2015 4 13

GUYANA No. 104157

MONDAY APRIL 13, 2015

President tells Linden ...

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APNU+AFC loyalty, commitment in question Page

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––their track record says it all

President Donald Ramotar addressing the massive gathering at PPP/C Linden Rally

APNU+AFC has ‘no right in the ring’ 6 – Dr Luncheon

Page

Drunk driving 9 causes power shutdown across Demerara, Berbice Page

Mexican specialists endorse resurgence 10 of local coconut industry Page

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

President tells Linden ...

APNU+AFC loyalty, commitment in question ––their track record says it all

By Vanessa Narine REGION 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) is not represented on the Political Opposition’s National TopUp list of candidates, which was submitted to the Guyana Election Commission last Tuesday.

It’s a fact that did not go unnoticed, and does not sit well with the massive gathering of supporters that turned out yesterday for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) rally at Lien Ken-Pen Square in Linden.

And President Donald Ramotar wasted no time in playing it up. “You mean they can’t find among you anyone that they can put on their regional or top up list who will be a Member of Parliament?”

Noting that the alliance of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has no scruples about how they treat people, President Ramotar said: “These people have no loyalty and no commitment,” much to the delight of his audience who rewarded him with thunderous applause.

PROVEN TRACK RECORD Drawing a parallel between the political opposition and the PPP/C, the Party’s presidential candidate said his party has a “proven track record” of standing by the people of Linden, as it has stood by all Guyanese.

He pointed out that the former People’s National Congress (PNC) administration left much undone in Region 10, and that it was the PPP/C that brought progress and prosperity to the Region; advances that range from investment in social programmes, particularly in the areas of health, education and housing, to encouraging the creation of jobs by supporting the Bauxite industry and facilitating foreign direct investments.

“This is the record we stand on,” Mr Ramotar said, adding that the ruling party’s development thrust has been advanced, with equity, right across Guyana.

The PPP/C presidential candidate added that while the APNU+AFC alliance touts governance and good stewardship, history, event more recent in nature, expose the truth – they are bereft of ideas and opt to piggyback on those introduced by his administration.

He referred to the fact that the APNU+AFC leadership

President Ramotar delivering his remarks. speaks with a ‘forked-tongue’ on several issues, including sugar, the development of hydropower and the advance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiatives, among others.

Mr Ramotar stated that the challenges of the last three years, particularly given the political opposition’s anti-development disposition, were overcome regardless by his administration.

“If we had our majority or if we had an opposition willing to work with us, we would have been able to do so much more…never before has Guyana seen what it is seeing now,” the President posited.

As such, he underscored that the May 11 General and Regional elections are about the future.

“Elections are not only about records (that you can compare), it is about the future,” Mr Ramotar said.

FUTURE FOR ALL According to him, the PPP/C vision for Guyana includes the exploration of new frontiers, including in the area of oil and gas.

“Guyana can become a major producer of oil and gas,” he told the gathering.

Mr Ramotar stated that investment in the Guyanese people has also been, and will continue to be, a major focus, since it allows Guyana to be positioned to take advantage of all that it has the potential to do – in the interest of improving

the lives of Guyanese.

“We want to create more opportunities for Guyanese; this is where we want to take Guyana,” he assured.

The President made clear that a bright future can only be accomplished by the right team – a PPP/ C team, which has proven itself to the Guyanese people.

On that note, he railed into members of the political opposition, from its leader, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, to senior members of its executive, including Basil Williams, Carl Greenidge and Winston Felix. Leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Rupert Roopnarine, and APNU+AFC prime ministerial, Moses Nagamootoo, also came in for flak.

“They must not come to power…we change all that (the political opposition did that negatively affected Guyanese),” he stressed.

A clear fact evidence is that the momentum of the ruling party’s election campaign is being maintained and fed by the energy of enthused supporters.

In addition to the chants of ‘Granger is danger’ and cheers of support for the PPP/C were sounded by several hundreds of supporters and the tempo of Mr Ramotar’s speech translated to what was his quintessential message –‘continue on the course the PPP/C has charted’.

“We have stood by you at every stage and today, for the sake of Guyana’s future, I ask you to stand with the PPP/C, stand with me,” the PPP/C presidential candidate concluded.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

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Lindeners warm to PPP/C presidential candidate ––pay rapt attention all she had to say

By Rebecca Ganesh

SHE gracefully took to the stage and delivered to the women of Linden. “I am proud to stand before you, representing all facets of the Guyanese woman,” said Elisabeth Harper, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C)’s Prime Ministerial Candidate.

Proud woman that she is, she told the gathering she can relate to what they want to achieve as women, stressing that it can only be done under the PPP/C. “We have always recognised the empowerment of women; and this is what the PPP/C stands for, and abides by,” she said.

She started off her conversation by listing the many achievements and developments the country has seen under the PPP/C Government. “I am here today to tell you about my vision for this country; a vision that will build a strong and stable Guyana,” she said, adding: “And it is also the vision of the PPP/C and President Donald Ramotar.”

And then she told them what they wanted to hear; what the PPP/C plans doing on resuming office. Empowering women, she said, is vital. “We will review all the laws that will encourage and promote women’s rights and equality,” she said. “We must exercise zero tolerance on domestic violence.”

Domestic violence, she said, is the bane of every woman, in that it destroys who we are, and everything we stand for; and that as a community, we should take a stand against it. “I encourage our men to participate in this fight also,” Mrs Harper said, adding: “Single parents will be able to also further their education; training and day-care services will be provided; child support will be mandatory by the court.”

As she told her audience, the PPP/C Government has always looked out for women. “The rights of women; our rights in all aspects of the country; our right to an education more importantly.”

Another concern of the government,

she said, is the issue of teenage pregnancy. “It’s a big problem, and our Manifesto will address these issues also,” she said, adding: “If you had to leave school early, you have another chance to continue your education and provide for your family, opportunities will be available to support you.”

She alluded to the many facets of the PPP/C’s Manifesto for the upcoming May 11 General and Regional Elections, explaining that one of the major components she will be looking at is the empowerment of women.

The PPP/C, she said, is about building national pride, and has an unwavering commitment to building Guyana through the development of the various sectors, such as housing and water, and health and education.

She highlighted that the Manifesto also speaks at length about plans for Linden; such as a Linden Special Development Fund that will be patterned after the Amerindian Fund; a regional sport facility; ICT; new equipment for health centres and clinics; and a regional diagnostic centre.

She noted that presently, more attention needs to be given to job creation for our young people, and that in accordance with the PPP/C Manifesto, “We will make sure jobs are created and more development and a number of new initiatives for job creation opportunities will be embarked upon.”

In closing, she said: “With these new initiatives, many more people will be able to enjoy a higher standard of living in this country. Our Manifesto will talk about housing for young people; a vision that is geared to creating a Guyana with a great future; with more interacting and dialogue and facilitate our decision-making within this sector.”

As a parting shot, she said: “The PPP/C remains steadfast to advance the development of all the communities across this country. My fellow Guyanese, let progress continue with the PPP/C, and the cup of prosperity.”

The graceful and dignified PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper speaking on the empowerment of women.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

Clinton launches White House bid with promise to champion everyday Americans

By Jonathan Allen and John Whitesides

grown out of touch after decades as the wife of former President Bill Clinton, a U.S. senator and secretary of state.

In a memo made public on Saturday, Clinton’s campaign manager, Robby Mook, told staff that while the goal was for Clinton to win the presidency, the campaign was not about her but about “everyday Americans.”

“We are humble: we take nothing for granted, we are never afraid to lose, we always out-compete and fight for every vote we can win,” he said in the campaign memo, titled “We Are Hillary for America.”

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton promised to be a champion for everyday Americans yesterday as she kicked off a long-awaited second run for the White House as the commanding Democratic front runner.

“Everyday Americans need a champion. I want to be that champion,” Clinton said in a video released on the internet that announced her run.

“Americans have fought their way back from tough economic times, but the deck is still stacked in favor of those at the top,” she said.

Clinton, who lost a bruising Democratic nominating battle to Barack Obama in 2008, was expected to travel soon to Iowa, the state that holds the kickoff nominating contest in early 2016.

“It’s official: Hillary’s running for president,” John Podesta, a top aide to Clinton, said in an email sent to supporters of her failed 2008 bid.

“She is hitting the road to Iowa to start talking directly with voters. There will be a formal kickoff event next month.”

Clinton’s campaign will emphasise her plans to address

PRE-EMPTIVE ATTACK Even before the much-anticipated announcement yesterday, potential Republican opponents took swings at Clinton. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush criticized her guidance of U.S. foreign poli-

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers remarks during the 2015 Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting award in Washington in this file photo taken on March 23, 2015.

Reuters/Joshua Roberts economic inequality and will tout the historic nature of her effort to become the first woman U.S. president, aides said.

One of her biggest challenges will be to show a more down-to-earth side while connecting with ordinary voters.

Critics, including liberals in her own party, say she has

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cy as secretary of state.

“We must do better than the Obama-Clinton foreign policy that has damaged relationships with our allies and emboldened our enemies,” Bush said in a video released by the political action committee Right to Rise.

Bush, brother to former President George W. Bush, is currently exploring a presidential bid.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who formally began his campaign for the Republican nomination last week, made the rounds of Sunday talk shows to slam Clinton’s handling of a 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.

In her memoir “Hard Choices,” Clinton dismissed the Republican criticism of her handling of the attacks as exploiting a tragedy for political gain.

Egypt Muslim Brotherhood verdicts ‘blatantly unjust’- HRW

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Cairo defended its actions, saying it had given protesters the opportunity to leave peacefully and that armed elements within the Brotherhood initiated the violence.

“It appears that the case against Muslim Brotherhood members leading to death sentences of 14 men is politically motivated,” Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW’s executive director for the Middle East and North Africa, calling it a “a sham proceeding”.

“The fact that those who publicized the mass killings of 2013 could go to prison for life while those who did the killings receive official accolades perfectly symbolizes the abject failure of transitional justice in Egypt,”

president Mohamed Mursi was toppled in 2013 by the military under Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is now president.

Sisi describes the Brotherhood as a major security threat.

The White House has condemned the verdict against Soltan, who was found guilty of supporting the veteran Islamist movement and transmitting false news.

Saturday’s case was known in local media as “The Rabaa Operations Room” trial in reference to a sit-in at Rabaa square in 2013 in which hundreds of people protesting at the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi were killed when security forces tried to clear the area by force.

(REUTERS) - An Egyptian court’s decision to sentence 14 men to death and jail 37 others accused of ties to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood was “politically motivated” and “blatantly unjust”, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday.

The court condemned Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie and 13 other senior members of the group to death on Saturday.

American-Egyptian Mohamed Soltan, the son of a Brotherhood preacher who received a death sentence at the same hearing, was among those sentenced to life in jail.

The men were among thousands of people detained after freely elected Islamist

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she said.

The verdicts can be appealed in Egypt’s highest civilian court.

Officials in Egypt’s foreign ministry were not immediately available for comment.

An online campaign to free U.S-educated Soltan says he was not a member of the Brotherhood and that he had spoken to international media in 2013 because of his ability to converse in fluent English and Arabic.

HRW also criticised a recent U.S. decision to end a freeze on military aid to Cairo at the same time as the Egypt judiciary had been passing sentences against journalists and the political opposition.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

Obama, Castro hold historic meeting PANAMA CITY, Panama, (CMC) – US President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raúl Castro met here on Saturday in an historic face-to-face discussion between the leaders of both countries in a half-century.

For about an hour, Obama and Castro sat beside each other on Saturday, in a small room in the convention center downtown Panama City, where the Summit of the Americas was held.

“Our governments will continue to have differences,” Obama told reporters after the Summit concluded. “At the same time, we agreed that we can continue to take steps forward that advance our mutual interests,” said the president who said the meeting was “historic”.

