would hopefully be determined, but it is clear that members of his administration benefited—at least the investigators are working with that theory in mind.

Having said the above, I do think that we are in for rocky times. The PPP is testing the resolve of the government. The calls by Indian activists for Indian Guyanese to rise up in defense of their gains in Guyana and the PPP’s threat of street demonstrations are part of something larger. I have absolutely no problems with Indian leaders calling on their people to resist unfair

government—I would do the same if I felt African people were unfairly targeted.

But my issue with the case made by the Indianists is its deception. Yes, diversifying out of sugar would have a near-term impact on the mostly Indian Guyanese workforce. But to not point out that the present government has continued the subsidy of the industry even as it searched for ways to get out of the historic hole leads me to question the objective of the leaders. If you are making a case of Indian suffering, at least lay all the facts on the table.

Its commonsense economics that if a poor economy such as ours continue to bury money into an unprofitable industry that is not able to generate enough to at least pay back the subsidy, then in the end the country including the workers in the subsidized industry suffers. Yes, sugar workers would have their jobs, but their wages and those of other workers would continue to be low, the government would have less to spend on other critical areas such as education, health care and infrastructure.

I am aware that this line of argument will not easily convince those who are about to possibly lose their jobs. But the truth should be told. The Indianists should

pressure the PPP and the government to devise a plan to guarantee the sugar workers an income during this period of transition. The fight should not be simply to save a dying sugar industry but more importantly to guarantee sugar workers their daily bread while we root ourselves out of the sugar trap we have found ourselves in.

Directing sugar workers anger at the government while behaving as if the PPP has no responsibility for where things are is unhelpful and deceptive. For 23 years, the PPP, in the face of all the signs that sugar was dying, did absolutely nothing to sensibly address the situation. The Indianists must remind the sugar workers that GUYSUCO under the PPP threatened to de-recognize their union for standing up to the powers that be. This government has not done so.

They must also tell Indian Guyanese that SARA’s threat to recover Stolen State Assets is not directed at the Indian Guyanese people who are not the beneficiaries of loot—it’s not the Indian Guyanese masses who were given lands at Pradoville way below market value. It’s not the average Indian Guyanese businesspeople who are being targeted by SARU/ SARA; it’s the small cabal which has ruthlessly appro-

priated state assets with direct and indirect facilitation by the then government. The Indianists must tell Indian Guyanese that their suffering arises in part from this ugliness that occurred when their party was in power.

I have decided to use my small voice to ensure that this government does not go down that ugly road; that insofar as it draws its support from the African Guyanese community, it does not shame that community and compel it to defend wrongdoing. Some government supporters have pleaded with me to “ease up” with my critique of the government for fear that it would help the PPP. My answer to them is always this—I saw Indian voices and other independents “ease up” on the PPP when it was in government and we ended up with the worst administration in the post-independence Anglophone Caribbean. I am not repeating that mistake. Government gets my love, but not the uncritical type.

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

AFC calls on Guyanese to learn from lessons of Holi THE Alliance For Change extends Phagwah greetings to our Hindu brothers and sisters and all Guyanese in Guyana and in the Diaspora.

On the occasion of the festival of colours we celebrate this vibrant and electric Hindu holiday with passion, brotherhood, love and fervor. The enthusiastic cele-

bration of Holi is a demonstration of our nation’s unyielding commitment to our strong cultural foundations and roots. That Phagwah is on our annual calendar as a national holiday cements the nation’s motto that indeed we are one people, one nation with one destiny.

In addition to the triumph of good over evil and dark-

ness over light, Phagwah also has its origins in the celebration of a period of long desired rainfall and relief after a period of drought which caused stress and hardship.

As a result of our recent natural resources discoveries, Guyana is preparing to embark on a period of prosperity in the coming years when all Guyanese will benefit

from improved and elevated living conditions.

The AFC therefore calls on the society to learn from the lesson of Holi and utilize this time to prepare for the new and prosperous Guyana which beckons and when we will all be able to celebrate a better, developed and progressive Guyana in which we can all thrive and

advance unhindered and unfettered by political or other encumbrances caused by divisiveness and discord.

Phagwah also allows us as a people to shine as a culturally diverse nation.

Not only do our Hindu brothers and sisters celebrate Holi with water and powder of all colours but so do Guyanese of all

religions, ethnic backgrounds, political persuasions, geographic locations and gender orientation. We join in friendly embrace and a spirit of togetherness as we apply colourful abeer to our friends, neighbours, colleagues and countrymen. May this spirit remains with us all year round.

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Women encourage

MINISTER of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, yesterday, charged women to make mentoring a part of their job throughout 2017.

Minister Hughes was the guest speaker at a Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk which was hosted

by GeoTech Vision, in observation of International Women’s Day (observed on March 8).

Addressing the gathering of women before the walk moved off from GeoTech Vision’s Brickdam, Georgetown, Minister Hughes encouraged women to identify a woman among them and reach out as a mentor.

“Just leave a word of encouragement or tell them about a woman who has defied the odds in this male dominated world, and who has climbed to high heights,”

Minister Hughes urged.

The Minister noted that mentoring is one the most fulfilling things that someone can undertake. She said mentoring was, “The most rewarding thing I ever did.”

Minister Hughes told the women present for the walk that women are the backbone of the world, and it is their responsibility to do whatever little they can to effect positive change.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

Highlighting the achievements of Guyanese women, Minister Hughes encouraged women to play a more active role in their communities, and to take interest in the local government process.

“Each of us has so much to offer all of Guyana, and we just have to look for the little ways we can contribute that take nothing from us,” Minister Hughes charged.

The mentoring walk was

held under the theme “Embracing opportunities to pay it forward by investing the next generation of women leaders.” The walk is one of many that is held across the globe.

The Global Mentoring Walk is an opportunity to highlight the importance of women’s leadership and to accelerate the impact of women leaders through mentoring, Valrie Grant, the Vital Voices Grow Fellow and Flag Bearer for Guyana and Managing Director of GeoTech Vision explained.

“We recognise that women face unique challenges on their path to leadership, and we are committed to helping aspiring women succeed.

Mentoring has proven to be one of the most important steps to a successful career,” Grant pointed out.

Participants of the Walk also engaged in discussions about their professional challenges and successes to offer guidance, and support to each other. The walk

Minister of Public Telecomm

culminated with a series of activities in the Botanical Gardens which included networking, action planning

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ed to mentor more SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

munications, Catherine Hughes, leads the Mentoring Walk

and goal setting. The walk was held in partnership with the Guyana Chapter of the Women

Entrepreneurs Network of the Caribbean (WENC) and the Small Business Bureau.

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Jurassic Park – irresistible for many

By Michel Outridge IT IS A PART of the city that one can safely say doesn’t sleep as it seems to be always teeming with the ‘hustle and bustle’ of traffic and people.

