Guyana chronicle epaper 11 19 2016 by Guyana Chronicle

City police seize ganja at Stabroek Market 19 Page

No. 104740

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

‘Don’t politicise sugar’ … PM floats a range of diversification options for GuySuCo

African Business Chamber launched

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Members of the newly-launched African Business Roundtable (ABR) following the launch of the body on Friday evening at the Georgetown Marriott Hotel. At right is African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) Director, Dr Eric Phillips

KN staffer killed Suspect in in collision goat larceny with car case charged

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Bartica Massacre …

‘CHI CHI’

gets 35 years

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

Ramson under scrutiny … failed to submit report of work of information commission since 2013

JUSTICE Charles Ramson Snr., the Commissioner of Information (CoI), will be the subject of scrutiny following his failure to submit reports on his work since he

took office in 2013. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo told reporters on Friday that he has written Ramson asking whether he (Ramson) has submitted infor-

mation necessary for compilation of the report to be tabled before the National Assembly. “I am not aware that any report had been submitted since the appointment of the Commission in 2013. None has been tabled in the National Assembly,” the Prime Minister said. Asked if he is pleased with the Commissioner’s performance, Nagamootoo said that being pleased is “very subjective.” “I am not aware that this office has done any kind of work really… There is a law, and the Commissioner of Information is bound by that law to carry out certain functions, including receiving complaints and facilitating inquiries into those complaints,” the Prime Minister explained. Additionally, he said, Ramson is required by law to submit to the National Assembly a report highlighting work done by the Commission. Ramson had, in the past, indicated that there were few requests for information. “There is a statutory requirement for a report to be

lodged in the National Assembly, and you’d only know what are the difficulties being confronted by the Commissioner if the Commissioner were to submit those difficulties in writing and have them subjected to scrutiny in the National Assembly,” the Prime Minister stressed. As Commissioner of Information, Ramson’s post is empowered by the Access to Information Act, which was enacted in 2011. That legislation establishes in Guyana a regime of transparency and accountability wherein residents and domiciled persons can access public information once it does not conflict with the country’s Official Secrets Act. There has been some concern about Ramson’s decision to move his office from the Ministry of the Presidency to his East Street, Georgetown home, and Prime Minister Nagamootoo has said he is unsure why Ramson relocated; but he told reporters: “I’d have to find out specifically why he would have had to relocate… I think he had problems parking his huge vehicle…there were some concerns about that.” However, during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle in June, Ramson said there were very few requests

for information since he took office, and even fewer after the administration had been changed. He pointed to requests made by the Guyana Bar Association and Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporated (TIGI). In the report published on June 6, 2016, Ramson said that following the change of administration in 2015, he informed the new Government of the protocol surrounding his office, noting that specification existed in the Access to Information Act for the Minister responsible for Information -- a responsibility which was bestowed on Prime Minister Nagamootoo -- to liaise with the Office of the Commissioner of Information. Ramson explained that he began engaging the Prime Minister’s office via writing, but received no response from the Prime Minister, although someone designated as his Chief of Staff responded. He then requested a direct line to the Prime Minister, but it was Minister of State Joseph Harmon who “took over.” Ramson told Guyana Chronicle that he began communicating with Harmon, and it was during those correspondences that he decided to relocate. He bemoaned the

Commissioner of Information, Justice Charles Ramson Snr. “garrisoned environment” which developed, and noted that “soldiers really took over the place. They implemented new security measures that everybody who was coming into the place, even those who were working in the place, had to be stopped at the gate, and they would perform security searches, even (on) your car.” Ramson accused the state of abusing his courtesy, while noting that he reminded Harmon of Section 5 (2) and (3)of the Access to Information Act, which not only spell out the roles and responsibilities of his office, but also the accommodations for office staff and budgetary allocations, in order to ensure his function at full capacity.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

Don’t politicise sugar … PM floats a range of diversification options for GuySuCo CALLING on politicians to refrain from politicising the sugar industry, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has said that “sugar will remain the remit of GUYSUCO (the Guyana Sugar Corporation)” even as he stressed the importance of diversification. Speaking at the Alliance For Change’s (AFC) bi-weekly press conference on Friday, the Prime Minister made it clear that in order to save the ailing industry there is a great need for diversification. “…you’d have to be able to disaggregate certain functions because it has now become oppressive to hand out to do the annual ritual, bail-out of the industry- so far $40B,has been spent on bail-out,” he stated. He described the constant bailing out of the sugar industry as “raiding the treasury,” while stressing that the functions of the industry that were focused primarily on sugar would now have to be diversified so as to accommodate other activities

that have the potential to be significant foreign exchange earners. He pointed to rice and dairy as possible areas for both foreign and local investments. The Prime Minister’s comments came in response to statements by former Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who in the Friday November 18, 2016 edition of the Guyana Times newspaper said the APNU+AFC government is setting the stage to end sugar. “That is false!” responded the Prime Minister, who reminded the media that the Skeldon sugar factory has failed to live up to its expectations. Over US$200M has been spent on the facility, but despite the investment, the factory has been referred to as a “white elephant.” “That’s a failed elephantthis elephant that we inherited was not producing sugar in accordance with what was envisaged originally…what do you do with Skeldon? You’d have to have a method to allow other players to come in either to refurbish

the factory, to diversify crops to work out an arrangement with private cane farmers…a combination of several activities. Like Wales, for example, there are proposals that the factory itself should be converted to do dairy products.” Nagamootoo stressed the importance of diversification, noting that Guyana has enough land that can be made available for cattle-rearing. “We are still importing premium beef in Guyana when we have lands that could produce the same nice juicy cuts…the ones in the hotels are coming from outside. We are still importing pasteurised milk, etc. and another section of the factory, if lands are made available, we could have our own juices made.” The Prime Minister is of the opinion that a forensic study of all estate lands be done to ascertain what those very lands can be used for in light of diversification. Additionally, he believes that the labour force within

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo the sugar industry needs to be absorbed and retrained to fit into a “new value-added chain of production.” He noted the possibility of using GUYSUCO’s lands to produce new varieties of rice that are versatile and can be converted into “high-class foods for the food chains of the world.” “I am firmly of the belief that you need strong leadership right now

to address the issues of the sugar industry. Sugar should not be politicised, there is too much at stake; too much history in this country…[the] psychological harm to people who feel if sugar could be diversified then their livelihood comes to an end; no, their livelihood could be re-made, re-positioned so that you have better value, better technology,” he told reporters. The Prime Minister stressed that sugar workers and their families need to be made to understand that they deserve a better quality of life and better type of employment that would “place them at the higher end of the value chain than the job of a minion mules working in the sun with a cutlass firing chops at cane roots.” Sugar isn’t dead he asserted, noting that it is going to be contained to manageable proportions to make bulk sugar economical. The rest of the estates where there are lands as is the case of Skeldon can be treated as

Bartica Massacre …

‘CHI CHI’ gets 35 years By Michel Outridge CLEBERT Reece, called “Chi-Chi,” one of the two who pleaded guilty to manslaughter following the February 2008 massacre was on Friday sentenced to 35 years imprisonment. The sentence was handed down by Justice Roxane George after a probation report was presented in the High Court. The seemingly remorseful Recce began crying silently into a white rag as the probation report was read in the High Court and cried even more when his sentenced was handed down by Justice George. Before he was sentenced, he was given the opportunity to address the court and he did by saying, “I am sorry for the

loss of lives of the people’s loved ones.” Justice George told the court that Reece appears to have been led astray by others. From a productive life, God-fearing and loving person, he was transformed into someone uncaring with no regard for human lives. The judge told the court that there is no evidence to prove that the accused pulled the trigger, but he drove the boat to facilitate the movement of members of the gang as part of the joint enterprise to Bartica. Justice George said time was deducted based on the fact that the accused did not waste the court’s time, was not known to be involved in illegal activities before he was lured into the gang and that he genuinely expressed remorse for those who lost their lives. She started the sentence at

a base of 65 years, but deducted eight years for the time he was incarcerated, 10 years for not wasting judicial time and 12 years for the remorse and mitigating circumstances. Reece will serve 30 years in jail before he is eligible for parole. He is one of two men who pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for the deaths of the 12 persons, who perished in the Bartica Massacre which happened on February 17, 2008. The other accused, Michael Caesar, called “Mikey,” also pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and he is yet to be sentenced. NO TIME-WASTING His lawyer, Madan Kissoon, told the court in his submission before Justice Roxane George that based on his penal record Reece,

spent eight years in jail and did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. He asked that the court take certain things into consideration. Reece is the father of two and if he can re-live his life, he would have stayed in the interior and he has shown remorse for the senseless loss of lives. Kissoon also asked for leniency and for his client’s sentence to run concurrently. Senior Probation and Social Services Officer Debra Joseph read in the High Court the report she had prepared before the sentencing. She stated that Reece, 39, has a sound secondary education and could articulate things for himself. He entered the workforce at age 14 as a gold miner and would return to Berbice, his hometown, to visit his siblings and other relatives at holidays.

Clebert Reece, called “Chi-Chi” Reece used to assist his mother, who had a shop in the Cuyuni area and when she passed away, he returned to the city and resided in Cooper Street, Albouystown. Joseph told the court that during an interview with residents of the community, they stated that Reece is known to be a hard worker, who had a calm attitude and is family-oriented. His family members described him as a God-fearing man, who was not confrontational but was loving, caring and a very fond individual. According to Joseph, an elderly resident stated that Reece’s life suddenly took a twist when one of his cousins

diversified platforms for partnership with local and foreign businesses which can convert the existing resources into high-end products, including ethanol and pharmaceutical products. “There is a long line of investors waiting to come to Guyana to do that,” he asserted. “Don’t allow politics to destroy us,” Nagamootoo pleaded, while noting that sugar has been a critical aspect of the country’s foreign exchange and even though money is being lost, Guyana still benefits from some foreign exchange. “Sugar has been a political football because of the peculiar nature of its constituency; its ethnic nature – it has become a fiefdom of some politicians and their sidekicks who see sugar workers not in terms of people who could be transformed and their future made better, but see them as just a checkout machine where they can get union dues every month.” The APNU+AFC government he said views the transformation of the sugar industry as vital. allegedly became a member of a gang that consisted of nine men with shady characters. That resident, said she watched Reece, a father of two, gradually transform into a savage, ruthless and merciless individual, who allowed his companions to manipulate him into joining them. Joseph said that after Reece’s cousin gave notorious bandit Rondell “Fineman” Rollins his cellphone number, his life became a living hell. He was threatened on many occasions that if he did not join the gang, he, his family and his children would be wiped out. As time went by, Joseph stated that Reece was recruited as the person to transport the gang members to various destinations, including Bartica. Joseph told the court on Friday that during an interview with Reece, he told her that he witnessed the death of five persons, but listened to the sound of gunshots as they rang out and subsequently learnt through a conversation that some of the gang members stated that they had killed seven persons in execution-style in the Bartica Police Station. He told Joseph that numerous times he wanted to run away from the gang but it was difficult to do so.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 19, 2016

Secure your homes, cooperate with the police …Commander Adonis tells Berbicians

COMMANDER of the Berbice Division, Senior Superintendent Kevin Adonis, accompanied by other top police officials, met with the business

community and the media on Thursday to unveil the division’s Christmas policing programme. He promised increased policing activity, which

commenced on November 15 and will conclude on January 15, 2017. Divisional Detective, Deputy Superintendent Gary Mc Allister, noted that some challenges faced by the Criminal Investigation Department include victims’ reluctance to give written statements and attend identification parades. Consequently, some cases remain unresolved, and the investigators are often blamed for poor investigating. Further, he lashed out at the business commun i t y, w h i c h s o m e t i m e s withholds its cooperation from the police, especially when a request is made to view footage from a security camera in an effort to solve a crime. “If they do supply the footage, the quality is often of a low quality, mak-

ing it virtually impossible to identify the respective images. Additionally, c i t i z e n s a r e n o t s e c u ring their homes properly, thus allowing intruders easy access,” the officer lamented. However, despite the challenges, he said, there has been a 23% reduction of crime in the division. E a r l i e r, C o m m a n d e r Adonis noted that breakand-enter and larceny, robbery-under-arms, rape and burglary have been some of the offences high on the graph drafted by the IT staff. However, he said, the division has recorded a 22% decrease in reports, compared to the corre sponding period in 2015. Further, there has been a 31% increase in cases made, compared to the same period in 2015; and of the cases prosecuted 23%, were concluded in 2015, while 43% was completed in the current year. There was no report of kidnapping for 2016. With respect to traffic, there has been an increase in serious accidents with this year, when 79 were r e c o r d e d f o r t h i s y e a r, compared to 63 for the corresponding period last year. There were 12 fatal accidents, along with 76 minor and 87 damage accidents respectively. Regional Traffic Chief, Superintendent Budnarine Persaud, said 630 persons

were charged with driving under the influence, and there was a 60% conviction rate; while many drivers had their licences endorsed by the respective magistrates. Unveiling of the twomonth Christmas Policing Plan at Divisional Headquarters in New Amsterdam has been aimed at minimising occurrences of criminal activities, traffic accidents and traffic congestion, besides fostering closer relations with members of the public. It is anticipated that there would be increased business activities and increased traffic accidents and congestion, as vehicles and pedestrians increase their presence along the many roadways. As a result, more than 300 ranks, inclusive of Neighbourhood Police; along with 45 vehicles, inclusive of 22 motorcycles and 12 motor pickups, will be deployed on the roadways of the ‘Ancient County’ to allow citizens to experience an accident-free holiday period. There is also provision for marine patrols, with ranks getting access to one 35-foot fiberglass boat with a 90 horsepower Yamaha outboard engine for riverine checks in the Canje Creek and Berbice River areas. Adonis said there is also another 40-foot fibreglass boat with an outof-order 150 horsepower Yamaha outboard engine. Adonis, who is acting

for the substantive commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam, who is expected to resume duties in December, told those gathered that as Christmastime draws c l o s e r, t h e r e w o u l d b e increased foot and mobile patrols, and road blocks would be erected at strategic points based on intelligence received. In addition, special focus will be on the New Amsterdam shopping areas, the New Amsterd a m a n d R o s g i n o l f e rry stellings, the Berbice River Bridge, the Port Mourant and Rosignol markets, Rose Hall Town, and Number 78 Village. “In addition, the spotlight will be on travellers traversing from Suriname via Moleson, and along the porous borderline,” he promised. The Berbice top cop said the residents in the division, which stretches from Abary, West Coast Berbice to Orealla, Upper Corentyne, East Berbice, has had a close relationship with the police, who continues to hold community outreach programs monthly. Meanwhile, those present at the hour-long briefing session, during which snacks were served, included Deputy Commander Superintendent K. Simon; Superintendent K. Williams; Deputy Superintendent Guy Nurse; Woman Inspector Y. Stephens, and Inspector E. Davidson.

