2015 4 14

GUYANA

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

Marriott Hotel ribbon cutting for Thursday PRICE: $80

No. 104158 TUESDAY APRIL 14, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

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INCLUDING VAT

Dr Jagan was a leader of extraordinary quality Page

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Dr Ralph Gonsalves

Further political coalitions possible until Thursday 2

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President Donald Ramotar with kitchen staff at the Marriott Hotel

LUNCHEON TO APNU+AFC…

Guyanese will not be ‘tricked’ into ‘slavish devotion’ Page

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Dr Roger Luncheon

GECOM meets with Carter 2 Centre reps AFC & APNU 9 Economically Anti-National

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– says Former President Jagdeo

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

Further political GECOM meets coalitions possible with Carter until Thursday Centre reps

EIGHT political parties in the 2015 General and Regional Elections race have qualified as contenders, according to the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield.

The parties submitting their National Top-up List, Geographical Constituencies List, and Regional Democratic Council Lists include: The United Force (TUF); the Healing The Nation Theocracy Party (HTNT); the United Republican Party (URP); the Independent Party (IP); the Organisation for the Victory of the People (OVP); and the National Independence Party (NIP).

The two major political contenders are the incumbent People’s Progressive

Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the coalesced A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC).

The CEO said, in an invited comment, that the Commission approved the lists of candidates submitted by the parties on Nomination Day, April 7.

However, Lowenfield highlighted that the eight contenders have until Thursday to collaborate into political coalitions that will contest the regional and/or national elections.

According to him, the Elections Commission is required to gazette the approved lists of candidates by the 25th day before Elections Day – given that E-Day is May 11th that would mean that the cut-off for further political coalition

agreements to be made is April 16th.

The next step, Lowenfield added, is the publication of the final lists of candidates.

GECOM has until the 20th day before E-Day to do this.

In accordance with the electoral system of Proportional Representation, in order to qualify for a seat in the National Assembly, contesting parties must contest a minimum of six of the Geographical Constituencies - totalling at least 13 seats - for eligibility to contest and submit Geographical Constituencies Lists and National Top-up Lists. This arrangement will provide for qualified contesting parties to submit, on Nomination Day, two separate Lists of Candidates. Any political party can contest the election of members of any of the 10 Regional Democratic Councils. (Vanessa Narine)

Members of the Carter Centre during their meeting with GECOM Chairman (right) Dr. Steve Surujbally

WITH less than a month left for the General and Regional Elections, the US-based Carter Centre is progressively establishing its presence in Guyana. A precursor team of medium-term observers visited the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Friday last to meet with Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally, to discuss the strategic directions of their Observer Mission.

Team Leader and Assistant Director, Global Development Initiative, Mr. Jason Calder indicated that the Carter Centre may be looking to establish a core medium observer team of four persons to lead its Mission.

He further stated that the Carter Centre plans to have six medium-term observers comprising three teams of two persons each which can be deployed by next Wednesday.

The Carter Centre is expected to have at least 30 short-term observers deployed closer to the Election Day. A total of 42 persons are expected to complete the Carter Centre’s Observer Mission.

Mr. Calder also discussed a preliminary lo-

The GECOM Chairman also asked the Carter Centre to agitate for peace and serenity before, during and after the Elections, and to help explain to the public the need for calm as citizens await the final official results. He further emphasised that GECOM will not be sacrificing accuracy for expediency when it comes to the delivery of the election results. gistical plan for the three medium-term observer teams which is as follows: (a) One team to cover Regions 2, 3, and 7; (b) another team will cover Regions 5 and 6; and the other team to cover Regions 1, 8, and 9.

GECOM’s Chairman, Dr. Surujbally expressed his satisfaction that the Carter Centre has once again taken a keen interest in observing elections in Guyana.

Dr. Surujbally also gave a commitment to the Carter Centre representatives that GECOM will assist the team in whatever information requirements they may need.

He also advised the Carter Centre representatives to send all plans and other training materials they intend to use, during their Election Observer Mission, to GECOM so that those materials can be

assessed by GECOM for accuracy and completeness.

PEACE AND SERENITY The GECOM Chairman also asked the Carter Centre to agitate for peace and serenity before, during and after the Elections, and to help explain to the public the need for calm as citizens await the final official results. He further emphasised that GECOM will not be sacrificing accuracy for expediency when it comes to the delivery of the election results.

Representing the Carter Centre was Mr. Jason Calder, Assistant Director, Global Development Initiative and Mr. Pedro Teixeira, Operations Manager.

GECOM was represented by its Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Richard Francois.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

Marriott Hotel ribbon cutting for Thursday

…chronicles of success in face of obstinate Opposition

President Donald Ramotar on tour of the Marriott Hotel

By Gary Eleazar THE US$58M flagship Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, opens its doors on Thursday to the public with an Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - a feat despite the naysayers, litigation, protests, Parliamentary motions and the plethora of resistance to one of Government’s key developmental projects.

The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) is the Government-owned company, lawfully entrusted to pursue investments on behalf of the State, including public-private partnerships and in September, 2009, incorporated Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI), the Special Purpose Company to pursue the Marriott project.

REGIONAL NATIONAL SUPPORT It’s been made pellucid time and time again. No tax dollars were directly invested into the Marriott Hotel Project, in Kingston, Georgetown, but even if this were the case, such a reality is not unique to the industry in the Region.

As is evidenced as close as Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Puerto Rico - established travel hubs of the Caribbean - Governments have

been taking on leading roles in developing hotel projects.

Local critics chastised the Guyana Government for its part in pursuing the Marriott Hotel project but over in Trinidad and Tobago, its 428-room Hyatt Regency was built by that country’s Government, despite its already established, privately-owned hospitality industry.

The Trinidad and Tobago Government had taken a conscientious step to develop and diversify its tourism industry and to make it more attractive and sustainable, hence pursuit of the Hyatt Regency in 2007.

The Trinidad Government‘s strategy was focused also on business conventions, conference hosting, eco-adventure, sport and recreation - similar to the pursuits espoused by the Guyana Government.

The Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (UDeCOTT), Trinidad’s leading public developer now owns the hotel and all elements of the mixed-development.

Over in Barbados, there is an even more glaring example of Government taking the principal role in pursuit of the development of a major hotel project - not waiting on the private sector - as is advocated by antagonists locally. In fact, in pursuit of the Four Seasons

Hotel in Clear Water Bay, Barbados, that country’s Government not only provided a ‘Government Guaranteed’ loan to the tune of US$60M. It also supplied additional financing by sourcing another US$30M from the Stateowned, National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

Over in Puerto Rico, that country’s Government successfully pursued the development of a Ritz Carlton Hotel at a cost of almost US$350M. This too was funded partially by that country’s National Tourism Development Board which allowed for certain equity and guarantees for the developers.

In fact, the Puerto Rican Government, in using tax dollars to boost the tourism industry has also “installed aggressive incentives laws which reduce tax rates charged to hotel operators.”

But this was not the end of Government support for the development of the hotel project. The Puerto Rican Government also put in place a “90 per cent tax exemption and various tax credits, some of which are transferrable and may be sold and utilised as part of the equity involved used to finance hotel development.

In Guyana’s case, NICIL, a privately registered Gov-

ernment-owned company invested and loaned to the Marriott project, money not derived from tax dollars but rather revenues earned by the shareholding company.

VOCIFEROUS ANTAGONIST Over the years, criticisms and unwarranted opposition

against the Marriott project have persisted incessantly.

Among the recent criticisms by vociferous antagonist, Christopher Ram, is that the creation of AHI, preceded any feasibility study for the project but “which company exactly, would have been tasked with hiring the international consultants for a feasibility

study or approach the Marriott Group?”

This was an observation made by AHI Chairman, Winston Brassington, who ahead of this week’s opening attempts to once and for all dispel the incessant criticisms against the project, which in part did lead to an Opposition Parliamentarian leading court

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

Russia opens way to missile deliveries Pope’s genocide comments spark indifference, frustration among Turks to Iran, starts oil-for-goods swap (Reuters) – RUSSIA paved the way on Monday for missile system deliveries to Iran and started an oil-forgoods swap, signaling that Moscow may have a headstart in the race to benefit from an eventual lifting of sanctions on Tehran.

The moves come after world powers, including Russia, reached an interim deal with Iran this month on curbing its nuclear programme.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin signed a decree ending a self-imposed ban on delivering the S-300 anti-missile rocket system to Iran, removing a major irritant between the two after Moscow canceled a corresponding contract in 2010 under pressure from the West.

A senior government official said separately that Russia has started supplying grain, equipment and construction materials to Iran in exchange for crude oil under a barter deal.

Sources told Reuters more than a year ago that a deal worth up to $20 billion

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani at the welcoming ceremony during a summit of Caspian Sea regional leaders in the southern city of Astrakhan, September 29, 2014.

(Reuters/Alexei Nikolsky/RIA Novosti/Kremlin) was being discussed and would involve Russia buying up to 500,000 barrels of Iranian oil a day.

Officials from the two countries have issued contradictory statements since then on whether a deal has been signed, but Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Monday one was already being implemented.

“I wanted to draw your attention to the rolling out of the oil-for-goods deal, which is on a very signifi-

cant scale,” Ryabkov told a briefing with members of the upper house of parliament on the talks with Iran.

“In exchange for Iranian crude oil supplies, we are delivering certain products.

This is not banned or limited under the current sanctions regime.”

He declined to give further details. Russia’s Agriculture Ministry declined comment and the Energy Ministry did not respond to request for comment. There was no comment from Iran.

Iran is the third largest buyer of Russian wheat, and Moscow and Tehran have been discussing the oil-forgoods barter deal for more than a year.

Russia hopes to reap economic and trade benefits if a final deal is concluded to build on the framework agreement reached in the Swiss city of Lausanne between Iran and six world powers - Russia, the United States, France, Britain, Germany and China.

They have until June 30 to work out a detailed technical agreement under which Iran would curb its nuclear programme and allow international control in exchange for a lifting of economic sanctions.

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(Reuters) - WHEN Pope Francis became the first pontiff to publicly call the 1915 Armenian massacre a genocide this weekend, the reaction from Ankara was swift and irate: it summoned the Vatican ambassador for a dressing down and recalled its own envoy.

Reaction in the Turkish media on Monday ranged from indignant to indifferent, depending on how close the newspaper is to the government. The response on Turkish street corners was muted, with many Turks dismissing the spat as empty politics and voicing a desire to leave history in the past.

Francis sparked the diplomatic row on Sunday by calling the massacre of up to 1.5 million Armenians “the first genocide of the 20th century”, prompting Turkey to accuse him of inciting hatred.

Muslim Turkey agrees that Christian Armenians died in clashes with Ottoman soldiers beginning in April 1915, when some Armenians lived in the empire ruled from Istanbul, but denies hundreds of thousands were

killed and that this amounted to genocide.

“The pope’s statements, which are far from historical

Pope Francis and judicial facts, cannot be accepted,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Twitter. “Religious offices are not places to incite hatred and revenge with baseless accusations.”

The fact that Vatican City is the world’s smallest state may have precluded further repercussions. When France’s parliament voted in 2011 to make Armenian genocide denial a crime, Turkey withdrew its ambassador, suspended joint military maneuvers and stopped political contacts for a while.

Sitting on a ferry off the western port of Izmir, a man who declined to give his full

name said it was time to stop bickering about the past.

“Every year, it’s the same thing. April comes and all the Western politicians are talking about genocide.

There is no such animosity between the people of these two countries,” said Ibrahim, 48, taking a sip of tea. “We must leave history behind us and focus on the future.”

Armenia and its large diaspora in the United States argue that Turkey has not fully owned up to its wartime past.

“If you ask any ordinary Armenian or Turk, I am positive we do not care about this as much as people think we do,” said Dursun Okan, a 27-year-old banker.

Still others saw the pope’s remarks as interference by foreigners and wondered whether the United States, a traditional ally of Turkey, would eventually use the word “genocide”.

Unlike almost two dozen European and South American states that use the term, Washington avoids it and has warned legislators that Ankara could cut off military cooperation if they voted to adopt it.

China frees five women activists on bail after outcry (Reuters) – CHINA has unexpectedly released five women activists on bail, two lawyers said on Monday, after a vocal campaign against their detention by the West and Chinese rights campaigners.

The women were taken into custody on the weekend of March 8, International Women’s Day, and detained on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”.

They had planned to demonstrate against sexual harassment on public transport.

Their case has outraged a swath of Chinese society.

Dozens of students and workers have signed petitions and held slogans calling for their release.

US Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry also called for their release, prompting China’s Foreign Ministry to lodge a formal protest with Washington The European Union also

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expressed concern about the case.

Now Wei Tingting, 26, Wang Man, 32, Zheng Churan, 25, Li Tingting, 25, and Wu Rongrong, 30, have been released on bail, Liang Xiaojun and Wang Qiushi, two lawyers involved in the case, told Reuters, citing accounts from family members.

Police did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.

President Xi Jinping’s administration has detained hundreds of activists in the past two years, in what some rights groups say is the worst clampdown on dissent in two decades.

“I’m not surprised at all because they’ve never committed any crimes,” said Liang. “They’ve taken people into custody without any evidence of wrongdoing, so they have to release them.”

Liang said the women were still considered suspects, adding that “their freedoms

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will be restricted, so it’s not something that we should be happy about”.

Wang, one of the released women, told Feng Yuan, a veteran women rights activist, that she was heading to the northern city of Tianjin, where her parents live. “She said her mental state is quite good and she thanks everyone and her lawyers for their concern,” Feng said.

Liang said he believed the international calls in support of their women played a part in their release.

China’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly decried what it says are unwarranted attempts by foreigners to interfere in the country’s internal affairs, adding the case will be handled in accordance with the law.

The detained women participated in a 2012 campaign to press for more public toilets for women and a 2013-14 campaign against domestic violence.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

Hundreds of thousands rally against corruption in Brazil

(BBC News)-HUNDREDS of thousands of people have joined peaceful demonstrations across Brazil against government corruption.

Crowds were generally smaller than in March when more than 1.5 million people turned out.

They allege involvement of the governing Worker’s Party in bribery at the state oil firm Petrobas.

President Dilma Rousseff denies involvement and has been exonerated in an investigation by the attorney general.

The political opposition say much of the alleged bribery of politicians took place when Ms Rousseff was head of the oil company.

Despite her exoneration, many protestors still believe that the president must have known about the scandal.

Some have been calling for her impeachment.

The number of protestors varied widely. Police have said that 696,000 people took to the streets on Sunday but organisers have put the number at 1.5 million, according to Globo news.

Many of the protestors wore the yellow shirts of the national football team and waved Brazilian flags. Others held placards reading “Dilma out” and “Corrupt government”.

In Rio de Janeiro, several thousand people marched along Copacabana beach, a turnout reported to be considerably lower than the 25,000 protestors seen on 15 March.

also took a share of the money siphoned off from the oil company, according to the investigation.

Officials to be investigated include Senate Pres-

Wyre Davies reports: ‘’With her approval ratings at a record low, and more protests planned, this is certain to be a tough year for President Rousseff’’ A BBC correspondent in Rio de Janeiro says that most of the protestors in the city were white and middle class.

The exact turnout in the city of Sao Paulo is unclear.

Police say 275,000 participated in the march but organisers have put the figure nearer 1 million.

After the protests in March, the government promised a series of measures to combat corruption and impunity.

