2015 6 15

GUYANA

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

No. 104221 MONDAY JUNE 15, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

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‘Show me the evidence’ – in latest twist on age-old border spat

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Ramkarran chides Opposition for boycotting Parliament – labels ‘ludicrous’ recount calls based on suspicion Page

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Local neurosurgeon saves the day

– for wounded police officer

FLASHBACK: The empty Opposition benches (left) at last Wednesday's opening of the 11th Parliament (Photo by Adrian Narine)

Victor Fausette

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

Local neurosurgeon saves the day – for wounded police officer

By Shivanie Sugrim MERE days ago, when 24-year-old Police Constable Victor Fausette was shot in the head, just above the left ear, by a mentally ill man in Linden, it was to Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi, Guyana’s first and only neurosurgeon, that the task was left to save the life of the gravely-wounded officer.

Found lying in a pool of blood by residents of Linden, Fausette was first rushed to the Linden Hospital, before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where Dr. Dukhi had to perform on him an emergency brain surgery which has been deemed successful.

In an exclusive interview with this publication, Dr. Dukhi reminisced on that surgery, which happens to be his 61st successful operation since being placed at the GPHC in January 2015.

Gunshot injuries to the brain, he said, are very critical because they cause severe lesions to the brain and the skull. The survival rate internationally is very low, and success in these cases can be mere “oily” or “slippery” responses.

Fausette, he added, has had an “intracranial exten-

by opening fire on the ranks, leaving them with no alternative other than to return fire, which eliminated him.

sion”, meaning the bullet penetrated soft tissues and went to the left side of his head, where there were injuries to the brain mass and other surrounding structures.

In such a case, Dr. Dukhi said, he had to remove the bullet by performing a craniotomy (surgical removal of a portion of the skull) to find the bullet, and then remove it whilst controlling the swelling and all intracranial bleeding.

DOING FAIRLY WELL This was done, and the surgery was considered a success based on the patient’s response. “The officer is doing fairly well just days after his surgery, and is eating and talking as normal,” declared Dr. Dukhi.

Thus far, he said, Fausette is being monitored by a Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC) –- a neurological scale that aims to give a reliable, objective way of recording the conscious state of a person for initial as well as subsequent assessment -- since gunshot injuries can cause a lot of surrounding brain tissue damage, which can led to deficits.

“We were able to control that, so we are still hoping for a full recovery with minimal neurological deficit obtained,” the Neurosurgeon

Neurosurgeon Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi

disclosed.

Any gunshot injury to the brain in neurosurgery that comes out as a success like in the case of the police officer is always a plus, not just for neurosurgery, but also for the surgeon involved and his team that worked along with him to ensure a life was saved.

“It is a success not only for myself, but also for the Georgetown Public Hospital and the work we have been doing since I was placed there. It brings great satisfaction when you could save someone’s life, as in the case where the officer was shot

Police Constable Victor Fausette smiles at the camera from his recovery bed at the GPHC

point blank to his brain,” Dr. Dukhi explained.

Dr. Dukhi completed 15 successful surgeries in March; his remarkable expertise is manifested in the 61 successful surgeries he has completed to date.

THE INCIDENT While at the Wisrock Police Outpost in Linden six days ago, 18-year-old mentally ill Regan Richards disarmed Police Constable Victor Fausette of his .38 police service revolver, and shot him in the head before walking out of the outpost

with the gun in his hand.

Fausette was the only rank on duty at the time of the incident, but given that the outpost is located in close proximity to the community, residents who heard the gunshot ran to the scene and saw Fausette lying in a pool of blood.

Richards, on the other hand, was walking the streets with a gun in his hand as residents feared for their lives.

Members of the anti-crime patrol responded and found him hiding in his home. He was commanded to surrender the weapon, but responded

DR.DUKHI’S JOURNEY Born in Skeldon, Corriverton, Dr. Dukhi’s journey as a neurosurgeon began when he graduated from the Skeldon Line Path Secondary School, having written the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams in 1995 and emerged as the third best graduating student.

He then completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Bio Chemistry at the University of Guyana in 1999, and soon after received a scholarship through the Government of Guyana’s “Cuban Scholarship Programme”, through which he acquired a Bachelor of Medicine degree in 2006. Quite remarkably, he emerged as the best graduating student.

He returned to Guyana and served the Government for three consecutive years at the GPHC and the New Amsterdam Hospital. However, his specialty then was orthopedics.

Feeling the need to expand his knowledge in medicine and surgery, he then began his journey as an aspiring neurosurgeon, and this has led to him becoming Guyana’s first and only Neurosurgeon.

PdV sustains Guyana oil supply – despite border rift VENEZUELA has sustained exports of refined products to neighbouring Guyana in recent months, in spite of a flare-up in a longstanding dispute over oil-prone territory on the border.

The current exports of around 4,500 b/d to Guyana are part of a total estimated 160,000 b/d that Venezuelan

State-owned PdV delivered from 1 January to 31 May 2015 to 15 members of PetroCaribe, including close ally, Cuba.

Under PetroCaribe, PdV supplies the neighbouring countries with crude and refined products on soft terms, with some of the oil repaid in non-oil products.

Guyana pays for part of

its supply with rice and sugar, which are among the many food staples that are in short supply in economically struggling Venezuela.

Venezuela´s reliance on the food imports, and reluctance to risk alienating other PetroCaribe member countries that it depends upon for regional political support, explains why Caracas maintains oil supply to Guyana.

The Venezuelan Government opposes current oil exploration off Guyana, because it claims much of the territory, known as the Essequibo, as its own, a claim Guyana rejects.

ExxonMobil said last month it made a “significant” oil discovery on the Stabroek block off Guyana with its

two partners, US independent Hess and China´s Stateowned CNOOC unit, Nexen.

Even though PdV has not cut off Guyana´s supply, PdV’s overall PetroCaribe exports slipped by 1.6pc in January-May, compared with the average at the end of 2014.

PdV shipped almost 90,000 b/d to Cuba in January-May, unchanged from 89,400 b/d exported to the island in 2014. But PdV’s exports to Cuba currently are about 21,723 b/d or almost 20pc below a peak of 111,723 b/d reported in 2008.

PdV’s oil exports to Cuba are repaid mostly with services provided by up to 50,000 Cuban nationals deployed in Venezuela on economic, social and security

missions.

PdV’s combined oil exports to 14 other PetroCaribe members during the first five months of 2015 averaged about 70,000 b/d, a decline of over 4.3pc from 2014, according to the ministry’s year-to-date estimates.

PdV’s exports through PetroCaribe are falling, because the initiative’s financing terms become less attractive for buyers as the oil price declines.

PetroCaribe members can finance up to 50pc of the oil received from PdV for up to 25 years at 1pc annual interest when the oil price surpasses $80/bl. Below that price, the portion that can be financed, and the maturity of the credit shrink. This

prompts some buyers to shop around for alternative sources of supply.

PdV is not cutting back PetroCaribe oil exports because of any upstream operational difficulties or cash flow problems, the ministry said.

PetroCaribe members that received oil from PdV during the first five months of 2015 included Antigua, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname.

Guatemala and Honduras belong to PetroCaribe, but do not buy oil from PdV because of disagreements with Caracas over financing terms. (Argusmedia.com)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

Ramkarran chides Opposition for boycotting Parliament – labels ‘ludicrous’ recount calls based on suspicion

By Tajeram Mohabir FORMER People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Executive and Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran has chided the decision of that party to stay away from Parliament, describing it as ‘irresponsible’.

The PPP/C is yet to submit its list of Members of Parliament (MPs) to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for the 11th Parliament, and has not indicated when it will do so.

As a result, it was a no-show at the opening of the 11th Parliament last Wednesday.

The Guyana Chronicle made several attempts to contact senior PPP/C officials on the Party’s decision on going to Parliament, but to no avail.

Ramkarran nevertheless believes that while the main Opposition party is behaving stubborn for the time being, good sense will not be elusive to its leadership.

But, he said, it is important that it dawns on them sooner rather than later, pointing out that they should see early the wisdom of representing the 200,000 plus persons who voted for them in the recent elections.

According to Ramkarran, while the PPP/C is preparing to challenge the results in the court, it should not shirk its responsibility to its supporters.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday, Ramkarran said the current posture is not helpful to the image and spirit of the once great party, which, under the leadership of Dr. Cheddi Jagan, was a champion of the interests of the thousands whom it represented, both in and out of the National Assembly.

It appears that the Main Opposition has managed to convince some of its supporters that the 2015 Regional

Former PPP/C Executive, Ralph Ramkarran

and General Elections were not free and fair, hence, the reason for them staying away from Parliament.

FROWNED UPON But their action has been frowned upon by the international community.

Both US Charge D Affairs Brian Hunt and British High Commission to Guyana Gregory Quinn have called on the PPP/C to occupy its seats in the National Assembly.

Recently, in another section of the media, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr Nicole Giles joined the chorus, noting that it is imperative that the PPP/C takes up its seats and hold the Government accountable.

Former PPP/C Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Vindhya Persaud also criticised her party’s decision to stay away from the House. She too was adamant that the Opposition should be the voice of its supporters in Parliament even as it presses ahead with an elections petition.

“I strongly urge, as I did previously at our meeting, that we go to Parliament and represent our support base as a formidable Opposition.

We need to demonstrate a positive and united approach as a party and represent Guyanese at the highest level holding… the Government accountable for their actions.

Their many actions taken since their ascendancy re-

Dr Vindhya Persaud

quire our scrutiny, objection and rejection. In the height of rigged elections, Dr. Jagan went to Parliament as Opposition-- he understood that the party’s voice needed to be heard and recorded at that level,” Dr Persaud was quoted as saying in an email to her colleagues.

According to Ramkarran, from all he has heard, the PPP/C has not made a convincing case that there are enough discrepancies to affect the outcome of the results declared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The elections were a close race. According to GECOM, the PPP/C secured 202,694 votes, losing to the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition which gained 207, 200 votes.

Ramkarran said the PPP/C will probably make a more credible case in the elections petition. But from pronouncements by party officials and information in the public domain, he said it is clear that the PPP/C is

Canadian High Commissioner, Dr Nicole Giles

calling for a total recount based on suspicion.

LUDICROUS This, Ramkarran contended, is “ludicrous”, while noting that the court cannot order a recount of the votes cast in the 2015 Regional and General Elections.

What the PPP/C, he said, will have to do is prove in court where violations in the law(s) occurred and that discrepancy if occurred, is enough to affect the declared outcome of the elections.