CHAIRPERSON of the Teaching Service Commission, Mrs. Leila Ramson, has said the body is yet to decide whether to ap-

peal or move ahead after a High Court judge last week scrapped its method of promoting teachers. Ramson has said that

contrary to a Guyana Chronicle report earlier this week on the subject, the body is yet to make a decision.

TSC yet to decide on appeal

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 19, 2016

Safe and comfortable Christmas - President Granger promises DESPITE rising concerns about the spate of criminal activities here, President David Granger believes that the situation is being exaggerated and Guyanese will have a “safe and comfortable Christmas.” Speaking during an interview with Gordon Moseley on 94.1 radio station on Friday morning, the Head of State who was at the time attending the 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties (COP22) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in Morocco, said, “The situation is not as bad as it is being made out to be.” He explained that there has been a decline in piracy attacks

as reported by the Police Force and noted the efforts by his administration to ensure that there are more patrols around the country. The President pointed to mounted patrols in Black Bush Polder and in the Rupununi with the hope of reducing violent crimes. He spoke to the increase in policemen on the ground, a move which began on November 15 and will run until January 15. During the Christmas season, more ranks of the Guyana Police Force are placed on the streets, given the hive of activities that take place. “We have taken more decisive action to look at the prison situation, as you know there

Top restaurants matching skills GUYANA Restaurant Week (GRW), being observed from November 18 to 27, has kicked off with 15 ‘top of the line’ restaurants competing to bring Guyanese the best in cuisine. Participating restaurants promise to offer the best in taste, quality and service, so consumers can treasure the experience of fine-dining with family members or friends, as they savour the flavour of high-quality cuisine served in exotic ambience and at unbelievable prices. The special Guyana Restaurant Week lunch menu is available at $2,000, or dinner menu from $4,000. Restaurant Week is one of the signature events of Tourism Awareness Month, celebrated in November. Speaking at its recent launch, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh, urged Guyanese and visitors alike to support the event. “It’s a culinary celebration of the best restaurants in Guyana. During this 10-day extravaganza, participating restaurants offer an exclusive menu at a significantly reduced price. Restaurant Week gives visitors and local foodies an opportunity to enjoy specialty prix fixe menus from skilled local chefs. Come along and enjoy!” Haralsingh urged. The restaurants participating in Guyana Restaurant Week are Grand Coastal Hotel at La Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara; Maharaja Palace Restaurant on Sheriff Street, Campbellville; Java Coffee Bar and Bistro at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, Battery Road, Kingston Georgetown; The Coffee Shop; Publik Wing and Burger House on Duncan Street, Campbellville; Xie Xie Restaurant and Bar; New Thriving Restaurant and Bar, Main Street, Georgetown; Cara Lodge Hotel; Roraima Duke Lodge; Windjammer Hotel at Queen Street, Kitty; Antonio’s Grille at Herdmanston Lodge; Aagman Indian Restaurant; and Pegasus Hotel at Sea Wall Road, Kingston.

have been recurring threats of disorder and lawlessness in the prisons, and in fact, the Defence [Force] and Police in joint operation to support the prison authorities removed illegal weapons and cell phones [from the prison]” the President reminded. Last weekend, the Joint Services raided the Georgetown and New Amsterdam prisons following what was described by the Government as a “potential domestic security threat” and seized a large quantity of contraband items. At the Georgetown Prison, 21 improvised weapons and knives, 20 razor blades, 558 grams of marijuana, 22 cellular phones and five gallons of homemade wine, along with a

number of other banned items were found. A lesser number of items were found at the New Amsterdam prison. The discovery of the contraband at the Georgetown Prison proved worrisome for the security forces as that prison was last searched in September. “The Government will continue to work closely with the Guyana Prison Service and the Joint Services to address on-going security weaknesses at the nation’s correctional facilities,” a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency said on last Saturday. Additionally, Government said the Guyana Police Force and the Joint Services where necessary will continue to

NATURAL Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has said he does not anticipate disbandment of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), given that the Government-run entity is fulfilling its true mandate. Trotman told reporters at the Ministry of the Presidency that “NICIL was not established to be money-making enterprise or profiteering unit.” Although the entity has shifted focus over the years, the Natural Resources Minister assured that NICIL is now

back on track, and is adhering to the recommendations laid out in the Forensic Audit Report. In the report, published by S.A. Goolsarran in October 2015, the Board of Directors had, during the period 1991 to 2001, interpreted the NICIL mandate in a manner consistent with the wishes of the Legislature; and NICIL was, at the time, performing a monitoring role for Government’s investments, and was ensuring that all proceeds from such investments were collected and paid over to the Consoli-

“scale up security activities in targeted areas to ensure the security of residents and visitors across Guyana as the country enters the holiday season and in light of the uptick in criminal activity”. Meanwhile, President Granger said issues of arson are being dealt with as Government has strengthened the fire service by acquiring much needed equipment, including ambulances. “So I think [with] those three main services… Police, Prison and Fire, I think we are much better prepared and I think the Guyanese people can look forward to having a safe and comfortable Christmas,” President Granger assured. The Guyana Police Force has reported that there has been a reduction in the percentage of serious crimes

over the past few months. The police have recorded a 21 per cent decrease in serious crimes at the end of September when compared to the same period last year. In a statement, the police said there was a 9 per cent reduction in reports of murder; a 5 per cent decrease in gun-related robberies; a 17 per cent decrease in armed robberies in which other instruments were used; a 15 per cent decrease in robberies where no instruments were used; a 25 per cent decrease in robberies with violence; a 4 per cent decrease in robberies with aggravation; a 33 per cent decrease in larceny from the person; a 19 per cent decrease in rapes; a 13 per cent decrease in burglaries; and a 21 per cent decrease in break and enter and larceny.

dated Fund. The Government-run entity started to be in total contravention of the laws in 2002, the consultant said. “NICIL’s retention of dividends received from public corporations and other entities, and the proceeds from the sale of assets from 2002 onwards, violates not only Article 216 of the Constitution, but also the relevant sections of the FMA Act and successive years’ Appropria-

tion Acts. “In addition, NICIL’s recognition of these funds as its revenue is a breach of the fundamental accounting concept of matching costs with revenue, since the Government’s investments were transferred to NICIL at zero consideration. In other words, NICIL did not purchase these investments from the Government for which it claims ownership,” the report stated.

No disbandment for NICIL

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 19, 2016

Freddie Kissoon was out of place Dear Editor,

ANY casual observer looking in on Guyana may be inclined to think the intolerance its citizens harbour towards each other -- more particularly among some within the leadership of society, across the spectrum -- is borne from an irreversible and deep-seated hatred. Yet, this could not be further from the truth; and dare it be said that in spite of historical conflicts, the evolution of this society, more particularly in the 20th century, has seen development influenced in significant measure by our diversity. Our history shows diverse groups: race, class, rural/ urban/hinterland, religion, descendants of the enslaver, enslaved and indentured, coming together as a common force to achieve our independence. A major benefit of diversity is that each group has its unique characteristics, accompanied by perspective and strengths, which when combined can make the strong stronger and offset weaknesses. Those were the characteristics that bound the society in the years of resistance to the yoke of colonial bondage. Unfortunately, it has become a fad to point fingers at the other for the state of affairs the country is in, or decline to accept the thoughts or input of another because it did not originate from you or your group, which deprives society of the benefit of diverse inputs. None has the monopoly on knowledge, and to believe otherwise is synonymous to having one’s head in the cloud and losing sight of the big picture. Had the zero-sum approach taken to ‘the other’ in dealing with the nation’s affairs not been so debilitating to the people, this attitude would have been laughable. In other societies, where leaders -- including those running for office and elected -- tout the ability or commitment to work across the aisle as testimony of embracing diversity and being inclusive, it is to this society’s benefit should we work to make this a part of our lexicon and action. The people continue to hold out hope that, should their leaders work together, irrespective of differences, it would improve security and standard of living across the board. A feature that distinguishes Guyanese is that almost all are descendants of groups that were marginalised and discriminated against. It would be reasonable to assume that coming from shared common experiences of subjugation -- notwithstanding the degree of severity inflicted on different groups -- such is enough for us to be respectful of the other and tap into the resources, talents and skills of all. Contrary to the held view that working with others, including rival or opponent, constitutes weakness; it requires strength of character to acknowledge one does not know it all and cannot do it all, and diversity aids in reaching or

WITH a great degree of frustration and disbelief, I pen this letter in response to an atrocity that was published in Kaieteur online newspaper, titled “Guyanese messengers of death from Cuba have returned”. It is dated November 18, 2016 and was unprofessionally drafted by Freddie Kissoon. Now I guess it’s safe for one to conclude that in Guyana there is a battery of overqualified veteran journalists who live up to the standards and true meaning of investigative journalism, an unpopular/smaller group of others who try feverishly in this regard (for whom much credit should be given); and then there is this Freddie Kissoon, who, with his latest gymnastics, has now left a dark cloud hanging over the credibility of the local media body. Mr. Kissoon: I do not know you, I have never met you, and I certainly have no intentions of meeting you either; but your article is provocatively scandalous, vindictive, infantile, vulgar, middling, and laced with grammatically incorrect paragraphs of untruth. Quite frankly, this kind of writing style is one I would expect from a delinquent, uneducated or misguided individual. You have centred your article on a weak foundation of four pillars, which I found to be exceptionally unfitting, and revealing nothing more than a poor attempt at proper investigative journalism. So, in retrospect, I will try my best to fashion my responses around them. Apparently, a large sample of our local constituency believes that somehow, good health services/doctors /diagnosis are paralleled with the old/seemingly experienced doctors. That flawed belief couldn’t have been any further from the truth. And while I can’t speak for the

rest, I can say this much: I’m damn good at what I do. My reputation and track record working across Region 10 can flawlessly attest to that. Cuba’s health and education systems are the island’s most prized assets, and are often used as models for other countries around the world, including Guyana. Mr. Kissoon is undoubtedly clueless about how the Cuban health care program functions, and was obviously ill-informed by his “friend”, to whom he referred in his article. Guyana isn’t the only country that sends its subjects to pursue studies in various disciplines in Cuba. And this, Mr. Kissoon, serves as more than a motive for you to amplify your knowledge. Cuba is largely responsible for the training of many professionals around the world, claiming almost all of South and Latin Americas, many Caribbean islands, various countries on the African continent, China, Russia, and of course the United States of America. Even Guyana’s present and past governments have Cuban graduates. You should also know, Mr. Kissoon, that American and Cuban medical practitioners cross borders for fellowship at hospitals in both territories biannually. So, categorically speaking, your meagre attempt to disparage and demonize Cuba’s health care programme can be deemed as a miserably failed attempt. The genesis of project ALBA, back in 2004, or “ALTERNATIVA BOLIVARIANA PARA LAS AMERICAS”, a brainchild of former President of Venezuela H.E. Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias and President of the Republic of Cuba, H.E. Fidel Castro Ruz, which sought to improve many sectors in Latin America, especially in health, is singularly responsible for the training of some 10,000 Latin American primary health care physicians over a 10-year period.

accessing a wider pool of thought, talent and skill. Where diversity is encouraged and seen as an important element in the country’s mosaic, such not only creates the sense of belonging, but stability and desire to want to give of one’s best, given vested input and interest. Looking around in society, the signs for inclusion and respect for one’s unique history and ability are clear. That the wealth of this country not only lies within its bosom but in all the people who are equal stakeholders, all deserve to play their part. Though tempting it may be to settle past scores, perceived or real, or wanting to see the other fail, this zero-sum or intolerant approach to our fellow man is more reminiscent of the era when we were not free. Our collective wellbeing is intertwined, not separate. In a few weeks, Guyanese will exit our 50th anniver-

Guyana benefited momentously, as its usual annual quota of medical hopefuls increased by almost fourfold during that period. Mr. Kissoon noted in his article that he had to send soap, detergent and other toiletries to his “friend”. And I would like to highlight that this is a serious case of treason! When I began my studies back in 2006 in Cuba, we were all given monthly supplies of basic toiletries under the ALBA project. These lies, I can attest, are suffocating and very disrespectful. The four dimensions Mr. Kissoon based his article on are horrendously misguided, and reflect only inadequacies in his training as a journalist, let alone an investigative one. And if this isn’t a half-baked journalist, then I don’t know what else is. Fidel Castro’s revolution back in 1959 assured him and the Cuban people the ousting of the Mafia Batista government, and from that very moment Castro became a high-profile enemy of the imperialist. Six sitting presidents before Reagan have since applied severe commercial and financial pressure on the island (Dwight D. Eisenhower, commander in chief at the time of Fidel’s revolution; Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter), and their rage grew thicker as the relationship between Fidel and then Russian president Nikita Khruschchev favourably developed. Unfortunately, this isn’t a history class, so I won’t get into details. But yes, Russia’s support to Cuba back then shouldered more than 70% of Cuba’s economy; and with the fall of the USSR in 1991, Cuba’s fate took a turn for the worse. I personally find Mr. Kissoon’s second dimension perforating, depressing, bizarre and outrageous. He hallucinates that the Cuban scholarship was all Cuba could have afforded to Third World countries, and that

it never exported anything in the form of aid to these nations. This man’s dementia is far beyond what I had initially anticipated, and the situation is very appalling. The Republic of Cuba helped Angola during the civil war of the latter, where Cuban forces fought alongside the Marxist–Leninist People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola Government; against the Western-backed National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, and the National Liberation Front of Angola guerrillas, who were aided by the South-African Army. Cuba has also been the first country to offer aid to Haiti after every single natural disaster that would have rocked the island over the past three decades. Cuba is, moreover, responsible for singlehandedly completing eradication of illiteracy in many Latin American and African countries via the ‘Operacion Milagro’ (Miracle Vision) programme, which runs internationally; and Cuba offered over 1000 medical professionals to Brazil for the recently concluded Olympics, just to name a few things. The part of Kissoon’s article that made me laugh the most was when he pointed out that our professors were ordinary doctors; that we studied in mediocre rural medical schools, and he went as far as even labelling our training as ‘half-baked’. Honestly speaking, the only thing rural here is Mr. Kissoon’s apparent state of delusion. And I’m sitting here thinking that when he was naming his article, he was referring to his friend…or the informant. Cuba’s medical system is designed for students to complete their preclinical years in schools across the island; and upon its completion, they are transferred to grade one hospitals to do their five major rotations for the remaining

Turn to Pg. 7 sary of political independence. Our independence was not intended for the free to adopt the repressive ways of those who had held them in bandage. Independence was achieved to advance the growth and development of each citizen through equal opportunity, protection, access and held standards, in order that their God-given potential can be unleashed to their benefit and that of the nation. We are six peoples, some will say more. Our diverse historical experiences, culture, identity, talent, skill and interest are meant to blossom like a garden, where each plant, though different, lends to nature’s beauty, serves its unique purpose, and plays a role in protecting the ecosystem. The human species is no different. Guyanese must therefore seek to protect, deepen and strengthen our diversity, which is vital to our development.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 19, 2016

Cuban-trained doctors are not murderers

Dear Editor,

FREDDIE Kissoon is an abysmal failure in many respects, not least in his academic pursuits. So his unending diatribe against persons who have achieved what he has coveted and pretended that he has until he was exposed as a liar and pretender -- a doctorate -- are vicious and relentless. However, his slanderous fulminations printed daily in Guyana’s only tabloid – the Kaieteur News -- has reached its zenith in today’s (November 18, 2016) edition. Freddie Kissoon has simultaneously accused the Cuban Government of fraud perpetrated on the countries to which it offers medical scholarships, and has sweepingly accused the doctors that are/were recipients of that scholarship programme of being murderers or potential murderers.

