Guyana chronicle epaper 12 10 2016

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No. 104761

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

Jagdeo paid self 500%

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… Jordan says former president took 500% salary hike between 2006-2011

Let there be light!

BUSINESS and Tourism Minister Dominic Gaskin, on Friday evening flipped the switch to set aglow this 50 ft tree,described as the tallest Christmas tree in the Caribbean, at Rahaman’s Park. Some 200 children sang carols and were treated with gifts and goodies from Santa and his wife at the exciting festive Christmas tree light-up ceremony. “This is the highest tree in the Caribbean,” businessman and motor-racer Ray Rahaman proudly declared of his tree, as excitement became obvious in the screams of the scores who had gathered to witness the annual event. The Rahaman family, in collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), started spreading joy in 2005, when they erected a 12-foot Christmas tree and switched the lights on in a simple family ceremony. They never knew it would have grown into such an unstoppable and popularly demanded event. (Delano Williams photo)

$25,000 tax-free

–– gov’t announces bonus for public servants

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Suriname rounds up 45 Guyanese 8 fishers Page

Doctor killed in crash Page

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Doctor Hemant Persaud

‘We kept 4 our promise’ Page

-Nagamootoo answers critics in fiery closing speech

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

Gold Board raps Jagdeo for misleading House THE Guyana Gold Board has chided Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for misleading the National Assembly on Friday by providing false information on the agency’s financial position.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Board said it learnt that Jagdeo had indicated that the organisation has accumulated a debt of Gy$17.5 billion. “The Guyana Gold Board wishes to note that, at the end of 2013, the organisation recorded a loss of Gy$9.9 billion, with another Gy$400 million added in 2014. These early losses contributed to the entity’s 2015 overdraft being Gy$12.9 billion.”

The board has said that as at November 2016, its overdraft was Gy$14.9 billion.

“The overdraft never amounted to Gy$17.5 billion, as was contended. The Guyana Gold Board wishes to note that, at current prices, the value of its stock in hand is Gy$14.3 billion.

The management and Board of Directors of the Guyana Gold Board have been reviewing methods and ways of turning the Board’s fortunes around. It has observed that there were significant market policy distortions that have created the losses which the

organisation faces. Specifically, the Guyana Gold Board buys gold at a selling price and then must in turn sell that gold at the selling price.”

Additionally, the Board of Directors said, it has noted that this purchasing method can never be feasible, especially in a declining price market. “Coupled with this issue, it is known that the organisation was holding significant amounts of gold in the 2012-2013 period when prices were falling, hence it was not able to recoup its basic purchase cost.

All of these real and incorrect policy positions have contributed to the deficit.

To remedy this, the Board of Directors has agreed on a number of policy changes that, once implemented, would allow the entity to recover its costs,” the statement said.

“The Guyana Gold Board wishes to note that it has contributed to the revenues of the country, bringing in US$114.8 million in 2015 and US$218.9 million in 2016. The Guyana Gold Board is disappointed that the Leader of the Opposition would be aware of these facts and misconstrue them for cheap political mileage,” the Board has said.

36 months for stealing child’s cellphone CITY Magistrate Faith McGusty on Friday sentenced a man to 36 months imprisonment after he confessed to robbery with violence committed on a 14-year-old High School student.

Joseph James pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on December 7 at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, he stole the teen’s $70,000 Samsung cellphone with the use of personal violence.

“I was standing on the block and I saw him coming from school so I pull him in a corner and I snatch he phone away,” the unrepresented man told the court.

According to prosecutor, Corporal Seon Blackman on the day in question about 15:20 hrs, the teen was walking along the Soesdyke, Public Road on his way home when he was choked from behind by James.

The accused pulled out the teen’s cellphone from inside his shirt pocket and ran away.

The teen raised an alarm and a public-spirited person quickly apprehended James and turned him over to the police.

The prosecutor urged the magistrate to base her ruling on the seriousness, the victim’s age and the prevalence of these offences around the Christmas season.

Jagdeo paid self 500%

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

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… Jordan says former president took 500% salary hike between 2006-2011

F I N A N C E M i n i s t e r, Winston Jordan says former President Bharrat Jagdeo had taken a 500% pay hike between 2006 and 2011 and mocked the opposition leader, whom he said was now holding himself out as a paragon of virtue and a champion of the poor.

It was in the last year of his presidency that Jagdeo jacked up the pension for former presidents with no caps on the benefits -- something which the coalition government has amended. Wrapping up the week-long budget debate on the $250B budget estimates for next year, Jordan scoffed at some of the comments made during the debate by the opposition MPs, but reserved the more caustic attack for Jagdeo, who had earlier led his MPs out of the chamber. “…what was truly lamentable, pitiable and laughable was the Honourable Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, setting himself up as the Champion of the Poor in this society.

It is said that only those who feel it, know it. So, how can an individual, swimming in luxury, be able to know, feel and empathise with the poor...” Jordan questioned.

500% HIKE The finance minister said mindful of the General Elections that were scheduled in 2006 and uncertain about his political future, then President Jagdeo caused to be introduced and passed, the Ex-Presidents Pension Bill in 2004.

The Bill was signed into law the same year

by Jagdeo. According to Jordan, Jagdeo’s salary in 2006 was $223,783, which would have given him a pension of $195,810.

However, having won the elections in 2006, Jagdeo set about fortifying himself, financially, Jordan said. “Between 2006 and 2011, his salary increased from $223,783 to $1,304,503, or nearly 500%. During that same period, the minimum wage increased from $26,069 to

$35,657, or a paltry 37% in five years. In just 7.5 months, this Government increased the minimum wage by that same percentage, from $42,703 to $55,000. On that salary, his pension would have been $1,232,756. The current President’s salary is $1,729,607, giving all the PPP’s ex-Presidents their current monthly pensions of $1,513,406 each, or $54,482,616 annually.”

Jordan said this is equivalent to 83% of the annual increase in salaries granted to the then 26 ministers in 2015. Jordan told the House that based on their performance in their 23 years in office, it is clear that the PPP has no guiding, coherent vision for the future - no concrete plans for achieving better economic and social outcomes for our citizens.

“Mr. Speaker, this budget is the finest budget that I have worked on and produced. Cutting my teeth at SPS in 1981, under the indefatigable and indomitable Clarence F. Ellis, Chairman of State Planning Board, I have been involved in the preparation and/or presentation of 25 national budgets.

This budget is audacious in outlook; it represents a change in the narrative that has dominated our economy for the past 50 years; it is a paradigm shift,” Jordan declared to loud table-thumping from his colleagues.

INCOME TAX Turning his attention to income tax measures and the opposition’s criticisms that they were regressive, benefit the middle class more than the poor…”but in the same breath, they say how we are doing nothing for the middle class; how the middle class is being taxed out of existence.

They also claim that we are taking away allowances which benefit the middle class... Here, I am reminded of Edmund Burke: “To tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men.”

“MR. Speaker with this budget, let me say that

the awakening has begun. Starting today, our Government must become more efficient and effective, doing well the things that only Government should do and partnering with the private sector and other stakeholders to transform our economy.”

This implies a sustained focus on: executing public sector transformation for more effective public service delivery, greater efficiency in resource utilization; building human capital and productivity, and encouraging higher rates of innovation and technological adaptation; maximising the impact of the public sector investment programme by targeting infrastructural gaps and building climate-resilient infrastructure throughout the country, be they road networks, water and energy systems, port facilities, schools and hospitals and targeting and facilitating a significant improvement in domestic linkages.

“These linkages involve maximising interdependence among key sectors which rely on our natural endowments and our renewable energy resources. It is this vision of integrated broad-based, sustainable development, which underpins the Government’s promise to the people of Guyana,” Jordan said.

GREEN GROWTH Additionally, Jordan said in making this paradigm shift, the administration is aiming for diversified, buoyant, green growth.

“Mr. Speaker, as explained in my budget presentation, growth in the economy has been so low and uneven for such a long time, that indeed we need to be bold in order to give Guyanese the hope that their lot in life can be improved during our time. It is clear that our policy focus must be on enhancing the supply side of the economy, in order to realise the potential inherent therein. Through our agenda for a modern Guyana, we have recognised this priority and are acting

ital and reducing skill mismatches; strengthening the business environment and reducing costs, including energy costs; and investing in growth-enhancing infrastructure, especially through productive public-private sector partnerships.

A Chief Planning Officer will be in place early in the New Year.”

Finance Minister Winston Jordan to ameliorate the various critical determinants of stronger growth.” Jordan said with assistance from the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), buttressed by the Caribbean Development Bank, we would develop a Development Plan. “The National Development Plan will contain programmes to improve the competitiveness of our economy, boost potential, real growth and reduce high structural and youth unemployment.”

“It is expected that key features of the plan will include raising human cap-

FAIL MISERABLY Jordan said the Opposition is trying to belittle the budget, both in this House and in an incessant public campaign. “They are going to fail miserably.

They cannot hold back the rising tide of progress which is unfolding right before their eyes.

Our Government will continue in the period ahead to focus on our transformative agenda for a modern Guyana – that is the true key to a brighter future and prosperity for all Guyanese.”

The Finance Minister said so far, the administration has remained faithful to its overriding agenda of change, focusing on the transformation of Guyana

into a modern and more prosperous nation, with buoyant growth and ever-growing employment opportunities. “My optimism, in this regard, is unwavering. Though we are clearly beset by challenges on many fronts, we draw inspiration from the fact that we have been able to weather many diverse challenges already, and that we are now firmly on course to overcome the challenges that lie before us still. This Government is not one that rests on its laurels.

On the contrary, we rise each day to go do the people’s business for we are always about the people’s business, in spite of the nonsense that may issue from the lips of the Opposition and their fellow naysayers.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Guyana can rest assured of one thing: this coalition Government remains the only political force that has the vision, the compassion, the philosophical conviction, the plan and the cohesive team and the talent needed to bring the Good Life to all our people,” Jordan concluded.

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We kept our promise

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

–Nagamootoo answers critics in fiery closing speech

AMID what has now become the customary walk-out by the opposition, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Friday defended his government’s $250B 2017 budget, describing it as ‘pro-Guyana’ and assuring that it demonstrated that the administration is capable of keeping its promise.

Nagamootoo also debunked criticisms by the People’s Progressive Party /Civic (PPP/C) and other groups, making it clear that the hysteria being raised by many over government’s proposal to implement a 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on water and electricity is a scare tactic.

Specifically rebutting the statements made by former Minister of Public Service and Member of Parliament (MP) Jennifer Westford, the Prime Minister said history will show that no charges were levied for untreated water.

“Water was free,” he declared, noting that it was under the

PPP/C in 2002, at the time headed by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, that water was metered and extended to rural areas.

Westford had questioned whether mothers will have to limit the water they use to clean their babies. APNU+AFC’s Minister within the Ministry of Communities Dawn Hastings-Williams had told the House during her budget 2017 presentation that there are 182,612 persons using water in the country, noting that 85,489 are metered customers while 97,123 are unmetered customers.

According to Hastings-Williams, 155,011 representing 85 per cent of the users pay $1500 or less for the water supplied by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), while 27,601 or 15 per cent pay more than $1500. Those who must pay it could cost VAT of $1044 for consumption without limit. “Water charges are for urban residents, $100 per

cubic metre or 220 gallons.

To pay $1,500 one has to use 3,300 gallons which equals eight 400 gallon black tanks monthly.”

The Prime Minister said too that rates must be looked at against monies for the improvement in quality water. $2.8B has been allocated in the 2017 budget for the improvement of the quality of water provided to consumers. Turning his attention to criticisms over VAT being attached to electricity charges over $10,000 monthly, the Prime Minister said the case has been made that “ordinary consumers” will not pay VAT on electricity.

He said according to the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) there are 165, 115 consumers of which 150,814 or 91.34 per cent are residents, while 14, 301 or 8.66 per cent are commercial consumers. It therefore means that 136,049 or 82.49 per cent pay electricity bills under

$10,000, while 29,066 or 17.6 per cent pay over $10,000 for their service.

Nagamootoo asked, how could the reduction of VAT from 16 per cent to 14 per cent result in the “picking the pocket of the working people?”

The Prime Minister outlined, in the absence of the Opposition who left before the resumption of the National Assembly after the lunch break, that criticisms made by the PPPC on VAT are unfounded.

He noted that “VAT is Jagdeo’s child,” stating that it was an International Monetary Fund (IMF) recipe which cost US$7.6B to be introduced.

He said too that over the years, there have been administrative bottlenecks with the refunding of VAT taxed to persons mainly on zero-rated items. “The state owes $7.6B,” said Nagamootoo.

Meanwhile, turning his attention to the criticisms by both the Opposition and the Private Sector Commission

Saturday December 10th, 14:30 - 1:30 hrs Sunday December 11th, 14:30 - 2:30 hrs Monday December 12th, 14:30 - 3:30 hrs

(PSC) on the garnishing of funds from persons’ bank accounts, the Prime Minister reminded the House that attention has to be paid to what the law says and give an interpretation in keeping with what has been stated in the legislation.

Nagamootoo chided the Opposition Leader for stating that government is committing an unlawful act and operating in contravention of the constitution. However, he pointed out that all that the Minister of Finance is attempting to do is bring the VAT Act in consonance with the Income Tax Act. The Finance Minister in his budget presentation said, “It is proposed to revise the provision of Section 45 of the VAT Act by deleting the provision which allows for a court order to be obtained to enforce this provision. This will be consistent with a similar provision which exists under Section 71 of the Income Tax Act Chapter 81:01.”

Section 71 (1) of the Income Tax Act says, “Where the Commissioner- General is of the opinion that any person is about to or is likely to leave Guyana without making arrangements to the satisfaction of the Commissioner- General when required by the CommissionerGeneral to do so, for the payment of all income tax that is or may become payable …up to and including the year in which he proposes to leave Guyana, the CommissionerGeneral may issue a direction to the Commissioner of Police or Chief Immigration Officer, or both, to prevent

such person from leaving without paying the taxes or furnishing security to the satisfaction of the CG for the payment thereof.”

PROMISES Meanwhile, the Prime Minister made it clear that the 2017 budget is not centred on VAT, but on fulfilling the coalition government’s 2015 manifesto promises to citizens.“ “The budget is not about VAT. It is about fulfilling [a] manifesto promise to lay [the] basis for orderly, law-governed, clean and green society.”

As such, Prime Minister Nagamootoo highlighted the achievement of several promises made by the APNU+AFC while on the campaign trail . “By reducing vat from 16 to 14per cent, we kept our promise; by raising the threshold for a person to be a vat registrant from plus $10 m to 15 m, we kept our promise not to go after small traders; we also realised other 100 day promises; we reduced the Berbice river toll; we held local government elections; we establish Public Procurement Commission; we reduced income tax; we raised the minimum wage; we increased wages, pensions and social assistance; we provided training, instead of dole, to Amerindian youth; we restored the garbage city to the status of a garden city, and implemented strict order; we put an end to floods every time the rains threatened,” he stated much to the approval of his colleagues on the governing side of the House.

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$25,000 tax-free

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

–Gov’t announces bonus for public servants

By Svetlana Marshall PUBLIC servants here will have more cash in hand this Christmas. Finance Minister Winston Jordan has announced payment of a one-off, tax-free bonus of $25,000 to all employees of ministries, departments and regions who are earning less than $500,000 per month.

Minister Jordan made the announcement on Friday as he wrapped up the debate on his 250-billion-dollar National Budget for 2017, presented in the National Assembly a week earlier.

“We ask all Guyanese to be patient with us as we clear a path to the good life. The fu-

ture is indeed bright!” he told the House while addressing Speaker Dr. Barton Scotland.

This one-off, tax-free bonus comes approximately two months after the salary increases of one to 10 per cent took effect for public servants. As of October 1, 2016, public servants earning $99,000 or less began benefiting from a 10 per cent increase; while persons earning between $100,000 and $299,000 were offered six per cent increase; public servants earning between $300,000 and $799,000 have been offered five per cent increase; those earning between $800,000 and $999,000 have been offered two per cent increase; and

those earning more than $1M have been offered one per cent salary increase.

In wrapping up the debates, Minister Jordan rebuked the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for being highly critical of, and pessimistic about, the budget. He said the contributions of the Opposition Members of Parliament have been confusing, disjointed, or simply and blatantly erroneous.

“Adopting scaremongering tactics akin to Chicken Licken, theirs was a litany of feeble laments strung together one after the other in an incoherent fashion. In a cult-like manner, all of them ended their presentations with a demand/plea for the

Coalition Government to withdraw the Budget,” the Finance Minister told the House.

