Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 13 01 2017

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Oil strike No. 104792

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

… ExxonMobil announces positive results from Payara-1 well

Holder hits the road in MMA

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–– milk plant, repairs to drainage network discussed

The Ministry of Agriculture on Thursday embarked on a rigorous farmers outreach exercise programme. Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder accompanied by a team of technical officers conducted visits in the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary areas where he met with farmers to bring much needed relief to those affected. The first meeting was held at Biaboo Bridge, Branch Road Mahaica. In this Agriculture Ministry photo, Minister Holder (in green cap) could be seen listening to complaints by farmers.

Five held Loan signed Local law school after NIS for ECD welcomed robbery four-lane ––but lawyers call for due diligence Page

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 13, 2017

Loan signed for ECD four-lane –– Gov’t, Export-Import Bank of China ink $US$45.3M pact

RESIDENTS of Better Hope to Belfield along the East Coast of Demerara can begin to look forward to reduced travel time and transport costs and less traffic congestion as Government has secured a concessional loan for the widening and improvement of the East Coast Demerara Highway.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan on Monday signed the Concessional Loan Agreement with the Export-Import Bank of China for RMB Yuan 313,838,800 or approximately US$45,318,337, the Ministry of Finance said in a release. This concessional loan was achieved less

than two months after the signing of the Framework Agreement between the governments of Guyana and the People’s Republic of China that took place on November 23, 2016, the release added.

“Importantly, this section of the roadway between Better Hope and Belfield links numerous highly populated villages to the Capital City.

When completed, the road will enhance the mobility and accessibility of commuters to and from Georgetown.

It will also positively impact the accident rate and vehicular maintenance,” the release stated.

China Railway First Group Company Limited Works will commence works

in the first quarter of 2017.

During the recently concluded budget debate, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson had announced that the Chinese firm was awarded the contract for widening of the East Coast Demerara highway, which project has been stalled for some time. The firm which was previously linked to the Amaila Falls hydropower project was awarded the contract to complete the project between Better Hope and Belfield on the East Coast of Demerara.

Minister Patterson told the House that after considerable delays, the framework agreement with the People’s Republic of China for the

US$45.5M concessional loan for the completion of the widening and improvement of the highway has been signed. The agreement was signed on November 23 and will complete the entire stretch of road from Better Hope to Belfield. According to Patterson, a sum of $1.4B has been set aside in the 2017 budget for the project which commenced in October 2011.

The project had stalled several years after its commencement and both firms which were tasked with carrying out works on the project have since wound up their operations here. Falcon Engineering and Dipcon Construction were award-

ed the contracts to execute the project under a two-lot system.

However, substandard work among other defects had resulted in the project stalling. Meanwhile, the East Coast of Demerara will also see additional features to the roadway as an arch is slated for erection at Cummings Lodge to mark the eastern entrance to the capital city of Georgetown. Patterson said that the project will be funded

by Ansa McAL Limited. The privately funded project is being linked with the arch which was unveiled at Agricola earlier in 2016. That project was funded by beverage giant Banks DIH Limited.

Patterson said that

lighting for the arches will be complemented by solar LED lights and bus sheds which will be powered also by solar LED lights. “Discussions are currently ongoing to supply free wi fi in the bus sheds,” he said.

In May, the Agricola Arch was unveiled by President David Granger to mark the southern boundary of the city of Georgetown in commemoration of Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary. “The Government welcomes this venture and will continue to partner with the private [sector] to execute projects which can benefit the people of our dear land of Guyana,” Patterson said.

NIS robbed, 5 arrested

By Svetlana Marshall FIVE persons are now in police custody after armed bandits allegedly made off with more than $4M from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Pouderoyen Branch, West Bank Demerara on Thursday.

According to ‘D’ Division (West Demerara) Commander, Leslie James the robbery occurred at around 2:30h on Thursday. He said based on information received, six armed bandits invaded the NIS Branch at Pouderoyen, relieving one of the two guards on duty of his firearm in the process.

The bandits, reportedly, then proceeded to blow-torch a safe, before making good their escape with more than $4M. “They blow-torched the safe and took out the content,”

the Division ‘D’ Commander said, however he was unable to confirm the total amount stolen by the bandits.

James said five persons, including employees of the Insurance Scheme and the two guards, who were on duty at the time of the robbery, are in custody assisting with investigations into the multi-million dollar robbery.

When Guyana Chronicle visited the crime scene, the gates were locked as two female Special Constabulary guards watched over the premises.

“We don’t know anything, I only come here 10 o’clock, and I ain’t know what happen.

Everybody you should talk to, at the station,” one of the guards told this newspaper.

She was later overheard informing a number of pensioners that the branch was closed for the day.

NIS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Dianne Baxter confirmed with this newspaper that the crime had been committed but was unable to give particulars, indicating that the information was not available at the moment.

However, this newspaper understands that that branch had only this week received contributions from businesses for their employees. Additionally, the branch was reportedly scheduled to pay pensioners.

The NIS Pouderoyen branch where six armed bandits made off with over $4M

8-year-old allegedly raped by father A 33-YEAR-OLD man of Wismar Linden has been taken into custody and is expected to be charged soon for the alleged rape of his 8-year-old daughter.

Commander of the Division, Superintendent Karim Baskh confirmed the allegation to the Guyana Chronicle. He said that after a detailed investigation is completed, charges will be filed soon.

According to information reaching this newspaper, the 8-year-old girl walked into the probation office

after school and revealed her plight of sexual abuse to the resident probation officer. She was then taken to the hospital where doctors examined her and found that she was indeed sexually molested.

The child is now in the custody of her aunt and has been cooperating with the police. This newspaper understands that the child has been physically abused in the past, allegedly by the father and numerous reports have been made to the probation office while several

medical examinations have been completed.

Other family members also confirmed that the child has been experiencing physical and sexual abuse for some time.

“The little girl just couldn’t take it anymore and yesterday she just walked into the probation office,” said a source.

Statistics from the Child Protection Agency for January to July 2016 revealed that there were 52 cases of child sexual abuse and 267 cases of child abuse recorded

in Linden.

Former Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence, during a child sexual abuse rally in Linden last September, posited that the Child Protection Department has serious business to ‘take care of’ in Region 10. Minister Lawrence also bemoaned the bureaucratic process of bringing the abusers to justice. She said that too many battles are lost in court because of insufficient evidence as a result of limited investigations.

Oil strike

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 13, 2017

… ExxonMobil announces positive results from Payara-1 well

EXXONMOBIL has announced positive results from its Payara-1 well offshore Guyana. Payara is ExxonMobil’s second oil discovery on the Stabroek Block and was drilled in a new reservoir. The Payara-1 well targeted similar aged reservoirs that were proven successful at the company’s Liza discovery.

“This important discovery further establishes the area as a significant exploration province,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company.

“We look forward to working with the Government and our co-venturers to continue evaluating broader exploration potential on the block and the greater Liza area.”

The well was drilled by ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, and en-

countered more than 95 feet (29 meters) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs.

It was safely drilled to 18,080 feet (5,512 meters) in 6,660 feet (2,030 meters) of water. The Payara field discovery is about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the 2015 Liza discovery.

In addition to the Payara discovery, appraisal drilling at Liza-3 has identified an additional high quality, deeper reservoir directly below the Liza field, which is estimated to contain between 100-150 million oil equivalent barrels.

This additional resource is currently being evaluated for development in conjunction with the world-class Liza discovery.

“These latest exploration successes are examples of ExxonMobil’s technological capabilities in ultra-deepwater environments, which will enable effective development

EFFECTIVE drainage is critical for development to take place and cognizant of the fact, the Ministry of Agriculture has embarked on a rigorous farmers outreach exercise programme aimed at addressing some of the problems affecting farmers.

Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder accompanied by a team of technical of-

ficers conducted what his ministry described as a successful outreach exercise in the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary areas to have dialogue with farmers to bring much needed relief to those affected. According to the ministry the first meeting which was held at Biaboo Bridge, Branch Road Mahaica attracted a number of farmers, who raised issues relating

of the resource for the benefit of the people of Guyana and our shareholders,” Greenlee said.

Drilling on Payara began on November 12, with initial total depth reached on December 2. Two sidetracks have been drilled to rapidly evaluate the discovery, and a well test is underway to further evaluate the successful well results.

The well data will be analysed in the coming months to better determine the full resource potential.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers). Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Limited holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 per cent interest.

ExxonMobil at work in the Liz-1 well in the Stabroek Block

Holder hits the road in MMA ––milk plant, repairs to drainage network discussed

the drainage and construction of access dams. Holder said these are critical to enable farmers not only access to lands, but to ensure water from the canals do not affect their livelihood.

Despite the recently heavy downpour experi-

Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder and other officials meeting with farmers in the Mahaica, Mahaicony district

enced over the past weeks farmers have not complained about major losses in the region as result of prior work done by the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). However, additional request were made to the Agriculture Minister to have a dam at Davis rehabilitated.

General Manager, Mahaica Mahaicony and Abary/ Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), Mr. Aubrey Charles was instructed by the Minister to have a cost analysis done, subsequently after which works will commence to have the situation rectified.

This is based on the cost of the works to be done as presently the MMA/ADA is cash-strapped due to farmers not paying land lease, the ministry said in a release.

According to the ministry it has since proposed an increase in land rate fee which presently stands at $2500 per acre annually for the last 18 years. Farmers at the meeting made a request

that the implementation of the rate increase to be done gradually over a period of time. Another issue which took center stage was the rehabilitation of a koker door at Riverdam. Minister Holder committed to ensuring not only that the koker will be fixed, but that the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary rivers will be dredged to avoid siltation.

Interest in the establishment of a milk plant was also made by cattle farmers, who noted that such a move augurs well for the livestock industry and the advancement of value-added production.

As such, the Agriculture Minister informed the farmers that a team of officials is expected in February to have the proposal finalised. Once this stage is completed, the Ministry of Agriculture will move to have consultation with farmers to have the plant operationalised.

Similar issues were raised at the meetings held

at Strath Campbell Primary School, Mahaicony and Hopetown Flat School, Abary respectively. The Agriculture Minister used the opportunity to highlight additional programmes which will be implemented by the ministry this year, to deliver the much needed support to farmers.

The Minister was accompanied by Permanent Secretary, Minister of Agriculture, Mr. George Jervis, General Manager, MMA/ADA, Mr. Aubrey Charles, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Mr. Nigel Cumberbatch, Chief Executive Officer of the N D I A , M r. F re d e r i c k Flatts and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, Dr. Oudho Homenauth.

Member of Parliament, Mrs, Jennifer Wade and officers of the Regional Democratic Council were also in attendance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 13, 2017

Probation officers now in all administrative regions

PROBATION officers are now deployed in all ten administrative regions. The Assistant Chief Probation and Social Service Officer at the Ministry of Social Protection, Ricardo Banwarie, said this is a major accomplishment for the Ministry in 2016.

Speaking with the Government Information Agency, Banwarie explained that public assistance is one of the safety net programmes of the Ministry. He added that with the deployment of the officers in all regions, all

districts are functioning.

“We have 33 districts in the country and all 33 local guardians are functioning. We have the Poor Law Commission in Georgetown and that is also functioning so it’s an ongoing process and everyday persons are coming,” Banwarie said.

Public assistance is a life line for persons with extremely low income and those who, for medical or other reasons, are unable to work. However, Banwarie noted that efforts are underway to assist persons to become self-sufficient

Assistant Chief Probation and Social Service Officer, Ministry of Social Protection, Ricardo Banwarie

and not rely on public assistance. Banwarie pointed out that the Ministry has partnered with the Central Recruitment and Man Power Agency (CRMPA), the Board of Industrial Training and the Ministry’s People of Worth Entrepreneurial Resources (POWER) and Women of Worth (WOW) programmes among several others, for assistance to ensure that “our clients are given the service that they

require.”

Additionally, the Assistant Chief Probation and Social Service Officer indicated that the ministry has already trained officers to be effective in guiding and encouraging persons to become independent.

“We would have had stories where officers would have worked with persons who are not able to manage their finance and now they are managing their

finance. Some have even started small businesses like chicken rearing and others so that they can be able to sustain themselves and family,” Banwarie said.

In the 2017 National Budget, $14.8B was allocated for social services under the Ministry of Social Protection. Public Assistance will increase from $6,500 to $7, 500 effective January 1, 2017. (GINA)

Woman stabbed protecting daughter A 43-YEAR-OLD woman is in a critical state at the New Amsterdam Hospital after being stabbed multiple times while trying to protect her daughter from the girl’s menacing fiancé Monday last.

Guyana Chronicle understands that the woman Nivonne Audrey

Trim, popularly called “Audrey” of Number 77 Housing Scheme, Corriverton, Berbice was stabbed around 19:30 hrs after she intervened in an argument between Lochelle Pulmattie called “Paulo” and her daughter Felicia Burnette.

The young couple were imbibing at the time.

According to a police source, the argument between Burnette and “Paulo” became heated and “Paulo” whipped out a knife.

Audrey, a security guard by profession then stepped in to protect her daughter and was stabbed in the process.

She was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital but was later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The suspect was arrested and remains in police custody.

A source close to the investigation said the suspect had threatened to kill Burnette before.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 13, 2017

Woman who was granted presidential pardon back in court TWENTY-six-year-old Tiffany Peters, a former cashier attached to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court maintenance department appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday, charged with simple larceny.

Peters was granted a presidential pardon in December 2015 after she was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment by City Magistrate Judy Latchman for stealing over $3M while being employed as a clerk at the court.

However, on Thursday she was charged with a similar offence which alleged that between January 12, 2012 and August 7, 2012 while being employed at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court as a cashier, she stole $1.1 million, property of the state of Guyana.

Tiffany Peters Peters, who resides at lot 54, Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara was represented by Attorney, Latchmie Rahamat, who explained that after Peters was granted the presidential pardon, she opened her own business through the Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) program.

Rahamat added that Peters was seeking a police clearance when she visited the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters and was then told to appear in court.

Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers made no objection to bail and as such, the Chief Magistrate granted the defendant self-bail. The matter is adjourned until January 24, 2017.

Mahdia trio charged with ATV theft THREE residents from Mahdia on Thursday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, jointly charged with simple larceny.

Chis Albert, 20; Affea Angel, 20 and Alex Gilks, 18, all miners by profession from Seven Mile, Mahdia pleaded not guilty.

It is alleged that between January 8 and January 9, 2017 at Seven Miles, Mahdia they stole one All-terrain vehicle (ATV), valued $3.6M, property of Joseph DaSantos.

According to police prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers on January 8, 2017, DaSantos parked the ATV in front of his home and retired bed.

