2014 11 2

SUNDAY No. 103999

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2014

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

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

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Over $110M in ‘Because We Care’ cash grants distributed in Linden -Your children’s education should be your first priority

—Minister Manickchand tells parents in Linden

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INCLUDING VAT

President Ramotar directs that steps be taken to convene the National Assembly within 14 days Page 2 Following verbal abuse of NCN reporter

by Ramjattan…

GPA, Bar Page 12 Association heads say abuse of journalists ‘should not’ happen Following representation by AG-led team…

The Minister of Education with children of the One Mile Primary School at Bay Rock Community Centre

President hands over two hydro-flow pumps valued at $43M to boost MMA/ADA capacity 2 Page

President Donald Ramotar, at centre, hands over the keys for the new pumps, one of which is seen in the background (Adrian Narine photo)

PSC pledges to work with stakeholders to implement FATF’s action plan Page 11

Another victim in Mahaicony smash-up dies Page 16

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President hands over two hydro-flow pumps valued at $43M to boost MMA/ADA capacity TWO hydro-flow pumps, valued at $43M, were handed over to the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) by President Donald Ramotar on Friday. The new equipment, acquired through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), is expected to boost the capacity of the MMA/ADA in undertaking its tasks.

The Authority’s role is to “Promote, facilitate and enhance sustainable agricultural development in the region through the efficient management of the land resource.”

The MMA/ADA is a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Agriculture. It is governed by a Board of Directors which is responsible for formulation of policies for the efficient functioning and operations of the MMA/ADA. (Vanessa Narine)

President Donald Ramotar, at centre, hands over the keys for the new pumps, one of which is seen in the background (Adrian Narine photo)

President Ramotar directs that steps be taken to convene the National Assembly within 14 days PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar, has directed that steps be taken to convene a sitting of the National Assembly within the next 14 days.

Having been apprised of the Leader of the Opposition’s recent statement in the media with regard to talks between himself and the President, there is no longer any benefit to the country for any further delays in convening a sitting of the National Assembly.

The Government reiterates its position that the convening of a sitting of the National Assembly must be done in accordance with the Standing Orders and long cherished parliamentary practices.

The Government had a number of pending legislative matters to be brought before the House prior to the annual recess. Further there are important financial papers relating to the development of the country and growth of the economy that need to be urgently addressed.

PRESIDENT DONALD RAMOTAR

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 2, 2014

Over $110M in ‘Because We Care’ cash grants distributed in Linden -Your children’s education should be your first priority

—Minister Manickchand tells parents in Linden MORE than 11,000 children from Linden on Friday benefited from the Government of Guayna ‘Because We Care’ $10,000 Cash Grant initiative.

Distribution of the vouchers started on Friday in Linden and some $110M were distributed to parents at twelve school-locations. Those locations included the Bamia Primary, MacKenzie Primary, Amelia’s Ward Primary, Coomacka Primary, Linden Foundation Secondary, Bay Rock Community Centre, New Silver City Secondary, Harmony Secondary and Wismar Hill Secondary.

Addressing parents at the Bay Rock Community Centre, Education Minister, Priya Manickchand implored parents to keep their children in school and be interested in their lives. Speaking as a parent, Ms. Manickchand posited that every parent wants what is best for his or her children. “What do we want for our children? We want to ensure that they can live a life that is better…, that they have more than you had, not just more things, but a richer, more comfortable life, foster and maintain better relationships...I am saying to you that more is possible for your children,” the Minister exhorted.

Parents applauded the recommendation that should the ‘Because we Care’ $10,000 Cash Grant initiative continue next year, it should be given on the condition that children attend school frequently, perhaps having an average percentage of attendance at school for a given school term. She admonished parents to use the grant wisely, “Your children’s education should be your first priority,” she noted.

“Guyana has a reason to be proud of this programme,” Manickchand noted, adding that it is the only country in the Caribbean, offering financial support to every child and not children selected based on economic or social conditions. She added that the ‘Because We Care’ $10,000 Cash Grant programme is another initiative aimed at giving parents additional support to equip their children for school.

Parents have until November 30, 2014 to en-cash their vouchers at any Western Union or Bill Express location.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand with teachers after the distribution of vouchers

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE NOVEMBER 2, 2014

Iraqi Kurds reinforce Kobani; U.S. planes pound Islamic State targets

By Mariam Karouny and Michael Georgy (Reuters) - SYRIAN Kurds welcomed the arrival in Kobani of Iraqi Kurdish fighters with their heavy weapons, hoping they might tip the balance in the battle to defend the town against Islamic State, as U.S.-led air strikes continued to bomb the ultra-hardline group in Iraq and Syria.

Air strikes have helped to foil several attempts by the al Qaeda offshoot, notorious for its beheading of hostages, to take over Kobani. But they have done little to stop its advances, in particular in Sunni areas of western Iraq, where it has executed hundreds of tribesmen.

Islamic State fighters have mocked the U.S. air strikes as a campaign against Islam that they say has angered Muslims and helped the group win followers across the globe.

The arrival of the 150 Iraqi fighters, who have yet to participate in the battle,

Netanyahu urges lawmakers’ restraint over Jerusalem’s Aqsa mosque

By Maayan Lubell (Reuters) - ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday urged lawmakers to show restraint over Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque, which has been at the heart of rising tension with the Palestinians in recent weeks.

Daily clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians in the streets of East Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa compound, known t o J e w s a s t h e Te m p l e Mount, have been stoking

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters celebrate atop an army vehicle carrying a heavy machinegun as they move towards the Syrian town of Kobani, October 31, 2014. (Credit: REUTERS/ Yannis Behrakis) marks the first time Turkey has allowed ground troops from outside Syria to reinforce Syrian Kurds, who have been defending Kobani for more than 40 days.

The fighters - known as peshmerga, or “those who defy death” - were preparing themselves for the battle and are expected to take part in action in Kobani later on Saturday, Kurdish officials said.

“What was lacking is the weapons and ammunition, so the arrival of more of it plus

(Reuters) - PRO-RUSSIAN separatists will vote to set up a breakaway regional leadership in eastern Ukraine on Sunday aiming to take their war-torn region closer to Russia and defying Kiev and the West as the big guns still boom across the territory.

The United States and European Union have denounced as illegitimate the vote which is sure too to stoke tensions further between the West and Russia.

The separatists’ poll is the

latest twist in a geo-political face-off between Russia and the West over Ukraine going back to the overthrow of a Moscow-backed president in February and the installation of a Ukrainian leadership that seeks integration with mainstream Europe.

In Donetsk, the separatists’ political and military stronghold, election workers at a polling station in an elementary school pasted red, black and blue rebel flags over Ukrainian state symbols on ballot boxes ahead of the vote.

“Voters lists were taken

the fighters will help tip the balance of the battle,” Idris Nassan, deputy foreign minister of Kobani district, told Reuters by telephone from Kobani.

“The whole issue is the weapons and ammunition.

Of course more fighters will help.”

The U.S. military said it had carried out 10 air strikes against IS militants, five near Kobani and five in Iraq, since Friday.

By Mathieu Bonkougou and Nadoun Coulibaly

(Reuters) - BURKINA Faso’s opposition parties and the African Union rejected the army’s seizure of power in the West African country on Saturday after the resignation of President Blaise Compaore, setting the stage for fresh protests.

The military top brass named Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida, deputy commander of the elite presidential guard, as head of state on Saturday. A power struggle within the armed forces was resolved by sidelining the chief of staff.

Zida, who has operational control over the army’s best trained and equipped unit, had declared himself interim president in an early morning radio address, overruling military chief General Honore Traore’s claim to lead a transitional government following Compaore’s departure.

One of Africa’s long-serving rulers, Compaore stepped down on Friday after two days of mass demonstrations against his attempts to change the constitution to extend his 27 years in power. At least three people were killed af-

out by Ukrainian authorities, so we have had some difficulties, but we’re trying to hold a legitimate vote for the people of Donetsk,” said Natalia Chaban, an election official at a local school.

The big industrial city, which had a peace time population of nearly one million, experienced some of its heaviest mortar and artillery shelling of the last few weeks just hours before voting was due to begin.

Ukraine said six of its servicemen had been killed in the last 24 hours.

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is administered by Jordanian religious authorities, Jews are allowed into the compound but are not permitted to pray.

Netanyahu has said Israel has no intention of altering the status quo, but far-right activists and lawmakers have been pushing for Jewish worship at the site.

Israeli police often restricts access to al Aqsa when concerned about possible violence there, only letting in women and Muslim men over the age of 40 or 50.

Burkina Faso opposition parties, African Union reject army takeover

Pro-Russian rebels vote for leader in war-torn eastern Ukraine

By Thomas Grove

fears of a new Palestinian Intifada, or uprising.

In a sign of concern that the situation could escalate, Netanyahu called in a statement “on all Knesset members to calm tensions regarding the Temple Mount and show responsibility and restraint.”

The Palestinians say Israel is looking to change the delicate status quo at al-Aqsa, the third-holiest site in Islam and the most holy in Judaism.

Under the rules governing access to al-Aqsa, which

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People celebrate the departure of Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, October 31, 2014. (Credit: REUTERS/Joe Penney ) ter protesters stormed the parliament building and set it on fire.

On the dusty streets of Ouagadougou, the capital, protesters voiced anger that they had driven out Compaore - who seized power in a 1987 military coup - only to have another soldier imposed on them.

“The victory of the popular uprising - and consequently the management of the transition - belongs to the people and should not in any way be confiscated by the army,” a coalition of opposition parties and civil society groups said in a statement

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after talks on Saturday.

“Our consultation reaffirmed that this transition should be democratic and civilian in character,” it said, announcing a demonstration in the vast Place de la Nation for Sunday morning.

The unfolding crisis in the poor, landlocked nation is being closely watched by the United States and former colonial power France, which were close military allies of Compaore. Under his rule, Burkina Faso became a key ally in operations against al Qaeda-linked groups in West Africa.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE NOVEMBER 2, 2014

Argentina asks Spain to arrest Uruguay cannabis growers’ 20 Franco-era officials clubs: Registration begins (BBC News) AN Argentine judge has asked Spain to arrest and extradite 20 former officials accused of abuses during the military rule of General Franco.

They cannot be tried in Spain because of an amnesty law but the officials could be prosecuted in Argentina.

The families of alleged victims asked Argentina for help because it has an extradition treaty with Spain.

In April, Spain’s high court refused to extradite to Argentina a former policemen accused of torture.

Judge Maria Servini de Cubria issued the arrest and extradition warrants for two former ministers of General Franco’s regime, and 18 other officials, invoking “universal jurisdiction” - a legal doctrine that authorises judges to try serious rights abused committed in other countries.

Using the doctrine, Spain briefly detained Chile’s former dictator Augusto Pino-

Argentine federal judge Maria Servini de Cubria invoked “universal jurisdiction” for serious rights abuses chet in 1998.

The two most prominent suspects in Judge Servini’s investigation are Rodolfo Martin Villa, 79, who was Franco’s interior minister, and Jose Uteri Molina, 86, who was housing minister.

After Franco’s death in 1975, the amnesty agreement was seen as essential to avoid score-settling as the country moved towards democracy.

The United Nations has

asked Spain to revoke the amnesty law but the Spanish authorities have so far refused.

Last year, Judge Servini issued warrants for a Spanish policemen, Antonio Gonzalez Pacheco, accused of torture, but the Spanish High Court refused arguing that the statute of limitations had run out on the accusations against him.

Mr Pacheco has denied torturing prisoners.

(BBC News) URUGUAY has started registering cannabis growers’ clubs as part of the government’s plan to legalise the drug.

Licensed clubs of up to 45 members will be allowed to grow a maximum of 99 plants each year.

In August, growing up to six plants of cannabis at home became legal.

Uruguay legalised the production and sale of cannabis last December and the government hopes to sell it from pharmacies in the new year.

Under the legislation, each club member can produce no more than 480g of cannabis home each year and the club’s growing fields cannot be within 150m of a school, college or a drug rehabilitation centre.

Legalising cannabis has been a sensitive issue in

A man waits to register at the post office. The new law allowed citizens and legal residents of Uruguay to register to legally grow marijuana at home, with a limit of six plants per home and 480 grams per year Uruguay, where voters will be going to the polls in a second round of presidential elections on 30 November.

Both presidential candidates have said they will tinker with the new laws if elected.

The legislation has been the brainchild of the outgoing and outspoken President

Jose Mujica, who has argued that if the state controls the growth and sale of cannabis production, it can weaken and disarm an illegal drug trade which damages lives across Latin America.

The government estimates there are 150,000 frequent users of cannabis in Uruguay.

Colombia’s Farc admits civil Mexico orders release war ‘impact’ on civilians of jailed US marine

A US marine imprisoned in Mexico for driving a vehicle loaded with firearms across the border has been released (BBC News) THE family of retired Marine Sgt Andrew Tahmooressi expressed their “overwhelming and humbling feeling of relief” in a statement.

A judge in Tijuana ordered his immediate release on Friday, eight months after he was jailed.

The 26-year-old from Florida had said he got lost on a California motorway and accidentally crossed the border.

Mexican customs inspectors found more than 400

rounds of ammunition and three loaded firearms in his car.

