Guyana chronicle epaper 01 07 2017

St Cuthbert’s school goes solar 7

Page

Prosecutors hired No. 104786

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

‌ for Pradoville2, other scams

Miners seek clarity on tax measures

Page

3

Page

10

Miners spill over onto North Road during their meeting Friday afternoon at the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association headquarters (Delano Williams photo)

Rice exports net US$178M Page

15

$34M cleared to purchase industrial 9 scanners Page

16 per cent drop in serious crimes Page

10

2

Rose Hall Martyrs, Chinese Arrival days designated As per an Executive Notice issued on Friday President David Granger designated January 12 as Chinese Arrival Day. In a second Executive Notice, also issued, March 13 has been named Rose Hall Martyrs’ Day. According to the first notice, the President stated: “Since January 12, 1853, when they first arrived, Chinese have made significant contributions to the growth and development of Guyana. Many of them Christians fleeing, persecu-

tion in their motherland, the Chinese integrated quickly into the prevailing Guyanese society and by the start of the 20th century had come to be regarded as earnest, law-abiding, industrious citizens. Their imprint could readily be seen in Guyanese cuisine and in their involvement in commerce as shopkeepers and businessmen. It is hoped that Chinese Arrival Day will foster a greater appreciation for their history and contributions and further enrich the cosmo-

politan nature of Guyana’s citizenry.”

In the notice designating March 13, Rose Hall Martyrs’ Day, the President stated: “The Colonial police killed 15 sugar workers on March 13, 1913, at Plantation Rose Hall in Berbice.

The workers had formed a group to protest against working on days that were awarded to them for a good sugarcane grinding season.

These martyrs whose ages ranged from 21 to 75 were Badri, Bholay, Durga, Gafur, Jugai, Juggoo, Hulas,

Lalji, Motey Khan, Nibur, Roopan, Sadulla, Sarjoo, Sohan and the only female, Gobindei. Sugar workers participated in the development of the economy, the pillar of which was sugar.

The slaying of the workers brought international attention to the system of Indentureship and its cruelty. Indentureship ended in 1917.

On Rose Hall Martyrs’ Day it is hoped that the martyrs’ supreme sacrifice would remain an inspiration to Guyanese.”

Robb Street triple murder/arson … defence complete submissions, prosecution set to reply ATTORNEYS for Ganga Krishna and Avishkar Kissoon, the men accused of torching a Robb Street, Georgetown property which took the lives of three persons, have provided written and oral submissions to Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and the prosecution.

The submissions relate

to the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of a 63-year-old man and his two daughters.

Krishna, 72, a businessman of Lot 11 North Road, Bourda and his employer, Kissoon, 24, of Lot 1 Sheriff Street, Campbellville, are currently on remand for the arson/ murder of the trio. In November, 2014,

Theresa Rozario, 15, and her 12-year-old sister, Feresa Rozario, were burnt to death after an early-morning

Avishkar Kissoon

fire destroyed a Robb Street, Georgetown building they were occupying with their father.

The two sisters, who were reportedly asleep, were trapped in the early-morning inferno.

Hilrod Randolph Thomas, 63, managed to jump through a window to escape the flames but he sustained second and third-degree burns and later succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

Woman remanded for cocaine in luggage CLARABEL Johnson, the 24-year-old woman who was caught with almost nine pounds of cocaine hidden in the walls of her suitcase at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport on Wednesday, was on Thursday denied bail and remanded to prison on a drug-trafficking charge.

Johnson, of Cooper Street, Albouystown, was arraigned in the Sparendaam Magistrates Court before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul on a charge that on January 4 at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport , she had 4.1 Kilogrammes of Cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The woman pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford, objected to bail on the basis that the offence is a serious one. Sandiford told the court that on the day in question, Johnson was scheduled to depart Guyana on a LIAT flight destined for Antigua and Barbuda when she was arrested by a CANU officer.

Johnson was observed acting in a suspicious manner and a search of her luggage uncovered the drugs in the walls of her suitcase.

The case has been adjourned to February 27.

(GPHC).

Investigations in this matter took the police two years after a drug addict reportedly confessed that he was offered money to set fire to the disputed building.

Police believe that the building was torched to drive out individuals who were also claiming ownership of the property by prescriptive rights.

Attorney Mursalin Bacchus is representing Kissoon, while Nigel Hughes is representing Ganga. The matter is being prosecuted

by Inspector Neville Jeffers.

Bacchus handed over a written submission to the chief magistrate, while Hughes opted to give an

Ganga Krishna oral submission to the court. The matter has been adjourned to January 16, when Prosecutor Jeffers is expected to respond to the submissions.

Santa Cruz farmer gets bail after fracturing cousin’s skull A FORTY-FOUR-YEAROLD Santa Cruz farmer was on Friday granted $75,000 bail by Chief

Magistrate Ann McLennan for fracturing his cousin’s skull.

Lionel Daniels, of Big

Canoe, Santa Cruz Village, Moruca, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on November 30, 2016, at Santa Cruz Village, he unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm on Vanancio Daniels.

Police prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, told the court that on the day in question, the cousins were in the Santa Cruz Village consuming alcohol when an argument ensued between them.

The defendant allegedly became annoyed and dealt his cousin several lashes to his head with a piece of wood, thereby causing injury to the man.

Jones made no objection to substantial bail which was granted by the chief magistrate and the matter has been transferred to the Acquero Magistrates Court for April 4.

Prosecutors hired

3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

… for Pradoville2, other scams

By Ariana Gordon CABINET has approved the appointment of six attorneys to serve as special prosecutors on several cases, including but not limited to, the range of forensic audits conducted by the APNU+AFC administration when it came into power in May 2015.

The six attorneys are Michael Somersall, Hewely Griffith, Lawrence Harris, Patrice Henry, Compton Richardson, and Trenton Lake.

Last July, Ministers of Legal Affairs and Public Security, Basil Williams and Khemraj Ramjattan, respectively, were tasked with advising Cabinet on the feasibility of establishing a special prosecutorial team.

Government had made it clear that it has no intention of going after any one person or group of persons and gave the assurance that there will be no witch-hunting.

At the announcement of consideration of a special prosecutorial team, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira described the move by the administration as witch-hunting.

She told reporters that Article 187 of the Constitution of Guyana confers the powers of prosecution in criminal proceedings on the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

WITCH-HUNT “This new action is a departure from the existing functional and professional system of prosecutions. The proposal to create a special prosecutions unit cannot be seen as anything else but further institutionalisation of another attempt to witchhunt political opponents,” she said in a statement to the media last year.

“Were the Government to go through the DPP and the Guyana Police Force, both professional bodies governed by the Constitution and statute, they would be expected to abide by a level of professionalism and follow specific guidelines and act based on evidence,” she added, while noting that the APNU+AFC administration clearly has no faith in

Attorney Trenton Lake

Attorney Patrice Henry

the aforementioned entities.

She strongly believes that Government’s move to establish the team is designed to target her party.

Meanwhile, on Friday during a post-Cabinet press briefing held at the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary Joseph Harmon told reporters that he was not in a position to disclose the names of the attorneys who have agreed to work on the special prosecutorial team, but noted that they are all qualified and practising attorneys in private practice.

He disclosed too that Government received two recommendations from persons who reside within CARICOM. He said that as far as he is aware, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, is in the process of finalising “retainer arrangements” and for that reason the names of the attorneys have not been publicised. “… I believe that is why the Attorney General has not decided to let go of these names like that, because they are still looking at what retainer arrangements will take place; but I want to give you the assurance that all of the persons whom the Attorney General had spoken to have said they are prepared to work on these cases, and in fact, there are some persons who were not contacted but heard about it – they are also prepared,” Harmon told reporters.

The Minister of State said too that the attorneys who will form part of the team represent a “pool of skills [and] talent who are prepared to work with us to ensure that those wrongs of

the past are dealt with in a very swift manner.”

Asked whether the attorneys have begun engagements with the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), the Cabinet Secretary was not in a position to state.

He noted, however, that there are persons assisting with the financial analysis of the work to be done by SARU. Those persons reside abroad, making reference to the representatives of the World Bank who visited Guyana last year.

Efforts, he said, are continuing to ensure that the law relating to the SARU is crafted well.

BEFORE CABINET “We are at a point where it is already crafted and before Cabinet. The next stage is for it to go before the National Assembly and be debated and passed into law,” added Harmon.

Last October, Harmon had told reporters that Government intended to set up a

Attorney Michael Somersall special prosecutorial team to prepare reports into the forensic audits which have been completed on the Sparendaam housing project, commonly known as ‘Pradoville Two’ and the Guyana Cricket World Cup Inc. He had said then that both regional and international assistance would be provided in each case.

“Cabinet, upon examination of the reports, concluded that in both cases there were indications of criminal culpability that required further investigation.

Cabinet agreed that in each case a special prosecutors’ team would be established, and that the Minister of Legal Affairs would submit a report to Cabinet — within one week — on the composition of such a team,” he had stated.

He said the special prosecuting team would not be limited to local personnel and would have a “wider sweep.”

“We are looking to bring persons who are capable of handling these matters.

Yes, we are looking at the

region in the first instance as well and then further [sic] afield,” he stated.

When questioned about the roles of SOCU conducting the prosecution of cases such as ‘Pradoville Two,’ he had reminded reporters that SOCU is part of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

“These are criminal investigations, and therefore the decision is that it goes to the police and the police decide whether it is SOCU or the Criminal Investigation Department [that would] deal with [the investigations]; but as far as Government is concerned, the matter should be investigated by the criminal investigation elements within the Guyana Police Force.”

In the ‘Pradoville Two’ matter, it was found that plots of land were transferred at values that were not reflective of market prices at the time and according to the report, the valuations provided were “unusual for the time and location.”

The audit into the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has revealed that some $257M were spent on the development of the housing project, and the value of land there should have been $82.8M per acre; but the lands were sold for significantly less.

During development of the project, a transmission tower belonging to the National Communications Network (NCN) was removed and relocated by the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to facilitate the development of the area.

“Instead of accumulating all the costs associat-

ed with the Sparendaam Project — including the market value of the land — in a special account to be applied in arriving at the price to be charged per houselot, NICIL’s Board and Cabinet were complicit in charging the related costs of $257.049M to NCN in the form of equity investment, and to CH&PA in the form of receivables.

“The fact that several key Cabinet members are the beneficiaries of the houselots renders it highly inappropriate for the very Cabinet to approve of the charging of the expenditure to the accounts of NCN and CH&PA,” the audit report stated.

SARU has recommended that the Attorney General put systems in place so that charges of “misconduct in public office” could be laid against former President Bharrat Jagdeo and five ministers of the former administration: Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud; Public Service Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford; Education Minister Priya Manickchand; Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul; and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

Surujbally remains at GECOM … as President Granger considers nominees

DR Steve Surujbally remains at the helm of the Guyana Elections Commission as President David Granger actively considers the six nominees put forward by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to be selected as the new chairman of the electoral body.

Surujbally had resigned from the post in which he had served for approximately 15 years; that resignation should have taken effect on November 30, but President Granger has asked him to defer his demission from office until a new chairman has been selected.

At the first post-cabi-

net press briefing for the year held on Friday, Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary Joseph Harmon told reporters that Cabinet received an update on Tuesday on the quest to find a replacement for Surujbally.

In December, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in accordance with Article 161 of the Constitution of Guyana,had hosted consultations with stakeholders before submitting the names of six candidates to the President.

It should be noted that President Granger had written to the Leader of the Opposition requesting that he submit to him six nominees following consultations with

stakeholders. Jagdeo complied and submitted controversial Indian rights activist, Rhyaan Shah, a two-time elections candidate for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Professor James Rose, Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Consultant, Lawrence Latchmansingh; business executive, Ramesh Dookhoo; former chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Norman Mc Lean; and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram. Shortly after receiving the candidates for the post, President Granger requested the opposition leader provide to him the Curriculum Vitae of the individuals.

This was done in accordance with the president’s request. In defence of his request for the Curriculum Vitae of the individuals, President Granger said “Although those six names

might be known to the public, I could not be sure that their nominations were in accordance with the Constitution. I have asked him to let me have copies of the Curriculum Vitae of each one, so that it can guide me in making my decision.”

The Head of State stressed that it is “very important that we have a chairman as early as possible.” He is now required to respond to the opposition leader, after which the latter would be called to begin negotiations with the President. “That is where we are,” Harmon told reporters while outlining the process.

He said there are many misconceptions about how the President will act in the matter. He explained that above all, President Granger will uphold the requirements of the Constitution of Guyana. “…if he is not satisfied that the conditions of the

Constitution have been met in the list that was submitted, the President can in fact ask the leader of the opposition to come back again with a fresh list. If after that is done and the persons still do not fit the requirements stipulated in the Constitution, the President can call the opposition leader in for meaningful consultations again and after that, if he still does not to arrive at a person by that time, the president has a right to appoint somebody,” stated Harmon.

Meanwhile, President Granger has stressed that Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana states that the Chairman of the Elec-

tions 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. The Constitution also outlines that the post of chairman must be a fulltime appointment and the holder must not engage in any other form of employment.”

DATE: 04/12/2016 06/01/2017

E 01 04 12 15 21 22 17

05

14

16

22

26

06/01/2017

06

04

09

06/01/2017

00

07

04

06/01/2017 07 08

14

15 19 20 21

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

Surujbally cops top int’l electoral award

FORMER Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally , was last month internationally recognised for his work with elections when he

management bodies were presented at the ceremony.

