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GUYANA

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Securing Guyana’s territorial integrity, curbing maritime crimes are priorities No. 104208 TUESDAY JUNE 2, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

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– President Granger reminds Coast Guard Officers on first official visit Page

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British to assist in 8 strengthening Parliament Page

President David Granger being briefed on some of the daily operations of the Coast Guard while on board one of the unit’s patrol vessels

Minister Patterson to propose taskforce to examine city drainage

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and His Excellency Greg Quinn, British High Commissioner to Guyana, share a light moment during a courtesy call by the envoy on the new Prime Minister

Electrician gunned down in Mocha home Page

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Minister Patterson with Civil Engineer Walter Willis

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

Securing Guyana’s territorial integrity, curbing maritime crimes are priorities

– President Granger reminds Coast Guard Officers on first official visit

Head of State David Granger addresses ranks of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard during a meeting

ACKNOWLEDGING that there are some challenges in the daily operations of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard, Head of State David Granger has given his commitment towards institutional strengthening of that unit.

During a tour of the Ruimveldt Coast Guard Headquarters yesterday, President Granger was briefed on what currently obtains, and what is required to bring about optimum results and efficiency.

Speaking to the importance of the Coast Guard, the President said when it was established 25 years ago, the maritime threat existed, and today it still exists.

“But, as they say, eternal vigilance is the price we have to pay for freedom, and one of the most vulnerable frontiers of Guyana is this fore frontier, this coastland, and we can only depend on you to protect this entire frontier.”

Reminding the ranks of their role, the President observed that they all have important law enforcement functions in terms of combating maritime crimes, including smuggling, piracy and all forms of trafficking.

“These crimes distort the economy; most of the crimes of contraband and trafficking contribute to keeping Guyana poor, and that is why you’re given a law enforcement function,” the President told the ranks.

Describing the ranks as Guyana’s best and first line of defence against maritime crimes, President Granger pointed out that no other agency can effectively carry out the mandate that rests on the shoulder of the coast guards.

He however noted that they must not shy away from their responsibility to protect Guyana’s assets, particularly humans and military resources.

Officers and ranks of the Coast Guard, along with President David Granger, during a tour of a workshop at the Coast Guard Headquarters at Ruimveldt

Equally, the President said it is imperative to ensure that foreign trade is protected, while ensuring that citizens feel safe as they traverse Guyana’s waterways.

The Head of State added that while it is important to protect the country’s territorial integrity, the presence of the Coast Guard must be felt in every area.

Speaking on the issue of training, President Granger said it is his view that specialised training must be given on issues relating to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas, since Guyana has a very large sea frontier.

Each rank, he said, should have a clear understanding of both land and sea

frontier issues. He noted that while the Coast Guard has a role to play, his administration intends to resolve some outstanding border dispute issues amicably.

“The fact is that unless we resolve these maritime claims, we will not be able to exploit a source of one of our most important resources, that is offshore petroleum.”

Meanwhile, the President has assured that under his Administration, the Coast Guard will be given the much needed attention it requires. Discussions will soon begin in an effort to bring the Coast Guard up to strength in terms of manpower, as the possibility of a Reserve arm of the unit will be explored.

Training both locally and overseas would be given much priority, while the upgrading of equipment will also be looked at.

However, in the interim, the President called on the ranks to be responsible by taking care of the equipment that is in hand as they have over the years cost the Government huge amounts.

“You here in the Coast Guard are not just looking after the rivers, looking after the coastland; you are protecting the future of our country, you are protecting our children’s inheritance, (and) you are protecting the patrimony of this great nation.”

In addition, some of the recommendations made by the Disciplined Forces Com-

mission several years ago will now be implemented in an effort to address some of the challenges facing the Coast Guard.

President Granger further assured that his Administration would continue, as long as it is financially possible, to provide the resources needed to protect the territorial integrity of Guyana.

While congratulating the ranks for the professionalism shown over the years, the President reiterated the call for every effort to be directed towards the suppression of criminality and to ensure that piracy and smuggling are brought to an end.

The Head of State was also given a tour of the entire facility on the base.

(GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

Basil Williams sworn in as Attorney General ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Basil Williams, who was recently formally appointed as Guyana’s Legal Affairs Minister, under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change Administration (APNU+AFC), was sworn in yesterday as Attorney General by President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The Attorney General is the main legal advisor to the Government and is selected by the Head of State.

Mr. Williams holds an LLB (Hons) Degree from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad and Tobago.

He has served in several capacities in the public domain and in the 10th Parliament as the Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs.

Legal Affairs Minister, Mr. Basil Williams taking the oath as Attorney General before President David Granger

Joseph Harmon sworn in as Defence President announces plans to yearly Board Secretary –review sentences of non-violent youths MINISTER of State, Joseph Harmon was yesterday sworn in as Secretary to the Defence Board. The board, a statutory body, includes the President, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Commissioner of Police, Minister of Public Security and a few other members.

In brief remarks, President David Granger said that there are still challenges facing Guyana’s defence, particularly in the maritime area.

“We expect that the Defence Board will be making decisions in order to safeguard our maritime security.” The first meeting of the Defence Board is scheduled to take place tomorrow at the Ministry

of the Presidency.

The President also spoke of plans to, at least once per year; review the custodial sentences of youths, especially women and young persons, in particular, for non-violent offences.

“I really feel that separating a woman from her children for minor offences is not in the culture of APNU + AFC, and we should try as far as possible to keep families together”.

The Head of State opined that the time would be better spent in school rather than in jail, and, “as far as possible, we should look at those cases. We know the law may have to be revised.”

He added that for misdemeanors, discretion can be applied and those culpable could be returned into the school system.

“I have asked the Minister of Public Security to investigate the emergence of some Non Governmental Organisations to do rehabilitation (of youths).”

He is also of the opinion that for persons under age 25, it would be fruitful for the Government to cooperate with NGOs, “which can encourage young people who have committed minor offences to get back into the world of work.”

The President is firm in his belief that unless young offenders are violent or dangerous, they should be re-

Mr. Joseph Harmon, Minister of State, takes the oath of office as Secretary to the Defence Board before President David Granger

habilitated, and should be contributing members of society.

As part of observances for Guyana’s 49th Independence Anniversary cele-

brations, President Granger pardoned 60 non-violent youth offenders.

Cable cabinet severely damaged, says GT&T – lower East Coast telephone service disrupted APPROXIMATELY 800 hundred Guyana Telephone and Telegraph customers in the lower East Coast Demerara area are currently without telephone service as a result of extensive damage done to GT&T’s cabinet facility at the junction of the University Of Guyana Road and the Railway embankment.

GT&T has been unable to ascertain the details of the cause of the damage to the cabinet which houses tele-

phone cables, but surmises it may have resulted from a ‘hit and run’ accident.

The areas and institution affected are Liliendaal, Turkeyen, University Gardens, Sophia and the University of Guyana Campus.

Contrary to a report in a section of the media, the site of the damaged facility was inspected on May 31, by engineers and security personnel from GT&T. The damage has been assessed as extensive and will re-

quire major civil works.

While the company is unable to release a restoration time-frame, the engineering review and design for emergency restoration is in progress.

The type and extent of damage to the cabinet is the second such within recent times, the other occurring at the junction of Main and Middle Street in March, 2015.

“We again appeal to the public to report acts of

vandalism by calling our confidential hotline number 0908,” GT&T said in a statement yesterday.

“A significant reward is offered for information leading to the arrest of persons involved.

“GT&T wishes to remind everyone that disruption of communication facilities can have a major adverse effect on the security, economic and social life of all citizens,” the statement added.

The severely damaged cabinet

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

Migrant boat still being held off Myanmar coast: government

MORE than 700 migrants found packed aboard an overcrowded boat in the Andaman Sea were still being held offshore by Myanmar’s navy on Monday, more than three days after the converted fishing vessel was intercepted off the country’s coast.

“The government is checking their identity, asking what they want to do and where they want to go,” government spokesman Ye Htut told Reuters, without providing further details of the boat’s location.

“Usually, most of them want to go back to Bangladesh, so we will arrange according to their wishes.”

in Rakhine State since 2012.

Myanmar denies discriminating against the Rohingya.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department said the United States had asked Myanmar to allow the immediate disembarkation of and provision of humanitarian assistance to the migrants.

“The safety and wellbeing of these migrants is the highest priority of the international community, including the U.S., which stands ready to provide assistance as needed,” Marie Harf told a news conference.

“THEY NEED TO DO MORE” Asked if Myanmar was

ADVERTISING Government officials have been tight-lipped about the identities of 727 migrants on the overcrowded boat, found drifting and taking on water early Friday, as well as their eventual destination.

The government initially labelled the migrants “Bengalis”, a term used to refer to both Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims, a largely stateless minority in Myanmar that the government refuses to refer to by name.

Officials later said they believed most of those on board were from Bangladesh.

Myanmar has come under harsh criticism for its treatment of Rohingya, more than 100,000 of whom have fled persecution and poverty

doing enough to protect its Rohingya minority, she said: “We have said multiple times that we think they need to do more, that we remain concerned about this.”

Journalists from Reuters and other foreign media were briefly detained and turned back to land after approaching the fishing boat on Sunday.

Navy officials made journalists delete photographs and video of the boat and at one stage a sailor pointed a rifle at reporters.

A navy officer, who declined to be named, told Reuters on Sunday some migrants aboard were able to speak Rakhine, a local language in the western state not

Abdhulami (C), 22, who was released from a human trafficking boat, points at pictures of people he recognises from the boat as he rests at a refugee camp outside Sittwe, Myanmar May 27, 2015. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun “Just days after the widely spoken in Bangladesh. than 4,000 Rohingya and Myanmar says the Ro- Bangladeshi “boat people” Bangkok summit on the hingya are illegal migrants arrive across Southeast Asia boat people and the Myanmar authorities are already from neighboring Bangla- in recent weeks. desh, and denied during a T h e m i g r a n t s w e r e shamefully violating what 17-nation meeting on the abandoned at sea by people was agreed there,” Phil crisis in Bangkok last week smugglers after Thailand Robertson, deputy director that it was to blame for a launched a crackdown on of Human Rights Watch’s Asia division, told Reuters. crisis that has seen more trafficking in early May.

Islamic State suicide attack kills 38 Iraqi policemen Supreme Court backs Muslim woman

((Reuters) ISLAMIC STATE militants drove a tank rigged with explosives into a base south of the Iraqi city of Samarra on Monday, killing 38 policemen, military and police sources said.

A further 46 people were wounded in the attack on the Muthanna bases in an area from which security forces and Shi’ite paramilitaries have been fighting to drive out the insurgents.

Security forces seized the complex from the militants

several days ago and were using it as a foothold in an offensive aimed at cutting Islamic State supply lines from the Samarra area to the western province of Anbar.

Anbar’s capital, Ramadi, was overrun by the insurgents two weeks ago in the most significant setback for Iraqi forces since a U.S.-led coalition began bombing the militants last summer.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi vowed to launch a quick counteroffensive to retake the city but Shi’ite paramilitary groups have taken charge of the offensive and say remaining militant strongholds in Salahuddin province must be cleared first.

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denied job over head scarf

THE U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of a Muslim woman who sued for discrimination after being denied a sales job at age 17 at an Abercrombie & Fitch Co(ANF.N) clothing store in Oklahoma because she wore a head scarf for religious reasons.

In an 8-1 decision in the important religious rights case, the court backed Samantha Elauf, who had been rejected under Abercrombie's sales staff "look policy" after coming to her job interview wearing the head scarf, or hijab, used by many Muslim women.

The decision marked a

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victory for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that sued the company on Elauf's behalf after she was turned down in 2008 at an Abercrombie Kids store in Tulsa.

ADVERTISING "Observance of my faith should not have prevented me from getting a job. I am glad that I stood up for my rights, and happy that the EEOC was there for me and took my complaint to the courts," Elauf said in a statement issued by the EEOC. Elauf initially won a $20,000 judgment against Abercrombie before a federal district court. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver then threw that out, ruling in favor of Abercrombie, before the high court backed Elauf.

"We welcome this his-

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toric ruling in defense of religious freedom at a time when the American Muslim community is facing increased levels of Islamophobia," said Nihad Awad, the national executive director of the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations.

Monday's ruling was the second decision by the high court during its current term in favor of a Muslim alleging discrimination. In January, the justices found that an Arkansas policy prohibiting inmates from having beards violated the religious rights of a prisoner who had wanted to grow one in accordance with his Muslim beliefs.

The court has taken an expansive view of religious rights. Last year, it sided with a Christian-owned company that objected on religious grounds to providing health insurance coverage for birth control for women.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

New flood warning system for Diego ( Tr i n i d a d G u a r d i a n ) WITH the Met Office signalling the start of the rainy season and the trauma of last year’s flash-flooding devastation still raw, residents of Diego Martin are being assured that an early warning system has been deployed to give them sufficient time to evacuate. Chairman of the Diego Martin Regional Corporation Daryl Smith gave the assurance in an interview with the T&T Guardian on Friday.

“We have put in place flood early warning systems, installed on high-tech poles in flood-prone areas,” said Smith. “These poles have sensors that will emit a highpitched alarm anytime water covers the sensor. The current sensors are set to six inches above the ground.” Smith said the sensors will alert residents anytime in the day or night and will also be programmed to send text messages to residents.

“Part of the alarm system is a text alert, which means no matter where

you are, you will get a text saying the area is about to flood and you should take all measures to get home and secure your pets, or if you have elderly relatives or children to get them out before the water rises.” He said the corporation was in the process of gathering data from residents to put into its alert database.

Smith said since coming into office in 2013, flood prevention has been the corporation’s top priority. “Since 2013, we embarked on an ‘all hands on deck’ programme, where we bumped up the cleaning crew from 70 to 200 people. We have also been working with WASA to raise pipes out the rivers to stop debris from getting stuck and piling up in the river.” He said that project was almost 80 per cent complete.

The corporation has also embarked on a project to replant trees in areas affected by bush fires in the past years. “In the past we had massive bush fires and we have replanted over 2,000 trees in those areas. We also

ensured there were fire trails to help the fire service in fighting fires. We had very few bush fires this season.”

