2015 4 1

GUYANA No. 104146

GOOD LUCK!

WEDNESDAY APRIL 1, 2015

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand THE National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations will be held today and tomorrow at hundreds of centres across Guyana. Approximately 15,200 candidates are registered to write this examination. Guyana has attained universal primary education, a millennium development goal. This means that all Guyanese boys and girls of primary school age can access primary education. This exam is a placement exam offered at the end of the primary cycle to determine the secondary school at which students

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15,200 children write NGSA exams today

will be placed. Four subjects will be assessed, namely English Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Each subject will consist of two papers. English Language and Science will be administered today and Mathematics and Social Studies tomorrow.

Following is a message from Education Minister Priya Manickchand to those writing the exams: Dear Pupils of Grade Six, On Wednesday April 1 and Thurs-

Nagamootoo’s comment on Harper dismissed as a cheap shot Page

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

Mrs Elisabeth Harper

day April 2, 2015 you will be writing the National Grade Six Assessment.

English Language and Science will be written on Wednesday and Mathematics and Social Studies will be written on Thursday.

I am asking you to do your very best at these assessments.

They are important. Ensure that you answer each question very carefully. On the multiple choice paper, choose only ONE answer, the best answer. Think well before you answer. Please be calm and

PPP Page 12 proposes different electors’ list for disciplined services

don’t get nervous. You have studied hard. Your teachers have done their best to prepare you for this and your parents and guardians support you. Do everyone proud!

We believe in you.

Everything should be ready now – Your uniform, Shoes and socks.

Pencils, eraser, ruler.

Timetable.

Great!

May God bless you all.

Priya Manickchand Minister of Education

Headless, limbless body Page 10 identified as clothes vendor Clement Rohee General Secretary PPP

––Rohee says repeat of 2011 confusion could be avoided

Dead: Samantha Benjamin

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Nagamootoo’s comment on Harper dismissed as a cheap shot

By Vanessa Narine “I would ignore him.” This four-word dismissal came from General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee, in response to Moses Nagamootoo’s recent attack on the PPP/C’s prime ministerial candidate, Mrs Elisabeth Harper.

Rohee’s comment on the matter followed questions fielded on his view of the Nagamootoo statements.

The prime ministerial candidate of A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition on Sunday railed into Harper while making remarks at a Rally held at Whim, Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne).

“Do you know me? Do you know who Elisabeth Harper is?” Nagamootoo questioned, while adding sarcastically, “Well, this Harper lady says she wants to be Prime Minister because she was a victim of domestic violence.”

ONE OF SEVERAL ISSUES Rohee told the Guyana Chronicle that domestic violence is one of several issues that form part of Harper’s platform.

The PPP/C prime ministerial candidate herself said as much in her debut interview, a 20-minute broadcast aired on the National Communications Network (NCN) in the latter part of February, during which she was questioned by Olive Gopaul.

Harper is a 57-year-old career diplomat

Mrs Elisabeth Harper

Moses Nagamootoo

who has worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for decades. She explained that her priorities as prime minister include: education, jobs, crime, support for the elderly, economic growth, the preservation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; those are not one issue, as insinuated by Nagamootoo.

During the interview, the last issue, out of seven she touched on, was that of domestic violence – the subject of a story she has been able to tell, and will continue telling if it means support for another woman.

“Domestic violence is real,” Harper de-

clared. She added, “Me being able to tell my story, I feel that I could encourage women and interest groups in society to help to rid us of this; also help young women who are looking for role models (and) who are looking to empower themselves.”

Her sentiments were expressed with the same confidence as when she commented on being able to emerge after the May 11 General and Regional Elections as Guyana’s first female prime minister. She had said then, “This is for all the women out there who see me as the first woman Prime

General Secretary PPP/C Party Clement Rohee Minister.”

Harper explained that, altogether, these seven issues are major ones that, with the appropriate continued focus, can complement the overall effort to ensure that Guyana is a country within which Guyanese youth remain in the country and enjoy good lives, as well as contribute to Guyana’s development.

Political observers have since echoed Rohee’s comment on the matter, summing up Nagamootoo’s attack on Harper, widely lauded as a hard working woman of integrity, as nothing but a cheap shot.

Vanessa Kissoon, four others appear before court FORMER A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Par-

liament (MP) and longstanding People’s National Congress (PNC) mem-

ber, Vanessa Kissoon, yesterday appeared before a magistrate in Linden where a charge of “intent to provoke a breach of the peace” was levelled against her.

Reports reaching this publication indicate that Kissoon was on Tuesday evening reportedly arrested in Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden, for disrupting the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) public meeting there.

According to one source, Kissoon and her party colleagues stormed the PPP’s meeting place “chanting and making noise” in an attempt to disrupt the meeting. At this point, they were instructed by police to cease

their behavior, but they re-

Vanessa Kissoon fused.

While some reports

claimed that Kissoon and the others were arrested, she dismissed these claims yesterday.

As of yesterday, the former MP disclosed that herself and four residents of Linden, namely Juliet Atwell, Alieshaw Barker, Leonie Alexander and Marcelle Williams, appeared before a magistrate in Linden on various charges.

She further related that the case was “put down” until May 6, 2015.

These events followed disciplinary actions taken

by Kissoon’s party, PNC, against her last year, after she was accused of verbally and physically assaulting General Secretary of the Party, Oscar Clarke.

Kissoon was instructed to apologise for misconduct; however, this recommendation, which was made by the party’s Disciplinary Committee, has been blatantly ignored.

During last month, Kissoon was also fingered in an alleged assault on Minister within the Finance Ministry, Juan Edghill at a flag-raising ceremony. Reports further indicate that she was restrained by ranks of the Guyana Police Force after her attempt to assault the Minister.

Edghill said Kissoon’s distasteful behaviour is now “expected”, noting that “no Lindener should be surprised by her actions.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Nandlall to Granger:

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Instead of rhetoric, start with corruption evidence against Greenidge

By Vanessa Narine “MR David Granger (Brigadier ret’d) the leader of the PNCR (People’s National Congress Reform) and APNU (A Partnership for National Unity), has said that he would like to hold inquiries into a whole host of things. He can start with Mr Greenidge and the actual evidence of corruption provided.”

These were the sentiments of Attorney General and Minster of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, who dismantled a defence mounted by former finance minister, Carl Greenidge, after questions on a ‘less than transparent’ property acquisition of a house by him in 1993, were raised.

The questions were raised by former president, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who, last Saturday, responded to allegations of corruption that Greenidge levelled against the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic(PPP/C).

Jagdeo’s response included the production of a Transport dated January 25,

ATTORNEY GENERAL ANIL NANDLALL

‘They simply make these charges publicly, provide not a scintilla of evidence and repeat them ad nauseam with the hope that they become fact. Indeed, they have deluded themselves and unfortunately others with their propaganda.’ – Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall 1993, which details the acquisition of a house at Bel Air Gardens for $4M, as well as references to the lack of accountability and transparency during Greenidge’s tenure as finance minister.

The former president stated too that according to the Transport, a property owned by Guyana Stores Limited (GSL) was transferred to Greenidge as ‘Minister of Finance’, months after he demitted office.

However, Greenidge maintains that there was nothing corrupt about his actions. “If Mr. Jagdeo thinks that it was corrupt he should pass the details to the DPP and the police,” he challenged, in a comment recently made public.

GLIB RESPONSE The Attorney General charged that Greenidge’s call for the matter to be reported constitutes a “glib response” given that the allegations he himself has levelled against the PPP/C have not

been reported to the police.

Nandlall said, “Over the last 22 years, the PNC has made allegations of corruption against almost every government minister, government functionary and senior officials of the state. Not once can I recall them ever making a report to the police in relation to these charges.

“They simply make these charges publicly, provide not a scintilla of evidence and repeat them ad nauseam with the hope that they become fact. Indeed, they have deluded themselves and unfortunately others with their propaganda.

“When allegations are made against Mr. Greenidge and the proof, the evidence, is actually produced, his glib response is ‘did you report it to the police’.”

The Attorney General questioned why, despite the numerous allegations, Greenidge and his colleagues in the political Opposition did not make a report to the police.

“The obvious question is why they have not reported the tons of allega-

CARL GREENIDGE tions they have made of corruption over those years to the police,” he said, adding that the answer is clear – there is no evidence, only rhetoric.

PNC FACILITATED CORRUPTION Nandlall also highlighted the fact that, like the 1993 property acquisition, the lack of accountability and trans-

DAVID GRANGER acres of rice land from the confidential secretary of President Desmond Hoyte.

There was absolutely no advertisement inviting other persons to submit a bid and no one knew that the assets were up for sale. Mr Greenidge was the finance minister then.”

The Attorney General was emphatic that for a man whose interest is becoming the next finance minister, if the political

‘When allegations are made against Mr Greenidge and the proof, the evidence, is actually produced, his glib response is ‘did you report it to the police’.’

– Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall parency, during Greenidge’s tenure as finance minister, from 1980 to 1992, resulted in corrupt practices being facilitated by the PNC. He said, “There was absolutely no defined process or procedure in relation to the disposal of assets of the State and, of course, no transparency and accountability, in respect of those transactions, which includes the very house, which is the subject of contention.

“That is why the Alesie Group of Companies was able to purchase several rice milling complexes and hundreds of

Opposition were to secure power, his ‘dismal’ record is his undoing.

“The truth of the matter is that Mr Greenidge never submitted an audited report for any of the years that he was a finance minister. The then auditor general, Anand Goolsaran, publicly stated that Mr Greenidge, as finance minister, instructed him not to audit certain Government agencies,” Nandlall said.

Greenidge was finance minister under the PNC administration from 1980 up to October 1992 when the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) came to power.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Nigeria’s Buhari wins historic election landslide (Reuters) - THREE decades after seizing power in a military coup, Muhammadu Buhari became the first Nigerian to oust a president through the ballot box, putting him in charge of Africa’s biggest economy and one of its most turbulent democracies.

As the scale of this weekend’s electoral landslide became clear, President Goodluck Jonathan called Buhari on Tuesday to concede defeat to the opposition leader, Buhari’s camp said, an unprecedented step that should help to defuse anger among Jonathan’s supporters.

In the religiously mixed northern city of Kaduna,

where 800 people were killed in violence after the last elections in 2011, Buhari supporters streamed onto the streets, waving flags, dancing and singing in celebration.

There was no word from Jonathan himself. But supporters in the Niger Delta, the defeated president’s home area and the heart of Africa’s biggest oil and gas industry, were despondent.

“Goodluck is a stupid man for conceding, a disappointment for Nigeria,” one waitress in the oil city of Port Harcourt said, throwing a beer bottle top at a fridge.

Jonathan’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been in charge since the end of army rule in

People jubilate along a street after All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate Muhammadu Buhari is pronounced the winner of Nigeria’s presidential election, in Kano March 31, 2015.

Reuters/Akintunde Akinleye

1999 but had been losing popularity due to a string of corruption scandals and the rise of Boko Haram’s Islamist insurgency in the northeast.

“At about 5 minutes to 5, President Jonathan called General Muhammadu Buhari, the winner of the elections, to congratulate him,” Lai Mohammed, a spokesman for Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC), told reporters at the party’s headquarters in the capital, Abuja.

“There had always been this fear that he might not want to concede but he will remain a hero for this move,” he added.

“The tension will go down dramatically.”

Heavy clashes on Saudi-Yemeni border; Hadi government pleads for troops (Reuters) - SAUDI troops c l a s h e d w i t h Ye m e n i Houthi fighters on Tuesday in the heaviest exchange of cross-border fire since the start of a Saudi-led air

offensive last week, while Yemen’s foreign minister called for a rapid Arab intervention on the ground.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a coalition of Arab

states since last Thursday in an air campaign against the Shi’ite Houthis, who emerged as the most powerful force in the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country when they seized Yemen’s capital last year.

The Saudis say their aim is to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who left the country last week. The Houthis are allied with Saudi Arabia’s

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regional foe Iran, and backed by army units loyal to longtime ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was pushed out three years ago after “Arab Spring” demonstrations.

The conflict has brought civil war to a country already on the verge of chaos and forced Washington to evacuate its personnel from one of the main battlefields in the covert U.S. drone war against

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al Qaeda.

Residents and tribal sources in north Yemen reported artillery and rocket exchanges along several stretches of the Saudi border. Explosions and heavy gunfire were heard and Saudi helicopters flew overhead, they said.

In the southern port of Aden, Houthi fighters and al-

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lied army units pressed an offensive against forces loyal to Hadi, trying to capture the last remaining major stronghold of the absent president’s forces.

At least 36 people were killed when Houthi forces shelled Hadi loyalists in Aden. Jets from the Saudi-led coalition bombed Houthi positions near the airport.

Further west, Houthi fighters entered a coastal military base overlooking the Red Sea’s strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait, local officials said, when soldiers of the 17th Armoured Division opened the gates to the facility.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Buenos Aires streets empty as transport strike hits (BBC News) THE streets of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, remained largely empty on Tuesday morning as a number of transport workers’ unions went on a 24-hour strike.

Many national and international flights were cancelled and train and underground stations looked deserted.

Trade unionists, who complain about high inflation and high taxes, also blocked some roads.

The government has defended its tax system as fair.

Protesters blocking the Pueyrredon Bridge, one of the main access routes into the city, said they would keep the blockade going

Train stations in Buenos Aires were deserted on Tuesday morning until at least midday. also expected to adhere to their children to class. between six and eight per Banks are also expected the stoppage.

The workers are de- cent of workers had to pay to remain closed and there Schools will open but manding a tax on their in- this particular tax. will be no rubbish collec- many parents said that withcome be revoked. are also demanding an tion, strike leaders said. out public transport, they But Cabinet Chief An- increase in pensions and Local bus drivers are would not be able to send ibal Fernandez said only measures to combat inflation,

which they say is eroding their salaries.

The trade union movement in Argentina is divided into those who back the government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and those who think it is not doing enough to help workers.

This latest stoppage is being led by Hugo Moyano of the more radical wing of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) and Pablo Micheli of the Central Workers’ Union (CTA).

Analysts say the strike is also intended to send a signal to all Argentine politicians about the enduring power of the country’s trade unions ahead of presidential elections in October.

Boy, 12, stabbed Chile floods death toll rises to death in class to 17 as clean-up begins (Jamaica Observer) BARRETT TOWN, St James — THERE was mourning Monday at the Barrett Town All-Age School, as well as in the wider community, after a grade six student was fatally stabbed by his classmate shortly after break in the morning.

The deceased has been identified as Shyheim Lewis, also called Chin, 12, of the Jenkins Corner neighbourhood here in Barrett Town.

The child’s alleged killer, who is reportedly from the Vietnam section of Barrett Town, was taken into custody by the Barrett Town police.

