2015 1 12

GUYANA No. 104067 MONDAY JANUARY 12, 2015

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

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

PRICE: $80

Five-star ‘Guyana Marriott’ set to open shortly Page

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Lawyers rap judiciary for slow Court proceedings – AG assures of efforts to improve efficiency

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– Stabroek News apologises for saying otherwise

INCLUDING VAT

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World leaders join mass Paris march The almost complete Marriott Hotel, which is billed to be opened shortly. Inset is a close-up of work being done outside the building (Photos by Adrian Narine)

Amaila construction for likely start before yearend

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Mom allegedly using teenage daughter to bait ‘sugar daddy’ Page

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 12, 2015

Five-star ‘Guyana Marriott’ set to open shortly – Stabroek News apologises for saying otherwise

Landscaping in preparation for the imminent opening of the Marriott Hotel

Work moving apace yesterday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel

ANOTHER misguided attempt at derailing the con-

gise to Atlantic Hotels Inc. (AHI) Chairman Winston Brassington over an article it published, misrepresenting several aspects of the US$58M project.

“Stabroek News regrets any error as it relates to the presentation of Mr Brassington’s information on the financing framework for the project, and the date of the commencement of the lease arrangement for the land on which the hotel and

struction of the Marriott Hotel has this time forced

the privately-owned daily, Stabroek News, to apolo-

entertainment complex are to be constructed,” an extract of the editor’s note in response to Brassington’s reproach of the article reads.

Brassington has accused Stabroek News of soliciting information from him by way of an interview and five weeks later producing an article on the very issue, riddled with inaccuracies, misrepresentations and devoid of any of the information provided by him.

In fact, the construction of the US$58M hotel is continuing apace, and will be opened shortly, Brassington assured.

“The construction of the Guyana Marriott is near completion. Marriott’s management is in place. Staff is currently being engaged and trained,” he said.

SOUND INVESTMENT Responding to the Stabroek News article published on January 6, 2015, and headlined ‘Questions continue over Marriott deal opening date’, Brassington said it indulges in mischievous reporting and speculation.

The reality, according to Turn to page 7 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 12, 2015

Amaila construction for likely start before yearend

…Delays led to annual US$100M loss -PM Hinds

By Gary Eleazar THE 165MW Amaila Falls Hydro-electric Plant remains Guyana’s most strategic project at this point in time, and if all goes well, construction is slated to start before the end of this year.

This disclosure was made recently by lead negotiator on the project, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Power and Light Company, Winston Brassington.

He was at the time appearing on a televised interview with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and GPL’s Chief Executive Officer, Bharrat Dindyal, and announced that “in 2015, we are hoping that everything will be in place to see the project restart where construction will actually start in the latter half of this year.”

Government, he said, has remained steadfast in its pursuit of the project even after its partner in 2013, the Blackstone Group, walked from the project as a result of political discord.

Brassington reminded his audience that it was the Parliament which blocked key pieces of legislative requirements; “We didn’t have unanimity,” he said, “and Blackstone withdrew.”

According to Brassington, “We have been work-

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

GPL Chairman, Winston Brassington

ing continuously since that time to get this project back on track, and I think most recently you would have heard His Excellency speaking to things progressing positively... I believe that in the latter half of this year, we should be able to see the project restart with construction.

President Donald Ramotar, in his New Year’s address to the nation, had alluded to some of the progress being made with regard to the project.

In that address, the President had announced that Norway has transferred earnings from its partnership with Guyana, approximately US$80M, to the Inter-American Development Bank to fund part of

Guyana’s equity share in the project.

“This is a significant accomplishment; it demonstrates that all partners have strong confidence in Amaila. The project is once again moving forward,” the President had said.

The GPL Chairman, in his televised interview, reminded that with the advent of the Amaila Falls Hydro-electric Plant, all of the utility company’s generation needs will be covered for the Demerara and Berbice grids.

And while Essequibo will not be supplied using the Amaila Falls Hydro-electric Plant, Linden, in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), will be a beneficiary of the

GPL’s CEO Bharrat Dindyal

electricity generated.

The cheaper, more reliable source of electricity is also being looked at as an incentive for those consumers such as businesses that self-generate, to return to the grid.

Speaking to the reliability of electricity being generated from the hydroelectric plant, Dindyal compared the two options. The current generation capacity of GPL is supplied using numerous generating sets of different sizes and capacity to meet peak demand.

He said that with the coming on stream of the Vreed-en-Hoop plant, this has led to a vast reduction in the number of units but there still remains a large fleet of engines in operation.

GREATER RELIABILITY This, he said, translates into thousands of moving parts having to work seamlessly to deliver reliable electricity, whereas with the hydroelectric plant there are four large turbines with fewer operating parts which effectively means greater reliability.

According to Brassington, not only will the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Plant reduce the cost of generation in Guyana, it will also insulate the country against the volatility of the price of fuel on the world market.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who also shared the spotlight during the televised debate also weighed in on the successful construction of the hydro-electric plant and said this has been a dream of Guyanese for generations now.

“Hydro development has been an aspiration of the Guyanese people from since the 1950s, 1960s,” said Prime Minister Hinds.

He reminded that the late President Cheddi Jagan had been enticed by the idea of a hydro electric plant on the Demerara River in the Tiger Hill area, while the People’s National Congress in the 1970s had committed itself to a larger development in the Upper Mazaruni.

The PNC’s pursuit was for some 3,000 MW, way beyond Guyana’s genera-

tion need at the time or at present and according to Prime Minister Hinds, “We are looking at Amaila as the best fit to our grid.”

He did recognize that the successful construction of a hydro electric plant will be in Guyana’s hinterland and will have to rely on an effective transmission conduit to conduct the electricity generated to the recipient electrical grids.

This, he said, has been taken into consideration along with other factors such as the variation in water flow at the Amaila Falls, during the course of the year.

In lamenting the delay between 2013 when the Blackstone Group (Sithe Global) walked from the project and now, the Prime Minister surmised that Guyana lost an average of US$100M a year.

This, he explained, would have happened as a result of the cutting of the generation costs had the Amaila Project been on stream and not stymied in 2013 by the political opposition.

“That’s a big loss that we suffered when Amaila didn’t go ahead in 2013,” said Hinds.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 12, 2015

After attacks, arm-in-arm world leaders join mass Paris march

By Ingrid Melander, Sybille de La Hamaide and Julien Ponthus PARIS,(Reuters) - World leaders including Muslim and Jewish statesmen linked arms to lead an estimated million-plus French citizens through Paris in an unprecedented march under high security to pay tribute to victims of Islamist militant attacks.` Paris police said the turnout was “without precedent” but too large to count. One organiser said he had indications it could be between 1.3 and 1.5 million people.

Some commentators said the last street presence in the capital on this scale was at the Liberation of Paris from Nazi Germany in 1944.

President Francois Hollande and leaders from Germany, Italy, Israel, Turkey, Britain and the Palestinian territories among others, moved off from the central Place de la Republique ahead of a sea of French and other flags. Giant letters attached to a statue in

the square spelt out the word Pourquoi?” (Why?) and small groups sang the “La Marseillaise” national anthem.

Some 2,200 police and soldiers patrolled Paris streets to protect marchers from wouldbe attackers, with police snipers on rooftops and plain-clothes detectives mingling with the crowd. City sewers were searched ahead of the vigil and underground train stations around the march route are due to be closed down.

The march mostly went ahead in a respectful silence, reflecting shock over the worst militant Islamist assault on a European city in nine years. For France, it raised questions of free speech, religion and security, and beyond French frontiers it exposed the vulnerability of states to urban attacks.

Two of the gunmen had declared allegiance to al Qaeda in Yemen and a third to the militant Islamic State. All three were killed during the police operations in what local commentators have called “France’s 9/11”, a reference to the September 2001 attacks on

French President Francois Hollande is surrounded by Heads of state including (LtoR) Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Council President Donald Tusk, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Switzerland’s President Simonetta Sommaruga as they attend the solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris yesterday. Credit: Reuters/Philippe Wojazer U.S. targets by al Qaeda.

“Paris is today the capital of the world. Our entire country will rise up and show its best side,” said Hollande.

“Fantastic France! I am told there could be as many as 1.3 million to 1.5 million of us in Paris,” Francois Lamy, the lawmaker charged by the ruling Socialist Party with organising the rally, tweeted.

At least 700,000 more joined vigils in other cities across France.

In London, several land-

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Hours before the march, a video emerged featuring a man resembling the gunman killed in the kosher deli. He pledged allegiance to the Islamic State insurgent group and urged French Muslims to follow his example.

“We’re not going to let a little gang of hoodlums run our lives,” said Fanny Appelbaum, 75, who said she lost two sisters and a brother in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz‎. “Today, we are all one.”

Zakaria Moumni, a 34-year-old Franco-Moroccan draped in the French flag, agreed: “I am here to show the terrorists they have not won it is bringing people together of all religions.”

marks including Tower Bridge were due to be lit up in the red white and blue colours of the French national flag in a show of support for the event in Paris. Fifty-seven people were killed in an Islamist militant attack on London’s transport system in 2005.

DISSENTING VOICES Seventeen people, including journalists and police, were killed in three days of violence that began with a shooting attack on the weekly Charlie Hebdo known for its satirical attacks on Islam and other religions as well as politicians. It ended on Friday with a hostage-taking at a Jewish deli in which four hostages and the gunman were killed.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi were among 44 foreign leaders marching with Hollande. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu - who earlier encouraged French Jews to emigrate to Israel - and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were also present.

Immediately to Hollande’s left, walked Merkel and to his right Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. France intervened to help fight Islamist rebels there two years ago to the day.

In a rare public display of emotion by two major-power leaders, cameras showed Hollande embracing Merkel, her eyes shut and forehead resting on his cheek, on the steps of the Elysee before they headed off to march.

After world leaders left the march, Hollande stayed to greet survivors of the Charlie Hebdo attack and their families.

While there has been widespread solidarity with the victims, there have been dissenting voices. French social media have carried comments from those uneasy with the “Je suis Charlie” slogan interpreted as freedom of expression at all cost. Others suggest there was hypocrisy in world leaders whose countries have repressive media laws attending the march.

The head of France’s 550,000-strong Jewish community, Roger Cukierman, the largest in Europe, said Hollande had promised that Jewish schools and synagogues would have extra protection, by the army if necessary, after the killings.

Far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, whom analysts see receiving a boost in the polls due to the attacks, said her anti-immigrant party had been excluded from the Paris demonstration and would instead take part in regional marches.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 12, 2015

UN hopes release of political prisoners paves way for ‘freedoms to flourish’ in Cuba GENEVA, (CMC) – The United Nations human rights office has welcomed Cuba’s recent release of political prisoners with the hope that this new development will help open the way for an environment “where freedom of expression and association flourishes.”

At least nine political prisoners have been released by the Cuban authorities, reportedly as part of the recent U.S.-Cuba agreement.

“We understand that at least some of them may have been released conditionally, which means that they have to report to the authorities regularly,” Rupert Colville,

OHCHR spokesman Rupert Colville

spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said at a briefing

here.

“We do not know what other conditions may have been imposed for their re-

lease. As far as we are aware, the Cuban authorities have not made any statements with regard to these releases, so the details are not yet clear,” he added.

OHCHR said it has been “particularly concerned” about Cuba’s recent shortterm detention of political opponents, human rights activists and members of civil society.

Over the past four years, the Office said it received numerous reports of such detentions, without warrants, especially in advance of certain meetings and events, “apparently in order to prevent specific people

from participating.”

“These detentions can last a few hours, a few days and sometimes longer, and then people are usually released without charges,” said Colville, adding that a number of UN rights experts have engaged with the Cuban authorities on this issue.

“We urge the authorities to stop this practice, which clearly impinges on individuals’ human rights and appears to be little more than a form of intimidation or harassment,” he said.

OHCHR said the latest such detention occurred on December 30, 2014 when dozens of people were ar-

rested before they could participate in a performance at the Plaza de la Revolución in Havana by Tania Bruguera, a well-known Cuban artist.

The protest had not been authorized by the authorities, OHCR said.

It said Bruguera and others were subsequently released, but she was detained on two other occasions over the following days, and finally released last Friday.

Colville said sources in Cuba have put the number of these detentions to well over 8,000 in 2014 alone,” although we have not been able to verify the number independently”.

