2015 6 20

GUYANA

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2015 Budget grows ahead of September deadline No. 104226 SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

INCLUDING VAT

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…consultations under way, private sector involved – Finance Minister

Williams, Hunt talk criminal justice improvements

Minister Winston Jordan

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Cops at prayer

Bryan Hunt

Minister Basil Williams

Election petition to be filed shortly - PPP/C

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These four members of the Guyana Police Force 'A' Division Impact Base were yesterday morning observed holding hands in prayer in the Brickdam Police Station compound, before venturing out on an operation.

It is reported that the very four ranks, who usually work as a team, have a time of prayer every time before they go out on an operation.

The men are Lance Corporal Marlon Longhorn, and Constables Eon Aurthur, Rondell Gillis and Husani Tappin. (Photograph By Leroy Smith)

Anil Nandlall

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

Williams, Hunt talk criminal justice improvements SUBSEQUENT to a courtesy call by U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Bryan Hunt to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams yesterday, Hunt told reporters the two countries will work closer on “improving criminal justice and bringing to account those who are guilty of crimes.”

Addressing the importance of Guyana’s pending money- laundering legisla-

tion, the senior US embassy official expressed confidence that Parliament will approve the legislation by the September deadline, since it has been in limbo for years.

“We fully support the Government in that objective. It’s going to be very important that the legislation is passed by the September deadline for submission to the Financial Action Task Force before its October meeting,” Hunt said.

Hunt expressed optimism about the current format and structure of the bill as he said “[It] has been reviewed by a number of international bodies.” He continued, “if the bill were to be passed in its current form, then it would be fully compliant with the recommendations that have been put forward by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force [CFATF], and the global Financial Turn to page 9 ►

U.S. Charge d’Affaires Bryan Hunt, and Attorney General & Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams after yesterday’s meeting

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

2015 Budget grows ahead of September deadline

…consultations under way, private sector involved – Finance Minister

By Gary Eleazar THE 2015 National Expenditure, commonly referred to as the annual budget, will meet its September deadline and according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, its size will very likely be larger than previously anticipated.

The Finance Minister, yesterday, during a brief exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle said that work is currently under way and it is becoming clearer that as against previous projections of a smaller budget than that of last year, this could in fact change.

He noted that the 2015

Budget will have to reflect expenditure already undertaken during the course of the year.

The Finance Minister said too that unforeseen expenditure being met will also have to be reflected; that would see the size of the 2015 Budget increasing.

He pointed to the recent emergency bailout of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) which has already seen a Government transfer of billions of dollars already being approved with several billion more under active consideration.

The Finance Minister noted that at present, the ministry is primarily engaged in preparatory works for the

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

consultations.

He did point out too that already the ministry has commenced meeting with at least one section of the private sector.

The minister said that already a lot of work has been done by the Budget Office in terms of preparations for the Budget, but pointed out that there is still some way to go.

He noted that in addition to expenditure incurred, the budget will also have to reflect the necessary changes made since the coalesced A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) took office, such as the renaming of a number of Government ministries.

Government ministries, for accounting purposes, are documented as budget agencies in the annual expenditures.

Only recently, Finance Minister Jordan was quoted as saying that increases in pension as promised during the APNU+AFC campaign will be delivered.

“We are going to make certain the pensioner gets at least what was in the 100 – day agreement and I think it was $15,000. We are going to ensure that pensioners can get at least that,” the Finance Minister is on record as telling the Government Information Agency earlier this month.

Head of State David

Granger, during the convening of the 11th Parliament last week Wednesday, had reminded too of the increases promised, saying that they will be delivered.

Ahead of the 2015 Budget, President Granger had told Parliament too, no income tax will be paid this year by minimum-wage earners; there will be no increases in income tax rates, Value-Added Tax (VAT) or National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions this year; but there will be a “moderate” increase in pensionable earnings for the elderly and in wage and salaries for public sector employees.

Poor management hurt rice, sugar industries – PM Nagamootoo – Gov’t looking for money to pay rice farmers

By Tajeram Mohabir PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has contended that poor management has taken a toll on the rice and sugar industries, even as he called on the former administration to be part of the solution for the survival of sugar.

According to the Prime Minister, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government put the rice industry on the back foot by transferring billions of dollars from the PetroCaribe Fund for investment in development projects.

This, he said, has bankrupted the fund, for the riceoil trade with neighbouring Venezuela.

“We had billions of dollars in the PetroCaribe Fund and we were never told that the Government that was in power a few days ago transferred US$115M to the Guyana Power and Light from the rice fund; transferred US$10 million to the Ministry of Housing under Minister Irfaan Ali to build houses and develop lands that sugar workers can’t buy and houses you can’t live in,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo told a gathering at the remembrance ceremony for the Enmore Martyrs on Tuesday.

Unlike what the previous administration had said, he pointed out that the funds to build the Hope Canal were not sourced from the treasury.

The US$16 million to construct the canal to ease flooding in the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary area also came from the PetroCaribe Fund.

All of these, Nagamootoo said, resulted in the new administration being greeted with an empty fund with no money to pay rice farmers.

He said the Government is discussing finding money to pay rice farmers when the crop comes up and for outstanding

sums owed them for rice sold.

According to reports, some $800 million has been released

by Government to pay millers.

Some US$15 million is owed to farmers.

According to Prime Minister Nagamootoo, while bad management hurt the rice industry, it brought the sugar industry down.

After only a few days in office, the APNU+AFC Administration had also learned that GuySuCo did not have money to pay sugar workers.

NOT A BITTER MAN The prime minister told the

gathering that he is not a bitter man, pointing out that fixing the sugar industry will not be an easy task, and all should play a meaningful role.

He said the Government wants to make the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees(NAACIE) partners in finding solutions to save the industry.

This newspaper sought a reaction from GAWU President Komal Chand on the invitation extended by the Prime Minister, but he was not prepared to comment at the time, suggesting that he would have to be fully briefed first.

The Prime Minister, who is

a former PPP/C Government minister, said the views of the workers, the PPP/C and others will also be solicited when a Commission of Inquiry is set up to look into the crisis facing the sugar industry.

“The Commission will go to every estate and talk to the sugar workers and find out from them what can be done to save sugar. Sugar workers must be part of the solution; they must not be part of the problem. We are also hoping that the People’s Progressive Party, whose name has been linked to sugar workers for so many years that they too would find it convenient, as a patriotic duty, to come forward and help find the solution,” he said, adding:

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

“The PPP can hate this Government but… they should come to the table and talk to us on how to make the industry survive.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20 2015

Seventy killed, hundreds injured in Burundi unrest: rights group (Reuters) AT least 70 people have died in Burundi since clashes erupted between security forces and activists protesting against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term, a leading Burundian human rights group said.

The opposition took to the streets in late April saying Nkurunziza’s plan violated two-term limits set out in the constitution and a peace deal that ended an ethnically charged civil war in 2005.

The violence has stoked tensions in a region with a history of ethnic conflict, particularly in neighboring Rwanda, hit by genocide in 1994. Rwanda and Burundi share the same ethnic mix of a Hutu majority and Tutsi

minority.

ADVERTISING Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, a veteran activists who heads the APRODH rights groups, told Reuters that 70 people had been killed and about 500 injured. Hundreds of people had been detained by police, he added.

The police had no immediate comment, but have previously put the death toll much lower than estimates from rights groups.

Rallies subsided in early June, but diplomats say tensions run high and could flare during voting or if Nkurunziza wins again.

The president has said he will still run, citing a consti-

Protesters who are against Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza and his bid for a third term march towards the town of Ijenda, Burundi, June 3, 2015. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic

MERS spreads to Thailand (Reuters) ONE of Thailand’s leading hospitals, known for treating medical tourists, said on Friday it had received the country’s first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), as authorities said it had taken nearly four days to confirm the illness.

Thailand said on Thursday a 75-year-old businessman from Oman, who had traveled to Bangkok for medical treatment for a heart condition, had tested positive for MERS.

The announcement came just as an outbreak in South Korea that began last month and has infected 166 people, killing 24 of them, appeared to be leveling off.

The high-end Bumrungrad Hospital, run by Thailand’s second-largest hospital operator, identified the first MERS case. The hospital in central Bangkok treats over a million patients a year, about half of them foreigners.

“The patient came to us tired, coughing ... there was no fever,” a doctor from the private hospital told a tele-

vised news conference. “So we X-rayed his chest ... we found that he could have two things, a heart condition or the MERS virus.”

Tourism accounts for 10 percent of the Thai economy and medical tourists make up more than 10 percent of visitors, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. About a third of those medical tourists come from the Middle East.

The hospital said 58 staff had been quarantined, but all other operations were continuing as normal.

The infected man was

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Putin says Russia weathering sanctions, lectures West

moved to Bangkok’s Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute on Thursday.

Staff there were seen wearing and giving out masks to visitors, according to a Reuters reporter at the scene. Health warnings were posted in front of the building’s entrance.

Two South Korean hospitals were locked down and another completely shut due to MERS, while the prestigious Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, where most infections occurred, stopped taking new patients during the outbreak.

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tutional court ruling saying that his first term, when he was picked by parliament rather than voted in a popular vote, did not count.

A parliamentary election is scheduled for June 29 followed by the presidential poll on July 15. Both have been delayed several weeks in the wake of the unrest.

The Red Cross of Burundi says it knows of 24 people who died during the unrest. It only counts those people its workers confirmed dead or who died when being treated. Emergency workers have said the total number is probably much higher.

A Red Cross spokesman said the group’s workers treated or took to hospital 591 people.

(Reuters) PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin boasted on Friday that Russia had found the “inner strength” to prevent sanctions causing a deep economic crisis, and told the West to stop using “the language of ultimatums.”

Investment in Russia has slowed to a trickle, capital flight has risen and the economy has been sliding into recession since oil prices tumbled last year and the West imposed economic sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.

But in a 29-minute speech to a business forum and a question-and-answer session that lasted more

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than an hour, Putin ignored calls by many investors to unveil new plans to end the downturn.

Instead, he warned the West not to meddle in Moscow’s affairs and shifted blame for the conflict in Ukraine onto the West, primarily the United States.

“I would like to point out that at the end of last year we were warned - and you know this well - that there would be a deep crisis,” Putin said in the speech in the former imperial capital of St Petersburg.