The next morning, the ATV was missing and he made a report to the police, who later found it in a clump of bushes. The three suspects were arrested and they allegedly admitted to stealing the ATV. The Prosecutor did not object to bail and the men were released on $50,000 each by the Chief Magistrate. The matter was transferred to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for January 18, 2017.

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Bosai, BCGI in pact for one-off bauxite shipment THE Ministry of Natural Resources said it has assisted in successfully brokering a one-off agreement between Chinese-owned bauxite company Bosai Minerals (Guyana) Inc and Russian-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI) and hails the efforts of the companies in recognising the value of the manifold benefits and synergies that can emerge from cooperation and sharing of facilities.

This agreement, brokered over the past few days, will allow Bosai Minerals Inc to utilise – for one ship-

ment only – the services of the transhipment station located at the mouth of the Berbice River and which is operated by Oldendorff Carrier – a sub-contractor of BCGI, the ministry said in a release.

Because of the agreement, Bosai Minerals (Guyana) Inc will be able to dispatch a 24-tonne shipment of bauxite to China. The vessel ‘Hua An Sheng’, into which the bauxite will be loaded, was expected in port New Amsterdam Thursday, January 12, 2016. This vessel has been deemed too large to transit the Demerara River to

Bosai’s Linden operations.

Therefore, four smaller vessels will be transporting shipments of between 5,000 and 6,000 tonnes each from Bosai’s operations in Linden to port New Amsterdam, where their cargo will be transferred onto the ‘Hua An Sheng.’

Prior to this arrangement, Bosai Minerals (Guyana) Inc would utilise a transhipment station located in Trinidad before onward shipment of the bauxite to Bosai’s international markets. It is hoped that this one-off use of the Oldendorff Carrier’s transhipment facility between

Bosai Minerals (Guyana) Inc and Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc will evolve into a longer-term arrangement to the benefit of not only the two parties involved, but also to the people of Guyana.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is happy to have played a part in brokering this arrangement between the two bauxite companies operating in Guyana, with the expectation that it will assist Bosai in meeting and exceeding targets that both its principals and the Government of Guyana have set.

Repairs to the Seawall Road sinkhole before month-end

WORKS on the seawall ro a d s i n k h o l e s h o u l d start before the end of the month, Chief Roads and Bridges Officer, Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Ron Rahaman, told the Government Information Agency (GINA).

He said contractors have already been shortlisted and

by January 17, bids will be opened by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NTAB) after which it will

go to Cabinet. The Chief Roads and Bridges Officer explained that three pipes or culverts feeding the Kitty pump station failed. He added that the one at the seawall had a worst impact causing a sinkhole.

The Ministry is hoping to start works on the road

by January 24 and plans to complete the entire section, including those areas where mini holes are formed.

On Thursday, January 12, 2017, reports surfaced

in the media that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is waiting to obtain funds from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to repair the sinkhole that had opened on the Seawall Road in Kitty.

Rahaman said he is unaware of collaboration with M&CC to under-

take these works and the works will be completed utilising funds catered for in the Ministry’s 2017 budget. Budget 2017 has provision for miscellaneous roads and urban roads and drainage to the tune of $1.1B and $1.05B, respectively.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

ON Wednesday, the Government of Guyana signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University College of the Caribbean and Law College of the Americas in a public-private partnership to establish a law school here. This partnership will see government owning 30 percent of shares and providing only the land to build the school, while the private interest will cover all the costs and hold the remaining 70 percent.

The proposed Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence (J.O.F) Haynes school, named in honour of Guyana’s famed and respected legal mind, who served as Chancellor of the Judiciary,has attracted mixed reviews. Though Guyana does not possess the largest population in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), it plays a major role in establishing institutions in the body. One such is the Caribbean Court of Justice, which is expected to make decisions, guided by international laws and precedents, and influenced by the Region’s cultural development.

Speaking about the necessity for the school, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, presented some of what may have influenced the Government’s decision. This includes what is said to be more than 1000 graduates of the Bachelors of Law (LLB) degree from the University of Guyana who are still unable to pursue the Legal Education Certificate. Upon successful completion of this certificate one can practise in the courts. The issue of the quota system at the Hugh Wooding Law School, as Guyana continues to churn out more LLB graduates than what is allotted it, continues to adversely impact our graduates.

Apparently there has not been much success in arriving at an arrangement of mutual satisfaction on this issue.

In the meantime, the benefit that can be derived from The J.O.F Haynes Law School is that of preparing an increasing amount of minds to help the society in pursuing a democratic path. While all may not practise in the courts, they can provide other critical services. Some of these include serving as researchers to prepare cases, refine arguments, and challenge opinions in influencing decisions that could bring about progressive changes for society.

On the other hand, there exists the view that there are too many lawyers relative to the population size. With the many violations of laws and transgressing of citizens’ rights the more trained in law and are prepared to fearlessly stand up in defence of it, such practice would bring about greater understanding and awareness among the wider society, including within the police force that has responsibility to serve and protect.

In the workplace, relationships between employer and

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

These political Judases’ only love for Rodney was because he opposed Burnham, PNC Dear Editor, I REFER to Mr. Vishnu Bisram‘s letter which was published in the Guyana Times on Monday January 9, 2017, under the caption, “Apata a real Rodneyite, not Hinds and Ogunseye.” Generally, I read most of Bisram’s letters and whether or not I agree with his viewpoint, I have refrained from commenting, even when I believe that there are instances when he has raised issues that can lift the consciousness of the masses, if, they are engaged, by way of debate.

We live in a society where public polemics degenerate into public cussout, lies and deception.

This is now the order of the day. Unfortunately, when the letter writers are of different ethnicities, everything boils down to racism.

Truth and objectivity are thrown out the window.

M r. B i s r a m ’s l e t t e r which I have referred to is yet another example of this cultural deterioration in public discourse. Frankly, he is being nasty. In his letter he wrote, “...like David Hinds and Tacuma Ogunseye who crawled back to the PNC supporting its racism for two bits of silver selling out Rodney.” I am ignoring his accusation of selling out Rodney for the moment.

However, I note the cultural degeneration reflected in his chosen verb, “crawled.”

Let me move on. He sees our working with the PNC as personal decisions and not as a result of the WPA making an informed political decision based on our collective understanding of what is best in the interest of the nation.

This line of attack is not surprising, since it is not the intention of the writer to be objective. I have never read anywhere where Bisram has accused African political activists who joined the PPP as individuals, and importantly, not as a result of a party decision, of supporting PPP racism and doing so for two bits of silver. Readers should not be surprised if Bisram, in response to what I have just stated, argues that there is no PPP racism, that it is only the PNC’s, Hinds’ and Ogunseye’s racism the country has to be concerned about.

When I read of the likes of Bisram and my other detractors, who, while purporting to be disciples of Rodney have allotted to themselves the role of being the authority on who is a “Rodneyite,” I am forced to ask, how hypocritical can one get? These political Judases’ only love for Rodney was because he was actively opposing Burnham and the PNC. Walter

employees have become more complex and require greater understanding and application of laws, conventions, charters and agreements. Navigating these can be problematic, particularly where ignorance exists. Institutions such as trade unions may require its leadership being more au fait with the nuances of the law in aiding proper representation of its membership.

Thus, the issue of having more lawyers is not only about representation in a court, but seeking to protect citizens’ rights, be it at home, in the workplace, or on the streets.

J.O.F Haynes is the fourth within CARICOM and brings with it certain advantages. At the market level, Guyana will provide students a comparatively lower tuition fee. Housing and maintenance also will be lower relative to the other three countries where similar schools exist. These factors will give a competitive advantage in attracting students even from outside of the Caribbean, who wish to qualify to practise in the Region. Looking at this issue though through regional lens, it is bound to attract attention in some quarters as to whether

Rodney’s conviction that a united working class/working people are essential to their self–liberation and, his opposition to ethnic domination, meant nothing to these opportunists. That is why, now that he is dead and is in no position to prove them wrong, they feel emboldened and rude enough to claim that Rodney, if he were alive during the years of the PPP regime, would not have modified his political approach to the PNC, even after he had experienced the hostile and demoralising racial and political polarisation of the PPP, decades after the end of Burnham/PNC rule.

In politics and life talk is cheap, but action speaks louder than words. In my more than four decades of political activism, I have been deemed a racist by both PNC and PPP supporters; in spite of these accusations, my record would show that I worked with and also opposed both parties in a principled manner. As a young activist in ASCRIA in the early 1970s, I spoke at public meetings with the PPP at a time when few Africans had the courage to do so.

Bisram, was this because I was at the time a recipient of gold and silver bars from the PPP? Bisram said that Hinds and I joined the PNC to remove Indians from power.

It is instructive to note that he did not say the PPP, but “Indians.” Given Bisram’s logic, when I worked with the PPP in and out of the PCD against the PNC, that party is justified in its historic position that I and other Africans activists in the WPA, including Walter Rodney, teamed up with the PPP to remove Africans from power. If this is true, it is therefore only reasonable to assume that in all of the years of my activism I have practised an enlightened form of racism, and Guyana will be a better country if the majority of its citizens were to emulate my politics.

There is a class dimension to the tactics used by my Indian detractors over the years whenever they have engaged me in public polemics. They feel comfortable playing on my social and non-academic background. In so doing, they have made a political judgement that I am “easy pickings.”

They seem to have short memories, forgetting that my years in the political trenches have made me immune from their kinds of attacks. Let me take this opportunity to assure Bisram and company that I will never be deterred by their ramblings.

Regards TACUMA OGUNSEYE

four law schools conflict with the dreams of the CARICOM Founding Fathers and the objectives of the movement. While undoubtedly opportunities and market benefits cannot be disputed, attention will be attracted to two key points. On one hand, what does it mean for maintaining the movement in the sense of the benefits to be derived from a collective approach as against singularly. Conversely, the impression may be presented that CARICOM leaders have been unable to uphold the ideals of its formation and existence by working as a cohesive unit and resolving challenges, faced from time to time, to the mutual benefit of the territories.

Though all of the above and more will percolate minds -- by ordinary folk and within the corridors of influence and power-- the school is being established. As a people, domestic and regional, expectations will be held that the intellectual growth and development of the society can be fulfilled, likewise as our needed relationship within CARICOM and the member states.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

Fire guts Cummings Lodge house

A FIFTH Field, SouthEast Cummings Lodge family is contemplating their next move after their home went up in flames around midday on Thursday.

Counting their losses are Rupnarain Sookram, 61, his two daughters Natasha and Christina, and his four tenants, who resided at the back of the two-storey property.

“I don’t know where I would rest tonight. I gah ask somebody to let me stay tonight, some neighbour or something,” Sookram lamented, as he looked at his destroyed property.

Rupnarain has been residing at the home some 20 years now.

The front view of Rupnarain Sookram’s gutted property (GFS) also saved the bottom flat of the building from being totally destroyed.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle related that about 12:13 hrs, the Guyana Fire Service received the first call about the fire, and two units from Alberttown and Campbellville were deployed.

The area where the fire is believed to have started Around midday, he said he got a call from one of his daughters who related the tragic news.

No one was at home at the time of the fire. Rupnarain could not surmise what could have possibly been the cause of the fire, but from all indications, it started in the building at the back of the house.

The fire was reportedly first noticed around noon,

and it was already a raging flame.

One neighbour, who gave her name as “Finey,” was moved to tears on seeing the damaged caused by the fire.

“Meh sorry fuh them bad. Them people this is nice people. When meh see this meh start cry,” “Finey” said.

She lives three houses away from the burnt building. She said she was the first person to notice the

fire and started alerting neighbours, begging them to save what they could from the house.

“Meh she ow man all yuh get bucket, get bucket! This thing left me in shock,” an obviously shaken “Finey” related.

Thanks to Finey’s efforts, some of the furniture of the bottom flat, including a bed, TV stand, and dining chairs were saved.

A prompt response from the Guyana Fire Service

Suspects in Good Life Supermarket robbery captured THE police in ‘B’ Division have captured two suspects in the robbery of the Good Life Supermarket at Hampshire Village, Corentyne, Berbice, which occurred on Wednesday.

According to a police source, ranks from the Rose Hall Police Outpost acting on information arrested the

two young men.

At around 19:00 hrs, a young couple who recently opened the business were held at gunpoint while their customers were forced to lie face down during the 10-minute ordeal.

The supermarket owners Huang Xiong and his

wife Zhang Bi Hang were about to close for the day when two men armed with a gun and cutlass respectively attacked them.

The entire ordeal was captured on surveillance camera. The robbers had escaped with G$500,000 and an iPhone.

The firefighters reported their arrival time as 12:21hrs after driving at reduced speed due to adverse road conditions.

According to Gentle, the fire started in the wooden flat.

“So far what we know are that there were two

structures in the yard, one a small wooden building at the back, that’s where the fire started.

That building had four occupants who were renting it,” Gentle said.

He added: “When they got there they reported heavy fire conditions there, one building was already down and the other one heavily engulfed.

They went into action, they managed to contain the fire to where it was and it didn’t spread to any other buildings. They managed to do that with the water they had in the tanks because the area had no other water supply.”

After the fire was contained, the trucks left to replenish their water supply and later returned to ensure that the entire building was extinguished.

Around 14:00 hrs, the family began trying to clean out what remained of the bottom flat, trying their best to salvage what they can as they look to start over.

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 13, 2017

Local law school welcomed

–– but lawyers call for due diligence

By Ariana Gordan THE announcement by the Government of Guyana on Tuesday that it is partnering with the University College of the Caribbean/ Law College of the Americas to establish a law school here has been welcomed by many with open arms, though some warn that due diligence must be done by the administration.

Over the years law students have faced many challenges after completing their Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of Guyana (UG) over three years.

For many, the cost to attend the prestigious Hugh Wooding Law School to obtain the Legal Education Certificate (LEC) is unaffordable, while for others though they have satisfied the matriculation requirements, they are unable to gain access to the institution because of the cap of 25 top students being guaranteed places.

There are approximately 80 students reading for their LLBs at UG and of the lot only 25 are guaranteed entry to the University of the West Indies Hugh Wooding Law School.

As such, the announcement that efforts are ongoing to ensure that Guyana has its own law school has received overwhelming support from many; but that support is not without questions.

President of the University of Guyana Law Society, Chevy Devonish, told the

Guyana Chronicle on Thursday that the “initiative is a good one.”

He explained that having a law school in Guyana would “make things simpler for Guyanese students, financially and in other areas.”

Devonish said too those students who are set to graduate from the University of Guyana this year are already “weighing their options.”

Sherod Duncan “Persons are looking to make a decision on the next step,” he said, while noting that there are many questions as to how the law school will function.

