2015 5 22 by Guyana Chronicle

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FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER, RASHLEIGH JACKSON...

Venezuela’s objection to Guyana’s oil search will meet stiff US resistance Page

President Granger pays visit to ExxonMobil’s 17 Deepwater Champion

Page

M&CC poised to restore city to former glory Page

RAMOTAR DECLARES…

Struggle will continue ‘for as long as it takes’ Page

President David Granger (second left) being briefed on the operations of ExxonMobil’s oil rig, the Deepwater Champion

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

DURING FORMAL MEETING...

PM Nagamootoo urges staff to make office service-oriented

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo with OPM staff following their meeting Wednesday

PRIME MINISTER Moses Nagamootoo met the staff at his office yesterday and assured them that there will be no witch hunt against any staff member. All he asked was that they continue to perform their duties in a professional manner. Prime Minister Nagamootoo briefly outlined his vision for the functioning of the office, and implored staff that the OPM

must be service-oriented to the citizens of Guyana. “People come here for service, and we must provide service, because we are paid servants to the people. We must not keep people waiting,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo told the staff. He informed staff that the office will take responsibility for the portfolios of Public Information and Constitutional Reform. Mr Nagamootoo was

sworn in on Wednesday at the Ministry of the Presidency, in front of President David Granger. Subsequently he pointed out that with regard to Constitutional reform which was promised, a start would be made “on humbling the powers of the President, the excessive powers of the executive, and to see how we could bring about greater inclusion within the governing system.” Mr Nagamootoo observed that the constitutional reform process would include a full range of issues which will affect the operation of Guyana’s democracy.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER, RASHLEIGH JACKSON...

Venezuela’s objection to Guyana’s oil search will meet stiff US resistance – time to rethink ‘UN Good Officer’ process in settling dispute By Gary Eleazar GUYANA must forge ahead with its search for oil in the Stabroek Block, despite recent objections by neighbouring Venezuela claiming that Guyana was in violation of its sovereign territory. Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Rashleigh Jackson is of the firm conviction that the exploration is being conducted in Guyana’s waters and must proceed; and that any military intervention on the part of Venezuela will not be tolerated by the United States of America, as it is a US company that is conducting exploration. NOTES VERBALES Word of the discovery of hydrocarbons by Exxon Mobil earlier this month (May 7) was dismissed as an election gimmick by some, but the US-based oil giant in search of crude in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has made “a significant oil discovery”. The announcement of a discovery of the large deposit came subsequent to an objection raised by Venezuela that had led to an exchange of diplomatic Notes Verbales between the two nations’ top Foreign Affairs officials. Jackson, in a brief interview with the Guyana Chronicle last evening, affirmed that the nation’s oil search must be pursued, and that Venezuela was just being

provocative and aggressive when it lodged its objections. Jackson, who served as minister with responsibility for foreign affairs under the People’s National Congress (PNC) Administration, told the Guyana Chronicle that as it relates to the maritime border controversy between the two countries, it is time to begin to look at the available mechanisms under the United Nation’s Geneva Convention. According to Jackson, while the United Nation’s Good Officer process would have served a purpose, it is perhaps time to bring an end to the talks under its auspices. REKINDLED The maritime border spat between Guyana and Venezuela was rekindled back in October 2013, when the Venezuelan Navy boarded the TeknikPerdana, an oil exploration vessel contracted by the Guyana Government and sailed it to Venezuela’s Margarita Islands. Caracas accused the crew of operating illegally in Venezuelan waters. Guyana has since maintained that its delimitation parameters placed the vessel in its EEZ (Exclisive Economic Zone), a notion supported by Jackson. This however did not stop the Venezuelan Government from objecting to the continued oil exploration moves by Guyana. Back in February of this year, Venezuela had object-

ICOM, UNASUR, the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth as well as the United Nations Secretary- General.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Rashleigh Jackson

ed to the planned offshore exploration for oil in local waters by the US company, Exxon. Guyana subsequently wrote its counterpart in Venezuela, urging that it desist from actions that could contravene international law and prevent development. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested that the

Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela desist from taking any actions that could only result in the stymieing of the development of Guyana and its people and that would be in contravention of international law,” a statement from the ministry at the time read. The ministry added that it had also informed CAR-

GENEVA CONVENTION During the brief interview with this publication, the former foreign affairs minister observed that the Good Officer process had in the past been accommodated by both countries, but that in the current context, there needs to be a re-examination of the provisions available for the resolution of maritime border disputes. He said the Administration now taking office must begin to re-think the UN Good Officer process, and look to see what are the other mechanisms available under the Geneva Convention. ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd., exploring on the Stabroek Block, located approximately 120 miles offshore Guyana, this week announced having made a significant find of more than 295 feet (90 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. According to the oil giant, its well “was safely drilled to 17,825 feet (5,433 metres) in 5,719 feet (1,743 metres) of water.” The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). President David Granger, along with Minister of State, Mr Joseph Harmon and a

team from the Ministry of the Presidency yesterday paid a visit to the oil rig, ‘Deepwater Champion’, and spoke glowingly of the venture and the oil company. “We are one of the Guianas; and it is a rich part of the world, in terms of rainforest and minerals, so I am glad that we have opened the door; I am glad that you are a part of opening the door for us,” the President said, according to a Government Information Agency (GINA) missive. US PARTNERS Only recently, the Guyana Government partnered with the United States Embassy in Georgetown, along with the Department of State and Department of the Interior to host a deep-water exploration and energy governance and capacity initiative workshop. That event was held at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown, and was aimed at providing an overview of issues for regulators to address in deep-water exploration, including regulatory responsibilities and functions, and monitoring operations to prevent unforeseen incidents and for regulatory compliance. Among the participants that benefited from that intervention were representatives from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Natural Resources Ministry.

Ramotar details grounds for Surujbally resignation call REFUSAL to release the names of polling-day staff to the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) for vetting; the Chief Elections Officer’s (CEO) admission of the existence of falsified Statements of Polls (SoPs); rejected request for recounts; no release of data used to tabulate the election results and other discrepancies flagged in the electoral process, have compromised the integrity of the 2015 General and Regional Elections. And these grounds, according to PPP/C leader, Mr

Donald Ramotar, premise the Party’s calls for the resignation of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr Steve Surujbally. The call was first made on Tuesday following a meeting of the PPP/C Central Committee. “Notwithstanding that support, the results of the election as declared by GECOM failed to reflect the true will of the Guyanese people,” the PPP/C said. According to Mr Ramotar, the newly sworn-in Government of Guyana

Donald Ramotar

Dr Steve Surujbally

does not reflect the will of the Guyanese people and in the interest of “legitimacy,” GECOM ought to have

acquiesced to the PPP/C’s requests for clarity on the areas of concerns that were raised.

“I think because the elections were rigged in different ways…it was rigged within GECOM itself…it is the wrong basis for which a Government should begin, because the Government does not represent the interest of the people,” he said. Meanwhile, Dr Surujbally told the Guyana Chronicle that he will be resigning from the post of GECOM Chairman, but not at the behest of the PPP/C; rather, because of his own physical limitations as defined against the demands of his current post. “I will resign on my

own volition,” he said. A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) scored a marginal victory in the General and Regional Elections with 207,200 votes, while the PPP/C secured the support of 202,694 Guyanese who cast their votes in support of the party. The PPP/C began raising concerns the day after voting had been completed and the election results were officially declared some five days after Guyanese went to the polls. (Vanessa Narine)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Malaysia orders rescue of migrants, Myanmar to attend conference (Reuters) MALAYSIA’S Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Thursday he had ordered the navy to rescue thousands of migrants adrift at sea, as a Thai official said Myanmar had agreed to attend an emergency conference on the crisis. Diplomats say Myanmar has up to now resisted calls for it to take part in meetings on the stranded “boat people”, many of them Rohingya Muslims who have long complained of discrimination in Myanmar. The apparent shift in its position came after Malaysia and Indonesia’s foreign ministers held talks with

senior officials in Myanmar on Thursday. Western powers and aid groups have also urged Myanmar to increase its involvement, and called on regional powers to do more. The crisis has seen thousands of migrants, also including Bangladeshis fleeing persecution and poverty at home, pushed back out to sea by Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Many now face sickness, and possible starvation, say aid groups. “I have further ordered @tldm_rasmi (navy) and APMM (Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency) to conduct search and

Acehnese fishermen pass near an abandoned boat which carried Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants from Thailand, found off the coast near the city of Kuta Binje, Indonesia’s Aceh Province May 20, 2015. REUTERS/Beawiharta

rescue efforts on Rohingya boats,” Najib said on his Twitter account. “We have to prevent loss of life,” he said, adding that humanitarian aid would be delivered by land and sea. Malaysia and Indonesia on Wednesday said they would let as many as 7,000 migrants on the seas now to come ashore temporarily, but no more. A Thai official told Reuters Myanmar had agreed to attend a regional summit on the issue in Bangkok next week, without going into further details. Officials in Myanmar did not respond to requests for comment.

Palmyra: Syrian forces trapped civilians, UN says BBC News) THE United Nations says it has received reports that Syrian forces in Palmyra prevented civilians from leaving, ahead of its fall to Islamic State militants. The UN, though not present in Palmyra, cited “credible sources”.

It said it was “deeply concerned” about the plight of civilians remaining in Palmyra, amid reports of summary executions. IS has also overrun the World Heritage site adjacent to the modern city, raising concerns about its future.

The militants have previously demolished ancient sites that pre-date Islam. UN cultural organisation Unesco says its destruction would be “an enormous loss to humanity”, but no damage has been reported there yet. IS has also taken control

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are a “setback” for coalition forces targeting IS, but President Barack Obama insisted the US was not losing the war with the group. Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the UN in Geneva, told the BBC that the organisation believed the population of Tadmur, the Arabic name for the modern settlement next to Palmyra, was about 200,000 - of whom about a third had fled. Many civilians were only

of a military airbase and a notorious prison near to Palmyra. The fall of Palmyra comes just days after IS captured the major Iraqi city of Ramadi. The US has acknowledged the militants’ gains

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able to flee on Wednesday and Thursday, once Syrian government forces themselves had fled and IS took over the city, she said. Electricity has been cut off since Wednesday after retreating government forces apparently destroyed power plants, she added. Syrian state media said pro-government forces had pulled out after “assuring the evacuation” of “most” of the inhabitants of Tadmur.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Brazil gymnasts suspended for ‘racist’ comments to Angelo Assumpcao (BBC News) THREE Brazilian athletes have been suspended after appearing to make racist comments to a black team-mate. The three men were caught on video making remarks to Angelo Assumpcao, an 18-year-old gymnast. They were filmed saying a smartphone screen is white when working and black when broken, and that shopping bags are white and bin bags black. The three men have now been suspended by

Angelo Assumpcao and his team-mates will give evidence to a sports tribunal

the country’s gymnastics confederation for 30 days. Fellipe Arakawa, Arthur Nory Mariano and Henrique Flores are now expected to appear before a sports tribunal, where Assumpcao is also likely to give evidence. The Brazilian newspaper O Globo, which obtained the video, said it was posted onto a Snapchat account belonging to one of the three gymnasts. The men then posted a second video apologising for the comments, in which Assumpcao also appeared. They said the comments

were a joke and that the reaction to what they had said had been exaggerated. In the second video, Assumpcao said: “There are no hard feelings. We are friends.” Educafro, a Brazilian charity working with black youngsters, has lodged a criminal complaint, and asked the athletes to pay for scholarships for 50 poor children as punishment. On Saturday, Giovanny Harvey, Brazil’s minister of racial equality, said: “It’s not a joke. This is a crime.”

Colombia landslide: Joy at baby’s ‘miracle’ survival (BBC News) AN 11-monthold baby has survived a devastating mudslide in Colombia that killed at least 78 people. The boy’s mother and 11 other relatives were swept away in the town of Salgar in north-western Antioquia province on Monday. Doctors think the infant, who was named as Jhosep Diaz, survived because he was in a padded crib carried more than a kilometre by the waters. Rescuers are still searching for victims of the mudslide. The doctors who treated the baby boy said he was very cold but relatively unharmed. “He was unconscious and didn’t open his little eyes but was breathing,” Dr Jesus Antonio Guisao told the AP news agency. The child’s grandfather, Alvaro Hernandez, is expected to assume custody. “Amid so much bad

was a mudslide. “I leapt out of bed in what I was wearing, grabbed my kids [a baby almost two years old and a five-year-old boy] and we just got out.” She managed to reach higher ground and waited there till dawn.

Rescuers have been using dogs to help find bodies trapped in the mud

news concerning the death of 16 of our relatives, my grandson’s survival is a miracle,’’ he said. The landslide was Colombia’s worst natural disaster since a 1999 earthquake. Locals and rescuers are having to search a 40kmlong (25 mile) stretch of land on the banks of the Liboriana river.

Most of the residents were asleep when the landslide struck at 03:00 local time (08:00 GMT). Leidi Yasmin Alcaraz Flores, 22, was at home in the village of La Liboriana, when her mother woke her up. “My mother said we had to get out quick,” she told the BBC. “She said there

“The river reached 15 or 20 times its normal size,” said Cesar Augusto Garcia, a local ombudsman in the municipality of Salgar. Speaking to the BBC he said: “The river has flooded before but never to this size.” Landslides are common in the mountains of Colom-

bia, where heavy rain often sweeps away poorly built houses. President Juan Manuel Santos, who visited the area on Tuesday, promised that the survivors would be provided with free housing under a government scheme.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

Stamping out corruption WHILE President David Granger acknowledges the Public Service as the ‘engine of executive’, he has also issued a dire warning that corruption and bribery will be rooted out, even as he sweetened the pot with promises of training, increased salaries, and collective bargaining. According to the President, “It is my view that the Public Service is the engine of the executive, it is essential to have an efficient Public Service if we are to have services such as education, housing, law and order, infrastructure - roads to drive on. I don’t believe that these can be possible without an efficient Public Service. It is essential also to create the environment in which our citizens can enjoy what I call a good life.”

Speaking last Wednesday to heads of the Public Service and budget agencies at the newly renamed Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal, President Granger outlined his plans to transform the Public Service into a fully-functional and efficient unit. He exhorted those present at the meeting: “The public servants must live by different rules, the politicians are the representatives who will go to Parliament and speak in the interest of their constituency, but the public servants must not try to be politicians, they must give those politicians their best advice without fear or favour.” The new Guyanese Headof-State adjured that professionalism will have to be the order of the day. A Public Service Staff College will augment training done and experience garnered on the job.

