Guyana chronicle epaper 12 25 2016

SEE INSIDE This Barrington Braithwaite's drawing captures the scene at the birth of Jesus and the celebration of his parents Joseph and Mary along with the Holy angels.

See inside:

Christmas in the Ghetto ► Page III When Duty Calls on Christmas day ► Page

XXIII

The Adoration of the Magi ► Page XI

No. 104776

SUNDAY DECEMBER 25, 2016

Price: $140

(VAT Inclusive)

Floods recede – but wet days ahead See next edition of Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday, December 28

Pages 3&9

Renew common ties Page 14

– President urges in Christmas message

Ramjattan relaxes 2am curfew Page 2

With city streets dramatically dried off less than 24 hours after a deluge, Guyanese shoppers and vendors made merry during the traditional Christmas Eve shopping spree (Delano Williams photo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

still hopeful missing Ramjattan relaxes Family fishermen are alive 2am curfew …want case re-opened

By Navendra Seoraj

MINISTER of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan has acceded to numerous calls to relax the 2:00am curfew, effective December 24 to January 1, 2017.

During an interview with the Sunday Chronicle, Minister Ramjattan revealed that he made his decision known in a letter to Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Eddie Boyer.

In the letter, he stated, “I will relent, and convey to the appropriate authorities that there [will] be a relaxation of the 2:00 am curfew during this Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day period.”

However, it was pointed out that all other laws, especially those pertaining to drinking and driving, will be Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan thoroughly enforced, given that there dicated that they had several meetings with will be more policemen outside of partying operators from the entertainment industry spots, which Minister Ramjattan described about the 2:00 am curfew. It was noted that as “watering holes.” several overseas artistes have been booked to Recently, Minister Ramjattan had stated perform during the season and it was the fear that he would not be relaxing the curfew, of promoters that the parties would not have owing to the fact that he deemed it a “onebeen profitable if the curfew was not relaxed. time” change. However, the minister opted “We are therefore appealing to you to rescind that decision, following much for the relaxation of the 2:00am curfew pleading from the business sector. In a recent from Christmas Eve to New Year’s as was letter addressed to the minister, the PSC indone for the holiday season last year. This would not only be a relief to the operators, but would allow revellers, especially Guyanese and tourists who are visiting from abroad, to fully enjoy the experience,” the PSC had noted in its plea to Minister Ramjattan.

THE relatives of two fishermen who disappeared at sea in September last are still hopeful that the men would be found, and are calling for the police to reopen the investigation into the case.

Samuel Dabideen, the 43-year-old captain of the vessel, and his 23-year-old son Arjohn Persaud, residents of De Willem, West Coast Demerara, are feared dead after their boat capsized at sea in September. Their other two colleagues, who made it to shore alive -- 32-yearold Omadatt Basdeo, called “Budha”, of West Coast Demerara; and 35-year-old Mahesh Singh of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara,

Feared dead: Samuel Dabideen

Feared dead: Arjohn Persaud

are blaming each other for their colleagues’ disappearance.

Reports are that the men left on a fishing expedition from the shores of Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, on September 27, 2016. Respective wife and mother of the missing men, Sarita Dass, has said she still dreams of finding her husband and son alive.

“Sometimes I’m studying what they are having to eat, or where they are and if they are okay,” she told the Sunday Chronicle at her home yesterday.

want to speak with Budha.

In the new year, the police should be looking into the case,” she said.

The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) had assisted in the search for the two fishermen. Relatives were told that the captain and his son had gone missing on September 29. They said they were told that, once on the high sea, Singh was left on the larger vessel to overlook the three men, who ventured out in a smaller boat with a 1,000-pound seine to catch fish.

Singh eventually lost sight of the men, and decided to search the waters with the vessel. He gave up the search two days after the men went missing, and decided to return to Guyana, where he contacted the owner of the vessel and detailed what had occurred.

“Sometimes I’m studying what they are having to eat, or where they are and if they are okay.”

She explained that the owner of the vessel claimed that he searched for the two men in the waters off Trinidad and Barbados, but they were not found.

Dass believes that the story given by the survivors is questionable. “The police

Basdeo claimed that the boat he and the two others were in capsized, and he swam three miles before reaching the shores of Trinidad, where he sought the assistance of the police and coast guard there.

NOTICE

Dear readers, OUR staff will be on holiday for the next two days - December 25 and 26 – and, as such, there will be no publication of the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, December 26, and Tuesday, December 27. We will, however, provide you with timely updates of news and other current affairs’ issues via our online platforms: website, Facebook and twitter. Our next publication will be on Wednesday, December 28.

We take this opportunity -- on behalf of the Board, management and staff -- to wish you a safe and joyous holiday.

Wet days ahead 3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

…heavy rains predicted for four days THE Hydrometeorological office has predicted heavy rainfall on Christmas Day and it is expected to last until Wednesday, December 28, with the development of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

A statement noted that the ITCZ is slowly but steadily developing over Guyana and the Hydromet office is monitoring the development of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) which has developed along Guyana’s coast within the last 24 hours.

It was further noted that coastal and inland Guyana is likely to experience periodic, heavy downpours today during the early morning. Based on the current forecast outlook, flooding/ water accumulation are likely to be observed in

poor drainage, low-lying and riverine areas. The forecast models continue to show high moisture content in the atmosphere which lies within a favourable atmospheric environment for development of moderate to deep convective clouds.

“The forecasts favour generally overcast conditions with moderate to heavy rain for the morning into early afternoon, after which, a slow but gradual reduction in showers will be observed.”

The areas likely to be affected more are Regions Three to Five and to a lesser but still some concerns, Region Two and Northern Region Six. Rainfall in these areas (Regions Three to Five) are more likely to exceed 100 mm. The remainder of Guyana will see

values between 50.0 mm to 80.0 mm.

According to the statement, these weather patterns and conditions will continue on Monday through Wednesday with the occasional heavy downpour, where another peak in rainfall is anticipated for Wednesday over areas in Regions Seven to 10 and some coastal areas in Regions Two, four and Five.

With the forecasted weather conditions coupled with the high tides, coastal areas may experience prolonged water accumulation / flooding in poor-drainage, low- lying and riverine areas added to that of recent rains. In addition, the next period of above-normal high tides will begin from Monday, December 26, 2016.

Coastal Guyana was taken

A group of children playing in the floodwaters on Friday

by surprise by a sudden downpour which began on Thursday night and lasted practically throughout Friday, inundating literally every street in George-

town, the area that seemed hardest hit.

Government however adopted a coordinated approach to tackle the massive

flooding and the Public Infrastructure Ministry has put measures in place to bring much-needed relief to citizens.

City Hall applies for parking meter by-laws THE Georgetown Mayor and City Council will soon apply to Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan for confirmation of the Georgetown parking meters bylaws, Town Clerk Royston King has said.

In a statement issued on Saturday, King noted that the Georgetown Metered Parking By-laws have already been approved by the City Council.

“These by-laws seek to enforce general and specific measures to ensure the integrity of the Parking Meter project will be fully introduced in the City of Georgetown on January 9, 2017,” the Town

Clerk said.

Under the Municipal District Councils Act, Chap-

A demonstration of the use of the parking meter system being done by General Manager of Smart City Solutions Guyana, Carlos Gocsez (left), Accounting Manager Alicia Bess (centre) and Consulting Engineer from Mexico Enrique Maldonado (right) (file photo)

ter 28:01, section 304, the system to make by-laws are

Turn to page 9 ►

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE DecembER 25, 2016

Christmas ‘hostage’ to materialism, says Pope

POPE Francis said on Saturday that Christmas had been “taken hostage” by dazzling materialism that puts God in the shadows and blinds many to the needs of the hungry, the migrants and the war weary.

Francis, leading the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics into Christmas for the fourth time since his election in 2013, said in his Christmas Eve homily that a world often obsessed with gifts, feasting and self-centeredness needed more humility.

“If we want to celebrate Christmas authentically, we need to contemplate this sign: the fragile simplicity of a small newborn, the meekness of where he lies, the tender affection of the swaddling clothes. God

is there,” the Pope said at St. Peter’s Basilica.

At the solemn but joyous service, attended by some 10,000 people as well as dozens of cardinals and bishops, Pope Francis said the many in the wealthy world had to be reminded that the message of Christmas was humility, simplicity and mystery.

“Jesus was born rejected by some and regarded by many others with indifference,” he said.

“Today also the same indifference can exist, when Christmas becomes a feast where the protagonists are ourselves, rather than Jesus; when the lights of commerce cast the light of God into the shadows; when we are concerned for gifts, but cold toward those who are marginalised.”

He then added in unscripted remarks: “This worldliness has taken Christmas hostage. It needs to be freed.”

Security was height-

ened for the Christmas weekend in Italy and at the Vatican after Italian police killed the man believed to be responsible for the Berlin market truck at-

Pope Francis holds a statue of baby Jesus during the Christmas night Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican December 24, 2016. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

tack while other European cities kept forces on high alert.

St. Peter’s Square was cleared out six hours before the mass started at the basilica so that security procedures could be put in place for those entering the church later.

Francis, who has made defense of the poor a trademark of his papacy, said the infant Jesus should remind everyone of those suffering today, particularly children.

“Let us also allow ourselves to be challenged by the children of today’s world, who are not lying in a cot caressed with the affection of a mother and father, but rather suffer the squalid mangers that devour dignity: hiding underground to escape bombard-

ment, on the pavements of a large city, at the bottom of a boat over-laden with immigrants,” he said.

Outside the basilica, thousands of people who could not get into the largest church in Christendom watched on large screens in the chilly night.

“Let us allow ourselves to be challenged by the children who are not allowed to be born, by those who cry because no one satiates their hunger, by those who do have not toys in their hands, but rather weapons,” he said.

On Christmas Day, Francis will deliver his twice-yearly “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and to the World”) blessing and message from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. (Reuters)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Anger as Pinochet’s men seek forgiveness

Protesters say the event was a cynical, empty gesture, designed so the prisoners could secure early release REQUESTS for forgiveness have sparked anger in Chile among relatives of people tortured and killed during Augusto Pinochet’s 17-year rule.

Ten men, who are all serving long sentences for human rights abuses, asked

for forgiveness during a special Christmas Mass held inside their jail.

But campaigners said if they were truly repentant, they would reveal where some of their victims were buried.

Some 3,000 Pinochet opponents were killed during the 1970s and 1980s.

The human rights campaigners said the event was a cynical, empty gesture, designed solely so the prisoners - among them a leading member of the DINA, the general’s feared secret police - secure an early release from jail.

Some relatives chained themselves to pews at the Cathedral of Santiago to protest against the mass.

Protester Luis Andrade told the BBC: “They’ve committed crimes for which in other countries they

would have given them the lethal injection or the electric chair. They murdered people.

“They shot them, they raped them, they tortured them. My aunt herself was tortured while she was pregnant. So what do they care about us? Did they care about us when they were torturing us?”

But Catholic priest Fernando Montes, who led the service at the top-security Punta Peuco prison on the outskirts of Santiago, said none of the men had asked to be released or to have their sentences reduced they had simply asked for forgiveness.

He added: “Perhaps, from today, those people who have information about

what happened can come forward with it, and in that way help bring about justice?”

Pinochet took control of Chile in a military coup in 1973, declaring himself president the next year.

He ordered many of the purges which saw thousands killed, and many more thousands tortured and driven into exile.

Pinochet stepped down as president in 1990, as commander-in-chief of the army in 1998 and died in 2006.

But the scars of his rule still remain and, four decades on, the bodies of some of the victims have still never been found, Gideon Long reports for BBC News. (BBC)

Relatives of people killed and tortured during Augusto Pinochet’s regime protest in Santiago

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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

Christmas reflections

IT’S Christmas time again — the season of love and goodwill, when Christians and the larger community take time off to observe and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who was both of the Spirit and of flesh and blood.

Jesus is singular as a religious symbol whose influence both cuts across and transcends religion. In that sense, he is Christianity’s Gift to humanity. It is for that reason that Christmas is both a time for Christians to celebrate and for all of humanity to reflect on the meaning of universal goodness and morality. So, at this time, we, as a nation, should reflect on the true meaning and significance of Christmas and the extent to which we have veered away from them.

Unfortunately, Christmas has come to mean different things to different people. One cannot help but notice the increasing commercialization of the season -- a time for the markets to flourish and for the welloff among us to flaunt their wealth. It has also become a season for hyper-merriment, replete with the worst symbols of depravity. This is not the Jesus tradition.

His is a tradition of humility and the sharing of gifts, not as a manifestation of wealth, but as a symbol of love.

If we must return to the true roots and significance of Christmas, we must, as a society, begin to temper our attraction to the material basis upon which we think of, and celebrate, the occasion. In a larger social sense, this commercialization of the holy season and similar occasions has come to tarnish our sense of rootedness and morality.

Christmas is also a time for us to think of redemption. Jesus came amongst us to help in redeeming a world that was sliding into moral decay. In that sense, His coming was a symbol of hope for humanity: that we could overcome our challenges. As we look around our country and the world, our moment cries out for redemption. From the commodification of every area of human activity to the astronomical rise in crime and other social ills, our collective moral compass is skewed in the opposite direction from that which Jesus’s life and sacrifices have taught. Not only must we look to leaders to lead that redemption, but all of us, as children of the universe, must pitch in our lot within our families and our communities.

National redemption without personal redemption is incomplete redemption.

Jesus’s birth in a manger to poor, humble parents is another symbol that is pregnant with meaning. It is, above all, a statement that the least among us must be lifted up. The Bible records the many instances during Jesus’s sojourn on earth when he witnessed for the poor by protecting them and centring them in his messages.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE DecembER 25, 2016

The Life and influence of Jesus Dear Editor, THE life and influence of Jesus of Nazareth, The Christ, has, throughout history, always produced great changes in the lives of men and women and of all nations.

Wherever His teachings and influence have gone, there has been a multitude of other changes that have been made for the good of mankind.

Individual lives are also dramatically changed through the teachings of Jesus Christ. His works throughout His own time as teacher, healer, and His overall purpose for existence have influenced many.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16-17) We must ask ourselves some serious questions about life itself. Questions such as: Who am I? What is my purpose in this world? What can I do to contribute to society? What is my destiny after I am gone from this life? Jesus came to offer the world answers to life’s deep spiritual and moral questions. He came to save all mankind from sin, and to offer us life after death.

Jesus said to her (Martha): “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives and believe in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26.

We see the effect of His teachings in the Bible, and how His morality has shaped the minds of many good people.

Jesus began His ministry by announcing: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

His calling was based on the vision of the Kingdom of God. He shared this vision with ordinary people, fishermen and tax collectors; and seeing their potential, shaped twelve of them into a team. Jesus demonstrated His character as a servant leader, and when faced with opposition and conflict, responded with humility and

integrity.

Was that His mission? His mission was to guide us and to let us know Him. It also was to show us a better path, full of truth, so that no one who believes in Him is lost. It also was to show and to remind us of the love of His Father and what He wants for us.

Jesus Christ came to redeem humanity from sin. Jesus came to deliver truth in a world of false beliefs.

Our greatest need is a spiritual need, which we cannot fulfill with the gain in this life, such as profits or pleasure, but by lasting peace in Christ.

His mission was to change our way of thinking, so that we would know the love of God. He came, driven by an immense love, to suffer for us and to purge our sins, showing us how to live. He came to live in this world to complete His mission, which was to suffer and die for our sins on the cross.

Right now, He is in us, so we can follow His path -- full of love, like He showed us -- to have a better life, to obtain the glory in the eternal life, and to follow the commandments that He left us.

Jesus’s life and teachings influenced some of the greatest men who ever lived. His Sermon on the Mount influenced the great Mahatma Gandhi. In the words of Gandhi, he said about Jesus: “A Man who was completely innocent offered Himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including His enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.” — Mahatma Gandhi, Indian political leader (1869-1948).

