2015 6 29

GUYANA No. 104235

MONDAY JUNE 29, 2015

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

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

PRICE: $80

Guyana/Venezuela border rift…

INCLUDING VAT

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‘Exceptional circumstance’ triggers emergency Commonwealth confab ––Secretary-General here to meet with Granger Administration

Freak storm wreaks havoc on coastal Guyana Page 2

––causes extensive damage to residential, other properties

Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral Page 8 lauds Guyana’s electoral advancements ––notes ‘consistent and visible improvements’

Dynamic Page 7 rebounds from rocky 2014 start ––now running very efficiently

Oveaseas eye specialists Page 9 due this week Downed power lines and transformer outside ‘Johnny P’ on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt (Photo by Samuel Maughn)

––to do corneal transplant surgeries at GPHC

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Freak storm wreaks havoc on --causes extensive damage to coastal Guyana residential, other properties

By Shirley Thomas

A FREAK storm gusting across the Atlantic yesterday hit coastal Demerara, causing extensive damage to residential and other properties in its path.

Among communities most severely affected were North Ruimveldt and neighbouring Lamaha Springs in Greater Georgetown; La Parfaite Harmonie on the West Demerara; Linden in Region Ten; and villages along the East Bank Demerara.

At around 14:30hrs, heavy rainfall accompanied by strong howling winds, hit the coastland. The speed and force

of the winds ripped galvanized zinc sheets off buildings; threw down fences; downed several power lines and had electrical wires dancing dangerously on the ground and uprooted several billboards.

For several minutes, coconut trees were dancing to the force of the wind, until eventually one of them was broken in half. Meanwhile, other bearing fruit trees such as bananas were uprooted and the fruits had to be hastily retrieved.

PARFAITE HARMONIE At Parfaite Harmonie ‘across the River’, the roof (galvanized sheets and rafters)

Angela Bess counts her losses following yesterday’s disaster caused by a freak storm

Nikita Persaud’s bike that was blown into a trench when the gale started was ripped off of one residential building and sent flying some 75 feet across the road where it connected with the roof of another house, smashing the front of the roof and concrete spindles on the verandah.

A distraught property owner, Angela Bess of 245 Schoonard, Parfaite Harmonie related that she, her daughters and a friend were at the back of the yard, and after they experienced what seemed to be a squall, they went into the lower flat of the building and suddenly they heard crashing sounds.

The friend, who looked outside immediately, told her that her galvanized sheets were falling. “But my sheets are blue, and when I looked outside, there were red sheets on the ground. That’s when I realised that the neighbour’s roof was resting in my yard,” Angela recalled. She has suffered extensive losses, but still has occasion to give God thanks and praise.

She is thanking God that she was not in her bedroom at the time, since it was the portion over her bed that

See Page 6

The state of Angela Bess’ verandah after the storm had passed

The home of Bank of Guyana’s Nidole Austin in North Ruimveldt

A flying zinc sheet wrapped around an a high-tension electric wire on Layou Street, North Ruimveldt

A billboard thrown down outside the Girl Guides Association pavilion on Vlissengen Road

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Guyana/Venezuela border rift…

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‘Exceptional circumstance’ triggers emergency Commonwealth confab ––Secretary-General here to meet with Granger Administration

By Gary Eleazar AN exceptional circumstance has led to the Commonwealth bloc of nations upgrading the Guyana/Venezuela controversy to its agenda for its Foreign Ministers meeting shortly.

Secretary-General of the 53-member Commonwealth group of nations, Kamalesh Sharma arrived in Guyana over the weekend to meet with the newly-elected David Granger Administration, and in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday emphasised what it means to have the full weight of the Commonwealth being brought to bear on the border issue between the two countries.

Sharma told this publication that there is already in existence a Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana, created in 1999 at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in South Africa.

That international group has had several meetings over the past 16 years, according to Sharma.

The Secretary-General explained to this publication that among the underpinning principles of the ministerial grouping is for a special meeting to be convened “in special circumstances.”

According to Sharma, the Commonwealth has been briefed on the recent developments with Guyana’s neighbour Venezuela, “and we are absolutely convinced that this is an exceptional circumstance which requires this meeting to be called.”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in May of this year, signed a Presidential Decree claiming all of Guyana’s Essequibo County, along with its continental offshore, unilaterally seeking to usurp control over sovereign territory.

Sharma yesterday updated the Guyana Chronicle on correspondence with the various Foreign Ministers of the 53-member countries “to meet and consider an expression of solidarity for Guyana in the special circumstances

which have arisen recently.”

The Secretary-General pointed out that firstly, the Commonwealth is made up of 53 countries, which also make up more than a quarter of the United Nations (UN). More importantly, he said, the Commonwealth is “the most diverse organisation in the world; it has membership from the Caribbean, from Asia, from Africa, from Europe, the Pacific, Australia…So when an expression of solidarity comes to Guyana from the Commonwealth, it has a very different

wealth’s position, Secretary-General Sharma told the Guyana Chronicle that the official statement issued over the weekend in support of Guyana’s territorial integrity “is a public statement to everybody.”

He made it clear that Venezuela is a Party to the entire debacle, and that if the Commonwealth were to make an official pronouncement, as it did over the weekend, “it is obviously one which they will be the first to see.”

Sharma said, too, that to date, the

Chronicle’s Gary Eleazar interviewing Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma late yesterday in the Queen Elizabeth Suite of the Guyana Pegasus hotel (Photo by Samuel Maughn) meaning.”

He also noted, “We are the prototype of the whole world.”

The Secretary-General explained that solidarity from the Commonwealth does not just reflect the numbers of more than 50 countries, but it also represents a very diverse composition of nations taking one stand; in this case, with Guyana against Venezuela.

PUBLIC STATEMENT Asked about direct communication with Venezuela on the Common-

Venezuelans have made no formal contact with the Commonwealth over its position on the border issue, but made it clear too, “We don’t address member states who are not members of the Commonwealth, but the modality which we use is a public statement.”

Shortly after his arrival here on Saturday, Sharma released the Commonwealth missive, which expressed its support for Guyana’s territorial integrity.

At the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka in 2013, Commonwealth leaders “…reaffirmed their unequivocal

support for the maintenance and preservation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Sharma, in the Commonwealth’s weekend missive on the issue, stated, “Commonwealth Member Governments, individually and collectively, are also committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes and to the rule of law.”

He told the Guyana Chronicle that the Commonwealth’s position is underscored by two principles, the first being support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty for Guyana; and secondly, “the resolution must be a peaceful one agreed upon by both parties.”

Regarding the details as to how the countries can settle the dispute peacefully, Sharma said this is left up to the two countries.

DISCUSSING PRIORITIES Meanwhile, on the matter of his substantive visit to Guyana, Secretary-General Sharma told the Guyana Chronicle that he is essentially here to meet the new Government, since it is of utmost importance for the person holding his post “to discuss the priorities which member states have for themselves.”

The Commonwealth, he said, prides itself on being “the small states organisation…it is quite unique in this respect.”

He explained that given the unique ability of the Commonwealth and the way it assists small states, “it is very important for me as Secretary General, with the new Government, to see what their priorities are nationally and where it is that they feel that the Commonwealth could play a role.”

Sharma remarked too that his objectives in Guyana also included engaging the new Administration on the matters to be dealt with at the upcoming CHOGM to be held in the Southern European island country of Malta in November.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Greece to introduce capital controls, keep banks shut as crisis deepens

By Lefteris Papadimas and John O’Donnell ATHENS/FRANKFURT,(Reuters)-Greece will introduce capital controls and keep its banks closed today after international creditors refused to extend the country’s bailout and savers queued to withdraw cash, taking Athens’ standoff to a dangerous new level.

The Athens stock exchange will also be closed as the government tries to manage the financial fallout of the disagreement with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

Greece’s banks, kept afloat by emergency funding from the European Central Bank, are on the front line as Athens moves towards defaulting on a 1.6 billion euros payment due to the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday.

Greece blamed the ECB, which had made it difficult for the banks to open because it froze the level of funding support rather than increasing it to cover a rise in withdrawals from worried depositors, for

the moves.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said the decision to reject Greece’s request for a short extension of the bailout program was “an unprecedented act” that called into question the ability of a country to decide an issue affecting its sovereign rights. “This decision led the ECB today to limit the liquidity of Greek banks and forced the central bank of Greece to propose a bank holiday and a restriction on bank withdrawals,” he said in a televised address.

Amid drama in Greece, where a clear majority of people want to remain inside the euro, the next few days present a major challenge to the integrity of the 16-year-old euro zone currency bloc. The consequences for markets and the wider financial system are unclear.

Greece’s left-wing Syriza government had for months been negotiating a deal to release funding in time for its IMF payment. Then suddenly, in the early hours of Saturday, Tspiras asked for extra time

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STOCKING UP ON CASH Long lines formed outside many ATMs on Sunday, including some of 40 to 50 people outside some in central Athens.

The Bank of Greece said it was making “huge efforts” to ensure the machines remained stocked.

The German foreign ministry said tourists heading to Greece should take plenty of cash to avoid possible problems with local banks and some tourists said they were joining the ATM queues.

«I am trying to go over to the bigger banks,» said

to enable Greeks to vote in a referendum on the terms of the deal.

Creditors turned down this request, leaving little option for Greece but to default, piling further pressure on the country’s banking system.

The creditors want Greece to cut pensions and raise taxes in ways that Tsipras has long argued would deepen one of the worst economic crises of modern times in a country where a quarter of the workforce is already unemployed.

Pro-European Greek opposition parties have united in condemning the decision to call the referendum on the bailout terms, but many people are supportive.

“I want him (Tsipras) to knock his fist on the table and to say ‘enough!’,” said Athens resident Evgenoula.

Many leading economists have voiced sympathy with the Greek government’s argument that further cuts in spending risk choking off the growth which would give Greece some prospect of servicing debts worth nearly twice its annual national income.

The IMF has pressed European governments to ease Athens’ debt burden, something most say they will only do when Greece first shows it is trimming its budget.

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Cassandra Preston, a Canadian tourist. «I am here for another month and I would like to make sure I have some cash on me.»

GREEK PARLIAMENT VOTES ‘YES’ TO BAILOUT REFERENDUM The ECB has kept the banks afloat in recent days with increases in its funding line, a form of overdraft with the euro zone’s central bank system.

But yesterday it said it would hold the funding line at the same level as Friday, despite the deposit outflows.

The central bank said it was monitoring the situation and stood ready “to reconsider its decision.”

There is growing opposition to the funding line because it would fall to the bloc’s other members to pay if Greece were to leave the euro zone.

In economic powerhouse Germany, other southern states that have suffered austerity in return for EU cash and poor eastern countries with living standards much lower than Greece’s, many voters and politicians have run out of patience.

Second New York prison escapee shot, hospitalised

By Pete DeMola ELIZABETHTOWN, N.Y,.

(Reuters)-David Sweat, one of two New York state inmates who escaped from prison three weeks ago, was rushed to a local hospital yesterday after being shot by police near the Canadian border, two days after his accomplice was

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David Sweat

killed, according to media reports.

Sweat, 35, has been on the run since he and fellow inmate Richard Matt were discovered missing from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, on June 6.