Though in its early phase, the Government has announced that it is eyeing the opening of the law school next year and Attorney General Basil Williams has said the school will operate under the Council of Legal Education, thereby ensuring it is regulated and has oversight.

readily available…people must know that they would not be confined to practising law in Guyana,” he added.

Devonish said he looks forward to hearing more about the JOF Haynes Law School with optimism.

Like Devonish, a graduate of UG’s Law Programme told the Guyana Chronicle that the establishment of the school would be a step in the right direction. Speaking on condition of anonymity, she said she completed her Law

attend Hugh Wooding or other law schools,” said Duncan, who expressed optimism that the cost of the programme will be “very competitive” and “it will also be a definite advantage to local students with the savings, not having the high cost attached to living elsewhere in the Region.”

Attorney Nikhil Ramkarran is of the opinion that if the law school is properly established, then it would be a “godsend to a lot of students taking that track.”

Everton Singh-Lammy

Nikhil Ramkarran

Chevy Devonish

cas which is headquartered in Jamaica.

“We have to look at the reputation of [the] Jamaican school… just to ensure there is the confidence,” said Devonish, who noted that it is critical that all areas are clear, so that students do not find themselves in worrying situations in the future.

Degree in 2014, but has not been able to gain entry to Hugh Wooding Law School.

“I believe it’s a step in the right direction, which for the most part promises to bring an end to the obvious difficulties law students face on a yearly basis. I’ve always viewed to be inherently unfair, the automatic-25 entry process which applies to the Hugh Wooding Law School.”

She believes that once more than 25 students are enrolled in the LLB programme at UG (which has always been the case), “then it begs the question, what happens to the others.”

“And so to have our own local law school would be quite an achievement, not only for students-at-law, but for us as a people, to have such an institution which we can call ours.”

Similarly, Sherod Duncan, who also studied law at UG and graduated in 2014, believes that “the idea of a local law school is an idea whose time has come” and sang praise to the APNU+AFC Administration for “working hard to deliver on a promise made while it occupied the Opposition benches.”

“This means that Guyanese and foreign nationals who read for their LLB here can complete law school and practise without being hampered by an unfair quota system or an even more limiting entrance exam process to

LEAD, RATHER THAN FOLLOW He argued that it would not only be beneficial to those interested in a legal career but to the country.

“It’s time we attempt to lead rather than following,” he declared, adding that Guyanese students are badly treated in the Caribbean.

“I hate the idea that our hardworking and diligent students are being treated like poor cousins to the rest of the Caribbean,” Ramkarran added, while stressing that his views are all dependent on the school being “properly established and funded.”

But while there are those for the establishment of a law school here, there are those of the view that Government’s efforts should be channelled elsewhere.

Attorney Mayo Robertson, one of the first batch of West Indian-trained lawyers to graduate in 1971, told this publication that he has some concerns with the decision.

Robertson is of the opinion that the Government has to prioritise whether it wants to graduate “30 to 40 new lawyers every year as opposed to spending money on other aspects of university education.”

He pointed to the deplorable state of affairs at the University of Guyana and noted that more money could be spent on the Department of Technology.

He said with the regional accreditation, graduates would be able to practise in all jurisdictions in the Caribbean.

The President of the Law Society said too that while the move is welcomed, it is important that the Government does its due diligence, noting that not many persons are familiar with the University College of the Caribbean / Law College of the Ameri-

INFORMATION “People must have certainty, information must be

Technician arrested after discovery of illegal gun, ammo

A TWENTY-EIGHT-year-old male technician is in police custody following the discovery of an unlicensed .45 rifle, one live round 9mm ammunition and several ecstasy tablets by law-enforcement officials on Thursday afternoon.

According to a statement from the law-enforcement agency, ranks acting on information visited a Turn Drive, East La Penitence house at approximately 14:00hrs and conducted a search which unearthed the items.

Investigations are ongoing.

“It might be a prestigious thing to say we have a local law school, but in terms of the economics and also in terms of the calibre of the law school, you might want to tread cautiously,” the lawyer added.

He said above all, he is a strong believer in regional integration and noted that those, like himself, who were fortunate to go to law school with people around the Region “found the experience invaluable.”

“Only time will tell,” he said, not wanting to be a pessimist, but questioned the need to graduate more than 60 lawyers annually, given that the average age of graduates is 21.

“Every country must prioritise their needs,” he added, but believes the Government should continue to pay its contributions to the Council of Legal Education, so that students are guaranteed the 25 slots under the agreement.

He believes that would prove less expensive than the establishment of a school here.

Similarly, Attorney Everton Singh-Lammy said he read of the move to establish a law school here in the media and is hesitant to comment given the little information available thus far.

“However, if it is coming to fruition, I would hope that all of the variables are considered. Like, can the market (either Guyanese or Caribbean) accommodate a large influx of lawyers? Of course, that has to be balanced with the need to ensure that dreams and aspirations of becoming a lawyer are not stifled,” he stated.

Government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The University College of the Caribbean / Law College of the Americas to enter into discussions with the aim of jointly establishing a law school here to serve the people of Guyana and the wider Caribbean.

The MoU, which serves as a starting point for negotiations on the project, speaks to the joint ownership of the JOF Haynes Law School at a ratio of 70:30 with The University College of the Caribbean/ Law College of the Americas being a 70 per cent shareholder and the Government 30 per cent.

A feasibility study will be conducted by a “competent professional” to ascertain the viability of the project.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 13, 2017

25 new doctors for hinterland regions

TWENTY-FIVE doctors were given the charge to perform professionally, effectively, efficiently and to work towards delivering an excellent service to residents in the hinterland regions.

This was the charge given to them in an orientation session for the medical officers being deployed to the hinterland regions.

Director of Regional Health Services (RHS), Dr Kay Shako, disclosed that the objectives are to re-orient the doctors to the management and treatment of diverse disease conditions in the hinterland regions.

She noted that another objective is to educate doctors of their role in strengthening the primary healthcare system within the hinterland regions, adding that it also seeks to re-educate doctors on the medical–legal issues that exist as a result of poor management of patients in the interior locations.

She said that the orientation is critically important, as it seeks to ensure that the doctors entering the hinterland regions are fully and properly prepared, as they seek to benefit from the many opportunities being

–– urged to be professional, effective and efficient

Regional Health Services Director, Dr Kay Shako provided by Government.

“This is a very important session and these doctors going to the hinterland regions are going there for the first time, so we from the Ministry of Public Health have to ensure that we do everything properly. This will ensure that when they [doctors] get there, they can deliver a very high service, thus enhancing health care in those parts of Guyana,” Dr Shako said.

The RHS Director reiterated the need for the doctors to conduct themselves with the highest professional standards and human integrity as they provide needed

solutions to the people that they will be serving.

“Remember, being humane and compassionate in the face of illness should be the primary principles that you live by while executing your duties daily as well,” she stressed.

She spoke about the mandate of the RHS, including the importance and purpose of deployment, among a number of other important issues.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle, along with Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, gave brief remarks, urging the doctors to take their commitment seriously.

SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY They reiterated that the doctors have a very serious responsibility which must not be taken lightly; and they must never lose sight of the commitment that they have made.

Dr. Horace Cox, who is the Director of Vector Control Services along with Dr Kavita Singh, who heads

the Chronic Disease Department and Ms Dinte Conway, who also heads the Food Policy Division added their voices, warning the doctors that while they would be evident challenges taking into account that it’s a new experience for them, they are confident that if they remain open and welcome the challenges the results certainly would be life-changing and enjoyable.

They noted that their focus should not be on the challenges and or difficulties being faced, adding that life in the hinterland regions would be obviously different from what they have encountered in the coastal areas.

The doctors who previously served in several coastal areas will now be entering the hinterland regions where they are expected to be based for a period of time. This forms part of their contractual services to the Government of Guyana.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings, in her presentation, expressed confidence in the doctors, telling them that their

responsibilities include bringing relief to the people in the hinterland communities.

GIVE FULL COMMITMENT “You will be placed in a variety of situations that will employ your skills in various combinations.

Regardless of the circumstances that you will encounter, strive to brighten the area and the corner that you occupy,” Minister Cummings urged.

The minister told the eager and evidently excited doctors that they will discover that the most important moments are the human ones, since that involve taking care of people when they are most vulnerable.

“Professionalism, high ethical standards, and compassion, should forever remain the driving forces propelling you forward in your journey as competent medical practitioners, regardless of the specialty areas you will eventually choose,” she said, adding: “Always strive to convert the science and the art of

being an exemplary doctor into a life- changing legacy for generations to come. The patients and other medical personnel with whom you come into contact must develop confidence and trust in you as you attend to the business of healing.”

Minister Cummings reminded the young doctors that the Ministry of Public Health remains unremittingly committed to providing the best quality health care to all persons living in Guyana.

“All of you gathered here today will now play pivotal roles in the delivery of an incomparable quality of health care to the persons living in the communities in which you will be placed,” she reassured them.

Dr Rhonda Moore, Programme Manager of NAPS; Dr Util Thomas, who is the Director of the Mental Health Unit; Principal Personnel Officer within the Ministry of Public Health, C. Phoenix; and Michael Gouveia who is the Coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples Unit, also made presentations.

Flood-affected residents of Buxton get relief MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings and a team of health officials traveled to Buxton to hand over medical and cleaning supplies to residents who were affected by recent floods.

This was to ensure that persons in the flood affected areas do not contract any serious water borne disease. Dr. Cummings told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the Ministry of Public Health provided medical supplies, bleach and Jeyes Fluid, and educational material that provide guidance on how to prevent an outbreak of gastroenteritis.

“We want the people of Buxton to know that we don’t want them to have any water related disease, be it water borne, water based, water washed or water-insect related,” she said.

Minister Cummings also pointed out the timeliness of the aid and added that the health of citizens is important. Director of Regional Health Services, Dr. Kay Shako said that there have been no reports of diarrhoea or vomiting.

Minister of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings (Second from right) hands over cleaning supplies to Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Chairman, Genevieve Allen in the presence of Director of Regional Health Services, Dr. Kay Shako and Neighbourhood Democratic Council Chairman (NDC), Deon Abrams “There were no cases of reported critical illness but if that should happen there is an adequate supply of drugs at present, except for ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) and gravol tablets.

However, I would have

spoken to the materials management unit and they said they would have had sufficient drugs to take care of any outbreak if such arises,” Dr. Shako explained.

During the visit, resi-

dents complained of poor drainage while others complained of the losses they have suffered as a result of the recent floods. Livestock, including ducks and piglets were some of the losses counted by a few

residents. Buxton has been known for medium to large scale agriculture activities such as cattle rearing and cash crops such as celery, shallot and peppers. This is mainly how residents earn an income for a daily

livelihood.

Chairman of Buxton/ Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NCD), Deon Abrams, also highlighted that the contribution is welcomed and indeed showed some level of concern by the government for the health and wellbeing of residents.

Abrams said that there are interventions made by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to alleviate flooding but more needs to be done.

Residents suggested that the refurbishment of sluices and culverts would assist in the drainage while others need to be monitored to ensure that they are not vandalized or operation breaches. The flooding in the Buxton village resulted from a breach at the Middle Walk Canal channel door which allowed water into the drainage system, affecting residents with flood waters. The NDIA chief noted that works are ongoing to provide a long term solution to flooding that have been experienced at Buxton.

(GINA)

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 13, 2017

Deadly Africanised bees on the loose in GT

DEADLY African bees have moved into a house on Croal Street here in the city and attacked one of its residents, stinging him on the lip as he opened his door Monday night.

The man told the Guyana Chronicle Tuesday that he’d observed the insects over two months ago, but had never expected them to attack since they never did while they lived at the premises for a period of time in the past.

“Is over two months I notice these things, but I didn’t realise that is the African bees,” he explained.

They seem to be especially attracted to the lights on the inside and outside of his home at nights. The man said he heard the persistent buzzing of the swarm while in bed sometime last night, and realized the bees were attracted by the lights in his home.

He opened his front door and immediately one of the bees stung his lip.

He quickly observed a swarm of the African bees dancing around the light just above his front door on the outside.

“I had to creep on the floor and get back inside the bedroom,” he said.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the residence Tuesday, two women were going about their normal duties in the compound. The front door to his home was opened and while about seven of the bees seemed asleep on a wall over the door, the man’s helper was ironing clothes nearby inside of the house. A woman who lives in another apartment in the building was washing carpets in the back of the yard.

Some of the bees were seen zooming in a crisscross over the compound as the sun

Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) Michael Welch (Samuel Maughn photo) shone brilliantly overhead.

Some made their way in and

out of their nest through a crease by a wall outside of the house and yet more of the small black and yellow bees settled on a wall outside the home while some which appeared dead or half-dead were scattered in the yard.

Meanwhile, Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) Michael Welch, he said the bees are not “killer bees” as they are branded in certain movies, but are defensive and only attack if they feel someone is too close to their hive and a threat to their family.

The bees lay large numbers of eggs and thousands live in a single hive, and are very defensive. He said if someone comes into contact with African bees they will attack, but not without warning.

“If you come into contact with a hive of honeybees

– they set up what you call scouts – they will come and bump you. Bumping is to tell you ‘wait a minute you’re coming into my zone. If you come any further, I have no alternative but to defend my turf’,” Welch told the Guyana Chronicle in an interview yesterday.

He said some people are unaware that they are being bumped or the reason the bee or bees attack them in that way, and are violently attacked, even killed, for lack of knowledge.

“If you know why you’re being bumped you will take action that will take you out of that zone, the fright zone, and as a consequence you will not have problems with the bees,” he explained.

He said the African bees are the most aggressive of bees in the world and are easily agitated by noise and the aroma of certain chemicals, and if a person attacks

one, it has ways of calling in reinforcement.

“The noise agitates them and then they will come and attack. The carbon monoxide… once they smell that they will attack. If you have highly scented cologne and you come into a certain distance of the hive of the bees, they will respond, because the bees are very very aggressive when it comes to defending their territories. If you spray one of the bees with Baygon, if you kill one and they send out this signal that distress signal, then they send for reinforcement … they come by hundreds, thousands, to defend their territory,” he pointed out.

The best way to deal with such bees is to go far away from their habitation.

“Half a mile, quarter mile, you move from where they are - from the fright zone - and they will no longer do you anything,” he said.

nine containers of 25kg milk.

His business was inspected on Thursday, and a report will be compiled before a decision is made. The Director of the Food and Drugs Department is maintaining that all importers must abide with the regulations governing such activity, emphasising that the department is only acting in the interest of the public.