The T&T Guardian also spoke to chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation, Hazarie Ramdeen, who said the corporation has been aggressively cleaning drains in the area in attempt to avoid a repeat of last year’s massive flood in the area. “We have been de-silting drains, aggressively cleaning the area and all the watercourses,” said Ramdeen.

“We gave contracts to a number of small contractors to ensure it was done on time.” He said residents of Mafeking and Mayaro who had refused to be evacuated from their homes last year are better prepared this year. “I think they understand this year that when the water starts to rise in that way, that they need to get out.

Because even though we had floods before, no one expected it to turn out so bad as it did last year.”

Bush fire ravages crops, livestock in Richmond Gap (Jamaica Observer) APPROXIMATELY 150 farmers whose crops were wiped out by a recent bush fire in Richmond Gap, St Thomas say it will be months before they will be able to earn an income from what has been their sole means of survival.

Mangoes, apples, ackees, bananas, plantains, pimento, coffee, carrots and several other crops were all destroyed by the scorching heat when fire ravaged the hillside farming community two weeks ago.

Not only has their mainstay gone up in smoke, but the farmers say the devastation will affect consumers as they have no produce to sell in the markets.

SHIP'S HERE: The TTS Point Lisas docked at the Port of Spain International Waterfront Esplanade last Wednesday. -Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY

Govt borrowing TT$478m to buy patrol vessels

(Trinidad Express) THE Government ordered 12 vessels from Dutch Damen Shipyards for TT$1.358 billion for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard without the money in hand to pay for them.

It accepted one vessel the TTS Point Lisas - which Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar toured last Wednesday when it was docked at the Port-of-Spain Waterfront, without being able to make a downpayment.

The Government needs an immediate US$75 million to pay for six of the vessels.

And it will go to Parliament this week to secure it.

In the proposed Variation Appropriation Bill, the Ministry of National Security is

seeking $478 million.

The Note recalls that "Cabinet agreed to source funding in the amount of US$75 million as a downpayment to ensure the delivery of naval assets. Pending finalisation of financing agreements with the preferred financial institution, the ministry requires funding in the short term in order to adhere to obligations to the vendor".

The Government's contract with Damen is for four Damen Stan Patrol 5009 coastal patrol vessels, two Damen Fast Crew Supply 5009 utility vessels, and six Damen Interceptor DI 1002 boats.

Persad-Bissessar, in her address, had said the second vessel - the TTS La Brea

- would arrive in T&T tomorrow with the other four interceptor vessels due in July, with final receipt of all 12 by year-end.

Finance Minister Larry Howai said in response to e-mailed questions on Saturday: "Twelve ships have been ordered. One has so far been delivered. Another is due this week and a further one together with three interceptors in the next month. The payment process is not a problem.

The payment to be made now is a downpayment on the 12 vessels. The Government has suppressed a number of expenditures over the past year and therefore has a number of options in the Appropriation Bill.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

EDITORIAL M

GUYANA

First Lady’s condemnation of child/human exploitation

RS. Sandra Granger has not been First Lady of Guyana for a long time, but the interest she is taking in national affairs, particularly with regard to the vulnerable in society, speaks volumes for her future engagements in the office she now holds consequential to her husband’s election to the highest office in the land.

She absolutely condemned the practice of child prostitution and trafficking in persons in Guyana during an interview touching on social issues with the Sunday Chronicle.

Expressing her distress and disgust at the inhumane and cruel actions of perpetrators who prey on the vulnerable and helpless in society, Mrs. Granger said: “I strongly object to the practice where persons try to use children as prostitutes – male or female. I feel very strongly about protection of children and ensuring that they have, what I would like to believe is a quality childhood, where they could really enjoy themselves, explore and determine what they want to be in life.”

Child prostitution and trafficking in persons are absolutely heinous crimes that proliferate worldwide, and in some societies where poverty is dire, some parents feel driven to sell their own children for pittances – destroying their own children for temporary relief from their pecuniary circumstances.

Many children have been kidnapped and sold; many have been sexually exploited by their own relatives or trusted persons in their lives; many persons – adults and children have been tricked into slavery where they are taken away to distances and situations from which they find impossible

I CANNOT allow a letter in last Sunday’s edition of the Stabroek News by my colleague, PPP/C Candidate Clinton Urling to go unchallenged. In his letter, “The PPP has to move on without Jagdeo if it is to recapture its former prestige,” it is clear to me that Mr. Urling may be positioning himself to defect from the party he recently supported, in anticipation of being offered a position in the new de facto Granger Administration. I am also disappointed that Mr. Urling seems convinced that the PPP/C lost this Election, when all evidence suggest it was rigged with the help of GECOM. Let there be no doubt that I have always respected and admired Clinton Urling’s entrepreneurial skills that have made him a successful businessman. I was pleased with his inclusion as a PPP/C Candidate, and was optimistic of him getting a ministerial position with a

to escape and are forced into virtual servitude – either to sexual predators or slave labourers.

In Guyana many persons, especially children and females, have been lured away from their rural or hinterland homes with the promise of jobs or by other means, only to find themselves captives of some horrendous situations.

Expounding on the rights of children, Mrs. Granger reiterated that children ought to be left to enjoy their childhood.

These twin scourges have plagued societies from time immemorial and if the First Lady could successfully address these criminal acts in the Guyana social landscape then her tenure could save many victims from untold, probably lifelong, agony; not to mention lost lives that would have been restored to victims and their loved ones.

She opined that perpetrators should be pursued with the full force of the law.

Mrs. Granger recognised the vital and courageous work of Ms. Simona Broomes and the Women Miners’ Association, who rescued many victims, oftentimes at great risk to themselves, and restored them to their families.

Lamenting on the way young girls are entrapped then used as commodities by unscrupulous persons – either as sex slaves or as free labour force, Mrs. Granger elucidated on the lifelong trauma even those who escape such horrible and horrifying endure, to the extent where they lose a sense of self and self-worth, as well as a complete loss of self-respect and respect from others, where they are no longer seen as persons with rights to the enjoyment of their own lives.

She related: “What I am saying is that they (the young

girls) didn’t have a choice. They were just picked up by somebody who promised them food and a better life than where they are in the backdam, servicing some people,” and spoke of some cases where even parents barter their children for gain.

The previous Government had been plagued by public servants not delivering on their mandate. In the Child Protection Services this lackadaisical, laissez faire attitude led to the saga of suffering and eventual murder of Neesa Gopaul by her own mother and stepfather.

This high level of incompetence has undoubtedly caused some animosity between Minister Simona Broomes, who made some caustic remarks about the non-functionality of that department before she assumed her ministerial portfolio, which precipitated an unfortunate series of incidents that eventuated in the Director of that agency being sent on leave.

Many have tried and failed to eradicate this heinous scourge, even in societies more developed than ours, and it is highly commendable for Guyana’s new First Lady to undertake this massive responsibility.

Perhaps her zeal and passion may achieve what others have failed to accomplish – make Guyana safe for the vulnerable in society.

Clinton Urling cannot be trusted

PPP/C victory at the polls.

But I never thought of him as an opportunist until now.

Bharrat Jagdeo is undoubtedly extremely popular with those who have supported the PPP/C for many years. The gigantic crowds he attracted at meetings and rallies during the recently concluded election campaign bore testimony of this.

Those party members who, according to Urling, thought Jagdeo was responsible for the party’s “defeat” are nothing but cowards who, like rats that abandon a sinking ship, sought to protect their own interest believing all to be lost.

Urling was well aware of the pressure placed on GECOM to come clean with the results and the non-cooperation of GECOM’s Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally and his team despite the presence of fake Statements of Polls -SOPs. So what appeared to be “an information blackout” a day or two after the election was, I believe, an attempt by

those at Freedom House to get GECOM to recount the ballot boxes before disseminating information which could have been inaccurate and misleading. Candidates were later briefed and given the opportunity to interact with the party leadership at a meeting that Urling attended. At no time did anyone “whisper and angrily criticise Jagdeo’s divisive campaign rhetoric”. Not even Clinton Urling. Are we to believe that no one there had the courage to blame Jagdeo if in fact they thought his involvement cost us the Election? I don’t think so.

Bharrat Jagdeo was an asset to the campaign and I’m sure thousands of PPP supporters would concur with me. I also know one prominent PNC-APNU stalwart that supports this argument.

Clinton Urling had been courted by the APNU camp prior to the election, and many were surprised that he choose instead to join the PPP/C. It is now evident that by this letter targeting the

--to advance or protect PPP/C’s interest

former President, a man who is despised by the PNC-APNU-AFC, he sends a strong message that he is available and willing to serve if offered a substantial position by the new Administration.

At the very least, he is protecting his business interest from the inevitable boycott that is threatened.

If Clinton Urling had any reservation about Bharrat Jagdeo’s involvement in the campaign, he

should have declined his invitation to be part of the team. But with his eyes wide open, he accepted the offer to be a Candidate for the PPP/C knowing fully well that the former President was a leading Candidate with tremendous experience that the party relied on to sell its track record and to energise the base. I wager that this letter would never have been written if the PPP/C was

declared victorious. This man cannot be trusted to advance or to protect the PPP/C’s interest if, God forbid, he’s asked to serve in the 11th Parliament.

And President Granger should also be aware that a soldier deserting an allegiance in the heat of battle to support the enemy cannot be relied upon to show loyalty.

HARRY GILL

Promote Magistrate Artiga

MAGISTRATE Charlyn Artiga demonstrated tremendous courage in her handling of the Jagdeo case, and Guyana needs steely judicial members like her if we are to clean up the pervasive corruption within the justice system. Justice Ian Chang on the other hand is a weak Judge, always mindful of politics when handing down rulings --the end result being indecisive, confusing and unclear.

It would do Guyana a dis-service if Justice Chang is confirmed as a permanent member of the judiciary due to his lack of resolve.

If we are serious about reversing the pervasive corruption within our judiciary, the country needs Judges like Charlyn Artiga. Therefore, it would be in the nation's best interest to elevate Magistrate Artiga to higher judicial office.

BERKELEY VAN BOWEN

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

I have a great plan to tackle flooding in Guyana

IN the good year of 2000, I had an audience with Mr. Walter Wills, engineer in the office of the former Minister of Public Works, the Honourable Mr. Anthony Xavier, who was also present in the hearing of my outlined proposals, which were for us to re-introduce the construction of inter-locked, compressed concrete plates revetment and land reclamation alongside distressed sea and riverine/riparian areas in Guyana, in addition to all drainages in and around Georgetown.

I had forewarned of consequences of flooding in Region Five (Abary/Mahaica-Berbice), because the right hand side of the tributary (mouth) of the Abary Creek was blocked up with sea/foreshore bed brown sand.

I also met with Mr. George Howard, Chief Sea and River Defence Officer and his subordinate, Mr. Mahadeo Persaud at their Kingston-based office relative to the above matter.

As a Dutch-trained, qualified and oriented Hydrological-Engineer in such a capacity (Hydro-concrete, water and civil engineering), my complaints and advice were resented and ignored by the PPP Government in Guyana, and as a consequence, not long after I had returned home here in the Netherlands, my native Guyana was under siege by flood water in 2005, especially in Region Five, of which I had foreseen and forewarned of such grave danger.

Later, in 2003 and 2005, while Guyana was under

siege of the unprecedented flood water, the statement “this Government was forewarned, prior to this flooding, by a Guyanese-born Dutch Hydrological-Engineer” was debated in Parliament by respective Parliamentarians whom I have had very close consultations with on such a matter. Refer to many relevant newspaper articles in Guyana’s media SN, KN and GC and “acknowledgement letters” of 09-05-2000 and 18-08-2004 from the then Office of the President.

Today, I am still endeavouring to pursue this course of action, and I persist with such similar warnings to our respective and relevant Guyanese officials, outlining and claiming that it is and would be very dangerous and hazardous to once again venture in the dumping of garbage-waste disposal in open atmospheric air at another site adjacent to residential and populated areas.

I am once again proposing that we harness a portion of the waterfront land at Grove Village, on the East Bank of Demerara, with the aim of constructing sections of inter-locked, compressed concrete plate revetment in the event of re-cycling (not buried or ducked) ALL garbage-waste disposals.

I am not an English-oriented intellectual to constantly be writing English texts and project plans, as I was born Dutch in Guyana, and my second (English) language expression has been suppressed for more than 30 years.

Thank you Chronicle!

ON behalf of the Chairman and Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), I would like to sincerely thank you for allowing GECOM free space to publish our Elections Corner in your Newspapers during the lead-up to the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

GECOM would like to assure you that the opportunities you provided on a weekly basis proved to be of great assistance to the agency, as it sought to effectively engage the public in various aspects of its Civic and Voter Education programme.

Thank you very much! GECOM looks forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the Guyana Chronicle.

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE Guyana Elections Commission

I am much more technically skilled with an innate knowledge to embark and venture on sustainable development in the fields of sea/river defences and garbage-waste disposals, where revenues of such can beneficially and immensely be earned. I hope that our relevant and newly appointed Guyanese officials in the APNU-AFC would summon and grant

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audience in the event of eliminating sea/river defence breaches and to innovate modern technologies in the event of sustainable usages of garbage-waste disposals in this modern 21st Century day and in the days of our civilised world.

Thus, I propose for us to set-up a “concrete-based” factory in the advent for manufacturing pre-fabricating compressed concrete products, such as pilings and plates/slabs for revetment and land reclamation, and for Georgetown internal drainages, drainage gutters for internal drainage, solid blocks, tubes for shallow wells, tiles (2-sq. m.), beams, kokers, “L”-shape road edges, etc. purposes.

The Demerara River can be de-silted, revetment can be installed, and waterfront lands can be made available from Timehri’s dock on the East Bank Demerara, to Kingston. Georgetown can be raised up to 1-meter from its current geographical/ hydrological location.

I will be so proud to return and to serve my country of origin, my beautiful Guyana.

REV. SURUJLALL MOTILALL (Ret. Hydrological Engineer from the Netherlands)

Can Georgetown ever be flood-free?

PRESIDENT David Granger may not have been around, or may have been too young to recall what Georgetown really looked like around 1945 – 1950, but there are some senior citizens, still alive, who probably can.