Caribbean has ‘historic opportunity’ to strengthen ties with China- ECLAC BEIJING, (CMC – The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) says the economic reforms under way in China are a “historic opportunity” for the region to make a qualitative and quantitative leap forward in its economic and trade relations with the Asian power.

In presenting the document, “First Forum of China and the Community of Latin

American and Caribbean States (CELAC): Exploring opportunities for cooperation on trade and investmentECLAC Executive Secretary, Alicia Bárcena, told the First CELAC-China Forum, which concluded here on Thursday that the opportunity enabled the region to better tackle its infrastructure, innovation and human resources challenges.

She also said it helps in raising the region’s produc-

tivity and competitiveness; and diversify its exports.

Bárcena said CELAC is the “most appropriate body to help the region face new challenges on the horizon.”

According to the publication, while national initiatives are necessary, they are clearly insufficient when it comes to becoming a relevant economic and trading partner for China.

Between 2000 and 2013, it noted that China went

Electoral Commission says it’s too late to realign existing constituency boundaries CASTRIES, St.Lucia, (CMC) - Electoral Commissioner, Michael Flood, believes that it is too late for the government to consider realigning existing constituency boundaries.

While acknowledging that some constituencies, notably the northern constituency of Gros Islet, need to be cut, Flood told reporters that the realignments should have been carried out within the first year of a political cycle.

“We are over three years into the term of this government, and to tell me now that you are attempting to realign boundaries because

some constituencies are too big, you knew they were too big three years ago, so why now,” the member of the Electoral Commission asserted.

Flood who represents the opposition United Workers Party said that once the physical demarcation of the boundaries is completed, the Electoral Department would have the “herculean task” of re-registering voters.

While praising the staff of the Department for their hard work and commitment, Flood nevertheless said that the re-registration creates a “headache.”

He also pointed to a lack of financial resources facing not only the Electoral Department, but other local agencies as well.

According to General Secretary of the ruling St.Lucia Labour Party, the Electoral Boundaries Commission has presented its report to the Governor General.

While he declined to comment on the contents, electoral sources say that recommendations involved the realignment of four constituencies which once approved will increase the number of constituencies from 17 to 21.

from being a minor partner of Latin America and the Caribbean to a key player.

The document said Latin America and the Caribbean offers “interesting opportunities” for a growing consumer market, proximity and preferential access to the United States and an abundance of natural resources.

The agriculture and agrifood sectors, for instance, have “huge potential,” it

said, adding that the region could play a ‘strategic role” in China’s food security, noting that the country has 7 percent of the planet’s farmable land and 6 percent of water resources to feed 22 percent of the world population).

Last week, China pledged to invest US$250 billion in Latin American and Caribbean nations in the next 10 years.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made the announcement on the first day of the historic two-day forum between Beijing and 33 CELAC member-nations.

The 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping was represented at the summit by newly-appointed CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Perry Christie of The Bahamas.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 12, 2015

Guyana Editorial

WHERE IS THE JUSTICE? RULINGS by officers of the Court, where, in most instances, the punishment is either too severe for a mere misdemeanour or not severe enough -- especially in instances of armed robbery, home invasions, rapes and sexual misconduct, domestic abuse, and even murder -- are incensing the general public, which has time and again expressed disgust at the irrational and unreasonable sentences handed down by seemingingly unconscionable magistrates and/or judges.

Newspaper archives are replete with horror stories of carjackings and tragic aftermaths, where bodies of owners/ drivers were found subsequent to the theft of their vehicles, or disappeared altogether

if they were not lucky enough to escape from the carjacker, while the vehicles vanished as though by magic, right into the maws of unscrupulous mechanic shop owners.

The carjackers -- and I daresay potential murderers, if they have not as yet committed the ultimate crime-- then enjoy, along with their relatives and friends, a short time of living well, even luxuriously, off their spoils before they embark on another foray to wrest someone’s property, and probably their life, away from them.

When caught, they are given a rap on the knuckles by some sympathetic judge or magistrate, then let loose to prey once more on society and innocent and hardworking

The siege on Paris I’D BE lying if I said I wasn’t bothered when the cartoons of Prophet Muhammad were made. But what kept me from having a desire to take the lives of those cartoonists? Why did I refrain from taking part in a protest against those cartoonists?

Why did I choose dialogue as a weapon and not a gun? Why was my response completely different than the attackers of Charlie Hebdo?

It was because as an Ahmadi Muslim, I am under the guidance of a true leadership.

The proof is that there is not a single example of an Ahmadi Muslim who committed an extremist act or had any ties to it.

The actions of these attackers have caused more dishonour to the name of Prophet

Muhammad than any cartoon ever did. I disagree with the cartoonists completely, but, more importantly, I condemn the barbaric attack committed by the attackers of Charlie Hebdo.

I’m more offended by groups like ISIS, Taliban and Al-Qaeda than any anti-Islamic cartoonists out there. These so-called Muslims claim to love Prophet Muhammad, yet ignore his teachings.

Prophet Muhammad once said, “And beware of going to the extreme in matters of religion, for those who came before you were destroyed because of going to extremes in religious matters.”

citizens.

The criminals are full of glee, because they are licenced to commit as many crimes as they want by these officers of the Court. After all, no matter how many crimes of a similar nature they commit (with the consequential destruction of lives and living of their victims and their families), their sentences will be reduced to serving minimal time for only one crime, with sentences running concurrently: As for the dealers who purchase the stolen vehicles, they get off without any sanction whatsoever, because they are given ‘deals’ and not prosecuted at all.

According to one media report: “Before

Job well done!

I WISH to commend the National Commission on Disability and the Guyana Elections Commission for discussing new modalities that will allow for persons with disabilities to cast their ballot in the upcoming national and regional elections.

This is indeed a step in the right direction, and will only serve to enhance our democracy.

FASIH MALIK

The dangers of obsession FIRST, as a Muslim and a human being, my heart goes out to the relative of the victims of the Paris media house massacre.

The perpetrators’ obsession clouded their ability to rationalize properly, as well as their judgment, hence their transgression; all of which are prohibited in Islam, Christianity and Hinduism.

I find similar obsession by some members of the local media, at the top of which is the Kaieteur News.This is evident in their

comparison of the A.G’s remarks and the Paris incident.

I thought a better comparison would be the slaughter of six pressmen at Kaieteur News and the Paris Incident.This is the kind of extremism we have to endure when we have person/s with an obsession with certain people:The truth will be sacrificed to satisfy their egos.

M. IKBAL

handing down the sentence, the Chief Magistrate took into consideration the seriousness of the offence; the convict’s plea; the saving of the Court’s time; and the other pending matters of a similar nature...”

Note should be taken here that the felon had “… other pending matters of a similar nature”, which the magistrate cited as being a mitigating factor for a lenient sentence.

He did not take into consideration the many lives said defendant had shattered, nor the fact that he is a threat to other potential victims as soon as he is released less than three years from the date of his incarceration.

So, where is the justice in the legal system?

disability” has now become somewhat of a misnomer, and they are now referred to as “persons who are differently abled”, since, as we all know, disability does not prevent anyone from making their contribution to society in positive and in their own unique ways.

I know of several persons with disabilities of one type or the other who were denied the opportunity to exercise their franchise in previous elections because of logistical difficulties in getting them into the polling booth. This is an area that needed to be given some more consideration by GECOM, in addition to the highly commendable measure to allow persons who are visually impaired to vote.

Exercising the right to vote is not only a fundamental human right, but also a sacred duty. I encourage all Guyanese to exercise that right especially in today’s context when votes are counted and elections are not only free and fair but free from fair.

HYDAR ALLY

People with disabilities are no different from any other person insofar as their intellect and faculty of reason is concerned.

They have an interest in what is going on in the country, and do have an opinion and a preference as to which of the competing political parties will best represent their interest.

In fact, the very term “persons with

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 12, 2015

Outreach programmes carded for women – to do VIA screening for cervical cancer THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) wishes to inform the public that in observance of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the hospital in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) will be hosting several outreach programmes in an effort to encourage women to get screened for cervical cancer.

According to a release from the GPHC, these services have seen many women in attendance and this year is expected to be no different.

Medic of the VIA Clinic at GPHC, Lorlene Ramsundar has disclosed that this year organisations with more females will be targeted.

She disclosed that such

procedure which is pain free and free of cost. “We apply vinegar to the mouth of the cervix, after one minute the person would have the result which will determine if they have to get treated or if we need to run more tests or if they do not require treatment.”

The medic emphasised that early detection is vital and encouraged persons

VIA testing is a very simple procedure which is pain free and free of cost.

Over the years the two institutions have held a number of similar programmes which entailed employees performing Visual Inspection Using Acetic Acid (VIA) testing on location where such outreaches were held.

places include Transport and Harbours Department, Lifeline Ministries, Restoration Ministries and several others.

VIA TESTING Ramsundar stressed that VIA testing is a very simple

between the ages of 25- 49 who are sexually active in particular to get screened as soon as possible, especially if they have never been tested.

Ramsundar underscored that getting screened can save persons’ lives and not-

Medic of the VIA Clinic at GPHC, Lorlene Ramsundar

ed that from 2009 to present the VIA Clinic has detected numerous cervical cancer cases, most of which were successfully treated.

She said the feedback from women who were

Five-star ‘Guyana Marriott’... the AHI Chairman, is that “Every dollar invested in the hotel is well invested.”

Speaking to the level of accountability with regard to the monies being expended, Brassington reminded that NICIL’s and, by extension, AHI’s financial transactions are made with the full authority of the Cabinet; are subject to full public disclosure; are audited by the Audit Office of Guyana; and subject to final Parliamentary oversight.

In seeking to clear the air on some of the misconceptions being spread in sections of the media, Brassington assured that Marriott, Republic Bank and the private investors are all fully on board with the project, which will be opened shortly.

“Guyana will have, for the first time, a five-star internationally branded hotel of which we can all be proud,” he said.

In taking the Stabroek News to task over the misleading article, Brassington disclosed that on December 1 last, a journalist from that newspaper interviewed him by phone on the subject of the progress of the Guyana Marriott Hotel, and subsequently submitted, in writing, a num-

ber of questions, to which he responded in writing.

“I was surprised, therefore, that nothing was published at the time of the interview, and find it disappointing that now, some five weeks later, you publish an article, which is a significant departure from the written questions of your reporter and the responses I had provided.

“The article is factually inaccurate, misleading and misrepresents the responses I gave your reporter,” Brassington said.

Brassington, offering further clarifications, recalled that the Stabroek News reporter enquired whether the private investors are entering into a venture with significant risk.

“My response which you have not published is that from the inception of this project the opposition has launched an orchestrated campaign calculated to discourage and obstruct private investment in the development of the hotel,” he said.

OPPOSITION THREATS Brassington maintains that the opposition have used the media as a convenient

platform to denigrate the viability of the project and to undermine, if not, subvert, both foreign and local private investor interests.

“Opposition leaders, for instance, have gone to the length of threatening to dishonour internationally binding investor agreements entered into with regard to the ownership, financing and management of the hotel.”

On the matter of the private investors currently engaged by AHI on the hotel project, Brassington reported that despite what has been reported, all partners are on board.

The Stabroek News had inaccurately reported that since the syndicated loan solicited from Republic Bank, ranks as the number one secured creditor, this somehow represented a deviation from the original financial structure of the project.

Brassington said that he informed the Stabroek News journalist that this is a condition agreed to by all the investors from the inception.

The article, he said, having benefited from the interview with him five weeks earlier, indulges in further mischievous reporting, by

screened and treated thus far has been very positive and added that persons have lauded both GPHC and the Ministry of Health for providing such services to them which they may not have

been able to afford otherwise.

She added: “We have been encouraging women who come, to tell others to come and get checked and the response has been overwhelming.”

The medic highlighted that more and more women are recognising the importance of getting themselves tested but stated that more education programmes on television and radio would be useful for women who may not know the importance of getting a VIA test done.

Cervical cancer ranks as the main type of cancer diagnosed and reported among Guyanese females, therefore key emphasis has been placed on combating the disease. It is largely preventable due to cervical screening and the HPV vaccination, the release added. (Navendra Seoraj)

From page 2

Working on completing the Marriott Hotel Swimming Pool (Photos by Adrian Narine)

speculating that “observers say that this arrangement may be unpalatable to the Hong Kong Investors.”

In reference to the land mortgaged against the Republic Bank loan, Brassington observed that the Stabroek News article reported that “Brassington stated that the option has always been in place for the land to be leased or purchased and that RBL

as the number one secure creditor to the project was invoking that option.”