“The United States will not be imprisoned by the past — we’re looking to the future,” said Obama of his approach to Cuba at the sum-

Presidents Castro and Obama mit meeting’s first plenary “The Cold War has been tro was “candid and fruitsession on Saturday. “I’m not over for a long time”, he ful,” adding that he will interested in having battles added. continue working on the goal that frankly started before I The US president also he announced in December was born. said the meeting with Cas- in re-establishing diplomat-

Suriname stops Jamaican teen’s alleged ISIS trip PARAMARIBO, Suriname (CMC) - Suriname police said a 16-year-old boy from Jamaica was refused passage through Suriname on Saturday after Immigrations officers suspected that he was travelling to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) through Turkey.

In a statement, the police said the teenager arrived at the Johan Adolf Pengel Airport on a flight from Jamaica, intending to transit to the Netherlands, from where he would travel to Turkey.

“He was denied entry to Suriname because we received information from a regional intelligence service that he wanted to join ISIS,” the police, without identifying the teenager.

The statement said that after the boy was interrogated and additional information received from Jamaica, the decision was made to send him back to Kingston on the next available flight.

The statement said the decision was made by the police chief, the Attorney General and management of the military police, which runs immigration services.

Police said his repatriation is the result of successful cooperation between local and international intelligence services.

“It sends a clear signal that Suriname is doing everything so the region does not become involved in terrorism.”

This case comes just weeks after the Jamaica Ministry of National Security in a statement on March 14 said there were no nationals fighting alongside ISIS. The statement was issued following warnings last month from US General John Kelly, Commander of the United States Southern Command (US SOUTHCOMM), that about 100 nationals from several countries in the Caribbean and South America, including Jamaica, have joined ISIS and were returning to the region from where they could pose a threat to the US. General Kelly said that the countries involved don’t have the ability to monitor those returning well.

In the statement, the Jamaica’s Security Ministry said “… it is possible that the reported comment may be the result of a misunderstanding”.

Several countries, including Trinidad, St Lucia and Suriname also refuted General Kelly’s statements.

ic relations and reopening embassies in Havana and Washington.

However, Obama said crucial steps in the normalization process would not be completed speedily, stopping short of announcing a final decision to remove Cuba from the United States’ list of state sponsors of terrorism, saying he wanted to study it further.

On Thursday, Obama had said that the Department of State had completed its review of whether Cuba should be dropped from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

“We will continue to have differences with the Cuban government, but we don’t want to be imprisoned by the past,” said Obama while in Jamaica, where he met with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders before heading to the Summit of the Americas here. “When something doesn’t work for

50 years, you don’t just keep on doing it - you try something new.

Cuba attended the summit meeting for the first time since its inception in 1994, creating the first publicly planned encounter of the American and Cuban presidents since 1958.

For his part, Castro said he wanted a new beginning with the US, despite both countries’ “long and complicated history.

“We are willing to discuss everything, but we need to be patient — very patient”, he said.

Castro also thanked Obama for vowing to come to a “rapid decision” on removing Cuba from the United States government’s list of states that sponsor international terrorism, a designation that has impacted Cuba’s ability to bank with the United States and some foreign creditors.

Highway to be named in honour of former Prime Minister KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – A section of the highway that runs along Jamaica’s south coast, will be named after former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson at a ceremony scheduled to be held on Friday.

Dubbed Highway 2000, the roadway was one of the Millennium projects announced by the Patterson administration in the late

P.J. Patterson - former Jamaican Prime Minister 1990s.

However, there have

been mixed reactions regarding the decision.

“I have a problem with naming highways and public thoroughfare after politicians, they may have been instrumental in getting highways built but it was public funds - not their private funds,” said attorney Dr. Paul Ashley.

On the other hand, political commentator, Shalmon

Scott believes the decision is a good one “One of the areas in which former Prime Minister PJ Patterson shone as a political leader in the country was in the area of building up the country’s infrastructure and particularly the roads. He was given the moniker “Mr. Infrastructure” during his time as Prime Minister ,” Scott said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

Guyana Editorial

The ‘good woman’ behind Rickey Singh THAT the saying “Behind every good man there is a good woman” has become clichéd is undoubted; and in many instances a fallacy; but in the case of veteran Guyanese journalist, Rickey Singh, and his devoted wife of 56 years, the late Patricia Singh, aka Dolly, this is manifest in the partnership of a lifelong union that began when the couple were mere youths embarking together on an unknown journey.

That journey took them to several countries, the last place of their abode being Barbados.

In Guyana, during the years of the PNC dictatorship, Rickey Singh was uncompromising in his journalistic ethics and was severely penalised for his unswerving commitment to factual reporting, which did not sit well with the Administration and he paid a bitter price for his integrity.

Forced to migrate to neighbouring Trinidad, Rickey Singh did not face his travels and travails alone, but was accompanied every step of the way by his wife and companion in struggle.

Survival was a perpetual struggle as the couple tried to create homes in the various Caribbean islands in which they were domiciled until they finally settled in Barbados, where Rickey finally found a secure niche where he and his wife could raise their children in safety and comfort for approximately 30 years.

This unique marital bond was severed last Wednesday in Barbados, as Rickey bade farewell to his faithful companion of 65 years, who succumbed to her mortality after a brief illness.

Yesterday, this newspaper reported that Patricia was just 19 when she married the 20-year-old Rickey

at the Assemblies of God Church in Georgetown.

According to the report, her husband credits her for holding together the family of six children through tumultuous working years in Guyana, Trinidad and Barbados.

The funeral service for the devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother will take place this Friday at her church, The People’s Cathedral, Bishop’s Court Hill, followed by burial at Coral Ridge. Despite being domiciled in another country, Rickey Singh retained strong ties and loyalty to the country of his birth and the Guyana Chronicle.

The Board-of-Directors, management and staff of GNNL and the Chronicle newspapers extend condolences to the bereaved Singh family as they mourn a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Jagdeo calls on Linden to teach APNU+AFC a lesson ––say ‘No’ to intimidation

By Vanessa Narine A MASSIVE gathering of supporters screamed their approval when former president, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, took to the platform at the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C)’s third national rally at Lien Ken-Pen Square, Linden yesterday.

And their enthusiasm was sustained and infectious as they welcomed his call for the political opposition to be taught a lesson come May 11.

“Linden must teach them a lesson! Linden must say ‘No’ to intimidation!” he said, adding that the alliance of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) is well versed in bullyism and intimidation.

“They are preying on the fears of people; they have good machinery for bullying people,” Dr Jagdeo declared.

And, decrying the characteristics of the political Opposition’s leadership, he said for starters: “Nagamootoo is a waste; he always was a waste, and will always be a waste. He has been diagnosed as a megalomaniac; someone obsessed with himself.” He justified his argument by saying that 60 per cent of what Nagamootoo says is about himself, and 90 per cent sheer lies.

He’s no match for the PPP/C prime ministerial candidate, Mrs Elisabeth Harper, Jagdeo said; “the two are like chalk to cheese.”

As for APNU+AFC’s presidential candidate, Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger, Jagdeo said he is given to “double standards” as evidenced by the policies and programmes

he advances, compared to actions he’s taken.

Cases in point, he said, were the social programmes cut under national budgets in the last three years, and cuts to the Amerindian Development Programme (ADF), among other key developmental projects.

“They promise what they cannot deliver,” Jagdeo said, adding: “President Donald Ramotar is not delusional; he is not stuck in the philosophy of the past.”

CONTRIVED UNITY These are the ‘characters’, Dr Jagdeo said, that have collaborated in ‘contrived’ unity.

“The contrived unity that APNU+AFC is touting is not national unity,” the former president said.

According to him, national unity is reflected in a party’s policies; a party’s list of candidates; the members of a party’s cabinet and the speakers a party can attract to its platform.

“National unity is ensuring people right across this country benefit from development,” he assured.

Dr Jagdeo highlighted the successes that have been made in creating jobs, health, education and attracting investments to Linden and the wider Region 10 area.

On that note, the former president was emphatic in declaring that there is “justification” in the pride of the PPP/C leadership and supporters.

“There is justification in our pride, because we have stood firm in line with our principles; our record in Government has shown that we have remained faithful

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo urging residents of Linden to choose wisely and re-elect the PPP/C. to the principles of our party and to the Guyanese people,” he said.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE Dr Jagdeo stated that in the same way the PPP/C has struggled and succeeded in advancing change to make a difference, May 11 is about change.

“Let us make a difference on May 11,” he appealed to the people of Linden, adding: “We have been at the forefront of the struggle for change and progress in our country. You have seen us work over the past decades; work to change your lives; work in a way that did not exclude you from development because you did not support us.”

He noted that while the political Opposition is calling for change via their slogan,

‘It is time for change’, Region 10 needs a change, which can be advanced by a change in the regional administration. “ (Do that) and see how this region will progress…the PNC (People’s National Congress) is running the Region and they criticize us…give us a chance to run this region and watch the progress,” Dr Jagdeo declared.

The former president added that every vote must count.

“Let us ensure that every single person shows up to vote….even if we don’t win the region, we can get a regional seat,” he said, reiterating his pride at the successes under the PPP/C administration.

“In everything we have touched, we have moved this country forward,” Dr Jagdeo posited.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

APNU+AFC has ‘no right in the ring’

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– Dr Luncheon

By Vanessa Narine “APNU+AFC is no alternative, they don’t belong in the ring, they have no right moral or otherwise to confront PPP/C. It is an act of supreme arrogance to say to you that they can do better than the PPP/C.” This was the quintessential message of Dr Roger Luncheon, stalwart of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), at the ruling party’s third national rally at Lien Ken-Pen Square, Linden, yesterday.

“There is no alternative, not in the shape, form or excuse of APNU+AFC…. when they done cussing they have nothing constructive, nothing profound, nothing to reflect the future of the Guyanese people and the future of Guyana,” he added.

Speaking to thousands of energized supporters, Dr Luncheon underscored the fact that “any review” will make clear the fact that the incumbent party is the only political party that has delivered for the Guyanese people.

“They don’t give a damn about you…they are saying ‘screw you, we will prevail’,” he declared.

INTIMIDATION THEIR GAME Dr Luncheon stressed that the alliance of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has employed and continues to employ the politics of intimidation.

“Intimidation is in their genes…you can’t stop these people, shame. They use out and out intimidation and then they got the quite ways of intimation, where they spread their lies,” he said.

The PPP/C stalwart added that the ruling party on the other hand has always stood on the side of the Guyanese people.

“The PPP/C has been there for you…

Cheddi Jagan taught us how to struggle.

He said development is not ordained and we have to struggle for everything we have here in Guyana,” he said.

Dr Luncheon stressed that the PPP/C has “stood firm” in its convictions to develop Guyana. “We give rise to the notion of service, a party at the services of the Guyanese people, a party led by sound principles, a party that has values that endure,” he said.

Consequently, he emphasised the fact that the PPP/C came to power on the strength of the Guyanese people.

“For 28 years we fought 1964 to 1992 until that fateful day on October 5, and it must go down in the history books, in the history of Guyana, that the PPP/C came to power on the strength of the Guyanese people,” Dr Luncheon said.

PPP/C HAS DELIVERED In the last two decades, he high-

The ever green tree Dr Roger Luncheon on fire at yesterday’s Linden Rally. lighted that the PPP/C has done as promised.

Dr Luncheon said, “We did what we swore to do. We swore to rebuild, from the 28 years of destruction and divisiveness…from all that the PNC (People’s National Congress) did in this country. “…we said we will rebuild and not only that, we counted the naysayers who prophesy doom who had nothing to say and would have you believe that if we thought that the 28 years were bad, the PPP will be worse.”

He added, “In 2015 these vagabonds, these rascals would have you believe that there is some parallel that what was there in 1992 is same as now. “…I say what colossal impertinence to sit down, to see, to participate, and, the most hurtful part, these scamps have benefited and they turn around and they are the first to insult your intelligence and say ‘We deh bad bai.”