Georgetown’s eastern boundary ended at Alexander Village, with Ruimveldt, being canefields, on the south and east of it. La Penitence and Albouystown on the north, extended as far as the western end of Le Repentir Cemetery. Canefields continued east. The Cemetery ended about a hundred meters east of Cemetery Road, and swampy bush, which was the beginnings of D’Urban Backlands continued east and north, in back of the Botanical Gardens and Lodge. Newtown, Kitty or New Kitty was plotted out south of the Lamaha trench, with Vlissingen Road being its western boundary, and would continue, eventually, to the Botanical Gardens.

The picture being painted here is a city, Georgetown that was much smaller than what it is today.

Georgetown also had a much smaller population, but it had more trenches. As the population increased, trenches were filled in to create open spaces, roads and some building units.

It must be noted that

trenches in Georgetown, performed two functions; one, it collected used water from the human population and rainfall, which following a natural gradient, was drained into the Demerara River, and two, it acted as a reservoir to store water, until the tide flowed out, and caused water to empty out of the trenches, which was being regulated by flood gates called kokers. The volume of water pouring out of the kokers would be relatively constant. If there is more water to be drained in the given length of time low tide afforded, that water will remain in the trenches.

In this manner, there was always some level of water in the trenches, since the population would still be dumping used water into the drains, which flowed into the trenches.

Georgetown is some two meters below sea level, and water does not flow upwards, the system depended, until recently, to some extent, on the movement of the tides. This system always caused some level of flooding in the city.

This flooding was relatively insignificant, with swollen drains and alleyways and some yards, rarely any roads, water did not stick around past one day, most of the time. This temporary flooding was usually a minor inconvenience.

As the population grew, over the years, in Georgetown, it became evident that the trenches were unable to meet a quantity of water that now had far exceeded its reservoir limits. If we include negligent maintenance of the drainage system, a propensity for people to discard their ever increasing amount of trash and garbage into the drains and trenches, and the decreasing amount of trenches, we have the formula for systematic and prolonged flooding, which presented very serious consequences during the peak seasonal rainfall.

Flooding had now reached epic proportions.

Flash forward to the present, politically speaking. No solution(s) to the flooding/drainage problem has been offered. Among the political name-calling and blaming, a few pumps were installed, feeble efforts were made to clean the drains and trenches, and some repairs were made to a few kokers, but the flooding continued, as increasing population meant increasing waste water being dumped into the drains, which were being selectively filled in, in the name of progress, The question that should be asked is, not how to reduce flooding in George-

town, but how to permanently eliminate flooding, period?

Pumping out flood waters at a higher rate may work but the cost would very well be prohibitive, with a high maintenance value attached to it. It seems increasing the storage capacity of the trenches would be a permanent solution with the added perks of making it a profitable enterprise.

How can this be done? _ select five kokers from Meadowbrook/Houston to Kingston and rebuild them to a size of 10 meters wide by 10 meters deep - Select five canal sites, north/south, with the Turkeyen/Cummings Lodge trench being the first one in the east - These ten canals at approximately 1500 meters long would create a continuous reservoir of approx.

1.5 million cubic meters of water.

- Soil removed from the canals could be used to raise street and ground level.

- Clay bricks, which have proven their lasting ability since Romans times, can be used to make three feet thick walls and floor.

This would drastically reduce the cost of construction.

An army corps of engineers with 3000 workers, mostly of whom are minimum wage employees, should be considered.

The potentials here are enormous, but I will leave it up to the readers to offer comments.

ALBERT R. CUMBERBATCH, PH. D.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

British to assist in strengthening Parliament

– High Commissioner pays courtesy call on PM Nagamootoo SEVERAL members of the diplomatic community have shown their respect to Guyana’s new President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo as the officials from the A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government continue to settle in, after their victory at the 2015 Regional and General Elections.

Yesterday, His Excellency Greg Quinn, British High Commissioner to Guyana, paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at his temporary office at the Office of Climate Change (OCC), at the Ministry of the Presidency, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive.

According to PM Nagamootoo, the visit by the High Commissioner was a welcome one, which accommodated discussions on the country’s democracy and parliamentary affairs.

The PM declared that “… being High Commissioner from Great Britain, our former ‘mother’ country, you could image the first area of our

interests, our parliamentary democracy, how to help Parliament.”

He added that “...we will rely on Great Britain, as well as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, to help us to continue the training of our personnel, to help to strengthen our institution, which is the Parliament.”

The civil service is another area in which Guyana is seeking help from the British Government, since it has been a creation of the British Civil Service.

“We want to aim at those high standards of professionalism and integrity that we knew had been associated with the civil service… we intend to elevate our training center into a college,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo noted.

He also renewed and strengthened his commitment to the continuation of the cordial relationship shared between the two countries.

Meanwhile, High Commissioner Quinn reiterated that the 2015 Regional and General Elections were ‘free

His Excellency Greg Quinn, British High Commissioner to Guyana, and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in discussion at the Ministry of the Presidency

and fair.’ He said “ to be 150 per cent clear, the British Government’s view is still and always has been that the elections were free, fair, credible, and represented views of the majority of the Guyanese people, so there is no doubt in our mind that anything has changed.”

Quinn added that as the two countries continue to work together in the next few months and years, there will be several areas of interest to pursue.

In closing, he added that he looks forward to representing Queen Elizabeth 11 and will be doing his best to help Guyana.

Guyana and the British share very good cooperation initiatives in the areas of public sector reform, debt relief, education, water supply, restructuring of the sugar industry, public sector reform and the strengthening of the judiciary and law enforcement, British Guiana became Guyana after independence was gained from Great Britain on May 26, 1966.

Gov’t reviewing AMLCFT Bill – AG Williams meets with FIU head THE Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill (AMLCFT) must be passed to prevent Guyana from being blacklisted, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams told the media yesterday, as he met for the first time with Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) Paul Geer, to deal with the Bill.

Also attending the meeting at the Legal Affairs Ministry were FIU Legal Advisor, Alicia Williams, and a member of the unit, Sasha Mahadeo.

AG Williams noted that when the present ruling Administration was in the Opposition, members had indicated inserts to the mother act, which would have made the FIU independent.

He noted that the Bill which they had then would be the focal

thrust with which they would move on.

The AMLCFT amendment Bill was tabled on April 22, 2013, in the National Assembly by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration, and put up for debate on May 7.

On that date, the then Opposition moved (by a majority vote) to send it to the Special Select Committee.

Guyana was granted until September 2015 to implement the legislative measures and until May 2015 to implement the non-legislative measures. This recommendation was accepted at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting in Paris on November 24, 2014. (GINA)

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams in meeting with members of the Financial Intelligence Unit

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

EDUCATION MINISTER SAYS…

Education grant to be reviewed

By Shivanie Sugrim EDUCATION Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine has said the “Because We Care” $10,000 grant programme will continue but will be reviewed, with strong focus being placed on the families of poor students in the school system, rather than being a willy-nilly handout.

This programme was one of a series of initiatives implemented countrywide by the previous Government to lessen the burden associated

with sending children to school, particularly on poor parents; and it was hailed as welcome and timely support by parents.

But though the intention of the programme was laudable, the manner in which it was implemented -- with no criterion to determine who benefits -- was more reflective of political gimmickry, and was well criticised. Many had felt that the programme should have been tied to students’ performance, with focus being on building strong parental involvement

in their children’s education, which would more likely have accrued value for the money invested.

Even children who hardly attended school and those with well-off parents benefited from the initiative championed by then subject minister, Ms. Priya Manickchand.

From observations, the across-the-board distribution was not the ideal approach for a Ministry that was looking to have some positive impact on students in depressed communities.

What obtained under that system was that the grant was distributed equally among students coming from rich and poor homes, whereas the purpose of the programme was to support needy parents; and the sum of $10,000, though welcome, is not enough help for poor single-parent mothers.

Many were of the view that the money should have been channelled where it is more needed, excluding those who can live comfortably without it, and increasing the amount to those who

are in need.

But the recipient child must be both regular and punctual at school, and perform satisfactorily or demonstrate an interest in learning, driven by strong parental support.

These steps, it was felt, would be necessary if the Government is to reap any meaningful benefit from the programme.

It was also suggested that the grant must be strategic in focus, since it can also be a useful tool in stemming the high dropout rate in the

school system, particularly at the secondary level. This problem is linked to economic and other family issues, and is due largely to poor grounding at the primary level. Enough is not being done to correct students’ weaknesses at an early stage, some felt.

Dr. Roopnaraine has said this programme, along with several others, will be subjected to a thorough review, as the Ministry moves to ensure that Government’s investments are well spent.

PM holds talks with British High Commissioner on ‘how to help our parliamentary democracy’

By Rebecca Ganesh BRITISH High Commissioner to Guyana, James Quinn paid a courtesy call yesterday on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and assured him that the two countries can strengthen their working relationship in many sectors.

During the meeting in the Office of the Prime Minister at the Ministry of the Presidency, Prime Minister Nagamootoo thanked the British High Commissioner for paying him a visit under the prevailing weather conditions.

The Prime Minister said that “being High Commissioner from Great Britain, our former mother country, you could imagine that the first order of our interest would be ‘how to help our parliamentary democracy’?”

He said further that as the Prime Minister, he is

“To be a 150% clear, my Government’s view is that the last elections were free and fair and creditable and represents the views of the majority of the Guyanese people and there is no doubt in our minds that anything has been changed” - British High Commissioner to Guyana James Quinn the Leader of the House and therefore “we will rely on our relationship with Britain as well as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to help us to continue the training of our personnel to help to strengthen our institutions, which is the Parliament and also our civil service.”

Nagamootoo noted that it is the order of the new Administration to aim for high standards and the reason for him mentioning the development of a college to this effect. “We want to aim at the high standards of the British civil service, and as the President (President

David Granger) has said recently, we intend to elevate our training centre into a college and I took the opportunity of mentioning this to the High Commissioner.”

“The High Commissioner has always been a friend of Guyana and I have assured him of our continued interest in maintaining and improving the relationship,” Nagamootoo stated.

The Prime Minister thanked Quinn for the advocacy and intervention in the improved and enhanced democracy in Guyana, particularly the last General and Regional Elections with regards to statements certi-

British High Commissioner James Quinn pays a courtesy call on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

fying the elections as being free and fair.

The British High Commissioner reiterated that “to be a 150% clear, my Government’s view is that the last elections were free and fair and creditable and represents the views of the majority of the Guyanese people and there is no doubt

in our minds that anything has been changed.”

Quinn added that “as the Prime Minister said there are a variety of areas that we can work on to deliver our services, notably in Parliament.”

High Commissioner Quinn assured the Prime Minister that “as we go

forward in the coming months there will be many other meetings such as this and I look forward to doing what I can to assist and as a representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we will work together to strengthen our relationship in whatever way we can.”

Demerara Berbice interconnected system shutdown AT 15:49 hrs yesterday, following sounds of an explosion aback of Sophia, there was a disruption in the supply of electricity to the Demerara

Berbice grids. Emergency crews were currently investigating the transmission lines aback of Sophia in an effort to identify the cause of the outage, a

statement from Guyana Power and Light said.

“While the investigation continued, our Company was able to restore electricity to Central

Georgetown at 16:05 hrs, continuing into all other affected areas in Demerara and Berbice.

“In recognition of the current inclement weath-

er season, our Compan y w i s h e s t o re a s s u re customers that several initiatives have been implemented to mitigate network faults likely to

occur during this season; emergency response services have been strengthened to assist in emergencies of this nature,” the statement concluded.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

Public servants must practise administrative neutrality –Minister of Communities

Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan (seated centre); Junior Minister of Communities, Mr. Keith Scott (seated left); and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Emil McGarrell (seated right) after their meeting Monday with senior officials of the Department of Housing

SENIOR officers of the Department of Housing have been urged to execute their professional duties with integrity and impartiality by Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan, at an introductory meeting held on Monday, in the department’s boardroom.

Junior Minister of Communities, Mr. Keith Scott, who has direct responsibility for housing, also attended the meeting to familiarise himself with the sector.

Minister Bulkan informed staff members that the re-branded ministry comprises four departments, namely Department of Water Supply, Department of Housing, Department of Local Government and Department of Regional Development.

The minister explained the rationale behind the cre-

ation of the new ministry, noting the main reason for this new dispensation is to focus on the quality of life of residents, as opposed to the mere provision of a houselot or a house.

He informed the officers that “President David Granger believes in strong central and strong local governments.” According to Bulkan, “Guyana is too large to be effectively or efficiently managed from the centre.” He also highlighted the importance of meaningfully engaging the local democratic organs: 10 Regional Democratic Councils, six Municipalities and 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils.

The minister reminded the officers of President Granger’s unequivocal commitment that his Administration will be for all Guya-

nese regardless of their race, religion, creed or political affiliation. He also vowed to execute his duties without malice and emphasised that accountability and transparency would be the new order of the day.

Assuring officers of their freedom to be professionals, he noted that staff would be promoted on the basis of performance, experience and expertise and not on party loyalty. “As public servants, I want you to bear in mind that we are here as servants to the people and we have to follow certain guidelines,” Bulkan stated.

Bulkan said the public service would be the engine to bring development to Guyana, as he echoed the words of President Granger.

He explained that public servants have to address the growing inequity and

inequality in society and they must be responsive to the needs of the people, as well as resourceful, relevant and reliable.

Bulkan stressed that “public servants cannot be politicians” and pointed out the need for administrative neutrality and devotion to their jobs and duties, and added that the central focus of public servants must be to serve the people.

The minister recalled that President Granger has acknowledged that public servants need to be paid better, have better working conditions, and have permanency rather than contract employment. Emphasising his no-nonsense approach to corruption, he quoted President Granger who said that “the public service needs reform and that the public must come to regard the pub-

lic service as un-bribable.”

The new Administration will work to root out graft from the public service and those guilty of this will not have a place there, he noted.

According to Junior Minister Scott, during the 10th Parliament, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) exposed areas where corruption flourished. He assured officers that under his leadership there will be no reason to hide the facts or be worried when answering questions posed by the PAC. He emphasised that corruption will not be tolerated. “Once you are engaged in corruption, we have no choice but to remove you from our midst,” Scott stressed.

“There will be no political interference in the execution of your professional jobs and duties.” He believes

that senior officers of the Department of Housing, who are qualified professionals, would now be able to enjoy freedom in articulating ideas and executing their duties.

