2015 5 29 new

GUYANA

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

Gov’t, GuySuCo avert possible wages, salaries crisis PRICE: $80

No. 104204 FRIDAY MAY 29, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

INCLUDING VAT

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…corporation unable to account for $154M employees savings

Carter Center recommends major reform of local electoral process Page

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Jimmy Carter

Guyana to open Consulate in French Guiana $6M worth of Fedders Lloyd seized liquor offers to complete stolen from Specialty Hospital GRA warehouse

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Leon Lindo

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Ex-cop charged with conspiring to murder MFK Page

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Gov’t, GuySuCo avert possible wages, salaries crisis …company unable to account for $154M employees savings

…union instructs cease/desist order on deductions

Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder, (centre) meeting yesterday with GuySuCo CEO, Dr Rajendra Singh (right) and other officials

By Gary Eleazar A WIDE-SCALE crisis in the nation’s sugar belt has possibly been avoided following a meeting yesterday with newly appointed Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Dr Rajendra Singh, over the possible failure to pay wages in the near future.

Minister Holder provided the Chronicle with a brief update following the meeting and said the two sides have come to a possible compromise on the way forward. He did caution that it was too

early to pronounce definitively, since the CEO would still have to submit more information to the minister.

Holder explained that during the course of the meeting, the GuySuCo CEO did seek to explain a number of the parameters within which the industry operates.

He said some of what was explained to him as minister with responsibility for the sector, by the CEO, did sound plausible but will have to await receipt of the requested information before a determination is made.

Minister Holder told the Chronicle last evening that he is now awaiting the requested information in rela-

tion to GuySuCo, so that a determination could be made and a proposal submitted to the Finance Ministry, before any bail-out could be extended to the industry.

Dr Singh recently informed stakeholders in the industry that salaries could not be paid beyond the end of this month, given the industry’s financial straits.

Efforts to contact the GuySuCo CEO following the meeting with Minister Holder last evening proved futile, as Dr Singh refused repeated calls by this publication.

Minister Holder had earlier in the day indicated to the Chronicle that Government may in fact have to provide some sort of subsidy in the short term.

He did caution that the Agriculture Ministry would only be able to make a rec-

ommendation to the Ministry of Finance, as it relates to the level of subsidy to be provided to the cash-strapped sugar industry, in order to meet its shortfalls.

Minister Holder did point out to this publication that the final determination will have to be made at the level of the Cabinet.

According to the minister, the new administration is currently still in the process of ascertaining the books of the various state agencies in order to get a better understanding of the resources available, along with constraints and areas to be addressed among other critical areas such as debts and debt repayments.

But the sugar company’s woes despite the intervention by the minister continued to escalate yesterday as the Guyana Agricultural

and General Workers Union (GAWU) Co-operative Credit Union Society Limited also announced to its members that it has requested GuySuCo to cease deductions from workers’ earnings and credit union savings, effective tomorrow.

“The Society’s regrettable, but unavoidable decision is occasioned by GuySuCo not remitting workers’ savings to the credit union contrary to the extant Agreement between the credit union and the corporation,” according to GAWU, which claimed that GuySuCo is now unable to account for in excess of $154M According to the union body, as at the end of April, 2015, the corporation failed to provide the sum of $154,410,525, which it says “represents workers’ savings for five (5) months.”

It reported too that GuySuCo had promised to the credit union some payments not later than the third week of this month (May, 2015) “but same did not materialise.”

As such, the credit union is now unable to continue to facilitate savers’ withdrawals in light of the non-payment of the workers’ savings by the corporation in accordance with the relevant Agreement.

“Additionally, the credit union has taken consideration of the fact that it is now unable to secure further loans to satisfy savers’ withdrawals.”

The union further pointed out that the sad decision if it is not urgently redressed by the corporation “will cause the jobs of the credit union’s employees to be in jeopardy.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Fedders Lloyd offers to complete Specialty Hospital – and at no extra cost

By Gary Eleazar FEDDERS Lloyd Corporations Limited, the Indian Company that lost in the bid to build the Specialty Hospital, at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown— though it was the lowest bidder at the time—to Surrendra Engineering, has now offered to complete the project at no extra cost.

Mr. Ajay Jha, representative for the company’s America’s portfolio, during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday said his company has already assessed the designs for the project, and concluded it could deliver on the project.

He said financing for the project would naturally come from the residual US$14.7M on the Indian Line of Credit (LoC) for the project, in addition to incorporating another US$1M, which was meant for Surendra Engineering for the delivery of a number of pumps for the Ministry of Agriculture.

According to Mr. Jha, the previous administration had already begun talks with the Indian Government and its representatives with a view to having the US$1M remaining on the “Pumps Project” to be re-applied to

the Specialty Hospital for its completion.

Both projects entered into by the previous administration with Surendra Engineering—Supply of Pumps and Specialty Hospital—were embroiled in a myriad of controversies with the government eventually sacking the company executing the project and moving to the courts to recover lost monies.

According to the Fedders Lloyd representative, earlier this year when former President Donald Ramotar visited India, he had an opportunity to meet with the then President and discuss the Specialty Hospital Project.

Mr Jha said Ramtoar had indicated a willingness to move in the direction of having Fedders Lloyd complete the project.

He said he met with both Ramotar and the then Guyana High Commissioner to India, Ronald Gajraj.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that Fedders Lloyd is interested in not only completing the Specialty Hospital for the Guyana Government, but is in fact looking to have a stronger presence in the Guyana market.

According to the Fedders Lloyd representative, the company is a conglomerate,

National Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan Fedders Lloyd Corporation Limited, Country Representative in conversation with former President Donald Ramotar in India earlier this year

and as such would be able to absorb not making any profit in completing the Specialty Hospital, using the current design and residual money on the LoC from India.

He pointed out further that since it is in fact a Line of Credit from the Government of India being used to fund the project, a Line of Credit that would have been approved three years ago with a five-year grace period on interest repayments and such like, time is of the essence.

The company representative indicated that since

the money was approved in 2012, three years would have already elapsed into the grace period, something that will not be renegotiated by the Indian Government.

He said the Guyana Government essentially has access to the money to finish the hospital, but the moratorium on the repayments is quickly coming to an end with the project currently at a standstill.

Mr Jha said, too, that during the time of meeting with Ramotar and the then Guyana High Commissioner to India, Gajraj, he was

essentially told that Fedders Lloyd should have been given the project in the first place.

Alliance For Change (AFC), Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, now National Security Minister, had vociferously opposed the project being awarded to Surendra Engineering, especially since it had never built a hospital anywhere in the world and that there had been lower bidders.

Ramjattan was lambasted by the now Opposition leaders--then in Government-- of wanting to protect a conflict of interest.

The company’s representative when asked about the relationship it shared with the now Public Se-

curity Minister, said while Mr Ramjattan’s advice was sought and he was collaborated with during the time, at no time was he ever officially retained as the company’s attorney, nor was he paid nor was the matter ever in court.

Mr Jha maintains that much of what had been published in relation to Ramjattan’s affiliation with Fedders Lloyd, was in fact inaccurate.

Mr Jha told the Guyana Chronicle that had the matter actually evolved into litigation, then the company would have retained Ramjattan as their lawyer, but this did not obtain.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that following his January meeting with then President Ramotar, it was the 2015 General and Regional Elections which placed a hold on all of the talks on moving forward on the project; but now that the election phase has passed, the company is looking to make investments locally.

According to Jha, the matter of the completion of the Specialty Hospital

by Fedders Lloyd was a matter up for discussion recently when President David Granger, met with Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, His Excellency VenkatachalamMahalingam at the Ministry of the Presidency this past week.

Ex-cop charged with conspiring to murder MFK

By Geeta Rampersaud AN ex-police Sergeant accused of conspiring to murder businessman Mohamed F. Khan, yesterday appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates Court to face criminal charges.

Leon Lindo, who hails from Lot 220 Belle West, Canal No. 2, West Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

Particulars of the charge stated that Lindo, between July 8 and 10, 2014, at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), Eve Leary, Georgetown, conspired with Len-

nox ‘Two colours’ Wayne and others to murder the popular businessman.

According to the prosecution, Lindo was a serving member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the deceased was a businessman. The court heard that Khan was shot between July 8 and 10, 2014 and he went missing on August 21. Later on September 22, 2014, a headless body was found at a dam in Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara.

A DNA test was carried out on samples taken from the body and the result revealed that it was Khan’s.

Lindo was arrested on the basis of statements given

by Wayne, that a plot had been hatched between him

‘MURDER ACCUSED’: Lennox Wayne

‘MURDER ACCUSED’: Ex-cop Leon Lindo

and the accused to murder Khan. Further investigations were carried out and advice was sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) before Lindo was charged.

Police prosecutor Bharat

Mangru opposed bail on grounds of the seriousness of the offence and the penalty it attracts. Mangru further cited the possibility that Lindo may pose a flight risk, should bail be granted.

‘DEAD’: Mohamed F. Khan

According to the prosecution, 31 witnesses are listed to testify. However, the Chief Magistrate set a date for report after she instructed that the file be sent to the DPP. Attorney for the ac-

cused, Ms Daniels, told the court that her client is married with three children and had served the GPF for 23 years. She added that throughout the investigation Lindo had cooperated fully with the police and that he has no intention of fleeing the jurisdiction. She also noted that the offence is a bail-able one.

The prosecution’s objection to bail was upheld and the matter was deferred to June 12, for report and fixture.

Wayne, of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, has been charged jointly and is on remand for the murder of Lusignan cosmetologist, Ashmini Harriram.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Blatter defies calls to quit as FIFA scandal widens (Reuters) THE corruption charges engulfing soccer’s governing body have heaped shame and humiliation on the game, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said on Thursday, although he flatly rejected calls to resign over the scandal.

With FIFA facing the worst crisis in its 111-year history, Michel Platini, who heads Europe’s soccer confederation UEFA, said he had told Blatter to go “with tears in my eyes”, but the 79-year-old had refused.

“I said, ‘I’m asking you to leave, FIFA’s image is terrible.’ He said that he couldn’t leave all of a sudden,” Platini, a former French international, told reporters.

In a bullish speech opening a FIFA Congress in Zurich, Blatter said the turbulence of the last two days, which included the arrest of leading soccer of-

Platini said 45 or 46 of UEFA’s 53 member associations would vote for Prince Ali. But it appeared that Blatter still commanded enough of FIFA’s 209 national associations to secure victory.

ficials at their luxury Swiss hotel, had brought “shame and humiliation” to world soccer.

Making his first public appearance since Wednesday’s dramatic events, which were triggered by a U.S.-led investigation into allegations of rampant bribe-taking, Blatter said there was no room “for corruption of any kind”.

“The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football and this Congress,” said Blatter, who is standing for a fifth mandate as FIFA president in Friday’s election, where Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan is his only challenger.

Ignoring calls to step down, Blatter said: “I know many people hold me ultimately responsible ... (but) I cannot monitor everyone all the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it.”

Outgoing U.N. aid chief paints harrowing portrait of Syria war (Reuters) THE United Nations’ outgoing humanitarian chief on Thursday painted a harrowing portrait of savagery in Syria’s civil war, now in its fifth year, and urged the Security Council to take collective action to put an end to the carnage.

The Syrian war has killed more than 220,000 people.

Of the country’s roughly 23 million people, some 12.2 million are in need of humanitarian aid, including 5 million children.

“For more than four years, we have watched Syria descend into deeper depths of despair surpassing even what the most pessimistic observers thought possible,” Valerie Amos said in her final briefing to the U.N. Security Council before handing over the post to her fellow Briton Stephen O’Brien.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter arrives for the opening ceremony of the 65th FIFA Congress in Zurich, Switzerland, May 28, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

More storms lash Texas after severe weather kills 16

ADVERTISING “In the past weeks, we have seen more and more heinous acts. Innocent men, women and children killed, maimed, displaced, and subjected to a savagery that no human should have to endure.”

She cited an aerial bomb attack on a market in Darkoush late last month which killed between 40 and 50 civilians and referred to reports of Islamic State militants executing dozens of civilians over the past week after capturing Palmyra.

“The use of chlorine continues to be reported, killing, injuring and terrorising civilians,” she said. “Schools and hospitals continue to be attacked.”

She urged the council to take action to protect civilians and end the sieges, ensure aid workers have access, and bring war criminals to account. Last month she called for an arms embargo and sanctions on Syria.

Amos said aid workers were unable to access any of the 422,000 people under siege in Syria in April. She accused the government of introducing new rules and regulations, causing unnecessary delays in delivery of urgently needed aid.

“ISIL’s (Islamic State) advance brings with it new depths of depravity to Syria with indiscriminate killing and maiming, raping and destroying,” she said. “They have forcibly recruited children and made the delivery of humanitarian assistance more and more difficult.”

STORMS on Thursday pounded parts of Texas still reeling from torrential rains that killed at least 16 people, turned streets into rivers in major cities and set a record for the wettest month in the state’s history.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch on Thursday stretching from south of San Antonio to Dallas, through Oklahoma, where severe weather this week killed an additional six people, and into Kansas. Thunderstorms pelted large parts of the affected region on Thursday.

The city of Wharton, about 60 miles (100 km) southwest of Houston, issued a voluntary evacuation notice for areas along the Colorado River likely to be hit by floods.

ADVERTISING The Brazos River has flooded about 30 miles (50 km) west of Fort Worth and is expected to crest on Thursday evening.

Hundreds were asked to leave their homes on Wednesday as the waterway began breaching its banks, Parker County officials said.

State climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon said on Thursday the average rainfall across the state was 7.54 inches in May, breaking the record of 6.66 inches set in June 2004, according to records that date to 1895.

“It has been ridiculous,” Nielsen-Gammon said.

The body of a boy was recovered on Wednesday near the central city of San Marcos, Hays County officials said. The boy, who has not been identified, was thought to have been swept away in Blanco River floods that ripped houses off their foundations, county officials said.

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Venezuela and Russia’s Rosneft agree ‘$14bn oil deal’ (BBC News) VENEZUELAN President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday that he had reached an agreement with Russia’s top oil producer Rosneft to invest $14bn (£9.2) in Venezuela’s oil and gas sector.

Speaking after a meeting with Rosneft chief executive Igor Sechin, Mr Maduro said the money would allow Venezuela to double its oil production.

But he gave few details of the deal.

Venezuela is one of the biggest oil exporters worldwide and claims to have the world’s largest crude reserves.

OIL DEPENDENT Rosneft said that the $14bn constituted its total investment in current and future projects in Venezuela.

Nicolas Maduro (right) announced he had Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin In comments emailed falling oil prices. to Reuters news agency, It is estimated that 96% Rosneft said it had already of its export revenues come invested $1.8bn in Venezuela from oil. from 2010 to 2014.

Fresh investment in VenVenezuela, which is ezuela’s oil sector, which it heavily dependent on oil is seeking to expand, would money, has been hit hard by therefore be a boost to the

reached a deal with president.

Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA wrote on Twitter (in Spanish) that it had agreed with Rosneft to “create companies together” to boost production of crude oil.

Another hiccup for Warner’s bail

INDEPENDENT Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner remained under remand at the Port-of-Spain State Prison up to midday yesterday Warner, who has been indicted in the United States on eight fraud and corruption charges stemming from his two decade long career in FIFA, spent the night at the infirmary of the Frederick Street prison after he failed to obtain approval of his bail at the close of the court’s business hours yesterday.

Warner’s lawyers and relatives made a second attempt to get approval this morning but were again turned down by the court’s Clerk of the Peace 3.

A source within the court, explained that the deed for the property being put forward to secure Warner’s bail is listed in the name of

after she (Ayer-Caesar) reviews the deed.

Warner, who is facing extradition proceedings which are likely to drag on for over a year, will reappear before Ayers-Caesar on July 9.

Chaguanas West MP and former Fifa vice president Jack Warner waves to supporters as he is escorted to a police vehicle following his appearance at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court Wednesday on charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering. Photo: Jeff Mayers

a company.

The T&T Guardian understands that the clerk has refereed the

matter to Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar and would only rubber-stamp the process

Survey: 20 per cent of high school students at risk of suicidal behaviour

(Jamaica Observer) A SURVEY done by the Ministry of Health in 2013 has revealed that 20 per cent of children in second to sixth forms in secondary institutions were at risk for suicidal behaviour.

According to the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s (PIOJ) annual Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ) (2014/15), the ministry, through the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), conducted a UNICEF-funded special study on “Youth Suicide in Jamaica”, through the 2013 National School Survey.

“The study revealed that approximately 20 per cent of a sample of children from Grades 8-12 were at risk for suicidal behaviour,” the document, which was tabled in the House of Representatives last Tuesday, reported.

In addressing the recommendations for prevention, the ESSJ said that a national task force was commissioned to develop an implementation plan based on those findings.

The implementation plan outlined strategies to prevent suicidal behaviour and improve management of attempted suicides among the youth population.

The Ministry of Health reported that last year that of all reported cases of attempted suicide, the age group 10-19 accounted for the majority, or one-third, of visits to ambulatory (patients who are not bedridden) care in public health institutions.

Although the visits fell to 2,171, from 2,529 in 2013, 18 per cent were from new cases compared to 21 per cent in 2013. The institutions mostly utilised were the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston (31 per cent) and institutions in the Western Regional Health Authority, which includes Montego Bay (19 per cent), which adds up to 50 percent of the patients.

On a wider scale, the ministry reported that mental health-related visits were among the top-five speciality admissions in the hospitals, and one of the top-six curative visits to health centres for children and adults.

Just over 47,000 clients with psychiatric illnesses visited health centres, and 2,440 were admitted to hospitals, last year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

Solid show of support for new Government - on Independence Day

LAST Tuesday Guyanese from across every divide in the country participated in a packed programme of activities to commemorate this nation’s 49th Independence anniversary, which culminated in the inauguration ceremonials for President David Granger at Guyana’s national stadium in Providence.

The show of solidarity by supporters of the new Government was reflected by the thousands gathered from all across the country who joined the throng witnessing the landmark event.