Dr Luncheon called for this sentiment being peddled by APNU+AFC to be “rejected in totality.”

“Let us focus on continuity, on the future. This is what the election is all about. It is about whose hands we want to see Guyana grow…the best hands are those of the PPP/C.” All considered, he declared that he stands a proud Guyanese, in light of the accomplishments from 1992 to 2015.

“There is a mood, hope and expectation and Guyana is going places under the PPP/C,” Dr Luncheon posited.

SOLE ALTERNATIVE On that note, the PPP/C member stressed that the PPP/C is the “sole alternative” for the peace, progress and prosperity for the Guyanese people.

“We are the sole alternatives, when you sit down and think about the absurdity of the APNU+AFC to say they are better qualified to run this country,” he said.

Dr Luncheon added, “These scamps that come to you and say that we are no better than the PNC, they need to be given the boot….they can’t fool we again, they have tried every trick in the book and it has all failed and to give them an opportunity, the tiniest bit of opportunity in 2015 is indeed national suicide.”

He explained that more than two decades ago, he made the choice to support the PPP/C. “I know I made the right decision and I want for you to join me, join us, in making that decision ever more right, come May 11.

The PPP/C must continue to bring peace, progress and prosperity,” Dr Luncheon said.

He reiterated that the APNU+AFC alliance offers the Guyanese people no alternative.

“Our vision for the future, for the future of Guy-

ana…that is what is important. It is important for you, for your children, for the generations to come; that we never reverse the course that the PPP/C has taken this country on,” he urged.

To this end, Dr Luncheon made a strong appeal for Lindeners to vote PPP/C. “On May 11 we have an engagement with destiny…On may 12 the day after elections, I say let the party start,” Dr Luncheon stressed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

HOW’S life in Guyana?

FOR many Guyanese citizens, life’s a progressive movement, with us feeding, housing, clothing ourselves, with us driving nice cars and watching flat screen TVs and making our homes comfortable, easy living environments.

Out in the country, we plant kitchen gardens and farms, rear livestock, enjoy our days under the tropical sun, our kids attending school in neat, bright uniforms.

In the hinterland far-flung communities dream of big city life with our young people educating themselves for an assured future.

Life as a Guyanese today is a nice experience.

Of course, as in any society of human beings, full of flaws and imperfections inherent in human nature, we find ourselves facing challenges and issues that subtract from our enjoyment of the blessed land we so peacefully live in.

In fact, the feeling that we complain too much, that we’re prone to negativism, that we constantly blame Government for everything we see not working in our lives, is a national sentiment.

How we see our world, is how we experience our world. If we see darkness, we would forever grope about feeling our way around, depending on someone somewhere bailing us out and guiding us, although we may not even be aware of a destination we want. Drifting, aimless, without a vision or a personal passion for achieving in life, we resort to the scapegoat phenomenon, blaming Government, or history, or the world, for our problems.

This is normal in human society, except when it becomes the national way of being of a people.

When too many of us sit around idle refusing to read literature, refusing to study at free evening courses at the University of Guyana, at adult classes around the country, when too many of us refuse to self-develop and progress, something’s wrong with our culture, with how we approach life, with how we see and feel about being Guyanese living and owning this lovely land.

We don’t take ownership of our nation, and exercise the positive posture to make a difference. Instead, many of us sit back and languish in inactivity, our minds lost in idleness.

We wait for some vague abstraction like ‘government’ or ‘fate’ to make things happen for us.

But life calls for active participation. We can’t just sit around and expect great and extraordinary and powerful performance to just show up. Life calls for preparation, studying and personal development, cultivating a vision or passion, and focusing on achieving something of note.

We’re a small population, with a big massive land mass, fertile, sunny, open, with great rivers and an abundance of water. What’s our excuse?

In this elections season, we see campaigns from Opposition leaders who claim everything about Guyana is bad. Using lots of ugly words, demotivating and demoralizing their hearers, these leaders don’t realize that in their choice of words they are branding themselves as negative, unprogressive and uninspiring and demotivating.

Words make human society. It’s in language that we develop and evolve into a people of high culture and cultivated nobleness. It is in our choice of language out in the public square that we construct our social space and our national psyche and our emotional landscape.

And so for anyone to use words to paint a self-image of the Guyanese nation that reeks of under-development, poverty, corruption, a stupid people with a dumb government, such talk only labels its proponent as a destroyer of the Guyanese identity.

In seeking to bring down our freely and fairly elected Government with talk that destroys the way we see and feel about our country, these leaders aspire not to develop us and move us forward, but to tear us down and make us fall.

These things we must be careful of, how we talk to our nation, how we motivate and inspire our fellow Guyanese, both here in the homeland, and in the Diaspora.

Those disgruntled souls who want to tear down Government must find a way to convey their messages without use of language that damages our national psyche.

Even in rampant talk of corruption, when anyone requests evidence, these naysayers descend to a level of cussout and character assassination that is ugly to behold.

We’re not saying Guyana today is a utopia, but we’re not such a bad nation, are we? Our Government is building roads all across the nation, fuelling home ownership with easy bank loans and affordable house lots, operates a macro-economic landscape where we could import anything, resulting in the lush availability of food, clothes and all manner of goods and services.

We look to the 21st century with such an outlook, facing forward, thinking progressively, pointing our people to the future we are creating, inculcating a national mindset that focuses on that indomitable Guyanese will and resolve to overcome whatever obstacle we may face.

We’re a unique people on the world stage, with our British background, and our population center sandwiched between the vast openness of the muddy Atlantic Ocean stretching out to the unknown horizon, and the deep mystery of the lush green Amazon forests holding ancient unexplored secrets. Our very landscape may cause us to feel small and insignificant, that we’re mere pawns in a grand scheme of wild nature.

Coming out of slavery and indentureship and colonialism, we may harbor deep in our national DNA a feeling of helplessness, that our fate lies in the hands of mysterious and superior forces over which we have no control.

But since we became a nation, since we took our lives into our own hands and became self-governing, since we declared ourselves a nation in the United Nations, with our own flag and national anthem and motto and national symbols, we took on this idea that we could make ourselves into a world class people, a nation outstanding in the annals of humanity.

That’s how life is for us Guyanese. We’re our own people, a nation being formed, a society developing with rapid growth, repairing the structural breakdowns that cripple us for decades, envisioning big projects and ambitions national plans.

Life for Guyanese today is a beautiful experience, even for those caught in human tragedies and going through a hard time, simply because the opportunity for self-development and for individual progress is second to none in the 21st century global village. In the world today, Guyanese stand as empowered as any human being anywhere on the earth.

In that powerful possibility, life for us is an exciting adventure, open to any possibility, once we’re willing to roll up our sleeves and see that Guyana iss one of the most peaceful, pastoral, blessed nation on the earth.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

Drunk driving causes power shutdown across Demerara, Berbice ––GPL restores electricity within two hours

DRUNK driving was the result of a major Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) system failure last evening across the Counties of Demerara and Berbice.

However, quick response by GPL officials in isolating the source of the problem on the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System facilitated the restoration of power within two hours.

GPL Deputy Chief Executive

Officer (CEO), Ash Deonarine, in an invited comment, told the Guyana Chronicle late last night that the intoxicated driver of a canter slammed into a 69,000-volt transmission pole at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

He added that the restoration of the electricity to users on GPL’s grid was done in phases.

This is not the first such incident to affect the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System. In the latter part

of February, a vehicular collision in the wee hours of the morning in the vicinity of Avenue of the Republic and North Road caused infrastructural damage to the network in the area.

The impact of the vehicle when it came into contact with the pole caused two high-voltage transmission lines to short-circuit, resulting in the tripping of engines at the Kingston (58MW) and Vreed-en-Hoop (26MW) power plants, with a total loss of 84MW.

The loss of these engines resulted in a total shutdown in the Demerara and Berbice Interconnected System.

Preceding years have witnessed similar incidences, whereby careless use of the roadways have resulted in minor and major damages to our network, and immense inconveniences.

In light of this morning’s incident, we renew our call for prudence when traversing the roadways. (Vanessa Narine)

At ‘Fish Shop’ meet ...

‘Youths for David Granger’ rally peers to go out and vote

––or, as Bond urged parents, ‘Kick dem out de blasted house!’

SPEAKING at a youth rally organised by Youths for David Granger (YDG) Friday evening, former A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament

APNU member, James Bond (MP), James Bond, urged parents to “kick out” their children from their houses should they refuse to vote.

The youth rally, which was being held at John and Hadfield Streets at the popular ‘Fish Shop’, attracted thousands of persons, particularly youths

who were eager to hear from the youth representatives of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition.

Following a series of redundant expressions by the youth representatives, Bond made his appearance, underscoring the importance of youths in the electoral process of Guyana.

Discharging statistical data from the compilation of a census, the young attorney-at-law emphasised the magnitude of influence young voters were capable of achieving should they exercise their franchise and vote at the May 11 polls.

But as Bond continued in his speech, in the midst of underscoring the need to vote, he urged supporters, “You mothers and fathers, anytime your child tells you they not voting, kick dem out; put dem out de blasted house.”

Playing to the gallery, the young attorney said, “Don’t put dem out on the landing or the step or the gate; kick dem right out de house.

“You have got to vote, young people. You come and lime at the Fish Shop’ every Friday, and you don’t have an ID card! Shame on you! You go and lime at Gravity and 704 and you

don’t have an ID card! Shame on you!

You working for 40 and 50,000 dollars and you don’t have ID card! Shame on you!”

But according to Article 59 of the Constitution of Guyana, while it is

night, Christopher Jones, also a former APNU MP., Jones, earlier this year, had also emphasised the importance of youth voting, saying: “I think the single most important thing in the life of a young person is the ability to cast

‘You mothers and fathers, anytime your child tells you they not voting, kick dem out; put dem out de blasted house. Don’t put them out on the landing or the step or the gate; kick dem right out de house’ – APNU youth representative, James Bond one’s democratic right to vote should they qualify, it is not compulsory for one to vote if they don’t want to. This means that the democratic right is also extended to non-voters, since there is no penalty for not voting.

Article 59 of the Constitution reads: “Subject to the provisions of article 159, every person may vote at an election if he or she is of the age eighteen years or upwards and is either a citizen of Guyana or a Commonwealth citizen domiciled and resident in Guyana.”

Bond’s ‘kick ‘em out’ call was echoed by the main speaker of the

a vote.”

Attendant issues as it relates to voting, he opined, include, inter alia, where one would be able to work, if one would be able to find a job, the type of job one would be engaged in based on their studies, how much they are paid, if they could afford a house lot, how secure that person and their family be, and the education their children would get. These, he added, were just some of the critical issues which depend on the younger generation voting.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

PM Hinds urges hometown Linden ...

‘Come out and vote solidly PPP/C’ ––‘It’s the party that’s always had your back’

THERE was no mistaking the message.

‘PPP/C will take it back’ was blaring vibrantly as Prime Minister Samuel Hinds took to the podium.

The occasion was part of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Linden Rally, held yesterday at Wismar, where PM Hinds urged supporters to come out in the numbers and vote unanimously for the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) on May 11.

Recalling how the politcal climate was when he first ventured into politics, Hinds said the saying at the time was, “We can burst open our country and make it a developed country.”

And with this in mind, he said, “In 1990, I answered the call to join the PPP/C with former President, Dr Jagan and end the period of rigged elections and dictatorship in Guyana.”

Recalling for the benefit of many in the audience who were too young to know what transpired back then, the many horror stories that plagued the country prior to the 1992 elections, and how far we’ve come as

a country since, Hinds summed it all up, saying: “Change is evident in Guyana and here in Linden; this community has shared equitably in all aspects from our budget and concessions. Some of the best school buildings are in Linden; also you have one of the best hospitals here, and the best water supply to be commissioned here in Linden.”

