Guyana Chronicle Epaper 25 10 2017

PNCR defends President on GECOM appointment Page 6

Joe Singh resigns as presidential adviser No. 105076

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

Price: $80 (VAT Inclusive)

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Major–General (rtd) Joseph Singh

New arch lends spot of colour to Get with the Camp Street programme –– also serves as poignant reminder of Guyana’s commitment to the SDGs

Page 14

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––GCCI urges Lindeners to put house in order to benefit from oil money

M&CC ready to spruce up Stabroek Market wharf Page 17

– looking to accelerate long-overdue repairs

DHB to close for seven hours on Saturday Page 3

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and other officials at the commissioning of the arch

… commuters urged to put measures in place

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Get with the programme ––GCCI urges Lindeners to put house in order to benefit from ‘oil money’

By Vanessa Braithwaite LINDEN businessmen were on Monday encouraged to become oil-ready as the time for the first oil production is quickly approaching.

This encouragement

was given by President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCC), Mr. Deodat Indar, who, accompanied by former T&T Energy Minister, Mr. Kevin Ramnarine, organised a sensitisation forum with members of the Linden

Chamber of Commerce (LCC) and entrepreneurs in Linden.

Indar said that having realised that there were concerns on how the common man will benefit from the wealth that will be derived from the oil produc-

tion and how Guyanese businesses can play its role in the entire process, he decided to embark on a countrywide sensitisation campaign to bring cognisance to local businesses and to the several Chambers of Commerce across Guyana, informing each one on how the members can get involved.

Linden was the first stop in the campaign, and during the upcoming days, Indar as well as Ramnarine will be visiting the Berbice and West Demerara Chambers of Commerce.

Indar’s main advice to the Linden businessmen is to get their businesses legally registered and documented.

And, having done that, the next step, he said, is to get registered with ExxonMobil. Noting that the rergistration process is very siple, Indar said: “If a Guyanese company can do something, let them do it; once you have the capacity, you should be given a chance.”

Exxon, he said, has facilitated the process on its website and has even facilitated training for local entrepreneurs through its local content policy.

Indar made it clear that there are several types of businesses that can become suppliers of both goods and services for Exxon. “They have business like catering, disposal of waste, supplying them with stuff like slings, food, water, labour, furniture for their office,” he said, adding: “They need places to rent; all of these things they need. Exxon does not do anything for themselves; everything is a contract...”

Being a simple supplier to the company, he said, does not require any technical skill and so there is nothing to it. All one needs do, he said, is to simply apply on Exxon’s website and attend training. Once you are registered on the website, Exxon automatically informs the applicant on any future training along their line of interest.

Training is available to the various categories of local suppliers, so as to educate them on the company’s requirements in terms of both quality and quantity.

He also urged the newly-elected LCC President to encourage his members to become closely knit and to network so that the entire town can benefit more from

GCCI President, Deodat Indar the oil industry. “You must be oil-industry- ready; try to become more cognisant that there is an oppourtunity here,” he said.

Former Minister Ramnarine, while not venturing in on the business aspect, commended the Guyana government for inking the Petroleum Commission Bill, but gave constructive criticisms on aspects he felt needed changing.

Ramnarine also explained the Bill and the entire process of oil recovery to the businessmen and how it can benefit the common man.

Indar and Ramnarine (fourth and sixth left respectively) with some of the Linden businessmen who attended the meeting

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Joe Singh resigns as presidential adviser

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

RETIRED Major-General of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Joseph (Joe) Singh on Monday announced his resignation from the post of presidential adviser and from several State boards.

The one-month notice was presented to Minister of State Joseph Harmon in the absence of President

David Granger.

Sources at the Ministry of the Presidency told the Guyana Chronicle that Singh submitted the letter to the Minister of State on Monday.

The former army chief in his letter indicated that he did not wish to have his contract, which comes to an end in December this year, renewed. He also

stated that he would no longer be serving on any of the State boards.

Efforts to contact Singh on Tuesday proved futile and no reason has been given for the resignation.

Singh over the last two years had been serving as chairman of the National Task Force Commission (NTC) and several other commissions.

He was at one time Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company. He also headed the office of Conservation International here in Guyana and served as chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.

Singh had also led Guyana through the 2001 National and Regional elections as Chairman

of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

He resigned immediately after.

Major-General Singh was among the last list of nominees submitted in August this year by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to President David Granger for the post of chairman of the elections body.

Major-General (rtd) Joseph Singh

DHB to close for seven hours on Saturday –– commuters urged to put measures in place

THE Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) will undergo critical maintenance works on Saturday, lasting for some seven hours, and commuters who transit the bridge are asked to put the necessary measures in place to deal with extended closure.

General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC), Rawlston Adams, during a press conference on Friday, explained that the closure is as a result of long overdue rehabilitation works.

He said the facility will be closed for seven hours on Saturday beginning from 08:30 hrs to facilitate the replacement of one of the extra-large pontoons which is used to support the bridge.

According to him, two weeks ago the bridge was again closed for six hours to accommodate the replacement of one of the pontoons under the retractor span on the western side. It is the “last of the extra-large pontoons under the retractor span on the

eastern side which should have been changed over a year,that will now be changed.”

Alluding to other maintenance works which will

Friday they will remove the hydraulic hinges and pipes.

Those works will pave the way for the switching of the pontoons to be be

we will do it one at a time and the method is to close the bridge to marine traffic, open to vehicular traffic, except for except for Saturday where we’ll be

40th anniversary of the Demerara Harbour Bridge and Adams said the administration will continue to face, challenges including difficulties with some

DHBC General Manager Rawlston Adams is flanked by engineers Diane Lopes (right), Christopher Grannum (left) and Andre Crowder, who will be working on the bridge on Saturday be carried out, Adams said on Wednesday (today), the engineers will remove the walkway, stairs, and platforms. Following this, on Thursday they will disconnect hinges, hydraulic pipes and install the temporary pontoons, and on

completed on Saturday.

Finally, on Sunday the system will be reconnected and system checks will be conducted on Monday.

It is expected that bridge would return to normal retractions by Tuesday.

“We’ve decided that

closing for a very lengthy period,” Adams highlighted.

The Corporation has already replaced four of its five pontoons catered for in its 2017 work programme.

July 2018 will be the

of the panels. “We’re seeing cracks and we’re doing work with them and we’re in discussion to change those panels next year, which would mean that the bridge would have to be shut down for three days in the first quarter, but we’re

discussing what would be done.”

Another challenge the bridge is plagued with, is the issue of the sourcing parts. Adams said that recently DHBC has been storing dismantled components from the railway embankment bridges, especially pins and cardboards.

“We want to make sure we harvest all those components that come off those bridges and we will use them for our maintenance purposes. We have harvested a couple of hundreds of cardboards which are very important for keeping all the panels and the frames together. The issue is that the quality of cardboards that we would buy is not the same quality as the original, so we prefer to use the original,” Adams pointed out.

The maintenance works that is being effected on the bridge totals $102M. The DHBC is a vital link for commuters between Regions Three, Four and further afield.

It is estimated that close to 10,000 vehicles traverse the bridge daily.

(DPI )

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Businesses cash in by selling donated bodies

The company stacked brochures in funeral parlors around Sin City. On the cover: a couple clasping hands. Above the image, a promise: “Providing Options in Your Time of Need.”

The company, Southern Nevada Donor Services, offered grieving families a way to eliminate expensive funeral costs: free cremation in exchange for donating a loved one’s body to “advance medical studies.”

Outside Southern Nevada’s suburban warehouse, the circumstances were far from comforting. In the fall of 2015, neighbouring tenants began complaining about a mysterious stench and bloody boxes in a Dumpster. That December, local health records show, someone contacted authorities to report odd activity in the courtyard.

Health inspectors found a man in medical scrubs holding a garden hose. He was thawing a frozen human torso in the midday sun.

As the man sprayed the remains, “bits of tissue and blood were washed into the gutters,” a state health report said. The stream weaved past storefronts and pooled across the street near a technical school.

Southern Nevada, the in-

spectors learned, was a socalled body broker, a company that acquires dead bodies, dissects them and sells the parts for profit to medical researchers, training organisations and other buyers. The torso on the gurney was being prepared for just such a sale.

Each year, thousands of Americans donate their bodies in the belief they are contributing to science. In fact, many are also unwittingly contributing to commerce, their bodies traded as raw material in a largely unregulated national market.

Body brokers are also known as non-transplant tissue banks. They are distinct from the organ and tissue transplant industry, which the U.S. government closely regulates.

Selling hearts, kidneys and tendons for transplant is illegal.

But no federal law governs the sale of cadavers or body parts for use in research or education. Few state laws provide any oversight whatsoever, and almost anyone, regardless of expertise, can dissect and sell human body parts.

“The current state of affairs is a free-for-all,” said Angela McArthur, who directs the body donation program at the University of Minnesota

Medical School and formerly chaired her state’s anatomical donation commission.

“We are seeing similar problems to what we saw with grave-robbers centuries ago,” she said, referring to the 19th-century practice of obtaining cadavers in ways that violated the dignity of the dead.

“I don’t know if I can state this strongly enough,” McArthur said. “What they are doing is profiting from the sale of humans.”

The industry’s business model hinges on access to a large supply of free bodies, which often come from the poor. In return for a body, brokers typically cremate a portion of the donor at no charge. By offering free cremation, some deathcare industry veterans say, brokers appeal to low-income families at their most vulnerable.

Many have drained their savings paying for a loved one’s medical treatment and can’t afford a traditional funeral.

“People who have financial means get the chance to have the moral, ethical and spiritual debates about which method to choose,” said Dawn Vander Kolk, an Illinois hospice social worker. “But if they don’t have money, they may end up with

the option of last resort: body donation.”

Few rules mean few consequences when bodies are mistreated. In the Southern Nevada case, officials found they could do little more than issue a minor pollution citation to one of the workers involved.

Southern Nevada operator Joe Collazo, who wasn’t cited, said he regretted the incident. He said the industry would benefit from oversight that offers peace of mind to donors, brokers and researchers.

“To be honest with you, I think there should be regulation,” said Collazo.

“There’s too much gray area.”

“BIG MARKET FOR DEAD BODIES” Donated bodies play an essential role in medical education, training and research.

Cadavers and body parts are used to train medical students, doctors, nurses and dentists.

Surgeons say no mannequin or computer simulation can replicate the tactile response and emotional experience of practicing on human body parts.

Paramedics, for example, use human heads and torsos to learn how to insert breathing tubes.

Researchers rely on donat-

ed human body parts to develop new surgical instruments, techniques and implants; and to develop new medicines and treatments for diseases.

“The need for human bodies is absolutely vital,” said Chicago doctor Armand Krikorian, past president of the American Federation for Medical Research. He cited a recent potential cure for Type 1 diabetes developed by studying pancreases from body donors. “It’s a kind of treatment that would have never come to light if we did not have wholebody donation.”

Despite the industry’s critically important role in medicine, no national registry of body brokers exists. Many can operate in near anonymity, quietly making deals to obtain cadavers and sell the parts.

“There is a big market for dead bodies,” said Ray Madoff, a Boston College Law School professor who studies how U.S. laws treat the dead.

“We know very little about who is acquiring these bodies and what they are doing with them.”

In most states, anyone can legally purchase body parts. As an upcoming story will detail, a Tennessee broker sold Reuters a cervical spine and two human heads after just

a few email exchanges.

Through interviews and public records, Reuters identified Southern Nevada and 33 other body brokers active across America during the past five years.

Twenty-five of the 34 body brokers were for-profit corporations; the rest were nonprofits. In three years alone, one for-profit broker earned at least $12.5 million stemming from the body part business, an upcoming Reuters report will show.

Because only four states closely track donations and sales, the breadth of the market for body parts remains unknown. But data obtained under public record laws from those states – New York, Virginia, Oklahoma and Florida – provide a snapshot. Reuters calculated that from 2011 through 2015, private brokers received at least 50,000 bodies and distributed more than 182,000 body parts.

