2014 09 8

guyana No. 103944 monday september 8, 2014

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

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President declares open ‘Santac Tours and Travel’ service Page

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––As Santa Mission successfully pilots LCDS/GRIF-funded project

Finance Minister declares...

3 Investor confidence in Guyana is ‘alive and strong’ Page

President Donald Ramotar, with the help of Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Ms. Pauline Sukhai and UNDP Country Representative, Ms. Kadijah Musa, cuts the symbolic to declare open the Santa Aratack guesthouse

Good Intent accident...

One biker dead, another critical ––after colliding with same car

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Unborn child, mother die in comedy of 8 errors at GPHC Page

Stabroek News argues that “the people are ready” for local government elections.

By ‘people’, do they mean APNU and AFC, or the 10, 000 disenfranchised voters?

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guyana CHRONICLE monday september 8, 2014

President declares open ‘Santac Tours and Travel’ service ––As Santa Mission successfully pilots LCDS/GRIF-funded project

PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar on Saturday cut the symbolic ribbon at Santa Aratack village, a riverine community in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), to commission ‘Santac Tours and Travel’, a tourism-oriented service.

The service is the first project to be completed under the Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), Guyana Redd + Investment Fund (GRIF). A guesthouse and dining hall were also commissioned on this occasion.

In his address, President Ramotar spoke of the many investments the current administration has made over the years to hinterland communities. He recalled that when the current government assumed office, there were little or no opportunity for hinterland communities, but that has changed over the years.

“Very few hinterland children had the opportunity to go to school… When we think that today that I can stand and tell you that we are closer to having universal secondary education, that itself is a major achievement for our country as a whole,” he declared.

Under the current administration, over 1000 schools have been built across the country, making provision for every hinterland child.

“Where we can’t put a school in every community, we built schools with dorms, free uniforms, meals, text books, and now the $10,000 grant this will ensure all our children go to school,” the Head of State said.

Pointing to the recent CSEC results, the President noted that the country’s top students came from every administrative region, including hinterland regions. As a result of Government’s investment, the President noted, in Waramadong, 700 children

“I join the call for you to look at your marketing. You have are attending school, while there has also been an increase in to attract people and make them want to come. This can help attendance at Paramakatoi, in Region Eight.

The Head of State also pointed out that the largest portion to develop your craft industry and your market, too. It is not of the national budget goes to the social sector, with a signif- limited to people who come here; having the Internet now, the icant portion going towards the education sector, and “that is whole world becomes a market where people can buy your not by accident; it is because we recognise that investing in our people, the human capital, is very important,” he declared.

The President said it has been a proven fact that there is a direct link between education and poverty; and with more educated people, the border of poverty is pushed further away.

Speaking about other developmental initiatives for hinterland communities, the President zeroed in on the Hinterland Electrification Programme, which has seen comResidents gathered for the commissioning of the Santa Aratack guest-house, munities being equipped with which marks the completion of the first Community Development Project under solar panels. the LCDS/GRIF initiative Eleven thousand of those are already installed, and more goods,” he advised. are to come.

He also urged the residents to maintain their culture, as He also mentioned the indigenous communities’ contribution towards the LCDS. He noted that Guyana’s model is this would boost their product.

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Ms. Pauline Sukhai and being used in places like Indonesia, and is now being looked United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country at by the Congo.

Regarding the project that was launched, the President Representative, Ms. Kadijah Musa joined the Head of State lauded the efforts of the villagers, and called on the residents as the village launched this project, which has now paved the of Santa Mission to capitalise on the initiative, as it will have way for more than 100 Amerindian communities to receive funding for their Community Development Plans (CDPs). several spin-off benefits for their community.

Minister Sukhai said she was recently informed that the sum of US$6.3M has been released and is ready for disbursement to the other communities. She expressed satisfaction over the timely completion of the project, and the quality of work that has been done on the guesthouse.

“This project is one that will forever resound in the minds of all who are here. It is Heritage Month, and it is important that you chose to launch this facility and, of course, the project, which is one among 26 that is progressing. This is the first one that is being formally launched, and I want to congratulate you,” Minister Sukhai said.

She noted that it is remarkable what the villagers were able to do with the money allocated to them, as it reflects good management.

“It does not matter how much funding we give; what Standing outside the newly-commissioned guest house with the President and Minister Sukhai (fifth and sixth left, respectively) are, from left, Mr. Kapil Mohabir matters is that we get value for the money, and how well you of the Office of the President; Region Three Chairman, Mr. Julius Faerber; PS, manage it. It will be an important feature in Amerindian Amerindian Affairs, Mr. Nigel Dharamlall; Santa Aratack Toshao, Mr. Aubrey see page 8 Samuels; and UNDP Country Representative, Ms. Kadijah Musa

guyana CHRONICLE monday september 8, 2014

Finance Minister declares...

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Investor confidence in Guyana is ‘alive and strong’ FOLLOWING the recent announcement that the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has completed a $185M financing package for the construction and development of Guyana Goldfields Aurora gold mine, Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, has asserted that it is further proof that investor confidence is alive and strong in Guyana.

In an invited comment, Minister Singh told the Guyana Chronicle the decision taken by the IFC to invest in a project in Guyana clearly demonstrates confidence in the government and people of Guyana.

He added that this is an example of a major international financial institution partnering Finance Minister with an international investor Dr Ashni Singh on a common project.

“That says a lot about the way Guyana is perceived in the global market place,” Dr. Singh said,adding: “This partnership says we are confident that Guyana is a good place in which to invest and do business, and is a vote of

confidence in the policy environment created by this government to attract and encourage foreign and domestic investors.”

NEARLY 900 JOBS IFC has partnered with Guyana Goldfields since 2006 and has assisted the company to establish an integrated environmental, health, safety, and social management system in line with international best practices. Close to 900 jobs will be generated during the peak construction phase of the project.

In addition Guyana Goldfields is expected to become one of the major contributors to Guyana’s tax base once the project is underway.

The Finance Minister said, “This government has demonstrated over time an unshakeable commitment to sound and responsible policies, including fiscal discipline and genuine openness to the business community, aimed at encouraging local and international investors to contribute to growth in our economy through investment and job creation “It is not by mere chance that a large and credible international financial institution such as the IFC, makes a bold decision to invest millions of dollars in a project in Guyana,” Minister Singh said.

According to him, the current administration has demonstrated a strong track record in developing a strong and stable and competent economy that is conducive to doing business,

Rohee: APNU contradicting itself

GENERAL-Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Mr. Clement Rohee, contends that the recent positions taken by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) contradict themselves.

According to him, in one breath, the coalition is saying that the PPP, in expressing its concerns about the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE), is behaving “like a cornered rat” because the Party is “fearful of election”; and in another they have expressed similar concerns, particularly as it relates to the inclusion of deceased persons on the PLE. The “cornered rat” comment was made by

APNU’s Shadow Local Government Minister, Mr. Ronald Bulkan, while the Shadow Education Minister, Ms. Amna Ally, stated that the inclusion of deceased persons on the PLE can be classified as “an error” that must be addressed by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Both made their comments at a press briefing hosted by the Party last Friday.

“APNU wants a clean and transparent list of electors. We do not subscribe to the disenfranchisement of any elector, regardless of his or her ethnicity. Let it be known that APNU too has its field staff who are doing field work. We urge GECOM to do

which ultimately leads to more job opportunities and an even more resilient economy.”

He highlighted too that the government has been able to accomplish such positive results despite efforts by opposition political parties to paint an adverse impression of Guyana to investors.

Dr. Singh contends that the negative image being perpetuated by the various opposition parties is solely intended to dissuade investors and undermine the economic gains made.

He said, “We have seen the opposition attack major international projects and investors, most recent and popular among them are the Amaila Falls Hydro Project and the Marriott Project. We have seen them make every possible effort to ensure Guyana is blacklisted by FATF and CFATF in order to stymie growth and progress in Guyana’s economic development and through cut critical projects in the National Budgets.”

Minister Singh said that while there has been much progress and confidence demonstrated by investors, there is much more that can be accomplished if all political parties worked together to promote, rather than damage the image of Guyana.

In recent years, Guyana has attracted several international companies in the mining, food service, banking, logging and telecommunications sectors, amongst others.

Guyana has recorded its eighth consecutive year of economic growth in 2013 and is projected to continue growing through 2014.

its best and produce a transparent list of electors so that all concerned can be happy,” the party said in a statement released last Friday.

The Chairman of GECOM, Dr. Steve Surujbally, has since disclosed that the inclusion of the names of deceased persons is an issue that is being addressed by the Commission, adding that several other concerns expressed by stakeholders have been addressed.

In an invited comment, Surujbally told this newspaper that the Commission’s ongoing work will see it ready for either general or local government elections.

Dr. Surujbally added that GECOM is doing all it can to improve its operations, an undertaken that has been financially supported in the 2014 Budget.

“I would go berserk if we have chopped. We have

the funding we need,” he said.

The budgetary allocation of $3.3B for the Commission’s administration and other related costs was approved by the National Assembly. Of the allocations, $1.7B is set aside for the Commission and $1.6B for elections administration. Both sums cater to employment costs for 337 employees and other expenses, while $126.7M is earmarked for the provision of buildings, a trestle, vehicles, boats, engines, office furniture and equipment.

The money is intended to allow for GECOM to exercise general direction and supervision over the registration of electors and the administrative conduct of all elections of members of the National Assembly, the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and more local authorities in Guyana.

(Vanessa Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday September 8, 2014

Obama to set out plan to go on offensive against Islamic State

By Roberta Rampton and Will Dunham WA S H I N G T O N , ( R e uters) - President Barack Obama will deliver a speech to Americans and consult with lawmakers this week to sell his plan to go on the offensive against Islamic State militants, but is trying to head off public concern about another big military escapade.

Obama said that in his remarks on Wednesday he would "describe what our game plan's going to be." He will meet congressional leaders on Tuesday to seek their support for his strategy to halt the militant Islamist group.

Obama indicated he did not believe he needed additional authorization from Congress to carry out the

plan, although he intends to consult with lawmakers and might seek approval for additional funds.

"I'm confident that I have the authorization that I need to protect the American people," Obama said. "But I do think it's important for Congress to understand what the plan is, to have 'buy in,' to debate it."

The president, who campaigned for the White House in 2008 on getting U.S. troops out of Iraq, has struggled to articulate how he wants to address Islamic State, telling reporters last month that "we don't have a strategy yet" to tackle the group.

"I'm preparing the country to make sure that we deal with a threat from ISIL," Obama said in an interview aired on Sunday with NBC's "Meet the Press" program, using an acronym for Islamic State. "The next phase is now to start going on some offense," he added, promising to "defeat" the group.

Obama's comments also

seemed tailored to head off the fears of some Americans and anti-war members of his own party of another fullscale war. For example, he ruled out sending U.S. ground troops to fight the militants in Iraq or Syria.

"This is not the equivalent of the Iraq war," Obama added. "What this is, is similar to the kinds of counterterrorism campaigns that we've been engaging in consistently over the last five, six, seven years.

The speech underscores the degree to which Islamic State has become an urgent issue for the United States.

The Sunni militants have seized territory in northern Iraq and eastern Syria, declared a border-blurring Islamic caliphate and released grisly videos of the beheading of two U.S. journalists it had held hostage.

Obama authorized American airstrikes in Iraq against Islamic State last month and U.S. warplanes carried out strikes on Islamic State insurgents menacing Iraq's Haditha Dam on Sunday.

A video released last week of American freelance journalist Steven Sotloff being beheaded by the militants led

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to fresh calls from lawmakers in both parties for a more aggressive approach.

Republicans in Congress, which returns from its summer recess on Monday, have blocked Obama proposals on a wide range of issues, but many back stronger action against Islamic State. Obama, however, may face resistance from liberal fellow Democrats if they feel his plan requires too big a military commitment.

In the interview, conducted in Washington on Saturday, Obama said he wanted Americans to understand the nature of the threat and "have confidence that we'll be able to deal with it."

9/11 ATTACKS ANNIVERSARY The Wednesday speech will come a day before the 13th anniversary of the Sept.

11, 2001, attacks on the United States that killed about 3,000 people.

Obama said while there was no immediate U.S. intelligence about threats to the homeland from Islamic State, the group had attracted foreign fighters from Western nations who could travel to the United States "unimpeded" and eventually pose a threat.