Noting that the PPP/C Government has always had Linden’s back where development was concerned, he said: “We have always ensured that Linden has shared equitably.”

As for the many attempts the Government has made over the years to save the bauxite industry, PM Hinds said: “There was an international manager for the bauxite industry prior to 1992; and he was supposed to be able to turn the bauxite industry into a profitable organization.”

The People’s National Congress (PNC), he said, had agreed to the arrangement at the time, so as the industry would no longer be a burden on the Government.

By 1994, he said, it was clear to all and

sundry that there was no way of turning the industry around; but the PPP/C didn’t give up on Linden. “The PPP/C didn’t close it down; we kept supporting the industry,” Hinds said. “And we did it because we understood how traumatic it would have been for the people here in Linden.”

It was a touching story, the way PM Hinds told it. And for keeping the industry afloat to become a reality, he said, the Government approached the multilateral agencies for their support so that the people in Linden would have an opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial opportunities and diversify the activities here in linden.

He listed as being among some of the developments Lindeners were poised to achieve under the PPP/C administration, the construction of new housing schemes in Amelia’s Ward. “There should be no question that the PPP/C has your best interest at heart,” he said, adding: “We have been working for our people Prime Minister Samuel Hinds address- since the 1940s; and we should rally our ing the residents of Linden specifically people to come out on May 11 and vote unanimously for the PPP/C.” on the Bauxite Industry.

Mexican specialists endorse resurgence of local coconut industry

By Clifford Stanley

ing farmers to renew their plantations with the trees which produce much more nuts TWO Mexican specialists who con- than the older varieties. ducted the first in a series of training Her government is also encouraging programmes in coconut production in farmers to plant other crops among the trees Guyana last weekend, have endorsed so that they can earn more. the resurgence of the coconut industry She said that the main product in Mexico in global commerce and in support of now is copra but the country is placing domestic economies. more emphasis on production of coconut The duo were Ms. Matilde Cortazar water which is more profitable than copra.

Rios and Mr. Irving Manuel Fuentes Del Her country is also diversifying into Angel, both of the Mexican National In- other coconut products such as fibre coals, stitute of Research on Forestry, Agriculture coconut milks, shredded coconuts and othand Livestock (INIFAP). er by-products of the coconut palm.

The training programmes for local The first training programme was held farmers are being held under a bilateral at the Headquarters of the National Agriculagreement between the Governments of tural Research and Extension Institute (NAGuyana and Mexico with support from the REI) Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

Inter- American Institute for Cooperation on The training aims at equipping coconut Agriculture (IICA). farmers to revitalize the industry and move Specialist and spokeswoman Ms. Rios it towards its full potential. said that the coconut industry in Mexico and Rios said that the increased worldwide worldwide and had gone into decline during demand provided opportunities which are the eighties and the nineties due to disease being seized by Mexico but Guyana can and misinformation, but was now enjoying also benefit extensively from it especially a revival in demand for its many products. the craze for coconut water.

“Plants were lost due to diseases such She said that herself and colleague inas lethal yellowing, but over the past tend to teach Guyanese the techniques of fifteen years there has been a revival of farming hybrid coconuts. the industry due to intensified support The hybrids are generally of a shortfrom the Mexican Government, and er or dwarf variety, an attribute which this is now helping in the development can reduce the difficulties encountered in of people especially those in rural ar- harvesting coconuts from tall trees. eas.”

The hybrids exhibit greater resistance She said that her government is help- to some viral diseases such as lethal yel-

Mexican coconut specialists, Ms.Matilde Cortazar Rios and Mr. Irving Manuel Fuentes Del Angel during their training session supported by IICA last Thursday lowing.

Rios said that the adoption of hybrids locally is important since there are signs that lethal yellowing which can kill coconut plants within six months can spread in South America.

There is no known cure for this disease.

Additionally the older varieties or tall trees, tend to produce after six to ten years but some of the hybrids targeted for Guyana, start to produce fruit as early as three years into their growth which, for the coconut farmer, means a faster return on investment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

Women police hold hat show

THE Association of Women Police of the Guyana Police Force yesterday held its first ever hat show and tea party at the Police Officers Mess Hall Eve Leary, and it was decided that it will now be an annual event.

Speaking with the media at the event yesterday, Senior Superintendent Maxine Graham, President of the Association of Women Police, said that they decided to host the event to raise funds to offset expenses for bursaries for the top performers among children of police officers who wrote the recent National Grade Six assessment examination.

She said that in the past the bursary would usually cater for the five top performers but this year they plan to cater for the top six performers and from this year they will be hosting events to support the bursary awards.

The tea party and hat show had four competing categories: Elegant, Tropical, Comical and an Open Category, the latter being designed for the participation of children only.

The afternoon’s proceedings were chaired by the actress, Simone Downing, while there were three judges.

Ladies of the Guyana Police Force and some guests graced the event with their presence, and did not spare anything in flaunting their hats and sipping tea sweetened by Guyana’s classic “Demerara Gold” sugar.

There was also the Guyana Police Steel Band and the Force’s song bird.(Leroy Smith)

––to raise ‘Grade Six’ bursary funds

Some of the women police with their hats on display

The judges keep their eyes on the hats as contestants took to the stage

Prisoner found hanging at Lethem police station The Guyana Police Force band backs the organisation’s song-bird at yesterday’s event

Senior Superintendent Maxine Graham speaks with reporters

ANOTHER prisoner has died while in police custody, this time at the Lethem Police Station, and a probe is underway by Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

Police, in a press release, said at about 08:00 hrs yesterday, the body of Roy Bovell, 36, of Tabatinga, Lethem, who was in custody at the Lethem Police Station, was found hanging from the grill work of the station lock-ups.

It added that the police had earlier visited the lock-ups at 06:15 hrs yesterday where he was alive and well.

Roy Bovell was the only prisoner in the lock-ups at the time and had been arrested at about 19:45 hrs on April 11, 2015, at Tabatinga, after he was found in possession of 60 grams of marijuana.

The body is at the Lethem Hospital mortuary.

And, in an unrelated incident in which another prisoner was found dead while in custody in the lockups at Parika Police Station on February 25, 2015 an investigation by OPR was also done.

Police reported that Zaharadeen Razan, 28, of Cornelia Ida, WCD, was found alive and lying on the floor of the lock-ups during a visit to the lock-ups

by the police.

Following questioning of other prisoners in the lock-ups, Razan was taken for medical treatment at the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

It was noted that Razan was arrested and taken into custody at about 21:10hrs on February 24, following a report of damage to property that was made against him.

A few years ago another prisoner was found dead in the lockups at La Grange, West Bank Demerara Police Station.

In a separate incident, police said they are looking for a suspect who reportedly shot and injured a man during a quarrel in Linden on Friday night.

It was reported by the police that at about 22:25 hrs on Friday, Dellon Bronswin, 26, of Wisroc Housing Scheme, Linden, was involved in a misunderstanding with another man at the Mackenzie Car Park, during which he was shot to his right foot. He has been admitted to hospital. The suspect has not yet been arrested but the investigations are continuing.

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APNU+AFC demands Prime Ministerial debate ––says it must precede Presidential debates

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

Logwood youth hospitalised after multiple stabs ––family decry police response

By Shirley Thomas

President Donald Ramotar

Elisabeth Harper

By Ravin Singh AS anticipation mounts regarding the traditional Presidential debates leading up to General and Regional elections, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition is refusing to participate in any presidential debates should it not be preceded by a Prime Ministerial debate.

This was confirmed last Friday by APNU member, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine who told reporters at an APNU+AFC press conference that the Coalition is “prepared to enter into the presidential debate, provided that it is preceded by a prime ministerial debate.”

According to Dr. Roopnarine, despite not hearing from the promoters of the debates on whether they will accede to this request, the APNU+AFC would be “entirely happy” to engage the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)’s Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates ahead of the May 11 polls.

Acknowledging the fact that the debates are regarded as traditional, Dr. Roopnarine said: “We understand the importance of getting the presidential candidates to faceoff, which has become fashionable elsewhere.”

Moses Nagamootoo

David Granger

He continued: “We believe we have a situation where we have a sharing of authority; there is a Presidential authority and there is a Prime Ministerial authority and we want to ensure that the Prime Ministerial candidates get a chance to express themselves.”

Responsible for hosting the debates, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Persaud disclosed recently that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar has indicated his interest in participating in a national presidential debate organised by the PSC. Persaud related that Ramotar had replied, indicating his interest following an extended invitation to Presidential candidates of both of the major parties contesting the General and Regional elections.

Following this, Persaud noted that while Ramotar has signaled his intention to engage Granger on policy, the PSC was still awaiting a response from Granger.

But the APNU+AFC, according to Roopnarine, will not engage Ramotar, should their Prime Ministerial candidate, Moses Nagamootoo be denied the opportunity of facing off against the PPP/C’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, Elisabeth Harper.

Elections flashback…

A question of the essential THE period of the People’s National Congress rule (1968-1992) left bitter memories in the minds of Guyanese – memories of layoffs, poor diets, lack of basic foodstuffs and shortage of basic foods and drinks. In other spheres, people were concerned about the rise in the price of certain essential goods.

In the latter part of the 1970’s, Forbes Buhrmann adopted a policy of autarky; he banned all forms of imports into the country, including flour and varieties of rice. Prior to that, he had passed a sweeping ‘National Security Act’ giving the police the power to search, seize and arrest anyone virtually at will.

As a result, bribes, the offer of meals and ‘take away’ packages were the tools employed by some Guyanese, to keep at bay the police who inspected for ‘contraband’. At other times other extremes were employed, ‘contraband’ was dumped in latrines as police ranks insisted on a search.

There were many protest actions, supported by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Pictured is one of those protests in the 1980’s where Guyanese people were demanding change.

NINETEEN-year-old Ameer Balgobin of Logwood, East Coast Demerara, was last Tuesday viciously attacked by two men, one of whom had a ‘Rambo’ knife which he plunged and caused to remain stuck into the region of his hip and thigh bone for several hours, until he was able to reach the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The incident happened shortly after 01:30 hrs and the knife remained stuck into the victim’s hip until around 03:30 hrs when he arrived at the hospital. In the attack, Balgobin also suffered multiple stab wounds to his face, chest, abdomen, back and right hand.

The wounded man’s deeply distraught mother, Ann Garid, recalled that on Monday evening her son had left the home to attend a Bar-B-Cue at Foulis, Enmore, also on the East Coast Demerara. She said that around 1:00, she received a phone call from him, and in agony he managed to say to her: “Mom, ah get jook up, come now: Bring a taxi and come.”

Then his voice died away.

In a state of panic, she quickly got a taxi and drove down to 18th Street, Foulis where the Bar-B-Cue was being held in Enmore. But when the taxi Wounded: Ameer Balgobin driver realized that the victim was bleeding, he refused to take him into his car and drove away.

In a quandary, the woman called the Enmore Police, informing them that a young man was attacked at a barbeque at Foulis and was jooked up and bleeding, so could they come quickly. But the police then began asking her questions like, how did she know that the person got jook up, if she saw that.

In the midst of being interrogated by the police the woman’s phone credit ran out and her communication link with them was cut off. At that hour of the morning there was no way for her to get credit, so her woes were intensified. Eventually she managed to get a young man to make a cell call to a taxi service in Better Hope, using his cellular phone.

When the second taxi arrived, the wounded man was taken to the Accident and emergency (A&E) Department of the GPHC, arriving there a round 03:20 hrs. The knife was removed from the injured man’s hip within about ten minutes and he was treated for his injuries and admitted to the surgical ward.

Relating his ordeal from his hospital bed, Ameer recalled that whilst he was at the Bar-B-Cue he was betting at a Chic-Chic board, when a man crept up from behind him and started feeling his pocket. He spun around and asked the man what was he doing.