Permits from Florida and Virginia offer a glimpse of how some of those parts were used: A 2013 shipment to a Florida orthopedic training seminar included 27 shoulders. A 2015 shipment to a session on carpal tunnel syndrome in Virginia included five arms. (Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Questions over Puerto Disunity as Venezuela Rico power contract governors sworn in As much of Puerto Rico remains in darkness, questions about how a small utility company struck a deal to help rebuild the power grid are unanswered.

The deal raised eyebrows after it was revealed the company is based in Whitefish, Montana, the hometown of US Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

The Puerto Rican firm which made the decision has yet to comment.

More than a month after Hurricane Maria struck the US territory, more than 80 per cent of Puerto Ricans are without power.

The US House of Representative’s Natural Resources Committee is now scrutinising the deal.

“The size and unknown details of this contract raises numerous questions,” committee spokesman Parish Braden told the BBC. “This is one of many things the committee is taking a close look at as it continues to work with the resident commissioner, governor’s office, and oversight board to ensure Puerto Rico’s recovery is robust, effective and sustained.”

Under pressure to explain the deal, the Puerto Rican governor’s office said in a tweet on Tuesday that the deal would be audited.

In a Facebook post-dated 29 September, Whitefish Energy Holdings announced that it had “received a contract from Puerto Rico Power Authority (Prepa), to rebuild the hurricane ravaged power line infrastructure”.

On 19 October, the company announced that Prep had formally approved and ratified its $300m (£227.34m) agreement.

Whitefish Energy Holdings said it had been working for Prepa since 26 September, six days after the storm made landfall, “to repair and reconstruct electrical transmission infrastructure on the island”.

Little is known about the utility company.

On its website, the company says it was created in 2015 is and funded by two Texas investment firms and a Brazilian transformer manufacturer.

It states that it is headquartered in Whitefish, Montana, which also hap-

pens to be the hometown of Zinke.

In an email to BBC News, the US Department of the Interior said: “Neither the Secretary nor anyone in his office have taken any meetings or action on behalf of this company and played no role in anything to do with any contracts.”

However, Zinke did know Whitefish CEO Andy Techmanski because “they both live in a small town (population 6,000) where everyone knows everyone”, according to the statement.

While it has provided regular updates on its work in Puerto Rico since its announcement on 29 Sept, there appears to be no posts on its Facebook page before the date of the contract announcement.

An industry trade group says that it “understands that Whitefish has previously worked on the island and is familiar with Prepa’s facilities.”

A search on GovTribe, a site that collects information on government contracts, shows that Whitefish was awarded a $1.3m contract in July for work in Arizona. (BBC)

Four newly-elected opposition governors in Venezuela have agreed to be sworn in by the constituent assembly, defying their coalition’s official position.

The Roundtable for Democracy (MUD) had said none of its candidates would kneel before the pro-government assembly, which it regards as illegitimate.

However governors for Táchira, Mérida, Nuevo Esparta and Anzoátegui have all pledged allegiance.

The MUD says it was denied victory in several states in the 15 October vote.

The move means that

four of the five MUD governors to boycott the previous event in which 18 newly elected socialist governors were sworn in have changed their stance.

The head of the constituent assembly, Delcy Rodriguez, said the remaining holdout opposition governor, Juan Pablo Guanipa of Zulia state, would suffer consequences for his refusal.

Guanipa, who is from a more radical party than the other governors, said his state would never bow before what he described as the dictatorship of President Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro, who described the election result as a victory, said that governors who refused to be sworn in by the constituent assembly would not be allowed to take up office.

The opposition argues that the elections, in which the majority of Venezuela’s 23 regional governorships were won by pro-government candidates, had been fraudulent.

They have published what they say is evidence of fraud in the state of Bolívar, where the government candidate was declared the winner after a two-day delay. (BBC)

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Editorial Youths have been let down

THESE days, our youths have become regular features of conversations, whether as a social talking point among persons and general gatherings; or in the daily reports of the media. These conversations reflect concerns about the conduct of today’s critical segment of society.

As would be expected, the ones making the judgment are mature-age adults parents themselves, grandparents and other family categories.

It is a fact that we are products of the era in which we were born. This inevitably means that we are going to be shaped by the characteristics that are the social template of the day.

For example, those in the chronological 50s and 60s, were born at a time when society was completely different from that of today. It was relatively quiet and orderly, where good old discipline was paramount, respect for elders non-negotiable, and rules of the home were enforced.

Of critical importance was the fact of stronger families, with both parents being together for the seminal task of the upbringing of their children.

Sundays were strictly for religious worship, followed by a trek to the Sea Wall and or Botanical Gardens. The creek and all those current weekend resorts were light years away. There were no televisions or telephones in homes…non- existent for the mass of working class people. Computers and cell phones were unheard of, much less Facebook and all the other accoutrements of the In-

formation and Communication Technology.

Be it as it is, there is an objective reality that has to be faced when attempting to criticise the young segment of our society – they have been let down by the older members of society. This includes fathers and mothers, specifically.

It is ironic that those who at times boast of the good upbringing they were fortunate to have experienced, have failed to give such guidance to their very own offspring.

After all, the ever-growing incident of broken homes where fathers mostly abandon their families, tells the sad tale of the psychological trauma and depredations that many of the current generation of children continue to suffer hunger, abuse, high school absenteeism, drop outs and teenage pregnancy. These are just a few of the psychological hits that families do endure when the home becomes dislocated.

If mothers then, as is mostly the practice, have to become the bread-earner, then, who is there to give guidance?

Not even the much-relied-on extended family, since sexual abuse has become a sad fact in such relations.

Further, the conduct of many parents today, even if in a given family setting, leaves much to be desired. It is common for young children to daily observe the verbal and physical abuse of their mothers; fathers imbibing and being very abusive; and absenting from the home for periods, translating into days.

But this deterioration of the modern family is not only

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

confined to the irresponsibility of fathers, many of whom continue to abandon their families. Mothers are also guilty, and are most notable for physically abusing their children.

How do we expect children to grow up in such an often contradictory family environment, much less being able to survive mentally unscathed? How do they make sense of the seeming, unending turmoil that surrounds them?

Ask many of today’s youth and they will lament the great disappointment they feel concerning their fathers and mothers, and adults in general. Many have had their cherished dreams shattered by unsupportive fathers. Many, too, have lived with scars acquired from such family trauma. And many, also, act out the hurt they have endured in ways that have brought them into conflict with the law.

Those who criticise should pause and ask themselves how well as examples have they shown their families; and how good as fathers, for example, they have been; and whether abandoning their homes meant also ending the moral obligation to contribute to their children’s continued material growth and development.

How do we expect our youth, those who have had such mental trauma, not be adversely affected, and eventually impacting on society in very negative ways?

As an aside, the social phenomenon of youth crime just does not occur overnight. They have their genesis in causative factors that have their roots in the social dynamics of society, often affecting the home.

But that is for an editorial at another time.

PNCR defends President on GECOM appointment

By Svetlana Marshall THE unilateral appointment of Justice (retired) James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by President David Granger is in keeping with the Constitution, People’s National Conference Reform (PNCR) General-Secretary Amna Ally has said.

Tuesday, the PNCR came out in full support of the

President at a time when the Opposition – the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has moved to the High Court to challenge Justice Patterson’s appointment.

According to the PPP, the presidential appointment of Justice Patterson is unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null and void and of no effect.

But the PNCR is standing firmly at the side of the President, who is also the party’s leader. In a statement, the

political party said for several months, President Granger made valiant efforts to consult and have open dialogue with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo regarding the requirements as stipulated under the Constitution for the selection of nominees for the post.

Ally said it is unfortunate that the three lists of nominees submitted by the Opposition Leader were proven to be unacceptable.

“According to the Consti-

tution, the President has the discretion to determine the person who is duly qualified for the position and has a duty to appoint that person.

Justice (retired) James Patterson has been deemed to be fit for the post in accordance with Article 161 (2) of the Constitution which states that, ‘the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited juris-

diction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge,’” the PNCR general-secretary stated.

The party also wasted no time in condemning the opposition leader and the PPP for adopting a non-cooperative approach towards the government, stating that it is reckless and threatens the stability of

the nation’s democracy.

“We urge all Guyanese to deter from any such action and let us all work together for the betterment of this great nation of ours,” the PNCR general-secretary urged, while adding that the party looks forward to the commencement of preparatory work for the 2018 Local Government Elections.

In a separate statement, the National Congress of Women (NCW) – an arm of the PNCR Turm to Page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

PNCR defends President...

From Page 6

the government, stating that it is reckless and threatens the stability of the nation’s democracy.

“We urge all Guyanese to deter from any such action and let us all work together for the betterment of this great nation of ours,” the PNCR general-secretary urged, while adding that the party looks forward to the commencement of preparatory work for the 2018 Local Government Elections.

In a separate statement, the National Congress of Women (NCW) – an arm of the PNCR – endorsed President Granger’s decision.

TIMELY DECISION “Before we explore the legalities and propriety of the actions of His Excellency, we wish to bring to the remembrance of the Guyanese population that the Guyana Elections Commission had been without a chairperson since November 30, 2016 when Dr. Steve Surujbally served his last day,” said NCW as it made its case in support of the President.

Referencing Article 161 (1) of the Constitution, which stipulates that the GECOM Chairman be a full-time employee, NCW opined that the absence of a chairman was a particular and specific circumstance that negatively affected the confidence of the Guyanese people in the democratic process.

“Cognisant of this fact, His Excellency in accordance with 161 (2) engaged the leader of the opposition for the submission of persons not unacceptable to His Excellency for selection as chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission,” the organisation stated.

Article 161 (2) of the Constitution states that, “… the chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.

“Provided that if the leader of the opposition fails to

submit a list as provided for, the President shall appoint a person who holds or has held office as a judge of a Court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge.”

It was pointed out that the first list submitted on December 21, 2015 comprised Rhyaan Shah, Christopher Ram, Ramesh Dookhoo, Ma-

of the PNCR pointed out.

According to the NCW, the President went above and beyond the call of duty.

INCREDIBLE RESOLVE “His Excellency afforded the opposition leader three opportunities to submit a fit and proper list with fit and proper individuals over a period of 11 months demonstrates incredible resolve and commitment to the democratic principles we hold dear,” the organisation stressed.

Turning its attention to the ruling made by Chief Jus-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

jor-General (retired) Norman Mc Lean, Lawrence Lachmansingh and Professor Dr. James Rose.

The second list submitted on April 29, 2017, comprised Captain Gerald Gouveia, Retired Justice William Ramlall, Oneidge Walrond-Allicock, Kashir Khan, Nadia Sagar and retired Justice of Appeal B.S. Roy. The third list submitted on August 25, 2016, comprised Teni Housty, Sanjeev Datadin, Annette Arjoon-Martins, Major-General (retired) Joseph Singh, Pastor Onesi La Fleur and former Magistrate Krishendatt Persaud.

“It is apposite to note that after the submission of the first list, His Excellency had cause to remark on the suitability of the chairperson ‘that person will not be an activist in any form (gender, racial, religious etc)’ and ‘that person should not have any political affiliation or should not belong to any political party in any form, apparent or hidden,’” the women arm

tice Roxanne George-Wiltshire in July in the matter of Marcel Gaskin vs. The Attorney General, the NCW pointed out that according to the ruling, there is no legal requirement for the President to state reasons for rejecting a list.

It was noted too that according to that ruling, the President had sole discretion in determining who is fit and proper; in determining whether the list submitted was not unacceptable to him; and the President did not have to wait for the submission of a second list after the first was deemed unacceptable and could have appointed a chairman having rejected the first list.

“It is the considered view of the NCW that His Excellency acted judiciously in accordance with the Constitution of this great republic. Furthermore, we of the National Congress of Women share the belief of all right-minded Guyanese that had his Excellency not acted now then there would have

been a widening of the chasm between good governance and accountability of the Executive Arm of Government to act in such timeliness as our Constitution mandates,” the women arm stated.

COMMENDATION IN ORDER The Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM) on Tuesday commended the strength and leadership of President David Granger in appointing Justice Patterson as the New Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

“It is without hesitation that the young people of the PNCR fully support President Granger’s decision; we find it comforting to know that our electoral process will be presided over by someone of such strong character, integrity, experience and intellectual standing as Mr. Patterson.”

