Guyana chronicle epaper 01 1 2017

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SUNDAY JANUARY 1, 2017

No. 104781

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See next edition of the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday January 3, 2017

Better days beckon – ‘green plan’ to help catalyse growth in 2017 – President Granger

Page 3

Sister Beverly Chan of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, located at Church and Oronoque Streets, ushered in the New Year by performing a ‘healing prayer’. [Delano Williams photo]

Sun setting on Chancellor's career Page 12

...concerns raised over whether he will try to prolong stay

Broomes to clamp down on illegal Page 5 shops in interior

GDF denies Page 12 removing Red House employees

After 20 years

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

…President appoints nine Senior Counsel PRESIDENT David Granger has announced the appointment of nine Senior Counsel, much

to appoint nine legal luminary minds based on their exemplary experience, erudition, excellence and diligence in the practice of the law. The appointments come approximately 20 years since the last batch of Senior Counsel was appointed.

Neil Boston, Charles Fung-A-Fat, Justice Alison Roxane McLean George-Wiltshire, Clifton Mortimer Llewelyn John, Rafiq Turhan Khan, Vidyanand Persaud, Rosalie Althea Robertson, Justice Claudette Margot Cecile Singh; and Attorney

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams

to the dissatisfaction of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

On Saturday, the President said he was pleased

Attorney at Law Neil Boston

General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams are the new batch of Senior Counsel.

It was pointed out that Boston was admitted to the Bar in November 1982, and has since served with distinction as a trial lawyer for over 34 years.

Fung-A-Fat entered the profession in August 1983 and has offered exemplary service as Parliamentary Counsel and Deputy Chief

Parliamentary Counsel for over 33 years.

Justice George-Wiltshire was admitted to the Bar in October 1990, and has served as Senior State Counsel, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions and Director of Public Prosecutions.

Justice Singh, who was admitted to the Bar in London in 1973 and subsequently to the Bar in Guyana in 1976, was appointed on the basis of her service as Deputy Solicitor-General, Puisne Judge, Justice of Appeal and her leadership in spearheading the Modernisation of the Justice Reform Project. Additionally, she has served as a Legal Advisor to the Guyana Police Force.

Minister Williams was admitted to the Bar in October 1982 and was similarly appointed Senior Counsel based on his service in the practice of law in both criminal and civil law for over 33 years.

The appointments will take effect J anuary 1, 2017. However, the news of these appointments did not sit well with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

PPP executive member and former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall expressed great shock at the appointments.

“I am shocked at the sudden announcement of the appointment of Senior Counsel by the President,” he said in a statement issued shortly after the announcement was made.

“These appointments were obviously done in a very opaque fashion. Some of the appointments reek of political bias and baseless favouritism. Persons deserving were spitefully and discriminatorily omitted,”

Justice Claudette Margot Cecile Singh

Nandlall further stated.

The former Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General questioned how a sitting judge has been appointed.

“This runs contrary to every canon of practice and precedent which dictate that Senior Counsel must be practising lawyers; for this reason, the Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago, Ivor Archie, was forced to relinquish his appointment as Senior Counsel because he was a Judge and not a practising lawyer when he was appointed.

“Kamala Persaud-Bissessar was forced to do likewise, because when she was appointed Senior Counsel, she was the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago,” he explained.

The PPP executive member further added that the omissions are equally glaring.

“On what basis was the current DPP, Shalimar Hack, omitted? As irregular as I believe it is for a judge to be appointed, on what basis was one judge appointed and the other judges not, especially the Chancellor and Chief Justice?”

Nandlall further questioned whether consultations were held prior to the appointments.

Better days beckon 3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

– ‘green plan’ to help catalyse growth in 2017 – President Granger

By Svetlana Marshall THE quality of life enjoyed by Guyanese will be significantly improved this year as the country takes critical steps towards the establishment of a ‘green state,’ President David Granger said in his New Year’s message to the nation.

“The ‘green state’ will see us doing more to adopt the use of renewable energy,” the President said, while noting that a comprehensive, clean-energy plan is being drafted to guide the country’s transition to sustainable energy generation.

“The ‘plan’ will enable us to receive renewable and reliable energy at a reduced cost for households, industries and hinterland communities. It will remove our dependence on imported fossil fuels; it will result in foreign exchange savings and it will insulate our economy from the impact of rising petroleum prices,” President Granger explained.

Additionally, the green state involves the empowerment of local communities in order to generate employment at the ‘grassroots’ level – particularly for women and youth.

The development of renewable sources of electricity generation – from bio-mass, hydro, solar, and wind-power, the President added, will provide employment for thousands of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled persons.

“The industries spawned by these sectors will multiply job opportunities,” he posited.

In this regard, the Government will continue to lead by example with more public buildings in line

to be powered by solar energy. Additionally, more solar energy systems will be installed in hinterland communities as the Government moves to convert the country to renewable energy.

“The ‘green state’ will promote the protection of our natural environment by the conservation of our fauna and flora. Every region will be required to provide for protected areas, conservation parks, reserves and sanctuaries to protect our wildlife. We will identify an additional two million hectares of our territory for conservation,” he further stated.

Additionally, he said the “green state” will become an engine for economic diversification in 2017 with greater emphasis being placed on eco-tourism and eco-education.

“Our flora and fauna and luxuriant, natural vegetation – the coastal lowlands; the highlands; the grasslands; the wetlands; the sand belt; the lakes, rivers, rapids and magnificent waterfalls and the evergreen, mountain and rain forests – will further catalyse our eco-tourism and eco-education sectors by emphasising our biodiversity.”

DIVERSIFICATION It was further explained that this process of diversification will support industrial enterprises and

economic base and promote increased value-added production.

“The ‘green state’ will demand that we strengthen our efforts in science and technology education and quicken the adoption of information and communication technology. ICT will facilitate greater connectivity between the coastland and hinterland; stimulate the services sector; improve the delivery of public services and enhance the competitiveness of our economy,” he further added.

President David Granger

simultaneously sustain livelihoods by suppressing the impact of exogenous shocks and by opening new investment and employment opportunities.

“The establishment of a ‘green’ state will reduce the impact of the economic and environmental shocks which have retarded our development. The ‘green’ state will reduce our country’s carbon footprint.

The ‘green state will diversify our

PUBLIC SAFETY In addition to accelerating the process of achieving the “green state,” President Granger in his message assured the Guyanese people that public safety will be improved.

“We have seen the clearest sign, also, that the unlawful and unreasonable claims to our country’s territory will be set on a definite course for settlement at the end of this new year,” he noted, while adding that the country’s vigilance to protect its people and its patrimony against all threats to its territory will not be diminished.

The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General has decided that Guyana and Venezuela are to return to the Good Offices Process for another year with the hope of the two countries coming closer to a resolution on the ongoing border

controversy.

Outgoing Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has indicated that based on the various assessments done over the years, a return to the Good Offices Process is the best option at this point. Guyana has since indicated its acceptance of the decision of the UN Secretary-General.

Additionally, the Secretary-General has stated that should there be no progress within 2017, then the new Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will choose the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as the next means of settlement.

Reflecting on 2016 as he wished the nation a happy 2017, President Granger said the national pride was evident in Guyana and in the diaspora as the country celebrated its Jubilee year.

“We shall be even prouder as we apply our assets and abilities in this new year to move faster and further along the path of economic growth,” he posited.

He said public trust was enhanced when, for the first time since 1994, communities across the country were re-empowered to elect councillors in local government elections.

“Residents were happy that we established three new towns in the hinterland – at Bartica, Lethem and Mabaruma – to stimulate development away from the coastland.

Freely elected councils and local democracy will strengthen communities, which are the bases for richer regions and a prosperous country.”

The historic Local Government Elections were held on March 8, 2016.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

Gov’t calls for retraction of misleading stories on Red House THE Government of Guyana has refuted what it described as “irresponsible and untrue headlines and content” of three articles, which were published in the Saturday, December 31, 2016 editions of the Stabroek News, the Kaieteur News and the Guyana Times relating to the Red House saga.

A statement from the Ministry of the Presidency noted that contrary to the articles, the High Court did not grant the Conservatory Order, which was sought by Chairman of the Management Committee of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Incorporated (CJRCI) Hydar Ally, to prevent the revocation of a 99-year lease of the property granted under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration in 2012 for just USD$5 or GYD$1000 per month.

According to the statement, subsequent to the hearing of the case brought against the Government by the CJRCI, before Chief Justice (Ag), Madame Yonette Cummings-Edwards, the Stabroek News, reported that, “Red House eviction on hold after court order -workers from Ministry of the Presidency broke sign, changed padlock.”

It was also noted that the Guyana Times, in the first paragraph of its article headlined, “Red House outrage – Govt flouts court order, rips down sign,” states that “Workers of the Ministry of the Presidency hammered down the hallmark sign of The Red House, even though a court order has blocked officers of the State from entering or removing any artefacts from the premises/building.”

Additionally, the Kaieteur News, in its article headlined, “Ministry of the Presidency staff attempt takeover of Red House before eviction date,” states that “According to PPP/C member and Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall, he and former Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, who is also an attorney, filed legal proceedings in the Civil Jurisdiction of the High Court challenging the alleged revocation of the lease.

In that same report, Nandlall also is reported to have said that his “team also filed an order restraining all officers of the state from interfering with or removing any artefacts, material, property or archival matter stored in the building.”

Gross Disrespect Calling the accounts a gross disrespect to the Office of the Chief Justice, Attor-

Jagan Research Centre Incorporated, was refused.

The misinformation, the Attorney General said, peddled by the Opposition and carried by the media, without the latter determining the facts amounts to gross disrespect, not only for the law of the land and for the judiciary, but personally too for Chief Justice Cummings.

ney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams explained that the Conservatory Order was refused after it was pointed out during Friday’s hearing, that the declarations requested by Mr. Ally had no basis. Further to that, the Attorney General informed the Chief Justice that the lease was already cancelled and Government has taken possession of the Red House.

“He [Nandlall] was there.

He was there in association with Ms. [Priya] Manickchand and clearly they heard that the submissions of the Attorney General, that if the court were to act they would be acting in vain, because one – the lease had already been cancelled [and] two – possession had already been taken of Red House. And

the learned Chief Justice sought and got from me an undertaking that the contents of Red House; that is the materials related to Dr. Jagan and any research documents would not be thrown out. I don’t know how you associate documents being thrown out when President Granger is in charge; a historian, a man who is, actually right now trying to secure various artefacts on Guyana; national monuments, heritage sites and also the documents and materials relating to all eight previous Presidents,” Minister Williams was quoted as saying by the Ministry of the Presidency.

It was further noted that the Conservatory Order requested by Mr. Hydar Ally, representing the Management Committee of the Cheddi

“What they would actually be suggesting [is] that Justice Cummings colluded with them and gave them that information, or that Nandlall was totally oblivious of the fact that it’s a Chief Justice decision he’s referring to and he also had supporters of the PPP outside of The Red House saying they were protesting and they were doing so in the erroneous belief that they had gotten the Conservatory Order and he actually endangered and created a dangerous situation out there last night. So the fact of the matter is, the learned Chief Justice refused the application for a Conservatory Order, accepted an undertaking that nothing would be done to the documents and research materials related to Dr. Cheddi Jagan until the hearing and determination of this action, which in fact is fixed for February 20, 2017

and she gave me leave to file an answer in 21 days and he got leave to file a reply in 14 days,” Minister Williams said.

Minister Williams posited that while the media has the right to report on all sides, it must act responsibly and must report fairly and accurately, disseminating only the facts to the public.

“If you’re the professional you know that you must confirm a story and in a matter as sensitive as this, I’m surprised that such journalistic work wasn’t done.

It’s a gross dereliction of duty. I’m telling you that or it could be that they just turned a ‘Nelson’s eye’ to what the truth was… but they could have called the Chief Justice, tried to get to the court; the registrar. They could have called the Attorney General and they did not do that. It’s a scary thing, right now, in this country, that three newspapers could actually produce the same erroneous report of a decision of a high official, a high judicial official of this country,” he said.

The Government is calling for an immediate correction of these headlines and articles and asks that media entities act more responsibly in the conduct of their very important function.

NICIL touts arbitration for recovery of GTT US$5M MAINTAINING that it is not in receipt of the outstanding US$5M from the sale of Government shares in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) is expected to employ the method of arbitration to recover those funds.

This is according to NICIL’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Horace James, at an end- of-year press conference held at the government’s holding company’s Kingston office.

“NICIL has not received the remaining US$5M from GTT shares which it sold…

We are in the process of executing all the relief measures that are in the sales agreement in order for us to get it back. We have engaged our lawyers in the USA,” he said.

James explained that NICIL will be utilizing the

services of the attorney who had assisted them in drafting the sales agreement, since that person was directly involved in the agreement process.

“They [the lawyers] recommended a company in the United Kingdom to help us in the arbitration whenever that time comes and when we are going there,” he said, adding that it is important for NICIL to use a UK company, since the arbitration will be held in London.

However, James made it clear that the holding company will not only go after the US$5M owed by Hong Kong Golden Telecom Company (HKGT), which is the company that bought Government’s shares in GTT. In fact, he revealed that NICIL will also seek to recover interest costs, legal fees, the signatory for the agreement and even the person who guaranteed it.

“So that process has started and our lawyers have

presented all the issues concerning the shares and said that it is a very good chance that we could get back the money,” a hopeful James said.

He dismissed claims too that the US$5M was written off by the Government, as had been claimed by the company. The CEO told

reporters that documents received by Minister of State Joseph Harmon from the purchaser earlier this year, suggested that the Hong Kong-based company was under the impression that it had been relieved of paying the outstanding amount.

“The documents basical-

NICIL’s Chief Executive Officer, Horace James

ly said that the purchasers of the shares indicated that they had a discussion with David Dabydeen and were under the impression that they were relieved from paying it. But that is not so, he said, adding that “NICIL sold you something and so you owe us.

You made an initial payment and so the second payment has to be made. That is our major contention.”

In 2012, the former PPP/C Government made a decision to sell its shares in GTT for US$30M. A payment of US$25M was made with the balance expected to be paid within two years.

Billions invested in Marriott Meanwhile, the NICIL boss said that most of the money that the holding company had, has been utilised in the Marriott Hotel, an entity which he said is presently unable to service loans it took through Republic Bank.

Additionally, he pointed out that all money collect-

ed from the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) has been transferred to the Consolidated Fund. He said that for this year alone, GYD$2.2B has been collected and transferred.

On the other hand, he revealed that more than 30 entities presently owe NICIL and moves have been made to recover those funds. Sitting in the top bracket of that list is the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, which currently owes $174M for Battery Road, which leads up to the Marriott .

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) owes $74M for work done at Sparendaam, while the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) owes $61M for rental of a property at 199 Camp Street. Bobby Ramoop’s New GPC (Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation) also owes NICIL over $5M and has been written to about this debt.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE , January 1, 2017

Broomes to clamp down on illegal shops in interior

By Svetlana Marshall

MINISTER within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes,has re-committed to clamping down on illegal shops in the extractive sector,which are fostering human trafficking,for the new year.

Minister Broomes, who was among several TIP Heroes recognized by the U.S Department of State in 2013, said that there are a lot of illegal shops operating in the extractive sector.

It was explained that while some shops sell fuel and much needed food items, the majority are involved in the sale of alcoholic beverages and prostitution. What is needed, she said, is the implementation of the regulations governing the establishment of businesses in the mining districts.

“If a person has a business, they must have a licence, and the licence says clearly, no woman of immoral behavior. Where there is no licence for a shop, one should not be,” Minister

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes

Broomes stated clearly.