Both embarrassed and annoyed, the man left the scene, but later returned with a long Rambo knife, and joined by an accomplice, began jooking him about the body.

He said he recognized the man – one he identified at ‘Jaggat’, living aback of Enmore Hope Housing Scheme and the other - ‘Big U’ who lives with his grandmother at Grass Field, Enmore.

Pathetically, however, the victim said that despite giving such information to the police, the men have not been arrested. The relatives are peeved, noting that it would have been the second occasion that the police failed them in regard with that same incident – first by not responding to the call for help when Balgobin was wounded, and again by not going after his aggressors.

They are hoping that justice would be done in this matter.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

Miss World-Guyana 2015 Pageant cancelled - Board of Directors

a homecoming fundraiser event for Miss World Guyana 2014 –Continental Queen of Caribbean, Rafieya Husain, as she concludes her reign.”

Miss World-Guyana wishes to apologise to all its devoted supporters and the applicants for the cancellation, but sees this as the

Miss World-Guyana Franchise Holder––Natasha Martindale THE Miss World-Guyana Board of Directors, with much regret, announced that after much consideration it has decided to cancel the 2015 Miss World Guyana pageant and select a representative from the list of current applicants to represent Guyana at the Miss World 2015 pageant.

The decision to cancel the Miss World-Guyana 2015 pageant is as a result of the poor response from in-country applicants, which may be linked to National Elections being a priority at this time. On the contrary, the 2015 application process saw a greater response from overseas-based Guyanese.

T h e M i s s World-Guyana Franchise is currently interviewing qualified applicants who applied on or before the March

20, 2015 deadline. The Miss World Guyana 2015 Representative will be selected and revealed at a special event in June at which Rafieya Husain; Miss World Guyana 2014 will be presenting her crown to the new Miss World Guyana. The date and venue of the ceremony will be announced.

Franchise holder, Natasha Martindale said that while there will not be a pageant this year she is confident that Guyana will be represented well.

In the meantime, she added, “the Miss World Guyana Organization would like to take this opportunity to have an early start on preparations for the 2016 pageant and focus on finalising plans for

best alternative given the current challenges.

The Franchise hopes that in 2016 the Miss World-Guyana Pageant will be a grand success as it will be the 50th Independence anniversary of our beautiful country, Guyana. (Michel Outridge)

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Giftland Mall promises service like none other

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

--when it opens on Independence Anniversary

The uncompleted section which will house the 500-seat restaurant This section of the fine dining restaurant area will have bars, featuring 16 different foods pubs and coffee shops (Photos by Delano Williams)

‘Sea Adventurer’ cruise ship calls at --Captain finds Guyana ‘an Port Georgetown excellent destination’ THE Sea Adventurer cruise ship, formerly the Clipper, docked at the Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNSC) wharf Saturday, allowing over 100 tourists from around the world the opportunity to view the beautiful capital city, Georgetown.

The Sea Adventurer is an ice-strengthened ship suited to soft adventures in and around Antartica, and this is the third time a cruise ship has arrived in Guyana thus far for the year. The MS Hamburg (formerly the Vista Mar), came twice with hundreds of passengers.

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh, visited the ship and extended a warm welcome to Captain Peter Ushke who described Guyana as an excellent destination.

“This ship has a draft of about 4.5 meters, and it’s ideal for Guyana’s very shallow and silt-laden rivers... And we know that these ships are customised for soft

The Sea Adventurer

GTA Director, Mr Indranauth Haralsingh handing over some items on Guyana to the Sea Adventurer’s Captain Peter Ushke adventures as well,” Haralsingh told media operatives who were given a tour of the ship.

Haralsingh noted that persons will have the opportunity to tour the city, and were scheduled yesterday to visit the Botanical Gardens for bird watching. He told Captain Ushke that Guyana has over 877 bird species and that Georgetown is one of few

of the world’s capitals that has a bird sanctuary in the Botanical Gardens. The ship will set sail for the Essequibo River, where passengers will be allowed to tour the Baganara Resort, before heading for the legendary Kaieteur Falls.

“We are very happy that this ship, the Sea Adventurer, chose Guyana, and is again working with Evergreen Ad-

ventures; it shows just how ready and responsive we are at a short notice,” Haralsingh said.

Captain Ushke said that the boat was to have initially docked at Essequibo, but because of the low tide, they were forced to come to Georgetown.

However, he said docking at Georgetown was the best solution, since the passengers

were afforded the opportunity to view the beautiful capital city. “So far,” he said, “this seems to be an excellent destination to come more often to in the future; and we are looking forward to see whatever there is to see: Birds and waterfalls and all the natural things.”

He noted that Sea Adventurer has been long looking

for a place like Guyana that is not over-developed, and where the nature and wildlife is not so much disturbed.

He said the ship travels among the Arctic, Antarctica and southern areas, and is always on the lookout for new destinations. The vessel will be heading north to Trinidad and Tobago and then to Europe.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

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Members of the head table Thursday were Giftland Mall Property Manager, Christian Bautista; President of the Giftland Mall, Mr Roy Beepat; Mahendra Persaud, shareholder; Giftland Director, Monica Beepat; and Wayne Clark of Amalgamated Security Services GIFTLAND President Roy Beepat boast Thursday that its Turkeyen Mall will be the entertainment mecca of Guyana, featuring fine dining, American sports bars, Brazilian grill, British pubs and coffee shops.

He made the declaration at a press conference Thursday to update the media on nightlife at the Mall’s ‘Entertainment Strip’, which he said would be unlike any other, and boasts first-class service.

As a prelude to the grand opening, billed for May 26, Beepat promised to update the media every fortnight on the happenings and progress of the construction, since the building was build based on the needs of Guyanese for the ultimate shopping experience, which is paper-free, and all debit and credit cards would be accepted.

He said that Giftland Mall is a friendly, secure, and family-oriented environment which is easily accessible. The Mall is also self-sustained with its own power plant, sewerage treatment system, and deep water well.

The media was granted a first-hand tour of the 500seat restaurant, which will be offering 16 food choices to cater to the diverse and varying tastes of Guyanese.

Beepat noted that the Giftland Mall will have 20 free drinking fountains, 500plus car parking, 150-staff

parking, with separate delivery area.

He pointed out that the Mall features 120 different vendors designed for consumers to spend leisure time, with large walkways and modern video arcade facilities for both children and adults.

Beepat said the Mall will be opened 363 days of the year, the exceptions being Christmas and Good Friday. The weekly opening hours for stores are 9am to 8pm Mondays to Thursdays; 9am to 9pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 10am to 6pm Sundays.

The Mall will be offering fastfood courts and special services up until 00:00hrs; and the cinemas, video arcades and entertainment strip would remain active according to customer demands and negotiations, he added.

Beepat also told reporters that services offered at the Mall will be one-of-a-kind, with quality services which entail high-end customer service that is on par with international standards. He said the security is in good hands with the Trinidad and Tobago-headquartered Amalgamated Security Services backed up by security cameras which will be camera monitored.

Present also at the head table during the press briefing yesterday was Monica Beepat, Director of the Giftland Mall; Shareholder Mahendra Persaud, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nand Persaud Company; Giftland Property Manager Christian Bautista, and Wayne Clark of Amalgamated Security Services.

(Michel Outridge)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

Tempers seemingly on the rise at Baramita ––women the main targets

Eversian Simon, another Amerindian woman who was viciously attacked at Baramita two Friday nights ago

Kasia Thomas after being beaten by a male at Baramita last Monday night

By Shirley Thomas THERE’S need for urgent intervention into the atrocities being meted out to young Amerindian women at Baramita, North West Region.

In the last week, two young women have had to be air-dashed to the city for urgent medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital after being viciously attacked by persons in the community.

The most recent victim of such attacks was 19-year-old Kasia Thomas who was admitted to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital suffering severe trauma to the head after being attacked by a young man known to her. There was internal bleeding in the region of the eyes; her neck was in a brace; and she related that the man attempted to punch her in her neck with a broken bottle.

As a result of the injury to the head, the young woman was getting regular seizures on arrival at the hospital, and had to be restrained to

her bed.

M e a n w h i l e , l a s t S a t u r d a y, 22-year-old Eversian Simon, also of Baramita, had to be air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital with chop wounds to the face. She allegedly sustained the injury as she attempted to part a fight between her sister, Velesta Simon, and a woman whose name was given only as ‘Gloria’.

The woman, who sustained injuries to her right eye and carried stitches on her nose and across her mouth, told the Guyana Chronicle that the fight developed over an old problem between her sister and the woman. The fight erupted on the roadway at Baramita around 21:00 hrs on Friday night. When Eversian saw that her sister was under attack from the knife-wielding woman, she advanced, with the intention of disarming the irate aggressor and was wounded.

Doctors at the hospital are battling to save the woman’s vision in the right eye.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

Three drivers pay $7,500 fines on DUI charges BESSHAM PERSAUD

1. Bessham Persaud of Lot 34 Helena, Mahaica, ECD, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-0308 while driving motor vehicle PNN 5642 on the Madewini Public Road, EBD. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on 2015-03-12 where he pleaded guilty and was fined $7,500.

SHAWN GRIFFITH

3. Indarpaul Deowattie of Jib Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-0215 while driving motor vehicle PRR 6940 on Cotton Field Public Road, Essequibo Coast. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on 201502-17 where he pleaded guilty and was fined $7,500. (Michel Outridge)

2. Shawn Griffith of Lot 33 Westbury, Essequibo Coast, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-02-15 while driving motorcycle CH 1609 on the Suddie Public Road, Essequibo Coast. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on 2015-02-16 where he pleaded guilty and was fined $7,500.

INDARPAUL DEOWATTIE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

Lack of caution, commonsense results in two-vehicle smash-up

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Aries You might find your energy comes in strong, erratic bursts today. Don’t be surprised if you’re high as a kite one moment and down in the dumps the next.

Even if you’re driving everyone crazy with your yo-yo behaviour, don’t let this stop you from keeping on in this fashion. You’re probably able to keep very good track of the dozens of things going on around you.

Taurus You may feel a tendency to do things the same old way today simply because it’s what feels most comfortable. Even though the familiar route may be tempting now, it’s actually better if you seek a different way to go. Things may feel chaotic, especially in the morning and early afternoon. Still, don’t automatically resist things that are new and different.

Gemini An extra log has been thrown on your fire today, so don’t be surprised if you burn especially hot. Use your internal furnace to make some breakthroughs and bring matters to a higher level. Turn up the intensity on certain issues that require more life. You will bring a great deal of positive energy to just about everything you touch, so use it wisely.

Cancer Don’t feel like you have to rationalise everything. Accept the fact that there are some things in life that occur without a specific logical explanation. More than likely these are the most interesting events and experiences that add the most spice to your routine existence. Embrace the unknown and encourage more spontaneity and playfulness in your world.

The accident at the corner of Garnett and Middleton Streets last Thursday afternoon afternoon left two motor trench, while one drivAN accident at the corner vehicles badly damaged er had to be rushed to of Garnett and Middle- and partly submerged hospital. ton Streets last Thursday in the Middleton Street The vehicles involved in the accident were a white Premio, PRR 9080, driven by a male who was rushed to hospital, and a burgundy RAV4, PJJ 4119.

The female driver was on hand when this newspaper arrived at the scene of the accident, but declined to comment.

However, witnesses at the scene claimed that the burgundy RAV 4 was proceeding north along Middleton Street, while the white Premio was heading west For Monday April 13, 2015: 12:30hrs along Garnett Street when the two vehicles collided at For Tuesday April 14, 2015: 13:30hrs the junction.

It would appear that the For Wednesday April 15, 2015: 14:00hrs RAV 4 did not give the Premio the right-of-way, but proceeded and crashed into the Premio, spun around and landed on the opposite side of the vehicle. In the process, the front left side of the Premio was badly bashed in. The bonnet of the RAV 4 was also damaged.

Police later visited the scene and both vehicles were towed away after statements had been given.