According to Brassington “This is not what I said.”

He reported too that the Stabroek News journalist had asked the question: “What is the amount of the mortgage and when was the decision taken to change the framework from the leasing to mortgaging?”

“ I n m y re s p o n s e I asked: Please clarify what is meant from leasing to mortgaging. I then made it absolutely clear that the ‘framework’ for the financing of the hotel has never changed. The financing is as was contemplated in the feasibility studies and communicated to the public by AHI on prior occasions,” according to Brassington.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 12, 2015

Lawyers rap judiciary for slow Court proceedings

– AG assures of efforts to improve efficiency

Anil Nandlall

By Vanessa Narine THE ‘cancer’ of delays in the local legal system has been a sore issue for decades now, in both criminal and civil cases, and murmurs of discontent over the pace of legal proceedings have resurfaced once more with the ending of the most recent Assizes.

The June Assizes of 2014 saw only 63 cases being concluded throughout all three counties of Guyana. In Demerara only 49, 242 matters were disposed of, with some of those cases being carried over to the October Criminal Assizes, which started on October 7 last. Noteworthy too is that a total of 226 cases will be heard in October by the Judges of the High Court.

This is despite the fact that, in 2009, the Government enacted the Time Limit for Judicial Decisions Act, No. 9 of 2009 to deal with the pace of civil proceedings. The Bill was assented to since August 2009; but unfortunately, there is much desired in the area of compliance, which would see judges writing their decisions within a specified timeframe of six months in civil cases.

As it relates to criminal cases, which include a judge and jury, decisions are usually taken at the conclusion of the case.

Also, under Article 197 (3) of the Constitution, a judge may be removed from office “for persistently not writing decisions or for continuously failing to give decisions and reasons thereof within such time as may be specified by the Parliament….”

CAUSES INJUSTICE President of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), Mr. Ronald Burch-Smith acknowledged the prevailing dissatisfaction with the speed at which cases are currently being disposed of.

In a telephone interview, he told the Guyana Chronicle that while there have been some improvements in some courts, generally there is still much to be desired.

“The rate at which cases have been disposed of has improved in some courts, but overall for the large part, there is much to be desired,” Burch-Smith said.

He added that, “The peo-

“The pace in the legal system right now needs to be 10 times faster.” -- President of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), Mr. Ronald Burch-Smith that will hopefully improve the situation in Guyana’s courts.

USE OF TECHNOLOGY Another criticism of the system is that it has not embraced the speed and efficiency that comes with technology.

Partner with the legal firm, Satram & Satram, Mr. Mahendra Satram, told this newspaper that Information Communication and Technology (ICT) can play a central role in reform efforts.

recording software and other technology to improve the delivery of justice. In contradistinction, in Guyana there has been minimal use of readily available technology in our judicial administration, perhaps to the detriment of judicial officers, litigants and the general public,” he said.

“ICT must be embraced and utilised to improve efficiency in judicial administration and the expeditious delivery of justice.” – Mahendra Satram ple have much to be dissatisfied about, but given that the situation has been very bad, the few improvements we

He said, “This is not to suggest, however, that the appropriation of ICT is the singular solution or consideration nor is it uniform in its implementation and development. There have been innovative practices adopted such as paperless courts that have been highly successful, making a compelling case for automation and the employment of information technology. Numerous extraneous variables such as political will, institutional capacity

Ronald Burch-Smith

The lawyer added that, “There have been innumerable instances of misplaced or destroyed files that could have been avoided by use of electronic data management systems. Notes of evidence and legal submissions are being recorded manually by

“What I find is that most of the time, the matter is usually adjourned to a next date because of some flimsy excuse on the part of the lawyers or the judges, evidence being misplaced, and key witnesses being absent from hearings.” – Guyanese citizen Mahendra Satram

have had are welcomed….the situation is terrible because it causes enormous injustice and frustration.

The GBA Head highlighted too that two examples where the status quo is “terrible” and completely unacceptable are at the land and commercial courts.

“The pace in the legal system right now needs to be 10 times faster,” he stressed.

According to him, a National Civil Justice Committee was recently established and is currently working on a number of recommendations

and availability of resources etc. play a critical role in the ultimate success or potential failure of any proposed system.”

Satram explained that, notwithstanding this, ICT must be embraced and utilized to improve efficiency in judicial administration and the expeditious delivery of justice.

“Throughout the world, judicial administrations, including many Caribbean Islands, have implemented advanced data management systems, voice and video

judges and magistrates when readily available technology can obviate this need by recording proceedings and producing instantaneously an accurate transcript thereof.”

VIDEO TECHNOLOGY According to him, other possibilities include improved efficiency and optimised utilisation of resources by implementing electronic case management systems, publication of legal information online to improve public access, increasing transparency and accountability by installing

video technology in courtrooms.

“Online case filing systems may improve access to justice, increase the speed in which litigants can have their cases heard and determined and drastically expedite the average case cycle,” he said.

Unfortunately, Satram stated that the main hurdle that may be encountered by any such endeavour is a potential resistance by judicial culture expressed towards externally imposed change.

FLIMSY EXCUSES One of many disgruntled Guyanese, who spoke with this newspaper outside the High Court on condition of anonymity, said, “I have been in the Court for years, back and forth, with respect to a family member who was charged for murder, what I find is that most of the time, the matter is usually adjourned to a next date because of some flimsy excuse

Order 2014, increasing the number of puisne judges to 20.

At the time, the AG stated that the decision to increase the complement of Puisne Judges was made after due consultation with the judiciary.

He explained that the move is yet another demonstration of the Executive’s commitment to adequately resourcing the judiciary and supporting its institutional strengthening in order to ensure that in the end, justice is delivered to our people efficiently, competently and with dispatch.

Nandlall added that it is the administration’s hope that this new measure will assist in bringing much needed alacrity to the rate at which cases are heard and determined in the judicial system. From all indications, it appears that the current complement of puisne judges is wholly inadequate to meet the volume of litigation

“It is hoped that these investments being made in the judiciary will result in greater efficiency as well as increase the speed at which the system works.” - AG and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall on the part of the lawyers or the judges, evidence being misplaced, and key witnesses being absent from hearings.”

Another individual told the Guyana Chronicle that the judicial system needs to be streamlined so that it can be more efficient and expeditious in the handling of criminal cases.

The general consensus is that while there have been marked improvements in the number of criminal cases being disposed of, from what obtained years ago, more needs to be done to effectively cause a dent in the ever increasing number of cases.

GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS Meanwhile, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall, has repeatedly highlighted the fact that the Government is committed to resourcing the judiciary.

The latest effort was Government’s move to increase the crop of judges to the maximum limit. In February 2014, President Donald Ramotar had issued the Puisne Judges (maximum number)

engaging the justice system.

Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, Nandlall stressed that all efforts are being made to improve the efficiency and speed with which judicial matters are addressed.

FAMILY COURT He said, “Government has already fully furnished the family court and it is expected that the judiciary will announce its opening shortly.

“Also, a contract has also been awarded for the construction of a building in the Supreme Court compound, which is expected to house a Land Court with accommodations for two courtrooms and a registry. Work is expected to commence shortly.”

The Attorney General acknowledged the concerns being voiced and expressed optimism that the various systems being put in place will address the maladies that plague the justice system.

“It is hoped that these investments being made in the judiciary will result in greater efficiency as well as increase the speed at which the system works,” Nandlall concluded.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 12, 2015

Teixeira...

Political Opposition approved existing Constitution

By Vanessa Narine

THE Combined Opposition is “banging its head” against Guyana’s Constitution, which contains the very provisions that they themselves both demanded and supported.

This was the contention of Presidential Governance Advisor and Government Chief Whip in the House,Gail Teixeira, during a recent broadcast of ‘Political Scope’, aired on the National Communications Network (NCN).

According to her, there have been many criticisms of the existing provisions of the Constitution; however, she underscored the fact that these provisions were approved by the Opposition during the 1999 to 2001 constitutional reform process.

“The Constitutional reform process of 1999 to 2001 was one that the Opposition demanded, that they supported…it is support for the same powers they are now criticizing,” she said.

CONSENSUS FOR CHANGE Teixeira added that parts of the 1980 Constitution, relative to the powers of the President were not changed and in the last few years these prerogatives have been the basis for constant criticisms.

According to Teixeira, none of the powers being denigrated by the political

--but now ignores all chances at compromise

Gail Teixeira

opposition as dictatorial and abusive were not changed, by consensus, as both government and opposition had agreed to the constitutional measures currently in place.

“These (powers left unchanged) are part of the President’s prerogatives,” she said.

The existing Constitution also benefited from a series of nationwide consultations, during which the inputs of a wide cross-section of the Guyanese people, including organized labour, religious and cultural organizations and other interested parties and groups were considered.

The Private Sector also participated and made inputs to the Constitutional Reform Committee.

The reforms to the 2001 Constitution were debated and, as required by law, supported by a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.

CHANCES FOR COMPROMISE IGNORED The Presidential Advisor added that even in the exercise of these prerogatives the Head of State has offered opportunities for compromise.

Teixeira stressed that each one of these opportu-

nities for compromise has not been utilized by the combined Opposition.

“There have been no real compromises reached in the Parliament by the political opposition, and with the one seat majority, they operate in a dictatorial manner,” she said, adding that the combined Opposition has been trying to use the National Assembly to control Government, outside of government.

An example the Presidential Advisor cited was President Ramotar’s decision to decline assent to what, in his estimation, are unconstitutional Bills – relating to local government

processes – and return them to the House with an explanation of his reasoning.

Constitutionally, to decline to assent to a bill is a prerogative of the President. Article 170 (2) of the Constitution provides that when a Bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall “signify that he assents or that he withholds assent.” Section 3 adds that: “Where the President withholds his assent to a Bill, he shall return it to the Speaker within twenty-one days of the date when it was presented to him for assent with a message stating the reasons why he has withheld the assent.”

However, despite his conviction, relative to the constitutionality of the Bill, President Ramotar offered to sign the Bills if his decision was challenged in a court of law and he was proven wrong.

The Head of State has himself publicly alluded to the dangers in reversing his decision to sign Bills which he said are unconstitutional, as per his legal advice.

He cited the Esther Pereira Elections Petition case of 1998, in which, despite an agreement by Members of Parliament, a legal case did result. “How do I know if I sign this, despite my legal advice, that another Esther Pereira will raise its head and impeach me,” the Head

of State had pondered.

Close to a year has elapsed, Teixeira said, yet the Opposition has not moved to the courts to question the President’s reasoning for not signing the bills.

“They know that these bills are unconstitutional,” she stressed.

NOTHING NEW The Presidential Advisor also drew a parallel between local happenings and what obtains in other jurisdictions.

The example of the United States Congress, which is now controlled by the Republicans, was referenced by Teixeira and she stated that even President Barrack Obama refused to sign onto Bills he disagreed with.

The difference, however, she said, is that that the opposing powers of the USA have “risen to the occasion” and the Republicans have supported the Democratic Party, which controls the Executive, when the need arose – in the interest of their people.

In Guyana, Teixeira contends that the combined Opposition has not put the Guyanese people and, by extension, Guyana first – a fact that is evidenced by the positions taken, if only for the sake of a ‘skewed sense’ of political gain, in the National Assembly over the last three years.

Analyst Dep’t calls on water processors to confirm to requirements some persons are in the practice of offering for sale and distribution water that has not been properly processed and therefore of questionable quality. Apart from that manufacturers/distributers must have trained personnel at their facility.

Meanwhile customers are asked when purchasing treated water from various sources to ensure they are properly labelled and sealed, and also to report any company that fails to comply with the departments minimal requirements as it relates to the sale of treated water to the general public.

The GA-F&DD also suggested that consumers making QUESTIONABLE QUALITY purchases should demand to see a valid licence issued by GA-F&DD stated that recent reports showed that the GA-F&DD.

THE Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department is calling on all water processing factories to confirm to all the department’s requirements as it relates to the sale and distribution of treated water in five gallon bottles.

In a recent release, the GA-F&DD noted that the manufacturers and distributors must have a valid licence, which is an indicator of compliance to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP); and the bottles used must be properly cleaned, sanitized, labelled and sealed prior to sale or distribution.

