Guyana chronicle epaper 11 06 2016

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The Arawak girl and the sea creature

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‘Be patient’ - Ignored for generations, a pile of mysterious bones in the North West is now at the heart of a drive towards community-based tourism

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2016

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‒ President says crime-fighting initiatives achieving results P.3 ‒ British team soon to kick start organisational changes within Police Force

An Evening of Love, Lights and Music

Mrs Sita Nagamootoo, wife of the Prime Minister, is seen interacting with a delighted group of girls who performed at an event dubbed “An Evening of Love, Lights and Music” held at the official residence of the Prime Minister Saturday evening. (Adrian Persaud/Department of Public Information photo)

Anil evicted ‒ Opposition walks out of National Assembly

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Kidney transplant Trump, Clinton court patient to write 14 voters in swing states subjects at CSEC 6 before election 4 P.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 6, 2016

Dead bandit identified as Albouystown resident THE bandit who was shot and killed by a miner

Wednesday last at Diamond Housing Scheme,

East Bank Demerara, has been identified as Si-

mon Elijah De Florimonte of Hunter Street, Albouystown, Georgetown.

He was identified by a close associate hours after the Guyana Police Force released a bloodied picture in an effort to seek the public’s help. Reports revealed that on the day in question, De Florimonte was picked up by two of his friends, left his father’s house and never returned.

Police said the man was one of three bandits who attempted to break into a 5th Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara home. The police apprehended one of the bandits who has been identified as a 27-year-old male from West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The man was arrested in the vicinity of the crime scene

Dead: Simon Elijah De Florimonte who was shot and killed by a licensed firearm holder

and is assisting the police with their investigation.

The police investigation has revealed that about 02:15hrs on November 2, the 38-year-old miner was awakened by a loud noise emanating from the lower flat of his house.

Upon checking, he saw

three males, one armed with a handgun, attempting to gain entry through a southern door. The miner raised an alarm and during this process, discharged his licensed firearm in the bandits’ direction, hitting one of them, who fell.

The two other robbers, including one armed with a firearm, on seeing what had happened bolted from the house and scaled the fence.

The matter was reported and ranks of a mobile patrol responded promptly and rushed the shot bandit, who was clad in a three quarter-pants and a black vest tied around his neck, to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. He has been shot twice to the neck and subsequently pronounced dead on arrival.

Blankenburg pensioner killed in motorcycle accident DHANRAJ Ramlal, called “Boxer”, a 71-year-old pensioner of Lot “R” Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara, was killed on Friday when motorcycle CH4141 crashed into him as he was crossing the Blankenburg public road.

The motorcyclist, now

Dead: Dhanraj Ramlal

in police custody, has been identified as 20-year-old Shamshudeen Hannie Mei of 1702 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo.

Police say the motorcyclist was proceeding at a fast rate west along the southern side of the road at about 09:00 hrs when he crashed into the pedestrian, who was

walking across the road.

They both fell onto the roadway; and the motorcyclist was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was treated, whilst the pedestrian was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital in an unconscious condition, from where he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries at about 11:00h.

Medical sources disclosed that a fractured rib punctured the pensioner’s lung. An autopsy is, however, expected to be performed on his body at the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour on Monday.

Ramlall, a father of three and a former contractor, has been described by relatives as an easygoing individual. “He usually goes over the road to talk with this lady (whom) he knows, or sometimes he goes to the shop,” one relative noted.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 6, 2016

‒ President says crime-fighting initiatives achieving results ‒ British team soon to kick start organisational changes within Police Force

By Fareeza Haniff PRESIDENT David Granger is asking citizens to be patient as government works to implement crime-fighting

strategies.

The President believes that initiatives already implemented by the Ministry of Public Security are having an effect on the crime situation facing

the country. “…we are working and I ask the public to be patient, because the initiatives that have been put in place by the Ministry of Public Security are

Reckless use of the roads has to stop ‒ East Coast Traffic Chief OFFICER-in-CHARGE of Traffic, East Coast Demerara, Assistant Superintendent Timothy Williams is adamant that Guyana cannot continue to have drivers behave as though there are no laws governing the use of the nation’s roads by motorists.

Officer Williams made this observation on Thursday when he paid a visit to the Accident Wards of the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was able to see firsthand the trauma and additional suffering experienced by persons who are victims of road accidents.

The visit was all part and parcel of Operation Safeway, being conducted by the Police Traffic Department to curb traffic accidents.

He observed that the loss of lives on the road or serious injuries suffered by persons such as seen in the hospital wards invariably come about as a result of the callousness of drivers who fail to observe the speed limit or the Five Cs of Road Safety, namely Courtesy, Care, Caution, Consideration and Commonsense.

He said that the procedure to be observed whenever persons become involved in accidents, is subjecting the motorist to a Breathalyzer test and once found to have over the allowed levels of alcohol on the driver’s breath, they will be taken in and charged.

Williams said that as recent as Tues-

day, the Sub-Division received a new motor cycle to boost its fleet, so that patrols can be out by day and by night. In addition he said, the ranks are required to carry out random Breathalyzer tests. “Drivers are asked to take a test and once they are found above the legal limit, they are charged.”

He said motorists will also be charged for refusing to take the test.

Noting that the exercise will be ongoing, ASP Williams gave the assurance that there will be no pause so motorists should brace themselves for it.

And on a rather emotional note, Williams declared: “It pains us when we have to inform relatives of accident victims that their loved ones have died, or to visit patients simply because some driver failed to adhere to the Five Cs. He emphasised: “Recklessness, carelessness we are not going to condone anymore on our roads.”

Asked what would have been the main cause of these accidents, the officer replied, inattentiveness or speeding.

“Most times, when we check the scene of the accident, we look for what we call the silent testimony and that would tell us if the driver was speeding or not.” He said that for most drivers, if they are not above the legal limit, then speeding might be a contributory factor.

There has been a total of 26 accidents on the East Coast thus far this year.

starting to have an effect.”

Speaking during his weekly television programme “The Public Interest,” President Granger said residents on the Corentyne have already praised the recent installation of the police mounted branch, which was able to apprehend the suspect in the murder of a woman who was beheaded.

“And even on the Corentyne Coast, Black Bush Polder, people have already reported that although it wasn’t police, mounted men were able to track down the murderer for that crime on the Corentyne through the back dam and if you’ve noticed too, piracy is almost at zero, because we’ve been conducting aerial patrols; people don’t know that, but piracy is almost down at zero so it’s working,” the President said.

The President reiterated that the Security Sector Reform Action plan is now back on the table and will see a British team in Guyana soon to implement organisational changes within the Guyana Police Force.

“The force also has to get

President David Granger

more equipment. We cannot control 3,000, 4,000km of border on foot. We have to give the police better boats, we have to give them all terrain vehicles, we have to give them aircraft. We have provided some horses, but the horses cannot cover the distance.”

According to the President, the police force is under-strength, but it is hoped that more people will be recruited into the Mounted Branch, particularly in the Rupununi.

“So changes are taking

place, they are visible and I think people have already noticed that crimes, although they are still being committed at a rate which we feel is unacceptable, they are being solved more quickly. The highest rate of murder we had was in 2003 when about 206 persons were killed and now the body count is lower and we would like to bring it much lower than what it is now.”

The President said it must be taken into consideration that many youths of today witnessed Guyana’s violent crime wave between 2000-2002.

“So they’re now matured and they’ve grown accustomed to violence, they’ve grown accustomed to solving their problems with the gun, they’ve grown accustomed to not sitting down and working problems out, but using violence.”

It was recently revealed by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) that as of September serious crimes were down 19 per cent across the country with a 62 per cent clear- up rate (investigation to prosecution).

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 6, 2016

Trump, Clinton court voters in swing states before election (REUTERS) Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton traded barbs as they entered the last three days of campaigning in the U.S. presidential election with competing events on Saturday in Florida, a swing state that could prove decisive in Tuesday’s vote.

Clinton and Trump are making their closing arguments to American voters, crisscrossing the United

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States in hopes of winning over last-minute undecided voters and rallying their bases to turn out enthusiastically on Election Day. Opinion polls show Clinton still holds advantages in states that could be critical in deciding the election. But her lead has narrowed after a revelation a week ago that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was looking into a new trove of emails as part of its probe into her handling of classified information while she was secretary of state.

A McClatchy-Marist opinion poll released on Saturday of voters nationwide showed Clinton leading by 1 percentage point compared

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to 6 percentage points in September. A Reuters/Ipsos tracking poll on Saturday showed Clinton ahead by 4 percentage points nationally compared to 5 points on Friday.

The state opinion polls have found Florida to be one of the most competitive among battleground states - those that are hotly contested because their voters can swing either to Republicans or Democrats. The 2000 presidential election was decided in Florida after a dispute over votes and recounting of ballots went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of Republican George W. Bush over Democrat Al Gore.

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The Real Clear Politics average of Florida opinion polls found Clinton with a lead of about 1 percentage point - indicating the race there is a virtual tie.

Trump spoke at a rally on Saturday morning in Tampa, Florida, where he continued to criticize Clinton for supporting the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, in the wake of an announcement that premiums are going to rise next year.

“It’s not going to matter because if we win I’m throwing it out anyway,” Trump said.

Shortly before Clinton took the stage in Pembroke Pines, Florida, rained poured down. People in the crowd waiting for Clinton at the outdoor rally remained in place, taking out umbrellas and fashioning garbage bags into head coverings.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 6, 2016

Anil evicted –– Opposition walks out of National Assembly

OPPOSITION MPs walked out from the National Assembly around midnight on Friday after PPP frontbencher Anil Nandlall was evicted by the Speaker for being unable to produce evidence to support a claim he made during the sitting.