The downtown Stabroek

Market area is referred to as “Jurassic Park” by many, and is a place of many characters, figuratively speaking of the good, the bad and the ugly, thus the name derived.

It is a place that is picturesque at night when the atmosphere has a starry glow

with reflection from the Stabroek Market clock lights that was installed last year leading up to the festive season.

The area is usually packed with people from all walks of life, some heading to their respective places of

work, vendors plying their trade, mini bus and taxi operators, and others even some criminal elements.

During the day, the downtown hub is not a stagnant place, usually overflowing with folks en route to their varying destinations.

VENDING At nights, the area transforms into a busy night life of food vendors, makeshift mini bars set up on the tarmac outside Demico fast food outlet to accommodate those in need of a cold beverage or more particularly an alcoholic drink.

It seems that after dark one can get almost anything at this hang out spot which attracts people of all statuses.

Jurassic Park is probably one of the few places one can get a proper box of cook-uprice during the wee hours of

the morning.

Stabroek Market area is the prime location for vending and one can make a purchase of bread, phone cards, fruits, clothes and almost anything that is relevant to the needs of passersby.

In the night, it is the preferred spot for limers, some youths both male and female, even ‘ladies of the night’, and others, who prefer to visit the location under the cover of darkness to carry out whatever activities they have to.

EFFECT ON MINERS The place seems to have a mind of its own and calls out to people to stay a bit longer than they actually intended, whenever they pass through and often most miners, who are lured there to spend their bits and pieces of hard-earned cash after spend-

ing months in the interior.

Some time ago, during a friendly conversion a group of friends, who are miners, told me that somehow whenever they come out of the ‘bush’ they would avoid the area because once they get there it’s like a magnet and it is very difficult to leave.

There, they would indulge in care-free drinking until they are intoxicated and would often fall prey to robbers and their female associates, who lure unsuspecting men to relieve them of their valuables.

STABROEK BAR This bar is located upstairs of Demico House, just obliquely opposite Parliament Building and it has become the ‘chill spot’ for locals, both young and mature folks would frequent the place for a cold beer or two.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

Guyanese / American Singer moves on to knockout stage

BEN PARAG the Guyanese - American singer who has wowed the judges on the Indian Hit Reality Singing Television Show Dil Hai Hindustani, has made it to the knockout phase of the competition.

Ben who from the inception of the show has left the judges and audience mesmerized with his melodious voice has represented Guyana and the Caribbean community exceptionally on the show, now he needs our help in helping him make it to the top.

While there is no doubt

Ben has what it takes to win, his chances of moving and getting closer to the final stage is dependent on votes in and ousidet of India.

As such everyone is urged to spread the word and vote by dialing +91842-289-0906 anytime between Sunday 11:00hrs to Midnight. Persons are asked to dial the number and leave a missed call.

The show will be aired on Sunday 12th March, 2017 on Starplus and everyone is urged to tune in and vote.

Jurassic Park...

From page 18

On Friday nights, the bar is packed to capacity with mostly youths, young women dressed in very revealing clothing which leaves little to be imagined and it’s like a ‘ghetto party’ where cannabis sativa is smoked and the drinking goes on until 03:00hrs in the morning.

Stabroek Bar over time has been attracting some rogue elements and within recent times it has caused the police to conduct some impromptu raids which yielded varying illegal instruments and small amounts of cannabis sativa (marijuana).

The party, there did had a few loud fights and it is so crowded some people sometimes get robbed by the very patrons, who mingle in the gathering afterwards as per norm.

LIMING A few mature folks, mostly men, told the Sunday Chronicle that in the evenings when the place is cooler they would frequent the makeshift mini bars on the tarmac overlooking the Stabroek market clock for a ‘drink’ as usual.

They converge with

friends and have a chat and sometimes they imbibe until well in the morning.

An elderly man said, “It’s addictive being out here because with the bright lights you lose track of time, the place appears to be quite early but if you consult your watch the time will surprise you.”

This man, who is a ‘regular’ has many friends, who visit Jurassic Park every night to ‘sip and chat’ and just observe the happenings.

One woman told this newspaper that by just sitting there one would see certain things and that’s why people have to be alert.

At Stabroek Market area around the perimeter of Demico outlet and the route 40 mini bus park it is often crowded and also has many limers, some of whom are shady characters, waiting for an opportunity to snatch a chain or rob somebody whenever the opportunity arises.

All in all one can say Jurassic Park is a very peculiar place which encapsulates a hive of activities and carries a pull than few can resist.

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Secure Innovations and Concepts heaps support for GNRA SECURE Innovations and Concepts (SIC) is on board for the 150th Anniversary of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) set for October of this year as well as assisted in the training of one Commonwealth Games bound athlete.

The company,through

ENGLISH RACING TIPS Market Rasen 10:00 hrs Top Ville Ben 10:30 hrs Get On The Yager 11:05 hrs Bajardo 11:35 hrs Movie Legend 12:10 hrs Apricot De L’Oasis 12:40 hrs Ereyna 13:10 hrs Meribel Millie WARWICK 10:20 hrs Grand Turina 10:50 hrs Buttercup 11:25 hrs Seas Of Green 11:55 hrs Rigadin De Beauchene 12:30 hrs Café Au Lait 13:00 hrs Mon Parrain 13:30 hrs Ballygown Bay IRISH RACING TIPS Naas 10:10 hrs Outspoken 10:40 hrs Townshend 11:15 hrs Peace N ‘Milan 11:45 hrs Ball D’Arc 12:20 hrs Never Off Duty 12:50 hrs Sumos Novios 13:20 hrs Mystic Theatre SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Scottsville 08:25 hrs Khetiwe 09:00 hrs Amazon King 09:35 hrs Serissa 10:10 hrs Good To Give 10:40 hrs Respect At Bay 11:15 hrs Admiral’s Guest

Secure Innovations and Concepts CEO Harold Hopkinson (left) hands over his donation to the Guyana NRA president Brigadier Patrick West.

its Chief Executive Officer Harold Hopkinson and at the first Statutory Meeting of the newly-elected executive,handed over a donation to assist the ongoing massive infrastructural works at the Timehri Ranges.

President of the GNRA, Brig. Patrick West, received the cheque on behalf of the Association.

Hopkinson,who is also a former Small-bore Captain in the Association and presently the Association’s IPSC Regional Director, stated that he sees his contribution going a long way towards the development of the shooting sport in Guyana.

A section of the range is

being developed with multiple berms being built to facilitate the various stages of small-bore competition and with its completion, would enable the Association to hold small-bore Championships at an international level.

In addition,Hopkinson made a second donation towards the training of Mr. Lennox Braithwaite, who will partner full-bore captain Mahendra Persaud as part of team Guyana to the Commonwealth Games in March 2018.

The sponsorship will enable Brathwaite as part of his training, to participate in the annual Bisley Champions.