The Office of the Leader of the Opposition has rarely responded to any of Kissoon’s lamentably illogical and spurious, defamatory and inflammatory fulminations, which seem to emanate out of a mind that has long since lost any reason. However, this latest harangue against defenceless persons, who have no means of protecting themselves from his defamatory accusations, has hit a level so low that even a person with the mind of a book thief and a pretender to intellectual achievements he has not earned should be ashamed. After 30 years as a lecturer at a university, Kissoon has never produced even one peer-reviewed publication, although he claims he has; but this has been disproved. There are many grounds for Kissoon to be charged with fraud, and this is one instance. Kissoon should have lost

tenure for his lack of scholarship. Any other university would have relieved him of his position after a maximum of two years. This self-proclaimed advocate of anti-corruption (sic!) acquires things through blackmailing vulnerable persons. Notwithstanding that whatever he writes may be lies or misrepresentations of the truth, the business community is always fearful of attracting the ire of Kissoon’s poisonous pen, because the dirt from the scurrilous things he writes often destroys the credibility and casts doubt on the integrity of business houses, as well as the credibility and reputation of innocent persons. With his vile and irrational ramblings in the Kaieteur News, Kissoon has denounced a nation that has, despite its own internal problems, generously provided

other Third World countries with the wherewithal to develop a strong personnel corps for their health sectors; and disparaged and consequently demotivated the entire corps of doctors that came with all their bright optimism to serve their country and their countrymen. If one were to examine the history of Kissoon’s writings, one would easily discern the rank opportunism that catalyzes the vile attacks on innocent and defenceless victims, because Kissoon changes positions as he changes loyalties and/ or for personal benefits or vainglorious pursuits. There are real achievers and intellectuals who focus on positivity and on optimizing their capacity for greatness, and then there are the naysayers and doomsayers who snipe and carp at those greater than them-

Freddie Kissoon was out of place ... three or four years of their training. That Mr. Kissoon’s friend told him otherwise simply means that he failed to pass his basic preclinical examinations and was subsequently expelled from the programme. Kissoon’s volatile attack on the Cuban professors wasn’t warranted. And in all my major rotations at various hospitals in Havana (And I did my internship there), I’m yet to come across an “ordinary” professor. They were all 100 times more qualified than you will ever be in your life, Mr. Kissoon; so let’s not even go there. One of my paediatrics lecturers was even a former Health Minister of the island. One of the same “half-baked” doctors you refer to in your article is now studying at a top ranked German-based Chinese University, well renowned internationally for its research and the calibre of professionals it produces. And guess what? This same “half baked” doctor is on top of his game, standing out among hundreds of others trained elsewhere. It’s funny how every time something happens at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, the Cuban graduates are exclusively the ones to be blamed. For those

of you who didn’t know, the GPHC is also graced with doctors who were locally trained, as well as foreign doctors particularly from Australia and the United States of America. So this general stereotype of Cuban trained doctors being responsible for every little mishap that happens to every Tom, Dickisha and Kissoon must stop! Level your criticisms impartially. I am personally aware of a few of my colleagues who arguably may need a little more supervision when on the floor. You guys know yourselves, please reflect, ask for guidance/help. The public is watching. Assistance is all around you. We must never say or think we know everything, and this includes me. Let’s all stay focused… we all have a job to do, I know many of you are taken aback since the publishing of this article, but I urge you not to be discouraged by the remarks of elements of such nature, as this is a clear case of Attention Deficit Disorder, which warrants immediate psychiatric evaluation. To all Cuban nationals working in the health sector back home, and especially to the Cuban Government, on behalf of ourselves, and in part from the Guyana Gov-

ernment (they, too, should be offering an apology), please do not hold us responsible for such a blasphemous review of your programme, as it was simply conscripted by an attention-seeking man. We look forward for continued

from Pg. 6

bilateral relations with the Republic of Cuba. Regards, DR. ALLAN JOHN OUTRIDGE Jnr. M.D. Beijing, The People’s Republic of China

selves, whom they cannot aspire to emulate. Kissoon is of the latter breed, whose tirades against anyone who has achieved a greater status than his (which is almost 100% of the population) are signs of a rapidly deteriorating mind. The Office of the Leader of the Opposition denounces Kissoon’s depraved onslaught against the approximately 800 doctors who have pursued their studies with diligence and have now returned with a commitment to serve their country. Correspondingly, The Office of the Leader of the Opposition urges our young doctors not to be demoralized by Freddie Kissoon’s inane

ramblings, but to pursue their profession conscientiously and serve the people with the assiduousness with which they pursued their studies. The Office of the Leader of the Opposition expresses great appreciation for the many successful co-operative partnerships it has enjoyed, in and out of Government, with Cuba and other nations. The Party calls on Kaieteur News to issue forthwith an apology to Cuba and to the doctors who have been slandered in the basest, most reprehensible and slanderous manner by Kissoon. Regards, OFFICE OF THE OPPOSITION LEADER

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

African Business Chamber launched –– Nagamootoo emphasises importance of partnership By Alva Solomon

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has emphasised the importance of partnerships as he gave assurance of Government’s commitment to working with the newly launched African Business Roundtable, also known as the African Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) on Friday. The ABCC was formed partly out of a need to strengthen the economy of Guyana and by the urgings contained in the United

Nations General Assembly resolutions A/Res/68/237 and A/Res/69/16, dealing with the International Decade for People of African Descent and the Programme of Action associated with it. Speaking to a room filled with academics, entrepreneurs and members of the public and private sectors at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown, the Prime Minister, who is performing the duties of President, said that “there will become a time when we work in partnership that we will recognise

everyone when we work in partnership.” “I speak on behalf of the Government of Guyana here when I say that this initiative ought to be applauded, it is a modest start, but in whatever way Government can encourage you to pool your resources and to overcome the present challenges in Guyana , we will keep those initiatives,” he said. He said that there was a debate in Parliament in 2007 on a motion which was tabled by the late Debra Backer and the issue of obligations of colo-

nial slave masters in terms of reparations came up for discussion. “Any Government should recognise the fact that there exists the issue of African ancestral lands,” he noted, as he cited similar rights accorded by other groups. He said that the issue centred on the recognition that only a sympathetic Government would recognise the issue of equity regarding reparations, noting that it remains an issue until today. He recounted a group which had approached him while he was a practising attorney amid reports that their cooperative lands were being seized by the previous Government at Abary in Berbice. He mentioned the issue, noting that the contention of entitlement dates back to the days of the enslaved Africans. “And so people will always carry the burden of injustice if their entitlement is not carried,” he said.

Dr Eric Phillips, described the launch as a historic occasion. He said that on November 7, 1839, freed slaves walked to the capital city with a wheelbarrow of coins and paid for the purchase of Plantation Northbrook which they renamed victoria. Dr Phillips, who is also an advisor to the President, reminded the audience that the systemic bonding of people of African descent dates back to the start of the Village Movement in Guyana. “Nowhere else in the world was such a Village Movement successfully implemented,” he said. He said almost 177 years later, another group of entrepreneurs officially launched the ABCC. “History is indeed repeating itself,” he contended. Dr Phillips said the body, which politicians and businesspeople seem afraid to be associated with, started in July 2015 and in November 2015, almost year ago, a group from ACDA met with President Granger to discuss village economic development and the eco-

differently as compared to local private sector organisations. “The ABCC sees itself as a development partner with the Government of Guyana,” he said, pointing out that the chamber’s launch will see the hosting of a series of meetings across the country. Part of its goal is to strengthen efforts at national development and achieving surety of economic inclusion through support for the growth of private businesses owned by Guyanese of African descent. A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e ABCC will seek to create opportunities for self-development and the transformation of villages into viable economic centres. It also seeks to create training opportunities for members and collect, compile, analyse, disseminate and publish reliable statistical data for business decision-making. Towards these ends, the ABCC will work with all persons, organisations, and institutions that seek to achieve the objectives of economic and so-

Ras Leon Saul of the Rastafarian community greets Asafa Selwin George of ACDA prior to the launch of the African Business Roundtable

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who is performing the functions of President, greets former Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Elizabeth Harper, prior to the launch of the African Business Roundtable on Friday at the Marriott Hotel The Prime Minister noted that the Village Movement is one which was built on partnerships, and it could not have been completed without togetherness. HISTORIC OCCASION African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) Director,

nomic revitalisation of politically neglected communities. This year, the group shared its strategic plans with the President in the areas of land acquisition, banking and finance and oil and gas development as well as agricultural diversification, among other matters. He told those gathered that the ABCC views itself

cial inclusion of people of African descent in the full enjoyment of Guyana’s patrimony in recognition of their uncompensated contribution to the development of Guyana, and in accordance with the objectives of the two UN resolutions at reference and the relevant provisions of the Guyana Constitution.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

43rd Meeting of COTED

Too much red tape in intra-regional trade

–– Suriname minister THE Minister of Trade and Industry of the CARICOM member state of Suriname, Ms. Sieglien Burleson, has opined that the time has for the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) to play a leading role in removal of the layers of red tape that continue to stymie trade and economic development in the Region. As she declared open the 43rd Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), at the Ramada Georgetown Prince Hotel on Thursday, Minister Burleson said: “The time has come for us, as a council responsible for trade and economic development, to really bring trade and economic development to the Region through strong institutions and partnership with the private sector.” Minister Burleson said the council must swiftly move to achieve the objective of the

Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), which was established to achieve regional integration and economic growth within the Community. But in doing so, she cautioned, certain layers of red tape must be removed. “We cannot afford to have issues like refusal of market access,” she cautioned, while referring to some of the issues stymieing economic growth in the Region. The CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General for Trade and Economic Development, Joseph Cox, in delivering opening remarks, took note of the shift in attitudes regarding trade. “There has been a marked tendency among some political forces in other parts of the world to point the finger of blame at the free interchange of goods, services, and persons for any number of economic or social ills that may affect their societies. “I say this because we —

Cops in anti-drugs sweep in Linden …several arrested, charged SEVERAL men and at least one woman have been arrested and charged with possession and trafficking of narcotics, following a recent police raid in several communities in Linden. A police statement detailed that, in an effort to rid the communities of Wismar and Mackenzie of possession and sale of illicit drugs, ranks recently conducted several raids in the Victory Valley Squatting Area of Wismar and in the Industrial Area of Mackenzie, and several persons were arrested for trafficking in narcotics, possession of narcotics, possession of smoking utensil; and one person has been arrest on a warrant after he failed to attend court to answer a possession of narcotics charge. Dennis Brewster, 41 years, a farmer of 116 Victory Valley, Wismar, appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Wales Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with possession of narcotics. He pleaded not guilty, and was placed on $50,000 bail. The matter has been adjourned until December 20, 2016. Anastasia Marques, 23 years, of Industrial Squatting Area, Mackenzie, also appeared before Magistrate Nurse, charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. She pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison until December 20, 2016. Naugubie Saul, 23 years, a mason of Victory Valley Squatting Area in Wismar, was charged with possession of narcotics and possession of a smoking utensil. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to fifty hours’ community service. Andrew Brian of Wismar was arrested on a warrant for his failure to attend court to answer a charge of possession of narcotics. He has been remanded to prison until December 20, 2016.

as the longest standing integration movement among developing countries — should not consider ourselves immune to such tendencies,” Cox said. He added: “So our work is cut out for us, and our task is to ensure that all our actions are pragmatic and strategic, and all the structures that we create are economically prudent and responsive to the wishes of the people of the Community.” CARICOM, through COTED, must continue to build a robust trade and economic environment in which innovation is encouraged, the Assistant Secretary-General urged, while noting that the benefits must be distributed equitably. “If we can do this,

The Council will also be asked to approve a range of quality standards for goods and service providers. Additionally, COTED is expected to consider a roadmap for a Caribbean Regulatory System for Medicines, and inter-sectoral action against non-communicable diseases. “Each item on the agenda of this meeting is of profound importance to our Community. Our people are anxious for us to succeed, and have therefore been clamouring for faster decision-making and implementation of our commitments,” he told the ministers. Attending the COTED Meeting for the first time were Bradley Felix -- Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for

Suriname’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Sieglien Burleson, calling on the Regional Ministers to take action of the Caribbean Community, and oversees the operations of the Single Market and Economy. In keeping with Article 15 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, COTED is also designed to evaluate, promote, and establish measures to enhance production, quality control, and marketing of industrial and agricultural commodities, so as to ensure their international competitiveness. COTED is also expected to establish and promote measures to accelerate structural diversification of industrial and agricultural production on a sustainable and regionally-integrated basis; determine and promote measures for the accelerated The 43rd Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) development and marketing in session of services; and promote ton, Minister of State in the and develop policies and Ministry of Investment, Trade programmes to facilitate the we will have created a durable Commerce, Industry, Investtransportation of people and and Commerce of Belize. vehicle for our growth and ment, Enterprise Development goods among other trade and COTED promotes trade development,” he said. and Consumer Affairs of Saint economic related activities. and economic development Additionally, Cox told the Lucia; and Tracey Taegar-Panministers that the outcome of the two-day meeting is crucial to the effective functioning of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. The discourse, he added, would inform the CSME review, which was mandated by the Heads of Government and set to be tabled in February 2017 during the Intersessional Meeting. “On the external trade front, our trade agreements with Cuba and the Dominican Republic, as well as our response to the decision by the United Kingdom to exit the European Union, require your attention,” he added.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

Green’s name should not be on Pension Bill … but Prime Minister backs legislation, slams Jagdeo