“It has not happened.

We have stabilized the situation ... mainly because the Russian economy piled up a sufficient supply of inner strength,” he told an audience including rows of foreign and Russian businessmen and much of the Russian government.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

PM says ‘Christian’ lives next door: Jack delusional

( Tr i n i d a d G u a r d i a n ) PRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she has a neighbour named Christian Gokool but to her knowledge he has never received any Government contracts.

Also responding to Independent Liberal Party leader Jack Warner’s questions on whether there were at least three drug finds in 2013 at he home at Philippine, San Fernando, Persad-Bissessar said Warner was “delusional.”

She said so Thursday as she responded to Warner’s claims, at a cottage meeting at Embacadere, San Fernando, on Wednesday night.

During his speech, Warner spoke about the 2013 alleged marijuana find and questioned whether there were more than what was confirmed

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, centre, along with Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, right, Republic Bank’s managing director, David Dulal-Whiteway, second from right, Republic Bank Ltd chairman Ronald Harford and Public Administration Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan turn the sod for the Carlton Lane Housing Project, San Fernando, Thursday. At left is Finance Minister Larry Howai. PHOTO: RISHI RAGOONATH

Brazil senators flee Venezuela attack

(BBC News) A GROUP of eight Brazilian senators on a visit to Venezuela to meet a jailed opposition leader say they had to flee after their bus was attacked.

The Brazilian opposition politicians were trying to meet Leopoldo Lopez, who is in jail accused of inciting violence during protests.

The group said the bus was stoned as it travelled from Caracas airport.

Brazil’s foreign ministry says it will seek an explanation from the Venezuelan government.

One of the senators, Ronaldo Caiado, tweeted: “Our bus was under siege; they were beating and trying to break it.

I filmed them throwing stones against the bus.”

Another, former presidential candidate Aecio Neves, said: “We are here to defend democracy and until now the Venezuelan government has shown little appreciation of it.”

The BBC’s Daniel Gallas says the group returned to the airport and is reportedly waiting to go back to Brazil.

The incident occurred a few hours after the senators landed in Caracas airport.

Earlier this month former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzales left Caracas earlier than expected after his attempts to speak to Mr Lopez, who has been in jail for more than a year.

Mr Lopez is accused of inciting violence during protests last year. More than 40 people, from both sides of the political divide, were killed in months of demonstrations against the government of Nicolas Maduro.

Former presidential candidate Aecio Neves was part of the delegation

by the police. He also gave Persad-Bissessar two weeks to tell the nation who “Christian” was.

Interviewed by reporters following the sod-turning of the Housing Development Corporation and Republic Bank’s Carlton Lane Housing Project yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said Warner needed to be more specific because she knew several “Christians”.

“I do not know which “Christian” he is speaking about so we await his words,” she first said.

But asked by reporters if Warner may have be referring to Christian Gokool, she said: “Oh yes, that name is familiar to me. In fact, Christian Gokool is my neighbour at the Philippine residence, one of the properties next door belongs to him, his father and his

wife.”

Asked if Gokool was a recipient of Government contracts, she replied: “Not to my knowledge that Mr Gokool has received any government contract. I am not aware of any such contract.”

Told that Warner was also questioning whether marijuana was in fact found three times on her premises and not once as confirmed by the police, Persad-Bissessar said: “Mr Warner is delusional, quite frankly. There is something that says he who alleges must prove and I await Mr Warner to prove any of the allegations that he has made.

“If it is that the police have reported something was found there fine, the police is investigating that, go ahead.

Russia promises to help Jamaica restore mined-out bauxite lands

(Jamaica Gleaner) THE Government of Russia has pledged assistance to Jamaica with restoring minedout bauxite lands to full agricultural productivity.

Mining minister Phillip Paulwell says the European country has pledged the latest in Russian technology.

Russia’s agriculture minister has reportedly expressed hope that livestock and food crops can be exported from Jamaica to Russia.

Paulwell is representing Jamaica at the 19th St Petersburg International Economic Forum in Moscow.

He reportedly told JIS news that he has been having meetings with various representatives from the Russian government to strengthen cooperation in specialised areas.

He says in addition to cooperation in agriculture, Russia has also pledged assistance on environmental issues.

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EDITORIAL

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20 2015

GUYANA

Happy Father’s Day, Mom Tomorrow, Sunday 21st June, the world will celebrate Father’s Day; but why should fathers who were/are derelict in their responsibilities to their offspring, leaving all the care and worry to overwhelmed mothers, be felicitated on a day specially selected to honour fathers?

Society is plagued with single mothers who have been abandoned by their spouses and/or the fathers of their children. Many times the sheer weight of these responsibilities, especially if there is no support system, has resulted in some mothers making unfortunate decisions, often with tragic consequences.

Recently a video of a newborn baby girl left abandoned and eaten alive by ants went viral on social media sites.

Over the years, many such horrific incidents have surfaced, revealing the cruel acts of desperation of some mothers left in a quandary, with a baby and/or children to support, with absolutely no support systems.

Several times children left alone while their mothers sought employment to provide for their needs were burnt

to death, or starved, or were abused by predators, while uncaring members of the community treat the impoverished and vulnerable family with scorn.

Delinquent fathers often never face the brunt of the dereliction of their responsibilities to their offspring – not even in the courts. The consequences of these fathers absconding from their parental duties are often dire and can fill volumes; but there are sometimes such wonderful stories of the abandoned children growing up to become super-achievers. Even if they do not achieve to the optimum levels of their inherent potential because of a lack of money and opportunities, just to have her child grow up as a responsible and decent member of society is a commendable achievement for any single mother.

Then there are the mothers who, although in a destructive relationship or marriage and cannot exit their desperate circumstances for some reason or another, strive with everything within their power to provide for

their children all their needs, ensuring they are imbued with the requisite values and moral fortitude to become decent, responsible and law-abiding citizens. Kudos to these mothers who may not be appreciated for their lifelong sacrifices and unrelenting efforts to achieve for their children the kind of lifestyles they could not aspire for themselves.

To mothers who have striven single-handedly to bring up their children to be decent and humane citizens of the land, investing in them moral compasses that enable them to withstand with fortitude and dignity travails they endure in life, and the strength of character to rise above their circumstances, without intruding on the rights of anyone, to carve a niche of success whereby they can rise above all societal frays in their self-created world and boundaries, the Guyana Chronicle says, “Happy Father’s Day, Mom!”

Second Rupununi Music and Arts Festival launched

WITH the potential to become one of Guyana’s most sought-after festivals, the 2nd Rupununi Music and Arts Festival was launched on Friday and is slated to take place at Annai, North Rupununi.

The festival was launched at the Ministry of Tourism now located at Colgrain House and is to take place from the 18th to 20th of September. It is being dubbed an “Experience of a lifetime.”

Speaking at the launch, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Minister of Education, stated that his ministry is very pleased to be associated with the festival. He added that be believed the best way to keep our culture and talents alive is to have them integrated into our education system.

“Music is a key component of encouragement in all fields, to have the indigenous art form displayed especially for our young people. This is an important part of our culture,” he related.

Dr Roopnaraine stressed that the festival has great potential and can create new business opportunities, boost tourism and eventually a

--slated for 18-20th September at Annai

(L-R) Festival Director, Dr Bob Ramdhanie; Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock; Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine; and Tourism Minister, Catherine Hughes key tourist attraction. He music festivals. “There the world at large.” She Annai. assured all stakeholders that is a growing market of also alluded to the fact that Hughes stated that the his ministry supports the persons that are moving during the last festival she Tourism Ministry and the festival completely and will away from the traditional had wanted to attend, but Guyana Tourism Authority be assisting in whatever way pop music festivals and are could not since all flights (GTA) are completely supnow looking to experience to the Rupununi were com- portive of this event in every possible.

Tourism Minister Cath- the more cultural music pletely booked. With this way and urges all Guyanese erine Hughes is convinced festivals.” in mind, she urged all local to attend.

According to the Tour- airlines to make the necesof the success of this year’s During his remarks, festival and noted too that ism Minister, “We will start sary preparations so as to Minister of Indigenous there is a great possibility right here in the Caribbean accommodate the influx of People’s Affairs Sydney for the festival to become first and market the festi- persons wanting to fly into Allicock explained that one of the most popular val and then move on to

“Guyana is like an unpolished diamond and little by little, we are seeing it sparkle now.” He continued to explain his comment noting that little by little Guyana will reach its full potential.

Allicock stated that almost 60% of Guyanese have not seen many parts of Guyana and such a festival will encourage local people to visit the Rupununi. He noted that both public and private partnerships are needed for the success of the festival and assured the coordinators that the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs is in full support of the event.

Speaking also at the launch was Director of the festival Dr Bob Ramdhanie and owner of Rock View Resort at Annai, Colin Edwards. Both personalities urged all to be a part of the festival which will feature both local and international artistes.

Edwards also thanked all stakeholders involved, noting that both private and public entities have thrown their support behind the event.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

GLDA briefs small-ruminant farmers on plans to enhance incomes THE Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) yesterday briefed local small ruminant farmers on its plans for helping them to enhance their incomes under a component of the EU-Funded Agricultural Policy Programme (APP), which the authority has been asked to execute over the next 18 months.

The objective of the APPlaunched in 2013 and funded to the tune of 8.6 million Euros - is to enhance the regional and inter-regional capabilities of agricultural sectors in CARIFORUM countries in eradicating poverty.

The APP is being implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in partnership with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the CARICOM Secretariat, Women and youths are to be the main beneficiaries .

The small ruminants development programme for local goat and sheep farmers in Guyana is being implemented by the GLDA on behalf of CARDI and will run until December 2016 Resource persons at the inaugural event yesterday included Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr George Jervis; Programme Manager, Agriculture and Industry CARICOM Secretariat, Ms Nisa Surujbally ;Chief Executive Officer of the GLDA, Dr. DindyalPermaul; Head of the Animal Production Unit of the GLDA, Dr. Gavin Peters; Senior Livestock Extension Officer and Coordinator of the small

ruminants component of the programme, Selwyn Anthony; and senior agricultural officers within the sector.

A representative of the donor agency, the EU, was also among the attendees.

Participants included over 80 goat and sheep farmers hailing from all of the administrative regions, except Region 1 (Barima/Waini) .