Members of both sides of the House were at the time debating President David Granger’s October 13, 2016 speech.

During the debate, Nandlall made reference to the President’s speech in which the Head of State noted that there were inherited judgments which the current administration is facing.

Nandlall said that the state will always attract liabilities, noting that some cases have been in the legal system for some 20 years.

He then shed light on the Haags Bosch landfill issue as it relates to BK international.

“And then BK project, no judgment was ever granted to BK under this government”, he said on the landfill site.

“BK apparently, we learnt through mistake or error I believe from the Honourable Minister of Communities,

that BK sent, and this was obviously a staged thing, a threatening letter and he got $5.7B,” he said. He was corrected by other Opposition MPs that the figure was in fact $1.7B. However, Bulkan and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams termed Nandlall’s claims erroneous and the latter was asked to withdraw the statement. Nandlall said that there was no judgment in the case involving BK and the government regarding the landfill site, but rather a settlement with government and he noted that the information regarding the $1.7B sum was reported in the print media.

He noted too that Minister Bulkan mentioned the figure in the National Assembly, but later said that he was unsure of whether the issue was mentioned in the House and even noted that he could not recall where Bulkan made mention of the incident.

Minister Bulkan stood up and asked that the statement be withdrawn on the grounds that it was erroneous.”Mr Speaker, in relation to the

very settlement that the Honourable Member is speaking about, all of the questions that were posed in this House in relation to that issue were answered by me and the records were there to show,” Bulkan said Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland, requested of Nandlall that he produce evidence to support his claims as the latter maintained his position.

He then requested another hour to produce evidence as he asked for time to go home for the newspaper report to substantiate his claims.

By then a fired-up Nandlall , looking in the direction of the Speaker , compared the ongoing situation to him being asked to produce his driver’s licence, to which some MPs gasped.

The Speaker then asked that he produce the evidence or take his seat, to which he chose the latter, noting that he will not withdraw his statement.

The Speaker then said that Nandlall was out of order and that he would no longer participate in the day’s sitting, to which Nand-

lall said he did not intend to.

It was then that the Speaker added, “then you will leave.”

Opposition MPs subsequently rose from their seats and engaged and shouted across the aisle in a raucous

manner. The Speaker urged them to leave the House, as they chose to, in a way that would not disturb the proceedings.

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, who departed after her colleagues,

told the National Assembly that the PPP/C was unprepared for Friday’s sitting, given the short notice it had received. As such, she said the party’s truncated participation in the debate would not have occurred.

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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 Treating with state properties GUYANA’S resources -- including the Consolidated Fund, natural resources, systems and institutions, buildings and infrastructure, and the services provided by the State and Government -- are the properties and responsibilities of the people. Every Guyanese, irrespective of identity, political association, or other diversity, must feel obligated to zealously guard and protect these resources.

The deep sense of pride we feel when the country or one of its citizens is distinguished in the world must be met with corresponding indignation when our resources are mismanaged or abused. It is how we represent ourselves in the management of our resources and affairs that determines how the world treats with us. Consequently, it requires eternal vigilance to ensure that we maintain a positive image on the domestic and external fronts.

Revelations in the 2015 Auditor General’s Report of the misuse of the Consolidated Fund, including contractors being overpaid millions of dollars, should incense us. Mismanaged, misused, or misappropriated, the money still belongs to the taxpayers, and those responsible for its careless use must be held to account. The nation expects the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly, chaired by the PPP/C shadow minister of finance, Member of Parliament (MP) Irfan Ali, would address this matter frontally. It must not matter to this MP that malpractices occurred during the 2015 PPP/C leadership.

As the report is being perused preparatory to making irregularities known, citizens await officials, elected and appointed, who had/have responsibilities for these various entities to explain their actions through the National Assembly.

Where issues require the attention of the police, such action needs to be taken, lest a message be sent that some can abuse the people’s properties and never be held to account under the law. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is urged to do a thorough job, so that cases are not only taken to the court, but the culpable are also held accountable. Money coming from the Consolidated Fund that is not used for the assigned projects could have been used to enhance societal well-being in areas such as education, health and internal security.

Evident across the country are state buildings that are in need of dire repair, and that wasted money could have been utilised here, improving the buildings’ aesthetics and making them habitable and functional. For instance, the nation’s leading institution for research and development, the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NAREI), has buildings in Mon Repos which are meant to house staff and conduct the institution’s business, but these buildings are very decrepit. Conversely, there are buildings being occupied by persons who are not working with the state, whose occupancy of these buildings denies officers entitled to housing a right they are entitled to.

In the construction of roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure, it helps when they are properly done; because it saves the taxpayers the money that has to be

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 6, 2016

Kidney transplant patient to write 14 subjects at CSEC ‒ five more transplants set for February 2017

By Svetlana Marshall TEN months after undergoing a kidney transplant at the Georgetown Public Hospital, 16-year-old Abigail Mars is now gearing to write 14 Subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.

The St. Joseph High School student said she is now majoring in both business and science subjects in her quest to become an entrepreneur. But reaching the age of 16 was not easy for Mars.

At the age of five, her parents realised that their once healthy baby was sick.

The toddler had been experiencing facial swelling, mainly around the eyes.

Mars’ mother, Petal Grant, in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said initially, doctors had indicated that her daughter was suffering from an allergy.

“I took her to the hospital, I took her to the clinic,

and I was told that she had an allergy, a cold. They didn’t do any test to see the real cause, but they keeping giving me medication for her,” Grant recalled.

Grant said the medication had helped her daughter periodically, but the swelling often returned.

It took eight years before Mars was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome while being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

According to the National Kidney Foundation, Nephrotic Syndrome occurs when the filtering units of the kidney become damaged.

This causes protein, which is normally kept in the plasma, to leak into the urine in large amounts, thereby reducing the amount of protein in the blood, and as a result causes facial swelling and swelling around the legs.

Two years into her treatment plan, Mars started experiencing kidney failure.

Upon realising the severi-

ty of the disease, Head of the Nephrology Department, Dr. Kishore Persaud, outlined the two primary options to Mars and her mother – dialysis or kidney transplant.

Without thinking twice, Mars’ mother opted for kidney transplant. “Dr. Kishore asked me if I am interested [in doing a kidney transplant] and I said right away, yes.

I didn’t had [sic] a lot of knowledge on the dialysis, but from what the councillor explained to me about the machines, and having to go three times a week, I said no, she is too young,” Grant said.

However, in order to do a kidney transplant, Mars, who was 15-years-old at the time, needed a donor that was compatible.

“So he explained to me that we would have to get a donor. He asked about family, and I told him her father passed away. My daughter was 17 at that time, but he said she was too young. I said what about me. He said ok, we have to start doing

Head of the Nephrology Department, Dr. Kishore Persaud and a nurse attending to a patient receiving Haemodialysis

spent when these infrastructures have to be revisited in a short space of time for repairs and rebuilding. Guyanese must be possessed of sufficient pride to reject substandard work. For instance, there must be rejection of constructed roads that fall short of internationally acceptable engineering specifications, which would also factor in climatic environment, and vehicular and pedestrian safety such as pavement and crosswalks.

Management of the natural resources such as bauxite, gold and forestry should also attract our attention. Prudent management focuses on the benefits brought to the citizens through proper accounting, inclusivity, sustainable development, and respect for the environment. Where it is felt the assigning of properties/land for extraction is tipped in favour of the privileged class and non-Guyanese, this perception must be addressed. Given that these properties belong to Guyanese, it is not unreasonable for citizens to expect officials to carry out their duty in a manner that facilitates opportunities, not hindrances.

Our laws are made primarily to treat every citizen as a human being deserving of dignity and respect. In achieving this, we must strive to ensure all are held to the same standards and play by the same rules. Those who have responsibility for po-

tests to ensure that you are healthy.”

Grant had proven to be compatible and the transplant was conducted on December 10, 2015 approximately three months after she was admitted to the GPHC. “I would encourage people, no matter what, they should keep holding on and keep positive because that is what kept me. A lot of times I use to feel down, like I just wanted to give up, but I always had a positive mind,” Mars told this newspaper.

Mars said she was comforted by the fact that her mother and other relatives and friends gave her the support she needed. The teen recalled that it was at the start of the new academic year that she was admitted to the GPHC in 2015, but managed to complete fourth form with the overwhelming support of her family, friends and teachers of the St. Joseph High School.

“After this surgery, I always had this desire in my heart to have my life story on film. I feel it would be an encouragement to kids like me, because it is very tough and I know it could be very hard; but keeping a positive mindset is also so important, and I want them to know that,” Mars said.

Already, she is an inspiration to 16-year-old Tomol Mingo and his family. Mingo, a student of Charlestown Secondary, was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome in January of this year. “He woke up and I just saw a fatness in his eyes and I said what going on like you picking up side,” his mother Shaundell Fraser-Mingo recalled. It was not long before he was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome.

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licing the law must treat every complaint equally, irrespective of the complainant. The GPF must be assured of its independence to serve and protect the citizens without fear, favour, ill-will or appreciation. For instance, it is a traffic violation to jump the traffic lights, and any who violates this law, irrespective of position in society, must be held to account.

Similarly, in the management of the state and government affairs, it is reasonable to expect that officials take the time to acquaint themselves with the rules and laws directing their duties, and act accordingly. Failure to do so comes at a cost to society in dollar value; since the decision taken was not only a waste of money in execution, but requires money to correct.

Public officials, elected and appointed, are entrusted with the responsibility of managing the properties of the people.