But the Robb Street businessman is sticking to his

import the milk in the small packages into which he has been repackaging it. This, he said, makes no sense as the 25 Kg packages that he has been importing are legal sizes and therefore if he is prevented from importing them, he is certain that another businessman will seize the opportunity and bring it in. “There is no law that says that I cannot important the 25 KG milk packages and I am at [a] loss as to why I am now being told that I must import them in the very size that I am repackaging and sell,” he said.

He told this newspaper that in 2015, a similar situation had existed whereby Cole held up 11 containers and agreed to release it only after his lawyer, Glen Hanoman, had intervened with threats of legal action by way of a letter on November 6, 2015. “He had tried doing this in 2015 and he only gave me my containers after my lawyer wrote him demanding that if I do not get my containers within a certain time that he will proceed to the courts. I thought that after that situation Mr Cole would have endeavoured to ensure that things are done professionally and correctly, but from what I am seeing he is vindictive and abusing his power,” the businessman said.

He noted that he has exhausted all possible options of resolving the matter amicably; however, he stressed that Cole has no intentions of doing so. “He would say that he has a meeting, but [when] he sees you he is the only person speaking and he talks

down to you. How can that be regarded as [a] meeting when you are not allowed to share your views and opinions,” Dabicharran questioned.

“Dabi” said that he is aware that the department is a regulatory one, thus, he is cognisant of its roles and responsibilities. However, he is demanding that a level playing field be made available so that all importers irrespective of who they are can fall into line. The peeved businessman has insisted that he continues to do everything by the book. As such, he wants to know the real reasons for the many obstacles, being placed in his way by the director.

He pointed out that in 2015, he had incurred millions of [dollars in] losses due to the delay of his containers and at the moment his losses thus far is almost a million dollars and increasing.

He disclosed that Cole’s concerns in 2015 was that the milk should not be distributed or sold in clear plastic bags and he had given him the commitment that this was not going to be done. The businessman revealed the Natura-branded package with the relevant labels and information on the packages that are being used. He noted that this still doesn’t satisfy Cole, who he said seems unclear as to what he really wants.

“It’s like he wants us to do the enforcing of the law as if he takes a walk down the street he will see the many persons who are selling things without it being properly labelled and that

Cole holds up 9 containers of milk ... over sanitary concerns –– importer threatens legal action

POPULAR businessman, Seearam Dabicharran, aka Dabi, who operates Dabi’s Variety at 40 Robb Street, Bourda, is threatening to take legal action against the Food and Dugs Department and its Director Marlon Cole over what he considers a “blatant” abuse of power,” but Cole has rubbished the allegation.

The evidently peeved businessman said that Cole has held up his nine containers of milk imported from New Zeeland, demanding that the milk be packaged in smaller packages as against the 25kg or 50lb bags.

However, when contacted by the Guyana Chronicle, the Director of the Food and Drugs Department said it is Dabicharran who has been abusing a repackaging permit granted to him by the department, and as such, an investigation has been launched to determine whether the containers of milk should be released or not. Cole explained that the Food and Drugs Department had granted Dabicharran a Repackaging Permit, under the condition that he has in place a repackaging facility, and would repackage the milk under hygienic conditions. However, the importer has been allegedly acting in breach of the permit.

He said the department has evidence suggesting that

Dabicharran is in the business of reselling the milk in the 25kg packages to wholesalers and retailers, who would then repackage the milk under very insanitary conditions.

informed the department with supporting evidence that Dabicharran was in the business of reselling the milk without repackaging. The importer had also accused the

Seearam Dabicharran’s milk when it is repackaged under his Natura brand Cole noted that in some cases when milk is imported in bulk, it is for industrial purposes and not for table use. Additionally, he said when it is repackaged in clear plastics, it is often done in unsanitary conditions, and is at risk of losing its nutritional values.

In the case of Dabicharran, Cole said, it was another importer who had

Food and Drugs Department of engaging in corrupt practices with the Robb Street businessman.

Given the allegation made out against Dabicharran, Cole said an investigation has been launched to determine whether his repackaging facility is in keeping with the regulations established under the department and whether it has the capacity to repackage

story. He said he has been buying powered milk from New Zealand under the brand NZMP for a number of years now. He pointed out that he has been repackaging the very milk powder under his locally registered brand, Natura. However, he said that he has been bringing in the milk in the 25 KG packages, to which Cole has objected and demanded that he

See page 11

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 13, 2017

Jagdeo wants CCJ to interpret law on GECOM chair

By Ravin Singh

INTERPRETATION of the law surrounding the appointment of a chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) should be done by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has contended.

Bharrat Jagdeo was mandated by law to submit a list of six names not found to be unacceptable by the President who has the final decision to make.

But having submitted his first list last month, Jagdeo’s nominees failed to find favour with the President who said that the list was “unacceptable.”

Jagdeo has nominated History Professor James Rose and Indian rights activist Rhyaan Shah, both of whom have openly supported the opposition party; along with Attorney-at-Law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram; Governance and Conflict Resolution Specialist, Lawrence Lachmansingh; retired Major- General, Norman Mc Lean; and Business Executive, Ramesh Dookhoo.

On Sunday, President Granger told journalists at a media brunch that the qualifications of these six people do not match the criteria as set out in the Constitution of Guyana.

“The list that was sent to

me was unacceptable,” he told members of the media Article 121 (2) of the Constitution states that, “Subject to the provisions of paragraph (4), the Chairman

person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo speaking to reporters Thursday of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court, or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper

Cole holds up ...

From page 10 isn’t our problem as we are prepared to comply, as we have been complying; but to single us out and is demanding that we get people to stop selling the milk powder in clear plastic bags isn’t and shouldn’t be our responsibility, as Cole should ensure that his department enforces the laws,” the businessman declared.

He pointed out that his operations while being a small one employs some 25 persons and with the undue challenges and difficulties being faced he may be forced to reduce his staff.

“I met with Minister Cummings at the Ministry of Health and she has asked me to wait and see what happens but how long more can I wait? I have all intentions to resolve this matter, but if it is not being resolved I will certainly use the options open to me which is the courts, as this is certainly foolishness as one man is so powerful that he picks and chooses whose containers he wants to hold, thus making life challenging for them,” he said.

The businessman said that with the recent media attention that Cole got from Sueria Manufacturing, he had thought that commonsense would have prevailed, thus resulting in all importers being treated fairly. However, he noted that Cole seems to be on a mission of slowing up economic growth among businesses and it is time that the relevant authorities put an end to this unfair treatment being meted out to importers. “He seems to be the most powerful person as he listens to no one and does whatever he feels and this will not help Guyana…”

Dabicharran said.

He said that Cole is exploiting the smaller importers as he is demanding all sorts of import documents, while singling out importers to frustrate them. “The big importers are not going through this stress that many of us are going through and it seems like nobody has any intentions of putting a stop to this,” the businessman related.

with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.”

According to Jagdeo at a press conference at Freedom House on Thursday, the intent of including “or any other fit and proper person” in the act, was to broaden the category from which the chairperson could be nominated and subsequently appointed.

CLEAR “The President said the Constitution is quite clear and it is clear to me too, that outside of judges, others can be appointed to the post,” Jagdeo said.

He argued that previous practice will also show that this definition was understood in the manner he describes, since several past Presidents, including Desmond Hoyte, SC, had submitted four lists comprising individuals who were not judges or did not have the qualifications to become a judge.

The Opposition Leader pointed out too that President

David Granger himself, even at one point in time, had accepted nomination by Hoyte, even though he (Granger) was not from the legal fraternity.

President Granger has since said regardless of what had obtained in the past, the responsibility is now vested with him as President of Guyana and the provisions of the Constitution will be followed.

He noted that any breaches that may have occurred in the past must not be allowed to persist.

“So the point is, even if the Constitution had been breached, or a nomination been made in breach of the Constitution — 10 or 20 years ago — there is no need to repeat it, so that’s not a precedent. I am accepting now as President that the constitutional provisions must be applied,” the Head of State said on Wednesday.

And having his list rejected by the President, Jagdeo said he has written to the Ministry of the Presidency, seeking clarity on what constitutes “fit and proper.”

Jagdeo said he has also requested an “urgent” meeting with the President to reconcile “any differences of opinion which may exist on this issue.” This request was made via his letter which was dispatched on January 10, 2017.

And despite not receiving a response, Jagdeo has contended that the President does not want to meet with him.

“It’s interesting that I’ve never requested a meeting with the President in two years and he’s refusing to meet with me,” he told reporters.

The Opposition Leader went on to state that the law is not for the President to interpret, and as such, if he is granted the opportunity to meet with the Head-ofState, he would recommend that the matter be taken to the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

“I don’t think we will get the meeting, but I would have proposed to him that we approach the CCJ to get an interpretation,” he said.

Global Fund a vital partner –– in fight against HIV epidemic, tuberculosis and malaria, Henry says

By Svetlana Marshall GUYANA is indeed thankful for the contributions being made by Global Fund in the fight against the HIV epidemic, tuberculosis and malaria, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry, said as she opened the Guyana Global Fund HIV-Country Dialogue on Thursday at Regency Suites.

At the time, she was speaking not only in the capacity of a minister, but also as the Chair of the Guyana Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM).

“The Government of Guyana is very appreciative of the assurance by the Global Fund Board for continued funding to help us fight against the HIV epidemic, TB and malaria,” the minister said, noting that the support being offered helps to build resilient and sustainable health systems that offer quality healthcare services for the Guyanese people.

“Without a fully funded Global Fund, the shared dream of universal access to HIV treatment, care and support could become our worst nightmare, putting the lives of millions of people currently on treatment in jeopardy, and millions of pregnant women in a position not to be able to protect their babies from becoming infected,” she added.

In recent years, Guyana

Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry has made significant progress in combating the three targeted diseases, and with billions of dollars pumped into the health-care system, it is beginning to see positive changes such as the reduction in child mortality.

In fact, Global Fund grants have made a significant contribution in reducing the causes of mortality among women and children across the world.

The fund operates in partnership with Governments, civil society, the private sector and people affected by the targeted diseases.

“I trust that the HIV/ AIDS Country Dialogue will continue to build upon the existing coordination mechanisms in health and development that are already taking

place between Governments, donors, technical partners, civil society and key populations.

“We recognise that Global Fund does not just talk about the importance of key and vulnerable populations, but also concretely demonstrates its commitment to these groups through a comprehensive package of strategies, policies and processes,” Minister Henry stated.

With continued support, she emphasised that Guyana would be able to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals of ending the HIV epidemic, TB and malaria by 2030.

“Guyana has come a far way in dealing with the HIV epidemic, TB and malaria over the past decade. With support from our partners and stakeholders, many lives have been saved and transformed.

I trust that this support will continue.”

As part of the Country Dialogue, key stakeholders, including the Programme Manager of the National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS), Dr Rhonda Moore; Head of the National Tuberculosis Programme, Dr Jeetendra Mohandlall; and Head of the Vector Control Unit, Dr Horace Cox were updated on the new funding model being used by the Global Fund.

Dr Morris Edwards, who was among the other health

professionals in attendance, explained that the new Funding Cycle 2017-2019 include new approaches to co-financing, new catalytic investments such as matching funds, and a differentiated and system-supported application and review process.

Edwards noted that ‘grant end-date revisions’ to the existing implementation period will be deducted from the next allocation in funds and time.

“Unused funds at the original grant-end date will be used for portfolio optimisation investments and to top-up grants with high absorption levels and good performance. In order to avoid this, countries can still make programme revisions to their grants up to 14 months before the end-date of grant implementation to improve absorption levels,” he explained.

Ongoing Country Dialogue during grant implementation will ensure the Principal Recipient (PR) is supported in a successful implementation of the grant, Coordinator of the CCM, Maria Niles, explained.

“CCM continues to meet all minimum requirements including participation and in the implementation of oversight plans. The PR and members of the CCM are involved in programme reviews and ongoing discussions to improve the national disease strategies,” Niles pointed out.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

Lindeners join striking bus drivers -over state of access road in mined-out communities

A collapsed section of one of the access bridges

RESIDENTS and students of the mined-out communities of Coomacka, Three Friends, Nottinghamshire and Old England on Tuesday rallied in support of bus drivers who continued a strike action started the day before.

An agitated crowd gathered at the Coomacka Park in Mackenzie on Tuesday seeking answers from Regional Chairman Renis Morian about the deplorable state of the access road and bridges leading to their respective communities, which have now become virtually impassable.

The bus drivers expressed their disappointment over the slow response of the regional authorities, whom they say are well aware of the situation with the road, as residents and community leaders have been bringing it to their attention months now.

They say they won’t stop striking until they see some effort being made to commence repair work on the road.

They give as the reason they’ve decided to go on strike the difficulty in getting schoolchildren and other residents to and from Linden daily.

Whereas before it took just half an hour to do it, it is now taking all of two hours because of the state the road

and bridges are in, not to mention the steep rise in cost these days to maintain their vehicles.

According to Robert Gentle, a bus driver, the situation is a crying shame. “What we are asking is that repair works be done on the road to make the road passable so that we can work,” he said, adding: “School has reopened, and it is our job to get the schoolchildren to school on time, and given the current condition of the road, is only a few children.”

As he went on to explain, “Those who take the first trip would be able to make it to school on time, but all the rest would be late.

“Likewise, in the afternoon, we find that there are still schoolchildren on the road after dark, because when the bus leaves Linden, it takes about two hours before it reaches back here. So, if the bus move off at three, it ain’t meeting back ‘til five, so those children reaching home ‘til seven.”

ROUNDLY SUPPORTED He was roundly supported by his fellow drivers, who all bitterly complained of how the poor state of the road is affecting them financially.

Residents noted that just last July, a bus was donated to the region, courtesy of President Granger’s 5 B’s

initiative, but again, because of the state of the road, it is permanently parked in the compound of the Mackenzie Police Station.

“The David Granger bus can’t work!” one irate parent exclaimed. As she went on to explain: “The bus was donated more than six months ago; it made one trip. It came in the first morning, pick up dem

children, and stick up in a hole. It somehow managed to get out and never come back!” The mere idea that the government’s bus cannot traverse the route, she said, should have been reason enough for the regional officials to get cracking with repairing the road.

Residents say, too, that despite the fact that transportation costs to and from their respective communities are high, they are more concerned with the safety of their children, as one of the bridges is so bad, a bus can fall through at any time.

They said they’ve tried for the past three years mending the bridges with their own money so as to alleviate the situation, but that enough is enough; they cannot continue doing so indefinitely.

MORIAN RESPONDS To his credit, Regional Chairman Morian came out of his office Tuesday and addressed the residents, promising them that emergency works will commence on the road the very day.