According to the Junior Minister, A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Manifesto provides scope for the development of careers for the staff of the Department of Housing. He said Government envisions “self-contained communities,” which will see an exciting new phase of development in Guyana.

Scott emphasised that the Administration sees itself on the side of the professional and wants to achieve the set goals to better the lives of Guyanese.

He hopes that these goals would be accomplished within the next five years.

Public Health Minister unveils vision for GPHC – aims to mend exhausted infrastructure OVER the years, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has been plagued by infrastructural challenges. As such, Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton’s vision for the GHPC is entirely focused on mending the hospital’s exhausted infrastructure to better accommodate its patients and staff.

Dr. Norton’s vision was highlighted at a recent interview conducted by this publication at the Minis-

try of Health situated on Brickdam. In addressing the core of the problem faced at the nation’s provider of health services, Dr. Norton disclosed that the emphasis would be on refining the overall system, starting from the Administration down to its patients.

Recently, a mother was forced to endure a lengthy wait to receive treatment for her daughter, who is believed to be suffering from a heart defect. In view of this mother’s harrowing experi-

ence, Dr. Norton disclosed that his first plan would be to address this aspect of the GPHC’s operations.

In executing this, the minister noted that the rehabilitation of health centres across Guyana must firstly be realised and will ideally aid in reducing the volume of patients at the GPHC. Studies have shown that approximately 76% of doctors are stressed due to the lack of equipment and protracted working hours at the hospital. To improve this,

Dr. Norton disclosed that he aims to have a one-on-one, sit-down session with every specialist residing within the hospital to garner their inputs regarding the shortage of equipment among other issues with which they are plagued.

“We have all the support and plans in place for bettering the Georgetown Public Hospital, but it is only a question of time when we can begin executing these plans,” proclaimed the minister.

Regarding international collaboration, the GPHC is widely known for its alliances with the Vanderbilt University, Subei People’s Hospital, and the International Children’s Heart Foundation, among others. On this note, the minister disclosed that he aims to expand these alliances.

Additionally, he underscored the fact that plans are in place to attach doctors of the GHPC within the alliances, where Guyana could collaborate with world-renowned hospitals.

“We have to start making our doctors do that and I

am certain when we graduate our five specialists next year, there will be a positive impact in the mortality rate in Guyana,” posited the minister.

In the final chapter of his vision for the GPHC, the minister disclosed that once the infrastructure of the hospital and health centres have been thoroughly mended, plans are in place to eliminate the “paper-work” systems in all administration and replace them with computerised systems for proper recording of the operations of the hospital.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

assures Guyana Kitty Health Centre, ofIndia continued support to others inadequate Government and people

– help sought for expertise in IT and sugar production

– says Health Minister AS seen in the past, people not only endured the ordeal of waiting for long hours to receive medical attention at the various health centres, but they have also faced the burden of putting up with the uncomfortable conditions at these health-care facilities.

This area is one which the newly appointed Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton, intends to eradicate in due course.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday, the minister revealed that during his visits to various health centres across the country, he noticed that the conditions patients encountered were unacceptable and needed to be improved as soon as possible.

“The Versailles Health

Centre for example was crammed for space, and not only that, the Kitty Health Centre is also inadequate,” he disclosed.

These are matters that need to be addressed, he said.

For instance, he announced that they have already earmarked a spot where they intend to build a proper health centre within the Kitty area, so that persons can be treated in a proper environment and be treated hospitably.

Apart from Kitty, Minister Norton highlighted the fact that all health centres will be improved, “aside from developing the infrastructure of these centres we will be providing more medical supplies, and placing more trained doctors at the medical centres.”

These developmental plans will relieve the

Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton

Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) of an unnecessary burden, since persons will be encouraged to utilise the services of the health centres located within their areas, instead of having to travel great distances to receive medical attention.

Dead whale disturbs Essequibo Coast communities

The dead whale on the Essequibo Coast

THE decaying body of a 50 foot whale is causing serious problems for residents of Maria’s Lodge, Suddie and Johanna Cecelia on the Essequibo Coast.

According to reports, the large dead mammal, which washed ashore at Maria’s Lodge Sunday afternoon, attracted a large crowd despite its bad smell. There was a traffic build up on the public road as everybody

rushed to the sea wall to get a glimpse of the dead whale.

Reports said the Region 2 Administration, along with the Public Health Department, is currently making arrangements to bury the body of the whale. Senior Environmental Officer, Ms. Saleena Baksh said the whale is in a far stage of decomposition.

(Rajendra Prabhulall in Essequibo)

Mabaruma man facing assault, other charges A SELF-employed man was on Friday placed on his own recognisance by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for assault, threatening and abusive language charges.

Sheldon Lynch, of Mabaruma, North West District, pleaded not guilty to the first and second charges that said on Tuesday, May 26, at Mabaruma, he unlawfully assaulted and used threatening

language to his reputed wife, Lynette Smith.

Additionally, he also denied that on the same day at Mabaruma, he used threatening language to Smith, thereby occasioning a breach of the peace.

Lynch was slapped with a fourth charge that alleged on Tuesday, May 26, he called Lynette Smith a name other than her own, which insulted her or caused her annoyance.

The fifth charge said also on the same day at Mabaruma, he unlawfully assaulted his step-daughter Shaneeza Smith, so as to cause her actual bodily harm.

Police corporal Shawn Gonsalves, prosecuting, did not oppose to bail.

Lynch was bonded to keep the peace and the matter was transferred to the Mabaruma Court for August 17.

Ambassador R. Swaminathan of Indian and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo during their discussion

AMBASSADOR R. Swaminathan, Special Secretary of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to assure him of India’s continued support to the Government and people of Guyana.

The Prime Minister accommodated the Indian ambassador yesterday at the

Office of the Prime Minister, now housed at the Ministry of the Presidency.

According to the Prime Minister, the Ambassador is here on official business with CariCom, but their brief discussion elicited assurance of a continuing relationship between Guyana and India.

The Prime Minister related that the two parties discussed continuity of the

credit/grant programme that presently exists between Guyana and Indian; and that he sought India’s expertise in Information Technology education and in the sugar sector.

Another major initiative under discussion is obtaining India’s aid in linking the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara via roadway. (Rebecca Ganesh)

Mother of five remanded for robbery A MOTHER of five who has been slapped with a robbery charge was on Friday remanded to prison

by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Natasha Leacock, 42, of Lot 116 Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her.

Details of the charge stated that on January 20, 2015 at Independence Avenue, McKenzie, also in Linden, being in company of another, she robbed Paul Crawf of one cellular phone valued at $20,000 and $5,000 in cash.

In addition to that, at the time of, during or before she committed the offence; she used personal violence on the victim.

Police prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the court that on the day in question; Crawf was walking along the Avenue when Leacock and another confronted him. They choked Crawf, dealt him several cuffs and kicks about his body and relieved him of the articles mentioned in the charge.

The court heard that the other accused in the matter had been already arrested and charged for the said offence.

Leacock was represented by Attorney-at-Law Mr. Patrice Henry, who requested bail in a reasonable sum for his client.

Prosecutor Mangru successfully opposed bail on grounds of the seriousness of the offence and the penalty it attracts. He further cited that if bail should be granted to Leacock, there is a likelihood that she may not return for trial.

The prosecution’s objection was upheld and the matter was transferred to the Linden Magistrates Court, for June 3.

Land surveyor remanded for ‘Ganja’, cocaine possession A LAND surveyor of Lot 65 Cross Street, Werk-enRust, Georgetown, was on Friday remanded to prison on cocaine and marijuana charges.

Graham Telford pleaded not guilty to both charges, which was read

by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

It is alleged that on Friday, May 29 at Cross Street,

Werk-en-Rust, he had in his possession 34 grammes of cocaine, for the purpose of trafficking.

Details of the second allegation said on the same day at Cross Street, he had in his possession 840 grammes of cannabis-sativa (marijuana) also for the purpose of trafficking.

Police prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves related to the court

that around 04:00 hrs on the day in question, ranks from the Narcotics Branch, Eve Leary, acted on information.

As a result of the information received, ranks conducted a search at Telford’s home, where the substances were unearthed.

Bail was refused, and the matter was transferred before Magistrate Ann McLennan, for June 16.

12

PPP alarmed at Demerara Waves report THE People’s Progressive Party is very alarmed at a report carried by the internet news site Demerara Waves in which the reporter, Mr. Denis Chabrol, contends that during our picketing exercise outside the Guyana Elections Commission yesterday, a young unidentified activist was quoted as saying, “He is a clown. He need to get shoot down,” a statement from the PPP last evening

said.

This was in apparent reference to Mr. Gino Persaud of Transparency International, who staged a counter protest against our efforts for a recount of the votes at the recent General and Regional Election, the PPP said.

“Individuals present during this period, including Mrs. Indra Chandarpaul, who is named in the media report, are contending that to the best of their knowledge,

and taking into consideration the boisterous atmosphere, they could not recall such a comment being uttered.

“The party therefore encourages Mr. Chabrol, who was recording the events during this period, to provide a copy of the evidence so we can identify and take the necessary disciplinary action immediately, if indeed such a comment was made,” the statement concluded.

Murder probe launched into stabbing death at alleged Kaneville break-in – relative became angry after deceased refused to buy liquor – witnesses

By Leroy Smith THE cousin-in-law of Jason Edwards, the 24-yearold man of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, who was killed on Sunday morning after being stabbed to the throat is likely to be charged with the capital offence of murder.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed yesterday that the man who stabbed the father of one is also the husband of the dead man’s cousin with whom the deceased was having a drink to celebrate his cousin’s birthday.

This publication understands that police investigators have now been told that the dead man who was somewhat under the influence of alcohol was being ordered by the husband of his cousin to go and purchase another bottle of vodka to continue the drinking spree.

Jason reportedly refused to buy the liquor, contending that they all had enough to drink and everyone was drunk. An argument then ensued between the two and at that point the 24-year-old was stabbed to the neck.

On Sunday a relative of the dead man who lives at the home where the incident occurred told this newspaper that Jason and three other men were attempting to break into the house where they all were earlier drinking to celebrate the cousin’s birthday.

The relative explained that after they retired to bed they heard strange sounds as if someone was attempting to break into the home. The husband of the cousin who is now being treated as the main suspect in the matter reportedly went outside with a knife in his hand to confront the intruder.

This newspaper was also informed that while the man was going towards the back of the house he came into contact with the would-be intruder who was attempting to attack him with a knife and he used the one he had to inflict the fatal wound in an apparent act of self-defense.

Despite the claim by the relative that both men had knives, police sources confirmed that the suspect was armed with a knife while the would-be intruder, his cousin-in-law Jason was

armed with a cutlass and both weapons have been recovered and lodged with the police.

Late on Sunday afternoon an aunt of the dead man who spoke with this newspaper rejected the claim that her nephew was attempting to break into the home of his relatives. According to the woman, the facts surrounding the death of the young man, who also has a child on the way, are very fishy.

In plain terms she told the Guyana Chronicle that her nephew was murdered by his cousin and her husband.

However, the occupants of the house where the man was being accused of attempting a break-in claimed that the now deceased young man and his three accomplices had disconnected the power supply to the building as well as the telephone service before making a move on the house.

The police are continuing their investigations into the matter and the husband of the cousin up to late yesterday afternoon was still in custody.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

Man who killed peacemaker on Phagwah Day gets 13 years for manslaughter

By George Barclay KEVIN Ali who stabbed Abdul Gani to death on Phagwah Day 2012 was originally charged with the capital offence of murder but midway in the trial before Justice Brassington Reynolds, he changed his plea from not guilty of murder to

guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter.

The judge suspended sentence to yesterday to await a probation report on the character of the educated young man, who appeared to have had a medical problem.

After being assessed by a Government Psychiatrist who declared him

fit to stand trial, his trial began, with lawyer Miss M. Thompson prosecuting, before presiding judge Reynolds and a mixed jury.

Following the production of the probation report by a probation officer yesterday morning, the prisoner was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment.

June Criminal Session opens this morning

By George Barclay ALTHOUGH one murder case from the April session is unfinished, the Jail Delivery for the Georgetown prison was presented to Justice Madame Roxanne George yesterday, bringing a conclusion to the session.

The report for the June Criminal Session was presented by Mr. Gladwin Samuels, Senior Superin-

tendent of Prisons, who is the Officer-in-Charge at the Georgetown Prison.

One prisoner will face trial for murder, six for attempted murder, two for manslaughter, 20 for carnal knowledge, one for incest, one for armed robbery, two for buggery, one for abduction, four for rape and one for unlawful and malicious wounding.

Three judges are expected to officiate at the

Session’s ceremonial opening today. One of them will inspect a Guard of Honour that will be provided by 60 ranks of the Tactical Services Unit and take the salute during a march past of the parade.

Five of the prisoners awaiting trial are requesting an early trial - Cyon Collier, Calvin Thomas, Sherwin Nero, Kenton Noble and Michael Caesar.

Wife in custody over husband’s murder at Onderneeming

By Leroy Smith NAOMI Ramsawck, 22 years, the wife of 26-yearold taxi driver, Denis Narine is being grilled intensely by police investigators over the murder of her husband as he was lying on his bed at their home in Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara on Sunday morning.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the woman had provided information to the police on Sunday that caused them to consider that she may know much more about the shooting death of her hus-

band than she was actually telling.

According to information that this publication has received the police are examining the possibility that the woman’s husband might have been killed by his wife’s estranged lover.

Additionally the police seem to be looking closely at the statement which the woman gave about the husband being shot from outside the house through a window, as the evidence seems to be pointing in another direction.

According to sources the man was shot while he was in his bedroom and the

shot may have been fired right in the room as there are burns to the skin of the deceased, indicating that he was shot at close range and not from through the window.

Meanwhile, persons in the area told investigators that they did see the woman’s ‘sweet man’ in the area earlier on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The shooting of the man occurred at approximately 00.30 hrs.

An autopsy which was scheduled to be conducted on the body was postponed and will be done tomorrow.

CJ grants six petitioners bail totaling $2.5M A C T I N G C h i e f J u s t i c e , M r. I a n Chang, S. C., last Friday granted bail in the sum of $2.5M to six bail petitioners, pending the hearing of their cases.

Following is a list of the offences and the petitioners and the amount of bail granted to each of them.