He reiterated, “Everyone entering the Guyana Public Service must do a course at the Public Service Staff College, so they learn to read and spell properly and to count.” As he had done at Office of the President, now renamed Ministry of the Presidency, Mr Granger assured, “I do not care about who you voted for last Monday, what I care about is that when the political ministers enter the ministries…the public servants they find there will forget who they voted for and work with devotion and dedication to ensure that the ministry succeeds.” However, the Head-of-State has set himself a daunting task, because Guyana’s public servants – in general - are infamous for poor service delivery unless their palms are greased, or rewards provided in some form or another,

His hope that the Public Service will be one that responds to the needs of the Guyanese people in a manner that advances the development of all Guyanese, not only on the Coast; one that is resourceful enough to take advantage of the ability of individual regions to make inroads into improved and efficient management; one that is reliable; and one that is able to capitalise on the digital advances being made by tapping into Information Communication and Technology (ICT) mechanisms may be a vain one, because lackadaisical service and corruption have become entrenched in the DNA of most public institutions, as can be attested to by a swath of the citizenry who have experienced the frustration of having to deal with public officials employed by various state institutions. Added to this dilemma

is the fact that Government cannot take punitive actions against corrupt or inefficient public officials, because this can only be sanctioned by the Public Service Commission, which most often than not disallows actions that impact the jobs and lives of crooked public servants in any negative way. Here one can recall that some Public Servants caught blatantly stealing from public coffers, recommended for dismissal and prosecution by the Public Accounts Committee, chaired by the late no-nonsense Winston Murray, were re-instated after years of paid leave at the nation’s expense. Thus they were rewarded for their criminal actions. Until this system is changed with immediacy then it is improbable that President Granger’s promises to stamp out corruption in the Public Service will fructify in the foreseeable future. Therefore his promise of establishing the principle of merit-based advancement on the basis that the Public Service is no place for “ignoramuses,” but one for intelligent and professional Guyanese who

can envision their efforts in a particular area of public service as a profitable career path will have much difficulty in delivery. Stressing that corruption and bribery should have no place in the public service; and that the Public Service must instead be characterised by persons of integrity, impartiality and intelligence, President Granger warned “People guilty of corruption will not have a place in the public service….in the months to come, when we have a reformed public service, people will regard the public servant as un-bribable.” Stamping out the decades-long habit of bribe-taking, discourteous and disrespectful attitudes, lackadaisical service and overwhelming inefficiency by employees at public institutions is a daunting proposition, very much like cleaning the Augean stables, but if the Head of State succeeds in this undertaking he will have achieved what most victims of this public apparatus think is an impossible feat.

Ramotar: PPP/C still to decide on parliamentary representatives NAMES of representatives of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/) who will now occupy the Opposition benches in the National Assembly are still to be settled, according to the party’s leader, Mr Donald Ramotar. “That we will have to decide later on; I haven’t decided on that,” he said yesterday when asked by members of the media. Mr Ramotar, along with scores of PPP/C supporters marched to protest the 2015 election results, which have been dubbed fraudulent, outside the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GCEOM) Kingston office. The coalesced A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) scored a close

PPP/C leader, Mr Donald Ramotar speaking to members of the media yesterday outside GECOM’s office, where he and supporters protested the 2015 election results continues, even as it protests victory in the 2015 Gener- seats for APNU+AFC, one the 2015 elections results; al and Regional Elections more that the 32 seats won by results the party claims were with 207,200 votes, while the the PPP/C. delivered by way of rigged PPP/C secured the support of According to Mr Ramotar, elections. 202,694 Guyanese who cast the PPP/C will support every In a prior comment, he their votes in its favour. effort to ensure that the busi- said, “We believe that these The results secured 33 ness of the Guyanese people elections were seriously

flawed, enough to change the outcome of the results. We believe that the data used by GECOM when they announced the number in their possession were numbers that did not reflect the vote in the boxes.” Mr Ramotar added, “I am talking about the integrity of our elections….we were asked about proof… they were saying that they did not have reasonable enough proof, but this cannot be regarded as unreasonable.” The party had called for a recount of votes before the final declaration was made, but this was not granted. A second request for a country-wide recount was also rejected. The PPP/C leader then appealed for a recount of 22 ballot boxes where discrepancies

were noticed, however, this was not done. Concerns cited by Mr Ramotar included: the discovery of falsified Statements of Polls (SoPs); the refusal of GECOM to have public vetting of polling-day staffers, many of whom were discovered to be activists of the political Opposition; misdirection by some GECOM staffers who “advised” voters; damaged stamps that saw some ballots not being properly stamped; the fact that persons without identification cards were allowed to vote, even though their images did not match those in the files of GECOM staff, and the denial of proxy holders use of their proxies, among others. (Vanessa Narine)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

TSU cop freed of Shaquille Grant murder By George Barclay

DESPITE two convincing depositions by missing star witness Troy Greenidge, who said, “I saw TSU Cop Terrence Wallace shoot 17-yearold Shaquille Grant at Agricola on September 11, 2012,” murder accused Terrence Wallace was yesterday found not guilty by a mixed jury in the Demerara Assizes. Greenidge, who testified at the PI, disappeared at the jury trial, rendering his evidence unavailable. But by an application to have the matter determined under Section 95, the leading prosecutrix, Mrs. Judith Mursalin, was able to get the judge to decide the issue by means of a voir dire in the absence of the jury. Presiding judge Mr. Navindra Singh conduct-

ed the voir dire, after which he ruled that the depositions of the missing witness be tendered in evidence, since it was proven that every effort had been made to contact the witness, without success. After the small trial, the judge directed that the matter should go to the jury. Greenidge, in his first deposition at the lower court, had said that the police who had taken the statement from him had given the false impression that he had not seen Wallace shoot Grant. He had added: “I was present when TSU cop Terrence Wallace shot Grant at Agricola on September 11, 2012.” At conclusion of the voir dire, Justice Navindra Singh had ordered that the depositions which highlighted what the witness had said at the PI be read to the jury, and that was done. When the prosecutor in

--Jury returns not guilty verdict

the lower court, an Assistant Supt of Police, had produced the depositions of the missing Troy Greenidge, he had noted that, on that occasion, the witness had indicated that his first statement to the police had carried an untruth when he was accused of saying that he did not see anything. One of the depositions of Troy Greenidge read as follows: “On 11th September 2012, I went to 3rd Street, Agricola with Shaquille. We go together and met the boys. We were under a tent in the yard. There is a house in the yard. There were four boys: Tuna, Jamal and Romel were already there. I gave 2 statements to the police. In my first statement, it is not true (that) I never said I didn’t see anything. I am sure. I do not usually go to

the yard at 3rd Street, Agricola. I have family members in another street not in that yard. Myself and other guys were not planning a robbery. I did not go because of Romel Bollers. “Five minutes after I got there, I heard the accused say, ‘Nobody don’t move!” I was facing him. I saw the accused come from west, that is, back of the yard. “On 11th September, a group of men in the formative never entered the yard. When the accused say ‘Nobody move!’, everybody go to the ground. Romel take out his phone and then we heard a shot. I heard no other person say anything at the time when Bollers ask to take the phone out. Romel was six feet away from me. The accused was a foot and

a half from Romel. Romel was not taking a gun from his waist. I was lying down when I heard him ask to take out the phone, then he kneel to get it out. “Shaquille was next to Romel. The accused was standing in front of Romel Bollers. When I heard “boing” a gunshot, I saw Wallace with a gun in his hand. I told the court this. “The first time I tell the court I saw who fired the shot was not when he asked questions in XXM. I heard two gunshots. They came apart, not immediately after the other. I saw the accused with a gun. It was pointed to Rommel. I do not accept that I heard the shot but I did not see who fired the shot. “At the time I heard the gun shot go off, at

first the gun was pointed to Romel. I saw what colour vehicle Shaquille was placed in. It was blue and white. When they put Shaquille in the van, they took we and put we in the other van. After the shots then a couple of other police officers were there, some on bike and some in the van. “Me and Romel are still friends. I see the accused shoot Shaquille Grant. I am not lying because Shaquille was my friend.” Yesterday, the judge summed up the evidence to the jury in two hours. The jury deliberated for two hours before returning with a unanimous verdict of not guilty. Attorney-at-Law Miss Sonia Pariag successfully represented the accused.

Work continues to restore Independence Arch EFFORTS are moving apace to restore the Independence Arch on Brickdam, in time to host the traditional independence anniversary flag-raising ceremony at that venue on Tuesday, May 26. This is in keeping with the wishes of Guyana’s newly sworn President, Briga-

dier (Ret’d) David Granger, who expressed concern that the Independence Arch has been overgrown with bushes and strewn with rubbish. Work commenced on Sunday, and a strong police presence was noticed by the Guyana Chronicle at the work site. The National Indepen-

dence Monument on Brickdam, near Vlissengen Road, is a gift to the people of Guyana from the Demerara Bauxite Company (DEMBA), commemorating Guyana’s independence from Great Britain on May 26, 1966. It once stood resplendent at the head of Brickdam, and to the west of the Square of the Revolution. The structure, in the form of an arch, consists of three tubes made of aluminum from Guyana’s bauxite, mounted on a quartz base. The arch was designed by Canadian engineer, Edric Klak.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

GNBS to enforce mandatory gold standard THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), in a statement yesterday, is informing manufacturers of gold jewellery and consumers generally that the National Gold Standard “Specifications for Gold Articles – GYS 50: 2010 was recently made mandatory. As a result, in the latter half of this year, the GNBS will commence the monitoring of gold jew-

ellery manufactured and offered for sale in Guyana by enforcing the requirements of this national standard. The bureau, under its Standards Compliance Programme, will begin to monitor the operations of manufacturers, including goldsmiths, to ensure that gold articles are labelled in conformity with the requirements set out in the national standard.

The standard, which is also a CARICOM standard, highlights a range of requirements which are important for the streamlining and monitoring of the gold sector in Guyana. It highlights the designation of pure gold content in part per 1000 or karat ranging from 9 karat to 23 karat, and addresses key manufacturing aspects such as the content of the initial raw material, alloying, solder-

ing, settings and the manufacturing environment. In addition, it stipulates criteria for sampling, assaying, tolerances and marking of the product. The standard addresses the determination of gold articles using the modified fire assay method of testing and the formulae to produce alloyed gold of a specified purity. Guidelines for best practice of melting and casting are also included in the standard.

The monitoring and enforcement of the standard will include the annual registration of manufacturers with the GNBS, routine inspections at sale outlets to ensure conformance to labelling requirements, and the sampling and testing of gold articles offered for sale to address under-karating. The GNBS will utilise the services of its gold testing laboratory to carry out tests which will ensure that the

karat declared on jewellery by manufacturers is accurate. Manufacturers of gold jewellery will be notified of the effective date for the commencement of enforcement activities by the GNBS. Meanwhile, manufacturers can begin to work towards compliance by obtaining copies of the standard to verify requirements for compliance.

Guyana’s march to and for Unity

THE fact that Guyana, on May 11, was able to host what was definitely successful National and Regional Elections, once again testifies to the growth and development of democracy in our country. In fact, our democracy has been strengthened, echoing a sentiment of our newly sworn-in President, His Excellency David Arthur Granger, during the course of his speech at Parliament building. But this process must be understood, beginning with the actual electoral machinery, as conducted by the much criticised Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). For all of the criticisms, perhaps not without foun-

dation, this institution, since the managing of the prior 2011 poll, had continued to prepare for the eventuality of another franchise exercise, by its continuing registration exercises. That it has been able to successfully compile a National List of Electors, notwithstanding questions as to its total accuracy, testifies to efforts by its secretariat to present a credible list, which stood the latter test on polling day. The fact that there were no reports of persons being disenfranchised, meant that GECOM’s achievement must be commended as its process allowed for those registered to exercise their constitutional right. However, very special men-

tion is appropriate for our citizens, the core participants in these just concluded historical elections; and this has to be understood against the background of our peculiar historical circumstance. Objectively, it is fair to say that there are examples of similar conditions in other states that have often descended to pre-polling day violence and even continuing in the immediate post-period. Of course, the 2015 campaign on the whole had been intensely competitive, with considerable provocative language used. Yet, citizens did not allow themselves to be trapped, or be influenced by such dangerous inflammatory rhetoric that could

have degenerated into extremes. A centre piece of this maturity was the ability by the two contending parties to campaign in each other’s “strongholds,” mainly without incidents. Crowds of citizens listened. Call this - the essence of electoral democracy. The maturity of the tens of thousands of Guyanese, who queued at their polling stations since before the official commencement hour, testified to a discipline that was commendable, for the patience shown as a result of the length of time that some persons waited to cast their votes. What was clear in the just concluded national elections, and manifested in no uncertain manner, was that all citizens have

the inalienable right of supporting the party of their choice, as well as exercising the constitutional right of electing a government, as a personal prerogative. This was respected, and was no cause for animosity, among the thousands who voted. Undoubtedly, our democracy was upheld. President Granger effectively summed up this fact when, during his post-swearing in address last Saturday, he said: “…the people have chosen their representatives, the Constitution has been respected, our democracy has been fortified…” Bravo Guyana! The people have won! Democracy is stronger! We are better equipped for the march to UNITY!

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

M&CC poised to restore city to its former glory – City Hall to be restored with EU help By Shirley Thomas AFTER more than 23 years of struggling to keep the city litter-free, City Hall has obtained the help of the new Government and other stakeholders, and is poised for the take-off towards restoring Georgetown to its former glory and making it the most beautiful city in the Caribbean. This is according to city Mayor Hamilton Green during a press conference held in his office yesterday, the purpose of which was to bring the media up to date with the Municipality’s plans for the restoration of Georgetown. The Mayor opened with kudos for newly elected President, Mr. David Granger, at whose initiative a major clean-up of the city has already started.