Underscoring the importance of democracy, the youth arm of the PNCR said it is pleased that the President in assessing the looming constitutional crisis, acted in the

President David Granger

best interest of all Guyanese and showcased his commitment to ensuring our elections are ascribed the respect and importance it is due.

“We have no doubt that Justice Patterson will carry

out his duties with the same dedication and diligence he has so proudly portrayed throughout his years serving this great country for so many years,” the GYSM said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Stafrei murder trial...

Victim’s wife takes witness stand

AS the recaptured Stafrei Alexander’s attempt to commit murder, or alternatively the offence of discharging a loaded firearm with intent, trial continues before a 12-member jury and Justice Brassington Reynolds in the

Georgetown High Court, the wife of the victim Mrs. Rhonda Thom, testified on Tuesday.

She recalled that it was her baby girl’s christening at their Lot 138 Laing Avenue, Georgetown home, which started at

about 20:00hrs on March 22, 2015 and ended at about 12:30 hrs, after which her husband Curtis Thom went to the back of their yard to feed their dogs.

Mrs. Thom told the court that she stood by their back door looking at her husband

and after a few minutes she felt tired and went to bed, but within a few seconds she heard Pow! Pow! Pow! Continuing, the witness said, “I holler s…and said aloud, I hope it is not Curtis” and as she ran out of the bed-

friends.

On March 22, 2015, Thom held a christening celebration for his newborn baby at his home and the festivities ended at approximately 01:00hrs that next morning.

Lyken told the court that

cused who was about six feet away was pointing a shiny revolver at the victim.

She told the court that Thom asked the accused “what the f… you shooting at me for” before he fell and heard two other explosions, Thom

Safrei Alexander being led to the courtroom room she saw her husband crawling in the house and observed that he was bleeding fror the upper chest and shoulder.

Mrs.Thom added that her injured husband then told her ‘something’ after which she ran out the house and called out for help. Neighbours came out and assisted her in getting a car in which her husband was transported to the GPHC. She further told the court that during the time she observed her husband feeding the dogs, she did not see anyone around their house, and that her vision was clear since he was close by.

However, under cross examination by defence attorney, Stanley Moore, Mrs. Thom when asked whether she knew someone named Anthony Primo, to which she replied in the affirmative and told the court that he has since passed away.

It was then put to the witness that her husband and the said Primo had quarreled over the playing of loud music in the neighbourhood but the woman said she was not aware of such.

The trial continues on today,Wednesday, before Judge Reynolds in Court Seven..

In her opening address at the start of the trial, State Prosecutor, Tiffany Lyken, mentioned that in the case of the State versus Alexander, the victim is Curtis Thom who resides at Lot 138 Laing Avenue, Georgetown with his wife, children and a sister-inlaw, in an apartment situated on the lower flat of a wooden range house.

She further told the court that Thom had known the the accused for about 10 years, as he lived in the same community but that they were not

Thom then cleaned the front yard and went to the back to feed his dogs when he encountered the accused who as he passed him made a grumbling sound.

She added that Thom proceeded to lock up his dogs and went into his house via the back door but enter by his back because of his belief that with a newborn in the house, he should do so to thwart evil spirits from entering the home..

It was at his point, that Thom saw the accused in front of him, and then he heard a loud explosion after which a stinging sensation to his right side chest, said. Lyken. Thom, she added, said that the ac-

started to scream and managed to crawl into his house where he felt a stinging pain on the left side of his back.

Lyken said Thom related that nothing was blocking his view from seeing the accused whom he recognised since there was adequate lights.

She further told the court that due to the time the incident occurred there are no no eyewitnesses and that no gun was found. However, the victim who underwent surgery and spent seven weeks in hospital after, has has injuries as proof.

Delano Williams photos saved in a folder in Oct. 18 Graphics as Court Pix.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Parika-Supenaam speedboat operators against new decision --plans afoot to challenge matter in court SOME speedboat operators plying the Parika to Wakenaam and Supenaam route are up in arms against a decision to change a longstanding “turn” system that manages the operation of boat transportation in that location.

Word is that a legal challenge is looming, but the controlling authorities are adamant that not only is the existing system unfair to new boat applicants who are having a difficult time getting into the trade, but it would also be unsafe to allow existing boat operators to wantonly sell their boats and “turn” slots.

Members of the Parika, Wakenaam, Supenaam Speedboat Association have since sought legal advice from Attorney-at-law, Anil Nandlall and are threatening court action to prevent the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the authority responsible for boat operations and safety in the country, from changing the “turn” system and disallowing the sale of slots.

Under the previous People’s Progressive Party government, the “turn” system was established on somewhat of a ‘first come, first serve’ basis. And, given the number of passengers using the boat service, the system also catered for a specific number of operators, which is approximately 60 persons.

It was, however, pointed out that not only does this rule make it extremely difficult for new operators to get in on the trade, but it also allows for existing operators to control the route, resulting in the more than 60 operators alone owning and operating some 90 vessels.

According to reports, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who has responsibility for maritime matters, supports the decision of MARAD to change the “turn” system in a bid to offer inclusiveness and increased safety on the waterways.

The Minister reportedly

said that it is his understanding that boat operators who currently are in the trade but are considering leaving, would like to sell their boats as well as their “turn”, which acts as the authentic permission to conduct boat operations.

But, Patterson, however, views this as “unfair”, since there are other persons who have complained that for years now they have applied to become boat operators but cannot get in because of what seems to be a monopolised system.

The Minister went on to explain that a boat operator cannot sell his “turn”, since the new owner would still have to go through MARAD’s application and safety process before receiving the “turn” permission, let alone, commence the transportation of persons on the waterways. “What they the (operators) are asking is unfair and unsafe. It’s almost as if someone is issued a license to sell at the market and turns around to sell the license. That cannot be,” the Minister said.

“The new owners must go through the authority’s application process and observe the regulations.”

The speedboat operators are arguing however that the “turn” system has been in place for years, and that it has worked just fine for them. This, however, is despite numerous complaints and letters by passengers who say that the turn system causes delays, while travellers face difficulties with rude, sometimes unsafe and unprofessional operators.

On several occasions, Wakenaam residents called for the immediate removal of the “turn” system, on the grounds that operators were operating the long distances thus delaying passengers from the island who have to wait on them. That action, also causes problems for the sick, school children and business persons, among others.

The speedboat operation at the Parika Ferry Stelling

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Fun Japanese film on tonight

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

–– at the Princess Movie Theatres

ALL roads lead tonight to the Princess Movie Theatres at Providence for the screening of the Japanese movie, “Wood Job”, compliments of the Embassy of Japan.

According to the storyline, Wood Job (Japan 2014) is a fun film with lots of humour, heart and a bit of romance. It is based on the journey of Yuki Hirano,

a lackadaisical city kid, who, after failing his college entrance examination, decides to become an apprentice lumberjack.

And, as Hirano reluctantly tries to fit in among the villagers of an isolated mountain community while pining for the love of a local teacher, hilarity ensues.

The suspense in the movie is whether he will survive his terrible instructor or be accepted by the community and win over the object of his affection?

Hirano is played by Shota Sometani, who started his career as an actor when he was seven years old. He has since performed various roles in movies and TV dramas.

Masami Nagasawa, meanwhile, plays the role of the teacher who captured young Hirano’s heart. At age 12, she began her career as an actress when she won the championship of the audition.

She has since appeared in a variety of movies and TV dramas, in addition to being awarded many prizes, including the notable ones in the Japan Academy Film Award.

Patrons wishing to gain entry to see the movie will need a ticket, which can be obtained free of charge from the Princess Theatres Box Office on a firstcome basis. Erach person is entitled to two tickets.

The movie starts at 18:00hrs sharp.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

M&CC: Stop protecting abusers

By Akola Thompson IN the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal rocking Hollywood, the hash tag #metoo was started. Those who made use of it used it to indicate that they too had had some form of sexual abuse or harassment levelled at them.

It wasn’t long before all of social media channels were flooded with #metoo stories.

One of the questions that arose in the conversation about it was, “How come we all know someone with a #metoo story, but we don’t know any rapists or harassers?”

For every 10 #metoo stories I know, I know the equivalent of one ‘he did it,’ story. Abusers are not named and they are not held accountable. The reason behind this is because of our automatic instinct to protect abusers, particularly when we know them or they are in positions of authority.

Every family has that one member who is known to rape or molest someone. Every family has that one member who is always sexually inappropriate and makes people feel uncomfortable. My family had two of these persons, one of them is dead, and I don’t know where the other is currently.

The latter’s sexual violence was made public, the first died before his was. Mostly, when we know of the abusers within our circle, we do not want to believe that they are capable, so we create excuses. We do not act against them because we are complicit in protecting perpetrators. As a result, we are complicit in the cloak of silence that ensconces rape and sexual harassment.

A clear-cut example of how we allow sexual violence to thrive and go unchallenged was seen in the recent case with the Mayor and City Council and what appears to be a cover up of sexual violence against a minor by an officer. In analyzing this recent occurrence, one should not forget that the M&CC has a history of inaction when it comes to holding rapists and those guilty of sexual violence accountable. It was only a year ago when child molester Winston Harding became a councillor and had the then Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence coming to his defence.

In August 2017, a young man reported to be 15 years old in certain sections of the media, was taken into custody by a city constable for “loitering.” The young man was placed on the prisoner’s bench at the Regent Street Enquiries Outpost at City Hall. That night, a constable was said to have sexually violated

the minor by having him perform anal sex on him. Another city constable, who would allow the violation of the child’s rights to continue without interference, reportedly witnessed his co-worker and the minor together.

The witnessing constable would report what he saw the next day to M&CC Town Clerk, Royston King. King was reported to have interviewed the alleged victim, but he failed to submit a report to the Legal Affairs and Security Committee; something he was required to do.

Despite the town clerk and the City Council being aware of what had occurred, it was only close to two months later that the offending constable would be dismissed for “gross misconduct.” The police also subsequently arrested him. The constable, who had witnessed what had happened, was also dismissed for his failure “to protect a juvenile.” Good.

It was only after the story was broken by Kaieteur News did City Hall launch an investigation. The matter had remained stalled for a while, given non-compliance of the guardian to sign a statement, stated Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green. Chase-Green reportedly stated that she did not know about what had happened and when she found out, it was she who pushed for dismissal of the officers.

However, it was not just King who was aware of what had happened and kept it under the wraps. Sherod Duncan, who is the chairperson of the council’s Legal Affairs and Securities Committee, was one of the persons who were aware of the alleged sexual violence and did not report it to the Childcare and Protection Agency or the police. He would later call his and the council’s failure to report it, a “misjudgment.”

In a Facebook post, Duncan criticised the firing of the officer who witnessed the sexual assault saying, “The town clerk interviewed the alledged [sic] victim in his office and submitted no report to the committee on what transpired should he be sent home as well?”

Yes, Sherod, yes. The town clerk should be sent home. You should be sent home. Everyone complicit in this cover-up should be sent home or should tender your resignations immediately.

The Child Protection Law states in Section 7 (1) “Where a person has direct information that a child is or may be in need of protective intervention, the person shall immediately report the matter to the CPA director, a probation officer appointed by

the Public Service Commission or a police officer.”

The act stipulates that failure to inform the relevant authorities what you see and what you know can result in prosecution in which the penalty is a $50,000 fine.

The City Council and its members should not have reported the sexual assault of a minor just because they were required to do it,

ethical guidelines should stipulate that they root out perpetrators of violence from within their midst.

However, the council did not follow ethical nor legal guidelines. They have made it abundantly clear just how little they are interested in ensuring minors are protected and sexual assault perpetrators and protectors are held accountable.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Aaliyah Anthony is Lethem queen

AALIYAH Anthony was last Saturday morning crowned as queen of the first Ms Lethem Town Week.

Anthony, whose platform was centred on tourism, wooed the large crowd gathered for the inaugural event with her confidence, intelligence, and eloquence.

The 18-year-old, who is employed by the Guyana Bureau of Statistics, spoke extensively on sustainable tourism and the green economy within Lethem and noted that same would open up “a world of opportunity for Lethem.�

Meanwhile, Azeema Xavier, Leanna Lindie, Narissa Torres and Rochelle Hodge were also shortlisted as finalists. Hodge won Ms. Congeniality, while Torres won three prizes, including Best Smile, Best Gown and Best talent.