Mother Theresa said the following about Jesus: “I believe in person-to-person. Every person is Christ for me, and since there is only one Jesus, that person is the one person in the world at that moment.” — Mother Theresa.

“Jesus Christ was an extremist for love, truth and goodness.” — Martin Luther King Jr., These are just a few people. The illustrious Billy Graham preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to over one billion people around the world face-to-face. He is one of the greatest preachers and international scholars, and is still alive today at age 98.

It is another area of life in which we have moved away from the Jesus way. The poor in our midst are reduced to statistics, and are often treated as menaces. The massive accumulation of wealth is matched by a larger accumulation of poverty.

This is something that Jesus turned His face against, and if we must properly celebrate His birth and His life, we must renew our commitment to the poor by vowing to fight against poverty in the new year.

Jesus is also a symbol of togetherness — the solidarity of human beings, despite differences. Humanity based on human segregation is pregnant with the temptation and actuality of domination and ‘otherization’. Jesus’s very birth and life are lessons of the equality and interconnectedness of human beings. Our country has struggled to achieve that equilibrium of equality and solidarity in our diverse national self. Perhaps we could draw strength from the uplifting Christmas Story in that regard.

One of the greatest scientists of our time, who is widely studied universally, said the following about Jesus: “I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene. Jesus is too colossal for the pen of phrase-mongers, however artful”. He further added: “No man can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life. Theseus and other heroes of his type lack the authentic vitality of Jesus.” — Albert Einstein – Scientist and Mathematician.

Today the Gospel of Jesus Christ has produced over one billion followers and believers in Jesus Christ. Jesus came to teach us the philosophy of love and forgiveness for all. Charles Dickens, one of the greatest English novelists, said these profound words about Jesus: “I commit my soul to the mercy of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I now most solemnly impress upon you the truth and beauty of the Christian religion as it came from Christ Himself, and the impossibility of going far wrong if you humbly but heartily respect it.” — Charles Dickens, British writer, 1812-1870.

The illustrious William Shakespeare wrote his Epitaph with the following words using Jesus’s Name: “Good friend for Jesus sake forbear, To dig the dust enclosed here.

Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones.”

Shakespeare also mentioned this magnificent statement in his Will.

“First, I commend my Soul into the hands of God, my Creator, hoping and assured believing through the only merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the Earth whereof it was made.”

As we commemorate another Christmas, let us be reminded that Jesus’s teachings are for all Mankind from all walks of life.

God bless you all.

Yours truly, REV. GIDEON CECIL

Finally, the Christian church and other religious denominations have their work cut out in trying to return our society and the world to some degree of moral order. In some regards, the church has not itself been constant in its ambassadorship for Christ. In some instances, it has allowed money and the lure of attracting followers to taint the moral message of Jesus. There are also instances in which the church has become victim and purveyor of secular ideologies, rather than being the moral compass of our society. This is also a time of reflection for the church.

Yet, even as we reflect, we should celebrate this moment, both as memory and thanksgiving. Christmas comes at the end of the year — a time when we count our blessings and prepare for the year ahead. So, as we eat, drink and make merry, remember the true meaning of Christmas, and vow to be true to its lessons going forward.

Merry Christmas to all!

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Corruption at New Highway Producers Cooperative Society Limited

Dear Editor,

IN January 2009, I, the undersigned, and thirteen (13) others approached the then official of the abovenamed Co-op for five-acre plots of land to do a range of farming activities -- chickens, pigs, fish, and cultivating crops that would grow. We chose to go as a group because our individual produce would collectively benefit us.

The official informed us that before we could be issued the five-acre plots, we must all apply for house lots, the cost of one being one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

The house lot would be half of an acre, and on becoming members via this acquisition, we would then be eligible to acquire the farmlands.

The group agreed, made application, and in excess of one million, five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) was paid. The official issued each of us a temporary receipt, and told us that as soon as the committee of management meets, we would be given our lots along with our official letters of membership. We were also asked to submit our business proposals, which we did, so the committee could speed up its process.

The official told us to beware of two specific committee members because they were known to ‘dip their hands in the cookie jar’.

After six (6) months and we didn’t get a response from the official, we did some investigation and found out that, for as long as she was on the committee, this kind of transaction has been happening. I approached her, told her what we heard, and told her she would have to repay everyone.

I asked most of her unsuspecting victims why they hadn’t highlighted what she was doing to warn others. Some of the women said it was because she was a woman, while others said they were afraid of being victimised.

I must say that this is a part

of Guyanese culture that worries me. When things are to be done right, it’s either a cuss-out or silence.

Between June and July of 2010, the official repaid everyone, except me, their money. She refused to return my two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000). Her words to me were that she would teach me a lesson for highlighting what she did, and I could tell or do what I liked about it.

In November 2010, Committee Member One was approached on the matter. I told him of my plan to highlight in the dailies what was happening. He advised me to take another line of action: write to the management committee a complaint against the official on the matter, and also re-apply for membership. He said that the negative publicity would harm the Society.

To my detriment, I heeded his advice; and with his assistance I made a formal complaint against the official to the committee. In hindsight, Committee Member One was helpful, since his intention was to get rid of the official, since I now know they were all guilty of the same behaviour.

In December 2010, I was told by Committee Member One that the committee couldn’t take any action to assist me with a refund of my money, since the receipt issued by the official was not from the Society’s receipt book. He also indicated that I needed to redo my application, since the one submitted had some typographic errors.

I re-applied on Feb 26, 2011. I have copies of that application. In December 2011, Committee Member One contacted me and informed me that someone was willing to transfer their five acres because they no longer wanted it.

I was shown a blue two- bedroom house with a verandah that the owner (named) had on a quarter of the five-acre plot of farmland. They were asking 3.8 million, since this named person wanted to recov-

er the money spent to build the house. He is now dead. I was told that Committee Member One had all the receipts for the construction of the house, since he was either the contractor or sub-contractor, and he was willing to make them available to me.

The following day, I received a call from someone (named), who claimed he was the original owner of the plot, and it was sub-divided by Committee Member One, with the other named person getting 1/4, Committee Member Two 1/4 and he getting 1/2. Note that Committee Member Two also owns a five- acre plot.

This individual indicated that if I was interested, he and Committee Member Two were also willing to throw in their portion for the giveaway price of 12M. This individual further instructed me that if I was willing to pay then, payment of $10M must be made to him, and $2M to another named individual.

This plot of land, according to Committee Member Two and this individual, was bought for their religious group. They had intended to build huts on the five-acre plot and use it for one week, then leave the huts to rot for one year, and do the same every year. They have been doing this for over nine (9) years.

This was strange to me, because to acquire five acres at that time would cost less than $50,000. One of my relatives who resides abroad was interested in a piece of land at the time, but on hearing what the price they were asking for the land, the relative decided against it, since he felt it was extortion.

Committee Member Two, one named individual and I were no longer friends, as a result of my not buying the land.

I stayed in the building for two reasons: (1) The hope that the committee of management would review its decision and issue me a five-acre plot for my business; and (2) To prevent Committee Member Two

and this named individual, who wanted to dismantle the building so there would be no trace of their deal.

Finally, in December 2012, Committee Member One showed me to a five-acre plot of land next to the village well.

He told me that nobody wanted it, and it has been vacant for forty (40) years -- a very long time -- and I could occupy it and start my business. He also advised that I speak with an official of the Interim Management Committee for the paperwork. I said “Thank you Lord, in Jesus’ Name”, now that the committee of management was finally doing the right thing.

I immediately got workers to clear the front of the land. In the meantime, I received the number of the official of the Interim Management Committee from Committee Member One, and made contact with her, requesting the paperwork which would allow me to approach Lands and Surveys to finally start processing my lease. She invited me over on Old Year’s Day 2012 to a ‘villa’ she has set up in Kuru Kuru. She ordered some food from me, and told me that as long as I ‘come up to scratch’ with her orders for food, she had a proposal for me. I ‘came up to scratch’ and she came with her driver to get me and take me to her place.

She was entertaining friends from overseas. We chit-chatted, they ate and drank, and then I was told that the processing fee would be $118,000, and I should go to her place in Alberttown the following week to pay.

She then said to Committee Member One that she hoped he had not given me any of the plots she wanted for her people. I did go to her place, and to my surprise, she showed me some electrical stuff, torch light, tablets and herbal medicine which she wanted me to take to the ‘interior’ to sell for her, and in return she would do the paperwork for me. I simply told her she is in public office and that’s not one of the requirements. She became angry and very loud, and asked me

Election of mayor and deputy Dear Editor,

THE circus performance that was recently carried out in the Council’s Chamber at City Hall in Georgetown, which was referred to as the election of mayor and deputy mayor, could have rivalled ‘the Greatest Show on Earth’ put on by

the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.

The only difference is that, at the real circus, one experiences the heart-pounding thrill that comes from watching death-defying feats, majestic animals, and amazing performers in a spectacular live event that will mesmerize the senses and create memo-

ries to be shared for generations to come; whilst at City Hall’s circus, one could only be filled with disgust, embarrassment and disappointment, and hope to have the revolting experience removed from one’s memory the minute one has left City Hall.

Watching the Town Clerk strut around in a black funeral

director’s suit was sickening, and one could only wonder where he had left his top hat as he carried out his duties as Ringmaster, or should I say Ringleader of the ceremony.

This charade was an affront to democracy, and should have been called a selection rather than an election; as, clearly, the council-

to give her back the form that she had given me, and that she wouldn’t do anything for me.

Interestingly, the new chairman for the Society has since graded the same land, dumped some burnt cane waste on it, and planted coconut trees, cassava and a few other things.

I asked how come I applied in 2009, 2010, 2011, and I did not get the land; and I was told by a former member of the committee that Committee Member One did not give it to me because I didn’t pass anything (money). This leaves me to believe that the new chairman passed something. I still do not have any land to do my business.

I asked Committee Member One, sometime in the past, what had happened to all my applications. I was told that the Co-op village house had been vandalized and all documents had been stolen, and soon after the computer had crashed.

When our group approached the New Highway Producers Cooperative Society in 2009 through the treasurer, Committee Member One, Committee Member Two and official of the Interim Management Committee, it was because we always knew that a co-operative society promotes business and entrepreneurship, and felt the area was best, since there would be space for growth. No home, village, community, town or country in this world can exist on earth without some form of currency.

Even as I write this letter, Committee Member Two, a named individual and Committee Member One have found the money to repurchase the property from the named (deceased) individual’s brother. Committee Member Two and Committee Member One, along with the others on the Committee, can sign the papers in one day, but for seven years they could not find my application to sign off on it. I am being asked to first move off the property they wanted to dismantle so badly before

the deal could be sealed, and I was given until December 10, 2016.

The present official said, “Big fishes on the Committee of Management eating up all the small fishes”, and even though he is aware of this, nothing was done to stop it.

The official has two house lots, Committee Member Two has five acres, Committee Member One has five acres, the official of the Interim Management Committee has five acres plus, and now the new chairman has scrambled five acres, even though he has other land in the co-op.

Information gathered from past members of the co-op’s committee indicates that Committee Member Two is the chief mastermind, with solicited help from Committee Member One; and they put a named individual as the front man, and a just-formed religious group to hold on to the five acres that the house is on, so when the time is right they would sell it. They cannot deny that they have tried selling it off twice, once to the brother of the deceased individual, and then to me.

In all fairness, since they have not found a suitable lot for me, they should let me pay the official price for it and be given a chance to set up my business, which they have delayed for so long. The decisions of these persons have cost me so much. The younger generation eagerly needs positive leadership. I see this every day.

I write this letter on behalf of the hundreds of persons who have been cheated by these persons in this co-op. I had hoped for a resolution at the committee of management level, but to no avail.

Finally, I am asking the Minister of Cooperatives in Guyana to call a general meeting of the abovenamed Society, to help set things right

lors who, due to a lack of confidence and suspicion of each other quickly discharged the option of a secret ballot, were instructed on whom to vote for.

Until and unless the citizens can vote directly for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the City shall go nowhere.

There will always be lobbying, begging and manoeuvring behind the scenes. And there would be no forensic audit.

The door will always

be closed to young, bright, outspoken, ambitious persons in favour of old party hacks who can be controlled from the back like a puppet show. The saddest thing is that, after finally getting rid of one monster after 21 years of achieving nothing in our capital, we seem to be grooming another one.

Respectfully, ANDREW CHANCE

Best regards, JERMAIN JOHNSON

8

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Embrace the teachings of Christ

– move away from the materialism of Christmas, urges Pastor McGowan

By Ariana Gordon CHRISTIANS globally celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25; but even though it is a traditional celebration, the secular world has removed the significance of the observance by focusing on material things.

Pastor of the South Road Full Gospel Church, Dr. Winston McGowan, believes there needs to be a diversion from materialistic values to the observance of the “real meaning of Christmas”.

“Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ; and for Christians, Christ is a very special person,” said Pastor McGowan.

He explained that Jesus Christ is not simply a “good man” or prophet, as many would refer to Him, but is the Son of God, “a unique person”.

“But today’s secular world, especially the developed world, has been trying to divert from Christ as much as possible, to marginalise Him,” Pastor Mc Gowan said. According to the pastor, the diversion began with persons referring to Christmas as “XMAS”, something he does not subscribe to. McGowan told Guyana Chronicle that X is an unknown quantity in mathematics, and Christians believe that Christ is known, and is special and unique.

“People are saying, ‘Happy holidays!’ and all kinds of things, but that doesn’t say anything about Christ and the true meaning of Christmas,”

he noted. He reminded of the common cliché: “Jesus is the reason for the season”, and noted that Christians are trying to maintain the significance of the occasion.

“We see Christ as a Saviour who has come to save mankind from all the evil consequences…the things that make life unpalatable: sickness, sorrow, death…

Christ came in the world to die [for us]… We are interested in putting back Christ in the Christmas; He is the real reason for the season,” the Pastor explained.

Pastor McGowan stressed that Christmas is about Christ, and moreso the celebration of His birth, rather than the extensive shopping that occurs during the season.

Asked to explain how the Christ can be restored in Christmas, Pastor McGowan said restoring that which has been lost will not be an easy task.

SPIRITUAL, AND NOT SECULAR He said it is important for focus to be restored on Christ. Emphasis must be placed on Him, Pastor McGowan said, and whenever the word Christmas is mentioned, it should be spiritual, and not secular. “…so you have got to reverse what the world has been doing -- trying to substitute Christ. It would be difficult, because if you follow the developed world, it would be [hard to break away]. The developed world economically is stronger,

Pastor Winston McGowan

they are ahead of so many things, and so you are fighting against a world which is advanced.”

Pastor McGowan admitted that the fight would be one against “strong odds”, but he said Christians like himself must not give up. He argued that under-developed countries like Guyana must look away from the developed world if they are to maintain moral and spiritual values.

“You won’t find it in the developed world,” he stated, while noting that developing societies tend to adopt the cultures of developed countries easily, based on the influence. The Western world dominates and has a “hold over the world,” he said.

“In the under-developed world it would be harder, because you are fighting against the influence of the developed world. That’s who we look to for guidance, and we don’t understand that there is no guidance where spiritual things and moral

things are concerned.”

McGowan made it clear that nothing is wrong with following the lead of the developed world when it comes to technology, economics and the like; but taking their lead in moral and spiritual matters are of no use, he said.

“You have to distinguish the source of influence… If you want technology, ideas for the economy and strategies, you can get it from them; but if you’re talking about spirituality and morality, we’ve got to delink ourselves,” he said, reminding that it is the developed world that finances under-developed countries.

EMBRACE CHRIST’S TEACHINGS Pastor McGowan’s Christmas message to Guyanese is: Enjoy Christmas insofar as the enjoyment is an exaltation of what Christ stood for.

“Insofar as we understand the reason for the season; so we won’t say, for

example, drink until you’re drunk; that is not what Christ would have stood for. We could enjoy it in a healthy way. A way in which we help each other, we love each other, and be good to each other won’t do any harm to each other,” he remarked.

