Guyana Chronicle

guyana No. 103628 WEDNESDAY october 23, 2013

The Chronicle is at http://www.guyanachronicle.com

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Opposition continues to deny passage of AMLCFT Page 3

Minister Anil Nandlall

– although Guyana already blacklisted in draft CFATF Report - AG

‘ Happy Birthday, Chief ’, from Cabinet

Guyana Fashion Week 2013 opens to capacity audience Page 20

Returning from U.S. holiday...

President Donald Ramotar celebrated another milestone yesterday. Here Cabinet members and senior government officials toast to His Excellency’s good health

AG seeks dismissal of appeal by Opposition Leader Page 2

– in budget cuts case

Over 10 million downloads of BBM for Android and iPhone in Page 20 the first day

- BBM achieves top ranking in the App Store in over 75 countries within the first 24 hours

Woman, teenage Page daughter among 19 victims in terrifying pre-dawn robbery Minister Sukhai urges toshaos

DO Page 9 NOT BE

HOODWINKED!

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

AG seeks dismissal of appeal

by Opposition Leader – in budget cuts case Attorney General and Min-

fendant has a right to be sued.

prompting a return to the court

ister of Legal Affairs Anil

It means that if the plaintiff

for a final ruling.

Nandlall has asked the Court

does not sue the defendant,

The AG has expressed con-

to dismiss the appeal filed

somehow the defendant may

fidence in winning the appeal,

by Opposition Leader David

sue the plaintiff for not suing

and hopes for a speedy comple-

Granger for the reason that it

the defendant. That is how we

tion so that the case can move

was misconceived and wholly

see it. That is a fundamental

along.

flawed, noting that the case

legal question that has to be

The appeal is being tried

was out of the High Court’s

answered,” the Attorney Gen-

in the High Court before Jus-

jurisdiction.

eral stated.

tices James Bovell-Drakes and

On June 19, 2013 a decision

Meanwhile, Attorney at Law

Rishi Persaud. Representing

was taken by Chief Justice(ag)

Basil Williams argued that the

the complainant, Granger, in

Ian Chang to dismiss the Op-

CJ’s decision to exclude Granger

the appeal hearings are Basil

position Leader, as well as Fi-

from the budget cut case was

Williams, Joseph Harmon and

nance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh,

unfair to the Opposition, and that

Deborah Backer, while AG

from the ongoing 2012 budget

Granger was not dismissed, but

Nandlall, Safraz Hussein and

cuts case, on the basis that as

struck out of the case.

Ariana McLean are represent-

Members of Parliament, the

The ongoing budget cut

Constitution provides them with

case is related to the 2012 Na-

immunity. Granger has since

tional Budget which was slashed

sought to waive his immunity

by the Parliamentary Opposi-

and appealed the decision.

tion, leading to the government

The appeal was heard yes-

taking legal action on the basis

terday and AG Nandlall argued

that the Opposition has no pow-

whether a right of appeal lies

er to cut the budget, but to either

against an Order which dis-

approve or reject it.

misses a defendant from a pro-

The Chief Justice, in a pre-

ceeding, and if it does, to which

liminary ruling, had said that

Court does the right lie.

the National Assembly cannot

“I am confident that an

cut the budget and that the Fi-

appeal doesn’t lie in this cir-

nance Minister has the authority

cumstance. If an appeal lies

to allocate monies as needed.

against an order which dis-

But the Opposition, again in

misses the defendant from a

2013, despite the ruling, slashed

case, it means that every de-

over $30B from the estimates,

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, at left, and Attorney Basil Williams in court yesterday

ing the Government. (GINA)

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

Staff of the Office of the President with President Donald Ramotar who celebrated his birthday yesterday

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Opposition continues to deny passage of AMLCFT

3

– although Guyana already blacklisted in draft CFATF Report - AG MINISTER of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall has said that unless the Guyana delegation in November attends the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) meeting with the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) Bill in hand, which has been passed into law, then it will not be able to prevent that draft report from being adopted and this draft report has Guyana to be “blacklisted”.

Speaking during an interview on the National Communications Network (NCN), on Monday, Minister Nandlall noted, however, that this is not even guaranteed, but it is something to present to the forum which can have the impact of putting on hold the adverse statement which will emanate about Guyana from the CFATF. “That is the only window of opportunity left open for Guyana,” he observed.

He reminded that Dominica was in this identical position in May, when the Dominican AG presented the Bill passed into law, and was able to put the adverse statement on hold until the review of that law by the CFATF.

UNIFORMED FILIBUSTERING

The Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) reconvened its first meeting after the two-month recess on October 14, to continue deliberations and work on the Bill. Khemraj Ramjattan of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and Debra Backer of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) were absent.

Minister Nandlall said that while APNU’s members, Basil Williams, Joseph Harmon and Carl Greenidge were present at the meeting, “again, with uniformity and consistency, nothing was accomplished. They resumed efforts to frustrate

Minister Anil Nandlall work already done, and attempted to seek explanations on what transpired at previous meetings from which they had absented themselves before the recess.”

The minister reported that the delaying tactics continued with the same consistency employed before the recess, while government members endured and persevered with the work of the committee.

The issue became heated when the time came to fix a date for the next meeting, when the opposition members insisted on Monday, October 21, rejecting all earlier dates suggested by the government side.

However, Chairperson of the Committee, Ms. Gail Teixeira, on the very October 21, was

informed that it was not convenient for the APNU members to meet on that day, although this was the date that they chosen.

The next meeting was fixed for October 22.

The AMLCFT Bill was transmitted to the A Special Parliamentary Select Committee (SPSC) for certain aspects to be reviewed. This decision was made by the Opposition using their one seat majority in the National Assembly to do so. Government expected that there would have been greater alacrity by the Opposition in the SPSC to review the Bill, since it was their decision to send it to that committee, but unfortunately this was not so.

During the six months of the sitting of the SPSC, the Opposition engaged in innumerable strategies and tactics designed to delay and frustrate the PSSC from completing its work.

Guyana was supposed to submit a report to the CFATF on August 26, and this was done. However, the report did not include that the Bill had been passed into law, a requirement which was expected to be satisfied.

IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS IGNORED

The Guyana delegation, headed by Minister Nandlall, which attended the CFATF meeting in May, had given the undertaking that the Bill would be passed by the November meeting. Pursuant to that undertaking, Guyana was required to submit in the August report that the Bill had been passed, which led to the urgent drive by the Government members of the PSSC. Unfortunately,

all Government’s work in the SPSC was thwarted and rejected by the tactics and strategies by the opposition members. They absented themselves from meetings, and on the rare occasions they did turn up, they engaged in filibustering tactics to frustrate the work accomplished by the Government members in their absence.

Eventually, a few days before the Parliament went into recess, it was the expectation of the government side to conclude the work of the PSSC and have a draft Bill sent back to the National Assembly. The draft was completed, but the opposition members came out in full and using their majority, torpedoed all the work done, rejected the report and the motion to take the report to the National Assembly.

They then adjourned the next meeting of the SPSC to a date after the recess.

Minister Nandlall has observed that both the AFC and the APNU have demonstrated that they are not interested in passing the Bill. He noted that the Private Sector, Manufacturers’ Association, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, the Trade Union Movement, Berbice Chamber of Commerce, Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, and the Insurance Association have all issued statements about the urgent necessity for the passage of the AMLCFT Bill.

“All these important stakeholders in the commercial sector have individually and collectively issued statements calling on the Opposition to ensure the passage of the Bill, whilst outlining the draconian consequences which will ensue if it is not passed.” However the min-

ister stated that the Opposition has rejected all those appeals.

DRAFT REPORT

He explained that CFATF has already prepared a draft report which will constitute the evaluation report of Guyana and in the conclusion of that report, “Guyana is scheduled to be declared a non-compliant jurisdiction and member states worldwide are invited to implement against Guyana such counter measures that they deem necessary to protect themselves and their business entities within their respective jurisdictions from the money laundering and terrorism risks which Guyana will pose.”

The Opposition has concluded that if Guyana is sanctioned, somehow only the Government will face the drastic consequences, the minister posited. He reiterated that each

person in the country will be affected, including the supporters of both PPP/C and the opposition parties, along with the business sector. The rationale being used by the opposition to justify the inexplicable position is unknown, he said.

Pointing out that the AFC’s position that unless the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) is established, they will not support the AMLCFT Bill, Minister Nandlall emphasised that the PPC has absolutely no link with the AMLCFT bill, and to make such a connection cannot be rationalised in principle or logic. “They are obviously engaged in political horse trading and remain oblivious to the consequences that the Guyanese people will have to bear.”

While APNU’s position seems to be, through their Leader, that their priority is a “good bill”, he said this can

Please turn to page 9

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

US defends drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen (BBC News) THE US has defended its drone strikes in Yemen and Pakistan, saying it takes “extraordinary care” to ensure they comply with international law.

It follows allegations by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International of the unlawful killing of civilians.

Pakistan’s PM on Tuesday urged the US to end drone at-

He added that the raids were a “major irritant” in relations with Washington.

Drone warfare has become common in the US pursuit of al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Few details are known about these covert operations, which are directed remotely from control rooms, often on other continents.

Senior militant leaders have been killed but civilians have also died, causing outrage in Pakistan, where many assert that the strikes cause indiscriminate deaths and injuries.

‘STRONGLY DISAGREE’

Drone warfare has become common in the US pursuit of al-Qaeda and the Taliban The unmanned raids targeting terror suspects were a “course of action least likely to result in the loss of innocent life”, the White House said.

tacks in his country.

Speaking at the start of a visit to the US, Nawaz Sharif said the attacks violated his country’s sovereignty.

In a new report released on Tuesday, Amnesty said it reviewed nine of 45 recent drone strikes in North Waziristan and found a number of victims were unarmed.

In a separate report looking at six US attacks in Yemen, Human Rights Watch says two of

them killed civilians at random, violating international law.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Washington was “reviewing the reports carefully”.

“To the extent these reports claim that the US has acted contrary to international law, we would strongly disagree.

“The administration has

repeatedly emphasised the extraordinary care that we take to make sure counter-terrorism actions are in accordance with all applicable law,” he said.

In the report, Will I Be Next? US Drone Strikes in Pakistan, Amnesty called on the US to disclose information and the legal basis for strikes carried out in Pakistan.

US National Security Agency ‘spied on French diplomats’ foreign networks, introducing the spyware into the software, routers and firewalls of millions of machines.

It comes a day after claims the NSA tapped millions of phones in France.

The details in the latest Le Monde article are based on leaks from ex-intelligence analyst Edward Snowden, through Glen Greenwald, the outgoing

(BBC News) THE US National Security Agency has spied on French diplomats in Washington and at the UN, according to the latest claims in Le Monde newspaper.

NSA internal memos obtained by Le Monde detailed the use of a sophisticated surveillance programme, known as Genie.

US spies allegedly hacked

Australia fire fighters back-burn to merge NSW fires (BBC News) FIREFIGHTERS in Australia have deliberately joined up two large fires as part of efforts to control bushfires across New South Wales.

The fires near the Blue Mountains had been “tactically joined” to stop them merging with a third, officials say.

Teams are engaged in extensive back-burning operations across the state ahead of worsening conditions expected on Wednesday.

On Tuesday morning more than 60 blazes were still alight, with 13 uncontained.

The region experienced light rain but firefighters say this will not be enough to quench the fires.

New South Wales declared a state of emergency on Sunday amid some of the region’s worst fires in years.

On Monday fire officials feared that three blazes in the Blue Mountains area near Lithgow - at State Mine, Mount Victoria and Springwood - could link up, creating a massive fire.

But NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said that joining two of the fires had prevented them linking up with the third.

“We are seeing positive results of these very deliberate, very targeted, very decisive strategies being deployed particularly in relation to back-burning operations... particularly in light of [Wednesday’s] weather conditions,” he said.

Back-burning is controlled burning of key areas aimed at depriving a fire of fuel and prevent it travelling in a certain direction.

‘DIFFICULT DAY’ The fire at State Mine has been downgraded to “watch and act” - from “emergency” - after some light rain at the fire zone.

However, Mr Fitzsimmons added that “there’s still a way to go” and that firefighters would be braced for higher temperatures and stronger winds expected on Wednesday.

“We have got now probably 24 hours before we see the worst of the weather starting to develop and build across all these fire ground areas,” he said. The conditions on Wednesday would be “about as bad as it gets”.

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It said US President Barack Obama’s pledge earlier this year to increase transparency around drone strikes had not been fulfilled.

It called on the governments of Pakistan, Australia, Germany and the UK to investigate drone strikes or other abuses that may constitute human rights violations.

Guardian journalist, who is feeding the material from Brazil, says the BBC’s Christian Fraser in Paris.

It comes on the day the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, is in London meeting foreign counterparts to discuss Syria.

The Le Monde report sets out details of Genie, an NSA surveillance programme in which spyware implants were introduced remotely to overseas computers, including foreign embassies.

It claims bugs were introduced to the French Embassy in Washington (under a code name “Wabash”) and to the computers of the French delegation at the UN, codenamed “Blackfoot”.

The article suggests that in 2011, the US allocated $652m (£402m) in funding for the programme, which was spent on “spy implants”. Tens of millions of computers were reported to have been hacked that year.

A document dated August 2010 suggests intelligence stolen from foreign embassy computers ensured the US knew ahead of time the positions of other Security Council members, before a UN vote for a resolution imposing new sanctions on Iran.

The US was worried the French were drifting to the Brazilian side - who were opposed to implementing sanctions when in truth they were always aligned to the US position, says our correspondent.

The intelligence agency quotes Susan Rice, then-US ambassador to the UN, who praises the work done by the NSA: “It helped me know... the truth, and reveal other [countries’] positions on sanctions, allowing us to keep one step ahead in the negotiations.”

On Monday, Le Monde alleged that the NSA spied on 70.3 million phone calls in France between 10 December 2012 and 8 January 2013.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Cuba to scrap two-currency system in latest reform

(BBC News) Cuba is to scrap its two-currency system in the latest financial reform rolled out by President Raul Castro, official media report.

Since 1994 Cuba has had two currencies, one pegged to the US dollar and the other worth only a fraction of that.

The more valuable convertible peso (CUC) was reserved for use in the tourism sector and foreign trade.

Now its value will be gradually unified with the lower-value CUP, ending a system resented by ordinary Cubans.

NO FIXED TIMETABLE The Cuban economy is almost entirely state-run and the tourism sector has boomed since the collapse of the Soviet Union plunged Cuba into economic

isolation and hardship.

The two-currency system was supposed to protect Cuba’s fragile economy but angered locals paid in the much lower-value CUP and denied access to goods only available for those with convertible pesos.

The policy exacerbated the creation of a two-tier class system in Cuba which divided privileged Cubans with access to the lucrative tourist and foreign-trade sectors from those working in the local economy - all-too-visibly contradicting Cuba’s supposedly egalitarian society.

The council of ministers has approved a timetable for implementing “measures that will lead to monetary and exchange unification”, the official Communist Party newspaper

Many goods in Cuba are only available to those with access to the convertible peso, pegged to the US greenback Granma said.

Unification is “imperative to guarantee the re-establishment of the Cuban peso’s value and its role as money,that is as a unit of accounting, means of

payment and savings”, it said.

It gave no details of how quickly the change would be implemented, though Reuters news agency quoted Cuban economists as saying it would take about 18 months.

ROWLEY REIGNS

Hurricane Raymond prompts evacuation in western Mexico (BBC News)Hundreds of Lazaro Cardenas. people have been evacuated Torrential rains are forecast from coastal communities in to continue for the next 24 hours western Mexico that could in the western states of Guerrero lay in the path of Hurricane and Michoacan.

Raymond.

Raymond is currently stalled some 135km (85 miles) off Mexico’s Pacific coast and has weakened to a category 2 hurricane.

But the authorities asked locals not to let their Soldiers have been evacuating residents g u a r d d o w n a s from mountain villages heavy rains continued and could set off landslides.

The area is still struggling to A hurricane warning rerecover after it was hit by Tropmains in place from Tecpan to ical Storm Manuel last month.

Manuel and Ingrid, another storm which hit Mexico almost at the same time, left more than 150 people dead and caused billions of dollars of damage.