Obama emphasized the United States was not going it alone. Nine other coun-

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U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at a news conference on the second and final day of the NATO summit at the Celtic Manor resort, near Newport, in Wales (Credit: Reuters/Yves Herman)

tries have agreed to be "core" members of a coalition he spent time building last week at a NATO meeting in Wales.

"We are going to be a part of an international coalition, carrying out airstrikes in support of work on the ground by Iraqi troops, Kurdish troops," Obama said.

The heads of both the Senate and House of Representatives intelligence committees urged Obama on Sunday to use U.S. special operations forces as part of his plans.

Republican Mike Rogers, who heads the House Intelligence Committee, also told the CNN program "State of the Union" that Obama needed to "lay out a very certain case" on confronting Islamic State. Rogers added: "We need to have an end-game."

Democrat Dianne Feinstein, head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Obama must explain what the

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coalition partners are actually willing to do, what role Saudi Arabia will play and whether longtime U.S. adversary Iran is going to help.

"Iran has offered to help.

I, for one, think that's useful," she said.

Obama said the United States would need Sunni Arab states in the region including Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Turkey to "step up" and help.

Republican Peter King, a House intelligence panel member, told the ABC program "This Week" that "it’s probably better" for Obama to get congressional approval for this plan, "which I would certainly vote for."

But King said he believed the president had the constitutional authority to take action in Iraq and in Syria against Islamic State without congressional approval.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday September 8, 2014

Petrobras scandal shakes up Brazil's presidential race

By Stephen Eisenhammer

RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) - Brazil's October presidential race has been shaken up by a corruption scandal allegedly involving staterun oil firm Petrobras and dozens of lawmakers, with both leading candidates forced onto the defensive after colleagues were implicated.

Media reported on Friday night that a jailed former Petrobras (PETR4.

SA) director had named dozens of politicians who allegedly received kickbacks off the company's contracts.

The revelations are a headache for President Dilma Rousseff, undermining her reputation for zero tolerance on corruption just as she is slipping in the polls ahead of the Oct. 5 election.

It could also hamper opposition candidate Marina Silva.

But the scandal has given third-placed Aecio Neves a fresh rallying call as he tries to claw back into the race.

He is already on the offensive, branding the scandal "mensalao 2" in reference to the "mensalao," a vote-buying scheme in Congress that tainted former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva while he was in office.

On Saturday, the magazine Veja printed the names of those implicated in the Petrobras scandal. Among them were former governor and presidential candidate Eduardo Campos, who died in a plane crash last month; the minister for energy and mines, Edison Lob達o; the president of Congress' lower house, Henrique Eduardo Alves; and the Senate president,

details," she said.

Expectations that the scandal would further boost Silva's candidacy are countered by the alleged involvement of Campos in the scheme.

Silva, who was Campos' deputy, has spent her life campaigning against precisely the type of corruption outlined in the media reports.

Support for Silva has surged in polls in recent weeks, and she is now seen winning a secondround runoff, helped by a

Former head of Petrobas Paulo Roberto Costa

Renan Calheiros.

Those allegedly involved in the scheme were said to have received a 3 percent kickback off the oil firm's contracts with third parties betw een 2004 and 2012. The money swapped hands in order to maintain political support between parties, Veja said.

The names were given

by Paulo Roberto Costa, former head of Petrobras' refining and supply unit, who was arrested in March as part of a police investigation into money laundering.

Alves issued a state-

ment denying receiv ing funds from Costa.

Press aides for Lob達o and Renan said they had no position yet on the issue, while officials at Petrobras were not immediately available for comment.

Rousseff has always stressed her credentials as a no-nonsense manager, with development of Brazil's oil riches an important part of that image.

She spoke to reporters in Sao Paulo on Saturday.

"I assure you I will take the necessary action.

But I will not act based on speculation, I want the

mix of national grief over Campos' death and her promise of a new type of principled politics.

"Petrobras is being destroyed through political interference, patronage and corruption," Silva told reporters in Sao Paulo yesterday.

Her deputy on the ticket, Beto Albuquerque, defended Campos and said his PSB party had asked for access to the police investigation into the alleged corruption.

The one mainstream candidate not directly implicated in the scandal, Neves - currently running third in the polls - was quickly on the offensive.

"There is a criminal organisation operating within Petrobras," Neves said in an interview on Sunday, adding that Rousseff's Workers' Party had exploited the company to keep itself in power. "We have to end impunity in Brazil," he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday September 8, 2014

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

A holistic approach to community development THE laudable initiative to involve communities in their own environmental enhancement while simultaneously creating jobs and providing avenues for the youths to be productively engaged was first mooted

by Dr. Cheddi Jagan who, after becoming President in 1992, was faced with the daunting task of practically not rebuilding -- because the destruction he inherited necessitated interventions way beyond re-building -- but rescuing, then starting from scratch the restoration of every facet of existence that is so vital in a civilised society.

Tony Xavier, first PPP/C Minister of Hydraulics and Transport, had therefore been tasked to develop a system whereby residents of depressed communities were paid by his ministry to clean up their environment. Several businessmen assisted in this

initiative.

Readymix Concrete Ltd had graded and sand-filled the Independence Boulevard in Albouystown, which, prior to this face-lifting exercise, had been used as a mountainous dumpsite from end to end.

The Government had provided the Mayor of Georgetown with millions of dollars, during Gail Teixeira’s tenure as Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, to build a recreational park for the residents of Albouystown, but this never fructified, and the money seemingly disappeared as if in thin air, with no one ever being held accountable.

This exercise that rehabilitated the Independence Boulevard enabled the children and youths of Albouystown and surrounding communities to have a play area that was clean and free of cost.

Community activities

were also held there, and for the first time, Albouystown hosted its own Mashramani activities. The fun and frolic involved all ages, and continued into the wee hours of the morning.

Most importantly, the exuberance and spirit of camaraderie displayed was overwhelming, and there were no incidents that marred the occasion.

Over the years, the Guyana Police Force has also been involved in community-care exercises, which unfortunately receive scant mention in the media.

This holistic approach to community care has achieved several things:– a rebirth of pride in the respective communities, a resurgence of the community spirit, and a feeling of self-respect in people who were afforded opportunities to earn a dollar the decent way, while simultaneously taking re-

sponsibility for the enhancement of their own environment.

The consequences of climate change and consequential flooding are compounded by our drainage systems, which are always clogged with refuse, most often non-biodegradable.

The impact on the nation’s health and the national exchequer, as a natural progression, could be minimized if the laws governing garbage disposal are enforced.

Many owners of private properties, especially on the East Coast of Demerara, have dammed waterways solidly in order to have more real estate added to their properties.

These actions have, however, exacerbated the drainage problems in those areas.

Unless these waterways are once again cleared to facilitate the free flow of water, as existed previously, there

will always be unmanageable flooding on the East Coast of Demerara.

With the current exercise, the Government has provided the wherewithal, with the citizenry, in collaboration with the joint services, providing the manual labour and guidance to the youths; and the private sector is co-operating in adjunctive efforts and some subsidiary funding.

If this effort is maintained as a holistic approach, then Guyana would be a shining example for the world to emulate.

Brilliant civil engineer Mr. Bert Carter, and super-achiever entrepreneurs Mr. Bish Panday and Mr. Sattaur Gafoor, along with many others, have always

indicated their willingness to work in the interest of their country – whatever it takes -- and they have proven this time and again.

This programme should not peter out, but gain momentum, with citizens watching out for litterbugs and prosecuting offenders as well as naming and shaming them. Moreover, ways should be found to decrease the expense, such as spraying the parapets with chemicals to inhibit grass re-growth after warning residents, etc.

A resurgence of pride in one’s community and country would ultimately evolve to bind Guyanese in a holistic approach to national problem-resolution.

GPL thugs and neighbours from hell I AM a 57-year-old woman who lives alone in a two-storey house in a new housing scheme.

When my house was being built, I was overwhelmed with responsibilities of a demanding but highly-paid executive job with a mining firm, and it necessitated much travel in the hinterland.

I also had a pregnant daughter who was very sick prior and subsequent to giving birth to my grandchild. Her husband was in the USA, so she was left in my sole care, as was my grandson when he was born.

I was very naïve and trusting at that time, thinking that anyone who originated from rural areas was completely honest, so I visited my house under construction only twice before my grandson’s birth, and not at all after his birth.

At that time I was earning a lot of money but was paying a heavy rental, so I was waiting eagerly for the completion of my house.

With my savings, a large mortgage; free stone, trucking, sand and Readymix concrete for all my solid cast work, which included floors and roof, my house should have been fully completed with money to spare.

Also, I had bought all my blocks from the prison service at reduced rates, with free delivery provided. I had a wonderful relationship with business houses, so I was being provided material of every kind at cost prices or very reduced prices.

I little knew that the contractor and the neighbours had struck a deal on a 40/60% basis, and as fast as my materials were being bought, they were being re-sold to other homeowners in the scheme or to the neighbours themselves. The carpenters, who were costing me a labour bill in excess of $300,000 per week, were working on other people’s houses on my time. When the time to start re-paying the mortgage had arrived and the

money had been exhausted, I thought that I had a home to go to.

To my horror, I reached four walls – no windows, no interiors, no fixtures, no finishing of any kind; while the neighbours, most of whom had been living in huts on land on which they had been squatting before the scheme was regularized when I first visited, were living in large, fully completed concrete houses. I was left with a heavy mortgage and no habitable house.

I was forced to pay rent and a heavy monthly mortgage while my brother made my house minimally habitable for me to move in to the upper apartment. Bit by bit, I improved upon it until two apartments were habitable.

But the neighbours continued to steal my material. Half of a truckload of sand would disappear in the night; my materials and steel rods disappeared from under my house; all my tools disappeared from my back

verandah.

I was weeding one day and just ran up to answer the phone. By the time I reached downstairs again, my cutlass had disappeared. My fruits were stolen. My bearing fruit trees and my dog were poisoned. Recently, I arrived home to find all my drainage pipes had been wrenched loose and stolen.

They did not know how I earned my living, so they conjectured when I left by plane for Teperu that I was selling drugs. My company’s drivers picked me up and dropped me back at all hours, while sometimes I slept at my daughter’s home, arriving home the next day in her clothes, so they assumed I was a prostitute because they could not understand how a simple woman as I am could single-handedly build the kind of house that I have with all the responsibilities that I had. And all the while they were spreading rumours to this effect, I was unconscious of it all, not realizing

that I was being slandered to that extent, until the men in the neighbourhood began harassing me, thinking I was an easy target, and their wives got very vengeful.

One woman even pushed me into a large water-filled hole in the road because I walked on the parapet in front of her house.

One man offered to keep my keys and turn my lights on and off. I come from a community where neighbours stand together in crisis situations, so I handed him my keys. When I returned home, my storeroom had been emptied and personal effects had gone missing, including my son’s fan and my Citizen’s watch from off my desk. My phone bill had gone so high it had been disconnected, and I lost the line.

By this time they had realized my compassionate nature, because I never refused to help anyone, so they conspired with a young conman to ask me for lodging in my empty lower apartment. I

refused, but I had to help my daughter during a crisis period, and my son visited during this period, so they sent back the conman, who told my son that I had promised to let him stay in my lower apartment.

My children are basically honest and trusting, like I was then, so my son took his words at face value. By the time I went back home, they had broken all my locks and stripped my house of all valuables and removable fixtures. The conman and the neighbours then beat me and put me out of my own house.

They were using my home as a brothel.

When I went to report to the police station, I was arrested instead on a charge that I had stolen from them.

They had made this charge by a police inspector friend of a political leader one neighbour supported. This person had once robbed me, and I had exposed him in the media when he tried to denigrate Dr. Jagan in the sugar Turn to page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday September 8, 2014

Good Intent accident...

One biker dead, another critical

–after colliding with same car

By Asif Hakim BIKER, Sunil Brijhuram, 21, of Vive La Force, West Bank Demerara is now dead after he lost control of his motorcycle and collided with a parked motorcar while reportedly travelling at a fast rate along the Good Intent Public Road, West Bank Demerara on Saturday at about 23:00hrs.

His friend, Joshua Higgins, 18, of the same village, was injured and is in a serious condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he too was speeding on his motorcycle and collided with the same car.

Following the accident, both bikers were admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but unfortunately Brijhuram succumbed minutes later to his injuries.

A shop owner who was at

Dead: Twenty-one-year-old Sunil Brijhuram

the time looking out told the Chronicle that she saw the two men who were speeding coming in her direction.

She said it seemed that they were racing when their bike handles came into contact causing them to crash into the parked car.