Xavier carted off the Ms Best Swim Suit Body prize, while Shundel Simon and Pearl Rodrigues won Ms Punctuality and Most Improved in Fitness, respectively.

The five finalists hold hands before the judges announced the winner of the Ms. Lethem Town Week (Delano Williams photo)

Aaliyah Anthony smiles brightly after being crowned Ms. Lethem Town Week. She is flanked by the first and second runners-up, Azeema Xavier, right, and Narissa Torres, left. (Delano Williams photo)

Minister of Housing Valerie Patterson-Yearwood crowns Aaliyah Anthony Saturday morning after she was adjudged winner of the inaugural Ms. Lethem Town Week. Also in photo are Azeema Xavier, right, and Narissa Torres, left (Delano Williams photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

PM says constitutional reform a must –– regarding controversy over appointment of GECOM Chairman

THE United Nations(UN) and its sister organisations will be collaborating with the government of Guyana to aid in constitutional reform.

This was announced by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who is currently performing the duties of the president, on Tuesday afternoon at an event held in commemoration of United Nations Day.

trust our laws and that our laws can be followed in a way that all will feel comfortable and secure.” He added, “There should be no insecurity -- whether political or ethnic -- in Guyana, because there is a deficiency in our supreme law in our constitution.”

Guyana’s Constitution is an arrangement of fundamental principles that govern the state. Constitutional

society Organisations and the private sector among others.

The UN experts identified a wide consensus on the need for constitutional reform among national stakeholders, who acknowledged the need for long-term UN assistance in Guyana and anticipated benefiting from the UN’s support of constitutional reform and tapping the good

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo addressing the gathering at the unveiling of the SDGs arch (Photo courtesy DPI) In light of the recent controversy regarding the appointment of retired high court judge, Justice James Patterson as the new chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the prime minister explained that persons “should interrogate the prescriptions by which appointments such as these would take place and the prescription is laid in our constitution” to better understand the recommendations that determined the appointment.

According to the Prime Minister, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have volunteered and pledged their support to facilitate an investigative team to determine the necessary steps to be taken and ways to fund the necessary requirements.

This is vital, Prime Minister Nagamootoo outlined, since in the near future once the constitution is advanced, it will afford citizens “a comfort level that they can

reform seeks to modify some fundamental structures of these principles.

The 1980 Constitution was reformed and the changes enshrined in the revised supreme law in 2001.

The administration’s drive for constitutional reform began in June 2017, when Prime Minister Nagamootoo read the Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission Bill 2017 on July 27 for the first time in the National Assembly.

The UN has been incrementally aiding Guyana with the constitutional reform process. In February of this year, a team of experts from the UN body visited Guyana to explore the need for constitutional reform. The group met and discussed with the prime minister, ministers and senior advisors, the Speaker of the National Assembly and MPs, the leader and senior members of the Opposition, Constitutional Rights Commission members, the GECOM Chairman, a broad spectrum of leaders and activists of various civil

practices of other countries.

Guyana joined the UN in 1966 and relations have since resulted in the body having 12 branches in the country. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

New arch lends spot of colour to Camp Street --also serves as poignant reminder of Guyana’s commitment to the SDGs THE United Nations Guyana on Tuesday afternoon erected an arch on Camp Street to mark United Nations Day and to also sensitise the public about the work of the UN. The archway is part of a broader advocacy campaign to raise awareness here about the importance of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and how those goals can help make Guyana a better place in which to live.

The goals are a universal

set of targets and indicators that UN member states are expected to use to frame their agendas and political policies over the next 15 years. They also seek to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change.

Guyana, together with the United Nations, has begun to mobilise efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Agenda by 2030.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who was tasked with cutting the ceremonial

ribbon to declare the archway open, noted that the arch is a reminder that in the journey to achieving these goals, there are several stepping stones.

“In Guyana, we have been making incremental progress in our development to meet the basic needs, and we count on the United Nations to guide us and help us as a partner,” he said.

According to UN Resident Coordinator, Mikiko Tanaka, “The road to the SGDs is long and bumpy, but we have to

take the journey from where we stand.”

In an effort to educate the public about the work and role of the 12 local UN agencies, a number of informational booths were available to guide the public in that regard.

Suicide and mental

health, HIV and AIDS, food and nutrition priority, and decentralisation are some of the major areas on which the UN organisations are working to develop in Guyana.

In a message to mark the occasion, Secretary-General António Guterres said: “The

world’s problems transcend borders; we have to transcend our differences to transform our future. When we achieve human rights and human dignity for all people, they will build a peaceful, sustainable and just world.” (DPI)

PM and UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Mikiko Tanaka at the commissioning of the arch on the avenue on Camp Street

Some UN staff displaying their brochures

PM Nagamootoo shares a moment with schoolchildren at the exhibition

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

At municipal abattoir…

Animals still slaughtered without aid of stun gun

TOWN Clerk Royston King on Monday said that a new stun gun was purchased overseas for the municipal abattoir and is in the process of being shipped here.

But, it is roughly one month ago, that city councillors pressed Deputy Town Clerk, Sharon Harry, for an update on the status of the stun gun, and she had said that one was procured and was in transit as she spoke.

Her uninformed response caught the attention of several city councillors who questioned as to the veracity of the information that the details that she was providing, following which Harry promised that a full report would have been made available “shortly.”

However, on Monday King had a quite different explanation, as he said that

he `is now in the process of preparing a report and offered that the new stun gun was in transit.’

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen had some months ago called for the matter be dealt with urgently, as she described the manner in which the animals are slaughtered currently as “cruel and heartless.” She had even threatened disciplinary action against officers who are culpable.. And, months later, Harry attempted to offer an explanation to the Council that while the gun was procured, the ammunition still had to be obtained.

She had also caused some stir when she raised the issue of a second stun gun, which according to her, was on its way to Guyana.

The Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) had said

earlier this year that it was not satisfied with the manner in which the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is slaughtering animals.

The mayor had said that should the GSPCA have reason to go out and protest this issue, those who are guilty will be disciplined.

By the end of July, it was the mayor who had remarked that the stun gun and ammunition should have been in place at the municipal abattoir, failing which disciplinary action would have been taken.

To date, the abattoir continues to operate without same.

The stun gun is used to render animals immobile or unconscious prior to slaughtering them at the abattoir, so that they do not feel as much pain.

GPSU gives out bursary awards

--to children who did well at ‘Common Entrance’ THE Guyana Public Service Co-operative Credit Union on Friday awarded the children of 22 of its members who were successful at the National Grade Six Examinations.

The award ceremony took place at the Union’s Hadfield Street office, and saw in attendance the par-

ents and guardians of the children to be awarded.

In her remarks, GPSU’s Ms Grace McKend bade her guests welcome by way of a song after which she congratulated the awardees for their exceptional performance at the examination.

She also urged those parents and guardians

present to utilise the credit union to their advantage so they may enhance the lives of their children by giving them a tertiary education.

Each of the 22 students were presented with a backpack with school supplies, such as stationery, a monetary award and a certificate.

The children after they were gifted certificates and other prizes on Friday

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Crucial access bridge on EBD reopened

THE Eccles/Ramsburg, East Bank Demerara Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) has announced the completion and reopening of the access bridge at Yubani Avenue, Eccles and Industrial Site Road at a cost of $11M. The NDC said they have recognised the importance of the Yubani Avenue, Eccles and Industrial Site Access Bridge to the

large number of commuters, however, they did not anticipate such a long period for the construction.

Meanwhile, commuters and motorists are asked to use the newly-built bridge with care and caution at all times.

The NDC said works were executed by L.G.S Barnes Contracting Services at a cost of $11M.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

ARIES Setting your sites on a distant destination can be an act of faith for many people. But you are so determined to reach your goal now that you spend more time collecting information and creating a strategy than is necessary. Of course, being well-prepared increases the likelihood of a favourable outcome, but your atypical behaviour is puzzling to those who know you well. Don’t waste energy worrying about anyone else’s analysis of your efforts today. The only one who you need to prove anything to is you.

TAURUS Although you are driven to honour a high ethical standard, your need for practicality might tempt you to soften your stance now. Searching for the truth can be a fulltime job, especially if you decide to leave no stone unturned until you find the answers to all your questions. But sometimes, fulfilling basic needs becomes so urgent that you must let your idealism slide. Don’t be too hard on yourself during this temporary state of affairs. Robert Tew wrote, “The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow”.

GEMINI Finishing a job is easier than it looks today. Nevertheless, you’re still subject to your all-too-familiar attraction to variety. Fortunately, you can perform a bit of magic now by asking structured Saturn for help. Set a timer when you start a task and every time you are distracted, bring your attention back to the clock. This simple practice helps to set an efficient rhythm to your work. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Concentration is the secret of strength.”

CANCER You can make extraordinary gains on a major project today, especially if you remain open to receiving assistance from your peers. It’s not that you are dependent on others; it’s just that a simple nudge or a bit of well-timed advice is more significant than you realize. Naturally, you must do your part by committing to a schedule and working hard to meet your deadlines. Your exemplary example sets the tone for everyone else. Hal Elrod wrote, “The moment you take responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you can change anything in your life.”

LEO Scheduling your activities carefully so you can meet all your commitments is a smart strategy. But you could add so much structure to your day that you’re constantly thinking about what you need to do next, rather than being present in the moment. People notice a change in your attitude today and might even think you are micro-managing everything. Gaining efficiency is an admirable goal but not at the expense of meaningful human connections. Over-planning kills the magic of spontaneity and the joy of surprise.

VIRGO There may be so much happening in your life now that it’s challenging to focus on one thing at a time. Your performance at a routine task feels empty today, even if your co-workers appreciate your effort. You want your creativity to be acknowledged, not just your hard work. Unfortunately, finding your productive groove might prove to be a simpler task than maintaining it throughout the day, requiring extra concentration on your part. Consistency is your friend.

LIBRA Your self-confidence is the only necessary ingredient to start a project, and your growing enthusiasm even motivates others to care about your cause. Naturally, you like the idea of collaboration, but you might find it particularly taxing to work with anyone else now. Sometimes, embarking on a course of action excludes outside assistance, especially if you’re not sure yet where you want to end up. Businesswoman Anne Sweeney said, “Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.”

SCORPIO You are caught in an unusual dilemma of your own making today. You know you’re on a positive track that’s leading you to a successful conclusion of a job well done.

But you can’t seem to escape a handful of self-limiting beliefs that impede your progress. It is said that working smarter is more productive than working harder.

Part of your current intelligence is the wisdom to relinquish some aspect of the past, which, in turn, allows you to release old behaviour patterns that are no longer of use.

Don’t overthink, just let it go.

SAGITTARIUS You’re not in the mood to share your goals with anyone today. You prefer everyone to think that all your efforts are going toward more immediate concerns. Nevertheless, it’s impossible to take your mind off your future now, since you know that every move you make is part of a long-term trajectory. Unfortunately, the amount of cerebral energy you use to keep your deep-rooted truth a secret is a greater burden than describing it. Revealing your dreams inspires others to do the same.

CAPRICORN Although you’re willing to discuss your plans today, you might keep a few parts of your overall strategy under wraps. You want to engage in conversations that could spark new ideas, but your cautious nature won’t allow you to give away any trade secrets. You are a champion at calculating the best odds and you’re not interested in reducing your chances for success now by encouraging any serious competition.

Economist Michael Porter wrote, “The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do”.

AQUARIUS You have unused skills and undeveloped talents that can elevate your standing in your career. However, you’re in no hurry to bring out these secret weapons yet. You believe that you only get one chance at making your impression on those who could help you professionally -- and you’re willing to exercise your self-restraint while you continue to sharpen the tools in your toolbox. Joyce Meyer wrote, “Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.”

PISCES Oftentimes, you set a goal and figure out your plan while you’re already in motion.