Possession of narcotics: Nauda Ally - $1,200,000; Cleon Doris - $250,000; Conspiracy to commit murder - Leyon Lindo - $400,000; Attempted murder - Narinedatt Balram - $200,000; Felonious wounding - Faram Rahamat - $200,000; and Obtaining by false pretence - Keisha Oudkerk - $150,000.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

Essequibo enjoys sunshine as mobile pumps speed up drainage

Bus conductor remanded over theft of $186,000 cricket band

By Clestine Juan A T W E N T Y- F O U R YEAR-OLD bus conductor was yesterday further remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnainre-Beharry on the grounds that he was recently convicted for a similar matter.

Kevin Washington of Lot 43 Princes Street, Georgetown was represented by attorney-at-law, Mr. Paul Fung-a-Fat who requested

reasonable bail for his client, contending that Washington is the sole bread winner for his family of five. Washington is charged with stealing an $186,000 cricket band, property of Portia Jacobs on March 13 at Regent and Alexander Streets, Georgetown.

He denied the charge when it was read to him.

However the bail application was denied. The bus conductor will return to court on June 23 for statements.

The court heard that on the

day in question at around 11:00 hrs Jacobs was in a taxi when the accused approached him and snatched his gold band.

The suspect was later pointed out by the taxi driver whom Jacobs was travelling with on the day in question. Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru had successfully opposed bail on the grounds that Washington was convicted for a similar matter before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Third man charged over murder of guard – during robbery attempt at Sterling Products A mobile pump in action at Lima to drain excess water from flooded rice fields

THE Pomeroon-Supenaam Region yesterday enjoyed bright sunshine and there was no heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours.

However, reports from the Regional Administration said that mobile pumps are in operation at Taymouth Manor, Capoey, Anna Regina, Hampton Court, Lima and Devonshire Castle to drain

a build-up of rainwater from drainage and irrigation canals and rice fields.

Regional Executive Officer of Region Two, Mr. Sunil Singh said some of the outfall channels have been cleared and there is a fair level of draft at the sluices.

He said the flood situation at Queenstown is under

control and the region is safe from any flooding for now. The REO also reported that rainwater that had accumulated in rice fields situated in the front land is also draining off quickly.

He said nine mobile pumps are deployed near sluices between Devonshire Castle and La Union. (Rajendra Prabhulall)

Diver stole over $14M in mining equipment from his brother – court hears A DIVER yesterday found himself in hot water when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry charged with stealing over $14 million in mining equipment from his brother.

Particulars of the charge alleged that Satynand Persaud, between June 1 and May 16, stole a quantity of mining equipment from Anand Persaud valued $14.8 million. Persaud denied the charge when it was read to him.

According to police prosecutor Bharat Mangru the two parties are known to each other but they are not on speaking terms due to an argument between them.

The court heard that during November 2014, the

virtual complainant went abroad and left the equipment in the care of a friend and upon his return he was informed that the defendant had removed the equipment.

The defendant, Mangru noted, had given a voluntary written statement to the police stating that he and two other friends were the ones who had removed the stolen articles.

The prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness, prevalence and penalty attached to the offence. He also argued that because of the quantum of money involved in the charge there is a likelihood that the defendant will not return to stand trial.

The magistrate overruled the prosecution’s

objection and bail was granted in the sum of $20,000 and the matter was transferred to Bartica Magistrate’s Court for June 11.

CHIEF Magistrate Priya Sewnainre-Beharry yesterday remanded another man over the alleged murder of Beharry Security Guard, Wilfred Stewart at Sterling Products Limited on December 08, 2014 at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Ureu Yaswick was not required to plead to the capital office of murder which alleged that he murdered Stewart during the course of a robbery.

Yaswick remained calm as he stood unrepresented in the dock. The magistrate remanded the man after police prosecutor Bharat Mangru requested that the matter be tried alongside Rayon Paddy and Orin Arther, who were recently charged for the same murder. The matter was adjourned until June 22.

It is alleged that during the shooting at Sterling Products, eyewitnesses related to police that a carload of men showed up at the facility and barged into the compound.

They first turned their attention to Stewart who was carrying a firearm and shot him twice, killing him in the process.

They also injured Indian national Gabriel Dass before attempting to make their way to the finance department of the company.

Those efforts were, however, unsuccessful but the men relieved the security guard of his firearm after killing him.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

UK High Commissioner pays courtesy call on AG Williams

Attorney General Basil Williams meeting High Commissioner of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland James Quinn (far right) and other officials at his chambers

Chinese ferry with 458 aboard sinks in storm, 20 rescued

Rescue workers carry a boat to conduct a search after a ship sank at the Jianli section of Yangtze River, Hubei province, China, June 2, 2015. Reuters/Stringer (Reuters) A PASSENGER ship carrying 458 people, many elderly Chinese tourists, sank in the Yangtze River in a storm late on Monday and only about 20 had been rescued so far, state media said, in what could be one of China’s worst disasters for years.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered that no efforts be spared in rescue work, although the official Xinhua news agency said bad weather was making rescue efforts more difficult.

Premier Li Keqiang was heading to the scene of the accident in central Hubei province, Xinhua said on Tuesday.

Xinhua, citing the Yangtze River navigation administration, said those rescued from the Eastern Star included the ship’s captain and engineer, who said the vessel

sank quickly after being caught in what it said was a cyclone.

State radio reported that the ship sank within about two minutes and that no distress call had been issued.

About 20 people had been rescued, Xinhua said later on Tuesday.

The official People’s Daily said seven people had swum to shore to raise the alarm.

The Hubei Daily, another official publication, said the ship had capsized and that the hull of the stricken vessel was still visible in the river, where the water was about 15 meters (50 feet) deep.

Weather forecasts said heavy rain was expected on Tuesday.

Among those on board the ship were 406 tourists, aged from around 50 to 80, on a tour organised by a Shanghai tour group, and 47

crew members, the People’s Daily said.

Dozens of vessels are helping in the search and rescue, including fishing boats, Xinhua said. At least 20 divers were also on their way to the scene and about 100 fishing boats were helping in rescue efforts, according to the Hubei Daily.

The vessel was heading to southwest China’s Chongqing city from Nanjing, capital of east China’s Jiangsu Province. It sank at around 9:28 p.m. local time in the Jianli section of the river. It had the capacity to carry more than 500 people, the People’s Daily said.

The Eastern Star was owned by the Chongqing Eastern Shipping Corporation, which runs tours along the Three Gorges area along the Yangtze river. The company has been operating since 1967, the Hubei Daily said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

PPP Commissioners call out Alexander – say ‘half-truths, misinformation’ must be clarified ‘We must ask of Mr. Alexander, the Chief Elections Officer, the Chairman of GECOM and all of those who declared the elections to be above board, why they are so grounded in their denial of a recount of the votes in the ballot boxes? Why the reluctance to provide the disaggregated results by polling division? Why the refusal to provide the requested Statements of Poll? What is there to conceal?’

GECOM Commissioners

Vincent Alexander

Mohamood Shaw

Athmaram Mangar

Sase Gunraj

THREE Commissioners with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) called out Mr. Vincent Alexander, another Commissioner, on “half-truths and misinformation” pertaining to the 2015 General and Regional Election results and contend that despite this his statements corroborate their primary concerns – the falsification of Statements of Polls (SoPs).

In a detailed joint statement, Commissioners Mohamood Shaw, Athmaram Mangar and Sase Gunraj sought to answer the assertions presented by Alexander in a recent statement.

“We believe that it is in the best interest of all concerned that the record be clarified, having regard to the fulminations of Mr. Alexander carried in the press,” they said.

Alexander’s comments were included in a response to a statement made by the three commissioners who detailed several attempts to have a number of irregularities discovered in the electoral process addressed, attempts they contend proved futile – irregularities also raised by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

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

Alexander had said, “The Chief Election Officer produced credible results that I and others felt comfortable with and approved. The aforementioned respond to the central, critical and fundamental concerns raised by the three Commissioners in their press release and clears

the air on the question of the credibility of the results, since the Statements of Poll originating from the Returning Officers and eventually used by the Chief Election Officer were not compromised or invalidated.”

On that basis, he is now facing several questions by his three colleague commissioners: ● How does Mr. Alexander know that the Statements of Poll originating from the Returning Officer and eventually used by the Chief Election Officer were not compromised or invalidated? ● Did he examine them? ● Did anyone examine them against any authenticity criteria? ● We r e t h e y e x a m i n e d against the fake Statements of Poll? ● How many fake Statements of Poll do exist? ● Where did they originate from? ● At which point were they introduced into the GECOM system? ● Who introduced the fake statements into the GECOM system? ● Who investigated them, if any investigation was done at all? ● Where are those fake Statements of Poll now? ● Why do the Chairman, Chief Elections Officer and the other Commissioners believe that it is not important to make this information available to the public? ● What is there to hide?

some fake Statements of Poll (SOPs) somehow entered GECOM.” However, this was disputed and termed “grossly inaccurate, misleading and mischievous.”

The three Commissioners said, “The methodology that was unanimously approved by the Commission required that all Statements of Poll be received by the Logistics Department for logging, then forwarded to at least two Commissioners, one each from governing and opposition parties, respectively, for their initials.

“Only after this was done were Statements of Poll forwarded to the IT Department, for processing. It must, therefore, be clear, that no fake Statement of Poll could have originated from the IT Department, but must have passed through the Logistics Department then to the Commissioners.”

The fact that Alexander himself confirmed this was also highlighted.

“Mr. Alexander’s own admission, said,“…. a count by the Information Technology (IT) Department after the statements bound for the Chief Elections Officer would have been delivered to GECOM, signed off on by at least two present Commissioners and transmitted to IT for tabulation, after which they should have been transmitted to the CEO’s office for custodial purpose.”

On that note, the Commissioners stated that to date the IT Department has still not received all the Statements of Poll.

“Yet a declaration of the results of the elections was approved by a majority decision of the Commission and done by the Chief Elections Officer,” the commissioners argued.

They added that Alexander is aware of this and other material facts of consider-

ation and as such concluded that his omission of these is not coincidental.

The statement said, “Mr. Alexander is aware that the IT Department was ordered to cease operations. Mr. Alexander is also aware that a report which emanated from the IT Department and which established major differences in numbers between its aggregation and that of the

GROSSLY MISCHIEVOUS Alexander had also said, “It was determined in the hours leading up to the final declarations that GECOM had to deliberately disregard several documents from its own Information Technology (IT) Department. This was because of emerging evidence that all was not right with those IT result and that

Chief Elections Officer was withdrawn by the Chairman.

We believe that Mr. Alexander’s failure to include this in his missive is not coincidental. “…we agree with Mr. Alexander that the Chief Election Officer has a duty to tabulate the results and we believe that the report from the IT Department would have assisted him in this regard. The question is whether this was done. We are saying that this was not done. The IT Department was ordered to cease its operations. “…Mr. Alexander corroborates our contention when he stated that, “…the ten declarations from the respective districts were to be used

as the basis for the Chief Election Officer’s summative count; the calculation of the allocation of seats; and the presentation of a report to the Commission, for its approval, prior to the final declaration of results and allocation of seats.”

WHY REFUSE A RECOUNT Taking on Alexander’s comment that the officially declared results emanated from an above the board process, the three commissioners questioned why the request for a recount by the PPP/C was refused.

“Mr. Alexander has inTurn to page 18 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

Minister Patterson to pr taskforce to examine city d

By Leroy Smith

THE Government of Guyana will be looking to immediately establish a multiparty task force including Civil Society to examine in the first instance the drainage of Georgetown and secondly the restoration of the city.

This proposal will be formally made to Cabinet in the coming days by Public Infrastructure Minister, Honourable David Patterson who made the announcement during a press conference on Sunday evening while addressing the issue of flash flooding in several parts of the country. The press conference was held in television studios National Communications Network Inc. During the press conference the minister noted that one of the issue that contributed to the flooding of the city and coastland had to do with “too many bosses” amounting to some six different agencies which have responsibility for drainage in Guyana and who in most cases are very territorial much to the detriment of the country.

Minister Patterson told reporters that he today he will be speaking with the Finance Minister, Winston Jordon to see if any emergency funding can be accessed to effect emergency works.

Once that funding is available then the Ministry with the other agencies would be clearing clogged

canals, desilting outfalls, and carrying out works on the pumps which are nonfunctional. Those pumps the media was told all fall under the supervision of City Hall. The Government has committed to offering its full support to the council to ensure that

firmed by the minister and made even more evident on Monday when the minister took the media on a tour of the facilities around Georgetown and its environs.

Minister Patterson related on Sunday that Georgetown and the coastland ex-

Paterson, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder and Mayor Hamilton Green and teams from their respective agencies visited several of the areas which were under water accessing the discomfort that residents were experiencing. Sunday’s visit also

Minister Patterson with Civil Engineer, Walter Willis it carries out its mandate to reduce the instances of flooding in the city.

On Sunday several parts of the country experienced flooding laid solely at the feet of inoperable pumps, clogged canals and sluices which needed desilting, these causes were con-

perienced 5 inches of water within four to five hours of rainfall. He also pointed out that Georgetown which was the worst affected area only has the capacity to drain a small amount of water, to be precise 1 ½ inches of water every twenty four hours.

On Sunday, Minister

found that out of a total of thirteen sluices in Georgetown only two were functional while two of out six pumps were operable.

By yesterday most of the water had drained off the land but there was still a considerable amount of water in main drains and canals which peak their banks while some roads within the city still had sections of it in sheets of water. The draining of the land took place more rapidly in areas outside of Georgetown as

A portable pump is being used to assist draining the water over the Sussex Street sluice

was evident by midmorning yesterday Monday.

Yesterday, Monday, Minister Patterson was accompanied by Civil Engineer within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Walter Willis where they were able to get a better look at sluices, pumps and outfalls as they were not at the level of water present on the land as on the previous day.

One of the appalling discoveries yesterday was a sluice on Water Street that drains Lamaha Street that has been inoperable for years to the extent that it was estimated to have approximately fourteen feet of slit to be cleared coupled with other works to make it functioning.

