Guyana chronicle epaper 08 20 2016

No. 104649

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

Specialty Hospital Project

Gov't cancels loan …courts India to modernise primary healthcare facilities

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Head of the Guyana Association of Women Police, Maxine Graham, marvels at a section of the craft items exhibited. These were created by the campers [Delano Williams photo] (See story on page 15)

Key bridge at Konawaruk being repaired 2

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Guyana still reeling from Two charged with one-party rule ‘Rabbit' gets life for killing ex-girlfriend 10 P.

murder of BV boy

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…new USAID report urges leaders to embrace reforms P.5

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 20, 2016

Key bridge at Konawaruk being repaired

BY Ariana Gordon

SMALL miners in Konawaruk, Region 8, are happy that Government has begun constructing a new bridge at North Fork backdam, despite the prevailing problems they face.

This is one of the main bridges used by miners to access the mining district, and it was washed away by heavy rainfall and flooding when a creek in the area became swollen. A visit to the North Fork Backdam on Friday saw employees of the Mekdeci Mining Company (MMC) working feverishly to complete construction of the bridge.

According to manager in charge of the project, Chris

Xavriel, the previous bridge was not laid on a strong foundation; but, despite that fact, the Mekdeci employee noted that the rising of the creek water was unexpected. As a result of the “washing away” of the old bridge, MMC is in the process of building a strong foundation that would see it almost impossible for the new bridge to be washed away.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Xavriel said lots of foundation work had to be done. He explained that a totally new foundation strategy is being employed.

“We have 50-foot logs, 40 into the land and 10 feet overlapping the creek. That was never there before…the older bridge had no strength

to the land, so the water came, it covered the bridge… it came higher than anybody expected,” he stated.

The manager also said the revetment is superior to any other, and he noted that “nothing could move this right now.” The work, which began last Thursday, is expected to be completed

by Monday, thereby allowing for miners to traverse the area. The contractor explained that while he has experienced workers on the project, the terrain was a difficult one, as there are lots of large rocks located in the stream and there are old logs built into the land.

“We can’t excavate that…” he stated.

SEVERE HARDSHIP Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, told this newspaper that the washed away bridge has caused severe hardship on the mining district. She explained

The dilapidated bridge that links Konawaruk to Mowasi in Region 8

that miners use the bridge to move their equipment and food from one location to another.

“The miners have been complaining that, over the years, the quality of work being done by contractors leaves much to be desired.

They believe that the inferior work done in the past is an insult to them, as they pay royalty and taxes like all other citizens,” said Broomes.

The minister said many miners have been left without

food because of the inaccessibility of the roadway. “I am happy this bridge will be completed by Monday, and vehicles would be able to cross here,” she remarked.

Guyana Chronicle observed that a nearby pathway that runs towards the stream of water was dug by miners in order for them to get across to the other side. However, one miner said he is forced to walk through the deep stream to get to the other side because his life and that of his

family depends on it.

“It is really hard on us… people on the coast don’t understand the struggles of small miners. They heard about our struggles and dismiss them because they feel we have lots of gold here… it is not easy. I am happy that the bridge will be completed soon, because crossing that stream is not safe.”

PLEASED WITH WORK Another miner, who

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 20, 2016

Specialty Hospital Project

Gov't cancels loan …courts India to modernise primary healthcare facilities

THE government has taken the decision to cancel the financing deal with India for the construction of a specialty hospital here, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan confirmed Friday.

The decision to terminate the line of credit was taken at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Jordan stated. The original financing, from India’s Exim Bank, was for US$18M, but funds were expended on the original contract to Surendra Engineering, leaving about US$14 million.

The previous PPP government was forced to ter-

minate Surendra’s 2012 contract, citing fraud, and sought to recover the funds.

The new government sought to salvage the project and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with another Indian firm, Fedders Lloyd, to design a new facility, keeping in mind the remaining amount.

When the APNU+AFC government came into office, it reviewed the project and concluded that since there was no existing contract that could be enforced, it was impractical to continue to keep the Line of Credit in

its existing form, especially since it was attracting commitment fees.

The Ministry of Finance, however, noted that the government had requested the Exim Bank of India to cancel the Line of Credit for the specialty hospital and to re-allocate the balance of funds to a project to modernize three primary health-care facilities.

However, the Government of India (GoI) in its response, while indicating its no objection and support for the modernization of primary health-care facilities,

New NAREI Board appointed …members to serve for two years

transparent and supportive. Further, the board and the CEO will operate as a team.

The board will be meeting with staff more frequently to focus on transformative ideas.

FOR the first time, the Board of Directors of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has been appointed to serve a two-year term.

The life of the board will conclude on June 30, 2018. Previous boards were appointed by Cabinet for only one year, NAREI said in a release. All members of the previous board were re-appointed. Major General (Rtd) Joseph Singh was re-appointed Chairman of the Board. The only new member is Mr. Omadatt Chandan. However, for the past two months, Chandan has been carrying out the functions of the Secretary to the Board.

At a management meeting on Friday at NAREI, Chief Executive Officer of NAREI, Dr Oudho Homenauth, emphasised the importance of having a board that will be functioning for two years. He gave the assurance that the continuity of the board would allow NAREI to focus on what it needs to achieve.

Dr Homenauth related that over the next two years, NAREI will be focusing on: the resuscitation of the coconut industry; commence developing 10,000 and 20,000 acres of land at Ebini and Pirara, respectively; improve research in soils; improve agriculture in the hinterland; develop climate-resilient technologies; increase production of non-traditional crops; and promote sustainable development and green technologies.

Major General (Rtd) Joseph Singh, who was present at the meeting, said that he will continue to be objective,

Full list of Board of Directors: ● Dr. Oudho Homenauth – Ex- officio Member ● Mr. George Jervis – Member ● Dr. T. M. Velloza – Member ● Dr. Mahendra Persaud – Member ● Mr. Brian Greenidge – Member ● Mr. Wilmott Garnett – Member ● Mr. Gavin Ramnarine – Member ● Mr. Cecil Seepersaud – Member ● Ms. Holly Greaves – Member ● Mr. Prema Ramanah-Roopnarine – Member ● Mr. Ricky Roopchand – Member ● Mr. Omadatt Chandan- Secretary

suggested that the Guyana Government consider salvaging the specialty hospital, as it will complement primary health-care facilities in Guyana.

It was then that the government approached Fedders Lloyd, one of the original bidders, to explore the possibility of them completing the project and the MoU was signed. Fedders Lloyd expressed continued interest and was prepared to complete and fully equip the facility.

However, in mid-June, 2016, the government announced that India was not interested in pursuing the project with Fedders Lloyd, as the World Bank had blacklisted the company until 2020, because of its procurement policy.

Minister Jordan Friday said that the government decided to terminate the Line of Credit, because the time has already lapsed, and the uncertainty over when a new contractor could be sought to design, build and outfit the specialty hospital, would only result in further commitment fees, which essentially amounts to wasting money when no project exists at the time. He said that Fedders Lloyd owns the design it had come up with

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan

for the project.

The government’s decision to cancel the Line of Credit was communicated to the Indian High Commission Wednesday, Minister Jordan stated.

He said that the government is still engaging the Government of India to modernise the West Demerara Hospital, as well as the hospitals at Suddie on the Essequibo Coast, and Bartica in Region Seven.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 20, 2016

Guyana, Suriname collaborate on design, construction of treatment plants

THE Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has commenced discussions with the Suriname Water Company aimed at creating improvements in the sector.

The collaboration is expected to foster improvements such as water analysis and design of water treatment plants here.

This was disclosed on Friday when GWI’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Richard Van-West Charles noted that one of the clear principles which came out of the discussions this week with officials of the company is the need to ensure that prior to design, all the water parameters are available to those who will bid for design and construction of treatment plants.

Van-West Charles told reporters at a press conference at the GWI head office at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, that the teams from the Guyanese and Surinamese utilities undertook a full week of work and exchanges.

He said both teams were able to explore mutual areas, such as non-revenue water, water quality, water-distribution systems and design of treatment plants.

He said that Guyana is embarking on the construction of three new water plants at Diamond, East Bank Demerara; Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara; and Sheet Anchor, Berbice.

He said GWI’s young engineers have been able to appreciate and improve knowledge and skills in a number of areas. In Guyana , he said that the water systems

In picture is Suriname Water Company representative, Jerrol Ferrier; GWI’s PRO, Leana Bradshaw; GWI Managing Director, Dr Richard Van-West Charles, a GWI engineer and IDB country Representative, Sophie Makonnen. revolves around the retrieving of water from ground to surface and the design in water-treatment plants here in this regard was discussed.

“We were able to explore and we will continue when our team visits next September to look at various strategies that they (Suriname) have embarked on”, he said.

He said GWI has been able to share information with the visiting Surinamese on the type of filter deployed and riverine communities and usage of other tools.

“One of the critical areas of course for both utilities

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would be intense work on the issue of water quality”, he added.

Sophie Makonnen, IDB Country Representative, told the media that the collaboration is important for the bank. She said the move can create and foster improvement and better communication.

“IDB has been supporting, for the past 12 years, the water operator partnerships and they are in various regions across the world,” she said. Since 2008, she noted, the IDB has been providing more technical assistance to nations, adding that the bank is pleased when it works with various countries and the activities become concrete.

Jerrol Ferrier of the Suriname Water Company noted that there had been discussions in the past, but they never materialised. He said that there had been visits from GWI officials to the Dutch-speaking nation on an individual basis. “Now it’s going on an actual basis and I’m quite pleased with this collaboration between our two countries”, he said.

The engagement, which is part of the Inter-American Development Bank /UN Habitat sponsored programme, will see GWI officials making return visits to Suriname next month.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 20, 2016

Guyana still reeling from one-party rule …new USAID report urges leaders to embrace reforms A NEW report on governance and human rights here said last year’s victory by the APNU+AFC coalition is an opportunity for this country to move forward toward a more responsive and accountable State. But it also warned that this elections outcome is far from certain, although predicting that the coalition will last until the next elections.

The assessment, conducted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and with the full knowledge of the government, examined political change and democratization in Guyana, analysed core democracy and governance issues, actors, and institutions in the country and developed strategic and programmatic recommendations to address the further development of democracy and governance.

USAID said during the conduct of the assessment, the team met with representatives within the three branches of government-- the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. Interviews were also conducted with a broad array of Guyanese leaders and experts, sub-national and local-level representatives and members of civil society to gain their perspectives on democracy and governance in Guyana and devise concrete recommendations. Interviews were conducted in late 2015.

Tetra Tech ARD, a consulting

firm based in Burlington, Vermont, U.S.A., was contracted

by USAID to complete this assessment.

DEEP-SEATED LEGACIES OF PPP RULE In the executive summary of its assessment, the USAID said the coalition government faces deep-seated legacies of single-party domination; politically driven ethnic divisions; and a centralised patron-clientelist system with weak, unaccountable, and unresponsive government institutions.

It noted that changing this system will not be easy, especially for a tenuous political coalition, inexperienced in governing and confronted by an entrenched opposition and a frustrated population with unrealistically high expectations. “Guyana’s past demonstrates that these windows do not remain open for long as engrained practices take over and the government assumes the attributes of the past,” the report noted.

It said that political missions have moved swiftly to support the reform efforts diplomatically and through discrete mission funds and that the Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights (DRG) Assessment recommends that development agencies follow suit to take advantage of these opportunities quickly to deepen democratic development in Guyana.