At the instance of President Granger and a group of persons headed by Colonel (Retd) Laurie London; the Municipality and the Private Sector and other stakeholders started the collaborative works last Sunday in the area contiguous to the Office of the President. The exercise, which began with the restoration of the Independence Arch at the head of Brickdam, is almost completed and will ensure that the venue is in good shape and form for the holding of the 49th Independence Anniversary flag raising activities next Tuesday. Thereafter, the clean-up momentum will continue across the city. “The President has shown us the way, so we’re on a new road; a happy road!” Mayor Green said. Breathing a sigh of relief,

and appearing to have had dumbbells lifted off his shoulders, the mayor declared: “We can now exhale in Georgetown –- a city that has been stultified, in some cases for the last 24 years.” Noting that this is just the beginning of things, the mayor said everything will not be accomplished overnight, because the damage done to this city by the previous Administration and the Town Clerk was very severe. He said Council needs to begin with the clearing of 11 outfall channels, which will entail millions of dollars. In addition, Georgetown is below sea level, and that can have its disadvantages. Therefore, caution must be applied. “But whatever we do with our drains, canals, bridges and trenches; at the end of the day, the integrity

of the city’s sluices and the outfall channel must be secured,” Mayor Green said. He said that City Hall is looking at hopefully putting together the programme before the end of the year, but its execution will require experts. CHALLENGES & GOOD NEWS Mayor Green announced that included among the monuments and sites for restoration is a major heritage site – City Hall. But the good news is that help is on the way. He said City Hall is looking at, hopefully, putting the restoration programme together before the end of the year, but it will require experts. But while admitting that it is a big challenge, Mayor Green said that with assured support from the President

City Hall is slated for major restoration works (Photos by Delano Williams)

Mayor Hamilton Green addressing the press conference held at his office yesterday

and Government, City Hall is proceeding with confidence to restore Georgetown. The new Minister of Finance has already given his okay, and the Minister of Local Government has pledged his full co-operation. Additionally, Mayor Green said, yesterday morning he and the deputy mayor also had a meeting with the European Union (EU), during which the way forward was charted and the EU undertook to provide a team of experts to say what has to be done. Present also at that meeting were members of the National Trust, together with an architect and an engineer. The Mayor recalled that, sometime in the past, the previous Government had made available a certain sum of money for restorative works; but, he said, it appears as though that Government and some of the functionaries at City Hall had grossly underestimated the magnitude of the task at hand, so that attempt had proved a failure. The Council has also received offers from the

World Heritage Monument Site, and councilors will be meeting with the National Trust and the EU on Monday, to take them forward. “So we’re on a new road, a happy road,” Mayor Green said. He called upon the media to offer their cooperation in any way possible as the restoration works continue. “Feel free to tell us where we are going wrong; what mistakes we make, so that with humility we can work together as a team. This has to be a co-operative effort among the Government, private sector, the business people, the municipality and the citizens,” the mayor said. He particularly implored the media to help Council to persuade people not to litter; to persuade people to clean their own drains around them, and their own yards; and to teach young people the role they can play in maintaining a litter-free environment and beautifying the city and country. He implored all to help make Georgetown the most beautiful city in the Caribbean.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Budget preparations moving apace – Finance Minister Jordan NEWLY- appointed Minister of Finance Winston Jordan has already begun extensive consultations with high-level ministry staffers with a view to completing and presenting the National 2015 Budget. The minister, who is a highly qualified financial expert, said that he inherited some of the groundwork which was already laid out by the previous sector minister, Dr Ashni Singh. These preparations were made based on the previous Government’s priorities, but now the focus will be changed to reflect the agenda of the new A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Administration. Minister Jordan explained that he has spoken to

most of his senior staffers, including those from the Statistics Bureau, the Accountant General’s Department, the Bank of Guyana and several others. “They have given me an indication of where we are at, and now I am trying to put that in some kind of framework, to get a preliminary assessment of the state of the economy, and how we, ourselves can begin to set our own targets, for this truncated physical year, and at the same time looking ahead to what we will have to do to frame the budget for 2016.” Asked about Guyana’s economic performance for 2015, Minister Jordan replied that during a transition meeting with his predecessor, he was informed that a growth of 3.9 to 4% is expected.

This figure was projected, taking into consideration a full financial year, the minister said. “Seeing that we have some numbers now of the performance in the first almost half of the year, we need to make some projections on what is it is going to be for the next half and come up with some new projections and that is what we are doing right now.” As part of efforts to craft a new structure for the Finance Ministry, Minister Jordan pointed out that a suitably qualified person has been found to head a “Macro Economic Section” that he intended to set up. He said that this was because budgets were being produced without this over-arching framework, within which such major documents should be un-

New Finance Minister, Mr Winston Jordan

dertaken. Too often these frameworks have been developed outside of Guyana, he stated, “In other words, experts come in, mostly from the World Bank, IMF and so

on. They come in for short periods and I want to really have the in-house capability to develop this and to be discussing it with these teams when they come in for their annual visits.” It would also be good to have this aforementioned background, in which to develop various projects which the new Government may wish to undertake. It will also help with the development of the Administration’s strategic medium and long-term plan according to its manifesto, he added. Moving ahead, Minister Jordan is looking forward to full cooperation from the agencies which come under the ambit of the Finance Ministry, and his Cabinet colleagues. He is asking for the general population to have patience. “I know they are clamouring for us to do a whole range of things,”

Jordan said, adding: “In time, I know, most, if not all, will be done. I’m asking that they give us this little time, as we begin to put things in place so that these promises that we made can be realised.” The outside date for the National Budget’s presentation to the National Assembly is three months after the convening of the 11th Parliament, around the end of August 2015. The Finance Minister is optimistic, however that this process will be completed long before then, given the implications for the following 2016 National Budget. Minister Jordan originally joined the Finance Ministry in 1985 as Budget Director and after resigning in 1994, was asked to return as a consultant where he worked until 2008. He was appointed to his current post on May 20. (GINA)

PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES...

PSM to soon boast own college – with improved conditions, upgraded syllabus

Locked in talks are, from left: Permanent Secretary in the Public Service Ministry, Mr Hydar Ally; President David Granger; Minister of State, Mr Joseph Harmon; and Ms. Soyinka Grogan, Manager of the Public Service Ministry’s Scholarship Division

HAVING had a first-hand look at what obtains at the Public Service Training Centre in terms of its day-to-day operations and courses being offered, President David Granger an-

nounced yesterday that work on the much-needed upgrades will commence shortly. The President, accompanied by Minister of State, Mr Joseph Harmon toured

the facility and met with the various representatives. After wrapping up his tour of the facility, the Head of State said his visit was an important first step towards his Administration’s plans for

a total reform of the Public Service. The training centre will soon be upgraded to the Public Service Staff College as part of the APNU+AFC Administration’s plan to build

capacity and improve efficiency in the Public Service. “Our intention is that every entrant into the Public Service must be trained at the College, and it is now our task to upgrade the training division into a staff college. We came here to understand the challenges faced by the Division, so that we can prepare for that upgrade,” President Granger said. He shared the view that training is vital to improving the quality and performance of the Public Service. Speaking to the general aesthetics of the current training facility, the President said significant changes would have to be made in order to fulfill his Administration’s vision for an efficient Public Service. On Wednesday, the Head of State took the time to meet with the heads of several Government agencies and

serving Permanent Secretaries, and outlined what is expected of them under this new dispensation. The President said that under his Administration, the hallmarks of the public service would be intelligence, integrity, and impartiality. Soon, he said, there will be a clearly defined code of ethics by which they will have to be guided. Improved conditions and remuneration were also being considered, all in the interest of achieving an efficient Public Service. Currently, the Public Service Training Centre offers courses to persons operating within the sector in the areas of Principles of Supervisory Management, Principles of Professional Secretarial Practice, Government Accounting Procedure, Personnel Practices and Policies among others. (GINA)

Police say robberies down, serious crimes up THE Guyana Police Force said yesterday in a press release that there has been a 6% increase in serious crimes in Guyana. The release stated that this has been recorded up to Monday, May 18, 2015, in compar-

ison with the same period in 2014. The serious crimes include murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and

kidnapping. The release also indicated that 60 murders have been recorded for this year, in comparison with 56 for the similar period last year, an increase of 7%. Additionally, robbery under arms overall has decreased by

15%, with an 18% decrease in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and an 11% decrease in armed robbery, where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators. The offence of rape has

shown an increase of 70%, while burglary decreased by 11%. In relation to traffic, up to May 20, 2015, there were 41 road fatalities from 32 accidents, compared with 43 road fatalities from 40 accidents during the

similar period in 2014. Cognisant of the prevailing rains, the Guyana Police Force is urging motorists and other road users to exercise greater care and attention as they use the roadways. (GINA)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Courts Guyana in generous partnership – donates stove and with Habitat for Humanity fridge to needy person TOMEICKA Patterson has been the recipient of a stove and refrigerator, generously donated by the furniture megastore Courts Guyana yesterday as part of its partnership with Habitat for Humanity. At the handing-over ceremony, held at Courts Guyana Main Street Office, Roberta Ferguson, Public Relations

Officer, explained that the company has recently partnered with Habitat for Humanity to assist in Habitat’s provision of homes for those who live in extreme poverty. Speaking specifically about the donation made to Tomeicka Patterson, Ferguson noted that Patterson is a survivor of domestic violence, and in the initial

stages, Courts came on board with other companies to assist with the repairs done to her home. “Unfortunately the home was destroyed by fire, leaving Patterson and her daughter homeless.” The Habitat for Humanity Representative noted that the entity was very thankful for the donation made to Patterson, and said Habitat’s

Courts PR Roberta Ferguson, Tomeicka Patterson and the Habitat for Humanity Representative during the official handover

members also thank Courts Guyana Limited for partnering with them on this project. She noted as well that Habitat would like to encourage continuation of the partnership as the organisation seeks to provide housing to persons in extreme poverty. Tomeicka Patterson expressed her heartfelt gratitude to both organisations for their

generous assistance. She explained how much this gesture would improve life for her daughter and herself, and said the tragedy of the fire, which occurred not long after the building had been completed, had devastated her. New millionaires Vaunda Wayne and Alicia Henry also received symbolic

cheques, after participating and winning a Mabe Appliance promotion. In March Courts launched an Appliance Promotion wherein customers who shopped any Mabe appliance from March 25th to May 10th were entered to be one of two lucky customers to win $1M each in prizes of their choice. (Rebecca Ganesh)

Courts PR Roberta Ferguson, Sales Manager Pamela Humphrey, and new millionaires Vaunda Wayne and Alicia Henry

CDB STUDY FINDS...

Region needs to focus more on TVET in schools SPECIFIC challenges of giving youth the right training and tools for the labour market were examined in a Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) study presented yesterday at a seminar at the 45th Annual General Meeting of the CDB’s Board of Governors in St Kitts and Nevis. The report, entitled “Youth are the Future, the Imperative of Youth Employment for Sustainable Development in the Caribbean,” notes that while Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Programmes were generally widespread in the Region and received attention at the level of CARICOM, with the governing body being the CXC, it was seen at times as a last resort in terms of obtaining qualifications by those who were not “aca-

demically-minded.” The implementation of technical and vocational training and entrepreneurship that is currently provided after leaving secondary school should be integrated within the curriculum, with links to private enterprises, and students guided to certain areas by career education. Such an approach would ensure that young people leaving secondary school would have an understanding of the needs and expectations of the labour market, as well as some marketable skills, the report said. Additionally, there is a disconnect from industry, where the link between the education system and the needs of the labour market is the National Training Agency (NTA), rather than an integrated relationship between the two, as seen in countries

The Caribbean Development Bank has urged that greater focus be placed on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Programmes in schools

that operate dual-track apprenticeship schemes with both academic and on-thejob training. The study finds that despite the existence of several core components for addressing youth unemployment across the Region, the overall system is fragmented and disjointed.

While there is recognition of the linkages between youth and youth-at-risk issues and unemployment, youth have become the remit of ministries concerned solely with social issues or those related to sports and culture, and sometimes education. However, there are a few examples of holistic ap-

proaches to addressing youth unemployment in the Region. One example is seen in The Cayman Islands. There, the government- funded National Workforce Development Agency (NWDA), which was noted as being heavily utilized and provides a number of services. While the agency’s remit is not specifically directed at youth unemployment, it was found to have a direct impact through its activities. The study calls for transformative shifts in the education system, especially in technical and vocational training within secondary schools and at post-secondary institutions, as well as an expansion in entrepreneurship training. It proposes an 11-point action agenda with specific recommendations at the international, regional and

national levels. In specifically addressing the issue of youth unemployment, and seeking to facilitate their entry into employment, four specific groups of unemployed youth were identified: school-leavers; the chronic unemployed; the transient unemployed; and those not in employment, education or training. The differential needs of these groups in attaining employment were also highlighted. To address these needs, a number of multi-stakeholder actions are recommended, including the involvement of trade unions, educational institutions, NGOs, the church, community departments and practitioners, the police, and the private sector, in addition to central government, and regional and international institutions.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

GTA clears air on visitor arrivals – says figures up by 7%

GTA Director, Mr Indranauth Haralsingh

THE Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) has clarified that there has been a 7% increase in tourist arrivals during the period January to April 2015. GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh during a press conference yesterday at GTA’s boardroom highlighted that the Authority has noted in the past few weeks that there have been many comments that visitor arrival figures were false or misleading. Haralsingh underscored the fact that for the year 2015, arrivals up to March

had increased by 13.9%. However, the country saw a drop in April by some 6.4%. He could not say what the reason was for the decline, but noted that the arrivals to date are still somewhat high. “For January to April, 2015,the GTA recorded 66,495 visitors compared to 62,131 in 2014 for the same period, that’s a 7% increase in arrivals and we are still ahead of the average world arrival which is 4.5%,” he stated. “We would like to inform the general public and

A sample of how the MIST system works (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

our stakeholders that the figures are accurate and clarify how information is captured and analysed.” The director went to define “what is a tourist,” noting that a tourist is a person who is “travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes.” Data is collected from the embarkation/disembarkation (E/D) cards provided by the immigration department and is entered into an analytical programme called

Management Information System for Tourism (MIST). This system, he stated, was designed for data entry and analysis by the Caribbean Tourism Organistaion(CTO) for its members, using United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) definitions. Media operatives were also afforded a first-hand opportunity as the data was being entered into the MIST system for verification purposes. “Some of the data captured in the E/D card include nationality, country of

birth, country of residence, intended length of stay, intended place of stay whether it is a private residence or hotel, purpose of visit, age and gender,” he related. While MIST is designed to capture all incoming passengers, The GTA publishes only the visitor arrival figures, the other data on passengers are used internally to monitor airline performance and passenger market share. He noted that other data can be used strategically in the country’s marketing plan. According to Harals-

ingh, the data presented for the period January to April of this year was tabulated from Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Ogle International Airport, Moleson Creek and Lethem. “Prior to 2013, figures presented did not include Ogle International Airport, Moleson Creek and Lethem.” The United States remains the largest source market with a market share of 39.3%, followed by the Caribbean, the second largest source market with a 24.4% market share.

DHARMIC SABHA...