During his address

President Granger stressed that all Guyanese “… have a duty to actualise the vision of our nation’s founding fathers who fought to create the new state. We have a duty to continue the work they started to transform a divided colony into a united ‘Nation.’

To d a y i s a d a y o f thanksgiving. We give thanks for the gift of Independence.”

He acknowledged that “Independence was not the work of one person or one party. It was the product of a movement of the Caribbean people. It was a pro-

cess that took place over a long period of 50 years.

Workers were the true pioneers. It was they who rebelled against British Colonialism first, during the distress after the First and Second World Wars in 1918 and 1945, respectively. During the ‘Labour Rebellion’ of the 1930s, 29 workers were killed and 115 injured throughout the West Indies and British Guiana. We pay homage to the workers for their sacrifice.”

Like the historian he is, the President informed the audience: “Legislators

followed. Theophilus Lee, the first President of the British Guiana Trades Union Council – BGTUC – a Chinese-Guyanese and a member of the Legislative Council, moved a motion there that led to the establishment of the Waddington Commission which, in turn, led to the introduction of universal adult franchise. This is the same franchise which we exercised 15 days ago. The Commission’s recommendations also led to internal self-government

and, finally, Independence.

We pay homage to our legislators for their leadership.”

Noting that Independence came in 1966 after decades of distress and distrust, the President urged: “Let us not now dwell on the pain of the past but look with faith to the future. Let the sacrifice of those who struggled and died inspire us today and guide generations to come tomorrow and beyond.

Independence meant change – from colony to nation; from subject to citizen; from subjugation to liberation and from discrimination to dignity and equality.”

The pomp and ceremony did not overshadow the solemnity of the occasion of re-affirmation of national goals.

The thousands exulting in finally getting a Government of their choice were forewarned that success is achievable only with hard, goals-oriented work from a nation committed to work together for the upward mobility of all the citizens of the land.

Even as the spirit of jubilation heightened the exultation of the crowd, the President was encouraging Guyanese to join in united efforts to move the country forward as was done by ancestors of yore.

In response to Barrington Braithwaite I WISH my friend Barrington Braithwaite had found the wisdom of consulting me before he wrote the letter. I have spent a great deal of the past five years being singularly consistent in pointing out the severe shortcomings in cultural policy under the previous administration and it would save me a great deal of trouble if I did not have to waste time in responding to ill-informed and frankly transparent agendas.

First of all, the Chronicle editorial of 2005 did in fact refer to Carifesta as burlesque. This isn’t an opinion I had been alone in holding at the time considering that I was in as good company as Derek Walcott, and this is prior to the reformed Carifesta model that came out of the Dr Keith Nurse restructuring plan which was to inform the Festival

of 2006 and subsequent incarnations. Even the 2006 festival in Trinidad did not escape such criticism with current founder of Bocas Lit Fest, Marina Salandy-Brown writing in Newsday, October 12, 2006: “I know many people worked tirelessly to get it on the road but the criticism that Carifesta IX was a Carifiasco is not unfair. My professional judgment is that, in the end, it was a rag tag of good and bad entertainment, not enough new or exciting.”

Now, I’m not sure what Mr. Braithwaite refers to as my “attack on Burnham” but he can perhaps enlighten me if he finds it prudent to respond and clarify, although I’m not sure that President Burnham was beyond criticism. I’d also challenge him to present a single piece of writing that I produced at the Chronicle, editorial or otherwise, that could be seen as remotely partisan in nature.

Mr. Braithwaite’s insinuation that my engagement there was somehow politically tainted is not only an insult to the professional journalists who still worked there at the time, like Michelle Nurse, Claudette Earle, George Baird and even Sharief Khan himself, but it is particularly ironic considering that he regularly submitted cartoons to the Chronicle as well.

It seems that Dr. Paloma Mohammed, as is typical, has decided to hide behind a defender instead of presenting her face to the public, in response to comments I’ve made on social media regarding her complicity in the state of cultural degradation in Guyana.

Mr. Braithwaite touches upon one sphere of such complicity, her stint at Creative Director of the disastrous Carifesta X (2008), not a mere consultant manager

as he implies. To date, despite the sum disaster that was that festival, Dr. Mohamed has remained silent on the very real problems that took place leading up to, during the event and after.

In fact, from the beginning, Carifesta got off to a poor start creatively and logistically, as chronicled by journalist Neil Marks who was fired from the Guyana Times for daring to point that out. Despite her dual role as both Creative Director of Carifesta and head of the Theatre Guild, Dr. Mohamed has personally remained silent on the fact that the Guild remains unpaid for services to every Festival she played a lead role in organising.

The Theatre Guild continued to receive little or no support from Government despite its critical role in keeping theatre alive in Guyana and the question of the insulting subvention has come up in

Parliament, even as Dr. Mohamed has remained silent.

Silence again last year when the very Minister of Culture that Braithwaite skewers was publicly accused of shortchanging the participants in the National Drama Festival of 2013.

I’ve consistently pointed out the flaws in the Caribbean Press, something in which I’ve been occasionally joined by various persons including Braithwaite himself. Dr. Mohamed in contrast has willingly had three books published by the mechanism without uttering a single word of even constructive criticism in having the Press function for its original stated purpose of benefitting emerging writers in Guyana. Braithwaite and I (myself uninvited) attended a Ministry organised creative industries workshop over a year ago at which Mohamed presented and we’ve both

raised the issue that a report and follow up workshop promised to be given weeks after that initiative has never materialised, not Mohamed.

Pointing out facts is not envy - it is pointing out facts. It is disingenuous at best to seek to thwart legitimate criticisms of cultural gatekeepers, obfuscating legitimate criticisms by throwing around terms such as “contrived defamations”.

If my criticisms on social media, the ones I have repeated here, are not factual, Dr. Mohamed is free to rebut them herself. I have little concern with what people did 22 years ago before they fell in line and became part of the very machinery they claim to be dysfunctional my concern is fixing now.

Now, Mr. Braithwaite attacks my credentials to adequately deal with cultural See Page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Sister Noel Mary Menezes - a never re-tired nun IT was her humility that captured my attention.

She was humble yet rich in knowledge and wisdom. Her contribution to education in Guyana especially higher education is remarkable. I am delighted to express my honours to Sister Noel for she has been appointed by the President to the Order of Roraima of Guyana, second highest award in the country. I was so exultant to hear this great news for she deserves this award for her academic excellence and more importantly for her service to the less fortunate children of our society. This is

not only good news for the nation but for the Catholic Church in Guyana. The Church in Guyana has been in the forefront of the society in forming the young men and women for others.

One of my friends recalled, “Sister Noel had tremendous command over the children whilst at the Church; when she entered the Church, there was a pin drop silence. Everyone looked up to her as a good mother.” She has been popular not only among the academics but also among the poor people. She was a person of integrity intertwining her academic with service of the poor.

She has been an inspiration for many of the boys and girls; she is one of the second great inspiration to me after an old nun in England, Sr. Chris Fealey, who used to visit prisons at the age of 90; she was well respected as the religious governor of the prison and prisoners addressed her as Mother. Sr. Noel has been inspiration for many for basically two effects; namely her academic excellence and her service for the less fortunate. She not only educated men and women for others but also showed in her life how one has to show sympathy for the less fortunate.

Her academic excellence

Transcending the restrictive boundaries of narrow racism

THE coalition Government of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has been receiving effusive praise for having brought about a national integration of Guyana’s major race groups which resulted in its declared victory at the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

For this “national integration of Guyana’s major race groups” to have been brought about means that a significant segment of Indian Guyanese, whose loyalty to the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) was previously race-based, renounced their race-based political alliance and voted to support a political grouping dominated by the African Guyanese-dominant People’s National Congress (Reformed).

In other words, the explanation for the APNU-AFC alliance’s success at the polls is that the significant numbers of Indian Guyanese who voted for the APNU-AFC alliance did so as a result of their having achieved an elevated consciousness that made them transcend the restrictive boundaries of narrow racism.

From this perspective, therefore, race became irrelevant to those Indian Guyanese – all they were concerned about was voting for a political unit that, in their opinion, offered the best promise for Guyana’s total development and economic advancement.

Now, let us be real – and honest. Many of the Indian Guyanese who left the PPP did so because their personal ambitions within the party

were not realised. Some were dissatisfied with their share of perks that flowed to the party.

Others became disgruntled because their demands for state lands were not granted. And there were yet others who became angry because the party did not position them as Government ministers or managers of state corporations.

Some also felt that their sons and daughters merited favourable consideration for certain state-sponsored scholarships and became angry when their wishes were not granted.

Then, of course, there are those who felt that their personal connections to Dr Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan gave them inherited privileged positions of authority and power within the party; these folks became disillusioned and bitter when these inherited privileges were not entertained and vowed to bring the party down.

The bottom line, therefore, is that what we have witnessed during Guyana’s 2015 elections is an illusion of national integration - not the real thing.

A number of disgruntled and opportunistic Indian Guyanese chose to align themselves with, and vote for, a political grouping that included an element that is symbolic of mass African Guyanese. Does this truly represent an integration of African and Indian Guyanese?

The truth is the Indian Guyanese who voted for the APNU-AFC alliance did so on a basis of trust. They are trusting their erstwhile “enemies” of African Guyanese (as embodied in the PNC or any of its manifestations) by placing some degree of power into their hands. (Remember: There is

only a one-seat majority) And the Indian Guyanese are watching. They need to see clear, unambiguous actions that inform them of positively changed attitudes of African Guyanese towards Indian Guyanese. The least disquieting signs will be noted. Any perceived mistreatment and witch hunting of Indian Guyanese by PNC elements embedded in the structure of governance will erode trust and have some long-term unpleasant consequences for the Government. We must also remember that blood is thicker than water. How do readers think the perceived singling out of former President Jagdeo for “special attention” from the law enforcement and legal arms of the Government, and the public humiliation of Town Clerk Carol Sooba are being viewed by our Indian Guyanese population?

These actions have certainly not gone unobserved and unnoted.

The new Government should be aware that in politics perception is considered reality that carries real consequences. The overzealous, impetuous, and intemperate actions of political cliques in the ruling structure should be brought under control by sober and wiser government leadership.

Finally, since real or convenient “racial cohesion” is now the new political game in Guyana, any significant disgruntled section of African Guyanese know exactly with whom to switch their allegiance to bring about an unassailable “integrative political body” that can easily win a national election and form a new government.

WILBERT M.

was not known to me until I browsed the website Guyana Achievers, which read an extensive biography on her career. Her work on Portuguese history is noteworthy.

Her publication titled ‘The Portuguese of Guyana: A Study in Culture and Conflict’ (1992) and the earlier work, ‘Scenes from the History of the Portuguese in Guyana’ (1986), added to my knowledge of cultural diversity of this beautiful nation. Her laudable work in the University of Guyana in the department of History showed her as person of great learning. The CXC students would have read her name in the Caribbean History Syllabus, so now you know that Sr. Noel has been awarded this eminent award. She has the prestigious Golden Arrow of Achievement award to her credit, which was awarded in 1982.

Sr. Noel never basked in the glory of her achievements as an outstanding educator.

She also loved her real mission to serve the disadvantaged. She served at the St. John Bosco Orphanage in Plaisance for over 30 years.

She had special love and care for the children who are in need of a mother. She has been visiting the Mahaica Hospital for patients suffering from Hansen’s disease regularly, which she still does with her close friends like Sr. Celine and Pat Pierre.

She is a tireless and non-retired person who cares for the boys. The boys have an utmost respect and love for this elderly sister, which I can see on their faces when I chat with them. When she was awarded this prestigious award, her heart was not in the award but she was a little downcast because of one her boys from home was ill. This

showed me greatness of a person who has been awarded this great award yet her love and care for the boy remained priority.

Let me conclude by congratulating Sister Noel Mary Menezes on winning this award and appeal to everyone that we need to look up to the people like Sister Noel who have achieved such great fame both nationally and internationally. Let us look at our local talents and be inspired to be excellent in our endeavours. It is significant to remember the less fortunate people whilst we enjoy the fame and glory. Sister Noel must inspire our young people to be excellent in academics and excellent in our service for the nation.

FR. JERRY MELWIN DIAS, SJ Diocese of Georgetown

In response ...

From Page 6 policy on the unfortunate presumption that “‘The Arts’ constitute more, much more than writers. You have not ventured out into that myriad world as yet.” It is perhaps understandable considering that he might not have been privy to the extensive work I would have done as consultant to the UWI-CARICOM project between 2003 and 2010, inclusive of a report on Carifesta IX (2006), something the Creative Director of the disastrous Carifesta X (2008) might have benefited from had her process for consultation been actually inclusive as opposed to conforming to the PPP’s policy of marginalisation.

In 2011, I wrote extensively on culture as consultant to the Alliance For Change, including informing their Action Plan’s cultural policy, just as I contributed to the cultural policy component of the APNU+AFC’s manifesto of 2015. The Prince Claus Fund grant that I received last year was not premised on my work as a writer, or even in defence of writing, but on my very specific ideas on cultural policy and its role in developing Guyana. The paper I will be presenting at the Eco-Tones Conference in Amsterdam in October of this year speaks

to integrating creative industries in the three Guianas.

Mr. Braithwaite berates the PPP but reverts to their standard tactic of an ill-informed and pseudo-condescending ad hominem attack on the credentials of someone they wish to attempt to publicly deconstruct.

Mr. Braithwaite’s letter curiously plays up Dr. Mohamed’s capacity to function in a policy formulation capacity, something I’ve never questioned, merely her silence and comfort around a now former Government that he himself describes as “evasive, contemptuous, delusional and deceptive.”

What this essentially boils down to is a weak attempt at providing a job reference for Dr. Mohamed premised on a spurious and ill-informed attack on what it is that I am in fact doing. Both can rest easy that I have no intention at present of seeking any long term engagement with government in any senior capacity. And even as I will never hesitate to call a spade a spade, or censor myself to accommodate ignorance, my approach has always been inclusiveness based on merit.

By the time this response would have been published, an action plan would have been sent off to the Ministry of Education, coming out

of a conversation I’ve had with the Minister and based upon my research both prior and subsequent to the Janus Cultural Policy Initiative, detailing a three-pronged approach on cultural policy moving forward - Culture in Development, Cultural Heritage, and Creative Industries. On the list of people I have suggested to deal with the pressing issue of mainstreaming Culture in Development is Dr. Paloma Mohamed, more specifically a sub-committee on Education which is where I believe she can most adequately function; my recommendation to head the Committee on Creative Industries is Barrington Braithwaite.

The role I’ve assigned myself is in a temporary advisory capacity until such time as the mechanism is firmly established.

As it has been since 2005, my concerns for the role of culture in development, while rooted here, extend beyond Guyana, particularly the hypocrisy and petty rivalries that inform what should be honest, open and legitimate engagement on critical public issues.

RUEL JOHNSON Janus Cultural Policy Initiative

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

STOP ‘TRASHING’ GEORGETOWN

A MAJOR challenge facing the city of Georgetown is the culture of littering. We use culture deliberately because this current negative environmental action, by some of our citizens, appears to be influenced by it. In spite of the council’s rigid and on-time garbage collection schedule, in all section of the city some citizens seem not to be able to help themselves to keep the environment clean. Therefore, littering has become a way of life for citizens. This culture appears to have spread across all strata of our society. In ‘well to do areas’ as well as poor communities one can see scattered refuse on parapets, and in canals. Empty food boxes, beer or fuzzy drink cans get tossed through the windows of mini-buses as well as posh cars and other vehicles. People who dress in expensive gabs as well as those who wear inexpensive clothes throw the wrappings from their purchase or the peelings from fruits they consume in public onto our pavements and into our street drains.

This unfriendly environmental attitude not only contributes to an ugly state of affairs but also encourages a verity of environmental problems. These include breeding places for mosquitoes and flies, aggressive aquatic growth, and the risk of diseases.

Moreover, littering has an enormous impact on the city treasury. The Council is forced to clean up parapet and roadside litter on a daily basis. But the money it expends on this could be used for other developmental works like road repairs, drainage, maternal and child welfare, and other environmental services. Therefore, the culture affects the way Council allocates money to do works in the city of Georgetown. This leads to a serious point on development. This culture of littering influences the way the city develops and grows because this area is likely to receive more attention and resources than others. It is more visible that others and can affect the image more than our day care service. But this service is critical to our working mothers. Yet we must spend more on the negative habits of litterbugs at the expense of other important areas.

What is worrying is that

as soon as an area is cleared citizens just dump their refuse on it without considering the consequences of their action.

So the process goes on and on. Freshly sanitised areas get dirty as soon as the council’s workers move to another location and a new gang of men must return to do it all over again. Some of these litterbugs shout the loudest that, “the City Council has done and is doing nothing to help the city”.

But there is hope. We could change this culture of littering in the city. Here’s how: if all stakeholders begin to take ownership and responsibility for the health of Georgetown then together we can make a significant difference in the way our environment is treated and protected.

It really would not take much to effect this change.

It calls for respect for the environment. If we could only see the environment as the greatest natural resource from which all other resources came and upon which we depend for our very survival then we could easily change this negative attitude and see a Georgetown beyond litter.

If we could only see that we can bring forth from the environment then we would appreciate that the environment is a part of us. Therefore, the way we treat the environment is a reflection of the way we value ourselves, our level of pride, and level of understanding of our relationship with our environment.

One important group of stakeholders, who can make a significant difference, is media owners. If they take a deliberate decision to put this issue on the front burner of the national agenda then they could help in raising public awareness and consequently encourage citizens’ action.

The media has the ability to influence public opinion and action on various societal issues by the way they disseminate information. People need information to be empowered to act; to become involved and to take decisions on such issues that affect their communities.

It is very obvious that this culture of littering is affecting our local communities.

However, there is neither a programme nor a feature in our local media that addresses this issue in a frontal and aggressive way on a continuous basis. One can argue that the media are not environmental

agencies or environmental organisations therefore they do not have a responsibility to pursue such issues at the expense of others.