Due to their remote locations, women and even men and children are lured to various areas within the mining districts on the basis that they will be employed.However,there have been cases in which women in particular are forced into prostitution.

The Junior Natural Resources Minister noted that the Ministry’s crackdown

will form part of a major sweep of the extractive sector which will be done twice a year.

In 2016, Minister Broomes, based on her wealth of experience in combating human trafficking while being head of the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO), spearheaded a training programme targeting Mines Officers and

Forest Rangers.

It is expected that in 2017, posters will be erected across the mining districts to further educate persons about the illegalities surrounding Trafficking in Person.

In 2016, Guyana was taken off the U.S. government’s Tier 2 Watch list for Trafficking in Persons (TIPs). The announcement was made mid-2016. However, the U.S. Government, in that report, called on local authorities to vigorously investigate and prosecute sex and labour-trafficking cases here and hold convicted traffickers accountable – including complicit officials – by imposing sentences that are commensurate with the gravity of the crime.

Since then the country has been making noticeable improvements. Just days ago, the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons hailed the recent decision of a magistrate’s court to jail a woman who was found guilty of Trafficking in Person. The Task Force noted that on September 8, 2016, it had expressed

Corrective works commence on Linden Highway A Linden-based contractor has been hired and work has commenced to fix several breakages on the highway that occurred due to erosion during recent heavy rainfalls.

Though the repairs are deemed temporary, the aim is to avoid any further minor accidents that were caused by the breakage at Kairuni.

Corrective works have also begun at Kara Kara, Linden where the breakaway is in proximity to the Kara Kara creek and on a slope.

Road users have expressed fear that the huge eroded holes in the road might cause a catastrophe if not remedied early.

On Friday, Regional Chairman Renis Morian and a team of councillors from the Public Works Committee were on the highway inspecting the repairs that commenced.

Though some of the breakages are located in Region Four, Morian expressed concerns that many of the road users reside in Region 10.

The Chairman and Councillors of the Regional Democratic Council of Region 10 are calling for better monitoring of the state of the highway.

Region 10 Chairman,Renis Morian,and Councillors inspecting corrective works on the breakage at Kairuni on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway

“The fact that we in Region 10 and they have folks in Region Four, together, once we police, we can keep things going properly,” Morian said.

In 2017, permanent and major works will be done to the Linden/Soesdyke Highway. The hired contractor is expected to do a drivethrough of the thoroughfare

in an effort to identify all the weak areas and bad spots that need to be corrected.

Morian is also calling for the placement of road signage on the highway so as to notify truck drivers of the dangers and consequences of removing the curbwalls to construct access driveways.

These access driveways, he claims, are causing the

destruction of the road.

“Once the curbwall is moved, the water is running down there, there is need for signs on the road saying to truck drivers that they should not break the curb and once they want a driveway, they need to contact the Ministry of Public Infrastructure so that an engineer can come and help them make the driveway and when they are putting stuff on the road to make the drive way, they are redirecting the water that should be running in a particular direction,and that is also causing breakages on the road,” the Regional Chairman said.

He also suggested that truck drivers should be penalised for disobeying the traffic signs.

The Region 10 Road Safety Organisation had recently made a call for logs to be transported by river so as to save the only thoroughfare connecting Region Four to Region 10 and several other interior regions.

Calls were also made by regional officials for the highway to be equipped with lights,since during the night visibility is very limited, especially when the atmosphere is foggy.

concerns regarding the conviction of Joyce Lawrence of Plantation Grove, due to the fact that no jail time was ordered in accompaniment with the restitution ordered on the charge of ‘trafficking a 16-year-old female for labour exploitation’ and a fine levied on the charge of ‘unlawful withholding of an identification document’.

However, the Task Force expressed its satisfaction with the latest conviction for trafficking in persons in the Magistrates’ Court. On December 22, 2016, Sharleen Oxley, residing in Pattenson, Greater Georgetown, Guyana and Cayenne, French Guiana, was convicted of the offence of trafficking in persons in Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One. The sentence given was three years imprisonment together with restitution for the survivor in the sum of two million Guyana Dollars (G$2M).

“The Task Force is pleased that the prosecution was successful in establishing a case beyond a reasonable doubt against the per-

petrator of the crime, that a conviction was achieved, and that the penalties meted out were in accordance with the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act No. 2 of 2005.”

The Task Force said it is essential that verdicts in cases of trafficking in persons in Guyana are in line with local legislation and commensurate with the crime committed. “In this particular case, the Task Force is of the opinion that the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court through Her Worship, the Chief Magistrate, has set a satisfactory precedent which can serve as a deterrent to potential offenders and should become a standard from which there is no regression.”

The Task Force said too that it remains committed to working with the judicial and prosecutorial authorities in Guyana to improve efforts in ensuring successful prosecutions in cases of trafficking in persons, just penalties for perpetrators and last, but certainly not least, fair treatment and compensation for victims/ survivors of the crime.

Players’ Club fetes Sophia children

A surprised young girl receives her gift from Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams,while other children wait in line to receive theirs

MORE than 70 children,between the ages of two and eight, from Sophia were feted on Saturday by the Players’ Club of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

Spearheading the party was Councillor of Constituency Six and member of the Players’ Club of the PNCR, Andrea Marks, who said that it is a yearly event whereby children in Sophia, primarily from the ‘D’ Field area, are treated.

This year, the small children received toys, food and other goodies. In addition,they were paid a visit by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil

Williams,who gave gifts to some of the children.

“This is an annual Children’s party for the children,” the Attorney General said and noted that there were more than 70 children at the party. He said that being in the yuletide season, it was befitting to fete the children and make them feel special.

“Christmas largely is the season for children... toys and all the gifts and lots to eat,” according to Williams.

“So it’s a happy day for them and I’m happy to be there with them.”

The party was held at the Cumming’s Lodge Multipurpose Building in ‘E’ Field Sophia.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

The new year, the oil economy and social renewal

THE year 2016 is gone and the new year is upon us.

As is customary, we put the challenges of the old year behind us and look to the new year with some degree of expectancy. For us, as a comparatively poor nation, every year is challenging. Our colonial plantation legacy has left us in a state of always playing catchup with the rest of the world. Often, as we make two steps forward, the developed world makes five steps forward, leaving us even further behind.

Because we get so wrapped up in our internal tribal politics, we fail to appreciate the external and institutional constraints on our collective ability to break through our limitations. Yet, those limitations are real, even if they are not always apparent to the victims. This past year, several of those limitations have come to the fore. Chief among those is the state of the economy. The new government, in its first full year in office, has found that out. From the closure of Wales Sugar Estate to the ongoing wage negotiations with various categories of workers, the health of the economy has been a constant factor.

The issue of a living wage for our workers, for example, has been front and centre—from teachers to public servants to sugar workers, the real producers of wealth have been raising their voices in pleas for increased value for their labour. What is not always properly articulated is that the very nature of the economy in terms of its scope, is itself a challenge to a better wage package; that an economy which has not been growing in real terms cannot guarantee a high rate of wage increase.

Of course, the government finds itself in a very tight situation. On the one hand, it must tout whatever small economic growth there is. But it also must be able to say to the country that that macro growth does not necessarily translate into sustainable development which allows for tangibles such as increased wages. In the final analysis, there must be a balance between investing in strategies to attract investments, both foreign and local, and ensuring that workers have reasonable wages and social services such as education, health care and infrastructural repairs and innovation are taken care of. Managing post-plantation economies with all their structural changes is not an easy job.

So, as we move into the new year and the imminence of our translation into an oil economy draws closer, there

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

Transfer of a national heritage site to a political party’s front company was a massive betrayal Dear Editor, IN the wake of the recent controversy over the eviction of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre from the heritage property that is Red House, I am professionally and personally obligated to provide some clarity on the issues.

Firstly, it needs to be made clear that Red House, known otherwise as Kamana Court, had a full history before Dr. Cheddi Jagan resided there as premier in the early to mid-60s. While no date is given as to its original construction, the architecture suggests the late 19th century and as the scant information provided by the National Trust website informs us, “The Colony of British Guiana acquired the Red House in 1925. Sir Eustace Woolford, a Speaker of the Legislature, was one of the early owners of the house. Between 1925 to1953, numerous Colonial Secretaries resided there. Dr. Cheddi Jagan also lived there from 1961 to 1964 while he served as Premier of British Guiana.

Subsequently, from 1965 to the early 1990s the Red House was used as government offices e.g. the Public Service Ministry.”

Its historicity and heritage value were therefore not, as the PPP would have us believe, primarily established

by Cheddi Jagan’s short time there, but preceded and followed it due to the building’s longevity, its distinctive architecture, and its function as government offices up until the time of the PPP’s coming into office in the early 90s, when it was abandoned as a functional space. In 2000, a

decade after that abandonment, the PPP then comes in to ‘rescue’ the heritage building standing on three lots of prime real estate by repurposing it as a shrine to Jagan’s memory, run by a thinly disguised management committee standing in for the PPP, with the staff and utilities paid for by the state.

As is typical of the party, the century-old history of Red House is erased and reduced merely to Jagan’s four years’ residence there (1961-64) and the shoddy establishment of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (2000-2016). By comparison and to offer some perspective, LFS Burnham spent 20 years (1965-1985) residing in Castellani House, the building that now houses the National Art Collection, a property built in the late 1800s

by Cesar Castellani. Were the PNC to appropriate this heritage site and lease it to a thinly disguised front company for 99 years at $12,000 a year and turn it into a shrine for Burnham, the staff costs and bills of which were paid for by taxpayers, it would be offensive to our citizenry as a whole and the PPP would have been up in arms, even had said lease been properly effected.

That established, we can now go on to the legitimacy of the ‘lease’. At the time of the founding of the CJRC, Red House was already qualified and listed as a national heritage site and therefore subject at all material times, from 1999 onwards, to the management of the National Trust and the provisions of its establishing Act, Cap 20:03, Laws of Guyana, specifically Section 3 (Establishment

is a sense of optimism—cautious optimism. The experiences of Trinidad in the 1970s and currently in Venezuela show that an oil economy does not always translate into a thriving economy for all the citizens of the country; the oil boom could, if not managed properly, result in a bust. There is the temptation, given the poor state of the economy; there is the temptation to look to oil as the everlasting salvation of the country. As we move into 2017, our government must be cognizant of that pitfall. If it has not done so yet, the government may consider appointing a Council of Economic Affairs to begin to think through and plan for the imminent oil economy.

This should be a priority for 2017.

But, no matter how much oil we find, we would not be able to adequately use it to the benefit of our citizens if we do not fix our social infrastructure. An oil economy with an unskilled labour force would not advance Guyana. A society in which motorists have no respect for limb and life would

and Constitution of the National Trust), which begins “ “There is hereby established a body to be known as the National Trust which shall be a body corporate with power to do all things necessary for the purposes of this act except that the National Trust shall not transfer, mortgage, lease, charge or dispose of any land without the approval of the Minister.”

The Attorney-General has rightfully addressed the ‘lease’ as executed under the Lands Department Act, Cap. 59:01 simply because this was the instrument under which control of Red House was supposedly ceded to Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, Inc. However, in dealing with this issue, the specific provision of Cap 20:03, Sec. 3, and the spirit of the rest of the National Trust Act are what matter, since they override any normal course of business with regard to land transfers by it, offering specific protection to properties designated as heritage sites. In brief, Red House and its adjacent lands, being collectively designated a heritage site, could not then and cannot be now leased without express permission from the President or a designated Minister authorizing the National Trust to do so, and any agreement would have to be between the lessee and the Trust as guardian of said property.

I suspect the recognition of this quandary by the principals of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre is what stymied the formal transfer of ‘ownership’ of the property until 2011, after which the myth of the invincibility of

the PPP was laid bare by their only gaining a minority executive. It should be noted that while Donald Ramotar as CJRC principal would have made application for permission for a lease to Jagdeo (who refused to grant it) in 2006 under Cap. 20:03 Sec 3, he did not himself as President grant that permission to the company CJRC Inc in 2012.

Instead, the National Trust Act was absurdly bypassed altogether when CJRCi principal, Ralph Ramkarran, still then a PPP member, would ‘successfully’ – a few months after the 2011 election – apply for a lease under Cap 59:01, a manoeuvre which, while clever, could only be validated if either there were explicit ministerial permission granted (from either Ramotar, or Anthony as designated by him) under the NTA, or Red House was at some point stripped of its national heritage site designation and could no longer be considered protected under the NTA. It should be noted that none of the PPP’s legal luminaries, Anil Nandlall in particular, have dared to mention the issue of Cap. 20:03, since it is inherently fatal to whatever public argument they are trying to make, and certainly would be to any such representation in a court of law.

Whatever the mechanism, the transfer of a national heritage site to a political party’s front company was a massive betrayal of both the National Trust, the entity responsible for built heritage preservation, and the national trust, the implicit responsibility of Turn to page 7

not be a good supplement for an oil economy. So, let us make 2017, a year of social renewal in our schools and our roadways and in our general collective habits. Yes, there is a connection between these issues and economic development Finally, in 2017, let us vow as a people to do something about the hustling mentality that has taken over our country. While we bemoan the violent crimes, as we must, we must also pay attention to which our citizens have become callous to each other. The cherished value of being your sister’s-brother’s keeper ought to be restored as a guiding light. We still have it within us to rise above our collective frailties and reach again for the nobleness in us, something that all our major religions teach and which has informed our long and rich history of overcoming. In the end, all we have are ourselves.

Happy New Year Guyana.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE , January 1, 2017

Region Three showed massive progress in 2016 Dear Editor,

IT is indeed a happy new year for us all in Region Three, because of the extensive work and 100% completion of work in our beloved region for the year 2016. Last year will indeed go down in history as the year when for the first time Region Three has seen massive infrastructural improvement.

To begin with, for many years, access to the only Amerindian settlement in our region (Santa Mission) and several other communities, including La Harmony was possible only through private transportation, which was very costly on our treasury and limited the number of visits by regional and state officials.

Today we can comfortably

boast the availability of two boats and engines belonging to the region/state that were purchased for easy transportation to and from the areas mentioned above.

Secondly, reinforced concrete controlled structures were constructed at Meten-Meer-Zorg and Sister’s Village, added to the construction of a culvert in Groenveldt, rehabilitation of revetment and sluice doors at Bagotville, Leguan. Heavy-duty bridges were constructed at Side Line Dam, Vergenoegen, Belle Vue Housing Scheme and Canal # 1. Also, major bridge rehabilitation was done at Patentia Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara.

I now turn your attention to road projects in the region; the administration re-

habilitated roads in Patentia Housing Scheme, Bank Hall to Caledonia – Wakenaam, Goed Fortuin, First Street, South-East and Bangladesh Housing Scheme in Stewartville, Cameron Dam -Canal # 1, Noitedacht to Maria Johanna – Wakenaam and De Kinderen, Old Road, West Coast Demerara.

In other developments, the administration constructed a wharf and a gateway at Makouria, Essequibo River. Under education building projects for 2016, the following were completed: the construction of Philadelphia Primary School in Vergenoegen East Bank Essequibo (EBE); extension and rehabilitation of the Patentia Nursery School; extension of Belle West and Zeelugt Primary Schools; enclosure to bottom flat of

Transfer of a national heritage... government to protect national patrimony. This deceit did not merely include the PPP as a party, but also government officers, whose responsibility was to uphold the tenets of both. Jagdeo might have refused to offer his permission under the NTA, because he does not like to get his hands dirty, but to the extent that he did not quash the original application outright, he is complicit.

Gail Teixeira, whose failures as a Minister of Culture are increasingly apparent, however well-disguised, would have been the responsible minister under whose tenure this travesty was originally perpetrated.