The governor of Guerrero state, Angel Aguirre, warned that Raymond’s movements were “erratic” and “completely unpredictwith a victory”. able” and could still head towards He praised the young peothe coast. ple who participated in the More than 1,000 people PNM’s campaign. have been evacuated from vilHe pointed out that siglages clinging to perilous hillnificantly the PNM now has a sides and schools remained councillor in every corporation closed for some 35,000 pupils. except the Penal/Debe CorpoIn the aftermath of Tropical ration. Suggesting that it was a Storm Manuel an entire village hint of things to come, he said was buried under a landslide in the party won the St Joseph/ the mountains of Guerrero, and Valsayn seat in the local govthe memory of that disaster has ernment elections. made locals more wary.

The St Joseph by-election A resident of Zihuatanejo, is just 13 days away. where forecasters said Raymond In some areas the “split could make landfall, told the phenomenon” helped the Agence France-Presse news PNM, but in others it made no agency she was not taking any difference. chances.

The voter turnout was 26 “When I heard the mayper cent yesterday. In the last or’s warning on the radio, I local government election it was didn’t hesitate, I grabbed my 40 per cent. In that election the children and went down in a People’s Partnership got a total civil protection truck,” Barof 250,000 votes and the PNM tola Hernandez said. received 121,000 votes.

PNM wins local govt elections; UNC holds on to base

By Ria Taitt Political Editor (Trinidad Express) People’s National Movement (PNM) supporters returned home yesterday, taking the party from overwhelming defeat in 2010 to resounding victory.

The party, which had held three out of 14 corporations, recaptured the major population centres and urban areas along the East-West Corridor.

This translated into absolute victory in eight out of the 14 corporations.

It had a clean sweep in four corporations where it won every single seat—Port of Spain Corporation (12), Arima (7), Diego Martin (10) and tentatively Point Fortin (4).

It also won eight of the nine seats in San Fernando, 12 of the 13 seats in San Juan/ Laventille; 10 of the 15 seats in Tunapuna/Piarco and five of the eight seats in Sangre Grande.

The United National Congress (UNC) supporters kept

the faith and the party maintained its heartland.

T h e p a r t y, w h i c h h a d suffered severely in the recent Chaguanas by-election, breathed an enormous sigh of relief that it was not annihilated.

It won five of the 14 corporations.

The party appeared to convert defeat into victory as the mood was celebratory at Rienzi Complex and the Prime Minister seemed almost ecstatic as she announced that the party had won Penal/Debe, the Siparia “fortress”, Couva/Tabaquite/ Talparo, Princes Town and Mayaro/Rio Claro.

Amidst loud clapping, she said: “I call on every citizen to rise, take a bow and feel proud”.

As a coalition, however, the People’s Partnership completely lost Diego Martin, Arima where it was completely evicted, along with San Fernando, Tunapuna/Piarco and Sangre Grande, all of which it

Balisier ecstasy: People’s National Movement (PNM) Senator Fitzgerald Hinds celebrates with party supporters last night on his arrival at Balisier House in Port of Spain.

—Photo: MICHEAL BRUCE

had held in the last three years.

Chaguanas , w hich the P e o p l e ’s P a r t n e r s h i p h a d controlled, was expected to change hands to the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) but the borough which was expected to be the jewel in Jack Warner’s crown, now hangs in the balance.

The UNC won three seats, the PNM three and the ILP two.

The ILP which had given the UNC a run for its money in the July 29 by-election, and which had won every single polling division in Chaguanas West just a few weeks ago, suffered a huge reversal of fortunes.

It garnered only two seats in Chaguanas, lost its base Felicity and nothing else in the rest of the country.

The ILP leader Warner however was bloodied but unbowed.

As a supporter shouted at the party’s headquarters in Chaguanas: “Don’t go back home (to the UNC) yuh know,” Warner replied: “Win, lose or draw, my home is here. In four months we have become the third political force”.

However the ILP received over 62,00 votes.

The UNC received 84,000.

The PNM received 116,000 votes, making it the winner in every respect.

The COP was completely vanquished.

The electorate punished the COP, in the same way that it seemed to have done the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) in the Tobago House of Assembly elections, for having allowed itself to be smothered within the coalition and gave it no seats.

The COP, which fought within the coalition to be able to name candidates for six corporations, is no longer the “third force”.

That position has been assumed now by the ILP. PNM leader Keith Rowley who emerged the big winner, having led the party to victory 12/0 in the THA in January and yesterday in the local government elections, said in his victory speech at Balisier House courtyard in Port of Spain: “We pulled up our flag and the PNM is here to stay, great is the PNM”.

“We planned our course, we stayed our course and we did not engage in the indecencies of the others... And all of Trinidad and Tobago have rejected the entreaties of indecency,” he declared.

Looking ahead at future elections, he added: “It doesn’t matter who we are up against...

The PNM expects to come out

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

GUYANA

HYPOCRITES & PARASITES

- These people have no loyalty, they are amoral and definitely prejudiced

EDITORIAL

Opposition’s pernicious agenda is clear as daylight IF most Guyanese were not convinced, by the hogging of the Speaker/Deputy posts; the stalling of the Amaila Hydro project; the Specialty Hospital or the CJIA expansion project, that the Opposition is bent on partisan and brinksmanship politics rather than the development of the country, surely their delaying antics on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) legislation to be amended, should do so.

The Opposition cannot be unaware of the implications of the passage of this important piece of legislation not meeting the November 18 deadline.

And if they are unaware, then they are unfit to be in Parliament, and should not ever dream of being in government.

But even if they are unaware of the severe repercussions this would have on the national economy and people of Guyana, they should know because the government on several occasions, in and out of Parliament, has clearly outlined them in simple language.

Having failed to meet an earlier deadline for the passage of the legislation because of the delaying tactics of the Opposition, the government was forced to request an extension of time. Fortunately, a new deadline of November 18 was granted, but unfortunately it seems that this new deadline will also not be met again because of the Opposition’s foot-dragging game.

These delaying tactics were again exposed on Monday when Chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (amendment) Bill, Ms Gail Teixeira, in a statement to the media related that she was informed that very morning by Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and member of the said Committee, Mrs. Deborah Backer, that she had to attend a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition and APNU Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Harmon, and was therefore asking that the scheduled parliamentary committee meeting be postponed and also advised that Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan would “probably not attend.”

Ms. Teixeira disclosed that she advised the Deputy Speaker that she would have to consult with the members on the government side on this request.

“I also asked if in requesting a postponement they were suggesting another day this week for the Committee to meet.

To which, Mrs. Backer stated that they were thinking of next Monday, October 28, 2013!” she stated.

Teixeira explained that she responded that the government side would not agree to next week as the Committee must meet this week. As such, she asked for their views on meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday (yesterday or today).

“I committed to consult the government members as to the request for the postponement and a new date for the committee to meet. Mrs. Backer committed to discuss the dates I proposed with the Opposition members,” she informed What is of great pertinence too is that it was the APNU

I HAVE seen the response from the Red Thread women to Minister Manickchand’s letter in defence of Ms. Geetanjali Singh. Ms. Singh has been attacked viciously only because the group of Christopher Ram, Anand Goolsaran, et al, wants to get at Dr. Ashni Singh.

Dr. Singh has smashed them so often that they have decided to change tactics and get at him via his wife.

That is one of the most cowardly and distasteful actions that I have ever witnessed. The only thing that equates with that is the response of the Red Thread.

It is clear that Red Thread is not interested in conflict of interest, nor in defending women. They are carrying out the mandate of the Opposition to attack the government. The Red Thread is the women’s arm of the Opposition APNU. Their political agenda has led them to take positions that are not only against women’s rights, but also has an ethnic undercurrent.

Apart from Mrs. Geetanjali Singh, other women are under vicious attacks today. One prominent example is Ms Carol Sooba. The Red Thread has maintained a deafening silence on Ms. Sooba’s travails. In addition, Red Thread has been silent on the attacks against Marcia Nadir and, more recently, Jaya Manickchand.

The only time they mentioned anything about Ms. Singh was to support those that chose to attack her.

If they were interested in all women’s rights, then they would have come to the defence of the professional work of Ms. Sooba.

No, they chose to side with the corrupt band at City Hall to hammer Ms. Sooba.

Had they really been interested in conflicts of interest they would not have remained so silent on Nigel Hughes and the relationship with the chairman of the jury at the trial of one of the accused of the Lusignan massacre. There was an eyewitness in this case who positively identified the accused. However, he walked.

What about the Nigel & Cathy Hughes’s conflict of interest in relation to the Sithe Global/Amaila Falls issue. Why have we not heard from those “human rights” and “champions” of transparency? Why is the Red Thread so unconcerned?

Is it because the victims did not have the right complexion? Or is it because they feel that that is an attack against this government?

Or both?

Recall in the telephone conversation between Felix and Basil Williams that was made public, how lightly they were speaking of those eight (8) persons murdered on the East Bank of Demerara by marauding bandits, where Williams spoke so admiringly of the killers. Recall how they congratulated each other for turning things away from the PNC. Red Thread and the rest are not taking principled positions. They have chosen to stand with the racist politics of the Opposition.

But why am I surprised? After all, they even abandoned Walter Rodney, a fighter for racial and working class unity. They have sided with those that murdered him.

They must have concluded that, “…he done dead already.” These people have no loyalty, they are amoral and definitely prejudiced.

Their actions and writings have thoroughly exposed those that Bob Marley would call: “Hypocrites and Parasites….”

REBECCA CONSTANCE

Road construction, repairs should cease until root problems are fixed

R

ECENT references in your newspaper to road construction and erosion got my attention.

President Ramotar, addressing a group at Uitvlugt, informed that the entire West Demerara Highway will be resurfaced beginning early next year. In earlier comments, Minister Benn identified poor drainage as a major contributor to road erosion.

From my observations, road damage has three main causes: road reserve barricades that prevent water run-off, drainage problems in surrounding areas and shoddy construction methods.

Road-reserve barriers It appears to be part of our culture to use the road reserve as part of our private property and which grants us the right to

dump dirt and sand on these reserves in aid of construction on our properties. In most cases, there is a mismatch between the amount of this construction material needed and the minimum quantities purchased, usually sold by truck loads. The remaining materials become a permanent dam and impede the run-off of water from the road to side drains. This practice has to be dealt with by the authorities and no road should be built or repaired unless the reserve is lower than the surface of the road and contains a gentle slope to the drains.

Area Drainage Problems There are several causes for road destruction from area flooding including shallow or clogged drains, and elevation of drains in relation to that of

members who set the date of the Committee meeting for October 21, at the October 14 meeting, despite efforts by Ms Teixeira as chairperson to convince them to meet earlier on October 17and 18.

The question that immediately comes to mind is which patriotic person or political party would sacrifice a meeting of such grave national importance for a meeting which obviously could have been rescheduled. Or have we gone back to the days of the paramountcy of the party?

But as the old Guyanese saying goes: “Wha yuh can see in daylight, you nah ga fuh geh torchlight for look fa.”

The tactics of the Opposition are clear as daylight. It is one of using its combined one-seat majority to hold the government and people of this country to ransom and hope that by doing so the government would crawl and beg them for support, but in giving support it will make demands, even if these demands will jeopardise the nation’s well-being, as

the road. The solution to all of these is deeper drains that slope up to the road. But repairing roads without addressing the underlying problems that cause the damage is a waste of taxpayers’ money.

SHODDY CONSTRUCTION You see this everywhere. A pothole in my neighbourhood was recently filled with an asphalt mix. The very next day, an indentation appeared in the middle where water can settle and affect the integrity of the repair work. I was in Charity last weekend and witnessed the filling of potholes there. A loose asphalt mix was dumped into the holes and left there.

The presumption is that vehicular traffic would compact the mix. The next day as I passed

through, I saw deep indentations in the holes and with loose mix all over the road. This is what passes for road repair. If too little or too much fill is used, potholes are either replaced by moderate ones or by bumps. A whole line of people need to be held accountable starting with those who award the contracts and those who certify the work.

Roads don’t appear to have a long life-span in Guyana. But despite knowing the principal causes for this we continue to build and repair them. The authorities should cease all road construction until standards are put in place dealing with gradients and construction methods and practices. Otherwise, road construction is a colossal waste of resources.

LOUIS HOLDER

in this case with the AMLCFT. In other words, the Opposition wants to use this crucial issue as a bargaining chip. Putting Guyana first is not their kettle of fish.

Assuming the Opposition’s arguments for opposing and stalling the Amaila Hydro Project and, the Specialty Hospital and the CJIA expansion project have some merit, clearly those arguments do not hold any water with respect to the AMLCFT, which has very far-reaching, adverse consequences on all the people of Guyana, including the Opposition and its supporters.

This AMLCFT scenario reminds one of the history of the Labour Relations Bill which was not opposed in principle, but was used as the ‘occasion’ for the war, rather than the ‘cause’ of the war.

So the agenda of the Opposition is clear. The ball is in the court of the Guyanese people to thwart that pernicious agenda.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Mr. Ram should pay City Hall what he owes them

AS a taxpayer and a voter, I am very interested in the tax saga at City Hall, I therefore took the opportunity to speak to a former senior employee of the City Council on the claims of Mr. Ram that he wrote the Council on the issue of his rates and taxes.

I was advised that: 1. Mr. Christopher Ram was contracted between the years 1994 - 1995 to supply computer hardware, software and other accounting services to the City Council. Mr. Ram did supply the Council with computers, prepare financial statements, supply software and train staff.

2. On receipt of the Council’s yearly demand notice for rates and taxes Mr. Ram expressed his intention to pay his rates and taxes, but stated that the Council still had some outstanding sums owing to him on his contract with the Council. The records of the Council indicated that Mr. Ram was paid; however, he disputed same and wrote the Council. The contents of his letter were deliberated on by the Council and on the advice of the Mayor and the Finance Committee of the Council a decision was taken to exchange cheques.

3. A Sub-Committee was set up comprising the then Finance Chairman, the late Robert Williams and other members of the Finance Committee and other officers of Council to further examine the matter to decide on the amount really owed to Mr. Ram to facilitate the exchange of cheques. The work of this Committee was inconclusive. The exchange of cheques never took place, since there was no verification of the claims made

by Mr. Ram. This matter is a serious one because a personality such as Mr. Ram ought to pay his rates and taxes to the Council, especially since he is so quick to pass judgment on others. Mr. Ram, you ought to have paid your taxes even if the Council could not verify what you had owed them. As an accountant and lawyer, Mr. Ram should have known that after a period of time and there was no response by Council he should have proceeded to pay his taxes.

Please proceed immediately to settle with the Council.

You paid Hugh Wooding (law school in Trinidad) promptly, you must pay the Council now and take them to court for what they owe you.

PHILLIP RAMPERSAUD

Speedboat operators plying the Supenaam/Parika route discriminating against passengers I WRITE to bring to the attention of readers, the Transport & Harbours Department, and the Ministry of Transport the way speedboat operators

VISHNU BANDHU plying the Supenaam/Parika route normally violate my rights at the Supenaam boarding.

The discrimination they practise punishes “heavy” passengers. Last Thursday, October 17th, 2013 at 4.20 pm, I was the third person in line waiting to board the speedboat from Supenaam to Parika when the captain told me I could not go on the boat because he already had four other persons who had weight like me. I had arrived at the stelling before the four other persons, but for some reason,

Real culprits are those who ‘sell’ drivers licences IT was reported in the media that four persons were killed in a sand truck/minibus smash-up at Coverden and the truck driver reportedly was under the influence.

Persons at the scene who witnessed the accident said the police confirmed that the young driver of the sand truck was under the influence of alcohol; he fled the scene, and hid nearby, but was soon apprehended by the ranks and taken into custody. “He’s a lil’ youth man; he driving drunk, but the police get he,” another driver said.

What should be done now and what must be done is for those that are in authority to dig down deep to find out how this youth get his driver’s licence.

It is widely believed that many of these so-called drivers bought their drivers licences at Brickdam and other places for about $60,000.

The real culprits are those who sell driver’s licences to those that would never pass a driver’s exam, so they go out on the road and kill with their licences “to drive to kill.”

For the love of money these bastards will sell their souls and even sell their mothers for it.

It is easy for Government to put a stop to selling drivers’ licences.

Do undercover sting operations.

Editor, please pass on this info to our government for they do not know it all and can’t do it all without knowing what the people know.

As I have said the other day on traffic jams, 40 seconds for traffic lights to change and you will see a vast difference in traffic movement.

Many Guyanese are applauding the sentences wife and women killers have been receiving lately.

A driver such as this must spend the rest of his life behind bars for he will not change his lifestyle.

Once he gets a taste for driving and killing he will not stop.

Please do not pass these criminals through the revolving doors anymore.

Take a serious look at the three young criminals police killed in a shootout.

