Guyana chronicle Epaper 27 06 2017

Gov’t in move to drive development in Region 8 Page 2

No. 104956

TUESDAY JUNE 27, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

GPHC duo fingered $605M drug purchase

…Health Ministry probe finds alleged collusion

ECD still battling floods Page 2

– NDIA deploys extra pumps to help with drainage

Page 3

Woman shot as husband ‘cleans’ gun Page 11

Man killed by ‘threesome’ lovers Page 2

GuySuCo to hold consultations in sugar belt Page 4

Michael Todd, a farmer of Sideline Dam, Buxton, ECD relating to the Guyana Chronicle his struggles with the floods (Samuel Maughn photo)

GRDB to sue RPA for unpaid $100M debt

Grief-stricken widow hangs self – mere weeks after Page 10

Page 12

husband’s death

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

ECD still battling floods – NDIA deploys extra pumps to help with drainage

By Navendra Seoraj FARMERS and residents of Sideline Dam, Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) are counting their losses, following persistent rainfall over the past few days which has left their small community inundated.

Although the water has receded in some of the affected areas along the East Coast, residents of Sideline Dam in particular are still making their way around through flooded yards.

Michael Todd, a farmer, was counting his losses when the Guyana Chronicle visited the area. He’s lost over $100,000 in produce and stocks to date, and is expecting more losses because the area is still inundated.

The 62-year-old said that in

The state of many yards in Buxton on Monday

the more than two decades he’s been living there, he’s done nothing else but farm and raise a few heads of livestock. That’s how he makes his living, he said, so the loss is tremendous.

These days, however, because of the consistent flooding, he’s having a change of heart; he’s thinking seriously about taking up another trade.

“This is not the first, second or third time this happened,” Todd said, adding:

“Sideline Dam always suffering when rain falls.”

He’s not happy either with the way the relevant authorities treat with the people in the area; they do not visit to listen to their concerns during the time of distress, he said.

They’re more concerned with the people on the “Line-Top”, and not venturing down to the areas that are most affected.

And on top of this, Todd said, whenever there’s a flood

and the residents suffer losses, they are not recompensed in any way. Villagers usually have to start all over again, without any help whatsoever from the authorities. It’s a situation that Livestock farmer, Mr Eton Sanko, could relate to, as he’s had to do it time and again.

He, too, suffered tremendous losses this time around.

He explained that of the eight baby goats he had, only one remains. He was also only able to save one of his ducks.

“I lose a lot every time this place flood out... And the thing is, no one helps us to get back stock, so it’s hard,” Mr Sanko said.

“So far, the area has been flooded for over six days and no one came to visit us,” the distressed farmer added.

But he and Todd are not alone, as other villagers have

voiced similar sentiments, in that they’re yet to see an official since the beginning of the rainy season.

They may have somehow missed him as Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr David Patterson paid a visit to some of the affected East Coast villages, including Sideline Dam, over the weekend and was quoted as saying that he has requested the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to revisit the area in the coming days to address the concerns of residents.

He said that several interventions will be taken by the Government of Guyana (GoG) over time, while more immediate efforts will be undertaken to provide relief to the residents.

These include the distribution of care packs containing sanitation items, to ensure the welfare of residents is addressed.

“We do empathise with the persons who are under water at

the moment, and we’ve asked them to take precautions for the next three days, because the weather forecast does say that we will have rain,” Minister Patterson reportedly said.

According to him, the authorities, including the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) will do their utmost to alleviate the situation.

It was also reported on Sunday that the NDIA will be placing two additional pumps at Buxton to assist in relieving the flooded community and surrounding villages along the East Coast.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the NDIA has recognised the urgency to relieve the flooded area and has organised for a pump from the East Coast and another from Berbice to be moved to Buxton.

Gov’t in move to drive development in Region 8 THE Ministry of Business’ Department of Tourism will next month hold a tourism workshop with stakeholders in Mahdia to increase involvement in the development of the sector there.

Subject Minister, Dominic Gaskin and a team from the Guyana Office for Investment (GO- Invest) visited Region Eight on Friday to discuss with the Town’s administration and business community, agricultural opportunities and prospects for the upcoming Commercial Exhibition.

The minister and team also visited the Tumatumari

Hydro Project which will soon be rehabilitated to provide clean, renewable energy to Mahdia in keeping with the country’s Green State agenda.

In a statement to the media on Monday, the Ministry said Gaskin met with Chairman and members of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and discussed the upcoming Regional Agricultural Commercial Exhibition (RACE), making Mahdia a sustainable economic hub for the region, an upcoming tourism workshop, the economic impact of ongoing and planned infrastructural development, and realis-

ing the value that Guyana’s Green State image can add to the economic activity in the Region.

The Minister encouraged the RDC to help identify investment projects for the region based on regional priorities and offered his Ministry’s support in developing, preparing and promoting those projects for potential investors. Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, Bonaventure Fredericks said agriculture is being discussed with a view to putting forward a viable plan for the sector in the region, while Regional Executive Officer (REO), Gavin Gounga spoke of the

Man killed by ‘threesome’ lovers

A BARTICA man was beaten to death Monday morning on Third Avenue after refusing to leave the scene of a sexual act that was being performed by three persons including a woman.

Police identified the dead man only as “Radika”. According to the police, three persons inclusive of a female are in custody assisting with the murder investigation. The incident occurred between 04:00-08:00hrs Monday on Third Avenue Beach, Bartica.

Investigation revealed that because the victim refused to remove from the

beach, the suspects, who were involved in a “threesome act”, allegedly gave him a severe beating. According to police, a public-spirited citizen who witnessed the incident, summoned the police who responded promptly and arrested the suspects and escorted the victim who was in an unconscious state, to the Bartica Public Hospital where he succumbed whilst receiving treatment. The body of “RADIKA” whose address and correct name are yet to be ascertained, is at the Hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Minister Gaskin and others with female students at the Mahdia Secondary School hostel

potential of the region to grow its own food.

Gounga noted too that the region’s experiment with `Irish’ potato and Hill Rice and stressed that other crops that could be cultivated in the sub-region included tomato, turmeric, and cabbage.

Additionally, the importance of the newly-formed Mahdia Chamber of Commerce (MCC) to the region’s economic development was underscored and, both the Ministry of Business and the MCC have pledged full support for the upcoming RACE. At the meeting with the MCC, several issues were brought to the fore including the need for training in tourism management for the Region’s potential to be realised. The need for an affordable electricity supply to businesses was also underscored by the Chamber.

Additionally, stakeholders called for measures to be put in place to ensure that businessmen could have their businesses registered and tax compliance done without having to travel to the Essequibo Coast or Georgetown.

All matters raised were addressed by GO-Invest’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Owen Verney.

Meanwhile, Minister Gaskin underscored Government’s commitment to the development of a Green State and explained the benefits the Region could accrue from a global value system that places a high emphàsis on protecting the environment.

He suggested too, that the Green State could add a premium to products from the Region which could offset the high cost of transportation that producers face. The Business Minister also stressed

the economic impact that the government’s infrastructure develoment programme will have on Mahdia when better roads are built in and around the community.

The paving of the Linden to Mabura road, Gaskin added, would greatly improve life in the community. Moreover, the Minister spoke of the potential of the Tumatumari Hydro Project when he visited the site to observe the infrastructure. The visit concluded with a ‘walk about’ in the commercial centre of Mahdia where a network of paved roads is in the final stages of construction, and has already brought much relief to local commuters.

The team also visited students of the Mahdia Secondary School who stay at the school’s dormitories.

While there, the GO-Invest CEO donated a number of footballs to the students.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

$605M drug purchase

GPHC duo fingered …Health Ministry probe finds alleged collusion AS THE investigation deepens into the controversial procurement of the more than $605M worth of emergency drugs by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), top sources at the Ministry of Public Health has said that it was the hospital’s then Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alan Johnson, and the Finance Director, Ronald Charles, who teamed up to sole source the drugs against the advice of senior hospital officials.

Johnson was fired earlier this month by GPHC Board of Directors following “a series of lapses,” which included the embarrassment of the Corporation before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on May 29.

On Monday, a top source at the Ministry of Public Health told the Guyana Chronicle that following a meeting with the Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence in early February, during which the shortages of drugs were confirmed, the hospital’s Finance Director was summoned to a meeting by one of his superiors. It is alleged, that during the meet-

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

Former GPHC CEO Alan Johnson

GPHC Finance Director Ronald Charles

ing, Charles was instructed to meet with Berkley Wickham, Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and explain the need for the fast- tracking of the Pharmaceutical Emergency Supplies.

The senior hospital official, the source said, also needed clarity on whether there were provisions within the National Procurement and Tendering System for an addition to be made to the original bid document, given the fact that the suppliers had already bought the original document.

Additionally, the source said, Charles was constantly told by the senior official to proceed with the Emergency

Supplies Bids in the “name of transparency, warning him, that any attempt to obstruct the process by annulment would cause ‘eyebrows to raise.’

But the pleas by the senior hospital official, the source contended, fell on deaf ears. “Unknowingly to his superior, Charles cancelled the bid and requested, as a matter of emergency that the drugs be sole-sourced.

And, he had the backing of Johnson,” the ministry source maintained.

It is alleged that the Finance Director wrote the NPTAB Chairman requesting that the Emergency Supplies Bid Document be cancelled.

In that letter, which was al-

legedly signed by the then CEO, Charles sought to have the emergency drugs sole sourced.

DECLINE TO SIGN Charles, Guyana Chronicle was told, proceeded to compile a list of the critical drugs which was subsequently given to four suppliers: Ana McAl, New GPC, Health2000 and Chirosyn Discoveries, for the submission of quotations based on the document. Attempts, the source said, were made to have Minister Lawrence sign off on the documents but she had reportedly declined noting that there was an established system to be followed.

“It was the CEO who had

prepared the letters for the four suppliers, telling them to proceed with the process,” the source pointed out.

According to the source, it was after the drugs were delivered at the end of February that a letter was sent to the NPTAB requesting that payments be made to the four suppliers.

NEVER THE CASE Contrary to earlier reports that the procurement sum was just over $605M, the source disclosed that Ansa McAl alone supplied $605.9M Pharmaceutical supplies while New GPC delivered $20.8M in drugs.

The two other companies, supplied just over $5M in medical supplies.

The NPTAB Chairman was reportedly told that it was Minister Lawrence who had granted approval, but according to the source, that was never the case. The source noted that while Minister Lawrence had authorised the “Emergency Pharmaceutical Supplies” procurement, at no point did she specify the method to be employed.

Minister Lawrence appeared before the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) last Friday and denied approving the purchase of

the drugs. After repeatedly being told by the GPHC administration that there was no shortage of drugs, Minister Lawrence reportedly told the PPC that the hospital officials, under pressure, confirmed that there was a shortage of over 200 drugs and medical supplies.

She reportedly queried whether there was a system in place for the acquisition

PPP MP, Anil Nandlall

of the critical drugs on an emergency basis and was told “yes”. Minister Lawrence reportedly told the PPC that she advised the Administration to utilise the necessary system to remedy the situation in the shortest possible time. The Public Health Minister is maintaining that she “never signed any document” but it Turn to page 14 ►

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GuySuCo to hold consultations in sugar belt

THE Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) will commence a Community Outreach programme for residents in ‘sugar -dependent communities.

Community meetings will be held at the Community Centres in the villages where Estates are located, GuySuCo said in a release.

The first meeting will be held at the Wales Community Centre on 29 June, 2017, and the second at the Uitvlugt Community Centre on 5 July, 2017 at 4:00 pm.

The focus for discussion of these meetings will be the ‘Uitvlugt Estate Improvement Programme (UEIP)’ and other matters related to GuySuCo. On 6 July, 2017, another community meeting will be held at the Enmore Community Centre for residents in Enmore and neighbouring communities. The focus for this and subsequent meetings at Blairmont, Rose Hall, Albion and Skeldon Community Centres will be on the ‘The Role of Communities in Improving Attendance on Estates for the Second Crop 2017’ as well as other GuySuCo related matters.