And while there were several candidates from which winners for the other categories were selected,

Dr. Steve Surujbally received the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS) Award for Sustained Achievement in the Field of Election Management at the International Electoral Awards (IEA) ceremony in Maputo, Mozambique.

The awards ceremony, which was held concurrently with the 13th International Electoral Affairs Symposium, saw individuals and elections commissions from over 30 countries being a part of the prestigious event.

A total of 13 awards, and several recognition honours, relative to election

Dr Surujbally was solely selected for his award, in celebration of his excellence within the electoral management arena over the last decade and a half.

Dr. Surujbally, a veterinarian, has directed the elections commission since the early 2000s, resigning from the post last year November.

On presenting the trophy to Dr Surujbally, Chairman and Chief Executive of the ICPS, Matt Gokhool, expressed his “hope that the recognition of the accomplishments of this year’s awardee will serve as a beacon for his

peers in the field of electoral management.”

On accepting the award, Dr Surujbally remarked that he stood on the stage only as the symbolic recipient of the award, accepting it on behalf of the GECOM, and it’s committed and dedicated staff, which he had the privilege to lead for more than 15 years.

Other awards given out included Electoral Commissioner of the Year Award” copped by India’s Dr Syed Nasim Zaidi; “Gender Equality Award” going to Nepal’s Ila Sharma; and the “Award for Extraordinary Achievements Towards the Country’s Transition to Democracy,” which was won by Nigeria’s Barthelemy Kere.

The “Electoral Conflict Management Award” went to the Central Elections Commission of Palestine, and Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) won the “Electoral Commission of the Year Award.”

The 2016 IEA committee consisted of eight illustrious and high-level professionals, including experts from the Division for Referenda and Elections (Council of Europe).

The ICPS has held International Electoral Affairs Symposiums and IEA ceremonies all over the world, including Malaysia, Mexico, Kenya, South Africa and Jamaica.

The symposium brings together international election management bodies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), donor agencies and other relevant stakeholders to share

their experiences, discuss the ongoing challenges in election management and strengthen international relations.

The ICPS is an organisation that works to promote effective policy-making and good governance through better interaction

between parliaments, governments and other stakeholders in society, said the body’s website.

The centre’s primary focus is the empowerment of human capital through capacity-building. To this end, the centre organises a range of training pro-

grammes, conferences and policy discussions to address current public policy issues on the international stage, in the European Union and the UK. These provide a forum for policy discussion, debate, networking and sharing of best practices.

6

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial Addressing

human frailties

EVERY Guyanese wants to live in a perfect society and this is all well and good, because as human beings we deserve to and are capable of making it possible. Oftentimes, Guyanese compare, and seek after, societies considered to be having better standards of living and their people courteous and orderly. Even as comparisons are understandably made and some condemnations are in order, the absence of recognition of our roles and requisite systems being put in place to bring about this state is frankly a responsibility we have to shoulder.

Recognition and acknowledgement of failings ought not to be seen as belittling, but necessary engagements in self-critique to address human frailties as a pre-requisite for growth and development. There are two sore issues where citizens -- irrespective of politics-- are united in daily concern. These are the constant road accidents and our physical environment. There is unanimity that the number of road accidents and the causalities from them make road usage a stressful encounter for the law-abiding within our midst. Yet there will continue to be persons who use the roadways without regard for the traffic laws and fellow road-users. Such attitude may speak to the daredevil nature in some of us, disregard for law (i.e. traffic regulations), and absence of courtesy for others.

Road causalities will not be reduced unless strong penalties are put in place, inclusive of swift justice to serve as a deterrent. Every life is precious and if others do not want to treat theirs as such, they have no right to deny others the right to life and limb. The continuous attention to the callous use of our roads is being done in the hope that courtesy will manifest among road users and the traffic laws will be obeyed, or stringent measures will be put in place to halt what is evidently becoming cause for grave concern.

As we bemoan the state of our physical environment, there continue to be trash strewn around; drains clogged with food boxes, bottles and so forth; yards and parapets overgrown with weeds; risk of mosquitoes’ infestation and communicable diseases. Poor environmental practices aid in creating the unsightly environment we rightly bemoan and condemn, yet these bad practices continue. In other societies, such acts carry heavy penalties with the aim of serving as deterrence.

Guyanese will leave these shores and visit other countries and instantly comply with maintaining the environment and observing the laws. This in part is due to their loved ones nudging them to do likewise, awareness that they will face the consequence of the law should they deviate, or impressed by the orderliness, courtesy and aesthetics, feel compelled to act accordingly. Conversely, as soon as they return to these shores, they fall back into bad practices. What ought not to be lost sight of in such societies is the sense of responsibility borne by citizens and visitors to confirm to the rules/laws, lest they suffer the consequences. In short, these societies don’t leave it up to the people to act in a certain manner; laws are put in place to ensure conformity.

No society, be it its systems or people, functions in an orderly manner and engage in productive activities

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 7, 2017

An open letter to the new Minister of Public Health Dear Editor, THELMA Ribeiro has been languishing in the public health system since the 8th Day of March, 2016. A letter was sent to the former Minister of Public Health, who later publicly denied having any knowledge of her case.

It is my hope that with a change in management of the public health system that a commission of inquiry can be set up to look

into what really happened to Thelma Ribeiro. It has been over 10 months now that she has been a patient in the system.

A surgery was done at the Lethem Hospital to remove gallstones, however according to the doctors who did the surgery, they were unable to remove the stones.

She was then referred to the Georgetown Hospital where the stones were removed in another surgery a few days later. It is after this sec-

ond surgery that the patient Thelma Ribeiro developed complications which led to her being in a comatose state. An additional minor surgery was done to insert a tube into her windpipe, so that she could breathe after she was removed from the life-support machine. She was then transferred back to Lethem where she is today.

I am writing to seek an intervention by the new Minister of Public Health to set up a commission

of inquiry to ascertain what really happened to Miss Thelma Ribeiro. A full investigation must be launched immediately before information gets lost.

Thelma is mother, a wife, a grandmother a HUMAN being who is Guyanese and deserves to be treated as any other Guyanese passing through the health system.

Regards Michael Mc Garrell

Region Eight REO should be commended for addressing plight of residents

Dear Editor,

I HUMBLY crave your permission to have some space in your newspaper as I firmly believe that the efforts of Region Eight Regional Executive Officer (REO), Rafael Downes, need the highest commendation.

I sought to highlight the numerous good that he continues to do in what many have regarded as the most challenging administrative region in Guyana. Downes, while evidently having some shortcomings, continues to do a splendid job at executing his mandate as the accounting officer for the people of Region Eight, thus earning significant admiration and best wishes.

The REO continues to

keep abreast with the many challenges facing residents within his region and has implemented a number of aggressive measures to confront these. His continued efforts in implementing a number of creative and innovative changes to the region will certainly bring about ease with his efforts in seeking to ensure that residents in both subsections one and two are less adversely affected by the increased challenges and difficulties over the past few years.

Despite Region Eight being a gold and diamond-mining community, it is evident that with the drop of gold and diamond prices and the fact that there continues to be a rise in unemployment, there is an urgent need for more projects and pro-

grammes geared particularly a bringing about economic relief.

As such, the economic situations of many are vulnerable, thus resulting in increased social ills and challenges. Therefore, the efforts by REO Downes should be highly commended as he has and continues to do a remarkable job.

While the region’s main source of economic development comes from gold and diamonds, it’s important to note that they are highly susceptible to adverse weather conditions and fluctuations in prices. Therefore, increases in prices for these will tend to lead to increased earnings, aided by investments made by other individuals in a number of areas.

As such, with a number

of new innovative measures being implemented by the REO, it's evident that the residents of Region Eight will certainly see an economic boost as his continued efforts should and is being highly praised for his tireless contributions.

Therefore, the Minister of Communities, the Hon Ronald Bulkan, along with his Permanent Secretary Emil Mc Garrel, should also take hats off for ensuring the appointment of Rafael Downes. It’s my sincere wish that the ministry will recognise his efforts while using it as a model, so that other regions can emulate his brave and hard-working efforts.

Regards Marilyn De Costa

IAC opens logo competition Dear Editor

THE Indian Action Committee (IAC) is inviting the public to submit designs for a logo depicting the 100th Anniversary of the arrival of the last batch of Indians which arrived in British Guiana aboard the Coolie Ship s.s Ganges on

April 18, 1917.

The IAC wrote the Ministry of Education in August 2016, subsequently met with Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and the organization made him aware of the centenary commemorations of the end of Indian emigration to British Guiana and the arrival of the last Coolie

without the inputs of its people in shouldering their civic responsibility. It is also true that while human beings can be self-serving, cruel to the other, and disregard conditions in society necessary for the good of the collective, laws are put in place to curb such tendencies.

And even as governments and corporate entities exercise their responsibilities such as in making laws and the provision of social services and community supports, citizens too have their responsibility. This responsibility outside of paying taxes requires obeying the laws, treating each other with courtesy, and taking pride in one’s

Ship, both of which occurred in 1917.

The IAC requested the collaboration of the Ministry of Education (Department of Culture, Youth and Sport) in these centenary commemorations.

The designer whose logo is selected will be awarded a prize and due recognition

by the IAC. All logo designs can be sent to info@ iacguyana.com , IAC Facebook or the organisation can be reached at Tel: 222-5163. Deadline for submission: Sunday, January 15, 2017.

Regards IAC

surroundings and the use of the public good. At the same time, it should be said that there exists a tendency in our culture, on the part of all three groups and in all areas of our welfare, to focus more on building with little attention given to enforcement and maintenance. Where these are not being given equal priority, things will fall apart and could create dire consequences for the people and prove to be cost-prohibitive. The perfect society we rightly yearn for, the responsibility rests with us as citizens to create by our actions as individuals, government and corporate entities.

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 7, 2017

St Cuthbert’s school goes solar -gov’t installs $8.7M solar system FOR the first time since the St Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary School was established, its students will be able to make full use of electricity, thanks to the installation of a 6.2kW solar system by the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc. (HECI).

The 24 solar panels were installed just before the school closed in December 2016 for the Christmas holidays and the upcoming school term will see the 126 enrolled students fully reaping the benefits of the new system, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure said in a release.

Orlando Shuman, Headmaster of the St Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary School

The new system came at a cost of $8.7M. Orlando Shuman, the current Headmaster of St Cuth-

bert’s Mission Secondary, shared his excitement over the potential the new system held. In his office at the school – his laptop in front of him and a printer to his right – he explained that the school is now able to tap into facilities that were previously inaccessible. While electricity is present in the community, it typically becomes available from 6:00PM to 10:00PM daily, outside of school hours.

“From an administrative standpoint, this [electricity] helps me to be more efficient,” Shuman said, with a gesture towards his laptop.

He continued, “Generally,

The 24 solar panels installed on the roof of the St Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary School

The computer lab, which houses 18 computers, will soon be put to use, thanks to the installation of a 5Kw solar system by the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc

there has been a big difference. People are now looking at the school as going somewhere.”

He further said that, with electricity, the school will finally be able to have an electronic filing system and the ability to better manage its students’ records. He said too that teachers now have improved morale.

“Some have even suggested we get a percolator,” Shuman said with a laugh.

“It’s made our environment comfortable and more enthusiastic.”

Shuman also foresees big benefits for the upcoming Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) students. He indicated that, previously, the CSEC students

had encountered difficulties in completing their School Based Assessments (SBAs), since most had no access to computers and the internet.

Now, an enthused Shuman said, the students will finally be able to make use of the school’s computer lab, which has been housing 18 unused computer systems since their acquisition more than two years ago. He added that, with the use of computers, the classes at the school would become much more interactive.

Thanking the HECI for its intervention, Shuman said, “It’s amazing to see something like this come to fruition so quickly. I feel it’s a step in the right direction.”

Meanwhile, HECI also

extended the community’s electricity network to better service its residents. While some residents would have had power systems already installed, the electricity provided was often of low voltages. Therefore, HECI installed additional transformers and, overall, upgraded the network.

This upgrade has seen six new households being added to the network. Additionally, the 1,200 homes in the community already on the network will benefit from better electricity.

The indigenous community was identified by HECI due to its rapid growth in recent years and the need for an improved supply of electricity.

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

Bishop Edghill opposes curbs on illegal rum shops

–– as House passes Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill

THE failure of proprietors to have liquor licences in their possession at the time of sale of the substance will now attract a stricter financial penalty, following the passage of the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill 2016 in the National Assembly on Friday.

The amendment, which was piloted by the APNU+AFC government following approval of its $250B budget, seeks to adjust the rates in 23 Sections of the Bill. Higher penalty fees will now be paid by alcohol distributors, who are not in possession of valid liquor licences, while the

licence fee itself has been increased.

Read for the second time

by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, the Bill, number 32 of 2016, increased fees which have not been adjusted since 1992 despite Guyana recording consistent economic growth over those years. “After 25 years, we’re seeking to increase these fees by almost 100 per cent,” the minister said, adding that the fees shouldn’t pose disturbance with the House and larger population.

However, it did pose disturbance, as the Opposition PPP sought to challenge the need for these increases.