You Fish like to zig-zag back and forth as you wiggle your way closer and closer to your loosely defined destination that gains clarity as you approach it. However, your modus operandi is radically different today as you rely on a detailed itinerary that you have already created and revised many times. Your advanced preparation will serve you well now, clearing the way for your steady progress until you reach your dreams

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

M&CC ready to spruce up Stabroek Market wharf

--looking to accelerate relocating vendors to facilitate long-overdue repairs

By Telesha Ramnarine TOWN Clerk Royston King on Monday indicated that vendors plying their trade on the Stabroek Market wharf will be relocated to the area west of the Public Buildings.

Their relocation, King said, is necessary to facilitate the long-overdue repair of the wharf.

Updating the council on the position with repairs at the wharf, King told councillors at Monday’s statutory meeting that notices have already been served to the owners of the K&VC food outlet currently operating at the designated spot to have their business structure removed so that the vendors can be accommodated.

According to King, the owners have asked for some time to remove, but should be gone by November 13.

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green told the Guyana Chronicle, though, that not all of the vendors will be accommodated at this location. She said other places are still being looked at, and that the municipality has not yet decided where the rest of the vendors will be

The present state of the Stabroek Market wharf

placed.

“We’re still looking at it, and we still have to meet with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure so they can lay out to us how they will do this work,” the mayor said, adding: “And the engineer is also liaising with them.”

A source had earlier told the Guyana Chronicle that because City Hall is in such bad shape financially, the only way forward with regard to relocation will be to heavily depend on the government for assistance.

The Mayor had at one point lamented on the Markets Public Health Committee’s lacklustre approach to the relocation of the vendors. “I am not hearing from the committee, and I hope that we can start consultations with those persons, so that they will be able to give us ideas of where they can be relocated while the wharf is being constructed,” she’d said.

The mayor’s fear at the time was that should no action be taken about relocating the vendors, the money the government has set aside for it could be redirected. “Councillors, if we do not do that, we will not be able to get that wharf done, and the money will be relocated,” she said.

“And I don’t think, under my stewardship, I want that money to be relocated, when we had been forewarned.

“We have to be very vigilant and very alert, and

ensure that that market rehabilitation is not prolonged because of the lackadaisical way in which we approach the relocation of vendors,” she added.

Approximately $400M is to be spent on rehabilitating the dilapidated Stabroek Market wharf, King had told the Guyana Chronicle some time ago. He had noted that the unsightly structure is soon to be torn down and replaced with a mall-like facility, complete with a boardwalk and entertainment area.

“Vendors ought not to worry, as they will be given first preference to return, once the project has been

completed. However, due to the modernisation, they will be asked to pay a little more rent,” King had explained at the time.

The portion of the stelling which faces the Demerara River has, for years, been an eyesore for the thousands who use the speedboat service every day.

The collapse of a portion of the roof some years ago, however, did not deter vendors from conducting business there. “The facility is not only an eyesore; it is ruinous and dangerous to the health and lives of persons who use it,” King said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Sophia squatters warned

By Svetlana Marshall SQUATTERS constructing new buildings on government’s reserves in the Sophia/Cummings Lodge area can see these illegal structures being pulled to pieces as soon as today, Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lelon Saul has warned.

“We will break down all buildings under construction….

All structures under construction will be taken down,” Saul told reporters on Tuesday while standing in proximity to the Lamaha Conservancy in Sophia where squatters are in the process of erecting illegal structures on the dam.

On Tuesday, new structures were seen being constructed on government’s reserve, including concrete buildings, but CH&PA made it clear that the construction of new structures would not be tolerated.

Saul said the demolition exercise would be carried out within the next two weeks, but could start as soon as today.

Security systems are in place to ensure that the demolition team would not be hindered in the execution of its job.

“We have all systems in place to address that, to address all acts of disobedience or anyone who would want to cause harm to the persons involved in the exercise,” he explained.

While CH&PA has given persons squatting on government’s reserves in Sophia up until January 30, 2018 to remove their structures, the CEO said squatting remains a serious concern with environmental, health, social and economic implications. There are over 500 persons squatting in the Sophia/ Cumming’s Lodge area.

On Tuesday, a team from the CH&PA led by the CEO

gave media operatives a firsthand view of the impact of squatting in the Sophia/Cummings Lodge area with specific focus on the areas lining the Lamaha Conservancy.

At a glance, the water-logged, garbage-faeces-strewn, mosquito-infested surroundings were hard to ignore. In other cases, the makeshift houses were surrounded by overgrown vegetation impeding the draining network in the area.

Illegal occupancy means that the squatters are not serviced by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and Guyana Power and Light (GPL), and as such, they have adopted illegal means of acquiring, for instance, electricity.

Squatting in proximity to the Lamaha Water Conservancy is a major health and

CH&PA CEO Lelon Saul speaking to reporters on the impact of squatting in Sophia on Tuesday afternoon (Samuel Maughn photo)

environmental concern, the CH&PA CEO emphasised, noting that it is a source of drinking water.

“There are persons squatting on the dam, pit latrines are also in close proximity of the conservancy… apart from that, people swim inside of the conservancy, they dump trash inside of the conservancy and these are the things we are trying to combat to ensure the safety of citizens,” Saul stated.

A number of illegal structures were seen lining the dam of the conservancy in addition to government’s reserves in other locations within the Sophia/Cummings Lodge area.

Reiterating that the CH&PA has zero tolerance for the construction of new structures, Saul noted that the close to 300 squatters who have been given eviction notices with a dead-

These are just a few of the many illegal buildings lining the dam of the Lamaha Conservancy in the Sophia/Lamaha area (Samuel Maughn photo)

One of the many illegal buildings on the government’s reserve in Sophia (Samuel Maughn photo)

line of January 31, 2018 must relocate once they have viable alternatives.

“We hope to work with those persons and we will do it taking into consideration all of the challenges those people are confronted with,” he posited.

For those persons who would have difficulties, Saul said the housing authority has committed to assisting them.

“We will work with the residents to find a viable alternative. Come January 31, 2018, if there are people still on the reserve and there is no other viable alternative, we will continue to work with these people to ensure that we find suitable accommodation for them,” he explained.

The CH&PA is encouraging all squatters to submit their applications for house- lots.

During a press conference on Monday, Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams-Yearwood, stated that the CH&PA is in the process of implementing a plan that will offer houselots to those persons who can afford to build.

For those unable to construct a dwelling, the government is seeking funding to build core homes. Industry has been identified as the area where the homes will be constructed.

“We don’t just want to give them a houselot because we know if they can’t afford to build, they are going to put a shack and all we are doing is moving one shanty town from one area to another. That is not what we want, as we relocate, we are going to upgrade,” Minister Adams-Yearwood explained.

She reminded that the exercise will be a costly one and persons must be patient.

This concrete building is being illegally constructed on government’s reserve. Such buildings/structures under construction will be demolished by CH&PA (Samuel Maughn photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Parking meter update ...

New negotiating team starts afresh –– set to conclude internal meetings by next Friday

By Telesha Ramnarine THE new team that was installed to re-negotiate with Smart City Solutions (SCS) is now reviewing the parking meter contract internally to determine exactly what matters merit consideration.

Chairman of the Committee, Councillor Akeem Peter, told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday that such internal meetings will end on November 3, after which the committee will contact SCS and wait on the company to respond on the way forward regarding meetings and so forth.

Earlier this month, two members of the public were chosen by the Mayor and

City Council (M&CC) to sit on the new team that will re-negotiate with SCS, the foreign company that was granted the concession to install parking meters in the city.

Mr. Owen Godfrey Edwards, a civil engineer, and Mr. Robin Hunte, an accountant and lawyer, were chosen to sit on the nine-member committee over the two other names that were proposed, these being MBA doctoral student, Mr. Joseph Eastman and retired schoolteacher, Ms. Pamela Arthur.

Thirteen of 25 city councillors had voted in favour of setting up a new committee, consisting of members of the public this

time around, to start a fresh process of negotiation with SCS. Apart from Peter, who was selected Chairman, other APNU Councillor Noelle Chow-Chee was named Vice-Chairman and the other members are Councillors Oscar Clarke, Jameel Rasul, James Samuels, Heston Bostwick, and Ivor Henry. Town Clerk Royston King and City Treasurer Ron Mc Calman will serve in an advisory capacity.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP)’s Bishram Kuppen, who is opposed to King sitting on the committee for fear he would influence the direction that it takes, was chosen to sit on

the new team by Councillor Bostwick, but he declined the nomination.

I n a n i n v i t e d c o mment, Peter told the Guyana Chronicle that the new committee will be working to achieve “the most possible and suitable deal” for the citizens of Georgetown.

“One of the first things I would be doing is asking for much more external helpers as it relates to the accounting systems. “Numbers would play a great role,” he said, adding that the working income of most of the workers in Georgetown and the affordability of parking meters on the ‘normal’ persons will have to be taken into account.

“We will bring the hu-

man face back to the issue, because we understood that it wasn’t really about parking meters, but it was about the contract. We want to help people understand the process,” Peter explained.

He said, too, that along with a reduction in the cost to park, the team will also be looking at the spaces that were offered to SCS, such as those in front schools.

“Even though we began on a wrong foot, I view this as an opportunity now for us to realign ourselves along the right path, and get a human face to parking meters. The submission of documents is not an option; it’s a necessity, a must-do. Once those are submitted, I see us moving forward,” he said.

The contract that the M&CC entered into with SCS came under heavy criticism from some City Councillors, who called for a complete revocation of it, while some others suggested waiting on the outcome of a court case that has a bearing on the matter.

Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikarran had said that the project lacked transparency from the beginning, was not open to public scrutiny, and should be shelved immediately.

Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor Sherod Duncan, along with PPP Councillors Kuppen and Khame Sharma, also called for the complete revocation of the contract.

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Ram is AG’s adviser on law school –– but did not object to name on GECOM list

CHARTERED Accountant Christopher Ram is employed as an adviser to the Attorney-General on the setting up of a law school here, and has also done work for the AG chambers in the SM Jaleel court case, top sources have confirmed.

Ram recently railed against President David Granger’s decision to appoint Justice James Patterson as chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), on the ground that, among other

Christopher Ram (left) seated among other top jurists, including James Patterson, at a recent advisory committee meeting. In photo also is Attorney-General Basil Williams things, the retired high court judge is employed by the government as an adviser to the Attorney-General.

“Well, Mr Ram has forgotten he is an adviser to the AG as well, and he allowed his name to be submitted on one of the lists to be considered as chairman,” the source said, speaking under strict conditions of anonymity.

The source also told the Guyana Chronicle that Ram pocketed huge sums of money for advisory services rendered to the AG Chambers in the recently concluded Ca-

ribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) case involving the Guyana Government and Trinidadian beverage firm, SM Jaleel and Company Limited.

In an interview aired on the PPP-aligned Newsroom, Ram is quoted as saying, “I find it absolutely unbelievable that you could reject 18 Guyanese who are serving their country in different capacities now.

They all are not perfect; I am certainly imperfect, but I am certainly not unfit or improper. In fact, under the Constitution, I am clearly fit and proper; but this is not about me.”

He was further quoted by the news outfit as saying that Justice Patterson has been “cozying up” to the government.

“I am speaking as a matter of fact. He is the dean of the five people who advise the attorney-general, who in turn advises the President.

This thing is going to have serious repercussions,” he warned, noting that such a relationship certainly does not qualify the chairman as being “fit and proper.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Lecturers put spotlight on Guyana, Chile relations –– to teach budding diplomats a thing or two about globalisation, global governance

TWENTY-five foreign service officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were on Tuesday awarded with certificates of completion of a oneweek training session on globalisation and global governance, an area of focus that the fairly new officers needed to be conversant with.

The training exercise was a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Foreign Service Institute (FSI) and the Government of Chile, through the Diplomatic Academy and the Agency of International Cooperation of Chile.

It was held at the Kings Hotel at Middle and Waterloo Streets, Georgetown.

Head of the Foreign Service Institute, Ambassador Ronald Austin said most of the officers attending the course are new to the Ministry and international politics. With that in mind, he said, it was decided that it would be a good move to expose them to that area of focus.

“As young officers, they will have to look at the global situation and

decide where Guyana fits in, and how they can work to have Guyana’s foreign policy fit into the global environment,” Austin told the Guyana Chronicle.