In opening remarks, coordinator Mr Anthony disclosed that the APP programme for small ruminants will enable the GLDA to share with local farmers the best practices for small-ruminant production gathered from across Guyana and across CARICOM, so that they could effectively position their production in the market place.

PS Jervis urged the smallruminant farmers to seize the opportunity to learn from the event so that they can eventually take their activities to a higher level of production and profitability.

“This project will help you to move from farming small ruminants mainly from subsistence mode to the generation of wealth,” he said.

He urged them to aggressively market their sheep and goat meats, so that those products become part of the everyday menu of Guyanese households.

Dr Peters told farmers that they have every incentive for increasing production since the markets are available locally and regionally.

He said that the Caribbean had produced approximately 7.4 million kilograms of sheep and goat meats in 2008, but imported 14 million kilograms for that same period from as far away as New Zealand and Australia.

He said that the aim of CARICOM countries is to reduce those imports by 10% and this offered a great opportunity for local farmers in the sector.

Dr Dindyal Permaul told the sheep and goat farmers that the GLDA was committed to working with them and providing material assistance to them to move the sector to another level .

He said: “What we are committed to is to help you take your production to levels Permanent Secretary George Jervis and CEO of the GLDA, Dr which will generate greater Dindyal Permaul, at the commencement of the seminar yesterday wealth ; help you enjoy a bet- support. elected comprises Carol the GLDA will soon hold ter quality of life.”

The farmers indicated Ann Benjamin of Region 2 meetings in the nine parDuring the session, the their willingness to form a (Pomeroon/Supenaam); Sat- ticipating administrative farmers offered feedback on National Sheep and Goat narine Sahadeo and Cynthia regions towards the esthe issues which have to be Farmers Association and Foo of Region 3 ( Essequibo tablishment of a national addressed in order for them to also indicated their desire Islands/West Demerara) ; dialogue platform, which increase their production. to help in the process by Andrew Cush of Region 4 will aim to move the secThese included land, fi- electing a five-man steering (Demerara/Mahaica); and tor further along the path nancing and supplementary committee to liase with the MrRambhajanRamlagan, Re- towards achievement of feed, --especially during the GLDA. the APP programme obgion 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) . rainy season -- and veterinary The steering committee Anthony disclosed that jectives.

PARTICIPANTS: Some of the participants at the GLDA APP small ruminants development inaugural event

Election petition to be filed shortly- PPP/C “THE PPP/C is committed to the filing of the petition,” says former Attorney General and executive member of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Anil Nandlall.

During a recent press conference held at Freedom House, the former AG stated that the party has every intention of filing the petition before the deadline. He maintained that the PPP/C will continue to dispute the results of the recently concluded elections and the elections petition is still on the cards.

“I’ve already said publicly that the People’s Progressive Party is committed to the filing of a petition,” Nandlall said.

He acknowledged that the time to do so is “running” and according to Guyana’s law, any elections petition must be filed within a specific timeframe of the publication of the election results in the Official Gazette .“So [now] that has

happened and the time is running, so it will be filed within the prescribed timeframe,” he added. The former AG also noted that the party’s previous request for a box- by-box recount has been included in the elections petition.

“The party has not been furnished with the info that the head of the list requested,” and according to Nandlall, GECOM’s refusal of the request for a full recount diminishes its credibility. “GECOM continues to maintain resolutely that the elections process was transparent; that the results were computed accurately, lawfully and transparently, yet it absolutely and emphatically refuses to give us the information which essentially is the basis upon which the results were computed,” he explained.

“They have given us a number, a total, and all we’re asking is that they give us the evidence that led you to that

figure. One would have expected that to keep one’s integrity intact, GECOM would have jumped at the opportunity.” He said too that bodies external to GECOM who would have maintained the results as accurate are not advising the elections body correctly.

Nandlall stressed that these agencies should advise GECOM to conduct a full recount. This, he said, would maintain not only GECOM’s integrity, but also that of external bodies. After the recently concluded 2015 general and regional elections, the PPP/C had vehemently stated that “the elections had not been conducted freely, fairly or transparently.” The party had claimed a number of discrepancies had occurred in the entire process and requested a full recount of the more than 400,000 votes recorded.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20 2015

FOOTBALL OR T&T ‘HATE’ POLITICS? --focus on Warner’s anti-PM campaign

Analysis by RICKEY SINGH AS THE current bitter politics of embattled former FIFA’s top-rank official, Jack Warner, unfolds, question of much relevance is whether the ex-football ‘paymaster’ turned controversial politician is not, in reality, engaged in a duel for survival—in whatever capacity?

As the saying goes, in politics all things are possible. Perhaps that’s why the irascible Warner, once the lead political ‘trouble-shooter’ for the United National Congress dominated People’s Partnership (PP) government, is now preoccupied in nailing himself to a political cross ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s coming September 7 parliamentary elections and awaiting the inevitable clutches of the United States justice administration system.

For now, the unfolding distressing exposures of the flamboyant politician and former well-esconsed money handler within the hierarchy of the international football association, FIFA, Warner is increasingly revealing how much hatred he can summon with expectations of poisoning voters against Trinidad and Tobago’s first woman Prime Minister he was once competed to promote and defend—Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Jack Warner The big question in this unfolding political drama is who will have the last laugh—Jack or Kamla?

For now it appears as if this 70 plus years politician and FIFA’s once influential money handler for income and expenditure, is bent on fanning as much political falsehood and hatred as possible against the first woman to lead a major party and subsequently head a government with a record majority in Trinidad and Tobago.

To be guided by the official electoral register for the House of Representatives coming elections, it seems that Warner, former UNC chairman, parliamentarian and cabinet minister, would have to spread a whole lot of hatred to convince sufficient

of the million plus registered voters why, on September 7, they should give him and not her the benefit on any prevailing doubts on credibility.

For his latest anti- Kamla politicking, Warner chose to go public last week with the “news” that on June 6, 2015, he had informed a local Justice of the Peace that back on April 12, he was advised by former deputy Police Commissioner “of a packet containing four ounces of marijuana being found outside the window of Persad-Bissessar’s private residence….”.

GO TELL THE FBI” What a place to “hide”; what “discovery”! Consumers of “the weed” must be having belly laughs. However, seemingly unfazed ,

Kamla Persad-Bissessar the Prime Minister’s immediate response to Warner, her former National Security Minister, was to take what he said was “found” to the local police and to now make his “information” available to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

While other cabinet ministers were openly scoffing at Warner’s claimed marijuana “find”, it was being recalled in the local media that the Prime Minister had requested Warner’s resignation on April 20, 2013, following a public release of a Commission of Inquiry report by Barbados’ retired Chief Justice, Sir David Simmons, that made serious claims of corruption against the said controversial Warner.

Sir David had chaired the inquiry---that attracted

national, regional and international media coverage--on behalf of FIFA’s Ethics Committee which identified Warner and others of its hemispheric body, CONCACAF, as having been involved in financial corruption.

Now the Prime Minister, herself a senior counsel and former Attorney General, is facing stiff challenges from the main opposition Peoples National Movement (PNM) under the leadership of Dr Keith Rowley for state power at the coming September 7 poll, while having to cope with the so-called ‘bacchanal politics’ of her once close and vociferous party and ministerial colleague, Jack Warner, of ‘FIFA’s “money fiasco” fame.

At the May 2010 general elections, her UNC, leadership of which Persad-Bis-

sessar had earlier captured from the once reputed ‘silver-haired fox, the charismatic Basdeo Panday, a landslide victory capturing 26 of the 41 parliamentary seats.(including the then six first-time Congress of People’s MPs).

Although she could have comfortably governed alone, against the PNM’s dozen MPs, the Prime Minister opted to form what eventually matured into a People’s Partnership (PP) coalition government---holding together against the odds—to now seek a second five-year term, now against the firsttime opposition leadership of the PNM’s Keith Rowley.

The opinion polls keep recycling basically the same messages of fluctuating popularity ratings, mostly in the PM’s favour, as well as keeping alive hopes for both the incumbent and challenger with recurring projections of a likely “close outcome”.

Well, we have until the late night of September 7, or early the following day, to figure out the significance of any negative impact from Jack Warner’s propaganda barrage against a second term for Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s leadership.

If I may wager a bet, I think that when the curtains are drawn, PM Persad-Bissessar is most likely to have the last laugh!

(Rickey Singh is a noted Caribbean journalist based in Barbados)

AG signals reforms for independence of GECOM, Supreme Court, Parliament ATTORNEY GENERAL and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams has disclosed a plan for major legislative reforms to secure the independence of constitutional agencies such as the Supreme Court of the Judicature, the Guyana Elections Commission [GECOM], Service Commissions, and Parliament.

The reforms will be finalised in two bills, one of which the AG said will be tabled on or before the June 25 sitting of the National Assembly.

The Constitution Amendment Bill, Williams said, will secure the independence of the Supreme Court, GECOM, and Service Commissions.

“That bill intends to restore the independence of certain

constitutional bodies that were eroded by legislation that made them budget agencies,” Williams added.

The approval of this constitutional amendment hangs in the balance, due to the absence of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic in the 11th Parliament.

For his part, Williams noted the need for the Opposition to be involved in constitutional reform. He said: “That’s not a problem for us reaching out to the Opposition, because it’s our main platform to have a national unity Government and to be inclusive.”

Following a courtesy call by United States Charge d’Affaires, Bryan Hunt, to the Attorney General yesterday in the AG’s Carmichael Street

Chambers, Hunt told reporters that the conversation he had with the AG was “to get an idea of the reforms that the new Government wishes to institute in order to restore the independence of the Judiciary, and ensure due process within the country.”

The US envoy expressed his satisfaction with the ideas of the David Granger Administration and hinted the commitment of his Government to assist with achieving the reforms.

While the autonomy of constitutional agencies such as GECOM and the Supreme Court remains a focal point for the David Granger Administration, the Attorney General said another bill will be tabled to bring about the autonomy of the Parliament.

That bill is named the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil “Office of the Clerk of the NaWilliams, with US Charge d’ Affaires, Bryan Hunt tional Assembly Bill” and will

not be presented for the next sitting, but AG Williams is optimistic that it will make its way to the House soon. This bill will require only a simple majority and could be passed with the 33 seats held by the A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition.

While the PPP/C has not signalled its intention to be part of the 11th Parliament which opened Wednesday, June 10, the US Envoy expressed concern over the absence of the PPP/C for parliamentary oversight.