Leading the Opposition’s

argument was former Junior Finance Minister and Pentecostal Bishop, Juan Edghill, who described the increases as having an “anti-business

more for their licence to sell alcohol, they will also charge more on non-alcoholic beverages as well,” he said.

He reasoned that if the

Bishop Edghill has been the leader of the Outreach Ministries International Winners’ Cathedral for the past 21 years approach.”

Edghill argued that the 100 per cent increase in these fees is not an attempt to get persons to comply with the law, but rather it is a revenue-generating exercise, which will affect persons who do not even consume alcohol. “If a shop sells liquor, and they have to pay

Government-- as it expressed-- were looking at this issue within the context of the impact of alcohol on the health-care system, then there were a number of different routes which could have been taken. However, based on the route the government has decided to go, he contended that it is clear

that the driving force was “let’s have more money.”

“I wish the minister would tell this House what considerations were given to increase these taxes” Edghill said, adding that while the minister speaks about these taxes not being increased in over 20 years, the PPP government was able to do that while the economy recorded consistent economic growth.

As such, he said that the opposition party would have been inclined to support a bill which examined the impact of alcohol on the country’s health-care system; a bill which addresses drunk- driving policies and consequences; a bill which addresses the availability and accessibility of alcohol; a bill which deals with pricing policies; and a bill which deals with greater monitoring in relation to the use of alcohol.

He suggested that the absence of these components were enough grounds for the Finance Minister to “put more thinking and analysis” into these measures, which were subsequently implemented. “We shouldn’t look at an easier way to make money, but its impact on the average citizen” he said.

In his rebuttal though, Minister Jordan lamented

that it is becoming increasingly difficult to understand the Opposition’s interventions on some of these bills, given the fact that adjustments have not been made in over 20 years, even though there is an increasing administrative cost attached to the issuing and monitoring of liquor licences. He said that if the PPP believes that these increases should have been incremental, then it should have initiated the process while in office for 23 years. “We not going to wait 25 more years to raise these fees… they will be under constant reviews,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Miscellaneous Licences (Amendment) Bill 2016 was also passed following much resistance by the Opposition. Attempts were made

by Dharamkumar Seeraj, Yvonne Pearson and newcomer Vickram Bharrat of the PPP to convince the government that this bill too, would pose hardship on the average Guyanese.

Not moved by these attempts however, the Bill journeyed through a split in the voting, which saw Government’s 33-seat trumping the Opposition’s 29. Both bills were passed without further amendments.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

Diaspora policy being developed

A MINISTERIAL sub-committee has been established to develop a diaspora policy, Minister of State Joseph Harmon has announced.

Harmon told reporters on Friday that consultations have been done with stakeholders on a Diaspora Engagement Strategy; the stakeholders include the International Organisation of Migration (IOM).

The move by Cabinet to

being carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on diaspora engagement. It will be recalled that this is an area which, when we came into office, the Government decided that they were going to put additional efforts into ensuring that the ease of doing business in Guyana with our Guyanese in the Diaspora was made much easier.”

Harmon said over the past few months, the Ministry

portant enough to ensure that our Guyanese in the diaspora… that they have a specific point of reference on all of these issues. At present, the point of reference is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through our consulates, high commissions and embassies abroad.”

Harmon said oftentimes, Guyanese in the diaspora return here and try to get services provided to them

President David Granger addresses members of the diaspora at the Guyana Mission in Manhattan, New York, September 2016 set up a ministerial sub-committee comprising the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Public Security, State, Finance, Business and Citizenship, follows concerns raised by members of the diaspora of being isolated by the 18-month-old administration.

“The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs updated Cabinet on the formulation of a Diaspora Engagement Strategy and other works

of Foreign Affairs engaged with several international agencies on studying the issue to see how best a diaspora engagement policy could be drafted.

He said preliminary work has been completed and noted that the ministerial sub-committee will examine the proposals and put to Cabinet its final decision on the matter.

“We believe that it is im-

and it is the hope of his administration that the strategy will allow them to remain where they are and access the requisite information and get decisions from Government entities and agencies by just the click of a button on a computer.

“That is the direction in which we are moving,” he stated.

He said Cabinet has agreed that a sub -committee

comprising the ministers be appointed to examine proposals and advise on a final decision.

Assurances that Government is sticking to one of its campaign promises to engage the diaspora in a structured manner has followed public concerns by a group of pro-Government Guyanese in New York, who have claimed they are being treated as outcasts, although they had campaigned for and provided financial support to APNU+AFC. They have also flayed the Government for failing to set up a Diaspora Commission or selecting an overseas-based Guyanese to be a parliamentarian.

Harmon said Government is determined to ensure overseas-based Guyanese enjoy the ease of doing business in their homeland.

“We believe that it is important enough to ensure that our Guyanese in the diaspora, that they have a specific point of reference on all of these issues,” he said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge has assured overseas-based Guyanese that they are not being ignored, but his ministry is not an employment bureau.

President David Granger has called on overseas-based Guyanese to stop writing petitions and instead come back and invest in village economies.

He had said he loves the diaspora and credited them with supporting him and his coalition election campaign.

Huawei to train E-Government network technicians CABINET has granted approval for a technical support and training programme for the E-Government network

by Huawei Technologies Company Limited of China, since Guyana does not have local skills to operate and maintain the network.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters on Friday that Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes requested Cabinet’s approval for the programme.

“Cabinet was advised that the E-Government that was built by Huawei between 2011 and 2014 and operationalised in 2016 lacked the local engineers and technicians with the requisite knowledge to operate and maintain the net-

work.”

As it relates to the technical support aspect, it was proposed the Ministry of Public Infrastructure through the E-government Unit engage with Huawei to ensure that service to be provided include the replacement of hardware that may be defective or obsolete, technical support to restore the network in the event of system failure, round the clock help desk support, remote trouble shooting and software update.

“Cabinet agreed with the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Telecommunications and requested that the minister proceed with the matter in the normal course of things requiring the National Procurement and Tender Board

Administration’s (NPTAB) approval for any further contractual arrangements,” Harmon stated.

Hughes had said last year that the e-governance programme increases Government’s and the country’s capability to make Internet connectivity available to all citizens in the City, other parts of the coastland and inland communities.

She disclosed then that after preparatory work is completed a fibre-optic cable connecting Georgetown to Moleson Creek, Linden, Anna Regina, Linden and Lethem will be installed.

Wireless sites will be constructed and activated along these national corridors utilising 4G technologies, aimed at providing connectivity to all of the socio-economic services

and facilities across the country.

The minister stressed that her Government supports the position that access to the Internet and utilisation of ICT will aid its ability to develop critical services and provide effective cost-cutting support to all productive sectors.

The multi-million-dollar e-governance project was rolled out under the former People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration with the aim of creating a network linking Government and other State agencies throughout the country.

The project hit controversy when the fibre-optic cable that was supposed to link the coastland to Brazil was scrapped as a result of technical faults.

9

$34M cleared to purchase industrial scanners THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will soon add a number of industrial scanners to its assets as Cabinet has granted its no-objection to the award of $34, 200,000 to Massy Technologies Limited for the supply of same.

Cabinet Secretary Joseph Harmon told reporters on Friday that the provision of the industrial scanners will assist in the scanning of containers that enter the country on a daily basis.

The scanners, which will be placed at the various wharves will aid in curbing the illicit transporting of drugs.

Guyana, Harmon said, has become known as a trans-shipment point and that image of the country must change. He explained that the $34M is part of a wider process of scanning containers that enter and leave the country.

“Because of the absence of a scanner, you find that goods and services and sometimes equipment, sometimes products that are not produced in Guyana but pass through Guyana end up in other ports.”

He added: “We really have to put a stop to that,” noting that every time there is a major drug bust in containers, it is done in another country, but would have passed through Guyana.

“We have to really take very serious steps to address our country’s image as a drug trans-shipment point. We have to work assiduously to correct that; this is part of that process of providing that facility to the GRA to help it with its work,” the Minister of State added.

Asked about the US$4.3 M container scanner that the GRA had commissioned in 2014 that had encountered some challenges over the years, Harmon said the scanner can function, but a “home” is yet to be found to house it.

He explained that there was an issue with the facility used to house the equipment, and as a result, the scanner has not been in use.

“Some time ago there was the use of the National Park and that proved to be a disaster in itself, because the tarmac was damaged in a very serious way and so that the use of the scanner in very many cases has been curtailed because of the absence of what you call a “home” for the scanner; this is something we are working on right now to be able to provide that facility,” he added.

The Auditor General’s report of 2015 on the Public Accounts had said that the GRA did not have a functioning container scanner as one was no longer usable, while the other had malfunctioned while it needed a fixed location.

In that report, the Auditor General said that in May, 2010, the GRA had purchased an electronic container scanner at a cost of US$1M for the purpose of 100 per cent container scanning.

That scanner became operational one year later, but was deemed inoperable in October 2014 due to loss of power to the electrical cabinet.

In 2013, another scanner was procured and that scanner became operational in January 2014; however, it became inoperable some 30 months after in June 2016.

That scanner was funded by the Government of China.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

Miners seek clarity on tax measures

By Svetlana Marshall

THE cost of production in the mining industry will more than likely increase for small and medium scale miners, Chartered Accountants Christopher Ram said as he explained the implications of the menu of tax measures being imposed by the Government.

Ram made a guest appearance at a specially convened meeting organised by the Guyana Gold and Miners Association (GGDMA) with all miners, operators, jet-men, marack-men, pork-knockers and everyone involved in the mining industry to discussed the pros and cons of Value Added Tax (VAT) on certain goods and services; the increased in tributors tax from 10 per cent to 20 per cent; the payment of two per cent tax and the filing of income taxes.

Additionally, the meeting sought to address the need to keep proper books and daily records of all transactions, and the punitive measures for failing to do so.

From the inception of the meeting, which saw an overflowing of miners from the halls to the compound of the association’s North Road Bourda Head Office, the Executive Secretary Tony Shields made it clear that, though miners are not against paying taxes, the Government never consulted with GGDMA on the measures being imposed as he spoke in the presence of the President Terrence Adams and Vice President Andron Alphonso.

In his opening remarks,

Ram told the miners, who were clearly anxious to have clarity on measures that both the Finance Minister Winston Jordan and the Minister of Natural Resources have taken stock of the invaluable contributions made by small and medium scale miners.

In addressing the first issue surrounding the two per cent final tax, which was introduced as law in 1988, Ram explained that as of January 1, 2017, the two per cent is no longer a final tax to be paid by miners on their operations, but a tax on the payment of account.

“So you now have to account for your total income and then treat that two per cent as part of the taxes you have paid in advance,” he further explained.

The Chartered Accountant noted that this particular measure will only affect the individual miners and not the mining companies since they are already paying corporation taxes.

It was further explained that once the two per cent is more than the taxes required, then miners will be refunded by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). “If you owe more you have to pay more, if you over pay…you will be refunded,” he told the miners.

In his opinion, the Revenue Authority would have to refund many miners for overpaying taxes but noted that the GRA is not the fastest entity in terms of offering refund.

Raymond Khan, one of the many miners present, suggested that two per cent tax be

increased to maybe three per cent but that should be the final tax.

WELL RECEIVED This proposal was well received by the miners, who said it will aid in reducing some of the complication and financial burdens faced by miners.

However, at this level, it is just a proposal and must be consulted on before being put to the GRA and the Government by extension.

Ram said another issue that will face miners and one which requires greater clarity from GRA, is whether they will have to pay their quarterly installment, in addition to the two per cent tax being paid.

“If you don’t pay those installments on time, you will have to pay penalties, and a penalty is a tax,” he said. He lamented that GGDMA must raise this issue with the Revenue Authority.

Turning his attention to VAT, the Chartered Accountant said significant changes have been made to the tax regime with respect to VAT; however, these changes will only come into effect on February 1.

“Many of the items that you might be familiar with in terms of stocking up to go into the mining district might have been zero-rated because they are basic food items. All those basic food items, practically every basic food item has now being shifted from zero rates to exempt,” he noted.

As a result, the input tax paid to produce a given food product will not be refunded to

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram and GGDMA President inspecting a receipt provided to a miner in the presence of the Executive Secretary Tony Shields and President Terrence Adams the producer as in the case of zero-rated items but will now be carried by the producer, and would likely be passed unto the consumer.

“Assuming the system works as it should then there is likely to be some element of additional cost in the operations.

It could also mean that you as miners, raw gold is exempted, so your output is exempt, so any VAT you suffer you will have to bear it as a cost,” he explained.

But this announcement did not sit well with the miners present, who openly expressed concern not only about the cost of food items but there truck drivers will now increase the cost to transport fuel because of the trickling effect.

Additionally, the Chartered Accountant urged the miners to maintain proper records of their mining activities while underscoring the importance

of submitting their Tax Returns on time.

He noted that in past there was no penalty attached to late returns which disclose losses.

“What will now happen is that there is going to be a flat fee of $50, 000 to each loss…”

Additionally, Ram noted that there will be a fine of $200, 000 or six months imprisonment for the failure to present books and records when requested.

“What you have to be careful with is not keeping proper books and record because what happens when you don’t is that you give the Commissioner the right and the power to give a best of judgment assessment,” he said, noting that such assessment may not be in favour of such miners.

This issue had generated significant concerns from miners, who noted that given the nature of the job, GRA must

clearly state what “proper record” is and whether the Revenue Authority will be willing to accept the records being kept by miners.