(Shirley Thomas)

Leo In order to reach your destination, you may have to take an unusual route today. Zigzag your way to the finish line. Don’t automatically assume that this is a bad thing. You may find that this is the preferred path. You’re likely to experience many side adventures and make some wonderful discoveries.

Try to remember how you got there so you can find these spots again.

Virgo Get out of the doldrums and enjoy life. The situation is such that if you remain stagnant for a little while, you will soon sink into a spiral of depression and downward thinking. If you stay afloat and focused on your dreams, you will remain active in your pursuit of all your life’s goals. You will have the power of the Universe behind you, supporting you all the way.

Libra This morning is your time to shine. You should be in a good mood, with a positive outlook that helps you attack the day’s tasks with vitality. Elements of the unexpected may pop up and remind you that things don’t always go according to plan. This should be fine, however. You will find that your easygoing approach to life will come in handy when the scheduled route doesn’t work.

Scorpio You may get a bit frustrated in the morning because of a lack of commitment on the part of others. You may find it hard to pin down an answer when everything seems to be up in the air. The good news is that things should run much more smoothly by this evening and well into tonight. Note a major boost in emotional self-confidence now. After dark is definitely your time to shine.

Sagittarius The energy you put out today will most definitely fuel the fire, so make sure you have an extinguisher within reach. There’s a spark of excitement in the air indicating that something new and different is coming around the bend. You may feel anxiety building up. Be patient and you will find that good things naturally come your way.

Capricorn You may feel indecisive today, especially in the morning. Other people’s actions may confuse you. Don’t worry. Concentrate on your projects and goals. Other people can take care of themselves. Don’t feel like you need to make sure everyone is attended to before you start your day. In fact, you may be the one who needs to be cared for by others. Ask for a shoulder to lean on if you need it.

Aquarius Emotionally, you should be feeling quite good today. This is important since you may get thrown off balance by a strange, unexpected force. The more stable you are on the inside, the less disruption this foreign energy will cause.

Keep in mind that unexpected things usually happen for a reason. There might be a key opportunity waiting for you now.

Pisces Free your mind and consider alternative options. This is a time to throw away the old to make room for the new. There’s a distinct advance in original and forward thinking today. You should make it a point to go to higher levels of thought now. The more idealistic in your approach to people and situations, the better off you will be.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

United crush City to rule Manchester again

By Michael Hann MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester United put the boot into Manchester City and restored red ascendancy in the city thanks to a crushing 4-2 derby victory at Old Trafford yesterday that moved them four points clear of their ailing rivals.

Chelsea look too far ahead for third-placed United’s late charge and took another step towards the title by moving seven points clear at the top after Cesc Fabregas’s 88th minute winner snatched a 1-0 win at lowly Queens Park Rangers.

United had lost the last four Premier League derbies against City but their tails were up ahead of the 169th edition after a run of five straight league wins, while rivals City were low on confidence following four wins from 11 league games.

City looked to wash away memories of Monday’s defeat against Crystal Palace at a wet and blustery Old Trafford as Sergio Aguero put them ahead on eight minutes after an explosive start to the match.

But the visitors failed to build on their early dominance and Ashley Young bundled in an equaliser before towering Belgian Marouane Fellaini thumped in Young’s cross with a powerful header after

27 minutes.

Juan Mata’s cool finish extended the lead in the second period and Chris Smalling capitalised on some slack marking to head home Wayne Rooney’s free kick as United began to remember

nervous. I don’t know why,” United boss Louis van Gaal told the BBC. “We had no pressure on the ball. I don’t know why.

But when we scored the goal, from that moment we had more confidence.

Chris Smalling scores the fourth goal for Manchester United (Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff.) what glory feels like after a poor season last term.

With United fans chanting “you’re getting sacked in the morning” at City boss Manuel Pellegrini, Aguero added a late goal that did nothing to ease the visitors’ pain, United have 65 points from 32 matches, one behind second-placed Arsenal but four more than champions City with six matches remaining.

“We started very badly.

It was not Manchester United, we were very

“We are four points ahead of fourth in the table and I am very happy for the fans. I have seen what it means for them. They always supported us when the results were not good.”

MORE DANGEROUS United will feel they now have a Champions League spot in the bag and Chelsea fans must believe the title is theirs given the luck they have had in the last two games and the fact they still have a game in hand.

For a second straight

match, an error from an opposing goalkeeper led to their winner, with Robert Green at fault for a poor clearance.

Chelsea dominated possession but, in the absence of injured forwards Diego Costa and Loic Remy, failed to register a shot on target until Green’s error eventually led to Spain’s Fabregas dispatching Eden Hazard’s lay-off to seal victory.

QPR, embroiled in relegation battle, had been the more dangerous team throughout and created a number of chances but were thwarted by visiting goalkeeper Thibault Courtois.

Chelsea have 73 points from 31 games and next play United and Arsenal.

“I think it was a vital (result),” Fabregas, who had seen a drop in form since the turn of the year, told Sky Sports. “We are playing for the most important trophy of the season and we’ve been up there since the first day so we want to continue like this.

“We know that some teams are putting pressure from the back but we want to be solid and we want to win important games and that showed the character of this team. It was a fantastic time to score.”

QPR remain 18th, two points behind Hull City -the side immediately above the relegation zone.

Windies bringing ...From back page The West Indies wrapped-up their preparation with a full training session yesterday morning at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

Both teams are in hot pursuit of redemption following a woeful campaign in the recent World Cup. The experienced wicketkeeper/batsman noted that the team’s preparation camp went well and a tough hard series against the visitors on home soil is expected.

“We know they have a very good bowling line-up so we are not going to give away any freebies,” said Ramdin.

“We are pushing ourselves a lot more now. A lot of youngsters are coming through. New faces that the English don’t know about.”

The new faces include uncapped players, batsman Shai Hope and fellow Barbadian, fast-bowling allrounder Carlos Brathwaite.

However, a number of leading players are unavailable for various reasons including Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, and Lendl Simmons.

The regional team is expected to depend heavily on Ramdin, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels and 40-yearold Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

“We had a do with the governor general, Sir Rodney Williams, and they were saying they wanted to beat us 3-0,” said England captain Alastair Cook after a reception with Antigua and Barbuda governor general.

“They’re here to fight and we’ve got to expect, as I kept calling it, a war. We know we’re in for a hell of a battle.”

The once-mighty West Indies have propped up

the ICC’s lists, above only Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, for the better part of two decades.

A repeat of their hardfought 1-0 triumph the last time the teams met in the Caribbean six years earlier would be a timely boost in Phil Simmons’ debut as head coach.

“My cricket philosophy is that you practise hard, play easy. That’s the way I look at it,” said Simmons, the former West Indies allrounder, who took over the top job last week.

“We have to be doing things a lot harder in practice which makes things easier when we get on the field.”

West Indies and England last met in the Caribbean in 2009 with the home side taking that close series one-nil.

While England are favourites to win the series, West Indies, like their opponents, are hoping the short series will be a major turning point after an unsuccessful run.

“I think they are going to come hard at us,” predicted Ramdin.

“So we need to prepare for that and put our backs against the wall and do something special here.”

West Indies squad for first Test: D. Ramdin (capt.), K. Brathwaite, S. Benn, D. Bishoo, J. Blackwood, C. Brathwaite, Da Bravo, S. Chanderpaul, J. Holder, S. Hope, K. Roach, M. Samuels, D. Smith, J. Taylor.

England squad: A. Cook (c), J. Trott, G. Ballance, I. Bell, J. Root, B. Stokes, J. Buttler (wkp.), C. Jordan, A. Rashid, S. Broad, J. Anderson, J. Bairstow, A. Lyth, J. Tredwell, L. Plunkett, M. Wood.

‘Selfish’ Hamilton leads Mercedes one-two in China

By Abhishek Takle SHANGHAI, China (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton shrugged off accusations of selfish driving from beaten team mate Nico Rosberg yesterday after the Formula One world champion led Mercedes to a Chinese Grand Prix one-two finish.

If the race ended in anticlimax, with the safety car deployed for the last two laps, the sparks flew afterwards when a seething Rosberg said Hamilton had compromised his race by driving too slowly.

The flare-up of tensions between the two, so evident last year, sent Mercedes bosses into fire-fighting mode when they might have hoped to have celebrated reasserting their dominance over Ferrari.

The team’s non-executive chairman and former triple champion Niki Lauda made clear whose side he was on.

“Sure, everyone drives selfish,” commented the

Austrian. “What do you think these guys are here to do? I call them egocentric bastards.

“That is the only way to win and the only way to win the championship.”

Hamilton, who led from pole position and controlled the race pace to Rosberg’s discomfort, was unrepentant after celebrating a 35th career win -- and fourth in China -that left him 13 points clear at the top after three races.

“It’s not my job to look after Nico’s race,” said the Briton, who could point also to the fact that he ended the day with the fastest lap of the race.

Hamilton’s second win in three races left him on 68 points with Vettel on 55 and Rosberg a further four points adrift.

“Great stuff, Lewis, great stuff, stellar weekend mate, it’s a full house,” Hamilton’s race engineer told him over the radio after he took the chequered flag.

Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain (R) raises his trophy as he celebrates his victory in front of his team mate second-placed Nico Rosberg of Germany on the podium, after the Chinese F1 Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit, yesterday. (Reuters/Aly Song)

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who stunned Mercedes with a brilliant victory in the previous round in Malaysia, threatened again but his challenge faded in the second stint on the medium-compound tyres.

A third podium in as many races since joining from Red Bull was still a great result for the four-time champion.

SAFETY CAR Vettel would have been as relieved as any when engine failure on Max Verstappen’s Toro Rosso brought out the safety car and thwarted any chance of Kimi Raikkonen overtaking his Ferrari team mate.

Hamilton started the race with his car aggressively angled towards the inside on the grid, seemingly to cover any attack

from Rosberg, although he explained that was a simple mistake.

“You can’t reverse and park back up,” he said.

Once the lights went out, the Briton surged ahead of his team mate with Mercedes, Ferrari and Williams then running in pairs.

Raikkonen, who was left ruing another missed opportunity after qualifying sixth, surged past Williams’ Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas off the line to slot into fourth behind Vettel.

Although Mercedes were expected to regain their dominant stride in the cooler conditions, Ferrari kept the Silver Arrows honest for most of the early running when the track was at his hottest and the cars fitted with soft tyres.

They lurked within striking distance throughout the opening runs and at one point after the first pit stops, seemed like genuine contenders.

Vettel closed to within two seconds of Rosberg but fell behind after switching to

the harder compound tyres as Mercedes shadowed Ferrari’s tactics to avoid being outfoxed by the Italians as they had been in Malaysia.

Williams, replaced by Ferrari as Mercedes’ closest challengers, had Massa and Bottas finish fifth and sixth respectively.

Romain Grosjean had a steady drive to claim the first points of the season for Lotus in seventh while Sauber claimed a double points finish with Felipe Nasr claiming eighth and Swede Marcus Ericsson rounding out the top 10.

Daniel Ricciardo, who endured another frustrating race in his underperforming Red Bull, was ninth with engine partners Renault holding up their hands and taking the blame.

McLaren continued their early season struggles with Fernando Alonso finishing a lap down in 12th, while Jenson Button dropped to 14th after picking up a time penalty for causing a collision with Lotus’s Pastor Maldonado.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

Hooda stars as Herstelling, Agricola, Mocha Rajasthan seal take full points on first day last-ball thriller EBFA Under-13 league

SHORAN James maintained his consistency in the final third to register the lone goal that earned full points for Herstelling Raiders over Grove Hi Tech; Agricola Red Triangle’s Leon Moore netted the competition’s first hattrick, while a double came from teammate Shamar Morrison - the highlights on the opening day of the inaugural Lens Craft Optical/East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-13 league on Saturday.

All the action took place at the hub of football on the East Bank, Grove Playfield, who also took full points.