With this comes expectation that the service they provide would be courteous, timely, proficient, and consistent with societal norms. There is no denying that the public service needs to be professionalized, and the recommendations of the Public Service Commission of Inquiry offer such opportunity.

Resources of the state have to be managed in the interest, and to the benefit, of the people. It helps it we can intensify the efforts.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 6, 2016

Kidney transplant patient to...

“The doctor said he is passing protein in his urine, blood in his urine, and it is Nephrotic Syndrome. Dr. France, the doctor at the time, described it as a disease which leads to kidney failure…I was shocked, I didn’t know what to do, but just sit and listen to the doctor,” she said.

Since then, Mingo has been undergoing both Peritoneal and Haemodialysis at the Dialysis Centre of the Nephrology Department (GPHC). The team at the centre, comprising Dr. Persaud, who is a transplant surgeon, a nephrologist, a pharmacist, a dietitian, a social worker, six nurses and several General Medical Officers (GMOs), have been preparing Mingo for a kidney transplant.

“I must congratulate Abigail Mars mother because every time we come to clinic, every two weeks, she was like, you know you can go through this, I think you can do it…don’t even think about anything else,” the teen mother said, even as she expressed gratitude to the medical team at the Dialysis Centre for their continuous support.

Tomol Mingo of Charlestown Secondary is one of those in line to receive a kidney transplant. He will receive one of his mother’s kidneys a year after he was diagnosed with Nephrotic

Syndrome.

“I feel ok because the surgery is much better than the dialysis, because going and coming can be really fatiguing. Sometimes late in the night you have to stay up, taking out fluids, putting in fluids, early in the morning, to do the surgery, would be much better and with the encouragement I feel like I can go through with the surgery,” Mingo told the Guyana Chronicle.

He said following his surgery, he will repeat Fourth Form and catch up on all the fun activities he is currently missing. “I plan to repeat a class, go back to fourth form and get the subjects and write my subjects. Since coming to hospital, and learning the tablets and learning certain things I plan to study medicine,” he said.

While the hospital is conducting the transplant free of charge, Mingo and his mother are required to do number of cross-matching tests.

These tests are estimated to be more than $1M. As such, they are seeking financial assistance. Persons desirous of helping the teen can deposit cash in his parents’ Republic Bank Account #104-7141 or contact them on 692-8770 or 675-7152.

In February 2017, GPHC will be teaming up with the University of Calgary to conduct four to five kidney

Tomol Mingo, and his mother Shaundell Fraser-Mingo, Tomol is set to undergo a kidney transplant in February 2017

transplants – surgical procedures that would result in the patients receiving healthier kidneys from donors.

In addition to the transplants, Dr. Persaud said the university will train nurses and doctors at the Dialysis Centre to upgrade the level of Haemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis as part of a project to develop ‘Kidney Care’ in Guyana.

According to the Ne-

phrology Department, to date 13 transplants have been conducted in Guyana, 10 privately and three by the public hospital. Of the three, only one patient has died.

Abigail Mars is among the

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Abigail Mars and her mother, Petal Grant

two survivors.

The number of persons on dialysis or waiting for a kidney transplant is expected to climb, but Dr Persaud believes that legislative changes could make a difference.

He suggested that laws

governing kidney transplants and treatment of those who are brain-dead, could pave the way for the use of the kidneys of patients who are on life support with little or no chance of recovery.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 6, 2016

Watch the ride IN A couple of days, the people of the USA will hopefully complete the process of electing their president for the next four years. Much to the surprise of many, the race seems to be closer than anticipated. It was expected to have been a relatively easy win for the Democratic Party’s nominee, Hilary Clinton; yet, here we are on the eve of the election, with Donald Trump -- perhaps the most uninformed and politically unpolished candidate to run for office in recent decades -- having a realistic shot at the Presidency.

Many pundits are asking: “How did this happen? Why, with all his indiscretions, idle chat and blatant disrespect for many groups in America, is he doing so well?”

The obvious reason is that he is empowered by half of the American electorate, and the wider society who are prepared to ignore those indiscretions. When voters wantonly

disregard morality in the public square, there has to be a higher calling. In such a situation reality is routinely distorted, and the worst form of delusion and hypocrisy takes hold of the country. That is what this election campaign has been all about.

To listen to many Americans, one gets the impression that Trump dropped from the skies. He is presented by his detractors as an anomaly, a candidate that is very un-American; yet, anyone who is informed and honest knows that Trump is quintessentially American, and his candidacy reflects the political attitude of perhaps a majority of Americans. My argument here is that the Trump candidacy tells us a lot about American politics and society.

GLARING CONTRADICTION There has always been a glaring contradiction in American politics, although

‒ Donald Trump and American political culture

it is not confined to America. America has always managed to project itself as the beacon of freedom and democracy, while legally denying sections of its population their humanity and civil rights. It is perhaps the only country that could project democracy and slavery simultaneously, and get away with it.

When you listen to liberal commentators refer to Trump’s political behaviour as reminiscent of Third World political culture, you realize the extent to which the culture of self-delusion has penetrated the psyche of the American elite, and the contempt they have for other countries. Even if Trump is politically irrational, many very rational Americans are voting for him.

So how did we get to Trump? America took a major political turn when in 1980 it elected Ronald Reagan as president.

Like Trump, Reagan was not politically informed or intellectually curious; but, as we are seeing with Trump today, he was able to tap into a constant sense of American exceptionalism and dominance that resides in the country’s political culture.

Reagan, then, was used as the medium to cement that political culture at the levels of policy and political behaviour. In a sense, Reagan restored the politics of racial and class dominance domestically, and American dominance abroad -- phenomena which were briefly interrupted by the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam debacle.

THE REAGAN WAY ‘The Reagan way’ has since been the dominant politics in America. It is that politics that created George Bush Jr, and now Donald Trump. Bill Clinton won by adapting himself to that politics. Barack Obama, like Jimmy Carter before him, caught America unawares, and briefly upset the proverbial apple cart. But as we have seen, Carter’s tenure in office led to the hawkish backlash that produced Reagan; Clinton’s intervention led to the Bush crusade; and Obama’s election pushed the country right back to Jim Crow America.

It is against that background that one has to locate the rise of Trump and the difficulty Hilary Clinton is having. Clinton’s pragmatism and sometimes opportunism are proving to be not as effective in countering the dominant politics. Unlike her husband, who benefited from ‘white maleness’, she has not been able to blunt the sexism that is embedded in all forms of social and political dominance. The American electorate is as politically tribal as in any country.

Perhaps people attributed too much progressive currency to Obama’s election.

Remember, Obama won only approximately

40% of the white vote, which is lower that what Democratic candidates usually garner.

Obama was lifted up by that extra effort of African Americans and Latinos, who voted for Black Uplift rather than Obama’s politics; but the reaction to Black Uplift has always been visceral, and that is what we are in the midst of.

Trump’s supporters, who are Republican voters, make heavy weather of the loss of American jobs. They blame it on Obama; but the truth is the loss of American jobs is the by-product of the very capitalism which they want to preserve in its purest form.

It’s as if the two sides of the Conservative political brain do not connect: on the one hand, they embrace undiluted capitalism; and on the other hand, they reject the consequences of that economic system.

Bernie Sanders had the courage to go there, while Hilary Clinton avoided that place; that is the major reason she has had such difficulty with the progressive section of the Democratic Party’s base.

During the primaries, Clinton and the media were celebrating her conquest of the black vote, and bemoaning Sanders’s inability to connect to that community; now, a few months later, they are mourning her inability to turn out the very black vote. That’s where surface-analysis takes you: when political people do not talk directly to constituencies, they arrive at wrong conclusions about them, and ultimately do not connect to them.

African Americans have unique issues, which have not been directly addressed by Clinton, and she may be reaping the rewards of that. I hope the APNU+AFC coalition is paying attention.

Whether Clinton wins or not, America’s politics and society will be dominated for the next period by Donald Trump’s politics of simplicity linked to manifest destiny. When one adds Obama’s eight years to a potential Clinton eight years, one gets a generation of non-white male political symbolism, which is going to be fought vigorously by the gate-keepers of ‘America’s manifest destiny’. As we say in Guyana: “Watch the ride!”

Dr. David Hinds, a political activist and commentator, is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Caribbean and African Diaspora Studies at Arizona State University. More of his 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

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President’s addresses to Parliament necessary

‒ Nagamootoo says addresses have laid out key policy positions PRESIDENT David Granger’s addresses to the Parliament were necessary and in keeping with the Constitution of Guyana, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said as he opened the debate on the President’s October 13, 2016 address.

In his address to the National Assembly on Friday, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said Article 51 of the Constitution states clearly that the Parliament comprises the President and the National Assembly.

Prior to October 13, 2016, President Granger had addressed the Parliament five times before he was elected in May last year, creating history in Guyana as the first President to have addressed Parliament on so many occasions.

In these addresses, the Prime Minister said the policies of the government, and matters of national sovereignty, national development, and national unity were brought to the fore.

“These are undoubtedly the three observations of all patriots of Guyana to say that we can effectively defend our sovereignty, we can pursue national development for all our people, and that we can achieve our goal of national unity as a sovereign nation,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo told the House.

He told members on both sides of the House that he disagrees with those who are of the opinion that President Granger should not have revisited the past in his last address.

In building his argument, the Prime Minister alluded

DPP recommends policeman who struck down West Dem. woman be charged ASSISTANT Police Superintendent Jermaine Grant, who on October 4, 2016 caused the death of 65-year-old Anmanie Deonarine of 144 New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara when he struck her down on the Vreed-en-Hoop public road while driving PRR 4446, is this week expected to face a charge of causing death by dangerous driving after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) reviewed the case and recommended that he be charged, police have said.