Sweat was shot and taken into custody in the town of Constable, N.Y., 23 miles north of Duane, where his accomplice was shot and killed on Friday, the Buffalo News reported.

Constable is just five miles south of New York’s border with the Canadian province of Quebec.

Sweat was bleeding badly from “life-threatening”

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wounds, the Buffalo News said.

An Albany Times reporter said on Twitter that Sweat was taken to a hospital in Malone, New York, and he would be airlifted to a hospital in the state capital of Albany.

Capturing the suspect alive would enable New York state prison authorities to learn more about how the pair managed to break out and use that information to tighten security.

Matt, 49, was killed on Friday near Malone, about 27 miles (43 km) northwest of the maximum-security prison, by a member of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection tactical unit.

Some 1,300 members of law enforcement were involved in the search.

Matt and Sweat cut through cell walls, climbed along a catwalk, shimmied through a steam pipe and emerged out of a manhole outside prison walls, authorities said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Argentina judge orders asset seizure of Falklands oil firms A FEDERAL judge in Argentina has ordered the seizure of assets of five companies drilling for oil in the Falkland Islands.

Tierra del Fuego judge Lilian Herraez ordered the authorities to seize boats and other assets worth $156m.

Argentina claims sovereignty of the islands, which it calls the Malvinas.

The oil companies named in the case are not based in Argentina and it is not clear how the measure will be implemented.

Drilling for oil in the territorial waters around the Falklands began in 2010 despite opposition from Buenos Aires.

‘BORDERING ON STUPIDITY’ Judge Herraez says the new ruling will take steps to try to seize the companies’ assets abroad.

The five companies mentioned are: Premier Oil Plc,

territory.

“They want to remain British and that view should be respected by everybody, including by Argentina,” said David Cameron after a 2013 referendum in which the islanders gave almost unanimous support for the

Dominican Republic’s foreign minister to address OAS Rhetoric on the islands is likely to step up during the campaign for October’s presidential elections Argentina accuses BritRockhopper Exploration Plc, went to war over the Falk- ain of colonialism, saying the Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd, lands in 1982. islands lie some 700km (450 Noble Energy Inc and Edison Argentina occupied the miles) off its coast.

International Spa. Britain has held the FalkSouth Atlantic archipelago Three of the companies for 74 days, before British lands for 180 years and says are British-based, one is forces regained control. the wishes of its 3,000 resiAmerican, based in Texas, During the conflict, 255 dents should be respected. and one is French-owned, British and about 650 Argentine The vast majority of based in Italy. servicemen were killed, along them want the islands to Britain and Argentina with three Falklands civilians. remain a British overseas

Turks and Caicos hits Dominican Republic over Haitians PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands -- The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is the latest to slap the Dominican Republic (DR) over its policy of deporting Haitians born in the neighbouring Spanish-speaking Caribbean island.

“The policy is blatantly abusive and wrong. It is something that the Turks and Caicos Islands would never do,” declared Charles Washington Misick, a former chief minister and current finance minister of the chain of islands.

Misick said the DR had every right to seek to exert control over its immigration, but the TCI could never support the expatriation of Haitians born and living legally in that country.

Misick recently made regional news when he was quoted by the TCI Sun newspaper as telling Par-

status quo.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said at the time that Britain was “arrogant” and “bordering on stupidity” for refusing to negotiate on the future of the islands.(BBC News)

liament that foreigners celebrating their national cultures should stay home. He named Haitians, Jamaicans and Bahamians and knocked local sponsors supporting them in their activities.

But in an interview with the Jamaica Observer Friday, Misick said he had nothing against Haitians who were in the TCI legally, working hard and making their contribution to the society.

Haitians make up the largest proportion of non-nationals in the TCI -57 per cent -- followed by Jamaicans. The hundreds of thousands of Haitians in the DR appear to have spooked the Government there. In 2013 the DR constitutional court upheld a fiat to deport some Haitians born or living there, retroactive to 1929.

Misick acknowledged that the wide-scale deportation of Haitians from the DR could adversely affect the TCI.

“I believe it could cause a problem for us.

We have a very porous border. And we already have a problem of Haitians coming here illegal-

ly, many of them criminal e l e m e n t s w h o a re n o t coming here to be productive and to help develop the country,” said Misick.

WASHINGTON, (CMC) – The Organization of American States (OAS) says the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Andrés Navarro, will address the OAS Permanent Council on Tuesday.

The OAS said the “special meeting” will be held in the Simón Bolívar Room of the institution’s headquarters here.

Navarro’s address comes amid ongoing concern about the status of thousands of Haitians and people of Haitian descent, who are currently living in the Dominican Republic.

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Haiti, Sandra Honoré, said on Friday that the potential deportations to be carried out by Santo Domingo authorities should not result in statelessness of people of Hai-

tian descent.

Trinidadian-born Honoré also considered that such acts should be consistent with the dignity, human rights and international humanitarian law.

Her call comes as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) a week ago appealed to the Government of the Dominican Republic to ensure that people who were arbitrarily deprived of their nationality, as a result of a 2013 ruling of the Dominican Constitutional Court, would not be deported.

Honoré, who is also head of UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), said that, to date, there has been an increase in the flow of returnees and that both governments have decided that there would be two official points for carrying out deportations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

On floods and littering THE venerable and brilliant Pat Dial observed in yesterday’s edition of this newspaper, “Over the last few months, one of the major consumer concerns has been the flooding of the City of Georgetown and the farmlands over the Coastal Regions.

“These disastrous floods have been occurring annually and the media and leaders of public opinion have, in one way or another, been saying that the remedy lies in expending a great deal of scarcely available funds on pumps and other costly infrastructure.

“Older folk remember when Georgetown and most of the Coast rarely ever flooded despite torrential rains. The drainage system bequeathed by the Dutch served Guyana very well until it began to be neglected over many years and the neglect has had a direct relationship to the flooding.

“Most who speak about flooding never mention the suffering and loss communities and individuals suffer: House foundations become weakened or are destroyed; homes are flooded, sometimes for days, destroying furniture and equipment and valuable and unique books and personal records; the roads deteriorate; gardens are destroyed and today, there are no well-kept gardens in Georgetown and its environs. The poor, the old and the sick suffer terribly since they are unable to move about or to cook or to buy food and often go hungry.

And the floods bring diseases and ailments which particularly affect these vulnerable groups.

“From time to time over the last several years, there have been clean-up campaigns, especially in Georgetown, and at present, there is an on-going one. Many of the City’s canals have been desilted but the flooding still persists because the smaller feeder drains are still silted up and the culverts are all damaged or choked. These smaller drains have to be cleaned if any relief is to be brought to citizens.”

Mr. Dial then listed a menu of measures, proposed over the years by the Guyana Consumers Association, that he is convinced would alleviate the problems that flooding cause by reducing the build-up of water in communities, especially in urban areas.

However, the solutions that he proposes are largely

dependent on the cooperation of the public. But until recently, the public is the main culprit in precipitating the problems listed by Mr. Dial, through their blatant littering of public spaces, which is the main cause of the incessant problems caused by flooding in the country.

Once a country with a culture of cleanliness ingrained within its national psyche, the current state of Guyana’s environment, from end to end of the coastland, bespeaks a converse attitude of disregard for the health and wellbeing of the nation, as well as unconcern for the gradual deterioration in the scenic landscape of this paradise-like country, once described by colonials as “The Magnificent Province”.

The evidence of Guyana’s current culture of littering, which has become endemic to the Guyanese society, is manifest to visitors on the highway from the CJIA, heaped intermittently in piles right up until they reach their destination, sadly, in or out of the city.

Littering is a serious environmental issue in many countries. Litter can exist in the environment for long periods of time before degrading, and be transported large distances into the world’s oceans. Litter can affect the quality of life of both humans and lesser animals on land; as well as aquatic life.

Various areas in Guyana proliferate with garbage, and show extensive littering of plastic and paper. Human waste, illustrated by the urinating man, as well as fecal matter, increase bacteria levels on land and in the water.

Throughout animal history, people have disposed of unwanted materials without fear of retribution, onto streets, roadsides, in small local dumps or often in remote locations.

Prior to reforms within cities in the mid-to-late 19th Century, sanitation was not a Government priority. The growing piles of waste led to the spread of disease, with plagues often wiping away thousands of lives at one instance of affliction.

Negligent or lenient law enforcement contributes to littering behaviour. Other causes are inconvenience, a feeling of entitlement and economic conditions. Also unavailability of public trash and recycling service, shortage of enforcement, and habit are possible causes. The presence of litter invites

more littering.

The implications of understanding the different types of litter reduction interventions that will most effectively reduce littering in a given environment are essential to enhance quality of human life.

Litter can remain either visible for extended periods of time before it eventually biodegrades, with some items made of condensed glass, styrofoam or plastic possibly remaining in the environment for periods. Some litter that is collected can be recycled; however degraded litter cannot be recycled and eventually degrades to sludge, often toxic. Litter can harm humans and the environment in different ways.

Litter also carries substantial cost to the economy. Cleaning up litter costs millions of dollars, much more than the cost of proper trash disposal, for costs totalling billions per year. Animals may get trapped or poisoned with litter in their habitats.

Public waste containers or street bins should be provided by local authorities to be used as a convenient place for the disposal and collection of litter. Increasingly both general waste and recycling options should be provided. Local councils should pick the waste up and take it to reuse or recycling. However there are issues with this approach. If the bins are not regularly emptied, then overfilling of bins occurs and can increase litter indirectly. Some local authorities will only take responsibility for rubbish that is placed in the bins, which means that litter remains a problem. People may blame a lack of well-placed bins for their littering. Hazardous materials may be incorrectly disposed of in the bins and they can encourage dumpster diving.

A number of organisations exist with the aim of raising awareness, and run campaigns, including clean-up events.

Government continually expends huge amounts of national revenue; but the long-term solution to the problem lies in the citizens themselves becoming aware that it is not a ‘them’ problem, it is an ‘us’ problem; because the threat to health and public safety means that if an epidemic breaks out the entire country would be affected.

Freak storm wreaks havoc on coastal ...

From Page 2 came crashing down. The woman who is in the process of bringing in and arranging her furniture in the top flat of her home, said that all that should have been completed yesterday. However for some reason the maid did not show up, hence the job had to be postponed.

“When I stop to think that we could have been on that verandah or in the yard beneath, I shudder to think of what could have been the outcome, and so I can only thank God for saving our lives,” Angela said gratefully.

Two houses away, at the home of Nikita Persaud, her motorcycle was parked on the

bridge outside her gate. The force of the wind first threw it down, then another gust threw it clean into the trench. Niketa whose home is also built of concrete, said she literally experienced the house shaking and became scared, then she heard the boys next door telling her about what had happened to her motorcycle.

SOUTH RUIMVELDT And posing even greater threat to life and limb were the incidents in North Ruimveldt. At the junction of Aubrey Barker Street and Blue Mountain Road several power poles and a transformer were brought down onto the road and wires danced dangerously, bringing traffic to a halt,

until the arrival of the fire tender. A guard hut in front of Johnny P’s new supermarket was uprooted, and so was a billboard. While still there, the fire fighters received another call which caused them to hastily move off the scene.