Without working up a sweat were Mocha Champs whose opponents Craig failed to put in an appearance.

In the main game, rivalry between Herstelling Raiders and Grove Hi Tech was renewed and it was the same script but a different play.

Shoran James it was who scored the lone and winning goal against Grove in the Under-11 Pee Wee game a few weeks ago and was in repeat mode yesterday.

Playing 11v11 using the full length of the field, both sides approached the game positively and action

ensued from end to end but with five minutes left to play in the 30-minutea-half allocation, James tucked in the opening and winning goal from a goalmouth scrimmage.

Opportunities were very limited in the encounter but

defending from Herstelling.

In the day’s opening match, Agricola, another emerging side, trounced Diamond United 7-0 on account of the league’s first hat-trick off the boot of Leon Moore and a brace from Shamar Morrison.

Agricola Red Triangle (green and black) battle Diamond United at the Grove Playfield.

Herstelling had the chance to double their lead when they were awarded a penalty in the 54th minute but the ball was punched away by second-half goalie Safwan Cordis.

Grove were desperate to pull one back and switched their Under-11 most prolific goalscorer Devon Padmore from duties between the uprights to the forward line.

Their efforts, however, were all nullified by solid

Agricola’s intent to hunt goals was indicated to their opponents very early. They could have very well opened the scoring much earlier than the 20th minute, were it not for a missed penalty from Kerwayne Lyte. His shot was blocked by goalkeeper Teon Forde who was summoned to open field duty in the second half.

It was another penalty that opened the scoring for

Agricola, this time Leon Moore made no mistake in hitting his shot past Forde.

Five minutes later the score was doubled when Shamar Morrison netted the first of his brace and on the stroke of halftime, it was a 3-0 advantage to Agricola, compliments of Lyte’s goal as he made amends for his earlier missed chance from the spot.

The first two goals after the break came off the boot of Moore, he scored in the 37th and 39th minutes. Morrison was at it again in the 40th minute as Diamond just could not find a way to break down the Agricola defence.

Sealing the deal five minutes to full time was Jared Corrica who came on as a substitute one minute earlier. His header sailed into the back of the nets to complete an exciting 7-0 win for his side.

Mocha Champs were gifted two goals and three points as a result of Craig’s no-show. The competition will continue this Saturday at the same venue with Diamond taking on Kuru Kururu Warriors from 10:00hrs to be followed by a game between Grove Hi Tech and Agricola Red Triangle. The feature game brings together Herstelling Raiders and Craig.

Harbhajan blitz averts heavy defeat HARBHAJAN Singh’s manic 64 from 24 thrilled the Wankhede in Mumbai Indians’ first home game this season.

But the losses sustained early in their innings ensured the hosts would still fall 18 runs short of the 177 set by a George Bailey-propelled Kings XI Punjab.

Bailey clobbered 61 from 32 before his team’s quicks combined to ravage the Mumbai’s top order.

Scores: Kings XI Punjab 177 for 5 (Bailey 61*, Harbhajan 2-20) beat Mumbai Indians 159 for 7 (Harbhajan 64, Johnson 2-23) by 18 runs.

Seventh-wicket pair Harbhajan and J. Suchith plundered 100 runs from 37 balls to take the sheen off Sandeep Sharma, Anureet Singh, and Mitchell Johnson’s figures But those three, with help from Axar Patel’s left-arm spin, had Mumbai effectively derailed, at 46 for 5 after 12 overs.

The chase began to falter

almost as soon as it began, when Sandeep swung one viciously in to hit Rohit Sharma’s pads second ball.

The Kings XI quicks were not only disciplined enough to shackle the hosts’ top order, they made effective use of the movement which persisted through the early overs.

Aditya Tare was cramped by one that jagged in from Anureet, and could only present a catch to cover. Soon after, Aaron Finch attempted a big blow across the line and saw Johnson peg his off stump back with one that seamed slightly away.

When Corey Anderson was stumped for a pained 5, off Axar in the eighth over, Mumbai slipped to 25 for 4, and were forced into the period of reticence that made even the batting mayhem to come ultimately futile.

Harbhajan and Suchith reaped 15 runs or more from five consecutive overs, but even through that kind of murderous hitting, a Mumbai victory seemed far off, as the

required rate hung around 20. Anureet was launched for three consecutive sixes in the 17th over by Harbhajan, but he returned to dismiss his tormentor with the penultimate ball of the match.

With Kings XI wellplaced when Bailey arrived in the 11th over, he picked his way prudently through the middle overs, before embracing violence.

After seeing out the impressive Harbhajan, Bailey played his first forceful shot in the 15th over, when he flat-batted a Kieron Pollard length ball down the ground.

He then muscled Lasith Malinga over the square leg ropes to hit the first of his three leg-side sixes.

Having been 17 off his first 13 balls, Bailey struck 44 off his next 19 deliveries.

That Kings XI didn’t breach 180 was largely due to the relative lethargy in the innings played by the rest of the middle order.

Between them, David Miller, Rishi Dhawan and Johnson hit only 33 off 36 in

the back-end of the innings.

Harbhajan and Malinga had, however, hit their lengths much better than they had done in the tournament opener.

Earlier, Virender Sehwag had let fly with a vintage salvo, which was dynamic despite its relative brevity.

The wallop over the covers off Pawan Suyal in the second over roused memories of his heyday, as did consecutive leaden-footed strikes to the square fence on either side of the pitch off Vinay Kumar, next over.

He whipped Malinga to the boundary for successive fours as well, but in the end was felled by Harbhajan, who was himself providing a performance that harked back to yesteryear.

Sehwag’s 36 off 19 was the guts of the foundation that allowed Bailey time to settle at the crease, later in the innings. Harbhajan ended with figures of 2 for 20, which clearly bred confidence in his batting as well. (ESPN Cricinfo)

DEEPAK Hooda achieved a sparkling fifty as Rajasthan registered a thrilling win in the final over. In the last over, Tim Southee and Chris Morris held their nerve to win the game for them.

It was Southee, who hit the winning runs with a boundary. In fact, Delhi’s spin twins, Mishra and Tahir used the googly to outfox the opposition.

Scores: Rajasthan Royals 186 for 7 (Hooda 54, Rahane 47) beat Delhi Daredevils 184 for 3 (Duminy 44*, Iyer 40) by 3 wickets/ But Hooda plundered the opposition bowlers and took the game away from their grasp. Hooda landed some crunching blows over the long on region.

He also showed good wrist-work. It has to be said that Delhi’s fielding was below par.

Yuvraj missed a chance to run out Hooda and Manoj Tiwary also dropped a catch to give the 19-year-old a reprieve.

Earlier, it was Mayank Agarwal, who kickstarted the innings with a quick-fire knock.

Shreyas Iyer, JP Duminy and Angelo Mathews all played their part to give their bowlers a good score to defend. Pravin Tambe and Hooda seemed to have pulled the batting side back, but just in the nick of time, Mathews lifted Delhi’s sagging spirits with a late cameo.

In the end though, Delhi lost yet another game and now their losing streak in the IPL extends to 11 matches.

NOTABLE DATES SUPER lightweight Donald Allison secured his 10th professional victory on April 13, 1990. Allison won the eight-round contest against Honduran Jose Avila by unanimous decision.

The fight was held at the Gleason Arena in Brooklyn, New York - Allison’s adopted home town.

The Guyanese had a second try at Avila three months later. This time, the New York State super lightweight title was at stake. At the end of 10 rounds the Honduran was again left holding the dirty end of the stick as Allison was declared winner by unanimous decision.

Judges Jack DeFares and Al Reid scored the bout 96-90 while Harold Lederman saw it 96-93. Allison joined the professional ranks in 1988. The following year proved to be the busiest of a career that lasted six years, as he engaged in seven fights, losing once.

In July 1992 Allison had his only fight in Guyana. He won the 10-rounder on points against an experienced Barrington Cambridge.

He quit the sport in 1994 after losing three of four fights that year and returned to Guyana.

Allison later opened a gym in Agricola.

He died in September 2005 after being gunned down. Allison had won 14 fights, lost six and drawn one.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

BUSTA SOFT SHOE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Manning and Favorite power Bent Street past North East La Penitence

… WFR ‘Gold is Money’ also win

By Calvin Roberts GOLDEN Jaguars’ inspirational midfielder Konata Manning and his Bent Street teammate Daniel Wilson both had double strikes as their team defeated North East La Penitence 6-2, during the second night of action in the inaugural Petra Organisation/Guyana Beverage Inc. Busta soft shoe football tournament which was contested at the Georgetown Football Club last Saturday night.

Also recording victories were West Front Road (WFR) ‘Gold is Money’ who defeated Stevedore Housing Scheme 3-1 in the final match of the night, after Cross Street, Festival City and Back Road had all chalked up victories in their opening match of the tournament which has a $600 000 first prize.

Bent Street and North East La Penitence faced each other in the fourth of six matches for the night

and it was the eventual winners who scored first, courtesy of Sheldon Holder’s 2nd minute goal which was nullified by Shaquille Browne’s strike for North East La Penitence three minutes later.

Manning gave back the lead to Bent Street with the first of his two goals in the 9th minute and one minute later, Wilson cemented that lead with his first goal of the competition, before Carl Tudor ensured North East La Penitence took the Busta lemon-time break with a one-goal difference, after he pierced Bent Street’s goal in the 13th minute.

It was the last hurrah for North East La Penitence, as on the resumption of play, Manning and Wilson completed their double in the 19th and 25th minutes respectively, enabling Shevane Seaforth to confirm Bent Street as the winners, when he found the back of the net in the 26th minute.

In the first matchup of the night, goals from

Pietersen hits century for Surrey against Oxford students KEVIN Pietersen launched his bid for an England recall with a sparkling 170 for Surrey against Oxford MCCU. Pietersen, 34, unleashed some trademark shots to score his first hundred in any form of cricket since the Old Trafford Ashes Test in August 2013.

In front of a hearty crowd, he hit 24 fours and two sixes in 149 balls before being caught at midwicket.

Pietersen rejoined Surrey in March with the aim of regaining his England place in time for the Ashes rematch in July.

The three-day friendly against the student side is his first appearance in long-form cricket since the Sydney Ashes Test in January 2014.

Discarded by England after the 5-0 series defeat in Australia, Pietersen has played almost exclusively Twenty20 cricket since then.

But the South African-born batsman decided to focus on winning a 105th Test cap rather than his lucrative Indian Premier League contract after incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves gave him hope of a recall.

And Pietersen’s performance was a clear reminder to the England selectors of his enduring quality ahead of the first Test with the West Indies, which begins in Antigua today. (BBC Sport)

with Globe Yard, as Lenrick Carrington (18th) and Kevin Lewis (29th) being the

match.

Keith Fletcher (15th), Eon Alleyne (17th), Daniel

Part of the second night of action in the Busta soft shoe football tournament.

Sheldon Profit (3rd and 11th) and Shalomo Marks principals responsible for Favourite (21st) and Stellon David (28th) were the (18th), handed Cross Street their team’s goals.

A Kevin Boters 15th scorers for Festival City, a 3-1 victory over Queen Street, whose solitary goal minute strike was all Globe who were made to fight was scored by their versatile Yard needed to defeat from behind after Sherwin striker Deon Alfred in the West Back Road when the Vincent scored Kitty’s lone two met in the third game and the game’s first goal in 2nd minute.

Reigning Georgetown of the night and after Bent the 9th minute.

WFR ‘Gold is Money’ Guinness ‘Greatest of De Street defeated North East Streets’ champions North La Penitence, Festival City stamped their authority over Ruimveldt started their met and defeated Kitty 4-1 Stevedore Housing Scheme campaign with a 1-1 draw in the night’s penultimate to come away with a 3-1

win, courtesy of goals from Michael Oie (6th), Michael Pedro (11th) and Jamal Pedro (14th), with Eon Parks responding for Stevedore Housing Scheme in the 10th minute.