Had that sluice been operating many of the flood

A worker from a private Church Street sluice

An outfall channel at Agricola that is in need of desilting The Minister and Walter Willis at the sluice in Kingston which has been inoperable for several years now

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

ropose drainage

company uses a hose to clear the outfall of the waters which have been affecting the Kingston area over the past years would have been able to drain off the land even faster than it drained whenever the community was affected by floods.

Among the areas visited yesterday included Kingston, Water Street, Meadow Bank, Ruimveldt and Agricola.

On Sunday the media was also informed that as of 17.00 hrs that day, the water in the East Demerara Water Conservancy was at 58 GD while the maximum is normally 60 GD it was pointed out that should the

water continue to rise then the water would have to be released through the Lama Sluice and in a worst case scenario the Mahaica area would have to be used to drain the water.

There will be no releasing of water in the Hope Canal since the water has no way of getting into the Atlantic Ocean at this time and although the NDIA last week said that once the conservancy gets at that critical stage the Hope Canal will be tested, the Public Infrastructure Minister reported that the position has been revisited.

Moves afoot to correct debacle in Maths, English

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- but Education Minister says there’s no quick fix to the crisis

By Tajeram Mohabir DESCRIBING students’ performance in Mathematics and English at both the national and regional examinations as deeply depressing, Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine said he will be consulting with teachers and subject experts as a matter of priority to correct the debacle.

Students over the years have not been performing well at these two fundamental subject areas at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, but their performance took a turn for the worse in the past three years.

At CSEC, students’ performance in English counting Grades 1 to 3 showed signs of improvement during the period 2009-2011.

It moved from 50.29% in 2009, to 59.16% in 2010, to 60.82% in 2011. But performance in this subject area experienced a dismal slump during 2012-2014. It declined to 37.02% in 2012, increasing to 45.69 % in 2013, and again increasing but minimally to 46.98 % in 2014.

Last year, 62% of students who sat Mathematics at CSEC failed to obtain a Grade 3 pass, but the pass rate was the best the country has ever achieved in the subject, even though it was the lowest in the Caribbean in that year.

Overall, more than 50% percent of pupils who sit the NGSA fail to attain a score of 50% percent in both Mathematics and English.

Performances in these subject areas reportedly also worsened during 2012 and 2014.

“There is no doubt in my mind that there is a very serious problem in these two fundamental building blocks. The level of failure of these two subjects is deeply distressing.

We have to look at the syllabuses; we have to look at teacher training. There is no instant fit to this crisis.

We just have to recognise it for what it is; we have to get to the bottom of why this has come about; we have to be very careful in our analysis of why this is taking place and move very swiftly to correct it,” Dr. Roopnaraine said.

According to reports, the high failure rate in the two

impact the school system.

Recently, Research and Policy Fellow at Stanford University, Dr. Travis Bristol who has worked in Guyana through the World Bank, said improvement in students’ performance hinges on sound management and the quality of teachers in the school system.

“If you raise the standard of those entering the Cyril Potter College of Education you begin to raise the quality of those who leave,” he told President Minister Dr. Rupert this publication in an interDavid Granger Roopnaraine view on Facebook.

Meanwhile, at his inaucore subjects is due largely Dr. Roopnaraine pointguration ceremony at the to teachers not identifying ed out that while he does and correcting learners’ not want to make promises Guyana National Stadium weaknesses at the primary which he cannot keep, sig- last week, President David level. nificant energies will be Granger lamented the crisis T h i s h a p p e n s e v e n channelled into reversing in the public education systhough there are a National the poor performance in tem, but said improvement Grade 2 and National Grade Mathematics and English in is on the way.

“Our schools have been 4 Assessment in place, for the next few years. that very purpose.

This crisis, he said, can- producing an increasing not be reversed by the wave number of illiterate and inMiserable failure of a magic wand, noting that numerate youths. We shall it has to be addressed in ev- provide fresh opportunities for young students to be The primary school as- ery dimension. sessment system is designed “We can’t rush into solu- educated as engineers to to detect and remedy short- tions without careful iden- build bridges and roads to comings in pupils through tification of the problem. It open our vast hinterland the Grades 2 and 4 examina- calls for a serious analysis and to develop schemes to exploit our hydro-electrical tions, so by the time potential. they reach Grade 6, “We shall train they would be able to geologists to demaster basic concepts velop our bauxite, in literacy and nudiamond, gold, meracy. From reports, manganese and teachers have been quarrying resourcfailing miserably in es. We shall train this regard. biologists, botaAnd the resultant nists, zoologists effect is that many and agriculturists students leave the to expand food primary school system unable to do el- Education Minister Dr. Rupert production. We ementary reading Roopnaraine says there is no quick shall expand opand basic calcula- fix to the high failure rates in portunities to improve communitions. This problem English and Mathematics cation and human is then exported to learning, and to the secondary school system when pupils elevate on the delivery of education drive our economy forward from the primary level, and in the classrooms. There is at a faster rate. We shall is a main reason for the no quick fix, but there is a improve information, comhigh failure rate of English fix. We have to act on this munication and education and Mathematics at the quickly as I would like to see infrastructure in hinterland CSEC level. these failures reversed,” the and coastal areas.”

These opportunities, he Speaking with the Guy- Minister of Education told said, cannot be exploited by ana Chronicle, Dr. Roop- this publication. the impoverished, the ignonaraine was not oblivious to rant or the illiterate. this weakness in the school Review “They cannot be system.

“We can move swiftly A former university achieved while so many but the correction will take professor, Dr. Roopnaraine primary school children us some time. All of these said all aspects of teacher cannot qualify to enter matters have to do with the training will be reviewed secondary school or when quality of what is being and scrutinised, and areas thousands of children drop delivered. It is something that need to be corrected out of our primary and secthat we will have to engage will be corrected and those ondary schools every year. our best pedagogical minds that need refining will be They can be achieved only by an educated populaon and some of the more refined. thinking elements within The end result, he said, tion. We have much work the Guyana Teachers’ Union is to ensure that teachers to do to fix the broken (GTU). We have to make who leave the teacher train- public education system,” this a national project,” the ing college are fully capable he said.

Minister said. and competent to positively

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Electrician gunned down in Mocha home

By Leroy Smith TWENTY-THREE-YEAROLD Terrence Lanferman, of 37 Nelson Street Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara, was last evening gunned down while at his home by a lone gunman who entered his yard, shot him and calmly walked out before racing to a parked motorcycle and fleeing the area.

Persons in the area recalled hearing two explosions which sounded like gunshots just before seeing the assailant running from the yard.

Speaking with this newspaper, the dead man’s mother, Ulice Lanferman, said that she was at work when she received a call asking that she visit the

Police investigators gathered in the yard where the incident occurred as they interviewed the dead man’s fiancé at extreme right

Diamond Hospital. The woman, who works at a Guyoil Service Station, raced down to the hospital where she was informed that her son was shot and had died.

According to her, the information received suggested that her son may have been in the house and was reportedly shot through the window or

he was sitting in the yard. The young man was at home alone while his fiancé was upstairs at a neighbour when the incident occurred.

Terrence is in the business of installing music systems in minibuses and other vehicles and he did some amount of servicing to motorcycles.

Terrence leaves to mourn

his mother, and two siblings, ages 15 and 14. Last evening when this publication visited the Diamond Hospital, many friends and family of the deceased were gathered as others came in one by one as the news of the killing spread Back at the home in Mocha, resident, lined the streets as they try to come to grips with the untimely death of the young man. The police investigators were also present at the scene conducting their investigations, and they also questioned the fiancé of the dead man.

Persons said that after the shooting they saw a motorcycle without number plate speeding out of the community in a very unusual manner, but were not yet aware that one of the young men in the village was gunned down.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

Some public schools to remain closed today THE Ministry of Education wishes to advise parents and guardians that some schools will remain closed today.

The following schools are expected to be closed: GEORGETOWN: 1. South Road Nursery 2. Headstart Nursery 3. Albouystown Nursery 4. St. Agnes Primary 5. Gacestock Primary 6. Queenstown Secondary 7. Sophia PIC EAST COAST DEMERARA: 1. Annandale Secondary 2. Annandale Primary

3. Chateau Margot Primary 4. Montrose Primary 5. Vryheid’s Lust Primary 6. North Vryheid’s Lust Nursery 7. St. Paul’s Primary 8. Ogle Nursery 9. Plindola Nursery 10. Better Hope Nursery 11. Prince Williams Street Nursery Meanwhile, CSEC candidates of the Annandale Secondary School are asked to note that their examinations will be written today at the Annandale Primary School.

PPP Commissioners... sisted that ‘the results were above board and it was based on verified figures signed off by officials present at the polling stations’. If Mr. Alexander is so convinced then there is no reason why he should not agree to a recount – is there?” the three men questioned.

The trio added, “We must ask of Mr. Alexander, the Chief Elections Officer, the Chairman of GECOM and all of those who declared the elections to be above board, why they are so grounded in their denial of a recount of the votes in the ballot boxes?

Why the reluctance to provide the disaggregated results by polling division? Why the refusal to provide the requested Statements of Poll?

What is there to conceal?”

SAME REASONS Taking together Alexander’s points of contention, the three Commissioners made clear that he “hit the nail on the head” by pointing out that the problem is the falsified Statements of Polls.

Alexander had said, “The most critical point to note is that the three most relevant authorities (Returning Officers, the Chief Elections Officer and the political parties) should have been in possession of the original and identical statements of polls.”

On that note, the three Commissioners said, “Mr. Alexander has hit the nail on the head. The problem is that the Statements of Polls in the possession of the “three most relevant authorities” materially differ. This debacle is compounded by the Chief Elections Officer’s own admission that fake Statements of Poll penetrated GECOM

machinery.

“We are baffled by this bold assertion of Mr. Alexander. These are the very reasons why we did not vote in favour of the declaration of the results because we insisted that some process be embarked upon that would have investigated, if not, reconciled these differences.”

EVIDENCE PROVIDED Relative to Alexander’s contention that no evidence was provided to support the claim of irregularities, the three Commissioners said, “This is simply an outrageous statement. That the Statements of Poll in the possession of the Returning Officers are corrupted, some are fakes, some are tainted with irregularities, are the very gravamen of our contention. The verification exercise conducted by the Returning Officers with the political parties confirmed this.

“We are not sure how Mr. Alexander can profess to have knowledge of the Statements of Poll used by the Returning Officers and those in the possession of the parties. That assertion of his, alone, is shocking. …Mr. Alexander acknowledges that it is true that People’s Progressive Party/ Civic sought to question approximately 22 Statements of Poll in the case of District 4, but in no instance did they present original Statements of Poll as the basis for their contention. We reject this contention absolutely. Photocopies of 22 Statements of Poll, accompanied by a spreadsheet, were presented to the entire Commission by a delegation of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic.

From page 15

Neither Mr. Alexander, nor any other member who was present, requested original documents.”

The trio added, “…Mr. Alexander stressed that it was agreed that the Chief Elections Officer would investigate the apparent corrupting of the system, but not at the expense of delaying the production of credible results.

“We, as Commissioners, are totally unaware of any such decision and vehemently dispute that any such decision was taken. The reality is that when the Chief Elections Officer reported his findings to the Commission, we agreed that he should set aside the fake Statements of Poll for investigation and that he should continue with the application of the methodology approved by the Commission.

“The Commission never agreed that he should use the Returning Officers’ Statements of Poll. How could we have done that without first determining the origin of the fake Statements of Poll?”

The three noted too that Alexander did not mention that the Chief Elections Officer reported to the Commission that he saw Statements of Poll with in excess of 100 per cent votes more than persons registered to vote at the concerned polling station.

“Why did Mr. Alexander omit these very crucial pieces of information?” they questioned.

All considered, the trio repeated the request made for the requested information, in a preliminary effort to give validity to their positions that the elections were not rigged, to be released. (Vanessa Narine)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

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Two technicians and passenger charged over cocaine-in-rum at CJIA

By Geeta Rampersaud TWO AC technicians at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and a passenger who were recently accused of having three bottles of Eldorado 5-year rum laced with cocaine were yesterday refused bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

The alleged mastermind, Kean Brewster, 21, of ‘B’ Field Sophia, along with 24-year-old Lorick Williams of Lot 51 Prospect, East Bank Demerara and Chris Douglas who hails from Timehri denied the charge read to them.

Particulars of the offence stated that on May 29 at the CJIA, they had in their possession 6.304 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

According to Police Prosecutor Bharrat Mangru, Williams along with the other accused Douglas works at the airport as AC technicians. He informed the court that the two men gave Brewster three bottles of Eldorado 5-year rum

laced with cocaine to take to the United States. The transaction allegedly took place in the washroom area of the airport.

The court heard that Brewster was searched when the three bottles of the rum looked unusually thick. The prohibited drug was tested and proved to be the suspected cocaine.

He allegedly admitted that he was indeed trafficking it to the U.S. and pointed out the other two accused as the persons who handed him the bottles.

The prosecution further informed the court that footage from the airport surveillance camera showed all the accused entering the washroom. It was also stated that the defendants admitted they were paid various sums of cash to play their part.

Douglas was represented by attorney-at-law, Mr. Gordon Gilhuys and Williams was represented by attorney-at-law, Ms. Latchmi Rahamat but Brewster was unrepresented.

Despite arguments by the defence attorneys for bail, the trio were denied

Remanded on robbery under arms charge A LABOURER of Lot 154 Hunter Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was yesterday remanded to prison on a robbery under arms charge.

Shawn Maynard pleaded not guilty to the charge that said on May 28 at Hadfield Street, also in Georgetown, being armed with knife he robbed Rohinie Cameron of one Samsung cellular phone valued $60,000.

According to the prosecution facts, on the day in question around 20:30 hrs Cameron was proceeding along Hadfield Street, when Maynard who was on a bicycle and rode up towards her, subsequently, he allegedly pulled out an alleged knife and demanded that she hand over the stolen article.

An alarm was raised and the unrepresented man was apprehended by public spirited citizens.

Police prosecutor Bharat Mangru opposed bail on the grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. He further objected that there is a likelihood that other charges will be laid against Maynard.

Bail was refused and the matter was adjourned to June 22.

pretrial liberty and the matter was adjourned to June 16.

Alleged drug mule refused bail AN alleged drug mule was yesterday placed in Camp Street prison, after he was refused bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for possession of narcotics.