The aim of this outreach programme is to mobilise cane harvesters, planters and cane transport operators, their families and communities around the importance of improving attendance at all estates in order to sustain the industry.

According to GuySuCo the objectives are to: Create a greater awareness on the need for employees to turn out to ensure that the canes are harvested within the crop; mobilize the residents around Estates to encourage employees to improve attendance; mobilize community leaders and other stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers, government, private and civil society sectors around the importance of improving attendance on all Estates; create a greater awareness of the importance of the sugar industry and GuySuCo to the development of Guyana and the linkages between increased attendance and greater commitment to sustaining the industry and to build greater partnerships and engage more strategically with communities and other partners around estates.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Liliendaal deadly crash…

Driver charged, granted $20,000 bail TWENTY- SEVENYEAR-OLD Tecona Welcome was on Monday charged for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol on Saturday evening, when the motorcar she was driving crashed and killed one of the occupants at Liliendaal on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

Welcome, who was represented by Attorney-at-law Nigel Anthony, appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read to her. She was subsequently placed on $20,000 bail and will return to court on August 23, 2017 before Magistrate Zamilla Ally.

Meanwhile, in relation to the death of one of the occupants of the vehicle, who has since been identified as Debra Pompey, a post-mortem or autopsy is yet to be done.

However, Police Prosecutor David Goodridge has said that a report was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice, while police investigations are ongoing.

On Saturday evening at about 23:40hrs, what was supposed to be a girls’ night ended tragically when motorcar PSS 7195 slammed into a bridge at Liliendaal, ECD, killing one of the occupants, Pompey, of Belle West, Canal Number Two on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD).

According to the police, based on their investigations, the motorcar was proceeding west along the embankment road when Welcome lost control of the vehicle. Among those injured when the car crashed into the southern rail of the westernmost of the two bridges at Liliendaal were 20-year-old Rodlyn Grace of Blygezeight Gar-

Tecona: Driver of the vehicle Tecona Welcome

dens; 18-year-old Shameica Martin of Beterverwagting, ECD; the deceased’s

Public Infrastructure Ministry helping M&CC with Stabroek lights THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure has responded to Georgetown Mayor, Patricia Chase Green’s request to estimate the cost of installing LED lights at the entire Stabroek Market Square.

“While we fiddle here with our thumbs waiting for works to be done… since the ministry received that letter, they have already gone into motion and I know they have the money. But at least they would have sent us some response that they have already done the estimate for the lights,” she stated.

The Mayor made the announcement on Monday while addressing councillors at the fortnightly statutory meeting at City Hall.

At the time of the light up last year, then Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan said it was time residents and visitors rediscover Stabroek Market as the City ‘peels back the veil.’

Lighting up the site was part of City Hall’s contribution to Georgetown for the

Tuesday, June 27th, 2017 - 05:00hrs Wednesday, June 28th, 2017 - 08:30 hrs Thursday, June 29th, 2017 - 08:30 hrs

26-year-old sister, Tushana Hubbard; and 30-year-old Saskiya Boyer of Lodge.

50th Anniversary celebrations, Duncan had told the Guyana Chronicle.

“We might be refining it to show the residents of Georgetown and visitors the beauty of our iconic market.

The market’s iconic status was crowded out by the itinerant vending that was the Square,” he said.

He had also said that the lighting up of the market was geared at moving Georgetown forward, while he pointed out that the City needs the support of all for this to happen.

“As we light our market, we ask residents to trust the leadership of the Mayor and City Council, and let’s move Georgetown forward to a place that we can all be proud of.”

The bazaar, which was formerly occupied by illegal vendors, is to be made into a civic square with the installation of a beautiful fountain, among other features, Town Clerk Royston King once said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Bishops’ girl takes coveted title --in keenly contested Miss World Guyana 2017 pageant

By Tamica Garnett AFTER being declared winner of the Photogenic Award, the GTT People’s Choice Award and the Multimedia Award, 18-year- old former Bishops’ High student, Vena Mookram was officially declared Miss World Guyana 2017 when the pageant concluded late Sunday night at the Marriott Hotel.

The daughter of Vic and Sharda Mookram of the trendy East Bank fast-food joint, M & M Snackette, Mookram was moved to tears when what she’d done really sank in.

“I really didn’t expect it, but I was absolutely amazed.

I’m so happy, and I’m so grateful that I will be representing Guyana. I knew that I deserved to win because I worked really hard and I’m just so proud of myself tonight. I was nervous, but I was more excited than I was nervous,” Mookram said.

Standing tall in her evening gown, “The Golden Pheasant” designed by local boy Quinton Pearson, Mookram was crowned by outgoing queen, Nuriyyih Gerard, and will now represent Guyana at the international Miss World pageant later this year.

Mookram, who only this year concluded writing her Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), represented Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), prevailing over crowd favourite Manisha Wong, who finished in the First Princess position, and local model, Ariel Ghanie in the Second Princess position.

To their credit, Wong, who represented Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), won the Sports and Fitness Award, while naturally, Ghanie, representing Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), strutted away with the Top Model award.

Also making the top five were Hemwantie Seodat and Nitifah Thompson who represented Regions Three and Ten respectively. Seodat claimed the pageant’s “Beauty With A Purpose” award for her advocacy on education for underprivileged children.

Delisha Wright, representing Region One (Bari-

ma-Waini), cleared the “Talent Award”, which was based on the competition held two Fridays ago at the Tower Suites.

A singer, Wright gave Sunday night’s audience a display of her musical capabilities when she sang Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All” to the top five delegates.

The Top Model award was the final segment to be contested, and was the only one contested on Coronation Night, since, as customary, 80% of the competition was already completed prior to the final on pageant night.

The Top Model segment accounted for only 20%, while the other segments that the young ladies competed in, and already completed prior to coronation night were: The sports, which went for 5% of the score; the multimedia presentation went for 15%; one-on-one interviews went for 20%; talent 10%; and the beauty with a purpose was for 30%.

Not understanding how the scoring system worked, even though co-host Gerard explained it earlier in the evening, a few patrons of the pageant were somewhat baffled after Mookram was announced the winner.

Believing that like other pageants, the girls were being judged based on the final question, whereas in actuality no points were going to the question and answer segment at the end of the pageant.

Host Joel Ghansham also stole the show too, after he announced the winner ahead of franchise holder Natasha Holder, who was on stage to do just that.

For the most part, most the top five young ladies breezed through the question, but of course that was expected since it was pretty elementary, asking each girl “Why should you be the next Miss World Guyana?”

“I believe that I should be the next Miss World Guyana because I possess all the qualities necessary to be a successful queen: Ambitious, hardworking attributes to complete my goals. With these qualities, I believe I can be a remarkable ambassador to represent my country on the international stage, while not only fighting to promote my Beauty With A Purpose Project but the entire Miss World Guyana Organisation. In closing, I am a woman of

The Miss World Guyana 2017 top five are, from left: The eventual winner Vena Mookram; Hemwantie Seodat; Top Model, Ariel Ghanie; Sports and Fitness winner, Manisha Wong, and Nitifah Thompson

The queen, Vena Mookram, displaying her hardware

substance, a confident young lady who believes she can win this crown and bring Guyana a successful victory come this November in China,” was how Mookram dealt with that question.

And in the end, she was adjudged the most all rounded of them all.

Top Model, Ariel Ghanie during her award-winning strut (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Withholding teachers’ salary WHEN it comes to pay, nobody wants to be deprived of what they feel they have earned, and this is understandable. It was brought to the nation’s attention that teachers in Region Five and Region Ten have complained about their salaries being withheld. This matter involved the Regional Executive Officer (REO) as in the instance of Region Five, and the Regional Education Officers as in the instance of Region Ten. Teachers have had to protest what they said have been acts in breach of their employment.

None other than the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education, Vibert Welch, has said there is no rule that permits the withholding of earned income. The withholding of salary by the regions had to do with the perception by the respective officers that are involved.

At a place of work or business, and more so in the public service, there are written rules and guidelines that prescribe how issues are to be dealt with. It is reasonable to expect that every supervisory officer will find great benefit in being au fait. Outside of this recognition the public embarrassment being brought to the Government, more so the Ministry of Education, cannot be ignored and may further be pointing to the need for some form of training to address the functions supervisory officers are expected to discharge.

In the Region Five scenario, the teachers not only engaged in protest actions, the public weighing in, and the

Guyana Teachers Union issuing an ultimate for the REO to provide the rule that informed his decision, but even the National Assembly felt the need to seek clarification. When PS Welch appeared before the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, he was asked about the matter and advised that there is no policy/rule authorising withholding of salary.

What this could suggest is that the REO may not have seen the importance of contacting the PS before making the decision; the PS may not have been aware of the REO’s action, not advised otherwise, or the advice was ignored.

The Region Five issue happened weeks ago and was resolved, but surprisingly last week there was another report that the Region Ten teachers are seeing their salaries being withheld. This is another unfortunate occurrence that could have been resolved differently were attention paid to the Region Five matter. Teachers are appointed by the Teaching Service Commission and the stipulated rules emanating from the Commission applies across the board. There is a responsibility of the employer to ensure those who they are supervising abide by the rules and a copy of the rules be provided to each employee. In this way it avoids the supervisor disciplining an employee for an infraction the employee is unaware of.

Salary is earned, deemed an individual’s property, and cannot be withheld unless a legal determination has been made to do so. Personal feeling by supervisors is not suffi-

Time for Jagdeo to go Dear Editor, I WISH to add my voice to that of Dr. Vishnu Bisram and Mr. Michael Younge who want to see reforms in the PPP. Dr. Bisram wants the party to attract Indo-Guyanese intellectuals to fill the void created by the exit of Messrs Ralph Ramkarran and Moses Nagamootoo. On the other hand, Mr. Younge sees as a weakness of the PPP its inability to attract “and genuinely trust Afro-Guyanese leaders, who were not ‘tokens’”.

The truth of the matter is that the PPP needs a make-over. Mr. Younge wants the PPP “to do away with some of the relics that

are harming its integrity”.

(Guyana Times, June 18, 2017). I fully agree, as the image of some of these leaders appearing before courts on criminal charges or having their visas revoked are sending frightful signals to PPP supporters.

The fear that other leaders have things for which they have to answer to the police are driving many people further away from the party.

I want to suggest that this is the right time for Bharrat Jagdeo to ste p away from the post of party General Secretary, and he should state clearly the he is not available for a third term as presidential candidate. It is time that the PPP bring forward Dr. Frank

Anthony and not continue to allow, by our silence, this brilliant disciple of Dr. Jagan to be sidelined.

Dr. Anthony emerged from the Pioneer League, then was leader of the PYO, and since 2008 he has climbed to the number 3 position in the party’s Central Committee elections. In 2013 and 2016, he came in with the second highest votes.

If the PPP does not change now, and just try to go after Indian votes, it will not only remain in opposition but will also lose its relevance in Guyana’s politics.

Regards Kumar J. Persaud Ex PPP member

cient to determine any matter where rules advise, and in all instances the latter must supersede. Our erstwhile education officers are trained in education delivery and may not necessarily have the benefit of prior exposure to managing people and the rules that guide such relations. Where they too may operate at such disadvantage, the importance of having them adequately equipped with the relevant tools cannot be over-emphasised.

At a psycho-social level where the Region Five issue has had much public ventilation, and the fact that a similar situation is reportedly occurring in Region Ten, teachers in the other eight regions are likely to be concerned and wondering who would be next. At the same time it is not lost on us that there may be similar occurrences in other regions which have not been made public. It is most reasonable to say the last thing any worker wants to have is his or her earned income withheld or feels that such could be possible. These two matters are also unnecessary distraction for the government and its image. There are too many issues people have to worry about in their day-to-day activities, which their income is hinged on and they plan around; to deny it would be adding undue discomfort. It is hoped that the Region Ten issue is resolved soonest and will be the last of this nature.

Ramotar trying to cover up corruption Dear Editor FORMER President Donald Ramotar in an effort to defend former PPP Finance Minister, Ashni Singh and Brassington,(former) NICIL Chairman, is trying to cover-up his own incompetence, gross mismanagement and defence of corrupt practices in his own house and all around him.