The following list shows the water processing factories that were licensed for last year: * Guy-American Purified Water * First Choice Purified Water * Pure Aqua Purified Water * Family Choice Purified Water * Demerara Distillers Limited * Banks DIH Limited * Water Point * Irish Spring Purified Water * Kaieteur Springs * Smart Water * Best Water

10

Analyst Dep’t urges importers, retailers, wholesalers to get registered now

THE Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GAF&DD) wishes to remind importers, retailers and wholesalers of processed foods and raw materials used in manufacturing that they should register with the department and obtain an import permit for the current year before the deadline date of March 31.

A release from the GAF&DD stated that an import permit is issued when the following requirements are satisfied: *Suitable, registered premises for holding and storing products should be provided, also premises should be of adequate size and be properly lighted and ventilated. *Additionally, air con-

ditioning, refrigeration and freezing facilities should be provided for sensitive foods such as dairy products, preserved vacuum packaged meat products, chocolates and other confectionary. *In addition, labels should comply with the labelling requirements as set out in Section 18 of the Food and Drug Regulations, No.10 of 1977.

Meanwhile, it was also stated that all foods sold on the domestic market should be labelled in English; and it is the onus of importers to ensure that official English translations are provided for and affixed to foods labelled in a foreign language.

SHELF LIFE And all products arriving in the country must also

have a minimum of 75% of the stated shelf life at the time of entry.

Moreover, the listed persons should also have satisfactory records with respect of origin of products, names and addresses of suppliers, distribution points and a recall of the products should be kept.

Lastly a certificate of analysis, endorsed by the regulatory authority of the country of origin, must accompany each consignment.

In closing the GAF&DD disclosed that importers are also reminded that all relevant customs documents must be submitted to this department for examination before the consignments are released through the Customs and Trade Administration.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 12, 2015

OAS urges political actors to preserve democratic gains, political stability in Haiti ALL political actors in Haiti must “work together to create the necessary conditions for the holding of free and transparent elections in 2015 that are essential to the preservation of the democratic gains that have been made and the political stability of the country.”

These were the sentiments of Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the terrible

earthquake that devastated Haiti, a press release stated.

“For the benefit of the population, it is imperative that all the actors of the Haitian nation unite in their efforts to make the agreements necessary to preserve the achievements that have been made and to ensure sustainable development in Haiti,” he said.

According to the OAS Secretary General an opportunity to honour those lost exists and should be taken advan-

For Monday January 12th 2015: 09:30hrs For Tuesday January 13th, 2015: 10:30hrs For Wednesday January 14th, 2015: 11:30hrs

tage of.

He said, “The best way to honour the thousands of victims of this catastrophe is to overcome the political and other forms of difficulties with courage and in unity, in order to continue without delay the work needed to allow Haiti and its people to reach their full potential. “…the commemoration of this sad anniversary is an opportunity to honor the courage and perseverance of the Haitian people as well as the efforts of their government to improve the living conditions of the population.”

Insulza also reiterated the commitment of the OAS to the Haitian people and their government.

For his part, Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin, Chairman of the Group of Friends of Haiti, recalled that since 2010, 94 per cent of the households displaced as a result of the earthquake have been relocated.

Ramdin also noted that “the removal of debris has given way to reconstruction, improvement of infrastructure, economic growth and the creation of jobs.”

“More children now attend school than before and health indicators are improving,” he added.

However, he insisted that “the hard work that has been done in recent years has produced concrete results, which should be celebrated, while at the same time we must not lose sight of all that remains to be done in unity.”

The devastation affected over 230,000 persons and their families, leaving thousands injured or homeless, the release concluded.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 12, 2015

Mom allegedly using teenage daughter to bait ‘sugar daddy’

By Alex Wayne

SEVERAL residents of Cummings Lodge Park, Sophia are shocked at the actions of a 40-year-old mom who they claim is using her 14-year-old daughter as bait to extract monies from a bank manager with whom she is sharing an intimate relationship.

Yesterday, a close male associate of the family visited this newspaper in the company of two female neighbours and detailed a

harrowing story.

According to the informants, they had approached the mother of the teenager on several occasions and admonished her, but were met with rude outbursts and exclamations of, “I don’t care… I have to get money, and I would do whatever I have to do to get it…”

A male informant, who is a close associate of the mother, said that the woman is desperate for cash to take out her minibus which has been in the workshop since

last year. Consequently, she is inducing the girl to offer sexual favours to the 59-year-old bank manager, so that she can accumulate the large sum needed to have the bus up and running.

The man said that the teenage girl would often confide in him tearfully, lamenting that she hated the manager since he would often touch her intimately about her body.

He said the mother, who is a confectionary vendor, would often take her young

daughter and two younger sons to spend weekends at the manager who resides in Alberttown, Georgetown, and even the young boys have voiced their dislike for the man.

He said on one occasion, he visited the manager ’s home in Alberttown, and upon pushing the door open, he saw the young girl standing in a spandex shorts and her brassiere only in front of the manager, who was laying on a red couch with nothing on but his ‘boxers’.

He said the man was seemingly ‘plucking something from his teeth’ and ogling the girl. The mother was nowhere to be seen, he noted.

Our informant said that the girl has related that when she complained to her mother about being fondled by the manager, her mother would admonish her, threatening ‘fire and brimstone’ should she tell her father.

Sources have related that the girl’s father is an alcoholic who is more interested with satisfying his liquor

cravings than maintaining the family.

The male informant also related that the mother had bluntly told him once that the manager prefers very young girls and that if she had to use her daughter to extract funds from him, she most certainly would.

According to a few neighbours, who wish to remain anonymous, the teenage girl has not attended classes since the n e w s c h o o l y e a r c o mmenced.

Five awarded in Gillian Thompson reading challenge IN memory of the late Gillian Thompson, former Chief Librarian, a Reading Challenge was conducted last Wednesday, and five contestants were awarded.

The Gillian Thompson Reading Challenge award ceremony was held in the National Library’s Conference Room, with five participants in the Adults 19 years and above category.

The Reading Challenge was

described as rigorous but enjoyable to all.

AWARDEES Those awarded were Dianne Henry, 1st place; Keon Heywood, 2nd place; Lisa-Mae Agard, 3rd place; Courtlee Rodrigues, 4th place, and Carol Halley, 5th place. Each participant received trophies, books and monetary awards that were presented by the Thompson

family and Banks DIH. The Reading Challenge was organised to promote reading among young adults and adults, an initiative started by the late Chief Librarian. The Challenge was held during September and October and was opened to two categories of readers – young adults (14 to 18 years old) and adults (persons above 19 years).

Several health projects undertaken in Region 5 FOCUSING on the nation’s well-being, the Health Ministry has injected in excess of $362.9M to Region 5 for the provision of health care to its people.

This money was used for the provision of health care rehabilitation work at several medical facilities in the region.

Speaking at a recent press conference, Region 5 Chairman Bindrabhan Bisnauth noted that the Regional Health Officer (RHO) and his team should be applauded for their hard work during the course of 2014.

Commenting on the Chikungunya virus outbreak, the chairman complimented the efforts of the Ministry of Health and the Regional Health Service (RHS), which led to a containing of the virus. He noted that over 4000 patients with Chikungunya-like symptoms visited the health facilities in the region. Of these, over 120 blood samples were taken from those who “fit the case” definition and only 11 cases were confirmed.

He added that a new ambulance was bought and is being housed at the Mahai-

cony Diagnostic Centre.

Further, a generator was purchased to the tune of $13.7M for the Fort Wellington Hospital. The hospital was also boosted with a complete rewiring, costing some $6.2M. This was to curb the electrical issues, which has been a major concern at the facility for quite some time.

Also, a new $14.3M two-storeyed administrative building was constructed at the hospital, to house the RHO and his team.

Renovation was done on the two incinerators at the hospital, and the pharmacy bond of the facility was also extended, so as to enable better housing of drugs. The chairman pointed out that Government has been placing a lot of emphasis on the proper storage of medication.

Rehabilitation works were conducted on all the health centres across the region and major repairs and refurbishing works were also executed on the Mahaicony Diagnostic Centre, especially the housing quarters for the Cuban doctors.

Chief Librarian, Ms Emile King; Chairman of the National Library Committee, Mr Petamber Persaud; Committee Member, Ms Yvonne Harewood-Benn; Coordinator of Extension Activities, Ms Margaret Eastman; the late Gillian Thompson’s father, Mr Clement Thompson and her siblings and the five awardees

12

Minister Sukhai...

A

MERINDIAN Affairs, Minister Pauline Sukhai has described land as “life” for Amerindians.

She explained that it’s a strong asset base which Amerindians would be able to manage and protect by themselves, and so improve their chances of expanding their economic activities.

This point was made during an interview on the National Communications Network’s “Political Scope” programme on January 8, at which Minister Sukhai was joined by Adviser Yvonne Pearson and General Manager of the Amerindian Land Titling Project, Anna Correia.

This description of the land was reinforced by Pearson, who said: “You cannot take the Amerindians from the land; we depend on the land…our whole livelihood depends on the land…. Spiritually, we are also connected to the land”.

The fact that there are cadastral plans to prove the geographical location of lands also adds to the sense of ownership, according to Correia, who explained that four communities are currently undergoing the process, with 20 more due to start soon. Another 20 communities are due to have their lands demarcated and titled in 2016.

LAND TITLING Addressing the issue of land titling, Minister Sukhai said this process, which began three years ago, should be completed by the end of 2016.

The Land Titling pro-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 12, 2015

Land is life for Ame

--Land-titling project will provide tenured security

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Ms Pauline Sukhai (centre); Adviser to the Ministry, Ms Yvonne Pearson (left); and Manager, Land Titling Programme, Ms Anna Correia, being interviewed

by Mr Neaz Subhan, Director of the Government Information Agency (GINA) gramme, the minister noted, would give Amerindians “tenured security” as it replaces the “ad hoc” arrangement which existed previously. She opined that there is no other country which has achieved the milestones made annually

by Government in regard to Amerindian and hinterland development.

It was pointed out that Guyana’s economic perfor-

mance and Government’s political will have helped in the provision of more financial resources, to ensure that all the policy directions are adopted to improve the lot of Amerindians.

On the international front, Guyana is seen as doing “very well” in regard to indigenous matters, she added. Locally, there have been several critics, the minister acknowledged as she

explained: “Land is being addressed; economic interventions are being addressed; social improvement (and) cultural aspects are being taken into consideration; and actions and projects are being attached to each one of these major concerns, particularly the international mechanism the UN (United Nations) raises with respect to countries where Indigenous populations reside.”

Minister Sukhai said it was important to note that the Amerindian Act has a “cut off” point for Amerindians to claim ownership of lands, since they too, like many others, are wont to speculate on ownership.

The minister explained that history and its various interventions have proven that Guyana is a “land of six peoples,” and the rights of all must be considered and taken into consideration.

FORESTRY CONCESSION The granting of mining and forestry concessions was also addressed by the panellists. These concerns are being sorted by a joint board comprising the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Guyana Land and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), Amerindian and Ministry officials.

There were several cases, such as Rivers View, which had forestry concession in the proposed area of demarcation, Minister Sukhai revealed. This was resolved when representatives and stakeholders met at the community level. The meeting included officials from the GFC and the ministry. The end of the discussions saw the concessionaires agreeing with the GFC not to have the leased lands fall within the village’s boundaries, and the villagers agreeing to shift their prior claim to another area -- a move which also freed up more areas for potential concessionaires.

For resolution of issues, there must be “reasonable” discussions, the minister stressed, along with respect for all titles.

With respect to small and large scale mining, the Natural Resources and Environment Minister ultimately makes a decision, especially if any exploitation of minerals is deemed to be in the national interest, in accordance with the Amerindian

MLGRD retreat reflects on 2014 successes a --Minister outlines New Year vision

Local Government Minister, Norman Whittaker addressing the gathering HE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD) on Thursday began its third Annual Staff Retreat, a two-day activity aimed at providing a forum for MLGRD staff to present for examination and discussion the achievements and challenges they encountered while executing their work programmes in 2014.

The occasion will also be used to discuss measures that have been put in place to counteract those challenges and prevent their recurrence in 2015.

The retreat is being held under the theme “Moving Forward in 2015 with Renewed Purpose”, and mechanisms to enhance all aspects of accountability and transparency will be strengthened during this retreat.

Local Government and

Regional Development Minister, Norman Whittaker, in his address at the retreat, elaborated on “the essential function of the Ministry, which is to support the socio-economic development and infrastructure improvement in communities across Guyana.”