He said what was truly lamentable, pitiable and laughable was Opposition Leader Bharat Jagdeo portraying himself as the Champion of the Poor.

“It is said that only those who feel it know it. So how can an individual swimming in luxury be able to know, feel and emphatise with the poor?” Minister Jordan asked as he pointed to the former president’s earnings before and after demitting office.

“Mindful of the General Elections that were scheduled in 2006, and uncertain

about his political future, then President Jagdeo, now the Honourable Opposition Leader, caused to be introduced and passed the Ex-Presidents Pension Bill in 2004. The Bill was signed into law the same year by Jagdeo. Jagdeo’s salary in 2006 was $223,783, which would have given him a pension of $195,810. Having won the elections in 2006, Jagdeo set about fortifying himself financially,” the Minister of Finance pointed out.

He added that between 2006 and 2011, Jagdeo’s salary increased from $223,783 to $1,304,503, or nearly 500 per cent. It was noted that during that period, the min-

imum wage increased from $26,069 to $35,657, or a paltry 37 per cent in five years.

“In just 7.5 months, this Government increased the minimum wage by that same percentage: from $42,703 to $55, 000,” Minister Jordan said, as he compared the increases offered to public servants by the PPP Government and this current Administration.

Minister Jordan said that based on the PPP performance during their 23 years in office, it is clear that they have no guiding, coherent vision for the future -- no concrete plans for achieving better economic and social outcomes for our citizens.

No one should become destitute –– President Granger

THE ministries of Citizenship and Foreign Affairs, with help from the Guyana Police Force, will be looking into the recent deportation from the USA of 20 Guyanese who had served time in prison for a range of criminal offences.

This is because the APNU+AFC Administration does not want anyone to become a destitute.

According to President David Granger in his latest weekly television programme The Public Interest: “We want to make sure they are reintegrated into society, so they can live useful lives.”

Government does not have a department that looks after deportees, thus they are dealt with on an individual basis.

“Some deportees have relatives, and they could be reintegrated into their communities and families. They may have com-

mitted some immigration breach, some might have been involved in criminal activities, so it’s a case-bycase basis,” he said.

In the absence of an overall plan, the Ministry of Citizenship would ensure that each deportee is interviewed and the circumstance which led to their deportation addressed.

“We must not conclude

that all deportees are ruthless criminals and that they don’t have relatives here. Most of them are from the US, but deportees also come from Trinidad (and) Canada. So it’s a case-by-case basis, it’s not ‘one size fits all’,” the President emphasised.

Returning on a chartered flight to Guyana, the deportees were handed over to Guyanese im-

migration authorities

by US law enforcement officers. Guyana Chronicle was told that the men had served time in

President David Granger

US prisons for offences such as rape, murder, possession of firearms, fraud, drug trafficking and robbery.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

Road accidents GUYANA continues to lose its most import resource through road accidents. There is no denying that the Police Traffic Department is trying to manage road users, but there comes a time when interventionist approaches must be taken to stem what is evidently a disturbing trend.

Accidents don’t happen, they are caused; and in aiming for reduction and possible elimination, the cause/ causes must be addressed. It must be distressing to any society to be losing its most vital resource -- its people -- through avoidable occurrences. Road accidents can be avoided, and therefore must be avoided.

The Traffic Department is not the only means to achieving this. The time has come for bold, decisive actions to be taken to deter accidents. The penalty attached to this crime must be strengthened with the goal of making it avoidable. This means that our traffic laws must accordingly be amended.

At the same time, it may be useful to address having violators do community service immediately after conviction. This can take many forms, including cleaning the streets and sharing their experiences that led to the accident. The admonition by our elders that ‘those who can’t hear will feel’ must inform penalty.

The traffic infrastructure, i.e. the signals (lights and signage), along with sidewalks, must be revisited.

This must be done to ensuring signals are working. The pedestrian crossings and other signs must be visible for all to see. In relation to our roads, they have, for far too long, been dangerously constructed, meaning that they are without sidewalks and the shoulders have not been properly tapered. The absence of sidewalks where needed not only puts the lives of pedestrians as risk, but some motorists see this category of road users as a nuisance or hindrance in allowing them to use the road as they feel.

This statement of fact does not ignore that some pedestrians use the roads badly. These practices must stop.

Our road culture has become crude and selfish. The building and maintenance of roads have also fallen prey to this primitive outlook. Contracts for building roads -- be those roads main or secondary arteries -- must require, where possible, that sidewalks be built and the shoulders tapered. Our roads must also be constructed within a foundation, and to specific standards in keeping with our climate, traffic types and volume, factoring in at least 20 years of planning. Quick fixes or cosmetic measures in building and maintaining our roads must no longer be acceptable.

Eleven-year-old Simon Christopher Kendall of Number 46 Village, Corentyne, East Berbice was on Thursday fatally hit down on that road by a speeding car as he was heading to assist his family on a farm.

According to reports, he was walking in the corner of the road in company of his brother, who narrowly escaped being hit. This was a young first-former with a future of limitless possibilities before him. His life was snuffed out by a motorist who allegedly had no regard for the traffic laws. Driving above the speed limit is a crime. Drivers have been taught in driving school not to accelerate on entering a turn.

The insurance companies must move to increase

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10,2016

International Human Rights Day: An opportunity to do the right thing

Dear Editor,

THE Internet-based campaigning organization Avaaz noted recently that: “The UN just announced Aleppo is fast becoming ‘one giant graveyard’ and residents risk ‘extermination’.

Not one of our governments is in there saving lives, but an extraordinary group of Syrians are: The White Helmets. They have, in fact, saved 73,530 lives, rushing to the scene of bombings to pull people from the rubble and carry them to safety.

What’s amazing is that these heroes are just ordinary people - bakers, tailors, engineers, pharmacists, painters, carpenters, students and many more. The White Helmets are volunteers from all walks of life. Many have paid the ultimate price for their compassion -- 141 have been killed while saving others.

The heroism of the White Helmets shames the rest of us, both governments and civilians, who have not found the energy or manner to record our outrage, however symbolically, at the systematic slaughter of Syrian civilians. At the same time, the sheer scale of atrocities is so remote from our experience that it is difficult to find applicable lessons to be learnt for Guyana.

The same cannot be said in response to the ascent of intolerant far-right politics in the normally stable parts of Europe and North America, the Philippines, Brazil and elsewhere, threatening what were assumed to be established rights of women, gender, ethnic and religious minorities.

Liberal forces around the world have watched complacently for several decades as wealth, unlimited benefits, a vaunted sense of entitlement, and impunity above the law accumulated around the 1%.

The 99%, on the other hand, are increasingly condemned to ever-widening circles of insecurity in the form of low-paying jobs, worsening health-care, little or no access to the legal system; and political, ethnic, gender and religious exclusion.

We in Guyana are so oblivious to these global trends shaping our future that discovery of gas and oil is unhesitatingly acclaimed as salvation, as if wealth were the key to resolving our decades-long absorption with ethnic politics. Guyana remains reluctant to set aside the illusion that economic growth can produce a civilized and peaceful society.

A more principled approach would recognize the need for equal energy directed at generating a more robust human rights and equality protection framework to match the avalanche of seminars, workshops and experts on tax reform, wealth funds, and the array of legislation provoked by the discovery of oil and gas.

The appropriate vehicle for such legislation would be a constitutional reform process.

A year-and-a-half into the new administration, however, there is little sign of robust action on pressing constitutional issues. Given the languid time-table, issues of pressing concern will not be resolved and implemented during the life of this coalition government. The first casualty is likely to be the fundamental reform of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Canvassing of names for the Chair of GECOM is a minor issue compared with the structural reforms required. Implementing reforms should logically have preceded appointing a new Chair. Moreover, consultations of this kind would be more appropriate by the

the cost of motor vehicle policies for those who are involved in accidents. The senseless use of our roads and less-than-acceptable construction of our roadways must be addressed. Government must provide the Judiciary and Guyana Police Force with the needed resources to charge, sentence and fine violators, and have the traffic infrastructure modernised, visible and working.

parliamentary Opposition, were they to take up their seats on statutory bodies and Commissions to which they have a legal right. Such bodies provide opportunities in everyday politics for honing political skills, particularly the principled compromises which we normally dismiss as weakness, which our politics sorely lacks.

In 2011, a campaign of over 11,000 signatures by the civic network ‘Facing the Future’ (FTF) supported the following electoral reforms: 1. Reforms related to legal status and financial accountability of political parties.

2. Re-structuring the Elections Commission in a manner which enhances its authority, broadens the scope of its powers, and ring-fences administration of elections from party influence.

3. Reforms to the electoral system itself which seek to: a. Strengthen accountability of elected officials to citizens rather than to political party leadership e.g. single-seat constituencies. b. Modernise the technological aspects of elections to: 1. Give gender equal representation on party lists; 2. Ensure electoral funding is transparent.

Commemoration of International Human Rights Day (IHRD) is an appropriate occasion to raise the pressing issue of human rights’ protections in Guyana. In particular, a strong case can be made for a broad review of the so-called Rights Commissions, introduced by the constitutional reform process of 2000. These Commissions are dysfunctional, in part due to the bewildering inter-connection of the Commissions among themselves and between them and the yet-to-be constituted Human Rights Commission (HRC). They

have made no significant impact. Although the chairs of the respective commissions constitute the membership of the HRC by statute, selection of the chairs themselves require no experience, or even interest in human rights.

Moreover, Mr. Brian Burdekin, the international expert from the UN High Commission for Human Rights - a former Chair of the Australian Human Rights Commission, who advised the 2000 Reform Commission -- pleaded with Parliament at the time not to go this route, but to no avail.

Rather than mechanically funding another round of this costly collection of unproductive commissions, a thorough evaluation of them is required. The GHRA has always supported international best practice of creating an over-arching Human Rights Commission in which Sub-Commissions are created as required. Moreover, the work of the HRC must be guided by the appropriate international conventions to which Guyana is signatory, and be peopled by a staff which becomes progressively more confident and capable of promoting a rights-based culture throughout the public administration.

IHRD 2016 provides an occasion for Guyanese to appreciate our fortune in escaping the natural and political upheavals over the past year. A more mature response than the prevailing complacency would be to ensure that, should our turn comes, our political institutions are politically better prepared to cope with them than is the case at present.

Regards, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, Guyana Human Rights Association

Simon could have been anybody’s child. The pain and anguish being faced by his family are ours. Families like Simon’s must no longer weep and wail for losing their loved ones through the senseless acts of others; neither must their tears be those of hopelessness: that nobody cares and nothing will be done to stop the madness on our roads. Enough is enough.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 10, 2016

Is GAWU really representing the interests Failure of the sugar industry of GuySuCo’s employees, or itself? will affect us all

Dear Editor

THE Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) is concerned at unrelenting attempts by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) to engage our employees who are members of that union in acts which are counterproductive, are having a severe impact on the productivity of the corporation, and are affecting the wages and salaries of our employees.

The most recent case in point is with reference to the corporation enforcing disciplinary measures against one of its employees who, as a representative of GAWU, physically assaulted another colleague employee. There was a verbal exchange, and the GAWU representative employee grabbed the other employee by the throat. The corporation applied due process in accordance with its policy for addressing such matters, and it resulted in the services of the employee being terminated.

This matter subsequently engaged the attention of the Department of Labour of the Ministry of Social Protection at conciliation, after which the conciliator declared the matter deadlocked. GAWU has since requested that the matter be taken to arbitration, but GuySuCo has informed the Ministry of its refusal on

ground that sufficient justification was not provided

by GAWU. The corporation’s position is also in accordance with the established Procedural Agreement between GuySuCo and GAWU, which infers that there must be mutual agreement before the parties could move to arbitration.

GAWU has since informed the corporation of its intention to call strike action at the Blairmont Estate in respect to the matter.

The corporation, currently working diligently to develop a more disciplined environment, has noticed that over the past two years there has been an increase in incidents of physical abuse among employees across the industry, and in all cases the corporation’s position has been consistent.

The corporation is in the final weeks of production for the Second Crop, and is seeking to capitalize on the good weather conditions and employees’ productivity. The employees at Blairmont Estate benefited from Weekly Production Incentive (WPI), which they worked hard to achieve last week and are on track to repeat this week. Therefore, it is unreasonable for GAWU to call strike action at this critical time, as apart from break the production momentum, it will prevent the employees from earning additional WPIs.

The corporation wishes to restate that when there is strike action, earnings are lost, sugar is lost as a result of stale canes, and there is no grinding opportunity to achieve WPIs. Up to the October 31, 2016, the corporation has recorded 139 strikes, resulting in the loss of 43,693 man days. GuySuCo is disappointed with the position of GAWU on this matter, since, apart from an attempt to encourage indiscipline in the corporation, this is a critical point in the production drive for the Second Crop. The Blairmont Estate is well positioned to achieve its Second Crop target and make up for its shortfall in the First Crop 2016.

GAWU continues to contradict itself and give the impression that its motives are suspect; since, on the one hand, it is insisting that the financially challenged corporation pay increases in wages and salaries and Annual Production Incentive (API) for 2016, while on the other hand it is threatening to call strike action while employees are trying their best to maximize on their earnings.

GuySuCo’s question is: Is GAWU really representing our employees’ interests, or its own?

Regards, GUYANA SUGAR CORPORATION INC.

Doctor killed in crash

A young Cuban-trained doctor attached to the Suddie Hospital on the Essequibo Coast died Friday evening following a motorcycle accident.

Dead is 24-year-old Dr Hemant Persuad. Reports are that the young doctor who returned to Guyana two years ago from Cuba was riding a motorcycle which he purchased only three days ago when he collided with a bench at Middlesex on the Essequibo Coast.

He was flung off of the bike and reports are that he sustained injuries to his head and other parts of his body following the incident.

Persuad was rushed to the Suddie Hospital but efforts by his colleagues to save him were futile.

Doctor Hemant Persaud

Dear Editor,

SINCE the election of the APNU+AFC Government, (thirty-two) billion dollars have been provided to the sugar industry to support its operations. This is agreeably a large sum, and one that expectedly would have played a big role in boosting sugar production.

Therefore, I am really disappointed that, instead of going forward, the industry is seemingly being pushed into the abyss. It obviously raises the question about the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of the super-sal-

aried IMC and their ‘consultants’ in turning around the industry.

Last year there was a lot of adulation showered on the chosen few over the achievement of 231,000 tonnes of sugar.

Last year’s production, however, was a result of work done in 2014 and inherited by the IMC. This year, we are reaping their ‘efforts’, and the proof is in the pudding: a production of 188,000 tonnes, according to Minister Winston Jordan’s 2017 Budget speech. Should the latest sugar production target be achieved, overall production would be about 40,000 tonnes lower than

last year’s.

As a taxpayer, I cannot fail to ask whether indeed the right people are managing the sugar industry, or are they managing it to ulterior ends? As a patriotic Guyanese who recognizes the industry’s importance to our people and economy, I urge the Government to carefully examine the performance of those they have put to lead the industry. Sugar’s failure will have severe repercussions, not just to those connected, but for all Guyana.

Regards, ARNOLD PETERS

8

Suriname rounds up 45 Guyanese fishers

–fined $US100 each for lack of passports

By Nafeeza Yahya FORTY-FIVE Guyanese fishermen were arrested by Surinamese soldiers and face possible deportation early next year unless a fine of US $100 each is paid.

Chairman of the Upper Corentyne Fishermen Co-op Society, Pameshwar Jainarine, told the Guyana Chronicle that the men were detained between Sunday and Wednesday last and the 45 men detained were the crew from nine boats.

The men were arrested for allegedly not having on their persons valid passports that show they were stamped to enter the country legally. Jainarine stated that the move by the Surinamese authorities will have a negative impact on the local fishing industry, since most of the men do not have passports. “Most of the fishermen are poor people…their parents did not register them at birth. When we make attempts to get them registered, they don’t have birth certificates.”

Jainarine further explained that after word of the arrests was spread, two men went with their boats to investigate and they were arrested as well. Jainarine lamented that the soldiers were from the Suriname capital Paramaribo and were not checking to determine whether the fishermen were licensed to fish in the Corentyne River as they would normally do; instead, their only interest was if the Guyanese had passports with a stamp of entry to Suriname.

