Guyana Times Daily

New school, hospital for Region 2 this year

By IndrawattIe natram

Major plans are in store for Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), the Regional Chairman Parmanand Persaud has said.

Speaking with Guyana Times during a recent interview, Persaud said emphasis will be placed on the health, education and energy sectors, as the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) works closely with the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration to move the region forward in 2015.

He pointed out that in the health sector, a state-of-the-art hospital will be constructed within the compound of the Suddie Public Hospital. Additionally, a new wing will be added to the Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital to facilitate surgeries.

As the RDC works to improve regional health facilities, he said provisions will be made to have another batch of residential doctors and surgeons deployed to the region.

Meanwhile, in the education sector, a new building will be constructed for the Abrams Zuil Secondary School while a secondary school programme will be implemented in Upper Pomeroon. Maintenance work will also be ex-

ecuted on other schools within the district.

The Regional Chairman further disclosed, Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL’s) intention to install three new Wartsila power plants in the region, in an effort to boost the supply of electricity.

He pointed out that in the field of agriculture, a Rice Cereal Factory will be constructed. Local farmers, he said will be encouraged to supply the factory with their paddies.

But Persaud made it clear that the RDC’s plans would materialise if they are approved by the National Assembly.

Reflecting on 2014, Persaud said though the region was confronted with several challenges; the RDC was successful in completing its capital and current work programmes. The council completed 100 per cent of the projects that were outlined under the 2014 capital work programme while it achieved 99.6 per cent of the plans outlined under the current programme.

Opposition lacks regard for PPP/C supporters – Teixeira

Presidential Advisor and Political Scientist Gail Teixeira

Presidential Advisor and Political Scientist

Gail Teixeira says if any of the Opposition political parties become Government they would lack regard for the supporters of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Administration.

Speaking during a televised interview, she said that the behavioural pattern of these Opposition parties suggests a lack of patriotism and respect for the democratic norms and traditions of the country.

Teixeira explained that these trends are dangerous.

“If you’re in the Opposition, you speak for all Guyanese, you speak for all the people, obviously you have supporters in different groups, the Opposition has, every time in Parliament on major issues…they speak about their constituency, therefore are they saying to the people that voted for the PPP/C that they don’t count? That if they were to get into Government then they don’t count?”

She further stated that actions from members of the Opposition clearly depict that Guyana will be governed by dictators if they were to be elected Government in the upcoming elections.

“The Opposition I believe are the ones that are dictatorial. They’re the ones; you have a rather unusual situa-

tion in Guyana where the opposition is in fact the dictatorship.”

Teixeira explained that the Opposition had abused their one-seat majority in Parliament to rule Guyana outside of Government, by shutting down major projects that could have benefited the nation.

“They feel that they can run the Government from outside of Government, they feel that they can run the Government from Parliament, they can cut the budget…”

She said the Opposition, over the past (3) three years, axed some G$90 billion from the country’s budget therefore forcing the Government to become unpopular since they cannot deliver the goods.

“So basically, the Opposition has been misbehaving and I say to the Guyanese public, do not take lightly the behaviour of the Opposition… because they’re casting their shadow as to what could happen if they were to ever get into Government.”

Considering the Opposition members are taking “anti-national and dictatorial positions” outside of Government, Teixeira noted that one would “hate” to think what would happen if they become the ruling administration.

On the topic of dictatorship, Teixeira highlighted that the accusation of the PPP/C being a nondemocratic party is absolutely incorrect.

She pointed out that if Guyana was indeed under dictatorial rule, then freedom of speech, press freedom, the right to protest, among other human rights would be nonexistent.

Given the fact APNU/ PNC’s history came out of a background of dictatorship, the chances of them becoming dictatorial again are high.

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud

Thundery

High

Low

‘Secret talks’ – a slap in the face of democracy

By Michael younge

The decision by the Alliance for Change (AFC) to force A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to agree to talks in secret, as a prerequisite for moving negotiations forward on its proposed pro-democracy alliance, is being seen as a slap in the face of internal party democracy.

The move is also being widely viewed as an attempt to deprive the grassroots supporters of both parties of the right to know what deals are being struck, and to also criticise the path chosen by their elected representatives to move negotiations forward as far as the coalition is concerned.

A sitting AFC Region Six Councillor, Erwin Abdulla said that he was not in support of any talks under secrecy. He claimed when contacted by the Guyana Times on Saturday that he was not informed as what talks were taking place amongst the Executive members of his party and the APNU.

“How can I support talks under secrecy? The talks are under secrecy so I do not know what they are talking about”, he stated before declining to comment further.

Pressed as to whether the Executive members of the party had discussed the pro-democracy alliance with other stakeholders and leaders in the Region, Abdulla responded in the negative. He reiterated that he is unable to say anything further until he receives clarity from his party.

“The AFC understands that it cannot negotiate the terms and conditions of any alliance with the PNC-led APNU in the public domain. It is too risky. It knows fully-well that it is bound to lose critical support from its membership across the country especially if they are in disagreement with aspects of the proposal”, a political analyst told this newspaper on Saturday during an interview.

The analyst continued that it is not surprising that again the AFC came up with a plan and strategy to keep its membership “at bay” while negotiating the terms of the coalition with the APNU with the hope of securing electoral support at this year’s General and Regional Elections.

“There is a lot of resentment for both the PNCR and APNU within the ranks of the AFC. Mr Ramjattan and his bed fellow David Granger knows this…so it is not strange that they both would agree to keep their disagreements and policy differences during the negotiations stages under the wraps. There is too much to lose”, the analyst opined.

The Analyst said further that by agreeing to ‘secret’ talks, the AFC and APNU are railroading the notion of internal democracy within their parties. He further argued that these two parties are again practicing politics of elitism and division.

“They want to withstand any rejection from their grassroots base and individuals within their ranks that would offer stern objections to some of the deals that would be struck. The two parties, are effectively avoiding public scrutiny and criticisms from the lower ranks of the party in their desperation to broker an electoral alliance”, he concluded.

When contacted on Saturday for a comment on the matter, PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke declined to comment pointing this newspaper in the direction of the party leader David Granger. Several calls placed to Granger’s mobile phone went unanswered.

This newspaper was also

unsuccessful in securing comments from the Alliance for Change and its Executives on Saturday.

However, when contacted by the Guyana Times on last Monday, APNU’s General Secretary Joseph Harmon explained that from where he

stood as APNU’s General Secretary, secret talks would not be an issue.

He opined that he was in favour of the AFC’s stated prerequisite to dialogue, that is, a secret agreement on the part of both parties.

According to Harmon, APNU will be discussing the agreement in the near future, but he was unable to say when this will be.

Meanwhile, Co-Chair of APNU, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine had said that from his view, the electorate was very much “interested” in what the future holds in terms of an APNU/ AFC coalition contesting the next General and Regional Elections.

In an invited comment to the Guyana Times, Dr Roopnaraine said: “Voters, I believe, are interested in whatever alliance that can secure a victory at the upcoming elections.”

But a Senior Member of the APNU who requested anonymity on Saturday criticised the party’s decision to ply the route of secrecy explaining, “For the sake of transparency and achieving membership-buy in, any negotiation with the AFC at this point should be done in

the clear view of the public”. The member said strongly that if talks had been done in the “open” it would have resulted in the building of trust and public confidence in the two partners removing any aspiration that a “backdoor approach was being used to formulate the coalition”.

“That is all I will say that this point. Despite my views, I am guided by the comrade leader’s position and those of my colleagues. I already said how I felt and I am on record as doing so”, the senior member articulated.

Another former AFC Councillor Haseef Yusuf, when contacted on Saturday, condemned the move by his party to enter into coalition talks with the APNU arguing strongly that the residents of Region Six are being misled constantly on the party’s stance with respect to the PNC and APNU, and any possible alliance.

“A lot of things have been happening secretly between the two parties. It shows and smacks treachery…the people in Berbice remains in the dark. They are continuing to say on (the TV programme) Alliance on the move that there is no intention to coalesce with the APNU. They are not coming out on the open and they are not being truthful”, he argued. He explained that the many Berbicians are opposed to the move by the AFC. He alleged that a few members of the Executive are abusing their power and failing to consult their grassroots support base.“We are very suspicious of these secret talks”, he maintained.

When the AFC was launched back in 2005, it promised that it would never enter a coalition with APNU or the PNC under any circumstances. When it became more popular, the party began shifting its policy positions and political style to gain more electoral support.

The party is also been criticised, as of recent, for shifting and reneging on some of its core founding principles which made it stand out in the political realm.

Khemraj Ramjattan

Sunday Editor: Michael Younge

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Diasporas

The attendance of President Donald Ramotar at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Overseas Indian Day) meeting in India; the announcement of massive grants and loans for infrastructural development being awarded; and finally the award of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to the President all bring to the fore the growing significance of diasporas in the overall thrust for development by members of the Third World.

In the first place, it is extremely ironic that these diasporas were created by Europe in a process that laid the foundations for their remarkable economic “miracles” in the last three centuries.

In his groundbreaking work, “How Europe underdeveloped Africa”, our own Dr Walter Rodney summarised the effect on that continent from which Europe shipped millions of persons to provide free labour for its plantations and mines. The analogous process occurred later with Indian, Portuguese and Chinese as indentured labour in Guyana.

In their new locations, including Guyana, the African Diaspora had no choice but to remain here and attempt to reconstruct their lives and communities, which they did heroically. With the Indian, Portuguese and Chinese labourers, the vast majority of them also decided to make Guyana their home.

The “Back to Africa” movement of Marcus Garvey in the 1930s fired the imagination of the African Diaspora in the west (including Guyana) about their connections with Africa. After WWII a new consciousness of the commonality of challenges faced by the African Diaspora and Africa which was still mostly under colonial rule became apparent at the Pan-African Congress of 1945 held in Manchester, England and attended by activists from the US, Caribbean and Africa.

The Black Power Movement in the USA occurred in parallel with the Independence movement in Africa and the Caribbean in the 1960s and many persons from the African diaspora, including WEB DuBois and Stokley Carmichael returned to Africa to assist in rebuilding that continent.

While they were followed by some others, rather disappointingly, the US African-Americans never pooled their material and human resources to assist in a significant way, in the removal of Africa from its “underdeveloped” state.

We recently learned during the testimony of Dr Patricia Rodney at the Commission of Inquiry into the assassination of her husband Walter in 1980 that he had made the decision to return to Africa at the beginning of that year. Dr Rodney was a Pan-Africanist and he had lived and taught in Tanzania between 1968-1974 before returning to Guyana.

While the Pan-African movement appears to have faltered under the weight of the challenges faced by Africa, which continues to be exploited by outside states in “neocolonial” arrangements, the Chinese Diaspora, especially from the USA, Hong Kong and Macau, played a very critical role in the remarkable rise of China in the last four decades.

They were able to provide key roles in overcoming technological, financial and organisational challenges faced by China. In turn, the countries with overseas Chinese became much more financially secure because of the opportunities opened up for them.

With the departure of most of the Portuguese descendants in the 1960s and 1970s, the last diasporians Guyanese Indians were generally more attuned to India as from a cultural and religious perspective.

Towards this end, while the Indian Government had maintained an “Indian Cultural Centre”, the Guyanese Indians evolved and maintained their own cultural and religious norms in some ways quite at variance with what prevailed in India. For instance, while caste has almost disappeared from Guyana with the exception of the odd Kshatriya - it unfortunately remains a major force in India.

India, under the leadership of its new vibrant PM Narendra Modi, appears poised to make its push to replicate the Chinese “miracle” and seeks to involve its Diaspora. If the Chinese experience is any guide, this experience should be to the benefit of both India and the new homelands of its Diaspora.

GuySuCo currently utilises a significant amount of firewood

Dear Editor,

Once again permit me to offer a response to Tony Vieira’s letter. I am choosing to ignore the intemperate language and unnecessary resort to ad hominem commentary.

Permit me also to acknowledge the balanced, respectful and carefully reasoned letter written on this subject by Ken Norman.

As with some of Mr Vieira’s points, I agree fully with all points raised by Mr Norman. I hope that in perusing my response below he will appreciate that the installation of the briquetting technology has the potential of reducing the corporation’s dependence and cost on firewood in the short term (until sugar supply to the industry is hopefully addressed) and the potential of revenue generation through co-generation of electricity for supply to the national grid in the long term.

In Mr Viera’s original letter to which I responded, he made the claim that energy briquettes from bagasse is an unworkable technology and additionally sought information on whether this technology had been tried at GuySuCo. (Guyana Sugar Corporation).

Since energy briquettes are used in many places around the world to generate energy and since the IAST had indeed conducted two tests at GuySuCo, I sought in my previous letter to address both concerns expressed by Mr Vieira. My letter dealt with facts, not conjecture, and I carefully avoided other issues raised. I also very carefully indi-

cated that I was restricting my response to only these two issues, as I retain no ability to respond on diverse issues affecting GuySuCo itself. I therefore am quite stunned to have my letter described as misleading. Every single thing I recorded in my letter is completely factual and verifiable.

Had my invitation to review our reports and the video footage of the tests been accepted, then Mr Vieira would have been able to ascertain for himself all the details of what were recommended. It would also have avoided him having to make some of the arguments he puts forward in his latest letter, for they have been taken into account.

I would like to earnestly suggest that Science and Technology solutions cannot be debated in short letters in the dailies without commentators investing time to understand what is being suggested.

If individuals wish to offer criticism, they must invest the time to understand the entirety of what has been done. Had Mr Vieira taken the time to peruse our proposed solution he would have appreciated, and probably agreed with what is being proposed, as it takes so much of what he has written into consideration.

GuySuCo currently utilises a significant amount of firewood for frequent startups of its furnaces to power its boilers. One of the main factors causing this is the intermittent supply of canes to the factories. This is acknowledged as an issue in the work we did. GuySuCo

as an industry obviously needs to address this urgently, but this is the situation currently. Questions on what is being done to address cane supply is best directed at GuySuCo.

The cost for firewood accrues measurably towards the cost of converting cane to sugar currently at GuySuCo.

Firewood is used for the start-up of the furnaces so that the furnace can be heated up to the temperatures required for loose bagasse introduced into the furnace from the top to combust in the upper third of the furnace.

If loose bagasse is used instead of firewood to achieve the required temperature range in this startup phase, a large amount of bagasse must be used as the combustion is inefficient. Therefore, firewood is used. This, of course, is exacerbated if the factory is not processing a sufficient volume of cane to produce either excess or sufficient bagasse.

Since it is a fact that some sugar estates such as the one at Albion generally has excess bagasse. Conversion of this excess into briquettes allows for complete eradication of the use of firewood.

Our tests have demonstrated that it is simpler to load the briquettes into the furnaces for the start-up phase (particularly if some simple conveyors are installed), and that the time for the required temperature ranges to be achieved is significantly reduced.

There is also less potential damage to the furnaces

walls when briquettes are used as opposed to firewood.

Furthermore, the briquettes have between (2-4) two to four percent moisture content, whilst the firewood typically has between 45 to 50 percent moisture, so that a significant amount of the energy generated by using firewood is spent in the latent heat of vaporisation for the moisture in the wood; creating steam that is simply exhausted and therefore wasted.

The cost of producing briquettes at for example Albion and transporting them to Uitvlugt is a fraction of the cost of purchasing firewood, not to mention the environmental degradation caused by deforestation.