Brigadier Patrick West

expressed gratitude on behalf of the Association for the donations from Mr. Hopkinson and expressed hope that other businesses will be able to also come on board with the Association as it prepares to host the anniversary shoot in October.

There were five shortlisted shooters, with the other three being Messrs Ransford Goodluck, Dylan Fields and Leo Romalho.

The selectees will commence preparation with the completion of the full-bore ranges. The Guyana Olympic Association has also made a contribution toward the selectees training.

Rupununi suffer mixed fortunes in Women’s football REGION NINE, Rupununi,suffered mixed fortunes when the rescheduled semi-finals of the GFF’s Women’s Development League was staged yesterday morning at the Tucville ground.

In the opening game,the GDF squeezed into the final via a Penalty shoot-out after the game against St. Ignatius ended 2-2 at the end of regulation and extra time.

The Army lasses took the lead in the 7-a-side 30-minute contest as early as the 5 th minute,thanks to pint-sized Abescie Hey-

… GDF and Paiwomak meet in final today wood.

The Region nine ladies cancelled out the lead within a minute when Vanessa Scipio found the back of the nets. The technically sound but much smaller St Ignatius side took the lead on the stroke of half time when Sonia Griffith converted.

The Army came out aggressive in the final half as they attacked at will but without finding the back of the net until five minutes from the end when Hey-

wood scored again from close up. The persistent raids on the St. Ignatius defence seemingly took its toll as the players looked physically drained.

In the extra time period Griffith had a clear-cut opportunity to score the winner after she broke free down the middle only to be denied by a timely tip over the bar by the advancing Army’s goalkeeper,Ronette Cort,in the final minute of play.

In the ensuing three Penalty kicks per team, The Army was perfect in their first two kicks while the Rupununi ladies shot wide of the mark in their two attempts to end their hopes of playing in today’s final.

The other game, however,ended in regulation time as the Paiwomak FC proved technically superior and more organized than the Fruta Conquerors unit,winning by a 2-1 margin. A Samantha Roberts double

(13 and 24 minutes) dented all hopes of the home team while Gillian Hawker was rock solid in defense for the Macushi ladies. Natalie Nedd netted Fruta’s consolation goal 4 minutes from the end The third-place play-off between St. Ignatius FC and Conquerors FC will kick off at 16:00hrs today,followed by GDF versus Paiwomak FC in the final at Camp Ayanganna.(Ras Wadada)

Jeremy Garrett’s strike ends Kings’ hope A LONG-range shot from national U-17 utility player, Jeremy Garrett which gave Fruta Conquerors the early initiative, turned out to be the game’s decider in last Friday night’s semi- final action against Devcon Victoria Kings in the GFF/Stag Elite League Leaders 4-team competition.

The game which was played under soggy and heavy

conditions at the Victoria ground was intense and physical after the go-ahead goal, with the home side in search of the equalizer that was never found.

Garrette’s golden strike came in the 5th minute of play as he grasped the opportunity with a rasping right-booter from about 35 meters down the middle out. The velocity

of the ball caught goalkeeper Ron Hamilton by surprise as he was beaten just to his outstretched right hand.

The home side applied relentless pressure in the second period but the Conquerors’ defense, inspired by excellent saves from captain and goalkeeper, Derek Carter,nullified all attempts.

As the minutes ticked

away the battle became more intense and the home side resorted to physical play that resulted in defenders Sherlock Dowden and Sherwin Skeete being sent off by referee Sherwin Johnson in the dying moments of the game.

The Kings had no fewer than a dozen corner kicks, but Aubrey Gibson, Alden Lawrence,and company could not find a way to breach the citadel

of Carter who was outstanding all night. The win sets up another meeting with the Army who won the last encounter last Sunday by a 2-1 margin, but today the championship and $1.5MGY will be at stake.

Meanwhile, the semi-finals of the GFF’s Women’s Development League had to be postponed due to the wet conditions of the pitch at Victoria last Friday

GDF confident of becoming first ...

From back page

to the pitch this evening from the very first whistle at 19:00hrs.

The burly Jeffrey Perreira,who has scored thrice in the previous two meetings,will have to be closely marked by the Conquerors defence or he can yet again prove to be the match-winner.

The home side’s midfield will be led by the diminutive and elusive Eusi Phillips

who is capable of scoring as well as creating goal-scoring opportunities. His main support will come from Jerome Richardson,along with Olvis Mitchell and Delroy Ferdinand.

The Conquerors’ attack will be led by the trio of Eon Alleyne, Jermin Junor and Pernel Schultz,with Konatta Manning and Jeremy Garrett controlling the

midfield.

Solomon Austin and Delon Williams are the mainstay in defense, but the team will be looking to another superb night between the uprights from their captain and goalkeeper, Derek Carter. The former national custodian had an outstanding night last Friday that inspired and propelled his team into today’s final.

Tonight’s loser will cash in on $700,000.

Kings,for placing 3rd, pocketed half-million while Buxton United earned $300,000.GY for finishing 4th.

Guyana’s top flight football kicks into second gear next Sunday with the start of the 2nd round of the 2016-17 Stag Elite League. The first round which climaxed last year December 12th, left GDF

at the top of the six-pack on the maximum 15 points.

Conquerors occupy second position on 10 points and Devcon Victoria Kings third with 8 points. Fourth placed Buxton United has 6 points, followed

by Monedderlust on three and propping up the bottom with a single point is Linden’s Topp XX.

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Man City ease into FA Cup semis with 2-0 win (REUTERS)-David Silva and Sergio Aguero scored in each half as Manchester City became the first team to reach the FA Cup semi-finals with a comfortable 2-0 win at Premier League rivals Middlesbrough on Saturday.

A dominant City cruised into the last four after Silva gave them a third-minute lead and Aguero struck in the 67th minute, with the visitors missing numerous chances to win by a bigger margin.

Pep Guardiola’s attacking formation, featuring Silva, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane behind Aguero, paid instant dividends as City carved open the home team’s defence.

Yaya Toure fed Pablo Zabaleta on the right flank with a defence-splitting pass and the Argentine defender drove a perfect ball across the face of goal for Silva to shoot home from close range.

Middlesbrough kept getting undone on either wing as Sane and Silva gave their markers a roasting and the home team’s goalkeeper Brad Guzan made a string of good saves.

Aguero hit the woodwork after another lightning raid down the right but made no mistake when he steered a first-time shot past the helpless Guzan at the near post from a fizzing low cross by Sane.

City threatened to run riot in the closing stages as acres of space opened up, but Guzan spared the home side a heavier defeat by denying Sterling and Silva.

Red Force bowl out Vocanoes for 104 after Cariah’s maiden century ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago Red Force used an incisive bowling performance to take a firm grip on their sixth round game in the Regional four-day championship against Windward Islands Volcanoes here Saturday.