NORTH RUIMVELDT Another danger was the situation in Ozama Street, North Ruimveldt, where Nidole Austin, an employee of the Bank of Guyana had half of her roof ripped off as galvanized sheets went flying over into Layou Street. Austin recalled that as the rain began falling heavier, she realised that water was pouring down from every part of the house, but since the roof is sealed,

she did not immediately realise that her sheets had taken flight.

“When I looked out, a gentleman was walking towards the yard and I heard him saying that the roof rip off. I thought he was talking about his roof and so I felt sympathetic towards him, but then he pointed to my roof and said that is what he was speaking about. Austin said literally everything in the house was soaked - the refrigerator, telephone, furniture - from chair to bed - everything. Apart from that, their fruit trees were uprooted and bananas had to be hastily cut. She and her neighbour on the lower flat, Joylyn Emanuel, were left to ponder the next move

forward.

And in Layou Street, several power lines burst and were seen hanging dangerously across the streets. In one case, a network of lines was hanging dangerously across the road with a zinc sheet hanging from them, obstructing the flow of traffic. Consequently power had to be shut off to the affected areas for a considerable period.

In Flying Fish Street, several Christmas Tree plants belonging to horticulturalist Charles Nelson were thrown down while in other areas as the downpour eased, men were seen hastily repairing their roof.

Meanwhile, at Lamaha Springs, home of some members of the Joint Ser-

vices, galvanized sheets were also ripped off by the strong winds and send flying several houselots away.

GEORGETOWN AND EAST BANK And on Vlissengen Road, a huge billboard outside the Girl Guides Association was also thrown down, while on the East Bank Demerara, a huge billboard outside Rahaman’s Conference Centre and Banquet Hall at Houston, East Bank Demerara was uprooted and strewn across the entrance to the facility.

The weather condition which started around 14:30 hrs lasted for less than an hour, but caused extensive damage in the process.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Dynamic rebounds from rocky 2014 start ––now running very efficiently

DYNAMIC Airways, after a rocky start in 2014, has managed to deliver services to more than 22,000 passengers from New York to Georgetown since February and the company has also been able to renew their licence.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Chief Executive Officer of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerald Gouveia said that the airline has had some troubled times but with hard work and dedication it has been running very efficiently four days weekly, Tuesdays Thursdays Fridays and Saturday.

“We have been able to prove that our flights are on time, flight arrives every morning at 06:30h and depart at 16:00h in the evening on time every time.”

Responding to the question about the trust persons now have in the service, Gouveia noted that persons have now been able to put more trust in the frequency and timing of their flights. “The loads have been very good and Dynamic intends to continue this service which has been extended since their licence have been renewed from June.”

Speaking about the high demand for flights

to and from New York for the summer vacation, he noted that “we expect during the high season we will ramp up to five flights weekly and de-

pends on the load we will increase flights as is necessary.” He also noted that to ‘spice things up’ a bit the airline will be starting an inflight raffle for passenger’s using their tickets as the

raffle number on every flight, and the prizes will be local tours either to Kaieteur Falls or Arrow Point Resort and for people going to

New York the passengers will win something on the New York side.

According to Gouveia the airline is still looking into the extension into the Toronto

route and also Dynamic will start to look more now at the tourism packages. “Out of North America we will sell a package that includes airfare, hotel accommodation and the local tours.”

Previously the airline had indicated their interest in the movement of cargo between Georgetown and New York. Gouveia said that the company has started moving some cargo from the Unites States but the restrictions of cargo out of Guyana is limited. He noted that “because of the airport’s limited capabilities” it makes it challenging to take cargo from Guyana.

UPGRADED SCANNER Gouveia explained that “when you are putting cargo onto a passenger plane it has to go through a different process, so right now the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) needs an upgraded scanner.” He explained also that currently the authorities at CJIA is in the process of researching and selecting a scanner for the airport but “until the airport gets the scanner it becomes difficult to put cargo onto a passenger plane.”

GRDB central lab acquires regional certification ––in landmark achievement for both entity, accreditor

THE Central Laboratory of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has been accredited by the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) in what has been described as a landmark achievement for both entities.

The GRDB celebrated this achievement on Friday evening with a reception at the Grand Coastal Hotel at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.

This reception was attended by Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, Mr George Jarvis; former GRDB General Manager, Mr. Jagnarine Singh; JANAAC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mrs. Sharonmae Shirley; CEO of the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality, Mr. Deryck Omar; and other officials and members of the GRDB.

Mr Jarvis, in brief remarks, highlighted that the Ministry of Agriculture is proud of the Central Lab for receiving the accreditation from JANAAC, which he said comes as a big achievement for the GRDB. This achievement, he noted, opens new horizons for the rice industry and the Central Lab itself, as the lab is now able to issue credible certificates to companies after carrying out food testing.

“The lab has attained the requirements because of the system (that had been implemented) prior to the achievement. Therefore, the persons behind this achievement ought not to be forgotten for their hard work over the years,” he declared.

The CEO of JANAAC highlighted that the accreditation company is ecstatic, as it was its first official accreditation.

Members of the gathering on Friday evening at the Grand Coastal Inn Hotel

Ms. Sharonmae Shirley hands over the award to Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GRDB, Mr. Badrie Persaud, in the presence of Mr. Singh and Ms. Allison Peters The CEO said the accreditation company has a vision of being the leading accreditor of international services in the Region.

She noted that the entity is currently the only recognised accreditation body in the Region, and said the GRDB’s Central Lab received the accreditation for demonstrating good performance and scope for food testing.

“This accreditation is the passport to all local markets; which is a big boost to the GRDB,” she declared.

On that note, Executive Director of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), Ms. Evadnie Ennis, highlighted that local companies will feel secure now that there is a local body that could get them through the food testing process. (Navendra Seoraj)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Commonwealth Secretary-General lauds Guyana’s electoral advancements ––notes ‘consistent and visible improvements’

By Derwayne Wills AS Guyana moves on after what is probably the most closely-monitored elections in recent times, outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma expressed optimism over the country’s electoral process, noting “consistent and visible improvements.”

Commonwealth Observer Groups, empowered by the Commonwealth Secretariat with invitations from the respective Governments, have long maintained close relations with electoral agencies throughout the realm of its 53 member countries.

“We have cooperated for a very long period of time with the Guyana Electoral Commission, so that the best international standards can be adopted by them, depending upon what their role [and] decisions are in respect of strengthening their engagement and service to the country,” Sharma told this publication yesterday in an exclusive interview.

He cited the recommendations made to the Guyana Elections Commission [GECOM] by the observer group following Guyana’s May 11 polls. This

engagement, Sharma said, is a continuing one as it aids in improving the services of

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma in Georgetown electoral agencies in countries throughout the realm.

The Commonwealth Observer Group arrived in Guyana on May 5 and was

chaired by Kate Wilkinson. On May 14, three days after the polls closed, the Group outlined its recommendations at a press conference.

The body expressed concerns about “the margin of increase in the Voters’ Register since the last national and regional elections in 2011.” That increase of some 80,000 voters, according to GECOM’s Commissioner Dr. Steve Surujbally was due to a possible increase in outreaches, frequent registration exercises, registrants coming of age since 2011 and wider civic and voter education.

The observer mission last May lauded the effectiveness of polling day officials who were “adequately trained to undertake their duties on elections day, and were sufficiently familiar with their responsibilities.”

INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC The elections observer group also noted concerns and expressed disappointment at “the inflammatory rhetoric and personal attacks by elements of political leadership during campaign period.” The group also noted such rhetoric which “violated the voluntary code of conduct agreed

St. Rose’s High hosts 6th Int’l Reunion

by political parties, which is aimed at guarding against malicious and confrontational campaigning.”

On Polling Day, the Mission was keen to note the isolated incidents of violations of unrest at some polling stations while acknowledging “the smooth transmission of Statements of Polls to Returning Officers and the Chief Elections Officers” as being vital to the electoral process.

The Commonwealth Observer Group left Guyana on May 17, and according to the body’s statement, the official report was presented to the Commonwealth Secretary-General.

Mr. Sharma will soon demit office as Secretary-General, after serving in that capacity for seven years. His presence in Guyana at this time is not only a symbol of the Commonwealth’s support of Guyana, but a reminder of the emphasis placed on the development of smaller countries in the 53-member bloc.

The Secretary-General will meet with stakeholders today before his departure for Barbados for the July 2- 5 CARICOM Heads of Government meeting, which will also be attended

by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

––Education Minister urges alumni to stay on course

THE St. Rose’s High School yesterday hosted its 6th Annual International Reunion, whereby past students and staffers enjoyed a moment of togetherness once again.

The event was graced by Education Minister, Dr. Rupert

Roopnarine; Minister of Tourism, Ms Cathy Hughes; PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate, Ms Elisabeth Harper and other officials and old students.

Dr. Roopnarine, during his address, urged the school’s

Dr. Rupert Roopnarine during his address to the gathering (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

Members of the gathering yesterday.

alumni to continue the good work in supporting the school in its way forward, and told current staffers to continue their great work in moving the school forward.

“I must congratulate you for the contributions towards the school, as I encourage you to move forward with confidence and also guide the Board of the school along the right path,” he said.

Additionally, he stressed the importance of education in Guyana and around the world, while observing that St. Rose’s is not the same school it was in the 1970s as compared to the world of today.

He urged them to continue with their good work and to work hard towards improving the school in not only academics but also in the area of extra-curricular activities.

Similarly, the Tourism Minister, along with Mrs. Harper urged the school to keep up its good work and work towards improving the school. They also congratulated the school’s alumni for their contributions towards the school and urged them to continue on that course.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Study finds ...

Persons living with HIV fear violence, discrimination

By Tajeram Mohabir in Grenada A STUDY done in Guyana has shown that fear of violence, discrimination, and poverty can serve as barriers to adaptation of risk reduction for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV).

The paper titled: “Fear of violence increases risk behaviours of persons living with HIV in Guyana” was presented on Day Two of the 60th Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPA) at St George’s Campus, Grenada.

The study recommended that social programmes must adequately address protection from violence and discrimination against PLHIV. In Guyana, about 9,000 persons are living with HIV. In 1999, a survey indicated that 27.7 per cent of women reported that they experienced physical abuse. Another in 2008 (Figueroa) shows that transactional sex between older men and younger women is prevalent while Di Clemente (1990) noted that poor women have difficulty negotiating condom use in the face of possible emotional or financial abandonment.

The same researcher in a study in 2008 found that with men having multiple partners, fear of violence and poverty put women at increased risk of HIV infection.

Guyana is classified as an upper-middle income country, having a GDP of US$7,939 per capita in 2012, and ranking 118th out of 187 countries with comparable data on the Human Development Index.

INEQUALITY In spite of the good rating, President of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle said geographic variations in unmet contraceptive needs reflect the geographic inequities in access to health services and products.

A Ministry of Health Statistical Bulletin in 2009 reported that 71 per cent of HIV cases are in the age group 20-44 years.

Presenting the study on People Living with HIV in Guyana, Dr Gordon-Boyle reported that women in Guyana are most likely to have sex for things, fear of violence and have an HIV negative partner.

Based on the study conducted in 2011 on 271 PLHIV, Dr Gordon-Boyle said the respondents who were not afraid to speak out were significantly more likely to use family planning. For those who had a partner tested for HIV, they were significantly more likely

to use family planning.

The conference heard that HIV status serves as a confounder to disclosure to a sexual partner and Persons Living with HIV who reported having multiple partners were significantly less likely to disclose their HIV status.