In particular, the DRG assessment recommends that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provide immediate assistance to support the constitutional reform process, bring balance to Guyana’s governance, and strengthen local government and its first elected local governments in 23 years. This should be followed by a bilateral DRG programme for the medium to long-term that could help institutionalize the reforms and ensure their consolidation.

ONE-PARTY RULE Meanwhile, the report noted that governance in Guyana has been characterised by long periods of one-party rule, ethnically divisive politics, inefficient government, and corruption. “Its oldest political party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), split before independence, creating the two main parties: the PPP and the People’s National Congress (PNC), which alternated power until 2015.

The PNC was in power from independence until 1992 through tight, centralized party control and rigged elections. In 1992, international mediation led to credible elections and a change in government to the PPP/ Civic (PPP/C) party. The PNC did not accept those election results or the PPP/C’s next win in 1997 and violence erupted after both elections.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) negotiated new elections in 2001 that were to be preceded by constitutional reforms. The PPP/C went on to win the elections in 2001, 2006, and 2011.”

The report cited that in 2011, the PPP/C failed to gain the majority votes in the National Assembly, resulting in a minority government for its president.

“This created a political stalemate that led to the president suspending the parliament after a threat of a no-confidence vote. Parliament was eventually dissolved and new elections held in May 2015. These elections were won by the PNC/Reform (PNC/R)-dominated A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) that formed a coalition with the moderate, multi-ethnic Alliance For Change (AFC). The APNU

+ AFC ran on a democratic reform agenda, promising constitutional reforms and the holding of long-delayed local elections. It won a one-seat majority in the Assembly and faces the PPP/C in opposition that has challenged the election results in court.”

The report also mentioned that Guyana’s political parties reflect their ethnic makeup, observing that the PPP courted the Indo-Guyanese, which made up more than 40 percent of the population, while the PNC courted the Afro-Guyanese who comprise about 30 percent of the population. The indigenous and mixed populations provide the swing votes.

CHALLENGES Additionally, the report identified what it described as key challenges to governance here, noting that the assessment found problems in all five elements of democracy: human rights, and governance. The most critical were

in the areas of competition and political accountability and government responsiveness and effectiveness.

Noting that consensus has been difficult, the report said that Guyanese have a shared political culture and the belief that democracy is the only legitimate form of government, but long-standing acrimony between the PPP/C and PNC/R makes achieving consensus on policies, committee appointments, and constitutional reform priorities difficult at the national level.

However, social capital and the shared desire for change facilitate consensus building at the regional and local levels. It stated that no group is legally excluded or formally disenfranchised, but there is perceived and real ethnic exclusion from the political processes and social discrimination based on race, gender, socio-economics, and sexual orientation. “There is Turn to page 18 ►

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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

Economic cooperation in the South

THE issue of development has always been on the agenda of every nation and every generation.

As a developing country, Guyana’s leaders and technicians have been socialised over years and -- dare it be said -- for far too long to plan based on the dynamics taking place in European and North American societies.

If, for any reason, issues such as rice, sugar or minerals have to be addressed, it is not uncommon to see deference to, and reliance on, the business approaches and dynamics of Europe and North America forming the centrepiece for guidance in discussions in framing policies, with apparent little or no regard for indigenous realities and needs. And this is not for want of ability on the part of Guyana or liked countries, but is more the sense of historical conditioning -- that others know what is best for us and should, by extension, guide us.

During the Liberation Struggle in Southern Africa, this region has seen some of its finest acts of self-determination and cooperation with allies in support of what was considered a common cause.

The aeroplanes flying from Cuba to Southern Africa stopped over in Guyana to be refuelled before going onward to their destinations. Apart from this significant contribution to the liberation of Southern Africa, what has not happened is that this level of cooperation did not translate into activities to boost economic trade among the countries and regions.

For years, the air links between the Caribbean and Africa have not been direct. Travelling to Africa from the Caribbean and Guyana requires first going to the United States or Europe in order to get a connecting flight to one’s destination. This in itself makes travelling tedious, and could have negative impact on the economy, both in tourism and trade. SouthSouth cooperation has been on Guyana’s and many other countries’ agenda for some time now. It is recognised that the economic structures that are in place and maintained by international and transnational

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 20, 2016

Dress Code sign at NCC must come down

Dear Editor, I AM very pleased to see the relaxation of the ludicrous dress code in Guyana, starting with Trevor Benn of Lands and Surveys, and finally the President pronouncing on it.

Good work by Francis Bailey for bringing it to light on social media, and for the momentum it has generated; and more recently Mosafa Telford’s article in Chronicle. The power of social media cannot be underestimated.

I have been fighting the dress code since in the late 90s, ever since the National Cultural Centre introduced it. I started producing shows since 1981, and I cannot recall any dress code being in place to enter the NCC in the early 80s.

This was introduced in the 90s, and I have ever since been against it.

I have complained, and written several letters to the powers that be, all to no avail. I am appalled, upset, and flabbergasted to see what takes place at the entrance to the NCC: Patrons’ clothes are being tested to find out what type of fabric they are wearing; they are being bodily touched and turned to see how much skin is being exposed. I was told that there was even a service provided in the foyer for renting scarfs, stockings and wraps, so that patrons can cover up their exposed skin instead of returning home.

One of the biggest issues is denim.

I recall that a prominent lawyer was turned away from The Link Show a few years ago because he was wearing a black denim pants. The person who made that rule is hopelessly out of date.

They think of denims as ‘dungarees’, which were probably worn in the olden days in the rice fields. They are really out of touch in today’s world.

It saddens me, whenever I produce a show at the NCC, to see the number of persons being turned away because they are wearing ‘hard pants’, or they have on sandals, or they don’t have on dress shoes.

I attend theatres regularly whenever I travel abroad: Broadway in New York and West End in London; and there is absolutely no dress code. I checked with many theatres in the Caribbean, and got the same feedback. So why do we need one here? Are we that backward?

A few years ago, Dave Martins wrote his column on the NCC dress code when he was asked to put his shirt in his pants (the cut of the shirt is designed to be worn outside the pants). Back in the late 90s, I was asked to leave the courtroom because I was wearing a ‘pants and top’, and not a pants suit. That was at the land court, to deal with a transport of property. There was no sign or board telling me how to dress. When I returned to the courtroom, there was a woman wearing a red slinky dress and she was

companies, supported by several governments from the developed world, have contributed to developing countries like ours being stymied or denied opportunity of exploiting business for our benefit at cheaper cost.

As the society continues to deliberate on the state of the sugar industry and what ought to be done about its future, technical assistance from Europe and North America is being relied on. This reliance comes at the expense of tapping into the technical capabilities of immediate neighbours like Cuba and Brazil, which have experiences similar to ours. The experiences of Cuba and Brazil are more model-adaptable to Guyana’s experiences, given these countries produce similar primary products. Cuba has been able to stabilise its sugar operation by putting in place various measures, inclusive of finding alternative means to produce sugar and to utilize the lands that have become available after the closure of some of its estates. What Cuba has been able to do, among other things, is to improve on its confectionery industry. As that society opens its economy to trade, opportunities are presented to investors, local and foreign, to compete for a ready share of this new and improved industry.

In Brazil, some of the defunct sugar factories are being converted into restaurants. These restaurants serve as employment and economic opportunities for the society and its tourist industry. Factories

well endowed. So the presiding office felt my attire was more inappropriate for the courtroom than the woman in a bright red figure-hugging dress.

I recall relating the incident to Anna Benjamin, editor (at that time) of the Sunday Stabroek, and she was equally supportive of me and wrote a very prominent article on it.

So, much has been done to get rid of these archaic and obsolete dress codes; and only now, after nearly 20 years, are we seeing some action.

It must be noted that the architects of the supposed ‘dress code’ have abandoned it eons ago. How are we promoting tourism? Tourists dress very casually and travel lightly. Are we saying they must not attend shows at the NCC, or visit Government offices? How do they get tickets from the T&HD office to visit the Lighthouse?

Some of the offices have recognized and acted upon President Granger’s comment, but I think the President needs to direct someone in his office to take charge of ‘taking down’ all the stupid ‘dress code’ signs on all buildings and save us from being laughed at.

GEM MADHOONASCIMENTO Director GEMS Theatre Productions

converted to restaurants have been able to maintain Brazil’s historical legacy through storytelling and leaving untouched aspects of its infrastructure. For instance, a diner entering the restaurant, outside of fine dining experience, is exposed to educational opportunity through anecdotes recounted about the era in which the factory operated, its activities and workers, and so forth. This is an innovated way of keeping alive the bitter-sweet legacy of sugar in the Brazilian society and its economy, as these converted factories simultaneously provide new income opportunities.

The majority of people who inhabit the Caribbean, South America, India and Africa have shared historical experiences of colonisation. Recognising this reality, it augurs well for working with these countries, having the benefit of cultural experiences, including common value systems. South-South cooperation has its benefits, and can be exploited among the countries, providing that the beneficiaries to this process seek to be the initiators and executioners of any programme.

To make this a reality, Guyana and other countries have to move beyond waiting for the developed world to conceptualise and present to them an agenda to recognizing that pursuit of economic self-efficiency requires taking the initiative, inclusive of risk, to control our destiny.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 20, 2016

Mr. Willis was never denied opportunity Dear Editor, I WISH to respond to a letter in your newspaper dated Wednesday, August 17, 2016 and appearing under the caption “I was denied my right to make a presentation”. It was written by Mr. Anthony Willis.

Mr. Willis was never denied opportunity to meet with the Commission of Inquiry.

He attended the first consultation at St Stanislaus College on Friday, April 22nd, and was the third speaker.

Based on his initial statements, it was decided that the Commission would benefit from a comprehensive presentation. He was assured that he would have been communicated with, so that a convenient date and time could have been agreed to.

Mr. Willis was communicated with, and it was decided that the presentation would have been made on May 31. On the appointed day, Mr. Willis pointed out that additional computers

were necessary for the presentation to be effective.

The Secretary to the Commission worked with the Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) to ensure that the necessary facilities were in place, and Mr. Willis was so informed.

The paper trail is available to show that there was ongoing communication. Mr. Willis was expected to make his presentation on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at 15:30 hours at NCERD. It is worthy to note that Mr. Willis was communicated with on August 8, so that he could have been reassured that everything was in place.

Mr. Willis did not appear, and he is yet to provide a reasonable explanation for his absence. The Commissioners made at least ten (10) unanswered calls to his phone during the two-hour period of waiting.

It should also be noted that the Commission had

–– to meet with the CoI into the Education sector

invited a number of persons to the presentation, including a highly-trained music educator and his team. The only face-saving act was that the music educator took the opportunity to make a presentation that showed how music could contribute to the teaching of other disciplines.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Education Sector is prepared to listen to any individual or organization which is desirous of making a contribution. Mr. Willis’s statement is false, and is certainly unkind. It is distressing that such had to be placed in the public domain and thus ‘force’ a response.

However, the Commission wishes to thank Mr. Willis for his interest in contributing to an improvement in the delivery of education in Guyana, and is prepared

Criminality on tourists unacceptable

Dear Editor, TOURISM is destined to be one of the major industries in Guyana. Many of its aspects have to do with Amazonian trekking (trekking of the Amazon jungle), bird watching, mountainous jungle hikes, fresh water fishing, brown water beaches, and natural health cures using natural salt water and our mineralized earth.