Family spokesman Jonathan Franks said the judge had released him without taking a view of the charge against him.

The family issued the following statement: “It is with an overwhelming and humbling feeling of relief that we confirm that Andrew was released today after spending 214 days in a Mexican jail.”

Efforts to get him released took many forms

- calls from politicians, demonstrations and a social media campaign.

(BBC News)COLOMBIA’S largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), has acknowledged its actions “have affected civilians” during 50 years of internal conflict.

“We are expressly responsible for all acts of war carried out by our units,” said Pablo Atrato, a Farc leader.

In the first admission of its kind, he said the rebels were ready to take “responsibility” for these actions.

Latin America’s longest running war has killed 220,000 people.

More than five million others have been displaced.

The Marxist rebel group joined negotiations in Cuba with the Colombian government in November 2013.

The talks in the capital, Havana, are aimed at getting the 8,000-strong Farc to sign

Farc and government negotiators have so far reached agreement on three topics at peace talks in Havana an agreement renouncing and under different circumits armed struggle in order stances throughout the conto join the legal political flict,” Mr Atrato said. process.

He added the Farc would “assume the responVictim reparations sibility that concerns us,” “We explicitly recognise but did not give any further that our actions have affected details as to what responsicivilians at different times bility they would take.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE NOVEMBER 2, 2014

GUYANA

EDITORIAL

AVERTING THIS CRICKET CRISIS THE ultimatum given Friday to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to pay up US$42 million within 15 days underscores the crisis stage facing this Region’s biggest sport that involves so much of our life in this Caribbean region.

As passionately argued by the BCCI, having unilaterally aborted last month a scheduled tour of India, the WICB must be aware of the resulting financial cost to them for failure to deliver a committed home tour, in addition to the overall damage to their reputation.

The BCCI’s ultimatum, in a four-page letter to WICB’s President, David Cameron, came amid feverish efforts in regional capitals to find a practical resolution to the spreading crisis, the latest being a mediation initiative by the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, outlined in a letter late last week to Mr. Cameron.

While the independence and overall jurisdiction of both parties to the dispute, BCCI and WICB, must be respected, the nature of the crisis and the grave implications for maintenance of historical treasured relations between India and the nations of this Region cannot and must not be jeopardised.

Too much is at stake and, consequently, NO effort should be spared to secure, as quickly as possible, a practical resolution. This means involving people of power, influence and goodwill at all relevant levels. More than cricket—the sport that so richly distinguishes both India and the West Indies—is involved.

Immediately after the shocking decision by the West Indian players to abort the scheduled tour of India, the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr. Keith Mitchell, had volunteered to help in a mediating role and appealed for good sense to triumph.

Dr. Gonsalves’ subsequent initiative was more directly articulated in a letter to the WICB that was released to the media. It indicated likely involvement of other potential mediators including himself, Dr. Mitchell and former Jamaica Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.

Then by Friday came the disclosure of the BCCI’s demand for the WICB to pay US$42 million within 15 days or face legal action and related consequences.

Now is the time, therefore, for governments and all people of goodwill, in India and across this Region, as well as other cricket-loving countries of the Commonwealth, to focus on how best they could help avert this dread looming crisis that clearly involves the BCCI and WICB.

Accentuate life, negate suicide

IN terms of population, the number of suicides in Guyana is alarmingly high. This situation is most distressing and sad and it represents a clarion call for ACTION. Now mere words are no longer enough. There has to be concerted action at the national and local level to address and directly confront this rising scourge.

Silence is not an option. But the silence of our pandits, priests, and national civic and religious leaders (including well – known pandits in the USA) is almost deafening. To what avail are our many yagnas if we cannot save our youths from this utterly dark and eternally destructible path. On Diwali night we lit so many lamps but did we pause to reflect that so many homes are now in real darkness because a very dear one has extinguished the lamp of his precious life by his own hand. We cannot brush this aside as an issue not of our making or concern. In the words of our national poet Martin Carter, ‘all are involved, all are consumed.” Educators have a crucial role to play in stopping this rising tide of suicide. While academic excellence is commendable, teachers

have to inculcate in their students the equally important ‘life skills’ that will ensure that they can cope well with the pressures of growing up and be able to face the bitterly cold, selfish, harsh and cruel winds of the real world. Gone are the days of the strict disciplinarian who was ever ready to use the cane with a certain sadistic glee and satisfaction.

Teachers have to be facilitators for the growth and development of their students in all facets of their personality. They should earn the trust of their students so that when these youngsters are going through intense emotional pain they will not be afraid or feel ashamed to disclose their problems to them. Young people can become so fixated on their immediate pain and suffering that their thinking can easily become distorted, and so it can become very difficult for them to see possible solutions to their problems or to connect with those who can offer support. Teachers have a critical role here in that they can intervene at the appropriate time and provide the needed support, resources, counselling, etc. that may prevent

the student from taking this most dangerous course of action. It is so sad that the events or circumstances that triggered most suicides can be easily fixed with the appropriate help, guidance, therapy, etc. But because suicide is so final, so permanent, it is the one definite area where human INACTION spells complete irreversible disaster. Our lives are interconnected and interwoven in the fabric of humanity and, therefore, the suffering, pain, and despair of others are very much our own. It is the very epitome of selfishness to think that we can prosper and be wholesome while our fellow beings are in the grip of deep torment and hopelessness. Many victims of suicide cried out for help in manifold ways; we never had the time to fathom the depth of their pain and sorrow; their anguished hearts revealed their plight to our very eyes, but we turned away, and in our own hardened hearts we give meaning to their belief that humanity is selfish and cruel, the world a dark prison of endless pain and suffering and that the sure remedy is the quick embrace of death.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE NOVEMBER 2, 2014

Respect and acceptance of each other’s culture is critical to National Development

By Keith Burrowes OVER the past five years these articles I have on several occasions address the issue of Tolerance and will continue in the future.

I recently saw a TV documentary addressing this issue. It follows the lives of several people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and explore how they interact with each other. The main message is about the ‘collisions’ the characters have with each other throughout a particular timeline.

Tolerance is broader than the narrow field of racial tolerance or intolerance. Tolerance at its most basic level is more an issue of culture than it is any one thing. The one flaw which was present in all the characters in the story was not that they possessed any inherent unshakeable prejudice – it was their lack of cultural education.

My perspective on cultural education in Guyana may perhaps be limited to my own personal sphere of experience. That being said, I think that, judging from how our society is, how people in Guyana perceive each other, something else or something more needs to be done on how we educate our children and by extension our society

Mr. Keith Burrowes about the various cultures which co-exist here.

One may be quick to envisage an upgraded cultural education component within the current social studies curriculum. The problem with this approach however is that cradling cultural education within the competitive academic environment of our primary and secondary system will very likely take away from the intent of the programme in the first place.

Another problem with the concept of a cultural education system being embedded within the official curriculum is that in Guyana, culture is largely underpinned by religion. Not that a religious-cultural combination is inherently problematic in itself – the great cultures of the world all have a strong and distinct spiritual or theological aspect to them, which incidentally informs the so-

cial. Christian culture values inform the Western social values, Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma is the foundation for the one billion people in India, while the Islamic influence is strong within the Middle East value system. In our multicultural society, we have all these religious cultures and while there demographic representation is not equal, representation on each front is very strong. Therefore, to present information on religion-informed cultures within the official curriculum would leave the system open to allegations of proselytising on all sides. The question would quite reasonably be asked of where exactly would be the dividing line between indoctrination and education.

Cultural education has to take place primarily in the home, with assistance being provided through direct programmes with some institution, perhaps the Ethnic Relations Commission. One other thing parents may be able to do is keep an artifact or two from a religion that isn’t the family faith in their homes. These can act as conversation pieces for growing children and reinforce their understanding of other cultures as adults, without compromising the family faith.

Perhaps the mass media can be involved. For ex-

Accentuate life ...

Suicide is not just another form of human behaviour. It is an act that is devastating to all of us because it speaks of a profound rapture between an individual and the community, between an individual and us, even if we are thousands of miles from him, and we do not personally know him.

In the words of the great writer GK Chesterton, “The man who kills a man, kills a man. The man who kills himself kills all men, for as far as he is concerned he wipes out the world.” To commit suicide is to retreat from the battlefield of life before the battle drums have even sounded; to cease drinking from the cup of life while there are still many more drops to be tasted; to leave the book of life itself unfinished because the ominous decision has been made to write with an eraser. In all existence, nothing is more valuable and precious than Life itself. All the magnificent wonders of the world emanate from the interplay of the forces of life; the astounding achievements of mankind spring from life and serve life. Science, justice, education, government, morality have no meaning if they do not serve

and support life. The possibilities of life are endless because life is a gift from God Himself. And the human life, in particular, is doubly precious because it is the veritable gateway to ultimate peace and freedom [moksha or nirvana]. From the Vedantic perspective, it is a great transgression to commit suicide and abruptly end this unique opportunity to approach moksha through a righteous, selfless life. Our ancient seers have warned us that suicide is not an escape from suffering but an entrance into an exponentially greater degree of pain and torment, it does not resolve karma but further complicate and intensify it, and because it represents the wanton destruction of the human body, the individual is subjected to a countless series of lower births until he comes to that exact point in the evolutionary scale where he committed suicide and from where he still has to resolve the then existing karmic entanglements. Therefore, to commit suicide is to put one’s spiritual clock in reverse.

An individual does not [with rare exceptions] suddenly commit suicide by the stress of a single or

ample, recently I’ve started watching African and Indian movies which are broadcast on local television. I would like to commend whoever is undertaking to air them, and it’s clear that the agenda behind the airings goes beyond entertainment, because

endorsement for the movie industry, it isn’t.

Whatever the methods, there needs to be an ongoing effort in Guyana to have young children in particular understand and appreciate the varying cultures that exist in society.

I have been able to learn so much about African and Indian culture because of these movies. They have served to enhance of my perspective of Africa and India. As a side note if this comes across as a bit of product placement

Not that attempts at cultural education haven’t been tried before and don’t continue up to this day. My point though is that the appreciation of other people’s cultures in Guyana – within the cultural education/appreciation

paradigm – has to a great degree evolved into token representation or symbolic reenactment of events.

So, for example, we learn about African culture every August or about Amerindian culture every September. We learn about Diwali and Eid once a year as well. What we are doing is shoving education about cultures that have individually undergone thousands of years of development and evolution into a day or a week or a month of activity.

Additionally, this education is not progressive; the event-based nature of our mode of cultural education causes it to be necessarily limited and repetitive. The end result is that we really are not learning fully from the methods of public cultural education.

In closing, I would like to state emphatically that people have to co-exist. You cannot fundamentally change anyone’s culture and you should not seek to. Too often when we engage in cultural discussions, it is within a framework where each side thinks that the other has to accept its view as prerequisite to further engagement. Tolerance is less about accepting, than it is about understanding.

From poage 6 even a series of traumatic external events. The suicidal thought had long been secretly fostered and nourished in the inner recesses of the heart, and dwelled upon more than a few times, just waiting for the hour of opportunity to reveal its gathered strength and momentum.

Events and circumstances can be extremely traumatic and painful, but the way we perceive them can make a substantial difference in terms of their impact upon us. The person who has committed suicide has in the armory of his own thoughts forged the weapon which he placed in his own hands and then used against himself with unerring precision. Thoughts emanate from the mind and Shri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita beautifully sang thus, “For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for him who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy.”[6:6]. We may be very far from conquering the mind, but we must never, never allow events and circumstance to sink us into the dark pit of despair and helplessness that we see no clear way out but through the infinitely darker pit of suicide.

My friends please ponder on the fact that they are thousands upon

thousands of individuals in this world who were born deaf, dumb, or blind or who are severely handicapped, and yet they see the joy and beauty in living. Few lives have been richer, more joyful, peaceful and serene, or endowed with greater wisdom and insight than that of Helen Keller, yet she was both blind and deaf. Life is beautiful like a full blown lotus, but it is also full of thorns, disappointments, dashed hopes and shattered dreams, injustice and cruelty. It seems that the longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us; let your mind quickly pass through them like a galloping horse.

No one is exempted from suffering and pain; it is courageous to bear them with manly dignity rather than choose the cowardly route of suicide. Never underestimate the power of the human will to rise above and conquer circumstances, pain and suffering because our own will is the offspring of the deathless Atma [Soul] and, therefore, it can carve a path out of any dreadful situation though walls of granite may stand in the way. But if dark and dangerous thoughts still cross your mind, be mindful of the words of the Sufi poet, Jelaluddin Rumi, who

wrote: “When you feel you cannot ever bear one more minute/NEVER GIVE UP! /Because it is the time and place that the course will divert.” And when all seem hopeless and lost and there is overwhelming darkness all around, there is still the infallible and unfailing power of prayer, the miracle of miracles.

But we must pray in such a manner as is so beautifully expressed by the great spiritual master and poet, Rabindranath Tagore, who wrote, “Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless in facing them/Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain but for the heart to conquer it.” Life has meaning and purpose. Every life is sacred and infinite in beauty and majesty.

Each one of us has a role to enact in this cosmic drama of life and death.

Play your part well; no one has been better gifted to do it than yourself.