Corrupt officials The Workers’ Party has been in power since President

INDECOM probes fatal shooting of woman allegedly by 3-year-old son Jamaica Gleaner)-THE Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the woman who was allegedly shot and killed by her three-year-old son.

The dead woman is identified as Rhea Ricketts, a resident of Nairne Castle District, James Hill, Clarendon.

The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. INDECOM said it was advised at approximately 4:25 p.m. and a team of investigators and forensic examiners responded to the scene at 7:02 p.m.

INDECOM, in a release issued this afternoon, said it was told by the police that Ricketts was allegedly shot and killed, under circumstances that appear to

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in for his first term in January 2003.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court approved the investigation of 54 people for

be accidental, by her threeyear-old son with the service firearm of her partner who is a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) attached to the Mobile Reserve Unit.

According to INDECOM, “the concerned officer was interviewed as well as members of the family who were at the premises when the incident occurred. The body of the deceased was processed by INDECOM’s forensic team, the hands of the child, and the police officer were swabbed, and his weapon taken out of circulation and packaged to be submitted to the Government Forensic Laboratory for analysis”.

The Victim Support Unit (VSU) was also engaged to attend to members of the dead woman’s family.

their alleged involvement in a corrupt scheme.

It is alleged that private companies paid corrupt officials in order to get lucrative Petrobras contracts.

High-profile politicians

ident Renan Calheiros, President of the Chamber of Deputies Eduardo Cunha, former Energy Minister Edison Lobao and former President Fernando Collor de Mello.

CRUSHED IN BED

…woman killed as car crashes into house

A LONGDENVILLE mother of four was crushed to death in her bed and her three-year-old son and husband were seriously injured after a car crashed through a wall and pinned them underneath the vehicle yesterday. Dead is Donna Jennifer Mascal, 39, a domestic worker, of Palmiste Main Road.

Her son, Andrew Mascal, and husband Anthony Mascal are being treated at Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope.

Fire officers used a Hiab crane to lift the vehicle off the family, the Express was told.

The mother of the deceased, Niranjanie Wellington, was brought to tears as she thought of the painful end her daughter met.

“I cannot believe that this has happened. All of my children are very close to me. I am in complete shock,” said Wellington.

According to a police report, shortly after 1:00 a.m., a white AD wagon, driven by a 22-year-old man, of Fleming Street, Longdenville, lost control and ran off the road.

The vehicle crashed into the house, which was being rented by the Mascals.

The car broke through a concrete wall and smashed into the bedroom while the family was asleep.

Mascal’s other children--Samantha Mascal, 17, Shania, 15, and Sean, eight—were asleep in an adjoining room.

National Security Ministry yet to confirm 16-yearold J’can denied entry to Suriname was ISIS recruit (Jamaica Gleaner)-JAMAICA’S national security ministry is yet to respond to reports that a 16-yearold national was refused entry to Suriname Sunday on suspicion that he was travelling to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Efforts to reach National Security Minister Peter Bunting for a comment on the teenager’s arrest was unsuccessful up to news time.

CANA News reported that immigration officers re-

fused the 16-year-old passage at Johan Pengel Airport in the capital, Paramiribo, yesterday, when he arrived on a flight from Jamaica. Cops say the teenager had intended to travel to the Netherlands and from there to Turkey.

The arrest of the teenager follows a report by commander of the US Southern Command, General John Kelly, to the US Armed Services Committee that about 100 people from Jamaica,

Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Venezuela have joined ISIS. However, Bunting had said General Kelly’s report may have resulted from a misunderstanding at the time, as his prepared text made no mention of Jamaica.

At the time of General Kelly’s report on March 12, the minister said the Gov-

ernment had received no information that Jamaicans were leaving the island to join ISIS. Bunting had also said the ministry was monitoring the emerging situation regarding the recruiting efforts of international terrorist groups and had found nothing to indicate that Jamaicans are involved.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

EDITORIAL

PM Hinds and hometown Linden DESPITE his sincerity and open honesty, and his commitment and unremittingly hard work in the process of re-building Guyana after PNC excesses destroyed this country, outgoing Prime Minister Samuel Archibald Hinds has been, throughout his successive terms as either Prime Minister or President of this country, consistently vilified and treated as a pariah by a number of persons in his hometown Linden, because they consider him a traitor for joining the coalition PPP/Civic political movement.

However, at the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) Linden Rally, held last Sunday at Wismar, he urged supporters to come out in their numbers and vote unanimously for the PPP/C on May 11, because he believes wholeheartedly in the partnership which enabled

him to play a major role in charting and implementing systems and policies that transformed this country from a pariah state into what Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines described as “…the only shining star of the Caribbean.”

‘Come out and vote solidly PPP/C… It’s the party that’s always had your back,’ he urged his fellow Lindeners. But it was Prime Minister Sam Hinds’ heart and soul that always mourned his hometown, because he saw, year after year, despite the many interventions by the Government through which he served the Guyanese people, his hometown being used and abused – taken down retrograde paths by leaders they have trusted wholeheartedly for decades.

“We can burst open our country and make it a developed country,” he asserted,

continuing, “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” Then he went on to reminisce on what transpired in the past, when all Guyanese became victims of an oppressive regime that did not even spare even its own supporters during an era when everyone suffered, driving the citizens of this country – across every divide, into depths of despair, apathy and hopelessness.

The hope for a better life was restored by the PPP/C in 1992, and as the Prime Minister told Lindeners: “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.”

“We have always ensured that Linden has shared equitably”, he further stated, and reminded his audience “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 organisation.” This arrangement was agreed to by the People’s National Congress (PNC), he recalled further that when, by 1994 it was apparent that there was no way of turning the industry around, “The PPP/C didn’t close it down; we kept supporting the industry… And we did it because we understood how traumatic it would have been for the people here in Linden.”

And the Prime Minister went on to elucidate on the ways the Government tried to save the industry, into which it kept pumping huge sums,

GUYANA

the way it did in the entire community, so that Lindeners were not abandoned to the fallout of a dying economy, which had depended almost entirely on the bauxite industry.

The Government had long recognised that the viability of the bauxite industry was shaky at best and could not, alone, sustain the social development and economic growth of Region 10, so successive PPP/C Governments strove unremittingly to diversify entrepreneurial strengths into other areas of production, especially agriculture, and today that community is once again striving.

PM Sam encouraged: “We have been working for our people since the 1940s; and we should rally our people to come out on May 11 and vote unanimously for the PPP/C.” However, within the con-

struct of successive PPP/C Governments, all of which the Prime Minister served with dedication and loyalty, it was Samuel Archibald Hinds whose heart always beat for his hometown and the citizens of the community where he spent his youthful days with his devoted wife Yvonne and children; and he always had the backs of his fellow Lindeners as the Government strategised and charted paths for the upward mobility of this nation.

One would hope that PM Hinds would not retire into oblivion, but would continue to play a major part in formulating and implementing developmental paths for this nation through the enduring partnership he formed over two decades ago with his brother of the soul, Dr. Cheddi Jagan and the People’s Progressive Party.

EPA plays its part in joint anti-littering enforcement activities THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wishes to provide some clarifications on the article ‘Paltry Fine for Littering needs to be revised – Deputy Mayor’ which was published in the Guyana Chronicle dated Thursday, April 9, 2015.

Please be advised that the Litter Prevention Regulations 2013, under the Environmental Protection Act # 11 of 1996, came into force in November 2013. Enforcement activities for these Litter Regulations commenced April 2014 with the establishment of a Litter Enforcement Unit at the EPA. The Litter Regulations outlines several offences and penalties and provides for Litter Wardens with authority to enforce these Regulations and with special powers of

court on convicting offenders. Under ‘offences’, “A person who, without reasonable excuse, deposits litter in or on any public place…is guilty of an offence”. Also, persons who deposit litter from a moving vehicle unto a public place will be considered an offender. However, if the person who committed the offence cannot be determined, then the driver of the vehicle will be held responsible. Consequently, any individual found guilty of any offence will be liable to a fine of $50,000, while a corporate body will be issued a fine of $100,000. Additionally, it is an offence not to provide a receptacle for litter in public transportation. It is expected that the owner of every vehicle for hire provides within his/her vehicle,

a receptacle for the collection of litter. Failure to satisfy this regulation would result in a penalty fee of $15,000.

The Regulations also outline the institution of increased penalties for persons found guilty of repeat offences. If a person is found guilty of committing a litter offence, the litter prevention warden may instruct that person to place the litter in the nearest receptacle or “remove the litter to the nearest approved site.”

According to the Litter Enforcement Regulations 2013, “where any person is convicted of an offence under regulation three (Special Powers of Court on Convicting Offenders), the court may, in addition to imposing a penalty, order the offender…to clean up and remove

such litter deposited in such public place within such period specified in the order”.

The Regulations allow for the appointment of Litter Prevention Wardens by The EPA, and by virtue of their office, Officers of the Guyana Police Force, Local Authority, Ministry of Health, Harbour Master, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and the Guyana Forestry Commission, among others are deemed Litter Wardens for the purposes of implementing the Regulations. Persons with such authority “may summarily act to prevent the deposit or attempted deposit of litter in any public place in which they are authorised to act”.

During the lead-up to the commencement and actual implementation of enforcement activities, the EPA has consulted and continues to collaborate with several

stakeholders including the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), specifically the Town Clerk, the Chief Constable of the City Constabulary, the Director of Solid Waste, and the City Engineer.

These stakeholders were briefed on the contents of the regulations, the offences, and penalties, and were advised that the City Constabulary Offices can bring charges against offenders under these regulations.

The EPA continues to collaborate with these and other stakeholders in executing its litter prevention programme. As part of implementation activities, and the appointment of Litter Wardens to enforce the provisions of the regulations, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and the EPA hosted

several workshops aimed at appointing persons as Litter Prevention Wardens under the Litter Prevention Regulations (2013). Officers from the Guyana Police Force, The City Constabulary, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Harbour Masters and Public Health Officers were officially appointed as Litter Wardens.

The EPA’s Litter Wardens have been engaging the City Constabulary in enforcement activities, including and conducting joint enforcement in the City. In addition, the EPA continues to work with and receives support for clean-up activities in the city by the Solid Waste and the City Engineers Departments respectively.

INDARJIT RAMDASS Executive Director, EPA

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

Freddie’s Back – and Ramaya at his comical best when he mispronounced ‘vulgarity’ twice by saying ‘vulgalarity’ on television programme

IT has now dawned on me that the University of Guyana made a terrible blunder when they terminated Freddie Kissoon’s contract in 2012. This man was on the verge of solving the problems of GuySuCo with the application of the theory of ‘scientific management’.

This theory was developed

by Frederick Taylor in the 1880s and became obsolete by the 1930s although some aspects of it were absorbed by other contemporary management theories or have influenced the development of such theories.

Therefore, the value of the ‘scientific management

theory’ is seminal in nature.

This claim by Frederick Kissoon may have been influenced by his namesake who postulated that theory. It is apparent that Freddie Kissoon has lagged far behind in his exposure to contemporary management theories.

However, Freddie feels that since he was speaking to Berbicians whom he has scant regard for, the use of the term ‘scientific’ will cast them in a state of awe and wonderment and project him as a great intellectual.

Then, Mr Kissoon on DTV 8 on the same day, April 11th, 2015, made a claim which is quite stunning and

which I do feel should be relayed to Mr Khushid Sattaur of GRA. He claimed that businessmen are currently evading taxes to the tune of 11 billion dollars and that he has seen records to verify that. He further claimed that this money can be used by the coalition to pay wage and salary increases. So it seemed that apart from jailing some members of the PPP, the coalition will target and witch hunt these businessmen to recover those taxes. No wonder the coalition is seeking to become more militarised.

Mr Kissoon, then spoke of a ‘new political culture’ whereby people must forget

what happened in the past and seek to unite all races and that the coalition of AFC/ APNU has done just that. He claimed that it was ‘Burnham’s and Jagan’s dream of the 1950s coming true’. This man does not seem to know that Burnham rejected any form of coalition with Jagan PPP right up to his death.

Furthermore, Jagan did not want to get rid of the PPP but to include it and to bring together the two major races.

Freddie is a disgrace for a man who claims to be an intellectual!

It is now clear that the past is the greatest impediment in the path of the Coalition so Freddie wants us to erase this period of our history. Mr Bissessar then implored Berbicians that what happened during the PNC misrule of 28 years will not happen again. But the AFC+APNU Prime Ministerial Candidate then in his 2011 Budget speech had said that, “I have fought the police repression - and I was

a victim of it - and I fought the fair battles against rigged elections in Guyana for 28 years…”

There was no intention at that time about implementing this ‘new political culture’, but since the Coalition in their quest to deliver the 11% Indian votes they first need to inject this amnesiac state into the minds of the Indians, especially those in Berbice.

However, towards the end of the Alliance on the Move programme, Mr Kissoon angrily flung this veneer of intellectualism and attacked a caller in the most disgraceful manner. The caller rebutted what they were saying and this caused Freddie to resort to some Elm Street tactics.

He flew into a tantrum and accused the caller to be a ‘PPP stooge’ and ‘ex-convict’ who was rehabilitated by the PPP to make that phone call. Then he shamelessly mimicked the caller who had begged them not to cut him off. This was so immature and puerile. I simply could

not believe what I was hearing. This man has the audacity to condemn people like Dr Jagdeo, who simply was relating an incident he heard about. This man should be ashamed to show his ‘lovely’ face in Berbice. I have that DVD and I could verify what I am saying.

During that programme, both Ramayya and Bissessar made a mess trying to convince Berbicians that they will not close GuySuCo. Bissessar claimed that GuySuCo needs to diversify into aquaculture and Ramayya maintained that they will not be doing ‘tilapia farming’. Maybe Dr Ramayya does not understand what ‘aquaculture’ is and thought that he was hearing some ‘vulgalarity’. Rajendra please educate your friend! How could you sit there and allow your friend to mispronounce ‘vulgarity’ twice?

HASEEF YUSUF

The PPP/C Manifesto is a window to the future for youths THE PPP/C released a prelude to its manifesto and I must say I am excited and very hopeful for the future with this Government. If there is a true example of a Government listening to its people, it is this manifesto.

The Opposition wants to create the false image that we are not fit to run this country, but by reviewing the language alone in the manifesto, you will see it reflects Guyana in the truest sense for both the present and the future.

I will take the opportunity to capture a few points from the prelude and show what it means for young people from my perspective: - We understand that by simplifying and reviewing the tax system for purpose of reducing the cost of liv-

ing and making it easier for businesses to prosper, we are making a direct positive impact to a young demographic that needs this infrastructure to achieve success. It also shows that by specifically highlighting the need to foster small scale business through a better tax structure, we are in effect helping to start build our future medium and large businesses. And who will be the leaders of these businesses? We, the young people.

- By creating industrial and commercial zones within new and existing settlement areas what would serve as growth poles and provide employment opportunities; again we see here that our (Guyana’s) manifesto is aiming in a direction that has proven successful for the “ti-

ger economies” of Asia and more so in India and China, where these economic zones have multiplied the wealth factor for these countries and raised countless out of poverty into the middle class. The interest of RUSAL, Repsol, ExxonMobile and others are solid proof that multinational corporations have confidence in this Government.