On a rain-hit second day at the National Stadium here, the visitors sent Volcanoes tumbling for a paltry 104 all out, to secure a healthy first innings lead of 171 runs.

At the close, Red Force were 23 for one – an overall lead of 194 runs heading into day three of the contest.

Yannic Cariah had earlier recorded his maiden first class century as Red Force, resuming the day on 250 for seven, were dismissed for 275.

The left-handed Cariah had retired hurt on 92 the previous evening and once he returned to the crease, he reached triple figures to end on 102 not out. All told, he faced 212 deliveries in just over 6-1/2 hours, striking eight fours and two sixes.

Khary Pierre, unbeaten on 39 overnight, reached his maiden half-century in first class cricket before he was dismissed on exactly 50.

Medium pacer Kyle Mayers added one wicket to his overnight tally to end with four for 24 while seamer Sherman Lewis claimed three for 53.

Volcanoes then slumped to 11 for four and then 33 for six, a position from which they never recovered.

They were rocked by Jamaican left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell who claimed three for 30 while pacer Marlon Richards took two for 14 and off-spinner Bryan Charles (2-22) and leg-spinner Imran Khan (2-28) two wickets apiece.

Shane Shillingford top-scored with 34 and staged a rearguard effort in a 45-run, seventh wicket stand with Mayers who made 31.

Once the stand was broken, Volcanoes lost their last four wickets for 26 runs

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Herath’s six leads Sri Lanka to victory ... becomes most successful left-arm spinner in Test cricket

(REUTERS)-Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath became the most successful leftarm spinner in Test cricket on Saturday, claiming six for 59 to bowl his team to an emphatic 259-run victory against Bangladesh in the first Test at the Galle International Stadium.

Leading the side in the absence of injured regular skipper Angelo Mathews, Herath mowed down the Bangladesh middle and lower order as the tourists, chasing a mammoth 457-run victory target, collapsed for 197 an hour after the lunch break.

Bangladesh began the final day needing 390 runs for an improbable win at a ground where no team has scored more than 300 in the fourth innings. They

Rangana Herath became the most successful leftarm spinner in Test cricket as he leads his victorious team off the field in Galle. received an early jolt, losSarkar could not add ing opener Soumya Sarkar to his overnight score of 53 to the second delivery of and was bowled by Asela the day.

Gunaratne and the tourists

kept losing wickets regularly.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim (34) joined forces with Liton Das (35) to hold off Sri Lanka’s victory charge for 19-odd overs before the wheels came off.

Herath struck twice in the 27th over, dismissing Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah in the space of three balls to equal New Zealander Daniel Vettori’s 362 test wicket mark.

Herath, who turns 39 on March 19, dismissed Liton to enter the record books and went on to complete a nine-wicket match haul which took his tally to 366 in 79 matches.

Colombo hosts the second and final Test from Wednesday.

Dunedin Test poised for intriguing final day (REUTERS)-Dean Elgar failed to join a select group of South Africa batsman while New Zealand took three late wickets to leave the first Test at University Oval delicately poised at the end of the fourth day on Saturday.

South Africa were 224 for six at the close of play in a chilly Dunedin with a lead of 191 runs entering the final day on a pitch that is turning but offering little assistance for the pace bowlers and is proving difficult to score from.

Captain Faf du Plessis was on 56 at the close of play, with Vernon Philander on one after New Zealand had taken three wickets after tea, including Elgar, who was dropped twice and overturned a caught behind decision during his innings.

The 29-year-old had been seeking to become the sixth South Africa batsman to score a century in both innings of a test but fell short when he was caught

by Kane Williamson for 89 from offspinner Jeetan Patel. He scored 140 in the first innings.

Temba Bavuma was then bowled by Mitchell Santner for six and Quinton de Kock also bowled by Patel for four in gloomy conditions, with players leaving the field with nine

overs remaining.

South Africa had begun the day with a fiverun lead and nine wickets in hand and with rain forecast for the final day on Sunday, the hosts needed to make the most of their opportunities to try to dismiss the visitors cheaply.

New Zealand, however, only had themselves to blame for not being in a better position having dropped Elgar twice and JP Duminy once.

The hosts were also further hampered with opening bowler Trent Boult trudging off the field from midway through the middle session with a groin strain.

It is also debatable whether batsman Ross Taylor would bat in the second innings after he suffered a torn calf muscle in the first.

South Africa lost just two wickets in the first two sessions when Duminy was trapped in front by Neil Wagner for 39 after lunch, while Hashim Amla was dismissed for 24 early in a disrupted first session.

Play had been due to begin 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled start of 1100 (2200 GMT) after a fire alarm in the main stand forced the evacuation of the entire venue and held up play for about 30 minutes on Friday.

Faf du Plessis’ combative half-century helped stretch South Africa’s lead.

SCOREBOARD SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 308 (D. Elgar 140, T. Bavuma 64, F. du Plessis 52; T. Boult 4-64) New Zealand 1st innings 341 (K. Williamson 130, J. Raval 52, B. Watling 50; K. Maharaj 5-94) South Africa 2nd innings (Overnight: 38-1) S. Cook c Watling b Boult 0 D. Elgar c Williamson b Patel 89 H. Amla c sub b Wagner 24 J. Duminy lbw b Wagner 39 F. du Plessis not out 56 T. Bavuma b Santner 6 Q. de Kock b Patel 4 V. Philander not out 1 Extras (b-1 lb-3 w-1) 5 Total (for 6 wickets, 102 overs) 224 Fall of wickets: 1-0 S. Cook,2-39 H. Amla,3-113 J. Duminy,4-193 D. Elgar,5-206 T. Bavuma,6-218 Q. de Kock To bat: K. Maharaj, M. Morkel, K. Rabada Bowling: T. Boult 15 - 4 - 34 – 1, N. Wagner 27 - 7 - 57 - 2(w-1) M. Santner 19 - 6 - 37 – 1,J. Patel 36 - 15 - 72 - 2 J. Neesham 5 - 0 - 20 – 0.

SCOREBOARD SRI LANKA 1st innings 494 (K. Mendis 194, A. Gunaratne 85, N. Dickwella 75, D. Perera 51; M. Hasan 4-113) Bangladesh 1st innings 312 (M. Rahim 85, S. Sarkar 71, T. Iqbal 57) Sri Lanka 2nd innings 274 for 6 decl (U. Tharanga 115, D. Chandimal 50no) Bangladesh 2nd innings (Overnight: 67-0; Target: 457 runs) T. Iqbal c Gunaratne b D. Perera 19 S. Sarkar b Gunaratne 53 M. Haque lbw b D. Perera 5 M. Rahim c Dickwella b Sandakan 34 S. Al Hasan c Karunaratne b Herath 8 Mahmudullah lbw b Herath 0 L. Das c Tharanga b Herath 35 M. Hasan c Kumara b Herath 28 T. Ahmed c K. Mendis b Herath 5 M. Rahman b Herath 0 S. Roy not out 0 Extras (b-1 lb-4 nb-4 w-1) 10 Total (all out, 60.2 overs) 197 Fall of wickets: 1-67 S. Sarkar,2-80 M. Haque,3-83 T. Iqbal,4-104 S. Al Hasan,5-104 Mahmudullah,6-158 M. Rahim,7-166 L. Das,8-180 T. Ahmed,9-194 M. Rahman,10-197 M. Hasan Bowling: S. Lakmal 7 - 3 - 12 – 0, D. Perera 15 - 0 - 66 – 2, R. Herath 20.2 - 5 - 59 – 6,A. Gunaratne 6 - 1 - 16 - 1(nb-1), L. Sandakan 9 - 0 - 29 - 1(nb-1),L. Kumara 3 - 0 - 10 - 0(w-1).