Her effective successor, Dr. Frank Anthony, under whose incompetent management we saw the accelerated degradation or outright destruction of prime, built heritage sites, from City Hall to the Umana Yana to the New Amsterdam Hospital, was the sitting minister at the time the 2012 lease would have been issued. And Donald Ramotar of course, at all times being a party to this travesty, is equally responsible.

Most insidious however, and herein we have evidence of a deliberate conspiracy to perpetuate Red House under effectively eternal PPP control, would be the role of Dr. James Rose. At the time, the CJRC was established, Rose was serving as Executive Chairman (1999-2000) of the National Trust. At the time that Ramotar as director of the CJRC would have been applying for Jagdeo to sign off on a lease agreement between the National Trust and

CJRC management, Rose would not only have been a principal of that entity, but would also have been simultaneously serving as Chairman of the Board of the National Trust.

At the time the 2012 lease would have been issued to CJRC Inc, he would have been serving as Director of Culture (DOC), operationally responsible not only for the National Trust, but for heritage protection and preservation policy in general.

Herein we have a textbook conflict of interest operating as business as usual, something that should have resulted in Rose’s immediate dismissal as DOC, since this issue was first raised over a year ago, an oversight that has fortunately since been corrected.

The illicit transfer of Red House, a national heritage site sitting on several lots of prime real estate, has nothing to do with perpetuating the memory of a man known for his frugality and humility.

It has everything to do with the Jagdeoite PPP using that memory as a fig leaf for the appropriation of valuable state property at the expense of national patrimony, something the current administration had failed to recognise when it entered into ‘negotiations’ with CJRCi/PPP over a year ago. While I was in disagreement with that approach, I applaud His Excellency, President Granger, on now taking swift and decisive action in not only retaking control of Red House, but in assigning it to house the National Trust, the very institution that was deliberately

from page 6

bypassed in this fiasco.

I believe, going forward, that the state should support the establishment of a Cheddi Jagan Research Centre in an apt location, whether a new facility funded by his indecently wealthy successors or as part of a general complex dedicated to our past presidents. Any negotiation at this point with the PPP however should simply be about taking precaution in moving Dr. Jagan’s papers and other artefacts to a safe and suitable location in a timely manner, so as the facilitate the movement of the National Trust into Red House – I’m sure there is adequate temporary space in Dr. Jagdeo’s seaside mansion compound.

In closing, for the record, while I understand the PPP’s desperate false opprobrium vigil/protest, predictably led by Jagdeo and Teixeira, any counter-protest involving opposing political party supporters is not only a recipe for disaster, but it does precisely what the PPP wants, which is to obfuscate the issues at hand and project this as some extension of the apparently eternal struggle between the PPP and the PNC. This does a disservice to the decision taken by President Granger and diminishes what is the sort of strong, moral, ethical presidential action his critics have accused him of not engaging enough of in the first place.

Yours faithfully Ruel Johnson Cultural Policy Advisor Government of Guyana

Essequibo Islands Secondary School in Wakenaam, catering for the Science and Home Economics Departments; rehabilitation works to Canal # 1 Nursery School and construction of a pathway for the Anna Catherina Nursery School; construction of Aliki Primary School in the Essequibo River; construction of sanitary block at Cornelia Ida and Sans Suci Primary Schools and the construction of a fence walkway and land-filling of Philadephia Primary School in Vergenoegen, EBE. In addition, under the Furniture and Health Equipment project activities for 2016, the region purchased the following and distributed them to the relevant health care facility in the area: Cardiac Monitor, portable Nebulizer, steam Boiler, Riso Graph, Medilite Centrifuges, Living Room Suite, Chemical Analyzers, Beds Wooden, examination beds, Delivery

Beds – Patients, Industrial Gas Stoves, Brush Cutters, Infant Warmers and Air Conditioning Units.

Finally, under the health building projects for 2016, the region sought to complete the following: construction of doctors’ lounge at the WDRH; Rehabilitation of two Surgical Theatres; construction for the first time of a HDU (High Dependency Unit) at WDRH; rehabilitation of the Nurses’ Hostel at the WDRH; extension of the drug bond and dispensary at the Leonora Cottage Hospital; construction of concrete trestles at Tuschen Health Centre and the WDRH; construction of waiting area at the St. Lawrence Health post, EBE; construction of building to accommodate porters and ambulance drivers at the Leonora Diagnostic Centre and rehabilitation and completion of X–Ray department at Leguan Cottage Hospital.

Finally, under the land

and water transport activities for 2016, the region purchased one ambulance and a 4x4 single-cab pickup. Words cannot express how pleased I am with this regional administration and you would have recognised that I did not mention any of the many roads that were graded, the many drains that were cleared and the many playfields that were rehabilitated. Nor did I mention the staff-motivated activities and general upliftment of all staff within the administration.

In closing, may the peace and blessings of 2017 be upon all of us and may the regional administration headed by Mr. Denis Jaikaran continue to serve the people of Region Three with distinction.

There is indeed still a lot to be done and it will be done. The best is yet to come.

Ganesh Mahipaul.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

Goodbye 2016, hello 2017 NOW that 2016 is over, it is time we pay attention to moving on and forward with great hope and enthusiasm to make 2017 a more fruitful and productive year.

The past year was not one devoid of hiccups, bitter arguments, misunderstandings and blunders -- though these things will happen as long as humans exist -- all affected should bury the hatchet and start afresh on a new slate in 2017.

We all should focus less on working hard and more on work-

were complaining. This year will see the implementation of a raft of new taxes, including on water and electricity. The latter two many found strange, since both are basic

President David Granger

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

ing smart; shed the straightjacket approach and work on building consensus and confidence; and enjoy what we do, provided that all that we do is right and not on the other side of the law.

Here are 10 things we hope to see done this year, some of which we would like to see done in spirit as they may be difficult to do in practice: (1) Even with a six-party coalition in Government, the thrust of achieving a less politically divided society seems some distance off.

There is evidently an issue of trust and enough has not been done to close the gap, which demands the efforts of the major political forces. Guyana will not develop at the pace it should, as this divide has seen us constantly shooting ourselves in the foot. Politicians might not be the ideal people to bring about social cohesion, so in 2017, we would want to see all the arts and various artistes from all spectrums of society banding together to unite the people of our dear land. And we should not forget the role of sport in all of

this. How about a 20-over cricket match between the PPP and the APNU+AFC this year?

(2) There should be more frequent and respectful engagements between President David Granger and former President, now Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo this year. It is important that the PPP and the APNU+AFC meet earlier in this year and identify a list of priority, consensus projects that will benefit the people. These must be worked on by a joint committee, must be free of political gamesmanship and must be implemented regardless of which Government is in power. This will allow for the deepening of inclusionary democracy and to some extent, will stem political differences from being much of a hindrance to progress (3) Since we are on social cohesion and putting aside political differences, we would like to see these two vital social factors prevail between Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

If it is not anti-Nagamania for Jagdeo, it’s Nagamootoo suffers from Jagdeoitist (cussing Jagdeo) for Jagdeo supporters. We are not asking the two distinguished gentlemen to do anything funny.

This year they should shake hands and embrace (not too tightly), but should not kiss. Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is very knowledgeable about the law and will not want to see crime take on new dimensions in 2017.

(4) Even before they got it, many

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

services, and moreover, Guyana is Land of Many Waters. What these two taxes simply mean is that all will have to place greater conservation on electricity and water. No place for ‘long water’, but please Finance Minister Jordan, no more new taxes in 2017. At the rate it is going, anything with juice would be subject to tax, not excluding stones.

(5) We would be hoping that with all the money collected in taxes, greater investments are made in roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure. And more attention is placed on getting more poor out of poverty and creating more opportunities for vulnerable youths and women. Oftentimes, these sections seem trapped at the bottom social strata of the society with many falsely seeing hope in the drug-and-crime enterprises.

With these funds being transparently and prudently channelled back into the economy, investors’ confidence will improve, the economy will be on a better footing and some of the social problems will be reduced.

(6) And with all the problems in the rice and sugar industries, this year should be one focused on building on strides made in diversification and value-added produc-

tion. The value-added potential of rice and sugar must be exploited and more attention placed on branding, marketing and supporting locally made products. Youth unemployment has also been high and significant attention this year should be given to supporting small businesses and the creation of new ones. Hopefully, things get brighter in 2017 and more foreign investors come to Guyana and all the efforts to fight crime begin to yield better results.

(7) This should be the year, regardless of where we sit on the political fence, all will pay heightened attention to community development, ensuring better roads and streets, cleaner drains, well maintained public buildings and generally a greater community spirit. Communities are better managed when citizens hold district officials to book, and this year they should hold district and town councils accountable for

claim after oil was recently discovered here. Guyana forever and not a blade of grass! Hopefully this year, efforts are made to take this matter before the International Court of Justice and Venezuela’s phantom claims are fittingly put to rest once and for all.

(9) Speaking about fitting, we hope that Guyanese high and low, rich and poor, pay more attention to eating healthy and exercise in 2017. This will significantly reduce the billions spent on treating non-communicable diseases every year and it would be great

Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally

PPP front-bencher Irfaan Ali

their stewardships. Also, many a time, people complain of being poor, but things will be less hard if they return to kitchen gardens and invest their money in their children’s education. This simple self-empowerment is worth a try.

(8) If we have a great appreciation for the soil, we should have a greater appreciation for Guyana.

Neigbouring Venezuela’s appetite for expansion by now is no secret.

Imagine they want our entire waterfront by resurrecting a quantum

if your leaders set an example.

Sometimes a walk or a jog will do. But what about a 100-metre race and a high-jump competition between Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally and PPP front-bencher, Irfaan Ali. We always respect their mental agility, but never saw their physical guile put to the test, even though we know a 100-metre race between heavyweights Irfaan Bolt and Amna Fraser-Pryce will be an entertaining but stiff competition.

(10) And last but not least, 2017 should be a year when all look at things broadly, put Guyana first and work together in the interest of all her peoples. A year when we respect each other’s views, heritage and struggles and focus more on our similarities rather than our differences.

Happy 2017, dear readers!

New Year Messages

The Private Sector Commission AS the year 2016 draws to a close, the Private Sector Commission reflects on achievements during the year and looks forward with confidence to the year 2017. The Commission has achieved much in 2016, in its collaboration with Government, Government agencies, labour and civil society.

It values the bonds which have been created

and strengthened with these.

We have worked closely with all Government Ministries in 2016 and particularly the Ministries of Natural Resources, Public Security, Foreign Affairs, Business and Finance and Public Infrastructure. Together we were able to establish the pivotal role that the private sector plays in nation building.

We would like to express our gratitude to our members for their support throughout the year. In 2017, we will continue to engage all businesses going forward and we would work steadfastly to ensure their voices are heard. We encourage more investment in Guyana, and we will provide assistance to potential investors, as we feel that business plays an important role in the growth and development of any country.

As 2017 approaches, the Private Sector

Commission looks forward to an even closer and more productive collaboration with Government in all areas, and particularly in oil and gas, judicial reform, appointment of judges, examination of the feasibility of the Amaila Falls project and an overall improvement in the investment climate.

The Private Sector Commission takes this opportunity to wish all a peaceful and prosperous 2017.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

New Year Messages

9

His Excellency Brigadier David Granger President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Guyanese, We welcome the New Year – 2017 – with supreme confidence and with the strong conviction that we have chosen the correct course to advance our country.

National pride was evident at home and in the diaspora as we celebrated our Jubilee year in 2016. We shall be even prouder as we apply our assets and abilities in this new year to move faster and further along the path of economic growth.

Public trust was enhanced when, for the first time since 1994, our communities were re-empowered to elect councillors in local government elections. Residents were happy that we established three new towns in the hinterland – at Bartica, Lethem and Mabaruma – to stimulate development away from the coastland. Freely elected councils and local democracy will strengthen communities which are the bases for richer regions and a prosperous country.

Public safety will improve. We have seen the clearest sign, also, that the unlawful and unreasonable claims to our country’s territory will be set on a definite course for settlement at the end of this new year.

Our vigilance to protect our people and our patrimony against all threats to our territory will not be diminished.

We look forward to a happy year as we continue to move purposefully along the path towards the establishment of a ‘green state’. This new year will witness the acceleration of the transition towards improvements in our citizens’ quality of life.

The ‘green state’ will see us doing more to adopt the use of renewable energy. We

are drafting a comprehensive, clean energy plan to guide our transition to sustainable energy generation.

The ‘Plan’ will enable us to receive renewable and reliable energy at a reduced cost for households, industries and hinterland communities. It will remove our dependence on imported fossil fuels; it will result in foreign exchange savings and it will insulate our economy from the impact of rising petroleum prices.

The ‘green state’ also involves empowering local communities in order to generate employment at the ‘grassroots’ level – particularly for women and youth.

The development of renewable sources of electricity generation – from bio-mass, hydro-, solar- and wind-power – will provide employment for thousands of skilled, semiskilled and unskilled persons. The industries spawned by these sectors will multiply job opportunities.

Solar energy systems will be installed in more public buildings and in hinterland communities as we continue to convert the country to renewable energy use.

We re-commit to pursuing a low-carbon, low-emission path to economic development.

The ‘green state’ will promote the protection of our natural environment by the conservation of our fauna and flora. Every region will be required to provide for protected areas, conservation parks, reserves and sanctuaries to protect our wildlife. We will identify an additional 2 million hectares of our territory for conservation.

The ‘green state’, this year, will become

The Coalition Government AS we reflect on 2016, Guyana’s Golden Jubilee year, we are pleased with the accomplishments of our nation. We are inspired that 2016 was both a celebratory and foundational year for our nation. It was a year in which we reconnected with tens of thousands of our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora who visited Guyana, many after being away for decades, as we joined hands and hearts in celebrating our historic 50th Independence Anniversary with fervor.

The majestic rising of the Golden Arrowhead at D’Urban Park at on May 26th laid patriotic emotions bare and renewed the nation with hope and a spirit of enthusiasm for Guyana’s future. It evoked the lyrics of Dave Martin’s song – “Clear the way, Guyana comin’ back.”

Despite some challenges and hiccups, 2016 was a year in which two national budgets were presented and the groundwork for achieving

the good life for all Guyanese commenced in earnest. Structural changes, institutional re-organization and re-focusing were necessary.

The Coalition Government looks forward to intensifying this work in 2017 in expanding the horizon of all Guyanese. It is planned that 2017 will be the year in which we both complete the foundational work for future development and commence the transformational work in pole vaulting Guyana towards the good life.

This process will be neither automatic or without hurdles. It will require the talents, intellect, skills, commitment and contribution of all patriotic Guyanese.

In the new year constitutional reform will take centre stage, as will major infrastructural projects such as the bridging of Essequibo river, a new bridge across the Demerara river, building of the Parika to Goshen road, paving of the Linden/ Mabura phase of the Linden/

Lethem road and waterfront developments in the city and at Vreed-en-Hoop. Our social services, health care, education, public security, utility services, foreign service, telecommunications, business, housing, hinterland development, public service and other sectors will undergo transformation and modernization.

The theme of Budget 2017 – ‘Building a diversified green economy; Delivering the good life to all Guyanese’ – sets the tone for the year ahead. The Coalition Government encourages all to set aside partisan interests and join the effort to work towards achieving a better quality of life for all Guyanese.

The Coalition Government sincerely expresses best wishes for a safe, productive, inclusive, progressive and successful 2017 to Guyanese, at home and overseas, as we work together in fulfilling the mandate of a good life for all.

an engine of economic diversification. Our flora and fauna and luxuriant natural vegetation – the coastal lowlands; the highlands; the grasslands; the wetlands; the sand belt; the lakes, rivers, rapids and magnificent waterfalls and the evergreen, montane and rain forests – will further catalyse our eco-tourism and eco-education sectors by emphasising our biodiversity.

