Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 16 01 2017

Guyana poised to become top oil producer

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Granger talks up mobile banking No. 104795

MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

– as Republic Bank opens $1.5B Triumph branch

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Republic Bank (Guyana ) Limited Managing Director Richard Sammy (left) makes a point to President David Granger as First Lady Sandra Granger, Chairman of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Nigel Baptiste and another senior representative of the bank listen attentively (Samuel Maughn photo)

Miner killed in Turn-Key 10 NY-bound Kumaka, one homeowners Guyanese busted suspect held 15 feel cheated with cocaine Page

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 16, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 16, 2017

Granger talks up mobile banking

By Ariana Gordon

REPUBLIC Bank (Guyana) Limited on Sunday formally commissioned its 12th location in Guyana, amid calls by President David Granger for emphasis to be placed on mobile banking and extending the reach of financial services to un-served communities.

“Mobile banking has proven to be very success-

the expansion of this branch will also intensify competition within the financial sector,” he said, noting that the bank’s Triumph location brings the number of branches in the country to 41. Republic Bank owns 12 of the total.

In congratulating the bank on its addition, the President described the investments as “impressive,” but stressed the need for

–– as Republic Bank opens $1.5B Triumph branch

President Granger told the gathering of the bank’s officials and Government ministers that activities must not be confined to the coastland.

“Many residents in the hinterland have to make costly overnight trips to access banking services; commercial banks are encouraged

First Lady Sandra Granger cuts the ribbon to officially open Republic Bank’s Triumph, East Coast Demerara branch on Sunday. Also in photograph are President David Granger; Chairman of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Nigel Baptiste (left); Managing-Director of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Richard Sammy (right) and Manager, Legal Services/ Corporate Secretary Republic Bank (Guyana), Christine McGowan ful in improving access to financial services in many countries and I am sure it can improve custom in this country as well -- the expansion and use of mobile banking [in] Guyana is another potential approach to provide basic financial services to riverain and hinterland areas; mobile banking has the potential to vastly improve access to financial services…by allowing financial institutions to provide services without having to invest in [buildings].”

The $1.5B facility located at Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is the second largest Republic Bank Branch after the bank’s Water Street branch and stands at approximately 24, 143 square feet and contains energy-efficient lighting and refrigeration-flow for air-conditioning systems in keeping with Guyana’s ‘green state’ agenda.

In delivering the feature address, the head-of-state made it clear that while there is evidence of expansion in the banking sector here, there is a need to close the gap between financial services provided on the coastland and those in the hinterland regions of the country.

“The opening of this branch will promote increased financial inclusion;

their continued development in the banking sector.

GREAT POTENTIAL “There is still great potential for the provision of financial services further eastward and westward, particularly westward, so as to drive economic development,” he said, outlining the country’s deficiencies as it relates to the limited number of commercial bank branches and the number of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) here as compared to Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

He quoted the World Bank’s statistics which showed that last year Guyana had only 8.4 commercial bank branches per 100,000 people compared to neighbouring Suriname, which had 11.1 per 100,000 people and Trinidad and Tobago 13 per 100,000.

He reported too that Guyana has 17 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) per 100,000 persons, compared with 41 in Trinidad and Tobago.

“These are deficiencies which we must address,” he said, emphasising the need for the banking sector to take hold of innovative means to bridge the gap between the coast and the hinterland.

to find greater means and instruments of expanding their services to hinterland communities – the lack of access to banking services to un-served areas lends a serious constraint to income-generation activities --- it is a factor which limits the economic development of those regions,” the head of state added.

The APNU+AFC Administration, he said, is committed to ensuring that services provided on the coastland are made available to those who reside and work in the hinterland regions of the country, and as such, he called on the banking sector to explore alternatives to capture all citizens.

President Granger acknowledged the smallness and remoteness of some communities, thereby making it unviable for commercial banks to establish a presence there; as such, he stressed that it is necessary to cooperate with the banks to ensure that non-traditional options such as mobile banking are utilised.

Given Guyana’s vast lands and the geographical nature of the country, the President said that more than any other Caribbean territory, Guyana needs to develop systems that suit its geographical realities.

“One size does not fit all,” he declared.

IMMENSE IMPORTANCE He said the opening of the branch at Triumph is of “Immense importance” to him on the regional, national and personal levels. On the regional front, President Granger who two weeks ago assumed chairmanship of CARICOM, said he intends to further the work of the founding fathers to ensure that strong regional economies exist.

“Guyana is the largest state in CARICOM and I feel whatever is good for business in Guyana will be good for business in the entire community. [The]Republic Bank group has a strong presence in the Eastern Caribbean and the opening of this branch strengthens and lengthens the reach and deepens the relations with citizens, communities and countries of the Eastern Caribbean and [the] Caribbean Community as a whole,” he stated.

Nationally, the President said the bank removes the need for citizens who live on the East coast to travel to the city to access financial services, while alluding to the hosting of Local Government Elections (LGE) last year.

vices will contribute to enhanced economic growth and reduced income inequalities.

“The opening of bank branches brings banking services closer to the people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited Nigel Baptiste, said the opening of the branch solidifies the bank’s vision to strengthen relations with the communities between West Berbice and Georgetown.

“High among our priorities is building and solidifying our relations with the community; both as a financial services provider and supporting social development,” he said, outlining the objective of the bank is beyond the provision of financial services, but also to pursue meaningful relationships and make a difference in communities through empowerment programmes.

Baptiste noted that the bank’s vision for expansion is strongly aligned with trends shaping the local, regional and global economies.

NOT THE LAST He said locally there are increased opportunities for home ownership and the expansion of small and

accommodates 32 persons, inclusive of the manager, provides retail and commercial deposit and credit facilities, residential mortgages, personal banking, foreign banking services and card business, electronic banking and night deposit facilities.

The Triumph location was designed by Rodrigues Architects Limited and constructed by Raffik and Sons Construction Service.

Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited has a banking history which dates back to 1836 with the British Guiana Bank; it was the first commercial bank to start business in British Guiana. In 1914, it was purchased by the Royal Bank of Canada and became the second foreign-owned commercial bank in the history of the country.

After serving 70 years in Guyana, Royal Bank closed its operations and sold the bank to the Government of Guyana, bringing into being the National Bank of Industry and Commerce Limited (NBIC), which was subsequently converted into a private company when the Government sold approximately 85 per cent of its stock to local private-sector interests.

In 1997, Republic Bank of Trinidad became the ma-

The $1.5B Republic Bank branch located at Triumph, ECD “The democratic dividends will not only be that our people will be empowered to elect their own local leaders from now on, but that there will be heightened economic activities and heightened confidence in the system of local governance.”

On the personal level, President Granger noted the ease to access financial services to residents of the East Coast and noted that evidence suggests that the wider dispersion and deeper penetration of financial ser-

medium-sized businesses, while adding that Republic Bank’s Triumph location is not the last as it intends to expand to Rosehall, Berbice.

The bank is examining the construction of a new facility there to accommodate the expanded needs of its Rosehall branch The construction of the bank commenced in February 2016 and was completed in November of the same year.

The bank, which opened for business on December 19 and

jority shareholder after purchasing 47.5 per cent shares from the government and National Insurance Scheme and 3.5 per cent from individuals. The bank was branded Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited on June 5, 2006.

First Lady ,Sandra Granger; Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma and Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes, also attended the launch.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 16, 2017

CIA director warns Trump to watch what he says

-- and be careful on Russia CIA Director John Brennan on Sunday offered a stern parting message for Donald Trump days before the Republican U.S. president-elect takes office, cautioning him against loosening sanctions on Russia and warning him to watch what he says.

Brennan rebuked Trump for comparing U.S. intelligence agencies to Nazi Germany in comments by the outgoing CIA chief that reflected the extraordinary friction between the incoming president and the 17 intelligence agencies he will begin to command once he takes office on Friday.

In an interview with “Fox News Sunday,” Brennan questioned the message sent to the world if the president-elect broadcasts that he does not have confidence in the United States’ own intelligence agencies.

“What I do find outrageous is equating the intelligence community with Nazi Germany. I do take great umbrage at that, and there is no basis for Mr. Trump to point fingers at the intelligence community for leaking information that was already

available publicly,” Brennan said.

Brennan’s criticism followed a tumultuous week of finger-pointing between Trump and intelligence agency leaders over an unsubstantiated report that Russia had collected compromising information about Trump.

The unverified dossier was summarised in a U.S. intelligence report presented to Trump and outgoing President Barack Obama this month that concluded Russia tried to sway the outcome of the Nov. 8 election in Trump’s favour by hacking and other means. The report did not make an assessment on whether Russia’s attempts affected the election’s outcome.

Trump accused the intelligence community of leaking the dossier information, which its leaders denied.

They said it was their responsibility to inform the president-elect that the allegations were being circulated.

Later on Sunday, Trump took to Twitter again to berate “those intelligence chiefs” for presenting the dossier as part of their briefing. “When people make

mistakes, they should APOLOGIZE,” he wrote.

Brennan also sounded an alarm on U.S. relations with Russia. Trump has vowed to improve relations with Moscow even as he faces criticism that he is too eager to make an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump does not yet have a full understanding of Russia’s actions, Brennan said, noting its seizure of Crimea from Ukraine, its support for President Bashar al-Assad in Syria’s civil war and Moscow’s aggressive activities in the cyber realm.

“Mr. Trump has to understand that absolving Russia of various actions it has taken in the past number of years is a road that he, I think, needs to be very, very careful about moving down,” Brennan said.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Friday, Trump suggested he might do away with sanctions imposed by the Obama administration on Russia in late December in response to the cyber-attacks if Moscow proves helpful in battling terrorists and reaching other U.S. goals.

PROFOUND IMPLICATIONS Brennan also said Trump

needs to be mindful about his off-the-cuff remarks once he assumes the presidency, alluding to Trump’s penchant for making broad pronouncements on Twitter.

“Spontaneity is not something that protects national security interests,” Brennan said. “So therefore when he speaks or when he reacts, just make sure he understands that the implications and impact on the United States could be profound.”

“It’s more than just about Mr. Trump. It’s about the United States of America,” Brennan said.

Trump has picked Mike Pompeo, a Republican member of the House of Representatives and a former U.S. Army officer, to replace Brennan.

Trump’s comments about

Putin and his reluctance to assign blame to Moscow for the hacking of Democratic political groups has opened him up to criticism that he will be too soft on Russia.

For months, Trump had publicly expressed doubt about U.S. intelligence conclusions on the cyber-attacks before acknowledging at a news conference on Wednesday that he thought Russia was behind the hacking.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence told Fox News Sunday, “What the president-elect is determined to do is to explore the possibility of better relations.”

Pence did not say whether Trump would undo some of the sanctions and diplomatic expulsions Obama had slapped on Moscow.

Pence confirmed that

Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Michael Flynn, held conversations with the Russian ambassador to Washington around the time the sanctions were imposed, but said the talks “were not in any way related to the new U.S. sanctions against Russia or the expulsion of diplomats”.

However, Pence denied that Trump’s team had any contact with Russian officials during the presidential campaign. “Of course not,” he told Fox. Leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee said on Friday they will investigate alleged Russian attempts to influence the election and links between Russia and the political campaigns. (Reuters)

CIA Director John Brennan prepares to testify to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on “Russia’s intelligence activities’’ on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 16, 2017

Honouring Dr Martin Luther King, Jr

By United States Ambassador, Perry L Holloway

THIS year’s holiday honouring Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, coincides with the final week of the presidency of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, and the first African-American to lead the executive branch of the U.S. government in our 240-year history.