“It’s very important in a democratic system to have not just the Government, but also a very vibrant Opposition. Forty-nine per cent of the public spoke very clearly that they wanted the PPP/C to represent them in Parliament,” Hunt added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

Albouystown man Ministries, other ‘busted’ with agencies monitoring cocaine at Lethem drainage in City, surrounding communities – as record rainfall prevails THE record levels of precipitation and resultant flooding in various parts of the capital Georgetown and low lying coastal communities over Thursday night and yesterday is being closely monitored by officials of the Ministries of Public Infrastructure and Agriculture, the latter through its National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), and the Georgetown Mayor and City Council.

Yesterday, visits were paid to Albouystown, South Ruimveldt, Sophia and areas adjacent to Brickdam, Sussex, Hadfield, Main, Regent and other city streets which were flooded with several inches of water.

Officials from the minis-

tries and agencies checked drainage facilities at the Ruimveldt Outfall, Princes Street koker, and the Cummings Street/ Downer Outfall. Blockages were cleared and desilting of the Liliendaal outfall and nearby canals also undertaken.

According to the ministry, Georgetown, Region 4, over the past 26 hours, has experienced approximately 106.3mm of rainfall. The Hydro-meteorological office stated that in Central Georgetown 27.9 mm of rainfall between 08:00hrs and 10:00hrs yesterday, was recorded. Mechanical pumping of sluices began from 08:30hrs and water was drained by gravity until 15:30 hrs.

Persons living in low

lying areas are being advised to take all necessary precautions to protect their children, homes, property and health during this period of excessive rainfall.

Guyana has been experiencing periods of excessive rainfall that have resulted in flooding in certain areas.

On June 12, the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) reached the threatening level of 58.25 Georgetown Datum (GD) and the NDIA undertook to test the Northern Relief Channel of the Hpoe-Dochfour canal project for the first time.

The discharge has since been ongoing successfully. This has been complemented by discharge through the Cunha, Kofi and Land of Canaan relief sluices into the Demerara River.

AN Albouystown resident was on Friday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, after he was “busted” with narcotics in his toilet by the Lethem police last Monday.

Andre Douglas, 42, of Lot 56 James Street, Albouystown, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which read that, on Monday,June 15,2015 at Tabatinga, Central Rupununi, he had in his possession 19 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Douglas’s lawyer, Mr. Jerome Khan, explained to the court that his client is a father of two and currently he is employed at the Georgetown Abattoir.

Khan noted that Douglas had ventured to Lethem

because he was doing home construction to his property that he has in the area. However, the lawyer argued that his client has no knowledge of the drug in the house, hence the case is based on multiple occupancy of the house. Khan revealed to the court that four other individuals were also arrested; however, they were released, after the police decided to charge his client because he had a confrontation with the officer based on him resisting the trumped- up charge.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru explained to the court that about 16:00hrs on the day in question, the police acting on information went to the said house. As the police approached the

house, the defendant was seen running into the house and back out.

Mangru noted that the drug was found concealed in the toilet area after the police became suspicious and searched the house. Subsequently, Douglas was arrested along with four other men who were present at the house also.

Lastly, the prosecutor noted that based on the statement given by the informant, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advised that Douglas be charged.

Bail was refused and the magistrate remanded Doulas until Monday, September ,2015, when he will appear at the Lethem Magistrates Court.

Alberttown resident on ganja possession charge A MAN was on Friday charged for possession of marijuana and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Rayon Cameron pleaded guilty to the charge which alleged that on Friday, June

19, 2015 at Georgetown, he had one gram of cannabis in his possession.

Cameron, who was unrepresented by counsel, explained that he lives with his fiancée at First Street, Alberttown, Georgetown. However on the day in question, when he came home he found the

house ransacked and the suspected drug on his television set. The magistrate then entered a not- guilty plea based on the man’s explanation.

Bail was granted in the sum of $3,000 and the matter was transferred to Magistrate Annett Singh for Tuesday, June 23, 2015.

Williams, Hunt talk...

From page 2

Desilting of the Cummings Canal ongoing

Action Task Force.” [FATF].

Cummings and Downer Canals, leading to the Liliendaal outfall

INCREASED DEA PRESENCE As an aside, Hunt was asked whether passage of the legislation would aid the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in its assistance to local authorities. He responded directly, but hinted to greater collaboration between the two countries under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).

Hunt did say however that the DEA will be seeking out more permanent personnel for its operations in Guyana, since the unit operated previously out of Trinidad and Tobago.

“The DEA, at this stage, is in the process of identifying full-time personnel to be here over longer periods

of time,” said Hunt, while adding the local agencies to benefit from greater collaboration and training under the CBSI are the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

Hunt acknowledged a noticeable reduction in drug seizures within the country as of recent and he linked this to the work done by the DEA with local authorities. “I think it’s fair to say that since the DEA began their operations here, we’ve certainly seen a significant uptick in the number of seizures that have happened in airports,” Hunt told reporters yesterday.

US-GUYANA EXTRADITION On the question of extradition of criminal offenders

from Guyana to be tried in the U.S, Hunt said there is currently a long-standing extradition treaty between Guyana and the U.S which goes back to Guyana’s colonial past.

That treaty, according to Hunt, could see some revisions in the future to “enhance the effectiveness of the agreement, but those would not be rushed, since “the Government would have to look at what’s feasible under Guyanese law, [and] our lawyers would need to look at what’s feasible under U.S. law.”

Hunt later explained that there might not be any drastic changes to the agreement between the two countries, but simply a revision of “procedures relating to how we handle requests on the two sides.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

Engineers expertise to be optimised for building, cohesive, sustainable communities – Minister Bulkan MINISTER of Communities Ronald Bulkan has asserted that the expertise and experience of engineers and other technical specialists would be optimised as the ministry strives to build cohesive, sustainable communities across Guyana.

This was expressed by the minister during his address to engineers, technical specialists and project coordinators from the Department of Housing, Department for Water, Department for Local Government and Department for Regional Development at an Engineers’ Workshop.

Ministers within the Ministry of Communities, Keith Scott and Dawn Hastings-Williams, Permanent Secretary Emil McGarrell, and Technical Adviser to the Ministry of Communities on projects, Charles Ceres, were also in attendance at the interactive workshop held at the Arthur Chung Convention

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan during his remarks

Centre,Liliendaal, on Friday.

The workshop sought to ensure that engineers are familiarised with and sensitised to projects being undertaken by each department under the new ministry, since they will be harmonised into one unit to achieve the policy direction of the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change coalition Government (APNU+AFC). One critical function envisaged under the unit will be to conceptualise projects and devise solutions to problems.

According to Bulkan, merging the Ministries of Housing and Water, and Local Government and Regional Development to form a ministry named “Communities” was strategically done to convey a different, wider focus.

“Formerly the concept of water and housing were limited to the delivery of pure water and houselots or just a house. The thinking of the new ministry is to create cohesive and sustainable com-

munities focused on human needs and human conditions,” Bulkan emphasised.

“Sustainable communities will ensure citizen satisfaction is derived from the provision of durable roads, proper solid-waste management, adequate lighting, security, fire hydrants, playgrounds, recreational facility, schools and health centre,” the minister noted.

“The vision is to move beyond basic provisions and direct attention towards all the needs for wholesome and dignified living,” he added.

Minister Scott, who has responsibility for Housing within the Ministry of Communities, pointed out that “we can no longer afford to work as individual sectors, we must unite and harmonise the sectors to ensure that a collective approach is achieved.”

Scott added that this approach will reduce the total cost for infrastructure, meet the needs of the poor, and foster development of new

and existing communities and municipalities.

He said that the workshop signalled the commencement of the process of harmonising the functions of each sector to form a collective, organised unit, with the main focus being the delivery of infrastructure and efficient services to Guyanese.

With regard to the development of hinterland communities, Minister Hastings-Williams alluded to the need for advancing infrastructural development in the hinterland regions to improve the lives of citizens and reduce poverty.

According to Minister Hastings-Williams, for too long the hinterland regions were left lagging behind with little or no infrastructural development and poorly equipped schools and health cottages. She believes that professionals such as engineers would help Government eliminate those challenges.

Miss World-Guyana Mr Caribbean 2015 to be unveiled contest rescheduled at Annual Coronation Ceremony THE 2014 Miss World-Guyana Rafieya Husain, is expected in Guyana next week to crown the new queen at the Miss World-Guyana Annual Coronation Ceremony.

Rafieya’s platform as Miss World-Guyana 2014 has made an indelible mark on the lives of victims of domestic violence, particularly teenagers. She has used her Beauty With a Purpose platform to engage thousands of young people in Guyana, the Caribbean and farther afield with messages of hope, love, and respect. Having had one year to campaign for young people in violent relationships, Rafieya has to pass the baton to the new Miss World-Guyana, who was selected by directors of the Miss World-Guyana franchise to represent Guyana at the next Miss World Pageant.

The new Miss World-Guyana will be unveiled and crowned at the upcoming Coronation Ceremony on Friday, June 26, 2015 at the Marriott Hotel. The well anticipated event will see performances by popular radio talk show host, Ms. Nuriyyih Gerrard and talented poet, Mr. Randolph Critchlow. The Coronation Ceremony will be hosted by Ms. Ruqayyah Boyer, Miss World-Guyana 2013, and Ms. Rafieya Husain, Miss World-Guyana 2014.

The 2015 Queen will represent Guyana in Sanjay, China in December. All donations received will go towards the Miss World-Guyana Beauty with a Purpose/ humanitarian fund.

Reigning Miss World Guyana, Rafeiya Husain

MISTER Guyana International 2014, Paul Charles, will have to wait for another three months to compete for the keenly contested Mr. Caribbean title since the pageant has officially been rescheduled from May 30 to August 29.

The reason for the change has not been officially released, but based on reports the convener of the pageant might have experienced financial constraints. The host country for the pageant, however, remains Dominica.

Charles, who is in full pageant mode, says he will continue his normal routine to get his body and mind toned and sharp for the pageant.

Meanwhile, Lindener Colwyn Abrams will participate in the Mr. Wonderful World contest billed for Panama in October, while Ryan Washington will represent Guyana at the Mr. Model International contest in Miami in November; and Alexander Fiedtkou is also due to represent Guyana in another pageant slated for Jamaica in November.