Among the deficiencies in Guyana relative to tourism are the lack of proper training schools for the tourism industry; the constant attack on various tourists within our country, and dishonest taxi drivers; and this is very depressing.

We saw recently what happened to a retired British soldier who had returned to Guyana after 50 years to be part of Guyana’s Jubilee celebrations: a despicable and unpatriotic local citizen robbed him of important sentimental objects at the Stabroek Market Square.

Another disappointment was when four Caucasian tourists were enjoying the festivities at Durban Park and, for some reason, our own local Guyanese were annoyed with them, cursing and abusing these individuals and almost throwing them down the bleachers.

Our people need to be trained to respect others, because, as it is, we are losing

our reputation as a people of hospitality.

Also, on Friday, August 12th, we learned that a Chinese trio had been robbed of millions of dollars in an unmarked vehicle on the Sea Wall somewhere along the East Coast.

Can these bandits understand what they’ve done to the psyche of these individuals? Can these bandits understand what they have done to our country?

I have travelled to Japan and moved through all kinds of societies, and I am amazed at how I was treated with total dignity and respect by total strangers, who bowed when we were passing and were always kind and welcoming.

What has happened to our people since we commenced our experimentation with socialism in the 70s?!

Is Guyana on the throes of social decay and a disorientation of mentalities? Are we becoming a beastly nation -- without compassion for even tourists, who are here and are actually contributing to Guyana’s economy?

Our people need to learn and be educated: help a tourist, display generosity, show love. We need to show that we are a mature, disciplined, hospitable people.

I find it most painful in my soul and my heart for these Japanese people. I do

believe we need serious adjustment to our laws! We need to have another set of laws for persons who commit criminal acts against these visitors.

Tourism is expected to be a major plank of our economic structure. We need to safeguard it with much jealousy as a unique natural resource.

So, in my opinion, anyone who touches a tourist without permission should be sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment; and anyone who uses violence against a tourist for the purpose of hurting that tourist should be given 25 years’ imprisonment.

These are the kinds of legal enactments we need: laws with claws; laws with teeth that bite deep! And we must have the structure set in such a way that there will be no stone left unturned to capture the bandits who harm tourists.

Today, I, a patriotic citizen of this country, who loves his country immensely, feel ashamed of our country.

I feel greatly pained that we have nothing in place to help support our tourists.

Please, Government of Guyana; please Guyana Tourism Authority, read the contents of this piece again and again and again..

ROSHAN KHAN, CEO/Founder RK’s Security Service

to make another effort to facilitate his presentation at a time, date and place convenient to him.

Again, given its mandate, the Commission welcomes contributions from all stakeholders, and is

committed to ensuring that the voices of these stakeholders are counted, as it aims to establish a baseline analysis of the state of public education in Guyana, and make recommendations to strengthen the sec-

tor’s strategic plan.

Best regards, SUELLE FINDLAY-WILLIAMS Public Relations Commission of Inquiry - Education

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 20, 2016

PPP accuses PNCR of piggybacking on NTC confab for its congress

By Ravin Singh THE Opposition Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) has accused Government of trying to “swell its ranks” at the upcoming congress of the Peoples’ National Congress (PNC), the largest party in the coalition government.

This view was expressed on Friday by Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, who said the PPP was reliably informed that this was the intention of the Government.

Initially, the conference of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) was slated to be held for one week, beginning on July 18, but it was subsequently shifted to the period August 22 to 26, 2016. And with the PNC congress scheduled to be held from August 26 to 28, Teixeira said, this runon between the two events “happens to be highly coincidental.”

“This happens to be highly coincidental in that the closure of the council’s

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

meeting is at beginning of the PNC’s congress.

“We have information that the Government has used the opportunity of the NTC conference to be able to swell its ranks at the PNC’s congress, which starts on August 26,” she told the news conference.

The Opposition Chief Whip said she was able to see a letter sent to the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister by the NTC, requesting that the conference be held from July 18. She is contending that the change in the date of the conference came only after it was announced when the PNC’s

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock

congress would be held.

“It was changed, and the change came after the announcement of the PNC that its conference would be held from 26 to the 28. So, after that, you heard that the

conference would be held from the 22nd of August,” Teixeira contends.

She is also alleging that Government is paying to bring Indigenous peoples to the conference, despite the

NTC having a budget of its own. Moreover, she is contending that there has been a change in the schedule for the ferry which transports people from Mabaruma – an Indigenous village in Region One – and the new schedule works to the advantage of the PNC. The ferry to Mabaruma travels fortnightly. And according to Teixeira, the next scheduled date in August 27, which is the day after the conference would have ended. However, she noted that the schedule has not been changed for some reason, and the ferry would be departing for Mabaruma on Wednesday 31, which is two days after the PNC’s congress.

Faced with these allegations, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, has said that, “every person has the right to express their imagination; and that is the work of the Opposition.”

He contends that the Opposition will look for every situation that appears

suspicious and criticize it, and he went on to reveal that the last time the Indigenous peoples were brought to Georgetown, the PPP had taken them to imbibe.

“The last time they [Indigenous peoples] came, they [the PPP] were the ones who separated them; moved them from the hotels, took them to bars, gave them liquor to drink, and painted a terrible picture,” he said, adding that the APNU+AFC coalition did not complain about the situation.

The minister explained that if that was the way leaders chose to interact with the Indigenous people, then it was their choice and right. However, he was keen to note that a time has come when the Indigenous peoples should not be treated like that, since it is “totally disrespectful” to them.

“There must be that respect where, not because Indigenous people are seen as simple people they must be seen as stupid,” Minister Allicock said.

Omar Shariff sues reporter, Nightly News OMAR Shariff, the embattled former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, has filed court documents against local journalist Travis Chase and the operators of the HGPTV television station, claiming damages to the tune of G$20M. Shariff is under investigation by the authorities after allegedly billions of dollars were reportedly discovered in multiple bank accounts connected to him. He has sued the journalist and the television station over statements made on the HGPTV Nightly News television broadcast as well as news content broadcast on the newscast’s social media platforms.

The Ministry of the Presidency was, over the past several weeks, expected to submit information to police investigators on the case of Shariff, who was arrested after some $10B were allegedly uncovered in his personal

Journalist Travis Chase

Omar Shariff

bank accounts. He was later released on bail in relation to investigations into tax evasion and money laundering.

Reports suggest that Shariff’s accounts could have way more than the indicated $10B, a position on which Minister of State Joseph Harmon has offered not to comment.

In a letter to Shariff dated June 30, 2016, Minister Harmon told him to proceed on his annual leave so that he could cooperate fully

with the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) during the investigation. The investigation concerns his alleged extraordinary accumulation of wealth, which includes several properties and billions of dollars in commercial banks.

This newspaper had reported that SOCU visited the former permanent secretary’s home and removed documents and a safe. The State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) is also on the case.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 20, 2016

Two charged with murder of Taxi driver charged with death of BV boy overseas-based Guyanese woman

Rape accused dies of enlarged heart RELATIVES found 30-year-old Ravidat Jagnit slumped over his toilet at his Betsy Ground, East Canje home on August 14.

A post-mortem done by Government Pathologist Dr. Vivikanand Brijmohan at the New Amsterdam Hospital Mortuary has determined that Jagnit died from an enlarged heart. It was reported that the

Kevin Sahai and Raymond Wong being escorted into the lockups (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

TWO men were remanded to prison on Friday for the murder of 13-yearold Devanand Sanichar, of Plantain Walk, Beterverwagting (BV), East Coast Demerara.

Sanichar was chopped and beaten during a “wedding house” brawl in the village.

Raymond Wong, 21 and Kevin Sahai, 20, both of Agriculture Road, Mon Repos, were charged jointly and remanded to prison by Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul during their appearance at the Sparendaam Magistrates Court.

It is alleged that on August 14 at Plantain Walk, Beterverwagting, they bludgeoned Sanichar to death.

Wong’s attorney, Satesh Kissoon, told the court that his client is employed as an electrician at A1 Solution and was arrested by police on Monday.

The lawyer contended that police found the murder weapon in the possession of another person who had implicated the men. Meanwhile, Sahai’s lawyer requested an early report date for his client who is employed as a mason.

Dead: Devanand Sanchar

Police prosecutor, David Goodridge, revealed that the investigation into the matter is complete. The court heard that on the day in question, a heated argument erupted between Sahai and the teen at the wedding, after the teen saw Sahai dancing behind his aunt.

The teen reportedly left the function and returned with a cutlass and the argument continued. Reports are that Sahai during the argument took the cutlass away from the teen and dealt him a chop to his head and while on the ground, Wong armed himself with a piece of wood which he used to beat the young man.

SIXTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Haroon Essack appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Sparendaam Magistrates Court charged with causing the death of 58-year-old Bibi Ameroon Hussein O’Donovan.

It is alleged that on August 17 at Chelsea Public Road, Mahaica, Essack drove motor car HC 6763 in a dangerous manner which caused the death of British citizen, O’Donovan. He was not required to plead to the charge.

Police Prosecutor David Goodridge strongly opposed Essack being released on bail

Ravidat Jagnit

father of one had watched television on Saturday with an offspring and a sibling before retiring to bed. The next morning he was reportedly discovered motionless, in a crouched position in his toilet.

Jagnit was, in 2009, convicted by Justice Diana Ishanally at the Berbice Assizes and sentenced to

Haroon Essack

Dead: Bibi O’Donovan

since the accused is currently implicated in a similar matter in Berbice. Goodridge pointed out that Essack was involved in a vehicular accident in 2015 which claimed the lives of three persons,

after he had driven his motor car under a station lorry.

The prosecution further disclosed that the dead woman’s daughter, Sheneeza Lewis, was also a passenger in the car and is still in a crit-

twelve years’ imprisonment for raping a 55-year-old woman. However, his lawyer Murselene Bacchus successfully petitioned the Guyana Court of Appeal and the conviction and sentence were quashed. The tribunal had ordered a retrial, which was still pending at the time of Jagnit’s death.

ical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The mother and daughter were heading to the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle when it is alleged that Essack was driving along the Chelsea Public Road, Mahaica, at a fast rate, lost control of the car and slammed into a stationary lorry.

O’Donovan, who was seated in the front passenger seat died immediately, while her daughter was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the hospital. Essack did not receive any injuries. He was remanded to prison until September 13.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 20, 2016

‘Rabbit' gets life for killing ex-girlfriend MOHAMMED Kalil Shazam, known as Shazam Kalil or ‘Rabbit’, who in a fit of jealously fatally stabbed his teenage ex-girlfriend at Rosignol, West Coast Berbice on January 17, 2015, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the Berbice Assizes.

A mixed jury found the defendant guilty of murder

two weeks ago, and in passing sentence on the 24-yearold convict on Friday, Justice Barlow said the prisoner would not be eligible for parole until he has served 24 years in prison.

Justice Barlow noted that in society, when one partner tries to sever a relationship, the other person very often takes things into their own hands.

“The court will not tolerate such behaviour because of your poor family upbringing; the court will not accept that.

We have to find a way other than violence to sort out these situations,” the Judge said.

Shazam’s defence lawyer, Tejnarine Ramroop, plans to appeal the sentence. Shazam, of Shieldstown Village, West Bank Berbice, had initially pleaded not guilty to kill-

ing his ex-girlfriend Shazina Mohamed, 19, but State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings presented the evidence of seven witnesses, who testified that on January 17, 2015, the teenager Mohamed, of Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice, had gone to Rosignol Village to unlock a phone. While there, she met two of her friends -- Mitra Sookdeo, called Trevor, and his sister Latchmie Sookdeo.