Never quit the act before the allocated time. We are not helpless, limited beings floating around the universe. We are greater than all the powers of the universe because we are life itself. Therefore, accentuate life, negate suicide.

CECIL RAMKIRATH Bayonne, NJ, USA

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 2, 2014

BETTER EDUCATION NEEDED ON CARICOM

-to check widening problems for citizens

Analysis by Rickey Singh

UNLESS the Caribbean Community Secretariat become better engaged in helping to educate citizens of the now 41-year-old regional economic integration movement, there could well develop a crisis of survival for the 15-member bloc of countries.

And to counter spreading cynicism and disenchantment, it is felt by some well-placed observers who want CARICOM to succeed, that there should be systematic sharing of skilled human resources and facilities located within the information and communication systems of member countries.

Against the backdrop of the latest so-called ‘war of

their functions as immigration and customs officers.

Regrettably, some end up embarrassing their own professional colleagues by their attitudes.

MEDIA/GIS COOPERATION The Region’s established media certainly have an obligation as well to sensitise citizens to their rights and responsibilities in dealing with immigration and customs officials. Warts and all, I think both privately-owned print and electronic enterprises generally seek to respond to this social obligation, though there remains room for improvement.

But government information/communication agencies certainly have a duty to routinely engage in basic

words’ between cabinet ministers of the governments of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago last month, a senior official in Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs found it necessary this past week to “advise” Jamaicans to ensure conformity with immigration requirements for travel, including private/holiday visits, or professional employment elsewhere in the Caribbean Community.

I have often been amused how representatives of governments of our Caribbean Community—officials and politicians—become active in dealing with elementary issues, like basic information-sharing, after the development of a problem in relation to hassle-free intra-regional travel for CARICOM citizens and relatedly, the right to live and work governed by established conventions.

For all the official rhetoric about ‘One Market, One Community, One People,” too often too many CARICOM citizens find themselves being inconvenienced and, worse, treated as unwelcome visitors at ports of entry by those expected to behave with civility and having been sufficiently sensitised to

information-sharing as part of their functions, particularly in the face of ongoing disputes over freedom of intra-regional travel and, worse, crude mishandling of CARICOM citizens at ports of entry in a Community of which all of some five million citizens belong.

There was a period when Government Information Services (GIS) were recognised as reliable allies of the Region’s print and electronic media—irrespective of ownership--in helping to sustain and advance the policies and programmes of CARICOM, even as they appropriately focus also on informing and propagandising on behalf of governments.

Then, of course, Ministers of Information and Communication had public profiles that associated them as functioning, along with their Community counterparts, to sustain interest in and commitment to specific regional objectives and programmes.

The pity is that such interest and commitment have not been sustained under changing governments and leadership and have resulted in fostering the impression of a lack of interest in the provision of timely relevant

information on the functioning of CARICOM. The declining interest in timely information-sharing on policies and programmes pertaining to what remains central to success in attaining the objectives of CARICOM as “One People of One Community,” is now a sad contrast for what an earlier generation of visionary leaders were enthusiastic advocates.

FOOD IMPORTS CHALLENGE Meanwhile, CARICOM citizens rightly keep lamenting the ever-rising cost of imported foods— currently estimated at some USD five Billion annually-and wonder what objective factors are preventing this Region from utilising the vast resources of Guyana and Belize, for example, to help provide the foods we NEED. They feel there’s a sad lack of vision and political will at the leadership level.

Perhaps our primary CARICOM decision-makers who head governments as well as those involved with institutions and agencies serving the laudable objectives of the Region’s integration movement should better focus on encouraging attitudes, policies and programmes to help end frustration and bitterness among citizens over persistent hassles and, worse, hostility at some ports of entry.

There seems the need for a Region-wide educational programme focused on the core features pertaining to freedom of intra-regional travel and the right to live and work under the terms of a ‘Free Movement of Skills Certificate.’

Also apparent is a need for reorientation of immigration and customs officers to better enable them to efficiently and respectfully deal with visitors at ports of entry.

Perhaps, in the process, better use could also be made of the network of Government Information Services (GIS) with an understanding that information and communication about CARICOM is an important aspect of their work on behalf of a Community comprising 15 member countries.

Larger but quite relevant issues pertaining to intra-regional freedom of movement and bonding among Community nationals would be enlightened responses to improve air and sea transportation for people and trade in goods.

Trinidad and Tobago has often been in the news within recent times over restrictions on free intra-regional movement and claims of illegal migration. But varying problems continue to be unnecessarily encountered with other Community partner states at ports of entry that need to be speedily corrected by policies and attitude.

A crying need is to make CARICOM more PEOPLE-focused while continuing to address supporting critical trade and fiscal management challenges. **Rickey Singh is a noted Caribbean journalist

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 2, 2014

The PPP/C’s working-class story is yet to be told

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column first published in the Misir Post at url: themisirpost.wordpress.com

By Dr. Prem Misir POLITICAL gossip in Guyana, now at an all-time high, tells us that Guyana is heading for General and Regional elections, as there is no hope that the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) can stop this inevitable outcome vis-à-vis the Alliance for Change (AFC) no-confidence proposal; and further, that a new ruling party will enter political office. Indeed, this is mere gossip, and perhaps, there is nothing reliable about it. But of course, the people who are orchestrating the gossip have to work hard to make their gossip happen.

Working hard to make this happen, indeed, is a strategy to overwhelm both the print and electronic media to ensure that ordinary people lose sight of any good that has come from this Government, and perhaps, the strategy is enjoying a fair success. But the PPP/C has a lot going for it, and it is doing precious little to let the world know of the PPP/C-imprinted transformation of this country. So why is the PPP/C group not making deafening noises about the quality changes it has brought to ordinary people’s lives?

Nonetheless, demonstrating the PPP/C’s holistic and positive impact on Guyana requires some attention to the country’s baseline data at the time when the PPP/C re-entered political office. However, there are some who would say that you should not go that far back because the ruling party has had 22 years to make things right.

It is a fair argument, but it does not cover all the parameters of economic and social devastation that the PPP/C involuntarily received as a legacy in 1992. The argument merely addresses the economic and social status of the country in 1992, but fails to address the parameter that has to do with consequences of this devastation, consequences that penetrated the fiber of Guyana for several years beyond 1992.

In fact, Guyana did not achieve financial viability until year circa 2000. Without financial viability, development would have proceeded at a slow pace. And so it is an erroneous position to take when people say we should not harp back to the past and to go as far back as 1992, because the People’s National Congress’ (PNC) legacy to the PPP/C did not have a timeline that stopped at 1992; that PNC legacy had consequences beyond 1992 and well into beyond year 2000.

Let me provide some sense of the situation circa 1992: “…economic and social decline caused by misdirected government policies and an over-extended role of the state. Real GDP grew at only 0.4 percent per annum on average… De-

mand management policies were expansionary, the economy lost competitiveness, external balances came under pressure, and the government relied increasingly on price controls and quantitative restrictions on trade… The Government’s capacity to deliver essential services has virtually collapsed. Infrastructure remains severely dilapidated. The supply of potable water is limited to a small proportion of the population, drainage and irrigation systems have deteriorated to the point that they are no longer useful, and health and education services have become so inadequate that social indicators for the country have fallen to among the lowest in the Caribbean…” (World Bank, 1994, p.v).

Undeniably and with limited resources, the PPP/C brought radical corrective action to the People’s National Congress (PNC) legacy of social and economic decline. The PPP/C must continue to outline and publicise these early benefits it brought to ordinary people, where necessary. I do not intend to embellish the trail here with numerous statistics on these benefits. But the PPP/C will have to act now to inspire voters to sing the song of achievements that will have to go beyond the early benefits brought to the people. The PPP/C already has alleviated the concerns people had in 1992 and some years beyond and the people have acknowledged this improvement.

And so talking and impressing people about these early benefits will not have the penetrative capacity to enlist voters to your camp, as improvements produced by the benefits, are

by this time a done deal. Such improvements have alleviated many concerns. And since people’s concerns have been resolved, they may have zero motivation to listen to the same song that obliterated the early apprehensions.

Nevertheless, there may be other concerns aching the people, but these concerns invariably are not unrelated to their previous concerns. These concerns are extensions of

their previous concerns, and the PPP/C continues to address many such new concerns amid serious gridlock and blockages from the combined Opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the AFC; consider APNU and AFC’s contributions to the termination of the Amaila Hydropower project, and the slowing down of several other public capital investment projects, major conduits for job creation.

Nonetheless, the PPP/C may have to compose a different song on a different platform and sing it vociferously to gain the attention and secure the motivation of ordinary people. Composition of this different song should not be difficult, as the PPP/C has a lot going for it; and, especially, as the PPP/C’s working-class story is yet to be told.

Reference: World Bank. 1994. Guyana Strategies for Reducing Poverty [Online]. Available: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/ servlet/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/1994/05/06/000009265_3961006053648/Rendered/PDF/multi0page.pdf [Accessed November 1, 2014.

CAL poised to announce achievement of two significant milestones for 2014 CARIBBEAN Airlines Limited (CAL) is poised to announce the achievement of two significant milestones for 2014:- the immediate removal of fuel surcharges on all routes between North America and the Caribbean and within the Caribbean, and the provision of signature cocktails featuring El Dorado rums and Nestle Orchard fruit juices.

George Reeleder, Caribbean Airlines’ Vice President of Commercial and Customer Service, said: “This is great news for Carib-

bean Airlines’ customers.

He said that with the reduction in jet fuel prices, “we have removed the surcharges, as they were only ever planned to be of temporary nature.”

Reeleder explained that the fuel surcharge was introduced to cover additional costs when the price of fuel was over US$100 per barrel. “We never wanted this surcharge to be a permanent feature of our fares,” he noted, as he explained that See page 12

Alexander Thomas, Marketing Manager of Nestle, and Stephanie Holt, International Brand Ambassador & Mixologist of El Dorado Rums

10

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 2, 2014

Chronicle Weekend Roundup with Telesha Ramnarine

October 27-October 31, 2014 Monday 27

Education Minister commends Berbice teachers for rising to the occasion HUNDREDS of Guyanese residing in Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) came out to receive their ‘Because We Care’ grant as the Education Ministry undertook a hectic distribution calendar at numerous locations where an estimated $19M was distributed. President Donald Ramotar emphasised that the programme was launched so that the government can assist parents in sending their children to school regularly.

He reminded parents that providing money is only one way of assisting their children to achieve a good education, and advised that finding the time to sit with them when they are doing their homework or getting involved with the school and following their progress are other important ways of assisting.

‘Jane Doe’ killed attempting to cross road at Happy Acres AN unidentified woman became the latest road fatality when she was struck down while attempting to cross the public road at Happy Acres, East Coast Demerara. Police reported that the unidentified woman of Amerindian descent allegedly attempted to cross the roadway and was struck down by a motor vehicle. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. The driver of the motor vehicle is in police custody.

Fallen tree during Issano thunderstorm leaves one dead, three injured ONE man is dead and three are injured after a tree fell on a mining camp at 11 Miles Issano during a thunderstorm.

The name of the dead man was only given as ‘Rosco.’ Those injured and hospitalised at the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation are Ralph Stephens, 60; Sonnel Persaud and a male Amerindian whose name could not be ascertained. Stephens recalled that they were all in camp and it was raining heavily with lightning and claps of thunder when a tree fell on the camp. They had no transportation, some of the men were forced to get out of the camp and brave the trail on foot, walking a distance of three miles through rough terrain to 14 Miles Landing. They were eventually picked up at the Ogle International Airport and transported to the GPHC by ambulance.

Dilma Rousseff re-elected Brazilian President DILMA Rousseff has been re-elected President of Brazil, after securing more than 51% of votes in the closest election race in many years. An official count showed her rival, centrist candidate Aecio Neves, taking just over 48% of the vote. In her victory speech, Ms Rousseff said she wanted to be “a much better president than I have been until now.” She faced protests last year against corruption, record spending on the football World Cup, and poor services. Ms Rousseff, who has been in power since 2010, is popular with poor Brazilians, thanks to her government’s welfare programmes. She also thanked her supporters, especially her political mentor and predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart, our Number One militant, President Lula.”

Tuesday 28

Gov’t condemns Kaieteur News

THE Government of Guyana condemns in the strongest possible language the despicable act of a national newspaper to distort and manipulate a private conversation of a Government Minister whose conversation was illegally recorded, and distorted and broadcast. The Government of Guyana cherishes freedom of the press, but when private media operatives use the power of the mass media to manipulate public opinion, the nation suffers from the negativity. The public listened to a voice recording and was shocked at what the nation heard.

Broadcast on social media, the recording contains a distorted, manipulated conversation between a Minister and Leonard Gildarie, a reporter from the Kaieteur News. Fortunately, the Government’s priorities will continue to be the further development of Guyana and the people. The Government will not be distracted from this agenda by Kaieteur News or anyone else.

Speaker proposes November 6 as date for house sitting

SPEAKER of the National Assembly Trotman, has proposed November 6, 2014 as the date for the next sitting of the House. This disclosure was made in a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Sherlock Isaacs, which was copied to the House’s Chief Whips – A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Amna Ally and Government’s Gail Teixeira. A similar letter has also been sent to other relevant officials. House Speaker, Raphael Trotman is of the firm belief that at the last sitting of the House on July 10, the fact that the House was adjourned to meet on a “date to be fixed” was an erroneous move. He has, however, accepted responsibility for this error.