Based on the facts presented, Ramkarran, a senior counsel, told this publication that the court will either uphold the results declared by GECOM or declare it null and void.

He also pointed out that GECOM does not have the power to unilaterally decide to recount the votes cast, pointing out that in 1997, the Government had to go to Parliament to pass a law, which allowed for the recount.

The former PPP/C Exec-

‘I strongly urge, as I did previously at our meeting, that we go to Parliament and represent our support base as a formidable Opposition. We need to demonstrate a positive and united approach as a party and represent Guyanese at the highest level holding… the Government accountable for their actions. Their many actions taken since their ascendancy require our scrutiny, objection and rejection. In the height of rigged elections, Dr. Jagan went to Parliament as Opposition; he understood that the Party’s voice needed to be heard and recorded at that level’ -- Former PPP/C MP, Dr Vindhya Persaud utive said he is not certain that the current Government would want to support a call by the PPP/C if it wants to utilise this process.

Meanwhile, Ramkarran is also advising his former comrades not bury their heads in the sand, pointing out that their claim that the elections were rigged and their staying away from Parliament will not do much to help the cause and image of the party.

He noted that the strategy worked in 1973 when there was known electoral fraud and the rice and sugar industries were crumbling, coupled with a host of other woes affecting the people.

The PPP/C under Dr Jagan, he explained, fought to right these wrongs and was able draw overwhelming sympathy from the populace.

Today, he pointed out, the social, political and

economic situations have changed significantly, and it is hardly likely that Guyana will return to those challenging days.

The situation today, he emphasised, is not the same as it was in 1973, and the PPP/C should not fool themselves into believing otherwise.

The former PPP/C stalwart said the party’s leadership has to do some serious introspection, and needs to come up with innovative but constructive strategies to represent its supporters, bring back those who left the party and attract new members.

But he noted that the place the PPP/C should be taking the fight to the Government is in Parliament, because the people voted to put them there so that their interests can be represented in the highest forum of the land.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15 2015

South Africa court bars indicted Sudan leader from leaving

By Ed Cropley and Joe Brock

JOHANNESBURG,(Reuters)-A South African judge barred Sudan’s indicted president from leaving the country yesterday, in a deepening rift between Africa and the West over what Pretoria called anti-poor country bias in the International Criminal Court (ICC).

President Omar alBashir, visiting South Africa for an African Union summit, stands accused in an ICC arrest warrant of war crimes and crimes against

humanity over atrocities committed in the Darfur conflict.

He was first indicted in 2009.

A judge is expected on Monday to hear an application calling for Bashir’s arrest, though this appears unlikely as South Africa’s government has granted legal immunity to all African Union delegates.

South African President Jacob Zuma’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) responded furiously to Sunday’s court order, accusing the Hague-based ICC of seeking to impose selective Western justice by singling out Africans.

Southern African Litigation Center, earlier petitioned the Pretoria High Court to force the government to issue an arrest warrant for Bashir.

Judge Hans Fabricius postponed the hearing until 0930 GMT (5:30 a.m. EDT) on Monday to allow the government time to prepare its case, urging South African authorities to “take all necessary steps” to prevent Bashir leaving the country.

Sudan’s government said that Bashir had not slipped out of the country, despite some media reports to the contrary.

“President Bashir is here in Johannesburg,” presidency spokesman Mohammed Hatem told Reuters from the South African commercial capital.

Earlier, Khartoum defended the South African visit by Bashir, who was sworn in this month for another five-year term, and said the court order had “no value”.

“We contacted South Africa in advance and informed them that the president would participate and they highly welcomed

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir looks on ahead of the 25th African Union summit in Johannesburg, yesterday Reuters/ Siphiwe Sibeko

“The ANC holds the view that the International Criminal Court is no longer useful for the purposes for which it was intended,” the ANC said in a statement.

“Countries, mainly in Africa and Eastern Europe ... continue to unjustifiably bear the brunt of the decisions of the ICC, with Sudan being the latest example.”

A human rights group, the

his participation,” Sudan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kamal Ismail, told reporters in Khartoum.

“What is being mentioned in the media is a propaganda campaign against Sudan,” Ismail added.

GUARANTEES The conflict in Darfur has killed as many as 300,000 people and displaced 2 million, the United Nations says.

“He (Bashir) would be a fool if he had not sought guarantees that he would not be transferred before leaving for South Africa,” one ICC official told Reuters, asking not to be named.

The ICC issued a statement asking Pretoria “to spare no effort in ensuring the execution of the arrest warrants”.

It said the court’s members had “deep concern” about the negative consequences if any signatory state failed to assist in detaining Bashir.

A foreign ministry spokesman in South Africa, which is an ICC signatory and therefore obliged to implement arrest warrants, did not respond to requests for comment on Sunday.

Clinton urges Obama to work with Pelosi on trade deal like House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who engineered the defeat of a related trade package last week.

“I am willing to try now to see whether you can push to get rid of the objectionable parts, to drive a harder bargain on some of the other parts,” Clinton said.

If Obama does not get the best deal possible, “there should be no deal,” said Clinton, who is the front-runner among candidates to be the Democratic Party nominee for the November 2016 election.

Critics on the left and right have criticised Clinton for not taking a stand on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. Clinton has expressed reservations

By Alana Wise

DES MOINES, (Reuetrs)-Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton on Sunday urged President Barack Obama to work with congressional Democrats who rejected his trade agenda last week, and to seek tougher labour protections in a proposed Pacific trade deal.

Clinton had until now declined to take a stand on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but her comments amounted to an implicit rebuke of Obama and a nod toward liberal critics of the deal.

At a campaign stop in Iowa, Clinton said Obama should work with opponents

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about free trade deals in the past, but she played a central role in trade talks with the 11 countries involved in the TPP as Obama’s secretary of state.

The pact is shaping up to be a significant test for Clinton as her party has grown more suspicious of the merits of free trade since her husband, Bill Clinton, signed the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, into law as president in 1993.

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a rival for the Democratic nomination and fierce critic of free trade, pressed her to come out against it before Congress takes up the issue again this week.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

Warner admits to involvement in plan to conceal alleged marijuana find at PM’s home PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Embattled former FIFA executive and former National Security Minister, Jack Warner has claimed that he was involved in a plan to bury the alleged discovery of marijuana at the home of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar in the Philippines.

Warner, in a statement

dated June 6, said he and former deputy commissioner of police Mervyn Richardson planned to bury the drug that was found on April 12, 2013, while the Prime Minister was in New York.

Warner – the leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) also named Gary Griffith, then adviser to Prime Minister and Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal as being part of the plan to

ensure there was no criminal probe into the alleged marijuana discovery.

The Trinidad Express reports that a statement signed by a Justice of the Peace outlined how Richardson came to Parliament and told him about the alleged drug find.

Wa r n e r ’s s t a t e m e n t forms part of a dossier of documents and taped conversations he has prom-

International Election Observer Mission praises BVI elections ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, (CMC )– The International Election Observer Mission (IOM) has praised the British Virgin Islands (BVI) election process, calling it genuine, vibrant and competitive.

“The Election Observer Mission believes that the Virgin Islands (UK) 2015 election was genuine, vibrant and competitive,” Stephen Rodan, Head of Mission for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association British Islands and Mediterranean Region, Virgin Islands, in presenting the preliminary report of the team’s findings about last Monday’s general elections.

A new government was sworn in on Wednesday in the BVI after the incumbent National Democratic Party (NDP) won Monday’s general elections.

The NDP won 11 of the 13 seats in the Legislature, with the main opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP) winning the remaining two. The NDP also won the four “at large” seats Rodan told a press conference here that the elections met key international standards, providing the voters with an opportunity to cast their votes in secret and express their will in a “transparent, peaceful and orderly manner.”

“We especially commend the voters on their enthusiasm and commitment to the democratic process, evident in the high voter-turnout.”

Rodan also lauded the Supervisor of Elections but stated that there are some deficiencies in the regulatory framework.

Stephen Rodan - Mission head “Further improvements are needed to streamline the cum-

bersome voting and counting procedures, as well as to address the deficiencies in the regulatory framework, particularly in relation to the registration of political parties and campaign financing,” he added.

The IOM also commended provisions made for Advance Polling Day, but said the closing process on that day, regarding the placing and sealing of ballots into envelopes “was not performed in the majority of polling stations which is in breach of section 49(1) of the Elections Act.”

Former National Security Minister Jack Warner

ised to deliver to selected attorneys for safe keeping to expose corruption in the Government.

Warner is currently on bail and will re-appear at the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court on July 9.

He has indicated he will be contesting any request by the US to have him extradited to answer charges of racketeering and money laundering.

The indictment against Warner follows four years of investigations by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) authorities into allegations of “rampant and systemic” corruption and rich self-dealing by FIFA officials.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15 2015

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

Directionless youths need guidance SHAUN Grant, a member of the infamous “Fine-Man” Rondell Rawlins gang, was shot dead by police in a hideout aback the airport at Timehri.

Shaquille Grant was shot dead by police, who alleged that he was hanging out with a gang of bandits whom they learnt had been planning a spate of robberies.

Michael Grant was shot by a licensed firearm holder whom he had robbed. All three Grant lads belonged to Agricola; all were killed at a very young age.

Michael Grant was just 18 when he died, leaving a spouse and a young baby. Whether they are related or not; whether young Shaquille was innocent of wrongdoing or not, the name Grant, once from Agricola, would be synonymous with gangs and crime for a very long time to come. Therefore, that baby of Michael Grant’s would forever carry the stigma of his father’s infamy.

Just as parents want their children to make them proud, similarly, parents should also live exemplary lives

so that they can become role models for their children.

Michael Grant was certainly no role model for his child to emulate. Instead, that child would now be buffeted all his life by storms not of his own making.

Wounded also during that robbery was 19-yearold Curtis Costello, who is being treated under police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital for gunshot wounds sustained to his neck and hand at the hands of the victim of the heist. A third bandit escaped a police roadblock following the robbery that was committed on businessman Nazim Khan at Grove on the East Bank of Demerara. He is currently in hiding.

These reportedly unemployed young men owned motorcycles and guns, which indicate that they got easy money by some means, whether legal or illegal.

The get-rich-quick syndrome has permeated some communities, with normal work not seen as an option to survival. The sad thing is that relatives who benefit from the spoils only realise too late the consequences

of encouraging the young men into a life of crime; then they are left to lament their incalculable loss for the rest of their lives.

National Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan has his work cut out for him, because the prevalence of robbery, home invasions and murders is taking its toll on the nation, and he has promised zero-tolerance on crime and rogue cops.

However, there is a greater need to re-educate Guyana’s transgressing youths in the laws of the land, and the consequences of breaching those laws, as well as restoration of a moral compass, whereby they realise that society needs to thrive, and that their forays into criminal activities are a threat, not only to their intended victims, but to the general social landscape. Because the impacts are wide-ranging and far-reaching.

Guyana is attempting to develop a vibrant tourism sector, encourage private investment by foreign and local entrepreneurs, and even provide incentives for overseas-domiciled Guyanese to return home, but the crime situation is an impediment to the success of these economy-bolstering initiatives.

Guyana’s youth population needs guidance in the right direction with immediacy, so that there are no more “Blackie” Londons, “Skinnys”, “Fine Men” and Michael Grants.

Entrepreneurship: The answer to youth unemployment

FOR as long as I can remember, there has always been a picture of high youth unemployment in Guyana, but the CDB’s recent report, “Youth are the future: The imperative of youth employment for sustainable development in the Caribbean” has added colour and graphics to that picture. It is reported that Guyana’s youth unemployment hovered at around 40% throughout the last decade-and-a-half.

Efforts to quantify that mind-blowing statistic have yielded estimates as high as 60,000, alarming

considering the age category used, 15-24, and our small population.

The duration of 15 years over which unemployment of 40% consistently precipitated is a stark statement on the depth of this problem, the solution of which will require a multi-pronged approach. That report emphasised the point that our youths are marginalised.

It is time agencies functioning in the interest of our youth stop operating in silos, and propose a collaborative engagement towards empowering youths. No quick fix will work; call centres

are not the solution, but entrepreneurship is an avenue.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor project reports a 70% correlation between entrepreneurship and economic growth. Regionally, the private sector creates 70% of total employment, according to “Role of SMEs in the Caribbean, Pamela Coke-Hamilton”. Locally, SMEs account for 40% of total employment, as stated by the chair of Micro & Small Enterprise Development (MSED), Mr. Sukrishnalall Pasha.

Guyana is nowhere close to realising the potential of

its SME sector; we are yet to implement (Praying models have been designed) policies geared towards the development of that sector.

Our inability to realise the employment generating and revenue earning potential of SMEs for the last decade falls squarely at the feet of the Small Business Council (SBC). The 10-year timeline is specific to the SBC, since it has been in existence for that period.

The Small Business Act of 2004 (needing substantial amendments) makes provision for the establishment of the SBC, the primary func-

tion of which is to promote the development of small businesses. The 11-member Council began its work in 2005, a decade after SMEs as a sector is yet to reap from the tree. For some time, the Council has pointed fingers in various directions for their inability to perform, or lack thereof, to execute its principal function effectively.

Excuses are likened unto failure; entrepreneurs aim to succeed. I may be out of line to question the competence of the Council’s members, but it is evident that the membership should be revamped in the best interest of SMEs.

The SBC must focus on equitable policies directed towards the productive and conducive economic progress to ensure development of SMEs, in the interest of generating employment, and making a contribution towards economic growth.

Unquestionably, the SBC has potential to meaningfully contribute to a process that would lead to reduction of youth unemployment. But the question is: Are the current SBC members the right fit for the job?

DENNIS MAYERS

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

Missing PetroCaribe funds...

Region 2 rice farmers call for better financial arrangements

--so as to avoid a repeat of their present dilemma REGION 2 rice farmers are calling for better systems to be put in place to avoid a repeat of what occurred under the PetroCaribe fund, under the previous Government.

Naith Ram, Tage Shewcharran, Bhim Singh and Karan Chand of the Essequibo Paddy Farmers Association appeared on the National Communications Network on Saturday, expressing their dissatisfaction with the fact that the fund is empty.

Naith Ram observed that hundreds of farmers on the Essequibo Coast have not been paid since March, which has caused them to have to go to the Bank to continue their business, which is not the best way out.

Shewcharran observed that former President Bharrat Jagdeo had promised that the Funds would have been filtered down directly to the farmers.

The farmers stated that the Fund never worked for them, and called for a better system to be put in place in the light of its failure. Naith Ram expressed the hope that the Government would step in and help the rice farmers. He asked for a special revolving fund to be set aside, which was what the PetroCaribe should have been, so they could be paid on time.

“The previous Government was saying that the PetroCaribe fund was a revolving fund, but I do not know how it is a revolving fund,

Essequibo rice farmers airing their grievances on NCN. At right is programme host, Paul Moore when we the farmers are not benefiting out of it... We want a special fund to be set aside in the Bank, whereby farmers, and likewise the millers, can go and borrow... so that we can be paid in a timely manner and not have to wait six to eight months down the road to receive our payments,” he said.

On June 11, Minister of State Joseph Harmon announced that the Fund was empty, and that US$15M was needed to pay rice farmers. The PetroCaribe Fund was set up as part of Guyana’s arrangement with Venezuela, to pay local famers supplying rice to the neighbouring country under a concessionary fuel supply agreement. Thus far the fund should have contained sums amounting to hundreds of millions of US dollars.

The Region 2 farmers also used the opportunity to call for the reform of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), and the removal of its head. “I am appealing to the Minister and the new Government that the GRDB Board must go,” Naith Ram said, adding: “The Board has been corrupt, and working in collusion with the millers. The ones who are suffering are basically the ones who are toiling in the field,” Naith Ram said.

Speaking to the issue of collusion, the farmers observed that the GRDB was working for millers and shortchanging the farmers on a number of issues, including paddy prices in terms of fertilizers and the grading of the paddy. “You have transactions going on between members of the Board with some individual millers, whereby those on

Singh needs to get his facts right

YOU recently (June 13) published an ‘analysis’

by Rickey Singh, where he discussed questions f o r c u r re n t a n d p re vious Presidents. It is good to have a variety of opinions, but at least we should get the truth as the base of the expressed opinions.

In his column, Rickey Singh states that “Yet, neither has committed himself to WRITING the other even a single letter/note for a meeting

to DISCUSS ideas and approaches for a different and better future for Guyana.” This is a total lie. Hon. Joe Harmon has written the PPP since the May 11 elections about the need to move forward in the context of a national unity governance structure, which obviously has to be a step-by-step process.

Secondly, Rickey Singh referenced the priorities of the Rodney Commission of Inquiry in the workplan of

the Attorney-General. Indeed, it needs to be a priority, especially because of the expenditures on the Commission which fails all tests of cost-benefit. This Commission of Inquiry was a political ploy of the PPP, and never fundamentally focused on getting to the truth about what happened to Walter Rodney.

I write this as a former member of the WPA, in the days when Walter Rodney was alive.

FITZGERALD YAW

the Board are having drawback from the millers.” They noted that millers purchase the paddy from farmers and then sell them to overseas markets and give the farmers a pittance.

The grading system has a law which is broken by all the millers without penalties being administered, the farmers also said. Seecharran noted that “all the millers break the law but nobody aint telling them noth-

ing. When you cut your paddy and carry it to the mill, you cannot talk for your rights, you get victimised…the grading system they are not implementing the law, even in the weight, even in the moisture and they are taking advantage over farmers and all GRDB telling us is that they gon look into it.”

The rice farmers also noted their concerns with the functioning and management of the drainage system on the coast, which they noted were pointed out to Agriculture Minister Noel Holder visited, when he recently visited the region to conduct an assessment of the system.

They noted that the present pumps and hymacs that are not functioning, were operating before the National Elections, and labelled this a move to sabotage the new Government.

This deeply affected the farmers and the Region should be held responsible for the issue, the farmers said. “…the chairman, and the REO, amount of money have been given to them to pay workers, buy fuel and see these

things operational, but the persons them who suppose to work this pumps, they do not go. The excavator is Government excavator…and they were given to private person,” Sewcharran explained.

The farmers called for the new Administration to have a better system and mechanism in place, whereby not only the system would be more effective but will truly represent farmers.

To this end, the farmers called for a national oversight committee to be set up for rice farmers of the country by the new Administration. They noted that for the oversight committee, the voice of the farmers must be heard with their inclusion on the committee.

The reform of the Rice Producers Association (RPA) was also raised.

The rice production this crop is expected to increase significantly and markets need to be sought, apart from Venezuela, from which the famers could benefit, they said too. (GINA)

8

Father of seven suffers fractured neck

– after falling off bicycle

Walter Douglas who suffered a fractured neck after falling off his bicycle at Mahaica last Friday

By Shirley Thomas A FATHER of seven is now stricken on a hospital bed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after falling off his bicycle and suffering a fractured neck, among other injuries.

Shortly after a downpour

last Friday, Walter Douglas, 65, of Lancaster, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara was taking his six-year-old son Danny Douglas to nursery school when tragedy struck.

Douglas, who now has difficulty speaking, recalled that he had reached the school and was riding off a concrete strip onto the lawns

when the front wheel of the cycle fell into a pothole that was covered with water.

The injured man said that because of the water, he did not know that a hole was there until he had already ridden into it.

The front wheel plunged into the hole and then the rear wheel pitched into the air, throwing both father and son to the ground. Fortunately water did not get into their nostrils.

However the elder Douglas suffered a severe blow to the head, neck and back of his shoulders. He managed to get up, but as he began to suffer severe pains, he was helped to a bus and taken home. As the pains intensified, he was later taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was admitted and had scans done.

The scans determined that he had suffered a fractured neck and trauma to the head and back.

Meanwhile, six-yearold Danny suffered minor bruises and was treated and sent home.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

Persaud re-elected head of Essequibo Coast Lions

The new Board of the Lions Club of Essequibo Coast

HEAD of the Lions Club of Essequibo Coast, Devendra Persaud was re-elected to a second term when the club gathered at the Arabian Atlantic Sea View Hotel to install their new Board of Directors for the fiscal year 2015-2016 last Saturday.

Persaud, in his report for the year 2014-2015, noted that all expectations were surpassed and the club was able to grow its service in 2014-2015.

He reported that approximately 1,904 individuals benefitted from 18 service projects which accounted for 3,567 Lions Hours and had an approximate combined value of $18,675,697 (US $93,378).

At Berbice Assizes…

Prisoners change plea – on hearing ‘Iron Fist’ will be presiding

By Jeune Bailey Vankeric ASSISTANT Superintendent of Prisons, Mr. Paul James has reported that there are five prisoners who submitted statements to support their willingness to plead during the June sessions of the Berbice Assizes scheduled for opening tomorrow.