The defence of Anil Nandlall --former Legal Affairs Minister, under his watch -- claimed that he gave him permission to

take away books belonging to taxpayers. This President ruled like a dictator,giving away the property of the State,without any form of discretion. Legally and morally he had no right to give Nandlall permission to take the law journals belonging to the people of Guyana.

If he can defend such an act - which is tantamount to theft, of which he is charged and facing trial, then he is incapable of understanding what were his public duties and responsibilities. These are men

who lay claim to the Jagan legacy--referring to him as a semi-god and the father of the nation. I know Dr. Jagan equally as they did. I am sure that Cheddi Jagan would not have agreed to give Nandlall the Law books or allowed corruption to prevail. Under the Jagan rule- Guyana did make progress; under Jagdeo-Ramotar, Guyana went downhill.

Regards Jinnah Rahman Journalist and Community Activist

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

OP-ED

Basil Williams’ E-mail and the Evolution of Social Media Propaganda

By Ruel Johnson

LAST week, a story began circulating on the Internet about a screenshot of some e-mail purportedly sent by Attorney-General Basil Williams. In the e-mails, Williams was supposed to have outlined coalition re-election strategy that included things like reversing unpopular measures and pushing the line of the PPP as a racist party, as if the pronouncements of the party itself needed help in that regard.

The story was not only picked up by PPP scandal sites but by more mainstream media and shared extensively on social media. I had to caution one young state media reporter about the lack of professionalism in a comment he made essentially giving credence to the story. My experience with the sort of strategy at play was not new.

The better part of a decade ago, in 2010 I believe, a then senior political activist brought a ton of information to me, essentially proving the existence what was then known in media circles to be a clandestine blogging operation set up by the People’s Progressive Party, something called the New Media Unit, operating out of the Office of the President during the Bharrat Jagdeo presidency.

I spent a few weeks diving through the raw data, consisting primarily of chat logs between the members of the unit and “monitor sheets” for one blogger in particular, said sheets being basically the documentation of the monitors’ engagement of government critics on social media sites, message boards and blogs. For example, in response to a user on a message board, who queried what seemed to be inordinate attacks on the PNC, NMU blogger Dood responded: “The nuances of the political landscape dictate that the PNC’s notorious , despotic reign being made public. WHAT this people did cannot be forgotten, it has be brought to light. Our children, grandchildren etc have to know their country’s history. AND unfortunately the PNC is part of that history when Guyana experienced it’s own “dark age”.”

This was filed in a blogging report dated September 29, 2009 under the thematic area “Owning the Dogs – PNC and Anti-Indian Violence.”

From the chat logs, I was able to source a username and password to one of the unit’s blogs and an e-mail account, one linked to a then, and still employed, senior staff member of the Office of the President.

Five years later, the New Media Unit was still in existence.

Investigative website, GTMosquito.com originally broke the story late May of 2015 that there were ten persons on NCN’s payroll, earning roughly $44,000 per month to

attack government critics using fake profiles on social media and news sites. Some of those people are still in the employ of government although the machinery was dismantled and the payments stopped.

It was therefore with no small amount of amusement that I read a few months ago of none other than now opposition leader, Jagdeo levelling the charge that the current administration was engaged in employing fake bloggers and that he would soon release evidence of same. Jagdeo, who started the indecent scandal and misappropriation of public resources that was the New Media Unit, was essentially Donald Trump calling the New York Times fake news while having built his political career on the false claim that Barack Obama was not born in the US. Of course, that evidence never came and the media has not seemed inclined to follow up with Jagdeo on it.

This is not to say that this sort of thing is funny or not actually dangerous. The Internet has increasingly been the primary political staging ground for political warfare in recent years and while it has been critical in toppling or shaking ostensibly autocratic regimes, as seen during the Arab Spring revolutions of a few years ago, it has also been used in conjunction with deliberate distortion to influence political outcomes in more democratic countries.

While the Russian influence in the recent US election is a clear influence of that sort of strategy at work, it actually goes back further than that to the Bush-Kerry presidential battle of 2004. With a faltering Bush embroiled in the controversy over the manufactured case for the war in Iraq, Kerry was seen as a strong contender with a solid military record versus the draft-dodging incumbent. Suddenly some ads appeared by a group of Vietnam war veterans calling themselves Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, attacking Kerry and challenging his claims about his military record. While the television ads were the core strategy, the controversy would find real traction in what was the pre-social media battleground for online political discourse, the message boards. Kerry lost the election and the term swiftboating was coined. Years later, Donald Trump would both feed into and expand the social media conspiracy that Barack Obama was not born in the United States and was thus ineligible to become President of the United States. And while there has not been yet any proven collusion between him and the government of Russia, there is increasing evidence of the sophisticated use of social media

in influencing the outcome of the recent US election. According to an article published last month in Time magazine: “In one case last year, senior intelligence officials tell TIME, a Russian soldier based in Ukraine successfully infiltrated a U.S. social media group by pretending to be a 42-year-old American housewife and weighing in on political debates with specially tailored messages. In another case, officials say, Russia created a fake Facebook account to spread stories on political issues like refugee resettlement to targeted reporters they believed were susceptible to influence.”

One of the challenges of the current political administration remains quite frankly the issue of age, particularly at the level of Cabinet. I don’t mean this in the pejorative sense that automatically disqualifies them due to geriatric prejudice or any such thing but from the perspective that when it comes to managing the engagement with and dissemination of information, Cabinet as a whole is arguably illequipped to operate in an environment in which social media plays such a critical role in politics. I’m currently reading two books – the Pulitzer-shortlisted: The Shallows by Nicholas Carr and The Information

by Thomas Gleick – both of which explore the seminal impact of the Internet on human thinking, unprecedented in history at the rate it is happening, and how current generations will be markedly different in how they fundamentally process information than their immediate predecessors. This is something that has serious implications for how we plan for education in this society, but I digress. When it comes to senior government capacity, there are more basic problems.

A prime example relative to the Williams case is part of his original defence that the e-mail was fake, that it featured an uppercase B instead of a lowercase b. While a subsequent explanation by Lenno Craig of how the screenshot was forged sort of vindicated him on a technicality due to a mistake by the forger. For all intents and purposes, the AG was wrong in the sense that most e-mail addresses are not case-sensitive, so it doesn’t matter if you type ruel.johnson@gmail.com or RUEL. JOHNSON@gmail.com, the mail is still going to come to me. The faultless flaw in the AG’s defence notwithstanding, to an expert eye, the ‘e-mail’ was clearly a forged screenshot. Craig pointed out, for example, that the Inbox link was highlighted when it should have been the Sent folder if the mail was purportedly one sent by Williams.

Another social media user, Ferlin Pedro, pointed out a list of other inconsistencies,

including the use of fonts not available to Yahoo users.

My assessment was not technical in that sense but from the perspective of someone involved in both fiction and politics. What was clear that it was the work of a middling clever writer of political false narrative – in brief, what you had was a laundry list of purported alliance ‘strategies’ that were in essence a vindication of PPP claims and the PPP itself. It was the same New Media Unit rhetoric, adjusted for the shift in political fortunes of Freedom House.

Basically, what Russian agents were allegedly engaged in according to the Time article, someone was doing on behalf of the PPP. The Williams e-mail hoax, as clumsily constructed as it was eventually proven to be, is still a significant leap forward in Freedom House’ evolving involvement of the Internet in its core political strategy of misinformation and ethnic

pandering. It has the element of relatively heightened sophistication both in terms of the aesthetics of the forgery and the crafting of the fictive narrative.

The question is, how do you counter it? Clearly, establishing a counter-unit to engage in the same thing is not an option. This is a strategy that works almost exclusively in the interests of deconstruction of existing established political power, not defensively from a position of incumbency, the swiftboat campaign being an early phenomenon anomaly. Moreover, it presents the sort of sliding slope ethical quagmire that no government serious about good governance and meaningful democratic systems wants to find itself in. Whatever the countermeasures, here is the thing. We live in an age in which information technology has become the most ubiquitous force in human interaction. According to a recent article published in

The Economist, data has surpassed oil as the world’s most valuable resource.

It is a development that has serious implications for Guyana at present. While the administration is rightfully dedicating a great deal of energy towards preparing this country for entry into the oil industry, too little attention is being paid to the socio-political implications of data ownership, control and processing into information. A 1980s approach to information in the year 2017 is as useful as a Stone Age implement in 1917. Through the alleged Russian intervention using social media to push plausible fictive narratives in specifically targeted communities, Donald Trump was able to wrest what was supposed to be a sure victory away from Hilary Clinton. Ignoring the implications of social media propaganda is not a luxury that a tenuous coalition with a one-seat legislative majority can continue to afford.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Remanded on gun, Two charged with Omai Backdam murder robbery charges THE SUSPECTED perpetrators of the murder of 46-year-old Carlos Wong, who was chopped to death at Omai Backdam, Essequibo River, have been charged in connection with the crime.

Dwayne Washington, 25 and Dorwayne Hollingsworth, 22, both miners from Phase One Wismar, Linden, appeared before City Magistrate, Fabayo Azore on Monday jointly charged with murder.

They were not required to plead to the capital offence of murder which al-

leged that on June, 9, 2017 at Omai Backdam, Essequibo River, they murdered Carlos Wong.

The defendants’ attorney, Dexter Todd, told the court that his clients did not murder Wong, since it is alleged that someone saw Wong stealing a pump and running out the camp and then plunging into the river.

Todd further pointed out that a few moments later the two accused came out from the said camp and were arrested, since they were the last persons to see Wong alive.

The magistrate, however, remanded the two men until July 18, 2017, and transferred the matter to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.

Carlos Wong, a miner of Half Mile Wismar, Linden, succumbed after he was chopped on the right hand at Omai Backdam, Essequibo River.

Wong and two men had a misunderstanding over a water pump, when one of the men, armed with a cutlass, chopped the miner on his right hand, resulting in his death.

A 38-YEAR-OLD labourer was on Monday charged for discharging a loaded firearm at a man during an attempted robbery.

Edward Grudge of Remus Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara appeared before City Magistrate Judy Latchman and was remanded to prison on two charges.

Particulars of the first charge allege that on Janu-

ary 27, 2017 at McDoom, Public Road, EBD, Grudge discharged a loaded firearm at Devendra Dean with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him.

It is further alleged that on the same day and at the same location Grudge attempted to rob Dean.

Grudge denied the charges and was represented by attorney, Michael Somer-

sall.

Police prosecutor, Shawn Gonsalves objected to the defendant being released on bail on the grounds of the seriousness, prevalence of the charge and the fact that a gun was used to commission the crime.

The Magistrate ruled in the prosecution’s favour and remanded Grudge until July 10.

Accused of stealing $23M from employer Five held for illegal pistol POLICE ranks Sunday night stopped and searched a motor vehicle on the Mabura Trail, Upper Demerara River and conducted a search during which they found an unlicensed semi-automatic .32 pistol with nine live matching rounds in the vehicle.

Five persons, inclusive of the driver, have been taken into custody and are assisting with the investigation.

The pistol that was recovered

A 33-year-old ANSA McAL salesman found himself before City Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday accused of embezzling over $23M from his employer.

Apollos Manoharlall was charged with five counts of embezzlement and was released on $2M bail after denying the charges.

It is alleged that from March 30, 2017 to April 7, 2017, the accused embezzled the monies which were taken into possession on behalf of his employer. The sums were $4.5M, $1.9M, $6.3M, $5.5M and $4.4M respectively.

Manoharlall’s attorney, Sase Gunraj, explained that

Apollos Manoharlall

his client resided at Alexander Village, Georgetown and was the father of one.

The attorney further explained that his client was charged last Friday for a similar charge but the matter was dismissed.

According to the facts from police prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves, the defendant was employed as a salesman by ANSA McAL and had taken the monies from the owner of P&S Enterprise. He was supposed to hand the monies over to his employer, but failed to do so.

The prosecution made no objection to bail and the magistrate released Manoharlall on $400,000 bail on each count. The matter is adjourned until July 17 for reports.