“Traditional [sic], we have [been] fishing in these

waters for about 50 years and we don’t normally take out passports to go fishing. You just go in the fishing boat which is registered and go out into the water,” Jainarine related. Jainarine explained that once granted licences to operate in Surinamese waters, the terms of the licences dictate that the boat and crew must purchase ice from Suriname and take their catch first to a port in the neighbouring state which is usually Nickerie, before returning to Guyana.

He further lamented that some of the boats detained on Sunday were on their way to Nickerie to purchase ice which is in keeping with the licence agreement and deemed the action by the soldiers as ‘’harassment.”

“What they did is just harassment, because we have licences to fish in Suriname and what the Surinamese soldiers are asking for means the fishermen would have to board the Guyana/Suriname ferry, go over to Suriname, get their passports stamped and come back through the ‘back track’ route, then go out to sea to show they were granted a stay in the country.”

The Guyana chronicle understands that there are over 300 fishermen and 60 vessels still out at sea that ply their trade in Surinamese waters and the military patrols are on standby and most likely will charge them as well.

The fishermen’s co-op society is calling on the relevant authorities to look into the incident and have a talk with the Surinamese authorities to come up with a plausible solution, noting that what is being asked for at the moment is very hard to achieve.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

Gag-and-rob quartet to spend Christmas in jail

FOUR men: Dexter Carvan, 21; Frank James, 25; Philip Newton, 36; and Desibo Kumar, who, on November 29 last at Alexander Street, New Amsterdam, gagged and robbed Kalicharran Sookcha of Shawn Nandlall’s motor car valued at $2.6M while allegedly in company of others and armed with a gun, were on Friday afternoon remanded to prison

by New Amsterdam Magistrate Alex Moore.

They were not required to plead to the charge of robbery-under-arms.

Police Inspector Godfrey Playter objected to bail on the grounds of the nature and

gravity of the offence, and because a gun was allegedly used in commission of the offence. Moreover, the car was recovered in the defendants’ possession in Georgetown.

In addition, Playter informed the court that Carvan, the number one accused, was positively identified during an identification parade, and it was he who implicated the three defendants in his caution statement.

The prosecutor reminded the court that the defendants live out of the jurisdiction, and it is likely that they may not attend the court proceedings.

Thus they were refused bail and remanded to prison until February 13, 2017.

Man wanted for defrauding Police Force POLICE are seeking to apprehend 42-year-old Ravi Maniram for question-

ing in relation to fraud committed on the Guyana Police Force between January 11 and February 01, 2016.

Maniram’s last known

Wanted: Ravi Maniram addresses are Overwinning, East Bank Berbice (EBB) and Islington Front, EBB. Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Ravi Maniram is asked to kindly contact the police on telephone numbers 333-3876, 333-2151/3, 225-2227, 225-0575, 911, or at the nearest police station.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

Causing-death driver remanded for killing 11-year-old TWENTY-TWO-year-old Darshan Babulall, called ‘Videsh’, appeared on Friday before Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the #51 Village Magistrate’s Court on the Corentyne in East Berbice, charged with causing the death of 11-year-old Simon Christopher Kendall on the Number 46 Village, Corentyne public Road on Thursday, December 8.

He faces a ‘causing death by dangerous driving’ charge and three other charges: driving with a suspended licence, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, and fail-

ing to render assistance. He pleaded not guilty to all four charges and was remanded to prison.

According to the facts of the case, on Thursday, December 8th, at about 16:30 hrs, Babulall was allegedly proceeding at a fast rate on the #46 Village Public Road, Corentyne Berbice when he struck Kendall, a first-form student of the Tagore Memorial Secondary School. At the time of the accident, Kendall was heading to the family’s farm a few houses away. The impact of the hit hurled him some distance away, and Babulall reportedly failed

to stop or render assistance, driving instead to his home at #46 Village a few houses away from the scene.

Babulall went into hiding, and the car, PVV 7617, which he was driving at the time of the accident, was returned to the scene by his brother, father and a cousin.

He was later apprehended by police and placed before the courts.

Police told the court that Babulall was, in May of 2016, convicted of causing, by dangerous driving, the death of 51-year-old Roy DeSouza of Alness Village, and was sentenced to one

Catholic Church rails against ‘injustice, violence’ in Guyana THE Roman Catholic Church of Guyana has penned an open letter to citizens expressing its concern about increased levels of “injustice and violence” in the country, and made a call for citizens to hold political leaders accountable for their acts.

In their letter, the Church stated that the Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) of the Catholic Church undertook research into Catholic Guyanese views on justice and peace in Guyana, which the Church believes are views that are shared by a wide cross-section of Guyanese. In a document released in November 2015, the consensus within the local Catholic Church constituency was that “Guyana suffers increased levels of injustice and violence as a result of our inability to reconcile from earlier pain, inclusive of political and social pain.

An obvious symptom of our brokenness is a reduced level of socio-political trust.”

The release went on to state that in recent months, the JPC has noted an increase in the threats to reconciliation and trust particularly at a political level and listed items which they believe suggest that “the nation is on the wrong path”.

These items include: “The Hamilton Green Pension Bill 2016; the Durban Park accountability scandal; the controversial rental of a pharmaceutical “bond”; Audit reports, including on Pradoville 2 and other allegations of the misuse of state resources for partisan and/or personal gain; massive salary increases for ministers and others; “Baishanlin-gate”, the melting down of Guysuco and the manner in which the Rodney Commission was initiated and concluded,” the release listed.

The JPC noted, however, that it is more the tone of these issues that are the most worrying. “Those who have attended Parliament will know of the undignified

and unproductive manner in which the people’s business is conducted. While parliamentarians are obliged to listen and represent the views of their constituents, the inability to reconcile differences across the aisle serves to further alienate and frustrate the people. The common wish of the people for peaceful coexistence must not be ignored, but rather built on. Our people are weary of the scandals and growing in skepticism of political processes and our leaders,” the release stated.

Since taxpayers’ funds are responsible for the most important systems of the country (political, justice, security, etc), the JPC believes that the instances of suicide, migration, violence and corruption suggest a massive failure on the part of the country’s leaders. They attributed onus solely on those leaders to address the situation and called on both the President and the Opposition Leader to engage one another and agree on a programme that “will relieve the nation of its pain and lead us to the promised land of trust in each other.”

This programme of healing, the JPC believes, must include constitutional and political party reform, and improved social cohesion and ethnic relations. “At this time of Advent, when Christians celebrate the desire for a new era in mankind’s relationship with God and each other through the birth of Jesus, we know the Holy Spirit will be with us to help in these difficult times. This hope for a new tomorrow is not unique to Christianity,” the release said. The JPC then extended an invitation to all people of faith to pray for the nation and its leaders and urged citizens not to participate in the political efforts that they believe seek to divide the countries and to hold political leaders more accountable for their performance.

Simon Christopher Kendall

year in prison and two years’ suspension of his driver’s licence. The court learnt that Babulall appealed the decision at the High Court and was granted bail.

Given the facts as presented by the prosecutor and the nature and gravity of the offence, Magistrate Artiga remanded Babulall to prison until December 28, when he will make his second court appearance.

Darshan Babulall, called ‘Videsh’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

Allicock: Budget will improve lives of Indigenous peoples –– not so, says Sukhai

AS the budget debate continues, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, on Thursday defended the policy document, pointing out that it includes a plethora of benefits for all, including the Indigenous peoples.

In his presentation, Minister Allicock told the House of the many infrastructural developments and construction of airstrips that will occur in hinterland villages and how these will benefit Indigenous residents.

These infrastructures, he said, will facilitate greater connectivity with residents of the coast. Some of these include the road from Linden to Lethem, the bridge at Kurupukari and roads in Port Kaituma.

“Hinterland infrastructure is clearly important to our Government, Issano, Karasabai, Monkey Mountain, Aishalton will all benefit from major road improvements and rehabilitation of 12 hinterland airstrips,

seven hinterland wharves and ocean-going vessels are all geared to lift the quality of life for our hinterland and Indigenous People.”

Connectivity will also be heightened with the es-

PPP Member of Parliament, Pauline Sukhai tablishment of four hinterland radio stations and the proposed solar farm at

Warning shots rattle Freeman Street residents RESIDENTS of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown had the scare of their lives when police, in hot pursuit of two alleged bandits who had reportedly robbed a market vendor on Friday afternoon, discharged two warning rounds in the air.

Residents told Guyana Chronicle that the young robbers, who are not from the area, had allegedly robbed a vendor who operates a photocopy business in the East La Penitence Market.

One resident related that he was at the street corner when he saw two youths running through Freeman Street in the vicinity of Brickdam Secondary School, with police on a mobile patrol giving chase. He said the cops told the young men to “Stop!” but they did not, thus the two warning shots were discharged in the air as the chase continued from Freeman Street into Front Road.

The youths reportedly managed to elude the police, who subsequently could not be reached for a comment on the incident.

Mabaruma will allow for an additional 17 hours of electricity for residents.

“The residents of the town must be now very happy,” Allicock boasted.

Areas of food, security, education and health will also be improved drastically in these districts, Allicock, who stuttered several times in his speech, said.

“Who write the speech,” members of the opposition heckled every time he fought to bring out a word. “Like them ain give ya the speech to read before,” another from the opposition heckled, but Allicock continued to speak of the many plans to develop the hinterland regions and improve the lives of residents there.

“Our hinterland communities will benefit from the $2.5B allocated to technical/ vocational training. This is part of a network training intervention targeting our youths and will complement the other programmes such as the youth entrepreneur

Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister, Sydney Allicock skills training… and our hinterland employment and youth services.”

He also revealed that the ministry will continue the Amerindian Land Titling Project and will commence construction of dormitories for Indigenous youths coming to the coast to pursue higher education.

Minister Allicock, speaking on Amerindian youths, set the record straight on the PPP’s accusation of the alleged firing of some 1900

Indigenous youths from the Community Support Officers (CSOs) programme facilitated by the then Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

Allicock said the youths had not been fired, but it was the PPP who cancelled the cheque that should have been used to pay them.

“When they realised they lose the election, they cancelled a cheque that was to be paid to the youths, leaving them hanging, leaving them not knowing what to do, the records show PPP claims as absolutely false over and over again,” Allicock said.

Allicock continued to stress that the plethora of plans will continue to lift the lives of Indigenous peoples. But opposition member Pauline Sukhai, in her presentation to the House, said the budget fails to provide a good life for the Indigenous peoples.

She slammed the Government for cutting the Toshao’s budget to only $6M which she deemed as inadequate funding.

“Fund them adequately so that they can fulfil

their records; give them the budgetary sum of the $63M, why cut the National Toshaos Council (NTC) budget to a mere 6M?”, she questioned.

Another PPP Member of Parliament, Alister Charlie, contended that the budget is an injustice to the Amerindian peoples “The Amerindian people of this country can no longer prioritise their spending and manage their hard-earned money,” he said.

The budget, he said, will increase the Amerindian people’s stress level as the increase in taxes will add to their burden.

He also rubbished the $800 increase in Old Age Pension, saying that it will not benefit many elderly Amerindians who have to journey from far-flung villages to uplift their pensions.

“Right now there is a donation box at the Lethem Post Office, Mr. Speaker, our pensioners pay for transportation from their respective villages to get to the Lethem Post Office to collect their monthly pensions, he said.

Minister Henry interacts with Congress Place audience

By Shauna Jemmott MANY persons turned up at Congress Place, Sophia on Friday to have face-to-face interaction with Minister Nicolette Henry, the minister within the Ministry of Education who has responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport; and several issues were raised during those interactions.

When Guyana Chronicle visited Congress Place, Minister Henry had already met with several citizens, while about 30 persons of various age groups, including adults with schoolchildren, and the

elderly, waited their turn to interact with the minister, even as Parliament was in session.

A live broadcast of the parliamentary budget debate was streaming live through a surround sound system, and the Opposition Leader, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, was criticising the 2017 budget.

Minister Henry told Guyana Chronicle that the public meeting has been fruitful, as citizens have embraced the opportunity to tell their stories and seek solutions to their problems.

She was thankful for the opportunity to lend a helping hand to the public in a greater way

than usual.

“I do meet with members of the public every Tuesday at my office….

This is much broader than my own Ministry issue,” Minister Henry told Guyana Chronicle.

She said Friday’s interactions have seen a number of issues raised in a range of areas, and persons requesting Government’s intervention.

During Minister Ally’s meet on November 18, Minister Henry said, several persons had turned up to meet the minister, including an attorney-at-law who proposed several projects for the work of the Ministry of Social Cohesion.

At the next scheduled public meet, on December 16, Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, will meet the public.

Minister of Housing, Valerie Patterson, and Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, will be hosting separate meetings on December 23 and December 30 respectively.

The ministers’ meeting with the public at Congress Place, which began on November 4, 2016, has already seen hundreds of citizens embracing the opportunity to make proposals and air their concerns to Government.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 10, 2016

NA Mayor and Town Council outreach for the elderly Monthly activity where pensioners receive breakfast ,clothing

Mayor Kirt Wynter serves breakfast to the elderly at the New Amsterdam Post Office

Mayor Kirt Wynter( second from left) along with Kirk Fraser, Patricia Lynch and Therese Persaud

Social Development Officer Patricia Lynch interacts with the elderly at New Amsterdam Post Office The Mayor and Town icures, pedicures and hair and businesses.

Council Social Develop- care treatments and also For the New Year, she ment Committee held its received donations of cloth- envisages that assistance monthly breakfast for the ing. will be received in the elderly who accesses their Ms. Patricia Lynch, So- form of transportation to old age pension at the New cial and Development Offi- and from the post office Amsterdam Post Office. cer, noted that the continu- for the elderly. She also In addition to being ing program allows persons expressed optimism that a served with an extravagant to enjoy these services, recreational centre for the breakfast, the pensioners which were collectively do- elderly could hopefully be were pampered with man- nated by private individuals established in the future.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10,2016

From the Mayor’s desk -Greetings

On behalf of the Deputy Mayor and Councilors of the New Amsterdam Town Council, we wish to express thanks to the citizens of New Amsterdam for their support during the Local Government elections, resulting in a new body being elected that will seek to address the needs, concerns and issues affecting the citizenry.

I can assure you that, ever since we assumed office, we have been working assiduously to alleviate matters and issues. I am aware that we have not achieved much, evidence of works being undertaken continuously can still be

seen as we strive to return this century old township, to its former glory.

However, the town can only return to its state of cleanliness if residents cooperate with the municipality by keeping their respective environment clean, having drains dug, desisting

from littering and, most importantly, paying taxes in a timely manner. It’s a long hard road, but we must work hand in hand for the common goal.

This, being my first message to you, I wish to encourage you to get onboard as we take New Amsterdam to higher heights which will make us proud of this place we call home. In our next edition, I will introduce the Deputy Mayor and fellow Councilors which represent the seven constituencies. It is our hope that you become aware of your respective Councilors, so your matters can be resolved in a timely manner.

Until the next issue, let’s contribute to the development of the town.

‘Genesis Boulevard’ to be launched in New Amsterdam A recreational facility with Wi-fi access

Following the recently held Town Week activities in New Amsterdam, profits earned from the activities will allow residents of the town to soon benefit from the ‘Genesis Boulevard’ Project, which will see the construction of a recreational facility aimed at fostering improved relationship within the citizenry.

Mayor of New Amsterdam, Kirt Wynter, said that in addition to the monies earned from Town Week, additional sums will be garnered from donations from benevolent groups and Government Ministries .

At the launch of the Project, Mayor Wynter said that the Boulevard will consist of food booths, along with a playground for children, a

‘kissing’ bridge and a parking lot .

The recreational facility will not only allow families a place for recreation and relaxation, but will also allow an opportunity for persons to mingle with others, while also providing free internet access, compliments of the eGovernment Agency.

The Boulevard which will be located just off the vicinity of the Regional Democratic Complex at Vryman’s Erven, will run parallel to the Republic Road, in an area currently used as a pasture and unofficial dumping site.

The Contractor and designer for the Project has been identified as resident of New Amsterdam, Mr. Dwayne Ferdinand of Home Designs.

In addition to the proj-

ect, the Mayor said, Shoe Lane, one of the many cross streets in the township, will be extended to Angoys Avenue, which is the main thoroughfare for persons living in Mount Sinai, commonly referred to as ‘Cow Dam’.

Engineers have already prepared a preliminary estimate and the extension will commence early in the New Year.

However, news of the construction was not met with all praise, as some residents of Shoe Lane felt that the Council should have focused on improving the solid waste disposal system, collection of revenue from default businesses and property owners, overgrown bushes , and poor lightings in the area.