Dr Norton claims 95% of GPHC staffers don’t know to properly wash their hands CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Michael Khan has responded to claims by Shadow Minister of Health and APNU Member of Parliament that 95 per cent of the staff members at the hospital do not know how to properly wash their hands. According to the APNU Parliamentarian, this situation poses a serious problem at Guyana’s premier public health institution. But Khan noted that he was not aware that a survey was conducted to investigate the issue raised by Norton. He is calling for the survey to be brought to him directly.

Wednesday 29

Glenn Lall, Adam Harris, KNews sued by AG for over $30M A LAWSUIT of over $30M has been levelled against the publisher of Kaieteur News, Mr. Glenn Lall; the Editor of the newspaper Mr. Adam Harris; and the National Media and Publishing Company Ltd. Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, through his legal representative Sase Gunraj, moved to the courts to file a Writ of Summons and the Statement of Claim. The lawsuit follows Monday’s public disclosure of an illegally recorded 19-minuute private conversation that allegedly occurred last Saturday October 25, between the AG and a senior reporter at the Kaieteur News.

E/bo farmer ploughing field stung by ‘killer bees’ RICE farmer Goberdhan Polastray of WestBury, Essequibo Coast had to abandon his tractor in a rice field at D9 Better Success backdam and run for his life after hundreds of angry African bees swooped down on him. The farmer and his nephew, “Coney”, were reportedly ploughing and levelling their ten-acre rice field with a tractor when the swarm of angry bees swooped down on them and began stinging. He said he was severely stung on his head, face, neck and arms, and quickly stopped the tractor and ran for his life, with hundreds of bees in hot pursuit. The farmer said the bees would not abandon the chase although he fell down several times in the muddy rice field. He said he escaped after he reached the bank of the field and took cover under some huge mango trees. The farmer said his nephew had run to another bank of the field and so escaped the killer bees. The farmer said he had sustained numerous stings in similar fashion several years ago while ploughing the same rice field.

Veteran politician cum academician, Navin Chandarpal, passes away AFTER a long fight with stomach cancer, veteran politician and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) stalwart, Navin Chandarpal, 63, passed away at his East Coast Demerara home. The PPP, in a statement said: “…The PPP wishes to express its deepest condolences to his wife, Comrade Indra; his two children, Geeta and Robin; and relatives, friends and the entire Party membership on his passing. This is indeed a great loss to the party, but his sterling contributions; his dedication, commitment and loyalty to the party will no doubt serve to inspire others in the struggle for a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Guyana.”

PPP alleges security breach at GECOM

THE ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has alleged that it is in possession of information to the effect that a security breach has been committed at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

That party’s General Secretary, Mr. Clement Rohee said: “The PPP has been reliably informed that 25 cartons of the indelible electoral ink and dozens of black tanks have gone missing or unaccounted for within GECOM.” According to him, even more alarming is GECOM’s apparent effort to keep the security breach under wraps. “The PPP calls on the Chairman to provide to the parties and the public the full details of these breaches of security, as well as assurances that appropriate action(s) will be taken against person(s) found to be negligent.”

Thursday 30

Clerk refuses Speaker’s request for November 6 House sitting

THE Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs has refused the request from the House Speaker Raphael Trotman to call a sitting of the Assembly on November 6. “I was formally notified by the Clerk of the National Assembly that after consideration, my request for the National Assembly to be convened on Thursday November 6, 2014, cannot be given effect to by him because he is of the view that the Speaker lacks the authority to convene sittings of [the] National Assembly under Standing Order 8 (1) and (2),” the Speaker said. “This is a most unfortunate position arrived at, and obviously arises out of a very narrow interpretation of the Standing Orders, and of the prevailing circumstances whereby the National Assembly entered into recess and has emerged from that recess, and a majority of members desire to meet.”

Toronto Chapter of St. Joseph High refurbishes playfield THANKS to the Toronto Chapter of the St. Joseph High School, the students now have a newly-refurbished playground to engage in a variety of physical disciplines. St. Joseph High School officially cut the ribbon to declare the reopening of their ground after a rehabilitation project that lasted four years.

Students assembled on the ground to witness the cutting of the ribbon ceremony.

Present at the ceremony were President of the Board of Directors of St. Joseph High, Wazim Khan, officials from the Ministry of Education, members of the Canadian Chapter and teachers and students of the school.

Home Affairs launches Strategic Plan programme THE Ministry of Home Affairs has launched its Strategic Plan Seminar Programme with a one-day session at the Ministry’s boardroom, Brickdam, Georgetown, in an effort to implement the strategic plan 2014-2019. Programme Manager, Donna Todd in opening remarks said employees were selected to be a part of the Strategic Management Department (SMD) to assist the ministry in realising the seven goals identified in the Strategic Plan. She added that the Ministry’s commitment in changing its culture and the way we expect to do business with our stakeholders will be seen in the forthcoming years as they take steps to ensure that the strategic plan is implemented swiftly and applied effectively. Todd stated that the group was selected within the ministry to implement the strategic plan.

Friday 31 Opposition Parties a no-show as…President continues Ebola talks with stakeholders PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar met with representatives of sectors including, diplomats, security, aviation, medical, private sector, umbrella religious groups, non-governmental organisations, trade union bodies, and civil society to discuss Guyana’s preparedness for any possible Ebola outbreak. Despite invitations, representatives of parliamentary Opposition political parties failed to attend. Invitations attracted over 100 stakeholders. About 5,000 people have already died from the disease, with thousands of other cases being reported according to the WHO.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 2, 2014

Following representation by AG-led team…

11

PSC pledges to work with stakeholders to implement FATF’s action plan THE fact that Guyana has been able to stave off blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and was given a new timeline of September 2015 to pass critical anti-money laundering legislation

Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall was welcomed by the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

The PSC has thus committed itself to working with all stakeholders to implement the Action Plan which was developed for Guyana to ensure compliance with international standards relative to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework.

In a statement issued on Friday, the PSC,

said: “The Private Sector Commission pledges its support for the Action Plan which has been worked out with the ARRG (Americas Regional Review Group), and resolves to assist in any manner to help Guyana meet its international AML/CFT obligations. “…the Private Sector Commission is heartened by the fact that the FATF and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) have accepted the high-level political commitment of Guyana to address its strategic Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) deficiencies and the extension of time given to implement its Action Plan.”

REFERRED Guyana was referred to FATF last November by the CFATF after missing a compliance deadline, as a result of which the country was blacklisted Regionally.

The move was a result of Guyana’s cited failures relative to the passage of the AML/ CFT (Amendment) Bill, which continues to languish before the Parliamentary Special Select Committee reviewing the Bill.

In June this year, Guyana was reviewed

by FATF, which decided that the country would be subjected to a targeted review by the ARRG. In a letter dated July 9, 2014, FATF officially confirmed its decision to commence a targeted review of Guyana prior to its October 2014 plenary meeting, which ends today. FATF made it clear that the purpose of that targeted review would be to examine the most significant deficiencies in Guyana’s AML/CFT framework that pose a risk to the international financial system.

In September, a team from Guyana led by the Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, met with the

ARRG, to finalise a report on the advances made by the country. Coming out of that meeting, Guyana moved to put in place alternatives to address the technical deficiencies in its existing legal and financial legislative architecture for the assessment of FATF. ARRG is FATF’s specially appointed body comprising representatives from the Americas to work with Guyana for the purpose of making a presentation of Guyana’s case at FATF’s plenary, which ended last month.

tomer due diligence, and enhancing financial transparency; strengthening suspicious transaction reporting requirements, and * Implementing an adequate supervisory

ONGOING REVIEW Following the end of the October plenary, at which Guyana was again represented by the AG and a team, FATF made it clear that Guyana would be subjected to an ongoing process of improving AML/CFT compliance.

At FATF’s last meeting, Guyana was mandated to undertake a number of steps to address the shortcomings in the local AML/ CFT framework. Among the steps outlined in a statement by FATF are: * Adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing * Establishing and implementing adequate procedures for the confiscation of assets related to money laundering * Establishing and implementing an adequate legal framework for identifying, tracing, and freezing terrorist assets * Establishing a fully operational and effectively functioning financial intelligence unit * Establishing effective measures for cus-

Chairman of the PSC, Ramesh Persaud framework.

According to the international watchdog, “Guyana made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and CFATF to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, and Guyana will work on implementing its action plan to address these deficiencies.”

FATF has also stressed that Guyana must act with urgency to address the deficiencies in the local AML/CFT framework.

(Vanessa Narine)

Missing schoolteacher saga

Guyana yet to uplift DNA results from Trinidad and Tobago –– Crime Chief Leslie James

By Michel Outridge CRIME Chief, Leslie James has reported that the samples taken from the skeletal remains of an unidentified female found on June 3 at Pattensen, Greater Georgetown and sent to Trinidad and Tobago for DNA testing was expected in Guyana for weeks.

There have been some challenges in getting the result here, but James is optimistic that it would reach Guyana shortly, since arrangements are being made.

The samples were dispatched to the twin-island republic to determine whether the remains discovered were those of missing schoolteacher, Nyozi Goodman, who had disappeared after a basketball game at the Sports Stadium on Mandela Avenue.

James added that the samples had been dispatched several weeks ago, and the police are awaiting the results to determine the way forward and even to bring closure to relatives.

At the scene at Pattensen, a belt belonging to Goodman had been found near the skeletal remains on July 24, and that belt was identified by her mother.

Goodman, 34, a teacher of William Street, Kitty, failed to return home after she had accompanied a group of students for the Inter-Secondary Schools Basketball Championship in the city on June 3. She had sent her students ahead while informing them that she would be picked up by a friend, and has never again been seen alive.

It turned out that ‘the friend’ did indeed arrive, but persons have not been able to ascertain who the individual was. How-

The missing school teacher Nyozi Goodman ever, others who had seen the woman in the company of the man on the night of her disappearance shared the information with sleuths, and a man had been arrested for questioning. He, however, had a solid alibi, which caused him to be released from police custody.

After the remains were discovered, he was re-arrested, but was again released due to the lack of evidence, since the 72-hour holding period had expired.

A post-mortem conducted by Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh on the remains of a so far unidentified female found aback of Turkeyen in a bushy area on July 28 gave the cause of death as incised wounds to the abdomen.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 2, 2014

Following verbal abuse of NCN reporter by Ramjattan…

GPA, Bar Association heads say abuse of journalists ‘should not’ happen THE heads of the Guyana Press Association (GPA), Mr. Gordon Moseley and the Head of the local Bar Association, Mr. Ronald Burch-Smith, yesterday said that abuse of journalists must not happen and cannot be condoned.

Their responses follow reports of a senior reporter attached to the National Communications Network (NCN), Edward Layne, being verbally abused by the Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, a Member of Parliament (MP) and member of the Bar, in an allegedly expletive-laden tirade, Ramjattan refused to respond to a query over his promise to lodge a formal complaint with the police on the alleged “buy-out” of three Members of Parliament (MPs) by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

AFC Leader is reported to have told Layne, “The PPP send you fuh ask me stupidness. Why you don’t haul you ass. What the sk*** you think, calling to ask me me fu**** stupidness.”

He subsequently dared the reporter to go public with the conversation.

The head of the Bar Association, yesterday, said, “It should not happen. Abuse of journalists should not happen.”

Additionally, Moseley said: “The GPA wishes to once again call on all political parties, the governing and Opposition parties, to be reminded that journalists, regardless of whether they are in the employ of the state media or the independent media, ought to be allowed to carry out their jobs in an environment that is free from fear and intimidation.

“The GPA would also like to remind media houses of the responsibilities that rest on the shoulders of their workers in the execution of their duties and would like to encourage our journalists to continue to be fearless

in their reporting on the issues of the day.”

HOSTILE RESPONSE Layne’s query, which sparked Ramjattan’s hostility, followed statements made by Ramjattan in mid-September.

The AFC Leader, at a press conference in mid-September, had said his party was

KHEMRAJ RAMJATTAN “reliably informed” that the PPP/C Government, against whom the No-Confidence Motion has been filed, has plans to “buy out” at least three parliamentarians at $30M each to vote against the motion when it comes up for debate next month. However, the main Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has denied that this allegation concerns any of their MPs and the AFC holds the same position – a fact that has led to ques-

tions of the merits of Ramjattan’s allegation.

According to Layne, Ramjattan was hostile when posed with his query.

He said: “About 13:53hrs on Friday, October 31, 2014, I made telephone contact with Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, Leader of the AFC for a comment on a matter of national importance.

GORDON MOSELEY “I, in a very professional manner, identified myself and the media house I represent to Mr. Ramjattan, I then proceeded to ask Mr. Ramjattan why he has not released the evidence he has of three Opposition members of parliament offered $30M each to vote against the no-confidence motion one month after he made these allegations (September 18, 2014) and whether or not he had reported the

matter to the police. I was met with extreme hostility.

“Mr. Ramjattan accused me of working for the PPP and rattled off a series of expletives.