Diversification will support industrial enterprises and sustain livelihoods by suppressing the impact of exogenous shocks and by opening new investment and employment opportunities.

The establishment of a ‘green’ state will reduce the impact of the economic and environmental shocks which have retarded our development. The ‘green’ state will reduce our country’s carbon footprint. The ‘green state will diversify our economic base and

promote increased value-added production.

The ‘green state’ will demand that we strengthen our efforts in science and technology education and quicken the adoption of information and communication technology. ICT will facilitate greater connectivity between the coastland and hinterland; stimulate the services sector; improve the delivery of public services and enhance the competitiveness of our economy.

We belong to a beautiful, blissful, bountiful country that possesses abundant natural resources. We must care these resources. We must conserve their use for the benefit of present and future generations.

The people of our great country can look forward to the new year with hope.

Happy New Year.

May God bless you!

PNCR NEW YEAR MESSAGE 2017 HAPPY New Year! May Prosperity come to every home, family and community across the far-flung regions of our country. The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) extends greetings for a Happy New Year to all Guyanese at home and in the Diaspora.

As the Year 2016 fades into history we welcome in 2017, our Party’s Diamond Jubilee Year. Sixty years ago on the 5th October 1957, the People’s National Congress was founded.

The PNCR and its coalition partners in government, last year, faced many challenges. Thankfully, we are better together than asunder. This year we will work

even more closely together to eliminate armed robberies, contraband smuggling, money-laundering, narcotics trafficking and other crimes; to staunch the dropout rates and unemployment of our youth; and to solve the problems in the sugar industry which we inherited.

As the New Year dawns, the PNCR calls on all Guyanese, regardless of race, ethnicity, political affiliation or religion, to participate in bringing about the transformation of our country so that Guyana’s vast resources may, at last, be made to serve the imperative for development and social advancement of all the people of Guyana.

On this, the first day of

the New Year, it is our hope that all of us will realize a measure of prosperity in our personal lives and that each of us, wherever we may be, will endeavour to make some contribution, however small, to the development of our country. The PNCR, therefore, looks forward to participating, as it has successfully done in the past, in the continuing drive for the peaceful development of this dear land of ours. The Party wishes all Guyanese a very Happy New Year and looks forward to 2017 with optimism and hope.

May God Bless our Nation as we strive to provide a Good life for all Guyanese!

IAC 2017 New Year Message THE Indian Action Committee (IAC) wishes all Guyanese a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

The IAC is fully cognizant that national unity, which is absolutely necessary for the economic development of Guyana, can only be attained by everyone actively pursuing the policy of genuine social cohesion.

The IAC, in its vision for a happy and prosperous 2017 to have a safer and secure society; to observe improved relations between the government and the opposition; to see the retraining of and issuing of former sugar lands to retrenched sugar workers; to witness the allocations of commercial space for small vendors; to see the urgent repair of the crumbling Linden

Soesdyke Highway; to have more overseas markets for Guyana’s rice production; to view drastic reductions in incidents of spousal abuse, substance abuse, and suicide; to observe increased gold production to offset decline in gold prices in 2017; to notice improved educational standards to counter declining results especially in Mathematics and English; to have increased youth employment both on the coast and the hinterland; and to see improved living conditions for the less fortunate elderly citizens.

The IAC wishes to inform all Guyanese especially those of Indo- Guyanese origin that the organization will continue to pursue vigorously its three foci: cultural, educational and social work.

The IAC will be involved in a number of historical events in 2017 including the commemorations of the 1998 Georgetown Atrocities (January 12), 2008 Lusignan Massacre (January 26), the 1913 Rose Hall Sugar Estate Massacre (March 13), the 1917 Abolition of emigration of Indian indentured labourers (March 21), the 1917 arrival of the last Coolie Ship s.s.

Ganges (April 18), and 1838 Arrival Day (May 5).

A high point will be the observance of the 100th year since the last batch of Indian indentured immigrants was brought to these shores.

The IAC encourages all citizens and leaders to make 2017 one in which a climate of unity and tolerance is improved.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

Towards a Good Life in a Green Economy

Examining the Green Economy Pathway …the role of Interests, Identity and Norms (Part 3- Norms)

IN this final part of the threepart series, the role of key norms and why climate change adaptation financing is not readily available to small developing states (SDSs) will be examined.

We agree, at the outset, that Guyana is a small developing state (SDS) and the green economy is a wide concept of development, whose pillars mirror those of sustainable development. In fact, we also submit that sustainable development and the green economy are sometimes used interchangeably, since both rely on environmental efficiency, social equity and economic prosperity. In like manner, ‘green growth is used interchangeably with ‘green economy.’ Recognising that greening Guyana’s economy will require various levels of financing, the extent to which norms are formed that support this initiative is critical.

Secondly, the extent to which new norms are conceptualised, in the context of greening Guyana’s economy, is also important. While we examine SDSs as a grouping, we do assert that its findings are relevant to Guyana as a SDS. The Norm of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities We believe that the formation of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR) as a norm within the International Climate Change Regime (ICCR), through domestic diffusion and invocation, is the extent to which Guyana is able to capture international climate financing channelled through the ICCR for the greening of its economy.

In the context of recognising norms as accepted values that describe standards of suitable behaviour for actors and agents, we believe that the variable CBDR has matured to norm- formation within the ICCR. Several features surrounding norm-formation and diffusion attach themselves to this variable. In the first instance, CBDR is embedded within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which provides for its location. Secondly, CBDR, as embedded within the UNFCCC, operates as a standard or rule in

Mr. Gary A. R. Best is a retired Rear Admiral and former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force. He is an Attorney at Law and is the Presidential Advisor on the Environment. He is a PhD. candidate at the University of the West Indies. He holds a BSc in Nautical Science (Brazil) and Masters Degrees from the University of the West Indies and the University of London. He is also an alumnus of the National Defence University and the Harvard Kennedy School.

His research areas include climate change governance, climate change finance, international relations and environmental law.

determining how states will protect the climate system. Against this backdrop, we found that CBDR helped define the identity of the UNFCCC- a norm- specific characteristic- and should be considered a formed norm within the ICCR. Additionally, it was the ICCR, inclusive of non-state actors, through persuasive communication, that helped form the CBDR norm. In this regard, we submit that the norm, CBDR has constitutive effect within the ICCR as it served to influence states to redefine their attitudes to climate protection.

However, the diffusion of the norm CBDR is not without difficulties. We found little evidence that the CBDR norm was diffused and invocated domestically within the SDS regime, including Guyana. This, of course, limits its identity as descriptive rather than prescriptive. Consequently, SDSs have been also unable to effectively exploit the CBDR norm for climate change adaptation finance (CCAF) within the ICCR, because it was not legitimised internationally, internally and institutionally.

As a central plank in allocating responsibilities and resources to climate protection, the absence of diffusion of the CBDR norm created climate-finance deficits for SDSs. Instead, we believe that an identity of division between the developed states and developing states shaped and was shaped by contrary interests within the ICCR. The Norms of Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property

and International Financial Cooperation Another embedded variable within the UNFCCC is technology transfer. However, we do not believe that technology transfer, though embedded, matured into a norm. In our view, the persuasive communication accompanying technology transfer created issue frames that were controlled and influenced by the principal actors and agents within the ICCR. Consequently, the absence of, and in some cases, limited provision of technology transfer, continues to be an issue frame from the perspective of SDSs. Competing with the issue frame of technology transfer is the issue frame of intellectual property. We found that within the ICCR, these two frames seemed to have merged into one frame where the actors mutually constitute each other. In other words, shared meanings and understandings are evident within this merged frame to the benefit of significant actors and agents. For similar reasons, we also found that international financial cooperation was unable to mature into a formed norm within the regime of SDSs. THE NORM OF NEW AND ADDITIONAL FINANCING Small developing states (SDSs), including Guyana, argue that unless climate change adaptation finance (CCAF) is new and additional, as prescribed for under the UNFCCC, climate-change adaptation development will become more and more difficult for SDSs to achieve. In like manner, new and additional available finance will make a significant contribution to greening Guyana’s economy.

In this context, we found that new and additional financing (NAAF), as an embedded variable, possesses the attributes of a formed norm as described above.

Additionally, it was the SDSs

grouping, in particular, inclusive of non-state actors, through persuasive communication that helped form the NAAF norm. In this regard, we submit that the NAAF norm has constitutive effect within the ICCR, as it served to influence states to redefine their attitude to apportioning CCAF. Similarly, the NAAF norm experienced challenges in diffusion.

We found evidence of identity and interest formation that conflicted with this norm. In particular, the issue frame of differentiating between overseas development assistance (ODA) and NAAF acted out in favour of the developed countries’ actors within the ICCR through advocating for ODA to be considered as NAAF. This, of course, limits its identity as descriptive rather than prescriptive.

Consequently, SDSs, including Guyana, have been unable to exploit the NAAF norm for CCAF within the ICCR because it was not legitimised internationally and institutionally.

Why CCAF Is Not Available To Meet The CCA Requirements Of Small Developing States?

Our attempt at answering the above question is limited by the research data available at the time of writing and our own constraints in not analyzing all the possible data available. Our suggested answer incorporates our findings in relation to interests, identity and norms within the ICCR. We believe that CCAF is not available to meet the CCA requirements of small developing states, because the interests constructed within the ICCR created intersubjective meanings and understandings exclusive to the SDSs grouping. This meant that the powerful actors within the ICCR took control of the CCAF narrative as it related to CCAF and generally allowed those shared intersubjective meanings and understandings to shape and be shaped by identities formed within the ICCR, to the exclusion

of SDSs. Identity formation within the ICCR presented a further challenge to CCAF not being readily available to meet the CCA requirement of SDSs. The identities formed were mutually constituted among the powerful actors and agents within the ICCR. In the result, identity formed shaped interests and were shaped by interests created among the powerful actors. In this regard, the ideational structures generated comprised rules, norms and practices that inhibited SDSs to be effective as an identity and from effectively receiving CCAF for their CCA development. The exceptionally high fiduciary and expertise standards to access CCAF is only but one example.

Finally, norm-formation had its own impact on CCAF flowing to SDSs for CCA. Even though several key norms were embedded, the UNFCCC and supported by persuasive communication, their diffusion was limited by definition uncertainty, non legitimization internally and internationally and issue-frame merger to the benefit of the more powerful actors within the ICCR. In the end, limited shared understandings and the mutuality of the formed norms serve to restrict the availability of CCAF to SDSs for CCA development.

WHAT SHOULD GUYANA DO TO GENERATE FINANCING? In the context of greening its economy, Guyana should consider expanding its green- identity formation within the ICCR and the SDSs grouping. In addition, Guyana should consider leading the SDSs grouping in realigning their interests to achieve congruence with that of the powerful actors within the ICCR. Finally, Guyana, given its regional and international leadership in advocating for climate change solutions, should consider advocating for technological capacity-building and development as opposed to technology transfer.

In the next set of articles, I will be examining the Guyana-Norway Agreement, starting with the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

Comments can be sent to towardsagoodlife@gmail.com

11

Outstanding women honoured

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

THE conferring of national awards is recognised as a mechanism which the Constitution of Guyana provides to give due national recognition to outstanding citizens and in 2016 a significant number of women were recognised in that regard.

The process of conferring national awards was restarted in 2015 and several women were recognised for their life’s work towards the development of Guyana and the selfless work and sacrifices they have made for the betterment of their fellow citizens in a wide variety of sectors.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), under the David Granger administration over the past two years, 51 Guyanese women were conferred with national awards.

In 2015, 19 women from a total of 53 received national awards. The Order of Roraima was received by one person; three received the Cacique’s Crown of Honour (CCH); seven received the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA); five received the Medal of Service

with awards. Additionally, 12 groups were conferred with the MS insignia on the occasion of Guyana’s 46th Republic Anniversary in February, earlier in 2016.

According to the MoTP, recognising the indispensable role that women play in national development is a tangible demonstration of the government’s policy position on gender equality and it is in line with President Granger’s commitment to making Guyana a more equal society. The administration encourages the nomination of Guyanese of all walks of life, across ethnic, religious, geographic and gender lines, who serve with distinction, the release said.

Of the women who were conferred with awards, leading the list is Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, who was conferred with the CCH award for her long and outstanding service in administration of the law. Madame Justice Edwards, with an illustrious legal career that commenced in 1988, was sworn in to one of the highest judicial offices in the land

ing service in the field of medicine, is the first and only female Chief Medical Officer within the Health Ministry for several years. Ambassador Audrey Waddell, who currently serves as Director-General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is also a CCH awardee, which she received in recognition of long service with exceptional dedication in the Guyana Foreign Service.

Ambassador Waddell pre-

with the CCH in 2015 for her extensive work with women and youths and in tackling social issues such as suicide and poverty. Another woman, Florine Dalgety, who is considered a pioneer in the education system, was conferred with the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA) for her long and outstanding service as an educator, especially in the area of science. Dalgety is the co-founder of the Do-

Jean La Rose, who was conferred with the Golden Arrow of Achievement and hence she was awarded the Medal of Service. She retired from her position in May 2013, after many years of dedicated service. Like Ms. Coonjah, Esther Charles-Elliot, who served as a health worker at Mashabo Village, Essequibo, Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two), was also recognised with a Medal of Service award.

ers, Wendy Orinthia Rudder, Glenna Spencer and Joycelyn Cleo Patricia Wilson, all of whom were awarded the AA. Among the women who were conferred with the Medal of Service in 2016 are Gladys Accra, Gloria Britton, the late Ms. Marjorie Charles, Kim Chung, Vivienne Daniels, Nancy Ferreira, Ingrid Forde, Shirley Klass, Alshazi Baksh

Jaitun Haniff-Persaud receiving her Medal of Service from President David Granger in 2015

Supriya Singh-Bodden after receiving the Cacique’s Crown of Honour at the Investiture Ceremony in 2015 (MS) and three received the Disciplined Service Medal (DSM).

In October 2016, a total of 32 women received awards; four received the CCH, 14 the AA, 12 the MS and two received the DSM. A total of 86 individuals were conferred

on December 16, 2015. She served as an Appeal Court Judge for several years and is now the second woman to be appointed to the position of Chief Justice.

Dr. Enid Denbow, also bestowed with a CCH for her long, dedicated and outstand-

viously served as Guyana’s Ambassador to the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), Head of the Chancery at the Guyanese Embassy in Havana, Cuba and as Deputy Chief of Mission at Guyana’s Embassy in Brasilia.

Jaitun Haniff-Persaud, who is the longest-serving confidential secretary to the Speaker of the House, received the Medal of Service Award in 2015. She has been working at the Parliament of Guyana for the past 26 years since Sase Narine was the Speaker of the National Assembly. In addition, Jean La Rose of the Amerindian People’s Association was conferred with the Golden Arrow of Achievement by the Head of State. La Rose, who is an indigenous Arawak, is recognised as a fierce advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples, particularly as they relate to land rights issues.

In addition, Supriya Singh-Bodden, a scientist and the founder of the Guyana Foundation was conferred

minion Schools, where she taught for several years. She also served as a Director at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

On the list of awardees is Marilyn Dewar, an accomplished music teacher and accompanist of the Woodside Choir, who served as Secretary of the Music Teachers’ Association of Guyana for over 20 years, also received the AA. Coming from a long line of talented musicians, Dewar taught music at several senior secondary schools in Georgetown, including Queen’s College, Bishops’ High and Charlestown. The AA was also bestowed on social activist Vanda Radzik, another distinguished Guyanese woman who is well known for her activism, advocacy on environmental issues and her work in the promotion of culture in Guyana.