Pardoning Deo sends a wrong signal THE Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has expressed disappointment with the decision of former President Donald Ramotar to pardon Ravindra Deo who was convicted for murdering eight-year-old Vishnu Bhim. Deo was serving a life sentence. The Sabha in a statement said in Guyana, violence against children is still prevalent and “too often we read in the media about unspeakable acts being committed against our innocent little ones.” The Sabha believes that the pardoning and subsequent release of a child-killer sends the wrong signal to

those who have committed or are inclined to commit such acts. “Indeed, the Sabha is of the firm view that the most severe punishments should be meted out to those who inflict harm on children,” the statement said. It also noted that the Sabha remains committed to working towards the eradication of violence against children and, at present, provides a safe haven for child victims through the Bal Nivas, its shelter for children at Ankerville, Berbice, Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne). The Bal Nivas was opened on May 5, 2014. Since then, the Sabha has been collaborating with the

Child Protection Agency to have children placed in the shelter, schooled and later,

where appropriate, re-integrated into their families. On recently, the Guyana

Coalition for Children in a release said it is saddened and appalled to learn of Ramotar’s pardoning of Deo. Bhim of Annandale, East Coast Demerara, was the only child for his parents. “Ravindra Deo already had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment. Today, he is free to live how he wishes. On the other hand, innocent eight-yearold Vishnu is dead; his parents and family will never see his potential realised, and our society has been robbed of his contribution. “Too many adults in our society have contributed to the abuse of children and/ or stood by silently while children are abused and violated,

most often by someone they know and love. The Guyana Coalition for Children reiterates that all forms of child abuse can be prevented. The abuse of children must not be tolerated, and abusers of children must receive the full penalties the law attaches to this heinous crime,” the release said. The Guyana Coalition for Children is calling on the new government to place children’s issues at the heart of developing Guyana and to address this injustice without any delay. Several other organisations and individuals have also condemned the decision of the former president.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

OAS Drug Commission publishes report

– on alternatives to incarceration for drug-related offences

THE Executive Secretariat of the Commission for the Control of Drug Abuse (CICAD) of the Organization of American States (OAS) today released the technical report on “Alternatives to Incarceration for Drug -Related Offences,” which was presented to members states in its recent 57th regular session. The report argues that the search for alternatives to incarceration can contribute to achieving at least five core objectives in the hemisphere: ¡°to more effectively address public health problems associated with illicit drug use and provide a more humane and effective response to drug\related crimes; to reduce the negative impacts of incarceration, while helping to reduce prison overcrowding and the human rights violations stemming from it; to make the punishment fit the crime, maintaining the idea of proportionality and employing criminal punishment as the last resort for minor offenders; to ensure public safety and citizen security by prioritising use of public resources in the fight against organised crime; and to ensure that the above objectives are achieved with the minimum expense necessary to maximise the desired results.¡± With these “fundamental goals”, the report, intended as a reference for the member countries, proposes a list of alternatives that have been adopted in recent years in different countries, and that “each member state may tailor to

its own context, given that each state is facing different issues on the ground.” The initiatives “have certain common features,” says the report, which however added that “there is no across-the-board formula that works everywhere and the countries in the Region can “ each member state can, of course accept, reject or modify each strategy as it sees fit. The OAS Secretary General, Jose Miguel Insulza, said that the proposals respond to the findings of the OAS Report on the Drug Problem in the Americas, which was drafted under his supervision in compliance with a mandate from the Heads of State at the Sixth Summit of the Americas in Colombia in April 2012. “The report concluded that there is a problem of prison overcrowding in nearly all the countries of the hemisphere due to drug enforcement taking place mainly through criminal sanctions,” he said. In this respect, he said “the application of severe laws for drug offences has generated negative consequences such as overloaded courts and prisons, and the suffering of thousands of people imprisoned for small drug offences.” Among the specific strategies proposed in the report presented are: the decriminalisation or depenalisation; diversion from the judicial system; non-custodial sanctions; proportionality; and monitoring and evaluation. Regarding decriminalisation or legalisation, the document states

they are instruments used, primarily “as an alternative for non-problematic drug users.” The advantage of this alternative is that the justice system frees up resources that can be used for other purposes. With regard to the diversion from the justice system, it is argued that a drug-related offender may be referred to “public health and social assistance systems, affording them opportunities to rejoin and become a productive of their community.” Regarding non-custodial measures, the report states that this strategy “recognises the need for conviction and punishment in certain cases, but it minimises the number of offenders serving time in prison for minor drug-related offenses, thus contributing to the relief of overcrowding, and in turn the potential human rights violations that are often a result of the overcrowding.” On proportionality, the report notes that this legal principle states that the punishment for a particular offence should reflect the degree of damage to society. “This principle necessitates the creation of categories of offences, of substances and of offenders, and the assignment of a range of sentencing options applicable to each category,” adds the document. The report also proposes the monitoring and evaluation of all alternatives to incarceration implemented, arguing that it is important that initiatives incorporate “all the elements required to ensure

proper implementation, such as institutional backing, adequate funding, training, assessment of implementation, and proper oversight. “There is still a debate as to the manner in which to measure the impacts of the alternative measures for drug related offences mentioned in this report. There is, however, agreement that the establishment of clear indicators to measure the results is essential to demonstrate the success or failure of any particular alternative or to identify aspects that could be improved,” the document states. The report was drafted by the CICAD and the Government of Colombia, which chaired the Working Group for alternatives to incarceration for drug offences. The document recalls that the historical starting point of the Region on the issue of drugs dates back to the three United Nations Conventions on international drug control - approved in 1961, 1971 and 1988, in pursuit of which the OAS member states established a system of penalties related to the possession, sale and trafficking of drugs. The growth of the problem and, in part, the demands of the public, resulted in convictions of ever longer prison sentences, not always proportionate to the crime and its threat to human health or public safety. “Many countries in the hemisphere are now facing major prison overcrowding problems, leading to associated state expenditure and increased risks of human rights violations, the report added.

The shift in policy in the Region and the beginning of the joint formulation of proposals of alternatives to imprisonment began, relates the report, with the approval of the member states of the OAS - through CICAD - of the 2010 Hemispheric Drug Strategy and its 2011-2015 Plan of Action agreeing to “explore the means of offering treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery support services to drug dependent offenders as an alternative to imprisonment, and in some cases, criminal prosecution.” In addition, the OAS produced the report entitled “The Drug Problem in the Americas.” The report opened the debate at the highest political level in the hemisphere on the need to change the approach in treating the problem. Following the report, the OAS General Assembly in 2013 adopted the Declaration of Antigua Guatemala, “For a Comprehensive Policy Against the World Drug Problem in the Americas”, in which the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the OAS encouraged member states, in accordance with their domestic law, to continue strengthening measures and policies, including a gender perspective, as appropriate, to reduce overcrowding in prisons, while promoting greater access to justice for all.” Later in the XLVI OAS Special General Assembly, held in Guatemala in September 2014, this need was re-emphasized.

PPP/C accuses APNU+AFC of ‘political gimmickry’ PRONOUNCEMENTS by the leader of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), David Granger, regarding an invitation for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to join a “national unity” movement has been dubbed a political gimmick. The party, in a statement, said: “The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) wishes to label as deceptive the pronouncements made in the

press by Leader of the APNU+AFC coalition, David Granger, that he has invited the PPP/C to join “a national unity movement.” It added that to date, there has been no formal or informal invitation from the APNU+AFC on the matter. “The pronouncement therefore of Granger, is a political gimmick and nothing else,” the PPP said. The party’s comment follows a similar denunciation by the PPP/C leader, Mr Donald Ramotar, who made

it clear that no offer to form a national unity movement was made to him. Reports from local media outlets say that the new Head of State made the offer during a telephone conversation last Friday. Mr. Granger is reported to have expressed his disappointment that Mr. Ramotar has not accepted his offer for close working relations. “Guyana has turned the corner; it will be a better Government… We are not in the business of winner-takes

all and locking people out. I would like a Government of all the people and that is why I would like to ask former President Ramotar to reconsider his position,” Granger was quoted by an Online site as saying. However, the PPP/C leader, when contacted by the Chronicle, noted that this was not so, and contends that Mr. Granger is being “disingenuous” in asserting any other position. “We had no discussions on forming a national unity

Government. I never had any such conversation with Mr. Granger. We did, indeed, speak last Friday, but in that conversation I was speaking to him about the provocation, attacks, insults and triumphalism being directed to PPP supporters,” Mr. Ramotar said. He maintains his contention that the APNU+AFC Government does not reflect the will of the Guyanese people, taking into consideration that the PPP/C views the electoral process as “severe-

ly” compromised. The PPP/C leader highlighted that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by its constitutional mandate and the electoral observer missions have made pronouncements on the elections without taking into account the real concerns that have been brought to their attention by the party. The PPP/C is maintaining its course in advancing a case to the High Court to challenge the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

Young labourer charged with damage to property, assault A NINETEEN-year-old labourer appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court after an argument with his older fiancee resulted in him being charged with damage to property and assault. It is alleged that on May 16 at North Road, Bourda, Georgetown, Robert McKenzie unlawfully and maliciously damaged an Alcatel cellular phone valued $13,000, property of Holly Anderson.

McKenzie, of Lot 194 ‘D’ Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara, pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him. It was further alleged that on the same date and place, Mackenzie assaulted Anderson so as to cause her actual bodily harm. The young man however denied this charge. Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru did not relate the facts to the court, neither did he object to bail being granted. The defendant explained to the court that on the day

in question, he came home from work and the defendant picked up her phone, called his mother and began to disrespect her. The young man noted that he took the said phone away and threw it on the ground, and added that his fiancee frequently behaves in such manner. The magistrate fined McKenzie $10,000 for the damage to property charge. He is scheduled to return to court today before city magistrate Alex Moore to face the assault charge.

Father of two facing damage to property charge A FATHER of two, who was on Wednesday charged for unlawful and malicious damage to property appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The allegation is that on May 16 at Cornhill Street, Georgetown, Delroy Thomas unlawfully and maliciously

damaged a car bumper along with its head lamps valued $70,000, property of Leon Glasgow The man of Lot 102 Last Field Sophia pleaded guilty to the charge. The court heard that on the day in question, Glasgow was made aware of the incident moments after he heard a loud noise outside his

house, when he saw the defendant lying on the ground alleging that he had run into the car. Thomas offered to compensate the man for the damage, to which Glasgow willingly agreed. The magistrate then gave Thomas two months to pay for the damage and the matter was set for report on June 30.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

HTNTP calls on Government to establish national marijuana commission WHILE congratulating the newly elected Government, the Healing of the Nation Theocracy Party (HTNTP) has called on them to establish the National Marijuana Council, considering the fact that it has been mandated by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government in 2014. The HTNTP has reiterated its support for the A Partnership For National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, announcing that they look forward to working with President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in re-building the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and pushing the development of “El Dorado.” According to a statement, the party is calling on the new Government to include the setting up of a national marijuana commission, as mandated by the CARICOM Heads of Government in 2014, as part of its mandate to fulfil certain commitments within 100 days of assuming office. “Early in the elections campaign, both APNU, through a pronouncement by Mr. Joe Harmon, and AFC through, an announcement by Mr. Rafael Trotman, had indicated their respective parties’ support for a review of legislation surrounding the decriminalisation and eventual legalisation of marijuana.” The Rastafarian Party, through its weekly “Healing The Nation” television programme on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 12 noon on HBTV

HTNTP’s Chairman Alfred Park (left) and Head of the HTNTP, Ras Leon Saul

Channel 9, has been advocating the legalisation of ganja. This was also a main plank of the HTNTP’s elections campaign, along with the total eradication of poverty. In calling for the setting up of the Government-funded national marijuana commission, Guyana is joining with sister CARICOM state Jamaica, which recently this year, amended the Dangerous Drugs Act in its Parliament to ease restrictions on the use of the herb on the tourist island. HTNTP is seeking to have the new APNU+AFC coalition Government table the legislation within the first 100 days “to amend the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act Chapter 10:10 in order to decriminalise marijuana for

medicinal, religious, scientific and therapeutic purposes.” As in Jamaica, the new law will make the possession of small quantities of ganja a non-chargeable offence; instead it makes it a credible infraction that does not result in a criminal record; it permits the use of ganja for religious, medical, scientific and therapeutic purposes; and it provides for regulation through the granting of licences to permit the development of a lawful industry for medical ganja and industrial hemp. “HTNTP stands committed to work with the APNU+AFC coalition administration in ensuring constitutional and judicial reforms to make Guyana a better place with equal rights and justice for all!”

The IDB will invest US $27M million to improve transportation in Haiti …grant will support reforms to strengthen road and port sectors THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US$27 million grant to help modernise and improve the management of Haiti’s roads and ports, key sectors that are fundamental for the country’s economic development and integration. The grant is the second in a series of three programmatic Policy Based Grants (PBGs) that provide the Haitian Government with budget support for policy, legal and institutional reforms of Government agencies. This grant includes measures aimed at modernising

and strengthening road sector management to improve planning, maintenance, road safety, construction and rehabilitation of roadways. It also covers modernisation of maritime sector management, including policy and legal reforms governing the country’s ports. These fast-disbursing grants complement other larger, transportation investment projects financed by the IDB and other donors in Haiti. The programme will benefit both the private and public sectors by providing better transport and maritime port infrastructure, lower

costs and decreased travel time. ABOUT US The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private sector clients throughout the Region.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

EU launches new Disaster Preparedness Plan in the Caribbean THE European Union has allocated 10 million Euros for risk reduction activities in the Caribbean. Communities highly exposed to floods, hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes will benefit from disaster preparedness projects funded by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO), through its DIPECHO Programme (Disaster Preparedness ECHO). A total of 14 projects will be implemented in the Region between 2015 and 2016 in order to reduce the vulnerability to natural hazards and to better prepare communities and authorities to respond to emergencies. “We have been working on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Caribbean for more than a decade. We recognise this topic has become more relevant, but there are still significant needs in terms of resources and capacities,” said Virginie André, ECHO official responsible for the Caribbean. “Through the DIPECHO programme, we support local and national efforts in order for institutions and com-

munities to better anticipate the potential impact of any natural adverse event, and to limit their consequences. The focus is on strengthening capacities and changing attitudes to save lives,” commented André. The 2015-2016 DIPECHO Action Plan aims at reducing the impact of future disasters in the Caribbean by preparing vulnerable populations affected by frequent disasters, strengthening their resilience. Activities funded include simple and inexpensive preparatory measures carried out by the communities themselves, such as risk mapping, emergency plans, early warning systems, education campaigns and small infrastructure projects; all activities are aimed at avoiding the loss of lives, property and livelihood. Actions also focus on urban risks and are aimed at reducing cities’ vulnerability. More than 400,000 people will benefit from this assistance throughout the Region. ECHO’s strategy in the Caribbean in the framework of the DIPECHO programme includes the consolidation of successful experiences devel-

OAS Secretary General congratulates President Granger SECRETARY-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, has congratulated the newly inaugurated President of Guyana, David Granger, who was officially declared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as the winner of the 2015 General Elections. Moreover, in a letter sent recently, Secretary-General Insulza extended his congratulations to the APNU+AFC Coalition for the victory at the General Elections held on March 11. “Your victory is a confirmation of the confidence which the people of Guyana have in your leadership and that of the other Coalition members,” reads the letter sent on Monday, May 18. The letter recalls that the OAS was invited to observe the elections “so as to help in the further consolidation of democracy in Guyana.”

Jose Miguel Insulza

“From all indicators, the people of Guyana were able to exercise their civic responsibility freely and the elections were conducted in a calm and peaceful atmosphere,” writes the Secretary General, who expressed his certainty that, under the new administration of the Secretary General-elect, Luis Almagro, the OAS will continue to offer its full support to advance the political and socio-economic development of the Caribbean country.

oped in the Region during the past years, support to national programmes for Safe Schools and Hospitals, strengthening of early warning systems, and optimisation of information management and communication about Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the Region. ECHO advocates for the integration of DRR efforts

into the Caribbean development policy, that is why it facilitates meetings and dialogue between the actors involved in risk management and promotes the adoption of policies and strategies related to DRR. In that way, all DIPECHO projects will be implemented in close coordination with the national risk management systems of each

country and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). The Caribbean, one of the most disaster-prone areas in the world, is the scenario in which disaster preparedness projects funded by ECHO have been constantly and successfully tested, as it has been shown in recent emergency responses.