The incident occurred when the mother of three was a few houses away from her home. She was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Assistant Superintendent Grant, stationed within the Criminal Investigation Department of ‘D’ Division (West Demerara

Dead: Anmanie Deonarine

and East Bank Essequibo), was reportedly driving in a westerly direction when he lost control of the vehicle and it collided with the elderly woman.

Police said a breathalyzer test was conducted on the officer by Traffic Chief Dion Moore, and no trace of blood alcohol was recorded.

to the challenges the country faces with respect to maintaining its sovereignty. He said Guyanese must be reminded that it is a fact and a matter of law that Guyana’s boundaries with regard to its neighbour to the west, was settled.

He said too that consideration of the past is necessary when putting national and international matters into context.

“I believe that not only should a sitting Government be judged by what it has promised before it has entered office, but it [also] has to be judged by what it experienced when it assumed office, the condition of life upon assumption of office, and therefore we could only deliver, as against what we inherited.”

President Granger, in his

address, alluded to not only “The Good Life” promised by the coalition government and areas of development and security, but also reflected on the times when the country was faced with extra-judicial killings, corruption and an ailing sugar industry.

“It was a time of arbitrary arrests; of disappearances and of torture of young men; of the surge in armed robberies, narco-trafficking and gun-running. During that first, deadly decade, there were 1,317 murders and 7, 865 armed robberies,” the President had recalled.

Turning his attention to the sugar industry, President Granger had noted that the mismanagement had led the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUC0) to become bankrupt with a debt of $89B.

“Your Government was forced [to] divert money from economic development and social projects to rescue the ailing corporation with an immediate injection of $12 billion. An additional $11 billion had to be provided the next year, 2016, making a total of $23 billion bailout in 18 months,” the President had noted.

These reflections, the Prime Minister emphasised, were critical to understand the Government’s current position on issues of national development and importance.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo said despite these infractions, and in an effort to move the country forward in unity, President Granger had extended the olive branch to the main opposition – the People’s Progressive Party

(PPP).

Quoting President Granger, the Prime Minister said: “We owe it to future generations to use the remaining months and days of this year to build bridges across the abyss of discord. The two sides of this House have not always disagreed. They have found common ground in the pursuit of the common good at times. The avenues for compromise and consensus remain open.”

Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, had said he sees the president’s continuous address to the Parliament in such a short period as an imposition.

Jagdeo said while the Opposition cannot limit the President in his presentation, or object to the revisiting of the past in order to put issues into context, the past must be reflected in its true state.

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Labour Policies and the Green Economy OVER the last three weeks, this column has focused on generating national conversation on the Green Economy from a standpoint of having a practical outlook. This is being done with the aim of creating understanding of what this type of economy constitutes, how development is measured, the role and responsibilities of government and citizens, and the opportunities that can be made available in making it happen. Having dealt with Sustainable Development and the Environment, which represent two of the three pillars, attention is now being paid to the Labour Policies.

Labour policies have their genesis in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Core Labour Standards from which countries such as Guyana and those within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Decent Work Programme arose.

These standards are arrived at through collaboration and agreement among the tripartite partners, who are Government, Employers’ organisations and Workers’ organisations (trades unions).

The spirit and intent behind forging and ensuring a tripartite relationship is premised on respecting equality in society, which sees groups as equal partners with an equal stake in the growth and development of the workers/ citizens and their society.

Though each stakeholder has a unique role and responsibilities, the intertwined/ symbiotic relationship among the three are important in ensuring development through production and productivity.

It means therefore for these to happen, the enabling environment and protection have to be secured. In the instance of the Government, its role is of passing just laws (Legislature) administering the day-to-day business of the state, developing policies and implementing programmes consistent with the laws, international conventions and charters (Executive) and adjudicating the laws (judicature) that would hold Government, employer and the employees to operate within these confines. Such an environment bodes well for a stable industrial relations climate and human relations.

In the green economy, where growth is premised

on the Human Development Index, the primary role and responsibility of government is ensuring employer and employee are allowed to function consistent with the Core Labour Standards, which is premised on eight fundamental ILO conventions that are divided into four categories. These are: i) Discrimination- as outlined in Convention No. 111 which addresses employment and occupation, and No. 100 that speaks to equal remuneration; ii) freedom of association and collective bargaining (No. 87 that protects the right to organise, join trade unions of choice and freedom of association) and the right to organise (No. 98 that protects the right to organise and collective bargaining); iii) forced and compulsory labour (No. 29 that addresses forced labour and No. 105 that speaks to its abolition); and iv) child labour (No. 139 which addresses the minimum age for employment and No. 182 that identifies the worst form of child labour).

In the European Union and Cariforum (CACRICOM + The Dominica Republic) Trade Agreement, there is

a chapter described as “Social” which attends to the partners’ responsibilities to the Core Labour Standards.

This means that Guyana, which is a member of CARICOM, has corresponding duties and responsibilities, which are shared by the tripartite relationship known as Social Partners, of which Government is tasked with enforcement.

In looking at eliminating discrimination, we the people, inclusive of government, workers and employers, have to work to create an Equal Opportunity workplace, both private and public. It means that hindrance such as access to vocational guidance and placement, barriers limit/ shut out the differently abled demographic, disregard for meritocracy and so forth have to be eliminated. Access to training and employment of the individual’s choice based on suitability has to be assured.

In the workplace, every worker must have a fair opportunity for promotion and the security of tenure of employment. Remuneration for work of equal value cannot be overlooked, for it is fundamental to the principle

of equal opportunity. There must be gender equality not only in law, but also in practice to ensure women’s right to equal opportunity for employment and remuneration has the same value as men.

Condition of work such as hours of work, rest periods, annual vacation with pay, occupational safety and health, and social security measures are also important factors.

On freedom of association and collective bargaining, respect for these rights must prevail as a matter practice, given that they are already in the laws and conventions. The rights of workers and employers to establish and join organisation of their choice without any authorisation from government is guaranteed in Convention No. 87. This convention also guarantees workers adequate protection against acts of anti-union discrimination with respect to their employment, including requirements that a worker must not join a union or relinquish trade union membership or employment, or dismissal of a worker because of union membership or activity.

The practice that started under the PPP/C adminis-

tration of recruiting contract workers to perform duties that required tenured employees is a violation of Convention No. 98, which the Government of Guyana ratified in 1966. The posture of the Ministry of Social Protection in wanting to direct the activity of the trade unions in the planning and execution of Labour Day 2016 is a violation of Convention No. 87.

The call by the trade union community for a Ministry of Labour cannot and must not be overlooked.

Where Convention No. 87 protects the rights and responsibilities of the employers’ organisations and workers’ organisations reinforce the principle of equality and must be treated likewise by Government and State operatives. That the Executive saw it fit to establish a Ministry of Business to facilitate the activities of the employer, but thinks the workers are not equally deserving by relegating their well-being to an illequipped LabourDepartment speaks to discrimination. The Executive must take note and move to have the inequity corrected.

To be continued...

Small agro-processors take to Main Street TAMARIND achar, flavoured pepper sauce, and the “Pink Lotus” brand of finger snacks were among a wide range of local products which on Saturday lined stalls on the Avenue outside Courts on Main Street in downtown Georgetown as a number of small agro-processers, displaying their products in an event organized by the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC), called for local bottling facilities in order to better package their products.

Seizing every opportunity to get a sale, they readily informed persons about the products they had on display.

Annie Bristol, of Anne’s Products, said she processes a number of products,

Broadcaster Julie Lewis was busy making inquiries about the Pink Lotus brand of products on Saturday, and proprietress Janet Dhanpaul was on hand to provide answers Anne Bristol stands near her products which were on sale at the event on Saturday

including achar and green seasoning. Her tamarind-flavoured achar is a hit, thanks

to its unique taste, she boasted. Bristol, who markets her products on her own, said

she has been in the business for some four years, having started with the production of hot sauces. Two years ago, she started bottling and making improvements to the

packaging of her products.

“I only sell in Guyana; I am not doing it internationally as yet,” she confided. She plans to sell her products in the Caribbean, including in

Marcia Gonsalves noted that her plans in the months ahead include extending the market of her products nationally

Trinidad and Tobago.

Based at Hope/Lowlands on the East Coast of Demerara, she has a staff that assists

Turn to page 11 ►

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 6, 2016

Small agro-processors... her to prepare her sauces. She said that one of the major challenges she faces is packaging, mainly getting bottles.

She explained that she would normally source bottles from overseas, but the supplier has recently exited that trade.

Marcia Gonsalves, based at Soesdyke, EBD, displayed her products under the Marcia’s Products brand. She said she processes her foods, including cassava bread, cas-

sareep and quinches, while she packages the farine food staple which she ships from Annai in Region Nine. She said she uniquely packages her cassava bread in “toaster sizes”, noting that some of her customers requested the food in that manner.

Gonsalves has been in the field for some four years now, and plans to expand her business in the years ahead.

The “Pink Lotus” brand

of tamarind balls, plantain chips, potato chips and a variety of other packaged foods were also being sold at the event. Janet Dhanpaul, from Mahaica, ECD, runs the business, having bought it from someone who had already registered the Pink Lotus brand.

Diana Plowell was busy selling her products to customers when this publication stopped at her stand. Head of

Tamarind achar was requested by many at the event

From page 10

the European Union Delegation to Guyana, Ambassador Jernej Videtic, stopped by to purchase some items produced by her Pleasurable Flavours brand.

She said her operation, based in Linden, produces several products which are all unique to the market. She said the list includes hot sauces in four flavours, including cucumber, souree (bilimbie) and papaw. She sees mar-

keting as a work in progress.