Our recommendation is not to supplant the ongoing feeding of the furnaces by loose bagasse once the required temperature ranges for combustion has been achieved, but to start-up the furnaces using this cheaper source of fuel (briquettes).

It is a fact that if the sugar factories at GuySuCo are fed uninterruptedly with canes to their fullest capacity (obviously a very desirable situation which GuySuCo must work diligently at or face the inevitable), feeding loose bagasse into the system will still not consume all of the bagasse created.

The energy conversion ratios and the required energy of the plant is simple enough to calculate to demonstrate this is factual, and this is exactly what obtains at many other locations in the world.

“Boys will be boys.” These youngsters were seen enjoying themselves by the 1763 monument

GGDMA only looking out for big miners

Dear Editor,

I note a recent article, “Small miners call for more fiscal benefits as gold loses its sheen”, where the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) was again calling for additional support from the Government.

After perusing the article, I noticed the GGDMA was calling for changes to key mining policies for more fiscal benefits. However, I wish to point out that as a concerned small miner, I am aware if many instances where the GGDMA participated and contributed to the development of the very same policies they are now calling to be changed.

The GGDMA cannot be part of developing policies as a major stakeholder then after they wake up some mornings after criticise it.

This is a perfect example of

how two-faced the GGDMA can be no wonder I and many other small miners never considered joining the Association. The Association is only looking out for big miners and this is a fact. I challenge the Association to make any specific reference where they intervene to assist small miners.

Notwithstanding the challenges of the global drop in price for gold, miners still find it lucrative and very profitable. Despite this, the Association and big miners still moan and cry while they continue to invest and diversify in other sectors. If not all, most of the Executive Members of the GGDMA continues to expand or diversify their mining operations without suffering any major losses. However, the small miners are the one struggling, but still surviving with the current glob-

al prices.

Further, the Association distastefully singled out large mining companies for benefiting from an investment mechanism which was instituted to encourage investment and create employment for thousands of Guyanese. Of recent, the Association is more and more sounding like a prophet of doom.

With this in mind, I would prefer the Association encourage small miners and work with the government and large mining companies rather than paint the picture of a gloomy road ahead.

To date, gold mining has been my only source of income and I have never found myself making a loss, despite the ups and downs. Gold is profitable and will continue to be.

Carlos de Barros

Obsession is dangerous

Dear Editor, First, as a Muslim and a human being, my heart goes out to the relatives of the victims of the Paris media house massacre. The perpetrators’ obsession clouded their ability to rationalise properly, as well as their judgment, hence their transgression;

all of which are prohibited in Islam, Christianity and Hinduism.

I find similar obsession by some members of the local media, at the top, the Kaieteur News. This is evident in their comparison with the AG’s remarks and the Paris incident. I thought a better compar-

ison would be the slaughter of six pressmen at Kaieteur News and the Paris incident. This is the kind of extremism we have to endure when we have person/s with an obsession with certain people.

The truth will be sacrificed to satisfy their egos.

M Ikbal

There is no culture that is superior to any other

Dear Editor,

The brutal and coldblooded murder of 12 persons including the Editor of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris deserves the condemnation of all.

Regardless of the motives by the perpetrators, such actions can only be seen as an attack on freedom of expression and certainly have no place in a free and civilised world.

There is a saying that the pen is mightier than the

sword. Ideas must be countered by ideas and not by resort to brute force and ignorance. In the market place of ideas, let a million ideas bloom!

Sociologists have long debunked the concept of cultural superiority. There is no culture that is superior to any other since every culture is relevant and appropriate to the society in which it exists at any given point in time.

This is why bigotry, fanaticism and ethnocentrism,

in whatever shape or form, is so dangerous to society. It closes the mind to new ideas and thinking and sees the entire world in a fixed, predetermined and unchanging way.

We need to accept that there is no single or universal truth when it comes to beliefs, religious or otherwise, and be tolerant and open to new ideas even if they may differ from what we embrace.

All the oil companies in Guyana are affected by gasoline shortage

Dear Editor, The article, “Guyoil fuel dealers feeling the squeeze” was featured in the Kaieteur News, whereby a Guyoil dealer complained about not getting adequate supply of fuel because of mismanagement of the company.

All the oil companies in Guyana (Guyoil, Sol, Rubis) are affected by shortage of gasoline at the refineries. This problem has been further exacerbated by long delays of oil vessels at the refineries over the Christmas holiday season.

During 2014, Guyoil was supplied some 60,000 bbls (2,100,000 gallons) of gasoline below their nominated volumes at the refineries.

During this same period

Guyoil’s pump price ranged from US$45 per gallon to US$100 per gallon below that of the competition.

With supply constraints at the refineries and selling at very competitive prices on the local market, management faced great challenges in meeting the demands of the local market and these challenges have been explained to our dealers, time and again.

Management will continue in its efforts to provide low price fuel to the local market and look forward to the dealers to be reasonable in times of supply challenges.

Badrie Persaud Managing Director Guyoil

GuySuCo currently utilizes...

Some of the industry’s best practices for use of this excess bagasse relates to utilization in digestors to produce organic fertilizers; processing into briquettes for generation of energy (co-generation), or, if the factory is large enough to support an on-site electricity facility selling into the grid, gasification of the bagasse without briquetting; use of excess bagasse in particle board and plastic composites (this latter is also a project which has been used at IAST to produce roofing shingles); and a variety of other uses which it is not efficient to enumerate in a Letter to the Editor.

Investing the relatively small sums into briquetting technology given the current issues faced by GuySuCo will without question allow it

to generate significant savings by replacing costly firewood. If GuySuCo is willing to share its business plan for this technology, the public can be informed about the economic feasibility of the process.

What happens to this investment (which is much less than US $100, 000) when (hopefully) the corporation has begun to address its cane supply issue?

The excess bagasse generated by the corporation will be even larger when this state of affairs has been achieved (as is the case in every sugar factory with similar systems and an at-capacity supply of cane around the world), and it can begin to generate income by co-generating electricity for the national grid.

I should also inform your readers that the efficient burning of renewable fuels such as bagasse is considered to be climate-neutral, as successive crop cycles sequester the carbon released from the combustion of crop residues. In fact, in some countries, the combustion of crop residues attracts carbon rebates. Editor, I wish to assure Mr Vieira that my letters mean no disrespect to him; I am a science and technology professional whose responsibility it is to represent the work done in this arena by IAST on behalf of the tax payers of Guyana. And I hold no brief to defend GuySuCo. I am simply doing my job.

Professor Suresh S Narine, Director, IAST

Hydar Ally

Page Foundation

Anu Dev

I’ve already mentioned that I’d be using what’s left of my holidays to readjust my game-plan for 2015. After some introspection, I realised that one of the areas that I needed to work on was discipline.

I’m nowhere near as disciplined as I should be and I guess that’s why I have so much trouble with procrastination. So, I decided to read up on discipline and different ways that other people managed to stay disciplined.

I stumbled upon r/getdisciplined, a subreddit focused on people trying to get disciplined. And I read a comment by a user (u/ryans01) that was pretty incredible. They brought up a concept called “No more zero days”.

Basically they talked about not having anymore “zero days” days that you didn’t do a single thing to-

No more

wards your goals. So, if it’s 23:58 that night, and you didn’t manage to do anything read one

days!

cart before the horse. Motivation isn’t the key action is. You need action to get motivated, not the opposite way around.

“I think we judge talent wrong. What do we see as talent? I think I have made the same mistake myself. We judge talent by people’s ability to strike a cricket ball. The sweetness, the timing. That’s the only thing we see as talent. Things like determination, courage, discipline, temperament, these are also talent” Rahul Dravid.

paragraph or do one pushup, whatever your goal is, do a little something towards achieving that goal. Just don’t have anymore “zero days”. Those “non-zero” days will add up and gradually it’ll be easier to get up and do something.

Lots of people talk about the importance of motivation and getting motivated. And I used to think that I needed to get motivated before I can get something done. But the thing with motivation is that it’s based on you feeling like getting something done- and feelings can be so unreliable.

If something upsets you, or if you’re feeling a little rundown or in a bit of

a bad mood, the chances that you’ll feel like getting through a Powerpoint on the Pituitary Gland instead of curling up in bed with an episode of 30 Rock are pretty slim. I used to wait around for that feeling of motivation, but most times, I could never really muster enough of that feeling to actually get things done. And then the deadlines would inch nearer and nearer, and driven by panic and the desire to not fail, I would burst into a flurry of activity, getting things done at a manic pace, just in time to hand in the assignment. But now I’ve realised that all this time, people have been putting the

So what if you’re not feeling motivated? That’s fine. The key is to just make a start. Don’t look at the fact that you have 500 more pages to read through. Just say that you’ll read one sentence or just a paragraph. And more often than not, you’ll want to keep going.

And even if you don’t? At least you still chalk up another “non-zero day”. It feels good to get things done, to know that you’re that much closer to achieving your goal. And the more you do, the more you’ll be inspired or motivated to keep going.

Here’s to no more zero days!

The dreaded call: Your child is in trouble

No parent wants to hear that their child has gotten into trouble, whether it’s at school, day care, a friend’s house, or in the neighbourhood. But when it does happen, you can handle the problem in a way that acknowledges the seriousness of the event, allows your child to learn important lessons, and yet also minimises stress.

Tips for...

All parents

* Children will get into trouble. Look for ways to use the incident as a “teachable moment.” Talk to – but don’t yell at – your child about what happened and why, and

drive misbehaviour. A calm response that addresses the need, a gentle reprimand, or a change of activity may be just the solution.

* If your child misbehaves in someone else’s care, ask the adult in charge how the situation was handled. If you don’t like what you hear, engage her or him (out of earshot of your child) in a conversation about how you would prefer future situations to be handled.

* Look for constructive ways to correct misbehaviour, and reward your child’s subsequent positive responses.

* Remember that very young children are learning

look for ways to avoid the problem in the future.

* Share your parenting experiences with other parents. You may be surprised to find out you are not the only parent going through a tough time. And hard as it may be, try not to blame yourself for your child’s choices.

* While the tips that follow deal with low-level trouble that eventually blows over, what should you do if your child gets into big trouble? Sometimes children end up in serious situations that require outside intervention or involvement in the legal system. If that’s the case, talk to your child’s teacher, school counsellor, social worker, or a therapist. Help is available, so seek it out – don’t wait!

Parents with children ages birth to five

* Children sometimes misbehave in order to get parents’ undivided attention. Fatigue, hunger, illness, and loneliness often

to control their impulses, test limits of acceptable behaviour, and negotiate relationships. These skills take many years to fully develop.

Parents with children ages six to nine

* Remember that the stronger your support relationships are – with your child’s teachers, coaches, friends’ parents, and neighbours – the easier it will be to respond reasonably, rather than impulsively and defensively, to “trouble.”

* It can be embarrassing or humiliating for a child to be disciplined by someone other than a parent, especially if the reprimand is given in public. If your child’s distress over the consequences seems out of proportion to the misdeed, acknowledge her feelings, and allow her additional time to process the event. Advocate for your child if you feel that discipline was inappropriately handled.

to be continued

Businesses seek level playing field on VAT system

– complain about some given 'free pass' by GRA

Head of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Khurshid Sattaur has said the tax body is currently in talks with the Chinese Association here in Guyana to work around a system which will enable the unregistered businesses to begin remitting Value Added Tax (VAT).

Some Chinese businesses operating in Guyana, Sattaur said, are not registered and thereby cannot include VAT in their selling price, neither are they required to remit taxes to the GRA.

The situation has not surprisingly placed a damper on smaller businesses, which have been complaining that things are “not too bright” for them.

Local businesses, particularly over the recent Christmas season, have complained about the drop in sales. They had attributed that decline to the high presence of Chinese businesses and their low price tags because of exemption from charging VAT.

Branch Manager of National Hardware on Water Street, Georgetown Ganesh Niranjam had told Guyana Times that Christmas shopping at the Water Street location had seen a massive downfall when compared to previous years.

Exemption?

He said Guyanese seem to be rushing to find more affordable items from the Chineseowned stores which are at an advantage because goods are being sold with the exemption of VAT.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Ashmin’s Trading on High Street, Georgetown. A spokesper-

from local businesses about the major losses because the Chinese businesses not paying taxes.

He revealed too that the Asian nationals are also exempt from paying insurance with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). The situation can only be remedied when the relevant authority here intervenes, Dookhoo said, pointing out that the PSC has already filed an official complaint with the body.

son for the business related that sale decline within the company was probably caused because of the number of Chinese stores around that are creating “unfair competition”.

Guyana Times had visited several Chinese businesses in downtown Georgetown over the last two weeks to make observations on business operations and find out from them if they were indeed paying VAT.

The Chinese nationals all responded in the negative. While concerns mount over the drop in sales, businesses are equally peeved that the Chinese entities have obtained all rights to operate without being registered.

The GRA boss had defied the cries of the local businesses over the non-remittance of VAT by these entities, positing that they have failed to understand the benefits available.

Meanwhile, speaking with Guyana Times, Chairman of the Trade and Investment Sub-Committee of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Ramesh Dookhoo said that the organisation has been receiving numerous complaints

Addressing the non-registration issue of the Chinese businesses, Dukhoo said there is a voluntary registration system that is open to all businesses. It is however compulsory for a business to become registered if it is making in excess of $10 million per year.

The onus is therefore on the GRA to ensure that all businesses are appropriately registered, Dukhoo said.

Dukhoo said the PSC has nothing against the Chinese nationals, only that they comply with the law, and added that if the freedom was being given to any other nationality, the organisation would have been just as vigilant and concerned.

Suriname

He noted that the PSC has always come under fire from the Chinese nationals for raising the issue which has removed “a level playing field” for all businesses.

However, while the PSC awaits action from the authority, it will not sit on the “wayside and see” this level of unfairness against local businesses. He pointed out that many of the Chinese businesses here have come across from neighbouring Suriname, because the authority there took actions that officials here have

failed to take.

The VAT system, which was introduced in Guyana in January 2007, is part of Government’s plan to modernise and streamline the taxation system. It was introduced on several local consumption items together with an Excise Tax (ET) on motor vehicles, petroleum, tobacco products and alcohol.

Sattuar told Guyana Times that the non-remittance of tax was among the major concerns highlighted when VAT was being promoted. The underlying issue is that if a business is not registered then it cannot include VAT in its selling price.

Local Chinese businesses fall under this category, the GRA boss explained. Sattaur said that he is not concerned that the Chinese businesses are not paying VAT, since, while they may not have a commitment with the revenue body, they are still required by law to pay import tax on their goods.

Unlike other businesses here, the unregistered Chinese companies do not benefit from GRA.

This includes the billions of dollars that are refunded to local businesses. The GRA head related that many businesses even escape scot-free after filing “fictitious” claims for refund. This could get pass GRA because the organisation lacks the necessary monitoring systems in this regard.

Sattaur reiterated that the VAT system, which exists in more than 150 countries around the world, was designed for societies that have highly credible businesses.

He couldn’t say the same for Guyana, since many busi-

nesses are cheating the system. The revenue body repays in excess of $4 billion annually to businesses, the GRA head said.

Meanwhile, President of the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana Andrew Chin said he could not comment on the issue since the recently established organisation does not represent the smaller Chinese retail businesses across in Guyana.