Child beggars an underestimated issue

The New Amsterdam Town Council along with community stakeholders are set to address the growing prevalence of child beggars which is on the increase in the century old township.

At its statutory meeting, Ms. Patricia Lynch, chairperson of the Social Development committee, said that initially the group’s intention was to tackle vagrants within the town, however, it was observed that child beggars are a much bigger issue, with some minors being drawn from outside the municipality especially from East Canje areas.

Children, primarily males under the age of

fourteen years, are often seen gathered outside at popular restaurants where they indulge soliciting money. It is the assumption of the Council, that the children are victims of child neglect, as some parents are usually at home, but their children are on the streets at various hours of the night.

Further, it was observed that the tendencies are heightened whenever at entertainment events, as the children would come out in large numbers to solicit monies and other items from revelers. It is said that this occurrence also causes trouble for event sponsors, as the children would alleged-

ly gather emptied glass bottles which would then be taken away and sold elsewhere.

“This is a troubling issue for us here in New Amsterdam,” Ms. Lunch said, “As a result of this growing issue, we are looking at an inter-agency approach involving the Ministries of Education and Social Protection along with the Guyana Police force to hold a community stakeholders meeting , where we can discuss this situation. I personally would deal with the parents first, but the community stakeholders would have varying expertise’’, she concluded.

Pit bull-bitten student benefits from NA Municipality benevolence In 2013, young Amanda Rosie Phillips had looked forward to writing the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and being placed at a top school in Region Six, but her hopes were dashed when, on March 18, she was attacked by a Pitbull which resulted in severe head injuries and caused her hospitalization for an extended period of time. The attack required Amanda to receive in excess of ten sutures to the roof of the cranium which has left visible scars and which cause her pain periodically.

Now 15 years old, Amanda is a Fourth Form student at the Berbice Educational Institute and is preparing to write the CSEC Examinations, with an aim of pursuing a career in nursing.

However, in order to assist her to realize those dreams, the Mayor and Town Council, has pledged a monthly donation to help the teen with her transportation and other essentials for school; a gesture that Amanda and her family are grateful for.

Her mother, Theresa Persaud recalled that fateful day, when, after returning home shortly after 17:30hrs, she had sent the eldest of

her four children to go to a neighbourhood shop to make a purchase. Amanda returned saying that the shop was closed, but insisted on going to another shop nearby so that the family could have something to eat.

“I allowed her to go, but moments after a young boy in the neighbourhood came running saying ‘Aunty Girlie, Auntie Girlie, come see a dog bite Amanda’,” Theresa said. Accompanied by her husband they hurried up the street- just ten houses awaywhere she saw her daughter in a stooping position, along the grass parapet.

“When I approached her, she was saying ‘Mammy, come quick’. The neighbours had wrapped her with a sheet after they had rescued her from the dog, which I saw lying on the roadway. The dog was fatally chopped.

Someone called a taxi which took us to New Amsterdam Hospital,” she said.

According to Persaud, she never saw the dog whenever she passed the area, but was told by neighbours that the dog would jump over the low fence and attack persons and despite complaints the owner never responded.

“However, after the incident, I was with my daughter

at the Accident and Emergency Department, when the dog’s owner visited, and asked whether he could see the girl [my daughter] I told him it was ok. However during that period, the police came and arrested him and took him to the Central Police Station,” she said.

“He was placed on station bail and he returned to the hospital on Monday, but he did not offer me anything.

He kept saying that nobody should have killed his dog.”

Theresa related that she told the man that the boy saved her daughter which was more important and if the dog had its way her daughter might have been killed. “I am grateful to Clem [the man who saved Amanda] for saving my child’s life,” Theresa said.

She later learnt that her daughter was attacked from behind after the dog jumped on her back, before almost ripping off the flesh on top of her head. As a result of the injury, the teen underwent an antibiotic treatment before being released from hospital.

Persaud who is a domestic servant, said she was unable to work as she needed to make regular visits to the health institution.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 10, 2016

Ten years later…

New Amsterdam still awaits functional abattoir

It has been ten years since the multi-million dollar Abattoir was commissioned in New Amsterdam but to date, the building remains unused and has suffered various forms of vandalism while slaughtering continues to be conducted at an old derelict building which residents feel should be condemned.

Health Inspector Ackloo Ramsudh told the Guyana Chronicle that plans are on stream to repair the new edifice, by salvaging materials from the slaughter facilitiy that is currently being used.

“The old building is deteriorating rapidly and the cost to repair it will be very high. The Council has some materials there, especially the zinc sheets which are vandalized on a regular basis that can be removed and placed on the concrete building. Electricity can be installed, even as the security department ensures that the municipality’s property is protected. It is expected that during the first quarter

After ten years…

of 2017, the repair of the abattoir will be a priority project with monies likely to be sourced from the Gov-

ernment subvention, which will be considered as capital works,” said Ramsudh.

He noted, that despite

the dilapidated condition of the current slaughterhouse, there is access to potable water and staff readily

Militia Day celebrated in New Amsterdam

Several youth members of the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM) paraded through the main thoroughfare of New Amsterdam in commemoration of Militia Day; an observance which signaled efforts to rebuild the once disestablished group.

The GPM served as an officer reserve since its establishment in 1976, but was disbanded in 1996 under the PPP-led administration.

However, based on the proclamation made by President David Granger, last year, the Militia was re-established with effect from December 1, 2015.

The GPM is in the process of rebuilding by recruiting youths and skilled individuals to serve as reserve officers. Major Seeram, who is the Officer in Command based in New Amsterdam, noted that there are other bases at Cove and John,

East Coast Demerara and in Linden.

Currently, the Militia is on ‘stand down’- not currently accepting applications- but reservists are accepted from 17 years 6 months to 25 years. Skilled personnel are accepted until 35 years.

The primary function of the Guyana People’s Militia is to assist the Civil Defence Commission. The unit is activated when there are natural disasters or any other duty

as required by the Guyana Defence Force. In addition to the ordinary ranks, persons can enlist as officers. The GPM also has a specialist unit that employs medical personnel, engineers, and other qualified specialists who may want to serve in their particular field.

The Militia Day event in New Amsterdam also featured addresses by the officers and other officials in addition to the parade.

available to carry out the required services, even as inspections are carried out to ensure that the meat is fit for consumption.

“The Municipal abattoir is a structure that provides an important service to the residents of this town and therefore, better attention will be given to upgrade it to a proper facility,” he said.

According to the health inspector, the new facility

which was commissioned ten years ago has structural defects. Additional work is required on the entrance and access ramps for the animals- the latter of which is too steep and is without rails.

Because of the design of the ramp, persons can easily sustain injuries from the animals. In addition, he said although the animals may be tame, whenever they enter the environment they react aggressively and proper restraining measures must be put in place.

Further, it was expected that the current slaughter house would not be condemned but would be used instead as a holding pen , and there would be a connection to the two buildings via the ramp, making it easier for the animals to be slaughtered.

The $19.2M building, which was completed in April 2006, was an initiative of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, following pleas from citizens for an improved abattoir. Initially, the facility was expected to be state of the art but fell short on funding.

However, former Minister of Local Government Mr. Kellowan Lall, at the commissioning ceremony told the gathering that the facility could be upgraded with inputs from the private sector.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10,2016

With the Municipal elections to be held in New Amsterdam on December 14, residents of New Amsterdam express their view on the current services of the Municipal Council language is expressed freely with no thought of the nearby listener.

There is also loud music emanating from homes, corner shops and moving vehicles. Loud music can also be heard in the vicinity of learning institutions. There is also need for speed bumps along the town’s road, and they need to be maintained regularly.

Ramesh Maraj Former President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce.

I wish to compliment the Mayor and Councilors for the various initiatives however, they need more assistance with respect to construction. There is need for an engineer to see that building codes are adhered to. Further, the Public Health De partment needs to be strengthened as dumping continues around the township.

[The Municipality Constabulary] needs to know their roles and responsibilities. Persons can be seen urinating all over the place. Indecent

Claudette Watts Entrepreneur I am satisfied with the work of the Council as they have done a lot of cleaning since acceding to office over eight months ago. However,

they seem to face a herculean task in addressing the garbage. Sometimes they pick up once per month. They need to address the cleaning of the interlocked drains which should be done on a regular basis.

I know, the council has constraints and I see they are trying, but still there is a lot more to be done

Mohammed Ali Hire car driver Basically, I have a few points which are bothering me with regard to the general welfare of the citizens of the town of New Amsterdam. First of all I want to point out

to the Municipal Council that they should follow the noble philosophy of His Excellency President Granger in having a clean and green town and country at large. It’s a noble philosophy and I support it, as it promotes good health.

In this town, there are many places which are unoccupied, that have unsightly overgrowth of bushes. This has been an age long issue. I cannot understand the reasons for those running this town to overlook this situation which can lead to the spread to vector borne diseases. I would like to ask the Council to look at this sore issue.

Further, it is observed that there is vending on the council’s reserve, even while the market is still open for business. I can understand that when the market is closed special permission can be given for one to vend on the reserve, after which the person must be responsible for cleaning the surroundings. Vending on the council reserve during the official market opening hours is unfair

for those who have businesses within the market, as most items sold on the reserve are being sold in the market.

Another issue is Pitt Street, the main commercial thoroughfare in the town. And I tell you, as soon as the rain drizzles, the street is flooded. If one looks at both sides of the pavement of Pitt Street, one can see it is encumbered by sellers. And this has been permitted for far too long. It seems as though no one is interested in remedying the situation.

The concrete drains cannot be accessed to be cleaned because of the sellers. The clogging of the drains also contributes to the flooding during the rainfall period.

Paul Austin Chauffeur I know that the Council has limited resources but I see this council operating at its best by cleaning the town. I am satisfied with works undertaken around the town. Previously, if a bottle is thrown, one will have a difficult task identifying that bottle because there was so much garbage, but now, I am afraid to throw a plastic bottle . Currently, there are huge bins placed at strategic points where garbage can be disposed properly in the central area and yet there are instances where persons throw items outside the bins.

Some persons in New Amsterdam need to be educated with respect to the consequences of poor garbage disposal.

Some are still littering around the place. I believe it’s a habit. But the Mayor and the councilors are trying their best to improve the township.

New Amsterdam citizens urged to keep their environment clean In the wake of emerging diseases The New Amsterdam Municipality has commenced instituting fines on its citizenry, who continue to harbor overgrown bushes on their house lots. The minimum cost of $3000, per month, will be charged per house lot cleared by the council. That sum will be affixed to the land

owner’s taxes should that person reside overseas.

According to Health Inspector, Akloo Ramsudh, the harbouring of bushes gives rise to mosquitoes and vectors which can cause the spread of diseases to human beings.

“Mosquitoes carry troubling viruses and there are emerging of new

diseases. We did not know about Zika or Chickungunia as previously there was malaria and dengue fever, but we now have new and emerging diseases,” he said. “Once there is an outbreak in a country, it can easily spread to other locations. If there is an outbreak in Brazil, or Suriname we are at risk.

And if the mosquito comes here and finds an enabling environment for them to survive and multiply in their rapid numbers, then persons with garbage and overgrown bushes in their yards will be the first to be affected’.

Accordingly, residents have a major part to play by protecting themselves and loved ones from communicable diseases which can attack and destroy the valuable human resource.

City to zero in on waste management next year

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

CITY Hall has spent another year grappling with financial woes and struggling to get a handle on solid waste management; thus, in 2017, the municipality will be looking to roll out a number of initiatives that are geared at hitting both proverbial birds with one stone.

Director of Solid Waste Management services, Walter Narine, in an early Thursday morning press briefing,

Director of Solid Waste Management, Walter Narine disclosed that 2017 is going to be all about promoting reuse and recycle initiatives: converting organic waste to organic fertilizer; charging commercial businesses for refuse collection; licensing garbage collectors; charging septic tank and garbage disposal trucks a fee for traversing the roadways, and marketing proper waste separation in schools.

Narine has said it is not so much about the money as it is about proper solid waste management. “If you look at the generation of waste in Georgetown, out of the 220 tonnes of waste generated daily in Georgetown, 50 per cent of that is organic waste; and that is money (being thrown) away daily at the landfill. Our farmers will definitely benefit, it will be environmentally-friendly and it will save the impact to the landfills,” Narine said.

He disclosed that a sum of approximately $25M has already been approved in the municipality’s 2017 budget for the compost initiative, which, once operational, is expected to generate $30M in organic fertilizer, with each cycle running six weeks.

Funding has also been set aside in the budget to procure 10,000 receptacles to be disseminated to primary schools all across

Georgetown. “We’re going to market the separation of waste at the primary school level. Teach the kids how to separate the waste with the necessary containers which we will be providing free to them, and we will teach them to do composting at the schools. If we teach the kids at the school level to reduce, reuse and recycle, they will take it back home and teach their siblings,” Narine explained.

He noted that in a recent assessment exercise, it was discovered that of some 302 businesses and vendors operating in the Stabroek Market area, only four had complied with a request for them to obtain garbage receptacles of a particular specification recommended by the City’s by-laws.

NO LONGER AFFORD Narine has said that the City can no longer afford the burden of taking care of the commercial waste free of charge. Come 2017, commercial businesses will have the option of either paying City Hall a fee to have their refuse collected, or paying private collectors to do so.

“We cannot continue to carry the weight of collecting waste from commercial businesses anymore. We (do) collection in the commercial areas two times per day, and that is not sufficient for the waste they generate. I have a street orderly of 35 staff that traverse Regent Street, Robb Street, but that, too, is still not enough. It’s not until I take my two trucks out there that we see any relief,” Narine said.

He also disclosed that garbage collectors will now need to be licensed to operate around Georgetown, while sewage-collecting businesses will be charged for traversing the Georgetown streets, as well as being mandated to properly treat solid waste before dumping it.

Narine said some sewage companies have reportedly been dumping untreated waste in the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Kingston seawalls, and some travel from as far as Linden to so do. This practice, he said, has to stop. “Imagine, they are collecting revenue to empty your septic tank, and they are disposing of it in the Atlantic Ocean (after) driving through the streets of Georgetown. Everybody has to endure that smell,

the City gets nothing, the country as a whole gets nothing, and they dumping it out there in the Atlantic Ocean. (This situation) has to change!”

GIVING BACK Deputy Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Munroe said City Hall will be giving back to citizens by collecting their bulky waste t h ro u g h o u t D e c e m b e r

free of charge, as persons go about their Christmas cleaning. This means that all those old stoves, old fridges, old carpets and tree trimmings will be picked up by the municipality’s

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collection system from this Monday.

And that aside, the amnesty period on the payment of rates and taxes has been extended to December 16.

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Contract signed for study, design of new Demerara River crossing THE Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) has signed a contract with LievenseCSO, a Dutch company, for the feasibility study

and design for the new Demerara River crossing.

During the simple signing, Minister within the Ministry of Public

Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, on behalf of the Ministry and the Government of Guyana, thanked the company for its interest in the project and for

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

In photo, DHBC General Manager Mr. Rawlston Adams (right) and Mr. Arie Mol of Lievense CSO (left) shake hands following the signing of the contract the experience and knowledge it will undoubtedly bring. DHBC General Manager, Mr. Rawlston Adams, expressed similar sentiments.

In turn, Mr. Arie Mol, Advisor to the CEO of LievenseCSO, thanked DHBC for the opportunity and said that he looked forward to working with the company. He also gave the assurance that his company will ensure that all schedules are met and completed on time.

The feasibility study will commence on January 15, 2017.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, had told the media recently that, Cabinet had approved the request by Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson for the feasibility study to be done.

That study is to begin in January 2017. “It may be recalled that a pre-feasibility study was done by the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure in 2013. That study had concluded that a new, high-level, fixed bridge was the best option to be pursued,” said Harmon back then.

He told reporters that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure had advertised for suitable consultants to conduct a feasibility study that would lead to construction of the bridge through a Public/Private Partnership (PPP). Minister Harmon was not in a position to state where the bridge was likely to be

located, but he explained that during the feasibility study, which followed the pre-feasibility done under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration, a limited area would be considered.

According to Leivense CSO’s website, the company is an engineering consultancy which specialises in the fields of infrastructure, environment, construction and pipelines. “We specialise in engineering, underground piping, environmental and environment, spatial planning and the built environment. Human activities in densely populated and/ or sensitive areas bring specific infrastructural and environmental issues along with it,” the company said.

Moreover, the company has more than 200 professionals operating from seven offices in the Netherlands, offices in Saudi Arabia and in St Maarten. “In addition to our Dutch home market, we do a lot of projects from abroad, independently or in collaboration with other parties in the Netherlands and abroad. The international focus is in particular ports, water and flood protection, dredging and land reclamation and pipelines.”