Christmas has become commercialized, and according to the Fully Gospel pastor, it is a spiritual season wherein God gave His son, the Greatest Gift to humanity (Christians).

“You have to see what the focus and motive is.

People do the right thing sometimes for the wrong reasons. Every businessman, no matter what faith he belongs to, he’d want to capitalise on Christmas.” However, the season is far removed from commercial and materialistic activities, Pastor McGowan said.

He described Christmas as a joyous season, because “Christ came to do what nobody else did…it gives us a feeling of joy. This is a season of joy. He came to bring joy, peace, and that is Who the world needs badly.”

Asked whether he believes that youths ought to be targeted for the reversal of the secular culture associated with Christmas, Pastor McGowan said “yes”.

But he said youths are part of the wider culture, and he noted that there is need for the older folks to change the national culture.

He posited that the challenge is great, but noted that the actions of the young often mirror that of the adults

in their lives. “They learn what they see (in) the wider society,” he told Guyana Chronicle.

The world is becoming increasingly materialistic, and according to Dr. McGowan, dealing with an age that is materialistic is not an easy task.

His advice is to “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things (material things) would be added”.

“Materialism is a philosophy that says what is important is money and what money can buy, and that is the philosophy of the world.

So when young people become materialistic, they are just embracing a wider philosophy that they have gotten from the world, that older people embrace but the manifestation may be different from young to old and so on,” McGowan added.

He said that narrowing the focus down to youth is not going to be effective if the values of the old are not being maintained. He said that with the advent of varying kinds of rights, the children and the young have more freedoms.

“God has made the world as one, with responsibilities; but [now] everybody has rights. There is nothing new about this, but it is becoming progressively worse, and the world is becoming more and more secular -- more materialistic, more a world of pleasure,” he said, as he expressed hopes that, overtime, the significance of Christmas would be recognised by all.

‘Life threatening’ roads on Linden Highway …due to heavy rainfall CONSTANT pressure from heavy-duty lumber and other trucks, coupled with the recent heavy downpours, has, over the past few weeks, caused severe eroding of the surface and foundation of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, resulting in numerous breakaways and several minor accidents, given that drivers are not aware of these eroded ‘holes’.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has received several reports of such accidents and has since officially informed drivers of the situation, advising drivers to proceed with caution in the vicinity

of Kairuni, Yarrowkabra, Amelia’s Ward and Kara Kara.

Several breakages were temporarily corrected by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) over the past months, but the heavy downpours have now caused the curb walls at sections of the highway to be completely eroded, and the entire foundation of the thoroughfare is now void. A few months ago, breakages at Moblissa and Loo Creek resulted in water gushing into the yards of residents, thus eroding the foundations of their houses.

Eroded roadway at Amelia’s Ward

Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian has described the situation as life-threatening.

He is particularly concerned with the breakaway at Kara

Kara, since it is located on a slope in reasonably close proximity to the Kara Kara Creek.

Turn to page 9 ►

A minor accident occurred at the eroded hole at Kairuni

9

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Floods recede GPL to aggressively …except in Albouystown and South Ruimveldt

James Street in Albouystown was under water on Friday, but the flooding has since receded significantly

THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC)says it has completed its assessment of the areas affected by flooding following Friday’s heavy downpour.

CDC Head, Colonel (ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup, told the Guyana Chronicle that because the flood waters would have completely receded within 24 hours, except in Albouystown and South Ruimveldt, there has been no need to offer relief.

Although the water would have receded significantly in Albouystown and South Ruimveldt, there are some residents in those Georgetown wards who are still affected.

In regions One, Three and Six, flood waters have completely receded, Colonel Ramsarup told this news-

paper.

Torrential rainfall coupled with an unusually high tide had resulted in massive flooding across the City on Friday, with Albouystown being among the communities hardest hit. Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson explained that the unexpected 12 hours of heavy rainfall, which started at about 23:00h on Thursday, had resulted in the accumulation of between three and four inches of rainfall.

“It was unexpected,” he said, even as he pointed out that the Hydromet Office had given no indication that there would have been between 75 and 100mm of rainfall on Friday. In fact, the Hydromet Office had initially told Guyanese to expect “partly cloudy to cloudy

skies, with scattered showers throughout Guyana”.

A high tide had complicated the situation with the heavy and constant showers.

It was explained that sluices are normally opened for a period of six hours to allow the water to recede; however, with the high tide in effect, the time was reduced to about three hours.

On Friday, the sluices were opened from 04:00hrs to 09:00hrs, before being reopened at about 15:00hrs up until 18:00hr. As a result of the combined situation, the flood waters receded slower than normally obtains, Minister Patterson noted. He explained that the drainage system is not designed to accommodate that extensive volume of water.

‘Life threatening’...

“Apart from this, there are other breakages on the road because of the rain.

(Those) would have to be fixed right away; (they) are posing serious threats to life and limb (and) to vehicular traffic on the road,” Morian posited.

He had, a few months ago, suggested that a walkthrough of the entire highway be done by the MPI to enable that ministry to ascertain the weak points on the highway.

“So, first thing I would recommend here is that the (MPI) do a walkthrough survey; look at the stress points and threatening areas, so that (they) can do corrective work,” he stated.

Concerns have also been raised about the other factors responsible for the degradation of the road, such as residents removing sections of the highway’s curb walls to make driveways to their homes or pathways to their villages.

It has also been alleged that lumber trucks would drive over the curb walls to park off of the road; and this,

From page 8

cut losses next year THE loss reduction component of the $1.6B Management Strengthening Programme of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is expected to be rolled out in January 2017, Mr. Renford Homer, acting GPL Chief Executive Officer, has said.

Cabinet had, last September, signalled its no-objection to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the European Union (EU) funded project, which was awarded to Manitoba Hydro International Limited (MHI).

Speaking during a recent press conference at GPL’s Kingston Head Office, Homer disclosed that MHI has been presented with a draft copy of the contract for the purpose of review, and it is likely that the contract would soon be signed. “So we can expect to see (MHI) on the ground within the first quarter of 2017,” he has posited.

MHI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manitoba Hydro, one of the largest and longest-standing energy utilities in Canada. The company assists power utilities, Governments, and private sector clients around the world in the efficient, effective, and sustainable delivery of electricity and natural gas.

Utilising the experience and human resources of its parent, Manitoba Hydro, MHI has provided utility and asset management, consulting and training solutions to over 75 countries worldwide.

The GPL Management Strengthening Programme has two components. Component one is designed to im-

GPL Chief Executive Officer (ag), Renford Homer

prove the capacity of GPL’s management, while component two will focus on loss reduction.

GPL had, in March, indicated that its technical and commercial losses in 2015 had amounted to approximately 29.2 per cent of dispatched power. Those losses were as a result of disruption in transmission and distribution, due to aged infrastructure as well as electricity theft, meter tampering and other non-technical losses. GPL had, at the time, indicated that it was actively addressing the situation, and had approved a capital programme of $9.5B that was intended to replace old generating assets, construct and upgrade substations, expand and upgrade the transmission and distribution network, and expand smart metering, among other things.

The power company had also alluded to the Management Programme, being financed by the IDB with grant funding from the EU. This programme is intended

to strengthen management, improve operational efficiencies, and reduce losses.

“The company recognises that there is some level of public dissatisfaction with its services, and is committed to actively addressing all issues relating to this, including faster response times to customer queries; more efficient delivery of services; ensuring the integrity of its officers, both internal and contracted; delivery of timely billing and information, amongst others,” GPL had said.

It added: “Our customers are the ultimate stakeholders, and therefore (we are) requesting the public’s patience and understanding. Additionally, the company’s significant losses due to electricity theft, tampering of meters, meter by-passes and other forms of dishonesty result in higher operating costs; and GPL is requesting the help of the public in reporting and addressing these matters.”

City Hall applies for parking...

The erosion at Yarrowkabra

after a period of time, would have destroyed the road.

On a visit to the highway on Saturday, this newspaper observed visible dents and cracks along the road. One civil engineer explained that those are as a result of the highway not having a solid foundation; and it has been made clear that with the continuous pressure from vehicular traffic, especially the heavy duty trucks plying the Georgetown to interior locations, the highway may soon cave in at various areas.

The Region 10 Road Safety Organization had recently called for logs to be

transported by river, so as to save the only thoroughfare connecting Region Four to Region Ten and to several other interior regions.

Regional officials have also called for the highway to be equipped with lights, since visibility on the highway is very limited at night, especially when foggy conditions are prevalent.

Drivers are, further, calling on the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to repair the eroded sections earliest, as the inclement weather during the Christmas season may result in road accidents.

stipulated and explained to facilitate such legal arrangements, within the Georgetown municipality.

It was pointed out that subsection (1) (a) gives the Council the power to make by-laws “for regulating any of the things which the Council is empowered to do, establish, maintain, carry on, control, manage, regulate and prescribe fees, charges, licences and permits (including the condition thereof), in respect of any such things.”

King noted that copies of these by-laws are available at the offices of the mayor, town clerk and City Constabulary at reasonable hours (Monday-Friday 09:00 hrs – 16:00 hrs.), for public inspection without payment.

However, it was further

noted that anyone who is desirous of a copy of the said by-laws or of any part thereof, could obtain same from the office of the town clerk for the sum of $3000.

“These by-laws are available for public inspection without payment for a period of 14 days commencing from Wednesday, December 28, 2016 – Monday January 10, 2017.”

Currently, parking is free in strategic locations; however, paid parking will take effect from January 9, 2017.

Officials of Smart City Solutions, the company which has been contracted to do the parking meter project, said they are currently sensitising drivers and other commuters on the use of the meters and how it could be operated.

From page 3

Drivers will be required to purchase “parking cards” from the Smart City Office or other vendors, in order to park at a designated area and will be required to pay $50 for every 15 minutes or $200 for every hour. The prices were approved by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

The parking cards will be available for either long or short-term use and drivers will be required to refill the card for a specific value. After inserting the card, a receipt will follow which drivers must place on the front windscreen, so inspectors will see that the spot was paid for.

It was also noted that drivers will pay for parking from Monday to Saturday only, between 07:00 hrs – 19:00 hrs.

10

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

It wasn’t a dull year

TIME is fleeting, the years come and go and here we are, approaching the end of 2016. This year, like the others, has not been without ups and down, but amid all of this, there was hardly a dull moment.

Some of these were sparked by pronouncements or decisions by public officials and they either generated a heated debate or caused much laughter. And of course, some with a little spin will leave you cracking up with laughter.

Here we go. We look at a few, and in no particular order in which they happened.

And making the first cut is Pope Emanuel better known as Pope London.

We are not certain when London, who was dressed in lily white, was sworn in as the first Black Pope in this part of the hemisphere, if he created history or it was a high-story.

This mortal, according to his followers, has performed so many miracles, that you would want to believe that he is second to Jesus.

London could get you a visa; London could get your court matter

PPP General-Secretary Clement Rohee

dismissed; London could turn back a hurricane; London could fix your hernia and could even get women pregnant, just to name a few of the things that London could do.

Now, that is like a man telling a woman that he loves her so much that he can kill a dead lion, and she

measures proposed and enacted

by Jordan.

Jagdeo too weighed in on the budget. And for him, nothing seems right. The Opposition Leader is always into some analysis, theory and methodology. Like he believes he is the only scholar, but he forgot Ministers Nicolette Henry and Annette Ferguson, two erudite scholars, are still around.

For some people, the budget is plenty, plenty problems. For

Pope Emmanuel London

reacts by giving him a big cheerful grin.

Of course, none of these ‘miracles’ we could verify, except some video and photographic evidence which seem to suggest some naked truths that London is a porno pope, steeped in the gospel of pleasure.

Well from what we saw, the man seems to have the guile of an apex predator in the wild, with a unique methodology of dealing with evil.

Some people pray and cast them out, but London beds them out. So many things happen in the church nowadays that you could hardly tell who is Jesus from Judas.

Next. We move to the budget, and all hail the Jordanite. The Finance Minister has a personal record that is difficult to emulate.

Three quick budgets in two years, but the economy is still slow.

GuySuCo sucking the sweet out of the treasury, rice prices not nice, and some other sectors in a bind; thanks to mining which has ensured that we are not far behind.

In situations like these, Governments have to find alternative ways to garner revenues, but some are peeved with the raising and introduction of new taxes, including Bheri Ramsarran.

If he could, we are quite certain he would slap and strip all of the unattractive and unpopular tax

Amna Ally and Health Minister Dr George Norton now have some serious work to do to ensure healthy togetherness.

If they don’t, the situation will become as unhealthy as City Hall.

Because, during the recently concluded 12-round match between Royston King and Sherod Duncan, a lot of tugging and bugging happened and it has dampened the image of the city.

It was Duncan for the vendors, King against; King for the Parking Meters, Duncan against; King driving car, Duncan who’s busy on his bicycle, wants car too; and according to Duncan, democracy is at work.

Well, he lucky he did not park his ‘kangalang’ recklessly, because King would have seized it, cut it up

Social Cohesion Minister, Amna Ally

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Dr Frank Anthony, it is so much so that it is even taxing safe sex, something which can have some very serious consequences.

We don’t really agree with Dr Anthony, but we believe he is right on this one. This Government has spoken ad nauseam about coming together, but yet still they are instituting a measure that will make ‘coming together’ unsafe.

Social Cohesion Minister

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton PPP Member of Parliament, Dr Frank Anthony

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

into manageable pieces and deposit it in the city’s junk yard.

Luckily, for the short man, this did not happen but unfortunately, a political featherweight, he was unable to survive at the end of the 12th round.

But there is a man who was part of the lost and yet he is surviving and climbing.

Jagdeo presided over the weakening of the PPP when he banished some of the old guards. The PPP moved from a majority Government, to a minority Government to a party in opposition, and like Har-

mon, he got ‘no apology to make.’

Jagdeo emerged as boss at the last congress and some people in the party who want change would probably see some changes.

Our dear friend Clement Rohee will need his political DNA to ‘kick’ in to ensure ‘goat ain’t bite he again’, to be able to hold on to his general-secretary post.

Jagdeo from what we hear is gunning for the post, and enjoys a tight bond with the flock, one that should make Dr Norton proud, as there is not much controversy involved.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Aviation Authority audited

…as it works towards Category One status

AS the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) works to strengthen its capacity, a recent audit of the country’s umbrella aviation body is seen as an encouraging sign, given the fact that it is working towards achieving Category One aviation status.

The GCAA’s operations were audited recently by the International Civil Aviation

the prospect of employing experts to assist in further strengthening of its capacity, adding that the government has placed its full support behind development of the sector.

Subsequent to the audit, Fields said the ICAO auditor expressed satisfaction with the body’s performance. He said the assessor observed that Guyana is moving “in

Organisation (ICAO) to ensure compliance with the international body’s standards and recommended practices.

At a press briefing, GCAA’s Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Egbert Fields, noted that the aviation body is working overtime towards developing its status.

“We just completed an audit to determine where Guyana is in terms of com-

pliance,” he said of the audit.

He told the press that the results of the audit saw Guyana achieving 64.44 per cent, a marked improvement from the 44.44 per cent which it had scored previously. He said the recent score is above average for the Caribbean.

According to Fields, the oversight systems within the GCAA are being examined as key towards advancement

of the body’s status. “We are moving forward by trying to establish a robust oversight system, a robust authority,” he said.

On the contrary, he said that if the body does not strengthen its position, it would not be able to face the challenges which could arise in another two to three years.

According to Fields, the GCAA is looking towards

the right direction”, and the official pointed to training as well as the acquisition of additional skills as pivotal to enhancing the semi-autonomous body.