Former Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Lilawattie Coonjah, was also recognised for her efforts

Social activist, Vanda Radzik, who was conferred with the Golden Arrow of Achievement Several other Guyanese women who were bestowed with high national honours include Maureen Massiah, who was awarded the CCH, Blanche Duke, Jennifer Ann Ferreira-Dougall, Ingrid Fung, Esther Griffith, Dr Mellissa Abigail Ifill, Gloria Elizabeth Noel, Bissoondai Beniprashad Rayman, Doris Rog-

Ramlakhan and Maureen Lynette Stephenson.

Senior Superintendent in the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Maxine Graham and Retired Divisional Commander of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Bernadette Adams, were awarded the Military Service Medal (MSM).

Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo , M.P. I join all Guyanese at home and abroad in welcoming the New Year 2017 which I hope will deliver goodwill, higher standards of living, equity and justice as well as massive economic development for our people, regardless of their race, religious belief or political persuasion.

As we reflect on the significant challenges encountered in 2016, we must recommit ourselves to redoubling our efforts to ensure that we overcome those that lie ahead this year. It is my belief that 2017 must be used as the year to achieve national healing and reconciliation, racial harmony

and unity.

As a nation we must also strive to work together to achieve our broad objectives of creating an economy that is resilient, diversified, green and capable of withstanding the shocks caused by international financial crises and generating jobs and income

for our people. Social services, including the delivery of quality health care and education and the welfare of the elderly and disadvantaged must be given greater priority. We can ill-afford this year to have more executive lawlessness, divisiveness, poor economic management and partisan

‘’social cohesion initiatives. It is my hope that our National Assembly will rise to a new level where more meaningful consultation, political cooperation and consensus are the order of the day.

The People’s Progressive Party Civic will continue to lobby and fight for the rights

of the Guyanese people at every level. We will seize every opportunity to ensure that good governance prevails and higher levels of transparency and accountability are evident in Government’s business and undertakings.

I wish all Guyanese a happy and prosperous New Year.

12

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

GDF denies removing Red House employees

CHIEF-OF-STAFF of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier George Lewis, has vehemently denied the force’s involvement in the removal on Friday, of persons working at the Red House, located at High Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on his Facebook page said on Friday, “the PNC sent army ranks to remove the people working in Red House.” However, Brigadier Lewis made it clear that no rank of the Guyana Defence Force received instructions to go to the Red House or moreover remove persons or articles from the building which housed the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre.

“GDF was not part of the operation; we had no role to play…we did not deploy any ranks in support of the operation,” said the Chief-of-Staff.

He told the Guyana Chronicle on Saturday that

he is unable to state why the Opposition Leader would make such a statement on social media.

“I don’t know the thinking of [the] Opposition Leader, but what I can comment on is that the GDF had no rank deployed under that operation of Red House.”

Earlier in the week, President David Granger revoked a 99-year lease of the property granted under the People’s Progressive Party/

property used mainly by the PPP/C. The President announced that the National Trust of Guyana will be housed at the Kingston location.

However on Friday, Conservatory Orders were sought by Chairman of the Management Committee of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Inc., Hydar Ally, to restrain or prevent the government from taking possession of the Red House which

‘GDF was not part of the operation; we had no role to play… we did not deploy any ranks in support of the operation’ - Chief-of-Staff, George Lewis Civic (PPP/C) administration in 2012. The President also gave the occupants of the Red House until Saturday, December 31, 2016, to remove from the Kingston

has housed the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Inc, but government had already taken possession of the building once the lease was cancelled.

Chief Justice Yonette

Chief-of-Staff George Lewis Cummings-Edwards ruled that the items stored in the building must not be removed or destroyed by the state.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader on his Facebook page said the People’s National Congress (PNC) “revoked the legal lease for Red House without cause and gave the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre 48 hours to vacate; the PNC agents in-

vaded Red House and locked the gates and broke down the sign within 24 hours…we are back to the 70s and 80s with the dictatorship of the PNC.” But while the Opposition Leader lashed out at the PNC, the APNU+AFC coalition government of which the PNC is a part, has maintained that the lease of the Red House, a heritage site, was void.

Government argued that Section 13 of the Deeds Registry Act, states inter alia that no lease of immovable property expressed to be for a term of 21 years or more shall be good, valid or effectual in law or pleadable in any Court of Justice in Guyana, unless passed and executed before the Court in like manner as a transport and filed as of record in the registry.

Section 13 (3) provides that every long lease mentioned in subsection (1) passed and executed before the Court and filed as of re-

cord in the Registry shall be annotated by the Registrar against the property leased.

Section 13 (2) provides that failure to file the lease of immovable property as of record in the Registry renders it not, “good, valid or effectual in law or pleadable in any Court of Justice in Guyana.”

Moreover, government maintains that the lease is void on the grounds that Section 10 (1) of the Lands Department Act chapter 59:01 Laws of Guyana provides Government Lands shall only be rented or sold with the sanction of the President and on the terms and conditions determined by him.

Section 4 of the State Lands Act, Chapter 62:01, states that whenever the President deems it convenient any State Lands could be converted into Government Lands and he may issue a grant of those lands to the Commissioner and his successors in office for and on behalf of the State as Government Lands.

Sun setting on Chancellor’s career ... concerns raised over whether he will try to prolong stay

By Ariana Gordon CONCERNS are being voiced over the impending retirement of the country’s substantive Chief Justice Carl Singh and whether he will remain the holder of that office beyond January 30, 2017, which should be his last day of work.

Singh is expected to begin pre-retirement leave in January, 2017. Speaking under the condition of anonymity, a senior legal mind believes that the Chief Justice, who is also Chancellor (ag), should not be taking on new political cases during the time he should be on pre-retirement leave.

Justice Singh will turn 65 years old on February 23, 2017 and according to the rules surrounding the tenure of Chief Justice, his substantive post, he is

required to demit office at that age.

“It must be ensured that the Chancellor does not take on any new cases, especially political cases. It is expected that he would want to start cases and then say he can’t go on leave as he will have to conclude the cases,” said a prominent attorney.

Moreover, it has been alleged that Justice Singh has been paying himself in lieu of leave; last year the Chief Justice paid himself in lieu of leave for six months.

“The leave must kick in…he has 21 days leave and he leaves on the 30th January, 2017,” the source stated emphatically, adding that Justice Singh “must go on pre-retirement leave.”

“He must not be paid for his leave, so he could stay on the job as he has

Chief Justice Carl Singh been doing,” the legal mind declared.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams told the Guyana Chronicle that the matter surrounding Justice Singh’s replacement is for President David Granger to

address, noting that the Constitution makes provision for the President and the Minority Leader (Opposition Leader) to have consultations on who holds the post of Chief Justice and Chancellor of the Judiciary.

Questions surrounding the retirement of Justice Singh surfaced following a letter to the editor by Maxwell E Edwards three days ago. Edwards contends that when Justice Singh demits office, the office of the Chief Justice, whether by compulsory retirement or vacating at the age of 65, or by virtue of pre-retirement leave on January 1, two vacancies will exist.

Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards is currently serving as the Chief Justice (ag). She was appointed by President David Granger in December

2015. The letter writer posited that there will be a vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice and an extant vacancy in the Office of the Chancellor.

“None of these is, or can be matters of confidentiality, but are plainly matters of public interest and concern,” he stated.

The letter writer believes that there is an impending controversy on the appointment of a new Chief Justice and Chancellor, given that by virtue of the Constitution, the President is required to consult with the Leader of the Opposition.

According to the Constitution, the Chancellor demits office at age 68, however that has no bearing on Justice Singh as he is acting Chancellor and not substantive Chancellor - a distinction which ought to be made. Justice

Singh has been acting Chancellor since 2005, after Justice Desiree Bernard demitted office; she had served from 20012005.

Meanwhile, the Constitution states that the President, following consultations with the Leader of the Opposition, may permit the Chancellor or Chief Justice on attaining the age of 65 to continue in office until he has attained such later age as may have been agreed with the Chancellor or the Chief Justice, as the case may be.

As argued by legal minds, Edwards posited that “no Judge soon to vacate his office ought to commence hearing a new or fresh case, for in all probability it would be a part-heard case when he/she vacates office.”

Consultations under way

13

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

… to determine future of sugar industry

A TEAM from the Government, the parliamentary Opposition, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the Guyana Agricultural and Workers’ Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) met on Saturday as consultations begin to determine a way forward for the sugar industry.

At the end of the meeting, which was held at the Ministry of Agriculture, all parties expressed satisfaction at the move by Government to hold consultations and the proceedings of the initial meeting, a release from the Ministry of the Presidency noted.

Leading the Government team, Vice-President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, noted at the end of the meeting that Cabinet took the decision at its last sitting to have the consultations begin at the soonest possible time. Registering his satisfaction with this initial meeting, the minister said that consultations are being conducted to ensure that the best interest of all stakeholders will be considered.

“I am happy to state that indeed it was very civilised.

We made a major decision

at last Cabinet that we do have to have consultations and it will be extended now. The documentation that we gave them as to the options proposed to us by GuySuCo has been

at least know how we are thinking and that is important. I am very pleased with the entirety of the meeting,” Minister Ramjattan was quoted as saying by the Ministry of the Presidency.

with them and I believe that we are going to have some fruitful consultations going forward, since the [sugar] industry is a very important industry. It is of national significance and

ernment has reached out to host consultations before coming to a final decision on the industry.

“We were assured by the Government delegation that what they have are

The delegations in the boardroom of the Ministry of Agriculture during their discussion. shared and they said that they needed time to study it and we agreed with that, because they only got them this morning [Saturday].

“They have asked for some further additional reports and studies, as to what made GuySuCo come to the decision and to set out these options. I agree with them because they must have source documents and so it is important that they be part and parcel of the decision-making or

Additionally, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, echoed Minister Ramjattan’s sentiments, noting that despite the late notice, members of the Opposition, the unions and the estates still attended and were actively involved in the discussions, which will ultimately result in decisions being taken with regard to the sugar industry.

“I think they all understand what the position is. We shared documents

so decisions that are made in that regard must take into consideration those factors,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Opposition team, General-Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee, noted the livelihood of thousands of Guyanese will be affected by any outcome.

According to the release, Head of GAWU, Komal Chand, said that the union [and] its members are satisfied that the Gov-

mere proposals and the proposals are for discussions and it is not a case where decisions are made and we are going through an exercise and that is satisfactory to us. We recognise that consultations have taken place and we take [the] fact that the proposals are not final. That is acceptable to us,” he said.

According to the release, notwithstanding the proposals put forward by GuySuCo, the Govern-

ment has encouraged the Opposition and unions to make their own recommendations based on all the information available on the state of the industry.

A date and time for the next meeting will be determined after the Opposition and unions have had time to peruse the documents.

The Government team was led by Vice-President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan and included Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder; Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence; Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin and Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma.

The Opposition team was led by General-Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Clement Rohee and included Irfaan Ali, Dharamkumar Seeraj and Juan Edghill.

GAWU and NAACIE were represented by their heads, Komal Chand and Kenneth Joseph, respectively. Representatives from the various sugar estates including Wales, Albion, Skeldon, Enmore and Uitvlugt were also present.

Over 40,000 charged with traffic violations

SOME 42,349 drivers were charged for traffic violations and there was a 10 per cent increase in fatal accidents in 2016, Traffic Chief Dion Moore has said.

Speaking at a recent press briefing at Traffic Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, Moore said last year was a deadly one for road users. Some 127 persons were killed on the roadways last year compared with 123 the year before. Of those

killed, 32 were pedestrians and 23 were motorcyclists.

This year, the Traffic Chief said more emphasis will be placed on enforcing traffic laws for motorcyclists. The Traffic Chief is of the view that enforcement of the traffic laws is critical to curbing dangerous driving.

Since the launch of Operation Safeway, there has been a change in the attitudes of road users.

Prior to its launch in Sep-

tember 2016, fatal accidents had increased by 33 per cent.

“We are at a 30 per cent decrease in the amount of fatal accidents that would have occurred between last year and this year, 2.1 per cent decrease in serious accidents, and a 23 per cent decrease in minor accidents,” he said, but pointed out that there was a 44 per cent increase in vehicular damage due to accidents.

Because of the success of Operation Safeway, the campaign will continue in 2017. Meanwhile, Mayor and City Council City Engineer Colvern Venture said a Transportation Committee has been set up to deal with road networking and congestion.

According to Venture, there is an ongoing study in Georgetown by the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) to create bus terminals, to reduce “the congestion

that we currently have in the central business areas”.

The study is expected to be completed by March 2017, when major implementation will be made, some of which will need Cabinet’s approval.

Dennis Pompey,Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) Chairman, said that in 2017, Road Safety Councils will be set up in Bartica, Lethem, Essequibo and Mahdia

Traffic Chief Dion Moore

14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

Nothing new for the new year BY now, many would have already set their New Year’s resolutions, while some would have already had the last year cook-up, with some now turning up in the club to break the

Year’s Days have: on the street.

“I wasn’t always on the street,” stated “Princess”, who despite not being sure as to how old she is, her memories of a New Year’s

‘Rambo’ sprawled off in his ‘home’ New Year.

However, there are some whose New Year’s Day has found them where past New

Day surrounded by family were firmly etched in her mind.

“Is years now I ain’t see my family, they all gone

foreign and foget meh but I ain’t foget them, I remember when we used tuh dress up and go church and boy if you see how I coulda dress!” she exclaimed, laughing at the fond memory.

Despite the laughter, it’s a memory filled with pain, since it has been close to 10 years since she has been homeless. Almost each year she has spent the start of the new year on the streets of Georgetown, fighting for a dry place to stay if it happens to rain.

Before being homeless, she was a midwife, a mother, and somewhat of a familiar face in the community and when she was not at the hospital celebrating the New Year births, she was at church praising God for life.

Her story as to how she became homeless was a bit unclear, as she became tightlipped when asked about her life before the streets. The one thing she was expressive about was what she wanted

for the new year.

“If I could find a place, a nice place with meh family, I’d love it, ah does serve a Mighty God and I ain’t forget how to pray, ah know he could do it,” she finished.

Not echoing her faith was ‘Rambo’, who said he has long accepted his life on the street.

“Is not nothing new, is another year I deh here, nobody ain’t want me and I ain’t wan nobody,” he stated.

The 30-year-old has been homeless for quite some time and unlike “Princess”, his story of ending up homeless was clear. According to him, he was a mechanic and falling into the wrong company and doing drugs caused him to lose his family and his home.

“Watch is me fault I deh here champ man, and is Father God got me here as punishment, I done accept me place, every year is same thing, fight for cardboard and space and pray it don’t

Andyville still to be regularised

By Vanessa Braithwaite RESIDENTS of the squatting community of Andyville, Wismar, Linden, who earlier in the year pleaded with the relevant authorities to provide them with electricity for Christmas, were left disappointed as the promise made to

them did not materialise.

The community that was in existence for 20 years was without electricity and water but since the residents commenced engagement with several regional and Government officials, 16 stand pipes were installed by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) following the intervention of

the Chief Executive Officer Mr Van-West Charles.

These stand pipes have been constructed in the interim as the community of 125 households becomes regularised. Residents were in high praise of Charles who stood by his word and delivered on a promise to provide them access to water for Christmas,

but they continue to fetch water in darkness as the promise to deliver on electricity did not come through.