The Vice President noted that the mining districts do not at always allow for proper record keeping, noting that there are often emergency situations such as floods which force miners to relocate. Additionally, he questioned whether GRA would receive the receipts provided by service providers.

The miners then inquired what makes up a legitimate “receipt?” A receipt provided for scrutiny by the Chartered Accountant revealed that it firstly lacked a revenue stamp, and as such, would not be accepted

by GRA. It therefore means that for bills declined by GRA, miners would have to carry that financial burden.

16 per cent drop in serious crimes THE Guyana Police Force recorded a 16 per cent decrease in serious crimes at the end of December 2016, relative to the same period for the previous year.

A statement from the force on Friday said that there has been a six per cent decrease in reports of murder, with a 64 per cent clear-up rate.

A seven per cent decrease in gun-related robberies has been recorded with a 16 per cent clear-up rate, while a 19 per cent decrease was recorded in armed robberies in which other instruments were used, with a clear-up rate of 24 per cent.

Additionally, the force has recorded a 19 per cent decrease in robberies with violence, with a 31 per cent clear-up rate; a seven per cent decrease in robbery with aggravation with a 35 per cent clear-up rate.

Robberies in which no guns or other instruments were used decreased by nine per cent and had a seven per cent clear-up rate.

Furthermore, there was a

27 per cent decrease in larceny from the person, with a 25 per cent clear-up rate; a 21 per cent decrease in rape with a 34 per cent clear- up rate; a 15 per cent decrease in burglaries with a 17 per cent clear-up rate; and a 19 per cent decrease in break and enter and larceny with a 20 per clear-up rate.

The statement said that 109 illegal firearms were taken off the streets in 2016, as compared to 115 in the previous year.

In 2015, 60 pistols, 30 revolvers, 15 shotguns, eight rifles, one pen gun and submachine gun were retrieved in 2015.

Last year, 49 pistols, 32 revolvers, 26 shotguns, two rifles, and no pen guns and sub-machine guns were retrieved.

Additionally, the force reported that comparative figures of murder committed for 2015/2016 show that in 2016 there were 12 executions, 26 robberies, 20 domestic crimes, 54 disorderly crimes, and 28 unknown crimes, while in 2015, there

were nine execution-style crimes, 24 robberies, 17 domestic crimes, 64 disorderly, 33 unknown crimes and two other crimes.

GAINING PUBLIC TRUST “The police are increasingly gaining the public’s trust, resulting in a higher level of information-sharing and solving and prevention of serious crimes, inclusive of murder. This is due to the numerous community engagements by divisional commanders and their sub-divisional officers, as well as branch commanders and their teams,” the statement from the Guyana Police Force said.

The force said that local and international training continues to be a top priority at all tiers, and noted that last year, 108 ranks, inclusive of 40 officers, attended courses in over 19 foreign countries, including India, the USA, Russia, Italy and China.

The officers were trained in the areas of Information Technology (IT) in Law En-

forcement, Advanced Fingerprint Science, Human-Trafficking, Public Corruption, Mediation Techniques and Illicit Financial Flows and Money- Laundering.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force has lauded the efforts made by members of the Cops and Faith Community Network, which was launched in September of 2014.

So far, there have been 343 interventions in cases where juveniles and young persons were first offenders of minor offences. Of this number, 211 were males and the remainder females.

“In all the cases, the youths were counselled by the religious leaders and following the involvement of parents/ guardians, and the victims where necessary, the majority of them were warned and sent away.

HEALTHY INPUTS The body has also made significant inputs pertaining to the supervision of the learner/drivers theoretical and practical examinations

countrywide and also the marking of the aforesaid examinations, as well as their involvement in the counselling of victims of attempted suicide, police ranks who had traumatic experiences, and victims/ relatives of senior crimes, including murder, armed robbery, rape and fatal accidents, the statement said.

In the meantime, there was a 10.3 per cent increase in fatal accidents with 128 fatalities recorded at the end of December, as compared to 126 at the end of 2015.

Serious and minor accidents decreased by nine per cent and three per cent respectively, but damage accidents increased by 15 per cent.

“Enforcement is continuous countrywide with special emphasis on driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding and use of cellular phones,” the statement added, while indicating that 38 pedestrians, 23 motorcyclists, 19 drivers, 16 pedal cyclists, 14 occupants of cars, 10

passengers in minibuses, five pillion riders, and three occupants in lorries or vans were killed in 2016.

A total of 70, 609 persons were charged with various traffic offences for 2016.

Some 26, 266 were charged for speeding; 4,665 for the breach of conditions of road service licences or playing loud music; 3,317 for driving under the influence of alcohol; 1,623 for using cellphones while driving; 1,627 for breach of traffic light signals; 1,435 for tinted motor vehicles; 1,701 for unlicensed drivers; 2,806 for failure to wear seat belts; 1440 persons were charged for dangerous driving; while 1496 were charged with careless driving.

Other charges included 1,317 persons charged for failure to wear safety helmets; 4,111 persons for overloading minibuses; 2,381 for obstruction of justice; 3,301 for failing to conform to signs and 1,966 for crossing double yellow lines, while charges for other offences totalled 11,157.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 7, 2017

Former NA mayor calls for unity Deputy British High Commissioner visits NA Council within municipal council

FORMER Mayor Barbara Pilgrim Roberts, has urged the New Amsterdam Council to be guided by the Municipal and District Council Act, which she described as the bible of the municipality.

Following the re-election of Mayor Kirt Wynter and his Deputy, Ms Winifred Haywood, the former chief citizen urged the newly elected officers to be sticklers for due process.

“Be transparent as possible with the citizens. There should be no secret meetings and backroom deals. Things must be transparent,” she admonished in the Council’s Chamber which had in its attendance, Ministry of Communities officials, members

Former NA Mayor, Barbara Pilgrim Roberts

of staff, and the public.

She further noted that the authority has a collective responsibility, first to the council, then to the citizenry. However, the majority of decisions made, she said, will order the pace by which

things happen in the municipality.

“You need to bring the citizens of New Amsterdam along with you. If there is a divide, then there will be no cohesion. There needs to be a relationship between the council and the citizens …Go into the constituency and keep meetings which should highlight the council’s plans and challenges.” In concluding, Pilgrim Roberts, who represented the Minister of Communities, advised the council to be united, even though every person will have his/ her own opinion ..Unity, she stressed will take the municipality forward.

Man who chopped ex-girlfriend, mother arrested

Bharti Udho in happier times

AFTER two weeks of being on the run, the police in ‘B’ Division have managed to capture Shamar Mohamed Ally, who brutally chopped his ex-girlfriend and her mother on Christmas Eve last year.

Commander of ‘B’ Division, Ian Amsterdam, confirmed that the man was found in New Forest, East Canje, Berbice, Wednesday night after police acting on information visited the area.

Bharti Udho, 23, her mother and three other siblings left their Number 70 Village home about 20:30 hrs on December 24 to go to Skeldon, but minutes later the young woman was viciously attacked by

Shamar Ally

Ally.

Her mother Amika Udho stepped in to defend her daughter, and she too incurred the wrath of the cutlass-wielding man.

Bharti Udho suffered several chop wounds about her body, including to the the head and lost her right arm and two fingers, while her mother Amika Udho, 43, suffered several chops about the body, including the neck and lost her right middle finger.

The younger daughter of the family, Alisa Ali, 18, also suffered several hits about the body after going to the rescue of her mother and sister.

DEPUTY British High Commissioner, Ron Rimmer, during a visit to New Amsterdam, urged the New Amsterdam Town Council to thoughtfully draft initiatives which can reduce unemployment in the Berbice township.

During an interactive session with councillors, which included Heads of the Committees, namely Education, Health, Market and Social Development , Rimmer, who was accompanied by Dillion Seetram, Political Officer within the British High Commission, said while they are looking at investment opportunities between New Amsterdam and the United Kingdom, providing equipment is not a high priority for the High Commission , but instead, assistance will be given in the area of infrastructure and education.

However, councillors must put their thinking caps on

in order to draft initiatives which can be addressed by the British High Commission during this new year .

Earlier, Head of the Education Committee, Mr. Kirk Fraser, had highlighted the need for improved roads, bridges street lights and compactor trucks, while Head of the Public Health /Sanitation Committee, Ms Polyann Schultz, echoed the call for

assistance for solid waste management. Patricia Lynch, Chairperson of the Social Development Committee, requested a centre and transportation for senior citizens , and William Moore, Head of the Works Committee, requested sports equipment, and coaches for various sports, along with machinery for clearing clogged drains so as to alleviate flooding..

British Deputy High Commissioner, The Hon Ron Rimmer with Mayor Kirt Wyner and other officers of the New Amsterdam municipality

12

New Amsterdamers views New Year wishes

tremendously decrease the number of ‘limers’ on the streets, therefore allowing youths to be purposeful.

And, with respect to my country, I need to see improvement in the economy and to have a lower cost of living.”

Sasha Henry –Clerk Sasha Henry –Clerk ”I WANT to continue to progress both academically and spiritually. Also to gain stability and find comfort in the fact that all things work together for good to them who love the Lord. With respect to my community, I would like to see programmes, courses, recreational activities ,job opportunities, or anything along these lines that would

Ivan Evan- Security Officer

Ivan Evan- Security Officer. “I WISH to see a reduction in domestic violence. I know that some of the men who commit these glaring

acts look at the amount of money and time they spend on their partners, who sometimes just turn away. All their time and effort gone down the drain, and they believe there is no alternative, having lost their investment to another lover...So they physically violate their spouse or lover, without thinking of the consequences, but just to please their minds. For the small man to get money in Guyana is not easy, and for a man to struggle to give his spouse basic luxuries and then for her/ him to leave is not easy too. Some men are taken to court and the penalty imposed by some magistrates can be harsh for a man who has mental challenges. It’s not easy. So, I want to see a reduction, but I don’t know how it can be done.”

Mia Hodge -Student ”I WISH for myself spiritual and academic success.

Additionally, I really need to see some positive chang-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 7, 2017

David Rose

Mia Hodge -Student es in my community which would see the reduction of drug usage amongst adults and youths. The reduction of domestic violence and suicide are also major areas of concern. But, the implementation of street lights along the Stanleytown main access road, should be a high priority.”

David Rose “FOR 2017, we need to trust God, for it’s a great task ahead. I am disturbed over the taxes which are thrown primarily at the poor man, as there are many commodities which are consumed mainly by the grassroot persons, and the monies earned are not adequate to make purchases, in addition to the other basic

items which are taxed. As a people if we are less burdened, then we will be more productive.

I wish too, that the government would look for foreign investors so as to ease our tax burden, and create employment, which will reduce joblessness. The reduction of joblessness will result in the reduction of poverty.

In 2016 we heard that investors were lining up according to the foreign ministry, we want to see these investors as a reality. Further, I wish to see the Amalia Falls electricity project realised. When there is cheap electricity, it attracts foreign investment and other businesses will be able to exist on a larger scale. Povert- reduction strategy is one of the hallmarks of His Excellency President David Grainger and his government, and if we are

to reduce poverty, we need to have cheaper electricity.

I wish that we as a people work together to face and offset challenges. We must listen to advice from all levels, so as to strive to build a better Guyana in unity and strength without animosity and discrimination.

Further, I wish that the Mayor and Council can work assiduously to make the town a better place.

For years, residents have been complaining about the inefficiency of the council , but with the new council there should be new ideas, so as to have a new move in the town. I have commended the Mayor for the work he has started by clearing the canals, but there is still much more to be done, especially on Pitt Street, which was recently flooded.

I also wish that the Council work together with the region, and for them to put away all political ties, so developmental projects can be realised. Further, additional stakeholders such as Neighbourhood Democratic Councils should be invited by the council to aid in their area of specialty in order to make the town a more vibrant place.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

Eleven years later…

Wife still awaits word about missing ‘Dixie’ sailor

IT was just over 11 years ago when Dexter Richmond walked out of his home at Shoe Lane, New Amsterdam, leaving behind his wife Angela and their four young daughters, Abina, Melissa, Vanessa, and Kimberly.

In June 2015, Dexter Richmond, John Layne, Jay Gibson, and Ron Mendouze were manning the Dixie vessel, as it was transporting a barge of concrete blocks from The Dominican Republic, en route to the Turks and Caicos Islands. The vessel was registered to KRS Transport Ltd, a then local charter company.

The Dixie left Puerto Plata in The Dominican Republic on June 18, 2005, for Turks and Caicos, where it was expected to arrive the following day with

concrete blocks. But it never arrived. Angela Richmond recalled that a day or two before her husband’s departure, a co-worker Layne Gibson had telephoned informing him of the job openings awaiting them in Trinidad. Being unemployed at the time, Richmond quickly made arrangements to travel, as he had intended to make a better life for his family, but, not before spending the last Father’s Day with his offspring.

“He left somewhat hurriedly,” his wife recalled, whilst seated at her place of employment; she is a laundress at the New Amsterdam Hospital. It was necessary for her to find a job to maintain her growing daughters. “Life has been hard since Dexter left. I have

not heard anything new,” she moaned.

“About two years ago, I made contact with the owner, Sherab Sears. He told me nothing yet. I expressed to him the struggles I am facing, he responded, I like you, I eating with my hand .Since then I have had no word. My life is stagnated, as I cannot move on, as I do not know whether my husband is dead or alive. I need closure. I made a vow before man and God, and I have to keep it, until I know what has happened to him.”