They and their likes will never work for a living.

From since their young lives they had been robbing innocent people and it’s only now they have been caught.

Hats off to the police for doing the job they are being paid to do.

TED KING

he selected which passengers should go on the boat.

I asked him his name and he answered that I could not be talking to him. Then I went to the dispatcher, Mr. Robert (Tibs), and he gave me the name of the boat captain as Mr. Colbert Bay Junior. It is not a first-come-first-served system.

Mr. Robert (Tibs) even told the boat captain that he was wrong to do things like that, but the captain ignored Mr Robert (Tibs).

Because of this kind of discrimination, I had to hire a special boat to take me from Supenaam to Parika, since the captain, Mr. Colbert Bay Junior, said if I go in the boat, the boat would go slower to Parika, and my weight is 230lbs, and he had other people in the boat who weighed more than 230lbs.

When I arrived at Parika with the special-hire boat, I reported the matter to the dispatcher there, Mr. Monitor,

and he promised to note my report and arrange for me to speak to Mr. Cortis, the senior dispatcher. I did speak to Mr. Cortis by telephone, and he recommended that I speak to Mr. Steven Thomas in Georgetown.

On October 18, I made my complaint to Mr. Steven Thomas in Georgetown, and he promised to look into this matter.

Now, this is not the first time this has happened to me at Supenaam; I experienced this discrimination on two occasions before this one. These speed boat captains know me, and they feel I am having lots of money, so I should be able to hire a special boat to travel in.

I am strongly advocating that the relevant authorities deal severely with these boat captains. I also would like to ask the relevant authorities to have these boat captains sanitise their life jackets and the tarpaulins they use to cover passengers. I travel frequently to Essequibo

and sometimes when I go in these speed boats, put on the life jackets and cover with the tarpaulin, the bad scent that I get from the life jacket and the tarpaulin makes me feel like ‘throwing up’ the contents of my stomach.

I reiterate my appeal to the authorities controlling these speedboats to look into these matters very seriously, and to let the captains and conductors know that they are providing a public service and they must learn to be humble and show respect to passengers, because from this activity they are making their livelihood; and any captain who discriminates against passengers should be suspended or have his licence revoked because he is not fit to work for the public.

VISHNU BANDHU Businessman

Provisions of Protocol require Venezuela to show restraint SO long as Article 11 of the Protocol remains in force, no claims whatever arising out of the Venezuelan contention shall be asserted by Venezuela to territorial sovereignty in the territory of Guyana. I am amazed that the Guyana team will meet in four months time to address maritime delimitation when this claim was settled. I venture to think that there could be few Guyanese who would not share with me these sentiments.

This is essentially what the Protocol of Port-of –Spain is about, and it is clear enough what this means. It is one thing to agitate a territorial claim by Venezuela, but quite another matter to pursue policies and codes of conduct which will replace hostility by friendship and replace mistrust and suspicion by confidence and goodwill.

It is to these more positive goals that Article 1 of the Protocol is directed-requiring as it does both governments to explore the possibilities of better understanding between them and to undertake periodically, reviews of their relations through normal diplomatic channels, with a view to their improvement and constructive advancement.

Together therefore these two provisions of the Protocol require Venezuela to show restraint in its conduct so as to avoid bringing into discredit the honour, standing or authority of Guyana and to abstain from any statements, publications or other acts which could be detrimental to the economic development and progress of the state of Guyana.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs took too long to present its case to the Embassy of the Republic of Venezuela to request that the embassy brings to the closer attention of the government of the Republic of Venezuela several incidents of a nature deeply disturbing, including the seizure by Venezuela of an oil exploration vessel in Guyana’s waters and the invasion at Eteringbang which recently occurred in the Cuyuni district of Guyana.

Venezuela has always reiterated and repudiated the award of 1899 from the very unhappy date of its promulgation on to this day. After the 1905 Act following the 1899 Arbitration Award, all seemed to have been settled and both the government of Venezuela and of Britain through their parliament and chief executives respectively, ratified the Award and the demarcation of the boundaries.

The respective territories, as demarcated in 1905, were occupied and dominion exercised over them in accordance with the said Act in which maps were made, signed and accepted by both parties. The territories of both sides have since been beneficially occupied and developed, and the population settled in accordance with the line of demarcation. It may be noted that after the Paris Award of 1899,the frontier dispute seemed to have firmly settled and both the Venezuela and British governments appeared to have been satisfied with the awards and accepted them, although the former expressed surprise and was somewhat upset by it.

There was no tension or dispute since the demarcation of 1905.

MOHAMED KHAN

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

PPP/C lauds CCJ decision in Shanique Myrie case

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has lauded as a landmark ruling, the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the case of Shanique Samantha Myrie versus the State of Barbados.

The PPP/C declared it was a “ground-breaking as well as a

in unsanitary and demeaning conditions upon entering Barbados on March 14, 2011, before being detained and deported, the next day, to Jamaica.

According to Shadick, it dissipates the doubts, which previously existed, regarding whether the CCJ has the intellectual integrity and institutional independence to replace Queen Elizabeth’s Privy Council, as the

SHANIQUE MYRIE watershed event for every Guyanese and, indeed, all Caribbean people.”

The views were conveyed during a PPP/C press conference on Monday, at Freedom House, in Robb Street, Georgetown, by Member of Parliament (MP), Bibi Shadick.

She said the judgement by the CCJ addresses, resolves and gives guidance on many issues of crucial importance to the Caribbean region.

The CCJ ruled, earlier this month, that Jamaican Shanique Myrie be awarded a total of Bds$75,000 or Jamaican $3.6M, after she took the Barbados Government to Court, claiming that she was discriminated against because of her nationality and subjected to a body cavity search

BIBI SHADICK region’s final Court of Appeal and demonstrates, beyond doubt, the importance of having a judicial forum to interpret and resolve the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and other treaties executed amongst and between Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member States.

ALWAYS SUPPORTED “It is public knowledge that Guyana has always supported the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice, both in its

appellate as well as its original jurisdiction. Indeed, Guyana was one of the first countries to have embraced it as its final Court of Appeal,” she pointed out.

In addition, Shadick said the verdict has comprehensively addressed and, in the view of the PPP/C, settled the question of the freedom of CARICOM nationals to travel unhindered and hassle-free within the region.

She noted that Guyanese have been complaining, for years, about the ill-treatment, unlawful detention and illegal rejection to which they have been subject at airports throughout the Region and, in particular, the Barbados Grantley Adams Airport.

“These were the exact allegations made by Shanique Myrie, a Jamaican national, against Barbadian Immigration Authorities at the Grantley Adams International Airport,” Shadick observed.

She emphasised that the accusations were found, by the CCJ, to be factual and declared illegal and contrary to both the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas as well as a decision of the Heads of Government, made in 2008, which allows for hassle-free and unimpeded travel by CARICOM nationals within the region.

“The findings of fact, in relation to the conduct of the Barbadian Immigration Authorities in the Myrie case,

corroborates, as well as vindicates, the similar complaints which Guyanese citizens have made against those very officials for several years,” said Shadick, who is a lawyer.

Moreover, she said the PPP/C hopes that the unlawful practices will now cease and, in this regard, they are encouraged by “certain disclosures made on this issue by the Barbadian Foreign Minister on a recent trip to Guyana.”

REMAIN VIGILANT Nevertheless, Shadick said the PPP/C will continue to remain vigilant on the issue, although it regards the ruling by the CCJ as a genuine impetus to boost Caribbean integration.

“The CCJ spoke of the importance of building Community Law and ruled that Community Law must take precedence over Domestic Law

in the Caribbean. Perhaps, of even greater significance, is that the decisions taken by Caribbean Heads of Government are enforceable as Community Law in the Region,” Shadick explained.

She said the PPP/C believes these are all concepts and principles which will advance regional integration from which every Guyanese and every CARICOM national will benefit.

Public support needed for women across Guyana to enjoy the basic freedom to pursue vocation of their choice - and for which they are eminently qualified IN 1995, the United Nations organised a World Conference of Women, which was attended by numerous Heads of Government and Women’s Organisations from 187 countries. Guyana was represented by an 11 member delegation headed by a Minister of the Government. This Beijing ’95 conference, as it has been designated, was held 20 years after the first of three World Conferences of Women were held with only moderate achievement in terms of the status of women in society.

One of the main pillars of this Fourth World Conference was to secure the commitment of all Governments represented at this historic Conference to implement measures to ensure the removal of all social, political and economic barriers to the involvement of women at all levels of national development and to accelerate their progress, recognising that the movement for gender equality and non-discrimination, the world over, has been the defining development of our time.

Guyana committed itself to uphold the agreed conclusions on the critical areas of concern emanating from the Conference

and articulated in the ‘Beijing Platform for action’, which clearly advocates the acceleration of more women in the decision making positions at the highest levels.

Granted Geetanjali Singh’s issue is not a gender issue per se, let us view it in the “spirit” of the Beijing Platform for Action and Guyana’s commitment to increasing the participation of women in national development. Here is an eminently well qualified woman, one of a small group of women in Guyana holding this qualification, and who is occupying the very senior position of Director of Audit. Her ability is not in question. Her challenge is that her husband is the Minister of Finance. A few questions arising are: Is there a Public Service Rule governing this situation which has been breached?

Was this situation recognised when her husband was appointed Minister? In terms of development planning, was this situation foreseen?

In such a critical area of operation are there checks and balances or appropriate strategies to avoid the fears that are being insinuated?

Given the concerns being expressed, it is perhaps time that Guyana, recognising its limited human resources in this specialised field, and given the changing times in which we live, as well as the technological developments available to us, seeks to review its thinking on this matter, rather than just concentrate on removing a very competent and well qualified woman from a position in which she is contributing to national development.

The Women’s Affairs Bureau strongly supports the right of every woman to work especially in areas in which she is qualified or where she possesses the required competence. While WAB does not wish to pronounce on any perceived conflict to interest with Ms. Geetanjali Singh’s position as Audit Director, it urges public support for women across Guyana to enjoy the basic freedom to pursue the vocation of their choice and for which they are eminently qualified.

WOMEN’S AFFAIRS BUREAU Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security

Re-evaluation of problems, new management structure needed in the sugar industry HOW long can the government continue to hope while subsidising GUYSUCO with taxpayers’ money that it will live up to the expectations raised years ago and become self-sustaining?

The latest reports quoted GAWU as saying that sugar targets that have been set

by GUYSUCO over the years are “far from reality” since the industry is poised to record its lowest yield in 22 years. They expect GUYSUCO will incur a loss that will have serious effects on its ability to do important capital works and pay creditors who supply them with materials for the next crop.

How can we trust GUYSUCO to implement any turnaround plan? It is time for an honest re-evaluation of the problems and a need for a new manage-

ment structure if the Guyanese people are to believe that their taxes should be used to implement yet another plan, using the same people.

It is time for government to start treating the industry as a patient with the flu that just needs some medicine and rest, not as a patient that is failing and may be in need of one or more organ transplants.

A plan is wanted that will re-evaluate the entire industry from where it is to where it has to go, and plan immediate, intermediate and long-term steps to accomplish each step. Confront the excuses, labour shortages/ absenteeism, cane supplies, weather and factory problems and stop simply using

them to explain the failures to date.

It may be better to hire better managers and pay higher wages to attract better attendance or temporary workers to address current problems, until a realistic plan can be implemented. Perhaps, a selling of some parts of the industry to private investors who have the money and know how may help save the whole industry. GoG must make realistic and hard decisions, not political ones. In the long run, the right decisions will benefit everyone. Sugar needs more workers to get more canes, even if temporarily from outside of Guyana, if feasible, or the industry will continue to suffer and bleed the treasury, until all subsidies are stopped.

N. AUGUSTUS

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

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DO NOT BE HOODWINKED!

AMERINDIAN Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai, on Monday, urged about 180 toshaos to practice accountability, and to not be deceived into believing that they are being treated unfairly with regard to land rights issue.

Speaking at the opening of the 7th National Toshaos Council (NTC) meeting at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, that is being held under the theme ‘Establishing a culture of good governance is a practice that is critical to sustained village development’, she called on the toshaos not to be duped into

believing the misrepresentations being peddled by the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) and the Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP).

“Do not be hoodwinked into believing that Amerindians in Guyana face grave injustices on the matter of land rights…the government continues to pursue relentlessly the full closure to land ownership through setting aside monies in the national budget and…a substantial sum has been set aside under the GRIF for concluding the land titling and demarcation activities.”

“Leaders you are aware

Opposition continues ...

From page 3 only be produced through work, which is not being done in the PSSC, “They are not submitting any proposal so the committee can consider its implementation.”

Guyana has already briefly experienced what the sanctions could be like. The Trinidad Central Bank had unfortunately formed the opinion that Guyana has been blacklisted by the CFATF, and issued a statement to the business community in Trinidad. “Immediately Guyanese businesses transacting commerce and other businesses with their Trinidadian counterparts were subjected to a whole host of scrutiny and problems were encountered, bringing transactions between the two territories almost to a complete halt,” Minister Nandlall said.

Banks, insurance companies, wire transfer agencies, importers and exporters across the two borders suffered from this. Fortunately the matter was brought to Guyana’s attention and a letter dispatched

by Guyana’s Minister of Finance quickly dispelled the notion held

by Trinidad.

This brief experience is an example of what Guyana will actually encounter should sanctions be applied. It will be replicated with every country with which Guyana conducts commerce or other business. Commerce will be severely affected and many business relationships will come to an end, the minister explained.

While extra parliamentary engagements to address this issue would be a remit of the President, Minister Nandlall said that at the SPSC level, “we have no other alternative but to be optimistic and continue to discharge our duties towards the people of Guyana. Parliamentarians must understand that when they sit in the National Assembly or the Parliament Building, it is not to pursue personal agendas or execute vindictive pursuits, but to only do one thing, to always advance a position which is in the best interest, and is best for the Guyanese people. This is our only mandate.” (GINA)

– Minister Sukhai urges toshaos

Pauline Sukhai, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Programme (UNDP) signed a of the land titling project, and US$10.7M agreement for titling the government commitment, and demarcation of Amerindian to complete titling of lands to lands.

Amerindian communities; be She urged the leaders to the messenger - tell your story,” stop the campaigns being she stated. waged to stymie the overall At the opening ceremony on progress made on land rights Monday, Government and the and ownership by the PPP/C United Nations Development

government.

The NTC meeting, she told them provides an opportunity for the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to address issues in a collective, and updated them on Guyana’s participation at the 12th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues earlier this year, and how the GOIP and the APA at that forum misconstrued the facts on land, national laws, and donor agency funded projects.

GOOD GOVERNANCE

She stressed that establishing a culture of good governance is a practice that is critical to sustained village development, explaining that last year the Ministry’s officials visited several villages and were pleased with the growth and expansion of the various sectors.

“Well stocked village shops are dotted around the hinterland,

community ranches in other communities, improved main road networks linking villages, increase vehicular traffic supporting transportation needs, better agriculture initiatives and production, better water supply, better education and health services.”

However, there were complaints from some villages and the Auditor General’s office was solicited to conduct audits and this exposed conflicts, thereby propelling the ministry’s intervention.

“I implore as leaders that you lead by example, ensure that you maximise the resources made available to you, and improve accountability and work towards reducing instances of diverting village funds and resources to not the intended uses. I encourage you to seek to strengthen the system of administering and management of the use of village assets; this continues to be an area of concern,” Minister Sukhai told the gathering. (GINA)

First of four Coverden collision victims to be buried at Mahdia tomorrow

By Shirley Thomas

LORETTA Evans, 52, of Mahdia, one of the four persons killed in last Friday’s horrific smash-up between a Route No. 72 minibus and a sand truck at Coverden, East Bank Demerara, is to be buried at Mahdia tomorrow.

The first of the four who perished in the accident to be buried, Evans was travelling with two other family members, her nephew Delroy Evans, 23, and his three-year-old daughter Maya. Delroy Evans perished in the accident, but his daughter Mia who survived with serious injuries, is currently a patient in the Paediatric Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), and is said to be recovering favourably.

Delroy Evans and two others, Cosbert Felix Marc, the driver of the minibus, and Pulmattie Samaroo are yet to be buried.

The other survivors who were admitted to hospital, Savitri Thomas, Orson Ridley and Kelly Douglas have since been discharged and are resting at their respective homes. The fifth survivor, Akim Cave of Nutmeg Street, North Ruimveldt, even though injured, was not admitted to hospital, but is currently at home on doctor’s medication. He too is said to be in a stable condition.