The Demerara Harbour Bridge (a floating bridge) was opened on July 2, 1978 and has a length of 1851 metres (1.15 miles). The bridge has been under constant maintenance over the years.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

$100M for new Public Health Ministry HQ

THE Ministry of Public Health (MPH) has budgeted $100M to be spent on reconstruction of its head office, which was completely gutted by fire in 2009. This earmarked amount will be spent in the first of three phases to complete construction of the building, which is slated to begin next year.

Speaking on Thursday during the 2017 budget debates, Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton said the project falls within the Ministry’s Policy Development and Administration programme, for which $274.5M have been set aside for capital expenditure. A total of $1.7B has been allocated for the overall programme.

“It is a known fact that the head office of MoPH was burnt to the ground nearly 8 years ago; i.e: since July 2009, during the (time of the) past regime.

The PPP seemed quite contented in letting (the situation) remain that way.

This coalition government, on the other hand, has better ideas; and we are now correcting this situation, because it is the proper and orderly thing to do,” Minister Norton stated.

Chiding critics from the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) who opined that the Ministers of Public Health are seeking to rebuild the MoPH Head Office so that they can operate out of a posh office setting, Dr. Norton declared: “Not so, Mr. Speaker! To the contrary, both ministers in this ministry are quite fit, keen; and ready to go out in the fields, across the savannahs, over mountains and up the rivers, where we can interact with the people and (be able) to appreciate and be more aware of their living conditions, like no other Minister of Health has ever done before. We have gone, and will continue to go, to these places rather than to be in some office in Georgetown.”

Businessman Keith

“General” Ferrier, accused of setting fire to the Ministry of Health Building on Brickdam in 2009, had the charge against him dismissed last July after the prosecution failed to prove its case. The charge against Ferrier had stated that

Minister of Public Health Dr George Norton between July 16 and July 17, 2009, at Brickdam, he unlawfully and maliciously set fire to the building, property of the state.

NEW LAB Meanwhile, $110M have been allocated for the construction of a laboratory and administrative building for the Food & Drug Department, while a further $20.7M will be used to procure laboratory supplies, quality control aids, and proficiency testing materials.

The Health Minister has said that a steam digester and fume hood would also be purchased for the Excise Laboratory at a cost of $11.2M; while $2M will be spent to source two incubators and a hot-air oven for the Microbiology Lab. Five analytical balances for all the laboratories will also be sourced at a cost of $7.5M. All of the mentioned items would aid in the efficient operation of the Food & Drug Department.

The National Public Health Reference Laboratory will also be strengthening its quality management system with the aim

of achieving the accreditation of the international organization for standards relating to quality management systems’ requirement.

“This will certainly minimize our dependence on overseas testing,” said Dr. Norton.

A refrigerated delivery truck will be purchased at a cost of $20M for the Materials Management Unit at Diamond, and the Ministry of Public Health will, under “Programme 7”, seek to provide disability and rehabilitation services for all persons with impairments and disabilities, thereby enabling them to achieve a greater level of independence and greater levels of participation in society.

The sum of $21.8M has been allocated for this purpose.

Another sum of $10M has been budgeted for the purchase of vehicles, which include $6M for the procurement of a pickup and $4M to secure a 15-seater bus for the Cheshire Home. Five million dollars ($5M) have been allotted for other equipment, such as two treadmills which cost $0.8M, two elliptical trainers costing $0.7M, therapeutical bicycles costing $0.95M, weight bars costing $0.5M, and a massage table costing $0.6M million dollars.

Moreover, $6M will be spent on purchasing medical equipment such as a tympanometer which costs $0.84M, a neurology bed which costs $0.8M, audiometers costing $0.6M, an auditory brainstem response machine costing $2M, two echo-check screeners costing $2.2M, and eight adjustable manual therapy stools costing $0.24M. D r. N o r t o n f u rther disclosed that the training centre for the treatment of physical disability will be constructed at the Cyril Potter College of Education at Turkeyen.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

Expansion works on CJIA progressing well

By Alva Solomon FOUNDATION and excavation works have been completed in the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion project, and expansion of the runway is expected to be completed within another year, even as the entire project is scheduled for completion by Decem-

ber 2017.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, informed the National Assembly of the foregoing on Thursday evening during the 2017 budget debates, and added that renovation works for the existing terminal building would be carried out in stages, commencing from the check-in side in the first quarter of

2017, and lasting until the end of the project.

Patterson said foundation works to the new Arrival terminal building have commenced, and are expected to be completed by May next year.

He said sand backfill has been 68.7 per cent completed at both ends of the existing main runway, and June 2017 has been set as

Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson

the timeline for completion.

Regarding the relocation of Timehri North residents, Patterson said that unlike what had been planned by the previous administration, only two residents within the North West footprint have been relocated, but contracts have been awarded for the relocation of another three residents within the area.

The CJIA is projected to earn $1.3B by December 31, 2016, and Patterson has said that at the end of November 2016, revenue collected amounted to $1.168B, compared to $1.033B for the corresponding period in 2015.

“These collections reflect a 13% increase,” he noted.

He said the CJIA recorded 513,444 processed passengers as at the end of November 2016, compared to 459,346 for the same period last year.

He said the airport was twice successfully audited by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the United State of America in 2016.

And he said that Expressions of Interest have been invited for the provision of state-of-the-art security equipment and services at CJIA.

CDB greenlights US$194M programme for Guyana THE Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved a US$194M country strategy for Guyana for the period 2017 to 2021, which is expected to drive social and economic development; support environmental sustainability; and promote good governance here.

The US$194M package includes Guyana’s allocation of US$65M from the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) and resources from CDB’s Special Development Fund (Unified), the CDB said in a release. “We are pleased to be supporting the Government of Guyana in accelerating poverty reduction, and inclusive, sustainable economic growth. We look forward to working together with our country stakeholders to implement this results-focused programme of assistance,” said Dr. Justin Ram, Director of Economics, CDB.

The country strategy is designed to help Guyana achieve five key development outcomes: increased competitiveness and productivity; improved quality and access to education and training; strengthened social protection; reduced vulnerability to natural disasters and improved governance and development planning.

Each intervention delivered under the country strategy will include gender equality, regional cooperation and integration, as well as energy and citizen-security considerations. The programme of assistance responds to Guyana’s development priorities, and builds on the Government’s “Vision 2020”, which articulates a national goal of “sustainable socioeconomic development, good governance and human safety within a green economy.”

The approved strategy aligns with CDB’s strategic objectives of supporting inclusive and sustainable growth and development, and promoting good governance.

It also takes into account the Bank’s cross-cutting themes of gender equality, regional cooperation and integration, and energy security. The Caribbean Development Bank is a regional financial institution established in 1970 for the purpose of contributing to the harmonious economic growth and development of its Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs).

In addition to the 19 BMCs, CDB’s membership includes four regional non-borrowing members – Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela and five non-regional, non-borrowing members; i.e., Canada, China, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The CDB’s total assets as at December 31, 2015 are US$2.7 billion (bn).

These include US$1.4B of Ordinary Capital Resources and US$1.3B of Special Funds. The Bank is rated Aa1 Stable with Moody’s and AA/A-1+ with Standard and Poor’s. Read more at caribank.org.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

GDF must not only defend, but aid in community development –President Granger tells ranks at Base Everard, Mabaruma

PRESIDENT David Granger has said that while the primary role of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is defence of the country’s territorial integrity, ranks must also play a role in the country’s development through cooperation with local residents in the areas in which they are posted.

Addressing disciplined services ranks and civilian invitees on Friday at Base Everard in the Mabaruma sub-region of Region One (Barima-Waini) during the GDF Annual Christmas Luncheon, the President made the foregoing remarks and declared he was particularly happy to see soldiers, civilians and policemen gathered together, since it was a demonstration of togeth-

erness and solidarity in the protection of the country’s sovereignty, and it augurs well for ensuring its development.

The President also called on residents of Barima-Waini to answer the call to join the militia to help strengthen the Force. Pointing to the porous nature of Guyana’s borders, the Commander in Chief said the GDF is responsible for security in those regions, but citizens can bolster the strength of the Force by joining the militia.

“We are a small population and we are a small Defence Force and a small Police Force. Taken as a whole, we have to accept responsibility for over 3000km of borders. The Force cannot do that alone, and that is why we are bringing back

into existence a strong Militia -- the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM); and I would like to encourage you, the residents of Mabaruma and Barima-Waini Region, to become involved, to join the Militia; not because we are expecting a war, but because we want to demonstrate that we are ready for any operation. I call on the Regional Chairman to join with the Defence Force to encourage participation in the GPM, so if there is any form of emergency -- sometimes there is flooding or some other situation -- you will always have a body of people who are able to respond,” the President explained.

He also said: “I expect that there will be no more recurrences of unfriendly relations between persons in

Commander of the Armed Forces, President David Granger, serving lunch to the ranks stationed at the Guyana Defence Force’s Base Everard at their Annual Christmas Lunch held on Friday

President David Granger taking the Presidential Salute at the Mabaruma Airstrip after his arrival for the Base Everard Annual Christmas Lunch uniform and persons out of sovereignty of our country; dressed. uniform. I will deal with any and just as we inherited a He also used the oppormisbehaviour that occurs, country from our forefathers, tunity to express gratitude because it is not our policy we want to pass this country to the servicemen for their to have bad relations with on to our descendants, but commitment and dedication Guyanese citizens. The GDF the price we must pay is during that past year, notis responsible for double eternal vigilance…and the ing that Guyana is grateful. tasks: you are responsible for GDF and the GPF [Guyana “You all will be working defence, but (you) are also Police Force] are here, at over the Christmas and New responsible for development. what we call the northern- Year period, but this work is You must see how the people most town in Guyana, in necessary so your families live and find out what their order to demonstrate that we and the families of all other needs are,” the President said. are eternally vigilant and that Guyanese will have a good Referring to the claims we are going to protect the Christmas. being made by neighbour- people who cannot protect “Let me close by wishing ing Venezuela on Guyana’s themselves -- the citizens of you a happy Christmas, and Exclusive Economic Zone, Georgetown and the other I hope that your wives and the President said that cor- towns of Guyana. It is our children would have a happy dial and friendly relations obligation and responsibility Christmas; and may God between the servicemen and to ensure that they can live in bless you all,” he said. the citizens are important safety while the soldiers and After delivering his adif the country is to stand in policemen put their lives on dress, the President served solidarity and fight against the line in order to protect lunch to the ranks and resany transgressors. As such, and safeguard them,” the idents who were invited to all must come together and President said. be a part of the festivities on be eternally vigilant as the He added that Mabaru- the base. country continues to pursue ma’s township status will Among those present at a final and just settlement to bode well for the develop- the function were Regional the border controversy. ment of the region, and will Chairman Mr. Brentnol “This Government… is help to ensure that problems Ashley and Regional Excommitted to maintaining of infrastructure and security ecutive Officer Mr. Leslie the territorial integrity and are more adequately ad- Wilburg.

Cops in frantic search for missing woman

POLICE on Friday came up empty-handed in their search of a shack at Belle West, Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara, even after several hours of digging below the flooring in their search for Shawnette Savory, the 37-year-old woman of Lot 222 Back Street, Prospect, East Bank Demarara who has been reported missing since August 30th.

Search efforts by relatives have also been unsuccessful in locating her.

Acting on information that Savory had last been seen at Phase Two, Belle West, Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara, teams of police officers descended on the location at mid-morning on Friday.

Receiving no indication that the property was occupied, the

lawmen proceeded to break the locks on the door of the one-flat structure; and later, after scouring the house, the lawmen removed several articles, including pots, plates, mattresses, and several plastic chairs. The ranks then removed the flooring and started digging the earth underneath.

The men spent all afternoon within the 10 foot by 14 foot structure, and wrapped up their efforts at 16:00hrs as several residents gathered at the scene. The ranks proceeded to re-pack the items in the home before leaving the area.

Reports are that a couple that had resided at the house disappeared from the area several weeks ago. A neighbour related that no one keeps tabs on the persons who reside at the house. She recalled seeing

three persons at the home, but is unsure she could identify them if she should see them again, and she cannot recall the last time she had seen anyone at the house.

Persons in Belle West reported that they were unsure who Savory was, even though some recalled seeing a woman matching flyers of the missing woman which were posted at a shop nearby. A shopkeeper related that several flyers were posted at her shop, but she noted that she was unsure who the person was.

Savory, a mother one, was last seen at Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara. The woman worked at a toilet paper factory in Diamond prior to her disappearance. Search efforts to locate the woman have since been unsuccessful

Police ranks assisted by neighbours re-pack articles which had been removed from the Belle West home hours after they had come up empty-handed in their search efforts

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

Jagdeo pledges support for Guyana’s stance against Venezuela

OPPOSITION Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday pledged his party’s support to Government on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy, and cautioned that should the United Nations fail to send the matter to the International Court of Justice, the Spanish-speaking country could become emboldened.

During the final day of the

given United Nation’s Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s commitment to assess the controversy, Jagdeo thanked the Foreign Affairs Minister for his report on the controversy and said: “…he (Greenidge) said that we’re expecting an outcome from that process shortly; and whatever that outcome is, I hope that it is a favourable one for Guyana. We, in the PPP,

Leader of the House, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, making a point on Friday during the 2017 budget debate 2017 Budget debates in the National Assembly, Jagdeo told the House that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) fully supports all efforts by the APNU+AFC coalition Administration to have a juridical settlement to the border controversy.

Speaking one day after subject Minister Carl Greenidge provided the House with an update on the state of progress,

would be supportive; we have a national position on this matter, and this will not change,” Jagdeo declared.

However, while expressing support for the Government on the controversy, the Leader of the Opposition cautioned that Government needs to take into consideration all possibilities.

“I hope the Government has had serious discussions on this issue, and has examined

all the likely possibilities that may emerge from this process.

If we succeed in getting the support of the SG to advance our cause through a juridical process, then we would achieve the outcome we sought. Should we not get that outcome, and the matter is delayed further, then this may embolden Venezuela to think that they can be a bit more adventurous on this matter,” he stated.

Minister Greenidge has only recently, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, objected strongly to Secretary-General Ernesto Samper of the Union of South American States (UNASUR) publishing on the website of that venerable institution a proposal by the Venezuelan Government and Opposition to claim the Essequibo. That document advertised the Spanish-speaking country’s “unanimous position in claiming rights over the Essequibo”, a move which Minister Greenidge labelled as illegal.

The Government of Guyana has since written to Samper, and informed the United Nations (UN) of the matter through outgoing Secretary-General Ban. Jagdeo, a former President of Guyana, told the House that Government should take note of the statement placed on the UNASUR website, along with the recent signing of a gas deal between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. The governments of the two countries have this week signed energy development agreements.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was quoted by the online news agency Venezuelaanalysis.com as saying: “We

are signing three agreements, working in our maritime territory with gas blocks, sharing these blocks and reaching agreements for oil exploration together.”

Jagdeo said: “These all have major implications for Guyana; and I hope that the Government is paying serious attention to ensure that if the outcome is not the one that we desire, this does not inure to the detriment of Guyana, and we take urgent steps to address through diplomatic means the likely fallout of such a process.”

Additionally, Jagdeo urged the Government to restate its position with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, noting that objections should be made in cases where we feel that the agreements would infringe on Guyana’s maritime space or sovereignty.

The Opposition Leader told the House that while his party would continue to be a strong and fierce opposition, “we will also be supportive of the Government when it does things that would enhance the welfare of this country.”

HYPOCRITICAL But even as the former president expressed his party’s support to Government on the resolution of the controversy, Leader of the House, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who spoke after Jagdeo, said Jagdeo was being hypocritical.

Nagamootoo questioned Jagdeo’s sincerity when he expressed support for Government. He cited a November 1, 2015 Stabroek News editorial which quoted the Opposition

Leader as saying that while serving as president, he and his cabinet had considered conceding maritime space to Venezuela.

Jagdeo had at that time noted that five possible solutions to the controversy had been explored, and conceding maritime space was deemed a solution.