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has said there should be a review of the draft legislation in the name of Prime Minister Hamilton Green, Bill No.23 of 2016, which seeks to provide pension benefits and other facilities to Green, who served as the country’s Prime Minister from 1985 to 1992 in the People’s National Congress (PNC) Administration. The Prime Minister has said that, in retrospect, the Bill probably should not have been named after Green, but should instead have been the Former Prime Ministers’ Pension Bill. “It may be an issue we would want to re-look at, as to why (the bill has been named) ‘Hamilton Green Pension’, and not Former Prime Ministers’ Pension Bill,” he said, noting that a broader

rubric would allow for a futuristic legislation, rather than attempting to correct an anomaly. The Prime Minister made it clear that when the matter was discussed at the level of Cabinet, he was not aware that the draft legislation was scripted under Green’s name. “We were dealing with an issue,” he told reporters on Friday during a press conference at the AFC headquarters in Kitty. Green, who also served as Mayor of the City of Georgetown, is the lone surviving Prime Minister. Former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds currently receives a former President’s pension and benefits, as he served as President just after former President Cheddi Jagan died in 1997. “I believe that the issue has to be seen in a context

-- both a historical context and a peculiar context. The peculiar context is that there is only one former prime minister that is available for any benefit, (and) that’s Hamilton Green. The issue from the historical context is that if someone held the office of the Prime Minister and the person continues to be alive, you couldn’t give that person the pension of a Member of Parliament. What he is getting there is (the) pension of a Member of Parliament,” the Prime Minister explained. He argued that there must be equity in the system, and noted that looking at the situation from a “justice point of view”, it is unfair for a former prime minister to receive the pension of a parliamentarian. “It requires the creation of a law for the first time to deal with that peculiar situ-

One-time Prime Minister Hamilton Green ation of one prime minister hanging out there on a pension that is not a prime minister’s pension,” he added, while noting the mounting criticisms on the legislation. According to the prime minister, statements made by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo criticizing Government’s move should not be taken seriously, as in 2010, under his stewardship, a law was created in the National Assembly for the Leader of the Opposition to receive a pension. At that time, former leader of the PNC, Robert Corbin,

was Opposition Leader. “I don’t see (why), if a former Government can provide for pension for people in certain office, why (you won’t) want to provide for pension for a former prime minister,” he said, also pointing to the Former Presidents’ Benefits and other Facilities Act, where uncapped facilities and allowances are provided for. That legislation has since been amended. “You found it convenient to award certain presidents enhanced benefits, and suddenly you picked on one person and think it is sleaze and inappropriate that a former prime minister should receive benefits,” said the Prime Minister in response to statements made by Jagdeo. The Prime Minister also said that the creation of a pension for prime ministers must be in keeping with a formula that has been applied in computing pensions for presidents on the basis of existing salaries. “This is not going to take effect from 1985, when Mr. Green held the position of prime minister; it would take effect from the date of its passage in the National Assembly,” the Prime Min-

ister said. The Prime Minister also disclosed that representation has been made to Cabinet for the adjustment of the pensions of those parliamentarians who have survived since independence and are still getting pension based on their salaries at the time they served. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has urged citizens to desist from being bitter. He said: “This nation has to be able to put aside its own bitterness, (which) has contaminated all of us and become part of our political culture of hate and being judgmental and being angry when we deal with people who have held offices in this country… “We must keep the politics out from rational decisions,” he admonished. Notwithstanding the political postures assumed, it must be recognised that Green was once the country’s Prime Minister, Mr. Nagamootoo said. “Therefore, I believe this is a once-for-all piece of legislation, because we couldn’t do it otherwise: allow him to enjoy the pension of the prime minister,” he declared.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

New digitalised systems for 2017 … tax on smartphones should be considered, says Minister Hughes

MINISTER of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, has disclosed that in the coming year attention will be placed on implementation of new digitalised systems, even as she pushed for reduction of taxes on smartphones. Speaking to reporters on Friday, the minister indicated that part of the mandate for 2017 is to ensure that the ministry “ups the game,” in terms of providing more digitalised services offered by Government. One service she emphasised strong attention will be given is the passport application system, which will allow persons the opportunity to apply online. Lines at the Passport Office are oftentimes long and painstaking, and at the earliest next year, the minister is hoping to solve this problem with introduction of the on-

line service. In an effort to make the service effective and efficient, the ministry will be moving to expand their broadband and Internet access to the rural and hinterland areas. Developing this network and Internet connection do not only allow for the use of services, but it will also give farmers and others a chance to market their produce in coastal areas, regionally and farther afield. “Better ICT in rural areas can help to boost entrepreneurial activities and grow the nation even further. For instance, companies abroad are interested in tropical items that are produced locally… developing a better network for persons will allow them to take and make orders easily,” she stressed, while adding that there are simple technological items that can be used to do these tasks.

One of the simple methods of networking in today’s era are smartphones. Minister Hughes also pointed out that in some countries, smartphones are classed as computers and taking that into consideration, thought can be given to decreasing taxes on phones so as to make them affordable. Increasing the affordability will be beneficial to young people in particular, given that they are the future of tomorrow. Shifting the attention to young people, she highlighted the fact her ministry is doing its part in ensuring that this group is technologically inclined. Hughes made reference to the recent “Hackathon” that the ministry conducted, which resulted in the development of five “Excellent apps” geared at improving security in Guyana.

Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes speaking to reporters on Friday

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

Ex-cop committed to stand trial

––for the attempted murder of wife, children FORMER policeman Shawn Fordyce has been committed to stand trial at the next sitting of the Demerara High Court on three counts of attempted murder. Sparendaam magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul, ruling on Thursday that a prima facie case has

been made out against the 44-year-old, committed him to face a judge and jury following conclusion of the preliminary inquiry. The indictable charge Fordyce faced indicated that on August 1, 2013, he armed himself with a cutlass and dealt his wife Dorothy Blackman-Fordyce,

47, several chops; and he also chopped her three daughters -- Latoya Wilson, 20; Dollette Fordyce, 12; and Wanda Fortune -- at their ‘D’ Field Sophia home. The prosecution was led by Corporal Bharat Mangru, who had called upon several witness-

es to testify, including Fordyce’s step-daughters Latoya and Wanda. However, his wife Dorothy and their daughter Dollettae Fordyce refused to testify. According to prosecution facts in the case, Shawn and Dorothy have been married for 13 years, and Shawn would often verbally abuse Dorothy. On the day in question, at about 9 pm, Dorothy was preparing to go on an outing with her sister when Shawn became annoyed and began to protest her going out. She changed her mind, and instead was going to a nearby shop with her three daughters to purchase a phone card when she heard footsteps running behind her. She turned around and saw

Shawn Fordyce Fordyce, who then positioned himself in front of her, dipped water and mud from a nearby pothole and threw it on her, then stepped back about three feet and pulled out a cutlass from under his jersey. Upon seeing the cutlass, Dorothy turned to block her face and her

daughter, and received a chop to her left shoulder. She fell to the ground and lost consciousness for a few minutes. After she regained consciousness she couldn’t move her left hand. She then saw Fordyce and pleaded with him, but he allegedly chopped her to her head and she lost consciousness again. After Dorothy fainted, her daughters started screaming for help and tried to assist her, but Fordyce reportedly rushed at them and hacked each of them several times about their bodies before escaping. Fordyce eluded police capture for two years, but was finally arrested in October 2015 at the junction of Church and Alexander Streets selling newspapers for Dorothy Fordyce, his wife.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

GTT launches new ‘Customer Experience Store’

THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company plus (GTT+) in an effort to provide consumers with the latest technology and technological appliances launched its third Customer Experience Store on Friday. This new intervention by GTT comes as a replacement for the formerly known ‘GTT Blackberry Store,’ at lot 55 Brickdam, Georgetown and is now the third Customer Experience Store to be opened by the telecommunication giant. At the launch of the Brickdam store, GTT Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd declared that the company is in the process of undergoing “immense changes.” “We are looking to introduce new stuff and this store is just an example of what is yet to come. As compared to our other stores, this is brighter and has a more engaging environment to do business,” Nedd said. And with the Christmas season around, GTT

The newly opened GTT+ Customer Experience Store on Brickdam, Georgetown

has moved to introduce its Christmas promotion, which includes deep discounts on phones and other services. “Maintaining customer satisfaction is our number one priority, so we have been putting [in] hard work over the past few years and it’s safe to say that we are seeing results,” Nedd said, as he congratulated his staffers for the work they have been doing. Recognising the good work was Minister of Public Telecommunications Kathy Hughes, who underscored the fact that GTT has been an important partner in the development of Guyana for many years. However, she reiterated that the country cannot be transformed until it has better broadband access, and in order to achieve this, more cooperation from companies is need. Nevertheless, she congratulated GTT and charged them to maintain customer satisfaction by providing services of a high standard.

Broken sugar industry a creature of PPP –Trotman

THE blame for the state of the ailing US$200M Skeldon sugar factory and for the Guyana Sugar Cor-

poration (GuySuCo) lays squarely at the feet of the PPP administration, Minister of Natural Resources

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

Minister Raphael Trotman Raphael Trotman said on Thursday. He was speaking at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency. At a recent press conference, Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo said he would not accept blame for the state of the sugar factory, saying that it was the Agribusiness Consultancy Team, Booker Tate, that was hired to oversee the construction of the factory to ensure that the quality was done to a certain standard. The United Kingdom (UK)-based entity had managed the sugar industry for around 20 years from 1990, but relations between it and the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration soured around 2009 amid construction woes surrounding the troubled Skeldon sugar factory and the contract was terminated. “Like every bad worker, you blame your tools when you don’t get your way…the decision to foist a US$200M factory that never generated one kilowatt of power, had bad machinery, water that was drawn from a canal used to cool equipment which apparently could have only used distilled water

cannot be blamed on Booker Tate for those lawlessness,” Trotman said. He said that the nation knows exactly which government and who contributed to the demise of the sugar industry. “That is a smoke-and-mirror exercise, who invited Booker Tate in? Bad decision-maker trying to blame [the] other.” However, Jagdeo had blamed the current administration for the state of the factory. He said that Booker Tate had been hired as project manager and was supposed

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to do some of the designs as well as to oversee the chinese contractors designs. He added that the company had been entrusted with this critical aspect of the project because they were the best at that time. “Now, we’re told about all these mistakes that were made, but it was not done by politicians. We hired the best technical people and Booker Tate was considered the best people to oversee the factory…” Jagdeo’s statement comes days after a Technical Assessment revealed that the facility is falling apart.

Kester Da Costa replaces Ramalho on GPL Board CABINET has approved the appointment of Kester Da Costa to the board of Guyana Power Light (GPL) after member Leslie Ramalho resigned, citing his duties as Managing-Director of his company which has operations in Guyana and Suriname. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, told reporters on Thursday that Cabinet has noted Ramalho’s work as exemplary and thanked him for his service. Kester Da Costa In January, 20, 2016, Cabinet had approved the board of directors for GPL. Its members include: Dawn Gardener, Dr. Mahender Sharma, Ms. Denise Simmons, Mrs. Morsha Johnson-Francis, Ms. Abiola Wong-Inniss, Mr. Tara Singh, Ms. Laurian Bancroft, Mr. Komal Ramnauth and its Chairman Robert Badal.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

Greenidge for talks with incoming UN Chief … as Maduro, opposition unite to claim Essequibo

THE Nicolas Maduro Venezuelan government and the opposition earlier this week signed an agreement confirming their “unanimous position in claiming rights over the Essequibo”- a position which this administration has strongly repudiated, even at a time when the United Nations is seeking a permanent solution to the decades-old controversy. The agreement was part of a five-point pact between the two factions that was brokered by the Vatican. According to the agreement, both political factions confirmed their “unanimous position in defence of the legitimate and inalienable rights of Venezuela over the Essequibo” in the country’s territorial dispute with neighbouring Guyana, and released an official joint-declaration entitled “Living Together in Peace.” A Monitoring Commission led by former Spanish president and chief mediator in the talks, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, is to be set-up to ensure that the pledges are carried out. Meanwhile, Cabinet has approved the attendance of Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, at meetings which are upcoming with the incoming Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres on November 18 and 19. He will lead a delegation to those meetings. Guyana had approached the Secretary-General of the United Nations to act in accordance with his obligations under the Geneva Agreement to choose another means of settlement of the border controversy between Venezuela and Guyana in accordance with Article 33 of the United Nations Charter. The Secretary- General had agreed to recommend a way forward for the final resolution of the controversy before he demits Office in November, 2016. The meeting between Greenidge and the incoming Secretary-General will be part of the process to secure that recommendation. The Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Audrey Waddell, will accompany

the minister to the meetings. NO BULLYSIM Earlier this week, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo told an international conference of chief justices in India that any challenge to the 1899 Arbitral Award that settled the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela must be settled by juridical means

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge and not by military intervention, threats and bullyism. He said Guyana, a country with an area of 83,000 square miles faces many challenges, but the greatest of them is the threat to the security of its territory from Venezuela. Venezuela is claiming five-eights of Guyana. “We firmly believe that our borders have been defined and settled under [a] Treaty that goes back to 1899, and any challenge to it must be settled by juridical means, not by military intervention, threats and bullyism,” the Prime Minister said. He said for this reason, binding judicial decisions are needed, in addition to strict enforcement of international law to curb aggression. The Prime Minister delivered his address in the presence of Founder and Convenor of the International Conference of Chief Justices of the World, Dr. Jagdish Gandhi. Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana, Justice Carl Singh; Prime Minister of Mauritius, Sir Anerood Jugnauth and Lady Jugnauth; former Presidents of the Republics of South Africa, Mauritius, Croatia and Sudan were among the officials present.