However, after Navin Sugrim and Roy Lewis, both committed for murder, heard that it was Justice Navindra Singh who would be presiding, they have since withdrawn that decision.

The other committed

prisoners at the New Amsterdam Penitentiary who have maintained their positions are fellow murder accused Omar Bacchus, Bheem Evans and Charles Goodluck.

Justice Singh, is known in prison circles, as the judge with the ‘iron fist’, due to his practice of imposing ‘heavy’ sentences on those convicted for murder.

However, James, who was presenting the Jail Delivery at the close of the February Assizes before Justice Franklyn Holder, said there were twenty-nine prisoners who were requesting an early trial,

and among them Omar Bacchus is the longest committed prisoner, having been admitted on September 5, 2008. He has since spent six years, nine months at the New Amsterdam prison.

This reporter was told

by State Prosecutrix Ms. Natasha Backer that she, like her predecessors, was not in possession of Omar Bacchus’ file. However, efforts will again be made to find it.

It was reported that of the twenty-nine all-male group, twenty-six are listed for murder and the remainder are listed for sexual penetration.

Also listed are three seventeen-year-old murd e r o ff e n d e r s , n a m e ly Warmish Ramballe, Jainarine Shivnarine and Ryan Persaud. The oldest committed prisoner is sixty-four-year-old Charles Goodluck.

Nine cases emanated from the New Amsterdam Court, while, the Blairmont district recorded one case.

Meanwhile, the June session is expected to commence on June 16, with the traditional ceremonial march past and the inspection of police ranks in front of the Berbice High Court at Esplanade Road in the New Amsterdam township.

In his acceptance speech, Lion Persaud indicated that his theme for the New Year is: ‘In Unity, We Serve’, and urged all Lions to continue to work in unity to strengthen the club and the Lions Organisation as a whole.

The new board also consists of Lions Tianna Ramlakhan, Sareva Rampersaud and Verna Young as First, Second and Third Vice Presidents respectively, Lion Joel Naraine as Secretary, Lion Toolsiram Benny as Treasurer, Lion Mohamed Ally as Membership Director, Lion Emawattie Singh as Tamer, Lion Reynold Jones as Two Year Director and Lion Ameer Baksh as One Year Director.

The ceremony also saw the induction of two new Lion members to the club.

These members, Paul Persaud and Allan Richmond will add to the strengthening of the club and will aid in upholding the ‘We Serve’ motto of the organisation.

The installation and induction ceremonies were conducted by GMT Specialist Lion Dr. Sarah Gordon, while the charge to the new board was done by Past District Governor Lion Surujpaul Singh.

The new board will take effect from July 1, 2015 serving for one year until June 30, 2016, after which a new board will be elected.

Cuba and Trinidad sign bilateral investment agreement HAVANA, Cuba, (CMC) - A bilateral cooperation accord has been signed between the chambers of commerce of Cuba and Trinidad-Tobago to exchange information on investment opportunities.

President of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce Celia Labora and her Trinidadian counterpart Catherine Kumar signed the documents on Thursday.

The accord will allow Trinidadian business people to access all the information related to the Cuban market and its new prospects for foreign investment.

The agreement will also give access to details about the Special Development Zone in the Cuban western Mariel Harbor and the portfolio that contains over 200 investment projects valued at over US$8-billion.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

Opening of the 11th Parliament...

9

The pomp, the ceremony, the President’s speech THE first sitting of the National Assembly under the new Government was held last Wednesday with patriotic verve and ceremonial fanfare. His Excellency, President David Granger addressed the House and spoke on a wide range of issues crucial to the development of the nation.

The Guyana Chronicle invited comments from citizens on how they feel about the issues addressed by the President and the commitments made on behalf of the Government to benefit the people.

AUDREYANNA THOMAS, consultant and development practitioner: “The President, in his address to the First Sitting of the National Assembly, promised that the subvention withdrawn from the Critchlow Labour College some years ago would be restored. I commend that move, because, if we are going to propel Guyana’s development, education is fundamental. We have to enable our institutions to absorb our citizens at various levels and the Critchlow Labour College is one such with a commendable track record.

“After completing secondary school, I moved on to the Critchlow Labour College where I did a one-year certificate programme in the Social Sciences and was able to use it for admission to University of Guyana. That was indeed a valuable springboard, because I was able to get a bursary award from the University of Cambridge to do my post-graduate studies. So I would say that having such institutions serve as a buffer between secondary schools and university and continues to yearly churn out hundreds of citizens of worth. Had it not been for Critchlow, I perhaps would have been shut out of that key institution of higher learning in Guyana and would not have been who I am today.”

--A retrospective of an august occasion

DEREK GODETTE, recording artist: “I think that we need to get more serious with Venezuela. We need to recall our diplomatic mission and let Venezuela understand we are not playing. If we just let it go like this, and just keep our Mission there, then we are not sending a clear message; we’re sending mixed messages.

“As for the economic programmes, the President is trying to bring this country back. It will take each and every citizen of this country to put a hand to bring back the reins.

For example, we have the situation with the sugar industry; we have monies that are missing. We need to get to the bottom of these things, and let people understand; people who represent us in this country, that we the people down here are not joking. Once you become a minister in the government, you have responsibilities.”

ANDREW JACOBS, self-employed: “I was happy to hear the President say that his government will make the provision of jobs for young people one of his top priorities. Right now we need the bauxite company in Linden to get working again, because we are not getting jobs up there. Through the years, it was the bauxite company in Linden that provided jobs for our people, but now that it is no longer functioning, we are punishing. God knows we need to develop ourselves, and come out of the punishment. It is time; it is time. The young people of Linden need jobs.”

CLAYTON HINDS, Seafood Manager:

YONETTE CALENDERDAWSON, Headmistress: “The President alluded to the need for the Bills to be amended to provide for Parliament to be served by a cadre of professional staff, and to be equipped with its own budget; and I think that is a good sign, because, once they get mayors, as mentioned by the President, they would be able to take responsibility for the development of their communities.

“I would say that the President’s speech was well thought out; very comprehensive and all-embracing. And it augurs well for the development of the nation. Finally, I think that Guyana is moving forward.”

“From the speech that the President has given, it appears he has scoured every aspect of the society; every sector of the community, and not just locally. He has even gone further to say what is our role, not only in CARICOM, but internationally as well.

“The President has taken a very detailed account of the situation that exists in this country, and has been able to address it to the nation. I trust that Guyanese would be able to understand the premise on which the President is speaking; it behoves every Guyanese to ensure that the advice or programmes outlined is taken up by everyone, inclusive of the current Opposition. They must be made aware that it is not very healthy for this country; they need to come back and get themselves into Parliament and address the people’s business.”

VANDYKE WILLIAMS, NCN staffer: “I would say it was a very excellent speech, and we believe in what the President said, and would be looking forward over the next five years for progress and development of every Guyanese. It matters not what is your ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation; we all are Guyanese, and our President continues to urge the nation to pursue a path of national unity; and out of national unity will come national development.”

WENDEL PITT, nursing assistant: “I think that the President’s speech to the Parliament was excellent. And as for the preparations made for this august moment, I think it was in order, and well deserved. “Parliament is a place of integrity, and deserves no less than the royal treatment it was given this time around. I hope the beautification of the environment would be maintained.”

SOOKRAM BOODRAM, retired policeman: “As a retired sergeant of the Guyana Police Force, I would give the President my full support. I know for a fact he will carry this country straight forward. The President spoke about increasing salaries for policemen, so that they would resist temptation. Well, that is very good; he is a champion, and understands the suffering of the low-income earner. We going to back him till we die.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

Former Minister suggests...

Some private schools practices can prove useful – if adopted by the public sector

By Rebecca Ganesh AMIDST tears of joy and laughter and overall happiness, children and their families received the good news as the Ministry of Education on Wednesday announced the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results.

During an invited comment, the former Minister of Education Priya Manickchand congratulated the children who sat NGSA. “Warmest congratulations to all the children who sat the NGSA 2015. Special congratulations to Solomon Cherai who topped the country,” she said, adding: “I am very pleased to see that Region 9 is the most improved region;, something we expected, given the in-

vestments consciously made in the people there.”

She said that she is pleased that these improved results evidence the equity with which investments were made, “the natural and happy consequence being that more students from all across Guyana are doing well.”

Manickchand also thanked and congratulated all the teachers who give of their best, in their continuous service to the nation.

“Wilfred Success,” she said, “continues to show us, tangibly, what a difference a good teacher/administrator makes in a child’s academic life.”

The former minister also took the time to commend the hard work of those parents who render their continuous support in the best interest of

their children. “A common thread in all the children who have done well, as well as all those who moved from one level of performance to a higher one, will undoubtedly be dedicated, interested parents. Thank you to the parents who continue to invest time and other resources in their children,” she related.

Meanwhile, addressing concerns raised about the private institutions producing better performance than the public schools, Manickchand posited that children from private schools are also Guyanese, and that as such persons should not be jealous of them or belittle their achievements.

She however conceded that there are some practices adopted by the private schools that can prove useful

Former Minister of Education Priya Manickchand

to the public schools. She specifically referred to the fact that private school children always have to maintain a certain level of performance; persons are held more accountable; and parents with children in private schools tend to invest more time in their academic activities.

“I am also very pleased, too, that, for the first time here in our beautiful Guyana, schools, students and parents

will be able to access assessment results Online. Hope to see this continued and expanded to include results of all national assessments.

To all the students, I say, God Bless, and all my love,” the former minister concluded.

As the Guyana Chronicle visited some of the schools to interact with children and their teachers, many pupils noted that their sacrifice has paid off. The students of this year’s sitting have made it clear that they are not interested in the traditional ‘run-of-the-mill’ careers such as layers and doctors. These students have expressed that they have their sights set on becoming the President of Guyana, marine biologists and even a mechanical engineer.

They noted, too, the amount of studies that is required even at their level and expressed the sacrifice

of their parents and teachers.

A percentage of the marks gained at the Grade Two and the Grade Four Assessments was combined with the marks gained at the Grade Six Assessment in order to determine the candidates’ overall scores.

Five per cent (5%) of each candidate’s Grade Two score in Mathematics and English, and ten percent (10%) of the Grade Four score in the same subjects, were added to eighty five percent (85%) of each candidate’s score in those subjects. The combined scores in Mathematics and English were added to the scores gained in Science and Social Studies.