Cummins called up to replace Australia paceman Starc (REUTERS)-Pat Cummins is in sight of a long-awaited second test after being rushed into the Australia squad to replace injured pace spearhead Mitchell Starc for the remainder of the series in India.

Cummins has not played a test since his stunning seven-wicket debut against South Africa as an 18-year-old in 2011 but he made a successful return to first class cricket for the first time in six years this week with a man-of-thematch performance for New South Wales in the domestic Sheffield Shield.

Jackson Bird is the back-up paceman in the touring squad, but 23-yearold Cummins is likely to be selected for the third test in Ranchi starting next week, with the tense four-match series poised at 1-1.

“In selecting Pat, we were Pat Cummins looking for a strike bowling replacement option (for Starc),” selector Trevor Hohns said in a media release on Saturday.

“Pat has impressed in his return to cricket this summer with consistent performances in his ODI, Twenty20 International and Big Bash matches.

“He has also had a very good Sheffield Shield return for New South Wales.”

He underlined his huge potential with an eight-wicket haul to fire the state side to a comfortable home win over South Australia on Saturday.

His return to red-ball cricket was seen as confirmation of his availability for the Ashes series against England in the coming home summer.

However, Starc’s series-ending stress fracture injury changed the landscape and Steve Smith’s side is desperate to rebound in Ranchi after their fourth innings collapse in Bangalore squared the series.

Long touted as a future leader of the pace attack, the Sydney-born right-armer was the youngest Australian cricketer to earn a national contract in 2011-12 but has been beset by injuries since his brilliant Test debut at the Wanderers.

Selectors have been loath to risk the tall seamer in long-form cricket, easing him back through the shorter formats until his return for New South Wales this week.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

Hero CPL 2017…

‘We have managed to put together a competitive squad’, says Harper

By Rajiv Bisnauth HEAD COACH of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Roger Harper, believes the Warriors make-up will be a competitive force during the 2017 edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Harper’s declaration came a day after the Player Draft was held in Barbados on Friday.

Guyana Amazon Warriors Head Coach,Roger Harper making a point during Friday’s Player Draft.

The 53-year-old Harper told Chronicle Sport yesterday that the Warriors management unit has managed to put together a squad where a number of the core players have returned from last year.

The draft process on Friday saw all six teams opting for large-scale retentions after the cap on retention was relaxed for this season in order to keep the core of their sides intact. Such a strategy meant that big-name signings were few and far between.

Teams were allowed to retain as many players as they want, and as such, the Guyana Amazon Warriors have kept nine of the men that made up the 2016 squad.

The Warriors have retained Pakistani all-rounder Sohail Tanvir, New Zealand opener Martin Guptill, Australian middle-order batsman Chris Lynn, Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder Rayad Emrit, Trinidad and Tobago batsman Jason Mohammed, Guyanese trio Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin and Steven Jacobs and Trinidad and Tobago wicketkeeper/batsman Steven Katwaroo.

“I think we manage to put together a very competitive squad. We have some of our core players back from last year, and we managed to build some good players around that,” Harper said.

The South American-based franchise have been one of the most consistent sides since the tournament’s inception, reaching the finals in 2013, 2014 and 2016. In 2015, the Guyana Amazon Warriors reached the semifinals phase.

However, Harper, a former West Indies all-rounder and former coach of the West Indies and Kenya senior teams, feels that the Warriors chances this year are as good as any other franchise.

GCB Secondary School cricket …

West Demerara hold nerve to beat Anna Regina by one wicket WEST Demerara Secondary School held their nerves in the closing overs in the first semifinal of the GCB Secondary School cricket tournament against Anna Regina to record a nail biting one-wicket win on Friday at the Imam Bacchus Sports Complex ground.

Asked to chase 70 for the win, West Demerara were reduced to 59-9, but Aaron Sewpersaud, who made a level-headed 23 and No.11 batsman, Christopher Gurtine took them over the final hurdle.

Earlier, heavy over-night and early morning rain prevented a prompt start, reducing the game to a 20-over aside affair.

Asked to bat first, Anna Regina Secondary capitulated for 69 in 19 overs, with Boomesh Ramdahin hitting a

top-score of 19. Raphael David 16 was the only other batsman to reach double figures.

Nicolas Holder captured 4-8 from four overs and got support from Aftab Basir (3-20),bowling for West Dem Secondary.

In reply,the pitch remained unpredictable and West Demarara struggled to gather runs. In the process they lost wickets at regular intervals.

Sevon Bess (4-16) and Sheldon Charles (4-4) did the damage with the ball for the losing team.

West Demerara will meet the winner of the other semifinal game between Chase Academy and Lower Corentyne Secondary. That game is billed for Thursday at the Albion Sports Complex ground.

“I think we have a good chance as anyone else. It’s all how we come together and how hard we work and how well we play on match day.

“What you will realize is that the league gets much stronger each year, with more and more international players coming in… so the other teams are also very competitive, but I think our chances are just as good as any other team,” Harper concluded.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors have raked in six newcomers in their squad; Jamaican wicket-keeper/batsman Chadwick Walton,Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan, ICC Americas opener Steven Taylor, Barbados all-rounder Roshon Primus and the Guyanese pair: batsman Gajanand Singh and fast bowler Keon Joseph.

Chadwick Walton will head to the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise this season.

In addition, the squad includes the young exciting batsman Shimron Hetmyer,who led the West Indies to the Under-19 ICC Cricket World Cup title last year.

CPL 2017 is scheduled to be played between August 1 and September 9.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors squad reads: Sohail Tanvir, Martin Guptill*, Chadwick Walton, Chris Lynn, Rayad Emrit, Rashid Khan, Jason Mohammed, Steven Taylor, Veerasammy Permaul, Roshan Primus, Gajanand Singh, Assad Fudadin, Keon Jason Mohammed played a big role Joseph, Steven Jacobs, Steven Ketwaroo, for the Guyana Amazon Warriors last Shimron Hetmeyer (Young W.I.), Muhammad Ali Khan (ICC Americas). season.