Despite holding this tremendous honour, President Obama said in his farewell address last week that “race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society.

I’ve lived long enough to know that race relations are better than they were 10, or 20, or 30 years ago - you can see it not just in statistics, but in the attitudes of young Americans across the political spectrum. But we’re not where we need to be. All of us have more work to do.”

Martin Luther King, Jr, nearly 50 years after his life was tragically cut short, transcends race and serves as an example of what one person can do when he or she is committed to doing the right thing. He used non-violent means in the face of what many would call today racist, violent extremists. In his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” Dr King wrote, “I am cognizant of the inter-relatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta

United States Ambassador Perry L Holloway

[Georgia] and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham [Alabama].

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.

Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

The future for Guyana is very bright. The economy has been doing well for a few years and is projected to continue on this path, although there are challenges in certain sectors. The already confirmed petroleum reserves guarantees that Guyana will have the revenue to allow it to develop industries and infrastructure and create a broad-based economy with true value added, which means jobs and prosperity if done right. It also means that Guyana will have the money to fund activities that will allow Guyana to be even

greener than it already is. In the spirit of Dr King, I pledge to work with all Guyanese to ensure a secure, prosperous, and inclusive Guyana. The mosaic of races, religions, and people of different ethnic backgrounds peacefully co-existing would make Dr King proud. But, as President Obama says about the United States, all of us have more work to do.

I encourage all Guyanese citizens, and visitors like me who are fortunate to be here, to honour Dr. King’s memory today and throughout the year; and commit to acts of service in the community. Whether it is helping an elderly neighbour, or teaching a child how to read, we can all make a positive difference, and collectively the result will be something we can all be proud of.

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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

Remembering Dr Martin Luther King

TODAY, America and the world remembers one of the greatest public persons to grace the world stage—Martin Luther King Jr. The very mention of that name in any part of the world evokes reverence and respect for a man who lived for a mere 39 years; but during that time, his impact on America and the world at large was unmatched by any public figure of his generation. In contemporary society, where icons of past generations are hardly known by the present one, Dr King is the exception.

Dr King was the best-known figure in the final stage of the American civil rights movement—one of the great 20th century socio-political movements. He rose to prominence in 1955-56, when another civil rights icon, Rosa Parks, ignited a year-long bus boycott by African-Americans in Montgomery, Alabama, by refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. This was during the period of segregation in the American South, when blacks and whites were prohibited by law from sharing the same public accommodation.

Dr King, then a young 26-year-old minister, at the time was chosen by the people to lead a boycott of the buses, which eventually lasted for a year and ended with the desegregation of public transportation. That outcome in Montgomery had a domino effect, as public transportation in several other southern cities was desegregated. Dr King would for the next 12 years lead a national movement that saw the legal end to segregation and the formal integration of African-Americans into American society as equal citizens.

As the face of the movement, Dr King was revered by his followers and hated by his detractors. He and his followers endured ridicule, physical violence from both private individuals and groups and from the State. Yet he persevered with the praxis of non-violence and civil disobedience in the face of such intense violence that claimed the lives of several civil rights workers. After many unsuccessful attempts on his life, Dr King was eventually assassinated in April 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.

He has left a tremendous legacy which has remained an example to other fighters for social justice. As an orator, he was second to none; his speeches are cited widely both for their content and delivery. Dr King was not just a leader and an activist, he was a deep thinker whose thoughts are today the subject of study in universities across the world.

As we remember this giant of a man, we should reflect on the value of selfless public service. Dr King gave his entire adult life to the service of mankind. He spent little time with his young family. When he was brutally murdered, he left little earthly belongings; in short, he died a poor man. But his was a life rich with commitment to lift his fellow human beings to the mountain top. It is a lesson which contemporary political people should heed.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 16, 2017

Pre-production oil-revenue borrowing misguided and poor economic advice Dear Editor,

I REFER to the article penned by Sherwood Lowe, titled: “Guyana should go the route of resource-based borrowing,” published in the Stabroek news on January 15, 2017.

Mr Lowe’s recommendation that Guyana should go the route of pre-production oil-revenue borrowing is misguided and a poor economic prescription.

Resource-based borrowing should not be confused with pre-production oil- revenue borrowing, for they are fundamental differences between the two – that main difference being timing. Borrowing on pre-production oil revenue ignores the multiple risks facing the realisation of such revenues. While preliminary results show that Guyana may realise the commercial production of oil in the future, these signals should not be taken as forgone conclusions.

The industry still faces multiple risks in commercialising oil production. Oil companies have not yet ruled out all geological risks that may hinder the extraction process. Concerns about the quality of oil available, the actual amount of reserves, the scale of production and other market and financial risks still loom largely.

Pre-production oil-revenue borrowing would essentially be putting Guyana’s economy and Guyanese taxpayers at risk of over-indebtedness and at the mercies of multilateral lending institutions.

Going this route could lead to more taxes on families and businesses, coupled with

harsh financial and economic consequences with the slightest set back in the oil industry.

There are policies that are more critical for laying a strong foundation for the oil industry and the economy that the government should prioritise at this stage. These include, • Develop industry-specific legislation that provides a legal framework for the oil industry.

• Policy reforms such as realigning education and skills training policy and the development of appropriate labour standards to meet the needs of the oil industry.

• Develop appropriate legislation to strengthen the legal systems to be able to deal in a timely manner with dispute resolution that may arise within the industry.

• The development of environmental standards specific to the oil industry that ensures environmental preservation without hindering the industry. For example, holding oil companies accountable in the event of spills that can have serious environmental consequences.

• Develop fiscal management, accountability, and oversight mechanisms to ensure oil revenues – whenever realised – are properly managed and directed towards building a strong economic foundation for long-term growth. Such mechanisms include setting up of designated trust funds backed by appropriate legislation and earmarked for specific development purposes, with funding from oil revenue.

These are common-sense

So many political activists and politicians are today more concerned with personal enrichment rather than selfless service.

Another value of Dr King that is worth emulating is his commitment to principle over expediency. He believed in non-violence as tactic, strategy and over-riding principle. Even in the face of extreme violence and opposition from within his own ranks, he remained steadfast. For him, physical force would ultimately flounder in the face of soul force. He believed deeply that violence was not the answer to racism and racist violence. Perhaps, in the end he was vindicated.

Many have asked what would have been the destiny of Black America had Dr King not been cut down so early in his

policies that do not require pre-production oil-revenue borrowing and are more critical for the operation, commercialisation, effective management, and sustainability of the oil industry as it matures. Ensuring current tax revenues are having meaningful changes to communities in the areas of affordable housing, safe and clean communities, quality and affordable health- care, and upgrading the nation’s transportation system are more important priorities at this stage. These are critical public investments with high, long-term returns and form the backbone of economic take-off.

It is also important for the government to develop a national economic policy with clear developmental priorities that would utilise oil revenues. Taking on new debts to fund projects in a fragmented and random manner would be a colossal mistake. The identification of projects should be done within a broader economic strategy with specific developmental outcomes. The development of such strategy must include local government and civil society participation. More importantly, such strategy must focus on policies that would foster broad prosperity for all Guyanese and not enrich political elites and the wealthy.

While I have reservations about the “Dutch Disease” argument in its totality – a situation where the discovery of a natural resource leads to economic underdevelopment – one can easily recognise why countries which found oil became

worse off -- economically-- instead. Short-sighted government policies that focus on political gains at the detriment of prudent macroeconomic policies are the root cause. Borrowing on pre-production oil revenues is one such short-sighted policy.

Adding new debts to Guyanese taxpayers in a premature manner and on revenues that are far from being realised is a recipe for economic failure. Already, recent changes to the tax laws have increased the burden on taxpayers, especially the poor and most vulnerable. Allowing time for economic adjustments to take place and for the full impact of these policies to be realised, while laying the foundation for the oil industry and investing in basic public services critical for economic growth are not just good economic policy, but also good governance.

The coalition government has an opportunity to lay a solid foundation for Guyana’s future. Resisting the temptation of pursuing political gains at the expense of the nation’s economy and the economic future of the Guyanese people is necessary. By making policy choices that are more critical to economic growth and a strong foundation for the oil industry, given its adolescent age, the coalition government can achieve both economic and political gains – a win-win approach.

Dhanraj Singh, Economist

life. We would never know the answer to that question, but one thing is certain—his example, ideas and activism have shaped new generations across the globe. That America honours him with a holiday and remembers him in many other ways is a living testimony of the wide reach of his praxis. Today he is not just a hero to Black people, but to all other races. He is not just a darling of political moderates, but even hard-nosed radicals embrace him as a fellow traveller.

We in Guyana can draw strength from Dr King’s memory. As we grapple with our own challenges, the example of the drum-major of peace can be a source of assurance that all is not lost

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 16, 2017

Time to fix flooding in South Ruimveldt Dear Editor,

WE must remedy the issue of flooding in South Ruimveldt. A cursory outline will be had here, but collective effort is needed towards flood resiliency.

‘Georgetown Water and Sewage and Master Plan’ of 1994 is instructive, “The City of Georgetown is drained by an interconnected network of pump and gravity systems.

The network of open channels was originally developed to irrigate and drain the sugar plantations which occupied the land on which Georgetown now stands.”

Outlining challenges to the drainage system, it reads, “With urbanisation of the area, over the years, the paving of previously pervious surfaces resulted in increased quantities of run-off. In an effort to alleviate flooding, the function of the redundant irrigation canals was converted to that of drainage.”

We appreciate as well that infilling of canals also led to the current situation: West Ruimveldt Canal (1972), Merriman Promenade (1958); Church Street Canal (1959) are just instances where we have lost tremendous reservoir capacity.

A Guyana Review article, ‘Global Climate Change: Challenges for Guyana,’ posed the question, “…

should we not re-examine the drainage systems that were operational before facilities like the East Street and Sussex Street canals were filled? Certainly, restoring the drainage system to its optimal level should be an immediate priority for the government.” (2006) As residents we can appreciate, as well, excess water being on the land through circumstances beyond our control such as the recent heavy rains and high tide simultaneously, yet we have an expectation with the passage of time that its effects will be mitigated as soon as circumstances change. Theory and practice differ.

Another article in the Guyana Review, “Flooding: A way of life?” made the point of the economic impact of floods: “Floods have an indirect impact that disrupts society. As is the case of all disasters, these impacts and their costs (or value) are not well documented.

However, they include such things as business disruption and loss of income, loss of tax revenue, transportation delays, and the spread of illnesses, both physical and mental. There is also the indirect impact on other government-funded programmes.

Each tax dollar spent on flood response, relief and recovery is a dollar not spent on other

publicly funded programmes such as education.” (2005) It is a point that would later be amplified by Dr Balfour Spence at a lecture in 2013 at the University of Guyana, ‘Private Sector Engagement: An Imperative for Disaster Risk Management in Guyana.’ Dr Spence posited, “The 1997 drought affected in excess of 660,000 Guyanese; the flood in 2005 impacted 30,000 persons.”

He said that the drought and flood and related hazards of crop and insect infestations can be expected to become “more pronounced and extreme in the absence of appropriate mitigation measures. The consequences can become catastrophic for Guyana.”.

Professor Spence opined that, “Economically, they have set back the economy.

The 2005 floods resulted in damage close to half a billion U.S. dollars which is about 60% of Guyana’s GDP for the previous year. Impacts like these are not , since progress made in a year can be set back in a few hours.

The 2005 flood was an unprecedented event, reflecting the need for a proactive land use and development strategy for the coastlands.