- Pursuing the development of the Deep Water Harbour with the aim of making Guyana a marine hub for South America is nothing short of a visionary stroke of genius that only a competent Government like the PPP/C can bring into reality. The list of benefits for this is too long to mention, but what young people should know is that this initiative would guarantee lower prices for

goods, attract trade partners we have never seen before in Guyana, and we will become more competitive, even more than our Caribbean partners, because we are strategically placed on the South American continent and the bridge is already built connecting Guyana to Brazil.

- We continue our single parent training programme in areas such as dress making, cosmetology, catering, ICT among other things, because the Government targets the development of young women and men with real life skills that will provide an affordable income and lay the foundation to further improve their livelihoods.

This also ties into providing secondary school drop-outs a second chance by imparting skills that will assist national

development and aligned to skills demanded by the labour market.

- We understand that cultural development is a national priority objective by improving existing culture legislation and highlighting the nation’s cultural resources. Culture is our image of who we are and what makes us unique from the rest of the world. This will almost be singlehandedly led by youths, which means the pride of this country is being entrusted to us. Only a party of the future will empower the youths to lead the growth of our culture.

Brothers and sisters, the Opposition has proven to be blind and leaderless. This is shown in their “CURRENT” behaviour of not acknowledging the devel-

opment of Guyana over the past 23 years. It is only a visionless group of people who would say they cannot see development in this country. A true and fair Opposition of Guyana would be smart enough to first acknowledge our growth and then dig very deep to find a way of proving to the people of Guyana that they can do better. And we all know that they cannot, that is why they are not even trying.

Instead they are resorting to false propaganda, race card, gutter politics and character assassination, a clear sign of the travesty they will bring to Guyana if they are elected.

MOVING FORWARD WITH PPP/C!!

MALCOLM WATKINS

The threat to close GuySuCo and sugar must be resoundingly rejected WE will never close the sugar industry in Guyana.

Sugar has been good to Guyana and sugar will still be good to Guyana in the future. I am proud that the PPP/C has been consistent and unambiguous that sugar is a priority for Guyana’s continued growth. Our position is not only that sugar will continue to be a major part of Guyana’s economic and social growth, but will be a leading light in moving Guyana upward towards

high middle income status.

Donald Ramotar and the PPP/C have been clear and resolute that we must invest in the sugar industry, not only for sugar to overcome present local and global challenges, but for sugar to surpass its best previous glory days. In the next five years, we will invest $20B to help GuySuCo in its upward trajectory to greater glory than ever in its history. We will surpass 350,000 tons of sugar, more than 50,000 tons of packaged

specialty sugar, produce more than 100,000 litres of bio-ethanol and more than 20MW of clean bio-energy by 2020.

Any talk of closing GuySuCo and ending Guyana’s production of sugar is irresponsible and demonstrates a startling ignorance of what the sugar industry means to Guyana and the Guyanese people. Such talk ought never to be on the table. There ought to never even be a debate on whether sugar is still relevant in Guyana. I do hope

that the wild talk of closing sugar is just idle talk and my fervent hope is that it is off the table, once and for all.

The vulgar talk of closing sugar was formally started by a former shadow Minister of Agriculture from the PNC. Last year, he repeated the call at a Press Conference hosted

by APNU, the new name under which the PNC hides its identity. At that Press Conference, he called for the closure of sugar and its replacement with tilapia cultivation in the

cane fields. The AFC immediately came out to support this position. In the 2014 National Budget debate, I challenged APNU and AFC to dissociate either or both parties from that statement which was made at an official APNU press conference at its headquarters. No speaker that spoke on behalf of APNU or AFC and who spoke on sugar dissociated themselves or APNU and AFC from that position.

Again a few weeks ago,

almost exactly one year after the APNU Press Conference statement calling on the Government to close sugar, a former PNC Prime Ministerial Candidate called for the closure of the sugar industry and replacing sugar with quinoa cultivation. Again, as the Minister in charge of sugar I called on APNU and AFC to state categorically their position on Mr. Ming’s demand that sugar be closed. Neither parties, nor Turn to page 8 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

Those pseudo-intellectuals among us

By Shaun Michael Samaroo WE want and welcome the talent, ideas, lifeskills and experience that every Guyanese offers, as we push forward to creating the 21st century Guyanese society we all aspire to design.

We want every Guyanese to step forward to make a difference for our nation.

But we harbour among us a group of arrogant, chest-thumping young zealots who claim they are this nation’s intellectual elite, who tout their pseudo-intellectual leanings as the Guyanese intelligentsia, but hardly provide any positive, constructive role for our society.

These folks align themselves with Opposition politics, and denounce Government as dumb and unintelligent.

This group disparages leaders like Queens College scholars, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall.

They use harsh, ugly rhetoric to denounce men like Clinton Urling and Prime Ministerial candidate Elisabeth Harper.

This group appoints itself as the nation’s paragon of virtue and moral living, ignoring their own questionable personal ethics. They bandy around words like accountability, transparency and corruption with little content attached to these terms, propagating meaningless connotation of popular soundbites.

Certain media houses, some with their own personal, subjective axes to grind, use hysterical soundbites from these babblers to distort the image of Guyana.

The Opposition party, Alliance For Change (AFC), culled together quite a few of these myopic minds in its fold. The AFC, maybe in its

drive to attract membership and support, left its ranks opened to any and everybody, and so anybody with disgruntled and discontented feelings against Government gravitated to the party.

These pseudo-intellectuals thus formed a clique within the Party, and took to social media to propagate views and opinions that lack objectivity, rational analysis and objective thinking.

So, with an Opposition party backing them, and with certain media houses lending credibility to them, this group gained a lot of traction, in the process damaging the image of our nation.

The AFC seems not to care who it attracts to its ranks, with any and everybody who shows up at its doors welcomed: the common meeting point seems to be hatred for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), vengeance against certain PPP/C leaders, and revenge for perceived personal wrongs.

This common theme in many folks who turned Opposition against Government seems to be the primary driver in Opposition politics.

Of course, nothing’s wrong with a group of disgruntled souls, touting themselves as the nation’s intellectual elite, taking to social media and Opposition-minded national forums to vent their views: after all, we’re a fully developed democracy, and we encourage diverse opinions and freedom of thought and freedom of expression.

The Guyanese national stage is democratic, free and open.

However, we must be careful that we put things into proper perspective. These pseudo-intellectuals not only label themselves as Guyana’s greatest thinkers today, but they laud themselves as the best and brightest among us. In fact, one

columnist, crass, embarrassing on the national scene, and spewing rotten vengeance and nasty harsh words at anybody taking his fancy, now ranks as a hero among this clique.

We want to encourage and attract young intellectuals to the national conversation, and to cause authentic engagement, rather than groupthink. But such young minds must engage citizens with objective analysis, rational sense and independent thought.

Our nation would only achieve its potential if we tap into the human capital of every Guyanese citizen, including our bright young folks. The inherent intellectual asset resident in the talents, skills, life experiences and knowledge of the Guyanese nation, wrapped up in every Guyanese, is vital to us achieving what’s possible for us.

Every Guyanese plays an important role in developing the Guyanese nation. Our individual human capital adds up to our national human capital.

This idea of our human resource capital is important: it’s the most crucial asset we own as a nation.

But we cannot allow a few vocal, vociferous voices to hijack this capital pool claiming they form the national elite of our human resource capital, and that they know how to think for us, and what they say is absolute gospel.

This group has been operating with immunity, touting themselves as sensible, rational and virtuous. But their constant negativity, unproductive rhetoric and harsh language show them up for their deliberate damaging of the image of Guyana.

People who really care for our nation would not allow their own base emotional reactions to cloud their contribution to the Guyanese social space.

Citizens who really care to play an engaging, constructive role on the national stage would go out of their way to be productive, rational, objective in sharing their views,

The threat to close GuySuCo and sugar must be... their Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates, have dissociated themselves from another reprehensible call to close the sugar industry.

At different places and in different settings, the APNU+AFC Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates say different things. At a luncheon hosted by the Private Sector Commission, Mr. Granger disregarded his party’s official position and stated that sugar was “too big to fail”, a position which the PPP/C has consistently maintained. At the Whim Rally, they re-stated that they would not close sugar. But

the position has been different in Essequibo and Linden and other non-sugar places.

They have never also stated whether they will invest in sugar.

In addition, AFC candidates on the APNU+AFC Lists have given mixed and inconsistent signals on their Berbice TV daily harangue.

This past week, Mr. Bissessar claimed they will develop aquaculture in the cane fields. Veerasammy Ramaya hurriedly cut Bissessar off by saying that did not mean they will cultivate tilapia.

What aquaculture they will practise is left for our imag-

ination. Not to be outdone, Mr. Charandass asked people if their families from America supported them to operate a business, but the business is losing money, would it not be closed. This was another vulgar threat to close the sugar industry.

Why is it that the Opposition cannot be unequivocal on this matter? It is because there is a hidden agenda to close sugar, but they are afraid to say it where sugar workers are. They seem to think they can fool sugar workers, like the AFC did in 2011. When they threatened to block the sugar subsidy in

the 2014 budget, it took the solidarity of sugar workers in protest to scare them.

Shutting down GuySuCo would have a disastrous impact on the economic and social development of Guyana. More than 100,000 people directly depend on GuySuCo. One or more persons in about 20,000 families depend on GuySuCo for employment. Think of when GuySuCo is out of crop and businesses in Regions, 3,4, 5 and 6 complain about slow business. GuySuCo is the major drainage and irrigation provider in our country, not only for sugar, but also other

opinions and ideas with us.

But this pseudo-intellectual group never, ever sees anything positive about Guyana, instead using their vociferous platforms to shout down anybody they don’t agree with, cussing down anybody not lining up with their feelings, and assassinating the character of folks who support the freely and fairly elected Government of this nation.

We want and welcome Guyanese to play a role in our nation, especially our bright young citizens.

Guyanese are enterprising, bright, innovative people. We generate new ideas and innovative solutions as a way of life, as our lifestyle. So we welcome the hand and heart and mind of every single Guyanese in the task of development and propelling us into a classy 21st century society.

But we want such engagements to make a positive, constructive difference, to inspire us and lift us, to motivate us, to cause us to believe in ourselves.

From page 7

agriculture and for residential comfort. GuySuCo provides health care services and still is a major provider of sports facilities in Guyana.

These irresponsible people also do not think about what they plan to do. Do they know that closing sugar will also mean closing down RUM? DDL and DIH depend on molasses for rum production. Where will they obtain this raw material to make their rum? The best rum in the world will also disappear if we close sugar. What about the fledgling manufacturing industry which will need to import sugar? People will

have to pay more for many things – food, pastries, jams, etc. What about everyone else in their homes who will suddenly have to pay more than four times to buy imported sugar for domestic uses?

The PPP/C is clear, in good times and bad, we stand sugar strong. We will never support any move to close sugar. We will invest whatever is necessary to keep sugar strong. For the PPP/C Sugar Strong is not an option; it is an imperative.

DR. LESLIE RAMSAMMY

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

AFC & APNU Economically Anti-National – says Former President Jagdeo

FORMER President Bharrat Jagdeo took the AFC and APNU to task last weekend for their lack of Economic Patriotism and for their yearning for power at any cost. In Toronto for fund-raising with Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali, the former president also met with investors and the business community, followed by a press conference at the Radisson Hotel.

POWER AT ANY COST Jagdeo said that for three years the Opposition AFC and APNU has done nothing but attempt to sabotage progress on projects like Marriott Hotel, the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport without any concern for the impact on ordinary Guyanese working people who would have filled the jobs created.

"They have used their one seat majority in Parliament to stymie development - not to support it." In Ramjattan's thinking and his own words, these people are just collateral damage or casualties in their personal war.

The AFC has broken every promise they made, said Jagdeo. They said they were different; they would not align themselves with either of the two main parties. They've broken that promise without a concern for the people, but only a selfish grasp for a share of any spoils with APNU. They have betrayed the voters who took a chance on them. Can Nagamotoo and Ramjattan be trusted?

This anti-national behaviour has had an impact on the national psyche. Economic pessimism increased in 2014 despite strong economic performance which is the envy of other regional countries.

Confidence in politics and political institutions and satisfaction with how democracy works have declined.

PLAYING THE CORRUPTION CARD The pall on the national psyche is made worse by the wanton and reckless use of the corruption card by the Opposition to confuse issues and as a cover for their obstructive behaviour as they tried to shoot down every undertaking that's in the national interest.

Once these bogus and sensational headlines are placed in the public's minds it takes its toll.

This is not to say that there isn't corruption in the country, said Jagdeo, but the perception is much worse than the reality. Jagdeo’s argument

Minister of Tourism Industry & Commerce Irfaan Ali (left), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and Mr Mani Singh in Toronto, Canada last week

is supported by the LAPOP (Latin American Public Opinion Project) which measures the actual situation as opposed to the perceived situation.

The acting US Ambassador and Vanderbilt University officials called on President Ramotar weeks ago to present and discuss the revealing findings of their scientifically rigorous, well documented work, which took them out into the field to collect data from a cross section of Guyanese.

Their research concluded that the actual experience of corruption is much lower than the perception of corruption.

What's more the level of corruption has been on a downward trajectory. This is not cause to be complacent, but it reveals the enormous difference between the destructive politically inspired rhetoric and the actual situation. There is lots of room for improvement, but a far cry from the perceived levels hammered into the Guyanese psyche.

Furthermore three areas accounted for more than 80% of corruption: the municipality, courts and police. This is the first in this kind of study which, unlike the work of Transparency International, has focused on actual occurrence rather than perception.

"Do I still think there's a big problem?" said Jagdeo, "I think so. I think there's still a big need to address, wherever there exist, crime and corruption. "But I urge people to go on the Internet and read the LAPOP report for themselves.

We ourselves were surprised to learn that the study further found that, in terms of actual experience, Guyana has one of the lowest actual crime rates in the Region."

PNC FAILED ECONOMICS The APNU-AFC has no viable economic programmes and policies. In the same ilk of their current anti-nation behaviour in their Opposition role, dampening progress

and casting gloom over the nation’s psyche, the APNU/ PNC record when they formed the Government was abysmal. Under the hand of then Finance Minister Carl Greenidge, Guyana became the economic laughing stockof the Region, vying with Haiti to be the poorest country in the world.

It is no wonder that Granger seeks to distance himself from the name and legacy of the PNC by renaming the party APNU. The problem is they have not refreshed their line-up. It's the same crew of failed power-driven actors waiting to take the country back to ruin again.

The PPC/C Government laboured for ten years to restore the macro- economic structures that the APNU/ PNC had destroyed. Despite their best efforts to sabotage the recovery, Guyana is once again poised to take its rightful role as one of the Region's leading economies.

CHALLENGE Dr. Jagdeo said that it is time the Opposition face the people directly in a public forum such as maybe a series of say 3 debates on the issues.

"The country has moved into a new age, young people, which the future of this county is about, have embraced the new technologies... we of the PPP are willing to have our team debate the Opposition before Guyanese voters at any time on corruption, ethics, economics or their vision for the country if they have one ."

Jagdeo said that Granger has to account for his record if he wants to be president. Four hundred weapons were given to the PNC when Granger was commanding the army.

Some of those weapons found themselves into the hands of criminals that the police encountered in the 2004 crime wave. One hundred and fifty-

LAPOP Report on Crime in Guyana

LAPOP Report on Corruption in Guyana

five of the weapons are still unaccounted for. Granger refuses to account for them.