He reiterated that the Association was formed to assist large-scale entrepreneurs here in Guyana. These include the Baishanlin, China Trading, China Harbour and China Railway.

Woman ordered to pay for damaged windscreen

Thirty-year-old, Sherlott Austin was ordered repay a sum of $60,000 by the Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine –Beharry after being arraigned on a damage of property charge.

At the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, on Friday, Austin pleaded guilty to the charge which alleged that on January 7, at Georgetown, she unlawfully and malicious damaged one rare motor vehicle wind screen valued $60,000 which belonged to Brandon Hazel.

The woman said that she had an explanation as to why she committed the

act. Austin told the Court that she had a confrontation with a ‘young lady’. In the heat of the argument, she picked up an object and hit the wind screen instead of her.

The Chief Magistrate then asked the defendant whether she was ever in trouble with the law. Austin responded positively explaining at that it was for a similar offence.

The Chief Magistrate then said, “Yes I remember you… Yes I know that.”

After much consideration, the City Magistrate ordered the woman to repay the monies in full.

Commissioner General of GRA Kurshid Sattaur

President of the Association of Chinese Enterprises, Andrew Chin

Fibre-Optic Cable Project…

Digicel completing design of new Fibre-optic Cable

– CEO promises progress in two months

By Erica Williams

Chief

Executive Officer of Digicel Guyana

Gregory Dean says the design for the company’s Fibre-optic Cable is within the final stages of completion.

He explained that while permission for the landing of the cable by the company has been granted by the Government, there are various negotiations still ongoing.

“At the moment we are still having ongoing negotiations with the Government. We need permits from various agencies such as Maritime and the Environmental protection Agency (EPA) among others,” Dean explained.

However, Dean expects that the design for the project will be completed in two to three months and sub-

Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Guyana Gregory Dean

sequently, a proposal will be handed in to the various Government agencies for approval.

He further explained that the Digicel is also presently conducting a case study to determine where it wants to land the cable. When a de-

sired location is determined, that too will be submitted as part of the proposal, Dean said.

Following the submission of this proposal, the respective agencies will have to in turn refer approval or needed amendments back to Digicel.

Recently, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon had called on Digicel to make a statement on the progress they have made as it relates to their fibre-optic cable.

“What is necessary is for Digicel to advise what are the steps they plan to take to use the approval given by the Government to land cable in Guyana to make that a reality,’ Luncheon stated during his post-pabinet press briefing.

Luncheon’s statement fol-

lowed the criticisms made by persons in some quarters on the Government’s involvement in the Fibre-Optic Cable Project.

Former head of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and industry, Clinton Urling had become infuriated and blasted the Government for its involvement in the project following the declaration of the suspension of the project made by Project Manager Alexei Ramotar.

After the project missed a series of deadlines for completion, Luncheon revealed that he is involved in discussions for remedial works on the cable.

Recently, he said too, that there have been proposals as it relates to remedial work on the project.

Wakenaam residents want new street lights installed

Residents of Wakenaam, Region Three (Essequibo IslandWest Demerara) are calling on the Public Works Ministry to install street lights along the main public roads.

Eyew tness TRUTH...

...versus “truth”

As the horror of the killings in France dies down, cries of “why??” will rise. And we’ll hear the familiar answers... barbarians, fanatics, uncivilised etc...etc....Now the killers of the folks at Charlie Hebdo may be all of these, but they’re just labels, aren’t they?? What’s really going on? Now if it’s one thing this Eyewitness is sure about, it’s that there’s no one, simple answer.

But there’s a common thread running through almost all such extreme actions a belief by the perpetrators that they’re in the possession of some TRUTH in capital letters which justifies their atrocities in this case death. The killers?? Their “TRUTH” is no one should mock or satirise their prophet. And they’re not only justified, but exhorted to do whatever is necessary to prevent such mockery or satire.

And the cartoonists? Well, their TRUTH is they’re not only justified, but exhorted to mock or satirise what they dub “hypocrisies”. So what do you get when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?? An explosion of course!!

One of the residents, Derrick Persaud said street lights should be placed in the vicinity of the Essequibo Island Secondary School, pointing out that students who are attending “extra lessons” are forced to walk home in the dark.

Residents who spoke with Guyana Times said the island, which has a population of approximately 2000 persons, is often dark and lonely after the sun sets.

Another resident, Bhesham Soonaram, pointed out the “cemetery area” is often very dark after 17:00h. He explained that residents living in the area would often use torch lights in their quest to get home from work.

Residents are also of the opinion that the lack of street lights on the island is result-

ing in robberies and even murders. Many persons are forced to stay within the confine of their homes after 17:00h.

The island was recently afforded the opportunity of receiving 24 hours electricity. Previously residents only received electricity for 12 hours a day and 24 hours on holidays.

From where this Eyewitness sits (and it’s not “on high”!), it seems the only thing to prevent these explosions which are increasing with alarming frequency is for folks to get off this insistence to the possession of ULTIMATE TRUTHS.

There’s the old story of the six blind men encountering various parts of an elephant that illustrates the idea that we are all just apprehending PARTS of the TRUTH. But we become convinced that our part is the whole. You remember the story, no?? The fella grabbing the tail insisted that the “thing” was a rope, the one with the leg, “a post” etc....

Let’s take the French now crying “barbarians”! They’ve had millions of Muslims for decades in their midst and were exposed to their ideas and beliefs. Yet only a few years ago, they refused to have Muslim girls wear scarves to school (as a signifier of their religion), while it was OK for Christian schoolgirls to have chains with crucifixes around their necks. The Christian TRUTH trumped Muslim TRUTH.

And don’t think it’s only a problem with those exotic “Frenchies”. Right here in Guyana at the “top” Government schools, Christian hymns are belted out from the stage at school assemblies and the students about half who’re Hindus and Muslims aren’t only expected but commanded to join in! Can anyone conceive of a day when ALL students would be forced to belt out a kaseeda or a bhajan by the headteacher on the stage?? Whose truth is the TRUTH in Guyana?

...and pro-democracy

This insistence of being in possession of THE TRUTH also manifests itself in our local politics. We see this in the Opposition’s insistence that “DEMOCRACY” is whatever IT says it is. Take the ongoing negotiations between the AFC and the PNC/APNU - they’ve been dubbed “a pro-DEMOCRACY” initiative.

Yet the AFC insisted that the talks must be in SECRET, which, after a perfunctory demurral, the PNC/APNU happily accepted. Now since when can it be “pro-democracy” to have such talks be secret behind closed doors? Democracy started in the Greek City States where EVERY CITIZEN gathered in the public square to make decisions. THAT’s the ideal of democracy.

And while we can’t all meet at Public Buildings, the ideal “pro-democracy” practice is for the representatives to at least let the citizenry know what’s on the table.

So haggling for Granger (selected at a rigged election for PNC/APNU) and Nagamootoo (selected by his buddy Ramjattan) to be PANTY’s candidate is “pro democracy”?

O tempora!! O mores!!

...and a stranger to it

Tony Vieira just can’t accept that in addition to being a miserable failure at everything he’s done, he’s so yesterday!! Thrown out from sugar at nationalisation in 1976, he has the temerity to argue with the head of IAST on modern innovations in bagasse utilisation!!

Glenn Lall Lexus scam...

GRA wants remigrants’ tax evasion matter resolved ASAP

– retrieving taxes, handing over vehicles top priority

By vahnu Manickchand

After making big noises about wanting to bring the remigrant couple, Narootandeo and Gharbassi Brijnanan, along with Glenn Lall and his wife, Bhena, to justice for allegedly defrauding the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) of more than $100

million of import taxes, the tax regulatory body is looking to have the matter resolved as soon as possible.

GRA’s Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur, told Guyana Times that his agency will go through with the matter in court however he hopes that the matter will be resolved in the judicial system within a timely manner. He said that while the matter is ongoing, GRA will not be entering into any negotiations outside of the Courts unless directed by the courts to do so but added too the Authority is open to any settlement that is arrived at in the Court to put an end to the matter.

The Brijnanans and the Lalls are currently in Court facing tax fraud charges that alleged they defrauded authorities of several millions in customs duties for two Lexus luxury vehicles back in September 2013.

According to Sattaur, he has a vested interest in retrieving the taxes owed and protecting the two vehicles, which are currently in the Authority’s possession. He noted that GRA wants the condition of the vehicles to be preserved in case they have to be handed over back to the owners.

The Commissioner General emphasised that his main priority is to have the matter resolved so that he can know which course of action to take regarding the vehicles and the monies owed. “I have a great interest and GRA is very much interested in the resolution of the matter because the vehicles are under our protections and the taxes will have to be repaid and I will do anything to ensure this,” he positied.

Several months ago, the GRA went to great length

to highlight the fraudulent activities. The tax regulatory body is claiming that the Brijnanans of Number 61 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, imported two Lexus LX 570 SUV motor vehicles into Guyana under the Government’s Remigrant Scheme.

However, the two vehicles were not kept or used by the remigrants, which is a breach of the Customs Act and the conditions of the grant of the duty-free concession. GRA said investigations have revealed that the vehicles were being driven by the Publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, and his wife, Bhena. The authority has since seized the vehicles and filed six criminal charges against the four of them.

Guyana Times was previously told that a settlement deal may be in the making following discussions which Government officials have reportedly been having with Lall. One

such scenario could mean a portion of the duty being paid off in exchange for the case being stuck off.

Last month, Sattaur had confirmed to this newspaper that about 15 other persons are now on the radar of the Auditor General and GRA suspicious of defrauding activities. The Auditor General also cited a similar figure. The audit exercises of the Remigrant

Scheme programme have been abused by many to import luxury vehicles and other items.

According to reports from the years 2010 to 2014, approximately 15 to 20 persons are under investigation after an initial probe by the audit office. This means that these persons could soon find themselves with a similar fate as that of the remigrant couple and the Lalls.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and Shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge had blasted the manner in which the overall administration of the remigrant scheme and the tax regime as a whole operates. The former Finance Minister under the Peoples National Congress (PNC) regime told this publication that several issues needed to be addressed at the level of the administration.

Greenidge explained to the Guyana Times that those issues currently affecting the effective administration of the scheme range from Value Added Tax (VAT) to the Excise Tax. “The administration of the scheme clearly needs attention,” emphasised Greenidge, who went on to indicate that attention also needs to be given to the entire tax regime in Guyana.

Brother jailed for abusing sister

Albert Khan will spend two weeks in prison after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his sister when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday before Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine –Beharry.

It was alleged that on January 8 at Station Street, Kitty, he made

use of abusive language to Virtual Complainant (VC) Subrina Khan who is his sister.

As the City Magistrate, asked the defendant whether he has any prior or pending matters, the VC interrupted saying “he was convicted before You Ma’am, two times”.

The defendant ad -

mitted before the Chief Magistrate that he was he was convicted in 2010 and 2011 but could not remember for how long. The VC told the Court that Khan constantly abuses her and had it not been for the intervention of her husband, he probably would have killed her. Khan was also fined $20,000 for the offence.

Jealous ex-lover remanded for stabbing NA woman

The man accused of brutally stabbing his ex-wife in New Amsterdam on Tuesday was remanded to prison when he appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Albion Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Cleavdon Williams, 44, a father of five of Angoy’s Avenue, was charged with unlawful wounding.

According to Police Prosecutor Sergeant

Phillip Sheriff, on January 6 at Nurseville, New Amsterdam, Williams unlawfully and maliciously wounded Natasha Burice.

The facts of the case revealed that the incident occurred as the the Virtual Complainant (VC )was making her way into her house.

Williams told the court that he was employed at a supermarket in New Amsterdam. Williams is accused of stabbing

Bruice three times. Sheriff objected to the accused being allowed bail on the ground that the victim received serious injuries, it was a domestic violence issue and the prevalence of such offences.

Williams will have to return to court on Monday.

The matter has been transferred to the New Amsterdam Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

Narootandeo Brijnanan

Gharbassi Brijnanan

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

$126.5M Hare Krishna Temple to be opened in 2016

By Devina Samaroo

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness’ (ISKCON) Hare Krishna Movement is currently constructing a three-storey Temple at Lot 1 First Street, University of Guyana Road, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara to the tune of G$126.5 Million.

The Temple, NimaiPandit and Study Centre, will in fact be more than just a place of worship for Guyanese.

Since the Hare Krishna movement is not a Hinducentered association, but a movement to unite all Guyanese and promote the message of peace, unity, national wellbeing and God consciousness, the building will be a representation of that idea.

“It will be one that everyone can relate with,” representative of the Hare Krishna Movement, Krishna Davenand said.

The structure will be 140 by 140 feet, making it the largest temple in all of South America.

Work is currently being done to construct the first floor of the building which will house a restaurant, multipurpose hall, a cultural

centre and a kitchen.

The second floor will have a temple hall, an academic library, conference rooms and a gift shop while the top floor will house (4) four guest

tion at large, the mission of the temple would be to assist all Guyanese in their spiritual training and development and to enhance the society through the promotion

rooms, a Brashmachari Ashram, students’ dormitory and ZARA Learning and Research Centre.

The project is being funded by generous donations from well-wishers.

Since there is a great decline in morality and God consciousness in the popula-

of spiritual education, high moral values and strong personal development.

50th Anniversary

The Temple will be officially opened on July 11, 2016, commemorating with the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON.

On July 11, 1966, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada officially registered his ISKCON in New York. At the time, he had one small storefront on New York’s Lower East-Side, and a handful of students.

Today, there are nearly four hundred ISKCON centers all over the world, and thousands of ISKCON devotees.

ISKCON is behind some prestigious educational institutions, such as Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium, ISKCON charities such as Food for Life and ISKCON Food Relief Foundation have fed millions of needy and starving people all over the world.

Many highly influential people are now ISKCON devotees, and ISKCON itself is well-respected by governments of some countries.

In Guyana, ISKCON centers are located on the Essequibo Coast, in Berbice, West Coast, Williamsburg and Georgetown.

Free access to wide variety of academic resources

The temple will provide free access to all Vedic literatures, free access to a wide variety of academic resources; provide facilities where religious conferences and meetings can be held, present the rich Vedic heritage of ancient India, and much more.

Meanwhile, the dormitory facilities will be primarily for male students who wish to continue to be trained in or practice God consciousness while pursuing or continuing their University studies at the University of Guyana.

In a nutshell, the vision is the create a complete Vedic cultural and spiritual house under one roof with workshops, philosophy lectures, chanting, yoga, meditation, art, music, cuisine, ancient spiritual traditions, personality development, character building, counseling and most of all God consciousness.

Secret talks

Satiricus was happier that a pig with his snout in the kitchen leftovers. He was happy that the Pee-an-See had this thing about putting every down in writing.

BurntHam insisted on “preserving” for history. How else would he’ve been able to know what went on behind the locked doors Rum Jhaat had insisted on before the marriage talks between the KFC and the Pee-an-See could take place?

He duly rewarded his wife’s niece for filching the transcript for the afternoon and settled down to get the lowdown.

GrainJa: Well, Mr Rum Jhaat, when can we begin talking?? The doors are closed like you demanded.

RumJhaat: (Pulling a “half” from his left back pocket) Leh we tek a drink fuh dat fuss. And you can call me “Jhaat”...everybody does call me dat.

GrainJa: It’s only 10:00h for Chrissake, Jhaat!! (Suddenly bursting out in alarm). Why you pouring rum on the floor??!

