Guyana chronicle epaper 10 09 2016

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The sensational Soroya Simmons â–ş Page XII

-making waves in and out of the pool

No. 104699

SUNDAY OCTOBER 9, 2016

Price: $140

Father, son feared dead at sea

(VAT Inclusive)

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Missing: Arjohn Persaud

Stakeholders want review of UK ban on greenheart

Medics head to southwest Haiti as Cholera kills 13 in Matthew's wake

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Lithium, used in batteries for smart phones, discovered here P.7

1,371 charged with speeding

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Missing: Samuel Dabideen

A woman carries a child as they walk in front of destroyed houses after Hurricane Matthew had passed Jeremie, Haiti, October 7, 2016 REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

Linden brothers laid to rest

The packed Calvary Temple Assembly of God Church during the funeral service

Dead: Phillip and Jonnel Armstrong

By Svetlana Marshall HUNDREDS of persons from across Guyana congregated at the Calvary Temple Assembly of God Church in Linden to pay their last respects to Jonnel and Phillip Armstrong – the two brothers who were killed in a vehicular accident on October 1.

They were the sons of Region 10 Regional Health Officer Dr. Pansy Armstrong and veteran dentist Joseph Armstrong. They were also the brothers of Joan Armstrong and Attorney-at-Law

Tamara Khan, the wife of the Director of Public Information Imran Khan. Jonnel, who was a promising aeronautical engineer, was the husband of Olesa Drakes-Armstrong and the father of a baby girl.

Before the multitude of people on Saturday, Mrs Khan chronicled the lives of her brothers, who were described by many as fun-loving individuals, who were always willing to lend a helping hand.

Jonnel, 28, and Phillip 25, had attended the Watooka Day Primary School before moving onto the Lin-

den Foundation Secondary School.

In their spare time, as children growing up in Linden, they attended piano classes and engaged in outdoor activities.

“Jonnel liked taking gadgets apart,” Tamara said fondly as she fought the tears from flowing while reading their eulogies.

He was outgoing, effervescent and chatty, she recalled, while Phillip, who was known for having a pleasant smile on his face, was quiet, observant and spent a lot of time internalising.

“He [Phillip] loved to laugh,” Tamara added, even as she acknowledged that he

was a young man of incredible strength.

Jonnel’s love for engineering had led him to the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School. At the time of his death, he was an aeronautical engineer at Air Services Limited.

But he not only had a love for engineering, the 28-year-old had tremendous love for his wife and daughter, his sister recalled. He was saving for his daughter and building for his wife’s future.

Phillip on the other hand initially started Computer Science at the University of Guyana, but his love for medicine had caused him to switch courses and so he

opted to do ophthalmology at the said university.

But his life was not without challenges. He had suffered from sickle-cell anaemia, and as such while growing up he experienced immense pain, particularly when he went into a crisis.

But as he grew older, he resisted the pain, his sister said, noting that he was determined to live a normal life.

After the eulogies, there were many tributes by their families and friends. Latoya Joseph, one of their friends, said she had many fun times with the brothers as she went down memory lane.

She recalled that when she and Jonnel had first moved to Georgetown to further their studies, they shared an apartment for approximately three years.

Prior to living in Georgetown, Joseph recalled that their “hang out spot” was Jonnel and Phillip’s room in Watooka. She, Olesa and several other friends would visit the brothers at their parents’ home where they were constantly encouraged to pursue higher education.

“Phil was the quiet one and humble, Jonnel was the one who liked to experiment,” she told the Guyana Chronicle in a subsequent interview.

“They touched the lives of many. I could go on and on of all the things myself and Jonnel and his wife did together, but things wouldn’t ever be the same.

In his memory, she and other friends wore T-shirts carrying the brothers’ photos.

Among those at the funeral service were Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings, Minister within the Ministry of Communities Valerie Adams-Patterson, Region 10 Parliamentarians, the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian, former Regional Chairmen of Region 10 Mortimer Mingo and Sharma Solomon, and Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Sherod Duncan.

Other health officials from across the country were also present, along with representatives from the University of Guyana, Air Services Limited, the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council, schools and the churches across Linden.

Jonnel and Phillip were on their way to Linden to assist their parents when the accident occurred in the vicinity of Friendship on the East Bank of Demerara.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

UG scouts new location

By Svetlana Marshall

THE University of Guyana will soon be expanded to include a new location outside of the Turkeyen Campus, according to Vice Chancellor Dr. Ivelaw Griffith.

The move is an attempt to address the accommodation issues facing the close to 8,000 students of the University.

Dr. Griffith made the disclosure during a recent lunch meeting with reporters at the Herdmanston Lodge.

University Registrar Dr. Nigel Gravesande; Deputy Vice Chancellor of Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagements, Dr. Paloma Mohamed; Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives, Dr. Fitzgerald Yaw; and Director of Estates Management, Danny Khudu, were also present during the meeting.

According to the Vice Chancellor, three locations have already been identified, and one is being seriously considered. “We have iden-

tified several locations, (but) we are pursuing one vigorously that can give us the maximum one stop shop,” he explained.

The locations under consideration and their capacities were not disclosed by Dr. Griffith, who committed to providing full disclosure once an agreement has been met.

“What we are doing currently is a business plan as part of pre-discussions with the owner (of the main property of interest),” the Vice Chancellor posited, while noting that if or when the business deal is consummated, he would be in a better position to disclose the income-expenditure component of the plan.

However, he made it clear that the push to have a new location for the University of Guyana will not result in abandonment of the Turkeyen Campus.

Asked whether the university’s administration is considering the establishment

UG Vice Chancellor Dr. Ivelaw Griffith

of a campus in Linden, the Vice Chancellor responded in the negative.

On a daily basis, hundreds, if not thousands of students from Linden, travel more than 65 miles to access the University’s Turkeyen

Campus, while others have no other choice than to migrate to Georgetown and neighbouring communities to reduce the financial burdens and fatigue associated with travelling.

Residents of Linden, Re-

gion 10, are not the only ones calling for a campus; Essequibo residents are doing likewise. Dr. Griffith said there must first be significant improvements on the campuses at Turkeyen, Tain and Johns, along with those at the nine Institutes of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE).

“We have got to show the students at our main campus that we are making appreciable improvements in their facilities and in their quality of life, before we go making request for new campuses,” Dr. Griffith said. He noted that for this reason he would not even commit to conducting a feasibility study in Linden.

The Registrar, in offering his contribution, told reporters that greater provisions are being put in place for Lindeners. “For the 2016/2017 academic year, the centre at Linden was able to provide programmes that permitted students access to allow them to matriculate into full

1,371 charged with speeding THE Guyana Police Force has recorded 4,250 cases against drivers as Operation Safeway continues to curb the number of road fatalities, Police Press Officer Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan disclosed.

Of this amount, Ramlakhan said, 1,371 persons were charged with speeding while 274 were charged for driving under the influence of alcohol. The other cases were made out against drivers for other traffic offences, the superintendent said.

decreased by 44.4%, serious accidents decreased by 47%, minor accidents decreased by 21.4%, and so-called damage accidents decreased by 40%.

Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine has declared that Operation Safeway is here to stay despite

Police involved in random stop-and-search activities on Sheriff Street (File photo)

Accident figures from September 15th to October

6th, 2016 show a remarkable decrease in all categories

relative to the same period last year. Fatal accidents

degree programmes, and we admitted 42 students from Linden who otherwise did not reach the matriculation requirements,” Dr. Gravesande posited.

He is of the opinion that greater emphasis and focus must be placed on programmes that allow students to matriculate into degree programmes while consolidating the skills-based programmes that create opportunities for economic empowerment.

The University will be resubmitting its budget proposal to the Finance Ministry. That proposal has been pegged at $5.2B: $3B for its recurrent programme and $2.2B for its capital programme.

Increase wages and salaries for lecturers and other staff, infrastructure enhancement and development, a new library and a new Centre for Communication Studies are among the plans outlined in the proposal.

‒ as Operation Safeway continues the criticism that the measure is going to fail like the other operations that were implemented in the past.

“From the evidence so far, Safeway hasn’t failed, isn’t failing, and will not fail…,” he said. “Operation Safeway will not be just another Traffic Campaign.”

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Father, son feared dead at sea

By Rabindra Rooplall

A WEST Coast Demerara father and son are feared dead at sea, with sketchy reports of what happened on the fishing trip they went on two weeks ago.

The men were part of a crew of four that left Guyana on a 56-foot long fishing vessel.

Missing are Samuel Dabideen, 43, the captain of the vessel, and his son Arjohn Persaud, 23. The men are from De Willem, West Coast Demerara.

The others who went with them on the trip are Omadatt Basdeo, 32, called Budha, who lives on the West Coast of Demerara and Mahesh Singh, 35 of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara.

Reports have revealed that the men left on the vessel on September, 27

2016 from the shores of Ruby, East Bank Essequibo.

Relatives were told that the captain and his son went missing on September 29, but they received the information only Tuesday last from the owner of the vessel.

According to relatives, they were told that once on high sea, Mahesh Singh was left on the larger vessel to overlook the three men who ventured out in a smaller boat with a 1,000-pound seine to catch fish.

“He [Mahesh Singh] said he was cooking, mashing flour when the other men left on the boat.

“He said he come out back and see them throw up a flag, and by the time he raise up back to go to the bow he didn’t see anybody,” one relative said.

“He then pulled up the

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Omadatt Basdeo anchor and started driving around to look for them since he didn’t see them anymore.”

The relative further explained that Mahesh Singh gave up the search two days after the men went missing and he decided to return to Guyana, where the owner of the vessel was contacted and told of what had occurred.

“The owner informed the family only Tuesday

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last because he said he didn’t want to stress anyone out,” the relative said.

According to another relative, they flew out into the interior close to the Venezuelan border to launch a search for the missing men when they were contacted by the owner of the vessel who told them that “he had good news and bad news.”

“He said Budha (Omadatt Basdeo) is on a flight coming back to Guyana, but the other two men are still missing,” he noted.

The relatives said that they met Omadatt Basdeo at Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) and inquired what exactly had happened. Basdeo claimed that they went out with the seine, the boat capsized and he swam three miles before reaching the shores of Trinidad to seek the assistance of the

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police and coast guard there.

“He said that he tied them up with jars attached to their shoulders so they could float in the water.”

Basdeo claimed that the boat captain complained that his stomach was hurting and the son said he couldn’t make it to swim the distance.

Basdeo told relatives that once he reached shore in Trinidad, he jumped a woman’s fence to her yard and related what had happened.

“He said at first the lady thought he was a thief, but he had to explain exactly

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what happened, and a police that lived next door escorted him to the station where the coast guard assisted in the search, but no one was found,” a relative stated.

However, after that encounter with Basdeo, he was never seen again nor has he contacted anyone with information pertaining to his whereabouts.

Relatives said they obtained a letter from the Ministry of Public Security to send to Trinidad to assist with the search for the missing men.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

Medics head to southwest Haiti as Cholera kills 13 in Matthew’s wake (REUTERS) CHOLERA has killed at least 13 people in southwest Haiti in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, government officials told Reuters on Saturday, as health workers sought to reach the epicenter of one outbreak.

lestin, a member of team that fights Cholera for the health ministry. “People have started dying.”

“There are nurses but no doctors,” he said, concerned that Cholera would spread due to lack of hygiene and as ground water moved because of

of livestock.

It slammed into South Carolina on Saturday, after skirting the Atlantic coast of Florida and Georgia, causing widespread power outages and flooding.

Dr. Donald Francois, head of the Haitian health

sures are in place,” he said, adding that he had heard unconfirmed reports that as many as 50 people may have died from Cholera in southern Haiti.

The aid group Doctors Without Borders scrambled teams by helicopter

People walk next to destroyed houses after Hurricane Matthew passed Jeremie, Haiti. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins Six people died of Cholera in a hospital in the southern town of Randel, which is inland near a river, and another seven died in the western coastal town of Anse-d´Ainault, the officials said, likely as flood waters mixed with sewage.

“Randel is isolated, you must cross water, you must go high in the mountains, cars cannot go, motorcycles cannot go,” said Eli Pierre Ce-

rain and floods.