Even more glaring Jagdeo said, is Granger's claims that there were no rigged elections under the PNC/R - even PNC/R supporters acknowledge this. "Granger is either dishonest or delusional. Every website, including declassified CIA documents, the British secret service and other historic documents attest to the fact that elections were rigged. A person who can't be honest enough to admit this... you have to be fearful of such a person getting back into Government."

APPEAL TO YOUNG VOTERS Reaching out to young

voters, the former president said this is the most pivotal election since 1964. "Young people need to be aware of their history. Why this is especially important is that it is the same slate of old thinkers that took the country into ruin who is now trying to resurrect themselves and grab power again, with no vision of how to take the country and its people forward."

COMPARE AND CONTRAST Jagdeo encouraged Guyanese to compare and contrast. Compare the Opposition's list of recycles bereft of any new ideas to the PPP/C Government's list with 25 to 30 new young capable professionals.

Compare Nagamotoo to Harper. Then again that may be unfair. Nagamotoo is not in the same league as Harper.

Compare President Ramotar who has spent his life in public service trying to better the lot of all ethnicities, the underprivileged and Guyanese of all religious backgrounds; to an apparently amnesic ex-brigadier who was commander of the army when Dr. Walter Rodney was assassinated, who refused to go before the international commission investigating Rodney's death, and who says there was no vote rigging in Guyana when the whole world, including declassified CIA documents, acknowledge this was so.

10

BOND AT APNU+AFC YOUTH RALLY:

'Anytime your child tells you they not voting, kick them out!'

…but President says remark smacks of intimidation

President Donald Ramotar

James Bond

A PARTNERSHIP for National Unity’s (APNU’s) youth member, James Bond declared at an APNU+AFC Youth Rally that parents should “kick out” their children from their houses if they refuse to vote at the upcoming May 11 polls; but President Ramotar told Linden residents on Sunday that that remark belies intimidation.

Speaking at a rally organised by Youths for David Granger (YDG) last Friday evening, Bond urged parents to “kick out” their children from their homes if those children should exercise their democratic right of refusing to vote at the upcoming May 11 Elections.

That youth rally was held at the busy corner of John and Hadfield Streets, near the popular Fish Shop’, and it attracted a few thousand persons, particularly youths who were eager to hear from the youth representatives of A Partnership for National Unity + the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition.

Following a series of redundant expressions by various youth representatives, Bond, an attorney-at-law, took to the microphone and underscored the importance of youths in the electoral process of Guyana.

He commenced his fiery speech by declaring statistical data from the compilation of a census, and he 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 his speech progressed, Bond, in the midst of underscoring the need to vote, urged parents: “You mothers and fathers, anytime your child tells you they not voting, kick them out! Put them out the blasted house!”

The young attorney added: “Don’t put them out on the landing or the step or the gate; kick them right out the house!”

Reiterating his call, Bond declared: “If you got a son or a daughter under your roof and they say they are not voting, you kick

them out!

“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 forty thousand and fifty thousand and you don’t have ID card, shame on you!

And you want to tell your parents and your friends ‘I ain’t voting’; parents, kick them out!” the former MP repeated.

According to Article 59 of the Constitution of Guyana, while it is one’s democratic right to vote should they qualify, it is not compulsory for one to vote if they refuse to. This means that the democratic right is also extended to non-voters, since there is no penalty for non-voting.

Article 59 of the Constitution states: “Subject to the provisions of Aarticle 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.”

This call by Bond was then echoed by the main speaker of the night, Mr. Christopher Jones of the APNU faction, who, while referring to Bond’s earlier remark, said: “kick them out” should they (the youths) refuse to vote.

But this remark was not well received by Head of State, President Donald Ramotar, who, at a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) rally in the mining town of Linden on Sunday last, declared that the remark by Bond not only undermines the democratic right of a person who refuses to vote, but also undermines freedom of choice – a right which was granted under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The President posited that this remark, emanating from a young leader, was aimed at intimidation in the face of General and Regional Elections.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

PPP/C reflects high success, consistent progress – Sixtus Edwards

By Navendra Seoraj “THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration reflects a high success and consist progress agenda for Guyana’s future, as the Government’s development agenda has been transformative in nature, moving the economy from being a basket case to one of consistent robust growth and physical efficiency, from a high indebted country to a middle income country status.”

Those were the words of a new comer to the PPP/C Administration, formerly an Executive member of the Alliance For Change, Sixtus Edwards during a PPP/C press conference last Friday.

When asked why he chose the PPP/C Edwards disclosed that “the record of the PPP/C in governance is transparent and reflects different commitments to the national goal and welfare of this country.

He added the PPP/C has been an attractive and progressive political movement, with a welcoming appeal to Guyanese of every strata, race, creed and society.

“Because of this Administration, Guyana has been rated by some of the

PPP/C new comer, Sixtus Edwards during the press conference last Friday

leading financial institutions and respected leaders of the world, who have classed Guyana as a shining star in the Region, with attractive distinctions for business and investments,” said the PPP/C new comer.

GOVERNMENT ADVANCEMENTS Apart from that, Edwards also highlighted some of the advancements by the Government, noting that they have been facilitating equitable income and social empowerment for all Guyanese

through their social sector.

Some of the Government’s advancements which he highlighted include the national housing drive which has seen the development of dozens of new housing schemes, and communities, allowing more than 90,000 Guyanese to have their own house lots and even homes.

He also underscored that water and electricity is now available in the country-as under the PPP/C Administration Guyana has also achieved universal health care and primary education.

Meanwhile, the Government is working currently on building a knowledge-based society through its Information Technology and Communication (ICT) programmes, some of which include the One Laptop Per Family Programme (OLPF) and the fibre optic internal connectivity initiative that will benefit all Guyanese.

In closing he urged the young Guyanese to throw their support behind the PPP/C as they strive for a better Guyana, under the leadership of H.E. Donald Ramotar.

Granger joins GDF vets for church service ahead of elections

Opposition Leader Brigadier (rtd) David Granger with members of the Guyana Legion

LEADER and Presidential Candidate of the coalesced A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC), Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, on Sunday last, attended a commemorative church service marking the one-year anniversary of the merger

of the Guyana Legion and Ex-GDF Association into the Guyana Veteran’s Legion.

The service was held at St. Sidwell’s Anglican Church in the Georgetown ward of Lodge, and honoured the commitment and contribution of fallen and retired soldiers.

Among its primary objectives, the Guyana Veteran’s Legion aims to “promote and maintain harmony among Guyana’s past and present veterans and to discuss social development and the preservation of the cultural heritage for veterans.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

Marriott Hotel ribbon... action that saw financing being held up and NICIL having to rescue the project.

According to Brassington, as the opening of the internationally branded hotel draws nears, AHI has set the record straight too on NICIL’s involvement in the project, contrary to numerous inaccurate, erroneous and sometimes fabricated reports in the media and irresponsible assertions made by Opposition politicians.

GUYANESE DREAM In fact, Brassington, in setting the record straight, is of the opinion that had NICIL not played the role it did in crafting and marketing an investor friendly package during a time of a global financial crisis, the Marriott Hotel, as it stands in Kingston, Georgetown, ready to open its doors, “would have still been a Guyanese dream.” All the processes for attracting investors, selecting the contractor, selecting the supervision firm were all conducted in an open and transparent manner.

Construction of the hotel started in earnest in early 2012 following the sod turning ceremony in November 2011, but ever since 2009, AHI had been actively looking for partners locally and internationally interested in entering into a public private partnership to develop the hotel.

This invitation was published at least a dozen times but there were no takers from locals, including the owner of the nearby Pegasus Hotel, Robert Badal, who after years of criticising the project is now looking to buy into the project.

However, even if Mr. Badal had the funds, he would have to be approved by Government, Marriott and Republic Bank and would need to prove that he is fit and proper and that any ownership interest would not be harmful to the parties.

Given the recent attacks, including his recent attack on Marriott, and the many court matters with NICIL over Mr. Badal improper shareholder actions, such an approval would be unlikely.

By 2010, the following year, AHI also caused to be published numerous invitations locally and internationally for contractors to

submit their proposals to be pre-qualified. These were again repeated in 2012.

FEASIBILITY STUDIES As is appreciated by most if not all in the field of business, before venturing into such a large scale project, a study of the various market forces at work needs to be undertaken in order to determine the feasibility of the endeavour.

Such feasibility studies generally contain confidential information a client would not want shared with the public, especially its commercial competitors.

Despite this knowledge, the naysayers continued to peddle the assertion that there were no such studies undertaken, when in fact in 2010, Marriott International Inc, and

by HVS Valuation and Consultancy did two such studies.

All parliamentarians had been made aware of these facts, and it was indicated in March 2012 that “these documents are confidential at this time; however the Government is willing to have a closed door presentation that will allow certain details of these documents to be made available under the condition of utmost confidentiality and discussed with key Opposition members without these documents being made public.”

The Parliament was however supplied with a full answer to all of its questions and given copies of all major contracts including the SCG contract, the lease, and the tax agreements.

The Opposition never accepted the offer for a closed door presentation. However, in 2013, extracts of an updated study conducted by HVS Valuation and Consultancy were placed in the public domain at a public press conference. This, however, did little to stop the onslaught of criticisms and subsequent court action against the hotel’s lease and financing.

SHANGHAI CONSTRUCTION GROUP Having determined, that the project was feasible AHI, continued in its pursuit of a qualified contractor that would be able to meet the standards as required by Marriott International and also

build the project within budget.

Twenty-three firms expressed a formal interest in being shortlisted to be considered for the construction of the Hotel and Entertainment Complex and after an evaluation, seven firms were shortlisted and invited on January 23, 2011 to bid for the project. Tenders for the construction of the Hotel, Casino and Entertainment Complex were closed on May 3, 2011 and submissions were publicly opened at NICIL’s office in the presence of a representative from the Guyana Audit Office.

Bidders were given the option of bidding on a design already conceptualised or to submit an alternative design that will meet the Marriott standards, AHI’s requirements and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Two proposals were received both offering the option of an alternate proposal. According to Brassington, SCG submitted an alternative design proposal during the tender process which was considered to be more cost effective while guaranteeing that its design would be in accordance with Marriott International Hotel Design Standards.

This conceptual design was accepted by Marriott International as the look of its Guyana flagship hotel which is now being open this week.

SUPERVISION Even as AHI pursued a qualified contractor to build the hotel, the company was also actively seeking a reputable company to supervise the construction of the project. Requests for proposals for construction supervision for the Marriott Hotel were publicly advertised and two proposals received.

M.A. Angeliades Inc submitted a bid of US$1,068,000 and secured the contract with the other bid coming from CEMCO Consultants Inc at US$1,614,000.

According to Brassington, “AHI contracted M.A. Angeliades of New York to supervise the construction of the project based on price and experience with constructing hotels both in the USA and within the Caribbean.”

FINANCING But while things seem to be coming together for the project, the international financial crisis that had devastated economies of scale across the world, the Opposition onslaught to stop the project, the attacks from the owners of the Pegasus, legal actions, Parliamentary action, and increasing risk in Guyana in light of its failure to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, were all taking its toll on the project. Reeling against a relentless Opposition posturing that made securing a private investor, a most difficult undertaking, even Republic Bank which already had expressions of interest in 2011, began to find investors backing away.

NICIL/AHI, according to Brassington, structured an attractive public private partnership arrangement to pursue a project that was ultimately determined to cost about US$58M to construct and bring into operation.

The unique financing structure saw that no tax paying dollars were being put into the project, an incorrect assertion that has continuously been peddled over the years.

Under the financing arrangement for the project, the Marriott Hotel would be built using a debt and equity structure, which simply means some of the money will come from an actual investment of private capital and the remainder of the money would be borrowed. The private investors will in the end own 100 per cent of the equity of the AHI, which in turn would own 100 per cent of the debt which would be borrowed and have to be repaid. The total equity of the Marriott Hotel is US$12M while the total debt was projected at about US$46M. NICIL agreed to invest US$4M to own 33 per cent of the shares of AHI, while an international private investor agreed to invest the remaining US$8M of the hotel’s equity and would inherently own 67 per cent ownership of AHI. NICIL as an investor of US$4M and the confidential Private Investor with his investment of US$8M would together own 100 per cent shares of AHI, and the company would be responsible for the repayments of all the

debts.

NICIL loaned the project US$15.4M and AHI approached Republic Bank Trinidad to syndicate the (US$27M) that needed to be borrowed. According to Brassington, this information has been in the public domain for a number of years and has consistently been twisted in order to peddle inaccurate assertions against the project.

Brassington observed too that critics continuously lamented that a private investor is being cajoled to invest US$8M to own 67 per cent of a US$58M hotel, “a complete fabrication…the furthest thing from the truth that can be substantiated with the plethora of evidence in the public domain.

The private investor would only own 67% of the equity of 12 M; the rest of the financing would be owed to the bank, who would hold a debenture and mortgage securing themselves ahead of the equity investors.

ACE SQUARE INVESTMENT Early last year, the announcement came: the COMPLETION of the financial arrangements by Republic Bank for the US$27M Syndicated Loan and British Virgin Island (BVI) registered, ACE Square Investments Ltd. ACE Square Investments Ltd. will acquire 67 per cent of the equity of AHI for US$8M. The continued effort to stop the project, led to court action by A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Desmond Trotman. The litigation by Trotman inherently delayed completion of the financing of the project, according to Brassington, who said that despite this, the principals continued to pursue the realisation of the investment, for an internationally branded Marriott Hotel, Casino and Entertainment Complex, once the legal matters were discharged.

As part of the arrangement with Republic Bank, Trotman firstly challenged the lease between NICIL and AHI for the land on which the property sits. NICIL had initially leased the land to AHI with an option to buy it for US$1M as long as there is a significant amount of the proposed infrastructure in place.

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From page 3

Overcoming the Opposition Parliamentarian, saw AHI having to, at the earliest possible time - opting to buy the property outright which would render the litigation against a lease ‘null.’ This, however, did not stop the Opposition parliamentarian, who not satisfied that his attempt to thwart the project did not succeed, moved to the Court a second time leading to the delay of the disbursement of several million dollars committed by Republic Bank, critical to the project.

COURT ACTION The syndicated US$27M loan for the project is being secured through a debenture and a mortgage, since the northernmost plot of the Kingston property is still leased while the other swathe of land on which the building sits, had to be purchased

by AHI. This predicament, according to Brassington, led to the use of the financial facilities of both a mortgage and debenture to secure the USS$27M syndicated by Republic Bank. The litigation by Trotman has currently held up more than US$11.7M of the syndicated loan; some of the other investors have proceeded to lend ahead of the discharge of the Opposition to the mortgage.

But the maneuverings on the part of Trotman and the political Opposition have not only delayed the full disbursement of the Republic Bank Syndicated Loan but also caused the Private Equity Investor, ACE Square Investment Inc’s, transfer of US$8M to the project to also be halted.

This situation, led to NICIL, which is already a US$4M equity partner in the project having to advance US$16M, to the project, to ensure the completion of the hotel, now set to open its doors on Thursday - all in face of the chronicled plethora of attacks against the project.

The Marriott Hotel will be officially declared open

by Head of State, Donald Ramotar at a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion with Marriott executives. Already many, including the Private Sector Commission, are raving about the impressiveness of the property and the project.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

LUNCHEON TO APNU+AFC…

Guyanese will not be ‘tricked’ into ‘slavish devotion’

By Vanessa Narine

IN WHAT was one of the most responsive People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) public meetings last evening, supporters of the ruling party and the political Opposition were vociferous in expressions of support at the corner of Alexander and William Streets, Kitty.