Rum Jhaat: Is we Chamaar custom fuh pour some rum to we dead Daadee before we drink. Dem Chatree doan pour. Deh does drink everything.

GrainJa: (Stiffly) Thank you, but MY people don’t drink before 12:00h.

RumJhaat: (Happily) Well, thank YOU!! (He finishes off the bottle with a couple of glugs and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.)

GrainJa: Anyhow let’s start. Like I told you, we have some problem with the name you proposed for the coalition.

RumJhaat: Is wha wrang wid “Partnership Alliance for National Trust Yes! It gat a word from each awee name. GrainJa: (Rolling his eyes) It’s not the name; it’s the Acronym PANTY! How I can tell my wife I working for PANTY!?

RumJhaat: Budday!! Dat is de name de man who giving we all de money fuh de election pick!!OK?? De man like PANTY!! He does wear one.

GrainJa: Really?? That brings me to the next topic....

Rum Jhaat: Next topic?? (Frantically interrupts!) Hold on!! (He whips out another bottle from his right back pocket and drinks it all in one practised action.) You did say you didn’t want any! Right??

GrainJa: (Fervently) That’s right!! We have to talk about the money man.... Mook Lall and his “Funding a United Committee for Opposition Presidency”.

Rum Jhaat: (Wiping some drops of rum from his mouth, with the back of his hand.) Yuh mean “FUCOP”??

GrainJa: (wincing) Yes...FUCOP.

RumJhaat: Wha wrang wid FUCOP?? Is FUCOP or is Mook Lall yuh gat a prablem wid??

GrainJa: It’s the Mook. That man think because he funding us he can treat me like used newspaper.

RumJhaat: Used newspaper?? Dat good...he does treat me like doormat. (looking at his watch in alarm) It’s 11 o’clock!! I gotta go. Me an NagaMan gat fuh tek a drink. Se yuh later.

The ISKCON Centre located at Sri Gaura Nitai Ashirvad Mandir, Lot B, Nauville Flanders (Crane Old Road), West Coast Demerara

ISKCON Temple Hall

City ready for impending rainfall

BY VAHNU MANICKCHAND

Over the years, Guyana has been prone to several rainy periods during the year including the December/January period, and this year is no exception as such the City Engineers in Georgetown have been working round the clock to ensure that arrangements are in place to prevent any massive flooding over the next few days.

The weather forecast for the remainder of January

shows that Guyanese can expect recording rainfall or cloudy weather conditions on most days.

Acting Town Clerk of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, Carol Sooba, told Guyana Times that the City Council has been preparing for this season.

“We are prepared, the engineers have assured me that all systems are in place and we have them monitoring the weather patterns,” she stated. The Town Clerk mentioned that the Council

working but could not state which ones are not. Sooba explained that during the raining seasons, monitoring the kokers is an ongoing process which they are “on top of”.

difficulties her office is experiencing in effectively carrying out their duties because it does not have the support of the Mayor’s Office.

workers have cleaned the drains and kokers to allow the free flow of water.

She added too that most of the kokers in the city are

In addition, Sooba noted that the City Council has put in place several contractors in different communities to collect garbage. She explained that those workers, who were tasked with cleaning the drains, are also responsible for ensuring that the garbage and other unwanted materials are removed from the environs.

Speaking on the topic of garbage, the acting Town Clerk again reiterated the

Already, the country has been experiencing light showers and sometimes heavy downpours or even just cloudy weather patterns mixed with sun shine on a daily basis. Only Thursday, after a mere few hours of rainfall several areas in the capital City were flooded.

Some businesses were forced to close while others already took precaution to protect their premises from the flood waters.

This comes almost two months after Guyana ex-

perienced its largest flood after two days of torrential rainfall which resulted in Georgetown recording 194 millimetre of rain in 24 hours, causing an accumulation of water between 30 centimetre and 50 centimetre in some areas.

Additionally, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has procured several mobile pumps which they use during heavy rainfall to remove excess water from the land. Citizens are advised to be more vigilant and take the necessary precautions and protect their homes, premises and businesses from possible flood waters.

One of the many streets in Georgetown that were flooded on Thursday

The Camp and Quamina Streets intersection under water in November

This Albousytown woman is showing how much water got into her house during the November floods

Guyanese en route to Barbados busted with cocaine at OIA DeSinco joins 90-year-old Trinidadian company

A24-year-old Guyanese woman was on Saturday afternoon nabbed at the Ogle International Airport as she attempted to smuggle over (1) one kilogram of cocaine to the land of the Flying Fish.

The interception was executed by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) as the woman who gave her occupation as a secretary was about to board a LIAT Flight.

Timerman (only name given) was reportedly heading to Barbados for the first time but travel documents suggested that she travelled to other Caribbean destinations in the past but not on a regular basis.

Upon checking in at the Ogle International Airport on Saturday, CANU ranks searched her suitcase after she was seen acting suspiciously. During the search, the drug enforcement officers found the illegal substance stashed in false walls.

The woman who is originally from Bartica but now resides in Georgetown was immediately taken into custody and is assisting with investigations.

This bust came close to a week after a cargo ship

which left Suriname destined for Europe was intercepted by local authorities in the Demerara River with approximately 192.42 kilograms of cocaine stashed away.

The drug was found concealed under the wooden flooring of a flat rack that is used as a bed for containers.

The cocaine, with an estimated street value of $165.7 billion (US$800 million), was in several rectangular shaped packages that were wrapped with black plastic.

According to reports, CANU was called in by the Guyana Revenue Authorit, which received a tip-off from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) about possible contraband goods on board the vessel.

The Cyprus-registered vessel MV Delta Dies was docked at a wharf in Linden where it uplifted a consignment of bauxite destined for Europe. Local authorities on Monday evening swarmed the cargo ship after the consignment was loaded and found the narcotics.

Three people including the captain are being questioned in connection with the huge bust.

Local distributor, DeSinco Trading has sold 40% of its stakes to Trinidadian company Agostini’s limited after it sealed a partnership deal earlier this year.

Managing Director of DeSinco Trading, Frank De Abreu said his decision to join up with the Trinidadian company is a form of ensuring the sustainability of his company.

“Globally big companies are eating up the small companies and we want to be with the big companies,” De Abreu said. He explained that after conducting business with Agostini for a number of years, the company approached him in January 2013 with its proposition to collaborate.

However, he explained that he was reluctant join

the company. After much deliberation, De Abreu said he began to consult his lawyers for advice on the business venture.

The businessman explained that he saw the proposition as a great business opportunity, “I thought if they don’t join with me, they would have joint up with some other company here and I did not want to lose out on this opportunity.”

When asked if his company was under any sort of financial troubles or if whether his accident in 2012 had anything to do with the partnership, De Abreu replied, “well my accident slowed me down but it has nothing to do with the deal, this deal was based strictly on business.”

De Abreu was involved

in an accident in 2012 when his vehicle was reportedly hit by a Fire truck on Lamaha Street. His condition was categorised as critical while in hospital before being rushed to a New York Hospital where he managed to recover.

Meanwhile, via email to Guyana Times , Anthony Agostini, Managing Director of the publicly traded Trinidad and Tobago Corporation said the move to become a part of DeSinco is part of the company’s mandate for expansion in the Caribbean Region.

He added that Desinco has been distributing products made by Agostini’s associate company for over 15 years. He reiterated the long standing relationship shared

between the two companies and said the discussions for taking the association to a higher level started over a year ago.

“We therefore have had a long partnership with the DeAbreu’s over this period. We are indeed excited to be partnering with Desinco with a view to growing the business in the coming months and years,” Agostini said. For the year 2014, Agostini’s made a gross profit of TT$323,849 while in 2013, it traded a volume of 64,000 shares for TT$1,149,640 on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, making it the second largest trader behind Trinidad Cement Limited, who traded 136,065 shares changing hands for a value of TT$303,277.40.

Corentyne man remanded for simple larceny

Delroy Parks, 28, also called “Sticky”, of Cromarty Farm, Corentyne Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) is once again before the court even as he has several matters pending.

Parks, appeared at the Albion Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh on Friday to answer a charge of simple larceny and was refused bail.

It is alleged that the accused on December 26, 2014 at Cromarty stole $90,000 from Handeer Singh.

Police Prosecutor

Sergeant Phillip Sheriff told the court that Singh had parked his canter and left the money next to the driver’s seat when Parks pulled up behind on a bi -

cycle. Sheriff noted that Singh stepped out of the vehicle for a brief while and upon his return, the money was missing. The bicycle Parks was riding was left on the scene but Parks was nowhere to be seen.

He was arrested on Wednesday when he made an appearance at the Whim Magistrate’s Court on another charge.

Sheriff objected to bail being granted to the accused on the grounds that he has several matters of a similar nature before

the court while Police are also investigating another matter involving him. Considering the arguments put forward by the P rosecutor, Magistrate Singh refused the accused his pre-trial liberty. The matter has been transferred to the Whim Magistrate’s Court and will come up again on Monday for hearing.

Parks is currently facing a rape charge and several other robbery related charges. He does not have legal representation in any of the matters.

2015 will be link in chain of continued development — Nandlall

Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall has reaffirmed the PPP/C Administration’s commitment to continued development in spite of challenges faced under the new political dispensation.

Referring to President Donald Ramotar’s New Year’s message to the nation about 2015 being a year of continued development, Minister Nandlall said the message ought to be viewed from a holistic perspective.

“It seeks to outline a plan which is a continuation of a developmental trajectory started under this administration several years ago, and the going forward of this plan towards the attainment of set objectives.”

Nandlall said 2015 is a link in that chain of development as President Ramotar had pointed out the consistency of economic growth over the years. In 2014, Guyana experienced its ninth consecutive year of

economic growth.

Minister Nandlall noted it is a fact that Guyana has continued along a positive growth path as it has been able to keep inflation rate in single digit figure, and interest rates at the bank stable; all of which speak to sound macro-economic factors which the Administration has worked hard to achieve.

“Once we have these mechanisms in place then we can move forward to advance the developmental trajectory of our country, and it is in that context that the President’s speech ought to be situated in my respectful view.”

Reiterating some of the developmental plans for 2015, the Attorney General spoke of several new modern highways on which works are expected to commence shortly. Some of these will include the continuation of the East Bank and East Coast four-lane road, the West Coast of Demerara, the East Bank of Berbice

and the new highway into the city from Diamond to Eccles.

On January 8, Indian Prime Minister Narendra

road development, US$8 Million to assist in the acquisition of an ocean ferry vessel, and the establishment of an Information tech-

Modi informed President Donald Ramotar that his country has approved a US$50 Million line of credit for the East Bank Demerara

nology centre.

“…Having achieved the important macroeconomic stability we now have to look at the other aspect of

development so the linking of road ways is a significant step in that direction,” Minister Nandlall said.

He added that the administration has recognised this aspect of development, and how important it is to make available, quick access from production sites to market, and having modern roadways for the country.

Speaking of other investment plans for 2015, he pointed to construction of the bridge over the Corentyne River linking Guyana and Suriname, a paved highway to Brazil and a new modern deep water harbour.

These, the Minister reiterated are significant transformational projects which may not all materialise in 2015, but this is the year where the foundational works will begin.

“Work indeed has already commenced at Crabwood Creek where the bridge across the Corentyne is expected to

fall, a Memorandum of Understanding exists between the government and a consortium in Brazil in relation to the road from Lethem to Linden, and then from Linden we have to determine how you move to reach the deep water harbour.”

The intention, he explained, is to provide for a deep-water harbour and access to the Atlantic Ocean to Brazil.

“For years now we have been speaking about South to South trade and development, and for years we have recognised that that is where we have to go; Brazil is the fifth largest economy in the world.”

With these developments coming on stream and Guyana being opened to the south and new possibilities, Minister Nandlall noted that the Administration has to ensure that it is ready and qualified to access the type of assistance that will be offered. (GINA extract)

Persaud to lead delegation to TT to meet with EITI Chair

Natural Resources and Environment

Minister Robert Persaud is expected to lead a Guyana delegation to Trinidad and Tobago to attend various meetings with the Chair of the Board of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Clare Short during the last week of January.

The primary focus of these meetings will be on Guyana’s commitment and progress to applying for EITI candidacy.

Following the inception workshop and the launch of the scoping study for EITI for Guyana in the last quarter of 2014, the Ministry along with the consultancy firm; Moore Stephens International (MSI) has commenced the second round of fieldwork for the project.

The Ministry and MSI are both working diligently to ensure that the agreed timelines for the deliverables of this project are reached. This is an undertaking of national importance to the mining and minerals component of the economic developmental pillars of Guyana.

Stakeholders

A team from MSI is currently in Guyana on a two week mission to conduct meetings with various stakeholders from public, private and civil society organization.

Among the key stakeholders are representatives from the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, Guyana Women Miners Organization, Guyana

Human Rights Association, Ministry of Finance, Guyana Revenue Authority, Audit Office of Guyana, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Gold Board, Environmental Protection Agency, etc.

The scoping study will help assess challenges and opportunities associated with EITI implementation and determine the scope of the EITI reporting. The study will include critical information on a number of subjects including the extractives industry in the

ing for EITI implementation.

Opportunities, challenges

The objective of this assignment is to produce a study which will inform the multi-stakeholder group’s discussions regarding the capacity and implications of the implementation of the 2013 EITI standard for Guyana’s extractive industries.

The assignment will consist of a detailed study to assess Guyana’s extractives industry and to

country and its importance to the overall economy; the costs and benefits of EITI implementation; how EITI can be linked to and reinforce other reform efforts; key stakeholders within government, the private sector and civil society; capacity constraints, in particular with regards to civil society participation; and potential sources of fund-

highlight opportunities and challenges of EITI implementation; and a dissemination of results and capacity building.

The study will consist of three sections namely Information/Context, information for and scope of the EITI report, and sCost/benefit analysis and workplan.

EITI is a global standard aimed at improving

revenue transparency and accountability in the extractives sector. EITI was established in 2002 and

since then has become a robust yet flexible methodology for monitoring and reconciling company pay -

ments and government revenues from oil, gas and mining at the country level.

Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud

Mother pleads for justice

– as key suspect in gang-rape incident placed on bail

BY BHISHAM MOHAMMED

The mother of the 18year old male who was allegedly sodomised and raped by a gang of men is pleading for justice as the alleged mastermind behind the horrific incident was released on bail even as her son battles for his life in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

The Guyana Times understands that the key suspect in the incident was released on $75,000 bail after the 72-hour detention period lapsed on Friday afternoon.

On Saturday, the teen’s mother was a hive of emotions as she related during an interview with this newspaper that her son’s condition has not improved since he was allegedly gang-raped at a house in Vreed-en-Hoop on Old Year’s Night.

She said that her son is highly traumatised and is still not responding to her or other family members. She related that the young man remains in a critical condition as he struggles to speak, walk and even eat.

She said she is practically weak when she observes her son’s behaviour as he lies on the hospital bed.

The woman explained that due to his condition, she had to reschedule an appointment with ranks at the Leonora Police Station as the investigations continue.

She is calling for justice to be served while she expressed the view that the Guyana Police Force is dragging its feet on the issue since it was first reported.

Up to Friday, she explained that the Police are holding out that they needed a statement from the injured teenager before any action could be taken but with her son’s present situation, it does not seem possible.

