2015 3 16

GUYANA

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

No. 104130 MONDAY MARCH 16, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

PRICE: $80

INCLUDING VAT

Winning the Nagamootoo presidency urges Lindeners ‘to not enough!

‘We must regain the majority!’

Page

– Ramotar tells Fun Day Guests

13

kick back ass’

Page

2

– Opposition now employs drones in it's arsenal

Shareholder brings lawsuit against Guyana Stores Limited

Page

President Donald Ramotar was visibly smitten with this months-old baby girl during one of the many instances where members of the public had a chance to interact with the Party’s leadership (Photo by Adrian Narine)

PM Candidate Harper, Rohee lead Jagan fitness walk

Page

2

PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate, Mrs Elisabeth Harper; PPP/C General Secretary, Mr Clement Rohee; Public Service Ministry’s Mr Hydar Ally; and Director of Sport, Mr Neil Kumar leading the fitness walk in the National Park

8

‘Clash of Titans’ draws mammoth crowd Page

11

2

PRESIDENT TELLS ‘FUN DAY’ GUESTS...

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

Winning the presidency not enough!

–‘We must regain the majority!’

By Vanessa Narine THE atmosphere at a usually quite State House on scenic Main Street, was transformed into one tinged by children’s laughter and delighted screams, singing and the sound of feet moving to the pulsating vibes of live bands and cultural performances.

The undertones of seriousness were brought to the fore by President Donald Ramotar, who, in welcoming

hundreds to the annual fun day organised in honour of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan, reminded that the incumbent Party remains a Party of the people.

“The PPP (People’s Progressive Party) has always stood with the people; the workers; the farmers; ordinary people, everyone,” he said, repeating his call for the people to stand with him and the ruling Party come May 11, when the nation returns to the polls.

His call was met with thunderous applause, cheers and whistles from the hundreds who had an opportunity to interact, air their views and be photographed with the Party’s leadership. In time for the formal cultural programme and speeches, many took advantage of the seating arrangements on the lawns of State House, with many others standing on the sidelines to catch a glimpse of the Head of State, while others yet opted for the com-

First Lady, Madame Deolatchmee Ramotar and President Donald Ramotar with one of the several families at yesterday’s fun day (Photos by Adrian Narine)

Turn to page 12 ►

PM Candidate Harper, Rohee lead Jagan fitness walk SCORES of persons yesterday rose early to participate in the annual Dr. Cheddi Jagan fitness walk at the National Park.

Among those persons were General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Mr Clement Rohee; PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate, Mrs Elisabeth Harper; Director of Sport, Mr Neil Kumar; and

Permanent Secretary in the Public Service Ministry, Mr Hydar Ally were among the persons who participated in the fitness walk.

The walk is hosted annually by the PPP/C as part of activities to mark the death anniversary of its late founder leader, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, who was keen on fitness and was renowned for getting daily briefings from his

government ministers as he walked around the National Park with them.

Speaking briefly at the National Park, Mr Rohee thanked all those who made the effort to be a part of the event, mostly youths, for coming out and engaging in a healthy exercise. He explained that this was the

vision of the late Dr Jagan, who prided himself on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

He jovially told the group that as is the old saying, “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” He also noted that walking makes the body healthy, and the fact that persons chose to begin

the day with fitness meant “You are wise.” He said further that we are all “wealthy and blessed” to be living in such a wonderful country as Guyana.

Mrs Harper couldn’t agree more with her colleague, and thanked all the persons who participated for showing that they believe

in the vision of the late Dr Jagan. She encouraged the youths to continue to live a healthy lifestyle and make this a regular walk.

The fitness walk commenced at Red House in Kingston and proceeded to the National Park, with the differently-abled also keeping the pace.

Enjoying the walk

3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

Power is the ‘end game’ for APNU+AFC alliance – President Ramotar

By Vanessa Narine THE alliance of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) took their campaign to Linden, Region 10, on Saturday and representatives of the leadership made it clear that the two parties “are better together” in their stance against the current Administration.

However, the stance adopted by the alliance has impacted negatively on ‘breadand-butter issues’ for the Guyanese people, according to President Donald Ramotar.

He contends that securing power by uniting against the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is the “end game” for the alliance.

“Clearly what has been revealed is that this is a grab for power; we know it,” the President posited.

Mr Ramotar will run to reclaim his post at the upcoming May 11 General and Regional Elections, and has the full backing of the ruling Party.

He reasoned that in the weeks the opposition parties took to negotiate their alliance, the focus, as they announced, was on “who gets what,” as opposed to what they have to offer the Guyanese people.

“The weeks that they took to negotiate were not to hammer out what they will do; what their manifesto will be… They want power; power is their end game; not power to see what they can do for the country, otherwise at the initial stage, the emphasis would have been on what their programme and polices will be,” the President said.

He surmised that having position and power as the focus of the negotiations was a misstep. “I think that one thing that struck me about the agreement is that they took a long time to come to agree-

President Donald Ramotar

ment, and what they were arguing about was position: Who will get what; not about a policy programme… Mr Nagamootoo has been talking about ‘cutting the fat’ from Government, and with the alliance he is supporting four Vice-Presidents... And that is building a huge bureaucracy,” Mr Ramotar said.

POWER IS NO BIRTHRIGHT On that note, he decried the mentality, evidenced in comments by the alliance’s leadership, which is that power is a “birthright”, and stressed that the crux of the electoral process is ensuring that the mandate to lead is in the hands of the Guyanese voters.

The President said, “Mr Nagamootoo left one month after he lost nomination to be presidential candidate for the PPP…what we have is a move by bitter people who feel they have a birthright to lead Guyana…we have a group of bitter and power hungry men.”

All considered, he noted that a win at the upcoming polls is the only way the manifestations of the alliance’s thoughts, as reflected in their public positions, will become reality.

The Head of State expressed doubt that the APNU will stick to their agreement, given the history of the People’s National Congress (PNC), the majority partner

in APNU, with coalitions.

“I don’t think they will stick to that agreement,…the head of the list will determine who goes on the list or not and I am sure it will be Mr Granger,” he said.

Mr Ramotar’s observations follow the expressed sentiments of several politicos, who contend that the smaller AFC trumped APNU in the outcome of their negotiations – which are outlined in the Cummingsburg Accord.

Going into the coalition negotiation with the five-party APNU, the AFC controlled 21 per cent of the combined opposition seats in Parliament, but came out with a guarantee of 40 per cent of the Cabinet, and at least 12 Parliamentary seats, should they succeed at the upcoming polls.

APNU held 79 per cent of the Opposition seating arrangement in the House going into the negotiation.

“I think the AFC started to loose support some time back and they recognised that they were losing support and they decided to make the plunge to join APNU to see if they can hold on to something,” Mr Ramotar said.

NO POLITICAL MILEAGE In recent comments, the President also maintained that the political opposition will gain “political mileage” from driving the country to its knees, via its “anti-development” approach.

“They have said no to everything and have brought nothing to the table,” he stressed, adding that the political opposition has blocked the Administration’s flagship developmental projects unreasonably.

“They have blocked development that could have delivered for the Guyanese people,” Mr Ramotar stressed.

He cited the Amaila Falls

Hydropower Project (AFHP), the Specialty Hospital, the modernisation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and the Marriott Hotel as some of the projects that have been on the receiving end of the political opposition’s attacks.

“They are focused as creating as much damage, putting as

many impediments in place to progress…. I can only assume that they will drive this country to its knees, back to times when we could not eat what we wanted, buy what we wanted or…I believe they think it will improve their political fortunes,” Mr Ramotar said.

The Head of State was emphatic that come what

may the incumbent PPP/C will continue to fight to deliver development, tackle emerging challenges and advance the nation to the point where Guyanese are positioned to enjoy higher standards of living.

REMIGRANT SCHEME SCAM…

Auditor-General knocks GRA over sloth in investigation

INVESTIGATIONS into Guyana’s Remigrant Scheme have not been completed allegedly because of sloth in the flow of information from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to the Auditor-General’s Office.

Auditor-General Deodat Sharma told the Guyana Chronicle at the end of January that his office had expected to wrap-up investigations by the end of February. However, two weeks into March, the investigations are still ongoing.

Speaking to this newspaper Saturday, Mr Sharma declined to commit to a new deadline for completion of the investigations.

“I want to ensure that I have all the records before I tell you when,” was all he would say.

Once the relevant documents are passed to the Auditor-General’s Office, work would be completed in a timely manner, Mr Sharma has said. He acknowledged that sloth in delivering the information to his office is partially because the Guyana Revenue Authority has shifted offices, and partially because some of the cases date back more than five years.

That considered, he expressed confidence that investigations at the Auditor-General’s Office would be completed before long. “We are working on it,” Sharma said.

This newspaper’s repeated calls to Commissioner General of the GRA, Mr Khurshid Sattaur, for a comment on the matter have gone unanswered.

The Auditor-General has, to date, forwarded two reports to the Board of the GRA, through which the Authority requested an investigation.

In a prior interview, the Auditor-Gen-

eral declined to comment on the findings of the reports, but disclosed that two major issues the reports highlighted were the falsification of documents and whether or not the persons applying for the benefits offered to remigrants actually did qualify as remigrants.

“There are a few other contentions that the report addressed, but the details of those I cannot disclose,” Mr Sharma added.

He did, however, indicate that the findings of his report would be addressed in his yearend report as Auditor-General, which is usually submitted to the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and is subsequently made public.

Under the remigrant programme, Guyanese who would have resided overseas for more than five years and are returning home to take up residence are entitled to a number of benefits, among which are duty-free waivers for vehicles imported, and tax exemption for household items, once those items had been owned for at least six months in the country where the remigrant was living.

The Guyana Chronicle has been told that a duty-free concession is awarded on condition that the motor vehicle cannot be leased or transferred within three years of registration, and provided that the registration, licence, fitness and insurance are submitted at the GRA for inspection every six months.

However, the investigation stemmed from an alleged duty-free scam, for which four persons were placed before the court.

In regard to the move forward, the Auditor-General’s completed report is expected to be sent to the GRA Board for decisions on the requisite actions to be taken. (Vanessa Narine)

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

Kerry says U.S. will have to negotiate with Syria’s Assad opposition and government figures in January for talks on the crisis but they yielded little progress and were boycotted by the main opposition coalition.

“To get the Assad regime to negotiate, we’re going to have to make it clear to him that there is a determination by everybody to seek that political outcome and change his calculation about negotiating,” Kerry said.

“That’s under way right now. And I am convinced that, with the efforts of our allies and others, there will be increased pressure on Assad.”

By Lesley Wroughton SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) - The United States will have to negotiate with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a political transition in Syria and is exploring ways to pressure him into agreeing to talks, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told CBS News in an interview.

Washington has long insisted that Assad must be replaced through a negotiated, political transition, but the rise of a common enemy, hardline militant group Islamic State, appears to have slightly softened the West’s stance towards him.

In the interview broadcast on Sunday, Kerry did not repeat the standard U.S. line that Assad had lost all legitimacy and had to go. Syria’s civil war is now into its fifth year, with hundreds of thousands killed and millions of Syrians displaced.

“We have to negotiate in the end,” Kerry said. “We’ve always been willing to ne-

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gotiate in the context of the Geneva I process,” he added, referring to a 2012 conference which called for a negotiated transition to end the conflict.

Kerry said the United States and other countries, which he did not name, were exploring ways to reignite the diplomatic process to end the conflict in Syria.

“What we’re pushing for is to get him (Assad) to come and do that, and it may require that there be increased pressure on him of various kinds in order to do that,” the secretary

of state said.

“We’ve made it very clear to people that we are looking at increased steps that can help bring about that pressure,” he added.

The United States led efforts to convene a U.N.backed peace talks in Geneva last year between Western-backed Syrian opposition representatives and a government delegation. The talks collapsed after two rounds and no fresh talks have been scheduled.

Russia convened some

mand of the revolution as part of any future political solution and is also a primary goal of any negotiation process,” the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces said on Twitter on Sunday.