The highest possible standardised scores obtainable were Mathematics 138, English 132, Social Studies 132, and Science 133. The highest possible total score obtainable was 535.

Sattaur reacts to Bond’s call for his resignation – says he’s just ‘bitter’

By Ravin Singh “BITTER” was the word used by Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Khurshid Sattaur to describe Youth candidate of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, James Bond, following the latter’s call for Sattaur’s resignation.

Bond, who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for the APNU in the Tenth Parliament said in a radio interview yesterday, “Sattaur should do the right thing and resign.”

Asked why he made such call, Bond’s replied: “He is a failure; he has done injustice to the public and should go immediately.”

Revealing what measures would have been employed by him should he have been in a position to make the call, Bond then told listeners that, “Were I the President and were I the Minister of State, I would fire him immediately…The very minute I was sworn in, I would have said, ‘You, sir, should go.’”

But responding to this call by Bond, the GRA head in an interview with this publication yesterday expressed the view that the

APNU Youth Candidate, Mr James Bond

GRA Commissioner-General, Mr Khurshid Sattaur

young attorney is entitled to his views.

Sattaur noted however that he “feels very sorry” for Bond, as a common feature of his is a constant

expression of “bitterness” and “disdain” for his fellow Guyanese.

“I happen to encounter this every day at the GRA; a few, very few among my

staff but more among members of the public who seem disgruntled over not witnessing a massive ‘exchange’ occurring at certain State and Government Agencies, and not having their expectations realised,” the GRA Commissioner said.

He noted, however, that he has “the greatest of confidence” in President Granger to act in the best interest of the State, and to fulfill his promise to the nation that he is the President of all the people of this country.

Just last year, the AFC made a call for Sattaur’s immediate resignation, following the disclosure that he was allegedly involved in sending tax information on several independent media

entities to former president, Mr Bharrat Jagdeo.

Sattaur subsequently responded by labelling the resignation call by the AFC as “malicious”, while adding that it borders on intimidation.

Additionally, Bond also made a call for Registrar of Lands, Juliet Sattaur to be fired since he believes there was “incompetence” on the part of the Lands Registry.

“We need to improve our deliverables in terms of efficiency. That place is a complete mess. She is another one that needs to go because of incompetence. I think were I the President, I would examine the sloth in which the Registry operates,” Bond said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

Tragedy trails Pirates of The Caribbean

Kaya Scodelario in Queensland yesterday

Johnny Depp following his go-kart accident back in March

PIRATES of the Caribbean just might be cursed.

Not long after filming had to be suspended on the Disney blockbuster when Johnny Depp broke his wrist, Skins actress Kaya Scodelario has also sustained an injury to her left arm.

The 23-year-old, best known for playing Effy Stonem in the British teen drama, was spotted in the Gold Coast yesterday, nursing her injured limb in a black sling after falling on set.

Also known for starring in The Maze Runner, Kaya dressed down in a black tank top, grey Nike tracksuit pants, red Vans and a cream mac jacket over one arm.

She smiled as she chatted on the phone, holding it to her ear with her good hand as she strolled along on her day off from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Treating herself after the accident, Kaya held a bright yellow bag from a Mexican fast-food outlet that appeared to contain a burrito.

The talented lady is following in Keira Knightley’s

footsteps by taking on the female lead in the rebooted Pirates’ franchise, which will no doubt raise Kaya’s profile further still.

Kaya has often been spotted on set with her costar, dressed in full pirates garb.

She can be usually seen in a blue gown complete with a corset waist, layered skirt, and three-quarter sleeves, while swapping lines with Captain Jack Sparrow.

Kaya’s accident on set is the latest bit of bad luck to hit the latest installment of the Pirates’ franchise.

Filming was suspended in March for a number of weeks when Johnny Depp reportedly snapped his wrist while go-karting on a private track at five-time MotoGP world champion Mick Doohan’s luxurious Coomera property on March 10.

The fifth film will see Captain Jack Sparrow pursued by rival, Salazar, who, along with his ghost pirate crew, has escaped from the Bermuda Triangle and vows to kill every pirate at sea.

The film is due for re l e a s e i n J u l y 2 0 1 7 .

(MailOnline)

11

12

Greenidge tells Caracas...

--in latest twist on age-old border spat

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15 2015

‘Show m again next year,” Minister Greenidge declared.

“In the 50-odd years since Venezuela has been alleging that this treaty is null and void, they have never produced a single shred of evidence to the Geneva Board of

the apportionment of marine resources [and] resources off the continental shelves of the continents is important, and that is has to be done in an orderly manner, all countries will have to embrace that mechanism, otherwise there

telling you about the favours they have done to the Caribbean.”

On that note, he questioned the meaning of such statements, while declaring, “Why stop at two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. You’ve

‘In the 50-odd years since Venezuela has been alleging that this treaty is null and void, they have never produced a single shred of evidence to the Geneva Board of Commonwealth to establish the validity of their claim’ – Guyana’s Foreign Minister, Mr Carl Greenidge Commonwealth to establish the validity of their claim,” he added.

The Minister noted that challenging the treaty is a juridical issue, and in the absence of any evidence to challenge the agreement, the treaty stands.

Vice-President and Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge

By Derwayne Wills

I

N face of a May 27 Executive Decree by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro -- which not only reaffirms that country’s claim to the Essequibo, but also makes new claims regarding maritime boundaries across Guyana’s coastline -- Guyana’s Vice-President and Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge is calling on the Venezuelan Government to provide evidence to the international bodies in support of its claim.

The controversy over Guyana’s Essequibo Region dates back to 1962 when Venezuela sought to reopen an 1899 arbitral award which outlined the Guyana/Venezuela border.

Minister Greenidge recalled historical accounts of 1895, when a judge each was chosen from the United States, the United Kingdom and Russia to deliberate on the Guyana/Venezuela border.

When the tribunal of judges was formed, Guyana was formally the colony of British Guiana, and Britain’s interests were represented by the Judge from the United Kingdom.

Minister Greenidge, in an interview Friday with this publication at his Shiv Chanderpal Drive office, said the interests of Venezuela in the 1899 arbitration were represented by the judge from the United States, with the Russian judge being the third element of balance in the tribunal.

“That [body of Judges] was not set up for Guyana’s

benefit because, in the end, the arbitral award granted to Venezuela at the mouth of the Orinoco River and the banks on the side of the Orinoco,” Greenidge stated, while declaring, “Guyana lost territory as a result of that award.”

The current boundary between Guyana and Venezuela was demarcated in a joint effort by Guyana and Venezuela, with the assistance of Brazil from 1899 to 1905.

Asked whether Brazil has made any statement as the border controversy continues to unfold, the Foreign Minister responded that while he cannot speak wholly on behalf of Brazil, the current situation affects the interests of Brazil in Guyana’s Essequibo Region, and he would not expect the Brazilians to stay silent all the while.

VENEZUELA’S NEW CLAIMS Minister Greenidge also disclosed that the Presidential decree made in Venezuela has made new claims for maritime boundaries, which include the waters off the coast of Demerara. This move by Venezuela seeks to create an Atlantic Coast for that country, thus making Guyana a landlocked country with no access to the open Atlantic Ocean.

The Venezuelan Government went as far as to accuse the Guyana Government of granting exploratory concessions to US oil giant, Exxon

Mobil without Venezuela’s consent, an assertion which the Foreign Minister rejected, since “you would have had to have been the owner of Demerara to be able to lay claim to that.”

The Minister, responding to claims which he feels are unfounded, said: “As regards marine territory, there’s a process by which each country defines what it thinks it has, and it goes to an international body.”

He added that it is then the power of that international body to endorse or sanction those claims.

Greenidge said, however, that no such claims have been expressed to any international body. “In claiming this expanse, the Government of Venezuela has not demonstrated -- and indeed cannot demonstrate -- that the principle or the line they claim has any basis whatsoever in any known formula for allocation of the ocean,” Greenidge asserted.

TREATIES ARE SACROSANCT The 1899 Arbitral Award was a treaty set up between the Governments of Venezuela and the United Kingdom.

That treaty was challenged when British Guiana gained independence from the United Kingdom and was officially declared Guyana.

“The world has agreed that treaties are sacrosanct.

You can’t have those treaties and reopen them, otherwise there is no virtue. It makes no sense for me to agree to a treaty that a man can open

LAW OF THE SEA As it relates to Guyana’s rights in its Atlantic waters, the Foreign Ministry is depending on Guyana being a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to ensure Guyana’s territorial rights.

Venezuela is, however, not a party to this convention. Asked whether Guyana is optimistic that Venezuela would accept any ruling made in regard to that convention, Minister Greenidge said, “If the world recognises that

will be disorder.”

“That is why the countries that have signed to the Law of the Sea have signed. Those who have not signed have a reason, and the question is ‘What is the reason?’” he added.

“If order is the reason you set up the Law of the Sea, then those who have not signed are clearly not interested in order,” he posited.

VENEZUELA GIVES The Minister said it has come to his attention -- from a number of press releases coming from the Venezuelan Government -- that the country provides resource assistance to the Caribbean, including Guyana. While he acknowledged this to be true, he said, “We find it rather intriguing that when the question of Venezuela’s action arises, Venezuela starts

done the Caribbean a favour; well, maybe we should give you a right to all our territory.”

Venezuela holds the PetroCaribe Agreement with the Caribbean countries excluding petroleum-rich Trinidad and Tobago. That agreement for subsidised fuel coming from Venezuela has existed since 2005, and has offered some much-needed economic assistance to cushion the Caribbean from the vagaries of global oil prices.

According to Greenidge, “Yes, Guyana benefited from PetroCaribe, but on the one hand, you are giving assistance from PetroCaribe, [and] on the other you are making pronouncements that discourage Guyana’s development and access to resources.”

Guyana native w --come join him in Atlantic City

IT was 2010; the first time Travis Blackman ever saw snow. It was one of the most important things he wanted to experience when he first got to the United States from Guyana.

Blackman, 24, a special events coordinator for the Tropicana Hotel & Casino, living in Atlantic City, didn’t even know if snow was real until it was falling in front of him. Before then, he had only seen it on television.

Blackman came to the United States for opportunity, and the chance for a better life. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t appreciate a simple wonder in his new climate.

“I thought it was rain;

I couldn’t believe it,” he said from his office. “I just opened my two arms up and enjoyed the entire moment. I was overjoyed.”

Everything surprised Blackman about his new country. The cabs in New York City amazed him when he stepped off the plane with his father in May, five years ago. Guyana’s cabs didn’t have a code of colour.