“Looking at he, is like he done gone a far way… instead meh get justice, is like meh have to prepare for a funeral… they take off the saline and we can’t see the doctor to ask he wat happening… the nurses can’t give we update on he condition”, the woman cried.

Compensation

The woman further stated that the suspect’s father visited her at the Georgetown Hospital and offered compensation but she refused to have an audience with him.

She advised him to return home and enquire from his son about the burning issues surrounding the incident and when he would have gotten the details, they can talk.

“Is he son actions got me son in this condition… they brutalised my son and now he want come and settle matter… he best go find out from he son what they do to

me pickney”.

The victim, on the night of the incident, identified at least three men who committed brutal act.

At the medical institution, his step father was in a lost world as he tried to come to grips with reality while his siblings stood with tears in their eyes as the young man tossed and turned on the bed.

The man stated that his son and the suspect knew each other since he started to work at Supermarket at Vreed-en-Hoop and would have spent nights by him whenever they went out to party.

He cannot point out what might have triggered his son’s friend to commit such as act. A woman who was at the hospital recalled sometime ago, she was at the supermarket when she recognised other staff members pulling and tugging at the teenager and she intervened.

“Yes he had a problem… to be honest… he does act childish and people does want take advantage on he but that nah call for this what happen to he”, the woman stated.

Another family friend who became aware of the issue after receiving a call from the US stated that the young man was very pleasant.

The woman stated that whenever her friends and

her family are in the country, the young man would be their ‘body guard’ and even spend night over. “He was very friendly and people could a get he to do anything for them”.

She was in a state of shock after seeing the young man’s condition. “I can’t see human do this boy this thing”.

Meanwhile, based on information received, the group of men who committed the act is known to the community for their “dirty” behaviour. Guyana Times understands that the young man might have not been their first victim since it is a frequent occurrence.

The names that the young man called are indeed in a gang that partakes in sexual activities involving guys and most of their acts are reportedly perpetrated on innocent young men. The “jetty”, is reportedly close to the main suspect’s home and it is at that location where these acts are committed.

Guyana Times was also told that the Vreed-en-Hoop police station is well aware of the activities that go down at the jetty. Despite them being aware, no arrests were ever made.

The Police, however, are trying to authenticate the victim’s story but this can only be done when the young man recovers.

GPL strengthens response team during rainy season

In light of adverse weather conditions and possible flooding predicted by the Agriculture Ministry’s

Hydro-meteorological department, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) incorporated on Friday an-

nounced that it will be strengthening its emergency response services to ensure prompt responses in

Younge’s Take

Gang raped!

On Friday, Guyanese woke up to a terrifying news report that an 18-yearold male was allegedly sodomised and raped by ten other males at Vreed-enHoop, West Bank Demerara.

They also learnt from the subsequent reports of the teenager’s story carried in various sections of the media that he was in a critical condition in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation after a series of interventions on the part of the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Interestingly, the teenager was able to identify the chief alleged the rapist and at least two others to his mother who first learnt of the horrible ordeal her son endured on Old Years night into the wee hours of the New Year. Not surprising, however, is the fact that the 18-year-old was very familiar with the man who is accused of raping him and organising others to do the same.

Also not surprising is the emotional trauma, shock, shame, regret, and physiological pain that he must have gone through during the alleged ordeal. While it is not clear how soon after his family decided to make a report, and what was the Police’s immediate response to the allegations, there must be no pussyfooting or time wasted in conducting a thorough investigation into the alleged sodomy and rape of this male.

The ranks tasked with investigating this matter must leave no stone unturned in their quest to arrive at the truth. They must dispense their mandate in an independent and impartial manner.

The most critical stage of their probe will be to determine who is charged and what kind of charges will be instituted based upon the laws and regulations contained in the revised Sexual Offenses Act of 2008 and other applicable laws.

There are many lessons that could be learnt from simply following this latest report of rape of a male by other males. Keen focus much be placed on the sexual orientation of those who perpetrated the act and the male who is allegedly the victim of rape.

the event of any emergency.

The utility body is appealing to customers to take all precautionary measures to mitigate fault levels within the GPL’S network.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Saturday, GPL Public Relations Officer Shevon Sears-Murray noted that as long as the raining season continues, the company will be forced to conduct several maintenance works in the regions where GPL services are offered to ensure that no damages are being done to homes and other consumers.

She said too that teams will be dispatched to various communities if the poor weather conditions persist to ensure trees, and other objects next to electric wires and poles does not cause power interruption or cause any harm.

The power company had intensified its programme of establishing vegetation-free corridor transmission lines and main feeders and reinforcing/changing out defective poles.

Customers are also asked not to tamper with the power company’s network and also to report all illegal connections as well as meter tampering activities that are related to theft of electricity.

The story of the alleged perpetrators must be told in full with the same prominence of the story of the alleged victim, if the public is to learn anything from the matter or make an informed judgement for its own edification.

Clarity must also be brought to the circumstances surrounding the incident and the link it has to the sexual behavioural patterns of males within our society who display similar characteristics.

That aside, the Human Services Ministry through its various departments must seize this opportunity to reemphasise the need for society to demonstrate a notolerance posture for all forms of sex abuse.

It must rally behind this young man’s story, if there is enough evidence to support the allegations he has made against the other parties. The Ministry must show the same zeal and energy that it if often displays when it is rallying the cause of women and their protectionism against domestic violence, sex abuse, and rape in particular.

Non-governmental organisations and rights groups must see the need to also take a stand against the rape of males and the impact it has on their human rights. They must sound their voices against these forms of atrocities committed on males in the same way they sound them when women are involved.

Failure to do so would prove a long held perception that there has been a feminisation of the fight against violence and sexual abuse, much to the disadvantage of males. The truth is too many young males are being taken advantage of in our society in this way. Too many boys are afraid to say that they have been sexually assaulted, raped or abused.

As a developing society, we must protect our boys, in the same way that we protect our girls against paedophiles, rapists, people who prey on under-aged males and those so-called heterosexuals that betray their trust.

The outcome of this matter will no doubt set precedence for other cases where boys have been gang raped and are afraid or ashamed to come forward. We cannot afford the bureaucratic inefficiency within state agency and systematic delays at the level of the Police and judiciary in getting to the bottom of this allegation.

PNC'R infighting deepens... Sandra Adams under fire at Linden

– party supporters deny breaking into office, call on Granger to ‘man-up’

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

PNC'R’s Region Ten Coordinator Sandra Adams came under fire in Linden as again calls are mounting for removal from the post following a series of events that have left a bitter taste in the mouths of hundreds of the party’s supporters there.

Adams is being criticised even as General and Regional Elections draw near which demonstrates that the division and infighting within the ranks of the People’s National Congress Reform are reaching alarming levels in Linden, Region 10.

The region has been marred with division since early last year, but the situation has moved from bad to worse with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) being called in.

Sections of the party’s office at Mackenzie, Linden were reportedly vandalised on

Thursday by some of its disgruntled supporters.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Saturday, PNC/R Regional Coordinator, Sandra Adams said she was passing the party’s office on Thursday when she realised that the door was vandalised. Adams said at the time, more than 12 PNC'R supporters including Trade Unionist Leslie Gonsalves and Gordon Calendar were present. They were reportedly standing on the veranda.

According to Adams, she did not stop to enquire but proceeded to the Mackenzie Police Station, where a report was filed. The party’s Leader David Granger and it’s General Secretary Oscar Clarke were also notified.

Asked why she did not enquire from the supporters what had transpired, the regional coordinator said, “I avoided them because I didn’t want any confrontation.”

Adams said she will not return to the office until the investigation is completed by the Police, positing that she does not want to tamper with the crime scene.

However, Adams said the incident comes as a major surprise, explaining that she only commenced duties at the office a few days ago. “It was opened to every, and anyone.”

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, the supporters broke into the office by removing several padlocks from a steel door on the building. The padlocks were placed on the door by Adams based on instructions given

by Granger and the General Secretary. Since Adams took office last year, a group of PNC'R supporters led by the Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon has been protesting against her appointment.

Gonsalves fires back

But Gonsalves, who was fingered in the incident, told

Guyana Times on Saturday that the office was never vandalised. The Trade Unionist said on the day in question, he was passing the office and realised that the door was wide opened.

“I went and inspect what took place, nothing was damaged, the door was just opened. Who would have opened the door, I don’t know.” He admitted that several other supporters were present at the time.

However, Gonsalves expressed disappointment that Adams would have changed the door. “We had our door and lock in place. Then I

Moray House hosts discussions on race

– can Guyana’s multi-ethnic society provide positive example?

“Race: A Guided Discussion” is a knowledge-sharing platform event facilitated by Dr. Paloma Mohamed, social psychologist on sabbatical from the University of Guyana and hosted by the Moray House Trust, Camp and Quamina Streets Georgetown.

The discussion on the topic will be spilt in five sessions where all Guyanese can participate to share their personal experiences, their own conceptions of ‘race’ and the implications of scientific findings of a common genetic basis for all humanity upon culture history and life.

The first of the five sessions, which took place at Moray House Trust on Thursday last, focused on the question of whether or not there is a scientific basis for the notion of ‘race’.

After viewing the prize winning geographic film “Journey of Man”, the floor was open for discussion among approximately 40 persons which lasted for more than one hour.

The documentary is based on a book by Spencer Wells which points out, on the basis of genetic evidence, that all human beings in existence now descend from one single man who lived in Africa some 60,000 years ago. The earliest groups of

The next session, entitled Race: Burning the Illusion” will be held on Thursday 22 at Moray House Trust at 5:30pm.

Future sessions will examine the representation of race in Guyanese writing, issues of racism, tribalism and

humans are believed to find their present-day descendants among the San people, a group that is now found in western southern Africa.

discrimination and whether Guyana’s multi-ethnic society can provide a positive example for the world.

learnt Adams would have replaced our door with a metal door. That was totally unnecessary because our door was good enough to secure the party’s office. So why change the door?”

It was at this point, the long standing PNC'R member wasted no time in lashing out at the “imposed” regional coordinator. According to him, Adams is an opportunist who will lead the regional arm of the party downhill.

“No one is prepared to work with her because of her arrogance…she is bullish, always giving instructions and want to talk up to people. We will not allow that,” he said with no uncertainty.

Gonsalves pointed out that the PNC/R which forms part of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) would have won the region in the 2011 Elections in her absence. “Nothing she could say would make a difference. She returned after seven years and wants to rule people, let her return to the US. She cannot command a place in Linden because nobody is in support of her,” he emphasised.

According to him, Adams upon her returned to Guyana last year boasted of her achievements in the party,

as though she is the only person would have toiled for the PNC'R. “All of us grow up in this party. All of us worked for this party. Now why disregard us now?”

Since Adams’ appointment by Granger to the region, support for his leadership has been dwindling, as many in the region are unwilling to cooperate with her.

Solomon comments

Though dodging the Guyana Times, the Regional Chairman in one of his Facebook posts on Saturday, said he will dispatch a let-

ter to the Leader of the Opposition an in effort to have the problem resolved.

“As collective, formal and informal leaders, we need to take responsibility for the current status and further work towards a resolution that is acceptable to all consistent with the party rules. It is for these reasons I shall dispatch a letter to the Leader of the party, Comrade David Granger, inviting him to come to Linden and meet with all interesting parties to bring about a resolution, grounded in our rules,” he stated in the post.

He said the current standoff between groups in Linden “is indicative of the passion and commitment of the party members to energise and galvanise” the PNC'R based on a single programme that will give rise to change.

“My position is informed by the principle that the party is paramount to any individual, officer or member of the executive. And this is obvious since the founding members are no longer in its leadership but the philosophy upon which the party has been built continues to be pursued. The time has come for change and together we shall travel in one direction,” he added.

Sandra Adams, PNC'R Region 10 Coordinator

Sharma Solomon Region 10 Chairman

Leslie Gonsalves, PNC'R Member

Floor open for discussion among attendees

Police Force to get floating base in Waini River

As part of efforts to enhance Guyana’s ability to curb smuggling activities, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will be getting a floating patrol base in the Waini River, Region One.

This was disclosed by Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, during the presentation of his ministry’s year-in-review. The decision comes against the backdrop of the Task Force on Fuel Smuggling and Contraband, which comprises of seven agencies namely; the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) and Maritime Administration (MARAD).

Rohee said that his Ministry has arranged for the construction of the floating base which will be used by the Police and other agencies to jointly address smuggling in Guyana.

Task Force,” he said.

According to the Minister, during last year, the Task Force on Fuel Smuggling and Contraband continued forging ahead with its mandate of coordinating activities of its member agencies to effectively curb the smuggling of fuel and contraband in Guyana.

He went on to say that up to December 9, there were some 25 joint operation exercises between the member agencies of the Task Force. The GEA had reported that it collaborated with the Police Force, GRA and the GDF at varying times during the year in its anti-fuel smuggling activities.

“The Guyana Police Force Floating Base will be located at the mouth of the Waini River and will be used as a platform to monitor activities in the surrounding area as well as interdict smugglers,” he stated.

cilitated by the GDF Coast Guard. He noted that the vessel is expected to be fully operational in the first quarter of this year.

The Minister noted that the training of Police ranks and the provision of technical advice to fully equip this structure will be fa-

Back in February last year, the member agencies of the Task Force signed of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the joint use of the GDF’s floating patrol base which is located in the Pomeroon River, Region Two. The training of staff to be embedded on the vessel was also done by Coast Guard and joint operations among the agencies from the floating base have commenced.

Having Police presence in these regions of Guyana’s riverain is a good move

on the part of the Home Affairs Ministry since many illegal activities goes undetected especially in interior locations. Only in August 2014, CANU, along with the GDF, acting on intelligence from an ongoing investigation conducted an operation along the Waini River.

During a search of one of the creeks branching off from the Waini, a semi submersible self propellant (SSSP) vessel was discovered about two miles in, along with a camp consisting of three structures – accommodation, workshop area and generator. The accommodation structure had the capacity to sleep approximately 12 persons.

In addition, there was also a kitchen area located within the accommodation. The workshop consisted of pulleys, power tools, paint, and several fibre-glass materials. Based on the items present, it is believed that the SPSS found in the creek was built in the area and authorities suspect it was built for trafficking narcotics.

In the meanwhile, Minister Rohee pointed out that the Ministry’s assessment is that 2014 was another productive year for the two Task Forces, in which further inter-agency collaboration was achieved. “This conclusion is evident by the enhanced cooperation that has developed between the agencies of the

Meanwhile, the GRA during the year 2014 also initiated a number of joint operations with other Agencies on the Task Force. Rohee stressed that “As a result of the collaborative efforts of agencies, a more effective stand has been taken against the smuggling of fuel and contraband in the country as a whole”.

The Minister went onto say that throughout this year, the task forces will continue as a coordinating body to ensure that there is synergy and cost effectiveness in their efforts to further reduce the smuggling of fuel, illicit weapons, contraband and narcotic drugs in Guyana.

GECOM to assist disabled persons on Elections Day

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in recognicing that the differently-abled Guyanese have a right to vote regardless of their condition is working assiduously to assist those persons during Elections Day.

GECOM says it has been meeting with representatives from the National Commission on Disability (NCD) and has since promised them that persons with disabilities can expect to be treated respectfully and fairly when they go to cast their votes at the polling stations.