But, Mrs Richmond recalled too that after it was discovered that the vessel was found in 2009, Sears, when contacted had revealed that the matter concerning benefits and insurance was engaging the

NA municipality hosts children’s Christmas party

SEVERAL children drawn from the seven constituencies were treated to a Christmas party, compliments of the New Amsterdam municipality.

Coordinator Devon Gallay, said funding for the event was garnered from a concert held at the Town Hall, and the seven firstpast-the- post councillors, were tasked with selecting the children.

The children were treated to a sumptuous lunch, and received gift bags, which

contained educational toys and school necessities. Speaking at the event, Mayor Kirt Wynter expressed Christmas wishes to the children and their families, whilst reminding them of God’s love demonstrated on that first Christmas. Among others attending the event was Deputy Town Clerk / Human Resource Officer, Ms. Merlyn Henry, along with Councillors Patricia Lynch, Compton Grant and Corporal Rose of the Municipal Constabulary.

courts in Trinidad and Tobago, and should the ruling of the courts be favourable, then he would split the benefits with families of the sailors.

“However, I am yet to hear the outcome of the court,” Mrs Richmond said, “while the phone of Mr Shirab Sears goes unanswered.”

She noted that her daughters who are all grown, would ask several questions about the whereabouts of their father, and those questions remain unanswered.

She recalled that on the instruction by a Government official during an outreach in New Amsterdam last year, she was advised to make a missing person report at the Central Police Station. She did so, and also submitted a statement. As time goes by, there are questions that remain unanswered, such as why is Shirab Sears so secretive about the whereabouts of the missing sailors? “ I believe he knows more than what he is saying to us. After 11 years, when will Sears decide to talk with us, the families of the missing sailors, who were the breadwinners of their respective homes?”

Murdered hairdresser laid to rest

13

TWENTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD Lonnet Nicholson Prince, who was fatally stabbed several times about her body allegedly by her husband Sheldon Prince, was laid to rest at the Stanleytown Cemetery in New Amsterdam, following a funeral service at the Grace Temple Assemblies of God Church.

Chief Executive Officer of the New Amsterdam Hospital, Mr. Colin Bynoe, recalled how stunned the staff were at the demise of Ms. Nicholson, who loved to beautify others.

Former Administrator of the National Psychiatric Hospital, Ms. Leila Clark Daniels, recalled it was under her watch that the young woman commenced her attachment at the Occupational Therapy Department, where she displayed a calm and quiet presence. In addition, a representative from the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education[ IDCE], University of Guyana , said the Social Work student was the ‘light and laughter’ of the class, and one who will be greatly missed.

Lonnet Nicholson Prince was born on January 28, 1993, to her parents Michael and Sheryl Nicholson. She attended the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School, before successfully completing Cake Making and Decoration and Cosmetology courses with the IDCE. She later attended Kevin’s Reflection Beauty School, before being married at age 19 years. Her marriage resulted in a now four-year-old daughter.

During the service, officiating pastor Rev Doreen Henry, recalled conducting a weekly one-year revival and open-air meeting in Angoy’s Avenue, where the young woman was the lead singer, and who was never absent. Other tributes were given by her sorrowing relatives and friends.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

Lodge resident busted with illegal ammo

A D’Urban Street, Lodge, Georgetown, resident is in custody after police found unlawful ammunition on his person.

Police observed the man acting in a suspicious manner at the corner of Victor and Norton Streets on Thursday and approached him.

The 20-year-old

unemployed suspect on seeing the police dropped his cycle and attempted to escape, but was promptly detained.

A search of his person revealed five live rounds of ammunition, wrapped in a face rag. He will soon make a court appearance.

Ammunition found on a D’Urban Street, Lodge, Georgetown resident on Thursday

Saturday January 7th, 12:00 hrs - ––– Sunday January 8th, 1:30 - 13:30 hrs Monday January 9th, 2:30 - 14:30 hrs

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

Rice exports net US$178M

By Navendra Seoraj

THE Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has announced that despite the challenges facing the industry, some 500,000 tonnes of rice, valued US$178M was exported last year.

According to Board’s Quality Control Manager Allison Peters, notwithstanding the El Nino weather conditions and other deterring factors, rice performed fairly well in 2016.

She noted that last year, Guyana was able to tap into the Venezuelan market through private investors, which led to the exportation of 7,000 tonnes of rice to that country.

In addition, The Bahamas was added to the list of exportation in December 2016, taking one container of white rice.

This deal, the manager said, is one which sends a positive message to the rice industry. Guyana is also expected to get a slice of the

2 judges to try 140 cases

–– as January session opens Tuesday ONLY two judges have been assigned to the January Criminal Session which opens in Demerara on Tuesday with a list of 140 cases.

The judges assigned to this big task are Justice Navindra Singh and Justice Jo-Ann Barlow who are in charge of panels One and Two respectively.

The 140 cases include a number of murders, manslaughters, rape, carnal knowledge and other offences.

The occasion will be marked by the holding of the usual traditional ceremonial parade that would include inspection of a Guard of Honour and the taking of the salute during the march-past.

Normally, the assignment of three judges used to be found to be inadequate to deal with a smaller number of cases.

One of the two judges assigned will inspect the Guard of Honour formed by the Tactical Service Unit and take the salute during the march-past in South Road, outside the Demerara Supreme Court.

Following the parade, the judges will be entertained at a short recess in the Chief Justice’s Chamber, before taking up their arduous task.

GRDB Extension Services Manager Kuldip Ragnauth Mexican market very soon.

Jamaica continues to be one of the largest importers of rice from Guyana, importing a total of 29,594 tonnes of

rice, valued at $2.5B during the period January-July 2016.

Prices for rice nevertheless continue to fluctuate due to the volatile global market.

Though the GRDB was able to record some successes in 2016, it did not come without challenges.

Extension Services Manager Kuldip Ragnauth said because of the El Nino weather conditions, water was not available in the first half of 2016 and the initial target of 225,000 acres was revised to 213,000 acres of cultivation.

Notwithstanding the dry weather, farmers were only able to cultivate 189,000 acres of lands but lost four per cent of that.

“Based on that, rice production would have been reduced based on that cultivated acreage… we were only

GRDB Quality Control Manager Allison Peters able to produced 264,000 tonnes of rice as opposed to achieving our initial target of 328,000 tonnes,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, the second crop also decreased in the acreage cultivated, because

of rainy weather conditions that came in April and May, which prevented all acreage from being harvested.

“The El Nino period had already caused damages to dams and access ways to the field, therefore, when the rainy season kicked in, it was even harder to access the fields,” said the Extension Services Manager.

In spite of these challenges, Guyana was able to produce 534,000 tonnes of rice in 2016.

With 2016 behind them, Ragnauth said that 2017 has started well, with everything moving along as per normal.

In the first crop, some 210,000 acres of land will be cultivated and so far, dry land preparation has been achieved and the land will be sown.

The majority of the re-

gions have already completed over 80 per cent of the sowing, with Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara being the first to fully complete their area.

There have been heavy rains over the past few days but Ragnauth said, “it is too early to say that the rain will cause losses… for now we are getting good drainage at the moment and if there are losses, they are expected to be minimal.”

This year, the GRDB will be exploring new markets, with the hope of achieving a premium price for their produce.

It was reiterated that millers who owe huge sums of money to rice farmers in 2016 will not be granted operating licences until a legitimate reason is given, or the farmers are paid.

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 7, 2017

Guyana Decides:

Is the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project worth the risk?

IN 2012, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government disclosed to the Guyanese public that it was pursuing the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), which would receive US$80M funding from the Government of Norway under the Guyana Redd+ Investment Fund (GRIF) as part of the Low Carbon Development Strategy. However, the project in its entirety had an estimated cost of US$858M. Shadowed by a lack of transparency, it was presented to the National Assembly and the current Government, which was then in Opposition, raised several objections, citing the fact that adequate information had not been provided on the financing of the project and the design had several flaws.

As such, the viability and longevity of the project could not be guaranteed.

With the new Government taking office in 2015 with the goal of placing the country on a path of ‘green’ growth, the project was discussed with the Norwegian Government and an agreement was reached to have an independent third party review of the project to determine its viability. The Government of Norway has released the report on the review of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) done by Norconsult, an engineering and design consultancy firm out of Norway, which was commissioned to complete an ‘objective and facts-based’ assessment of the project on the agreement of two Governments.

The Guyana Government

is working to complete a long-term energy plan, which outlines a mix of renewable energy options and it believes that the report identifies several risks and flaws in the design of the project, which

the project be given the goahead in its current configuration. He noted that while the project has honourable intentions, it would not be an ideal investment for the country at this stage of its

the hydraulic losses in the waterway.” Norconsult further points out that “19m head loss in about 3km long headrace tunnel is higher than would be expected for a hydropower plant designed

and fatal and, therefore, negate the efficacy of the development of this site at this time. Mr. Maxwell Jackson, Civil Engineer and Lecturer at the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Technology, who

The Amaila Falls is located on the Kuribrong River, Potaro- Siparuni Region (Region Eight) threatens its long-term effectiveness and may prove too costly and burdensome to the people of Guyana and the country as a small developing state. Credence to the Government’s position has been added by Mr. Charles Ceres; Civil, Geotechnical and Groundwater Hydrology Engineer and Head of the Project Management Office (PMO), Mr. Marlon Bristol, who believes that the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) would be a heavy burden to taxpayers, should

development.

SEDIMENT-HANDLING METHODOLOGY Among the issues, which have been raised in the report, are the absence of any sediment-handling methodology in the design of the plant; the absence of a separate flywheel between the turbine and the generator and the absence of several details from the Owner’s requirement including the “minimum requirement to overall plant efficiency, which includes

by traditional procedures for hydraulic optimisation”. Additionally, “the dimensions described for the pressure shaft and pressure tunnel are also not sufficient for satisfying requirements for regulation stability.”

Providing his professional opinion after studying the Norconsult ‘Review of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project in Guyana Report, Mr. Ceres said that the flaws and risks, which have been pointed out in the independent review are significant

also recorded his comments on the findings of the report, said that while he would like to see the project come to fruition, the issues which have been identified, cannot be ignored. Like Mr. Ceres, Mr. Jackson said that the design configuration does raise some questions. Further, he believes that the financial model has to be examined.

“The other concern is the financial package. In my own view and most people in Guyana have always questioned the model of in-

vestment used for the project and this report questioned it.

I tend to agree with the report in that light, because the package, that model that was there, was not to our benefit.

It would not have been attractive enough, even if we were to use it to attract another sponsor or another developer; it would be to our disadvantage. A reformulation of the model of investment that was initially identified for that project would have to be done. The report said that and I concur,” he said.

He too addressed the availability of data for the location, noting that there is not adequate information to work with. “I personally have issues as regards the data; the actual, measured data, that we have available. As regards the hydrological data, much measurement, actual measurement for a project for hydropower of that magnitude is unsatisfactory, because you have to use a small amount of data and predict, and determine from a statistical view, what would be the data in the years ahead,” he noted.

Further to this, Norconsult recommended that three years of geotechnical and geological works be done around the site to determine the risks and viability of the output of the plant. However, Mr. Ceres explained that the investment needed in these three years does not provide any assurance of success. It could end up becoming costly with no results to show, he says.

Mr. Ceres further contended that rectifying the many issues identified will increase the total cost of the

Turn to Pg. 17

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 7, 2017

Is the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project ...

These maps show the comparison of the Direct Normal Irradiation for Guyana and Kenya

project substantially, thereby impacting the tariff rates from the outset. Additionally, there are at least six more years of work to be completed, including a minimum three years of water-flow study and analysis on the project.

Despite these issues, however, Mr. Jackson is convinced that once corrected, the project will be Guyana’s best chance of charting a course on the path of renewable energy. “Even if we are to go to solar or wind or any one, there is a gestation period that would take more than three and a half years so if we are contending now that we can’t benefit from Amaila, then we still can’t get the others now. If Amaila is not viable, how are we going to meet 100 percent emission-free generation without Amaila?” he contended.

While he agrees that modifications will be needed, Mr. Jackson further insists that the country should go ahead with the Amaila project as significant investments have already been made. “The report said that we didn’t even look at an underground power house. This in itself could have a lot of savings and if you read that report, it brings down the cost considerably and with a reduced unit cost of energy. Who is going to do the wind? These projects have gestation peri-

ods. The preparation period is extensive. It cannot happen overnight. We cannot replace our renewable contribution even by 50 percent without hydro. We have already expended a lot of money in that project. What are we going to do now,” he said.

Mr. Ceres, however, is adamant that Guyana, at this stage of its economic development, cannot afford the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project. He noted that there are other critical areas such as health and education, in which the money is better

Head of the Project Management Office (PMO) of the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Marlon Bristol

spent and suggested that later, when Guyana has become more economically stable, it can revisit the project.

“The question is; do we need Amaila at this stage? I think it is an onerous burden on our resources to spend that kind of money on Amaila Falls when we can spend less

money for the same volume of power. What we need at this stage of our development is more power and more power should come from a mix of resources that are readily available to us. We can still achieve our ‘green’ economy.