“For the product that we have, it’s very progressive.

Persons have never heard of them”, she said, as she mentioned the sweet pepper relish which was conceptualized after frequent customer advice.

Her operation plans to introduce a number of other products to the market in the months ahead, including jams and ketchup. ”We are having all natural stuff,” Plowell

said, noting that bottling is also an issue her operation faces. She said the entity purchases bottles from overseas, and noted that a number of products are awaiting bottles, which are due this week.

This NGMC fair attracted many persons, some of whom noted that it was the first time they have seen locally packaged products on the market. (Alva Solomon)

Hot sauces made by Pleasurable Flavours are sold locally in four flavours

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EasySky now flying four times per week by the efforts of the Guyanese private sector to look for new markets, and to diversify where appropriate.

The introduction of new air links such as that being offered by Easysky, once reliable and efficient, should

serve to help the effort of the private sector to be more competitive and to penetrate new markets internationally, the minister said.

Minister Gaskin and Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed, met

on Tuesday with the Honduras Ambassador to Cuba and a team from EasySky, during which the ambassador reportedly raised the possibility of sending Honduran students to Guyana to learn English.

Food and Animal Bills tabled HONDURAN Airline EasySky Airways has introduced its services to Guyana, and has promised to forge a reliable and sustained relationship with Guyana by creating an air link to Cuba and countries in Central America.

Having recently introduced four flights weekly between Guyana and Cuba via Honduras, the airline, through its president, Manuel Rodriguez Campo, has assured: “We are here to serve the Guyana market for the long term, and to offer a connection that would contribute positively to the economies of both Guyana and Cuba.”

Speaking at a reception held on Tuesday evening in honour of the Guyana delegation currently participating in the Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV 2016), Rodriguez Campo disclosed that EasySky airline is cur-

rently taking 300 Cubans to Guyana each week to conduct business. He indicated an interest in obtaining the necessary approvals from the Guyana Government to enable the airline to sell tickets in Guyana for leisure and business travel, in addition to transporting cargo; which is likely to be generated as the commercial ties between Guyana and Cuba are expanded.

EasySky, whose local partner is Roraima Airways, first introduced service to Guyana just over one month ago, and has since expanded its service from thrice weekly flights to four flights per week.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerald “Gerry” Gouveia, told guests at the reception, which included Guyana’s Business and Tourism Minister Dom-

inic Gaskin, that with the introduction of the new service, “significant revenue is being pumped into the Guyanese economy, since the Cubans were spending between three and five thousand US dollars each during their stay in Guyana.”

Gouveia said that, with sustained service, the new air link would generate a significant injection of almost one hundred million US dollars annually into the Guyana economy. He said the airline is planning ahead to be able to provide for the efficient transport of cargo from Guyana, once the business links with Cuba and countries in Central America “take off”.

Minister Gaskin, in remarks, alluded to the importance of reliable, efficient and sustained air service to the development of emerging economies like Guyana, and added that he is encouraged

AGRICULTURE Minister Noel Holder on Friday tabled the Food Safety and Animal Welfare Bills in the National Assembly.

The 2016 Food Safety Bill has been crafted to prevent the spread of food-borne diseases through control of the production, preparation, handling, storage, and transportation of food.

The Animal Welfare Bill of 2016 seeks to safeguard the rights of animals, seeking to prevent persons from causing unnecessary pain to animals.

According to Part II, Section Four of the Bill, “No person shall raise an animal in a way that causes or is likely to cause pain, suffering, fear or injury; through selection or other methods increases aggressiveness of an animal; and/or use technical devices, aids and tools aimed at controlling behaviour of animals by punishment, including prong collars or training devices involving the use of electric current, or chemical substances, except when training working dogs.”

The Bill, if enacted, would also bar the use of stimulants or illegal substances that enhance an animal’s performance in sports, competitions and shows.

Section Five of Part II provides for disciplinary actions to be taken against owners who abandon their animals, and/or inflict pain, suffering or injury upon animals during training.

If enacted, persons who commit these

offences would be liable to a fine of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) and three months’ imprisonment.

The Bill also states that a person may humanely kill an animal when medical treatment of the animal is likely to be long-lasting; cause suffering, and the outcome of the treatment is uncertain; and if the animal has reached advanced age and its vital functions are failing.

The Animal Welfare Bill also caters for six other reasons. “The humane killing of an animal, generally, shall be carried out by a veterinarian or qualified veterinary technician under the supervision of a veterinarian, except where otherwise provided for, and in the following cases – (a) the humane killing of animals bred or kept for production purposes; (b) the humane killing of animals for the purposes of teaching, conducting experiments, or producing biological preparations; (c) pest control; and (d) when it is necessary to humanely kill an animal without delay because it suffers severe and incurable pain.

Part IV of the Bill paves way for the establishment of an Animal Welfare Commission by the Agriculture Minister. The commission, when put into operation, shall comprise of no less than eight and no more than 12 members, who are required to be experts in the field of veterinary medicine, human medicine, biology, pharmacy, biochemistry and agronomy; as well as representatives from the animal protection associations.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 6, 2016

Teen battles rare brain tumour ‒ family pleads for financial assistance for life-saving treatment

By Navendra Seoraj BECOMING a teenager is every child’s dream, but reaching the milestone marked a life-threatening challenge for young Mikelle Brutus.

Weeks after reaching 13, in July 2015, the daughter of Michael and Malicia Brutus started to experience pain in the head; and it began to worry not just her parents, but everyone around her. The frequent headaches prompted her parents to take her to local neurosurgeon Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi who, after conducting a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), discovered that a tumour was lodged in the left side of Malicia’s brain.

“I diagnosed her with a brain tumour, and [was] to follow up with other scans of the head. I never saw her back until earlier this year, when the Junior Minister of Public Health sent her with a letter for me to evaluate her,” Dr. Dukhi told Guyana Chronicle.

The analysis, done at Dr. Dukhi’s clinic at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), showed that the young lady had a malignant brainstem tumour. This, he explained, is a “diffuse intrinsic brainstem tumour”, which is highly aggressive and difficult to treat, since these tumours are at the base of the brain.

They are glial tumours, meaning they arise from

Mikelle shares a moment with her father Michael after the interview at the Guyana Chronicle

the brain’s glial tissue — tissue made up of cells that help support and protect the brain’s neurons, says doctors from Boston Children’s Hospital, one of the best paediatric hospitals in the USA. INOPERABLE Mikelle’s father Michael told the Guyana Chronicle that he sought a second opinion from Caribbean neurosurgeon Professor Ivor Crandon, and he advised that the tumour was inoperable.

“Unfortunately this is true, and I have the same opinion that this malignant brain stem glioma is inoperable because it’s a diffuse intrinsic tumour of the brainstem. Any surgical intervention attempting to remove it will provoke extensive collateral injuries which will

likely result in death,” Dr. Dukhi said.

Patients with these types of brainstem tumours have very poor prognoses, regardless of whether surgical intervention and radio/chemotherapy are done. Brainstem tumours are the most risky and difficult brain tumours to safely remove; while others, such as meningioma -- a

tumour that forms on membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord just inside the skull -- are most times operated on and removed successfully, with favourable recovery.

Dr. Dukhi also pointed out that some brain tumour operations were done in Guyana, and he had done some of them.

“I have successfully removed more than 25 brain tumours since I returned to work in Guyana in January 2015, but Brutus’s case is highly risky,” he said.

Her parents have, nevertheless, not lost hope. Months after it was deemed inoperable, when all hope was fading, the Brutus family received a letter from specialists in Miami, Florida, who said radiotherapy or chemotherapy could be done to treat the ailment.

FINANCIAL HURDLE But the family is now faced with another hurdle,

this time a financial one.

According to Michael, the treatment is priced at US$172,500, which is equivalent to Gy$34.5M. The sum is, however, expected to inflate, and this would then take it to an estimated total of Gy$50M, the child’s father said.

Unable to meet this high cost to save the life of their child, the family is pleading with the corporate community, religious bodies, and the Government to contribute to this worthy cause.

Young Mikelle told the Guyana Chronicle that she wants to become a pastor when she gets older.

Being a high-spirited child since from her younger days, and being the eldest of seven siblings, her father said, Mikelle is always positive and full of life.

“She was always an ‘A’ grade student, who enjoyed dancing and singing, especially in church. However, when she developed the

symptoms, she started dropping back in her grades…

She is truly a daughter of the soil, and no parent would ever want to see their child dwindle away without putting up a serious fight,” the father said as he fought back tears.

The tumour has paralysed Mikelle’s right side. Her right hand is almost completely immobile, while her right leg is deformed.

Despite the journey ahead, her parents remain optimistic, as they believe that their daughter would be healed.

Mikelle should have been in the USA since November last year, but, on to now, her family is unable to raise the money for her treatment.

Persons overseas desirous of making financial contributions to the Brutus family can do so through Republic Bank, 38-40 Water Street, Georgetown, Guyana, using swift code: RBGLGYGG, account number: 2653475. Contact with the family can be made on telephone number 6946500.

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Another year another win ...

From back page When GDF entered Friday’s activities with an 83 points lead it was already all over for Police who were merely trying to curtail the Army’s lead, but in the end that too was not to be.

Nonetheless,it was Police who took some of the limelight as George and Moore took the wins in the thrilling sprints, each making a clean sweep of the 100m, 200m and 400m in their category.

It was a 10.24 win for George in the men’s 100m, to take top points. But the Army hit back by ending with the second and third place spots. Akeem Stewart dashed across the finish line behind George in 10.38s, pipping Rupert Perry for third place after he came in at 10.38s.