Meanwhile, the 19-year-old driver of the sand-laden truck, GPP 8495, who reportedly caused the accident and was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital in a state of shock, was kept for observation for four days. He was discharged on Tuesday and is expected to appear in court shortly to answer charges of dangerous driving, being an unlicensed driver and leaving the scene of the accident,

among other offences.

Repish Bhagwandin of Hope, East Coast Demerara, who was said to be driving at a fast rate, overtook a canter truck which was parked on the Coverden Public Road and crashed into the Mahdia-bound Route Number 72 minibus, BPP 3521, driven by Felix Marc.

Probation and Social Services Department offices will be closed for remainder of this week

THE Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security wishes to inform the public that its Probation and Social Services Department at the head office and district offices will be closed to members of the public between 13:00 hrs today to Friday, October 25, 2013 to facilitate a staff retreat.

The offices will reopen to members of the public on Monday, October 28, 2013.

The ministry said it regrets any inconvenience caused.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

UG’s Berbice Campus now offering degree programme in Social Work - promises other programmes to follow shortly

By Michael Khan THE University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) at Tain, Corentyne officially launched its Social Work degree programme, and promised that more programmes of higher learning would be implemented in the near future.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms Jennifer Webster, yesterday, told a gathering in an auditorium of the university campus that the Government of Guyana, with the support of President Don-

ald Ramotar and Education Minister Priya Manickchand, stands ready to support all of the UGBC initiatives that would benefit the nation.

“The Government of Guyana remains committed to providing the requisite support to ensure that we improve the quality of higher education delivered through this institution.

From the level of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, we want to work together with UG to ensure that this programme is a success,” she declared.

HIGHER QUALITY OF SERVICE Minister Webster pointed out that the initiative would provide more access to training, and the delivery of a higher quality of service to the Guyanese people.

In her address to students pursuing the Degree in Social Work at the UGBC, the minister reminded that their job is to assist people. “Today’s launch is quite a significant step taken by the Administration of the University of Guyana to support

Minister Jennifer Webster; UNICEF Representative to Guyana and Suriname, Ms. Marianne Flach; UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at UG’s Turkeyen Campus, Dr. Paloma Mohamed were among those at the launching ceremony yesterday.

Minister Jennifer Webster making her address at the launching ceremony. the social sector in the country through training and development of quality social service.

“As you all are aware, the Government is one of the largest employers of social work professionals. You are professionals in your own right, and you must see yourselves as being key and critical to Guyana’s development,” she posited.

The minister took the opportunity to applaud the efforts of the University of Guyana in expanding the Social Work Degree programme to Berbice through the UGBC. She also underscored the roles that social workers play in bettering the lives of vulnerable people.

She then charged: “Professionals who work assiduously in the social security system

are the country’s greatest asset; and at no time any of you should lose sight of the plight of vulnerable persons who require help.”

Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at UG’s Turkeyen Campus, Dr. Paloma Mohamed, told the audience that the University of Guyana is on a mission to foster development at the UG Berbice campus, and provide the comfort for Berbice-based professionals who want to pursue higher learning.

“It’s a very significant and special moment for the University and the country. This process of reaching out, revisioning and understanding what the University does and is to the nation, started several months ago when we, as a faculty, decided to really think about what we should do to develop our country, she revealed.

INVALUABLE ASSET The immense hardship of having working professionals travelling to Turkeyen Campus to pursue studies was impacting on the lives of the working class in the Ancient County, and implementation of the Social Work Degree programme will see improved performances, according to UGBC Head of the Sociology Department, Ms. Dionne Frank.

She added: “This would not

only enhance the opportunities of Social Work students, but, in the long term trajectory, it would be an invaluable asset to the social and other agencies as they seek to address critical issues in Berbice.”

The programme would be offered only to entrants who possess a Diploma in Social Work with a GPA of 2.0 and above.

Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr. Jacob Opadeyi, in his brief address, said the Social Work degree programme is one of many that would be offered in future semesters. “For us to make all of this happen, we will have to improve the educational capacity in this region by having a pool of persons (lecturers) from here (Berbice) to institute the various programmes,” he indicated.

The programme was punctuated by the viewing of a vignette, the recitation of a poem, and a congratulatory address by the UNICEF Representative to Guyana and Suriname, Ms. Marianne Flach.

The mission of the University of Guyana is to discover, generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge of the highest standard for the service of the community, the nation, and all of mankind, with an atmosphere of academic freedom that allows for free and critical enquiry.

Government hoping Opposition would approve AML/CFT Bill …at earliest sitting of reconvened National Assembly

By Nadine Sanchara AS Parliament prepares to reconvene sittings of the National Assembly following a two-month hiatus, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) urges the combined opposition to support the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) Bill, which is currently before a Special Select Committee in the National Assembly.

This call was made Monday during a PPP press conference at Freedom House on Robb Street, Georgetown, when PPP General Secretary and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee reminded that this is Guyana’s last chance to avoid worldwide sanctions being imposed against commerce in and emanating from Guyana.

He noted that the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) has already prepared a draft report on Guyana, which will be adopted at its Plenary Meeting, scheduled to be held on November 18 in the Bahamas. This draft report, he said, concludes that Guyana has not implemented the requisite recommendations, and that the Guyana AMLCTF Bill embodying those recommendations is still languishing in the Guyana Parliament.

“The report therefore declares Guyana to be a non-compliant jurisdiction,

and invites countries to take such counter-measures which they deem necessary to protect themselves from the money laundering and terrorism risks which Guyana poses,” he stated.

Rohee explained that unless the bill in Parliament is passed before November 18, Guyana will be unable to prevent that draft report from being adopted.

He stressed that, should the draft report be adopted, the consequences would be dire and draconian on the Guyanese economy. “Indeed, every facet of life will be affected as a result.

The opposition must be held responsible if these horrendous consequences materialise,” he said.

The call for opposition support of the AMLCTF Bill was made as Rohee urged the opposition to “cease their modus operandi of the last two years of trivialising the National Assembly to a forum for executing petty political vendettas, engaging in political horse trading, committing unconstitutional wrongs, and embarking on a whole host of ego-inspired endeavours.”

He emphasised that the PPP hopes the Parliamentary opposition, in this session of Parliament, would adopt positions that would render paramount the welfare of Guyana and every Guyanese; and further, that they would conduct themselves in the manner contemplated by the

Constitution, and would abide by universal Parliamentary and democratic practices and traditions.

Moreover, he said the hope hopes that the opposition would move away from actions such as withholding their support for pivotal crime-fighting and other legislation, which are not only important for the Guyanese people, but are imperative for Guyana to discharge its international obligations.

“We hope that the persecution of government ministers by way of unlawful and unconstitutional motions of no-confidence will not reccur, that national developmental projects will be supported, and that the unconstitutional and inexplicable cutting of National Budgets will cease,” Rohee declared.

Further, the minister said his party also expects that the “unconstitutional, undemocratic and anti-nationalistic” postures and practices taken by the opposition will be replaced with constructive engagements and dialogue, and that they will put forward an alternative plan for the development of Guyana.

“We note that, in all the shenanigans committed over the last two years in the National Assembly, the Opposition has failed to bring forth a singular proposal, in any form or fashion, which will redound to the benefit of Guyana or our citizens,” Rohee lamented.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Youth leader returns with wealth of experience

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… from International Visitor Leadership Programme

CHIEF Executive Officer of the Volunteer Youth Corps, Ms. Goldie Scott, recently returned from the United States embassy-sponsored International Visitor Leadership Programme (ILVP) exchange, and is now poised to use her garnered experiences in rehabilitating delinquent youths.

Ms. Scott participated in an IVLP exchange on the “Caribbean Basin Security Initiative -– Engaging Underserved and At-Risk Youth” -- from September 7 to September 28, 2013, under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).

The United States, CARICOM member nations and The Dominican Republic are working together to help reduce the number of young people imprisoned in the juvenile justice system. CBSI is also working with youth already being held in juvenile facilities by supporting their transition back into communities and towards establishment of productive lives.

Scott recently shared her IVLP experience with US Ambassador Brent Hardt, and discussed how she intends to apply the insights gained from her experience to the benefit of her organisation and to Guyana. Ms. Scott is presently coordinating a sub-agreement between the Volunteer Youth Corps Inc. and Education Development Centre under the USAID/Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) project, to deliver ‘work ready now’ training to at-risk youth in Region 4.

In interacting with Ms. Scott, Ambassador Hardt encouraged her to build on the many professional linkages she has established with U.S. institutions and other IVLP participants from countries within the Caribbean, to strengthen the work of her organisation in communities throughout Guyana.

Ambassador Hardt noted that the IVLP offers one of the best means to build capacity and strengthen institutions, as it fosters an exchange of new ideas with leading U.S. experts and organisations, while establishing lasting professional connections among IVLP participants.

The ambassador commended Ms. Scott for the work her organisation has done in developing and strengthening the capacity of Guyanese youth to help them make positive choices and lead productive lives. The IVLP, which also included participants from the Bahamas, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, examined primary prevention programmes for at-risk youth, including programmes for family support, after-school activities, truancy and drop-out prevention, and job training.

Participants were given a first-hand look at support services for gang-involved youth and their families, aimed at helping vulnerable youth make positive choices. As the Chief Executive Officer of a local non-governmental organisation which addresses the social and economic needs of children and youth, Ms. Scott was able to gain perspectives on methodologies used by community-based organisations and faith-based groups to intervene early before problem behaviours turn into delinquency and gang involvement.

Home Affairs Ministry commends CPGs

THE Ministry of Home Affairs has commended the vigilance displayed by members of the #65 Community Police Group (CPG), as well as the recovery of a motor car by members of the CPG # 2 Sub-Division which was high-jacked on Mandela Avenue in Georgetown.

The ministry, in brief and separate statements Monday, commended the efforts of # 65 CPG members for their vigilance on Sunday 13th October, 2013, which led to the arrest of a suspect who had in his possession two grammes of marijuana.

It also commended the efforts of members of the CPG # 2 Sub Division Georgetown who were on patrol duty on Friday 11th October, 2013, and were able to recover a motor car which was high jacked from the owner on Mandela Avenue.

The International Visitor Leadership Programme is the flagship professional exchange programme of the Department of State, which annually brings to the United States approximately 5,000 foreign nationals from all over the world to meet and confer with their professional counterparts, and to experience the United States first-hand.

The visitors are current or potential leaders in government, politics, the media, education, the arts, business and other fields.

Among the thousands of distinguished individuals who have participated in the IVLP since its inception, almost seven decades ago, are more than 290 current and former chiefs of state and heads of government, 2,000 cabinet-level ministers, and several other distinguished US Ambassador Brent Hardt and Chief Executive Officer of the leaders from the public and private sectors.

Volunteer Youth Corps, Ms Goldie Scott

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Suriname House Speaker, delegation to arrive Thursday

By Nadine Sanchara SPEAKER of the National Assembly of Suriname, Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, together with a delegation of 11, will be visiting Guyana from Thursday to Saturday on an invitation extended by Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman.

According to a press release from the Parliament Office of Guyana, Trotman’s invitation is in keeping with the commitment made by the previous Speaker of the National Assembly, Hari Narayen Ramkarran.

Trotman has emphasised that the nature of the visit should go beyond “merely meeting” with key members of the Government and the Opposition, and posited that it should formally establish a Guyana-Suriname Association to enhance relations between the two parliaments and peoples.

Among the packed agenda planned for the visit are courtesy calls on President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Ministers of Government, Leader of the Opposition David Granger and

the Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan.

In addition, the delegation will also meet Members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Committee, Members of the Parliamentary Management Committee (PMC) and Members of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations.

The delegation is expected to arrive at the Ogle International Airport around 15:00 hrs on Thursday afternoon and a cocktail reception will be hosted in their honour at the Impeccable Banquet Hall on Brickdam, Georgetown, that night.

On Friday, the delegation will make courtesy calls on the President and Prime Minister, prior to a tour of the Parliament Chamber and Parliamentary Library and lunch with the Speaker of the National Assembly, and Members of the CPA and PMC. Later that day, the Surinamese delegation will also pay courtesy calls on Leader of the Opposition David Granger, and Leader of the AFC Khemraj Ramjattan, before meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly and Members of the Parliamentary Sectoral

Speaker Jennifer Geerlings-Simons Committee on Foreign Relations with specific focus on the creation of an inter-parliamentary group consisting of Members of the two Parliaments.

This meeting will continue on Saturday after which a press conference will be held to update the media on the outcome.

Geerlings-Simons and her delegation will depart from Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri on Saturday night.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

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PPP group commemorates Janet Jagan’s 93rd birth anniversary

By Savitri Laikram MEMBERS of the Bel Air Prashad Nagar People’s Progressive Party (PPP) group on Sunday paid homage to former President Mrs. Janet Jagan to commemorate her 93rd birth anniversary

at the Jagan’s Heritage home in Bel Air, Georgetown.

Born Janet Rosenburg on October 20, 1920 in the United States of America, the late First Lady and President, Mrs Janet Jagan, was hailed as a hero who had touched thousands of lives in her fight to transform the nation.

Mr Clinton Collymore (right) and Mr Collin Croal (left) were among those in attendance.

Persons at the Night of Reflection on Sunday at the Jagan’s Heritage House

Former Local Government Minister, Mr Clinton Collymore spoke about the struggles of Mrs Jagan for this country. He depicted Guyana’s first female President as an indefatigable freedom fighter and working class champion.

Collymore said that Mrs Jagan came to British Guiana in December 1943, and worked for 10 years as a dental nurse in Dr Cheddi

Janet Jagan was a great woman, a social revolutionary. She has greatly assisted the present government in their tremendous success – Clinton Collymore Jagan’s clinic, before entering the political arena.

He reflected that in 1946, Mrs. Jagan founded the Women’s Political and Economic Organisation, later called the WPO. He noted that Mrs. Jagan’s personality was multifaceted, touching many lives in different ways.

Collymore lauded Mrs Jagan’s ability to use her pen as a weapon in the fight for human rights, among other causes close to her heart. He said that she was the kind of person who showed thorough leadership skills and her life was undoubtedly an inspiration to many.

He noted that what he is today is solely the product of her care and advice. “She was a great woman,” he said, “a social revolutionary.” He noted she has greatly assisted the present government in their tremendous success.

Collymore recalled that Mrs Jagan was an admirable woman, a loving wife and mother to her family as well as a brilliant administrator, a fearless fighter and party member. She was both bold and strong and fearless when it came to fighting for the rights of others.

Reflecting on her portfolio, Collymore noted that in 1950, she co-founded the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and was elected party General Secretary, holding that post between 1950 and 1970.

She was, since then, a member of the PPP General Council, Central Committee and Executive Committee, and also served as International Secretary and Executive Secretary.

In 1953, Mrs. Jagan was one of the three women to enter the House of Assembly as a representative of the Essequibo constituency, and was the first woman to become Deputy Speaker of the Legislature.

The constituency of Essequibo re-elected Mrs Jagan to the Legislature, and she was appointed Minister of Labour, Health and Housing in 1957. On the death of the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Claude Christian in 1963, Mrs Jagan became Minister of Home Affairs and a member of the Senate; but she resigned that ministerial portfolio in 1964 in protest over incidents at Wismar.

After the PPP had ended a boycott of Parliament to protest the rigging of elections in 1973, she returned to the House as an opposition MP, and served in the House continuously. She was returned in 1980, 1985 and 1992. In April 1997, she became the longest serving Member of Parliament.

He also said that in 1992, after the first free and fair elections had been held in post-independent Guyana, Mrs. Jagan was designated First Lady of the Republic of Guyana, and continued her work as Editor of the Mirror newspaper.

Collymore said that on March 17, 1997, Mrs. Jagan was sworn in as Guyana’s first female Prime Minister and First Vice-President; and on December 19, 1997, she was sworn in as the first female President of the Republic of Guyana, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Guyana.

She has since been honoured with Guyana’s highest award, the Order of Excellence, and recognised with the Woman of Achievement award from the University of Guyana and in 1997, UNECSO awarded Mrs. Jagan the Gandhi Gold Medal for Peace, Democracy and Women’s Rights.

A skit was also performed by the members as they portrayed how Mrs Jagan changed the lives of many Guyanese over the years.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Blender to allow use of bioethanol in vehicles by year-end – Dr Ramsammy

By Nadine Sanchara BY the end of this year, a blender will be installed at the Bioethanol Demonstration Plant at Albion, Berbice, making it possible to produce the E10 mixture of fuel, a 10 percent ethanol blend of gasoline to be used in vehicles.