The action will continue tomorrow night at the Fruta Conquerors ground in Tucville, with six more matches, starting with Queen Street-Tiger Bay facing Stevedore Housing Scheme, Ballerz meeting Sophia and Alexander Village matching strides with California Square.

After the Busta break, the action resumes with Leopold Street versus Kitty, North Ruimveldt looking to improve when they face WFR ‘Gold is Money’ in the penultimate match, with the action culminating for the night when Sparta Boss face Charlestown.

Apart from the firstplace prize, the second- to fourth-placed finishers will respectively pocket $300 000, $200 000 and $100 000, while in the group stage, the first- to fourth-placed finishers will respectively receive $30 000, $20 000, $15 000 and $10 000.

New head coach impressed with uncapped Windies duo NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC) - New West Indies head coach Phil Simmons says he is impressed with the growth shown by the two uncapped players selected in the regional side to play England in a three-match Test series starting here today.

Rookie batsman Shai Hope and fellow Barbadian, fastbowling all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite, were named in the 14-man squad announced by selectors late Friday.

Hope was the fourth highest run-getter in the WICB Professional Cricket League (PCL) amassing 628 runs from nine matches, which included a score of 211 against Windward Islands Volcanoes.

“I think young Hope is technically sound, to score double hundreds at any level you must be able to bat for a long period of time,” said Simmons, the former Ireland coach, who was appointed to the vacant position of West

Indies head coach following the conclusion of the ICC World Cup last month.

“He showed in the practice match that he can bat for a long period of time and that’s a big thing with young cricketers now. Some of them just want to go out and play shots but he showed that he has the temperament.”

Brathwaite, 26, has been on the fringe of Test selection for some time having already turned out in the shorter versions for West Indies.

“Young Brathwaite, he just bowled like a Test bowler, like an international bowler in the practice game and hit his lines and his length and troubled the batsmen right through; so good things to be seen,” said Simmons.

The former West Indies all-rounder took over the top job last week and says it feels great to be working with the players.

“I’m a proud West Indian and it feels great to be back

in the Caribbean working with the West Indies team,” he said.

“It has only been a week so far, but I am happy with our preparations and everyone is looking forward to the start of the first Test on today.”

The three Test matches will be played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua; Grenada National Stadium; and Kensington Oval in Barbados.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday April 13, 2015) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

78 IPL matches

(2)

95-Murali Vijay (CSK vs RCB, 2011)

Today’s Quiz: (1) When and where did the WI and England first contest a Test match?

(2) Who scored most runs in the 2013 IPL? How many?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 13, 2015

Berbice regain control after Rutherford burst … Nedd claims 5 for U-17

By Calvin Roberts FOLLOWING an outstanding spell of medium fast bowling from Demerara’s Shurfane Rutherford which rocked Berbice batting early in their innings, the Ancient county team rebounded with an all-round team effort to place their opponents on the back foot at the end of day one of the second round Guyana Cricket Board/Raj Singh Insurance Under-19 threeday Inter-county fixture.

The two sides are facing each other at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC).

Berbice, who won the toss and opted to bat first, were shakily placed on 84 for 6, thanks to Rutherford’s 4 for 40, before some late order resistance from Parmanand Ramdan, Kassim Khan, Daniel Lewis and Grisean Grant saw them attain 199.

In their turn at the wicket, Demerara lost wickets easily and cheaply due to some tactical field placing from Berbice skipper Shimron Hetmyer and reached 144 for 7 at the close of play, still looking for 56 more runs for first-innings honours.

At the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, local perennial whipping boys Essequibo were locked in an interesting battle with

the National Under-17 team for first innings, after their opponents, on the back of Ashmead Nedd’s 5 for 50, bowled them out for 267, and replied with 34 for 1 at the close.

At GCC, Demerara, through the efforts of Rutherford, struck in the fourth over of the day when Balchand Baldeo (3) was lbw to the right-handed medium pacer who utilised the preparation moisture to good effect, at 12 for 1.

Skipper Shimron Hetmyer and Leon Andrews added 40 for the second wicket, with Andrews hitting Carlton Jacques (051) for two fours, while he welcomed Daniel Basdeo into the attack by hitting his first ball for a huge six over long off.

After posting the team’s 50, Andrews 34 (30 balls, 3x4, 1x6) was taken by Ronaldo Renee at second slip off Rutherford, who was previously driven twice along the ground with authority by Hetmyer, who along with Essequibo’s Kemo Paul, had 24 hours earlier returned from the West Indies Under-19 preparatory camp in Barbados.

From 52 for 1, Berbice slipped to 64 for 5, losing the wickets of Hetmyer 18 (22 balls; 3x4) caught by

Demerara’s danger man Shurfane Rutherford bowls Berbice’s Brandon Persaud, during his impressive spell in the first hour of play yesterday.

(Photo by Samuel Maughn) his opposite number Travis Persaud at the lone half-century of the contest to extra cover driving on the up to Basdeo date, by hitting Travis Persaud for 4, 6, and Rutherford removed both Ritesh 6 in one over from 36 balls with four Omrao and Brandon Persaud without fours and two sixes before holing out to scoring in the 12th over.

Mark Hamilton at long on, off the final As the pitch dried out and with delivery of the over.

Rutherford finishing his quota of six Mana and Basdeo finished with 2 overs for the session, batting became for 23 and 31 respectively in support to much easier for the visitors, who Rutherford, while Demerara went to tea witnessed Samuel Kishnasammy (5) on 41 without loss with Tevin Imloch and Ramdhan add 23 for the sixth on 26 and Renee 9. wicket, before the former was caught But when play resumed, dispite the

by Jayadev Mana off Basdeo for 5. odd boundaries being scored by the Ramdhan and Khan then posted 48 home team batsmen, they lost wickets valuable runs for the seventh wicket, at regular intervals to some disciplined before Khan was caught by Malcolm bowling from the Ancient County Hubbard off Mana, following which youths.

Jacques dropped an easy offer from Imloch was lbw to a faster ball from Khan at midwicket when on 23, off the Basdeo in the second over after the bowling of Tariq Dharamlall two balls break without any addition to his score, before lunch which was taken with at 45 for 1, and Renee, in his attempt Berbice 138 for 7. to pull at a short delivery from Omar After the break, Demerara took Weatherspoon, succeeded in picking 55 minutes to wrap up the innings but out Brandon Persaud at midwicket, 57 not before Ramdhan got to his and for 2.

Rutherford came in and looked aggressive, hitting Baldeo for six over long off, followed by a sweetly-timed drive off Lewis for 4, before he was brilliantly caught by a diving Ramdhan at extra cover off Lewis for 16, leaving Demerara on 73 for 3.

Akshaya Persaud and his captain Travis Persaud 21 (1x6) pushed the score to 102, before the latter was caught by Hetmyer off Baldeo at 102 for 4, which was later 111 for 6, when Hubbard (4) and Akshaya Persaud (14) were respectively dismissed by Lewis and Baldeo.

Hamilton, in partnership with Basdeo, repaired the damage by adding 33 for the seventh wicket, before the introduction of Andrews to bowl what turned out to be the final over of the day’s play. He accounted for Hamilton, lbw for 13 (2x4) leaving Basdeo unbeaten on 24.

So far, both Baldeo and Lewis have taken 2 wickets each for 34 and 35 runs respectively for Berbice, who will look to wrap up the home team’s innings early today, weather permitting, and grab first innings points.

At DCC, Essequibo batted first and were bowled out for 261, led by Kemo Paul 47 (7x4, 1x6), Parmesh Parsotam 42 (5x4) Nathan Persaud 37 (3x4), Neiland Cadogan 31 (3x6, 2x4), Sachin Persaud 21 (3x4) and 20 from Keanu Harry, after Nathan Persaud and Parsotam had added 78 for the first wicket.

Nedd took 5 for 50 and Sagar Hetheramani 2 for 22 for the National Under-17, who in reply reached 34 for 1 at the close with Raymond Perez on 13 and Adrian Sukhwah 5, having lost Bhaskar Yadram, caught at the wicket

by Nathan Persaud off Cadogan for 5.

Weather permitting, the action will continue at both venues from 10:00hrs today.

Moore features on debut for Finnish Club

Instrumental in side’s 1-1 draw against IFK Mariehamn

By Rawle Toney

GOLDEN Jaguars’ defensive maestro Walter Moore had his first taste of Finnish Premiere League, playing a full 90 minutes for his new club Fotbollsföreningen Jaro Jalkapalloseura (FF Jaro) in their 1-1 draw against league rivals Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Mariehamn (IFK Mariehamn).

The game between the two sides marked the opening of the league and Moore who signed a two-year deal with the top flight Finnish club was instrumental in his team’s opening goal which was scored by Johan Brunell.

Moore, who was transferred from FC Vostok in the Kazakhstan Premier League, told Chronicle Sport after the game yesterday that “we (FF Jaro) got a corner and the ball was passed out to me, and I wiped in a powerful cross.

It was headed back on goal and a player was there to just roll it into the goal”

However, according to the majestic defender, who plays down the left flank, his team became desperate, pressing for another goal, had given up a foul and the opposition scored in the 87th minute from a free kick to salvage a draw.

Asked about his thoughts on the game and the difference between playing in Finland as compared to that of the Caribbean and Kazakhstan, Moore, 30, noted that the league is a bit more physical and played at a faster pace.

Moore, whose first taste at professional football was at Trinidad and Tobago Pro-league Club North East Stars in 2006, had played for the Jamaal Shabazz-owned Caledonia AIA (2007–2013) as well as Charlotte Eagles Football Club in the USA. In 2013, Moore signed with FC Vostok in the Kazakhstan Premier League, making 31 appearances for the outfit but moved to the club’s rival FC Astana-1964 the following year.

Walter Moore is seen before kick-off yesterday with FF Jaro in Finland.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Berbice regain control after Rutherford burst See story on page 27

Windies bringing passion, as high-stakes series against England begins today

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) - West Indies appear set to launch a passionate challenge against England when the two sides meet in the first of a three-Test series here today.

The West Indies have vowed to play “exciting and attacking cricket” in an allimportant high stakes series which begins at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Denesh Ramdin’s men, under the guidance of new head coach Phil Simmons, are also eager to keep intact, their record of not losing against England in Antigua.

“We have a young team and we will come out and play exciting and attacking cricket. It will be a tough series, with some hard days on the field, but we are ready for the hard work. We are fully prepared,” Ramdin said.

“I would like the team to go out and play competitive, exciting cricket. We know the opposition is a very good team; we need to do the basic stuff which is important … when we get out to bat, try and spend time at the crease.”

Turn to page 24

England captain Alastair Cook

West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin

Richie Benaud family declines Australia state funeral THE family of the late former Australian cricket captain and legendary cricket commentator Richie Benaud has rejected Australian PM Tony Abbott’s proposal for a state funeral.

His widow Daphne phoned the PM’s office on Saturday to “kindly decline” the offer, Mr Abbott said.

The commentator himself had wished for “something very, very quiet and very, very private”, he added.

Benaud, 84, is said to have died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday.

He will be remembered in a private funeral attended only by his immediate family, Australian media reported.

Mr Abbott told reporters yesterday: “I

thought it was important that as a mark of the respect that we have long had for him that we should offer a state funeral.

“But my understanding is that Richie’s own wishes were for something very, very quiet, and something very, very private.”

A pioneering leg-spin bowler, Benaud played in 63 Tests, 28 as captain, before retiring in 1964 to pursue a career in journalism and broadcasting including a long association with the BBC. His final commentary in England came during the 2005 Ashes series, but he continued to work for Channel Nine in Australia until 2013.

Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards described Benaud as “the iconic voice of our summer”. (BBC Sport)

Richie Benaud is said to have wanted a very private funeral.

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MONDAY APRIL 13, 2015