Any attempts to make the revolution change its goal of overthrowing the current regime and including it in the dialogue would go against the will of the Syrian people, said the opposition group, which despite having only tenuous links with fighters on the ground remains one of the main parties in international discussions to end the war.

Syria sank into civil war after a peaceful street uprising against four decades of Assad family rule began in March 2011. The revolt spiraled into an armed insurgency, which has deepened with the rise of Islamic State and other hardliners.

Assad seems more likely

GOAL OF THE UPRISING The Western-backed Syrian opposition coalition reiterated that Assad’s departure was a demand of the uprising against him.

“The overthrow of the head of the regime and its security apparatus is a key de-

Suspect charged in shooting of Ferguson, Missouri, police officers Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch, told a news conference. “It was not certain if he had been targeting police,” he added.

The St. Louis suburb has been racked with protests since a white police officer killed unarmed black resident Michael Brown, 18, last summer. The slaying sparked demonstrations around the country and led to a U.S. Justice Department probe.

Williams, an African American who had been on probation for possession of stolen proper-

By Richard Valdmanis FERGUSON, Missouri(Reuters) - A 20-year-old man was charged on Sunday with first-degree assault for last week’s shooting of two police officers during a protest in the troubled city Ferguson, Missouri, a crime that fueled a national debate on race and policing.

The suspect, Jeffrey Williams, has admitted to firing the shots and was from the general St. Louis area, St.

DATE: 14/03/2015 N

04 05 10 25 08 22 12

14/03/2015

03

07

08

to survive the Syrian crisis than at any point since it began. Iran’s support for Assad is as solid as ever, with Russia showing no sign of abandoning him.

U.S-led forces started air strikes against Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq in the summer. Washington has said the campaign in Syria is not coordinated with the Syrian military, which also views the group as its enemy.

The war has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced close to half the population, according to the United Nations. Damascus accuses its Western and Gulf Arab opponents of seeking to destroy the country by providing aid to an insurgency now dominated by jihadists, who also pose a threat to the West.

Assad appears to be betting that the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State will force Washington to engage with him.

09

23

14/03/2015

2

2

6

14/03/2015

ty, was arrested after a massive manhunt. Tips from the public and video evidence helped in the investigation, McCulloch said.

“He has acknowledged his participation in firing the shots,” McCulloch said, adding Williams was also charged with shooting a firearm from a motor vehicle.

The suspect, whose bond was set at $300,000, appears to have fired a .40 caliber handgun from a car and it is possible he was shooting at someone else, McCulloch said.

A handgun was recovered in his residence and matched shell casings found at the scene, according to McCulloch, who said although Williams appears to be the only shooter, other people may be charged as the investigation continues.

03 05 06 09 15 17 21

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

Over a million demonstrate against Brazil’s president — police SAO PAULO, Brazil (AFP) — More than a million people turned out for demonstrations nationwide Sunday against Brazil’s leftist President Dilma Rousseff, a target of rising discontent amid a faltering economy and a massive corruption scandal at state oil giant Petrobras.

A million of the protesters came out in the economic capital Sao Paulo, a stronghold of the opposition to Rousseff, according to local police estimates on Twitter.

Protesters also demonstrated in 74 other cities and towns across the country, with tens of thousands showing up in the capital of Brasilia and thousands more protesting in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador de Bahia.

Dressed in the yellow and green of Brazil’s flag, many protesters demanded the impeachment of Rousseff who has just begun her second term after reelection at the end of 2014.

In Rio de Janeiro, people waved Brazilian flags along the coastal Copacabana avenue behind a truck blaring slogans against Rousseff.

“Out Dilma, out PT,” people chanted.

T h e l a rg e mo b i l i s ation was reminiscent of the demonstrations Brazil saw in mid-2013 as people protested transport fare increases and the huge cost of staging the World Cup and Olympics.

A few protesters even called for military intervention to end the Workers Party’s (PT) 12 years in power.

Rita Souza, a 50-year-old television producer, carried a banner reading: “Military intervention now.”

“I’m not asking for a coup, but a constitutional intervention to call new fair elections,” Souza told AFP. “They can all go to Cuba!”

Construction contractor Alessandro Braga, 37, attended the rally in Brasilia with his wife and son.

“I support the departure of Dilma,” he said. “The biggest corruption scandals occurred during her administration and she said nothing.”

Dozens of political figures, including close allies of Rousseff, and former Petrobras executives are under investigation over a kickback and money laundering scheme that saw an estimated $3.8 billion creamed off inflated contracts over a

decade at the state-owned oil producer.

No one has been convicted yet, but some of the alleged wrongdoing took place while Rousseff was chairman of the Petrobras board.

Twenty-two deputies, 13 senators and two governors have been implicated in the bribe-taking allegations.

Rousseff is not being investigated.

Rousseff supporters rallied Friday in Brazil, following calls by unions and social movements close to the PT. Those rallies were attended by 148,000 people, according to organisers, and 32,000 people, according to police.

In addition to the corruption scandal at Petrobras, Rousseff is also facing rising inflation and a Brazilian economy that is on the brink of recession.

Government deficits have widened and the real has lost 30 per cent of its value against the dollar in the last 12 months.

Rousseff has pledged to implement austerity measures to stem the government’s rising debt, a move criticised by some in her own party.

US diplomat returns to Cuba for third round of talks NEW YORK, (CMC) – The United States Department of State says Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Roberta S. Jacobson was heading to Cuba yetserday for discussions with Josefina Vidal, Director General of the US Division of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Assistant Secretary Jacobson and Director General Vidal will continue discussions of re-establishing diplomatic relations and re-opening embassies,” said the US Department of State.

“The parties have been in communication since last meeting in February in Washington,” a statement added. “It is in the interest of both countries to re-establish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies.

It said the talks were “abruptly scheduled” at

Assistant Secretary Roberta Jacobson the invitation of the Cubans.

Jacobson, Washington’s top diplomat for the Americas, including the Caribbean, is expected to stay in Cuba until midweek.

Issues to be discussed include plans to reopen embassies before a regional summit meeting in April.

Cuba wants to be re-

moved from the State Department’s list of nations that sponsor international terrorism and seeks access to banking for its diplomatic posts in the United States.

Both sides held talks in Havana in January and in Washington last month, reporting progress but no breakthroughs.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

A controllable social malady

TEENAGE pregnancy has been an age-old problem, but in today’s more open society, it has become a bedeviling social malady that requires the effort of all to be meaningfully addressed.

There are many factors that contribute to the problem, but the chief cause remains the lack of parental guidance or proper supervision by guardians, and this includes the reluctance to educate their teenage charges about teenage sex and its implications.

No doubt many parents hold the belief that their children will eventually get to know about sex as they grow older, and that there is no hurry to sit them down and have these talks with them and at the same time listen to their views.

Of course, they will eventually know, but more often than not they learn from polluting sources which, in many cases, engender contaminating action, and the fruit thereof is teenage pregnancy.

The time for parents to talk to their children is not when they finish school, but while they are in school, since it is there that they are exposed to influences that can positively or negatively impact their young lives; and teenage sex, which leads to teenage pregnancy, is one of the problems they have to be ever vigilant against.

The reason for attention in this regard is clear. The State of the World Population 2013, produced by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has reported that Guyana is among six

Caribbean countries with the highest prevalence of teenage pregnancy, having a birth rate of 97 per 1000 adolescent girls.

A local study conducted earlier had estimated that at least 30 per cent of the students in the school system are sexually active.

In today’s technological world, the need for parents to have open discussion with their children on sex and sexuality cannot be understated, as they are vulnerable to the sway of lewd images and videos which can be easily accessed on their phones.

For this reason, while it is a known fact that children of poor background are most vulnerable to teenage pregnancy, those of well-off background are also exposed.

For children of poor

parents, it often-times happens out of the desire to either stand out or keep up with their peers, while for the well-off, it is having ready access to emancipate their feelings or experiment, based on what they see on screen.

More often than not, poverty is blamed for poor children becoming victims of the scourge, but this is not really the case, as poverty is not a death sentence, but rather a challenge to scale the ladder of success against all odds.

And for this to happen, parents do not necessarily have to be university educated, but must have an interest in their children’s performance in school; learning of their strengths and weaknesses and working to correct them; knowing

their friends and their activities, both in and out of school; and valuing their opinion as important.

The more open parents are to their children, the more open their children would be to them, and the greater would be the likelihood of parents nipping in the bud a problem that can potentially affect the lives of their children in a negative way.

But raising a child should not only rest with parents; it should be a community effort, and here is where religious institutions and schools have an important role to play. Places of worship have a duty to instill or reinforce good values and morals in youth, gearing them to lead disciplined and decent lives.

Teenage pregnancy is just one of the ills of society, but it is one that has to be tackled through a comprehensive approach, involving the educa-

tion of both boys and girls.

It is encouraging to know that the Ministry of Education has recognised the problem, and is giving due attention to it through the Health and Family Life Education Programme, and a programme to reintegrate teenage mothers into the school system.

Not much has been divulged on the latter of late, but the Health and Family Life Education Programme, which is a compulsory subject in some schools, should be implemented in all schools throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.

In doing so, Guyana could not only reduce the instances of motherhood in childhood, but ensure more stable families and less social maladies caused by teenage pregnancy.

Thanks, GPHC, for a job well done!

I WOULD like to say thanks to the Doctors, Nurses, Attendants and Cleaners working at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The GPHC has come a long way compared to my last visit there in 2010.

From the time my family and I arrived with my grandmother at the emergency entrance on New Market Street, the Attendants wasted no time in approaching our car. They ran towards us, not knowing whether the situation was life threatening or not. Before assisting us with taking my sick grandma out the car, I could hear them asking her where she was experiencing pain on her body, or trying to find out where

her injury was. Of course, my grandma was in too much pain to respond, so my sister explained the problem and the Attendants, instead of using the wheelchair they had brought to use, decided to use a stretcher.

Upon entering the Emergency area, the place was visibly clean, and the sweet aroma that emanated surrounded the area and confirmed that it was recently cleaned. I honestly was not expecting this; especially not at GPHC. My grandma had to be admitted, and was placed in the female surgical ward. My family expected this, but we all still grieved tremendously at the thought of having to leave grandma in the hospital. We worried about the treatment that she would

receive from the staff at the hospital, because of all the negative things we usually read in the newspapers. But our finances were not strong

enough to place her in a private hospital. However, what we experienced, indeed amazed us to this day.

In the following weeks, we visited my grandma daily on every single visiting occasion. We were there so

often that it felt as though we were also admitted in the hospital with our grandmother. As a result of this, we experienced the hospital for ourselves.

The nurses and doctors were really courteous to my f a m i l y. G r a n d m a told us how nice the nurses and doctors were to her. She said the nurses were always there when she needed them, especially at the times when we were not permitted to be around to tend to her every need.

They helped her to the rest room, and helped her remember to take her medication. Furthermore, she said the doctors were always checking on her to

make sure her pressure and sugar were not on the rise, and other things that was outside their duties. They went the extra mile, she would say.

The cleaners really did, and are still doing, a superb job. I take my hat off to them. These individuals really kept on top of their jobs. As soon as any spill or accidents occurred, these persons wasted no time in ensuring that it was cleaned and disinfected immediately. On a daily basis, I would see them cleaning and disinfecting the areas, in addition to tackling the spills and other accidents occurring spontaneously.

When these cleaners are done cleaning, the place is always left smelling really good, and feeling light as

though a Christmas general-cleaning had just been conducted. This was the feeling it gave me, and it left me feeling good to know that grandma at least was in an environment being attended to by these cleaners.

Unfortunately, grandma passed away; she did not make it out of the hospital, and I know she is in Heaven.

But my family is ever grateful to the Doctors, Nurses, Attendants, and Cleaners of the GPHC for the professionalism displayed from the first day to the last of my grandma’s stay at the hospital.

I thank you all, and I would like to encourage all of you to continue displaying such behaviours.