Training exercises are ongoing with polling day staff, and GECOM is making serious efforts to have the take care of the needs of all voters, including the differently abled.

For the visually impaired, GECOM in a release said, there will be specially structured templates placed over the ballot paper to assist them in marking the ballot for the Party of their choice.

GECOM also hopes to implement, with the help of the NCD, audio visual electronic advertisements and notices which will include demonstrations by a sign language translator for those with impaired hearing.

Additionally, all new GECOM buildings are equipped with ramps for persons with physical disabilities such as those in wheelchairs.

The Commission says it is also exploring the possibility of arranging selected polling places for electors using wheelchairs.

All persons who are differently-

abled will be given priority access at polling stations.

The NCD has been meeting with GECOM to discuss the number of issues pertaining to the disabled Guyanese and explore methods to reduce barriers encountered when registering and voting at elections.

The NCD continues to assess the current status of preparation by GECOM to accommodate the differently-abled during that period.

Representing the NCD was its Chairman, Ms Evelyn Hamilton, Vice Chairman, Vidushi Persaud, Commissioner, Ganesh Singh, and Executive Secretary, Beverly Pile. GECOM was represented by its Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, Chief Election Officer, Keith

Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Election Officer, Vishnu Persaud and the Legal Officer, Juanita Barker. Preparations are currently underway for the publication of the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) which will be displayed in respective communities throughout Guyana. Persons are urged to check the extracts when the PLE is published to ensure the details are accurate.

The Commission says it now awaits the announcement by President Donald Ramotar of the date for General and Regional Elections. The announcement of the dissolution of Parliament and General Elections are yet to be made by His Excellency.

The floating patrol base stationed in the Pomeroon River

The GECOM Office

GECOM ready to edify voters

… awaiting announcement of date for General Elections

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr Steve Surujbally says the commission is ready to launch its Voter Education Programme but is awaiting a set date for General Elections to do so.

“Everything is prepared but cannot be released to the public until the date for elections is announced.”

However, Surujbally cited the ongoing United States Agency for International Development (USAID)funded International Republican Institute (IRI) which launched the Guyana Leadership and Democracy Programme (LEAD) project in July of 2013.

He said the LEAD project has occasional airing of voter education programmes on some local television stations.

However, this project will soon come to an end and Surujbally said GECOM plans to further negotiate with other international programme bodies to continue on the path to edifying voters.

The implementation process of the LEAD Project is being undertaken in active partnership with a variety of national institutions, including the National Assembly, the Guyana Elections Commission, the Women and Gender Equality Commission, various youth organisations and civil society, and has already begun holding consultations with non-governmental or-

ganisations (NGOs) that are interested in providing information on civic education and Local Government Elections.

Further, the Commission will look into raising public awareness on voting by implementing various television programs and skits, Surujbally said.

Following the announcement of early elections to be held this year by President Donald Ramotar during December last, persons in various sections of society began to question the readiness of the Guyanese populace for elections.

However, officials behind the LEAD project have expressed satisfaction in the progress seen in the program thus far.

The objective of the LEAD project is to support the efforts of Guyanese stakeholders to promote effective and responsive democratic institutions.

LEAD also supports civic and voter education efforts to sustain the implementation of local government reforms and local elections.

Thousands turn up to prayer movement and concert

of

By Sheldon FraSer-Sealey

From as early as 13:30h, Guyanese from all walks of life gathered at the National Park, Georgetown, on Friday, in anticipation of the Prayer Movement which featured International Empowerment Lecturer, Recording Artiste and Author, Ambassador Juanita Bynum.

As the sun began to set and the time drew near for the starting of the event, it was evident that persons had great expectations. With thousands of Christians gathered, the Prayer Movement began at around 16:30h with a powerful and awesome worship session led by the Second Coming Band. “To Worship You I Live” and “I Give Myself Away” were among the songs sung. The atmo-

sphere was charged with praise and worship as thousands worshipped God.

In delivering her presentation, Dr Bynum urged those present to live their lives pleasing to the Heavenly Father. She said Christians should lead by example, emphasising that they should always pray and mediate on the word of God.

“I believe that there

First China-CELAC Forum ministerial meeting concludes in Beijing – Foreign Affairs Minister

encouraged by increased South-South cooperation

The first ministerial meeting of the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) concluded in Beijing on Friday with Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett feeling encouraged by the potential role of China-CELAC Forum in promoting increased South-South cooperation between China and the Latin America and Caribbean region.

“The proposed areas for cooperation cover in large part our common interest and once implemented will redound to the growth and development of our peoples.”

The ChinaCELACForum is a bi-regional mechanism aimed at promoting cooperation between the CELAC Member States and China in a wide range of areas including: training of human resources; transfer of technology; infrastructure development; climate change; energy, natural resources; cultural exchanges and agriculture.

on Friday

will be a greater change in Guyana whereby continuing to pave the way for economic prosperity and growth,”

Ambassador Bynum said as delivered a strong prophetic word for people of Guyana.

Dr Bynum is not only an ambassador but the author of “Matters of the Heart ” which was published by Charisma Publications, an International Christian Book Publishing Company. She also wrote “No More Sheets,” a book which described her ministry in the early 1990s. Recently she released a new Album entitled “Worship Unplugged Volume 2.”

The Prayer Movement continued on Saturday night at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence with an even larger crowd. It was promoted by local gospel artiste Kester Dee.

The Government of China, in collaboration with regional financial institutions will provide concessional financing for many of the projects developed within the framework of this mechanism.

The decision to develop this bi-regional mechanism was taken by the Heads of State and Government of the region at the 2nd CELAC Summit which was held in

Havana, Cuba in January, 2014. Six months later the China-CELAC Forum was officially launched in Brasilia in the margins of the BRICS Summit in July, 2014.

The two day meeting which was held under the theme “New Platform, New Starting Point, New Opportunity –Joint Efforts to Promote China-Latin America and the Caribbean Partnership of Comprehensive Cooperation”, adopted three main documents: the Beijing Declaration, the Operating Rules of the Forum, and The 2015-2019 Plan of Action.

“We in Guyana see great value in the initiatives as outlined in the Cooperation Plan and embrace all opportunities afforded to be part of such collaboration,” Rodrigues-Birkett said.

She also concurred with the Chinese Foreign Minister that the easiest part is completed (the Cooperation Plan) and highlighted the need for the plan to be converted into workable projects which must be implemented with alacrity so that there can be an early harvest.

The Minister also took the opportunity to mention the issue of climate change.

“Not to underestimate the importance of the other areas listed in the Plan but since it is the greatest challenge of our times, I must refer to the issue of climate change. Guyana, as a low lying coastal develop-

ing state together with our Caribbean colleagues are pleased that climate change is given prominence in the Cooperation Plan since we are very vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Indeed several of the most vulnerable countries in the world are found in the Caribbean. The consensus that Caribbean States must be treated differently is therefore welcomed.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, H.E. Mr. Wang Yi also met with the Caribbean Ministers in a special private meeting to discuss issues of interest to the Caribbean countries visa-vis the Forum.

The opening ceremony was chaired by the President of China, Xi Jinping and attended by Luis Guillermo Solis, the President of Costa Rica and Pro Tempore Chair of CELAC; the Honourable Perry Christie, Prime Minister of the Bahamas and the current Caricom representative on the CELAC Quartet; H.E. Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador and incoming Pro Tempore Chair of CELAC and; H.E. Nicolas Maduro, President of Venezuela. Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana led a delegation to the First Ministerial Meeting of China-CELAC Forum which was held on January 8-9. The forum’s next meeting will be held in Chile in 2018.

Ambassador Juanita Bynum

Some

the patrons who gathered at the National Park, Georgetown early

in anticipation of the prayer movement

Guyana’s delegation to the Forum

The Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) holds the first ministerial meeting in Beijing, capital of China

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr Steve Surujbally

Claude Francois Bolton is football’s new TD

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Claude Francois Bolton, a Canadabased football official of Guyanese parentage, has been appointed the new Technical Director (TD) of Guyana’s football on a fouryear contract. This was disclosed by the Normalisation Committee of the Guyana Football Federation at a press conference on Saturday at Football House in Campbellville.

Bolton replaces Mark Rodrigues, who served in the position under the embattled Christopher Matthias-led administration, which was disbanded by FIFA and replaced with a Normalisation Committee last September.

Bolton is a Chartered Professional Coach in Canada and brings with him over 15 years of professional coaching and technical experience to the post. He is among those who have achieved some of the highest certification levels in North America.

He holds a United States Soccer Federation’s National “A” License, a Union of European Football Association’s (UEFA) “B” License, and an English Football Association’s International Coaching License.

A former Guyana midfielder of the early 90s, Bolton expressed enthusiasm about the future of Guyana’s football as he addressed members of the local media fraternity on Saturday.

“All of you who would have covered the game know that the potential for Guyana’s football is immense. It’s been- I won’t call it a sleeping giant yetbut we still haven’t tapped where we can go as a country,” the new TD observed.

He added, “Many people here understand football should be seen as a tool of social development, and very clearly it can be. What we’ve been able to accomplish in that short time when Mr [Jamaal] Shabazz was Head Coach only gave us a glimpse into where we could go with a sustained programme of development.”

Bolton reckoned however, that for progress to be

made, there must a structured approach by all stakeholders.

“Without a plan, you’re planning to fail, so I think that’s what the Normalisation Committee is putting in place and was quite clear what the mandate would be for myself and for the programme and the people involved…it is to plan and have checks and balances as we go,” the experienced Bolton recommended.

Transparent process

Two members of the Normalisation Committee, Rabindranauth Chandarpal and Tariq Williams, were on hand to explain the mechanism by which Bolton was appointed to the post. A total of eight applications were received and that number was subsequently slashed by half after which the interviewing process was held.

Williams said, “We were able to sufficiently interview all candidates and based on the evaluation criteria, which was set out in the Terms of Reference, we did some calculations and Mr Bolton emerged as the clear cut front-runner for that position.”

He continued, “Thereafter, an offer was made…financial, technical…a total package was offered to Mr Bolton, which he duly accepted and that has led us to the position we are now where Mr Bolton is employed by the Guyana Football Federation as the Technical Director for the national football programme.”

Chandarpal added, “Once we had that shortlist, during the interviews each candidate was scored by the individual members of the Normalisation Committee, so it was a very transparent and open process, and once again, Mr Bolton was clearly the front-runner.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Normalisation Committee, Clinton Urling, said the decision to appoint a Technical Director was a long-term investment for football, noting that Bolton’s success would not be rated solely on the performance of the Senior Men’s national team.

“We won’t be judging Claude’s success by how far our national team this year goes in the World Cup qualifiers. We will be judging him based on how he implements the developmental programme for the Guyana Football Federation at all levels,” Urling posited.

He further stated, “We view that national team’s success as 10 percent of what we want to achieve90 percent will be on the developmental aspects of things: grassroot development, youth development, expansion of women’s football in Guyana, developing a solid and appropriate foundation for football as we move forward four to eight years from now. There is also an expectation from the Normalisation Committee that Claude will create a short-term plan for 2015 and also a long-term plan for

football.”

Meanwhile, the Normalisation Committee will on Monday name the person who will fill the role of Head Coach of the Senior Men’s national team.

Bolton’s bio

In addition to the previously mentioned achievements, Bolton holds National “A”, Goalkeeping, Fitness, and Youth licenses from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), and also holds a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Advanced Youth Certificate.

He brings with him both domestic and international coaching and playing experience. As a player, he was the Captain of the California University of Pennsylvania NCAA Squad in the United States on full athletic scholarship.

He also played in the Ontario Soccer League, the Canadian Indoor Soccer League and the National Soccer League of Canada. While in Guyana, Bolton played with the Pele Football Club and represented the country at the highest level on the Senior Men’s national squad.

As Coach, he served as Regional Youth Head Coach of the MLS Team, the Vancouver Whitecaps, Head Coach of Seawall FC, Trent University (both Men’s and Women’s), Doc’s Kelwalaas FC (Trinidad), and National Head Coach of FUTSAL Canada.

As Technical Director, he served the West Rouge SC, the Guyana Football Federation (2000-2001), Doc Kelwalaas, Peterborough City Soccer Association, Toronto Eagles Soccer Club, Harbour City Football Club (Canada) and most recently TD of the Burlington Bayhawks YSC, which has a membership of approximately 6,400 players.

He has also been a Player Development Coach in the Regional Development School of the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer (MLS). He was also a Learning Facilitator and Grassroots Tutor for British Columbia Soccer, BC Canada.

Wakenaam Cricket Committee congratulates Paul

The Wakenaam Cricket Committee (WCC) has congratulated Kemo Paul on his selection to the West Indies Under-19 team for the upcoming NAGICO Super 50 in Trinidad and Tobago later this month.

Paul was instrumental in Guyana winning the 2014 Regional Under-19 Threeday and 50-over tournaments, which were contested here last August.

He was voted the best allrounder of the competition. Public Relations Officer of the WCC, Keval Persaud, said that although he is disappointed about the non-selection of Ricardo Adams to the national team, Paul’s elevation is most welcome since he would have started his cricket on the island.

Persaud pointed out that Wakenaam has over the years produced a number of cricketers for the national team at various levels, including Oyono Sampson, Ryan Adams, Hamlet Gordon and Imran Khan. The committee wished Paul every success in the tournament.

Holder says...

Holder took over for six months from former President Sheikh Asif Ahmad, who had relinquished his position with immediate effect on June 25, 2012, before Fizul Bacchus was elected at the last election.

Ahmad had claimed then that his decision to demit office was based on certain Board members not honouring their commitments as they were not in support of his decisions.

Ahmad and some Board members were at loggerheads ever since the ECB had endorsed the government-implemented Interim Management Committee (IMC) and more so when the ECB denounced its membership and withdrew its two directors from the DEB Essential Organisation Inc., which was created in 2011 by some executives of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

Further, Bacchus expressed confidence for another term since he believes that he has the support of majority of the area committee.

No problem

Meanwhile, the newly appointed Cricket Ombudsman, Dr Winston McGowan, in an invited comment on Saturday, said

he has no problem with the ECB going ahead with its elections, but indicated that should there be any objections coming out from the process he will intervene.

“The elections was already planned, and I have no problem with them going ahead with it. I will intervene should there be any objections and based on the objections I will decide on the way forward,” Dr McGowan said.

Dr McGowan is responsible for calling the elections of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB), Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) and Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) in accordance with the provisions of Cricket Administration Law.

This Law was assented to by President Donald Ramotar in August after the ‘Cricket Bill’ was enacted in Parliament on June 20.

Welcome! Normalisation Committee chairman Clinton Urling congratulates Claude Bolton on his appointment as Technical Director

Dr Winston McGowan

Kemo Paul from back page

Pietersen wants to face England Windies fans in for treat in Florida

England were pleased to put 2014 behind them as they arrived in Australia, but the central figure of much of the angst and controversy of last year remains well within earshot as Kevin Pietersen said he wants to face his former team-mates after a spot opened up in the Prime Minister's XI.

Michael Hussey was due to captain the PM's XI in Canberra on Wednesday but injured his hamstring in the Big Bash League meaning the side need a replacement batsman. Pietersen put his hat in the ring while he was on the microphone during the Melbourne derby between the Stars and Renegades on Saturday.

"In the Prime Minister's game on Wednesday, Mr Michael Hussey's missed out. Jeez, I fancy that,'' Pietersen said while batting for the Stars.