Testimony via Skype in Sarjou murder case ECD bandit nabbed with loot

RENATO Teodoro Ferreira de Paranaíba, a Brazilian Forensic Genetics Expert, on Monday testified via Skype in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Babita Sarjou.

Sarjou’s ex-husband, Sharnandand Narine, called ‘Anand’ of Lot 51 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown and Darel Ponton called ‘Yankee’ of Lot 54 Broad Street, Charlestown are on remand for the woman’s murder.

Paranaiba, who worked at the National Institute of Criminalistics, Brazilian Fed-

eral Police since the year 2003, testified before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan via Skype with the aid of a Portuguese interpreter.

The expert’s testimony is based upon the DNA analysis (previously sent over to Brazil) which was taken from Sarjou’s remains.

Attorneys-at-law Ronald Trotman and Hubert Rodney are representing the two defendants while the matter is being prosecuted by Inspector Gordon Mansfield.

The PI is adjourned until July 10, 2017.

It is alleged that on No-

vember 4, 2010, Sarjou left her Timehri, East Bank Demerara home, informing her mother that she was going to meet her husband, Narine, and son at the Kitty Seawall to view the annual Diwali motorcade. When she did not return home that night, her mother became worried and filed a missing person’s report.

After many months of searching and treating the case as a missing person, the case was closed. However in 2016, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum re-opened the case, treating it as a homicide, since new information had surfaced.

Following new investigations into the matter, Sarjou’s estranged husband was questioned, and he subsequently led the investigating team to the shallow grave which had been dug in his own backyard.

Investigations have also revealed that Narine had paid Ponton GY$50,000 and had promised him a trip to Trinidad if he killed Sarjou.

POLICE arrested a bandit with loot in hand shortly after robbing a Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara couple Sunday night.

Police said in a release that swift action by ranks stationed on the East Coast of Demerara resulted in the apprehension of the suspect who was still in possession of most of the articles stolen from his victims, as well as the firearm he allegedly used to commit the robbery.

According to the release, a couple residing at Burma, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, was on Sunday night, at about 23:00hrs relaxing under a benab at a popular fun park at Mahaicony, when a lone armed bandit pounced and relieved them of their cellular phones, cash and other valuables after which

The weapon seized from the alleged bandit

he fled; leaving his victims traumatised.

Shortly afterward, the victims ventured to the nearby Mahaicony Police Station and reported the matter. Based on intelligence gathered, police went to Recess Public Road, Mahaicony, where the suspect, who was later positively identified, was arrested

with the stolen items, minus the cash along with an unlicensed 9MM Glock Pistol and nine (9) live matching rounds. The thirty-year old unemployed Calcutta, Mahaicony suspect is being processed for court. A ballistic test is being conducted on the firearm to determine if it was used in the commission of any crime.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Jagdeo opens third round of consultations for GECOM chair OPPOSITION LEADER Bharrat Jagdeo, on Monday met with stakeholders during his third round of consultations aimed at selecting nominees for the appointment to the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

In a statement to the media, the Opposition Leader said the consultation was geared at submitting a “third set of names for the consideration of the President for the appointment of a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)”.

President David Granger had recently rejected a second list of nominees for the chairmanship of GECOM, deeming it unacceptable.

The second list comprised retired justices BS Roy and William Ramlal; attorneys Oneidge Walrond-Allicock, Nadia Sagar and Kashir

Khan and businessman Gerry Gouveia.

The first list comprised chartered accountant Christopher Ram, governance specialist Lawrence Lachmansingh, business executives Ramesh Dookhoo and Norman McLean, author Ryhaan Shah and historian, Professor James Rose.

While Jagdeo maintains that he disagrees with the President’s interpretation of the Constitution on the appointment of a GECOM Chair, he is committed to submitting a third list. At a recent press conference at his Church Street Office, he said, “I think all those people are fit and proper and suitably qualified to be appointed Chairman of GECOM”.

Article 161 (2) of the Constitution stipulates that the Opposition Leader must submit a list of six nominees

for the position of GECOM Chairman, of which no candidate must be unacceptable.

After his second list had been rejected, the President wrote the Opposition Leader explaining that he had examined the Curricula Vitae of the six persons and found the list to be “unacceptable” within the meaning of the Constitution and of those criteria.

Subsequently, via a joint press statement issued by the Ministry of the Presidency, both parties agreed that it would be in the best interest of the people of Guyana that a Chairperson is appointed without undue delay.

Additionally, the statement revealed that it was also agreed by both parties that a high-level team, representing both sides, would be assembled, with a mandate of immediately exploring modalities to bring a reso-

lution to this matter in the event that the third list is rejected. No details were given on who would comprise that team or if persons have been identified on either side.

Meanwhile, President Granger in an interview with the Press and Publicity Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency, had said that the list must include six persons who are all qualified so that the choice is not limited. “Every member of the list suggested must conform to the criteria and you cannot put on the list, a person who does not conform… I must be given a choice. I don’t believe that the second list gave me the range of choice that the people of Guyana deserve,” he said. “Nothing is ever settled until it is settled right and he has to get it right,” the President added.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo speaks with stakeholders on Monday

New benchmarks to assess press freedom in Caribbean

By Ravin Singh THE Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) is looking to introduce new scientific parameters to assess press freedom in the region, president of the association, Wesley Gibbings has said.

Gibbings made this announcement last week during his visit to Guyana to launch two booklets on information about Guyana’s Parliament.

The project was a collaborative one between ACM and the Parliament of Guyana, with funding from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and the High Commission of Canada to Guyana. “…at ACM there is strong advocacy for developing our own benchmarks and parameters for assessment.

We can look forward in the near future, from the ACM, a suggestion for setting ourselves new and different benchmarks for assessing freedom of the press” the association’s president said.

Gibbings explained that at this point in time, ACM participates in the tabulation of information which feed into assessments done by international agencies such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

RSF provides an annual analysis of press freedom in 180 countries. In its 2017 Press Freedom Index, Norway was ranked number one with a score of 7.60, while North Korea was ranked last with a score of 84.89. In the region, Jamaica was the highest ranked country coming in at number eight, while Guyana was deemed one of the poorer performing countries having dropped from 57 in 2016, to 60 this year.

Within that bracket, Suriname came in 20th, Trinidad and Tobago 34th and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) trailing at 38th. To compile the Index, RSF has developed an online questionnaire with 87 questions which focus on several criteria. These include: pluralism, media independence, environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency, infrastructure and abuses.

But according to the association’s president, while RSF provides a “fair outlook” of what the media environment is like, “they don’t go far enough”. Explaining this, Gibbings said that if the region were to start employing its own parameters, it may reveal that the region is not in such a good situation as some international agencies portray. He said that this is because those parameters would factor in nuances in terms of the cultural issues that impact on media performance.

For instance, he pointed to the fact that when these agencies examine “attacks on journalists,” they pay heavy

President of ACM, Wesley Gibbings

attention to physical attacks, which includes kidnappings, persecution by the government or arrests, and whether they have been killed.

And this is exactly the case. RSF on its website explains that the data on abuses is compiled by a team of specialists, where each person who is assigned to a different geographical region, keeps a detailed tally of abuses and violence against journalists and media outlets.

The ACM president recalled that one of the earlier questionnaires done by an agency had asked “how many Caribbean journalists have been killed?” He said that in such cases, it is extremely difficult to respond in a way that appears serious, since attacks on journalists in the Caribbean are far more subtle.

“I make the point time and time again that our journalists aren’t killed but many stories die. So what is the objective of putting a journalist out of commission? So if you can achieve that without having to kill or kidnap or assault a journalist, then you achieve the same objectives but by different means” the ACM president offered. He added that what has been discovered in the region is that enemies of the free press find other ways to silence journalists.

As such, he noted that greater attention must be given to the development of scientific parameters to be able to better assess the state of press freedom of the region.

Asked about the capacity of the region at this point in time to introduce such a system, Gibbings assured that “at this point, we can develop our own scoring system”. He said that he has since spoken to some international agencies about such a scoring system and they have acknowledged the need for a more “culturally sensitive approach” to it. “Our cultural antecedents make us people who speak our minds freely.

We have cultural products [like] calypso and other [art] forms that are very open and these stretch free expression to the limits.

And we see these things and say ‘yes we do have freedom of expression,’ but then we need to look deeper than that. But that kind of examination would call for a little more science” he offered.

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Grief-stricken widow hangs self – mere weeks after husband’s death THE TURKEYEN nursery school teacher who was found lying atop her dead husband in early June at their Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara apartment, reportedly took her own life early Monday morning.

Police Public Relations Officer,Jairam Ramlakhan told the Guyana Chronicle that Cindy Dawson’s lifeless body was found by one of her siblings hanging from an electrical cord at their parents’ Charity River Dam home on the Essequibo Coast, where she’d gone to recuperate after her husband died.

The gruesome discovery was reportedly made at around 05:00hrs by the 28-year-old woman’s brother, who told the police that when he retired to bed at about 23:00hrs on Sunday night, after watching television with his sister, he had no inkling it would be the last time he would see her alive.

He told the police that while his sister did not show any indication she was contemplating suicide, she was understandably depressed after losing her husband, Kevin Dawson, to typhoid

Woman charged with issuing fake US notes A 30-YEAR-OLD woman who allegedly defrauded a city businesswoman with fake US currency was on Monday charged before City Magistrate, Judy Latchman.

Shavon Davis Gillian was slapped with three charges in relation to the counterfeit money and was released on $300,000 bail after denying the charges.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that on June 21, 2017 at Georgetown, Gillian uttered six forged US $50 bills to Marcia Lowenfield.

It is further alleged that

on the same day Gillian obtained$60,000 from Lowenfield by pretending that the six US $50 bills she exchanged were genuine.

Gillian is also accused of having the six forged US $50 bills in her possession without lawful authority or excuse at her Lodge, Housing Scheme home.

According to the facts read in court by Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves, on June 21,2017 Gillian went to Lowenfield’s business place in Kingston, Georgetown and purchased a beer.

Gonsalves noted that Gillian then inquired from

the businesswoman if she would be willing to change US $900 into GYD dollars.

Lowenfield agreed to change US$300 and Gillian handed over six US $50 bill, which were counterfeit and unknown to the woman.

The businesswoman later discovered that the money was fake and reported the matter to the police.

The prosecutor made no objections to Gillian being released on bail and she was released on $100,000 bail on each of the three charges. Magistrate Latchman adjourned the matter until July 17.

Autopsy on murdered ex-serviceman set for Wednesday Kevin and Cindy Dawson in happier times

and malaria.

The 35-year-old miner had died at the couple’s home after a prolonged illness, and his disconsolate wife was found in a semi-conscious state, after she did not show up for work and calls to her cellphone went unanswered.

The discovery was made by the landlady who went to check on the couple after not seeing them for a few days.

Cindy Dawson was admitted to the GPHC for treatment and was later discharged.

Police opined that the

man may have died between June 3 - 5, 2017, but a neighbour put his death to closer to May 31, since that was the last day she’d heard him vomiting.

A post mortem confirmed that he’d died of typhoid and malaria.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the couple had gotten married just last year; that the husband worked in the interior and would return home only for the August and Christmas holidays.

Pork-knocker shot at Omai Landing – after attacking police with ‘chopper’ A TWENTY-seven year old pork-knocker was on Sunday shot by the police after reportedly attacking two armed ranks with a “chopper”.

The incident occurred at around 16:45hrs at Omai Landing, when Glenn McCardy of Half Mile, Wismar, in a bid to avoid being arrested for the cannabis he had in his possession, attacked the two policemen.

He was taken to the

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Mackenzie Public Hospital where he underwent surgery. He is currently stable and under police guard.

Investigations revealed that the policemen, who were on duty at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC)’s Omai location, confronted McCardy at the Omai Landing after receiving information that he was in possession of an undisclosed quantity of narcotics in a bulky haversack he was carrying.

The policemen reported that as they approached McCardy, he drew the “chopper” from his haversack and menacingly charged towards them.

In defense, he was shot once in the abdomen and subsequently disarmed.