After all, much more is going on in society. Still, if the environment is unhealthy and unsafe the media would not be able to do their work effectively because their workers, who live and operate within a filthy environment, would be preoccupied with the heath risk of working in such surroundings rather than focusing on their work. Also, the citizens who purchase the newspapers or watch the news channels would be more concerned about when the environment will be fixed rather than what is happening in other areas. In fact, the existence of all other areas in society, and society itself are only possible because there is the environment.

The media, in particular the newspapers, have a history of giving a voice to the poor and powerless. However, many media are more concerned about their bottom line.

They are interested in what sells. At the end of the day, they must show a profit to their corporate boards or bosses. So they represent the interest of those who are financially comfortable and have the power to change their economic, social and other circumstances. But, in many cases, even though powerful people contributed to the destruction of the environment, it is the poor, who are most vulnerable to the attendant evils of an unhealthy environment because they do not have the wherewithal to protect themselves and their families.

They cannot move easily from an unhealthy environment to a good one. Or run away quickly whenever there is an outbreak of some disease or environmental disaster in their community. They have to stay and manage the situation the best way they can. Therefore, the media should be sufficiently interested in the environment to the point where they treat it as a high priority issue with very serious national consequences for our nation and all of our people.

Moreover, our local media could see this as part of their social responsibility to the city. This means that they are responding to a need in our society. They have this

obligation because society permits them to operate and do business. But business is not about economics alone. It has a social side, which caters for the needs of the society in which it performs.

Therefore, society expects something in return from businesses, which it allows to operate within its confines.

History has shown that whenever there was a disparity between a business’s economics and its social responsibility, society found ways to address it and to fill the gap. One way that society has dealt with this disparity among mainstream media (msm) is through the Internet. It is cheap, quick and interactive. Therefore, it allows ordinary people to pull the information they determine to be useful to their circumstances.

Information leads to knowledge and knowledge to empowerment. Therefore, the Internet empowers citizens to act on certain issues that are of concern to them. More-

over, its interactivity allows them to add to the content of that information and to distribute it to as many people as they like as far as they like.

They are both consumers as well as newsmakers. As such, the Internet has created new public spaces, which give ordinary citizens knowledge, empowerment and a voice in the way their environment is managed. They can connect with others with similar concerns. This has encouraged the growth of environmental organisations and groups with global influence on environmental justice.

However, some developing countries, including Guyana, are still a good way behind many others in the ‘new media’ environment.

Many are still concerned with the question of survival.

They look more to the necessities of life, not technology.

This gives our local media a brilliant opportunity to work with municipalities, environmental agencies, groups

and communities to discover creative ways to ensure the health and safety of our natural environment and consequently its citizens. This could make a big difference in the current state of affairs and the way our society develops.

If we can encourage these partnerships then we can change the culture of littering. We would not only restore but also develop our city with the level of modernity that is becoming of a capital of a nation in the 21st century.

We could change the image and therefore the fortunes of the city. Yes, if we all play our part and be positive about it then we can look to a Georgetown beyond litter. What beauty, what glorious pride we, all, can share in such a glittering and progressing City.

ROYSTON KING Mayor and City Council Georgetown

Cuffy250 organisation stands ready to cooperate with new Gov’t THE members of Cuffy250 congratulate APNU+AFC on winning the confidence and vote of the majority of the Guyanese people in the May 11, 2015 elections.

We congratulate President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo as they take up the mantle of leadership of our nation and remind them of their promises to those who have entrusted them with moving this country out of the dark days of division and marginalisation on to its original promise of equality, justice, security and opportunity for all regardless of their cultural heritage, religious belief, race, ethnicity, sex, social class or sexual orientation.

Cuffy250 urges the new Government to work for a Guyana where all citizens enjoy equal justice before the law, human rights and security and equal economic, political and social rights and opportunity, particularly in land ownership, education, employment, health care, security and justice. For us, the Guyanese nation must, in

letter and spirit and through its national institutions and ethos, reflect the will and aspirations of all of its peoples.

Cuffy250 believes that a Guyana premised on and grounded in equality, jointness, inclusiveness and mutual respect will allow for the flowering of our collective abilities and talents in the service of national development and our Independence objective of ‘One People, One Nation, and One Destiny’. In our multi-ethnic society, ethnic unity and solidarity is indispensable and must be.

Cuffy250 wishes to remind the new leaders that for Guyana to be a State and Society of peace and prosperity, no single ethnic group or social class should in theory or practice or through law or cultural practice seek to dominate other groups. We also envision a Guyana free of violence of all forms and from any quarter, whether it be from the state or the family, and where the Government and Civil Society must protect all of its citizens, especially the least empow-

ered, from such violence.

As an organisation concerned primarily with the condition of African Guyanese, Cuffy250 stands ready to cooperate with the new Government to ensure that the interests of that community are given due consideration in the policies of the administration. We are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with the APNU+AFC administration to help restore the nation and to work steadfastly towards its development for all Guyanese.

Finally, we would like to congratulate all those who made this new day possible.

In particular, we wish to salute the African Guyanese community for answering the call of the Coalition to go to the polls and vote for National Unity and Change and for keeping the peace in the face of provocation in the days following the election. Once again our people have risen to the occasion when it matters.

ROYSTON PETERS For Cuffy250 Committee

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Carter Center recommends major reform of local electoral process

By Vanessa Narine A REVIEW of the current composition of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), among other major reforms in the electoral process, has been recommended by the Carter Center to the current A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration.

“Guyana should consider reforms that would reduce the politicised composition of GECOM and move toward an election management body with a structure, composition, and operations that are more consistent with international good practice and obligations, ensuring the independence and impartiality of the election management body,” the Center said in its Preliminary Statement on Guyana’s Elections that was released yesterday.

Besides the Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, the Commission’s leadership currently comprises six Commissioners. Three were nominated by the APNU+AFC coalition, and the other three by the PPP/C. CAMPAIGN FINANCE According to the Carter Center, the Government should consider establishing a formal process for the registration and regulation of political parties to ensure greater transparency and integrity.

The latter could also be bolstered by the introduction of campaign financing legislation, in order to ensure transparency in the sources of funding to contesting political parties.

The Center said, “Guyana should consider establishing and enforcing realistic limits on campaign expenditures

Code of Conduct for Political Parties should be signed much earlier in the process, and it should include a clear and strong enforcement mechanism,” the Center said.

Jimmy Carter

David Granger

Donald Ramotar

Dr Steve Surujbally

to help promote equity, and avoid inequalities in access to resources, which undermine the democratic process. “...reforms such as requiring disclosure of sources, not just in the context of elections; establishing party finance regulations with clear, rigorous, and enforceable regulations for reporting; requiring electoral contestants to make reports on their campaign expenditures publicly available, with strong penalties for those who do not comply with regulations (should be considered).”

imum advised by international best practice. The Carter Center recommends that the parliament amend legislation to address inequalities in geographical constituencies to ensure greater respect for the obligation of equal suffrage. In any case, the apportionment of the seats to the regions should be based on the latest available population statistics.”

is fixed, increasing the links between citizens and elected officials and strengthening Guyana’s democratic foundations. Consideration should also be given to ensuring that party lists are “zippered” so that women and men are listed alternately on the list.”

domestic observers are able to play their critical roles in increasing the transparency of the electoral process without sacrificing their right to vote when they are stationed at polls where they are not on the voters’ list. “Reform should focus on allowing agents to vote in the polling stations where they are deployed,” the Center said.

SEATS DISTRIBUTION UNEQUAL GECOM’s system of boundary delimitation was also called into question by the Carter Center, which contends that as a result of the status quo, the distribution of electors per regional seat in the general elections is unequal.

The Center said, “All districts deviate from the average of person-per-seat by more than 15 per cent, a max-

CONSOLIDATE LAWS The group also called on the Government to consider consolidating the existing electoral laws. “At present, the laws are established across a plethora of legal instruments, would enhance both the clarity and the certainty of the legal rules. In addition, the laws of Guyana, including those that pertain to elections, should be made more readily available and easily accessible to citizens,” the Center said, adding: “Consideration should be given to electoral reform efforts that would ensure candidate placement on party lists

RESPECT RIGHTS The rights of independent candidates were also recognised by the Center, which called for amendments to Article 156 of the Constitution, which gives political parties the power to remove a member of the National Assembly if they no longer support the party, which limits the freedom of association “Guyana should reconsider the barring of independent candidates from standing for office, as it undermines international commitments on the freedom of association and the right to stand for elections,” the group said.

The APNU+AFC administration was also called on to consider ensuring that political party agents and

CODE OF CONDUCT The timely signing of a Code of Conduct for political parties was also highlighted by the Carter Center as an area that needs to be revisited.

The Code was circulated to political parties for recommendations to inform the finalisation of the document.

It is a guide to expected behaviours in the lead-up to the May 11 General and Regional Elections. However, unlike in previous years, the Code was signed two weeks before Election Day – limiting its role during the majority of the campaign period.

“In future elections, the

CALL TO PARTIES Additionally, a general call was made to all political parties, with emphasis on cooperation.

The Carter Center said, “Guyana must move beyond divisive politics, and its parties must find a way to work together constructively for the good of the country. While the political system enables a vigilant and energetic Opposition, there must be a level of strategic cooperation to ensure that the state can perform its basic functions and regular local government elections can be held. The institutions of the state should not be held hostage to continuing cycles of inter-party conflict.”

On that note, the group called for political parties to reevaluate their structure to ensure that they are well positioned to play their role in representing their supporters in government.

“Political party leaders appear out of touch with many Guyanese, limiting the effectiveness of the political elite in representing Guyana’s citizenry. All parties should strengthen their internal democracy and make their operating procedures more transparent,” the Center said.

General and Regional Elections were held on May 11, and the results of the polls were officially declared on May 16. APNU+AFC scored a close 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 favour of the party.

City Council passes motion congratulating President Granger and his administration – But PPP councillors walked out

By Telesha Ramnarine A CONGRATULATORY message to President David Granger and his administration, which went to the Georgetown City Council in the form of a Motion, was passed with

majority support at the municipality’s statutory meeting earlier this week.

The Motion was moved

by Councillor Llewellyn John and was seconded by councillor Eon Andrews.

The message took the form of a Motion so that it could

have been recorded in City Hall’s records.

The motion, however, did not sit well with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) councillors and three of them, Elme Ishmael, Victor Sobers and Parabhodial Sattan opted to walk out of

the meeting.

Before leaving, Sattan contended that they could not support such a motion because the PPP is claiming that the recent general and regional elections were rigged and was nothing short of a fraud. Sattan pointed to a number of so-called discrepancies that were found and noted that a recount, as

was requested by the PPP, was not consented to.

Meanwhile, Councillor Andrews said special congratulations were in order for the new President David Arthur Granger, Prime Minister Moses Verasammy Nagamootoo and by extension, the newly appointed Minister of Communities Turn to page 11 ►

Councillor Eon Andrews

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Carter Center urges Carter Center GECOM to release releases findings polling station data on May 11 elections used in tabulation THE Carter Center yesterday released its final preliminary statement on Guyana’s May 11 General and Regional Elections.

The Center’s key findings include: • VOTING. There was a generally calm and peaceful atmosphere during election day, and Carter Center observers assessed procedures positively at all stations observed, with no major irregularities reported. Polling staff at stations observed were well-trained, and voting progressed with very few technical errors and in a manner that protected the integrity of the vote.

• COUNTING. Carter Center observers reported that ballot reconciliation and the completion of Statements of Polls (SoPs)

generally adhered to procedures in polling stations visited, and party agents and citizen observers were invited to sign and receive copies of the results. However, the atmosphere during the counting period became anxious in some areas of the country, and several incidents were reported in Georgetown, where crowds gathered around polling stations, which contributed to a delay in the transfer of some electoral materials and processing of results. The Guyana Elections Commission and the police coordinated a response to facilitate the transfer of materials.

• POST-ELECTION PERIOD. After May 11, Carter Center observers continued to observe the transmission and tabulation of results at all levels, including

the central tabulation process in Georgetown, with observers providing a presence 24 hours a day. Carter Center observers were not limited in their access to the data-entry rooms of GECOM. The Center learned, and GECOM acknowledged, that some fraudulent Statements of Polls had been created and inserted into GECOM national tabulation. However, GECOM easily identified the forgeries and did not process them. Observers did not report any significant irregularities during the post-election tabulation and verification of results phases.

The Carter Center staff and observers will remain in Guyana and continue to consult with stakeholders, and observe the post-election environment.

Duo in Agricola robbery refused bail A DUO charged with r o b b e r y w e r e y e s t e rday refused bail when t h e y a p p e a re d b e f o re Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates Court.

Jermaine Daley, 22, of Lot 44 Cooper Street, Albouystown, and 22-year-old Akeem Charles, of Lot 178 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty.

Particulars of the first charge said that on Monday, May 25 at Agricola, East Bank Demerara, being together, they robbed Bibi Razia of one shoulder bag, one purse, $35,000 in cash, one GBTI card and other documents together valued at $40,000. Additionally, on the same day at Agricola, being together, they robbed Bibi Khan of one gold chain, valued at $80,000.

Police prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves told the court that on the day in question, around 10:45 hrs, Razia and Khan joined a route 42 minibus en route to Georgetown, and the two accused also joined the said minibus.

The court heard that Daley and Charles requested the driver to stop at Flour Mill Road, Agricola, after

‘ROBBERY ACCUSED’: Jermaine Daley

‘ROBBERY ACCUSED’: Akeem Charles

which the number one accused (Daley) dealt Khan several cuffs to her face and relieved her of a gold chain.

Meanwhile, the number two accused (Charles) took away the articles belonging to Razia. They subsequently made good their escape as the minibus driver took both victims to the police station.

Gonsalves said the driver returned with the police to search for the two accused and they were identified on a bicycle.

A search was conducted on both men and Daley was found with $16,500 in cash and a gold chain, while

$13,500 in cash was found on Charles.

The prosecutor successfully opposed bail on the ground that if bail is granted, they may not return for trial. The Chief Magistrate therefore upheld the prosecutor’s objection and the case was adjourned to June 12, for report and the fixing of a trial date.

As both men exited the court chute, Daley attempted to escape lawful custody; an alarm was raised and police ranks that were present gave pursuit and recaptured him. (Geeta Rampersaud)

By Vanessa Narine

THE Carter Center, which recently fielded a 44-member electoral observer mission here, headed by Mr Jason Calder, is urging the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to release and make public the polling-station level results data.

“The Carter Center urges GECOM to make complete data available as quickly as possible regarding results at the polling-station level. This is a recognised international best practice that can enhance public confidence in the process and its outcome,” the Centre said in its preliminary report on its observations.

The USA-based body recommended that GECOM takes measures to improve the tabulation process, in light of the fact that the “slow pace of the process” creates a “vacuum of information” that fuels suspicion, mistrust and speculations.

“Guyana should consider a full review of tabulation procedures, possibly including steps such as a double-blind data-entry system to enhance accuracy and confidence.

Improved tabulation procedures and timely dissemination of information will increase trust in the overall process,” the Carter Center said.

Communication and access to information was another area highlighted by the Center as in need of review.

“GECOM needs to review its policy on access to information and on the openness of GECOM commissioners’ meetings. Ideally these should be open to media and observers.

In any case, agendas should be published well in advance and decisions should be made public,” the Centre said.

Last Wednesday (May 20), GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, wrote to the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Mr Keith Lowenfield to request several things, including the: ● Results from each Electoral District, disaggregated by Polling Division, as compiled by the Chief Elections Officer; ● Results from each Electoral District, disaggregated by Polling Division, as compiled by the Returning Officer of each Electoral District; ● Report from the Information Technology Department, disaggregated by Polling Station; ● Photocopies and/or electronic copies of Statements of Poll of each Polling Station, as submitted to the Chief Elections Officer; and ● Photocopies and/or electronic copies of Statements of Poll of each Polling Station, as submitted to the Returning Officer of each Electoral District.

According to him, Lowenfield responded

Jason Calder

the next day, May 21. “The Chief Elections Officer acknowledged receipt of the correspondence and stated that he requires the consent of the Commission to release the requested information,” the Commissioner said.

His letter came on the heels of several objections to the final declaration of the election results by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

The PPP/C has expressed concerns over the discovery of falsified Statements of Polls (SoPs) and raised objections to 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 to use their proxies, among others.

Recounts were requested before and after the official declarations were made, but these were rejected. Also denied was the PPP/C request for the SoPs, Tally Sheets and a breakdown of results of each Polling Division or Ballot Boxes.

Maintaining its position on the calls made, the PPP/C is currently compiling documentation to support the filing of an election petition to challenge the 2015 election results in the High Court.

Notably, GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, has made it clear that the Commission stands ready to defend its final declaration.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Guyana to open Consulate in French Guiana – President tells French journalist

THE new administration is keen on opening a Diplomatic Consulate in French Guiana. This was revealed during an interview on Wednesday with President David Granger by French Television Senior Journalist, Nicolas Pietrus.

“I will ensure that there is a consulate in French Guiana to look after the interest of the Guyanese there,” the President told Pietrus.

It was noted that French Guiana has a large migrant population of Guyanese, and such a facility would help to service their needs and assist in the building of closer ties between the two nations.

On the issue of how long should an envoy spend at one mission, the President

deemed “unacceptable” the habit in the past of serving for 22 or more years. Many countries rotate or change their diplomats every three or four years.

Foreign Minister, Mr Carl Greenidge has already indicated that those who were political appointees to the Foreign Service will be asked to step down.

With regards to the Diaspora and the Guyanese in general who reside overseas, President Granger said that while many left in the 1980s and 90s mainly because of economic reasons, he is optimistic that as Guyana begins to improve economically, this trend will be reversed. “I think they love their homeland, and I’m confident that

President David Granger

they will like to make a better future for themselves and their children right here in Guyana; so they would

return home. I expect migration to be reduced; the Diaspora will come home; they love their country,” he said.