Since 1994, ECHO has allocated over 488 million Euros in humanitarian assistance to the Caribbean. Of these, 70 million euros were allocated to disaster risk reduction and preparedness in the Region contributing to strengthen resilience of the most vulnerable people in the Region.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Highly motivated teachers key to driving education sector

- newly sworn in Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

NEWLY appointed Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, said that the key element to pushing the education sector forward is to ensure that there are highly motivated teachers in classrooms. During an invited comment, following the swearing-in of several A PartMinister of nership for National UniEducation, Dr. ty (APNU) + Alliance For Rupert Roopnaraine

Change (APNU+AFC) Ministers of Government on Wednesday at the Ministry of the Presidency, Dr. Roopnarine noted that while the task is a huge one, he is prepared to push the sector to greater heights in keeping with President David Granger’s strategy to achieve Universal Literacy, ensuring that every child, regardless of race or background, receive

quality education. Dr Roopnaraine emphasised that “it’s going to be a massive task… because you know from nursery to university needs fixing...” Meanwhile, Minist e r o f F o r e i g n A ff a i r s , Carl Greenidge said that having engaged the mana g e r s o f t h e m i n i s t r y, his first move will be

to fashion a programme for this very vital institution. “From a distance, I get the impression that we need to place some special attention to the institution itself, the skills that are there, those that need to be developed, the institutes that were established and seem to have fallen into abeyance,” Greenidge ex-

plained. In keeping with the President’s wish for a greater focus on “Economic Diplomacy” he said that the ministry will remain and retain as a primary priority, the issue of defending Guyana’s borders and developing of more sustainable and warm relations with the country’s neighbours.

Ramotar declares…

Struggle will continue ‘for as long as it takes’ --as scores of PPP/C supporters protest outside GECOM

PPP/C leader Mr Donald Ramotar heads a protest line outside GECOM calling out its Chairman on claims of rigged elections By Vanessa Narine CONCERNS raised by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) without success were taken to another level yesterday by way of the staging of a protest march outside the Commission’s High Street, Kingston head office. Placards borne by scores of PPP/C supporters screamed a number of objections, including: ‘These elections were not free and fair’; ‘Where did the fake SoPs (Statements of Poll) come from’; ‘Recount the votes, this is no joke’; ‘We need impartiality from GECOM’; ‘Shame on the diplomats from the ABC (United States of America, Britain, Canada) countries’; ‘Surujbally must go’; and ‘PPP/C were cheated, but we are not defeated.’ Although the words ‘peaceful protest’ were clear-

ly visible on the clothing of protestors, yet still a strong presence of armed ranks from the Disciplined Services was seen on the sidelines of the marching band of PPP/C supporters. There was also a small group of persons standing nearby, some shouting counter protests. U n d a u n t e d , h o w e v e r, PPP/C leader Mr Donald Ramotar led the march, his placard reading: ‘Surujbally is not a fair man. You refused to count my vote. My vote must count.’ He was joined not only by party supporters, but also by former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and several former government ministers and PPP/C leaders to protest “fraudulent elections” that delivered “fraudulent” results to the Guyanese people. RIGGED ELECTIONS Speaking to the media, he stressed that the protest actions

will continue “for as long as it takes” to ensure that the wrong of the 2015 General and Regional Elections are righted. The wrongs highlighted by the PPP/C last week include: The discovery of falsified Statements of Poll (SoP); GECOM’s refusal to have public vetting of polling-day staffers, many of whom were discovered to be activists of the political Opposition; misdirection by some GECOM staffers who “advised” voters; damaged stamps that saw some ballots not being properly stamped; the fact that persons without identification cards were allowed to vote, even though their images did not match those in the files of GECOM staff; and the denying proxy holders the use their proxies, among others. Stressing that evidence of irregularities is clear, Mr Ramotar said, “People are coming out, they are feeling cheated, it is the wrong basis for which a Government should begin, because the Government does not represent the interest of the people.” He added that the coalesced A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has already been party to the “worst form of corruption” in the country – that of rigged elections. The PPP/C leader made no bones about highlighting the fact that while international observers have pronounced that the elections were free and fair, they were “duped,” since

they did not look at GECOM’s machinery for fraudulent acts, but at the voting process – considering the mechanisms used in the past to manipulate elections in Guyana. “The elections were rigged in different ways… it was rigged on the road by GECOM…it was rigged within GECOM itself…these manipulations took place by many of the returning officers,” Ramotar said. RECOUNT DEMANDED All things considered, the PPP/C is maintaining its full demand for a total recount of the votes cast on May 11. “The Government in place now does not reflect the will of the Guyanese people and if they are interested in legitimacy, they should agree to a recount,” Mr Ramotar said. Given that the election

results have been officially declared, the PPP/C is advancing legal action to have a recount ordered by Guyana’s courts. Former Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, commenting on this move, explained that evidence is being compiled to support an Elections Petition, which will be filed in the High Court. “The Court will order the recount, because it is my expectation that we will put enough evidence to the court to show that these elections should be vitiated, that there were material irregularities that would have materially changed the results declared,” he said. Declining to comment on an exact number, Nandlall stressed that in the absence of the irregularities flagged by the PPP/C, the party would have won the elections by

“thousands” and not have lost by a small margin of just over 4,000 votes. “We would have won the elections by several thousands. I don’t want to discuss the figure,” he said. STRUGGLE CONTINUES A d d i t i o n a l l y, G e n e ral Secretary Clement Rohee who also spoke to the Guyana Chronicle, noted that the PPP/C is seeking justice for the “slap in the face of democracy” that was perpetuated[sic] by the 2015 General and Regional Elections. “We want justice,” he stressed. The former prime minister also commented on the PPP/C’s current struggle and maintained that there were irregularities in the process that saw the party not being

See Page 18

A section of the protesters, including former government ministers, outside GECOM yesterday

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

President Granger pays visit to ExxonMobil’s Deepwater Champion WITH Guyana set to join the group of oil producing nations, President David Granger yesterday paid his first visit to the ExxonMobil oil drilling ship, the Deepwater Champion. The President expressed his gratitude to the ship’s crew for their recent discovery of hydrocarbons. “We are one of the Guianas, and it is a rich part of the world, in terms of rainforest, current, minerals, so I am glad that we have opened the door, I am glad that you are a part of opening the door for us,” the President said. He also mentioned his earlier commitment, prior to assuming office, of the creation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund, so that the disposal of any natural resource will go towards benefitting the people of Guyana. Meanwhile, Minister of State in the Ministry of Presidency, Joseph Harmon, who was also on the visit, noted the level of enthusiasm on the rig itself because of the finding. He also assured that Guyanese will not be excluded from whatever wealth comes out of the venture. “We believe that good days are ahead for Guyana,” Harmon said, but cautioned that “the time between an announcement and the use of that facility could very well be a couple of years.” Harmon noted, however, that the company is very “bullish about what they have

found and they believe that the investment that is needed to take it to the next level is almost assured.” He said that Government is satisfied that ExxonMobil is doing what needs to be done, and whatever happens out there will redound to the benefit of the Guyanese people. “Guyanese people can all be assured that whatever comes out of the sovereign wealth of this nation, that they will be part of it, that they will benefit from it.” ExxonMobil, on May 20, disclosed that it had found a deposit of a ‘significant’ amount of oil in the Stabroek Block, about 120 nautical miles offshore Guyana. The company said this discovery was made in one of the two wells it dug, in the Liza-1 drill site which realised more than 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone. In the statement, President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Stephen Greenlee, said, “I am encouraged by the results of the first well on the Stabroek Block…over the coming months we will work to determine the commercial viability of the discovered resource, as well as evaluate other resource potential on the block.” According to the oil company, the well was “spud” on March 5, 2015, and the well data will be analysed in the coming months, to better determine the full resource potential. (GINA)

President David Granger (sixth left); Alliance For Change Executive Member, Mr Rafael Trotman (fifth left); and Minister of State within the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr Joseph Harmon (ninth left), with the crew of the ExxonMobil drill ship

Exxonmobil’s oil rig, the Deepwater Champion, anchored in the Stabroek block, 120 miles offshore Guyana

Struggle will continue ...

be associated with dishonest people, cheaters and persons who would accept results knowing very well those are not the results,” she said. Chants of ‘Who must go, Surujbally must go’, ‘Steve, it’s time to leave’, ‘Count the votes’ and ‘What is GECOM hiding’ echoed as

the protest action wound up. Similar protests were mounted in other regions earlier this week and are expected to continue next week. GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, when asked to comment on the protest action told the Guyana Chronicle that the PPP/C has the right to protest.

The PPP/C members are also engaged in country-wide public meetings to update its supporters on a number of important issues of national importance, as well as to outline how the next stages of its current, albeit familiar, struggle for the preservation of democracy will proceed.

A small group of persons stood nearby the marching PPP/C supporters, some shouting counter protests From Page 17 represented as the Government of Guyana, which were not given the attention required by GECOM. New faces that were on the 2015 PPP/C cam-

paign trail, including Charles Ramson Jr. and Africo Selman, were also part of yesterday’s protest. Selman told members of the media that she stands firm in her convictions and will

continue to support the PPP/C, even if it means that the party advances its struggle from the Opposition benches of the National Assembly. “I would prefer to serve in a PPP Opposition and represent the people of Guyana than to

Armed ranks of the disciplined services overlooking the proceedings (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Gizmos and Gadgets helping in City restoration drive GIZMOS and Gadgets has embarked on a project ‘Garden City Restoration’ in support of a call by President David Granger to ensure a tidy and graceful Georgetown. The management and staff of the City store have begun cleaning from Gizmos and Gadgets, covering the entire stretch of Waterloo Street, Georgetown. This includes picking up garbage, trimming of trees, removal of scrap metal, cleaning of the drains and

more. “Keeping our environment clean is a job that we all have to do; this is why Gizmos and Gadgets decided to begin with our immediate surroundings. Also a cleaner environment promotes a healthier community and it builds pride in our community. We feel the underlying problem is the unavailability of garbage bins on the streets; therefore, we have engaged The City Council and have proposed to build concrete base bins along Wa-

terloo Street. We will also be meeting with Puran Brothers Disposal Inc to work out a contract to empty these bins on a timely basis,” Chief Executive Officer Ravi Mangar said. He has also indicated that Gizmos and Gadgets are making efforts to get other companies involved and is encouraging the public to do their part in cleaning up their surroundings in order to return Guyana’s natural beauty.

Gizmos and Gadgets staffers ready for action

Gizmos and Gadgets in action

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Traffic Chief...

Speeding, inattentiveness still leading causes of accidents,fatalities

TRAFFIC Chief Ian Amsterdam yesterday said that speeding and inattentiveness remain the leading contributors to general road accidents and fatalities, with pedestrians being the most vulnerable to fatalities. Giving statistics, the senior officer disclosed that so far this year 32 road accidents have been recorded with 41 deaths, while for 2014 they tallied 40 accidents with 43 deaths with a 5% decrease in deaths and 20% in fatalities. Amsterdam stated that as for serious accidents, they saw a 20% decrease with 148 in 2015 and 134 for 2014, when there was a 20% decrease in minor accidents which stood at 189 for 2014 and 174 in 2015. He added that they recorded an 8% decrease in that category, but with regard to “damage” accidents, there were 290 in 2015 with 296 in 2014, a 2% decrease. The traffic chief told this publication that 16 pedestrians have been killed in road accidents this year, while 14 lost their lives in 2014. He noted that this year 10 passengers in motorcars have lost their lives in road accidents, while seven were killed in 2014. Amsterdam said that as for passengers in minibuses, two fatalities have been recorded this year, while there was none last year. With regard to lorry occupants, there has been one fatality this year and one last year. He added that as for drivers, four were killed last year, while seven have lost their lives this year; seven motorcyclists were killed in 2014, while three have lost their lives this year. The senior officer pointed out that 10 pedal cyclists were killed in 2014, while three have lost their lives this year.

He disclosed that ‘C’ Division has chalked up 14 deaths in road accidents this year, while there were only four last year in that same division. Amsterdam stated that they have reintroduced their targeted enforcement campaign countrywide, which will be intensified and in this rainy season he urged all road users to be on the look out for each

other and for drivers to use the roads with care and consideration. Finally, Amsterdam explained that drivers are asked to park their vehicles side by side instead of diagonally. The police, he said, will be forceful in their efforts to reduce congestion in the city in areas such as Camp and Water Streets, among others.

Aries Here you go again, philosophizing about what personal expression, creation, and authenticity are all about. Have you noticed that you have some problems expressing issues that don’t fall within the norm? Your strong will and desire to be appreciated get in your way. It isn’t easy to express yourself authentically when you’re trying to make an impression on others. Taurus Think about tolerance, and notice to what extent it can liberate you. If you let others do and think what they like, you will find that you grant yourself this same right. This is the issue of the day for you. It’s when you don’t allow cultural norms to ruffle your feathers that you can liberate yourself. Gemini Why not say yes a little more than usual? You can be stubborn and want to do only what you want. It isn’t easy to lead you into the unknown. You like to prepare in advance. Today when people make unusual propositions, why not go agree? Go on - jump in without looking for a change. It will do wonders for your outlook. Cancer You could write fiction or journalism well today. There’s a good possibility that you have given some thought to a literary line of work. Why do you hesitate? It’s never too late. Find the time to write a story. If you have a negative attitude about the things you do, how will you get anything done?

For Friday May 22, 2015: 05:00hrs For Saturday May 23, 2015: 08:30:00hrs For Sunday May 24, 2015: 09:00hrs

Leo Today is your day. Do your best to make your mark on the people around you, especially those closest to your heart. You will outdo yourself, grabbing attention without even meaning to. You will be considered very attractive. Don’t be surprised if your calendar fills up. This is your reward for all your work over the past few weeks. Virgo You have an excellent day ahead. It’s likely to open new horizons for you at a time when the future may have seemed bleak. If old issues related to your family resurfaced some time ago, they may be resolved in a surprising way today. In any case, this is an ideal opportunity to seek answers from your ancestors. Libra Several days ago you may have experienced a strong feeling of connection. People close to you opened their hearts and expressed their hopes for the future. Today you’re likely to feel new ambitions budding, which may have been initiated by the earlier experience. The day’s aspects are bound to inspire you! Scorpio There are some wonderful surprises in store for you. They could come in the form of a new career opportunity or potential dates. With the current planetary aspects, you can avail yourself of the best ways to find personal and professional fulfillment. Don’t hesitate to be original. That quality will trump everything else! Sagittarius You can look forward to a day full of satisfaction. You may have made a strong impression on the people around you as you learned to moderate your outspokenness. Supportive friends surround you today. Everyone seems willing to listen, and they trust you implicitly. It looks as though you’re finding a place for yourself! Capricorn You’re definitely going to appreciate the harmony today. After the confrontational mood of the past several days, it looks as though you will be able to rest a bit. If you feel somewhat weary, it’s for good reason. Today provides a good opportunity to rid yourself of the burdens people are trying to make you carry. Aquarius The day will come when an authority applauds you for your work or research. Only then will you understand that you’ve let yourself be fooled by society. Much as you believe otherwise, society isn’t trying to stifle you or stop you from being you. It’s true that pioneers often aren’t recognised until they can show some results. Pisces You may feel that certain values in your profession won’t let you undertake certain activities. But are you sure about this, or have you tried to convince yourself of it so you won’t have to confront the part of you that yearns to explore? Perhaps you should try to be braver than you’ve been. It would be worth it.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Tel# 699-6156

Bulletin!!! Bulletin!!! Bulletin!!!