George and Stewart were also out battling for the men’s 200m win, where George prevailed in 20.67 seconds, and Stewart was behind in 21.26 seconds. With Perry out of the race after a false start it cleared the way for Linton Mentis to pick up third in 21.58 seconds.

George gave his best performance in his favoured 400m, where he took a big win ahead of CARIFTA Games bronze medalist, Jason Yaw. George clocked 46.91 seconds, and Yaw finished in 48.17 seconds.

Third for this race went to Winston Dummett (48.52s).

Moore matched George win for win on the women’s side, taking the 100m in 11.83 seconds to ward off the challenge of long jump winner Aniqua Powley who took second place after she clocked 11.92 seconds.

Moore needed just 24.51 seconds to get to the finish line in the 200m, while GDF’s Natrena Hooper needed 25.12 seconds.In the 400m Moore had a time of 56.60 seconds, beating out both Collia Raw (57.70s) and her teammate, Jevina Sampson (58.00s).

In other wins of the day Sampson picked up the women’s 1500m gold in a time of 5:08.40s, overpowering women’s 3000m winner Ashanti Scott who clocked 5:12.60s.

After having already captured the men’s 800m earlier in the week, Ornesto Thomas returned to rule in the 1500m,pulling off an upset win over Odwin Tudor and men’s 5000m winner Cleveland Forde.

Thomas finished with a time of 4:18.44s, while Tudor was in after 4:19.05s and Forde crossed the line in 4:19.33s.

ENGLISH RACING TIPS Ffos Las 08:50 hrs Furiously Fast 09:20 hrs Welsh Shadow 09:55 hrs Keeper Hill 10:30 hrs Best Boy Barney 11:05 hrs Ballypoint 11:40 hrs Unify 12:15 hrs Master Ally SANDOWN 08:30 hrs Braavos 09:05 hrs More Buck’s 09:40 hrs Khezerabad 10:15 hrs Vivaldi Collonges 10:50 hrs Darebin 11:25 hrs Rocky Creek 12:00 hrs Bardd IRISH RACING TIPS Cork 09:00 hrs Hickey’s Rock 09:30 hrs Blood Crazed Tiger

10:05 hrs Wishmoor 10:40 hrs Western Lady 11:15 hrs Raz De Maree 11:50 hrs Call Vinnie 12:25 hrs Good Thyne Tra NAAS 08:40 hrs No Brainer 09:10 hrs Alisier D’Irlande 09:45 hrs Ivanovich Gorabatov 10:20 hrs Attribution 10:55 hrs Automated 11:30 hrs Portmore Lough 12:05 hrs Brelade SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Greyville 08:45 hrs Ginger Biscuit 09:20 hrs Big King 09:55 hrs Rio De La Plata 10:30 hrs Palladium 11:10 hrs Queen Diva

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Duminy, Elgar centuries power Proteas to 388-run lead (REUTERS)-South Africa’s JP Duminy and Dean Elgar both scored centuries in a third-wicket partnership of 250 to drive the tourists to a 388-run lead over Australia at the end of the third day of the first Test yesterday.

Australia removed both centurions around the tea break, as well as Temba

Bavuma and captain Faf du Plessis in the last hour, but by then the damage had been done and the Proteas will go into day four on 390 for six.

Quinton de Kock, who was dropped by Adam Voges on one, was at the crease unbeaten on 16 at the end of a long, hot day at the WACA, along with Vernon Philander, who had made

23 not out.

South African paceman Dale Steyn was ruled out of the rest of the series with a fractured shoulder on Friday and will play no further part in the match, reducing the number of wickets Australia need to take.

Steyn was a member of the Proteas team that chased

down 414 to beat Australia at the WACA in 2008 but it was a debutant Duminy who scored the three runs off Mitchell Johnson that got the South Africans over the line.

Now 32, Duminy looks to have played a key role in another Perth triumph after his brilliant 141 rammed home South Africa’s advantage after they had skittled Australia for 244 in reply to their 242 on Friday.

Duminy faced 225 balls and hit 20 of them for fours with another going for six, overhauling partner Elgar before lunch and reaching his fifth test century with two runs to deep cover soon after the break.

NERVOUS NINETIES It was his first century in two years and his third against Australia, just reward for a masterclass of calm control and shot-making.

The end came just as it looked like the pair of lefthanders would bat through to tea, Peter Siddle benefiting from a DRS review when the technology revealed a nick off the bat that carried through to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.

Elgar did not have such a good experience on his previous visit to the WACA, having got a pair when he made his test debut at the ground in 2012, albeit on the winning team.

Dogged and determined where Duminy was fluent, the 29-year-old reached his fifth test century half an hour before tea after a prolonged spell in the “nervous nineties”.

His career-best 127 came off 316 balls and he had hit 17 fours and one six when Josh Hazlewood finally winkled him out after tea when he offered a tired shot and got an edge which Mitchell Starc took at gully.

Starc should have caught Elgar on 81 when the batsman skied the ball to mid-off but he lost the ball in the

Perth sun, tripped himself over trying to readjust his position and spilled it on the turf, to the despair of bowler Nathan Lyon.

The left-arm paceman also accounted for Du Plessis (32), a fine edge taken behind by Nevill, while Hazlewood had Bavuma well caught by Usman Khawaja at deep square leg for eight but the collapse Australia needed never materialised.

After Perth, the series continues in Hobart before concluding with a day-night Test at Adelaide Oval.

SCOREBOARD SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 242 (Q. de Kock 84, T. Bavuma 51; M. Starc 4-71) Australia 1st innings 244 (D. Warner 97, S. Marsh 63; V. Philander 4-56) South Africa 2nd innings (Overnight: 104-2) S. Cook c S. Marsh b Siddle 12 D. Elgar c Starc b Hazlewood 127 H. Amla b Hazlewood 1 J. Duminy c Nevill b Siddle 141 F. du Plessis c Nevill b Starc 32 T. Bavuma c Khawaja b M. Marsh 8 Q. de Kock not out 16 V. Philander not out 23 Extras (b-4 lb-13 nb-1 w-12) 30 Total (for 6 wickets, 126 overs) 390 Fall of wickets: 1-35 S. Cook,2-45 H. Amla,3-295 J. Duminy,4-324 D. Elgar,5-346 T. Bavuma,6-352 F. du Plessis To bat: D. Steyn, K. Rabada, K. Maharaj Bowling: M. Starc 27 - 7 - 99 - 1(w-1),J. Hazlewood 32 - 10 - 97 - 2(nb-1),P. Siddle 22 - 8 - 47 – 2, M. Marsh 22 - 4 - 52 - 1(w-3), N. Lyon 21 - 2 - 76 – 0, A. Voges 2 - 1 - 2 – 0.

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Guyana Softball Cup 6 enters final day –exciting action promised

THE Guyana Softball Cup 6 comes to a close today with exciting action set for the Demerara Cricket Club as Regal Masters look to repeat as champions in the Open category.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) team will be looking to add the title of Masters’ Champions to their name when they face Fisherman’s XI. Coming into the Masters’ finals encounter, Fisherman’s XI made light work of Regal Masters in the first semi-final played yesterday. The Fisherman’s side bowlers dismantled the strong batting of Regal, sending them back to the pavilion for 84. In chasing down the relatively small total,the Fisherman’s side then cruised easily to victory.

In the second semi-final, Floodlights won by one run after making 1371 from 14 overs and then restricting the President’s XI to 136-6 from their 20 overs. It was Ramesh Narine and Ricky Deonarine

who finished with 59 and 46 runs respectively who saw their side home.

The first open semi-final saw exciting action with an excellent display of battling

by Speedboat, who scored

RAMESH NARINE 114-1 in 9.2 overs,after containing Ariel to 113-8 in a shortened 15-over game.

Regal then continued their dominant run and earned consecutive spot in the finals by scoring 106-2 in 15.1 overs after bowling out New York Enforcers for 104 in 16.2 overs.

Today’s action will commence at 10:00hrs with the female exhibition

games. The female teams include Mike’s Wellwoman, Trophy Stall Angels, 4R Lioness and Blue Divas. The Masters’ finals is set for 12:00hrs with the Open finals starting at 17:00hrs under floodlights.

At stake is over $2M in cash and other prizes.

Tickets cost $1,000 and will be sold at the gate.

Prizes are up for grabs and spectators are asked to keep their half tickest in order to be eligible to win these prizes.

Four persons can each win a trip for themselves and partner to Baganara (1 night), Kaieteur/Orinduik Falls (1day), Arrowpoint (1 night), and Aruwai Resort White H20 (1 night) with all expenses paid.Patrons can also win ten hampers that are up for grabs.

The tournament is sponsored by STAG, Rubis Guyana, Trophy Stall, Survival Group of Business, Steve’s Jewellery, Clear Waters, Busta Soft Drinks, Rohan Auto Spares, A&R Jewanram Printery, W.J Enterprise and Mike’s Pharmacy.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 6, 2016

Max Massiah inducted into Legend of Martial Arts Hall of Fame

MARTIAL artist and television host , Max Massiah , has gained the recognition of some of the world’s top martial arts professionals and movie stars after he was recently inducted into Legend of Martial Arts Hall of Fame on October 22.

Massiah , a Second Dan Black Belt who is talented in many other disciplines, travelled to Scranton , Pennsylvania , United States of America last week where he was presented with the award

by President of the Legends Hall of Fame Committee , Grandmaster Eric Kovaleski and martial arts actress Cynthia Rothrock .

Massiah , who received a similar accolade last year in recognition of his contribution to the martial arts discipline here , told the Guyana Chronicle that it was an unforgettable experience at the Hilton Hotel and Convention Centre where he received the award.