The training exercise covered a gamut of areas, including Guyana-Chile relations and global government structures. “It was a pretty thorough and comprehensive assessment of globalisation as it is today,” Ambassador Austin said.

The training was delivered by Chilean Ambassador to Guyana Claudio Rachel Rojas, along with three other Chilean officials from the embassy here.

Ambassador Rojas said the joint effort sought to raise awareness about globalisation and governance.

It also sought to help the young foreign service officers along their chosen path as they begin their careers.

“So we will exchange ideas and inter-train on how the political experience of Chile can help Guyana in its own process,” he said.

“We would also like to see Guyana coming out to work together with other

Bandits rob business, hijack car

THREE armed bandits robbed customers at a business spot in Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, before hijacking a car and escaping Monday evening, police confirmed.

Police are hunting the suspects who reportedly carried out the daring robbery.

The robbery occurred at about 20:45 hrs at Simone’s Variety Store. The bandits reportedly robbed a woman of a pair of gold earrings while a male customer was relieved of $20,000 in cash.

The robbers also took a stack of cell phone cards and other valuables from the store.

Another customer was robbed of her valuables while the white vehicle she drove to the store was hijacked by the men who made their escape in motor car PPP8667.

Police are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the bandits.

South American countries like Chile,” he added.

He also took the opportunity to acknowledge the

performance of the young officers who participated in the training.

The Ambassador

promised that as a follow up, the Chilean embassy will have an assessment or evaluation process for

participants. It will also seek to team up with Guyana to have similar training in Chile.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Lethem resident to be charged for soldier’s death A CENTRAL Lethem resident is expected to be charged today for the death of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal (L/cpl), Devon Fraser, who was struck down along the Lethem Public Road recently.

The suspect, 39-yearold Elroy Pedro, who is due to appear in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court will be represented by Attorney-at-law, Jerome Khan.

According to reports, at about 02:20 hrs on October 18, the deceased while in the company of another, was walking along the corner of the roadway in the vicinity of Camp Kanuku, (the GDF Base in Lethem), when a speeding CG motorcycle [number unknown] collided The now dead, GDF Lance Corporal, with him from behind.

As a result of the im- Devon Fraser pact, Fraser and the cyclist received injuries about their body. They were both taken to the Lethem Regional Hospital where Fraser was pronounced dead on arrival and the cyclist was admitted a patient.

The cyclist was tested and found to be above the legal limit of alcohol.

The now dead soldier was in Lethem as a member of the Military Band which provided musical accompaniment for the just-concluded activities, in observance of Lethem attaining township status.

Port Kaituma businessman remanded on narcotics charge A 34-YEAR-OLD Port Kaituma businessman was on Tuesday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for trafficking cannabis, an offence he allegedly committed on October 22 at the Port Kaituma waterfront.

Sheldon Salomon, a father of 10, denied that on the day in question, he had in his possession 90 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

According to Police Prosecutor, Arwin Moore, on that day, the police, who were acting on a “tipoff” that Salomon was selling narcotics, went to his business premises to effect a search.

The accused, however, on seeing the lawmen, reportedly ran to his backyard, but a rank who gave chase saw when he threw a black plastic bag into an old tyre.

The rank retrieved the parcel which contained a quantity of leaves, seeds and stem suspected to be cannabis.

Prosecutor Moore objected to the businessman being granted his pretrial liberty on the grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of the charge.

The Chief Magistrate who acquiesced, remanded Salomon and transferred the matter to the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court for a November 8 hearing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

World Cup 2018

Guyana’s first ‘football stadium’ taking shape

By Rawle Toney ALMOST three weeks after work commenced on Guyana’s first ‘football stadium’, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday, through president, Wa y n e F o r d e a n d vice-president, Rawlston Adams, said they are pleased and confident of at least reaching the target of completing the first phase by the end of January.

Through the FIFA Forward Programme, the facility, one which is close to two decades in the making, will be built the 8.5 acres land which was leased from the Eccles/ Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

Nabi and Sons was sub-contracted to work along with Greenfields and should see the first phase completed by the

end of January, 2018.

The first phase of the project will see the construction of the artificial turf by Greenfields, a manufacturer of artificial turf. Other aspects of the facility will include dormitories, kitchen services, a gym and a pool.

According to Adams, the hope of the GFF is to see the completion of the first phase as stated on their timeline, but, that would be heavily dependent on the weather.

Meanwhile, the GFF’s president stated that he’s happy with the work done so far by Nabi and Sons, and is hopeful that by the end of January, the facility should have a pitch which will be put to use.

According to Forde, approximately 24 months is estimated for the completion of the entire facility, and he is certain that the project

Bishoo proves ...

Chase faced 139 deliveries in 3-1/2 hours and counted eight fours and a six.

Graeme Cremer finished with four for 114 while Williams claimed three for 91 and seamer Kyle Jarvis, two for 66.

Masakadza and Mire then made the most of the remainder of the session as they put on a handsome 99 for the first wicket to keep Zimbabwe in the contest.

The right-handed Masakadza struck 10 fours in a 93-ball knock while debutant Mire, also a right-hander, faced seven balls and counted seven fours.

West Indies got the breakthrough in the sixth over after lunch, however, when Masakadza fell to a catch close-in off parttime off-spinner Kraigg Brathwaite, and Mire followed eight balls later in the next over, bowled by seamer Roach off his pads.

Craig Ervine (18) and Taylor put on 32 for the third wicket to push Zimbabwe up to 141 for two but Bishoo

is “going to make a tremendous impact on the way football is operated in Guyana. Much of the encampment services that we’re involved in really requires a massive investment from the Federation”.

Under the FIFA Forward Programme, National Federations are entitled to US$750 000 annually, but, in the case of Guyana, given the fact that it is the country’s first, Forde said that FIFA wanted to ensure that as much resources as possible are available, and as such, it was not possible for him to state the estimated cost of the entire project.

The GFF president also noted that next, the GFF and FIFA will look to build a similar structure in Linden, and then Rupununi, after which, the other parts of Guyana will ‘fall in line’.

Continued from back page

stuck twice in quick succession to tilt the balance the visitors’ way.

He trapped Ervine plumb lbw and then had William stumped in the third over before tea, as Zimbabwe stumbled to 159 for four at the interval.

A fifth wicket stand of 64 between Taylor and Sikandar Raza (30) then frustrated West Indies for an hour following the resumption, as Zimbabwe threatened to take the game into the final day.

Taylor faced 151 balls in just under 3-1/4 hours and struck eight fours while Raza belted two fours and a six off

65 deliveries.

But Bishoo broke the stand on the stroke of the hour, getting Raza to slap an innocuous delivery to Chase at cover, and five wickets then tumbled quickly for 44 runs to leave West Indies on the cusp of victory.

That bid was frustrated by number 11 Chris Mpofu who pummeled four fours and a six in a cameo 25-ball 33 as he posted 53 for the last wicket with Jarvis who made an unbeaten 23.

It was Chase who delivered victory for the tourists late in the session, claiming Mpofu to a catch in the deep.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES 1st Innings 219 Zimbabwe 1st Innings 159 West Indies 2nd Innings (overnight 369 for eight) K Brathwaite lbw b Sikandar Raza 86 K Powell b Cremer 17 K Hope lbw b Jarvis 43 S Hope lbw b Jarvis 44 R Chase b Williams 95 J Blackwood st Chakabva b Williams 3 +S Dowrich c Masakadza b Williams 12 *J Holder c Mpofu b Cremer 24 D Bishoo c Williams b Cremer 44 K Roach b Cremer 0 S Gabriel not out 0 Extras: (b3, lb2) 5 TOTAL: (all out, 126 overs) 373 Fall of wicket: 1-25, 2-107, 3-174, 4-211, 5-224, 6-244, 7-277, 8-369, 9-369, 10-373.

Bowling: Jarvis 24-1-66-2, Mpofu 103-30-0, Williams 35-8-91-3, Cremer 34-5-114-4, Sikandar Raza 19-4-53-1, Mire 2-0-5-0, Waller 2-0-9-0.

ZIMBABWE 2nd innings (target: 434 runs) H Masakadza c S Hope b Brathwaite 57 S Mire b Roach 47 C Ervine lbw b Bishoo 18 B Taylor run out 73 S Williams st Dowrich b Bishoo 6 Sikandar Raza c Chase b Bishoo 30 M Waller run out 11 +R Chakabva c & b Chase 1 *A Cremer c & b Bishoo 9 K Jarvis not out 23 C Mpofu c Powell b Chase 33 Extras: (b5, lb1, nb2) 8 TOTAL: (all out, 90.4 overs) 316 Fall of wickets: 1-99, 2-109, 3-141, 4-155, 5-219, 6-246, 7-249, 8-253, 9-263, 10-316.

Bowling: Roach 13-3-34-1, Gabriel 10-2-50-0, Holder 12-4-30-0, Bishoo 32-8-105-4, Chase 13.4-261-2, Brathwaite 10-01-30-1.

Man-of-the-Match: Devendra Bishoo.

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Former Test umpire Hair admits stealing Opener Vijay back in India squad for Sri Lanka Tests more than £5,000 from off-licence

Australian Umpire Darrell Hair watches Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan bowl during a one day match against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground, January 13, 2003. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne/File Photo

FORMER Test umpire Darrell Hair has admitted stealing money from an off-licence where he worked. The 65-year-old Australian, one of the most controversial officials in the history of the game, stole more than AU$9,000 (£5,310) from the shop where he was employed between February and April this year, while he was suffering from a gambling addiction.

During his umpiring career, Hair is best remembered for no-balling Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan during the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne in 1995 and punishing Pakistan for suspected ball-tampering against England at The Oval in 2006.

Following the incident, Pakistan responded by refusing to return to the field after the tea interval.

Orange Court magistrate Michael Allen did not record a conviction but sentenced Hair to an 18-month good behaviour bond, noting that he had repaid the money.

Hair’s solicitor, Andrew Rolfe, said: “My client has been in the public eye for many years and this is a bit of a fall for him, to find himself before the court in these circumstances. This is an aberration in the life of a man who, prior to this, had a lifetime of service to the community and to a sport that he loved.”

Broad public support for North American World Cup bid, poll finds

(REUTERS) - More than three-quarters of North American residents polled in a survey broadly support plans to host the 2026 World Cup, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday.

“There is no real opposition to speak of.”

Jackson said there was 83 percent support for the bid in Mexico, 76 percent in Canada and 74 percent in the U.S. U.S. residents were most-

US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati

The Ipsos survey polled 1,000 residents in each of the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The three countries are planning a joint bid for the 2026 World Cup, which will be the first to include 48 teams.

The U.S. is slated to host the majority of matches.

“One of main findings is really strong support people have to the idea of North America hosting (the World Cup),” Ipsos spokesman Chris Jackson said in a conference call.

ly interested in potential economic benefits, while Mexicans and Canadians were more focused on promoting the image of their respective countries. Canadians were also in favour of growing the game.

Respondents particularly liked that the event would need minimal new infrastructure.

“Our focus continues to be on working with our 32 host city candidates to present the most compelling, thorough and forward-looking proposal to FIFA,” John Kristick, exec-

utive director of the United Bid Committee said in a statement.

“One of the strengths of our hosting concept is that we have ready-made stadiums and infrastructure prepared to stage the first 48-team FIFA World Cup.” Kristick added during the conference call that the final number of cities to host matches would be whittled down to around 12-to-16.

He also said that the possible ousting of Sunil Gulati as U.S. Soccer Federation

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Gulati is head of the United Bid committee.

His position at U.S. Soccer is under threat following the country’s shocking failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

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MUMBAI, (Reuters) Opening batsman Murali Vijay returned to India’s squad for the first two tests against Sri Lanka next month after missing the matches against the same opponents earlier this year with a wrist injury.

The 33-year-old righthander underwent surgery in England following the four-test series against Australia at the beginning of the year and missed India’s 3-0 victory in Sri Lanka in July-August.

and at some point of time, the rotation policy that we’re following will also apply to the captain.

“We’re also monitoring his workload - he’s been playing continuously right from the IPL. We need to give him a break and we will consider after the Test series.”

The Indian selectors also named the squad for the three Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand with batsman Shreyas Iyer and paceman Mohammed Siraj the new faces.