Residents, however, warn

that for whatever the Region plans doing to be effective, both the road and connecting bridges have to be repaired simultaneously, as the former has to support the latter.

They were pleasantly surprised at hearing from the regional chairman, as it is some time since they’d done so. They also believe what he is now promising should have been done a long time ago.

“Work should have been started; the grader not on the road as yet and we are desperate for our road to be fixed,” said Renison Rawlins, a bus driver.

“It is in a deplorable state; we are agitated, and we are looking for a speedy process!

Not until then will we start back working!”

Asked to comment on the matter, Morian said the situation with the road is no secret as all the relevant authorities, including the engineers from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), have been apprised of it. Some even paid a visit recently to the areas affected.

And while he admits that no serious work has commenced on the road, he

A section of the coomacka road

blamed the lack of progress on the recent heavy rainfall.

Morian said that the loads of sands that were initially placed on the road to commence repairs were washed away by the rain, leaving in its wake large volumes of water, which are, in turn, posing serious erosion problems on the roadway.

“The Coomacka area is a mined-out area, so there are huge reserves and gaps on the ground. And with this rain all of these areas are affected,” Morian said. **Being privy to information since last week that the residents were planning to block the road, Morian said a contractor was contacted to commence emergency works which will continue to reoccur every time there is a heavy downpour. “What is happening today is emergency works, because of the volume of water….we will have to have a contractor on standby until this rain is ended so this work that we have started today won’t be a one off work because I can assure you by weekends if we have another rain the whole process would have to be repeated.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

Better roads wanted in 2017 MANY Lindeners are hoping and praying that one of the major changes that will come their way this year is better access roads.

Several residents bemoaned the road situation, which has been described as a plight that needs serious attention. Although 2016 saw the construction and repairs of many community roads, several communities and housing schemes in both Mackenzie and Wismar still have bad roads, to the extent that they are almost impassable when it rains.

TRANSPORTATION WOES One of the major challenges derived from these bad roads is the difficulty of accessing transportation close to one’s home. This is an unfortunate reality for residents of Amelia’s Ward, who have to walk great distances to access public transportation.

Many taximen refuse to drive in areas such as Central Amelia’s Ward, Main Street, Cinderella City and SelfHelp Housing Scheme.

“Is not that we don’t want to take the passengers, but these roads breaking up yuh car when yuh constantly traversing them,” one shortdrop taxi driver contended when interviewed by this newspaper.

“And when they come out and put $100 in yuh hand and gone, is thousands yuh have to find in the mechanic shop,” he added.

Many residents are left stranded for hours on the taxi park, simply because vehicles refuse to go in those areas.

“I live in Hope Town, and they don’t go that side because the ‘Teachers Hostel Road’ bad, bad, bad, so yuh does got to wait long, long to see if yuh see somebody yuh know that gon drop yuh,” Amelia’s Ward resident, Joy James said.

For those who do not have the patience to wait, they have to find $200 to compensate the driver for battling the huge potholes to take them home. Most of the drivers, however, make their policy clear: They are not traversing certain schemes, even if the passenger is willing to pay $200 to get home.

This often results in residents having to pay $500 to get to their destination.

“Yuh see, the cars dem take the bus out of business, and now they making styles,” said Simone, a frustrated resident of Cinderella City.

“Before yuh enter their car,” she said, “yuh have to give a detail on where yuh going; but before the line system come in and they had to hustle for passengers, they used to go anywhere.”

Meanwhile, Wismar residents also bemoaned the state of the roads in their communities, these being Block 22, Wisroc, One Mile, Wismar Housing Scheme and Victory Valley.

GLIMMER OF HOPE Recently, the National Assembly passed a budget for Region 10 in the sum of $3.132B. Out of that money, $368.272M will go towards Public Works, and will include the repair and construction of roads, bridges, drains and other public infrastructure.

According to the budgetary estimates, the sum allocated for current roads is $55M, and this will go towards the repairing of roads in communities such as Amelia’s Ward, Industrial Area, One Mile and Wisroc. Capital Roads have an allocation of $76.2M, whereby communities such as One Mile, Block 22, Central Amelia’s Ward and Mackenzie will benefit from major road repairs and construction.

Lindeners are hoping that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) will look at the more deplorable roads in these communities and make them a priority, so that the situation can change in 2017.

The deplorable state of the main street in Amelia’s Ward

A road in Wisroc

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

It’s Mashramani time again!

-and it all started in Linden AS Guyana prepares to celebrate its 51st anniversary as a Republic, Lindeners are proud to remember that the first celebration to mark this significant milestone was held in the mining town of Linden.

And as the idea caught on, and Mashramani became a national event, Lindeners came out of every nook and cranny to join their fellow Guyanese, in true celebratory style, in Georgetown, but unfortunately, they couldn’t take their floats with them.

It was only in 2006 that the Mashramani parades recommenced in Linden, and while many of our youths like nothing better than to flounce and bounce in the streets of Mackenzie and Wismar to the sound of sweet soca music, most are blithely unaware of the history of Mashramani and the significant role their parents played in its making.

It all began back in 1966 when the Mackenzie (today’s Linden) chapter of the service organisation, the Jaycees, held the first of what came to be widely known as the Independence Queen Contest and subsequently the Independence Day Carnival in celebration of our eventual separation from Britain after many years of being one of its dependencies.

ANNUAL OCCURRENCE Reports are that this event, which was held in May and was to become an annual occurrence, was so big that it attracted people

from all across the country to the Upper Demerara community, then a thriving bauxite mining town.

According to one Mr Jimmy Hamilton, who, from all accounts, was one of the driving forces behind these celebrations and as such an authority on the subject, the word ‘Mashramani’ was spelt that way by him as that was exactly how it sounded when he first heard it.

But to back-up a bit, Hamilton said the reason The Junior Chamber (which is what the word ‘Jaycees’ means) of Greater Mackenzie patterned their Independence Day celebrations after the Trinidad carnival was so as to encourage the free-spirited bauxite workers and their families to stay at home and contribute to the development of their community rather than fritter away their hard-earned salaries on foolishness as was the practice at the time.

Then, in August 1969, when the then administration declared that Guyana was soon to become a republic, the Jaycees, in keeping with government policy at the time, took a deliberate decision to ‘Guyanise’ the event.

As such, ‘J’Ouvert Morning’ became ‘Foreday-morning Jump-up’; ‘Ole Mas’ ‘The Revolt Dance’, and the ‘Calypso Contests’ the ‘Shanto Contests’. They then began a frantic search for a suitable name for the activity itself, but try as they might, they had a hard time coming up with something that could be deemed appro-

priate.

NAME SEARCH It was former West Indies cricketer, Mr Basil Butcher, then Chairman of the Independence Celebrations Committee, Hamilton said, who came up with the idea of giving it an Amerindian name, and among those whose help they enlisted in doing so was Mr Allan Fiedtkou, who then worked in the fields with DEMBA (the Demerara Bauxite Company Limited).

Turns out that Fiedtkou, though he was of Amerindian extract himself, couldn’t think of anything immediately, but promised he would enlist the help of his grandfather, who lived at a place called Malalli, somewhere on the Upper Demerara River, and with whom he planned visiting shortly.

On his return to Linden (Mackenzie) a week or two later, he told the Committee that he’d spoken to ‘the Old Man’, who said the only thing which came close to what they were looking for was an old Arawak custom, the name of which, when said in English, sounded very much like ‘Muster Many’, and in the Arawakan dialect like ‘Mash-ra-mani’.

He gave as an example of the kind of activities this custom was associated with the impending marriage of a young couple, when the menfolk would go out and hunt for meat while the women and children stayed behind in the village to prepare for the wedding ceremony.

He said that by the time the men returned from the hunt, the benab, where such

One of the floats that was on display at Linden's 2016 parade

functions are traditionally held, will have already been built; whatever little meat they had at hand already prepared; and the entire village and those of their friends from the neighbouring communities, many of whom may have had to make the journey by trail or canoe, will have already been assembled just waiting for the fun to begin.

Upon hearing this, Hamilton said he was prompted to declare: “Hey! That’s what you call a celebration after a cooperative effort!”

But though the Committee may have agreed with him in principle that the word ‘Mashramani’ was ideally suited to the purpose for which it was intended, seeing that its meaning coincided with the fact that Guyana was on the verge of becoming a Cooperative Republic, they still needed to substantiate that it was indeed Arawak in origin and that the interpretation was factual.

UPHILL TASK But that, too, turned out to be an uphill task.

In the end, it was Mr Adrian Thompson, the late historian, who sanctioned the use of the word, saying: “I don’t know of the word and its meaning, but I rather suspect no one else does either.

Therefore, I would suggest that you go ahead and use it.”

Thus did the event we’ve come to know as ‘Mashramani’ or ‘Mash’ for short, officially come into being, and to be held in the month of February to mark the anniversary of our becoming a nation state. Needless to say, the inaugural celebrations on February 23, 1970, the very day we became a republic, were a runaway success as per usual, and lasted all of three days.

Many “feters” from afar off as Kwankwani, Ituni and Everton took to the trail and headed to Mackenzie, taking the celebrations by storm. It was a truly colourful bonanza with over 1000 revellers following the many floats.

Lindeners indeed brought the word alive, and celebrated after a hard year’s work, for most of them worked in the bauxite company.

The parade ended at the newly-constructed Mackenzie Sports Club Ground where the floats and reveller were judged. Competition was indeed high, as participants gave it their all in bringing life to their floats.

That year, Evadne Gravesande took the coveted title

One of the floats of the Mashramani celebrations in 1970.

of ‘Mash Queen’, winning in the process a brand new Morris Minor motorcar.

TREMENDOUS IMPACT After seeing for himself in 1972 the tremendous impact the festivities were having on the mining community, which had by then been renamed ‘Linden’ after President Forbes Burnham, then Tourism Minister Mr David Singh, who gave the feature address at the opening ceremony that year, made a promise that he was going to recommend to the Government that ‘Mash’ be made a national event.

The Minister did keep that promise, Hamilton said, as he had the privilege of travelling with him later that same year throughout the length and breadth of the country explaining the concept of ‘Mash’ to the councillors of the various towns and villages.

The festivities were subsequently moved to the city the following year (1973) by the Jaycees of Georgetown, following which it came under the control of the Government.

Today, Mashramani is held in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Bartica and Buxton. And, rather than being one day, it is extended to an entire period, accommodating a series of events ranging from calypso competitions, soca monarch competitions, costume competitions, masquerade competitions and float parade

competitions.

And so as not to not obstruct the national celebrations, Lindeners started to hold their own float parade competition the Sunday after Republic Day. Every year, the parade would rotate its route, either starting on the Wismar Shore or ending on the Mackenzie Shore.

While over the years there has been a decrease in the number of floats, residents of Linden, who are known to love a good party, continue to support the event and come out in their numbers.

2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS The Regional Commemorative Committee has already submitted their 2017 calendar of activities. The events are expected to commence on January 29 with a steel pan concert on the Linden Town Park, followed by the semi-finals for the calypso competition on February 11, and the Mashramani exhibitions at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre from February 15 to March 3.

There’s also to be a concert for the elderly at the Linden Concert Hall and School (LICHAS) on February 19, followed by the annual Flag Raising ceremony on February 22.

The Linden Mashramani Road Parade is billed for March 5, starting at the Bayroc Community Centre Ground.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

Businessman pilots ‘green’ initiative IN keeping with the proposed shift from traditional to “green” energy, Linden businessman Norvell Fredericks has piloted this initiative in the mining town by availing to the local market several household products that are operated by way of solar and wind energy.

The initiative was recently launched, and the products are located at his Republic Avenue business place where Lindeners and other interested persons can find available several high-end solar and wind-driven items such as refrigerators, solar panels and compatible solar battery generators, solar street, garden and security lights, and wind turbines.

Being cognisant of the

need for alternative energy as fuel prices continue to rise, not to mention the damning effects of traditional energy on the environment, and the regular power outages, Fredericks decided that it is the ideal time to materialise a plan that was 16 years in the making.

After doing a significant amount of market research and realising that Lindeners do possess an interest in alternative energy, the initiative was launched.

THE RIGHT TIME The time was indeed ripe for Fredericks, as the 2016 Budget, which was announced only two days after launching, has as its focus “The Green Agenda. The Budget also spoke of a pleth-

Mr. Fredericks and some of his solar-powered appliances

ora of concessions that will be made available for persons importing these items.

“I am hoping in the new year to take full advantage of whatever concessions are in the Budget for this, because it is needed,” Fredericks said.

He also spoke of doing research on this project for close to two decades, but the shoot off was stymied, because of the hefty prices some of the items cost back then. “This has been over 16 years in the making,” he said.

“I’ve been researching this for more than 16 years, and at that time, a system like the one with the panel at 40 watts would have cost about half-amillion dollars. Now you can get one at about 500 watts at $160, 000.”

Now, with the prices

available to match the pockets of a middle-income earner, there were no deliberations, in addition to the items being more user-friendly, coming in inclusive packages.

“Any old granny can operate this solar panel,” Fredericks said, “because it comes with the compatible generator that is solar charged.

EASY-PEASY “First, if you bought a panel like this, you would have had to run here and there to get this fitting and this control; but now, everything is in one, and easy to operate.”

And despite the prices may be a little higher than a regular electrical light or generator, he said, the long-term

benefits of purchasing these as a costly initial investment is needed to reap the benefits of not paying electricity bills, as well as not being without electricity in the event of a power outage. Persons will also be a part of the country’s “green agenda” and by extension the world in an effort to save our environment.

The security, street and garden lights, while off during the day, are charged from the heat emitted by the sun, and works for 10 hours during the night. The lights also run on low energy, compared to regular electrical street lights, which run on 500 watts and more.

And despite the fact that Lindeners currently benefit from subsidised electricity, which may prevent them

from thinking “green” at the moment, Fredericks is advising that these residents should look at the bigger picture and not just a low monthly electricity bill.

Businesses can enjoy the benefits of having a noisefree generator, which does not require fuel, as well as other appliances.

Many persons living in riverine communities and along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, he said, have shown an interest in going ‘green’, even making purchases of the generator since his recent launch.

He, however, hopes to launch the initiative in Georgetown shortly, and intends to own the largest alternative energy outfit in Guyana.

Wind Turbines on display outside of Fredericks’ business premises

16

Merriman Mall vendors upset

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 13, 2017

–– as City Hall removes them reportedly without notice

By Telesha Ramnarine

THE barbers and cosmetologists on Merriman Mall, who were relocated there from the streets in Georgetown, are upset that

the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) turned up and dismantled their stalls in the dead of Wednesday night and without providing them any notice.