And party stalwart, Dr. Roger Luncheon tailored his message for both groups, even as supporters of the alliance of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) paraded the corner with APNU flags and PPP/C supporters countered with rebuffs of their own and cheers of endorsement.

Dr. Luncheon’s quintessential undertaking was to highlight that “fewer people” are being tricked into “slavish” devotion, by a political Opposition that advances a notion that they have a “transport” of the votes of sections of the Guyanese population.

“Fewer and fewer people are being tricked by this nonsense of slavish devotion… the Guyanese people have demonstrated that the future belongs to the PPP/C, they

tics (of progress) are there… we could have done more if the Opposition had worked with us….we can do better once we have the chance… this bunch of miscreants, anti-democratic, dictatorial APNU+AFC is the biggest threat we have today,” he said.

A fired up PPP/C stalwart, Dr. Roger Luncheon at last evening’s public meeting at Kitty (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

said it in 2001, in 2006 and again in 2011,” he said.

A RECORD PAST DENIAL Dr. Luncheon added, “This alternative that APNU+AFC is trying to foist on us is nothing but trickery, mockery…they cannot deliver the goods. They have no right in the ring…no right to challenge the PPP/C Administration to govern this country…no one can challenge this party on its record, it is a record past denial,” he said.

Dr. Luncheon was emphatic in underscoring the

fact that the PPP/C is the only national unity that has advanced development that benefits all Guyanese – equitable development.

He stressed that the vision of the PPP/C is a clear one that advances a Guyana that Guyanese deserve and want – a stronger economy, better health care and education, encouragement of investments, as well as advances in the social and other sectors – all with an interest of improving the lives of the Guyanese people.

“It cannot be denied, the proof is there and the statis-

FIGHTING FOR OUR SUCCESS According to him, the fight of APNU+AFC is for what has been accomplished by the PPP/C – the successful restoration since 1992.

“As they feast their eyes all they can think about is putting their filthy paws on Guyana. How often are we, Guyanese, are we going to allow these make-believe to take charge and destroy and then hand over and tell the PPP/C come restore…they mash up, they bruk up and then we restore. We must never allow this to happen again.”

Dr. Luncheon, a Kitty resident, noted that the history of APNU+AFC is revealing.

He said, “We cannot escape a consideration of the past. The old people say when you forget the past, you may have to repeat it… the past of Guyana under the PNC is a nightmare that none

of us wants to have fall on another generation of Guyanese. It has happened and we cannot deny that. What we can do is ensure that it never happens again. “…their history is all about intimidation and bullyism taken to the extreme… you have no reason to believe this has changed. The very same people who practice that intimidation, that bullyism and attack on democracy are here today, saying they have unity at heart.”

According to him, the 28 years had to be recovered, corrected and changed by the PPP/C Administration. “We had to recover this country from 28 years of destruction…they did not uphold the promise of a future,” he stressed.

He referred to the former finance minister, Carl Greenidge, and the dismal state of Guyana’s economy under the PNC administration.

“He left this country without hope,” Dr. Luncheon.

INTELLIGENGE OF GUYANESE PEOPLE On that note, he stressed that the intelligence of the Guyanese people cannot be insulted and the actions of the for-

mer PNC Administration, not the majority partner of APNU+AFC, cannot be ignored and allowed to pass without impunity.

“What we lost in those 28 years (of PNC rule) was a whole generation…we have to put APNU+AFC in their place, not in front, but behind us,” he stressed.

D r. L u n c h e o n n o t e d that the notion of power “corrupted” the former administration, a dilemma that has seeped into the APNU+AFC alliance.

The track record of the PPP/C, however, according to him, speaks for itself.

“Where we are in 2015 tells you what we have been able to do…tens of thousands of Guyanese are energised by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic message…in every part of Guyana we are taking our message…it is a message that resonates and one that people can relate to,” he declared.

I n a d d i t i o n t o D r.

Luncheon, three other speakers took the platform, last evening, to stress the PPP/C’s calls – vote for a stable and secure Guyana on May 11 by supporting the ruling party.

Dr. Jagan was a leader of extraordinary quality – Dr. Ralph Gonsalves

By Tajeram Mohabir ST. VINCENT and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, said last evening that former President and founder member of the People’s Progressive Party, the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, was a leader of extraordinary quality.

Delivering the Cheddi Jagan Annual Lecture entitled “Cheddi Jagan: His Nationalism, His Regionalism and His Internationalism”, Dr. Gonsalves said Dr. Jagan’s intellect, honesty, decency, humanity, charisma and commitment in improving the lot of the poor and the working class sets him as a brightness that sparkled and illuminated.

“It was never a brightness which blinds,” he said, alluding to the late leader’s ability

to reach out and connect with people from all strata of society.

Describing Dr. Jagan’s contribution to Guyana and the Caribbean as immense, the Vincentian Prime Minister told his audience at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, that leadership is always a complex business, and Dr. Jagan was a man with rare value.

Dr. Jagan’s essence as a leader was to draw out of those whom he led a goodness and nobility which often times, they did not know that they possessed.

Dr. Gonsalves, who told the gathering that the former President was his friend, comrade and mentor, said the distinguished leader had an instinctive capacity to assess the strengths and weaknesses in people.

“His leadership task was centred on enhancing the strengths and possibilities, and reducing as far as practicable the weaknesses and limitations, even to transform these weaknesses and limitations into strengths and possibilities.”

The Prime Minister, who is serving a third term in office, made it clear that his address on the occasion is in no way a support to the ruling party in light of the upcoming elections, but rather he is proud to address the occasion to commemorate the life and work of Dr. Jagan.

GENUFLECTION And on this point, he praised the PPP/C for keeping the legacy of Dr. Jagan alive, saying that many distinguished persons in several Caribbean countries are today treated as objects of genuflection rather than admiration and genuine love.

“Some of these leaders are treated as veritable deranged uncles… of the very house of luxury which many ungrateful successors have inherited. Often second and third generation successors in politics, state bureaucracy and the private sector, whose elevation are a direct or indirect consequence of the opportunity created by the former leaders.

These new arrivants, with such ingratitude, invariable put themselves on an ignobly part of opportunism in the service of a beguiling new colonialism. In time, they will learn the errors of their ways. If they do not, the people will teach them an unforgettable lesson that ingratitude is worse than witchcraft.”

He said Dr. Jagan’s optimism of a better life for the people of Guyana and the Caribbean stemmed not from the sense of the possibilities of divinely prescribed redemption,

Prime Minsister Ralph Gonsalves addresses the audience at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre

but from the progressive uplift of people ultimately through struggle, both individually and collectively.

Dr. Gonsalves also acknowledged that the late leader was not without his critics, but many were not fit to wash his feet.

“Cheddi was a finished civilised personality, absolutely devoid of racial colour

prejudice. He was anti-racist to the core and called for racial and working people unity and national unity,” he said.

But noted that Dr. Jagan never ignored the existence of racial sentiments in society, but was skillful and sharp enough to put it in the context in which it emerged.

He explained that the founding PPP/C Leader knew that racial division of labour gave rise to racial hostility.

However, the hostility was between the Africans and Whites, not Africans and Indians, but it started after the Indians began to climb out of their logie environment and compete at the middle class level for jobs and positions.

The racial conflict, he said Dr. Jagan knew and greatly expounded, had its roots in the economics of labour, which was firmly established and supported by the colonial authorities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

Better management could advance aquaculture industry – Dr. Chin – calls for private-public partnership

By Tajeram Mohabir CHAIRMAN of the National Aquaculture Association of Guyana, Dr. Leslie Chin said efforts are being stepped up to enable the aquaculture industry to realise its full potential.

Aquaculture about a decade ago was touted as a new emerging industry, enjoying the full support of the Government with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

But poor management and internal wrangling prevented the industry from taking off, but it has not fizzled out. Currently, there are about 12 significant players in the industry who combined operate an area of about 3,000 hectares.

Dr. Chin said with better management and support, the industry can regain momentum and become a force to be reckoned with.

He said focus will be placed on rearing tambaqui, also known in Guyana as fresh water pacu, which is accepted in European markets and less attention will be given to tilapia, as the market for this fish is very competitive.

Guyana is blessed with an abundance of land, water and an ideal climate for aquaculture, and according to Dr. Chin, if rearing of these two species is successful, attention will be expanded to include shrimp and crayfish.

FAST GROWING SUB-SECTOR Today, aquaculture is the fastest growing sub-sector in agriculture, and aside from tourism, it is the second fastest growing sector globally.

More than 50 per

Dr. Leslie Chin

cent of all fish consumed worldwide come from artificial ponds on land and marine cages, compared to some 7 per cent 45 years ago.

According to Dr. Chin, some Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) experts have unofficially estimated that in the next

UK AID came on board, and is probably still on board with some remaining in the industry.

It was related that the funding was being administered by Carana Corporation, a US consultancy firm active in the promotion of aquaculture, birding and fishing tourism, drip irrigation and shade house technology.

Some of those still in the industry, Dr. Chin told the Guyana Chronicle, are producing for export, pointing out that at the time the industry was vigorous and strong emphasis was placed on sustainability.

But good practices were not heeded, contributing to a lack of sustained

Attention will be placed on tambaqui, which has a ready market in Europe

50 years, some 99 per cent of all fish consumed will come from aquaculture.

But attention to ensure further growth in the industry would not be a ‘walk in the park’. Years ago when the industry was fervently promoted, it was receiving funding from USAID. That organisation is no longer funding the project, and has since centralised its operation in the Eastern Caribbean, moving from Georgetown to Bridgetown, Barbados.

But funding, he said has not dried up, pointing out that when the USAID funding came to an end,

growth in the sub-sector.

RICE-FISH CULTURE The rice-fish culture (the rearing of fish in rice fields) was also actively promoted but flopped, due to poor attention by farmers. The practice was intended to serve a value-added for small scale farmers to supplement their income.

Dr. Chin, who is currently Chairman of Sterling Products Limited, said in theory, the idea is good, and the returns are there, but it boils down to commitment from farmers to make it work.

“It requires attention,”

Aquaculture ponds at the Satayadeo Sawh Aquaculture Station at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara

he said, pointing out that a rice farmer plows his field, throws the seeds and waits after three months for harvesting, but if he is involved in the rice-fish farming, it will be mandatory that he attends his field every day.

He said for the practice to gain traction, it would probably require the involvement of many farmers at the community level.

This, he said, would perhaps create a culture which can grow, develop and become ingrained in farmers, much in the same way as how rice cultivation practices have been embedded in rice farmers.

Dr. Chin, a seasoned private and public sector manager, also said that the New Guyana Marketing Corporation and the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) can play a helpful role in this process.

He said generally speaking, it will be helpful if these two organisations study the cost structure of the industry, pointing out that such an undertaking will enable them to know where to intervene and offer critical support.

Much like rice, he said, critical support has to be given in research, extension and funding from the banks.

The banks, Dr. Chin added, will be least inclined to fund an aquaculture operation here because there are not many

outstanding aquaculture businesses.

But, he said, this can change with the Government assuming a role as an active facilitator in promoting the industry.

CRITICISM On this note, he said he admires the business models instituted by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) under its Executive Director Winston Brassington.

Brassington, he pointed out, has developed models of Private Public Partnership, where Government has taken the lead in major projects before handing them over to private operators. Two such projects are the Berbice River Bridge and the Marriott International Hotel.

However, Brassington and the Government have been criticised for their efforts in this regard.

But Dr. Chin said while the models are not perfect, they can be replicated for similar operations in aquaculture.

He emphasised that there must be genuine dialogue, pointing out that many local entrepreneurs have the drive and interest to get into the business, but they would want to see a demonstration effect.

Dr. Chin said with close support given to farmers, along with assistance in helping them to locate markets for their produce, the industry can become the leading eco-

nomic sector in Guyana.

The Ministry of Agriculture says the fishing industry continues to grow in economic importance in Guyana. This industry employs around 6,500 people in harvesting and a further 6,000 people in processing, with many more benefiting indirectly through fishing related industries such as boat building and gear supply and repair.

CHEAP ANIMAL PROTEIN It provides a source of relatively cheap animal protein (estimated per capita annual consumption of fish was 54kg in 2003), among the highest per capita consumption of fish and fish products within the Caribbean Region.

Aquaculture production occupies about 3,000 hectares of aquaculture space around the country.

For 2013 alone, the Satayadeo Sawh Aquaculture Station at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara produced in excess of 93,180, fingerlings compared to 20, 000 in 2008; 85,872 for 2009 and 74, 950 in 2010, 86,689 in 2011 and 81,000 in 2012, which has been distributed to farmers countrywide.

The Ministry of Agriculture, in its National Strategy for Agriculture in the Guyana 2013-2012 plan, said the aquaculture sector will continue to be given prominence in its agriculture diversification drive.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

BACK TO SCHOOL

AFTER enjoying a two-week Easter vacation, students yesterday headed back to school to complete the last term of the school year before progressing to a higher grade/class.

And they turned out in their numbers to begin this final term. Here are some glimpses of the students as, refreshed, they headed back to their respective classrooms to complete their academic training that has such a decisive bearing on their respective future:(Navendra Seoraj)

Parents on the move again

Even the elderly are back out to continue their daily routine of ensuring the safety of the child/children in their care

The little ones await transportation after enjoying a wonderful first day at school

Students of the North Georgetown Secondary and St. Joseph High Schools heading home after completing the first day of school (Photo by Samuel Maughn)

Alleged murderer ‘Chetty’ was a ‘limer’ – says vulcanizing shop proprietor

By George Barclay PRESIDING judge in the vulcanizing shop murder trial, Justice Roxanne George heard yesterday that “Chetty”, the alleged murderer of Roger Edwards, was a ‘limer’ and not a ‘worker’ at the shop.

This information was disclosed yesterday by Claimant Greenidge, the owner of the vulcanizing shop and cafeteria, Tucville Squatting area, where Edwards met his death on 15th February, 2013 Greenidge who is a witness for the prosecution was quick to point out that the accused was not a worker at the vulcanizing

shop as many thought, but a ‘limer’ who would come around to lime and watch TV. According to Greenidge, earlier that morning the accused Donald Mopp, 74, and Edwards, 34, now deceased, were hurling abusive remarks against each other.

During the busing, Edwards referred to Mopp as an old ‘anti-man’ (homosexual) while Mopp referred to Edwards as a ‘faggot’ (disparaging term for a gay man) who wears his pants in a low position to expose his underwear.

At one stage in the row ‘Chetty’ hired a taxi and went away.

And according to Greenidge, he returned later and took a seat on a chair some distance away from where Edwards was

standing.

Seconds later Mopp went up to Edwards and grabbed him from the back and both of them fell to the ground.

Greenidge said that Edwards attempted to get up but slumped back to the ground and at the same time he said that Mopp had bored him.

Edwards was taken to hospital where he later died.

Chetty was subsequently charged with murder. At his trial he pleaded not guilty and is being represented by Attorney-at-law, Miss Deborah Kumar.

Miss Stacy Goodings, state counsel, is prosecuting. The trial is continuing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

Cancer Institute urges public to continue screening

By Shivanie Sugrim

THE Cancer Institute of Guyana is urging the public to continue screening for cancer cells given that recent statistics have indicated that Guyana has the third highest rate of cervical cancer in the Western hemisphere.