The shop owner said that

when the two bikers passed her she shouted at them, telling them to stop speeding.

However, soon after she saw that they had crashed into the car.

Sunil’s mother, Salima Brijhuram, said that about 18:30hrs on Saturday he left home and went out with his motorcycle for a ride as he would usually do . She said that when she saw it was getting late she called him and told him to come home and that was around 21:30hrs.

And when he hadn’t come home she called again at 22:00hrs and told him to come home and he responded that he was on his way.

“After I see he didn’t come home I went into my bed to take a nap, a few minutes after a relative called me and told me that Sunil get in an accident and he is at the hospital. When I went to the

The parked motorcar into which Sunil and Joshua rode

hospital I saw him alive in the Emergency Room with his arm broken and he was on saline, I then came out and wait to see what was the outcome. At about 2:00am the next morning the doctors

GPL thugs and neighbours... industry. He and his marketing manager subsequently went all out to besmirch my reputation and destroy my credibility.

The police never visited my home to investigate, but I was beaten and locked up for days under the most terrible conditions; and had to run to court for over a year, while my name was splashed all over the media, labelling me a thief and blasting my hitherto impeccable reputation to smithereens even as my profession depended on my good reputation.

Since then, they never let me live in peace, and I could never, to this day, understand the grudge; except one day when I was standing on my roof they started to abuse me, saying that I liked to look down on them, which is not the case. But I am a very busy and private person, and have no time to socialize, except for the basic courtesies.

One of the ways they harass me is to instigate against me people with whom I have to associate, or employ in any way.

ENTER GPL My daughter moved into my lower apartment for a while, during which time she used many appliances until she moved out, then I only left a security light on.

Two GPL personnel came one day and accused me of stealing electricity in my lower apartment because the bill was recording very low consumption, unlike when my daughter was living there.

Despite checking the meter and assuring themselves that there had been no tampering, they threatened to remove my meters – both upstairs where I live and the lower flat. I was horrified because I am terrified of the dark, all of my foodstuff that I had bought for my grandson would have been spoilt; plus I earn my living on a computer. They refused to leave, harassing me for a long time until I handed one of them $10,000 to leave me alone. After leaving my yard, they went to chat with a neighbour, with all of them converging and laughing at me.

Recently, a friend residing overseas called and asked me to arrange a funeral for her father, which necessitated that I travel out of town.

When the taxi was taking me to the park, the driver remarked that he had just paid his electricity bill. I had not received a bill, so did not realize payments were due, but I estimated what the cost was and gave in excess of that estimate to pay my bill.

He did not pay it that day but the next day. I had just

arrived home when the GPL crew came to disconnect my lights. I argued with them that my bill was paid, even though it probably had not registered from the Surepay location, but I did not have my receipt as it was in the possession of the taxi driver.

I know if I had paid him a bribe he would not have cut my lights, but I refused to give in to his bullyism and told him to do his worst, then I caught a taxi and left for my daughter’s home to finish my work.

I later learnt that he was stopped on his return by the neighbours, whom my informant said he saw gesticulating and pointing at my home, after which they burst into loud laughter before the GPL employees continued on their way.

I was so busy it took a week before I could find time to visit GPL’s office to pay the reconnection fees. I still had not collected my receipt from the taxi driver, so when the same bully demanded a receipt before he reconnected my lights, I lost my cool and told him GPL needs to get its act together and get their records straight, rather than harass consumers. The neighbours came out to join him in obvious anticipation of a plan, when he started abusing me, saying that I need a

told me that he is dead, I couldn’t believe,” the mother said sadly.

The mother said her son was always a cautious rider but prior to this accident her son had collided with another

motorcycle.

“I cannot believe my son is dead; he was so helpful and loving; he wasn’t a bad person. But only God knows why he is gone,” the mother lamented.

applied for a pre-paid meter approximately a year ago, but have so far not received a response.

Paying consumers are treated shabbily, while people who openly steal current are left in peace. GPL gives consumers long periods of blackouts at crucial times, give brownouts that destroy people’s expensive equipment, and one cannot even begin to think of compensation. Without a bill, busy people lose track of time, and one day after, even for minimal amounts of money, people are deprived of their electricity, with all the agony and losses this implies.

After reporting the incident with the re-connection crew, I warned them that I was going to go to the media with this story, thinking I would receive redress. Instead, Saturday 6th September, a disconnection crew came to my home to inform me they were going to remove my meter from which they had investigated meter tampering.

They had done that investigation months, approximately a year ago, and cleared my meter of any flaws or tampering, so I told them they were harassing me and I don’t trust them, and I refused to open my gate, whereupon the man began

abusing me, calling me racist whose “eyes pass black men”, and he promised that he was going to show me what he could do; so he cut off my light, despite they had checked and found no sign of interference with the meter and I did not owe GPL but had instead overpaid on my bill.

It seems that in this socalled democratic society, a single woman cannot stand up to defend her rights or else she is labelled. He informed me I would have to pay a re-connection fee, and if he passed and saw any light in my house, he would report me as stealing electricity and I will have to face the courts.

Well, he would see lights on in my house, because I have a separate meter to my upper apartment.

However, I live alone and I get a security light from the downstairs apartment. The light on the lamppost has been dysfunctional for a long time. GPL has been known to have criminals on staff who were caught committing serious crimes, and it seems I am being targeted.

Who knows to what extent they will go? If any harm comes to me, I will hold GPL directly responsible.

NAME WITHHELD

From page 6

man, holding his crotch and gyrating and asking me when he should visit me, while the neighbours egged him on and taunted me, as is their usual wont, as he continued his vulgarities and his abuse.

GPL employs a bunch of bullies who use threats to extort money from consumers, especially those they perceive to be PPP supporters.

The company’s employees have many times been caught blatantly stealing from consumers on several occasions, but they are allowed to put ladders and climb up on people’s houses in their absence. GPL is threatening busy homeowners that if they do not leave their gates unlocked and premises unsecured for meter readers they will remove people’s meters, instead of sending their meter readers when they know working people would be home.

GPL, unlike GT&T, does not have a regular due date, and does not deliver bills on time; and trying to reach them on the phone to query the status of one’s bills is time-consuming and torturous. This entity is the least consumer-friendly in Guyana; but it has a monopoly and seemingly does not care to institute reforms that could put consumers at ease. To avoid such contretemps, I

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guyana CHRONICLE monday september 8, 2014

Unborn child, mother die in comedy of errors at GPHC

By Leroy Smith MOTHER of two, Evita Singh, also known as “Reno”, of 13 Lanchan Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, and her unborn baby girl were the latest maternal deaths recorded at the Georgetown Public Hospital. And according to sources inside the GPHC, carelessness is 100 per cent responsible for the death of the woman.

Singh died at that public medical institution early yesterday morning, while her baby died on Thursday after health workers at the facility administered a drug known as “Cytotec”, which is used for the performing of abortions as well as to create passage for the delivery of babies.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that doctors at the hospital administered six Cytotec pills to Singh, even before she began experiencing labour pains.

According to relatives, the woman was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Monday last after feeling unwell, and doctors diagnosed that she was developing symptoms of the Chikungunya virus.

ADMITTANCE Speaking with this publication yesterday, Chandra Ramjit, the dead woman’s mother, said her daughter was taken to the hospital on Monday night and she was admitted.

The first medication which was administered to the woman was Panadol tablets to ease the pains of the Chikungunya virus.

On Wednesday, the nurses began inserting the Cytotec pills into the woman in dosages of two, telling the woman that they were giving her the tablets to open her passage to deliver the baby.

She was reportedly monitored, and within the space of hours, was given two more pills, followed by another two, taking the total to six Cytotec pills having been administered to the woman between Wednesday and Thursday of last week.

The woman was visited by her relatives on Thursday, and she told them what pills were administered to her, and what the nurses had said it was for. She was also advised that by Friday she would deliver her baby girl, who up to that point was having a normal heart rate and was breathing comfortably, Evita’s relatives told this publication.

On Thursday morning, the woman also related to relatives that she was feeling pain and was passing some amount of blood. By Thursday afternoon, when relatives went back to the hospital, they were informed by the mother of two that she was passing more blood, and the

pain had increased tremendously since the nurses had reportedly inserted two more pills into her body.

DISTRESS CALL At approximately 03:00hrs on Friday, relatives received a distress call from persons at the hospital, who informed that family members should visit the hospital urgently, since Evita was in critical condition.

When relatives arrived, Evita was already unconscious, and she remained in that state up to the time of her death yesterday morning.

Doctors informed her relatives that they had to remove the baby from the woman, that the baby was dead, and they allowed the woman’s husband to take a look at the lifeless child.

The baby reportedly died because there is only one functioning operating theatre with only one machine that is used to deliver babies, the relatives alleged that they were told.

They related that doctors told them that when the woman was rushed to the theatre after developing complications, someone was already on the machine, and they were informed that Evita had to wait fifteen minutes before the machine was made accessible to her.

During that time the heart rate of the baby was decreasing, and by the Evita Singh time fifteen minutes had elapsed, the baby had died.

“We knew that the baby was dying, but we could not do anything because we had to get access to the machine and get her to the machine,” the relative recalled being told by one of the doctors who had attended to the woman.

The doctors also told relatives that the woman was bleeding badly, and had needed blood, something the hospital did not have at the time, according to the relatives.

The doctors also reportedly informed family members that the woman’s blood pressure had been low, and she had cholesterol problems.

Other health workers who are familiar with some family members confided that despite the woman’s inability to find

passage for the baby, she was forced by health workers to push the baby out, since nurses were too lazy to perform a C-Section.

The pills and their forcing the woman to push the baby out while the baby was, in the first place, not perfectly positioned to be delivered, caused Evita to bleed internally, as she burst several organs inside, including her uterus, which, according to one family member, was burst in half, as advised by one of the health workers.

POOR HOPES Mrs. Ramjit said that when she saw her daughter, she knew her daughter was going to die.

Denis Ramjit, Evita’s father, said that after listening to the explanation of the health workers, he also knew that his daughter was going to die. He said doctors told them that they needed blood because the hospital was out of supply, and shortly after, relatives having visited the hospital were told that the woman had lost several pints of blood; and the same hospital which had been declared out of blood informed that they had given the woman blood, something that never happened.

Relatives said that is the information they received from inside sources.

Relatives were also informed that, contrary to what they were told by certain doctors at the hospital, there was never a second surgery done on the woman after the first had been done to remove the dead baby; nor was there any attempt to have a third operation done. They told the Chronicle that after it was realized what the six pills had done to the woman, the doctors knew that there was no chance for the woman to recover, given the destruction that had occurred internally, and their inability to determine the source of the internal bleeding.

They told relatives that, because of the bleeding, they could not remove the woman from the theatre to take her for any other check, since she was in a critical state. They had informed relatives, however, that a second operation was going to be done on her, but according to the family’s inside source, all that was done was that the woman was taken into the theatre and left on a stretcher.

One relative explained the doctors told them that they knew the woman was bleeding on the inside, but had no idea where the blood was coming from, whether it was the head or the womb. They even told relatives, “This is one of the cases where we are unable to explain what really happened,” the woman’s sister-in-law recounted. efforts to get a comment from gphc administration proved futile

President declares open ‘Santac Tours and Travel’ ...

from page 2

development,” she said.

The Minister told the gathering that it is their resourcefulness which brought about this kind of development, as it also reflects unity.

“It’s resounding evidence, and I call on other villages to follow suit,” she said. “And, indeed, it is also evidence to those who feel that investment funds placed in Amerindian people go to waste.”

Ms. Musa also lauded the initiative and the residents for what she described as outstanding work.

“It’s really an honour to be here to see the final results. I was here a few months ago and saw it in progress, and it’s amazing…. I think that whatever you will need going forward from here is quite minor.”

The UNDP Country Representative also expressed satisfaction with the quality of work that

was put into the project. She also encouraged the villagers not to move away from their culture while executing this project, as it is very important and it is what will attract persons.

“The world wants to know about you and your culture. It is important to see how you sing your songs, introduce your history of the community.”

She further urged the residents to maintain a very high standard at the guest house, as well as in regard to the service they would be providing.

“I think this community will continue to be an example as we unfold the second phase of Amerindian Economic Development Programme. They create a window for other villages.”

Ms Musa pledged continuous support of the UNDP towards the project as she thanked the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs as well as the Office of Climate Change for their contribu-

tion to the project.