During a search of his person, a quantity of dried cannabis was found in the haversack.

A probe into the incident has since been launched.

A POST MORTEM is expected to be performed on the body of Trevor Dublin of ‘C’ Field, Sophia on Wednesday to determine the cause of death, the police say.

The body of the ex-serviceman, who was employed at BK International, was found at the ‘C’ Field Access Road at about 22:15hrs on Sunday night

by members of a police mobile patrol.

The body of the 49-yearold bore a single stab wound to the left side chest. A knife and a toque were also found in close proximity to the body.

According to the police, a resident of ‘E’ Field, Sophia was, up to press time, assisting with their investigation.

MURDERED: Trevor Dublin

Alleged shoplifter gets bail ROBERT Beckles of Lot 45 Victory Valley, Linden, who is accused of shoplifting from GST #3 Supermarket located at Annandale Market Road, East Coast Demerara, on Monday made his first court appearance at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

He was placed on $45,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh, charged with simple larceny and causing actual bodily harm. However, in the presence of his attorney, Euclin Gomes, he promised to bring in his female accomplice on Tuesday morning at Vigilance Police Station for questioning.

Beckles and two other accomplices, including a female, on Thursday night attempted to shoplift a tin of baby formula (milk) and two jars of marmite but the alert proprietor thwarted

their move.

The Chinese national managed to put up a fight with the group and snatched the bag containing the items as the trio was browsing the aisles of the supermarket.

Mace was sprayed in the businessman’s wife face and in the supermarket which had customers, but the man pursued the group and they abandoned the car they arrived in. The police was summoned and Beckles was picked up at about 20:50hrs on Thursday night while he was walking aimlessly in Annandale.

He reportedly told cops he was heading to Eastville, the neighbouring village.

A search of his person unearthed the keys to the motorcar which the bandits abandoned on the Annandale Public Road.

Beckles claimed he and the others rented the car

from a dealer in the city and he had the keys stashed in his boots. The Guyana Chronicle was told that police carried out a search of the car and found other items in it which included gold-plated watches, sunglasses and a ladies handbag containing baby milk products and a high-end phonics game.

At about 18:15hrs last Thursday, several customers were inside the supermarket shopping when a woman and two men entered and they proceeded to browse through the aisles. It was when a tin of baby milk (Enfagrow) fell out from under the woman’s dress in the supermarket that the Chinese proprietor became suspicious and went into his office to review the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) where he saw what they were doing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

28 graduate from St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, Linden Branch visit to the elderly attached to the Golden Age Club at the Dorfolk home, where they will be treated and pampered, a medical outreach, a road march and a leisure outing.

The St. John’s Ambulance Brigade also has divisions in Georgetown and Berbice. It was established The new graduates of St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, Linden Branch

TWENTY-EIGHT Lindeners are now certified in General First Aid, Home Nursing and Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after successfully graduating from the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, Linden Branch.

The simple graduation ceremony that was recently held was part of the calendar of activities hosted in celebration of the Brigade’s 84th Anniversary.

The graduation marked the end of a five-week programme in the aforementioned fields.

Delivering the charge to the students was local pastor, Carvil Bakker, who told the graduates that this is just the beginning of a meaningful career in the medical field and a window that can be used for elevation into other courses.

He encouraged them to be resilient and not to give up

when challenges arise. He added that the task at hand is not an easy one, but with perseverance and dedication they will succeed.

Dr. Michael Marks, a medical practitioner attached to the medical institution also encouraged the graduates to exercise patience and to be courageous, noting that courage is not the absence of fear, but not allowing that fear to stop you. He reminded them of the importance of their jobs, since they are the ones to have the first contact with the patients and efforts put forth by them can determine either life or death.

In addition to the graduation ceremony, the calendar of activities that are being held in recognition of the Brigades 84th anniversary includes a voluntary outreach at the Linden Hospital Complex, where the graduates will be given a chance to showcase their skills, a

Woman shot as husband ‘cleans’ gun A 50-YEAR-OLD housewife of Bougainvillea Park, East Bank Demerara was shot to her abdomen when her husband’s licensed firearm accidentally went off early Monday morning in their home.

The incident occurred around 02:30hrs.

The woman is presently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, in a stable condition.

Police reported that it happened when the couple returned from an outing about 02:00hrs after which the victim went to the shower and on entering their bedroom she heard an explosion, followed by a burning sensation to her abdomen, which began to bleed profusely.

The victim’s sixty-year old husband, who is a licensed holder of a handgun, alleged that he was clearing the weapon when it accidently went off and injured his wife, whom he rushed to the GPHC. He is in police custody assisting with the probe and his firearm is lodged.

in 1933 under the leadership of Dr. L. H Yodan.

The Brigade, which is the para-military and reserve arm was established in 1952, with Sir Frank Holder as the Commissioner. The first official headquarters of the St John’s Ambulance Station in Guyana was formally declared open on November

15, 1952.

Linden’s division is now contracted to the Linden Hospital Complex and Bosai Mineral Group Incorporated with 20 Lindeners in its employ. Each year the Brigade trains over 20 persons who enables them to pursue a career in the medical field.

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GRDB to sue RPA for unpaid $100M debt

By Zena Henry THE possibility of legal action against the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (RPA) for failing to repay a $100m loan to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) should be considered now that close to three years, the agency is yet to repay the hefty sum.

This is according to Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder on Monday, when an update on the loan repayment was sought. “Nothing, not a cent,” has been repaid to the GRDB, Holder told the Guyana Chronicle. It was during a government-ordered audit of the GRDB in 2015 that it was found that the RPA had requested and received $100M for the purpose of allegedly paying rice farmers.

General Secretary of the RPA, Dharamkumar Seeraj, was identified as the one who signed off for the money which was received in July, 2014. A Promissory note signed by Seeraj on behalf of the RPA stated that the loan was supposed to be repaid by October 31, of that same year, but this is still to be done.

Only recently several for-

mer members of the GRDB, including Seeraj, have been charged with offences that relate to their alleged intent to defraud the GRDB. When the officials appeared in court to hear the charge, it was alleged that between 2012 and 2015, Seeraj and the others who sat on the GRDB at the time, committed acts that were contrary to the agency’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) to which they failed to make proper records of financial transactions which included loans, in the organisation’s register. It was highlighted

by Minister Holder that on the GRDB, there must be representatives of specifically related rice stakeholder agencies such as the RPA, the Ministry of Agriculture and millers’ representatives among others. Reports are at the time the RPA received the $100M, Seeraj and other RPA members were seated on the GRDB, and along with their colleagues, were the ones responsible for agreeing to issue the said loan.

When asked about the conflict of interest in relation to this issue, the Agriculture Minister agreed to same,

General Secretary of the RPA, Dharamkumar Seeraj

but reiterated that those persons are, however, the representatives of the agencies that must have a seat on the GRDB as they relate to rice issue. When this matter was raised in the National Assembly last year, Seeraj, who is also a Member of Parliament representing the opposition side, refused to accept any responsibility for the unpaid loan, although he was the one to sign off for it and remains a senior official of the RPA. The opposition MP said that the $100M loan

was not given to him, but to the RPA. He gave no indication as to when the loan would be repaid.

The six GRDB officials were placed on half a million dollars bail each last month when they appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, at the Magistrate’s Court. They are accused of trying to defraud the GRDB of some $362m from the agency’s Republic Bank account.

The accused, General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Jagnarine Singh; former Deputy General Manager of the GRDB, Madanlall Ramraj; General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association (RPA) and PPP MP, Dharamkumar Seeraj; former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and PPP Member of Parliament, Nigel Dharamlall; former General Manager of the Guyana Oil Company, Badrie Persaud, and the Deputy Permanent Secretary Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Prema Roopnarine, were not required to plead to the offence when they faced the court.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Guyana mourns death of Dr Ivor Mitchell

THE Cooperative Republic of Guyana mourns the passing of Dr. Ivor S. Mitchell, former Managing Director of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST) and Professor of Marketing at the Clark Atlanta University.

In a statement, the Ministry of the Presidency said Dr. Mitchell served as Managing Director of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST) from 1994 to 1996.

He also served as the Chairman of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) and the Government Buildings and Properties Committee. From 1969-71, Dr. Mitchell was the Head of Department at the Guyana Development Corporation. He also served as Managing Director of the Guyana Chronicle and Guyana National Printers Limited (GNPL).

Dr. Ivor S. Mitchell attended the University of Oregon, where he received his Master in Business Administration in Marketing, and a Master of Science in Economics. He later obtained his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Georgia and twice earned the status of Fulbright Scholar. In 1984 he joined the Clark Atlanta University to occupy the Christine McEachern Smith endowed chair in marketing.

Young writers programme launched …aimed at promoting creativity, revive writing industry

‘I was not on NICIL board when Duke Lodge was sold’ – Gouveia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia broke his silence on Saturday on the issue that erupted last week over his Duke Street annexe, stating that the reports peddled by Kaieteur News “contain profound inaccuracies and innuendos.”

In its Tuesday, June 20, 2017 Edition, Kaieteur News in an article headlined “Controversial sale of Duke Street annexe to Gouveia…No evidence that board member Gouveia recused himself from transaction,” reported that eight years after the sale of the Duke Street property, investigators may try to ascertain whether Gouveia had rescued himself from the Privatization Unit during the sale of the property. According to Kaieteur News, there is no evidence that he did.

The following day, June 21, 2017, that newspaper further reported that Captain Gouveia had acquired two

state properties during his first year as Director of the Privatization Unit.

In a press statement on Saturday, Captain Gouveia made it clear that he was not a member of the Privatization Board during the period covering the transactions associated with the purchase of the property located at Lot 94 Duke street,Kingston,and what is now the Roraima Duke Lodge.

It was pointed that there were nine other bidders and Roraima Airways bid was deemed the highest.

“The bids were opened in the presence of all of the other bidders and officials of the accountant General’s office,” Captain Gouveia recalled.

According to him, he was never present nor was he part of any discussion with the Board of the Privatization Unit during all of the proceedings associated with the sale of the property situated at Lot 93 Duke Street, Kingston.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia

“The processes associated with the sale of the aforementioned properties were certainly not handled expeditiously. In fact, it took approximately two years in the first instance, and one year in the second instance, to fully conclude the transactions,” the CEO of Roraima Airways emphasized.

It was further pointed out that Roraima Airways won the public bid/Tender for the second building on the merit of its business plan proposal and the final price that was paid of $50M plus VAT of $8M. “Today approximately

one decade since the properties were acquired, both buildings were renovated and today house hotel rooms, conference facilities, a restaurant and bar and other facilities which contribute to enhancing Guyana’s tourism product,” he pointed out.

“Most important, the two buildings which today make up Duke Lodge account for some 100 direct jobs and hundreds more indirect jobs which have been created on the basis of fair hiring practices and without any regard to race, gender, religion or political affiliation. Today, the integrated services of the Roraima Group of Companies account for almost 300 direct jobs,” Captain Gouveia added.

The Roraima Group of Companies said it remains committed to contributing to the development of Guyana and to maintaining its track record of being among the best corporate citizens of Guyana.

Programme Director, Alisha Layne

TEACHERS along with students between the ages of 13 and 19 were the target of a Youth Empowerment Programme for Youth Writers aimed at revitalising Guyana’s publishing and writing industry.

The programme is being rolled out by the Office of the Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

Programme Director, Alisha Layne in an exclusive interview with the Department of Public Information/Government Informa-

tion Agency (DPI/GINA), said that over 260 students have benefited from the programme. The spread of schools which participated in the programme included fifteen schools from Georgetown, nine from the East Coast, Demerara, six from the East Bank, Demerara and twelve from the West Coast, Demerara.

Layne noted that the students and teachers were taught the art of writing and producing magazine articles.

The responses from teachers and more importantly the students were positive, Turn to page 14 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

PSC pledges support to Linden economic ventures

MEMBERS of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) during a recent visit to the mining town of Linden, pledged to support the Linden Chamber of Commerce (LCC) in achieving the goals which will allow the community to become a sustainable and economic viable town.