Dr. Raveendranath, Medical Director of the Cancer Institute, in an exclusive interview with this publication, disclosed that thus far the institute has documented a high increase of several kinds of cancer - breast, cervix, prostrate, lung and bladder among several others.

In that light, numerous enactments have been undertaken to combat the statistics new cancer specialists along with firsthand apparatuses and advanced treatments.

“Given that the institution is equipped with advanced treatments and new equipment, I’d like to urge everyone, especially the women in Guyana, to continue screening for cancer cells so that we can be able to assist,” said Dr. Raveendranath.

Added to its list of specialists is Dr. Sayan Chakraborty, the institute’s new radiation oncologist who, Dr. Raveendranath noted, has been quite a development for the

Left: Medical Director of the Cancer Institute of Guyana, Dr. Raveendranath along with Radiation Oncologist at the Cancer Institute, Dr. Sayan Chakraborty institute given that the public response has improved.

Additionally, the institution has been collaborating with the Ministry of Health along with the Australian Cancer Foundation and other organisations to stem the plague of cancer in Guyana.

Since its establishment in 2003, the institute has been effective in performing its desired functions such as cancer awareness information, screening and consultations.

Subsequently, Dr. Raveendranath said, the response from the public has heightened leading to the expansion of the institute.

PREVALENCE OF CERVICAL CANCER In brief remarks, Dr. Sayan noted that the prevalence of cervical cancer in Guyana is high and most cases are in their advance stage as such the institution is diligently working to combat this outburst with its treatment and available resources.

During the period of 2004-2011 more than 3400 persons died from different kinds of cancer, the largest being 621 in 2011.

Afro-Guyanese account for over 65 percent of prostate cancer while on the other hand; Indo-Guyanese women hold 45 percent of breast cancer cases. Screening should be done every two years for women who either are or were sexually active since they stand a higher risk of attaining cervical cancer among other cancers.

The Health Vision 2020 Strategy spearheaded by the Ministry of Health, caters for Non- Communicable Diseases (NCDs), and has been performing visual inspection using acetic acid (VIA) screening for cervical cancer. On the other hand, the Cancer Institute of Guyana has been functional in screening for cancer cells by performing pap smears and continues to provide treatment and guidance for persons.

EYDG celebrates second anniversary - executes two commemorative projects

By Navendra Seoraj IN observing the second anniversary of the Enterprise Youth Development group (EYDG), it has decided to execute two projects in one week, a football camp and the

donation of pampers to elderly.

According to the President of the EYDG, Samantha Sheoprashad the first activity was held under the sports leader of the group, Mr. Travayne Sheoprashad, who along with the Sports

Members of the football team pose for a photo

Member of the EYDG could be seen donating pampers to the elderly

Unit executed their first ever sporting activity “A Football Camp” which was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

The football camp involved intense training of football routines which would equip players with necessary skills required for the game.

Sheoprashad stated that as a result of the training, the young players are expected to represent their team “Net Rockers” in competitions in the near future, as the training was done to empower and encourage the interested youths to push for their dreams in playing the sport.

“This training was conducted by Mr. Mark Bradford who continuously professed the importance of discipline and focus when playing the sport,” she said.

Meanwhile, the second activity held under the group’s health leader Ms. Surbrena Latchman, donated pampers to elderly and bedridden folks in the village of Enterprise.

This marked their second distribution to persons in the village, as the project was well conducted by mostly females who went around the village to distribute these pampers.

“The project was focused mainly to give young people a chance to exercise

ample amount of leadership within this organisation hence giving back to their community in many spectrums” said President of EYDG, Ms. Samantha Sheoprashad.

In conclusion the EYDG wished to thank all those who supported them in making these projects successful, most importantly for all the support they have gotten in order to survive for two years. The above projects were made possible by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Boodram’s Bakery, Angdeshwar Rickheeram of New York and Aunty Raj of Enterprise.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

BODY OF NUDE TEENAGER FOUND AT WCD FORESHORE…

Post mortem inconclusive – boyfriends remain in custody

By Leroy Smith A POST-MORTEM conducted on the remains of 17-year-old, Davkumari Ramadar of Lot 59 Bella Dam, West Bank Demerara could not determine the cause of her death, according to her mother, Jagranie Omadat, during an interview with this newspaper via telephone yesterday.

Omadat said that she identified the remains of her daughter, but did not remain in the room to witness the post-mortem since she could not bear to see her daughter’s body being cut open.

She said investigators informed her of the results of the PM, and advised her that samples were taken from the body to facilitate further testing to determine the cause of Davkumari’s death.

The two young men who are said to be the girl’s No. 1 and No. 2 boyfriends, and who had, for some time, been fighting to obtain her

sole allegiance, are still in police custody. They were detained on Saturday after the remains of the young salesgirl’s body had been discovered on the seashore at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara.

Her mother told the Guyana Chronicle that her daughter’s body would today be reposed at the Ezekiel Funeral Home for viewing before being taken to the Ruimzeight cremation site.

A missing person’s report had been filed in regard to the young lady two Saturdays ago, after she had stormed out of her workplace following a misunderstanding with her employer and another employee.

The young lady was reportedly last seen in the company of one of her boyfriends. One of them lives at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, and the other at Canal No. 2 West Bank Demerara.

The last time the girl had made contact with her mother, she had reported that she

was heading into Diamond with the boyfriend who lives in that community. She had requested that her mother not inform the police, or go anywhere or inform anyone else of her whereabouts because she would be home shortly.

The mother had complied with her daughter’s request, but after time had elapsed and she did not see her 17-yearold ‘baby’ return home, she had decided to report her absence to the police.

The teenager’s body had been found trapped between the boulders of the La Jalousie foreshore minus the pants she had been wearing when she was last seen alive, and with her top rolled up to her face.

This body was the fourth to be discovered on a foreshore within the space of one month. The first three were discovered on the East Coast Demerara seashore at Kitty, Turkeyen and Annandale respectively.

Three drivers fined $7,500 each for drunk driving

Andre Stroll

Jaman Jomndoo

Junior Daymon

ANDRE Stroll of Lot 72 Adelaide Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-03-21 while driving motor vehicle PTT 1335 on Waterloo Street, Georgetown. 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 2015-0326 where he pleaded guilty and was fined $7,500.

Jaman Jomndoo of Lot 257 Kaneville, Grove, EBD, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-0321 while driving motor vehicle PRR 6167 on the Providence 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 2015-03-26 where he pleaded guilty and was fined $7,500.

Junior Daymon of Lot

146 Cooper Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-03-21 while driving motor vehicle PHH 2425 on Waterloo Street, Georgetown. 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 2015-0326 where he pleaded guilty and was fined $7,500.

Labourer, unemployed men found with guns A LABOURER employed at a workshop at 4 Miles Arakaka, North West District was on Sunday evening taken into police custody after he was allegedly found to be in possession of an unlicensed .32 pistol and 17 matching rounds.

Police sources from the division stated that the man was being investigated for alleged threats he made to a female during an argument.

It was reported that the man whipped out a gun and threatened to shoot the woman who then reported the matter to the police.

The police quickly accompanied the woman back to the scene where the incident took place.

They confronted the man and after questioning him about the weapon he

had in his possession, the man took police ranks to an area behind a building where two black water tanks are located. The gun was reportedly hidden between the two tanks along with the matching rounds. He told police ranks that he purchased the gun from an Amerindian resident but he did not know the man.

The man was promptly cautioned and arrested. He is expected to be brought to the city where he will appear before a magistrate to answer to the charge of unlawful possession of a weapon and ammunition without being a licensed firearm holder.

Meanwhile, in New Amsterdam an unemployed man was arrested yesterday morning following a search

on his person when police found an unlicensed weapon and two rounds.

According to a police press statement, ranks at the time were on a mobile patrol and came into contact with the man on Main Street, New Amsterdam.

A search was carried out and ranks found a Beretta pistol and two rounds. The man was cautioned and taken into police custody.

Yesterday police sources said that the man is not known to them and up to press time their records had not indicated that he had any brushes with the law. He is expected to appear in court today charged with being in unlawful possession of a weapon and ammunition.

(Leroy Smith)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

Three escape death as car topples at Rahaman’s Turn – reportedly after nightspot spree

By Leroy Smith THREE young men aboard a burgundy Toyota Fielder wagon on Sunday evening escaped

death and any visible injuries when the driver lost control in the vicinity of Rahaman’s Park on the East Bank Demerara and the vehicle toppled.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015 - 13:30 hrs Wednesday, April 15, 2015 - 14:00 hrs Thursday, April 16, 2015 - 14:30 hrs

The vehicle, PMM 6282, was reportedly travelling north along the East Bank roadway in the vicinity of Rahaman’s Park when it flipped several times before turning turtle, forcing the occupants to crawl to safety.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the young men were drinking at a nightspot further up the East Bank and were heading to another bar in the city when the accident occurred.

After the crash and the youths crawled to safety, they quickly returned to the vehicle to remove bottles of rum and beer.

When standing, the men appeared to find it difficult to maintain their balance. However, they hurriedly got rid of the evidence that they were imbibing at the time of the accident.

This newspaper observed the men dumping alcohol into a nearby trench along with the registration plate of the vehicle, which other persons had encouraged them to rip off.

The badly damaged Toyota Fielder

Other items were placed into another car along with one of the crash survivors and that ‘rescue’ vehicle left the scene.

When the police arrived on the scene two of the young men were still trying to remove valuables from the crashed car. After it was observed that the police had arrived on the scene in an unmarked vehicle, persons forced the driver of the car into another vehicle and left the scene but the third young man remained.

That young man was pointed out to the police and he was taken into cus-

tody. They were also able to recover the registration plate and a bottle of rum from the trench where the young men had discarded the items.

From all indications the vehicle appeared to have been in a workshop and might have been removed to facilitate the lads’ mobility as they went on a drinking spree.

Meanwhile, despite the alarming number of road fatalities on account of speeding and driving under the influence, there were a number of persons who converged on the scene and wasted no time

in trying to get the seemingly intoxicated young men away. Attempts to have the car towed away before the police arrived was also very glaring, as one security guard from the area stated.

After the car was turned back on its wheels, there was an attempt by one of the occupants to drive the car off a mount where it came to rest. When he failed another person who had stopped to render assistance attempted to move the car but aborted this when the vehicle began smoking.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

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Aries If you're a salesperson, expect orders to roll in today. You're unusually persuasive, making it virtually impossible for anyone to say no to you. All signs indicate you will be successful with whatever you undertake. Take advantage of this auspicious time. But be wary if you end up on the receiving end of a sales pitch. Opportunities that seem too good to be true usually are.

Taurus This is a good day to spend with your family, as you love to do. Try to get chores out of the way as quickly as possible and schedule something fun for the afternoon. Maybe you would enjoy an outing to a park or movie. Perhaps it would be fun to bake cookies. Whatever you decide, warmth and love will permeate the air and bring you closer together as you create wonderful memories.

Gemini Today's planetary energies may put spiritual matters in your mind. You may not be thinking in religious terms. Your focus is likely to be on the state of humanity and what you can do to help others less fortunate. Make some calls or do some research online. Find out how you can get involved. If you're short on time, a monetary gift can help you feel more connected and peaceful.

Cancer You may be thinking about political or social matters today, specifically, the deterioration of the planet. You may be worried about your future and that of your children. You might try to bring up the subject at a social gathering. Someone you meet there is bound to teach you something about the issue. If you need to get further involved raising people's awareness of this issue, do it!

Leo Today is going to present not only a continuation but also an intensification of the strong energies that have been pushing you toward self-discovery. If you've put up some resistance, you're going to be uncomfortable. Try to participate in the task. Question yourself. Why do you say and do certain things? If you're honest, the rewards will outweigh the growing pains.

Virgo Today you should be asking yourself a lot of important questions. The Universe is pushing you on your journey of self-discovery. If you resist, you aren't going to be in a very good mood. You might want to facilitate this period with yoga or meditation. You may start a dream journal. Try to listen to yourself intuitively.

You will probably find out that you already have the answers.

Libra If you're feeling unappreciated by the people around you, try going somewhere else. Begging for attention is unattractive, and so is strutting around trying to distract everyone with your gorgeous physique or charming wit. Go where you know you're appreciated, where your stories will make people laugh, where you feel at home. Know that if you stay where you are, nothing you try will work.

Scorpio You could be in an uncomfortable situation with friends today. There may be gossip going around about a mutual friend and you will be tempted to join in.

Remember that repeated stories are rarely completely true. You would hate to lose a friendship if he or she found out you said something unflattering. Be careful. The people you're gossiping with may gossip about you later.

Sagittarius A close friend or colleague could receive special recognition for good works today. You're pleased with your friend's success, and grateful for your own good fortune. It seems that you also have achieved a long-term goal. While you may not be acknowledged in public like your friend, you know in your heart that you accomplished what you set out to. Your smile says it all.

Capricorn Although things may be going well for you at work, it's probably taking a physical and emotional toll on you. You may suffer from mild stress-related conditions like headaches. It might be time for a vacation. Even if you're unable to get away in the near future, just thinking about and planning a trip can help. Plan to go to a place where you know you will feel relaxed and have fun!

Aquarius It looks as though your ship is about to come in. It's likely that you will receive a letter or call alerting you to good financial news. Your mind may immediately begin to spin with ways to spend this windfall. Take care not to go on any shopping sprees. If invested wisely, this money could last a lifetime.

Pisces Today you may find all your recent efforts rewarded. Your quick thinking and astute powers of observation have impressed others. Today you're likely to be recognised in some way. Don't be surprised if you end up in the spotlight, blushing at the acclaim. This is likely to give your confidence a big boost and cause you to consider other ways to advance your career.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

23 From back page

Scoreboard

ENGLAND 1st innings A. Cook b Roach 11 J. Trott c Bravo b Taylor 0 G. Ballance c Bravo b Holder 10 I. Bell c wkp. Ramdin b Roach 143 J. Root b Taylor 83 B. Stokes not out 71 J. Tredwell not out 0 Extras: (b-7, lb-3, w-7, nb-6) 23 Total: (5 wkts, 90 overs) 341 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-22, 3-34, 4-211, 5-341.

Bowling: Taylor 15-2-79-2 (w-1, nb-1), Roach 21-4-66-2 (w-2, nb-3), Holder 18-755-1 (nb-2), Benn 26-3-85-0, Samuels 10-0-46-0.

Bell century ...

Jonathan Trott, returning to Test cricket for the first time since quitting the 2013-14 Ashes Tour with stressrelated problems, went in the first over.

Trott, winning his 50th cap, edged a good delivery from Jerome Taylor to Darren Bravo who pocketed the straightforward catch at slip.

England skipper Alastair Cook made 11 before he was bowled by Kemar Roach, getting an inside edge on a delivery that cut back.

The West Indies opening pair bowled a consistent full length and tight line, making it tough for England’s batsmen, but it was a wider ball from Jason Holder that removed number three Gary Ballance.

The Zimbabweanborn batsman reached at Holder’s full delivery and flashed a high catch to Bravo who again captured it gleefully.

England badly needed a solid partnership to steady the ship and Bell and Root delivered exactly that, picking off the looser balls from a West Indies attack that had lost its earlier precision.

With signs of tiredness creeping into the Caribbean team’s play, the England pair stepped up the runrate, Sulieman Benn dropped Root, spilling out a routine catch when the England man was on 61.