It was alleged that about 10:30 am a fight broke out between Lewis and one of his classmates over a seat, during which a knife was brought into play. Lewis, who was stabbed and injured on the neck, was taken to hospital where he died.

Students who were overheard relating the incident said the two boys who, both of whom sat the Grade Six Achievement Test last week, had a heated argument which escalated into a fight.

“Him tell him say he will kill him and run go a him yard,” one of the students was overheard saying.

The students said that

Jacinth Johnson, mother of 12-year-old Shyheim Lewis who was fatally stabbed by his classmate, is comforted yesterday by her spouse Linton White outside the Barrett Town All Age School as Police Superintendent Gary Francis looks on.

(PHOTO: PHILLIP LEMONTE) shortly after Lewis was stabbed he ran downstairs where he collapsed.

When the Observer visited the school, where a large crowd had gathered, there was a large pool of blood in the area where the student collapsed.

Lewis’s distraught mother, Jacinth Johnson, told the Jamaica Observer that her son’s life could have been saved if the teachers had taken him to hospital earlier. “...Dem cut him and teachers say dem don’t want dem car to blood up, so dem allow the child to bleed to death,” the mother alleged.

“When wi go over deh, di pickney dem a bawl, and di

teacher dem [just] stand up so,” claimed the grieving mother.

She also alleged that two of her other children have been the victims of violence at the school in the past.

(BBC News) OFFICIALS in Chile said 17 people were killed and 20 were still missing after flash floods devastated the Atacama region in the north of the country last week.

The rains, which started on Tuesday, were the worst in 80 years to fall in the region, one of the driest on Earth.

Almost 11,000 people have been affected and more than 4,500 are in shelters.

Interior Minister Rodrigo Penailillo said entire towns had been left without drinking water.

“We as a country will have to put a lot of effort in to get out of this situation,” Mr Penailillo said.

Rivers burst their banks after heavy rains in the Andes sent floodwater down into the valleys and towns below.

The streets of Copiapo turned into raging torrents after the heaviest rains in 80 years T h e d e s e r t t o w n o f still missing continues.

Chanaral was among the Among the thousands hardest hit with rivers of mud who lost their home is Victor covering many of its streets.

Zamora, one of the Chilean In Tierra Amarilla, emer- miners who was trapped gency workers rescued 13 underground for 69 days in miners who had been cut off 2010. in a remote mining camp for He told local media that five days. he had lost everything.

The search for 20 people “It’s a tragedy,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

Jagdeo is a towering thunderbolt in Opposition psyche FORMER President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo is perceived by the Opposition cabal as such a formidable adversary in the political fray that their fear is absolute and palpable; and this fact was underscored by Raphael Trotman’s demand that Dr. Jagdeo desist from participation in his Party’s elections campaign.

Now this is presumptuous to the ‘nth degree’.

How could any member of one political party attempt to interfere with the internal arrangements of another political party, to the extent where they arrogate to themselves the right to stipulate that a prominent member of that party be kept out of the campaign trail in elections

hustings?

Trotman’s contention is that Dr. Jagdeo is playing a prominent role in the current elections campaign and is being featured more than incumbent President Donald Ramotar, and these remarks were made even before the party launched its elections campaign at Kitty market square last Sunday. This begs the question: Why the objection and what gives them the right to pontificate on any role Dr Jagdeo plays in his party’s business?

President Ramotar made it unequivocally clear that he is not going to waste a valuable human resource like Guyana’s former President, with his formidable track record in achievement, because

Greenidge, you hypocrite!

REVELATIONS lately in the press are worrisome! I shudder at the audacity of Carl Greenidge’s closeted act of obvious corruption as a Minister of Finance. Imagine this man stands up and says nothing he did as Minister of Finance was flagged by corrupt or suspicious actions or lacked accountability.

Yet as the sitting Minister of Finance, he bought a house owned by the government, controlled and owned Guyana Stores Limited just when we were headed into elections in 1992! He says that all the due processes were followed. So, I dare ask: Which processes is he referring to?

Does Mr. Greenidge seek to insult the intelligence of us voting people? He yells at the top of his voice that others are corrupt, and their acquisition

of wealth is due to corrupt and non-transparent practices. But yet in none of his recent ramblings did he ever prove that his “house” was purchased pursuant to an advertising process or public tender. His answer was that he was living there before. What a lie!

He sits on his weekly pulpit of the Kaieteur News and essentially says that no supporter of the PPP is honest and hardworking, because their prosperity was the result of corrupt and non-transparent processes.

Yet if someone were to accuse him of owning and driving a Hollywood-style US millionaire car, he is offended because he claims that his fortune was the result of his hard work. Such hypocrisy!

MAHADEO PERSAUD

PPP/C leaders eschew ego for the general good and work as a unit to realise optimum results in consensual goals – be it national development or winning an election.

But Bharrat Jagdeo in the elections hustings seems to be giving the collective Opposition nightmares; and this includes the hostile media, which unerringly and unfailingly distorts Dr Jagdeo’s statements to subvert his meanings and create negative impressions and perceptions of his intent and reality.

Guyana’s former President is a force to reckon with; and he exudes credibility in his uncompromising positions and revelations that are converse to the plethora of contentions

and accusations that besmirch his reputation and impugns his character – lies and factual misrepresentations that have been continuously peddled by the Opposition collective and their media satellites over the years.

The unending and unrelenting campaign to destroy the image of the former President never ceased, even after he demitted office post 2011 elections. The frenzy has become more obsessive and irrational, with Trotman’s latest dictat being the latest of the most incredible manoeuvres to obliterate the image of Jagdeo from the PPP/C equation of leadership composition.

With their supporters

deserting them in droves from all over the country, they are becoming desperate, because they know that the former President has left his mark in the hearts and minds of Guyanese across every divide of ethnicity, religion, political persuasion and age, having been another PPP/C President who reached out to communities.

Opposition leaders are aware that Dr. Jagdeo was the leader that broke the impasse between Buxtonians and their Government, paving the way for the developmental progression of that once besieged community, which the Opposition used and abused as their personal property.

They know that the unity of the PPP/C is not a contrived mechanism of convenience for political expediency like the PNC/APNU/AFC combo, which is trading votes and seats, dividing up Guyanese like personal property.

And their worst nightmare came to life at Kitty

last Sunday as Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo took to the podium and, in his inimitable style, stridently denounced the hypocrisy, inhumanity, destructive tendencies, lack of patriotism, predisposition to inciting discontent and violence – especially using the race card, anti-developmental actions and rhetoric; and naysaying and doomsaying prognostications.

As the elections campaign heats up, the presence of Dr. Jagdeo is like a towering thunderbolt in the psyche of the Opposition collective and it is very likely that, as they did in 2011 they will concentrate their elections strategy based, not on developmental programmes they have to catalyse the fortunes of Guyanese and the country, but on trying to destroy the exceedingly outstanding image and presence of Guyana’s former President.

Let education reign supreme!

GUYANA is the only country in the world that the Government gives a free computer to every home. I disputed this vociferously until I went and saw it for myself. Even the US, the undisputedly richest country in the known universe and inventor of the computer, does not have a policy of this kind.

If I did not so strongly believe that technology is the wave of the future (some say that the future is already in Guyana), I would say the PPP/C Government is guilty of creating a welfare State.

I did a search on the Internet, and the only country in the world that came close is Uruguay; they have a policy of giving every student a

computer.

But just handing out a computer is not the PPP/C way of doing business. In light of this fact, I asked

my friend’s son, a graduate and scholar of UG, why, with his advance skill of software and hardware, he is not starting a class for students.

He said that that need has already been met. The

PPP/C Government, he said, is offering lessons to children of all ages, and also adults, including the elderly.

His two brothers and sister attend the RDC classes, and got their certificates. Even his mother, a recent retiree, successfully completed the course. His father is too busy with work to attend.

Their granddaughter, threeand-a-half years old, plays with the Blackberry tablet.

The Opposition is using the very tools supplied by the PPP/C Government to undermine democracy; they are using Facebook to spread racist and malicious propaganda to destabilise the government.

Some PPP/C supporters are recommending to return the favour. But such

Nazi Gobbels-like tactics do not appeal to a democratically elected government.

The PNC/AFC is claiming that this is going to be their “Arab Spring”. Jimmy Carter was there in 1992, and Guyana had its Spring and Summer all in one.

The PPP/C has to reach out to the providers of Internet service and hosting sites to sanction those who are promoting racist hate-bating and other malicious propaganda. The Guyana Elections Commission is the obvious starting point.

An educated consumer is our best citizen. Let the educated drink from a full cup.

LATCHMAN MOHABIR

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

28 years of PNC thuggery READING Bros. Hydar Ally and Lal Balkaran’s letters should be a must for all who suffered, including others of sound mind, to never forget the historical facts: 28 years of thuggery, fraudulent and rigged elections; the murder of Father Bernard Darke, Vincent Teekah and Dr. Walter Rodney; the 1973 Elections Killings in Berbice of Parmanand & Ramessar etc under the most notorious regime in the Caribbean.

This scourge was removed from government not only by free and fair elections but with The One God answering the tears and cries for help by the Guyanese masses. The sufferings is not a made up of stories like the Spanish, and British invaders calling the natives of the Americas SAVAGES, and raping the women and killing the men.

Anyone who thinks that a change of government will bring betterment under the new PNC & AFC needs a crash course in the history of Guyana 1964-1992; they are either mad, in a stupor, or bribed to say such nonsense.

Let’s take a truthful analysis of the development in Guyana from 1992 to 2015. As far as one’s eyes can see, the transformation is in all sectors of the economy -- Education, Health, Transportation, Agriculture, Housing, Banking, Tourism and access to a variety of foodstuffs – no banning of essential commodities.

The PPP/C in government is the first National Party in this hemisphere to recognise that the Natives Rights to their Land Claims must be respected and acknowledged with Titles.

Further, I want to share with all readers that I was denied to continue my studies at GTI by the PNC-controlled University of Guyana because I was a

--misery in Guyana

Polling Agent for the PPP at the 1973 Elections. My first time to vote in Guyana in 1973 was a nightmare; I was denied to vote because they said I voted already; and the next thing I knew was that a GDF soldier pushed his sub-machine gun in my rib cage and demanded I leave or I will be sorry. My co-polling agent said, ‘Your life is more valuable than one vote.’

On returning to my Polling Station, the GDF soldiers grabbed all the boxes and denied us travelling with the ballot boxes. I resigned after gaining employment with the GuySuCo Port Mourant Aprentice Training Centre. This institution where I was trained, I am thankful to the Admin. Manager of Albion Estate for allowing me to continue my studies at NATI in New Amsterdam.

I continued working with the PPP and my locality to further the struggles for residents of the Port Mourant-Tain area for better services by the Local Authority. I was elected a Regional Member of the PPP (Port Mourant-New Amsterdam) and planned to raise my young family of four kids in this locality. I was renting a house from someone living abroad. The hardships of obtaining foodstuff and the high rent left me one month behind in expenses. House lots were available for GuySuCo workers in Tain South and Harold Singh, the Chairman, bluntly refused my application without an explanation.

There was a house for sale in Tain for $5000.00, and I was refused by the NBS, which asked me if I have any money.

These repressive, undemocratic and inhumane actions by the PNC forced me to migrate to

Canada in 1978.

From 2005 to 2015, I have visited Guyana 22 times, and the transformation of Guyana towards a standard of living equivalent to the west is seen and felt wherever one travels in Guyana. The only party that delivers positive improvement and services is the PPP/C. Don’t allow anyone to fool you to vote for APNU/AFC. Let me give you a simple example: Many so-called Arab leaders were duped into believing that they will have better lives if Saddam, Gadaffi, Ben Ali were removed. You can read everywhere that the Arabs are worse off today; these countries were destroyed by the coalition-led forces. Iraq was

model for the middle east, their health care, transportation, education, employment, housing, Electricity, security are absent for the masses.

The proverb” a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”.

It’s better to have a certain advantage than the possibility of a greater one that may come to nothing.

11th May General and Regional Elections is in your hands my fellow Guyanese brothers and sisters and make the Wise Decision - VOTE PPP/C I humbly call on all Guyanese to use their eyes, their hearts not emotions and give the PPP/C a solid majority in the 11th May 2015 General and Regional Elections.

SAFDAR ALLY

Well done, Africo!

I read with pride, excitement, and joyous anticipation the article, ‘Africo Selman joins PPP at Kitty Rally’ carried in your March 30 issue.

For as many years as I can remember, I have been writing letters focused on one theme to your newspaper: The unity of our African and East Indian brothers and sisters.

Thus when my eyes beheld this article, I could not help but exclaim, “At Last!”

Here stands a brave African Guyanese woman who not only possesses the capacity to perceive the truth, but also has the moral fabric to embrace and publicly proclaim that truth: “This Party (the PPP) is for unity, not for racial division…”

This bold stand by Africo Selman is of earth-shaking significance. Africo’s stand heralds the dawn of change in Guyana; a change of consciousness that is rippling across Guyana. The true unity of our nation is at hand. The nurtured walls of race hate that separated us are crumbling under the light of realized truth. The national healing has begun in earnest!

WILBERT M. STEPHENSON

Creating a prosperous and just society POLITICS is defined as who gets what, how and when. The PPP/C has always embraced the view that the acquisition of power is not an end in itself, but the means to a much greater end, namely, to create a prosperous and just society.

This is why the PPP, during the 1950s and 60s, incurred the wrath of foreign vested interests because it refused to be a willing pawn in a political arrangement that would have sacrificed the good and wellbeing of the Guyanese people to enrich the capitalist and monied class.

The position taken by the PPP was based fundamentally on the principle that Guyana belongs to the Guyanese people, and therefore the resources of the country must be utilised in a manner that promotes development with a human face.

Development, in other words, means very little if it fails to impact on the lives of ordinary people. People therefore must not only be instrumental in the developmental process, but at a more fundamental level, the end to which all development is directed.

It is this philosophical outlook that informed the developmental agenda of the PPP as a political party, and as the ruling party.

One of the first measures taken by the PPP/C Administration when it assumed the mantle of leadership on October 5, 1992 was a complete re-orientation of the governance mechanism to reflect a concern for the ordinary people. This shift in emphasis found expression in a changing emphasis on the social sectors,

more particularly education, health, housing and water.

It is worth recalling that under the PNC Administration, more funds were allocated to Foreign Affairs than to education, health, housing, water and agriculture combined!

This shift in emphasis was criticized by the political opposition and some sections of the independent media who argued that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was deliberately being downsized for political reasons. The fact that nothing of significance ever came about in terms of advancing the country’s national interest was not material enough in the calculus of these opposition elements.

They seemed quite comfortable with the then reality of a bloated, oversized and overpriced foreign policy apparatus in the

face of growing and widespread poverty in the country, while the PNC regime spent an inordinate sum of money, not to advance the good of the country and its people, but that of a political cabal which was bent on perpetuating its political life through force, fraud and deception.