The change in temperature took some getting used to for him as well.

HIS ONE GOAL But he kept his focus.

He had one goal in mind when he got to America.

He had to bring his mother, Denise Patterson, and his

14-year-old brother, Nkosi Patterson, to America.

“That’s my Number One priority; I need to get them here with me,” he said.

And the plan after that is the simplest of all.

“I plan to help them to have a better life in the United States of America,” he said.

“It’s not going to be easy, but it’s all about sacrifice.”

He went to high school and college in Guyana, came to Atlantic City straight from New York and was immediately given a job as a security guard at the Showboat Hotel & Casino in 2010.

Blackman said he cut back on his expenses, and tried to avoid all the excesses Atlantic City has to offer in

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

me the evidence’ AT HOME IN VENEZUELA While the controversy blazes, theorists continue to throw their scholarship into the decades-long dilemma.

One such theorist is respected diplomat, Sir Ronald Sanders.

In a recent post on the Antillean Media Group (AMG), Sir Sanders opined that the answer to Venezuela’s recent claims over Guyana lies in the tense political situation in that country, where President Nicolas Maduro continues to face a stiff political Opposition and dire economic circumstances, as commodities like toilet paper are now scarce.

A second theory put forward by Sanders is the contempt held by Venezuela for Exxon Mobil. When Venezuela nationalised its oil industry in 2007, under the late President Hugo Chavez, Exxon Mobil, which now operates in Guyana’s waters, demanded some US$16B for Venezuela’s termination of its contractual agreements with the oil giant.

Following a ruling in the International Court of Justice, Venezuela was ordered to pay some US$1.4B to Exxon Mobil. It is unclear whether the money has been paid off.

THE WAY FORWARD Discussions have continued

13

Map sourced from Venezuela’s National Organisation for Rescue and Security of Aquatic Spaces (ONSA) shows the new maritime claim of Venezuela’s Atlantic Coast er level to “keep the situNations Secretary-General to between the Guyanese and ation under control,” he Margarita Arratia Diaz, in his to agree to a bilateral meetintervene as a third party.

Venezuelan Governments. cautioned that keeping the Shiv Chanderpaul Drive office. ing with Venezuela. Minister While the minister As recent as Friday, Foreign situation “under control” is At the multilateral level, Greenidge is, so far, of the maintains that both GuyAffairs Minister Greenidge a loaded concept, since perGuyana has received an invita- view that all avenues have ana and Venezuela are met with Venezuelan Amception and deliberation are tion from the Union of South been exhausted, and is calling ensuring that discussions bassador to Guyana, Reina vital in the situation.

American Nations (UNASUR) on the Office of the United are happening at a high-

wants family to live a better life

Tropicana Special Events Coordinator Travis Blackman

order to bring the rest of family here. His mother and father are separated, and he currently lives with his dad.

He only worked for a year at Showboat before applying for a job at the Tropicana with security.

But the job was already filled by the time he got there.

His next steps were as serendipitous as his five years in America proved to be.

“This was the last place I came to,” he said. “I tried to follow-up but I couldn’t find human resources... so a valet cashier showed me where it was; it was a few steps away. I talked to them, and they had a marketing job available. Now, instead of me looking for one, I’m being offered one.

There’s no way I’m going

to turn that down.”

ONE STEP CLOSER Within a week, he was working at the Tropicana in marketing. Blackman has been promoted three times in as many years at the casino, and is revered by his coworkers for his background.

Lauren Clinton, a 32-year-old Millville native and media services specialist at the Tropicana, echoed the benevolent sentiments of their co-workers: The Tropicana has given Blackman a chance to afford his dream, and his peers are just happy to have met him.

“He is the sweetest,” she said. “He’s very quiet, but he would do anything for anyone. We all adore him.”

Last Tuesday, Blackman passed his naturalization test, and is an official citizen of the United States, a process that starts when you enter the country, and continues after you’ve lived here for five years as a permanent resident.

And just like the snow he thought he’d never see looking at a television in Guyana, Blackman is one step closer to bringing his family back to him; something that seemed so distant when he was looking at cabs in New York City.

“Being an American makes me feel free, to the point where you can’t stop smiling,” he said.

Blackman estimates he’ll be financially stable enough to bring his mother and his brother to Atlantic

City in about 18 months.

He wants to move them in to a new home or apartment, and live with them.

He still talks to his mother three times a week, and he can’t wait for the day when she gets the same feeling he had five years ago.

He said that just to get the news one is coming to this country is “mind-blowing.” And it’s been his determination to carve a way for himself in Atlantic City that will one day reunite his family.

“I’ve accomplished everything,” Blackman admitted with a wry smile.

“I wouldn’t settle for less.

You have to go out and get it; no one’s going to bring it to you.” (pressofatlanticcity.com)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

Fly Jamaica to wing aeronautical students to Canada for training

By Leroy Smith THIRD-year students of the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical School based at Ogle International Airport will be flying to Canada to attend a threemonth course in flight maintenance.

A company in Canada and the Guyana Office of Fly Jamaica are both making this all happen. Fly Jamaica announced to the media on Friday that the Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical School was able to broker a partnership deal with a

company in Winnipeg, Canada that is involved in the business of flight craft maintenance and services. That agreement would enable the Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical School students to secure on-the-job training for the three-month period.

Initially, a group of 11 local students will attend the training, and Fly Jamaica would also be assisting with the skills training of the young people. Etiquette is included in the training.

One of the in-house specialists from the airline, who was flown into Guyana from

Jamaica to conduct the training, pointed out that it was necessary for the students to be able to fit into any environment they find themselves.

Other batches of local students would be travelling to Canada over a period of time, once the first batch of students complete their training, and the relationship between the Guyana school and the Canada company is maintained.

The initial batch of 11 is expected to return to Guyana with experience and on-thejob records for Category 2-type licensing in engineer-

Ms Margaret Chan-A-Sue (Centre) and representatives from Fly Jamaica and the flight school sharing a press conference

The students in one of their training sessions at the Aeronautical School at Ogle on Friday

ing maintenance.

The students will be flown out of Guyana to Canada by none other than Captain Reece himself, the CEO of the school, who will see them onto their connecting flight to get to their final destination in Winnipeg.

Fly Jamaica expects that its partnership would enable the students to fit ideally into the international market, while the Aeronautical School is pleased that it would have launched the programme the right way by bringing the correct people on board.

Ms Margret Chan-A-Sue, who also spoke with the media, explained that, as wife of the CEO of the school, she is pleased that the school is associated with an initiative that is aimed at developing

the youth of Guyana.

She said the school’s personnel believe that the young people of this country need the chance to explore and tap into those dreams they have.

She reminded the young people that they are going to represent their country, and they need to be serious with their training, so that investments can be seen as worthwhile and so that the freehanded approach in giving others similar opportunities can be fully realised.

She also said that the company was very confident that the children would all do well in their training, and looks forward to welcoming them back home within three months’ time.

‘Too many young people smoking’ – Snr. Supt Dass observes

By Leroy Smith SENIOR Police Superintendent Reshi Dass, who serves as the Divisional Detective Officer of “A” Division, has informed the Guyana Chronicle that the police have found there are too many young people smoking illegal substances in communities across the country, especially in “A” Division.

Speaking with this publication on crime fighting strategies within the division, and measures being adopted to bring the rates down, Mr Dass said the police are now looking to the religious and secular community leaders for assistance in arresting this issue, since it adds to the crime statistics of the country when the practice becomes a

craving for the young people and they involve themselves in unlawful practices in an effort to satisfy that craving.

He said crime fighting postures within the division include erecting random roadblocks and engaging in stop-and-search and other anticrime activities, many of which are strictly intelligence-led.

Senior Superintendent Dass explained that the raids are mostly conducted in the mornings and afternoons, and he said the Force is asking members of the public for their cooperation.

Dass said, “If you have nothing to hide, or have committed no illegal act, then cooperating with the police should not be an issue for you.”

The raids and other an-

ti-crime operations are also supported by rural constables and members of the community policing groups in the various areas of “A” Division.

Dass said that instances of serious crimes being committed in the division have been on the decrease, and like his seniors have been saying at different functions,

the trend has a lot to do with the work the police have been doing in communities across the country in the areas of social crime prevention, a different style of policing adopted by Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud.

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud has since last year been endeavouring to foster a truer and more genuine relationship between the Guyana Police Force and members of the communities as part of the police reform process, which aims to regain public confidence.

In this regard, the GPF’s adoption of several communities with assistance of corporate Guyana has seen several community-related activities and programmes being launched under the Guyana Police Force umbrella. Those initiatives are especially evident and vibrant in the Police A, B C and E

Divisions.

Former President Donald Ramotar and former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee have both commended the Police Force for its work with the community, deeming it's work that has long been needed.

Recently sworn in Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, who is now heading the ministry once named the Ministry of Home Affairs, has also signalled his willingness to continue supporting the police’s social crime prevention programmes.

In other parts of the world, social crime prevention programmes are very important, and attract huge support from Government as a means of assisting the police to bring down the rates of serious and other crimes, both at the community level and nationally.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

2018 World Cup Qualifiers…

Golden Jaguars hold St. Vincent to 4-4 draw …but visitors still advance

By Kizan Brumell

Guyana’s Golden Jaguars and St. Vincent and the Grenadines battled to a scintillating draw in the return match of their CONCACAF leg 2018 World Cup Qualifiers last night at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

A small yet receptive crowd dominated by specks of yellow in support of the Jags, witnessed an eventful match which ended 4 – 4.

However, St. Vincent would get the better of Guyana to advance out of their group on superior goal difference.

Once again these two teams could not be separated on the night in question as they drew 2 – 2 in the first match Monday last on St. Vincent’s turf.

It was a tough battle at Providence Stadium as there were not shortages of chances for either team but most would go squandered on the damp pitch which had the ball skidding throughout the match.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines survived Guy-

ana’s attacks in the first half which ended 2 – 1 in their favour.

These two sides were at each other’s throat in the opening minutes both trading shots but it would be the visitors who would surge ahead in the 16th minute as Myron Samuels scored the opener with a shot that developed from a corner.

A s t h e m a t c h p ro gressed, Guyana got their act together and began making progressive approaches and were rewarded for their efforts when Emery Welshman finished in front of the goal off a terrific cross from Samuel Cox on the right flank in the 40th minute.

The very next minute the Vincentians regained the lead as Tevin Slater who scored the equaliser in the first match, recorded the first of his double.