This was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy during a recent interview at his Regent Road, Georgetown office.

Guyana’s first ever Bio-ethanol Demonstration Plant, a joint

… right now we’re testing various blending equipment, so before the end of this year we should have in place the blender that will allow us to use the bioethanol in vehicles – Dr Ramsammy

venture between the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Guyana, was commissioned on August 20.

The $85M plant is located in the compound of Albion Sugar Estate in Berbice, and will be managed by Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). The IDB has plugged some $67M into the facility while the remainder of the cost was borne by GuySuCo. Ramsammy said that while the plant is at present in operation, it is not being utilised every day because it is only producing a small amount of bioethanol which is being used in the GuySuCo

laboratories.

He noted that the bulk of the bioethanol produced by the plant is intended to be used in vehicles and the mixture required for that use needs a blender.

“That’s what we’re doing right now, testing various blending equipment, so before the end of this year, we should have in place the blender that will allow us to use the bioethanol in vehicles,” he said.

Meanwhile, the plant was established through a programme called “Expanding bio-energy opportunities in Guyana”, in which the government had collaborated with the IDB. This technical collaboration includes the instalMinister lation and commissioning of a Dr Leslie Ramsammy bio-ethanol plant for demonstration purposes.

It will not be used for commercial purposes, but will serve as a training ground for GuySuCo apprentices and employees, as well as for persons from other institutions.

Its main objectives are to demonstrate the production of fuel grade ethanol locally, to provide fuel for future demonstration of the use of ethanol as a vehicle source, and to develop a facility for the

Hire car driver is latest Essequibo road fatality - passenger clinging to life at GPHC

By Rajendra Prabhulall FELIX Layne, 56, of Onderneeming Sand Pit, Essequibo Coast was killed when the hire car he was driving on Monday afternoon slammed into a canter lorry on the Onderneeming Public Road at about 15:45 hrs.

Police report that the driver of motor lorry GLL 5313 was

proceeding along the roadway when Layne, at the controls of taxi HB 6417, allegedly drove out of an access road and onto the main road, causing a collision with the motor lorry.

Layne was reportedly proceeding from Onderneeming Sand Pit when he crashed into the canter lorry while turning onto the public road. The impact of the accident killed him and

seriously wounded the lone passenger in the car, Maxine Henry, who was rushed to the nearby Suddie Hospital and admitted, before being subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she is battling for her life. The canter driver is in police custody assisting with investigations.

Only last week, an allegedly alcoholic woman was

DEAD: Felix Layne struck down by a canter lorry and killed on the spot, after she had run across the road suddenly and ended up in the path of the canter.

training of local personnel in bio-fuel technologies.

The plant will utilise “blackstrap” molasses, the final output from the sugar production process to produce ethanol of a 99.9 percent grade. This ethanol can then be blended with gasoline for use in vehicles.

It utilises a two-stage process: fermentation and distillation and dehydration. Green Bio-refineries of Brazil and WhiteFox Technologies Limited of Canada were contracted and sub-contracted to install the components for the respective processes.

In the meantime, while significant emphasis is being placed on developing sources of cleaner, cheaper energy, the National Agricultural, Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has established a Bioenergy Department, which is being headed by Dr. Clairmont Clementson.

In addition, a policy has been developed to guide the work programmes and activities of this department and it has been finalised by the Agriculture Ministry.

New Amsterdam Lions begin outreaches on 52nd anniversary TODAY marks the 52nd anniversary of the founding of New Amsterdam Lions Club, which was established in 1961.

Consequently, in celebration of another milestone, the organisation has embarked on a week of activities, with emphasis being placed on community outreaches.

The observance began on Sunday with a prayer breakfast, which was followed by a routine eye clinic at the Lions’ Den in Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Yesterday, a blood pressure and diabetic clinic was hosted in front of Banks DIH on Main Street, also in New Amsterdam and, this evening, there will be the annual dinner meeting at the Lions’ Den. Tomorrow, the community projects continue with a luncheon for 60 needy senior citizens while, on Friday, 60 underprivileged pupils of All Saints’ Primary School will receive hot meals.

The programme of events concludes with the Lions’ International Eye Care Project at a stall along Main Street.

Co-Chair of the Lions’ Club Health Committee, Ms. Marilyn La Rose said they are pleased to, once again, be of service to the community on the anniversary occasion and is encouraging members of the public to be part of the observance by supporting all the initiatives.

“The Lions’ Club is always pleased to be reaching out to the less fortunate people and those who do not pay attention to their general health and eye care. It is our hope that the public would embrace our initiatives and let us know how we can be of service to them,” she said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Orpheus Johnson murder trial…

Chief Magistrate to be summoned to read own handwriting

By George Barclay HIGH Court Judge James Bovell-Drakes on Monday suggested that Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine Beharry be summoned to court to read evidence after her clerk testified on oath that he could not understand certain aspects of a statement recorded by her.

The clerk, Adrian Joseph was summoned to read the evidence of a deposition of an absent witness at a murder trial which was made available to be tendered in evidence under Section 95, where the particular witness could not be located.

At first the clerk testified that he was familiar with the magistrate’s handwriting; but while reading he claimed that he came across

Chief Justice grants eleven petitioners bail totalling $3.934M

certain words which he did not understand.

Before taking the stand of inviting the magistrate to come to court and read her own handwriting, the judge noted that with proper technology the statement would have been recorded; but with the absence of appropriate technology, there was nothing he could do but suggest that the magistrate be summoned by the DPP to attend court.

Prosecutrix Natasha Backer, who represented the DPP, agreed that the magistrate be summoned to appear in court this morning in the matter of the police versus Orpheus Johnson for the murder of Brendon Charles.

It happened that the eyewitness Kenrick Charles was not available to give evidence at the jury trial, but his deposition at the preliminary inquiry was made available to be read to the jury under Section 95.

It is understood that a similar situation has occurred previously.

Orpheus Johnson is indicted for the murder of Brendon Charles between Friday August 7th, 2009 and Saturday August 8th, 2009, at Canefield, East Bank of Demerara, in the Georgetown Magisterial District.

By George Barclay ACTING Chief Justice, Mr. Ian Chang, SC, last Friday granted eleven petitioners bail totalling $3.934M, pending determination of their respective cases. Particulars are set out below: For possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, Karlson Fawcett was granted $609,000 bail; Devon Jonas was granted $300,000 bail; Marlon King, $600,000 bail; Daniel Younge, $100,000 bail; Eric Anderson, $750,000 bail; and Shawn Duncan, $350,000 bail.

For possession of firearm and ammunition without licence, Michael Edwards was granted $225,000 bail, while Beepat Benjamin was granted $250,000 bail.

For causing death by dangerous driving, Kevin Hope was granted $500,000 bail; and for robbery under arms, Seaton Daphness and Akaim Matten were each granted $125,000 bail.

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Murder accused Orpheus Johnson being escorted to court

‘Picture Boy’ murder trial voir dire nearing end

By George Barclay

THE voir dire (a trial within a trial ) being conducted by the trial judge to determine the admissibility in evidence of an alleged confession by murder accused Cyon Collier, called ‘Picture Boy’, is continuing.

Three witnesses have already testified for the prosecution.

They are Deputy Superintendent of Police Alwyn Wilson, DSP Michael Kingston and DSP Lyndon Lord.

Prosecutrix Judith Gildharie-Mursalin was hoping to close her case in the voir dire yesterday.

Following her closure, defence counsel Lyndon Amsterdam is expected to begin his case for the defence in the voir dire.

At the hearing of the substantive trial, the jury heard how on the morning of September 23rd, 2006, the accused, armed with a large gun slung over his shoulder, rode through the village of Victoria Four Corner.

There he is said to have stopped at a domino game, Cyon Collier, called cocked the weapon and shot ‘Picture Boy’ two brothers, Ray Walcott, called ‘Sugar’, and Carl Andrews, called ‘Alo’, who were looking on at the game.

The prosecution was about to tender a caution statement allegedly given to the police by the accused, when defence counsel Amsterdam stated his objection, which sparked off a voir dire

by Presiding Judge Navindra Singh. The hearing is continuing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

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Two Guyanese Girl Guides elevated to top positions in int’l body

By Shirley Thomas TWO young Guyanese leaders in the Guyana Girl Guides Association (GGGA), Saudia Edghill and Schemel Patrick, have been selected by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) to take up prestigious positions in the international body.

Edghill, a University of Guyana student, has been selected as the International Day of the Girl Ambassador for Guyana, while Patrick, the Guyana Girl Guides Association Executive Officer and Public Relations Officer, was elected to the WAGGGS Western Hemisphere Committee. These new official roles were conferred at the 13th Western Hemisphere Regional Conference in Cuernavaca, Mexico in July.

Earliest on the agenda of these new executives has been the second celebration of the International Day of the Girl (IDG) on October 11, and launched a year ago by the United Nations. The theme for

Guyana’s new executives on the WAGGGS: Saudia Edghill, International Day of the Girl Guide Ambassador for Guyana, at left, and Schemel Patrick, WAGGGS Western Hemisphere Committee Executive this year’s celebrations was putting ‘Girls in the lead’.

IDG Ambassador Edghill championed the day on behalf of WAGGGS and the campaign in Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean. She also collaborated with WAGGGS throughout the year to continue to support Guyanese girls in this ‘Lead’ campaign. She will participate in the year long promotion of IDG activities, both locally and internationally, work with the GGA on the conception and implementation of an action project for the year, and mobilise other young women from the Caribbean region to take action.

WAGGGS Western Hemisphere Committee Executive Patrick, the youngest of six women members now on the WAGGGS Western Hemisphere Committee, while playing a lead role in the association’s plans for the International Day of the Girl, will also be fully involved in the execution of the Western Hemisphere’s plans for the next three years.

This region is comprised of 36 countries situated in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. Its main function is to promote and expand Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting within the Western Hemisphere and develop plans for assisting national organisations to provide opportunities for training and sharing concerns, experiences and human resources.

Prior to the Mexico Summit, both Edghill and Patrick have represented the Guyana Girl Guides Association at international and other events in South Africa, The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago.

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Education Minister Priya Manickchand shares a light moment with two students of the Fort Wellington Secondary School in one of the classrooms of the newly constructed wing.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

The newly constructed wing of the Fort Wellington Secondary School

Education Minister opens new wing of Fort Wellington Secondary

By Chriseana Ramrekha

D

ELIVERING the fea ture address Monday at a brief ceremony to commission the new wing of the Fort Wellington Secondary School in Region 5, (Mahaica/Berbice), Education Minister Priya Manickchand lauded the region’s Education Department and its officers for the work they have done, while announcing that the region has attained universal secondary education.

“So this region is right at the front of where we want to be. In fact, it can be emulated; and we are using it as a pattern for other regions,” she said.

She added that, even as the region has acquired this status, the Ministry of Education (MoE) is now looking to do more to ensure that each student has a place in a discrete secondary school.

Manickchand alluded to the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) commitment during the 2011 general elections to work to acquire universal secondary education before the Government’s first term expires, so that, all across the country, every student of the secondary age cohort would be capable of accessing space in a secondary school.

She also highlighted that Guyana has achieved Millennium Development Goal Number Two — achieving universal primary education — which means that every child in the primary age cohort in the country, despite where they live, can access a primary education.

According to her, it is not always about building school buildings, but also about how students from remote areas can access those buildings, so the MoE may have to provide transportation, something which it has been doing.

To substantiate her point, the minister alluded to the MoE purchase of a speedboat and a bus this school term to ensure

that Mahaicony students attend the Mahaicony Secondary School.

She noted that, even as the children are now in the classrooms, the MoE is currently focusing more intensely on the quality of education delivered.

Informing that commissioning of the Fort Wellington Secondary School’s new wing is just the first of several such activities in the region for the school term, the minister expressed delight that the MoE is at the stage of commissioning the schools.

She indicated that the new wing of the school facilitates enhanced comfort for students in other parts of the school, even as she anticipated improvement in the results coming out of that school. “So can you show the people who are in charge that, once you give the children the space, once you give them the furniture, once you give them the text books, they will do well,” she charged.

This new wing can accommodate 150 students, thus eliminating the school’s previous problem of overcrowding. It already houses 135 grade seven students, who are afforded the opportunity to learn in conducive environs.

Manickchand noted that during the last Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, the school recorded 100% passes in grades one to three in Agricultural Science; and she urged the students to replicate those grades in other subject areas.

She said the MoE is confident that the students would make good use of the facility and are going to treat it as they would treat their homes, but she nevertheless urged them to make every effort to keep the building clean and safe.

“Be conscious that it is your duty to keep this building in a condition where you can pass it on to people who will come after you and have them benefit from the education that you are

benefiting from,” she asserted.

She informed that cabinet is currently looking to ensure the 2014 budget provides for all schools to have the furniture they need.

Manickchand also applauded the demonstrated interest of the regional councillors, who largely attended the occasion.

She even credited their interest with being a contributing factor to the region’s extraordinary performance.

The minister expressed hope that the school would be blessed, and that the children who use it would be able to realise their fullest potential.

Also delivering remarks on the occasion, Headteacher of the Fort Wellington Secondary School, Ms. Yonette Walters, explained that when she came to the school in September 2011, there was an issue of overcrowding, since the school had admitted 154 students that

year and was challenged in placing them.

She said two classes were situated outside of the school building, one under the stairway and one in the vicinity of the canteen; and this arrangement was very frustrating to teachers, students and parents.

The regional education officer (REO) was notified, and it was decided that the students be housed at a boardroom at Fort Wellington, and access was given to that building on the November 1, 2011, with three teachers operating there on a full time basis, while two did so on a part-time basis.

In July 2012, the Education Ministry awarded a contract to construct the new wing of the school and while there were a few glitches in the construction, the keys were handed over to the head teacher on September 3, 2013.

Ms Walters said the school

is happy to be afforded an extension to the existing building, and she thanked the Government, and in particular the MoE, even as she assured that the building would be properly cared.

Ms. Walters said students are now comfortable, and this would result in improved performance.

However, she noted that the student population is growing rapidly, and so asked that the bottom of the new wing be enclosed. She disclosed that the school has on roll some 621 students.

In his remarks, Regional Education Officer Owen Pollard said Region 5 is progressing, particularly in the area of education. He declared that education is one of the key means of addressing poverty, and pointed out that commissioning of the new wing would further facilitate the process of educating the students, and is indicative

of the progress taking place in expanding secondary education in Region 5 and in Guyana.

Mr. Pollard noted that Guyana is changing rapidly, and parents are increasingly investing in their children’s education.

He assured that, in the very near future, the lower flat of the new wing would be enclosed; and he urged the students to care and cherish the building, so that future generations would be able to benefit from its use.

Also present at the commissioning ceremony were Assistant Chief Education Officer for Secondary Schools, Ms. Leslyn Charles and Region 5 Vice Chairman, Mr. Rion Peters.

The school’s choir performed a rendition of the country’s national song, and there was also a poem about education by one of the students.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand is assisted by students of the Fort Wellington Secondary School in cutting the ribbon to symbolically open the new wing of the school. (Photos by Adrian Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Returning from U.S. holiday...

Woman, teenage daughter among victims in terrifying pre-dawn robbery

By Michel Outridge COURBANE Park, Annandale, East Coast of Demerara, businesswoman, Nanda Ally, is still reeling from shock and remains very traumatised following an armed robbery at her home early yesterday morning.

The mother of two told the Guyana Chronicle the pre-dawn crime was committed shortly after 04:00 hrs when she, her teenage daughter and an aunt had just returned from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) following a vacation in the United States (U.S.).

As they entered the yard,

Robbery victim Nanda Ally recounts her ordeal to the Chronicle newspaper yesterday

two men pounced on them, the 38-year-old woman related.

She said her aunt was transported by her brother while herself and daughter were driven by

and husband.

A knife was put to the neck of 13-year-old Nazeema Alia Ally and, on seeing this; her father became enraged and

The robbers stole five passports with valid U.S. visas, three cell phones, G$$100,000 and US$3,000 as well as a bunch of keys, other important documents and things. her husband, Sheer Ally called ‘GAWU’, who opened the gate for them, only to be confronted by the robbers.

Ally said, as soon as she had placed some of her hand luggage on a table in the shop at her house, a gunman began making demands for her bags.

She said the bandit commanded the group: “Hands up all of you” and, realising the situation, she tried to take off her gold jewellery with which to appease him.