Foreign policy today has taken on a new dimension, which is to advance the economic standing of the country and to protect the territorial integrity of the country through diplomatic means.

Under the PNC regime, the focus was on ego gratification of the Maximum Leader Forbes Burnham and his desire to assert himself as a Third World leader on the backs of starving Guyanese.

HYDAR ALLY

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Nurturing trust

By Shaun Michael Samaroo TRUSTING each other forms the firmest foundation for us to build harmonious co-existence.

To design our society so we achieve our optimal potential, we must choose to trust ourselves.

Our Guyanese society suffers from a political history stooped in distrust, dividing us into antagonistic camps. Our body politic limps along with this dysfunction, and the solution to the problem is simple: we must nurture a national culture of trust.

What would it take to nurture the Guyanese body politic to the sophisticated state where we trust each other, where we look at each other seeing that common quest beating in our breasts to heal our land of its historical wounds, and to elevate us to our legendary potential?

Today, we’re caught in the rough and tumble of an elections season because the Opposition refuses to trust the freely and fairly elected Government of President Donald Ramotar.

With the majority in the 10th Parliament, the Opposition distrusted every single move of President Ramotar, claiming he was a puppet Head-of-State of former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, and that he was weak. They refused to trust the President as a leader of character, who had risen to the highest office in the land, itself no mean feat.

Underlying this negativity and unworkable national atmosphere of irrational pessimism that emanated from the halls of Parliament was this presupposition of distrust.

The Opposition filled the Guyanese national social space with harsh plosive words and rants and rows alleging corruption in every single Government project, stifling any development initiative the President proposed and embarked upon.

We became a nation stooped in distrust, disharmony and disunity.

Government’s efforts to nurture a relationship built on trust, collaboration, cooperation and constructive engagement met with the distrust of the Opposition, who wanted absolute dominance of the State.

President Ramotar became President because he exercised the leadership skill, people engagement and political acumen,

not only to win in the nomination process within the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), but also to come out victorious at national polls in 2011.

Even if powerful former President Jagdeo endorsed and supported him, this was due to President Ramotar’s political wisdom and practical leadership character. It’s not easy to become leader of a nation: it calls for enormous people-skill and political insight and judgment.

We ought to take our hats off to President Ramotar, this humble, open, cool President, who disregards the mountain of negativism and criticisms that bedeviled his first term of office as President.

He’s weathered all the storms, and comes out victorious, with Guyanese today seeing him for his outstanding leadership quality, his deep love for this nation, his tire-

like every human society, harbours deep problems and structural failings. We are a work in progress.

In fact, we’re now emerging from a two-decade long recovery phase to eradicate the ripple effect of the 1964 – 1992 dictatorship, which left us in gross poverty and

If we want to construct a national atmosphere of trust and openness, the first step is to trust our Head-of-State, our President, who is freely and fairly elected. Once we trust him and support his developmental efforts, we extend such trust to the Government and State. less work to connect and engage with grassroots community, and his inner strength and resolve to not stoop to the defeatist distrust of his detractors.

If we want to construct a national atmosphere of trust and openness, the first step is to trust our Head-of-State, our President, who is freely and fairly elected.

Once we trust him and support his developmental efforts, we extend such trust to the Government and State.

From that point of reference, standing on the firm foundation of our choice to trust our leaders, we then proceed to nurture a national atmosphere that inspires, motivates and energises the Guyanese citizen to build our nation.

We are human beings, full of flaws and frailties and imperfections. President Ramotar is not ruling a utopian Guyana. Our society,

socio-economic ruin.

If Government says it seeks social justice in convening the Rodney Commission to probe the circumstances and conditions that caused our great historian and scholar Dr Walter Rodney’s bomb-blast political assassination in 1980, then let’s trust the State’s sincerity. After all, it’s time we deal with this nasty historical wound that festers on the global stage, staining the image of the Guyanese national conscience.

We saw vociferous distrust deconstruct the image of the Guyanese nation, making us out to be a people corrupt, crass, unable to get our act together. Opposition politicians and discontented, disgruntled national commentators collared a myopic and pessimistic national media to batter the Guyanese social space with words of distrust, disregarding the degrading impact

on citizens’ morale.

After a while, we saw Government develop its own distrust for the discontents, fuelling a nasty tit-for-tat that has caused President Ramotar endless sleepless nights, as he battled a national stage that worked against him taking the Guyanese nation forward.

President Ramotar has had to fight to overcome this national penchant for distrust, with one popular national commentator closely aligned to the Opposition even declaring himself an anarchist and a hater of elite ruling figures. Yet, the Opposition embraces this figure with a crushing embrace.

We must nurture a national culture of trust. We go about this difficult task with how we engage each other, how we reach out and embrace each other’s different viewpoints, how we tolerate each other’s uniqueness.

Trusting each other is the starting point for the emergence of Guyana as a solid 21st century society able to handle its internal political dysfunctions with humility, wisdom and practical sense.

In this task, President Ramotar’s unique leadership style and character lend itself well, and one could see the President playing a pivotal role in accomplishing this not only as Head-of-State, but even after his Presidency, as elder statesman.

The President has set that tone for the nurturing of a national culture of trust, and real healing has started across the nation. He’s already bringing divergent personalities together in the work of Government, and this skill of his could be a real dynamic as he creates a new playing field for the Guyanese body politic.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

‘Color Me Beautiful’ replaces Avon in Guyana - hailed as ‘World’s Greatest Skin Cosmetics & Skin Care Lines’

By Raveena Mangal BEAUTY & Home Systems (Guyana) Inc. launched its remarkable new product line on Saturday at the Savannah Suite, Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown.

Lauded as the “World’s Greatest Skin Cosmetics & Skin Care Lines”- ‘Color Me Beautiful’ is replacing Avon products, which pulled the plug on operations in

and we plan to expand to various regions of the country,” Beauty & Home Systems (Guyana) Inc. Chief Executive Officer, Anne Singh, announced at the launching ceremony of the new addition to the Beauty and Home Systems Group.

USE OF CATALOGUES The replacement cosmetic company

CEO of B & H Systems Guyana, Ann Singh (centre) with Director Daniel Harricharran (right) and CEO of ‘Color Me Beautiful’, Steve DiAntonio, (left) flanked by staffers Guyana, and throughout the Caribbean region last February.

Chief Executive Officer and owner of the leading cosmetics and skin care brand, Steve DiAntonio, said that for over a decade, ‘Color Me Beautiful’ had become a popular cosmetic brand using the power of color to help women achieve their full beauty potential.

He further disclosed that the brand is used by celebrities like Beyonce, Megan Fox and Jenifer Anderson and it has also been compared to MAC and Clinique.

‘Color Me Beautiful’ is known for the best makeup colours available anywhere to coordinate with one’s eye and hair colour and skin tone, he noted. As such, it is a highly personalised brand. In addition, Color Me Beautiful has highly effective prestige skin care products with the highest quality and technological advances in beauty treatments, he added.

“We are the exclusive distributors for this line in Guyana and Suriname

will fill the gap left by Avon and works basically the same way. Cosmetics, jewellery, watches, perfumes, deodorants, foot works, evening bags, body wash, body creams, hair treatments, shampoo & conditioners etc. will be available through catalogues.

Beauty & Home Systems have implemented a system whereby two catalogues are available, and orders can be placed twice monthly. Clients are required to pay 50% down on their order and the other 50% will be required upon delivery.

BECOMING AGENTS Those desirous of becoming agents for the highly effective prestige ‘Color Me Beautiful’ line can contact Beauty & Home Systems Inc. which is currently located at 219 Camp and Lamaha Streets, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, the old address of Avon Products.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

First hearing of challenge to disbursement of IDB loan to Government set for today

THE legal challenge regarding a loan agreement inked between the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Guyana (GoG) will have its first hearing in the High Court today.

The challenge, being advanced by an executive member of the political coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Mr Carl Greenidge, seeks to have proceeds under the loan agreement between the GoG and the IDB paid into the Consolidated Fund, and that those moneys may not be withdrawn without the authority of an Appropriations Act. The challenge further seeks a Conservatory Order restraining the Minister of Finance from spending the proceeds of the said loan until the substantive matter is heard and determined.

Dr Ashni Singh

Carl Greenidge

Bharrat Jagdeo

Anil Nandlall

In the latter part of February, the IDB approved two loan applications for Guyana to the total value of US$32.16M (Gy$4.4B). One of those loans is aimed at supporting Government’s security programme, and the other is aimed at supporting the country’s environmental initiatives.

Greenidge formally filed the proceedings on March 20. Attorney General and

Legal Affairs Minister, Mr Anil Nandlall, and Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh are the named defendants in the matter. Both ministers have maintained that the challenge is without merit.

Saturday on the actions taken

by Dr Singh during his tenure as finance minister, said Dr Singh has been targeted as part of a “vicious campaign” by a particular group of politicians in the Opposition, who “can’t have their way” in the wider scheme of Guyana’s financial management.

“Effectively, what they are trying to do is shut down the country so people could

not be paid; there wouldn’t be funding for many programmes and so on. It so happens that he is the minister of finance. Had it been any other person, they would have gone after that person,” Dr Jagdeo said.

The former president added that the political Opposition has made their challenges to Dr Singh’s actions into a matter of accountability, as opposed to

UNFAIRLY TARGETED Former finance minister and president, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, commenting last

Headless, limbless body identified as clothes vendor

By Leroy Smith THE woman whose headless and limbless body was discovered on the Annandale/ Buxton foreshore last Thursday has been identified as that of Samantha Benjamin, a Buxtonian who travels frequently to the United States.

Meanwhile, a male has been taken into custody as he was identified as the person with whom the woman lived. And according to persons in the area, on Wednesday last, they had heard continuous loud music for about two hours late into the night, and what sounded like the screams of a woman.

Samantha Benjamin is said to be a clothes vendor of the Vendors Arcade in Georgetown.

One close friend who was at the scene when the police arrived last evening spoke with this publication.

He identified himself as Dexter Philander. According to Philander, the woman has a daughter who is in her teens.

He told this newspaper that Samantha has been in Guyana since December,

Dead: Samantha Benjamin but when she is in the United States, he would stay at her home with her husband.

According to him, the last time he saw her was three weeks ago and calls to her mobile number has been going unanswered ever since.

Meanwhile, one relative of the woman, who also lives in Buxton, told the Chronicle that the immediate and extended relatives of the woman were not aware that she was in the country. The relative also indicated that she might have also recently bought a vehicle but those details are yet to be confirmed by other close family members.

Residents in the area described the suspect as one who would usually ride a very old motorcycle up and down the village, play football with the males in

The suspect held by the Police the community, and smoke marijuana.

According to the residents, after the body was discovered, they noticed the young man keeping to himself. They also related to the Chronicle that on Saturday, two women came into the village and took away a pink suitcase from Samantha’s home.

Last evening, at the Vigilance Police Station, the suspect was escorted from the lock-ups there to another location, under heavy police guard and shackled in handcuffs.

It is believed that the man is from Essequibo and not a Buxtonian.

Last week the police were called to the seashore in the area to investigate the remains of a female whose head, legs and hands were missing.

what it really is -- a disagreement over procedure.

“When you have disagreement over procedure, you go to the courts and the courts interpret the issue.

They made it look like Ashni Singh stole money; so every time you hear them speak about sending Ashni Singh to jail, the police have made it clear that it is a procedural matter,” he said.

Dr. Jagdeo, stressing that no laws have been violated, agreed that all matters related to public expenditure are guarded by Guyana’s Constitution and other legislation.

“I think Dr Ashni Singh is a bright young man. I think he had done a great job as minister of finance….he is a person of great integrity,” Dr Jagdeo concluded. (Vanessa Narine)

Judge us by what we have done …PPP/C’s Indranie Chanderpal at New Hope

THE A Partnership of National Unity and the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition can only come through the back door and that’s the way they do things.

This was the message stressed at the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) public meeting at New Hope on the East Bank of Demerara, last evening.

Speaking to the gathering of persons at New Hope, Ragunandan Singh related that he brings a simple message that over the years, the PPP/C Government has worked tirelessly to develop the country.

He said, “Look at your own community at New Hope; they have created the environment for businesses and by doing so, have created job opportunities for your fellow residents.”

Dr. Prem Misir, another speaker at the meeting, noted that, “this is the mother of all elections and we will return the PPP/C to office, we need to always go forward never backwards. “ He said that presidential candidate for APNU+AFC, David Granger, needs to answer some pending questions, being a Senior military officer when ballot boxes were removed illegally from polling places by Guyana Defence Force personnel.

Indranie Chanderpal, at New Hope.

He has also refused to participate in the Rodney Commission of Inquiry, Dr Misir said. “Don’t let him get away with it, he must answer.”

Indranie Chanderpal, Chairman of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), related it is time she shared some of the reasons why “you need to vote for the PPP/C in the upcoming Regional and General Elections on May 11”. She explained that the people’s right to vote and participate in the development was always paramount to the PPP/C. She spoke about the debts inherited when the PPP/C Government took office in1992, and because of stra-

Chairman of the WPO tegic planning and execution of those plans, “we came out of the debt.”

Chanderpal mentioned projects that will benefit the Guyanese people tremendously, but which were all voted down in the National Assembly by the Opposition, and now they are saying that those projects are good for the Guyanese people.

The Chairman spoke on the achievements the Government has made, especially in education, providing much assistance to parents.

“Judge us by what we have done; we are not coming to you with empty rhetoric. This is why, come May 11, I urge you to vote PPP/C,” Chanderpal stressed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

St Margaret’s students have high hopes and big dreams for NGSA 2015 THIS publication visited St Margaret’s Primary School yesterday and found pupils tirelessly preparing for the two-day National Grade Six Assessment exam, which commences today. They shared with us some of their expectations and aspirations:

RHEA RAMOTAR: “I’ve been studying a lot for my exams. Most times I go to bed at 11:00 pm. I’m hoping that I get Queen’s College, since it’s considered as the top school in Georgetown.

So far, everyone is cooperating with each other in order to do well at the exams.

My teacher (Ms Kathryn Persico) has been giving us extra lessons and pushing us to excel. I want to follow in my dad’s footsteps and become a journalist. I would also like to say ‘good luck’ to everyone writing the exams.”

CHIDANAND BHIM: “So far, my studies have been going great, so I’m hoping to do well.

I would also like to get Queen’s College or any of the top schools in Georgetown. One day, I wish to become a pilot, so I can go to places and see other countries.

Also, I’ve always been dreaming of topping my country, so I hope this comes true.”

AALIYA SINGH: “I am very confident that I will do well in my exams, since I’ve been studying every night. I would like to get Bishop’s High School, since I want to become a lawyer. I also would like to wish everyone good luck today and tomorrow in their exams.”