Entries for the Kennard Turf Club’s Phagwah horse race closes today –– changes made to eight-race programme RACE horse owners and trainers are asked to note that today is the closing date for entries for the Kennard’s Turk Club Phagwah race meet scheduled for March 19 at the club’s facility, Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.

Owners and trainers are also asked to note that there are some changes to the original programme which was distributed earlier this month.

According to a release, the feature event which is a one-mile one, is now opened to horses classified `C’ and Lower and not any longer for `D’ and Lower horses,and will now carry a first prize of $900,000 instead of $700,000 as was announced earlier.

The second, third and fourth place finishers will now earn $450,000, $225,000 and $112,000 respectively.

There will now be one five-furlong race along with five six-furlong races.

The five-furlong race is opened to non-winners of the class `L’ division and the winner will pocket $100,000 while the other top three performers will earn $50,000, $25,000 and $13,000 respectively The five-furlong race is for horses

classified `L’ who are non winners and the winner will receive $100,000, while the second, third and fourth place finishers will earn $80,000, $25,000 and $13,000 respectively.

The first six-furlong race is opened to horses classified `L’ and Lower three-year old Guyana bred horses and the winner will receive $150,000.

Horses classified `E’ and Lower will also contest a six-furlong event with the winner pocketing $400,000.

A $110,000 first prize is up for grabs for horses classified `L’ Open over six furlongs, while three-yearold Guyana bred maidens will also do battle over six furlongs for a $200,000 first prize and horses classified `J’ and Lower will also battle over six furlongs for a first prize worth $140,000.

The other event on the day’s card is opened to horses classified `H’ and Lower and will cover seven furlongs for a first prize worth $250,000.

Horse owners and trainers who wish to register their animals for any of the above mentioned events can make contact with Ivan Dipnarine (331-0316), Justice Kennard (2254818) or Fazal Habibulla (657-7010).

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

Hetmyer, Chanderpauls hit fifties as Jaguars gain slim first innings lead KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC )– Test legend Shiv Chanderpaul and his son, Tagenarine, both stroked half-centuries while Youth World Cup star, Shimron Hetmyer, top-scored with another, but the sixth round clash between championship leaders Jamaica Scorpions and Guyana Jaguars remained evenly poised here Saturday.

Resuming the second day at Sabina Park on 61 without loss, Jaguars battled their way to 262 all out, a lead of seven runs on first innings.’

The 20-year-old Hetmyer converted his overnight 51 into 74 while the junior Chanderpaul gathered 58 and his father, 57.

At 219 for four in the second session, Jaguars appeared poised for a large score but they suffered a

Shimron Hetmyer was Guyana Jaguard top scorer with 74. collapse to lose their last six wickets for 43 runs.

Captain and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller finished with four for 69 while part-time off-spinner Andre McCarthy picked up three for 18.

In their second turn at the crease, Scorpions lost John Campbell for a breezy 26 off 36 balls, as they reached the close at 61 for one – a lead of 54 runs overall.

Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood was unbeaten on a cameo 18-ball 25, which has included three fours and a six, and was partnered by first innings century-maker Chadwick Walton on four.

Jaguars kept Scorpions without success early on as Hetmyer and Tagenarine Chanderpaul extended their opening stand to 104 before being separated.

Hetmyer counted 10 fours and a six in an innings lasting 79 deliveries in just over 1-3/4 hours while Tagenarine faced 135 balls in 200 minutes, and hit five fours and a six in his third first

Brooks leads Pride recovery with third half-century of the season BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Shamarh Brooks hit his 12th first class half-century and his third of the Regional four-day season, to lead a Barbados Pride recovery against Leeward Islands Hurricanes on the opening day of the sixth round encounter here Saturday.

Slumping at 19 for two early in the morning at Kensington Oval, Pride finished on 302 for eight, with the right-handed Brooks top-scoring with 63.

Test batsman Roston Chase made 49 while West Indies left-handed Jonathan Carter extended his decent form from the one-day series against England with 46.

Captain Kevin Stoute weighed in with 41 and Justin Greaves and Jomel Warrican both ended unbeaten on 30 to further rally the Pride innings.

Veteran seamer Gavin Tonge (3-39) and Test rookie Alzarri Joseph (339) were the best bowlers on show with three wickets apiece.

Opting for first knock, Pride found themselves in trouble when they lost left-handed openers Omar Phillips (6) and Anthony

Alleyne (11) cheaply inside the first hour.

Phillips edged a prod at Tonge to be caught at the wicket in the sixth over and 12 balls later, Alleyne drove the same bowler to Kacey Carty at mid-off.

Brooks then combined with Chase to put on 106 for the third wicket, a partnership which took Pride to the safety of lunch at 116 without further loss.

They were separated in the fourth over following the resumption when Chase edged Tonge to captain Kieran Powell at second slip, after facing 47 balls in just over 1-3/4 hours and counting six fours a six.

His departure triggered a slide as three wickets tumbled for 19 runs to leave the hosts on 144 for five.

It was then the turn of Carter and Stoute to revive the innings, putting on 75 for the sixth wicket, to carry Pride to tea at 212 for five.

Carter struck seven fours off 103 balls in nearly two hours at the crease while Stoute hit two fours and two sixes off 102 deliveries.

When three wickets fell for 38 runs, Greaves and Warrican ensured the tail wagged by adding 45 in an unbroken ninth wicket partnership.

SCOREBOARD PRIDE 1st Innings O Phillips c wkp Hamilton b Tonge 6 A Alleyne c Carty b Tonge 11 S Brooks c wkp Hamilton b Joseph 63 R Chase c Powell b Tonge 49 J Carter lbw b Bonner 46 S Dowrich c Cornwall b Joseph 0 K Stoute lbw b Joseph 41 J Greaves not out 30 K Roach c wkp Hamilton b Bonner 3 J Warrican not out 30 Extras (b2, lb2, w2, nb17) 23 TOTAL (8 wkts, 93 overs) 302 To bat: Miguel Cummins.

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-19, 3-125, 4-144, 5-144, 6-219, 7-245, 8-257.

Bowling: Joseph 21-8-39-3 (w1, nb1)), Tonge 14.46-29-3 (nb5), Hosein 9-0-48-0, Cornwall 19-0-71-0 (nb6), Campbell 15-2-65-0 (nb1), Bonner 14.2-4-46-2 (w1, nb4).

steadied the innings.

Shiv faced 147 deliveries in a shade under three hours at the crease and

counted four fours while Reifer’s 28 came from 79 balls and included three fours and a six.

SCOREBOARD TAGENARINE CHANDERPAUL class half-century.