The optimisation of land use is the critical baseline for the public-private sector engagement on risk management,”

President has absolute powers to appoint Chairman of Elections Commission

Dear Editor,

IN accordance with the constitution, Guyana’s Opposition Leader, Mr Bharrat Jagdeo, last week submitted a list of six nominees to President David Granger for his consideration and appointment of one as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission.

President Granger has asserted that none of the nominees was a judge, or qualified to be a judge, as the constitution dictates. Consequently, the President, exercising his powers under the constitution, declared the nominees “unacceptable” and rejected the list.

Mr Jagdeo retorted that, apart from the requirement that the chairman shall be a judge or a person qualified to be a judge, Article 161 (2) of the constitution also mandates that “any other fit and proper person” may be so appointed. Mr Jagdeo subsequently announced an intention to

approach the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) for an interpretation of Article 161 (2) of the Constitution; particularly the clause “any other fit and proper person.”

Article 161 (2) states that “Subject to the provisions of paragraph (4), the Chairman 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 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 with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.”

Approaching the CCJ on

this matter would be nugatory.

I believe that the powers which Article 161 (a) confer on the President are absolute and innocuous from judicial review.

Regardless of any requirement, qualification or eligibility, the constitution mandates that, ultimately, the nominees by the opposition leader cannot be “unacceptable to the President.” It therefore follows that acceptability is not to be determined by the nominator or the courts, but exclusively by the President, guided by the constitution – not the opposition leader or a judge.

I think Mr Jagdeo might be a little confused about his office. He’s the opposition leader, not the President. He should quit caviling and submit a list of nominees that is acceptable to the President Rickford Burke.

President, Caribbean-Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)

Spence noted.

As such, it was welcomed news when recently the Dutch Risk Reduction (DRR) Team arrived, tasked with assisting with the development of a new pilot system and design model to improve the drainage and irrigation system in the city of Georgetown, and from whose final report, ‘Analysis of Drainage System in Georgetown, Guyana’ (2016), we can significantly benefit.

We seem closer to mitigating floods and their effects on South Ruimveldt, since the DRR Team’s work focused primarily on South Ruimveldt as a catchment area. According to the team’s final report, “Using the input from the local drainage system analysis, measured geometric data and simplified boundary conditions a full model of the South Ruimveldt catchment was developed. This model can be used to assess and compare the effects of different interventions.”

Among other things, the report noted that currently operation of the drainage system is based on experience, while government wants to apply knowledge-based decisions on the drainage system.

The report said, “During the first session of fieldwork in [the] South Ruimveldt catchment area, it became

clear that the local drainage system does not work as it should. Many drains are filled with vegetation, litter and silt. As a consequence, flow is hindered. Due to the lack of outflow, the water level in the drains is relatively high, leading to limited storage capacity in the channels.

During heavy rainfall, the water cannot discharge and cannot be stored. Because of this, floods occur.”

“A wall divides the La Penitence channel in two sections of which one drains on the Ruimveldt-South channel. It is unsure if this wall functions as a division during high-water conditions.

“The South Ruimveldt and Liliendaal channels are connected to each other by a siphon at Lamaha Street.

However, the siphon does not function well and it is unclear what the interaction is between the two catchment areas. Discharge has been observed in both directions in along large parts of the South Ruimveldt channel.

“Along the South Ruimveldt areas, several inflow points do not function anymore during high-water levels in the primary channels, because water levels on both sides of the inflow point are equal.”

In the essay, ‘Evaluating Flood Resilience Strategies for Coastal Megaci-

ties’ the authors point out, “Flood risks and management approaches require location-specific analysis.”

Also, “In estimating risks from flooding scenarios, cities play an important role as they have access to (spatial) data on the assets—such as buildings, infrastructure, and environmentally protected areas—and socio-demographics of flood zones.

Catastrophic modelling expertise from the insurance industry can be useful for cities, and new knowledge partnerships are needed between city agencies, research institutes and private sector specialists.”

As such, an equally welcoming development is Cabinet’s decision to create an inter-agency task force to manage and improve the drainage in Georgetown, comprised of City Hall, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and Ministry of Communities whose subject Minister Ronald Bulkan leads the Task Force.

Sherod Avery Duncan, LLB, JP, Deputy Mayor, Municipality of Georgetown

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 16, 2017

Turn-Key homeowners feel cheated

By Svetlana Marshall

AFTER years of moving from community to community with her four children, 57-year-old Brenda Jones said she is more than happy to be living in her own home.

Jones is among the beneficiaries of the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) Turn-Key Home Project at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara.

While the first batch of beneficiaries had gained access to their Buttercup Cottages at a cost of $4.9M each ($4.4M for the house and $500, 000 for the land) in 2015, Jones received the keys to her two-bedroom house days before last Christmas.

“Girl, it was an act of God! I didn’t know what was the payment plan, but God is lovely,” Jones said, while explaining from the comfort of her verandah, that she is now paying a monthly mortgage.

“It is reasonable,” she added.

Before moving into her Perseverance home on December 4, 2016, Jones had moved from South Ruimveldt Park to Albouystown, then to Plaisance before returning to South Ruimveldt,

because of circumstances.

And though the house has a few flaws, Jones said she is pleased that the CH&PA is swiftly responding to the concerns being raised by homeowners in the area.

However, another resident, Paula Gibbs, on Sunday told the Guyana Chronicle that two years after moving into her Turn-Key home, she believes that the offer was unreasonable, contending that the cost of the house was too high.

“It is too small. It only has two bedrooms and so I may have to extend the house,” the 56-year-old single-parent pointed out.

Gibbs lives there with

three of her four children, ages 28 to 22, all of whom have children, according to her.

In addition to complaining about the size of the cottage, Gibbs said she is dissatisfied that the house was not fenced before when it was presented to her.

“I think they could have fence up the yard. We get it just like that as though we are living on the street,” she uttered, while further complaining that the yard becomes muddy when it rains.

As she pointed out her plight, Gibbs noted that her bedroom ceiling once caved in on her; however, the CH&PA was quick

to correct the structural defects.

BITTER-SWEET Another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said that she was the first person to have benefited from the Turn-Key Home Project. For her, it was a bitter-sweet moment.

“I was happy to get my own home, but there were so many complications. The house had a whole lot of faults, for three months I had no light, because GPL didn’t have meters, and the cows, the cows have been a problem from day one,” she posited.

However, she said that

Brenda Jones comfortably seated on the verandah of her two-bedroom home too had to run to safety.

“The cows went into a woman’s yard; pull off all her clothes off of the line.

Another woman, the cow went up on her verandah and lie down, when she opened the door, a big cow in front

The Turn-Key Houses at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara (Samuel Maughn photo)

Paula Gibbs and her grandson, Yuance Douglas

from April 2015 to now, the situation has been changing for the better; but the distance and the influx of cows in the area remain some of the key problems facing residents.

For Clevon Alphonso, the biggest problem facing the occupants of turn-key homes is the invasion of cows in the area. According to him, approximately 200 cows would pass through the community on a daily basis.

Clearly upset about the situation, Alphonso said he had to rescue his neighbour’s grandson from being trampled by the cows, but then he

of her door,” he said, while complaining bitterly about the situation.

Alphonso said it was just Saturday that a nurse fell while trying to run from a cow that was chasing her. “She fell and dig out her whole knee cap,” he said.

DESTRUCTIVE Additionally, he said the cows have also damaged their pipes and even his car, and though several complaints have been filed to CH&PA, it remains a problem today.

When the Guyana Chron-

icle visited the area, there were a few cows seen roaming the community, however, a large number were seen on a dam behind the stretch of houses.

The Turn-Key Home Project was part of the 1000Home Project which was launched by the CH&PA in 2011 under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

Construction of the houses had begun in 2014; however, it was only until 2015 that many persons had gained access to the them. The houses, however, were poorly constructed, and shortly after taking office in May 2015, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government had pledged to correct many of the structural defects linked to the poor quality of materials used.

One year after taking office as Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams-Patterson said millions had been spent to correct faulty works.

With a sense of accomplishment, the minister, at a recent press conference, said a total of 90 existing houses have been completed while remedial works were completed on 70 houses.

As a result, a total of 160 families are comfortably housed in these TurnKey homes.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 16, 2017

Guyana poised to become –New York Times report top oil producer

By CLIFFORD KRAUSS GUYANA, the tiny English-speaking South American country, is poised to become the next big oil producer in the Western Hemisphere, attracting the attention and investment dollars of some of the biggest oil companies in the world.

This week, ExxonMobil and Hess announced the successful drilling of a deep-water exploration well that may soon confirm that the seafloor beneath Guyana’s coastal waters contain one of the richest oil and natural gas discoveries in decades.

Experts now estimate that one of its offshore fields alone, known as Liza, could contain 1.4 billion barrels of oil mixed with natural gas, comparable to some of the larger fields drilled in South America.

With a population of fewer than one million people, Guyana — Venezuela’s western neighbour on the continent’s north coast — would be able to export nearly all of the oil that it will begin producing, probably starting around 2020.

T h e c o m p a n y ’s a n nouncements came only days after the Guyanese Government announced its intention to build a petroleum-processing and service centre on Crab Island, an enormous investment for one of the poorest countries in the region.

Early, rough estimates by experts of how much recoverable oil Guyana could have, range to more than four billion barrels, which at today’s prices would be worth more than US$200B. But the country, which currently produces precious little energy, sorely needs pipelines and other supporting infrastructure to begin a major

production and export effort.

“It’s not often that a country goes from 0 to 60 so fast like this,” said Matt Blomerth, head of Latin

cal supplier to world oil markets. Brazil and Colombia are already major producers, and Argentina took a big step in the same direction on

miles away from the well drilled by ExxonMobil in the Liza field. More tests are to be done.

The Payara field is

A drilling ship off the shore of Guyana. Experts are estimating there are billions of barrels of oil mixed with natural gas in the region American Upstream Research for Wood Mackenzie, a consultancy firm. Industry excitement over Guyana was stirred by a widely distributed report on Friday by the firm that said, “Guyana is rapidly joining the ranks of serious oil and gas players.”

The discovery is one more indication that South America is becoming a criti-

Tuesday, when Chevron and several other international oil companies pledged to invest at least US$5B this year and billions more in the years to come in the shale field in Patagonia, known as Vaca Muerta, or Dead Cow. Neither ExxonMobil nor Hess would estimate how much oil was found in a field called Payara, a few

part of a block of 6.6 million acres that ExxonMobil is exploring with Hess Guyana Exploration and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana, a Chinese-owned company.

IMPORTANT DISCOVERY “This important discovery further establishes

the area as a significant exploration province,” Steve Greenlee, President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, said in a statement. John B. Hess, Hess’s Chief Executive, said, “We believe that the resources recently discovered are significant.”

With ExxonMobil’s global fields aging and its new interests in Russia frozen

by United States sanctions, the discoveries in Guyana have the potential to add significant reserves to the company’s holdings. Rex W Tillerson, the former ExxonMobil chief executive, was scheduled to travel to Guyana to meet with its President David A Granger, but the trip was cancelled when he was nominated to become Secretary of State.

But for Hess, which has much smaller reserves than Exxon Mobil, Guyana is a far bigger bet with bigger potential gains.

Hess has announced an aggressive US$2.25 billion exploration and production budget for this year, an 18 per cent increase from 2016.

Of that, roughly US$475M will go to developing the fields in Guyana.

ExxonMobil has not reported what it will invest, but experts estimate the amount will easily surpass US$500M. The company has drilled five exploration wells off Guyana so far, only one of which was dry.