It doesn’t compromise that objective and for us to move to Amaila is too costly. It is a burden on taxpayers… I think that we are staring down the barrel of a potential Skeldon II project again; and I don’t think that we should be doing that. The way that the project is currently configured, it is not viable... Amaila Falls will put us on the world stage in terms of our ability to say that we are generating hydropower, but at the end of the day, Amaila doesn’t satisfy the power demands of our country because as the report says, we would have to build a second hydropower plant by 2025,” Mr. Ceres said.

Mr. Ceres also noted that while the location and the intent of the project may have been honourable, the engineering design leaves a lot to be desired. Solar energy, affordable and effective, is another option that is available to help Guyana reach its renewable energy goals, he said.

“Germany currently produces 40,000 MW of solar power. Direct normal irradiation for Germany ranges from 700 – 1300 kWh/m2.

Similar data for Guyana and Kenya are respectively 1000 – 1800 and 1000-2400 kWh/ m2. Kenya has been able to

deliver reliable solar power to consumers for US $0.12/ kWh, which compares remarkably well with the US $0.0904 and U.S. $0.112 proposed for AFHP. More significantly, Kenya has just signed a contract to build a 40 MW solar power plant for a projected cost of US $10m.

This equates to US$250,000 per MW compared to AFHP costs of US $ 5M perMW. The Norconsult report documents that approximately 73 percent of the project cost or some US$585 million would be spent on the dam and transmission line only.

The GoG should attempt to replicate the efforts of Kenya to build several solar plants, which will not require the extensive length of transmission line required for AFHP. These options will significantly reduce the overall cost of adding generation capacity to the existing network and will satisfy the Government’s objective,” he said.

Mr. Ceres stated, though, that the development of the other energy options in Guyana would only take shape with acceptance by the Guyanese people that there are several other renewable energy options. The country’s resources, he posited, can be much better spent developing renewable resources in closer proximity to its current capacity, which would prove to be less costly than the hydropower project.

“For too long, the discussion has been only about hydropower. We haven’t looked

at the other mixes that we can put together to satisfy the power of the country. We should be examining the total mix that is available to us; solar, wind and biomass. I think we need to have this discussion because people seem to think that Amaila is the only solution. Speaking as a Guyanese, who would have to pay for these resources and for the development of Amaila Falls, I think that in the short term we can use the money that is available to us in a much better way. We can optimise the use of that money much more than we can if we build Amaila Falls,” the professional said.

The engineer added that the level of uncertainty is a significant risk for such a large investment, even if changes are made. “Incurring these additional expenses do not provide a guarantee that whatever solution they come up with would be viable, because it is still in its exploratory stage. Let’s say we go out there and spend three years compiling hydrological data as Norconsult has recommended and it comes back and proves that the project is not viable, we have already expended three years waiting. That three years could have been much better spent looking at alternative energy sources, which we know are available,” Mr. Ceres further

Continued fr.

Pg. 16 action that it takes and at this moment in time and given the current configuration, I don’t think it will be possible to take the risk associated with the potential cost increase from rectifying some of the design issues and the fact that it would have implications for the tariffs up front,” Mr Bristol said.

OTHER OPTIONS The Government of Guyana proposes to utilise a mix of energy options, starting with less risky options such as solar and wind, as outlined in Budget 2017. Already, provisions have been made for expansion of the scope of clean, alternative energy in the country, resulting in more reliable electricity supply; the establishment of programmes to promote energy efficiency at a household level for financial savings to householders; budgetary allocations of almost $1 billion dollars for renewable energy and energy- efficiency projects; the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on the rooftops of 64 Government buildings; the installation of a large-scale solar farm at Mabaruma with smaller solar farms in Lethem, Mahdia and Bartica; a one-off tax holiday concession of two years for corporation tax to the business community for the importation of items related to wind and solar energy investments, water treatment, waste disposal and recycling facilities and the replacement of inefficient lights with their energy-efficient counterparts.

M r. C e re s b e l i e v e s that rice industry waste can generate a significant Civil, Geotechnical and amount of power with Groundwater Hydrology Engineer, Mr. Charles the quantity of rice husk, Ceres which is produced on a daiadded. ly basis. “We have looked H e a d o f t h e P r o j e c t at biomass in Guyana and Management Office of the you know we can generate Ministry of the Presidency, power for all the Essequibo Mr. Marlon Bristol, in an Coast from biomass from invited comment, said that rice husk? We have enough the Government’s concerns rice husk on the Essequibo over the project have been and the Corentyne to genvindicated. He noted that erate as much as six megathe flaws identified, do not watts of power, but I don’t augur well for the country, think anyone has looked at given the cost implications. those as options and those He noted that the govern- are options that are readily ment has to act responsibly available and less costly... in making a decision of this So what we need to do as a nature. “I think at the end of people is to examine what the day, the Government has are the least-cost options to be very responsible in the available to us,” he noted.

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

Parliament View vendors in ‘wilderness’

VENDORS of Parliament View are complaining that they are “stuck in the wilderness” as no one from City Hall has indicated to them their next move even though their time vending has expired.

The space which is occupied by over 100 vendors was temporarily acquired by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) in June from owner of the spot, Hareshnarine “Chiney” Sugrim.

The vendors were expected to move but the businessman granted a three months extension which came to an end on December 31, 2016.

According to online media outlet iNews, Sugrim said he is allowing the vendors to ply their trade up to the end of this week, after which, he intends to move them and begin construction of a seven-storey parking lot with a food court on the ground floor.

It was also reported the

M&CC has been utilising his plot of land, now known as the Parliament View Mall, and has not had “to pay a dime”.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the area, the confused vendors were unsure whether or not they can ply their trade there.

One of them noted that business has been picking up in that area even though they are aware it is time for them to vacate.

However, they lamented that no one from the M&CC has approached them to indicate the next move.

“We know that we have to move but the Mayor and City Council told us that we gone be placed somewhere else… hopefully it is somewhere nice where we could get good business,” said one of the irate vendors.

Some were even in tears because they use the vending trade to earn a living, sustain their families and send their children to school.

Stalls from a section of the Parliament View area packed away They, nevertheless, expressed willingness to move when the owner of the premises approaches them; however, they intend to get clar-

ification on “where to next” from the M&CC. Meanwhile, when contacted, M&CC Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis

said Town Clerk Royston King and senior officials visited the area to discuss their relocation.

“We are still finalising

where we will place them, so we expect to make an affirmative pronouncement on this by Monday,” said Lewis.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

19

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

23

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

25

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

Saintfiet hopeful but admits T&T ...

From back page in the Caribbean Cup last year, he always knew that T&T would have their hands full.

“Suriname didn’t surprise me. I saw them play against Guyana and they were 1-0 behind after five minutes and they came back also in extra time to win (3-2),” he explained.

“They have a lot of players who are skilful on the ball. For sure, number 10 (Roxey Fer) and 12 (Sorencio Juliaans); we had

some difficulty with them.

“I’m surprised by the result because I expected to win but I’m not surprised about the quality of Suriname.

“I think Suriname is a good team with all local-based players except one who have showed in previous games they are very committed and (have a) very hard-fighting spirit, aggressive on the pitch … so I was not surprised by their quality. I was only disappointed in what we did and the result.”

India confirm Kohli ...

From back page Dhawan, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Jaspreet Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav.

India Twenty20 squad:

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Kenilworth 08:15 hrs Union Jack 08:50 hrs Whisky Baron 09:35 hrs Newlands 10:00 hrs Bela-Bela 10:40 hrs Marinaresco 11:20 hrs My World 12:00 hrs Alexis 12:35 hrs Elusive Path ENGLISH RACING TIPS Sandown 08:10 hrs Coeur De Lion 08:45 hrs Lifeboat Mona 09:15 hrs Atirelarigo 09:50 hrs Garde La Victoire 10:25 hrs Finian’s Oscar

Virat Kohli (captain), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Mandeep Singh, Lokesh Rahul, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Manish Pandey, Jaspreet Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra.

11:00 hrs Cloudy Too 11:35 hrs Chocala LINGFIELD 08:40 hrs Pattie 09:10 hrs Malaysian Boleh 09:45 hrs Van Huysen 10:20 hrs You’re Fired 10:55 hrs Jack Flash 11:30 hrs Mercy Me WINCANTON 08:55 hrs Lillington 09:30 hrs Sonoftheking 10:05 hrs Fox Appeal 10:40 hrs Wild West Wind 11:15 hrs Above Board 11:50 hrs Catamaran Du Seuil IRISH RACING TIPS Cork 08:50 hrs Teacher’s Pet 09:20 hrs Chateau Conti 09:55 hrs Bon Papa 10:30 hrs Scoir Mear 11:05 hrs Blazer 11:40 hrs Winter Magic 12:10 hrs Drumconor Lad AMERICAN RACING TIPS Aqueduct Race 1 Chico Grande Race 2 Gorelli Race 3 Wonder Gal Race 4 Monster Mash Race 5 Saratoga Wildcat Race 6 Our Caravan Race 7 Data Driven Race 8 Curious Gal Race 9 Blue Belt

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 7, 2017

Quarter-miler Jason Yaw is not done with athletics just yet … looks to make a comeback for 2017

By Tamica Garnett IT has been said that a ‘setback is a setup for a better comeback’, and that’s exactly what Guyanese quarter-miler Jason Yaw is hoping to use his 2017 athletic season to achieve.

Starting out as an athlete when he was just nine years old in 2006, by 2013 the Bladen Hall Multilateral student was one of the most talked-about athletic prospects.

At 6’ 2’ Jason always stood above the rest.

All the way up to 2015 Jason was travelling the

world representing Guyana at the highest junior level.

From Ukraine for World Youth Championships in 2013, to Nanjing, China for the Youth Olympic Games in 2014, to Toronto, Canada for the Pan American Junior Championships in 2015.

But at the peak of his junior career Jason fell off the radar. Faced with a number of challenges that broke him down physically and mentally, the 19-year-old had a pretty undeveloped 2016 season.

We dedicate our inaugural 2017 Sports Personality col-

umn to Jason as he prepares to make his hopeful rebound.

A CARIFTA Games multiple bronze medallist, South American Youth Championships record holder, South American Youth Games double bronze medallist, National Schools Championships record holder, Inter Guiana Games gold medallist and a two-time Junior Sportsmanof-the-Year, and yet Jason Yaw still slipped through the cracks.

The support was never there.

“Since last year I was having a mental breakdown

towards the sports so I’m trying to catch myself. My plan is to try to come back strong and try to break my 46-second barrier,” said Jason who has 400m personal best of 46.79 seconds. Guyana’s national record, held

by Winston George, is 45.25 seconds.

Things took a turn for the worse for Jason when he accepted a scholarship to study and train at Western Texas College in the U.S. For many, an overseas scholarship is a blessed opportunity, for Yaw it was a nightmare.

Jason returned in May 2016 just as quietly as he had left the preceding January.

“The training programme wasn’t good, that’s one; the other thing was that the food they gave us didn’t taste good.

The system that they put in place wasn’t for me. I started to feel down,” Jason explained.

“I decided not to continue my studies because I never had the type of coaching or support to make me reach to the next level.”

Jason’s deplorable experiences ranged from tackling racism issues to struggling to afford basic commodities such as food and water, not to mention dealing with a lack of support from the home front, and feeling lost and isolated for being so far away from people familiar to him and his culture.

Approximately 20 other Caribbean nationals at the school were also facing the same situation. Many also returned home, others who could not afford to return had no option but to stay.

Luckily Jason was able to secure assistance from the GOA to sponsor his ticket.

But the damage was done. The bad experience

JASON YAW

almost drove this talented athlete to giving up athletics for good, and even now he’s still coming to grips with the harsh reality of what it truly means to be a Guyanese athlete.

“When I was in America for that short period of time, I didn’t get the treatment and support that I expected, so I just say I would give up on my running career, but after a little counselling I felt better; so I said to myself I’ll give it a next shot,” Yaw says as he looks to 2017, with hope.

However, with his 20th

birthday approaching this month-end, Jason’s recovery will be all the more difficult since he will now be a senior, where the competition on the world stage is being dominated by the likes of Grenada’s Kirani James and South Africa’s Wayde Van Niekerk.

On a good note Jason was named as part of the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) pilot programme that will be seeing how much they can directly assist the athletes in their training and nutrition. (tgarnett_sports@yahoo. com)

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 7, 2017

Warner hits second fastest Test 50 in history … Pakistan 410 runs short of their unlikely victory target of 465

By Nick Mulvenney |

fielding on Thursday.

SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - David Warner clubbed the second fastest half -entury in Test history to help fire Australia to the verge of a 3-0 series sweep over Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday.

The tourists were 55 for one at close of play on the rain-disrupted fourth day of the third Test, still 410 runs short of their unlikely victory target of 465.

In-form opener Azhar Ali, who had made 11 not out, and nightwatchman Yasir Shah, unbeaten on three, were at the crease at stumps, after debutant Sharjeel Khan had chipped the ball to a midwicket fielder for 40 off spinner Nathan Lyon.

Warner needed just 23 balls to score his half-century -- two more than the record set

by Pakistan skipper Misbahul-Haq against the Australians in Abu Dhabi in 2014 -- to help the hosts knock off 241-2 before declaring after tea.

Steve Smith (59), Usman

WARNER BLITZ Khawaja opened in his place but spent his first 40 minutes mostly a spectator as Warner, who on Tuesday become the first batsman to score a century in the opening session of a Test in Australia, again laid waste to the Pakistan bowlers.