The trio had gone to a Chinese restaurant, and Trevor left his sister eating inside when he joined Shazina, who was seated outside. They had met three months earlier in a Digicel chat room.

Trevor had gone back inside the restaurant when he heard screams; and upon looking outside, he saw that ‘Rabbit’ had one of his arms wrapped around Shazina and the other hand appeared to be cuffing her.

Trevor took the injured teen to the Fort Wellington Hospital, where she died whilst being transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Mohammed Kalil Shazam, known as Rabbit

A post-mortem report by Government Pathologist Dr Vivikanand Brijmohan detailed that the teenager died from multiple stab wounds inflicted with a sharp instrument.

SCHOOL DROP OUT In her report on the prisoner’s background, Probation Officer Odessia Semple said that while he had admitted his involvement in the crime, he had nevertheless indicated that his action was unintentional and regrettable.

Shazam, the second of 10 children, was forced by

Dead: Shazina Mohamed

his family’s low income to drop out of school at age 14 to do odd jobs ranging from being a labourer to that of a fisherman.

At aged 17, he became gainfully employed as a cane harvester, and established a relationship with the now dead teenager via telephone during 2012.

Shazam revealed that the relationship was blissful and harmonious for three years, eight months, after which they started experiencing difficulties following allegations of infidelity perpetrated by the teen.

Cops call on “Satan’s” victims to speak out POLICE are calling on persons in Ann’s Grove and contiguous communities who would have suffered at the hands of murder suspect Alvin Reid, called ‘Satan’, to come forward with information.

Acting on intelligence, Police caught Reid hiding in a barrel in the Two Friends cemetery on the East Coast of Demerara at about 4:00h on Thursday.

Reid is a person of interest in connection with the death of Miss African Calabash 2014 beauty queen, 14-year-old Malika Hamilton of Lot 11 Two Friends Village. Hamilton, a second year student of Hope Secondary School, had left her home on August 8, and was last seen in the company of Reid beyond the canal at Hope. She never returned home, but her body was discovered floating in the Hope Canal by the ranger the following day. An autopsy done on her body revealed that she had been bludgeoned to her head and strangled before being thrown alive in the canal.

Alvin Reid, called ‘Satan’

Commander of ‘C’ Division, Assistant Commissioner Paul Williams, told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday it is important that victims of rape and sodomy or any other violation cooperate with the police and visit the station so that an identification parade can be arranged. He said that apart from women who complained of being strangled in the Hope Cemetery, police also received reports that women were raped in the burial ground area within the Ann’s Grove/Two

Friends community, where Reid was caught by police in a barrel.

Reports reaching the Guyana Chronicle are that persons have, over the years, complained of being robbed and even sodomized on the railway embankment in Two Friends/Ann’s Grove area, and Reid is a suspect in a series of robberies within that community. He has been wanted in connection with break-andenter and larceny committed on the Clonbrook Post Office earlier this year, and the malicious wounding of Deon Daly and his infant daughter, who survived a chop to her head. “(There are) people who (have been) raped in that same burial ground area.

I’m glad if these victims come forward and we make a check. If all of them come forward and is not him, then that means we have a serial rapist out there,” Commander Williams told the Guyana Chronicle.

Reid is expected to be charged on Monday for the murder of Hamilton, the police have said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 20, 2016

Guyana records 100% passes in 20 CAPE Units ‒ 75% pass rate in 30 Units

By Ravin Singh

GUYANA was this year able to record 100 per cent passes in 20 of 57 units offered at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), the Ministry of Education announced on Wednesday.

Eight hundred and ninety-eight (898) candidates wrote the examinations, which were administered in May/June of this year. The overall pass rate was 86.74 per cent, which represents a marginal decrease from 2015, when an overall pass rate of 87.54 per cent was attained.

These disclosures were made during the official release of the results of CAPE and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) at the offices of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) in Kingston, Georgetown.

The Education Ministry was keen to note that an

increase was noted in the number of candidates securing Grades I and II passes.

The gender distribution of the overall pass rate is 33.4 per cent males and 66.6 per cent females.

Candidates were offered units in 29 subject areas, and candidates from Guyana were offered 57 units at this year’s examination. And of these 57 units, candidates were able to obtain a 100 per cent pass rate (with Grade One to five) in 20 of those units.

The units are: Agricultural Science Unit 1; Art & Design Unit 1; Environmental Science Units 1 and 2; Food and Nutrition Unit 1; Spanish Unit 1; Entrepreneurship Units 1 and 2; Tourism Unit 1; Logistics & Supply Chain Operations Unit 1; Building & Mechanical Engineering Drawing (Mechanical) Unit 1; Applied Mathematics Unit 2; Economics Unit 2; Food & Nutrition Unit 2; Geography Unit 2; Literatures in English Unit 2; Spanish Unit 2; Phys-

ical Education & Sports Unit 2; Performing Arts (Cinematic Arts) Unit 2; Digital Media Unit 2.

Integrated Mathematics and Logistics and Supply Chain Operations were written for the first time this year, and the latter recorded a 100 per cent pass rate, while the former had a pass rate of 52.51 per cent.

Additionally, Caribbean Studies and Communication Studies continue to record over 95 per cent pass rate, while Pure Mathematics Unit 1 moved from 54.98 per cent in 2015 to 63.33 per cent in 2016.

In 30 units, the pass rate of candidates was 75% or higher, with Grade One to Five passes. These included Accounting Units 1 and 2; Applied Mathematics Unit 1; Caribbean Studies Unit 1; Communication Studies Unit 1; Computer Science Unit 1; Economics Unit 1; Geography Unit 1; History Unit 1; Information Technology

Units 1 and 2; Law Units 1 and 2; Literatures in English Unit 1; Management of Business Units 1 and 2; Physics Units 1 and 2; Sociology Units 1 and 2; Digital Media Unit 1; Physical Education & Sports Unit 1; Building & Mechanical Engineering Drawing (Building) Unit 1; Agricultural Science Unit 2; Biology Unit 2; Chemistry Unit 2; Computer Science Unit 2; History Unit 2; Pure Mathematics Unit 2 and

Tourism Unit 2.

In Biology Unit 1, Chemistry Unit 1, Pure Mathematics Unit 1 and Integrated Mathematics, candidates obtained a pass rate of 50 per cent or higher (but below 75 per cent) with Grades One to Five passes. On the other hand, the pass rate for Electrical & Electronic Technology Units 1 and 2 was below 50 per cent.

The results for the CAPE are reported on a seven-point

scale, being from Grade 1 to Grade VII. Candidates attaining Grades 1 to V have attained an acceptable standard for matriculation purposes, with Grade One representing an excellent performance, while Grade Two and Three represent very good and good standards of performance respectively.

The examinations were written at 14 examination centres across four regions and in Georgetown.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 20, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 20, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 20, 2016

Police Camp benefits 100+ youths

By Vishanie Ragobeer THE Guyana Police Force, in collaboration with the Guyana Association of Women Police, held the closing ceremony for its annual youth camp on Friday.

Some 117 children between nine and 14 years participated in the youth camp, which began on August 14 and concluded yesterday at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s facilities at Madewini on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

Of these 117 campers, there were 66 boys and 51 girls; along with 34 scouts and their seven leaders; 30 caregivers, and other police ranks involved in managing the affairs of the camp.

The campers all benefited from activities in woodworking, floral and fruit arranging, fabric painting, decorative dolls, thread work, wedding arrangements, and sewing of school uniforms. Lectures were, moreover, given to the children in drug abuse, education, challenges, and etiquette.

Deputy Police Superintendent and Camp Mother,

Grace Davis, noted that she was “really impressed” with the work done by the teachers. She noted that the common message throughout the camp was “discipline”, and the children were assisted in building their self-esteem and interpersonal skills.

At the closing exercise, the children highlighted and showcased what they have learnt over the training period through drama, fashion and music.

Guest speaker, Assistant Police Commissioner Christopher Griffith, told the children that although the camp lasted for a short time, “take what you’ve been taught and place it in your long-term memory.”

He added that these children were all “heroes whose glories are yet to be told.”

Ms. Maxine Graham, Head of the Guyana Association of Women Police, noted that this is the third year that the August camp has been conducted, and it has become an annual affair.

It began as a programme that the police force, more specifically the Commissioner, formulated to be able to “coordinate with the

Top brass of the Police Force pose with some of the campers from each division. They each received a certificate of participation, and the Best and Runner-up Scouts and Campers received awards [Photos by Delano Williams]

community in all spheres,” according to Ms. Graham.

She said it is part of the GPF’s plans to be able to promote positive attributes in all divisions and communities, and to direct youths towards positive behaviours.

She told the Guyana Chronicle that all police divisions, A to F, collaborated to foster the programme. This year, there has been a spike in the number of children participating, compared to the two previous years. This, she said, indicates that the Police has

Uniforms made by a seamstress who worked with the campers. The uniforms will be given to some of the children for use in the upcoming school year

been able to target the communities “more effectively.”

Awards were given to exceptional scouts and

campers, but all campers received certificates of participation. The youth camp this year was held under the

theme: “Developing Youths through Community Projects, Discipline and Team Work.”

Key bridge at North Fork... crossing that stream is not safe.”

PLEASED WITH WORK Another miner, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Guyana Chronicle that while she is pleased that the Government, through the Ministry of Infrastructure, is working to have the bridge accessible again, large mining companies like Tesouro Mining should be responsible for the repairs done to the roads.

“It is the big companies that traverse the roads daily that cause the damage…they should be giving back to the community, and not every time we have to wait on the Government to fix the roads or bridges…

We don’t have the kind of equipment that they have… we are small miners…Now the road is impassable and we have to wait days before we can go to buy foodstuff and the like,” she said.

While the miners have expressed pleasure with the work being done at North Fork Backdam, they are not pleased with the state of the bridge that leads from Konawaruk to Mowasi Landing, Potaro, Region 8. A visit to that area disclosed a shaky structure that can barely take the weight of persons walking, much less vehicles that have to traverse it. Miners have complained that, over the years, the trucks and other vehicles which are forced to traverse the location toppled into the Potaro River located under the unstable structure.

A walk across the bridge by this reporter was nerve-wrecking, as there was rotten wood placed along beams to facilitate the crossing from Konawaruk to Mowasi.

“That is not a bridge… it is a rat trap…a disaster waiting to happen,” one miner told Guyana Chron-

From page 2

icle on Friday as he expressed displeasure with the state of the bridge.

Asked to comment on the deplorable state of the bridge, Minister Broomes said, “I am not going to bury my head in the sand… we did not inherit good things…and when it rains, the wood floats away, trucks fall over board, cruisers… people drown…”

She, like the miners, conceded that the bridge is in dire need of repairs.

“I am in the process of sending photographs and a report to Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, with the hope that that Ministry can address the problem soon,” she disclosed.

Minister Broomes told this newspaper that she understands the plight of the miners who are forced to traverse bridges in such conditions with the aim of maintaining families.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 20, 2016

Gov’t Youth Employment an GEORGETOWN, Guyana – (August 19, 2016) EMPLOYMENT is essential to human development as it provides financial resources for the generation of sustainable livelihoods, thereby improving the standard of living and quality of life of people. In Guyana, youth unemployment remains a central issue affecting young people.