Clarence Kingston pleaded not guilty to the charge that said at Port Kaituma,

Man stole peanuts in cutlass attack on vendor – court told

A MAN was yesterday refused bail after he allegedly stole peanuts and cash from a nut vendor while brandishing a cutlass.

Delroy Boyce pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on May 21 at Kingston, while being armed with a cutlass, he robbed Harifa October of two packs of parched nuts valued $200 and $3,000 in cash.

According to the prosecution, on the day in question October was selling peanuts from his push cart when the defendant came up with a cutlass and demanded one pack of nuts. After October refused he took the two packs of nuts and $3,000 in cash and threatened to kill him if he told anyone. He was later pointed out to the police and he was arrested and charged. Bail was refused for the Lindener until June 3.

North West District he was found with 1,134 grammes of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

According to the prosecution, around 08:30 hrs, Kingston was stopped and searched by police on patrol duty. As a result of the search, leaves, seeds and stems of the suspected plant were found in a speaker box owned by Kingston.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru informed the court

that in a caution statement Kingston admitted to ownership of the illicit drug.

Kingston was represented by Attorney-at-law, Mr. Dexter Todd.

However, he was denied pretrial liberty after the prosecution opposed bail on the grounds that no special reasons were presented to the court for bail to be granted.

The matter was transferred to Port Kaituma Magistrate’s Court for July 27.

Tuesday June 02, 2015 - 5:00hrs Wednesday June 03, 2015 - 5:00hrs Thursday June 04, 2015 - 5:00hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

'Hurry Up' Moore forced to wait LOCAL super bantamweight king Leon `Hurry Up’ Moore was forced to endure the second postponement of a crack at the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) title.

The USA-based power-puncher was scheduled to face Frenchman Karim Guerfi on May 30 in St Maarten but that match has been rescheduled to July 4.

A source close to Moore revealed that administrative issues have again come up as the reason for the postpone-

ment.

The card would also feature Guyana’s first female world champion Gwendolyn `The Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil who is down to fight Sonya Lamonakis in what would be her first ring appearance in four years.

The Moore/Guerfi bout was originally set for April 4 in St Maarten. Moore’s manager Seon Bristol had pointed out then that some issues needed to be resolved before the fight could go ahead.

“There have been some administrative issues which forced the postponement of this fight. The good thing is that both camps are happy with the new date and Leon is back to being focused and winning this event. The shift in date has done us a whole lot of good as we are now able to concentrate on specifics and not have to prepare in a hurried way.

Leon is now settled and doing very well in his training at Gleason’s Gym,” Bristol declared.

WINDIES FOCUSED FOR FIRST TEST ...

From Backpage

about the team and we just have to make sure that we are ready as a team for the Test match on Wednesday.”

Chanderpaul averages nearly 50 in 20 Tests against Australia, and boasts an overall Test average of 51 from 164 Tests. He has also scored 11 867 runs along with 30 centuries.

In his absence, selectors have drafted in two uncapped players with wicketkeeper/ batsman Shane Dowrich and opener Rajindra Chandrika named in the 14-man squad for the first Test.

Simmons said he was

thrilled by the morale in the squad and pointed out they were trying to build on the momentum gained from the 1-1 draw in the recent three-Test series against England.

“We’re always confident.

Once we prepare properly which we have been doing regularly – in the England series we did that and we’re doing that now – so once you prepare properly you have to be confident about what the team can do,” Simmons stressed.

“We played well in the three Test matches (against England). We need to improve because it’s Australia

– no disrespect to England – and we’re trying to do that as much as possible.”

Simmons said the camp in Barbados last week for 12 members of the 14-man squad, had been a huge benefit for the side.

“The energy has been brilliant. We had a fiveday camp in Barbados and the energy has been there, the camaraderie, the whole enjoyment of being there and training hard has been there.”

The first Test will be played at Windsor Park here with the second bowling off at Sabina Park in Jamaica on June 11.

board member Heather Rabbatts said she was withdrawing from FIFA’s task force against racism and discrimination with immediate effect.

“Like many in the game, I find it unacceptable that so little has been done to reform

FIFA,” said Rabbatts in a statement.

“It is clear from the reelection of president Blatter that the challenges facing FIFA and the ongoing damage to the reputation of football’s world governing body are bound to continue to overshadow and undermine the credibility of any work in the antiracism arena and beyond.”

CONCACAF general secretary Sanz ...

From Backpage Wantete, general secretary, were suspended for 90 days pending further investigation, renewable for another 45 days.

In another development, English Football Association

Pelé backs Blatter’s re-election as FIFA president for fifth term

THE Brazilian soccer legend Pelé has welcomed the re-election of Sepp Blatter as FIFA’s president.

Blatter secured a fifth term in charge of football’s world governing body at FIFA’s annual congress in Zurich last week after seeing off the challenge of Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.

The 79-year-old faced calls to step down after the FBI arrested 14 FIFA executives and officials over “rampant and systemic” corruption allegations. However, Pelé backed Blatter’s re-election and believes his experience made the Swiss the only choice for the post.

“I was in favour. It was necessary because it is better to have people with experience,” he said Sunday after arriving in Havana see a charity match. “He’s a man who has been there for 25 years (with FIFA), you have to respect him; it was an election.”

Pelé’s former club New York Cosmos will face Cuba at the Pedro Marrero Stadium in Havana today.

The match – which will make Cosmos the first professional American sports team in 16 years to play in Cuba – has been organised to mark the thawing of relations between the two countries.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

Blatter disgraced FIFA, says former VP Warner BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) - No one has brought more shame on FIFA than its president Sepp Blatter and he should step aside for a younger leader, the organisation’s former vicepresident Jack Warner has said.

Warner, who has been accused of soliciting bribes as part of a U.S.-led corruption case against senior football officials, left jail in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday after he was granted bail, according to local media.

“Why are there no investigations in Asia, or in Europe?” Warner told German magazine Stern in an interview released yesterday.

“Why are there no investigations into Sepp Blatter?

No other person has brought so much shame and disgrace on FIFA.” Warner is among nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with running a criminal enterprise that

involved more than $150 million in bribes.

Asked by Stern if he thought 79-year-old Blatter was corrupt, Warner said: “I only know this: he was elected FIFA boss five times in succession. Is he corrupt?

I don’t know.

“If I were his age ... I’d retire and pass the presidency of FIFA on to someone younger. But everyone has different ideas of what to do with their lives.”

Once one of the most powerful men in FIFA, War-

ner surrendered to authorities on Wednesday after U.S. officials sought his extradition.

Prosecutors say Warner solicited bribes worth $10 million from the South African government for them to host the 2010 World Cup and diverted bribes for personal use.

Warner issued a statement protesting his innocence on Wednesday as FIFA reeled from police raids in Switzerland and the U.S. and a second investigation opened by the Swiss authorities into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Former FIFA Vice President Jack Warner

Warner, who faces 12 charges, including racketeering and bribery, said on Wednesday he was innocent and noted he had left football activities four years ago.

The 72-year-old resigned from FIFA after ethics investigations were

begun into a meeting he held with former Asian Football Confederation chief Mohammed bin Hammam where payments were made to Caribbean football officials ahead of the election for FIFA president in 2011.

Sharapova bows out, Nadal sets up Djokovic showdown

By Pritha Sarkar PARIS, France (Reuters) - A cold chill circulated around Maria Sharapova as the title-holder was frozen out of the French Open tennis yesterday but there was no stopping Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal from blazing a trail towards a scorching showdown.

A day after rain played havoc with the schedule, Sharapova’s hopes of reaching a fourth successive final at Roland Garros were turned to dust in the fourth round by the dynamite forehand of Lucie Safarova, the Czech winning 7-6(3), 6-4.

An explosive quarter-final, however, awaits those lucky enough to hold Wednesday tickets for Court Philippe Chatrier after nine-time champion Nadal and world number one Djokovic set up a smoking showdown that former champion Jim Courier called “the match of the season so far”.

For 10 days now, all roads at Roland Garros had been leading to this last eight collision and it became a reality as Spanish sixth seed Nadal tamed American tyro Jack Sock 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 shortly before Djokovic overwhelmed Richard Gasquet 6-1, 6-2, 6-3.

For under-the-weather Sharapova, though, Monday was a total letdown.

The Russian spent the changeovers coughing and spluttering into a tissue but the second seed refused to blame health problems for her earliest Paris exit since 2010.

“I’m still a competitor no matter what. I’m going to do everything in order to go out and give it my best. I did the best I could. Today it wasn’t

landmark would not look out of place in the sketch books of his five-year-old twins Charlene Riva and Myla Rose, what the Swiss produced on court was a masterpiece.

DAZZLING FEDERER

Title-holder Maria Sharapova is frozen out of French Open.

enough, because my opponent had a different gear than I did,” the 2012 and 2014 champion told reporters.

Sharapova was one of eight grand slam champions in action on day nine with Serena Williams and Roger Federer making sure they did not suffer the same fate as the Russian.

Top seed Williams relied on her famed survival instincts rather than her explosive firepower to extinguish the challenge of fellow American Sloane Stephens 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

As she came back from a set down for a third match in a row, her exertions turned her hot-pink outfit into darker shade of cerise -- but that mattered little to the fashion-conscious Williams.

“I keep fighting, I never give up,” a grinning Williams summed up following a performance strewn with 43 unforced errors.

Fellow 33-year-old Federer also harbours hopes of landing another title in Paris.

In the build-up to his showdown with French showman Gael Monfils, Federer tweeted a squiggly sketch of the Eiffel Tower.

While his attempt at drawing the famous Paris

Resuming the match at one-set all, Federer dazzled Monfils with an array of spine-tingling winners for a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory that kept him on track for a

record 18th grand slam title.

“I’m pumped up to be in the quarters again. It really means a lot to me,” he said.

At 33, Federer would have been relieved with such a swift conclusion to the match because, thanks to Sunday’s rain-curtailed programme, he will be back on court for the third day running today for his all-Swiss quarter-final against Stan Wawrinka.

There will be two Spaniards in the men’s last eight after seventh seed David Fer-

rer ended U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic’s run with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 romp.

His next challenge will be ending the 14-match claycourt winning streak of Andy Murray after the British third seed tamed France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova was barely noticed as she also slipped out, beaten 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 by Swiss Timea Bacsinszky.

Sharapova’s exit blew open the bottom half of the women’s draw, where Ana

Ivanovic remains as the highest seed at seven.

While Safarova produced 19 scorching forehand winners to bamboozle Sharapova, the Russian was also left to rue double faults at key moments.

She produced a pair of misfiring serves in the first set tiebreak, another double saw her go 2-0 down in the second set and a third handed Safarova match point.

“Oh my God, I cannot say how happy I am ... this is amazing,” Safarova said.

Rain holds up New Zealand victory bid

By Ed Osmond LEEDS, England (Reuters) - England, chasing 455 to pull off the highest successful run chase in Test history, were 44 for no loss when rain ended play on day four of the second and final match of the series against New Zealand yesterday.

Captain Alastair Cook was 18 not out with Adam Lyth unbeaten on 24 when the bad weather forced the players off four overs after lunch and play was abandoned three hours later.

New Zealand had declared their second innings on 454 for eight after an entertaining morning session.

Resuming on 338 for six, the touring side plundered 116 runs in 75 minutes to close in on a series-levelling victory.

BJ Watling was caught at third slip by Joe Root off James Anderson for 120 after becoming the first New Zealander to score a Test century at Headingley.

“I’m very proud to have achieved that,” Watling told

a news conference. “I wasn’t really aware of it until I read it last night.

“We’ve still got 98 overs tomorrow to bowl them out and we are definitely backing ourselves. We have to concentrate on our skills, put the ball in the right areas and we can cause some problems.”

Mark Craig and Tim Southee added 67 runs off 53 balls before Southee, on 40, hit spinner Moeen Ali straight to Anderson at long-off but Craig continued to flay England’s attack on the way to an unbeaten 58.

Stuart Broad conceded 20 runs off one over and the England fast bowler was hammered for three more sixes in the final over before the declaration.

The highest successful fourth-innings run chase in Tests was achieved by West Indies who made 418 for seven to beat Australia in Antigua in 2002-3.

“We’ve got quite a bit of work to do but we have the opportunity to do something special,” Root said.

“We’ve got every intention of winning the game and we feel very positive. The first hour will be important to set up the chase but it is still a good pitch and we

need to come out with all guns blazing tomorrow.”

England won the first Test at Lord’s by 124 runs.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez and Ken Ferris)

SCORECARD

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 350 (L. Ronchi 88, T. Latham 84; S. Broad 5-109) England 1st innings 350 (A. Lyth 107, A. Cook 75; T. Southee 4-83) NEW ZEALAND 2nd innings (o/n: 338-6) T. Latham c Buttler b Broad 3 M. Guptill c Root b Wood 70 K. Williamson c Buttler b Broad

6 R. Taylor c Stokes b Wood 48 B. McCullum lbw b Wood 55 B. Watling c Root b Anderson 120 L. Ronchi c Buttler b Anderson 31 M. Craig not out 58 T. Southee c Anderson

b Ali 40 M. Henry not out 12 Extras: (b-4, lb-6, w-1) 11 Total: (for 8 wickets decl’d, 91 overs) 454 Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-23, 3-122, 4-141, 5-262, 6-315, 7-368, 8-435.

Bowling: J. Anderson 23-4-96-2 (w-1), S. Broad 16-1-94-2, M. Wood 19-297-3, B. Stokes 12-1-61-0, M. Ali 16-0-73-1, J. Root 5-0-23-0.

ENGLAND 2nd innings (Target: 455 runs) A. Lyth not out 24 A. Cook not out 18 Extras: (lb-1, w-1) 2 Total: (for no loss, 13 overs) 44 Fall of wickets: Nil. Bowling: T. Boult 7-0-200, T. Southee 3-1-13-0 (w-1), M. Craig 1-0-1-0, M. Henry 2-0-9-0.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

NOTABLE DATES

Concussed Chris Rogers to miss first Test

By Daniel Brettig in Roseau

AUSTRALIA opener Chris Rogers will miss the first Test against West Indies in Roseau from tomorrow because of a concussion he suffered after getting hit in the nets on Sunday. Shaun Marsh appears likely to take his place.