President David Granger had used his United Nations address back in September to call on Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon to “free” Guyana from the territorial sovereignty challenge posed by Venezuela. During his address at the opening of debates at the 71st Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, President Granger had said Guyana’s climate change and economic efforts are being severely hampered by Venezuela’s threats to its territorial sovereignty. Guyana’s territorial integrity has, for 50 years, been violated by Venezuela, and Venezuela has issued a number of decrees claiming territory in Guyana. The UN Secretary-General is expected to demit office in December, and President Granger has expressed much optimism that his country’s request for a juridical settlement of the border controversy will materialise. Guyana has maintained that the juridical route is the only solution to the ongoing border controversy with Venezuela. Venezuela, on the other hand, has called for a restart of the Good Officer process. President Granger said that Guyana’s advances in the area of climate change would be of no use if Venezuela remains a threat to Guyana’s territorial integrity. “Guyana is part of this global ‘green’ movement: its natural assets, commitment to sustainable development, contribution to countering the adverse effects of climate change, and collaboration with the international community in seeking solutions to global threats have distinguished it as an emergent ‘green’ State.” But notwithstanding this progress, the country is constrained, and according to President Granger, all of the country’s efforts— whether nationally, regionally or globally -– aimed at advancement in a peaceful and stable environment are being challenged by the “territorial ambitions” of Venezuela. “I place hope in the fact that the process for a final resolution of Venezuela’s unworthy territorial claims rests now in the hands of the Secre-

tary-General of the United Nations,” he said. He also said that Venezuela has, for a full year since he last spoke at the UN, stalled Guyana’s progress by every means at its disposal and has intensified its aggression against Guyana and

thwarted all of the Secretary-General’s efforts to pursue ‘a way forward’ – at least in terms of a process that promises final resolution to the controversy. The President noted that Guyana stands ready to have the International Court of

Justice (ICJ) bring finality to the matter. Guyana, he said, will continue to work resolutely with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during his final months in office and thereafter with his successor, to “free Guyana from this surreal burden.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

Man fined, has cash forfeited

––for making false declaration at CJIA CLAIRMONT Reid of 197 South Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday and pleaded guilty to a charge which detailed that on June 6, at the CJIA at Timehri, he made an untrue declaration on an immigration form, stating that he was not carrying more than US$10,000, when in fact he had in his possession the sum of TT$139,135, the equivalent of US$21,045.98. Attorney-at-law Dexter Todd, representing the 37-year-old defendant, said his client had returned to his homeland with his family of four, after living in Trinidad and Tobago for the past 15 years. The lawyer said Reid, whom he deemed a remigrant, came to Guyana after the 2015 General Election, being encouraged by numerous persons to contribute to Clairmont Reid the development of his homeland. Todd said that Reid owned a business and a taxi service in Trinidad, which used to provide for his family, but he closed those down to return to Guyana. “Reid was cleared by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) in relation to the money being used for money laundering or any criminal act,” Todd pointed out. Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers told the court that on June 6, at about 22:15hrs, Reid arrived in Guyana on Caribbean Airlines’ flight BW 483 from Trinidad and Tobago. He presented himself and his baggage to a customs officer, to whom he handed over the declaration form; and that officer, upon checking Reid’s bag, found the money, which was above the permitted US$10,000. Questioned, Reid told the customs officer: “I brought the money for various persons, and I didn’t see the need to declare it,” the prosecution told the court. The money was seized by the customs officer and taken to the Bank of Guyana, where it was tallied at US$21,045.98. Jeffers strongly urged the magistrate to base her ruling upon the justice of the case. The chief magistrate fined Reid $250,000., default in payment of which would incur six months’ imprisonment. Additionally, the sum of US$11,045.98 of the money was forfeited, but US$10,000 will be returned to him.

Cabinet approves $69M to refurbish police band room CABINET has approved a $69M contract for the Guyana Police Force to refurbish its band room at Eve Leary, Georgetown. Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman made the announcement during a post-cabinet media briefing held at the Ministry of the Presidency on Thursday. He said the contract in the sum of $69M was awarded to Builders Hardware and General Supplies. During August last, Superintendent Charmaine Stuart made history when she became the first Band Mistress for the Guyana Police Force, which was established 177 years ago, and it is believed that she is the first woman to achieve this feat in the Caribbean. Her elevation to the post comes after over 30 years of dedicated service in the Police Force. Stuart has replaced Assistant Commissioner Cecil Bovell.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

Security guard on $70,000 bail for threatening ex-girlfriend RENATO Gamell of William Street, Kitty, a security officer attached to the Baksh Diamond Enterprise, appeared on Thursday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, charged with allegedly threatening his ex-girlfriend with a gun. The 27-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that on November 11, at 111 Miles Mahdia, he engaged in threatening behaviour towards Anika Tatte. Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers said Gamell and Tatte had shared a relationship, which recently ended. However, on November 11, the defendant allegedly went up to Tatte and threatened her with a gun. Fearing for her life, the woman reported the matter to the police, hence the defendant was charged. Jeffers also noted that Gamell is a licensed firearm holder who is employed as an armed security guard at the Baksh Diamond Enterprise. He added that during police investigation, the said gun licence was suspended. The magistrate granted Gamell $70,000 bail, with the condition that he must refrain from being in the possession of a firearm or obtaining another licence. The matter has been transferred to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for hearing.

PNCR wants Dharamlall sanctioned THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has “strongly condemned” the recent facebook ranting by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament Nigel Dharamlall and has called for him to be sanctioned. “This highly unusual, unprofessional and unbecoming behaviour by a sitting member of the National Assembly of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana must be condemned by all members of the legislative branch of government, regardless of political affiliation,” the PNCR said in a statement on Friday. The PNCR notes that this is not the first time that Dharamlall has engaged in unsavoury behaviour unbecoming of his high office as a member of the National Assembly. “The PNCR calls attention to the fact that earlier this year, a complaint was made against Dharamlall over alleged threatening behaviour towards an employee of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) office in Guyana. This complaint was withdrawn only after a request was made by the complainant to the Director of Public Prosecutions that no further action be taken. “The conduct of all members of the National Assembly must be above reproach and they are expected to conduct themselves in respectful manner at all times. Dharamlall’s has embarrassed his party (the PPP) and the entire National Assembly and should be sanctioned.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

Chinese firm to conduct assessment for broadband network

THE Public Telecommunications Ministry has been given the green light by Cabinet to partner with Huawei Technologies Company Limited to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment that will pave the way for establish-

ment of a nation-wide broadband network or the Smart Guyana Project. In making the disclosure at the Ministry of the Presidency on Thursday, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman explained that the assess-

ment will determine the scope for the project. “The assessment will include the level of effort and financing required and the consideration of information systems [and] applications for all level of Government,” Minister Trotman further ex-

plained. However, he noted that the agreement when signed between the Public Telecommunications Ministry and Huawei Technologies will not prevent the Government from entering similar arrangements with any

other interested party. While there were similar studies in the past, Trotman said they were of no consequence to the E-Government Unit of the ministry. Cabinet’s no-objection to the agreement comes months after the Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes had conducted a “fact-finding mission” to the People’s Republic of China. Upon returning to Guyana, Minister Hughes in September, 2016,had told reporters that the trip, which was based on an invitation issued by Chinese technology giant Huawei Technologies, revealed the most advanced, state-of-the-art technologies in the field of ICT- Information and Communication Technology. It was during that trip that the Telecommunications Minister and her delegation engaged officials of Huawei on the Government of Guyana’s US$32M E-Government Project. “China’s development has been amazing. Our visit allowed our ministry, especially the E-Government unit, to explore new directions and create new strategies that can propel the development of a green, smart, information-driven Guyana. It is clear to me today, that we cannot solve Guyana’s problems in the traditional way. What’s exciting is that with the use of existing technologies, we have the capacity and many opportunities to truly connect, transform and innovate,” Minister Hughes had said. At that time, the minister had alluded to the possible establishment of an interconnected digital platform that could provide government services to citizens in an efficient, cost-effective and time-saving manner. She said it is about increasing bandwidth and improving levels of in-

ternet accessibility, and by extension communication services among all citizens. “So interconnectivity is the foundation upon which we will build this integrated cross-sectoral platform. What does that platform look like? It offers citizens the benefits of tele-medicine, that is, having a doctor at a hospital in Georgetown connect with a patient in Mabaruma or Nappi Village, seeing and communicating with the patient and healthcare worker in real time and recommending treatment options.” The E-Governance Project was rolled out in 2010 with the US$32M provided through a loan from China’s Exim Bank; however, in the past it had been met with several stumbling blocks. In addition to approving the agreement involving Huawei Technologies, Cabinet agreed for the Public Telecommunications Minister to attend the 4th Meeting of Ministers of E-Government of Latin America and the Caribbean, which will be held in Santiago, Chile, from December 1-2, 2016. She will be accompanied by the Head of the E-Government Unit, Floyd Levi. The meeting will be hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Government of Chile. The meeting will bring together Latin America and Caribbean Leaders in the ICT sector to develop frameworks to promote successful information and communication technology policies for the implementation of digital programmes in government work. Additionally, it will give Guyana the opportunity to build networks with countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

City police seize ganja at Stabroek Market By Shirley Thomas

RANKS of the Georgetown City Constabulary, around 14:00 hrs on Friday conducted a cordon-and-search exercise at the front entrance to the Stabroek Market and found a quantity of what was described as marijuana. The find consisted of leaves, seed and stems, compressed, packaged in tiny ziplock packets and ready for the market. Acting Chief Constable for the Constabulary, Gordon Langevine, told reporters that the discovery was made during a ‘cordon-and-search’ operation mounted by the Constabulary ranks. The area searched – under the canopy extending from north to south, of the Water Street entrance to the Stabroek Market -- Langevine said, is a known ‘trouble spot’ where all sorts of nefarious activities

at Brickdam for processing and further investigations. He said too that his ranks came close to apprehending a suspect who had two handguns. However, it would appear the suspect was alerted by someone that the ranks were carrying out a search and he threw them into a corner of the market and escaped. The ranks failed to locate both the guns and the suspect. Noting that the area, described as ‘Section 7’ under the canopy is always a source of concern for the Council and for security, Langevine, with an air of accomplishment said: “I was very optimistic that today we would have found narcotics.” He said over a period of three months, the Constabulary has been making steady drug busts with narcotics – leaves, seeds and stems. ‘‘So far, one person was arrested,” he said, adding, “Yes-

Chief Constable (ag), Gordon Langevine displays a packet of what is suspected to be marijuana shortly after the find ` take place. The Chief Constable took reporters to an unused and tightly shuttered stand north of the canopy where the discovery was made. There, some 100 packets of the substance were concealed in black plastic bags and hidden between the back of the stand and the wall of the market. According to Langevine, it is the second time for the week that such discoveries have been made. Just the day before (on Wednesday), another find of leaves, seeds and stems was made by ranks of the Constabulary. The Chief Constable said the items found were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) ranks

terday [Wednesday] we had a cordon-and-search and found some narcotics which have been handed over to the police at Brickdam. Today we did another ‘cordon-and-search’ and I, as the Chief Constable, decided that I should come out with my men and give them the confidence based on my intelligence garnered.” He said the stall identified is not being used and as such, turns out to be a haven for criminal activities. “They use it as a cover to hide the narcotics,” he said, noting that the area under discussion is a hindrance to security. The ranks were instructed to throw out all the packets onto the floor to give reporters

an opportunity to observe carefully. Meanwhile, vendors legally plying their trade in the Stabroek Market, reacting to statements made by the Chief Constable that some vendors know who the culpable ones are, took objection, saying that they are at the market making an honest living and consider it an affront that the Council should even suggest that they have knowledge of untoward or dishonest activities being conducted around them.

The packets of what is suspected to be compressed marijuana found at ‘Section 7’ of the Stabroek Market

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

AFC National Conference set for January

THE Alliance For Change’s (AFC) National Conference will be held in January and for the first time will take place in Region Three. Acting Chairman of the party and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Friday disclosed that while the date

for the conference has not yet been confirmed, a National Conference Planning Committee has been established. This committee has commenced work to ensure the conference is a success. “The party’s Regional Management Committee for Region Three is in-

tegrally involved in the planning of the National Conference,” the Prime Minister told reporters. He noted that the National Conference held biennially, will also see the election of executives of the party. “The positions of leader, chairman, vice-chairman, gener-

al-secretary and treasurer are expected to be contested. This will be the first National Conference since the party has been in Government as part of the APNU+AFC coalition,” he added. Asked whether he would be contesting for a post on the executive, the Prime Minister said,

“I am not sure at this point, I suppose if I am nominated… I’d think about it at that time.” Prime Minister Nagamootoo could not state who some of the nominees for the varying posts within the executive are, but advised that “a routine has to be followed.”

He explained that the conference committee would send out nomination forms to every group within the party as well as to every region and those bodies will submit their nominations to the committee. The last National Conference was held in December 2014.

suspect in goat larceny case charged

MILTON Van Lewin, allegedly nabbed in a Mount Sinai, West Canje Berbice home with a Taurus pistol and ten matching rounds of ammunition earlier this week, has been refused bail when he appeared before Albion Magistrate Marissa Mithelholzer on Friday, and has been remanded to prison. The 27-year-old chainsaw operator of Sand Hills, Berbice River pleaded not guilty to two separate summary charges of being in possession of a firearm and ammunition respectively without having the relevant licences. He will, on December 5, return to the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Courts for report and fixture of his matter. Defence Lawyer Horatio Edmondson has said his client was a mere visitor to the home where the items were found -- where convicted criminal Raymond La Fleur lived. According to Edmondson, his client had merely visited the home of La Fleur on the night of November 14, and was awakened Milton Van Lewin by the police, who enquired about the owner. However, Edmondson offered, Van Lewin would submit himself to the conditions of the court with respect to bail. But citing legal authorities while conceding that another person had occupied the residence, Inspector Orin Joseph said that when the defendant was contacted on the day in question, he was asked to point out which part of the house he had occupied, and he took policemen to the bedroom where the weapon and matching rounds of ammunition were found. The magistrate refused Van Lewin bail after he could not give proper details of his place of residence, although he had told the court that he worked at Abary Creek, and the New Amsterdam Court was closer to his home. Van Lewin was arrested on Tuesday after police had gone to Mount Sinai following a report of larceny of goats. Rondel Marks, also known as Romel Hoppie, was fatally shot by police on that fateful morning.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

UG optimistic of re-accreditation ––as regional body scrutinises medical programme

By Alva Solomon OPTIMISM is at its peak at the University of Guyana (UG) because a team from the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) is expected in Guyana this weekend to commence a re-accreditation assessment of the University of Guyana’s School of Medicine (UGMS). At the same time, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Emanuel Cummings, is foreseeing the wider accreditation of other health programmes offered by the university, as expansion plans -- which include addition of a spanking new World Bank- funded modern faculty building costing US$6.9 -- are being considered. The building, which will accommodate approximately 350 students, is undergoing an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by sister faculty, the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Science, which was contracted by the World Bank to undertake an assessment of the initiative. A concrete pronouncement on the project is expected in March 2017, an optimistic Dr. Cummings told this publication at the Turkeyen Campus on Friday during an interview. He later toured the faculty as UG prepares for the CAAM-HP visit. In 2015, the medical school’s provisional accreditation status was revoked by CAAM-HP, a move which prompted the nation’s leading tertiary institution to clinically review a series of recommendations which were provided to the university over the years following continuous assessments by the regional accreditation body. This, along with non-submission of annual reports to the CAAM-HP, led to the revocation of the accreditation status. Dr. Cummings explained that the UGMS received its provisional accreditation

status in 2006, and in 2008 received full accreditation for the programme for a four-year period. In 2012 the status expired, but because of a hurricane that swept through the Caribbean at the time, CAAM-HP was unable

of several databases. These were completed and submitted in June this year. Dr. Cummings explained that there are 144 standards which make up the databases, and areas assessed include the medical programme it-

be grouped under what is termed an “Adjunct Faculty”. He said this move places the school on par with what prevails at other universities across the globe, where there are assistant professors and

feedback on the medical programme. The team concludes its work next Wednesday when it will provide a preliminary report on its findings. Dr. Cummings is optimistic that the medical