TONY SMITH

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

RODNEY’S DEATH: AN ENIGMA BEING ANSWERED

7

Special Report on the Rodney Commission of Inquiry by Shaun Michael Samaroo

Rohee testifies to Commission of X13

PROBING into our past to explore why we got to where we are today as a nation plays a crucial role in designing our future: We cannot create the future we want for the Guyanese nation without knowing the mistakes we made, and exercising deep courage to face the past.

Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, showed how serious the Government of Guyana takes this idea, with his appearance at the Presidential Commission probing the suspected political assassination of Guyana’s greatest historian, Dr Walter Rodney.

When President Donald Ramotar convened the international Commission of Inquiry to probe Guyana’s socio-economic and political atmosphere that caused Dr Rodney’s tragic demise, the Government of Guyana showed character and good conscience.

The Rodney file had become the Commonwealth Caribbean’s worst cold case, languishing gathering dust for 34 years. Dr Rodney’s widow and his children, along with international scholars and human rights advocates, voiced frustration that Guyana could not solve the case.

President Ramotar showed the courage, human decency and good conscience to make sure the Commission got Government’s support for a professional inquiry.

With Commissioners Sir Richard Cheltenham of Barbados, Jacqueline SamuelBrown of Jamaica and Jairam Seenauth of Trinidad and Tobago, the Commission had culled together legal luminaries of outstanding regional and international integrity.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, carried out the task of establishing the Commission, under President Ramotar’s direction, and with Rohee’s appearance as a witness last month, the Government of Guyana showed its commitment and resolution to face the past, and document where we went wrong as a nation after political Independence.

Our nation stands perplexed and puzzled that Opposition Leader, Brigadier David Granger, adamantly refuses to participate in this process. One would expect, not only as a former top leader of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), but also given his current leadership role in our nation, that Brigadier

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

Granger would want to solve the Dr Rodney cold case and see the ghost of the past put to rest.

But the Opposition Leader refuses to acknowledge the Commission’s integrity, and even said that if his coalition wins the May 11 national elections, he would terminate the Commission’s work.

Other key leaders in the society, including Moses Nagamootoo, refuse to acknowledge the Commission’s vital role in moving the Guyanese nation forward.

Yet, the Commission provides a perfect platform for the Guyanese nation to stand before impartial and leading Caribbean jurists to engage in an authentic conversation about why Guyana suffered during the era of rigged elections and PNC rule.

The PNC no longer exists as a political entity vying for political office, as it’s now subsumed in a political coalition. In fact, the Commission is seeing the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), which stands today opposed to Government, as a national hero. Why would the testimonies champion the WPA if the Commission was a plot for political mileage against the Opposition? The argu-

‘We see a perfect platform for the Guyanese nation to stand before impartial and leading Caribbean jurists to engage in an authentic conversation about why Guyana suffered during the era of rigged elections and PNC rule’ ‘The PNC no longer exists as a political entity vying for political office, as it’s now subsumed in a political coalition.

In fact, the Commission is seeing the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), which stands today opposed to Government, as a national hero. Why would the testimonies champion the WPA if the Commission was a plot for political mileage against the Opposition? The argument of those opposing the Government and the Commission lacks credibility, as it would make no sense that testimonies at the Commission hail the WPA as a hero, while showing up the PNC as a political villain’ ment of those opposing the Government and the Commission lacks credibility, as it would make no sense that testimonies at the Commission hail the WPA as a hero,

while showing up the PNC as a political villain.

As Rohee testified, the Commission reveals a dark, sinister era of Guyana’s history, and it would not be easy for the leaders of the political party that had Guyana in its iron grips to face such truths.

But we must all summon the courage and strength to introspect what happened to the soul of our nation.

The Commission vindicates the role of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), and is writing the admirable history of this political party in the making of modern Guyana.

Along with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the WPA led from the front to bring Guyana to where we are today, with free and fair elections entrenched as our democratic culture, and with a vibrant socio-economic engine driving us forward.

The Opposition uses the excuse that the Government is using the Commission as political currency, to opt out of facing the evidence the Commission unearths.

Indeed, the evidence shows a shameful state of play in Guyana during the 1978 – 1980 period that is under the Commission microscope, this period now a historical stain on the conscience of the Commonwealth Caribbean, and it might be very understandable why the PNC would not want to face itself in the mirror of the Commission: who wants to relive the shame of a nasty past?

Rohee outlined that past with vivid and graphic language.

“During this period the thugs from the House of Israel and a death squad which was centrally directed from the PNC headquarters at Sophia was unleashed

with greater frequency on the political opposition. The PPP suffered enormously during this period. Many of its activists and supporters were harassed, victimized and arrested. Several PPP members’ homes and yards were ransacked or dug up in search for arms and ammunition. … I myself came under surveillance by the Special Branch. Every time I travelled out of the country through the Timehri airport, the Special Branch would be there to see me off and would be waiting to welcome me home with thorough searches of my luggage and my body”, Rohee told the Commission last month in his testimony.

Rohee claimed that the prime suspect in the suspected political assassination of Dr Rodney, Gregory Smith, an ex-GDF soldier, received assistance from the PNC Government to “leave the country”, and Smith offered to return to Guyana, “provided the death penalty was removed”.

“The period 1978 to 1980

was characterized by an excruciating economic and social crisis, rigged elections, a rigged referendum, increased burdens through increased taxation on the people, removal of subsidies, rampant unemployment, shortages of all kinds of commodities, skyrocketing prices, discrimination in the distribution of basic food items, political and racial discrimination, resulting in thousands leaving the country, Dr Rodney’s failure to get a job, Government’s refusal to pay the $14 per day minimum wage, which was agreed by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), resulted in the isolation of the PNC regime.

“In addition, violence was openly manifested since it was part and parcel of the psychology of the PNC which had its roots in the 1962 – 1964 period,” Rohee told the Commission in his sworn written statement.

The Home Affairs Minister claimed that “political violence” became rampant in the period 1978 to 1980, Turn to page 9 ►

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

Guyana set to achieve safe water MDG

By Navendra Seoraj

AS the date for submission of reports in regard to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) nears, Guyana is set to achieve its target for the provision of clean and safe water, even as the issue of sanitation still poses a threat.

During a media interview Saturday at the launch of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC’s) Maternity Ward Expansion Project at the GPHC, Chief Medical Office (CMO) Dr. Shamdeo Persaud highlighted that the Ministry of Health is working collaboratively with the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), along with the various Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and municipalities,

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud

to tackle the water aspect.

WATER SAFETY PLANS “The responsibility is shared with the local sanitary authority, in collaboration with PAHO and GWI, as we also formulated water safety plans across various regions across Guyana,” he said.

So far, the CMO declared, water safety plans have been implemented in Regions 9 (Upper Takutu/

Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice), while plans are being organised for some other regions as well.

“The plan includes monitoring the source or sources of water; (determining) whether it is surface water or well (water); (mapping out) the distribution of water; and also not to forget educating the public on the safe use of water; while GWI also emphasises wastage, because water is an expensive commodity,” the CMO said.

Asked about the progress in regard to achieving the MDG, Dr. Shamdeo announced: “We are putting together the finishing touches to the mix survey, which we conducted together with the Bureau of Statistics on funds provided by the United Nations Children Relief Fund (UNICEF); a household survey of about 6000

Shareholder brings lawsuit against Guyana Stores Limited …cite breaches of operational procedures, financial reporting requirements

BREACHED operational procedures and financial reporting requirements underscore the premise of an originating summons in civil proceedings being advanced by Mr Reaz Khan against Guyana Stores Limited (GSL).

Khan, as a shareholder, told the Guyana Chronicle that GSL is a public company that has been “struck off the Register of Companies” because of its failures. As such, the Registrar of Companies, GSL’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mohammed ‘Tony’ Yassin, and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh have been named as defendants in the matter in the summons.

Khan explained that the summons details 15 lines of questioning in an effort to bring GSL to account for shortcomings evident for more than a decade. “The company failed to have a meeting of its directors; it had no AGM (Annual General Meeting), no dividends were declared, it failed to file annual returns since 2000, and it has been struck of the Register of Companies for two years now….

All of these raise questions of procedural compliance,” he said.

Khan also matched the failures of GSL against the

requirements set out in Article 153 of the Companies Act. While it is still not clear who would constitute the legal defence team of those listed as defendants in the matter, the aggrieved shareholder is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Peter Hugh.

This is not the first time questions have been asked regarding the operations of GSL. Prior to this case, other GSL shareholders had publicly demanded explanations why the company had not been complying with relevant legislation regarding the Registrar of Companies, the Guyana Securities Council (GSC), and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

GSL was state-owned up to the late 1990s. The company was privatised in 2000, and Mohan ‘Glenn’ Lall and Mohammed ‘Tony’ Yassin of Royal Investments Inc. (RII) acquired 70 per cent of its shares, while the remaining 30 per cent was collectively owned by employees and other small shareholders.

RII is also being sued

by Government for money owed from the sale of the company, and is currently before the High Court in a legal battle over the out-

standing US$2M owed to the State for the sale of the company.

Under terms of the privatisation agreement, the balance owed by RII, which acquired 70 per cent of GSL’s shares in the sale, was due by September 2002. The company, however, failed to make this payment, and in a subsequent agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant, the parties decided on October 5, 2000 that the latter would pay interest on the said sum at the US prime rate prevailing at the time of payment, commencing one year after September 30, 2000.

In June 2004, the Government holding company initiated legal action against RII for the recovery of the US$2 million plus interest. The court battle began in late 2010 and had almost a year’s break before resuming.

Senior Counsel Edward Luckhoo, in association with SC Rex Mc Kay, is representing RII. The matter will continue on March 19 bef o re J u s t i c e R o x a n n e George-Wiltshire. This most recent court action, filed by Khan on March 5, 2015, is yet to have a date decided for its hearing.

households, where we collected information on water availability and such.”

The CMO said the last national water data was collected in the 2009 Democratic Health Survey (DHS), wherein it was discovered that Guyana was just about meeting the targets. Therefore, he said, the country is on the right path to achieving this MDG.

SANITATION Meanwhile, as one goal is about to be achieved, another is proving to be a little more complicated for the various authorities. According to CMO Persaud, ‘sanitation’ is divided into two areas -solid waste management and human waste management.

He noted that although the authorities are faced with these difficulties, they’ve still been working on various projects, such as standardiz-

ing the new designs for septic tanks -- the most common method of safe disposal of human waste.

“So far, the new design is set to eliminate the soakaway part of it, so it reduces mosquito breeding, as the tanks are completely sealed.

We also had discussion with PAHO, a few years back, pertaining to the establishment of standards for pit latrines in areas that don’t have septic tanks,” he said.

Another aspect of Human Waste Management is the sewage system, and Dr. Shamdeo said the authorities are currently working along with GWI to improve the sewage system in Georgetown, but this is expected to take some time.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT As regards Solid Waste Management, the Environ-

mental Protection Agency (EPA) has a bigger role to perform, with the anti-litter laws which deal with, among other things, human behaviour, “while we have also, at the MoH and the Central Board of Health, been working with NDCs to identify and approve sanitary landfills in areas which we can’t properly manage the safe disposal,” he said.

He alluded to the fact that “some of the approvals for sanitary landfills to be developed across the region have been identified through the Clean-Up My Country campaign.

“So we have started to remove the waste from around those areas, but there is still a lot more work to be done, and the MoH and CBH (have promised) to continue monitoring these areas,” he disclosed.

Fmr Chief Magistrate to contest May 11 polls THE National Democratic Party of Guyana (NDPOG), led by former Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen, announced on Friday its intention to contest the general and regional elections slated for May 11.

Almost standing alone at the Guyana Legionnaires Hall on Carifesta Avenue to announce the NDPOG’s intention, Ms Holder-Allen related to a sparse gathering that “certain information is on a need-to-know basis.”

The party’s manifesto, which was provided to reporters, states that the former Chief Magistrate will run as the party’s presidential candidate, and former police officer and attorney-at-law Mr Patrice Henry will run as its prime ministerial candidate.