Adam Gilchrist, commentating for Channel Ten, asked: "Are you telling us you're available?'' Pietersen replied: "Mate, I'm always available.''

Pietersen hit a run-a-ball 49 for the Stars, before falling to Ben Stokes, continuing his good run of form in the BBL, which has included two half-centuries, although he was overshadowed by Glenn Maxwell's 66 off 44 deliveries.

Andrew Flintoff, who is playing for Brisbane Heat, suggested there would be no shortage of England bowlers keen to run in at Pietersen.

"If @KP24 plays for the prime ministers XI they'll need a turnstile at the bowlers end, they'll be queuing up,'' he tweeted.

The PM's XI match is England's second, and final, warm-up fixture before the tri-series begins against Australia at the SCG on January 16. Their first hit out comes on Monday when they face an Australian Capital Territory XI.

Ian Bell, who was dropped after two ODIs in Sri Lanka, was given the chance to bat alongside Moeen Ali in the nets during an early training session which may offer a clue as to how England are considering lining up. In Sri Lanka, it was the sight of Moeen batting alongside Alastair Cook at training which indicated that would be the opening pair.

If Bell is given the chance to open it would appear to be another blow to Alex Hales' hopes although there is a chance Hales could be slotted in at No. 3. However, James Taylor enjoyed success in that position after being recalled in Sri Lanka, making scores of 90 and 68,

to secure his passage to the World Cup.

Taylor has now admitted how much pressure he was under going into his first innings of that series - which was just his third ODI - following the suspension of Alastair Cook due to a slow over-rate which opened up a spot in the team.

"It was up to me to take that opportunity and I did it in those couple of games," Taylor said. "I knew from the outside I was put in a massively pressurised situation - if I didn't score runs I wasn't going to the World Cup. But I didn't really think about it, I jumped straight into the game situation and tried to focus on that as much as I could.''

"Obviously it's been a massively frustrating few years of not getting those consistent runs in the side but this winter has been a great opportunity to show what I can do to the selectors, coaches and the guys around the team.'' (Cricinfo)

Hafeez to undergo fresh ICC tests

Pakistan off-spinner

Mohammad Hafeez is to undergo further testing on his bowling action.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) banned the 34-year-old from bowling in international cricket in December after his action was found to be illegal.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed with the ICC that the testing will take place later this month.

He was selected for the World Cup as a specialist batsman, but could play as an all-rounder if his action is cleared.

“Hafeez believes he will pass the official testing,” said PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan.

“If he passes the test, he will play the World Cup as an all-rounder. Otherwise, he is there as a batsman.”

The World Cup, cohosted by Australia and

New Zealand, begins on February 14.

Hafeez, who has taken 122 wickets in 153 one-day internationals, failed to clear his bowling action at unofficial testing in India last week.

His action was reported during the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi in November.

An ICC analysis of his bowling style at Loughborough revealed

that his elbow exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted.

Pakistan team-mate Saeed Ajmal recently withdrew from the World Cup squad as his bowling action is yet to be cleared by the ICC.

As well as Hafeez and Ajmal, seven other off-spinners have been reported to the ICC for illegal actions in the last 14 months. (BBC Sport)

Cricket lovers in the U.S. are in for treat as they will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with 25 West Indies legends at a gala banquet dinner at the South Florida Conference Center in St Margate, Florida, on January 24.

Patrons will also be entertained by another Caribbean legend- The Mighty Sparrow- while getting to know some of their Windies heroes.

The event, 25 West Indies Legends, is being promoted by the Lawrence Rowe Foundation and A Class Events.

Tickets are priced at US$150 and includes food and drink. After an evening off the field, the action shifts to across the ropes the following day where the Legend Players, captained by batting maestro Brian Lara, will take on a Cavaliers team, headed by Steve Messiah.

The match bowls off at 15:00 hours at the Central Broward Park Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.

Set to feature for the Legend Players are Gordon Greendige, Alvin Kallicharan, Collis King, Gus Logie and Daren Ganga

to name a few. Also in attendance will be the other legends such as Sir Garfield Sobers, Colin Croft, Lawrence Rowe, Sir Wesley Hall, Derrick Murray, Sir Anderson Roberts, Lance Gibbs and Clive Lloyd.

Tickets are priced at US$25 for the Stand, US$15 for grounds/mound, US$50 for mound and cooler, US$65 for party stand, $75 for VIP and $150VVIP. Children under 12 are free and they can enjoy a Universal Fun Kids Zone, batting cages among other fun activities.

Part of the proceeds of the venture will go towards former Jamaica and West Indies fast bowler, Patrick

Patterson.

Legend Players: Brian Lara

Gordon Greenidge, Alvin Kallicharan, Collis King, Wavell Hinds, Ricardo Powell, Mervyn Dillon, Larry Gomes, Darren Powell, Nixon McLean, Daren Ganga, Carlisle Best, Faoud Bacchus, Esra Mosley, Gus Logie and Leon Garrick.

Cavaliers Players: Steve Messiah (Captain), Derrick Kallicharan, Asif Mujtaba, Akeem Dobson, Sai Ramesh, Adrian Gordon, Anthony Karim, Sameer Khan, Fazail Maqsood, Stephen Taylor and Apul Lyer. (windiescricket)

Webb hails successful CONCACAF reform

CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb has labelled the overhaul of the confederation as a major success, and says he is focussed on continuing to rebuild the image and integrity of the continental governing body.

Webb took over the reins of CONCACAF in 2012 with the organisation’s confidence at an all-time low, following the controversial cash-for-votes scandal the previous year.

He has since moved to streamline CONCACAF’s operations by instituting several initiatives, such as a new Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct and the creation of the Audit and Compliance Committee aimed at improving accountability and transparency.

“Firstly, we started a transformation process, we also started a reform process ... the governance of CONCACAF is at an alltime high, we have actively 21 committees that make decisions and recommendations to the executive body,” Webb told reporters while speaking at a media briefing ahead of the start of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship which kicked off Friday.

“We have invested heavi-

ly in a process that embraces all aspects of CONCACAF.

We are also in the process of instilling a new culture within CONCACAF in the way we conduct business. We have worked hard in restoring credibility and trust, which we value so much.”

He added: “I am very much satisfied as I believe we have seen a real transformation in CONCACAF –internally and externally, I believe that we have done and accomplished so much along this journey, yet there is so much more to be done and that’s where my immediate focus is.”

Webb is also a vice-president of football’s powerful world governing body,

FIFA, and also sits on its executive committee.

The Caymanian banker was also appointed to chair FIFA’s Anti-Racism and Discrimination Task Force, in an effort geared at stamping out racism in the game across the globe.

Having quickly become a leading figure in world football, his name has been bandied around as a future FIFA president, but Webb said while he was willing to serve at any level, his focus was the continued development of CONCACAF.

“I have been asked [about a possible run for FIFA office], but as I said my immediate focus is with CONCACAF and my work continues there. Who knows what lies in the future, but right now my focus and firm commitment is with being the president of CONCACAF,” he stressed.

“We have accomplished a lot and we have so much more to accomplish ... I believe in a better future for football and will never stop working for that hope and dream.”

CONCACAF serves as the continental governing body for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean.

(Captain),

Brian Lara Alvin Kallicharan

Kevin Pietersen has enjoyed himself at the BBL

President Jeffrey Webb is pleased with CONCACAF’s transformation

Mohammad Hafeez

Australia v India, 4th Test, Sydney, 5th day…

India hold on for tense draw

Three wickets needed, a wearing SCG pitch, the light fading, India trying to cling on for a draw - it could have been the 2008 finish all over again. But Michael Clarke was in the commentary box this time, not out in the middle with ball in hand, and Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar held their nerve, and held off the Australian charge. Steven Smith’s side instead had to settle for a draw and a 2-0 series victory.

At tea on the final day, India needed 189 for an unlikely win with eight wickets in hand; Virat Kohli and M Vijay were at the crease. But both men fell soon after the resumption, and with

SCOREBOARD

Australia 1st innings

572-7 declared India 1st innings 475

Australia 2nd innings

251-6 declared India 2nd Innings

Vijay c Haddin b Hazlewood 80

Rahul c Warner b Lyon 16

Ro Sharma c Smith

b Watson 39

Kohli c Watson b Starc 46

Rahane not out 38

Raina lbw b Starc 0

Saha lbw b Lyon 0

Ashwin lbw b Hazlewood 1

B Kumar not out 20

Extras: (6-b, 6-lb) 12

Total: (for 7 wickets; 89.5 overs) 252

Bowling: Starc 19-7-362, Harris 13-3-34-0, Lyon

30.5-5-110-2, Hazlewood

17-7-31-2, Smith 2-0-70, Watson 8-2-22-1

Fall of wickets: 48 (Rahul), 104 (Ro Sharma), 178 (Vijay), 201 (Kohli), 203 (Raina), 208 (Saha), 217 (Ashwin)

the ball reverse-swinging, the pitch providing variable bounce for Nathan Lyon, and the momentum with Australia, they were followed inside by Suresh Raina, Wriddhiman Saha and R Ashwin.

But then came the match-saving partner-

ship between Rahane and Bhuvneshwar, who survived for nearly 12 overs. Bhuvneshwar handled the final one of the match from Lyon, confident enough to even drive the first delivery to the long-off boundary with all the fieldsmen up, and India reached safety. It was a draw, but after their loss in similar circumstances in Adelaide, it was also an achievement.

Both men showed impressive calmness, Rahane doing his best to take most of the bowling himself, Bhuvneshwar able to keep Lyon’s sharp off-breaks down instead of flying to the assortment of men close-in on the leg side. Smith tried all four of his frontline bowlers in the dying stages, but it was to no avail; India finished on 7-252, with Rahane on 38 and Bhuvneshwar on 20.

Swing

Notably, Australia did not break through in the final 10 overs of the match, after Smith took the new Kookaburra. He might later have reflected that a reverse-swinging bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Hazlewood, in particular, was getting the old ball to tail in to India’s right-handers. Starc proved a handful with it as well, but they were unable to get the new ball to talk.

The session had started with all results possible, although India’s victory chances required a change in approach after they seemed focussed on the draw for most of the day. Vijay had twice taken Lyon for 16 in an over earlier, but when he tried to lift the tempo against Hazlewood’s pace his attempted cut resulted in an easy take for Brad Haddin, and he was out for 80.

Kohli followed on 46 when Starc got one to straighten and caught the edge through to Shane Watson at first slip, and thus started a mini-collapse that had the Sydney crowd roaring. Raina completed a pair in his first Test for two and a half years, trapped lbw when Starc moved a ball back in, and India’s 2-178 had become 5-203.

It was 6-208 when Saha was done by a Lyon offbreak that stayed perilously low and struck him directly in line with middle stump. The last hour began with Australia four wickets from victory, and they claimed one when Ashwin, who had held out for 22 balls for his single run, was lbw when Hazlewood reversed the old ball in late and struck him in front.

But then came the new ball, and as it turned out, new hope for India. Hazlewood and Starc had

been miserly all day, both conceding less than two an over. That helped to build the pressure as Lyon toiled at the other end, but for the first four hours of the day India handled the situation well, losing only one wicket in each session. Occasionally India, or more specifically Vijay, went on the attack. Sixteen runs came from Lyon’s penultimate over before tea, as Vijay used his feet to lift a six and a four down the ground, and swept another boundary. Another 16 had come in a Lyon over before lunch, including a lofted six over midwicket from Vijay, although in the same over Vijay edged a ball that ricocheted off Haddin and lobbed just out of reach of Watson at slip.

It was that kind of day for the Australians, half chances falling just out of reach and, on occasion, being dropped. Shaun Marsh at short cover put down a tough when Vijay had 42 and the bowler, Ryan Harris, responded in frustration next delivery when Vijay pushed the ball back to him and Harris hurled it at the stumps, only to see it bounce in the footmarks and over the head of the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for four overthrows.

Not surprisingly, Australia had declared on their overnight score and set India 349 to win. For the third time in the series, the match went down to the last hour of the fifth day. There was no repeat of the dramatic Australian win in Adelaide, but nor was it the tamer draw of Melbourne. This result was somewhere in between, thrilling in its way, but with neither side coming out on top.

And in the end, 2-0 seemed a fitting scoreline in a series in which Australia were more consistently strong all round, but India fought hard and showed impressive resolve.

Rioting fans halt darts competition in Australia

Play was stopped at an Australian darts competition when rioting fans in fancy dress

Dutchman Michael ‘Mighty Mike’ van Gerwen was playing Australia’s Simon ‘The Wizard’

in an invitational tournament at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne when chaos broke out.

The pair - among the top-ranked players on the Professional Darts Corporation circuit - were halted when a boisterous crowd took to throwing chairs, tossing tables and grappling in groups.

a man

Man City lose ground with draw

Manchester City lost ground to Chelsea in the Premier League title race as Everton came from behind to earn a fully-deserved point against the champions at Goodison Park.

Fernandinho’s scrambled goal - as Everton appealed in vain for offsidewith 16 minutes left looked to have condemned Roberto Martinez’s side to their fifth successive league defeat.

Everton, however, built on their midweek improvement against West Ham United in the FA Cup third round and merited the point they were given when Steven Naismith’s glancing header put them level within four minutes of City’s opener.

City boss Manuel Pellegrini will be disappointed at a result that saw Chelsea regain a twopoint lead at the top after their win against Newcastle United - but he can have no complaints about the final

rousing reception Martinez’s players received at the final whistle showed Goodison Park’s appreciation for a much more resolute display.

Lukaku revealed after the draw with West Ham United that the players had approached Martinez with a suggestion to occasionally adopt a more direct approach.

And yet it was Everton’s tendency to over-play ponderously in defence that placed them in most danger in a first half City dominated without demonstrating the required cutting edge.

Goalkeeper Joel Robles was fortunate to get away with a poor clearance when he was played into trouble by John Stones while Jesus Navas failed to hit the target after Mo Besic’s risky pass bounced off Jagielka.

Lukaku clearly had the weapons to trouble City’s defence when he got the right service, as he proved just before half-time when he outpaced Mangala only to be

outcome.

Everton’s players have been questioned, as has their belief in Martinez’s passing approach, after their recent dismal run but there was plenty of spirit on display here - exemplified by the outstanding Romelu Lukaku, who gave Manchester City’s £30m defender Eliaquim Mangala a torrid time.

City were without Yaya Toure, on Africa Cup Of Nations duty, while Vincent Kompany was on the bench, along with fit-again Sergio Aguero, and their presence was sorely missed against an Everton side that looked more rejuvenated and confident as the game progressed.

Everton’s fans were angry at a second-half goal from Phil Jagielka being ruled out for offside and were complaining about offside and a possible handball in the build-up to Fernandinho’s goal, but the

blocked by Joe Hart. Seamus Coleman then picked up the loose ball and rattled the bar from 25 yards.

The striker left Mangala trailing again just after halftime to bring another fine save from Hart as Everton finally played to Lukaku’s strengths in the hope of making the breakthrough.

City’s failure to break the deadlock saw Pellegrini send on Aguero for Stevan Jovetic after 66 minutes, the Argentine returning for the first time since suffering a knee injury against Everton in early December.

The goal finally came after 74 minutes when, as Everton appealed for offside, Fernandinho’s effort squeezed past Coleman on the line from David Silva’s cross-shot.