She said the man placed the gun to her head and she froze, pleading with him to take the jewels and not hurt her and her family but, by that time his accomplice was with her daughter

kicked the attacker off his feet from where they were standing at their front door.

TOOK HANDBAGS At that point, the man with the blade got up, snatched some of the luggage and ran away while his companion took hand-

bags from Rajmatie Budhram, 42, and also fled but not before discharging a bullet which hit the ceiling of the shop.

Police, who responded promptly to the alarm, retrieved a .32 spent shell from the crime scene but the bandits had already fled.

Sheer Ally and others went in search of them but were not successful although another resident said she saw two men driving off in a cream-coloured Toyota 212 motor car, in the direction of the city, shortly after hearing a gunshot.

Sheer Ally, who is the shopkeeper, told the Guyana Chronicle it appears as though the bandits were waiting outside his premises and surprised them as he was about to open the front

The bullet hole left in the ceiling of the shop

The home of the Allys Businessman Sheer Ally (popularly known as GAWU) and his still traumatised 13-yearold daughter, Nazeema Alia Ally at their shop yesterday

door.

He said a man held onto his daughter and placed a knife to her neck and he knew he had to do something. So he managed to kick the intruder, making him release the frightened teen.

Nazeema Alia Ally, who is very terrified by the ordeal, was at a loss for words later yesterday and was being comforted by relatives.

The robbers stole five passports with valid U.S. visas, three cell phones, G$$100,000 and US$3,000 as well as a bunch of keys, other important documents and things.

A reward is being offered for the recovery of the documents and calls in response can be made to telephone numbers 220-9808 or 660-3640.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Guyana Fashion Week 2013 opens to capacity audience

By Alex Wayne RAHAMAN’S Park, in Georgetown, was beautifully set, with flames hanging from the roof, the scintillating smells of premium meats on open grills and an array of mood lighting for what was to be an evening to remember.

It was the magnificent opening of Guyana Fashion Week 2013 hosted there on Sunday last.

Cocktails with hosts and hostesses presenting menus to patrons, along with tastefully decorated tables, resplendent in bold colours and covered in creative works of art lay before a capacity audience and that was just the beginning.

Those in attendance were treated to music, eye-catching and mouth-watering delicacies and even surprised with a fashion show featuring the creations

of designers from six countries, including The Bahamas, United States (U.S.), Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

Fashion models waited on the guests quite in keeping with the occasion’s fashionable theme.

Chairperson of Guyana Fashion Week, Sonia Noel was the official grande dame for the ball which was hosted by Directors Ronnie Morris (Barbados) and Richard Young (Trinidad).

CULINARY COMPETITION In the end, the true focus of the event was the culinary competition, where fierce rivalry took place between six teams each representing one of the fruits/ vegetables abundantly grown in Guyana.

After serving starters,

main course and dessert, the title went to Natasha David (famous for her banana dolls) and Denzil Doom representing the coconut.

Their area was well decorated with the leaves of the beautiful coconut tree and their choice of gold metallic seating complimented their attractive table displays made of young coconuts which were painted and sprayed with gold glitter.

Second place was awarded to Team Tomato, which boasted a mannequin bedecked in red fabric, with a headpiece curiously made of lettuce with a floral arrangement resembling tomatoes.

Third position was won

by Team Watermelon, which had the audience buzzing with their fantastic pork main course and watermelon and ice cream dessert.

Some of the special invitees at the gala dinner hosted at the Guyana Fashion Week opening ceremony

Some of the fashion highlights at the recent Guyana Fashion Week opening

Chairperson of the Judging Panel was Carnegie School of Home Economics Principal, Penelope Harris while special guests included the former Miss Guyana World, Arti Cameron,

Over 10 million downloads of BBM for Android and iPhone in the first day

- BBM achieves top ranking in the App Store in over 75 countries within the first 24 hours WATERLOO, Ontario:– In just 24 hours BBM™ has been downloaded over 10 million times by Android™ and iPhone® users, one of the best single-day openings for a mobile app to date.

BBM, the premier private social network from BlackBerry®, is available for free in the App StoreSM and Google Play™ for immediate download.

BBM also quickly rose through the rankings on the App Store to be the number one free app in more than 75 countries in the first 24 hours, including the US, Canada, the UK, Indonesia and most of the Middle East. User ratings in both the App Store and Google Play are overwhelmingly positive, earning BBM 60,000 five-star reviews on Google Play from about 87,000 reviews.

“This has been an incredible launch for BBM across Android and iPhone devices. The mobile messaging market is full of opportunity for BBM. We intend to be the leading private social network for everyone who needs the immediate communication and collaboration of instant messaging combined with the privacy, control and reliability delivered through BBM,” said Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President, BBM at BlackBerry.

BBM users, old and new, are enjoying the following features: • BBM Chat – Enjoy real, immediate conversations with friends on Android, iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones. Not only does BBM let people know their message has been delivered and read, it also shows them when a contact is responding to a message.

• More than chat – With BBM, customers can simply and instantly share files such as photos and voice notes. Multi-person

chats are a great way to invite contacts to chat together.

• Get in the Group – BBM Groups lets users invite up to 30 friends to chat together, as well as share photo albums, calendars and files.

• Post Updates and stay in the know – BBM lets people post a personal message, profile picture and a current status, and lets contacts see statuses instantly in Updates.

• Your unique PIN – Every BBM user has a unique PIN that maintains privacy, so users are not required to ever give out their phone number or email address to a new or casual contact.

Android and iPhone users will have access to BBM Voice and Video calling, as well as the new community building tool – BBM Channels – in the near future.

For more information on BBM, or to download BBM, readers can visit www.bbm.com.

as well other notables in the world of fashion, music and dance.

COURTS and Fly Jamaica aspiring designers’ showcase is scheduled for

tomorrow at 19:00 hrs and various related workshops will he conducted throughout the week, leading up to the big runway shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Follow @BBM on Twitter for the latest news and updates.

About BBM BBM has more than 60 million monthly active customers, with more than 51 million people using BBM an average of 90 minutes per day. BBM customers collectively send and receive more than 10 billion messages each day, nearly twice as many messages per user per day as compared to other mobile messaging apps. Almost half of BBM messages are read within 20 seconds of being received; indicating how truly engaged BBM customers are.

About BlackBerry A global leader in wireless innovation, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of its millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

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Arrangements for annual Kanuku Christmas Fair well under way

By Clifford Stanley

COMMUNITY leaders from 11 Amerindian villages and 7 satellite communities in the newly designated Kanuku Mountains Protected Area (KMPA) in the Central and South Rupununi are busy getting ready for their annual Christmas fair which is now a major showpiece event.

The members of the Kanuku Mountains Community Representative Group Christmas Fair Committee (KMCRG - XmFC) of Region 9 (Upper Essequibo/Upper Takutu) have announced that arrangements are well underway for their annual showcase of handicraft, jewellery, cosmetics, natural products and foods and beverages of the Rupununi.

Their fourth Rupununi Christmas Fair is to be held at the Market Place, Lethem, on Saturday December 21, 2013.

Behi Barzegar, a Volunteer Services Organization (VSO) officer who is assisting, said that following the success of the third annual fair last year, the Rupununi Christmas Fair will be showcasing a wider range of gifts as well as a fuller range of deliciously made foods and

beverages that have now established the fair as a special event in its own right.

The KMCRG, the organisers of the annual fair, comprises community leaders from 11 Amerindian villages and 7 satellite communities in the newly designated Kanuku Mountains Protected Area (KMPA) in the Central and South Rupununi.

The members encourage and ensure the participation of community members in the management of natural resources and social development of their communities.

The objectives of the Christmas Fair include encouragement and promotion of techniques and skills that help preserve locally available fruits, vegetables, herbs, meat and dairy products, to reduce wastage, promote improved quality, encourage product innovation, and stimulate positive attitudes to nutrition, Barzegar recently told the Guyana Chronicle.

Individuals and groups are expected to have on display and for purchase a wide range of products from juices, dried and crystallised fruits, fruit leathers, fruit cheeses, jams, marmalades and jellies, achar, pepper sauce, farine and cassava bread, cured

and dried meats as well as dairy products.

Handmade jewellery, ornaments and baskets will be available next to soaps, creams, herbal oils and tinctures.

In keeping with the spirit of merit for effort and excellence competitions will be held in each category of exhibits with the winners being chosen by a panel of judges who will disburse prizes and awards for winning entries.

The overall winners of each category in the fair last year received awards and through donations from supporters of the fair, the Fair Committee was able to provide them with the cost of flights to and from Lethem as well as a daily allowance.

S h u l i n a b Wo m e n ’s Group won a free Trans Guyana Airways (TGA) return flight, registration, stall hire and expenses for one of their members to attend GuyExpo in Georgetown. Rita Francis from SEPO, Annai was similarly awarded.

H e l p i n g H a n d s Wo m en Producers’ Cooperative Society won an all expenses paid, two-week cookery workshop donated by Mr BirchSmith, formerly of Maggie’s

Restaurant, Georgetown.

LOOKING FOR SPONSORSHIP Behi disclosed that the KMCRG Christmas Fair Committee is looking for sponsorship for awards and prizes that would encourage enterprising activities and motivate participants to continue to develop their skills and to market their products.

She said, “We would be delighted to receive support for the Christmas Fair and its role in promoting the values and traditions, particularly of Amerindian communities in the Rupununi. The XmFC hopes that as many as possible will be able to support this festive event by attending the fair, spreading the news about the event among friends and colleagues, and helping the fund raising activity

by donations in cash or in kind.”

Funds can be placed directly into the GBTI account: Kanuku Mountains Community Representative Group (KMCRG) Christmas Fair, GBTI Lethem Account No: 008600604018, or to Behi Barzegar, Development Consultant Agri-Processing Food Technology Specialist, Lethem, Telephone No. 674-4071 or Jessica George, Cell No. 650-1884.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

ACP’s bitterness over EU’s policy on sugar trade NEW tension on an old issue of trade has arisen between the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries and the European Union (EU).

And it happens to involve sugar as the cause for political bitterness.

While once a major source of employment and foreign exchange for ACP sugar producing states—Barbados (and Guyana) among them — there have been fluctuating fortunes under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

However, when the 28-member EU chose to be inflexible in its pursuit to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) by the scuttling of quotas from tra-

ditional sugar exporting states from 2017 — instead of 2010 — the development had an immediate negative impact for the affected economies.

Last week, when the 13th ACP Ministerial Meeting on Sugar of the 78-member ACP group took place in Fiji, there was understandable deep disappointment for ACP representatives, among them diplomats and technocrats based in Brussels, Belgium.

First, as the ministerial meeting pointed out, there was the expectation, following their last conference in 2011, that the EU’s decision to abolish the quota system on sugar imports would be effective from 2020.

They have also cited interventions by the European Parliament and European sugar stakeholders for an extension of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy to cover the nine-year (2012 - 2020) period but, regrettably, to no avail — so far.

The ministers, aided by their ambassadors and other technical advisers, have, nevertheless, underscored the fact that the sugar-producing countries are small, with vulnerable economies and that the EU’s inflexible stand is contrary to the spirit of earlier stated commitment to both the ‘Lisbon Treaty’ and the ‘Cotonou Agreement’ to guard against “further erosion of preferences” in the series of

new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) currently being negotiated with other parties.

The ACP Ministerial Conference on Sugar also opted to call on the European Commission (EC) to “exercise flexibility” with respect to on-going negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU to avoid the loss of market access to the EU for those countries that may not have completed negotiations in time for necessary legislation to be in place by September 2014.

It would be recalled in this Region, and not just by the sugar-exporting countries, that CARICOM member states and The Dominican Republic were the first to controversially sign in Barbados in October 2008 an EPA/EU accord. It was done amid still lingering concerns over the EPA’s compatibility with rules of the World Trade Organisation.

The question of immediate relevance at this stage is whether the decision-makers of the EU are disposed to objectively consider the plea of the ACP bloc of sugar exporting nations, or to simply leave them to suffer the negative consequences of the abolition of sugar quotas from 2017. (Courtesy yesterday’s Barbados ‘Daily Nation’)

Below rates for October 22, 2013 CURRENCY G$/US$ G$/GBP G$/CAD$ G$/EURO G$/BDOS$ G$/EC$ G$/TT$

BU3ING 204.98625 330.54033 199.16234 280.15471 101.49563 75.18194 31.61562

SELLING 207.42656 334.68275 201.45502 283.69731 102.51313 75.93565 31.93257

For Wednesday October 23, 2013 - 05:30hrs For Thursday October 24, 2013 - 08:30hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Aries March 21 - April 19

Having lots of charm is nothing new for you, especially today. You’re bubbling over with it. All of this magnetism is flowing back to you and helping you keep a positive attitude -- that’s why you’re not sweating the small stuff. Flaky or annoying people can’t get you down either. You’ll just give them a smile and keep going on your merry way. It’s also a great day for negotiations.

Taurus April 20 - May 20

Cutting back on your shopping list of ‘must haves’ is never a fun thing to do. Depriving yourself of the things you really want feels uncomfortable, but you do need to restrict yourself. The more indulgent you are, the more you will regret it later. A life-changing opportunity is coming soon, but you will need some cash to get in on it. You don’t want to miss out on this big chance, so start saving!

Gemini May 21 - June 21

In a troubled relationship, your smallest efforts can help you both overcome whatever big obstacles are standing in your way. It all starts with honesty -- say what you really feel and don’t be afraid to get vulnerable with this person. Whether you’re confessing something to a coworker, baring your heart to a partner, or confiding a deep dark secret to a sibling, you can’t hold anything back. If you are going to trust them, you have to trust them all the way.

Cancer June 22 - July 22

You’ve been telling everyone about the new projects you want to start, and everyone has been wonderfully supportive. But today, they might start to get impatient. It’s time to get going and put your energy into fulfilling your promises. It’s a great day to initiate things anyway, so take advantage of it -- put things in motion! If you don’t do it today, you run the very real risk of getting a reputation for being flaky.

Leo July 23 - August 22

The people you encounter today are going to love loving you. Everyone who thinks you’re cool is ready and raring to let you know it. Accept compliments graciously, because you’ll get lots of them. But try not to let it go to your head. Vanity is certainly nothing to be ashamed of, but it’s something to indulge in with careful consideration.

Virgo August 23 - September 22

Quality time is more important than ever today, and you should be willing to do just about whatever it takes to experience it -- especially in terms of travel. Now might be the time to use up those frequent-flyer miles you’ve been saving. Why not upgrade first class?

You deserve it! After all those years of doing without and saving your pennies, today is a day to indulge a little and make yourself more comfortable.

Libra September 23 - October 22

A social opportunity today will offer just what you’ve been looking for -- new connections! And you will find all these new faces in one place. Play it cool and don’t let them know you are counting on them to add some excitement to your life, because they are counting on you to add more excitement to theirs! You’ll both win in this situation.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21

The relationship you’ve been building with one of your newest friends is getting so intense you’re starting to look Siamese twins joined at the hip! Before you lose all sense of your own identity, step away from them for a while. You need to maintain a modicum of your own individuality, so just slow things down. Why not cut back your socialising to once a week?

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21

This is a day for bargaining, so be prepared to give up something. Are you still trying to persuade someone to agree with you? You cannot oblige people to go along with your demands unless -- of course -- you are willing to return the favour. Need a loan? Work out an interest payment. Need someone’s time? Cook them dinner -- maybe a romantic one! Being in debt doesn’t have to be unpleasant.

Capricorn December 22 - January 19

Instead of being annoyed by the day’s eccentric energy, it will inspire you. Not knowing exactly what’s going to happen next will spark your creativity and help you start up a few new social endeavours. It might be time to join that club, check out that hot nightspot, or explore a new neighbourhood. You have the right attitude and energy to discover something new.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18

At an upcoming family event, you should spend less time with the new relatives and more time with the old relatives. You’ll find great value in relationships like these, if only because you can appreciate your roots right now. Enjoy the instant understanding and unconditional love that comes from someone who has known you all your life. It’s something you should savour together.

Pisces February 19 - March 20

Your growing feelings for someone are helping you overlook their imperfections, which is good -- no one is perfect, and it’s totally appropriate to focus on their good points.

But be careful not to cross over that fine line into illusion. They are who they are, and while you care about them, you can’t ignore that fact. You just have to understand that not everyone sees this person the way you do -- and that’s okay.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Kings retain Trophy ...

as they made back-to-back free throws after being fouled down the stretch to seal the win for the Kings by a 66-60 score-line.