He said there were also outbreaks in Port-aPiment and Les Anglais.

Cholera causes severe diarrhea and can kill within hours if untreated.

It is spread through contaminated water and has a short incubation period, which leads to rapid outbreaks.

Hurricane Matthew left almost 900 people dead in Haiti and caused major flooding and loss

ministry´s cholera program, said 62 others were sick with Cholera as a result of the storm.

“We are concerned about these new outbreaks of Cholera we are seeing in new districts,” he told Reuters. “The situation is particularly difficult in Randel and (nearby) Port-a-Piment.”

“I am on my way to the south region to assess the situation and ensure all the necessary mea-

to southern Haiti to respond to Cholera cases.

Clifford Gauther, the health ministry´s director for Haiti´s Sud Department, said Cholera treatment centers, many made of metal sheeting, were destroyed by the hurricane. The ministry was rebuilding them.

“Almost every October we have a spike (in Cholera cases), but this time it’s worse, 70 to 80 cases,” he said.

Before the hurricane struck, the Central Emergency Response Fund released a loan of $8 million to UNICEF, the United Nations Childrens’ Fund, to ramp up the response to a worsening Cholera epidemic in Haiti.

“In 2016 almost 27,000 Cholera cases have been reported in Haiti, and over 240 people have died. Hurricane Matthew is feared to significantly worsen the situation and increase the risk of a larger outbreak,” CERF said in a statement on Friday.

It was hot and sunny on Saturday in Les Cayes in southern Haiti. Flood waters receded and residents cleared some debris from the streets. One man was putting up a tarpaulin over his exposed roof.

As the shock of the storm wore off, the enormity of the damage was beginning to sink in.

“I have land but I don’t have a house anymore. It’s starting to traumatize me, my head hurts. I think about it too much,” said Jean Vinel Joseph, 36, a medical orderly.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Sunday Editor

Neil Marks

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

Editorial

Guyana/ Venezuela 1899 Arbitral Award OCTOBER 3, 2016 marked 177 years since an international tribunal unanimously settled the border dispute when it awarded Essequibo to Great Britain, thereby staving off what could have been a war with Venezuela, Great Britain and the United States.

An arbitral award is final and binding on all sides.

This is the position Guyana respects, and shall not deviate from.

In 1962, Venezuela made known to the United States its rejection of the Award on a claim that its representative on the 1899 panel, Severo Mallet-Prevost, held a different view, which he purportedly requested be revealed after his death, and, more importantly, after the fact (1899); requiring Guyana to go through the paces of resolving what has become a “controversy.”

A threat to annex Essequibo, two-thirds of our land and its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), is a threat to who we are as a people, our sovereignty, natural resources, and collective development. Famed son of the soil Dave Martins, and the Tradewinds, in the song “Not A blade O’ Grass”, succinctly and effectively reminds us of what is at stake and what we cannot afford to give up. Its lyrics not only make for easy reference to a situation every citizen should be intimately aware of, but its rhythm is also catchy. This song is deserving of being repeatedly played on the airwaves -- television and radio -- as a matter of public service.

Where it is being argued that music is proving an effective tool in education, the Ministry of Education may also need to look at incorporating “Not a blade…” in the curriculum as a mean of ensuring that students at every level understand the rudimentary that led to the Award, what it means for us, and the importance of holding steadfast. It is not an unfair statement to say that today’s children are not as intimately au fait with the controversy as the children of the 1960-1980s, and this anomaly ought to be addressed.

Guyana has lost some ground in the information war in the presence of Venezuela’s unrelenting position in socialising its citizens to believe the wrongful claim that

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

A commission of inquiry needed into failure of major infrastructural projects Dear Editor, ALTHOUGH a commission of inquiry may seem a bit far-fetched by many in an infrastructure sector, if we are serious about improving the quality and sustainability of high-value investment infrastructural projects we are delivering in Guyana, there is need for a holistic investigation into the development, design, management, and construction of these projects.

Additionally, this sector attracts the highest volume of public sector investments in the country, and too many mistakes are being made; too many investments are being wasted, and no one is being held accountable for those mistakes.

There is no evidence of individuals or companies, or even the implementing agencies, learning from those mistakes, as the mistakes in the delivery of these projects seems to be repetitive.

The performance in the sector is so predictable that the poor performance of most of the projects is expected before the proverbial “spade is turned” on these projects.

Designs are poor, critical details are omitted, deadlines are continually being missed, costs are being overrun, supervisory consultants approve substandard work, projects deteriorate well within design lifespans, and no noticeable action is being taken. Is it that we are happy with the current performance? The design, management and construction of, for example, the Kato Primary; Hope Canal Bridge; ECD, EBD and WCD highway Extensions; Linden water treatment plants; Amaila

Falls access road (just to name a few of the popular ones) can all be considered project management failures. It is, then, no surprise that many of the international funding agencies have expressed little confidence in our ability to deliver successful projects.

What baffles me the most, however, is that we have been using the same designs, technology, approaches, contractors and consultants for these projects, yet we cannot seem to get it right after this many years; hence the recommendation of a commission of inquiry: we need to know why.

This status quo must change. We cannot continue along this path if we are going to achieve the developmental ambitions that have evaded us over the last 50 years.

Maybe it’s the attitude of personnel involved in the sector, where the effects of ‘Path Dependency’ have rendered them confined to a system of mediocrity and failure. I know it’s not for the lack of technical expertise, as I know some of the best and brightest persons in the country are within many of the organisations and were part of some of these failed projects.

There have been concerns of political interference in all the stages of major infrastructural project delivery in Guyana, which affects critical decision-making that impacts on the success of the project. Can this be the problem?

As seen, the source(s) of the problem, and there is a problem, can be many. I know there would be arguments that would suggest that the major projects listed above were all conceived and administered under the previous administration, and the approach of this

Essequibo is theirs. It is most welcome that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week published its booklet, “The New Conquistadors, The Venezuelan challenge to Guyana’s Sovereignty”.

Such augurs well for knowledge- sharing; and its mass distribution, including that of hard copy and an electronic format, is look forward to.

It should be said that in this multi-media era, all channels of information-communication must be targeted to ensure maximum reach. Guyanese and the world must be made aware that Essequibo is ours to travel and reside in peacefully, and to sustainably exploit the resources therein to our collective development.

An examination, through historical lens, of Venezuela’s move to the UN in 1962 recognises it was the period of the Cold War and Guyana was agitating for political independence from Britain. Although, in hindsight, it was a prudent move to have a diplomatic approach to resolve the contention through the Good Officer channel, this has prolonged throughout the years, with seeming no end in sight. When the APNU+AFC Administration assumed office in May 2015, it communicated interest to have the controversy settled through the Internation-

new administration would produce significantly better results. I am not so sure; the Durban Park Stadium fiasco was a clear enough sign for me. And do we want to wait until we have another string of failed projects to admit something is definitely wrong in the sector?

We have leaders in the sector such as the good Ministers of Public Infrastructure, who seem willing and have publically stated their commitment to delivering successful projects. This can be an opportunity for them to demonstrate this through a distinctive, decisive, targeted action.

The sector desperately needs a catalyst to transform it from the current state, where there seems to be serial failure of projects, to one where we can successfully deliver projects to meet the needs of the stakeholders.

It is time we, the citizens on Guyana, receive value for money for the public sector investments, as many of the loans used for these projects would be repaid by us and our children, and even our children’s children; who may not have even benefited from the investment, as many of the facilities would have deteriorated by then.

We cannot move forward without knowing what’s wrong. A commission of inquiry, which seems to be a favoured approach of the current administration, can be effectively utilised to investigate this plague of poor performance that is affecting the infrastructure sector in Guyana.

DARREN D. SHAKO A concerned citizen and practitioner

al Council of Jurists (ICJ), the world’s highest court.

We are being advised by UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon that he would engage Venezuela further on the matter.

Subsequently, Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro said that country prefers retaining the Good Officer route. Maduro’s stance can only be seen for what it has always been -- a country making a case without merit, but revelling in the attention such attracts and hindering the desire of Guyanese to fully exploit the resources in the region in furtherance of our development.

Venezuela is a relatively bigger society than Guyana, is of greater military might, and is one of the world’s largest exporters of oil. As that country continues to hinder our progress, its Government continues to violate our space as though daring a confrontation.

The ‘settling’ of an issue already settled must be pursued through a multi-pronged approach, including encouraging friendly nations to join us in calling on Venezuela to respect the Award, and the UN pursuing the path of the ICJ. We remain confident that the ICJ would uphold the Award, and in the meantime ‘We ent giving up nothing that belongs to we.’

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

I had no intention to compulsorily acquire Carmichael Street lots Dear Editor, M Y AT T E N T I O N w a s drawn to a most bizarre article published in the Guyana Chronicle of Saturday, October 8, 2016 at page 8, under the caption “PPP initiated process to acquire Carmichael St lots -- AG.” In that article, the follow statement is attributed to the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Basil Williams: “The nation should know that when we [APNU+AFC] entered Government, I inherited that proposal by the PPP to acquire those said lots. And the staff I inherited recommended those lots…So the issue of the compulsory acquisition was something inherited from the PPP. So perhaps the problem Mr. Nandlall has is that he didn’t get to do the transaction.”

I wish to make it unequivocally clear that, as Attorney-General, I had no intention whatsoever of compulsorily acquiring the said two lots of land, and that no step whatsoever was ever taken by the PPP Civic Government to compulsorily acquire the said two lots of land; that all I did in relation thereto was to make contact with the owners of the two plots of land and enquired from them whether the lands were for sale. Both owners answered in the neg-

ative, and that was the end of the transaction. I never even took a proposal to Cabinet in relation to this matter.

The article next outrageously quotes Mr. Williams as recalling that I raised the issue in Parliament, and “the project was then approved by the Ministry of Finance and Cabinet, after which it was passed and approved by the National Assembly.”

I am flabbergasted! I raised no such issue in Parliament.

In fact, there was no issue to be raised.

The story becomes even more sinister, as the article next informs that Mr. Williams disclosed that, if the PPP had remained in office, the PPP would have paid five hundred and sixty million dollars ($560,000,000) more than the current Government for the same two plots of land.

The article quotes Mr. Williams as saying that I told him that the lots are worth six hundred million dollars ($600,000,000). Mr. Williams must be hallucinating! I had no such discussion with Mr. Williams about those plots of land. If this was not a serious matter, I would have found it hilarious.

I challenge Mr. Williams to produce one shred of evidence to support any of the contentions that he has made.

I do so knowing fully well

that a person who is of the iniquitous propensity to contrive and concoct such an elaborate tale is quite capable of falsifying documents to support these preposterous claims.

This is not the first time that this Attorney-General has been caught manufacturing stories to blame me and the PPP Civic Administration as part of his clumsy strategy to defend himself.

Readers would recall that he alleged that the PPP Government had agreed to pay B.K International when he was publicly pounded for paying millions of dollars on a mere letter threatening litigation. I challenged him then to produce evidence of this agreement to pay. He never did.

Again, the imbecilic contention is that the PPP had begun the compulsory acquisition process in respect of these two plots of land.

Assuming that he is correct, this Attorney-General appears to lack a mind of his own, and seems incapable of doing anything other than robotically follow PPP initiatives.

Whatever it is that the President has a serious problem on his hand, I am in no doubt.

MOHABIR ANIL NANDLALL, Attorney-at-Law, MP

Lithium, used in batteries for smart phones, discovered here

By Ariana Gordon LITHIUM has been discovered in Guyana and the Ministry of Natural Resources is engaging the Guyana Strategic Minerals, an entity that is responsible for prospecting for the mineral.

Lithium is a chemical element that is derived from

ic appliances - cell phones and other micro- electronic applications- space explorations, capsules.

“Guyana has a possible occurrence or associated or geologic provinces for its discovery—there is a network to deliver it and an intensive search to ---to find a resource that is exploitable in Guyana,” Broomes stated.

Minister Broomes said

to Guyana.

“People need not give up hope,” she declared as she stressed, “the industry is not about gold alone.”

‘We are not educated about some of these stones…I want people to appreciate the extractive industry for all of what it has to offer, not only one or two minerals.”

The Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resourc-

Lithium is a chemical element that is derived from stone. It is used in rechargeable batteries found in mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras, electrical vehicles, pacemakers, toys and clocks stone. It is used in rechargeable batteries found in mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras, electrical vehicles, pacemakers, toys and clocks.

“The company has been here doing work… they have been engaged with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC)…they have been here for a while and they are currently exploring land-related matters with the GGMC,” Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, said on Saturday.

Oftentimes, the extractive sector refers to gold and diamonds, as well as oil, but precious stones are never mentioned. Additionally, Lithium carbonate or lithium salt is also used as a mood-stabilising drug.

The minister disclosed that former Minister of Public Works under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration, Robeson Benn, is a consultant to Guyana Strategic Minerals.

“Lithium is one of the strategic minerals in electron-

the discovery of other minerals gives hope to miners.

She said while the majority of Guyanese are focused on oil and gold, she believes that there is much more to the extractive industry that can provide significant benefits

Lithium

es said globally, there is a growing demand for lithium.

“We are looking to work with investors to develop many of these minerals… this would really push the see page 9

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

Towards a Good Life in a Green Economy

Global environmental governance in the context of Guyana’s green economy (Part 11)

By Rear Admiral (Rtd.) Gary A. R. Best Presidential Advisor on the Environment THE United Nations Environment Programme is the anchor global environmental organisation. Its programme for 20102013 focuses on international cooperation, strengthening of laws and institutions in order to promote sustainable national and regional development, and access to science. It will also assist countries with technical assistance in international policy setting and national development planning (UNEP, 2010).

This has largely been ineffective, and some have called for reform (Young 2008). However, As Mazi (2009) puts it, the United Nations Environment Programme, as the main body administering multilateral environmental agreements, was challenged by the formation of an increasing number of new agreements and institutions, which led to institutional fragmentation and loss of policy coherence in the work of the United Nations. Instead of organisational reforms, which are effective to resolve specific environmental problems, resort should be had to institutional changes, such as changes in structures of rights, rules, and decision-making processes to guide actors in relation to issues like climate change and bio-diversity (Mazi, 2009).

On the other hand, Young (2008) believes that there is a call for environmental reform of the structure of international organisations that deal with environmental issues.

Proposals include the strengthening of United Nations Environment Programme with universal membership and a secure budget, and the establishment of a United Nations Environment Organisation.

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

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

Some have even called for the establishment of a World Environmental Organization similar to the World Trade Organisation. The Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development Issue Brief # 4 (UNEP 2011) informs that the Nairobi-Helsinki Outcome speaks to the upgrading of the United Nations Environment Programme and the possible establishment of a specialized agency, such as a World Environment Organisation.

Upgrading to a specialized agency allows for autonomy and independent financing, along with treaty and convention-making powers.

Current and future multilateral environmental agreements would then be negotiated under one agency, and all the present and future secretariats could possibly unite under one specialized agency.

However, according to Young (2008), reform in the United Nations Environment Programme is unlikely to result in changes in the systems of rights, rules and decision-making procedures. Institutional reform is indeed important, but the functions of institutions are more critical and should be resolved before reform is con-

templated (Young, 2008). Ford (2003), who posits that current global environmental governance mechanisms leave out social grass roots movements, supports this view. In addition, where grassroots movements might be influential, co-option obtains to assimilate them into mainstream thinking.

Even though non-governmental organisations criticize the orthodox approach to environment and sustainable development, it is difficult to measure to what extent such criticisms affect the orthodoxy of approach when they are in fact designed by powerful states.

Compliance and dispute settlement are particular challenges to global environmental governance.

In fact, the United Nations Environment Programme introduced guidelines on compliance with, and enforcement of, multilateral agreements which were adopted in decision SS. IV/4. However, these guidelines are advisory and non-binding, and do not alter obligations (UNEP, 2011 a). Crossen (2003) adds that even though compliance rates are high, the environment is deteriorating rapidly. He advocates the imposition of more onerous obligations in multilateral environmental agreements, and stresses the creation of strong legitimate enforcement systems which will move the process beyond compliance to issues of effectiveness.

A majority of environmental law is made within a treaty-based system, where consent is the trigger for creation of legal obligations

and at the same time the factor that makes consensus difficult (Brunnée, 2002).

Compliance by national governments to international environmental agreements was boosted by the 2001 Aarhus Convention, which provides for citizens and non-governmental organisations to be auditors of the state’s obligations to international environmental agreements (Kravchenko, 2007). Aarhus allows citizen-state interaction which enhances environmental democracy. Quite restrictively, environmental law must not conflict with trade law.

Whereas World Trade Organisation officials sit in on multilateral environmental agreement negotiations, the opposite is not permissible, neither is trade law required not to conflict with environmental law. In this regard, environmental non-governmental organisations have accused the global trading regimes of not assessing the impact of trade policies on the environment (Eckersley, 2004). The absence of effective compliance and dispute settlement regimes is likely to negatively impact climate change adaptation and sustainable development.

Despite evidence of climate change by the International Panel on Climate Change and the signing-on by states to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol, states’ attitudes to climate change remain, in the main, the same. In the result, the rich are

called upon by the not–so-rich to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time suspicions abound among the developing states that the rich intend to thwart their economic growth and so they resist signing protocols. Even though the United States has not signed the Kyoto Protocol, some American states are meeting those environmental standards set by Kyoto.

There is a big difference, however, between the efforts in reference to the ozone treaty-making and climate change compliance, and that difference is cost. The cost for climate change is astronomical in comparison to obligations under the Montreal and Kyoto Protocols (Winchester, 2009).

Further, the Global Environment Facility has been accused of lacking transparency in its decision-making, due to the myriad of donors and their tendency not to deal with the specific environmental needs of recipient nations (Winchester, 2009).

The donors, on the other hand, prefer to deal with abstract global threats, even though almost eight billion dollars were provided to developing states to deal with climate change, protection of internal waters, and ozone depletion. Ford (2003) strengthens this argument by stating that The Global Environment Facility pays more attention to the business and industry sectors, as opposed to the plight of citizens at the grass roots levels.

The playing field was not level. The Global Environmental Facility became a perquisite mechanism for the South to participate in global environmental governance; but for the North, it was charity and therefore no compulsion for them to deliver on promises (Mazi, 2009).

9

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

Demerara Timbers fires more workers DEMERARA Timbers Limited (DTL) has fired three more of its employees for picketing while several others were handed warning letters at its Mabura Hill location.

Last Tuesday the logging company had issued eight of its workers with dismissal letters for participating in a picketing exercise the day before in front of its Kingston, Georgetown Head Office – a move which has received widespread criticisms from the trades union fraternity.

But despite this objection, DTL on Thursday handed three more employees dismissal letters. Those sent home were Malcolm Smith, Walter Downes, and Morty Abrams.

In response to the firing of the first eight, several workers, including those currently on staff had staged a one-day protest at the Mabura Hill, Region 10 location in solidarity. Now they too, have been issued with warning letters by management of DTL. Anita Croft, one of the

DTL workers and their union representatives picket the DTL Head Office in Kingston, Georgetown

sacked workers, told the Guyana Chronicle on Saturday that they were all paid on Friday, but have not begun to remove their belongings from the houses that were provided by DTL. In the dismissal letter, the aggrieved workers were instructed to remove themselves from the company’s concession.

General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Seepaul Narine, told this newspaper that a meeting has been set to discuss this burning issue.

On Tuesday at 13:30hrs, DTL is expected to meet with officials from the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour, along with representatives from GAWU and aggrieved workers.

In a strongly worded statement, GAWU said that it was the first time in history that an entity, private or public, had taken a decision of such an incredulous nature.

“The decision by the company must be seen as yet another anti-worker and anti-union act, which is oc-

Lithium, used in... entire extractive industry,” Broomes told the Guyana Chronicle.

Meanwhile, Broomes, who worked as a miner before becoming a parliamentarian and minister of government, said a request has been made of the GGMC to create a database of miners. She said having an up-to-date database will ensure that GGMC, the regulating authority according to law, is in a better position to monitor miners.

DATABASE While the minister wants there to be specific focus on women miners, a group that has grown significantly over the years, she believes that a thorough database of miners and mining activities will prove beneficial to all.

“I would like for the database to be done before the end of the year; by the New Year, 2017, we should have a system in place…it is not hard, it is not something you have to go to university for,” she added.

The minister has stressed that a database of women miners in a male-dominated industry is also critical. She said over the years, women have been looked upon as inferior in the industry, but have shown that their strength and resilience are not inferior.

“When I founded the Guyana Women Miners As-

sociation (GWMA), there was a serious gender problem in the industry…It still exists.

It is time that we know the number of women involved in the system…It can be easily done…dredge licences are renewed annually, likewise land and other related mining licences.”

Meanwhile, the minister believes that with a comprehensive database and the strengthening of systems within the GGMC, many of the processes that take long periods will be significantly shortened.

“The system is too prolonged. GGMC must have specific timelines to which they would use to deal with miners…an investigation should not take years…and persons should not always have to come to the central office; information should be available at all locations,” Broomes remarked.

Since taking office as Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources with specific responsibility for mining, Broomes said she has seen little improvement in the operations of the GGMC and its officers. She strongly believes that with proper management, things would gradually be where they ought to.

“There is little improvement within the operations of GGMC…but while it has not been significant, I have

From page 7

noted the changes that have taken place. On the ground, the mindset of officers has changed and they are acting differently and we are seeing results.”

She sought to assure the public that while blame has been placed on the GGMC as the body responsible for regulating the mining sector, Broomes said “there are good persons out there…some of them really work hard and try to do their jobs the right way…not all of them are to be blamed.”

Notwithstanding her position, much work needs to be done.

SAFETY The minister wants more to be done to ensure that both miners and GGMC officers are safe in the hinterland regions (mining districts). She said safety must be made a priority for miners. As a former miner, the minister said she has walked the hills and valleys of Guyana and she has seen many issues relative to safety. She believes that oftentimes, miners are so caught up in consuming large portions of alcohol and ‘having a good time,’ that they party every night and go to the mining pits “drunk or high on alcohol or marijuana.”

“That is dangerous! Safety should not only be seen as technical, but practical,” she

curring rather frequently these days,” GAWU stated.

It was pointed out that the logging company has acted in contravention of Section Eight of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, which prohibits the dismissal of workers for their participation in industrial action. This right is further reinforced by the Constitution, which provides the right for workers to engage in strikes and protest action.

“The company’s high-handed, illegal and

ominous act represents a decision which must be roundly condemned by all right-thinking Guyanese. It is a clear attempt to intimidate the workers and use extra-legal measures to deny workers their just claims for pay increases,” the union added.

The workers have been calling on the company to engage in good-faith negotiations with the GAWU. Their rates of pay have not increased since 2014 after negotiations between the union and the company for

said, pointing to the prevalence of Kaimoos in mining communities as a contributing factor. “These shops are usually about prostitution, drinking and smoking…we need to have regularised shops in the mining industry,” she added.

According to her, there is a greater need for enforcement of regulations on the part of the GGMC. The minister explained that when a licence is provided to a shopowner, certain activities are prohibited. “We can’t have miners sporting the night be-

fore and going into a mining pit…the miner would not be alert…not drunk or high.”

Safety must be put first, she said and stressed that “we have to do better than that… safety is most important” and urged dredge- owners to “put the lives of their workers first before production.”

RESPECT MINERS That aside, Broomes believes that much more respect needs to be given to miners.

She said oftentimes miners are looked down upon, but

2015 reached a stalemate.

Bilateral negotiations between the union and the company reached a stalemate on November 17, 2015, after DTL did not approve any pay increases, but offered a Christmas bonus of $5,000 to each worker. DTL had told workers that its financial state had prevented it from offering an increase.

But this decision was rejected by the workers.

Following the impasse, the dispute was next subjected to conciliation by the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour. On several occasions, DTL reportedly refused to attend meetings summoned by the conciliator, Francis Carryl.

This led to the involvement of Minister Keith Scott of the Ministry of Social Protection, who wrote the company mandating them to meet with the union and the ministry. Though a few meetings were held, the company remains unmoved and is unwilling to divulge its financial statements for scrutiny by the parties. they ought to be respected as miners hold up the local economy.