Recognising this, President David Granger and his administration have designed a two-pronged approach to youth empowerment.

The first approach to tackling this endemic problem is education. While job creation is fundamental, the development of a qualified work force, ready to meet the developmental challenges of the country, is critical if generations of young people are to be employable and able to take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities. President Granger has lamented the significant issue of school dropouts, pointing out that an average of 4000 children drop out of school each year and of those who do complete school, many do not matriculate or achieve enough passes to make them employable.

“Education is one of the state’s most important functions. Education unlocks opportunities for young people who must be prepared to grasp opportunities for self-employment.

They must be educated if they are to improve their performance and acquire the correct attitudes, values and skills to secure employment,” the President said.

EMPOWER GENERATION While training and vocational education will no doubt empower a generation of talented young people, who just needed a second chance, the administration has demonstrated that

it is interested in inculcating a culture of industry and entrepreneurship.

In this regard, programmes have been developed to provide the necessary support for budding entrepreneurs, while others focus on skills training to aid in employment ability. One such ini-

their standard of living and contribute positively to the development of their communities.

The programme includes training and capacity-building in several key areas including plumbing, carpentry, sewing and wiring among many other

In the area of entrepreneurship, programmes such as the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) which was launched in December last, provide support to young people aspiring along these lines.

The programme provides entrepreneurs across Linden and other parts of the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice region the opportunity to access loans to further expand or consolidate their businesses.

At that event, President Granger in his address to the entrepreneurs, said that the programme will open new doors for occupation through self-employment, adding that there are four pillars necessary for enterprise: investment, information, infrastructure and innovation. This enterprise network initiative will be replicated across Guyana in the capital towns as Government is considering budgetary allocations to make this possible in the 2017 budget. The president made mention of this plan on the August 18 edition of The Public Interest, adding that the government wants to create an environment which can provide the facilities for young people to be self-employed.

“I see an entrepreneurial country. I am very encouraged by the responses of the young people. I would like to see in next year’s budget the scheme being extended to other regions and expanded in terms of its capacity to get more young people on board,” he said. More recently, several young people were provided with funding to aid in their Adyessa Henry was able to open her own grocery store through SLED funding entrepreneurial endeavours through the Government’s Sustainable Livelihood tiative which looks at vocational train- vocational areas. It targets 2000 youth in and Entrepreneurial Development ing is the Hinterland Employment Youth 106 communities across the hinterland (SLED) initiative.

Service (HEYS), which was launched in regions and is in keeping with PresiThrough this initiative, scores of October last year. This is an exchange dent Granger’s promise of improving young people are given the chance to programme where persons teach, dis- lifestyles and standards of living for tap into resources that allow them to cuss, learn and exchange experiences youth and young adults who reside in become business owners, or in other and knowledge in order to improve the hinterland. words, “Be their own Bosses.”

SLED INITIATIVE The SLED initiative was launched in September last year by the Government of Guyana under the Ministry of Communities as a means of introducing job-creation measures to promote micro and small- scale enterprises so as to open opportunities for the disadvantaged and the county’s youth.

The initiative has, since its implementation, enabled 99 youth business start-ups from among the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three), Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four), Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five), East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) and the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice (Region 10) regions.

President David Granger, who delivered the feature address at the event, said that the SLED Initiative is part of a programme that reinforces the administration’s efforts to stimulate economic development in communities, especially at the grassroot level. He stated that the answer to tacklingunemployment can be

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 20, 2016

nd Entrepreneurial Strategy found through investments in education and entrepreneurship.

Speaking on entrepreneurship, he said that this will stimulate employment

initiative is also working with communities to develop sustainable strategies for development in the form of Local Area Economic Profiles (LAEPs) and Local

Tiffany Peters receives her SLED certificate from Minister of Communities, Mr Ronald Bulkan. Tiffany was pardoned under President David Granger’s amnesty initiative within industries, including agro-processing and micro-industries in rural and hinterland communities. “Entrepreneurship will be promoted, so that more persons, including young people, could start their own businesses and become self- employed,” he said. Minister of Communities, Mr Ronald Bulkan, in his remarks, said the provenance of the SLED initiative is contained in the vision of President David Granger, who at the time of expressing this vision was Opposition Leader, and who spoke of the challenges facing the country’s young people, including the high rate of unemployment. He said that the beneficiaries and entrepreneurs were among the first to take advantage of this helping hand offered by the Government.

“This initiative tries to ensure that we don’t leave anyone out of the loop of having that better life,” the minister said, adding that every intervention ensures that there is a level of training, mentoring and technical support, even after the project is completed. He noted, however, that building the capacity, ability and the right to earn and sustain a livelihood of the most vulnerable in society would be futile and unsustainable, if that is not complemented by institutional strengthening at a local government and community level that can offer support mechanisms and services to strengthen local economic activities at a grassroots level. “It is in this regard that the SLED

Economic Development Strategic Plans (LSPs). These are tools communities can use to attract investments, generate revenues and use as a compass for their short to medium-term development path,” Minister Bulkan said. To date, eight such LAEPs and LSPs have been developed in various communities.

Through the SLED Initiative, 11 groups received funding in the areas of capacity-building, training and support at the micro, small and medium- enterprise levels.

Among these groups, are the Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment Programme (sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development) the Plaisance/ Sparendaam/Goedverwagting Development Association and the For the Children’s Sake Foundation.

OVERWHELMING RESPONSE Chief of Party for the SKYE Project, Ms Magda Wills, said that the USAID- funded programme had been working to help young people start their own businesses since 2011, but due to the overwhelming response over the years, ran short of funds.

It was here that the SLED Initiative came in, providing an additional $22.2 million to the cause.

But to speak of the SLED Initiative, is to focus on the young people themselves who benefited from the resources

and funding within the programme.

Youth who felt forgotten and otherwise unable to access employment due to several personal disadvantages in their lives were - through access to SLED - able to turn their lives around, and be given hope that not only could they provide for themselves, but feel as though they have the potential to make a difference in their communities.

Tiffany Peters is one such youth, who, prior to joining the SKYE programme and receiving funding through SLED, had encountered some difficulties in her own life. Tiffany was among several young people who were granted amnesty under President David Granger’s policy of giving second chances to non-violent, non-cocaine offenders. Today, she is the proud owner of a poultry farm at her home in Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara. Collette Burgess, who spent some time at the New Opportunity Corps, shared that the training taught her key life lessons in addition to helping her to start her poultry- rearing business. Akeem Williams, shared that he was once unemployed with many ideas, but was unsure as to how to bring these ideas to fruition. Today, he

operates a successful business, which produces honey, peppermint, crabwood and coconut oil.

Mario Parsram lives in Sophia and through SLED funding, was able to start up his business RIO Designs, which specialises in the branding of t-shirts and other items. Adyessa Henry has been operating her own grocery store for five months now, and is grateful for the SLED Initiative for giving her the opportunity to work from home while taking care of her daughter. Such initiatives will help to mould Guyana’s future and they reinstate the government’s commitment to ensuring ‘a good life for all’ through education, employment and enterprise. Moreover, as time progresses, through the government’s commitment, we will see the introduction of more such programmes that aim to ensure that the country’s young people indeed get the chance to enjoy this good life.

The President believes that such initiatives help in overcoming the problem of unemployment and will also help to create a generation of young people who will become the new entrepreneurial class.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 20, 2016

Bosai workers strike for higher wages Shipment of yellow fever vaccines due next week ‒ CMO WITH an increase in the number of yellow fever vaccines being administered since a recent public advisory was announced, it became necessary to replenish the supplies and Chief Medical Officer Shamdeo Persaud has said that a shipment of vaccines will be arriving around August 25.

This shipment was scheduled to arrive in Guyana some two weeks after the Guyana Chronicle spoke with Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Karen Cummings, on July 27.

Another supply should have already been brought into Guyana as Minister of Public Health Dr George Norton said on July 27 also that Guyana would be receiving vaccines requested from Belize and Barbados.

Meanwhile, the CMO noted that some countries that have stipulated that Guyanese who are travelling must present validation that they are immunized against the yellow fever virus, have become less stringent and in some cases are not even requesting proof of immunization status anymore.

He said, “Trinidad, Suriname... Jamaica, they’ve all now released their stringent requirements” for Guyanese who would be travelling into their countries. This comes as

Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud

a result of their confidence that Guyana has a highly impeccable immunization system and there are no cases of yellow fever in Guyana.

CMO Persaud also noted that he believes almost everyone in Guyana has been immunized, but the problem remains that some persons may not be able to find their International Yellow Fever Vaccination Record (Yellow Card).

He reaffirmed that as long as you go to the centre where you received the vaccine, you would be able to obtain a card to validate your immunization. (Vishanie Ragobeer)

SCORES of Bosai workers were involved in a picketing exercise on Thursday outside of the company’s main compound, seeking the attention of management as it relates to their salary increase.

The workers were forced to commence the picketing exercise as they were notified that the General Manager, Mr. Yuan Zhilun, would be leaving the country for a month’s vacation.

While many of the workers were reluctant to speak with the media, they were chanting for speedy negotiations between management and the union, as they believe that management is intentionally stalling the process of deciding salary increase to nothing less than nine per cent.

Speaking anonymously, an employee revealed that the union has succeeded in securing an increase of only 4.5 per cent, and that is deemed unacceptable. “The company (refuses) to carry on the negotiation at the pace that the union provided to them; because it has been like this since April 01 (when) they would have started the negotiation, and to this point they only at 4.5 per cent increase in wages and salaries; and the union is saying that that is not enough for the time that the negotiation has been going,” revealed the employee.

The workers had secured an increase of 6.5 per cent last year, but are stress-

Workers picketing for increased wages and other benefits in front of the Bosai compound in Linden

ing that they had to settle for that as the negotiations had been stalled all year.

The workers are calling for immediate negotiations bwcause the general manager is going on vacation.

“The general manager is going on vacation and is till a month after that we will probably hear something

tangible, or a proper move,” said one employee.

The workers are also calling for more benefits, including increase in vacation time for veteran employees.

They have managed to get the attention of Personnel Manager Ms. Trudell Marks, and the general manager and his delegates, who had

promised to engage the union on the aforementioned issues.

The employees are, however, not satisfied with this move, and plan to continue their strike until they receive better results. The employees last protested in 2015 for increases in wages.

$7M fine for Brazilian caught mining illegally in Kaieteur National Park A MINING operation which was in April 2016 caught operating in the Kaieteur National Park area, will pay a fine of $7 million to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) as the agency, together the Ministry of Natural Resources, continues to demonstrate its seriousness about meting out the measure of the law to those bent on breaking it.

Ceso Alves De Alcantara, a national of Brazil, was fined after a raid by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the GGMC in the Kaieteur National Park

buffer area found equipment in the form of a dredge No. 9827 and a Doosan excavator engine No. DHKCEFALTB, which belonged to him, operating there.

According to a release from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the equipment was detained and charges were prepared against Mr Alcantara.

“In discussions on August 4 and 5, 2016, Mr Alcantara indicated that he fully regretted the situation, that he was almost ruined and has become ill with worry since the situation unfolded,” the release stated.

It was further noted that Mr Alcantara’s equipment is to be removed from the buffer area to Grass Falls with the understanding that there should be no future issue arising from his working near prohibited areas or without permission.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the GGMC believe that this action sends a strong signal that there is a zero-tolerance approach towards mining in protected areas and outside of the law and that stern action can and will be taken against those found doing so.