Everton responded swiftly and were level inside four minutes, Naismith beating Hart to Leighton Baines’s free-kick to score with a glancing header. (BBC Sport)

The Australian players with the Border-Gavaskar trophy

brawled and threw chairs.

Whitlock

Images show

dressed as Batman’s side-

kick Robin wrestling with an English knight, while security guards try to calm the situation down. Other pictures

show men in Hawaiian shirts and also a gang of Oompa Loompas throwing furniture. Police later arrived on the

scene but not before the entire seating area had been wrecked by the marauding crowd. (BBC Sport)

Chairs were thrown by those in the arena, which is located on Melbourne’s Docklands and holds around 56,000 spectators when full

Fernandinho has scored two goals from three shots on target in the Premier League this season

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Wolfsburg’s Belgian midfielder dies, aged 20

Wolfsburg’s Junior Malanda has died aged 20 in a car crash in Germany.

The Belgium Under-21 midfielder had made 15 appearances for the German Bundesliga side this season, including against Everton in the Europa League.

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Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs said in a statement: “We are all deeply saddened and our disbelief can hardly be put into words.

“We can’t believe he is no longer with us. Our thoughts at this difficult time are with his family and loved ones.”

Allofs added: “He was the good spirit of our team and a fun-loving person. In addition, Junior was an excellent football player who was only at the very beginning of his development.”

Malanda was linked to Fulham and Crystal Palace when he left Zulte Waregem in 2013 but instead joined Wolfsburg, before going back on loan to the Belgian side.

His last game was a 2-1 win over Cologne on December 20.

Wolfsburg police said Malanda was a passenger in a car that crashed on a motorway near the German city of Bielefeld.

He was en route to meet up with his team-mates to fly out to South Africa for a training camp.

Wolfsburg team-mate Kevin de Bruyne tweeted: “So strange to hear your friend in the morning and then hear this news. Lost a great friend way too early. RIP my friend. You will always be around.”

Another team-mate, Nicklas Bendtner, said on Instagram: “Not only a great player, but a great person. My thoughts and prayers will always be with you and your family brother. Your kind heart was rare and special. You will always be remembered.”

Chelsea’s Thorgan Hazard, who played with Malanda at Zulte Waregem, said: “Whyyyyy??? I love you brooo.”

Everton and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku said: “I love you my brother. “Junior, why you are my brother….my brother, one of my only and unique friends, I cannot believe you are not there anymore.”

Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel, Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng, Monaco midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia and Paris StGermain left-back Lucas Digne ?were also among the other players to tweet their condolences.

Real Madrid beat Espanyol 3-0

Spanish leaders Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a routine home victory over Espanyol, despite playing for almost 40 minutes with 10 men.

Following back-to-back defeats against Valencia and Atletico Madrid, Real responded quickly as £71m signing James Rodriguez stroked in from 15 yards.

Gareth Bale curled in a 20-yard free-kick, off the post, to double the lead.

Left-back Fabio Coentrao was sent off for a sliding tackle but it mattered little as Nacho slotted in the third.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side are

four points clear of nearest rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, with at least one of those sides poised to drop points when they meet in Catalonia on Sunday. Real, who will have played a match fewer than their title rivals after the Nou Camp clash, have taken control of La Liga on the back of 12 successive wins.

Last Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at fourth-placed Valencia ended their Spanish record run of 22 victories in all competitions, before they tumbled to another loss at neighbours Atletico in the Copa del Rey.

However, Italian boss Ancelotti insisted there was

no cause for concern - and so it proved against mid-table Espanyol.

Rodriguez finished a classy move which saw Cristiano Ronaldo instantly pull back Bale’s sublime cross-field pass into the Colombia midfielder’s path. Espanyol keeper Kiko Casilla was rooted to his spot as Bale whipped in the second, before Portugal defender Coentrao was harshly shown a red card after lunging into a 50-50 tackle. But Espanyol could not take advantage of their extra man, with Spain defender Nacho drilling in Alvaro Arbeloa’s left-wing cross at the far post for the third. (BBC Sport)

Junior Malanda was seen as a bright prospect and a footballer only at the very beginning of his development

Home-grown defender Nacho, 24, netted his first competitive goal for Madrid

Allen talks up Windward Islands Volcanoes’ chances

This year’s NAGICO Super50 tournament opens this coming Thursday in Trinidad and Tobago. Windward Islands Volcanoes have stepped up their competitiveness in regional competitions over the last decade, shaking off the perennial Cinderella tag that had become their calling card.

The Volcanoes recognise that they are strong in bowling, but batting depth will be critical for them to succeed in this year’s tournament.

The sub-regional side play alongside the Combined Campuses and Colleges, the Guyana Jaguars and reigning champions the Barbados Pride in Group “A”.

The first stage of the tournament will be the group stage comprising a series of non-elimination matches in each group - each team will play every other team in its group - with two matches being contested daily at either the Queen’s Park Oval, the T&T Cricket Board’s National Cricket Centre in the central Trinidad community of Couva, or Shaw Park in Scarborough, the capital of Trinidad’s sister island Tobago.

Following the group stage, the top two teams in each group will progress to

the semi-finals at the Oval, where the group winners play the runners-up from the opposite group in a oneoff match for a place in the Grand Final on Sunday, January 25 at the same venue.

Volcanoes Head Coach Ian Allen, a former West Indies fast bowler, spoke of his side’s chances in the tournament.

“I think we have a good chance. We won it only two years ago, but we did not do too well last year and the players are conscious of it. They are working hard to improve upon that performance and get close to the level of confidence that will allow them to execute,” Allen said.

He also highlighted the area his side will need to improve on. “I think mostly our batting, so that we are always taking the pressure off the bowlers. We are presently training in Dominica and have played a number of practice matches, so the players would be aware of their roles, and it’s about them understanding their roles and executing. Once we can achieve the targets we want with our batting, over the years our bowling unit has done well for us, and so we will have every chance of winning matches.”

Allen said his team’s preparations have been going along well, despite the challenge of unfavourable weather.

“At the start of the training camp in Dominica, we had a bit of a challenge with the weather, but things have improved, so we are trying to make the best use of the conditions and we are trying to make sure that the players reach the level of confidence to be competitive from our very first game against Guyana. The camp has been good and has given us a chance to get together and do a lot of team bonding, as well as for everyone to understand their roles,” the coach explained. Allen also highlighted

some of the players he is looking at to make an impact in the limited-over competition.

“Keddy Lesporis is one of them and Sunil Ambris. We are expecting that the bulk of our runs will come from the two of them along with

the likes of Devon Smith, Miles Bascombe, Craig Emmanuel, Liam Sebastien and lower-order hitters like Shane Shillingford, Mervin Matthew and Delorn Johnson.”

The squad reads: Liam Sebastien (Captain), Sunil Ambris, Miles Bascombe, Alston Bobb, Johnson Charles, Craig Emmanuel, Andre Fletcher, Tarryck Gabriel, Delorn Johnson, Keddy Lesporis, Mervin Matthew, Kenroy Peters, Shane Shillingford and Devon Smith.

YWCC launches third Mash Cup

The Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) of Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice, on Friday launched the third edition of its annual fundraiser, Mash Cup 2015.

The tournament will involve 11 second division teams from Number 19 to Gangaram Village, and will be of five-over-a-side and will be contested on February 23, a national holiday.

Proceeds from this event will go towards replacing the stolen covers, donations to religious organisations in the area and help with the day-to-day running of the club, along with further improvement work on the venue.

Regional Vice-chairman Bhupaul Jagroop graced the launch and said that he is delighted with the work of the cricket club and encouraged others to take a page

out of their book. He said the government will continue to assist the club and added that the region is always impressed with the way their monies are spent on the venue.

Jagroop added that through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, funds are allocated to improve playgrounds in the Regions around Guyana and the government will continue to do so. He urged that persons be responsible and care the facilities for it benefits all and sundry.

Speaking on behalf of YWCC, First-Division Captain and Coordinator of the event, Ishwar Singh, thanked the clubs in the area for their interest and said that this fundraiser is highly anticipated by the clubs in the catchment area.

He said the first two editions were very successful and this year will be no dif-

ferent. He commended the clubs for their level of discipline shown and encouraged them to do the same this year. Singh pointed out that incentives totalling over $150,000 are up for grabs. Lots of gate prizes will be available for the patrons during the knockout competition, while there will be games to entertain the young ones.

President of the Berbice Cricket Board and executive of the YWCC, Anil Beharry, called on leaders and elders of the communities to encourage young people to get involved in the game and keep them away from drugs and crime.

He said that small pockets of development will lead to national development and he even emphasised that everyone has to play his/her role in the betterment of the communities.

He thanked the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, for spending millions of dollars to improve playgrounds around the country and call on the cricket clubs to care the facilities. He also thanked the Regional hierarchy for its support as is evident by the presence of Vice-chairman.

The draw was also done with hosts YWCC taking on Gangaram and Buski Eleven playing Kendall’s Union simultaneously from 09:00 hours. Seawell will play Canefield; Rose Hall CC will tackle Betsy Ground and Number 7 will face off with Goed Bananen Land.

Ian Allen

Representatives of the participating teams at the launch of the competition last week

South Africa v West Indies, 2nd T20, Johannesburg…

South Africa must quell Gayle

There were two different games played during the opening T20 in Cape Town: the one by Chris Gayle and then the one by everyone else. Gayle’s extraordinary display of striking, which included a sequence of 52 off 11 balls, meant even another West Indies collapse was not terminal this time.

And if Gayle can hit them a long way at Newlands, there had better be a good supply of spare balls at the Wanderers where the higher altitude means sixes can fly. It would seem, on the evidence of the first match, that South Africa’s main challenge - with their fairly inexperienced attack - is quelling Gayle although this is one of the stronger West Indies line-ups available.

The slightly scary prospect for South Africa is that Johannesburg was the venue for another of Gayle’s famous T20 onslaughts, his 117 off 57 balls during the opening match of the inaugural World T20 in 2007 - although, remarkably, it came in defeat as the home side chased down 206 with plenty of time to spare.

Faf du Plessis conceded his team were second favourites before this series and, whether or not that was an attempt to transfer the pressure back onto West Indies, the evidence of the opening game supports that view. The Powerplays were not good for South Africa; with the bat they only managed 35-2 and then they were hammered to the tune of 78 for none by Gayle.

In the spotlight

It has been an interesting few weeks for Imran Tahir. Recalled and dropped from the Test side in the space of two matches, a domestic suspension for a clash with umpires but then retaining his position as the team’s premier one-day spinner. His returns at Newlands showed

Several changes made to BMTC horse race meet today

The organisers of the Budhan Memorial Turf Club (BMTC) one day horse race meet have made several changes from the original programme.

The meet is scheduled for the club’s track at Number 66 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Six races are now set for the day with all the races now six furlongs events.

The J class event is now the feature race with the winner set to run away with a $130,000 and trophy.

There are two races for animals classified K and Lower with the winning take in both races being $70,000 and trophy.

The horses classified L and Lower will also have two races at their disposal with the winners on both occasions set to carry away $40,000 and trophy.

The horses that would not have placed during the day would have their chances to compete in a specially arranged event with the winning amount to be decided on race day. According to organisers Neville and Andrew Budhan, the track is in excellent condition, despite the current inclement weather. Race time is 13:00 hours.

why he remains a key player with the white ball and it is important for South Africa that Tahir’s confidence stays high for the challenges of the next few months.

It was all right on the night for West Indies after Gayle’s display, but their middle-order gave cause for concern as they became lazy with the target in sight. A wobble of 4-17 made the end more tense than it should have been and while, perhaps, too much should not be written into it given the state of the match some greater composure would not go amiss.

Team news

South Africa may consider tweaking their pace attack. Marchant de Lange is part of the squad and could replace Kagiso Rabada, who bore the brunt of Gayle. Justin Ontong, acting as cover for JP Duminy, who remains unavailable, is an option if any tinkering to the batting is wanted.

South Africa (possible) 1 Morne van Wyk (wk), 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 Rilee Rossouw, 5 Farhaan Behardien, 6 David Miller, 7 Wayne Parnell, 8 David Wiese, 9 Kyle Abbott, 10 Marchant de Lange, 11 Imran Tahir.

There would appear to be little need for West Indies to make any changes. However, they will want to be careful not to put all their eggs in the Gayle-shaped basket. Bravo and Pollard, reportedly not in the World Cup squad, should be eager to make a point or two.

West Indies (possible)

1 Dwayne Smith, 2 Chris Gayle, 3 Marlon Samuels, 4 Dwayne Bravo, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Jason Holder, 10 Ashley Nurse, 11 Sheldon Cottrell (Cricinfo)

The horse race season will gallop off today

Chris Gayle

Claude Francois Bolton is football’s new TD

South Africa v West Indies, 2nd T20, Johannesburg…

South Africa must

quell Gayle

Narine picked for World Cup

West Indies have picked Sunil Narine among their 15 members headed for the World Cup. The offspinner was under scrutiny for a suspect action and last played international cricket in August 2014. Darren Bravo is also making a comeback after pulling out of the South Africa tour to personal reasons.

As reports suggested, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard are not among the squad. The uncapped Jonathan Carter, who is part of the touring party in South Africa, retains his place, as does left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell. Jason Holder, the 23-year old fastbowling all-rounder, will captain the side.

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Prince Holder says challenging Fizul Bacchus is just a formality ahead of today’s Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) elections. Holder made the disclosure to Guyana Times Sport on Saturday.

The former ECB president will be the sole challenger to the incumbent Bacchus when voting members of the Board cast their ballots during the elections, slated to be held at the hostel and indoor practice facility at Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast from 10:00 hours.

Sulieman Benn is the second specialist spinner, although he is likely to have some support from Marlon Samuels, who has been named vice-captain. West Indies squad reads:

Kemar Roach, who suffered an ankle injury while bowling during the Centurion Test, is set to make an ODI return.

Jason Holder (Captain), Marlon Samuels, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith and Jerome Taylor. (Cricinfo)

However, Holder further indicated that there will be no surprises, nothing at stake, even less a competition. As formal as it may be, the ECB elections will simply be a formality for continuity, he said.

“Nothing will prevent the incumbent president in power, Fizul Bacchus, from winning a second term. This is because based on the facts that five of the eight Area Committees had no internal elections,” he said. Holder added, “So it’s the same old representatives from those five Committees who had supported Bacchus the last time will cast their votes this time around.”

The ECB has eight regional cricket committees: Bartica Cricket Committee (BCC); Central Essequibo Cricket Committee (CECC); East Bank Essequibo Cricket Committee (EBECC); Leguan Cricket Committee (LCC); North Essequibo Cricket Committee (NECC); Pomeroon Cricket Committee (PCC); South Essequibo Cricket Committee (SECC); and the Wakenaam Cricket Committee (WCC). However, only the South Essequibo Cricket Committee, East Bank Essequibo Cricket Committee and North Essequibo Cricket Committee have had their internal elections. Each of the area committees manages cricket within its geographical area and is entitled to two votes each at the ECB elections.

New Technical Director of Guyana’s football, Claude Bolton (centre), with Normalisation Committee

members. From left are Tariq Williams, Clinton Urling, Dr Karen Pilgrim and Rabindranauth Chandarpal

Prince Holder Fizul Bacchus

Sunil Narine will suit up for next month’s World Cup