“As we provide services to aid in such development, we must be mindful of the fact that these improvements come out of Government’s development plans, which are reflected in the numerous programmes, such as the Government’s Poverty Reduction Plan; the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS); and the Annual Budget, which is presented in Parliament,” he detailed.

Whittaker emphasised the need for the ministry to “collaborate with the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), Municipalities, Neighbour-

hood Democratic Councils (NDCs), Community Development Councils (CDCs), and sector ministries to pursue common goals with a view to realising these goals that are outlined in the programmes.”

Accountability and transparency are high on the agenda for 2015, and Whittaker urged MLGRD employees “to place emphasis on the way services are delivered to the people we serve.” He urged employees to ensure that “municipalities and the RDCs are more accountable and transparent for the monies they receive by ensuring that reports on achievements and impediments are submitted in a timely manner to the Ministry.”

In examining habits which have been adopted by some local organs, Minister Whittaker pointed out that there is a tendency of some local organs

to wait until the end of the year to implement their programmes, since there is a rush to spend monies on unnecessary things to avoid funds from being returned to the Consolidated Fund.

The minister said he would like the employees “to focus on sanitation and improvement in the aesthetics of the environment” as part of their 2015 target. He also called on the Senior Regional Development Officers (SRDOs) and Regional Development Officers (RDOs) to put measures in place to address the blockages caused by concrete bridges that impede the flow of water, and to address the issues in cases where there is an increasing number of ‘cookshops’ “operating without the mandatory requirements.”

In describing the work programme for 2015, Whittaker said in 2015, “I would like to see our Legal Unit activated to provide advisory services

MLGRD employ to the Ministry and the Local Authorities, which would put the ministry in a better position to help the Local Authority bodies with the most critical issues.”

In addition, he emphasised the need for an Audit Section to audit tax payers’ money collected by the NDCs, since this unit would also monitor the utilisation of the systems implemented to provide the framework within which monies are collected and accounted for.

The Local Government De-

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 12, 2015

erindians Act, the minister said.

GRIF Minister Sukhai advised that naysayers look at what has been achieved, the transparency of the titling exercises, and the resolution of issues and challenges thus far. Some US$10 million have been set aside for this programme through the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), a multi-contributor trust fund for the financing of activities identified under the Government of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

The GRIF was established in October 2010, with the World Bank as Trustee, following an agreement signed between Guyana and Norway in November 2009, in which Norway agreed to provide Guyana by 2015 with up to US$250 million in performance-based payments for avoided deforestation in support of Guyana’s LCDS. Funding from GRIF, totalling some US$8.1M, has been allocated towards the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF), which is being used to finance various projects in 187 hinterland communities.

Minister Sukhai described these projects as being in areas such as tourism, farming, mining or forestry.

Twenty-five of 27 communities selected randomly in regard to sectors and regions have already benefitted from this programme, and 161 others are due to have their projects come on stream over the next two years.

The ADF offers $5 million to each community which shortlists up to five projects, and the villagers determine which of the projects they would like to execute.

The funds are administered via the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to ensure transparency and accountability.

Villagers are happy to participate in this project, particularly as it is to their community’s economic benefit, the Minister has said. One example given was that of Barabina, which has successfully set up a chicken rearing operation and has started selling. The community previously imported chicken to meet its needs.

Santa Aratack has also opened a guest house, which is also bringing in money to the community.

The move by the joint political Opposition earlier this year to cut funding for the Amerindians was described as “a big mistake”

by Minister Sukhai. Amerindians were previously marginalised, and now they receive positive attention in terms of opportunities, it was noted, as the present PPP/C Government has always sought to enhance their development.

The delay was unfortunate, but Government’s commitment is not going to be daunted; and Government will persevere as it continues to make major headway in the quest for Amerindian development, she said. (GINA)

and challenges

yees at the Annual Retreat Initiative partment, Municipal Service Department, Personnel, Registry, Expenditure Planning and Management Unit (EPMU/Accounts), and Admin/Stores gave an overview of the work they undertook in 2014, along with their achievements and challenges. The Special Projects Department also gave an overview of several projects which were funded by foreign donors and implemented by the ministry, these included Youth Empowerment Inclusion and Reconciliation

Project (YEIRP), Regional Solid Waste Management Programme (RSWMP), India/Brazil South America (IBSA), and Caribbean Local Economic Development Project (CARILED).

Overall, Whittaker is expecting that “the retreat will provide an opportunity for us to want to improve the way we do things; to embrace change.”

“Improvements”, he said, “are necessary, no matter what we do; there will always be room for improvements.”

GTA projects a 15% increase in visitor arrivals in 2015

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally

THE Tourism Ministry and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) have declared that 2014 was “a very successful year for the aviation and accommodation sectors,” and it is projected that there will be a 15% increase in visitor arrivals for 2015.

“We recognise that the expansion of Guyana’s economy lies in tourism and with the increasing investments and expressions of interest for the coming year, there will be a great turn around in our tourism drive,” Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali said.

Meanwhile, GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh noted that, “with this worldwide recognition, the improvement in infrastructure that supports growth of the industry and the increasing investments in the sector, it is anticipated that our visitor arrivals in 2015 will increase by as much as 15%.”

It is also imperative for every citizen to embrace the necessary infrastructure that seeks to further propel the sector forward, including the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project and the Marriott Hotel.

“Air service is critically linked to the survival of the tourism industry, and there is an immediate need for an adequate airport as we prepare to welcome several major carriers in the new year,” the Tourism Minister declared.

NEW AIRLINES IN 2014 The aviation sector in 2014 saw many additions with new airlines coming on board the Guyana market and have since been thriving.

Moreover, the Guyana Oil Company Limited (GUYOIL) commissioned an Aviation Services Fuel Handling facility at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). The US$3.5 million project is Phase One of an overall venture which comprises the construction of the terminal at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

COPA Airlines, Panamanian flag carrier, began flying to Guyana on July 11th and is now offering flights to their 69 destinations, with a twice weekly service to Guyana. The airline serves 69 destinations in some 30 countries with over 300 scheduled daily flights in the North, South and Central America and the

Caribbean and is recognised for its leadership in international connectivity, punctuality, quality of service and for having one of the most modern fleets in the industry.

US-registered airline, Dynamic Airways began flying from New York to Guyana in June of 2014, but due to technicalities was forced to suspend their service for a few months. The airline in November recommenced their operation but after a few hiccups and two significant flight cancelations, the airline has resumed normalcy.

Also under the watchful eye of Roraima Group of Companies, Curacao-registered Insel Air began operations from Aruba, Curacao and Miami to Guyana in June this year. The airline which has a seating capacity of 157 persons, flies to Curacao

Insel Aircraft craft has a passenger seating The India-based Sun and capacity of 13 persons and Sand Group of Companies will be used as another local held a sod-turning ceremony transportation vehicle for in July for the Sun and Sand remote hinterland and out- Hotel which will be located lying tourism attractions. In at Liliendaal. This other five December 2014, a M28 Sky star hotel will include a casiTruck aircraft was the latest no, along with a commercial addition to Jags aviation block and club house. It will fleet. contain 163 rooms and proGolden Arrow Airways, vide jobs for several hundred a tour operation conducting Guyanese. tours to Kaieteur Falls/OrinPark Vue Hotel which is duik, was officially launched located in Providence on the East Bank of Demerara was officially opened in January.

The 52-room property which has a boutique, restaurant, lounge, bar and pool area is owned by Sharon and Robin Persaud, overseas-based Guyanese.

Guyoil Aviation Fuel Services at CJIA and Aruba twice weekly.

Insel Air also added flights in December 2014, originating from Curacao to Guyana instead of only Aruba to Guyana. And Venezuelan State-owned carrier, Conviasa Airlines which began flying to Guyana in the last quarter of 2013 upgraded its service to Guyana by flying twice weekly DOMESTIC SECTOR Av i a t i o n w i t h i n t h e domestic sector also saw some additions as well as improvements in 2014 with Air Services Limited adding an aircraft to their already large fleet. Jags Aviation, a subsidiary group under BK International, was launched in August with a Cessna Grand Caravan. This air-

in May. The business which is owned by Giovanni Charles and Nirvana Mahase has one Britten Norman Trilander.

HOSPITALITY SECTOR The accommodation sector has also seen continued additions and improvements with training being offered for staff of the hospitality sector. The training in different areas was done during Tourism Month of Awareness.

In the meantime, the majority of works on the five star Marriott Hotel was completed in 2014. This hotel will boast, when completed, 197 rooms, a casino and entertainment complex. It is scheduled to be opened sometime in 2015.

RAMADA RE-BRAND And the US-based hotel group, Ramada will be spending US$7 million to rebrand the Princess Hotel and Casino at Providence to Ramada Georgetown Princess. This announcement was made at a press conference held in April.

The Rupununi Eco Hotel, located in Lethem, was officially opened in April by President Donald Ramotar. Owned by Rupununi Chamber of Commerce President, Daniel Gajie, the 20-rooms facility is equipped with all the modern amenities of a high end but affordable accommodation establishment.

This Eco Hotel will greatly assist when there is the annual Lethem Rodeo and Rupununi Expo, among other activities held within this area.

Artistic impression of the Sun and Sand Hotel

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, January 12, 2015

Mashramani 2015 preparations progressing as planned – Themed: ‘One People, One Culture, One Celebration’ NUMEROUS meetings and discussions are presently in progress to ensure the celebration of Mashramani 2015 is a success.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “One People, One Culture, One Celebration”.

Last October, on Main Street, Georgetown, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, in association with the Mashramani Secretariat, officially launched Mash 2015 “open-air-style” with great pomp and ceremony.

The event began with spectacular renditions by the National Steel Orchestra, as MC Kirk “Chow Pow” Jardine created an atmosphere that was truly festive, in keeping with the Mashramani celebrations.

Speaking at the launch, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony said Guyana possesses a unique fusion of diverse cultures which unifies us, ensuring that social cohesion works for us.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, when contacted by the Guyana Chronicle, explained that the Mash Committee was currently engaged in a series of discussions and meetings to put the final touches to the schedule of events for Mash 2015, so as not to have any major hiccups along the way.

Information emanating from the Mashramani Secretariat is that while the Calypso and Chutney auditions have already been held, submission of musical scores for these events was completed

by December 31, 2014, and rehearsals for the Calypso event will be conducted on January 12, 2014 at the Carifesta Sports Complex in Georgetown.

The celebrations will then move to Berbice with a Steelband Concert on January 25 and a School Steelband Competition on January 30 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall; and later, a date will see the Junior Calypso Competition being run off at

the National Cultural Centre.

Finals of the Chutney Competition will be held on January 31 at Anna Regina, and the semi-finals of the Carib Soca Monarch Competition will be held in Berbice. On February 1, the elderly will be treated to a bumper Mashramani Concert, while the closing date for registration for the Child Art Competition will be on February 3.

The semi-finals for the Adult Calypso Competition, which never falls short of being entertaining, will be in Bartica on February 7. After that, the Steel Band Competition will be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

On February 9, the National Museum will host a Mash Exhibition that will conclude on March 6.

The enjoyable Children’s Competition will commence across the regions from February 11. The closing date for the ‘Bright-Up Guyana’ Competition is February 13, and the judging for that seg-

ment will be done between February 20 and 22. The Mega Finals for the Carib Soca Monarch Competition will be on February 14 at the National Park.

The Folk Concert, Children’s Parade, Miss Mash Queen Pageant are all slated to be held on February 14. A Steel Band Concert would also be held on February 14 and 15, while the Masquerade competition would be held on February 15. A Republic Lecture, which start-

ed in 2014, will be held on February 18, and a Republic Lecture Series Workshop will be held on February 19/20.

The Final segment of the Adult Calypso Competition would be staged at Thirst Park on February 20, and would the Literary Street Fair would also be held on that date. Closing date for registration for the Essay Competition will be February 20.

The traditional Flag-Rais-

ing Ceremony at Parliament Buildings is scheduled from 07:00 hrs on February 23, and the always exhilarating Costume and Float Parade will be held from 10:00 hrs in Georgetown.