FEAR The GRPA head related that persons delayed disclosure to sexual partners for months to years due to fear of violence, lack of trust, fear of abandonment.

And HIV positive men in casual sexual relationships felt no need for disclosure. She noted that one such man after being with a younger female of unknown status for five

––in disclosing their status

years, felt no need to disclose to her his status, their relationship being transactional.

Quoting the man, Gordon-Boyle reported him as saying:“I am HIV positive; I can’t be her main boyfriend. I can’t tell her that I am HIV positive. So I just going along. She has needs. I help. She is poor. So I help her out with money. Yes, I have other women but not serious relationships. I live by myself, I cook for myself, I am comfortable. I don’t

want nobody living with me.”

Pointing to another example, she noted the case of a woman whom she referred to as M37. M37, she related, knew her husband had several other women but did not insist on condom use. She did not hesitate to disclose her status to him when she tested positive.

“He wasn’t surprised. So I just sit down watching him and he ain’t say nothing. He just watching me and I watchin he. So I say let us go to the health centre to make sure and indeed both of us test positive. So I ask him what happen. He say he don’t know. He say he used to feel sick and so and he da shame and feel bad and think I would a go away.”

ABANDONED After her disclosure, her HIV positive husband abandoned the family, leaving her with no source of income and several children to feed. With no job, no source of income to take care of their four children, M37 went to the Ministry of Social Services for help but was made to feel embarrassed about being HIV positive with several children and no job.

“Having nowhere to live, M37 was forced to move in with relatives where her daughters were almost raped by her uncle.

M37 began seeing a married man of unknown HIV status. Two years into the relationship she didn’t feel she could disclose to him despite Prevention with Positives intervention. She was fearful of abandonment or violence and depended on him for support,” Dr Karen-Boyle related.

The non-disclosure of men practising multiple concurrency, she noted, emphasises the power differential between the genders and undermines the ability of the ignorant partner to self-protect.

Individuals in casual sexual relationships need to assume responsibility for their protection, the GRPA head said, stressing that aaggressive campaigns are needed to raise public awareness of the increased risk associated with the cultural practice of multiple concurrency.

The Prevention with Positives Project, Dr Gordon-Boyle said must continue to raise risk perception and promote the need for PLHIV to take shared responsibility for prevention.

The project urges persons living with HIV to be faithful, reduce the number of sexual partners, disclose their status to sexual partners and use or insist on their partners using a condom during intimacy.

Oveaseas eye specialists due this week ––to do corneal transplant surgeries at GPHC

A TEAM of experts from the US-based Subraj Foundation will be visiting Guyana this week to perform a series of corneal transplant surgeries at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The team, which is scheduled to arrive early tomorrow, will be at the GPHC all day to see patients and perform corneal transplants, and again on Wednesday and Thursday, according to a release from GPHC’s Department of Ophthalmology.

The team will perform transplants based on the amount of donor corneas they can procure, and they are aiming to do around 10 transplants.

The team, headed by Dr. Rahul Jindal, has been coming to Guyana for some time, and has a record of already performing twenty-six kidney transplants and six cor-

neal transplants in Guyana. The prior six corneal transplants were successfully done at the Balwant Singh Hospital in August 2014.

The team will comprise three physicians, namely Dr. Jindal along with two corneal transplant surgeons, Dr. Stephen Waller and Dr. Joseph Pasternak. They will be accompanied by members of the Subraj Foundation Transplantation Team, namely Messrs George Subraj, Jay Narain and Lakhram Persaud.

According to Dr. Shailendra Sugrim, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, over the past month, the Department of Ophthalmology has been generating a list of patients to be seen by the team on the morning of June 30. From this pool of patients, the team will decide the suitability for transplant surgery.

The team will be bringing the donor corneas with them, along with special microsurgical ophthalmic instruments to perform these surgeries. The visiting corneal specialists will work along with local ophthalmologists to perform the surgeries.

EYE BANK IN GUYANA The team is also interested in lobbying towards the establishment of an Eye Bank in Guyana from where donor corneas can be stored and kept for transplantation.

These donor corneas are taken from cadavers. They have to be stored in a special liquid medium and can survive for a limited period of time.

The cornea – the clear “glass-window” of the eye - refracts light and allows the entrance of light into the eye and this enables

us to see. Any disorder that makes the cornea cloudy or opacified can cause severe visual impairment. Many patients who become blinded by corneal opacities or disorders can regain their sight via corneal transplants.

The GPHC Department of Ophthalmology is also encouraging any patient who has been previously recommended for corneal transplants by ophthalmologists to come to the GPHC Eye Clinic with the letter of recommendation from their ophthalmologist along with all investigations that have been previously done. Those patients who have already had corneal transplants and would like to have a review by the team can also come to the clinic tomorrow at 8:00am. They are advised to bring the clinical records of their previous surgery, the release added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Crimson Light murder trial ...

Judge upholds no-case submission

Monday, June 29, 2015 ––– 14:30hrs Tuesday, June 30, 2015 ––– 14:30hrs

MURDER accused Marlon Fordyce, 26, and Troy Stewart, 31, were on Thursday freed of the capital offence which had kept them behind bars for almost three years.

The men were accused of killing Rajmohan Phaskanram, who, on December 18, 2012, had gone to the Crimson Light Bar at Corriverton, Upper Corentyne to purchase a bottle of beer.

In handing down his ruling, Justice Franklyn Holder noted that there was a break in the causative nexus of the State’s case. As a result, the evidence simply proved that Phaskanram died from just injuries.

Citing several legal authorities, the Honourable Judge explained that every element must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Defence Attorneys Kim

––two accused freed

Kyte-John and Tania Warren-Clements had submitted that the main witness, Satesh Phaskanram, had testified of leaving his injured father in the verandah of their home, but when he returned moments after, the elder man was seen 200 to 300 feet away, lying along a track.

The State was unable to

“I told them to leave my father alone, and Marlon asked me if I want some lashes. I ran away, leaving them behind. When I returned, my father was not in the verandah, but was lying along a track about two to three hundred feet away.”

In his caution statement, Marlon Fordyce had claimed

From left: Murder accused Marlon Fordyce and Troy Stewart as they entered the Berbice High Court last Tuesday lead evidence to prove what had occurred from the time the elder Phaskanram was seen on the verandah to the time he was discovered lying along the track.

Meanwhile, prior to the closure of the State’s case, Satesh Phaskanram, son of the deceased, recalled that on December 18, 2012, he had returned home from work at about 03:00pm and had taken a seat on a bench in the yard.

Shortly afterwards, his father was seen coming from the direction of seawall, dressed in his brief and appearing to be drunk.

The witness recounted seeing three men approaching, two of whom were identified as the accused men sitting in the dock and another whose name was unfamiliar.

The two accused, he said, ran into the yard, while the third person jumped over that gate and viced him.

“My father ran into the verandah. Marlon and Troy held on to my father. Both were armed with a piece of wood and a cutlass. Marlon had a stick and Troy had a cutlass. They beat my father and I shouted for thief.

to be perched on a trestle when he saw another man firing chops at Rajmohan Phaskanram, who succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation on December 26, 2012.

The caution statement attributed to the murder accused Marlon Fordyce was admitted into evidence following his arraignment before Justice Franklyn Holder at the Berbice Assizes on Tuesday.

The testament was admitted through Woman Detective Zoann Johnson, who had contacted the accused at the Springlands Police Station lockups on December 27, 2012.

Fordyce and Stewart were facing a joint murder indictment, and they have pleaded not guilty of unlawfully killing Rajmohan Phaskanram, known as Cowboy.

In his statement, Fordyce said he was sitting in the Crimson Light Bar at Number 79 Village, Corentyne when the now deceased entered and requested to purchase a bottle of Banks Beer.

“He then went outside. I remained in the bar. About five minutes later, two of the

female bar attendants - ‘Sugar’ and ‘Shorty’ -- informed me that a man was armed with a cutlass. I saw one Terrence Zickson and Rowel Agard, a resident of Suriname, run out the bar into the direction of ‘Cowboy’.

Continuing, he said, “I then heard a loud sound coming from behind the disco in the street. I jumped up on the black tank stand and I saw Rowel take a cutlass and was firing chops as ‘Cowboy’ fell on the ground.

I saw ‘Cowboy’ get up and Terrance pick up a piece of wood and lash ‘Cowboy’ on his head. ’Cowboy’ fell, and blood began to flow. I came down the tank stand, went to the bar, which I locked up before telling Troy to put up his car. After Terrence and Rowel ran away, we went to bed. A few minutes later the police arrested me’.

Earlier, the plainclothes policewoman said the accused men had been arrested following a report of an alleged wounding, and it was after she had received certain information that the allegation of murder had been put to the men.

The witness noted that it was Fordyce who had elected to make a statement, while Stewart maintained that he knew nothing of the incident.

Questioned by Attorney-at-law Tania Warren-Clement, who is defending Fordyce, the witness said her investigation had led her to the Crimson Light Bar, where she had spoken with ‘Sugar’ and ‘Shorty’.

Responding to the other Defence Counsel, Ms Kim Kyte-John, the sleuth noted that Terrance and Rowel were never arrested in relation to the matter.

Meanwhile, another detective, Ramesh Chetram, told the mixed jury that after visiting the scene of the crime, he found a brown handle cutlass, which he secured. Thereafter, he visited the Skeldon Hospital, where he saw the unconscious Rajmohan Phaskanram in the emergency unit with several wounds to his head and other parts of his body.

He was later taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital, and subsequently the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he died.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Prime Minister finds Giftland Mall refreshing, innovative ––following leisurely tour of soon-to-open facility

GIFTLAND’S US$24M Mall is slated to open its doors to the public on July 2, and recently Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo hailed the venture as the single largest innovation in commerce in Guyana.

The Prime Minister, his wife Mrs Sita Nagamootoo and Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr David Patterson were taken on a conducted tour of the facility by Giftland’s President, Mr Roy Beepat.

The tour included visits to the power plant,

shopping areas and the Caribbean Cinema’s eight-screen cineplex. The Mall is located at Pattensen, on the lower East Coast Demerara.

Caribbean Cinemas is a Puerto Rican-based company which has over 400 screens across the region. Their Guyana opening will be the company’s first mainland operation, and is said to have the latest technology, including 3D capability in all eight screens. The cineplex boasts 1,100 seats.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo being given a run-down on how the generator system works by Giftland’s Mr Roy Beepat

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and wife Sita Nagagmootoo, Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and Giftland’s President Roy Beepat experiencing firsthand viewing of the 3D cinema.

The PM, Mr Roy Beepat and Mrs Nagagmootoo touring one of the Mall’s several department stores

Mrs Sita Nagagmootoo takes note of the lamps as PM Nagamootoo and Roy Beepat have a chat (Photos by Delano Williams)

The PM and his wife enjoying some light banter with Infrastructure Minister, Mr David Patterson and Giftland’s Mr Roy Beepat

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

ScotiaBank boosts TIF by $US14,000

By Shirley Thomas

SCOTIABANK Guyana on Friday presented US$14,000 to the Tina Insanally Foundation (TIF), giving a boost to the entity which uses music as a medium to enrich the lives of children who are innately talented, but who otherwise, have few opportunities for self-expression.