Guyana still reeling... also de facto discrimination of indigenous people and those who live in the periphery in terms of access to social services and economic development,” the report noted.

According to the report, historically, political competition has been dominated by two main parties aligned largely along ethnic lines and it noted that elections incite and exacerbate ethnic tensions as the de facto winner-take-all system promotes one-party rule.

“Power is centralised

in the executive and the formal checks-and-balance system is marginalised by ineffective/non-functioning institutions, patron-client relationships, and corruption.

Success of the multi-party coalition in the 2015 elections may signal a shift toward more issue-based politics, but it faces stiff opposition from the losing party. The introduction of single-member seats in the March 2016 local elections offers an opportunity for change. Touching on the area

From page 5

of security, the report stated that there is significant need to reform the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and strengthen its investigations and prosecutions.”

It mentioned that an estimated 90 percent of prosecutions are unsuccessful and it is the least-trusted institution in the country. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is a trusted institution and is seen as above politics. It recently re-joined with the GPF to fight the upsurge in crime.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 20, 2016

Bolt completes ‘triple triple’ with another superb …USA, T&T disqualified run in 4x100 metres relay

By Nick Mulvenney

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Kenilworth 08:25 hrs Glorious Goodwood 09:05 hrs Brinkley 09:40 hrs Blue Door 10:15 hrs Flying Ryan 10:50 hrs Petty Officer 11:25 hrs Red Light Girl IRISH RACING TIPS Curragh 08:40 hrs Mujaazy 09:10 hrs Khukri 09:45 hrs Order Of St George 10:20 hrs Yulong Baobei 10:55 hrs Time To Reason 11:30 hrs Hollybrowne 12:05 hrs Zeftan ENGLISH RACING TIPS York 08:45 hrs Erik The Red 09:15 hrs Diploma 09:50 hrs Kellstorm 10:25 hrs Mubtasim 11:00 hrs She Is No Lady 11:35 hrs Final Reckoning 12:05 hrs Midnight Malibu SANDOWN 08:55 hrs Serengeti Sky 09:30 hrs Persuasive 10:05 hrs Majoris 10:40 hrs Baydar 11:15 hrs Shamshon 11:50 hrs Wind In My Sails 12:25 hrs Laurence CHESTER 09:05 hrs Arc Royal 09:40 hrs Camargue 10;15 hrs Muntahaa 10:50 hrs Sound Advice 11:25 hrs Confessional 12:00 hrs Diamond Joel 12:35 hrs Geno AMERICAN RACING TIPS Saratoga Race 1 Bileaps And Bounds Race 2 Driven to Compete Race 3 Opined Race 4 Scout Leader Race 5 Holy Boss Race 6 Unbridled Eagle Race 7 Favorable Outcome Race 8 Ava’s Kitten Race 9 Tourist

RIO DE JANEIRO,(Reuters)-Usain Bolt drew down the curtain on his brilliant Olympic career by securing a sweep of the sprint titles for a third successive Games when Jamaica successfully defended the 4x100 metres relay crown last night.

Two days before his 30th birthday, Bolt ran the anchor leg as the Jamaicans won in 37.27 seconds to add the relay gold to the 100 metres and 200 metres titles he had won for a third straight Olympics.

His ninth gold medal drew him level with Paavo Nurmi, the Finn who dominated distance running in the early 20th century, and American sprinter and long jumper Carl Lewis as the most successful Olympic track and field athletes.

Ryoto Yamagata ran a blistering opening leg for Japan, who won a stunning silver for their first Olympic medal in the sprint relay in 37.60, improving the Asian record they set in qualifying.

Trayvon Bromell’s dip for the line was so aggressive that he stumbled over and the United States thought they were settling for bronze in 37.62, the first time they had failed to finish in the top two when they started a final.

The situation went from bad to worse, though, when they were disqualified along with Trinidad and Tobago.

TV pictures showed Bromell stepping into Bolt’s lane in the run to the line.

Canada were elevated to bronze after their run of 37.64, a national record which gave Andre de Grasse his third medal of the Games after his bronze in the 100m and silver in the 200.

It was the only medal that Bolt was going for that required the input of anyone else but Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake and Nickel Ashmeade gave the double sprint world record holder the narrowest of leads at the final exchange.

That was always going to be enough, though, and Bolt powered down the straight to finish five metres clear of Japan’s Aska Cambridge.

U.S. takes gold in women’s 4x100 relay `RIO DE JANEIRO — One day after seeing its Olympic hopes nearly dashed following a bobbled baton, the U.S. women’s 4x100 relay team claimed gold with a time of 41.01 seconds and defended its medal from the 2012 London Games.

The time led the field by a significant margin but came up short of the team’s time (40.20) four years ago, which set an Olympic and world record that still stands.

Jamaica (41.36) finished in silver and Great Britain (41.77) in bronze. The USA and Jamaica also finished gold-silver in London.

The gold comes after a nerve-racking and surreal Thursday, which began with the USA fumbling its baton during the second exchange of the first round.

On replay, however, it became apparent that a Brazilian runner had bumped Allyson Felix upon entering the exchange zone, directly leading to the fumbled baton. The USA appealed and won, and then advanced into the finals during a surreal solo run on Thursday evening.

The U.S. team consisted of Tianna Bartoletta, Felix, English Gardner and Tori Bowie, the latter also a medalist in both the women’s 100 and 200 meters.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 20, 2016

Black Caps on top in Kingsmead (REUTERS) - SOUTH African-born Neil Wagner took three wickets for New Zealand against the country of his birth as bad light brought an early close to play on the first day of the first Test at Kingsmead with

“We bowled nicely from both ends with some green on the wicket and swing at the start. But we had to be patient and not get frustrated with the ball just passing the bat. We need credit for sticking at it,” Boult told

was undone by a blistering delivery from Boult.

De Kock played a cavalier knock of 33 before he was caught in the deep after an injudicious slog at Santner’s spin.

Bavuma was more cir-

NZ pacer Neil Wagner celebrates with team-mates after dismissing JP Duminy.

South Africa 236 for eight.

Wagner, 30, who left South Africa to play provincial cricket in New Zealand a decade ago, took the wickets of JP Duminy, stand-in captain Faf du Plessis and swashbuckling Quinton de Kock to give the visitors the upper hand.

Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner grabbed two wickets each while Hashim Amla (53) and Temba Bavuma (46) top-scored for South Africa.

The home side never settled at the crease after electing to bat on an unfamiliar surface which promised to be flat but ended up quickening and providing some swing in the first winter Test ever played in Durban, where previous Test encounters have come in the height of a sun-baking summer.

reporters afterwards, predicting that the wicket would become quicker today.

Amla set off at a brisk pace in his innings before becoming bogged down and then

cumspect as he edged towards 50 only to be trapped lbw attempting a sweep.

Kagiso Rabada (14 not out) and Dale Steyn (two not out) will resume today.

SCOREBOARD

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings S. Cook c Watling b Boult 20 D. Elgar c Guptill b Bracewell 19 H. Amla c Watling b Boult 53 J. Duminy c Boult b Wagner 14 F. du Plessis c Williamson b Wagner 23 T. Bavuma lbw b Santner 46 Q. de Kock c Bracewell b Santner 33 V. Philander c Southee b Wagner 8 K. Rabada not out 14 D. Steyn not out 2 Extras: (lb-4) 4 Total:: (for 8 wickets, 77.4 overs) 236 Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-41, 3-102, 4-106, 5-160, 6-208, 7-208, 8-228.

Bowling: T. Southee 18-1-63-0, T. Boult 17-3-42-2, D. Bracewell 15.46-53-1, N. Wagner 15-4-47-3, M. Santner 11-2-22-2, M. Guptill 1-0-5-0.

No play on second day of West Indies-India Test (REUTERS)- WET conditions prevented any play on the second day of the fourth test between West Indies and India in Trinidad and Tobago yesterday.

A waterlogged outfield stopped play from starting on time and afternoon showers extinguished any hope of action at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.

Only 22 overs were bowled on Thursday before the rain arrived, West Indies moving to 62 for two after captain Jason Holder won the toss and batted.

More rain is forecast today, suggesting the final Test is headed for a draw.

India lead 2-0 and have already wrapped up the series.

The umpires inspect the outfield at Queen’s Park Oval on the second day of the fourth Test at Queen’s Park Oval.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 20, 2016

Eaton wins second straight decathlon gold medal Ashton Eaton takes a victory lap after winning the gold in the decathlon at the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post) RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Ashton Eaton won his second straight Olympic decathlon gold medal on Thursday after finishing third in the last event -- the 1500 metres.

He becomes just the third athlete to win back-to-back titles, joining Daley Thompson (1980, 1984) and Bob Mathias (1948, 1952).

The 28-year-old American finished with 8 893 points to match the Olympic mark set by Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic in 2004. He dug deep through the final lap of the

… ties Olympic record

1500 metres to cross the line third, incredibly matching exactly the Olympic record after 10 events over two days.

How can’t there be one stinking point in there somewhere?’’ Eaton quipped.

Kevin Mayer of France was 59 points behind to take silver, and Damian Warner of Canada took bronze with 8,666 points.

Eaton made it back-to-back Olympic and world titles in the decathlon, an event the American has ruled

since he rebounded from silver at the worlds in 2011 to claim the next four major gold medals available. From throwing to jumping to running, Eaton can do it all.

Eaton had briefly darted away from the decathlon to congratulate 400-meter-hurdles gold medalist Kerron Clement as his teammate knelt exhausted in the midday sun after winning the event, an indicator of the feel-good emotion surging through the U.S. track team right now.(ESPN)

Muhammad continues U.S. hurdle streak

By Mark Trevelyan in Rio de Janeiro RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil Dalilah Muhammad of the United States led from start to finish to take the Olympic gold medal in the 400 metres hurdles on Thursday and complete a U.S. double in the women’s and men’s events.

Denmark’s Sara Slott Petersen won the silver medal ahead of Ashley Spencer of the United States, with world champion Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic managing only fourth.

With steady rain pouring down at the Olympic stadium, Muhammad shot out of the blocks, rose quickest at the first hurdle and never looked like being overtaken.

Dalilah Muhammad of USA celebrates after the race. (REUTERS/ Phil Noble TPX Images of the day) She clocked 53.13 seconds to win by a margin of 0.42.

“The reality of winning is even bet-

ter than the dream. Olympic champion in front of my name,” said Muhammad, runner-up at the 2013 world championship.

The 26-year-old had come to the Rio Games as the fastest woman in the event this year, Petersen, the European champion, ran 53.55 seconds, and Spencer recorded a personal best of 53.72.

The result underlined U.S. supremacy in the hurdle events, with Kerron Clement winning the men’s 400m earlier on Thursday and Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali and Kristi Castlin completing an American podium sweep in the 100m on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Mark Trevelyan, editing by Patrick Johnston)

Soccer great Pele to play no role at closing ceremony

By Karolos Grohmann RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Pele will not appear at the Olympics closing ceremony tomorrow, organisers said yesterday, meaning Brazil’s most famous sportsman has played no formal part in the Games.

The soccer great, whose full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, turned down an offer to appear as the final torchbearer at the Games’ opening party on August 5, citing a health problem.