Furthermore, one vendor

said he received word that the reason behind moving him and the rest of the vendors on Merriman Mall, between Cummings and Light Streets, is to make the area into a parking lot that will

Angry cosmetologists display their most recent receipts for environmental fees facilitate parking meters.

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen had told the Chronicle on the sidelines of the statutory meeting on Monday that those vendors who were not keeping their end of the bargain to keep their surroundings clean have at most one month to remove from the location.

be relocated to Merriman Mall on a temporary basis, and now that they are proving to be untidy, remaining on a permanent basis is now out of the question.

The barbers and cosmetologists, though, some of whom got emotional when they saw what their stalls turned to yesterday morning,

This barber is appealing to President David Granger to look into this issue himself Town Clerk Royston King and a team reportedly turned up after the vendors would have left the facility and dismantled the stalls, which were then dumped inside the Le Repentir Cemetery.

The barbers, and a few cosmetologists, who were said to be keeping their surroundings clean, were allowed to remain on the spot.

But they too told Chronicle Thursday that they were not provided any details as to if they will be allowed to remain there.

The vendors had on hand receipts of their latest payments for environmental fees which were recently hiked from $1000 to $1,500.

Chase-Green did, however, tell the Chronicle Monday that the original intention was for the vendors to

said they have no idea where they will go now, having already been relocated.

One vendor, who had previously told the Chronicle that she was willing to work along with the guidelines of the M&CC, is of the view that the M&CC has only provided them with empty promises.

UNFAIR “They take us from off the streets and giving us empty promises. We were maintaining the spots.

They could have told us of their dissatisfaction. It is a deception because you just come and meet your stuff on the road,” the woman said.

One of the barbers told the media yesterday that the rain and sun helped to destroy the tents that were

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 13, 2017

This cosmetologist points to her working equipment that she spent thousands of dollars on. Everything was destroyed by M&CC without notice

Cosmetologists who were relocated from the streets in town to Merriman Mall now have no idea where to go(Adrian Narine Photos)

not in use and that made the surroundings look unkempt. These factors are in addition to the social rejects (junkies) that frequent the facility once vendors would have left.

“These people bring us out of town and for the jubilee celebrations, they tell us that we ain’t looking good and tell us to organise ourselves and to take out medicals and so. If they put us

untidiness.

“We will not tolerate it.

The Council agreed by a recommendation from the Markets’ Public Health Committee that they (vendors) should have been gone long ago. We tried our utmost best to ensure that no one is left without sending their child to school or providing a meal by having them there. But it is not in the best interest of the City; the condition that

temporary, why put pipes?

And they promised to build something for us after the jubilee.

“The mayor never gave us any notice. I appealing to the President to come and look into this situation.

It appears as though these people bullying poor people.

Is we vote for these people.

Before they become mayor and town clerk, they come out on the road and give us

all assurances that they will help us and this is what these people turn out to. They turn their back on us after we finish voting for them and they get what they want. These people just studying to make money. Nothing they ain’t doing for poor people,” the barber lamented.

Meanwhile, the mayor has said that the Merriman Mall vendors have been disgracing the council by their

place is being left in” ChaseGreen told councillors.

She said many of the said vendors have not even been fulfilling their obligation to pay the environmental fees.

“They have three barbers there who have the place looking good compared to the female cosmetologists. The men showing the women them up on that place. We can’t tolerate that kind of lawlessness,”

the mayor further lamented.

Meanwhile, following the meeting, Chase-Green told Chronicle: “They have to clean up their act. They have another month to find somewhere to move.”

But some are wondering why Town Clerk Royston King had the stalls dismantled when the Mayor said she was giving the vendors one month.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

How to look your best self MAKEUP allows its wearer to not only feel beautiful, but to express their creativity, since it is considered an art in some sections or society.

So says Trinidad-trained makeup artist, Janica Sandy, and because of this, she believes that it is therefore unlikely that makeup would ever truly be “overdone”.

Janica told The Buzz that makeup is a versatile art, and can serve as an attractive accessory, depending on the occasion.

“It all depends on your application. Someone may apply too much foundation, but I wouldn’t consider too much eyeshadow as overdoing it; you can have creative makeup done, or show your creativity through heavy application, depending on the occasion,” she said.

Janica Sandy, makeup artist

A FEW TIPS The increased fascination with and use of makeup throughout society has also seen an increase in trained makeup artists, but many women have also tapped into the art for personal use.

Now, with the art being given normative standards through its prolific presence, however, there are some mistakes that women (and even makeup artists themselves) fall victim to. To avoid these, Janica, who trained with Trinidadian ‘Colour-Blocking Queen’ and internationally recognised makeup artist, Ameila ‘Pinky’ Razzaq, has

some tips for beginners who are looking to achieve basic everyday looks.

“Everyday makeup should cover blemishes, define your bone structure, and highlight eyes without making it look as though it’s ‘vamped up’,” she suggests, adding that foundation, powder, light eye makeup and neutral lipstick will help to create a natural, polished look that most women would feel comfortable with.

She says, however, that among the most common mistakes that women make in their makeup application are using the wrong shade for their foundation, not blending their eyeshadow enough, and choosing the wrong colours.

Makeup artists believe that women should be tested by professionals in order to be advised on products that are right for their skin tone, as well as purchasing the right brushes and looking up colour schemes Online to know which colours go well with each other. “Makeup is an art like any other art, so just as you would have to learn how to paint, you need to learn how to apply makeup well,” Janica said.

The New Amsterdam-born native says that these are the tips that she and her team provide for their customers through her Ultimate Image brand.

“I also try to make my clients as comfortable as possible, meet them halfway with their timings, ask questions, and ask their permission be-

--without breaking the bank

fore posting pics. These are the little things that keep them coming back,” she said.

EARLY INTEREST Of course, her makeup skills have something to do with her satisfied customers as well. Janica’s passion for makeup stemmed from her early interest in fashion and pageantry as a young girl.

She then left her job to study cosmetology, before traveling to Trinidad to further enhance her skills.

“I used to travel a lot,

and I would always be amazed at the things that women did with their makeup in those countries. They looked flawless, and they wore it with pride; and I wished that my fellow Guyanese would take makeup to another level, because it was becoming popular worldwide,” she said. Today, she admits that she is glad that Guyana’s makeup industry is also booming, and that so many makeup artists are striving to take their craft to another level.

A satisfied client

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

Economic traditions can strangle -and bring unforeseen darkness

MOST of our economic traditions began before Independence, and envelope symbolic evolutions of political iconography that become bigger than life, resisting change and even the discussion of adjustment.

Much like the traditional cavalry that endured from the dawn of human warfare, it could not, by the logic of its romantic value, be relegated to the history books but rather was launched against the unromantic machine gun and was massacred in both world wars.

The waterfront became the embodiment of Hubert Nathaniel Chritchlow, the ultimate stevedore who launched the nation’s first indigenous political movement, in the same way the sugar industry, though its beginnings, were etched in the blood of African slavery.

It would, in modern-day Guyana, become the embodiment of Indian indentured political growth, and a symbol of the PPP and of Dr Cheddie Jagan.

MYTHS OF OUR TIME But time always chal-

lenges the sacred icons of humankind; the religions of our distant fathers and mothers become the mythology of our time.

The symbolisms remain with us, but the rituals are different. The same holds true for our economic culture. We have experimented half-heartedly with the different, but never paid enough attention to develop and sustain the experiments of our clothing industry, our fledgling movie productions, ceramic industry or arts potential, which includes music, for local and export mass production.

Why these experiments did not work were simply because, in most of these areas, political administrators were placed to oversee categories of development they could hardly comprehend, much less expand upon.

Thus, as the experiments fade away through the indifference and cluelessness of its bad managers, so do the traditional industries, in the face of new technologies and innovations in accustomed areas of the traditional workforce.

Today, the ‘Call-On Centre’ on Lombard Street no longer is the busy dispersing point of tough stevedores; they are all now the ghosts of another age. The same is happening, one by one, with the sugar estates. Some time ago, I wanted a photograph of the Kingston Water Street Koker. I drifted off while in conversation with a friend who was boasting of his ‘curass catch’, and the last thing I could remember telling him was that ‘curass’ was my ‘kinna’.

MEMORY LANE I then drifted off into the memory of the nearby old Rice Marketing Board, where I used to work; the fun times that I had there; the characters, fights and sweat that made that flashback come alive.

If you didn’t know it before; did not have that experience, and looked at it in January 2017, then all you would see are the ugly ruins of some forgotten place or the other. These industrial effigies have faded, and nothing has replaced them.

Young men watched their

fathers retire and become security guards, with no health benefits, only a meagre pension; not enough to buy a cheap fragrance or proper detergents to wash his disappearing wardrobe; no support efforts from that place they had to give 33 years to earn a pension; no housing plan... Nothing! Even the overtime could not suffice!

Too many children! Nobody thinks about the family-planning chat with the people who need it most. The job market becomes depleted, and even the ‘job’ itself loses its aura.

So the next page is turned; words like ‘hustle’ and ‘runnings’ become aligned with progress, as the world of the unprotected artisan dwindles.

CALL OF THE GENIE Then, the ‘Genie’ steps out of the ‘Green Bottle’: She is the promise of the narcotic trade; she promises a better life.

As for the worn-out old folks: The mother who was a hard-working, self-sacrificing maid at the hospital, or a charwoman at some ministry, she and her waterfront, cane-cutting husband

the ‘Genie’ describes as ‘losers’. Take a chance; mek real money; buy nice things; live yuh life! Even help the retired, sad old folks! This is the call of the ‘Genie”.

And the vacuum that the elders of society have neglected to plan for and fill with the crude potential staring at them from the talents of the people to be managed into attractive new industries, is then filled by the mirage of the ‘Genie’.

And the simple world is no more; the world of the ‘Narco-Genie’ has no empathy, no compassion, no holistic substance. It cannot build; it inflates egos and destroys everything, through a duration of violent time.

NATURAL HUMAN GIFTS The natural human gifts will bear fruit, if its intuitive seed is recognised and nurtured. From poet to artisan, all we are in the world of 2017 began with the bard, the artist, the spear-maker and the gatherer of healing roots and flowers upon the plains of Africa countless millennia past.

This is the context of our beginnings. Many seasons

have ebbed, but its symbolisms, if understood, are still the formula of healthy human development.

The ‘Genie’ feeds on the neglected through its clever brokers, but the vision of enlightened society can intercept its course.

New options must be nurtured. We have denied our children the right to dream; they are not connected to any interactive local realms of imagination. We have denied them that, because no one has thought of it for 40 years; and those who have cannot influence the keepers of the door to open new frontiers, or even listen to them.

So, the youthful delinquent of 2017, he or she, if grilled, will have no other references, logic or perception but the materialism of the ‘Narco-Genie’ that has enveloped his growth for the past three decades; for he or she is the nation’s youthful predicament. But now, knowing and understanding this macabre fact, among others that have not been addressed here, can we intercept the door keepers with new possibilities and salvage the children of the nation’s youth?

Dethroned!

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

--For not upholding ‘standard and dignity’ of Miss India Guyana Organisation SCANDAL struck Guyana’s pageant community earlier this week when it was announced that reigning Miss India Guyana, Brittany Singh, has been stripped of her title and all the benefits that go with it for multiple breaches of her contract.

Making the surprise announcement on Tuesday, via Facebook, was the Miss India Guyana Organisation, to the effect that “...Ms Brittany Singh is no longer Miss India Guyana 2016, and is in no way associated with the organisation and its affiliates.”

According to the organi-

sation, Brittany’s behaviour was not in keeping with the “standard” and “dignity” that her title demanded, and her contract mandated.

The two sides are now said to be locked in a legal battle over the issue, and according to one source, Brittany is refusing to return

property to the organisation.

When contacted yesterday, Brittany said she could not comment at the moment as she was on her way to see her lawyer.

CAME AS A SHOCK The news came as a shock to many, and an obvious embarrassment to the organisation, which invested a lot in getting Brittany prepared. Particularly disheartened was franchise holder, Uma Bux, who took over the franchise only last year July, and was hoping to make a good first impression.

The Miss India Guyana Organisation’s Facebook page was abuzz with comments, and at least one person thought it was “about time”.

Though only now gone public, Brittany was actually given the boot since November 16, last year, but the

organisation was hoping to keep the whole thing under wraps. Extenuating circumstances, however, forced them to let the cat out of the bag.

According to the organization, the official dethronement came after the 20-yearold received “three official warnings, both verbal and written, on misconduct demeanors.” They occurred twice in October, and then in November.

“This resulted in the termination of the legally bonded contract signed by Ms Singh and dethroning of titles, privileges and/or responsibilities bestowed upon her, both locally and internationally, by the Miss India Guyana Organisation and the Miss India Worldwide Pageants produced by IFC,” the organisation said.

According to a source, Brittany’s alleged miscon-

duct included things like shouting at members of the organisation.

MIRED IN CONTROVERSY But this is not the first gossip surrounding Brittany’s climb to the coveted throne.

Controversy followed her victory last September. The aspiring accountant was one of three girls who vied for the crown; and after viewing the pageant, some believed she did not deserve it. Others, however, found her to be a bubbly, fun-loving person.

Brittany’s contract saw her receiving a monthly stipend for the duration of her reign, and included extensive training in preparation for the Miss India Worldwide Pageant in New Jersey last October, where she was in the top ten, and even won the Ms. Photogenic title.

Brittany Singh being crowned back in September last by her predecessor, Lieve Balnckaert

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

ENGAGED! ASSISTANT Director of Sport, Brian Smith, popped the question to long-time sweetheart, Jasmin Harris, Youth President of the Ruimveldt Life Improvement Centre, and paralegal at the law firm, Hughes, Fields, and Stoby.

The couple started the year off just right when Brian asked for the lady’s hand on January 1, in Broklyn, New York while the two were on vacation.

Surprisingly, the couple first met at the gym!

“I was doing aerobics, and she asked what I was doing there; if it was to fatten my eyes. I guess I did,” Smith happily recalled.

Jasmin is is daughter of wellknown pastor of the Ruimveldt Life Improvement Centre, Simon Harris, and niece of popular cartoonist, Paul Harris.

She is also known for hosting the Weight No More: Fit it Guyana show!

Congratulations to the lovely couple!

Jasmin and Brian

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 13, 2017

Fitness53 rewards members on first anniversary A dream can become true, that is if you really want it to. However, the dream becoming a reality depends on the dreamer.

In January 2016, one of Guyana’s finest cricketers brought his dream to fruition by opening a state-of-theart gym, Fitness53 Inc., at Providence on the East Bank Demerara.