Hetmyer was one of four wickets to fall for 52 runs leaving Jaguars on 156 for four but the senior Chanderpaul anchored a 63-run, fifth wicket partnership with Barbadian Raymon Reifer, which

SCORPIONS 1st Innings 255 Jaguars 1st Innings (overnight 69 without loss) T Chanderpaul c Blackwood b Miller 58 S Hetmyer c Jacobs b Miller 74 L Johnson c wkp Walton b Miller 1 Vishaul Singh run out 5 S Chanderpaul lbw b Jacobs 57 R Reifer c and b McCarthy 28 A Bramble c Miller b McCarthy 7 V Permaul c wkp Walton b McCarthy 0 R Shepherd lbw b Miller 16 G Motie c Blackwood b Jacobs 2 K Joseph not out 0 Extras (b8, lb4, nb2) 14 TOTAL (all out, 88.3 overs) 262

Fall of wickets: 1-104, 2-116, 3-128, 4-156, 5-219, 6-231, 7-231, 8-260, 9-262, 10-262.

Bowling: Taylor 13-3-430, Mindley 8-0-22-0 (nb2), Campbell 3-0-21-0, Green 11-0-42-0, Miller 34-12-69-4, Jacobs 11.3-0-35-2, McCarthy 8-2-18-3.

SCORPIONS 2nd Innings J Campbell c wkp Bramble b Shepherd 26 C Walton not out 9 J Blackwood not out 25 Extras (nb1) 1 TOTAL (1 wkt, 16 overs) 61 Fall of wicket: 1-30.

Bowling: Joseph 6-1-27-0, Shepherd 6-0-16-1 (nb1), Reifer 2-0-13-0, Permaul 2-15-0.

Position: Scorpions lead by 54 runs.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

Solomon quits as president of the UDFA; Stag Bowl Inter Ward tourney launched

By Joe Chapman PRESIDENT of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA),Sharma Solomon on Friday evening ended his tenure at the helm of football’s administration in Region 10,when he announced his resignation while performing his last duty at the Stag Bowl Inter Ward football tournament launch outside the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) building on Republic Avenue.

Speaking at what was deemed the inaugural tournament,Mr. Solomon welcomed the initiative saying “it is the purest grass-roots programme for club football,” adding that he was not only encouraged by it but that the development of the sport among communities was important in this process.

Looking at his decision to move away from the sport’s administration, Solomon told his audience that “I

have tendered my resignation with the president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF),” citing too many issues of division retarding the development of the sport as being one of his reasons for quitting.

In what was his last official role as UDFA president,Solomon said he would have liked persons to look at the bigger picture and see the critical importance the game has in moulding the youths.

He noted that whatever have been the reasons behind the apparent lack of trust within the association, he was proud to note the achievements of the sport which included two year-end tournaments over the past two years as well as two Under 17 tournaments for clubs were held and training of coaches was done with the youths in mind.

With all of what has been done,Solomon noted that the UDFA in terms

of football has outdone all other associations this past year and because of this he was proud that the UDFA is in a solid financial position and not in the red.

Representing Mayor Carwyn Holland was a councillor who said the wish of the Mayor and Town Council is for a successful staging of this tournament as they were encouraged with the level of community involvement and what the intention is for;communities to benefit from this tournament.

The Ansa McAl Trading representative Keon Persaud reported his company’s desire to continue to play a role in the development of football and with this initiative they were pleased that through the organizer,Eagles United Football Club,they were pleased that the promotion ground CBR Hot Shots entertainment would deliver a top class tournament.

Eagles United Football

Chase destroy North Ruimveldt in record 17-0 victory in Milo football CHASE Academic Foundation carried on their Petra organised Milo U-18 campaign in record-breaking style by humiliating North Ruimveldt 17-0 for the largest victory margin of the tournament’s history as matches continued Saturday.

It was a goal-scoring flurry from Kelsey Benjamin who netted seven times with strikes in the 5th, 29th, 30th, 50th, 53rd, 57th and 65th, ensuring that the team produce the magic number needed to enter the record books in the day’s last game.

Two own goals also assisted in the total along with Ryan Hackett’s brace (46th and 54 th ) and a flurry of single strikes from Nicholas McArthur (8th), Job Caesar (23rd), Reshawn Ritch (25th),

UDFA President,Sharma Solomon,at right before he made his announcement that he was resigning from the UDFA. Second right is Keron Williams,councilor of Linden M&TC, Keon Persaud, representative of Ansa McAl Trading and at right is Raul Johnson of Eagles FC. Club official Raul Johnson said he was pleased with the turnout and thanked the representatives from all the participating wards who were there.

The eight-team competition has at stake a first prize of $1.2M with the champions cashing $1M while $200,000 will go to a community project

from where the team was chosen. Those community teams are in Group A- Blueberry Hill, Christianburg, Silvertown/ Valley/ Alleys and Half Mile /One Mile/ Scheme and in Group B- Central Mackenzie, Amelia’s Ward, Silvertown/ Canvas City/ West Watooka and Wisrock/ Block 22.

The opening match is on

April 15 when the first game of a double- header pits Central Mackenzie against Wisrock/ Block 22,and the second brings together Blueberry Hill versus Half Mile/ One Mile/ Scheme at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

The playing dates are April 15, 20 and 24,with the final slated for April 26.

Crawford wins 12th DDL feature 35-lap cycle race in National Park BERBICE cyclist Romello Crawford won the feature 35-lap event for school boys, novices and invitational riders when cycle coach Hassan Mohamed organised the 12th annual Demerara Distillers Limited’s (DDL) 11-race cycle programme in the National Park yesterday.

Crawford recorded a time

break and shared the lead for the first 21 laps of the 35-lap event, but it was during the 22nd lap that John, Ambrose and Leung were dropped and the other three cyclists worked in tandem to the finish.

On hearing the bell for the final lap, Williams stepped up the pace of the race but was pursued by

years of age ahead of Jonathan Ramsuchit and Jomar Holigan respectively.

Junior Niles won the fivelap event for veterans under 50 years of age. Second was Ian Jackson and finishing third was Sybrone Fernandes.

The veterans’ five-lap race for 50 years and over riders was won by Kennard

Part of the Action between Anns Grove and Master’s Academy at the Ministry of Education Ground yesterday.

Rondell Peters (31st), Wayne Baker (58 th ) and Jeremy Garrett (61st).

In the day’s opening game, Masters Academy overcame Ann’s Grove Secondary 3-1

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday March 12, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) &CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Clive Lloyd (vs ENG, The Oval, 1973) (2) James Anderson (vs PAK, The Oval, 2003)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Which Englishman made 52 in the first ODI and a first-ball duck in the second in the recently-concluded ODI series between WI & ENG? (2) Who is the first player to captain the WI in an ODI game?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

thanks to Ryan Dowden (45th), O’Neil Glasgow (50 th) and Colwyn Peters (60th).

Kobe Durant (4th) was on target for the Anns Grove side.

In game two, St Joseph’s high went down badly to Buxton Academy, losing 7-0.