“Today, sir,” the Prime Minister said, “when you hear the same honourable gentleman of this House saying he and his party are unwaveringly on the side of Guyana, he could not have been speaking about our beloved Guyana; because the national pride, if ever we are united as a people, should have been ‘not one blade of grass, not one curass, not one

decision to terminate the rice deal with Guyana brokered under the PetroCaribe Fund. “…these honourable members were seeking to blame Guyana and applaud Venezuela to say that we (had) mishandled our relationship with Venezuela at a time when Venezuela was laying claim to five-eighths of our territory. We seemed to give comfort to a country that had imposed a trade embargo on our country, refusing to buy our rice, (and) terminating our contract to supply us (with) much-needed fuel for the sustenance of our economy,” the Prime Minister stated.

The Prime Minister continued: “How could you then, as a rational mind, believe

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo channel’.”

Additionally, the Prime Minister reminded the House that members of the Opposition had blamed the APNU+AFC Administration for Venezuela’s

any other thing that would come from the mouth of someone who has conceded that he could give a piece of our territory to our aggressor?”

Cops freed of robbery charge FIVE policemen were freed of a joint robbery charge

by Night Court Magistrate Brenden Glasford at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

The policemen, Constable Kofi Arthur, 25; Constable Raphael Lowenfield, 25; Constable Akeem Thompson, 21; Lance Corporal Mark Fernandez, 34; and Constable Delroy Duncan, 23, were feed of the charge due to lack of evidence.

In August, the officers made their first court appearance and pleaded not guilty to the charges which stated that on July 25 at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, they robbed Urie Samuels of six pennyweights raw gold valued $66,000 and Sherman Noel of five pennyweights raw gold valued $55,000 and four pen-

Freed: Constable Kofi Arthur and Constable Delroy Duncan

Freed: Lance Corporal Mark Fernandez, Constable Raphael Lowenfield and Constable Akeem Thompson

nyweight of raw gold valued $44,000, belonging to Harillal Gildarie.

The policemen were released on $600,000 bail.

The matter involving the virtual complainants, Samuels and Gildarie, was however

and dismissed the case.

Glasford ruled that the prosecution had initially proposed to call 10 witnesses in the matter to testify, but only six came to the court.

He also pointed out that there was not identification pa-

dismissed two weeks ago due to the same lack of evidence by the prosecution.

The magistrate on Friday ruled that a prima facie was not made out against the lawmen in the matter involving robbery with regard to Sherman Noel

rade held between the lawmen and Noel.

According to the defence attorney Patrice Henry, the policemen were on patrol on the day in question when they carried out a search with instructions at the military base camp

on the virtual complainants, but did not discover anything illegal on them.

It was then the policemen decided to set them free. It was not until three days later, allegations of robbery were laid against the policemen.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

Courts rewards customers with cash, other prizes COURTS Guyana Inc. has on Thursday gifted its customers with more than $5.5M in cash and prizes in its Christmas promotion.

The furniture giant has, over the years, made it a tradition to always show customers appreciation through exciting and rewarding promotions; and the last few weeks have not been different, with Courts rolling out some very exciting offers, of which customers made

maximum use by winning some fantastic prizes.

Three lucky customers shopping TCL TVs had the opportunity to each win a Courts shopping spree worth one million dollars ($1,000,000), and three (3) customers shopping Whirlpool appliances each had the chance to win $500,000 cash.

Courts has also planned ahead for the big Guyanese Old Year’s Night festivities by giving two lucky couples the

Sharon Persaud, Branch Manager of Courts Guyana Inc., along with Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan, poses with customers on Thursday during the presentation ceremony at Courts Main Street head office opportunity to welcome the New Year with a mini staycation at the Aruwai H20 Resort for their Old Year’s Night Ball.

Six other customers were each able to win groceries to the value of $100,000 when they shopped $49,999 and over at Courts; and even the Courts Optical came on board by rewarding eight customers with dinner vouchers encashable at the Grand Coastal Inn.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

WICB to ratify new CEO, Head Coach this weekend THE ratification of the appointments of the new Chief Executive Officer and Head Coach, a full review of the commercial strategy, and the 2017 schedule are among the major topics up for discussion at the Board of Directors meeting of the West Indies Cricket Board to be held in St Maarten.

The WICB has been without a head coach since Phil Simmons was fired due to “differences in culture and strategic approach” with the WICB in September. He had

been in charge of the senior men’s team for 18 months and led the team to the ICC T20 World Cup title in India in April.

It was also announced in September that current CEO Michael Muirhead would be stepping down from his post when his current contract expires.

Muirhead is to manage the WICB-owned Sticky Wicket facility in Antigua and Barbuda, which is being refurbished and upgraded. Word is that it is

to be the new headquarters of the WICB. The meeting, scheduled for today and tomorrow, will also see the continuation of discussions about release fees for West Indies players who ply their trade in Twenty20 leagues across the world. Full reports from all committees will also be tabled.

The assessment of the Men’s, ‘A’ and Women’s teams’ performances over the last three months will also be on the agenda; while looking

ahead to the third year of the 4-Day Professional Cricket League (PCL) and the 2017 edition of the Super50 will be a focus.

“Our Women’s team have qualified for the ICC Women’s World Cup scheduled for June – July 2017. We also welcome the 20 players who are starting camp for the Under-19 squad this weekend in Grenada, as they prepare to defend the championship in 2018,” said president of the WICB, Dave Cameron.

Chanderpaul comes to Jaguars ...

Vishaul Singh.

However, the visitors snatched a wicket on the break of dinner, through Hetmyer’s impatience and poor shot selection.

Having done the hard work, the Berbician threw his wicket away when he mistimed a pull off Jonathan Carter (2-50), and was taken at the deep square leg boundary. His innings of 60, lasted for 120 minutes off 77 balls, with seven fours and three sixes.

The Barbadians came back attacking in the second session but Singh and Chanderpaul opted for the patience route.

The left-handed pair soldiered on for just over an hour to keep the hosts from further imploding.

Both batsmen were in no state to take risks, and kept picking whatever singles or twos were on offer, but the regular bowling changes made by Captain Kraigg Brathwaite, paved the way for two quick wickets.

Both Singh (40) and Christopher Barnwell (4), who selection to the team remains questionable, and who continued to looked completely out of sorts at the crease, were trapped leg before wicket to medium pacer Kevin Stoute (2-52), leaving the Guyanese at 148-5. Singh batted for 93 minutes, and faced 86 balls,

including six hits to the boundary ropes.

Raymond Reifer joined Chanderpaul, and together took the Guyanese to 194-5 at the end of the session.

The 42-year-old ex-West Indies captain occasionally came out of his shell with crisp attacking strokes. He stroked Stoute for consecutive boundaries, the first a pleasant cut behind point and then a sweetly timed shot off his hips.

He reached his 136th first-class 50 with his eighth boundary off Jonathan Carter, and looked in complete control of proceedings before Reifer (35), who was batting with commendable restraint gave Stoute an easy catch at mid-on off Carter for 35.

Roach (3-47) had Anthony Bramble caught at backward point for one, before Veerasammy Permaul became Roach’s second victim when he offered Shai Hope a diving catch at point, 234-8.

Motie joined Chanderpaul, and provided clever support to frustrate the visitors. Chanderpaul got to his 100 with a single to short mid-wicket off Roach.

Motie was left unbeaten on 36 when left-arm spinner Jomal Warrican removed Keon Joseph for two.

Play resumes today from 15:00hrs, and admission to the venue is free.

From back page even-paced.

The Barbadian fast bowlers bent their backs, but lacked a cutting edge at the start, allowing the Guyanese to build a 49-run opening stand.

The 19-year-old, Hetmyer was the more aggressive, unleashing several stylish shots, including sixes off pacer Kemar Roach and the off-spinner Royston Chase.

Chandrika, the discarded West Indies Test opener was then bowled

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between bat and pad by a delivery from Chase (272) for 11. The Guyanese captain Leon Johnson, got off the mark with a trade mark cover boundary, but it quickly became 61-2, when he offered no shot, and was trapped leg before to Chase.

Hetmyer, the former West Indies youth captain continued to show zero discomfort, especially against the spinners, and reached his half-century, with his sixth boundary off just 55 balls in company of

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SCOREBOARD GUYANA JAGUARS 1st innings R Chandrika b Chase 11 S Hetmyer c Warrican b Carter 60 L Johnson lbw b Chase 4 V Singh lbw b Stoute 40 S Chanderpaul b Roach 100 C Barnwell lbw Stoute 4 R Reifer c Stoute b Carter 35 A Bramble c Brooks b Roach 1 V Permaul c hope b Roach 0 G Motie not out 36 K Joseph lbw b Warrican 2 Extras: (nb-16, lb-2) 18 Total: (all out; 88.2 overs) 311 Fall of Wickets: 1-41, 2-61, 3-99, 4-138, 5-148, 6-233, 7-234, 8-234, 9-304, 10-311 Bowlers: K. Roach 16-2-47-3, J. Greaves 12-3-42-0, K. Stoute 16-352-2, R. Chase 18-4-74-2, K. Brattwaite 4-0-14-0, J. Carter 11-0-50-2, J. Warrician 11.2-4-30-1

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 10, 2016

Warner century secures ODI series whitewash

(REUTERS) - Opener David Warner smashed his seventh one-day international century for the year to fire Australia to a resounding 117run win and a 3-0 series sweep of New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) yesterday.

The pugnacious lefth a n d e r ’s m a j e s t i c 1 5 6

SCOREBOARD

from 128 balls rescued the home side after they had stumbled to 73-4 before recovering to a total of 264 for eight at the MCG. Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc took 3-34 as New Zealand’s batsmen were skittled out for 146 in 36.1 overs.

Having already scored the most ODI tons in a year by an Australian,

the-match and the series.

“I’m hitting the ball well but I’ve got to keep on training.”

After his usual run and jump into the air upon raising his hundred, Warner added his new celebration, holding his right hand into the air and his left, holding the bat, to his chin.

He said it was a nod to his teammates who had

with the last ball of the innings, run-out by paceman Trent Boult after having blasted 13 fours and four sixes.

Openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham started New Zealand’s chase positively, moving to 44 before Latham threw his wicket away for 28 with a flick straight to square leg.

After Kane William-

AUSTRALIA innings D. Warner run-out 156 A. Finch c Nicholls b Boult 3 S. Smith c Nicholls b Boult 0 G. Bailey c Santner b de Grandhomme 23 M. Marsh b de Grandhomme 0 T. Head b Santner 37 M. Wade c de Grandhomme b Santner 14 J. Faulkner c Guptill b Boult 13 M. Starc not out 0 Extras: (lb-5, nb-2, w-11) 18 Total: (for 8 wickets, 50 overs) 264 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-11, 3-73, 4-73, 5-178, 6-226, 7-262, 8-264.

Bowling: T. Southee 10-2-45-0 (w-3), T. Boult 10-1-49-3 (w-2), L. Ferguson 8-0-50-0 (nb-2), w-3), M. Santner 9-0-43-2 (w-1), C. de Grandhomme 10-0-50-2 (w-2), K. Williamson 1-0-3-0, C. Munro 2-0-19-0.

NEW ZEALAND innings M. Guptill c Bailey b Head 34 T. Latham c Faulkner b Cummins 28 K. Williamson lbw b Faulkner 13 H. Nicholls b Starc 3 C. Munro b Starc 20 B. Watling lbw b Head 8 C. de Grandhomme c Head b Hazlewood 11 M. Santner lbw b Starc 15 T. Southee c Warner b Faulkner 4 L. Ferguson not out 4 T. Boult c Smith b Cummins 1 Extras: (lb-2, w-4) 6 Total: (all out, 36.1 overs) 147 Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-74, 3-79, 4-83, 5-98, 6-113, 7-126, 8-139, 9-143.

Bowling: M. Starc 10-3-34-3 (w-2), J. Hazlewood 7-1-22-1 (w-1), P. Cummins 5.1-0-26-2 (w-1), J. Faulkner 7-0-26-2, T. Head 7-0-37-2.

Australia pose with the Chappell-Hadlee trophy after sweeping the series 3-0 in the third and final ODI in Melbourne.

Warner drew level with the seven tallied by India’s Sourav Ganguly in 2000.

Indian great Sachin Tendulkar, who made nine in 1998, is the only player to have scored more. “ I t ’s a l w a y s s p e c i a l when you put runs on the board, but credit to the bowlers ... they really executed today,” said Warner, who was named man-of-

given him a new nickname, ‘the Reverend’.

“The boys call me ‘the Rev’ now because they reckon ‘the Bull’s been tamed a little bit,” said vice-captain Warner, a notorious hothead in previous seasons.

Wa r n e r , w h o h i t a match-winning 119 in the second match in Canberra on Tuesday, was dismissed

son’s dismissal for lbw on 13 by James Faulkner, the wheels fell off for the touring side, who lost three wickets for nine runs in three overs.

Captain Steve Smith

was dismissed for a duck but wrapped up the win by taking a brilliant one-handed, diving catch at slip to remove New Zealand number 11 Trent Boult for one.

Whitewashed 5-0 away to South Africa, Australia were back to their best on home pitches.

“It was a nice way to

finish .... We needed some improvement after South Africa and we certainly showed that here,” said Smith.

“We’ve just done the basics really w ell and when you do that, especially on your home grounds, you go a long way to winning games of cricket.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 10, 2016

Pujara, Vijay make strong start in reply to England’s 400

By Sudipto Ganguly MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara shared a century stand as India made a strong start in their reply to England’s total of 400 on the second day of the fourth Test at the Wankhede Stadium yesterday.

Vijay was unbeaten on 70 and Pujara on 47 not out with India on 146 for one at the close, still 254 runs behind.

The right-handed pair added 107 runs for the second wicket after Lokesh Rahul had fallen following an

opening stand of 39 with Vijay.

England captain Alastair Cook introduced spin from both ends after seven overs and there was considerable turn on offer for Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.

Rahul hit four crisp boundaries in his 24 before off-spinner Moeen breached his defences to bowl him.

Vijay twice mishit Rashid but the ball landed safely beyond the reach of the fielders on both occasions. The opener hit the leg-spinner for six over the long-off boundary.

Pujara looked solid and

India’s Murali Vijay plays a shot during his unbeaten 70.

(REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui) hit some sublime boundaries off the back foot against the England fast bowlers.

Earlier, Jos Buttler made 76 to guide the touring side, trailing 2-0 in the five-match series, to a strong total before they were all out 25 minutes

wickets on Thursday.

The umpire turned down the appeal for catch against Stokes but India managed to overturn the decision on review with the batsman leaving the field making his displeasure evident.

when Ball, who was on nought when India captain Virat Kohli dropped a sharp chance at slip off Jadeja, was caught behind.

Buttler repeatedly used the reverse sweep against Jadeja and hit six boundaries and a big six off Ashwin before Jadeja bowled him as he attempted another big shot.

SCOREBOARD

India's Ravichandran Ashwin bagged six for 112. after lunch.

India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin completed figures of six for 112 for his 23rd five-wicket haul and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja took the other four wickets.

Resuming on 288 for five, England lost Ben Stokes for 31 in the third over to Ashwin, who had picked up four

Jadeja dismissed Chris Woakes and Rashid cheaply to boost India’s chances of keeping England’s total to under 350.

But Buttler and number 10 Jake Ball, playing his first match of the series and second overall, frustrated India with a partnership of 54 for the ninth wicket.

Ashwin broke the stand

ENGLAND 1st innings (overnight 288-5) A. Cook stp. P. Patel b Jadeja 46 K. Jennings c Pujara b R.Ashwin 112 J. Root c Kohli b R. Ashwin 21 M. Ali c Nair b R. Ashwin 50 J. Bairstow c U. Yadav b R.Ashwin 14 B. Stokes c Kohli b R. Ashwin 31 J. Buttler b Jadeja 76 C. Woakes c P. Patel b Jadeja 11 A. Rashid b Jadeja 4 J. Ball c P. Patel b R. Ashwin 31 J. Anderson not out 0 Extras: (b-1, lb-2, nb-1) 4 Total: (all out, 130.1 overs) 400 Fall of wickets: 1-99, 2-136, 3-230, 4-230, 5-249, 6-297, 7-320, 8-334, 9-388.

Bowling: B. Kumar 13-0-49-0, U. Yadav 11-2-38-0, R. Ashwin 44-4-112-6, J. Yadav 25-3-89-0 (nb-1), R. Jadeja 37.1-5-109-4.

INDIA 1st innings L. Rahul b Ali 24 M. Vijay not out 70 C. Pujara not out 47 Extras: (b-1, lb-4) 5 Total: (for 1 wickets, 52 overs) 146 Fall of wickets: 1-39.