Exxon Mobil officials stressed that the Liza and Payara fields are close to each other, but are separate reservoirs and not connected, suggesting there may be more fields in the vast, unexplored areas of Guyana’s offshore waters.

“We are encouraged to find a second field that tells us that Liza was not a onehit wonder,” Alan Jeffers,

an Exxon Mobil spokesman, said.

Oil companies have explored only two of roughly 20 potential fields offshore, some of which are in waters claimed by Venezuela. Some analysts have compared Guyana’s potential to that of Angola, a member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, that is the second-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa after Nigeria.

The growing Guyana exploration effort is part of a slow global recovery of the oil industry, which was hobbled by a collapse in oil prices. After rising well above US$100 a barrel in recent years, prices fell below US$30 a year ago and now stand at just over US$50.

Industrywide, exploration and production investments are expected to rise thee per cent this year over depressed 2016 levels, to roughly US$450B. But with technological improvements and falling production costs in recent years, more oil can be produced at a lower expense.

In recent years, the State Department has been trying to prepare Guyana for its potential oil rush with a programme that advises the Government on how to draft environmental regulations, financial arrangements and other forms of oversight.

Environmentalists have cautioned that involvement with the Guyana project will create a conflict of interest for Mr Tillerson, should he be confirmed by the Senate. If he is confirmed, Mr Tillerson has pledged to recuse himself from any decision that might affect ExxonMobil for one year, and to consult with ethics officers at the State Department after that. (New York Times)

Burglars ransack West Berbice Mandir ––Dharmic Sabha declares ‘zero tolerance’ THIEVES struck West Coast Berbice on Saturday evening, breaking into a Mandir at Number Three Village, ransacking the place and carting off a number of items used for religious purposes.

According to a statement posted on Facebook by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha,

a number of Hindu deities were damaged, and several items such as the Mandir’s sound system and microphones were stolen during the breakin.

“The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha condemns the terrible destructive acts, larceny and break and entry which

took place at the No. 3 Vishnu Mandir, West Berbice,” the religious organisation said, adding: “It is our hope that those who committed this violation of this Mandir be dealt with by the law.”

The Sabha further said that it is deeply disturbed by these

acts of lawlessness and vandalism which continue to plague communities countrywide.

“As such, we urge the Hindu community to assist this Mandir to regain its beauty and sanctity, and that there must be zero tolerance for these heinous acts,” the Sabha concluded.

One of the Hindu deities that were displaced

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 16, 2017

Family support THE ‘Family Support Services’ unit is one of seven located at the Childcare and Protection Agency, (CPA), which falls under the Ministry of Social Protection.

This unit deals with issues other than child abuse and therefore focuses on helping families in their endeavours to stay together in a suitable family setting: one that enhances the development of the children.

Families are recommended to the unit for various ‘child-protection’ reasons but for the most part cases come through the social workers based at the CPA. The types of support that officers in the

unit offer can range from the monitoring of children (in care) who are being reintegrated with their families, to assisting another family to find materials to build a washroom so they can have proper sanitation. These are just two examples of how the CPA works alongside families to ensure the best results for children. Children will always need to live in a clean environment with adults who care for them in the best possible way.

To this end officers from the unit have the task of linking families to support networks, (like the ‘Difficult Circumstances Unit at the

Ministry of Social Protection) where financial assistance and in some cases materials can be donated to bring about positive change. The unit also organises ‘Parenting skills training’ workshops for parents whose children are in care and for parents who may need to brush up their parenting skills.

Some parents live in circumstances that do not benefit their child’s development, health or sense of well-being.

When they are brought to the attention of the CPA, measures are put in place to help the family. In severe cases children may need to be removed but there are

NY-bound Guyanese busted with cocaine AN overseas-based Guyanese leaving Guyana after enjoying the Christmas season here was busted Saturday night at the Cheddi Jagan Interna-

tional Airport (CJIA) with over one kilogramme of cocaine.

The 45-year-old construction worker, who was returning to New York, was

arrested by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officers after the illegal substance was discovered in false walls of his suitcase.

occasions when the CPA can work with the family and the children can stay where they belong: at home. However, it is a sad case when parents are in denial and won’t accept that they need help or that they are breaking the law by abusing and/or neglecting their children. This makes fixing the problem twice as difficult. How does ‘Family support services’ deal with these situations? The answer is in the second to last paragraph below.

At the ‘Parenting skills training’ workshops parents learn alternative parenting methods and information is given to help them bring

about positive results and change where necessary. The aim is to help families maintain a more adequate lifestyle: a lifestyle where they will not be in breach of the child protection law.

Well, just how do the officers in the unit manage when parents just don’t want to acknowledge that their children are suffering and/ or their families’ needs help?

One officer told me. ‘We don’t give up, we plead, coax, apologise, beg… tactfully of course, it is important to keep the lines of communication open. Parenting is not an easy job, a lot of it is trial and error but when we work

with a family and a parent has an ‘ah ha’ moment… you see the realisation in his/her face: that’s what makes our work even more worthwhile’.

Parenting skills training will be held in various locations this year, if you’d like to attend call the ‘Family support services’ on 227 4082 for details. If you think a child is being abused call the childcare and protection hotline on 227 0797 on write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION The drug-enforcement agency made its first bust for the year on January 4, when a 24-year-old Guyanese woman, said to be a frequent traveller, was arrested with 4.2 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle.

The drug was stashed in a suitcase belonging to the woman, who was preparing to board a flight to Antigua and Barbuda.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 16, 2017

GLDA inviting interest in apiculture

11

– to help meet foreign demand for local honey

By Shauna Jemmott THE Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) is calling on the public to help scale-up production in our fledgling honey industry by getting involved in apiculture.

Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Michael Welch said the GLDA would welcome expressions of interest in beekeeping from members of the public as there is a great demand for local honey on the international market, which is hard to meet, given the few hundreds of people currently involved in apiculture.

Welch told the Guyana Chronicle last week that close to two years ago, there were people coming here from as far off as North Africa looking to buy honey.

“We had people coming from one of these North African countries looking for the honey, and when they tasted it, they said that it is the best they’ve ever tasted,” Welch said, adding: “They use honey as a staple: They use honey and rice, honey and bread, honey and everything, but we need to scale-up to capture those markets, because they were looking for a 40foot container every month.

“They’re not playing; this is serious business, so there is tremendous potential.”

NATIONAL BEE ACT And, in an effort to buck the trend among some local honey producers to “stretch” their product by adding “sugar-water”, the GLDA is currently finalising the drafting of a National Bee Act. This Act, Welch said, will not only apply to regulating

the rearing of bees here, but special emphasis will also be placed on maintaining a pure quality of honey, and the geographical zoning of apiculture, among other related matters.

“Legislation is part of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority’s 2017 work programme,” Welch said.

As he went on to explain, “What is supposed to happen, and that is what we’re moving towards, is legislation regulation, so that we can test to make sure that when you go to the shop and you buy honey, you have pure honey.

“So we have to work very closely with Food and Drugs to ensure that consumers are not duped.”

At the moment, he said, the final touches are being made to the drafting of the Bill preparatory to it being

tabled in the National Assembly, while work with the Export Credit Agency (ECA) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) is ongoing in terms of putting together the doc-

ument, which will also address exportation, the setting of hives and dealing with honey.

ZONING And given the tendency

among bees to create hives in densely populated areas, which can pose a threat to humans and animals, Welch said the GLDA, which has established a special unit to deal with apiculture, is moving to recommend and encourage beekeeping in specific zones in the hinterland and other less populated areas.

“We need to zone,” Welch said. “If we can get people to zone in terms of putting them where there are minimal chances of contact, it is better… but the key is education.”

In terms of raising awareness, Welch said the organisation has already begun its countrywide education campaign in schools and communities, and has even assisted several individuals and organisations in establishing apiculture businesses.

Among areas best recommended for raising bees are Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo); and Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), and on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

“Those areas are ideal for beekeeping, because of the population and the chance of no contact,” Welch said.

“And it’s a very good way of making an income.

If the honey is properly labelled, like ‘organic honey’ and the like, you get them into certain niche markets,” he added.

COSTING To get an apiary up and running, Welch said, would cost around $50,000, and includes providing suit, hive, smoker and bees.

Training is not a problem, he said, as the organisation provides that free of cost. The programme is also ably supported by the Guyana Apiculture Society, the chairman of which is veteran apiculturist, Mr Neil Grant.

There’s also a school p r o g r a m m e f o r a s p i ring young apiculturists.

“We have a school prog r a m m e , ” We l c h s a i d , “where we try to have young people become involved in beekeeping. We also work in communities with the women farmers and single parents. And in the hinterland, we try to work with the Amerindian communities, because they have a large expanse of vegetation that could lend itself very readily to beekeeping.”

Products from bees include pollen, royal jelly and wax, and according to Welch, more than 70% of the crops depend on bees.

Commercial apiculture is profitable, with one large rum bottle of honey being sold at around $1200 to $1500. “Once you set up this hive, is money coming in all the time,” he said, adding that a strong hive is capable of producing five to eight gallons of honey annually.

The market price per gallon is $10,000.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 16, 2017

Moblissa squatters plea for regularisation

By Vanessa Braithwaite

FARMERS and residents of the little inland community of Moblissa, located on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, Region 10, are pleading with the relevant

community’s boundary is in Region 10 or Four.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that the boundary separating Region 10 and Four is in Moblissa, but no one knows the exact demarcation.

the residents’ major concern is the lack of development in the community because the lands are not titled nor leased.

As a result of this, they cannot access loans and other financial assistance to develop their farms and homes, because a title or lease is required by a financial lending institution.

Residents are also scared that the lands that they have taken up for decades and built on may be taken away from them as they are not the legal owners.

On Wednesday,the Guyana Chronicle visited the mining community and several residents vented their frustration over the issue, pleading with the authorities to look into the matter.

One resident, Debra Cor-

nelius, expressed her frustration to this publication.

“We all are squatters, I have applied, I went down to Region Four with my papers and ya hearing is Region 10, then ya hearing ya don’t know and I have 30 acres of farm land and ya can’t do nothing because there is no lease,” Cornelius said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Jason Marks, a farmer, who said he has been living in Moblissa for many years and does not want to continue squatting.

“Is years, couple years well I living hay and I does plant one and two thing up by me deh but we want the lease man, that would help out a lot, is long now we fighting,” he said.

Cecil Todd, another farmer, posited that the residents

A resident venting his frustration to regional officials who recently visited the community are yearning for development

An Indigenous man relaxes in the creek authorities for titles or leases to their lands.

They have been squatting for decades.

The little over 200 residents, many of whom are farmers, have been for years battling with the Guyana Lands and Surveys and other relevant authorities in an effort to ascertain whether their

Like a sheep without a shepherd, the residents often cling to Region 10 as they are closer in proximity to Linden for assistance, but are often told that they cannot receive same because of their community being in Region Four.

Despite the fact that this issue bears a lot of confusion,

A farm in Moblissa on illegal land

but the first step to this is to regularise the area as it has been the same way for decades.

“We need lease or land title, one time deh seh we in Region Four, then ya hear we is Region 10, is all kind a thing ya hearing, the only way ya can develop, ya gotta get a money and ya can’t go at the bank and get nothing.”

Region 10 Chairman, Renis Morian and Regional Vice-Chairman, Elroy Adolph, also visited the community on Thursday in an effort to iron out some of the issues and promised to bring the demarcation issue to an end by engaging the relevant authorities earliest.

Village leaders trained in financial management SEVERAL village leaders and members of the Village Councils of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), have benefited from a two-day financial management training programme coordinated by the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs.