The Kings while being out-rebounded by the Jets 38-20 created problems for the small backcourt matchups, as Neils with 21 points and nine assists, Orin Rose 15 points and Marvin Hartman 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists made

light work of their backcourt counterparts. Their captain Kevin Joseph, while getting 18 points only got support from Rodwell Pellew who netted seven and five assists.

In the process the Kings forced the Jets to turnover the ball 16 times compared to their six while Sampson, in getting 13 points for the Kings, added six rebounds offensively and five defensively. Shane Webster hauled in eight rebounds with three blocked shots and six assists was named the Best Defensive Player-of-the-Final.

His brother Allister scored 16 points and collected six offensively and a similar amount of rebounds defensively in the

From backpage points at 900 yards for a score of 33 points with two V-bulls Ransford Goodluck, who won the first Recorded Shoot two weekends ago, finished second with 117 points with 12 V-bulls. He recorded 48 points with three V-bulls at 300 yards, a possible 35 points with five V-bulls at 600 yards and 34 points with four V-bulls at 900 yards.

National captain Mahendra

Persaud was third with 115 points with 10 V-bulls. He shot 49.5 at 300, 34.3 at 600 and 32.2 at 900 yards.

National vice-captain Dylan Fields was fourth with 109 points – scores of 45.1, 31.00 and 33.00 while Inspector Dane Blair was fifth with an overall 101 points and five V-bulls and scores of 42.4, 27.0 and 32.0 at the three ranges.

Charles Deane recorded 98 points with five V-bulls at ‘O’

Class with scores of 44.3, 30.0 and 24.2. Lt. Col. Terrence Stuart was also in contention but retired due to technical problems with his equipment while debutant Sherwin Felicien had his first taste of competition.

There will be another Recorded Shoot on Sunday at the Timehri Rifle ranges starting at 10:00hrs as preparations continue for the three-day National Championships billed for Saturday, November 10, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th at Timehri.

From backpage of success. We are looking for some progress.

“We are hoping to fast-track this (professional league). We need economic partners and the support of governments.

“The infrastructure would have to be set up and we’d be looking to some experts to help

develop a platform, a business plan and something that we believe could be sustained.

“We will set up a task force or commission to look at the sustainability as far as the financial aspects, franchisees, market size, infrastructure and the format of the league are concerned.”

From backpage effort of their captain Kevin Joseph who was answering his opponents from 3-point territory to some extent.

Sampson began the fourth quarter well. He made his way inside and netted the first six points for the Kings. Neils then polished off the game netting in association with Abdulla Hamid

Braithwaite wins GNRA ...

CONCACAF confedCaribbean could have ... erationThecomprises countries from

North and Central America, and the Caribbean.

A total of 31 nations make up the Caribbean Football Union, including associate member Bonaire and three on the South American continent: Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana

game to go with two blocked shots.

In the supporting game the Half Mile Bulls won against the returning Bankers Trust Falcons 64-51.

It had no real significance because the third position was already taken by the Falcons who had lost their semifinal game to the Kings and should have played the loser of the other

semifinal between the Jets and Retrieve Raiders who failed to take the court without the suspended Dwayne Roberts and lost that game by forfeiture.

The Organising Secretary of the LABA Ashton Angel (Jr), presented the winning Trophy Stall 2013 Championship Trophy and replicas to the winning Kings side including the Most Valuable Player trophy

won by Omally Sampson of the Kings, while young assistant coach Reheim Neils collected the winning Trophy as the other trophies and medals were presented by Ms Yonette Walton and Chenelle Williamson.

Shane Webster was the Most Valuable Player-of-theFinal and Block 122 Flames were the Most Disciplined team.

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

New Zealand lose three before rain plays spoilsport

(REUTERS) - Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan picked up all three New Zealand wickets to fall as the visitors reached 107 for three before rain returned to halt play on day two of the second and final Test yesterday.

Kane Williamson (28) and former captain Ross Taylor (37) were at the crease, trailing the hosts by 175 runs, when a heavy downpour washed out the last session for the second day running.

Former Bangladesh skipper Shakib picked up openers Peter Fulton (14) and Hamish Rutherford (13) before lunch and added the wicket of captain Brendon McCullum (11) in the afternoon.

Williamson retired hurt with a swelling on his face, hit on the helmet grille while trying to duck under a Rubel Hossain bouncer, but to New Zealand’s relief he returned to the crease at the fall of McCullum’s wicket.

Earlier, left-arm paceman Neil Wagner snared three to add to his overnight tally and complete his first five-wicket haul in Tests as Bangladesh were all out for 282 after resuming on 228 for five in the morning.

Wagner, who replaced spinner Bruce Martin for the second Test, picked up the wickets of captain Mushfiqur Rahim, Sohag Gazi, the centurion in the last test, and Rubel.

Young leg-spinner Ish Sodhi picked up the remaining two wickets to fall to take his innings total to three.

The first match of the two-Test series ended in a draw.

Australia’s Hughes needs ‘love’ to blossom, says Ponting

Neil Wagner finishes with 5 for 64, his first five-wicket haul in Tests. (Yahoo Sport)

South Africa get Indian tour but ditch chief executive

By Nick Said

Phillip Hughes

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Serial discard Phillip Hughes is Australia’s best young batsman and just needs a bit of “love and stability” to blossom at Test level, said former captain Ricky Ponting.

The 24-year-old scored an unbeaten 81 in the first innings of the Ashes opening Test in England but was dropped for the rest of the series after failing in his next three turns at the crease.

The demotion was his third from three Ashes series, having struggled against England seamers in 2009 and at home in 2010-11.

“He is clearly our best young batsman in the country,” Ponting told Australian Associated Press of Hughes, who cut his teeth as an opener but was punted down the order during the Ashes.

“The guy knows how to bat. He knows how to score runs. And he’s just the sort of character that you love to have around your team.

“He would be somebody that I would give a spot in the order and let him go about making that his own ... if you give him a bit of love and a bit of stability around his game, I’m sure he’ll come good.”

Ponting retired from international cricket in a series-deciding loss against South Africa a year ago and has since watched Michael Clarke’s side suffer a 4-0 trouncing away to India before a 3-0 capitulation in the Ashes series.

The blame for Australia’s slide has largely been heaped on their struggling batsmen, and the jury remains out as to the make-up of the country’s top six batters less than a month before the return Ashes series starts in Brisbane.

The hot-headed David Warner, who was exiled from Australia’s Ashes campaign for the first two Tests for punching England batsman Joe Root at a bar in the lead-up, has belted consecutive tons in recent days in the domestic one-day tournament to put his hand up for selection.

Warner remains a polarising figure in Australia, where he has been in hot water for skipping club cricket duties and for engaging in profanity-laden rants against local journalists on Twitter.

Ponting, however, went in to bat for Warner and said he would have learned from his transgressions.

“To me, some of the things that have happened have just been almost tell-tale signs of someone just under extreme pressure,” said the Tasmanian.

“The thing about Davey, he hasn’t had a break from any cricket for about two years ... and it’s such a high-pressurised environment, you need to be able to get away and let a bit of steam off here and there.

“Whenever he has tried to do that, he has got himself in a little bit of trouble.

“He would have learnt from that and it will make him a better person and hopefully a better cricketer.”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - South Africa have confirmed a two-Test and three one-day international home series against India later this year, but stripped their chief executive Haroon Lorgat of some of his duties in order to secure the lucrative visit.

Lorgat, a former International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive who has an acrimonious relationship with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), will now be investigated by his former employers.

India’s tour over the South African summer has been the subject of much wrangling since Cricket South Africa (CSA) unilaterally announced a three-Test, seven ODI and two Twenty20 schedule in July.

This has now been drastically curtailed, with severe financial consequences, as the BCCI suggested a longer tour would be too much of a physical burden on their players.

The exact tour dates for the new schedule have still to be confirmed, CSA said in a statement yesterday.

CSA also announced that pending an independent investigation to be convened by the ICC, Lorgat has effectively been left to deal with domestic cricket duties only.

It follows comments made by a former legal adviser to CSA, David Becker, who said the BCCI was bullying the ICC Board into making decisions that benefited Indian cricket

only. “(The ICC) has become powerless in the face of India’s dominance and is forced to succumb to the manipulative tactics of the BCCI just to keep their jobs,” Becker was

Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat quoted in South Africa media last week.

“There is one man who makes decisions at board level and (this is) certainly not in the interests of world cricket.”

BCCI president Narayanaswami Srinivasan is widely held to wield overdue influence because of India’s financial power.

The ICC will now investigate whether Lorgat had any input into these comments, something both he and the CSA have denied.

CSA has ordered the withdrawal of Lorgat from representing it at the ICC’s Chief Executives’ Committee and from having involvement in any aspect of CSA’s relationship with the BCCI.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Vatican to field cricket team, take on Anglican Church

… Vatican launches St Peter’s Cricket Club. Teams will come from Rome’s seminaries, religious colleges; Best players will be selected for Vatican XI

By Philip Pullella

Keona Simmonds of Jamaica moves away from Suriname’s Kallacy Stoke during the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Under-20 Finals at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, yesterday. Simmonds scores in Jamaica’s 5-0 win. (Photo by Marc Stamp)

Jamaica and DR join Cuba and T&T in CFU semis KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) - Jamaica and Dominican Republic (DR) have joined Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago in the semifinals of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Under-20 Finals.

Jamaica sealed their spot by whipping Suriname 5-0 while Dominican Republic cemented their place with a 5-1 win over St Kitts-Nevis in a double-header at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Trench Town Monday night.

Yaqueisi Soriano netted a brace, while Gabreila Romero, Anajaiira Burgos and Winibian Perez also scored for Dominican Republic.

Leranja Williamson scored the lone goal for St Kitts-Nevis.

Jamaica were frustrated in the early part of the match

by Suriname and opened the scoresheet when Kayla Gray shot past goalkeeper Caneisha Barrow in the 32nd minute.

Then three minutes later, Oshay Lawes made it 2-0.

Gray completed her hat-trick with goals in the 47th and 86 minutes while Keona Simmonds also scored in the 72nd minute in an easy win for Jamaica.

The semifinals are scheduled for Friday.

The two finalists will qualify for the CONCACAF Championships and join hosts Cayman Islands as Caribbean representatives.

VATICAN CITY, Rome (Reuters) - The Vatican officially declared its intention to defeat the Church of England on Tuesday - not in a theological re-match nearly 500 years after they split, but on the cricket pitch.

The challenge was launched at the baptism of the St Peter’s Cricket Club.

Vatican officials said the league will be composed of teams of priests and seminarians from Catholic colleges and seminaries in Rome.

The seminaries and religious colleges will play each other in a Twenty20 tournament, where games last about three hours.

After that, the best players will form a Vatican team, which will be called the Vatican XI and challenge the Church of England to form its own team of Anglican priests and seminarians to play in London at Lord’s, the home of cricket.

“The Vatican team will be able to play anybody in the world. We hope to see a Vatican

team playing at Lord’s,” said Alfonso Jayarajah, a Sri Lankan who was the first captain of the Italian national team and a board member of St Peter’s Cricket Club.

“We hope to have ecumenical dialogue through cricket and play a Church of England side by September,” said Father Theodore Mascarenhas, an Indian official at the Vatican’s Council for Culture, who once played as an off-spin bowler.

The idea for a Catholic cricket club was the brainchild of John McCarthy, Australia’s ambassador to the Vatican. He wanted to see something similar to the Clericus Cup, a soccer tournament among the religious colleges and seminaries of Rome.

He enlisted the support of other diplomats and prelates from what he called “other cricket countries” - including Britain, South Africa and Pakistan - and found “anonymous sponsors from the cricketing world”.

In response to a suggestion that cricketing terms and field positions might be translated into Latin or Italian, McCar-

ISTANBUL, (Reuters) World number one Serena Williams showed her determination to defend her WTA Championships title by sweeping to a 6-3, 6-1 win over Angelique Kerber at the season-ending event yesterday.

The 32-year-old American broke early in each set and was too strong for the German, hitting 31 winners.

Kerber, who qualified for the eight-strong tournament only because Maria Sharapova pulled out, had won just five games when she was beaten

by Williams in her opening

match last year.

“Angelique is a great player and right from the start I knew I had to play really well to be able to win this match,” Williams said. “I feel really good.”

Williams has been drawn with Agnieszka Radwanska, Petra Kvitova and Kerber in the red group at Istanbul’s Sinan Erdem dome. Second seed Victoria Azarenka, Li Na, Sara Errani and Jelena Jankovic are in the white group.

Belarussian Azarenka beat Errani 7-6, 6-2 in the tournament’s opening match with the defensively-minded Italian, who led 5-2 in the first set,

man. He still supports the San Lorenzo football club of his native Buenos Aires.

But Mascarenhas, the Indian priest who is the chairman of the St Peter’s Cricket

The players of the Vatican Cricket Club practise in the nets. and their jackets will have the seal of the papacy, two crossed keys.

By all accounts Pope Francis is not much of a cricket

Club said: “I am sure that cricket will be another thing that he accepts as part of his openness.”

Champions League

Messi earns Barca draw, Torres inspires Chelsea win

(REUTERS) - Lionel Messi marked his first start after injury with a goal as Barcelona drew 1-1 at AC Milan while a Fernando Torres double helped Chelsea beat Schalke and Atletico Madrid’s charge continued in the Champions League yesterday.

Robert Lewandowski scored the 82nd-minute winner as Borussia Dortmund put the

brakes on Arsenal’s campaign with a 2-1 win in London that, along with Napoli’s 2-1 win at Olympique Marseille, put three teams on six points in a tight Group F. There is a clear leader in Group G, where Atletico made it three wins from three with a 3-0 victory at Austria Vienna that put them a point away from the 10 that are usually enough

Williams eases past Kerber in WTA Championships

By Ece Toksabay

thy was firm: “English is the language of cricket and will remain the language of cricket.”

The Vatican team will wear the official colours of the tiny city-state - yellow and white -

staying in contention until the tiebreak.

Errani lost that 7-4 and looked to be in pain after suffering a calf injury midway the second set.

SERENA WILLIAMS

“I was a little rusty at the beginning,” Azarenka told reporters. “Overall it was important to take that first set. It was a big turnaround point.”

Czech Kvitova battled to a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in the last match of the day after breaking early in both sets.

“I feel really happy - it was a tough match for the first round,” said Kvitova, who won the tournament two years ago.

Today, Li Na takes on Italy’s Errani, Azarenka plays Jelena Jankovic and Williams faces Radwanska.

to send teams into the last 16 of Europe’s elite club competition.

They are five points clear of second-placed Zenit St Petersburg, who made the most of the sixth-minute sending off of Porto’s Hector Herrera - the competition’s fastest-ever from two yellow cards - to beat their Portuguese hosts 1-0.

In Group E, Chelsea moved level on six points with Schalke 04 at the top with a 3-0 win in Germany where Torres celebrated his 100th start for the club with the fifth-minute opener and another after 69 minutes before Eden Hazard added a late goal.

The top two are clear of thirdplaced Basel, who have four points ahead of Steaua Bucharest on one, after those two teams shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in Romania.

Celtic got their first points in Group H after a James Forrest penalty on the stroke of halftime and a deflected shot by Beram Kayal early in the second half helped them to a 2-1 win over Ajax Amsterdam, who got a consolation in added time.

Barca are in charge of that group with seven points, while Milan - who had gone ahead through Robinho’s ninth-minute opener before Messi levelled after 23 minutes - have five points. Celtic are on three points with Ajax bottom on one.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (C) challenges Sulley Muntari (R) and Kaka (L) of AC Milan during their Champions League soccer match at the San Siro stadium in Milan, yesterday.

(REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo)

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Beckham had to go after celebrity got in the way, Ferguson LONDON, England (Reuters) - David Beckham thought he was too big for Manchester United and later surrendered part of his career by moving to the United States to play for LA Galaxy, former manager Alex Ferguson said in his autobiography published yesterday.

Beckham, who burst into the limelight after coming through the ranks at United, features heavily in ‘My Autobiography’, published by Hodder and Stoughton, Ferguson’s recollections of the years since the 1999 treble-winning season.

Ferguson’s relationships with former skipper Roy Keane, current striker Wayne Rooney and arch-managerial rivals such as Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger also get plenty of wordage.

Ferguson, 71, ended 27 years in charge of one of the world’s biggest football clubs last season having claimed a 13th Premier League title for the club.