“I proceeded to ask Mr. Ramjattan whether his utterances were his official comment, to which he answered in the affirmative and

RONALD BURCH-SMITH said ‘you publish what I said, I don’t care what you want to write. Boy look haul your ass, what the r@ss you think.”

Ramjattan is the leader of one of the political parties which on one hand constantly accuse NCN and its sister state media agencies of not providing coverage to them and on the other hand cuss us out when we try to provide coverage to them.”

CAL poised to announce achievement of two significant ...

From page 9 when the company’s largest expense – fuel - would have been reduced, it would ‘only be fair’ if the customers benefit from this reduction.

“As we approach the Christmas travel season, there could not be a better time to remove this surcharge,” Reeleder said.

In a press statement, the company has expressed elation on the recent developments, adding that passengers flying on Caribbean Airlines would now be able to enjoy signature cocktails featuring El Dorado rums and Nestle Orchard fruit juices as part of a programme of showcasing partnerships with premium Caribbean brands.

Demerara County, Guyana, has been steeped in the history of sugar and rum production since the 17th century. Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) operates the last remaining distillery in Guyana; it is located at Plantation Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

DDL has consolidated all the old original stills, marques and traditional skills which make Demerara Rum so distinctive. With its nine different stills, no other rum distillery in

the world offers such a variety and range of over twenty different styles of rum.

Starting on December 1, Caribbean Airlines will serve three specially curated cocktails complimentary to all passengers.

Stephanie Holt, International Brand Ambassador for El Dorado Rums, designed the three cocktails - “Caribbean Spice”, “Caribbean Vibe” and “Golden Paradise” -- incorporating the Nestle Orchard exotic flavours.

Alicia Cabrera, Senior Marketing Manager of Caribbean Airlines Limited, said: “The company is thrilled to be working with the award-winning brand El Dorado to showcase the attributes of what it means to be Caribbean. Elaborating, she said: “Brands like El Dorado serve to create a total lifestyle experience for our guests, and introduces the warmth of the Caribbean throughout the entire flight.”

Brand partnerships have already been rolled out with some of the Caribbean’s best chefs, who have designed signature menus for the airlines’ Business Class. “In the coming months passengers can expect even more of these alliances that celebrate the best of the Caribbean,” Cabrera said.

(Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)

Clive Forbes, GM of Caribbean Airlines Jamaica; Michael Dilollo, CEO of Caribbean Airlines; and Andrew Lewis, Brand Ambassador of Caribbean Airlines

13

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 2, 2014

Former Neal and Massy launches spanking new distribution facility

By Michel Outridge

THE former Neal and Massy (now Massy) Guyana on Wednesday launched their new brand and opened their new distribution facility at D4 Starlite Square, Montrose, East Coast Demerara, all under one name, “Massy.”

On hand was Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, who declared the spanking new US$10M facility open after cutting the ribbon and unveiling the commemorative plaque.

Massy is headquartered at the East Coast Demerara location with its new distribution facility/Massy Trading.

In his feature address, Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh told the gathering that the Massy Group is the largest in the Caribbean with 11,000 in its employ and the presence of this regional brand, now a unified Massy brand represents tangible demonstration of the confidence of this large international company here in Guyana.

Dr. Singh, in reporting the growth of Guyana’s economy, said that there has been uninterrupted, positive growth since 2006 and Massy as well has grown over the years.

Massy Guyana has seen its net profits before tax grow from G$1.1B to G$3.5B in the period from 2006-2013,

Massy Guyana CEO, Deo Persaud; Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and President and Group CEO, Massy Holdings Ltd., Gervase Warner as they cut the ribbon on Wednesday night signalling the opening of the facility

President and Group CEO, Massy Holdings Ltd., Gervase Warner, Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh as they unveiled the commemorative plaque at the opening ceremony on Wednesday night

The spanking new Massy facility (Sonell Nelson photos)

a growth of 205% and it has seen its net profits after tax grow 223% over that seven year-period, Dr. Singh said.

He disclosed that Massy has also seen its assets grow by 128% and seen its net assets grow by 121%; Dr. Singh added that the company has seen growth in profits estimating 30% per annum and growth in its total assets approximating 18% per annum.

The minister told the gathering on Wednesday night that Massy’s growth pays testimony that our economy is growing and the company has contributed to that annually and has created 394 new jobs with the re-branding and opening of its new distribution facility.

Massy Distribution Guyana Chief Executive Officer, Roy Prasad said they leave behind the iconic and well-loved brand for a new identity that has served the Guyana Group well in the past but the future beckons, that demands that they articulate a bright and bold vision where this group is going so they can re-shape their identity in order to meaningfully engage with all stakeholders.

He added that the future also requires that they establish new facilities that have the appropriate infrastructure to fulfil the specific needs of their customers and satisfy the functional requirements of the businesses they operate.

Deo Persaud, Chief Executive Officer, Massy Guyana said the ceremony marks a new chapter in the legacy of Massy in Guyana and the transformation is to fulfil their purpose of being a force for good, creating value and transforming lives in this country.

Persaud promised newer projects, since they are part of a regional corporation with the addition of Colombia and Costa Rica and all their companies will carry the Massy brand, which is easier and more convenient.

During the feature address, speaking on the launch of the Massy brand in Guyana, Gervase Warner, who is the President and Group Chief Executive Officer, Massy Holdings Limited, said overall the Massy Group is more than 90 years old.

He detailed the rationale behind the name change, which he said was geared towards improving the company and with a vision statement and strategic planning exercise after some deliberations with consultants they arrived at one name: “Massy.”

Warner disclosed on Wednesday night that they are the holders of one of the largest supermarket franchises throughout the Caribbean and that within 12-18 months; Massy supermarkets will be established here.

Warner highlighted the vision behind their logo and its design as he introduced the “Massy” song, singing and dancing to it on Wednesday night.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE NOVEMBER 2, 2014

Macorp launches specialised training programme at LTI THE Machinery Corporation of Guyana (Macorp) launched a Heavy Duty Equipment Maintenance programme at the Linden Technical Institute (LTI) on October 20.

The workshop which facilitated the programme was rehabilitated and upgraded at a cost of $20M. This first-of-its-kind programme in the Caribbean Region will be developed by the Government of Canada in collaboration with the Government of Guyana and the CARICOM Education for Employment Programme.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard occurred in November 2013 and was valued at US$25,000.

Managing Director of Macorp, Jorge Medina, had emphasised the need for highly qualified and technical manpower, especially in light of the infrastructural development taking place in Guyana.

This programme would see some 25 persons being given a one-year training in heavy duty equipment main-

tenance at the LTI, and then a further year of ‘on the job training’ at Macorp.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Training Coordinator, Miguel Oviedo explained that additional to the MOU, monies, materials and equipment for the training would be provided from Caterpillar.

Oviedo explained that the LTI facility needed a proper work shop to accommodate the training programme, and as such, Macorp has embarked on upgrading and refurbishing the workshop at a cost of approximately $20M. The shop would be maintained and branded by Macorp to facilitate the Macorp training; and when the workshop has been completely refurbished, it is hoped that it would gain the Caterpillar five- Star Certification, Oviedo said.

He also noted that the workshop at the institute is presently being upgraded so as to accommodate the programme, and work in this regard is in its final stage. He

A section of the almost finished workshop at LTI explained that Macorp saw locations. trainers at the institute were the need arise for technicians This operator training already formally trained, and engineers, so the compa- course for heavy duty ma- “and this is an ongoing prony has developed an engineer chinery has seen some 559 gramme; Macorp will be doexchange programme to ex- persons being trained in the ing more training with them pose local engineers to world period 2009 to 2014. as the programme proceeds,” class standards in overseas Oviedo explained that the he said. “Presently, we have

27 trainees from across Guyana,” and after the LTI programme is finished, we are hoping to have some of them employed with Macorp.

During an invited comment, LTI Principal, Dennis Jaikarran expressed gratitude to the Government of Canada and to Macorp for their support in the partnership arrangement.

According to him, at the LTI they are advancing the cause of technical education in Guyana, and partnerships with agencies overseas and locally would have allowed them to grow, and they want to continue to grow in many other ways.

He said, “With this programme, we will be able to lend a helping hand to the mining industry, which will in turn see development within our country.”

Jaikarran said that LTI is pleased to get the opportunity to continue this growth, so that they can take technical education to where they want to take it in Guyana.

(Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)

National Library renames Young Adult Collection in honour of late renowned Librarian Gillian Thompson

Chairman of the Committee of the National Library, Pitamber Persaud, and a student unveiling the Plaque LATE Chief Librarian, Gwyneth George; Human John’s College and Bishops’ Gillian Thompson was hon- Services and Social Security High School, also participatoured for her unconditional Ministry’s former Manager ed and showed their respect service to the National Li- of the Document Centre, Ms. for the late Librarian. brary of Guyana when the Yvonne Stephenson; Bank Chairman of the Commit‘Young Adult Collection’ of Guyana Librarian Bever- tee of the National Library, was renamed the ‘Gillian ly Baker; National Library Pitamber Persaud, in his reThompson Young Adult Committee member, Yvonne marks, said Guyana would Collection’ on Thursday.

Harewood Benn; and staff of be a much better place to live The simple ceremony the National Library, E. King if there were more persons was held at the National and M. James, among other like Gillian Thompson, who Library and was attended persons. loved to work with young by the University of GuyStudents from various adults living here. ana’s (UG) Chief Librarian schools, including the St. Young adults, he said,

Committee members, staff members of the National Library and students at the unveiling are at a critical stage of their development, when they are most receptive to influences and are most vulnerable.

The late Gillian Thompson understood this, he said, and she knew the value of reading for the development of a well rounded individual.

He said she had shown dedication, commitment and consistency to reach out to others; and was a caring person, helping others to

help themselves. Thompson had been a go-getter who demonstrated great respect for her staff and others, and her motive at work was to move the National Library forward and promote literacy, Persaud said.

“She exhibited the curiosity to plan and work…and to see projects through to their expected results. She was a woman of action, but she was rarely seen in the forefront;

instead, she excelled best at directing the show from the background,” Persaud disclosed.

Thompson worked at the National Library for just over two decades, beginning on November 1, 1991. In 2004 she became the Chief Librarian, and worked tirelessly until her untimely passing on December 24, 2013. (Raveena Mangal)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 2, 2014

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 2, 2014

Another victim in Mahaicony smash-up dies

By Leroy Smith

HOURS after doctors informed relatives of 25-year-old, Elias Ross of Zeskendren Mahaicony that he had a fifty/fifty chance of survival the young man succumbed to his injuries sustained during the Friday morning truck and car smash up at Drill Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

On Friday morning the young man’s father told this publication that doctors while treating his son who was unconscious displayed some efforts that he was fighting to survive.

The man explained that several tubes were inserted into the young man to extract fluid caused by internal bleeding.

The other persons who were injured in the accident were Hollin Roberts 22-years-old of Farm Mahaicony and Calvin McLennon 21 –years- old also of Farm Mahaicony while the driver of the car 23- year- old Torick Mc Lennon died on the spot on Friday morning after he was pinned in the vehicle he was driving and which ended up into the path of the truck travelling in the opposite direction.

At about 05.30hrs on Friday Morning, motorcar PRR 8224 driven by Torick ended up in the path of a truck GGG 1155 which

was loaded with lumber and heading west along the Drill Mahaicony Public Road while the car was heading east.

The first persons to respond to the accident reported to this publication that after hearing the impact they thought that the truck which was blowing its horn long before the impact had collided with an animal since the road is usually filled with animals each day.

Persons were of the view on Friday that the driver of the car might have fallen asleep and ended up in the path of the truck but the police stated in their press release in relation to the accident that the driver was speeding and lost control of the vehicle.

The accident occurred on a continuous turn at Drill Mahaicony and which stretches several metres. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Friday at the scene one resident of Drill Mahaicony said that he was in his bed when he heard the continuous honking of the truck horn before hearing a loud impact.

He said that he looked through this window and saw the truck desperately trying to get onto the shoulder of the road even as the car kept coming into its path at a very fast rate with the windows up.

The man said that after witnessing the

The remnants of the smashed car impact he rushed outside and saw the occupants of the car lying on the road while one was trembling, the other was asking to be taken to the hospital even as the other

two persons including the driver remained trapped inside the vehicle with the driver already appeared dead and the passenger behind him gasping for breath.

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For Sunday November 2, 2014 - 13:00hrs For Monday November 3, 2014 - 14:00hrs

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                             

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Aussies collapse and face battle to save series Pakistan stretch overall lead to 370 (REUTERS) - Australia were staring at a 2-0 series defeat after Pakistan’s bowlers exposed their frailties against spin and reverse swing on day three of the second and final test in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Resuming on 22-1, Mitchell Marsh (87) and captain Michael Clarke (47) offered some resistance before Australia collapsed for 261 soon after tea, 309 runs behind Pakistan’s first innings total.

Pakistan, who declared their first innings on 570-6, did not force the follow-on even though Australia fell 110 runs short of the mark and decided instead to set them a target to chase.

Mitchell Johnson removed both their openers in the second innings, but Pakistan, who comprehensively won the first Test in Dubai, stretched their overall lead to 370 at the close.