Dr. Emanuel Cummings (front second left), Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Guyana, shares a moment with optometry students during a tour of the faculty on Friday at the Turkeyen Campus to carry out its mandatory assessment that year. However, the site team visited UG in 2013, and following evaluation of the medical programme, the status was downgraded to provisional accreditation. Dr. Cummings said there were several deficiencies which resulted in the accreditation being lost in 2015. ISSUES ADDRESSED Following the blow to the university’s medical school, several issues were addressed. According to Dr. Cummings, the road to re-accreditation entailed the submission of a “selfstudy”, a process which constitutes the completion

self; the resources at hand; the teaching facilities at the faculty; internship, including the facilities where students operate at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), as well as the medical school’s relations to other branches of the wider university, including the personnel division and the bursary. Among other shortcomings which are being corrected is the issue of parttime tutors. According to Dr. Cummings, a significant number of persons who teach at the school are part-time tutors. He said that recently, at the level of the Appointments Committee, the faculty was able to establish a new dispensation in which the part-time staffers will

full professors being under the employ of the university at the Faculty of Health Sciences. Regarding this weekend’s visit, he said the five-member CAAM-HP team, which includes medical professionals from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and from as far away as Scotland, will arrive in Guyana on Saturday; and after they have met with him, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ivelaw Griffith and other officials, the team will commence its assessment on Sunday at 15:00hrs. In the process, the team would visit and hold a series of meetings on and off campus, and their tour would include interviews with students in order to obtain a

school will be re-accredited. SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS “Simply because, over the last two years, we have made significant progress; indeed, we have had some setbacks, however, we were able, with the support of several persons and entities, to prepare for the process ahead,” he said. He listed those who have come to the aid of the medical school as: the Government of Guyana, which provided $30M to be used to purchase lab equipment; and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), including PAHO/WHO Country Representative Dr. William

Adu Krow, whom he noted had recommended a consultant who assisted in the preparation of the self-study. He also noted that Professor Sara Stresser of the University of Ontario came to the aid of the medical school by assisting in the upgrade of the school’s curriculum -- one of several issues which he noted had led to the accreditation being dropped last year. “There are several others: Dr. Madam Rambarran, Dr. Hanoman of the GPHC; many others, including UG itself and the World Bank,” he added. As regards the latter, Dr. Cummings noted that the international financial institution has been supportive of the school’s re-accreditation process. He explained that the proposed new faculty building would provide added dimensions to the medical school and possible accreditation of other programmes, such as dentistry and pharmacy. The dean explained that the plan on the ground includes construction of five laboratories, including labs for microbiology, clinical skills, anatomy and biochemistry. In addition, eleven 50-seater classrooms, two 75-seater classrooms, a research library, a common room for students to relax, and a boardroom are planned for the new faculty building. “So we will have that together along with our current faculty,” he said. At the moment, plans for construction of the Yesu Persaud Clinical Facility at the GPHC are being fine-tuned, and Cabinet has appointed an oversight committee to manage the US$1M project, which is being financed by the Guyanese business magnate. The building will house facilities for medical students, and will be situated next to the GPHC Maternity Ward. The site plan is being prepared for submission to the City Council for approval.

KN staffer killed in collision with car

TWENTY-SIX-year-old Harry Bridgemohan of Perseverance, East Bank Demerara was killed on the Houston Public Road in

Greater Georgetown early on Friday morning when he lost control of his motor cycle, CG 5075, and collided with motor car PPP 7887.

Harry Brijmohan and his fiancée Zena Henry in happier times

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016 Due to the heavy congestion of vehicles in the morning peak hours, vehicles are allowed to proceed north on the western side of the eastern carriageway of the road. Police say their investigations reveal that Bridgemohan was driving his motorcycle in a southerly direction, between the two lanes of vehicles proceeding north and south respectively, when he collided with the car, which was proceeding north. The impact of the collision resulted in the motorcyclist falling on the roadway. He was picked up in an unconscious condition and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries whilst receiving medical attention, at about 12:45h. The driver of the car is in police custody assisting with the investigation. Bridgemohan’s fiancée, Zena Henry, said he had left their Perseverance home at some time around 05:00 hours, headed for work at Kaieteur News, and was returning home when the accident occurred. She said she was told that her fiancé was travelling north along the East Bank four-lane highway at the time of the accident. A three-way lane has been opened on the eastern part of the highway for traffic heading in a northerly direction, but Ms. Henry said there was no indication along the

roadway that the traffic had been open both ways along the corridor, neither was there any policeman on the road directing traffic. Brijmohan had been riding his motorcycle in a southerly direction, and was about to cross over into the other lane -- which is usually open only to traffic heading south -- when he collided head-on with the car, Henry related. Doctors said he had suffered head injuries and was also bleeding internally. Henry said she received a telephone call from Kaieteur News Editor Adam Harris, informing her that her fiancé was involved in an accident, and she travelled to the GPHC, where she observed that Brijmohan’s head was swollen. Doctors tried desperately to save his life, she said, adding that she had stepped away briefly from the hospital for a snack when she received a telephone call from the hospital, asking that she return. He died shortly after her return. Henry indicated that she has lost a gem. She said that in the five years she had known him, “Harry was a very wonderful person. He was a jovial person, he was a lively person… he was a very free-spirited person.” She said many times he had given up his comfort and rights for others. They were planning to tie the knot soon, she said.

Cops destroy several ganja farms in Berbice River THE police have destroyed several ganja farms located in the Berbice River area, the Force said in a statement. According to the police, based on weeks of intelligence-gathering, ranks have been able to destroy several acres of cannabis, along with nine camps, on Thursday during a 10-hour operation in the Berbice River. The cannabis and camps were found respectively at Hofwerk and Gateroy, located several miles out of New Amsterdam. In excess of 8,000 plants, ranging in height

One of the farms that were destroyed from two to six feet, and having an estimated weight of 17,000 kilograms, were found under cultivation, with makeshift tents and camps erected, under which harvested cannabis was hung to dry; while a large quantity, with an estimated weight of nine thousand kilograms, was already packaged in bags. No arrests have been made so far, the police have said, but investigations are in progress.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

Babita Sarjou murder PI

Court admits caution, oral statements into evidence

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday admitted into evidence the caution and oral statements given to detectives by Darrel Ponton, called ‘Yankee’, in

Street, Campbellville, with the murder of Babita Sarjou, whose body was found in a shallow grave at the back of her ex-husband’s yard on May 22, almost six years after she

The chief magistrate had ordered the voir dire to inquire into the circumstances under which Pronton’s statements were made, and she has ruled that based on the evidence

Alleged murder accomplice, Darrel Ponton, called ‘Yankee’

Dead: Babita Sarjou

Sarjou’s ex-husband, Sharadananda Narine, called ‘Anand’

the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the murder of Babita Sarjou. Ponton, of 54 Broad Street, Charlestown, is charged along with Sarjou’s ex-husband Sharadananda Narine, called ‘Anand’, of 51 Seaforth

had mysteriously disappeared. The statements that Ponton gave detectives at the Criminal Investigation Department will now be used by Police Prosecutor Inspector Neville Jeffers in his case against the accused duo.

tendered in the voir dire (trial within a trial) and the testimonies given by the five police witnesses called, she is satisfied that Ponton had given the statements freely and voluntarily, and in accordance with the Judge’s Rules.

The court has continued the voir dire to inquire into the circumstances under which Naraine had allegedly given a caution statement to detectives, with Prosecutor Neville Jeffers calling four police ranks -– two of whom are attached to the Major Crimes Investigations Unit -– to testify on November 25. It is alleged that on November 4, 2010, Sarjou left her Timehri, East Bank Demerara home, informing her mother that she was going to meet her

husband and son at the Kitty Seawall to view the annual Diwali Motorcade. When she did not return home that night, her mother became worried and filed a missing person’s report. After many months of searching and treating the case as a missing person’s one, the case was closed. However, earlier this year, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum reopened the case, treating it as a homicide, since new information had surfaced. Following new inves-

tigations into the matter, Sarjou’s estranged husband was questioned, and he subsequently led the investigating team to the shallow grave of Babita Sarjou, which had been dug in his own backyard. Investigations have also revealed that Narine had paid Pronton Gy$50,000 and had promised him a trip to Trinidad if he were to kill Sarjou, since Narine had begun to think that Sarjou had been having an affair with a man from her workplace.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

Scores take burdens to Congress Place … Min Ally assures action will be taken

SCORES of people on Friday took advantage of another opportunity to meet government ministers and raise matters of concern at the PNCR-sponsored ‘Meet the People’ for u m a t t h e p a r t y ’s headquarters Congress Place, Sophia. Several individuals and groups met with Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally and Minister within the Min-

istry of Communities Dawn Hastings-Williams and discussed various issues. Minister Ally told the Guyana Chronicle at Congress Place that the meetings with the public give citizens an opportunity to bring their issues directly to government, while the latter will be better able to understand the needs of the public at large. On Friday a 15-member delegation compris-

ing persons from Laluni and St. Cuthbert’s Mission approached the ministers with a petition for legislation to be passed in parliament for the legalisation of hemp. Other individuals and groups which visited complained about issues dealing with water, mining, public infrastructure (roads, playgrounds), labour matters, and various other issues affecting people in several areas.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings-Williams

“Let us say they have a problem with housing! We listen to them, we take the notes. We have forms, we record everything and if the solution has to come from the Minister of Housing, we send a letter introducing them to Housing and they go there.” On Friday too, an attorney-at-law also approached the ministers with suggestions about development projects that government can adopt through the Ministry of Social Cohesion.

Next Friday, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge will be at Congress Place between 10:00 hrs and 14:00 hrs to meet the public. The following Friday the public will have the opportunity to meet Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams, while on December 9 Minister of State Joseph Harmon will be on hand to meet with the public.

Saturday November 19th, 2016 - 09:00 hrs Sunday November 20th, 2016 - 10:00 hrs Monday November 21th, 2016 - 11:30 hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

WICB expresses condolences on death of umpire Halley Moore ST JOHN’S, Antigua (WICB) -- The WICB family regrets to announce the death of long-standing, first-class and Barbadian umpire, Halley Moore. Moore died on Thursday, November 17. Moore became a member of his local umpires’ association back in 1976 and after passing the West Indies’ test in 1985, did his debut first-class match in 1992. The West Indies Umpires Association stated that Moore served the role of an umpire with distinction on the field and in the classroom, where he served as a trainer after he retired. His international record shows that he was a television umpire for six Test matches and nine one-day internationals. The WICB would like to express condolences to his family and close friends and the umpiring fraternity.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 19, 2016

India put England in a spin on day two (REUTERS) - England were left with a mountain to climb after India made 455 in their first innings before returning to blow away the tourists’ top order on a spin-dominated second day of the second Test yesterday. England reached 103 for five, trailing India by 352 runs, at stumps with all-rounder Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow unbeaten at the crease. The touring side were rattled in the third over when paceman Mohammed Shami breached captain Alastair Cook’s defence but Joe Root and young opener Haseeb Hameed survived a hostile spell of bowling from the Indians to add 47 for the second wicket before the latter was run-out on 13 by some smart work from wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. England’s batting mainstay Root, who hit a century in the previous Test in Rajkot, made 53 before he fell

to off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who also picked up the wicket of Ben Duckett. Debutant off-spinner Jayant Yadav picked up his maiden wicket with a review after Moeen Ali advanced and then padded the ball away.

unbeaten on 12 and Stokes ensured there was no further damage. Stokes was not out on 12 and survived when a delivery from Yadav kissed, but did not dislodge, his bail. Earlier, Ashwin scored his second half-century of

Alastair Cook’s off stump is snapped in half by Mohammad Shami England were 80-5 at that stage, but Bairstow,

SCOREBOARD INDIA 1st innings (overnight 317-4) M. Vijay c Stokes b Anderson 20 L. Rahul c Stokes b Broad 0 C. Pujara c Bairstow b Anderson 119 V. Kohli c Stokes b Ali 167 A. Rahane c Bairstow b Anderson 23 R. Ashwin c Bairstow b Stokes 58 W. Saha lbw b Ali 3 R. Jadeja lbw b Ali 0 J. Yadav c Anderson b Rashid 35 U. Yadav c Ali b Rashid 13 M. Shami not out 7 Extras: (b-4, lb-5, w-1) 10 Total: (all out, 129.4 overs) 455 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-22, 3-248, 4-316, 5-351, 6-363, 7-363, 8-427, 9-440. Bowling: J. Anderson 20-3-62-3, S. Broad 16-2-4- 1, B. Stokes 20-4-73-1 (w-1), Z. Ansari 12-1-45-0, A. Rashid 34.4-2 -10-2, M. Ali 25-1-98-3, J. Root 2-0-9-0. ENGLAND1st innings A. Cook b Shami 2 H. Hameed run-out 13 J. Root c U. Yadav b R. Ashwin 53 B. Duckett b R. Ashwin 5 M. Ali lbw b Yadav 1 B. Stokes not out 12 J. Bairstow not out 12 Extras: (b-4, lb-1) 5 Total: (for 5 wickets, 49 overs) 103 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-51, 3-72, 4-79, 5-80. Bowling: M. Shami 8-2-15-1, U. Yadav 6-1-14-0, R. Jadeja 15-3-38–0, R. Ashwin 13-5-20-2, J. Yadav 7-311-1.

the series to guide India to a strong first-innings score. Ashwin scored 58 and added 64 for the eighth wicket with Yadav (35) after England off-spinner Moeen had claimed three quick wickets to peg back the hosts. Resuming the second day on 317-4 in the first ever Test match in the port city of Visakhapatnam, captain Virat Kohli and Ashwin added 35 in a fifth-wicket stand. Stokes failed to hold on to the straightforward chance from Ashwin but made amends with the very next ball, catching Kohli when the India captain attempted a cover drive. Kohli, who was unbeaten on 151 overnight, hit 18 boundaries in his knock of 167 - an incoming delivery that split the left-hander’s off-stump in two. Moeen dismissed Saha and Ravindra Jadeja in the same over to reduce India to 363-7. Saha wasted a review on a plumb lbw decision while Jadeja did not appeal his leg-before dismissal to a delivery which, replays confirmed, was missing the stumps. Ashwin, who scored 70 and 32 in the first Test at Rajkot, and Yadav then added some crucial runs to India’s total.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 19, 2016

NZ hold advantage after debutants shine (REUTERS) - New Zealand debutants Colin de Grandhomme and Jeet Raval helped their side to a strong

position at the close of the second day’s play of the first Test against Pakistan at Hagley Oval in Christ-

SCOREBOARD PAKISTAN 1st innings S. Aslam c Raval b Southee 19 Az. Ali b de Grandhomme 15 B. Azam c Taylor b de Grandhomme 7 Y. Khan c Raval b de Grandhomme 2 Misbah-ul-Haq c Williamson b Boult 31 A. Shafiq c Raval b de Grandhomme 16 S. Ahmed c Astle b Southee 7 M. Amir b Boult 3 So. Khan c Latham b de Grandhomme 9 Y. Shah not out 4 R. Ali c Watling b de Grandhomme 0 Extras: (b-8, lb-12) 20 Total: (all out, 55.5 overs) 133 Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-53, 3-53, 4-56, 5-88, 6-101, 7-114, 8-129, 9-129. Bowling: T. Southee 19-11-20-2, T. Boult 16-5-39-2, C. de Grandhomme 15.5-5-41-6, N. Wagner 5-0-13-0. NEW ZEALAND 1st innings T. Latham lbw b Amir 1 J. Raval not out 55 K. Williamson c Aslam b So. Khan 4 R. Taylor c S. Ahmed b R. Ali 11 H. Nicholls not out 29 Extras: (lb-1, nb-3) 4 Total: (for 3 wickets, 36 overs) 104 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-15, 3-40. Bowling: M. Amir 11-4-19-1 (nb-3), So. Khan 13-2-36- 1, R. Ali 8-1-32-1, Y. Shah 4-0-16-0.