The cheque was handed over to TIF’s executive Ms. Sara Insanally by ScotiaBank’s Marketing Manager, Ms. Jennifer Cipriani amidst fanfare, as members of the group of talented young musicians trained through the foundation, regaled persons present at the ceremony held at the Guyenterprise office on Forshaw and Irving Streets, Queenstown.

Under the baton of instructor Mark Lee from the celebrated “Chad Arthur’s Band”, a group of about 15 students drawn from member organisations, the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre; Marian’s Academy (through St. Ann’s Orphanage), and St. John’s Bosco among others enthralled the guests as they rendered choice pieces on guitar, the violin and a steelpan. Musical renditions included: “Thinking of Love”; “Oh Danny Boy”; and “Imagine”.

Managing Director of Guyenterprise, Mr. Vic Insanally, who is also the father of Tina Insanally in whose memory the Foundation was established, joined his wife Mrs. Pat Insanally in welcoming those pres-

Ms. Jennifer Cipriani (left) presents the cheque to Ms. Sara Insanally ent. He expressed gratitude to ScotiaBank for the noble gesture, particularly former Country Manager, Ms. Amanda St. Aubyn and Ms. Cipriani for making it possible for the Foundation to benefit from ScotiaBank’s Bright Future programme.

Ms. Sara Insanally expressed pride and joy at looking around to see students who, according to her, “have really blossomed through the years.” She expressed gratitude to ScotiaBank for recognising and supporting their efforts at bringing music into children’s lives, and making it possible for the foundation to worry less about funding and being able to channel

their time and energies on training the students to become great musicians.

Sara said the Tina Insanally Foundation (TIF) was created in 2010 with the goal of working to enrich the lives of Guyanese children. From time to time they would hold concerts or do performances, and from the proceeds pay stipends to the children.

To date, the foundation boasts over 200 young musicians, both in Georgetown and at Lovely Lass, West Coast Berbice, where there are about 60 children in training. TIF works in collaboration with local partners to ensure that the children on its programmes are provided with the resources and care

they need to live healthy and fulfilled lives.

“We believe that music can make a difference in young lives. We believe in its potential to promote learning, to encourage healing and generally, to enrich the lives of children who otherwise have few opportunities for self-expression,” Sara said, adding that TIF is committed to realising Tina’s dream to make a difference in the world through music.

Noting that there are many children in Guyana who have never been exposed to music, Ms. Insanally said it is the foundation’s goal to change this by working with music teachers and volunteers to bring music into the lives

of children, particularly those who are disadvantaged.

Meanwhile, Ms. Cipriani said that credit was due to former Country Manager, Ms. Amanda St. Aubyn for initiating the grant of the fund and disclosed that the foundation was granted a total of US $42,000 over a three-year period. This sum is to be disbursed in three tranches, beginning with US $14,000 on this occasion. She expressed confidence that the managers of the foundation will manage the money properly, so that TIF will get the best value out of it. She added that she looks forward to working with TIF in the ensuing years.

ABOUT TINA An obituary documented by the Insanally family vividly reflects on the life of the budding young musician and humanitarian, whose life is now being celebrated: “Tina’s tragic and sudden death in 2010 cut deep, but more indelible was the profound impact this young woman had on the lives of so many during her 23 years with us from her family and friends to her Brescia College alumni and the many disadvantaged children she gave so much of her time and heart to. Her ready smile, compassion, unswerving faith, talent and love of music brought and continues to bring comfort and joy to many.

“Tina’s journals testify to her long- standing and abiding interest in music and of her talent, awakened and nurtured by her grandmother, a talent that she wanted to develop and to share, and Music Instructor Mark Lee and students perform a rendition on guitar (Phots by Delano Williams) perhaps with her beautiful

singing voice, carve out a career in the field of music.

It was her dream. Her family supported and encouraged this dream, enrolling her first at Mae’s School, where she won many elocution and poetry competitions, emceed functions, performed in school choirs and got her first taste of audience appreciation with her rendition of a Shania in song in the school auditorium. She was chosen to sing the theme song at her graduation.

“Encouraged by her Ma, she attended piano classes run by Mrs. Marilyn Dewar.

She completed piano courses to Grade 4, won the ORIN BARROW Trophy in 2003 for the best National Grade 4 Performance, and performed at the “Young Musicians on Stage” shows organised by the Guyana Music Teachers Association. She loved dancing and appeared at the National Cultural Centre in the Nritya Geet dance shows organised by the Shaw family and in presentations by Nadira Jagan’s Let’s Dance Studio.

“In 2007, Tina left for Brescia University College in Canada. During her summer visits home, she linked up with Chad Arthur & his Band – Francis Bailey, Mark lee and Jason Harper. Tina spent many happy hours rehearsing with the band. She performed with the band in 2009 at the Oasis Café, where she sang her signature tune – Norah Jones’s “Don’t Know Why” and again on Friday night August 6, 2010 at her sister, Lisa’s nightclub ‘Mojos,’ where she performed Cindy Lauper’s ‘Time After Time.’

“She was also possessed of a deep and solid faith in God and relied heavily on His guidance. She had an awesome affection for family and friends and deep concern for the less fortunate in the world, as evidenced by her doing voluntary work whilst in Canada. At home, she worked closely with children in the Red Cross Convalescent Home, and as they grew older, she would continue visiting them at the St. Ann’s Girls’ Orphanage and the St. John’s Bosco Boys’ Orphanage. She spent time in her last days buying gifts for the girls.

“TIF celebrates Tina’s generous, compassionate and enduring spirit and sets out to give the gift of music where it’s needed most.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Republic Bank first to install ATM at Giftland Mall

THE official signing of a business partnership between Giftland Mall and Republic Bank Limited (RBL) was done during a brief ceremony on Friday.

Manager of Information Technology at RBL, Yonnette Greaves, stated that RBL is the first bank to have signed on to have one of their Automated Teller Machines (ATM) available at the mall. She noted that this is to ensure safe shopping as well as to have accessible cash at hand.

Greaves explained that the machine will be functional for the Friday, July 3, 2015 opening of the mall.

Karen Agtarap, Marketing Manager of Giftland Mall on behalf of her company thanked RBL for their initiative of placing an ATM within the environs of the mall and noted that this will assist patrons tremendously with their safe and convenient Karen Agtarap, Marketing Manager of Giftland and Manager of Information Technology at RBL Yonnette Greaves during the signing shopping.

Education Minister touts re-introduction of music, physical education in public schools

By Ravin Singh STRIKING a precise balance between academics and extra-curricular activities remains one of the key ingredients for a successful student life, once the student posseses the ability to manoeuvre smoothly between the two.

In light of this fact, Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine revealed on Thursday in an invited comment with this newspaper, that he will be working towards having the re-introduction of both music and physical education into the public school system.

“I would like to see two things come back into the education system: I want to see musical education so that children are exposed to music every day and secondly, I would like to see

Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine

sports back into the schools.

Every school must have a sports master or sports mistress so that we can plan serious sports programmes in schools,” Dr. Roopnaraine said.

This, he posited,will help to promote a well-balanced school life for students, deviating from the limitations of routine academic life.

Recently, following

the announcement of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) by the Education Ministry, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Olato Sam had opined that some public schools had not adopted some of the policies private schools were executing. This, he said, may have been a contributory factor to private schools dominating the NGSA. Minister Roopnaraine added that while he does not believe that private schools are doing everything better than public schools, he explained on Thursday that what will be pursued is an examination of the policies which have been successful and from there an adaptation could be made by the public schools and vice versa.

With reference as to how the public school system

is functioning, Dr Roopnaraine explained that, “while things might not have collapsed at a point of complete ruin in Guyana in the public education system, we’re far too close to it.”

But this is not a result of poorly drafted policies, as he noted that qualified professionals have over the years consistently produced “well-crafted educational policies.”

Additionally, he stressed that we are not in a situation where the system is suffering from a lack of capacity of planning or possibly human resources at the administrative or student level.

But despite this, the public education system remains a weak one, given the statistics at national examinations over the years.

The minister encouraged persons to consider

that while last year a Guyanese student, Elisa Hamilton, had passed the highest number of subjects in the entire Region, over 50% of her colleagues in that year did not pass the basic subjects of Mathematics and English.

Recorded in 2014 at the NGSA also, was that despite 13,700 students sitting the examination, less than 0.2% or about 186 students scored high enough to qualify for the number one school in the country.

This was described as the “consistent narrative” over the last five years.

And while billions of dollars have been invested into public education infrastructure, Dr. Roopnaraine asserted that “we’re still met with horror stories of

schools that are lacking basic facilities from lab equipment to furniture and in the most horrendous instances, toilets.”

But the baseline for future planning on education has to be significant reform of the education system, the minister said, while adding that certain problems facing the sector are as clear-cut as their solutions.

To this end, he pointed to the fact that teachers are underpaid and undervalued, which could be remedied by paying them better and valuing them more.

Poor enforcement of rules and guidelines too have contributed in this regard. “We need to place more emphasis on accountability within the system; we need to ensure that resources are equitably spread even in

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

At Berbice Assizes ...

Former Camp Jaguar soldier fined

––after compensating disfigured victim

By Jeune Bailey Vankeric FORMER Guyana Defence Force Private Cleyon

Siaka Douglas was fined $120,000 with an alternative of one year’s imprisonment, after he satisfactorily compensated his victim with an undisclosed sum.

The penalty was handed down by Justice Franklyn Holder at the Berbice Assizes, after the virtual complainant, Welton Hazel, said he was satisfied with the compensation.

Douglas, in turn, told the court that his then youthfulness did not allow him to carefully analyse his decision, which left his former colleague permanently scarred.

Ten years after setting on fire fellow soldier Welton Hazel at Camp Jaguar, Former Private 20084 Cleyon Siaka Douglas had pleaded guilty to causing grevious bodily harm, with intent to main, disfigure, or disable Welton Hazel.

In another indictment which stipulated that on June 25, 2005, he caused grevious bodily harm to Welton Hazel with intent to murder him, Justice Franklyn Holder had ordered the mixed jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty in his favour.

Douglas, aged 29 years, of Apartment 18 Cocorite Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, had appeared at the Berbice Assizes weeks before, and expected to be sentenced, following a probation report and a plea in mitigation.

However, the victim, Welton Hazel, reported that he was aged 21 years old and was a private in the Guyana Defence Force based at Camp Jaguar, New River, Corentyne.

Since the 2005 incident, he has moved on with his life, and is now a divorced father of three. In addition to attaining the rank of Lance Corporal, Hazel noted, a lot of time had elapsed, and he has the scars to live with.

However, he has grown to forgive Mr. Douglas, and now feels sorry for him.

According to Hazel, there was a misunderstanding earlier that day, and he now desires to plead for clemency on behalf of his attacker.

Meanwhile, Senior Probation Officer Ms. Egla October noted that Douglas, described by others as a quiet-natured person, has since expressed remorse for his action. She concluded that it seems that the haunting and loneliness of the location had caused him “to flip”, since violence of any form is not of his disposition.

The victim, Mr. Hazel, with tears, is now pleading for his release.

Meanwhile, following the incident at the army base at the Corentyne river, it was reported that Douglas and the virtual complainant were members of the Guyana Defence Force.