Closing date for registration to participate in the ‘Capture Guyana’ Photographic Exhibition is February 27, and celebrations will continue with the Berbice and Linden Mash on March 1. (Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)

Enterprise group visits Joshua House Children’s Home – to intermingle and spread love

Members of the EYDG with the children from Joshua House

THE Enterprise Youth Development Group (EYDG) on Saturday last visited the Joshua House Children’s

Home in Enmore to intermingle and spread love to the 35 children housed there.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, President of the EYDG, Samantha Sheoprashad stated that the visit

came as a part of numerous activities which were slated to mark the commencement of the New Year and Youman Nabi observances for the group.

“We believe that if protected the environment we live in shall favour us always to return good deeds into our Community,” she said.

Sheoprashad noted that the group wanted to start their year on a successful and purposeful note, beginning with children.

She added that during the course of the visit, EYDG members spent time chatting and playing games with the children, after which they were treated to lunch with a prayer, and later given foot-

wear and books, all donated

by EYDG. Also throughout the visit “we played with the younger kids and chatted with the older boys before having lunch.

After lunch we met with the secondary school boys to talk about their future plans, and of course like all young people they had big dreams aspiring to be doctors, lawyers, journalists and soldiers.”

“During interaction with the children we observed that they are energetic, curious, full of fun, polite, disciplined and engaged well with persons,” noted Sheoprashad.

Some of the children who were treated to the day of fun-filled activities are students of primary and sec-

ondary schools, that are all located on the East Coast of Demerara.

EYDG president Sheoprashad concluded that: “This is an afternoon well spent. The warm feeling we got around those kids just reminded me of the reason why we love volunteering, (and) all my members echoed similar sentiments.”

“Volunteering always gives an unusually purposeful feeling! The experience we had with these children although just a couple hours, was priceless.”

She also recounted that the old year “2014” was very successful and was history in the making for everyone in Enterprise.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 12, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 12, 2015

Superb Gayle blasts Windies ...

From back page only for Sammy and Denesh Ramdin (7 not out) to belt wayward speedster Kyle Abbott for 18 runs off the penultimate over.

With three runs needed from the last six balls and victory all but assured, Sammy finished the game in style by depositing fast bowler Marchant de Lange over the ropes at deep mid-wicket, to spark celebrations among the visitors.

Needing to score at nearly 12 an over to win, West Indies displayed their attacking intent from as early as the first over when Dwayne Smith gathered three fours off Abbott. He

Racing Tips

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Fairview 08:15 hrs Levonca 08:50 hrs Western Wonder 09:25 hrs Blackmalkin 10:00 hrs Gypsy Lane 10:40 hrs Dover Beach ENGLISH RACING TIPS Plumpton 09:20 hrs Jebril 09:55 hrs Bravo Riquet 10:30 hrs Leith Hill Legasi 11:05 hrs Golanova 11:35 hrs Sweet Boy Vic 12:05 hrs Nouailhas WOLVERHAMPTON 10:20 hrs Yair Hill 10:55 hrs Energia Flavio 11:25 hrs Harwoods Star 11:55 hrs Equita 12:25 hrs Bata Tauri 12:55 hrs Waaleef 13:25 hrs Silent Thunder 13:55 hrs Rotal Battalion

took another one off de Lange in the second over before missing the next delivery and falling lbw for 17.

Gayle and Samuels then launched an exhibition of stroke-play which left South Africa in disarray.

While Gayle struck the ball with brute force, Samuels was surgical in his execution, as they scored at a remarkable rate of 13 runs an over through the first ten overs.

The left-handed Gayle came to life in the third over bowled by Abbott. The first ball was a dot one but Gayle then crunched four consecutive off-side boundaries before finishing off with a six over mid-wicket.

Not to be left out, Samuels punched seamer David Wiese past mid-off for four in the next over and then struck him for a straight six to end the over – a shot that raised the Windies fifty off just 24 deliveries.

Gayle took another two fours and a six off Abbott in the fifth over that cost 15 runs while Samuels singlehandedly took another 16 from the sixth over from Wi-

ese, as the first six overs gushed 86 runs.

A straight six off leg-spinner Imran Tahir’s third ball of the innings brought Gayle his second half-century in three days, and his 13th in T20 Internationals, and he quickly celebrated by tearing into Aaron Phangiso with two sixes and a four in the left-arm spinner’s second over.

The century stand – the best for any wicket against the Proteas in T20s – came off 43 balls in the ninth over and Samuels strolled to his half-century off 29 balls in the 13th over, before the partnership ended when Gayle missed a tired-looking dab to third man and was caught behind off Wiese (3-43).

Samuels followed nine balls later with seven runs added, holing out to long on in Wiese’s next over, and the customary collapse followed with Kieron Pollard (7), Andre Russell (14) and Bravo (10) all perishing cheaply as the game tilted South Africa’s way.

Sammy, however, kept his wits about him and pulled the innings around with a late flourish.

SCOREBOARD SOUTH AFRICA innings R. Rossouw c wkp.

Ramdin b Holder 15 M. van Wyk c Pollard b Benn 4 F. du Plessis c Bravo b Holder 119 D. Miller run-out 47 J. Ontong c Holder b Bravo 19 F. Behardien not out 8 D. Wiese c Smith b Bravo 6 K. Abbott run-out 2 Extras: (lb-2, w-7, nb-2) 11 Total: (7 wkts, 20 overs) 231 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-21, 3-126, 4-156 5-222, 6-228), 7-231.

Bowling: Benn 3-0-42-1, Cottrell 3-0-47-0 (nb-1), Holder 4-0-40-2 (w-2), Russell 4-0-39-0 (w-4, nb1), Bravo 4-0-32-2 (w-1), Sammy 1-0-17-0, Pollard 1-0-12-0.

WEST INDIES innings D. Smith lbw b de Lange 17 C. Gayle c wkp. van Wyk b Wiese 90 M. Samuels c Behardien b Wiese 60 K. Pollard c Behardien b Wiese 7 A. Russell c Miller b Abbott 14 DJ Bravo c Ontong b Phangiso 10 D. Sammy not out 20 D. Ramdin not out 7 Extras: (b-4, w-7) 11 Total: (6 wkts, 19.2 overs) 236 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-171, 3-178, 4-185, 5-198, 6-209.

Bowling: Abbott 4-0-68-1 (w-1), de Lange 3.2-042-1 (w-2), Wiese 4-043-3 (w-3), Phangiso 3-0-33-1, Imran Tahir 4-0-29-0 (w-1), Ontong 1-0-17-0.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 12, 2015

Composed Anderson leads NZ to win over Sri Lanka

… Jayawardene scores majestic century

(REUTERS) - Corey Anderson scored a composed 81 as overall not a bad performance.”

New Zealand lurched to a three-wicket victory over Sri Mahela Jayawardene had anchored Sri Lanka’s inLanka yesterday in the first of seven one-day internationals nings with his 18th one-day century, before their spinners between the two sides before Sachithra Senanayake and next month’s World Cup. Tillakaratne Dilshan showed Anderson strode to the how dangerous they could crease with New Zealand 77 be in the World Cup as they for four at Hagley Oval in put the middle order under Christchurch and steadied the pressure. innings in a 48-run partnership Sri Lanka’s innings had with Luke Ronchi (17). been built around Jayawardene, He then guided them to though the 37-year-old did get within sight of victory alongsome middle order assistance side Nathan McCullum (25 from Lahiru Thirimanne (23) not out) in a 60-run stand, and Jeevan Mendis (23) in before he was dismissed with partnerships worth 118 runs.

10 runs needed as the hosts Jayawardene appeared made 219-7 in 43 overs, chaseffortless, working the ball ing Sri Lanka’s 218-9. into space, though he did “I thought it was a really tempt fate with several short good performance from us,” singles that would, had the said New Zealand captain fielders’ throw at the stumps Brendon McCullum, who got hit, have run him out comhis side’s run chase off to a fortably. blistering start with a 19-ball The veteran, who will retire half-century. after the World Cup, was dis“We were outstanding missed for 104, which included with the ball and in the field 12 boundaries and a six. but with the bat we made New Zealand’s Mitchell ourselves fight pretty hard ...

McClenaghan took three wickand Corey, under pressure, ets in the 47th over, and finreally stepped up nicely and Mahela Jayawardene is at his calculating best ished with figures of 4-36, to during a 107-ball 104 against New Zealand in Christ- ensure there were no late blasts got the job done.

“We need to get better, but church, yesterday. from the tail.

“I thought we were about 30 or 40 runs short on that wicket,” Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said.

“I am proud of the way we fought on the field and particularly the way that Sachithra, (Nuwan) Kulasakera and Dilshan bowled. They’re our main bowlers and we needed them to come back hard.”

The second game is in Hamilton on January 15.

SCOREBOARD SRI LANKA innings D. Karunaratne lbw b Milne 5 T. Dilshan stp. Ronchi b B. McCullum 19 K. Sangakkara c Williamson b Milne 4 M. Jayawardene c Anderson b McClenaghan 104 A. Mathews run-out 15 L. Thirimanne c Williamson b McClenaghan 23 J. Mendis c B. McCullum b McClenaghan 23 T. Perera c Ronchi b McClenaghan 0 N. Kulasekara not out 6 S. Senanayake c Ronchi b Anderson 7 S. Eranga not out 5 Extras: (w-7) 7 Total: (for 9 wickets, 50 overs) 218 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-16, 3-51, 4-82, 5-155, 6-200, 7-200, 8-200, 9-213.

Bowling: Boult 10-1-46-0 (w-4), Milne 10-1-37-2, McClenaghan 10-

1-36-4 (w-2), Anderson 10-0-61-1 (w-1), B. McCullum 10-1-38-1.

NEW ZEALAND innings M. Guptill c Dilshan b N. Kulasekara 0 B. McCullum stp. Sangakkara b Senanayake 51 K. Williamson c M. Jayawardene b Senanayake 15 T. Latham stp. Sangakkara b Dilshan 15 G. Elliott b N. Kulasekara 1 C. Anderson lbw b Dilshan 81 L. Ronchi c Mathews b Eranga 17 N. McCullum not out 25 A. Milne not out 7 Extras: (lb-5, w-2) 7 Total: (for 7 wickets, 43 overs) 219 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-63, 3-76, 4-77, 5-101, 6-149, 7-209.

Bowling: N. Kulasekara 10-1-432 (w-1),S. Eranga 6-0-49-1 (w-10, S. Senanayake 10-0-43-2, A. Mathews 2-0-17-0, T. Dilshan 7-028–2, T. Perera 7-0-29-0, J. Mendis 1-0-5-0.

Saints sub Tadic sinks United, Arsenal cruise

By Tom Hayward LONDON, England (Reuters) - Substitute Dusan Tadic fired the only goal as Southampton recorded a first league win over Manchester United for 27 years yesterday, climbing above them into third in the Premier League.

A superbly disciplined display earned Saints a 1-0 win at Old Trafford that ended United’s 10-match unbeaten run.

After taming United’s attacking options, Southampton struck in the 69th minute when Tadic calmly converted a rebound.

The south coast club moved up to third on 39 points from 21 matches, while United drop to fourth on 37 points.

“If you play against a big side you need spirit and quality but you also need belief in yourself and your team-mates and we showed that today,” Saints manager Ronald Koeman told Sky Sports.

“We have had good organisation all season, we have 11 clean sheets in 21 games and that is key to being successful.”

Earlier, Alexis Sanchez scored twice and created a third as Arsenal beat Stoke City 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium to move above Tottenham Hotspur into fifth spot with 36 points.

With just a point separating the two sides going into the match, the first half was short of thrills as Southampton restricted United’s flow in midfield.

Southampton right back Nathaniel Clyne fired a shot wide in the second minute before Angel Di Maria missed the target from distance as both sides failed to spark.

For all their attacking riches, United struggled to break

down a well-organised Southampton defence with Wayne Rooney often left frustrated by a lack of opportunities.

The home crowd were already getting restless when the visitors took the lead.

After a silky move Saints striker Graziano Pelle struck

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney (R) challenges Southampton’s Jose Fonte (L) and Florin Gardos, during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford, in Manchester, northern England, yesterday. (Credit: REUTERS/Darren Staples)

a shot against the base of the post and the ball rebounded to Tadic who kept his composure to fire past David De Gea. Tadic was then shown a yellow card for ripping off his shirt, although his joy was understandable.

Juan Mata sent a volley wide as United squandered a number of chances late on as Louis van Gaal’s side tasted defeat at home for the first time since the opening day of the season.

SUBLIME SANCHEZ Arsenal were 3-0 down at halftime against Stoke in the reverse fixture at the Britannia Stadium, but the Gunners were in electric form at the Emirates.