Kross Kolor artiste ‘Vanilla’ releases new single

Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts of the Kross Kolor Studios

FOUR-TIME Road March Queen Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts of the Kross Kolor Studios has recently released a hot new single, dubbed ‘Who I Am’, as she continues to climb the ladder of success in the local music industry. This time around, she has smartly infused a ‘soulful flava’ to her customarily upbeat soca style, and has teamed up with label mate Tennicia De Freitas, singer of the popular hit ‘Don’t Want to be Born’. Vanillla’s new single, ‘Who I Am’, speaks about some of the issues that are synonymous with being Guyanese and living in the Guyanese society, and

Bombshell’s Hottest Babes… Suenanta Watson is one hot, feisty ‘suga momma’ MANY people still think the word ‘mother’ depicts a tired, ill-figured and weather-worn woman, burdened by the trials of motherhood. While I would most certainly want to admonish

Every mother would certainly want to look this captivating.

those who dare to have such notions, I have considered it appropriate to explode their misconceptions by featuring a mother whose scorching beauty ought to shut the mouths of such negative people forever!!! Ladies and gentlemen, it is my very great honour and pleasure to present today the most nubile and very delectable Suenanta Watson, a 32-year-old saucy mother of two, who takes great pride in her looks and takes great pains to maintain a fantastic figure despite giving birth to two wonderful kids. This unbelievably provocative woman is adamant that women should never allow the toils of motherhood to have them looking all forlorn and weather-beaten. “Women can still be beautiful and sexy even after having three or more kids,” she says. “Women must stop being lazy and should not just ‘slump to the ground’ after making a child or a few kids. That is the time for us women to work out and go that extra mile to look attractive for our male counterparts. Because if we don’t, we should not blame the men if they look for provocative good looks elsewhere”. This ‘supa momma’ enjoys cooking, travelling and shopping; and is indeed a professional vocalist with a body that turns heads wherever she goes (not to mention a voice like a nightingale). She always dresses smartly to accentuate her good looks, and assures that she “lives to please only her mate, and no one else”. Suenanta suggests that all sistas should do like she does.

the Guyanese reaction to such situations. ‘Who I Am’ is a timely reminder of who we are as Guyanese, and comes at a time when the message of unity is so fluid in the air. Featuring rich harmony, the song’s Afrocentric theme lends to a feeling of nostalgia and evokes that sense of identity. The song is written, arranged and produced by Burchmore Simon, and is the first in a series of songs dedicated to highlighting the fact that we are Guyanese and are indeed proud of our heritage.

The Moussy Malt frenzy continues…

THE 6th drawing of the Moussy Malt big promotion will be at the Survival Supermarket (Sheriff St) this Saturday, May 23rd, from 3pm. Hurry up and enter to win the Samsung 40” Smart TV or the $20,000 grocery voucher, or even the US$50 cash prize! This drawing leads to the final grand drawing in the Moussy Malt Color Your Life Promotion. There are just 10 days left until May 30th 2015! Will you win the million-dollar cash prize? Entries have been pouring in, and the race to win it big is on! Just place three Moussy Malt corks in an envelope with your name, phone number and address in any major supermarket/store that has the Moussy Malt Box located there. The Carlsberg beer promotions have added

something new to the mix -- two fresh DJs who have had night spots in a frenzy. See them this Friday, May 22nd, at the White Castle Fish Shop on Hadfield Street, Georgetown, or at the Garage Grill in South Ruimveldt. There you can enjoy Carlsberg beer specials (3 beers for $1000) and look out for the hot, saucy

Carlsberg ladies! On the day of Independence, celebrate with your Carlsberg Crew at Stadium View a t P ro v i d e n c e , E a s t Bank Demerara on May 26th 2015 from 3 pm to whenever the proverbial owls roost. There will be Carlsberg specials all night! Now, that calls for a Carlsberg!

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

2015 Mother and Daughter Pageant flashback!!! AS EXPECTED, promoters of the Annual Mother and Daughter Pageant executed a magnificent event that showcased a whirl of colours, dashing smiles, saucy pivots and dazzling sashays. As the enchanting daughters and their equally enthralling mothers entertained a mammoth enthusiastic audience recently, the judges unenviably had their work cut out to determine winners among the contestants, who each battled fiercely to carve out a place for herself among the breath-taking damsels. GARIANN BUTTERS SPEAKS In a brief exclusive interview with Chronicle’s Gariann Butters, the diva noted that the pageant gave her and her bubbly daughter, Aliandra, the opportunity to showcase the strong bond of love that exists between them. “At first I was very shy, but it was the confidence and cheery spirit of my angel Gabrielle that propelled me forward in a competition that was keenly contested by a series of very talented mothers and daughters. This pageant also brought us even closer as a mother and daughter, since it allowed us to spend quali-

Junior Category first runner-up in the Mother-and-Daughter pageant, Gariann Butters and her daughter Aliandra

ty time together. I was overwhelmed by my daughter’s performance during the two months of rehearsals, despite the fact that it was a challenge to find a suitable routine for the event.” Garianne noted that her four-year-old daughter was the youngest contender, but she just magically lit up and exploded each time on stage, allowing them to place first runner-up in the category in which they had contested. “My only disappointment, however, was having to deal with (the realization that) my routine (was) stolen and infused with that of other contestants. I found that very naïve, and (it) showed the lack of creativity on behalf of any contestant who is guilty of that fact”. Mrs. Butters noted that competing in the pageant was a superb experience, and she has extended her gratitude to the promoters, whom she noted executed a splendid job by creating a positive forum for mothers and daughters alike. She also thanks her sponsor, Elaineville Housing Development, Sparta Group, the very supportive Chronicle staffers, and all her relatives and well-wishers who supported her.

quote of the Day

Joke of the Day NOTHING TO BE LEFT BEHIND A Jewish grandmother was watching her grandchild playing on the beach when a huge wave came and took him out to sea. She pleaded, “Please God, save my only grandson. I beg of you, bring him back.” And a big wave came and washed the boy back onto the beach, good as new. Not content with this stroke of good fortune, the grandmother looked up to heaven and said: “When he was washed out to sea, Dear Lord, he had on a hat!”

‘Nothing to Laugh About 8’ for explosive May/June stagings LOOK YEAH! People alyuh stop playing cheap with alyuh self and fork out de money fuh get yuh dollas’ worth ah real hilarious comedy! Folks, if you are looking for real hot and exciting comedy, then make sure you are seated inside the National Cultural Centre on May 29, 30 and 31, and of course on June 01, 2015 to soak up the electric vibes in ‘Nothing to Laugh About 8’ when it is staged there. This time around, the cast will include the likes of the intriguing Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones, Henry Rodney, Michael Ignatius, Kirwyn Mars, Chris Gopaul, Clemencio Goddette, Leza ‘Radika’ Singh, Mark ‘Chiney man’ Kazim, Leslyn Bobb-Semple, Gerard Gilkes, Simone Persaud, Alana Craigen, Leon Cummings, Johann David, and Brian Goodman. As always, the show would be managed by the efficient Sonia Yarde. Tickets for the shows, at $1000, $1500 and $2000, can be obtained from the

usual outlets: Giftland OfficeMax, Nigel’s Supermarket, Payless Variety Store, Elegance Jewellery

& Pawnshop, Gizmos & Gadgets and, of course, the National Cultural Centre.

Carlos ‘Lucky B’ Williams MANY would remember the iconic Carlos ‘Lucky B’ Williams as that somewhat disturbed kid who was desperately trying his hand at music in Guyana. And let’s be honest here, he was failing miserably at it, too! That must not have been his calling. We ever so often miss our intended paths, or get lost in a tangled maze, as

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Guyana’s ‘Lucky B’ kicking up his heels on the international fashion front

we try to find our ‘true calling’. Carlos ‘Lucky B’ Williams, like so many others, made a few blunders before he landed the jackpot. I guess he never even dreamed he possessed a dazzling designing talent; and when it dawned on him, he was brutalized by the hateful claws of many

You Shouldn’t Do That!!!

Shouldn’t we be advocating against child labour ?

WHILE the relevant authorities are desperately trying to eradicate the scourge of child labour in Guyana, some unworthy adults are bent on cheating the system, their greed pushing them to ‘put fast dollars’ in their pockets. Take, for instance, the driver of the very minibus I was seated in when this photograph was taken. He did not want to pay the price for an adult conductor, and was quite vocal about much, to the displeasure of his customers. So guess what he does: On weekends he would pick up this young boy from God’s knows where,

and have him do the duties of conductor for little or next to nothing. Now, the child is only thirteen and is definitely not acquainted with the many stop points and streets in Georgetown, so you can imagine the chaos that ensues when passengers are taken beyond their intended destination. This conductor is more interested in singing the very lewd songs being played by the driver, and gyrating to it quite obscenely. And this permissive driver – no example to propriety in the first place -- giggles in amusement at his conductor’s wanton theatrics! No wonder most of our youths turn out to be scoundrels. But we must not always blame them. I am tempted to suggest that we get a bull whip and rain some lashes on adults like this mini bus driver; and we must not stop until he bleeds around the rump. How very terrible a suggestion, but how very terrible the crime of encouraging juvenile delinquency!!!

established designers, who just would not move over and give a ‘fresh face’ a chance to shine. But ‘Lucky B’, as he is more popularly known, persevered despite the hateful critics, and is now quite a force to be reckoned with on the fashion front in the United States of America and in several Caribbean locations, where his talents have been acknowledged and he has been allowed to shine. It’s a pity his star could not shine here because of the harsh criticism from others who, when you come to think of it, really could not better this lad at designing; or even singing, which he was not very good at. Today he has nursed the wounds inflicted on him on the local shores, and has persevered to become one of the more creative and stylish male

Stush designs

designers to have evolved from the tropics. RETROSPECT Were we to step back a little, we would remember when he launched his ‘She Stush’ fashion line in December 2008. It was actually his fifth collection after he had been encouraged by veteran designer Sonia Noel to showcase his talents at the Guyana Fashion Weekend event. Before that, he had actually started playing around with a few designing ideas

in his small stall inside the Bourda Mall, and the results were astounding. Quite soon, many were flocking his stall to access the new fashion craze; and quite soon, the ‘Stush Fashions’ became the ‘in thing’, especially among males far and wide. He added model scouting to his resume in 2008, and organized a supermodel faceoff competition at the Aracari Resort. That event generated much buzz, and young women desirous of being the next big thing in local modelling circles began lining up, as

Lucky B devised plans to take the show on the air; but all did not go as planned. Not long after, he retired from the music industry here to focus on his designing. And that was indeed a good thing, because today he is creating shock waves with his catchy and colourful pieces, and the featured photographs showcase his excellent work in the field of designing. Bombshell applauds this talented lad, and wishes him success in all his endeavours.

‘Princess Star’ Reality Show to be staged on the local shores

ALL Guyana was reeling in excitement when the first ever TV Reality Show, ‘In Search of a Star’, was staged here, specifically in the Russian Embassy compound. This event had allowed much exposure for many talented Guyanese singers, who were later able to develop themselves and represent Guyana at international forums. For example, the winner of that show, ‘Lisa Punch’, migrated a few years later to the USA, and was able to perform at the Apollo Theatre before challenging new heights in her participation in the ABC ‘Rising Stars’ event, which saw her making it to the semi-finals. Readers, if you possess vocal talent and are seeking the same exposure and fame, here is the chance you seek! The Princess Hotel (Guyana) will be hosting a similar initiative in June

2015. It will allow major exposure and development opportunities for amateur Guyanese singers. The Reality Show will be dubbed ‘Princess Star’, will be run over a three-month period, and will feature several knockout segments before the ‘Princess Star’ is finally declared and crowned. Promoters have already declared that the panel of judges will include music elites with a vast reservoir of experience and musical background. So folks, you can rest assured that the judges will not be hand-picked through favouritism or family ties, as was done with a few similar events hosted here. Winner of the Princess Star is guaranteed major bragging rights, cash, trophies, and a recording deal like none before as that person paves

his/her journey to international stardom. Auditions for this event will be staged inside the ‘Club Next’ inside the Princess Hotel on Saturday, June 13, from 8pm, and those wishing to attend this forum are required to pay an entrance fee of $500. All competitors will be fully attired in caps and jerseys bearing the Princess Hotel label and logos. Auditions are also expected to be stage outside the city of Georgetown, so as to ensure singers from the rural communities are given an opportunity to compete. Interested persons are urged to call phone number 699-6156 to be a part of this prestigious initiative.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Oooops….There it is!!!