Hours before the incident, Douglas had made allegations of an inappropriate misconduct, coupled with a physical assault. As a result, he went to the fuel bay, where he accessed the flammable substance which was poured on the sleeping rank. Hazel became awake after smelling gasoline and experiencing a burning sensation to his skin.

The injured private was airlifted to the then Ogle airstrip, before being transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was admitted a patient.

However, Douglas fled the camp, but returned hours later, and was subsequently detained by investigators.

It must be noted that the compartments destroyed were the signal centre, the officers’ quarters, the mess hall, and the fuel bond; along with 10 AK-47 rifles, 1M70 rifle and two general purpose machine guns, which were all housed in that one-flat edifice.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Gayle storm dampens Zouks’ fire!

CHRIS Gayle produced a virtuoso performance with the bat once again as he led his Jamaica Tallawahs side to a comprehensive 10-wicket win over the St Lucia Zouks - their first win of the 2015 Hero Caribbean Premier League.

Gayle clubbed an unbeaten 90 off only 36 balls, reaching his 50 off 20, as the Tallawahs easily chased down the Zouks’ 118-9, using up only 10 of their alloted overs.

Chadwick Walton who scored 25 off 25 balls - and Gayle also put on the

Tallawahs’ first century partnership as they moved into third place in the 2015 Hero CPL. It was an extraordinary performance and one that entirely vindicated Gayle’s decision to put the Zouks - who had won their previous two games - in to bat after winning the toss at the Beausejour.

Johnson Charles smashed three fours off one Krishmar Santokie over, but after he was bowled by Jerome Taylor for 29 off 22, the Zouks’ innings stalled. Daniel Vetto-

ri bowled four fine overs of spin and took an incredible catch, leaping full length at mid-wicket to get rid of Andre Fletcher.

There were two more outrageous catches, Australian Chris Lynn doing for Kyle Mayers with some quick-thinking as he took the catch and threw the ball up as he stepped outside the ropes and then stepped back inside to collect the ball, before Santokie took a screamer over his head to dismiss Kevin Pietersen for 26 off 25.

The Zouks fell apart,

going from 94-3 to 111-9 as Santokie bowled brilliantly to finish with 3-24 and Rusty Theron took 3-19.

They were lucky not to be bowled out inside their 20 overs, but it didn’t matter as the self-styled ‘World Boss’ Gayle set about finishing the job quick-time, with a couple of sixes in particular sailing miles back into the crowd.

Gayle finished it in style by going 6, 6, 4, 6 off Liam Sebastien to wrap it up after 10 overs, before being named man-of-the-match.

A stunning display from the great man!

Guyana crush Aruba 5-0 to wrap up Olympic Qualifier tournament GUYANA defeated Aruba 5-0 yesterday to wrap up their Caribbean Foot-

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ball Union (CFU) Olympic Qualifier tournament participation in Antigua and Barbuda.

The Guyanese fell 2-0 against the hosts and Cuba and wanted to finish on a high

note against the Dutch-speaking Island.

Both Cuba and Antigua crushed Aruba 11-1 and 7-0 respectively, leaving the two sides to play for the top spot in Group 2. Only one team

will advance to the next round.

Head coach Jamaal Shabazz had stated prior to yesterday’s game that Guyana will be playing for pride and will not leave the Island empty-handed.

Aussies beat Kent by 255 runs at Canterbury AUSTRALIA won the first match of their 2015 tour of England and Wales as they beat Kent by 255 runs at Canterbury. The tourists declared on their overnight score of 322-4, setting Kent the unlikely victory target of 550.

Opener Daniel Bell-Drummond frustrated Australia on the final day with an excellent innings of 127 off 112 balls.

The hosts collapsed from 193-3 to 233-8 before Mitchell Claydon made an entertaining 53 but it was not enough to deny Australia the victory.

Steve Smith ended with 3-54 from only 5.4 overs, while Ryan Harris and Fawad Ahmed took two wickets apiece.

The tourists will now play a four-day match against Essex, which begins on July 1, before the first Ashes Test starts on July 8 in Cardiff.

It proved to be a perfect warm-up game for the Australians as Shaun Marsh, Smith and Mitchell Marsh scored hundreds, Chris Rogers, Michael Clarke and Shane Watson made half-centuries and the wickets were shared among all six bowlers.

After dominating the opening three days, Australia set Kent the challenge to bat out the final day.

The hosts looked like frustrating their visitors as 21-year-old Bell-Drummond, who has represented England at Under-19 level, hit three sixes and 21 fours in his third first-class century of the season.

However, Kent, bottom of Division Two of the County Championship, then lost five wickets for only 40 runs.

Claydon thrilled the Canterbury

crowd with 53 off 27 balls but Kent were bowled out for 294 as the tourists made a winning start to their tour.

Afterwards, Australia coach Darren Lehmann insisted he is not bothered by England’s four-day trip to Spain with new coach Trevor Bayliss, for which they departed on Saturday.

Asked what England can achieve on that pre-Ashes trip, Lehmann said: “I don’t know, don’t want to know. Don’t care. I only worry about us.

“We’ve got to worry about how we’re going to produce really good cricket in England because we haven’t won here in 14 years. That’s our focus - we’re not worried too much about what England are doing.”

Lehmann also conceded that it will be a “tight” decision between Watson and Mitchell Marsh for the all-rounder’s place in Cardiff.

As at Canterbury, both players will feature in the game with Essex, for which Lehmann has already named his XI, making sure that all of the 17-man squad will have had a run-out before the Test series.

Batsmen David Warner and Adam Voges, reserve wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, pacemen Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood and spinner Nathan Lyon will come in for Shaun Marsh, Smith, Brad Haddin, Harris, Peter Siddle and Ahmed respectively.

Australia XI to face Essex: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Michael Clarke (capt.), Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wkp.), Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Nathan Lyon.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Sri Lanka need 153 to level series after dour Azhar Ali ton COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Sri Lanka require 153 runs for a series-levelling victory after Pakistan rode Azhar Ali’s obdurate century before being all out for 329 on day four of the second Test yesterday.

Heavy rain washed out the entire final session, leaving Sri Lanka with three sessions today to score those runs and go into the third and final Test, starting on Friday, on equal terms.

Ali scored a painstaking 117 off 308 balls but Pakistan lost six second-innings

Azhar Ali registered his ninth Test century

wickets after lunch, the last five going for 28 runs at the P Sara Oval.

Dhammika Prasad (492), who initially bowled without much luck, was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, while Dushmantha Chameera (3-53) also impressed.

Resuming on 171 for two, Ali led Pakistan’s reply with a dour display of resolute batting despite losing senior batsmen Younus Khan (40) and captain Misbah-ul-Haq (22) in the morning session.

Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews made the break-

Women’s World Cup semis offer fascinating contrasts, global spread

By Simon Evans EDMONTON, Canada (Reuters) - The Women’s World Cup semi-finals promise more thrills and excitement, bringing together three powerhouses of the game along with surprise package England.

In Montreal tomorrow, Germany, world champions in 2003 and 2007, take on the United States, triumphant in 1991 and 1999 and winners of the last three Olympic gold medals.

Then on Wednesday in Edmonton, defending world champions Japan face an England team that on Saturday upset hosts Canada to reach the last four for the first time.

Tournament organisers - and perhaps the leaders of FIFA - may regret that Canada failed to progress and certainly the crowd in Edmonton will be well below the capacity 56 000 that was expected for a semi featuring the host nation.

But looked at globally, the last four provide the tournament with a good mix of quality and contrasting styles, along with a decent geographical spread with one team from North America, an Asian team and two European nations.

With Africa and most of South America still playing catch-up in the women’s game, having three different continents in the last four is as good as it could get.

While the success of

England, whose FA has become arch-enemy of Sepp Blatter ’s FIFA, is hardly likely to have brought cheers to the suits watching from the world governing body’s Zurich headquarters, those working to spread the popularity of the women’s game may have a different view.

England have been relatively slow to catch on to

ley, and many old stereotypes about the women’s game were challenged.

Japan are formidable foes though and start as clear favourites. While they needed an 87th minute goal to beat Australia 1-0 on Saturday, the quality of their possession football and slick passing have been unmatched at this tournament.

England defender Steph Houghton (5) celebrates with teammates after defeating Canada in the quarterfinals of the FIFA 2015 Women’s World Cup at BC Place Stadium. England won 2-1. (Mandatory Credit: Matt Kryger-USA TODAY Sports) the growing popularity of the women’s game, with the attention paid to their squad and competitions incomparable to the popularity the female version of the sport enjoys in, say, the United States.

The London Olympics in 2012 changed that, with 70 000-crowds watching Britain’s team at Wemb-

Germany overcame a hugely impressive France in a penalty shootout and their brand of fast, controlled attacking football should produce an exciting encounter with a talented and athletic U.S. team that finally began to look close to their best in their 1-0 quarter-final victory over China.

through when he induced Younus to edge a delivery behind and Prasad then trapped Misbah leg-before. The Pakistan skipper reviewed the decision but could not get the verdict overturned.

Ali took 266 balls to bring up his ninth Test century, a knock of unflattering strike rate as well as unwavering determination spread over eight-and-half hours.

He took two runs off Chameera and was celebrating his hundred even though the third umpire was still checking whether he had been run-out

by Mathews’ direct throw

from mid-off.

Ali was adjudged leg-before to Prasad on 114 but the batsman reviewed the decision and got it overturned.

He could only add three more runs before falling to spinner Rangana Herath.

Wahab Riaz (six) displayed no less grit, coming

out to bat with a fractured hand and was the last Pakistani batsman to be out.

Riaz, who was hit on the left glove by a Chameera bouncer in the first innings, will miss the third Test and is doubtful for the fivematch one-day series that follows.

SCOREBOARD PAKISTAN 1st innings 138 (K. Silva 5-42) SRI LANKA 1st innings 315 (K. Silva 80, A. Mathews 77; Y. Shah 6-96) PAKISTAN 2nd innings (o/n 171-2) M. Hafeez c Sangakkara b Mathews 8 A. Shehzad c Chandimal b Prasad 69 Az. Ali stp. Chandimal b Herath 117 Y. Khan c Chandimal b Mathews 40 Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Prasad 22 A. Shafiq c Chandimal

b Chameera 27 S. Ahmed c Chandimal b Prasad 16 Y. Shah b Prasad 0 Z. Babar not out 7 J. Khan c Chandimal b Chameera 3 W. Riaz lbw b Chameera 6 Extras: (b-2, lb-2, nb-5, w-5) 14 Total: (all out, 118.2 overs) 329 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-129, 3-202, 4-234, 5-274, 6-301, 7-303, 8-313, 9-323.

Bowling: D. Prasad 29.3-3-92-4 (w-1), A. Mathews 11-5-15-2, R. Herath 34-789 -1 (w-3), D. Chameera 18.5-1-53-3 (nb-3, w-1), T. Kaushal 25-3-76-0 (nb-2).

Wimbledon Tennis

Kohlschreiber poses real threat to Djokovic

By Martyn Herman LONDON, England (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic will not have long to wait to discover whether his risky pre-Wimbledon schedule was foolhardy or the perfect way to arrive fresh for the defence of his title.

As tradition demands the Serb will open play on Centre Court today as defending men’s champion but rather than a gentle loosener the 28-year-old faces a real danger in the form of Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber, the world number 33.