The members included businessman Gerry Gouveia who met with the Linden Chamber of Commerce and other important stake holders, such as the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN), Mayor and Town Council (MTC), Bosai Minerals Incorporated along with several business in Linden. The meeting focused on how the town can position itself to benefit from the economic wealth that can be garnered from the imminent construction of the Linden to Lethem road.

Gouveia said that the PSC will render all the needed assistance to the LCC and other stake holders, but posited that the secret lies in more collaboration. He urged them to establish a committee including representatives from the LCC, LEN, MTC, RDC and Police, as well as

other major stake holders, and to hold a monthly statutory meeting which will enable them to discuss pertinent issues while bringing solutions. Gouveia said that the Private Sector in Linden needs to position itself and be more organised, so that the Government does not have the power to make all the decisions within the town since bureaucracy at times hampers progress. Gouveia also urged the stakeholders to remain positive and optimistic as this spirit will permeate across the town. “Nothing is impossible, if you got an idea, get it done …as businessmen, no one will give you anything, you have to earn it,” Gouveia said.

The established businessman made mentioned of Linden’s tourism potential and how the industry can create scores of jobs for Linden youths. Gouveia alluded to the beauty of the Demerara River that runs through Linden and how that river can be used to generate revenue through organised tours, boat rides etc. He gave many anecdotes of how he emerged from a poor youth growing up in the commu-

PSC members and representatives of Linden during their meeting

nity of Lodge to a successful businessman and the secret of gaining such successes. “I am a living example of how talk

turned into action.”

President of the LCC, Kevin Deyounge also encouraged the stakeholders

to collaborate and to unite more for greater progress as they are currently working in isolation. “We need to

understand it is not about sitting down and waiting, yes Mr. Gouveia is going to come and assist but he is not coming to fetch Linden Chamber of Commerce, he is coming to assist, we have to pull our weight and try to move forward ourselves,” Deyounge urged.

Chairman of LEN, Klensille Grenville also alluded to collaboration and more action as Linden is in dire need of stronger heads to take to the wheel at a time when wealth is approaching. He said that it is time for the rhetoric to end and action to begin, as the current attitude to the major stake holders has sapped the will of the people. He said. “we need to be more involved and that is where we are lacking…if we don’t come together as a people and really don’t sanction our authority, nothing will happen.” Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland said that he is happy that the PSC has responded positively to Linden’s trajectory and that he has accepted all of the advice on how to materialise same.

New body created to investigate aviation accidents AVIATION experts from the Caribbean are currently in Guyana to deliberate on, among other things, how to better investigate accidents.

During the second meeting of the Caribbean Accident and Incident Investigation Organisation (CARAIO), the experts will discuss a number of issues, including the legal framework, regulations, data processing and storage of accident reports, training and other technical issues related to conducting a comprehensive and impartial aircraft and other aviation related accident investigation.

The meeting will serve to expand membership within CARAIO to states within South, Central and Latin America, a statement from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said on Monday.

According to the statement, an investigation can be conducted with the help of investigators from the newly established CARAIO if the assistance of the group is sought by a member state.

ratifying a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to establish a separate Accident and Investigation Group under the auspices of the (CASSOS).

CASSOS is an institution within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which was created by members of the Association of Civil Aviation Authorities of the Caribbean (ACAAC).

Director General Lt. Col. (Ret’d), Egbert Field, flanked by other participants at Monday’s meeting

Director General, Lt. Col. (Re’td), Egbert Field, during the opening of the conference noted the importance of having an independent body conduct accidents and investigations within the aviation sector.

Field said it is difficult for a state to conduct an aircraft accident and incident investigation without the collaboration of other states and the formation of this group makes the task much easier to undertake. He foresees wider collaboration with other states within the region, including

those in South, Central and Latin America.

Under the guidance of the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS), the CARAIO Accident and Incident Investigation Group (AIG) will be established under the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards for the region.

In Guyana’s case, helicopter accident and incident investigation is an area of interest, considering the emerging oil and gas industry, the tourism sector and the di-

versifying agriculture sector, the statement added.

CARAIO’s importance was underscored in the first meeting and reaffirmed in this second meeting due to numerous deficiencies regarding AIG issues. The establishment of this CARAIO group is supported by CASSOS, with assistance from ICAO, North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACC) Regional Office and Central American Corporation for Air Navigation Services (COCESNA).

The meeting is aimed at

Guyana is a member state of CASSOS and other member states include Barbados, Haiti, Suriname, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands.

Police say man stole 28 cases of empty bottles CITY MAGISTRATE Judy Latchman placed a man on $ 35,000 bail after he appeared before her on three charges.

Forty –two year old labourer, Peter Christie of Port Kaituma denied the allegation which stated that on June 14, 2017 at Port Kaituma, he stole 28 cases of empty bottles, property of John Britten.

He also denied the allegation that he displayed threatening behavior towards Holiya Spencer on June 21 at Water Front, Port Kaituma.

It is also alleged that on June 21, he resisted arrest from a peace officer, acting in the execution of his duties. Christie also denied that allegation.

Christie was also charged with disorderly behavior; however that matter was dismissed.

He was placed on bail and the matter was transferred to the Matthew’s Ridge Magistrate’s Court for August 8.

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GPHC duo... was Johnson who had written NPTAB contending that he had gotten approval from her.

When contacted on Monday, GPHC Finance Director declined to comment on the issue, saying that the hospital’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mitzy Campbell be contacted. “I am not allowed to answer,” Charles said, while noting that the information implicating him in

the controversy was “interesting.” This newspaper was unable to make contact with the PRO. Johnson, the hospital’s former CEO, told this newspaper that he had no comments. “Whatever was said let it be said. I don’t wish to make a comment,” Johnson said after being pressed for a response.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

From page 3

CRIMINAL PROBE Former Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall, however, did not buy the argument put forward by the Public Health Minister when she appeared before the PPC. “If what the Chronicle published is the truth, then the Minister deliberately and calculatedly misled the PPC, last Friday. At a minimum, the statements attributed to her

starkly contradict an earlier “Public Statement” issued by her own Ministry,” Nandlall said in a statement on Monday.

He pointed out that in a public statement issued by the Public Health Ministry on March 11, 2017, the Minister admitted to fast-tracking the process.

“To this end, she sought to fast-track the procurement of these pharmaceuticals to minimise the negative effects on patients, due to the short-

age of some critical drugs.

This influenced the decision to seek the greenlight from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for ANSA McAL to supply drugs and pharmaceuticals to the tune of some G$605M,” the Opposition MP stated, while alluding to the press statement.

Given the circumstances, Nandlall is contending that a criminal investigation be launched into the procurement of the more than $605M

Young writers... especially from students of those schools from the rural areas, according to Layne. “The feedback all around have been generally very good, so we are proud of the work that we would have done and we really hope that we can actually complete it in the way that we would want it to be completed, so that these students could have an opportunity upon leaving school to have something to do, (which is) geared towards developing themselves, their communities and each other” Layne explained.

Layne added that, “you have students who are not, I would not want to say very smart but we have those students who academically they do not excel, but artistically they are very, very gifted.

There are students who cannot do a math sum to save their life; there are students who cannot understand a

in drugs. “I call on the Commissioner of Police (COP) and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to, immediately launch an investigation into this matter. After all, this transaction involves the misuse or unlawful use of $605M of public monies.”

He is maintaining that there were mutiple breeches of, inter alia, the Procurement Act, the Public Corporation Act and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act.

From page 12

simple equation but if you give them a pen and a piece of paper, they can write a piece of poetry, they can create a masterpiece in English, and so this project basically is one that the teachers welcome because they can use it to channel those ability in those students”.

However, Layne noted that they were faced with a number of challenges during the course of the programme.

One of the main challenges, according to Layne, was having teachers and students being released to attend training sessions during school hours. To address the problem, Layne explained that they are seeking to have the Ministry of Education adopt the programme so that it will become a timetabled subject.

Layne explained that, “the school term is basically 12 weeks, we can have a successful programme run

in eight weeks because the actual contact hours for the training, it takes just about one teaching period and so if we can have it for one period, which is just about 45 minutes of school time. if we can have this done in schools at the individual level for one period per day, maybe two days per week in each school, then at the end of six weeks we would have completed the entire young writers manual so that gives them two weeks to complete their articles.” While the current programme targets mainly schools on the coast, the overall aim is to have it in all the schools countrywide, as it is also a programme which is geared at equipping young people with a skill which they can use to create jobs for themselves. The programme was launched in November 2016. (DPI/GINA)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Futsal Association makes pitch for Club registration GIVEN the current interest in Futsal locally, the Guyana Futsal Association (GFA) is stepping up its registration of clubs all across Guyana.

The GFA is a registered affiliate association of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), which was established to exclusively spearhead the professional devel-

opment and administration of Futsal in Guyana.

A release from the Futsal Association which is headed by Linden businessman Kenrick Noel states that registered clubs have the privilege/benefit from becoming familiarised with Futsal as a discipline of the Global Football industry.

The clubs will receive technical assistance from the GFA as well as engaging in tournaments

and competitions organised and approved by the Association and will also attend training workshops, retreats and other educational activities.

“Since Guyana is yet to seriously acknowledge Sports, and in particular football, as an instrument for Social Cohesion and Economic Development, the GFA is optimistic that this registration exercise would pave the way for clubs,

sponsors, and other stakeholders to become motivated towards elevating Futsal locally to new heights,” the release stated.

Interested individuals, club owners and executives can contact any of the GFA’s executives; president Noel (687-4680), first vice-president Mark Young (621-1313), secretary Rawle Adams (6233323) and treasurer Aubrey Major Jr. (691-5460).

‘Candy Man’ Hardy to make return against Eric Moon on Saturday

By Rawle Toney AFTER a hiatus of over two years, Guyana’s Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy will step back into the ring on Saturday against American Eric Moon in Atlanta Georgia at the Buckhead Fight Club.

With the legendary Colin Morgan in his corner, Moon is undefeated in his four outings and the 26-year-old is tipped to be one of USA’s ‘upcoming’ super middleweights.

Hardy’s last outing in the ring was against

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Vito Gasparyan where he suffered a Unanimous Decision loss, despite a good showing against the Armenian.

The defeat to Gasparyan was Hardy’s first blemish, which puts his ring-record at 13 wins from 14 outings. Ten of his wins came from knocking his opponents out, using his notorious right hand.

The 30-year-old Hardy, who hails from Sophia, is tipped to be Guyana ’s next world champion. With constant

improvement in the ring since moving to the U.S. he is travelling the path to live up to that expectation.

Before migrating, Hardy had kayoed Iwan Azore to win the vacant WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) welterweight title at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Hardy’s last fight in Guyana was against Howard Eastman in 2012 where he picked up a Majority Decision win after out-boxing the former Commonwealth middleweight champion.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Strong U.S. world team could match Rio success

By Gene Cherry SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - A worldclass group of jumpers, shot putters and women’s hurdlers should have American athletes heading to the podium often at August’s world championships in London.

Double Olympic triple jump champion Christian Taylor and fellow Rio gold medallists Ryan Crouser, Dalilah Muhammad and Tianna Bartoletta, plus hurdles world record holder Keni Harrison and Aries Merritt, all qualified at the cutthroat U.S. championships that concluded on Sunday.

“It looks entirely possible that Team USA could match its impressive Rio (Olympic) tally in August,” international athletics expert Mel Watman told Reuters.

The Americans won 13 gold medals in Rio after underperforming at the last world championships in

Dalilah Muhammad poses with United States flag after winning the women’s 400m hurdles in 52.64 during the USA Track and Field Championships at Hornet Stadium.

(Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Beijing two years ago with just six.

One-two punches in

the triple jump, men’s and women’s shot put, women’s long jump and women’s 400

South Africa name three uncapped players for England series (RERUTERS) - South Africa have named three uncapped players in their squad for the four-match Test series against England next month, including inform opener Heino Kuhn.

All-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo, who played in the recent 2-1 Twenty20 International series loss in England, has also been included for the first time, along with batsman Aiden Markram.