“People should not always see miners in a negative light….miners are good people and I really wish they’d be respected and consideration be given to them….there are many challenges, but miners are the only people that you can go to for a job without a hassle.”

Mining has kept the economy afloat for decades, while some traditional sectors have struggled.

Police release suspect, seeking another in murder of Tuschen taxi driver POLICE investigators have released a suspect in the murder of 24-year-old Roland “Vishal” Jodmie, whose body was found in an isolated area at the back of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, with gunshot wounds last Tuesday.

Police Divisional Commander Leslie James on Saturday confirmed to the Guyana Chronicle that they on Friday released the 21-yearold man who was arrested in connection with the murder.

The police are awaiting the results of Jodmie’s post-mortem which was also conduct-

Roland “Vishal” Jodmie

ed on Friday.

Investigators are now seeking new leads in the taxi

driver’s murder.

On Tuesday, October 4, around 19:00hrs, Jodmie was found in his car with two gunshot wounds in an area known as “the Blacka,” located at Block Eight, Phase Two Housing Scheme in Tuschen.

Reports are that the taxi driver was hired by two men to take them to the back of the scheme and while there, he was robbed of his day’s earnings and then shot.

Jodmie was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Coast Demerara, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

10

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

The PPP has outmanoeuvred the government DURING the past few weeks, the PPP has been on the offensive against the government. The party’s top flight leaders have been in the news almost every day with an avalanche of attacks on the administration.

Gail Teixeira, for example, has announced that the PPP is preparing a dossier of scandals and corruption that have occurred since the government took office last year.

As the young people would ask, really?

What a difference 17 months can make in the political life of a nation! When the PPP left office in May 2015, it had gained for itself the reputation as the most corrupt and authoritarian government in the post-independence history of Guyana and the English-speaking Caribbean.

The new APNU+AFC government, on the other hand, was hailed as the embodiment of the much-needed change and hope that a country craves and deserves after more than two decades of political trauma.

Now, less than two years later, if someone who is not familiar with Guyanese politics were to read the newspapers, he or she would get the impression that the designations of the two political entities have been reversed.

It is the government that seems to be on the defensive, while the opposition PPP appears to be the defender of political virtue and national dignity. Serious political observers have begun to ask the inevitable question— how did this happen? How has the PPP, with all its recent political baggage, been able to pull off what is in effect a great scam?

Well, the first major reason for this development lies in the very nature of the PPP, whose leadership has an enormous capacity to convince itself that it is incapable of wrongdoing. This thinking is grounded in a belief in the party’s divine right to govern Guyana and in its chief opponent’s cultural disqualification from holding power. There

is an underlying ideology at play here, which was captured by Freddie Kissoon’s contention that the Jagdeo government was practising ideological racism.

UNDERSTANDING OPPONENTS The PPP, in addition to its capacity to deny its own wrongdoing, has, however, shown a better understanding of its opponents than they have shown of the PPP. The PPP, from the first days of the new government, launched a race-driven, “ethnic cleansing” campaign against the government and has kept it going up to this day. President Jagdeo’s comments in New York a few months ago merely took the rhetoric to another level.

This is the very PPP, as Freddie Kissoon reminds us, which sued him for libel for suggesting that their policies were racially driven.

What is revealing is that neither the government nor its constituent parties have been able to effectively beat back this PPP campaign.

The PPP took that line of action because it knew that the current leaderships of the parties in the coalition are cowards when it comes to addressing race in the public sphere.

The PPP knows the political psyche of the coalition’s leadership. They know that the African-Guyanese middle-class leadership of the coalition would never speak publicly and sensibly about race. For them, race does not exist because in many respects they are not directly affected by it. The PPP also knows that while sections of the African-Guyanese leadership of the PNC are much more literate about race and racism, they have always skirted around the issue in their public discourse. In other words, except for a handful of leaders, they have been opportunistic when it comes to the issue of race—they acknowledge and rail against racism in private, but run for cover when they are publicly confronted with it.

THE ISSUE OF RACE Finally, the PPP is well aware that the Indian-Guyanese leadership of the coalition would never want to appear to be promoting a pro-Black racial narrative. The PPP has been very skilful at projecting PM Nagamootoo and Minister Ramjattan as anti-Indian—a tactic that seems to have played well in the Indian community. The PPP knows that the nimekaran phenomenon is still a strong political card.

So, in effect, the PPP has taken advantage of the government’s clumsiness on the issue of race For example, when Jagdeo launched his broadside in New York by accusing the government of targeting Indian-Guyanese for special discrimination, the government could not bring itself to speak directly to that community and remind it of its uplifting efforts in the sugar and rice sectors and the PPP’s assaults on the Black community when it was in office. The coalition would not win votes if it took that approach, but it would shrink the PPP’s political space. The PPP attacks the government not to win Black votes but as a form of mobilization of its own supporters.

But the government has shown little inclination to sensibly counter the PPP politically.

CORRUPTION Now to corruption. My views on the audits are well known. Never before has the evidence of official corruption been so vivid.

What the audits uncovered is what many Guyanese already knew. The PPP was so confident that it could not lose power that it did not hide its transgressions. So when a government has all that evidence and does nothing about it and justifies its inaction by hiding behind legalities, it inevitably loses the high ground and cedes space to the accused. The PPP has been allowed to tout its innocence by the failure of the government to make and prosecute its case. Now the PPP has gone further, it has all but turned the tables on the government—a case of the accused accusing the accuser of the crime.

The PPP knows that this government is not corrupt and does not promote corruption.

But the government has made the error of messing with some of the very elements who played games with the PPP. Corruption is ignited not just by government officials, but also by moneyed interests who seek to buy influence from government. The government does not have to necessarily play the game; the mere fact that it is caught kissing these moneyed interests is enough to compromise itself. So the PPP has again exploited the government’s clumsiness to get itself out of jail.

In the final analysis, this government has shot itself in the mouth by unnecessarily relinquishing political space to its opponents.

These things do not just happen—such action

by governments arise out of its own political dynamics. I am going to say a few things for now. The very make-up of the government is a big contributory factor to its behaviour.

Many of the ministers mean well, but this is the most politically inexperienced government in our post-independence history. Most of the ministers never served in government before.

That by itself is not a sin—after all the previous government was in office for a whole generation.

But when you add that to the fact that many of them are not steeped in political activism, you get a clearer picture of what I am driving at. Political activism is a great teacher about politics; it brings you into contact with the political motion of the society and helps to develop ideologies that are consistent with that motion.

INEXPERIENCE Most of our ministers entered politics from the top; they have little experience of confronting negative power with their bodies, minds and consciences. It is now commonplace in the Caribbean to have governments which are stacked with managers, but many of them do strive for a balance between managers and leaders who are steeped in activism.

The coalition government has erred on the side of managers who are not steeped in activism and nationalist ideologies.

The few ideologically grounded activists in the AFC are outside of government. The many more experienced and ideologically grounded activists in the PNC and APNU are outside of government. It does not seem as if many of them are not even consulted. The APNU leadership does not meet regularly, so there is little opportunity for serious political engagement at that level. In the end we have a government that is trying its best, but it collectively has little sense of its historical significance and responsibility to the historical moment it functions in. And the PPP has mercilessly taken advantage of this weakness.

I am ready to say that to my mind, the PPP has outmanoeuvred the government.

What the government has in its favour at the moment is the tremendous political capital that resides in the person of the president. He has to move out of the mode of outing fires in the coalition and give more enlightened leadership and nationalist direction to the government. The other positive thing in the government’s favour is its plurality. But it has to take advantage of the asset by pivoting to a culture of broader intra-coalition consultation.

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

Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

11

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

DPP to review case of Dangerous to light fires police who struck down in dry season – Fire Chief warns West Dem. woman THE case involving an Assistant Superintendent of Police who caused the death of a 65-year-old female resident of Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara last Tuesday will be reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), according to a senior police officer.

Anmanie Deonarine of 144 New Road, Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara was, on October 4, 2016, struck down and killed on the village public road by a motor car driven by the police officer. The incident occurred when the mother of

Dead: Anmanie Deonarine

three was a few houses away from her home.

The driver of the car, PRR 4446, was identified as Assistant Superintendent Jermaine Grant of the Criminal Investigation Department, who is stationed within ‘D’ Division (West Demerara and East Bank Essequibo).

The officer was reportedly driving in a westerly direction when he lost control of the vehicle, and it collided with the elderly woman. She was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Jagdeo says PPP will ‘dismantle’ allegations of mismanagement LEADER of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, has said that accusations levelled against the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) by the governing coalition and social and political commentators will be challenged by facts.

“We will challenge everything, area after area, and we will dismantle every single accusation that was made against the PPP before the next elections,” Jagdeo stated at a public forum to mark the anniversary of October 5, 1992, when the PPP was returned to office after 28 years in opposition.

At the forum, held at the Red House, he said that the government had accused the PPP of mismanaging the country and also implied that the local economy did not develop under the PPP. However, Jagdeo contended that the same critics who said that the PPP was accumulating debts, failed to outline the fact that the debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures were lowered during his party’s time in Government. “…during that period Guyana also moved up the World Bank ranking to an upper middle-income country,” he stated, while contending that the PPP managed the

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo listens to PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee during the PPP’s Public Forum to mark the October 5, 1992 elections.

(Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

country in the interest of the people.

He contended that the PPP did not get any credit for reforms it undertook, including creating the most comprehensive procurement act in the British Commonwealth.

The former President stated that the post-1992 period was a true expression of democracy, and the elections of October 5, 1992 marked “the dawn of a new era.”

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall indicated that after the elections, the PPP commenced a wave of actions to bring about democracy, including amending the constitution.

“Some 200 changes were made to the constitution since

the party got into government, and during this process, persons from different parties had an equal opportunity of being a part of the constitutional reform committee,” Nandlall indicated.

Thus, he expressed that the PPP made the constitution one of the most liberal and democratic ones in the world, which also led to expanded protection for people across the country with the establishment of rights commissions and so forth.

As the discussion progressed, Jagdeo instigated an analysis of the APNU+AFC’s progress so far, noting that they have gone right back to the “Burnhamite philosophy” of running the state.

WITH the dry season and severe weather pattern being experienced countrywide, Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle is advising against the indiscriminate burning of garbage and grass, especially in built-up areas with housing, since property can be damaged and lives can be put at risk.

“People must understand that to use fire to do land clearing and garbage disposal has its dangers in the dry season,” he said.

He explained that when the weather is dry and persons ignite fires to burn refuse and other items, the fires -- often left unattended -- could spread very quickly to utility poles and

fences, while smoke can get into homes and affect the elderly and those with asthma.

Gentle noted that some persons are in the habit of igniting grass during land-clearing exercises, and when that fire gets out of control, the Guyana Fire Service is summoned to put out the blaze.

He emphasised that these fires can be avoided if people dispose of their garbage in a better manner, by utilising the services of the waste disposal agencies.

“If the fires include garbage like old tyres and those kinds of things, it affects people. I would like to reiterate the call

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle

for persons to stop doing these burnings, because they could get out of control and people’s property could be damaged or destroyed,” he said.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

Guyana needs a Development Strategy as a matter of priority

GUYANA needs a Development Strategy as a matter of utmost priority. We cannot continue to move along in the absence of a clear, defined path of what constitutes development: how we are going to get there, and the resources needed to get us there.

Outside of the Feed, Clothe and House Programme (FCHP) during the Forbes Burnham Administration, which had clear guide and timelines on what will be done, how it will be done, and the resources needed to get it done, this country has been without an indigenous development programme.

Importance is being paid to the fact that the FCHP, which was supported by the trade union community, sought to put the people at the centre of our developmental thrust.

In involving the people, it brought about a sense of ownership and appreciation, which

are important ingredients in the development of any country.

The Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), which was conceptualised and executed by the Desmond Hoyte Administration, set out to realign the economy, with the Private Sector being described as the engine of growth consistent with the neo-liberal global push at the time. This ideology, which relaxed regulations and common sense rules of engagement, subordinated the role of the State and the people to that of money, the result of which saw a growing disparity between rich and poor. It should be said that, by its very nature, the private sector’s primary focus is that of making profit, which means that other important considerations -- such as the people and environment -- are often subsumed.