After they were twice denied brilliantly by Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, defender Laurent Koscielny was afforded far too much space in the Stoke penalty area to nod home Sanchez’s pinpoint cross in the sixth minute.

Arsenal’s explosive start was marred by a dislocated shoulder suffered by French defender Mathieu Debuchy, but Sanchez added a brilliant second with a clever near-post finish following a neat build-up with Tomas Rosicky.

Chilean Sanchez, so often Arsenal’s go-to man this season, wrapped up the points for the Gunners shortly after the break when his fortuitous deflected free kick squirmed past a despairing Begovic.

“It was very important to start the game well. We remember the game at Stoke; after 20 seconds we conceded a goal,” Koscielny told Sky Sports. “We were very focused and it’s very important to score the (early) goal and very important that the three-points is with us.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 12, 2015

YWCC launches third Mash Cup to be played on Republic Day LAST Friday, Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) day-to-day running of the club. He thanked the sponsors over launched the Third Edition of its annual fundraiser, Mash the years and is looking forward for their support for this event.

Cup 2015, which will see 11 second division teams from President of the Berbice Cricket Board and executive Number 19 to Gangaram Village do battle in a five overs- of the YWCC, Anil Beharry called on leaders and elders a-side contest on Republic Day, Monday, February 23, at of the communities to help and encourage young people Cumberland ground. to get involved in the game and keep them away from Regional Vice-Chairman Bhupaul Jagroop graced the drugs and crime. occasion and said he was delighted with the work of the club He said small pockets of development will lead to national and encouraged others to take a page out of their book. development and he even emphasised that everyone has to He said the Government will continue to assist the club and added that the Region is always impressed with the way their money is spent on this venue, adding that it (YWCC) gives more than the money’s worth.

Jagroop said the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s funds are allocated to improve playgrounds in the regions around Guyana and the government will continue to do so and he urged that persons be responsible and care the facilities for they benefit all and sundry.

The Club’s first-division captain and coordinator of the event, Ishwar Singh, Regional vice-chairman Bhupaul Jagroop and representatives of the particithanked the clubs in the area pating teams strike a pose after the launching of the Young Warriors Cricket for their interest and said Club third Mash Cup. this fundraiser is highly anticipated by the other clubs in the catchment area, adding play a role in the betterment of the communities, even as he that the first two editions were very successful and this thanked Dr Frank Anthony for using millions of dollars to year will be no different. improve playgrounds around the country and called on the He commended the clubs for the level of discipline shown cricket clubs to care the facilities. and encouraged them to do the same this year, disclosing that He also thanked the Regional hierarchy for their support incentives totalling over $150 000 are up for grabs. as was evident by the presence of the vice-chairman, before The matches will be of five overs-a-side and will be on the draw was done, with the hosts YWCC taking on Ganga knockout basis with non-stop action along with lots of aram and Buski Eleven playing Kendall’s Union simultanegate prizes available for the patrons, with side attractions ously from 09:00hrs. including games for kids as well.

Seawell will play Canefield, Rose Hall CC go up Singh added that the proceeds from this event will go against Betsy Ground and No.7 match strides with Goed towards acquiring the stolen covers, donations to three main Bananen Land as the defending champions fittingly drew religious organisations, further improvement of the venue and the bye.

Sangakkara returns to top of Test rankings KUMAR Sangakkara has reclaimed the top position in the ICC Test Players Rankings, following his double-century in the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington, which the hosts won by 193 runs.

Though Sri Lanka lost the series 2-0, Sangakkara’s 203 in the first innings of the second Test helped him move up to 909 points in the rankings.

Sangakkara managed just 12 runs in total from the other three innings, but it was enough to take Kumar Sangakkara’s 203 him one point clear of in Wellington takes him a AB de Villiers in second point ahead of AB de place. Sangakkara had Villiers in second place.

earlier topped the run-scoring charts in Tests in 2014, hitting 1 438 runs at 71.90, with four hundreds and eight half-centuries.

Kane Williamson, meanwhile, jumped seven places to a career-best seventh place in the rankings after a stellar series in which he ended as the leading run-scorer with 396 runs at an average of 198.

Williamson scored two fifties as well as an unbeaten 242 in the second innings in Wellington, which took him past the 3 000-run mark in Test cricket, from just 39 matches.

Australia’s Steven Smith, who scored a record-breaking 769 runs in the four-Test series against India, leapfrogged Angelo Mathews to fourth in the rankings, while Virat Kohli moved up three places to 12th after collecting scores of 147 and 46 in the SCG Test and 692 runs in the series overall.

Among the bowlers, Trent Boult was rewarded for his 11 wickets from four innings with a sixth-placed position in the rankings, nine points adrift of Mitchell Johnson. Dale Steyn still heads the table, with a commanding 79-point lead over second-placed Ryan Harris.

Albion’s AGM set for Wednesday THE ALBION Community Centre Cricket Club, Guyana’s top club for the past two years, will, in its Albion Community Centre main hall from 16:30hrs, host its Annual General Meeting (AGM).

High on the agenda will be the President’s, Secretary’s and Financial Reports for the year 2014 along with the election of Office-Bearers for the year 2015.

It is expected that the current executive, under the astute presidency of Pastor Lloyd Kanden, will be returned to office.

The cricket club is the top cricket club in Guyana, having copped the Guyana Cricket Board’s ‘Club-of-the-Year’ Award for the past two years (2013 and 2014) and in 2014, the club dominated cricket played under the auspices of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB).

The team won every club competition organised by the BCB at all levels, with the exception of their BCB/New Building Society second division semifinal encounter where they were beaten by eventual champions D’Edward in a rain-affected encounter.

Additionally, the Club has produced cricketers who represented Guyana and the West Indies at all levels in 2014 - Narsingh Deonarine, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Anthony Bramble and Jonathan Foo who are all currently part of the Guyana Jaguars team.

Pakistan’s Misbah to retire from ODIs after World Cup KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistan’s long-serving captain Misbah-ul-Haq has announced he will retire from one-day internationals and T20 cricket after the World Cup. “Misbah has formally informed us he will retire from ODIs and not play T20 cricket after the World Cup. He wants to focus on Test cricket,” Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan told Reuters yesterday.

Misbah, 41, told Geo News channel he informed the board about a week ago.

“I took the decision to retire after much thought and feel this is the best time to go from ODIs. The World Cup is my last ODI venture,” he said of the tournament starting in Australia and New Zealand next month.

Misbah became Pakistan’s most successful Test captain in the recent series against New Zealand in the UAE. He was appointed Test captain in late 2010 after the spot-fixing scandal in England led to Salman Butt being banned.

The board also handed Misbah the ODI and T20 captaincy in mid-2011 after Shahid Afridi was sacked as captain of limited overs cricket. In 2012 he was removed as T20 captain but continued to feature in domestic T20 matches.

Since his debut for Pakistan in 2002, Misbah has played 153 ODIs and scored 4 669 runs at an average of 42.83 with 37 fifties. He has led Pakistan in 78 games, with a more than 50 percent success rate.

“Test cricket remains the ultimate test for me and this year we have some tough series coming up against England and India,” he said.

Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi last month also announced his plans to retire from ODIs after the World Cup and focus on T20.

Shaharyar Khan said the board accepted Misbah’s decision and appreciated the hard work and commitment he had shown in leading the team at a difficult time for Pakistan cricket.

“He has been a big source of inspiration for the Pakistan team since the spot-fixing scandal and it is his personal decision to retire from ODIs after the World Cup,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 12, 2015

How will the Jaguars fare in this year’s NAGICO Super50?

Asks Calvin Roberts LAST YEAR, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) utilised the services of two Guyana Defence Force (GDF) personnel - 400 metres specialist Patrick King and Carl Stephenson - to provide special training for their squad of players who were preparing to contest the West Indies Cricket Board/NAGICO Super50 tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.

Late last year, head coach Esaun Crandon and his assistant Rayon Griffith, who doubles as GCB Chairman of Selectors, along with Clive Grimmond and Michael Hyles-Franco were the ones instrumental in taking the Guyana Jaguars through their physical preparations and game similation exercises.

However, the Rayon Griffith-steward Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) selection committee has put together what can be described as the best possible team, taking into consideration the availability of key players, to contest this year’s WICB/Professional Cricket League NAGICO Super50 tournament in

Trinidad and Tobago from January 15 to 25.

Eight teams will do battle for supremacy out of two groups, with the Guyana Jaguars placed in Group ‘A’ where they will face off with defending champions Barbados Pride, Windward Islands Volcanoes and Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC).

The Guyana Jaguars will take on all three teams on various dates in the preliminary round when the action bowls off, with the Volcanoes being their first opponents at the picturesque Queen’s Park Oval, the venue for all their matches which will be day/ night affairs, on January 15.

In last year’s NAGICO Super50 tournament, the team under the captaincy of Christopher Barnwell performed creditably losing two out of four matches, their final preliminary round contest against Jamaica by 10 runs and a seven-wicket loss to eventual champions Barbados in the semifinals.

During that tournament, commendable performances with the bat were recorded by former

Guyana and West Indies skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan, who waltzed away with the Man-of-the-Match award in the first two games against Ireland and

SHIVNARINE CHANDERPAUL then defending champions Windward Islands.

But Sarwan, who was not selected by the Jaguars for the PCL, but rather by Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, who later overlooked him for this tournament, is not competing and many felt that a great injustice was done to the batsman who still has lots to offer West Indies cricket.

Nevertheless, the show

must go on and certainly this time around, the temperamental Trevon Griffith who averages 22.00 in this format of the game, is expected to lead the Guyanese batting attack, with the experienced Chanderpaul, a veteran in his own right with 398 matches under his belt and an average of 42.14.

This will be so, despite the present form being displayed by Rajendra Chandrika, since the above mentioned duo were the ones who gave Guyana, competing then as Malta Supreme Guyana, solid starts in last year’s tournament, especially against the Jamaicans.

They posted 88 in that contest, chasing a target of 244, with Griffith contributing 37 and Chanderpaul 65, yet the Guyanese lost the contest and with it the chance of topping the group, even though they had qualified for the final four prior to that match, based on their two opening wins.

If selected in the final 11, Chandrika can be used as the number three batsman, followed by the Barbadian Raymon Reifer, who to date

has scored one half-century - 58 - against T&T Red Force in the four-day fixture which the Jaguars won by an innings and 60 runs.

Barnwell, who has been entrusted with the captaincy role once again, the in-form Royston Crandon, Steven Jacobs and the hard-hitting Jonathan Foo, will bolster the middle order, with both Foo and Crandon coming as the power-hitters, while Barnwell himself can execute such a role as was evident against Jamaica in the 2013 Caribbean T20 semifinal in St Kitts.

Anthony Bramble, who can also be used as an opener if the management committee decides to do so in order to play an extra bowler, will add some flair to the lower order, which has within its ranks, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Paul Wintz and Ronsford Beaton, all useful customers with the bat.

For sure, spin twins Permaul, the leading wicket-taker in the four-day version with 33 victims, and his Albion Cricket Club teammate Bishoo will lead the bowling, after Wintz and Bea-

ton, who were the talk of last year’s tournament, take the sheen off the new ball.

Barnwell and Reifer can also add variety with their steady medium pacers, even as Crandon and the dreadlocked Jacobs can lend worthy support with the ball, bowling their off-spinners on the Queen’s Park track that is conducive to spin bowling at this time of the year.

So, how they will fare in this tournament, especially in the absence of Sarwan, along with left-handed trio Assad Fudadin (injured), Leon Johnson and Narsingh Deonarine, who are on Windies duty in South Africa?

I certainly think they can go one better than last year, reach the final and lift the WICB/PCL/NAGICO Super50 trophy for the first time since 2005 when Chanderpaul won the trophy at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground in fading light.

The tour management must get the combination right for the respective opponents and the players must understand their roles in every game as they depart these shores tomorrow.

GFF to name squad and coach for Barbados clash today

By Rawle Toney THE Golden Jaguars will head to the Land of the Flying Fish for their February 1 encounter against the Island’s senior National team, and today the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will announce the coach and roster for the game.

Having fallen by the wayside, Guyana’s return to competitive football was one that many would want to forget, since under coach Denzil Thompson, their showing at

JAMAAL SHABAZZ

the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Caribbean Cup was unimpressive.

With the CONCACAF World Cup and Olympic qualifiers on the horizon, the Golden Jaguars will want to test the waters and Barbados are expected to provide the perfect match-up.