Younus Khan, who has hit 106, 103 not out and 213 in his last three innings in the series, was unbeaten on 16 with Azhar Ali on 21.

The Pakistani bowlers

Mitchell Marsh registered his first Test half-century as the Australia innings fell apart around him. had earlier generated enough a short and wide Rahat turn, bounce and reverse delivery to find the point swing from a lifeless track to fielder and depart on 19. run through the tourists.

There was never Imran Khan claimed any doubt about Glenn three for 60, impressing Maxwell’s aggression but a both with the new and old brisk 37 failed to answer the ball, while fellow paceman lingering questions about Rahat Ali and the spin duo whether the 26-year-old has of Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir the temperament to succeed Shah claimed two wickets at Test level, especially in apiece. the crucial number three David Warner, who had position. started Australia’s reply Before being dismissed with three fours in Imran’s by Rahat, Nathan Lyon first over on Friday, chased survived several leg-before

appeals as Pakistan resisted wasting reviews on a nightwatchman.

They did not hesitate, however, to seek a review to dismiss the scoreless Steve Smith, who was hit on the pad by a Babar delivery.

Clarke, who added 64 runs with Marsh for the sixth wicket, looked decisive against the spinners, taking big strides and using his feet to get to the pitch of the ball.

It was reverse swing, which ultimately proved his undoing.

After repeatedly failing to middle Imran’s reverseswinging balls, Clarke had his middle stump pegged back by one that curved back from outside the off stump and went through the bat-pad gap.

Brad Haddin braved a shoulder injury that had forced him off the field on Friday to contribute 10 runs before leg-spinner Shah’s double strike deepened Australia’s crisis.

Marsh fell 13 runs short of his maiden Test century, hitting a full toss from Khan to the mid-on fielder to depart after a defiant knock that included 13 fours and a six.

Scoreboard PAKISTAN 1st innings 570 for 6 decl (Y. Khan 213, A. Ali 109, Misbah-ul-Haq 101) Australia 1st innings (Overnight: 22-1) D. Warner c Shah b R. Ali 19 C. Rogers c S. Ahmed b I. Khan 5 N. Lyon b R. Ali 15 G. Maxwell b Babar 37 M. Clarke b I. Khan 47 S. Smith lbw b Babar 0 M. Marsh c R. Ali b I. Khan 87 B. Haddin b Shah 10 M. Johnson c Hafeez b Shah 0 P. Siddle c Shah b Hafeez 28 M. Starc not out 0 Extras (lb-6 nb-7) 13 Total (all out, 67.2 overs) 261 Fall of wickets: 1-21 C. Rogers,2-34 D. Warner,3-75 G. Maxwell,4-97 N. Lyon,5-100 S. Smith,6-164 M. Clarke,7-193 B. Haddin,8-199 M. Johnson,9-261 M. Marsh,10-261 P. Siddle Bowling: I.Khan 14-1-60-3 (nb-1), M.Hafeez 5.2-0-13-1, Z.Babar 25-5-94-2,R.Ali 9-0-41-2 (nb-2), Y.Shah 14-247-2 PAKISTAN 2nd innings A. Shehzad b Johnson 14 M. Hafeez c Starc b Johnson 3 Az. Ali not out 21 Y. Khan not out 16 Extras(b-7) 7 Total (for 2 wickets, 21 overs) 61 Fall of wickets: 1-14 A. Shehzad,2-21 M. Hafeez To bat: Misbah-ul-Haq, A. Shafiq, S. Ahmed, Z. Babar, Y. Shah, R. Ali, I. Khan Bowling: M. Johnson 3 - 0 - 29 – 2, N.Lyon 15-3-19-0, M.Starc 5-2-6-0, P.Siddle 3-3-0-0

Chelsea see off QPR, Saints and Arsenal also win

By Mike Collett LONDON,(Reuters) - Chelsea were not at their imperious best but still beat battling strugglers Queens Park Rangers 2-1 with a late penalty from Eden Hazard to remain undefeated, four points clear at the top of the Premier League yesterday.

Hazard scored from the spot after 75 minutes of a hard-fought London derby against the resolute visitors, who pulled level when Charlie Austin back-heeled the ball home after 62 minutes.

That cancelled out Brazilian Oscar’s stunning first-half goal, which he scored by bending in a low angled drive with the outside of his boot from 12 metres after 32 minutes.

The victory lifted Chelsea on to 26 points from their opening 10 matches, four clear of secondplaced Southampton, who won 1-0 at Hull City with Victor Wanyama scoring with an astonishing speculative 40-metre chip after three minutes as the Saints won for the 10th time in 11 matches in all competitions.

Champions Manchester City, who are third on 17 points, will attempt to close the gap on the leading pair when they face Manchester United at the Etihad today.

Arsenal moved up to fourth, pulling level with City on 17 points and leaving Burnley bottom of the table and without a win from their first 10 games, by beating them 3-0 at the Emirates.

Chile striker Alexis Sanchez scored twice, either side of a Calum Chambers effort, with all the goals coming in the last 20 minutes.

West Ham, who slipped one place back to fifth, came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. They are also on 17 points.

DESERVED VICTORY Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, after seeing his team make it five home wins out of five in the league, told Sky Sports: “It was a completely deserved victory but not a good performance.

“We didn’t play consistently well. We had some good periods and a good reaction after their goal, but I don’t think we played a complete game like we have been doing in the Premier League this season.”

QPR manager Harry Redknapp, whose team remain one spot off the bottom, was nevertheless pleased with their performance but not with the penalty that tilted the match Chelsea’s way.

Referee Mike Jones awarded

Chelsea’s Oscar celebrates after scoring a goal against Queens Park Rangers during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London , yesterday. (Credit: Reuters/Toby Melville) it after ruling that Eduardo Vargas fouled Hazard, but Redknapp said: “I am not one to complain about referees but I thought it was two little men going shoulder to shoulder and it was a soft penalty really.

“But I can’t fault the effort we made and the way we played the game.”

Southampton manager Ronald

Koeman praised another winning performance, which came after Wanyama capitalised on a poor clearance from Hull’s third choice keeper Eldin Jakupovic, sending his flighted shot back into the net over the keeper’s head.

“I never scored a goal that,” said Koeman, who did score some memorable goals in his stellar career, including a rasping 30-metre effort to win the 1992 European Cup for Barcelona.

“It was an incredible one, maybe it was the fault of the goalkeeper, but shooting from that distance with that precision, it was incredible.”

Koeman’s team have now made the best ever start by a Southampton side in the top flight after 10 matches, having two points more than their previous best performance at this stage in 1983-84.

RECENT REVIVAL Newcastle United maintained their recent revival with their third straight league win, beating Liverpool 1-0 at St James’ Park in the lunchtime kickoff with Spain Under-21 international Ayoze Perez scoring the winner 17 minutes from time.

That was enough to give Newcastle the points from a drab encounter and came after Perez pounced on some poor defending

by Alberto Moreno, who failed to clear a loose ball in the box. Perez also scored the winner when Newcastle won 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur last week and his strike on Saturday, after coming on as a substitute at halftime, lifted Newcastle to 11th after they were in the relegation zone two weeks ago.

Although they failed to win, West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was pleased his team left the Britannia with a point after battling back from 2-0 down.

Victor Moses and Mame Biram Diouf put Stoke 2-0 ahead after 56 minutes before Enner Valencia (60th) and Stewart Downing (73rd) brought the Hammers back into the game.

“When you’re 2-0 down away from home anywhere in the Premier League, getting anything is a terrific comeback,” Allardyce said. “For us, that’s what it had to be.

“It wasn’t that we weren’t trying, but we couldn’t get our passing game going -- partly because of the conditions, and partly because Stoke were doing a good job on us.”

In the other matches Everton drew 0-0 with Swansea City, who had Jonjo Shelvey sent off and West Bromwich Albion won 1-0 at Leicester City.

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Weeping South Africans say goodbye to slain captain Meyiwa

By Siphiwe Sibeko DURBAN, (Reuters) Thousands of weeping South Africans wearing red or black soccer jerseys said farewell to murdered national team goalkeeper and captain Senzo Meyiwa at a packed stadium in the Indian Ocean city of Durban yesterday.

The mood was in part sombre, with red-eyed fans sobbing or blowing into tissues as a hearse carrying the 27-year-old’s flag-draped coffin drove around the stadium, and at times festive as they blew vuvuzela horns and sang soccer chants.

Meyiwa was shot and killed in what appeared to have been a botched robbery at his mistress’s house on Sunday night,

highlighting the scourge of gun violence in Africa’s most advanced country.

One suspect, Zanokuhle Mbatha, has been arrested after witnesses picked him out in an identity parade.

The 25-year-old briefly appeared in court on Friday and will reappear on Nov. 11. Police had issued identikits of two black men on Tuesday.

“We’ve got every reason to be angry about Senzo,” Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula told the mourners. “Justice is grinding and we will find them. We will never rest until we find all of them.”

Meyiwa’s death came days after the jailing of paralympian Oscar Pistorius for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp thinking she was an intruder lurking

day from licensed owners, according to lobby group Gun Free South Africa.

A man holds a framed picture of South African national soccer team goalkeeper and captain, Senzo Meyiwa during his funeral service in Durban, yesterday.

Credit: REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko in his luxury Pretoria home gradually. Police recorded in the capital of crime- more than 17,000 murders last year, or 31 per 100,000 ridden South Africa.

The country remains people - seven times the one of the world’s most rate in the United States.

An average 50 guns are violent, although the murder rate been dropping reported lost and stolen every

TEARFUL FAREWELL “Lest we forget, this is not the first time that an icon of this nature departs in the fashion that Senzo departed,” said Kaizer Motaung, founder of the Kaizer Chiefs, the main rivals to the Orlando Pirates club Meyiwa played for.

Thousands of people braved drizzling rain in the 85,000 Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, a short distance from the Umhlazi township where Meyiwa was born.

Most of the crowd wore the Pirates’ red or black colours but there was also a sprinkling of the yellow worn by the Chiefs.

Team mates and

mourners wiped away tears as they watched video clips showing father of three Meyiwa training, diving to make saves, or pumping his arms in celebration of a win.

Meyiwa had captained South Africa in their first four African Nations Cup qualifiers over the last two months without conceding a goal.

Two other sporting icons died within days of Meyiwa.

Former world 800 metres champion and Olympic silver medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi was killed in a car accident last week.

Light middleweight Phindile Mwelase, 31, also passed away last week after a knockout punch in a fight against Liz Butler two weeks ago put her in a coma.

GT&T Indoor Hockey

Hikers men, GCC Tigers maintain clean slates

By Leeron Brumell

Hikers Men’s first division team and the GCC Tigers women remained unbeaten on Friday night as play in the GT&T Indoor Hockey Tournament resumed on Friday night.

In the feature game of the evening, Hikers came away 6-4 winners over the National U-19s, but it was a victory they would be pushed to the limit to earn.

Through a penalty corner, Hikers would open the scoring – national player Jamarj Assanah sending the ball home in the 8th minute, but a minute later the U-19’s through #6, Aroydy Brandford would score a beauty of an equalizer; breaking from the field, drawing the keeper out, then skillfully skirted him on the right side to finish in style.

Assanah would re-establish the lead for the Hikers on 11 minutes after a scramble in front of goal. One minute later Colonel Heywood extended the Hikers lead – 3-1 at the half. One green card was issued – a warning to Assanah for wilful obstruction of an opposing player by umpire John Abraham.

On the resumption – Hikers applied pressure to the juniors but they held firm - ten minutes in, the U-19’s would show their willpower and reduce the deficit – a gentle

tap home from Keon McKenzie as he got through the Hikers defences.

The juniors missed an opportunity to equalise and when a penalty corner was soon after awarded to Hikers, the experienced Devin Munroe made no mistake in the 34th minute for a two goal-cushion.

With six minutes to play the pace picked up with lighting fast passes and quick breaks from both teams. Munroe, however, in the right place at the right time completed his double in the 36th minute from the field 5-2.

Not to be undone, Brandford, outstanding for the U-19s scored his second – the third goal for the juniors as they roared back into action – chasing everything – and it would be Brandford in the 39th minute of play giving them the impetus to fight on 4-5 the score with under a minute to play.

Assanah though removed any chance of a draw, scoring the 6th goal seconds before the clock expired. He scored three on the night.

In female play – the GCC Tigers followed up Wednesday’s 9-nil trashing of the Hikers to win by a similar score line against Old Fort. It could have been a wider margin of victory, but as fate would have it, a few of their attacks and shots on goal went wide of the box.

Arguably the most talented female on

show in this tournament with her stick work, hustle plays and scoring – Aliyah Gordon sent home 3 for the Tigers, while Ashley DeGroot and Kerensa Fernandes had doubles.

There was one apiece for Tricia Woodroffe and Ulrica Sutherland.

There were three draws on the night – Second Division teams Hikers and the National U-19s played to a 3-all draw. It was a similar margin for Hikers and the U-19s in women’s action and GCC and Old Fort Veterans.

Aging as they might be – the Vets did not disappoint on the court.

The ever dependable John Abraham came off the bench to score the first goal for Old Fort in the 7th minute, collecting a pass from Dexter Wyles.