During a time of huge change in the football landscape, the one constant to emerge was Ferguson’s vicelike grip on authority in the face of the big egos and even bigger salaries of those under his command.

He was regularly challenged but invariably emerged on top.

Beckham is a prime example, his relationship with Ferguson damaged irrecoverably after an FA Cup defeat by Arsenal in 2003 after which Ferguson kicked a boot at Beckham after he was “dismissive of my criticism”.

Ferguson said instead of “becoming a United legend” Beckham allowed his love of celebrity to get in the way.

“David was the only player I managed who chose to be famous, who made it his mission to be known outside the game”, Ferguson wrote in a chapter devoted to Beckham.

“I felt uncomfortable with the celebrity aspect of his life.”

After the “boot” incident which left Beckham with a cut forehead, Ferguson told the United board “he had to go”.

“The minute a Manchester United player thought he was bigger than the manager he had to go,” Ferguson said.

“David thought he was bigger than Alex Ferguson. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Alex Ferguson or Pete the Plumber. The authority is what counts.

“You cannot have a player taking over the dressing room.

That was the death knell for him.”

Beckham, who won six league titles with United, was sold to Real Madrid soon afterwards and eventually joined LA Galaxy in 2007 - a move that baffled Ferguson.

Roy Keane

David Beckham

“There was no foot-balling reason for him to go to America,” Ferguson said. “He started making decisions that rendered it hard for him to develop into a really great footballer.

“I would look at him and think, “What are you doing, son?”

Roy’s body is his tongue,” Ferguson wrote. “What I noticed that day as I was arguing with him was his eyes narrowed to black beads.

“It was frightening to watch. And I’m from Glasgow.

“What you did in that video was a disgrace,” Ferguson recalls of his reaction to Keane’s outburst.

Wayne Rooney came close to leaving in 2010 when he said he would not sign a new contract because the club did not share his ambition and his relationship with Ferguson was again strained in the Scot’s

BLACK BEADS Ferguson also saw off former skipper Keane after the tempestuous Irishman lambasted his team mates on the club’s TV channel in 2005.

“The hardest past of

Radford is new head coach of Glamorgan

GLAMORGAN, England (CMC) - The Assistant coach of the West Indies cricket team, Toby Radford, has been named as the new head coach of English county side Glamorgan.

Radford,41, also a former Middlesex and Sussex batsman, will take over from Matthew Mott following a season where Glamorgan reached the final of the YB40.

“It was great to see the team reaching a Lord’s final at the end of the season,” said Radford. “… and I believe we have a wonderful opportunity of building on this success and developing a team of which the Welsh nation can be proud.”

In 2010, Radford moved to the Caribbean to take up a post at the newly formed High Performance Centre in Barbados from

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday October 23, 2013)

Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Roy Fredericks-163 (WI vs NZ, Jamaica, 1972) Jimmy Adams-2204 ODI runs Today’s Quiz: Curtly Ambrose took 405 Test wickets. How many of them he captured overseas?

Who has struck most sixes in ODI cricket to date? How many?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

where he became involved with the main We s t I n d i e s squad firstly as a batting coach and then Ottis Gibson’s assistant.

Gibson, himself, had been linked with the Glamorgan role but the WICB made it clear last week that they had not been aware of his interest.

Radford will join Hugh Morris, the outgoing managing direcToby Radford tor of England cricket who has returned to his former county as chief executive, as part of a new management team at Glamorgan and is set to begin on November 1.

“I am honoured to have been offered this position and look forward to working with chief executive and director of cricket Hugh Morris, and the playing and coaching staff of Glamorgan in bringing success back to the county I supported as a youngster.” said Radford whose playing career has been limited to 14 first-class matches.

final season.

“Wayne said we should have pursued Mesut Ozil who had joined Real Madrid from Werder Bremen. My reply was that it was none of his business.

I told him it was his job to play and perform.

“It was a sorry episode for Wayne because it portrayed him as a money man. With the fans, it left a residue of mistrust.”

Ferguson, who said he twice turned down the England job, criticised the FA’s decision to allow Rooney a week’s holiday before Euro 2012 because he was banned for the first two games.

“It was not wise,” he said.

“If he missed a couple of games for United it could take him four or five to get his sharpness back. He would receive no leniency from me.”

While Ferguson says Rooney “has a gift for producing great moments” his highest praise is reserved for Cristiano Ronaldo, the man bought to replace Beckham and who he said gave him a “surge of excitement” when he first saw him play in Lisbon.

“Cristiano was the most gifted player I managed,” wrote Ferguson. “He surpassed all the other great ones I coached at United - and I had many.”

“We lost our wizard to Real Madrid in the end,” added Fer-

guson, who resisted the Spanish club’s bid to sign him in 2008. “I know you want to go to Real Madrid (Ferguson told Ronaldo in 2008), but I would rather shoot you than sell you to that guy now (Real president Ramon Calderon) now.”

While Ferguson’s sometimes strained relationship with Wenger turned into one of mutual respect, the same could not be said of his dealings with former Liverpool manager Benitez.

Ferguson said the Spaniard had no interest in forming a relationship, branding him a “silly man”.

“Once you made it personal, you had no chance, because I could wait. I had success on my side,” Ferguson said.

There is little room for regret in Ferguson’s book, although losing the title in the dying seconds of the 2011-12 season to Manchester City still hurts.

“Of all the setbacks I endured, nothing compared to losing the league to City,” he said, although regaining it last year proved sweet revenge.

“My final thought on City was that they couldn’t call on enough players who understood the significance of what they had achieved by winning the first title for 44 years.”

LABA invites affiliate clubs to special meeting

A SPECIAL members meeting has been called by the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) for its affiliated clubs - Kings, Retrieve Raiders, Amelia’s Ward Jets, Block 22 Flames, Victory Valley Royals, Wismar Pistons and Bankers Trust Falcons - that will deal with issues surrounding the six-year suspension of national forward Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar‘ Roberts.

Other related issues to that suspension will also be addressed, says LABA in a release. The meeting at the Mackenzie Sports Club Lounge starts at 20.00hrs tomorrow and all the clubs are asked to send two representatives who are listed on their Dwayne ‘Brown roster of membership with the Sugar‘ Roberts association.

It is felt that this meeting will look at the reasons behind the actions of the association and the response it got from the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and for which there is an apparent fallout between the governing Federation which has suspended the association, and the regional Linden body concerning what has taken place.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday October 23, 2013

Windies Hikers men upset defending camp out in Florida champs GCC on opening night before tough tours GT&T National Indoor Hockey Championships

By Michael DaSilva

West Indies have some fun on their Elite Team Tour of the USA, Florida, on Monday.

ORLANDO, Florida (CMC) - Members of the West Indies cricket team have arrived in Florida for a one-week training camp as part of preparations for their upcoming tours of India and New Zealand.

The players will be involved in several team building exercises – indoors and outdoors – as well as interaction with Dr Jason Scott Hamilton, the Jamaican Elite Sports Psychologist, who has worked with them for the last six months.

“We want to create a culture of unity, winning and overall success. We are not saying you’re not going to lose games – every sports team will lose games – but it is how we lose. We should always go down to the end in every game,” said president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Dave Cameron, who travelled to Florida with the players.

“We are for partnerships which will see the brand West Indies Cricket continue to grow. We want to see our players develop on and off the field and see our cricket reach the top again.”

The Windies have not played a Test match for almost a year now and the team have been training hard to ensure players stay fit since they will be on the road for a long time.

West Indies will play two Tests and three ODIs during their tour of India, commencing with the first Test from November 6-10 in Kolkata.

“As a team we are working towards bigger and better things so I’m really happy to be here at the camp for this week,” said fast bowler Tino Best after the first session on Monday.

“We have the motto ‘One Team, One Goal’ and as players we can always get more information and form a closer bond. We have two tough tours of India and New Zealand coming up, so this will form the beginning of what we believe is something special.”

The second Test - Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell match - will be played in Mumbai from November 14 to 18.

Following their India tour, West Indies will be in New Zealand for three Tests, five ODIs and two T20 Internationals.

Windies legend back on county duty

PORTSMOUTH, United Kingdom - Hampshire legend Gordon Greenidge was the star attraction as he opened a new learning facility at the Ageas Bowl.

The former West Indies opening batsman was on hand to unveil The Orbit – the Hampshire Cricket Community Trust Study Centre.

And the man who scored more than 7 500 Test runs and enjoyed a long-standing association with the county that stretched between 1970 and 1987 still has great affinity with Hampshire.

Greenidge, who is now 62 years old, said: ‘I was invited to come over and perform the opening of the centre and it was an honour to do it.

“I am the patron of the Gordon Greenidge Primary School. And the project I’ve embarked upon is to develop a library and a learning centre. We’ve filled two big 40-foot containers with books and things but we’re hoping to get some computers now.”

In the suite, pictures of West Indies and Hampshire legends are on display as part of Black History Month with Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall and Greenidge among those featured.

‘Northlands Road held a lot of dear things in my heart and I’m hoping this new venue will give recognition to those great players

Gordon Greenidge who contributed to Hampshire,’ said Greenidge.

‘It’s always fantastic to come back to visit the county where I have so many fond memories.’

HIKERS men’s hockey team upset defending champions Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) hockey team, on the opening night of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company-sponsored National Men’s Hockey Championship which got under way on Monday evening at the National Gymnasium.

The Hikers Club made a clean sweep of the opening night’s competition, not only winning their men’s game against arch rivals GCC, but the Hikers Divas team managed to upstage the GCC Spartans (ladies) by a 2-1 margin.

When GCC men and their Hikers counterparts met in the final last year, the Bourda team won by a 5-4 margin, while GCC Tigers (ladies) edged Old Fort 3-2 to win their fourth consecutive GT&T Women’s title.

In the feature match on Monday night, Hikers captain Robert Fernandes opened his team’s account with a brilliant steal just two minutes into the match, to nail his shot in the GCC net and repeated the feat ten minutes later to give Hikers a 2-0 lead.

GCC managed to regain their footing with a goal just before the half, as Kevin Spencer dragged goalkeeper Azad DeAbreu to his right before sliding the ball between his legs for the goal.

Randy Hope extended the Hikers’ lead with a blinding shot four minutes into the second half and although Orland Semple managed one more for GCC, the Hikers held on for the win.

The Hikers Divas managed to upstage the young GCC Spartans in their ladies division clash with former nationals Amanda Garnett and Avonda James netting one each in their 2-1 victory.

The Spartans secured a penalty stroke in the opening minutes of the game which was converted by captain and national striker Gabriella Xavier but failed to get past goalkeeper Jonelle Webster for the remainder of the match.

Hikers Revelation scored their largest victory ever in their short existence by destroying the Old Fort Heats by 9-0 in the other ladies fixture of the evening.

The Heats are competing in their first competition and found it difficult against Revelation, as leading Revelation striker Latacia Chung scored a hat-trick along with teammate Tekesha Deleon.

Charlyn Elliot managed to score a double while Nicole Eastman rounded out the score sheet for Revelation with a single.

The men’s second division saw Old Fort `B’ crush Saints by a 5-1 margin with Shaquille Thomas and Timothy Baker leading the charge with doubles while teammate Richard Thomas added one more for the victors.

Saints’ lone goal was scored by Parmanand Dindial.

The Hikers Recruits routed GCC in the other second division fixture with Aroydy Branford scoring a hat-trick en route to victory.

Travon Younge, Leon Bacchus, Jamarj Assanah, Reginald Harper and Michael Harding scored one each to complete the Hikers’ list.

Eric Hing, Kareem McKenzie and Steven Xavier were the goalscorers for GCC. In the lone Veterans fixture of the evening Hikers defeated Old Fort by 5-3 with Devin Munroe leading the charge for the Hickers with a hat-trick. Sheldon Corlette and Brian Asregado scored the other two for the victors.

Old Fort’s goals came through the efforts of Dwayne Allen, Ian Nicholson and Dexter Wyles.

Matches continue every evening at the National Gymnasium until Sunday when the finals for all four divisions will be contested from 16:00hrs.

Sport CHRONICLE

The Chronicle is at http://www.guyanachronicle.com

Kings retain Trophy Stall Regulation Open Trophy

Windies camp out in Florida before tough tours

See s t on pa ory ge 35

By Joe Champan

KINGS retained the Linden Amateur Basketball Association’s (LABA) Trophy Stall Regulation Open Championship with a 66-60 win over Amelia’s Ward Jets last Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.

National skipper Steve Neils (Jr) returned with his natural scoring touch while power forward Omally Sampson played his heart out in the paint to ensure the Kings retained their Trophy Stall Regulation title with an impressive display of all-round basketball to defeat Amelia’s Ward Jets.

Playing in what was a repeat of last year’s final when they also halted the Jets, Kings were led by the superb effort of Neils, who not only led their scoring with 21, inclusive of three from 3-point territory, but also had a game-high nine assists, while Omally Sampson, later named the Most Valuable Player-of-the-Final in a race with Neils, shouldered them all the way with his strong inside moves. He posted 13 points and battled the Jets’ big men to grab 11 big rebounds in the process.

The final score did not reflect the frustration which stepped in for the Jets in the final stage with about two minutes of the game.

The experienced Kings’ former national Abdulla Hamid also played a key role in handling Shane Webster down low and another

Trophy Stall’s Most Valuable Player Omally Sampson (at left) and Ashton Angel (Jr) at right. former national Marvin Hartman helped with his one-step flashing moves at times in tandem with Neils, causing the defence to break open, and this helped his team negate the powerful Webster duo of Shane and Allister.

In the end, the Jets backcourt players were unable to match the play of Neils, Rose and Hartman collectively and eventually this never allowed the Jets a chance to settle and take off.

The Kings were off to a fine start early and at halftime were cruising 23-17 as shooting guard Orin Rose got his team in a rhythm when he scored ten of those points in the first quarter, studded with three three-pointers As the second half got under way, Kings’ Neils stepped up and nailed back-to-back treys as he took control, scoring 10 points in this second quarter session. The Kings held sway 38-33 at halftime

Caribbean could have professional league in 3-4 years - Webb (REUTERS) - A professional Caribbean league spanning the mainly island nations would boost soccer’s development in the region and could be a reality in three or four years, CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb said yesterday.

Webb said although the idea was still in its infancy, he was setting up a commission to examine whether it could become a reality. A previous proposal for a professional league failed to materialise three years ago.

During a break at CONCACAF’s Sports Summit of its 41 member associations, Webb told journalists on a conference call there was support for the idea from ex-players from the region like Dwight Yorke who played for Manchester United and Aston Villa.

“We will do a full analysis to see how realistic it is and then establish some strategic business plan so this could become a reality in three to four years,” said Webb.

“We have heard from various players, such as Dwight Yorke, about the impact a professional league might have had on his career. Perhaps if we had had a professional set-up during his development his talents may have been even greater.

“We have so much talent in the region; the game here needs a professional league, a professional approach. It would be good for the Caribbean to have a professional league, if we could sustain it.”

FOUR COUNTRIES Only four Caribbean countries have appeared in the World Cup in its near 84-year history: Cuba (1938), Haiti (1974), Jamaica (1998) and Trinidad & Tobago (2006).

Webb added: “We have had only two S countries from the English-speaking Caribbean pa ee ge 31 qualify for the World Cup, and let’s not have to wait another 100 years before we get that level

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as they fought off the inside presence of the Jets’ big men Shane and Allister Webster.

The fact is that the Kings were getting their shots to drop and this posed tremendous problems for the Jets who were hoping to stall that aspect of the Kings and find their way inside.

However, Kings’ Sampson took on the role of taking it inside and in so doing he helped his perimeter players to get room and key open shots.

By the end of the third quarter the Kings were up 56-49 and Sampson, with some deft passes from Hamid, began to make his presence felt with some easy See layups. This strategy thwarted the Websters’ page 31 game as they failed to effectively counter the outside shooting of the Kings despite the fine

Braithwaite wins GNRA second Recorded Shoot

REIGNING Guyana and Caribbean individual shooting champion Lennox Braithwaite was back in winning ways when he won last weekend’s Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) second Recorded Shoot at the Timehri Rifle ranges.

Braithwaite, shooting in ‘X’ Class, dropped only two points in the match held at the 300m 600 and 900 yards ranges for an overall aggregate of 118 points with 12 V-bulls from a possible 120 points in hot conditions

Lennox Braithwaite with the wind changing direction and intensifying at very short notice.

The defending champion shot a possible 50 points with six V-bulls at 300 yards and was also bang on target at 600 yards with a possible 35 points with Se four V-bulls page e while he 31 dropped two

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013