Inasmuch as governments have continuously made the case that they are subjected to the dictates of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and its attendant arms, this did not hold true in 1999 when government was challenged by the workers.

In 1999, Bharrat Jagdeo, as Finance Minister in the Janet Jagan Administration, decided that he would not pay increases to public servants, which led to a 57-day strike by public employees involving four unions.

The strike saw government agreeing to arbitration, and the results that flow therefrom were taken to the IMF, which conceded and agreed that the award should be respected.

This brought an end to the notion that the IMF’s opinions and pronouncements are cast in stone.

The success of the FCHP and the major adjustment on the SAP in 1999 are two cases that should be used as examples in the pursuit of any development in Guyana.

As public statements continue to be made by the APNU+AFC Administration that the country is pursuing development through a Green Economy, it needs to be said that the Green Economy is a macro policy built on three pillars and guided by the Human Development Index. The three pillars: labour policies, sustainable development and the environment, are intertwined and cannot be pursued independent of each other. Most importantly, this policy places people at the centre of development, and measures such in relation to socio- economic, cultural, and political growth and development.

This is the type of conversations and engagements the nation awaits from the political operatives, in order that a programme can be conceptualised, developed and implemented. What we need to know is what a development strategy of such nature would

look like, and how we would garner and utilise our resources (human, natural, capital and money) to this end.

I continue to follow the weekly column in these newspapers addressing the Green Economy. Outside of making known theoretical positions from various authorities for and against this policy, the nation is still to devise an indigenous programme consistent with the policy.

For instance, is Guyana going to pursue alternative medicine as a sustainable development plank, given that we are a highly forested country with several species of plants that have proven desired therapeutic effects? If this is a path that would be pursued, it requires knowing what systems would be put in place -- such as identifying what exists; extracting, replanting, research and development, incentives to those who desire to pursue opportunities in this sector, marketing, and so forth.

These are the conversations that we need to be having. Planting a tree here or there falls short of what the Green Economy Policy dictates. To pursue conversations abstract of what needs to be done, how it will be done, who and what will be involved, means such an economy would never be realised.

It is instructive, as the Green Economy is being touted, last week saw the dismissal of workers employed at the Demerara Timbers Limited for exercising their constitutional right in taking industrial action. Guyana has to be mindful that it would not be allowed to flout internationally acceptable labour policies, which include upholding fundamental rights and freedoms; that is a pillar of the Green Economy.

The time has come to move from the abstract to the concrete.

Hague man found on seashore died from blunt trauma THE post-mortem conducted on the body of 41-year-old Prakash Mahipaul, who was discovered at the Hague, West Coast Demerara (WCD) seawall on Thursday morning, revealed that he died of blunt trauma to the head.

His wife was taken into custody but was subsequently released. Mahipaul’s body was discovered around 11:30 hrs by fishermen who notified the police.

Residents had noted that Mahipaul’s body bore marks of violence when he was found on the seashore.

Dead: Prakash Mahipaul called “Sunil”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

Stakeholders want review of UK ban on greenheart ‒ exports drop to US$1 million THE ban on greenheart exports to the UK saw a dramatic slump in exports to that country, moving from U.S.$3.2 million in 2014 to U.S.$ 1 million last year and stakeholders are about to launch a serious lobby to reverse the decision.

In a statement Saturday evening, the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association (GMSA) and other stakeholders blamed incorrect labelling of Guyana’s forest management practices by activists for the ban.

“Given that markets for tropical forest products are declining and challenging, incorrect labelling of our forest management practices in this negative way can only be detrimental to the future lives and livelihoods of the 25,000 people directly employed in this industry ,” the GMSA and other stakeholders stated.

The ban, which went into effect in May, 2015 and which was imposed by the UK Environment Agency, came as a surprise to the local industry, especially since the private sector and Government were in communication with CPET, the Central Point for Expertise on Timber that advised UK Government Agencies on Timber Procurement Policies for over four years previous to the “note to provide evidence of legality and sustainable timber practices.”

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY The GMSA and other stakeholders noted that because of the need to prove legality and sustainability and meet certification standards, the industry had entered into negotiations under the European Union orogramme for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), which aims to reduce illegal logging by strengthening sustainable and legal forest management, improving governance and promoting trade in legally produced timber.

The stakeholders noted that the consultants to CPET did state that EU FLEGT licensing “would” constitute adequate evidence of Category B compliance, and hence allow exports.

The GMSA and stakeholders noted that while Dr Janet Bulkan - the activist and now member of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) board - pronounces on the sustainability of Greenheart forest harvesting by referring to the studies carried out by Tropenbos in the Bartica Triangle, the UK Environment Agency Technical Note refers to the sustainable forest management of the “Forests of Origin” and not only Greenheart.

“The labelling of Guyana as a ‘pariah’ in tropical forestry flies in the face of overwhelming, independently verified evidence by internationally credible third parties, evidence which is available on line and specifically on the GFC Website for those who wish to be further informed on the hard reality,” the GMSA and other stakeholders noted.

HIGH MARKS They stated that the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) has stated that Guyana was one of only six tropical forest-producing countries in the world practising sustainable forestry management at the forestconcession level.

Further, it noted that Global Forest Watch’s deforestation ranking put Guyana’s periodic deforestation rate at 0.568%, making Guyana the lowest- ranked tropical or largely forested country in the world.

In addition, the stakeholders noted that Yale University Environmental Performance Index in 2016 ranked Guyana 4th worldwide (out of 116 countries) in tree cover loss, behind only Georgia, Vanuatu and Bhutan.

The stakeholders claimed

that the article on the Bartica Triangle references inventories carried out in the forests 40 years and 36 years apart and that during that period, there were no harvesting restrictions such as those applied today.

“There was also a focus by the then concession

noted that integrated log-tagging and log-tracking systems to ensure legality of all timber harvested and rigorous enforcement began 16 years ago.

“Our forest management system is subject to regular, independent forest monitoring; in addition to Guyana welcoming this, it is also a requirement of the agreement with the Kingdom of

borne out by current statistics and practices on the ground, nor the actual conclusions of the authors,” the stakeholders stated.

They noted that the effect of these new regulations on the sustainability of greenheart harvesting was tested in a joint industry/GFC on-theground study in late 2015.

The study did pre-harvest, harvest and post-har-

sions analysed, only 56% of the total merchantable trees inventoried were actually harvested, clearly indicating, given Greenheart growth rates and present forest- management prescriptions, that current Greenheart harvesting practices are more than sustainable in the ecological sense of the word.

“The facts and figures highlight the great efforts

holders on harvesting just greenheart, a practice that is not allowed under current management practices and regulations,” the stakeholders noted.

However, currently, the annual allowable cut is capped at 20 m3 per hectare over a 60-year cycle – operators can choose a shorter cutting cycle, but the allowable cut is reduced proportionally to compensate.

In addition, via an inclusive, transparent consultation mechanism, a Code of Practice for Forest Harvesting was developed that embraced the best principles and practices of Reduced Impact Logging and other requirements enshrined in current forest- management regulations.

The stakeholders also

Norway,” the stakeholders noted, referring to Guyana’s US$250 million forest-saving deal.

The stakeholders said that Guyana would not have received any funding for avoided deforestation from Norway if the forest- regulatory environment was considered a “pariah.”

Low deforestation They stated that Guyana has the third lowest deforestation rate in the world and of that, according to data released for 2015, forest operations contribute only 1 % of the yearly total annual deforestation in Guyana.

“In particular, the accusation of over harvesting and unsustainable practices in our forests based on the Bartica Triangle report cited are not

vest inventories in five blocks (100 ha each) in five different concessions; it further analysed pre-harvest inventories and harvesting data over 67,100 hectares in 16 timber concessions around the country and found that in the five blocks where pre-harvest, harvest and post- harvest inventories were done, 2,630 Greenheart trees were inventoried. Only 822 were actually harvested, leaving 1,808 Greenheart trees for the next harvest cycle in 60 years. In addition, a further 2,082 Greenheart trees would have grown to a harvestable size by the next cutting cycle, giving a total harvestable volume by the year 2075 of 3,890.

In the data from the 67,100 ha in 16 conces-

that both the industry and the Government has made to ensure sustainable forest management of our forests for our future generations and that in an ecological sense, our forests are being sustainably managed, an effort clearly verified through abundant, independent, third-party analysis and certification,” the stakeholders stated.

As such, the stakeholders in the forestry sector appealed for persons to ensure that their analysis and conclusions are based on facts, especially if they will be published and that doing otherwise, is being totally irresponsible and unfair -- to the sector, rural communities, and to Guyana.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

British couple on world tour explores Guyana

IN June 2015, David Nicholas was involved in a serious motorcycle accident in his hometown in the United Kingdom. The accident resulted in his left leg being amputated. It was a wake–up call for David and his partner Kerry that they really needed to travel the world.

Today they are in Guyana, exploring the beauty of the country’s rich flora and fauna and the hospitality which they described as “beyond what we expected.” Their aim is to travel within all 10 administrative regions of the country.

The couple, who are parents to three grown sons, left England in July this year for Brazil. At the end of September, the Guyana Chronicle encountered the British couple in Nickerie, Suriname, and after several days in the Dutch-speaking country, they crossed over to Guyana.

Their journey started in late July when they travelled to Rio in Brazil. They said that they subscribed to Airbnb network, a privately-owned online marketplace that enables people to list, find, then rent vacation homes for a processing fee. The network has over 2,000,000 listings in 34,000 cities and 191 countries. It was founded in August 2008 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

While in Brazil, they stayed at the homes of several persons for several weeks and even checked out the Rio Olympic Games while there. They also visited the Paralympic Games and David’s aim at that event was to find a technical official to assist him in adjusting his prosthetic leg. At the time also, Kerry was given an opportunity to volunteer as a teacher to persons who could not speak English. Most

of her work was done at the “favelas”, the depressed areas on the hillsides of the busy city.

But their plan to travel the continent was on their minds, hence they planned, at the time, to travel as far north as possible, which would lead them to these shores.

According to the couple, Venezuela was never really in their tourism plans as they cited the economic situation there. As time progressed, they decided to move on to Suriname and were able to move around the country as they learnt about the Maroon tribes there through an acquaintance.

They visited a Maroon village, Pikien Santi , outside Paramaribo. They spent several days with the Maroons before moving west to Nickerie, the border district on the edge of the Corentyne River. While there, they encountered this publication and noted their interest in travelling to Guyana.

“We heard about Guyana and someone said don’t go to this place or that place in Georgetown, but we find it totally different,“ Kerry said of the capital city. The couple explained that persons advised them of the “depressed areas” in the city; but according to them, they are eager to find out what Guyana has to offer.

“We went to the city, downtown by the bus terminal, someone took us to Demerara House (Demico House ) and we love the architecture of the city,” said David, adding “we found out that the Route 32 buses take you to Parika , so there you go”.

But the couple plans to explore the country and this weekend they were set to travel to Lethem in the Rupununi by air and move on to the Surama village before settling for a few

Kerry about to make tea during the couple’s stay with the Maroons

Kerry and David pose with a Maroon chief , Boisa Pinas , during their visit to Suriname days at the Iwokrama Centre.

The couple noted that they were anticipating an informative and exciting trip to the Rupununi , and they are expected to travel back to the city by road several days later.

“We want to see what it’s like by road,” said David, noting that they’ve worked hard over the years. They both agreed that life is not only about working.

Once in the capital city, the couple plans to head north, and their trip would culminate at

Moruca in the North West District. They will then leave Guyana and return to Brazil where they are expected to spend Christmas.

Now in their mid-50s, for years they always had big plans to travel the world and see what other countries have to offer tourists.

David’s accident was the start of their move and as time goes by, they expressed the hope that they can tell their grandchildren stories of people who live in other countries, including Guyana.

Maroon descendants washing their clothing at the riverside

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

Granger: Gov’t committed to ensuring transparent contract awards

WITH the swearing in of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) expected later this month, President David Granger has said that his administration is committed to ensuring greater vigilance and scrutiny of infrastructural projects and awarding of contracts to eliminate opportunities for corruption and cronyism at all levels.

The Head of State said, during an interview at State House on Friday, that the establishment of the PPC is very important, as it will create a more transparent process for the award of contracts.