Neil Danns who was

having a good game then levelled things again in the 50th minute when he scored from the penalty spot as Welshman drew the foul in the opposition’s 18-yard box.

Slater pushed his side ahead eight minute later with a scorcher of a shot and Oalex Anderson scored in the 67th to put a victory beyond double as Guyanese supporters began pouring out of the stadium in anticipation of a loss.

What they missed was Guyana making it a one possession game when Welshman scored in the 77th and the equaliser which was 87th

by Danns.

However, with time running out and Guyana needing just one more goal to make it through to the next round the Vincentians implemented a time wasting tactic with a few shenanigans.

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Flamingo Park 08:20 hrs Prolan 08:50 hrs Gypsy Ball 09:25 hrs Over Achiever 09:55 hrs Jack Friday 10:25 hrs Il Palio

13:20 hrs Alkhor 13:50 hrs Lt Guru 14:20 hrs Xhilworth Icon 14:50 hrs Hannington 15:20 hrs Sydarya 15:50 hrs Manolito

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IRISH RACING TIPS Sligo 13:00 hrs Elusive Gent 13:30 hrs Stanley Daley 14:00 hrs Three Bells 14:30 hrs Belezza Oscura 15:00 hrs I’ll Be Your Clown 15:30 hrs Flowing Air 16:00 hrs Harasava American racing Tips Parx Racing Race 1 Marcy Race 2 Its Up in the Air Race 3 Cover Shoot Race 4 Didn’t Take It Race 5 Manhattan Mischief Race 6 Fast Moon Race 7 Blue Hen Madness Race 8 Merry’s Very Won Race 9 Aiken Prep

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

FIFA crisis:

South Africa cash ‘may have been bribe’ A KEY figure in South Africa’s football World Cup bid Although Mr Sexwale appears to be one of only a handhas broken ranks with the government and suggested ful of South Africans who could, theoretically, fit the FBI’s he believes an FBI claim that a $10M (£6.4M) bribe was description of its unnamed alleged co-conspirators #15 and paid to secure the 2010 tournament. #16, the ANC stalwart insisted he had no knowledge of, or Tokyo Sexwale told the BBC the allegations were involvement in, any bribery. “worrisome”.

He declined to point finThe government says gers, and insisted that he and it paid $10M to accounts others in South Africa had no controlled by then FIFA reason at the time to doubt Mr vice-president Jack Warner to Warner’s intentions. support football development in the Caribbean.

‘BEWILDERING AND An official said the monUNBELIEVABLE’ ey, transferred by FIFA, The opposition Demwas given without condiocratic Alliance has detions. manded that other officials But Mr Sexwale - a forinvolved in the World Cup mer Robben Island prisoner, bid should account to pargovernment minister, and a liament, but ANC MPs remember of both the World cently voted to prevent that Cup bid team and local orfrom happening. ganising committee - has “For me it’s almost bewilnow openly questioned the dering and unbelievable that it credibility of the claim that would be a gift without conthe money was a “donation”. ditions. Ten million dollars is “Where are the docunot pocket money,” said Solly ments, where are the invoic- Tokyo Sexwale, centre, pictured in 2009 with FIFA Malatsi, the DA’s shadow es, where are the budgets, president Sepp Blatter, denies any knowledge of sports minister. where are the projects on wrongdoing.

The sports ministry did the ground?” asked Mr not respond over the weekend Sexwale. to phone and email requests “If they are not there, you are going to leave the FBI for a response to Mr Sexwale’s comments. interpretation intact,” he said.

Previously, when asked by the BBC whether it had “I was part of the feeling at the time - it’s a good been reckless of the South African government to give thing, this altruism (towards the African Diaspora in $10M “without conditions” to Mr Warner, Sports Minthe Caribbean). The question is going to be: ‘What was ister Fikile Mbalula said: “No, it was not reckless. It is done to make sure that your good intentions - you as the upon those (in the Caribbean) who were supposed to giver - have been realised?’” administer it, to administer it properly.” (BBC Sport)

Williamson, Taylor tons fire Kiwis to victory

(REUTERS) - Fluent centuries by Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor powered New Zealand to a comfortable three-wicket win over England in the third one-day international in Southampton yesterday.

After England collapsed from 288 for five to 302 all out, New Zealand initially struggled in reply before Williamson and Taylor took the game away from the hosts with a clinical 206-run third-wicket stand.

The exemplary Williamson struck 12 fours in his 118 before he was caught at mid-off by Mark Wood off David Willey the ball after lofting a sweetly-timed straight six.

Grant Elliott fell for five but by the time Taylor played a ball from Willey on to his stumps for 110 his side needed only 13 off the last 4.1 overs.

Luke Ronchi tried to finish the job in spectacular style by smearing Ben Stokes over the boundary rope but was caught by Jason Roy. It only delayed the inevitable, though, and Tim Southee hit the winning runs with an over to spare.

New Zealand lead the series 2-1 with two matches left.

“300 was certainly well within the game but I think what cost us was

Kane and Ross’s partnership,” England skipper Eoin Morgan said at the presentation ceremony.

“They played really well today and

to bat out their allotted 50 overs and several dropped catches.

Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler allowed Taylor to escape on 67 and the same batsman was dropped by Stokes at short mid-wicket - both off Wood who himself contrived to fumble a simple chance shortly after Williamson reached his century.

England won the toss and made a steady start before opener Alex Hales nicked one to Southee at second slip to give Ben Wheeler his first international wicket and Roy was bowled by Southee.

Captain Eoin Morgan (71) added 105 for the third wicket with Joe Root (54) but New Zealand’s attack never lost control.

Stokes scored 68 from 47 balls and with Sam Billings smashing 34 off 16 balls England looked set for a charge Ross Taylor hit his second century before the wickets started tumbling. of the series.

Wheeler ended with three for 63 while Southee was the pick of the bowlall credit to them.” ers, taking three for 44.

After the fireworks of the first two New Zealand lost openers Martin matches which produced a combined 1 Guptill and Brendon McCullum with 369 runs, yesterday’s clash at the Rose less than 40 on the board, but WilBowl was a slightly more sedate affair, liamson and Taylor gave a masterclass but gripping nonetheless. in calm, measured batting to propel England ultimately paid for failing their side towards victory.

Ashwin takes five as rain-hit Test ends in draw (REUTERS) - BANGLADESH’S openers batted out the remaining overs in their second innings after being made to follow-on by India as the rain-hit one-off Test ended in a draw yesterday.

Ravichandran Ashwin was the only bright spot on another wet and rain-curtailed day as the off-spinner completed his 10th five-wicket haul in Tests.

Bangladesh were bundled out for 256 in their first innings and with 30 overs left in the final session, Tamim Iqbal (16) and Imrul Kayes (seven) batted out 15 overs to reach 23-0 before the teams shook hands for a draw.

A steady drizzle washed out the morning session as Bangladesh, resuming on 111-3, continued to bat positively with little time left in the Test match.

Ashwin, who had picked up two wickets on Saturday, dismissed Shakib Al Hasan (nine) in the second over of the day when the left-handed batsman got a thick top edge to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha while attempting a cut shot.

Opener Imrul Kayes (72) was beaten by the flight and bounce from the experienced Harbhajan Singh who got the left-hander stumped for his second wicket in his first match in over two years for India. The 34-year-old finished with 3-64 with the wicket of Mohammad Shahid towards the end.

Kayes and Soumya Sarkar (37), who chopped on Varun Aaron to give the only wicket to a paceman in the innings, added 51 runs for the fifth wicket.

Shuvagata Hom (nine) became Ashwin’s fourth victim and fell in the final delivery before the tea break, getting caught at short leg.

Debutant wicketkeeper Litton Das played a quickfire knock of 44 from 45 balls before giving Ashwin his fifth wicket for his first five-wicket haul in an innings outside India.

The teams will now play a three-match one-day international series, with the first match in Dhaka on Thursday.

SCOREBOARD

INDIA 1st innings 462 for 6 decl.

(S. Dhawan 173, M. Vijay 150, A. Rahane 98; S. Al Hasan 4-105) BANGLADESH 1st innings (o/n: 111-3) T. Iqbal stp. Saha b Ashwin 19 I. Kayes stp. Saha b H. Singh 72 M. Haque c U. Yadav b H. Singh 30 M. Rahim c Ro. Sharma b Ashwin 2 S. Al Hasan c Saha b Ashwin 9 S. Sarkar b Aaron 37 L. Das c Ro. Sharma b Ashwin 44 S. Hom c Ro. Sharma b Ashwin 9

T. Islam not out 16 M. Shahid c Dhawan b H. Singh 6 J. Hossain run-out (Ashwin, Saha) 0 Extras: (lb-9 nb-3) 12 Total: (all out, 65.5 overs) 256 Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-108, 3-110, 4-121, 5-172, 6-176, 7-219, 8-232, 9-246.

Bowling: I. Sharma 7-0-24-0 (nb-1), R. Ashwin 25-6-87-5, U. Yadav 7-0-45-0, V. Aaron 9-0-27-1 (nb-2), H. Singh 17.52-64-3.

Germany knocked out of Under-20 World Cup on penalties TOURNAMENT favourites Germany have been eliminated from the FIFA Under-20 World Cup after losing on penalties against quarter-final opponents Mali.

“We didn’t lose the match because of the opponent, we lost it because of penalties,” said Germany coach Frank Wormuth. “It’s luck to win.”

Mali won the shootout 4-3 after a 1-1 draw in Christchurch, New Zealand, and face Serbia in Wednesday’s semi-final.

Senegal meet Brazil in the other last-four tie, also on Wednesday.

Julian Brandt had given Germany a first-half lead before Mali’s Souleymane Coulibaly equalised after the break.

Hany Muklhtar missed a penalty when Wormuth’s side were 1-0 up while Brandt and Niklas Stark failed to score in the shootout. (BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

Persaud looks for big results in T&T

By Stephan Sookram GUYANESE racer Danny Persaud is hunting good results come June 21 when the second leg of the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) takes over the Wallerfield international Raceway in Trinidad and Tobago.

Speaking exclusively to Chronicle Sport, Persaud, who pilots a modified Mazda Miata, said that he is looking for positive results. “I feel ready for Trinidad. We’ve done

… lauds TTASA for resurfacing of track some work on the Mazda and we think we are ready to take on the Caribbean drivers.”

At the earlier leg in Jamaica, Persaud had suffered some setbacks due to mechanical troubles but says that those have been sorted out. “This time around, we have done some more work on the car than we did in Jamaica. We had some small issues there that caused us to miss some valu-

able points. Nonetheless, we’ve been able to rectify those problems and are more than ready for Trinidad.”