Also billed for November is the Mr. Guyana International 2015 competition, with increased participation of delegates from Berbice, Linden, Bartica, and Georgetown and its environs.

Young men who are interested in being part of this prestigious event can visit the organisers Facebook page: Mr. Guyana International or email them at mrguyanaint@gmail. com for more information and the schedule for auditions.

The Mission Statement for the Mr. Guyana International Pageant is: “Empowering men to empower themselves, their communities and fellow men.”

Mr Guyana International, Paul Charles

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

India pledges further support to Guyana’s agriculture sector

– during courtesy call on Minister Holder

spices and institutional development.

With respect to sugar, the Indian Government has committed to assisting Guyana

in this area through technical and financial support. India will also fund the new East Bank Demerara-East Coast Demerara bypass road, for which $50M has been allocated, as well as an additional passenger ferry (US$8M) to Guyana’s current fleet.

Further cooperation between the two countries in the examination of the production of energy and electricity through biomass of agriculture waste is also planned, and will be discussed further at another level.

Armed bandits cart off foreign currency, jewellery in Port Mourant heist

Indian High Commissioner Mr Venkatachalam Mahalingam , left, and Minister of Agriculture Mr Noel Holder

INDIA’S High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr. Venkatachalam Mahalingam, yesterday paid a courtesy call on Agriculture Minister Noel Holder at his Regent Street and Vlissengen Road Office. The meeting saw them recommitting to the continuation of the two countries’ historical friendship and the enhancement of various areas of cooperation.

According to Mr. Mahalingam, efforts are moving apace to further strengthen economic, social, cultural and other types of relations between Guyana and India.

As such, India has committed to assisting Guyana with technical and financial support to further boost the

agriculture sector.

Agro-processing, sugar, boosting the research capabilities of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), hybrid coconut varieties and sericulture production are among areas to receive support.

“The spice industry is quite large in India….Guyana’s soil is perfect for the production of cashew orchids and this is another area Guyana and India can collaborate on. Our experts are willing to come immediately to assist Guyana in developing such an industry,” the High Commissioner said.

An Indian scientist has been working with the Guyana Rice Development Board

(GRDB) for the past year, assisting the Board at the research level to draft the National Rice Seed policy and the Research Policy.

The scientist was formerly attached to NAREI where assistance was given in the area of research policy.

Scholarships is another area where India has been assisting Guyana significantly, and several professionals will be leaving Guyana shortly on full scholarships at the Ph.D level. Guyana has also benefited immensely from the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme in areas such as education, provision of equipment, transmission and broadcasting, legal, disaster management, coconut,

IDENTIFIABLE, armed bandits robbed a Port Mourant businessman and his wife at their grocery before riding away with their victim’s bike just after 13:00 hrs on Thursday.

Forty-two-year old Venkasammy Bangari lives with his wife Rooknarine, at Lot 56 Babu John, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice.

Their two-storey concrete home consists of a grocery shop and a kitchen on the lower flat.

According to reports, the couple would open their business place at 06:00 hrs daily and they would work alternatively. On Thursday, just after consuming their lunch, his spouse remained in the grocery, while Bangari left the shop and was standing outside the premises. It

was while he was standing idly by that he noticed two men on a bicycle heading in his direction.

S u d d e n l y, t h e r i d e r jumped off the bike and hurriedly walked towards Bangari. The man removed a long gun from under his shirt, grabbed his victim, and forcefully took him into the shop.

In the meantime his accomplice, armed with a piece of wood, broke it after repeatedly lashing it on the shop’s counter, before pointing it at the screaming Rooknarine.

Her shouts of “thief! thief!” angered the assailant, who lashed her across the forehead, causing her to lose her balance and fall to the floor with blood oozing profusely from the wound.

Meanwhile, the gunman who was restraining her husband demanded money and jewellery, while threatening to kill them both if the request was not met After being told where to find the valuables, however, the gunman went to the upper flat, where, in the couple’s bedroom, he removed a black shoulder bag containing G$190,000, Cdn$3000, USD$950, a quantity of phone cards, along with other personal documents.

After collecting the booty, the men hurriedly left, grabbing Venkasammy’s bicycle before riding off in the same direction from which they came.

No arrest has been made and the police are continuing their investigations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

Junior Health Minister Cummings tours GPHC maternity ward – told of idea to have fathers help deliver babies

Dr. Cummings, CEO Khan, and other officials in one of the wards at the hospital

By Leroy Smith MINISTER within the Ministry of Health Dr. Karen Cummings, who has direct responsibility for regional health services, on Friday, toured the Maternity Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital for a first-hand experience of what obtains in the department and has expressed appreciation for the work that is being done.

Following her visit, the minister reminded the media that the primary focus of the department is to ensure that there are safe deliveries and

to reduce infant mortality in keeping with the target set out in the Millennium Development Goals.

Minister Cummings told the media she was convinced that based on the work she witnessed in the department that the doctors, nurses and other support staff do indeed work hard to ensure that their objectives within the maternity department are achieved.

According to the minister, she was especially concerned with the issue of overcrowding in the post-natal section of the ward, which sometimes sees

the sharing of beds by patients. While expressing satisfaction that the department is adequately staffed, the minister is of the view that the space in which the health workers have to work is a bit too cramped.

She also spoke of the neonatal unit where she observed there needs to be improvement in infection control. To achieve this, Minister Cummings said that certain sections should be sealed to avoid cross contamination from part of the facility to another.

On the issue of neurologists, Dr. Cummings

confirmed that there is none in the employ of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

According to the minister, while doctors are given the opportunity to travel to other countries and observe best practices, there is an urgent need for neurologists to be employed by the hospital and that is being looked at as a priority. The services of a neurologist may have to be acquired from outside Guyana, the minister added.

The minister informed the Guyana Chronicle that she believes the maternity ward is on track with its objectives and the Government of Guyana through the

Ministry of Health, would be working to ensure that it provides the resources needed to improve the modus operandi of the facility.

June Cato, an instructor attached to the Maternity Ward and who was present during the minister’s visit, said that the visit was timely as the minister had an opportunity to see what the challenges in the department are and the developments which have taken place over the years.

Nurse Cato raised with the minister the GPHC’s idea of having fathers involved in the delivery of their babies. She, however, recognised that there are privacy issues associated with that at the facility.

Additionally, for that to be possible, prospective

mothers would need to be isolated from others, whose spouses may not want to see their wives being exposed to other males.

Currently, the GPHC is extending its maternity ward and that project is expected to be completed by February, 2016. The senior nurse is very optimistic that once the extension of the facility comes on stream, the hospital administration and the Government, through the Ministry of Health, will embrace the idea of involving fathers in deliveries.

Among other areas of the maternity ward toured by the minister on Friday morning were the delivery room, the intensive care room, the waiting area and other critical sections of the department.

Minister Cummings, right, and Nurse Cato in discussion yesterday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

Argentina offers assistance with blood transfusion – during talks between Ambassador, Public Health Minister DEVELOPMENT of the blood transfusion system is on the cards as Argentina and Guyana move to strengthen and improve their diplomatic relationship as it pertains to the Public Health Sector.

This was declared by the Argentine Ambassador to Guyana, Luis Martino, after paying a courtesy call on the Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton.

According to Ambassador Martino, “during the discussion we had the opportunity to discuss some of the programmes that the Argentine Government is undertaking in the region,

assessed possibilities of cooperation in different sectors of public health and also review some of the ongoing projects in the sector.”

One project which he noted sparked an immediate interest is the blood transfusion system in Guyana, whereby Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has undertaken several meetings to start developing the first assessment mission.

However, they still do not have the actual base, but hope for this at the end of the year because Dr. Norton still has to analyse the idea before making a decision.

Apart from that, “there

Health Minister, Dr George Norton and Argentine Ambassador to Guyana, Mr Luis Martino, following their meeting

are other areas, one of which our Government is quite active in is the hor-

izontal cooperation fund in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which deals with

ideas and projects with other developing countries in the pyridine of the concept of south-south cooperation – one foreign policy which is oiled for some years now,” he said.

According to the ambassador, hopefully, Guyana could participate in this fund as seen in some other Latin American countries, and they can use this fund to put some trust in the bilateral agreement with regards to public health between Guyana and Argentina.

Meanwhile, Minister Norton said that he was delighted for the visit, as it was very productive indeed

because they discussed how Guyana can receive technical support for public health.

As the Ambassador noted, “efforts are being made for them to support us in the blood bank, so we could have blood banks in far reaching areas and also utilize the various health centers instead of persons having to come till to Georgetown.”

Another major topic which was discussed, Minister Norton noted, is “post-graduate training” for medical practitioners who wish to further their studies and become more qualified and further contribute towards the development of the sector.

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Dean Hassan plugs $10M into local charities GUYANESE investor and mining executive, Dean Hassan, CEO of Tesouro Resources has donated $10 million to sixteen local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and two long-standing animal rights activists.

Before presenting the cheques to the recipients at a brief ceremony at Cara Lodge, Hassan said that he was taking the opportunity to give back to society since he was fortunate and blessed to be in the position to do what he was doing.

Lodge Irenaeus along with the Guyana Veterans’ Legion and Queen’s College Parent Teacher Association received a total of $1M, while animal rights activists, Sayeeda Manbodth and Genevieve Beepat both received $250,000.

The Palms Geriatric Institution, Dharm Shala, the Association of Unc l e E d d i e ’s H o m e , S t .

John’s Bosco Orphanages, Shaheed Boys and Girls O r p h a n a g e , S t . A n n ’s Orphanage, David Rose School for Handicapped Children, the Guyana Society for the Blind, Deaf Association of Guyana, Youth Basketball Guyana,

Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA), Help and Shelter and the Guyana Red Cross Society, all received $500,000 each.

Hassan in brief remarks said the donation was a demonstration of his commitment to Guyana in a significant way. Last year, he donated $1M to the Guyana Police Force for the Impact Albouystown Project.

Hassan attended the University of Alberta in Canada where he graduated in business administration and economics. He worked in Toronto briefly before deciding to visit the Caribbean to pursue business ventures.

Firstly he explored business opportunities in Jamaica, then Guyana where he decided to form links with Pexco, a worldwide import and export corporation, in order to facilitate trade links between Guyana, Jamaica and Canada.