The NDPOG Manifesto also listed Attorney-at-law Lyndon Amsterdam as the party’s Attorney-General (AG) designate; Namela Rowe its Public Relations Officer (PRO); Donna Stephens its General Secretary/Treasurer; and Garfield Hoyte its Administrative Manager respectively.

Mrs Holder-Allen abruptly dismissed questions about

the party’s campaign and its financial standings. She noted thus: “All you need to know today is that we are here!”, and said that the most important issue at this point is getting the necessary paperwork completed for Nomination Day on April 7.

Mrs Holder-Allen said: “This is my country, and this is the International Decade of African People, and I have a role to play to shape what the society is supposed to be.”

She placed emphasis on reinstating the ‘Common Entrance’ examinations to the education system, noting that what presently obtains does not craft the minds of new leaders.

On September 2, 2008, Former Chief Magistrate Ms Juliet Holder-Allen handed in her resignation at the Court of Appeal after being sent on indefinite leave almost five years before following allegations of misconduct.

On July 30, 2009, she was arrested at her home and whisked off to the Brickdam Police Station for questioning pertaining to the then Ministry of Health fire. At the time of that arrest, the

Presidential Candidate of the NDPOG, Mrs Juliet Holder-Allen

Guyana Chronicle had reported that a police message left at her home requesting that she report at the Brickdam Police Station for questioning had been ignored.

“When she failed to heed their request, members of the Joint Services (police/ army) descended on her city residence at about 05:45 hrs that morning, took her into custody and escorted her to the Brickdam Police Station”, this publication had reported.

The now presidential candidate of the NDPOG has indicated that she is not fearful of any party, and has all hopes of taking all the seats in the upcoming May 11 elections. (Rebecca Ganesh)

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

Dr Cheddi Jagan remembered as strong development advocate

– Gov’t continues to be guided by his philosophy, says Dr Jagdeo THE Late President, Dr Cheddi Jagan was hailed as a patriot, strong advocate of development and global reformer when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) hosted “A Night of Reflection” on the lawns of State House on Friday.

The event organised by the PYO and attended by scores of activists, focused on the life and work of Dr Jagan and how it contributed to change both locally and globally.

Addressing a packed gathering, former President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo said Dr Jagan realised that with globalisation, there will be cross-border issues beyond the control of individual states that would require collective solutions.

These, he said, include human trafficking, drug trafficking and money laundering, noting that the New Human Global Order recognised these challenges and called for global action to have them addressed.

The New Human Global Order aims at promoting a new and enlightened partnership for peace and development, involving all actors of the world community, based on mutual respect, democratic governance and popular participation to deal with the challenges of development, poverty eradication and to address the growing disparities, among and within countries.

The visionary document tabled by Guyana before the United Nations General Assembly on November 24, 2000 was adopted by consensus.

Dr Jagdeo also noted that when the former President first spoke about debt relief, the ideal was viewed by some in the international community as a bit “wacko”, but Guyana under the early 1992 PPP Administration succeed

in getting both bilateral and multilateral debt write-offs.

Guyana benefitted from US$1.8 billion in debt relief while it paid $1.5 billion, and today, many countries have also benefitted from the idea which is now a global policy.

Dr Jagdeo also told his audience that today, climate change is a big issue, contending that the planet is hurling towards a catastrophe. This matter, he said was also recognised by the founding PPP leader, who was cognisant of the likely devastating impact it would have on poor and vulnerable populations if not addressed by a global response.

Passionate advocate Today, he pointed out Guyana is at the forefront in the global arena in advocating for a safer planet and for collective action to tackle climate change.

According to Dr Jagdeo, unlike what the People’s National Congress (PNC) Desmond Hoyte Government claims, the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) was not the work of the party, but rather an imposition by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) due to the poor state of the economy at the time.

He recalled as a young Junior Finance Minister, Dr Jagan advising his Cabinet to “Walk between the raindrops”.

He said what the late President meant was that the PPP Administration cannot escape the fact that it inherited the IMF imposition from the PNC Government, and will have to accept it, but would not do so wholly, as some maneuvering will be made.

He said Dr Jagan instead of slashing jobs in the public service as called for by the IMF; he adjusted expenditure, allocating more money to vital sectors such as health and education.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing the gathering on Friday

And through prudent management of the economy, he said Guyana eventually worked its way out of IMF management.

But he pointed out the road was not an easy one, noting that many hurdles had to be crossed. The bureaucracy, he said was overwhelming, recalling that persons had to get permit to import simple vital goods. This, he said was changed and the process is far much simpler today.

However, he said it was just one of the challenges to development, and it was these hurdles that led the Government to craft the National Development Strategy, outlining its developmental agenda and the direction of the country.

The process included inputs from civil society, and even though the PNC was invited to contribute to the plan, they refused, Dr Jagdeo said.

But he told the gathering that with or without the contribution of the Opposition, development under the PPP Government will continue as it is and will always be the duty of any PPP Government. This, he said is the vision and guiding philosophy of Dr Jagan.

Rohee testifies to...

From page 7

and this showed up in “the establishment of a Terrorist Body (sic) sponsored by the PNC called X13, whose plan was discovered by the Police, the bombing of the Michael Forde Bookstore at the headquarters of the PPP in 1963, the killing of Jagan Ramessar and Bholanauth Parmanand in 1973. Later, during the period under review political violence was carried out not only by the PNC, but also by the House of Israel who was protected by the Government of the day”, Rohee said.

The veteran leader said political violence in the period under probe included “the gunning down in 1971 of Dr Josh Ramsammy and the attempt to kidnap Clive Thomas from his home in the same year (as) concrete expressions of State-sponsored violence that took place during that period.

“The killing of Father Darke, several other Opposition political activists and ultimately, the assassination of Walter Rodney was the end product of the regime’s

refusal to appoint him at the University of Guyana (UG) in 1974”, Rohee said.

We would avoid such tragedy in the future only if we face these truths, and ventilate how we got to where we are as a nation.

We would heal our psyche only if we face how and why our soul suffered such deep historical wounds and severe psychological scars.

Minister Rohee’s testimony at the Commission demonstrates Government’s commitment to such a process.

Teen accused of stealing BMX cycle A teenager accused of stealing a bicycle was on Friday placed on $20,000 bail when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates Court.

The allegation against Ceon Delph is that on Friday, March 13, 2015, he stole one BMX bicycle valued $21,000, property of Anthony Junior.

The unrepresented 18-year-old denied the larceny charge when it was read to him

by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant objected to bail on the ground that the defendant has no fixed place of abode. Grant added that the teen told the court that he lives at Lot 14 Second Street, Cummings Lodge, which turned out to be false.

When the magistrate asked about the conflicting addresses, the teen explained that he recently moved with his family to Lodge. The magistrate granted bail and transferred the matter to City Magistrate Annette Singh for 27 March.

Rice farmer charged with break-and-enter and larceny A Leguan rice farmer was on Friday granted $125,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry after he appeared before her charged with breakand-enter and larceny.

Sarwan Raj denied the allegation that read between 10-11 March at Enterprise, Leguan Island, Essequibo, he broke and entered the shop of Savita Sukhu and stole a quantity of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages totalling $ 980,420.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that Sukhu operates a snackette on the Enterprise public road and on March 10, she secured her business and left for home.

Grant explained that when Sukhu returned on March 11 about 03:30 hrs she ob-

served the southern window broken; further checks were then made and the articles were discovered missing. The matter was reported to the police, who acted on information and arrested Raj. The court heard that some of the articles were found on him in a bag, which Sukhu had identified as hers.

The prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that the defendant is known to the police and has matters of similar nature pending before the court.

In addition to being granted bail, Raj is to report at the Leguan Police Station every Friday and will make his next court appearance on March 26 at the said court.

Construction worker on $150,000 bail for robbery under arms A twenty-six-year-old construction worker who allegedly robbed a young man of $200 dollars was placed on $150,000 bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Cereste Rogers of Lot 976 ‘B’ Field Sophia is accused of being armed with a dangerous weapon, a ‘jukka’, on February 13 at Stabroek Market and robbing Shayas Samad of $55,000 along with $200 in cash.

On the day in question, at about 19:30hrs, it was reported that Samad was buying DVDs at Stabroek Market, when the accused followed him, placed the ‘jukka’ to his abdomen while relieving him of

the articles. Rogers then made good his escape.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that after the matter was reported to the authorities, the police acting on information arrested Rogers and placed him on an identification parade, where he was positively identified by Shayas.

Prosecutor Grant however asked the court to place the accused on substantial bail. Rogers was granted bail with the condition that he report to Brickdam Police Station every Friday, he will make his next court appearance on April 2.

Man remanded for unlawful, malicious wounding

CALVIN Stacy was on Friday remanded to prison on a wounding charge after a court heard that his alleged victim was still hospitalised.

It is alleged that Stacy, on Tuesday, March 10,2015 at Water Street, Georgetown, unlawfully and maliciously wounded Trenton Benn to cause him grievous bodily harm. Stacy however denied the charge which was read by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

According to the prosecution, the altercation which culminated in Benn being wounded , resulted from an argument the two men had earlier that day. Benn was

walking south along Water Street, when it is alleged that Stacy approached him, dealt him several stab wounds to his belly, and made good his escape as Benn lay unconscious.Benn was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital by public-spirited citizens and was admitted.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant objected to bail on the ground of the nature and gravity attached to the charge. Grant also opposed bail on the ground that the Benn is still hospitalised.

Bail was refused and the matter stands adjourned for Monday, March 23, 2015.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

Puran Brothers to resume working with M&CC in Group 7 today

PURAN Brothers Disposal Inc. are set to resume operating in the M&CC Group 7 area, comprising the Costello Housing Scheme; West, East, NorthEast and Middle Road, La Penitence; Jeeboo Land, and Extra Nuclear, after payment arrangements regarding $40M owed the entity by the Mayor and City

Council (M&CC) had been satisfactorily concluded.

Acting Town Clerk Ms Carol Ryan-Sooba so informed this publication on Saturday during a telephone interview, in which she disclosed that the M&CC and the Town Clerk were able to arrive at a decision that would enable Puran Brothers to be paid soon. This decision,

she said, comes after much deliberation and consultation, because when payment was to be finalized some time ago, the City Councillors who have oversight of the financial aspects of the running of City Hall had refused to sign the cheques.

“I’m currently formulating some contracts so that the relevant personnel can

get to review the decision and endorse it before the cheques are handed over,” Sooba disclosed.

She added that while Puran Brothers are set to operate within Group 7; Group 8, which consists of areas such as Queenstown, Alberttown, North and South Cummingsburg, Kingston and Woolford Avenue, will be taken care

of by Cevons Waste Management under the control of Morris Archer, who has recently been contracted by the M&CC for this operation.

Also speaking with the Guyana Chronicle Saturday during a telephone interview was Puran Brothers’ Manager Mr. Kalesh Puran, who confirmed that the entity would be operating in Group 7 from today.

Mr. Puran noted that the M&CC has promised to make payments as soon as possible, and said he is hoping payments would start during the course of next week. (Navendra Seoraj)

Acting Town Clerk, Ms Carol Ryan-Sooba

Sugar production passes 22,000 tonnes – ‘full swing’ harvesting if rains hold

THE days of rainfall did not stop harvesting of sugar canes, although it made for a slower pace of work, according to Chief Industrial Relations Officer, James Sukhu.

“The rains hampered our work, but we continued harvesting. We have had about two days of sunshine and if we have a good weekend, harvesting will be back to normal, back in full swing next week (this week),” he said in a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

He added that to date production of sugar has surpassed 22,000 tonnes.

“We are a little behind the target we set for ourselves, but harvesting has not stopped,” Sukhu assured.

Asked about the strength of the labour force, he noted that in the factories there is an 85 per cent turnout, while in the fields, the turnout is approximately 63 per cent.

“The field worker turnout is not what we wanted because of the rains,” the Chief Industrial Relations Officer said.

Questioned about the factories in operation, Sukhu stated that seven of the eight factories are in operation, the exception being the Skeldon Sugar estate.

“Skeldon was expected to start grinding Thursday,” he said.