Rogers batted briefly after the blow to the helmet, inflicted by a local net bowler, but pulled up sore yesterday morning and was ruled out by the team doctor Peter Brukner.

Brukner tested Rogers at the team hotel on Sunday afternoon and found evidence of various concussion symptoms such as dizziness; they had not alleviated significantly enough by yesterday morning.

Rogers was informed of the decision by Brukner, the coach Darren Lehmann and the captain Michael Clarke as training began yesterday at Windsor Park.

“He won’t be returning to training until he’s fully recovered,” Brukner said.

“He’ll have a return to play process once he’s symp-

Chris Rogers inspects his helmet.

tom-free of a few days, gradually increasing his activity before he gets back to it.

It’s likely he’ll be available for the second Test but we won’t know that for a few days yet. I spoke to Darren and Michael and they were comfortable with it. I assured Michael if it was he or anybody else, we would be making the exact same decision.

“This is a black-andwhite rule now that if someone is concussed, they don’t play. We used to believe concussion was a relatively insignificant condition but

now all the evidence shows that we’ve got to take it much more seriously.

Cricket is similar to the football codes in that we’re adopting that more serious approach.”

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon said any decisions relating to concussion or blows to the head had been taken out of the players’ hands last summer.

“It’s definitely unfortunate that’s happened, the doc’s made that call and the health and safety of each player is key, so hopefully Buck will find his feet soon

and he’ll be back before you know it,” Lyon said.

“We had a talk about it (concussion) last summer after Buck got hit (in Brisbane) and the doc simply made the rule that we don’t have a say in it really, so it’s up to the doc and our health and safety is the doc’s main priority, so we’re guided by him.”

The decision meant Marsh is set to open alongside David Warner in Roseau, having made a polished hundred in that position against a WICB President’s XI in Australia’s only warmup fixture, in North Sound.

It was the second time in the space of six months that Rogers had been hit on the head. He had suffered a blow to the back of the helmet while fielding at short leg during the Brisbane Test against India in December.

After that knock, which took place only a matter of weeks after the death of Phillip Hughes, Rogers looked decidedly upset and admitted to briefly pondering his future. He has since said the West Indies and England tours will be his last. (ESPN CRICINFO)

South Africa denies paying $10M bribe for 2010 World Cup

THE president of the South African Football Association, Danny Jordaan, has denied the country bribed FIFA officials to help secure the 2010 World Cup through payments worth $10M. The awarding of the 2010 tournament to South Africa has come under scrutiny following a series of bribery charges against FIFA officials by the U.S. authorities, who have made 14 arrests.

The U.S. district court has alleged widespread corruption within the governing body and detailed an alleged $10M payment that was transferred to Caribbean Football Union accounts by FIFA in return for three votes in South Africa’s favour.

South Africa was chosen as 2010 World Cup host ahead of Morocco in 2004 and Jordaan has insisted the payment four years later was not a bribe to secure votes He told the South Africa’s Sunday Independent: “I haven’t paid a bribe or

taken a bribe from anybody in my life. We don’t know who is mentioned there (in the U.S. indictment). And I don’t want to assume that I am mentioned.”

He continued: “How could we have paid a bribe for votes four years after we had won the bid?”

The South African minister for sport, Fikile Mbalula, tweeted on Sunday: “We must never be (sic) afraid to face the truth even from our worst enemies. #wedidnotbribe” The U.S. indictment alleges the $10M payment was made in 2008 to “support the African Diaspora” and divided between three co-conspirators including Jack Warner, then president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football.

The indictment reads: “On January 2, 2008, January 31, 2008 and March 7, 2008, a high-ranking FIFA official caused payments of

President of the South African Football Association Danny Jordaan

$616 000, $1 600 000, and $7 784 000 – totalling $10M – to be wired from a FIFA account in Switzerland to a Bank of America correspondent account in New York for credit to accounts held in the names of CFU and CONCACAF, but controlled by

the defendant JACK WARNER, at Republic Bank in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Sepp Blatter was elected for a fifth term as president on Friday despite the arrests and controversy engulfing FIFA. (The Guardian)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday June 02, 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: Deryck Murray & Keith Boyce 26 Test hundreds Today’s Quiz: How many Test matches the WI and Australia have contested against each other to date?

Who were the captains involved in the first ever WI/ Australia Test?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

T

ERRENCE Alli was 14-3-1 when he faced southpaw American Danny Avery on June 2, 1983 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It was the fifth fight in the USA for Alli and he won by a majority decision after six rounds.

Alli had nine more victories before he met Harry Arroyo for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight title. The much taller American, who was three years Alli’s senior was declared winner by TKO after referee Tony Perez stopped the contest at one minute and 16 seconds of the 11th round.

Undaunted, Alli had two more attempts at world titles. He frequently appeared on international television network ESPN and his trademark - rushing after the opening bell and style of fighting - won him many adoring fans.

Alli fought Jose Luis Ramirez in July 1987 for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight title and lost by a unanimous decision. He later moved up to the junior welterweight division and collided with legendary Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez for the WBC title, but was TKOed in round six.

Alli had nine other fights after that but none ended in a victory. Today he still stands out as the Guyanese with the most tries at a world title.

A

NTHONY `The Pearl’ Andrews was the national bantamweight champion when he fought Jose Guerrero of the Dominican Republic on June 2, 1985 in Guyana.

With a record of seven victories and one loss at the time, Andrews made sure he added another win to his collection after he TKOed Guerrero in the sixth round.

The fight was the last for Guerrero. However, Andrews shifted camp to the USA soon after which resulted in one of the leanest periods in his career.

From August 1985 to June 1988 `The Pearl’ engaged in nine fights in the USA. He started out on a positive note following a 10th round knockout of Bobby Francis in New York on August 16, 1985.

However, in the next eight fights Andrews only mustered one victory and two draws. His five losses came by way of points decision. There were more defeats awaiting Andrews when he returned to Guyana. In his first fight back home Barrington Cambridge claimed the national welterweight title with a unanimous decision over `The Pearl’.

He, however, gained revenge in 1991 after turning the table on Cambridge. Andrews was later crowned middleweight champion of Guyana and in May of 1995 unsuccessfully challenged World Boxing Association (WBA) middleweight title.

While leading on all the judges’ cards Andrews was TKOed with 46 seconds left in the 12th and final round.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 2, 2015

Supligen the official sponsor of Senior National Bodybuilding C’ships … Hostin ‘Biscuit’ Worrell to guest pose

M. BEEPAT and Sons has officially branded this year’s Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF)-organised Senior National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, under the Nestle Supligen product.

This took place last Saturday at a formal launch at the Park Vue Hotel and Lounge at Farm on the East Bank of Demerara, which will also host the event on July 18.

Brand Manager Treion D’Anjou said, “We believe in health and fitness and we hope that other companies follow in our footsteps.”

President of the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) Keavon Bess noted that the federation and the main sponsor have established a cordial relationship and also

Witnessing the handing-over ceremony were GBBFF’s General Secretary Stacey McKinnon (left), Moressa Oscar – Secretary/Treasurer (2nd left), GBBFF President Keavon Bess (centre), Treion D’Anjou – Nestle Brand Manager and GBBFF Organising Secretary Videsh Sookram (right).

highlighted that this year’s champion will be crowned

the ‘Supligen Mr Guyana’.

It was disclosed that Mr

Windies won’t back down from Aussies, warns Holder

ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – West Indies may be languishing six spots below Australia in the international Test rankings but that will not prevent the Caribbean side from looking to stun their opponents in the upcoming series.

All-rounder Jason Holder has warned that despite the gulf between the two teams in the rankings, West Indies would not allow themselves to be intimidated when the two-Test series bowls off tomorrow.

“They’re ranked number two in the world and that says a lot. We’re currently down at eight and we need to work our way up,” the 23-year-old rising star said here.

“We have to give them the respect they’re due but obviously we’re coming to compete and win this series.

We’ll be coming in quite hard at them. (We’re) looking to be aggressive and at least continue the rich vein of form we had in the England series.”

That England series proved a confidence-booster for the Caribbean side which have languished near the bottom of the Test rankings

Guyana, Kerwin Clarke, will have his hands full, with competitors such as reigning Flex Night champion Godfrey Stoby, last year’s Novices champion Sylvester Andrews, the likes of Clint Duke, Marlon Bennett, Alex Hamilton and three-time CAC gold medallist, Devon Davis.

The federation’s Organising secretary also disclosed that for the first time on the Senior stage, the Men’s Physique category will be contested. As customary, the Ms Bikini and the Ms Body Fitness segments will also be included.

The top three athletes for each bodybuilding category will be rewarded, with the overall champion pocketing $100 000, a trophy and a

supplement hamper.

The winners of the Men’s Physique, Ms Bikini and the Ms Body Fitness categories will take home $50 000 each along with trophies and supplement hampers.

Meanwhile, the federation has recruited 16-time CAC welterweight champion Hostin Worrell to be the guest poser at the event.

The Barbadian bodybuilder has posed and flexed his way to numerous titles including Mr Barbados, Mr Bridgetown, Mr St Michael, Mr Darcy Beckles (six times) and winner of the Sports World Invitation Classic (welterweight).

The championships will commence at 19:00hrs and admission is $1 500.

Eric Phillips replaces Stuart May on GFF’s Normalisation Committee

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday announced the appointment of Eric Phillips as the replacement for Stuart May, on its Normalisation Committee appointed by football’s world governing body FIFA. According to a GFF release, May has been a part of the Normalisation Committee since its induction by FIFA in October, 2014. His resignation from the Normalisation Committee is due to family commitments.

As a result, FIFA has appointed Phillips to complement the members of the Normalisation Committee effective from May 25.

Phillips will join the Normalisation Committee in an effort to complete the mandate provided by FIFA by its September 30, 2015 deadline.

Chairman of the Normalisation Committee, Clinton Urling, has expressed his appreciation to May for his time devoted to the development and restoration of systems and procedures at the GFF. He also stated that he is looking forward to working with Phillips to ensure that the work of the Normalisation Committee is completed within its specified timeline.

Somerset fan Martin Bullock swims to retrieve six ball West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder

in recent years.

Seemingly headed for defeat in the first Test in Antigua last month, they batted out the final day to force a draw. And though they suffered a nine-wicket defeat in the Grenada Test, they bounced back superbly to win the final Test in Barbados by five wickets.

One familiar face will be missing for the West Indies when they square off with the Aussies in the opening Test at Windsor Park, however.

Ve t e r a n l e f t - h a n d e r Shiv Chanderpaul, who has played 164 Tests and aver-

ages nearly 50 in 20 Tests against the Aussies, was axed by selectors last week, prompting a firestorm of controversy.

Holder said it was important the team remained focused despite the raging debate around Chanderpaul’s omission.

“The exclusion of Shiv has caused a lot of talk.

That’s beyond me at this present time, my focus right now is on cricket,” said Holder. “It’s quite important we put cricket first and try to perform well against Australia.”

Martin Bullock is clearly thrilled with the ball he swam for.

SOME people bid huge sums of money for memorabilia at auction, some wait hours to get it signed, others swim for it.

And Martin Bullock did just that when Somerset’s Chris Gayle smashed a six into Taunton’s River Tone on Sunday.

It was the West Indian’s 15th six of his unbeaten 151 in the T20 defeat against Kent and Bullock, of Corn-

wall, reckoned it was worth getting wet for.

“Take a bow, sir - that was quite sensational today!

I swam for my souvenir at the end,” he tweeted.

“Never seen cricket like that before! Simply breathtaking from Chris Gayle,” added Martin, who was filmed swimming for the ball.

And Gayle was similarly impressed when he saw the

footage. “Hats off to you, champ,” he tweeted in reply.

Gayle’s contribution along with 92 against Essex in his first Somerset T20 match - has left fans in awe of the Jamaican’s hitting power.

The 35-year-old is the first man to score more than 150 twice in the T20 format and holds the most T20 centuries in all on 15.

(BBC Sport)

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Somerset fan Martin Bullock

31 swims to retrieve six ball Page

CONCACAF general secretary Sanz suspended by FIFA

CONCACAF general secretary Enrique Sanz

ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) CONCACAF general secretary Enrique Sanz and two football officials from Africa were provisionally banned by FIFA’s ethics committee yesterday as the fallout continued from last week’s arrests before the governing body’s annual Congress and presidential election.

Sanz was suspended following investigations by FIFA’s own ethics committee and also by United States prosecutors while Congolese Football Association (FECAFOOT) officials Jean Guy Blaise Mayolas and Badji Mombo Wantete have also been banned.

CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb and his associate Costas Takkas were among seven football officials arrested in Zurich on Wednesday, two days before FIFA’s annual Congress.

They are being detained pending possible extradition to the United States on corruption charges.

In all, U.S. authorities said nine officials and five sports media and promotions executives were charged in cases involving more than $150 million in bribes over a period of 24 years.

Windies focused

for first Test despite Shiv controversy

They said their investigation exposed complex money-laundering schemes, millions of dollars in untaxed incomes and tens of millions in offshore accounts held by FIFA officials.

Colombian-born Sanz, who had held the post since 2012, had already been sent on leave by CONCACAF last Thursday.

The ethics committee said in a statement the Sanz was suspended “following previous decisions and further clarification, and on the basis of investigations carried out by the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee and the latest facts presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.”

The Congolese suspensions were “based on the fact that various breaches of the FIFA Code of Ethics appear to have been committed by said official,” the committee said.

Mayolas, FECAFOOT’s vice-president, and See page 28

'Hurry Up' Moore forced to wait ory See st e 28 g on pa

- Simmons

Shiv Chanderpaul

ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – West Indies head coach Phil Simmons says he does not believe the controversy surrounding the axing of veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul has impacted negatively on the side’s focus ahead of the opening Test against Australia starting tomorrow.

Regional selectors have come under fire over the last week for their decision to axe Chanderpaul from the squad, with former batting star Brian Lara going as far as to call for his re-inclusion in the squad.

However, Simmons said the Windies had gone about the business of preparing for the series in a professional manner.

“I don’t think the team has been distracted. I think we came yesterday and we looked like we wanted to practise and we started practising properly,” the Trinidadian told reporters here yesterday.

“Today will show the same thing and tomorrow. It’s See page 28

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Leon `Hurry Up’ Moore forced to endure a second postponement TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2015