The training which was held at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre, saw about 25 participants from riverine villages in Region 10, including Rockstone, Kalkuni, Haruru, Malali and Kimbai.

The Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, after realising that several Village Councils have not been submitting their financial statements on time and those that are submitted, are sometimes flawed, decided to contract Anand Goolsaran, former Auditor-General, to complete an entire financial management manual.

After completing same, Goolsaran was contracted to conduct the training, which has already been completed in several regions.

The exercise is being done in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs

Internal Auditor, Charles Collimor, told the Guyana Chronicle that the training is timely and aims at effectively teaching village leaders to manage their resources properly and to provide a proper record of same, so as to enhance accountability and transparency.

“They should at the end of this training be in a position to construct proper accounting, record-keeping and be in a position to submit their financial statements,” Collimor said.

He also hopes that the participants would share the knowledge gained with their fellow villagers and with new councilors, after they would have completed their tenure.

Collimor noted that on many occasions, the councillors after the three years would fail to share the knowledge with their successors, who may have no experience or very little and this too results in poor recording.

Community Development Officer for Region 10, Antonio Hackette, who is attached to the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, expressed appreciation for the training and is confident that it will benefit the indigenous villages of Region 10.

Village leaders at the training held at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 16, 2017

Familiarisation visit –– Lawrence interacts with staff of MMU, CSU

NEW Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, is familiarising herself with the Ministry and as part of that process has paid a visit to the Material Management Unit (MMU) and

manent Secretary, Colette Adams.

Gregory Richards, Head of Central Supply Unit, gave a brief welcome and in his introduction, gave an overview of the general functions

ment Office, the Accounting Department, Stores and General Administration.

Further, the minister wanted to ascertain the policies guiding these units, the line of authority, the

personal skills and to always perform at their best.

Minister Lawrence also recognised the success of the Ministry’s vaccination coverage in Guyana and singled out the Procurement

Section and the medical officers, especially the nurses for their overall contribution towards good service delivery in each region.

The minister also gave staff the opportunity to voice their concerns and enter-

Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, interacting with a staff member of the Materials Management Unit (MMU) tained suggestions on ways was not fully utilised in in which the overall man- these units and that proper agement and functioning of storage of medical materials the Material Management and equipment, furnishings Unit Services could be im- and supplies needed to be proved. addressed.

The minister and TechMinister Lawrence alnical Team noted all the luded to the need for a recommendations, a Gov- more modern storage faernment Information Agen- cility, which, she stated, cy (GINA) report said. would allow for a faster The minister, for her and smoother operation part, noted that technology within the unit.

Sheoprashad said: “Self-employment provides people with opportunities; the potential to create and manage businesses in which they function as the employer or boss, rather than merely being an employee.”

And one way of achieving this, she said, is by teaching children entrepreneurship at an early age; help prepare young people to be responsible, enterprising individuals, who become entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers

Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, listens attentively to a staff member during her visit the Central Supply Unit (CSU) in Kingston.

There, she interacted with management and staff.

Minister Lawrence was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Trevor Thomas and the Deputy Per-

of the units and defined the roles and duties of members of staff.

The minister’s visit was primarily for the purpose of meeting the staff and gaining an insight into the functioning of the Procure-

systems and procedures and the physical structure.

During the visit, Minister Lawrence thanked the staff for their hard work over the years and encouraged them to have a good work ethic, to demonstrate good inter-

Take education seriously –– Enterprise youths urged

ENTERPRISE Primary School pupils and Community High School students were last Monday treated to a serious pep talk about their future, courtesy of the Enterprise Youth Development Group (EYDG).

This was in addition to being given a number of important school supplies, which, according to the group’s President, Samantha Sheoprashad, included pencils, erasers, highlighters, markers, paste, pens, sharpeners and notebooks.

Since it is the beginning of a new school term, she said, “We took advantage of the time to give a short talk to raise awareness on the power of education, entrepreneurship, and the use of social media network for educational purposes.”

Noting that the session

was highly interactive, Sheoprashad said when asked, for instance, what they plan doing after leaving school, many replied, “Look for

set, as opposed to a “gettinga-job” one, the children were also encouraged to find a problem within their respective schools that they

Children of both sections of the Enterprise school show off what they received a job,” though others said they’d prefer to further their studies.

And, in an effort to help them develop a “create your own job or company” mind-

can collectively work on, so as to help improve its image.

Noting that entrepreneurship is an employment strategy that can lead to economic self-sufficiency,

Seeing a bigger picture in all this, she said entrepreneurship can help drive Guyana’s economy through the creation of new jobs and innovations.

by immersing them in real-life learning experiences, whereby they can take risks, manage the results, and learn from the outcomes.

Another useful strategy

that can be of tremendous benefit to learning, Sheoprashad said, is the teaching of how to use the Internet effectively, particularly Google and YouTube.

In closing, she said that working with the Community High section was particularly gratifying, as there’s nothing that the group likes doing better than to help children with self-confidence and comprehension issues, as well as those with learning disabilities.

“This is something we would love to assist the school with, but at this point in time, we can only manage with the area of self-confidence,” Sheoprashad said, adding: “If there is any other organisation or person out there with the necessary expertise in these areas, we are encouraging you to reach out to us so that we can continue to empower young people in our community.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 16, 2017

Phase 3 of literacy, numeracy programme begins A NUMBER of literacy and numeracy trainee educators are working alongside teachers and mentors to aid other youths in their communities.

The Literacy and Numeracy Work Ready Programme is a pilot programme under the office of the Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment.

In a recent interview

with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Training and Education Officer, Ronald Austin Jr, said the monitoring and evaluation phase allows the trainee educators to execute what they have learnt within five months.

The trainees are working in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10.

“There are now actually teaching literacy and

numeracy in their communities. They had outreaches, (and) they have recruited persons.

“Some communities have up to 12 and 15 persons expressing an interest.

What we have discovered is that within those communities, there is a re-born interest in this idea of literacy and numeracy,” Austin said.

Austin pointed out that the programme faced nu-

Ronald Austin Jr.

merous challenges since persons are uncomfortable to admit that they are illiterate.

“You have persons who are adults who are not literate or numerate and the sensitisation has gone down in the community and it is not easy for persons, especially when you are dealing with young persons who might be popular within a community to openly say, ‘hey I can’t read or write, I need assistance’,” Austin explained.

The training and edu-

cation officer said that the agency will also decide on the number of youths who will be allowed to participate and this will be based on the number of trainee educators available within the communities.

The training and education officer said that of the 13 communities that participated in the programme, three have not submitted their schedules for classes in 2017.

The success of the programme is based on the execution of phase three.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 16, 2017

Digital Wealth Summit in February

THE Masterclass Institute will be hosting Guyana’s first ever Digital Wealth Summit on February 4th, 2017 at the Marriott Hotel, in Kingston Georgetown.

Founder of the institute, Dr. Rosh Khan, and his team will be showing attendees how to use basic technology (i.e., phones, laptops, Internet) to create entirely new online revenue streams and how to increase revenue for existing business.

According to a release, one of the event’s key highlights will be a presentation on how entrepreneurs (or aspiring entrepreneurs) can make a million dollars

Dr. Rosh Khan

Miner killed in Kumaka, one suspect held A MAN is in police custody after stabbing a fellow miner on Sunday at Kumaka, in the North West District.

Dead is 38-year-old Robert Perreira, called “Bobby”, of the said Kumaka.

Commander of ‘F’ Division, Senior Superintendent Ravindradat Budhram told Guyana Chronicle that quick action by police resulted in the apprehension of a suspect around 02:00hrs on Sunday.

He said that from all accounts, the two men, both miners, were at a shop when an argument ensued.

Perreira reportedly decided to leave the shop and head for his living quarters, but was followed and attacked by the perpetrator who stabbed him in the upper right thigh.

The injured miner was then assisted by persons in the area to the nearby Kumaka Hospital, where he died while receiving medical attention.

The police are reportedly seeking a second suspect in relation to the murder.

The Guyana Police Force has noted that in the last year, there has been a six per cent reduction in murder, with a 64 per cent clear-up rate.

Monday January 16th, Day - 08:30 hrs Tuesday January 17th, Day - 08:30 hrs Wednesday January 18th, Day - 09:30 hrs

(GYD) in a single day.

“Added to that, digital marketers from around the world will be teaching the attendees how to make money online – including the World’s #1 Internet Marketer, Chris Farrell.

“With technology rapidly evolving, it is absolutely vital that more Guyanese understand all the elements to creating digital profits by tapping into the global demand for virtual service.

Hence, the purpose of this Summit,” the release said.

The event is a ticketed one and seats will be limited as complimentary tickets are available. In order to

secure a ticket, interested persons can visit www. masterclassinstitute.online/ ticket or www.roshkhan. com/ticket.

D r. R o s h K h a n h a s worked in digital media for the last five years, working with global companies such as Starbucks, Armani Exchange, FORD Motor Company, and other Fortune 500’s.

He has also served local clients that include News Rooms, Bounty Supermarkets, Parliament of Guyana, IPED, Ansa McAL, Southland International, and the Ministry of Business.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 16, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 16, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 16, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 16, 2017

CPL looking for buyer SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS 08:15 hrs Hatton Church 08:45 hrs Bold Man 09:15 hrs Stone Pine 09:45 hrs King Of Cant FAIRVIEW 08:25 hrs Warren Place 09:00 hrs Rush In 09:35 hrs Blarney Bay 10:10 hrs Treize 10:45 hrs Pacific Spirit 11:20 hrs Gucci Rebel ENGLISH RACING TIPS Ayr 09:10 hrs Fairlee Grey 09:40 hrs Whizzey Rascal 10:10 hrs Bryden Boy 10:45 hrs Holeinthewall Bar 11:15 hrs Smuggler’s Stash 11:50 hrs Fearless Tunes PLUMPTON 09:25 hrs The Caller 10:00 hrs Triple Chief 10:35 hrs Letemgo 11:05 hrs Sweettoothtommy 11:40 hrs Bob Mahler 12:10 hrs Royal Etiquette WOLVERHAMPTON 09:50 hrs Magdalene Fox 10:20 hrs Draw Swords 10:55 hrs Perfect Cracker 11:25 hrs Black Dave 12:00 hrs Antiquarium 12:30 hrs Alinstante 13:00 hrs Eland Ally 13:30 hrs Roy’s Legacy AMERICAN RACING TIPS Aqueduct Race 1 Curiousncuriouser Race 2 If You Believe Race 3 Special Risk Race 4 Esther the Queen Race 5 Stallwalkin Dude Race 6 Resilient One Race 7 Splendid Gold Race 8 Hot House Rose Race 9 Can Can Babe

IN an interesting development coming to hand, the owners of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is allegedly looking for a buyer for the tournament.

With the league expected to get underway in the first week of August, Guardian Media understands that talks

are in progress with a potential buyer from India,but nothing is concrete just yet.

CPL has been pumping money into the product since the inception in 2014 and is yet to turn around a profit.

What they have done though is create a product that is now a viable one

and a sale at this point in time could fetch them a handsome amount, to offset the funds they would have pumped into the league.

Only last year, all six teams were picked up by owners and prior to this,CPL had to bankroll the teams

that had no owners.

This cost a handsome amount and with regional governments not coming on board as before because of the current economic climate in the Caribbean, the business model has been struggling.(Caribbean Cricket.com)

Eric Vieira remembered at GMR&SC ...

From back page Street, where the last person to arrive would usually have to pay the bill.