On the ground, work is afoot to develop the training capacity of Air Traffic Controllers. Director of Air Navigation Services, Rickford Samaroo, told the media at the Turn to page 11 ►

Voices of youth 11

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

– how they will be spending Christmas

By Vishani Ragobeer CHRISTMAS is the time of year when everyone celebrates the season in his/her own special way. Most commonly, persons spend the day with their friends and families and enjoy the special Guyanese Christmas cuisine.

Speaking to some folk of the younger generation, they highlighted what this season means to them and how they would be spending Christmas, today.

Sixteen-year-old Sarah Dos Ramos says, “Christmas is most definitely my favourite time of the year. I always start anticipating it from October.”

Sarah highlighted, “For me, Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ and focusing on why he came into the world,” but joked,

According to another 17-yearold, Ronaldo McGarrell, “Christmas is a time of celebration. Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ is special, since He was the one to come to earth and die for my sins. He made

Christmas treats.

Giving insight into Christmas Day celebrations in Region One, Collins said: “Here in Port Kaituma, we hardly eat pepperpot with bread, as cassava bread is a tradition for all,” while James said, “Then as night settles in the real party begins, every disco is packed and music plays until the morning light.

Everyone goes home in broad daylight to prepare to do it all again on Boxing Day!” “Christmas in Port Kaituma is one big party,” they both chimed.

“Everyone knows everyone, there is so much togetherness; the festive atmosphere of people laughing and joking with each other is so contagious, that you can’t help but smile with everyone,” Collins told Guyana Chronicle.

“Christmas is that time of year when Guyanese unite to celebrate two of the most important things in life: Jesus Christ...and food,” said Joash Gobin, 17.

her church services and spending time with her loved ones, Geer noted that this season she intends joining with the youth group of her church and the Queen’s College Interact Club to give back to the community.

She feels that any such act of giving back, no matter how insignificant you may feel it is, will have some great impact.

“As youths we often feel that our efforts may not be significant, but this isn’t so. The Lord sees every baby step,” she contended, adding “Making someone happy gives a greater feeling than getting that new phone you wanted. It gives a greater feeling to see someone’s tears of joy.”

“Christmas is that one time of the year where all your relatives come back and everyone is just always in a good mood. It’s like this one season where everyone is just family,” says Renuka Tiwari.

mas party, so that is guaranteed to be fun,” she exclaimed. Besides that, she intends on spending the usual family time sharing good stories and just having sheer fun.

For Cristal Lam, Christmas is about spending time with family and some friends, it’s about peace, love, harmony and the sharing, and it’s a time when we’re reminded about the birth of Jesus Christ.

“Over the years, I think we’ve lost the Christmas spirit,” she reflected, noting “It’s not the whole big, festive season as it used to be.”

She recalled that as a child, masqueraders would come around in her village or groups would pass around caroling. “Last year I didn’t see any of these,” she said sadly.

Despite all of this, she remains optimistic that today, on Christmas, her plans for Christmas is nothing big.

“I plan on spending it very quiet and simple with my family.

Nothing big and fancy; just the regular cooking and baking that Christmas usually entails.”

the ultimate sacrifice of giving His life for me, so His birthday means a lot to me.”

Today, he disclosed that he will be attending church to start off his Christmas Day celebrations before spending the rest of the day with his family.

“Christmas is a time to come together and be happy without forgetting the real reason for the season,” he underscored.

“Christmas is a religious and cultural day meant to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This holiday is important to me as a Christian and as a youth, because it signifies

“That’s not to say I don’t want gifts, though.”

“My family normally begins our Christmas in late November by playing music and cleaning, so by the first week in December we would have already finished decorating,” she said.

Similarly in her church, she noted that they try to decorate early because there are a lot of activities in December like a Christmas concert, Sunday school party, church party and caroling.

“Even though my Christmas is busy, I always try to make time for the most important thing for me... my family.”

Teenage cousins, Felicia Collins and Chelsea James, say despite living and going to school in Georgetown throughout most of the year, they would be spending Christmas in their home community of Port Kaituma, Region One. They explained that people from neighbouring mining communities such Arakaka, Matthew’s Ridge and Baramita flock the ‘Waterfront’ to shop their goods to make pepperpot, ginger beer, cassava bread and other

Christmas will be especially enjoyable to him and his siblings, as his mother will be returning home after teaching abroad for some time now.

“There’s so much laughter and good fun and of course, the usual Guyanese bacchanals.”

This year, Tiwari said she’ll be spending her Christmas a little different. “I’m being an elf for the Guyana Red Cross annual Christ-

Aviation Authority...

Today, Joash said that he would be spending the day with his family-- his mother, father, two brothers and sister.

He said his family usually spends Christmas Day revelling in a Guyanese Christmas manner -- enjoying the scrumptious dishes only found in Guyana such as the black cake, pepperpot and the ginger beer and watching the classic Christmas movies- like Home Alone!

Joash also highlighted that this

the birth of my Lord and Saviour.

Christ was born to die for my sins and a sacrifice like that deserves to be recognised,” Rebecca Geer said.

In addition to attending all of

briefing that the semi-autonomous body was given the green-light by the government to purchase a stateof-the-art simulator. He said that the equipment will be used to train new controllers as well as recurring training for practising controllers.

Meanwhile, Manager of the GCAA training school, Courtney Frank, noted that the selection of eight newly trained controllers came from an initial batch of 14 persons. He said the batch of eight has successfully progressed through

From page 10

the system as a batch.

“So we selected this batch, because we felt that they were ready,” he added. The new controllers will be added to the roster of the GCAA’s ATC operations at Timehri and at Ogle. Jamaica’s aviation sector was chosen for the training, since it was seen as the most competitively priced institution at the time of selection.

Frank said another 35 persons are currently undergoing training to enter the profession.

By river or trail

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By Navendra Seoraj

AS YOU contemplate the trip to the small Indigenous village of Moraikobai, situated in the upper reaches of the Mahaicony river in the agriculturally rich Region Five, there are two options available to you: travel by river or travel by trail.

You’d be hard pressed to find a place with more natural resources and an expanse of white sand, which kisses the edge of the river and contrasts deeply with the black waters of the Francois Creek.

If you choose to travel by river, the trip starts at the stelling at the confluence of the Mahaicony River, where the Police Station commands a view of the speedboats plying their trade. A fun fact to know is that the Mahaicony

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

– the journey to little Moraikobai

gion Five with Region Six. Travelling 96 miles up the Mahaicony river entails roughly two and a half hours of smooth sailing, in which one can hear the sweet chirp of birds like the Canje Pheasant, Guyana’s National Bird, and those that flock the trees overhanging both sides of the river, eating fruit as soon as they ripen.

Roaring as it goes along, the noise of the speedboat awakens the wilderness, while movement in the water is not limited to the boat, but extends to the fishes.

The sound of the speedboat also arouses the interest of residents who occupy small houses in small settlements along the way. However, as the boat goes farther down the river, bottoms start aching, and a person is bound to

Rowing along the placid Mahaicony River

Crossing the lake to get to the other side

River Access Bridge is one of three major features of the coastal infrastructure of Region Five (Mahaica/ Berbice). The other two are the Mahaica Bridge, which spans the river with the same name; and the Berbice River Bridge, which connects Re-

ask: “Are we there yet?”

There is a glimmer of hope as the trees separate and expanses of white sand appear on both sides of the river. Silence reigns supreme, and the small number of villagers can be seen gathered at the edge of what is known to

them as the Francois Creek.

The bright smiles welcome visitors who battled either the scorching sun or heavy rainfall to get to their destination.

BY TRAIL For those who choose to travel by trail, their journey begins along the Linden/

And the journey begins – from solid road to uneven slopes

Soesdyke Highway. It should be stated that the journey is unsuited for vehicles without the four-by-four features, and that explains what the journey ahead holds.

Travelling from Georgetown takes an approximate one-to-two-hour drive to Linden, but that’s just the beginning. Instead of a right turn into Linden, it’s a left turn to Moraikobai. Now, if boat passengers had experienced a bad case of butt-cramp, those in the four by four’s wouldn’t even feel theirs, travelling over uneven slopes of mud which start off the trail, and the constant bumps that pose a battle even for the monstrous four-by-four vehicles.

Just like with the boat ride, the trees form an arch over the trail, giving persons not only shade from the sun, but also a chance to

see monkeys swinging from tree to tree. But just like the monkeys swing without care, the vehicles sway from side to side; and although the uneven slopes seem never-ending, the magnificence of the terrain changes, and persons are confronted by a beautiful expanse of white sand.

The change in landscape happens so quickly it would not be noticed if persons shift their attention for even a minute. Nevertheless, as the five-hour journey and the swaying from side to side continues, another challenge poses a threat to the adventurers when the trail splits into different sections, some leading to the savannahs and some leading to destination Moraikobai.

Without a tour guide persons would be stuck on the high slopes of sand or end

up going around in circles searching for the place. One would appear to be “lost in the juggle,” as some persons have said.

The trip, nonetheless, is nothing short of adventurous; because aside from the challenges which travellers face, they are also afforded opportunities to see exotic animals and creatures like anteaters, orange spiders, huge bugs, and particularly the scenic view of the jungle in the distance, which excitingly gets closer and closer with every move one makes.

After hours of travelling, the eyes would be awakened by the sight of civilization, with houses between trees, houses with wheels, and children and adults walking around the placid and quiet village of Moraikobai.

The majestic river which leads to the village of Moraikobai

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Maintaining excellence in journalism – Mohabir, Marshall excel at PAHO/WHO Media Awards

By Ravin Singh SINCE its re-introduction in 2014, the Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) media awards for excellence in health journalism has generated much interest and revived enthusiasm among local journalists.

It is the only annual journalism award which has provided an opportunity for the work of journalists to be assessed, recognised and rewarded on the basis on competence. Since then, the Guyana Chronicle has stood out as an entity which has nurtured journalists, who have displayed stellar performances at these awards. Notable among the lot are Svetlana Marshall and Tajeram Mohabir – two individuals who have dominated the PAHO/WHO awards over the last two to three years.

In 2014 when the awards were re-introduced, Mohabir copped first place for Best News Story with his piece “Ebola monitoring in Berbice weak.” No stranger to excellence in journalism, he continued this winning streak in the same category in both 2015 and 2016. In 2014, too, Mohabir was also awarded second place for Best Feature story.

Marshall however, was not introduced to the awards until 2015, after she joined the Guyana Chronicle team and was encouraged by Mo-

viding detailed information and bringing clarity to the issue you are covering in a fair and objective way,” the young journalist said.

He continued that journalists should be thorough and fair in their reports for it to positively impact social change, not just in health, but every other area including crime, culture, agriculture and politics. Both jour-

nalists credited the efforts of photographers whose invaluable contributions have complemented their work.

Marshall, for instance, singled out Photographer Samuel Maughn, whom she said has played a supportive role in making stories interesting by providing visually engaging materials for the Chronicle’s 35,000 readership.

Tajeram Mohabir receives one of his PAHO/WHO media awards for 2016

habir to participate in the competition. Making her entry that year with her piece “Enough not being done for ‘sicklers’ – says victim, Dr Norton pledges gov’t support,” Marshall copped first place in the News Feature Category.

Determined to better this performance, Marshall was adjudged the overall winner in 2016, having secured first place for Best News Feature in both print and online categories, second place for Best News Story (online), and an honourable mention in the Best News Feature (online).

And according to the mother of one, who graduat-

ed with a distinction in Communication Studies from the University of Guyana (UG), she feels empowered and satisfied within herself when she can provide assistance to the average Guyanese.

“I like to stay away from politics. I like to deal with the regular people on the ground and health journalism helps me to do that.

When I can bring awareness to an issue and educate people, it helps me as an individual and I feel satisfied within my heart,” she said.

Marshall shared that while PAHO/WHO has rewarded and recognised her contributions to health journalism, her greatest reward

is knowing that she is positively affecting the lives of Guyana in small ways.

“At UG we were always told that we should be the watchdogs, but this is not limited to politics.

For health journalism, I get to tell stories and inform people who need help and positively influence policy,” the award-winning Journalist said.

And while Mohabir agrees with her, he says that participation in the awards is a test of competence, “so it is always great to win.”

“It gives you the motivation to really improve your work or strive for higher standards in terms of pro-

Svetlana Marshall poses with her trophies after being adjudged the overall winner for the 2016 PAHO/WHO media awards

‘Foreigners’ in tight competition with Linden vendors

By Vanessa Braithwaite EVEN as Linden vendors bemoan the slow pace of business for the festive season, a veritable army of overseas-based persons who have come home on vacation have been flooding the market with their foreign products, crowding the central market arena with makeshift stalls and tents, displaying product ranging from dry goods to haberdashery to households items and clothing.

With many shoppers being lured by the smell of foreign products and the foreign accent of the vendors, the local vendors are left wondering if they have been abandoned by their regular customers, or whether Christ-

mas has been postponed until next year.

When this newspaper visited the Mackenzie Market on Saturday, several stallholders were conducting business, and even though many of the local vendors had extended their stalls or set up additional stalls on the Amelia’s Ward bus park to access customers easier, some have regretted doing so, as it seems that their additional investments may not bring in the profits they had expected.

Many of these ‘foreign’ sellers were however seen conducting big business transactions, reaping the profits of Christmas. One local vendor looking on in dismay claimed that the situation is something that needs to be looked at by the authorities, as the same

Several of the makeshift tents occupied by foreign vendors

thing occurs during the Linden Town Week celebration.

“I think (it) is really unfair to we; because these foreigners coming in with five, six barrels with thing to sell, and they might selling a lil $400 or $500 less than we; and ya know how Guyanese foreign

minded? So they gon shop from the foreigners and forget who they were shopping from all year,” the male vendor said.

However, one foreign vendor, Joycelyn, said it is not her intention to take business away from the local

vendors.

“This is the business I doing all the time, not just (at) Christmas time. I does always send home stuff to sell; so is not like I making a money there and here too,” she explained as she hustled to tend to several customers.

Shonnette Seaforth, a variety store vendor, complaining of slow business, opined that Christmas would be bleak for her. “I don’t know if is because money ain’t circulating or the rain mek business so slow, but time like now last week I done clocking in a hundred and something-thousand dollars; now ya barely scraping a thirty.”

Other vendors blamed the slow business on the $25,000 bonus that was given to employees, as against last year’s $50,000. Calls were also made for the Mayor and Town Council to look into the activities of the ‘foreigners’, who randomly set up stalls without having to pay rates for them, while the local vendors are required to so do.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Christmas messages

Renew the common ties PNCR’s Christmas message – President urges in Christmas message

PRESIDENT, David Granger has urged Guyanese to use this holiday season to renew the common ties that bind them together and appealed for citizens to cooperate and work together.

In extending Christmas greetings to Guyanese, the Head State said that the birth of Christ reminds us that peace and good will do not drop from the sky.

Below is the full text of the message: I EXTEND warm greetings to all Guyanese on the celebration of the joyous and wondrous festival of Christmas!

The message for mankind of Jesus Christ’s miraculous birth is recounted in the Gospel of St. Luke (2:14) in the Holy Bible, which proclaims: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

Guyana is our motherland. We have a collective duty to ensure that we keep our homeland free from disaffection and discord.

We have an obligation to promote peace and goodwill within our country. The celebration of the birth of Christ reminds us that peace and goodwill do not drop from the sky like manna; they are shared values which must

find root and flourish in our homes, in our schools, in our offices, in the fields and factories, and in our neighbourhoods and communities.

I wish that we all would embrace the universal values of peace and goodwill which Christmas proclaims. I wish that the Guyanese tradition of hospitality and goodwill would prevail at the time of this sacred festival. I wish that our culture of care and compassion for one another would continue to guide us all, and improve our quality of life now and in the future. We must foster a culture of peace and goodwill by dispelling the evils of envy, hatred and enmity from our lives.

Jesus Christ came as the ‘Prince of Peace.’

The celebration of His birth is an opportunity for all Guyanese to renew the common ties that bind us together as a nation. I appeal to everyone to work together for the common good. I appeal to everyone to treat each other with respect. I appeal to everyone to work towards creating a culture of peace and goodwill –- the values of Christmas.