India opener Murali Vijay.

The world’s top-ranked Test side will have Vijay and KL Rahul back at the top of the batting order while Shikhar Dhawan will be the reserve opener in the 16-man squad.

Left-handed opener Abhinav Mukund missed out from the squad that toured Sri Lanka.

Kolkata’s Eden Gardens will host the opening match of the three-Test series from Nov. 16 with the second and third tests in Nagpur and Delhi.

Talismanic batsman Virat Kohli will continue to lead the side but his workload is being monitored, India’s chairman of selectors MSK Prasad said.

India will also play three one-day internationals and the same number of T20s against Sri Lanka.

“With regard to Virat Kohli there has been some speculation that he’s going to be rested for the whole of Sri Lanka series,” Prasad told reporters on Monday. ”It’s not right. Yes, as far as Test series is concerned, he’s going to play

The first T20 on Nov. 1 in Delhi will be the last for paceman Ashish Nehra with the 38-year-old retiring from all formats of the game at his home ground.

Rahul, who was dropped from the ongoing three-match one-day international series against New Zealand, earned a place in the T20 squad against the Black Caps.

T20I squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Ashish Nehra Te s t s q u a d : Vi r a t Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Windies ‘A’ have to meet Sri Lanka challenge - Rahkeem Cornwall THE West Indies selectors have named an unchanged squad for the third and final unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A set to start tomorrow at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.

The squad remains unchanged despite the 280-run thumping they received from Sri Lanka A during the second Test that ended in three days on October 21.

There were few outstanding performances from the home side, among them was that of Rahkeem Cornwall.

Cornwall returned figures of 2-85 and 5-107, moving his aggregate for the series to 13 wickets. However, despite the personal gain, he believed the team played poorly.

“Our performance was not up to standard,” he said. “We did not bat well enough to keep the Sri Lankans out of the

game and win the series in the second match. The pitch was spin-bowling friendly. I got seven wickets and (Malinda

Test at Sabina Park will be equally challenging but the Windies players have to be prepared to meet that chal-

Rahkeem Cornwall

Pushpakumara) got 12, so the result hinged on whichever team batted the spin well – Sri Lanka did it and we did not, so they won.”

Cornwall said the final

lenge.

“We have the final ‘Test’ coming up and this will be played under the lights, which will be a challenge in itself, so it is important that we pre-

pare well and get everything ready and right for that game because once we play to our potential there is no doubt that we can win the series,” he said.

“But we have to go to practice over the next couple of days, work hard and do what we got to do to continue to perform strongly, and win the series. When we get into the game, we need to exhibit patience in batting and bowling, and the outcome we had in the first game can be repeated.”

The squad for the third ‘Test’ at Sabina is as follows: Shamarh Brooks (Captain), Vishaul Singh (Vice-Captain), Sunil Ambris, John Campbell, Yannic Cariah, Rahkeem Cornwall, Sheldon Cottrell, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Damion Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Reynard Leveridge and Oshane Thomas.(Sportsmax)

Everest Masters to host United All Star in 35-overs encounter

ANOTHER visiting team will compete against host, Everest Masters, in a 35-overs encounter tomorrrow at the Everest cricket ground, starting from 11:00 am. The United All-Star team from Florida, USA, which accepted an invitation will seek to gain top honors against the host as an exciting match is anticipated between the two Masters’ sides.

Both teams have released their squad as follows:Everest Masters – Rajesh Singh (Captain), Sahadeo Hardaiow, Basil Persaud, Hemraj Garbarran, Saheed Mohamed, Imtiaz Sadik, Rohan Sarjoo, David Harper, Rakesh Gangaram, Ronald Jaisingh, Johnny Azeez, Satyendra Khemraj, Ramesh Narine and Anil Beharry.

United All Star – Nandkishore Phanisnaraine (Captain), Bhim George, Ragendra Sooknanan, Vivian Gooniah, S. Persaud, M.Lallbeharry, Balham Persaud, Jaipaul Seenauth, Muneshwar Lall and Devin Baldeo.

Trophies and plaques are sponsored by Trophy Stall, a long-standing donor to the Everest Cricket Club.

Report By: - Elroy Stephney

Venus turns back clock to edge Ostapenko in marathon

IPL teams could be allowed to retain three players

THE eight IPL franchises are likely to be allowed to retain up to three players each before the player auction in the 2018 pre-season.

Such a proposal was discussed by the IPL governing council in Delhi on Tuesday.

The governing council will meet again next week to deliberate on the issue before making a final decision on November 14 at a workshop with all eight franchises.

Although a final decision remains to be made, a BCCI official suggested that the three players could be a combination of two Indians and one overseas player, or two overseas players and one Indian. ESPNcricinfo understands that not all franchises have been keen on retaining players, but Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, the two teams that are returning to the IPL after serving a two-year suspension, were “keen” to retain a certain number of players.

If the IPL allows the retention of a certain number of players, both these franchises would be able to pick their choices from the two teams that replaced them in the last two editions of the IPL: Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions.

MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Ben Stokes, Steven Smith, Brendon McCullum and Faf du Plessis are some of the prominent names that featured for Supergiant and Lions in the last two years.

It is understood that

the IPL chief operating officer Hemang Amin met with representatives of the eight franchises in the last few months to gather suggestions before a final plan is laid out at the franchise workshop next month.

It is not just the number of players that should be retained that the franchises have different opinions about - they are also concerned by the purse that will be made available to them.

purse in order to spend big money to retain marquee players. The official suggested the IPL should consider a smaller purse as well as sticking to the retention policy it had used in the past.

In 2014, when the retention policy was introduced for the first time by the IPL, every franchise was allowed to retain a maximum of five capped players.

Back then every franchise had a salary cap of

the right-to-match-card option in the 2014 auction. On Tuesday, the IPL governing council discussed the rightto-match-card option, but there was no clarity on the issue. The right-to-match card essentially gives a franchise the first right of refusal to its players, allowing it to buy its player back after other franchises have completed the bidding process for him.

In 2014 the number of right-to-match cards avail-

Steven Smith and MS Dhoni have a chat in the field AFP

Some of the richer franchises are keen to have a maximum purse of INR 80 crore as opposed to some franchises which are happy with INR 75 crore. The IPL governing council is likely to take a final call at its next meeting.

One franchise official pointed out that the richer teams might want a bigger

INR 60 crore, out of which a fixed amount would be deducted for every player retained. The break-up of the deduction was: Player 1 - INR 12.5 crore, Player 2 - 9.5 cr, Player 3 - 7.5 cr, Player 4 - 5.5 cr and Player 5 - 4 cr.

Simultaneously the franchises could buy back additional players through

able to each franchise was dependent on the number of players already retained.

A franchise retaining between three and five players had one right-to-match card, while a franchise retaining up to two players had two right-to-match cards; those not retaining any player had three cards to play.

Venus Williams

By John O’Brien SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Venus Williams produced a vintage display full of guts and determination to grind out a 7-5 6-7(3) 7-5 victory over Jelena Ostapenko in their White Group encounter at the WTA Finals on Tuesday.

Both players had lost their opening ties on Sunday so were desperate for a victory to keep their future fate in the eight-woman event in their own hands and neither appeared willing to budge in a titanic three hour and 13-minute marathon.

In the end, the 37-year-old Williams emerged from a bruising encounter that featured 20 breaks of serve with a victory built on her calmness at the key moments and ruthlessness when offered a chance to attack her opponent’s weak second serve.

“Sometimes you need some luck. I don’t know if I had any tonight as I had to work for every point,” Williams said in a courtside interview.

“It’s not easy when you lose the first match. Both of us were in the same situation and you have to fight, what else can you do, to live another day.”

The match started with Ostapenko trying to force the pace with the high-risk strategy that carried her to French Open glory, while Williams was content to pick up free points as her opponent sprayed a plethora of attempted winners wide or long.

The Latvian edged ahead in the opener, however, and even served for the set at 5-3 but the veteran American dug deep and reeled off six consecutive games to first steal the set and then move ahead in the second.

The 20-year-old battled back as the pair traded two breaks apiece before Williams brought up a her first match point in the 10th game that she failed to convert when she dumped a forehand into the net as Ostapenko continued to go for her shots.

The pair’s inability to hold serve spilled over into the tiebreak and Williams handed Ostapenko three set points with a wild forehand and the Latvian levelled the contest on the first of them when the American netted a backhand.

Four more breaks of serve followed in the decider until Ostapenko rallied from 0-40 to hold in the ninth game and the Latvian saved three more break points in the 11th before finally running out of lives when she sent a backhand wide.

Williams could smell blood and a booming ace brought up three more match points and the American sealed victory on the second of them with a crosscourt backhand winner.

Spanish world number two Garbine Muguruza takes on Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova in the second White Group match later on Tuesday.

Both players won their opening matches on Sunday.

Leslie Black is GTT’s ‘Pink Warrior’ THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) ‘Pink Warrior’ Leslie Black is a man of strength; strength that transcends beyond the physical and is embedded in his very spirit. It is this strength that Leslie uses to commit his time and his more than two decades of expertise as an athletics coach, to push both himself and others to success.

Popularly knowns as ‘Blacks’, Leslie has dedicated much of his time to working alongside the Guyana Cancer Foundation and he declares that this is because it was something very close to his heart.

In the year 2012, tragedy struck Leslie’s family when his daughter died from Stage Four cancer. His family had first become aware of his now late daughter’s illness when she had begun spitting up blood in 2008.

She was taken to various

doctors and specialists and began treatment soon after being diagnosed with the illness.

Unfortunately, the cancer continued to spread, leaving the entire family devastated after

courage both men and women to ensure that they are getting their regular checkups. Most persons, he stated, would wait until something happens to them before they

Leslie Black

her untimely death.

Having had the experience of how cancer changes the lives of not only its victims but their loved ones as well, Leslie wants to en-

get a check-up and this can be dangerous, as often,there are no immediate symptoms of the disease.

When his daughter had become ill, Leslie searched

for ways he could become involved in the fight against cancer, and it was then that he began to work with the Guyana Cancer Foundation. Every year since then, Leslie continues to offer his help and support to the GCF. Doing more this year, Leslie decided that his contribution in helping to spread awareness would be made through offering his experience of being a coach. The aim of this ‘GTT Pink Warrior’ was to help prepare persons interested in participating in GTT 5k/10k walk/run.

Leslie met with participants for half of an hour every day and offered the training free of cost. Leslie’s aim was not only to help these persons, but to create a lasting impact on the exercise habits of those who participated.

GTT recognises these efforts made by Leslie and will continue to support him in his philanthropic visions.

Match-winner Bishoo rues missed chance on a maiden Test fifty …Next time I’ll use my brain

DEVENDRA Bishoo was delighted to help West Indies overcome Zimbabwe in the first Test but there some mixed feelings after he missed out on a maiden fifty.

The leg-spinner took nine wickets in the match as the Windies won by 117 runs in Bulawayo to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

ingly in the recent 2-1 series defeat to England.

“It was nice having a long bowl, in England it was a bit tough but I had to make use here.

“I stayed patient and the wicket was spinning a lot, so I just had to put the ball in the areas and nothing more.”

After falling short in their attempts to win a

Smith gives evidence in Chris Gayle defamation case

CRICKETER Dwayne Smith has told a New South Wales( NSW )Supreme Court his teammate Chris Gayle did not expose himself to a female massage therapist in a change room saying, “that is something I would remember if it happened”.

Dwayne Smith has given evidence in support of Chris Gayle.

The T20 player and former West Indies all-rounder gave evidence in Gayle’s defamation lawsuit against Fairfax over a

series of articles published in January last year claiming the Jamaican had exposed himself to the West Indies team massage therapist Leanne Russell in a change room during the 2015 World Cup. When questioned by Gayle’s barrister, Bruce McClintock SC, Smith denied seeing Gayle open his towel exposing his penis to Ms Russell before saying: “Is this what you are looking for?”

But during cross-examination by Fairfax barrister Matthew Collins QC, Smith was accused of lying about the incident to cover up for his friend.

Dr Collins questioned Smith about a massage session he had with Ms Russell on February 10 2015, a day before the alleged change room incident.