The President was told of the negative perception French Guianese have of Guyanese, notwithstanding the fact that many of them are hardworking, law-abiding citizens. And his response was, “As with any community, you will find that the good people outnumber the bad people. We are aware that many fugitives from justice and many persons from poor economic conditions go to neighbouring countries to seek a better life. Some of them might be criminals, and we hope that when we establish a consulate, we’ll be able to ensure that per-

sons who are identified as criminals in their homeland will be indentified to the authorities in Cayenne, and we will be able to extradite persons who are wanted for criminal offences.”

He made it clear that it is not his Government’s intention to export crime, but rather to offer protection to law-abiding citizens. “I am very confident,” he told Pietrus, “that in the long-term, you will be very confident of Guyanese who seek employment in your country.

We have economic problems, and what you are seeing may be a consequence of that, but we are not a criminal State; we are not a rogue State.”

The question of whether or not he would support

the efforts of French Guiana to become a member of CARICOM was met with a positive response from President Granger. He explained that while the Caribbean Community was launched initially with English-speaking countries, Haiti and Suriname, which are not English-speaking are now members.

The President said, “We feel that the Caribbean Community has as its objective the alleviation of poverty and the provision of a good life for all its citizens, so I would welcome the citizens of French Guiana; although it is the smallest of the Guianas, I would welcome it in to the Caribbean family.” (GINA)

A WASTE OF A WASTE DISPOSAL PROJECT?

Minister Bulkan to meet IDB officials today on Haags Bosch project

By Ravin Singh REGIONAL multilateral financial institution, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has signaled “intended indications” to withdraw from the almost completed Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill (HBSL) project in Eccles, East Bank Demerara, which commenced some four years ago.

According to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, in an interview with this publication yesterday, while there have been indications by the financial institution to withdraw their efforts in seeing the successful completion of this project, it would be premature to make any pronouncement on the issue.

Additionally, the Minister disclosed that a meeting is scheduled for today which will facilitate talks between the Ministry and the IDB on the way forward for the project.

Unconfirmed reports had suggested that the project was found to have contained a number of discrepancies, which needed urgent clarifications.

Bulkan was, however, reluctant to make a pronouncement on the nature of the “intended indication” by the financial body, offering rather

Minister of Communities, Mr Ronald Bulkan

to “wait and see what comes out of the meeting tomorrow (today)” since he remains optimistic that the IDB will lend support in seeing the completion of the project.

Signed in 2007, the then Government of Guyana (GoG) and the IDB had entered a loan agreement to finance the estimated US$20 million Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill (HBSL) Project.

Despite being signed in 2007 however, the project was operationalised in the latter part of 2011.

Construction giant, BK International, supported

by Puran Brothers Disposal Services was awarded a US$9.7M contract where the two entities were tasked with constructing the landfill and operating the site over a five

to nine years period.

Located just behind the Eccles Industrial Site, East Bank Demerara (EBD), the sanitary landfill project has routinely failed to meet deadlines in its completion date, with the last proposed date being November 15, 2014, as was promised by former Local Government Minister, Norman Whittaker.

Initially, the bank had commenced disbursing the resources from 2007 with the expectation of the project being completed within five years. But not limited to financing, the IDB has also been providing training and capacity-building skills to those persons managing the project.

According to the then People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government, the project entails provision for: ● Institutional strengthening and capacity building. ● Public awareness and community participation. ● Construction and operation of Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill. ● Waste collection and disposal from NDCs. ● Treatment and disposal of healthcare and hazardous waste.

The former Government had also disclosed in the 2014 National Budget that while the IDB was offer-

A section of the Haags Bosch landfill

ing some US$20M (Gy$4B) towards the project, the estimated total cost had been pegged at just over Gy$5 billion. The additional $1B

was proposed to be financed by central government.

The landfill is expected to facilitate garbage disposal from Georgetown

and some 15 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). The overall benefit of the project was outlined as “improved sanitation.”

City Council passes motion congratulating...

From page 9

Ronald Bulkan.

“It is no secret that the City of Georgetown, among others, had been under siege by the previous Government that inflicted severe wounds of destabilisation and mismanagement with the clear desire to annihilate the elected mayor and councillors of the city.

“They have also contributed to, if not created, an underclass culture of idleness, dependency, and self-perpetuating poverty,” Andrew told the council.

He said he has no doubt that the leaders of the coalition, by means of their

recent victory, have given the council an option to breathe fresh air on their own accord and not through a respirator.

“We have removed a government that was corrupt, nepotistic, and spiteful and those characteristics had infiltrated every facet of the Guyanese society, including the Georgetown Municipality.

“Councillors, we have to ferret out and destroy that cancer from our municipality as to do otherwise, we would be abrogating our responsibility to the citizens of the city and by

extension our contribution to the positive transformation and development of Guyana. This city must be restored to what it once was, that is, the Garden City of the Caribbean.

“We therefore must work with the central Government, the citizens of Georgetown and all other stakeholders as a testimony to the second resolve clause which states…that the council pledges its willingness to work with the new Government for the welfare of the people of Guyana,” said Andrews.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

GECOM to extend deadline for gazetting election results – APNU+AFC, PPP/C commit to submitting names of MPs

By Vanessa Narine OFFICIALLY declared results of the 2015 General and Regional elections, as well as related disclosures, were supposed to have been gazetted on Tuesday, according to a legal stipulation.

However, legal provisions also allow the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to extend that time.

Section Five of the Representation of the People Act states that: “Where under this act any act is required to be done not later than a specified number of days before election day, the Commission may by direction under its hand, if it deems it requisite or desirable so to do, extend the time allowed by reducing the number of days so specified and the following provisions shall have effect in relation to that power…(c) the Commission shall as soon as practicable after any exercise of the power, publish in the Gazette a notification thereof, which shall include a brief statement of the reason for, and the effect of, that exercise.”

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, told the Guyana Chronicle that the body’s Commissioners will meet next Tuesday, June 2,

the party.

Given the results of the elections, APNU+AFC secured a representation of 33 MPs in the 65-seat National Assembly, while the PPP/C secured 32 seats – a oneseat minority.

Barker, when asked, told the Guyana Chronicle that the two political parties have committed to making their submissions.

Dr Steve Surujbally

Harold Lutchman

Donald Ramotar

to decide on the lengths of the extension.

“We have the right, by law, at GECOM to extend the time. When the Commission meets that will be decided,” he said.

Commission.

The submission of these names is part of the disclosures that must be made in gazetting the election results, according to Section 99 of the Representation of the People Act. The law states that: “As soon as possible, but no later than 15 days after Election Day, the Commission shall publicly declare the results of the election and shall cause to be published in the Gazette a notification thereof, specifying the number of votes cast for each list of candidates; the number of

rejected ballot papers; the number of seats allocated to each list of candidates; and the names of the persons who, as a result of the election, have become members of the National Assembly.”

The current A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Administration scored a close victory in the General and Regional Elections with 207,200 votes, while the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) secured the support of 202,694 Guyanese who cast their votes in support of

NO SUBMISSIONS The fact that the election results have not been gazetted as yet, according to GECOM’s legal officer, Juanita Barker, is due to the fact that the two major contesting political parties have not yet submitted the names of their Members of Parliament (MPs) to the

HEADS OF LISTS Heading the APNU+AFC list of candidates – the Representative of the List – is Professor Harold Lutchman, a constitutional lawyer and academic; while former president Mr Donald Ramotar heads the PPP/C list of candidates.

The Representative of the List is responsible for submitting the names of candidates to the Chief Elections Officer for extraction so that they could be sworn in as parliamentarians after an election. The head of the list also plays that role if someone has to be replaced due to resignation, death or recall.

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

and Regional Democratic Council Lists. In accordance with the electoral system of Proportional Representation, in order to qualify for a seat in the National Assembly, contesting parties must contest a minimum of six (6) of the Geographical Constituencies – totalling at least 13 seats for eligibility to contest and submit Geographical Constituencies lists and National Top-up Lists. This arrangement provided for that qualified contesting party to submit on Nomination Day (April 7), two separate Lists of Candidates. Any contesting political party could have contested the election of members of any of the 10 Regional Democratic Councils. For this purpose, Lists of Candidates were submitted.

The 65 Members of the National Assembly, relative to representation in the House, were decided on the basis of the outcome of the General and Regional elections, and who those individuals are will be based on the names submitted, via the Lists of Candidates.

In the 10th Parliament, which was convened on January 12, 2012, the PPP/C held 32 of the 65 seats, while APNU held 26 seats and the AFC held seven seats.

Book of condolence opened for NA Deputy Mayor Debydeen

By Jeune Vankeric A BOOK of Condolence was opened at the New Amsterdam Town Hall on Tuesday to pay tribute to Deputy Mayor Harold Debydeen who died last Friday.

The town’s administrators were among the first signatories who paid tribute to their now departed colleague who “had a way of getting things done.”

Debydeen rose to the position of Deputy Mayor under the Errol Alphonso administration, from 1994

to 1995, and again in 2012 to the present after the sudden passing of Ms. Hyacinth James.

The Deputy Chief Citizen performed his last duty, hours before his death, by visiting and organising the clearing of the Municipal dump site at Esplanade Road.

However, at approximately 16:00 hrs, Debydeen, a widower who lived alone, alerted his neighbour of an excruciating pain in the region of his chest. However, he attributed the pain to a spicy lunch.

The late Mr Harold Debydeen

But after the pain intensified, he was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where he was treated at the

Intensive Care Unit but subsequently died at 20:00 hrs.

A post-mortem revealed that death was due to cardiac arrest.

Debydeen, a father of two, was born in New Amsterdam, and attended the All Saints Anglican School, now defunct, and the Berbice Educational Institute.

He worked at the Handin-Hand Insurance Company, during which time he became a People’s National Congress (PNC) candidate to serve on the New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council.

The funeral service was

New Amsterdam Town Clerk Ms Sharon Alexander signing the Book at the New Amstrterdam Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon

scheduled for yesterday at the All Saints Anglican

Church in New Amsterdam.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Online petition calls for investigation into ‘claims’ of ‘rigged elections’

United Nations SecretaryGeneral, Ban Ki-moon

Barack Obama

Dr Steve Surujbally

AN ONLINE petition to have the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, Barack Obama, and Council of the European Union to investigate “claims” of rigged elections and unprofessional conduct by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is gaining traction.

According to the petition, “The recently concluded elections in Guyana has been shrouded in controversy due to the Guyana Elections Commission inability to provide the people of Guyana with free and fair elections, and also an elec-

tions free from fear.

“Fake Statements of Poll were discovered during the verification process and until today no investigation was launched into how, when and by whom did these manufactured statements of poll with manufactured results infiltrate the commission; the employment of persons who are affiliated with certain political parties to serve as electoral staff on elections day; the refusal of recounts to a party who felt that their supporters were being disenfranchised due to discrepancies in the system. There is also need for an investi-

gation into the role foreign powers played in this well organised and orchestrated plan to remove a Guyanese Government.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of GECOM, Dr Steve Surujbally, when asked by the Guyana Chronicle, declined to comment on the matter.

The petition can be accessed at: https://www. change.org/p/united-nat i o n s - s e c re t a r y - g e n e ral-ban-ki-moon-barackobama-council-of-the-european-union-investigateclaims-of-rigged-electionsand-unprofessional-conduct-by-the-elections-commission-in-guyana.

City Council launches bin donation campaign

By Telesha Ramnarine THE Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has started a bin donation campaign, urging businesses and individuals to donate garbage bins and/ or bags.

In a statement, the council said anyone who wishes to make such a donation can make contact with the Public Relations Division of M&CC on telephone number 225-2218.

“This is to assist the ongoing cleanup activities in different wards of the City.

The Council wishes to encourage all citizens to get involved, in cleaning up their neighbourhoods and local communities,” the statement said.

RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS The council will soon hold a series of community meetings to raise public awareness on the need for clean and healthy communities and the role citizens ought to play in such an environment.

Meanwhile, 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.

Mayor Hamilton Green had announced that included among the monuments and sites for restoration is a major heritage site – City Hall. He said City Hall is looking at, hopefully,

putting the restoration programme together before the end of the year, but it will require experts.

While admitting that it is a big challenge, Green said that with assured support from the President and Government, City Hall is proceeding with confidence to restore Georgetown.

Minister of Finance Carl Greenidge has already given his okay, and Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan has pledged his full co-operation.

Additionally, Green said 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 see what has to be done.

Immediate, impartial, independent forensic audit needed

– IAC raises concerns with Carter Center

Jason Calder, centre from left, with IAC representatives

SUPPORT is being sought from the Carter Center for an immediate, impartial and independent International Forensic Audit of the 11 May, 2015 General and Regional elections in Guyana.

The call was made by the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) after a meeting with Mr Jason Calder, a representative from the Carter Center, who headed the Center’s 55-member electoral observer mission that was fielded for the recent polls.

The meeting was held at the IAC headquarters in Quamina Street, Georgetown.

“This step can help reduce the intense suspicions and create an atmosphere within which citizens can work to address major issues of insecurity affecting our society,” said the IAC in a statement released on Monday.

The IAC noted that, with the aim of strengthening democracy in Guyana, the entire Diplomatic Community resident in Guyana is also called on to support this move.

SUPPORTING CHALLENGE The Committee also stated its support for the legal challenge being advanced by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). ”The IAC advised the Carter Center, that while it is always prepared to work with the Government of the day, it fully supports an election petition to the courts by the PPP/C as it is an exercise of the constitutional rights of any group or individual to do so with the aim of furthering

Keith Lowenfield

democracy in Guyana,” the statement from the group said.

The PPP/C is contesting the election results, after flagging several irregularities in the electoral process.

The problems in the electoral process highlighted by the PPP/C in the last two weeks include: 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 to use their proxies, among others.

Recounts were requested before and after the official declarations were made, but these were rejected. Also denied was the PPP/C request for the SoPs, Tally Sheets

and a breakdown of results of each Polling Division or Ballot Boxes.

As such, the PPP/C is currently preparing its legal challenge, via an elections petition, which will be filed with the High Court.

The current A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Administration scored a close 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.

SOCIAL COHESION Meanwhile, the IAC has committed to continue acting as democracy’s watchdog and continues to promote and protect the rights of Indo-Guyanese as it has been doing since 2003.

“The IAC is cognisant of the history of this country since the early 1960’s when political strife led to the deaths of almost two hundred citizens and resulted in massive destruction of property and displacement of persons,” the group said.

It added, “The IAC informed the Carter Center’s Jason Calder of the need for a sustained presence to support national stakeholders in addressing many of the underlying factors affecting social cohesion and breeding mistrust among the various ethnic groups in Guyana.”

Additionally, several attempts made by the Guyana Chronicle to contact the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Mr Keith Lowenfield, for a comment on the matter proved futile.

14

Guyana Red Cross extends ‘Coin Collection Drive’ to end of May 2015 THE Guyana Red Cross has extended its “Coin Collection Drive” exercise to the end of May 2015, since the drive has brought over 780 pounds of coins in support of its Meals on Wheels programme.

This decision was taken since many of the participating groups asked for an extension. The 780 pounds of coins translates into approximately Gy$500,000, substantially contributing to the agency’s set target of $2M. The outcome has thus far provided a good indication of the possibilities.

The Guyana Red Cross Meals on Wheels project supplies a nutritious and hot midday meal, delivered daily by cheerful volunteers to those who are unable to cook or shop for themselves.

This allows people to maintain a healthy lifestyle while remaining independent and in their homes for as long as possible. The programme has been in opera-

tion for over 50 years and demonstrates the principle of humanity in action.

The Bank of Guyana authorities have indicated that a large amount of coins is in circulation, and it has been noted that, over time, many of these $1, $5, and $10 coins are unavailable in the banking system.

The Bank of Guyana has over the last few years, been encouraging persons to bring in their coins or donate them to charities through collection boxes.

The Guyana Red Cross Society has been named by the Central Bank as a willing partner to help collect the coins so they can be re-circulated into the system.

The Guyana Red Cross Society has set up Coin Boxes at many retail locations, but coins can also be taken directly to the Guyana Red Cross HQ at Barrack St in Eve Leary, Kingston.

The Guyana Red Cross is a non-profit, humanitarian organisation that depends on volunteers and donations

from the private sector and civil society to do its work, particularly in the areas of health, disaster, and supporting the vulnerable.

One can be assured that donating to a trusted charity like the Guyana Red Cross is not only an act of kindness to poor and disadvantaged persons, but is also a way for many companies to fulfil their corporate social responsibilities.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. It reaches 150 million people each year through its 186-member national societies. Together, the Red Cross acts before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people.

It does so with impartiality as to nationality, race, gender, religious beliefs, class and political opinions. (Shivanie Sugrim)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

UG benefits from newly formed Health Reform Society

Proud student poses as she displays the little garden surrounding the outdoor eating facility

Septic tank murder trial voir dire ‘crawling’ to June session

By George Barclay THE William Street, Campbellville septic tank murder trial which began on May 13 with a voir dire (a trial within a trial) suffered a further setback on Wednesday midday, through the absence of a defence witness.

The accused are Ralph Tyndal, also called ‘Nick’, Anthony De Paul Hope, also called ‘Papa’, and Kevin O’Neil.

The accused men are charged with having between the 27th of December 2007and the 6th of January, 2008, in the county of Demerara, murdered Colleen Forrester, 44, whose body was fished out of a septic tank at William Street, Campbellville.

Attorney-at-law, Mr. Melvyn Duke, representing ‘Papa’ one of three accused charged with the murder of Forrester was given time by Justice Madame Roxanne George to find his absent witness, retired Matron Felix of the Georgetown Prisons.

Duke said that his witness for the voir dire was believed to be at Kwakwani, Berbice, and he assured the

judge that if she did not turn up yesterday he would close his case in the voir dire.

This means that if the witness does not appear, Duke will address the judge as the other lawyer had already done on behalf of his client, leaving room for the judge to continue the voir dire, in relation to No. 3 accused Ralph Tyndal, also called ’Nick’.