Happy Christmas to all!

GTUC Christmas Message PEACE and goodwill to all men!

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) joins with the Christian community and all Guyanese in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

His birth and teachings have come to represent a new beginning in human development. The principles of Christianity, which are grounded in peace and goodwill to all men, are premised on equality, justice and fair play. To these values the GTUC enjoins all not only to celebrate its beginning (25th December), but give true meaning to its representation in our day-to-day lives.

The equality which protects the individual fundamental rights and freedoms, to be treated with dignity and respect, includes the right to worship in peace, the right to freedom of association, and protection from discrimination. Respect for equality will ensure justice in the manner man treats with his

fellow man, be it at an individual, group or institutional level.

Treating with every individual fairly will contribute to creating a just society and guaranteeing the equality of all. Whether it is the family, workplace, civic group, or government, where the tone is set in ensuring rules and standards grounded in principles of equality, peace and goodwill to all mankind can be assured. The best exemplar in this regard remains Christ, whose teachings and actions were even-handed in conceptualisation, application and implementation.

Thus the peace and goodwill this yuletide season brings us must not only be for merriment, but committed immersion in the role each and every one of us must play in giving true meaning, year round, to the principles Christ’s life and work exemplified.

May His peace and goodwill be with us at all times.

GAWU’s Christmas Message THE universal messages of religious events and festive celebrations like Christmas are generally positive and relate to hope, to good, and to the sustenance of the human spirit in the face of almost daily challenges to life.

In Guyana, the varied religious-based events uphold the values of commemorating some memorable giving or sharing, and the triumph of good over evil, of compassion and our humanity to our fellow humans.

The festival of Christmas as a precursor to the end of our calendar year is one such celebration.

With those sentiments in mind, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) wishes to share in extending Christmas greetings to all Guyanese, and such others of peace, joy and goodwill at this time.

GAWU is quite familiar with, and aware of, the message of hope and salvation embedded in Christianity’s embrace of the Birth of the Christ Child. We have noted with

reverence many worthy lessons contained in the Bible, and teachings which still guide our life and behaviour in this 21st century.

One can even recognize the parallel related to taxation and the burdensome impending taxes in store for us in the 2017 Budget. Apart from the increase in taxation, Christmas 2016 is marked by enormous challenges that are borne by the working people. Social ills like daily crime, fatal traffic accidents, challenges in health care, all present a dramatic reality to this year’s Festival of the Birth.

However, GAWU wishes that the Spirit of the season still be embraced by all Guyanese. Let hope inform the confidence that our struggle will ensure the dawning of a better day. Let, also, this Christmas time remind us once again of the need, importance and value of national and social cohesion.

GAWU wishes all Guyanese -- not forgetting its members, executives and staff -– a peaceful, pleasant Season and a 2017 filled with hope and fulfilled expectations.

THE miraculous birth of Jesus Christ -– celebrated by most Christians on the 25th December -– is recorded in the Gospel according to St Luke as heralding an era of “peace on earth and goodwill toward men.”

Jesus’s humble birth took place in a common manger in a tiny town in an obscure country. He was able, nevertheless, with a small band of disciples, to preach a gospel that transformed the world in a most fundamental way, and created a remarkable Christian civilization of which we are all heirs.

Guyana, being a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society, is in a unique position to benefit from the teachings of the religions of all of its peoples. Christmas is therefore not only for members of the Christian community, but for all Guyanese in a very real sense.

There is abundant evidence that the teachings of Christianity and its practices have influenced the lives of all of our people. In other words, this country has seen the benefits of the policy of allowing all religions to flower in Guyana.

Christian beliefs go well beyond the religious, and have had a notable effect on all

aspects of life in Guyana in terms of the production of Art, Literature, our way of living, and our objective of building a harmonious and tolerant society.

The Christian spirit of charity continues to inspire Guyanese of all religions. Ordinary people everywhere reach out with compassion and generosity to help their brothers and sisters in distress. We call to mind the plight of the aged, the poor and other vulnerable citizens. We remember our servicemen and soldiers, who will spend this joyous festival separated from their families at sea and on our far-flung frontiers. We recognize the service of our nurses, servicemen, technicians and working people, who maintain our utilities, sanitary facilities and security services to ensure that citizens could be safe and that the nation could be secure.

The biblical promise of peace on earth and goodwill toward men, however, remains unfulfilled. Guyanese are urged on the occasion of this sacred festival – through thought, word and work -– to make Jesus’s message of mercy and His ministry to the poor and needy the main motifs of their celebration.

Happy Christmas to all Guyanese!

Berbicians outraged …after taxi driver with suspended licence back behind the wheel THE travelling public in Berbice has expressed outrage after 66-year-old Haroon Eshack, a taxi driver, was allegedly seen behind the wheel of a Route 50 minibus even though he has a pending court matter on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Eshack’s licence was expected to be suspended pending the outcome of the case before the Mahaica Magistrates Court. In August this year, he was charged with causing the death of British-Guyanese Bibi O’Donovan, but it appears Eshaak has been ignoring the law.

On several occasions last week, persons in the Rosignol area reported that the 66-year-old man was driving a blue Route 50 minibus, plying the Rosignol- George- A man fitting the description of Haroon Eshack was observed driving in Berbice last week town route.

Pictures of the man opthe Chelsea Public Road. He was not reerating a bus were subsequently posted on quired to plead to the charge. social media platform, Facebook and many Reports are that the car that was being who saw the pictures expressed surprise used by O’Donovan and daughter was headthat the man is still behind the wheels of ing to the Eugene F. Correia airport at Ogle public transportation. for a 05:00hrs check-in when it slammed On August 19, Ishack was denied bail into the rear of a truck, GHH 7197, in the

by Magistrate, Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the vicinity of the Mahaica Bridge. O’Donovan, Sparendaam Magistrates Court on a charge 53, died on the spot, while her daughter, of causing death by dangerous driving. It is Shaneeza Lewis, 23, was hospitalised. alleged that on August 17, Eshack drove his The magistrate learnt at the time that car, HC 6753 in a manner dangerous to the the man was previously involved in a public, thereby causing British-Guyanese fatal accident in Berbice in which three national Bibi O’Donovan’s demise along persons died as a result of the accident.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

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Guyanese return home for Christmas!

Guyanese returning at the CJIA receiving black cake from staff of the GTA EMBRACING the lyrics of ‘Slingshot’ DrePaul’s famous ‘Christmas in Guyana’ song, “There’s nothing like me home on Christmas morning”, many in the Guyanese diaspora returned home to spend Christmas in their homeland.

“It’s the season of the year, and it’s the time of the year when a lot of Guyanese in the diaspora choose to come back home to celebrate Christmas,” Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director Indranauth Haralsingh said.

At the CJIA, many persons who were travelling from New York on the Dynamic Airways flight were excited to be back in Guyana.

One passenger related that she is back in Guyana to spend Christmas with her family after 19 years.

“It’s cold over there. We might have our lil rains, but its better here,” she said, noting that she really likes the revelling and pepperpot here At the Eugene F. Correia Airport, many persons were returning home from Caribbean countries, including Barbados and Tortola,British Virgin Islands, to stay for the holidays.

One of the Guyanese from Barbados, who declined to give his name, said “I am Guyanese. Guyana is my home and I am home for

Christmas.”

While scampering through airport immigration, one woman accompanied by her two toddlers, who were also returning from Barbados for the holidays, said she spends Christmas in Guyana every year.

She related that Christmas is her favourite time of the year and looks forward to the cuisine and atmosphere found here only.

Her family was treated with slices of Guyana’s black cake as soon as they arrived, compliments of the GTA. It was a wonderful sight to see many persons returning home to spend Christmas in Guyana against the usual trend of many Guyanese departing the country to spend their Christmas overseas.

According to Haralsingh, some 1100 visitors come here almost every day during this holiday season; and he is anticipating an increase in the number of tourists compared to last year.

Of this total, the visitors include foreigners, such as Cubans coming to shop here to take back to their country. The others were largely members of the diaspora retuning home for the holidays.

“After all, there is no place to celebrate Christmas than at home,” the GTA Director said.

A child visiting Guyana from Barbados examining the black cake gifted to her from a representative of the GTA at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE DecembER 25, 2016

President visits busy Regent Street

By Ravin Singh

INTERMITTENT showers on the eve of Christmas did little to dissuade President David Granger from taking his annual stroll along Regent Street at the height of the traditional ‘late-shopping.’

The overcast and windy conditions were encouraging and conducive to commercial activities.

But it was evident that Friday’s flooding, which left parts of the city semi-submerged, had contributed to a reduction in the expected number of shoppers.

Fortunately, but not unexpectedly, water had receded and the pavement was fumigated.

These encouraging factors were complemented by the Head-of-State’s visit, which, without a doubt,

attracted potential buyers which was sure to lift the spirits of proprietors.

Arriving to a cumulative crowd at the corner of Regent and Camp Streets, the President’s engaging smile, pleasantly plastered on his face, visually eroded the years of service which had imprinted their telltale wrinkles on his face.

He was soberly dressed in a white shirt and pair of khaki pants.

As he made his way West along Regent Street, it was quite evident that Guyana had, at the helm of its socio-political realm, a tech-savvy President.

It was ‘selfies’ galore, as citizens of every race, age and gender popped their cellphones to snap a photo with their jaunty leader.

Everyone had their cellphones out to make sure they got a picture with the President

Christmas Eve hugs! This little lady was very excited to meet with President David Granger

A few stops, other than those for selfies, saw the Head-of-State purchasing items – two of which he jovially described as having ascribed political trademarks based on the colour of their labels.

Laughter filled the atmosphere as he proceeded along his way.

And unlike the expected reaction of babies who visit Santa Claus this time of the year, the few who were lifted and clutched to his bust shared a cheerful moment which many longed for. Toothless smiles, giant hugs and a few kisses on the cheek from toddlers were sure to make the President’s walkabout an eventful one.

But it was not limited to just the commercial ac-

tivities, fun and light-spirited moments. The humanitarian spirit was also manifest as the President approached a sitting middle-aged beggar clothed in rags. Her immediate action of extending her arm was met with a reaction of financial donation by President Granger.

A few more ‘selfies’ and steps later, the Headof-State had arrived at the corner of Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic – his point of departure.

Though brief, his walkabout was sure to leave memories etched on the minds of many Guyanese and tangible materials in the form of ‘selfies’ to prove that others shared more than just visual contact with him.

‘Photography has changed my life’ –– Daniel Sears

By Daniel Haynes IT has been less than a year since Daniel Sears began his journey into professional photography. For him, it started as a hobby just like most artistic styles do for other greats. Now what was once a hobby has evolved into what he calls his

“baby.”

Daniel was born February 15, 1998, and is the youngest of his five siblings. Being the baby of three boys and one girl, he says played a huge part in him being an introvert, as well as the reason for his love of nature.

“I was a very playful child, but the thing is I was

always an introvert, so I kept to myself a lot; I would be so afraid to talk to persons that I spent a lot of time just admiring and observing nature and trying to find the special moments in everything,” he stated.

It was this ability to observe and this uncanny interest in capturing special moments that was markedly present as he grew older and now he sees it as no surprise that his calling

involves being behind the lens of a camera trying to capture every moment.

INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY “I’d say my first introduction to photography came through my friend in school,” Sears stated.

He recalled being the class photographer, courtesy of her (the friend) camera.

“I would always have See page 18

One of Sears’ first photos with client Ariel Cappell

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Bringing joy to the needy –– the selfless service of Salvation Army volunteers

By Vishani Ragobeer TAKING a stroll around town during the Christmas season, it’s hard to not hear the distinct ringing of the Salvation Army bells or the cheery ‘Merry Christmas’ shouts.

It’s also hard to miss the shiny red money-collecting ‘kettles’ hanging from the green and red ‘Salvation Army’ signboard, accompanied by a jovial soul requesting a contribution.

Why is it that from 09:00hrs to 16:00 hrs, Monday to Saturday, these faithful souls persevere in hopes of getting contributions from passers-by?

I sought to speak with a few of the volunteers who were around Georgetown on Water Street one rainy morning to find out exactly why these volunteers seek contributions during this season.

Speaking to Norma Scott, who was in front of Republic Bank on Water Street, she said that the reason she is collecting funds is for the Salvation Army branch (The head Office in Alexander Street) she is attached to can carry out various outreach programmes.

“From in October time,

people come to us and ask us for things like foodstuff and school supplies and so in time for the holidays,” she disclosed.

Scott also highlighted that not only during the holidays, but throughout the year, “We feed the poor, the schoolchildren and homes.”

She also explained that volunteers have no access to the money they acquire through kind contributions, but each volunteer is given a stipend at the end of their stint which spans from about mid-November to Christmas Eve. Having benefitted from the Salvation Army herself however, Norma revealed that she always gives her stipend back to the organisation so that someone could benefit.

Also, she has been volunteering to collect donations every Christmas for five years now.

Due to the efforts of volunteers like herself, she noted that the Army is able to make packages to distribute to the needy.

“We give back to the community because it’s Christmas and it’s a happy time for all, nobody must be left out,” she said.

Outside of Guyana Stores Limited on Water

Street is another Salvation Army volunteer, Joan Stuart.

“We do it [collect funds throughout the Christmas season] to help folks who can’t afford to be merry,” Joan said.

This, she explained, involves the purchasing of food items and personal products to create hampers to be given out to the needy at Christmas time.

Similarly to Norma, she explained that the Christmas season is not the only time the Army uses these funds donated by passers-by to assist needy persons, but help is also rendered throughout the year.

When questioned why she chose to volunteer, she responded, “I love doing this. It is a great feeling to know that you were able to make someone’s Christmas better [and] it just makes me feel happy.”

She also noted that she has been volunteering for more than 10 years now.

“When you do good, it comes back to you,” Stuart reasoned, adding, “the Salvation Army is committed to doing good things and spreading the Christmas Cheer.”

Finally, ringing her

Sheirvon Richards

NORMA SCOTT bell and saying her routine chant: “Thank you… have a Merry Christmas” in front of National Hardware on Water Street is Sheirvon Richards.

Richards noted that this is her third year volunteering for the Salvation Army and she doesn’t mind one bit. “I’m out here collecting funds for a good cause and well, I’m having fun… I’m collecting funds to help with sick children in the hospital who can’t afford to pay for their treatment and to cater

for children in homes,” she said.

When the Head Office (in Alexander Street) receives all the money collected, they would use it to help these causes.

Often, hospitals would go to the Salvation Army requesting aid for persons who need it, while persons in need themselves would go requesting funds. Once their requests have been verified, they would receive funds to help address their

problems.

It is through the dedication and perseverance of these volunteers throughout Georgetown that those in need of serious assistance or those that just that little extra Christmas cheer are able to enjoy their Christmas.

So if you passed a Salvation Army volunteer while Christmas shopping, I hoped that you spared them some change and if not, don’t forget them next year when they return!

JOAN STUART

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‘Photography has changed...

SUNDAY CHRONICLE DecembER 25, 2016

From page 16

her camera and be taking photos and soon I became the class photographer taking photos of

everyone and everything going on in school,” he said.

His first camera (outside

The flower both living and alive that caught his eye

of the one his phone had that he would fiddle around with) was gifted to him over the Christmas holidays last year.

According to the photographer, it was much pleading, bothering and badgering that got him the camera.

“For a long time I was like dad I want a camera, dad I need a camera, and we were in Best Buy one day and I just kept bugging him and I got it. I initially was just going to take photos of family and do photography as a hobby,” he stated.

In February of this year that all changed. Gone were the thoughts of taking photos as a

hobby and replacing them was the dedication to what he would call his craft.

According to Sears, he’d spend every night watching videos and tutorials on getting the perfect photos and through the late nights the epic love was born.