Persaud, who makes his second journey to the Twin-Island Republic, underscored the importance of the repaving work at the Arima raceway in Trinidad.

“The resurfaced track at Wallerfield is a great thing. It now means that we can put down some

faster times and have a more competitive meet. I laud the work of the Trinidad Authorities (TTASA) who have done a great job in getting the surface repaved since our visit last year” He also indicated that faster times may be possible on the track but is looking at bringing home the bacon for Guyana, who are the defending champions.

Team Guyana loaded

Danny Persaud loads his car for Trinidad and Tobago.

Marriaga was tough, Walters tells ‘boo birds’

J A M A I C A N f e a t h e rweight Nicholas Walters has pointed to an eight-month layoff and the quality of opponent for being unable to score a knockout during Saturday night’s match-up against Miguel Marriaga

at Madison Square Gardens.

Ahead of the fight, all the talk had been about one of the hard-hitting opponents being certain to score a knockout before the 12th round. The fight, however, developed cautiously and in

the end Walters won convincingly on the cards, in an efficient if not powerful showing.

Walters took the fight 119-108, 118-109 and 117110. The display, however, did not prove to be the most entertaining with

Part of the action in the Nicholas Walters vs Miguel Marriaga on Saturday night at Madison Square Gardens.

some members of the audience being quick to voice their displeasure.

“It was a tough fight.

(Marriaga) was very well-rounded. He was tough and he came to fight,” Walters said.

“He put on a show and it was a tough fight after (I had) an eightmonth layoff. I caught him a few times, I hurt him a few times, and that was it.”

Walters, who was the champion leading up to the fight, was dealt a heavy blow ahead of the matchup, losing his title at the scales after failing to make the 126-pound weight requirement. Walter hit the scale at 127 pounds. The win took the Jamaican’s record to 26-0, (21 KOs).

“The crowd is used to Nicholas knocking people out,” Walters said. “They have to understand I am coming off eight months and I hurt him a few times. But he was tough.”

(Sportsmax)

their cars on Tuesday with Persaud indicating that he will be running in both the Group 4 and 3 classes. In Group 4, he is joined by Kristian Jeffrey while in Group 3, he has Rameez

Mohammed, Afraz Allie and Kevin Deodass.

The Group 2 team has Shyraz Roshandin, Kemal Rahaman and Ryan Rahaman. The second leg of the Seaboard Marine-sponsored Championship takes place from June 19 to 21.

NOTABLE DATES LENNOX Blackmoore had the third of four fights with `Tiger’ Green on June 15, 1975. The two lightweight boxers were level going into the third event, with Green taking the first and Blackmoore claiming revenge in the second.

Both of fights were decided by points.

However, Blackmoore put the third way out of the judges’ reach and won the national lightweight title via a 14th round knockout. The fourth contest between the two ended in a 15-round points-victory for Blackmoore.

On October 1, 1977 Blackmoore snatched the Commonwealth lightweight crown following a points-decision over Nigerian Jonathan Dele in Lagos, Nigeria.

The victory sparked wild celebration back in Guyana and the skilful counter-puncher was handsomely rewarded by the Forbes Burnham-led government when he returned home.

After moving up to the junior welterweight division, Blackmoore ran into a tornado named Aaron Pryor whom he challenged for the World Boxing Association title in June 1981.

Nicknamed `The Hawk’, Pryor never allowed the much taller Guyanese to settle and scored several knockdowns before the fight was stopped at 58 seconds of the second round.

Brazil beat Spain to secure place in last 16 BRAZIL secured their place in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup by edging out Spain in Montreal.

Andressa Alves scored the game’s only goal, slotting in after Celia Jimenez had cleared her initial effort.

Spain had their chances, with Irene Paredes striking the post late on, but Brazil were not to be denied their second successive win.

World Cup debutantes Costa Rica are in second place after salvaging a late 2-2 draw against South Korea.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday June 15, 2015) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 95 times (2) 178 (WI vs AUST, 1973)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who is the first player to score twin tons in his first Test as captain?

(2)When WI defeated Australia by an innings at Perth in 1975-76, who were the WI openers?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 15, 2015

Australia crush Windies by 277 runs to win series 2-0

K I N G S TO N , J a m a i c a (CMC) – West Indies extended their 16-year series losing slump against Australia after another disastrous batting display left them with a heavy 277-run defeat in the second Test here yesterday, and a 2-0 drubbing in the two-Test series.

Resuming the penultimate day on 16 for two in pursuit of a highly improbable 392 for victory, the Caribbean side lost their last eight wickets for 98 runs to be dismissed in their second innings for 114 – their lowest total in 15 years against the Aussies.

Captain Denesh Ramdin top-scored with 29 and tail-ender Veerasammy

Permaul, 23 not out, but they were the only ones to pass 20 and just two of four to reach double figures.

Their stand of 49 for the eighth wicket was the best of the innings.

The Windies demise was set in motion when they lost five wickets in the morning session to crash to 72 for seven at lunch, and the demolition was completed 40 minutes after lunch when Jerome Taylor missed a wild heave and was bowled first ball by off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc was the best bowler with three for 34 while off-spinner Nathan Lyon (212), pacer Josh Hazlewood (2-18) and left-armer Mitch-

ell Johnson (2-23) were the other wicket-takers.

The result means West Indies have now lost every series against the Aussies since their 2-2 draw in the five-match rubber in the Caribbean back in 1999.

More tellingly, they have won just one Test against their old foes since that series, with yesterday’s defeat at Sabina Park being their 19th in 23 matches during that period.

Needing a miracle to survive the day far less reach their target, West Indies suffered their first blow in the fifth over of the morning when Shane Dowrich, unbeaten on one overnight, played across a good length ball from

The victorious Australia cricket team pose with the Sir Frank Worrell trophy after defeating the West Indies by 277 runs at Sabina Park in Jamaica. (Photo

by WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography)

Starc and had his offstump disturbed, after adding just three.

Left-hander Darren Bravo, unbeaten on eight at the start, followed just 20 balls later for 11, poking tentatively at one from Hazlewood pitched on off-stump and edging to gully where Shaun Marsh gobbled up the catch inches from the turf.

Wickets continued to tumble with Jermaine Blackwood bottom-edging a timid drive at Hazlewood onto his stumps without scoring on the brink of the first hour, and Shai Hope lasted over an hour for his 16 before playing all around one from left-armer Mitchell Johnson and having his stumps rattled.

Plummeting quickly at 55 for six, West Indies endured yet another setback when first0innings hero Jason Holder was out softly, clipping a simple catch off an innocuous Shane Watson delivery, to short mid-wicket where Starc snared the offering.

Reeling at lunch, Ramdin and Permaul gathered runs quickly – though unconvincingly – after the break, with Permaul collecting a streaky boundary to third man through the cordon off Starc in the third over and Ramdin edging Hazlewood wide of Clarke for four in the next over.

The stand ensured West Indies avoided the ignominy of being bowled out for below three figures and was growing nicely when Ramdin fell to the second ball of a new Johnson spell, caught at slip by Clarke as

he pushed defensively, halfhour after lunch.

He faced 74 balls, in 1-3/4 hours at the crease and hit three fours.

Tottering on 111 for eight, the Windies’ end came swiftly as Lyon wrapped up the innings the following over. He removed Kemar Roach for

three to a catch at short-leg by man-of-the-match Steve Smith and then watched as Taylor threw caution to the wind first ball, and was bowled.

West Indies lost the first Test at Windsor Park in Dominica last week by nine wickets.

Josh Hazlewood won Player of the Series

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA 1st innings 399 West Indies 1st innings 220 Australia 2nd innings 212-2 decl.

WEST INDIES 2nd innings (target: 392) (o/n 16 for two) K. Brathwaite b Starc 0 R. Chandrika c Marsh b Starc 0 D. Bravo c Marsh b Hazlewood 11 S. Dowrich b Starc 4 S..Hope b Johnson 16 J. Blackwood b Hazlewood 0 D. Ramdin c Clarke b Johnson 29 J. Holder c Starc b Watson 1

V. Permaul not out 23 K. Roach c Smith b Lyon 3 J. Taylor b Lyon 0 Extras: (b-13, lb-11, w-2, nb-1) 27 Total: (all out, 42 overs) 114 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-1, 3-20, 4-27, 5-33, 6-55, 7-62, 8-111, 9-114.

Bowling: Starc 13-5-34-3 (w-1, nb-1), Hazlewood 10-518-2, Lyon 7-3-12-2, Johnson 8-1-23-2 (w-1), Watson 4-23-1.

Man-of-the-Match: Steve Smith.

Man-of-the-Series: Josh Hazlewood.

Henriques, Burns recovering after fielding collision MOISES Henriques has broken his jaw in three places and teammate Rory Burns has suffered facial injuries after a horrific fielding collision during Surrey’s domestic T20 match with Sussex in Arundel.

There was immediate serious concern for both Henriques and Burns, who are currently recovering as they await further treatments in hospital after they were knocked unconscious attempting to take a catch and, with eyes on the ball, crashed into one another.

“Both were unconscious after the collision,” Sussex physiotherapist John Marrale told The Guardian. “Henriques was caught by Burns’ knee and Burns had lacerations on the top of his head and

below his eye.

“They were given oxygen and pain relief before they went to hospital. Fortunately they were sitting up when they left the ground but it was a sickening incident.”

Three ambulances arrived on the field as medical staff and paramedics tended to the players, and there was significant relief when Henriques reportedly offered a wave to the crowd and Burns gave two thumbs up as they were placed on spinal boards and put in neck braces before being lifted into the waiting vehicles.

The Guardian also reported that they were given oxygen and intravenous painkillers

Aussie all-rounder Moises Henriques waves as he is taken to hospital in an Ambulance after he clashed heads

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Australia crush Windies by see story on page 23 277 runs to win series 2-0

2018 World Cup Qualifiers‌

Golden Jaguars hold St. Vincent to ‌but 4-4 draw visitors still advance see story on page 20

Neil Danns equalises against St. Vincent and the Grenadines as the defenders watch and goalkeeper watch on helplessly.

Tevin Slater (no. 12) scores for St. Vincent and the Grenadines against Guyana in their 2018 World Cup Qualifier match at the Guyana National Stadium.

Emery Welshman (no.15) takes on Myron Samuels in the midfield against St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (Samuel Maughn photos) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2015