“Pele is not going to take part in the closing ceremony,” Abel Gomes, executive producer PELE of the ceremonies, told reporters.

Pele, 75, underwent hip surgery at the end of last year and has said his rehabilitation has been difficult.

Games organisers said they had not been in contact with him since earlier this month when he turned down the invitation to light the cauldron.

“We have not got in touch with him or he in touch with us since the opening,” Games spokesman Mario Andrada said. “But if he wants to be there it will be our pleasure.”

Pele caused some confusion before the start of the Olympics, revealing that he had been asked to light the cauldron, but adding that he needed to consult some commercial sponsors on whether he contractually would be able to do that.

Organisers had kept light-tipped about the details of the ceremony but after the opening confirmed he had been due to light the flame in the stadium.

Swimmer Lochte apologises for ‘robbery’ saga US SWIMMER Ryan Lochte has apologised for his behaviour in Rio and “for not being more careful and candid”.

The gold medallist had claimed that he and a group of fellow US swimmers had been robbed at a petrol station.

But CCTV footage contradicted that story, showing the men had vandalised the petrol station after partying.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set up a disciplinary commission to investigate the incident and the four athletes’ behaviour.

Yesterday, Mr Lochte tweeted: “I should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself and for that I am sorry.”

He said he had waited to issue the statement until it was clear that his teammates would be returning to the US. Rio’s Mayor, Eduardo Paes, accepted the Americans’ apologies: “I confess that my only emotion towards them is pity and contempt,” he said.

“It’s a shame that they’re such weak

US swimmer Ryan Lochte

characters, that they have such personality flaws and it’s up to the American Olympic Committee to sort it out.”

Mr Lochte had already left Brazil when the saga blew up but two other swimmers. Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger, were pulled off a flight in Rio and questioned by police over their version of events before being allowed to leave.

Their teammate Jimmy Feigen was briefly detained and has now agreed to pay nearly $11,000 (£8,416) to a Brazilian charity over his involvement in the dispute.(BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 20, 2016

Germany beat Sweden to GLTA commences 5th annual win women’s football gold Diamond camp

By Andrew Downie RIO DE JANEIRO,(Reuters)-Germany won their first ever Olympic gold medal in women’s football yesterday when they turned in a superior second half performance to beat Sweden 2-1.

The no. 2 ranked Germans, who are now one of only three women’s teams to win both the Olympics and World Cup, scored two goals in the second half, and although the Swedes got a goal back they could not get a second to take the game into extra time.

Sweden, who scored just three goals in their five games before the final, started more positively than their previous form suggested, but Germany started to impose themselves as time went on and the best chance of the half fell to Anja Mittag after 25 minutes.

Leonie Maier’s curling shot was only parried by the Swedish keeper and the ball fell to Mittag just yards from goal but she blasted the ball high and wide.

The sides were evenly match but things changed in the second half and it was the Germans who deservedly

Josephine Henning (GER) of Germany and Melanie Leupolz (GER) of Germany celebrate winning the gold. REUTERS/Murad Sezer took the lead three minutes into the second period.

When they did it was a goal worthy of a cup final. Dzsenifer Maroszan gathered a cross ball on the edge of the box and had time to steady herself before curling a perfect strike into the top right hand corner of the net.

They extended their lead 14 minutes later thanks to an unfortunate own goal. A

Sara Daebritz free kick from 20 yards smacked the post and Linda Sembrandt tried to clear but instead kneed the ball into her own goal from just a few yards out.

Sweden reacted almost immediately and just five minutes later Stina Blackstenius pulled them back into the game. Olivia Schough hit a beautiful low cross into the box from the right and Blackstenius slid in between two defenders and

poked the ball home to cut the deficit.Schough had a great chance to level the scores three minutes from time but her shot was blocked just yards from goal.The win was a perfect farewell for German coach Silvia Neid, who was managing the side in her last match.

Germany missed out on the Olympics in 2012 but won the bronze the last three times they played, in 2000, 2004 and 2008.

Guyanese players reach quarter-finals

NARAYAN Ramdhani, Jonathan Mangra and Priyanna Ramdhani advanced to the quarterfinals stage of the Caribbean Badminton International Championships (CAREBACO) currently playing in Aruba.

The Guyanese players were all awarded walkovers in the Under-19 singles as the Dominican Republic players were not present at the tournament due to flight problems.

No.1 seeded player Narayan Ramdhani got a bye in the first round and was awarded a walkover from Yonatan Linarez of Dominican Republic in the second round.

Jonathan Mangra was awarded a walkover from Bryan Anderson Castro of Dominican Republic in the

Narayan Ramdhani, Jonathan Mangra and Priyanna Ramdhani advance to the quarter-finals. first round and defeated Jade Allman of Trinidad and Tobago: 21-14, 21-18 in the second round while Priyanna Ramdhani got a walkover from Nairoby Abigail Jimenez of Domin-

ican Republic in the first round.

In the Under-19 mixed doubles the Ramdhani siblings defeated Efraim Van Der Linden and Thirsa Van Der Linden (Aruba sib-

lings): 21-5, 21-3.

Aruba, Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Suriname and Guyana are the participating teams in the championships.

THE Guyana Tennis Association (GLTA) in collaboration with Guyana Bank for Trade & Industry will begin its 5th Annual Tennis Summer Camp this weekend at the GBTI Diamond Tennis Courts.

Residents within and beyond the vicinity of Diamond Housing Scheme who are eager to learn tennis and might be looking for a mode of relaxation during their summer vacation are all invited to participate in the camp free of cost.

The camp will run for three consecutive weekends: August 20-21, August 27-28, and September 3-4. Children ages 14 & under will be accommodated from 15:30hrs to 16:30hrs, and adults from 16:30hrs to 18:00hrs.

Persons are required to walk with a cap, snack, water bottle and a tennis racquet if they have one.

Racquets will also be provided.

This initiative that is being supported by the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry is simply an expression of their support for the development of youths and adults in the Diamond community through the sport of tennis.

On completion of the camp persons would not only be able to play tennis, but will also improve the development of their physical, technical, mental and social well-being. Interested persons can register by calling the numbers 639-1735 and 674-7198.

Royals seek to upset Raiders in 3rd Rock basketball final tonight THE surging Victory Valley Royals will be on a mission to derail Retrieve Raiders when they clash tonight in the final of this year’s 3rd Rock Entertainment GT Beer Open basketball championship from 21:00hrs.

But before the final, in the third place game, Kwakwani will be seeking to stop Half Mile Bulls from 19.00hrs at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.

The Raiders, sitting as the number one-ranked team in Linden, will have to adjust themselves to the challenge of the third seeds Royals, who have shown a lot of form in twice disposing of the second-ranked Half Mile Bulls.

The Raiders, sporting players like Keon Cameron, Neil Marks, Omally Sampson and Dwayne Roberts, are expected to tighten their play after they halted the march of the Kwakwani side, who had looked dangerous in reaching the semifinals.

The Raiders were runners-up to the Half Mile Bulls in the Malta Supreme Christmas Championship, but were able to defeat the Bulls in their battle for the 104.3 Power FM Open Championship and finished second to Colts in the National Club championship.

The Royals will be led by Chris Williams, Harold Adams and Orlando Glasgow.

There will be several individual awards at stake including Most Valuable Player Award and another award will be for the Most Disciplined Team.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 20, 2016

Seven teams confirm squads, officials for 3-day Franchise League SEVEN of the eight teams participating in the upcoming Jaguars Franchise League Three-day competition have confirmed their respective squad.

Those franchise that have confirmed their squad are: Upper Corentyne (Nigg to Skeldon), Lower Corentyne (Albion to New Amsterdam), West Berbice, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown, West Demerara and Essequibo.

Each squad will consist of 18 players, five of whom are standbys.

Below are the members of the eight franchises.

Nigg/Skeldon (Upper Corentyne): Arif Chan, Jason Sinclair, Joshua Ramsammy, Shawn Perreira, Eon Hooper, Rajiv Ivan, Assad Fudadin, Anthony Bramble, Clinton Pestano, Andy Mohan, Troy Gonsalves, Devendra Bishoo, Omesh Mathura, Demitri Cameron, Totaram Rajaram, Keon Sinclair, Yuvendra Harinarine and Veramootoo

Senwasane. Winston Smith (coach) and Delbert Hicks (assistant coach/manager).

Albion/New Amsterdam (Lower Corentyne): Kandasammy Surujnarine, Waheid Edwards, Seon Hetmyer, Jonathon

ya, Gajanand Singh, Eugene La Fleur, Hakeem Hinds, Veerasammy Permaul, Nial Smith, Raun Johnson, Kassim Khan, Suresh Dhanai, Kevin Ramdeen, Sharaz Ramcharran and Anthony D’Andrade. Julian Moore

West Berbice: Krishandat Ramoo, Sherwin McPherson, Quacy McPherson, Gudakesh Motie, Keon Joseph, Keyron Fraser, Randell Bobb, Carlston Nurse, Shimron Hetmyer, Kevin Jawahir, Chris Ramnarine,

an Albert, Bhaskar Yadram, Kumar Bishundial, Gavin Boodwah, Tameshwar Motiram, Amir Khan, Rudolph Singh and Leon Morgan.

Esaun Crandon (Coach) and Jitlall Jowahirlall (assistant coach/manager).

VEERASAMMY PERMAUL

SHIMRON HETMYER

TAGENARINE CHANDERPAUL

RONSFORD BEATON

Foo, Royston Crandon, Devon Clements, David Latcha-

(coach) and Andre Percival (assistant coach/manager).

Brentnol Woolford, Raffiel Estriado, Andrew Dutchin, Avishkar Sewkarran, Renision Mitchell, Javid Karim and Steffon Adams. David Blacks (manager) and Adrian Amsterdam (coach).

East Coast Demerara: Kamesh Yadram, Rajendra Chandrika, Paul Wintz, Steven Sankar, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Ramnarine Chatura, Vishwanauth Ramlakhan, Jermaine Martins, Gavin Moriah, Ferron Kadir, Vivi-

Georgetown: Leon Johnson, Robin Bacchus, Andrew Lyght Jr, Sunil Singh, Christopher Barnwell, Kwame Crosse, Ronaldo AliMohammed, Kellon Carmichael, Dexter Solomon, Devon Lord, Andre Stoll, Gajanand Suknanan, Ovid Richardson, Joshua Wade, Jahran Byron, Mark Hamilton, Joshua Persaud and Chris Deonarine. Garvin Nedd (coach) and Colin Stuart (assistant coach/man-

Canadian Fullbore Rifle Championships

Persaud qualifies for Governor General Final third year in a row GUYANA National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) captain Mahendra Persaud has qualified for the Governor General Final at the 134th Canadian Fullbore Rifle Championships, a reward for being one of the top 50 marksmen of the close to 200, who are competing at the Connaught Ranges, Ottawa.

Persaud, one of nine Caribbean shooters, including three Guyanese, has been the leading rifleman and will have the opportunity to shoot against the best in the world.

Among them are the top 5 from the UK including David Calvert and Jon Underwood.

At the conclusion of shooting on Thursday, Persaud was 43rd overall with a Grand Aggregate total of 738v73 out of 184 competitors.

Leading was UK’s David Calvert on 752v98. The next best Caribbean shooter was Trinidad and Tobago’s Norris Gomez at 109 on 717v53 just ahead of Lennox Braithwaite was one position down on Vs, 717v48.