But Hope’s witness did not turn up yesterday. As a consequence, leading prosecutrix Miss Stacy Goodings who is accompanied by Miss Diana Kaulesar and Miss Shawnett Austin, for the Prosecution, replied in relation to the remarks made by defence lawyer Melvyn Duke.

When the septic tank murder trial began on May 13th the prosecutrix disclosed that she hoped to call 15 witnesses.

But when it became known that some of the witnesses were to tender three alleged caution statements that were allegedly given to the police by the accused, the lawyers for the accused objected to the tendering of the statements on the grounds that they were not

obtained in accordance with the Judges’ Rules.

As a consequence the judge decided to conduct a voir dire in the absence of the jury to decide on the admissibility of the statements Lawyer Mr. Madan Kissoon is representing Tyndal and Attorney Mr. George Thomas is appearing for O’Neil.

The Judge noted that the June Criminal Session in Demerara opens next Tuesday, and pointed out that the current case will continue despite the presence of the June Session.

The hearing of the voir dire as it affected Hope, called ‘Papa’ was completed yesterday, giving the judge the opportunity to begin the third and last voir dire in relation to No. 3 accused Tyndal.

Because the judge will be hearing civil cases today, Tyndal’s matter is not expected to be concluded before Monday or Tuesday of next week.

The main trial at which 15 witnesses are expected to be called by the prosecution will begin following the judge’s ruling in the voir dire.

Students of the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus relaxing at their new outdoor eating facility

THE University of Guyana (UG) Turkeyen Campus has benefited immensely since the formation of its Health Reform Society, spearheaded by some of its students.

The campus is now equipped with an outdoor eating facility, situated on the lawns of the University near the Small Lecture Theatre; and the George Walcott Lecture Theatre catwalk.

This was the result of an investment of over $200,000 made by the University of Guyana’s long established health bar, which sells juices and sandwiches on the campus.

The society has also been participating in the Crystal Clean competition of the University’s Student Society (UGSS), by which it has been enabled to erect the outdoor eating facility. Moreover, the Health Reform Society recently commenced rehabilitating benches around the campus.

Mario Joseph, Founder of the Health Reform Society, has highlighted that the society would be embarking on

a more dynamic educational programme during the new academic semester, and is aiming at a much improved fundraiser than its health bar, hopefully with the addition of Caesar Chicken Salads.

“From our research, this is an item like the pure fruit juices and healthy hot dogs demanded by the campus populace,” Joseph highlighted in a statement.

HOW IT STARTED The idea of the UG Health Reform Society was conceptualised when Joseph first encountered the ills of certain food items. He recognised that most of the students on campus indulged in improper consumption, and this information, he said, led him to establish a health reform society, spread awareness of the ills of certain food items, and implement better food choices for the campus.

“It is my ambition to influence our policymakers to subsidise the organic industry, and make healthy eating more affordable whilst taxing and regulating more

heavily the manufacturing industry that, in raw terms, is killing us slowly,” Joseph said.

With passage of time, he felt the need to initiate a health bar. This idea he took wherever he and 11 other students of the University would dedicate their time and energy in selling students nutritious and healthy food. However, the aim behind the society from the inception was also focused on developing a better form of accommodation for the students. This became a reality a few weeks ago.

The juices are sold at a 30% lower price than the market price in Georgetown.

This was successful, said Joseph, because of the supplier contract the society would have signed, and acquired the products at a markedly lower rate than if bought from popular wholesalers.

The society continues to function on the Turkeyen campus of the University of Guyana, and aims to contribute more to the campus in the near future.

(Shivanie Sugrim)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Foreign Direct Investment in Guyana rose 19% during 2013-2014

– Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean FOREIGN Direct Investment (FDI) in Guyana rose by 19 per cent, moving from US$214 million to US$255 million during the period 2013 to 2014, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) said in its annual report, ‘Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2015’.

In a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Go-Invest Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Keith Burrowes reported that 2014 was a bright year for Guyana in terms of investments. Guyana was able to attract total investment worth some $196 billion from 234 projects, creating some 15,868 jobs.

Investments in locally proposed projects totalled some $107.5 billion, creating some 7254 jobs, while proposed Foreign Direct Investment amounted to $88.4 billion.

While Guyana experienced growth, the flow of FDI into the Caribbean sub-region shrank 4.7 % in 2014 to total $6.027 billion, ECLAC noted.

This nearly 5% decline in FDI directed towards Caribbean countries is less severe than the 16% drop registered in Latin America and the Caribbean as a whole, where flows fell to US$158.803 billion in 2014 from US$189.951 billion in 2013. Nevertheless, since 2008 FDI inflows into the Caribbean have fallen 37%.

The percentage of FDI as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is relatively high in the Caribbean compared with other regions of the world, the study indicates. On average, these flows represent 4% of the sub-region’s GDP, and more than 10% in some of

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Guyana rose by 19 per cent, moving from US$214 million to US$255 million during the period 2013 to 2014, ECLAC has reported

its economies, while in the rest of Latin America that percentage is fewer than 3%.

This dependence, combined with the concentration in terms of the receiving sectors (tourism and increasingly natural resources) and the countries of origin (mainly Canada and the United States), means that Caribbean countries are highly vulnerable to variations in FDI flows, the document stresses.

ECLAC’s report analyses the situation of 16 member states in the Caribbean. Tourism is the sector that receives the most FDI in countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, while in other nations natural resources predominate (Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago). In Haiti and Jamaica FDI is principally aimed at the transportation and telecommunications sector.

The Dominican Republic is the biggest economy and the top recipient of FDI in the sub-region (21% of flows go to natural resources, 26% to manufacturing and 23% to tourism). In 2014 it received US$2.209 billion, up 11% from 2013 but still a far cry from the over US$3 billion tallied in 2012.

This country was followed by Trinidad and Tobago, which had inflows of US$1.394 billion in 2014 (down 30% from 2013), Jamaica, which registered US$699 million (an increase of 7%), and the Bahamas, with US$374 million (9% less than in 2013).

JUMP Barbados jumped from US$5 million in 2013 to US$275 million in 2014 and Guyana rose 19% (to US$255 million in 2014 from US$214 million in 2013), while Antigua and Barbuda received US$167 million (up 66% from 2013), Be-

Hits and Jams Entertainment Water Park slated for exciting CARICOM festivities HITS and Jams Entertainment is in the process of finalising its first mega-event, billed for July 4-6 at its Water Park at Providence, East Bank Demerara, and titled “Sun, Water and Sand”.

The three-day extravaganza falls on a holiday weekend, so this will undoubtedly add some excitement to the planned activities. On the first day, Saturday July 4, patrons will experience the first ever ‘food festival’ on a beach setting. It will feature chefs and cooks from a variety of countries.

One can enjoy sumptuous meals being prepared by well qualified chefs. This event will be held during the day and on Sunday, July 5, the venue will be transformed into a fashion fiesta which will see designers, -- both local and regional -- displaying their masterpieces.

It will be a day of fun and frolic preceding the local leg of the Miss Jamzone International Pageant, which will be held in the evening. Presently, Hits and Jams Entertainment is recruiting delegates to be part of the event, wherein the winner will be representing Guyana at the international pageant slated for August 2015. That pageant will commence as the sun sets and will go into the night, as is the custom.

Finally, the three-day event will culminate with a massive ‘Soca Party’. Already, the HJ team is in contact with several top class soca and chutney artistes, who will perform at the event. This will be dubbed one of the biggest beach soca parties ever.

All this is happening at Hits and Jams Water Park, which is officially set to open immediately after the hosting of Jamzone Summer Break 2015.

lize US$141 million (48% more), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines US$139 million (down 13%), and Saint Kitts and Nevis US$120 million (down 13%).

Countries that had inflows of below US$100 million dollars in 2014 include Haiti (US$99 million, down 47% from 2013), Saint Lucia (US$75 million, down 21% from 2013), Grenada (US$40 million, 64% less than the previous year), Dominica (US$36 million, equivalent to a 36% increase), and Suriname (US$4 million, down 97%).

Meanwhile, Cuba updated in 2014 its legislation regarding foreign investment with the objective of improving the country’s allure in this area and giving greater protection to investors. Currently, the biggest investments in that country are co-financed by the state, although improving diplomatic relations with the United States are

being watched closely, along with other factors.

According to the study, the reason for the significant amounts of FDI into the Caribbean lies in the active promotion policies applied by countries in the sub-region.

These policies range from actions to improve the overall business climate to the use of financial measures to stimulate FDI inflows, such as exemptions on income tax and customs duties.

Upon analysing the available evidence regarding the impact of these incentives, the organisation recommends that Caribbean countries revise their usefulness, taking into account the high fiscal costs that these measures imply for their economies and the competition generated between countries in their bid to attract projects.

One aspect to take into consideration is the fact that, on average, the repatriation of profits derived from FDI

is equivalent to more than three-quarters of the FDI inflows into the Caribbean, especially in countries such as Barbados, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

Currently, in the framework of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), proposals have been made to align these benefits, which could be useful for taking full advantage of the potential of FDI, including the possibility of improving economies’ competitiveness, the text emphasises.

In this sense, ECLAC encourages countries to advance towards a coordinated policy of FDI promotion, based on the concept that attracting bigger flows is less important than their impact on productive diversification and their convergence with longterm national development plans centred on equality of rights and environmental sustainability.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

‘Agri’ Minister takes firsthand look at NDIA works in Essequibo after flood impact AGRICULTURE Minister, Noel Holder on Wednesday visited several affected villages within the Capoey, Winsor Castle, Devonshire Castle and Queenstown areas to ascertain the flood damage so far, and to ensure that current works by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) are moving apace.

During the visit, the Agriculture Minister was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry

of Agriculture, Mr. George Jervis, Chief Executive Officer, NDIA, Mr. Lionel Wordsworth, General Manager, Guyana Rice Development Board, Mr. Jagnarine Singh and Chief Executive Officer, National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, Dr. Oudho Homenauth.

The team met with several affected farmers and got a firsthand look at the situation.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Agri-

culture, over 1,000 acres of rice lands have been affected by the floodwaters which accumulated in the backlands over the past several days.

Excessive rainfall overnight had aggravated the situation.

ISSUES RAISED Among the issues raised by farmers included the failure to desilt the clogged outfall canal, blocked internal drainage and illegally-installed tube pipes by some farmers which contributed to

Minister Noel Holder (extreme right) speaking to some farmers during his visit yesterday

farmlands being under water.

“The agriculture sector as a whole has played an integral role in the Guyana’s development and it is of paramount importance to the Administration that we maintain food and nutrition security for all…we are working around the clock to ensure that the water recedes and in a timely manner, Minister Holder said.

He added that while immediate intervention measures are being undertaken

by the Government through the NDIA, the Cabinet will be looking at a holistic approach through a long-term plan to have the situation addressed.

Two pontoons with excavators were deployed to the Windsor Castle and Capoey areas to desilt the clogged outfall canal which residents stated were neglected by the previous administration.

During the visit, engineers along with mobile pumps were deployed to the

area and are working around the clock to have the situation return to normalcy.

“We (Government) will ensure that all possible alternatives are put in place to ensure that we bring relief to farmers….thus far six mobile pumps have been deployed and are working on a 24-hour basis, however I implore that you be the watch guard and hold the workers accountable as you are the ones who stand to benefit,” the Minister said.

A view of one of the flooded areas

Floating seaweed in Atlantic affecting Essequibo fishing industry

By Rajendra Prabhulall THE fishing industry on the Essequibo Coast is still being seriously affected by floating seaweed in the Atlantic Ocean.

According to reports, the seaweed, which is suspected to have come from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, is creating problems for fishermen, and has affected their livelihood over the past two months.

Fishermen from Paradise Village said the floating seaweed gets entangled in their seine and causes it to roll up while it is drifting in the Atlantic Ocean. The fishermen said they could not have gone to sea for several days because of the seaweed problem.

Fisherman Vinesh Ramanand, who is the owner of two fishing boats, said that despite the problems with the seaweed he is making another try to go out on the high seas to get fish so he can get an income.

Fishing boats waiting to go to sea

The determined fisherman and his crew left for sea early yesterday morning. However, they had to return to shore several times over the past weeks to clear the seine from the floating seaweed.

Reports said that aborted trips at sea have caused him more than $200,000 in losses but according to Ramanand the situation is

expected to change.

Several boats with seine are just waiting at the foreshore at Paradise to go to sea as soon as floating seaweeds disappear.

This seaweed problem has significantly affected the supply of fish as some boats that go to sea are not getting the size of catch because of the floating seaweed problem.

Fishermen clearing their seine of the floating seaweed at Paradise Village

However according to reports the line and hook operation is not affected by the problem and so those boats are bringing in a good catch.

Reports also said that the shrimp industry is not seriously affected. However fishermen are calling on the Fisheries Department of the

Ministry of Agriculture to investigate the problem and to give them some measure of relief.

Fishing on the Essequibo Coast is a major activity, and creates employment for a large number of young men and women.

Drift seine operators are also complaining that

anchored seines in the ocean have been affecting and destroying their seines while they are drifting. Therefore they are calling on the authorities to regulate the operations of fishermen with anchored seines so their drift seines would not be destroyed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Sir Shridath calls on President Granger – offers to help gov’t in any way he can DISTINGUISHED Guyanese Statesman and former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Sir Shridath Ramphal has offered to help the Government in any way he can.

Sir Shridath made the offer during a courtesy call yesterday on President David Granger at the Office of the Presidency.

He reassured the Pres-

ident that he was available to him and to Guyana at all times. Following the meeting, the Caribbean icon said, “We reviewed old times together, and some of the challenges faced by the new Government going forward.

And anything I can do to help in that process, I want to do.”

Sir Shridath described this phase in the country’s history as “A new time for

Guyana; a great moment of starting over. And all of us who can pitch in must do that now, and make his administration the success that the people obviously want it to be.”

He added that it is a Government that has not been in office for a long time, hence it “needs time to find its feet, it needs help in finding its feet, we should all be ready

to give that help.”

Sir Shridath Surendranath “Sonny” Ramphal served as the second Commonwealth Secretary-General from 1975 to 1990. He previously served as the Foreign Minister of Guyana, from 1972 to 1975, and Assistant Attorney-General of the West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962. (GINA)

President David Granger and Sir Shridath Ramphal sharing a light moment

West Demerara Hospital to be significantly upgraded – Public Health Minister THE West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) serves as the referral hospital in Region Three, offering medical service to thousands of people residing on the West Coast, West Bank, as well as the Essequibo Islands, including Leguan and Wakenaam.

However, while the hospital offers similar services to the country’s main referral hospital, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), there is need for some additional services, and according to newly-appointed Minister of Public, Dr. George Norton, the new A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government will ensure key services such as a 24-hour theater are put in place shortly.

“The West Dem Hospital should be of a quality not too different from the Georgetown Hospital, however no doubt more resources need to be available to this hospital,” Minister Norton said during a visit to the West Demerara Regional Hospital hospital Wednesday.

The staff of the hospital were applauded for their hard work and dedication, and especially for the hygiene of the entire facility. The minister noted that, “The staff know exactly what they want, understand their limitations, are conscious of their challenges and give the

impression that they want to overcome those challenges.”

Minister Norton also interacted with the staff and a number of concerns were raised, including the shortage of drugs and the unavailability of key equipment which force them to refer patients to the GPHC. The Minister said, “Like so many other areas that affect the health sector in general, like the on and off availability of drugs, medical equipment or materials, it is plaguing this hospital, the issue of catheters, or proper sutures and some essential medications.

It’s happening all around. I get that while the authorities (the staff) are conscious of this, they are always willing to do the necessary things to correct the situation.”

As it relates to the neonatal unit, while there is adequate equipment, there is a shortage of staff. “That unit is not functioning and many of times premature babies have to be transferred to Georgetown, we have a shortage of fetal monitors and so on, and those are things we need to put in place as early as possible,” the minister emphasised.

Dr. Norton was also concerned about the maternal unit, which he said needs to be extended and some additional equipment put in place. The dental unit also needs an extension and additional equipment. “The

mere fact that your dental surgeons can say that they need three more chairs and I know where I am going to place them, tells you that they are quite familiar with their work,” Minister Norton said.

Another issue raised was the fact that nurses who were trained four years ago have not been appointed by the region, and as a resulted are not remunerated in the correct scale. Minister Norton stressed that this issue immediately needs to be corrected because frustration can prevent the nurses from performing at their maximum.

Meanwhile, a visit was also made to the Versailles Health Centre. This facility was constructed in 2010 on a wide expanse of government’s land, and according to Minister, yet it’s cramped for space, which causes the staff some discomfort. This issue will be rectified shortly, he said.

He said that with proper accountability and maximum utility, health services provided to the citizens of Region Three can be greatly improved.

The Minister was accompanied by the Regional Health Officer, Vasha Bachan, Regional Chairman Julius Faerber and Regional Executive Officer (REO) Azam Mohamed and other regional officials.

(GINA)

Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton interacting with some of the staff at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), Region Three in the presence of Regional Executive Officer (REO) Azam Mohamed and Regional Health Officer, Vasha Bachan

Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton greeting a patient in the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), Maternal Ward

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Phone# 616-0301 or 699-6156

BY public demand, we return as hot as ever with our What’s Hot Fashion Parade. The divas have been clamouring for the return of this column, and it’s high time we give them their hearts’ desire. Our Bombshell cameras again took to the streets, not so long ago, and we had quite a job to decide who would make the final cut for a coveted spot here. As we wrestled with the decision on who to shortlist among the ladies, a very pleasant thought hit us - the startling revelation that Guyana is not only rich in minerals, but can be also named the land of astounding beauties.

My grandmother always said good things come in threes.

Sleek and tantalizing...

Hottie-hottie divas having fun

So demure, so dreamy

Meleesa Payne certainly knows how to make a grand entrance.

Their idea of fashion is simple but irresistable....

Thumps up to the Guyanese Naiomi Campbell

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Bombshell’s Hottest Babes…

Alicia Linton can set a soul on fire…

What a treat it would be to land a friendship with this beauty

S

HE’s hot, captivating, arresting, deliciously mesmerizing, and tantalizingly provocative.