GOD CAN CHANGE THE MOST WRETCHED SOUL

DIS week, de gossip gon be a bit different. And some people might not like it, but it gon be a motivation to some people fuh sure. God does touch and use some ah de most wretched people to bring Him glory and honour; and we must not be too quick to judge others, because none ah we can determine who is a predestinated seed of God or not. Suh people, be careful. There was this man who, for years, struggled with and to hide his bisexual condition. He had discovered that he was attracted to males since he was age twelve, and coming from a Christian background, he had fought the thing like crazy. Well, de poor child was in church but still could not understand why he was possessed by a very powerful demon that tossed him to and fro with tons of bisexual cravings. His parents made life no easier for this dude; so he soon began to force himself to walk, talk, and act like a real man. And guess what? Overtime, the hormones accepted all that was being forced on them, and he eventually appeared to be a man; but he was still possessed by those very peculiar feelings. With tons of prayer, he managed to get married to a girl, and she bore him a child. His other side, however, kept calling him relentlessly, and he would disappear from his matrimonial home for days. Then one guy with whom he dealt was brazen enough to post love letters to his home, and the wife collected one and read it. That bruck up the marriage of three years like de lil pig’s house a sticks! So dis bai desert he wife and he chile in shame and remorse, and he led a stinking life after. And every time he tried to come to the Lord, the Devil would use that same sex

desire to control him. He was soon having several relationships with men dat, somehow, over time, would go sour. And each time one relationship ended, up came some dashing guy who loved him and was all obsessed with him. It was almost like a cycle, and he understood that it was Satan trying to block and destroy the good plans God had for him. Suh, fuh years, dis thing going on. Then, about three years ago, he started a relation-

This man was tormented by same-sex desires

not go out unless de lovah was wid he. He friends and relatives didn’t get permission fuh visit de home. When one ah he friends did visit de home, de lovah chase de bisexual bai through de streets, brandishing a knife. Is a lucky thing dem people at he wuk place rescue he and hide he in de kitchen. There was a minor separation, and den de lovah friend beg fuh fugiveness and de two ah dem mek up back. Stupid move! Just a week afta, de obsessed lovah lack the bisexual bai in de bedroom and tortured he fuh hours at knife point ovah a simple argument. But secretly, de bisexual bai was praying to God to bring about a change and to separate de two ah dem. So, about a week ago, when de two would ah celebrate three years together, God struck the whole scenario. The so-called couple had a nasty quarrel, and de lovah did de unthinkable -- he went out alone in vexation. When de bisexual bai called him later, he was shocked to find out this, so he went out too. De lovah later followed he to a location in de city, where they argued again. Frustrated, de bisexual bai stormed off, left de lovah bai in de streets, and went home. Den de lovah called the next day, and de two ah dem sat down; and shockingly, it was a mutual decision that de two go their separate ways and start going to church.

ship with a guy from the interior region, and de two a dem soon began living together in de city. This was the relationship that Satan was going to use to get this bisexual man killed, but Satan can NEVER prevail over God’s plan. De bisexual bai was not allowed any phone calls while he lover deh round. He had to shut off he phone at nights, and he could

GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS! Well, de bisexual bai went to a deliverance service at a city church, and almost fainted when he join the prayer line when an altar call was made. The pastor raised his chin and ordered him to look at him and said, “I don’t know you. I have never seen you. I don’t even know if you come to this church. But God is telling me that

He has a great job for you, and you must accept life or death here at the altar.” The pastor even related existing negative situations at the bai’s work place, and told him that, in three months’ time, God would create a miracle in his life. What made the bisexual bai break down and weep is when de Pastor told him, “God is saying this is your last call.” He accepted the Lord right there and then, and is serious about changing his life.

The happy man is with his family after the Creator miraculously delivered him He has broken off certain associations, and has taken his wife and kid now to live with him. And he feverishly tries to serve the Lord in truth and with great fervor. If you are out there and you are in a similar situation, let it be known that you are consumed by a demon. Come to the Lord! He has work for you! Let not your wretchedness deter you from coming to God.

Teaspoon and Johnny Braff to explode at Magic Rose Garden ‘Jazz/Oldies Fantasia’

MANY have longed for the return of Jazz to the local shores, and some have even raved that we are very lacking where Jazz talent is concerned. Well, hush your mouths, My dear folks; have you forgotten the saying, “Seek and you shall find”? That’s exactly what ‘Promoter Magic’ did just recently, when he tumbled nearly every ‘nook and cranny’ of Guyana for Jazz talent, which he was convinced was hidden somewhere. And he bumped into one of Guyana’s legendary Jazz sensations, the irrepressible Wayne Proctor! Henceforth, folks at the Magic Rose Garden Bar (Regent Street, Georgetown) will stage their weekly ‘Jazz/Oldies Fantasia’, starting this May 30, 2015. Come on folks! You should not miss this opportunity to be whisked away on bubbles of scintillating romance, or be engulfed in frothy puffs of heady sensuality as some of

Guyana’s most talented artistes of old take you back in time. This Sunday, the legendary ‘Johnny Braff’ (Madison Square Garden performer) will take to the stage live alongside the renowned ‘Tea Spoon One Man Band’. Performing live also will be songbird ‘Debbie I’ and our own Alex Wayne, among others. Persons loving a good after-work lime can surely pop and check out the action, since things will start heating up at the venue from around 17:00 hrs (5 pm) Patrons are advised that they can also enjoy succulent cutters from the MAGIC Catering Service housed at the same venue. Folks are urged to gather on Thursday nights for the best in karaoke with DJ Kenny. Soon to come is the ‘Magic Rose Get Wet Fete’, which many has dubbed an event to die for.

Even visitors from Venezuela are enthralled with the ambience at this cozy hideout.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Chanderpaul deserves special send-off, says Cameron KINGSTON, JAMAIC A ( C M C ) – We s t Indies Cricket Board president Dave Cameron says he wants to ensure veteran lefthander Shiv Chanderpaul gets a fitting sendoff when his career finally ends. The 40-year-old Chanderpaul is nearing the end of an illustrious career that has seen him garner 11 867 runs from 164 Tests, to be second on the all-time West Indies list behind the superb Brian Lara. Cameron, who in March gained re-election for a second term, said he had not been pleased with how former players had been treated at the end of their careers. “I have never really liked how we have ushered out our players, so as president I am always trying to figure out how to honour them,” he told the Jamaica Gleaner.

“We’re doing it now on a continuous basis, year by year, for their performances, but at the end of a long and illustrious career like Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s, we want to ensure that whatever we do, it is well respected and that he knows and the region knows how much we value his services to West Indies cricket.” Much speculation has surrounded Chanderpaul’s recent form. He managed a mere 91 runs against South Africa in three Tests earlier this year and also struggled against England in the recent three-Test series with just 92 runs. He requires a further 86 runs to surpass Lara’s record of 11 953 and may be eyeing the twoTest Australia series beginning next month, as the opportunity to do so. However, Cameron said Chanderpaul recently met with the West Indies hierarchy to discuss his future and more would be revealed in coming days. “Unfortunately, I am not privy to the discussions, but obviously it is where he is at and what are the next steps,” Cameron said. “In another couple of days it will be made a lot clearer as to the end result of those discussions or how we go forward.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Blatter challengers down to one after Figo, van Praag withdraw By Brian Homewood

BERNE, (Reuters) Luis Figo and Michael van Praag pulled out of the FIFA presidential election race yesterday, leaving Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein as the only challenger to incumbent and runaway favourite Sepp Blatter. Figo went out with a bang as he launched a blistering attack on the electoral system of soccer’s governing body, saying it was a “plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man -- something I refuse to go along with.” The former Portugal forward added: “Over the past few months I have not only witnessed

that desire (for change), I have witnessed consecutive incidents, all over

sires soccer to be free, clean and democratic. “I have seen with my

comparing FIFA leaders to the devil then go on stage and compare those same

MICHAEL VAN PRAAG LUIS FIGO

SEPP BLATTER

the world, that should shame anyone who de-

own eyes federation presidents who, after one day

people with Jesus Christ. Nobody told me about this. I saw it with my own eyes. “I am firm in my desire to take an active part in the regeneration of FIFA and I will be available for it whenever it is proven to me that we are not living under a dictatorship.” Blatter, 79, is widely to expected to be re-elected for a fifth term on May 29, even though, under his watch, FIFA has been plagued by a wave of scandals and controversy. These have ranged

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from allegations of corruption in the 2018/2022 World Cup bidding process to a row over $25 000 watches gifted to executive committee members at the World Cup in Brazil last year. UEFA, with 53 of the 209 votes at the election, have said they will not back Blatter, but the Swiss has widespread promises of support from the rest of the world. Dutch FA president van Praag pledged to back Prince Ali and, in a joint press conference in Amsterdam, said that the only way to unseat Blatter was for his opponents to unite. van Praag said Prince Ali had agreed to back his human rights and governance commitments, including ensuring better protections for migrant workers in 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar. “He is the one candidate who has the biggest chance to challenge Sepp Blatter,” van Praag said. “If the football family follow their desires, and if things are done in a correct way with no interference, we have a great

09:20 hrs Nelsprut 09:50 hrs Great Fun 10:25 hrs Zoella 11:00 hrs Best Of Times 11:35 hrs Endless Time 12:10 hrs Zanetto 12:45 hrs Free To Love IRISH RACING TIPS Cork 12:30 hrs Jealous Beauty 13:35 hrs Captain Power 14:05 hrs Oor Jock 14:35 hrs Jacobean 15:05 hrs Enigma Code 15:35 hrs Variable AMERICAN RACING TIPS Belmont Race 1 D’ Princess Race 2 Broadway Music Gal Race 3 Bird Prince Race 4 Freudie Anne Race 5 Welcame Speech Race 6 Delta Outlaw Race 7 The Truth Or Else Race 8 Reload Race 9 Weathervane

chance of making that change,” Prince Ali said. NO MANIFESTO Figo complained that Blatter’s rivals were prevented from speaking at the Congresses of the continental confederations, apart from UEFA, and that Blatter had failed to present a manifesto or engage with his opponents. “After a personal reflection and sharing views with two other candidates in this process, I believe that what is going to happen on May 29 in Zurich is not a normal electoral act. And because it is not, don’t count on me.” “There has not been a single public debate about each candidate’s proposals,” said the 42-yearold Figo, Portugal’s most capped player with 127 appearances. “Does anyone think it’s normal that an election for one of the most relevant organisations on the planet can go ahead without a public debate? “Does anyone think it’s normal that one of the candidates doesn’t even bother to present an election manifesto that can be voted on May 29.” Figo said he had received an “incredible wave of support from soccer players, former players, coaches, referees and administrators.” But he concluded: “I do not fear the ballot box, but I will not go along with nor will I give my consent to a process which will end on May 29 and from which soccer will not emerge the winner.” Blatter has been in power since 1998 and has gone back on a pledge that his current mandate would be his last. Prince Ali, a member of FIFA’s executive committee, is regarded as a progressive candidate. He was instrumental in persuading soccer’s rule-making body to allow Islamic women footballers to wear the hijab, or headscarf, when they play.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Stokes and Root lift England after horror start … Stokes out for 92, Root 98 By Ed Osmond LONDON, England (Reuters) - Ben Stokes provided the gloss and Joe Root the glue as England recovered from a terrible start to reach 354 for seven at the close on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s yesterday. England collapsed to 30 for four in the morning after being sent in to bat but Stokes and Root shared a fluent fifth-wicket partnership of 161 to lift the gloom at a sun-kissed home of cricket. Stokes was out for a sparkling 92, including a six and 15 fours, and Root fell for 98 in the final session after another innings of great maturity and class. Jos Buttler (67) was out lbw from the final ball of the day but Moeen Ali remained unbeaten on 49. The first hour had belonged to New Zealand as England, reeling from weeks of controversy off the pitch, failed to cope with a rampant Kiwi pace attack. Adam Lyth, on his debut, nicked Tim Southee to wicketkeeper BJ Watling for seven, Gary Ballance (1) edged Trent Boult to third slip, captain Alastair Cook was caught by Watling, hooking at Matt Henry, for 16 and Ian Bell (1) was bowled by debutant Henry. Thoughts around the ground may have turned to discarded batsman Kevin Pietersen, who was told last week he would not be selected by England this summer despite scoring a career-best 355 not out for Surrey. The mercurial right-hander was attending golf’s PGA Championship at Wentworth as the top order

melted away but the efforts of Stokes and Root at least provided breathing space for beleaguered new England cricket director Andrew Strauss. Stokes, promoted up the order after Moeen was unable to get ready in time following a net session, and Root continued the momentum in the afternoon

Scoreboard

Ben Stokes and Joe Root put on 161 for the fifth wicket on the opening day of the first Test at Lord’s. with a purposeful stand studded with crisp boundaries. Root reached his fifty off 53 balls and Stokes got to his half-century off 55 before cutting loose, launching Henry over square leg for six but, closing in on his sec-

Hawks lose Game One, Carroll to knee injury

(REUTERS) - CLEVELAND Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dunks against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter of game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Cleveland won 97-89.

bench with 28 points, including eight three-pointers, and LeBron James tallied 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Cavaliers grabbed the lead in the best-of-seven series. “I was just trying to take good shots. I got into a rhythm early and stayed ag-

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dunks against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter of game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Cleveland won 97-89. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports The Atlanta Hawks suffered a double blow on Wednesday when they were beaten 97-89 by the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game One of the Eastern Conference finals and lost DeMarre Carroll to what looked like a serious knee injury. J.R. Smith caught fire off the

ond Test century, opted to leave a ball from off-spinner Mark Craig and was bowled. Root, 24, looked odds-on to complete his seventh Test century but tickled a wide ball from Henry through to stand-in keeper Tom Latham. After Buttler reached another fluent 50 Southee dropped a difficult chance from Moeen as a tired New Zealand toiled in the face of England’s attacking batting. With the final ball of the day, however, Boult rapped Buttler on the pads to erase some of the gloss from England’s recovery.

gressive,” Smith told reporters. Smith, who has seen his reputation tainted by sour exits at previous teams, has thrived since being acquired by the Cavaliers in a mid-season trade. “I’m just trying to be myself,” he said. “They seem to accept that more

here.” Adding injury to the insult of dropping Game One on their home floor, the Hawks lost leading playoff scorer Carroll in the fourth quarter when he planted his foot and fell on a non-contact play. Carroll was carried off and was due to undergo an MRI to reveal the extent of the damage yesterday. “At this point I think the doctors are saying it’s a knee sprain, we’ll know more …,” said Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer. “He’s a big player who has impacted on both ends of the floor; other people will have opportunities.” Jeff Teague had a team-high 27 points for the Hawks, while Al Horford added 16. Atlanta battled to a 51-51 tie at halftime but lost control in the third quarter where the Cavs took a seven-point edge at the end of the period. Smith drained a trio of early three-pointers in the fourth to provide an 85-67 advantage that held up down the stretch. The top-seeded Hawks, who have excelled due to tight teamwork all season, were pounded by Cleveland inside and outrebounded 49-37. The Cavaliers got double-doubles from Timofey Mozgov (10 points, 11 rebounds) and Tristan Thompson (14 points, 10 rebounds). Game Two is today in Atlanta.

ENGLAND 1st innings A. Lyth c Watling b Southee 7 A. Cook c Watling b Henry 16 G. Ballance c Southee b Boult 1 I. Bell b Henry 1 J. Root c Latham b Henry 98 B. Stokes b Craig 92 J. Buttler lbw b Boult 67 M. Ali not out 49

Extras: (b-12, lb-6, nb-3, w-2) 23 Total: (for 7 wickets, 90 overs) 354 Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-25, 3-25, 4-30, 5-191, 6-251, 7-354. To bat: M. Wood, S. Broad, J. Anderson Bowling: T. Boult 24-5-70-2, T. Southee 19-1-82-1 (nb-3, w-1) M. Henry 24-3-93-3 (w-1), M. Craig 182-77-1, C. Anderson 5-1-14-0.