It will be his first competitive match since his French Open final defeat

by Stanislas Wawrinka - a loss that left him mentally frazzled after a punishing year in which he has already bagged the Australian Open and four Masters 1000 titles.

Lleyton Hewitt, in 2003, was the last defending champion to lose in the first round, and Djokovic knows that if he is halfcooked after skipping the grasscourt warm-up events, Kohlschreiber could cause a huge first-day shock. “ We l l , i f y o u s e e Kohlschreiber in the first round, I think you have to stay where it is, take

one match at a time,” Djokovic told reporters when asked if he had looked at his possible route to the latter stages.

“Considering the fact I haven’t played any official grass court matches, I don’t allow myself to look more than that.

“Right now I think

NOVAK DJOKOVIC I’m 100 percent prepared. Hopefully (today) when I get on the court I’ll be able to perform my best because that’s something that is going to be very much needed in order to win against Kohlschreiber.

“It’s one of the toughest first rounds I could get.”

Women’s top seed Serena Williams also opens her account today on Court One against Russia’s Margarita Gas-

paryan.

The American is bidding for a sixth Wimbledon title which would put her three quarters of the way to a rare calendar slam, something Djokovic had been tipped to achieve before falling to Wawrinka in the French Open final this month.

“If she manages to do that, obviously she’ll just confirm that she’s, if not the greatest, then definitely one of the greatest tennis players that ever played the game,” Djokovic said of the 33-year-old who has 20 grand slam singles titles - third on the all-time list behind Margaret Court (24) and Steffi Graf (22).

Wawrinka will share the Centre Court stage with Djokovic today when the fourth seed takes on Joao Sousa of Portugal while women’s fourth seed Maria Sharapova, beaten by Williams in the Australian Open final, plays Briton Johanna Konta.

Women’s champion Petra Kvitova will hope to have shaken off a sore throat by the time she opens Centre Court tomorrow against Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens.

Home favourite Andy Murray and seven-time champion Roger Federer also start tomorrow.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Price is Right, the official sponsor for Upper Corentyne/Skeldon combined POPULAR Supermarket, Price is Right, of No. 79 Municipal Market and Public Road No. 79 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, will provide sponsorship for the Combined Upper Corentyne/Skeldon combined team for the CARICOM Championship.

At a simple ceremony held recently, Vadisha Ragbeer, employee of the Supermarket, said that her company is happy to be the official sponsor, adding that the business entity is pleased with the work of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA)

since it was resuscitated. She also commended the work of the BCB despite its limited resources.

Speaking on behalf of the Berbice Cricket Board, treasurer Vicky Bharosay thanked the owner of Price is Right for his continued support to cricket in the Upper Corentyne area. He added that the sponsorship will cover travelling, playing shirts and refreshments on the day of the game. In closing, he called on other businesses to assist clubs/ associations in their area and urged the teams to

NOTABLE DATES

TONY `The Tiger’ Marshall was on a downhill run for an 11-month period from July 2000 to June 2001.

During that time the Guyanese junior middleweight lost three consecutive fights.

The last occurred when he dropped a unanimous decision to Kassim `The Dream’ Ouma on June 29, 2001 at the Grand Casino in Mississippi, USA. Ouma, a 22-year-old southpaw who hailed from Kampala, Uganda, was a clear winner and one judge, Robert Williams, had him winning every round.

Ouma went on to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title following a decision over Verno Phillips in October 2004. Marshall’s losing streak started when he challenged for the World Boxing Council (WBC) junior middleweight title in July 2000.

The orthodox boxer lost by unanimous decision to champion Javier Castillejo. That was followed by a split decision loss to Alex Bunema in March 2001. The USA-based Marshall had his last fight in 2005.

GUYANESE junior welterweight Donald Allison suffered his first defeat in the professional ranks on June 29, 1989. Puerto Rican southpaw Jake Rodriguez floored Allison in round four on the way to a six-round unanimous decision.

The fight was held at the Felt Forum in New York, USA and was the main event of a six-bout card. Allison was undefeated in six fights going into the battle against Rodriguez. He had started on the professional trail one year earlier.

Allison was born in Guyana but competed mostly in the USA. The skilful 140-pounder was crowned New York State junior welterweight champion in July 1990 following a unanimous win over Jose Avila.

The Guyanese made an unsuccessful attempt to capture the International Boxing Council (IBC) title in February 1991 when he lost by unanimous decision to American Tony Martin. Allison’s career had a life of six years during which time he secured 14 victories, six losses and one draw.

Two of his 21 fights were staged outside the USA. In July 1992 he defeated Barrington Cambridge in Guyana, while in October of the same year Allison lost to Fabian Chancalay in Argentina.

After retiring from fighting, he returned to Guyana, and opened a gym in Agricola. The gym flourished and produced fighters the calibre of Dexter `Chucky’ Wray, a promising amateur, whom he took under his wing.

UCCA treasurer and BCB executive Vicky Bharosay (right) collects the sponsorship package from Vadisha Ragbeer, employee of Price is Right.

Rose Hall Town Youth and Eight top T20 First Di- Sports Club, Albion, Young approach them for help. man Roopchand, Junior vision teams in Berbice will Warriors/Rose Hall CenHe cautioned though that Blair, Sherwin Murray, compete in a 10-over knock- tre, Police/Bermine, Blairthe cricket clubs must be Charles France, Devendra out competition with the mont/West Berbice and Bush accountable to build spon- Jaggernauth, Davanand final of 20 overs to be played Lot/D’Edward. The Board sors’ confidence.

Chatterpaul, Parmeshwar under lights for a top prize said that the teams were seMeanwhile, the senior se- Chatterpaul and Davendra of $80 000 and a trophy. The lected in such a manner that lectors have named a strong Budhoo. The coach is Hurunners-up will receive $40 all the top players in Berbice Combined Upper Corentyne/ bern Evans.

000 and a trophy with the will be on show.

Skeldon team for the one-day According to the BCB, Many gate prizes will be losing semi-finalists collecttournament. proceeds from the CARing $15 000 each. The man- up for grabs for fans. There The team is as follows: ICOM Championship, of-the-match in every game will also be a well-stocked Omesh Khemraj (captain), which will be held on July will be rewarded. Action will bar and musical entertainN a e e m Ya c o o b , Vi e n - 5 at the historic Albion ment. To promote the game, commence at 10:00hrs. dra Gooniah, Tameshwar Sports Complex, will be The participating teams eight schools in the Lower Ramoutar, Thameshwar used mainly to organise a a r e : U p p e r C o r e n t y n e / Corentyne area will be given Kumar, Totaram Persaud, very important three-day Skeldon, Port Mourant, 15 passes each.

Tarick Chaitram, Latch- cricket competition.

Baptiste, Bledman claim national sprint titles PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Kelly-Ann Baptiste equalled her own national record and smashed the championship one, while Keston Bledman equalled his personal best, as they copped the sprint titles at the National Championships here Saturday night.

The 28-year-old Baptiste clocked 10.84 seconds to take the women’s 100 metres ahead of defending champion Michelle-Lee Ahye who was second in 11.17 seconds.

Reyare Thomas captured bronze in a personal-best 11.22 seconds, with

Kelly-Ann Baptiste Semoy Hackett finishing fourth in 11.23.

Bledman, meanwhile, raced to a superb 9.86 seconds to clinch the

men’s equivalent with Marcus Duncan finishing second in 10.15 seconds and Rondel Sorrillo third in 10.16.

Emmanuel Callender was fourth in 10.21.

National record holder Richard Thompson pulled out of the contest after qualifying as the fastest loser from his semi-final while there was disappointment or Darren Brown, who was disqualified for a false start.

There was controversy in the men’s 400 metres as Machel Cedenio dismissed his field to win in a time of 44.29 seconds but was later

disqualified for running out of his lane.

Renny Quow, a bronze medallist at the Berlin World Championships six years ago, was subsequently promoted to gold with the previously third-placed Jarrin Solomon handed silver in 45.58.

Lalonde Gordon, a bronze medallist at the London Olympics three years ago, claimed third spot in 46.45.

In the women’s equivalent, Janeil Bellille successfully defended her title, clocking 53.39 seconds en route to an easy win.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Jeffrey hopes to attract international sponsorship

… Next level needed to put Guyana on the map’

By Stephan Sookram THE GOOD Lord helps those who help themselves.

This is one saying that Guyanese racer Kristian Jeffrey is banking as he tries to gain sponsorship to compete in Canada during the off-season of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC).

Jeffrey recently emerged joint Group four (4) champion driver (along with Trinidad’s Kristian Boodoosingh and Gerrard Carrington) at Wallerfield - the Trinidad leg of the Caribbean Championship.

Speaking after collecting his accolades, the Guyanese who studies in Canada indicated that he hopes he has done enough to impress possible sponsors for a drive with a North American team.

“Hopefully it does. I’m glad for anything, even if it’s little. Motor racing unfortunately is not a cheap sport. The level where I am now is manageable but if I want to get to the next level and put Guyana on the map, I really need the help from anyone right now.

Throughout my career, my dad has been sponsoring everything and there is no way I am going to put him through further expense. I’m trying to net-

Kevin Jeffrey (centre) leads Kristian Boodoosingh and Gerard Carrington in the Caribbean leg of the championship work myself. Hopefully people can see that I’m talented enough to put Guyana on the map, so hopefully some more sponsorship comes on board.”

Meanwhile Jeffrey, who now holds the lap record in three of the four Caribbean tracks, feels that he has what it takes to win back-to-back Group 4 champion driver awards.

“I drove my heart out to get points (Country and Individual). Fortunately we still racked up and we are still in a better position than we were last year, so we have a good cushion going into the last round.

“Every race meet you have to take it one at a time

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Monday June 29, 2015) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 33 matches Lendl Simmons (Warriors)

Today’s Quiz: Which two teams played the very first game of CPL 2?

Who is the first player to crack a century in CPL cricket?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

and expect competition; that’s what you are racing for, good wheel-to-wheel racing. I think we have a decent enough package to win the Championship so one step at a time.”

Jeffrey, who still stands

atop the group 4 championships with 133 points, is 75 points ahead of his nearest rivals (Boodoosingh and Carrington) heading into the third round of competition set for September at Bushy Park in Barbados.

Head of FIFA audit, compliance body weighs in on Blatter resignation ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - The independent chairman of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee yesterday weighed in on recent comments by the president of world soccer’s governing body Sepp Blatter that had led to speculation about his future plans.

“I call on all concerned, including Mr Blatter, to endorse in the interest of the reforms unequivocally the announced changing of the guard at the top of FIFA,” audit and compliance chief Domenico Scala said in an emailed statement.

Blatter on June 2 said he would step down at an

Australia’s Harris raises hand for full Ashes series LONDON, (Reuters)-Grabbing a couple of wickets in Australia’s first Ashes warmup against Kent was a relief for veteran paceman Ryan Harris, who has been battling to remind selectors of his quality after missing the World Cup and the West Indies tour.

Despite boasting a fine record in one-day internationals, the 35-year-old was omitted from the World Cup squad and watched his team mates sweep to their fifth trophy.

Harris then put in his bid for father-of-the-year by withdrawing from the Caribbean tour to be home for the birth of his first child, leaving his spot in Australia’s crowded pace battery ripe for the taking.