He is considered one of the foremost local producers in the mining industry and his interest in gold has been extended to oil and gas explorations. Aside from business accreditations, Hassan is an animal lover and has

For Saturday June 20, 2015: 05:30hrs For Sunday June 21, 2015: 05:30:00hrs For Monday June 22, 2015: 08:30hrs

been actively involved with the GSPCA and animal activists where he has assisted financially in the spaying and neutering programme.

In this regard, President of the GSPCA, Oliver Insanally has noted that Hassan’s donation will boost the works of the society, enabling the effective delivery of more programmes.

Members of the head table, from left, Alex Graham, Andrew Pollard, Dean Hassan and Noel Narine pose with recipients of the donation

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20 2015

Heavy rainfall leads to flash flooding in the

GEORGETOWN, Region 4, on Thursday night into yesterday morning, experienced approximately 106.3mm of rainfall.

According to the Hydro-meteorological Office, Central Georgetown recorded 27.9 mm of rainfall between 08 00hrs and 10:00hrs yesterday.

Mechanical pumping of sluices began at 08:30hrs and water was drained by gravity until 15:30hrs.

The tide was highest at 19:00hrs. yesterday, and started falling at 21:00hrs. In the meantime, the five pumps along the Demerara River commenced pumping water off the ground.

It is apt to note that the Liliendaal and Kitty pumps are in operation at all times.

At 21:30hrs mechanical pumping of the sluice resumed until 03:00hrs this morning.

Providing there is no more rainfall, waters will recede off the land during the course of today.

The heavy rainfall yesterday led to flash flooding in certain parts of Georgetown and its environs.

Food vendors at work on a flooded New Market Street

The GPL office on Middle Street surrounded by water yesterday

Sandbags placed at the entrance to this Middle Street store to keep the water out.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

e city and its environs

After buying lunch at the Chronicle canteen, this woman picks her way gingerly along Lama Avenue.

(Photos by Delano Williams)

A flooded Forshaw Street yesterday

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Bangladesh stun India in ODI series opener DHAKA, Bangladesh (Reuters) - Mustafizur Rahman made a dream ODI debut as Bangladesh crushed two-time world champions India by 79 runs on Thursday in the first of three oneday internationals to underline their progress in the 50-over format.

Paceman Rahman claimed five for 50 as the hosts posted their highest total against India before destroying their neighbours’ vaunted batting lineup in 46 overs in front of a boisterous crowd at Mirpur’s Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Chasing 308 to win, India got off to a strong start before the wheels came off their chase with only Rohit Sharma (63) making a meaningful contribution as their top order capitulated.

“I cannot ask for more, I’m really happy with the performance from the boys,” an elated Bangladesh captain Mashrafe

Mortaza said.

Opting to bat first, Bangladesh were given a flying start from openers Tamim Iqbal

important wicket of India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni even though it was Taskin Ahmed’s double strike that pegged back

Mustafizur Rahman takes 5 for 50 on his ODI debut against India in Mirpur on Thursday.

(60) and Soumya Sarkar (54).

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (52) also reached his half-century as Bangladesh posted a total of 307 and were all out with two balls to spare.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (351) was the pick of the Indian bowlers.

Shakib claimed the

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Turffontein 08:25 hrs Ladies Club 09:05 hrs Silver Scooter 09:45 hrs Loco Por Ganar 10:20 hrs Majestic Bay 10:55 hrs Red Rain KENILWORTH 08:45 hrs Patrina 09:20 hrs Harry Da Wheels 09:55 hrs Provenance 10:30 hrs A Time To Kill 11:10 hrs Black Kitten ENGLISH RACING TIPS Ayr 08:50 hrs Barbarous Relic 09:20 hrs Mukhayam 09:55 hrs Tournament 10:30 hrs First Sitting 11:10 hrs Dikta Del Mar 11:50 hrs Kimberella

India.

Shikhar Dhawan (30) and Sharma had added 95 runs to give India a strong start when Ahmed dismissed the former and sent back Virat Kohli in his next over.

Rahman, 19, then wrecked India’s top order by dismissing Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane and

12:25 hrs Luis Vaz De Torres Redcar 09:05 hrs Blue Humor 09:40 hrs Bowdler’s Magic 10:15 hrs King Torus 10:50 hrs Stanghow 11:30 hrs Frontier Fighter 12:10 hrs Red Harry 12:45 hrs Milady Eileen NEWMARKET 09:10 hrs Cartago 09:45 hrs Paris Snow 10:20 hrs No Delusion 11:00 hrs Druids Ridge 11:40 hrs Just Us Two 12:20 hrs Direct Times 12:55 hrs Outback Rider ASCOT 09:30 hrs Tonkinese 10:05 hrs Mahsoob 10:40 hrs Telescope 11:20 hrs Tropics

went on to claim three more wickets before India folded for 228.

Earlier, Tamim and Sarkar launched a blistering attack on the Indian bowlers during a 102-run opening stand before being separated in the 14th over.

Sarkar set out for a non-existent single before being sent back by Tamim but the batsman could not beat Suresh Raina’s direct throw.

When play resumed after a rain-interruption, Tamim, who had hit Umesh Yadav for three boundaries and a six in the same over, was dismissed by Ashwin who took three quick wickets to trigger a batting collapse.

Shakib then steadied the innings while the lower order took the hosts past the 300-mark.

“Bangladesh played some very good cricket, from very first ball they took on our bowlers.

They were brave enough to play the big shots and it paid off,” Dhoni said.

The teams return to the same venue for the second ODI tomorrow.

12:00 hrs Kickboxer 12:35 hrs Wicklow Brave IRISH RACING TIPS Down Royal 09:00 hrs Coto 09:35 hrs Independence Day 10:10 hrs Regal Power 10:45 hrs Fields Of Athenry 11:15 hrs Colour Rhapsody 11:45 hrs Selskar Abbey 12:15 hrs Mufrad AMERICAN RACING TIPS Belmont Race 1 Love To Run Race 2 Lady Madeleine Race 3 Charming Kitten Race 4 Mind Magic Race 5 Gallery Race 6 Morethenawarning Race 7 Tiz Time to Shine Race 8 Dame Dorothy Race 9 Thank You

Players throw support behind Golf Day for retired Windies cricketers BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) - Several players are expressing excitement as preparations continue for the first West Indies Retired Players Foundation Golf Day, set for tomorrow at the prestigious Sandy Lane Country Club.

“This is a great event and I believe it will be a tremendous success. It is for a very worthy cause and I am looking forward to participating,” said Jason Holder, West Indies ODI captain.

“As a young cricketer, I know it is part of my responsibility to make a contribution to West Indies cricket in anyway I can and I am eagerly looking forward to tomorrow, as we hit the greens to support

Jason Holder and Darren Sammy are among players who are supporting Golf Day for retired Windies cricketers. the ‘Retired Players drive’.”

The event, hosted by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and West Indies Players Association (WIPA), is supported by Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Digicel.

It has attracted a number of the region’s best players as well as several past and present West Indies cricketers.

“I’m not a big golfer, but I’m sure happy to offer my support to the efforts of the West Indies Retired Players Foundation as they embark on this drive to do something meaningful and tangible for many of those who paved the way for West Indies cricket,” said Darren Sammy, West Indies T20 captain. “I see this as the start of something special, which will grow.”

Several senior officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC) as well as participants in the CPL tournament are also scheduled to tee off.

The West Indies Retired Players Foundation was formed last year and part of its mandate is developing programmes and assisting with the welfare, where applicable, of former players who represented the Caribbean team at the international level.

“As a former West Indies cricketer it is vitally important for me to support the efforts of the West Indies Retired Players Foundation, as they look to do something positive and meaningful for the many players who have represented the West Indies team,” said Sir Richie Richardson, former West Indies captain and team manager.

“I had no hesitation in signing on for the ‘Retired Players drive’ and tomorrow’s tournament promises to be exciting as we meet old friends and make new friends all for a very worthy cause.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

Bowlers, Silva give Lanka upper hand against Pakistan (REUTERS) - Sri Lanka took the upper hand after the The experienced pair of Younus Khan (47) and capthird day of the opening Test at Galle yesterday, reducing tain Misbah-ul-Haq (20) lent some stability to the innings Pakistan to 118-5 after Kaushal Silva’s second Test cen- with a 51-run stand for the fourth wicket but Pakistan tury took the hosts to 300 in were back under pressure their first innings. after losing both in quick Fast bowler Dhammika succession.

Prasad jolted Pakistan early Earlier, Silva, unbeaten on by dismissing both openers in 80 overnight, failed to carry the first and third overs of the his bat through the innings and innings as the visitors reached was the ninth wicket to fall for the close with Asad Shafiq Sri Lanka, who resumed on (14) and Sarfraz Ahmed (15) 178 for three, after compiling at the crease. a patient 125.

Mohammad Hafeez After four sessions were (two) was the first to fall, lost on the first two days, play edging Prasad to third slip, started on time yesterday and while Ahmed Shehzad (nine) it was not long before pacewas out leg-before when man Wahab Riaz struck the the right-arm fast bowler first blow for Pakistan. returned for his second over.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Left-arm spinner Rangana Mathews (19) played onto Herath trapped Azhar Ali, his stumps after the left-arm who hit a double hundred in fast bowler had changed the his last Test against Banglaangle of attack by coming desh, leg-before for eight, to Kaushal Silva is delighted after bringing up his around the wicket. compound Pakistan’s prob- second Test century against Pakistan on the third A patient Perera continued day in Galle. lems. to thwart the Pakistan bowlers

Farah denies doping, says missed tests ‘simple mistakes’ LONDON, England (Reuters) - Britain’s double were anything more than simple mistakes.”

Olympic champion Mo Farah has denied ever taking American Salazar, who has worked as a consultant performance-enhancing drugs and said rumours and for British Athletics since 2013, has denied the allegaspeculation over his career tions, saying the BBC and after the revelation that he U.S. website ProPublica had missed two drugs tests “are engaged in “inaccurate and completely false”. unfounded journalism”.

The 32-year-old has been Farah, who was not under the spotlight since accused of any wrongdoing his coach Alberto Salazar in the BBC documentawas accused of violating ry, withdrew from a Diaanti-doping rules in a BBC mond League meeting in documentary earlier this Birmingham earlier this month. month after expressing This week Britain’s anger over the allegations Daily Mail reported that made about Salazar.