Warner slapped a four over midwicket from the first ball he faced and had added 10 more boundaries by the time Wahab Riaz removed his off bail some 42 minutes later.

In one stunning over, the left-hander smashed spinner Yasir for two sixes and two fours from the first four deliveries before adding a single off the fifth for good measure.

Younus’ knock had, by contrast, been a necessarily gritty affair as his team collapsed around him.

The 39-year-old, who on Thursday completed a set of centuries in each Test-playing nation, batted for 443 minutes and faced 334 balls, scoring 18

David Warner launches into the Pakistan attack again to score a 23-ball fifty on the fourth day at the SCG. (Getty Images)

Khawaja (79 not out) and Peter Handscomb (40 not out) also poured on the runs after Warner was dismissed for a swashbuckling 55 off 27 deliveries.

“The way the guys batted today, especially Davy of course, to get those runs as quickly as possible and do some pretty unselfish batting, got us in the position we are in now,” said paceman Josh Hazlewood, who took 4-55.

“The wicket’s still pretty good, but I think there’s enough there to create nine more chances, if it’s reverse

swing or spin.”

Earlier, after the opening session was washed out for the second day in a row, Younus Khan completed an imperious 175 not out before running out of partners as Pakistan were dismissed for 315, still 223 behind Australia’s first innings 538-8.

Australia started the day with the bad news that they had lost opener Matt Renshaw for the rest of the match because of a concussion after he was hit on the helmet while

fours and three sixes.

Pakistan had resumed on 271-8 after the rain delay and thwarted the Australians for more than an hour until Yasir (10) and Imran (0) departed within three balls of each other.

“We want to finish this Test series on a good note,

so I think it will be better for us if we show some fight,” Younus said.

“It will not be easy because (its) the fifth day ... in Sydney and they have two spinners and good fast bowlers as well. It is our wish that we finish this Test match on a good note.”

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA 1st innings 538 for 8 decl. (M. Renshaw 184, D. Warner 113, P. Handscomb 110) PAKISTAN 1st innings (o/n 271-8) Az. Ali run-out (Starc, Handscomb) 71 Sh. Khan c Renshaw b Hazlewood 4 B. Azam lbw b Hazlewood 0 Y. Khan not out 175 Misbah-ul-Haq c sub. b Lyon 18 A. Shafiq c Smith b O’Keefe 4 S. Ahmed c sub. b Starc 18 M. Amir c Warner b Lyon 4 W. Riaz b Lyon 8 Y. Shah c Smith b Hazlewood 0 I. Khan b Hazlewood 0 Extras: (b-3) 3 Total: (all out, 110.3 overs) 15 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-6, 3-152, 4-178 ,5-197, 6-239, 7-244, 8-264, 9-315.

Bowling: M. Starc 26-7-77-1, J. Hazlewood 27.3-7-55-4, S.

O’Keefe 20-3-50-1, N. Lyon 333-115-3, H. Cartwright 4-0-15-0.

AUSTRALIA 2nd innings D. Warner b Riaz 55 U. Khawaja not out 79 S. Smith c S. Ahmed b Shah 59 P. Handscomb not out 40 Extras: (b-3, lb-3, nb-1, w-1) 8 Total: (for 2 wickets decl, 32 overs) 241 Fall of wickets: 1-71, 2-174.

Bowling: I. Khan 6-2-43-0, Y. Shah 14-0-124-1, W. Riaz 7-0-28-1 (nb-1, w-1), Az. Ali 5-0-40 -.

PAKISTAN 2nd innings (Target: 465 runs) Az. Ali not out

11 Sh. Khan c Warner b Lyon 40 Y. Shah not out

3 Extras: (nb-1) 1 Total: (for 1 wicket, 16 overs) 55 Fall of wickets: 1-51.

Bowling: M. Starc 4-0-18-0 (nb1), J. Hazlewood 5-1-8-0N. Lyon 5-0-27-1, S. O’Keefe 2-1-2-0.

Munro ton sees Kiwis to T20 series win

(REUTERS) - Colin Munro became the third New Zealand player to score a Twenty20 international century as his side secured a 47-run victory and wrapped up their three-match series against Bangladesh with a game to spare yesterday.

Munro blasted 101, joining former captain Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill as New Zealand’s other Twenty20 centurions, as the hosts scored 195 for seven in their 20 overs at Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui.

The 29-year-old old also

Colin Munro exults after raising his century in the second T20I.

combined with Tom Bruce (59 not out) in a 123-run partnership in 11.1 overs to threaten a total in excess of 200 before Bangladesh’s bowlers pulled the run rate back towards the end of the innings.

The visitors were well placed at 104-3 in the 11th over of their reply but once Soumya Sarkar (39) and Sabbir Rahman (48) were dismissed, the momentum was sucked out of their run chase and they were bowled out for 148 in 18.1 overs.

New Zealand, who already had Guptill (hamstring) and

Neil Broom (broken finger) out injured, also lost wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi to a groin strain when he pulled up chasing a ball in the eighth over, leaving Bruce to take over behind the stumps.

Ronchi was later ruled out of the final game of the series tomorrow with uncapped Wellington wicketkeeper Tom Blundell replacing him in the squad.

Munro raced to 50 from 31 balls but flicked the switch in the 13th over when he belted off-spinner Mahmudullah for

28 runs to move from 64 to 92.

He brought up his century when he pushed the ball back past Mashrafe Mortaza for a single on his 52nd delivery, having hit seven boundaries and seven sixes, but was dismissed shortly after when he nicked behind off Rubel Hossain.

Rubel finished with figures of 3-37 and was on a hat-trick at one stage, having bowled Colin De Grandhomme on the final delivery of his third over, the 17th, and Jimmy Neesham on the first ball of his fourth, the 20th.

World Cup expansion on the cards despite misgivings

By Brian Homewood

ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - FIFA is set to ignore the old adage about not messing with a winning formula by approving president Gianni Infantino’s plans to expand the World Cup. The 37-member FIFA Council, which makes strategic decisions for soccer’s governing body, will on Tuesday decide whether to increase the tournament from the current 32 teams to either 40 or 48, starting in 2026.

Infantino, elected last February to replace the disgraced Sepp Blatter, pledged during his campaign to enlarge the tournament - a promise designed

especially to appeal to the bulk of FIFA’s 211 member associations that rarely or never qualify for World Cups.

Infantino now says he has “overwhelming support” for his plans. The Council’s nine European representatives seem least likely to support the change.

A spokesman for the European governing body UEFA offered little enthusiasm, saying it was “currently gathering feedback from its national associations – which are the ones directly impacted by any change”.

The association, representing Europe’s most powerful clubs, already struggling to nurse players through long domestic seasons, last month

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he has overwhelming support. wrote to Infantino to say that “politics and commerce should not be the exclusive priority in football”.

But even if the Europeans oppose the expansion, Infantino’s comment suggests they will be in a minority.

TRIED AND TESTED Critics say it would be wrong to change a 32-team format that, in 2014 in Brazil, produced a tournament of exhilarating football, unpredictable results and few meaningless or hopelessly one-sided matches.

German football boss Reinhard Grindel said on Thursday that FIFA should stick to its “tried and tested formula”, and that all of the possible alternatives had “considerable weaknesses”.

Infantino has said his preferred option is for a 48-team tournament that would start with 16 groups of three teams, where the top two would qualify for a knock-out round of 32.

“For this alternative, the

draw would probably have to be abolished to avoid tactical behaviour in final group matches,” said Grindel.

“But having extra-time and penalties in the group stage is itself problematic, adding organisational difficulties to an already higher number of matches.”

Infantino has also proposed a preliminary round of 16 knockout ties, with the winners joining 16 seeded teams in a 32-team group phase.

“This would lengthen the tournament by one week for half of the participating teams, and considerably increase the burden on the players,” Grindel warned.

There are also two pro-

posals for a 40-team World Cup - the first featuring eight groups of five teams in the first round; and the second with 10 teams of four, where the group winners and six best runners-up would progress.

Grindel said the first choice would lead to “a large number of matches where teams would be just playing for pride”, and the latter could leave some second-placed teams waiting for up to four days to find out whether they had qualified.

“Past World Cups have always been tournaments that have enthused players, spectators and sponsors alike,” he said. “So why change it?”

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 7, 2017

African Nations Cup to kick off amid same old complaints

By Mark Gleeson (REUTERS) - The African Nations Cup begins next week against a backdrop of civil strife in host nation Gabon and ever more strident complaints from European clubs about the tournament taking away key players midway their season.

On the footballing front, the Ivory Coast seek to defend their title, Egypt bid to revive former glories and tiny Guinea Bissau aim to continue their fairytale run.

The trio are among 16 countries at the biennial tournament played at four venues across the oil-rich central African country, which only months ago was beset by civil strife after a disputed election kept President Ali Bongo in power amid allegations of widespread fraud.

The possibility of more protests around the tournament, which will bring

an international spotlight the country rarely enjoys, means the likelihood of stifling security as a backdrop to what is supposed to be a celebration of African soccer.

Excitement over the event has also been tempered by ongoing controversy over its timing as the Confederation of African Football doggedly refuses to change the scheduling, much to the frustration of the main European leagues who lose players for a month in the middle of their seasons.

FIFA rules allow countries to call up players, causing a club versus country conflict every two years which this time has led to more players than ever opting to stay with their clubs.

Cameroon, usually among the favourites, will take a weakened side to the tournament after eight players told coach Hugo Broos they wanted to stay

with their clubs rather than risk losing their places by going to Gabon.

But holders Ivory Coast have been able to add to their talent pool with Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha eschewing overtures to stay loyal to England and embarking on a new course with his international career.

A DEFAULT notice has been issued on the Cayman Islands home owned by embattled former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb.

deadline set for December 2, after the assets of Webb were frozen by a United States court last year.

Two weeks after the dead-

immediately,” the notice stated, further indicating that the total amount still owed stood at US$367,326.

If full payment of the arrears was not received within seven days of the notice, the bank stated, the property would be advertised for sale and could be sold within three months of the demand notice.

Webb is currently facing racketeering and money-laundering charges in relation to deals brokered on behalf of world football’s governing body FIFA during his tenure as an executive.

Public records show that the property was gifted to Webb in 1998 by a relative, but in November 2002, a $390,000 charge was taken on the property via a loan from British American Bank Ltd. The name of the bank was changed to Fidelity over 10 years ago. (Sportsmax)

IVORIAN STALWARTS He will make his debut next week to become the first England international in more than half a century to play for another country, strengthening an Ivorian side without stalwarts Yaya Toure (retired) and Gervinho (injured).

They are among the favourites along with Algeria - spearheaded by newly-crowned African player-of-the-year Riyad Mahrez - Ghana, Senegal and Egypt, who have won a record seven Nations Cup titles but not played in the last three tournaments.

Ivory Coast’s players and officials celebrate with the trophy after winning the African Nations Cup final soccer match against Ghana in Bata, February 8, 2015. (Photo Reuters)

Their last appearance was in 2010 when they won a third successive title before the fall-out from the Arab Spring protests impacted heavily on the country’s football.

Reaffirming Egypt’s place among the continental heavyweights is the goal of their Argentine coach Hector Cuper. “I know well that the fans adore trophies so we got

to try and bring one back,” he said.

Gabon will open the tournament on January 14 at Libreville’s Stade l’Amitie against Guinea Bissau, who defied all conventional wisdom to reach the finals for the first time.

O n e o f t h e w o r l d ’s poorest countries, the team from the former Portuguese colony have not played a match since Sep-

tember but are eager to continue their heroics after dumping out former champions Congo and Zambia in the qualifiers. “ We a r e u p a g a i n s t vultures who have great experience of the Nations Cup,” said Guinea Bissau coach Baciro Cande.

“But we will give the best of ourselves and our goal is to get to the quarter-finals.”

Default notice placed on Webb’s Cayman home Jordan outshines Pollard

Former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb According to Cayman Is- line passed attorneys for Filand Compass, the notice has delity Bank sought to recover been levied on the property the amount they claimed was after loan payments have fallen owed on the property since almost US$41,630 in areas.

November 2, 2016, according Reports have surfaced that to the land records. a restriction was placed on the “By this letter, we give property in July 2015, with a you notice to pay the arrears

Murray and Djokovic face off in Doha final (REUTERS) - Andy Murray and champion Novak Djokovic will go toe-to-toe in the Qatar Open final after the world’s top two players laid down their markers for the 2017 season.

Wo r l d n u m b e r o n e Murray swept aside Czech third seed Tomas Berdych

6-3, 6-4 to record his 28th consecutive victory and will be targeting a sixth title in succession today.

Djokovic, who was deposed as world number one by Murray in November and was beaten by the Scot in their last showdown -- in the title match of the 2016 season-end-

ing ATP World Tour Final - will be hoping to avoid the hiccups he faced against Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in yesterday’s semi-final.

The Serb saved five match points to stay alive before eventually subduing Verdasco 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-3.

as Adelaide Strikers win

ADELAIDE, Australia (CMC) – Chris Jordan outshone West Indies star Kieron Pollard as Adelaide Strikers won for only the second time in five outings with a five-wicket victory over Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League here yesterday.