Teacher KATHRYN PERSICO: “The students are unbelievably hard-working. They requested classes on Sunday and even Monday and Tuesday! They’ve been working with me from 9 to 3pm! I expect them to do well, since they seem to have the drive for excellence. Most of them have been performing very well. I wish not only them, but every student that is writing the National Grade Six Assessment today and tomorrow all the best.

“We have done our part the rest.” as teachers; now it is their part, and God will now do (Shivanie Sugrim)

JAHROL LONDON: “Like everybody else, I would also like to get a top-five school in Guyana. I am working very hard to ensure I live up to my mother’s expectation, since she cannot afford a private school. I’m always in my 90s in class, so I’m confident that I’ll do good and be able to help my family in the long run. One day, I would like to become a lawyer, and probably a banker just like my mom, since she is my role model. Good luck to all my friends; don’t give up, and keep on fighting.”

REANNA MCCURCHIN: “I expect to do well in my exams, since I’ve been doing quite well in my school work. I’m hoping to get Queen’s College and then Bishops, since I want to become a lawyer someday. Good luck to everyone.”

St. Margaret’s Primary School students and teacher in full preparation mode for their exams yesterday (Samuel Maughn photos)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Bogus cops to be charged over murder of security guard, GGMC worker

By Leroy Smith FORMER Guyana Defence Force rank and market vendor, 26-year-old Rayon Paddy of 278 South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown, and construction worker, Orin Arthur, 25 years, of Block X Diamond, East Bank Demerara, who reportedly have been posing as police officers over the last few months, will soon be facing two separate murder charges.

The Guyana Chronicle has learnt that when ballistic tests were carried out on the weapon found in the possession of the men on Friday during a raid by “real police”, it was discovered that the said gun was used in the murder of Beharry Security Guard, Wilfred Stewart at Sterling

Products Limited on December 08, 2014.

Further tests carried out also found that the same gun was also used in the execution style killing of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission employee Trevor Abram on February 27 this year on the East Bank Demerara as he was heading to Georgetown.

During the December 08, 2014 shooting at Sterling Products, eyewitnesses related to police that a car load of men showed up at the facility and barged into the compound. They first turned their attention to Stewart who always carries a firearm and

shot him twice, killing him in the process.

They also injured Indian national Gabriel Dass before

Fake cop Orin Arthur attempting to make their way to the finance department of the company. Those efforts were, however, unsuccessful although the men were able to relieve the security guard of his firearm after killing

him.

Meanwhile, on February 27 this year, Geology and

of persons into custody for questioning, including a deportee and his wife as they continued their investigations into that matter.

In court on Monday where the two suspects had a total of seventeen charges read against them stemming from their illegal road blocks, being in possession of ammunition, unlicensed firearm and robberies, the prosecution had asked that bail be denied as there were Fake cop Rayon Paddy more charges likely to Mines be leveled against the Commission employee Trev- men as the police continued or Abram was shot execution investigations. style as he was in his vehicle They were eventually heading to Georgetown along remanded to prison by the the East Bank carriageway. magistrate who ordered that Police had taken a number their matters be called again

PPP proposes different electors’ list for disciplined services --Rohee says repeat of 2011 confusion could be avoided

GENERAL Secretary of the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Mr Clement Rohee, is plugging for removal of the names of the Disciplined Services professionals from the Official List of Electors (OLE) onto a separate list.

He reasons that inclusion of those names on the OLE created confusion at the last General and Regional Election in 2011, and there is a possibility of a repeat of the same confusion.

“The (PPP/C) Party insists that the names of Disciplined Services members should not be included on the OLE for E-Day, but rather (be) on a separate list prepared for D-Day, which is usually a week before,” Rohee said during the party’s weekly press briefing at Freedom House yesterday.

“The PPP had raised its concerns in 2011 with regards to the names of the Disciplined Services being on the OLE used on E-Day,” he said.

However, Rohee did not detail specifically what those concerns were.

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

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee at the party’s weekly press conference yesterday (Photo by Delano Williams) Surujbally, noted that those “menu of measures” to ensure sion, and Chief Elections Officoncerns ought to be communi- the integrity of the electoral cer (CEO) Mr. Keith Lowencated in writing to the Commis- process, particularly to ensure field has the authority to make sion for them to be addressed. that no one person votes more corrections.

“Write us and tell us what than once.

Once that review period the problem is,” he appealed.

The OLE, including the comes to an end, the CEO is Currently, copies of the names of 570,786 eligible then expected to certify the Revised List of Electors voters, will remain in public RLE, and from this produce (RLE), a list modified using view for 21 days, as is the the Official List of Electors the Preliminary List of Elec- statutory requirement, during which would facilitate voting tors, are posted at locations which members of the Guya- at the upcoming May 11 Genacross Guyana for perusal by nese public and eligible voters eral and Regional Elections. stakeholders in the electoral are invited to review the list to The Official List of Elecprocess. ensure their details are correct. tors is expected to be availDr. Surujbally has reiteratAny inaccuracies can be able after April 12. (Vanessa ed that the Commission has a communicated to the Commis- Narine)

at the Mahaicony and Providence courts respectively for their various charges.

Paddy and Arthur have been making the lives of citizens, especially along the East Bank Demerara and Upper East Coast, very uneasy with their illegal activities, particularly the roadblocks which they held while posing as police officers.

The police are also looking for another man who once served in the Guyana Police Force who is said to be the third accomplice of the two men but he managed to escape the police dragnet last Friday when the two were caught in a house.

The police were only able to get hold of the men after they had received intelligence from persons about their whereabouts.

GECOM engages political parties on nomination day procedures A walk through of the procedures on nomination day, April 7, topped the agenda for a meeting hosted by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for political parties contesting the upcoming elections.

Another major highlight of yesterday’s meeting, according to the Chairman of GECOM, Dr Steve Surujbally, was his call for political parties to avoid actions that would “pull the rug from under GECOM” feet.

“Why would anyone want to erode the integrity inherent in the senior officers of GECOM?” he questioned.

Dr Surujbally made it clear that the role of the Commission is to host a free and fair election that would uphold any scrutiny.

“After all that is being done, why besmirch the Commission?” he asked.

The GECOM Chairman also bemoaned the fact that the two major political parties, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Chance (APNU+AFC), were unable to be present at the meeting.

Represented were The United Force (TUF), Working People’s Alliance (WPA), National Front Alliance (NFA), the Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HNTP), the Independent Party and the United Republican Party (URP).

Additionally, GECOM staffers are currently engaged in a mock nomination day exercise, which is expected to run until the end of the week.

Over 30 persons are engaged in the exercise.

GECOM has made public its guidelines for the composition of the necessary lists that need to be submitted, come April 7.

Contesting parties are permitted to submit three separate lists on Nomination Day. These Lists of Candidates are in respect of: Geographical Constituencies Lists; National Top-up Lists; and Regional Democratic Council Lists.

In accordance with the electoral system of Proportional Representation, in order to qualify for a seat in the National Assembly, contesting parties must contest a minimum of six of the Geographical Constituencies- totalling at least 13 seats for eligibility to contest and submit Geographical Constituencies lists and National Top-up Lists. This arrangement will provide for that qualified contesting party to submit on Nomination Day, two separate Lists of Candidates.

Any contesting political party can contest the election of members of any of the 10 Regional Democratic Councils. For this purpose, a List of Candidates must be submitted on Nomination Day.(Vanessa Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

India celebrates 50th anniversary -PM Hinds hails India’s of ITEC programme support over the years

By Navendra Seoraj PRIME Minister Samuel Hinds acknowledged the support Guyana has received from India over the years, as that country celebrated the 50th anniversary since the establishment of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme.

During a luncheon ceremony Monday at the Aagman Indian Restaurant on Sheriff Street, Prime Minister Hinds expressed his greatest appreciation to the people and Government of India for their support through many areas, particularly for the ITEC programme.

According to the Prime Minister, “Guyana is a small developing country

has been steadily increasing year after year.”

Thus far under the programme, the High Commissioner noted, over 600 persons from Guyana and other countries within the Region have been trained.

And in the technical fields around 36 countries in this Region, particularly Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America have also benefited from training programmes through ITEC. H.E Mahalingam stated that one of the important aspects of ITEC is the implication of experts in the various fields… “Currently there is one ITEC expert in the field of agriculture who has completed his two- year attachment with the National Agricultural

Sitting in the front row are Prime Minister Samuel Hinds (second from left), H.E. Venkatachalam Mahalingam besides PM Hinds, Minister Westford and Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Irwin La Rocque. which is seeking to find our way in the world of 200 countries, but we are happy to have India as one of our traditional friends.

“Our relations with the Government of India are soundly founded on many historical things, especially being members of the Commonwealth, and also in the British time which saw the largest quantity of our Indian ancestors coming to work on our sugar estates,” he said.

He also noted that over the years the ties between Guyana and India have been maintained and strengthened, dating back to the past when India gained Independence and subsequently Guyana did the same.

Apart from the history of the two countries, PM Hinds in closing reiterated that Guyana is grateful for the support of the ITEC programme from the very start and also other sorts of support, particularly in the area of agriculture.

MAJOR BENEFICIARY Also speaking at the event Monday was High Commissioner of India, H.E. Venkatachalam Mahalingam, who highlighted that “ITEC in Guyana has become a regular feature as Guyana has been one of the major beneficiaries through this programme…also our bilateral cooperation on this programme

Research & Extension Institute (NAREI) and is now working with the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), where he is working on improving the rice cultivation practices in Guyana,” he said.

ITEC PROGRAMMES Apart from that he said that other forms of cooperation which are being undertaken under the ITEC programme are study tools, project development, agriculture, coconut production, telecast and telecommunication, just to list a few.

“We immensely value the cooperation of the Government of Guyana in giving us the opportunity of participating in the development of the country through the ITEC programme. I am sure it will go a long way in capacity building and institutional building and also in helping technological and economical enhancement,” said the Indian High Commissioner.

At the ceremony, one of the participants from the ITEC programme shared her experience which she gained from her participation. She disclosed that the knowledge gained through the ITEC programme has taken her a far way, noting that “it was a life changing experience to interact with the foreigners and have the teachings of an expert in

the capacity of auditing.”

Meanwhile on behalf of the Government of Guyana, Minister of Public Service, Dr. Jennifer Westford, expressed great thanks to the people and Government of India for unswervingly, over the years, ensuring that Government got places to send the Guyanese people, especially from the public sector to acquire

further training in various fields.

“We don’t have any sector in the Government which doesn’t have persons that were trained in India…

India has left an indelible mark on the public sector as we learnt a lot and there have been a lot of improvements as we are hoping to get more scholarships from the Government,” she said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Central Bank Governor warns against failure at looming AML/CFT deadline

GOVERNOR of the Central Bank, Dr Gobin Ganga, is warning that come September, when Guyana comes up for another review in relation to its compliance on its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) laws, better results are of utmost importance.

The head of Guyana’s premier fi-

nancial institution made the declaration during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle Monday.

According to Dr Ganga, if there are issues arising with respect to not achieving a satisfactory level of compliance by the September deadline, then Guyana will face adverse sanctions.

Guyana has been subjected to a number of reviews by the Caribbean

Financial Action Taskforce (CFATF) and the International Financial Action Taskforce (FATF).

Having failed repeatedly to meet its requirements, CFATF has already warned its member countries to put measures in place when doing business with Guyana, in order to protect their own financial systems.

SERIOUS DEADLINE According to the Central Bank Governor, the September deadline is critical, “this is a serious deadline… this is the deadline.”

While Guyana has successfully complied with a number of the non-legislative requirements mandated by CFATF, a gridlocked 10th Parliament has led to the nation failing to pass its amendments to the AML/CFT legislation, much to the chagrin of the international community.

At FATF’s last meeting, Guyana was mandated to undertake a number of steps to address the shortcomings in the local AML/CFT framework.

Among these, as outlined in a statement by FATF, are:

* Adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing; * Establishing and implementing adequate procedures for the confiscation of assets related to money laundering; * Establishing and implementing an adequate legal framework for identifying, tracing and freezing terrorist assets; * Establishing a fully operational and effectively functioning Financial Intelligence Unit; * Establishing effective measures for customer due diligence and enhancing financial transparency; Strengthening suspicious transaction reporting requirements; and * Implementing an adequate supervisory framework.

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

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

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

World Poetry Day 2015…

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Power of poetry celebrated at National Library

By Raveena Mangal AN impressive celebration of international,

regional and Guyanese poetry was held in observance of World Poetry Day 2015 at the

Petamber Persaud gives his recital of David Dabydeen’s “Man and Woman.”

National Library Auditorium last Thursday.

World Poetry Day (WPD) was adopted on 21st March by UNESCO. The production held at the National Library by the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama (NSTAD) kept with the message of WPD, celebrating the power of poetry in times of uncertainty and turbulence, bringing women and men together, to craft new forms of dialogue and to nurture the creativity all societies need today.

Performances from the deserving winners of the 2015 Mashramani School Dramatic Poetry Competitions Justine Hamer from F. E. Pollard Primary, “If I told you I was deaf”, Marielle Bar-

row from North Georgetown Primary, “Who am I?” and Renaldo Thomas from Bladen Hall Multilateral, “This is Me” commenced the evening on a high note.

Representatives from the Embassy of the United States, the Embassy of Mexico and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China also took part in the celebrations by sharing poems and recitals popular in their respective countries.

Other distinguished pieces included an extract from Julius Caesar, “Portia and Brutus”, done by Lloyda Garrett and Sean Thompson from GEMS Theatre. “A Monologue From Brutus” by Masud Lewis and “Lady Lazarus” by Shyra Bruce, both from the Bishops’ High School, were excellently portrayed.

The audience was also treated to “I Love my Art” by Keon Heyw o o d f r o m N S TA D , “Home” by Elsie Harry-Ross, “After Carter”

by Ruel Johnson, “Who wrote this Script” by Randolph Critchlow and “V” by Tamara Rodney from her second Book of Poems.

Outstanding recitals were also done by Donna Sargeant “Guyana Nice”, Kathyanna George “A woman’s Hurt”, Sara Bharrat from the University of Guyana with “The Bridge” and “Groundless Fears”, Petamber Persaud with “Man and Woman” by David Dabydeen and Dr Seeta Roth accompanied by Mark Cyrus on drums with “The Porknocker.”

Marielle Barrow from North Georgetown Primary performing, “Who am I?”

“A Monologue From Brutus” by Masud Lewis from Bishops’ High School.

A young representative of the People’s Republic of China gives his performance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Aurora Mining Project on stream for first gold production in mid-2015 expects to produce between 30koz to 50koz of gold in 2015

CANADIAN Mining Company, Guyana Goldfields Inc. (GGI) declared that construction activities at Aurora are in full gear and progressing on schedule and on budget with the first gold production on track for mid-2015.