CONCEPT The ‘Santac Tours and Travel’ is a community-based approach to cultural and heritage tourism. The concept is to promote and preserve indigenous knowledge and skill through interpretation, providing an alternate means of livelihood and professional development.

This new project, which is the Santa Mission’s CDP under the LCDS/GRIF Initiative, will provide tour packages, tour guides, destination management, natural resources management, and training.

With the new guesthouse, persons can now plan overnight trips at the Santa Aratack Reservation; and with the dining area in place, a new atmosphere for company retreats and other functions has been provided.

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guyana CHRONICLE monday september 8, 2014

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana…

Kaieteur News caught lying once again JUST when I thought the Kaieteur News could possibly stoop no lower in its attacks upon the PPP/C government, that newspaper has gone and proven me wrong.

Old Kai was not amused at what amounts to blatant lies now being nonchalantly peddled by the newspaper as legitimate media reports.

One could understand the people behind the newspaper pushing an opposition line, but it is unforgivable that they would use, as collateral damage in their quest, national projects intended to lay the foundation for a new era in our development.

This is evident in their latest attack on the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, contained in the newspaper’s Sunday edition. The article notes that “Under the expansion project, the main runway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is to be extended by another 3,500 feet, or 1,066 metres. But the reasons given for the runway extension, which will cost Guyana in excess of US$58M for the runway and taxiway expansion, may have not been so solid after all.”

They then contrast this bit of information with the Princess Juliana International Airport on the island of St. Maarten. “…(PJIA) in St. Maarten, a Dutch island in the Eastern Caribbean area, has its current main runway at 7,546 feet. CJIA’s runway is 7,447, or about 99 feet shorter than that of (the runway in) St. Maarten. The problem with the justification used by Government of Guyana is that the larger, wide-body 747-400 planes that have been landing comfortably in St. Maarten at that airport with no major incidents reported for decades, cannot land easily at CJIA.” The ignorance displayed in this article, either deliberate or otherwise, is astonishing; as the first issue which comes to light is that, not so long ago, Guyana experienced its worst international flight disaster, which would have been averted had a longer runway been in place. This involved

a much smaller aircraft.

The accident occurred in June 2011, when a Caribbean Airlines flight overshot the runway, crashed and broke into two just ahead of a ravine a short distance from the end of the runway. No one died, but several were injured. It does not take a genius to figure out that this incident would not have occurred if the extension of 3,500 feet had been in place.

But it appears that the Kaieteur News and its handlers would prefer that the Guyana Government does nothing, and wait for another incident to occur so they could, in turn, attack the administration for not extending the runaway.

Old Kai is now worried that such reports by the Kaieteur News, just like the PNC/R=APNU and the AFC who have cut funding for the project in the national budget, may be seen as designed to compromise the safety and security of travellers using the airport; and also to inconvenience them as much as possible, as they are opposing efforts to construct docking/terminal stations, so our travellers, especially the young and aged, will no longer have to walk up or down those steep steps, and be exposed to the sun or rain while using the tarmac to get to the main building.

These are the people who cry about the lack of infrastructure development and modernization on one side of their mouths, and then oppose it on the other.

This revelation now gives further credence to the growing concern that the main agenda of the Kaieteur News is one of anti-development simply for selfish political purposes.

That apart, what they have failed to point out about the St. Maarten international airport in their analogy is that it is listed as one of the world’s most dangerous. Therefore, it is easy to surmise that the Kaieteur News apparently wants the CJIA to fit into this category.

But it does not end there, as apart from the fact that the contractor for the project is a Chinese firm, the newspaper

launches what could be considered an openly racist attack on the Chinese community at the conclusion of the article, as it notes: “With its location at the northern tip of South American, Government said it is banking on increased travel from Africa and Asia. There has indeed been an increase in the number of Chinese landing in Guyana, though not for tourism purposes.”

This is where Kaieteur News is caught lying, as, in its first sentence, there is no mention that the anticipated increased travel from Africa and Asia would be for, or solely for, tourism-related purposes. Rather, the expansion is geared towards creating a transportation hub, bridging North America, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and as result Europe. Already this is materializing, with flights now being offered to several South American nations from the CJIA. This will, no doubt, have a tourism-related spinoff, but it is also geared at opening up Guyana more as a business hub, bearing in mind the ongoing exploration for oil; the construction of a deep water harbor, making Guyana a major trans-shipment port, among other investments in both traditional and non-traditional sectors.

It can only be possible if we have the necessary infrastructure in place, such as the CJIA expansion project, the Marriott Hotel, the Specialty Hospital, the ongoing road expansion and rehabilitation projects, the hydro project to provide cheaper electricity, and a new Demerara Harbour Bridge to go with initiatives already realized; such as the Berbice river bridge.

Should this be realized, it will undoubtedly move Guyana and its people from being one of the poorest in this part of the world to being one of the richest.

But this is apparently what the PNC/R=APNU and the AFC are afraid of; thus their pit-bull, the Kaieteur News, will continue barking away as we move closer to possible elections.

Agriculture Minister clarifies misinformation ––separate contract awarded about Hope Canal project for fabrication of steel gates MINISTER of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy yesterday cleared the air on misconceptions that are being peddled in sections of the media and by some commentators with regards to the Hope Canal Project.

During an interview at his office yesterday, the Minister rubbished claims that the Agriculture Ministry has arbitrarily removed the construction of the sluice gates from the contract that was awarded to Courtney Benn Contracting Services.

According to the Minister, while the fabrication of the eight steel gates for the outer sluice of the Northern Relief Channel at Hope is part of the design, it was never part of the contract with Courtney Benn.

“We wanted the Courtney Benn construction company to focus on the building of the infrastructure that will house the gates. I want to make it clear that it was a separate contract from the very beginning,” Minister Ramsammy clarified.

That contract was tendered out to the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC), which itself had announced earlier the completion of the fabrication of all eight gates.

Those gates will be installed unto the structure of the outer sluice once the construction of that sluice is completed.

In terms of the Northern Relief Channel, the only outstanding aspect that is keeping it from operationalisation is the construction of the same outer sluice. As it stands, construction is in excess of 80 percent completed.

Minister Ramsammy said that if the contractor works normal hours every day, the remaining work should take about six weeks to be completed. In July, completion was anticipated by September month-end; however, a number of difficulties were encountered and the ministry is now playing a more active role in the execution of the work.

“Some of the difficulties that the contractor has encountered can be resolved by the ministry, and so all we are doing is working in partnership with the contractor so that those difficulties are removed. I expect that on Tuesday coming, work on site will be more diligent,” he said.

He noted that while the ministry is frustrated by the sloth of the contractor, the difficulties are understood and appreciated. He also remarked that the question of liability and liquidated damages is not off the table.

“The Ministry of Agriculture and the accommodation of the contractor does not mean that the contractor will escape liquidated damage…,” Minister Ramsammy said.

The ministry is working with the contractor with the view of increasing the working hours and number of days, so that construction will be completed between six to eight weeks.

Earlier, Head of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth had indicated that the canal should become operational by year-end.

Minister Ramsammy explained that once completed, the canal will have to be tested; however, at this point in time even if it was completed, such testing cannot be done.

“One needs water to test it and we are not about to release any water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy because we are in a conservation period.

Every ounce of water at this time is critical because in spite of the people joking about El Nino, we have had less rain this year so far, than we normally do,” the Minister said.

The ministry is anticipating the usual year-end rainfall which will then allow for the structure to be tested. The canal itself is over 90 percent completed.

“One media house took the time to take an aerial shot

to show that there were pieces along the canal that are not completed. We have deliberately kept those because those are just couple of hours of work…we have deliberately kept those because of convenience to the residents. The residents have grown accustomed all these years of walking from one village to the next. We have kept those to allow for easy movement in transportation,” Dr. Ramsammy said.

‘WALK BRIDGES’ Once the sluice is ready, those outstanding aspects will be addressed. At that time, the only physical communication between villages would be to go all the way around until the ministry constructs ‘walk bridges’.

These interconnecting bridges across the canal are not part of the Hope Canal project. It will have to be budgeted for in the 2015 national budget. The only walkway that will be constructed from this year’s budget will be one between Hope and Dochfour, particularly to facilitate school children.

The ministry will also be constructing a tarmac next to the Hope Secondary school where buses can stop to take in school children, rather than them having to cross the main highway.

“We are making preparation for the operationalisation by the end of the year for this canal. It is important to note, however, that work on this canal will be ongoing for several years. The dam itself will be continuously worked on as the earth compresses, we will be adding layers to it,” Minister Ramsammy stated.

While the work may have been moving at a slothful pace, the Minister asserted that the quality of the work done cannot be questioned. The delay notwithstanding, the project is within the budgetary sum, which is $3.6B.

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guyana CHRONICLE monday september 8, 2014

Local Gov’t Ministry discloses status of various projects undertaken by regions

IN keeping with its mandate to ensure a better Guyana, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (LGRD Ministry) has kept apace of the current respective status of regional work programmes across Guyana.

At a press conference Friday at the LGRD Ministry at Kingston Georgetown, Permanent secretary of the subject ministry, Mr Collin Croal, reported on the present status of both capital and current programmes of the various administrative regions of Guyana.

He pointed out that the LGRD Ministry recognises that all the regions have commenced capital and current works, and are working rapidly to reach the timeline set by the ministry for completion of their respective projects.

Croal said that all the regions have been asked to aim for November 30 for completion of outstanding projects.

In regard to the level of completion of capital work programmes, he listed the following: Works at Region 1 (Barima/Waini) are 30 percent complete.

Works at Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam) are 41.92 percent complete.

Works at Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) are fifty percent complete Works at Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) are 52 percent complete Works at Region 5(Mahaica/Berbice) are 54.1 percent complete Works at Region 6(East Berbice/Corentyne) are 40 percent Works at Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) are 34 percent complete

Works at Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) are 34 percent complete Works at Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) are 45 percent complete Works at Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) are 30 percent complete.

An overall percentage of approximately 42 percent of capital programmes countrywide has been completed.

On the subject of the current work programmes in the region, which include the day-to-day operational expenditures for the maintenance programmes under various categories, such as education, health, public works etc, an overall quantum of 63 percent has been implemented so far.

The Permanent Secretary commended the regions on the extent of the work done to date.

He listed the following: - Region 1 – 56 percent - Region 2 - 70 percent - Region 3 – 63 percent - Region 4 - 64 percent - Region 5 – 68 percent - Region 6 – 62 percent - Region 7 – 60 percent - Region 8 – 53 percent - Region 9 – 59 percent - Region 10 – 63 percent Croal posited that the LGRD Ministry has been receiving regular updates from the regions about their performance, so as to resolve whatever issues they may have.

More youth groups countrywide would decrease juvenile delinquency ––Dr Anthony

By Navendra Seoraj

THERE has lately been an increase in the number of youth groups being developed across the country. The wonder is what can be done to assist and sustain these groups?

At a press conference held by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (CYS Ministry) last Thursday, subject Minister Dr. Frank Anthony was asked this question, and his reply was that the Ministry has positioned many youth officers in the 10 administrative regions to help with the functions and sustenance of these various groups.

Minister Anthony also stated that the CYS Ministry has made work books to develop the capacity of the groups, to guide them in the right path, and also to help them accomplish their set goals.

These books include basic constitutions of a group, thereby enabling group leaders to implement these constitutions in a better way, and also issue copies to other group members to enable them to have a clear understanding of what should and should not be done.

Minister Anthony also noted that groups can use these books as resource manuals.

If these youth groups are continually rendered proper assistance, more young people would be occupied whenever they have spare time, and this would contribute to a decrease in juvenile delinquency Because more youths would be encouraged to join a group, more youths would spend more time interacting with fellow group members, and this would assist in achieving the groups’ stated goal.

Motorcycle bandits shoot, rob man in front of his Charlestown home THIRTY-eight-year-old Jem Andrews of St. Stephen Street in Charlestown, Georgetown was reportedly on the road in front of his residence at about 19:45 hrs on Thursday when he was attacked by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

During the incident, Andrews was shot and injured to his right foot, before the men took away his gold jewellery and escaped on a motor cycle.

Andrews has been admitted to the hospital, but police are investigating the incident.

Pirates strike again in the Waini River TWENTY-four-year-old Samuel Benjamin of Four Miles, Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD) was fishing with a crew member at the mouth of the Waini River on Thursday when, at about 06:45 hrs, they were attacked by three men in

another boat, all of whom were armed with guns.

The perpetrators took away a 15-hp outboard engine from the victims before escaping.