In addition to Skeldon,

GuySuCo’s seven other estates are located at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara; Wales, West Bank Demerara; Enmore and La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara; Rose Hall and Albion on the Corentyne Coast in East Berbice; and Blairmont, West Bank Berbice.

The cycle of the current sugar crop comes to an end in early May. In 2014, GuySuCo recorded a production of 216,147 tonnes - the first crop having surpassed the 75,000-tonne target, bringing in about 80,000 tonnes.

The calamitous drop in sugar prices on the global and preferred market scene, which challenges all sugar industries, coupled with the dramatic fall in earnings and, by extension, cash flow; and the prevailing weather conditions were among several of the difficulties that affected the local sugar industry during 2014.

The industry saw a dismal sugar production level in the past years, but Guyana has since been taking steps to turn around its sugar industry, and hopes to soon meet a 300,000-tonne target. There is also a projection that the sector would reach a 400,000-tonne goal by 2020.

The production being targeted by GuySuCo for 2015 is some 240,000 tonnes. (Vanessa Narine)

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

‘Clash of Titans’ draws mammoth crowd

Former President, Dr. Jagdeo (centre) and Minister Ali (left) during their interactive moments with members of the audience

By Navendra Seoraj THE much-anticipated Fire Fest Production’s ‘Clash of the Titans’ drew a mammoth crowd on Saturday evening, as the Guyana National Stadium came alive with spectacular performances from both local and regional artistes.

After a one-year break, the biggest chutney show of the year came back with a blast, featuring exciting performances from artistes such as Guyana’s Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo, Pooran Seeraj, Young Bill Rogers, Mahendra

Ramkellawan; while some of the top soca/chutney artistes from Trinidad and Tobago, such as JMC 3Veni, Ravi B and the Karma band, Avenash Maharaj, Savita Singh and others displayed exhilarating performances throughout the night.

Quite a few distinguished persons such as Former President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of Housing and Water/ Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfan Ali could have been seen enjoying the exciting music and the atmosphere at the National Stadium.

The popular soca/chutney

songs riddled the night as persons swayed and mingled to the exciting and waist trembling tunes, such as, “Desi Dhun Veedeshi Tal” which was performed by Savita Singh, “Runaway” by KI and many more.

The night bore many surprises as Karma during their exciting performance took some time to introduce their newest member, who didn’t fail to excite the crowd with his exuberant performance.

Apart from that there were other surprises as JMC 3Veni used their opportunity in Guyana to announce the rebrand-

Organiser/Artiste, Mahendra Ramkellawan getting the crowd pumped up (Photos by Adrian Narine)

ing of their band which is now officially named KI and Band.

Despite the name change the band still lived up to their expectations, as KI and Nishard M had the crowd exercising their dance moves all night long.

As the excitement came to end at around 03:30 hrs, organiser of the show, Mahendra Ramkellawan, promised the crowd that he will be bringing back entertainment to Guyana, and the Guyanese public should continue to provide their support for this and any other event.

The beautiful Savita Singh during her exciting performance at ‘Clash of the Titans’

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

President Ramotar among hundreds bid farewell to READ Coordinator

Dead: Vimala Balgobin

The pyre bearing Balgobin’s body being lit at the Good Hope Crematorium HUNDREDS yesterday bid farewell to Vimala Balgobin, former Project Coordinator for the Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Development Project at the Ministry of Agriculture, who was cremated at Good Hope Crematorium.

This followed a funeral service according to Hindu rites at her Lot 104 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara home.

Among those in atten-

dance at the residence of Balgobin, who was killed in an accident on March 8, 2015 in Lethem was President Donald Ramotar, several Ministers, staffers from the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Finance, and many other government officials.

The funeral service yesterday was a very emotional one as religious songs and prayers punctuated the ceremony in a very crowded atmosphere where almost

everyone present wanted to get a glimpse of Balgobin.

She was dressed in traditional Indian wear of yellow with matching jewels and was placed in a white coffin adorned with wreaths and fresh roses and looked as though she was in a very deep sleep yesterday.

Her family members were overwhelmed with grief as they cried openly while others hid their tears under sunglasses and handkerchiefs.

A Hindu ritual being performed as the coffin was carried to the crematorium site yesterday It was reported that the couple were returning to LetBalgobin died while wheel when the vehicle hem following a trip to North reportedly skidded off the her husband was seriously injured in the accident at bridge and crashed several Rupununi around midday on March 8, 2015 when the Pirara Bridge, Lethem, Re- feet below. vehicle toppled and ended up Balgobin’s husband was gion Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo) on March air-dashed to the city late in the Pirara Creek.

Balgobin, who is also that afternoon while she suc8, 2015. a member of the Guyana cumbed to severe injuries.

At the time, they were She was a former Bish- Marketing Corporation’s returning home from Lethem where Balgobin went to do ops’ High School student Board of Directors, was some work when tragedy and is also the daughter of conducting training on Tarachand Balgobin of the women’s empowerment in struck. remote locations.

Her husband was at the Ministry of Finance.

Winning the presidency ...

From Page 2 fort of the lawns itself.

Mr Ramotar, also the presidential candidate for the ruling Party, noted that the celebration of Dr Jagan’s life and work comes at a critical juncture in the history; the lead-up to one of the most consequential General and Regional elections since 1992.

The choice, come May 11, he explained, is a clear one; a choice between a Party with a proven track record of delivering a better quality of living to the Guyanese people and a party that sees the upcoming polls as a means to only one end: Grabbing the reins of power.

The President stressed the importance of every vote.

“Every vote must be counted,” he said.

Mr Ramotar reiterated his call for the Guyanese people to stand with the PPP, in the same way the Party has stood with them, and ensure that progress, peace and prosperity continue, via a majority win at the polls.

“We must not only win

the Presidency, we must win the majority…the choice is clear…we must move Guyana forward,” he charged.

THE YOUTH VOTE The Party’s prime ministerial candidate, Elisabeth Harper, reiterated similar sentiments, and, taking advantage of the large number of youths at yesterday’s fun day, she urged that they recognise their role in determining the future of Guyana.

“Everyone has a stake in our development,” she said, adding that the efforts to consolidate the gains made in the last two decades must not be lost.

“You must build on the foundation that has already been laid,” Harper urged.

The many families at the Dr Jagan’s memorial fun day also received the attention of the Party’s prime ministerial candidate.

She underscored the importance of families, calling them the “bedrock” of social and, by extension, economic progress that benefits all Guyanese.

“Go out and vote for the right Party, the PPP/C (Peo-

ple’s Progressive Party/ Civic),” she urged, with specific focus on the youths.

Her calls engendered wider smiles from hundreds of young faces painted with flowers, butterflies and a host of animated images.

STAYING THE PATH Adding to the undeniable optimism and enthusiasm that marked yesterday’s event were comments from the PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee, who hailed Dr Jagan as one of the greatest men who walked Guyana’s soil.

The ideals of Dr Jagan, he reminded, still guide the PPP, which he founded decades ago.

A section of the hundreds who turned out for Dr Cheddi Jagan’s On that note, he called memorial fun day that tangibly felt in the air. for the support of the Guyprogress and prosperity.

In addition to members anese people to ensure that The PPP General SecHis reminders and assurthe ruling Party is reelected retary added that the Party ances were welcomed by the of the public, Party memto office. remains a strong one and massive crowd, that also took bers, representatives of the “This is no time to go remains committed to all advantage of the assortment Progressive Youth Organibackwards…PPP is battle Guyanese people. of food, drinks, craft stands, sation (PYO), government ready. We are ready for the “We are a Party that has games, a ferris wheel, a mer- ministers and officials and battle, not only ready for the stood the test of time,” he ry-go-round, trampolines, prominent private sector road…the battle lines have said, adding that while the inflated castles, the offer of figures were present at Dr been drawn and Guyana naysayers want to “turn back henna designs, toys, paintball Cheddi Jagan’s memois at a crossroad. We must the clock” the PPP will conshooting competitions and rial fun day, which was go forward not backward,” tinue to march forward in prizes – a combination that organised by the Party he Rohee said. sync with the beats of peace, added to the excitement that founded.

Moses Nagamootoo urge Lindeners ‘to kick back ass’ 13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

Former PNC Leader, Robert Corbin surfaced over the weekend and is observed in conversation An Opposition controlled drone hovers above the APNU+AFC Rally with party Chairman Basil Williams

Recently sacked Magistratge, Geeta Chandan-Edmond and her husband, Joel Edmond at the rally having endorsed the coalition “ I T i s t i m e t o k i c k at the Babu John memotheir…,” and the crowd rial service for the Late enthusiastically respond- Dr Cheddi Jagan, Nagaed,“Asses!” much to the mootoo, in a retaliatory delight of A Partnership manner, sought to indirectly for National Unity and urge the people of Linden Alliance For Change (AP- to do likewise.

NU+AFC)’s Prime MinAmong the things he isterial candidate,Moses said was that Jagdeo himself Nagamootoo. deserved to have his rear The occasion was the end kicked. “The people in alliance’s Unity Rally held this country deserve to kick in Linden last Friday eve- his ass,” Nagamootoo said. ning. Delivering an address And for what? For allegedly that pushed an agenda of presiding over a series of ‘ass-kicking’, in obvious ‘failed’ projects during his reference to former Presi- term in office. dent, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo’s One of the projects at fiery speech last Sunday reference, Nagamootoo said,

APNU+AFC Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates Brigadier (rtd) David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo greet supporters was the proposed Specialty Hospital.

“They brought people here to build a Specialty Hospital, and Ramjattan told him the man is a scamp that they brought to build this hospital; Ramotar himself had to admit that the man was a fraudster,” Nagamootoo said, adding: “But the thing is: The man got away with $900M of our money... “We should now kick his…” At which prompting the crowd promptly replied: “Ass.” Just recently at its annual

memorial gathering at the Babu John cremation site of the late Party Founders, Dr Cheddi Jagan and his wife, Janet, the former President in his address to the gathering turned to his successor, President Donald Ramotar and said, “Donald, you are a democratic man; sometimes we need to administer something else and kick some asses too.”

The remark was made in the context of Jagdeo stressing that the Opposition’s stance over the last three years has “stymied every plan that the Government has

put forward” and as such, the current President should have “administer something else and kick some asses too”.

No sooner had he said so than the opposition immediately toook it out of context by using the phrase to gain political mileage through their speeches in the public domain in an attempt to stain the credibility of the former president.

However, after realizing that his statement was taken out of context, Jadgeo at a press conference held at

Freedom House last week sought to clear the air by advising: “Whatever you have to do to change this country and to ensure a better life for our people, anything… The methods are justified,” adding that his ‘kick ass’ comment was symbolic of the stance of tough attitude.

Further taking the political Opposition to task, Jagdeo said they lack solid policies and plans for the country and whatever plans that have been offered thus far are inconsistent.

PGS rewards outstanding performers with cash PROFESSIONAL Guard Services Inc. recently rewarded a number of ranks for their outstanding performance in the fourth quarter of 2014.

The officers were honoured at the Kirkpatrick’s Garden Room, Jamoon Drive, Meadow Brook, Georgetown, with sums of $5000, $10,000 and $20,000.

Some 20 persons received $5,000 while 10 persons received $10,000 and 15 persons $20,000. Three members of the Guyana Police Force received special awards in the sum of $20,000. Ganeshdat DeoKarran 17571, Kerron Gordon 18763 and Troy Ridley 14574 were the recipients.

Over the years, PGS has been consistently awarding its employees for their service to the company. The guard service company offers full integrated inspection service, 24-hour radio service, fully insured armed transfers and deposits, armed and radio-equipped security officers, fully armed response units, baton and radio-equipped security officers and also offers training classes for their personnel.

Awardees pose with PGS CEO Dougal Kirkpatrick

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

Eco-tourism best practices reinforced at GICC confab

By Rebecca Ganesh THE Tourism Ministry (MTIC), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), hosted a oneday workshop on ‘Best Practices for Eco tourism’ last Thursday at the Guy-

ana International Conference Centre (GICC) at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. And flowing from that activity was the finding that the concept of “eco-tourism” is not homogenous.