In a recent statement, the company disclosed that GGI is targeting a threemonth timeframe to reach commercial production which is estimated in late third quarter of 2015. The company expects to produce between 30koz to 50koz of gold in 2015, also stating that the first full year of gold production will be 2016.

As of December 31, 2014, the com-

pany had incurred US$172 million (M) of the approved budget of US$249M, with US$77M remaining in capital expenditures in order to reach commercial production. The company’s current spending is approximately US$10M on a monthly basis. The project is tracking on budget with US$58M available in overfunding.

According to the statement, GGI will begin phased commissioning of its gold processing plant in mid-2015, which includes the semi-autogenous grind (SAG) mill and gravity circuit, while full plant mechanical completion is anticipated in the third quarter of 2015.

Plant construction has been focused

on the installation of critical plant components to support the phased commissioning plan. Key operating systems include the saprolite feed system, the SAG mill and gravity circuit, followed by carbon in leach (CIL) tanks, gold room and effluent treatment systems.

Commissioning includes power generation, water and air support systems. All bulk earthworks on the plant platforms and dam and water retention structures are complete. Clearing of the Rory’s Knoll open pit has defined the pit outline with excavation below river level with no in-flow of water, as expected.

All major material and equipment are on site and undergoing final assembly and installation. Overall, project construction is approximately 80% complete with the company now focusing on operational readiness and upcoming commissioning.

The company is currently operating at

peak construction and manpower levels with over 800 personnel at site. Currently, all key operations staff is in place and staffing-up departments for training in anticipation of commissioning and start-up. Total operational manpower is expected to be below 600 people.

Guyana Goldfields Inc. is a Canada-based company, focused on the exploration and development of gold deposits in Guyana, South America. GGI is focused on the construction and development of the Aurora Gold Project scheduled for first production in mid-2015.

THE AURORA GOLD PROJECT Gold Project has a total gold resource of 6.54 million ounces in the measured and indicated categories (62.83 million tonnes at 3.24 g/t Au) as well as an additional 1.82 million ounces in the inferred category (16.93 million tonnes at 3.34 g/t Au).

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

‘Sicklers’ suffering stigmatisation and discrimination - biggest challenge is lack of knowledge about sickle cell disease locally

By Shirley Thomas

THE biggest challenge facing the local sickle cell community has been found to be a lack of knowledge about sickle cell disease, ultimately leading to stigmatisation and discrimination against ‘sicklers’ by the wider community, and even some functionaries in the medical profession.

This is the view expressed by professional director in the performing arts and actress, Sabrina Kazim who, diagnosed at age seven, has been living with the disease for the last 28 years, and has been at the receiving end of a trail of stigmatisation over the years.

Stigmatisation in a case like this can have negative spin-offs, since, depending on the extent of the stigma, it can invariably serve to heap mental and psychological pain on the sickler, compounding the physical and sometimes excruciating pains, he or she already suffers, living with the disease.

Sicklers are persons living with sickle cell anemia.

SICKLE CELL ANEMIA Sickle cell anemia is caused by an abnormal type of hemoglobin called ‘Hemoglobin S.’ Hemoglobin is a protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen to all parts of the body.

Passed down through families, sickle cell anemia is a condition where the red blood cells that are normally shaped like a disc, take on a sickle or crescent shape.

The abnormal cells deliver less oxygen to the body’s tissues and can easily get stuck in small blood vessels and break into pieces.

Because of the presence of these abnormal cells, there is an interruption of healthy blood flow, cutting down on the amount of oxygen flowing to body tissues.

‘CRISES’ Almost all people with sickle cell anemia have painful episodes called ‘crises’.

These can last from hours to days. Crises can cause pain in the lower back, leg, joints, and chest. Some people have one episode every few years.

Others have many episodes

priate means, will embark on the training and sensitisation of nurses who will staff that ward, coaching them in all aspects of the disease; providing care for sicklers; administering of sickle cell medication; how to relate to such patients, with an emphasis on being sensitive to their needs, compassionate, respectful and not least teaching the nurses the cardinal tenets of confidentiality.

within the wards, and citing the degree of stigmatisation to which sicklers are subjected, Kazim insisted there is severe stigma and discrimination attached to sicklers locally.

USE OF CONTROLLED NARCOTICS Citing one crucial example she explained: “Given a sickle cell condition referred to as a ‘crisis’, where

“Honestly I feel like asking these medical personnel at times ‘Do you really think that I would want to put myself in this position for you to disrespect and abuse me just so I can be ‘high’, when there are drugs available in the streets at affordable prices without this sort of abuse and ridicule?”

She blames this on the fact that Guyana has not edified our people enough about

When patients in ‘crises’ visit the hospital ‘too often’ for treatment to be administered, some medical personnel not convinced that they are truly in crisis, are least cooperative. They even point out sicklers to other staff and identify them as ‘drug seekers’ – Ms. Kazim

Sabrina Kazim each year and these crises can FACES - a sensitisation be severe enough to require NGO hospitalisation.

To this end, Ms. Ka“The goal of treatment is to zim is soon to launch an manage and control symptoms, organisation called ‘FACES’ and to limit the number of cri- - Fight Against Sickle Cell ses. People with sickle cell dis- Stigma. The organisation, ease need ongoing treatment, slated to be launched within even when not having a crisis,” the first week of April 2015, according to MedlinePlus. initially has a core group More than 30 years a sick- comprising Ms. Sabrina Kaler, and having had numerous zim as Founder, Jashmine crisis episodes, Sabrina has Wong, Mr. Sherod Duncan, had close shaves with death and Adam Harris, Public during her ordeal. She has de- Relations Officer, as well

The CEO is reported to be favourably disposed to accommodating a written proposal from ‘FACES’, with the intention of having sicklers properly monitored and managed so as to bring relief to their sufferings.

Says Ms. Kazim, “The objective is that through the organisation, Guyana can be made sickle cell friendly, because I believe the institutions in Guyana are not sickle-cell friendly in its entirety.”

In addition, ‘FACES’ will also be reaching out to the private medical institutions such as Woodlands Hospital, St. Joseph Mercy, David

Ms. Kazim is soon to launch an organisation called ‘FACES’ - Fight Against Sickle Cell Stigma. The organisation, slated to be launched within the first week of April 2015, initially has a core group comprising Ms. Sabrina Kazim as Founder, Jashmine Wong, Mr. Sherod Duncan, and Adam Harris, Public Relations Officer, as well as persons living with the health condition. veloped a condition known as ‘avascular necrosis’ of the hip and requires a hip replacement surgery which is estimated to cost about G$1.5M at any private hospital locally. But through it all, she is a fighter and has survived the odds.

Against this backdrop, she is determined to make the difference in the lives of sicklers in Guyana. She feels that the key to removing stigma and discrimination from sickle cell anemia lies in a sustained sensitisation and education of the masses of the Guyanese people on what the disease is, how it works and its effects on persons living with it.

as persons living with the health condition.

The key movers recently met with Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), Mr. Michael Khan to discuss the initiative. Foremost among the recommendations is that a Ward be set up at the GPHC dedicated for sicklers, and that a doctor/ doctors specially trained in the management of sickle cell disease be assigned to work exclusively with those patients.

The GPHC, through its Institute of Health Sciences Education or other appro-

Memorial, Medical Arts and others, so that when sicklers are utilising their services they (the institutions) need to make certain that the ‘stigma and discrimination’ does not affect their treatment.

“We want to stretch out a hand in friendship, not in antagonism against any medical institution. While this is so, the administration needs to know of some of the problems, the uncomfortable and near-death situations in which some sicklers find themselves when admitted to hospitals.”

Addressing the need for respect and confidentiality

the body goes into excruciating pain, the ordinary medicine or drug will not work. In this case, what is used locally is morphine and pethidine which are controlled narcotics. If the pain is not managed in a timely manner, it can result in other complications during that crisis, even death.

But since morphine and pethidine are controlled drugs and cannot be had in drugstores, it means that the sickler must be admitted to a medical institution for it to be administered. That creates another problem, because when patients in ‘crises’ visit the hospital ‘too often’ for treatment to be administered, some medical personnel not convinced that they are truly in crisis, are least cooperative, Kazim outlined. They even point out sicklers to other staff and identify them as ‘drug seekers’.

She said that it is not uncommon that sicklers be left on the chair for hours at a time, in severe pain until the relevant person or persons are convinced that the crisis explained is in fact an authentic one.

“The nurses and medical staff may say to you: ‘You were here last week,’ or ‘You were here the other week, so how come you come back again?’ according to Kazim.

Recalling that she has been the victim of that kind of blatant disrespect on more than one occasion, Kazim said that this is not second hand information. It’s what she has seen and personally experienced.

sickle cell disease, and woefully some of our medical personnel lack this training.

“What I am saying, is that as a medical person you cannot risk a person’s life because of your suspicion or your personal definition of the situation. You have to be professional.”

However, Kazim noted that there may be persons with chronic diseases including sicklers, who may be dependent on narcotics and she is therefore encouraging the relevant persons to set up the needed protocol to address such a narcotic dependency.

Even if it is accurately ascertained that the sickler may be dependent on narcotics, when the person is in a crisis, should the medical institution leave that sickler to die of excruciating pain because the person is addicted to narcotics? Doesn’t that seem barbaric?’ she questioned. After effectively managing that sickler and their crisis comes to an end, then some sort of rehabilitation system or protocol should be instituted, Kazim reasoned.

Kazim has constantly been in contact with other sicklers who relate their experiences, and who all agree that there is a crying need for concerted and sustained information dissemination to the wider community and medical institutions as well, on sickle cell disease.

She considers it unfortunate that there is not a lot of literature available to the public on the disease, as compared to say, cancer or HIV.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Seventh Annual Wedding Expo tops previous presentations I

By Shivanie Sugrim

N its seventh year of existence, the Roraima Group of Companies-sponsored Wedding Expo has proven to be the ideal tourism product in Guyana’s wedding industry.

This was evident from the response that the three-day event, staged at Roraima Duke Lodge in Kingston, Georgetown elicited.

Hundreds of persons recorded a presence there, compared with what had obtained in

-seen as ideal tourism product

See page 22

From left are Gerry Gouveia Jr.; his fiancée Alina Todd; the winning couple of the ‘Race to the Altar’ contest; and Captain Mrs Debbie Gouveia, wife of Captain Gerry Gouveia. (Photos by Delano Williams)

A model happily showcases the work of a talented designer.

Monique’s Creation representatives in purple displaying their wedding pieces.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Seventh Annual Wedding Expo ...

From page 21

previous years.

Featuring approximately 60 local businesses, the Wedding Expo has managed to surpass previous presentations in regard to leaving treasured memories.

There was a wide array of displays on stage last Saturday and Sunday evenings. The audience was fortunate to get a glimpse of this year’s ‘Race to the Altar’ winning couple’s (Winston Waddle and Natasha Goodridge) wedding, sponsored by the Roraima Group of Companies last Saturday.

The Marriott Hotel exhibited its

services for the first time, allowing the audience to participate in its photo-collage giveaway. Classic Styles owned the fashion segment, with its models springing one by one to showcase their wedding pieces.

The eatery and catering booths showered their visitors with huge discounts on their products and samples of cupcakes. Monique’s Creations, however, emerged as the winning booth for this year, offering 20% discount on any item from that entity. Additionally, models showcased Monique’s wedding gowns and decoration services.

There were deliveries from the fabulous Alina Todd, fiancée of Gerry Gouveia Jr., who sang a number of marvellous wedding and pop pieces.

The Sassy Dance Group once again crafted a wonderful dance piece that delighted the audience. On the final night, however, a lingerie show featuring an exciting and very interesting display of undergarments was held, leaving the crowd enthused.

Moreover, there were many games and giveaways on stage, and couples in the audience were asked to participate to win free tickets to watch the upcoming football game in Guyana.

Gerry Gouveia Jr. went to every booth to derive exciting prizes and giveaways for the audience every 20 minutes. The ‘Find ‘em All’ promotion was drawn, and the winner became entitled to a trip to Curacao, compliments of Roraima Group of Companies.

Captain ‘Gerry’ Gouveia, Director of the Roraima Group of Companies, in his brief remarks on Sunday evening, said this year’s Wedding Expo had been quite successful. It had drawn support from the Government of Guyana, along with its loyal participants, and he said he was definitely anticipating a bigger show in Wedding Expo 2016.

Classic Styles’ models displaying two of their wedding gowns before owning the stage at the fashion segment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Man who stole $2M from parked car was – court captured on film hears A 54-year-old man (no address given) was yesterday refused bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on a simple larceny charge.

Errol Adams pleaded not guilty to the charge that said on December 16 at Brickdam, Georgetown, he stole $2M in cash, property of the Ministry of Local Government.

The prosecution alleged that on the day in question, the driver who is attached to Ministry of

Local Government parked the car on the opposite side of Star Computers on Brickdam. At that time he left the said cash in his vehicle and went to conduct businesses at the company.

However, a nearby constable saw Adams entering the car and took a photograph of him. The constable made attempts to arrest the accused man, but he managed to escape.

Investigations were carried out which led to the defendant’s home and he

was arrested and charged.

Defence counsel Mr. Paul Fung-A-Fat told the court that his client had been locked up for six days and was never placed on an identification parade.

Bail was opposed by Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru on the grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of the offence.

The father of seven was remanded to prison and the matter was adjourned to April 17 for statements.

Meadow Brook mason granted $300,000 bail over intent to commit murder A mason of Lot 300 Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown, was yesterday placed on $300,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on a wounding charge.

Shabeer Mohamed, 32, pleaded not guilty to the charge that said on March 15 at Port Kaituma in the North West District, with intent

to commit murder, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Arkorie Sundack.

The facts before the court are as charged and Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru did not object to bail.

He was ordered to report to ‘F’ Division and the matter was transferred to Mahdia Court for May 4.

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Ganja ‘spiritual supplement’ user fined $3,000, to do six months of community service A construction worker was on Monday fined $3,000 and ordered

to do six months of community service by Chief Magistrate Priya

Sewnarine-Beharry for the offence of possession of narcotics.

Carlton Burnet of Fourth Bridge, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, pleaded guilty to the charge that read on March 19 at Georgetown he had 1 gram of cannabis in his possession.

Burnet told the magistrate the he uses the marijuana as a ‘spiritual supplement’ when she inquired about his possession of the drug.

Along with the fine, Burnet was also ordered to perform six months of community service at the Grove Police Station.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Ex-soldier admits disorderly behaviour charge AN ex-soldier on Monday appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer to three charges.

Quincy Gilbert, 22, of Grove, East Bank Demerara was slapped with a charge that stated on March 28 he behaved disorderly on the Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

Gilbert pleaded guilty to the charge while explaining to the court that it was due to the fact that he was being harassed by the officer.