Ramnaresh Sarwan, commonly called ‘Ronnie’,

ENGLISH RACING TIPS Lingfield 09:00 hrs No Not Again 09:30 hrs Oberyn 10:00 hrs Free Zone 10:30 hrs Monteamiata 11:00 hrs Potters Lady Jane 11:30 hrs Nonchalant 12:00 hrs Lady Nayef SEDGEFIELD 09:10 hrs Karisma King 09:40 hrs Boagrius 10:10 hrs Copt Hill 10:40 hrs Cabragh 11:10 hrs Perseid 11:40 hrs Carlos Du Fruitier HUNTINGDON Wicked Willy 09:50 hrs Burbank 10:20 hrs Fly Home Harry 10:50 hrs Master Blue Eyes 11:20 hrs O O Seven 11:50 hrs Peggies Venture SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Greyville 11:45 hrs Majix 12:20 hrs Baby Is Black 13:00 hrs Power Horse 13:30 hrs Cutting Edge 14:00 hrs Stockade 14:30 hrs His Legacy 15:00 hrs Weskus Klong 15:30 hrs Patroclus 16:00 hrs Disrupt IRISH RACING TIPS Dundalk 13:00 hrs Red All SAtar 13:30 hrs Mulzamm 14:00 hrs Perplexity 14:30 hrs Chestnut Fire 15:00 hrs Guard Of Honour 15:30 hrs Arbourfield 16:00 hrs Oor Jock 16:30 hrs Sweetasever AMERICAN RACING TIPS Aqueduct Race 1 Jetsam Six Race 2 Monster Mash Race 3 Wonder Gal Race 4 Irish Marauder Race 5 Smile Big Race 6 La Cat Warrior Race 7 Mewannarose Race 8 Fox Rules Race 9 Italian Schiller

built his dream from the ground up, literally.

Although it took some time to complete, it can now be described as a landmark for some, but for ‘Ronnie’ it is his way of showing his appreciation to Guyanese.

On Wednesday, Fitness53 Inc. celebrated its first anniversary. The celebration started on Tuesday with a raffle, where 30 members, randomly selected by computer, were given prizes ranging from free passes for one month, to gym clothing.

Later in the week, the staff and some members will be feeding the children of an orphanage in Georgetown.

To date, the gym has

close to 2,500 registered members with an average of 200 persons attending daily. “From 05:00hrs to 21:00hrs, there is a constant flow of people. Some come for a one-hour work out, while others come for as much as three hours. Some come in the mornings and back again in the evenings.

A few members come and work out, have a shower, hot or cold, then go to work.

As long as you are a member you have unlimited access to the facility,” Manager of the facility, Darlene Harris, said.

There are scheduled classes for Zumba, Spin, Aerobics, Abs and what the gym calls Cardio/Step Fusion. There

are both male and female trainers/instructors, who are highly skilled with many, many years of experience.

From 17:00hrs to 22:00hrs, a Nutritionist is on site for consultations. The Health Bar provides smoothies, shakes, salads and other canned/bottled beverages.

“For the New Year the gym hopes to bring in Rowing Machines, have the Sauna up and running and get a masseuse or masseur on board. ‘Ronnie’, his family and staff would like to wish all of Guyana a happy and prosperous New Year and say to you make your own dreams become true,” Harris concluded.

Haiti stays top, Suriname ...

From back page rankings, leaping up to 128th in the World to be January’s best performer and putting them seventh in the CFU. This improvement is still some distance from their best ever ranking for the Surinamese at 84th in the World, recorded nine years ago.

Though the move has not meant any shifts in the top-five which remain Haiti, Curaçao, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and St. Kitts & Nevis, there has been some shifting in the remainder of the top-10.

Antigua & Barbuda holds onto sixth place, but Suriname’s rise displaces the remaining three with the Dominican Republic, Guyana and Puerto Rico follow.

T&T’s Soca Warriors was the busiest team in the World during the last

rankings period, playing four times, but three losses meant they dropped 30 points and dipped five places in the World rankings to 83rd.

The top 34 positions in the World remain unchanged with Argentina, Brazil and Germany still holding first, second and third place respectively.

Despite the overall stability of the January table, two new teams broke into the top 50 – Saudi Arabia at 48th (up six places) and Nigeria at 50th (up one) advance at the expense of Albania at 51st (down two) and Burkina Faso at 53rd (down three).

The small southern African nation of Swaziland, meanwhile, reached its best ever position in the World Ranking at 99th (up one).

The next rankings will be published on February 9.

Singh and Paul catapult DCC ...

From back page over.

But Gajanand and Derwin Christian, who made 26; averted further disaster and restored confidence in getting to the target.

Christian smashed four fours off the nineteen balls faced while Singh displayed the right temperament in conquering the opponents.

Paul, a member of the West Indies Youth Team that won the ICC Under-19 World Cup last year in Bangladesh, joined his more senior compatriot and together they rallied DCC to a heart-warming victory.

The unconquerable Singh remained unbeaten on 56,which included nine sweetly-timed boundaries off 48 deliveries while Paul was also undefeated on 41 that included four sixes and one boundary off 24 balls.

Singh collected the “Manof-the-- Match” award for his

topscore and match-winning fifty.

Rajiv Singh finished with three wickets for 19 runs off his four overs while Ryan Jones took one wicket for 27 off 2.1 overs.

During the Police innings, Clifton Halls 50 (3x4s and 2x6s off 37 balls), Sunil Beepath 38 (33 balls) and Dereck Nancoo 14 (2x4s off 15 balls) were the only batsmen to get to double figures.

Paul (3.5-0-21-1), Christian (4-0-28-2), Cohen Ismond (3-0-18-2) and Carlton Jacques (1-0-13-1) did the bowling honours and shared the wickets for DCC. In the third quarter-finals played at the same venue, Merryboys trounced the Duncan-Buggy Haynes United team by 97 runs in a one-sided affair.

Merryboys posted 178 for 7 in 20 overs,with solid contributions coming from former national player Lincoln Roberts 42 (3x4s and 3x6s off

28 balls), national all-rounder Marlon Richards 36 (1x4 and 3x6s off 16 balls) and senior player Isaiah Rajah 28 (3x6s off 25 balls).

West Indies Under 19 all-rounder,Jyd Goolie,claimed two wickets for 25 from four overs while Bryan Charles took two for 45 from his four overs.

In reply, DBH United folded up for a paltry 81 all out in 13.2 overs with pacer Rishaard Harris being the chief destroyer with 6 for 26 from 3.6 overs. Leftarm spinner Ricky Jaipaul supported with two wickets for 16 runs in three overs.

Goolie made 25 that contained one six and four fours off 15 deliveries while Duane Cockburn struck three fours in his 18.

Merryboys will face Cane Farm United in the other semi-final which is carded for tomorrow evening at the same venue from 18.00 hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

Bangladesh reach 154 -3 on shortened opening day

(REUTERS)-Persistent rain and bad light affected much of the opening day’s play in the first Test between New Zealand and

Bangladesh yesterday with the visitors handily placed on 154 for three after being asked to bat on a green Basin Reserve wicket.

Mominul Haque was on 64 while all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was five not out when umpires Paul Reiffel and Marais Erasmus took

Mominul Haque celebrates his half-century on the opening day in Wellington.

the players off at 1830 (0530 GMT) due to bad light and abandoned play 15 minutes later.

The players had left the field before lunch and tea due to persistent rain and returned during the third session only to be forced off before the umpires even reached the middle.

They returned for a final time about an hour later but bad light ended play after a frustrating 40.2 overs.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had won the toss and asked the visitors to bat, though Tamim Iqbal (56) refused to be constrained

by the bowler-friendly conditions, hitting five boundaries off Trent Boult’s opening three-over spell.

The showers, powered along by gale-force northerly winds, forced an early lunch after 11.3 overs with the visitors on 39-1, having lost opener Imrul Kayes for one, caught by Boult at deep fine-leg after he hooked a Tim Southee bouncer.

The 27-year-old Tamim continued to attack when they resumed and brought up his 20th test half century from 48 balls and had scored 52 of Bangladesh’s first 56 runs.

He then hit his 11th boundary but was struck in front by Boult off the next ball and while he was initially given not out, Williamson had the decision overturned on review.

Mahmudullah was the only other wicket to fall when he was caught in the final session by wicketkeeper BJ Watling for 26 off Neil Wagner, who was unlucky not to also have Shakib when the ball burst through Mitchell Santner’s hands at square leg.

Bangladesh bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Subashis Roy were given their test debuts, with the 21-year-old Taskin expected to lead an inexperienced pace attack.

Medium-fast bowler Kamrul Islam Rabbi has played just two previous Tests.

SCOREBOARD BANGLADESH 1st innings T. Iqbal lbw b Boult 56 I. Kayes c Boult b Southee 1 M. Haque not out 64 Mahmudullah c Watling b Wagner

26 S. Al Hasan not out 5 Extras: (lb-2) 2 Total: (for 3 wickets, 40.2 overs) 154 Fall of wickets: 1-16 I. Kayes, 2-60 T. Iqbal, 3-145 Mahmudullah To bat: M. Rahim, S. Rahman, M. Hasan, T. Ahmed, S. Roy, K. Rabbi Bowling: T. Boult 12.2 - 3 - 53 – 1, T. Southee 11 - 3 - 45 – 1, C. de Grandhomme 6 - 0 - 26 – 0, N. Wagner 11 - 2 - 28 – 1.

Sammy signs with Hung Hom Jaguars

FORMER West Indies captain Darren Sammy will head back to Asia for the Hong Kong T20 Blitz after signing a contract with the Hung Hom JD Jaguars.

The 33-year old will join two other high profile Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara for the second edition of the tournament, which will run from March 8-12.

Jaguars team coach Afzaal Haider said the team was happy to acquire the services of the two-time World Cup winning West Indies T20 captain.

“Darren Sammy is a

Darren Sammy

stalwart of the game. His celebrations with the pacifier and champion dances have won him countless fans across the globe,” said Jaguars team coach Afzaal Haider.

“More than that, he is a very astute cricketer, who can contribute with the bat, ball and strategies,” he said.

Sammy recently took part in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) where he captained Peshawar Zalmi.

Pakistan’s Afridi will represent the Kowloon Cantons, while the Galaxy Gladiators Lantau announced the signing of Sri Lanka’s Sangakara.

Two other teams taking part in the tournament Hong Kong Island United and City Kaitak, are both expected to announce their signings over the next few days.(Sportsmax.com)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

Amla, Duminy centuries put South ... Amla becomes eighth play to Africa in control score century in their 100 Test th

(REUTERS)-Hashim Amla became the eighth player to score a century in their 100th Ttest as he guided South Africa to a commanding 338 for three at the close of play on day one of the third and final test against Sri Lanka at The Wanderers yesterday.

Amla ended months of frustration as he put behind him some wretched recent form that had seen him without a 50 in his previous 10 Test innings to finish the day on 125 not out.

The 33-year-old put on 292 for the third wicket with JP Duminy (155), a record for any wicket for South Africa against Sri Lanka, to boost their chances of a series clean-sweep.

He will resume in the morning with debutant nightwatchman Duanne Olivier, who has yet to score.

“It was never a big thing in my mind, playing the 100th test, I just wanted to get some runs on the board,” Amla told reporters at the close. “You are never in on this wicket. It was just about spending time at the crease.

“I am grateful for the 100 games, but also for getting runs for the team. It was frustrating not contributing to the team’s success.”

Amla offered a simple chance to gully when on

initiative away from Sri Lanka, who had made a bright start in seame r- f r i e n d l y c o n d i t i o n s , having been asked to bowl.

JP Duminy celebrates his century in Johannesburg on the opening day.

five that was put down by Dhananjaya de Silva and grew in stature as his innings progressed on a wicket that had some life in it.

He reached his 26th century off 169 balls, with the second 50 taking just 60 deliveries as he picked the gaps in the field with ease.

He joins an elite group of players who have made a century in their 100th test -- the others being Colin Cowdrey, Javed Miandad, Gordon Greenidge, Alec Stewart, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Ricky Ponting (both innings) and Graeme Smith.

Duminy had initially been the aggressor in the partnership and went to his sixth test century off 140 balls, displaying some immaculate timing and straight drives down the ground.

He was eventually caught at second slip

by Kusal Mendis off the bowling of teenage seamer Lahiru Kumara (2-79) in the penultimate over of the day.

The pair wrested the

SCOREBOARD

Hashim Amla celebrates a century in his 100th Test in Johannesburg

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings S. Cook lbw b Mathews 10 D. Elgar c Karunaratne b Kumara 27 H. Amla not out 125 J. Duminy c K. Mendis b Kumara 155 D. Olivier not out 0 Extras: (b-9 lb-8 nb-1 w-3) 21 Total: (for 3 wickets, 90 overs) 338 Fall of wickets: 1-45 S. Cook, 2-45 D. Elgar, 3-337 J. Duminy To bat: F. du Plessis, T. Bavuma, Q. de Kock, W. Parnell, V. Philander, K. Rabada.

Bowling: S. Lakmal 20-3-70-0, N. Pradeep 18-4-58-0 (w-2), A. Mathews 12-4 - 25-1 (nb-1), L. Kumara 18-1-79-2 (w-1), R. Herath 14-0-67-0, D. de Silva 8-1-22-0.

South Africa’s openers Stephen Cook (10) and Dean Elgar (27) put on 45 in an hour before both fell at the same score.

The home side hand-

ed a debut to 24-yearold seamer Olivier, the leading wicket-taker in domestic four-day cricket, in place of spinner Keshav Maharaj.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

ECB NOT HOLDING ELECTIONS- SAYS HOLDER

PRESIDENT of the North Essequibo Cricket Committee (NECC),Prince Holder,is very concerned that the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) will not be holding elections, even though it is constitutionally due this year.

The NECC is one of eight area committees of the ECB and according to Holder,should the current scenario continue, it will be undemocratic and against the constitution of the Board.

Holder further lamented that the Secretary of the ECB verbally indicated to him that the ECB cannot hold elec-

tions due to an injunction, and this was communicated to him by the Secretary of the GCB. However, Holder said that his Committee is not aware of any injunction since he has never received any documentation to this effect.

The ECB Annual General Meeting is scheduled for January, 15th, 2017 at the ECB Hostel.

Additionally,Holder claimed that no notice of the meeting was sent to the representatives but instead the Secretary informed him via a telephone call.

This too,he said, is unacceptable and against the con-

President of NECC Prince Holder stitution since notices should have been given at least ten days prior to the meeting. He

is of the opinion therefore that there is a sinister motive to hijack the ECB through undemocratic means,even though the executives of the current Board have failed in their mandate.