Harris’s reputation and record on English pitches would normally have been enough to return for the Ashes, but Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood’s dominance in the 2-0 series win over West Indies have given selectors a headache ahead of the first test in Cardiff on July 8.

Harris’s anxiety resulted in a wicketless spell against Kent on day two of the tour match, but he felt his rhythm return along with two lower-order wickets on Saturday.

“I think I tried a little bit too hard yesterday, the adrenalin,” Harris said in a video posted on Cricket Australia’s website (cricket.com.au). “Probably searching for some wickets which I don’t usually do.

“My body itself feels really good. I don’t think I’ve bowled many overs as well, which I haven’t felt in a long, long time.

“It just shows the work that I did over the last four months is really helping me.”

Harris had major surgery on his problematic right knee last year but came back to take 10 wickets in three tests against India in the home summer.

The knee still troubles the Queenslander who admits his body needs time to warm up before bowling like an old car on a winter’s morning.

Harris has no appetite to be eased in, however, and hopes to play all five tests in a repeat of the 2013/14 series on home soil which Australia won 5-0.

“I’m here to play five Tests, show that I’m bowling well,” he said.

“If I sit on the side for all five matches and we win the Ashes, then that’s the way it’s got to be.

“Hopefully that’s not the case but I don’t like in bed awake at night thinking about it too much.

“I’ve done that in the past. It doesn’t help.”

Sepp Blatter as-yet-unscheduled special FIFA congress, but recent comments have fuelled speculation that his decision was less than final.

“The times of flirting with power are definitely gone,” Scala said.

Australian veteran paceman Ryan Harris

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday June 29, 2015

Fernandes, Joseph crowned senior National squash champions NICOLETTE Fernandes and Nyron Joseph were crowned champions of this year’s Digicel Senior National Squash Tournament when the curtain came down last evening at the Georgetown Club Squash courts.

Joseph recovered from a remarkable two games down to win three games on the trot and as a result, became the 2015 Digicel Senior National Squash Champion.

In the marathon fivegame outing the reigning Junior National Champion started slowly, managing to win only six points in the first two games, and threatened to be beaten in the third game when only 9-10 down.

What followed was a determined comeback in which the younger Joseph took the third game 12-10, amid several calls as tensions rose.

Nicolette Fernandes The fourth and fifth games were almost too close to call as the players battled point for points with impressive rallies, interrupted by close calls on ‘lets’ and ‘strokes’, which clearly unsettled the players.

In the end Joseph showed tremendous commitment in a final point that featured everything from powerful cross-country drops, dives,

Nyron Joseph and eventually an impressively paced drop that proved the deciding stroke in the match to earn Joseph the game 11-8.

In the female final Nicolette Fernandes was superb in a 3-0 victory over Ashley Khalil, who showed she was no pushover. She battled through the second game, threatening to even take a game off the world

Gatlin wins 200m in blazing 19.57 at U.S. trials

By Gene Cherry EUGENE, Oregon – (Reuters)-Controversial Justin Gatlin set the stage for a world championship showdown with Usain Bolt when he won the 200 metres in a blazing 19.57 seconds at the U.S. trials in Oregon yesterday.

Only four people, including world record holder Bolt, have ever run faster than the 33-year-old, whose previous best was 19.68 seconds.

“I wanted to come out and make a statement, and that’s what I did,” said the fast starting Gatlin.

Training partner Isiah Young was second in 19.93 with the 30-year-old Wallace Spearmon taking third in 20.10.

The wind was an allowable 0.4 metres per second.

Gatlin, the year’s fastest at 100 and 200, had a bye in the 100 at the trials, but plans to challenge Bolt at both distances in the August world championships in Beijing.

They have not met since 2013 with Gatlin, who has served two doping bans,

piling up a two-year unbeaten streak.

Olympic champion Jenn Suhr was equally dominate, soaring to the best pole vault performance of the year, 4.82 metres, and Jenna Prandini captured the women’s 200m in 22.20 seconds on the University of Oregon track where she competes collegiately.

Candyce McGrone and Jeneba Tarmoh joined her on the team for the world championships.

DOMINANT RUN David Oliver showed he will be ready to defend his world 110m hurdles title with a dominant run of 13.04 seconds.

Ronnie Ash, world record holder Aries Merritt and Aleec Harris took the next three spots, giving the U.S. four hurdlers in Beijing since Oliver has a bye.

Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Galen Rupp, caught up in doping allegations involving his coach Alberto Salazar, made the U.S. team in a second event, the 5,000m.

Ryan Hill broke through to win in 13:50.69 with Ben

True second in 13:51.09.

Rupp finished third in 13:51.54.

Salazar has been accused in a BBC programme and ProPublica story of giving Rupp the banned steroid testosterone in 2002 when Rupp was only 16, and encouraging athletes to misuse prescription drugs.

He has denied all the allegations but is under investigation by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), a source told Reuters.

Rupp said, “I’ve got nothing to hide. I’ll do whatever I need to do to cooperate with them (USADA).”

But fellow distance runner Kara Goucher lashed out at a report Salazar issued denying the allegations.

“I understand if you read it through, it looks like I am a liar. I don’t like being labelled a liar,” an emotional Goucher, among those making allegations against Salazar, told reporters after her race.

She said she had been talking to USADA about Salazar since 2013 and would welcome a chance to testify under oath.

number 29.

In the end Fernandes held her nerve to win that game 15-13, with all the poise and composure expected of a senior professional.

Her pedigree was evident in the final game as she almost perfectly executed each stroke to take that game 11-5.

The female third-place playoff between Akeila Wiltshire and Ashley DeGroot was tense as the players, off to an uncharacteristically lethargic start, kept getting in the way of each other’s strokes, resulting in a plethora of ‘lets’, clearly unsettling both players.

The usually halcyon style of the current left-handed Junior National Champion Wiltshire progressed to a barrage of discontent as both players

briefly lost their composure. In the end Akeila showed better execution amidst the pressure as she recovered from being one game down to take the match 3-1.

At the presentation ceremony Guyana Squash Association representative, Tiffany Solomon, extended gratitude on behalf of the association to their premier corporate sponsor Digicel, and to the Georgetown club for playing host to yet another national squash tournament.

COMPLETE RESULTS Regan Pollard beat Peter Michael DeGroot 3-0 (11/6, 11/8, 11/8).

Akeila Wiltshire beat Ashley DeGroot 3-1 (4/11, 11/5, 11/8, 12/10).

Rebecca Low beat Makeda Harding 3-2 (11/3, 5/11, 10/12, 11/8, 11/9).

Nicolette Fernandes beat Ashley Khalil 3-0 (11/7, 15/13, 11/5).

Adam Alves beat Anthony Islam 3-0 (11/7, 11/1, 11/9).

Joshua Abdool beat Jonathan Hohenkirk 3-1 (15/13, 8/11, 12/10, 11/2).

Deje Dias beat Alec Melville 3-0 (11/7, 11/6, 11/7).

Larissa Wiltshire beat Taylor Fernandes 3-1 (11/8, 8/11, 11/5, 11/3).

Nyron Joseph beat Jason Ray Khalil 3-2 (1/11, 5/11, 12/10, 14/12, 11/8).

Senior Open Males 1st: Nyron Joseph 2nd: Jason Ray Khalil 3rd: Regan Pollard 4th: Peter Michael DeGroot Senior Open Females 1st: Nicolette Fernandes 2nd: Ashley Khalil 3rd: Akeila Wiltshire 4th: Ashley DeGroot

Police Commissioner aiming to expand community interaction through Sports ... NC Chairman, Director of Sport laud initiative WITH the Guyana Police Force (GPF) ‘A’ Division partnering with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to host its one-day Under-15 football tournament, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud said that it’s the aim of the force to use sports as an integral role in fostering a closer relationship with communities across Guyana.

The tournament is part of the ‘A’ Division strategic plan not only to foster a better relationship with communities within its jurisdiction, but also to create role models, and with football being the most popular sport, it serves as the perfect catalyst for such an initiative.

Over ten teams participated in yesterday’s event hosted at the Eve Leary Sports Club ground, representing their respective Police Youth Groups under the umbrella of the ‘A’ Division.

The Police Commissioner, while lauding ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken, made a call to the other divisions of the Police Force to follow their (‘A’ Division) lead on the new approach to combat crime.

“What we have is a social crime prevention

(L-R) ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken, GFF NC Chairman Clinton Urling, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud and Director of Sport Christopher Jones. continued support to the Guyprogramme, with several fronts of operation; enhancing social cohesion and key among those is an environmental protection programme. All of us that engage in sports understand the competitiveness of the society that we live in, so it prepares us to live in today’s world,” the Commissioner of Police said.

Chairman of the GFF Normalisation Committee (NC), Clinton Urling, said that the initiative is a “clear manifestation between the nexus of sport and community development”.

Urling pledged the GFF’s

ana Police Force in helping to achieve their goal and noted that football, being the world’s most popular sport is the perfect tool to use in order to reach out to the youths in the community.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones spoke of the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) interest in any programme used to charter a course of social development.

Jones called for a balance between sports and education, stating: “God forbid, should you pick up a career-ending injury, you must find something to fall back on.”

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Gayle storm dampens Zouks’ fire!

Guyana crush Aruba 5-0 to wrap up Olympic Qualifier tournament See story on page 19

See story on page 19 Johnson Charles is bowled for 29 by Jerome Taylor.

Chris Gayle smashed 90 from just 36 deliveries including nine sixes at Beausejour Stadium.

Eastman, Fraser-Green strike double titles at GCF 2015 national championships

Junior Niles raises his hand in triumph as he crosses the finish line to win the GCF’s veterans’ Under-45, 50-mile national cycle road race yesterday.

(Photo by Samuel Maughn)

UNITED States-based Guyanese Hamza Eastman and England-based Clair Fraser-Green both copped doubles at the Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) national championships which concluded yesterday.

Eastman won the men’s individual four-mile time trial on Saturday in a time of seven minutes 42.26 seconds and returned yesterday to win the 92.86-mile road race in three hours 40 minutes 37.67 seconds.

Fraser-Green, on the other hand, won the ladies’ four-mile time trial on Saturday in nine minutes 26.63 seconds and came back yesterday to clinch the 21.7-mile road race in one hour two minutes .34 seconds.

Fraser-Green won both events at last year’s national championships and will be the number one female cyclist to represent Guyana at any regional or international event.

Geron Williams, another U.S.-based Guyanese who won the men’s road race last year, had to settle

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for third this time around as Alanzo Greaves claimed the second spot.

Marika Dick and Toshanha Doris occupied the second and third spots respectively in the ladies’ category.

Romelo Crawford who won the juveniles time trial last year, but has since graduated to the junior category won yesterday’s 42-mile road race ahead of Jamal John and Kemuel Moses respectively .Crawford also placed second in the time trial on Saturday. That event was won by John with Andrew Hicks placing third.

The veterans’ Under-45 50-mile race was won by Junior Niles in two hours 13 minutes .05 seconds. Second was Godfrey Pollydore and third was Warren McKay. In the Over-50 age group over the same distance, Talim Shaw came out on top ahead of Kennard Lovell and Shameer Baksh respectively.

Briton John won the juveniles 21.7-mile road race ahead of Kemo Logan and David Sampson respectively.

MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2015