The Bombshell bumped into this ‘hottie’ while she was relaxing at the poolside bar of the Aracari Resort (Versailles, West Bank Demerara) enjoying a cocktail. At first I thought she was checking me out, so I was not surprised when she walked up to me smiling like the morning sun.

It turned out that she was a fan of our Bombshell supplement, and upon recognizing me, she quickly introduced

19

Alicia unleashes the Westside fire

herself, gushing excitedly at how much she wanted to be featured as a Bombshell babe.

Well, I readily agreed to grant her the favour because, from sweeping her head to toe, she was quite a catch indeed.

This damsel best describes herself as a ‘tasty tropical cupcake’ and raves that one will get addicted if given a slice of her tastiness. Hmmmm…..

My goodness! I can only imagine…

This diva has her sights set on ultimate success, and is aspiring to have her own salon and high-fashion boutique in the near future. Any woman would love the finer things of life, and Alicia is no exception. She also loves to make grand entrances wherever she goes, so one can just imagine the sort of attention she commands…

Alicia has not divulged if she is single, but I know for a fact that you guys can try your luck in finding that out. She did say she is available by choice.

This West Demerara beauty enjoys dancing, shopping, working out, and meeting creative and interesting individuals.

Guys, the frenzied stampede has already begun, try your luck and call Alicia on phone number 694-0871. You never know what YOUR luck can bring you… Do hit me up and let me know how it all went down, though.

Moussy Colour Your Life promo extended by Mahendra Ramkellawan releases new single public demand

GUYANESE chutney sensation Mahendra Ramkellwan is back with a bang, and is already chalking up notable points on the entertainment calendar.

While famous for his pulsating hits like ‘Dem ah watch Me’ and countless others, he had retreated somewhat from society for personal reasons. In a recent brief interview with the entertainer, Bombshell learnt that he had used the time for himself to work out personal issues and also to pen several other songs which will be released in the near future.

To date, one can safely argue that Mr. Ramkellawan is by far the most entertaining and versatile chutney artiste in Guyana, as can be seen from his versatile showmanship, raunchy stage presence, and the high energy he brings to the stage.

This entertainer has

in Guyana and around the Caribbean.

The superstar has dubbed one of his selections “Bunjhal Wine” from his association with bunjhal chicken, bunjhal duck, bunjhal shrimp and all the other things one can possibly cook in the traditional Indian ‘bunjhal style’.

And, on stage, Ramkellawan never fails to treat his fan to a good, steamy ‘bunjhal wine down’ (frenzied gyration) This song was recorded in Maha Studios, Trinidad and Tobago.

The second tune, “Oh Meh God Rosie” is based on the basic things that happen every day to men around the world – Mahendra never fails to keep his many fans women becoming annoyed for captivated and entertained simple things, walking out on Ramkellawan, who is also their mates, only to return the won many accolades muthe Chief Executive Officer next day expecting to kiss and sically, and has taken little of Caribbean Fire Fest Pro- make up all over again. time to become famous both ductions, has just recently reRamkellawan continues his locally and internationally. leased his two newest chutney drive to educate youths musiHe has now become a housesongs along with the videos, cally and to share his talents hold name on the tongues of and they are already creating and expertise to practically almost every Guyanese. ‘entertainment shock waves’ anyone who shows an interest.

JOKE OF THE DAY!

ON a passenger flight, the pilot spoke on the public address system as usual to greet the passengers. He told them at what altitude they would be flying, the expected arrival time, a bit about the weather; and advised them to relax and have a good flight.

Then forgetting to turn off the microphone, he said to his co-pilot, “What would relax me right now is a cup of coffee and some good, hot, steamy love making.”

All the passengers heard him. As a stewardess started running towards the cockpit to tell the pilot of his slip-up, one of the passengers stopped her and said: “Don’t forget the coffee!”

THE BUZZ and excitement that the Moussy Malt Colour Your Life Promotion has ignited around Guyana has had customers and fans create quite a campaign and a near stampede to have the folks at Southland International Inc., (Brickdam, Georgetown) extend the staging of the event.

Heeding their calls and pleas, the promoters have decided to extend the promotion a little longer to satisfy the whims of their customers. That’s right, you have been given an extra opportunity to win the grand prize of one million dollars!

Submit as many entries as you would like, to increase your chances of winning, and log onto the Southland International Facebook page for more details to win!

Carlsberg will launch its ‘Call for your Carlsberg Super 6’ Promotion at the 704 Sports Bar today from 18:00hrs, and is inviting patrons to come and see what the buzz is about, and how they can win $100,000 in cash and prizes every week, in addition to surprise giveaways which will be announced during the course of the promotion to keep things spicy.

Any customer is simply required to submit six Carlsberg Beer crowns in an envelope with his/her name, address and phone number and he/she is on his/her way to winning fantastic cash and prizes.

Winners will, of course, need valid identification to claim prizes won, and prizes must be uplifted at least one month after declaration. Prizes are also not returnable, exchangeable or transferrable to another person.

Entries which do not comply with requirements will be deemed ineligible for drawing.

Meanwhile, the first drawing will be staged today at the 704 Sports Bar, while the second drawing is slated for June 05, 2015 at the White Castle Fish Shop at 10pm. Thereafter, all roads lead to Seeta’s Bar, Kitty, Georgetown for the June 12 drawing which will take place at 10pm.

The Stadium View (Providence) drawing is slated for June 19 at the same time, while the South View Tavern (South Ruimveldt) drawing is set for June 26 at the same time. Fans can gather at Sae’s Bar (Crane, WCD) for the July 04 drawing (10pm), and also at Son’s Bar (Kitty) for the July 17 drawing, (same time) even as they ready themselves for another drawing at Caribbean Temptation (Anna Catherina) nightclub on July 25.

The final drawing is set for the Kozy Nook Bar (Soesdyke) on July 30 at 10pm.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

THE LADIES SOLICITING CORNER…

Christopher Boyer

Bombshell’s hottest, cutest bachelors!!!

Christopher Boyer reeks of sensuality THIS dude Christopher Boyer is hot, and for sure reeks of mind-boggling masculine charisma. He is a very attractive and available bachelor who is seriously searching for his ‘ideal woman’.

She, of course, must be attractive and intelligent, and must know how to ‘keep her man’ cre-

atively entertained. She must also possess a good sense of humour, and be able to create ‘erotic surprises’.

Salivating ladies will have to look for this dude on Facebook, because he just didn’t leave a number.

Sorry, better luck next time, ladies.

Quot of the Day

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

WB Cleaning Janitorial Service offers…

A WONDERFUL ALTERNATIVE

MY GOOD READERS, I was truly moved by the journey of a young, talented and very versatile entrepreneur who faced the storms of life to finally have his dreams come true.

Today young Shane

Bishop is the Managing Director of the new WB Cleaning Janitor Service Company Ltd. What I can say for sure is that the service he offers is quite impressive, and is unlike what is being offered by the competition, who erro-

neously proclaim their superiority in the same field.

If you are looking for extraordinarily pleasant service, reassuring courtesy, scrupulous work discharge and an excellent finish, then this entity is the place you should be calling.

And that’s not all.

Mr. Bishop, who is in his late twenties also manages the SB Property Building Contraction Service and he is located in one of the prime spots in the city.

To experience the specialties he offers, all you have to do is call the company on telephone numbers 6226272 or 698-3644. Come on folks, its high time you get your money’s worth!

Join us next Friday for the full story of his journey to fame.

‘Princess Star’ Reality Show set for June staging ALL Guyana reeled 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 to the point where they could represent Guyana at international forums. For example, the winner of that show, ‘Lisa Punch’, migrated to the USA a few years later, and was able to perform at the Apollo Theatre before attempting greater heights, as she soon after participated in the ABC ‘Rising Stars’ event and made it to the semi-finals.

Readers, if you possess vocal talent and are likewise seeking exposure and fame, here is your chance to do so. The Princess Hotel (Guyana) will be hosting a similar initiative in June 2015. It will allow major exposure and developmental opportunities for amateur Guyanese singers.

The Reality Show will be dubbed ‘Princess Star’, will run over a three-month period, and will feature several knockout segments before the ‘Princess Star’ is 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 favoritism or family ties, as was done with a few similar events hosted here.

The winner of this event is guaranteed major bragging rights, cash, trophies, and a recording deal like none before as they embark on a journey to international stardom.

Auditions for this event will be staged inside the ‘Club Next’ inside the Princess Hotel on Saturday, June 13, at 8 pm, and those wishing to be spectators at this forum are required to pay an entrance fee of $500.

Auditions are also expected to be staged outside the city of Georgetown, to ensure participation from singers living in rural communities. Interested persons are urged to call phone number 699-6156 to be a part of this prestigious initiative.

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Oooops….There it is!

Has Cupid and Mama Delores gone mad or what?

You tuh terrible fuh a young bai. Justice will come tuh yuh swift and sure!

I can’t understand how some people can be so crude and ruthless, and blind their eyes to the horrific deeds of their children. If I had my way, I would find such creative ways to punish such parents that they would prefer that I had given a sound whipping and had locked them away forever.

Just in case you are wondering, folks, I am referring to an incident that occurred in Calcutta Village, wherein a young man (only fourteen years of age) in shocking villagers with a series of deeds one would have expected for a seasoned criminal. And to make matters worse, the aunt of this teenager is covering up

the story and is going about the place telling a bundle of lies.

The teenager is actually living with his aunt, Mama Delores, who incidentally is sharing a relationship with a close cousin of the fifteen-year-old girl he had tried to rape.

About two weeks ago, the young girl woke up at about 10:30 pm to find the young man in her room, attempting to pull away her covering as he groped at her legs. Shocked and horrified, the girl shrieked for help, and her two younger brothers who were in another room rushed to her rescue.

By that time, however, the

teenage kleptomaniac had already dashed under the bed on which the girl’s grandmother was sound asleep.

Her two brothers began a frantic search for the vagabond, and realized that the boy has probably climbed into a mango tree close to a bedroom window, from where he removed the window panes and thus gained entry into the house.

Dem two bai tumble de whole house and discovah de culprit hiding undah dem granny bed. But if yuh see how he sprint out like Usain Bolt and dart in a room whea de great-grand-modda does sleep. She was awake in she bed because all de raucous naise did wake she.

When de granny, angered tuh de fullest, swiped a lash at dis disgusting bai wid she walking stick, he managed somehow to dart through de front door, which de young girl in she panic did leff open as she darted for assistance to she mother’s home two rods away.

As expected, the matter was reported to the nearest police station; and could you believe this, people? De lil scamp tell de police that he de break into de house fuh thief a music box which, according tuh de people, was not even wukking! And when de police ask he why he was pulling de sheet from de girl, he she dat he was cold and tired, and wanted tuh lie down! Dis world gone mad or wha?!

Shame pon Cupid and Mama Delores!

Imagine, Cupid is de

Mama Delores and Cupid are two shameless specimens of humanity. close cousin of dis lil gyal that nearly get rape, and he deh bout de place spreading ah set ah dutty rumas but de poor chile, how she de mek plans wid de lil bai fuh he jump through de bedroom windah. Can you believe that people?

And imagine, de Cupid quarreling bout ah thousand dalla de gyal borrow from he when he owe de chile motha ovah $25,000! And dat is not all: He also owe de young gyal grandmother $80,000 fuh a refrigerator he buy from she and never paid her a dime fuh until now!

He really gat belly, eh? And he deh bout de place playing one big obeah man, saying how he can cast out demons, yet dem people seh he kill he auntie wid ah set a wrang bush he bile fuh she. Oh gawsh people, alyuh come hear moh story!

Folks, you should have been there to see how this dude pretending to cast out demons from his ailing sister, shouting: “Grab on pon me hands, and de powah frum me gon run into you”. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Haaaa! Whoy meh mama, whoy!

Well de cousin de wasting she time, because she just get more sick dan before when he done wid she… And me nah know, but like Mama Delores wuk pon he, because he deh

Beauty cannot be hid by misfortune flaws

I wish to debate a heated top I have just heard being argued in a somewhat silly and ‘empty-headed manner.

You see folks, these men were under a mango tree by the roadside guffawing and laughing riotously as a young girl with a basket of groceries passed by. Sadly, the woman was unfortunate to have cleft palate, which marked her otherwise quite arresting features. I tried to reprimand them and they gave me a good ‘cuss out’, so I left the scene hurriedly.

Not long after, I had the pleasure of meeting a strikingly beautiful young lady, and, as we conversed, she mentioned that she also had been a victim of that same condition, but had done corrective surgery, which has certainly transformed her into a dashing beauty.

As I thought of the fate of the young woman whom the men were so cruelly taunting, tears stung my eyes and I concluded, “If only those fools could look beyond the condition

of that young lady whom they had laughed to scorn, they would be able to acknowledge and admire her otherwise adorable appearance.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the delightful and mesmerizingly beautiful Marifa Lallbachan, whose face gives hope to many that cleft palate does not condemn a person to a life of doom. Let’s hail the entrance of modern technology!

Today, the beautiful Marifa, who was a victim of the same condition, stands as a beacon of hope for many who have to undergo surgery to correct the condition of cleft palate.

Folks, look at this hauntingly beautiful face. Any sane mind would give the world to be by her side or in her company.

This bubbly lass enjoys dancing, swimming, interacting, exploring; and is always ready for the cameras.

Bombshell salutes the beautiful Marifa Lallbachan, and says she so fittingly deserves a spot in this coveted Bombshell corner.

This young girl will have to bear the scars of her ordeal for a long time. Poor child! bout de place issuing death threats to he close male relatives…

Something is definitely wrong with that boy!

Well I was told they are planning to take the matter to the police, and now Mama Delores and Cupid begging the girl’s mother (Ghetto Gyal) fuh settle de story. But de last time I checked, the girl’s mother has all intentions of sending all of them to jail.

That will certainly serve them right!!!

And villagers say this

crime is not the first of its kind committed by this lad.

Villagers have indicated that, not so long ago, he entered the premises of Big Lexie and tried to rape the man’s teenage daughter too. And there was Cupid and Mama Delores trying to defend him all over again, rigging up stories that were far from the actual truth.

Well, if I was de police dem, I woulda lock up dat Delores, Cupid and de nephew in wan cell and feed dem on cassava bread and wata for ages tuh come!

The alluring Marifa Lallbachan

22

$6M worth of seized liquor stolen from GRA warehouse

– video footage implicates security service THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) reported yesterday the disappearance of approximately $6M worth of foreign liquor from its Eccles warehouse and police investigations are underway.

This discovery was made by officers of the agency’s Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) during a routine inventory exercise, which led to the immediate launching of an investigation on May 13, the GRA said in a press release.

After surveillance video footage was reviewed, it was revealed that “officers of the security firm contracted to provide twenty-four hours security to the said warehouse were very much

involved in the reprehensible act,” the release stated In light of this the GRA has since provided copies of the recording to the management of the private security firm and has indicated to them that they are being held culpable.

Additionally, the matter has been reported to the Guyana Police Force for further investigation and the subsequent institution of criminal charges.

Meanwhile, Commissioner General of the GRA, Mr. Khurshid Sattaur has assured that the agency will spare no effort in having the perpetrators brought to justice.

He noted that the GRA had previously installed a Closed Circuit Television

(CCTV) monitoring system to safeguard against such incidents and this had significantly aided the investigation.

From all indications, this incident was orchestrated utilising the cloak of darkness in an effort to avoid detection of the activity and the identification of the perpetrators. Preliminary investigations have revealed that no current employee of the GRA is involved in this incident. As a result, the GRA is urging members of the public, including members of the media, to avoid speculations at this point.

As investigations continue, additional information will be provided as it becomes available, the GRA release added.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Aries You may end up in some arguments. Your nature is expansive and generous, but if others take advantage of this good nature, your mood quickly turns to anger and detachment. Conflict is often a natural part of a relationship. Use it as a learning experience instead of blowing it out of proportion and turning it into a larger issue than it needs to be.

Taurus You may be confused about asking for help. Your usual resources could be occupied with issues and conflicts that have nothing to do with you. You may then offer to help others. By doing this, you've put someone else's needs above your own. Although this may feel good to you on some level, it's also a way to avoid the problems that you need to deal with.

Gemini You're in the middle of a terrific yearly transition. You have a great deal of physical energy. You have an action-oriented mind ready to tackle anything.

The key to making the most of this fortunate period is communication. Right now you have multitasking abilities that you can put to good use once you connect with others and understand exactly what needs to be done.

Cancer Try not to get too caught up in any potential conflicts brewing around you.

Your job lies in calming things down and bringing a more practical perspective to the situation. If you get tangled in the action phase of endeavours without first thinking about what it is that you're doing, you may confuse things more.

Step back from the fire instead of throwing yourself into it headfirst.

Leo This is a great time to move forward on a writing project. Any large, long-term project involving communication, film, or long-distance travel is begging you to take action. Don't delay. You have a strong force urging you to move forward.

Look ahead with a positive attitude instead of thinking of all the reasons why these projects won't pan out the way you want them to.

Virgo This is an expansive time for you. You can make great progress on your goals.

The key is to clear up any miscommunication or dishonesty before you move forward with a clear conscious. Don't even bother trying to make progress before you've cleared up past cobwebs. Keeping everything on a light, flexible track will help you work more efficiently.

Libra Your engine is revved and ready. You have a full tank of gas. Unfortunately, you may feel like there's a large obstacle in your way. Perhaps this obstacle is your mental attitude and inability to make confident decisions. You may become so scattered at times that you can't effectively move forward on anything. Don't beat yourself up over it. The answers will come when you need them.

Friday, May 29, 2015 - 14:30 hrs Saturday, May 30, 2015 - 14:30 hrs Sunday, May 31, 2015 - 14:30 hrs

Scorpio No one likes rejection, but no one likes rejection less than you. You may hesitate to take risks in the unknown. Keep in mind that by playing it safe, you deprive yourself of the very adventure that could turn your life around.