He remembered Vieira as a bit of a `daredevil’ recalling one particular story when they were on their way down from Timheri and Eric was struggling to liberate a piece of sugar cane from an estate truck; a struggle which almost cost him his life.

“Well I don’t know how he got out the cane before the car came but he did, otherwise we wouldn’t have been speaking here; we’d be speaking long ago,” Holder joked.

Giving the closing remarks was current President of the GMR&SC Mahendra Bhoodoo,who expressed Pat Holder (left) shares a joke during yesterday’s tribute that the sport has lost a giant but will continue to to Eric Vieira at the GMR&SC’s Thomas Lands headquarbuild on the works of Eric Vieira. ters.

T&T national footballers want coach ...

From back page on board.”

Hart was sacked by the local FA last November after three years in charge, following T&T’s poor start to the CONCACAF final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

They went down 0-2 to Costa Rica at home and then lost to Honduras 1-3 away in San Pedro Sula.

He was replaced by Saintfiet in early December but the

43-year-old won just one of his four games before tendering a shock resignation, citing lack of support from TTFA as one of his main reasons.

Without a head coach two months before the next round of World Cup qualifiers, the group of 23 also sent a letter to the TTFA with their suggestions for a replacement.

According to the Newsday, Hart tops the list which also comprises W Connection’s Stuart Charles-Fevrier,

former England defender and experienced Terry Fenwick and former national player and local coach Angus Eve. “We (the players) KNOW it is not our decision to make, neither is it our place to make such demands, but we – 23 current players – have pooled our knowledge, resources and ideas together to come up with a few names for your immediate consideration,” the letter said.

“We can all agree that we the players have interacted with these names at some level, so we can safely say our knowledge can be used in this regard.

“We pledge our full support regardless of who is selected to the position, even if it is a person or persons outside of this list, as we know that we the players play an integral part in helping the team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.”

CFU boss warns more slots ...

From back page represent, will have a greater opportunity of qualifying for the tournament,” said Derrick on Friday.

But the CFU boss told its membership that since there are no guarantees from a Caribbean perspective of an automatic spot, the hard work and commitment of trying to qualifying will remain.

“There are more spots, but there are no guarantees... the only way we could have a guarantee for a Caribbean team getting to a World Cup could only happen if we had a Caribbean confederation, because if we were a confederation, we would have been guaranteed at least one spot, but that’s a different discus-

sion for a different time.

“But what I am saying in effect is that there is no guarantee for anyone, but that teams must prepare themselves and continue to work hard, as we have been doing, and try and advance, and if there are more spots available, that can only benefit you,” said Derrick, who is in his second mandate as head of the regional body.

Interestingly, the expansion will fall in line when CONCACAF is due to make a strong bid for the 2026 tournament, with a possible combined bid coming from economic giants the USA, Mexico and Canada.

Derrick believes while a 48-team World Cup may appear a gigantic task to host, together or individually, the

confederation’s ‘big three’ could make easy work of it based on their economic and infrastructural suitability.

“Don’t be daunted by the organisation of the World Cup with 48 teams, as the Euro has increased their number in the last edition (from 16 to 24) and it was very successful.

“It’s all about logistics, and in this day and age logistics is not an issue for the USA, Mexico and Canada, so to possibly host would a be a piece of cake, as anyone of those teams could host a 48-team tournament all by themselves.

“They have would have the necessary stadia, rail system, infrastructure, transportation, accommodation, hotels; all the things that are required

the USA, Mexico and Canada are way capable of hosting.

Derrick said the real question is who would be capable of hosting after CONCACAF does, assuming, of course, it is successful in its rally to bring the tournament back to North America since the USA hosted in 1994 a highly successful event.

“The fact is they (USA, Canada, Mexico) could host a football World Cup, a hockey World Cup, a cricket World Cup, and perhaps hosting them simultaneously; and it would not matter to them just by their sheer size and the infrastructure they presently have. After 2026, who hosts after that is a different story,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 16, 2017

Kohli, Jadhav centuries blow England away in chase of 351

(REUTERS)-Virat Kohli and Kedar Jadhav hit centuries and combined in a 200-run stand to help India comfortably chase down a steep target of 351 against

England and win the first one-day international by three wickets yesterday.

India’s chase seemed over when England reduced them to 63-4 in the 12th over but

captain Kohli and local boy Jadhav turned the match on its head with the hosts reaching the target with 11 balls to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The touring side, who lost a five-match Test series 4-0 before returning home for Christmas, would have felt confident of victory after posting 350-7.

Half-centuries from Jason Roy, Joe Root and Ben Stokes took England to their highest ODI total against India, who won the toss and opted to bowl first.

England lost Alex Hales early but opener Roy (73) and Root, who top-scored for his side with 78, added 69 for the second wicket to lay a solid foundation.

Roy was given out leg before on 18 off paceman

Umesh Yadav but reviewed successfully to overturn the decision with replays showing the ball was missing the stumps.

Stokes provided the late assault with a 40-ball knock of 62, studded with two fours and five sixes, as India bled 105 runs in the last eight overs.

Left-arm seamer David Willey gave England the ideal start with the ball by dismissing Indian openers Lokesh Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan inside the first six overs.

Yuvraj Singh, playing his first ODI in over three

Kedar Jadhav celebrates a century in front of his home crowd against England in Pune.

years, and former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni did not last long either as India were left staring at a heavy defeat.

But Kohli, playing his first match as India’s full-time captain across all formats, and Jadhav then took the attack to the England bowlers.

Kohli, who was the highest scorer in the recent Test series, was stranded on 99 for three deliveries before he danced down the pitch to hit paceman Chris Woakes for a six and bring up his 27th ODI hundred, which came in 93 balls.

Jadhav, who struggled with cramp towards the end of his knock, guided the same bowler to third man for a boundary to bring up his second ton off 65 balls.

Stokes dismissed Kohli after a 105-ball 122, studded with eight fours and five sixes. Jadhav was out after a 76-ball 120, with 12 fours and four sixes, to fast bowler Jake Ball, the most successful English bowler with three for 67.

Hardik Pandya, unbeaten on 40, and Ravichandran Ashwin (15 not out) combined in a crucial eighth-wicket stand of 38 at the end to take India home.

The second match of the series will be played at Cuttack on Thursday.

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND Innings J. Roy st Dhoni b Jadeja 73 A. Hales run out (Bumrah) 9 J. Root c H. Pandya b Bumrah 78 E. Morgan c Dhoni b H. Pandya 28 J. Buttler c S. Dhawan b H. Pandya 31 B. Stokes c U. Yadav b Bumrah 62 M. Ali b U. Yadav 28 C. Woakes not out 9 D. Willey not out 10 Extras (b-1 lb-11 nb-4 w-6) 22 Total (for 7 wickets, 50 overs) 350 Fall of wickets: 1-39 A. Hales,2-108 J. Roy,3-157 E. Morgan,4-220 J. Buttler,5-244 J. Root,6-317 B. Stokes,7-336 M. Ali Did not bat: A. Rashid, J. Ball Bowling: U. Yadav 7 - 0 - 63 - 1(nb-1 w-3,H. Pandya 9 - 0 - 46 – 2, J. Bumrah 10 - 0 - 79 - 2(nb-3 w-1),R. Jadeja 10 - 0 - 50 – 1, R. Ashwin 8 - 0 - 63 - 0(w-2), K. Jadhav 4 - 0 - 23 – 0, Y. Singh 2 - 0 - 14 – 0.

INDIA Innings L. Rahul b Willey 8 S. Dhawan c Ali b Willey 1 V. Kohli c Willey b Stokes 122 Y. Singh c Buttler b Stokes 15 M. Dhonic Willey b Ball 6 K. Jadhav c Stokes b Ball 120 H. Pandya not out 40 R. Jadeja c Rashid b Ball 13 R. Ashwin not out 15 Extras (b-1 lb-4 w-11) 16 Total (for 7 wickets, 48.1 overs) 356 Fall of wickets: 1-13 S. Dhawan,2-24 L. Rahul,3-56 Y. Singh,4-63 M. Dhoni,5-263 V. Kohli,6-291 K. Jadhav,7-318 R. Jadeja Did not bat: J. Bumrah, U. Yadav Bowling: C. Woakes8 - 0 - 44 0(w-2),D. Willey 6 - 0 - 47 - 2(w-3), J. Ball 10 - 0 - 67 - 3(w-4), B. Stokes 10 - 0 - 73 - 2(w-2), A. Rashid 5 - 0 - 50 – 0,M. Ali 6.1 - 0 48 – 0, J. Root 3 - 0 - 22 – 0.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 16, 2017

Black Caps hit back to set up interesting final day (REUTERS)-New Zealand captured three late wickets yesterday to give themselves a sniff of an unlikely victory against Bangladesh in the first Test at the Basin Reserve.

The visitors were 66 for three in their second innings at the end of the fourth day’s play, with an overall lead of 122 runs.

Mominul Haque was on 10 while night watchman Mehedi Hasan was run out for one with three balls left of the day’s play.

Mitchell Santner had started the collapse of three wickets for 16 when he bowled Tamim Iqbal for 25, before Neil Wagner had Mahmudullah caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling for five.

Santner then ran Mehedi out with a direct hit to give his side confidence for the final day’s play,

Tom Latham gets low to sweep the ball in his innings of 177.

with two of Bangladesh’s top-order batsmen under injury clouds.

Opening batsman Imrul Kayes retired hurt on 24 after he appeared to suffer a pulled muscle while taking a quick single.

Captain Mushfiqur Rahim did not field in New Zealand’s innings of 539 due to suspected broken fingers, though he

was seen padded up to bat if required yesterday.

Imrul took the gloves in Mushfiqur ’s absence and snared five catches, a record for a stand-in wicketkeeper, in New Zealand’s innings that was anchored by Tom Latham’s career-best 177.

Latham, whose previous best was 137 against Pakistan in 2014, had re-

sumed on 119 with Henry Nicholls, who was on 35 and the hosts on 292 for three.

Both were untroubled as they took New Zealand to 347 for three before Nicholls was caught at leg slip by Mehedi off Shakib Al Hasan for 53.

Watling and Latham then took New Zealand past the follow-on target of 395 but the opener was trapped in front by Shakib shortly after, just when a double century was on offer.

Part-time off-spinner Mahmudullah then took two wickets in one over, the first from a wide long hop that Watling shaped to smash to bring up his 13th test half century but succeeded only in nicking to Imrul.

Watling trudged off for 49 and was quickly followed by Tim Southee,

SCOREBOARD BANGLADESH 1st innings 595 for 8 decl (S. Al Hasan 217, M. Rahim 159, M. Haque 64, T. Iqbal 56, S. Rahman 54no; N. Wagner 4-151) New Zealand 1st innings (Overnight: 292-3) J. Raval c Kayes b Rabbi 27 T. Latham lbw b Al Hasan 177 K. Williamson c Kayes b Ahmed 53 R. Taylor c Mahmudullah b Rabbi 40 H. Nicholls c M. Hasan b Al Hasan 53 C. de Grandhomme c Kayes

b Roy 14 B. Watling c Kayes b Mahmudullah 49 M. Santner b Roy 73 T. Southee lbw b Mahmudullah 1 N. Wagner c Kayes b Rabbi 18 T. Boult not out 4 Extras: (b-10 lb-3 nb-1 w-16) 30 Total: (all out, 148.2 overs) 539 Fall of wickets: 1-54 J. Raval, 2-131 K. Williamson, 3-205 R. Taylor, 4-347 H. Nicholls, 5-366 C. de Grandhomme, 6-398 T. Latham, 7-471 B. Watling, 8-473

who was trapped in front for one just four balls later.