It was also further alleged that on the same day and place, he resisted arrest from police officer Devon Low and also assaulted the said officer, who was acting in the execution of his duty. The man, however, denied the two latter charges.

Police Prosecutor Bharrat Mangru did not state the facts to the court nor objected to bail.

The magistrate ordered Gilbert to pay a fine of $10,000 for behaving disorderly or in default three weeks imprisonment. He was placed on self-bail on the other offences. The matter was transferred to Providence Magistrate’s Court for April 7.

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Mother and son charged with putting child to sell liquor at Konowaruk

For Wednesday April 1, 2015: 14:30hrs For Thursday April 2, 2015: 14:30hrs For Friday April 3, 2015: 05:00hrs

MOTHER and son were yesterday put on $75,000 bail each after pleading not guilty to employing a child to sell liquor at a bar.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, Suzan Henry and Yarly Bowen, 21, both of Lot 447 One Mile Wismar, Linden, denied the charge when it was read them.

Particulars of the charge said that between March 5 and 28 at Suzan’s Grill and Bar at Konowaruk, Potaro, they employed a child at their business place, when they were selling alcoholic beverages.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru did not object to bail.

The matter was transferred to Mahdia Court for April 20.

Aries Fascinating new information could arrive today from TV or the Internet, opening up new educational opportunities. The possibility of making contact and perhaps visiting new friends in other countries might come to your attention.

You will probably find this very exciting, and make plans immediately. This is fine, but be careful to consider all contingencies. Be practical and objective.

Taurus A sudden burst of physical energy and determination could lead to additional income for you. This is probably due to an unexpected opportunity to do some extra work outside the scope of your usual employment. It could also be a long overdue payment for past work. You could also receive acknowledgement of some kind for work well done, further firing your enthusiasm. Go for the gold!

Gemini Friends or a group with which you’re affiliated could propose a trip. This might seem like a great adventure, so you’re likely to go for it. You will probably have a wonderful time. You might make some new friends while you’re away, or even fall in love. A little break might fire your enthusiasm for pursuing career or educational opportunities when you return. Go for it!

Cancer An opportunity to do some extra work outside the scope of your regular job could present itself to you. Take it. Not only could you earn some extra money but you might also open new doors that expand your professional horizons.

The only danger is that you might work too hard and tire yourself out. It’s OK for a while, but don’t make a habit of it. You need to conserve your strength.

Leo You might be extremely busy now. Invitations to large parties, small gatherings with close friends, and intimate evenings with romantic partners might come up today. Be discriminating in those you accept. Concentrate on seeing people who share your interests. This may bring new friends your way, as well as opportunities to expand your horizons. Romance looks great now.

Virgo Unexpected visitors could wake you up to the possibility of new work opportunities. This could advance your current job or be work you can do on your own - maybe on a volunteer basis. Whatever it is, you will probably find it exciting. You might even be impatient to get on with it. Pace yourself. If you tire yourself out, you won’t be able to continue.

Libra If you aren’t romantically involved, an errand, walk, or other foray into your neighbourhood might bring an exciting new person into your life. This encounter may or may not lead to something lasting, but you will enjoy it anyway!

If you’re currently involved, a casual outing with your partner could result in intimate conversations that bring the two of you closer.

Scorpio Money that you may have been hoping to use to better your living or working condition could suddenly come your way today. Ideas for how to put it to work in the most efficient, satisfying way could pop into your mind quickly. You will probably want to write them all down, consider your options carefully, and then choose the ones that suit your needs best. Go to it.

Sagittarius When you run errands today, check the bulletin boards in local businesses.

You may have been longing for adventure and dreaming about getting away from it all, but today you might find the excitement you crave right in your community. New events, people, and businesses that you will enjoy could be moving in. You might also discover a group that shares one of your interests.

Capricorn Information received today excites your imagination and encourages you to start a new artistic or creative project. Stories, pictures, abstract concepts - all could come together in your mind and form an inspired idea that could change your life. Gird your loins, write down your thoughts, and see where it all takes you. You might be surprised by what you produce!

Aquarius Adventure is the word for today. A lot of physical and mental energy, as well as enthusiasm, might lead you to aim for goals that others consider too risky or unrealistic. Don’t let their opinions stop you. After giving each idea an objective assessment, if you still believe you want to try, start looking into it seriously. People have probably made stranger dreams than this come true!

Pisces New career goals may come your way with the current aspect, opening up possibilities you may not have considered. This could be very exciting. It might even work toward the fulfillment of childhood dreams that you abandoned long ago. They may involve the arts, modern technology, or both. The only downside is that you might work too hard and get exhausted. Pace yourself.

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CPL changes for the ...

From back page

“CPL is really suited to night cricket where people can knock off work and get together with their friends and go to the grounds and even watch it at home too,” the CPL Commercial Director said.

Game’s biggest players Meanwhile, Stewart is of the opinion that the 2015 edition of the Limacol CPL will have the biggest pool of the game’s biggest names.

The star-studded Amazon Warriors will feature Sri Lankan stars Lasith Malinga, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Thisara Perera along with Australia’s Brad Hodge and West Indies veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

But with the cloud currently over Sunil Narine with his bowling action and the injury concern over Malinga there is a little uncertainty in the air.

The other potential issue is the strong Sri Lankan contingent they have in Perera, Dilshan and Malinga and the clash of international fixtures during the tournament.

Narine, Lendl Simmons,

Denesh Ramdin and Christopher Barnwell will line up with Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Devendra Bishoo, Trevon Griffith, Assad Fudadin and Paul Wintz in an attempt to bring home the trophy after falling short in the finals of both installations of the CPL. “If you look at the playerpool, we have the strongest that we’ve had so far in the CPL, the likes of Malinga and Dilshan playing for the Warriors even Brad Hodge, the Big Bash player-ofthe-year twice; people like (Shahid) Afridi in St Kitts, Mahela Jayawardene with Jamaica, Jacques Kallis playing in Trinidad, Kevin Pietersen this time playing the whole season with St Lucia and it will elevate the event,” said Stewart.

Parity on ticket prices this year Last year, the ticket prices in Guyana were the highest as compared to the other territories but this time around Stewart promises parity, even though noting that it’s the local franchises that set the tariff.

NBA makes its ...

The partnership will also include the showing of NBA Action, the league’s highlight show NBA TV, the league’s 24-hour channel, and select classic games.

Viewers in the Dominican Republic will not be left out either as the NBA broadcasts will go out in Spanish for that market.

Meanwhile, having one of the most successful franchise despite falling short in both finals Guyanese felt that the Amazon Warriors should have had a chance to host the final this year which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago; the same as it did in the inaugural year.

However, according to Stewart, “CPL goes through a process with the various Governments; we’ll very much love to have the Finals in Guyana and we’re sure that will happen at some time in the future but it’s just that the Trinidad Government more desirous in having the tournament there and it was the same the year before.”

The geographical location of Trinidad and the fact that the Twin Island Republic also serves as an international hub for air traffic played a part in them having the goahead over other Caribbean countries.

“The fans in Guyana have been our biggest supporter across the region and we would love to have the final here and I’m sure it will happen in the future,” Stewart said.

DDL continues support...

In their third installation, the Limacol CPL have extended their fixture which will see an additional four games being played; a move that benefits the always supportive Guyanese fans who will now have

From back page four games played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence The Guyana Amazon Warriors will play their home games on July 15, 17, 18 and 21. (Rawle Toney)

Racing Tips South Africa Racing Tips Durbanville

Mambo 09:40 hrs Molko Jack

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From back page

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The first instance of the partnership in action took place last night with the Golden State Warriors facing the LA Clippers.

(Sportsmax)

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American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Bounty Pink

09:309 hrs Ninety Minutes

Race 2 Our Posse

10:00 hrs Vejovis

Race 3 Bridgetta

10:30 hrs Upavon

Race 4 C C’s Pride

11:00 hrs Tacticus

Race 5 Stage Name

11:30 hrs Sonnetation

Race 6 Woodford Pine

12:00 hrs Clampdown

Race 7 Marine One

Towcester 09:10 hrs Mighty

Race 8 Kid Cruz Race 9 Colorado Grandslam

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Johansson predicts easy win for old foe Blatter

By Mike Collett VIENNA, Austria (Reuters) - It is 17 years since Lennart Johansson lost an acrimonious FIFA presidential election to Sepp Blatter and he has a stark message to the three men standing against his old foe - you have no chance.

Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan, Dutch FA president Michael van Praag and former Portugal international Luis Figo are attempting to unseat Blatter from the position he has held since he beat Johansson by 111 to 80 votes in Paris in 1998.

But Johansson, 85, does not think the trio have any hope of winning and is upset that the man he wanted to run for FIFA president -- his successor as UEFA president Michel Platini -- ignored his advice to challenge the 79-yearold Swiss who is standing

for a fifth term of office.

There is little love lost between himself and Blatter, but Johansson cannot see the president losing the election in Zurich on May 29.

“Blatter will win in the first round, but I can’t give you the figures,” the Swede said in an interview with Reuters at last week’s UEFA Congress.

“He knows how to do it, he knows which way to go, how to handle things.

“I am not surprised he has remained president since 1998, he is an extremely intelligent man.

Of course, it depends on how you use your intelligence.

“But he is smart and a very hard worker. I could call him at 7.30 in the morning and he would be working.”

Asked what his relationship is like with Blatter now, or whether the old battle scars have healed, he replied “No. He doesn’t even say hello when we meet now. He

avoids me.

“I sit on the first row as an honorary vice-president of FIFA and the honorary

his mind is as sharp as a razor.

He believes Blatter will win the election because his challengers will not

Former UEFA president Lennart Johansson president of UEFA and he is sitting next to me ... but he doesn’t “see” me.

“But I don’t approach him. I see no reason to.

These are the facts.”

RAZOR SHARP Johansson, now in need of a wheelchair for mobility, still keeps a close eye on the political scene and although his body might be slowing,

be supported by the vast majority of countries outside of Europe -- and Blatter, in their eyes is not “European” despite his Swiss nationality.

“Africa and Asia, they will not vote for a European -- and Blatter is not ‘European’ in their eyes, he is FIFA,” he said.

Johansson’s 17 years as the head of the European confederation - the longest

reign of any UEFA president - saw the expansion of UEFA from 32 countries when he became president in 1990 to 52 by the time he left because of the political upheavals in eastern Europe in the 1990s.

Together with his general secretary Gerd Aigner, they also transformed the European Cup into the Champions League and saw the expansion of the European Championship from an eight-team to a 16team finals.

Looking back he reflected: “I miss the years I had with UEFA because together what we built up was respect. People knew that we tried to be honest, with new rules and regulations.

“I learnt a lot from Gerd Aigner. He was very intelligent, and very straight-forward. He was never buying any votes for support.”

Johansson lost the UEFA presidency to Platini

eight years ago but believes the Frenchman has done a superb job as his successor.

“Indeed.

He has surrounded himself with intelligent, well-educated people and experienced people. He has been very clever in that way and he stopped depending on Blatter.

“He has openly declared he is no longer supporting him.”

But Johansson regrets that Platini decided last year not to stand against Blatter for the FIFA presidency.

“I asked him to do so. I advised him to do so because I thought that through his work for UEFA for a number of years he has gained a good reputation.

“He is the president of the biggest organisation and he is a former top player - that is not bad. But he likes to live a normal life at all levels, so he was not very interested to go for the FIFA title.”

Dynasty beckons for triumphant Australia

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Dark sunglasses were the order of the day for Australia’s triumphant cricket team yesterday as they paraded the World Cup trophy to hundreds of fans at a public reception after a night of heavy partying at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

With voices hoarse and complexions pasty after a few snatched hours of sleep, players grinned and sometimes grimaced as their team mates battled to communicate their elation to a relentless MC and a large media throng.

“A little hung-over,” Australia’s retiring one-day captain Michael Clarke said at Melbourne’s Federation Square, when asked how he felt a day after his team’s crushing seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the final.

“I think I speak for everybody in that sense.

“No, look, I think we’re extremely proud. The fact there was a lot of expectation and added pressure put on us at the start of the tournament being a home World Cup was something we embraced from the first ball of the tournament.

regeneration and innovation, they will back themselves to defend their title in England in 2019.

Left-arm seamer and player-of-the-tournament Mitchell Starc, already a frightful prospect for most batsmen, is 25 and can only get better if his fitness allows.

He will not be short for quality fast bowling company,

Australian players celebrate, after defeating New Zealand in their Cricket World Cup final match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Sunday. (Reuters/Jason Reed) “And I think the boys should be really proud of what we’ve achieved.”

Clarke enjoyed a fairytale finish to his one-day career, hitting a team-high score of 74 in front of a record crowd of over 93 000 and making bowling changes that led to immediate wickets.

Australia have yet to name a successor but Steve Smith, who led the Test team against India and enjoyed a fine World Cup with the bat, is expected to take the reins. “(Clarke) was a great captain. He’s been an aggressive captain on the field, sets aggressive fields.

He’s got to be somebody that we’ll definitely miss,”

Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson told reporters.

Australia have now won four of the last five World Cups, their quarter-final loss to eventual champions India at the 2011 tournament the only interruption to their dominion over one-day cricket dating back to 1999 in England.

Along with Clarke, who will continue to captain the Test side, a number of seasoned players are likely to have played their last World Cups, including Johnson, allrounder Shane Watson and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

But Australia will be able to retain the bulk of their squad and such is their record of

with Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and James Faulkner all under 26, not to mention a fit James Pattinson, who missed selection for the World Cup by dint of a lack of preparation after a long battle with injury.

Australia may not want for batsmen either, with David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Smith all easily young enough for a

tilt at back-to-back trophies.

Though the personnel will be important, Australia’s drive to remain top of the heap will be essential as teams plot their downfall over the next four years.

Opening batsman Warner laid any doubts about that quality to rest.

“Our goal is to be number one in all formats,” he said.

36

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Fawad and Voges in Ashes squad

LEG-SPINNER Fawad Ahmed and veteran batsman Adam Voges have both been included in Australia’s squads for the upcoming Ashes tour and the two-Test series in the West Indies that precedes it.

Peter Nevill has been confirmed as the backup wicketkeeper to Brad Haddin, while there was no room for Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner or Joe Burns.

Shaun Marsh was preferred to fellow Test incumbent Burns and joins his brother Mitchell Marsh in the 17-man Ashes squad.

Peter Siddle was named in the group after being dropped from the Test side during the summer and he is expected to feature in the Tests in the Caribbean, with Ryan Harris staying home for the birth of his first child and joining the touring party for the Ashes.

Fast bowler James Pattinson was deemed unavailable for the West Indies tour after suffering an injury to his left hamstring during the Sheffield Shield final, and he will be assessed by medical staff over the coming weeks.

Pattinson’s breaking down in the Shield final did not prevent Victoria’s win, which came thanks in large part to Fawad’s eightwicket haul in the first innings.