“I was treated as royalty by the grandmasters and competitors alike”, he said of the event. Massiah hosts the weekly television pro-

By Steve Tongue

L-R Massiah , alongside Don “ the Dragon “ Wilson , Cynthia Rothrock of “Tiger Claws” fame and Grandmaster Steve Ross. gramme “Maximum sports combat and Strength “, which is aired on NCN Channel 11. He said that he ensured that he promoted the programme and the talent which exists here in the discipline. Clips of the event will be aired on the programme later this week.

Massiah expressed appreciation to several companies,including Fly Jamaica, who sponsored his trip to Pennsylvania.

The induction ceremony was part of a martial arts tournament and it was attended by several top names in the martial arts discipline including

actor Don “The Dragon” Wilson, an 11-time kickboxing world champion who starred in several movies such as “Red Sun Rising” among others.

Actor Hwang Jang Lee , known by his screen name “Silver Fox” also graced the event. (Alva Solomon)

Murray becomes world number one ANDY Murray says he feels “very proud” to become the first British singles player to be world number one since computerised rankings began in 1973.

The Scot, 29, needed to reach the final of the Paris Masters to replace Novak Djokovic - and did so when Milos Raonic pulled out before their semi-final.

Murray won Wimbledon and Olympic gold in 2016, reached 11 finals in 12 events and won a personal record 73 matches.

“I never thought I’d be number one in the world,” he told BBC Sport.

“It’s been many years of

ANDY MURRAY work to get here. It’s been such a difficult thing to do because of how good the guys around me have been.”

Murray, who has won

three Grand Slam titles, two Olympic gold medals and helped Britain win the Davis Cup in 2015, will be officially confirmed as world number one when the revised rankings are released tomorrow.

Novak Djokovic had topped the rankings for 122 weeks, and completed his career Grand Slam by beating Murray in the French Open final in June, his 12th major title.

Djokovic also won this year’s Australian Open, and Murray said: “The year that Novak has had, barring the last six weeks or so, has been incredible.

“The year I’ve had to have

to barely get there has been unbelievably difficult. I’ve had to work extremely hard.”

Roger Federer (17) and Rafael Nadal (14) have won a combined 31 Grand Slam titles, many coinciding with Murray’s rise through the rankings.

He will play John Isner in Sunday’s Paris Masters final, after Raonic pulled out with an injury to his right quad.

Isner beat Marin Cilic 6-4 6-3 in the semi-finals.

Djokovic, 29, would have retained his number one ranking had he reached the final - but Cilic beat him in the quarter-finals on Friday.

(BBC Sport)

Agard wins individual time trial to go into final stage as race leader SHAQUILLE Agard registered eight minutes 42 seconds in winning the second stage of the National Sports Commission’s three-stage cycle race which was staged yesterday afternoon along the East Coast Demerara highway.

Riding against the heavy wind coming from the Atlantic Ocean, Agard who finished among the top eight

Chelsea crush Everton 5-0 to go top after City held 1-1

finishers in thefirst stage (65-mile road race) goes into today’s final stage which is a 70-mile event that will see some of the country’s top cyclists battling around the outer circuit of the National Park over 30 laps, beginning at 13:00hrs from outside the compound of the Guyana Defence Force, Camp Ayangana, Irving Street.

Agard will start today’s final leg with a 10-second

advantage over Continental Cycle Club’s Geron Williams who won yesterday’s first stage in two hours 38 minutes 46.27 seconds.

Williams placed third in yesterday’s time trial, returning a time of eight minutes 57 seconds, while Michael Anthony finished second in eight minutes 54 seconds.

The other top three places in the time trial which

started at Celina Resort, Kitty and concluded outside the Plaisance Community Centre were occupied

by Christopher Cornelius, Akeem Wilkinson and Raymond Newton respectively.

Newton currently heads the veterans’ category after winning his age group in the first stage and was the fastest finisher among his age group in the individual time trial.

LONDON,(Reuters)-Chelsea crushed Everton 5-0 yesterday to storm to the top of the Premier League with a vintage display after Manchester City were held 1-1 at home by a last-minute goal from promoted Middlesbrough.

It was the first time City had been knocked off the top all season. Chelsea’s sparking performance sent them a point clear, although Arsenal and Liverpool will have an opportunity to overtake them by winning home games today.

Successive losses to those teams in September raised questions about whether Antonio Conte’s side were ready for a serious attempt to regain the title they lost last season.

But Chelsea produced an irresistible performance with Belgian forward Eden Hazard scoring twice to inspire a fifth successive win for his team without conceding a goal.

Marcos Alonso, Diego Costa and Pedro completed Chelsea’s biggest victory under Conte and sixth-placed Everton’s heaviest defeat by far since Ronald Koeman became manager in the close-season.

The home side scored twice in the opening quarter of an hour through Welsh international Sam Vokes and Iceland’s Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

Substitute Connor Wickham pulled a goal back for the London side early in the second half and record signing Christian Benteke equalised with a penalty.

Even after Ashley Barnes put Burnley back in front in added time, Palace’s Andros Townsend hit the post in a dramatic finish.

A fourth home win of the season sent promoted Burnley into ninth position and pushed Palace down two places into the bottom six.

“It’s fantastic to be ninth in the table for a club like Burnley,” Burnley manager Sean Dyche said. “There are questions asked of us in the Premier League but we’re enjoying the ride.”

Stoke City extended their unbeaten run to six games with a 1-1 draw at West Ham. Glenn Whelan’s own goal gave the home side the lead but Bojan Krkic equalised to earn a point.

Arsenal meet Tottenham in the north London derby between two of the top five on Sunday, when Liverpool host Watford and Manchester United visit Swansea City.

“When you win in this way, it’s fantastic,” Conte told BT Sport. “It’s a pity that now we have to stop for the international break.”

Koeman was philosophical after his team’s heavy defeat.

“You have to accept sometimes in life your opponent is by far the better team,” the Dutchman said.

All had seemed well for City when Sergio Aguero scored his 150th goal for the club, converting Kevin de Bruyne’s pass, to put them ahead just before halftime.

City, who beat Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, had 19 goal attempts in a dominant first-half performance but failed to make their early dominance pay and were stunned when Boro’s Martin de Roon headed home powerfully in the 91st minute.

“We did absolutely everything to win the game, controlled the game and in the last minute we concede a goal. It is a pity,” City manager Pep Guardiola said.

He denied, though, that his side had suffered a hangover after their thrilling triumph over Barcelona.

“Not really, we started amazing and played really good in the first half. We created six or seven chances and didn’t score,” Guardiola said.

Sunderland, bottom of the table and without a win all season, fought back for a shock 2-1 victory at Bournemouth.

Victor Anichebe equalised Dan Gosling’s early goal for the home side and despite being under pressure with 10 men after midfielder Steven Pienaar was sent off for a second yellow card, the Black Cats claimed three points at last thanks to Jermain Defoe’s penalty.

SIXTH GOAL It was the former England striker’s sixth goal of the season.

“It’s been difficult but we showed great team spirit and character,” Defoe told Sky Sports.

“We got a bit of luck at the right time,” added manager David Moyes, who had to watch the match from the stands after being dismissed from the dugout at Southampton last week.

Crystal Palace suffered a fourth successive defeat, losing 3-2 at Burnley to a stoppage-time goal after fighting back from conceding two early goals.

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 6, 2016

Masters FUTSAL Classic launched

FOOTBALLERS over the age of thirty-five, nationwide, will match their skills in the smaller version of the ‘Beautiful Game’ when the first ever Masters Full 100 FUTSAL Classic is staged next month at the National Gymnasium.

At a launch held last Friday in the Boardroom of the National Sports Commission (NSC) it was announced that the Tournament will be played over the first three weekends in December and will cater for three categories of Masters: Junior Masters (35 to 39 years), Masters (40 to 49 years) and Grand Masters (50 years and over).

Trophies for the top four finishers in each category as well as Individual Trophies for all the categories have been donated by the NSC who has also made the venue available at reduced costs.

Also giving support to the inaugural competition is Germans Restaurant. Last Friday, representative of the popular Restaurant, Chontelle Sewett, handed over six match balls to be used in the Tournament.

Sixteen teams are expected to participate in both the Junior Masters and Masters Divisions, and eight in the Grand Masters. A total of 80 competition matches will be played among the forty registered teams as well as 20 exhibition games over the nine playing days, making the Classic a full 100 matches.

… NSC donates all trophies

- ‘I’m not coming here to finish second’

By Stephan Sookram

Miss Chontelle Sewett of Germans Restaurant hands over Tournament ball to Mark Young (Tournament Coordinator).At far right is Assistant Director for Sport, Brian Lewis and at far left is the conceptualiser of the tournament, Ras Wadada.

The Guyana FUTSAL Association will coordinate the Tournament where it is the intention to climax the December 2nd to 16th tournament with the establishment of an Interim Management Committee to charter the way forward for Masters Football in Guyana.

Registration of teams will end on November 26th and the registration fee of ten players per team is five thousand

dollars.

The Masters Football fraternity, at the launch, thanked the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones for his immediate response and whole hearted support of the idea of a Tournament for past footballers.

Gratitude was also extended to Clinton Urling and Germans Restaurant for immediately coming on board.

Representing the NSC

was Assistant Director, Brian Smith who lauded the initiative to run a Tournament of this nature while stating that the NSC was happy to be a partner of Masters Football.

Second Vice- President of the national FUTSAL FA, Mark Young in his remarks endorsed the Tournament and assured that his organization will be involved in the execution of the competition.