Bowling: J. Anderson 8-4-22-0, C. Woakes 5-2-15-0, M. Ali 152-44-1, A. Rashid 13-1-49-0, J. Ball 4-2-4-0, B. Stokes 4-2-4-0, J. Root 3-1-3-0.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 10, 2016

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‘We are more than what they think,’ says Keevin Allicock, rising above his circumstances

By Tamica Garnett ASK anyone what it is about pugilist Keevin Allicock that makes him stand out and they will tell you without skipping a beat that Allicock’s level of discipline for his age and his environment is above and beyond what one would expect.

Sit down with this Albouystown 17-year- old for a few minutes and you will begin to see it too.

“He’s very talented. Of the youngsters I see today I think he’s one that I see who has the opportunity to go really far. He’s very skilful, thinks a lot in the ring. Most of the competitions locally - he always outsmarts them,” says Allicock’s coach Sebert Blake.

Blake was particularly impressed by the boxer back in September when Keevin rose to the occasion at the National Intermediate Boxing Championships, where, despite being a flyweight he agreed to fight in the heavier youth bantamweight, as there was no one opponent for his category.

He went on to win all of his fights and was declared as the best boxer of his category.

President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), Steve Ninvalle, also shares Blake’s view, and likes what he sees in the upcoming Simon Pure, proud of the prospective development of the junior flyweight.o.

Allicock is the Association’s leading Olympic prospect for Tokyo 2020.

Keevin comes from a long line of boxers. Many of his father’s 18 children were involved in boxing at one point or another, initially being trained by their father. Because of this Keevin

began getting involved with the sport from a very young age, six years old as a matter of fact.

Not many of Keevin’s brothers stuck with the sport though, and several have had varying brushes with the law.

Due to Albouystown’s infamous reputation, Keevin believes he is often stereotyped by many. But the pugilist wants to use his skill to show others that he is so much more than what they see.

“They think that everybody is the same, but you can’t watch at everybody the same. We are more than what they think. People call us bad in the area that we’re living in, but it’s nothing of the sort and I want to show them what we are gifted with.

Every time I go out of this country to fight I represent Guyana. I’m an ambassador,” Keevin said, when we caught up with him at the Six Head Lewis gym shortly before he winged out for Barbados to perform at the Caribbean Development Boxing Tournament.

A patron of the Forgotten Youth Foundation gym, Keevin is anything but forgettable when you watch him fight. Moreover he’s really hoping to leave his mark on boxing before he ever hangs up his gloves, and he’s obviously on the right path to get him there.

His fight in Barbados follows on the heels of his return from Suriname with a gold for his performance there.

Keevin uses his faith in God, and his aspirations for his boxing career are what help to keep him on that straight and narrow path, rising above all the situations around him.

Keevin Allicock (left) receives his Best Boxer trophy from WIBA champion Shondell Alfred at the competition in September.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 10, 2016

Russian doping cover-up `helped more than a thousand athletes’

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON, England (Reuters) - More than 1 000 Russian competitors across more than 30 sports were involved in an institutional conspiracy to conceal positive drug tests as Moscow ‘hijacked international sport’ over the course of five years, an independent WADA report said yesterday.

bypass and cover up drugs tests.

“We are now able to confirm a cover-up that dates back to at least 2011 that evolved from uncontrolled chaos to an institutionalised and disciplined medal-winning conspiracy,” McLaren told a news conference.

“It was a cover-up of an unprecedented scale ....

“We have evidence re-

Canadian sports lawyer Richard McLaren

The second and final part of the report for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) by Canadian sports lawyer Richard McLaren provided exhaustive evidence of an elaborate doping scheme sponsored by Russia’s Sports Ministry.

It included switching and changing samples by opening “tamper-proof” bottles - using a method devised by the Russian secret service - and numerous other methods to

vealing that more than 500 positive results were reported as negative, including wellknown and elite-level athletes and medal winners, who had their positive results automatically falsified.

“Over 1 000 athletes competing in Summer, Winter and Paralympic sport can be identified as being involved in or benefiting from manipulations to conceal positive tests.”

WADA president Craig

DAVID Warner has continued his demolition job on New Zealand’s bowlers, re-writing the record books with another century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

With his hundred in the third Chappell-Hadlee match today, Warner moved into equal second on the list of most one-day international centuries in a calendar year.

To make Warner’s feat all the more impressive, he has done it in significantly less matches than the others on the list.

Warner now has seven tons in 2016 – as well as two dismissals in the 90s – to draw level with the mark Sourav Ganguly set in 2000. Warner has achieved the feat in his 23rd one-dayer of the year, while Ganguly played 32.

Leading the way is Sachin Tendulkar’s nine ODI tons set in 1998, when India’s Little Master played 34 matches.

It is worthwhile to note that

four of Tendulkar’s centuries that year came in matches against Zimbabwe and Kenya, while Warner’s have come against India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. And given the same number of matches, in this type of form, it’s reasonable to expect Warner would be soon surpassing Tendulkar’s mark.

Warner also set a new record for runs scored in a Chappell-Hadlee series to erase Ricky Ponting’s name for the record books.

It’s the second successive match Warner has bettered a mark set by Ponting, after his Manuka Oval ton last Tuesday saw him move past Ponting and Matthew Hayden for the most ODI tons in a calendar year by an Australian.

Ponting’s Chappell-Hadlee record of 241 runs was set in December 2007 – a prolific year for the former skipper, which saw him score five ODI

Reedie called the report “alarming” and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it had shown evidence of “a fundamental attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and on sport in general”.

But Russia showed no sign of accepting its conclusions.

The Sports Ministry said it would study the WADA report and cooperate fully with anti-doping bodies, but “denies that any government programmes exist to support doping in sport”.

“UNFOUNDED ACCUSATIONS” Track and field chief Dmitry Shlyakhtin said he had not yet seen the report, but conceded that Russian athletics’ problems “did not start yesterday”. However, he said it had now fulfilled all the demands made of it.

Yelena Isinbayeva, double Olympic pole vault champion and newly-elected head of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency supervisory board, said shortly before the report was released: “It is well known to us that many foreign athletes have a history of doping but compete at an international level with no problems.

“If we want to clean up world sport, let’s start ... we don’t need to concentrate on just one country.”

Dmitry Svishchev, a member of parliament and

president of Russia’s Curling Federation, said: “We haven’t heard anything new. Unfounded accusations against us all. If you are Russian, they accuse you of all sins.”

McLaren accepted that there could be widespread doping elsewhere, though not on the same level as in Russia, the sole focus of his investigation.

McLaren pointed out that Russia had won 24 gold, 26 silver and 32 bronze medals at London 2012 and no Russian athlete had tested positive.

“Yet the Russian team corrupted the London Games on an unprecedented scale, the extent of which will probably never be fully established,” he said.

“For years, international sports competitions have unknowingly been hijacked by the Russians. Coaches and athletes have been playing on an uneven field.”

The IOC on Wednesday extended provisional sanctions against Russian sport over the scandal, and an international ban on its track and field athletes remains in force pending a reform of its anti-doping programme.

Yesterday, the IOC noted that it had already set up two commissions to prepare “appropriate sanctions and measures”. One of these will go beyond the scope of McLaren’s investigation and retest all the samples of

Russian athletes who participated in the 2014 Winter Games, which Russia hosted in Sochi.

Forensic investigations

by McLaren’s team detailed how a bank of clean urine samples was kept in a Moscow laboratory, where salt and coffee were added to try to fool officials testing ‘B samples’ in supposedly tamper-proof bottles.

DNA MISMATCHES The report included cases where a doctored B sample did not match the DNA of previous specimens, and of samples that contained a mixture of male and female urine.

It added that analysis of the samples from four Russians who won gold in Sochi had shown salt readings that were physiologically impossible, while there was evidence that the samples of 12 Russian Sochi medallists had been tampered with.

More than 1 100 items of evidence contained in the report have been made available to the public at the website here, including details and pictures of how microscopes were used to detect the tiny scratch marks made when opening the “tamper-proof” sample bottles.

Yesterday’s report provided extensive evidence to support the original July report, which said Moscow had concealed hundreds of

positive doping tests ahead of the Sochi Winter Games in 2014.

The IOC declined to impose a blanket ban on Russia competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics, letting international sports federations decide which athletes should be allowed to compete. Only athletics and weightlifting banned the entire Russian teams.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) did ban Russia completely from its Rio games, however, and said yesterday the full findings of the report “strike right at the heart of the integrity and ethics of sport”.

McLaren accepted that Russian authorities had taken many steps since his first report, removing officials who had been involved in the cover-up, setting up a new anti-doping commission and proposing a ‘gold standard’ doping control regime.

However, when asked about the comments of Svishchev and Isinbayeva, he said: “The findings are not challengeable ... my impression is that there is a certain embedded cultural aspect to what has been going on, so there probably does need to be cultural change.

“That doesn’t mean change won’t occur, but it might take longer than a few months or a year.”

More history for Warner at the MCG

David Warner scores his seventh ton of 2016, moving him behind only the great Sachin Tendulkar tons. Two of them came in the Chappell-Hadlee series, scores of 107* and 134* in Adelaide and Hobart, with a washout at

the SCG in-between.

Warner scored just 24 in this current series’ opening match in Sydney, but turned it on in Can-

berra for a superbly crafted 119.

“It’s probably the format that I struggled at for a little while,” Warner said in Canberra this

week.

“Now, being able to be a little bit more consistent, understanding the game a little bit more I think the Test stuff really helped me a lot where I didn’t have to go out there and belt the ball in the first 10 overs.

“I’ve really worked hard in the last 18 months to keep constructing an innings, I’ve managed to do that and it’s actually working.”

The ton in Melbourne was his 11th in one-day cricket, putting him outright fourth amongst Australians for the most centuries, overtaking Matthew Hayden (who scored 10 in 72 more matches).

However, the Australian record is one Ponting will not be relinquishing anytime soon. The former skipper scored 29 tons from 374 matches. Warner, in his 88th game, has plenty of time to chase it.

37

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 10, 2016

British police say football child sex scandal may affect 98 clubs (REUTERS) - British police investigating allegations of widespread child sex abuse at football clubs dating back to the 1970s said yesterday they had identified 83 potential suspects and possible links to 98 clubs, including some from the Premier League.

Police forces across the country launched enquiries after former player Andy Woodward revealed he had been abused as a boy by a youth team coach, prompting other ex-professionals to come forward with more allegations.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said 639 referrals had been made to officers from a helpline set up by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children charity, involving about 350 potential victims.

“Allegations received by

police forces across the country are being swiftly acted upon,” said Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the NPCC lead for child protection.

“We are also liaising closely with the Football Association to ensure all relevant information they hold is shared to inform investigations moving forward.”

The harrowing tales of abuse suffered by the former players, some of whom have broken down in tears in television interviews, have shocked Britain. They raise questions about the scale of the problem, how much clubs and football authorities knew, and whether they tried to cover it up.

English football’s governing body, the Football Association, has launched an internal review into what it admitted could be one of the sport’s

Lewis stars as

Dynamites take BPL title

DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC) – West Indies opener Evin Lewis shone as Dhaka Dynamites trounced Darren Sammy’s Rajshahi Kings by 56 runs to capture the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) title here yesterday.

Playing in the final at the

only two to pass 20 for the favourites.

Seamer Farhad Reza was the best bowler with three for 28 while Sammy picked up a single wicket in an expensive two-over spell which cost 22 runs.

In reply, opener Mominul Haque top-scored with 27

Evin Lewis

Shere Bangla National Stadium, the left-handed Lewis top-scored with 45 as Dynamites, sent in, rallied to 159 for nine off their 20 overs.

Fellow left-hander Kumar Sangakkara made 36 but he and Lewis were the

and Sabbir Rahman chipped in with 26 but they were only two of three in double figures and the only ones to pass 20, as Kings collapsed to 103 all out off 17.4 overs.

West Indies all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and

Former footballers (L-R) Mark Williams, Andy Woodward, Steve Walters, Jason Dunford and Matt Monaghan pose for a photograph after a news conference at the launch of The Offside Trust, an independent group set up to support players and their families who have suffered abuse, in Manchester northern England. (REUTERS/Phil Noble) Andre Russell could pick up only a wicket each.

Entering as the heavy favourites, Dynamites stumbled at the start as they slumped to 42 for three in the seventh over before recovering thanks to a 41-run fourth-wicket stand between Lewis and Sangakkara.

Lewis faced 31 deliveries and counted eight fours while Sangakkara struck two fours and a six in a 33-ball knock.

When Lewis perished to a catch at short fine leg off Farhad Reza in the 11th over, both Bravo (13) and Russell (8) fell cheaply to leave Dynamites on 113 for six in the 16th over.

Sangakkara then kept the lower order together to see Dynamites to a competitive score.

In reply, Kings lost Nurul Hasan in the third over for five at 15 for one but Mominul and Sabbir put the run chase back on track with an enterprising 47-run second-wicket stand.

Mominul faced 30 balls and counted three fours while Sabbir hit two fours in a 22-ball innings.

Once Sabbir was runout in the 10th over, however, the innings went into decline as Kings lost their last eight wickets for 37 runs.

Sammy could only manage six this time around while Windies T20 seamer Kesrick Williams made four before retiring hurt.

biggest crises, and promised to fully publicise its findings.

The NPCC said not all the 98 clubs whose names were mentioned to the police were under investigation.

“The figure spans all tiers of football, from premier clubs through to amateur,” it said in a statement. It added that 98 percent of the victims were male, aged between seven and 20 at the time.

The football abuse revelations are the latest in a series of paedophile scandals to have hit Britain in recent years.

Victims said the scale of wrongdoing was likely to be worse than in the case of TV star Jimmy Savile, a cigar-chomping BBC television host who abused hundreds of youngsters over six decades until his death in 2011.

Quarter-final action on today in Colours/Guinness Greatest in the Street ACTION in the Colours/ Guinness Greatest in the Street Georgetown leg will continue with quarterfinal matchups today at Demerara Park.

In the first match of the evening, Broad Street will play Queen Street before Leopold Street take on Tucville. Back Circle will play North East La Penitence for their spot in the semifinal while the final spot will go to either Sparta Boss or Camp Street All-Stars.

In the most recent round of matches, Camp Street AllStars beat Bent Street 2-0 on penalties while Shaquille Browne (2nd), Jermin Junior (8th), and Kelvin Moore (30th) helped North East La Penitence beat Up Like-7 3-0 Broad Street also decimated Stevedore by the same margin thanks to strikes from Darren Benjamin (8th), Kevin Cummings (26th)

and Quacey Weeks (28th) while Tucville beat West Back Road 3-2 on suddendeath kicks after a goal-less stalemate.

Albouystown-A also won 2-0 on sudden-death kicks against Channel-9 after not managing to find the back of the nets in regulation time while Leopold Street secured 3-1 penalty win to

beat off Festival City after their game ended 1-1 in regulation time.

Back Circle also secured their win against North Ruimveldt 3-1 on penalty kicks while Sparta Boss, thanks to Dennis Edwards (28th) and Solomon Austin (30th) beat Queen Street Tiger Bay 2-0. (Stephan Sookram).

Action on this weekend in Smalta Girls tournament FEMALE football will be on show again this weekend when the Smalta Girls 11-and-under football tournament resumes at the Ministry of Education ground from 10:00hrs.

In the first of the quarter-final games, St Margaret’s will face Enterprise while St Stephen’s Primary will go toe-to-toe with St Angela’s.

North Georgetown Primary will have their hands full

facing St Pius while the final semi-final spot will go either to West Ruimveldt or St Agnes.

In the 9-16 playoffs which will kick-start the action; South Ruimveldt take on Smith Memorial while Winfer Gardens oppose St Gabriel’s.

Tucville will also be in action this weekend with a game against Stella Maris while F.E. Pollard have their eyes set on Redeemer.

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 10, 2016

Blackwood puts Scorpions in command with unbeaten 80 KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Jason Mohammed narrowly missed his sixth first class hundred but Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood was closing in on his fifth, as Jamaica Scorpions took command of their fourth ro u n d R e g i o n a l F o u rDay contest against Trini d a d a n d To b a g o R e d Force here yesterday.

Replying to Scorpions’ first innings of 314, Red Force were dismissed for 206 after resuming the second day at Sabina Park on 35 for two.

Mohammed carved out a splendid unbeaten 91 while in-form Barbadian opener Kyle Hope got 64, but Red Force tumbled to the spin of leg-spinner Damion Jacobs who claimed four for 61 and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller who picked up three for 53.

Wi t h a Scorpions selves into tion thanks

lead of 108, batted thema strong posito Blackwood

put on 83 for the third wicket.