As an asylum-seeker from Pakistan, Fawad’s Australian citizenship was rushed through in 2013 to have him available for the Ashes but he was not chosen for that tour, and had to settle for debuts in ODI and Twenty20 international cricket.

However, his leg-spin has bewitched batsmen all over Australia this summer and he topped the Shield tally with 48 victims at 24.85.

The selectors have also included the leading run-scorer this season. Voges plundered 1 358 runs at 104.46 in the Shield this summer to make himself almost impossible to ignore, and his experience will make him a valuable member of the squad.

Voges was first part of a Test squad when he was called up during the 2006-07 Ashes in Australia, but nearly a decade later still does not have a baggy green.

Nevill’s selection as the backup wicketkeeper ahead of Matthew Wade, who was chosen for the 2013 Ashes, comes after a summer in which he piled up 764 Shield runs at 76.40, including a career-best 235 not out against Tasmania in Hobart last month.

Nevill toured the West Indies in 2012 when Brad Haddin flew home for personal reasons, but is yet to debut for Australia in any format.

“Basically the white ball’s been put down and we’re into red ball cricket,” National

Selector Rod Marsh said. “We’re not playing it at home, and obviously we’ve been a powerhouse at home in recent series, but we haven’t done that well overseas and it’s time we got that right. We’ve hopefully picked

thing - surely we can’t all be wrong.

“It’ worked out quite nicely for Joe in a lot of ways in as much as he will be going to India, where he’s never played cricket, he’ll have two four-day matches and five one-day

Daniel Vettori

Adam Voges

sides that will be very, very good overseas and we hope to win both the series in the West Indies and we’d be delighted if we won the Ashes - that would be a fair 12 months I reckon.”

Marsh explained that Voges’ sheer weight of runs had pushed him ahead of Joe Burns, who played the last two Tests of the home summer but will now travel with Australia A to India, where he has never played before, to gain experience with an eye towards 2016 and series away to Sri Lanka and India.

“He had a magnificent Shield season, absolutely no doubt about that,” Marsh said of Voges. “I looked at him on four or five occasions, maybe more, this year and I thought ‘I don’t know how anyone is going to get this bloke out’.

He was that dominant, but it wasn’t only the fact he made 1 300-odd runs, it was the way he made them. It was as good as any Sheffield Shield batting I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some good stuff.

“Pure weight of runs, and the way in which he got those runs (put Voges ahead of Burns). You could just see Test player written all over him. Mark Waugh saw him bat, Trevor Hohns saw him bat, I saw him bat, all the state coaches, all the state talent managers. Everyone said the same

matches in India, and I reckon that will be very good for his overall development as a batsman.”

Although none of the inclusions were especially surprising, it was notable that neither Faulkner nor Maxwell made the squad after both playing key roles in Australia’s recent World Cup triumph. Ashton Agar was also considered a possible candidate for the second spinning position, but Fawad’s credentials this summer were too strong.

“Forty-eight wickets is a pretty good season, and it wasn’t only the fact he got 48 wickets, it was the way he bowled,” Marsh said.

“He bowled beautifully all summer and being a leg-spinner as opposed to a finger-spinner probably also gave him a slight advantage because, believe it or not, Australia’s always looking for leg-spinners.

We have a proud history of leg-spinning in this country, and we want that to continue.

“He doesn’t bowl too much rubbish, and he creates a lot of pressure. He’s able to have men around the bat in most instances and he keeps asking the batsmen questions.

That’s what most good spinners do; you need to be able to remain on as a leg-spinner.

It is all very well ripping the ball, but if you

bowl two full tosses and two long hops, it’s very hard for the captain to keep you on. He maintains good economy and he asks many questions of both left- and right-handed batsmen.”

Cricket Australia has also named its list of 19 contracted players for the 2015-16 season, with Siddle the notable exclusion from last year despite being named in the Test squads. Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh and Pat Cummins have all joined the list from outside the contract list named this time last year for the 2014-15 season.

George Bailey retained his contract despite effectively being viewed as an ODIonly player, and being dropped from the side during the recent World Cup. Clarke’s retirement from one-day cricket could pave the way for Bailey to return as a regular member of the team when they next convene for a series later this year.

Australia A squads have also been named for a series of four-day and oneday games in India throughout July, with Usman Khawaja named to captain the team in both formats alongside Matthew Wade as his deputy.

Test squad: Michael Clarke (capt.), Steven Smith (vice-capt.), Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris (Ashes only), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson.

Contract list: George Bailey, Michael Clarke, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Chris Rogers, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson.

Australia A four-day squad: Usman Khawaja (capt.), Matthew Wade (vicecapt.), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Andrew Fekete, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O’Keefe, Gurinder Sandhu, Marcus Stoinis.

Australia A one-day squad: Usman Khawaja (capt.), Matthew Wade (vicecapt.), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Cameron Boyce, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Callum Ferguson, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Gurinder Sandhu, Adam Zampa. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Vettori confirms international cricket retirement

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori confirmed what many expected in announcing his retirement from international cricket upon the team’s return from the World Cup yesterday.

The 36-year-old former captain had been widely expected to retire from international cricket at the conclusion of New Zealand’s involvement in the tournament.

New Zealand were beaten by seven wickets by co-hosts Australia in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, with Vettori suffering a lower leg injury before the game.

He finished with 0-25 from five overs, though he took 15 wickets at 20.46 throughout the tournament with an economy rate of 4.04.

“It was my last game for New Zealand so it was a lovely way to finish,” he told reporters at Auckland airport.

“It would have been great to win but I’m pretty proud of everyone and the way they’ve gone about things for the last six weeks.

“To be able to finish in the final albeit without a win, I’m just very grateful for the amount of support I had particularly from Brendon (McCullum) and Mike (Hesson).

“To be able to get back from a number of injuries and to be here and to be part of it ... is something I’ll always treasure.”

Vettori retires as New Zealand’s most capped Test and one-day player having played his 113th Test match against Pakistan in United Arab Emirates last November,

more than two years since his last appearance in the longest form of the game.

Achilles and back injuries restricted his appearances in the latter years of his career but he worked hard on his fitness to be included in New Zealand’s World Cup squad.

He took his 300th ODI wicket during the tournament against Afghanistan in Napier, becoming the 12th bowler to achieve the mark. He finished with 305 wickets in total from 295 games for New Zealand and a World XI. Vettori is the ninth player to take more than 300 wickets in both Tests and ODIs, having finished his Test career with 362 wickets and is the second-highest Test wicket-taker for New Zealand.

Fast bowler Richard Hadlee, the first man to 400 Test wickets, ended his career with 431.

Vettori, who made his international debut as an 18-year-old, led the side following the retirement of Stephen Fleming in 2008 until after the 2011 World Cup. A succession of injuries since then ended his hopes of surpassing Hadlee’s wickets tally, though Vettori scored more runs than the fast bowler, notching 4 531 runs in Tests at an average of exactly 30, with six centuries.

Across all teams, he is the most prolific number-eight batsman in Tests, having scored 2 227 runs with four centuries at an average of just under 40 there.

37

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

Final-four Guinness action on tonight FOLLOWING several nights of intense preliminary and quarterfinal action, the finalists and to an extent two representatives in the national playoffs set for June in this year’s Banks DIH/East Coast Demerara Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal football competition, will be decided tonight at the Haslington Market Square.

Several exhibition matches are set to whet the appetites of the fans who have shown tremendous support to this tournament so far, before Beterverwagting ‘A’ oppose Plaisance ‘A’ in the first semifinal from 22:00hrs.

This will be followed by Melanie ‘B’ and Nabaclis meeting in the other semifinal that is due to kick off at 22:30hrs, with the

winners meeting in the final four days later at the same venue, after the losers clash in the third-place playoff.

Top marksman Warren Gilkes, along with Kester Greene and Carlos Matthews, would lead Plaisance ‘A’ charge into the final, once they can turn back the threat of Delroy Deen, who has been performing the same feats for Beterverwagting ‘A’ as Gilkes has done for Plaisance ‘A’, alongside Akeem Curry.

Amuneke Rogers, the man who scored a glancing header in Melanie ‘B’s quarter-final win over Buxton, would be hoping to find the small wooden box once again when they face up with Nabaclis, who will look to Akeemo Jack, Carlos Kingston and Kevin Glasgow to guide them into the final.

Part of the quarterfinal action in this year’s Banks DIH/East Coast Demerara Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal football competition.

The final will kick off four days later at the runners-up take home $150 000 and the third- and same venue, with the winners of the event receiving fourth-place finishers cart off $100 000 and $75 $300 000 and the championship trophy, while the 000 respectively. (Calvin Roberts)

Retrieve Raiders, Half Mile Bulls set for showdown on Saturday RETRIEVE Raiders scored a thrilling 5958 win over Amelia’s Ward Jets while Half Mile Bulls crushed Kings 62-42 as the 3rd Rock Entertainment Super Eight basketball championship semifinals were played last Saturday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

Come Saturday, the two winners, Raiders and Bulls, will collide for the championship trophy and $80 000 while the losing finalists receive $45

000 and a trophy.

There will also be cash incentives for the third place winners, Kings or Jets, along with a trophy.

In the semifinal Raiders trailed the Jets 9-17 at the end of the first quarter, but stormed back to take the lead at halftime 29-25. It was a tough battle in the third quarter but the Raiders were leading 42-40, before both teams fought hard to outdo the other in the final period with the Raiders

scoring the one-point victory 59-58.

They were led by national forward Neil Marks who had a game-high 21 points while the Jets’ scoring was shared by Joel Webster with 13 points, Amaniki Archibald with 12 and Allister Webster 10.

In the other semifinal game Bulls humbled their more known rivals by 20 points as they led 17-14, 41-19, 48-33 and fin ally won 6242 against a hapless Kings side. Junior national

NOTABLE DATES

England women’s goalkeeper faces violent conduct charge Team GB’s Olympic women’s soccer team goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.

LONDON, England (Reuters) England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley has been charged with violent conduct after punches were thrown during a match between Manchester City and Birmingham City women’s teams.

The Football Association said the 30-year-old was charged after the goalmouth altercation was missed by

match officials but caught on camera.

Forward Freda Ayisi, making her league debut for Birmingham, was sent off in the 45th minute.

Video footage posted on the internet showed Ayisi elbowing Bardsley in the chest, with the U.S.-born goalkeeper hitting back before more blows were thrown.

Bardsley subsequently

apologised on social media for what had happened.

“Passions ran high against Birmingham yesterday.

Viewing the footage again, I regret the incident with Freda Ayisi,” she said on Twitter on Monday.

“Whilst I was provoked, it was out of character for me to react in that way.

I’ve contacted Birmingham to apologise for my involvement.”

TWENTY-year-old Caesar Barrow broke into the professional ranks on April 1, 1955 and Joe Primo was his first scalp. Barrow defeated Primo by points at the end of the fourround contest.

Born on March 4, 1935, Barrow was a skilled lightweight boxer who knocked out 46 percent of his opponents. He was undefeated in 12 fights when he challenged Trinidadian James Harper at the BGCC ground in March 1960.

Harper seemed in a rush for another engagement and so knocked out the Guyanese in the first round. However, Barrow was quick to return the favour and gained revenge in September of the next year. Then, Harper was KOed in round three.

Barrow had 19 victories and seven defeats in a 10-year career and won the national lightweight title in May 1960, following a fifth-round knockout of Emmett Smith at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.

Barrow lost six of his last seven fights and finally hung up his gloves in November of 1965. He died in July 2005.

standout Terron Welch continues to impress with a tournament-high 32 points, and Kevin Easton supported with 12 while for the Kings Quincy Easton had 15 points.

The final is set for Saturday at the MSC Hard Court with the third place playoff game between Kings and Jets at 19:00hrs while the championship game will be at 21:00hrs. (Joe Chapman)

Amelia’s Ward, Silvercity Valley into semi-finals

FORWARD Travis ‘Chicken’ Waterton hit in a double as Amelia’s Ward beat Canvas City/ Valley 2-1 while Silvercity Valley Combined ended the hopes of Silvertown with a 2-0 win last Friday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground to reach the semi-finals of the Brooklyn X 2 Linden Inter-Ward football tournament.

On Friday the semifinals will see Christianburg face Silvercity Valley Combined while the other game pits Blueberry Hill against Amelia’s Ward for a place in the final on Wednesday, May 6.

Playing in the first game Waterton scored the opening goal in the 35th mimnute but the scores were level at 1, when Wayne Hutson netted in the 48th minute for Canvas City. But Waterton sealed things for the winners in the 72nd minute for Amelia’s Ward.

According to organiser Marlon Washington the tournament is reaching a high pitch as the standard of football has been exciting and several half-time prizes are at stake for spectators In the second game Silvertown scored a polished victory when they beat Silvertown 2-0 behind Oswald Benjamin’s strikes in the 42nd and 73rd minutes.

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

GT&T on board with soft-shoe tournament

By Calvin Roberts

MERE hours after they officially launched their softshoe tournament at the Guyana Beverage Company, Diamond, East Bank Demerara-based boardroom, the directors of Petra Organisation got a call from telecommunications giant Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), who indicated their willingness to get on board.

With that in mind, Petra director Troy Mendonca and members of the media converged on the Hadfield Street-based GT&T canteen, to witness that entity’s Senior Marketing Officer Angenie Hackett hand over a cheque for $300 000 to Mendonca in the presence of Public Relations Officer, Alison Parker.

Prior to the handing-over, Mendonca in brief remarks reminded those present that the partnership between Petra and GT&T goes way back to the organising and sponsoring of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA)/Cellink Premier League competition.

“Undoubtedly, the GFA/Cellink Premier League was arguably the best we would have witnessed over

the years and this is due mainly to the generosity of GT&T. Most of our programmes we would have done, we would invite them to be on board.

community’s involvement in sports.

The building of teams, discipline and togetherness manifest through such activities and these are all social values we as a company, try

Here you go, sir! GT&T’s Senior Marketing Officer Angenie Hackett (3rd from right) hands over the cheque for $300 000 to Director of Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca, in the presence of her PRO, Alison Parker, and other members of both entities.

“This is like a marriage created between GT&T and Petra over the years and it speaks volume for both of us, for which I wish to say thanks to GT&T for coming on board with us in this venture, even as we look forward to a continuous relationship with them in the future,” said Mendonca.

In her remarks on behalf of GT&T, Hackett said they were

Fourth Annual PowerAde 50-mile cycle race for West Demerara on Sunday THE fourth Annual PowerAde 50-mile cycle road race will be staged on Sunday in the West Demerara area commencing at 08:00hrs from outside the Wales Police Station, West Bank Demerara.