Santner then made a career-best 73 before

T. Southee, 9-504 N. Wagner, 10-539 M. Santner.

Bowling: M. Hasan 37-5-116-0 (w-1), S. Roy 26.2-6-89-2 (nb-1), T. Ahmed 29-4-141-1 (w-2), K. Rabbi 26-4-87-3 (w-1), S. Al Hasan 27-2-78-2, Mahmudullah 3-0-15-2.

BANGLADESH 2nd innings T. Iqbal b Santner 25 I. Kayes retired hurt 24 M. Haque not out 10 Mahmudullah c Watling b Wagner 5 M. Hasan run out (Santner) 1 Extras: (nb-1) 1 Total: (for 3 wickets, 18.3 overs) 66 Fall of wickets: 1-50 T. Iqbal, 2-63 Mahmudullah, 3-66 M. Hasan To bat: S. Al Hasan, M. Rahim, S. Rahman, T. Ahmed, S. Roy, K. Rabbi Bowling: T. Boult 4-0-21-0, T. Soutthee 3-1-12-0, M. Santner 6-0-19-1, N. Wagner 5.3-1-14-1 (nb-1).

he was the last man out, bowled by Subashis Roy. It was his second Test half century.

Pakistan level ODI series with MCG win SCOREBOARD (REUTERS)-Pakistan’s standin captain Mohammad Hafeez hit a fighting fifty to set up a comprehensive six-wicket victory against Australia in the second one-day international yesterday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) that levelled the five-match series.

Pakistan, who were whitewashed in the preceding Test series and lost the first ODI in Brisbane, reached their target with 14 balls to spare after their bowlers had bundled out the hosts for 220 in the penultimate over of their innings.

It was the first win for Pakistan against Australia in Australia across all formats since their victory in an ODI at the WACA in January, 2005.

Mohammad Amir was the most successful Pakistan bowler with three wickets for 47 after

left-arm fast bowling colleague Junaid Khan, playing his first ODI in over 19 months, put Australia on the backfoot by sending back the openers cheaply.

Pakistan’s spinners, led by left-armer Imad Wasim (2-37), then bowled tightly on a slug-

gish Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch to keep Australia shackled.

Australia captain Steve Smith top-scored for his side with 60 but a number of other batsmen got out after promising starts.

Hafeez, who was not part

of the original ODI squad and arrived in Australia as a late addition, was handed the captaincy after regular skipper Azhar Ali was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

The right-handed opener struggled against Australia’s pacemen initially and Smith dropped him on nought in the slips off Mitchell Starc.

Hafeez, who survived again on 55, batted fluently after his initial troubles and set up the chase with an opening stand of 68 with Sharjeel Khan (29) before a second-wicket partnership of 72 with Babar Azam (34).

Experienced Shoaib Malik, who was given out caught behind off Pat Cummins on 10 but successfully overturned the decision on review, took over the responsibility of getting

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, as Jurgen Klopp’s side put up stern resistance and threatened on the break.

It looked like the visitors were going to hold on and move back to second in the Premier League, but United finally forced the goal they merited when Antonio Valencia reacted first when substitute M a ro u a n e F e l l a i n i ’s header came back off t h e p o s t , c ro s s i n g f o r Ibrahimovic to head home off the bar.

Liverpool are now in third place, seven points

adrift of top-flight leaders Chelsea, while United - whose nine-match winning run in all competitions came to an end - are now 12 points off the top.

Reds boss Klopp had no hesitation in restoring Mignolet in goal, despite the midweek heroics of Loris Karius in defeat in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg at Southampton.

Klopp has decided, for now at least, that the Belgium international is his first choice - and Mignolet demonstrated exactly why on Sunday.

M i g n o l e t ’s d e c i -

sion-making has often been questioned, but he has always been capable of making outstanding saves. And so it proved in this draw.

He rescued Liverpool twice in the first half with a brilliant reflex save from Ibrahimovic’s fierce free-kick and a decisive advance from goal to make a one-handed block from Mkhitaryan.

Klopp has had to make big decisions with his keepers this season - and this one was fully justified by Mignolet.

(BBC Sport).

Player of the match Mohammad Hafeez carried Pakistan to 221-4 off 47.4 overs with a 72-run knock to level the series 1-1.

AUSTRALIA Innings U. Khawaja c Sh. Khan b J. Khan 17 D. Warner c Rizwan b J. Khan 16 S. Smith b Wasim 60 M. Marsh c Wasim b Amir 0 T. Head c Rizwan b H. Ali 29 G. Maxwell b Wasim 23 M. Wade b Malik 35 J. Faulkner c Shafiq b Amir 19 M. Starc run out (J. Khan) 3 P. Cummins c Rizwan b Amir 0 J. Hazlewood not out 0 Extras: (lb-7 w-11) 18 Total: (all out, 48.2 overs) 220 Fall of wickets: 1-31 D. Warner, 2-40 U. Khawaja, 3-41 M. Marsh, 4-86 T. Head, 5-128 G. Maxwell, 6-193 S. Smith, 7-199 M. Wade, 8-207 M. Starc, 9-212 P. Cummins, 10-220 J. Faulkner Bowling: M. Amir 9.2-0-47-3 (w1), J. Khan 8-0-40-2 (w-3), I. Wasim 10-0-37-2 (w-2),H. Ali

Pakistan home after they lost Hafeez and Azam in successive overs.

Malik remained unbeaten on 42 after adding a crucial 53

7-0-29-1, M. Hafeez 10-0-45-0 (w-1), S. Malik 4-0-15-1.

PAKISTAN Innings M. Hafeez c Hazlewood b Faulkner 72 Sh. Khan c Wade b Faulkner 29 B. Azam c Hazlewood b Starc 34 A. Shafiq c Wade b Starc 13 S. Malik not out 42 U. Akmal not out 18 Extras: (lb-6 w-7) 13 Total: (for 4 wickets, 47.4 overs) 221 Fall of wickets: 1-68 Sh. Khan, 2-140 B. Azam, 3-142 M. Hafeez, 4-195 A. Shafiq Did not bat: M. Rizwan, I. Wasim, M. Amir, H. Ali, J. Khan Bowling: M. Starc 10-1-45-2 (w2), J. Hazlewood 10-2-32-0 (w-1), P. Cummins 10-1-48-0 (w-1), J. Faulkner 9-0-35-2, T. Head 2.4-0-23-0 (w-1), M. Marsh 6-032-0 (w-2).

for the fourth wicket with Asad Shafiq (13).

The third ODI of the series will be played in Perth on Thursday.

Ibrahimovic earns Man Utd late draw against Liverpool ZLATAN Ibrahimovic’s late equaliser earned Manchester United a point they fully deserved after a typically thunderous encounter with Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Liverpool led through James Milner’s 27th-minute penalty, awarded after Paul Pogba inexplicably handled a corner as he went up to challenge Dejan Lovren.

Goalkeeper Simon Mig n o l e t w a s L i v e r p o o l ’s hero with superb firsthalf saves from Ibrahim o v i c ’s f r e e - k i c k a n d

Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 16, 2017

Aussies pick uncapped Swepson in four-man spin unit for India tour

By Nick Mulvenney MELBOURNE,(Reuters)-Australia have included uncapped Mitchell Swepson and recalled Ashton Agar in a four-man spin-bowling unit for the Test tour of India, part of a versatile squad they hope can turn the tide of their recent results in the country.

The Australians, who have lost their last nine series in India, also recalled all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell to allow flexibility to deal whatever conditions they face in the four tests starting next month.

Top order batsman Shaun Marsh, Mitchell’s brother, was also recalled after losing his place in the side for the series against South Africa and Pakistan through injury.

Jackson Bird was included in the 16-man squad as a third

pace option along with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, despite being dropped for the final Test against Pakistan to allow two spinners to play in Sydney.

The Australians will review their fast-bowling resources after the second Test in Bangalore.

“We don’t know what pitch conditions we will come up against in each of the venues but wanted to make sure we have plenty of options available to us,” head selector Trevor Hohns said.

“We know India is an incredibly tough place to tour and to succeed in, but we have a squad here which we believe can perform well enough in those conditions to give a good account of itself.

“No country has performed all that well over there in the last

10 years or more, but somehow, some way, someone has to turn the tide.”

Leg spinner Swepson and left-arm orthodox spinner

Mitchell Swepson has landed a spot in Australia’s India tour squad © Agar, who played two Tests spinners, Hohns said.

“He is an exciting young leg in England in 2013, will act as back-up to off spinner Nathan spinner, he gives the ball a very Lyon and left-armer Steve good rip, he’s a wicket-taking

Mane scores as Senegal beat Tunisia 2-0

Sadio Mane netted from 12 yards with 10 minutes on the clock, before Mbodji stuck later on.

SEBEGAL began their Africa Cup of Nations campaign yesterday with victory over Tunisia in Group B.Tunisia almost took the lead in the opening two minutes, but Ahmed Akaichi’s header skimmed the post and he smashed a shot narrowly wide.

In between, Senegal took the lead through Sadio Mane’s penalty after Cheikhou Kouyate had been hacked down.

Kara Mbodj powerfully headed in a second, and almost scored an own goal when his clearance struck the post.

Tunisia were guilty of missing plenty of chances, in particular Youssef Msakni, who headed wide from two yards out and shot straight at Abdoulaye Diallo in the second half.

Victory for Aliou Cisse’s side means they top their group after Algeria’s surprising 2-2 draw against Zimbabwe.

Senegal’s year?

Tunisia have won the tournament once, in 2004, but Senegal have never lifted the crown. Their best performance came in 2002 when they lost on penalties to Cameroon.

O’Keefe.

Swepson, who has played 14 first class matches, won out over Adam Zampa because he is the more attacking of the two

This year could be a different story with a side containing Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, West Ham’s Kouyate and Everton’s Idrissa Gueye in midfielder, as well as Liverpool’s Mane.

Africa’s most expensive player - following his £34m move from Southampton to the Reds in the summer - caused the Tunisian backline problems with his pace and coolly tucked his spot-kick into the left corner.

Senegal could have had another, but Ismaila Sarr’s cross came back off the bar in the second half.(BBC Sport)

leg-spinner,” he added.

“Given the opportunity, we think he could play a part over there. If he doesn’t, he’ll gain a lot from being there.”

Hohns described Agar, who scored 98 with the bat on debut in the 2013 Ashes, as a “good all round package” who offered yet more versatility to the squad.

Mitchell Marsh edged o u t a l l - ro u n d e r H i l t o n Cartwright, who made his debut in the Pakistan series, because of his superior bowling, Hohns said.

Maxwell, a fast-scoring batsman who has been largely restricted to the shorter forms for his country, played the last of his three tests two years ago.

“Glenn is very experienced in Indian conditions, he’s generally regarded as a good player of spin bowl-

ing, he’s a good fielder and his off-spin is handy,” said Hohns.

Opener Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb, who both impressed after making their debuts in the home summer, were also included, the latter offering back-up to the single specialist wicket-keeper, Matt Wade.

The first Test starts in Pune on Feb. 23 and is followed by matches in Bangalore, Ranchi and Dharamsala.

Squad: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, M a t t R e n s h a w, U s m a n Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Wade, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Nathan Lyon, Stephen O’Keefe, Ashton.

Six Barbadians included

in CCC Marooners Super50 squad

B R I D G E T O W N , B a rbados - Six Barbadians have been included in the Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) Marooners squad for the WICB Super50 Championship to be held in Barbados and Antigua, from January 24 to February 18.