Debutant Colin de Grandhomme church yesterday. Left-hand opening batsman Raval was on a composed 55, while Henry Nicholls was 29 not out as New Zealand were 104 for three at stumps, 29 runs behind

Pakistan’s first-innings 133. Seam-bowling all-rounder de Grandhomme, a surprise selection, dominated the first two sessions as the 30-year-old’s nagging line and length provided him with figures of six for 41, the best for a New Zealander on debut. de Grandhomme became the eighth New Zealander to take a five-wicket haul on debut, doing just enough off the pitch and through the air to create doubt for Pakistan’s batsmen in bowler-friendly conditions. Pakistan’s bowlers were also penetrating, with Mohammad Amir, Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali all taking a wicket in the final session as the hosts slumped to 40 for three when Ross Taylor

fell for 11. Amir had earlier trapped Tom Latham in front for one, before Sohail had New Zealand captain Kane Williamson caught at first slip by Sami Aslam for four. Raval, who was on the tour of southern Africa earlier this year but did not play a Test, was composed on debut as he left balls he needed to and put away the rare bad deliveries. The 28-year-old, who also took three catches in the slips, brought up his first Test half-century from 89 balls when he dabbed Rahat behind point for two runs as he and Nicholls settled New Zealand’s innings with an unbeaten 64-run stand. The home side’s bowl-

ers had earlier made the most of Williamson winning the toss, reducing the visitors to 88 for four at lunch with de Grandhomme taking three wickets. They continued to put pressure on Pakistan’s batsmen during the middle session, with de Grandhomme completing his five-wicket haul when he had Sohail caught at short midwicket. The Aucklander then wrapped up the innings when Rahat Ali nicked behind to wicketkeeper BJ Watling for a five-ball duck. Captain Misbah-ulHaq provided the only real resistance for Pakistan with an obdurate 31 from 108 balls. Thursday’s opening day was washed out.

Fruta Conquerors make impressive

start in U-19 football league

HOSTS Fruta Conquerors sounded an early warning when they hammered Pele FC 8-0 in the second game of a double-header to start

the Fruta Conquerors U-19 Academy League competition last Wednesday at the Tucville playfield. Leon Richardson led all scorers with a hat-trick (22nd, 33rd and 38th minutes) while there was a brace each for Isaiah Reddy (20th and 23rd minutes) and Randy Layne (25th and 83rd minutes). Jeremy Garrett added his name to the scorers’ list in the 64th minute to complete the rout of the Group ‘B’ contest. The opening encounter of the 12-team Invitational League proved to be more competitive as Eastveldt FC

had the better of Tavelle’s Academy 2-1 in a Group ‘A’ affair. Paul Chung opened the scoring in the 5th minute and 13 minutes later Travis Ramnaught doubled the score. Troy Ross pulled back one for the losers in the 32nd minute. The League will continue today at the said Tucville playfield with another double-header, beginning at 16:00hrs when Buxton United will oppose Linden’s Botofago FC in Group ‘A’ and to follow, Order and Discipline FC meet West Demerara’s Uitvlugt Warriors in a Group

‘B’ match-up. The one-round competition will climax with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-final KO stage, to determine which two teams will contest the Championship match. The twelve invited teams have been divided into two equal groups: A - Tavelle’s Academy, Eastveldt FC, Buxton United, Botofago FC, Santos FC and GFC and B- Fruta Conquerors FC, Pele FC, Uitvlugt Warriors, Order and Discipline FC, Western Tigers FC and Black Pearl FC.

South Africa captain du Plessis charged with ball-tampering (REUTERS) - South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has been charged with ball-tampering during the second Test against Australia in Hobart, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday. The ICC announced on Wednesday that it would review footage of the match that appeared to show du Plessis applying saliva to the ball with a lolly in his mouth. "The charge relates to changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 and has been laid by the ICC Chief Executive David Richardson who has exercised his right to do so," the ICC said in a statement. "du Plessis has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Details of the hearing will be announced in due course," the governing body added. If proved guilty, du Ples-

sis could be handed a maximum fine of 100 percent match fee, two suspension points and four demerit points. Two suspension points equates to a ban of one Test match. Earlier in the day, Hashim Amla was accompanied at a media briefing by the entire South African squad and support staff to "show solidarity" with their captain. Amla said du Plessis has done "absolutely nothing wrong". "The reason everybody is here is to stand together and to show solidarity to what has been something we actually thought was a joke. It's not April," Amla said, hours before the ICC charge was announced. "But the allegations against Faf were really, for us, a ridiculous thing and

as a team we are standing strong. For us, it is basically a joke. The boys are here, standing strong." The 32-year-old du Plessis, the stand-in captain for the injured AB de Villiers, has previously been in hot water for ball-tampering. In 2013, he was fined 50 percent of his match fee for ball-tampering in the second Test against Pakistan. He was caught on camera rubbing the ball against a zip on his pocket on the third day of the match in Dubai, leading umpires Ian Gould and Rod Tucker to penalise South Africa five runs and change the ball. du Plessis did not contest the charge. South Africa's innings and 80-run win over Australia in Hobart sealed the three-match Test series with a game in hand.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 19, 2016

East GT District 12 ‘gunning’ for second or third spot By Tamica Garnett LAST year’s third-place finishers at the National Schools Championships, East Georgetown - District 12, are sending out the message to leading competitors District 11 and District 10, to watch out when the annual event begins next week. Like North Georgetown (District 11), who earlier this week boasted of having an improved team, with maximum athletes for all of the various sections of the multisport event, District 12 say they too will be walking with a full squad and will throw down the gauntlet against the top two districts at the Championships. Speaking with Chronicle Sport, East GT District head, Marlon David said he’s not entertaining the idea of another third place finish this year. “ We ’ l l b e g u n n i n g for either first or second place. (District 11 and District 10) have to watch out, I’ve already warned them,” David said with a laugh. Of the four competitions that the 15 dis-

tricts will compete in – swimming, athletics, cycling and teachers – David said his district’s strong points will be in the teachers and swimming divisions. “This year’s competi-

teachers’ team, this year we have a full share of athletes for that team. In swimming also, we would have collected several champion swimmers including national swimmer Leon Seaton.”

athletics team, David disclosed that while there are a few choice athletes, this year’s team actually has a lot of new faces and that may stymy things somewhat. Nevertheless, he still remains optimistic

Flashback to an East Georgetown (District 12) team at Nationals tion is a competition that I’m looking forward to because we stand a chance. All of our teams are full, we are not short; so that’s why we stand a better chance than last year, because we did not have the full share last year. We didn’t have a full cycling or track and field last year. For the years gone by we have never had a complete

With District 11 their strong areas are the athletics and the swimming. Upper Demerara/Kwakwani, however, have shown to be one of the most consistent districts in all of the competitions, finishing first place in athletics, while finishing second in the other three areas last year. As it pertains to East’s

of the district’s chances in that area. “For the track and field we have some new faces, and we had a really hard time selecting the team because of that. They may not be known to the track and field fraternity, but we are again remaining hopeful of the fresh blood that we are bringing,” he remarked.

Taylor’s 51-ball 90 leads Windies Women to first win V I J AYAWA D A , I n d i a (CMC) – Captain Stafanie Taylor returned to form and West Indies Women to their winning ways, as they rolled over India Women by six wickets in the opening Twenty20 International of the three-match series, to claim their first win of an otherwise dismal tour here yesterday. The right-handed stroke-maker carved out a brilliant 90 off 51 balls to fall just short of her maiden T20I century as the visitors clinically chased down a target of 151, with five balls to spare at the Mulapadu Cricket Stadium Her runs proved precious as no other batsman passed 20, again reiterating the challenges the Windies Women have experienced with their batting on the ongoing tour where they suffered a 3-0 whitewash in

the one-day series. New-ball bowler Shikha Pandey was the best bowler with three for 31. Earlier, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur stroked an unbeaten 68 while Veda Krishnamurthy struck 50 as the hosts, opting to bat first, posted 150 for four off their allotted 20 overs. With their side stumbling at 28 for two in the sixth over, the pair came together to add 88 for the third wicket and rally the innings. Both right-handers, Kaur stroked six fours and three sixes in a 50-ball knock while Krishnamurthy faced 46 deliveries and counted six fours and a six. When Krishnamurthy became the second of seamer Shakera Selman’s two wickets in the 17th over, Kaur and Jhulan Goswami (11 not out) put on an important 21 off 15 balls for the fourth

wicket to end the innings strongly.

Stafanie Taylor

In reply, Taylor took immediate control of the run chase for West Indies Women, anchoring a series of partnerships to ensure her

side’s victory. Returning to her opening slot after mostly batting onedown in the three-match series where she managed just 48 runs, Taylor displayed all of her batting charm as she hammered 12 fours and three sixes in an attractive innings. She put on 31 off 24 balls for the first wicket with Hayley Matthews (18), 40 off 39 balls for the second wicket with Britney Cooper (16) before dominating a 70-run fourth-wicket stand off 41 balls with former skipper Merissa Aguilleira who made 15. Her stand with Aguilleira put the contest firmly in West Indies Women’s favour and even when both fell in the 18th over, the result was all but done and dusted. The second T20I is set for tomorrow at the same venue.

Chanderpaul, Chandrika and Hetmyer hit half-centuries

… Another five-wicket haul for Cornwall BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Half-centuries from veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul and openers Rajendra Chandrika and Shimron Hetmyer, gave Guyana Jaguars momentum but yet another five-wicket haul from Rahkeem Cornwall, ensured Leeward Islands Hurricanes shared some of the honours on the opening day of their Regional Four-Day contest here yesterday. Asked to bat first at Warner Park in the second round encounter, two-time reigning champions Guyana Jaguars were dismissed for 293 with Chanderpaul stroking an unbeaten 81 and Chandrika 64, before retiring hurt. Hetmyer scored 53 while wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble added 39 but Jaguars suffered a lower order slump, losing their last five wickets for 26 runs. Off-spinner Cornwall, who had a nine-wicket matchhaul against Barbados Pride in the last round, took three of the wickets in the slide to finish with six for 87. Jaguars were handed a great start by Chandrika and Hetmyer, who added 84 before being separated. The right-handed Chandrika struck six fours and a six in an innings off 138 deliveries in 3-½ hours at the crease while the left-handed Hetmyer produced a brisk knock, stroking nine fours and a six off just 60 balls. However, Cornwall struck twice, removing Hetmyer to a leg-side catch by wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton then having captain Leon Johnson caught at slip by his opposite number Kieran Powell off the very next delivery. Left-hander Vishaul Singh perished cheaply for seven to leave Jaguars on 103 for three at lunch but Chanderpaul anchored three productive stands to put the visitors in control. First, he put on 44 for the fourth wicket with Chandrika who retired hurt at 147 for three and when Chris Barnwell went cheaply for seven, he added a further 42 for the fifth wicket with Raymon Reifer who made 23. A 66-run, sixth-wicket stand between Chanderpaul and Bramble in the final session seemed to be taking Jaguars into a dominant position. Chanderpaul struck nine fours and a six off 148 balls in nearly four hours while Bramble produced a 44-ball cameo which included three fours and two sixes. Jaguars were sailing at 267 for five but once Bramble was taken at cover by Nkrumah Bonner off seamer Jeremiah Louis, the innings collapsed.

SCOREBOARD

GUYANA JAGUARS 1st innings R. Chandrika ret. hurt 64 S. Hetmyer c Hamilton b Cornwall 53 L. Johnson c Powell b Cornwall 0 V. Singh b Walsh 7 S. Chanderpaul not out 81 C. Barnwell c wkp. Hamilton b Powell 7 R. Reifer c Louis b Cornwall 23 A. Bramble c Bonner b Louis 39 V. Permaul c Powell b Cornwall 5 G. Motie c Saunders b Cornwall 1 K. Joseph lbw b Cornwall 0 Extras: (lb-10, w-2, nb-1) 13 Total: (all out, 83.2 overs) 293 Fall of wickets: 1-84, 2-84, 3-103, 4-159, 5-201, 6-267, 7-273, 8-279, 9-293. Bowling: Tonge 17-4-49-0, Louis 11-4-23-1, Boatswain 12-1-52-0, Cornwall 29.2-4-87-6, Walsh 12-2-58-1, Powell 2-0-14-1. LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES 1st innings K. Powell not out 0 M Hodge not out 4 Total: (without loss, 4 overs) 4 Bowling: Joseph 1-1-0-0, Motie 1-1-0-0, Permaul 2-1-4-0. Position: Hurricanes trail by 289 runs with all ten wickets intact.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 19, 2016

United boss Mourinho Cream of Guyana’s cyclists in action today says he gets no respect from the media Alanis 20-lap cycle road race

GUYANA’S top pedal cyclists will be in action today when Team Alanis stages a 20-lap road race around the outer circuit of the National Park beginning at 12:30hrs. The event, which is being sponsored by Team Alanis’ New York Chapter, comprises several categories of cyclists - seniors, juniors, veterans, BMX and mountain bikers. Among the United Statesbased Guyanese who have already contributed to the activity are: `Red man Gerry (only name provided), Monty Davis, Danny Chee and his wife Eunice, Oniks MassyChung and Derick Sue Hang. Over $100 000 in cash prizes will be at stake for the entire activity, and,

Alanzo Greaves

with this in mind, it will be interesting to see if Alanzo Greaves would be able to maintain the momentum he returned with, after serving a one-year ban for the use of illegal substance during

last year’s `Ride for Life’ Five-Stage road race. Greaves made heavy impact on his return to the local cycling scene, placing second in the 65-mile first-stage road race behind Geron Williams, then placing among the top eight finishers in the 3.5mile individual time trial and ending off with a win in the 50.5-mile (20 laps) final stage which was held around the outer circuit of the National Park. Apart from Greaves, Shaquille Agard will be brimming with confidence after winning the overall title in the National Sports Commission-sponsored three-stage event two weeks ago. Not to be outdone will be

Jamal John of Team Coco’s who won the Digicel ‘Cancer Awareness’ 30-lap event around the same circuit. Raynauth Jeffrey, Orville Hinds, Raul Leal, Michael Anthony, Marlon `Fishy’ Williams and Akeem Wilkinson are also in the reckoning. The day’s activity will commence with the BMX races for the up-and-coming young cyclists, before the juveniles get into action followed by the feature event which is the 20-lap race for juniors and seniors. The top six finishers in the open category will be rewarded for their efforts as well as the top three juniors.