Ablamy Robertson netted twice in the fixture (53rd and 77th) to down the Woolford Avenue side while Shemar Beckles (26th), Elton Sullivan (30th), Justin Jarvius (31st), Joel Anderson (50th) and Kifambo Goodman (61 st)were all on target.

Game three was the lone stalemate of the 28 goal day when Bishops’ High played St. Roses.

Matches continue today with East Ruimveldt playing St Mary’s Secondary, St Johns college playing Pure Masters, Lodge Secondary playing Kingston Secondary and Morgan Learning Centre tacklingTucville Secondary.

Prize winners of the various categories of the DDL sponsored 11-race cycle race programme strike a pose after receiving their trophies and cash prizes.(Cullen Bess-Nelson photo) of one hour 16 minutes 24 seconds in edging professional cyclist Geron Williams to take top honours. Finishing third was Stephano Husbands who also won three of the eight prime prizes that were up for grabs.

Williams won one prime while Jamal John,who failed to place among the top six finishers,won four.

From the start of the race, Williams, Husbands, Crawford, John, Alonzo Ambrose and Raphael Leung went on a

Crawford and Husbands.

With approximately 350 metres remaining, Husbands surged to the front followed by Crawford.With approximately 125 metres left for the finish line, Williams jumped the other two riders and rounding the home turn, Crawford followed and out-sprinted Williams to the line.

In other results, David Hicks won the three-lap race for boys and girls 12-14

Lovell while Linden Blackman placed second.

Curtis Dey won the 10lap race for juveniles ahead of Brighton John and Adelei Hodge respectively, while C. Archer was the winner of the five-lap event for mountain bikers. Stephon Gobin was second.

The BMX two- lap race for boys aged six to nine years was won by Jose Rodrigues. Second was Jarret Barrington and finishing third was Junior Niles Jr.

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 12, 2017

Khan stands by thirteen-second title defence claim

By Stephan Sookram

DRAG racing action will be back on track in just a week with the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) Reaction meet,but for some, the preparation never stops. This is the case of the defending thirteen second champion Imran Khan and Toyota AT 150 Khan, who spoke exclusively to Chronicle Sport, contended that his machine is race-ready and he has been out doing some testing

ahead of Sunday’s meet.

“The car is working fine. I feel ready for the meet and I know I am going to do well,” Khan told Chronicle sport, adding “I know there are a lot of people who are going to be coming for my crown, but I’m here to defend it,” he said.

Khan continued, “Preparation wise, I hadn’t to do much to the car; just basically service her up and ensure that all the lines are good and all the brakes and clutch and everything is

ready and just drive.”

He noted that while there are specific competitors he will be keeping his eyes on, he does not intend to take any battle lightly, adding that the competition in the class will be stiff this time around.

Asked about the challenge between himself and Marlon Wilson in a West Demerara vs Berbice battle, he replied, “may the best man win,” adding, “I’ve seen him, the car is fast and If he gets in my class then

its obviously going to be a battle, we are going to have to see who wins [next] Sunday.”

Khan was tight-lipped about specifics on how he plans to dominate the competition come next Sunday but called on fans to come out and support his car number 20,while also heaping praise on his sponsors.

Approximately eight classes of racing are carded for the day,based on the time bracket system.

Several cars are expected from Suriname.

Floyd Mayweather confirms he is ‘officially out of retirement’

FLOYD Mayweather has confirmed that he has officially come out of retirement to fight Conor McGregor and has set a deadline to arrange their prospective super-fight.

The five-division world champion, considered to be the best boxer of his generation, has not fought since equalling Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record with victory over Andre Berto in September 2015.

However, a lucrative return to the ring between Mayweather and mixed martial artist McGregor, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) lightweight reigning champion, has been mooted since early last year.

Mayweather, who is currently on a speaking tour of the UK, has now confirmed that he considers himself an active boxer again and reiterated that he is ready to face McGregor later this year.

“When I faced Arturo Gatti, I went to his turf,” he said. “He was the A side, I was the B side. I beat him, I didn’t cry, I didn’t complain.

“When I faced Oscar De La Hoya, he was the A side, I was the B side. I didn’t cry,

... to fight Conor McGregor with the UFC. The mixed martial arts promotion company has

FLOYD MAYWEATHER I didn’t complain, I beat him and I became the A side.

“For Conor McGregor, I’m coming out of retirement, just to fight Conor McGregor. I don’t want to hear no more excuses about the money, about the UFC. Sign the paper with the UFC so you can fight me in June. Simple and plain. Let’s fight in June.

“Today, I’m officially out of retirement for Conor McGregor. We don’t need to waste no time. We need to make this s*** happen quickly. Let’s get it on in June.”

The greatest barrier to Mayweather and McGregor’s meeting, which would likely be the biggest pay-per-view fight of all-time, is McGregor’s contractual situation

exclusive rights to promote all fights in which its fighters are participating.

Imran Khan poses with his 13 second Champion trophy after the last drag race meet.

Khan stands by thirteen-second title defence claim See story on page 31

GDF confident of becoming first double-champions of Guyana … men and women final today at Ayanganna

By: Ras Wadada

THE Guyana Defence Force can create history in Guyana’s football tonight when the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) stages the finals of the Elite League Leaders competition and the Women’s Development League at Camp Ayanganna.

However,their opponents, Fruta Conquerors (men) and Paiwomak (ladies)who stand in their way are equally confident of prevailing and thus eliminating

JEREMY GARRET

all hopes of an Army double-triumph on the eve of the arrival of the CONCACAF President for an official visit to Guyana.

Today’s action gets underway at 16:00hrs with the playing of the third -place play-off between Fruta Conquerors and St. Ignatius in the Women’s Development League, followed by the final which will feature the Army and

Paiwomak of Annai Village in North Rupununi.

The main event is anticipated to be explosive, as the Bilaal Nantambu-coached soldiers go in search of their 7th consecutive win from as many outings this season;two of those victories have been against today’s rivals.

The spruced-up Tucville-based side feel they have the key to unlock the Army’s closed door

and end their unbeaten run. They must,however,do two things: score when the opportunities arise, and have the physical strength to endure to the end.

“The fast-paced Army’s cohesive unit will continue to play in the same manner, and we get better with each game.

I have no doubt that we will win”, Coach Nantambu told Chronicle Sport.

His opposite, Sampson

Gilbert said, “ I am looking forward to a good game, but I am confident we will win.”

This third meeting, inside three months, of the top two sides in the country is being played at a 3rd different venue and with $1.5MGY on the line for the winner,fans can expect both sides bringing their ‘A’ game See page 25

Rupununi suffer mixed fortunes in Women’s football … GDF and Paiwomak meet in final today

See story on page 25

Army’s double goal-scoring ‘sheroe’ Abescie Heywood Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Paiwomak’s double-striker Samantha Roberts (L) and ‘rock-solid’ defender Gillian Hawker pose for a picture after their semi-final win SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017