Kuhn and Phehlukwayo take the places of Stephen Cook and Wayne Parnell, while Markram has been added as cover for captain Faf du Plessis, whose wife is expecting their first child around the time of the first Test at Lord’s that starts on July 6.

The 33-year-old Kuhn is having a prolific summer in England with the South African A side after scoring 200 not out against Hampshire in a first-class fixture and following that up with 105 against England Lions.

The experienced Kuhn also provides cover for wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, and has featured in seven Twenty20 Internationals.

Cricket South Africa convener of selectors, Linda

metres hurdles plus strong showings in the relays could all produce gold for the U.S. in London, Watman said.

But the Americans, who love their sprints, will likely face major roadblocks in the men’s events even though they have the year’s fastest at 100 metres (Christian Coleman, 9.82 seconds) and 400 (Fred Kerley, 43.70).

World record holders Usain Bolt, who is retir-

ing after the London 100, and Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa in the 400 will be the fans’ favourites.

Olympic silver medallist Justin Gatlin, winner of the U.S. 100 over Coleman, also should be a contender in the London race as he faces Bolt for the last time.

Rio medallist Tori Bowie highlights the U.S. women’s sprints, but must again face Jamaican double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson in the 100.

The U.S. should gain medals in many of the same events where they made the podium in Rio, with 22 of the 29 individual medallists qualifying for London.

Defending triple jump champion Taylor and Olympic silver medallist Will Claye again rank 1 and 2 in the world with Crouser and Olympic runner-up Joe Kovacs sharing similar honours in the men’s shot put.

Taylor is approaching Jonathan Edwards’ triple jump world record, and Crouser delivered the longest shot put in 14 years at 22.65 metres on Sunday.

Bartoletta and Olympic silver medallist Brittney Reese, who has the top jump in the world this season, will be tough to defeat in the women’s long jump with Raven Saunders and Danie Bunch the best two

women’s shot putters of 2017. They will be joined

by Olympic gold medallist Michelle Carter.

No event was more impressive in Sacramento than the women’s 400 metres hurdles, though, with Olympic gold medallist Muhammad leading three women under 53 seconds for the first time ever in the same race.

All three could claim medals in London.

Watman, the co-editor of Athletics International, also was impressed by Olympic bronze medallist Sam Kendricks, who provided the first six metres pole vault of the outdoor season and the U.S. 4x400 metres relay’s chances.

“In Sacramento four men ran 44.50 or quicker in the 400m final didn’t include vastly experienced LaShawn Merritt who has a wild card,” he said.

Rio Olympic pole vault silver medallist Sandi Morris also could be in the mix for medals, Watman said World 400 metres champion Allyson Felix also is moving into contention after working on her speed in the 100 and 200 at Sacramento.

Gold medallists Matthew Centrowitz (1,500m) and Kerron Clement (400m hurdles) also qualified.

AB de Villiers `final decision’ set for August

South Africa all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo is one of the three uncapped players in the Test side.

Zondi, suggested that the choice of Phehlukwayo was with one eye on the future.

Andile’s selection is a continuation of our drive to develop bowling all-rounders for the Test team. He and Chris Morris will fill this role in support of Vernon Philander. At the age of 21 he is certainly one for the future,” Zondi said.

Squad: Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis (captain), JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Duanne Olivier, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

AB de Villiers will meet with Cricket South Africa in August to chart his future in international cricket. de Villiers said they were going to “make a final decision about what happens for the next few years.”

“We will see what works for both parties,” de Villiers said. “We are not going to pick and choose games, but we are going to make a final decision about what happens for the next few years.” de Villiers was speaking in Cardiff after the third T20 international against England, which South Africa lost to lose the series 2-1, after having crashed out of the Champions Trophy in the group stage, and lost the ODI series against England 2-1 as well. de Villiers was captain for all those assignments - he stood in for Faf du Plessis in the T20Is - but left the squad ahead of the Test series against England.

AB de Villiers says he’ll make a call on his international future in August.

He had taken a break from Test cricket after being ruled out of the tour of Australia last year with an injury, citing the need to manage his workload to keep himself going until the 2019 World Cup. de Villiers planned to return to the format in Sep-

tember, when Bangladesh tour South Africa.

“I am going to spend a bit of time off at home with the family, I’m going to welcome my new youngster into the world, and obviously look to stay fit,” de Villiers said.

“I want to make sure I am ready for September, when Bangladesh come.” de Villiers restated his ambition to win the 2019 World Cup in England, but said that the dream was dependent on how the discussion with CSA went.

“It’s my main dream to win a World Cup for South Africa or to be part of it in one way or another … I don’t even think it’s in my hands, what is going to happen. I will wait until the final decision on the coach and things like that are made. Then I can also have a chat to CSA, to see where I am going to fit in. “(ESPN Cricinfo).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Berbice basketball tourney

RHT Jammers sink Hopetown Stealers (57-45)

By Colin Bynoe (Jr) ROSE Hall Town Jammers defeated Hopetown Stealers 57-45, in the Berbice Amateur Basketball Association 2017 Tournament, which continued last Sunday with a second-round match-up at the Lichfield Basketball Court.

The venue was changed from Hopetown to Lichfield because of the inclement weather.

When the game began, RHT Jammers maintained steady positions, Roy Murray opened up the game for the Jammers with an easy layup. The visitors had many scoring opportunities in the first quarter. Stealers turned the ball over many times, and they never look threatening.

At the end of the first quarter, the RHT Jammers led 17-11. Hopetown Stealers found some momentum in the second quarter, which saw them claw their way back. When the halftime whistle blew, the score was 24-20 in favour of the Jammers.

Roy Murray (with ball) battles his way to the hoop.

In the second half of the contest, the ball was distributed evenly, as the Jammers looked ominous to extend their lead. For the entire game, Jammers maintained their dominance.

As Roy Murray continued his shooting exploits, he got excellent support from Mikel Lewis with 15 and David Hope poured in 11 points. Murray of the Jammers ended with a gamehigh 21 points while for the

loosing Hopetown Stealers, Ruel Edwards and Kelon Webster sank 18 and 13 points each.

The game ended 57-45.

In the next round of the tournament Ithaca Hardliners will battle Canje Knight at the Vryman’s Erven Basketball Court in New Amsterdam.

Six teams are involved in the competition, which is being played on a robin-robin basis.

Zone A Zone B Canje Knight Rose Hall Town Jammers Fyrish Black Shark N/A Warriors Ithaca Hardliners Hopetown Stealers The tournament is being organised by the president of the Berbice Basketball Association Vibert Garrett.

Trophy, cash and other incentives are up for grabs.

Henrietta FC drub Mainstay Goal Stars 13-2 in NAMILCO Under-17 football HOSTS Mainstay Goal Stars proved too friendly and generous as they were mauled 13-2 by Henrietta FC in the latest round of the NAMILCO/GFF-sponsored Under-17 countrywide football tournament, held last Saturday at Mainstay.

The match began at 15:30hrs and as early as the 2nd minute Henrietta FC opened their account with a perfect strike from Christopher Boston.

Goals were then consistently scored as Jarod Granville netted in the 12th, Christopher scored his first of three in the 15th, Joel Caesar in the 23rd and Jumain Bowen 28th.. Mainstay Goal Stars then halted the onslaught with Dennis Skinner striking in the 30th minute It was soon back to Henrietta FC with Jumain John piercing the net in the 34th and Mark Holder in the 35th, completing the first-half tally.

Soon in the second half, Mainstay, through Jessie Mohabeer’s strike in the 42nd minute, restricted the deficit to 7-2

Christian Bacchus

at that stage.

Thereafter, Henrietta FC enjoyed further success with further goals from Christian Bacchus in the 64th, Ezekiel Scott 71st, Trevis Joyce 74th and Bacchus in the 87th to complete his hat-trick and end the game 13-2 in favour of Henrietta FC. Meanwhile, Capoey gained a walkover from Good Hope FC who failed to turn up for their fixture on Sunday.

The competition resumes this week-end with various matches.

(Elroy Stephney)

Curacao stun Jamaica to claim Caribbean Cup title CURACAO were crowned new kings of Caribbean football after defeating reigning champions Jamaica 2-1 in the final of the Scotiabank CFU Caribbean Cup at the Stade Pierre Aliker stadium, in Martinique, on Sunday.

Elson Hooi proved to be the hero for the tiny Eastern Caribbean team

Hooi put Curacao after just 10 minutes had elapsed, beating goalkeeper Andre Blake with the help of a deflection. Rosario Harriott seemed to have given the Jamaicans, who struggled to breach a resolute defense, a lifeline in the 83rd minute when he snuck in at the back post to smash the ball past

as he netted twice to hand the heavily favoured Jamaicans an unexpected defeat.

Curacao custodian Eloy Room after a poorly cleared set-piece. Hooi was once again on hand

Elson Hooi … scored twice for champions Curacao.

to profit just two minutes later, arriving in an almost identical position as the first goal, to smash a deep cross past Blake.

The win marked the first time the Dutch-speaking country were claiming the title.

Despite the loss, however, Jamaica had already qualified for direct entry to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, along with champions Curacao.

(Sportsmax).

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Mohan pilots Marian Academy to final U-19 Boys semi-finals set for Thursday JADA Mohan, the country’s leading junior female basketball player, turned in another sensational allround performance to lead Marian Academy to the finals of the Girls’ regional finals where they will play President’s College in the National Schools Basketball Festival.

Behind Mohan’s 13 points and seven steals, Marian Academy brushed aside the St Rose’s High Girls 18-7 in a game where Renuka Ramcharran scored two points and grabbed six rebounds.

Kellian Sauers also scored two points and hauled in five rebounds for Marian Academy, while for the losing team, Jamaica Blair netted four points, coupled with four rebounds and four steals.

Meanwhile, Plaisance Secondary overwhelmed

Tutorial High School 63-32 points to confirm their favourites status and booked a trip to the semi-finals of the Boys’ U-19 category.

Andrew Johnson topscored with 19 points, Nigel Bowen recorded 12 points, 13 rebounds and five steals and Reuben Reid added 10 points and 8 rebounds for Plaisance Secondary, who will face President’s College on Thursday.

President’s College edged St Rose’s High in a 55-53 nail-biting victory to clinched a semi-final spot.

Anthon Fileen had a game-high 29 points in the East Coast Demerara-based team’s win, while being supported by Akeem Crandon’s ten points and eight rebounds.

For St Rose’s, Anthony Yansen dropped an entertain-

Marian Academy’s Timothy Thompson powers his way to score two of his game-high 25 points against Bishops’ High School in the National Schools Basketball Festival.

ing 25 points, seven boards and six steals performance, but that was not enough to help his side advance.

In the other U-19 match on the day, the Government Technical Institute proved too strong for the Adult Education side, demolishing them 62-39.

Shamar Huntly (14 points, seven rebounds), Nickosie Allicock (14) and Richard Telford (10 points, 14 rebounds) were the top performers for GTI, who will face Marian Academy in the semi-finals.

Marian Academy sealed a place in the U-19 semi-finals a with 59-21 points win over the Bishops’ High School, thanks to a dominating showing by Timothy Thompson.

Thompson literally controlled the court, in his endto-end performance where he not only shot a game-high 25 points, but had 24 rebounds in

the process.

Jahleel Young chipped in with 14 points, 19 rebounds and Jether Harris and Josiah Daniels scored seven points apiece for Marian Academy.

Joshua Smith (seven points) and Andre Somrah (six points, five rebounds) were the top scorers for Bishops’ High.

The Under-19 semi-finals will see President’s College take on Plaisance Secondary from 17:00hrs and GTI battle Marian Academy on Thursday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The Georgetown/East Coast Regional finals are set for Friday, June 30 from 16:30hrs.

The tournament is sponsored by Edward B. Beharry Group of Companies Ltd and the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Badminton Association introduces Shuttle Time Programme to Guyana

THE Guyana Badminton Association used this year’s Guyana Olympic Association Olympic Day series of activities to conduct the Shuttle Time Programme and get their longterm plan to have Badminton prominently featured in schools.