He is fervently appealing to the relevant stakeholders including civil society and sporting bodies to correct this seemingly dictatorial trend and ensure that the ECB hold elections as mandated by the GCB’s constitution.

Holder also made reference to the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB),which has notices in the daily news-

papers,having its AGM on 2017-01-29 ,while placing on its agenda the item of’ Election of Office Bearers’ and signed by the Secretary.’

Why then the ECB,which is an affiliate member of the GCB,cannot conduct elections too’ he posited.

He also wondered who will legitimately represent the ECB at the GCB elections.”Can the GCB legally conduct elections with illegal members,”he reasoned.

Meanwhile,Holder is also bemused by the fact that none of the area committees have held elections

which is necessary prior to the ECB having same.

This he said is not a desirable stance since members should have the right to elect its officials who will represent them at the level of the ECB. The current scenario is not so since the current officials of the ECB will remain there for another two years,should elections not be held and this is pitiful ,he declared. The status quo will remain and so will be the existing death of cricket in the county,he also added.

(Elroy Stephney).

Prosecutors consider charges against 23 suspects over Hillsborough stadium tragedy (REUTERS)-British prosecutors are to consider whether criminal charges should be brought against 23 suspects over the 1989 Hillsborough soccer stadium disaster in which 96 fans died, the police watchdog said yesterday.

The Liverpool supporters died in a crush in an overcrowded, fenced-in enclosure at the Hillsborough ground in Sheffield, northern England, at an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. It remains Britain’s worst sporting disaster.

Last April, following a two-year inquest, a jury concluded that police who at

first blamed the tragedy on drunken fans were responsible for the deaths, had told lies and staged a cover-up to hide their catastrophic mistakes.

Jurors had been told that to return verdicts of “unlawful killing” they would have to be sure that David Duckenfield, the police commander in charge at the match, was responsible for “manslaughter by gross negligence”. They ruled the deaths were indeed unlawful.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had

(REUTERS)-Graham Taylor, the former England football manager, has died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 72, his family announced yesterday.

Taylor, who had a playing career with Grimsby Town and Lincoln City, was a successful manager in English football’s top flight with Watford and Aston Villa, guiding both to second-place finishes in the old first division.

It was his ill-fortune, though, to be remembered for his turbulent reign as England manager between 1990 and 1993, when he was widely criticised for failing to take the national team to the 1994 World Cup finals.

Amid vicious and sometimes personal vitriol, Taylor remained a dignified and charming personality and went on to become a much-loved and admired figure within the English game.

After further spells as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Watford for a second time and Aston Villa, the

son of a journalist made a successful career in the footballing media as a radio pundit.

“With the greatest sadness, we have to announce that Graham passed away at his home early this morning of a suspected heart attack,” his family said in a statement.

“The family are devastated by this sudden and totally unexpected loss.”

Taylor’s death prompted a wave of affectionate tributes.

Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s leading scorer, said on social media: “Completely shocked by news of Graham Taylor.

“Always held him in the very highest regard - the man who gave me my first England cap. So sad.”

Paul Hayward, the Daily Telegraph’s chief sports writer, spoke for many within an industry that had given Taylor a rough ride during his England reign when he wrote: “His time with England might have soured him. He refused to let that happen.”

The football fans were fatally crushed at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Fores.

been handed evidence files from two investigation teams into the cause of the tragedy and alleged subsequent attempts to hide the truth.

The CPS said it would consider charges including gross negligence manslaughter, perverting the course of justice and misconduct in

During the worst of his threeyear reign, which saw him resign after England had failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup, Taylor was infamously portrayed by a national newspaper as a “turnip” with his face superimposed on the vegetable.

an unbreakable bond since we first met. We went on an incredible journey together and it will stay with me foreverFurther success at Aston Villa saw Taylor land the England job but the team flopped at the 1992 European Championships and never made it to USA 1994 as the vitriol towards him became almost intolerable.

Years later he reflected without malice in an interview: “People ask me if I am still hurt about being called a turnip but I am not. I don’t go to bed worrying that a newspaper put a turnip on my head.

If I had lived my life like that I would have been very sad.

“That is not what hurts.

That is not what I have to live with. It is not qualifying for the World Cup. In a quiet moment, when I’m driving the car, I think, ‘Graham, how the hell did you get that wrong?’

“It is then that I sigh. I have some good things on my CV but the big one I didn’t make and I will carry that to the day I die’.”

Former England football boss dies THE IMPOSSIBLE JOB Yet despite all the flak he soaked up with remarkable equanimity -- his England reign was famously, and sometimes comically, celebrated in a flyon-the-wall documentary The Impossible Job -- Taylor’s remarkable achievements in nearly three decades at club level should not be understated.

A journeyman player, he became an enterprising young manager who took fourth-tier Watford all the way to the top flight and to an FA Cup final in a glittering era for a homsepun club overseen by the club owner, pop star Elton John.

The singer said on his Instagram account: “He was like a brother to me. We shared

public office against the 23 unnamed suspects.

“We will now assess these in order to determine whether we have sufficient material on which to make charging decisions,” said Sue Hemming, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division.

Victims’ relatives, who campaigned for decades to overturn original conclusions that the deaths were accidental, had demanded criminal charges should be brought against those involved in the failures on the day and the conspiracy to keep them qui-

et.

Andy Burnham, the former home affairs spokesman for the opposition Labour Party, said after the inquest there had been complicity between police, politicians and newspapers in a cover-up that went “right to the top”.

“These criminal investigations into the circumstances surrounding the Hillsborough disaster are the largest investigations into alleged police wrongdoing ever undertaken in England and Wales,” IPCC deputy chairman Rachel Cerfontyne said yesterday.

Graham Taylor managed England between 1990 and 1993.

Nonetheless, even after the documentary in which his touchline mutterings, such as, “Do I not like that?” became

part of the English footballing lexicon, he fought back with real skill to guide Watford back into the Premier League.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday January 13, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 232-Andy Flower (ZIM vs IND, Nagpur, 2000) (2) 183*- Mahendra Singh Dhoni (IND vs SL, Jaipur, 2005 Today’s Quiz: (1) Which wicketkeeper has made the most appearances in Tests to date?

(2) Which wicketkeeper has made the most appearances in ODIs

to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 13, 2017

West Indies to host Pakistan in three Tests and ODIs

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Historic Kensington Oval will host its ninth Test in 10 years when Pakistan tours the Caribbean later this year.

The game will be the second of three Tests on the March 31 to May 10 tour, which will also include three One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals.

Both sides also met in a full tour in the United Arab Emirates late last year, with the Caribbean side losing all three formats.

West Indies Cricket Board operations manager Roland Holder said he expected the tour to be a challenging one.

“Any series against Pakistan always poses an interesting contest for the West Indies,” said Holder.

Kensington missed out on a Test last year when India toured the Caribbean but hosted Tests for every year between 2008 and 2015.

The venue’s most recent Test was in 2015 when West Indies beat England by five

wickets inside three days, to snatch a 1-1 draw in the three-Test series.

Sabina Park in Jamaica will play host to the opening Test starting April 2, the fourth Test to be staged at the venue in as many years.

The second Test bowls off at Kensington on April 30 while the third Test starts at Windsor Park on May 10.

Windsor Park has already hosted four Tests since staging its first back in 2011.

FULL ITINERARY

Sabina Park will host the opening Test starting April 2.

1st T20: Queen’s Park Oval March 31 2nd T20: Queen’s Park Oval - April 2 1st ODI: Guyana National Stadium - April 7 2nd ODI: Guyana National Stadium - April 9 3rd ODI: Guyana National Stadium - April 11 Three-day tour match: Trelawny Stadium - April 15-17 1st Test: Sabina Park - April 22-26 2nd Test: Kensington Oval April 30-May 4 3rd Test: Windsor Park – May 10-14

Haiti coach focussed on Gold Cup qualification COUVA, Trinidad & Tobago, (CMC) – Haiti coach Jean-Claude Josaphat hailed his side’s performance in the Caribbean Cup fifth-place playoff against Suriname and hosts Trinidad & Tobago.

Josaphat was handed the coaching reins just prior to the start of the tournament, due to a pay dispute between the Haitian Football Federation and previous head coach Patrice Neveu, but the Caribbean’s No.1 side

Haiti coach Jean-Claude Josaphat

still prevailed over spirited opposition.

Following a 4-2 win over the Surinamese and 4-3 extra-time victory over the Soca Warriors, the Haitians earned a place in a two-game playoff with the fifth-place side from this month’s Copa Centroamericana for the last ticket to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. “I have had wonderful experiences in the coaching world,” said Josaphat.

“Beating T&T, the most successful team in the Caribbean Cup however, and progressing to the next round is the proudest moment of my coaching career. This is a good moment for the Haiti national team.

“If you look at how we approached the two games, we played with lots of confidence. The team showed a lot of character and really put in a solid effort in two tough games. I am sure that if we can play

with this same determination and intensity that we can qualify for the 2017 edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.” Two years, French Guiana defeated Honduras 3-1 at home in the first leg of the Caribbean/Central American playoff for the 2015 Gold Cup, only to drop a 3-0 decision on in the return match.

Jospahat said there was no preference for a Central American opponent, but helping Haiti

reach the Gold Cup for the seventh time was his main goal.

“I am not necessarily hoping to get a particular team and avoid another in the playoff against the Central American team,” he said.

“All teams in Central America are tough, so we will have to play as well as how we did in Trinidad in order to qualify for the Gold Cup. It won’t be easy, but we can do it.”

McDermott century helps Hurricanes to record win over Renegades MELBOURNE, Australia, (CMC) – A disruptive spell from West Indies Twenty20 star spinner Sunil Narine for Melbourne Renegades was upstaged by a maiden Twenty20 hundred from Ben McDermott that set u p a t h r i l l i n g , re c o r d two-wicket victory for the Hobart Hurricanes in a high-scoring Big Bash League match yesterday.

Narine was the most successful bowler for the Renegades, grabbing three for 27 from four overs, but the 22-year kid McDermott smashed eight fours and nine sixes in 114 from 52 balls to put the Hurricanes firmly on course for a target of 223 at the Docklands Stadium and the highest successful run chase in the

tournament’s history.

Before Narine trapped him lbw in the 16th over, McDermott, son of Australian fast bowling legend Craig McDermott, shared 151 for the third wicket with Australia international George Bailey, after the Hurricanes endured a shaky start.

Narine again intervened, when he had Beau Webster caught at deep mid-wicket for a second-ball duck and Bailey caught at long-on for 59 from 42 balls in the space of three deliveries in the penultimate over, leaving the Hurricanes needing 16 from the final over.

Narine was again involved, when his direct hit at the striker’s end from third man saw Cameron Boyce run out off the sec-

Ben McDermott hit his maiden T20 century. ond delivery.

But Sri Lanka medium-fast bowler Thisara Perera, entrusted with the final over, conceded 13 from the next three balls, including three wides, before England international Stuart Broad got a single from a leading

edge to mid-off to take the Hurricanes over the finish line.

Earlier, Australia international Aaron Finch hit the top score of 63 from 40 balls and Netherlands international Tom Cooper supported with an

unbeaten 53 from 24 balls, as the Renegades posted 222 for four from their allocation of 20 overs, after they were put in to bat in the 24th match of the tournament.

The total took the Renegades 10 past the previous highest score in the BBL, made by the Hurricanes against Brisbane Heat in four Decembers ago, but McDermott, whose six count was the same total for the home team during their innings, propelled the visitors to a memorable victory.

The result meant that the Hurricanes now have six points – but they are fifth in the tournament standings behind the Melbourne Stars, due to net run rate. The Renegades are one of three teams on

four points in the bottom half of the table – but they are sixth, due to net run rate.

The League continues on Saturday with a derby at the Sydney Cricket Ground between the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers, whose squad includes incumbent West Indies T20 captain Carlos Brathwaite, a replacement for injured West Indies teammate Andre Russell.

Narine and the Renegades return to action this coming Monday at the Adelaide Oval, when they face hosts Adelaide Strikers, whose line-up includes West Indies T20 star Kieron Pollard and Barbados-born England all-rounder Christopher Jordan.

West Indies to host Pakistan in three Tests and ODIs See story on page 31

Fitness53 rewards members on first anniversary See story on page 27

Some of the members of the Fitness 53 Gym at Providence

Singh and Paul catapult DCC to UWI T20 semis KEEMO PAUL

... to face Club Crusoe today at 18:00 hrs

By BRIJ PARASNATH FORMER Guyana senior player Gajanand Singh and West Indies under-19 all-rounder Keemo Paul combined to rally Demerara Cricket Club (DCC)to the UWI UNICOM T20 semi-finals,which is carded for today at the Sir Frank Worrell ground, St Augustine campus.

DCC, in their first outing in this tournament, continues to impress and should fancy their chances of getting the better of Club Crusoe, Tobago’s champions, in their semi-final encounter which will be contested under floodlights from 18.00 hrs today.

Singh has emerged as the’form’batsman of the tournament and once again proved his resilience to push DCC to an exciting six-wicket victory over Police Sports Club in their quarter-final match

CFU Rankings

Haiti stays top, Suriname start the year strong GAJANAND SINGH

on Wednesday night.

Singh is yet be dismissed and has featured in all three matches with undefeated half-centuries. The attractive left-handed strokeplayer opened the batting and calmed the nerves of DCC supporters and his teammates with disciplined application and calculated assault on the lawmen,whose aspirations of toppling the visitors were enhanced when they captured three quick wickets in one over.

Earlier, Police batted first and were dismissed for 133 in 18.5 overs. And after being set a victory target of 134 runs,DCC found themselves in disarray when Rajiv Singh sent back Andrew Light jnr (caught Hanooman for 3 off 7 balls), Steven Sankar (LBW 0, 1 ball) and Kemol Savory (caught Hanooman 0, 1 ball) in the same Turn to page 27

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

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Haiti remained the region’s No.1 side, but recent opponents Suriname made the most waves in the latest Caribbean Football Union(CFU) rankings.

The Haitians led the way among the region’s nations in the final FIFA World Rankings for last year and a successful run in CFU Caribbean

Cup fifth-place playoff last week in Trinidad allows them to hold firm at the summit, where they have been for the past three months.

The latest results has also helped the Haitians to fortify their place in the CONCACAF top-five behind Costa Rica, Mexico, United States and Panama.

With very few match-

es played by regional sides since the previous rankings, there are few big changes in the January edition, except for the big move by the Surinamese.

The Dutch Caribbean side made the biggest move by both 62 points and a whopping 22 places in the Turn to page 27

Haiti remains the region’s No1 team.

FRIDAY JANUARY 13, 2017