Sent in, Hobart managed 161 for eight off their 20 overs at Adelaide Oval, with number seven Beau Webster hammering an unbeaten 67 off 43 deliveries and Jonathan Wells getting 55 from 37 balls.

The pair dug Hobart out of a hole at 30 for five in the sixth over, putting on an invaluable 89 for the sixth wicket.

Jordan, the Barbados-born England all-rounder, bowled superbly to claim three for 24 from his four overs.

In reply, Adelaide

Chris Jordan

got home in the penultimate over with left-handed opener Ben Dunk top-scoring with an unbeaten 79 from 49 balls.

He added 69 for the third wicket with Brad Hodge who made 30 and then partnered with Jordan in an unbroken 31-run, sixth-wicket stand to see Adelaide to victory.

Jordan struck 15 not out off 14 balls with a single six.

H o w e v e r, P o l l a r d ’s

struggles with the bat continued as he made just 15 off seven balls with three fours before falling lbw to seamer Daniel Christian in the 14th over.

The 29-year-old has scored just 60 runs in five innings during the tournament.

With the win, Strikers climbed into sixth spot in the eight-team standings on four points while Hobart remained fifth on four points.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 7, 2017

Proud Younus keen to carry on as 10 000 Test runs beckons

By Nick Mulvenney | SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Younus Khan’s disappointment at Pakistan’s perilous position in the third Test has been mitigated by his first century in Australia and proximity to the exclusive 10 000-run club, the 39-year-old said yesterday.

The right-hander bucked a run of poor recent form to grit out a magnificent 175 in Pakistan’s first innings, walking off the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch unbeaten after running out of partners.

While his century gave him a full set of hundreds in Test-playing nations, the lack of support from

his teammates left him 36 shy of becoming the first Pakistani batsman to score 10 000 Test runs.

But even if Pakistan finished day four of the Test staring a 3-0 series sweep in the face with one wicket down and 410 runs from an unlikely victory, it was not about to spoil his pleasure.

“I love to perform for my country, for my team and whenever my team needs me, it’s a little bit late this time, but I am a proud Pakistani and at least I have made a hundred in Australia,” he said.

“The previous time I was out for 87 in the 2004 Boxing Day Test so it was my wish that I have one or two centuries and certainly

Pakistan’s Younus Khan yells to teammates after damaging his bat at Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday during 3rd Test. (REUTERS/David Gray) my wish has come true and I am a happy man at the moment.”

With his 42-year-old

captain Misbah-ul-Haq expected to call time on his career this year, some have suggested this tour

Ivan Persaud

up to Goodwill.

“Pulling out all the stops would help us pick the best team and prepare them properly, our goal is to not only to attend but to compete,” he added.

In addition to focusing on the Goodwill Swim Meet, Persaud also spoke about plans to continue the education of swim coaches in the country. He also stated this year would see more swimmers being recipient of scholarships so they could pursue their studies as well as their swimming.

“We need more of our swimmers receiving schol-

might mark the end of an era with Younus following suit.

Younus, though, said he would want to carry on playing Test cricket even if he was not quite so close to the 10 000-run milestone.

“It all depends on my team and what they want.

That’s the main thing for me. It’s not about that I’m near 10 000 runs which will be a big achievement as a Pakistani,” he said.

“If you see that list there is no Pakistani who has achieved 10 000 runs so it all depends on my team and depends on the PCB (Pakistan board) and how they want me. I’ll keep in touch with them as they tell me what they need from me.”

Only 12 players, everyone a great of the game, have previously scored 10 000 runs over a career but Younus does not think becoming the 13th would make him the greatest Pakistani batsman.

“Javed Miandad is there, Zaheer Abbas is there. There are a lot of great players there.

Inzamam (ul-Haq) is also there,” he said.

“I don’t feel I will be the greatest batsman ever for Pakistan.

“But when I leave the field and ultimately retire this is my wish. They all remember me like ‘he is a fighter and he played hardest for his country and his teammates’.”

arships and this year we are definitely going to secure more scholarships for our swimmers. Our coaches will also benefit from education programmes to increase their knowledge,” said Persaud.

He stated that more plans are in the pipeline but this year Guyana swimming will be piloted in the right direction with the bigger goal of qualifying for the 2020 Olympics in mind.

“We have to get it right

this year and 2018 so that in 2020 we are not going on free tickets but on qualifying times from multiple Guyanese swimmers,” finished Persaud.

With the first pre liminary swim meet set tentatively for February, the eyes of the swimming fraternity will be on Persaud as he attempts to lead Guyana’a swimming into a much desired brighter future.

Big plans for swimming this year

By Daniel Haynes

THE calendar year of 2017 has only just begun, but the plans for boosting swimming in Guyana are already set in motion.

This year, Guyana will be hosting the Goodwill Swim Meet and a successful hosting of the meet is on the mind of Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) president Ivan Persaud.

“This year is critical for us, we will be hosting the Goodwill Swim Meet and we are focusing on a successful hosting,” stated Persaud in

an exclusive comment to Chronicle Sport.

The Goodwill Swim Meet is a developmental activity for swimmers who are not eligible to participate in CARIFTA, CISC and the CCCAN swimming championships.

According to Persaud, Guyana is the only country participating at the meet whose CARIFTA and Olympic swimmers will compete.

“This is the last year for Guyana to have all our swimmers at Goodwill. In fact we are the only country where swimmers who swam in Olympics and higher level

competitions could come back down to swim Goodwill, but we intend to change that,” said Persaud.

He was also of the opinion that in order to win or perform well at the Goodwill meet, all the stops need to be pulled out in meets leading

Five-star City demolish woeful West Ham (REUTERS) - Manchester City crushed West Ham United 5-0 to give manager Pep Guardiola the perfect introduction to the FA Cup as they cruised into the fourth round with a thumping victory at the London Stadium yesterday.

After taking the lead through Yaya Toure from the penalty spot, the five-time winners swept their opponents away with devilish attacking verve, inflicting on the beleaguered Hammers their worst ever home defeat in the competition.

They survived a solitary scare when the hosts’ Sofiane Feghouli inexplicably shot wide from in front of an open goal, but went in at the break with a 3-0 advantage after an own goal from Havard Nordtveit and an effort from

David Silva.

Sergio Aguero then flicked the ball home early in the second half to become the third highest scorer in City’s history and defender John Stones netted his first for the club with a header from a corner with seven minutes remaining.

If City’s inconsistent form had started to weigh heavy on manager Guardiola, who was in the tetchiest of moods following their Premier League victory over Burnley on Monday, the Spaniard’s spirits would have been lifted by their display in the capital.

There were flashes of his former Barcelona side in some of City’s attacking play and the ease with which they dismantled a poor West Ham, who looked off the pace from

the start and were thoroughly outclassed throughout a nightmare 90 minutes.

Efforts from Pablo Zabaleta and Silva, which were blocked and saved by defender Winston Reid and goalkeeper Adrian respectively, served early notice of City’s intent, but they had to wait 33 minutes to open the scoring from the spot.

Zabaleta powered into the box and had his heels clipped

by Pedro Obiang, leaving Toure to step up and blast his effort past Adrian.

West Ham’s Feghouli, under pressure from Gael Clichy, somehow pulled an effort wide from two metres out with the goal gaping, but that was about as good as it got for the hosts.

Two City goals in two minutes before halftime effectively

killed the tie with both stemming from flowing passing moves.

Nordtveit turned into his own net with Raheem Sterling lurking to double City’s lead, while the England winger then teed up Silva to calmly control and stroke the ball into the net two minutes before the break.

Any hope of a second-half resurgence was crushed five minutes after the restart when Aguero got his milestone goal, turning Toure’s shot home from close range for his 154th for the club, one more than Colin Bell. Only Tommy Johnson (166) and Eric Brook (178) have more.

Stones rounded off the victory with a header that Mark Noble tried in vain to clear off the line.

WICB security team to visit Pakistan

A WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) delegation is expected to tour Pakistan later this month as the body continues to consider the prospect of playing a couple of T20 matches in Lahore later this year.

Pakistan has been blacklisted as a touring venue for major teams following an attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in 2009. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is, however, in the process of trying to convince the West Indies to play T20 matches in Lahore before Pakistan tour the Caribbean. Ahead of considering the proposal the regional board will send a number of officials to hold talks and assess security conditions in the city.

“We have invited the West Indies to play two or three T20 matches before we go and play a similar number of matches against them in Florida in MarchApril before the full Test series in the Caribbean,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) senior official Najam Sethi said.

“We have requested them to consider touring Pakistan before the Florida matches for couple of T20 games and we have also sent our comprehensive security plan to them for deliberation,” he added.

The West Indies delegation’s visit will coincide with arrival of the Pakistan Task Team chairman Giles Clarke in Lahore on January 27.

Big plans for swimming this year See story on page 31

EBSC congratulates its GCB 2016 awardees THE Enterprise Busta Sports Club (EBSC) has extended congratulations to two of its members, who excelled at the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) annual awards ceremony on Thursday evening last at the Umana Yana.

National youth cricketer Bhaskar Yadram was named Junior Cricketer-ofthe-Year and received the Roy Fredericks Trophy.

The 17-year-old also copped awards for Most Valuable Player in the Regional Under-19; Most Runs in the Regional Under-19; and Most Wickets in the Regional Under-17 an accolade he shared with Kevin Sinclair.

During 2016, Yadram was outstanding for Guyana in Regional youth cricket and continued

Awardees Bhaskar Yadram (third left) and Chanderpaul Singh (second right) pose with members of the EBSC. that form at the senior level, hitting 547 runs for the East Coast Demerara franchise in the inaugural Jaguars Franchise League

Three-day tournament.

His aggregate was the fifth most in the competition, and he created history along the way, becoming the

India confirm Kohli as limited-overs captain

(REUTERS) - Virat Kohli has taken over from Mahendra Singh Dhoni as India’s limited-overs captain, becoming his country’s skipper in all three formats of the game, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said yesterday.

Dhoni has been named as wicketkeeper in the squads for three one-dayers and three Twenty20 Internationals against England beginning on January 15.

The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman relinquished the limited-overs captaincy on Wednesday after nine trophy-laden years, which included two World Cups and a Champions Trophy.

Having taken over the Test captaincy from Dhoni in late 2014 and led the team to the top of the ICC rankings, the 28-year-old Kohli was a

Virat Kohli becomes India’s skipper in all three formats of the game. natural choice to skipper the limited-overs squads.

“Virat was on Skype with us ... and we chose the best possible squad (for the England series),” chief selector MSK Prasad told

reporters.

Kohli took to social media to join the outpouring of tributes to Dhoni’s captaincy.

“Thanks for always being the leader a youngster wants to have around him. You’ll always be my captain @msdhoni Bhai (brother),” Kohli tweeted.

India’s limited-overs stalwart Yuvraj Singh returned to both the one-day and Twenty20 squads after his impressive form in domestic cricket.

Uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was named in the Twenty20 squad which also includes 37-year-old fast bowler Ashish Nehra.

India ODI squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Lokesh Rahul, Shikhar Turn to page 27

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

first and only player to date to score two centuries (118 and 121 against Essequibo) in the same match. Yadram also collected medals for

being part of the Guyana Under-17 and Under-19 teams.

He was subsequently drafted into Cricket Guy

Inc. Academy set-up and was one of two Guyanese in the West Indies Under-19 training camp in Grenada last week.

The other EBSC member whose efforts were recognised in 2016 was Chanderpaul Singh, who is the head curator at the club.

He received a plaque for his outstanding contribution to the sport as a curator.

The club, in a statement last Saturday, expressed how elated the members and executives were of the duo’s achievements. The EBSC said it is indeed proud to have provided an avenue for both Yadram and Singh to improve on their skills.

The club wished both awardees continued success in 2017, and advised them to never give up on their dreams to be the best at what they do.

Saintfiet hopeful but admits T&T fate out of their hands

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) - Head coach Tom Saintfiet has held out hope of Trinidad and Tobago still winning the Caribbean Football Union qualifying series, despite their opening loss to Suriname on Wednesday.

The hosts went down 2-1 to the Surinamese at the Ato Boldon Stadium and now need to beat Haiti in their final game tomorrow, and hope Haiti beat Suriname on Friday, in order to have any chance of topping the standings.

“Nothing is over yet. We need to hope that Haiti win on Friday … against Suriname and then it’s up to us to beat Haiti in 90 minutes with a better score than we lost to Suriname, then we can still qualify,” the Belgian said.

“But it’s naturally very sour at the moment to imagine that it’s not in our

T&T head coach Tom Saintfiet hopeful his side can still come out on top. own hands.”

T&T started the encounter positively but failed to capitalise on a few good shots on goal, as the game went to the half scoreless.

However, Suriname took the lead in the 76th minute through Guno

Kwasie and even though T&T equalised five minutes later through a brilliant Tyrone Charles free kick, the visitors netted again in added extra time courtesy of a wonderful Ivanildo Rozenblad long range volley.

Saintfiet, in only his third game in charge of T&T, lamented the fact T&T had not made more of their firsthalf dominance.

“In the first 70 minutes, we didn’t make the opening goal. I think the public was very positive, there was a good atmosphere, everyone could feel we were hunting for that goal,” he pointed out.

“We had a lot of corners, a lot of almost-goals. If we had scored the opening goal I’m sure we would have won the match.”

Saintfiet said, having seen Suriname playing before Turn to page 27 SATURDAY JANUARY 7, 2017