The UNDP’s Visiting Project Consultant, Ms An-

gelica Kandzior, presented her preliminary findings after holding interviews and meetings with tourism stakeholders, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Conservation International Guyana

Participants in action during the group sessions

Limited (CIGL), the University of Guyana (UG), and Iwokrama, among others, in December 2014.

The Government of Guyana and the UNDP have reached an agreement on a Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) for the period 2012/2016, and have signed an Annual Work Plan for the project under which a contract and consultancy has been awarded to Kandzior to develop a final SouthSouth Eco Tourism Compendium for Guyana.

The consultant’s findings showed that eco-tourism coexists with notions such as nature tourism, sustainable tourism, heritage and Community-based tourism (CBT); “where the concept of Eco Tourism is not homogenous.”

Stakeholders involved in eco-tourism or related forms of tourism “do not gather in specific umbrella organisations, while information on ventures cannot be found on a joint website”, she explained.

Eco-Tourism ventures offer activities that go beyond the scope of conventional eco-tourism, and seem to be concentrated with its related forms in Regions 4 (Demerara-Mahaica) and 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Esequibo).

Ms Kandzior further explained that the marketing focus for Guyana is primarily the United Kingdom and the United States. However, she said, like obtains in South American and other European countries, where the guides possess good knowledge about their local environment, the potential of Guyana’s guides should be complemented with general information about the country and issues of significance.

Ms Kandzior highlight-

ed in her presentation the approach guides should have in selling Guyana’s eco-tourism products, such as Nature Tourism, CBT, Sustainable tourism, Adventure Tourism & Cultural Tourism, which are all vital to growth of the industry.

She also explained that the use of the term ‘eco-tourism’ in various local documentations, such as the Kanuku Mountains Protected Areas Management Plan, Tourism Development Strategy 2012 – 2016, National Biodiversity Strategy, and Low Carbon Development Strategy are on point.

Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director Mr Indranauth Haralsingh reiterated the Government’s commitment to working with the UNDP to implement the eco-tourism strategy, while encouraging the investment and marketing needed to achieve the vision for Guyana’s ecotourism development.

He said it is only with “clear direction, appropriate funding, and strong Government-and-private- sector support” that this can be achieved.

“The future outlook for the Guyana Tourism industry is extremely positive.

Your active participation and contribution will assist in boosting eco-tourism development in Guyana,” Haralsingh declared.

Acknowledging that the UNDP is one of Guyana’s important and strategic development partners, the GTA Director expressed profound gratitude for the continued support of that august body.

Following the official opening, group sessions were held to examine the current eco-tourism offerings, and how those can be best developed.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

15

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

17

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

Windies book World Cup quarter-final meeting ...

From back page in Wellington next Saturday.

With Tropical Storm Pam swirling in the distance and the threat of a rain disruption hanging over the game, West Indies won the toss and quite sensibly chose to bowl first, and wiped out the UAE top order in quick time.

Holder got Andri Berenger (7) to flirt with one on off-stump in the fourth over and feather a catch through to Ramdin and in his next over, the skipper found Krishna Chandran’s outside edge before he had scored for Dwayne Smith to take a low catch at first slip.

Two balls later in the same over at 17 for three, Holder claimed opener Amjad Ali lbw for five, as UAE’s slide continued.

Taylor then removed Khurram Khan’s leg stump with a full-length delivery for five in the seventh over before uprooting Shaiman Anwar’s off stump in the next over, with a fast, straight delivery which the batsman played around.

When Holder got one to jag back and send Swapnil Pati’s off stump cart-wheeling in the 14th over, UAE were in serious danger of collapsing for the tournament’s lowest score.

However, Amjad and Nasir played bravely, capitalising on ordinary stuff from pacer Kemar Roach whose eight overs were ragged and cost 54 runs.

Nasir twice pulled short balls from the right-armer for boundaries in the 26th over and when Roach was brought back for a second spell in the 37th over, it coincided with Nasir reaching his maiden ODI half-century.

He celebrated with two boundaries in Roach’s next over which cost 15 runs and Amjad collected a third four in the over through cover, to also raise his first oneday fifty.

Russell got the breakthrough, bowling Amjad with a slower ball in the

41st, and his dismissal triggered a final slide that saw the last four wickets tumble for 22 runs.

Charles and Smith, who made 15, then gave the Windies a hurried start of 33 off 19 deliveries, with Charles in particular playing aggressively. In the first over of the innings, he lifted off-spinner Nasir over mid-off for four and then cleared the ropes at long on.

Smith followed up in Nasir’s next over, the third of the innings which bled 15 runs, sweeping for four and then going straight for six, with Charles slamming the final delivery to the cover boundary.

However, Smith tickled the first delivery of the next over behind to depart and vice-captain Marlon Samuels lasted 18 balls for his nine before slapping left-arm seamer Manjula Guruge into Berenger’s lap at point, at 53 for two in the eighth over.

Carter and Charles steadied West Indies in a 56-run, third-wicket partnership that required just 46 deliveries.

Overall, Charles counted nine fours and two sixes while Carter collected five fours, as West Indies moved beyond 100 and whittled away at their target.

The right-handed Charles raised his fourth ODI half-century in the 14th over but then holed out to mid-off off Amjad and Russell (7), promoted in the order to accelerate the scoring, belted a six over long on but then popped one up for Amjad to take the return catch in his next over.

Tentatively placed at 118 for four in the 18th, West Indies found momentum in Ramdin and Carter who calmly saw the Caribbean side over the line and more importantly, into the next round.

RACING TIPS SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Flamingo Park 08:15 hrs Zenith 08:45 hrs Alberts Garden 09:15 hrs To Be Brave 09:45 hrs Wolf In Winter 10;15 hrs Prolan ENGLISH RACING TIPS Taunton 10:15 hrs Final Nudge 10:50 hrs Maverik 11:20 hrs Agapanthus 11:50 hrs Vayland 12:20 hrs The Chuckmeister 12:50 hrs Styrawberry Hill 13:20 hrs Cappielow Park FONTWELL 10:35 hrs Money For Nothing 11:10 hrs King’s Odyssey 11:40 hrs Oscar Oscar 12:10 hrs Storm Of Swords 12:40 hrs Sea Pride Chelmsford City

11:00 hrs Satchville Flyer 12:00 hrs India’s Song 13:00 hrs Hold Firm 13;30 hrs Guards Chapel FRENCH RACING TIPS Marsielle 11:40 hrs Smoke City 12:10 hrs Darepta 12:40 hrs Excellent Touch 13:10 hrs Barbados Bob 13:40 hrs Kayenne 14:10 hrs Lady Pretoria 14;40 hrs Dust In The Wind AMERICAN RACING TIPS Philadelphia Park Race 1 Calculus Race 2 Life At Six Race 3 Ay Up Papi Race 4 All Up Race 5 Yo Berbs Race 6 Seeker Race 7 Timmy T Race 8 Graeme Crackerjack Race 9 Its Up in the Air

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

Pakistan in quarters after beating Ireland … Porterfield’s first World Cup ton in vain

ADELAIDE, Australia (Reuters) - Pakistan grabbed a World Cup quarter-final berth yesterday following their seven-wicket victory against Ireland that also cleared West Indies’ last eight passage from Pool B. Sarfraz Ahmed (101 not out) hit Pakistan’s first century at this year’s World Cup and added 120 runs with Ahmed Shehzad (63) to give the team their best start in the tournament.

The 1992 champions overwhelmed their 238-run victory target with nearly four overs to spare but Ahmed’s struggle to get his first ODI century and Umar Akmal’s blocking at the other end to help his partner achieve the milestone made it a dull end to the match.

Pakistan’s chase got off to a slow start with the Irish bowlers maintaining a tight leash and conceding just two boundaries in the first seven overs.

It was when George Dockrell was brought into the attack that Ahmed and Shehzad broke loose, hitting two boundaries each in the 10th over of the innings.

Shehzad took 52 balls to bring up his fifty and Pakistan reached the 100-mark in the 19th over to put behind the slow start.

Ahmed needed 58 balls to reach his fifty and Pakistan seemed to have finally found an answer to their opening woes.

Shehzad threw away his wicket in the 23rd over and Misbah-ul-Haq fell after contributing 39 but Pakistan’s victory was never really in doubt.

They will now face tournament co-hosts Australia in the third quarter-final at Adelaide on Friday.

Earlier, Ireland captain William Porterfield led by example, hitting his first World Cup century to lift Ireland to 237 contributing nearly half of the team’s total.

Porterfield’s decision to bat was a positive one but Ireland lost wickets each time a partnership appeared to be building.

The skipper picked up the length well and backed himself to go for his shots; one such instance had him swivelling to pull Sohail Khan for the first of the two sixes in the Irish innings.

Ed Joyce was lucky early in his knock, dropped by a wrong-footed Ahmed Shehzad at point and surviving a strong

caught-behind appeal. The 36-year-old could not make the most of his seemingly charmed life, however, and fluffed a pull shot to depart after making 11.

Porterfield also needed some luck to bring up his 100. Batting on 94, the left-hander nearly ran himself out at the non-striker’s end after abandoning his bid for a non-existent single.

His century also came in streaky fashion with Porterfield driving the ball back to bowler Rahat Ali, who could not take the catch on his follow-through.

The Ireland skipper eventually fell in the 39th over, Shahid Afridi rushing from the edge of the circle to take a low, diving catch after Porterfield had mistimed a drive off Sohail Khan.

Ireland’s Stuart Thompson (L) watches as Pakistan’s Sarfraz Ahmed celebrates reaching his century during their Cricket World Cup match at the Adelaide Oval, yesterday. (Credit: REUTERS/David Gray)

Hamilton wins in Melbourne to launch F1 title defence MELBOURNE, Australia (CMC) – Lewis Hamilton launched the defence of his Formula One title in style here yesterday by dominating the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.

Starting on pole, the Mercedes driver controlled all 58 laps to take the chequered flag in one hour 31.54 minutes, ahead of teammate Nico Rosberg in second and Ferrari’s Sebastien Vettel who was third.

Just 11 of the 20 cars finished the race with three ruled out even before the start for various reasons - most of them mechanical.

“It’s quite unbelievable, really, what this team has done. It’s a great feeling to start off the season the way we finished the last and the car is just incredible, so thank you to the team,” said Hamilton, whose paternal grandparents hail from the Caribbean country of Grenada.

“It was still a tough race, though, as Nico was very quick throughout. It was about managing fuel and also the tyres trying to see how long we could push them.

Once I’d built a two-second gap it was about maintaining it.

“But when Nico turned up the heat it was tough. He drove really well and it’s a great result for the team to start the season with a one-two.

“It’s good to see Ferrari back up here on the podium. I think they have taken a

LEWIS HAMILTON big step, so I anticipate a good fight with them this year at some point and we can’t back off.”

Hamilton was away nicely at the start and steadily built up a lead of nearly three seconds on lap 17, with Rosberg tracking from second.

The Brit pitted on lap 26 and Rosberg a lap later, leaving Hamilton with almost a lead of four seconds as the race headed to the midway point.

With four laps remaining, Rosberg reduced the lead to under two seconds but Hamilton drove steadily to complete victory.

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

World Cup finals scenarios explained

THE pool stage is over; the final eight teams are locked in. It’s time to draw a quick breath before the pointy end All four World Cup quarter-finals have been now confirmed, with Pakistan’s victory over Ireland setting up a clash with Australia in Adelaide on Friday.

There is now a two-day hiatus in World Cup action

KUMAR SANGAKKARA before the quarter-finals start on Wednesday, where South Africa will attempt to win their first-ever World Cup elimination game when they play Sri Lanka in Sydney.

Defending champions India take on Bangladesh in Melbourne, while New Zealand’s unbeaten run will be tested by West Indies in Wellington.

A reserve day has been scheduled for each of the seven knock-out matches the day following the original

schedule. If either a quarter-final or semi-final is tied, abandoned or there is no result possible on the main day or the reserve day, then the team finishing higher in the pool stage progresses.