“Did you send a text message to Ms Russell … while being massaged by her in which

you said ‘sexy’.”

Mr Smith agreed but said that he sent the text message “maybe a minute before the massage”.

Chris Gayle denies exposing himself to a female massage therapist.

“I suggest to you that the evidence you gave about the observations Gayle partially exposed his penis was false evidence, what do you say?”

“No, it’s not it is true,” Mr

Smith replied.

“You and Gayle were friends and you were seeking to protect him,” Dr Collins said.

“I will say it is true,” Mr Smith replied.

Gayle has given evidence denying the allegation saying it was “the most hurtful thing I have actually come across in my entire life”.

Mr McClintock told the jury that Fairfax’s intention in publishing the articles was “to blacken his name”.

“They intended to damage the reputation of my client, they wanted to destroy him.”

Fairfax is defending the articles stating the allegations are true and in the public interest because they were written in the days after Gayle’s infamous sideline interview with sports journalist Mel McLaughlin when he told her “don’t blush, baby” Extraced from Daily Telegraph)

Priyanna Ramdhani to participate in Young Talent Camp GUYANA & Caribbean Ladies Badminton champion, Priyanna Ramdhani, has been selected by the director of the Pan American Badminton Federation Development to participate in the Young Talent Camp 2017.

The camp will take place from November 9-15, 2017 in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The selection was made as a result of her incredible performance at just 15 years of age to reach the Quarter Finals at the recently-concluded South American Youth Games in Chile.

She was also placed in the

No. 4 Position in the Rankings for South America.

Priyanna won two Golds

and one Silver at the 2017 Caribbean Badminton Championships (CAREBA-

Priyanna Ramdhani

CO), held in Trinidadand Tobago and playing against 14 countries.

This Young Talent Camp will see sessions twice daily under the direction of the Pan American Programme coach.

After the conclusion of the Camp Priyanna Ramdhani will then take part in the Suriname International Open Badminton Championships November 15-18, 2017 which will take place at the Ismay Van Wilgen Sports Hall.

Her Goal is to start building her World Ranking Points to help her qualify and attend future tournaments and games.

His nine wickets inspired West Indies to victory in the opening Test against Zimbabwe but Devendra Bishoo’s batting left him rueful.

Chasing an unlikely 434 for victory at Queens Club, Zimbabwe were eventually dismissed for 316 late on the fourth day, after the tourists made successful use of the extra half-hour to avoid returning for the one remaining wicket on Wednesday.

Bishoo’s second-innings 4-105 followed up his 5-79 in the first dig, but despite being named man of the match he was annoyed with himself for falling six short of a first Test half-century from the final ball of day three, when he was caught playing a slogsweep to Graeme Cremer.

“I was very disappointed yesterday and hopefully next time I’ll use my brain more and get it,” said Bishoo, who was used spar-

first Test over the Windies, Zimbabwe skipper Cremer commented: “We’re pretty happy with the balance of the team, we just need to get some runs.

“The more you play, the more you work out situations. Sometimes you don’t realise how much time you have in a Test match. It’s about working those things out.

“It’s a little bit disappointing. We went really well on the first day, getting them all out for 219 was excellent. West Indies came back really well and they put the bad balls away.

“We started well [on Tuesday] but it always gets tougher, and their spinners did well. Credit to them.”(Omnisport)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday October 25, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Karl Nunes (vs ENG, Lord’s, 1928) (2) Dave Houghton (vs IND, Harare, 1992) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who kept wickets for the WI in their first ever Test?

(2) Who kept wickets for ZIM in their first ever Test?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Ramchand signs on to GMR&SC International Race of Champions

RAMCHAND Auto Spares is on board with this year’s Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) International Race of Champions.

The company yesterday handed over its sponsorship through its representative,Yogeshwar Ragbeer to GMR&SC representative,Tina Morris.

According to Ragbeer, the company is elated to be a part of the event and added that they are hoping to see more competitors than last year’s edition.

Morris in thanking the company for coming on board for the

event, said that their sponsorship will go a long way in ensuring that the event is a success.

Meanwhile, a 27 race programme was unveiled last week which will encompass racing on both Saturday and Sunday, according to the GMR&SC. The club has confirmed the participation of three professional drift cars from Trinidad and Tobago, as well as, four SR-3 Radicals from Barbados, in addition to the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship(CMRC) competitors that are expected Saturday, will be treated

as just another race day, with adults being charged $1000 per entry and children $500.

On Sunday, adults will be charged $2000 and children $1000.

Qualification will also be held on Saturday morning from 10:00 with races beginning from 14:00. Scrutineering will take place on Thursday and Friday and before the qualification on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the club is organising weekend passes for those patrons desirous of viewing both days of action as well as VIP passes.

COLTS Basketball Club yesterday received their spoils from sponsor Banks DIH, having made a ‘clean sweep’ of the recently-concluded Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) Division One and Two tournaments, as well as the U23-Division Leagues.

Colts had also swept the League in 2016, owing such

to the continued investment made by the club’s principle, former GABA president, Michael Singh.

Pacesetters, a usual powerhouse in Georgetown basketball, settled for second place finishes in the U23 and Second Division trophies, while Plaisance Guardians collected their second place trophy for their runner up finish behind Colts

in the Division One category of the League.

GABA’s President, Adrian Hooper, upon congratulating Colts and the other clubs, stated “these past three months have seen gruesome competition in the leagues, but nevertheless Bounty Colts managed to defend all three of their titles.

I know that the teams have been watching Colts closely and when GABA hosts its year-end knockout tournament in December, it will be a very tough competition.”

Yogeshwar Ragbeer hands over his company’s sponsorship along with some flyers for the GMR&SC International Race of Champions.

Colts make ‘clean sweep’ of Banks DIH/GABA Leagues

Guyanese McKoy named on US Cross Country ‘Team of the Week’ GUYANA’s Claudrice McKoy was named on the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division One Women’s TEAM OF THE WEEK. McKoy, representing Monroe College, running at the JUCO Northeast Championships, took the women’s individual title in 20:22.0, more than five seconds ahead of the closest competitor.

This was the second win of the year for McKoy, who also won the Queensborough CC Invitational back in September.

Claudrice McKoy

McKoy gained a full scholarship to Monroe College following her performance at the CARIFTA Games this year, where she won Gold in the 3000m and Bronze in the 1500m.

McKoy will be in action on Saturday when she competes in the 2017 NJCAA Region XV Championship, hosted by SUNY Ulster in Stone Ridge, N.Y. The meet is set to begin at 10 a.m.

The athletics programme at Monroe College encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programmes, as well as club men’s rugby, and the newly- added club women’s rugby team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I).

The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, will have six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level beginning in the fall of 2017.

Banks DIH representative and clubs following yesterday’s presentation of prizes (Adrian Narine photo)

Steve’s Jewellery sponsors gold pendants for Guyana Sof tball Cup MVP s

SEVEN years, seven pairs of gold pieces for the Most Valuable Players (MVP).

That’s the commitment from Steve’s Jewellery to the Guyana Softball Cup, the seventh edition of which will be held from November 3-5.

At a simple ceremony yesterday, proprietor Steve Naraine presented the prizes to executives of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA), the founding and organising body of the tournament.

As is customary, Steve’s Jewellery has provided the MVP prizes for the top player in both the Open and Masters categories. This year, the prizes are two gold pendants in the shape of a cricket bat.

Proprietor Naraine was delighted to once again be on board with the international softball event, which will attract teams from Guyana, Canada, Florida and New York.

“Last year we did similar gifts and this year we do the bats with the diamond pendants and they’re worth at least $100,000 each. We’re proud to be on board once again with this organisation because we know over the years what it has been doing in terms of giving

back to the community,” Naraine said.

Naraine pointed out that there are many reasons why Guyanese should come out and view the three days of games, especially the final day, which will conclude under floodlights at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown.

Among them are the high quality of cricket that is usually played and the fantastic organising by the GFSCA. The GFSCA was understandably elated to once again partner with the Church Street jewellery store.

GFSCA member, Surendra Nauth, commended Naraine and his company for devotedly supporting the premier international softball tournament, noting that the prizes will go a far way in encouraging the players to play to their optimal.

The champion team in the Open category will receive $800,000, while winner of the Masters division is assured of $600,000. Matches will be played at the Police, Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), Malteenoes and Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) grounds.

In 2016, Speedboat XI pulled off a massive upset by dethroning defending champions Regal All-Stars to win the Open segment, while Floodlights XI outplayed Fishermen XI to win the Masters category.

The tournament has received corporate support from Stag Beer, Rubis Guyana, Trophy Stall, Steve’s Jewellery, Clear Waters, Busta, Rohan Auto Spares, A&R Jewanram Printery, W J E n t e r p r i s e , M i k e ’s Pharmacy, Ramchand Auto Spares and Survival Group of Business.

A Steve’s Jewellery staff presents the pendants to Surendra Nauth in the presence of other GFSCA officials and Steve Naraine (right)

Ramchand signs on to GMR&SC International See Race of Champions Page BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, (CMC) – Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo sliced through Zimbabwe to end with a nine-wicket match haul as West Indies easily brushed aside the hosts by 117 runs inside four days, to take a 1-0 lead in the twoTest series here Tuesday.

Having set the African side an improbable target of 434 on the turner at Queens Sports Club, the Windies bowled them out for 316 in their second innings, with Bishoo picking up for for 105.

The 31-year-old finished with figures of nine for 184 – the second-best bowling effort of his career – to earn Man-of-the-Match honours.

Part-time off-spinner Roston Chase finished with two for 61.

Brendan Taylor had earlier top-scored with 73 while Hamilton Masakadza stroked 57 and opening partner Solomon Mire, 47,

as Zimbabwe initially put up resistance.

But after being well placed at lunch on 76 without loss, the hosts surendered four wickets in the second session to lose their way, and the final six wickets clattered in the final session to avoid the match limping into the final day.

There had been disappointment at the start for Chase after the Windies resumed on 369 for eight, as he agonisingly missed out on his fourth Test hundred when he added just four to his overnight 91.

He lost Kemar Roach to the first ball of the day, bowled by leg-spinner Graeme Cremer and then missed a desperate swing at leg-spinner Sean Williams and lost his leg-stump, leaving West Indies all out for 373.

Turn to page 31

Bishoo proves Zimbabwe’s scourge again as Windies take series lead

35

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo finished with match figures of nine for 184 – the second-best bowling effort of his Test career to earn the Man-of-the-Match honours.

Injection of Bolt good for Formula One– Lewis Hamilton

GFF’s VP, Rawlston Adams, (left) and president, Wayne Forde, examining the work on the country’s first home for football. (Adrian Narine photos)

Guyana’s first ‘football stadium’ taking shape See Page 31

Works on-going at the Providence facility

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, of Britain, holds his running shoes that was presented to him by legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt after the Brit won the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas, last Sunday in Austin, Texas.

LEWIS Hamilton, For- actors appeared on the startAccording to Hamilton, mula One champion elect, ing grid, Bolt sent the starters there could be more to Forbelieves the star-studded off for their formation lap and mula One than just the drivcast that filtered throughout Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders ing. the United States Grand performed in front of the “If we can bring that more Prix last Sunday in Austin, grandstand. into Formula One culture Texas is something the sport “I think it’s great. The I think it’s just going to be needs.

Americans are way better more exciting … the sex apHamilton played his part than us Europeans in put- peal was there. That’s what in the fanfare after driving, ting shows on. You look at motor racing has been missretired track legend Usain the Super Bowl, the NFL ing for a long time, I think,” Bolt, around the track for games, the NBA games. he said. a taste of the Formula One They are way more fun Other drivers like Seexperience. than other sporting events bastian Vettel and Red Bull Bolt also did interviews in Europe,” said Hamilton. team boss, Christian Hornwith the drivers on the “They are more showy er believed the fanfare more podium, while former US and its more of an atmosphere appropriate for certain aupresident, Bill Clinton, pre- and I like that its starting to diences. sented the winner’s trophy. spill over into this. I think Hornier did say, howevThere was also more fan- that’s the best start of a grand er, that Formula One needfare as well, as Hollywood prix that I’ve seen,” he added. ed to try new things.

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017