COURTS Petra Pee-Wee football …

West Ruimveldt,St. Agnes, St. Pius and St. Angela’s advance to semis WEST Ruimveldt,St. Agnes, St. Pius and St. Angela’s advanced to the semi-final stage of the COURTS Petra Pee-Wee football competition yesterday at Thirst Park.

West Ruimveldt was the first to advance via a 2-0 win over F.E. Pollard with strikes from Kevin Mentis (35th) and Kenneth Gordon,(38th) while St Agnes through Justin Alexander (15 th) and David Xavier (17 th) beat Marian Academy by the same margin.

St Puis on the other hand were made to fight a little harder as a Keron Adams 40th minute strike sent them into the next round after an earlier Dwayne Baptiste (7th) min-

English rider Truelove sends stern warning

ute strike was cancelled out

by Jequan Cole in the 10th St. Angela’s then needled North Georgetown through Antwoine Vincent (13th) for the final spot.

In the 9-16 Positional Section,Stella Marris won 5-4 on penalty kicks against St Gabriel’s after their game ended 2-2 after regulation time. Stella Maris’ scorers were John Hynes (16th and 25th) while St Gabriel’s had Tyrese Hart on target in the 8th and 24th.

Winfer Gardens beat South Ruimveldt 1-0 through Orlando Dickie (39 th) in game two while game three was a one sided affair with Tucville railroading Redeemer 4-0 thanks to strikes from John Harry (2nd

WITH exactly one week before the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) International Race of Champions, the war of words has begun, the first of which was thrown by Englandbased rider Matt Truelove.

Truelove, who will be riding for the Mohamed’s Enterprise team alongside American Bryce Prince, arrived in the country Friday evening, with the United Kingdom semi- pro speaking to the media on Saturday.

“I’m not coming here to finish second, I’m coming here to win so that’s what I am going to do,” Truelove told reporters when quizzed about his intentions next Sunday.

Racing aboard a Yamaha R6, the same type he rides competitively with in the UK, Truelove believes that it will not be ‘smooth sailing’ come race day but he is prepared for any eventuality.

Asked about the track, he responded,” it looks like quite a lot of breaking and accelerating and trying to get the bike in the right place on the exit. So we’ll probably try today to get my head around the track a bit and see what times I can do and build from there.”

“It’s quite wide so it’s not what I was expecting but it should be good. (In terms of difference) In the UK, the tracks are looked after better, with a few more corners and quite bigger, normally a lot longer but the corners are the same, quite flowing and leading into each other.”

His only worry thus far is in relation to the local climate, noting that humidity may affect his stay here but he has plans to combat that.

Nonetheless, Truelove will be in action later today in the first of his unofficial sessions at the South Dakota Circuit while Prince was expected in the country earlier this morning.

Not new to racing, the Mohamed’s Enterprise team made its entrance into the sport via the quarter mile as it’s Nissan GTR currently holds the blacktop South Dakota record of 8.3 seconds.

This year,however,in an effort to add more interest to the sport and to advance its standard locally, the company decided to sponsor two internationally famed riders.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday November 06, 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) This Adrian Narine Photo shows a goalkeeper holding his head after he is beaten during one of the matches yesterday at thirst Park. and 11 th), Jamal Embrack (19th) and Ronaldo Gomes28th.

Game four also ended 4-0 with St Margaret’s

scoring through Mickelle Andrews (17th, 24th, 26th and 28th)while Mae’s failed to find the back of the nets.

(Stephan Sookram)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Pakistan won 2-1 (2) Yasir Shah (PAK)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who scored most runs in the recent WI/PAK Test series?

(2) Who took most wickets in the series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 6, 2016

Priscilla Greaves working on her comeback to competitive table tennis

By Tamica Garnett “TABLE tennis runs in my family, so basically that’s how I started playing,” says seventeen year old Priscilla Greaves, as she spoke of

of a successful team at the IGG;she has been a regular feature during the last four years. Overall,she has been on the climb on the table tennis circuit since she was first brought into the game

Priscilla displaying just a few of her many trophies her beginnings in table tennis back in 2009.

Priscilla is one of the six players who helped in leading Guyana to a clean sweep win against Suriname at the recently concluded Inter-Guiana Games, as she began her return to table tennis after a necessary break to focus on her academic commitments.

This of course is not the first time Greaves is part

by her uncle,Colin France, renowned tennis player and former men’s Caribbean champ.

“He needed a young female player, so basically that’s how I started playing,” Priscilla shared, when she sat down with Chronicle Sport earlier this week for a one-on-one of how her table tennis skills have been coming along as well

Priscilla serving it up at the table

as what’s in store now that she’s ready to return to the sport.

Priscilla recently completed the CSEC examinations with passes in eight subjects.In order to achieve this she was forced to take a break from table tennis during the last few months.

Now that CSEC is behind her,she is more than ready to get back into the game.

The School of the Nation student is preparing to attend the JOOLA North America Teams table tennis tournament set for later this month.

She is also busy studying for her SATs. And despite her recent break, her performance at IGG showed that Priscilla is still very much a force to reckon with, and still has a passion for the sport.

“I just have a love for sport, there was a time when I thought about stopping, but when I did I just missed it so much so I just had to start back,” Priscilla fondly related.

Priscilla recalled how it was that 2009 win that really motivated her to just continue playing the sport. Since then Priscilla has blazed a trail with national titles in

all of the age categories she has competed in.Not being satisfied with that, she moved on to securing wins in the regional arena, as well as internationally Last year Priscilla was a part of the Guyana team that won the gold in Division 3 of the JOOLA tournament.She is hoping to once again pull off another gold this year.

Priscilla Greaves working on her comeback to competitive table tennis See story on page 31

Another year another win as GDF retains Joint Services title and in fourth was the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) with 100 points. This year’s event went on without the participation of the City Constabulary team.

It was no surprise that the Soldiers defended their title at the event, but the almost 100 points lead was quite a feat. GDF led the Championships from the word go and is the first team to win in the swimming, road relay and athletics competitions of the Championships, with swimming having only been introduced to the event last year.

From the first day of competition GDF blazed to the lead, and continued to keep the Police at bay as the competitions proceeded.

By Tamica Garnett O LY M P I A N Wi n s t o n George as well as Alita Moore’s victory in the men’s and women’s sprint events was not enough to help the Guyana Police Force curtail the Guyana Defence Force’s dominance of the Joint Services Athletics Championships (ISAAC) when the event concluded last Friday night at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

The Army constructed an almost triple digit lead over the Police when the team ended with 613 points, and captured their third consecutive title at the event.In the four-day event Police managed 525 points,while the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) gathered 108 points

The GDF team show off their hardware as they celebrate their Joint Services win last Friday night.

See page 26

NSC’s three-stage cycle road race

Williams edges Greaves to win 65-mile first stage

By Michael DaSilva CONTESTING the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) sponsored 138.5mile three-stage cycle road race without team support, Continental cyclist Geron Williams proved he is a force to be reckoned with, as he displayed true grit and determination to win the first stage (65 miles) of the event yesterday.

Williams’ victory was not as easy as some may believe as he was hard pressed by Alonzo Greaves and six others, but romped home the victor by a mere half a bicycle’s wheel ahead of Greaves,who made a welcome return to cycling after serving a one year ban from the sport for using an illegal substance during last year’s `Ride For Life’ five-stage road race which was staged in October.

Williams’ time for yesterday’s 65-mile event was two hours, 38 minutes 46.27 seconds.The other top seven finishers received the bunch time, but since Williams

Geron Williams raises his arms in jubilation as he crosses the finish line in winning stage one of the NSC’s three-stage cycle road race yesterday ahead of Alonzo Greaves (partly hidden on Williams’ right). had won the time race, he secured a 10 seconds bonus which he took into yesterday’s second stage (Individual time trial).

Greaves,who finished sec-

ond,benefited from a seven seconds bonus time.

Yesterday’s second stage which covered a distance of 3.5 miles began outside Celina Resort, Kitty Sea Wall and

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

concluded outside the Plaisance Community Centre, East Coast Demerara.

Shaquile Agard finished third, Hamzah Eastman was fourth, Michael Anthony

fifth and Christopher Cornelius sixth.

Andrew Hicks who ended seventh was adjudged the first junior finisher while Raphael Leung was the second junior.

Raymond Newton who ended ninth overall in a time of two hours 39 minutes 51 seconds was the first veteran to cross the finish line while Paul Cho-Wee-Nam was second.

After being sent on their way from Carifesta Avenue at 07:30hrs, the 47 starters moved off at a fast pace and it was in the vicinity of the University of Guyana that Williams, Greaves, Stephano Husbands and Silvio Inniss broke from the pack and opened a good lead.However,they were briefly caught as they passed through Better Hope but they managed to regain the lead which they held;thwarting a few challenges from the chasing group.

While passing through Lusignan, pre-race favourite, Raynauth `Obeah Man’ Jeffrey, suffered a mechanical problem (busted chain)

and had to get a change of cycle.However,the cycle he got was not to his liking and he elected to stay at the back and might not have qualified for yesterday’s individual time trial since the race is a Time Race In the meantime, Williams, Greaves, Husbands, Inniss, Hicks and three others broke from the pack and battled among themselves from Haslington after leaving the others behind while passing through Dantzic.With 200 metres from the finish Greaves tried to breakaway but Williams responded immediately and edged his rival across the finish line.

Meanwhile, the third and final stage will be held today starting at 11:00hrs from outside the Guyana Defence Force Camp Ayanganna Headquarters, Irving Street,where cyclists will battle for 30 laps which is equivalent to 70 miles.

At stake is a total prize package of $400,000 for the three categories of cyclists (open, juniors and veterans.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016