The event. which is being sponsored by beverage giant Banks DIH Limited, under its PowerAde brand, is being organised by National cycle coach Hassan Mohamed, who told Chronicle Sport that the seniors and juniors, after wheeling off from the starting point, will journey to Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo, before turning back to finish at Schoon Ord, near the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

The veterans, ladies and mountain bikers on the other hand will turn back at Uitvlugt.

The first six finishers in the open category (seniors and juniors) as well as the top three finishers in the juniors, the veterans, the ladies and the mountain bike categories will be rewarded for their efforts.

The defending champion of the

pleased to partner with the Petra group for the staging of the softshoe competition, adding that her company was quite willing to provide support to the organisers

Michael Anthony senior category is Orville Hinds who returned a time of one hour 56 minutes 55 seconds last year.

Hinds’ Team Evolution team mate Michael Anthony won the junior category last year, while Talim Shaw and Oziah McAully won the veterans and mountain bike categories respectively. There were no ladies last year.

Banks DIH Brand and Outdoor Manager Gavin Jodhan will assist with the presentation of prizes to the respective winners.

(Michael DaSilva)

when they were approached, based on past experience.

“Petra has consistently demonstrated their excellent skills at organising such games at the various levels and we are confident that they will deliver beyond our expectations in this tournament as well,” said Hackett.

She added, “GT&T is aware of the benefits that are derived for a

to promote as well and we wish all the teams every success and may the best team emerge victorious.”

Twenty-four (24) teams will be divided into six groups of four with the top two from each and the best four third-place finishers going forward to the knockout stage.

They will be vying for cash prizes in excess of $1.2M along with trophies, while every team will

benefit from monetary incentives according to final positioning.

Additionally, each team will be provided with ten jerseys, compliments of Busta which will carry the company’s logo and the winning team will cart off $600 000, leaving the second- to fourth-placed finishers with $300 000, $200 000 and $100 000 respectively.

Each team will comprise only five players including a goalkeeper on the field at any time and the playing area will be reduced in size and played on turf. The tournament will commence on April 9 and run until May 5 at three venues in the city namely Georgetown Football Club, Tucville and the Ministry of Education ground.

The teams selected are: North East La Penitence, North Ruimveldt, West Back Road, Sophia, Queen Street of Tiger Bay, Holmes Street of Tiger Bay, Albouystown, Tucville, Globe Yard, Leopold Street, Cross Street, Kitty, Bent Street, D’Urban Street, Sparta Boss, Charlestown, Broad Street, California Square, Back Circle, Brazilian Team, Stevedore Housing Scheme, Festival City, West Front Road and Alexander Village.

Graves looking at four-day Tests NEW England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves has confirmed the shortening of Test matches to four days is on his agenda.

The radical proposal, not in the gift of the ECB but something the national governing body could press for in international negotiations, first came to prominence via a leaked document at the start of this year.

The ECB confirmed back then, after the contents of a ‘Strategy Conversation Summary’ reached the public domain, that it was “in the early stages of formulating a long-term strategy for the game in England and Wales, which we anticipate will take a year to complete”.

Graves, whose five-year tenure will officially begin in May, and new ECB chief executive Tom Harrison have had initial discussions about future proposals for the county championship and a possible ‘English Premier League’ Twenty20 competition.

The new chairman has been high-profile over the winter months, particularly after his indication that there may yet be a way back into Test cricket for Kevin Pietersen - sacked last year after England’s Ashes whitewash in Australia.

He has the structure of Test cricket in his sights too, setting out his suggestions for the pinnacle format in this country.

Graves told the MCC’s website, lords.org: “Personally, I think we should look at four-day

Test cricket and play 105 overs a day starting at 10:30hrs in the morning, and finish when you finish as all the grounds now have lights.

“Every Test match would start on a Thursday, with Thursday and Friday being corporate days and then Saturday and Sunday the family days.

“From a cost point of view you’d lose that fifth day, which would save a hell of a lot of money from the ground’s point of view and the broadcasters ... I would look at that.”(PA Sport)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday April 01, 2015) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)WI vs ENG, Kensington Oval, Barbados, 1930 (2) WI vs PAK, Albion, 1977 Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first player to record a century in a Test match?

(2) Who is the first man to make a hundred in an ODI game?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 1, 2015

25th K&S football semi-finals set for tonight at DCC ... Slingerz vs Riddim Squad, Pele vs Alpha United

By Rawle Toney IT STARTED with 16 teams but after six nights of intense and heartbreaking football action, it has boiled down to the finalfour teams contesting the 25th Kashif and Shanghai football tournament with the aim of cashing in on the $2M first place prize.

However, many are called but few are chosen they say and tonight at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, many questions will be answered including who will advance to play on Sunday April 5 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Tonight in the first semifinal from 18:30hrs ‘West Side’ champions Bakewell Slingerz will play Riddim Squad and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship-bound Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United are set to collide with Pele at 20:20hrs.

As predicted by pundits prior to the start of the tournament, Bakewell Slingerz, one the tournament favourites, have inched

closer to the prestigious trophy but standing in their way are Riddim Squad – a side not many expected to make it this far.

However, utilising their four guest players ruling wisely, the team from Mocha Arcadia seem ready to challenge the Vergenoegen giants.

An unbeaten track record in the West Demerara Football Federation (WDFA) thanks to having some of the best players that money can buy, Bakewell Slingerz, by all means, are one of the country’s biggest clubs.

Some projected a Bakewell Slingerz/Alpha United final which could pack the National Stadium on Easter Sunday but both Pele and Riddim Squad can respectfully be spoilers.

Vurlon Mills, Colin Nelson, Joshua Brown, King Solomon Austin, Clive Nobrega, Dwayne Lawrence, Dwain Jacobs and Akel Clarke are fresh off representing the Golden Jaguars in their International Friendly against St Lucia and Grenada and are all also key

contributing factors in the club’s success in the Kashif

attempt to pick up their second trophy for the year

Dexroy Adams and Devon Millington and Shanghai tournament so far.

Along with Tichard Joseph, Devon Millington and Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams – players who have spent considerable amount of time on the National Team – Slingerz will look to advance in an

kicks) to make their way into the ‘money’.

Konata Manning

– Mayor’s Cup being their first.

The Bakewell-sponsored team defeated Victoria Kings (2-1) and Fruta Conquerors (2-1) to book their place in the semi-finals while Riddim Squad took out New Amsterdam United (2-0) and Western Tigers (4-1 penalty

Meanwhile, having won the tournament in 2009, Pele are by no means pushovers for the ‘Hammers’, who also edged them (Pele) 3-2 in the 2010 Final. But tonight, it’s another chance at redemption.

Behind captain Konata Manning, Pele downed Grove Hi-Tech (2-0)

and came from behind to oust Linden’s Winners Connection (3-1) to set up tonight’s clash against the Nation’s top club.

One would argue that Alpha United are yet to meet an opposition to really threaten their super team, having won 2-0 against Agricola Red Triangle and 5-0 against the Georgetown Football Club (GFC), making the Pele contest one that coach Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover would want his men to be more than ready for.

Sheldon Holder, Gregory Richardson, Manasseh Primo, Chris Camacho and goalkeeper Ronson Williams are among the players who have so far kept Dover’s men with a clean sheet in the tournament.

Set to host a leg of the CFU tournament from April 15 at the Guyana National Stadium, Dover said that the Kashif and Shanghai tournament will present his men with the right preparation as they seek to once again qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League.

Ambrose blames board for Windies demise LEGENDARY West Indies cricketer Sir Curtly Ambrose is laying blame for the collapse of regional cricket squarely at the door of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). The WICB’s territorial partners, however, did not get away unscathed.

Fielding questions from the audience at yesterday’s start of the 16th Annual Secondary Schools Leadership Symposium held at the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre in St Ann’s, Port-of-Spain, titled “Think Big, Start Small,” Ambrose said, if regional officials had an uplifting vision for the future of the sport they would have put systems in place to ensure cricket retained pride of place.

“West Indies cricket,” he replied, pausing. “It’s disappointing. When you look back, many years ago, we were the number one team in the world.

For 20 years, we were the best team in the world and 15 of those 20 years we never lost a series. That’s unheard of in any sport. Having been part of it, it hurts to the core. I believe that the West Indies Cricket Board and territorial boards have to take most of the blame! Why? Because when we were the best team in the world, nothing was ever done to nurture the talent.”

“We are very talented people. The talent is still there. Our boards sat back and just believed we would forever

produce great cricketers. Other nations put things in place … academies and all that stuff and they have caught up with us and they have gone way past us.

“We need to change our structure and get some things in place to nurture talent and I am quite sure we can do that.”

Ambrose revealed that in earlier years he did not want to be a cricketer. But that did not stop him from honing his skills to ultimately energise West Indies fans around the world during amazing bowling spells which now characterised his distinguished career.

“Every time I say this, people tend to look at me in a strange way. You have been so successful, (they say) but I must admit I never wanted to be a cricketer.

My passion was to be a basketball player.

“Growing up as a young man I just couldn’t see the fun in playing cricket.

Besides, I’m lazy! When I think of fiveday cricket, you know … six hours a day for five days, as opposed to 48 minutes on the basketball court? Give me basketball any day… 48 minutes and it’s all over.

“The second love sport is football.

And, I figured if I couldn’t get to be a basketball player, I could be a footballer. But my mother who is such a cricket fanatic always wanted

Former West Indies fast bowler Curtly Ambrose.

a cricketer in the family. My mother had seven children - four girls and three boys.

My oldest brother used to play cricket back in Antigua, before he migrated to the (United) States to be with my father. So naturally, I was second in line and my mother kept telling me start to play cricket. Now, that used to really irritate me. Trying to be an obedient child, I decided for her sake I was going to take up cricket and I was hoping it didn’t work out.”

As fate would have it, he started playing club cricket in Swetes, Antigua, back in 1984. One year later, he was selected for the Antigua national team.

In 1986, Ambrose was called to service on the Leeward Islands team.

His quality performances did not escape the attention of the West Indies selectors and 24 months later, he reserved a place on the then world famous West Indies team.

As he reflected on his career before a capacity audience, Ambrose could not believe he made such an astonishing climb in just four years, in a sport that was not his first choice, but which earned him the right to be called an international cricketer.

Ambrose played 98 Test matches for the West Indies and took 405 Test wickets at an average of 20.99 and topped the International Cricket Council (ICC) player rankings for much of his career to be rated the best bowler in the world.

Reputed to be a man of few words during his career, Ambrose found his voice to enliven the youth-constituted audience.

Poking fun at Sport Desk founder and T&T Guardian Sport editor Valentino Singh, the West Indies cricket legend who during his career was described as being notoriously reluctant to speak to journalists, claimed they never wrote what he said. Ambrose was chosen as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1992.

On retirement he was entered into the ICC Hall of Fame and was later

hailed by an expert panel selected as one of West Indies all-time XI. “I am a very, very proud man and everything I do, I want to be the best. When I joined the West Indies team, we were the best team in the world and I never wanted to be the weak link. So I was forced to learn quickly and my pride wouldn’t allow me to be second best,” he said.

“Everything starts with a dream and as young men and women have dreams.

We have aspirations. It’s not an easy road. They say nothing in life comes easy.

“There is a lot of truth to that statement. There will be obstacles you have to get over. Sometimes your own friends and family may discourage you thinking that you are never going to make it. It’s a fact! Let’s be real. It’s the way of the world. Your friends and family sometimes may discourage you from achieving your goals. It’s up to you to stay focused and no matter what, always commit yourself to achieving those goals,” he said.

“Turn those negative comments into positives. There is nothing sweeter than proving people wrong.

Believe me. I know. I will challenge you to set goals. You must know what you want to achieve in life and, you work hard to achieve goals.”

(Trinidad Guardian).

Sport CHRONICLE

25th K&S football semi-finals set for tonight at DCC

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

See story on page 39

DDL continues support for Caribbean Premier League

THE Demerara Distillers, behind their world famous El Dorado Rum, yesterday announced the continuation of sponsorship for the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Dubbed the ‘Biggest Party in Sports’, the 2015 CPL tournament bowls off on June 20 with (Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Barbados Tridents) at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

At a simple ceremony held at the Pegasus Hotel, DDL’s Marketing Director Sharda Veeren-Chand said that she was pleased to announce their partnership

with the most magnificent tournament to hit the Caribbean.

“Cricketing fans can once again celebrate with the World’s best rum as they enjoy what has now grown into the Biggest Part in Sports.

This year we promise an even greater engagement with our fans and you can expect that there will be new and exciting opportunities to engage with the brand,” Veeren-Chand said.

“El Dorado has been a huge supporter for the Limacol CPL even before the first ball was ever bowled,” said Limacol CPL’s Commercial Director

(L-R) Limacol CPL’s Commercial Director Jaime Stewart, Marketing Director Sharda Veeren-Chand and Guyana Amazon Warriors ‘big-hitter’ Christopher Barnwell. (Samuel Maughn photo) Jaime Stewart.

He added, “They have shared our vision for a uniquely Caribbean

sports league that aims to captivate the world, and it is with absolute pleasure that we welcome them back

CPL changes for the better – Jaime Stewart

By Rawle Toney “WE got extra games in the tournament this year and an expanded schedule in a sport event is a helpful thing,” says Limacol CPL’s Commercial Director Jaime Stewart at a Press briefing at the Guyana Pegasus yesterday.

The third edition of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) bowls off on June 20 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados with a rematch of last year’s final between the Tridents and Guyana’s Amazon Warriors but, unlike the previous years, each team will play an extra four games.

The CPL yesterday announced the tournament schedule/fixtures showing

each of the six franchises playing four home games with Guyana playing theirs closer to the end of the preliminary round on July 15 (Jamaica Tallawahs), 17 (St Lucia Zouks), 18 (Barbados Tridents) and July 21 against Trinidad and Tobago’s Red Steel.

All of the games in the tournament Stewart said will be played in the evening, adding, “I think it’s fair to say that we learnt that having too many day games is not the best idea and return to night cricket allows us from a position that it’s the biggest party in sport and it allows for everyone to bring the party at nights.”

Turn to page 34

again for this, the biggest year of the CPL yet.”

Turn to page 34

NBA makes its way to Digicel SportsMax WHEN television presenter Simon Croskill took a jab at former Los Angeles Clippers owner, Donald Sterling, it was to highlight the coming together of two worlds, the marriage of Caribbean sport and the best basketball league on the planet, the NBA. Croskill’s jab, suggesting that Sterling would be livid at the idea of the NBA reaching out to the largely black Caribbean, to bring the game into more than 30 countries in the region.

Funny digs, aside, the merger means Digicel SportsMax are now the official carriers of the NBA in the region.

Limacol CPL’s Commercial Director Jaime Stewart addresses the Media yesterday at the Guyana Pegasus.

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What does this mean to viewers?

Those fans of Digicel SportsMax will be able to watch at least 48 regular season games and eight playoff clashes.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015