In the case of a tied final, a super over will be played.

However, if both the designated day and reserve day are washed out, the finalists will be declared joint winners.

Here is a look at the quarter-final match-ups: Wednesday, March 18: Sri Lanka v South Africa, Sydney Cricket ground South Africa have never won a knockout match at a World Cup and they will need to overcome the likes of in-form Kumar Sangakkara, and prevent him from scoring a fifth straight World Cup century, to do so on Wednesday.

This will be a clash of the big-hitters; when AB de Villiers played at the SCG against West Indies earlier in the tournament, he scored the fastest 150 in ODI history.

Sangakkara has also scored a century on the ground this tournament, against Australia last Sunday.

The winner will meet either New Zealand or West Indies in a semi-final at Eden Park Thursday, March 19: India v Bangladesh, Melbourne Cricket Ground India have won 10 World Cup games in a row and will head into this match heavy favourites.

But Bangladesh will

be full of confidence after beating England and pushing New Zealand on Friday night. If Mohammad Mahmudullah can score a third century in a row, anything could happen.

The winner will meet either Australia or Pakistan in a semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Friday, March 20: Australia v Pakistan, Adelaide Oval Australia head to Adelaide for the first time this World Cup, so expect plenty of local support for the host nation.

Pakistan have improved significantly since losing to India and West Indies in the early stages of the tournament and their bowlers in particular have been in excellent form.

They will also be reasonably familiar with the conditions – the quarter-final will be their third match at the South Australia venue.

However, Australia do hold the psychological advantage after securing a 3-0 series win in a one-day international against Pakistan in the UAE in October.

Incredible as it seems now, Mitchell Starc was left out for the first two games of that series before returning in the third for the rested Mitchell Johnson in what turned out to be a memorable one-run win secured when Glenn Maxwell bowled a double-wicket maiden 50th over in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan’s bowlers they

Charles, Grannum hit double strikes in Milo ...

From page 23

apart, doing so in the 63rd and 71st minute of play respectively, before Alleyne Haynes completed the carnage with his 78th minute goal, the seventh and final one of the contest for St Mary’s.

In the second game of the day, Dolphin defeated Mae’s Secondary 2-1, with Joshua Pereira (8th) and Kester Grant (54th) scoring for the winners while Hilbert Lawrence pulled one back for Mae’s in the 32nd minute.

In the next match Lodge Secondary, who has been making a statement as defending champions throughout the preliminary round of the tournament, continued the trend last Saturday with their rout of Bishops.

Keoma Crawford scored first for Lodge in the 8th minute, before Grannum made it 2-0 with his 10th minute goal, followed by Ryan ‘Boom Boom’ Hackett’s 24th minute goal that made it

3-0 in favour of Lodge.

At this stage, Lodge lost the services of Leon Blake who was issued marching orders by the referee in the 25th minute for handling the ball in the area, resulting in Bishops’ being given a penalty which was scored by Joel Morrison in the 26th minute.

But that was the last good moment for Bishops’, as Shamar Dover, Grannum and Stephen McLean found the back if the net in the 58th, 62nd and 75th minutes respectively for Lodge to hand them a place in this weekend’s quarterfinals.

In the final match of the day, South and North Ruimveldt Multilateral played to a 1-1 draw, with Carl Griffith scoring first for North Ruimveldt in the 32nd minute - a goal that was nullified

by Levi Canterbury in the 50th minute, with North coming out on top in the penalty kicks shootout by a 4-1 margin.

(Calvin Roberts)

will need to be at their best to stop Australia’s batsmen, while their batting line-up has looked shaky and unsettled through the pool matches and will not relish coming up against the likes of a rejuvenated Starc and Mitchell Johnson.

The winner will play either India or Bangladesh in a semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Saturday, March 21:

New Zealand v West Indies, Wellington New Zealand will aim to keep their unbeaten run intact against West Indies in Wellington.

The Black Caps were tested by Bangladesh on Friday and will be better for the experience, while West Indies’ topsy-turvy form throughout the tournament means anything could happen.

West Indies will hope Chris Gayle returns after he missed the United Arab Emirates match with a back injury.

The winner will play either South Africa or Sri Lanka in a semi-final at Eden Park. Should the Black Caps make it all the way to the final, the MCG showpiece will be their only match on foreign soil as co-hosts of the tournament.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

Thomas leads fight as Hurricanes eye maiden victory

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Spinners Rahkeem However, off-spinner Cornwall made key strikes to finish Cornwall and Anthony Martin hurt Jamaica and captain with five for 109 while leg-spinner Martin supported with Devon Thomas followed up with a responsible unbeaten four for 76. half-century, to put Leeward Islands Hurricanes in sight Their efforts saw Jamaica decline from 183 for three, of their first win of the WICB losing their last seven wickets PCL here yesterday. for 91 runs.

In pursuit of 165 for victory Set a relatively easy tarat Warner Park, the hosts were get for victory, the Leewards 139 for six, requiring a further were in early trouble when 26 runs to pull off what will be Lyndel Richardson was lbw huge victory especially coming to fast bowler Jason Dawes on the heels of eight straight for one in the second over defeats in the competition. and then Sherwin Peters was They were, however, totprised out by lively pacer tering on the verge of colMarquino Mindley in the lapse at 40 for four just after third over for ten with only tea before Thomas arrived to 11 runs on the board. unfurl an excellent unbeaten Thomas and Montcin 78 – his second half-century Hodge (13) stemmed the flow of the game – to steady the of wickets with a stand of 29 innings. for the third wicket that carEarlier, Jamaica were disried the Leewards to tea at 24 missed for 274 after resumfor two. ing the day on 122 for three, After the break, however, with wicketkeeper Chadwick Hodge and Jahmar Hamilton Walton top scoring with 72, (0) fell to Jacobs (3-46) in Brandon King getting 39 and the same over to leave the tail-ender Damion Jacobs finLeewards in danger of another ishing unbeaten on 28. dramatic batting collapse.

The right-handed WalBut Thomas came to the ton, unbeaten on four at the fore, putting on 63 for the start, crunched nine fours fifth wicket with Jacques Devon Thomas was unbeaten on 78. and two sixes off 179 balls in Taylor (10) and then an even a little over three hours at the more important 31 with Jercrease, to complete his second half-century of the game. emiah Louis (10 not out) in an unbroken seventh wicket He stretched the fourth wicket stand with King to 76 before stand. putting on a crucial 49 for the seventh wicket with Jacobs who So far, Thomas has hit eight fours in an innings requirbattled 82 deliveries and struck five fours in his innings. ing 130 balls.

Smith, Theophile hit centuries in Windwards 394 for eight BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, , (CMC) – Windward Islands Volcanoes, replying to Barbados Pride’s 480, were 394 for eight in their first innings at the close of the third day of their ninth round match in the WICB Professional Cricket League at Kensington Oval here yesterday.

Scores: Barbados Pride 480 (Shai Hope 211, Shamarh Brooks 124, Roston Chase 41, Ashley Nurse 29, Shane Dowrich 28; Mervin Matthew 3-54, Liam Sebastien 2-81, Shane Shillingford 2-136) Windward Islands Volcanoes 394 for eight (Devon Smith 151, Tyrone Theophile 125, Dennis Smith 25 not out; Ashley Nurse 4-90, Kevin Stoute 2-66)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday March 16, 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 Monday’s quiz:

Harilall Shah (East Africa vs NZ, Edgbaston, 1975) Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Andy Roberts

Today’s Quiz:

Name the Test playing nations that have never won the World Cup? Who is the only man to take two five-wicket hauls in the only two WC games he played?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

SCOREBOARD JAMAICA 1st innings 175 Leewards 1st Innings 285 Jamaica 2nd Innings (overnight 122 for three) S Thomas lbw b Cornwell 24 J Campbell c wkp Hamilton b Cornwall 26 J Blackwood c Cornwall b Martin 27 B King c wkp Hamilton b Martin 39 C Walton c Taylor b Martinn 72 T Lambert c (sub) A Saunders b Martin 17 D Bernard lbw b Tonge 0 D Jacobs not out 28 J Dawes lbw b Cornwall 5 M Mindley c Richardson b Martin 16 O Brown c Tonge b Cornwall 1 Extras (b14, lb5) 19 TOTAL (all out, 94.1 overs) 274 Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-63, 3-107, 4-183, 5-196, 6-197, 7-246, 8-252, 9-272, 10-274

Bowling: Tonge 8-1-371, Boatswain 5-0-230, Martin 40-17-76-4, Cornwall 40.1-12-109-5, Peters 1-0-10-0.

LEEWARDS 2 nd Innings (target: 165 runs) L Richardson lbw b Dawes 1 S Peters c Lambert b Mindley 10 M Hodge lbw b Jacobs 13 D Thomas not out 78 J Hamilton b Jacobs 0 J Taylor lbw Campbell 10 R Cornwall st Walton b Jacobs 4 J Louis not out 10 Extras (b9, lb2, nb2) 13 TOTAL (6 wkts, 44 overs) 139 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-11, 3-40, 4-40, 5-103, 6-108.

Bowling: Mindley 9-415-1, Dawes 6-1-19-1, Jacobs 13-3-46-3, Brown 9-0-29-0, Campbell 5-2-81, Bernard 2-0-11-0.

Position: Leewards require 26 runs for victory

Chelsea held but Rooney is a knockout for United

By Ian Chadband LONDON, England (Reuters) - Chelsea opened a sixpoint lead in the Premier League yesterday following a 1-1 draw with Southampton as Manchester United enjoyed perhaps their finest performance yet under Louis van Gaal with a 3-0 trouncing of Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea increased their advantage over Manchester City despite Diego Costa’s 11th minute close-range header being answered eight minutes later by Dusan Tadic’s fortuitous penalty in an absorbing encounter at Stamford Bridge.

Yet United, so often criticised for being slow and directionless under Dutchman van Gaal, produced the most electric performance of the day, crushing Spurs with first-half goals from Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney.

A national newspaper ran a bizarre story on Sunday about Rooney being filmed getting knocked out by his friend, Stoke City player Phil Bardsley, in a boxing bout in Rooney’s kitchen.

Rooney’s amused response after his goal was to celebrate by throwing a few shadow punches before falling theatrically on to his back amid delighted cheers from the United faithful.

Chelsea, on 64 points, still have a game in hand on Manchester City, who were beaten at Burnley on Saturday.

United, with 56 points, have climbed within a point of Arsenal and two of their cross-city rivals City as well as, moving five points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool.

Their win also seriously dents the Champions League qualifying hopes of Spurs who, on 50 points, are now behind sixth-placed Southampton on goal difference and struggling to keep alive their hopes of a top-four finish.

TRAUMATIC WEEK At Stamford Bridge, a traumatic week for Chelsea, knocked out of the Champions League by Paris St Germain at the last 16 stage and heavily criticised for the on-pitch behaviour of their players, ended with a little more frustration.

Manager Jose Mourinho, though, made light of not

picking up the three points. “I agree Chelsea not winning at home is not a good result, but we had a five-point lead before the match and afterwards we have a six-point lead,” he said.

“Now we have six points more and one fewer match to play. It makes our situation better than before the game. It’s positive rather than negative.”

Southampton caused problems in the opening period but Chelsea asserted their authority after the break with Costa clipping the post while captain John Terry was also denied in a frantic finish.

Mourinho was also unhappy that, after Costa capitalised on inexplicably static defending from Southampton to head home Branislav Ivanovic’s cross, Southampton were awarded a penalty when Sadio Mane was adjudged to have been felled by Nemanja Matic.

Tadic converted from the spot, although his tame effort was fortunate to beat the trailing feet of Thibaut Courtois.

SUBLIME UNITED United, reeling from Monday’s FA Cup defeat by Arsenal, produced a performance Old Trafford had been longing for, as they blew fellow top-four chasers Spurs away with the pace, precision and directness missing so often in van Gaal’s unloved reign.

Fellaini, released by Carrick’s intelligent through ball, put them ahead after nine minutes with a sweet left-foot strike, before Carrick headed home from distance 10 minutes later after the excellent Fellaini had wrought more havoc.