While the GFF remains tight-lipped about who will be the National coach for the encounter, sources confirmed that former technical director Jamaal Shabazz is tipped to be named today for the job.

Based on an article pub-

lished in the Guyana Chronicle on Monday January 5, Shabazz was contacted by this publication but stated via email that “At the moment I cannot confirm or deny that anything is final with me at the GFF or the Normalisation Committee. In this regard I cannot comment but you will know once things are finalised and announced by the Normalisation Committee”.

Normalisation Committee Chairman Clinton Urling, asked about the appointment, pointed out that all questioned will be answered today when the coach and squad are unveiled.

A leaked squad and staff was published, but Urling, at a Press Conference to an-

Bangladesh bowler gets bail, to stay with World Cup squad DHAKA, Bangladesh (Reuters) - Paceman Rubel Hossain will remain part of Bangladesh’s World Cup squad, the local cricket board said, after he got bail yesterday in a case filed by an actress alleging the cricketer had failed to carry out his promise of marriage.

Rubel’s participation in the February 14-March 29 tournament in Australia and New Zealand was in doubt after a Dhaka court denied him bail on Thursday.

The actress had filed the complaint with police last

month, alleging the bowler had been in a relationship with her, which included physical intimacy.

“We think the merit of the case is not that strong and for that reason he got bail from the court,” Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan told Reuters.

“He will remain in the World Cup squad and will get all the support from the board until the World Cup,” he added.

Rubel, 25, has played 22 Tests and 53 one-day internationals for Bangladesh.

nounce the appointment of Canadian Claude Bolton as Guyana’s new Technical Director, asked that only official pronouncement from the GFF be published.

“We saw people saying they know who the national team is for the Barbados friendly but I don’t even know who the team is. In fact, two or three days ago, I got an email from (Lyndon) France who is our Technical Officer about who the top players were in the recently concluded Association football games, all the MVPs and those players who were the MVPs will be shortlisted for the team,” Urling said.

CRICKETQUIZ CORNER (Monday January 12, 2015)

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

Sir Gary Sobers; HashimAmla 235 players

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Which two never played a Test match against SA? Roland Holder; Keith Arthurton; Desmond Haynes; Winston Benjamin; Franklin Rose (2) How many South Africans have now played Test cricket against the WI?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday January 12, 2015

Golden Jaguars to know 2018 World Cup Qualifiers fate on Thursday

By Rawle Toney GUYANA’S senior National team, more popularly known as the ‘Golden

Jaguars’ are set to roar once again in an attempt to qualify for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Confederation of

Gayle, Narine refuse WICB contracts CHRIS Gayle and Sunil Narine have refused the annual retainer contracts offered to them by the WICB, while it would appear Kieron Pollard wasn’t offered one by the board.

The contracts are for the period between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015.

Dwayne Bravo, who along with Pollard was left out of West Indies squad for the 2015 World Cup, is among the 12 contracted players.

The contracts were approved at a WICB board meeting in Antigua on Saturday.

“Selection for central retainer contracts was done on the basis of player performance in the various formats, with Test cricket being the premier format followed by oneday internationals and Twenty20 internationals,” the WICB said in a release.

SUNIL NARINE Gayle had accepted a WICB contract in 2014 for the first time in three years, though Pollard had not been given one last year either. In 2010, Gayle, Bravo and Pollard had refused retainer contracts.

List of contracted players: Sulieman Benn, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jason Holder, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Thakurdeen shines as PMCC stops West Berbice in 45 overs affair THANKS to a solid all round performance from Devendra Thakurdeen, host Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) were able to defeat their guest West Berbice by 29 runs in a specially organized 45 overs contest which was played at the PMCC ground yesterday.

Batting first, PMCC scored 156 all out in 42.4 overs, with Parmanand Narine topscoring with 46 (6x4), Thakurdeen made 24 (4x4), while Lloydel Lewis and Joshua Ramsammy both made 16.

Rendell Bobb snared 3 for 32, Krisendat Ramoo 2 for 25 and Sherwin Peterkin 2 for 34 for West Berbice, who in reply were limited to 127 all out in 37.3 overs, with Brentnol Woolford 28 (2x4, 1x6), Quacey McPherson 25 (2x4, 1x6), Andrew Dutchin 14 and Rafael Estriado 11 leading their batting.

Troy Gonsalves took 4 for 14, Thakurdeen 3 for 26 and Lewis 2 for 20 for the victorious PMCC team, who were rewarded with a trophy for the win, even as the management committee of both PMCC and West Berbice promises to continue playing matches of such nature, in the off-season of the Berbice Cricket Board.

North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) under which Guyana fall, will hold the official draw for the initial phases of the CONCACAF Preliminary Competition for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 on Thursday, January 15, at the W Hotel South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida.

A delegation from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), headed by Chairman of the Normalisation Committee Clinton

Urling and newly appointed Technical Director Claude Bolton, is expected to be present in the USA for the draw.

The proceedings will determine pairings for the first two rounds of the qualifying competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, which is set for March 21 - 31.

According to CONCACAF, “The event, involving 27 of the 35 CONCACAF member associations seeking to qualify for the 2018 FIFA

World Cup, will determine the match-ups for the first two rounds of the five-round regional qualifying tournament in CONCACAF, which begins in March and runs through 2017. The event will feature regional World Cup veterans and high-profile figures from CONCACAF and World Cup history.”

Under former Technical Director Jamaal Shabazz, Guyana, for the first time reached the semi-final stage of the qualifiers but, falling in a group with

Newly appointed Technical Director Claude Bolton.

CONCACAF powerhouses and 2014 World Cup participants Mexico and Costa Rica, the Jaguars bowed out of the campaign.

Gayle blasts selectors over Bravo and Pollard decision CHRIS Gayle blasted the West Indies selectors for leaving Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard out of the side’s Cricket World Cup squad.

Gayle plundered 90 off just 41 balls as the Windies successfully chased down a world-record total of 232 to claim a four-wicket win over South Africa yesterday and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Twenty20 series.

His sparkling performance came after South Africa captain Faf du Plessis raced to 119 off 56 to post the highest T20 score by a South African, leading the hosts to 231-7.

But, rather than celebrate the Windies’ remarkable run chase, Gayle was quick to take aim at the selectors for omitting all-rounders Bravo and Pollard from their World Cup plans.

“I’m so glad to win the series. I wanted to win this so bad,” Gayle said.

“There is always a twist. I woke up this morning and

saw the World Cup squad.

No Pollard and no Bravo and I felt really, really hurt deep inside and that is the reason why I wanted to win this series.

“We have the best team here and to see those two guys excluded is sad for West Indies cricket.

“If they really believe in our ability then those KIERON POLLARD two guys should be in West Indies cricket, in South Africa for the 50-over tournament and the World Cup squad. It’s sad but I’m really glad to win this.”

(Sortsmax.com)

World Cup Vignettes

King Viv flays the Lankans

… It was just Sri Lanka’s bad luck in 1987 that they ran into a West Indies side smarting from a loss to England, and Viv Richards at his vintage best.

WEST Indies’ 1987 World Cup campaign had not started brightly, with a magnificent late charge from Allan Lamb seeing England home in the opening match against them. It was just Sri Lanka’s luck that they ran into a side smarting from that early reverse.

It did not start too badly for them, though, with Ravi Ratnayeke bowling Carlisle Best and then having Richie Richardson caught behind first ball.

So when Viv Richards walked out, his first task was to avoid the hat-trick and stabilise the innings.

He had produced a 27-run cameo in the defeat against England, but it was clear from the outset that he had much more in store for those assembled inside Karachi’s National Stadium.

Richards started sedately enough, taking 62 balls for 50, but thereafter the Sri Lankan bowlers were dismissed to all parts, like puffs of cotton in front of a fan.

His tenth one-day international century, unprecedented at the time, took just 97 balls, and the last 81 runs then came from just 33 deliveries.

Vinothen John had bowled a tidy spell, and Don Anurasiri had conceded just 39 from his ten overs, but every other bowler felt the full impact of the Richards onslaught. In the midst of the mayhem, Desmond Haynes’ accomplished hundred was largely forgotten.

The pair added 182 in 177 balls, with Richards smacking seven sixes and 16 fours in a blazing innings that spanned just 125 balls. The hapless Ashantha de Mel went for 97 from his 10, and Ratnayeke, having his dreams of hat-trick glory rudely snatched away, was thumped for 44 in two overs.

Three years earlier, Richards had savaged England to the tune of 189 at Old Trafford, and but for a mis-hit in the latter stages of this innings, he might well have become the first man to score 200 in a one-day innings.

As it was, West Indies finished on 360 for 4, the highest score in a World Cup game - till Sri Lanka themselves eclipsed it nine years later. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Superb Gayle blasts Windies to world record T20 run chase … clinch T20 series 2-0

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis went through to a century in just 46 balls - the second-fastest for South Africa only a ball slower than Richard Levi’s world record.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CMC) – Chris Gayle was again sensational as West Indies incredibly pulled off the highest ever run chase in the history of Twenty20 Internationals, to beat South Africa by four wickets with four balls to spare, and clinch a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series here yesterday.

The big-hitting opener top-scored with a stunning 90 off 41 balls to help West Indies overhaul South Africa’s 231 for seven and silence a capacity crowd which crammed into the Wanderers.

Gayle struck nine fours and seven sixes and put on a record 152 for the second wicket with Marlon Samuels who stroked a classy 60 from a mere 39 balls, with seven fours and two sixes.

Their heroics outshone South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis who unfurled a classic 119 off 56 balls, his maiden T20 hundred, to guide the hosts to the fourth highest T20 International total, after they were sent in.

South Africa lost two early wickets but du Plessis counted 11 fours and five sixes and combined with David Miller, who struck 47 off 26 balls with four fours and three sixes, in an up-tempo 105 for the third wicket.

The partnership was finally broken when Andre Russell ran-out Miller at the non-striker’s end in the 11th over with the Windies running out of ideas, and du Plessis added a further 66 for the fifth wicket with Farhaan Behardien (8 not out), before he holed out at the end of the 19th over off pacer Jason Holder.

Chris Gayle hits out during his destructive innings of 90 from 41 balls at Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, yesterday as the West Indies achieve a world record run chase.

Seamer Dwayne Bravo (2-32) and Holder (2-40) were the other wicket-takers.

Left with the challenge of re-writing history, the Windies seemed in danger of wasting the brilliance of Gayle and Samuels when they lost five wickets for 38 runs, slumping from 171 for one in the 14th over to 206 for six in the 18th.

But captain Darren Sammy uncorked a little cameo of 20 not out off seven balls, with two fours and a six, that lifted West Indies over the line.

The game, though, remained up for grabs with the Caribbean side requiring 21 runs from the last two overs See page 19

Sammy pledges full support for new ODI captain

Darren Sammy (right) has pledged his full support for ODI captain Jason Holder (left).

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, (CMC) – Former West Indies one-day skipper Darren Sammy has pledged his full support for new captain Jason Holder as the team prepares for the prestigious ICC Cricket World Cup. Sammy, who led the West Indies at the 2011 World Cup, described the job as “one of the toughest in the game” and signalled his commitment in ensuring that Holder had a smooth transition to the helm of the squad.

“It’s not an easy job, I think everyone knows that. It’s probably one of the most difficult jobs – captaining the West Indies ... you carry the hopes and aspirations of all the people of the West Indies and millions more who support us all over the world,” the 31-year-old St Lucian noted.

“But it is a great job, a wonderful opportunity to serve your people and do something very special on the cricket field and make a positive impact on the lives of so many people,” added Sammy, who led the West Indies to the ICC World T20 title in Sri Lanka in

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2012.

Holder was a surprising announcement as the new West Indies one-day captain last month, replacing Dwayne Bravo who took over from Sammy in May, 2013.

The 23-year-old has played only three Tests and 21 ODIs but has been widely regarded as a future leader.

“Jason is a great young man and a very smart and intelligent cricketer and I know he is ready to take on the role,” Sammy said.

“He is a student of the game and always looking to learn and bring new ideas to the group. He’s imaginative, creative and a very good listener and this is very good.

“When his time comes to lead the ODI team I will make sure I support him and make sure the team rallies around him and give their full support. Hopefully he will take the ODI side forward.”

The West Indies will play five ODIs against South Africa before they head to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

MONDAY, JANUARY 12 2015