The right-handed Blackwood has so far

Mohammed and Hope in order to rebound from their overnight chaos when they lost two wick-

Jermaine Blackwood who was unbeaten on 80 at the close.

They were slumping at 21 for two until Blackwood combined with West Indies batsman Andre McCarthy, who made 28, to

faced 120 balls in 157 minutes and counted ten fours and a six while McCarthy struck four fours in a 54-ball knock.

E a r l i e r, R e d F o r c e needed the enterprise of

ets in successive deliveries to end the first day.

Left-hander Yannic Cariah fell in the morning’s seventh over for 15 at 56 for three but the pair came together in an 87-

run fourth-wicket stand to rescue the innings.

Mohammed, in his first game since his return from West Indies duty, faced 125 balls in 2-3/4 hours at the crease and blasted ten fours and four sixes.

Hope, meanwhile, already with three half-centuries under his belt this season, counted three fours and three sixes in a knock spanning 81 deliveries and just under 2-1/2 hours.

His dismissal, however, triggered a slide which saw six wickets tumble for 21 runs, to leave Red Force tottering on 164 for nine.

Mohammed then nursed the strike, putting on 42 for the last wicket with Sheldon Cottrell who made seven, to add valuable runs for the visitors.

Tonge, Joseph rock Windward Islands Volcanoes – while Johnson, also a lefthander, was on 46 not out and in sight of his second first class fifty.

Volcanoes were rocked by fast bowler Gavin Tonge who claimed four for 24 and West Indies seamer Alzarri Joseph who finished with three for 52, in his first game

Alzarri Joseph

SCOREBOARD

ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – A critical halfcentury stand between captain Liam Sebastien and tail-ender Delorn Johnson rescued Windward Islands Volcanoes from disaster

on the opening day of their fourth round game in the Regional Four-Day Championship yesterday.

With their side precariously poised on 48 for seven at Windsor Park, the pair came

together in a 78-run, eighthwicket partnership to ensure the hosts closed the day on 186 for eight.

The left-handed Sebastien was unbeaten on 59 – his 13th first class half-century

VOLCANOES 1st innings D. Smith c Taylor b Joseph 4 T. Theophile lbw b Tonge 2 J. Charles c Hughes b Joseph 6 J. Robinson c wkp. Hamilton b Joseph 2 S.Ambris c wkp. Hamilton b Tonge 23 T. Gabriel c wkp. Hamilton b Tonge 1 L. Sebastien not out 59 K. Mayers c Hodge b Tonge 2 S. Shillingford b Cornwall 22 D. Johnson not out 46 Extras: (b-6, lb-3, w-4, nb-6) 19 Total: (8 wkts, 44 overs) 186 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-8, 3-11, 4-22, 5-43, 6-44, 7-48, 8-126.

Bowling: Joseph 12-2-52-3 (w4, nb-4), Tonge 8-2-24-4, Cornwall 14-5-47-1, Walsh 6-2-17-0, Taylor 2-0-28-0, Powell 2-0-9-0.

of the season.

It was the 20-year-old Joseph who stunned Volcanoes first up, snatching three of the first four wickets to fall to reduce the hosts to 22 for four in the fifth over.

Sunil Ambris resisted briefly in 22 from 56 balls but Tonge ripped through the middle order to leave the innings in

SCOREBOARD SCORPIONS 1st innings 314 RED FORCE 1st innings (o/n 35 for two) K. Hope c Jacobs b Miller 64 I. Rajah c wkp. Thomas b Jacobs 9 M. Richards lbw b Jacobs 0 Y. Cariah c wkp. Thomas b Leveridge 15 J. Mohammed not out 91 Y. Ottley c Campbell b Miller 0 S. Katwaroo lbw b Jacobs 4 R. Primus b Jacobs 1 Imran Khan c wkp. Thomas b Miller 1 J. Jagessar run-out 0 S. Cottrell run-out 7 Extras: (b-5, lb-2, nb-2, pen5) 14 Total: (all out, 53.5 overs) 206 Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-35, 3-56, 4-143, 5-145, 6-152, 7-158, 8-163, 9-164.

Bowling: Leveridge 8-0-30-1, Green 7-1-23-0, Jacobs 15-061-4, Miller 19-5-53-3, Powell 3-0-16-0, Blackwood 1.5-0-11-0.

SCORPIONS 2nd innings J. Campbell lbw b Jagessar 9 S. Thomas c wkp. Katwaroo b Richards 4 J. Blackwood not out 80 A. McCarthy lbw b Khan 28 B. King run-out 14 D. Thomas not out 5 Extras: (nb-3, pen5) 8 Total: (4 wkts, 40 overs) 148 Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-21, 3-104, 4-130.

Bowling: Jagessar 9-2-38-1, Richards 8-0-33-1, Primus 6-127-0, Cottrell 5-1-14-0, Imran 12-2-31-1.

Position: Scorpions lead by 256 runs overall.

tatters.

Sebastien then stepped up, striking eight fours off 100 balls in 137 minutes while Johnson was entertaining, belting two fours and four sixes in a 39-ball cameo.

The start of play was delayed until 13.40hrs because of a wet outfield caused by overnight rain.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday December 10, 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) Sabina Park (Jamaica), Windsor Park (Dominica) &

Providence (Guyana) (2) Leon Johnson (Guyana); Kraigg Braithwaite (Barbados) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who were the finalists of the Bangladesh Premier

League 2016?

(2) Who are the winners of the BPL 2016?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 10, 2016

Second Caribbean Boxing Development Tournament

Guyanese boxers continue winning ways in Barbados … Moore captures gold, Amsterdam and Allicock march into semis

LOCAL boxers continued their winning ways when the Caribbean Development Boxing Tournament (CDBT) continued in Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday evening.

According to reports emanating from the Island of the `Flying Fish’, the pugilists from the `Land of Many Waters’ (Guyana) `drowned’ their opponents from Barbados in all three bouts that the fighters contested.

The end result was that Guyana secured their first gold medal through Isaiah Moore who was the lone junior boxer on tour and who competed in the flyweight division.

Moore forced the referee to stop his flyweight contest against Barbados’ Roshawn Holder in the first round of their final.

Kevin Allicock got into

ATTACK: Guyana’s Demsond Amsterdam (right) on the attack against Barbados’ Ision Fraser in their middleweight bout at the CDBT in Barbados.

the medal round in the Youth category by causing the referee to stop his flyweight contest against Barbados’ Stephan Harding in the very first round, securing his semi-final place.

In the final bout on

Thursday night’s card, Guyana’s Desmond Amsterdam, competing in the Elite category, secured a 3-0 points-decision win over Barbados’ Ision Fraser in their middleweight contest.

The victories for the trio

Gaskin clocks possible

new short course record

AFTER setting a new national long course record at the Rio Olympics last August in the men’s 100m butterfly, Guyanese swimmer Hannibal Gaskin has done it yet again.

He set an unofficial new national record in the short course length of the race last Wednesday, while competing at the ongoing FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Ontario, Canada.

Meanwhile Guyanese Jamila Sanmoogan may have also clocked what could possibly be another national short-course record, when she competed in the women’s 50m butterfly yesterday at the Championships.

In his event, Gaskin once again dipped below the one minute mark in the race and clocked 57.62 seconds, at the short course event, way surpassing the reportedly 1:03.50m national short course record held by Joseph Seguina since 2012.

The Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) multiple gold medallist superseded the 58.57 seconds that he clocked in this race at the Summer Olympics a few months ago, giving him something to celebrate, despite finishing eighth in his heats, and 71 overall out of 87 swimmers.

The time also suggests an improvement for the Goodwill Swim Meet gold medallist from the 1:01.47s he achieved

at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, just over a year ago. However, the World Championships was also a long course meet.

Gaskin and Sanmoogan are competing in Canada as part of a three-man team from Guyana which also includes another of the country’s season-best Andrew Fowler. Like Gaskin,

than the alleged 35.29 seconds short-course record set by Britany van Lange in 2010 in Dubai.

Sanmoogan shaved a second off the 31.38 seconds that she achieved last year August at the long course Kazan meet. Meanwhile, though she’s been focused on the shorter 50m freestyle for some time

follow on the heels of wins by other Guyanese boxers, Joel Williamson, Christopher Moore and Colin Lewis during the first two days of the tournament.

On Tuesday evening, Moore, fighting in the Youth

both swimmers have also seen some development in terms of their timings for their events.

A fellow Olympian, Sanmoogan was in her second event of the Championships when she was out in the

Hannibal Gaskin

women’s 50m butterfly.

Swimming out of heat 2, Sanmoogan finished 64th of 73 swimmers and fifth in her heat. However, that tells nothing of the improved 30.35 seconds she made.

The time is way lower

now, on Wednesday she shook things up a bit and took on the women’s 100m freestyle.

She clocked a slower 29.39 seconds in her first 50m of the race, but finished the full race in 1:02.63s, ending 111th out of 127 swimmers.

Fowler also swam yesterday. He was out in the men’s 50m freestyle putting together a personal-best 24.72 seconds swim. The time was just outside the 24.17 seconds record in the event that Onan Thom has held since 2006.

He has also been showing continued improvement on the 26.03 seconds in which he had completed the event at Kazan. It also topped the 25.65 seconds he swam at a Barbados Invitational earlier this year.

Williamson were down to contest the fourth and fifth bouts respectively on that night’s card, just two hours after their arrival.

Despite the late notice, the two Guyanese adjusted themselves psychologically and went down to the venue.

The other boxers that make up the Guyanese contingent are: Akeem Mounter who will compete in the welterweight division of the Youth category, Keevin Allicock (Youth) flyweight division and Elite boxers Jason Barker (super heavyweight), Markember Pierre ( light heavyweight) and Clairmont Gibson (bantamweight).

The boxers are being guided by coaches Sebert Blake (head coach) and assistant coaches Adrian Thompson and Clifton Moore.

The team manager is Guyana Boxing Association vice-president Maurice Rajkumar.

Three West Indians on shortlist of six for WICB head coach post

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, - (www.bcacricket. org) - Three West Indians including former international players Augustine Logie and Jimmy Adams,

Jimmy Adams

Gus Logie Jamila Sanmoogan

category, secured a round three technical knockout (TKO) win against his Cayman Islands’ opponent Alex Smith in their lightweight contest, while Williamson, fighting in the lightweight division of the Elite category pounded out a points-decision win against Guadeloupe’s Ronald Bicep.

Some hours later (Wednesday), Moore returned to the ring and faced Miguel Diaz of Anguilla and once again, the referee had to stop the fight in the third round in favour of Moore.

On Wednesday too, Guyana’s Colin Lewis registered a points-decision win against Fredric Pierre of Guadeloupe in the light welterweight division of the Elite category.

After arriving in Barbados at 17:00hrshrs on Tuesday afternoon and booking into their hotel, the Guyanese management team was informed that Moore and Joel

along with Barbadian Henderson Springer, are on a shortlist of six contenders for the post of West Indies team head coach.

That position, left vacant following the firing of Phil

Simmons three months ago, as well as the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in light of the resignation of Michael Muirhead, are to be ratified at the quarterly meeting of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in St. Maarten this weekend.

Well-placed sources in Antigua, the headquarters

of the WICB and Jamaica, where WICB president Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron resides, told BCAcricket.org that former Australian batsman Stuart Law is among those on the shortlist for head coach, which attracted several candidates from England and Australia.

The sources did not name the other two candidates.

According to the sources, the WICB is very keen to have the new coach in place as early as next month to prepare for the tours to the Caribbean by England in February and March for three One-Day Internationals (ODI), to be followed by Pakistan for a four-match Test series.

(Caribbeancricket.com)

CONCACAF Extraordinary Congress to be held today in Miami CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani will preside today over the XXIII CONCACAF Extraordinary Congress, alongside members of the CONCACAF Council and General Secretary Philippe Moggio.

The Congress, which has been convened to approve the Confederation’s 2015 audited financial statements, will be held at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Miami with the participation of CONCACAF’s Member Associations.

A series of workshops

- designed to support the efforts of Member Associations - will be conducted to share best practices and develop capabilities across a range of functional and administrative areas.

Steven Mandis, author of The Real Madrid Way: How Values Created the Most Successful Sports Team on the Planet, will be the featured guest speaker.

WICB to ratify new CEO, Head Coach this weekend See story on page 32

STAG Nations Cup to kick off December 14 THE STAG Nations Cup (formerly STAG Super 16) football tournament is set to kick off on December 14 with 20 teams from five associations battling for supremacy.

The tournament, which is a collaborative effort involving the East Bank FA, East Demerara FA, Georgetown FA, West Demerara FA and Berbice FA, was launched yesterday at Ansa McAl, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.

Speaking at the ceremony Robert Hiscock of Ansa McAl, said they are pleased to be associated with such a wonderful tournament, adding that it is important for the development of the game.

Hiscock stated that the company sees sports as an integral part of the development of any community which is why we are so fond of supporting it.

“There is no better way to jump on board than with one of the most popular brand of football tournaments in Guyana, which is in its third year running and brings so many differ-

Head of the East Bank FA, Franklin Wilson, accepts the cheque from Robert Hiscock of Ansa McAL in the presence of officials from the GFF and the respective associations.` ent leagues together and culminates with a massive final on the January 1, 2017,” he noted.

Third vice-president of the Guyana Football Federation Thandi McAllister stated that she is heartened by this collaborative effort of the associations and the expansion of the Nations Cup. “I was impressed with

the interest shown by the teams involved last year in which Grove Hi-Tech emerged winners.

The GFF is happy with the efforts of the respective associations who would have decided to collaborate in order to expand the tournament so as to ensure football is played continuously, because that is our vision for the

game in Guyana,” she said.

She pointed out that football does a lot for the youths and communities and lauded Ansa McAl under its STAG brand for once again partnering with the football fraternity. McAllister said she hopes to see more associations get involved in the future and urged that fair play and good sportsmanship be the

hallmark of the competition.

Head of the East Bank FA, Franklin Wilson, indicated that due to the extension from 16 teams to 20, a playoff will commence on Wednesday at Golden Grove to decide the final four teams that will go through to the last 16, since the top four teams from Georgetown, top two from

West Demerara FA, East Bank FA, East Demerara FA and Berbice FA have gained automatic berths.

Wilson indicated that matches will be played in all the associations and felt that was needed so that each of the associations will enjoy their teams in action.

Georgetown FA are currently involved in a playoff to decide their other two representatives because the top four teams from their previous tournament have been guaranteed a place in the last 16.

The opening fixture pits Mahaicony Thunder against the number six side from Georgetown at 18:30hrs followed by New Amsterdam against Golden Star at 20:30hrs.

Additional entertainment will be provided at the final which is expected to be played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The champions will pocket G$2M, the runners-up $1M, third-placers $500 000, fourth-placers $300 000 and fifth-placers $200 000.

PCL 4-Day Tournament …

Chanderpaul comes to Jaguars rescue again

By Rajiv Bisnauth AT age 42, veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul drew on every ounce of his experience and defied a strong Barbados Pride bowling attack with a tenacious, even hundred to lead the Guyana Jaguars to 311 all out on the first day of the Day/Night fourthround Regional Four-Day Championship fixture, at the Guyana National Stadium.

Watched by a handful of spectators, the obdurate left-hander frustrated the visitors with his awkward, crab-like stance and intense concentration to complete his 72nd first-class 100, an innings which showed him to be in a different class

from his team-mates.

It all stemmed from Leon Johnson winning the toss, and opting to bat. The hosts omitted Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Eon Hooper from their 13, but after ending the first session on 993, Chanderpaul was his usual resourceful self, and took complete control after five wickets had tumbled around him.

Ably supported by Raymond Reifer and Gudakesh Motie, at the back end of the innings, it was once again left for the West Indies most capped Test player to rescue the Jaguars.

Chanderpaul added 85 for the sixth-wicket with Reifer, and 70 for the ninth-wicket with

–– veteran left-hander crafts even 100 on first day Motie, but when he was bowled by Kemar Roach just before the close, he had struck 13 fours from 141 balls in just over four hours of batting.

Earlier, when play began in bright sunshine, both openers, Rajendra Chandrika and Shimron Hetmyer got off the mark with classy boundaries off Justin Greaves, and despite being somewhat scratchy and nervous for the first half hour of play, the left and right-hand combination slowly thwarted the Barbadians for over an hour on a pitch that appeared

Shivnarine Chanderpaul collects runs on the leg-side during his century.

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

See page 32 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2016