Pakistan cricket chief calls for more Asian support (REUTERS) - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan hopes that Zimbabwe’s tour of the country will be a proving ground for others and has called on their Asian rivals to lead the way. Zimbabwe are the first Test-playing nation to tour Pakistan since a 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore left the driver dead and several players injured. The African side will play two Twenty20 internationals, starting today, and three one-day internationals, all in the same city as that gun attack six years ago. Khan said the tour would prove Pakistan could protect touring teams, even if he did suggest they were still learning about how to attain the safest measures for visiting sides. “There is a lot of anticipation for this series, as we are hopeful it would open doors for more tours in the future,” the PCB chief told reporters yesterday. “More importantly, it will also allow us and the government and security agencies to practically assess what more can be done to make touring sides more secure.” Having already sent invitations to regional rivals India and Bangladesh, Khan said it was now time for sub-continental teams to follow Zimbabwe’s lead. “India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh all need to give us more support to help us bring back regular international cricket to Pakistan,” he said. Khan gave an indication of the tight security that will be in place on match day, which includes a lockdown of the area around the Gaddafi Stadium. “The law enforcement agencies are using jammers and fans will have to pass through three layers of security, including metal detectors,” he said, adding shops and restaurants close to the venue had been told to shut while the tour was going on. He also took the unusual step of asking Pakistan fans to get behind their opponents as a show of gratitude to the tourists. “Zimbabwe has given us a lot of support by undertaking this tour despite pressure on them, so we also urge the public to cheer their team along with our team as well.”

NOTABLE DATES

CAESAR Barrow won the vacant Guyana lightweight title on May 22, 1960 following a fifth-round knockout of Emmett `Six Seconds’ Smith at the GFC ground. Barrow commenced his professional career on April Fool’s Day in 1955 and took on all the `Bad Johns’ in the region before calling it quits in November 1965. On October 30, 1959 Barrow stopped Kid Chocolate II (Elmer Yearwood) in round two at the Wrightson Road Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The fight produced the 11th straight victory for Barrow. It was the second meeting between the skilful fighter from Guyana and Kid Chocolate in two months of that year. Barrow had defeated Chocolate via a unanimous 10-round decision in August of the same year. Barrow broke into the professional ranks on April 1, 1955 as a 21-year-old and Joe Primo was his first scalp. Barrow defeated Primo by points at the end of the four-round contest. Born on March 4, 1935, Barrow was a skilled lightweight boxer who stopped 46 percent of his opponents. Barrow had 19 victories and seven defeats in a 10-year career. He lost six of his last seven fights and died in July 2005. AMERICAN Jerry Page was undefeated in eight fights when he came up against the lightning fists that belonged to Guyanese Terrence Alli. The fight took place at the Ballys Park Place Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City in New Jersey and after 10 rounds the judges threw the unanimous-decision verdict in Alli’s corner. Lynn Carter and John Riley saw Alli win by a 98-91 margin while Frank Brunette scored the fight 99-90. It was the third successive fight in Atlantic City for junior welterweight Alli who had defeated Darryl Tyson two months earlier. Regarded as one of the best produced by Guyana, Alli commenced fighting as a professional in December 1979 and had his first two bouts on home soil and the next nine in Trinidad and Tobago. He made three unsuccessful challenges for world titles, once as junior welterweight and twice as a lightweight. Based in the USA, he returned to Guyana in September 1996 to battle rising star Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis but lost in round two by TKO. RUGGED Mack chose May 22, 1960 to make his professional debut and won handsomely on that night at the Georgetown Football Club ground. Mack was adjudged the winner by points when the six-round fight against Geoffrey Alexander came to an end. Mack’s elation soon abated as he lost backto-back contests to the legendary Lennox Beckles. The slick Beckles was undefeated in four fights when he first met Mack and went on to win the national welterweight title. Following the two defeats, Mack who plied the welterweight division swerved back onto victory street. He travelled to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago where he challenged Allot Marciano on August 15, 1964. The Guyanese won the eight-round fight by a split decision. He hung up his gloves after losing to Trinidadian Anthony Gray in Georgetown in March 1966.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Firebrand Stokes proves his worth for England By Ed Osmond LONDON, England (Reuters) - England’s Ben Stokes provided a timely reminder of his immense talent with a sparkling innings of 92 which turned the first Test against New Zealand yesterday. The 23-year-old all-rounder made a fine 120 against Australia at Perth in the 5-0 Ashes mauling in 2013-14 but had done precious little since to justify the rave reviews he received for that knock. Arriving at the crease with England in desperate trouble at 30 for four, Stokes found a perfect partner in Joe Root and the pair added 161 in quick time. Stokes struck a six and 15 fours from 94 balls, timing the ball sweetly and making batting look deceptively easy with a flurry of boundaries all round the wicket. “I was told yesterday I was batting at six,” Stokes said. “It is good to get the

responsibility. It has gone well and hopefully I can make that my spot.” Root paid tribute to the contribution of his partner. “We just went out there

other end - who was playing so freely as well.” Stokes, a ginger-haired firebrand, has been no stranger to controversy in his short international career.

Ben Stokes makes his first fifty on home soil, yesterday. with the mentality of trying to counter-attack,” he said. “I was lucky to have someone like Ben at the

Sent home from an England A tour for breaking team rules in a late-night drinking session, he missed

the Twenty20 World Cup last year after breaking his hand punching a locker after another low score. But the England selectors kept faith. He missed out on selection for this year’s World Cup, a decision which was questioned when he smashed a brilliant 151 for the England Lions in South Africa including an astonishing 15 sixes. But he was recalled for the tour of West Indies and got into an infamous spat with the hosts’ batsman Marlon Samuels who saluted Stokes as he left the field after holing out in the deep. Aggression and competitiveness run deep in Stokes’s blood, however. His father Ged played rugby league for New Zealand and he enjoyed his son’s performance against the country of his birth. “Off to bed,” Ged Tweeted from his Christchurch home. “Very well batted, my boy.”

CPL begins quest to find Cheerleaders ... From back page organisers are putting all necessary systems in place for the Cheerleading aspect to ensure that the cricket enthusiasts will have an unforgettable experience. The tournament this year sees a return to night games for the majority of the tournament (29 of the 33 matches), with a schedule that sees fixtures taking place almost every day from the start of the event to its conclusion. All six teams – Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, St Lucia Zouks and Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel - play 10 games in the regular season, with two semi-finals and a final to decide who will be crowned 2015 champions. Therefore, the local organising committee is seeking 16 ladies to be on the cheerleading squad for game day. The invitation is open to everyone - all dance schools, models, cheerleaders and the general public and in the end, the judges will name the top 12 based on personality, team work, physical appearance and dance ability. The Project Coordinator said that she’s excited about the audition and is encouraging everyone to come out as she believes that our Guyanese girls have the potential to represent the teams and themselves as well. Local Dance Director Clive Prowell has been contracted to execute the audition, choreography and overall

training of the LIMACOL CPL 2015 Cheerleaders for the Guyana leg of games. “We’re encouraging everyone to come out, audition, bring along your dancing shoes, turn up the heat and begin the countdown to what is deemed as the biggest party in Sport!” Nagreadi said.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday May 22, 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:

Sir Learie Constantine-5/87 (WI vs ENG, 1930) ParvinderAwana (Kings XI Punjab)

Today’s Quiz:

Who is the first player to crack a Test double-century at Bourda? How many centuries were recorded in the very first IPL tournament?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 22, 2015

Annual Three-Stage cycle road race recovers from post election period

Overall winner of the 2014 Three-Stage cycle road race Barbadian Darren Matthews

THE annual three-stage cycle road race to commemorate the Independence celebration of Guyana recovered from the post-election period as national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed has announced that the annual event will be staged on May 30 and 31. According to Mohamed, the two-day event was originally planned for May 16 and 17 but had to shelved because of post-election problems. The event is the brainchild of Mohamed, who said all things are in place for the race. It is the 33rd one to commemorate Guyana’s Independence anniversary. The race which attracts a large number of local and international cyclists will this year see mainly local riders contesting the three-stage event which wheels off from outside the Corriverton police station at 08:00hrs and ends at Main and Alexander Streets, New Amsterdam. The second stage will begin at 14:00hrs from outside the Rosignol Ferry Stelling and conclude on Carifesta Avenue. Stage three gets under way at 08:00hrs from Kara Kara, Linden Highway, and finishes on Homestre4tch Avenue, in front of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport office. Mohamed told Chronicle Sport that everything is in place in terms of prizes such as trophies and cash, and officials have already been identified to conduct the event in a smooth manner. The defending champion for the overall event is Barbados’ Darren Matthews who clocked six hours 53 minutes 18 seconds for the 171-mile event. It is uncertain if Matthews will defend his title this year.

Sir Curtly keen on foreign coaching role in future LONDON, England (CMC) – Legendary West Indies fast bowler Sir Curtly Ambrose says he is open to a coaching role outside the Caribbean in the future. Speaking on TalkSport Radio here Wednesday, Sir Curtly said while West Indies remained his priority, he was willing to serve anywhere an opportunity arose. “It wouldn’t be a problem. I’m into coaching and wherever I get an opportunity to coach, I will coach because for me, giving something back to cricket means a lot to me,” said the 51-year-old, who currently serves as bowling consultant to the West Indies team. “It doesn’t have to be West Indies. Of course West Indies will take first priority, obviously. But if I get an offer somewhere else … and I am not working with the West Indies anymore, of course I would go and coach another team. Giving back something to the game means a lot to me.” Sir Curtly finished a sterling 98-Test career with 405 wickets,

only behind long-time counterpart Courtney Walsh with 519, on the

CURTLY AMBROSE all-time West Indies list. In his year-long stint with the

squad, the giant Antiguan has already been credited for helping to improve the inexperienced West Indies seam attack. Known for his fiercely competitive nature during his playing days, Sir Curtly said he was now trying to instil a fighting nature in the squad and a sense of team unity. “The first thing I said to all the bowlers when I joined the team … ‘first thing, I don’t know everything’,” he said during the live in-studio interview. “‘Secondly, I’m not here to turn you into a Curtly Ambrose. We have to work together. Things which I miss, I hope you can pick up and things which you miss, I hope I can pick up.’ It has to be a team thing.” West Indies are gearing up for a two-Test series against the visiting Australians starting next month. Earlier this month, they pulled off a shock 1-1 draw with England in a three-Test series in the Caribbean.

Letter to the Sports Editor Appeal to new administration to resolve cricket crisis - It is time I WISH to extend sincere congratulations to His Excellency President David Granger, Hon. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, the newly-appointed Ministers of the Government and the entire membership of the APNU-AFC Coalition on your outstanding victory at the 2015 General and Regional Elections. The people have clearly voted against one-party political domination and have placed their confidence in the Coalition in keeping with the universal trend. I look forward to and am supportive of the new dispensation and in particular the expected restoration of honesty, integrity and accountability at all levels of national life. The spectre of corruption has for far too long tarnished and caused our economic and social developmental aspirations to retrogress. It is against this backdrop that I wish to single out the administration of cricket as a major national tragedy as for five (5) years now there has been inordinate turmoil in our cricket. I hold the view that the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has been hijacked by a small group of persons through a series of shenanigans including legal manoeuvres and cash-for-vote schemes for which monies intended for cricket development have been misappropriated. I remain adamant in my belief that there is no lawful executive body of the GCB. I fervently appeal to the new administration to ensure that the lawlessness that presently obtains in our cricket is immediately consigned to oblivion and that legal elections, order, accountability and integrity are restored to our national game. The time for change in our cricket is now. MALCOLM PETERS (Former President of the Berbice Cricket Board and Former Vice-President of the Guyana Cricket Board) for and on behalf of the Stakeholders of Guyana Cricket

Trophy Stall congratulates President David Granger and his new administration RAMESH Sunich, proprietor of Trophy Stall, is known not only for having the best silverware but also for being a passionate sport enthusiast, and yesterday he joined the list of sport organisations to congratulate President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo for their ascension to the highest office of the land. With locations in Bourda Market and the City Mall, Sunich wished the APNU+AFC Government a successful reign in office and said that “may all of Guyana win under your leadership.”

Sport CHRONICLE

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Annual Three-Stage cycle road race recovers from post election period

See story on page 31

‘I see sports thriving under the new system’ – Dr Roopnarine By Rawle Toney THE APNU+AFC Government on Wednesday unveiled the new Cabinet and its Ministers who will serve under President David Granger but noticeably missing is the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, which now falls under the Ministry of Education, headed by Dr Rupert Roopnarine. Guyanese from all walks, took mainly to social media, especially Facebook, to address what they felt was a bad move to not give Sport its own ministry like it had under the PPP/C government that saw Dr Frank Anthony at the helm. Nonetheless, Dr Roopnarine in an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport yesterday said that under the new system set by President Granger, Sports would be in a better place and athletes will benefit more than they did under the former administration. Dr Roopnarine pointed to the role sports plays in the education system; something he says was neglected for far too long and with all the ministries being entwined into one, Guyana could see more student athletes. In Barbados and St Kitts, there’s the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, while in Jamaica which happens to be the Caribbean’s most successful nation in sports, places it under the Office of the Prime Minister. The Education Minister explained that there will be a Department of Sport in the Ministry which he says should be

Chanderpaul deserves special send-off, says Cameron

Dr Rupert Roopnarine – Minister of Education fully functional by the end of the next week. “We really don’t have much time to waste because there’s much to be done. We will have these departments set up which will be responsible for sport, equipped with

the right set of people; people who have expertise in their respective disciplines and they actually run that part of the Ministry and come up with the plans and so on for it,” Dr Roopnarine said. Dr Roopnarine’s disclosure brings into question the future of the National Sports Commission (NSC). On December 3, 1993, the National Sports Commission Act was passed in Parliament and the current Board members include Conrad Plummer in the chairman’s seat and the Ex-Officio member is the Director of Sport, Neil Kumar. The other members of the Board are: Vidushi Persaud, Peter Green, Alicia Fortune, Sean Richmond, Peter Abdool, Frank De Abreu, Deputy Permanent Secretary Steve Ninvalle, Hector Edwards, Pradeep Balram and Cheryl Thompson and will serve until 2016. Asked what will now happen to the NSC, Dr Roopnarine said, “Right now, we’re going through the phase of checks and balances and to see if there’s a need for it based on the new structure in place for sports or if we can keep it around.” Chronicle Sport had reported on numerous irregularities at the NSC and when asked to comment on such Dr Roopnarine only noted, “I really don’t want to comment on that right now. We’re still going in our transition period and we have people looking into everything at the NSC. But our focus first and foremost would be to make sure that everyone is on the same level and for us to get off the ground.” “I see sports going places. I see the athletes benefiting directly and more student athletes coming through the system. We would also see Sports returning to the education system, playing a more prominent role,” Dr Roopnarine said.

CPL begins quest to find Cheerleaders for Guyana matches

See story on page 27

SHIV CHANDERPAUL

Flashback! Cheerleaders at the 2014 CPL matches at the Guyana National Stadium

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By Rawle Toney ARE you 18 years and older and would love to be part of this year’s LIMACOL Caribbean Premier League (CPL)? If yes, then local Cheerleading Project Coordinator, Surida Nagreadi is asking you to head down the National Cultural Centre on Saturday, May 23. Auditions start at 10:00hrs. “We would love for the entire country to come out and see if they have what it takes to become a cheerleader for this year’s CPL” Nagreadi told Chronicle Sport yesterday. With the excitement building with regard to the Guyana leg of the LIMACOL CPL 2015 games, the See page 30 FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015