There's an energetic, expansive feeling in the air encouraging you to take that leap of faith. This energy may feel foreign to you, but it's time to embrace it.

Sagittarius Be flexible in your communication and doors will open to you that you didn't even know were there. There's a tremendous amount of physical energy at your disposal. Don't waste it. By being rigid about your ways and insisting on doing things only according to your philosophy, you deprive yourself of the spontaneous adventures that give life the spice and variety you love.

Capricorn You may be in a difficult position. You want to explode into a new way of life yet feel stuck. Perhaps you feel chained to your current routine. You may feel like you're indeed making progress in the world, but you long for a giant release - like a trap door opening - that allows you to make a leap into the great beyond. This door is always open.

Aquarius You're getting support for and confidence from one aspect of your life and physical energy from another. Even though the two areas may be in a point of conflict, you have the ability to take the positive aspects from each and fuse them together to create something new or solve a problem. Pool your resources and shift into high gear. The sky's the limit.

Pisces Success will come to you when you work with the energies at hand. Go with the flow of the situation instead of trying to undermine or manipulate it. There's a tremendous force at work. Perhaps all it needs is a bit of direction to align it with your goals. State your intentions openly instead of working behind the scenes. You will receive support from others when you do.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

BLATTER OR PRINCE ALI ? Blatter defies calls . .

FIFA prepares to vote

FIFA’S 209 member associations will vote to elect a new president today with the crisis engulfing football’s governing body hanging over it.

Jordanian Prince Ali bin

al-Hussein, 39, is standing against 79-year-old Swiss Sepp Blatter, who has been president of FIFA since 1998.

The vote takes place after bribery and racketeering charges were laid against top FIFA officials

by U.S. prosecutors.

Blatter resisted calls to resign led by UEFA president Michel Platini.

How does the voting work?

Before the voting is opened, the candidates will have the opportunity to speak for 15 minutes to present their programme.

Each of FIFA’s 209-member national associations gets one vote - so the likes of foot-balling minnows American Samoa have just as much of a say as nations such as England.

It is a paper vote rather than an electronic one and the member associations cast their votes by secret ballot, in alphabetical order In the first round, a candidate needs to get two-thirds of the vote to be declared the winner - if the vote is closer

than that, a second round of voting is held, where a simple majority is enough.

So the winning candidate would need 105 votes in the second round, if every member casts a valid vote, to win.

FIFA’s secretary general Jerome Valcke, assisted by a number of scrutineers, will be in charge of the conduct, distribution and counting of the ballot papers.

FIFA’s rules point out that if it receives more ballot papers than there are members, the election will be declared void and re-run.

Is it possible to abstain?

Yes - and six members did so during the last FIFA Presidential Election in 2011 - one of them was England’s Football Association (FA).

It did so after Blatter’s only rival, Mohammed bin Hammam, pulled out days before the election after being suspended over bribery allegations.

Blatter was re-elected after receiving 186 of the 203 votes cast. (BBC Sport)

Serena escapes as women seeds continue to fall

By Martyn Herman

PARIS, France (Reuters) - The pre-tournament shortlist of favourites for the French Open women’s crown continues to shrink and for a while it looked as though the top name, Serena Williams, would also vanish yesterday.

Shortly after former world number one Caroline Wozniacki was knocked out by Julia Goerges, meaning the third, fifth and sixth seeds had all gone before round three, Williams, 33, faced unheralded 21-yearold German Anna-Lena Friedsam.

It looked like a mismatch but 105th-ranked Friedsam gave the 19-time grand slam champion a torrid time on Court Suzanne Lenglen, taking the first set off the American before a nervy Williams recovered to scrape into the third round 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.

Twice former champion Williams has suffered at the French before, namely last year when she was beaten by Spain’s Garbine Muguruza at the same stage and more memorably in 2012 when France’s Virginie Razzano knocked her out in round one.

With the American’s trademark groundstrokes regularly sailing over the baseline and even her fearsome serve deserting her in the first set -- she was broken three times -- another blot on her incredible grand slam record looked possible.

From back page

people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it.”

Platini said 45 or 46 of UEFA’s 53 member associations would vote for Prince Ali. But it appeared that Blatter still commanded enough of FIFA’s 209 national associations to secure victory.

Blatter appeared confident despite the dawn raid by plainclothes police on Wednesday that left seven of the most powerful figures in football in Swiss custody and facing extradition to the United States on corruption charges.

They are all contesting extradition, but lawyers said the process could be completed within months.

Swiss authorities have also announced a criminal investigation into the awarding of the next two World Cups, which are being hosted in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.

U.S. authorities said nine football officials and five sports media and promotions executives faced corruption charges involving more than $150 million in bribes.

Both Qatar and Moscow have denied any suggestion of wrongdoing over their bids to host one of the world’s top sporting events, and Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States yesterday of meddling in an effort to prevent the re-election of Blatter.

“This is yet another blatant attempt to extend its jurisdiction to other states,” Putin said, adding that Russia would continue to support Blatter.

FIFA CONGRESS The FIFA Congress formally got under way yesterday evening. In the past the likes of Grace Jones have set the hearts racing of the older men in suits who comprise most of the Congress’s constituency.

But times have changed.

The evening was billed as a rather more subdued affair than normal under the banner “Game of Joy, Game of Hope” with dancers and musicians on stage followed by a grand buffet afterwards.

The serious business starts this morning in Zurich’s Hallenstadion, which is where the announcement of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup venues was made in 2010 -- decisions which lie at the heart of much of FIFA’s current malaise.

With splits opening in the world game, the Asian and African confederations backed Blatter for president, while Western nations said he must go.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the vote should be delayed in light of the corruption investigation.

British Prime Minister David Cameron backed Prince Ali’s candidacy and said there was a strong case for a change of leadership at FIFA. Britain has long been a critic of FIFA and bid for the 2018 World Cup which was awarded to Russia.

Les Murray of Australia, a former FIFA ethics committee member, also called for Blatter to resign.

Meanwhile blue-chip sponsors, many of whom have solidly backed FIFA despite nearly 20 years of bribery and corruption allegations, appeared to be growing concerned at events unfolding in Zurich.

In a strongly worded statement, credit card giant Visa said: “It is important that FIFA makes changes now, so that the focus remains on these going forward. Should FIFA fail to do so, we have informed them that we will reassess our sponsorship.”

German sportswear company Adidas said FIFA should do more to establish transparent compliance standards. Anheuser-Busch InBev, whose Budweiser brand is a sponsor of the 2018 World Cup, said it was closely monitoring developments.

Coca-Cola Co, another sponsor, said the charges had “tarnished the mission and ideals of the FIFA World Cup and we have repeatedly expressed our concerns about these serious allegations.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Cook says it will be strange to pass his mentor Gooch

(REUTERS) - Alastair Cook will have mixed to get that it will be a moment to remember. feelings this weekend if he passes his mentor and “He’s England’s best-ever and there’ll only ever boyhood hero Graham Gooch’s total to become be one Graham Gooch.”

England’s highest scorer of Test match runs.

Cook’s comments on the eve of the second Test The England captain needs 32 in the second Test came slightly more than a year after he had told Gooch against New Zealand, starting at Headingley today, to that his services as batting coach were no longer needsurpass Gooch’s total of 8 900. His record has stood ed. since 1995.

“We both made a bit of a decision after we had If he does, it will be a bitter-sweet moment for Cook worked together since I started on the Essex staff at who has been a protégé and close friend of Gooch with 18 to look at different areas to work with different both Essex and England. coaches.

“I wouldn’t be here, “While it’s really reor anywhere near, withfreshing to work with out his help,” said Cook, different guys, it’s also 30, yesterday. really important to have “So, it will be slightly one guy to go back to, strange if I do go past his who knows your game record because, without inside out -- and knows his hard work and dedicayou as a person. tion to me and my game, I “That’s vitally importwouldn’t have scored half ant.” the runs I have.

Cook has since repaired “I wouldn’t put myself his relationship with Gooch anywhere near his class, and has consulted him regbut it would be a great mo- Alastair Cook needs 32 in today’s second Test to ularly on his own batting. ment. If I’m lucky enough surpass Gooch’s total of 8 900.

“We always catch up

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday May 29, 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:

George Challenor (WI vs ENG, Lord’s, 1928)

Today’s Quiz:

What are the best bowling figures in a Test innings by a WI player?

What are the best Test match bowling figures by a West Indian?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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09:20 hrs Ahdaf 09:50 hrs Darma 10:25 hrs Flexible Flyer 11:30 hrs Tillstarr 12:05 hrs Pick A Little 12:35 hrs Port Lairge IRISH RACING TIPS Tramore 12:50 hrs Credulous 13:20 hrs Miss Dynamic 13:50 hrs Crown Theatre 14:20 hrs Halls Bridge 14:50 hrs Shake It Up 15:25 hrs Dante Anna 15:55 hrs Spicy Fruity AMERICAN RACING TIPS Belmont Race 1 There Goes Ben Race 2 Ginny’s Grey Race 3 Mylute Race 4 Weekend Express Race 5 Plundering Race 6 Letsgotovegas Race 7 Asset Inflation Race 8 Face the Music Race 9 New York Victory

GSCL Inc. congratulates President Granger and new Government THE executives and members of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. (GSCL Inc) have extended congratulations to President David Granger, Prime Minister elect Moses Nagamootoo and the APNU+AFC coalition on their victory in the 2015 General and Regional elections of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

“Softball cricket is on the rise and we do look forward to its continued growth under this new administration.

We are eager to work with the new Government as we look to take the sport to another level,” a release from the GSCL Inc. stated.

Warriors into NBA Finals after 40-year wait

(REUTERS) - The Golden State Warriors shook off their bumps and bruises and advanced to their first NBA Finals in 40 years after defeating the Houston Rockets 104-90 to clinch their Western Conference Finals series on Wednesday.

Stephen Curry scored 26 points one game after a terrifying fall while Klay Thompson added 20 despite a laceration to his right ear for the top-seeded Warriors.

Golden State, who won 67 games during the regular season with rookie coach Steve Kerr, won the best-of-seven series 4-1.

The Warriors will meet the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals that starts next week. It is their first trip to the finals since 1975.

The Rockets had won Game Four of the series on Monday to avoid being swept, but were outscored 35-24 in the second quarter on Wednesday and played catch up the rest of the way.

Dwight Howard led the Rockets with 18 points and 16 rebounds, while James Harden, who scored 45 points on Monday, made just 2-of-11 shots and had 14 points to go with 13 turnovers.

about my batting,” said Cook. “When you get scrutinised as much as you do and people are talking about your technique and game, it’s very easy to get distracted and pulled in different directions.

“To have a guy whom you trust, and have always worked with, I think is important for any batter.”

Cook scored a meticulous 162, during nine hours of supreme concentration, in England’s thrilling first Test victory against New Zealand at Lord’s.

It was his record 27th Test century for England carrying his career aggregate to 8 869 Test runs from 202 innings.

NOTABLE DATES ON May 29, 1977 a mean lightweight boxer named Lennox Blackmore warmed up for a Commonwealth title crack by disposing of Trinidadian Claude Noel.

Blackmore and Noel collided in the Twin Island Republic, with the latter suffering a technical knock out (TKO) in round 10.

It was the second time in three months that the two lightweights met in the ring with almost the same result. In February of the same year, Blackmore won via 10th round knockout. That fight was also held in Trinidad and Tobago.

After the second defeat of Noel, Black- LENNOX BLACKMORE more, a skilful counter-puncher, travelled to Nigeria to arrest the Commonwealth lightweight title. He triumphed by points over Nigerian Jonathan Dele in the 15-rounder.

The victory was celebrated throughout the streets of Guyana and the new title-holder was rewarded by the government of the day. Blackmore moved up to junior welterweight. In June 1981 he challenged World Boxing Association champion Aaron `The Hawk’ Pryor for the title but was roughed up and lost by TKO in round two.

He fought four more times in the next five years and won the Guyana junior middleweight title in his last appearance in the ring.

COLOMBIAN Alex Lobo received the wrath of Guyanese welterweight, Raul Frank, when the two met on May 29, 1999 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lobo was TKOed in round six as Frank used the contest to flex his muscles leading up to a challenge for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight crown.

After leaving Lobo in a heap Frank turned his attention to Vernon `The Viper’ Forrest whom he tested for the vacant International Boxing Federation title. The fight was held in August 2000 in Las Vegas and was ruled a No-Contest in round three after Frank was cut following a head butt.

Forrest won by unanimous decision in the rematch held in May of the following year. Frank commenced his professional career as a 17-year-old in 1986 and TKOed Wayne Coates in his bout. His career lasted 24 years with the last fight being against `Deadly’ Denny Dalton.

The New York-based boxer fought a total of 249 rounds in 39 fights. He won 29, lost five, drew three and had two No-Contests.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Chanderpaul no longer good enough to play for West Indies - Holding

MICHAEL Holding, the former West Indies fast bowler, has backed the chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd’s logic of jettisoning Shivnarine Chanderpaul for the Australia series.

Holding said that Chanderpaul, who has managed 183 runs in his last 11 innings at 16.64, was no longer good enough to be picked for West Indies.

“I don’t believe that cricketers should just get a series for getting a series sake.

I don’t think Shivnarine Chanderpaul has proved in recent times that he is still a good enough player to be playing for West Indies,” Holding told ESPNcricinfo.

“He has done yeoman service for over two decades. West Indies should be happy to have had him playing for them for that long. All good things have to come to an end.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has done yeoman service for West Indies for over two decades.

Woodpecker Products Squash

Impressive wins for Phang, Rahaman and Shomari Wiltshire LEADING wins from John Phang, Nathan Rahaman and Shomari Wiltshire were among the first in the 2015 Woodpecker Products Junior National Squash Tournament which commenced on Wednesday evening at the Georgetown Club.

Shomari Wiltshire showed impressive ball control and court awareness to soar to a win against Dominic Collins with several dismissive forearm drives and smart employ of back-hand short-arm volleys.

The Under-13 right-hander looked a class above his opponent and is rapidly improving, ahead of the upcoming Junior Caribbean Amateur Squash Association (CASA) Tournament.

Also in the Boys’ Under-13 category, Phang contended one of the night’s closest matches when she came up against Gianni Carpenter. Suffering losses in the first two sets 6-11, 8-11, Phang recovered enough to take down 11-2, 11-9, 11-7.

For Rahaman the battle was on against Mashal Allicock in the Novices category.

Rahaman took down Allicock in straight sets ending 11-4, 11-5. 18-16.

Several other players won without conceding a set including Jason Gomes, Kamir Khan, Chad DeAbreu and Lucas Jonas.

On the distaff side, Aliyah Persaud, Makeda Harding, Madison Fernandes, Haley Carpenter, Kirsten Gomes, and Giovanna DoSantos all secured wins on opening night.

Persaud played a hard-fought game to beat Abosaide Cadogan 3-1, while Harding dominated Kirsten Gomes 3-0 in an 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 victory. Gomes had ear-

lier defeated Paige Fernandes in straight sets ending 11-4, 11-2, 11-3.

The tournament continued last night at the same venue.

The full results read: BOYS: NOVICES: Nathan Rahaman beat Mashal Allicock 3-0 (11-4, 11-5. 18-16).

Kamir Khan beat Liam Carpenter 3-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-7).

Jason Gomes beat James Mekdeci 3-0 (11-4, 11-9, 11-3).

UNDER-9: Mohryan Baksh beat Noah Rahaman 3-0 (11-3, 11-3, 11-4).

Chad DeAbreu beat Shiloh Asregado 3-0 (11-2, 11-5, 11-1).

Louis DaSilva beat Wade Beckles 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-6)..

Under-13: Lucas Jonas beat Nechemiyah Levans 3-0 (11-3, 11-5, 11-0).

Shomari Wiltshire beat Dominic Collins 3-0 (11-1, 11-2, 11-4).

John Phang beat Gianni Carpenter 3-2 (6-11, 8-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-7).

GIRLS: UNDER-11: Giovanna DoSantos vs Isabella Ramjohn, Kirsten Gomes beat Paige Fernandes 3-0 (11-4, 11-2/11-3).

Haley Carpenter beat Beau Fernandes 3-0 (11-2, 11-5, 11-5).

UNDER-13: Madison Fernandes beat Teijah Edwards 3-0 (11-1, 11-2, 11-0).

Aliyah Persaud beat Abosaide Cadogan 3-1 (15-13, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8).

Makeda Harding beat Kirsten Gomes 3-0 (11-1, 11-2, 11-3).

“I saw him play against South Africa recently and he certainly did not look like the Shivnarine Chanderpaul that I was accustomed to seeing. He was a little bit slow with his reactions to the fast bowlers and we know what Australia are going to be bringing.”

Holding also echoed Lloyd’s sentiment of making way for youth though it would take time to fill the Chanderpaul-sized void.

“Chanderpaul has to make way for someone younger. The person that comes in obviously is not going to fill Chanderpaul’s shoes immediately.

He has done so much good work for West Indies. But it is time for someone younger than he who can grow into those shoes.”

While Chanderpaul’s former teammate, Brian Lara, criticised the ‘despicable’ treatment meted out to Chanderpaul and called for a farewell series akin to the one arranged by the BCCI for Sachin Tendulkar, Holding said that he had “no

problems” with the way the WICB had dealt with the issue.

Chanderpaul is just 86 short of equalling Lara’s record of being the highest West Indian run-scorer in Tests.

“From what I have heard I don’t think anybody can complain. From what I heard they called him, had a meeting with him. They told him exactly what they would like to do and I have no problems with that,” Holding said.

“I don’t think Chanderpaul is ever going to be one to say, ‘Listen, my time has come and I have to move on’. So they have done the right thing.”

When asked about the legacy left behind by Chanderpaul, Holding said: “Chanderpaul’s legacy will be someone who went and played for West Indies and gave his all for a very long time. “… To show everyone that if you can go out and work hard, if you have deficiencies in technique and you work hard enough, you can produce the goods.” (ESPN Cricinfo)

OSCL season kicks off with 10/10 tournament

… Harri Sukhu assures three-year sponsorship

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada – The Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) kicked off its 2015 season last Saturday with president Albert Ramcharran reminding players of the many added incentives on offer.