“It will remove from Cabinet the obligation of sorting out contracts, so it will be a transparent process. We haven’t been able to swear in the commission as yet for administrative reasons, but I am confident this will be done during the month of October. When the coalition parties were in opposition it was something we fought for and now we have it,” he said.

The President added that when it comes to the sourcing and management of Government rentals, his administration has taken note of the potential problems of having this done by individual ministries.

“We are aware that there have been complaints of the way in which contracts have been awarded for the rental of buildings. Cabinet has decided that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure will be the authority. So if a ministry needs a building …it is Public Infrastructure which will inspect the building and make recommendations on the rent that has to be paid. It wouldn’t be, any longer, the responsibility of the ministry to deal with contractors or landlords,” the President said.

Speaking on the supervision of contractual obligations, the President pointed out that his administration had inherited a number of infrastructural projects that were poorly constructed. “I am not suggesting that there was corruption, but there was a lack of enforcement of government policy and a lack of supervision, now this administration has to pick up the tab,” he said.

The President listed the defective Kato Secondary School in Region Eight, the US$350 million bridge at Hope, East Bank Demerara, which needs significant rehabilitative works, the

abandoned building at High and Princess Streets, which was built to serve the then Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, as well as several other projects around the country as examples of faulty projects, which have been inherited from the previous administration.

“In every area we have had problems of infrastructure - how contracts were awarded, how work was supervised. They have been subject to audits. People have criticised us for audits, but they have helped us to understand how the errors were made and it is our job to use the findings of those audits to correct those errors and to make sure there is no reoccurrence,” the President said.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr David Patterson, said that his ministry has reviewed these projects and is working to fix the errors in order to get the best results possible. “We are accountable as a government, irrespective of who started the project and how badly they were done.

We have to be accountable.

We cannot abandon them… unless they are grossly inadequate.

“Most of them we have tried to salvage, some of them had totally poor planning and were irrelevant and had to be terminated, but we try to rework them as best as we can and to get best value for money,” the minister said.

President Granger has emphasised that development of the overall infrastructural standards around the country is a priority for this administration, and several major projects have been implemented within the last year alone.

Minister Patterson said that there are currently 70 major projects on-going around the country aimed at improving the overall road and bridge networks, the sea and river defence, as well as drainage infrastructure in several parts of the country. Chief among these include works on the US$44 million West Bank Demerara road from Vreeden-Hoop to Hydronie and the Sea and River Defence Resilience Project, which are both expected to be completed in 2018, works on the East Bank Demerara highway, which is expected to be completed by yearend, and works on the road from Mahdia to Bartica, which is expected to be completed next year.

The minister added

that there are also other community-based projects being conducted in various parts of the country, which all contribute to about 34 ‘last lap’ projects which are to be completed by year-end. To ensure that there is accountability and transparency in the award of these contracts, however, he said that there have been significant adjustments made within his ministry to streamline the process.

“We have come a long way… we have reviewed the process from top to bottom. We have prequalified a lot of new contractors.

We advertise publicly and for the first time we are looking at the previous performance of contractors. So contractors who were delinquent prior will have to pay penalties. Contractors who were good will be encouraged to continue bidding,” he said. Other measures include the practice of holding both consultants and contractors responsible for errors,and the introduction of a Bid Protest Committee, which allows contractors to protest bids. The minister stated that the committee also has the power of debarment, which allows delinquent contractors to be barred from accessing contracts if deemed necessary.

“We have also placed an engineer in every region. We used to be primarily located in Georgetown, but now we are in every region to ensure contractors do what they are supposed to do, “he said.

Minister Patterson said that the process has thus far been fully transparent, adding that no contractor is favoured but is instead judged solely on ability. Additionally, he said that government understands that small and medium-scale contractors should also be supported, which has resulted in the restriction of large contractors from bidding on small and medium-sized projects. The minister also ensured that the smaller contractors will also get a chance to receive contracts for the “last lap” jobs that will be conducted by year-end.

Even with these efforts by the ministry, President Granger has said that the public can be assured that with the commissioning of the PPC, there will be greater transparency with regard to the award of contracts and other related matters, stating that it is something that his administration had fought for even before acceding to office.

(Ministry of the Presidency)

Architect Davendra Doodnauth of Rodrigues Architects Ltd. points out a structural defect during a tour of the Kato Secondary School construction project.

It is estimated that it will cost $140 million to fix the defects

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

ACDA urges plan of action to honour People of African Descent

THE African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) is calling on the Government to implement the programme of action of the United Nations’ Decade of People of African Descent, which the body says can best be achieved by the establishment of a secretariat.

A release from ACDA has said the secretariat would

create the structure conductive to creating the plan of action. That release, which pertains to African Holocaust Day/MAAFA on October 12, noted that the commemorative even would this year be hosted on October 12 under the theme ‘Seeking Preparatory Justice for the African Holocaust through Development’.

According to ADCA, on

October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus ventured into this part of the world and started what it described as “the unbridled discrimination of indigenous peoples and cultures throughout the world”, in that Columbus’s “discovery” ushered in chattel slavery.

ACDA says that slavery annihilated Africa, African cultures, African family

structures, African institutions, African commerce, African growth, African history, African Pride and African economic development. “The global stench of racial discrimination was born and nurtured during this infamous period of abhorrent barbarism against African and indigenous peoples everywhere”, the body said.

ACDA notes that such

conditions still exist, and have been recognised by the United Nations in its Declaration 68/237. ACDA said the declaration states: “People of African descent were victims of slavery, the slave trade, and colonialism, and continue to be victims of their consequences”.

ACDA notes that the UN declaration states: “They (African people) constitute the poorest and most marginalized groups”, and “Recognizing that poverty is both a cause and a consequence of discrimination, States (Governments) should, as appropriate, adopt or strengthen national programmes for eradicating poverty and reducing social exclusion that take account of the specific needs and experiences of people of African

descent,” Noting that the declaration also recognises that the effects of the MAAFA are still evident, ACDA has called on the APNU+AFC Government to move with haste to implement the programme of action of the UN’s Decade of People of African Descent.

The body is inviting the public to join with its members at the Seawall Bandstand on Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 at 11am as the group honours and remembers “with great respect, pain and grief” the Africans who died during the Middle Passage, and the millions more who suffered the meanest of fates under slavery. High tide is at 1:12 pm, ACDA said, and floral tributes are encouraged.

Linden teachers don school uniforms to mark Teacher’s Week

Teachers, dressed in school uniforms, during a march to observe Teacher’s Week

LINDEN teachers on Friday marched and danced on the streets of Mackenzie in brightly-coloured costumes and school uniforms, attracting spectators at every corner of the route.

The march started at the Constabulary Hall and ended at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, where a cultural extravaganza and rally awaited them.

The event saw the participation of scores of teachers from nursery, primary and secondary schools across Linden as they showcased their creative costumes, banners and dance choreography in anticipation of grabbing prizes which were up for grabs.

According to Regional Education Officer Marcia Paddy, this year’s week of activities was well supported and was bigger and better than previous years.

She revealed that teachers across the region enjoyed

a church service that took place on Sunday, a cook-out competition on Thursday and teachers in concert on Wednesday.

All of the activities were well supported as schools were closed to accommodate them.

“This year we saw more teachers participating and of course we are on time and it is bigger and better,” Paddy said.

One teacher said that it was indeed a pleasure to have a break from the hard work for the week.

“I am just enjoying myself. Today is our day, it is our week and it’s time for us to celebrate,” she stated, dancing to the music blaring from boom boxes.

Teachers in Guyana held various activities in observance of Teacher’s Week and more specifically World Teachers Day, which was observed on Wednesday.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

Non-tax overtime, 6.5% increase for Bosai workers EMPLOYEES of the bauxite company Bosai Minerals Group Incorporated have begun to receive nontaxed overtime.

This was met with great elation, as the workers, especially those working 12hour shifts, were anxiously anticipating the day when no taxes would be levied on their overtime.

The workers will also receive salary increases of 6.5 per cent retroactive to April 1, 2016. This money will be payable in the new week.

This follows an agreement reached between the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and representatives of the company. The agreement would be in force until March 31, 2017.

The workers, in August, had protested for nothing less than a nine per cent increase, since they were to receive a 6.5 per cent increase in 2015, but that did not materialize. One worker, satisfied with the increase, told the Guyana Chronicle that it is better than nothing, and would go a far way.

“I happy about it, because it better than nothing and will help out a lot, especially the retroactive that supposed to pay next week.”

Another worker, dissatisfied with the increase, said the employees were looking for nothing less than nine per cent, but the increase is better than the 4.5 per cent that management was offering at the time of their protest.

“They could have done better, because is long we fighting for more; but I am more happy about the tax waiver, because on a big week a man will be carrying home like $7,000 more,” he reasoned.

The decision to not tax the overtime earnings of employees was announced by Government last December.

Tax-free concession on overtime work was implemented in 1988, and was enjoyed by workers up until 2007, when it was discontinued by the PPP/C government.

With the change, it means that workers will receive tax-free overtime for every hour worked after 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week.

Sunday, October 9, 2016 - 10:30 hrs Monday, October 10, 2016 - 12:00 hrs Tuesday, October 11, 2016 - 13:30 hrs

President of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union, Lincoln Lewis, has expressed elation at the announcement. “It has been a long struggle. The workers will welcome this decision,” he said.

Though Bosai workers are celebrating the increase and tax exemption, they continue to call for more benefits, including more vacation time for veteran workers, meals allowances, and retirement benefits.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

Imlach keeps East Bank in the hunt ...

From back page

came in, were eventually bowled out for 217, half an hour before the second interval.

The left-handed Yadram hardly played a false stroke in 205 minutes at the crease, and against an older ball on a true pitch, he single-handedly rebuilt the innings with sound and stylish shot-making.

The visitors buckled down to their task on a slow, dry-looking pitch and dismissed both openers Bhaskar Yadram and Keon Roberts,along with First-class batsman Chanderpaul Hemraj,in less than an hour of play.

Sherfane Rutherford (4-39) and Steven Harris (2-58), both bowled with great control to pile on much misery on the hosts, picking up the first three wickets.

The 18-year-old Rutherford removed Yadram (33), while Harris dismissed Roberts (22) and Hemraj (4),but could not,however,do the trick to

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remove the 22-year-old, Yadram during his 165-ball knock.

His innings featured both aggression and maturity, counting ten fours and three sixes. He was never hesitant to step out and hit the spinners, and at the same time was equal to the task in finding the gaps.

Ya d r a m a d d e d 3 0 f o r t h e fourth-wicket with Amir Khan (20),and 66 for the sixth-wicket with Paul Wintz (23), but after those two partnerships, the remainder of innings belonged to the home boy Yadram.

He continued to bat with typical aplomb and reached his hundred with a single off left-arm unorthodox spinner Totaram Bishun (2-62), off 157 balls.

During Yadram’s milestone, the hosts lost Khan, Ramnarine Chatura (1), Wintz, Rohan Mangal (0) and Gavin Moriah (0);bringing the innings quickly came to an end.

The visitors were then undermined by pacer Wintz who produced a brilliant opening spell to claim 4-41 off nine

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CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday October 09, 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:

Ian Bishop (52); Malcolm Marshall (43); Carl Hooper (40); Michael Holding (26) 125

Today’s Quiz:

Where and when did the WI and PAK first play to a tie in an ODI game?

Who were the captains involved in the just-concluded WI/PAK ODI series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

overs.

The top order failed to show any sort of commitment with the bat, and were reduced to 56-5, with Wintz claiming the wickets of Deonarine Seegobin (1), Stephan Brown (19), Mark Rhobe (1) and Danny Narine (0), while Gavin Moriah accounted for Rutherford (10).

But just when the hosts thought they had the game,wicket-keeper Imlach and Shun took charge until the end of the day’s play.

Meanwhile, summarised scores from the other games are as follows: At Port Mourant, tournament winners Lower Corentyne amassed a mammoth 649/9 declared in reply to West Berbice’s 174 all out yesterday. At Tuschen, Romario Shephard’s 8/49 rattled Essequibo as the folded for 134 all out after resuming on their overnight score of 87/3. At GCC, Bourda, Georgetown resuming on their overnight 116/2,were dismissed for 216.