Farah had missed two Farah was upset his out-of-competition doping name had “been dragged tests in 2010 and 2011. through the mud” and said At the time, the rules he would seek assurances meant that a third missed test from Salazar, with whom he within an 18-month period has worked since 2011. (now reduced to 12) would “As I made clear, I went almost certainly have resultto Portland to speak to Aled in a ban that would have berto Salazar and demand probably ruled him out of answers,” Farah said. the London 2012 Olympic “He reassured me that Games, where he won gold in the claims are false and that the 5 000 and 10 000 metres. Mo Farah of Britain reacts after finishing in eighth he will soon be providing “I have never taken position in the men’s Elite London Marathon, April evidence to make that clear. performance-enhancing 13, 2014. (Reuters/Eddie Keogh) Until then I will not be comdrugs in my life and I nevmenting further on the alleer will,” Farah said in a gations.” statement published on his Facebook page yesterday.

UK Athletics are currently conducting a formal review “Over the course of my career I have taken hundreds into the relationship between Salazar and Farah, which of drugs tests and every single one has been negative. is expected to be completed by the first week in August.

“I’ve fully explained the only two tests in my career Farah announced on Wednesday he will return to that I have ever missed, which the authorities under- competitive action at the Monaco Diamond League stood, and there was never any suggestion that these meeting on July 17.

and added 37 for the fifth wicket with Dinesh Chandimal before the latter was bowled out to an arm-ball from left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar.

The 29-year-old Silva was bogged down in the 90s for a while but finally managed to get to triple figures in 261 balls with a sublime cover-drive off Babar.

Left-hander Kithuruwan Vithanage (18) gave part-time off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez his second wicket of the innings when he spooned a tame return catch back to the bowler. Silva and Vithanage added a handy 35 for the sixth wicket.

The diminutive right-hander became the third victim of Babar when he was out caught by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed while attempting a sweep shot. Riaz also finished with three scalps.

SCOREBOARD SRI LANKA 1st innings (o/n 178-3) D. Karunaratne c S. Ahmed b Riaz 21 K. Silva c S. Ahmed b Babar 125 K. Sangakkara c Y. Khan b Riaz 50 L. Thirimanne c Babar b Hafeez 8 A. Mathews b Riaz 19 D. Chandimal b Babar 23 K. Vithanage c & b Hafeez 18 D. Perera c S. Ahmed b Shah 15 D. Prasad lbw b Babar 0 R. Herath not out 6 N. Pradeep c & b Shah 4 Extras: (lb-5, nb-4, w-2) 11 Total: ,(all out, 109.3 overs) 300 Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-142, 3-154, 4-189, 5-226, 6-261, 7-277, 8-288, 9-291.

Bowling: J. Khan 16-5-38-0 (w-1), W. Riaz 26-3-74-3 (nb-4, w-1), Z. Babar 27-8-64-3, Y. Shah 30.3-6-792, M. Hafeez 10-0-40-2.

PAKISTAN 1st innings M. Hafeez c Karunaratne b Prasad 2 A. Shehzad lbw b Prasad 9 Az. Ali lbw b Herath 8 Y. Khan b D. Perera 47 Misbah-ul-Haq c Sangakkara b Pradeep 20 A. Shafiq not out 14 S. Ahmed not out 15 Extras: (nb-3) 3 Total: (for 5 wickets, 41.4 overs) 118 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-11, 3-35, 4-86, 5-96.

Bowling: D. Prasad 9-2-24-2, N. Pradeep 9-1-36-1 (nb-2), R. Herath 12.4-3-33-1, D. Perera 9-2-23-1, A. Mathews 2-1-2-0 (nb-1).

Moore the merrier after setting Ascot record LONDON, England (Reuters) - English jockey Ryan Moore broke a post-war record when he claimed his ninth victory of this week’s Royal Ascot flat meeting yesterday.

The 31-year-old surpassed the total of eight winners registered twice by Lester Piggott in 1965 and 1975 and by Pat Eddery in 1989 when he won the Queen’s Vase race on 5-2 favourite Aloft.

“I’m very lucky. I get

to ride the best horses and that makes a big difference,” triple champion jockey Moore told reporters.

“It (the record) is not something you think about.

We’ll think about rides tomorrow and then worry about this.”

Moore has six races on the festival’s fifth and final day today to break the alltime record of 12 winners set by Fred Archer in 1878.

Aloft, ridden by Ryan Moore, wins the 17:35 Queen’s Vase (Action Images via Reuters/Matthew ChildsLivepic)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

CPL Schedule - 2015 Caribbean Premier League T20 Fixtures

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

Top teams set for Women’s World Cup knockout stage (REUTERS) - THE Women’s World Cup enters what is expected to be a thrilling single-game knockout stage in Canada today with no clear-cut favourite after the top seeds all won their groups.

European juggernauts Germany play Sweden in Ottawa in the opening last-16 clash, before China face World Cup debutantes Cameroon in Edmonton with each

side looking to take the next step towards the July 5 final in Vancouver.

While Germany made their title intentions clear with a tournament-leading 15 goals in three games, head coach Silvia Neid is not underestimating fifthranked Sweden, who finished third in a tough Group D. “Sweden have a lot of quality on their team. The games we have played against them have always been competitive and closefought,” said Neid. “As of now, we have to show passion and give everything.

The team in better form on the day will go through to the quarter-finals.”

Germany and the United States are both looking to become the first team to win three World Cup titles while Japan’s bid to repeat as champions remained on track.

Among the other group winners, France overcame an early upset loss to CoGermany midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan (10) drives lombia before finding their the ball upfield against Thailand midfielder Pikul way. Brazil put up a defenKhueanpet (6) in the first half of a Group B soccer sive front to secure the best match in the 2015 FIFA women’s World Cup at Winni- record after the group stage peg Stadium. (Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA while Canada hope to ride a TODAY Sports)

NOTABLE DATES `VICIOUS’ Vivian Harris was unbeaten in 13 fights when he tackled Damian Brazoban of the Dominican Republic on June 19, 1999 at the world-famous Madison Square Garden in New York.

Harris had won the last nine fights inside the distance but was forced to hold on to a unanimous decision when the eight-rounder against Brazoban ended.

Harris had turned pro in November 1997 following an amateur career that brought him 45 victories against five defeats.

He was crowned WBA welterweight champion in October 2002 following a second-round technical knockout of champion Diosbelys Hurtado in Houston, Texas.

Harris then made three successful defences but was then dethroned by little known Colombian Carlos Maussa via a seventh-round knockout in June 2005.

Thereafter, the talented junior welterweight secured three victories before

making an unsuccessful attempt on Junior Witter’s World Boxing Council (WBC) junior welterweight title.

IT IS safe to say that Puerto Rican Jose Badillo ended the professional boxing career of Guyanese bantamweight Darius Ford. Badillo, undefeated in 12 bouts at the time, knocked out Ford in round one of a fight held on June 19, 1993 in San Diego, California.

Ford had taken a break from the sport after losing to Michael Parris in May 1986 and returned after the seven-year break. The loss against Badillo signalled the end of Ford’s career which started in December 1984 with a win over Andrew Williams.

Ford came from a family of fighters.

His uncles, Reggie and Patrick Ford, ruled the junior middleweight and featherweight divisions respectively and were household names in Guyana in the 70s and 80s. His cousin Winfield Braithwaite won a gold medal at the 1976 Commonwealth Games in Canada.

Ford rushed to four consecutive victories before meeting Parris for the first time in August 1985. A bronze medallist at the 1980 Olympics, Parris continuously pressured his younger opponent and won by TKO in the eighth round.

The bantamweight title of Guyana was at stake then.

VIVIAN HARRIS

Harris has since tried his hand as a welterweight and junior middleweight.

Of the four male Guyanese to have won world titles, Harris is the only one not to have a professional fight at home.

wave of local support.

Brazil, the only team yet to concede a goal, will tomorrow face an Australia team that have been one of the surprises of the tournament and boast size and speed that could frustrate their opponents’ defence.

France were at the wrong end of the first true upset of the tournament when they fell 2-0 to Colombia but they responded with a 5-0 thumping of Mexico to secure top spot in their group and a clash with South Korea tomorrow.

Hosts Canada, who used a tie against the Netherlands to win Group A, face a Switzerland team tomorrow that has many players competing in the highest levels of women’s soccer, including in-form strikers Ramona Bachmann and Lara Dickenmann.

“This is where you get the chance to write your name into football history; when you play in these big matches,” said Canada coach John Herdman.

“The tournament is a progression. The big players tend to step up in these rounds.”

With their first-place finish in the socalled ‘Group of Death,” the United States will face a Colombia team on Monday that suffered a blow when starting goalkeeper Sandra Sepulveda was suspended for the knockout stage after picking up her second yellow card of the tournament.

Japan had little difficulty in winning all their Group C matches, earning them a Tuesday showdown with a Netherlands team that fared well in a group with seasoned World Cup campaigners Canada, China and New Zealand.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

ECB to pump GNRA Fullbore team to resume training this weekend £3M into Women’s Cricket Super League

By Stephan Sookram

By Joe Wilson, BBC News sports correspondent ENGLISH cricket has made its biggest ever investment in the women’s game by pledging £3M for a new six-team Super League, starting next summer.

The tournament will initially employ the T20 format and take place over a period of about two weeks.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is looking for venues, but these will not necessarily be current county grounds.

“Today marks a major step for the women’s game in England,” said ECB chief executive Tom Harrison.

The new tournament is set to mirror the Women’s Big Bash League, which begins in Australia later this year.

The plan is to attract the world’s best players to compete alongside England’s leading female cricketers.

The ECB said as well as improving standards domestically, the move will aim to inspire more women and girls to take part in the sport, as well as provide more revenue opportunities through broadcasting and sponsorship.

Clare Connor, ECB director of England Women’s Cricket, said the Women’s Cricket Super League was “the next stage in the evolution of women’s cricket in this country” following the introduction of central contracts last year.

Minister for Sport, Tracey Crouch, also welcomed the move as “a huge step forward for women’s sport”.

The £3M funding will pay for coaching and facilities as well as promotion of the competition and prize money over four years. It is the first time there has ever been prize money for domestic women’s cricket in England.

Potential teams will be invited to make expressions of interest.