Bell brought up his 22nd Test century with an edge past slip off Marlon Samuels but West Indies finally brought the partnership to an end when Root played on from Taylor.

Ben Stokes, unbeaten on 71 at the close, quickly restored England’s dominance however, taking an aggressive approach.

Bell looked distraught at edging a beautiful rising and moving delivery from Roach to wicketkeeper Ramdin, but the standing ovation he received indicated the value of his innings to his team.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

Spieth’s Masters win offers glimpse into major future

By Mark Lamport-Stokes AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Jordan Spieth’s remarkable victory at the 79th Masters golf not only confirmed the greatness for which he has long been earmarked but offered a glimpse into the likely pattern at majors for the next decade.

Spieth aged 21 claimed his first major title on Sunday with a record-equalling display at Augusta National where world number one Rory McIlroy, 25, finished fourth and rising Japanese talent Hideki Matsuyama, 23, placed fifth.

American Rickie Fowler, 26, tied for 12th in the year’s opening major and with Australia’s Jason Day, 27, who faded into a share of 28th place, those five players can be expected to flourish in golf’s big events for the foreseeable future.

“It’s pretty neat to have guys from all around the world,” Day, who has

already recorded seven top10s at the majors, including three runner-up spots, said of the game’s richly talented young guns.

“You’ve got Matsuyama as well who is playing great golf. We’ve got a great group of guys right now who are all from different nations who are playing against each other.”

Northern Ireland’s McIlroy has already set the gold standard with four major victories and he arrived at Augusta National last week in pursuit of a career grand slam of golf’s four blue riband events.

He rebounded from successive 71s with strong play over the weekend to record his best ever finish at the Masters but could only tip his hat at Spieth’s incredible wire-to-wire victory.

“It’s awfully impressive,” McIlroy said of the young American’s record-equalling tally of 18-under 270 at the Masters that matched the total achieved by Tiger

Jordan Spieth of the U.S. grins as he wears his Champion’s green jacket on the putting green after winning the Masters Golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Course. (Reuters/Brian Snyder) Woods in 1997.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to be in a similar position, winning my first major and having a nice comfortable walk up the 18th.”

EIGHT-SHOT MARGIN McIlroy coasted to victory by a staggering eight shots over Day in the 2011

Figo to tempt CONCACAF voters with cash-boost plan

By Simon Evans

MIAMI, Florida (Reuters) - FIFA presidential hopeful Luis Figo will travel to the Caribbean this week hoping to tempt voters in the CONCACAF region with a plan to distribute more funds, $2.5 billion (1.7 billion pounds) over four years, to national associations.

CONCACAF holds its congress on Thursday in the Bahamas and the former Portugal international will be working the corridors as he looks to win support ahead of next month’s vote for the FIFA presidency.

“One of the key aspects I want to talk about is my suggestion to distribute 50 percent of FIFA’s revenues – $2.5 billion – directly to the member associations for solidarity over four years,” Figo told Reuters in an email.

“This means $8M per member association over four years, $2M per member association per year when currently they only receive $375 000 per year,” he added.

Incumbent Sepp Blatter is widely viewed as the favourite to win a fifth term at the helm of football’s governing body and has traditionally enjoyed strong support in the CONCACAF region, which covers North and Central

America and the Caribbean.

But with the United States Soccer Federation having nominated Jordanian Prince Ali in the election, CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb has stated that his confederation will not push their members to vote as a block.

Figo was at a CONCACAF event in Philadelphia in March where he met with Webb and some of the key players in the region.

Now the former Real Madrid and Barcelona winger hopes he can cut into Blatter’s support, which has been particularly strong amongst the smaller Caribbean nations that make up the majority of CONCACAF federations.

For nearly 30 years, CONCACAF was controlled

by Blatter’s ally Trinidadian Jack Warner who stood down in 2011 in the midst of bribery allegations.

Despite Warner’s influence at FIFA, the region contains many countries without basic football infrastructure and facilities.

Figo clearly sees that as an issue he can exploit.

“I will also allocate another $300M to be distributed to the member associations in highest need, earmarked for the construction of specific football infrastructure

projects,” he said.

“This means an additional $2M for 150 federation over four years. From what I’ve been hearing and analysing, some of this investment will be done in the CONCACAF region given the needs that several federations have there.”

Figo says he also intends to dip into FIFA’s $1.5B reserves for development projects focused on schools.

“I also intend to use $1B of FIFA’s $1.5B reserves that are in the bank to create different development projects. “$1M per member association for the ‘Schools for Football’ project, another $1M per federation for the ‘Boys and Girls for Football’ project once the target of a ten percent increase in registered boys and girls is reached, plus a bonus of $2M to each of the ten member associations with the highest growth rate in four years,” said Figo.

“These are only a few investment measures I suggest.

These are easily done with a more efficient and effective way to invest revenues generated by the World Cup,” he said.

The head of the Dutch football association, Michael van Praag, is also standing in the election which will be held in Zurich on May 29 at the FIFA congress.

U.S. Open at Congressional where, aged 22, he became the championship’s youngest winner since 1923.

“Here coming in, being the guy in form as well, having won and a couple of seconds, played great at the end of last year, it’s nice to get your major tally up and running at quite an early stage of your career,” said the

Northern Irishman.

“Jordan is 21, and it’s great to see. Great for the game. And I’m sure he’ll win many more (majors).”

Spieth has been the hottest player in the game over the past six months, recording three wins and two runner-up spots in his last 11 starts worldwide before arriving at Augusta National as second favourite for the coveted green jacket, after McIlroy.

Brilliant putting, icecool composure, careful decision-making and the occasional dose of good fortune helped him open with a sizzling eightunder 64 and he never relinquished control of the tournament after that.

Spieth had signalled his rich potential by twice winning the U.S. Junior Amateur title and he finished 21st in his maiden appearance at a major, the 2012 U.S. Open, as an amateur.

Shortly after he turned professional at 19, he became the youngest player in 82

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years to win a PGA Tour event, at the John Deere Classic, and was named PGA Rookie-of-the-Year in 2013.

He has since gone on to shine for the United States at the 2014 Ryder Cup and recorded further tournament wins at the Australian Open and Hero World Challenge last year, followed by the Valspar Championship last month.

Most pundits view Spieth as the likeliest challenger to McIlroy for golfing supremacy over the next decade, but the American, who is known for his humility, will not yet agree.

“As far as (a rivalry) with Rory, he’s got four majors and numerous wins,” said the Texan. “That’s something I can still only dream about.

“He carries that world No. 1 ranking with class.

I’m looking forward to getting in the heat of the moment with him ... in the near future and see if we can battle it out.”

President Ramotar

From back page The track is expected to pave the way for Guyana’s hosting of regional and international track and field events, and Hutson has made it known that the AAG is eagerly awaiting its turn to bid to host such events in Guyana. Even while fans await the Guyana’s hosting of international events, they can still get to see persons in action on the track with the many local meets the AAG hopes to host there.

According to Hutson, the track can see its first official event as early as next month, with AAG wishful of hosting the National Seniors Championships, set for May 7, at the facility. That event is expected to be followed by the National Youths and Juniors.

Aside from the hosting of meets, the track comes as a great asset to national athletes in their preparation ahead of attending international events, where they will compete on a similar surface, as the transition from training on grass surface to competing on synthetic surface has been a challenge for the athletes.

Apart from the athletic displays, patrons at the ceremony will witness football and will be entertained with cultural items that include steel pan music, African and Indian drumming and pieces from the National School of Dance. The opening ceremony is set to begin at 10:00hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

Liverpool back in Champions League hunt with Newcastle win

By Michael Hann

manager Brendan Rodgers.

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - Liverpool kept alive their hopes of Champions League football next season with a comfortable 2-0 Premier League victory yesterday against a Newcastle United side who finished with 10 men.

A goal in each half from Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen respectively secured victory and closed the gap on fourth-placed Manchester City to four points with six games remaining.

When Liverpool and Newcastle meet goals are normally the order of the day with 130 scored in their previous 41 league meetings without a single goalless draw in that time.

Sterling ensured that run continued when he netted after nine minutes to give Liverpool the perfect start following back-toback league defeats by Manchester United and Arsenal.

Allen doubled Liverpool’s lead in the 70th as Newcastle, who had Moussa Sissoko sent off for a second booking late on, were condemned to a fifth straight league defeat.

Fifth-placed Liverpool now have 57 points from 32 games, one point ahead of Southampton in sixth, and are closing in on ailing City who lost 4-2 at local rivals Manchester United on Sunday, while struggling Newcastle remain 13th with 35 points.

“Manchester City have maybe opened up the door a wee bit and if we keep winning our games we will see what will happen but I am sure that there will be plenty of twists and turns to come still,” said Liverpool

RENEWED HOPE Liverpool, who play Aston Villa in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday, arrived at

they finished it strongly and felt they should have won a penalty when Ayoze Perez was wiped out in the box after a wild swing of the boot from defender Dejan Lovren.

Sterling missed a glorious

Joe Allen celebrates with Philippe Coutinho and team mates after scoring the second goal for Liverpool. (Reuters/Andrew YatesLivepic) Anfield in desperate need of a win to close the gap on Manchester City and give themselves renewed hope of qualifying for the Champions League.

Sterling, making his first Anfield appearance since a BBC interview about his decision to wait on signing a new contract, gave the hosts the perfect start when he weaved his way into the box and curled an exquisite shot past goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Newcastle spent most of the first period on the back foot but

chance to double his tally at the start of the second half when he scuffed Henderson’s cross wide from point-blank range but Allen made amends for the England forward’s miss when he lashed the ball home from close range.

Newcastle were then reduced to 10 men when midfielder Sissoko received a second yellow card for a mistimed tackle on Lucas as John Carver’s side fell to yet another defeat leaving them in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.

RHT Gismos & Gadgets selects training squad for Busta Champion of Champions final THE selection committee of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) yesterday named a strong 18-man training squad to commence training under the supervision of club coach Delbert Hicks and captain at the Area ‘H’ Ground.

The squad will undergo intense physical fitness sessions and pitch practice as the Rose Hall Town (RHT) Gizmos & Gadgets team seek to claim their tenth Busta Title after first winning it in 2004.

The team is set to clash with arch rivals Albion Community Centre on Saturday, April 25, at the historic Albion Cricket Ground under floodlights.

The match starts at 15:00hrs and will be broadcast live on NCN Radio.

Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC Hilbert

Assad Fudaddin

Foster disclosed that all plans are in place for the successful hosting of the final and the organisers are currently undertaking a massive public relations campaign to promote the match, which is expected to feature at least three Test players and numerous senior and junior cricketers.

Twenty-five percent of the gate revenue would be donated to ailing Guyana Chronicle Senior Sports Reporter Calvin Roberts while the remainder would be used for cricket development.

The full training squad is: Shawn Pereira, Delbert

The Assuria Classic Open Tennis tournament completes six matches … Razick, Bushell, Dalip, Osborne, Chand register victories conclude

THE first Assuria Classic Open Tennis Tournament rolled off with six matches at the National Racquet Centre on Camp Street over the weekend and will last for two weeks with competition in five categories.

The tournament has attracted Guyana’s top players and fresh faces on the tournament circuit.

According to a Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) release, Daniel Razick who won the Novice Trophy Stall 2014 doubles defeated Akeem Bailey 6-1 in the Novice Medley Singles, while Fiona Bushell also had a 6-1 win over fellow club member Patricia Hope in the same category.

The Men’s Open had wins by Hemant Dalip against Malik Williams 6-1, 6-0 and the seasoned Benjettan Osborne took a comfortable 6-0, 6-1 win against Jeevan Dalip who played well in his first competition.

Jason Andrews and Sandeep Chand played in the main game of the day amid much excitement and buzz, since the two old rivals never fail to bring their best game.

Chand opened and held serve in the opening set with Andrews doing the same, followed by both trading a break to level the score at 2. Andrews took the advantage of breaking Chand to gain a substantial lead of 5-2 and served for the set and eventually secured

the set at 6-3. Both players served well, hitting a high percentage of first serves but Andrews’ consistency and approaches at the net gave him the edge over Chand.

According to the release, the second set started with a bang when Andrews powered the first ace of the match to take the first game which seem to put him in overdrive.

He then took a 4-1 lead over Chand but with an ace to close his serve game brought the score to 2-4.

Andrews took a 5-2 lead and it seemed history would be repeated as in the first set. Chand took a medical time out after apparent leg cramps.

On serve, Andrews lost two match points after a dicey call made on the serve. Chand then mounted a comeback to force a tiebreak.

Although the lighting was insufficient due to lack of court lights the two battled on where Andrews took a 4-1 lead but lost the following six points to drop the set to Chand at 6-7.

A visibly bothered Andrews then shook Chand’s hands and declared his retirement from the match.

The 3-6, 7-6(7-4) win by Chand sets up his next match against Harry Panday.

Other matches will continue during the week at the National Racquet Centre and the Le Resouvenir Tennis Club.

Foreign Ministry’s Workers Day of Sports set for April 26 THE Foreign Affairs Ministry will hold a Day of Sports on April 26 at the St Stanislaus College ground, Carifesta Avenue, beginning at 12:00hrs.

According to a release, the annual Day of Sports is the brainchild of sports enthusiast James `Cool’ Lewis, who, along with his colleges and workers from several other ministries, has been organising a day of activities, where workers from various ministries will get together one day each year to enjoy clean, healthy sport activities in a friendly manner.

Among the activities planned for the day are soft ball cricket, small goal football, dominoes, whist and track races including the needle and thread, lime and spoon, buns eating and two-leg races.

A tug-of-war and late for work races are also on the cards.

Prizes, medals and trophies are expected to be sponsored by various government ministers.

Hicks, Assad Fudadin, Ashkay Homraj, Vidal Crandon, Khemraj Mahadeo, Leroy Bristol, Collis Butts, Brandon Prashad, Keon Sinclair, Troy Mathieson, Eon Hooper, Sherain Murray, Jason Anderson, Denzil Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, Kelvon Anderson and Sylus Tyndall. The manager is Keith Hicks.

The winning team will receive $100 000 and the Busta Cup trophy, the runners-up would take home $50 000 and a trophy.

There will also be prizes for the Man-of-the-Final, Best Batsman and Best Bowler. Lucky patrons will receive gate prizes, which would include a tablet, blenders and food hampers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

Green Machine shift focus to Olympic Qualifiers

Our NACRA 15s loss is behind us – coach Theodore Henry

By Rawle Toney

AFTER losing to Trinidad and Tobago last weekend which ultimately saw them surrender their NACRA 15s title, the Green Machine, Guyana’s national rugby team, have now shifted their focus to the Olympic Qualifiers.

Guyana travelled to the Twin Island Republic where they contested the final of the South Zone in the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Championship and fell 22-20 to their closest regional rival.

“I’m proud of the guys, honestly, and I’m not the type to complain about a game or a loss, but the referee did some terrible blunders. We asked for a review for some of the decisions that were made but the fourth official said nothing can be done,” said head coach Theodore Henry.

Reflecting on the loss, Henry explained that the game’s second try should not have counted since “the player became motionless and he moved again; the referee allowed him to play though it should’ve been a penalty and it was the second try and it

Guyana’s National rugby team before kick-off against Trinidad kind of broke the team”.

“I’m very proud of the guys for putting up a valiant effort and I’m disappointed in the game. Seems like poor refereeing is becoming a trend now when we have to play them in Trinidad but with that said, we should have scored our conversions and that would have seen us through.