“It was looking how to better my skills, messing around and being terrible all while learning that helped me fall in love with it.”

GROWING PAINS Since his start though, there have been many learning experiences and criticisms

The man behind the camera, Daniel Sears for the 18-year-old Sears. For him, it was the endless Facebook and in-person comments ranging from “Daniel Sears is a wannabe Saajid Husani” to “Daniel Sears has no talent, is everybody is a photographer now?”

“Each criticism hurt at first, I heard it all, oh I do too much of this, oh I do too much of that, I’ve heard it all, but I’ve learned that once I’m happy with my shot and my client is happy with my shot, it doesn’t really matter what anyone else says,” he stated.

He added that listening to the constructive criticisms as well as the advice of renowned photographers like Keno George and Saajid Husani (same Husani he was compared to) has really helped him.

“I learned a lot this year, persons who I thought were fully behind me I found out weren’t really who they pretended to be. I also found out that everyone had a comment to say, but thanks to photography, I’ve matured to a point to just hear what the haters say and roll with it.”

Not bad for the introvert who spent most of his time observing and not being able to find a voice.

Sears said he liked experimenting with different types of photography, but nature-based photography and portrait shots are two categories he enjoys the most.

He’s always had a fascination with nature, since according to him nature shows the complexities of life most times in the simplest of forms.

“I saw a flower that was dying on one side and bloom-

ing on the other and it just spoke to me about how in everyday life we as humans could be alive on the outside but dead inside,” he said.

FUTURE PLANS The current student of Nations Sixth Form College is pursuing studies in Psychology with Sociology as a minor and hopes to one day become a psychologist. He’ll never give up photography, he expressed adamantly.

“I’ve been saying a lot if I could pursue my two Ps of psychology and photography I’d be the happiest guy alive.

Photography is my stress relief and it makes a bad day melt away for me, so when I get overwhelmed at work I’ll turn to photography,” he stated rather nonchalantly.

He claims his ambitions have been shaped by the persons who believe in him, such as his parents and the few people he has close to him, as well as the first set of clients who allowed him to butcher their photos as part of his learning process.

“My friend Amika was my mouthpiece and would approach people and get them to let me take their photos, Sadiya is my rock and well my new clients who put their faith in me help me to continue evolving and I’m grateful for all of them.”

With the many late nights on youtube perfecting his craft, the ambition to reach higher heights than his mentors and the fortitude to keep pushing on despite the criticisms, this 18-year-old who stands six feet four inches is certainly grabbing attention.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Towards a Good Life in a Green Economy

Examining the Green Economy Pathway …the role of Interests, Identity and Norms (Part 2- Identity)

IN this the second part of this three-part series we will look at the role of identity in the context of the green economy pathway.

We do agree that the green economy is a wide concept of development whose pillars mirror those of sustainable development. In fact, sustainable development and the green economy are sometimes used interchangeably, since both rely on environmental efficiency, social equity and economy prosperity. In like manner ‘green growth’ is used interchangeably with ‘green economy’. However, in a wider context, an examination of the literature on the green economy revealed, among others, the following emerging concepts and variables that are relevant to Guyana, as a small developing state (SDS), in its pursuit of a green economy. While we will examine SDSs as a grouping, we do assert that its findings are relevant to Guyana as an individual SDS. SOME EMERGING VARIABLES The following variables have emerged from exploring the characteristics of Guyana as an SDS. In terms of UNFCCC obligations, we observed the existence of limited technology transfer; doubt about what constitutes new and additional funding and the application of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

With respect to climate adaptation finance (CAF) for SDSs, we found insufficient availability of financial funds; limited innovative financing; difficulties in differentiating between overseas development assistance and new and additional finance; uncertainty about funding beyond the green climate fund (GCF); uncertainty about quantity of adaptation funds; different approaches to estimating adaptation costs; uncertainty about the actual costs of adaptation and definition of incremental costs.

In the context of international finance, an examination of the literature revealed a high degree of unpredictability of pledged funds; absence of verifiable, measurable and reportable indicators of new and additional finance; limited micro-financing opportunities; asymetries in international financial cooperation and high international and financial transaction costs. With regard to

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

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

adaptation, we found uncertainty about adaptation measures, adaptation deficits and adaptation abatement.

Whereas in the context of the economics and the environment, we observed a north-south divide on inter-relationship between economic development and the environment, an unclear understanding of the interdependence of ecological, social and economic systems; unequal balancing of economic activities and enviromental sustainability and difficulties in balancing the assimilative and regenerative capacities.

Finally, on governance, we found uncertainty of the meaning of vulnerability; an academic view that SDSs as a generic category was too small a group for analysis; fragmented global climate governance; difficulties mainstreaming adaptation into development; limited cognition climate policy integration; deficiency in balancing information flow to and from citizens through institutions; too much influence of non-state actors interdisciplinary collaboration among key sectors; imposed emissions reductions on SDSs and protection of intellectual property as a barrier to technology transfer.

Against this backdrop of multiple variables, we now look at our findings on the role Identity play in the pursuit of a green economy in Guyana.

IDENTITY The extent to which shared meanings, rules, norms and practices are contained in a structure is the extent to which identity can be said to be present. In examining

SDSs as a grouping, we found that it contained shared meanings, rules, norms and practices, thus conforming to identity in constructivist terms. In this context, SDS, as an identity, would contain intersubjective understandings amongst its actors and agents. Further, we believe that the identity ‘small developing state’ has been habitual in the context of its consistent advocacy for SDSs to be so identified within the International Climate Change Regime (ICCR). This is further evidenced within the international discourse referencing SDSs and influenced by the actions of other states.

Another popular label for SDSs is the accepted concept of small island developing states (SIDs), which has already been recognised as an identity per se within the international community. In this context, the SDS identity is informed by its norms, rules and practices rather than its own self-interest.

The SDS ‘Guyana identity’ is essential in the global context since, under the UNFCCC, there is specific mention of special consideration for small developing states to receive CAF and technology transfer from developing states.

In greening its economy, it is also important for Guyana to partner with other SDSs, whether islands or not, and collectively leverage prescribed international obligations.

Another important feature of the SDS identity is the prospect of a rapid transfer from brown to green energy systems, because Guyana’s current economy is small and its cost per unit of green energy transfer is likely to be much lower than that of a larger economy.

VULNERABILITY We, however, found that there isn’t sufficient shared meanings, rules, norms and practices to determine that vulnerability, as an identity, has been formed within the wider ICCR, but we do believe that vulnerability has risen to the level of identity within the SDSs grouping and within Guyana as well. We

posit also that vulnerability factors, whether financial, fiscal, geo-physical or anthropocentric, pose clear threats to economic, social and environmental development. Resilience is a natural response to vulnerability. In this context, Guyana must build its green economy pathway towards a Green State in such a manner, that resilience is a key and cross- cutting factor.

There is no doubt that the sustainable harvesting of our natural capital will directly contribute to resilience development in Guyana.

At this juncture, however, we do need to keep in mind that it is one planet, one climate and one environment, and Guyana must ensure that, at least, Suriname, French Guiana, Venezuela and Brazil together work to build resilience along a similar pathway.

SDS AS A GENERIC CATEGORY In like manner, we found that a SDS identity as a generic category exists within the wider ICCR and SDS grouping, based on the social relationships within the ideational structures that collectively speak to this issue, in particular, the UNFCCC and numerous climate change conference outcomes. In fact, evidence of historical usage and continuous discourse of the term generic category, or derivatives therefrom, strengthens our belief that the term generic category is a widely accepted SDS identity.

The identity of generic category allows us therefore to work in groupings such as CARICOM and the Alliance of Small Island States (AoSIS). Beyond groupings however, intersubjective meanings and understandings are likely to present within SDS as a generic category, influencing all other units such as other states and international organisations.

LIMITED COGNITION We do not believe that limited cognition, as an identity, has been sufficiently developed to

merit concurrence. Limited cognition, in this context, relates to cognizance of the phenomenon of adaptation by SDSs. We submit that the shared meaning, rules, norms and practices of SDSs in relation to adaptation and, particularly its importance to their survival and resilience, is sufficient to conclude that limited cognition is not an identity particular to SDSs. However, we have no conclusion, at this time, as to whether it is an identity recognised within the ICCR. Within the context of Guyana, climate change, climate change adaptation and climate change response -- particularly the low carbon development strategy-- and, more recently, the development of a green state, together represents high levels of cognition as it relates to a clear intention on the part of the government to provide climate change solutions along a green economy pathway.

NON-SATE ACTORS We found that non-state actors as an identity meet the criteria set above, though, we believe it to be doubtful that their actions are necessarily supportive of the SDSs agenda, given that their identity is conditioned by interests within the ICCR. However, we found that sustainable development, as an identity, represents an ideational structure with intersubjective meaning and understandings among actors and agents within the ICCR, including SDSs. And in that context we believe that SDSs, as a grouping, is reflective of an identity internationally recognised. We understand that non-state actors are part of the permanent international community. Notwithstanding its bias towards their sponsors, Guyana should concentrate on embedding within its greenstate development policy, intersubjective and ideational meanings that can connect it to those of developed nations directly or through their funded non-state actors.

Next week we shall look at the role of NORMS and their influence on the green economy pathway.

Comments can be sent to towardsagoodlife@gmail.com

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Remembering boyhood days and my politics of conscience

IT’S Christmas time, the season of goodwill and celebration, so I vowed not to write about politics this week. Today’s column, then, would be my personal reflection and memory. But, a passing note on politics is in order. Except for an appearance on Plain Talk with Christopher Ram, I have not done anything overtly political since returning to Guyana three weeks ago; I say overtly, because wherever I go and people recognise me, they want to talk about politics and the state of Guyana. So, I have been listening to a lot of politics from ordinary Guyanese and in the process I have learned a lot more about the political instincts of Guyanese. If those to whom I have spoken represent an accurate sample of the larger society, then I have to conclude that there is a lot of anxiety, anger and fear among the masses.

There seems to be a lot of anxiety about the quality of life in Guyana and our collective capacity to survive as a viable political economy—an anxiety that is shared across ethnic and social lines. Then there is a guarded anger at the present government, particularly among its supporters, for not delivering for them. I describe it as guarded, because, as always, displeasure of one ethnic group at their political elites is often expressed within the context of fear of the opposite group. There is a genuine fear among African-Guyanese about the return of the PPP to power—a feeling that political revenge would be the order of the day and that they would continue the plunder of the national resources for personal gains. The Indian-Guyanese who spoke to me also expressed their own fear of the return of the rampant PNC in the form of the current government—its PPP rhetoric, but I sense that it’s also a genuine fear among the people.

So, to my mind, this convergence of anxiety, anger and fear is what is before us as we enter 2017. As is usually the case with socio-political phenomena, political people are challenged to understand the moment and to articulate for the country, explanations of

the complexity therein. Unfortunately, neither of the two political giants seems to get it. The PPP, in the context of the government’s constant stumbles, has taken the road of imminent triumphalism, brandishing before the public its sharper steel. The government’s side has taken to, among other things, scolding its supporters who publicly express their frustrations for wanting to bring back the PPP. For me, it is ultimately about what we as a nation and a Caribbean Region do about our condition, our transition from plantation to a nationhood that equally accommodates all our diverse peoples. My politics has never been about individual politicians or political office; to reduce politics to such things is to be ignorant about the centrality of humanity to the political process. As survivors of enslavement, indentureship and colonisation, our constant quest must be the embrace of the notion of humanity—what it is to be human?

This past week I have had the opportunity to spend time with one of my schoolmates whom I had not seen in almost two decades.

We were very close friends at school; we shared a passion for literature and language.

He was the leader, the popular student and the favourite of most of the teachers—he was charismatic. As Colin and I rolled back the clock of life almost five decades to remember and reflect on our boyhood days, it occurred to me that often in our discourses about the nation we exclude the real essence of the nation, the salt of the earth, the relationships which are forged in the experiences away from the glare of the media and the wider public.

My friend, Colin Burke, as we called him at school, has kept in touch with a lot of our classmates over the years, so it was quite a pleasure to learn where others are and what they have been doing. Colin has not realised how much he is relieving me of a particular kind of loneliness born of unconnectedness from those who helped to form one’s early self. We went to school at a particular juncture in Guyanese and Caribbean history and got our education in Buxton from a group of

teachers who were themselves the children of decolonisation and early independence. We, their students, were lucky to get an education that was laden with nationalist pride, idealism and dedication to knowledge- sharing as a tool of social upliftment.

Our geography teacher, Henry Hinds, who now teaches at the University of Guyana, reminded me of the old house which was our school, Buxton Secondary School, and the talent that emerged from that space. Guyana knows Henry Rodney, the great dramatist and cultural worker and Linden knows Orrin Gordon, their former mayor--two of our classmates-- but hundreds of others are making their mark across Guyana and the world.

Colin took me back to that time when our teachers, unbeknown to us at the time, introduced us to critical thinking and independence of thought and action.

Invariably our conversation moved to politics—it is impossible to stay away from that place when I catch up with my schoolmates.

Colin wanted me to explain how as a member of the WPA which is part of the government, can I be as critical of some of government’s actions as I have been. As first I thought it was a rhetorical question, but soon realised that he genuinely wanted an explanation. I started to talk about my activism as part of the independent trading in Guyana and the Caribbean, but then realised there was a better explanation. I reminded him that he was Head Prefect and my best friend at school, but that I, in my infant suspicion of authority along with other schoolboy and girl rebels, disobeyed every order from the prefects. He instantly got it and we both remarked that my challenge to his authority never for one minute diminished our friendship. That in and of itself should be a lesson to our national leaders.

Colin’s question caused me to think about the subject more than I often do. As much as I don’t want to believe it, self-criticism is not readily understood and even frowned upon my many Guyanese—it’s okay to critique the other side, but never your own, even when

their errors are as plain as day. I think it has to do with the ethnic polarisation in which we have been politically socialised. One young lady recently suggested on social media that my critique of the government must be because I was not chosen as a minister—she was obviously angry at me. My suspicion is that, that narrative of my bitterness is discreetly circulated among the faithful. It is sad that a society that has historically been shaped by its experience of resistance against the overreach of authority could throw up people who could be so oblivious to its value.

Why can’t critique not be based on conscience and principle? Why does it always have to be the function of bitterness and retaliation? The slave masters thought that slave resistance was the result of sub-human instincts and not reason. It is unfortunate that the children of the enslaved today perpetuate some of the same reasoning of the slave master.

The minister thing is so laughable that it’s not worth comment. Suffice to say that those who expect me to be a cheerleader of government or to suppress my honest views because it could hurt a government that I voted for and still support, have little understanding of our own history and country. I am not a product of Mars; I have been socialised n Guyana and am a product of this very society. I am doing nothing politically now that I have not done since I was a schoolboy and publicly for the last four decades and that was not done by our fore-parents. I simply am not the uncritical status-quo type. I have no interest in undermining this government, but when faced with the choice between protecting government on the one hand and witnessing for the poor and powerless and upholding the right of dissent on the other, I readily choose the latter. My politics is largely a politics of conscience.

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

Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Christmas as a child growing up on the West Coast of Berbice

THE district between Litchfield to No. 28 Village, West Coast Berbice, I call home.

In the 14 villages that span this district, my forebears purchased three, which are Litchfield, Kingelly and No. 28, which allowed us as children to traverse freely along this corridor. It is this community that shaped my formative years and played a major role in influencing who I am today. Growing up in an extended family structure, the influences of parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and others were significantly felt in a child’s life, and Christmas was the making of special events and moments.

As the descendant of five major families, namely -- the Thompsons coming out of Hopetown, the Carmichaels of No. 28, the McPhersons and Semples of Litchfield, and Thomas Lewis, my great grandfather, coming out of Ithaca -- you could not escape nor wanted to escape their values, love and protection.

Though they are many things about these families that were connected, as with every child, something unique about each family remains lasting memories From the Thompsons’ side, which is my maternal side, I remember vividly this was the family that prepared the Christmas cakes and homemade bread , which were distributed to families and friends, in and out of the village.