Police investigations are in progress.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday September 8, 2014

Voting down of Amerindian Development –APNU Chief Fund will not affect APNU support Whip fect the support APNU would usually receive from these Amerindian Communities.

She noted that just recently, Opposition leader David Granger visited Upper Mazaruni for an event and was greeted with a massive turnout from Amerindians who welcomed him.

As a result, Ally assured that “we are in the mode to explain to the comrades and they underScores of Amerindians took to the streets early in the year after the budgetary allocation for them was disapproved by the Opposition. One picket read “We demand what is ours”

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Ms Pauline Sukhai

Opposition Chief Whip, Ms Amna Ally

By Ravin Singh

Earlier in the year, after Finance Minister Ashni Singh presented the 2014 Budget to the National Assembly, the combined Opposition, comprising A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) voted against the GYD$1B Amerindian Development Fund, claiming that the money was being used to pollute and politicize the Amerindian communities.

Subsequently, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai had revealed to the media that the ministry’s undertaking of holding meetings in nine Amerindian communities to discuss what Budget 2014 holds for the Amerindian population revealed disappointment from over 6,000 persons.

AS elections bells continue to ring in light of an Opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion or the possibility of snap elections being called by the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Chief Whip for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Amna Ally has assured that the voting down of the Amerindian Development Fund will in no way affect the support APNU historically receives from the Amerindians.

The Chief Whip’s comments came last Friday at APNU’s weekly press conference after she was questioned as to whether she believes her party’s support in General Elections will be affected by their decision to vote down the budgetary allocation for the Amerindian Development Fund.

FULL CONDEMNATION “It’s a hard hit and

the indigenous people are in full condemnation of the cuts. The comments from the meetings are very telling,” Sukhai noted, stressing that the Amerindians saw the actions by the Opposition, to cut the budget, as unnecessary and explained that it will stifle development in Amerindian Villages.

As a result, members of the indigenous community had requested her to publicly mirror their views and denounce the actions of the Opposition to vote down the ADF. Hundreds of Amerindians had also braved the rain in protest, following the Budget’s disapproval to register their dissatisfaction with the Opposition to vote against what they described as “hinterland development.”

N a t i o n a l To s h a o s Council Chairman Derrick John was one such person in the midst who registered his disgust at the Opposition’s failure to approve the budgetary allocation for Amerindian Development. “We have to get back what was allotted to us…. We need to get back what we rightly deserve… Amerindians felt as though they are being robbed,” John declared.

APNU’s Chief Whip is contending, however, “no”, she does not believe that disapproving of the ADF will in any way af-

stand, I can tell you that.”

O n t h e c o n t r a r y, Sukhai had noted that just prior to the 2014 Budget debates Granger had travelled to Paramakatoi and was surprisingly met with a poor turnout of 31 persons f ro m t h e c o m m u n i t y.

This, she contended, would have given a psychological blow since according to her this village is a “stronghold” of APNU.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday September 8, 2014

Mocha/Arcadia next stop for police community engagements

By Leroy Smith

POLICE in ‘A’ Division have already started working with the Mocha/Arcadia communities, East Bank Demerara, where they intend to establish a youth group and commence skills training programmes with children there.

On Wednesday, the police visited the Mocha Primary School and met with teachers, parents and students and told them of the plan for working with the community.

The police sought and received the blessing of both the teachers and parents to work with the children on

Saturdays, mainly from the school, and any other child who may be delinquent or has social problems.

The police also stated during their interaction with the gathering that for the programme to be effective the parents would need to work closely with the teachers and the police. The school will

Some of the parents who gathered at the event and commended the police in their new approach (Photos by Leroy Smith)

GPL explains reason for scheduled rolling outages on E/bo Coast –promises return to normalcy by late next week THE Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) has said that the turbo charger serving the No.1 Wartsila generating set at Anna Regina suffered a failure on Saturday, August 30, causing customers on the Essequibo Coast to be suffering from scheduled rolling outages, as the other remaining Wartsila generating set can serve only about half of the demand.

GPL added that the turbo charger unfortunately failed during the period when a back-up Caterpillar generating set was taken out of service and is currently undergoing a major overhaul, which regrettably will not be completed until late next week.

The power company said the damaged parts of the turbo charger have been procured and are being flown in from Switzerland.

“They (those parts) are ex-

pected to arrive in Guyana on Monday, 8th September, 2014. As soon as they arrive they will be dispatched to Anna Regina and installed. The generating set is expected to be in service on 9th September, 2014.

Once in service, power supply to all customers will revert to normalcy,” the power company disclosed.

Whilst GPL has mobile Caterpillar generating sets in other parts of the country, none can be used at Anna Regina, as those sets are rated at 60 hertz whilst the Anna Regina plant and network are rated at 50 hertz. In an effort to further boost generating capacity at the location in the short term, the company will seek to convert another Caterpillar set from 60 hertz to 50 hertz at an estimated cost of $50M, the company disclosed.

GPL added that, in the near term, the company is

seeking to construct a new 60 hertz Wartsila Plant at Anna Regina. Construction of civil foundation works are scheduled to commence later this year, and the new set will be installed in 2015. Concomitantly, the distribution network will also be converted to 60 hertz.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, G P L will convert the existing 20-year-old Wartsila plant to 60Hz, and will use same as a reliable standby and peaking facility.

GPL has been informing its customers of the outages via local media. However, it appears that some customers have not accessed the information, thus the company is now making a national media release.

GPL says it regrets this unfortunate incident, and sincerely apologises to all of its customers on the Essequibo Coast for the inconvenience caused.

be used as the resource centre for the training since there is no established community centre.

At the end of the programme, the children would receive certificates as was done in Agricola and several groups in Albouystown.

Since most of the children in Mocha are younger

than those in the other communities, the police are looking to engage them mainly in craft activities. Those engagements are expected to be headed by Ms Kim Gordon, wife of the General Manager of Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), publisher of the Guyana Chronicle newspapers.

Last week, the police took snacks for the children and adults who were present at the first formal meeting to discuss the plan of action. The police have in the past donated books and other school supplies to the community of Mocha through the primary school.

Sub-Divisional Officer, Assistant Superintendent Parshram walks amidst the children as he outlined the work the police would like to do with the community

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday September 8, 2014

Albouystown receives ‘Word of God’ during ‘March for Jesus’ rally

Part of the ‘March for Jesus’ rally moving through Albouystown

The dancers who captivated the community of Albouystown with their ‘heavenly’ movements (Photos by Leroy Smith)

By Leroy Smith THE Heavenly Light World Outreach Full Gospel Fellowship in Albouystown on Saturday took the word of God through the streets of the community with dances, prayers and songs. The

occasion coincided with the 50th Anniversary of the Full Gospel Fellowship in Guyana.

The march and rally was dubbed “March for Jesus” and saw several young people from the community- based fellowship as well as per-

sons who visited from other Full Gospel Churches in Georgetown. The march took off from the church before making an almost 360 degree journey, returning to hold a rally in front of the same place of worship.

The event did not fail to

create a spectacle as several persons turned their attention to the loud, bouncy gospel music with close to two dozen young women leading the procession while dancing.

Loud speakers were placed on the back of a Canter vehicle and the music blasted as church members held various placards bearing various slogans and prophecies in keeping with Christi-

anity. The members stopped at each major corner of the community and interceded through prayers that Albouystown will return to God. There were various prophecies by way of prayer, including that the community will become one of the glories of Guyana and will again rise to be most positively talked about in the country.

The Heavenly Light Outreach Full Gospel Fellowship is one of the two faith-based organisations in Albouystown which has been working closely with the Guyana Police Force to reintegrate young people into society. It has been working on several social programmes, along with the police, for young people.

Region Three receives fogging machine from Local Gov’t Ministry

Region Three RHO Nadia Coleman accepting the machine from Minister Whittaker

By Raveena Mangal IN efforts to reduce the spread of vector-borne diseases, primarily Chikun-

gunya, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (LGRD Ministry) donated a fogging machine to the Regional

Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Three (Essequibo Islands, West Demerara).

Permanent Secretary of that Ministry, Collin Croal, in-

dicated that the “Swingtec SN 50 Fogger” machine, which was purchased from Farfan and Mendes, is valued at approximately $375,000.

Present at the handing over yesterday at the Ministry was the Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Three, Donald Gajraj, and Regional Health Officer (RHO) Nadia Coleman.

Also in attendance was Dr. Reyaud Rahman, Director of Vector Control Services (VCS), who reminded that the fogging was an ongoing countrywide exercise implemented last year.

“While fogging is being done in Region 4 currently, it will move to Region Three, where training and guidance on how to operate the machinery will be done”, he said.

Operations are also to commence in Region One (Barima/Waini) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker, spoke of the importance of the need for partnership with the Ministry of Health to mitigate the proliferation of vector-borne diseases. “Especially at this time (with the onset of the spread of the Chikungunya virus), the fogging machine will play an important role in reducing the spread of vector-borne diseases,” the minister said.

He emphasised the need to

The donated fogging machine

not only begin using the machine, but also to care for and maintain it, therefore guidance and training would be required to utilize the machine.

The Region Three REO expressed his gratitude and appreciation at receiving

the fogging machine, and assured that it would complement the continuing efforts of mosquito eradication, and that the machine would be fully utilised once the necessary training was done.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday September 8, 2014

Culture Ministry actively involved in Amerindian Heritage Month activities –Dr Anthony

By Savitri Laikram THE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has been actively involved in activities to commemorate Amerindian Heritage Month.

This is according to subject Minister Dr Frank Antho-

ny, who made the disclosure in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday at his Ministry on Main Street, Georgetown.

Dr Anthony pointed out that an event was recently hosted in the compound of the Ministry of Culture,

Minister Dr Frank Anthony

Monday, September 08, 2014 - 14:30 hrs Tuesday, September 09, 2014 - 05:00 hrs Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 05:00 hrs

where villagers of St. Cuthbert’s Mission attended and showcased their talent in the craft of straw-making.

He said that later this month, at the Walter Rodney Museum of Arts, an individual will be recruited to provide knowledge of Amerindian heritage and culture, such as their myths and legends through storytelling to children.

The minister added that sessions of weaving, basketry and other craft will be provided so as to showcase the skills and beauty of the locally made trinkets.

One of the many cultural presentations at the opening of Amerindian Heritage Month

Dr Anthony also disclosed that a team from the National School of Music will scout the various Amerindian communities to seek talented individuals for a music competition, preliminaries for which are expected to commence soon.

He explained that with this initiative, there has been a challenge with translating the songs from the Amerindian language to English.

He revealed that the Ar-

awak dictionary has also been republished. This dictionary, he added, serves as a translator for seven of the nine Amerindian languages and they are being distributed to various communities. He also mentioned that there was a collaborative effort with the Makushi people for the development of a workbook on the language, and copies were sent to the villages after being published.

On the topic of books, Dr

Anthony pointed out that the ministry is in full support of a book of petroglyphs, which has been researched by Ms Donnis Williams.

He assured this newspaper that his ministry has been enthusiastically involved in having these activities put together for Amerindians and the wider Guyanese nation, noting that the ministry is keen on preserving the rich Amerindian cultures in Guyana.

Sport Minister issues warrants,grants for development of regional grounds MINISTER of Culture, Yo u t h a n d S p o r t , D r.

Frank Anthony, on Thurs-

day issued warrants and grants to the regional executive officers (REOs) of the 10 administrative regions, so that they could now tender for the development of grounds in their respective regions.

According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr. Alfred King, the ministry will allocate approximately G$228,000,000 for the development of these grounds in the various regions.

Mr. King also stated that with the help of the Regional Democratic Councils, works on these grounds could be better monitored so there will be a smooth flow in the works of developing these grounds.

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mr. Conrad Plummer, in his address stated that he is very passionate about sports, because he enjoys seeing persons participating in sporting events, and

from his perspective, the enhancement of these grounds would increase the number of persons participating in sporting activities, because more facilities would be available.

According to Culture,Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony, this project began with GUY$100 000 000 and as it captured the interest of the public, a further G$200 000 was injected.

Minister Anthony further stated that he hopes to see more interior locations sending in their applications in order for progress to begin on the development of the grounds in those regions.

The regions and the number of grounds which are expected to be enhanced in these regions include Region 1, 25 grounds; Region 2, five grounds; Region 3, 22 grounds; Region 4,18 grounds; Region 5, 28 grounds; Region 6, 44 grounds; Region 7, three

grounds; Region 8,eight grounds; Region 9, six grounds; and Region 10, nine grounds.