“But in all fairness, it was a very windy ground; even Trinidad had a

hard time with their kicks, they only made one,” Henry emphasised.

Henry, speaking exclusively to Chronicle Sport, yesterday, said that though the game remains fresh on the team’s mind, the focus is now on having the side feature at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Guyana will first have to get past NACRA’s best 7s Nations in the June 13-14 event in North Carolina.

Second round Busta Soft Shoe action kicks off at GFC ground tonight FOLLOWING the first two nights of first round action and with teams becoming familiar with the rules and regulations that govern the inaugural Petra Organisation/ Guyana Beverage Inc. Busta Soft Shoe football tournament, tonight’s second round action should be intense.

Several teams, who lost out in the first round, will be in action tonight and should be looking for redemption, especially with a first prize of $600 000 at stake for the winners, while all teams will benefit financially, based on their placing in the group stages.

Tonight’s action will see Queen Street-Tiger Bay face

Stevedore Housing Scheme, Ballerz meet Sophia and Alexander Village match 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 first prize, the second- to fourthplaced 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.

11th Annual Universal Auto Sales and Spare Parts 11-race cycle meet

THE 11th Annual Universal Auto Sales and Spare Parts 11-race cycle programme is billed for Saturday around the inner circuit of the National Park, beginning at 09:00hrs.

The programme which is being organised by national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed, is expected to attract Guyana’s leading wheelsmen and women and is anticipated to be keenly contested.

The feature event is a 35lap race which is open to schoolboys, novices and invitational riders and promises to be a scorcher with the likes of Alanzo Greaves, Marlon `Fishy’ Williams, Orville Hinds, Raul Leal, Paul DeNobrega, Raynauth Jeffrey, Romelo Crawford, Akeem Arthur,

Kevin Wilkinson and Robin Persaud facing the starter.

Persaud won the race last year in a time of one hour 16 minutes 17.18 seconds and with his experience and determination he might very well make a successful defence of the title.

Another race that should be keenly contested is the 10-lap race for juniors and juveniles. Last year, this event was won by Cleveland King who stopped the clock at 22 minutes 20 seconds, but this time around he would have to be wary of Arthur and Wilkinson who are both junior cyclists.

Other races on the day’s card include five-lap races for veterans Under-50 as well as veterans Over-50 years, a five-lap race for mountain bikers, a five-

Alanzo Greaves lap race for boys and girls 12-14 years old, three-lap races for BMX boys 9-12 years old and a two-lap race for BMX boys 6-9 years old.

Stephen Fernandes, one of the founders of Team Evolution won the

veterans’ Under-50 fivelap event last year in a time of 12 minutes 57 seconds and stands a very good chance of repeating that performance on Saturday.

Clive Jacobs will be out to defend his title in the five-lap race for mountain bikers which he won last year in 13 minutes 33 seconds.

Last year’s winner of the five-lap event for boys and girls 12-14 years was Avish Ramkellowan who clocked nine minutes 15 seconds.

Managing Director of Universal Auto Sales and Spare Parts, Shameer Baksh, who is also a veteran cyclist will be a part of the day’s activities and will assist with the presentation of prizes to the respective winners.

The team competed at the 2015 Cathy Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens but failed to win any of their three games.

In their first game Guyana, the defending NACRA 7s champions lost 36-0 against Zimbabwe then 50-5 to Spain. The team showed a much better performance and fight but lost 36-24 against Tonga.

“The emphasis is to get the guys super fit and that will be key, as we are to compete against teams like the USA and Canada,” Henry said.

According to National Award-winning coach, the team will also have to work on their kick-off reception as well as their defence.

“Our defence in the win is a little weak.

One of our key players who did it for us in Mexico (Patrick King) made a lot of rookie mistakes in Hong Kong so we’ll be working with him especially and the rest of the guys. The team’s defence and our kick-off reception as well as fitness; you can never be fit enough so we have a lot to do,” Henry pointed out.

He added that the union is in the process of lining up a few practice matches ahead of the Olympic Qualifiers and further information will be made known at a later date.

Gayle, Sammy fail as RCB go down to Sunrisers BANGALORE, India (CMC) – Chris Gayle and Darren Sammy had little impact as Royal Challengers Bangalore crashed to a heavy eightwicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, in the Indian Premier League here yesterday.

Playing at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB were dismissed for 166 with a single ball remaining and Sunrisers cruised to their target with 16 deliveries left in the contest.

Australian David Warner pummelled 57 from 27 balls with six fours and four sixes, and posted 82 for the first wicket with India star

Shikhar Dhawan who struck exactly 50 off 42 deliveries.

Sammy sent down two overs which cost 18 runs.

Sent in earlier, RCB were off to a decent enough start with Gayle hammering 21 off 16 balls with three fours and a six, in a 43-run opening stand with captain Virat Kohli whose 41 required 37 balls.

Gayle was first to fall in the sixth over, holing out to deep backward square off seamer Praveen Kumar.

South African AB de Villiers chipped in with a cameo 46 from 28 deliveries but Sammy managed just six against the franchise he represented last season.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday April 14, 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)

WI vs ENG, Lord’s, 1928

(2)

Mike Hussey-733 runs (CSK)

Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first player to captain the WI in a Test?

(2) Which two teams contested the very first IPL final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015

GCB/RAJ SINGH INSURANCE U-19

Hetmyer ton tightens Berbice grip after Rutherford claims 5

... Demerara wobbling at 71 for 8

By Calvin Roberts SKIPPER SHIMRON Hetmyer struck the first century in this year’s Guyana Cricket Board/Raj Singh Insurance Under-19 Inter-county tournament and Balchand Baldeo got a half-century, despite Shurfane Rutherford’s five-wicket haul, as Berbice tightened their grip on the contest at the end of the penultimate day yesterday.

Playing against Demerara at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Berbice bowled out their hosts for 152, after they resumed the day on 144 for 7 and with a lead of 47, scored 250 in their second innings, on the back of Hetmyer’s 114, 66 from Baldeo and a quick-fire 48 from Parmanand Ramdhan.

This was after they were both forced to survive another testing spell from Rutherford, who picked up his maiden five-wicket haul at this level to end with 5 for 68, with support from Tariq Dharamlall who took 2 for 22, as the home team paid for several missed chances in the field.

Set 298 to record a comefrom-behind win, Demerara were rocked by fast bowler Grisean Grant (3 for 23) and Baldeo (2 for 20) to be 33 for 5

before they finished on 71 for 8, with Rutherford unbeaten on 4 and Daniel Basdeo 0.

At the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, local perennial whipping boys Essequibo bowled out the National Under-17 who started the day on 34 for 1, for 147 in reply to their 261. The Essequibians in their second innings were bowled out for 140, setting their opponents a target of 256, for which they reached 17 for 2 at the close.

At GCC, Demerara resumed their first innings yesterday and Berbice took 20 minutes to dismiss their opponents’ remaining three batsmen, using 5.4 overs to complete the job as they were bowled out for 152 off 52.4 overs.

Carlton Jacques (2), Basdeo 29 (3x4) and Mana (0) were the batsmen dismissed, as Leon Andrews led their bowling with 3 for 3 and received support from Baldeo (3 for 38) and Daniel Lewis 2 for 35.

With a lead of 49, Berbice lost Andrews (2) who was caught by Travis Persaud off Rutherford in the second over of their innings, but regrouped to reach 92 for 1 off 16 overs at lunch, with Hetmyer on 48 and Baldeo 40.

Hetmyer stamped his

Well played, Hetty! Berbice skipper Shimron Hetmyer acknowledges the applause of his teammates, after registering the first ton in this year’s tournament. Looking on from left are Jaydev Mana (blue cap), Balchand Baldeo and wicketkeeper Tevin Imloch. authority on the bowling with four fours in two overs off Rutherford, while Baldeo, who was given a life by Dharamlall at mid-off, off the bowling of Basdeo when on 22, hit the same bowler for two fours and one six in the same over.

When Rutherford was replaced by Akshaya Persaud, Hetmyer raced into the 40s with back-to-back boundaries off the spinner then watched as Baldeo eased Dharamlall down the ground for his fifth four before the lunch break.

Demerara had the opportunity to remove both batsmen during the posttea session, but fortunately

for the Berbice pair, Mana and Dharamlall grassed the opportunities which should have been taken even if they were sleepwalking.

Baldeo got to his 50 shortly after from 55 balls with five fours and one six while batting for 103 minutes, then he watched as Hetmyer waded into Rutherford and struck him for three fours, before he swept Mark Hamilton to the vacant fine leg position for his 16th four.

That boundary brought up his 100 from 140 minutes of batting and 107 balls, before he lost Baldeo, who was caught

by Akshaya Persaud at slip off

Travis Persaud’s bowling for 66 (76 balls, 5x4; 1x6), ending their 169-run second-wicket partnership.

Hetmyer gifted his wicket away, when he knocked it down in his attempt to cut a delivery from Dharamlall when on 114 (124 balls, 16x4) at 196 for 3, while Demerara removed Samuel Kishnasammy (0) and Kassim Khan (5) before tea, taken with Berbice 209 for 5.

After tea, the Demerara fielders’ sloppy attitude continued as they grassed two easy chances from Ramdhan, who said thanks by hitting Rutherford unto the roof of the Media Centre, along with three fours, before Grisean Grant (1) was lbw to Akshaya Persaud 238 for 6.

Rutherford returned to account for Brandon Persaud (1) and Ritesh Omroa (0) in the space of four balls, to leave Berbice on 239 for 8 and wrapped up the innings with another double strike in his following over, dismissing Ramdhan (48) and Omar Weatherspoon (2).

Set 298 to record a comefrom-behind win, Demerara lost Ronaldo Renee (4), Akshaya Persaud (3) and Tevin Imloch 9 (2x4) to be 22 for 3 in slightly overcast conditions.

When Travis Persaud 13 (2x4) had his leg stump uprooted by Grant and

Dharamlall (4) was lbw to Baldeo, Demerara were wobbly-placed on 37 for 5, before Mark Hamilton and Carlton Jacques revived the innings with their 27-run sixthwicket partnership, before they were both dismissed.

Daniel Lewis accounted for Jayadev Mana (1) just before the close of play, to support Grant 3 for 23 and Baldeo 2 for 20, as the Berbicians upstaged Rutherford’s match haul of 9 for 108 with a total team effort, led by their captain’s ton in the second innings.

In Queenstown, Essequibo and the National Under-17 were locked in a battle for full points, after the Cinderella County team bowled out their opponents for 147, led by 23 from Raymond Perez and 19 each from Ashmead Nedd and Timothy McAlmont.

Left-arm spin twins Akini Adams (4 for 32) and Keanu Harry (3 for 26) did the damage with the ball for Essequibo, who in their second innings were bowled out for 140, even though Kemo Paul topscored with 52, Parmesh Parsotam made 29 and Travis Drakes an unbeaten 28.

Ricardo Ali-Mohammed took 3 for 28 and Richie Looknauth 2 for 62 for the National Under-17s, who were set a victory target of 256 and reached 17 for 2 at the close of play.

Bookie helps DCC regain BrainStreet Under-15 title Hyde, O’Hara barred from Penn … TSC lose by 5 wickets

LED by skipper Alphius Bookie’s unbeaten 33, former champions Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) regained their stranglehold on the Georgetown Cricket Association/BrainStreet Under-15 championships with their fourth title in five years, following their five-wicket victory over Transport Sports Club at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground last Sunday.

TSC batted first and were dismissed for a paltry 85 runs, with Joel Spooner being the lone batsman to offer any resistance to the DCC bowlers, following his topscore of 31, as Dequan Bamfield took 3 for 10, Juspice Jones 2 for 10, Qumar Torrington 2 for 11 and Nkosi Beaton 2 for 25.

In reply, DCC who lost their grip on the title to Guyana National

as high school athletes

Champs again! The victorious DCC Under-15 team strike a pose with the GCA/BrainStreet Under-15 banner and the trophies they won during the fifth staging of the competition which culminated last Sunday at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground. At right is coach Garvin Nedd.

Industrial Corporation’s Under-15 lineup last year at the same venue, scored

86 for 5, with Robin Williams offering support to Bookie with his 20,

while Spooner and Akeem Maloney each took 2 for 17 for TSC.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Young Jamaican track stars Jaheel Hyde and Michael O’Hara have been ruled ineligible to contest this month’s Penn Relays for their high schools, after signing endorsement deals with regional telecommunication giants, LIME and Digicel.

The Inter-Secondary School Sports Association announced yesterday that the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association had ruled that Hyde and O’Hara had “received benefits related to their athletic skills and performances which are not available to all students at their high schools.”

“On this basis, both athletes cannot represent their respective schools at the 2015 Penn Relays,” the Jamaica Observer quoted the ISSA statement as saying.

Hyde represents Woolmer’s Boys while O’Hara turns out for Calabar High.

However, Hyde recently penned a deal with LIME to act as an ambassador while O’Hara also signed a similar agreement with rival telecommunications providers Digicel.

Both athletes have made significant steps on the global stage in recent times. Hyde is the reigning Youth Olympics and World Youth sprint hurdles champion and the World Junior champion in the 400 metres hurdles.

He recently won both events at the CARIFTA Games in St Kitts.

O’Hara, meanwhile, is the World Youth 200m champion.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Hetmyer ton tightens Berbice grip after Rutherford claims 5 See story on page 27

President Ramotar to commission new synthetic track on Friday

By Tamica Garnett

JUST months after commissioning the warm-up pool at Guyana’s state-of-the-art National Aquatic Centre, President Donald Ramotar is set to commission the new Leonora Synthetic Track facility at an opening ceremony on Friday.

The President is expected to be among a line-up of officials, including Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, and Director of Sport Neil Kumar, to witness the official opening of the facility, whose infrastructure will host both athletics and football events.

Speaking with Chronicle Sport yesterday, Kumar noted what a historical event the opening of the track will be for Guyana, “It is a historical thing for us, because we are proud to know that we could have built this world class state-of-theart track, where everything was done professionally,” Kumar said.

No fraternity can be more appreciative of the significance of the facility’s opening than the track and field, with president of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Aubrey Hutson yesterday noting his joy on the occasion.

“I am elated that it is going to be finally open, and the AAG is working to put together a nice programme (for the ceremony). All of our top local athletes are going to be there competing in their best events, and a lot of them are going to be looking for bragging rights on the track so it’s going to be an exciting time,” Hutson said.

This will be Guyana’s first facility that will house an allweather synthetic track, the surface recommended by the athletics world governing body, the International Association Turn to page 24 of Athletics Federation (IAAF).

Part of the facility that was completed some time ago.

Bell century puts England in control (REUTERS) - A fine innings of 143 from Ian Bell helped England to recover from a terrible start and finish the first day of the first Test against West Indies on 341 for five in Antigua yesterday.

After being put in to bat, England made a shaky start at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and stumbled to 34 for three before lunch.

But Bell and Joe Root (83) took control in the afternoon session with their 177-run partnership killing

West Indies’ early momentum and then moving England into a strong position.

Although Bell was removed late in the day after the hosts took the second new ball, England will still be satisfied by their day’s work.

West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin was rewarded for his decision to make the visitors bat as his seamers got the early breakthroughs he was hoping for.

Turn to page 23

Ian Bell’s 22nd Test hundred leaves England in control against West Indies.

(Getty Images)

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TUESDAY APRIL 14, 2015