The lone female on the Caribbean contingent, Shellyann Hinds of Barbados was next at 115th (715v50), Thomas Greenaway of Anti-

gua at 166th (671v27), Guyanese Sigmund Douglas based in the USA was next at 167th (670v25), Christopher Joseph of Antigua and Barbuda 171st (655v23), with the Bermudian trio of Nelson Simons of Ber-

MAHENDRA PERSAUD muda 176th (540v21), David Dumont 178th (429v7) and Neville Trott 179th (423v13) bringing up the rear for the Caribbean of 184 competitors.

Persaud’s scores in the Letson at the 300 (35v2), 500 (35v2) and 600 (34v5) metres ranges as well as the President’s also at the 300 (50v6), 500 (50v6) and 600 (50v7) ranges ensured his qualification for the Gover-

nor General Final but only his scores from the President’s competition would be taken forward to today’s final.

Persaud, who would be going into the final with a score of 150v19 has noted that quite a few shooters would also be heading into the shoot with scores of 150.

“The competition is very tight here with quite a few of us going forward with 150, the others are only a point or two away. Now it’s 15 rounds at 800 metres and 15 at 900, so it could be anybody’s game.”

The consistent Persaud said that he is not having a bad meeting but will be taking it one shot at a time.

“I could only hope to do my best and not make any mistakes. In this competition with top shooters from Great Britain, USA, and Canada, you cannot afford any mistakes.”

With the final competition set to be contested this afternoon, Persaud said that he would be competing in a Team Match this morning and will have the opportunity to test his lenses which have been giving him some challenges, in order to be spot-on for the final with the right combination.

ager).

West Demerara: Akshaya Persaud, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kemol Savory, Romario Shepherd, Raymoan Reifer, Malcolm Hubbard, Ronaldo Renee, Keshram Seyhodan, Travis Persaud, Richie Loaknauth, Yutesh Dhanpaul, Mahendra Dhanpaul, Anand Bharat, Ganesh Narine, Safraz Esau, Vickash Dhaniram, Sheldon Alexander and Chabiraj Ramcharran. Rayon Griffith (coach), Dhanpaul (assistant coach) and Omar Hussain (manager).

Essequibo: Anthony Adams, Ronsford Beaton, Kevon Boodie, Keemo Paul, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricardo Adams, Ricardo Peters, Parmesh Parsotam, Avenish Persaud, Royan Fredericks, Akinie Adams, Looknauth Chinko, Kevin Gordon, Hemchand Persaud, Sachin Persaud, Neiland Cadogan, Joshua Jones and Nokta Moses. Michael Franco Hyles (coach) and Forbes Daniels (manager).

The contracted players on the Upper Demerara/East Bank Demerara are Trevon Griffith, Sherfane Rutherford, Tevin Imlach, Vishaul Singh and Steven Jacobs, while Clive Grimmond is the coach and Rohan Sarjoo is manager.

The other members of the team have not yet been confirmed.

IOC sets up disciplinary commission for four U.S. swimmers (REUTERS)-The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set up a disciplinary commission for United States swimmer Ryan Lochte and his three team mates after they were found to have lied about an armed robbery during the Rio Olympics, an IOC official told Reuters yesterday.

The commission will investigate the affair and could sanction the athletes if they considered their behaviour violated the Olympic charter in some way.

The 32-year-old Lochte, one of America’s most decorated swimmers, had originally said that he, Jimmy Feigen and two other team mates, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger, were stopped in a taxi on the way back from a party by gunmen posing as police who stole $400 from them.

The story turned out not to be true and Lochte apolo-

gised earlier yesterday.

The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) denied a CNN report that Lochte would be suspended by USA Swimming and USOC for allegedly lying about being held up at gunpoint on their

way back to the athletes’ village following a night out in Rio. “It’s absolutely not true,” USOC spokesman Mark Jones said of the report, which was based on unnamed sources.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday August 20, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) &AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Kraig Braithwaite-64 (first innings) (2) Nigel Long (ENG) & Rod Tucker (AUST)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many ‘ducks’ were made in the third Test of the WI/India series?

(2) Which batsman made a ‘pair’ in the recent third Test involving WI and India?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 20, 2016

GFF launches ‘Road to Portugal’ … appeals for national support By: Ras Wadada THE nation’s top Under-17 footballers will get the opportunity of a lifetime when they tour the land of recently-crowned European champions Portugal in two months’ time.

At a media briefing held yesterday at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to launch the ‘Road to Portugal’, it was disclosed that eighteen players, seven officials and two teachers will comprise the tour party for the October 14 to 23 trip as guests of the ‘We Believe Football Academy’ of Portugal.

President of the GFF, Wayne Forde, told the media that the executive after careful consideration and sound

satisfaction decided to accept the invitation to the development programme which will also include teams from North, South and Central America as well as Europe and the Caribbean.

The president also stated that the team will be referred to as the ‘Flour Power National Under-17’, based on a G$30M contractual agreement with NAMILCO over a five-year period for nationwide Under-17 football.

“We feel it is an exceptional opportunity for the GFF as part of its youth development thrust. It is going to be a challenge.

“As it is, the budget stands at around G$22M and I am encouraged by the support we are getting from

GFF president Wayne Forde seated far right is surrounded by players and parents of the Flour Power National U-17 football team at yesterday’s launch of the ‘Road to Portugal’. (Adrian Narine photo) the parents of the players, and they are going to be part of the fundraising drive that we are going to embark on.

“The GFF will also reach out to our International partners for support, but it’s going to be a challenge worthy of our efforts,” the football boss explained.

Forde reiterated that

the GFF will do everything within its power to make the trip a reality and emphasised the need for the entire nation to support the ’Road to Portugal’.

The launch opened with two parents – Nucresia Adonis and Lance Ferreira - appealing to the nation for support of the players and the

efforts of the GFF. GFF’s Technical Development Officer, Lyndon France, in his brief remarks stated that “the cost of the tour cannot compare with the value and what it would do for Guyana’s football”.

“This is a good opportunity to give them further exposure as they are going to be

seen by top Portuguese and European coaches,” France added.

Among some of the countries expected to send teams for the 1st Future Under-17 tournament are: El Salvador, Chile, Brazil, Panama, Jamaica, Uruguay, Australia, Bahrain and Bahamas.

Guyana and Windwards to clash in Regional U-19 50-Overs final

By Brij Parasnath

DEFENDING champions Guyana will get the opportunity to defend their West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Under-19 50-Overs title after they defeated Barbados by 85

KEEMO PAUL runs in the decisive seventh round encounter at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex in St Vincent yesterday.

Guyana advanced to the final which is scheduled for tomorrow at the Arnos Vale SC and they will do battle with Windward Islands, who rallied to beat Trinidad and Tobago by three wickets in a high-scoring match at the Park Hill playing field.

At the end of the seven-team round-robin series, Windwards maintained their place atop the standings.

Guyana finished second while Barbados had to settle for the third spot.

Jamaica moved to fourth overall with an easy 72-run win over Leeward Islands at Sion Hill playing field while Trinidad and Tobago were relegated to fifth.

Leewards and the ICC Americas teams occupied the minor placings at sixth and seventh respectively.

For the third consecutive match, the Guyanese players demonstrated great fighting spirit and resolve to defend small totals and emerge victorious.

The bowlers also produced excellent spells that confused their opponents and chartered some exciting victories that have now placed them in a position to successfully defend their regional limited-overs crown.

Batting first at Arnos Vale SC, the venue for the grand finale; Guyana’s openers Ronaldo Renee and Sherfane Rutherford started well with Rutherford the aggressor who counted one six and two fours off 12 balls before he departed for 16.

Renee and Raymond Perez were initially subdued but gradually got the measure of their opponents and shared a 38-run second-wicket stand. Renee made 25 with three fours off 62 balls.

Perez was joined by West Indies Youth player Keemo Paul who produced a 33-run cameo that contained two sixes and two fours and a resultant 53-run third-wicket stand.

Bhaskar Yadram (3)

and Perez 37 (1x6, 2x4, 99 balls) departed at 121 and 122 and Guyana seemed to be in serious trouble, but Joshua Persaud (16), Ronaldo AliMohammed (15) and Marlon Hubbard (15) rallied the lower order and closed the innings at 183 all out in 49.5 overs.

Tremaine Harris (3 for 34) and Nicholas Kirton (3 for 15) were the leading wicket-takers.

Guyana bowlers Marlon Hubbard(4.5-1-11-4), Looknauth Chinkoo (8-0-30-2), Kheshram Seyhodan (7-2-

18-1), Keemo Paul (5-0-171) and Sherfane Rutherford (6-1-13-1) played important roles in stifling the Barbados free-scoring batsmen and they folded up meekly for 98 in 37.5 overs with Shian Brathwaite 35 the top-scorer.

In the other key match, solid contributions by Emmanuel Stewart (92), Johann Jeremiah (61) and Alick Athanaze (45) helped Windwards celebrate a famous victory against Trinidad and Tobago who must have felt that they would finish the tournament on a high, when

Former cricketer Sunnette Viljoen bags silver in javelin at Olympics FORMER South Africa Women allrounder Sunnette Viljoen, who has played one Test and 17 ODIs, created history on Thursday by bagging a silver medal in the women’s javelin final of the Rio Olympics.

Viljoen, 33, finished second behind Croatia’s Sara Kolak, with her best throw of 64.92 metres compared to Kolak’s 66.18 metres. Viljoen’s medal was the ninth for South Africa who are currently placed 34th overall with one gold, six silvers and two bronze medals.

She had come agonisingly close to winning a medal at the London 2012 Olympics but finished fourth with a best throw of 64.53 metres, behind Germany’s Linda Stahl, who finished third with 64.91.

Viljoen played her only Test against India in March 2002 in Paarl, scoring 17 and 71. She had made her ODI debut in 2000 and finished her ODI career two years later with 198 runs and five wickets.(ESPN Cricinfo)

they posted a challenging total of 258 all out in 48.3 overs.

However, Windwards, spearheaded by talented 16-year-old Stewart, whose 92 came off 88 balls that included two sixes and nine fours; rallied to an exciting victory at 263 for 7 in 42 overs.

Joshua DaSilva had topscored for T&T with an attractive 88 that was decorated with three sixes and nine fours off 99 balls. Keagan Simmons and skipper Kirstan Kallicharan were the other leading scorers with 32 and 38 respectively.

Jamaica tallied 167 runs for 8 wickets in their 50 overs with Brad Barnes 34, Dominik Samuels 32 and Andre Bailey 28 being the main scorers.

Jamaica bowlers, especially Tyrone Daley (10-3-23-3), Jeavor Royal (10-2013-2) and Brad Barnes (8-2-18-3); were frugal and effective as they destroyed Leewards for 95 all out in 42 overs.

At the end, it was a comfortable 73-run victory that propelled Jamaica ahead of Trinidad and Tobago in the final points standings.

Bolt completes ‘triple triple’ with another superb run See story on page 26

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt celebrates after Team Jamaica won the Men’s 4x100m Relay Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro last night. / AFP / OLIVIER MORIN (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images)

…USA, T&T disqualified in 4x100 metres relay

U.S. takes gold in women’s 4x100 relay See story on page 26

(FromL) USA’s English Gardner, USA’s Allyson Felix, USA’s Tianna Bartoletta and USA’s Tori Bowie celebrate after they won the Women’s 4x100m Relay Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro last night. / AFP / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2016