Seven minutes later Alan Fernandes with ‘Ol Boy’ and the number 8 printed on the back of his tee found the equaliser. Seconds later Devin Hooper gave GC the advantage 2-1 at the break.

Abraham on the resumption collected a pass, turned but dragged one wide that could have given Old Fort the equaliser. GCC countered and launched an attack of their own, but they too could not complete. Abraham though on the next play would make no mistake – sending the ball past Rawl ‘Muffy’

Davson in goal – 2-2 the score line.

On 21 minutes, Chris Low sent a shot into the top left of the box – Old Fort in the lead and held it until Hooper again found the equaliser for GCC -3-3 after 30 minutes; both teams taking away a point for the draw.

Hikers came from behind to earn the draw. The U-19s scored two in the first half through – Aliyah Gordon and Macaela Harding. Gordon again scored in the 2nd half for the junior ladies 3-Nil it seemed in the bag, but Hikers depended on the combined experience of Latoya Fordyce, Avonda James, Maria Munroe and Marisha Rodrigues to reign this game in.

Munroe scored the first for Hikers in the 20th minute. Fordyce reduced the deficit for Hikers in the 25th, while Latacia Chung found the equaliser in the 27th minute.

In 2nd division play – Old Fort were 3-2 winners over GCC in the opening match.

Later in the evening, Old Fort made it two for two with another 3-2 win, this time over Saint Stanislaus College.

Round-robin matches continued last night.

The finals in all divisions will be contested today from 17.00hrs at the National Gymnasium.

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Dramatic day at COURTS Pee Wee Football tournament

Defending champs through on penalty Another day, another drama is the story of the Petra Organisation/COURTS Pee Wee Football tournament, which continued yesterday at Banks DIH Thirst Park.

Defending Champions St Pius Primary moved one step closer in their attempt to retain their title after a dramatic 4 – 3 win over F.E. Pollard via penalty.

The two schools ended regulation and extra time deadlocked on a goal each with Brendon Solomon getting the equaliser in the 26th minute for F.E. Pollard after Quincy Williams had put the champs in front just two minutes into the contest.

It also took penalty kicks to decide the winner between St Margaret’s Primary and Stella Maris after, at the end of regulation, the score sheets read 1 – 1 (Stella Maris with an own goal and Josiah King scored for St Margaret’s in the 20th minute).

However, it was Stella

Part of the action between St Angelas Primary and Tucville Primary yesterday in the COURTS Pee Wee football tournament (Adrian Narine photo) Maris who came out 4 – 3 minute. sponsored by Race Car drivwinners in the nail-biting St Angelas Primary, one er Kevin Jeffrey, fought hard shootout. of the tournament’s dark to get on the scoreboard but Meanwhile, South Ruim- horses, had their hearts bro- Tucville Primary’s defendveldt pulled off one of the ken after falling 0 – 1 to ers were adamant to hand the biggest upsets of the tour- Tucville Primary. school their first loss of the nament when they defeatThe goal came early off tournament. ed West Ruimveldt 1 – 0, the boot of Kevaughn Adams The tournament will thanks to a Royston Louisy (3rd minute) but St Angelas continue next Saturday at goal which came in the 8th Primary, sporting their gear the same venue.

Sammy ducks issue of abandoned India tour JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, (CMC) – West Indies Twenty20 captain Darren Sammy on Thursday evaded the contentious issue of the abandoned tour of India, after arriving here to represent Titans in the Ram Slam Twenty20 League.

The all-rounder was a member of the one-day squad which quit the tour in protest over unsatisfactory terms and conditions of new playing contracts.

“I am not short of cricket, as we played in India. I don’t really want to talk about the [abandoned] tour,” Sammy said. “We have always engaged well with India, and we have had a good relationship with them.”

West Indies pulled out of the tour following the fourth ODI in Dharamsala, refusing to play the final game in Kolkata and the one-off Twenty20 in Cuttack.

The three-Test series, which had been scheduled to start October 30th, was also scuppered as a result of the players’ actions.

Ironically, four of the five West Indies players who will campaign in the Ram

Darren Sammy ... poised to rica’s Ram Slam T20 League.

Slam were members of the ill-fated tour. Kieron Pollard will turn out for Cape Cobras, Dwayne Bravo will

debut for Titans in South Afrepresent Dolphins while Andre Russell will suit up for Knights.

Superstar Chris Gayle is the

only player involved in the Ram Slam not to tour India – because of injury – and will line up Highveld Lions.

Sammy said they were all looking forward to the campaign which gets underway Sunday.

“T20 cricket is something we enjoy. My teammates and I are excited to be here. Who wouldn’t be? South Africa is a wonderful place to play cricket,” Sammy explained.

“T20-cricket is all about expressing yourself. The West Indians have taken this style of cricket on board. I think I will like to play in South Africa, where the ball comes onto the bat quicker.”

Sammy will be called upon for his explosive late order batting which has been a feature of his cricket in recent years. However, he believes his medium pace can also be an asset.

“I have always tried to bowl dot balls. As we say: a dot is as good as gold in T20-cricket. If I bowl dot balls, I build pressure,” he said.

Titans will clash with Pollard’s Cape Cobras in one of three matches on today’s opening day.

Scoreboard SRI LANKA A D Karunaratne c & b Beaton 4 D Gunathilaka c wkp Walton b Gabriel 5 *L Thirimanne c Beaton b Miller 74 +D Chandimal c Ambris b Miller 60 K Vithanage c sub (A Nurse) b K Brathwaite 29 T Kandamby not out 58 J Mendis c Carter b K Brathwaite 4 F Maharoof c sub (A Nurse) b Beaton 0 N Gamage run out 0 L Sandakan not out 0 Extras (b1, lb1, w2, nb7) 11 TOTAL (8 wkts, 50 overs) 245 Did not bat: D Chameera Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-10, 3-115, 4-165, 5-199, 6-219, 7-220, 8-230.

Bowling: Gabriel 10-1-47-1 (w2, nb1), Beaton 10-1-40-2 (w3), K Brathwaite 10-1-54-2 (w1), Carter 10-0-45-0 (w1, nb1), Miller 10-0-57-2.

WEST INDIES A K Brathwaite not out 24 N Bonner c Karunaratne b Chameera 21 J Blackwood c wkp Chandimal b Sandakan 14 J Carter not out 1 Extras (lb2, w7, nb2) 11 TOTAL (2 wkts, 20 overs) 71 Did not bat: A Fletcher, S Ambris, C Walton, *C Brathwaite, N Miller, S Gabriel, R Beaton.

Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-68.

Bowling: Gamage 6-1-13-0 9 (w2), Maharoof 4-0-21-0 (w3, nb1), Chameera 5-0-22-1 (w2, nb1), Mendis 4-0-12-0, Sandakan 1-0-1-1.

Rain, slow batting bring about Windies A demise DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka, (CMC) – Slow batting and then rain thwarted West Indies A’s run chase and handed Sri Lanka A a sixrun victory under the Duckworth/Lewis method, in the opening one-day game of the three-match series here yesterday.

In pursuit of 246 for victory at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, West Indies A had crawled to 71 for two after 20 overs when rained intervened to end the game. With the par score 77, the Caribbean side found themselves on the wrong side of the calculation.

Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Nkrumah Bonner were the culprits, posting 40 for the first wicket but consuming a whopping 72 balls in doing so.

Brathwaite was unbeaten on 24 from 44 balls when the rains came while Bonner made 21 from 45 balls with three fours.

The right-handed Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood (14) tried to raise the tempo by adding 28 off 41 balls for the second wicket but Jamaican Blackwood fell to a catch behind off left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan in the 19th over, after facing 28 balls and cracking two fours.

Earlier, Sri Lanka A posted 245 for eight off their 50 overs after being sent in. They were carried by half-centuries

Pacer Ronsford Beaton took two for 40 off his 10 vers. from Lahiru Thirimanne who struck 74, Dinesh Chandimal who got 60 and Thilina Kandamby who carved out 58.

The hosts were floundering at ten for two in the sixth over before Thirimanne and Chandimal added 105 for the third wicket. Lefthander Thirimanne faced 101 balls and counted six fours and a six while Chandimal, a right-hander, hit four fours and a six off 74 deliveries.

Thirimanne then posted a further 50 for the fourth wicket with Kithuwuran Vithanage (29) and another 34 with Kandamby before finally departing in the 44th over.

Kandamby, an experienced left-hander, finished off the innings nicely in a brisk knock that required only 40 balls and includes seven fours.

Fast bowler Ronsford Beaton (2-40), slow bowler Kraigg Brathwaite (2-54) and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller (2-57) all finished with two wickets apiece.

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GFSCA ‘GUYANA SOFTBALL CUP 4’

Wolf Warriors through to Open final amidst final round chaos - Savage into Master’s final

By Calvin Roberts

HAVING lost the 2013 final to Trophy Stall by nine wickets, Wolf Warriors have the opportunity to redeem themselves in this year’s final of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association’s (GFSCA) ‘Guyana Softball Cup 4’, when they defeated Farm XI by nine wickets in their semifinal matchup yesterday.

Batting first, Farm XI, who advanced to the semifinal on a better net run rate ahead of Karibee Boyz and Petama Enterprise, were limited to 85 in 12 overs of the game that was reduced to 15 overs aside due to time constraints.

Shafeek Ishmael topscored with 15 and David Luknauth contributed 11 as Amir Nizamudin took 3 for 10 and Azad Azeez 3 for 11 for Wolf Warriors, who in reply scored 86 for 1 off 9 overs, thanks to Safraz Karim’s unbeaten 35 and 26 not out from Amit Rai, while Ricardo Adams made 12.

In their qualifying matchup against New York All Stars, Petama Enterprise batted first and scored 95 all out with Vickash Dhaniram 21 (2x6), Davendra Deosarran and Ganesh Narine contributing 15 each, while Bobby took 3 for 10 for New York All Stars who in reply were limited to 79 for 9.

Wasim Haslim and Bobby made 13 each while Lionel Persaud took 3 for 15 and Ian Ivan, who bowled with pace and accuracy, 2 for

Chronicle Sport’ Adrian Narine was on hand to catch Regal Masters’ Clyde Butts about to take a hit at a delivery, during the action between Regal Masters and Mike’s Wellman at the Demerara Cricket Club ground yesterday, which the latter won by seven wickets.

5, and up to press time Peta- marching orders out of the In another Master’s clash ma Enterprise were engaging tournament by Mike’s Well- at the same venue, Ontario Regal XI in the other semifi- man in the Master’s Cat- Masters defeated defending nal under lights at the Dem- egory clash that was also re- champion New York Beterara Cricket Club ground. duced to 15 overs aside due ter Hope Masters by 6 runs, Earlier in the day, Regal to rain and which saw regal with Ontario Masters postXI disposed of Parika De- Masters posting 121 all out ing 155 for 7 off their 15 fenders when the two sides off 14.4 overs. overs, led by 47 (4x6, 3x4) met at the Ogle ground, with Clyde Butts and Lanc- from Jaimini Singh and an Parika Defenders batting eford Klass both made 18, unbeaten 29 (3x6) from Desfirst and being bowled out with Butts’ innings being mond Chummily. for 82 off 100 overs, led by unbeaten even as Eon Abel Quyaam Farroug took 2 Travis Drakes 22 (3x6) and chipped in with 16 and Lyn- for 19 and Ronald Evelyn Surujballi Chitram 12. don Lyght contributed 14, as 2 for 29 for New York BetRohit Dutchin took 3 for Lloyd Rooplall took 4 for 19 ter Hope, who in reply were 16, while there were two for Mike’s Wellman, who in restricted to 149 for 7 when wickets each for Balram reply reached 123 for 3 off their overs expired, with Roopnarine, Richard Latiff 14.3 overs to complete the Shameer Sadloo 40 (4x4, and Fazal Rafiek bowling win by seven wickets.

2x6), Asif Ahmad 21 and for Regal XI who scored 84 Lakeram Rooplall top- Eustace Dodson 13 (3x4) for 1 off 7.2 overs in reply, scored with an unbeaten 42 leading their batting while thanks to an unbeaten 42 (4x4, 2x6) and S. Persaud R. Parasnauth took 3 for 15 from Dutchin and 13 from contributed 40 (4x4) to the and Parsram Persaud 2 for Ricky Sargeant. winning total, while there 31.

At the DCC ground, Re- was a wicket each for RayAnd in their Master’s gal Masters were given their mond Harper and Butts. semifinal matchup against

Parika Defenders, Savage Masters who won the contest by nine wickets, bowled out Parika Defenders for 93 with R. Rambharose making 18 and A. Karim 11, as Nandalall Seebarran took 4 for 20 and Rudy Samaroo 2 for 19.

In reply, Savage Masters scored 99 for 1 off 10.5 overs to complete the win, thanks to unbeaten knocks of 46 (3x4, 2x6) from Lakeram Barlow and 37 (3x4, 1x6) from Robert Camacho, the duo adding 87 for their unbroken second wicket partnership.

Meanwhile on Friday’s opening day of action, Farm XI’s Lennox Marks chalked up the first ton in the Open category of the tournament as his side defeated Karibee Boyz by 135 runs, with Farm XI scoring 236 for 4 thanks to Marks’ 105 and 35 from Avenash Sukhdeo, to which Karibee Boyz replied with 101 all out, as Shafeek Ishmael took 3 for 15.