Cup at the end of October in Guyana.

Last Saturday saw the commencement of the 10/10 knockout tournament, played for the first time with white balls. The OSCL, at its annual general meeting held earlier this year, had decided to introduce the white balls

10/10 sponsor Harri Sukhu (in green top) delivers the first ball to kick off the tournament. On his right are OSCL president Albert Ramcharran and treasurer Vish Jadunauth.

These incentives include being chosen to represent the league in the upcoming Guyana Festival Day celebrations, the Ontario Masters Softball League (OMSCL) mini World Cup and the fourth edition of the Guyana Softball Cup. The Guyana Festival Day event, featuring four top teams, will be staged on Sunday, June 14 while the OMSCL mini World Cup is set for the Labour Day weekend in September and the Guyana Softball

since the executives felt that their teams were clearly at a disadvantage when playing in tournaments staged in Guyana and North America where the balls are being used predominantly.

The OSCL president also used the opportunity to remind players that there will be zero tolerance for bowlers who are deemed to be pelting and once they are called on two occasions, they will be suspended from the game in question. They also face

sterner punishment if further infringements occur.

The 10/10 tournament also received a boost with businessman Harri Sukhu agreeing to sponsor the competition over the next three years.

Sukhu, a Guyanese, who is also president of Caribbean Sensation, extended a hearty welcome to the teams and made a sterling call on the players to support the executives of the OSCL since he felt they were doing an excellent job to upkeep the grassroots sport here.

According to Sukju, although the aim is obviously to win, players should also strive to have fun on the field of play. He also opined that, with the introduction of the white balls, teams from the OSCL will be able to compete significantly better in future international competitions.

Apart from the 10/10 tournament, the OSCL season also features the regular 20-over league and a 15/15 knockout competition.

Meanwhile, the OSCL has extended sincere congratulations to the newly-elected government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. According to president Ramcharran, the OSCL would like to wish the President, Prime Minister and the entire Cabinet well in their task to build a peaceful and prosperous Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

CONCACAF gives Webb the ‘red card’ following FIFA scandal ... Alfredo Hawit replaces embattled administrator

THE Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean Football Association (CONCACAF) announced yesterday that in accordance with the its Statutes, the Executive Committee provisionally dismissed Jeffrey Webb and Eduardo Li, and - also in accordance with its Statutes - named Senior vice-president Alfredo Hawit as CONCACAF president.

The Executive Committee appointed Victor Montagliani, the president of the Canadian Soccer Association, Justino Compean, the president of the Mexican Soccer Federation and Sunil Gulati, the president of U.S. Soccer Federation to a Special Committee charged with the

duties of evaluating and sustaining all of the business operations of the Confederation in the wake of the indictments brought against certain members of FIFA and CONCACAF. General Secretary Enrique Sanz was placed on a leave of absence by the Executive Committee which begins immediately.

In addition, the confederation’s Deputy General Secretary Ted Howard has been appointed by the Executive Committee as acting General Secretary.

Howard takes over the administrative functions of the day-to-day business of the Confederation in the absence of Enrique Sanz.

Recently installed CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit (left) and former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb

Stag Beer Independence Cup kicks off in Leonora tonight THE third annual Stag B e e r- s p o n s o re d We s t Demerara Independence Cup was officially launched yesterday and will kick off tonight, creating history as the first football tournament to be contested at the recently commissioned Leonora sports facility.

The tournament, which will have all the matches played at that venue, features eight teams from several associations compete in a knockout format for the top prize of $600 000.

In the curtain-raiser billed for 18:00hrs, Fruta Conquerors will battle Pouderoyen FC while the two-time defending champs Bakewell Slingerz FC will tackle Grove HiTech in the feature from 20:00hrs.

Meanwhile, the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers will pocket $300 000, $150 000 and $100 000, respectively.

Financial incentives will also be given to the bottom four finishers, with the resulting fifth-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-positioned teams walking away with $75 000, $60 000, $50 000 and $40 000.

Yesterday at the launch, Ansa McAl Public Rela-

(From left to right) – Slingerz FC captain Tichard Joseph, Slingerz FC PRO Rawle Toney, Slingerz FC GM Collin Aaron, Ansa McAl’s PRO Darshanie Yussuf, Stag Beer Brand Rep. Shawn Abel and Slingerz FC player Philbert Moffat. (Samuel Maughn photo) tions Officer (PRO) Darshanie Yussuf in her brief remarks said that while the tournament has its roots in the West Demerara region, she is happy that it has evolved to accommodate teams from outside of the jurisdiction, giving it a national feel in the process.

Stag Beer Brand Representative Shawn Abel said the main objective of the brand is to develop football, noting that many young players would have

been able to showcase and develop their talents due to events sponsored by the company.

Collin Aaron, general manager of Slingerz FC, the club which is hosting the event disclosed that the launch of the club during the month of January 2013 coincided with the creation of the event and as such, only teams from the West Demerara region were allowed to participate.

The other teams in the

hunt for top honours are Pele FC, Ann’s Grove, Den Amstel FC and Uitvlugt Warriors.

The event will continue on Sunday May 31, with Pele opposing Uitvlugt Warriors from 18:00hrs and Ann’s Grove battling Den Amstel from 20:00hrs.

Upon completion of the first round, the semi-final matchups will occur on Friday June 5 then the tournament wraps up on Sunday, June 7.

“While we are profoundly disappointed by the allegations made by authorities that again, CONCACAF has been the victim of fraud, we remain committed to CONCACAF’s goal to develop, promote and manage the game of soccer,” said CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit.

The recently installed CONCACAF president further noted, “We have now taken the appropriate steps to maintain our operations and continue to deliver on our commitments to all of our constituents, including our fans, members, as well as commercial and broadcast partners. We also continue to cooperate with the ongoing investigation by governmental authorities, which have not placed any restrictions on our ongoing activities.”

Shiv’s axing ‘untidy and distasteful’, claims WIPA KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Players union WIPA has slammed Shiv Chanderpaul’s sacking as “untidy and distasteful” and says it will continue to engage the West Indies Cricket Board on the matter, with the hope of finding an “amicable solution.”

The 40-year-old was controversially dropped from the Test side to face Australia next week, with selectors and head coach Phil Simmons citing the players “rapid decline” in form as the reason.

However, WIPA said Chanderpaul’s treatment was disturbing, taking into consideration the years of service the player had given to West Indies cricket.

“The West Indies Players’ Association acknowledges and accepts that the purview of selecting the West Indies cricket team lies solely and independently with the selection panel, led by Chairman Clive Lloyd. However, we are very disappointed WIPA chief Wavell Hinds in the manner which Mr Chanderpaul was treated,” WIPA president and chief executive, Wavell Hinds, said.

“WIPA believes the process of omitting Mr Chanderpaul was untidy and distasteful. We will continue to have dialogue with the West Indies Cricket Board with the hope of bringing an amicable solution in the best interests of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and West Indies cricket.”

WIPA underscored Chanderpaul’s illustrious career, pointing out his 164-Test career, 11 867 runs and excellent average of 51, with 30 hundreds.

“At present he is our highest ICC-ranked Test batsman and a man who has on numerous occasions held the West Indies batting innings together.”

Australia are set to play two Tests, the first at Windsor Park in Dominica starting next Wednesday, while the second is carded for Sabina Park in Jamaica, bowling off June 11.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 29, 2015

Urling calls for strict governance and transparency in football administration

By Rawle Toney CHAIRMAN of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalisation Com-

CLINTON URLING mittee Clinton Urling believes that it’s time leaders in the world of football be

held accountable by their constituents and be urged to also be transparent in their administrative duties in the sport.

Urling who, along with Normalisation Committee’s Tariq Williams and Rabin Chandarpal, is the GFF’s representative at the FIFA Congress in Zurich, was addressing Chronicle Sport via email, when asked about his position on the recent FIFA ‘scandal’.

On Wednesday, several of the most powerful figures in global football faced extradition to the United States on corruption charges after their arrests in Switzerland.

The Swiss authorities also announced a criminal investigation into the awarding of the next two World Cups being hosted in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.

U.S. authorities said nine football officials and five sports media and promotions executives face corruption charges involving more than $150 million (£97.8 million) in bribes.

Among those arrested is former president of the Confederation of North, Central

America and the Caribbean Football Association (CONCACAF) Jeffrey Webb.

Yesterday CONCACAF announced that Webb, following a meeting with the Confederation’s Executive Committee, was replaced by senior vice-president Alfredo Hawit as CONCACAF president.

Urling told Chronicle Sport that the mood in Zurich is one of shock and surprise. “No one from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) or CONCACAF saw it coming. In fact, we had our CONCACAF meeting on Tuesday afternoon which was chaired by Webb and attended by all member associations and the executive committee.”

Webb was perceived by many in football, especially in the CONCACAF region as a ‘model’ administrator and one who was well liked in football.

According to Urling, “It was a startling revelation that Webb was indicted by the U.S. authorities” but “the game will go on”, said the GFF Normalisation Committee chairman.

Urling is of the opinion that “the

administration of the game has to be improved. We must ensure strict governance and transparency in football administration both at home, regionally and at FIFA.”

JEFFREY WEBB

Marsh hits century but Brathwaite, Warrican impress ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Shaun Marsh struck a timely century to press his claim for a spot in the first Test against West Indies next week but all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite smashed a cameo, unbeaten half-century and grabbed two wickets, to inspire the West Indies President’s XI on the second day of their three-day game here yesterday.

Left-hander Marsh finished the day on 118 not out as Australia closed on 205 for six in their first innings.

Adam Voges struck 52 in a 116-run, third wicket partnership with Marsh which pulled the tourists out of difficulty at 25 for two.

Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was the main destroyer with three for 69 while Brathwaite collected two for 28 from his 14 overs – including the scalp of captain Michael Clarke for 15.

Earlier, Brathwaite had Left-arm spinner Jomel blasted exactly 50 not out off Warrican ... picked up a mere 42 balls to help fire three for 69. the President’s XI up to 382 all out, after resuming the day on 288 for five at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

The right-hander, on the fringe of Test selection, hammered three fours and five sixes, and put on a rousing 58 for the last wicket with Miguel Cummins who made just six.’

Roston Chase converted his overnight 65 into 76 while Jason Mohammed, who started the day on 42, made 55.

They stretched their sixth wicket stand to 117 before being separated in the tenth over of the morning, when Chase missed a full length outswinger from seamer Peter Siddle and was bowled at 314 for six.

His wicket was one of four to fall for just ten runs as the hosts slumped to 324 for nine, before Brathwaite counter-attacked.

Seamers Josh Hazlewood (2-36), Mitchell Marsh (2-40), Peter Siddle (2-64) along with leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed (2-113), all finished with two wickets apiece.

Left with just over half-hour to survive before lunch, Australia lost Chris Rodgers who was prised out cheaply by seamer Miguel Cummins for two in the third over of the innings.

On 22 for one at lunch, Clarke fell soon after the reShaun Marsh celebrates his sumption, top-edging 14th first-class ton // WICB a hook at Brathwaite

to gully where Shamarh Brooks took the catch.

However, Shaun Marsh and Voges then stemmed the rot with their century stand.

Marsh struck 13 fours and three sixes in an innings which has so far spanned 216 balls and 4-1/2 hours while Voges faced 109 balls in just over two hours and counted seven fours.

He eventually departed, lbw to Warrican pushing forward at 141 for three in the final session.His dismissal sparked a slide where four wickets tumbled for 62 runs.

SCOREBOARD WI PRESIDENT’S XI 1 st Innings overnight 288 for 5 T Theophile c M Marsh b Hazlewood 4 R Chandrika b Ahmed 74 L Johnson c Clarke b Hazlewood 0 S Brooks c S Marsh b Ahmed 4 S Dowrich c Siddle b Lyon 78 R Chase b Siddle 76 J Mohammed c Voges b Siddle 55 C Brathwaite not out 50 J Warrican c wkp Haddin b M Marsh 0 M Mindley b M Marsh 0 M Cummins c Nevill b Lyon 6 Extras (b21, lb8, w1, nb5) 35 TOTAL (all out, 114 overs) 382 Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-20, 3-38, 4-141, 5-197, 6-314, 7-323, 8-324, 9-324, 10-382.

Bowling: Hazlewood 19-7-36-2 (nb1), Siddle 21-4-64-2 (nb1), Lyon 28-5-87-2-1, M Marsh 14-3-400, (w3, nb1), Ahmed 28-5-113-2,

Voges 4-0-13-0.

AUSTRALIA 1st Innings C Rogers c Brathwaite b Cummins 2 S Marsh not out 118 M Clarke c Brooks b Brathwaite 15 A Voges lbw b J Warrican 52 M Marsh c wkp Dowrich b Brathwaite 8 B Haddin c Cummins b Warrican 1 P Nevill c Johnson b Warrican 5 P Siddle not out 0 Extras (lb1, nb3) 4 TOTAL (6 wkts, 70 overs) 205 To bat: N Lyon, J Hazlewood, F Ahmed.

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-25, 3-141, 4-166, 5-178, 6-203.

Bowling: Cummins 14-3-42-1 (nb1), Mindley 10-2-32-0 (nb1), Brathwaite 14-328-2, Warrican 26-4-69-3, Chase 6-1-33-0.

Position: Australia trail by 177 runs with four wickets intact.

Sport CHRONICLE

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BLATTER OR PRINCE ALI ?

FIFA prepares to vote see story on page 27

Blatter defies calls to quit as FIFA scandal widens

By Mike Collett and Brian Homewood

ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - The corruption charges engulfing football’s governing body have heaped shame and humiliation on the game, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said yesterday, although he flatly rejected calls to resign over the scandal.

With FIFA facing the worst crisis in its 111-year history, Michel Platini, who heads Europe’s football confederation UEFA, said he had told Blatter to go “with tears in my eyes”, but the 79-yearold had refused.

“I said, ‘I’m asking you to leave, FIFA’s image is terrible.’ He said that he couldn’t leave all of a sudden,” Platini, a former French international, told reporters.

In a bullish speech opening a FIFA Congress in Zurich, Blatter said the turbu-

… sponsors pressure FIFA to take action

FIFA President Sepp Blatter addresses the audience at the opening ceremony of the 65th FIFA Congress in Zurich yesterday. The leader of soccer’s governing body has rejected calls to resign. (Arnd Wiegmann/ Reuters)

lence of the last two days, which included the arrest of leading football officials at their luxury Swiss hotel, had brought “shame and humiliation” to world football.

Making his first public appearance since Wednesday’s dramatic events, which were triggered by a U.S.-led investigation into allegations of rampant bribe-taking, Blatter said there was no room “for corruption of any kind”.

“The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football and this Congress,” said Blatter, who is standing for a fifth mandate as FIFA president in today’s election, where Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan is his only challenger.

Ignoring calls to step down, Blatter said: “I know many people hold me ultimately responsible ... (but) I cannot monitor everyone all the time. If See page 27

Lumumba calls on Urling to vote for Prince Ali bin Al Hussein today

By Rawle Toney

ODINGA Lumumba, president of Alpha United football Club and General Secretary of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), believes that it is time for a change in the administration of FIFA and urged the foot-balling world to support Prince Ali bin Hussein.

The 39-year-old Jordanian Prince will go head-to-head against Blatter in today’s FIFA elections in Zurich and Lumumba is hoping that Guyana’s representatives – Clinton Urling, Rabin Chandarpal and Tariq Williams – will support the Prince.

“I’m calling for my brothers and sisters in the member association of CONCACAF and CFU, to cast their vote for Mr Ali,” Lumumba told the gathering of reporters at the Water Chris Hotel in Georgetown.

Lumumba, the former Presidential Adviser on Youth Empowerment under the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government, is of the view that a support for the Jordanian Prince would be a support for change; something he believes the game of football desperately needs following recent arrests and issued warrants for several high-profile football administrators.

“I haven’t spoken to anyone on the other side and I’m saying today that the Caribbean must stand up and support Mr Ali who is for change and justice,” said the Alpha United football club president.

The GFA’s General Secretary wasn’t shy of his previous support for Blatter, claiming that it was under the 79-yearold Swiss football administrator’s reign that the game has seen an expansion, especially in the African nations.

“I think because of Blatter we’ve seen the World Cup in South Africa and Brazil and I think it was during his time in

GFF Normalisation Committee Chairman (left) and FIFA Presidential Candidate Prince Ali bin Hussein at the FIFA Congress in Zurich. Prince Ali will stand against Sepp Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term in office.

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office, you’ve seen a lot of support for Associations/Country. Under Blatter you have seen the Goal project. Despite Guyana not doing so well, it has been very successful in the Caribbean and Third World countries,” Lumumba said.

But his sudden change of heart came following the revelations made by U.S. Federal Authorities and the high profile arrests made over the last 48 hours and Lumumba said he now finds it “difficult to support Blatter” and has since urged Urling to support Prince Ali. “Enough information has been provided or produced to show the level of incompetence and mistrust and that the administration of FIFA is broken down and that the administration of CONCACAF is broken down and therefore in CFU it has broken down and it has filtered down in the system.”

He added “What you can see is the squabble for millions of dollars by individuals but no squabble for millions of dollars for infrastructural development of players and clubs”.

Urling, the Chairman of the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Normalisation Committee didn’t directly meet with the Federation’s affiliates prior to leaving for Zurich, but according to Lumumba, he (Urling) instead asked their input via an exchange of emails.

“There was no meeting but what he did do, he sent us emails, asking for an opinion and I told him at that point in time, I was supporting Blatter but like I said, a lot has happened overnight that has since caused me to change my mind and urging others to ask their representatives at the Congress in Zurich to support Prince Ali,” Lumumba added.

Blatter was elected president of FIFA on June 8, 1998, succeeding João Havelange and has been re-elected as president in 2002, 2007 and 2011. He (Blatter) is now asking for a fifth term in office.

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015