The womenfolk got together with big tubs and buckets, washing the butter (salted red butter) and stirring the fruits with big spoons, pouring the batter into pans, and putting them to bake in big mud ovens in the yard. As children, we waited patiently for them to finish baking the samples in order than we can have the first taste of the black and sponge cakes.

The Carmichaels were the providers of the meat, be it beef, pork, mutton or fish. It was assured there would be meat to make that pepperpot, roast and garlic pork for Christmas Day, and curried mutton for Boxing Day. Fish was either baked or served as cutters for the menfolk who were drinking. The best pepperpot for me was cousin Naomi’s. Cousin Hertense Cambridge, presently residing in the USA, would remember well my craving for this dish.

Hertense was cousin Naomi’s niece and spent much time with her. When Leslie ‘Gopo’ Cambridge, another cousin living at No. 28, and I visited this home, Hertense will make pepperpot sandwich for us. She would put pepperpot at the bottom of the plate, then some rice overlay, with another hefty serving of pepperpot on top. This pepperpot was primarily of cow heel, cow face, and ox tail.

When you were finished eating your fingers and mouth became clamped with the glue from the meat. This was a treat ‘Gopo’ and I could

never have enough of and has informed my love for this dish unto today.

The Lewis’ family at Litchfield that includes centenarian James Barrington (J.B) Layne, William ‘Big man’ Semple and the late Ivan ‘Vano’ Wade would arrive from the gold and diamond fields (bush). Every child in the extended family was treated to a small piece or gift. Unto now I can vividly recall cousin Louis ‘Bellows’ France --who though today has lost his sight but remains very alert -- would take me to Georgetown just before Christmas to go shopping.

From the Semples -- a family of both my parents’ lineage -- were known among us as the religious family. They had great influence in the church community. I was raised, baptised, and confirmed as a communicant in the Anglican Church. I was an altar boy, and participated in the Church’s concerts and other activities, which is largely in part to this side of my family. As children there was no debate or dissent when it came to worshipping in church every Sunday. No member of an extended family tolerated non-conformity to the religious values they upheld. At Christmas the children got dressed up in our ‘Sunday best,’ attended mass and had to be of our best behaviour.

From Kingelly sprouts the McPherson family who held significant sway in the village’s activities. Great uncle Harry Young and his cousin Joseph McPherson, both deceased, controlled the hub of activities. In their homes resided the big jars in which the ginger beer was made, which was their speciality. Cousins would have travelled from Georgetown and New Amsterdam to spend Christmas in this village and the hub of activities would be in these two homes. Ice was bought from the train that comes from Georgetown travelling to Rosignol, to put in the ginger beer. As a child, this ginger beer while very tasty was hot. In the making of it, it was set for several days and rice placed in the jar as part of the ripening process.

Christmas was the period when the menfolk working at the bauxite companies in McKenzie and Kwakwani, the sea defence on the East Coast, gold and diamond fields in the interior, employed at the Ebeni Cattle Farm in the Berbice River, manganese company in the North West District, construction workers from Georgetown, and those doing other jobs in New Amsterdam would return home to the villages. As children we looked forward to this, not only because we missed them and would hear stories of their experiences, but also the gifts and small piece their presence brought.

One Christmas I received four toy guns

as presents which made me feel like the most formidable cowboy in the villages. Back then, guns were associated with the police and cowboy stories we read, and seen as a means of protecting and defending families and assets and ensuring law and order.

Christmas as children in those days meant we had each other. Whatever little we had was shared. Each family played an important role in raising us. And there was the joy of

knowing that there were others who loved and cared for us outside of our mothers and fathers. This for me left lasting impressions that we are capable of being our bothers and sisters’ keepers, there are established rules (written and unwritten) that guide relations, and treating each other with respect regardless of age or status in life, are values to be upheld.

Here’s wishing that your Christmas will be bright and happy!

GTU honours over 60 teachers 22

SIXTY-SIX teachers – serving and retired - were honoured by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) for distinguished service, beyond the normal call of duty.

The teachers were recognised during a prestigious awards ceremony and cocktail reception held in their honour at the Umana Yana, High Street, Kingston and at which Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Raymond Hutson and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr. Ivelaw Griffith, were special guests.

Dr. Griffith delivered the feature address, President of the GTU, Mr. Mark Lyte delivered the opening remarks, while

Mr. Marcel Hutson also delivered brief remarks. Master of Ceremony was Mr. Linden Murray and GTU General- Secretary, Ms. Coretta Mc Donald, distributed the awards and tokens.

Of the 66 awardees selected from country wide, 47 are serving teachers while 19 are retirees. The group of retirees was dominated by women 18:1, with just one male featuring in the distinguished category. Meanwhile, of the 47 serving teachers, again the females dominated the awards, copping 34 trophies and hampers, while the men amassed 13.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Dr. Ivelaw Griffith presents a hamper to one of the awardees for distinguished service to the teaching profession

GTU General-Secretary Coretta Mc Donald (left) and President Mark Lyte (fourth from right) pose with the awardees and executives of the union after the awards ceremony at the Umana Yana last Tuesday

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Fairly good year for natural resources – Minister Trotman MINISTER of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, has said he is pleased with the overall performance of the extractive sector in 2016.

As the year comes to a close, the Government Information Agency (GINA) asked the minister to self-assess the extractive sector. “I’d like to say that we’ve ended it on a fairly good note. I wouldn’t say that it was perfect, but good,” Minister Trotman responded.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has oversight responsibility for the forestry, mining and quarrying sectors, and the emerging oil and gas sector.

Minister Trotman believes: “We’ve managed to stabilise things in the forest sector”, despite the challenges faced this year. The forestry sector was expected to produce 320,000 cubic metres of logs, 30 per cent below the 2015 level of 450,000 cubic

metres, but at the time of writing this article, the final production was not available.

Export value was projected to be US$38M, a 15 per cent decline from 2015’s US$46M. Challenges the forest sector faced included underperformance by existing concessioners; Barama Company giving up its 1.6M hectares of logging concession; several other large concessions being returned to the state by default, and in some instances non-compliance; slowdown on the international market; and ban of greenheart export to the United Kingdom.

Nonetheless, Minister Trotman remains confident that the sector would improve its performance in the new year. “(These) have had an effect, but we believe that it gives us an opportunity to assess what we have, revalue the forest, and we are now preparing to give out concessions,” Minister Trotman noted.

THE BANNER OF HATRED

By CECIL RAMKIRATH

IT DEFIES reason and decency The epitome of our insanity, That in this day and age With such pride and rage, We raise the banner of segregation and hatred With scorn for those of another colour and creed, So much that we will not take in the air they breathe As if they carry a dreaded disease.

It’s a mean-spirited consciousness That carries the germs of segregation and hatred, Growing in hearts vile and wicked With scorn and mockery for the Universal Spirit, That pervades humanity and all that exists.

Wake up, my brothers, to this truth That in feelings, joy and pain, We are much the same As we struggle in life’s bewildering game, The garden more perfumed and beautiful With flowers of diverse hue and colour, Why then walls and barriers When we are our brothers’ keepers?

No dignity and mutual respect we afford To those we deem lesser in worth Adept in deceitful and shameless posturing Hiding our narrow tribal sectarian feeling And so a great swathe of humanity Remains like unto a closed book: Shut out from our hearts As we cling to our imprisoned, conditioned past.

I pray for the day when we will embrace each other Unmindful of creed and colour Sing and dance in harmony Celebrating our diversity Our richness in culture and heritage Each race a story to tell Of trials, adversity and times of glory Woven with threads of different colours So splendid this fabric of humanity To adorn our hearts with true humility Guiding us to overcome and toil together Vowing never again to raise the banner of hatred A better world for our children to inherit.

The Natural Resources Ministry will be moving to redistribute the concessions that have been returned to the state. “We are now preparing to give out concessions,” Minister Trotman said. Small loggers in particular stand to benefit from this. Barama’s concession will be divided into four pieces of 400,000 hectares, one of which will be set aside for small loggers.

“Small loggers will always be taken care of,” Minister Trotman has assured.

In the mining sector, there was “one death too many”, but the Ministry of Natural Resources “has managed to pull back on the mining

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

deaths,” Minister Trotman noted.

For bauxite, the minister noted that a committee has been convened to examine the future of the sector and

the possible revival of the aluminium plant. Minister Trotman noted that this ministry would continue to work with miners to address their concerns in relation to con-

cessions and mining lands.

“This year the focus was on mines’ safety, and of course we want to take that into 2017, and as well to concentrate on other rare minerals,” Minister Trotman noted.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources has been working assiduously to ensure that Guyana is ready for oil production, which is expected to begin in 2020.

Guyana has partnered with a number of international agencies and countries to develop the sector. In November, ExxonMobil and its partners formally notified that Guyana has commercial quantities of oil, in keeping with the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act Cap 65:01.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Warner confident ...

From back page came in the first Test of the year, the washed-out SCG Test against West Indies in January. There, he blasted a quick unbeaten 122, but it was an innings of no value, for it came on day five as Australia batted for the first time in a match that was utterly ruined by rain. In 18 innings, he has only two half-centuries and that one hundred.

“It’s just a little bit of a

cycle, I think,” Warner said on Saturday. “I go out there every time I go out to bat, trying to put as many runs as I can on the board. Same mindset, same sort of process I go through with training.

“At the moment I’m hitting them well enough in the nets and not making them in the middle. The tide will change. Many players before have experienced the same thing. I’ve just got to keep a level head, cool head and make sure that I watch every ball as hard and as closely as I can.”

One of Warner’s more surprising failures in 2016 came in his most recent innings, when he was beaten for pace by Mohammad Amir and pulled a catch on 12. It was the second innings at the Gabba and Australia already had a lead of nearly 300. Warner had license to look for quick runs to build a big target, precisely the sort of innings in which he has often thrived before.

“In the nets I’m hitting them well. But you’ve got to try and take that out on the field,” he said. “Sometimes you see a ball there that might be to hit, like the other day.

Probably in white-ball cricket I wouldn’t think twice about pulling that ball, and the other day he beat me for pace.

“They’re just the little things that come into your mind, going ‘okay, we’ve got some runs on the board, I want to up the ante a little bit’. You can afford to do that. It’s just about execution,

and the other day was a bit of poor execution. I’ve got to keep going out there and backing myself.”

A n d w h i l e Wa r n e r would love nothing more than to finish the year with a bang, history suggests it will be tough. Not only has 2016 been his least productive Test year, the MCG is his least productive Test venue. It is the only Test ground in Australia at which Warner has not scored a century, and the only one where he averages less than 50. His MCG average? 24.22.

Warner has so far played in five Boxing Day Tests and has managed only one half-century - he made 62 against Sri Lanka at the MCG four years ago. Last year, he made starts in both innings against West Indies but then fell playing his shots against short deliveries. Perhaps Warner would do well to heed the words MCG curator David Sandurski.

“Melbourne isn’t the sort of wicket where you can’t just go blasting off from ball one,” Sandurski said on Saturday. “You’ve got to take your time and get used to the conditions, because the weather here can be so inconsistent that it is hard to get a wicket spot-on. It’s a pretty good idea for a batsman to be cautious early before he gets going.”

A good idea in theory, maybe. But good luck preaching caution to this Reverend.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE DecembER 25, 2016

David Moyes says Manchester United’s great traditions have gone MANCHESTER United’s “great traditions” have “gone”, according to their former boss and current Sunderland manager David Moyes.

The Scot was sacked by United in 2014 - less than a season after being chosen to replace club legend Sir Alex Ferguson.

He said the club had “tended to pick British managers” and never felt the need to impose themselves in the transfer market.

“I can say that’s gone,” added Moyes.

“There have been a few changes at Manchester United but that’s the way they have chosen to go.”

United have spent £480m since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after 26 years as manager.

They broke their club record in January 2014 by signing midfielder Juan Mata from Chelsea for £37.1m - a deal done under Moyes, and spent a British record £59.7m on Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria later that year, after Dutchman Louis van Gaal took over.

In August this year, they gave new boss Jose Mourinho a world record £89m to sign midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus.

Mourinho needs two more transfer win-

dows to sort squad Mourinho wants to stay longer at United Victor Lindelof: Man Utd move not ruled out by Benfica coach “They were a football club who enjoyed traditions with the way they spent,” said Moyes, who returns to Old Trafford as a manager on Boxing Day, with relegation-threatened Sunderland, for the first time since he was sacked.

“They didn’t try to compete with all the other clubs. They did what they thought was the right thing to do and spent the right way.

“Maybe that has had to change because of the current situation. [But] Sir Alex [Ferguson] went out and bought wisely and correctly in the transfer market and what he thought he needed to do.”

Moyes repeated a claim that he was “definitely unfairly treated” by not being given enough time and also confirmed that the club missed out on a number of major transfers during his short tenure - including Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale, Madrid team-mate Toni Kroos and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

“When I first went in my real target was

DAVID MOYES Gareth Bale,” said Moyes. “I felt all along that Gareth Bale was a Manchester United player.

“I fought right until the last minute.

We actually offered a bigger deal than Real Madrid. But Gareth had his mind made up

on going to Real Madrid. That was, in my mind, the player I really wanted to bring to Manchester United.

“The other one was Cesc Fabregas, who we thought we would get right up until the last minute.

“I remember when I first met Sir Alex and he always said there was a chance Ronaldo might come back.

“So that was the level we were targeting.

I was not going out to bring in seven, eight players, because we had a squad which had just won the league.

“Toni Kroos was agreed to come in the summer. I had agreed it with Toni himself and his agent. Sometimes you don’t get deals done. Gareth Bale, we were probably behind all along, Real Madrid were well in for it.

“The Cesc one was disappointing. It was very close. And Toni Kroos came up in January - it was done.

“A lot of players come into Manchester United and have not necessarily made the difference. But I think that, given time and having got to this period, I would have hoped I would be working with a successful team now.”

George North: World Rugby wants more information from RFU over ‘non-compliance WORLD Rugby wants more information from the Rugby Football Union about Northampton’s “apparent non-compliance” with concussion protocols relating to George North’s latest head injury.

The Northampton Saints wing should not have returned to the field of play after a mid-air tackle on 3 December, an RFU concussion review panel said.

But the panel determined Saints will face no sanctions over the incident.

The Saints medical team have accepted that North may have lost consciousness.

The 24-year-old Wales international previously suffered four head blows in five months between November 2014 and March 2015, leading to a spell on the sidelines that lasted from 27 March until 29 August.

The panel’s 17-page report into his latest injury, released on Wednesday, stated that the head injury assessment (HIA) protocol was followed correctly.

But the game’s governing body says that as-

sessment should not have been undertaken and that the Wales international should have been “immediately and permanently removed” because of “a suspected loss of consciousness” involving a “highrisk player based on medical history”.

It acknowledged “a risk of human error” but said it was “disappointed” at decisions taken that led to North remaining on the field of play.

Speaking after Friday’s win over Sale, Saints boss Jim Mallinder said he was aware of World Rugby’s statement but it was one for the RFU to consider.

O n N o r t h ’s f i t n e s s , Mallinder added: “George is training with the squad.

He is mentally fit and physically fit and, when everyone is happy, he will return to playing, which he is looking forward to.”

What did the panel say?

The Concussion Management Review Group, which spent two weeks analysing the case, also concluded that North should not

have returned to the field.

But it opted not to recommend any punishment saying Northampton did not fail any protocols or ignore North’s best interests.

North appeared to lie motionless after the incident, but told medics he had stayed still because he

was “concerned about his neck”.

Latest criticism of panel’s decision North ‘would have to retire if an amateur’ Listen: North concussions could lead to early dementia North review ‘a disgrace’

- Hargreaves The lack of any sanction against Northampton has prompted severe criticism.