Given the community is a squatting area, the Linden Utility Services Incorporated (LUSI) is unable to commence the process of bringing electrification to the residents’ homes as a survey of the community will be needed.

In their desperation, several attempts were made to have this done, even hiring a private surveyor to map the area.

Community Development Council Chairman Michael Greene said residents spent about $330, 000 at $10, 000 per house lot to pay a surveyor to have the community surveyed.

Residents, though many are of limited means, also pooled their money together to purchase materials needed for the project, but Greene claimed that they were instructed by the Regional CDC Office to discontinue the surveying process as it will provide a recommended surveyor.

“That was since 2015 and up to now no surveyor ain’t come; we desperate want light so we try we best to see what we can do but they get we stall up and them in doing nothing,” Greene said.

Since then the community representatives have visited several Government ministers, the latest being Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who they claimed promised to bring electricity to the community for Christmas. Much to their disappointment, their Christmas was dark and this made them feel dismal.

‘Princess’ sitting on the grass (Delano Williams photos) rain,” he said unapologetically.

For the new year his wishes were simple, “I just want people leff me alone champ and I good.”

Both “Princess” and “Rambo” are a drop in the pond of homeless persons, who unlike most will see the new year with the same old story.

For me, meeting the pair

was a reminder of how many things I had to be thankful for: a place to stay, family and friends who care and a stable job, despite the finer complaints I might have.

If there is one thing they have taught me, it is that life is unforgiving and can change in a moment and my New Year’s resolution is to be more thankful.

GENERATOR Resident Monica Harris said she was forced to use a generator on Christmas night.

“I had to try and do everything early, all my preparation early before night and I had to put my generator on for a couple hours during the nights to put on the fairy lights,” she said.

Another resident Brian Bourne also expressed his disappointment.

“I feel bad because the ministers them give we their word that we gon get we light for the holiday so ya know when the big ones give them promises and ain’t fulfil it, you kinda lose that confidence in them.”

He however expressed appreciation for the stand pipes and hopes that electricity will be delivered earliest.

According to Bourne, the electricity company could have at least provided electricity for the main road so that a few residents could have benefited from this until it is regularised.

mence an occupational survey by December 1 and residents say even though this has commenced, they are yet to receive feedback on the process.

Benn also made it clear that for the area to be regularised, some property may have to be broken down.

“In order for a community to be established, you have certain minimum standards you have to have. A certain road with sizes, sizes of house lot etc, etc; what we are seeing here on the ground to date does not allow for regularisation of the community. If we are going to be able to regularise the community, some people will have to move, in order for us to have the roadway that is necessary to allow the Central Board of Health to clear this area as a community.

Going forward we have to have road of a certain width, we have to have house lots of a certain size. The way people have occupied on the ground, it does not allowed for that,” Benn stressed.

Community Development Council Deputy Director Sandra Adams made it clear that if this should be the case, the Government will not be financing any rebuilding or property as it was illegal to squat in the first place.

Residents in their desperation for development, made a commitment to allow for the process to go on despite some disadvantages behind it.

“We are poor people, we know it was wrong to squat but we are young people and we want a living so we went there because there was nowhere else and so I feel these people need to be a little more compassionate in the way they are dealing with us,” Green said.

ROBBERS He related that the dense darkness has encouraged robbers and burglars to attack residents on their way home during the nights.

Another resident Micheal Greene also lamented spending Christmas in the dark.

“We in our dark community had to watch other people put up their fairy lights and we couldn’t so we felt very down.”

In November, Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner of Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission Trevor Benn visited the community and made a commitment to have the community regularised.

He promised to com-

15

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

The PPP is playing dirty politics, but why go after Red House when there is Pradoville I HAD intended to write a column on my New Year’s wishes for Guyana, but I had to change gear when the story erupted over the Red House. Not for the first time this year, I am forced to hang my head in shame over what passes for politics in Guyana. Our political leaders, on both sides, have little or no respect for the Guyanese people.

Can somebody tell me what on earth could have driven political leaders to be standing in front of Red House fighting over possession of that building? I think we have really lost it.

I drive the streets and roads of this country and witness the gross indiscipline of motorists, which ultimately results in horrendous accidents that claim the lives of innocent, defenceless citizens. I open the newspapers every day and read stories of robberies that seem to be taking place in a jungle. I see the large number of beggars on the streets, including children, jostling with vehicles for the attention of drivers and pedestrians. I read of the gruesome murders of mainly women trapped in abusive relationships and marriages and the failure of the law and the society at large to rescue them. I listen to the cries of many poor people for justice and economic relief and sense of helplessness and frustration that there is nowhere to turn to.

But instead of paying attention to these ills, our politicians are in front of Red House carrying on. I am not saying that the Red House issue is unimportant, but I am asking whether it’s worth the energies that are being expended on it. In politics, one must weigh the political pros and cons, especially when one is a national leader. In this regard, I think the PPP is being deliberately nasty and the government side is being hopelessly naïve.

This Red House matter could have been solved a long time ago, but for the PPP’s inherent politics of domination. The President made the most reasonable suggestion that

the Red House be used to house the papers of all Guyana’s presidents.

Now, how much more reasonable that that can you ask for, bearing in mind that this was a case of state property being appropriated for private party use? The PPP rejected this proposal—a case of being wrong and strong. The PPP is blatantly saying that it has no interest in national reconciliation; its only interest is to get back into the seat of dominance. This is politics at its ugliest. Some of us continue to believe that we can go nowhere as a country without a common sense of purpose. But the PPP makes a liar of us—every day.

Former President Jagdeo, as he often does, let the cat out of the bag when he asserted that the APNU+AFC would pay for their move to evict the PPP from the building; that Indian-Guyanese supporters of the PPP would not look kindly on such an action.

Now, let us examine that assertion. To begin with, Indian-Guyanese PPP supporters would not look kindly on any government action—so there is no news there.

So, Mr. Jagdeo must be hinting that there is something special about this action. He is, of course, making the Red House story about Jagan the person and in the process appealing to the raw ethnic sensitivities of Indian-Guyanese.

As a student of ethnicity and ethnic politics, I allow for certain normatives in ethnically polarised societies. I am not torn up by ethnic voting, nor am I condemnatory of appeals to ethnic solidarity—I see these as normal developments that are products of the logic of ethnic polarisation. One

just has to live with them and try to utilise them in positive ways.

But what Mr. Jagdeo is doing is going out of his way to create an atmosphere of ethnic tension when there need not be one.

This Red House issue is not one of disrespecting Jagan or Indian- Guyanese sensitivities. It is a simple case of a party using its authority to appropriate common resources for private, partisan use and the government attempting to restore the resource to common public use. This is purely a matter of recovering stolen state assets.

The issue of stole state assets is one that is central to the PPP’s legacy, but because of the present government’s weak-kneed approach to the issue, the PPP has been behaving as if it has been vindicated.

But having said that, the government should not have chosen

the Red House as its point of entry; on the scale of things, Red House is low down on the pecking order.

Why go after Red House when you have the bigger house in the form of Pradoville? What about all the easy targets unearthed by the audits? The Red House is easy pickings for the PPP; they will make it about Jagan, as they are doing.

Eventually the government would take control of Red House, but the PPP would have made its political point that a government of Guyana threw out Jagan from Red House.

This is political ABC-- if you are going after political corruption, go where the perpetrators are most vulnerable. Where are the political brains in the government or are available to them?

I would rather see a government minister holding a vigil outside the Georgetown Hospital

where pregnant mothers and others go to die—this is no longer a partisan matter, it is one of national emergency. I would rather see a vigil at Pradoville, which is the real monument of stolen assets. Maybe, the Madam Minister and her team should hold a vigil in front of the Attorney General’s Office urging the speeding up of passage of the SARA legislation, which would open the way for proper, lawful prosecution of those who are accused of misappropiating state assets. The APNU+AFC could, should and must do better than this!

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

Sunday, January 1, 2017 - 05:30 hrs Monday, January 2, 2017 - 05:00 hrs Tuesday, January 3, 2017 - 08:30 hrs

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

Time to arouse the nation’s sleeping giant APPROXIMATELY twothirds of this nation’s population can be defined as young people. This is a tremendous percentage of human capital, untested and untainted by the past some are pre-occupied with and use as a wedge to keep the nation divided and retard its development. For too long the young have allowed themselves to be viewed as dis-interested in what is taking place around them, or to merely serve as vessels to be used for others’ agendas.

The time has come for the young to accept their right to shape the nation’s future is

not a figment of their imagination, but constitutionally guaranteed.

Never before has this nation seen such a large segment of our population demonstrating a perception that they are not up to speed to play a meaningful role in charting this nation’s destiny. Never before has this nation seen such untapped potential seemingly content with speaking authoritatively to issues not directly related to Guyana, while taking a passive-aggressive approach to things affecting them at home, or seeking to flee rather than stay and fight and create the environment

desired.

What remains striking to me is that this generation during the 2011 and the 2015 General and Regional Elections energised the campaigns by arousing their peers and elders to get involved and take a side. As I walk around the country, I cannot find this enthusiasm and wonder what is responsible for dissipation of the energy. These were the people who moved our politics and campaign to social media, but today what is obvious is that social media by the same group is being used to express disconnect about various aspects of governance within the

nation, absent the mobilising fervour to bring about the change they yearn for.

Politics does not start and end at the ballot box. Politics properly practised is about people and societal development. This means it requires every one staying engaged in the day-to-day activities in society to ensure that decisions made that impact their lives have their inputs at all stages.

This in itself requires constant mobilisation at community, national and sectoral levels, with a view to developing programmes that can secure and advance their interests.

In the young’s defence,

being fed so many negatives of the past and told that they have to wait their turn could be de-motivators. Notwithstanding this, the young must seek knowledge of this country’s history and use it as the barometer in determining the path they want to travel. To be disengaged from politics on a day-to-day basis when politics impacts everyone’s life from the womb to the tomb is to abrogate civic duty and responsibility to influence decision-making in the direction that would bring about and ensure the society you desire.

Those who are saying to the young that they must wait their turn are not accurately using the nation’s history in charting a developmental path where they have played a progressive role. If Cuffy and others had accepted the notion that involvement is a turn system, the struggle for freedom would have been delayed. If the 23-year-old Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow had awaited instructions on when to get involved, the 1905 struggle he lead with waterfront workers for improved working and living conditions would not have happened, neither would there have been that national foundation agitating for improved conditions and political independence in the 20th century.

If Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham who were in their 20s, along with other young guns like Rory Westmaas, Eusi Kwayana, Ashton Chase, Janet Jagan, Jane Phillips-Gay and Boyise Ramkarran had in the 1940s decided or accepted they had to wait until they were in their 50s and 60s, Guyana would not have achieved 50 years of independence. Their leadership, grit and determination in significant ways rallied the people in demanding their independence as a matter of right to self-determination.

Had my generation not stood up and be counted in making our mark felt, the works of those that preceded us would have been eroded or would have been at standstill.

In my 20s, I became involved in trade unionism out of a passion to improve working

and living conditions for my generation. At age 29, I was elected assistant secretary and became the youngest member on the Central Executive of the Guyana Bauxite Supervisors Union.

The record will show that I stood up to management of companies and respective presidents and members of their cabinets, consistent with trade union principles and the goals the union I represented set out to achieve. This nation’s first proposal that realised an agreement on conditions for redundancy, where each employee receives six weeks’ pay for each year of service, a feat that remains unmatched in the Caribbean, was written by me. This work later led the way for the enactment of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act. There are other accomplishments, but this article is not about me, but about two-thirds of the nation’s people whose potential are yet to be tapped.

Each generation in its youth must create its own history and legacy. Only through such action can a nation grow and develop. In 2012, when the young Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon and Member of Parliament Vanesssa Kissoon of Region 10 challenged central Government’s imposition of an increase in the electricity tariff, it represented a new generation taking its place in the nation’s development. It ought not to be forgotten that this challenge was the result of non-consultation with the people which was violation of a constitutional requirement.

The young having observed the treatment meted out to Solomon and Kissoon post-2012, may have come to interpret this as deterrence in playing leading and active roles in influencing the country’s direction. But history will be kind to Solomon and Kissoon and damn those who seek to muzzle and suppress them. That having been said, this generation represents the nation’s majority and it’s time they arouse and take their place in shaping theirs and the country’s future.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 1, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Sunday, January 1, 2016

Chelsea wins another one

PREMIER League leaders Chelsea equalled the topflight record of 13 consecutive wins in a single season by beating valiant Stoke in a thriller at Stamford Bridge.

An exceptionally entertaining second half included five goals as the Blues were twice made to retake the lead by a Potters side who gave them one of their toughest tests this season.

Gary Cahill gave Chelsea the lead when he headed in shortly before halftime, but Stoke defender Bruno Martins Indi levelled only a minute after the break when he poked in from close range.

Willian handed the Blues the advantage again only for Peter Crouch to level with a side-foot effort high past Thibaut Courtois.

Stoke barely had time to celebrate, as moments after the restart Chelsea drove towards goal with Willian applying a fierce, angled finish.

With five minutes remaining, the Blues all but sealed the three points when Diego Costa - magnificent as a target-man - shrugged off the attentions of Martins Indi to fire in the fourth.

Chelsea have a six-point lead over second-place Liverpool who defeated Manchester City 1-0 in the late Saturday game.

This was a brutal test for Antonio Conte’s men.

Stoke were organised and disciplined at the back and threatened at the other end. In fact, until Cahill’s goal they were the better team and looked more likely to score first.

Their spirit was not broken even after Cahill’s opener, and seconds after the interval Martins Indi converted his first for the club from Crouch’s nod-down.

Chelsea’s potent attack compensated for their failings at the back, and 11 minutes later Victor Moses and Hazard combined before Willian poked in.

But yet again Stoke, who had not won a league game at Stamford Bridge since 1974, fought back. This time

it was Crouch who got on the scoresheet in the league for the first time since May 2015 when he tucked home under pressure.However, Conte’s Chelsea have shown great resolve this season. Just a minute after the second equaliser, Cesc Fabregas found Willian in the area and he rifled in from a tight angle.

With five minutes remaining, Costa finally got his reward for an outstanding display with a close-range strike past the reach of goalkeeper Lee Grant.

Stoke threw everything at them and came away with nothing - but they will take some solace that they were playing the best in the league.

Classy Costa There was a moment late in the second half when 6ft 2in Spain forward Costa was involved in what seemed a minor altercation with a Stoke defender in the opposition area. That ‘moment’ was swiftly ended by the alert refereeing of Bobby Madley.

But would it have become more serious? Because the Costa of this season is very different to the Costa under the old management of ex-Blues boss Jose Mourinho.

We’ve made mistakes and good teams punish you Stoke manager Mark Hughes His Achilles heel was confrontation, but all his aggression appears now to be channelled towards simply outmuscling those who dare to mark him.

Martins Indi - 6ft 1in and equally stocky - was given that task at Stamford Bridge and did a good job until the 85th minute when, like a rugby forward trying to make a try-saving tackle, he lost his grip of Costa, who punished him with Chelsea’s fourth.

But it is unlikely Martins Indi will be given such a workout by any other striker for the rest of the season.

Chelsea’s lead man has great feet plus pace, channelled aggression and now 14 goals this campaign. A contender for player of the season?

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Sunday, January 1, 2016

Ronda Rousey knocked out in 48 seconds LAS VEGAS – Ronda Rousey was once again pummeled by a striker and lost her second consecutive bout.

The former women’s bantamweight champion was completely outclassed in the striking game by Amanda Nunes, who stopped Rousey at 48 seconds of the first round to retain her women’s bantamweight championship in the main event of UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena.