The minister stated that improvements are expected in Regions 2, 7 and 8. Also, according to the minister, 15 communities will be directly monitored by the ministry itself.

Last year a number of grounds were done, but yet some communities did not receive their subventions, which were sent back to the treasury of the ministry. This year however, the minister expects all the communities to get the benefits of their submissions.

In closing, minister Anthony said that he would hold meetings with all the beneficiaries and for those communities that are located far in the interior, visits will be organised, so that the minister could meet with the beneficiaries in those communities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday September 8, 2014

Nishikori, Cilic seek glory in unlikely U.S. Open final

Croatia’s Marin Cilic

By Simon Cambers NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - History, redemption and glory will be on the line when Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Croatia’s Marin Cilic battle for the U.S. Open men’s tennis title today.

It will be the first time since the Australian Open final in 2005 that a men’s grand slam final will not feature at least one of tennis’s top three Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Tenth seed Nishikori is the first Asian man to reach a grand slam singles final

while Cilic is into his first final, less than 12 months after returning from a four-month suspension for what he said was inadvertently taking a banned supplement.

Before this year ’s U.S. Open, Nishikori and Cilic boasted just one grand slam semi-final appearance between them, the Croat having made it to the last four at the Australian Open in 2010.

Nishikori leads their headto-head meetings 5-2, including both their meetings this year, in Brisbane and Barcelona, while they split their two previous U.S. Open clashes.

But having beaten Djokovic and Federer respectively to reach their first grand slam final, they will be desperate to take chances today.

“I hope there will be a lot of people watching (in Japan),” said Nishikori, who also beat third seed Stan Wawrinka and fifth seed Milos Raonic.

“I am a little bit surprised to make the final but am very happy to make another (piece) of history, the first time an Asian man is in the final. I hope I can win and make (more) history.”

Coached by former grand slam champion Michael Chang, Nishikori has added steel and physical strength to a game that always possessed flair but lacked endurance.

“He’s been really helpful,” Nishikori said. “He’s been helping me a lot from the end of last year, (especially) mentally.

“I feel my tennis is changing (to be a) little more aggressive and playing with more confidence. He’s tough, but I needed someone to push me.”

Cilic, whose victory over Federer in the semi-final was described by his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, as “perfection”, is aiming for glory, 11 months after returning from a drugs

Japan’s Kei Nishikori “When I’m playing now ban that left him questioning these bigger matches I feel like his future. if I’m going to play well; I have Originally banned for nine a good chance. months, Cilic’s suspension was “That’s a different mindset cut to four months on appeal than I used to have because and the 25-year-old always before I felt that I should (try to maintained that he had taken do) more than I’m able to and the banned substance without then your game breaks.” knowing, through a tainted Cilic said he was looking supplement. forward to one more great battle The road back to the top with Nishikori. was hard but with the help of “It’s going to be a special former Wimbledon champion day for both of us - an opporIvanisevic, he has emerged a tunity for both of us to win a more aggressive player, using grand slam, to be a part of his serve and groundstrokes to history,” he said. stunning effect.

“There are going to be “For the guys that are top, definitely huge emotions on (reaching the final) feels northe court. We have different mal,” he said. “But for some game styles. I think it’s going guys that are making it for the to be a good tactical matchfirst time it’s the achievement up.” of their career.

Bailey quits as Australia T20 ...

(From Page 25)

for the return Ashes series around the end of last year, despite his extremely modest record in Sheffield Shield cricket.

Although Australia destroyed England 5-0, Bailey was not a great success batting at number six with an average of 26.14 compared to his one-day average of nearly 50.

He was dropped for the Test tour to South Africa in the New Year.

Appropriately, Bailey, who had never previously represented his country, took over as captain of the Twenty20 side after Clarke decided to drop the shortest format of cricket to concentrate on his own Test and one-day form in 2011.

He led Australia to the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in 2012 but they bowed out in the Super10 group stage in Bangladesh earlier this year.

That the next World Twenty20 in India was just two years away in 2016 was a consideration when Bailey

decided to step down.

“I wanted to give a new captain an opportunity to

find his feet and put his mark on that team for the World Cup,” he added.

Benn spins ...

From Backpage WEST INDIES 1st innings (overnight 407 for three) C Gayle lbw b Shuvagata Hom 64 K Brathwaite c Mominul Haque b Taijul Islam 212 K Edwards c Mominul Haque b Taijul Islam 10 DM Bravo c Mahmudullah b Taijul Islam 62 S Chanderpaul not out 85 J Blackwood lbw b Rubel Hossain 10 *+D Ramdin c Rubel Hossain b Taijul Islam 5 J Taylor c Shuvagata Hom b Taijul Islam 10 K Roach not out 2 Extras (b5, lb18, nb1) 24 TOTAL (7 wkts decl, 160 overs) 484 Did not bat: S Benn, S Gabriel.

Fall of wickets: 1-116 (Gayle), 2-133 (Edwards), 3-261 (Bravo), 4-422 (Brathwaite), 5-451 (Blackwood), 6-466 (Ramdin), 7-479 (Taylor) Bowling: Al-Amin Hossain 22-12-430, Rubel Hossain 30-1-110-1 (nb1), Mahmudullah 19-0-64-0, Shuvagata Hom 37-6-104-1, Taijul Islam 479-135-5, Nasir Hossain 4-1-4-0, Mominul Haque 1-0-1-0.

BANGLADESH 1st innings

Tamim Iqbal c Bravo b Roach 1 Shamsur Rahman c Bravo b Benn 35 Imrul Kayes c Bravo b Taylor 9 Mominul Haque c wkp Ramdin b Gabriel 51 Mahmudullah lbw b Blackwood 7 *+Mushfiqur Rahim not out 48 Nasir Hossain c Benn b Blackwood 2 Shuvagata Hom c & b Benn 16 Taijul Islam c Bravo b Benn 2 Rubel Hossain c wkp Ramdin b Benn

1 Al-Amin Hossain c Bravo b Benn 5 Extras (lb2, w2, nb1) 5 TOTAL (all out, 71.4 overs) 182 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Tamim Iqbal), 2-18 (Imrul Kayes), 3-80 (Shamsur Rahman), 4-105 (Mominul Haque), 5-110 (Mahmudullah), 6-118 (Nasir Hossain), 7-147 (Shuvagata Hom), 8-155 (Taijul Islam), 9-166 (Rubel Hossain), 10-182 (Al-Amin Hossain) Bowling: Taylor 15-4-46-1 (w2), Roach 13-4-31-1, Gabriel 13-2-50-1, Benn 24.4-8-39-5 (nb1), Blackwood 6-1-14-2.

Position: Bangladesh trail by 302 runs.

South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:15 hrs Range Lights 08:50 hrs My Jelly Bean 09:25 hrs Spanish Tiger 10:05 hrs Swedish King 10:40 hrs Laurie’s Dancer 11:15 hrs Sissy Gray Newton Abbot 09:10 hrs Upsanddowns 09:40 hrs Wisentraum 10:10 hrs Hawker 11:10 hrs The Snappy Poet 11:40 hrs Champion Versions 12:10 hrs Nicolas Chauvin Perth 09:20 hrs Big Kern 09:50 hrs Forget And Forgive 10:20 hrs Flash Crash 10:50 hrs Robin’s Command 11:20 hrs Jazzy Lady 11:50 hrs Gleann Na Ndochais 12:20 hrs Noir Girl

Brighton 09:30 hrs Miss Brazil 10:00 hrs Shadow Rock 10:30 hrs Siouxperhero 11:00 hrs Diletta Thomas 11:30 hrs Ohio 12:00 hrs Ding Dong 12:30 hrs Anginola Irish Racing Tips Galway 11:35 hrs Archangel Raphael 12:05 hrs Cairdiuil 12:35 hrs Could Should Would 13:05 hrs Port Merrion 13:35 hrs Ebeyina 14:05 hrs Focas Mor 14:35 hrs Croi Na Feile American Racing Tips Philadelphia Park Race 1 Andysun Race 2 C J’s Cheelit Race 3 Mendassity Race 4 Not a Word Race 5 Louisa Girl Race 6 Killington Race 7 Playing a Joke Race 8 Lynx Race 9 Naughty Matilda

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday September 8, 2014

Hamilton fights back to win in Italy taking him ahead of triple champion Jackie Stewart in the all-time lists.

By Alan Baldwin MONZA, Italy (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton battled back from a troubled start to win the Italian Grand Prix for Mercedes yesterday after team mate Nico Rosberg cracked under pressure and saw his Formula One championship lead cut to 22 points.

Rosberg, whose 29th lap mistake at the first chicane cost him the lead and the race, finished second as dominant Mercedes celebrated their first one-two since Austria in June and seventh in 13 races.

Brazilian Felipe Massa was third for Williams in his first podium appearance since May 2013.

Rosberg, who now has 238 points to Hamilton’s 216 with six races remaining after the end of the European part of the season, recognised his error.

“It’s a terrible feeling to lose the lead like that but in the end Lewis was really quick in the whole race. He came like a rocket and I had to push and I made the mistake.”

With the sport taking a deep breath as the championship rivals lined up

Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates on the podium after winning the Italian F1 Grand Prix in Monza, yesterday.

Credit: Reuters/Max Rossi together on the front row, earlier in the race. two weeks after they had With the German driving collided in Belgium on the straight on to avoid locking second lap, the start pro- up and damaging the tyres, vided immediate drama. the car having to slow and Hamilton had taken pole zig-zag back onto the track, position for the first time Hamilton seized the lead in since May but problems the decisive moment of the with the car’s start controls afternoon. left him struggling to get The Briton had earlier away. He was fourth into the shunned advice from his race first corner as Rosberg led engineer to back off and save untroubled. tyres for a later attack and it It was the start of a proved the right approach. thrilling chase, with the The two crossed the fin2008 world champion fight- ish line 3.1 seconds apart, ing back and retaking the with Hamilton celebrating lead on the 29th of 53 laps his first win since Britain in when Rosberg missed the July. It was his fifth of the first chicane as he had done season and 28th of his career,

DIFFICULT RACE “It was a difficult race,” said Hamilton. “For whatever reason, at the start the button didn’t press which engages the launch sequence.

“For the formation lap it didn’t work and when I got to the grid and put it on again, again it didn’t work. It was very strange.

I’ve never really had that happen before.

“I tried to pull away as fast as possible and the RPM was all over the place. Fortunately I managed to not lose too many places.”

In a sport full of conspiracy theorists, Rosberg and team bosses ridiculed a suggestion that he might have been ordered to cede place to Hamilton as part of an unspecified penalty imposed after Spa. “I’ve heard about that, but what would be the reason for me to do something like that deliberately? There is no possible reason,” he said, explaining that he had missed the chicane to avoid locking up and ‘flat-spotting’ a tyre - which would have

Morgan smashes England to thrilling T20 victory

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Skipper Eoin Morgan found his form at the right time to lead England to a thrilling threerun victory over India in a one-off T20 international at Edgbaston yesterday.

Morgan, who had scored only 198 runs in 10 one-day international innings since returning from injury in March, smashed 71 off 31 balls including seven sixes and three fours, as England posted a daunting 180 for seven wickets in their 20 overs.

In reply, another batsman out of sorts this summer - Virat Kohli - led the India charge but his 66 off 41 balls and 27 off 18 by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the death could not clinch victory for India who finished on 177 for five.

Ajinkya Rahane took a T20 record-equalling four catches, including a stunning running, diving effort to dismiss Alex Hales (40) but India’s bowling took a battering late on, conceding 81 runs off the last five overs as Morgan and Ravi Bopara

Eoin Morgan’s belligerent 71 helps England edge past India for a three-run win in the only T20 at Edgbaston. gressively. But South Afriran riot. ca-born Roy was first to go Bopara added 21 off 9 for eight, chipping to Rahane balls with three fours and at cover off Shami. a six while Mohammed Two balls later Moeen Shami was the pick of the Ali fell for a duck - caught Indian attack, taking three again by Rahane off Mohit for 38.

Sharma - then Hales and England smashed 17 Joe Root steadied the ship, runs off the first over with putting on 48 before Hales 24-year-old debutant Jason fell.

Roy and Hales starting agRoot, a century-maker

in the final one-day international between the sides, was well caught by Ambati Rayudu for 26 as Morgan led the final onslaught.

India’s reply got off to a poor start, Rahane lasting four balls, bowled

by Ali, before Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan led the India charge.