Matches continue today from 09:30

Courts/Petra Pee-Wee football…

Thirty-Three goals scored on opening day UNDER-11 action in the Annual Courts Pee-Wee football tournament got going at Thirst Park yesterday with a total of 33 goals being scored.

In the first game, Winfer Gardens beat Maes 3-1,after a double from Orlando Dickie (21st and 24th) while Makhaya Munroe’s 12 th minute strike sealed the game. Joshua Bendtick (28th) scored a consolidation goal.

Game two was a one-sided affair with St Pius getting past Smith Memorial 4-0, thanks to Tiquan Thompson’s double (12th and 26th) while support came from Deshale Humphrey (2nd) and Tyrese Lyte (17th).

The third game between West Ruimveldt and St. Margaret’s ended in favour of the former, thanks to a goal each from Kevin Mentus (27th), Ta-

frel McAllister (31st) and Tyrese Jeffrey (38th) ,while J.E. Burham needled Enterprise through Dominick Leacock (12th) Game five saw its decider come from Jermaine DeRouche in the 8th minute as he led Tucville to a 1-0 win over St. Gabriel’s ,while another drubbing came when St Angela’s beat St. Ambrose 4-0 thanks to a hat trick from Seon Cato (6th, 14th and 21st) and Antonio McArthur (26th) Marian Academy won against School of the Nations via Walk-over while North Georgetown, led by Shaquan Wallers (5th, 22nd, 25th and 26th) over ran Success Elementary 4-0.

Stella Maris through Fedel Norville (6th, 27th and 28 th), Jevon Pluck (7th and 21st) and Jaden Wharton (24th), beat Rama Krishna 6-0,while Redeemer needled St Agnes through Miguel Alexander (29th) South Ruimveldt mauled Comenius Primary 5-0 with strikes from Nashawn Bristol (4th), Saleem Rameshwar (8th and 17th), and Antonio Leitch (21st and 24th) while a stalemate ensued between St. Stephens and F.E. Pollard.

(Stephan Sookram)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

West Indies Vs Pakistan: Azam, Nawaz drafted into test side

(ESPNCRICINFO) - MIDDLE-order batsman Babar Azam and left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz earned maiden Test call-ups, for

the first Test against West Indies in the UAE. Azam’s selection came right after he scored three consecutive centuries in Pakistan’s 3-0

ODI whitewash over West Indies.

Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood

were the players left out of the group that went to England this summer, as Pakistan named a 14-man squad for the Dubai Test from Oc-

Babar Azam performs the sajdah (prostration) after scoring his third successive ton, Pakistan v West Indies, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi tober 13. Younis Khan had already been ruled out of the fixture, Pakistan’s maiden day-night Test, because he was recovering from dengue.

The squad contained only five specialist batsmen in Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Azam, Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq, meaning Pakistan are likely to play Sarfraz Ahmed at No. 6, and allrounder Nawaz at No. 7 or go in with five specialist bowlers.

Chief selector Inzamamul-Haq acknowledged that Pakistan have been struggling to find quality allrounders and hoped Nawaz could be the answer. “We have been searching for one who can bat in the lower order and bowl as well. And if you look at Nawaz, he has got a good first-class record. It shows he has been promising with the bat and has competed as a bowler.”

Nawaz has 1440 runs and 44 wickets, including three centuries and a seven-wicket haul, across 29 first-class matches.

Azam, 21, was picked in the squad after a prolific run in one-day cricket for Pakistan this year, scoring 656 runs in 11 innings at an average of 59 and strike rate of 95.

He made his ODI debut in the home series against Zimbabwe in May 2015,

and has 886 runs in 18 matches. Azam averages 41.13 in first-class cricket, having scored 1522 runs in 41 innings for five different teams.

Hafeez played three Tests on the tour of England, making 102 runs in six innings, before he was dropped for the last match at The Oval, which Pakistan won to draw the series 2-2. He played the one-off ODI against Ireland and the first one against England before he suffered a leg injury and returned home. After recovering Hafeez was asked by the selectors to play in the Quaide-Azam trophy, Pakistan’s first-class competition, and he made 68 in both innings of his first game for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines.

Inzamam said this was because they didn’t want the players sitting on the bench for too long. “Those who are good but weren’t able to perform in England, we made them to play in firstclass cricket. We didn’t want them to waste their time on the bench but rather they play some cricket get themselves back into form.”

Hafeez earned a spot in the PCB Patron’s XI against the West Indians in Sharjah, but he made a duck in the first innings and was left out of the Test squad.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

India vs New Zealand 3rd test …

Kohli, Rahane put India in driver’s seat (ESPNCricinfo)- An unbroken partn e r s h i p o f 1 6 7 b e t w e e n Vi r a t Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, the highest of the series so far, put India in control at the end of Indore’s first day of Test cricket. Kohli ended the day on 103, his 13th Test hundred. It was by no means his most enthralling innings, but it was utterly dominant in that he gave New Zealand no inch on a largely attritional day. Rahane, less certain, gutsed it out to stay unbeaten on 79 and India 267 for 3.

Having come together at 100 for 3, with the match in the balance, Kohli and Rahane gradually asserted India’s dominance in front of an enthusiastic crowd numbering over 18,000. Having started watchfully they added 48 in 20 overs before tea.They grew increasingly fluent, scoring 119 in the final session in 34 overs, at exactly threeand-a-half runs per over.

All five of New Zealand’s bowlers bowled with disciplined and had wellthought-out plans, but there was little help for them on a pitch that wasn’t the greatest to look at, with cracks all over its surface,

but played more or less true on the first day, if a little slow. The off-spinner,Jeetan Patel,was their best bowler but his figures - 1 for 65 off 24 overs - told a different story: he frequently beat the batsmen in the air, but they usually managed to adjust since the ball didn’t turn all that much or all that quickly once it landed.

Kohli came into the match with scores of 44, 3, 4, 9, 18, 9 and 45 in his last seven Test innings, but the last of them, in Kolkata, had been a superb display of footwork and judgement on a pitch with uneven bounce.

It suggested he wasn’t really out of form.

Again, in Indore, he avoided the extravagant shots that had got him out in his first three innings of the series, and accumulated steadily, blending into the background for most part. He didn’t offer any clear chances, and the two times he edged the ball, it eluded the fielders: on 39, drift caused him to edge Patel between keeper and slip; on 69, he reached out at a wide-ish length ball from James Neesham, and edged through a vacant first slip.

SCOREBOARD

Hamilton storms out of press conference -criticises ‘disrespectful’ media

(BBC) - Lewis Hamilton says he is going to minimise his appearances at news conferences over what he says is a lack of respect from the media.The move follows criticism he received for his behaviour in a news conference.

In it, Hamilton posted images of himself and a fellow driver on Snapchat with bunny faces and gave minimal answers.He said it was intended as “a super light-hearted thing” and what was written was “more disrespectful”.

As a result, he said: “Unfortunately the decision I will take unfortunately affects those who have been super-supportive, so that is why I am saying it with the utmost respect.

“But I don’t really plan on sitting here many more times for these kind of things. So my apologies and I hope you guys enjoy the rest of your weekend.”

He then walked out of the news conference. His remarks came in his usual news

conference in the Mercedes area in the paddock at the Japanese Grand Prix after qualifying.

Hamilton is under pressure to win Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix to claw back the world title points deficit to Nico Rosberg The world champion qualified second for Sunday’s race behind team-mate Nico Rosberg, who has a 23-point advantage in the championship with five races to go and 125 points still available.

Hamilton said: “I’m not here to answer your questions, I’ve decided. With the utmost respect, there are many of you here who are super-supportive of me and they hopefully know I know who they are”.

“There are others(who) unfortunately often takes advantage of certain things. The other day was a super light-hearted thing, and if I was disrespectful to any of you guys, or if you felt I was disrespectful, it was honestly not the intention. It was just a little bit of fun.

“But what was more disrespectful was

Hamilton included Carlos Sainz in the “super light-hearted” fun on Snapchat (BBC photo) what was then written worldwide.”

Hamilton did not specify which particular articles he was offended by, and Mer-

cedes said they did not know. The team did not know Hamilton was planning to make his statement.

Rugby Championship: South Africa 15-57 New Zealand (BBC) - New Zealand inflicted South Africa’s heaviest home defeat as they equalled their own record of 17 straight Test wins with a 57-15 rout in Durban.

The All Blacks ran in nine tries with TJ Perenara, in for Aaron Smith after he was dropped for

meeting a woman in a toilet cubicle, scoring twice.

New Zealand’s victory completes a clean sweep in the Rugby Championship.

The world champions will set a new Test record for successive wins if they beat Australia in Auckland on 22 October.

The King’s Park scoreboard registers New Zealand’s highest ever score against the Springboks, bettering the 55 points they scored in a 1997 victory New Zealand’s current run began in the wake of a 27-19 loss to the Wallabies in Sydney in August 2015.

But few will bet on their trans-Tasman rivals denying them a piece of history given the All Blacks’ imperious form when they meet in the third and final Bledisloe Cup match of the season in a fortnight.

The visitors led by a slender 12-9 at the interval, with fly-half Beaud-

en Barrett struggling to find his kicking range and his team-mates having been uncharacteristically wasteful after creating openings.

But Steven Hansen’s men roared clear in the second half with Barrett and winger Israel Dagg joining Perenara in cross-

ing twice.

Australia meet Argentina at London’s Twickenham Stadium on Saturday evening in the first Rugby Championship match to be staged in the northern hemisphere and the final fixture of this season’s competition

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

Eastman wins Hand-in-Hand feature 35-lap cycle race

IN-FORM Hamza Eastman yesterday stopped the clock at one hour, 17 minutes 02.16 seconds to win the feature 35-lap event of the Hand-in-Hand Insurance sponsored 11-race cycle programme in the National Park.

After breaking from the main pack along with Christopher Griffith with 14 laps remaining, Eastman was unstoppable as he and Griffith controlled the pace of the race and together opened

a lead of approximately 350 metres from the main chasing pack with 10 laps remaining and they continued to work in tandem.

Coming for the finish, Eastman passed Griffith with 60 metres remaining and won by a handsome margin.

Griffith finished second and Shaquille Agard outsprinted Paul DeNobrega for third while Michael Anthony was too good for Jamal John who took fifth

CAC athletes highlight GABBFF year THE recent medal-winning performances of Guyanese athletes at this year’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) games has been dubbed as the highlight performance for the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation for 2016.

During a press conference on Friday at Olympic House, GABBFF president,Kevon Bess,boasted of his team’s performance at the recently concluded tournament in the Dominican Republic.

According to Bess, “The federation is very much overjoyed and we see it as a step in the right place for the athletes.

I hope the success that we would have been able to present to Guyana would have established the road map that we would have put in place.”

He noted that the athletes are continually raising the bar when it comes to competitions not only on the local front, but also on the regional and international stage.

Reigning Mr Guyana, Kerwin Clarke,who grasped that elusive gold medal,was also in high praise on the day, with Bess also reminding that athletes need to be recognized and appreciated.

Clarke copped gold in the light heavyweight category while compatriot Bruce Whatley earned gold in the master’s category and silver in the flyweight category.

Devon Davis, a former three times gold medallist and one time silver medallist,took bronze in the Bantamweight category with the other silver medal going to reigning Mr. Physique,Emmerson Campbell.

Bess also noted that 2016 was Guyana’s most successful year at the CAC,with them earning the most medals in its tournament history among other things.

“We are now in position of another certified judge(with) the likes of Mr Franklyn Brisport,who was the manager of the team. I am also proud that we have in Guyana now another CAC certified judge.This will add to the development of (the)sport of bodybuilding in Guyana.”

Meanwhile, it was not all smooth sailing for the medal-laden team,having their fair share of hiccups on the voyage home through their carrier of choice,Insel Air,who came under fire for poor service.

“As a result of the incompetence by the Insel Air service team, I was informed that Ms Alisha Fortune, Mr. Devon Davis and Mr Franklyn Brisport,were made to even sleep at the airport.”