Nunes landed a big right just seconds into the fight that clearly hurt Rousey, who was fighting for the first time since a stunning

defeat at the hands of Holly Holm on Nov. 14, 2015.

Rousey tried to throw punches with Nunes, but she had nothing to offer.

Nunes was blistering her with combinations, hitting her with virtually everything she threw.

“This is amazing,” Nunes said in exultation.

Nunes landed 23 of 35 strikes she threw, all of which were powerful shots. She backed Rousey up from the

very first seconds of the bout and simply overwhelmed her.

“She thinks she’s a boxer,” Nunes said of Rousey.

“He [Edmond Tarverdyan]

put that in her head and he has her believing that.

I don’t know why he did that. She has great judo.

She could go further in this division, but he put some crazy thing about boxing [in her head] and then her career started going down.

I’m the real striker here.”

The loss leaves Rousey’s future in serious question.

Her return attracted a standing-room-only crowd of more than 19,000 and pay-per-view

sales are expected to exceed 1 million.

She was guaranteed $3 million to show, and will make millions more than

that.

But Rousey, who had a media blackout and didn’t speak much at all in the fight’s buildup, may no longer fight. She had frequently said that she would judge when to quit by the damage she has taken.

Her judo made her the sport’s biggest sensation and one of the top stars, as she was able to win her first 12 fights primarily with a seemingly unstoppable arm bar.

VIEW PHOTOS Rousey hit hard, but her striking defense was never

great and so she had problems when facing elite strikers like Nunes and Holm.

If the loss prompts Rousey to retire, as expected, it will be the end of an incredible run. UFC president Dana White had famously said he would never allow women to fight in the UFC, but after seeing Rousey, he changed his mind.

She sold out arenas all over the world and sold payper-views at an astonishingly high rate.

She won her first six UFC fights and it looked like no one could compete

with her.

But Holm, a former world boxing champion, showed the blueprint last year at UFC 193. Holm moved smartly and countered Rousey before ending the fight with a kick to the head.

On Friday, it wasn’t so subtle. Nunes was eager to trade with Rousey, whose head never moved off the center line as she was getting blasted by hard shots.

Nunes was in the middle of a multi-punch combination when referee Herb Dean stepped in to save Rousey from further punishment.

Abbott hastens SA’s crushing win Nadal reigns supreme SOUTH Africa made full use of the second new ball to rip through Sri Lanka’s last five wickets and complete a 206-run win in Port Elizabeth, an hour and 10 minutes into day five. Once Kyle Abbott broke through early to dismiss Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva, there was little Sri Lanka’s lower order could do. The margin of Sri Lanka’s defeat belied how comfortable their top-order batsmen had looked on day four, and reflected how so many of them had thrown their wickets away.

Chasing 488, Sri Lanka started the final day 248 adrift with five wickets in hand and their last two recognised batsmen at the crease, one of them batting on 58. That man, Mathews, had added only one run to his score when Abbott nipped one in sharply and

had a loud lbw shout upheld.

Mathews had taken guard on off stump right through the Test match, and this probably played a major role in his dismissal. Jumping back and across, Mathews had to open up to access the ball that was jagging back into the stumps, and before his bat could come across to meet it, the ball had struck his retreating front pad, right in front. He reviewed more in desperation than hope.

A near-replay, down to the failed review, sent de Silva on his way 3.5 overs later. Again the batsman was standing on off stump, and again was forced to play across the line. Again the review returned an umpire’s call verdict on height.

In between, Abbott had also dealt Rangana Herath a blow with a sharp lifter that struck him on the bottom hand. Having strapped up

his fingers, Herath lasted a further nine balls before Vernon Philander had him caught and bowled, diving across the pitch to catch it low to his left, landing painfully on his arm, after getting the ball to stop on the batsman.

Kagiso Rabada got into the act next, finding away seam movement and extra bounce in the corridor to catch the shoulder of Dushmantha Chameera’s bat. The last wicket went to Keshav Maharaj, who finished with a three-wicket haul that was reward for some skillful, tight bowling while getting through 29 overs on day four. He only needed to bowl nine balls on day five, the ninth an absolute ripper, turning past the outside edge of Nuwan Pradeep’s defensive bat to knock back off stump.

in Abu Dhabi in Abu

For the fourth time in his career Rafael Nadal triumphed at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship with victory over David Goffin.

Rafael Nadal claimed his fourth Mubadala World Tennis Championship on Sunday as he brushed aside David Goffin in straight sets.

Nadal’s 6-4 7-6 (7-5) win ensures back-to-back titles in Abu Dhabi for the Spaniard and confirms his place as the most successful player in the tournament’s history.

A scorching forehand winner secured the first set for Nadal after both men had picked up breaks in the opening exchanges but Goffin ensured it would not be all plain sailing.

T h e B e l g i a n b ro k e

twice at the start of the second set to lead 3-1, only for Nadal to up his level and round out the win in just under two hours.

World number one Andy Murray prevailed in the third-place play-off against Milos Raonic, his 10th suc-

cessive triumph over the Canadian and eighth of 2016.

Murray looked to be cruising as he racked up early breaks of serve to take this first set.

The second was more competitive but once again the Briton got the better of his rival as he recorded a 6-3 7-6 (8-6) win. (Sports Max)

Rafael Nadal

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Sunday, January 1, 2016

National Athlete Development Plan among key GTTA 2017 activities The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has already outlined its 2017 plans for the sport with the Implementation and unveiling of National Athlete Development Plan – Table Tennis for schools Project.

Outlining the body’s plan yesterday, the GTTA contended that it recorded a positive 2016 with several international medal appearances on the international and regional stage heading those achievements.

It also contended that the National Athlete Development Plan, will be a Sports

Structure Program to supplement the national athlete development table tennis for schools program The GTTA has developed its proposal which was sent to the ITTF for the approval for the funding and support of the program for table tennis Guyana.

Meanwhile among the other 2017 plans are the hosting of the 2017 Caribbean Junior and Cadet Table Tennis championships schedule for April 2017, as well as the preparation for teams in the Senior Caribbean Championships in Trinidad and Tobago

and the Caribbean Pre Cadet Championships in Jamaica, both in August.

Additionally, the Latin American Championships and the World Islamic Games in Baku Azerbaijan are also events the body plans to attend.

The GTTA has also commenced engagement with the Chinese Embassy, National Sports Commission Ministry of Education department of Sports relative to securing the services of a Chinese Table Tennis coach/ player through a technical cooperation grant to lend

The PCB has decided to take legal action against the BCCI for not agreeing to play two of Pakistan’s home series and not fulfilling the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) they had signed in 2014.

The PCB will seek compensation from the Indian board and also confirmed that Pakistan would not tour India next year as scheduled in the FTP because the cycle of bilateral fixtures had to start with Pakistan as hosts.

The last scheduled series between the two countries, in December 2015, was scrapped amid political tensions though the PCB kept the window open to fulfill

the commitment.

The PCB had offered India the choice of the UAE or Sri Lanka as a venue but India neither agreed to nor denied the proposal.

“Our board has authorised us to take legal action against BCCI for not fulfilling their MoU,” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan told reporters after the governing board meeting in Karachi.

“They had signed to play six series in eight years, out of which two have already been missed. So now we are preparing a case against them so that we can say clearly that we deserve to be compensated.

“We are also involving the ICC in the case because they were party to our bilateral agreement and they were the witness to our signing. Now it’s their responsibility to support us and settle our losses.”

ESPNcricinfo understood that the PCB would send a legal notice to the BCCI and is likely to engage lawyers to pursue the matter in London.

Godfrey Monroe

fortifying the elite players the hope is to have the coach in July of 2017.

On the coaching end of things, the GTTA plans to continue the International Table Tennis Federation level 1 Coaches Certification and Umpires program 2017 as well as two level one certification Programs schedule for June and September along with an Umpires program.

Also on the cards is a proposed increase in the number of Domestic tournaments to at least one monthly while a structured National

Team Training year round so as to follow a model of periodic training is also planned.

The Establishment of Committees in Berbice Region 4 3 and 5 as well as the continued securing of scholarships for the training of some of our best talents in High yield environments; Sweden, Germany France and China are currently being negotiated The body will be actively pursuing its revenue generation plan in view of providing the necessary funding to supplement the activities of the association.

for not participating in the planned bilateral series, which was a part of the ICC Women’s Championship.

“We did try to talk to them in meetings but never got a response so our patience ran out,” Najam Sethi, the head of the PCB’s executive committee, said at the same press conference.

“So in the recent meeting we had intimated them that if it won’t go ahead we have no other option but to move on ... enough is enough.

When I signed the agreement I gave a roughly-estimated figure that these four series are going to fetch us $150-200 million, so we are suffering huge losses.”

According to the PCB, the BCCI had signed an MoU in 2014 to play six series with Pakistan between 2015 and 2023, with the first to be hosted by the PCB at a mutually agreed neutral venue. As has often happened in the past, strained political tensions put the series in doubt.

The last full series between the countries, including Tests and ODIs, was when Pakistan toured India in 2007. Since then Pakistan have played only one limited-overs series in India, in 2012-2013, and the teams have only met in multi-nation competitions and ICC tournaments. India’s refusal

to play has cost the PCB, according to the board’s estimate, over $80 million in terms of broadcasting and other commercial deals.

The PCB had agreed to the proposed ICC revamp - pushed through

by India, England and Australia in 2014 - on the condition that it would be included in bilateral series against all Full Members, including India, in the new cycle. According to Sethi, the PCB president at that time, the board estimated Rs 30 billion (around $310m) from the bilateral agreements, including four series against India.

(Cricinfo)

World number one Sir Andy Murray ended 2016 with a win over Milos Raonic at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.

The 29-year-old, knighted in the New Year Honours list, beat Canada’s Raonic 6-3 7-6 (8-6) to take third place at the exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.

The Briton started well, breaking Raonic in his first two service games as he took the opening set.

He led 5-3 in the second but Raonic staged a mini fightback before Murray took the tie-break.

The Scot, who will seek a first Australian Open title

next month after finishing runner-up five times, said: “It was good to finish the year with a win. It was a good match to work on returns as Milos has a strong serve.

“There are still a few things I could do better but it was good to get matches against good players, so it has been a productive couple of days.

“It sounds strange to be known as Sir Andy. I am more than happy being known as Andy, but it is a big honour and great recognition for my results over the last few years and it is a nice way to start the new year.”

The Abu Dhabi event was won for the fourth time

by Spaniard Rafael Nadal as he ended an injury-plagued 2016 on a high.

Nadal, 30, defeated 11th-ranked Belgian David Goffin 6-4 7-6 (7-5). In Friday’s semi-finals, Murray had lost to Goffin for the first time in six meetings.

Elsewhere, Laura Robson was beaten in the first round of qualifying for the ASB Classic in Auckland, losing in three sets to Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic.

The Briton, now ranked 222nd in the world, lost 6-3 5-7 7-6 (10-8) to an opponent ranked 59 places above her. (BBC Sport)

PCB set to take legal action against BCCI

The PCB was encouraged to take a legal route only after the ICC recently awarded six points to the Pakistan women’s team after the BCCI failed to establish “acceptable reasons”

Sean Abbott takes best figures by Australian in competition’s history Sean Abbott returned the best bowling figures by an Australian in Big Bash history, but it was not enough to prevent Sydney Sixers sliding to a 48-run defeat against Adelaide Strikers.

Abbott, who bowled the ball that led to the death of Phillip Hughes in 2014,took 5-16 as the hosts posted 1529.

The 24-year-old paceman’s haul bettered Nathan Lyon’s 5-23 in 2015.

However, the Sixers were subsequently bowled out for 104 - England’s Sam Billings top-scoring with 40.

Abbott’s figures are second on the Bash’s all-time

Only seven bowlers have taken more Big Bash wickets than Sean Abbott, who has 39

list, behind Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga’s 6-7 for Melbourne in 2012.

Big Bash - Australia’s Twenty20 franchise competition - is in its sixth year.

Other English representatives include Stuart Broad, Chris Jordan, Eoin Morgan, Jason Roy and Kevin Pietersen. (BBC Sport)

Sir Andy Murray ends 2016 with victory over Milos Raonic

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Sunday, January 1, 2016

Williamson, Broom secure New Zealand’s 3-0 sweep Ninety-somethings from Kane Williamson and Neil Broom ensured New Zealand whitewashed Bangladesh with a crushing eight-wicket victory in the third ODI in Nelson.

Their fluent 179-run stand, which came after Martill Guptill had retired hurt on 6 because of a hamstring strain, helped the hosts ace their chase of 237 with 52 balls to spare.

New Zealand were also aided by poor shot selection from Bangladesh, who suffered a collapse of 7 for 77 after opting to bat on a slow surface.

After Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes put on 102 for the first wicket, their middle and lower order fell away.

That the visitors lasted 50 overs and reached 236 for 9 was down to rookie Nurul Hasan’s cameo of 44 off 39 balls.

Mustafizur Rahman then trapped Tom Latham in front in his first over, and Bangladesh might have sensed an opening when Guptill retired hurt for 6 at the start of the third over in

Kane Williamson and Neil Broom put on a 179-run stand to deflate Bangladesh © Getty Images the chase.

Imrul Kayes, an iffy choice at slip, then dropped a dolly and reprieved Broom on 0.

Broom and Williamson combined to slam the doors on Bangladesh.

After playing out a few quiet overs, Williamson

kick-started the chase when he struck Shakib Al Hasan for back-to-back fours through point in the 10th over. Four overs later, the New Zealand captain lofted Shakib for a straight six.

Taskin Ahmed wasn’t spared either and was taken for back-to-back

fours. Williamson moved to his fifty off 56 balls and continued to pepper the point boundary.

Broom, meanwhile, reached his fifty off 66 balls. He profited from pulls, drives, and sweeps and raced towards a second successive century. He

moved into the nineties with a pulled four, but fell three short of a century when he was caught by Mashrafe at gully off Mustafizur in the 35th over.

With him needing six to reach his ninth ODI hundred and the team three for the series sweep, Williamson took a single off the first ball of the 42nd over before Jimmy Neesham completed the win with a four over midon.

Broom had sparkled on the field earlier in the day.

He ran back from short third man and pulled off a stunning one-handed catch to send Imrul Kayes back for 44 off 62 balls. Luke Ronchi, the wicketkeeper, took a good catch and effected a crucial run out of Shakib, while Jeetan Patel, playing his first ODI after more than seven years, also made his presence felt with a fine running catch at long-off.

Sabbir Rahman had an eventful 14-ball stay in which he struck four boundaries, copped a blow on the chest, and then got strangled down the leg side. Two overs lat-

er, Mahmudullah pulled Southee to short midwicket to finish the series with only four runs, rounding off the worst ODI series of his career.

Ta m i m w a s n e x t t o go in the 31st over when Broom ran back from point and tracked a top-edged slog. The shot encapsulated his frustration; he had not scored a boundary in ten overs leading up to the dismissal. The wickets of Shakib, Mosaddek Hossain and Tanbir Hayder then hastened the collapse.

Mashrafe and Nurul negotiated the next 6.3 overs for the addition of 33 runs. The stand ended when Mashrafe holed out to long-off. Nurul, however, boosted his team with sensible batting before opening up in the slog overs.

He moved Matt Henry over midwicket at the start of the last over of Bangladesh’s innings, then hooked him over square leg. He fell to an excellent return off the next ball, but proved a bright spot for Bangladesh amid the gloom in New Zealand.