Rooney’s bustling run and cool finish after 34 minutes provided the knockout blow.

In yesterday’s other game, Everton eased pressure on manager Roberto Martinez with their first home league success in three months with a 3-0 win over Newcastle United, with goals from James McCarthy, a Romelu Lukaku penalty and Ross Barkley.

Newcastle had Fabricio Coloccini sent off just before the hour for a foul on Aaron Lennon.

It was Everton’s second win in their last 13 Premier League matches.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 16, 2015

WICB/PCL REGIONAL 4-DAY

Jaguars stage fightback against Red Force, thanks to Bishoo’s six for 76

By Calvin Roberts

LEG-SPINNER Devendra Bishoo got another five-wicket haul to his career, which enabled hosts Guyana Jaguars to stave a fightback against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in their ninth round West Indies Cricket Board/Professional Cricket L:eague Regional four-day encounter at the Guyana National Stadium, yesterday.

The visitors resumed the day on 173 for 4 and led by 82 from Yannic Cariah and an unbeaten 70 from Steven Katwaroo, the two adding 137 for the sixth wicket, were bowled out for 340 for a lead of 49, with Bishoo claiming 6 for 76 and Veerasammy Permaul 2 for 92.

Faced with a deficit of 49 runs, the Jaguars who lead the points table with 123 points at the start of this fixture reached 120 for 3 at the close of play, for a lead of 71 runs with seven wickets in hand, thanks to an even 50 from Assad Fudadin.

When play got under way at 09:30hrs to facilitate for the

two rain delays the previous day, the Jaguars struck with the second ball of the day, when Devendra Bishoo had Yannic Cariah caught at the wicket by Anthony Bramble without any addition to his/ or Red Force total.

It was the lone success for the home team, as Ottley and Katwaroo took the visitors to lunch with the scoreboard reading 307 for 5 off 104 overs, with Ottley contributing 79 and Katwaroo 60, while their sixth-wicket partnership was worth 134 runs up to the break.

Ottley was the first to post his half-century, doing so from 176 minutes of batting during which he faced 106 balls and struck seven fours, posting his 50 with the seventh boundary struck off Keon Joseph, even as Katwaroo posted his 50 from 97 balls with six fours, batting for 113 minutes.

Both batsmen celebrated their achievement with fours off the next delivery from both Joseph and Narsingh Deonarine respectively.

After lunch, the Jaguars removed Ottley who was lbw

to Permaul for 82 (196 mins, 171 balls, 11x4), Ryad Emrit

DEVENDRA BISHOO and Marlon Richards who were both lbw to Bishoo for 1 to be 313 for 8 and despite some lusty blows from Katwaroo and Shannon Gabriel who struck sixes off Permaul and Bishoo, a well-judged catch by Chanderpaul at deep

mid-wicket accounted for Gabriel off Bishoo to wrap up the innings.

Gabriel made a quickfire 16 (14 balls, 2x4, 1x6) while Katwaroo was unbeaten on 70 (190 mins, 170 balls, 7x4, 1x6), as Bishoo ended with 6 for 76 and Permaul 2 for 92 for the Jaguars who started their second innings with a deficit of 49.

At tea, the hosts had reduced that deficit by six runs, thanks to openers Rajendra Chandrika and Assad Fudadin who were unbeaten on 28 and 15 at the break as Guyana Jaguars reached 43 without loss and after the break, Fudadin turned Imran Khan deftly off his legs to fine leg for his third four.

With Guyana 52 without loss, Fudadin was given a life when on 22 by Cariah at slip, off Emrit in the fifth over after tea, with Cariah being forced to leave the field for medical attention after bursting the webbing on his left hand from the mishap.

Chandrika was lbw to Khan at for 31 (65,b, 5x4) at

GRFU to announce Hong Kong Sevens team today

THE Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) will today announce the team which will travel to Asia for the World Rugby Sevens World Series in Hong Kong from

tional Park Rugby Field where it was said that the players will not be selected based on past performance but rather what they can do to help Guyana who will be competing against

G u y a n a ’s N a t i o n al Men’s Rugby Sevens Team, by winning the NACRA Sevens championships in Mexico last December, along with the team they defeated in the

Zimbabwe, Spain and Tonga. Twelve teams will be contesting the second division of the Hong Kong Sevens; and the winner will qualify for the first division of the Sevens World

Head coach Theodore Henry and TD Angus Thomson explain to the players the criteria for selection after yesterday’s trials in the National Park.

March 27 to 29.

Yesterday, the Union, under the supervision of technical director Angus Thomson and head coach Theodore Henry, held its trial for the sixteen shortlisted players at the Na-

some of the world’s top Rugby-playing nations.

Drawn from Australia, Trinidad & Tobago, New York and Texas, the GRFU invited six overseas-based players who were all part of yesterday’s event.

final (Mexico) of the NACRA Championship, qualified to represent NACRA at the Hong Kong Sevens.

Nicknamed the ‘Green Machine’, Guyana are pooled in the first round of the tournament to play

Series.

Also in the second division are Russia, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Tunisia, Hong Kong, Uruguay, Brazil and Mexico. (Rawle Toney)

60 for 1, before the 100 was posted off 32.5 overs and was followed by the wicket of Leon Johnson who was lbw to Jason Mohammed for 28 (44,b, 2x4, 1x6) at 108 for 3, 30 minutes before close of play.

Fudadin got his half-century from 114 balls,

with seven fours while batting for 137 minutes, but was bowled by Mohammed at 111 for 3 shortly after, for 50, before the home team ended the day on 120 for 3, with Narsingh Deonarine on 6 and Bishoo 4, while Mohammed has so far taken 2 for 9.

SCOREBOARD (GUYANA JAGUARS 291) T&T RED FORCE 1st innings (o/n 173/4) J. Solozano c Singh b Barnwell 3 I. Khan c wkp. Bramble b Deonarine 18 K. Ottley c Chanderpaul b Bishoo 34 Y. Cariah c Bramble b Bishoo 71 J. Mohammed lbw b Permaul 13 Y. Ottley lbw b Permaul 82 S. Katwaroo not out 70 R. Emrit c Bramble b Bishoo 1 M. Richards lbw b Bishoo 1 B. Charles c Barnwell b Bishoo 0 S. Gabriel c Chanderpaul b Bishoo 16 Extras: (nb-17, lb-2, b-12) 31 Total: (all out off 114.5 overs) 340 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-33,

3-112, 4-146, 5-173, 6-310, 7-311, 8-313, 9-316.

Bowling: Joseph 12-056-0 (nb-13) Barnwell 9-2-38-1 Deonarine 21-9-54-1 Permaul 3910-92-2 Bishoo 31.53-76-6 (nb-4) Johnson 2-0-7-0.

G U YA N A J a g u a r s 2 n d innings R. Chandrika lbw b Khan 31 A. Fudadin b Mohammed 50 L. Johnson lbw b Mohammed 28 N. Deonarine not out 6 D. Bishoo not out 4 Extras: (b-1) 1 Total: (for 3 wkts, off 43 overs) 120 Fall of wickets: 1-60, 2-108, 3-111.

Bowling: Gabriel 7-127-0, Richards 4-1-11-0, Emrit 8-5-17-0, Khan 122-37-1, Charles 7-0-18-0, Mohammed 5-2-9-2.

Charles, Grannum hit double strikes in Milo Under-20 Championships … St Mary’s, Lodge humiliate opponents RAFAEL Charles and Jarell Grannum got double strikes for St Mary’s and defending champions Lodge Secondary School respectively, which enabled both teams to humiliate their respective opponents, as the round of 16 action in this year’s Petra Organisation/ Milo Under-20 Championships kicked off at the Ministry of Education ground last Saturday.

St Mary’s rode on the back of Charles’ brace to defeat Kingston 7-1, while Lodge, who defeated St George’s to claim the title last year, defeated Bishops’ High 6-1, thanks to Grannum’s double strike.

In the first game of the day, Curtis Kellman opened the scoring for St Mary’s, when he rocked the net in the 17th minute, before Rafael Bollers and Kareem Caines made it 3-0, with their solitary strikes in the 49th and 59th minutes of play respectively.

In-between Bollers and Caines’ strikes, Terrence John made it a one-goal difference for Kingston, when he scored their lone goal of the contest in the 52nd minute, but after Caines made it 3-1, Colin Denny made it a three-goal possession for his team when he found the back of the net in the 61st minute.

Charles then scored his double, eight minutes See page 21

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Jaguars stage fightback against Red Force, thanks to Bishoo’s six for 76 see story on page 23

Windies book World Cup quarter-final meeting with New Zealand

Jason Holder of the West Indies, player-of-the-match for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between the West Indies and United Arab Emirates at McLean Park, yesterday in Napier, New Zealand.

NAPIER, New Zealand (CMC) - West Indies put to rest the anxiety over their participation in the next round of the ICC Cricket World Cup by brushing aside United Arab Emirates by six wickets, to set up a quarter-final clash with red-hot New Zealand next Saturday.

After routing UAE for a paltry 175 at McLean Park here Sunday, West Indies survived a few stutters to reach their target in the 31st over, and ensure their progression in the tournament.

Opener Johnson Charles, in for his first match of the World Cup at the expense of the injured Chris Gayle, top-scored with 55 from 40 balls while the left-handed Jonathan Carter stroked a classy unbeaten 50 from 58 balls.

Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin was 33 not out off 50 deliveries at the end, adding 58 with Carter in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand.

Medium pacer Amjad Javed (2-29) and left-arm seamer Manjula Guruge (2-40) finished with two wickets apiece.

Earlier, captain Jason Holder ripped apart the top order of UAE’s innings, to send the minnows crashing to 46 for six in

the 14th over.

The lanky seamer claimed four for 27 to earn man-of-thematch honours, with new-ball partner Jerome Taylor picking up three for 36 and pacer Andre Russell, two for 20.

In danger of being dismissed for under 100, UAE were rallied by brave half-centuries from Nasir Aziz who hammered 60 from 86 balls with eight fours, and Amjad whose 56 came from 99 deliveries and included seven fours and a six.

They put on 107 runs for the seventh wicket to frustrate West Indies.

The victory carried West Indies to six points, level in fourth spot in Group B with Ireland who went down to Pakistan by seven wickets in Adelaide.

However, the Windies nipped the Irish for a spot in the next round by virtue of a better net run rate.

The Caribbean side will now take on unbeaten New Zealand – who topped Group A – at the Wespac Stadium

See page 19

Guyana hand Bermuda the ‘broom’ ... Travis Burnett named Goodwill Series MVP

THE Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) could not have asked for a better climax to its Goodwill Series between Guyana and Bermuda which concluded last Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Witnessed by what was the largest crowd at the venue in recent times, Guyana had to once again come from behind to defeat Bermuda 59-56.

With the win, Guyana clinched the series 3-0 and it marked only the third time in the country’s history that they had swept an opponent; first doing so in 1969 against Suriname and in 1997 when Trinidad and Tobago visited.

Point guard Travis Burnett was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), despite scoring only nine points.

Ryan Gullen, who came up big with the ‘clutch’ three-pointer in game one, was the game’s highest scorer with 13 points while Shelroy Thomas had 12 points and nine rebounds.

Chris Crumpler had missed game two after picking up a knee injury, but the Bermudan shooting guard returned in the final game and scored 11, Jonathan Lowe was the team’s highest scorer with 12, his brother Jason (Lowe) had 11 and captain Sullivan Phillips netted seven.

The visitors came out looking hungry and ended the first period with a five-point advantage (18-13) and outscored the Guyanese 14-6 to close out the first half leading 32-19.

The GABF seeks to send one of Guyana’s strongest team to the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship in Tortola in June.

Coach Darcel Harris lauded the efforts of his team and said that it was a collective effort that helped them in their historic achievement.

Harris said that the series against Bermuda was more than good enough to give him a chance to evaluate what is needed to help Guyana basketball reach the next level.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Point guard and series MVP, Travis Burnett, drives past Bermuda’s Jason Lowe on Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2014