Elite Coaches’ Previews By Ras Wadada

COLLIE ‘HITAN’ HERCULES, BAKEWELL TOPP XX: “Our aim is to finish in the top three and we will be taking it one game at a time, but what is certain is that we will bring a highly competitive spirit to the competition. Our preparations have gone reasonably well and the players are all anxious to get out on the pitch. “We have a blend of youth and seasoned campaigners in our squad and the spirits in the camp are high, coming off of the UDFA’s League Championship win.

“We are not here to prove anything but our competitiveness. We have a rich and proud history as a club so we will take this opportunity to be the first Linden side to participate in Guyana’s top football League and give it our best. The players have responded well to training preparations and we are ready. As the only side in the League from Linden we have

a great responsibility to represent the entire community which is big and very passionate about football. Their support for the team will mean a lot, especially when we are playing at home. I would certainly like to wish every team the best for the season and urge the return of the four clubs to the competition.”

BILAAL NANTAMBU, GUYANA DEFENCE FORCE: “Since my arrival here as coach, in August, I have been instilling in the players a new philosophy and while we are yet to reach fruition we are getting there. We have been very busy since we started to prepare, but the several postponements to the start of the season have caused some minor setbacks. “The team is relatively young and full of enthusiasm but while I am satisfied with most areas we have worked on, I would like the mental capacity of the players to be more improved. The philosophy we are aspiring to is to move away from being a physical team to one that

is more ball-possessing and what I would like to see is a higher level of consistency in possessing the ball for the duration of the game and not for them to get complacent. “Now that the top two teams are out, the Army is being considered a top contender and that adds a little pressure but I tell them to think about their roles and responsibilities for the game more than winning the game. “Our objective is to win this League because that is what is expected of the Army and with the top teams out I think we have a very good opportunity to lift the League cup. I think the quality of football we will deliver will raise a few eyebrows and surprise a lot of people.”

SAMPSON ‘BENNIAH’ GILBERT, FRUTA CONQUERORS FC: “The distractions off the field and moneys owing to players by the GFF were two main issues that affected the smooth pre-season training preparations for the Elite League. However, we made some adjustments and I must say I am satisfied with how preparations

have gone. I am looking forward to a good performance from the team this season. “I have kept the distractions off the field away from our preparations and kept the players more focused on the task ahead, because at Conquerors we always aspire to do very well and be in the top tier of the League. Every competition Fruta Conquerors enter whether we have a depleted team or not our aim and projection is to win the Championship, so without a doubt we are going after the Elite title. Of course every team will be aiming for that as well and that we respect but ultimately we are aiming to win the championship. While the club suffered a lot during the transfer period, through migration of several players to other clubs, I think the solid structural foundation of the club has a pool of quality talent to call on and it is that mix, together with the experienced players, that will make up the composition of the squad which I feel confident can win the Championship. “It is also critical for the fan support if we are to win and so with the team being a community-based one that has been successful over the years. We have developed a solid fan-base that is always supportive.”

MANCHESTER United manager Jose Mourinho says he gets “no respect” from the media despite his managerial record. The Portuguese was criticised for his treatment of defenders Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw this season and for a run of four league games without a win. Mourinho has won three Premier League titles with Chelsea during two spells, and has won the Champions League twice. United host Arsenal today and Mourinho claims the media have more respect for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. Mourinho publicly questioned Smalling and Shaw for missing the 3-1 win at Swansea earlier this month and suggested that the pair could have played through injuries. The former Real Madrid manager faced criticism before United’s win at Swansea after his side were thrashed 4-0 at Chelsea and drew with Stoke and Burnley at Old Trafford. When asked if he was surprised at his treatment, Mourinho said: “Tomorrow is a match between two managers with the best record in the Premier League. Sir Alex Ferguson is not here anymore and we have won six or seven titles between us. “Should we be respected even in periods when our results are not the best? I think

Mr Wenger has that from all of you. “I don’t think I have even though my last Premier League title was 18 months ago. Not 18 years. I don’t get that respect.”

Jose Mourinho Mourinho has never lost a Premier League game against Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, but said that that record was “not important”, and reiterated his desire to stay at Old Trafford for the long term and win trophies. “I am in the club where I want to be,” he said. “When I was sacked at Chelsea I was not in trouble. I had lots of offers. I don’t speak about them. I could be working one week after in some of the biggest clubs in Europe. I waited for this chance. “I was champion in four different clubs. I want to be champion in every club I have worked. I want to do that at Manchester United.” (BBC Sport)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday November 19, 2016)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

Gary Sobers-365* (vs PAK, Jamaica, 1958)

(2)

Brian Lara-45 balls (vs BANG, Dhaka, 1999) Today’s Quiz:

(1) the

Which two teams contested the first game of current Tri-Nations ODI series?

(2)

Which team won the first game of the Tri-Na tions ODI series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 19, 2016

Alleyne rescues Pride with another half-century PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Opener Anthony Alleyne stroked his second straight half-century and fourth in first class cricket to lead a Barbados Pride rally against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, on the opening day of their second round game in the Regional Four-Day Championship yesterday. The left-hander, in only his 11th first class game, carved out a solid 88 as Pride, sent in at Queen’s Park Oval, battled to the close on 214 for seven. Kenroy Williams chipped in with 46 batting at number six while opener Omar Phillips chipped in with 22. Leg-spinner Imran Khan has

been the best bowler with three for 49. Alleyne and Phillips gave Pride a solid start, putting on 45 for

A JAMAICA Anti-doping Disciplinary Panel will take the next three to four weeks to determine the fate of T20 star Andre Russell, who failed to file his whereabouts information three times between January and July 2015. The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) claims Russell was negligent in filing his whereabouts on January 1, July 1 and July 25.

JADCO Executive Director Carey Brown testified that Russell had been contacted by phone and letters reminding him about filing his whereabouts on the three occasions he missed the tests. If found guilty, Russell could be faced with a lengthy ban as three missed tests is the equivalent to a failed doping test. Under the revised WADA code, a first doping offence attracts

Anthony Alleyne the first wicket, to see them safely through the first hour. However, Pride suffered a

double blow in the last halfhour before lunch when Phillips was caught at third man by Jeremy Solozano off Imran Khan and Shamarh Brooks fell without scoring to pacer Marlon Richards. On 66 for two at the break, Pride were boosted in the second session by a healthy 73run, third-wicket stand between Alleyne and Test batsman Roston Chase who made 21. All told, the 23-year-old Alleyne faced 201 deliveries in a shade under four hours at the crease and counted 12 fours while Chase consumed 54 balls and hit two fours and a six. Chase perished in the third over after the drinks break, bowled by Imran Khan and

captain Kevin Stoute followed him four overs later for three, lbw to Imran Khan at 141 for four. On 155 for four at tea, Pride lost Alleyne in the third over after the break, caught by wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo running around to short fine leg off off-spinner Jon-Russ Jagessar, with four runs added. However, Williams and Justin Greaves, who made 17, put on a crucial 51 to bolster the innings in the final session. Williams struck five fours in a knock that came from 103 balls in just over two hours, before falling to a catch at the wicket off left-arm spinner Yannick Ottley, five overs before the close.

Andre Russell

a four-year ban. On Thursday, attorneys representing the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) and the beleaguered cricketer submitted their closing statements to the tribunal comprised of Hugo Faulkner, Dr Majorie Vassell and former Jamaica cricketer Dixieth Palmer. The session which began shortly after 10:00hrs finally ended shortly after

SCOREBOARD

BARBADOS PRIDE 1st innings O. Phillips c Solozano b Imran Khan 22 A. Alleyne c wkp. Katwaroo b Jagessar 88 S. Brooks c Primus b Richards 0 R. Chase b Imran Khan 21 K. Stoute lbw b Imran Khan 3 K. Williams c wkp. Katwaroo b Ottley 46 J. Greaves run-out 17 M. Rampersaud not out 3 K. Roach not out 0 Extras: (b-6, lb-4, w-1, nb-3) 14 Total: (7 wkts, 90 overs) 214 Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-54, 3-127, 4-141, 5-159, 6-210, 7-213. Bowling: Cottrell 12-3-22-0, Richards 14-7-24-1, Primus 123-41-0 (w-1, nb-2), Jagessar 19-8-55-1 (nb-1), Imran Khan 214-49-3, Ottley 12-5-13-1. RED FORCE – Yannic Ottley (captain), Kyle Hope, Jeremy Solozano, Yannic Cariah, Jyd Goolie, Imran Khan, +Steven Katwaroo, Roshon Primus, Marlon Richards, Jon-Russ Jagessar, Sheldon Cottrell.

Andre Russell to know fate within a month

Azeez, Samaroo bowl Enterprise Primary Top to final By Rajiv Bisnauth A MESMERISING spell from 11-year-old leg-spinner Rafeek Azeez and 14-year-old medium-pace r Yu g e n d r a S a m a ro o spearheaded Enterprise Primary Top to a 15-run victory over Cummings Lodge Secondary when the 2016 edition of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary Schools Cricket League continued yesterday at the Enterprise Community Centre ground. Chasing 320 for victory the visitors folded for 104 in 17.5 overs. Azeez claimed 4-19 while Samaroo took 3-22. Earlier, skipper Himnauth Dindyal stroked a fighting 42, which eventually guided his team to 119-7. Deciding to bat first in brilliant sunshine, the hosts were given an opening stand of 33 between Dindyal and Mark Ramanad, but careless stroke playing and reckless running between the wickets saw them reduced to 50-4, at halfway through the innings.Medium pacer Shan-

kar Sahadeo provided the visitors with the first breakthrough when he removed Ramanad for 12. Three balls later he claimed the wicket of Edmon Pearson without scoring, at 34-2. The hosts then lost Dinesh Phagoo (0) and Ra-

Rafeek Azeez and Yugendra Samaroo were the chief destroyers.

feek Azeez (4), via run-out, but opener Himnauth Dindyal stood firm at the other end and singlehandedly took the attack to the opposition. He buckled down to his task on a slow, dry-looking pitch and added 26 for the fifth-wicket with Jash Paul before the latter was bowled

by Sahadeo for two. It soon became 79-6, when Ricardo Niranjan was bowled by off-spinner Andrew Samar without scoring. However, the 15-yearold Dindyal never looked in trouble and frustrated the visitors, showing the perfect attitude for such a situation, before he was dismissed in the final over. His innings was laced with both aggression and temperament, counting five fours. Yugendra Samaroo was left unbeaten on 17. Sahadeo was the best bowler on show, claiming 3-28. I n r e p l y, C u m m i n g s Lodge Secondary found scoring difficult, and as a result lost wickets at regular intervals, with only Devanand Khemraj (24), Andrew Samar (13) and Anand Puran (12), offering any resistance with the bat. Meanwhile, in the other semi-final game played on Thursday at the same venue, IBE edged President’s College by seven wickets. The final is scheduled for Wednesday at the same venue.

18:00hrs as time was extended by an additional two hours to allow both sides to complete submissions. “We sought to complete that process today rather than extend it to another day, so we were successful in the completion of the submissions by both sides, so it’s now for the steno writer to prepare the transcripts for today’s proceedings and then the panel will deliberate and

then we will make our decision,” panel chairman Hugo Faulkner told SportsMax.tv. “Chances are we may give a verbal decision and shortly thereafter the written decision.” Faulkner said the panel is seeking to have the transcripts within another 7-10 days and then in another 14 days to bind themselves to making the decision. (Sportsmax.com)

Scorpions struggling at 83 for six KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Rain allowed only 36 overs on the opening day of the second round game between Jamaica Scorpions and Windward Islands Volcanoes at Sabina Park here yesterday. In the limited time possible, Scorpions stumbled to 83 for six, after they were

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asked to bat first in the Regional Four-Day clash. Opener John Campbell has so far top-scored with 30 off 72 balls with four fours while Antiguan Devon Thomas was unbeaten on 18. Off-spinner Shane Shillingford has taken three for 11 while left-arm seamer Delorn Johnson has so far

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picked up two for 30. Scorpions reached 32 for one at the first drink break but rain then ruled out any further play before lunch. When play finally resumed following a delay after the interval, Scorpions lost wickets steadily until another downpour at 3:20 pm, ended play for the day.

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Chanderpaul, Chandrika and Hetmyer hit half-centuries Shivnarine Chanderpaul top scored for the Jaguars with an unbeaten 81

Off-spinner Rahkeen Cornwall finish with six for 87.

… Another five-wicket haul for Cornwall See story on page 37

Andre Russell to know fate within a month See story on page 39

Petra/COURTS/ Pee Wee football competition

St Agnes accepts ‘underdog’ tag WITH less than 48 hours before the final of this year’s Petra/ COURTS Pee Wee Under-11 football competition takes place, challengers St Agnes have embraced the title of underdogs with the intention of using it to their full advantage. Coach Troy Wright relayed this message while speaking of his t e a m ’s c h a n c e s . H e said he is confident his team has the quality to claim the 5th Annual COURTS Pee Wee Football Championship. “We are the under-

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dogs, but most of the teams we have beaten are either former champions or finalists. “ We b e a t S t e l l a Maris (2014 winners) who are former champions; Marian Academy who are former champions (2012), and West Ruimveldt (2013 finalists and 2012 third-placers) and now we are facing off with the current champions,” the coach stated. He added, “It’s going to be a tough match. They (St Angela’s) don’t want to lose to us, they want to win back-to-

back titles and we don’t want to lose to them. It’s going to be a war. Even without football they normally have problems between the schools so with football it’s going to be a war. The guys are really fired up and have high expectations and they want to be victorious.” When quizzed about his game plan, the coach added, “The basics and technical skills as well as discipline. Once we can stick to the basics, be disciplined and execute our game plan, we will be successful. I was

watching St Angela’s and they have openings certain teams can capitalise on. I am working to capitalise on these areas so we can upset them.” “We are working on some of our weaknesses that I saw on Saturday and also on our game plan against St Angela’s. We are confident, once we work to the game plan we will be successful,” he declared. St Agnes will face 2015 champions St Angela’s tomorrow at Thirst Park. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2016