(Cricinfo)

After ending his playing career, Imtiaz had served as a Pakistan selector for 13 years and was the head of the selection committee between 1976 and 1978. He then took up a coaching role and spent nearly a de-

cade developing Under-19 cricketers. His last assignment was with the department that handles women’s cricket in Pakistan, where he served as an advisor for three years from 2005 to 2008. (Cricinfo)

Imtiaz Ahmed dies aged 88 Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Imtiaz Ahmed has died in Lahore, five days short of his 89th birthday. He was Pakistan’s oldest living Test cricketer and had been suffering from a chest infection.

Imtiaz played 41 Tests for Pakistan between 1952 and 1962, and captained in four of those matches towards the end of his career. He made 2079 runs at an average of 29, and took 77 catches and effected 16 stumpings. His career-best score of 209 came against New Zealand in Lahore in Imtiaz Ahmed (back row, third from left) with the Pakistan team on the tour of 1955.

England in 1962 © Getty Images He was an integral member of Pakistan’s first and kept wicket for the rest Northern India before parti- formance award, and later official Test side, led by of his international career tion. He played 180 games, in life he was awarded the Abdul Hafeez Kardar to until his last appearance at scored 10391 runs with a best Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for his serscore of 300 not out, took vices to the Pakistan Air India. He played the first The Oval in 1962.

Imtiaz’s first-class ca322 catches, and effected 82 force; he retired as a wing three Tests as a batsman commander after 27 years but took over the gloves reer ran from 1944-45 to stumpings.

In 1960, Imtiaz received spent mainly in administrafrom Hanif Mohammad in 1972-73, having made his the fourth Test in Chennai, debut as a 16-year-old for the presidential pride of per- tive roles.

South Africa Racing Tips Greyville 08:15 hrs Good Grace 08:50 hrs Patroclus 09:25 hrs French Revolution 10:00 hrs Fort Ember 10:35 hrs The Poet 11:10 hrs Zlofty Potok

Cheltenham 08:15 hrs Dashing Oscar 08:50 hrs Lamb Or Cod 09:25 hrs O O Seven 10:00 hrs Village Vic 10:35 hrs Call To Order 11:10 hrs Old Guard 11:40 hrs Cap Soleil

English Racing Tips Southwell 08:05 hrs Zandradee 08:35 hrs Scotch Myst 09:10 hrs Tatting 09:45 hrs Landing Night 10:20 hrs Philba 10:55 hrs Anton Chigurh 11:30 hrs Playful Dude

Irish Racing Tips Fairyhouse 08:30 hrs C’Est Jersey 08:55 hrs Toe The Line 09:30 hrs Lilshane 10:05 hrs Sutton Manor 10:40 hrs Ballyoisin 11:15 hrs White Arm 11:45 hrs Next Destination

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Sunday, January 1, 2016

Amateurs don’t beat professionals, says WICB’s director Conde Riley

- Admits that the decline in performance of our senior teams in ODI and Test cricket has been slow and painful

By Rajiv Bisnauth DIRECTOR of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Chairman of the Barbados Pride cricket franchise Conde Riley admitted that the WICB was aware that amateurs don’t beat professionals, adding that the decline in performance of the senior teams in One Day International and Test cricket has been slow and painful.

Riley made the announcement during his feature address at the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) 2016 Awards ceremony Thursday night at the Umana Yana. ““The board was aware that amateurs don’t beat professionals and whilst the richer members of the ICC had moved to

Conde Riley during his feature address at the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) 2016 Awards ceremony Thursday night at the Umana Yana.

professionalize their game decades before us, we were stuck by a combination of factors.

“Over the last 10 years, following the domination of the Clive Lloyd and Vivian Richards’ led teams, the decline in performance of our senior teams in ODIs and Test cricket has been slow and painful,” Riley pointed out.

Perhaps no cricket team in history is as revered as the West Indies side of the 1980s. From 1980 to 1995, the team did not lose a single Test series.

The Caribbean cocktail of ferocious fast bowling and aggressive batting resonated far beyond the field.

But seldom does one get to witness a fall as dramatic as that of the West Indies cricket team in international cricket, or for that matter, in any walk of life. The West Indies were so dominant in the

70's and 80's that all the other teams struggled to compete at the same level.

The golden era ended on May 3, 1995, when Australia crashed through in Jamaica for a series win.

But critics agreed Caribbean cricket lost its way with failures off the field.

Most fingers are pointed at the West Indies Cricket Board.

However, Riley blamed part of the decline of West Indies cricket to a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which was aimed at not only giving the WI players a voice but also making them the consummate professionals.

“Successive presidents and boards were stifled by a Collective Bargaining Agreement which was designed at the time when Sir

Wesley Hall was president, to give players a voice in their professional management through the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).”

“The WICB finally got approval to renegotiate the old Collective Bargaining Agreement with WIPA and moved swiftly to spread the 25 per cent of its revenues which is set aside for players’ salaries from 15 players to an additional 90 players and we also brought 10 ladies on board,” Riley stated.

He added “It suited the then leaders of WIPA to hang on to an outdated document that should have been renegotiated many years before the High Court in Trinidad said enough is enough and ruled that a new CBA be

negotiated between the WICB and WIPA. Riley also pointed out that the advent of T20 cricket with its large sums of money brought new challenges for the WICB and its territorial shareholders, is also a contributing factor for the West Indies cricket Test and One-Day teams slowly moved down the ICC rankings to the bottom of the table.

WICB President Dave Cameron

Successful year for Guyana Badminton Association President of the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) Gokarn Ramdhani, is pleased to report that 2016 was very busy year blessed with lots of success and achievements both on the local scene and at the International level.

In just this one year alone Guyana’s top Player Narayan Ramdhani achieved a World Ranking of 53 and also won the NSC Junior Sportsman Award of the year 2015.

Ramdhani also won bronze at the Peru Junior International, was a triple champion (3-Golds) at the Suriname Under-19 Junior International, won two silver medals and one bronze at the Caribbean Under-19 International Championships, bronze medal at the Caribbean Regional Junior Championships and silver at the Under-19 Team Championships.

He also made it to the quarter-finals at the Pan American Junior Championships, placed fifth at the Vancouver Island Under-23 University Circuit Tournament and received a 5-year

Scholarship to attend College/University and train in Badminton at the Shuttlesport Badminton Academy in Vancouver BC Canada.

Top Junior Players like Jonathan Mangra, Priyanna Ramdhani, Ambika Ramraj & Tyreese Richards who also did well in 2016 at the international Level.

Jonathan Mangra captured gold at the Suriname Under-19 Junior International, bronze at the Peru Junior International, silver at the Caribbean Under-19 International Championships and silver at the Caribbean Under-19 Team Championships. Tyreese Richards-Bronze at the Suriname Under-15 Junior International.

Ambika Ramraj won silver at the Caribbean Under-19 Team Championships. Priyanna Ramdhani had two gold medals and a bronze in Suriname at the Under-15 & 19 Junior International, a silver and a bronze at the Caribbean Under-19 International Championships, silver at the Caribbean Under-19 Team

Championships and two golds and one silver at the Caribbean Regional Under-15 & 19 Championships.

The international success could not have been possible had it not been for the local tournaments.

The year began with the GUMDAC Open To u r n a m e n t f o l l o w e d by the Trophy Stall Age Group Tournament, Guyana Olympic Associa-

Gokarn Ramdhani tion Olympic Day Open Tournament, Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) and the Woodpecker Products Age Group Christmas Tournament.

Among the other accomplishments for 2016, the GBA President is reporting that the National

Teams attended the Peru Junior Under-19 International in Peru and brought back 2 medals (2-Bronze). Additionally, they were in the Suriname Junior Under-15 and 19 International tournament and copped eight medals (6 Gold and 2 Bronze).

In the Pan American Junior Championships in Peru the locals were knocked out at the quarter-finals while in the Caribbean Championships in Aruba the Guyanese had their best outing bringing back winning 14 medals (2-Golds/9-Silvers/3-Bronze).

In October, Guyana placed second to Suriname in the Inter-Guiana Games that were played in Georgetown.

Additionally, the GBA attended the Pan American Junior Badminton Academy in Peru.

The experienced gained by the players during the year saw m u c h i m p ro v e m e n t i n their game and upward direction in development.

The top players continue to show their talent as they performed well in the international circuit

standing up to the world ranked players.

Off the court, President Ramdhani continue to serve as General Secretary of the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation and General Secretary for the Central American & Caribbean Countries Badminton Confederation.

However, the association had some setbacks as was expected. They still face a lot of difficulties in getting a steady supply of feather shuttlecock which have to be used to train the players for international tournaments. These shuttlecocks are very costly as up to ten or more can be used in Matches. The GBA is working towards getting a supplier but any help that can be given will be warmly accepted.

The development programmed for the Junior Players is also affected by after school lessons and this continues to be an ongoing problem which the association will have cope with. With this pressure they are still balancing training and academics.

The GBA would like

to thank the National Sports Commission for allowing them to play at the National Gymnasium and the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. It is the hope of the association that the taped floor markings can be more permanent as they are faced with the difficulties of replacing the tapes after every event that’s being held.

The senior Ramdhani wishes to thank the Guyana Olympic Association for their continuous support to Badminton and sports in general. They have made it possible for our players to attend tournaments which gave our players lots of exposure and experienced and gained higher world ranking points.

We will continue to have Badminton at the highest level and thanks goes out to the Media, Sponsors, and all who supported us during the year 2016 and look forward to your continuous support in 2017 which promises to be another action packed 12 months beginning as early as January.

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Sunday, January 1, 2016

Johnson to lead Georgetown Jaguars Looking ahead with YBG Flashback to YBG NSBF Tournament

GUYANA Jaguars captain Leon Johnson will lead the Georgetown Jaguars in the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board 50-over franchise league. Christopher Barnwell will serve as his deputy.

The rest of the squad reads: Robin Bacchus, Andrew Lyght Jr, Sunil Singh, Shemroy Barrington, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Kellon Carmichael, Dexter Solomon, Devon Lord, Andre Stoll, Gjaanan Suknanan and Joshua Persaud.

The standbys are Kwamme Crosse, Ovid Richardson, Jeetendra Sook-

deo, Shone De Souza and Elton Baker. Colin Stuart (Coach) and Garvin Nedd (Asst. Coach).

Other players in the pool for the League are Travis Blyden, Charwayne McPherson, Keon Morris, Raj Nanan, Dennis Leguay, Winston Forrestor, Martin Pestano Belle, Nicose Barker, Shaquille Moseley, Jahron Byron, Marcus Watkins, Shaquille Williams, Joshua Wade, Raymond Perez, Sachin Singh, Damani Thomas and Ray Newton.

The league commences on Tuesday January 3. The league is scheduled to con-

clude on Sunday January 15, 2017, and shall be used to prepare players for the 2017 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Super 50 tournament, which runs from January 24 to February 18, 2017 in Barbados and Antigua.

Each of the eight teams will play against each other, then the top team at the end of the round stages will go straight to the final on January 15 while on January 13 there will be a playoff between the second and third place teams to see who will progress to the final.

Dear Players, Parents and Partners,

Leon Johnson

Lack of communication leads to no year-end b’ball tournament

By Daniel Haynes

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones has sought to clear the air as to why there were no end of the year basketball tournaments in recent weeks. Chronicle Sport had reported that the inclement weather in addition to the absence of a playing facility were the factors behind the ‘rest’ period.

The Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) President Junior Hercules had stated, “No access to the indoor facility coupled with the outdoor cost and inclement weather prevented GABA from hosting during this period.”

He had also noted that GABA had received no official timeline for the replace-

The basketball ring at the Sports Hall (Delano Williams photos)

ment of the backboard for the Sports Hall which was shattered during this year’s Inter Guiana Games.

However, in response to the article, Jones stated, “The only communication we have from GABA is the request to use the Sports Hall, we replied by saying the Sports Hall is

currently undergoing repairs to its western roof.”

The Sport Director further noted, “A request was then made for use of the Gymnasium outdoor facility and we gave them no objection, after this we heard nothing back from the association.”

As it relates to the GABA

claims that it received no timeline for the replacement of the backboard, Jones said there was no request for information concerning the backboard or the works being done.

“The backboards are in Guyana and when the roof is completed the backboards will be installed, but due to the inclement weather conditions, works on the Sports Hall were stalled but the facility will be ready in no time,” stated Jones.

Jones is also of the opinion that had the association communicated their issues regarding the cost to host the tournament outdoors, the National Sports Commission (NSC) would have happily covered the expenses.

Nadal reigns supreme in Abu Dhabi For the fourth time in his career Rafael Nadal triumphed at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship with victory over David Goffin.

Rafael Nadal claimed his fourth Mubadala World Tennis Championship on Sunday as he brushed aside David Goffin in straight sets.

Nadal’s 6-4 7-6 (7-5) win ensures back-to-back titles in Abu Dhabi for the Spaniard and confirms his place as the most successful player in the tournament’s history.

A scorching forehand winner secured the first set for Nadal after both men had picked up breaks in the opening exchanges but Goffin ensured it

would not be all plain sailing.

The Belgian broke twice at the start of the second set to lead 3-1, only for Nadal to up his level and round out the win in just under two hours.

World number one Andy Murray prevailed in the third-place play-off against Milos Raonic, his 10th suc-

cessive triumph over the Canadian and eighth of 2016.

Murray looked to be cruising as he racked up early breaks of serve to take this first set.

The second was more competitive but once again the Briton got the better of his rival as he recorded a 6-3 7-6 (8-6) win. (Sports Max)

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

I wish to thank you for sharing in the vision of Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG)and for your support,however it has been expressed in helping to promote positive youth sports development over the course of the last year.

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve children and youth through the vehicle of basketball.

YBG exist to provide a credible structure for youth basketball and student athlete development, while fostering the values of Leadership, Scholarship and Prowess.

On behalf of the entire YBG team, I take this opportunity to wish you and your love ones a most blessed, healthy and excellent year 2017.

I am proud of our dedicated and creative team for our shared success over the course of a sometimes-strenuousbut exciting year. We are very grateful for the partnership and strength of relationship that was forged with Mr. Nigel Hinds and the National Federation, and look forward to building on those gains in much greater collaboration.

We wish to express our sincere thanks to Digicel Guyana, Edward B. Beharry and Company Ltd., Banks DIH Ltd, Bryden and Fernandesfor their continuing financial sponsorship and support, without which we could not be successful in our effort.

We wish to thank Mr. Christopher Jones, DOS, the National Sports Commission and the Ministry of Education Allied Arts for the support received in so many ways and look forward to building on these relationships.

We also want to thank our friends in the media- Treis-

ton Joseph, Edison Jefford, Daniel Haynes, Rawle Toney, Duncan Saul, Travis Hopkinson and Guyana Basketball. com for their generous coverageand year-round exposure given to our youth players.

Most importantly we are very grateful for the trust and support of parents, teachers and our student athletes themselves for their confidence and continuing participation in the YBG programmes. It is a mandate that we take seriously, and will continue to do our utmost to honor and fulfill.

We look forward tocontinuing to serve and collaborate with all of our partners and friends as best as we can over the course of the next year to further this vision.

In looking ahead, we are making every effort to strengthen our operational structure and harness all of our resources to maximize the best outcome to our efforts. To this end,YBG will host a round table for key stakeholders on January 21, 2017, to facilitate this process.

YBG is very excited about the year ahead and the many opportunities and possibilities; with our main focus being to, continue to improve on the infrastructure of the National Schools’ Basketball Championship (all divisions); create more international exposure for our Elite prospects; expand on our grassroot development outreach in all three counties and develop a long-term strategy for adequate and reliable resources and facilities.

Pray with us for the successful of ALL of our plans and activities in 2017.

Please do not hesitate to share any ideas, suggestions or general input that you may have toward this effort.

Grace and Peace Chris Bowman-YBG SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016