Kohli and Dharwan put on 79 in nine overs before Chris Woakes bowled Dharwan.

Kohli survived a difficult catch to Harry Gurney when on 65 but fell one run later, tucked up by Steve Finn and caught in the deep

by Hales.

India were always up with the scoring rate but a mix-up between Dhoni and Ravindra Jadaja seemed to have ended their hopes before Dhoni set about Woakes in the final over with India still 17 runs short.

Dhoni smashed 12 off the first four balls before Woakes managed to subdue the India skipper and England scraped home before a packed crowd.

forced an extra pitstop and a lot of lost time.

Massa’s podium came on Brazilian Independence Day and after the team had announced the former Ferrari driver was staying for 2015 along with Valtteri Bottas.

The points, at the fastest track on the calendar, meant Williams leapfrogged Ferrari into third place in the constructors’ standings.

In the absence of their current Ferrari heroes, the passionate home crowd welcomed their ex-driver’s appearance on the podium with cheers as they spilled out in a vast red wave onto the start/ finish straight.

Rosberg, blamed by his own team for the second lap Spa collision that led to Hamilton’s retirement from that race, was booed for the second grand prix in a row.

Massa’s Finnish team mate Bottas was fourth following another impressive day of overtaking after he had dropped from the second row to 10th at the end

of the first lap.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso retired from his team’s home race on lap 29 with a failure in the car’s energy recovery system, his first mechanical retirement in 86 races, while Kimi Raikkonen finished ninth.

The Finn crossed the line 10th but moved up after McLaren’s Kevin Magnussen was penalised for a defensive move that forced Bottas off the track.

Until yesterday, Alonso was the only driver to have scored points in every race this season.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo, winner of the two previous races, had another brilliant race for Red Bull and finished fifth after some breathtaking overtaking moves including one on four times champion team mate Sebastian Vettel who was sixth.

Mexican Sergio Perez came seventh for Force India after winning a wheel-towheel battle with McLaren’s Jenson Button in eighth.

Bryan brothers win fifth U.S. Open for historic 100th doubles title

By Simon Cambers

NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - American twins Bob and Mike Bryan became the first doubles pair to win 100 titles together after they beat Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 6-3, 6-4 in the U.S. Open tennis final yesterday.

The world No.1 duo broke the 11th seeds once in each set to claim their fifth U.S. Open title and take their 16th grand slam title together.

The top seeds made their move in the fourth game of the opener and when they broke in the seventh game of the second set there was no way back for the Spanish pair.

Left-handed Bob Bryan served out for an historic victory.

The win gave the 36-year-old brothers a first grand slam title of the year and they have now won at least one grand slam title together for 10 consecutive years.

Bob Bryan (L) and his brother Mike Bryan of the U.S. pose with their trophy after they defeated Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez of Spain in their men’s doubles final match. (Credit: Reuters/Adam Hunger)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday September 8, 2014

EURO 2016 qualifying wrap:

Germany wins as Portugal and Greece rocked

GERMANY’S UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers started with an unconvincing 2-1 win over Scotland, while Portugal suffered a shock 1-0 home loss to Albania.

Thomas Muller struck twice as world champions Germany stuttered against a determined Scotland at Signal Iduna Park.

A 4-2 international defeat to Argentina on Thursday (AEST) raised questions in the Germany squad and, although Joachim Low’s side was far from its best, a better display earned the host three points.

Muller headed Germany in front in the 18th minute of a first-half it dominated, but the visitors greatly improved after the break and levelled through Ikechi Anya.

Scotland’s joy lasted only four minutes, though, as Muller’s scrappy second – scrambled in from five yards – was enough to defeat Gordon Stra-

Thomas Muller struck twice for World Champions Germany.

Royals beat Bulls 73-54 to take 20th anniversary title THE Victory Valley Royals ended the fairytale run of Half Mile Bulls in the 20th anniversary basketball championship final with a commanding 73-54 win on Saturday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

The Royals wasted little time in dominating their opponents after both sides had advanced to the final by topping their higher-ranked opponents in semifinal play the night before.

The Bulls, led by Inter-Guiana Games player Terron Welch, had earlier knocked out fourth-ranked Retrieve Raiders before stopping the top-ranked Kings in the semifinal with a 76-46 rout behind Welch’s 40-point game, but found themselves wanting against the third-rated Royals who had beaten second-rankled Amelia’s Ward Jets with a 52-51 win in their other semifinal game on Friday night.

It meant then that Royals were facing the fifth-ranked Bulls and the

Royals captain Chris Williams was named MVP of the final. crowd expected a matchup but petered out in an emphatic win in the end for the Royals.

In the other game of the night Jets defeated the Kings 46-43.

Royals were led by their excellent transition play and spread their effort to control the proceedings on the night as the Bulls never really looked the side which had edged the Raiders in their opening game

and had a good run to enter the final.

In fact their main scorer remained Terron Welch but the Royals with such quality players like captain Chris Williams who hit in 17 points and was later named the Most Valuable Player of the final, received superb support from the cast which included former junior national Marlon Pollydore with 15, Orlando Glasgow with 14 and past national Alwyn Wilson 10 in securing the title.

The Royals were ahead at the end of the first quarter 14-12, at halftime 40-32 and ended the third quarter 65-42 before rallying to score the 73-54 victory and collect the first prize of $70 000 compliments of their founder Linden Alphonso, who now resides in the United States.

The other scorers for the Bulls all made single digit scores with Kevin Easton getting seven and Travin Dryden and Dennis Niles each with six points.

chan’s plucky side, who saw Charlie Mulgrew sent off late on Bekim Balaj’s superb volley claimed a shock 1-0 win for Albania in Portugal, with the home fans greeting the full-time whistle with intense jeers.

Gianni De Biasi’s side was billed as a huge underdog against a team expected to cruise through Group I, but it left Aveiro with all three points as Balaj stole the show on a memorable day for Albania.

Balaj’s winner arrived in the 52nd minute as he belted Odise Roshi’s delivery past Rui Patricio, consigning Portugal to an embarrassing defeat in the absence of talisman and captain Cristiano Ronaldo Gibraltar received a cruel welcome to competitive football as it was hammered 7-0 at home by a rampant Poland in Group D. Kamil Grosicki gave the visitor an 11th-minute lead with a deflected effort and, although the host managed to keep Poland at bay until the break, the floodgates opened in the second-half.

Grosicki doubled his tally and Lukasz Szukala added one of his own, but Robert Lewandowski stole the show by scoring four in the secon-half to complete Poland’s biggest ever competitive win.

Also in Group D, Aiden McGeady’s double gave Republic of Ireland the points as it began with a 2-1 triumph in Georgia.

McGeady put the visitor’s ahead with a tidy 24th-minute goal before an audacious strike from Tornike Okriashvili restored parity.

Everton winger McGeady netted again, though, delivering an emphatic finish from the edge of the area to give Martin O’Neill his first competitive win as manager.

Northern Ireland produced a stunning late turnaround to beat host Hungary 2-1 in Group F thanks to goals from Niall McGinn and Kyle Lafferty.

S u b s t i t u t e Ta m a s Priskin put the host ahead with a 75th-minute header, but the away side fought back and equalised through

McGinn in the 81st minute before Lafferty scrambled in the winner to end an eightgame winless run.

Denmark was also forced to come from behind as it beat visitor’s and Group I rival Armenia, eventually claiming a 2-1 win after Henrikh Mkhitaryan opened the scoring just after halftime.

The Danes battled back in the second-half, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg netting a powerful half-volley and Thomas Kahlenberg eventually completing the comeback with a close-range header.

Claudio Ranieri’s first competitive match in charge of Greece ended in despair as 10-man Romania took all three points away from Piraeus, winning 1-0 thanks to a 10th-minute penalty from Ciprian Marica, who was later sent off for two bookable offences.

Finland also began its campaign as a victor, comfortably winning 3-1 in the Faroe Islands after initially falling behind just before the break.(Omnisport)

Bailey quits as Australia T20 skipper SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - George Bailey has stood down as Australia’s Twenty20 captain to concentrate on longer forms of the game with half an eye on adding to his five Test caps.

The 32-year-old batsman, who has also captained the Australian one-day side this week in Zimbabwe in the absence of injured skipper Michael Clarke, said he struggled with the transition between the different formats of the game.

“It took a lot of thought and a lot of time,” he told Cricket Australia’s website.

“I had a good think about what I wanted to do in the next four years and I’m really passionate about playing the best four-day and one-day cricket that I can.

“I guess the very end goal is to play Test cricket, but more than that it’s just

George Bailey about playing the best fourday cricket I can.

“It’s the format I find the most challenging and the format that I get the most enjoyment from - it’s where my real passion lies.

“Whether concentrating on that ends up in me getting back into the Test squad, it doesn’t worry me

too much.”

Bailey made his ODI debut in 2012 but he really came to prominence when he stood in as captain for the injured Clarke on the tour of India last year.

That ODI success earned him a Test call-up

(See Page 23)

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday September 8, 2014

Synthetic track is a big boost, but specialists needed - GOA head

By Michael DaSilva THE Government of Guyana has been given the thumbs up for its efforts to assist with the development of local track and field athletes and by extension local football, but it is the view of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) president K. Juman-Yassin that there is need for specialists in a number of areas to ensure local athletes reach their true potential.

In a recent interview with Chronicle Sport, Yassin said the construction of the synthetic facility situated at Leonora, West Coast Demerara is very thoughtful and he praised the Govern-

GOA president K. Juman-Yassin ment of Guyana, especially Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony for their thoughtfulness “but we need to have specialists in the areas of nutrition,

we need to have doctors, we need to use science to monitor our athletes to gauge their abilities, but most importantly, we need to have competent coaches.” The GOA head stated.

“To have competent coaches, we need to ensure local coaches are upgraded, so we need to have a foreign coach based in Guyana for at least six months to take our coaches to another level,” Yassin stated.

“There is need for fulltime coaches in Guyana as there are no high level track and field coaches here in Guyana … Maybe there are some full-time coaches at the National Sports Commission … I

don’t know … but if there is … they are not high level coaches.”

The GOA head continued, “Parallel to this is for our athletes to be full time athletes … those at school should have adequate time for training and those not at school should not have to work at their places of employ for eight hours daily. They need to have time off for training and that’s the only way track and field or any sport for that matter will get better in Guyana.”

Yassin said while he is very happy to know that a synthetic facility for track and field is under construction at Leonora, he has not seen it as yet and is still to

be given an official invitation to have a look at it.

He said, “Maybe there are members of the GOA that represent the various associations that have been invited to have a first-hand view of the works going on at the Leonora facility, but I have never been given an invitation to view it myself.

Maybe some day I’ll have that opportunity.”

Asked if the GOA was ever a part of the construction of the facility, the former Chief Magistrate said not as far as he knows.

The Leonora synthetic facility was recently certified by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) as a class two

facility, making it the first internationally recognised athletic facility in Guyana, thereby creating an opportunity for local athletes using the facility, to have times to be recognised internationally.

The track can also see athletes from outside of Guyana training and competing at the Leonora facility.

Tw o s t a n d s o n t h e north eastern and north western sections of the facility are expected to be completed shortly along with the members’ booth and these are expected to house approximately 10 000 spectators. These will be complemented with other stands at other parts of the facility.

Brathwaite shows appetite for long haul

By Mohammad Isam WHEN he finally emerged from his shell to sweep Mahmudullah for four in the penultimate over of the second day’s play at St Vincent, Kraigg Brathwaite became the tenth batsman to score a Test double-hundred before his 22nd birthday.

The significance of his innings, apart from its impact on West Indies’ first innings against Bangladesh, is that it highlights Brathwaite’s proclivity for Test cricket, when compared to many other batsmen of his generation.

The last man to make a Test double-century at the age of 21 before Brathwaite was South Africa’s Jacques Rudolph, in his debut in-

nings against Bangladesh, more than 11 years ago. Six batsmen went past the 150mark between Rudolph and Brathwaite, with AB de Villiers getting closest.

Since 2004, only four batsmen under 22 averaged more than Brathwaite in Tests - Alastair Cook, de Villiers, Tamim Iqbal and Nasir Hossain. Four batsmen have passed the 1 000run mark before turning 22; Brathwaite is 163 short, but has 85 days to have a crack Brathwaite’s case is special in some ways. West Indies have kept him exclusively for the longer format.

He is playing his 13th Test and has not played a single T20, even at domestic level.