Fifteen participants were awarded their Teachers Training Course Certificates and four participants were awarded the Tutors Training Course Certificates.

The programme, which falls directly under the Badminton World Federation (BWF), is geared to make badminton the most popular sport in schools globally, according to the GBA. “It’s quite a simple method; it’s premised on educating Physical Education teachers to conduct badminton lessons,” a release from

the GBA stated.

The three-day course, which was held at the (GOA) boardroom, was conducted

by Jamaican Richard Wong.

Wong, who is a BWF Shuttle Time tutor and coach, told that the programme is not in-depth and is not structured to make the teachers coaches.

“We want to make the lessons fun, safe and have the kids experience success from the very beginning, and the Shuttle Time has been instrumental in that. The Shuttle Time Programme has been implemented in various countries across the Caribbean, and it actually helped in promoting the sport because it gets, as I said, teachers, P.E teachers or even regular teachers to teach a badminton lesson,” Wong explained.

“The programme is very simple; all the resources

good course for Guyana, especially for the teachers training the children for CSEC. It is also a basic programme to help us with the development plan for badminton in Guyana, because now the teachers will be assisting us to get up the players and then we get them out into the areas and the teams and clubs (where) we would want them to go,” Ramdhani asserted.

The Badminton Association, over the years, Participants of the GBA/BWF Shuttle Time programme with their certificates following has been clamouring for the completion over the weekend. the sport to be prominent in schools nationwide, and have been provided for the they want to teach,” Wong Shuttle Time is the first Ramdhani believes the teachers so basically when pointed out. such programme to be host- hosting of the Shuttle Time a teacher takes a Shuttle The target group was ed in Guyana, and it came Programme is a positive step Time course and decides to Primary and Secondary to fruition following GBA in that direction. implement the programme school teachers, and while president Gokarn RamGuyana is now the all they have to do is go back the aim is to introduce dhani’s representation at the 106th country where the to their school, look in the children aged 5-15 to bad- BWF’s AGM in Gold Coast, Shuttle Time Programme resources we give them free minton, the programme can Australia, last May. and just decide what lessons be adapted to any settings.

“It’s going to be a very has been introduced.

GuyanaNRA Smallbore Section .22 Precision Shoot

‘Top Gun’ Hopkinson trumps rivals again; Milling is junior winner CONTINUING to display match winning form, veteran marksman Harold ‘Top Gun’ Hopkinson has once again outshot his rivals in claiming the top spot in the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) Smallbore Section .22 Precision Shoot held last Saturday at the Tactical Services Unit Range of the Guyana Police Force.

Hopkinson’s form, which allowed him to do well in the just concluded Grenada Gun and Rifle Association’s Second Annual six

Stage, Level 2 IPSC competition in the Spice Isle, still held as he amassed 232 points along with two V Bulls to win the senior category.

Taking second place was Chad Melville who ended with 228 points the same as Dr Johan DaSilva. However, Melville shot 4 V Bulls which meant that Dr DaSilva had to settle for third place.

The senior competitors shot from the 10m and 15m distances while the juniors aimed from the

The respective senior and junior top shots with other competitors show off their trophies following the presentation.

5m, 7m and 10m distances.

The leading junior on the day - the top three competing in their first precision pistol match - was Terry Milling who accumulated 232 points and one V Bull. Second was Michael Tang with 225 points and 5 V Bulls while third place went to Sherwin Solomon who tallied 221 points and 1 V Bull.

This was the third such competition held by the GuyanaNRA Smallbore Section for the year.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Bolton, bowlers see West Indies Women crash to heavy defeat

TA U N T O N , E n g l a n d (CMC) – Out-of-sorts West Indies Women proved no match for World champions Australia Women and crashed to a heavy eight-wicket defeat, as they opened their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup on a disappointing note here yesterday.

They opted to bat first but were dismissed for 204 in the 48th over, with teenaged opener Hayley Matthews top-scoring with 46, captain Stafanie Taylor getting 45 and Chedean Nation, 39.

All-rounder Deandra Dottin chipped in with a brisk 29 but veteran seamer Ellyse Perry grabbed three for 47 while leg-spinner Kristen Beams (2-30) and left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen (2-39) claimed two wickets apiece to cripple the Windies innings.

The Caribbean side were well placed at one stage on 123 for two in the 33rd over but failed to kick on and lost their last eight wickets for 81 runs.

In reply, opener Nicole Bolton struck her third OneDay International hundred – a delightful, unbeaten 107 – as the Aussies cantered to their target in the 39th over without raising a sweat.

The left-hander hit 14 boundaries off 116 balls, adding 171 in a first-wicket stand with opening partner Beth Mooney whose 70 required 85 deliveries and included seven fours and a six.

O f f - s p i n n e r Ta y l o r claimed two for 33 but the Windies bowling lacked edge and their fielding effort was

Nicole Bolton exults after getting to her century against West Indies Women in Taunton. (Getty Images)

ordinary, especially late in the innings as frustrations grew over the productive opening stand.

Heading into the contest here on the backs of five straight defeats in warmups, the Windies were always facing a tough challenge against the clinical Aussies and played true to predictions.

The 19-year-old Matthews accounted for much of West Indies’ early momentum, putting on 34 for the first wicket with Felicia Walters (7) and 52 for the second wicket with Nation.

Walters, on ODI debut, laboured for 30 deliveries before pulling Perry to Elyse Villani in frustration, to depart in the 11th over.

Matthews and Nation

steadied the innings but their partnership hardly rattled the Aussies as it required 80 deliveries and Windies were still short of three figures at the halfway stage.

All told, Matthews faced 63 deliveries and counted seven fours and appeared headed for her fifth ODI fifty when she gifted her wicket, bowled loosely, driving down the wrong line at Jonassen.

Nation, who faced 73 balls and hit two fours and a six, was joined by Taylor and they put on a further 37, again without pressuring the Aussies.

With the tempo needing a boost, Nation whipped Beams to Alex Blackwell at short mid-wicket in the 33rd over, to set the Windies

Agard to officiate in South American Youth Championship – a first for Guyana GUYANA’S One Star boxing referee/judge Romona Agard created history recently by becoming the first Guyanese referee/judge to be selected to officiate in the South American Youth Championships which is scheduled for Chile during the month of September.

Agard was notified of the accomplishment by way of a letter from the America’s Boxing Confederation (AMBC).

The experienced official said she is elated to be recognised by the AMBC who

Romona Agard

has recognised the hard work she has been doing over the

years.

She also extended gratitude to her husband Menard Wilson (also a referee), as well as Guyana Boxing Associations president Steve Ninvalle and other executives of the GBA for their support.

Agard, the chairperson of the GBA’s Referee/ Judge Commission, gained her One Star badge last December following success at examinations in Barbados after the GBA paved the way for her and Richard Braithwaite to attend courses there.

back.

Dottin arrived to play a typical cameo in adding 34 for the fourth wicket with Taylor. She smashed six boundaries off a mere 20 balls and was accelerating the innings nicely when she missed a drive at Perry and lost her off stump in the 37th over.

The innings then declined quickly as former skipper Merrissa Aguilleira holed out to cover for one, off seamer Megan Schutt in the 39th before the last recognised batsman Shanel Daley miscued a Beams full toss to long on to perish for six in the 41st over Taylor tried to keep the innings together but holed out in the deep in the 46th over after facing 57 balls and counting a four and a six.

Australia cruised in reply as Bolton and Mooney removed any doubt about the result with their dominant opening stand off just 181 deliveries.

The Windies struggled badly and their only bright spark came when Matthews took a brilliant running catch in the deep to dismiss captain Meg Lanning in the 35th over for 12.

West Indies take on India on Thursday in their second match of the tournament.

Chanderpaul scores ton at Edgbaston on day one of day-night match SHIVNARINE Chanderpaul made a century to help Lancashire defy Warwickshire on day one of the day-night match.

Chanderpaul’s unbeaten 117 rescued Lancashire from 55-4, Haseeb Hameed making only 17 in his final chance to impress the England selectors.

The visitors were all out for 273, with Keith Barker and debutant George Panayi each taking three wickets.

Warwickshire then lost opener William Porterfield to James Anderson as they closed 250 runs behind on 23-1.

Porterfield’s return for only his fourth Championship appearance of the season came following Ian Westwood’s retirement from cricket on the morning of the match.

The Ireland international was lbw as Anderson swung the ball under the lights, but that was down to the skill of the England man, rather than the pink ball moving any more than a red one.

Anderson is looking to prove his fitness to England after a groin injury, while Hameed is searching for form before the first Test against South Africa at Lord’s next week.

The opener, who has not passed 50 in first-class cricket this season, batted for more than an hour before softly driving to silly mid-off to give pace bowler Panayi (3-41) his maiden first-class wicket.

That began a Lancashire slump as Alex Davies was run-out attempting a non-existent single, Jos Buttler was lbw trying to pull the off-spin of Jeetan Patel and Steven Croft was brilliantly caught at second slip by Rikki Clarke off Boyd Rankin.

Chanderpaul, dropped on 49 against one of his former clubs by wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose off Patel, rebuilt with Dane Vilas (44) and Ryan McLaren (24) in stands of 96 and 68 respectively.

Although left-armer Barker (3-59) got to work at the beginning of the final session, Chanderpaul completed his 76th first-class century, as he approaches his 43rd birthday.

The former West Indies international looked set to take Lancashire to 300, but pace bowler Panayi mopped up the tail with the second new ball, removing Tom Bailey and Anderson with successive deliveries.

Bolton, bowlers see West Indies Women crash to heavy defeat

P.23

Running Brave win Olympic Day Team Run WITH a combined time of 4 hours 3 minutes, the Running Brave team of Claudrice McKoy, Maria Urquhart, Cleveland Thomas, Devaun Barrington, Matthew McKenzie, and Winston Missigher, took the win at last Sunday’s Olympic Day 10K Team Run which began and ended at the YMCA on Thomas Lands.

Second place went to the Guyana Defence Force, who were led by five-time CARICOM 10k champion, Cleveland Forde, who was actually the first person to cross the finish line, in a time of 34 minutes 44 seconds.

It was Urquhart who finished just seconds ahead of GDF’s Leyanna Charles that handed the win to Running Brave. Urquhart and Charles were each the last athlete of their respective teams to cross the finish line, with Urquhart clocking 51 minutes 10 seconds, and Charles coming in six seconds behind.

Running Brave’s fastest athlete went to Missigher, who was also the second athlete overall to complete the journey, clocking 35 minutes and one second for his efforts. With a time of 35 minutes 40 seconds, Thomas was the next man across the line.

A youth athlete, McKoy put her senior counterparts to shame, when she was the first of the female competitors to cross the finish line, in a time of 43 minutes 48 seconds.

The other athletes on the GDF team were Tyshon Bentick, Jamoul Chisholm, Marlon Nicholson, and Ashanti Scott. Scott’s 46 minutes 57 seconds was the second-fastest time among the females.

The Police ‘A’ team finished in third place, with Jonathan Fagundes (0:36.42.00s) being the first teammate across the line, and Tabitha Bowman (0:52:47s) being the last.

The team also comprised Salim Yussuff (0:46:00s), Colin Mercurius (0:38:14s), Quincy Morian (0:40.05s) and Joanna Archer (0:52:35s).

West Demerara finished in fourth place. This team comprised Deshawna Harding, Marissa Patterson, Jamel Daly, Masama Patterson, Christian Delph and Troy Stephens The Olympic Day 10K Team Run, which is actually a part of the bigger Olympic Day Fun Walk-Jog-Run, is an annual event held in celebration of World Olympic Day, which is held every year on June 23 since 1948.

The team run involved groups of six athletes – two females and four males – competing. Groups in the team run were awarded prizes.

The Running Brave team with their coach Julian Edmonds (centre)

Futsal Association makes ‘Candy Man’ Hardy to make return pitch for Club registration against Eric Moon on Saturday

See page 19 Action at the National Gymnasium at a recently held Futsal tournament. (Delano Williams photo)

See page 19 Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy during a recent training session in Brooklyn, New York

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TUESDAY, JUNE, 27 , 2017