“Any cricket-minded organisations will be able to submit a proposal to become hosts for a Women’s Cricket Super League team with the successful candidates confirmed by the end of the year,” the ECB said.

THE Guyanese members of the West Indies Fullbore team will resume training this weekend after being hit with a delay in the clearance of ammunition.

Chronicle Sport understands that the ammunition was in Guyana for a while before the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) finally cleared the key components needed for Guyana’s marksmen to return to training.

During a recent interview, captain of the National rifle team and the West Indies team vice-captain Mahendra Persaud noted that the team’s last session, just over two months ago yielded positive results and he is hoping for such when they return to the ranges.

The veteran rifleman, commenting on the composition of the team and the quality of shooters, told Chronicle Sport that it is the best that the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFSC) can put forth.

Speaking more closely to home, Persaud said that he is confident of the Guyanese riflemen progressing well on the international platform.

“We (are) confident of holding our own especially the Guyanese and

we will do our part in the team end of things.”

The team comprises eight Guyanese including Persaud, as well as reigning regional individual champion Lennox Braithwaite, Ransford Goodluck, Dylan Fields, Leo Romalho,

MAHENDRA PERSAUD Ryan Sampson, Sigmund Douglas and John Fraser.

Douglas and Fraser are based in

the United States. Experienced marksman Jamaican John Nelson is the non-shooting captain while Guyana’s ACP (retired) Paul Slowe is the Main Wind coach.

The other officials travelling with the team are: Adjutant David Dumont of Bermuda and Dennis Lee of Jamaica, the assistant Wind coach.

The remaining shooters named are from Trinidad and Tobago – Norris Gomez, Michael Perez, and Ezekiel Joseph, (Antigua/Barbuda) - Anderson Perry, Thomas Greenaway, (Barbados) Marlon King and Shelly-Ann Hinds and (Jamaica) Dwayne Forde. The team was selected by the WIFSC last year following the regional championships in Jamaica last year.

Fifteen other Caribbean shooters, along with some of the above-mentioned, are expected to make the trip for the individual aspect of the shoot.

The World Long Range Championships, commonly called The PALMA Match, will take place at Camp Perry from August 1 to 14 in Ohio and will be shot over 800, 900 and 1 000 yards.

Shooters from hosts United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya and Continental Europe are expected to compete.

CPL Local franchise updates Minister of Sport OFFICIALS of OPCO (Guyana) Inc., the local franchise for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) met with newly-appointed Minister of Sport Dr Nicollette Henry to update her

month.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors will square off against Jamaica Tallawahs on July 15 then take on St Lucia Zouks on July 17, while on July 18 they battle

host the matches.

Minister Henry said she was extremely pleased to be updated on Guyana’s preparation and indicated that her ministry and other government agencies

ing and Accreditation manager, Sabrina Panday – Stadium Staff coordinator, Reon King – Cricket Operations manager, Troy Peters – Media officer and George Vyphuis – Security and Safety manager.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday June 20, 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:

AUST vs ENG, The Oval, 1972 (Ian 118; Greg 113) 4 West Indians; 4 Australians

Today’s Quiz:

Lance Gibbs took 309 Test wickets. How many did he take against Australia?

How many centuries the late Sir Clyde Walcott made in the 1955 WI/AUST Test series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

OPCO (Guyana Inc.) officials pose with Minister of Sport Dr Nicolette Duncan. on plans for the Guyana leg of the 2015 Hero CPLt20 cricket tournament.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors will play four matches at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara next

Barbados Tridents before playing Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel on July 21.

Kirk Douglas, Events Operations Officer of OPCO (Guyana) Inc. who led the delegation briefed Dr Henry on Guyana’s preparation to

will provide assistance to ensure smooth running of the event.

Also present at the meeting held at the Minister’s office on Main Street were Permanent Secretary Alfred King, Mark Sookhai - Ticket-

The Guyana Amazon Warriors, last year’s runners-up will square off with 2014 champions Barbados Tridents in the 2015 tournament opener today at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2015

National U-23 football team pays courtesy call on Director of Sport ––squad to be announced today GUYANA’S national Under-23 Football team yesterday paid a courtesy call on Director of Sport Christopher Jones ahead of their participation in the CFU 2016 Olympic Qualifier in Antigua and Barbuda.

The delegation headed

by Coach Jamaal Shabazz featured Daniel Wilson, Daniel Whyte, Trayon Bobb, William Europe and Joshua Brown along with Guyana Football Federation (GFF) General Secretary Richard Groden.

“On behalf of the Government of Guyana, I would like to wish you guys all the best and know that the entire Guyana is fully behind you” said the Director of Sport while addressing the players at his National Sports Commission (NSC) Office.

Guyana will depart on Monday where they will play on June 24, 26 and 28 against Antigua, Cuba and Aruba in their bid to represent the ‘Land of Many Waters’ in Rio next year.

Jones told the contingent that in Antigua, apart from excelling on the field, it is required that they remain good ambassadors off the pitch since they will be representing an entire nation.

The Sports Director was high in optimism of the team’s success under

Shabazz whom he called a true patriot though being Trinidadian.

“I can tell you that as Director of Sport, I will try my best to ensure that you guys are afforded with the necessary facilities needed to excel in the sport and even off the field. We will work together to also ensure that you can focus on the game and not what happens outside of it, but I want to thank you for visiting me today (Yesterday)” Jones said.

Shabazz was grateful for Jones’ confidence in the team and noted that for the first time, Guyana has a youthful leader in the sports fraternity, who understands what is needed to help youth develop in their respective areas.

The National U-23 team head coach presented Jones with Golden Jaguars memorabilia as a token of the team’s appreciation for his support.

“You’re now officially a Golden Jaguar” Shabazz told the Director of Sports, adding “I want to welcome you to our team and hope that you would continue showing good leadership and truly help sports to grow in Guyana”.

Meanwhile, the team will be officially announced today with Shabazz aiming to be the lone team that comes out of their group.

31

Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz makes a presentation to Director of Sports Christopher Jones during the National U-23 team’s courtesy call yesterday

Sport CHRONICLE

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

National U-23 football team pays courtesy call on Director of Sport ––squad to be announced today See story on page 31

CPL 2015 begins today with exciting opener … Barbados Tridents take on Guyana Amazon Warriors

HOLDERS Barbados Tridents will begin proceedings in this year’s Caribbean Premier League with a match against Guyana Amazon Warriors. The match will be played at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.

Although the home side did go on to win the tournament in 2014, this will be the first match of this season and all teams start fresh.

Skipper Kieron Pollard will be aware of the job at hand and the fact that the best way to start a league season is by getting the points on board.

The Tridents have an amazingly balanced squad even though they do not boast of an awful lot of players with international pedigree.

Hard-hitting opener Dwayne Smith, who had another successful spell at the Indian Premier League with the Chennai Super Kings, is a huge player to have at the top of the order.

Former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik plays in the middle order with Pollard usually saved for the lower middle-order.

The sides are known to change their batting orders from previous editions as they seek to respond to different situations.

Ravi Rampaul is a shrewd customer with the ball and has been a huge success in the twenty-over game throughout the world. South African left-arm spinner Robin Peterson is also part of the setup.

Guyana Amazon Warriors have great players in their ranks and one expects them to challenge for the title this season. Their recruitment drive for the new campaign was still on as they recruited Merchant de Lange and Jeevan Mendis only recently, owing to injuries to star players. Proteas fast bowler de Lange was drafted in as a replacement for Justin Ontong while Mendis replaces Lasith Malinga.

The Warriors is skippered by Denesh Ramdin and boasts the highest run-scorer in the short history of the CPL - Lendl Simmons. Besides Simmons, some of the West Indies regulars who are present in this side include mystery spinner Sunil Narine, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Devendra Bishoo.

FLASHBACK:CPL 2014: The captains toss as Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Tridents square off in the final.

However, the side is especially strong when it comes to overseas talent. Brad Hodge is not getting any younger but anyone who has seen him play T20 cricket in recent times will attest to the fact that he remains a game-changer.

Similarly, Umar Akmal will be looking to find his best form after his national selectors chose to omit him from Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka. What is Pakistan’s loss could just prove to be Guyana’s gain.

Guyanese motor racing team arrives hassle-free in T&T … Aiming to humble the home town heroes (By Stephan Sookram in Trinidad, compliments of Bounty Farm Limited, GMR&SC, Wayne Vieira, Buy Me Auto Sales, Vishal Auto Toy Store, B.M Soat & Rent-a-Tent) GUYANA’S Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) team

landed in Trinidad and Tobago hassle-free yesterday with the aim of humbling the hometown heroes.

After the prompt delivery of the cars, which the drivers were evidently happy about, many drivers and mechanics got to work fine-tuning their machines.

All eyes on me! CMRC defending champion Kristian Jeffrey tests the newly repaved Wallerfield. (Stephan Sookram photo)

Speaking on arrival at the Wallerfield facility, the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club’s captain Danny Persaud told Chronicle Sport that they are here to humble the hometown boys.

“We know that we are in the backyard of Trinidad and we know that they are going to want to put up a strong show, but we have brought a team here that is hungry for wins. We also know that the surface being repaved recently means that all of the drivers, including those Trinidadian ones, have to learn the track again.

“It’s going to be tough work but I have faith that Team Guyana can come away with some valuable points.”

Persaud further lauded the work of the Trinidad and Tobago Automotive Racing Association in expediting the release of cars from Customs. “The TTASA did a great job in clearing our cars quite quickly and we are very happy with that,” he added.

Meanwhile, several of the drivers

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took advantage of the late preparatory works being done at the Wallerfield Raceway in Arima to make a dash to get some diagnostic works done for added performance ahead of today’s qualification.

According to information, the works are being done to accommodate spectators. After the sessions today, several drivers described the surface as slippery but were optimistic that as the weekend progresses, the track will also.

The Guyana Team includes at the Group 2 level, Ryan Rahaman, Mohamad Shairazudin Roshandin and Kemal Rahaman while at the Group 3 level, Afraz Allie, Motilall ‘Kevin’ Deodass and Rameez Mohammed will team up with Persaud.

Persaud will also run his car in the Group 4 division with the likes of defending champion and current points leader Kristian Jeffrey. The GMR&SC opted out of sending a super bike team after advice that the surface may not be ready to handle that aspect of racing just yet.

SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2015