The six are captain Jamal Smith, fellow batsmen Kyle Corbin and Aaron Jones, veteran all-rounder and former Barbados captain and West Indies player Ryan Hinds, who is also one of the coaches, fast bowler Keon Harding and off-spinner Raymond Bynoe.

Jones, Corbin and Harding also played in the Barbados Pride 50over trials.

The squad is completed by Amir Jangoo, Mark D e y a l , Vi k a s h M o h a n (Trinidad & Tobago), Cassius Burton, Christopher Powell, Jermaine Levy (Jamaica), Larry Edward (St. Lucia) and Nino Henry (Antigua).

Two other former Barbados and West Indies players – batsman Floyd

Reifer and left-arm fast bowler Pedro Collins – are on the coaching staff.

Reifer is the head coach and Collins, an assistant coach.

Full squad: Jamal Smith (captain), Kyle Corbin, Aaron Jones, Ryan Hinds, Keon Harding, Raymond Bynoe (Barbados), Amir Jangoo, Mark Deyal, Vikash Mohan (Trinidad & Tobago), Cassius Burton, Christopher Powell, Jermaine Levy (Jamaica), Larry Edward (St. Lucia), Nino Henry (Antigua).

Management: Floyd Reifer (head coach), Keshava Ramphal (assistant coach), Pedro Collins

(assistant coach), Ryan Hinds (player/coach), Marita Marshall (physiotherapist), Avenesh Seetaram (video analyst), Dr. David Scott (sports psychologist), Shane Lewis (manager).

Jamal Smith

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday January 16, 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) Dennis Lindsay-SA (606 runs in 5 Tests: SA vs AUST, 1966-67) (2) Kumar Sangakarra-23 centuries Today’s Quiz: (1) Which wicketkeeper has scored most Test centuries to date?

(2) Who is the first wicketkeeper to open the batting in ODIs? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 16, 2017

GCB President urges Guyana Jaguars to play to their full potential

By Rajiv Bisnauth PRESIDENT of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Drubahdur, has urged the players representing Guyana in the 2017 NAGICO Regional Super 50 tournament, to play to their full potential.

Drubahdur is of the opinion that once that is achieved, Guyana can easily win their tenth coveted title at this level.

“My message to them is to just go out there and play to their full potential. The last two

Drubahdur

years we went to a point and it seems that we are just unable to get over, so they need to put that behind them and just cross the hurdle,” the GCB President revealed.

The Guyana Jaguars 14-man squad includes seven players who have represented the regional side in Tests, One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20s, and according to the GCB President, the squad is a balanced unit, especially with the inclusion of veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

“If you look at the

hard to come by and when you find someone who has pace and power, and wants to develop and learn and grow, sometimes you take that opportunity and take a chance on it Now Duckens has signed an initial short term deal, he has to prove he is capable of playing in England and playing at this level and hopefully he will come through.”

Nazon has impressed for Haiti at international level, scoring three goals in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and netting twice during the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Most recently, he turned

out for Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League, scoring twice in 12 appearances.

Nazon described signing with Wolves as a dream come true.

“It is a very good feeling to sign for Wolverhampton Wanderers. It has always been my dream to play in England and to get this opportunity is truly rewarding for me and my family,” he said.

“I vow to do my best for this club and ensure we push hard to get promotion to the English Premier League.”

He added: “I’m very happy, it’s an amazing thing for me. I’ve played in India for three months and

squad, its very balanced – batting and bowling-and with Shiv (Chand e r p a u l ) b e i n g t h e re , and with the experience, I think we should bring the title home,” Drubahdur concluded.

Guyana last won a Regional 50-over title under the captaincy of Shivnarine Chanderpaul almost 12 years ago when the South Americans defeated Barbados in rapidly fading lights in the KFC Cup final at the GCC ground, Bourda.

Prior to that, Guyana reigned supreme in 1980,

1983, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2003.

Guyana Jaguars have been drawn in Group B, which will be played in Barbados, alongside Jam a i c a S c o r p i o n s , B a rbados Pride, Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners and ICC Americas.

Group A, to be played in Antigua, comprises defending champions Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o Red Force, host Leeward Islands Hurricanes, West Indies Under-19s, Windward Islands Volcanoes and English county side

Kent.

The squad reads: Leon Johnson (captain), Ve e r a s a m m y P e r m a u l (vice-captain), Anthony Bramble (wkp), Shimron Hetmyer, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Christopher Barnwell, Raymon Reifer, Rajendra Chandrika, Steven Jacobs, Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo, Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz and Jonathan Foo. The management staff comprises Esaun Crandon (head coach), Rayon Griffith (assistant coach) and Ernesto Gonzalez (Physiotherapist).

Haiti striker Nazon signs for Wolves in `dream’ move WOLVERHAMPTON, England, (CMC) – Talented Haiti striker Duckens Nazon has been snapped up by English Championship outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers until the end of the season, the Molineux club announced last Friday.

The 22-year-old impressed during a training stint here in recent weeks and has been rewarded with a contract which has the option of an additional year.

“Duckens is a player we have seen in the Copa America and also playing in France,” sporting director Kevin Thelwell said.

“He has some interesting qualities. Strikers are

Brathwaite to leave Big Bash for Super50 West Indies Twenty20 captain Carlos Brathwaite will leave Big Bash League’s (BBL) Sydney Thunder later this week in order to honour his commitment with Barbados for the regional Super50 competition.

Brathwaite replaced injured West Indian teammate Andre Russell last week and has been a hit with fans and players at the franchise so far. The all-rounder has also made a solid contribution with the ball claiming figures of 3 for 21 in Thunder’s derby clash against the Sixers on Saturday and opening with 2 for 31 against Hobart. On each occasion entertaining the crowd with his triple dab celebration.

Following a third consecutive win in a row the Thunder could sneak into the BBL final with a win

Carlos Brathwaite over Adelaide Strikers in Wednesday’s semi-final.

Should the Thunder win the match Brathwaite would, however, miss the January 28 final as the regional Super50 tournament gets under way on January 24.

“Unfortunately, I still

have to go home on (Thursday) morning to play in the Super50 tournament,’’ Brathwaite said on Saturday.

The Barbados Pride will begin their campaign against the Guyana Jaguars at Kensington Oval on the competition’s opening day. (Sportsmax.com)

Haiti international Duckens Nazon … has signed with English Championship club, Wolves. now I’ve come back to fulfil gland. Wolves is a very big my dream of playing in En- club in this country. I’m so

happy.

“The atmosphere around the club is very good, all of the guys have been very welcoming towards me.

“It has been easy for me to settle in so far, everyone has made me feel very comfortable. The training ground is great, there is everything that you’d need to perform well.”

Nazon will not go straight into first team contention but will instead get his first opportunity with the club’s Under-23s.

Wo l v e s l i e 1 6 t h i n the Championship on 32 points – eight points above the drop zone.

Samuels, Cooper selected called in Hurricanes Super50 squad

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Test batsman star Marlon Samuels headlines a 14-man Leeward Islands Hurricanes squad announced yesterday for this month’s Regional Super50 in Antigua and Barbados.

The veteran right-hander, who has not turned out in the tournament in three seasons, will be joined by the Trinidad and Tobago pair of Kevon Cooper and Akeal Hosein for the January 24 to February 18 campaign.

Test fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has also been named in the unit which will be led by out-of-favour Test lefthander Kieran Powell, with West Indies A all-rounder, Rahkeem Cornwall as his deputy.

The 35-year-old Samuels, meanwhile, will be a huge boost

for the Hurricanes who have been installed in a tough Zone A alongside defending champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Windward Islands Volcanoes, West Indies Under-19s and English county side, Kent Spitfires.

Jamaican Samuels, a veteran of 71 Tests and 187 OneDay Internationals, is a regular member of the current Windies side in all three formats.

Cooper, a steady seamer and effective lower order batsman, is also expected to add depth to the Hurricanes while Hosein’s left-arm spin and left-handed batting will be an asset.

Batsman Jermaine Otto is the only debutant included in the squad.

Hurricanes will hold their first training session as a unit today at the Vivian Richards

Cricket Stadium.

SQUAD – Kieran Powell (captain), Rahkeem Cornwall, Marlon Samuels,Montcin Hodge, Chesney Hughes, Nkrumah Bonner, Jahmar Hamilton, Jermaine Otto, Orlando Peters, Alzarri Joseph, Akeal Hosein, Kevon Cooper.

Kevon Cooper

CPL looking for buyer See story on page 19

Eric Vieira remembered at GMR&SC ceremony

By Stephan Sookram

SOME of the tributes were long, others were short. No one,however,were teary-eyed but rather filled with laughter on hearing stories of a steel-willed, kind-hearted man that loved motorsport.

Those tributes were paid to Eric Vieira,a former president of the GMR&SC,who passed away last week in London but was remembered yesterday by friends during a memorial ceremony at Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club,Thomas Lands.

Longtime friend Kit Nascimento, who chaired the proceedings, remembered Eric Vieira as a man who was always determined to get what he wanted done.

“He hadn’t the slightest clue about sailing but he taught himself how to sail,” Nascimento reminded as he turned back the clock to Vieira’s early days of sailing; the memory of his first wooden boat still fresh within his mind.

Meanwhile, Stanley Ming shared his long memory of the Guyanese, speaking of those days in London when he and Eric worked in a mechanic shop.

“Eric and I joined together and started Technical Companies and Supplies Limited,” Ming recounted, a company which was devoted to the distribution of Yahama parts locally.

Pat Holder, also a former administrator and friend of Eric,recounted their weekly races to ‘Nationals’ on Robb

A lap of honour around the Cosmos raceway led by Stanley Ming.

Also in photo is Victor Peres;current GMR&SC President Mahendra Bhoodoo and former president Shiraz Roshandin,among others.

(Adrian Narine Photo)

GORDON DERRICK

See page 19

CFU boss warns more slots don’t guarantee qualification

CARIBBEAN Football Union (CFU) President Gordon Derrick is excited about the prospects for his constituents now that FIFA has bravely increased the World Cup to 48 teams, a jaw-dropping 16 more places.

The Antiguan welcomed the FIFA move that will come into effect in 2026, but warned that more World Cup-qualifying places to CONCACAF do not guarantee Caribbean success, but raise hopes at best.

“I think it is a positive thing (more spots) and, of course, the devil will be the

details as we have not yet seen the allocation of spots to the various confederations, and I assume each of the confederation will receive an increase in spots.

“I have seen it being touted that CONCACAF could get six-and-half spots, but that does not guarantee you a spot from the Caribbean, but what it does is give you more opportunities and I think that can only be beneficial to CONCACAF. The Caribbean teams particularly, which I See page 19

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

T&T national footballers want coach Stephen Hart reinstated PORT OF SPAIN Trinidad, (CMC) – Less than two months after his sacking as national coach, Trinidad and Tobago men’s senior squad want Stephen Hart reinstated.

In a shocking development, Hart has emerged as the squad’s favourite to take over, following the dramatic resignation of his replacement, Belgian Tom Saintfiet, last Tuesday after just five weeks and four games in charge.

Speaking on behalf of a group of 23 national players, spokesman Jan-Michael

Stephen Hart was sacked by the local FA last November

Williams said they had been at fault for Hart’s sacking last November and should have taken more responsibility for their own game.

“In the players’ opinion, I think we obviously let him down, I think we should have operated in a more professional manner,” the goalkeeper told the Newsday here.

We think obviously he is the best man for the job or one of the best candidates for the job and we will like to get him back See page 19 MONDAY JANUARY 16, 2017