He has played 59 first-class matches and only 14 domes-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Monday September 08, 2014) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Shiv Chanderpaul-22 matches (2)7 captains Today’s Quiz: (1) Against which nation the WI first contested a Test match? What of Bangladesh?

(2)Put these in order beginning with the man who played Test cricket the earliest: Colin Croft; Larry Gomes; Wayne Daniel; Collis King Answers in tomorrow’s issue

tic one-dayers.

Some may call him a restricted and overly-cautious batsman, but that’s what Brathwaite is good at, and that’s what West Indies need, as Shivnarine Chanderpaul winds down his career.

With so much emphasis on batting aggressively and playing at a higher tempo in modern cricket, it is refreshing to see a young batsman standing his ground and being the batsman he wants to be. From a young age, Brathwaite had decided to bat this way.

A few months after his Test debut in 2011, Brathwaite was quite keen to state his target of playing 100 Tests for West Indies.

“I want to play at least 100 Tests,” Brathwaite had said then. “I enjoy being at the crease because once I’m out there, that’s where the runs are scored. I know that if I stay long, bad balls will come and I can capitalise on them. The best feeling is to get a hundred.”

He was 18 at the time and had scored a single fifty in three Tests. But just before the series against India in November 2011, he had impressed against Bangladesh with his doggedness. “I used to look for boundaries when I was playing Under-13, but by the next two years I started to buckle down,” he had said. “I took advice from my coach and my father.

I started batting long and

occupying the crease.

“Obviously I want to play T20 cricket in the future, but right now I’m concentrating on scoring runs in Test cricket. As I get older, the forearms will get stronger, in a couple of years maybe. But I want to see myself getting settled in Test cricket first.”

This approach could hurt Brathwaite’s prospects in this age of T20 cricket, if he isn’t able to smoothly transition into the shorter formats. But judging by his batting in this Test so far, he seems unflustered by a lot of these temptations. (ESPN Cricinfo)

DDL Under-16 boxing on Sunday THE Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) will this Sunday its Under-16 programme when the DDL competition is staged at the Andrew `Sixhead’ Lewis gym. Over 40 young pugilists from around the country are expected to participate.

President of GABA Steve Ninvalle and the association’s tournament and technical director Terrence Poole both disclosed that Linden is expected to field a team to the competition through the Carryl Boxing Gym. Other gyms expected to compete are Rose Hall Jammers, Essequibo Gym, Pocket Rocket, Young Achievers, Forgotten Youth Foundation and Harpy Eagles. This is the third year that the GABA and DDL have partnered to ensure that nursery of boxing is facilitated with adequate nutrition.

Meanwhile, Ninvalle disclosed that the Madhia Gym has written seeking affiliation to GABA

Was anxious to get to double-hundred Kraigg Brathwaite

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday September 8, 2014

‘CRICKET FOR UNITY’ T20

Griffith and Cush shine during enthralling encounter

By Calvin Roberts THEY CAME from all walks of life to catch a glimpse of the action last Saturday night, when the Dexter ‘Bushman’ Garnett-organised ‘Cricket for Unity’ T20 clash between Roraima Strikers and Kaieteur Thunders finally got under way at the Lance Gibbs Street-based Demerara Cricket Club ground.

Cricket-lovers filled the venue’s lone pavilion, leaving minimum walking space even for the players, while some lined the outer perimeter of the ground to witness the action that saw Kaieteur Thunders edge the Roraima Strikers by four runs in an enthralling encounter.

The sight of Orin Forde, Alfred Mentore and Lennox Cush rolling back the years to thump boundaries to all parts of the ground, Reon King and Colin Stuart sharing a new ball and Charles Ramson Jr taking a Michael Holding-like lengthy run-up was indeed worthy enough to underline the camaraderie displayed between both sides.

While the game was keenly contested, with Guyana Cricket Board Chairman of Selectors Rayon Griffith blasting a half-century and Cush claiming four quick wickets, there was no doubt that the theme used for the contest was certainly a good one.

Batting first on a track which saw Kevon Boodie of Essequibo blast a record-breaking double ton earlier in the day, Kaieteur Thunders who seemed destined for a 200-plus total posted 178-5 off their 20 overs, while Roraima Strikers responded with 174-9 at the end of their 20 overs.

… Thunders pip Strikers by four runs

Living the theme of the contest! Chronicle Sport photographer Adrian Narine was on hand last Saturday to witness and capture for our readers’ pleasure. From left, Tony Najab, Charles Ramson Jr., James Bond (backing camera) Khemraj Ramjattan and Rabindranauth Seeram share a light moment during the ‘Cricket for Unity’ T20 clash. the charge to legendary cluded U.S. Embassy Charge off-spinner Clyde Butts in d’Affaires Bryan Hunt. his first over.

Kaieteur Thunders, sportWith two new batsmen Two balls later, Butts at the crease and the moing pink uniforms sponsored struck again, removing mentum with Roraima

by Tiger Sports of Enmore, the left-handed Mohamed, Strikers, Esaun Crandon suffered a horrible start losing caught by Ramson Jr at drove home the advanthe burly Anthony Rigby (0) mid-wicket at 90-3, after tage dismissing Attorwho was run-out by a direct scoring a brisk 25 off 26 ney-at-Law Sanjeev Datahit from Griffith, off the third balls with four fours, with din (5) who was well caught ball of the first over bowled Ramson Jr. doing an Under- by Jermaine Neblett on the

by APNU Parliamentarian taker-like celebration to the long-on boundary at 99-4 James Bond.

Thunders’ dressing room, in the 13th over.

Former national wicketmuch to the delight of the keeper/batsman Sheik MoMentore 31 (22 balls, spectators on hand, which in- 2x4s, 2x6s) and David Harphamed and Orin Forde entertained the crowd with a stroke-filled partnership of 86 in nine overs to put Kaieteur Thunders on course for a huge total.

The right-handed Forde was particularly severe on the bowlers, hitting eight fours and a six in his 44 from 27 balls before he was brilliantly stumped by wicketkeeper Rabindranauth Seeram at 88-2, giving

Kaieteur Thunders and former national off-spinning all-rounder Lennox Cush hits another ‘Cricket for Unity’ maximum for his side, during his breezy innings last Saturday night. (Photos by Adrian Narine)

er 16 (15 balls, 1x4, 1x6) rolled back the years, adding a quick-fire 55 in five overs to revive Kaieteur Thunders innings, before Cush pulled off some lusty blows in the death overs, posting 17 from 5 balls with two sixes and a four.

Bowling for Roraima Strikers, Butts picked up 2 for 4 from two overs, while there was one wicket each for Bond, Ramson Jr. and Crandon, who started his team’s response with Wartsila’s Chief Financial Officer Aaron Fraser They added 39 for the first wicket, braving the new ball attack from King and Stuart, before Cush in the fifth over removed Fraser for five and with a double strike in the seventh over to give Kaieteur Thunders the upper hand.

Cush first had Crandon (23 runs, 25 balls, 1x4, 2x6s) caught by King on the mid-wicket boundary, before Seeram was brilliantly caught at the wicket by an agile Mohamed for five at 45-3.

Ramson hit a six and a four in 13, but he soon became the fourth casualty, caught by Cush on the longoff boundary off the bowling of businessman Tony Najab at 68-4 at the halfway stage.

Former national Under-19 captain Andre Percival and Griffith fought fire with fire with a pugnacious 61-run fifth-wicket partner-

ship in just 4.2 overs to bring Roraima Strikers back in the game.

When Percival was bowled by Cush for 24 (19 balls, 1x4, 1x6) at 129-5, 50 runs were needed from 30 deliveries and with Griffith timing the ball sweetly, Roraima Strikers were in a prime position to lift the ‘Unity trophy’.

Griffith brought up his fifty off 23 balls, and eventually retired in the penultimate over for 57 (29 balls, 8x4s, 2x6s), but not before Kaieteur Thunders had expressed some level of dissatisfaction with his move to bat on, even after scoring a half-century.

Before he eventually retired out, Roraima Strikers lost Butts for five and Garnett who entertained the crowd with his agility between the wickets before retiring for five, left Bond and Deputy Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steve Ninvalle, to score 11 off the final over.

However, Datadin only conceded six of those runs to hand Kaieteur Thunders the victory, while Cush who finished with 4 for 8 copped the Best Bowler trophy and Griffith the Best Batsman, while members of both sides were presented with Cricket for Unity medallions, before Kaieteur Thunders lifted the ‘Unity trophy’ from Hunt.

Together we aspire, Together we achieve. Members of both Kaieteur Thunders (pink) and Roraima Strikers pose with U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires Bryan Hunt (blue top), after their enthralling ‘Cricket for Unity’ clash last Saturday night.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Griffith and Cush shine during enthralling encounter (See Story on page 27)

Serena Williams wins US Open and 18th Grand Slam title

By Steve Keating

NEW YORK,(Reuters) World number one Serena Williams swept past good friend Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-3 6-3 in the U.S. Open final yesterday to move into the record books with her 18th grand slam title.

The third straight and sixth overall U.S. Open crown for the 32-year-old American, her 18 career slams put her into a tie with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova for fourth place on the all-time list.

Failing to get beyond the last 16 of the year’s first three slams, Williams sailed through the U.S. Open without dropping a set, finishing off Wozniacki in a snappy 75 minutes.

“It was a pleasure for me to win my first grand slam here and then this is number

18. I am really emotional,” Williams told the packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, her voice cracking as she tried to maintain composure. “I couldn’t ask to do it at a better place.”

For the 10th seeded Wozniacki, back in a grand slam final for the first time in five years, it was another frustrating end to a promising fortnight as she once again left Flushing Meadows empty handed, a major title still beyond her grasp.

The title came with a massive payday for Williams, who pocketed the $3 million winner’s purse along a $1 million bonus for winning the U.S. Series.

As Williams was receiving her cheques she was joined on court by Navratilova and Evert, who presented her with an 18 carat gold Tiffany bracelet as the newest member of their

Serena Williams (USA) celebrates with the championship trophy after the match against Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) in the women’s singles final of the 2014 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre.

Not until the eight game grand slam club. number one said she texts was hardly a showcase of did Wozniacki finally held Margaret Court tops the the Dane daily. tennis excellence, particu- serve but by then Williams list with 24 followed by StefBut once the match belarly in a ragged opening had begun to settle into the fi Graf (22) and Helen Wills gan, Williams, who has set that featured five con- match, clinching the opening set with a blistering backMoody (19). often had to face off against secutive breaks.

The most difficult part her sister Venus, again Williams, dressed in the hand winner.

Williams would keep of the match for Williams proved there are no friendsame leopard print tennis appeared to be beating a ships on the court as she dress she wore to open the up the pressure with a player she calls one of her simply overpowered her tournament, held her first break to open the second best friends.

24-year-old opponent. serve before the two players and by the end had an Williams and WozniThe showdown bestruggled through the run of exhausted Wozniacki runacki vacationed together tween the current and forbreaks with the American ning from corner-to-corner. this summer and the world mer world number ones taking a 5-2 lead.

Benn spins Bangladesh deep into trouble …Kraigg Brathwaite’s marathon innings ends at 212

Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn helped Windies take total control with five for 39.

(REUTERS) - Five wickets from spinner Sulieman Benn helped West Indies to take total control of the first Test against Bangladesh as they dismissed the tourists for 182 on the third day.

West Indies have a lead of 302 runs and could enforce the follow-on on Monday morning to keep the pressure on the tourists.

The Caribbean side declared their first innings at 484 for seven before lunch

at Arnos Vale, in Saint Vincent.

Kraigg Brathwaite’s marathon innings ended when he was caught at slip by Mominul Haque off Taijul Islam for 212.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who had been part of a 161 run parternship with Brathwaite, ended the innings unbeaten on 85.

The only consolation for Bangladesh was Islam ending with five wickets with his slow

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left-arm but things were soon to get worse for the tourists.

Faced with an hour to survive before lunch, Bangladesh quickly found themselves at 18 for two with Kemar Roach removing Tamimi Iqbal, who edged to Darren Bravo at second slip and Jerome Taylor removing Imrul Keyes in similar fashion.

Shamsur Rahman (35) and Mominul Haque (51) provided some much need-

ed resistance as Bangladesh clawed their way to 105-4 but Benn was to run through the lower order.

Only skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, who carried his bat for 48, was able to cope with the turn and bounce generated by the Barbadian left-armer.

Benn ended with figures of 5-39 while off-spinner Jermaine Blackwood picked up 2-14 in his Test debut.

(See Page23) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2014