Wolf Warriors emulated Regal XI by scoring back to back victories over Dant’s XI of Canada and Corriverton respectively, with Dant’s XI batting first in their first game of the tournament and being bowled out for 142.

S. Deosarran contributed 32 as Vishnu Tamenchandra took 5 for 28 for Wolf Warriors, who reached 146 for 8 off the last ball of their final over, thanks to Safraz Karim’s 64 and against Corriverton; the team from the Ancient County batted first and scored 173 all out in their 20 overs.

Darshan Challitor top

scored with 53 against the bowling of Ameer Khan who took 3 for 11 for Wolf Warriors, who in reply scored 174 for 6 off 19.5 overs with Amit Rai topscoring with an unbeaten 36.

In their second game of the day, Dant’s XI defeated Uprisers by four wickets, with Uprisers batting first and posting 176 for 9, led by Christopher Pattadin 62 as Waheid Edwards took 4 for 19 for Dant’s XI who in reply were led by S. Deosarran who topscored with 59 as they reached 177 for 6.

In the Master’s Category, Savage defeated New York President’s XI and New York Seaview in their two matches, Floodlights chalked up back to back victories over Brooklyn Queen’s Legends and Wellman who had earlier defeated South Florida Softball Cricket League (SFSCL) in their first match of the day.

SFSCL later suffered a second defeat at the hands of East Coast Masters, who had lost their first match to Regal Masters, New York Seaview defeated NYSCL Legends, Ontario Softball Int. defeated Orlando Masters and New York Better Hope defeated Orlando Florida.

The final two Masters clashes on Friday’s opening day resulted in victories for Parika Defenders who defeated Ontario Softball Int., but suffered a nine runs defeat at the hands of New York Better Hope, the defending champions in the Master’s category.

National fullbore shooting championships fire off today THE 2014 National Senior and Junior Fullbore Rifle Shooting championships will fire off tomorrow (Sunday) at the Timehri Rifle and Pistol Ranges starting at 10:00 hrs.

The shooters will contest three 10-round shoots at 300, 500 and 600 yards in the first of three days of shooting supremacy.

National Fullbore captain Mahendra Persaud said the marksmen are eager to compete in the competition which will

continue next Saturday and will conclude Sunday at the same venue.

Defending senior champion Ransford Goodluck and reigning West Indies individual champion Lennox Braithwaite have both displayed tremendous form going into competition having won recent recorded shoots.

Persaud who competed in the this year’s Commonwealth Games along side Braithwaite will be looking to keep the the two in form shooters in check.

Also expected to battle for top honours in the senior category are national vice captain Dylan Fields, Richard Fields, Ryan Sampson, Leo Romalho, Inspector Dane Blair, among other competitors.

The ‘O’ Class will also provide much excitement with Sherwin Felicien, Peter Persaud and Lt. Col. retired Terrence Stuart among the top contenders.

With the highest possible score (HPS) being 150 points over the three ranges, the shooters will be looking to take early

advantage to lead the first day’s aggregate.

Despite the absence of the West Indies fullbore shooting championships (WIFSC) next year, due to Trinidad and Tobago’s inability to host the championships in 2015, the local marksmen will be setting their sites on several international competitions next year including the Palma World Shooting championships billed for Ohio, United States and the Annual Bisley championships in Great Britain.

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BCCI demands US $42m in damages from WICB

By Nagraj Gollapudi CALLING West Indies’ pull-out midway into the India tour a “monumental disaster”, the BCCI has slapped a US$41.97m damages claim on the WICB. The BCCI also suspended bilateral relations with the WICB till the dispute was resolved, and threatened legal action if the West Indies board didn’t respond within 15 days.

Scheduled to play five ODIs, a Twenty20 and three Tests, the West Indies players pulled out of the series after the fourth ODI in Dharamsala on October 17. They cited the failure of West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) and WICB to respond convincingly to their questions related to the memorandum of understanding and collective bargaining agreement signed by the two parties in September.

In a a stern four-page letter addressed to WICB president Dave Cameron, a copy of which is in possession of ESPNcricinfo, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel on Friday indicated that if the WICB failed to respond within 15 days about how it intended to compensate the losses in “acceptable terms”, the BCCI would initiate legal proceedings. “Pending resolutions of all disputes the BCCI suspends all bilateral cricketing relations with the WICB,” Patel’s letter stated.

Patel’s missive arrived even as Cameron and senior WICB officials were engaged in meetings with players and WIPA in Trinidad to resolve the dispute. The meeting was facilitated by Prime Minister of St Vincent, Ralph Gonsalves, who helped resolve the dispute between Chris Gayle and the WICB three years ago.

As soon as Dwayne Bravo, the West Indies ODI captain, said that the players would be forced to take extreme steps unless they got clear answers from WIPA and WICB regarding the new MoU/CBE, Patel said the BCCI understood the seriousness of the issue and attempted to avert the debacle.

Patel pointed out that Bravo and his team-mates contin-

ued to play till the fourth ODI only because of the intervention by him and the other senior BCCI officials.

BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel Patel stressed that the consequences of the West Indies pullout were “multi-fold and crippling” to the Indian board.

“The BCCI is faced with huge revenue losses, a loss of reputation and is at risk of losing valuable commercial partners,” Patel wrote.

“The consequences of cancellation of a committed home Tour during the biggest festival season Diwali in India is a monumental disaster for the BCCI. It is during this season that our partners derive the most value from their rights.

“Our broadcaster had committed to its advertisers during this season and on account of your actions, is facing a severe crisis the effects of which are felt by the BCCI. The BCCI holds the WICB responsible and liable for all such consequences and intends to enforce its rights to seek compensation from the WICB to the fullest extent permissible in law.”

Dean tees-off Digicel ...

Following Dean’s remarks and a simple thank you from Club president David Mohammed, the action got underway with Mohammed following Dean with the first tee in windy conditions, doing so in the presence of Dean and his Sponsorship and Events Manager Gavin Hope along with other senior personnel.

However, prior to the ceremonial tee-off, four players namely Carlos Adams, Parmanand Persaud, Maurice Solomon and Esau Shamshudin, began the battle for supremacy at 06:30hrs in what is being described as the most prestigious golf tournament in Guyana.

Four other players in Pandit Rabindranauth ‘Ravi’ Persaud, Richard Haniff, Kishan Bacchus and Brij Bissessar followed suit, as

this contest is 15 minutes intervals for the 64 players who are battling for the Digicel ‘Red Jacket’ and the right to be called Guyana Open champion for the next year.

At the end of the day, in the Ladies category, Shanella Webster and Joaan Deo with a net 74 were in the leadership position, followed by defending champion Christine Sukhram 9/75 and Juliet Prince 36/78.

In the 19-28 h/cap category, leaders were, - Patanjalee ‘Pour’ Persaud 27/60, Mahendra Bhagwandin 26/65, Richard Haniff 21/73, Dr Philbert London 25/74 and Clifford Reis and Parmanand Persaud with net 76 each.

S. Suknanan leads the 10-18 h/cap category with his 10/66, followed by Roy Cummings 10/69, Mo Shaf-

fie 18/71, Kishan Bacchus 15/72 and the pair of Colin Ming and Bholawram Deo net 73 while in the 0-9 h/cap

From back page category, leaders were,- Rishi Sukhram 7/69, Alfred Mentore 6/70, Imran Khan, Brian Glasford and Avi-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday November 02, 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) Roy Fredericks (1973); Viv Richards (1984) (2) 29 Today’s Quiz: (1)How many Test matches were played before the very first ODI was contested?

(2) Twenty-nine ODIs have been played in Guyana to date. In how many the WI have been involved?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Patel demanded a written assurance from the WICB explaining how it intended to pay damages claimed by BCCI and warned a failure would mean further sanctions.

“In the event the BCCI does not receive such a proposal in acceptable terms, within a period of 15 days from receipt of this letter, please note that the BCCI has peremptorily instructed its attorneys to initiate steps for recovery of the losses by filing appropriate legal proceedings against the WICB in the appropriate Indian Court and you may treat this notice as a formal demand in that regard.”

Although SLC has helped fill in the breach caused by West Indies’ withdrawal by agreeing to play a five-ODI series, Patel said it was not enough to “offset the loss” incurred.

“This is because the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has not committed to any additional tour of India but has only advanced its 2015 Tour to 2014. In return, the BCCI has agreed to tour Sri Lanka in 2015 whereby it has permanently and irretrievably lost a valuable home tour.”

Patel slammed the WICB for cancelling the tour “in complete disregard of your legal commitments” despite knowing the damages it would cause. “The adverse financial ramifications and the negative impact of your action to unilaterally cancel the remainder of the Tour was well within your understanding, yet you still went ahead and cancelled the Tour in complete disregard of your legal commitments.

“The WICB is also aware that each National Board is committed to touring each other in a given period such that the schedule of tours between each of the Boards is fixed 8 years in advance. Such touring obligations are on a reciprocal basis so as to reflect not only fairness in ranking but also equal opportunity to each Board.

As such, given the limited windows of opportunity and the long-term schedule of tours as between the National Cricket Boards, rescheduling of Tours within the 8-year period becomes impossible.”(ESPN Cricinfo)

nash Persaud net 72, and Jetendra Dhanpat and Papo Haniff with net 73. (Calvin Roberts)

Notable Dates

On November 2, 1986, seventeen-year-old Raul Frank secured his second professional victory when he gained the judges’ verdict at the end of a six-round contest with Roy Smith, who was 22 years, his senior.

Frank would move on to challenge the now deceased Vernon Forrest for the vacant International Boxing Federation welterweight title twice. The first was staged in August 2000 and ended in a No Contest, while Forrest won the next by a unanimous decision the following year.

Like Frank, lion hearted Michael Benjamin also had his second professional fight on November 2, 1986. Benjamin knocked out Wallace Stewart in the first round. Benjamin would have back-to-back victories over Frank in 1992.

Lightweight Jeff Roberts chose November 2, 1986 to secure a 12 round points decision over Fitzroy Davidson. On the same day Marcelle Daniels had his first defeat (point’s decision) following a 10- round loss to Trinidadian Steve Asson.

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE NOVEMBER 2, 2014

Grove Hi Tech claims MYCS Under-13 title playing unbeaten

GROVE Hi Tech Football Club has continued its dominance of football of the East Bank of Demerara by adding the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport (MCYS) sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-13 League champion’s trophy to their 2014 collection.

This is the club’s fourth title in as many tournaments under the auspices of the EBFA for 2014, having already added the Trophy Stall Under-15, CULT Under-17 and Stag Beer Division One League titles.

Grove sealed the title in their last game when they hammered Kuru Kururu Warriors 6-2 to win their fifth consecutive match.

Joint leading goal scorers Threvon Pluck (52, 56) and Kevin Padmore (25,

… Herstelling Raiders cop second place

Champions Grove Hi Tech Football club display their motto.

46) netted a double each Kuru Kururu Warriors got to end the one round their goals form Jonathan league with 5-goals apiece. Bailey who opened the Rasheed Evans also netted scoring in the 15th minute, a brace; he was on target in Kevon Scott converted the the 35th and 37th minute. other in the 40th minute.

A g r i c o l a triumphed over Diamond United by a 2-1 margin compliments of goals from Michael English (35) and Keon Narine, and five minutes later Diamond got their goal compliments of an own goal by Agricola.

Herstelling Raiders won via the walk over route from Kuru Kururu Warriors, the latter

team would play their final game against Diamond on Saturday at the Grove Community ground from 11:00hrs. It would be the final game of the league which would be followed by the presentation of prizes.

The top four teams would all receive trophies with medals going to the top two teams.

Medals will also be presented to the Most Valuable Player, Leading Goal Scorers and Best Goalkeeper.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Grove Hi Tech claims MYCS Under-13 title playing unbeaten See story on page 31

In this composite picture from Chronicle Sport, Adrian Narine, Digicel’s Chief Executive Officer Gregory Dean (left) and Lusignan Golf Club’s president David Mohammed conduct their respective swings on the opening day of action in this year’s Digicel Guyana Open Golf Classic.

2014 DIGICEL GUYANA OPEN CLASSIC

Dean tees-off Digicel Golf Classic in windy conditions -‘Pour’ Persaud delivers fascinating 60 THE ATMOSPHERE was exciting and refreshing and despite a rain interruption for abut half hour, action in this year’s second annual Digicel Guyana Open Golf Classic tournament was truly entertaining and enthralling at the end of the first day’s action at the Lusignan Golf Course yesterday.

Rain interrupted play for about half hour around 10:30hrs and for about ten minutes at about 16:45hrs but the players continued immediately thereafter, some even battling for su-

premacy through the rain, but at the end of the day, the man in the pole position on the leader board was none other than Patanjalee ‘Pour’ Persaud 27/60.

Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Gregory Dean, as he did last year, conducted the ceremonial tee-off after giving brief remarks in which he thanked the LGC for partnering with his company once again, saying that they must have done something wonderful the first time around to be called upon again for which they are grateful.

Turn to page 30

BCCI demands US $42m in damages from WICB

See story on page 30

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014

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