“As an airline service operating out of Guyana,they should have done more to ensure(that) the athletes going to represent Guyana were better treated;and I think as an airline that want to operate out of Guyana, they need to upgrade their services after athletes would have competed and endured long hours of dehydration,” he added. (Stephan Sookram)

and sixth respectively.

Of the eight prime prizes that were on offer during the event, Junior Niles,who broke from the pack from the start of the race,won the first two but was pulled back into the pack during the 10th lap and this allowed Stephano Husbands to claim third.

John then took the fourth prime before Eastman outsprinted his rivals to take the sixth.

Eastman, while in com-

pany with Griffith at the head of affairs, claimed another two primes.

In other results, Dwayne Gibbs Jr won the 10-lap race for juveniles ahead of Adelaie Hodge and Mario Ellis respectively, while Jaikaran Sukhai won the five-lap race for veterans’ under 50 years of age.

Andrew Spencer was the winner of the five-lap race for veterans’ over 50 years of age.

The BMX boys 6-9

years old two-lap race was won by Alexander Leung.

Second was Taried Barrington and finishing third was Jose Rodrigues.

The three-lap race for BMX boys 12-14 years of age was won by Taran Garbarran. Second was Marcus Mars.

Jeremiah Harrison won the BMX boys 9-12 years old two-lap race ahead of Zab Jones and Shay SueHang respectively.

Prior to the presentation

of prizes to the respective winners, race coordinator Hassan Mohamed thanked the participants and noted that they are all winners as without their participation, there would not have been a programme on yesterday.

Hand-in-Hand’s Marketing Coordinator,Andrea Jodhan-Khan,also thanked the participants for their presence and committed the company’s continued sponsorship of the event.

10 member team to officiate Dutch colony table tennis championships TEN umpires who were recently accredited by the International table Tennis Federation (ITTF)departed Guyana on the 6th October 2016 overland for Suriname to officiate in the 1st Dutch Colony Table Tennis

the best among the former Dutch colonies.

According to President of the Suriname Table Tennis Association,Mr. Desire Hooghart, the tournament will become an annual feature hosted on a rotational

an opportunity for the umpires to further harness their skills moving along a path towards becoming International umpires , which will make them more eligible to officiate in international competitions around the world . The

which the sport must be built and made representation to the ITTF to host a Umpires and referees workshop earlier this year , with a central view to increase the amount of persons with tournament coordination and umpiring

The ten umpires who are in Suriname for the annual Dutch Colony Table Tennis championships championships scheduled for the 7th -8th Oct. in Paramaribo Suriname.

The team consists of:Ryan Narine, Shavin Greene, Debra Bacchus, Xenophiah, Maurice Cummings, Candace Mc Kenzie, Raynor Hilary Anderson, Waren Hackshaw and Leona Kyte The tournament will be played among teams from Suriname, Curacao, Aruba, and Bonaire in team singles, doubles and mix doubles events to determine who is

basis aimed at further developing the sport in the former Dutch colonies and with a view to making those countries competitive internationally.

In an unprecedented first for Guyana, the 10 umpires who were recently certified under the ITTF basic Umpire and Referee training program conducted by Ms Silvia Garro,will form the nucleus of officials who will officiate in the competition.

The tournament provides

engagement will truly serve to enhance and improve the tournament coordination capacity in Guyana Further,the presence of theses umpires is key to Guyana presenting a good representation at this forum which is critical to paving the way for more umpires to be selected from Guyana for future international engagements by the ITTF. The GTTA identifies tournament coordination and umpiring as key pillars upon

skills and to raise the standard and profile of the sport.

The Competition got underway yesterday morning and from all reports the Guyanese are doing a splendid job Later in the year,the GTTA will be sending a few representatives to a Competition Manager program organized by the ITTF which will be conducted in Barbados.The program is scheduled for December 2016.

27

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 9, 2016

NSBF finals on today -Kwakwani, Marian Academy among finalists

By Daniel Haynes THE semi-final round of the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) National Schools’ Basketball Festival (NSBF) came to a close yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with 8 games played on the night and three remaining up to press time.

In the first game of the night, Mackenzie High School took out Marian Academy 33-16 in an U-14 e n c o u n t e r. M a c k e n z i e looked the superior side leading by 10 points at the half-way stage 16-6, before turning on the jets en-route to 33-16. Kobe Tappin led the way with 7 points. For Marian Academy, It was Jether Harris who topped scored with 6 points in a losing cause.

The second game of the night saw Kwakwani girls defeating Bishops’ High Girls 23-12. The game, which was even up until the halfway point, proved to be a good showing for the Kwakwani side who are expected to go home with the trophy. It was Kennesha Leacock who topped scored with 10 points and had 5 steals in the win. For Bishops,’ Kesann Charles turned in 6 points in the losing effort.

In the third semi-final of the day, Kwakwani Secondary continued its winning ways, this time in the U-14

England’s Women edge Windies’ Women by 5 runs in 1st ODI

By BRIJ PARASNATH

MacKenzie’s Yannick Tappin sinking the first of two free-throws to send his team through to the finals (Daniel Haynes photo) category,knocking off Bishops’ High 45-12. Kadeem Dover topped all scores with 11 and was supported by David Conway’s 9 points. Darren Hinds had 8 points for the Bishops’ side.

Marian Academy girls also moved into the finals with a four- point win over President’s College 13-9,through a combination of Jada Moan and Georgiana Vyphuis,who scored 5 and 6 points respectively. Demelza Thomas led the losers.

The first U-16 semi-final proved to be the most exciting game up to that point,with Mackenzie High recording a 3-point win over Plaisance Academy 45-42. Up to this point, Plaisance were considered title contenders after knocking off the defending champions in their last game.

Both teams had high-powered offenses with Plaisance being led by Nigel Bowen and Andrew Johnson. For Mackenzie it

was Yannick Tappin who led the way with 16 points, inclusive of two freethrows down the stretch to ice the game for Mackenzie. For Plaisance, it was Bowen and Johnson who had 16 and 15 respectively, in the losing effort .

The finals will be played today in the girls U-14, U-16 and U-19 categories. The tournament is sponsored by Digicel, Banks DIH Limited and The Beharry Group of Companies.

Brathwaite, Bravo steer West Indies

Kraigg Brathwaite scored 55 off 131 deliveries © AFP

(ESPNCricinfio) - Darren Bravo and Kraigg Brathwaite found some form with the bat on the second day of the West Indies tour game against the PCB Patrons XI. Both batsmen struck fifties and shared an 82-run partnership for the second wicket as the West Indies ended the day on 174 for 2 in response to the PCB Patrons XI score of 308.

Bravo was unbeaten at stumps on 73 off 178 deliveries, having anchored the side through his partnerships with Brathwaite and Shai Hope (58 for the third wicket). He struck 12 fours and two sixes, while Brathwaite, who scored 55 off 131 deliveries, struck four fours before he was dismissed. Leon Johnson was the only other West Indian batsman to be dismissed on the day, falling to

Ahmed Jamal for 11.

Earlier, PCB Patrons XI resumed from an overnight score of 241 for 5 and went on to hit 67 runs off nearly 14 overs before being bowled out for 308. Adnan Akmal, who was unbeaten on 26 overnight, took the lead, scoring 69 off 67 balls with 10 fours.

He had support from Asif Zakir,as the pair stretched their overnight partnership of 34 runs to 85 before the stand was broken by Devendra Bishoo. The pair scored at a rate of 4.81 and were eventually dismissed in successive overs with the total close to 300.

Bishoo, who had taken three wickets on the first day, completed his five-for and conceded 107 runs, while Holder took the remaining three wickets on the second day.

ENGLAND’S experienced medium pacer Katherine Brunt,together with left-arm spinners Sophie Ecclestone and Alexandra Hartley,combined to spark England’sWomen team to a thrilling five-run win over their West Indian counterparts in their first One-Day International contested at the Trelawny Stadium, Florence Hall, Jamaica,yesterday.

England’s players jumped for joy while celebrating victory in the closely-contested match.

West Indies bowlers Deandra Dottin (5-0-21-3), Anisa Mohammed (6-0-17-2), Amy Fletcher (101-21-2), Shaquana Quintyne (7.1-0-25-1), Stafanie Taylor (5-1-19-1), Shamilia Connell (10-0-28-0) and Evra Giddings (6-0-15-0) did well to restrict England’s prolific run-getters to 149 all out in 49.1 overs.

With such an easy target for victory, the West Indian batters struggled to dominate the two leftarm spinners Ecclestone and Hartley,after getting a solid start from openers Hayley Matthews (26) and Shaquana Quintyne (25),who together posted 53 runs off 15.1 overs for the opening partnership.

West Indies lost all ten wickets for an addition of 91 runs and most of the players will suffer psychologically having missed a golden opportunity to take the initiative and an early lead in the five-match series.

Guyanese,Shemaine Campbell,remained undefeated on 24 which included one six and two fours off 37 deliveries,and at one time it seemed as if she would have been able to carry West Indies over the victory target. But she got very limited support from the lower order as West Indies folded up for 144 all out in 44.2 overs.

Hartley, in her 2nd ODIs outing; put the skids on the middle-order when she bowled Britney Cooper for a 11-ball solitary run, outfoxed Mohammed and had her LBW for no score off the first ball she received following the dismissal of West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor,in the 32nd over.

Taylor had retired hurt without scoring with West Indies 54 for 1 after 15.4 overs. However, the West Indies star batter resumed her innings at 81 for 4 (23.5 overs) when Cooper (1) was comprehensively bowled by 23-year-old Hartley.

Taylor had rejoined Deadra Dottin (20 not out) and together they pushed the total to 100 when three of the team’s most experienced players succumbed to the wiles of England’syounger generation of spinners.

Both Taylor and Dottin were appearing in their 91st ODI, while Mohammed leads the group in her 94th ODI.Incredibly, in the space of four deliveries, all three players with over 91 matches each,faltered against virtual newcomers to the international scene.

That was the turning point of the match back in favour of the English players who showed professionalism and stormed back to register an exciting victory which seemed to be within the grasp of the West Indians when openers Matthews and Quintyne laid the foundation with their 53-run first wicket stand.

NSBF finals on today See story on page 27

(CFU) ScotiaBank 2016 Caribbean Men’s Cup Championship …

Guyana tamed 3-2 by Suriname

GUYANA’S Senior National Men’s team, the Golden Jaguars,suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of their Surinamese counterparts when third round action in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) ScotiaBank 2016 Caribbean Men’s Cup Championship commenced.

Guyana opened the scoring through Marcel Barrington in the 5th minute, a lead which they held throughout the first half before the Surinamese,through Mitchell Kissor,drew level in the 57th.

Both teams pushed to find that extra step to give them the lead but it would take the first bout of extra time before Suriname took the lead for the first time in the game through a goal from Galgyto Talea in the 105th minute.

They increased their lead just four minutes later through Ivanildo Ronzenblad and effectively ended the game for the Jags, whose consolation goal came through Kai McKenzie-Lyle in the final minute.

Guyana now return home to host Jam a i c a o n Tu e s d a y a t the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora.

A scene from last evening’s game In Paramaribo (Faizal Khan Photo)

Eastman wins Hand-in-Hand feature 35-lap cycle race

See story on page 26

Courts/Petra Pee-Wee football…

Thirty-Three goals scored on opening day See story on page 23

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Imlach keeps East Bank in the hunt after top-order collapse

- Kamesh Yadram unbeaten 104 rescue ECD

By Rajiv Bisnauth

A gutsy unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 57 between Tevin Imlach and Ryan Shun has left the final round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Jaguars Franchise League Three-day clash between East Coast Demerara and East Bank in the balance.

East Bank were staring another defeat in the face after squandering their advantage with a second innings top-order batting collapse.But at the end of the second day, at the Enterprise Busta Sports Club ground yesterday, they recovered from a perilous position of 56-5, to close on 113-5,chasing 178 for victory.

Imlach and Shun resumed on 52 and 17 respectively, with East Bank 65 runs short of victory.

Resuming the day on 34-0, East Coast Demerara were bundled out for 217.

Earlier, Kamesh Yadram cracked an impressive 104 not out to pull his side out of trouble. The hosts, who had collapsed to 61-3 when the elder Yadram See page 23

Kamesh Yadram SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2016