Dr Barry O’Driscoll, a former World Rugby medical adviser, suggested rugby union’s authorities are “experimenting on players’ brains” by failing to ad-

dress concussion.

The Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) said North’s return to the field was a “significant failing”, and believes sanctions would have sent a “clear message” about the “gravity of concussion management”.

Former Scotland international John Beattie said he was worried for the future of young players, adding: “We can’t have a game where the end product is a brain-damaged super-human who’s made a bit of money.”

Peter McCabe, chief executive of brain injury association Headway, said “serious questions have to be asked” of the existing protocols, adding: “This incident sends out a confusing message around the issue of concussion, particularly for children who follow the example of famous players and favourite clubs.”

Sports injury lawyer Ian Christian said the panel’s decision was “hugely disappointing”, and a missed opportunity for rugby authorities to “make a statement”.

29

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Guyana NRA 150th Anniversary/ WIFBSC 2017 Championships

THE Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) is set to celebrate a huge milestone in 2017, the celebration of 150 years in existence.

And to commemorate this colossal achievement, the entity will be hosting the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Championships.

This huge event will attract the best marksmen and women not only from the West Indies but from the leading countries in the world, the likes of those from Australia, England, Canada, USA and Scotland who will all converge at the Timehri Rifle Ranges to compete.

Cognizant of the huge costs that would be necessary to put Guyana on show to the world and to be the good hosts that Guyana is known for, the executive of the GuyanaNRA decided to reach out early to the Patron of the association, His Excellency President David Granger and the Honorable Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for Sport Ms Nicolette Henry for assistance.

The mentioned digni-

–– MCYS chips in with sponsorship

From L-R (GNRA and West Indies Full-bore secretary Ryan Sampson stands with Junior Minister of Education Nicolette Henry and GNRA executive members Lennox Braithwaite and Terrance Stuart taries were notified that for Guyana to be successful in hosting on and off the range, it would incur costs amounting to almost 20 MILLION dollars to ensure the Timehri Range is in pristine condition and also the procuring of ammunition.

President Granger and Minister Henry ac-

quiesced to the association’s request and generously boosted the budget with a shot that hit the V on first attempt, valued at 1 MILLION Guyana dollars.

Minister Henry in presenting the cheque to GuyanaNRA Secretary Ryan Sampson who also holds a similar position on the West

Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) in the presence of other executive members noted that the Ministry was very pleased to be associated with the association to celebrate such a rare millstone.

Henry also stated that this contribution towards a continued partnership with the association is not one off

and she is looking forward to assisting the association in other ways not necessarily in the area of finances only.

In expressing gratitude, Sampson informed that over 100 shooters from the region and the world are expected to come to Guyana which would experience a direct boost in the areas

of sports tourism since apart from the team members, it has already been confirmed that their family members would be making the trip also.

“We intend to showcase a Guyana in a very positive way during the hosting of this championship.” Sampson said.

Sampson also extended gratitude to President Granger and Minister Henry for giving the association the perfect start in their quest to raise the requisite funds towards a successful championship in October 2017.

The GuyanaNRA has been able over the years to make all of Guyana proud with its performances at the Caribbean level and the world level, Guyanaese shooters making up half of the West Indies Team at eh last World Long Range Championships which took place at Camp Perry, Ohio, USA. The Guyanese marksmen led by Captain Mahendra Persaud are also the Short and Longa Range Champions of the Caribbean and are looking forward to maintaining that status come 2017 on home soil.

Extra security for Boxing Day Test after terror-related arrests POLICE presence will be increased around the MCG for the Boxing Day Test after a series of terror-related arrests in Melbourne on Thursday night.

Seven people were arrested over what Victoria’s Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton said was a potential multi-mode attack at Federation Square, Flinders Street Station and St Paul’s Cathedral, believed to be planned for Christmas Day. Although there has been no suggestion of the Boxing Day Test being targeted, Mr Ashton said police presence would be heightened around the cricket, as it would at other major events in Victoria during the holiday period.

“We’ll see a lot of additional police presence in the CBD particularly, through the Christmas period, right through the new year period,” he said.

“We’ve added additional layers of security to the cricket Boxing Day Test.

These are precautionary measures but it’s important the community is reassured that we are putting these additional resources in place.

“I took the opportunity to talk to Cricket Australia this morning and had a discussion with them, informing them that we will have an increased police presence for the cricket. But we are doing the planning across the state. So all of those significant events that will be occurring across the state

will be complemented by additional police during this period.

“I do stress that there’s no intel, there’s no information suggesting a threat at this time to any of those events.

However, we’re just making sure that we’re taking those extra precautions given what we’ve been dealing with over the last couple of weeks in relation to this.”

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said: «Our security team is in contact with the relevant authorities to ensure we have the appropriate level of security at the Boxing Day Test and other cricket matches being held around the country.

“The safety and security of our fans, players and officials attending any cricket match is our number one priority. We applaud Victoria Police for their efforts this morning in neutralising the threat and we will continue to work with the relevant authorities to ensure the highest security standards and protocols are maintained.”

A “ring of steel” was erected around the MCG last summer as a security measure, with full bag and body searches conducted at the fence before fans were allowed inside the perimeter. Although it was decided not to put the fence in place again this year, the same searches will again take place as patrons enter the MCG proper.

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

The best prepared team dominated first half of Elite league

By Ras Wadada

AFTER 15 matches to conclude the first half of the six-team GFF-Stag Elite League’s truncated season two, one team stands supremely at the top of the summit, five points clear of their nearest rival after winning all five of their games.

The Guyana Defence Force, in commanding fashion, dismantled every other opposition of the League with much ease, except for their penultimate fixture against home team, Monedderlust FC who threatened to share the points with 6 minutes to the end of regulation time. In a two-minute burst of lightning speed the League’s top marksman, Sherwyn Caesar produced a double to dent all hopes and silence the home fans. It was the closest any team got near to victory over the Army.

In my recollection of the games, and I missed few, this game was the most competitive and it brought out the key ingredient of preparedness for the moment. The Number Five Village team only have themselves to blame for not upstaging the Army since they created great scoring opportunities but failed to convert and when it mattered most, their tired defense could not respond to the quick acceleration of substitute Caesar

… holds perfect five-point lead from 5 wins

who was prepared for the task to finish the game as he pushed his season account to six goals from

gin. The double-header in Linden also must come in for some praise as the teams matched skills under heavy

quota of games, more than double their closest rival Conquerors with 10 and just below the total season

GDF in action four games.

There were other closely contested battles worthy of mention, like the first scoreless stalemate of the competition between Fruta Conquerors FC and Victoria Kings, taking into account the Kings were rebounding from their 7-1 drubbing in their opening Elite encounter and Conquerors brimful of confidence after putting away the other Elite debutant, Topp XX by a 4-0 mar-

conditions with Conquerors eking out a 2-1 win over Buxton and the Army getting past Top XX by 4-1.

From the very first game of the season the Army emphatically announced their intentions and looked consistently cohesive throughout, a cut above the others. The evidence of their solid preparations has been in their results where they have tallied 21 goals from their

tally of 50 goals.

The Bilaal Nantam bu-coached side is the only side that trains twice daily and the players are paid a monthly salary, hence they deservedly top the table. The main play makers have been midfielders Captain Delwin Fraser and Eusie Phillips complemented by Jerome Richardson and the lanky Aubrey Greene in the central defense. The main men on target have been Caesar,

Delroy Fraser and the burly Jeffrey Perreira. It has been a solid all-round performance by the soldiers in maintaining a flawless first half towards the $6M GY top prize at the end of the second half.

There were other outstanding individual performances that gave hope to their respective teams and among them are Buxton United’s teenager Dillon Wright, Kevin Cottoye of Monedderlust, Sherlock Dowden of the Kings and Conquerors’ Kwame La Fleur and Jermine Junor.

The young Conquerors unit must be commended for their sterling efforts while the Kings improved every game. The young Buxton side might feel they missed out on maximum points in close 2-1 defeats to the Kings and Conquerors, while Monedderlust played well in spurts but the bottom side Top XX was a far way off preparedness. They will have to be ready so as to improve on their three goals scored all season and the 13 they have allowed in, the most goals conceded by any team, or they can have a repeat of the first half where

they ended as the only side without a win.

In total, 32 cards were dished out by the referees during the first half with the Army and Conquerors, combined, securing more than half. Five Red cards were served with Conquerors receiving three and the Army two. Both sides accumulated 7 Yellow each while Buxton and Monedderlust got 4 apiece, Topp XX three and the team with the least, Kings who were only cautioned twice.

The teams have started an unusually long break and will not be back in action until next year February when hopefully we can have vastly improved performances by all the followers behind the perfect Army’s march and as well as attendance at games.

Even before a ball is kicked in the second half of Guyana’s top flight football League, there will be the most interesting Transfer window in January.

During this off the pitch period it will be interesting to see if the players, who are members of the four teams that withdrew from the Elite League season two, will be allowed to transfer to other teams since, as it is now, their respective clubs are not in good standing with the GFF which in effect includes them.

Boult, Southee to sit out parts of Bangladesh series

TRENT BOULT

NEW Zealand coach Mike Hesson has said that pacers Trent Boult and Tim Southee will be used sparingly in the upcoming home series against Bangladesh in a bid to help them get through a busy home season that culimates with the Test series against South Africa in March.

New Zealand’s home summer begins on Boxing Day with the first of three ODIs against Bangladesh, in Christchurch. While Boult is expected to sit out of the last ODI and the start of the three-match T20I series that follows, Southee will miss the T20 leg altogether to stay fresh for the first Test that begins in Wellington on January 12.

“It’s always a balancing act with guys that play all three forms, especially the bowlers,” Hesson said. “We’ll give them a chance to get their loads up so they’re ready to go for the Test match.”

Boult was New Zealand’s most successful bowler in their previous international assignment - the three-match Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in which he took six wickets in three matches at 30. Both he and Southee have played for Northern Knights in the 2016-17 Super Smash.

Hesson further indicated that while the

pace-bowling duo are the only ones identified for a lighter schedule, there may be other personnel too who could be rested.

Kane Williamson, the captain, joined the squad on Saturday after having had a break of two weeks to re-energise. Williamson has not played a match since the final ODI against Australia at the MCG and will have just a couple of training sessions as preparation for the Bangladesh series.

“It’s been nice to be able to give him a break,” Hesson said. “It’s a tough ask playing all three forms of the game and you’re captain as well. I’ve left him alone, to be fair, to enjoy his break rather than getting annoying phone calls from me all the time. He’s certainly fresh and ready to go.”

Despite New Zealand’s recent dip in form in ODIs - they lost 3-2 in India before being blanked 3-0 in Australia - Hesson exuded confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back.

“I think it’s been good the guys have had 10-12 days home playing some domestic cricket,” he said. They are getting some confidence back, and on the back of a couple of wins in India …. it wasn’t too long ago that had some pretty good memories.”

TIM SOUTHEE

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 25, 2016

Kevon Wiggins is still lights out!

By Daniel Haynes DESPITE MOVING to the United States of America with his family, 16-year-old Kevon Wiggins is still flying the Guyana flag as high as he did when he represented the country at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) U-16 Championships earlier this year.

The six-foot combo guard is making a name for himself as a starter on the Evander High School basketball team based in the Bronx, New York. According to Kevon,the transition to playing in the U.S.A was a fairly smooth one.

“When I went to school, the basketball coach asked if I played ball because he watched the CBC tournaments and he remembered me,” stated Kevon.

From there it was just about making the team and solidifying himself as a premier player. So far the prolific player has done so. He is one of two sophomores on a team filled with seniors. Wiggins has played in seven

games under Head Coach David Fonfa and has scored 99 total points with 24 two-pointers and 15 three pointers in the seven- game stretch. Wiggins is also averaging 14.14 points and 2.43 rebounds during that period.

For Wiggins,the experience has been a good one to this point, despite his new surroundings. “It’s been good, but it’s harder than when I was back home.

But that’s also good for me because when I return to Guyana next year I expect the games to be easier.”

He also stated that in that short span of time since being a part of Evander his game has improved dramatically. “Everything has improved, especially my ability to jump. I can dunk now, my shooting is much better and my basketball IQ is still rising,” he stated.

The ‘young gun’ was already as deadly as they come from behind the arc during the CBC Championships,being Guyana’s primary threat from behind the three-point line.

He is currently doing computer studies at his high school and says the last thing on his mind right now is

KEVON WIGGINS

girls.

“I’m not studying girls right now, I’m still a sophomore in school and I have to wait till my senior year to start being recruited by universities so that’s my focus,” he finished.

With his laser-like focus, killer mentality on the court and drive, Wiggins is making Guyana proud and paving the way for more Guyanese basketball players.

(L-R kneeling) Kevon Wiggins with rest of team-Guyana at CBC games 2016

Kevon Wiggins is still lights out!

See story on page 27

Shafiq surpasses Sobers ASAD SHAFIQ

BRISBANE: Asad Shafiq scored a thrilling century as Pakistan put up a spirited resistance to Australia on Sunday, frustrating the hosts’ attempts to wrap up the first Test with a day to spare.

Shafiq dashed for three runs off a cut shot in the final over of the fourth day to reach his 10th Test century off 140 balls in the day-night match at the Gabba.

Pakistan’s fight back was mainly led by Asad Shafiq who is unbeaten at 100. This is his overall 10th century and, of all, his 9th while batting at number 6 in a Test, the most in a Test match by a batsman playing at number 6.

Asad surpassed great Garry Sobers

with century against Australia. The West Indian legend had scored Eight centuries while batting at number 6.

Earlier, Starc scattered his stumps with an inswinger in the 88th over, his third wicket, and Jackson Bird had Amir caught behind in the 107th over.

Younis Khan had also kept the bowlers at bay but was out to a rash shot 30 minutes before the dinner break.

The 112-Test campaigner fell to an ill-judged reverse sweep off spinner Nathan Lyon, the ball ballooning off the back of his bat for Smith to take an easy catch.

Misbah was caught behind off Bird for five to complete a low-scoring match

Warner confident poor Test form will turn Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216.

GARRY SOBERS

after his four in the first innings and Younis followed just 18 minutes later.

Starc persisted with a short-pitched plan after a 90-minute storm delay at tea.

It finally paid off when Azhar Ali tried to flick a rising ball down to fine leg, only to edge to Matthew Wade.

Azhar faced 179 balls for his 71 and put on 91 for the third wicket with Younis.

Younis, out for a first-ball duck in the first innings, took 20 balls to get off the mark with a streaky shot through the slips cordon to the boundary.

Australia are defending an unbeaten run of 27 Tests at the Gabba.

Their last defeat here was in 1988 at the hands of the West Indies.

IT’S been a big year for David Warner.

In January, he won the Allan Border Medal for the first time. Also in January he became a father for the second time, with the birth of his daughter Indi Rae. In August, he captained Australia for the first time, leading them to ODI and T20 series wins over Sri Lanka. Also in August, he was named Australia’s Sporting Father of the Year.

In September, he smashed two ODI hundreds in South Africa, and in December he plundered backto-back centuries against New Zealand in the Chappell-Hadlee Series. In all, 2016 has been a stunning year for Warner in ODIs: 1388 runs at 63.09 and seven hundreds. Only Sachin Tendulkar has made more ODI centuries in a year (nine in 1998).

Along the way, Warner has earned a new nickname from his team-mates. Once, he was the Bull, but they believe the Bull has been tamed somewhat by the responsibilities of vice-captaincy and fatherhood. He is now The Reverend.

And yet for all the white-ball runs that Warner has made in 2016, for all the personal highlights along the way, there is one considerable caveat: 2016 has been Warner’s worst year in Test cricket.

With just one Test left in the year, he has managed just 604 runs at 35.52; prior to 2016, his lowest yearly tally was 788, scored in 2012, which was his first full year as a Test cricketer.

Warner’s only Test hundred of 2016 so far See page 27 SUNDAY DECEMBER 25, 2016